Oooohh it's been so long since I've written and I just couldn't get this plot outta my mind. Ok so, if it sucks, go easy on me and if it rocks, go all out in a great review! Naturally thanks to my beta, Venillashiz.

It was all for the thrill.

The thrill of adrenaline pumping in your veins. The excitement of living on the edge. That's how it felt like on the battlefield – the melody of the metal clanging against metal, the tangy, metallic smell of blood and the ripple of power you'd feel as you held your opponent at the tip of your sword.

Percy grunted as he blocked the jab from Annabeth's knife. Swinging his sword, he feigned a stab at her left side, changing at the last second to swing to the right, the cold tip of his sword coming to rest on the hollow at the base of her neck.

He closed his eyes and smirked as he heard her knife hit the floor of the battle pavilion with and audible clang. The entire arena erupted in cheers and applause. People clapped him on the back as they filed out of the area, having come only to watch the legendary Percy Jackson battle with his equally well-reknowned girlfriend. Then it was silent again, just the two of them, his sword still at her throat.

He sighed, dropping his arm, letting it dangle at his side. Capping Riptide, he pocketed it and took a step forward to hug her, only to freeze in mid-step, Annabeth's knife a millimeter from his chest.

"Hey now, don't be all bitter just 'cause you lost the fight." He laughed, holding his hands out in front of him.

A thin eyebrow shot upwards and she turned around, withdrawing her knife and twirling it with her thin fingers. "We both know I would've won any other day. I just didn't want to," she drawled as she stepped around him and headed for the exit.

He jumped her before she could even take another breath and they tumbled to the ground, his lips on hers. He straddled her legs and continued his ravenous attack on her mouth. She recovered from her surprise quickly and immediately kissed him back, her fingers making their way from round his neck to fist through his hair. Percy couldn't help the thoughts that plagued his mind as they continued their intense lip-lock.

It didn't help that he was high on adrenaline and they were currently alone with no annoying siblings or parents around to say anything. Understand that for boys, adrenaline spurs testosterone, which in turn, spurs hormones. Therefore, all of that, plus that a big fight scene equals big lust scene.

It was the cough that eventually broke them apart. He pretended not to hear it at first but Thalia clearly hated being ignored and he found himself yanked off Annabeth with enough force to rival a rhinoceros.

"Thalia! What the hell was that for?" He got up, growling.

She rolled her heavily eye-linered eyes. "Cool down lover boy." Her voice turned smug, "I suggest a cool shower to help you relax, a really cool shower." Percy flushed at her suggestive tone and pointedly looked away, his mind on dead kittens and Clarisse in a fluffy pink dress.

Annabeth rolled her eyes and hooked her arm around Thalia's. "Any reason you decided to uh... cut that short?"

Thalia grinned. "Who wouldn't stop you guys from getting all 'hot and heavy' in the arena? Do you know how many people are gonna have to fight here? Zeus knows I'm never stepping on that spot again!"

"I don't go around stopping your make-out sessions!" came Percy's indignant shout.

"I'm a hunter, we're sworn off boys, you stupid shit!" Thalia shouted back as she steered Annabeth towards the exit.

"Oh yeah? Remind me about that, the next time I catch you oogling Nico!"

"He's like, five years younger than me, you paedophile!"

"Like that's stopped you?"

"I've got more things to do than to watch you guys discuss this...disturbing issue." Annabeth cut in, clearly irritated. "And besides," she smirked at her boyfriend, "Don't you have some of your own problems to take care of?" Her glance slipped downwards, her smirk widening at his blush.

Annabeth allowed Thalia to steer her towards big house and questioned, "What's up, Thalia?"

Thalia's easy grin dropped and her face darkened, "Annabeth, I know you're upset, you don't have to hide it from me, I heard all about it."

Confusion reeled her mind, and Annabeth laughed, "Upset about what Thals? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Don't pretend, I know you're upset about England," Thalia said bitterly, her arms crossed.

Annabeth was bewildered, "England? Thalia, now you're not making any sense, what's this got to do with the English? Are you going to England?" She laughed nervously.

"No! Percy is!"

Annabeth was stunned, her eyes fixed on Thalia as her mind tried to revolve around what she had just spat out.

"England?" The word came out as barely a whisper. Thalia's eyes narrowed, and then widended in realization.

"You didn't know?" That too, was barely audible over the noise of the campers in the distance.

Annabeth's heartbeat quickened, Percy was leaving? When was he going to tell her? Did he ever plan on telling her?

Thalia slapped a hand to her face, covering her eyes as she squeezed them shut in frustration. It wasn't pretense after all, she really had no idea. Now it was all messed up. Lifting her fingers just a fraction, she glanced at her friend. Thalia watched in concern as she saw the panic forming in Annabeth's eyes.

"I…I'm sorry." She pulled Annabeth into a hug. "I thought he'd told you."

Annabeth's laugh was bitter, "Don't be."

When she released Thalia, her smile was back and she rolled her eyes. "Seaweed Brain probably just forgot." Thalia laughed along but the pain reflected in Annabeth's grey orbs gave her away.

Annabeth waved Thalia off at the big house where she had stopped to find Chiron. Heading towards the cabins, she smiled at the passing campers before stepping into Percy's cabin. It was empty, save for the chocolate wrappers on his bed. Annabeth sighed, she had hoped to find him in private and coax the issue over England out of him.

She was about to head for the door when she heard noise coming from the bathroom. She sighed and sat down heavily on his bed, pushing the wrappers away. Since he was taking a shower, she might as well wait for him. Annabeth looked up at the ceiling, smiling when Percy began singing a badly mixed version of The Little Mermaid's "Under the Sea".

Her thoughts faded back into despair when she recalled the morning's incidents. Why was he leaving? Was she allowed to go along? The thoughts filled her mind to the brim, overflowing into confusion.

Annabeth sat up, taking a deep breath. She wasn't going to be like all those helpless heroines in all those dramas, she was going to be rational and she was going to analyze the situation over. Like a battle strategy, she told herself. Percy probably had a reason for deciding to go. He probably had an even better reason for not telling her about it.

Annabeth blushed inwardly when she realized part of her wanted him to ask her to go along, part of her wanted him to sweep her off her feet and beg her to go with him. She buried her face in her hands, groaning. Only Percy could turn her into this mushy pile of sensitive, irrational mess. She flopped back down and threw an arm over her eyes, praying that Percy wouldn't walk out of the toilet to find her blushing like a school girl.

The door clicked open and she heard heavy footsteps coming out of the toilet. Annabeth plastered on her usual, easy smile and sat up, only to choke on the words she was about to utter. There he was, right in front of her, towel swung over his shoulder and as bare as the day he was born.

Annabeth watched as Percy's mouth fell open in his own adorable way and she blushed as he immediately made to cover himself. "Annabeth!" He gasped, reddening. "What are you doing here?"

She opened her mouth but no words came out so she chose to give a small shrug, smiling nervously. As he fumbled with his clothes and towel, she let her eyes travel down his body, drinking in the sight of him. As the rays of the morning sun shone on him, she couldn't help but appreciate the way it illuminated him - now that's what she called a Greek god.

Percy smirked when he caught her starring at him, "Annabeth, you're drooling."

Annabeth blushed, turning away and discreetly brought her sleeve up to wipe her mouth, avoiding his gaze. "No, I'm not." she mumbled.

Percy laughed as he slipped on his shirt, she hadn't noticed that he already got his pants on. Annabeth practically had to bite her lip to stop herself from sighing as she watched his t-shirt slowly slip over his chest and stomach. She fidgeted slightly when he sat down next to her.

Jumping when his hand moved to grab hers, she smiled as he entwined their fingers, revelling in the feeling of his warmth enveloping her. "So, what's up?"

"No – uh, nothing." Annabeth spluttered as he shifted even closer, so that their thighs were touching.

"Nothing, huh?" He grinned and stood up. "Come on, let's go then."

"Wa-Wait! Percy, um..." Annabeth dug her toe into the ground, suddenly feeling shy. "I was wondering if you had something to tell me?" she mumbled.

"Anything to tell you... hmm, nope. No, nothing. Why?" He smiled at her, bending down so that their eyes were level, "Do...you have something to tell me?"

Her heart was hammering in her chest so hard, it was as though a whole construction site had taken residence there. The debate in her head was so intense that she felt slightly nauseous - tell him or not. Annabeth chewed her lip and looked up into his clear green eyes. They stared back at her with the same confusion that clouded her thoughts.

Finally, Percy laughed, breaking the silence, and straightened. "There's no need to think that hard!" He yanked her up, catching her as she stumbled slightly.

Pulling her into a crushing embrace, he whispered in her ear, "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"

Annabeth smiled, gripping him tightly for a second before letting go. Releasing him, she punched his shoulder, "Yea, I know."

He grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "So, now, let's go grab some lunch? It should be about time right?" Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Is there ever a time when you're not hungry, Seaweed Brain?"

"Hey! I don't eat all the time. You act like you've never seen Grover." She raised her eyebrows, tilting her head towards the bed.

"Yes, well the eight chocolate wrappers I found on your bed says otherwise." Percy opened his mouth and then shut it again.

Lifting a finger, he chuckled, "Touché."

As they entered the dining area, the familiar noise of metal plates and utensils clanking and the usual buzz of conversation topped with the heavenly aroma of all the best foods in the world, had Percy's mind reeling and his stomach grumbling.

By the time they reached her table, his eyes were the size of saucers and he had practically created a path of drool through the mix of tables. Annabeth seized a couple of plates and piled on a mountain of food. She was just as hungry, just more discreet in hiding it. Offering a quick prayer and offering to her mother, Annabeth grabbed Percy by the shirt and sat him down next to her. They sat at their usual place at his table, something they started after the war seeing as the gods had gotten far less territorial with their children by then.

Percy had begun his usual process of shovelling food down his throat and she couldn't help but grin before following in suit. The familiar 'clip-clop' of hooves had both of them whipping their necks up to grin up at Chiron with their mouths stuffed to the brim with pizza and bits of chicken.

Percy smiled, with much difficulty. "Hey Chiron!" he chimed, bits of chicken spraying out. Annabeth made a face and swallowed, turning to frown at him. "Sorry." Percy offered.

"No no, it's quite alright. I see you're very eager about lunch, seeing as you had quite the workout I heard." Chiron raised his eyebrows and smiled at Percy. "Congratulations on that. Although I heard it was a very close competition." Annabeth smiled gratefully at him.

"Now, I'm sorry but I'd like to borrow him for a moment." Chiron patted Percy's shoulder and jerked his head to the big house, "Percy?"

Percy looked at Annabeth and she shrugged, mouthing, 'go'. He mimicked her, shrugging and stood up, "I'll be right back."

"Hey Chiron, you mind speeding this up a bit, the pizza is calling out to me." Percy grinned, shutting the door good-naturedly. The smile faded off his face, however, as he noticed his mentor's sudden change in aura.

The centaur smiled grimly, "Please, Percy, take a seat."

"Okay..." He sat down opposite Chiron. "So, what's up?"

"Well Percy, I'm not sure how to break this to you, so to speak."

"Uh… ok? It's ok, you can just…tell me?" He laughed nervously.

"Percy, as you know, Olympus follows the western civilization, meaning the gods are in a way, mobile. Now, western civilization, happens to rest in the Americas. However, we have come to a recent discovery of a significantly large half-blood population in Europe. They have grouped together at a camp just outside of England." He stopped, giving the information time to process.

Percy nodded slowly, "Okay, so the gods uh, mingle in Europe a lot. So? What's this got to do with us? They're not waging war against us are they?" He frowned.

Chiron chuckled, "No, they're not. However, they do need help with the organization and we have decided to send someone over to assist them." He looked pointedly at Percy.

Percy grinned, "Cool! I'll go tell Annabeth, she'll be so excited!" He stood and made to walk to the door.

Chiron cleared his throat. "We're sending someone, Percy, not a team. Please sit down." Percy froze in his steps, his eyes wide as he stared blankly at the door. Turning around slowly, he sank back in his seat.

"I-"

"I'll finish explaining first, if you please?" He closed his mouth, looking down at his shoelaces. Chiron sighed and went on, "We'd like very much for you to go, Percy."

Taking a step closer, he bent down. "Unfortunately, your father was the one who volunteered your services for this mission and Lord Zeus has agreed, eagerly agreed might I add." He straightened up, "A contract has been made, Percy." Chiron's eyebrows furrowed, "In other words, you don't have a choice."

Chiron's words rang in his ears as he felt the world around him implode. Then a shiver ran down his spine.

How was he going to tell Annabeth?

Thanks for reading!