DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians'. It completely belongs to Rick Riordan.

Right Here Waiting

By

VMA1998

Summary

Annabeth Chase felt an instant connection to divorced parent, Percy Jackson. She tried to ignore the pestering thoughts and strong feelings that suggested she was in love with him. She couldn't be in love with him. They couldn't be together.

Chapter One

Percy

I stare out the window as the plane lands at the airport. Normally, I am terrified of flying, but my excitement at seeing my seven-year-old daughter out-weighs the fear.

She and my ex-wife, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, moved to another city as soon as our divorce was finalised.

Rachel and I were teenage sweethearts, having been best friends since we were in primary school. I had a huge crush on her throughout high school and asked her out to prom when the time came. We married at twenty while we were both at university. We wanted a small, intimate wedding with only family and close friends involved.

Once we officially finished university we travelled the world before settling back in our hometown. We bought an apartment and we decorated it until it was made fit for a family. We were twenty-seven by the time Lilly came along and everything was perfect.

At thirty-two, Rachel and I divorced. We had tried to work things out but soon realised the best thing we could do was separate. It wasn't fair to Lilly to have to listen to us argue over both stupid and serious things.

Now, at thirty-four years old, I live in the same apartment Rachel and I had lived in together before she had moved out, working as a History teacher at the local high school.

Today is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining bright and the sky is a light blue colour with no clouds present. As soon as the plane lands I walk to the exit and head into the airport to grab my luggage.

I weave through the sea of people, making my way to the baggage claim. Once there, I grab my large backpack and throw it over my shoulder before heading to the airport exit.

I wait a while for a taxi, and then tell the driver to head to the Lotus Hotel when I manage to signal one over. It takes about fifteen minutes to get to my destination and, once I pay the fee, I head inside and get the key to the room I had requested over the phone.

I dump my bag in my room, not evening looking at my surroundings before walking back out and down to the lobby. I am out the door not even five minutes after I arrived and walking the few blocks to Rachel's apartment building.

I check my jean pockets for my wallet, pulling it out and checking how much money I have inside, knowing that like every time I visit, Lilly will want to go to 'Ice Cream Heaven'. After checking that I have more than enough money I pull out my mobile phone and dial Rachel's number.

I press it to my ear and wait for her to answer. "Hello?" the familiar voice finally answers.

"Hey, Rach. I'm on my way," I say.

"Great. How was your flight?" she asks.

"Better than usual. I tried to keep my mind off the flying," I reply. "How are you?"

"I'm great. An art gallery in town has bought some of my paintings," she says. I can hear the smile in her voice.

Rachel has always wanted to be an artist. She wanted people to admire her work and get inspiration just like she had had looking at other paintings. "Congratulations," I grin. "Which one?"

She doesn't answer for a few seconds.

"You still there?" I speak up.

"Yeah, sorry. They bought the one of us," she whispers. I swallow hard.

"You let them have that one?" I whisper back.

"Yes. The offer was too high to decline. It took me five days to agree and when I told them how much it meant to me - to us, they put the price up even higher. Besides, it's not like we won't be able to see it again. We will just have to visit the gallery."

I know she is right so I don't bother to argue. It's not until Rachel asks where I am do I realise that I'm at the entrance of her apartment building.

"I'm here. I'll see you in a minute," I say, before hanging up and heading to the elevator.

The double doors open a few seconds after I press the button. I press the number 6 before leaning against the wall as the elevator doors close. It begins to rise and two minutes later it stops and the doors once again open.

I walk out and head in the direction of apartment 306. I knock on the door and I can hear Lilly call out to me through the door. The door flings open and I don't even get the chance to say 'hi' before Lilly has jumped into my arms.

"Daddy!" she squeals, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. She kisses me as I spin her around, both of us laughing.

"Hey, baby girl," I greet, pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek.

"Eew," she whines, wiping her cheek before jumping out of my arms. "I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a big girl!"

"You will always be my baby, Lilly pad," I insist.

She takes my hand and drags me into the apartment. Rachel is leaning against the back of the couch, grinning at the sight she had just witnessed. "Hi," she smiles, walking towards me.

"Hey," I reply, kissing her cheek and wrapping my arms around her in a quick hug. I turn back to Lilly after I let go of Rachel. "Are you ready to go?" I ask, looking her up and down.

She's wearing blue jean shorts, with pink sandals and a multi-coloured top. Her red hair that she inherited from Rachel is tied back into two long braids.

"Yep. Can we go to the park and then get ice cream?" she asks, begging me with her puppy-dog eyes.

"She looks so much like you when she does that face," Rachel laughs. I nod my head in agreement, realising that even though she has pale skin and freckles like her mother, the rest of her features she inherited from me.

"Of course," I say in answer to Lilly's question.

She jumps up and down in excitement, before grabbing my hand again and leading me to the door.

"I'll see you later," I call out to Rachel.

"Bye!" Lilly yells, before opening the door and dragging me outside.

Lilly slides her hand into mine as we cross the road, heading to 'Ice Cream Heaven', the ice cream store that Lilly and I go to every time I visit.

"What flavour do you want today?" I ask, as we walk into the store and towards the counter.

"Chocolate with colourful sprinkles," she replies.

"Okay," I reply. "Go find us a seat and I'll get the ice creams."

She walks off to find us a table while I wait in the short line made up of five people. Less than five minutes later I am being served. I order one chocolate ice cream with colourful sprinkles and a blue ice cream for me with blue bubblegum sauce.

After paying I turn around and scan the medium-sized store for my daughter. I find her sitting at a table with two small boys and a woman, who's back is to me. I roll my eyes. I should have guessed that she would want to sit with strangers, like usual.

Lilly, just like I did at her age, will talk to anyone and everyone. She's not shy at all and it's hard to get into her head that there are bad people in the big world and not to talk to strangers. She never listens to me when I warn her.

I walk towards the table and she notices me heading towards her. "That's my daddy!" I hear her say before the two small boys that I quickly realise are actually identical twins turn to face me. A few seconds later the blonde woman with her back to me also turns around, and that is when I swear my heart nearly stops.