"I wasn't alone, and no I haven't talked to my mom since the Argo II…I think I made her worried enough about me." His voice trailed off. Jason sighed.
"You go do what you got to do, but just know that we are here for you." Jason stated. Percy gave him a small smile and nodded.
"Hazel and Frank already told me the same thing. Piper and Leo offered to come to Manhattan with me."
"Am I the last to hear of this? My girlfriend and three of my friends were going to leave me to go with you?" Jason faked a shocked and hurt expression, Percy laughed.
"Man, you are not good at sarcasm."
"I am too" Jason pouted.
"No, you're not… but don't worry I think in time you might get better" Percy chuckled and clapped Jason on the shoulder.
"Shut up Jackson," Jason grumbled, but they both had a smile on their faces. "What time were you thinking about leaving?" he asked as they fell into a comfortable silence.
"After lunch," came Percy's quick reply.
"Oh, and were you planning to say goodbye?" Jason asked. Percy frowned and looked down at the ground. No he wasn't planning on saying goodbye to anyone, he was just going to leave and have Chiron break the news, but of course most people already knew he was leaving. "It's fine dude I just hope you stay in contact because I don't think anyone can handle losing you right now." Percy gave a small nod his face a blank mask
"do you think you can handle things on your own for a little while?" Percy asked Jason nodded
"I will be fine and I am not alone."
"well I have to go finish packing " he stated running off towards his cabin.
Later Percy met Argus on the top of Half-blood hill to get a ride back into the city. The ride was silent. Percy just stared out the window, tapped his foot, and drummed his fingers on his leg with nervous tension. On the one hand, he was excited to be going home after almost a year away but on the other, he was nervous what would he say he didn't feel like he could completely explain everything that had happened without breaking down nor did he want to; he didn't want to scare his mother he didn't want to burden her will all the horrors he had seen and experienced. The ride seems to take hours but also seemed to end all too soon before he knew it he was climbing out of the camp's SUV and walking across the street to his mom's apartment building. He walked up the stairs and stopped in front of the door he held up his hand to knock but hesitated after taking a deep breath he knocked. After a couple of agonizing minutes, the door open revealing his stepfather Paul Blofis Percy gave a weak tired smile Paul just stared wide-eyed. Percy shuffled on his feet and was about to say something when he was wrapped in a hug by the older man he dropped his bag and buried his face into his stepfather's chest.
"Paul, honey who is at the door?" came the voice of his mother Percy froze his breath caught
"Sally he's here he has come home!" he called back releasing Percy and stepping out of the way Percy looked up to see the shocked face of his mother
"hi mom." He spoke weakly she ran the rest of the way to the door almost knocking him over tears streaming down her face as she hugged him "I'm sorry I'm so sorry" he spoke into her shoulder
"you grew up." She cried pulling the hug apart but didn't let go looking him over as if checking for injurers or just making sure it was him. She notices that he was taller now and had more muscle he looked healthy but there was a deep sadness in his eyes. "what is wrong?" she says
"I'm tired mom." he spoke softly she brought him back into a hug
"I know sweetheart… your home now." She cried the stood there for several minutes finally she pulled part and whipped Percy's tears and lead him inside Paul grabbed Percy's bag and followed them inside.
The three of them sat on the couch for half an hour just talking softly then Sally got up to get something for him to eat
"you ok son?" Paul asked, Paul wasn't his birth father but he acted like it without forcing it he helped get Percy into the school he was kind to his mother and understanding of Percy faults and why he disappeared for months at a time. Paul understood or at least seemed to that the lift of a demigod can be dangerous.
"Yeah, I'm getting there… we won" he spoke, "we won the war." Percy stated Paul gave him a side hug
"We are here for you" he spoke softly Percy appreciated that he didn't ask any question and just be there which Percy hated to say that was more than Poseidon did. Just then there was a shriek cry coming from deeper in the apartment Percy froze his eyes widening. He was about to ask what it was when Paul grabbed his arm and lead him to the master bedroom there is one corner where the sound was coming from was a crib a light pink blanket moving wildly. Percy cautiously walked to the crib followed by Paul.
"Percy I want you to meet you baby sister Estelle" Paul stated picking the fussing child from the crib and trying to calm her down
"Percy she is not to replace you or anything… you are not loved any less- " Sally spoke quickly as she appeared in the doorway
"can… can I hold her?" he asked cutting off his mother's rambling Sally nodded Paul handed her over showing Percy where to put his hands the baby calmed down almost immaterially.
"wow, I wish I could get her to stop crying that fast." Paul chuckled light heartily
"hi Estelle I'm your big brother Percy." He spoke soothingly Estelle reached up to his face making gargling noise and making grabbing fists. Tears started to fall Percy's face as he smiled at his little sister "I will protect you nothing bad will happen." He whispered but both Paul and Sally heard that tears also in their eyes at the séance.
That night Percy was screaming and trashing in his sleep calling out for Annabeth, Paul rushed into Percy's bedroom to wake him up.
"Percy, Percy it's not real; your safe please wake up!" Paul calls trying to hold Percy down but Percy was a lot stronger them him Sally came in a few moments later with a Crying Estelle Percy's red-rimmed eyes snapped open at hearing his sister crying. His body is trembling and he was breathing hard Sally and Paul sat on either side of Percy.
Percy wasn't aware when Estelle was placed in his arms he cried as his mom rubbed his back soon Estelle stopped crying and Percy became aware of his surroundings holding his baby sister calmed him down seeing that she was asleep in his arms
"sorry." He croaked