LIII

Annabeth

Annabeth stood looking over the edge of the ship at the Roman camp just beneath them. Captivated by the moment, she had to remind herself to breathe. Percy was down there.

It had been eight painfully long months since she had last seen him. Now that the moment had finally come for their reunion she was terrified. What if Percy had no memory of her at all? What if he had changed? What if-

Annabeth wouldn't let herself finish the thought as she gazed over her shoulder at Jason and Piper.

"Okay, we're going down," said Leo, a slight tremor in his voice. They were all worried about how they would be accepted at the Roman camp. Annabeth felt her ears pop as they descended downward, and before she knew it they had landed.

Leo lowered the automatic section of the boat that he had designed to touch the ground to allow easy access on and off the ship. Annabeth stepped up to the very edge of it. Surrounding the ship was a multitude of people, a vast majority of them wearing togas for some reason. Annabeth held her breath as she scanned the crowd for Percy.

There. He was standing near the front of the crowd, wearing a white toga and a purple cape. Her heart ached as she stared at his perfectly unchanged face, a smile spreading across his face as he looked up at her.

"Percy," she half-whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Annabeth," he replied, and with that they began to run towards each other.

As they grew nearer and began to slow, Annabeth felt anger building up inside. Thatjerk had left her alone for the better part of a year! His fault or not, it was quite rude. And then when she told him, "stay where you are", what does he do? Move up and down the whole god-forsaken continent!

Percy was still smiling at her as they closed the last few paces between them. Annabeth clenched her fists and whack! punched him straight in the jaw, not hard enough to do any damage, but certainly enough to hurt. A few of the Romans gripped their swords and edged in.

Percy looked at her, rubbing his jaw, bemusement playing across his eyes. "What was that for?" He tried to sound angry but epically failed.

"For leaving, and not letting us find you," Annabeth said sourly, crossing her arms. She was much better at the angry game.

"Well," Percy said, no longer trying to mask his smile. "I had hoped for a nicer reunion."

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," she said as she pulled him into a kiss.