Well would you look here... I haven't died... this daughter of Hades has returned after not being alive for almost five months... I sincerely apologize about that... but life has a way of being bitter and nasty and exams and loss of everything have a way of making a writer curse the heavens and hell.

But yeah, I guess you can say I am back now. But I have a whole lot of catching up to do. I love everything for all of my stories and I've been trying to restart all my research again and writing. I have also started my hectic study schedule for my subjects at school again so I can't promise weekly or monthly post but I will try my best to at least post something for all my stories once a month.

But I do apologize about the wait. I know I'm a terrible writer but I will try my best to catch up. This story, I honestly don't know how much I will write for it but I say it might have ten, maybe fifteen more chapters from what my original planning was so we will see but I hope you like it cause things are getting interesting.

It Had Begun Again With A Simple Hello

It had been a week since the date and Annabeth and Percy had been doing well. Over the last few days they had been slowly packing some of their things up and moving them into their house. Annabeth was truly overwhelmed when she saw the house and when Percy showed her the interior of the beautiful two story house, she almost burst into tears because the floors, and walls were exactly how she pictured them. A modern light grey/silver tone with warm wooden floors in the other rooms apart from the kitchen and bathrooms.

The house was perfect but empty and they had slowly been bringing things in with the help of friends but they were going to start getting their furniture moved this weekend as they had packed most of the things. Rachel being an interior designer had helped her decide which rooms were which and had put together design plans with the couple, taking in both their opinions and relaying ideas to them until they had finally settled on things they wanted.

As it turns out, Rachel had actually started helping do up the kitchen, having equipped it all the necessities and had ordered furniture to match the design and style Annabeth was looking for. The house had a large number of rooms that included; a master bedroom, an office for Annabeth, two guest bedrooms, A dining room with an open wall looking into the kitchen and the lounge, and two spare rooms and the minute she heard spare rooms, Annabeth envisioned one day that those rooms would be for the kids she and Percy would hopefully have one day. The was also a master bathroom, a conjoining bathroom for the two guest rooms and a bathroom down stairs.

Rachel had at first not gotten on the best of terms with Thalia but they eventually learned to tolerate one another and helped each other out. They hoped to have moved in by the end of next week as the new furniture would be moved in next week, including the new king sized bed for the master bedroom but they didn't know what they were going to do with the spare rooms for now which was an ongoing debate.

But it was one they would debate together and Annabeth couldn't let herself think about that now as it was almost time for the very important consultation she was going to be having today. Rachel's father and his business partner, Apollo were coming in to discuss with Annabeth and Rachel about the fundamentals and so they could discuss some of the design specifics before she put her pencil to the paper and started designing the blueprints for the building. She was in her office when she got an message from Percy.

From: 3 Seaweed Brain 3

Hey Wise Girl, I just wanted to let you know that I have finished early and have some free time. I'm going to start packing the kitchen supplies and was wondering what you wanted for dinner.

She couldn't help but smile as she typed that she so desperately just wanted grease so that would be a bucket of chicken and crispy chips. She hadn't eaten a lot of take away but she knew that she would want something like take away after this long consultation she was going to be having. Apollo was a decent fellow, polite and courteous but Mr. Dare was rude, crude, and full of attitude. He had straight up business and money on his mind and she hoped that she would be able to handle him because the last time they consulted, they had a pretty large argument concerning the internal design of the reception. She stuck to the brief but highlighted what Apollo wanted and Mr. Dare wanted her to re-do all the designs.

Minerva had been in there and bit back as well and backed her employee one hundred percent and when Apollo had said it was what he wanted and wanted no alterations did the man back off. Annabeth was honestly not looking forward to this meeting, thankful that Rachel would be with her. She was finishing preparing the last details of her presentation when a familiar figure burst through her door at speed.

Annabeth nearly had heart failure when the door burst open and Rachel rushed in and she looked out of breath. "Jeez Rachel, what's got you so out of breath."

"I had to rush to beat my father here." Rachel said between heavy breaths. She was holding a pair of black heels in her hands, her hair no messy than normal. "I had to warn you because this meeting is going to be really awkward and weird and uncomfortable and I had to apologize beforehand because I didn't find out until ten minutes ago when we were leaving."

Annabeth could see how panicked Rachel was and she honestly had no idea what had the girl so panicked and overwhelmed. "What's going on?"

"Annabeth, my father is bringing Octavian and Luke with him and Apollo to the meeting." Annabeth's eyes widened at the last name that Rachel spoke. She slowly stood up out of her seat, her pulse quickening and her breaths becoming heavy.

That name.

That person.

Luke Castellan.

She hadn't thought about him in years. The man she cheated on her boyfriend with. The biggest mistake she had ever made in her life. "What do you mean by he is coming with your dad?"

"As it turns out, since Luke is going to be a part of the family since I am marrying his brother that he would get involved in family affairs and decided to bring him along to see what all this hustle and bustle is about." Rachel explains in a panic as she leaned heavily against the wall. "I needed to tell you before you went in there unprepared."

Annabeth ran her fingers through her hair, "I haven't seen him in years, god, what do I do?" She asked desperately.

Rachel ran her fingers through her hair, "Act natural I guess." She suggested even though she did believe that there was no chance in hell that Annabeth could act natural around the guy she cheated on her boyfriend with, especially when she dumped Luke.

"That shouldn't be too hard." Annabeth said with a sarcastic eye roll as she leaned her head on her desk and tried to mentally figure out how she was gonna do this...

She couldn't let her private life affect her work.

She had only just come back and actually settled in and started to figure things out again when this had to happen. She would have been better after a few years when she and Percy weren't still trying to figure everything out between them...

Where Annabeth was still trying to make up for her past mistakes, trying to work things through with Percy and this blockade had to come in her way...

But Annabeth found herself frowning.

Why did it matter?

She had no feelings for Luke... she hadn't had them in years...

She started smiling as she let out a soft laugh, "Why am I panicking?" She asked with a head shake, "I have no feelings for him. I had every right to choose. Yes I am sorry for stringing him along in the past, but I don't have any feelings for him." She said with a soft smile that made Rachel smile. "I'll apologize to him in private since I owe him that, but he is the past. Percy is my present and future." She said with a smile.

Rachel smiled with pride, "I am so proud of you Annabeth." She said as she hugged her friend. To think that these two hated each other, and now they were friends.

"Thank you for being here with me." She said softly as her door opened and Minerva appeared in the doorway.

"Morning Ladies." She greeted with a smile.

"Morning Minerva." They greeted with a smile on their faces.

"Ladies, Mr. Dare has arrived. Shall we head to the board room?" She asked with a smile on her faced as she straightened her blazer.

Annabeth smiled and nodded. "Yes Minerva. Let me grab my files so we can be completely prepared." She said with a smile as Minerva nodded.

"I'll make sure to keep them all entertained." She said with a smile on her face as she looked at Rachel. "Come Miss. Dare. Your father is waiting for you and so is your fiancé and future brother in law." She said with a smile on her face.

Rachel smiled and nodded, "See you in there, Annabeth." She said with a soft smile on her face as she followed Minerva out.

"See you there, Dare." She said with a smile on her face.

Piper entered the room with a soft smile on her face with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, "Special delivery." She said on her face as she entered the room.

Rachel popped her head in and grinned. "Looks like lover boy is missing you." She said with a giggle as headed off to the board room.

Annabeth smiled as piper approached her with the bouquet of long stem red roses. " These are from your prince charming." She said with a smile on her face as she handed the flowers to Annabeth.

Annabeth beamed as she placed the flowers which had been put in a complimentary vase on her desk, "Thank you." She said as she looked in the flowers and found a small card and beamed as she opened it, "Hey wise girl. Miss you today. Thought I'd send something beautiful for the most beautiful girl in the world. See you tonight with delicious and greasy treats for dinner. XOXO Your Seaweed Brain."

Piper giggled and smiled at her, "You are one lucky woman." She said with a smile as she walked out the room, a smile on her face as Annabeth smiled at the card.

She pulled out her phone and messaged him quickly,

To: 3 Seaweed Brain 3

Hey Kelp Head. Thank you for the roses, they are beautiful. You should have come up and said hello but I hope to see you as soon as this board meeting is finished. XOXOXO Your Wise Girl.

She slipped her phone and grabbed her things and headed off for her meeting...

~ A while later... ~

It was very uncomfortable to start with, especially with Octavian being present in the room.

He kept on staring at her, making underlined comments about Luke and Annabeth's history that really made Annabeth uncomfortable.

She was grateful that Rachel stepped in and told Octavian that she wanted to speak to him outside. She called him Tavy in front of everyone which really he wasn't pleased about but it got him outside...

It had given Annabeth enough time to process her thoughts and get some input between her and Mr. Dare before Octavian entered with a scowl and a hand covering his ear.

Annabeth remember Rachel telling her once that she threatened to pull Octavian's ear when she lectured him. Annabeth guessed that that is exactly what happened as he never said a word the rest of the meeting...

The only other person to remain silent was Luke...

His eyes just stayed locked on Annabeth the entire meeting but overall, the meeting was fine.

Everyone including Rachel had left the board room, leaving Annabeth to gather up everything but she froze when she heard a voice that she had not heard during the entire meeting.

"Annabeth..." Said the voice of Luke Castellan, making Annabeth look up and see Luke standing in front of her with a neutral expression his face.

"Luke... I... I thought you had left." She confessed softly as she looked at him with a soft expression.

"I couldnt leave... not until I spoke with you." He said softly to her as he tucked his hands in his pockets. "You left... and then I get sucker punched by Percy... and you never called."

Annabeth sighed, "I was ashamed of my actions, of hurting two wonderful people... and I didn't want to speak to you. I made that clear when you were leaving... there would never be anything between us Luke." She said softly to him.

"That's not true Annabeth." He said softly, "There was something between us, there always had been." He pressed as he stepped closer but Annabeth stepped back.

"What do you want Luke?" She asked as she stared at him.

"A chance... you're single and I know you feel something for me because I felt it and-"

"I'm not interested Luke." She interrupted as she looked at him, "I didn't come back for you... I came back for Percy." She said softly.

Luke chortled, "Him, he hurt you more than I ever did. I don't believe you want a chance with him."

"Well he and I are starting over. We're giving it another try. We have a house together... we're working out our issues Luke. There never would have been anything between us, even if he hadn't been in the picture in the past..." She said softly to him, "You're an amazing guy but nothing would have happened."

L;uke looked at her coldly, "Keep telling yourself that when he breaks your heart again. jsut wait until he leaves you for Rachel. I bet he never told you about her."

Annabeth chook her head with a chuckle of disbelief, "Your true colours are shining through, Luke." She said as she continued to pack her things, "Percy has told me everything and I have told him everything about what happened between you and I. I told you Luke, I came back for him and I am not going to make a mistake like I did with you ever again." She promised softly.

Luke looked at her coldly, "You think everything's going to be rainbows and butterflies." He said incredulously, "Things are not going to be as easy as breathing Annabeth. You ruined my life and I promise you, you will pay for it."

"Threats like that don't scare me because I'm not a coward like you." She said with a glare.

Luke marched towards her and stood directly in front of her, "Just you wait. You'll see that you don't ever cross me." He said with gritted teeth.

"I suggest you leave before I'm the one that punches you this time." She said in a threatening tone as she glared into his eyes.

Luke let out a growl as he turned on his heel and stormed out the room, leaving Annabeth to let out a sigh of relief. Thank god she had the strength to overcome that obstacle and to realise that she never did feel anything for Luke.

She was glad to put him behind her.

She wasn't going to let his words affect her. She was stronger than that and in the end, she was going to come out stronger than she ever had.

She smiled as she headed to her office was greeted with the greatest surprise of her life...

Percy was there with a bucket of chicken, some fries and his gorgeous self of course, "You requested and I have come, and I've got a surprise waiting at home for us." He said with a beaming smile on his face.

Annabeth giggled as she went up to him and placed a kiss on his cheek, "You are the best Percy Jackson." She said fondly.

"I tried to be the best I can be because you deserve it." He said in a soft and tender tone that made Annabeth beam at him.

"You're such a romantic." She said warmly as she hugged him, a happy smile on her face as he held her, "I'm glad to have a second chance with you. Thank you for giving me that chance" She confessed softly.

Percy smiled, "I see your true colours shinning through... and that's why I love you." He whispered as Annabeth looked at him with soft but wide eyes, "Don't be afraid to let them show okay." He whispered softly to her as love shined in his eyes.

"I won't." She promised as they stood there in their blissful moment, happiness etched on her features. Things were looking so much better, so much bright and she was excited to finally start seeing what life with Percy would be like.

She wanted forever with him.

She needed him in her life and she was gonna be damned if anyone like Octavian or Luke tried to mess this up for her.

"I love you Percy." She whispered to him, for the first time she was able to say it without fear of rejection as she felt Percy kiss the top of her head.

"I love you too, Annabeth. I love you too." He responded as he leaned down and kissed her softly.

Annabeth was grateful that she had a second chance and she was not going to waste it.

She'd make it up to him... she swore it on the Styx...

Well guys, there we are. Hope it didn't suck too badly. I love you and hopefully I will see you all again soon. Love you and thank you for your patience with me.