A/N: Thanks again to the people who reviewed! And thanks for the suggestions too (: I've chopped this last chapter down quite a bit as I felt it was dragging with all the explanations as to whom everyone was etc. I didn't want it do be boring. But maybe I made the wrong choice and it feels a little rushed, idk... I might just add another chapter instead. I just really wanted to get to the Percabeth kiss! And last but not least I want to apologize for repeatedly misspelling the word 'customer' throughout the whole story. lol Next story I write I'll definitely try and get a beta. Anyways, thanks again for the r&r! Ok...... story:

---Chapter 4: Jigsaw Falling Into Place---

Multiple yelling and things crashing against the ground made Annabeth turn her head. It sounded like a monster had been let loose and was tearing down the place. But she learned quickly that it was a teenage boy instead.

She scrunched up her face and shaded her eyes with her little hand against the early morning sun blinding her vision. It was clear that the boy was running for his life, and as it deemed on Annabeth that the boy was storming directly towards her she didn't hesitate to grab her sword.

From what she could tell the boy looked very pale, and his clothes were dirty and he was wearing a strange iron ring around his neck.

He didn't get very far however, before a satyr jumped out of no-where and tackled the boy to the ground. And in the next moment Chiron was there and threw a blanket over the boy and carried him away in his arms.

Annabeth was left bewildered; she thought she'd heard the boy call out her name. But how could he have known her? It was only her first year at Camp Half Blood.

Recovery at Half Blood Hill, 14 year too early:

Percy woke with a start and sat up in bed. Chiron was there by his side momentarily to calm him. He quickly explained that Percy had appeared 14 years too early.

It was a good thing, however, Chiron said, as he noticed the crushed look on Percy's face.

Because now they would have time to stop it earlier and Percy would have time to recover before returning to his old life. They just needed to keep him hidden from the people at camp in the meantime, especially Annabeth. So they kept him in a secret cabin far up in the woods, where several doctors and nurses took care of him. Chiron always at his side.

Percy had been in a world where time stood still and it was hard to determine exactly just how long he'd been gone. By Percy's estimations 48 hours had gone by, but it turned out he'd been gone longer than that. From the tiny particles sitting in the clothes Percy's had worn down in his cell, they were able to estimate the location of the slavehouse. And Percy drew a map of what he remembered from the inside, and gave them every little detail he could remember of the place, and they soon found the enormous slave house that had been the prison of millions of innocent people for endless centuries.

It wasn't without a struggle that Chiron had had to force Percy to rest, while worriors went to overtake the slave house. Percy had insisted he was fine and that he was ready to go back and help save the rest of the prisoners. And he was livid when Chiron didn't let him go. But Percy was malnourished and the psychological effect the experience had had on him needed to be worked through. He'd been tortured and humiliated and needed time to heal mentally and physically before he could to return to his old life.

The slave house was located in Jtunheimr*; the land of giants. It turned out that it had been run by cowardly trolls that fled without delay. Returning all the prisoners however, was the difficult part of the operation, as there wre so many. Chiron had to promise to Percy that he was going to let him come and help as soon as he recovered. This information seemed to inspire Percy to recover and finally relax a little.

And soon, Percy was ready to return.

Going back:

Percy was ready to go back to Half Blood Hill. To see Grover again, to go back to his cabin. And Annabeth.

The 16 year old Annabeth, to be precise. And he knew exactly what to do when he saw her.

That night, Percy stood by the time portal with Chiron, clutching the gold coin the old man had given him in his hand. He was also holding his t-shirt that he'd been given by Grover and Annabeth 3 years ago, and would be given again in 6 years in this period of time. The last time he had jumped through the portal, it was the stress of the situation that had sent him on the wrong course. But like Chiron had said. Maybe it had been for the better. It didn't matter then. All percy knew was that he was healthy again, the slave house didn't exist anymore. The guards, the customers and monsters were being hunted down one by one and the prisoners were being taken care of. And soon Percy could go back too to do his part.

Percy smiled as he looked back at Chiron, "See you in a few hours!" He said and did a small salute with his hand.

"See you in five years!" Chiron winked, and in the next moment Percy was gone.

About 2 hours in real time and a long shower later:

"Hey, wisegirl" A familiar voice called from behind Annabeth.

"I'm not talking to you!" Annabeth retorted, but she felt her stomach flutter at his presence.

"Annabeth." Percy said softly and placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry for what I said before"

Annabeth turned to look up at him. His face was filled with regret.

He looked so sad.

Annabeth raised to her feet, and looked up into his face for a moment. Percy bit his lip nervously.

"I've brushed them" She finally teased and smiled, to show off her teeth. They were white and strait as usual. Percy looked down.

"Hey" Annabeth said and nudged his arm "It's OK!"

She curled her arms carefully around his neck and leaned into him. She could feel Percy's arms wrap around her gently, before he pulled her firmly into his body, lifting her a little off the ground. His embrace was strong and soft at the same time and his familiar scent was making her head swim.

"Friends?" Percy asked hopefully.

"Friends" Annabeth repeated smilingly, her voice a little muffled from speaking into Percy's shoulder.

"Come with me" Percy finally said when he put her down. "I've got something for you"

She let him take her hand and followed him down to the lake and into his cabin. She noticed that his grip on her hand was firm, like he was afraid she might run away. She wondered if something had happened there up on the hill, in the two hours that he'd been gone to make him act like this.

"Err... Thanks" Annabeth smiled when looking at the leather necklace with the golden coin attached in the middle. It kind of looked like Percy had made it himself, in about two minutes, with a shoelace and a weird old coin.

Which was true. Only the coin had more significance than she could ever have guessed.

"You don't have to wear it or anything" Percy mumbled as he put it in her hand. "Just promise me that you'll keep it as a lucky charm?"

But Annabeth insisted on wearing it and turned around and lifted her thick blond curls and Percy secured the necklace around her neck. When Annabeth turned back around to face Percy, her heart leaped a little at how close they were standing. She felt him taking her hand and leading her over to the bed. As he sat down, she followed, all the while looking into eyes.

A light wind brushed into the room, bringing with it the first autumn leaves of the season. And Percy pushed a blond curl away from Annabeth's face and smiled before leaning in.

His fingers raked into her hair and he tilted her head at an angle before closing his lips around hers. His mouth was soft and confident at the same time, and he tasted of something sweet, or salty. Annabeth couldn't quite identify it, but it tasted better than anything she'd ever tasted and it made her breath quicken.

Percy opened his mouth a little bit and Annabeth's bottom lip was between both of Percy's and she tilted her head to one side so she could tug at Percy's top lip. It felt full and soft in her mouth. THeir tongues rubbed together and Annabeth ran her hands up the back of Percys t-shirt and raked her fingers down his back making him exhale a breathy moan into her mouth.

It was all happening so naturally. Their bodies seemed to be in a silent agreement of every action that followed. They wanted to be close to each other. Percy released his grip on her, only for a second, to lift his arms above his head to let her pull his t-shirt over his head. As soon as the garment was gone he let himself fall back against the bed, pulling Annabeth down with him.

She nuzzled into the side of his neck and Percy pulled her close to him with his arm. They lay still like that for a moment.

"It's so good to be back" Percy murmured and quivered a little. He turned his head and kissed her forehead. "I've missed you so much"

"It's been two hours, Percy! What's gotten into you?" Annabeth giggled as she sat up on her elbow and looked down at him amused and perplexed. She wasn't about to complain, but along the way she wondered how they had gone from nearly being afraid of touching each other, to kiss this passionately.

"You're so beautiful" He said and ran his hands up the small of her back.

His eagerness made Annabeth smile and she leaned down to kiss his belly.

"That tickles!" Percy yelped in a high pitched tone, as her hair fell across his skin, and his lean stomach curved in a little bit as he drew in a sharp breath.

Annabeth laughed and cuddled up into his arms again. She watched the outline of his face with her eyes as he relaxed and closed his eyes. She had noticed a scar underneath his ribcage that she hadn't seen before. It looked almost... new.

She had this strange feeling that something had happened in the short time that Percy had been gone, but as she looked at him she noticed how relaxed and happy and comfortable he was. The questions would have to wait.

***