A/N: Hiya, people. Here's another chapter for ya.

Enjoy!


Annabeth

Today was Christmas. December 25, the happiest day of the year. Children wait months for this very holiday. They eagerly anticipate the sugar cookies, candy canes, and boundless presents that await them on this time of year. Christmas: the day for cheeriness and hope - after all, the saying was "Merry Christmas." Except, I wasn't feeling very merry right now.

It was Christmas. I still don't understand why we celebrated it. It's a Christian holiday - Jesus' birthday - but we're the furthest thing from Christian. Our parents were gods, so it kind of disproves the whole one true God spiel. Nevertheless, demigods continue to celebrate the winter holiday. Maybe it was just because of the thought behind it? The idea of giving presents to loved ones to show how much you cared. Or maybe it was because of the lesser known fact of Christmas's true pagan roots.

None of that mattered, however. I wasn't celebrating regardless. Today marked a full week of my boyfriend's disappearance (seven days, two hours, and fifty-four minutes, to be precise). Today also marked the second Christmas in a row in which Percy had been MIA. My mind was completely numb. I had shoved all my emotions down, locked them in a small box, and threw away the key. If I paused for one second to think about what had happened to the person I cared about the most - and how utterly alone I felt without him - I knew I'd shut down completely.

So, I'd become a shell of myself, going through the motions but not really feeling anything. It was a defense mechanism. I was experiencing textbook Suppression - intentionally pushing unpleasant thoughts from one's mind. Yes, I acknowledged the fact that it was unhealthy for my mental state, but if I allowed the feelings in - of loss, desperation, anger, grief, fear, devastation - my head would explode. It would be reminiscent of the opening of Pandora's Box. But Annabeth Chase was not going to have a mental breakdown when she had a boyfriend to find and hundreds of demigods counting on her.

At the present, I was sitting in the Jackson-Blofis living room on the couch. Sally was sitting across from me in a chair holding a cup of hot chocolate. My own mug was on the coffee table untouched, right next to a platter of blue chocolate chip cookies. Seeing the cookies, I had to swallow the lump in my throat that formed. They were his favorite...

I snapped myself out of it before the tears could fall. I'd already cried myself silly. I cried every night when he wasn't there beside me, when I didn't wake up to his ocean-breeze scent, when I would look to my side to see the empty space where he used to be... I'd cried so much that I thought my tear ducts would burst. No, I was done crying. I needed to be strong now, especially in front of Sally. Dear Sally, who lost her baby not once, but twice. All because I couldn't save him...

No, Annabeth. Don't think like that, I firmly told myself. There's nothing you could've done to stop it. Except, there was. And I don't think I was fooling anyone, much less myself.

Sally cleared her throat, and it was only then that I realized I'd been staring off into space for a couple of minutes. I mentally shook myself before turning my eyes on her. "Do you want any marshmallows?" She asked kindly.

"No, thank you, Sally." She hated it when I called her Mrs. Blofis or Ms. Jackson. Plus, we had gotten closer due to Percy's previous kidnapping, so we were on friendly terms. I admired the woman greatly; she had already accepted me as her own and treated me almost like a daughter.

Not wanting to be rude, I grabbed my mug (it was a blue Little Mermaid cup; I tried not to think of who it belonged to) and took a sip of it. Rich hot chocolate poured down my throat, causing my eyes to drift shut. Percy's mother made the best hot chocolate - perfect chocolate to whipped cream ratio, plus she added a sprinkle of cinnamon. After two more sips of the warm beverage, I set it back down on the table.

Suddenly, I had a flashback to one year ago when Percy had just seemingly vanished out of thin air. Back then, Sally and I had been each other's crutch. All those days spent together in constant worry of the boy we both loved so much, swapping stories of all the idiotic things the Seaweed Brain had done, and lending a shoulder to cry on when the other needed it had really solidified our relationship. It was what kept me going all those months. At least I hadn't had it as bad as Sally. She and Paul had told everyone that Percy was away to deal with 'family business' (which ironically turned out to be somewhat truthful), so in public, she and her husband had to act as if nothing was wrong.

I shook my head to rid it of the memories, getting down to business. "We still don't have any leads. Hazel and Frank are leading a team to search California. The Hunters of Artemis have also been informed and are searching the surrounding states. So far, that's all we have to go on."

Sally nodded, her face lined with worry. "And what about you, dear?"

"Uh, me?" I asked, not fully understanding what she was asking.

"Yes you, Annabeth. How are you holding up?"

I took a deep breath, quelling the ridiculous urge to tell her the truth - that no, I wasn't holding up very well. That it felt like I was fourteen again trying to hold up the sky. That I was drowning in the Cocytus River, unable to shield my ears from the endless cries of woe. "I-I'm doing fine. I just wish we'd find him faster."

"Mhmm. Any nightmares, though? You know, you could always stay here if you wanted. I'm sure Paul wouldn't mind." Her blue orbs bore into my gray ones, shinning with motherly tenderness. The ardor in which she gazed at me caused my breath to catch in my throat, rendering me speechless for a few moments. The almost undetectable redness rimming her eyes, however, was enough to secure my answer. She was a mother yearning for her son, and I was determined to find a way to bring him back.

"I appreciate the offer; I really do. But, I'm needed at camp. Grover and Lou Ellen are close to finding a locator spell, plus the gods have just finished their bi-annual Solstice meeting, so Chiron is speaking with them at the moment. With all that Percy's done for Olympus, I'm sure the gods will help." Sally's eyebrows creased together in the same way that Percy's did. She knew that I had avoided her first question, but she didn't bring it up.

"Well, my door is always open, Annabeth." She said kindly before getting up to put her empty mug in the sink.

"Shouldn't you be more worried? About Percy?" The words forced themselves through my mouth without my consent. I felt like my impulsive, seaweed-brained boyfriend. Sally froze by the doorway, causing me to immediately regret my question. I hadn't really meant it; she just seemed so...calm. So collected, compared to me.

Percy's mother turned to look at me, a strand of gray streaked brown hair falling out of her ponytail to partially obscure her face. In that moment, I knew for certain that although she was calm on the outside, she was an emotional wreck inside. She had donned a mask to be able to go about her daily life as if nothing was wrong, as if she knew exactly where her child was and that he was safe and sound. Since Percy was twelve - no, since he was born - she had always wondered if her son would live through the day. Right then, I figured that Sally Jackson Blofis was the strongest person I'd ever met.

Upon seeing my expression, her eyes softened. She slowly walked over and kneeled before me, taking my hands into her own. "Annabeth, the reason why I'm not worried about him is because of you. There is no force in the world that could keep you from finding my son. You found him after he was taken by a goddess. There is no doubt in my mind that you will find him again." Sally stared right into my eyes, making sure that I understood that she meant every word. "You just have to keep hoping, Annabeth. Isn't that what Percy always says?"

This time, my lips curved into a small smile. Percy was like the embodiment of hope. Even when Prometheus gave him Pandora's Pithos, he was still able to keep ahold of it. And when we were trapped in Tartarus, his hope for the future was what got us out of there. Taking a deep breath, I allowed that same fire that Percy had to fill me up: the fire of hope, of family, of home. I silently prayed to Hestia as I did so, so that I would never give the fire up, and that neither would Percy, my home in every right.

With a new resolve that I thought I'd lost forever, I looked down at Sally. "Thank you." I said sincerely. I had come here today to reassure Sally that all would be well, going on the assumption that she would be downcast on her son's favorite holiday. Instead, she had reassured me.

"No problem, Annie." Strangely, I was okay with her calling me that. Though if it had been anyone else, they'd get punched in the nose. "Now go find your boyfriend and bring him home safe." She smiled at me.

I nodded, standing up from the plush couch. "Bye, Sally."

"Goodbye, Annabeth." She replied, pulling me in for a tight hug. "And Merry Christmas."


With each step away from Percy's apartment building, my feet grew heavier. Around me, Manhattan continued to thrive, the people hustling and bustling down the crowded sidewalks like a colony of worker ants. The storefronts were all decorated for the season, their windows covered in red and green lights. A light snowfall drifted from the sky, casting everything outdoors under a thin white blanket.

Watching the denizens of New York continue living as if the disappearance of the twice Savior of Olympus meant nothing to them made anger swirl in my gut. It was irrational, yes, that I was getting angered over this. Of course mortals wouldn't care if a demigod had been kidnapped, even if said demigod had saved their lives more times than they could count. Mortals were ignorant of the gods, and of monsters and demigods. It reminded me of Thomas Gray's famous phrase: 'Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.'

A small ball of jealousy formed in my stomach before I could subdue it. These people lived simple lives veiled from the gods who lived right under their noses. They knew nothing of the true horrors of the real world - that there were monsters much worse than the Boogeyman living among them. Their biggest dilemma was what to get for their relatives during last-minute Christmas shopping. It made me yearn for something so normal, so conventional. All I wished was for one year of peace with my boyfriend safe and sound, but apparently the Fates had other ideas.

Curse those old hags, they're worse than Hera!

Turning on my heal, I spotted a man dressed as Santa a couple steps away. He was probably trying to get donations for some organization, clanking a couple jingle bells together and ho-ho-hoeing in his red suit. Shifting through my jean pockets, I came up with four dollars and a couple of cents. After placing the loose change in his donation bucket, I gave him a tight smile. He returned it, though his was much more jolly under his fake white beard.

"Merry Christmas, miss! I can assure you that you'll get everything you want under the Christmas tree this year." He said joyfully, waving one of his mittened hands. Unless he planned on wrapping up my missing boyfriend, putting a bow on the top of his head, and tossing him under Thalia's pine, I sincerely doubted that.

My breath left me in a huff, a small cloud of condensation escaping my mouth as I did so. Pulling my gray coat tighter around my midriff, I continued to walk down the sidewalk. The brisk wind buffeted my hair, sending the blonde curls flying wildly around my head. It reminded me that I hadn't brushed it in awhile; with all that had been distracting me these past few days, I had forgotten to take care of myself. I was about to hail a taxi when a flash of dark hair and stormy eyes caught my attention.

"Mom?" I stammered. The woman turned upon hearing my voice so that I got a clear view of her. Dark hair cascaded down her shoulders in elegant waves, curling at the tips. She wore faded jeans and hiking boots, topped off with a warm, red flannel. Most notably, however, was the walking stick clasped in her hand. My gaze immediately hardened. She was not the mother I knew, though I recognized her. "Minerva."

Her cold eyes zeroed in on me, flashing like they were made of metal. "Child." She said distastefully, her face puckering like she smelled something unpleasant. My eyes narrowed, and I took a step closer to her, pulling myself up to my full height (though she was still several inches taller).

"What are you doing here, Minerva? I thought I had succeeded in your little suicide mission." My voice was nearly a snarl.

"Watch your tone, demigod," She reprimanded. "Though you are one of my...offspring, I do not condone disrespect." I had to restrain myself from slashing her with my ivory sword. Disrespect? Was she kidding me? She had sent me on a quest that had killed countless of my siblings, knowing that the chance I would actually succeed was very slim. It was the reason Percy and I had fallen into Tartarus.

Instead of the scathing comments I wished to make, I bit my tongue. "Why are you here, Lady Minerva." I ground out.

"I have just come to inform you that it is impossible to find that sea urchin you are so attached to." The Roman Goddess stated matter-of-factly. My temper flared.

"And why would that be, oh Goddess of Wisdom?"

"He is hidden from the gods. Not even Trivia could sense his essence. Such a feat is near unfeasible to accomplish, as only the most skilled sorcerer such as the Goddess of Magic herself could ever hope to pull it off."

I scowled at her, my teeth grinding together in agitation. How could my mother's other half be so... Despiteful? Wicked? Arrogant? She was like all of Athena's bad traits magnified in one person, without all the ones that I had come to love in her. It made it hard to believe that this person was a part of my mom. Maybe this was what eons of the need for revenge did to someone? At least she wasn't a raving lunatic anymore, like the first time I met her.

"I found Percy without help from the gods the last time. Now, I will do it again." I could barely control my torrent of rage; my hands were in tight fists at my sides, and my eyes flared like miniature storm clouds. The Goddess of Crafts just frowned at me, tilting her head and examining me like a difficult puzzle.

"You are be far my most...interesting descendent. Though interesting may not be the correct word... Confusing, perhaps? Even though I was betting on one of my more competent children, it was you who rescued my statue from that cursed spider. Yet you, for some reason that I cannot comprehend, care deeply for that spawn of Neptune. He is a loose cannon: impulsive, brash, oblivious, and simpleminded - willing to sacrifice the many for a few. What is he good for? Why do you consort with the likes of him?" My hand twitched at my side, straining to reach for my weapon. Not only did she insult my missing boyfriend, she also insulted my intelligence in choosing him. I could only be pushed so far. Even I had my limits, and she'd just breached them. I quickly eliminated the space between us, my face now just inches from hers.

"You do not have the right to say that about Percy. He has saved Olympus more times than anyone - including you! He has given himself up so many times for others - and for what? So that he could be kidnapped not once but twice? So that he could fall into Tartarus? So that arrogant gods such as yourself could berate him? If anything, I am not worthy of him!" My breaths were coming in short pants, and my voice had risen about halfway through. Now, though, I purposely lowered it. "And you are most definitely not my mother."

Minerva's hand was gripped on her walking stick, and I could feel the power surging through her in reaction to her anger. "You dare speak to me like that, demigod?" It was a warning, but I refused to back down (my pride wouldn't have let me).

The Roman Goddess finally took a step back, but glared at me with her quicksilver orbs. "Do not let your hubris get the better of you, Annabeth Chase. There will come a time when wisdom shall fail you." A shiver ran up my spine at her words, but I didn't look away. Only until her entire body started to glow, revealing her true form, did I allow my eyes to close. When they opened again, the goddess was gone, the faint scent of old books and olives blowing away in the breeze.

My mother - or rather, the much less appreciated Roman form of her - had come to give me a message. The gods couldn't help Percy; it was up to me once again. But this time, it wasn't that the gods didn't want to help - they just couldn't. What kind of creature could hide a demigod's essence - especially a child of the Big Three's - from Hecate? I attempted to wrack my brain for any Greek or Roman creature that fit the bill, but none came to mind.

This reminded me of Minerva's second reason for showing up. Her ominous words echoed in my mind. Wisdom shall fail you. The warning had sent a sliver of fear through me, as much as I hated to admit. I was used to being the one with all the answers, the one who always had a plan. The idea that I might not be able to think myself out of a situation in the near future terrified me. Maybe it meant that I wouldn't be able to find Percy? No, I refused to believe that. I would find him. He was more than just my boyfriend, he was my best friend and nothing - gods, monsters, the Fates - would keep me from finding him.

I quickly hailed a cab and rattled off Camp Half-Blood's address. The car ride gave me time to collect myself before getting back to camp. It was in shambles without its leader. Though I had stepped up in the son of Poseidon's absence, I wasn't Percy. He had the camp wrapped around his little finger, though he remained oblivious to that fact. The demigods followed my lead, of course, but they practically worshipped my boyfriend (the younger ones treating him like some sort of Legend, fangirling whenever they spotted him). He had a certain aura that just made people just want to be around him. When I tried explaining it to him one day, he'd just laughed, but Piper had said that she agreed with me. He was like the sound of waves on a beach: calming, strong, and quietly powerful.

Suddenly, the taxi came to a stop. The driver turned to me, his face confused. "You sure this is the place?" He asked with a heavy New Yorker accent. Though I could see the camp sprawled out just beyond Half-Blood Hill, all the man could see was a small, ramshackle house at the top of a hill and the surrounding strawberry fields.

I nodded. "Mhmm. I'm visiting my uncle Chiron." He still looked a little unsure, but accepted the money I handed him and tipped his cap at me as I got out. As the cab drove off, I looked up at Thalia's tree. Peleus the dragon was wrapped around the pine, and the Golden Fleece glittered from one of the branches.

Home, sweet home, I thought with a sigh. Then I braced myself, crossing over the barrier that separated the mortal and mythological worlds.


A/N: Have I ever mentioned how much I love Sally Jackson? Because, really, I do. She's one of the best characters in my opinion, and one of the most looked over. Of course, I knew that she wasn't gonna have much of a role in the second series, but come on Rick. The last book in the entire PJ/HOO universe and still no Percy and Sally reunion after seven months spent apart? I thought it would have been an amazing way for him to bring the story full circle because in the Lightning Thief Percy's sole reason for embarking on his first quest was his mom, so having a reunion after his last one would have made it more complete... Sorry for ranting so much. BOO wasn't bad or anything, but I was kind of expecting something epic for the last book, like with the Last Olympian. I guess I just held Riordan in too high of standards? But seriously, all they had to do to defeat Gaea was hold her above the ground and blast her with some fire balls and it was all over. Like, Percy defeated Antaeus, the son of Gaea, in the exact same way (water instead of fire obviously) in BotL, but I think his gladiatorial fight was better than the defeat of the Earth Mother. So yeah, still disappointed in that but whatevs. Okay, now I'm done. XD

How did y'all like the appearance from Minerva? I enjoyed writing the interaction. Idk why though. What does her little warning mean for Annabeth? Nothing good, no doubt! Next up is Percy. Will he finally get wings? Or will he be injected with something else? Or maybe he'll be able to escape beforehand... One thing's for sure: it's gonna be a really long chapter, so buckle up!

~Wrendsor