These are short scenes surrounding what Percy said when he gave Pandora's Pithos to Hestia as an offering.

The first is Annabeth reflecting on Percy's words, the day after the Great Prophecy came to pass.

I love Percabeth, so I'm going to incorporate a bit of it in each scene.

P.S. I do not own PJO. All credit goes to the genius Rick Riordan.

Hope Survives Best at the Hearth:

Chapter One:

Annabeth

"Annabeth?"

I turned to come face to face with deep sea green eyes and messy black hair. I couldn't resist smiling. "Hey, Percy! What's up?"

He sat down next to me on the edge of the boat dock and dangled his feet in the water. If it wasn't for the look in his eyes that resembled weariness beyond the years of any average sixteen-year old, I would never have guessed that he had just battled the Lord of the Titans the day before. He looked pretty much the same as ever. He wore a Camp HalfBlood t-shirt and basketball shorts, and his messy hair hung down over his eyes. His eyes twinkled mischievously—the main reason that I had originally thought that he was a son of Hermes when I met him; that is, until I realized that his mischievous gleam wasn't harmful to you: with or without shaving cream and a trip wire.

There was also something new in his gaze. Something that had always been hidden before, but now was displayed prominently. Pure affection. I could still feel the salty fresh taste of his lips on mine from the night before. I had a hard time believing it, but the look in his eyes proved my doubt wrong. I was dating Perseus Jackson.

"I was on my way to the training grounds when I noticed you over here." He bumped me playfully with his shoulder. "What gives? You've never taken breaks; as long as I've known you."

I shrugged. "You've never seen me on the day after the biggest war in Camp HalfBlood history. Besides," I added. "What about you? I've never seen you up this early. Heck, the sun's still rising!" I pointed out the orange and crimson sunrise to the East.

He pursed his lips, "I'm not sure whether to be relieved or insulted by that…"

I laughed and he smiled. He watched me carefully for a few moments, as if taking in every inch of my face. Then he turned to the sunrise, "I've got to say… if I've been missing a sight like this… I think I'll be waking up early more often…"

I smiled. "The sunrise is beautiful, isn't it?"

He nodded in agreement, "Yeah… though I was kinda talking about the sunlight that's reflecting on your face…"

I felt my face grow hot, "W-what?"

His eyes widened and he turned an even darker color than what the hazy light was already turning him. Then he pinched his nose and shut his eyes tight. "Did I just say that out loud?" he muttered.

I chuckled, "Yes. Yes you did." (A.N. PHINEAS AND FERB ROCKS!)

He turned and gave me a wry smile, then he slid over so that his left thigh was flesh with mine. When he turned to look me in the eye, our faces were inches apart. "I hope that I didn't just creep you out," he whispered, his gentle gaze catching mine.

I shook my head slowly keeping my eyes on his deep green ones, "I thought it was kind of cute…"

He smiled, and, for the first time, it was Percy that leaned in to kiss me. His fingers grazed my cheek and his other hand brushed against my waist. The kiss was soft and sweet. His lips tasted the same as always: like an ocean breeze.

"I'm never going to get tired of that!" an excited voice broke us apart. We turned to see Grover, Thalia, and Nico approaching us, Thalia still in her crutches. Grover's voice echoed across the water as the two guys sat cross-legged behind us, and Thalia sat next to Nico with her legs dangling off of the dock, her crutches next to her.

Percy turned around and copied the boys' posture, while I sat next to him on my knees. Nico grinned knowingly at Percy, who turned a deep shade of scarlet. "I've got to agree with Goat Boy," the son of Hades chuckled. "We were all so frustrated with you two dancing around each other… It's a good change of pace to see you dating." I felt my cheeks color to match Percy's, and I stared down at my lap.

Percy, however, chuckled at the statement. "Keep talking, Death Breath," he threatened teasingly, "and you'll find yourself in a small air-bubble at the bottom of the Atlantic." I looked up to see his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know I can do it, too," he added. That set the five of us in a round of laughter.

I glanced around at my friends. Close friends that I'd battled against death with time and time again. My gaze strayed to Percy, and I remembered what he had told Hestia when he gave her Pandora's jar as an offering. Hope survives best at the hearth, he had said. Guard it for me, and I won't be tempted to give up again. At the time, I hadn't understood what he meant. Now, I did.

I had always assumed that the hearth and the home is where you eat and sleep and hang your hat. But now, I understood… that home is where the people you cherish are. Wherever they go. Home is where you feel safe and loved. These people that hold your heart, and your home, and your hearth… these people are what you fight for. These people are your source for hope. The people that would never leave you… never let you die… The people that you hold close to your heart. Nothing matters but them.

I looked back up at Percy, suddenly realizing that he had known something I didn't. He once told me that his fatal flaw is personal loyalty. It was one of the deadliest of flaws… but also one of the purest. Because he—unlike most of humanity—understood what's important. Percy understood that things like phones and games and books… those can be replaced. You can't replace your friends and family. They're what you should cherish and keep safe. He thought that his own life was nothing compared to the lives of those around them. After all, even an enemy demigod can become something great. President. Congress. Anything. But… once they die… that's it. Nothing else. Percy understood that. And I was glad that I did too, now.

"Annabeth?" Thalia's voice yanked me out of my thoughts. "Are you okay? You've been staring at Percy for the last several minutes…"

I glanced at her electric blue eyes that—even when crippled—still shined with an air of defiance. I nodded. "I'm fine. Just thinking about something."

Percy brushed a stray lock of hair out of my eyes. "Care to enlighten us?"

I sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… what I just figured out… I'm pretty sure that you already know…"

Nico's, Thalia's, and Grover's jaws dropped to the wooden dock. "Wait," Grover held up his hands, palms out. "You mean that there's something that Percy knows, but you only just figured out? What is it?"

I stared up at Percy's calm green eyes. "Hope survives best at the hearth," I whispered to myself.

Percy's gaze flooded with understanding, then changed to a look of teasing amusement. "You mean that you only just figured that out?" he asked with a smirk.

I shrugged. "Well, we can't all have a fatal flaw like yours Seaweed Brain."

He chuckled with amusement. "To be honest, I'm kind of glad of what my fatal flaw is. So far, it's done more good than harm."

The other three glanced back and forth between us in confusion. I turned to them and explained what I had just figured out. Their eyes widened when I finished, and they watched Percy with new eyes.

We talked for several more minutes, Percy always seeming to keep the mood light in his usual goofy kid of way. When the conch shell rang out, signaling breakfast, we all filed out and headed for the mess hall. Percy and I lagged behind, until the others left us in the dust. Halfway there, I turned to my new boyfriend. "Percy?"

"Mmm?"

"You know what I said once… about building something permanent?"

He stopped and turned to face me, apparently noticing the heaviness of the question, "Of course. Why? What's wrong?"

I sighed. "Everyone that I've been close to has always left me of their own accord in one way or another. I'm just… I'm just worried that you'll do the same…"

He watched me thoughtfully for a moment, until his hands caught my hips and he gently pushed me up against a tree—luckily it was uninhabited, or we'd probably get in trouble with a couple wood nymphs. Percy leaned forward until his forehead pressed against mine, and the scent of the ocean wafted around me.

"Listen to me carefully," he whispered. "The only way I will ever leave you is if I'm kidnapped by a god. I plan on staying. Not just because I'd hate to see you hurt. You forget… I'm risking the wrath of Athena just by being near you right now. I don't think I can stay away from you. Got it?" As he spoke, his fingers slid around my waist and trailed up and down my spine.

I smiled, and I traced the line of his jaw with a finger. I felt him shiver under my touch. He caught my hand from his face and laced his fingers through mine.

"Got it," I whispered, as his lips descended on mine.

For those of you who didn't get it… Percy's last little speech was foreshadowing… And because I hope to put a little bit of Percabeth in each story.

Percabeth is GOD… Anyone who tries to break them apart… Consider it breaking an oath on the River Styx… Just don't go there…

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