AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my take on The Mark of Athena, the 3rd book in The Heroes of Olympus series! So spoilers will be in here. If you don't want that, I suggest you go..and read some of my other stories? Pretty please? You can read my other stories even if you're reading this! :D This is only my 3rd fanfic, so please don't get pissed if it sucks..PLEASE REVIEW AND COMMENT! I appreciate constructive criticism to help improve my writing. For the rude & mean comments (which will come) I say: EFF OFF HATERS! Thanks for your support! :D

Prologue

"Tonight was magical Percy." Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend of two months. He had blindfolded her and taken her to the dock for a picnic dinner.

"I have to agree," Percy smirked. "You didn't call me Seaweed Brain once!" He laughed.

"Shut up Percy ," Annabeth said while slugging him on the arm.

"You know you love it," Percy replied.

For a while, the two sat quietly on the dock, dipping their feet in the lake, watching the sun set and the sky turn a million shades of purple, orange, blue, and green. Soon the sun was gone from view, and evening set in. Annabeth abruptly stood up.

She held out her hand and said, "Come on Percy. It's getting late, we should head back."

Percy took her hand and stood up. He took a deep breath. "Look, Annabeth, I brought you out here tonight for a reason. I want to tell you something."

"What is it?" Annabeth asked questioningly.

"I'm not the best at this kind of mushy romance stuff but I wanted to say…I love you." He looked nervously into Annabeth's gray stormy eyes.

Annabeth saw how nervous Percy was and smiled. He had let down his shield, his protection, shown his vulnerability to her. She loved him for that. Annabeth suddenly remembered that Percy was still standing in front of her, nervously shuffling back and forth on the dock, looking terrified.

All of a sudden, Percy said, "Look, never mind. You don't have to say it back. Let's just call it a night." He turned to walk away.

"Percy!" Annabeth shouted. He turned around. "I love you too. I have always loved you." Percy walked to her, and the two embraced.

"Thank the gods. I thought you were going to leave me hanging." Percy had a silly, happy grin spread all across his face.

"Seaweed Brain, of course I love you!" Annabeth teased.

Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He handed it to Annabeth.

"Percy, what's this for?" she said as she opened the box. She pulled out a beautiful necklace, and found that it was a silver owl, with jewels encrusted for its eyes.

"It's for being the best girlfriend in the world." He popped it open, and inside was an inscription that read, I love you on the left side. On the right, there was a picture of Percy kissing Annabeth on the cheek while she blushed. Annabeth was speechless. Percy swept her hair off to one side and hooked the necklace on. They just hugged for a while, until Percy walked her back to her cabin. He kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Goodnight, Annabeth." He winked and walked away, leaving her speechless. She loved him so much.

Chapter 1

Annabeth paced back and forth nervously on the deck of the Argo II, anticipating the ship's arrival at Camp Jupiter, the rival Roman camp. She walked over to the side of the ship and leaned out, breathing in the fresh sea mist to calm herself down.

Why are you so nervous? she asked herself. Calm down, you're just seeing Percy. But the other voice in her mind said, What if he doesn't remember you? What if he has a new girlfriend? She started hyperventilating frantically, and crying.

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Piper had just woken up when a flash passed by her slightly open door. It was Annabeth. Piper ran out and followed her. She watched as Annabeth was leaning over the edge of the ship and breathing deeply. A little while later, she started crying. Piper walked towards Annabeth and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong Annabeth?" She asked.

"What if he doesn't remember me? What if he has a new girlfriend? He's been missing eight months, how will relationship be now? I'm just scared of what will happen." Annabeth wiped her face.

"Annabeth! Percy WILL remember you. If he hurts you I swear I will kick his ass from here back to New York," Piper said firmly.

"Really? You would do that for me?" Annabeth asked.

Piper chuckled. "Of course I would!"

"Thanks Piper," Annabeth replied quietly. The two of them stopped talking and just bathed in the sea mist. Land was slowly becoming visible through the fog. Annabeth and Piper heard footsteps approaching, and turned around. It was Leo, Conner and Travis, Katie, Clarisse, and many others. They had just woken up due to Jason pouring buckets of cold water all over them. He woke them up to inform them that they were just a few minutes away from Camp Jupiter.

"How are you holding up Annabeth?" Leo looked at her with a look of pity. Piper shot him a look of pure malice. The other demigods awkwardly looked away, or shuffled off to the side.

"Fine," Annabeth replied, putting on a brave face.

"We're landing you guys!" Jason shouted.

"Ohmygodsohmygodsohmygods!" Annabeth frantically shouted. Her heart beat erratically. Her breath came out in shallow puffs. She started to hop around the deck like a crazy person.

"Woah, chill!" Connor and Travis said in unison. They were wide-eyed watching her.

"Everyone, off board!" Jason voice flew to them. Annabeth looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She was wide-eyed and panicked. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then flipped her hair behind her shoulders. She opened her eyes. It was time.