Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the first, but I thought it was an okay place to end it. Enjoy! -XOXO Nerd

Annabeth's hands shake as she puts down the phone. Percy reaches out to grab her shoulder when he sees tears streaming down her cheeks, but he thinks better of it when he sees her ring. The band is silver, and a rather large diamond is settled on top. Smaller diamonds trail down the sides as well. Percy can only imagine what it cost.

"Are you okay?" He asks, genuinely concerned. He awkwardly crouches halfway in the car and halfway out of the car.

Annabeth just sobs again. Percy opens her car door and gently pulls her out of the seat, leading her into his apartment.

Before Annabeth knows it, she is in Percy's apartment, sipping from a hot mug of coffee. Percy is sitting on the couch next to her, gently rubbing her back and looking a little uncomfortable.

Annabeth looks around through the tears. There is a small counter, two silver blobs that must be a stove and a microwave, and a white square that looks like a mini fridge. There is no wall dividing the kitchen from the main living space, which has a twin bed in the corner and a small couch facing a TV. Annabeth estimates with her architect eye that the TV is about 32 inches by maybe 28. Annabeth also doesn't miss the fact that almost everything in the house is blue:blue walls, blue dresser, blue bedsheets, and even a blue counter.

When Annabeth stops crying, running out of tears, she turns to face Percy. "I am so, so, so s-sorry.T-this normally doesn't h-happen."

Percy smiles gently. "You bailed me out of jail, Annabeth. I think this is the least I could do to repay you. Plus, my mom would kill me if she found out that I just let you drive away."

Annabeth almost laughs at Percy's mother. "You can call her now," She points out, motioning to the phone on the counter, "I assume she is in your contact list."

Percy stares at her, not moving. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

Annabeth closes her eyes. "My fiance. He got into a car accident with a semi on the highway. The car rolled over itself into a ditch. He… he was dead on the impact." She says the words quickly, like she wants to get them out.

Percy's stomach drops. "I can drive you somewhere. Does he have any family?"

Annabeth nods, slowly. "A mother. But she is in the Psychiatric Hospital in Bridgeport. I don't think I could manage a drive that long."

Percy nods. "Do you want me to drive you to your family?"

Annabeth shakes her head quickly. "No."

Percy knows better than to press the issue.

Annabeth studies Percy, who is sitting there looking down at his fingers. She decides to tell him the story even very few close friends know. "My mother left when I was little. I never knew her, so I don't really care. But my dad was great… until he married again.

"I used to have these night terrors, I thought spiders were crawling on me and biting me and… it was terrible. My dad went on long business trips, so most of the time it was just me, her, and her two kids with my dad. She never cared that I woke up sweating and crying. She never did anything about it.

"And when I told my dad about it, she said I was making it all up because I didn't like her. When I was seven I ran away. I found Luke, my…" Annabeth pauses, her eyes filling with new tears, "ex-fiance, and Thalia, one of my friends, on the streets. They knew this old man named Chiron. He took us all in, basically. He fed us three good meals a day and made sure we went to school. He was like our adoptive father."

Percy nods, urging her to go on. His green eyes are filled with both curiosity and sadness.

"Well, he gave us jobs at the bookstore he owns. And that's where I got the money to pay for college. I was in the middle of getting my degree in architecture when I found Malcom. Er, he found me. He's my mother's son. He was getting his degree in Business, so we started Athena Architecture. Luke and I started dating after our high school graduation. He proposed last year, on the anniversary of the day I met him and Thalia…" Annabeth trails off, her head filled with memories.

Percy can't imagine how Annabeth survived. I thought my life was hard… "Are you in contact with either of your parents today?"

Annabeth's grey eyes harden. "No. My dad keeps trying to meet me for lunch, but I ignore him. He had the chance to be my dad, and someone else had to step up for him. And my mom is a terrible person. She keeps having children with different men, and I don't want to expose myself to that. I keep tabs on her children, my… my half siblings, mostly making sure they have a good life and don't end up on the streets, but they don't know I exist. I hope they never will."

Again, Percy wants to reach out and grab her hand in support, but he refrains. Her fiance just died. Hold yourself together. "And Chiron?"

Annabeth's mouth curls up at the edges. "He keeps taking in more and more kids off the streets. He is going to be the legal owner of the orphanage, once it is finished." Annabeth flinches, looking up at Percy. "Don't tell anyone. It's a surprise."

Percy draws two fingers across his lips, like a zipper. "Lips sealed." He says.

Annabeth's eyes crinkle, like she is smiling with her eyes. "We meet him for lunch every Sunday, Luke and I." Her smile drops, and her eyes shine with helplessness. "Oh my gods," She whispers, "What am I going to tell him?"

Percy stands. "We can go to him now. If you need someone to drive you, that is. And if you are comfortable with me driving your car." His face reddens. "I don't have my own. I take the Subway, mostly."

Annabeth shakes her head, sadly. "I don't think I could face him right now. Can I drive you to your mother's?"

Percy looks surprised. "Uh, sure. If you want to. You don't have to, really, I'll be fine."

"I want to see her. She sounds wonderful."

Percy smiles, grabbing his phone off the counter. "I have an idea. We can stop by this pizza place on the way. My friend Grover works there. They make the most amazing pizza. My mom and I both love it."

He opens the door, letting Annabeth walk out first. As they get into her car, Annabeth on the driver's side, Percy brings his phone to his ear. "Mom, I'm coming over. And I'm bringing someone you need to cheer up. Get out the blue cookies."