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Sally always wanted a daughter when she was young. She wanted to give her advice and hugs, teach her how to braid her hair, and Sally wanted a little girl to come to her when she was needed.
Sally had her son at 19. He was everything she ever needed, and the only thing that truly mattered. Even without the help of his father, Sally knew from the moment he was born that she would move Heaven and Hell if it meant keeping her little Percy safe.
When he was a toddler, he would snuggle up to her during the cold nights. One night, as she was stroking her hair, she changed her mind. If she were to have more kids, she wanted them to be little boys, who came to her with kisses and giggles and questions.
Sally married her first husband when she was 22. He disgusted her to the core, but the protection he offered their family from monsters was worth it - Percy’s safety was worth his abuse.
Not always. There were days when she considered grabbing Percy and running away. After a particularly bad night, she had packed their bags and minimal possessions. Before she could leave though, she remembered that they couldn’t . They needed the money, house, and scent. That night, once Gabe left in frustration for drinks with his friends, and Percy was asleep, she snuck into the shower to clean herself.
The water ran red, and she realized that blood was smeared on her thighs. She groaned at the inconvenience of her body’s timing, and began to ferociously scrub the smell of alcohol from herself, if only for a moment. As she began to wash her hair, she felt a stab of pain, and when she pulled her hand back, she once again found it covered in blood. Sighing, she peeked in the mirror and saw a large gash on her forehead. She lowered herself back into the tub, finally allowing herself to cry. The water mixed with her tears, sweat, and blood. Truthfully, the blood was the most bothersome, as the others were normal occurrences. But isn't the blood, too? She thought to herself. Maybe I’m just meant to bleed. Maybe we all are.
Sally didn’t want a daughter after being with Gabe. She always made sure she was on top of her birth control, and did her best to work late shifts during days she knew there was a risk. She would occasionally see the bruises on Percy’s cheeks, and wished she could believe the excuses he came up with. Every part of her heart ached for a way to keep him safe, but she knew that Gabe was nothing compared to the monsters out there. The idea of another little boy raised under Gabe’s roof made her stomach ache, and the thought of another girl in the house twisted her heart before she could even fully form the thought.
She did her best to raise her son to be respectful and kind, and by the time he began to go to camp, she knew she had succeeded. When she first met the young girl next to him, hair messy and covered in dirt, her heart went out to this new child before she even really knew her. And as Percy began to mention Annabeth more, and bring her round the house, Sally developed a fierce sense of protectiveness for her. When they began to date, Sally was overjoyed at their happiness that the pair seemed to radiate, so unlike anything she experienced before Paul.
Sally married her second husband when she was 34. He was kind, caring, and safe. He viewed Percy as his own son, and loved the two of them more than anything else in the world. The love he showed Sally was beyond anything she thought possible. Their house was filled with peace and warmth, instead of fear and tension.
During the tragic months where her son was missing, Sally found bits of solace when Annabeth came over. The two of them would talk over dinner, and while she wished it was under better circumstances, part of her soul was happy to live those moments with a daughter she’d thought about when she was a child.
After a few months, Annabeth began to open up to Sally about her family. As she discussed her strained relationships with her parents and stepmother, Sally felt that protective anger bubbling inside her. She couldn’t possibly understand how anyone - any parent- saw this perfect little girl and didn’t consider her the most important thing in their life. Percy was top priority, the person she would do anything for. And knowing that no one had truly loved Annabeth that way as a child solidified her maternal feelings towards the woman, and her fears about having a daughter began to slowly dissipate
As they talked about her family, Annabeth told Sally about her relationship with Luke. Sally did her best to hide her horror, and refused to let the tears in her eyes fall. At one point, Annabeth excused herself to use the washroom, and Sally knew that the sniffles behind the door matched her own.
Sally had her daughter at 36. As she held her baby girl in the hospital, she reveled in the fact that she was born into a safe home. Estelle would be able to grow up in a loving family, with the two greatest men in the world. As Paul and Percy looked down at the newborn wrapped in a rose pink blanket, Sally could see the protectiveness in their eyes.
A few weeks later, the boys had run to the store to grab more diapers and other supplies. Annabeth decided to stay back with Sally and Estelle, and offered to tidy up a few things and keep an eye on the baby so that Sally could get some rest. She felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, before agreeing to take a quick shower and nap.
About a few hours later, she emerged from her room to find the house cleaner than it had been since the baby was born, but the girls were nowhere in sight. She crept over to the nursery, and was surprised to find Estelle sound asleep in her crib. Annabeth was also napping in the rocking chair, and Sally melted at the sight of them safe and at peace. She couldn’t help reaching for her phone to snap a quick picture. The flash of the camera stirred Annabeth awake.
“Sorry,” Sally whispered, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“No, I didn’t even mean to fall asleep,” Annabeth said as she rubbed her eyes. “Were you able to get some rest?”
“I was, thank you.” Sally tip-toed over to Annabeth, careful not to wake the baby. “I can’t believe you got her to sleep!”
Annabeth smiled and turned back to Estelle. “She’s so cute,” she sighed. “And loved.”
Sally nodded and wrapped her arms around Annabeth, who leaned into the embrace. The two of them stayed there for a few moments and watched over the sleeping baby girl.
Sally dreamed of having a daughter. For many years, she thought that dream was selfish and unattainable. How could she bring a woman into this world, knowing how dangerous and unfair it was? Whenever she thought about a baby girl, she thought about a world better than the one she lived in.
The world wasn’t perfect, and it had been so cruel. But as Sally looked down at the resting girls, she knew that the least she could do was continue to make sure it was better for her daughters.