Annabeth:

Everything went wrong. As I walked into the apartment, smiling and humming, I heard the door close behind me. I didn't know what was going on, but I figured my stepmom had set up an ambush. Then I felt her grab my ponytail.

I gasped a bit. I felt myself get turned around and I was slapped. I don't get surprised easily. I mean, this hadn't happened since I was seven. I stopped it when I was twelve, but now it was making an ugly reappearance. I kept getting hit and being held by my ponytail. I let it happen for a few more hits before I came to my senses. I let one of my fists fly.

To say hitting my stepmom felt good was an understatement. I wanted to do it again, but she let her next slap sent me flying. My cheek drew blood. Then she was holding a package in her hand. "Thought you could hide this from me? Turn your father against me? Bah!" She threw the box at me and it hit me square in the jaw. I picked it up and saw the address. Who did I know who worked at an architecture firm in San Francisco? No, this didn't make sense.

Then Helen cleared it up. "Your blasted mother, sending plane tickets at Christmas? Trying to steal you away from us! Right Fredrick?" She screamed. My dad was suddenly there. "You were planning on leaving us for her?" I was so confused. I shook my head. "What are you talking about? I wasn't leaving!" I yelled. My step mom stepped forward. "You are now." She sneered.

She pulled me by my ponytail, throwing me out the door. I had tears in my eyes. "Dad?" He looked sorry to see me go. He spoke, his voice pleading. "Why would you leave us?" He said. "I wanted to keep you close. Now you chose the woman who abandoned you? I thought you loved us!" He screamed. The words hit like a ton of bricks. Something inside me snapped, like all the abuse, all the crap came flooding out. I aimed it all at him.

"I loved you! I wanted to be with you! You didn't try to keep me close! You pushed me away! I wanted to be there, but you chose her" I pointed at Helen. "Over your own daughter! I HATE you!" All the bitterness, all the malice, all the venom dripped into my words. "I'm insulted that I share a last name with you." I whispered. I actually saw regret in his eyes, but not this time. I wasn't coming back this time.

"Annabeth..." He began. I picked up my stuff, leaving the apartment. "Bye, dad. I hope you enjoy your decision." I said. I walked down the hall, hearing him call out to me. When the elevator door closed, I finally let myself cry.

Percy:

Annabeth's dad called me. He explained what had happened. I hung up on him, just hearing about it. That didn't mean I didn't care. Sure, he was sorry, but to stand by while his daughter was beaten? No, I wasn't going to forgive him either.

I found her car outside the park. Yes, she still came here from before. I walked over to the rocks, finding the hidden path to the top. I found her at the top, hugging her knees and crying. She had a little box by her, but I didn't focus on that. I sat next to her and she buried her head into my sweatshirt. I held her while she cried, muttering words of encouragement.

When she came out, I still didn't let her go. "It's okay. I know what happened... He didn't know what he was doing." I told her. She hugged me tighter and I couldn't help but remember when we were twelve. She showed up to tell me she was leaving, and she held onto me like this. As if I were the one leaving, not her.

She pulled out and handed me a note. I hadn't noticed it before, but I read through it. The dyslexia didn't help, but I eventually read it through. It shocked me.

Dear Annabeth,

I know Fredrick doesn't say much about me, but I've been watching you. You're smart, kind, beautiful. I want you to come over winter and see me. The tickets are for New Years. I hope you choose wisely.

Love, -

I shook my head. "Who took out the ending? Who sent this?" I heard her whisper the answer. "My mom. My real mom."

I was so shocked. I sat with her, putting the note down. I still had my arms wrapped around her and I wasn't letting go anytime soon. She buried her head deeper into my sweatshirt. It was so sad to see such a beautiful day wasted. Tainted forever.

"He told me my mom had died." She said. I sighed a bit. "What're you planning, Wise Girl?" I asked. She was trembling in my arms, but she spoke clearly, with a steely voice. "I'm gonna go back to San Francisco. I need to meet her." She told me. I nodded my head, satisfied with the answer. "I'll go with you." I told her. She let out a weak laugh. "Percy, I'm doing this alone. I-" she began. I stopped her. "I wasn't asking, Wise Girl. You fight alone, I get that. But not this time. Face it. You're stuck with me" I told her.

She let out a sigh, a mixture of resignation and relief. She didn't want to face this alone. Good, cause I wasn't leaving her. "When do we leave?" I asked her. She cuddled up to me. "Tomorrow. I don't want to spend anymore time than we need to." She said. I picked her up into my arms, taking the box with me. "Then why wait? Let's get out of here." I whispered into her ear. She let out a yawn. "Seaweed Brain, we need to plan." She argued.

I placed a kiss on her forehead. "Yeah, I've got one." I told her. I looked back one more time at the rocks. We were five when we met up there. Wow, the memories. I walked back to her car, getting her bags and putting them in my car. I put her in the back, laying down. After brushing a few loose strands of hair away, I picked up my phone.

Thalia answered after the first few rings. "Percy, Annabeth's dad just called. Are you with her?" I sighed. "Thalia, me and Annabeth are taking a trip. Her cars at the park. Pick it up, okay? We're going to be a while." I told her. She was quiet for a moment. "Okay. Where are you going?" She asked. I smiled when I told her. "Annabeth's real mom. She's in San Francisco. Tell my mom I'll be a while, okay?" Thalia didn't answer, so I took that as a yes. I sat in the front of the car, seeing Annabeth's tear stained face in the back. "I'm gonna get you there, Wise Girl. I promise." I put the car in gear and began the long drive west.

I hope you enjoyed. I'll say when the sequel is up.

LHG:)