Disclaimer: Percy Jackson belongs to Rick Riordan, not me! Cries)

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"That was… awful" Thalia said and everyone else nodded. They just sat in silence, stuck in their thoughts of their friends when all of a sudden a stack of papers fell in front of Chiron with a note attached. He gingerly picked it up, smiling slightly when he did.

"There's more to read… more to read about the seven's adventures but it happens before the…fall" He stuttered, trying to remain calm, "It starts off when the argo II arrives at the roman camp" Sand many people nodded eagerly… they needed to know what happened.

"I shall read then" Chiron announced, picking up the stack of papers with wide eyes.

SEA OF HASTILY ASSEMBLED demigods parted for Annabeth as she walked through the forum. Some looked tense, some nervous. Some were bandaged from their recent battle with the giants,

"Giants? Good luck to them, Giants are hard to defeat" Thalia said, wringing her hands nervously.

"Yeah well… they're attacking us so they have no sympathy from me" A stubborn are kid called Natalie replied, raising her chin in defiance.

but no one was armed. No one attacked.

"That's good" A lot of people nodded their head, agreeing with that thought.

Entire families had gathered to see the newcomers. Annabeth saw couples with babies, toddlers clinging to their parents' legs, even some elderly folks in a combination of Roman robes and modern clothes.

"They're all demigods? But how…? It's hard enough to reach adulthood let alone old age" Clarisse asked, staring at Chiron for an explanation, all Chiron did was give her a mysterious look before continuing with the reading.

Were all of them demigods? Annabeth suspected so, though she'd never seen a place like this. At Camp Half-Blood, most demigods were teens.

The whole camp looked around at each-other, frowns on their faces – indeed, they were all teenagers.

If they survived long enough to graduate from high school,

"Thanks for that cheery thought Annabeth" Travis spoke up, smiling lightly

"Yeah, we really needed that moral booster, thanks" Connor finished and at that the camp laughed – trust Connor and Travis to cheer the camp up at hard times like these.

they either stayed on as counselors or left to start lives as best they could in the mortal world. Here, it was an entire multigenerational community.

"I wish we had that here" lacy said, daydreaming off into space.

At the far end of the crowd, Annabeth spotted Tyson the Cyclops and Percy's hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary—

"Woo-hoo, go Mrs O'Leary" Connor shouted and everyone turned to look at him in confusion.

"What? She's a good dog, saved Percy's ass-butt, butt a few times" He changed his word mid-sentence because of a look from Chiron.

who had been the first scouting party from Camp Half-Blood to reach Camp Jupiter.

"Told you she was awesome" Connor shouted and Travis put a hand on his shoulder in mock comfort.

"And Tyson, we can't forget about Tyson" Chris spoke up and a cheer was given for Tyson.

They looked to be in good spirits. Tyson waved and grinned. He was wearing an SPQR banner like a giant bib.

The camp let out roars of laughter at that – ahhh Tyson, they loved that big guy.

Some part of Annabeth's mind registered how beautiful the city was

"Of course it would – it's Annabeth" Thalia laughed, forgetting for a brief moment that her best friend, her sister, was in tartarus.

—the smells from the bakeries, the gurgling fountains, the flowers blooming in the gardens. And the architecture…gods, the architecture—gilded marble columns, dazzling mosaics, monumental arches, and terraced villas.

All of the Athena cabin were smiling at that description, some even swooning.

"Oh, that's amazing" Malcolm said, eyes glistening. The rest of the camp didn't even bother to say anything – they were used to it by now.

In front of her, the demigods made way for a girl in full Roman armor and a purple cape. Dark hair tumbled across her shoulders. Her eyes were as black as obsidian.

"Do you think that's Reyna that Jason was talking about? I think it's Reyna" Clovis said before his head lolled forward again and he fell asleep.

"It's probably Reyna… the way Jason described her, she's powerful" Thalia answered and the camp nodded their heads in agreement.

Reyna.

"Yes" Thalia exclaimed, smiling while everyone gave her weird looks, "What? I was right"

Jason had described her well. Even without that, Annabeth would have singled her out as the leader. Medals decorated her armor. She carried herself with such confidence the other demigods backed away and averted their gaze.

"Kinda sounds like the big three's kids" Katie muttered, not expecting to be heard but everyone did. Thalia turned to look at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" She asked, and Katie looked around in nervousness.

"Well… just that when you guys fight or anything we all stay clear, everyone knows not to get on the wrong side of those demigods" And Thalia smiled in satisfaction at that answer.

Annabeth recognized something else in her face, too—in the hard set of her mouth and the deliberate way she raised her chin like she was ready to accept any challenge. Reyna was forcing a look of courage, while holding back a mixture of hopefulness and worry and fear that she couldn't show in public.

"Poor girl" Chiron said, knowing how difficult it must be for the child of Bellona – after all, he'd seen that look far too many times on his demigods.

Annabeth knew that expression. She saw it every time she looked in a mirror.

Grover frowned, feeling bad for one of his best friends.

"Poor Annabeth" He muttered, and the camp just nodded their heads.

"It's not fair that Annabeth and the rest of them have to carry this weight on their shoulders from such a young age… It's not fair" Juniper protested, tearing up and clinging to Grover.

"It's not fair" Clarisse agreed – "But somebody has to do it and they are the best people for the job" And no-one protested about that – it was true, Percy, Annabeth and the rest of them had something about them, something special which would save the world.

The two girls considered each other. Annabeth's friends fanned out on either side. The Romans murmured Jason's name, staring at him in awe.

"They're gonna be mad at him aren't they?" A young Hephaestus boy asked, biting his fingernails – Jason had become part of the family, they all hoped he, and all the others, would be alright.

"Most likely… but Jason can handle himself" Thalia said confidently but worry glistened in her blue sparkling orbs.

Then someone else appeared from the crowd, and Annabeth's vision tunneled.

"PERCY" The whole camp screamed at once, elated over the fact that their missing hero whom they hasn't heard from in months was alright.

Grover and Juniper embraced, many people shared smiles and Thalia smiled watery – it was good to hear some good news for a change.

"Oh boy, I can't WAIT to see Annabeths reaction" Thalia laughed and everyone else joined in too.

Percy smiled at her—that sarcastic, troublemaker smile that had annoyed her for years but eventually had become endearing.

"Awwww" The Aphrodite cabin cooed and even a few other campers including Katie, Nina and a few others and Travis and Connor turned to each other.

"Oh Percy, my one true love, you are here" Connor said in a fake girly voice.

"Yes my princess, I am well now that I am with you" Travis said in a very dark masculine voice.

The whole camp laughed at their antics – glad there was something to laugh at instead of being worried about their friends.

sea-green eyes were as gorgeous as she remembered. His dark hair was swept to one side, like he'd just come from a walk on the beach. He looked even better than he had six months ago—tanner and taller, leaner and more muscular.

Literally, the whole camp had their mouths gaping open. THAT was Percy – most of the girls started giggling and talking to themselves while some of the less muscular males looked down at their own bodies in disappointment.

"Annabeth's gonna love that" Lacy giggled.

Annabeth was too stunned to move. She felt that if she got any closer to him, all the molecules in her body might combust.

"Bit dramatic" Nyssa spoke up – she was happy for them but did love actually do that to one person?

"That's what love feels like idiot" Drew said, turning her lip up. Before a fight could break out Chiron carried on reading.

he'd secretly had a crush on him since they were twelve years old.

"I KNEW IT" People screamed, handing over money to one another as Chiron looked on amused and Thalia leaned over and explained what was going on.

"They made a bet that they did actually like each other when they first met" And Chiron chuckled lightly.

Last summer, she'd fallen for him hard. They'd been a happy couple for four months—and then he'd disappeared.

"Damn Hera" Thalia muttered and the sky crackled angrily.

"Oh shut up, this is all your fault and you know it" She snarled back and the sky went quiet. Many people looked up nervously while others stared at Thalia in shock – did she actually just say that to the queen of the gods?

During their separation, something had happened to Annabeth's feelings. They'd grown painfully intense—like she'd been forced to withdraw from a life-saving medication.

People's eyes widened at that – It was real, what Percy and Annabeth shared and many people felt a twinge of jealously, why couldn't they have something like that in their lives?

Now she wasn't sure which was more excruciating—living with that horrible absence, or being with him again.

"Wow, that's-that's deep" Clarisse murmured – she knew they loved each other but THAT MUCH? She was just happy they were with each other again.

The praetor Reyna straightened. With apparent reluctance, she turned toward Jason.

"Jason Grace, my former colleague…" She spoke the word colleague like it was a dangerous thing. "I welcome you home. And these, your friends—"

Annabeth didn't mean to, but she surged forward. Percy rushed toward her at the same time. The crowd tensed. Some reached for swords that weren't there.

A few camp members gasped at the idea of the romans attacking Annabeth and percy but many laughed at the idiocy of the romans.

"Hug, hug, hug, hug, hug" Was what was being chanted

Percy threw his arms around her. They kissed, and for a moment nothing else mattered. An asteroid could have hit the planet and wiped out all life, and Annabeth wouldn't have cared.

"So sweet" Juniper cooed and many nodded.

"I'm glad they're together again" Thalia whispered, nodding at Chiron to continue.

Percy smelled of ocean air. His lips were salty.

"Salty?" Everyone questioned at the same time, looking at each other in confusion. They all turned toward Grover and Thalia for an answer.

"How would I know, I've never kissed him" Grover protested and many laughed before turning to Thalia, "Nor have I – hunter of Artemis, helllllllo" She said, making a face at the idea of kissing her best friend's boyfriend… or rather cousin.

"Well… he is a child of Poseidon, what else would he taste like" An Aphrodite girl cooed, smiling slyly.

Seaweed Brain, she thought giddily.

Percy pulled away and studied her face. "Gods, I never thought—"

"Awwww, he's so happy"

Annabeth grabbed his wrist and flipped him over her shoulder.

"WHAT?" many people exclaimed, confused as to Annabeths reaction but Grover and Thalia just smiled… it was Annabeths way of showing affection that was all.

He slammed into the stone pavement. Romans cried out. Some surged forward, but Reyna shouted, "Hold! Stand down!"

"Yes, don't you hurt our friends" Clovis protested but he soon fell asleep again – everyone shook their heads in exasperation.

Annabeth put her knee on Percy's chest. She pushed her forearm against his throat.

"Boyfriend beater" Connor chuckled and a few laughed with him.

She didn't care what the Romans thought. A white-hot lump of anger expanded in her chest—a tumor of worry and bitterness that she'd been carrying around since last autumn.

"Poor Annabeth – she didn't know if he was okay or not for eight months… she just doesn't want him to leave her" Katie murmured, a sad sympathetic look on her face.

"If you ever leave me again," she said, her eyes stinging, "I swear to all the gods—"

Percy had the nerve to laugh.

"Brave soul to stand up to Annabeth" Chiron chuckled warmly, rethinking all the fond memories of his students.

Suddenly the lump of heated emotions melted inside Annabeth.

"Consider me warned," Percy said. "I missed you, too."

The Aphrodite cabin had tears in their eyes, smiling sweetly.

The whole camp was just so glad that they met again in good circumstances… it made their hearts flutter with excitement.

Annabeth rose and helped him to his feet. She wanted to kiss him again so badly, but she managed to restrain herself.

"Um, how?" The girls questioned but there was no answer to that question.

Jason cleared his throat. "So, yeah.…It's good to be back."

Everyone laughed – that was certainly an ice breaker that's for sure.

He introduced Reyna to Piper, who looked a little miffed that she hadn't gotten to say the lines she'd been practicing,

"Ah, the good wee pipe machine" Travis chuckled, thinking warmly about his friend.

then to Leo, who grinned and flashed a peace sign.

"GO LEO" was the general shout – they loved Leo and his quirky attitude, especially after they heard about his determination to get Annabeth and Percy out of Tartarus.

"And this is Annabeth," Jason said. "Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people."

"You sure about that little brother?" Thalia questioned, smirking, thinking about all the times Annabeth had, in fact, beaten up people.

"Thals… your talking to a book" Grover muttered to her but soon quietened down when she threw him a glare which said 'I know that, shut up'

Reyna's eyes sparkled. "You sure you're not a Roman, Annabeth? Or an Amazon?"

"NO" Was the general shout… Annabeth was Greek and that was final.

Annabeth didn't know if that was a compliment, but she held out her hand. "I only attack my boyfriend like that," she promised. "Pleased to meet you."

"Good to know Annie" Travis said, knowing he could get away with the nickname because she wasn't here. Then a sudden weight fell on his chest – she was in Tartarus.

"I'll tell her you said that" Malcolm threatened, a small smile playing on his lips. Everyone was trying to think optimistically about Percy and Annabeth… they would come back, they would.

Travis gulped… Annabeth was going to kill him.

Reyna clasped her hand firmly. "It seems we have a lot to discuss. Centurions!"

A few of the Roman campers hustled forward—apparently the senior officers. Two kids appeared at Percy's side, the same ones Annabeth had seen him chumming around with earlier.

"Is that jealously I sense?" Chris whistled and many campers nodded. Annabeth was very protective of Percy, no doubt about that.

The burly Asian guy with the buzz cut was about fifteen. He was cute in a sort of oversized-cuddly-panda-bear way.

"That must be Frank right… we heard about him earlier after…" Juniper railed off when she saw everyone's ashen faces – not the right time.

"Yes, that does sound like young Mr Frank Zuang" Chiron confirmed for her.

The girl was younger, maybe thirteen, with amber eyes and chocolate skin and long curly hair. Her cavalry helmet was tucked under her arm.

"Definitely Hazel"

Annabeth could tell from their body language that they felt close to Percy. They stood next to him protectively, like they'd already shared many adventures. She fought down a twinge of jealousy.

"Told you she was jealous" Chris muttered and others smiled.

"She's his and no one else's" Clarisse said with a rare smile on her face.

Was it possible Percy and this girl…no.

"Percy would never cheat on you Annabeth" She reassured… a book? Many people didn't question that though, too afraid too.

The chemistry between the three of them wasn't like that. Annabeth had spent her whole life learning to read people. It was a survival skill. If she had to guess, she'd say the big Asian guy was the girl's boyfriend, though she suspected they hadn't been together long.

"Wow… she's good" Nyssa muttered in approval.

There was one thing she didn't understand: what was the girl staring at? She kept frowning in Piper and Leo's direction, like she recognized one of them and the memory was painful.

"Great, another mystery" Katie said in sarcastic tone, "Nothing is ever straight forward is it?" And everyone shook their heads.

Meanwhile, Reyna was giving orders to her officers. "…tell the legion to stand down. Dakota, alert the spirits in the kitchen. Tell them to prepare a welcome feast. And, Octavian—"

"You're letting these intruders into the camp?" A tall guy with stringy blond hair elbowed his way forward. "Reyna, the security risks—"

"Hate that guy already" A tall boy from the Ares cabin muttered, Ryan, his name was, cracking his knuckles. Others nodded.

"We're not taking them to the camp, Octavian." Reyna flashed him a stern look. "We'll eat here, in the forum."

"Oh, much better," Octavian grumbled. He seemed to be the only one who didn't defer to Reyna as his superior, despite the fact that he was scrawny and pale and for some reason had three teddy bears hanging from his belt. "You want us to relax in the shadow of their warship."

"Oh shut up man" Connor said to the book, ignoring the weird stares.

"These are our guests." Reyna clipped off every word. "We will welcome them, and we will talk to them. As augur, you should burn an offering to thank the gods for bringing Jason back to us safely."

"Burn an offering? Like food or…?" Thalia asked, though no one had an answer to that.

"Good idea," Percy put in. "Go burn your bears, Octavian."

The camp let out howls of laughter at that – he may have been gone for a long time but he was still Percy, that was all they could ask for.

Reyna looked like she was trying not to smile. "You have my orders. Go."

"Percy's been making friends I see" Travis said, wiggling his eyebrows but wincing as Thalia hit his chest.

The officers dispersed. Octavian shot Percy a look of absolute loathing.

"He's just jealous of Percy" A girl about fourteen said from the Aphrodite cabin, "because Percy is better than him" And many people shook their heads at how narrow minded the members of that cabin were… well, some of them – Piper wasn't like that.

Then he gave Annabeth a suspicious once-over and stalked away.

"Annabeth isn't the enemy" Thalia growled, feeling protective of her 'little sister' once again.

Percy slipped his hand into Annabeth's.

"D'awww, they are the cutest thing" guess who said that!

"Don't worry about Octavian," he said. "Most of the Romans are good people—like Frank and Hazel here, and Reyna. We'll be fine."

Annabeth felt as if someone had draped a cold washcloth across her neck. She heard that whispering laughter again, as if the presence had followed her from the ship.

"Oh my gods" The whole camp muttered in unison, "That doesn't sound good" Chris said, frowning at all the possibilities of what could be happening to Annabeth.

"It sounds like she's getting plagued by some sort of minor god or monster" Annabeths sister, Megan, said smartly and people began to worry for their friends. It was going from bad to worse… it was inevitable.. It would go from bad to worse because Percy and Annabeth end up in Tartarus.

She looked up at the Argo II. Its massive bronze hull glittered in the sunlight. Part of her wanted to kidnap Percy right now, climb on board, and get out of here while they still could.

"Probably be better if they did" Thalia said, not thinking it through, she was just worried for her friends.

"Then that's as good as giving up which means the end of the world" Clarisse replied back, a hard look on her face but Thalia saw she looked… sad at what she had said.

Thalia nodded though… it was true, the world needed them.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. And there was no way she would ever risk losing Percy again.

"You won't lose him Annabeth" People consoled encouragingly, trying to stay optimistic.

"We'll be fine," she repeated, trying to believe it.

"Excellent," Reyna said. She turned to Jason, and Annabeth thought there was a hungry sort of gleam in her eyes. "Let's talk, and we can have a proper reunion."

"That's the end of the chapter" Chiron announced, turning his enquiring eyes to the rest of the camp.