-Argo II-

Even if it's been six months since Percy came to camp, Jason still didn't trust the demigod. In fact, if anything was to go wrong with the union of the Greek and Roman camp, he would bet it was Percy's fault. The guy hadn't actually done anything to make Jason or the others not trust him since he arrived at Camp Half-Blood- and people were seriously looking for reasons to not trust him.

From what Jason could tell, many Greeks had really looked up to Percy. He had been their leader and their savior in the fight against Kronos. Percy always did the impossible and would do literally anything to save his friends. Yet he murdered twenty demigods. Campers simply had their trust ripped right out from under them and they still couldn't forgive Percy for doing that to them. Jason couldn't blame them, he could never understand someone who lacked so much honor that they thought it was okay to kill surrendered demigods.

Jason had thought that Percy would explain his actions and ask for forgiveness upon his return to camp but he didn't. He didn't do anything of the sort. The only time Percy spoke of killing the demigods were in bad jokes of a sort and he never, ever answered when people asked him why he did it or if he had enjoyed it since he said he would do it again when the gods had asked.

Furthermore, the demigod never said a single word about his time in Tartarus. Percy didn't hide nor flaunt his scars. He acted as though they weren't even there and even though he always wore long sleeve shirts and jeans and not much skin could be seen, some scars were still visible.

To sum it up, nobody trusted the son of Poseidon and nobody wanted him on the quest that decides the fate of the world.

The Roman eyed Percy discreetly as they both stood around the front of the ship where Festus kept a steady watch on the sky ahead. While Jason stood with the rigid stance of a kid raised in the Twelfth Legion, Percy was hunched over, casually leaning on the rails while sipping a cup of coffee and watching the ground pass by below. Percy seemed to always lost in thought and drinking coffee.

The son of Zeus shifted his weight from foot to foot, tugging at the toga under his purple cloak, and glanced up at the white banner on the mast of the Argo II, hoping that he wasn't about to lead Piper and Leo to their deaths. If the Romans don't kill them, Percy and Gaea still had a good chance of getting the task done.

"Nervous?" Jason jumped at the sound of Percy's voice and saw the demigod watching him with a small smirk.

He scowled, "Of course. It'll be a miracle if Octavian doesn't convince everyone not to kill us."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Octavian?"

"He's the Augur for the Roman Camp. You guys have Rachel, we're stuck with Octavian," Jason grimaced at the thought of seeing that annoying bastard again.

"He won't," was Percy's simple reply.

Jason fully turned to face the traitor, "He won't what?"

"He won't convince the Roman's to kill us. Annabeth won't let that happen," yet another simple reply. It always amazed Jason how confidently Percy spoke, it made sense why he had been the leader of the Greeks.

The son of Jupiter grunted and was about to reply when he saw Percy suddenly shutter and drop his coffee cup over the edge of the boat. "My coffee!" he yelled, flailing for it and missing it of course. Percy got this look of complete defeat on his face as he watched his coffee cup diminish into a speck before disappearing all together. "I still had half of it…"

"What was that?" Jason asked carefully, not sure about the stability of the powerful demigod mourning his coffee like he would a dear friend.

"hmm?" Percy didn't even look up from staring at where his coffee had fallen. "Oh," he seemed to just then register Jason's words, "We just passed into Roman territory." His sea green eyes met electric blue and Jason saw not a single emotion in them as they heard alarms go off under them. "Looks like it's show time."

Jason glanced below to see them slowly dipping below the clouds and New Rome was only a couple minutes away. It was just as he remembered it, well, except for the cracked dome from their recent battle. He watched as demigods began pouring out of the senate and he sincerely hoped that Percy's trust in Annabeth wasn't misplaced. His chest swelled in pride as he gazed at his home before his eyes glared at Percy again, "Try not to kill anyone this time."

A sly smile lit up Percy's face, "Of course not. I'm a bit outnumbered, don't cha think?"

Before Jason could reply he saw Leo and Piper come up the stairs to join them. Gods she was beautiful. "Are those alar-"

BOOM!

The demigods aboard the Argo II were suddenly thrown back by the explosion as a marble statue appeared on the deck.

"Unacceptable!" he roared.

"Terminus," Jason started but the statue fixed its stone eyes upon the Praetor before he could continue.

"Jason Grace, as Praetor, consorting with enemies should be above you!"

Piper stepped forward, "We should all calm down," her voice made the three demigods around her relax.

Terminus huffed, "Save your breath girl, charmspeak won't work on me. All of you drop your weapons and surrender! I will not allow weapons in the Pomerian Line."

Piper and Jason glanced down to see they had subconsciously drawn their blades, Leo was still holding his wii controller that he steered the ship with, and Percy was leaning against the railing, watching the whole confrontation with interest.

"Turn this abomination around and leave!" Terminus continued on with his self-important rant.

Leo took a step forward, "Excuse me. Did that armless hunk of rock just dis my ship?"

"Arm- rock- How dare you! I am the god of boundaries you insufferable demigod! I'm punching you repeatedly right now," Terminus yell, absolutely furious. "Surrender and leave immediately."

Jason stepped forward, "We aren't here to attack Terminus. This is a peaceful meeting, please allow us to land."

"Land?" The statue scoffed, "Do you think I am a rule breaker? No! I will not allow weapons within the Pomerian Line."

Piper leaned towards Jason, "Pom what?"

"City limits," he replied simply before turning back to the god.

Leo took another stepped forward towards the god, "This is a ship, My ship, and it's absolutely perfect- not an abomination!"

Another scoff, "This whole ship is a weapon. Leave!"

"What if we just hover above the city?" The deep voice startled everyone but Percy continued, "I mean technically we won't be in the city, right?"

Terminus thought this over, "Technically that would work," he relented, "but I don't like it!"

"We will leave all our weapons here. We aren't here to hurt anyone, I promise," Jason laid his gladius on the deck and motioned for the others to follow. Piper set her dagger down and Percy didn't move.

The god of boundaries turned to the son of Poseidon, "Leave your pen here too."

Percy shrugged and pulled a pen from his pocket and set it on the ground, much to the confusion of his shipmates who had never seen him use it before. Jason was once again questioning the demigod's sanity.

With another 'boom' Terminus left. Unanimously deciding to leave Coach Hedge in the ship, the four demigods made their way down the ladder with Leo grumbling about an ignorant statue the whole way down.

The whole senate and every other inhabitant of New Rome seemed to be waiting for them. Jason's eyes scanned the crowd and was surprised to find a burly Asian guy wearing the purple cape of a Praetor. He didn't look long as his eyes drifted to the girl next to him who was obviously the Annabeth he had seen in pictures and next to her was Reyna. Everyone was here.

Percy lagged behind the other three, not sure what he should do. Jason could feel the uneasiness rolling off him in waves. It occurred to Jason for the first time just how hard this was going to be for both Annabeth and Percy. They hadn't seen each other in four years and hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms.

"Jason, it's good to see that you're alive. We were starting to worry about you," Reyna's voice was as serious as ever, her face betraying no emotion. "What is your purpose for returning with Greeks?"

He was relieved that she had chosen to call them Greeks and not enemies like Terminus had but he hated all the bad history they were going to have to fight to get the two camps to unite.

"Percy?" A strangled, shocked whisper carried across the crowd as everyone turned to see Annabeth staring in horror at the boy she had loved since she was twelve years old.

Percy stepped forward and rubbed the back of his head, looking down, obviously nervous and unsure what to do and say. Finally he looked up and dropped his hand and met the blonde's storm grey eyes, "Annabeth," His voice held so much emotion that even Jason was stunned. Everyone could hear the pain and sorrow and the need to apologize just as clearly as they could hear the deep, absolute love as he spoke her name.

The daughter of Athena stepped forward to close the distance between herself and Percy and just stood there. Both demigods drinking in the other as their eyes searched each other's for some spark of recognition. The first to move was Percy.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," He repeated over and over.

"Why? Why did you do it?" her voice was hoarse from holding back unshed tears and hidden sobs.

He would answer her, Jason realized, Annabeth's opinion was always the only one Percy ever cared about. "I had to save you. I couldn't let you go," Percy's voice was as hoarse as Annabeth's as he cupped her cheek with his hand gently, like he was afraid she would disappear at any second. "I love you, I couldn't let you die."

Annabeth's eyebrows drew together in confusion and opened her mouth to question him but Percy shook his head and it seemed as if they had an internal conversation and she closed her eyes and took a step away from him, letting his hand drop. "I'm glad your back," she said normally as she regained control of her emotions.

His hand looking strangely limp, Percy nodded. That was all he could do- all he could hope for. She hadn't yelled at him, told him how horrible he was, hit him, or told him she hated him. None of the scenerio's from Percy's nightmares had happened. He felt himself relax and take in the city and people around him for the first time. She hadn't completely left him yet.

If only he could tell her the whole truth. No, he couldn't do that. He had already told her too much. Percy would never forget what the three voices had told him in the throne room all those years ago:

"It's all up to you, it's your choice alone."

"If you don't do this, we will kill the people closest to you."

"Starting with the daughter of Athena."

A/N: I know, I know. I took too long and then left a short chapter that doesn't make up for it. I wanted to write more but my desire for sleep is greater and I figured I owed at least this much for now. I promise to update at least once a week from here on out- for both my stories.

Oh, Percy isn't completely dark and changed because he's been out of Tartarus for almost a year at this point, he's starting to slowly adjust back. That doesn't mean fighting and evil beings won't bring out a new side of him or anything :)

Let me know what you think about the percabeth and who should be taken by the Eidolons!

Thanks!