Christmas
Poseidon watched out of the corner of his eye with a half-smile. Percy was absently pouring half the bottle of syrup on his pancakes.
"You think he'll like it?" Amphitrite whispered.
"Why wouldn't he? It's a new car, and Percy will get his old one."
"You're positive it's a good idea to let Percy drive?"
"His physical therapist gave him the all clear. And if Percy agrees to drive, I will not stop him. Besides it give both Triton and Percy a little bit more of independence." Poseidon reasoned.
Amphitrite opened her mouth to speak but closed it as Triton walked down the stairs rubbing his eyes.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, Amphitrite continued. "I guess your right. I think the both of them need something nice, especially after the stress of you father."
Poseidon frowned. He never heard his wife complementing or giving Percy praise before. Maybe Christmas really is a miracle.
"Triton, you better not be taking that plate to your room young man!" Amphitrite yelled as Triton was halfway up the stairs with the plate.
"No mother I wasn't." Triton replied as he grumpily trudged back downstairs and into the kitchen.
Both Poseidon and Amphitrite shared a glance silently asking if it was time to reveal the surprise. They both nodded simultaneously and walked together into the kitchen
"Boys, we have a surprise for you." Poseidon said with a smile.
Percy raised a brow, while Triton pours the whole bottle of syrup onto his pancakes.
Amphitrite scoffed, "Triton that is way too much syrup. You're going to have a heart attack if you eat that much syrup."
Triton ignored her and still proceeded to drown the pancakes in syrup.
Poseidon cleared his throat, "Heart attacks aside; since this is the first semester I didn't have to make an appearance at the principals office for a scrabble with Luke. Also since there hasn't been an incident between the two of you. I've got you something."
Poseidon reached into his pockets, barely catching the sight of Triton's eyes widen at the unmistakable sound of keys. He tossed the keys to Triton and he caught them.
"You're joking, right?" Triton with the eyes as the size of saucer plates asked.
Poseidon smiled, "Nope. It's all yours."
Triton shot up from his chair and bolted to the window facing the driveway, a new green Kia Sportage car sat in the driveway. He let out a high pitch shriek before rushing outside barefooted.
Amphitrite face palmed before rushing after their son. "Triton put on your shoes! It's icy outside! Do you not know it's winter?"
Poseidon let out a chuckle watching his eldest being scolded by his mother.
He then turned to Percy, recalling a conversation that Triton brought up to him during one of the rescue calls a few weeks ago.
"So I've heard that you got roped into doing a project with Athena's daughter for the semester?"
Percy groaned taking another bite of his pancakes, "Don't remind me. I'm just happy it's over with."
Poseidon nodded, remembering the time where he was around Annabeth's mother.
"Well if she's anything like her mother... Yikes!I swear that woman is from Satan itself. She's impossible to get along with, always have something to nitpick. Did you know she had a pet owl? She brought it to school once and it almost pecked my eyes out! That woman is bizarre, and a nuisance. She crawled out of someone's ass, that's for sure." Poseidon shivered.
Percy hummed taking another bite of his pancakes.
Poseidon smile grew wider excited to give the gift he went to extreme lengths for, "Since you had zero incidents with her, better than what I would've done, I got you a gift."
Poseidon dug through his other pocket and produced another set of keys. He tossed it towards Percy.
Percy caught the keys with a confused expression, "I can't drive."
"Who said they're keys for a car?"
Percy turned the keys over to read the label.
He dropped the keys and stared at Poseidon in shock. "These aren't... You couldn't have! I thought they were going demolish the cabin last year? How did you get a chance to rent it again?"
"The mayor actually shut the project down and used the funds to improve the subway station instead. I didn't rent it either, I bought it. That's yours forever."
Poseidon wasn't prepared for Percy to bolt out of his chair and tackle him into a hug. Poseidon embraced him back, It was a pleasant surprise.
The keys belonged to the Montauk cabin. It was the cabin where Percy's mother rented when she visited during the summers he had him. Poseidon often joined, happy to spend time with Percy and Sally. Though it had to stop once he married Amphitrite. The city was going to demolish it, but it was sidetracked with another project. Poseidon pulled a couple strings but he was able to purchase the cabin.
"Merry Christmas Percy!" Poseidon said as he pulled back from the hug.
"Merry Christmas dad!" Percy let out a genuine smile, that Poseidon didn't see grace his face in over a year. Poseidon almost teared up at the sight, but held it back. There was another surprise he had in store for his son.
"There's also something else that I need to tell you. Your physical therapist pulled me aside during your last appointment."
Percy sat back down on at the table with a concern expression, "What is it?"
"How do you feel about relearning to drive again? I knew you already practiced before the accident, and your physical therapist told me you can start practicing again. If you do want to learn, you can have Triton's old car. We'll maybe do some modifications on it if need be."
"I can drive? I thought I wouldn't be able to do without my leg?" Percy asked wide eyes.
"I looked into it, and many amputees can still drive. You can still use your prosthetic as you would as an ordinary leg. I waited for you to be comfortable with prosthetic, before I brought it up to you. You're getting around much better than you were a month ago. If the prosthetic isn't comfortable for you to drive with, there are devices we can install into the driver's seat."
Percy sat there dumbfounded, his mouth slightly agape as he processed the information.
"So what do you think? You wanna start driving?" You're lucky that you have your learners permit still. We can probably start driving in Montauk, they have an open area with no traffic."
"Yes! Can we go today?" Percy asked with the same pleading eyes Mrs. O'Leary got when someone made bacon.
Poseidon laughed, "Of course we can."
Percy had a grin plastered to his face as he drove.
"Slow down Percy." Poseidon said gripping the handle hanging above passenger window.
Percy reluctantly eased his foot off the gas. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his chest, as he never thought he would ever see himself behind a wheel again.
It's just Percy and Poseidon in the car. Amphitrite and Triton stayed home, which Percy is so ever grateful for.
He hasn't really spent alone time with his dad since the hospital over the summer. Which isn't fair, since he doesn't really remember anything from that time since he was hopped up on medication.
"Alright, let's practice taking some narrow turns. You see that dumpster about thirty meters to your left? You're going to turn behind that dumpster, there's just enough space to drive behind it."
He automatically slowed down enough to try to take the turn.
"Keep turning the wheel. Turn, turn, turn." Poseidon instructed as he slowly turned.
"Look in your rearview mirrors. Even though they're no cars, you need to make it a habit to check the mirrors."
Poseidon let go of the handle bar, straightening up in his seat, "I think that's enough driving for the day. I want you to park on that patch of pavement next to the gravel road."
Percy parked as he was instructed. He's been driving for over a hour and a half, and his prosthetic was getting a bit stiff on his stump.
He got out of the Triton's old car, well Percy guessed it was his now. It's a four year old blue Honda Accord Sedan Sport, It's still in good condition. Well except for the spot where there's still a stubborn blood stain from the time he cut his chin.
As Percy stretched his leg and his prosthetic leg, he tossed the keys back to Poseidon.
"That didn't go as bad as I thought it would. Do you want to check the condition of the cabin before we go?"
Percy didn't know whether if that was an insult or a compliment? So he ignored the first statement, "Yeah, let's see how much it's aged."
"How's your leg? Did you feel comfortable while driving with a prosthetic on?"
"It's a bit stiff, but I'm sure I'll get to the motions soon. I'm just glad I can get a driver's license."
Percy got out the keys and unlocked the cabin door. He swung the door, leaving it wide opened. Every surface was covered in an inch full of dust, it looks like no one has been here for a good decade.
"Well this could be a project for the summer." Poseidon commented surveying the inside of the cabin.
Percy nodded, a bit disappointed in the condition of the cabin. It could sure use some work, it isn't as pristine as what he would've wanted.
Poseidon threw his arm around Percy's shoulder, "Think of it as bonding experience."
Percy scoffed, "Bonding experience? Every time you say that you get whisked off on a rescue, leaving Triton and I alone with each other."
Poseidon scratch his neck awkwardly, "I'll send Triton on that call if that happens this year. He's old enough to do those rescue calls himself."
Percy rolled his eyes not really believing it, but nodded to humor him.
"Speaking of your brother, you do know that I'll be picking you up after school, right? Triton's swim season starts up at the beginning of the semester, and he'll be practicing after school as well. I'll come and pick you up to take to the aquarium."
"No I did not know that, he doesn't tell me anything. Does that mean it'll be just you and and me at the aquarium?"
"For now yes. I think up until March it will be just you and I at the aquarium, besides the other full-time-employees."
Percy nodded. He felt an emotion that he hasn't felt since his mother died; joy. From the cabin, the car, and some actual bonding experience with his dad, all slapped in one day is playing with his heart strings.
Poseidon cleared his throat before he looked at Percy, "Keeping it on topic with Triton, have you by chance notice anything weird about Triton lately?"
Percy was taken aback by that random question. He shook his head, "Weird? No, not really. It's not like we talk, so I wouldn't know."
"I don't know, maybe I'm a paranoid parent, but something's off about him these last two months. I hope it doesn't have to deal with the stress my father is making." Poseidon aired out.
Percy kicked the lose gravel, feeling uncomfortable. This should be aired out to by a therapist, not your son.
"Let's go home shall we? It's getting frigid out here. I think Amphitrite made ham for dinner." Poseidon said, as if the previous conversation didn't exist.
The Montauk Cabin - In The Lightning Thief Percy is very fond of the cabin as he and his mother have memories there.