Percy watched Annabeth carefully. Soaking up every drop of her beauty. The scars crossing her arms from previous battles, the clay beads resting on her orange ?camp t-shirt, the way the red and green light reflected on her blonde hair. Then there were the small things Percy found even more fantastic, the musical way she laughed, the way her grey eyes crinkled up when Paul told a particularly funny joke. To Percy's right his mom bustled about, frantically checking that the tree, the presents, the food and everything was perfect.
"Thank you so much for having me, Mrs. Jackson." Annabeth said. Percy's mom smiled warmly.
"Of course dear! And call me mom, we're a family." Annabeth's eye grew stormy, the way they did when she was agitated. Percy was only mildly confused until Annabeth stood abruptly, muttered "excuse me" and ran into the cold New York night.
"Annabeth! What's…" then it hit him. Luke. "Oh gods!" Percy sprinted after her. Annabeth was fast, but at top speed Percy could catch her. When he finally reached her, he spun Annabeth around to face him. She looked at the sidewalk; her eyes were fragile and rimmed with red. It broke Percy's heart to see her like this. Before he could say anything, Annabeth took a shaky breath.
"Percy, please, I have to, I can't, I have to go." She tried to pull away, but Percy caught her arm.
"Annabeth, my mom didn't mean to say that, she would never hurt you."
"I know she didn't but…"
"You know I will never turn on you like…"
"I know Percy, that's not it."
"Then what is it?" Percy felt completely helpless; he had to do something for his wise girl, but without a monster to kill Percy didn't know that to do. Annabeth sighed.
"Remember when we were 13 and looking for the Golden Fleece?"
"Of course." Percy replied, remembering their quest through the sea of monsters.
"That was before we freed Thalia, so I didn't have her or Luke. I didn't have my family at all, now Luke is gone and I never will."
"I'm not Luke. I'm not going to leave you."
"But you already did Percy. When Juno took you. I know you couldn't control it Percy, but you did leave me," Annabeth was crying now. "And maybe you will again. I lost you once, and I could lose you again at any moment. I trusted Luke and Thalia to always be there and they weren't, I lost my family and it was one of the worst feelings in the world. I can't deal with that again." Percy felt his heart plummet. He thought of the moment when Annabeth was dangling over Tartarus, all the times he feared he would lose her, that couldn't compare to what Annabeth must be feeling. He reached for his bead necklace, revealing the newest bead, a silver owl holder an olive branch in its talon. He showed it to Annabeth.
"As long as I have this, I'll know to look for you, memories or no memories I'll keep looking."
"Percy." Annabeth protested his cheesy promise. Percy produced a second bead from his pocket, a silver trident.
"And as long as you have this, I'll know where to find you." Percy moved to attach the charm to her necklace, but he was afraid she would panic again, and flinch away from him. At his hesitation she turned around. Percy feared Annabeth would start running again, if she did, Percy wouldn't follow. He would let her go if that's what she wanted. But Annabeth didn't run, instead she lifted her blond curls, exposing her neck, and thin cord. Delicately Percy removed her necklace, slide on the trident and gently reattached the chain. Annabeth met his eyes, a mix of emotions flashing across her face.
"Thank you Percy." She said, her voice trembling with feeling. Annabeth's eyes still shone with tears but she managed to smile and wrap her arms around Percy's neck. Percy leaned closer, to whisper in her ear.
"Merry Christmas, Wise Girl."