Chapter 7

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Percy and Annabeth immediately separated. Their faces were red as tomatoes and their breath was fragmented. Percy was still a little out of it and Annabeth had her hands covering her face, hitting Percy to make him focus.

The voice cleared its throat to get their attention. Annabeth began to worry. What if it was Chiron, or Mr. D, or worse? What if it was Silena!?

The person walked into the room.

"I was beginning to feel light-headed and woozy. So I thought I'd check on Percy, knowing it had something to do with our empathy link." Thank god it's just Grover. "I thought I was going to walk in on him "sleeping" again but I never expected this."

"Buddy, Grover. It's been a long few days for me. I just fought Kronos. I think I deserve a little gratitude. And Annabeth was only thanking me and was happy I woke up. Next time you fight the ultimate evil and hook up with Juniper I'm gonna walk in on and criticize you too."

"Ok, ok. I'm sorry. I came to tell you that you guys missed practice. Well Annabeth missed practice. Chiron wants to see you Percy."

The pair separated from each others arms and got up. Percy put back on his shirt and they walked out the cabin to go see Chiron. Percy was unnaturally quiet most of the walk and then he suddenly broke out in laughter.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Grover!" Percy held his sides. "He's walked in on me doing stuff more times than I can count. And his expression is always the same. He's frustrated as hell!"

Percy's laughter began to die down as the entered the Big House. Chiron sat at a table playing a game of pinochle with Mr. D. That seemed to be all the pair did these days. Chiron turned to see Percy and Annabeth at the door.

"Ah, Percy. So glad to see that you woke up. I thought you'd like to know the Heart is safe it is a valuable asset in the upcoming war. I assume Annabeth has told you how long you've been out" Percy shook his head. "Oh? Well it's been a week and a half."

"I've been out for a week and a half and no one bothered to tell me. Something could've happened. We could have been attacked!"

"well we weren't Seaweed Brain. You're safe and that's all that matters. Now come on. We have to get you back in the flow if you are going to be able to..." Annabeth stopped herself. She was going into a direction she didn't want to go. She couldn't bear losing Percy, much less thinking about it. "If you're ever going to be able to beat me in a fight!" Nice save, idiot.

"Oh you're on Wise Girl!" and the pair raced to the arena to train, laughing along the way.

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Nico had just woken up. He was in the Big House at Camp Half-Blood. How in Dad did I get here? And then it all came back to him. The battle. Kronos was here! And Percy! I tried to help but he was too strong. Nico tried to get up and immediately fell back down. He felt like he a million years old.

"Let me guess: tired, in pain, feel like you're a million years old?"

"Yeah. How did yo-?"

"Kronos has that effect on people. You're lucky you're not dead."

"You have no idea" Nico hated spending time in the Underworld. It took all his will to not go insane while studying in his father's library. The dead can get so annoying.

"Well get some rest. I don't want all my work to go to waste."

And the person just left him there. Nico began to feel weird. He felt…happy. He didn't know this person yet he felt like he would do anything for her. For the first time in Nico Di Angelo's life, he was in love.

Percy walked into the Big House infirmary. He was covered in sweat and had his arm around Annabeth's waist. Nico couldn't help but smile. They were the oddest couple yet spend and hour with them and you would know they were perfect for each other.

"What's with the smile, buddy? Last time you were this happy was when…"

"It's okay." And the smile dropped from his face. Nico was back to his old self.

"Well ANnabeth and I just wanted to come and check in on you and thank you. I couldn't have won that without you and I want you by my side when the big one comes."

"Who else is gonna watch your ass?" Nico smirked. "You bet I'll be there."

Annabeth gave him a hug and he winced. They said their goodbyes and as they turned to leave the girl walked back into the room.

"I thought I told you to get to sleep?" Percy couldn't help but notice the smile on Nico's face.

Percy and Annabeth walked outside, shutting the door behind them.

"Did you see his face when Lacey walked in?" Percy asked.

"How could I not? Nico never smiles like that. It's a special occasion when he does. Do you think that he..?"

"Maybe. I say we leave it alone for a while, let him figure out himself. And don't press him. I don't want to be like Aphrodite." Thunder exploded in the sky. "Yeah, yeah. And by the way, thank for this." And he gestured towards his hand on Annabeth's hip.

Annabeth began to laugh as they walked into Percy's cabin.

"Percy! Annabeth!" Tyson looked up from his latest project. "Are you Percy's girlfriend?"

"I see Grover hasn't explained it to you. Yeah we're dating big guy"

"Yay! Oh, Percy look what I made in the forge." Tyson pulled on beautiful sword. It was celestial bronze trimmed with turquoise. The hilt had a gigantic pearl in the center and the handle was decorated and seashells.

"Daddy let me make a special sword. Its pearl controls water and it's for you!"

"Thanks Tyson." Percy picked up the sword. It was perfectly balanced. He waved it in and arc and a slice of water flew out of nowhere cutting his poster.

"Wow" Tyson had a big smile on his face.

"Buddy I'm gonna go practice with this blade at the arena. Ill see you later." And Percy walked out of the cabin.