Missing Moment
"No Percy. It can't be you; I won't let it be you." Annabeth was telling Percy after the four heroes had captured Nike.
"What do you expect me to do Annabeth? Let one of them die? Hazel is so young and has already died before. Frank has lost so much already. I can't do that to either of them. And Leo hasn't found where he feels like he belongs yet. So no I can't let it be them. None of them deserve to die-"
"And you do? Percy we have saved the world multiple times we should get a happy ending. We deserve it. I don't care if I'm being selfish Percy. I don't care as long as it means I get to live a long and happy life with you." She reached up and grabbed his face in her hands.
Gently he pulled her hands off him. "Annabeth I don't get that. You even told me that the greatest heroes don't get happy endings. And how many times have you told me I am the greatest hero of them all. Annabeth the essence of heroism is to die so that others may live. Either I am a hero or I get a happy ending. It can't be both."
"All I want is for us to be together. For you and me to live our lives and just be together. Percy for once in your life be selfish, for once let someone else make the sacrifice; let someone else make the hard choices. Stay safe with me. Hold me in your arms and never let go." Annabeth felt like crumpling. She knew she wouldn't be able to live without him. She knew that he was a part of her. The thought of living without her heart was terrifying to her. "Percy please, more than anything I want that future. I want to live in New Rome with you and wake up next to you without having to worry about any more quests. Maybe with kids in the future, Percy but I want to spend my life with you, without worrying that I am going to lose you. And that is a possibility, if we live through this quest than we get that, I'm making sure that we don't get any more world ending quests." She was holding him is her arms grasping at his hair. He was holding her up making sure she didn't fall to her knees over the unfairness of it all.
"But Annabeth-"
"No buts, promise me that you'll stay with me. I've lost you twice and thought I was going to lose you a million more times. You've come back to me though, you have always come back and if we keep living like this one day you won't come back to me and I can't even think about that. So promise me that you will stay with me. That you will fight, but not make the ultimate sacrifice unless it is absolutely necessary."
After what felt like hours he responded. "I'll try to stay alive, I promise I won't go looking to die."
"Good," She responded. She held him close, knowing that maybe one day her Hero wouldn't come home. But knowing for damn sure that that day wouldn't be for many years from now. Because Percy Jackson always keeps his promises. So she held him and she didn't stop holding until they went to sleep that night. Their dreams were peaceful and when the final battle did come Percy didn't make the sacrifice, he was at Annabeth's side protecting her, like he would be for the rest of their lives. Just like how it had always been and how it always will be.