Chapter One

"Do you think we should go talk to her?"

Piper asked, not moving her eyes away from Annabeth.

"I don't know what to do."

Jason answered back honestly. They stood there, leaning against the railing, silently willing the other to talk. It seemed like hours. But it's hard to tell time when you're on a boat, floating on air. It feels like you're always in a trance. Finally, Piper broke the silence, but in a timid whisper, almost, afraid.

"I couldn't imagine."

Her eyes were still watching Annabeth, who was leaning on a rail on the other side of the ship, gazing into the water they were flying above, lost in thought.

"Imagine what?"

Jason finally asked back. Piper took a slow breath.

"If I had a best friend like Percy Jackson. And he had been missing for six months." She said. Then, sadly. "Not even knowing where he is. If he's even alive."

Piper watched Annabeth with pity in her eyes. As if acting on impulse, she finally nodded to herself and said,

"I'm gonna go talk to her."

She slowly walked over to Annabeth, not wanting to disturb her. She leaned against the railing. "Hey Annabeth." Piper's words evaporated as soon as they left her mouth, barely registered. They stood there for a while, just staring into the sea. Piper cocked her head. She could see something in the water. She almost backed away before realizing it was her reflection.

"Percy's eyes are like that."

Annabeth's voice sounded broken, just like her eyes.

"They're just so, surprising. They're the first thing you notice. They make you wonder. Make you think."

Piper had no reply, so she just stood there, staring into the ocean, trying to make sense of it all. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Annabeth asked the question that had been growing in the back of everyone's mind.

"What if he doesn't have his memory back?"

Annabeth let the question linger in the air, and disregarded her shaky voice.

"Or, what if he does, but, he's...changed?"

Her voice was getting worse, but she kept her eyes on the sea, as if it was her lifeline.

"Or what if he's not even there?" She turned towards Piper with the sea in her eyes.

"What if he's...gone?"

There it was.

The question everyone had secretly been thinking, but were too afraid to say. She searched Piper's eyes, desperate for an explanation. Desperate for hope. But Piper didn't have that. She looked towards Jason for help, but he just raised up his hands in defeat.

"Look Annabeth. I don't know what to tell you. I've never been in this situation before." Annabeth lowered her head and nodded.

"But Annabeth. Percy loves you. I know that. Wherever he is."

Annabeth attempted a weak smile and walked back towards her room.

The Next Day

"Attention passengers! We will be landing in California shortly. Well, technically, now."

"Leo better land this thing-"

They all jumped out of their seats, and Jason fell over.

"Softly."

He finished through clenched teeth. They heard a loud, creaking noise and saw stairs descend from the front of the Argo II. They all walked outside and stared out the stairs, waiting for someone to do or say something. "Well?" Leo said from behind. "Who wants to go first?" Everyone awkwardly looked at each other, waiting for someone to volunteer.

"I guess that means all four of us!"

He said with a smile plastered on his face. "Ready?" Jason asked, looking towards Piper. "Let's do this." Leo said with a wild smile.

And they took their first steps off the boat, as one.