Hola, mis amigos! I want to start this story with one word: sorry! I kno i promised you guys a new PJ+AC story over the summer, and i seriously had been brainstorming! i swear! but, then the MOA came out, and for those who didn't read it, then, I BANISH YOU FROM READING THIS STORY. I REPEAT, UNLESS YOU'VE READ THE MARK OF ATHENA, YOU CANNOT READ THIS STORY. unless you really, really, really, really want spoilers. I'll admit, when i finished reading the MOA, i did alot of cussing, crying, thrashing, complaining, sulking, yelling, and finally, collasping out of exhaustion. it was THAT heartwrenching. Anyways, i finally got the idea when i was tumblring percabeth, and i found all these inspiring idea that made my brain have one of those moments when it actually WORKS! (shocker). so, here is the result! I will be updating soon, so stay tuned! get ready for some fuzzy and cuddly moments! :P!

THUMP.

Percy groaned, and rolled onto his side. His hand was still clenched tightly in Annabeth's. He stuided her. They were lying on something that was a mix between black asphalt, or gray sand. There was a faint light coming from something that Percy hoped was just a torch.

Annabeth's face was gray. Her eyes were closed. She was passed out. Percy looked down, and saw the web that had pulled her down into the eternal abyss. It was still wrapped around her ankle. Percy sat up. He grabbed it, and reached into his pocket. His ballpoint pen, Riptide, was still there, thank the gods. He uncapped it, and the bronze sword grew in his hand. He swung it around once, just to be relaxed by its feel. "Hold still, Annabeth." He whispered.

Swiftly and efficiently, he cut the web. He turned to his girlfriend, and brushed the webs and dust off his girlfriend's face. She stirred as he pulled the last web from her cheek. "P-Percy?" Her voice trembled, and was weak.

He rested his hand on her cheek, and leaned in close so he could feel her breath on his face. "I'm here."

She weakly grabbed his hand on her cheek, and fresh tears fell from her eyes. He wiped them away with his fingers.

"We'll be okay." He promised, though he didn't feel too hopeful.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "It's all my fault. I should have cut the webs."

"Shh." He hushed her. He lifted her carefully into a sitting position, and wrapped his arms around her. "It wasn't your fault. It was Arachne's."

At the name, a low, hiss erupted farther away. It was a laugh, Percy realized. Annabeth whimpered and tensed in his arms. He turned, and glared as the shadow of the spider/women hissed. Then, when she came into view, Percy had to smile.

"Curse it, girl!" Arachne cursed. She rolled around, still very much stuck in something that looked like…were those Chinese handcuffs? "My webbing is too strong!"

Percy stared at Annabeth in amazement. "You really are amazing, I hope you know that."

Annabeth was crying. "What if it breaks?" She sniffed.

Percy lifted her into his arms. He looked around. They had fallen towards the edge of the pit. There was a niche in the hole wall. Though Tartarus wasn't a place Percy wanted to camp out, they both needed to rest. Annabeth especially. He nestled her carefully into the niche. "Comfy?" He asked.

Annabeth smirked. "Not really."

"I'm sorry I can't do more." He swung his sword, and faced Arachne. "But I have a spider to squash."

Arachne let out a hiss that could have passed as a snort. "Idiot boy! You can't kill me! I'm already in Tartarus."

Percy strolled over. He jumped on the webbing, and saw Arachne's face. Her features were so horrible, Percy was glad to have the opportunity to drive his sword through her face. "I know. I just want the satisfaction of doing it. You mess with Annabeth, you mess with me. If I so much as find one-one-little spider near Annabeth, I will personally find your essences, and throw it in a blender. You thought Tarturas was bad?" He grabbed the threads, and pulled the spider (hopefully uncomfortably) until they were face to face. The spider women's eyes were filled with fear, and hatred. "I'm worse. I'll kill you until your essences will never be able to return!" With that, Percy dropped the spider women to the ground, and with one swipe of the sword, Arachne's body went limp.

Percy jumped off the cuffs. He walked over to Annabeth.

"We'll face worse. All the monsters we've faced…maybe even Kr…the Titan Lord, will be down here. What makes you think we can survive?" Her voice cracked, and she looked ready to give up.

Something about seeing Annabeth like that made Percy even more determined not to die. He gripped her hands, and held them up to his chest. "We'll make it out. We're together. Nothing can stop us. We have to find the Doors of the Death. I won't let you die…" He hesitated, then kissed her on the forehead. "I won't let us die."

Percy took first watch. Annabeth slept with her head in his lap. She had slept before, but had such terrible nightmares, Percy refused to let her sleep alone. He stroked her hair, trying to comfort her. He watched for monsters, his sword in hand. He didn't want to know what was down here. But, he was scared. The darkest part of the underworld...

Percy expected more monsters. He was surprised that they hadn't encountered more. He was terrified, but, something about being with Annabeth calmed him at the same time. He recalled the old legends(okay, so maybe he saw some things on Wikipedia too) that Tarturas was a place for torture. Worse than the Fields of Punishment. This is where all the monsters are tormented. Hopefully, they'd be too busy being tortured to bother Percy and Annabeth much.

Ha. That would be nice.

Annabeth stirred in his lap, she blinked up at him. "Tell me it was all just a horrible nightmare."

Percy sighed. "I wish."

"Have we been attacked?"

Percy stroked her slowly, and rubbed her arms. "Not yet."

"I'm scared."

"Me too."

They were quiet for a minute. Finally, Annabeth shivered.

"Cold?"

"Of course I'm cold, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth said halfheartedly.

Percy thought for a moment, then took off his shirt. He lied it across his girlfriend's body the best he could. "Better?"

Annabeth smiled faintly, and curled towards his abs. "Nice gesture. Kinda old fashioned, and your half naked now. But, thanks."

Percy smirked. He stroked Annabeth head again, and listened as her breathing slowed, showing she was asleep once again. He looked around. He couldn't believe he was actually in Tartarus. He never imagined he'd have to go here. Now, Gaea was all around him. Monsters knew they were there, but they were either too busy to bug Annabeth and him, or they were stalling for time. Percy felt despair fill up inside him. His chances of survival were seriously small. More than they'd ever been.

Then he looked at Annabeth. The feel of Annabeth's breath on his legs. Her hair tickling his legs. Her eyes, shut now, but still somehow attractive. The sight of her with his shirt covering her…

Percy knew. He wouldn't let Annabeth die. They'd come so far, and they weren't going to stop now. They were going to find the Doors of Death, and by the gods, if he had to fight every last monster to ever take shape in this world, then so be it. Nothing was going to stop him from keeping Annabeth safe. Nothing.