Disclaimer: I love the Percy Jackson series, I really do, but no amout of love would mean that I own it.

"Zoë" I pleaded. "Please listen to me. I really think you should stay home."
I can't believe that I was reduced to this, pleading with my only daughter not to go to school. In which universe is this right?
Zoë looked at me with those beautiful green eyes that she had inherited from her father.
"I'm sorry mummy" she said. "But I have to go to school. And you'll be there anyway, won't you?"
The sudden fear in her eyes made me swallow my pride and nod slowly.
"Of course I'll be there, darling."
She smiled again and, again, I was reminded of how much she looked like Percy.
I stood and offered her my hand.
"Come on then, we better get you dressed" I said as I led her up the stairs.

Zoë chose her favourite dress from the wardrobe before asking me to tie a bow around her waist. The ribbon was gray, not unlike my eyes, and the dress matched her own.
And Percy's.
She asked me to put her blonde hair in a ponytail and I obliged. She looked so much like I did when I was her age that it often made people double take.
"What are you going to say?" I asked her as we got in the car.
But she just smiled secretively and said;
"You'll see."

We walked up the stairs to Zoë's classroom and she gave me one last smile as she took her seat. I stood at the back of the class with the other dads who were there for Daddy's Day' and some of them frowned at me, curious as to why I was there. But I wouldn't leave my daughter to face this horrible reminder alone.
"Good morning class" the cheery grade one teacher said.
"Good morning Ms Robinson" the whole class replied.
"As all of you can see today is Daddy's Day so when I call your name I would like for you to introduce us to your daddy and tell us a little bit about him" she pursued her lips in thought. "We'll go in alphabetical order so, Adam, you first."

The time seemed to fly past as each of the other children told everyone about their fathers, each of whom was there. Finally Zoë stood and I dug my nails into my palm. If she was brave enough to do this than so was I.
All of the children, and some of the dads, searched for Zoë's father and none them found him.
"Where's her daddy at?" one of the children cried.
"She probably doesn't have one" another called out.
That I could handle, they were just kids, but then a father spoke up.
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
After class I might just introduce that jerk to the sharp end of my knife.
But Zoë didn't seem to care what everyone else was saying and started her speech.
"I can't introduce you to my daddy so I wrote a poem about him instead" she had everyone's full attention now.
She smiled up at me before breathing in deeply and starting.
"My daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
He taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart.
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart."
I felt the tears track down my cheeks as I watched my daughter. She was so proud of her absent father, and I knew that he was just as proud of her. His little girl.
"I love my daddy very much.
He's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman
and died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
Then Zoë closed her eyes and I watched in amazement as all of the students, the teacher, even the fathers, all closed their eyes with her.
"I know you're with me Daddy" Zoë said without a doubt.
And then the most amazing thing, by far, happened. Beside my daughter I watched Percy shimmer into life as he bent down to kiss his only child's cheek. Zoë smiled, her eyes still tightly closed, as Percy placed a pink rose on her desk. Then he turned to me.
'I love you' I mouthed.
He smiled and mouthed back;
'Forever and ever.'