Ok, so this is my fanfic story of The Mark of Athena from the Heroes of Olympus series. I do not own any of the stuff by Rick Riordan. All rights to rick!

This fanfic will be about the stressful love situations among our seven demigods! The prophecy "Wisdom's daughter walks alone/ the mark of Athena burns through Rome" shall be fulfilled...

Anyway, I hope you guys like it! And please love Percy! (Hum sorry, he won't appear on this chapter) :( Any comments or suggestions are welcomed! I know this chapter is really short, but I hope you enjoy.


ANNABETH

Annabeth hated hating hateful Percy because of his long absence. She just couldn't believe he had left her just like that. How dared he? Of course, it was mostly Hera's fault, but still… Couldn't she get a break?

She was trying hard to read that stupid book about Romulus and Remus but she couldn't make herself read more than three lines without thinking about how much she missed Percy. That Seaweed brain was driving her mad with worry. What if he doesn't remember me anymore? What if he does, but he doesn't care about me now? What if he's got a Roman girl taking my place in his mind?

All this thoughts made her chest hurt. She had tried to be positive, but really, after eight months, who could afford to think like that?

She threw the book and closed her eyes, sitting as she was on the Argo II 's deck. She tried to blank her mind. The least thing they needed now was a weeping leader confronting the Romans.

Leo came up to her as she opened her eyes.

"Hey, you okay? You are so freaking pale…"

"I'm fine Leo. Thanks." For some reason, even though he was annoying, Leo was the only demigod at the time (besides Piper) that didn't bother her when he was around. Maybe it was because this idiot reminded her somehow to Percy. Speaking of idiots… "Why aren't you driving the ship?"

"No worries aboard please. This Mamma warship ain't going to crash while Leo's on board. I turned it into autopilot mode."

"Oh."

Maybe her lack of observations was what made Leo sit beside her and pass an arm around her shoulders in a totally friendly way.

"Hum, you know, Wise girl, you don't have to keep all your thoughts and feelings to yourself"

"Don't call me that" she said harshly.

"Okay, okay. Well… what I was saying is… you've got friends, Annabeth. I wish we were as good friends as Percy w—" His voice caught a little, and Annabeth noticed. "… is. Sorry. But you know? That stupid Dirt Woman ain't going to harm you anymore. Not with Flaming Valdez watching yours and Percy's back."

Annabeth almost smiled. Then she did something that clearly surprised Leo: she hugged him.

Since Percy had disappeared, Annabeth hadn't smiled to anyone. She hadn't laughed. And no way had she hugged somebody, especially a guy. She had been freaking sensitive about everything, and if someone got near to her, she would often reach for her knife, burst to cry, or shout at them. She felt like she was a complete mess without the son of Poseidon. She wasn't sure about anything now without that goofy Seaweed Brain.

She whispered in Leo's ear "Thank you Leo. For everything. You've been the one who's helped me the most to find Percy. I owe you a lot" He hugged her back, astonished.

"Then I guess we're hand to hand. Remember you taking us to camp Half- Blood? Man, I didn't know what life was until I tasted those tacos…"

Annabeth laughed. She felt the muscles of her face like cardboard. She decided:

"Leo, from now on I promise I'll also watch your back." She hit him playfully in the arm "Thank ya, bro."

Annabeth was finally beginning to feel hope again.

Then she heard Piper's scream.


OoO

They ran to Piper's room and found her spattered on the floor, her eyes closed, and moving her arms like she was trying to push something away.

As Jason entered the room, Leo and Annabeth rushed forward to assist her.

"Beauty Queen, wake up!" Leo shaked her but she wouldn't wake up. She kept screaming "Please don't. PLEASE. They've been hoping…"

Finally Annabeth whispered something in Piper's ear and her face relaxed. A moment later she opened her eyes.

" Wha— what are you guys looking at?" she asked, confused.

Jason shifted uncomfortable and looked at the others.

Annabeth spoke. "Piper, you were screaming madly. You got any dreams tonight?"

"Hum… you know… just dreams" But Annabeth could tell otherwise from the look on Piper's face. She didn't push harder, though. She knew how this dreaming business was.

Leo broke the silence. "Guys, I'll send a message to this Roman camp for them not to… you know, like, blow us down the sky." And he left. After an awkward silence, Jason went to eat whatever he found in the kitchen.

Annabeth was about to speak when she heard Leo:

"Hey! Greetings from your friends at Camp Half-Blood et cetera. This is Leo. I'm the…" he caught a little and then yelled "What's my title? Am I like admiral, or captain, or—"

"Repair boy" Piper yelled back and Annabeth almost cracked a laugh.

"Very funny, Piper," Leo grumbled. "So yeah, I'm… ah… supreme commander of the Argo II." Piper snorted and Leo continued "Yeah, I like that! Anyway, we're gonna be sailing toward you in about, I dunno, an hour in this big mother warship. We'd appreciate if you'd not, like, blow us out of the sky or anything. So okay! If you could tell the Romans that. See you soon. Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out."

Piper said "That Leo…" she shook her head in disbelief "what are we gonna do with him?"