Annabeth

Once Festus had set them down and left, the team was on their way to the site of the explosion. It wasn't hard to locate since it was still smoking. Apparently the giant, while handy, wasn't very good at these mechanical things unless he was testing something that he meant to explode, then the group was in trouble.

Annabeth led with the team closely behind, Percy closest. She kept an ear out as they ran low to the ground, trying to stay as quietly as possible. The night kept them pretty well guarded from being spotted immediately but who knew what this giant could do. Jason stayed just ahead of Piper while Leo was behind her.

They finally arrived to the explosion site. It was an abandoned factory from the 1940's and showed no sign of use or update since then. Back in the peak of its use, it was probably there to make weapons for the second World War. If machines were left there since, then the giant had a hand on them now probably. Not good.

"Alright. Everyone stick together, keep your heads down, and be as quiet as possible. Let's scope out the area before we attack." Annabeth said. They all knew that that was the plan to begin with. They had all been on enough missions where they knew that charging in would just get them killed but Annabeth felt the need to repeat it.

The group made their way through the factory; Annabeth subconsciously marking the layout of the factory in case they needed to make a quick escape. Slowly they made their way towards the other side of the building. Smoke was still rising from the now destroyed ceiling. Machine parts were scattered around as if inspected and tossed aside. Others had char marks and were obviously involved in the explosion that happened not too long ago. Finally they made their way to the other side of the building.

"Who is that?" Annabeth heard Jason say from behind her. Annabeth felt Percy tense behind her.

Sleeping lazily in a giant recliner was Hypnos. His hair was still no better than when they first met up and he looked just as tired as he did last time as if he had gotten no sleep. It was hard to believe that they had seen him just the day before.

Annabeth stood up fully and walked over to the sleeping god for the second time. You'd think an explosion would wake him but apparently he could sleep through anything. It made sense really, he was, after all, the god of sleep.

"Hypnos?" Piper asked. Annabeth nodded. She woke the god and again he woke with a start making everyone but Percy and Annabeth jump.

"Eh? Wha-? You again? Didn't I just see you?" Came the drowsy and slightly slurred voice.

"You've met him before?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. Yesterday when Percy and I were on our mission." Annabeth glanced at Percy. He was still, his face wavering between worry and anger.

"Oh right. Perseus Jackson and Annabeth Chase. Didn't I show you-"

"Yeah. You did." Percy cut off the god of sleep before he could trudge up any more bad memories.

"I see you understood what that meant, Percy. I didn't mean for you two to take it so far but-"

"HYPNOS. Sir... Why exactly are you here? The aftermath of an explosion doesn't seem like a great place to fall asleep." Annabeth asked before the situation could grow more awkward. Hypnos just waved his hand lazily at her as if shooing off an annoying bug that was keeping him from his sleep.

"Everyone wants sleep when they're at their busiest but don't actually have time for it. I guess you're all at your busiest."

"You can say that again." Leo muttered.

"Why would I?"

"I- what? It's just an expression, man."

"Sir, a giant was just here. Did you see where he went?" Annabeth asked. Better to move this along as quickly as possible.

"Yeah, yeah. Next warehouse. Moved on once this one exploded." Hypnos nestled his head into the cushions of his seat and tightened his body up closer as if about to fall asleep.

"Thank you." With that Annabeth thought they were done. The group started to move on to their next location.

"Don't you have another question for me?" Hypnos asked from his sleep like state. Annabeth glanced at Percy. Her eyes met hers but she couldn't tell what he was trying to tell her past "be careful".

"What... what is my greatest fear, sir?" Annabeth risked. The air was silent and still. The question hung there, only understood by the god, Annabeth and Percy. Again, the god waved his hand lazily at her.

"That's boring. I already answered that."

"You showed Percy, not me." The god opened one eye slightly in response, as if there was a glaring light in the room that blinded him after hours in the dark holds of sleep.

"Boring. Dreams are meant to be exciting, an experience... How about I switch it up and show you your greatest dream instead?" The gods eyes trapped Annabeth. "This time," Annabeth heard the god add, "let's bring everyone for the ride."

"Please, don't." She managed to whispered. The idea of everyone seeing what she wanted most in life was horrifying, embarrassing. She couldn't let herself be so vulnerable. It was too late. She felt herself being pulled away into the dream.

Percy

He was being pulled into Annabeth's dream; the trip being gentler than his own. He felt bad. Percy knew that Annabeth wouldn't want to leave herself as open as this, her mind for everyone to see. At the same time he was nervous. What if the dream didn't involve him?

The pull of the dream slowed and the images started to solidify. He sensed the others standing with him though he was too nervous to look them. A woman sat with her back to him, her golden hair up in a ponytail. She was working on a laptop designing some giant building. His breathing stopped for a second then he chuckled to himself sadly. Of course this was her dream.

The view spun to reveal the woman sitting in the chair. Annabeth was older, maybe late 20's, very early 30's. She looked stunning even though she still wasn't wearing any make up and wasn't wearing anything fancy or revealing, just a blue button up blouse tucked into her jeans with a brown woven belt at her waist and dark brown boots. It was an outfit her mother would wear; practical and simple.

Her face was tight with concentration, her brow furrowed and her lips tight. Percy tried to be happy. He looked at the building she was designing. It was beautiful. Simple, modern and sleek. Roman influences while still managing to look like it belonged in Time Square. "At least she gets something permanent" Percy thought to himself. No matter how much he tried to be happy for her, he couldn't help but feel absolutely devastated. Their dreams didn't match. A voice broke the tension.

"Mommy!" Future Annabeth snapped out of her concentration and spun around just as a little body ran into her office. A smile exploded onto her face as she caught the child and picked her up to hug her. "We're back!" Percy felt panicked, nauseous, and confused. He didn't know what he felt most.

The child hugged her mom before pulling back. She was probably 3 or 4 by the looks of it. Her straight blond hair was long and shining in the light of the laptop. Her eyes were stunningly blue. Future Annabeth laughed slightly. It sounded beautiful.

"Welcome home! Where's your brother?" Older Annabeth asked with a smile.

"He's with Dad. He got hungry."

"Your brother takes after your Dad more and more. Where do boys putall that food?" Annabeth said tickling the little girls stomach before standing, resting the girl on her hip. They walked out of the office after Annabeth closed her laptop using the hand that wasn't holding the child.

The dream followed them as they walked through the hallway that was lit by the midday sun. The smell of the ocean breeze sweeping in giving Percy some small comfort. They emptied out into the kitchen where a child was sitting alone eating a sandwich at the island located in the middle of the kitchen. He didn't look to be much younger than his sister, maybe only a year difference. The boy was too small to reach the floor from his seat causing his feet to swing idly from his perch. His hair was a tousled, thick, jet black mess.

Annabeth set the little girl down in a seat beside her little brother and hugged the boy. "How was the trip, Luke?" Percy's stomach dropped. Luke. She was still thinking about him. All blood that was in Percy's face was gone. He didn't think he could take anymore of this.
"Good." The boy answered quietly.

"Where's your Dad?" Annabeth asked while reaching into the fridge for a drink.

"Right here!" The voice came from another hallway. He stepped into the light while shaking his hair out with a hand, the other in his pocket.

The man was taller than Annabeth by only a few inches. He was lean and tan, as if he spent most of his time working out in the sun. A grey shirt resting lightly on his torso while swimming trunks hung from his waist. Like the boy, he had tousled, black, messy hair.

With a start Percy realized that he was looking at a vision of his future self. All blood that left his face previously came rushing back a little too fast, he felt light headed for a second. He was the father of the two kids sitting there?

Older Percy walked over to Annabeth as a smile grew on her face. Older Percy had one of his own. When he reached her she suddenly frowned. Her left hand reached up to touch his hair when Percy noticed something shining. A wedding ring sat on her finger. He smiled broadly.

"Your hair is covered in sand!" She scolded.

"I was trying to get it out!" Older Percy defended with a laugh.

"By getting it all over the house? I just cleaned!"

"I'll clean it after lunch! I swear!" He chuckled. His left hand went over to scratch the stubble on the right side of his jaw. Percy saw that his older self was also wearing a wedding band.

"Right. Of course you will." Even though she was still reprimanding him, she was smiling again. Older Percy chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her and Annabeth gave in instantaneously.

"Mom? Can I have a sandwich too?" The little girl asked. The two parents broke from their kiss though Percy kept on hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Yes, of course."

"Can we build with legos after?" Luke asked in his quiet voice.

"Oh boy. Legos with mom. It's amazing that you haven't built a to scale model of the entire city of Rome yet." Percy joked.

"We're starting small. First, the coliseum." Annabeth stated defensively.

"Oh. Yes, of course. Small.Did I mention they're getting even better at controlling the water?"

The vision started to fade back and for the first time, Percy was sad to leave something that Hypnos was showing them. He wanted to stay watching his future self and family. At the same time, he really wanted to make that dream a reality. Big time.

He was back in the present and so was everyone else except Hypnos; he had seemed to have finished what he came here to do. Percy looked up at Annabeth. She wasn't looking at anyone. She looked horrified and had a deep set blush on her face. Despite her obvious embarrassment, Percy couldn't help but smile so broadly that he thought it was never going to leave him.

"So..." Leo said awkwardly. The sound of his voice cut the air painfully. Percy looked at the group. Leo was more awkward than usual, Jason looked severely uncomfortable and Piper looked extremely sympathetic to her friend like she knew how horrifying that was for Annabeth. The reminder of other people made Annabeth blush even harder if that was possible.

"Let's just get a move on." Annabeth mumbled in a rushed tone. She marched over to the other side of the building to the other exit.