Hello! I'm back (with this huge OS)! I've been working on this for the past several months, so I really hope you enjoy it!
Sally Jackson knew there was something special right since the first summer. She realized it the moment Percy and she had some alone time together. Seated on the couch at their cabin in Montauk, Percy decided to share with her everything he'd been through since that fateful day when he went for the first time to Camp Half-Blood. Sally suspected Percy was leaving some details out – although she didn't mind, she couldn't worry about what she didn't know, and they were both safe now – except for one recurrent topic: Annabeth. By the end of their conversation, there was no way Sally wouldn't know Percy's new friend's name. He spared no details when describing how genius Annabeth's plan had been or how brave, intelligent, and scary she was. Moreover, Sally didn't fail to notice how he'd first described her as the girl from the infirmary with the blonde princess curls.
Percy was 12, and although he was still practically a kid, he was fast approaching his teenage years. So, Sally didn't tease him about his new friend since she considered him too young for that yet. He spoke with the naivety of a kid with a platonic fascination. But Sally had been 12 too, and Percy's speech reminded her of how she used to speak about Dennis Miller, the boy from the house across hers, who also had been her very first crush. Maybe there was something deeper in Percy's fascination with Annabeth, but Sally decided Percy must discover that for himself. For now, she was happy that Percy had finally made a new friend – although that friendship was still in an early blooming stage – and that he'd found somewhere where he felt he belonged.
Her suspicions that Percy's feelings were more than platonic started to grow a few months later, around October, when Percy asked if they could go to a copy house to print a photo that a friend from Camp had sent him. Sally didn't have a hard time figuring out who that friend was. If it had been Grover, Percy would have said it. And who else would send Percy a photo in the middle of the school year?
So, Sally took Percy to the copy house. They waited while Percy gave the USB to the employee, and the picture came out of the printer. Finally, the guy, who must have been around Sally's age, took the printed photo and handed it to Percy.
"What a pretty photo! The girl must be someone special for you to have her photo printed. Is she your girlfriend?" the man asked casually, making Percy's face turn into a light shade of pink.
Sally had to control the laugh that threatened to escape from her lips at Percy's evident embarrassment while he fumbled with his words.
"She's… she's not my girlfriend… a friend from summer camp…"
"Let me see it, honey," Sally asked Percy, who seemed very interested in his shoelaces.
Reluctantly, Percy handed Sally the picture, still not daring to meet her eyes. In said photo, a blonde girl with a familiar orange T-shirt stood proudly in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Sally could see why Percy had thought she was cute when they'd first met - before becoming enemies and, eventually, friends.
"That's a great photo of Annabeth. She looks happy. I'm assuming things with her father are going well?"
Only then, Percy raised his head, looking at Sally.
"How did… how do you know that's Annabeth?"
Sally couldn't hold her soft laugh anymore. She knew it since Percy asked to print the photo, but she wouldn't tell him. So, she opted for an option that wouldn't increase her son's awkwardness.
"She looks exactly like how you described her. And you said it was a friend from Camp. Annabeth's your friend, so I assumed it was her."
Percy nodded in acknowledgment to Sally's words.
"She's wearing the Camp T-shirt. And I miss Camp. I only wanted to have the photo printed to remind me that Camp is real…," Percy said, still mumbling.
"It's okay, honey. That's a great reason to have a photo printed. I know how much you loved Camp last summer. If a friend had sent me a picture wearing the Camp T-shirt, I would have printed it, too," Sally said, hoping her son wouldn't combust from embarrassment inside the copy house.
Luckily, Percy failed to see the knowing look exchanged between Sally and the man behind the counter.
Percy never told Sally what he'd done to the picture. What Percy didn't know was that one day, when he was tired, he left his English notebook in the living room, and Sally saw the picture glued on the inside of the cover.
She took the opportunity to study the picture more carefully. Annabeth smiled for the camera as if knowing Percy would be looking at the picture: she smiled proudly, but Sally could detect a hint of shyness in her sparkling gray eyes. And that was when she realized why Percy smiled more while doing his English homework.
It was only at the end of the summer when Sally finally met Annabeth. After learning that Percy had been on another dangerous quest, fighting monsters and all sorts of mythological creatures, Sally decided to go herself to pick Percy from Camp. Near the pine tree at the top of the hill, Percy waited with two other girls: a familiar blonde-haired and an older-looking girl with dark black hair. Percy sensed Sally's presence as soon as Sally approached the barrier, from where she couldn't go further.
"Hey, Mom!" he happily greeted her, running into her embrace.
"So lame, punk. It looks like you haven't seen your mom in a year," the older girl said.
Only then did Percy seem to remember the two girls were there. He turned to the girls and pointed at them.
"Mom, this is Annabeth, but you already know it. And this is Thalia. Girls, this is my mom," Percy introduced everyone.
At his declaration, Annabeth raised a quizzical eyebrow at Percy?
"But you already know that?" The girl inquired.
Sally interjected before Percy could say something that would embarrass the poor girl or himself.
"Of course, my dear. Percy told me all about your… adventures together last summer. It would be impossible not to recognize you," She said with a warm smile.
That seemed to put Annabeth at ease, and the girl smiled widely back at Sally.
"Then, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Jackson," Annabeth said, although Sally could detect a subtle nervousness in her voice.
"No need for such formalities. Call me Sally."
Annabeth nodded.
"And it is also a pleasure to meet you too, Annabeth. Not many people can put up with Percy's humor and stubbornness, and you managed to do that for two summers," Sally added with a wink.
Annabeth smiled teasingly at Percy. "See? Your mom recognizes the effort I have to make to deal with your seaweed-filled brain."
At those words, Sally knew Annabeth and her would get along finely.
"Hey! You complain but haven't stopped hanging with me. And Thalia spent these last weeks with me and isn't tired of me yet!"
"Maybe I should have let you stay as a Guinea pig," Annabeth retorted.
"Yet, kelp-head. For what Annie here told me, I don't know how long you will be lucky," the other girl, Thalia, said mockingly.
"Don't call me Kelp-head!"
"Don't call me Annie!" Percy and Annabeth complained at the same time. When they realized, they looked at each other, and Sally observed both blushing.
"Well, kids, it's time to go!" Sally announced. "It was lovely to meet you two girls."
"You too, Sally," Annabeth and Thalia replied.
Then, Percy said goodbye to his friends.
"Bye, Wise girl! I'm gonna miss you," Percy said, throwing his arms around Annabeth. The blonde-haired girl hugged Percy back, warming Sally's heart.
When they released each other, Percy looked awkwardly at Thalia.
"Hun… Goodbye, Thalia," Percy said, unsure if he should hug Thalia too.
Luckily, Thalia must have realized it, too, because she extended her hand for Percy in a fist-bump.
"Good-bye, cousin. I'm going to enjoy these peaceful months without you," She said.
Cousin? Sally would have to ask Percy for that story.
She waited until they were both alone in the car to tease Percy. He was thirteen now; he could handle a little teasing. Sally had waited just because she didn't want to embarrass Annabeth.
"You and Annabeth seem to be very comfortable with each other. I remember you telling me last summer she was the most annoying person you'd ever met?" Sally asked, emphasizing the word comfortable so Percy would understand she was speaking about the goodbye hug.
Percy understood what Sally meant and blushed furiously, suddenly interested in the landscape opposite to her side.
"We got over that. We're friends now," Percy mumbled. "And she saved me again a bunch of times this summer." His answer was short, a clear sign he was done with his explanation.
"And that other girl, Thalia? I don't remember you telling me about her last summer. And she called you cousin?"
Percy looked happier at the change of topic, launching himself into telling all the details from his most recent adventure. Of course, Sally knew he'd left a few details out. He would get all hyped telling something Annabeth did or said only to catch himself up, realizing he was saying too much, and change to another topic.
"Speaking again of Annabeth, what was that story about the Guinea pig?" Sally asked when Percy finished another story about the girl in question.
Percy blushed again.
"Nothing," he replied too quickly, immediately recognizing his mistake.
"Fine. I left this out of the story because it's embarrassing. But we ended up on an island, and a girl told us it was a spa or something, but, in the end, it was the island of the sorcerer Circe. Circe turned me into a Guinea Pig, and Annabeth saved me."
Sally knew there was a missing piece. Percy's story was still too short, meaning he was hiding something. And Sally had a pretty good guess it had something to do with Percy's friend.
"How did Annabeth save you? Wasn't she turned into a Guinea pig, too?"
Jackpot. Percy started at the car's dashboard before him, the pink blush returning to his cheeks.
"No. Annabeth went to get a makeover. And I almost didn't recognize her when she showed up again. She was wearing a dress and makeup. Her hair was pulled down in a way that made her curls look really pretty. And she had a laurel wreath. She looked very pretty. She was dressed like a Greek ... woman," Percy realized what he was about to say and changed his words at the last minute, although Sally guessed what he was about to say instead.
"What I mean is that I'm not used to seeing Annabeth looking so girly. She's my friend, it's weird."
So, as Sally had always suspected, Percy was starting to realize his feelings toward Annabeth were not as friendly as he'd thought.
"Well, she is a girl, and she is cute even without the dress and makeup. I'm sure she would have looked very pretty. And she even managed to save you dressed like that. That's impressive. I can see why you decided to become her friend," Sally replied to Percy. He was already embarrassed enough, so she decided he'd had enough teasing for a car ride.
"What about the rest of the summer?" She changed the subject.
"It was okay."
"Only okay? I thought you loved Camp when you're not too busy saving the world."
"I do. It's just… I know I should be happy that Annabeth got her old friend back, and I think Thalia's kinda cool too, but..."
Sally hadn't failed to notice how Percy's feelings toward Thalia were slightly ambiguous. While he seemed to be getting along finely with the girl, there was a slight animosity between them, as if something about her bothered Percy.
"But what, sweetie?"
"She and Annabeth would spend too much time alone. Just the two of them! It's not that I don't have other friends at Camp, but…" Percy pondered for a moment on how to express his thoughts. "I think Thalia's stealing my best friend status. And I don't want to be replaced as Annabeth's best friend."
Best friends? The friendship between the two was growing stronger each day, so it was no surprise that Percy considered them best friends by now. Percy had kept in touch with Annabeth during the school year, and from what he'd just told, they both had great bonding moments during their new quest together. At that, Sally mentally scolded herself. She should have realized sooner that that's what the whole Thalia thing was about. So, Sally took a deep breath, remembering her promise to not tease Percy about Annabeth anymore for a while. And she chose her words carefully before replying to Percy because, from her own experience, once jealousy was part of the equation, it would only get worse from there.
That wasn't the last time Sally saw the two girls. During the following months, whenever they would be allowed out of Camp, Annabeth and Thalia would often come to the city to hang out with Percy. With the novelty of having her old friend back wearing out, Annabeth was with Percy more often, which eased Percy's relationship with Thalia. During those months, Sally saw how close Percy and Annabeth had become. They were with each other with such ease that anyone who didn't know them would think they had been best friends forever. She also noticed, however, the slight awkwardness that sometimes surged between them, and she wondered that maybe Annabeth wasn't as oblivious to her own feelings as Percy.
Several afternoons were spent in her living room, eating blue cookies and chatting about what was happening at Camp or old stories from their quests. And, even though Percy had already told Sally everything about Annabeth, she pretended to not know it when the girl finally started to trust her enough to open up about her personal life. Since then, Sally decided she would treat Annabeth as her own daughter. Annabeth deserved to have a motherly figure whom the girl could trust. Besides, Sally wanted to show Annabeth how grateful she was for the girl. Annabeth might have been Percy's first real friend (excluding Grover, but they'd only become friends because Grover was assigned to watch over Percy at his old school) and one of the people who made Percy feel at home at Camp Half-Blood. And ever since Percy had met Annabeth, he seemed more comfortable with who he was, slowly coming out of his shell. Sally began to notice how Percy would smile more often and how he seemed happier, too.
So, around December, when Percy Iris messaged her to say that Annabeth had been kidnapped and he was unsure what to do, Sally could only tell him to go and save her. She knew Percy was walking into a dangerous mission against more monsters and gods. But Sally decided not to think about it or what could happen. Because she knew Percy, and she knew that if he'd asked her if he should go, it meant that he would go anyway, whether she approved or not. For more than once, Percy was proven to be too loyal to those whom he loved. He'd gone to Hades's realm to save Sally when she had been kidnapped, just right after finding out he was a demigod. And when Percy asked her why she approved of himself getting in danger, Sally could only reply: "I know she would do the same for you."
-BREAK-
A few weeks later, Sally realized Percy was developing feelings for Annabeth. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover had returned safely to New York, and the trio seemed more connected than ever. However, as usual, a weird tension hung between Percy and Annabeth. Something about those two seemed off. For a brief moment, Sally wondered if she'd been wrong about Percy's feelings all that time because when Percy shared his latest adventure, he spoke about a girl he had met named Rachel, with almost the same fascination he'd done about Annabeth when they'd first met. But then, she realized what was happening with the two a few days later when Grover visited Percy at their apartment.
Even if Percy had already done it, Grover decided to tell the events of the last few weeks. And as he'd apparently been doing, Percy denied he'd intruded himself as the fifth member of the quest with the sole purpose of saving Annabeth. He adamantly explained that it was because a goddess had been captured and he needed to save her because of some monster. But everyone present in the room - and probably at Camp Half-Blood, too – knew it was just an excuse.
"C'mon, man! Aphrodite wouldn't appear to speak only to you if it was because of Artemis!" Grover insisted.
Percy had met Aphrodite? The goddess of love? Funny how he'd forgotten to mention that when he first told Sally about the quest.
With his cheeks turning slightly pinkish, Percy shot a wide-eyed glare at Grover and then glanced at Sally. But it was too late to cover Grover's accidental slip of information.
"Interesting, I don't remember hearing about that yet," Sally commented in a slightly teasing tone.
It was Grover's turn to shoot an apologetic glare at Percy.
"Uhn… Yeah…," Percy stammered. "But it was no big deal. She just wanted to inform us to not take anything from Hephaestus' junkyard."
"I still don't believe it, Percy," Grover said. "Besides, we have the empathy link, remember? I could feel your heart wanting to jump out of your chest. Was that because Aphrodite is as beautiful as they say or because of what she told you?" By that point, Sally realized Grover was purposely teasing Percy.
Percy's cheeks turned redder.
"I don't know why I am your friend," Percy mumbled, embarrassed by the situation.
Sally knew her presence was making the situation more awkward for Percy, so she excused herself from the room with the pretense of getting some more juice for the boys. She walked far enough so the boys couldn't see her, but their voices were still in earshot.
"So, Percy? Your mom's not here anymore. You can say how stunning Aphrodite was. Everyone lucky enough to meet her couldn't resist her charm. I've heard some stories, but you've met the goddess of love. How was she like?" Grover said, a dreamy tone to his voice
Percy took a few seconds to answer.
"Yeah, she was beautiful. I don't remember what she looked like. I think her appearance was constantly changing. But I think she had curly hair. And when she smiled… it looked slightly…" Percy stopped as if wondering if he should continue. After a second, he did. "Her smile kinda looked like Annabeth's," Percy finished, slightly faster than the rest of the sentence.
Sally couldn't hear any reaction from Grover. She, however, didn't bother to hide the smile that spread on her face. Of course, for Percy, the goddess of love would resemble a certain curly-haired girl.
"And what did she actually say?"
"She rambled some nonsense about quests for true love and tragic love stories, you know, the typical Aphrodite's business," he added casually, hoping it would dismiss the importance of the matter.
"That's why you felt the same as when we were at Westover Hall?" Grover asked, his teasing tone back.
"What happened at Westover Hall?" Sally chose that moment to return with the drinks, figuring Percy would be suspicious if she'd taken any longer.
"Nothing." Percy quickly responded, and Sally decided not to take the matter further.
She only got her answer a while later when Grover had already left, and she was alone at the apartment with Percy.
"Hey, honey," She caught Percy's attention. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Percy looked at Sally with a questioning look.
"I know, Mom. Why?"
Sally did not pretend she hadn't a reason for her question.
"What's happening with you and Annabeth? You're acting weird around her. I could sense something was wrong the last time I saw her."
Percy remained silent for a second, Sally figured, wondering how to put his thoughts together. Then, Percy finally spoke. He explained that he and Annabeth were constantly arguing because Percy didn't understand why Annabeth could still care so much about Luke after everything he'd done. He understood Luke had once protected Annabeth, but he had now turned evil, possessed by the Titan's lord, Kronos.
As Percy spoke, the pieces started to fit into place. Sally could now understand why Percy's dislike for Luke had always seemed slightly unproportioned.
Then, Percy told Sally about the most recent events. Timidly, Percy explained how he had been convinced Annabeth would join the Hunters of Artemis and how scared the thought made him, only for Thalia to join them instead. Percy even said that while they danced (for the second time), he had tried to express those feelings to Annabeth, but his words failed him, and he couldn't tell Annabeth how he felt. Finally, he also told Sally about his conversation with Athena and how the goddess told him his fatal flaw was loyalty and that she disapproved of his friendship with her daughter.
It was more than Sally had hoped to hear, but she let her son speak. Then, stroking the new silver strand on Percy's hair, Sally spoke softly:
"Percy, honey. You shouldn't care so much about what Athena says. If it wasn't for your loyalty, you would have never gone to save Annabeth, and I know how grateful she is that you went. As for telling Annabeth how you felt relieved she wasn't joining the hunters, don't worry too much about it. I'm sure Annabeth figured that on her own. And I can see she cares about you, so that's not what will keep you two apart. I also know she will come to her senses and realize how evil Luke truly is. She's a smart girl, after all."
Those seemed to be the right words. With a smile, Percy wrapped his arms around Sally and softly whispered: "Thanks, Mom."
By the end of that summer, Sally started to wonder when Percy would stop denying his feelings for Annabeth.
It started the day before Percy's orientation at Goode High School. Worried about how Percy felt about going to a new school - her boyfriend's nonetheless, Sally knocked on Percy's room door to check on him. What she saw was not what she expected: Percy's bed was covered in almost every piece of clothing he owned as if it had been discarded, and shoes were scattered all over the floor. In front of the mirror, Percy himself contemplated his reflection, analyzing the outfit in his hands.
"Percy, dear?" Sally interrupted him. "What's happening here?"
Percy turned his head and tossed the t-shirts and shorts aside.
"Nothing," he answered rather too quickly. "I mean, nothing serious. I just wanted to look good tomorrow for… you know… orientation. New school and all."
The situation was unlike Percy's. Sally had never seen him worrying about his clothes, much less the day before the occasion. However, she believed him. Even if he'd never put the effort in other schools, Sally knew how much Percy wanted to not mess things up at Goode.
So, she helped him pick an outfit: a pair of gray jeans and a nice button-down shirt.
"That's too formal, mom," Percy complained. "I need something more casual. I can't go to the movies like that!"
"Movies?" Percy hadn't said anything about going to the movies. But from how Percy tensed and the mess in his room, Sally started to put two and two together.
"Yeah. Annabeth Iris messaged me not long ago. She wanted to know how I was feeling about the new school. When I told her I was a bit nervous, she suggested we could go out somewhere after orientation. So, we're going to the movies," Percy explained while nervously running his hand through his hair.
Sally should have realized sooner Percy would never put such a great effort into his appearance just for school orientation. Nonetheless, she helped Percy change the button-down to a baby blue T-shirt and a shirt over it.
"It's great! Thanks, Mom," Percy said, placing his outfit on the coat rack to use the next day.
Sally adjusted the shirt to ensure it wouldn't wrinkle and then smiled at Percy.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. But I'm sure anything you wear would be fine for Annabeth." She said, making her way to the door.
"Ah! And when you get home, I'll want to know how your date went!" She added before leaving the room.
Sally vaguely heard Percy yell something that sounded like "not a date!" as she closed the door behind her.
Sally couldn't help but be slightly disappointed that Percy's date with Annabeth hadn't happened. Perhaps that could have been the chance for him to figure his feelings out. He was 14 now, and Sally sometimes wondered when her son had grown to be old enough to go on dates. Even if he still was a bit oblivious when it came to relationships. She did get worried, listening to Percy's voice message about monsters attacking the school. Still, when he was told he was with Annabeth, Sally felt immediately reassured. They wouldn't let anything happen to each other.
Nonetheless, it was a relief when, a few days after, Percy Iris messaged her, and she saw him safe at his cabin at Camp Half-Blood. However, Sally immediately noticed something was wrong. Percy didn't resist. He told her he and Annabeth were about to go on another quest and everything it implied. But he also explained everything that was happening between him and Annabeth. Even if Percy sometimes nervously ran his hands through his hair, Percy was less nervous about speaking with Sally about the subject. He told Sally about Annabeth's prophecy and how he'd tried to talk about it with her, and she didn't fight but instead hugged him.
"Percy, dear. You're not a little kid anymore. I know how much it must worry you that Annabeth knows something she's not sharing. But you said so yourself. You told her you would be on this quest with her, right?"
Percy nodded. "Yeah. I would never abandon her, much less in a situation like this."
Sally smiled. "Then keep following your heart's instincts. You know everything will be alright with you two."
-BREAK-
Sally's suspicions that Percy's feelings were reciprocated were confirmed in the worst way possible.
It had been a few weeks since she'd last heard from Percy. Chiron had iris-messaged her to explain that Percy was missing and how everyone at Camp Half-Blood was doing their best to try to bring him back safely, especially Annabeth. However, that day was different. The doorbell rang, and when Sally opened the door, she faced a disheveled Annabeth. Her eyes were bloodshot and red, visibly from excessive crying, and Sally's heart dropped to her stomach before Annabeth could say what Sally didn't need words to know.
"He's gone," The blonde girl said before bursting into tears. Sally caught Annabeth between her arms, holding her tight until their tears stopped falling. She didn't know if she was comforting Annabeth or the other way around.
First, Sally wanted to believe it was all a lie, a bad dream, or even her imagination. But Annabeth's pain was palpable, and Sally was forced to acknowledge the truth of the situation. Then, she wanted to scream at the gods. Blame and curse them for taking away her son. Instead, she turned her head to Annabeth and spoke, barely above a whisper.
"How did he…" She couldn't say the word, but Annabeth didn't need to hear it to understand her unfinished question.
Annabeth tried to recompose herself enough to tell Sally the story. Sally listened as Annabeth told her how Percy had used his powers to allow Annabeth to escape from a dangerous situation, which resulted in the explosion of Mount ' Volcano. Sally felt some comfort knowing that her son had died a hero, protecting his friends.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Annabeth broke into sobs again against Sally's chest. "Damn the prophecy!" Annabeth furiously screamed into the air. Sally didn't scold Annabeth. "There were so many things I needed to tell him…" Annabeth started to calm down. "At least, I tried to let him know I lo…" The words caught in Annabeth's throat. "I loved him. Although he is ... was too much of a seaweed brain to understand it."
Sally noticed the present tense and how Annabeth had immediately corrected herself. Sally wished she hadn't. Sally didn't want those to be the circumstances in which Annabeth admitted her feelings for Percy. She wanted her son to be alive so Annabeth could say those words to him.
"He knew, dear," She tried to comfort Annabeth, pulling her closer to her body. "Percy knew how much you loved him. And he loved you, too. You were special to him, and I want you to know I'm grateful for that."
Annabeth stared at Sally, wondering if she should speak. She took a deep breath while a solitary tear ran down her cheek.
"No. That's not what I meant. I love Percy. I love him. And I wished I had told him sooner. Not right before he died," Annabeth managed to say before crying again.
Sally knew it. She'd figured it out a while ago. But hearing Annabeth say it so bluntly sent a sharp pain through her heart. She would never see her son again.
"Oh, dear," Sally held Annabeth against her chest. She pondered about telling Annabeth she knew Percy felt the same way. But Sally decided against it. The girl had already too much to wrap her head around. She didn't need any more. Perhaps one day in the future, she would tell her.
Annabeth held her head up. "I know I will have to forget these feelings even if I don't want to. But I promise I will always hold a special place in my heart for him," Annabeth declared.
"I'd never thought you wouldn't," Sally replied. She felt comfort in knowing that at least Percy had made good friends who would remember him.
"We're already planning a funeral at Camp. I'll weave his shroud myself," the blonde-haired added.
Sally's heart swelled at the gesture. She knew that Annabeth would always love Percy, even if not in the same way in the future. Meanwhile, Sally couldn't even imagine how hard the loss was for Annabeth. The poor girl had grown up abandoned by everyone she knew: her mother, her father, her stepmother, Luke, and now, Percy, although the last one hadn't been intentional. Pondering over that, Sally vowed right then that Annabeth wouldn't feel abandoned by her, too.
"That's a great love gesture, sweetheart. I'm sure Percy would have appreciated it." When Annabeth weakly smiled, Sally added: "And, Annabeth? If you ever need anything, I'm here for you."
Annabeth nodded her head. "Thanks, Sally," Annabeth murmured, and Sally felt the girl tightening their embrace.
That was when Sally realized the depth of Annabeth's feelings, which made her wonder if perhaps Percy had also loved the girl with the same intensity.
Even after three years, Sally couldn't understand how Percy hadn't realized Annabeth liked him yet.
A few days after the conversation with Annabeth, Percy showed up at her front door with Annabeth in tow. Sally thought her eyes were playing a trick on her, but it only took her one heartbeat to wrap her arms around her son, holding him like she would never let him go.
A while after the emotional reunion, the three were seated at the kitchen island, eating blue cookies at Sally's insistence. Percy and Annabeth took the opportunity to catch up on their quest, smoothing out some details as usual. Sally didn't know if she should feel relieved that her son was alive or worry about the danger he'd gotten himself into. During the conversation, Sally observed Annabeth's gaze focused on Percy, studying him when he was too focused on speaking to notice. She also noticed how Percy's smile widened when Annabeth laughed at one of Sally's remarks.
Eventually, the conversation went to Percy's first day at Goode High School, and he told her he would tell Paul the truth about his heritage until the question she most dreaded came up. When would Sally see her son again? Knowing Percy, he would probably return to Camp to finish the quest he started with the girl seated next to him.
Annabeth chose that moment to react by breaking her cookie in half and looking at it absently. "Percy has this plan…," Annabeth said. Sally didn't fail to notice the girl's closed expression. She wondered if maybe it had something to do with the heavy air hanging between them.
Percy spoke, reluctantly explaining how he planned on bringing the mortal girl, Rachel, to the quest since she could see through the mist. And then, it clicked. Of course, Percy was being, as Annabeth called him, a seaweed brain by suggesting to add Rachel to the quest right after Annabeth confessed her feelings for him.
But even though Sally could tell Annabeth wasn't happy about the solution, she knew that Percy was doing what he thought was best for Camp Half-Blood - Although a small part might have been the strange interest he'd been showing for the mortal girl. So, maintaining her neutrality, she answered what she knew was right, warning them to be careful during the remainder of the quest.
"We'll try, Ms. Jackson. Keeping your son safe is a big job, though," Annabeth answered, looking out the window with her arms crossed. Percy nervously fumbled with his napkin. Sally couldn't tell whether Percy was aware he was the cause of Annabeth's jealousy, but she could tell he knew something was wrong between them.
"What's going on with you two? Have you been fighting?" She asked, with a frown specially directed at Annabeth.
Neither of them said anything. But the silence was an answer enough for Sally to understand everything. Why hadn't they spoken about it yet? She had hoped Annabeth's confession would be the push that Percy needed to confess his feelings, but apparently, she had been wrong.
"I see," Sally said, although she mostly spoke to herself. Sally had no idea how her son could be so oblivious. But of one thing, Sally was convinced: the other girl, Rachel, would never replace Annabeth in Percy's life.
Sally was sure that the feelings Percy shared for Annabeth were more than a simple crush a few weeks later.
Seeing Percy out in the firescape, watering a plant in the middle of the night, was not something Sally expected. Yet, that's exactly how she found him just a few days after his birthday. Sally stood still for a while, observing Percy watering the small silvery plant, wondering where it had come from and why it seemed so dear to Percy. She watched Percy put the green waterer away and sit on the metal floor, contemplating the skyline and the cars moving on the street below.
"Hey," Sally finally interrupted the silence, leaning against the doorframe.
Her words startled Percy, who jumped at hearing her voice.
"What are you thinking about?" Sally asked.
Percy glanced at the silver-shining plant in the pot by his side.
"Nothing in particular. Just about life," he answered in a whisper.
"Wanna share your thoughts?" Sally asked softly.
"Not really," Percy shrugged his shoulders.
Sally didn't push Percy to speak. He would do it when he felt ready.
"Wanna tell me, at least, why is this little plant so important to you? Don't think I haven't seen you taking care of it."
Percy flushed slightly. "It was a gift. From when I went missing," he vaguely answered.
"Oh," Sally gasped. Percy had never shared with her what had happened during those two weeks that he went missing, just a couple months previously. "Can I know where you were?"
Percy stood silent for a few moments. Then, he decided to speak.
"I was on a magical island."
Sally didn't need Percy to elaborate further to realize which island Percy was referring to. She knew enough about Greek myths. After all, she'd dated the god of the seas.
"Ogygia," Sally murmured, half to Percy and half to herself.
Percy looked up at her, his eyes widening with disbelief.
"How did you…"
Sally giggled. "I do know Greek mythology. Or are you forgetting who your father is?" She replied with a knowing smile.
"Yeah. Never thought about it…," Percy commented. "But yes. Calypso gave me this plant. It's a moonlance. It grows during nighttime," he said, observing the plant closely. "Before I left, she gave it to me and asked me to plant it here in Manhattan."
Sally listened while Percy continued to speak, telling her all about the two weeks he'd spent with the sorcerer.
"I'm so sorry, mom," Percy concluded. "I never intended to worry any of you. Time runs differently there. I couldn't tell how much time had passed. It felt like I was only there for a couple days…"
"It's okay, Percy. You came back and are here right now. That's what matters," Sally comforted Percy, wrapping her arms around him.
Percy relaxed into the hug. "I wanted to stay." He confessed, his voice laced with such honesty that Sally's heart squeezed in her chest. "Calypso was offering me a chance to escape all this mess. If I had stayed, I would have avoided the prophecy and the eventual battle against Lu…Kronos. But then, I remembered why I had to come back. I was on a quest with Annabeth… and couldn't leave her alone. I promised her I would end the quest with her. Besides, everyone at Camp is counting on me, and I can't let them down."
Here it was again. Lately, Sally had noticed a shift in how Percy spoke about Annabeth. She knew the girl was the reason behind Percy's worry during the last few days, although Percy hadn't shared too much about the subject. Sally decided to try her luck.
"She was worried about you when you went missing. She refused to believe you were dead until the very last minute."
Sally felt Percy tense up next to her. "I…I didn't mean to…," Percy didn't say anything else, but it was enough for Sally to understand. Besides, she couldn't tell if Percy noticed that his fingers instinctively rested against his lips at the mention of Annabeth. And, of course, that was what was bothering him. When the kiss happened, Sally had no idea. But she did know that the two had to sort their feelings out.
"Are you guys still fighting?" She asked, trying to keep the question in a casual tone.
"I don't know," Percy immediately answered. "We went together to the Fourth of July fireworks. But I think she's still mad at me. I still don't know why."
"Are you sure you don't know?" Sally raised an eyebrow. Percy flushed.
"Chiron said she was jealous…"
"And what do you think?" Sally prompted Percy to continue.
"I… Annabeth… It's not like we.., uhhh."
Despite the lack of information, Sally understood what Percy meant.
"So, if you know, why don't you tell her how you feel?"
Percy's expression darkened. He glanced at the flower beside him before answering Sally's question.
"I can't," He said in a grave tone that Sally rarely saw him using. "I'm supposed to die in less than a year. I can't do that to Annabeth."
Then, Percy turned to Sally, daring to look her in the eyes. "I saw how wrecked she looked at my funeral. I heard the pain in her speech about her lost best friend." Sally noticed how Percy emphasized the word friend.
She was too stunned to speak. Sally didn't know when Percy had gained such maturity, and she felt incredibly proud of Percy for thinking about Annabeth's feelings. But at the same time, his words also weighed on her heart. They meant he had no hope for his future.
"I think you should tell her how you feel," Sally decided. "Even if you die, Annabeth would like to know. You don't need to start a relationship if you don't feel ready or prepared. But at least none of you will be stuck wondering: 'What if?'. Annabeth deserves to have a choice, don't you think?"
"Oh," Percy murmured to himself. He then turned to Sally. "Right before the explosion on Mt. St. Helens, Annabeth…," he took a deep breath, pressing his finger to his lips again as if trying to find any lingering feeling. "I tried to pretend it didn't happen because I thought it was for the best. I feel bad about it now," he confessed.
Sally pressed herself closer to her son, trying to give him some comfort but also some of her hope for his future. "You still have time. It's not too late yet."
It was her day, but Sally was only 99% focused on herself. That stubborn 1% was always on Percy, even on her wedding day.
After a simple courthouse ceremony, Sally and her now-husband headed to their apartment to share some blue wedding cake with Paul's parents and brother. Sally wanted Percy to be part of her special day. So, she asked if he would like to invite a friend so he wouldn't feel left out amongst the other adults. She didn't need Percy to say it for Sally to know his answer would be Annabeth.
The presence of the blonde-haired girl rendered a few awkward moments for them, especially when Paul's parents assumed Annabeth was Percy's girlfriend. Percy and Annabeth immediately dismissed the idea, but not before awkwardly looking at each other and blushing a light shade of pink. As she was used to when that question appeared - every time they went together anywhere, Sally muttered a "not yet" when the two teenagers weren't looking.
Sally assumed Percy had followed her advice the previous summer and talked with Annabeth about his feelings. After their quarrel over Percy being friends with other girls, Annabeth seemed to have forgiven Percy, and the duo was now on much better terms. They were back to acting like best friends, even though Sally could notice a certain closeness. And Paul seemed to have noticed, too. Discreetly, without his family noticing, Paul caught Sally's attention and silently pointed to the window to the firescape.
Seated on the metal floor/steps, Percy and Annabeth sat side by side, their shoulders touching. They laughed carefreely, too absorbed in their world to notice Sally and Paul watching them. Between them lay a half-eaten piece of blue wedding cake. Sally observed them while Annabeth playfully punched Percy in the arm and muttered something before shoving a spoonful of cake into her mouth.
The scene warmed her heart. Sally rarely saw either of them laughing. They were usually too worried about saving the world to have time to be two regular teenagers and have fun together. It felt good for Sally to know that her special day was also one of the rare days when she saw Percy happy. Even if she knew the blonde-haired girl was the reason behind his smile. Sally hadn't missed how Percy's eyes seemed to be focused solemnly on Annabeth and how they seemed to sparkle when the girl laughed.
Paul's tap on her shoulder caught Sally off-guard. She turned back to her husband with a smile that hadn't left her face since that morning. Paul smiled back at her, his eyes shining with happiness and love for her. His look seemed familiar. And not because Sally had been used to it when looking at Paul. And that was when it dawned on her: It was because it was the look on Percy's face every time he was with Annabeth or talked about her.
Leaning into Paul's embrace, Sally wondered if Percy had already found a love like the one she'd done with Paul.
It was no surprise when Sally learned, by the end of that summer, that Percy and Annabeth were dating.
It was the last day of Camp, and, as she did every time she could, Sally waited for Percy at the bottom of Half-Blood Hill. She hadn't seen her son yet since the demigods had been too occupied at Camp, trying to recover the losses of the war, and, as a hero, Percy was expected to be present until the end of the summer. Everything she knew about the battle she had learned through Poseidon, who'd told her everything personally.
It was a bit past noon, the hour every camper was expected to have left, when from the car's window, Sally saw two familiar figures running down the hill. Annabeth reached the end of the road, panting, when, just a few seconds later, Percy, who ran behind her, stopped by her side.
"I told you you'd lose, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said, her words ragged as she tried to regain her breath.
"Not fair, Wise Girl! I barely had time to…Oh! Hi, Mom," Percy said when he saw the blue Prius parked across the road.
"Hi, Sally!" Annabeth said right after.
The two seemed happy, which Sally deduced was from spending the last two weeks without worrying about the world's fate and enjoying summer at Camp. She watched as Percy adjusted his backpack and took Annabeth's hand in his to cross the road to meet Sally. Sally stepped out of the car and wrapped Percy in her arms.
"Okay, Mom, missed you too," Percy said when Sally let go of the hug.
Then, she gave Annabeth, who hadn't let go of Percy's hand, a hug, too. After all, the girl was almost like a daughter to her. "Oh, Annabeth, dear. It's always great to see you. How are you?"
Sally expected Annabeth to answer with a simple "I'm good." Instead, the girl glanced at her and Percy's entwined hands, and with a widening smile, she responded: "I'm great!".
Sally had always been good at reading people. And over the years, she'd learned to decipher the subtle changes in Percy and Annabeth's relationship. All the pieces started to fall into place. Annabeth's eyes seemed to glow when she glanced at Percy. And Percy, whose eyes were fixed on Annabeth, seemed to be smiling wider, too. That told Sally all she needed to know.
Sally wasn't surprised the two teens had finally decided to take the next step in their relationship, which, in Sally's opinion, had been impending for years. After a brief chat and having Percy's things in the car, it was time to leave Camp. Sally said goodbye to Annabeth, and when it was Percy's turn, Sally noticed he became slightly awkward.
"So, yeah… goodbye, Wise Girl…" He said, looking at Annabeth while fumbling with his hands. The girl looked at him expectantly. When Percy didn't do anything else, Annabeth wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed their lips together in a brief kiss. Percy's arms wrapped around Annabeth, evolving the girl in a hug. "I'm gonna miss you, Wise Girl," he said.
"Me too, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth replied, squeezing Percy's hands with hers before letting him go. "But hopefully, we'll see each other soon."
"Yeah, I hope so," Percy replied before entering the car and closing the door next to his seat.
For a while, Percy stayed silent, looking at the Long Island view from his car window. It reminded Sally of when, a few years previously, Percy awkwardly tried to deny his feelings for his now-girlfriend.
"I see you and Annabeth finally figured things out," Sally started casually to get Percy's attention.
Percy blushed. Even after all those years, he still became awkward when Sally brought Annabeth up in a conversation.
"Yes. We talked some months ago, as you suggested. And we agreed to wait until the war was over. In case, you know…, the prophecy and my birthday…," Percy explained briefly, just like he always did.
"I'm so proud of you, Percy," Sally said, reaching her hand to caress Percy's leg next to her.
"For what?" Percy asked, confused.
"For reaching your 16th birthday. I always knew nothing was going to happen. And for making the right choice."
Percy turned his head away from the window to face Sally.
"What choice?"
"Back in Olympus, after the war," Sally clarified.
"Oh. How do you know about that?"
"Your father spoke to me after the war ended."
Percy took a second to fully understand Sally's words.
"My father. You mean Poseidon?"
"Yes. Poseidon appeared to me personally. He wanted me to know how brave you had been during the battle. He also told me about the god's offer and what you chose instead. Maybe he was right, and you took after me in some things," Sally explained, winking at the last part.
Percy played with the beads on his camp necklace. "I couldn't imagine myself being like this forever… I looked at everyone in that room and realized I wanted to live a normal life. I want to grow up, finish high school, and do normal stuff." Then Percy paused for a second, and Sally realized there was another part to Percy's explanation. "And… when I thought Annabeth was joining the hunters a few years ago… I didn't want her to feel the same. I couldn't leave her like that."
Of course, Annabeth was one of the reasons for Percy to remain mortal. Perhaps the main reason, although Percy would never admit it. They'd grown so attached to each other that Sally could understand why he wouldn't want to live without the girl by his side.
"I'm very happy for you two," She added. "It was about time."
Percy smiled at Sally's comment.
"Thanks, Mom. I think you always knew that, but I care a lot about Annabeth," Percy answered, this time not bothering to hide his smile. "Besides, everyone else at camp seemed to be waiting for this, too," He added, slightly embarrassed.
Sally smiled at herself. Percy cared a lot for Annabeth, that was for sure. But what Percy didn't know was that Sally knew his feelings were more than that. It was still too soon, but one day, Sally knew Percy would describe his feelings as love. But she didn't say anything. She didn't want to scare Percy. He still had plenty of time to figure it out for himself. After all, Sally considered he'd done okay on his own so far.
It didn't take Sally too long to know it was indeed love. Because when, a few months after, Percy went missing, no one searched for him more fiercely than Annabeth. In fact, it was Annabeth who kept Sally calm during those months.
At first, it had felt too familiar when Sally learned that Percy was missing. It was a regular morning when Annabeth knocked at Sally's door, asking if Percy was home. Sally noticed the girl's worried expression, which turned into despair when she answered that Percy hadn't been home since the previous day.
"What happened, Annabeth, dear?" Sally asked.
"Percy's been missing since last night. He's nowhere, and I can't Iris-message him," Annabeth responded, her voice straining. Noticing Annabeth's discomfort, Sally invited her in so that Annabeth could explain what was happening with her son. Once seated with a warm cup of tea, Annabeth broke down.
"Why us? Why does it only happen to us? I can't… I can't lose Percy!" Annabeth started to cry. Sally sat next to the girl and wrapped her arms around her. "He's my best friend. I won't lose him just like that!" The girl protested to no one in particular.
"Shh, Annabeth. I'm sure Percy's alright. He will probably show up soon. If there's something that I'm certain is that Percy would never be gone for too long without telling you. He cares too much about you," Sally comforted Annabeth. Those seemed the right words because Annabeth cleaned the tears from her eyes and faced Sally.
"You're right. And if Percy doesn't show up soon, I won't rest until I find him," Annabeth declared.
And that was what she did. Percy was officially declared missing, and during the first few days, Annabeth spent every second of her day searching for him. She jumped in at every possible clue to find him, jumping across the country and back. However, none of her efforts worked, and a few months later, Percy wasn't back yet. During that time, the two girls relied on each other for comfort, sharing their hopes that Percy was alive. Sally lost count of the times Annabeth showed up at her door at the end of the day, and they cried in each other's arms until Annabeth was too tired to go back home. Or how many times Annabeth ended up sleeping on Percy's bed. Another person would have lost hope by then. But not Annabeth. Sally admired how strongly Annabeth believed that Percy was still alive and how she hadn't lost hope of finding him. If that wasn't love, then Sally didn't know what it was.
However, one day, something changed. It was another regular day when Sally opened her apartment door to the familiar blonde-haired. But this time, Annabeth looked different. She still looked crestfallen, but the hope in her eyes was gone.
"I think I know where he is," Annabeth said. The good news didn't match Annabeth's expression, so Sally invited the girl in, letting her explain everything. Annabeth explained about the new demigods who'd recently joined Camp Half-Blood. She told Sally about a guy named Jason, a Roman demigod who'd showed up at Camp with his memory whipped, courtesy of the goddess Hera. She explained that Hera had planted fake memories of a relationship with another demigod girl in Jason's head and how Jason's memories were slowly returning. Annabeth said that Jason remembered he had come from a demigod camp in California, where he had had a kind of girlfriend. Immediately, Sally understood Annabeth's worried expression.
"...And we think Percy might be in that camp in California," Annabeth finished the story. "But if we're right, what if he doesn't…" Annabeth could no longer keep up her strong facade. After all those years, Sally knew Annabeth enough to know that despite how strong she looked, Annabeth was just a fragile little girl inside.
"You're worried he won't remember you," Sally concluded. A tear ran down Annabeth's eyes. "Yes. Or worse. What if Hera also gave him fake memories? Or what if she didn't and he found someone else?"
All of Annabeth's worries were valid. However, when Sally needed someone to believe her that Percy was okay and he would come home soon, Annabeth kept her hopes up. Annabeth deserved the same faith as Sally.
"Annabeth, my dear. I'm sure Percy is okay. I'm sure he remembers you," Sally tried to comfort the girl.
"But what if he doesn't?" Annabeth sobbed. " I don't think I can cross the country and look him in the eyes after all this time, only for him not to remember who I am. It will break my heart." Sally could tell it was already breaking.
"Annabeth, look at me," Sally faced Annabeth. "I can't promise that Percy remembers you, but I have a question: What does your heart say? Do you believe he remembers you?" Annabeth thought about Sally's words for a second.
"Yes, I do. My heart tells me that Percy wouldn't forget about me that easily," Annabeth murmured.
"Then, I'll give you the advice I once gave Percy: Follow your heart's instincts. They're usually right."
And for the first time in a while, Annabeth gave Sally a genuine smile.
"Thanks, Sally."
Sally wrapped the girl tighter in her embrace. "You can call me mom."
When Percy returned home that summer, Sally could see how much his relationship with Annabeth had evolved.
The first day Percy came home with Annabeth, Sally immediately noticed their growing closeness. The couple sat on the couch in the living room, watching a movie, while Sally prepared dinner. She didn't mean to, but from the kitchen behind the living room, Sally couldn't help but study Percy and Annabeth. Annabeth sat on Percy's lap with Percy's arms wrapped around her from behind. They fit together with an ease that Sally hadn't seen before. They seemed comfortable being as close as possible to each other. While the movie played, Percy absently twirled Annabeth's curls in his fingers. Sometimes, they would lean closer, whispering against each other's faces before stealing quick kisses. They looked as in love as a young couple could be, and Sally wondered if it would be forever. Secretly, she hoped it did.
During dinner, the couple sat side by side, and Sally also noticed how they held hands under the table. After dinner, Percy walked Annabeth to the front door to say goodbye. They lingered there for a while, clearly neither ready to part from each other. Finally, Annabeth pulled Percy into a hug and slowly kissed him.
"Bye, Seaweed Brain," she whispered against him, smiling widely.
"Bye, wise-girl. I love you," Percy whispered back, still holding Annabeth close.
"I love you too," she responded, letting herself go from his embrace.
Sally couldn't remember hearing them say those words before. She'd always known they would reach that point and realize their feelings could be resumed to love, but hearing it out loud stirred something inside her - a hope that their love would never fade. They'd been apart for so long, yet, during that time, their feelings had only grown stronger. It was rare to find such pure love, and Percy and Annabeth had been lucky enough to have found it with each other.
When Percy closed the door behind him, his grin made Sally smile even more. He looked happier than she'd ever remembered, and she could see the dreamy expression that still hadn't faded from his eyes. And at that moment, Sally knew her son was in love.
However, Sally wasn't prepared to learn that their relationship had also evolved in other ways.
A few weeks after the reconstruction of the damage caused by the war, Percy and the rest of his demigod friends had found some time to hang out. Percy, Annabeth, and the new demigods that had joined the quest to Greece were hanging out in Sally's living room, chatting and eating her famous seven-layer dip. At some point, Sally heard Percy answering a question sarcastically, which made everyone laugh.
"Oh, man. That was really a bad pun. I don't think even Leo would have come up with that." There was a brief silence at the mention of Leo, another of Percy's friends, who had died during the battle against Gaea.
"I miss Leo," The dark-skinned girl, Hazel, if Sally recalled, interrupted the silence.
The conversation then turned to Leo and every moment that the boy had made the others laugh on board the Argo II.
"(...) and his reaction when Frank told us about Percy and Annabeth at the stables!" Jason laughed out loud.
Frank's cheeks flushed, and Hazel fanned herself in an old-fashioned way.
"I didn't need to be reminded of it…" Frank said, directing a sharp look at Percy and Annabeth, who sat on Percy's lap.
"Hey! That's totally unfair! We already told you what actually happened in the stables that night!" Percy protested.
"Sure…" the girl next to Annabeth, Piper, said sarcastically.
When Percy turned his head to respond, he noticed Sally had been in the living room, and the panicked look on his face told Sally he realized she'd been listening. Sally raised her eyebrows at Percy, silently asking him what his friends were teasing him about. The furtive look he directed at Annabeth gave his answer away.
"It's true! Nothing more than what we told you happened in the stables that night," Annabeth said, feeling Sally's eyes on her and Percy. Awkwardly, Annabeth adjusted herself, moving slightly away from Percy's chest, not-so-discreetly hiding her face from Sally.
That's when it dawned on Sally. For the past five years, Sally had been so worried about Percy being a demigod and a hero that sometimes she forgot her son was also a teenage boy. And, nonetheless, a teenage boy who'd spent months with his girlfriend in a boat with minimal adult supervision. She should have known it would happen someday, but she hadn't been prepared for it to happen now. She knew they would need to talk about it, Annabeth included, since Sally had promised herself that she would be the motherly figure Annabeth never had. And being family also meant having those conversations, even if Sally would have to acknowledge her son was growing up faster than she wished.
Yet, she wasn't prepared to witness it.
It was mid-spring when an already-a-few-months-pregnant Sally returned home from her check-up appointment. After taking off her coat, she headed to Percy's room to ask him to help with dinner.
"Percy, honey!" She yelled in the corridor of the small apartment. Sally was about to knock on Percy's door as she continued. "Do you…" She didn't finish her sentence.
"What is this, Perseus Jackson?!" Sally exclaimed, shocked by the scene before her eyes.
Percy's room door was wide open, and just a second before, sitting against the headboard, a shirtless Percy had been passionately making out with his girlfriend, who sat on his lap, also shirtless. Annabeth's hands had been tangled in Percy's hair, while he had been holding Annabeth way above the waist for Sally's liking. Upon hearing Sally's voice, the couple quickly jumped apart, making Percy hit the wall behind him with a thud. Embarrassed, Annabeth retrieved her hoodie from the other end of the bed and hastily put it on.
"Mom!" Percy yelled, fumbling around for his own shirt. "I… we…You were not supposed to be home so soon!" He mumbled, earning a glare from a very flushed Annabeth.
"I'll give you two a second to recompose. I'll wait in the kitchen." Sally said, wishing she had gotten home earlier. When the couple emerged into the kitchen a minute later, they still looked slightly disheveled and embarrassed.
"Sally…," Annabeth started, but Sally quickly interrupted, speaking directly at Percy.
"I was going to be the mother who says, "No doors closed when the girlfriend is over," but seeing that the door was already open…" She paused to look at the couple, who sheepishly tried to avoid her gaze. Well, taking care of this baby will already be enough work, if you two know what I mean," she scolded them, pointing to her pregnant bump.
Percy and Annabeth's cheeks turned a dark shade of red, and Sally couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for putting them in such an awkward situation. She was not mad at them. Sally knew it was no use getting upset at her son for this. She already knew their relationship had reached a certain level of intimacy. Moreover, they were both 17 and in a relationship of almost 2 years, which Sally knew was growing more stable by the day. They were still going to do it even if Sally scolded them. She just needed to remind them to be more careful.
"I'll pretend nothing happened this time," Sally spoke softly. "But I still have to remind you to be responsible and protect yourselves, okay?"
Percy nodded, letting out a barely audible "okay" in response. Annabeth looked up at Sally and awkwardly murmured: "We are."
Then, returning to her scolding mother role, Sally turned to the mortified teenagers and added with a playful smile:
"And next time, make sure no one will barge in. I don't need to see more than what I saw today."
When Estelle was born, Sally started to picture Percy and Annabeth's future together.
Since her daughter was born, Sally knew her son and his girlfriend had been in love with her. Percy loved his baby sister, but Sally could tell Annabeth was smitten by the baby girl, too. Most of Annabeth's afternoons at the Jackson household were spent with Estelle contentedly giggling on her lap, with Percy smiling close to them. Sally smiled every time she caught the adoration looks the couple directed at her daughter.
So, when Sally needed someone to watch over the baby girl, she knew she could count on Percy and Annabeth to do it. One of those days, a Friday afternoon, Sally left Percy and Annabeth with Estelle until late at night. That day, she came home to a heartwarming sight: Percy and Annabeth were cuddled on the couch. Percy was asleep with his head resting on Annabeth's shoulders while Annabeth held a peacefully sleeping Estelle in her arms. And for a brief second, it was not Estelle nested between her son and his girlfriend, but a blonde-haired, green-eyed baby that Sally knew one day - she hoped not so soon - would replace her baby girl.
Sally smiled affectionately at Annabeth, who smiled back at her. But she didn't try to disrupt the scene before her, nor did Annabeth. She knew her vision from a few moments before was one of Percy's dreams and one of the reasons his heart had chosen to go to college in New Rome. And if anyone deserved to have their dreams come true, it was Percy and Annabeth. After all those years fighting monsters, Sally wished they could find the peaceful life they dreamed of having together.
When Sally saw Percy smiling brightly, holding his high-school diploma at the graduation ceremony, she realized she wasn't the most important woman in Percy's life anymore.
She used to be when Percy was a little kid. But Percy wasn't a 12-year-old kid anymore. He'd grown up and gradually started to need Sally less and less. He was now almost a grown-up man who would soon move to California with his girlfriend to start a new chapter of his life.
Sally was proud of Percy. Not only for finishing high school but for who he'd become. She knew all Percy's efforts to finish his senior year were for Annabeth. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his girlfriend, and the proof was finishing high school and wanting to go to college just because he knew it was something Annabeth wanted.
The same could be said for Annabeth. She could have gone to college sooner, but instead, she chose to do advanced classes and wait one more year to go to college so that she could go with Percy. Moreover, Sally had been there, seeing how Annabeth insisted on helping Percy with his quests to get the recommendation letters for admission into New Rome University. If Percy had to have someone by his side through it, Sally was glad it had been Annabeth (and Grover). The girl's support had been essential to keep Percy's motivation.
However, the moment was also bittersweet. Because, soon, Percy and Annabeth would be on their way to California, away from their home. Away from Sally. Besides, from what Percy had told her about New Rome, Sally was terrified they would settle in the city and not return to New York. And while Sally was already mourning the loss of her little boy, she was okay with it. Because she knew that if there was someone who loved Percy as much as Sally, it was Annabeth, and next to each other, they were in good hands.
Sally always knew they would be forever, and when the day finally arrived, she couldn't tell who felt happier: her or her son.
It was a warm summer day. The sun shone brightly above Sally's head, and the beach at Camp Half-Blood was packed with demigods, gods, and some mortals wearing their prettiest dresses and suits. But Sally couldn't take her eyes off Percy. Dressed in black suit pants and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow, Percy looked more mature than Sally could ever recall. He looked grown-up. No. He was grown-up. He no longer was the scrawny 12-year-old hero. He was now 22 and about to start his own family.
Sally kept studying Percy's figure below the arch built at Camp Half-Blood's beach for a while. She noticed how his dark hair wasn't tamed, not even on his wedding day - She expected nothing else from him - the curve of his lips that twitched as Percy tried to keep his expression neutral, battling the smile that wanted to escape and his gaze eagerly fixed on the horizon, oblivious to everyone seated before him. She also noticed his posture: the discreet fidgeting of his fingers against his leg and how he shifted his weight from one foot to another. Percy tried not to show it, but he was nervous. And yet, Sally also knew Percy was the happiest he'd ever been in his entire life.
Then, Percy's eyes lit up, his smile widened, and the moment everyone waited for arrived.
Sally didn't forget about Percy, but it was impossible for everyone at the beach to not turn their head toward the blonde-haired girl that just appeared. Annabeth wore a light, elegant white gown, and Sally thought she looked more beautiful than ever. Walking toward Percy with her parents by her sides, she had a grin that matched Percy's. Once Annabeth reached Percy, who took her hands into his trembling ones, Chiron stepped up to initiate the ceremony.
Sally watched Percy and Annabeth commit to each other for the rest of their lives (in the earth and in the underworld, they vowed), with her heart swelling from pride for them. For everything they'd reached together: everything that led to that moment. She couldn't contain the happy tears that ran down her face, which earned a question from Estelle, confused as to why her mom was crying on a happy day. Sally answered her daughter, holding her tighter, and pressed herself closer to Paul. She'd found love. Someone with whom Sally had built a family. And she knew Percy and Annabeth had, too, found happiness with each other. And this was the start of their forever.
And after, when Sally finally got some time to speak to Percy and her now-daughter-in-law, the first thing she said was:
"I knew you two had something special since the first summer."