Second Chance

Chapter 24:

Despite not being in America or on the team anymore, Percy still knew what was going on. The twelve months she'd spent overseas in Europe had allowed her to be able to get over the death of Anthony, I mean it still hurt when she thought about him but she was no longer consumed by grief every time she thought about him.

She knew it was time for her to return not only to America and Atlantis, but to the Team as well.

So she got out of her surface dweller clothes and put on her favorite Atlantean outfit. It consisted of black pants, a sea green waist wrap, and a sea green long sleeve crop top.

She took her hair out of the high ponytail she'd had it in before she put on her silver tiara, and then she took a deep breath to send her bag to her family's summer villa by using her powers.

She then closed her eyes and transported herself to Atlantis, and she knew by the shocked gasps she heard once she materialized that's she'd scared the entire royal court with her appearance.

When she opened her eyes, she saw her mother and father looking at her in shock and everyone else in the throne room was equally shocked as well.

Percy took a deep breath and brought her fist to her forehead in greetings to her father, "my king, my queen." She said and then she dropped her hand and finally met her parents gaze and gave them a timid yet honest expression, "I am sorry for putting you through unnecessary grief and unintended worry since my sudden departure of Poseidonis. However, I needed to come to terms with the death of Anthony. It was selfish of me to do so the way that I did," and she took a deep breath and her hesitancy and fear showed on her face. "However I have returned and I shall accept any punishment you deem fit to place upon me for my reckless actions," she told them but her parents simply shared a look before they focused their gaze back upon her.

"There is nothing to forgive child," her mother said kindly and Percy stared at her parents in shock and her shock increased as her father rose from his throne and swam to her.

She let out a surprised gasp as he slowly wrapped his arms around her in a fatherly hug, an embrace that made her feel loved and protected.

"You are our daughter, no one could even assume the amount of pain Anthony's passing brought you. Mourning the loss of a lover is nothing to be sorry for, we are just grateful that you have not lost yourself in your time of grieving."

Percy floated there in shock for a few seconds, her brain trying to comprehend the fact that her parents weren't mad at her. Once she fully absorbed this information, her arms rose up and she hugged her father back tightly. Burying her head into her fathers broad chest, while the throne room filled with the sounds of cheers.

-0-0-0-

She was now sitting in the privacy of her bedroom in the palace with both her parents and her little brother, telling them about what she's gone through and seen during the twelve months that she'd spent traveling through Europe.

"It brings us such joy to hear about all the magnificent places you have been Percy," her mother said and Percy smiled at her parents. "I wish that I could say that it gave me the strength I need to continue with my life, but it didn't." Percy told her family in sadness, and her father frowned.

"What do you mean by that Percy?" He asked and she sighed as she held onto her brother, "I do not want to get attached to anyone anymore father. For every time that I let people into me heart, they always end up perishing."

Both her parents exchanged shocked and worried expressions at her confession, "but Percy. You need to be able to let people in if you wish to be a good ruler, or just a happy person in general." Her mother told her and Percy looked down at her little brother who was sleeping peacefully in her arms, and she sighed.

"I am sorry mother, but I am doing this for everyone's sake. Nereus has almost perished numerous times because of my incompetence, you and father have nearly perished due to my folly, Tula perished from the Sea Scourge because she was taking care of me, Garth suffered from a broken heart because of me, and it was my relationship with Anthony which killed him. If I let anyone else get close to me, I do not think I could survive if something bad were to befall them because of me."

Her father sighed and placed a hand upon her shoulder, "you are a leader Persis. Your fetal flaw is your loyalty, which is why you take every loss and injury to a friend or loved one so personally." She slowly lifted her head up to stare at her father, "but Percy, you cannot be afraid to let people in. You have to be able to overcome the losses and keep on living your life by accepting what is, letting go of what was, and having faith in what will be."

Percy looked up at her father and both her parents could tell she was crying, so they both leaned forward and embraced her in a loving parental way.

Eventually the hug comes to an end, and despite her red and puffy eyes, Percy looks at her parents with a confident gaze. "Ever since Anthony passed, I have not been able to accept myself as a hero or a princess. However I believe that my discomfort with myself comes from the fact that Antiope was Malcom's partner and girlfriend, perhaps it is time for me to chose a new hero identity to begin a new with?"

-0-0-0-

The team was all at the cave; Bumblebee, Superboy, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Batgirl, Mal, Lagoon Boy, Wolf, Sphere, Miss Martin, and Nightwing.

They were just getting ready for training, trying to keep pushing themselves to be better. Training to ensure that they never lose another teammate ever again, using Anthony's sacrifice as motivation to take down the bad guys.

"I'm really starting to get worried Wing," Connor told his long time friend and the young adult looked at he clone with a frown, "Percy is a capable princess Con. I'm sure everything is fine," he reassured his friend but he sighed. "We both know that's a load of crap Wing, Percy had been with my brother for years. You grew up with her, and she hasn't been seen since his funeral. It's been twelve months, and I'm worried that she's done something stupid since nobody can seem to find her."

Nightwing sighed but understood his friends concern. Percy was a strong fighter and a powerful Atlantean, but even she had crippling weaknesses that could be exploited if she was not thinking clearly. However before he could say anything, the Zeta tubes came to life as someone arrived at the cave.

'Recognized: Nerissa B-09'