Aftermath-Percabeth

Chapter Forty-Nine

Annabeth sighed as she reluctantly stepped out of the cab she'd taken and into the yard of a familiar home.

Rain poured down from the sky, making Annabeth more eager to rush inside.

She went up to the door and knocked hesitantly, hoping she wasn't disturbing anyone.

After several moments of silence Annabeth almost left. Her heart beat rapidly inside her chest as the door swung open.

"Annabeth, what are you doing here?" Hazel's friendly voice asked, immediately ushering her inside. Hazel wore a wide grin, wider than her usual one.

She took Annabeth's soaking coat and led her to the living room.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth said as she wiped her face free of tears and rain. She'd cried almost the whole cab ride to her the house.

Hazel sat across from her. "What's wrong?"

Annabeth shrugged. "I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I'm sorry, I should go—"

"Stay," Hazel said firmly. Annabeth tensed up and nodded. She'd never heard Hazel talk like that to her before. "Now, what's bothering you?"

"It's Percy," she blurted out. She explained the whole fight to Hazel, who was, not surprisingly, a very good listener.

"It'll be okay, Annabeth," Hazel convinced her as she placed a hand on Annabeth's arm. "You're Percy and Annabeth. You'll get over this and everything will go back to normal."

Annabeth couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, but it doesn't really feel like that right now. We're both being so selfish."

"Are you still able to take that job in California?" Hazel asked hesitantly.

"I don't know," she admitted. Then she sighed. "And I don't want it. The minute since I got that phone call I knew I didn't want the job. I love New York. I love camp."

"Then why did you fight with Percy?"

She opened her mouth to speak. Then she gulped. "I don't know, Hazel. I just felt like I was expected to want that. To climb higher in life. But I don't. I just want to stay here where my real family is."

"I'm pregnant," Hazel blurted out. Annabeth's eyes widened. "Sorry. I'm not supposed to tell anyone as it's fairly new, but I was dying over here."

Annabeth grinned. "Congrats, Hazel. You're going to be the best mom. I'm sure. Where's Frank?"

Hazel sighed. "That's the bad part. He's still in New Rome wrapping up his praetor duties."

"I thought you both stepped down before you got married," Annabeth said.

"We were going to," she replied. "I even did. But they could only find one replacement, so Frank stepped in until they find one."

Annabeth frowned. "He's coming back soon though, right? He's going to be thrilled."

Hazel nodded. "I know. He's supposed to be home early tomorrow. One in the morning, to be exact. He told me not to stay up, but I couldn't help it."

Annabeth couldn't help but smile at Hazel's excitement. She was going to wait for Frank all night. Part of that made Annabeth want to rush home into Percy's arm.

Wait, why can't I do that? Annabeth wondered. I miss Percy, and I'm going to see him, fight or no fight.

"Thanks for talking to me," Annabeth said as she stood up abruptly. Hazel frowned. "I've got to go talk to Percy. Congrats, again. See you soon."

Hazel stared as she rushed out of the house. She quickly found a bus station nearby as no cabs waited for her in the suburbs.

She quickly took the last bus home, which barely took her into the city. Then she took several different cabs and arrived at her apartment at midnight.

She quietly walked inside only to see Percy sitting at the counter, looking miserable. He held his face in his hands, a frown plastered on his face.

"I'm sorry," she admitted as she rushed in. Percy stood up. She quickly rushed into his arms. "You did something really sweet."

Percy blushed. "I should've talked to you first. I guess I'm just impulsive."

Annabeth pulled him into a kiss. "That's what I love about you."