I've been meaning to do this chapter for a while. :) Haha! It was fun to write. Hope you like it! :D

READ ON!

Annabeth woke with a start. During the past six months, Annabeth's sleep had been plagued by nightmares to the point of near insomnia. When crazy dreams about the Mark of Athena wasn't haunting her, it was worry over Percy.

This night it had been left over worry. The dream went the same as always. Percy had absolutely no memory of her. Some nights Percy had fallen in love with some other girl, but ANnabeth was thankfully spared that particular pain that night. Next, Percy was killed in front of her while she watched, helpless. That was when she awoke usually.

But this time there was an added feature. The events with the eidolons had ruffled Annabeth. Even for that short moment, the prospect of having to fight a gold-eyed Percy terrified her. His face was full of rage and it was all directed at Annabeth. Briefly, as she painfully began to fight him, she thought she killed him, but it ended up being so much worse.

It ended with her on top of him, and Annabeth knowing she'd have to kill him.

Annabeth briefly considered trying to go back to sleep, but decided against it. She figured there was something that would almost definitely put her to ease. Or rather, someone.

Annabeth had snuck out of camp before. It doesn't sound that hard until you factor in the Harpies. So sneaking from her cabin to Percy's was considerably one of the easiest 'against the rules' thing she's done. As menacing as Coach Hedge was with his baseball bat, Annabeth wasn't exactly fearing for her life at that moment.

Silently, Annabeth crept into Percy's room. Annabeth smiled as she looked down at her boyfriend's sleeping form. His messed up hair and slight drool on his face. Some things never change.

Percy began muttering and Annabeth realized Percy must've been having a nightmare. "We'll save you..." He muttered.

Annabeth leaned down. "Percy." She said, trying to wake him. "Percy."

Slowly and groggily, Percy awoke. When he did, Annabeth smiled.

"Wh-what's going on? Are we there?"

Did he really think so? I mean, come on. "No. It's the middle of the night."

Percy's eyes seemed to widen. "You mean..." He glanced down at himself, as if just realizing he was still in his pajamas. "You sneaked into my cabin?

Seriously? Was he really concerned about that? After all they'd been through, being caught after hours was the very least of their concerns. She rolled her eyes. "Percy, you'll be seventeen in two months." She tried not to think that that would be there one year anniversary, yet they'd been robbed of six months of a relationship. "You can't seriously be worried about getting into trouble with Coach Hedge."

"Uh, have you seen his baseball bat?" Typical Percy logic. Will face an army of Romans without blinking, but shies away from an old baseball bat wielding satyr. Of course.

"Besides, Seaweed Brain," She said, choosing to ignore his comment. "I just thought we could take a walk. We haven't had any time to be together alone. I want to show you something-my favorite place aboard the ship.

"Can I, you know, brush my teeth first?"

Annabeth tried not to laugh. "You'd better, because I'm not kissing you until you do." Then she glanced at his hair, which was even messier than usual and that was saying something. "And brush your hair while you're at it."

Annabeth waited in the hallway as she let Percy get ready. When he was ready he came out and smiled at her. Annabeth loved that smile, it was one he got when he saw her and got all nervous. He didn't give it to anyone else. It was hers.

Walking hand in hand, Annabeth lead Percy to the stables. As they passed the engine room, Percy glanced in. "How does that thing even work?"

"No idea," she admitted. "And I'm the only one besides Leo who can operate it."

"That's reassuring."

"It should be fine. It's only threatened to blow up once."

Percy's face paled slightly. "You're kidding, I hope."

Annabeth smiled, remembering the incident. "Come on."

After some more hallways (this ship was huge), they finally arrived at the stables. Percy stared down at the floor. "A glass-bottomed boat?"

Ignoring him, Annabeth went to grab a blanket and set it down. "Sit with me."

They sat together, Annabeth leaning against him. Annabeth hadn't felt this content in a while.

"Leo built the stables so pegasi could come and go easily. Only he didn't realize that pegasi prefer to roam free, so the stables are always empty." she said in the absence of conversation.

He paused thoughtfully. "What do you mean, come and go easily? Wouldn't a pegasus have to make it down two flights of stairs?"

Annabeth knocked against the floor. "These are bay doors, like on a bomber."

Percy gulped nervously. "You mean we're sitting on doors. What if they opened?"

"I suppose we'd fall to our deaths," she responded, unconcerned. "But they won't open. Most likely," she added, mostly to see him squirm.

"Great." He said, sounding as unnerved as Annabeth expected.

She couldn't help it. She laughed. "You know why I like it here?" She said suddenly. "It's not just the view. What does this place remind you of?"

She watched as Percy studied the room around them. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't be able to connect it.

"The zoo truck," he said finally. "The one we took to Las Vegas." Annabeth was so happy that he got it right that she smiled. This seemed to encourage Percy. "That was so long ago. We were in bad shape, struggling to get across the country to find that stupid lightning bolt," Annabeth sensed some remaining bitterness there. "trapped in a truck with a bunch of mistreated animals," he continued. "How can you be nostalgic for that?"

"Because, Seaweed Brain, it's the first time we really talked, you and me." Annabeth smiled at the memory. She wondered, if she had known all of what becoming friends with Percy would lead to, what she would have done. "I told you about my family, and..." Annabeth fidgeted with her necklace. All of her beads, her dad's college ring, and a beautiful, red coral pendant Percy had gotten her shortly after they had started dating. She'd been so happy at his thoughtfulness when he gave it to her. Annabeth's hands moved to the clay beads. The past four beads each marked with something that Percy, and her, were connected in, in some way shape or form. Especially the first one, a simple trident, symbolizing, at that time, the coming of the first son of Poseidon in a long time. We didn't realize how much it would really symbolize. I didn't realize.

"And it reminds me of how long we've known each other," she went on, fidgeting with the trident bead. "We were twelve, Percy. Can you believe that?"

"No." He admitted. "So...you knew you liked me from that moment?"

She smirked, hoping Percy didn't see her face redden. "I hated you at first," she said, deciding not to mention how short lived that was. "You annoyed me. Then I tolerated you for a few years." That was a lie. After their first quest, he became her closest friend. The line where they became more than that was a little blurry. You could pick dozens of moments since they'd met one another. And, sure enough, the Aphrodite cabin had. It was a near weekly debate that frustrated Annabeth very much. "Then-"

"Okay, fine." Percy interrupted.

She smiled as she kissed him, glad to finally be able to in private. No one to stop them. It was just the two of them. Annabeth wished it could be that way forever.

Almost regrettably, she pulled away. "I missed you, Percy."

Those words were so small compared to the emotion behind them. The months of constant worry, the nightmares and near-insomnia. The days going back and forth between being an emotional wreck and emotionally detached. She was never sure which was better. The days where she felt everything-the undeniable and unbelievable pain, but also the lingering love-or the days she just felt numb. She felt nothing.

Percy seemed to be thinking the same thing, which Annabeth was pretty sure was the only reason he wasn't saying anything. For a while, they just sat there, enjoying the fact that, finally, they were back together.

"Annabeth," he said after a while, sounding nervous. Whatever it was, it peaked her interest. "In New Rome," he continued, "demigods can live their whole lives in peace."

What was he saying. Percy couldn't live in New Rome! He was Greek!

"Reyna explained it to me. But, Percy, you belong at Camp Half-Blood. That other life-"

"I know." He interrupted. "But while I wa there, I saw so many demigods living without fear: kids going to college, couples getting married and raising families. There's nothing like that at Camp Half-Blood. I kept thinking about you and me..." Annabeth's pulse began to race. "...and maybe someday when this war with the giants is over..."

Percy was planning on having a future with her. Annabeth's pulse quickened even more as she felt her face heat. Percy was never much of a pre-planner. The fact that he was thinking of their future together... "Oh." she said, not really sure what to say. She wasn't sure there were right words.

Percy seemed to withdraw self-consciously. "I'm sorry," he idiotically apologized. "I just...I had to think of that to keep going. To give me hope. Forget I mentioned-"

"No!" She said quickly. Annabeth didn't want to forget this. It was one of the sweetest things she'd ever heard come out of his mouth. Up there with when he said the only thing he remembered these past months had been her name. "No, Percy. Gods, that's so sweet. It's just...we may have burned that bridge. If we can't repair things with the Romans-well, the two sets of demigods have never gotten along. That's why the gods kept us separated. I don't know if we could ever belong there." Although Annabeth wouldn't admit it, she agreed with Percy. A secured life in a safe place specifically for demigods had it's definite appeal.

Percy became locked in his own head again. Percy always commented about how often Annabeth would just think about dozens of things, yet he didn't realize how often he did it as well. Not that it was quite the same thought process as a daughter of Athena, but...

"I was having a nightmare when you woke me up," he said finally. Percy told her about the dream, and Annabeth listened silently through it all. Most of it didn't surprise her, she had just hoped that maybe Nico had been spared the extreme bad luck that the seven of the prophecy seemed to be having.

Although, the part about Percy and her being sacrificed to raise Gaea was a little personal.

I mean, it was like the gods were TRYING to make their life as tough as godly possible. Annabeth had stood by Percy's side as he had to make the choice that would raze or destroy Olympus, now both he and she had to worry about being sacrificed to raise the worst possible person to raise. Gaea herself.

"Nico is the bait," she muttered thoughtfully. "Gaea's forces must have captured him somehow. But we don't know exactly where they're holding him."

"Somewhere in Rome," Percy supplied. "Somewhere underground. They made it sound like Nico still had a few days to live, but I don't see how he could hold out so long with no oxygen."

"Five more days, according to Nemesis. The Kalends of July. At least the deadline makes sense now."

"What's a Kalends?"

Annabeth smirked. She admitted, Percy knowing stuff as of late had...thrown her. It was something Percy had never really taken to. He seemed to figure if he had Annabeth, why would he need to learn this stuff. For the most part, Annabeth was fine with that. It just meant she needed him on whatever dangerous task he would go on (not that anything would stop her from going).

"It's the Roman term for the first of the month. That's where we get the word calendar. But how can Nico survive that long? We should talk to Hazel."

"Now?"

She paused. "No," she decided. "It can wait until morning. I don't want to hit her with this news in the middle of the night," she said, but mostly, she didn't want this night with Percy to end so soon.

"The giants mentioned a statue and something about a talented friend who was guarding it." Annabeth felt her blood go cold. How much had he pieced together? "WHoever this friend was, she scared Otis." And Annabeth. "Anyone who can scare a giant..."

Annabeth didn't want to think about it, but this was Percy. If she couldn't trust him, she couldn't trust anyone. Unable to meet his trusting sea-green eyes, she looked down. "Percy," she began. "Have you seen Poseidon lately? Or had any kind of sign from him?"

Percy shook his head. "Not since..." He paused as he considered. "Wow. I guess I haven't thought about it. Not since the end of the Titan War. I saw him at Camp Half-Blood, but that was last August." Annabeth remembered him telling her this story. If her mood wasn't so serious she would have smiled as she remembered his face as he said how his father might have other children.

Annabeth watched as Percy's face darkened with realization. "Why? Have you seen Athena?"

'Athena?' Annabeth thought. 'Not really. SCHIZOPHRENIC Athena on the other hand...'

"A few weeks ago," she said out loud, still unable to meet his eyes. "It...it wasn't good," she said simply, knowing it was a major understatement. "She didn't seem like herself. Maybe it's the Greek/Roman schizophrenia that Nemesis described. I'm not sure. She said some hurtful things. She said I had failed her."

"Failed her?" He repeated, shock leaking heavily into his voice. Annabeth knew he would react poorly to this. "How could you ever-?"

"I don't know." Annabeth interrupted, exasperated and miserable. Watching Percy react to it was like living through it all over again. "On top of that, I've been having nightmares of my own. They don't make as much sense as yours." She decided to leave out the nightmares about him.

She knew Percy was staring at her, waiting for her to say more, but she couldn't. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to hand it.

Wanting to move on she attempted a smile, but it was weak. "Some romantic evening, huh? No more bad things until morning." She leaned in and kissed him. She took in the salt water smell that always accompanied Percy. When Percy was away, she was always torn between spending as much time by the water as possible, and the least amount of time there. It reminded her of Percy. On some days that helped her, on some days it was like someone was stabbing her with a poisoned knife. Unfortunately, Annabeth knew the pain of that first hand.

"We'll figure everything out," she said when she reluctantly pulled away. "I've got you back. For now that's all that matters." That was one of the truest statements that she'd ever said. Missing Percy was like missing a part of her where her heart should be. Finally, she was whole again. She could breathe without it hurting now.

"Right," he agreed. "No more talk about Gaea rising, Nico being held hostage, the world ending, the giants-"

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," she commanded as she moved in closer. "Just hold me for a while."

The two of them layed next to each other. Occasionally they would talk and laugh like old times. Other times they would just kiss. For a moment or two, Annabeth could forget about everything-the quest, Percy's absence, Nico-and she could just lean into Percy and enjoy this night.

After a while, when Annabeth and Percy had been lulled by the ship, all conversation ceased. Annabeth curled up next to Percy's warm body, laying her on his shoulder while his arm was wrapped around her. She felt so content that she began nodding off. Finally falling asleep, mercifully dreamless.

When she awoke, day had come and a boy was speaking.

"Oh...You are in so much trouble."

The first thing that popped in Annabeth's mind was: Your point?

She seemed to be in trouble so much that it barely crossed her mind, nowadays. If a monster wasn't after her, it didn't really register with Annabeth.

Percy and Annabeth sat up. "What...?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes. "Oh," he said as he realized what happened. "We just fell asleep."

Frank seemed like that was the worst thing for Percy to say. "EVeryone thinks you've been kidnapped." Kidnapped? They're on a flying ship! How, exactly, would they have been kidnapped. "We've been scouring the ship." Apparently not that well if it took him that long to find them. "When Coach Hedge finds out-out gods, you've been here all night?" Well, all night as of about eleven pm.

Nonetheless, Annabeth felt her ears redden in embarrassment. Usually the things she got in trouble for were things like sneaking out to save her friend's life, not sneaking out to make out with her best friend. "Frank! We just came down here to talk. We fell asleep. Accidentally. That's it."

"Kissed a couple of times."

Was he serious? Did he seriously think that would help them? Since he didn't seem to piece that together, Annabeth snapped at him, "Not helping!"

"We'd better..." Seemingly at a loss for words, he pointed to the doors. "Uh, we're supposed to meet for breakfast. Would you explain what you did-I meant didn't do? I mean...I really don't want that faun-I mean satyr-to kill me."

Then Frank did the hero thing to do.

He ran away.

Annabeth had to keep from rolling her eyes. She liked Frank well enough, he seemed like a good guy, and he was definitely useful in a fight. Besides, if Percy befriended him that quickly, then he was a great friend to have.

Still, sometimes he had to get his priorities straight. They're sailing for Rome to save the world from Gaea, yet Percy and Annabeth sneaking out was such a drastic deal.

Percy and Annabeth walked into the dining hall. Jason and Piper looked relieved that they were safe.

Again, how would they get kidnapped.

Granted, no one knew how Percy got taken in the middle of the night when he was safe in his cabin, either.

Leo seemed to find immense entertainment in their scandal. Annabeth liked Leo too, in some ways he reminded her of Percy. But at that moment, Annabeth had to keep from pulling out her dagger. He kept smiling and muttering, "Classic."

Hazel seemed to be having the most intense reaction. She was fanning herself and wouldn't meet their eyes.

At least, she thought Hazel was reacting the worst, until Coach Hedge came up to them. "Never in my life!" He shouted, accidently knocking over a plate of apples with his bat. Annabeth was trying to keep her face from reddening. She didn't see what the big deal was. She glanced at Percy and saw that his eyes were trained on the bat, and that he was also trying hard not to laugh. Typical.

"Against the rules!" Hedge continued. "Irresponsible!"

"Coach, it was an accident," she tried to reason. "We were talking, and we fell asleep."

"Besides, you're starting to sound like Terminus." Annabeth resisted the urge to judo-flip Percy again. He was not helping in the slightest.

Hedge narrowed his eyes at Percy. "Is that an insult, Jackson? 'Cause I'll-I'll terminus you, buddy!"

Percy seemed to be trying really hard not to laugh. Annabeth held her breath as she waited for Percy's next words. "It won't happen again, Coach." He said, and Annabeth let a breath of relief out. "I promise. Now, don't we have other things to discuss?"

Hedge seemed to be trying to contain his anger. "Fine! But I'm watching you, Jackson." As was everyone else. That's what happens when you're known for having the biggest mouth in the Greek, and no doubt Roman, world.

Hedge turned on Annabeth. "And you, Annabeth Chase," Annabeth tried not to sigh. Of course. "I thought you had more sense-"

Jason saved them by clearing his throat. "So grab some food, everybody. Let's get started."

Thank gods. Annabeth wasn't used to there being a huge fuss when she broke the rules.

Besides, when she broke the rules, it was almost always Percy's fault.