Bit of Percabeth in this chapter. Nothing major. Please review :D

"Someone sent a message to you via arrow?"

"Yep." Chiron looked amazed and worried.

"Read it to me again." Annabeth recited the Greek in the letter, spelling out the Latin words. When she finished Chiron was quiet, mumbling what he had heard.

"I didn't know you could speak Latin." Percy said. Chiron smiled thinly at him.

"I believe the letter says 'Talk to your Oracle. The Gorgon was right and the prophecy has been changed. Use an Iris Message'."

"Is Rachel there?" Annabeth asked. Percy noted that as the weirdest thing Annabeth would say related to Rachel.

"She's in the kitchen making cookies."

"Are they blue?" Percy asked impulsively. Then he wished he had kept his mouth shut. Blue cookies reminded him painfully of his mother. Chiron seemed to understand and avoided answering the question.

"If she admits a new prophecy, I will contact you all immediately. For now, stick to the original prophecy."

"OK. Thanks Chiron." Chiron nodded and waved his hand through the I.M, disconnecting their conversation.

Three shall travel to one's home

Then explore the land of stone;

Lost to the land, safe at sea

Trials threaten the safety of three;

Travel more to the flower of games and fun

And return home, with an extra one.

"Lost to the land, safe at sea." Annabeth mumbled.

"I vote we go by boat."

"Where though, Percy?" Grover countered.

"Trials threaten the safety of three; Travel more to the flower of games and fun." Annabeth mused, not listening to the boys' debating.

"Flowers aren't fun."

"They're important!" Grover argued, miffed.

"If you say so."

"They photosynthesise, Percy." Grover started to lecture his friend on how plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen and all the advantages that went with it. After a minute, Grover noticed Percy's eyes held a faraway look. "Are you even listening?"

"Huh?" Grover groaned.

"Nevermind."

"Flower… games… fun… gods, that's it!"

"What's it?" They were looking at Annabeth.

"Duh, the Lotus Hotel and Casino. It's symbol is a flower and there are lots of games there."

"Can I remind you that we were in there for five days?"

"I know, but-" Annabeth held up the two pearls she had taken from the arrows. Percy had quickly talked with his father and confirmed that they were some of Persephone's pearls- long ago they had been a gift from Poseidon to his brother's wife as an attempt to keep some harmony and satisfactory company in the springtime goddess's life.

"Again, we're one short."

"Hopefully we find another one."

"Any, we're 'lost to the land, safe at sea'. We should find a boat."

"Lead the way, Seaweed Brain."

Half an hour later, they were boarding a 'borrowed' boat. Percy insisted that his father had led him to it- the medium sized fishing boat was conveniently named Jackson.

"Get away from that boat, ye wee scoundrels!" Annabeth squealed in surprise. Percy smirked at her.

"Nah, just gonna borrow it." He raised his hands. The engine kicked in and the rudder veered to the left.

"Not again." He heard the man mumble. (For those that have read Louisa's Past, this is the same fisherman who saw Louisa take that ship called Louisa).

Percy moved away, climbing into the 'driver's seat. Annabeth hurried and sat 'shotgun'. Grover went to explore the boat, on the hunt for tin cans.

"Oy, wake up." Annabeth was prodded awake by Percy. She groaned, pulling the jacket tighter around her.

Jacket?

She noticed Percy didn't have his jacket on. He wore a dark green T-shirt, the sleeves clinging ever so slightly to his admirably strong arms.

"Aren't you cold?" She asked, shifting in her seat. Percy shook his head, the grey streak in his hair glinting in the light of the full moon. "Where's Grover?"

"He's sleeping below." Annabeth nodded, shifting again to get comfortable. She looked up at the stars, recognising constellations. Percy was as well. "There's Zoe." He pointed.

"Zoe Nightshade?"

"Yeah." Percy sounded sad, as he should for mourning a late friend.

"Percy?"

"Mm?"

"We will find your parents. They'll be fine." Percy didn't say anything. Annabeth reached out from the warmth of the jacket to cover his hand with hers. "Not everyone has to be strong all of the time."

"Including you?"

"Yes."

"You're strong, Wise-girl. Especially around others."

"I don't want people to worry about me. And you're doing the same thing now." Green eyes held grey. "What are you thinking, Seaweed Brain?"

"Those arrows, that note. Don't suppose someone's following us, do you?"

"I've thought about it."

"Before you went to sleep."

"Shut up." Percy smiled sweetly. "But if we were being followed, then how come we're the only ones in the middle of the ocean?"

"That's what I thought. But someone that shoots arrows that close to Grover with a note attached telling us something we don't know… it… it just…"

"It boggles the mind?" Annabeth suggested, trying to suppress a grin. Percy smirked.

"Something like that, yeah." Percy squeezed her hand. "Not long now, Wise-girl. Then we'll be in a stupid flower with stupid games and stupid fun." Percy paused. "Actually, stupid fun doesn't sound so bad."

"Stupid fun equals being drunk."

"Not all the time."

"I'm a daughter of Athena, I'm right."

"Modest more like."

"I will kill you."

"No you won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't." They continued their repetitive argument for a few minutes. Annabeth had made the point of removing her hand from Percy's and drawing her knife to polish it on his jacket. Percy remained unfazed, grinning like the idiot he was.

Behind his grin and his humour, Annabeth could tell Percy was hurting. Instead of being angry and dangerous like he had been earlier, he was putting on a strong face and acting as normal as possible.

"Will." Annabeth said sternly. Percy tilted his head to the side, contemplating her with an innocent and almost angelic expression. Almost angelic- the pain in his eyes was readable.

Percy suddenly leaned over and kissed her deeply.

"Won't." He mumbled against her lips.

"Y-you cheated." They remained a hair's breadth apart, practically sharing air.

"I won." He claimed, kissing her again. "Put the knife away, Wise-girl. I get the point."

"Pun?"

"Mm."