The door to the apartment slammed shut behind Annabeth, leaving Percy alone. The Son of Poseidon listened somberly to her angry footsteps as she stomped down the hall and out of earshot.

When she was gone, Percy dragged a hand over his face. Bitter tears began to sting his eyes. Somehow, he knew this would happen. After admitting that he didn't want to be a demigod anymore, Annabeth had looked furious. She hadn't told him that their relationship was over, but as far as he was concerned, she didn't need to. It was written all over her face, and embedded in the disappointed look she'd shot at him from over her shoulder.

Nothing seemed real, and Percy felt the world twist beneath him as vertigo kicked in. He wanted to yell, or cry, or drag Riptide in a vicious circle, destroying their apartment and obliterating his life with Annabeth once and for all, but he couldn't. They'd been together so long… could he really just walk away from that?

All at once, he realized that his relationship with Annabeth was far more important than he'd initially anticipated. He had chosen to live with her so that they could attend college together. He was going to do his best to fit in, and not cause trouble so that he and Annabeth could smoothly transition into adulthood… the more he observed the facets of their relationship, the more he understood that she was the reason he even tried to put on a brave face.

He remembered touring campus with her, and feeling anxious and overwhelmed until Annabeth had taken his hand. She'd smiled that smile, and her stormy-grey eyes lit up, like they always did when she was about to learn something new, and suddenly he wasn't anxious anymore.

Everything he'd done leading up to that point was to make his life with Annabeth better. Now that she was gone, it was as though a veil had been lifted from his eyes. His tears stopped, and his eyes went wide as he finally came to grips with how desperately he needed her in his life.

Every second he'd ever spent with Annabeth replayed in his mind, going so fast that it was more of a mixed montage of blonde hair, grey eyes, and Annabeth's trademark know-it-all smirk.

Without even thinking, Percy grabbed his hoodie, pulling it on and zipping it up before flinging himself out of the door.

He reached the entrance of his building and had to stop to let Mrs. Heatherly pass by. She was a wrinkled old lady who smelled like kitty litter and mothballs, but Percy didn't mind. She had invited Percy and Annabeth over to her apartment a couple times for coffee. Her husband had died fighting in the war a long time ago, so while Annabeth learned about what life was like during World War II, Percy got to see some of her husband's war memorabilia. The guy must've been a real life war hero or something, cause he had medals up the wazoo.

"Oh, thank you, dear," she muttered, smiling at Percy.

He barely managed to return the smile, "Not a problem Mrs. Heatherly."

"Say hello to Annabeth for me!" she called, leaving him frozen at the door.

"Yeah," Percy muttered, hoping against hope that it wasn't too late.

With that, the Son of Poseidon came to a halt on the pavement. The sky was cloudy, and a chill gripped Manhattan as a light rain fell. Autumn was on its way out.

Percy looked one way, then the other. All he saw were downturned faces of people bustling in every direction, no doubt trying to get out of the freezing rain. Despair gripped Percy. Could Annabeth have hailed a taxi? Where could she have gone?!

His mom didn't live too far away. The reason they had chosen that particular apartment building was because it was equidistant from the college and Percy's mom's place, just in case anything happened. If Annabeth hadn't left for college, it was the only other place she could go on foot.

Percy had just gotten into stride, and forced his freezing hands into his pockets when a small cough got his attention.

In a little alleyway off to his right, Percy saw a dumpster, a stray cat picking through the surrounding clutter, and Annabeth. She was huddled against the cold brick of their apartment building, and her hair and shirt were both doused from the rain. Her eyes looked red and puffy, as if she'd been crying.

"Annabeth?"

She turned away, sniffling and wiping her eyes. Percy's heart sank to somewhere around his knees. He stood there, stunned and unsure of what to do or say. After a moment, he sighed and took off his sweatshirt, wrapping it around Annabeth's shoulders. She flinched, but pulled the sweatshirt more tightly about herself.

"When I said I wish I wasn't a demigod… I didn't mean it," Percy muttered. "I just… there's so much other shit going on, and I guess after fighting for survival for years on end, you tend to get a little-"

"Numb?" she guessed.

Even without looking at him, Annabeth knew she hit the nail on the head. Percy was such an idiot sometimes. Did he really think that Annabeth didn't feel it, too? She had been beside him every step of the way, on almost every quest he'd been on. They'd shared more near-death experiences than most couples shared kisses. Annabeth was no stranger to how difficult normal life could be for demigods.

"Yeah," Percy rubbed the back of his head. Annabeth turned and her heart skipped a beat. The way he smiled that sad little half-smile reminded her of every dire situation they'd ever been in. It was almost as if were saying 'this totally sucks, but I'm glad you're here.'

But Annabeth wasn't ready to smile… not yet, anyway.

"Come back inside," Percy said, pulling Annabeth's wet bangs away from her face.

"Will you make me the extra special cocoa?" she asked.

"I'll make whatever you want if you forgive me for being such a jackass."

A smile broke through her somber attitude, like a ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds on a rainy day.

"Then I guess you're forgiven," she sighed, wiping her runny nose on the sleeve of Percy's hoodie. She stood on tiptoe to plant a wet kiss on his cheek before taking his hand and leading the way back into their apartment building.

Author's Notes:

What, did you guys really expect me to leave things like that? I am, first and foremost, a sucker for happy endings. That said, relationships are hard work and dedication. Even the best couples have disagreements and fights and tense moments of vulnerability. But I'm not your couples' therapist, I'm just here to write fanfiction. So, I guess that's mission accomplished for me. Oh, and it just so happens that I have an inspirational/unlifting song to go with this, too.

Get Up - Shinedown

Thanks for reading, guys.