1- Annabeth
Annabeth was falling and the only thing she knew with absolute certainty was that Percy had his arms wrapped tightly around her. She could feel the wind whipping around her as she was pulled by her ankle into the darkest depths of the underworld. She could hear as the cars and other debris fell around her crashing into each other, but she couldn't see a thing. She couldn't even make out Percy less than three inches in front of her.
With a scream she sat straight up, flinging her arms around—where was Percy? He had just been holding her…
"Annabeth- it's okay, it's okay," he said, rubbing her back. Slowly she regained her senses, she could make out the shape of the desk and wardrobe in her dark room, she could tell that she was in a comfortable bed and not an endless pit, and most of all, she knew that Percy was still there with her.
Tears crept into her eyes and Percy sat up, scooted against the wall so his back was resting on it and pulled Annabeth into his chest where she absolutely broke down. He brushed his hand over her hair, kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. As she calmed down, she sat up a little straighter and leaned into his neck.
"It's almost over, we're out," Percy whispered.
"I know. I just still can't believe it. Everything Percy. I can't believe any of it." She didn't know what else to say, she didn't want to think about it. Annabeth had been to the underworld before and it was terrifying, but it had been nothing compared to Tartarus.
"Tomorrow, we'll take care of the last of the giants and then we'll go back to camp. We'll be safe, and we'll be together." They were together now, she thought, and that was a good start.
Annabeth and Percy had barely made it through the Doors of Death at the House of Hades. They had sprung out right as Nico and Hazel were closing them, perfect timing.
Now they were floating safely over Greece and she was in Percy's arms. That's what mattered. Nico had taken to sleeping in Percy's room while they had been gone. He'd offered to sleep on the couch in the mess hall, but Annabeth had looked at Percy thinking Don't leave me. He'd clearly understood because he'd wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist, squeezed tight, and told Nico to keep the room.
Coach Hedge didn't like this alternative solution, but nobody was really going to say no to Annabeth and Percy after what they'd been through.
"How were you sleeping?" She asked Percy, "Didn't you have nightmares?"
"I can barely close my eyes, Annabeth. I close them and it's like eternal darkness is all around me again, only worse, because I can't even feel you with me. I was just watching you sleep."
She reached up and touched his cheek- all the worry there, all the pain, he looked like she felt. Like he'd just seen the deepest circle of Hell and would never forget what it was like. What she wouldn't give to take his pain away.
She wrapped her arms around him and held tight, taking in everything, feeling the new scars on his back, his ocean smell (at least that would never change), and the feel of his strong muscles.
She leaned up and kissed him softly, "Thank you" she said against his lips.
"For what?"
"For not letting me go."
"Never," was all he said and pulled her into an even tighter hug and kissed her back with so much love, it made her want to cry.
When they pulled back for air, Percy looked her straight in the eye and very seriously said, "I love you, Annabeth, forever."
"I love you too, Seaweed Brain," and for the first time since she saw Percy descending into Arachnae's cavern, she smiled.
They talked for a little while longer, occasionally kissing, and at some point, she fell asleep, with Percy's arms wrapped protectively around her.