Disclaimer: I'm not Rick Riordan, and do not own anything you recognize from the PJO or HoO series. *Sigh*
In the last chapter:
29. Call her at 12:00 am on her birthday to tell her you love her.
30. Call her before you sleep and after you wake up.
40. When she runs up at you crying, the first thing you say is, "Whose butt am I kicking, babe?"
Percy took a deep breath. He hoisted the large wicker basket into his arms, and started towards the Athena cabin. Before he took two steps, he heard a piercing scream from the interior... Annabeth's scream. He dropped the carefully packed basket, sprinted towards the cabin, and threw the door open.
Annabeth was crouched on her bed, her dagger out, pointing towards a corner in the back of the cabin. She looked up, and her face was pale with fear.
"Percy! Thank the gods! Get it! It's over there!" Annabeth gestured towards the shelves of scrolls.
Percy walked over. He didn't see anything. "Annabeth, are you-"
"No, you idiot! Look down! Percy looked, and saw a terrible, monstrous, life threatening...
...spider. Annabeth shrieked. "It's coming this way! Kill it! Slice it into pieces!"
Percy sighed. He bent down and picked up the spider. It wasn't even a big one, only about an inch long. Rather than decimating it as Annabeth desired, he carried it outside and set it on the ground, then closed the door.
"Really?" he said, barely able to speak with the effort of holding in his laughter.
"Shut up, Seaweed Brain!" Her face was bright red, sharply in contrast with the white it had been before. She got up, shaking slightly. "You know spiders are out to get me!"
"Yes, but did you really need your dagger out?" He immediately regretted that sentence as Annabeth glowered at him, but suddenly, she flopped down on the bed and burst into tears.
Percy was absolutely shocked. He'd never seen Annabeth break down like this before. He crossed the cabin and sat down next to her. He didn't know why, or what to say, so he just hugged her and held her like that, a little awkwardly.
After several long minutes, she quieted. Percy was still afraid of upsetting her, so he let go, but kept one arm around her.
"I'm sorry, Percy," she said, hiccuping a bit. "I'm just angry at myself. I... I can hold up the earth and fight titans, but one spider, and I lose it." She looked at him with red eyes. "What if one day, everything depends on me, and this happens?" She hiccuped.
Percy sighed. "Annabeth, if there's one thing I know about you, it's that you'll never give up, and you'll never let anyone you care about down. If everything is depending on you, I know that you'll be able to face your fears and make it right in the end."
She was quiet for so long that Percy wondered if he'd offended her somehow. Finally, though, she sighed and put her head on his shoulder.
"Maybe you're right, Seaweed Brain."
Percy tilted her head up and kissed her, and no number of spiders could have ruined that.
A/N: Contest is back on! Y'all are so nice. Blackmailing really does work (smiley face). Thanks for all your feedback- I will try to make the stories longer from now, and more fluff, if possible.
PercabethLover: You're so sweet! That wasn't necessary, it was just to tell you what I meant. But thanks so much anyway. I've been reading fanfics for that reason too!
Rosalia13: You don't have to write to give concrit- if you notice anything you think might be better, just tell me (smiley face). And sure, I'll try!
Guest: How did you like the last chapter?
So, can we get to 15 reviews for the next chapter? Just four more! But more are welcome (smiley face).
~AlabasterLily
