A/N: I'm planning on there being 2 chapters following this one before I end the story. Sorry again for the shorter chapters, there are just too great time lapses between what's happening for me to combine them. Next one, possibly even the last one as well, will be up tomorrow. Thank you again to all of my reviewers, you're the best. Oh and since I'm apparently the last to know everything, I just read the first official chapter of Mark of Athena. OHMYGODS he knows just how to torture us Percabeth shippers. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: Yeah. Still don't own Percy. Blame Rick Riordan

Percy and I talked every night from then on. Winter break was just around the corner so we would finally be able to discuss things in person; but we just didn't want to say goodbye until then. Even if it was a short amount of time, we didn't want to go a single day without the other; and I was absolutely fine with this.

Believe it or not, that night was the last time we spoke of our feelings towards one another. Even though one of my biggest worries after we confessed to each other had been that we would just move on and pretend that the conversation never happened, somehow this was okay. Unlike when I kissed Percy at Mt. St Helens, what happened this time wasn't avoided and forgotten; it was always there in the background of our talks, just waiting for the right moment in time to be revisited.

Things were better this way. I hadn't lost my best friend, and it was looking like eventually, he would be so much more. Surprisingly, the nights that followed had not even a trace of awkwardness. I would have thought that each of us knowing how the other felt would change everything, but it didn't. We were the same as we had been before, just closer and no longer mad at each other. It gave me a sort of reassurance that things were turning out this way. Don't get me wrong, it want this to turn into something more. However, knowing that we have this to fall back on almost gives me a piece of mind. Even if we never act on our feelings, I'm pretty sure I could live a pretty decent life like this.

Before we knew it, three weeks had passed and we were less than 24 hours away from meeting at camp. To say I was excited just didn't do it justice. Sure, talking every night was a lot better than avoiding each other, and made our time apart bearable, but it still wasn't the same as actually talking; face to face. I missed my Seaweed Brain.

The conversation our last night apart was different from the others. "So, tomorrow's our first day back at camp. Excited?" I asked hesitantly.

"Who wouldn't be? There's canoeing, capture the flag, Clarisse's face when I beat her at sword fighting, Grover," he paused for a moment. "Oh, and you of course," he finished with a wink. I'm not quite sure what to make of that. What was that? Was it a wink at his joke? Or a wink implying something to come?

"Oh gee; glad to know your so excited to see me after a fight, followed by three months of silence, followed by some pretty awkward and confusing discussions that have lead us to where was are now. I'll keep that in mind." We both laughed, as hard as I try to be serious, sometimes it's just impossible to be mad at my best friend, who happens to have a head full of kelp.

"I'll tell you what, how about you meet me at the beach around three. Then you can find out just how much I've missed you, Wise Girl." Again with the winking. What was he trying to do, drive me absolutely insane because by some miracle the Labyrinth failed to do so? "Until then, good night. Sleep well; I'll see you at three." And before giving me anytime to protest, or even reply for that matter, he ended the message.

Oh gods, what have I gotten myself into?