"Where are we?" Asked Jason, his blade glinting in the low light.

Percy shrugged.

"It's too dark to see anything." Hazel complained, leaning on Frank, as far away from Leo as possible.

Piper looked deadly serious. "I feel like I've been here before. I should know this place."

The other six demi-gods stared at her.

"I can't place a name, I can only say that this place is filled with love." Piper shrugged.

"Filled with love?" Leo looked accusingly at Percy and Annabeth, then Jason and Piper, then Hazel and Frank.

"Correct you are, my dear!" The voice made all of the demigods jump, and raise their weapons. Suddenly, torches light up the hall, and showed they were in an old, almost destroyed Roman building. Two stone circles were elevated next to a statue of a stone women.

"An automation." Annabeth whispered, pointing to the girl on the statue.

"You sure?" Percy asked.

"Definitely." Leo nodded.

The stone woman clasped her hands together. "There you go! Dears, will you do me a favor?"

"Depends." Frank said cautiously.

"What is it?" Hazel asked.

The stone women pointed to the stone on her left, where a couple made of stone was kissing. The other was empty. "See, this building is one of Aphrodite's shrines, where love flows throughout the building!" She gestured widely. "Which is why, daughter of Aphrodite, you sensed the love in the air. See, if a stone couple isn't kissing on one of these platforms, the love in the world will collapse, and endless hatred and violence will spread."

"Lovely." Piper groaned.

"Oh, but it's not, dear." The statue sighed. "These two have been kissing for over three thousand years, so, I would like a couple from one of you, to take their place on the empty stone."

"Say what?" Piper gasped. "We can't! WE have to finish the quest!"

"Oh, but I'm not finished, dear. These two just need a break. The girl, Julia, is a daughter of Aphrodite, and she can hold out a while. This is the most powerful kiss in the world, after all. But, even she gets tired. The male part won't have his energy drained, it's the female you must worry about. If their not a daughter of Aphrodite, their energy goes much quicker. I'd say three hours before they would have to black out. But, dears, can you do that? Could one of your couples just step on this one, kiss for three hours, and call it a day?" She gave them a puppy dog look.

All of them exchanged bewildered glances. "What would happen if we said no?" Piper managed.

The statue shrugged. "You know, people would end up hating each other so much, they would all kill each other off!" She said it cheerfully. She pointed a the group. "Now…Let's see….Who has the strongest love connection?" She clicked her tongue against her mouth, then snapped her fingers, and stopped at Annabeth and Percy.

Both of them blushed. "Uh…"

"Yep! Has to be them. Daughter of Athena, and son of Poseidon. Wonderful! Please step up here." She gestured to the empty stone.

Percy and Annabeth gulped, and looked at Piper.

She was nodding. "Sorry guys, but, you'll have to. I mean, we definitely don't want people killing each other."

"I..i suppose…" Annabeth locked eyes with Percy.

Percy nodded. "Let's do it." He and Annabeth grabbed hands as they walked onto the stone. When they were on, they faced each other. Annabeth put her arms around Percy's neck , and Percy grabbed her waist.

"This is going to be so cute!" The automation cried. "But, heads up. When you kiss, and turn to stone you will be able to communicate through thoughts. You won't know what is going on around you. SO, hopefully, three hours will pass quick!" She pointed her stony finger at the rest of the group. "Don't touch them while there in this form. IN three hours, make sure Julia and Jacob are back and kissing. They might fight, but force them if you have too. Okay, enjoy yourselves, dear!" She clapped her hands.

Percy and Annabeth looked in each other's eyes. "You ready?" Percy asked.

Annabeth smiled. "Yes, Seaweed Brain. Now just kiss me." They moved in, and as soon as their lips touched, stone spread from their lips to their toes, until, Percy and Annabeth had become statues. While they did that, the automation froze onc more, and Julia and Jacob unfroze, they broke apart, and looked around.

Piper clenched her teeth. "Thanks a lot, mom. This will be a waste of time." She muttered, but she and the group moved ot Julia and Jacob. They kept glancing at Percy and Annabeth, but, they seemed perfectly fine.

Three hours later, Jason shoved Jacob onto the stone next to Julia. Leo charged into him, and pushed him right into Julia. Their lips met, and immediately they froze into stone. Percy and Annabeth broke apart, and Annabeth fainted. Percy caught her, and carefully dragged her off the stone. Leo whistled. "Some kiss."

Percy nodded, looking a bit bewildered. He stared down at Annabeth, his eyes warm. "Come on. Let's get going." He gathered up his girlfriend in his arms, and followed the group out.