"If I told you this was only gonna hurt

If I warned you that the fire's gonna burn

Would you walk in? Would you let me do it first?

Do it all in the name of love

Would you let me lead you even when you're blind?

In the darkness, in the middle of the night

In the silence, when there's no one by your side

Would you call in the name of love?

If I told you we could bathe in all the lights

Would you rise up, come and meet me in the sky?

Would you trust me when you're jumping from the heights?

Would you fall in the name of love?

When there's madness, when there's poison in your head

When the sadness leaves you broken in your bed

I will hold you in the depths of your despair

And it's all in the name of love"

Nearly all men can stand adversity… If you want to test a man's character… Give. Him. Power. –Abraham Lincoln

Annabeth and I stood up, I prepared myself for the worst, but relaxed a little when the man finally entered the kitchen.

A man, almost as tall as me, 6 foot 1, walked into the kitchen and smiled at Annabeth. She didn't waste a millisecond throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, "Dad! You're home early!" the man, still unknown to me, chuckled and patted Annabeth's back. I remained there, ready to put up a fight. But the fight never came, or at least the type I was expecting.

"Hey honey! How were the boy- who's this?" they let go of each other and he had looked behind Annabeth, finally realizing I was in the kitchen. He eyed me suspiciously then he seemed to notice the nice dinner on the table, to the eyes of an outsider like him, it would look like we were in the middle of something. My posture stiffened, I raised my arm in front of me, stiffly, and smiled, "Hi. My name is Percy Jackson. Nice to meet you. And the boys are fine. They just went up to brush their teeth to get ready for bed." He slowly shook my hand, cautious. Good choice. He looked to Annabeth, "Who's this?" I can tell from the strain in his voice he was hoping she wouldn't say a certain thing. She hesitated before looking at the man in front of us, whom I have learned is her father a few moments ago, "Dad. This is Percy Jackson, as he's said. He's a friend from school. And, thanks to him, the boys have been fed, changed to pajamas and are on their beds, waiting for you to go say goodnight." Her father raised an eyebrow. But he wasn't questioning her. He was questioning me.

I decided that it was time for me to leave, "Ahem. Uh, sorry sir, if I interrupted any… plans. I have to get going. Um, there's some extra beef stew in the fridge. Thanks for everything Annabeth. Tell Thalia I said bye." The man seemed to grunt in agreement and stepped aside, eager to let me go. I uncomfortably walked into the living room, grabbed my hoodie, and walked home, onto the streets of the deadly night.

By the time I got home, it was 3:30. Phew! Now to act like I was sleeping this whole time before Gabe gets home.

Why do I feel like I forgot something.

One hour later…

"Where the hell is my beer?! God damn it! I come home from a long day of work for what? An empty fridge?! Well somebody's got to pay!" There goes that wheezy feeling I got from earlier. Damn.

I forgot the beer.

"Hey Percy!" Annabeth was the first to spot me at school. I was able to conceal my bruises with some of mom's concealer (embarrassing as it is) and hide it from my friend. And from the looks of it, maybe my only friend. "Hey Annabeth. How did it go with your dad?" I asked her tiredly. She cocked her head to the side, "are you okay? Something seems off." I shook my head dismissively at her. Hoping she won't catch onto anything.

Oh boy, today is going to be a stressful one.

One week later…

"Percy! Perseus Jackson! Get your friggin' a** over here now! Now just passed so either you're too slow or I'm crazy, which it's definitely not the latter, but I'm pretty damn sure you know what happens when-"

"What?" I cut the monster off and got straight to the point. I just got home from spending a day with Annabeth, who still doesn't know of my, em, activities and such at home. The girl may be smart, but she is absolutely clueless about what happens behind closed doors. A part of me wishes she figures it out, and another plans on keeping it a secret 'till my grave.

Gabe looked at me, "I'm gonna act like I didn' hear that. You' lucky I have me'cy. Don' go pushin' me too far! I want you to stop seeing that kid, Annie, Ana, aw! Whatever her name is! You stop or else…" (I'm gonna act like I didn't hear that. You're lucky I have mercy. Don't go pushing me too far! I want…) his speech slurred. I felt a bony hand claw at my heart as I took in those words. Me? Stay away from Annabeth?! How dare he say he'd hurt her! He can't do this!

Actually, he can.

He signed the papers yesterday, he is now legally recognized as my guardian.

Crud.

If he is now viewed as my guardian, he can do whatever the hell he wants to do with me. Prohibiting me from seeing friends included in the list. I stormed into my room, grabbed my jacket, wallet and keys, made sure the hood to my sweater was up, and walked out. Slamming the door shut behind me.

When I finally calmed down enough to be able to think, I looked at a clock inside a bar, 8:30. 8:30?! I've been walking out in the cold for 5 hours?! By the time I get home, it's going to be…1:30 am! Gabe will be upset, and I really need help. Time to go to the only person I can confide in, if she still loves me the way she used to.

Thalia Grace.

Now, if I remember correctly, she lives…

"Percy? Wha-what are you doing here? Are you okay?" Thalia opened the door. I felt tears begin to linger around my eyes, not trusting my voice, I nodded. "Thalia, I-I need help. Can I come in? Please?" I nearly begged. She stepped aside and let me through. She led me to her bedroom and closed the door. We sat on her bed and she cradled me the way a mother would to a hurt child. I smiled.

Just like old times.

"What's wrong? Is it Gabe? What did that big bad mean man do this time? Do I need to help you beat someone up?" she started rocking back and forth. I sniffed and wiped a random tear from my face. "I'm sorry." I mumbled to her. At first, she stopped rocking, but then continued. "Sorry for what?" she asked. I looked up at her, "For pushing you away. Sure Gabe threatened you but, I decided myself to stop. I, I, thought I was going to lose you. I couldn't stand the thought of being the reason you no longer breath. So I pushed you away. I'm sorry Thalia. I'm so, so sorry. You didn't deserve that. You were like a big sister to me. You-you still are. And I-" I cried hysterically and held onto her shirt for dear life. Thalia stopped and looked at me. "Percy. It's fine. I understand, but something tells me that you did not come here to tell me this. Come on, tell me." She looked at me straight in the eyes and hugged me close, making me feel wanted again. "A-a-Annabeth. Gabe doesn't want me to see Annabeth anymore. I, I don't know if I can do that. I came here to ask for advice, will you help me, big sister?" I felt like a kid again.

It felt like old times, when mom was gone and Thalia would hold me close as some bullies from down the street taunted for me to come outside, or when Gabe was drunk and throwing bottles all over the place. No matter the time or day, Thalia was there for me when I needed her the most. She was always the big sister I've always wanted. Someone to share feelings with, someone to help with homework, someone that I can help. Someone that I can love and vice versa.

Thalia held me close and rocked back and forth as I sobbed hysterically into her shoulder. Not sure what to do, for the key to my heart is being ripped away from my grasp. I cried for what felt like an eternity, I cried into Thalia's shoulder. "It's okay. I'm here now. There's nothing to worry about. I'm here to help you." Thalia tried to comfort me. I shook my head violently.

"You can't. No one can help me. She-she's gone!" then and there, everything stopped. Thalia's heart beat, her soothing rocking, the whispering of her soothing words, her hands stayed in the middle of their way through my hair. Everything just…stopped. Then, everything started working again. She nodded;

"Okay, so it's just you and me. Like old times. We can get through this. Together. Percy, your mother, our mother was a great person. I'm sure as sure can be that she's in a better place. One without Gabe, sins, sadness. But one full of; hope, happiness, flowers, clear, sunny days. I bet you right now, she is smiling down at us. Watching over us. She may be physically gone, but her memory still stands. You wanna know a trick? Don't say goodbye. Goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting." She smiled down at me and held me close, showing me that she's here for me.

"W-what do I do about Annabeth?" I looked up at her. She shook her head, "I don't know. Percy. I don't know. If you stop, you'll be hurt but she'll be safe and hurt, emotionally, but if you stay, she'll be hurt physically and you'll also be hurt. It's up to you. If you ask me, either way, someone's getting hurt."