With a lot of effort he stood, taking a moment to get his balance he extended his good hand to his sister helping her up "Time to go" he locked his hand around her smaller wrist as her fingers curled around his as a goodbye between comrades.

They simultaneously released each other, Markos looked down avoiding her eyes

"If you see Annabeth, can you give her a message?" he asked

Clarisse smiled subtly "Why don't you tell her yourself?" she looked past Markos, who turned, eyes falling on the lone figure coming to a stop 15 feet from them. Her blue eyes locked onto Markos,

"I will leave you two to it" Clarisse nodded to Annabeth and left the clearing

There was a long silence where the two just looked at one another, Annabeth was hurt because he had chosen to go after Hades instead of staying with her, she wanted to be angry, but at the same time she was so happy to see he was okay.

Markos didn't know what to say, he had killed her, lost his mind and ran his sword through her. What could he say to her?

Annabeth broke the silence "Percy told me what happened, he didn't want me to come back" her eyes dropped to his blackened arm "I kinda pieced together what happened afterward"

Markos remained quiet, his body felt cold, he just watched her

"I want to be angry" Annabeth blurted out, instantly shutting her mouth, she looked down at her feet. She took a deep breath before looking back up at him, he could see the tears in her eyes and it tore him apart.

"But…" she began wiping a falling tear from her cheek "But I still… I still love you" she choked, her breath was shaky and it was clear that she was barely keeping it together.

Markos watched unable to move, he wanted to hold her to wrap her in his arms and never let her go again, but something was holding him back, all he could do was tell her how he felt about her, how he loved her too

"Annabeth I…"

"Stop" Annabeth interrupted "Please don't say it"

Confusion flooded the Son of Ares as he looked at her

"If you say that you love me too, then I won't be able to walk away" tears fell freely from her eyes now "I need to walk away"

"You're going with Percy aren't you"

Her silence was confirmation enough

"I understand, I've done something unforgivable" he nodded slowly, he hated the thought of her walking away but it was what she needed

"I'm sorry" she started

"Don't be" Markos looked pass her to see Percy and Grover standing by the trees "You should go, get far away from this place"

Annabeth looked behind her before turning back to Markos "Goodbye Markos, please stay safe"

Markos took one last long look into those big blue eyes, eyes he would probably never see again "You will be forever in my heart Annabeth Chase Daughter of Athena"

Then he watched her turn, she walked away, away from him, forever.

He hands started to shake as she got further away, he could feel his legs getting weak, he prayed for her to turn, to look back

"Look back" he muttered under his breath "Please"

But she was gone, possibly forever

The sun began to rise over the mountainous landscape, it hit the small cabin hidden between the pine trees, illuminating the rooms inside. Markos rolled out of the bed and walked out onto the porch, he ran a hand through his longish hair. He looked out across the trees and down to the winding lake, this was his home now, he had built this cabin for him and Cassie for when they were old enough to leave Camp Half-Blood. It had been 5 months and he had been alone ever since, he had the occasional text from Clarisse, she was helping out Gleeson in Nevada. He had heard no word from the others, he hadn't expected any. Clarisse was still in touch with them and she said they were all okay, Markos had refused to hear where they had settled down, he didn't want any chance of him trying to find Annabeth. She had walked away, she didn't want to be with him.

And so he just stared out across the mountains, taking a deep breath, 156, that was how many days he had gone without seeing her.