Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It belongs to Uncle Rick.

Word Count: 1246

"Wow, the two of you have actually been living in Tartarus." Piper sat down on the makeshift bed next to me. Percy had taken the guys and Reyna out to Damasen's hut, while Piper and I decided to hang back to pack our stuff.

"Yeah…"

"It must have been pretty bad."

"Hmm… not really. I didn't have you guys, Paul or Sally. It was the only thing that made me want to leave this place." I pulled out the map from underneath the bed.

"Is that a map… of Tartarus?"

"Yeah, I wanted it for my book."

"Book?"

"Yeah, I plan to write a book once I leave this place. There's still a little I want to explore, shall we go check it out?" I grabbed Piper's arm and dragged her out of the hut.

"Wait, shouldn't you be doing this with Percy?"

"Usually, I would prefer that. But we cannot leave any of you unattended. If we do, the monsters are free to attack you."

Piper pulled her wrist from my grip. "WHAT?! Wait, is that why we haven't had any attacks since we reached your hut?"

"Yeah… We struck a deal with Tartarus after we won the battle against him. He swore on the river Styx that he wouldn't harm us and anyone travelling with us until we were rescued or until we were dead. I'm sorry we couldn't manage to negotiate a way you could breathe and drink normally. He was very stubborn when it came to providing any support for a rescue mission."

"YOU WON AGAINST TARTARUS, IN TARTARUS?!"

"Yeah, it's no big deal. Now come on, I still have to map the poison meadows of Akhlys. I've been putting it off because I didn't want Percy to return to that place ever again." I opened my makeshift bag and pulled out a mask. "Here, take this so you can breathe properly. Damasen made it from Maeonian Drakon tail skin. I never knew Drakons had so many useful properties. It really is astounding."

Piper slipped on the mask. "What about you?"

I pulled out another mask and held it up to show her. "I don't think I need it, but the poisonous air is not caused by Tartarus, so I'm not sure if his protection will keep us safe."

"Okay… Why Percy..."

I turned to the rainbow-eyed girl. "I… I'll tell you… when we…"

"Okay, it's alright. No need to discuss that right now. Come on, let's go." Piper stormed off to my right.

"Piper. It's this way." I pointed in the opposite direction.

"Oh…"

I smiled at my best female friend as she turned around and marched past me.

"Percy, what's wrong?" Piper and I rushed to my boyfriend standing somberly outside Damasen's hut.

"It's… Damasen, Bob and Small Bob. They… they're not coming back… with us."

My eyes went wide. Immediately I rushed inside to Damasen who was cooking a meal for the rest of the crew. Percy stood to my left, while Piper walked over Jason and happily sipped a few spoons of broth from his bowl.

I grabbed Damasen by his huge rough hand and dragged him outside.

"Why?" My voice cracked as I said the word.

The red skinned Giant took a deep breath and turned to face me. "Annabeth… We belong here."

"But-"

"No, it's fine. I have to keep my father at bay. And I cannot leave the Drakon here, just as he cannot leave Tartarus." Damasen pointed to the huge sleeping body behind us. "And Bob… he wishes to stay back with me."

"B-But you a-all wanted… to see t-the moon and the s-stars."

The giant sighed and pulled the two of us into a tight, nearly bone-crushing hug. "Thank you… But we have to stay."

It took another half hour to calm me down as I reluctant to let them stay, but eventually I set them free. Only when they promised that they would visit us at least a few times. I really wanted to Sally to meet them. For the rest of our stay there Small Bob, in his cat form, didn't budge from my lap. I was definitely a cat person after that, even though Percy is still a dog person courtesy of Mrs. O'Leary.

One last round of tears, hugs and kisses later… Who am I kidding, it was at least three rounds… We started on our journey back to the Doors of Death. Thankfully, Tartarus kept his word and let us escape without any issue. He even granted us passage along a route around the Mansion of Night, owing to our less than favorable relationship with Nyx and her children.

Finally, we made it back to the real world.

A few months down the line, Sally and I stood in her kitchen in New York. I had practically moved in with the Jacksons, and I was happy they were so accepting of their future daughter-in-law. They treated me like one anyways… except, Sally loved me more than her own son.

At least, that's what Percy always complains about.

"What god or goddess summoned him now?"

"I don't know… And I don't care! I just want my boyfriend back!" I heard a thunder rumble in the background. I took my frustration out on the tomatoes in front of me, before Sally swiped the blade from my hands.

"Careful, dear. You put yourself in harm's way enough as it is. Wouldn't want to add kitchen disasters to that list of things that want to harm you." Sally handed me a ladle to stir the blue hot & sweet soup instead.

"You know Sally… I actually didn't want to come back because of these Athenians who just won't let us catch a break."

Sally froze on the spot.

"The main reason why I did, was because I couldn't leave you."

Suddenly, Sally pulled me into a hug. "Thank you dear. I might even like you more than Percy… but don't let him hear that."

"So that's why she likes you so much!" Percy shouted from the hallway. He was back from his errand. "Wise Girl, I can't believe you've been buttering her up behind my back. Just wait till I get my hands on you."

"Percy, no." I could barely get out between my laughter. I dropped the ladle and started running.

Percy chased me into the bedroom like we were a bunch of five year olds. He finally caught up to me near the bed. Damn you, indoor slippers.

"I've got you now Wise Girl." Percy tackled me onto the bed, and then proceeded to kiss me on the lips.

"Kids, I'm still home. Save this for when Paul and I go out on dates, okay?" Sally stood by the door with the kitchen knife still in her hand.

"Okay." We muttered. I was blushing a bright red, still not accustomed to intimate gestures around my boyfriend's parents. Though I never resented them for it. It was just awkward.

Percy stood up, straightened his shirt, and followed his mother back to the kitchen. Just before he exited, he turned back to face me with his hand held out. "Coming, Wise Girl?"

I sat still for a second and thought back to a question I asked myself back when we were still in Tartarus. Do I regret leaving the peace and quiet of the pit?

And the answer is still… No.

"Yeah, Seaweed Brain." I grabbed his hand and followed him out.

It's been a while since I wrote a PJO fic and I wanted to get back. It was easier with an existing story that I wanted to finish, so here I am.

Please review and let me know what you think.