Percy

I'm fixing chili for the firehouse when Maryanne sends me a picture of Luke playing in the pool, all dark out but they hid flashlights at the bottom. Knowing he's a legacy, and that I can breathe underwater, he learned much younger than I did. It's like Lassa says, awareness is a powerful thing. Makes me happy I never have to worry about him drowning. I'm about to reply to the photo when Kaleb walks into the kitchen.

"Hey man, I'll take over the Chili." He says. I snort.

"No way. You've been trying to get your hands on my mother's chili recipe for years. Not happening today."

"I think you're about to change your mind." He smiles.

"Why?"

"Annabeth's here to see you. She's in the Fire Bay." He says and my stomach drops.

"Why?"

"She wouldn't tell me. But, she didn't look angry. She looked nervous. It's probably important." He says. I sigh.

"This recipe goes nowhere." I say and hand him the index card. "Think she's here to finally serve the divorce papers?"

"Honestly? I don't know. Will you sign them if she does?"

"At this point? Maybe. I don't want to, but if she's not willing to make this work I'm not going to beg the rest of my life."

"Let me know how it goes, man." He says and I nod and head over to the pole to slide into the bay. Despite the cold, Annabeth's standing there in a white sundress, the same white sundress I got her on our honeymoon in Greece. It looks just as good on her now as it did then. Her hair is in a curled ponytail with wisps around her face, and when I step closer I can smell the nectar perfume she, Piper, and Hazel came up with together. Smelling whatever smells best to a person. To me she smells like salt and smoke and earth, reminding me of an ocean breeze and campfires and the woods, somehow all blending together just right. If she is here to serve divorce papers, she's looking her best to do it, and it's just cruel.

"Why are you here, Annabeth?" I question, crossing my arms. She reaches into the pockets of her dress and pulls out what I was dreading. Envelopes. Yeah, she dressed up for this just to piss me off. "So. After three years, you're finally done?" She shakes her head, and I see her eyes get glassy.

"No. I almost was. Yesterday I was sure I was finally going to end it all. But I know the truth now. The whole truth. And," She tears the envelopes in half, tears spilling over and falling down her cheeks. My heart rate picks up as Hope courses through me. "Percy I left over three years ago because I thought you, who I trusted more than anyone on Earth, had been unfaithful. But you weren't. Becca took advantage of the fact you were so sloshed you couldn't see straight. And when you tried to tell me the truth, I wouldn't listen. I am so, so sorry. I'll never get those three years back for us. And now I'm not sure you'll ever be able to forgive me-" Even after all the shit she's put me through, I can't stand to see her cry. I take two steps forward and close the distance, crashing my mouth into hers. I put three years of yearning into the kiss, and I feel her melt into my arms. But it's all too confusing, and I push her away as I pull back.

"I can't do this right now." I tell her. "Annabeth, the forgiving's done. I love you, I always will. I never for a second stopped. But I don't know how to trust you anymore."

"And I earned that. I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to put in the work." She promises. I stay silent for a second before I answer. I feel so many different things right now it's a little disorienting. I take a second to steady myself before I answer.

"Best I can say is I'll try." I tell her. "But I also have a son to think about. He can't have a mom who runs when things get hard. The one he's got is bad enough as it is. Luke's a part of the deal. If this is going to work, You can't just be my wife, you have to be his mom too."

"I know. And I want to be. I already love him so much, even when I was trying to hate you."

"Trying to?"

"I was so angry with you, Percy. But I never stopped loving you either." She says and clears her throat, wiping the last of her tears away. "So what now?"

"Now…you go home. I finish my shift. And after that, I don't know."

"Okay." She says and turns around to leave.

"Never again." I say with a heavy sigh. She turns around. "That's the problem, Annabeth. When I said we were never going to be separated again, I meant it. I was willing to fall into Hell with you rather than let you go. But you left anyway. I don't know how we're going to fix this." I say and head back up the stairs.

…..

Annabeth

I spend the rest of the day crying and making a lot of Iris Messages, Apologizing to a lot of people. I'm about to throw another coin in when I decide there's one I'd better do in person and call a cab. Pretty soon I'm in the freezing snow forcing myself to hit the button to get buzzed into Percy's old home.

"Hello?" I hear Sally's voice.

"Hi. It's Annabeth. Can-Can we talk?" I ask and wait while there's a long pause

"A-Annabeth? Umm, sure, sweetheart, come right up." She says and buzzes me in. I climb the stairs and walk into the apartment, hugging my coat. Sally welcomes me in and gives me an awkward hug.

"Percy told me you were back in town. How are you doing, dear?"

"I've…been better. Right now I'm making apologies. And I owe you a pretty big one." I admit. She doesn't say anything, just purses her lips and nods.

"Paul and Estelle are out right now and won't be back for a few hours. Sit down. I'll make some Hot Chocolate and we can talk."

I do as she says and head into the living room, curling up under a blanket. The same blanket that used to be my favorite. Sally comes in a few minutes later and sets two mugs on the coffee table then sits down.

"So what's going on?"

"I…I learned the truth today. The truth that so many people have been trying to tell me for so many years and I wouldn't listen. Reyna showed up at my door and forced me to see Becca, and I heard the whole story from her. Gods, I've been so terrible to everyone." I say, and take a sip of my hot chocolate, then look Sally in the eye. "When I left I cut you out too, even though you've been more of a mother to me than my mom or stepmom ever have been. I'm so sorry for doing that. And I'm also really sorry for everything I put your family though."

"Oh, Annabeth." She says and leans over to fold me into a hug. "I can't pretend I haven't been upset with you for the pain Percy's gone through, but I'm just glad to see you're back now and know the truth. Question is," She says and pulls back. "What are you going to do now that you know it?"

"Percy was the first person I went to see. We're going to try to work it out. But he doesn't know how he can trust me now, and I don't blame him."

"Give it time. You're here to stay, right?"

"If he lets me. If he lets me I'm never leaving again, no matter what."

"Then he'll see that in time. You'll just have to be patient."

"Why are you not more angry with me?" I ask.

"Like I said, I was for a time. But even though you were wrong, it's not like it wasn't understandable. And I can only imagine how much it hurt to find out about Lukas."

"More than you can imagine." I mutter, then look her in the eye. "I already love him so much though. He's such a good kid." She smiles.

"That he is."

"Any advice with Percy?"

"Just let him do this on his terms. Stay close. And when trouble rises up, as it will, stay and fight instead of running. When he sees you do that he'll come around."

"Thanks, Sally." I say. "Now I just need to go to Camp Half Blood. Piper's another person I owe an in person apology to. I guess Jesse and Chiron too, while I'm at it." I say and get up. Sally smiles at me.

"I'll drive you."

…..

A couple hours later, I'm walking through the familiar paths of Camp Half Blood and stop in front of Cabin 10. I walk up and knock on the doorframe, seeing Piper alone working on something in her bunk.

"Hey McLean." I say. "Wedding planning?"

"Yes. I could really use a maid of honor to help, but she's busy avoiding her husband." She says without looking up.

"I'm willing to take the position if it's still available." I say and she looks up at me.

"Really? You're willing to put up with seeing Percy for a day?"

"Starting now, I'm just going to try to see if I can get Percy to forgive me." She smiles.

"Reyna actually got through to you. You know the whole story now?"

"Yes." I say and go lay down next to her on the bunk. "I know the whole story. I know my husband got date raped and I ran off. I know I've been a bitch to him and everyone else in my life who were just trying to help, and I owe a million apologies to everyone, including you. I'm so sorry, Pipes."

"Look, you're not going to get a whole lot of pity from me on the Percy front. You've made your bed and you've got to lie in it. If he never lets you back in I'm not going to blame him for that."

"Me either."

"But I've always been and always will be your friend. So, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you, too." She says and lays down next to me to give me a hug. "And yes, the position is absolutely still open. We're thinking of a small ceremony on the beach in Malibu."

"Sounds nice. Honeymoon plans?"

"Well, I doubt our godly parents are going to give us a honeymoon in Crete, but that's okay. Cancun is nice too." She says, closing her laptop and pushing the pile of papers away, laying down again. "So what happened when you talked to Percy?"

"I don't know what I was expecting. Some joyful everything is okay? That's not what happened. I got dressed up to go see him at the firehouse and he thought I was there to serve the divorce papers. When I explained that I finally knew the whole story, and how sorry I was, he actually kissed me." I sigh and touch my mouth remembering. "It was such a good kiss, Piper."

"I'm missing the bad part here."

"I just haven't gotten to it yet. He pulled back and pushed me away. Said he still loved me but didn't know how he'd ever be able to trust me again."

"So are Y'all getting a divorce after all?"

"I don't know. I hope not. He said he would try."

"Well, Percy isn't one to give up. Especially not on you. It may take time, but I'm sure he'll come around."

"Thanks, Pipes." I say and get up. "Email me all the details you have for your wedding so far, and I'll get started helping. I'm going to go see Chiron and Jesse, then I'd better not keep my ride waiting too much longer. Sally drove me."

"Percy's mom Sally?"

"Yes."

"Who'da thought? But if that woman's grace has an end, Smelly Gabe is the only person to have found it so far."

"True. Although I think she really did him a favor in the end. He is a much better statute than he was as an appliance store manager."