Disclaimer: the plot is mine the rest is by Uncle Rick.

9 - Goodbye

I walked silently inside Percy's cabin. I put my backpack under a dusty unused bed. I approached to Percy to find him sound sleeping. He looked so handsome with the moonlight on him. I sat next to him on the edge of the bed just staring at him. I wanted to memorize every line, hair and battle scar of his body. I brushed his hair off his eyes and he opened them staring at me. I smiled at him.

"Is everything Ok, wise girl?" said Percy.

"Sure, why?" I said and put my hand on his cheek. Percy stared at me and put his hand over mine smiling at me.

"I don't know. You have been weird all day… like pulling away" said Percy out of the blue. He knew me so well. I just smiled.

"I am fine" I said and lie next to him. We had our legs intertwined and our hands on each other's faces.

"Did I do something wrong?" said Percy sadly staring at me.

"Of course not. I just had a lot in my mind. Capture the Flag is tomorrow and there is no way you are going to win" I said grinning at him. He nodded believing my words.

"We will see about that" said Percy and kissed me goodnight. Soon, he was snoring and I just felt guilt washing over me. I just couldn't make myself stand up and leave.

I debated everything in his arms. If I stayed, I knew him, he would want to get married and start working to support us. He would do everything for us just like his mom did for him, even working 3 jobs. Eventually, he would resent me; maybe turn sour or bitter at me, at us, because he couldn't go to college and being a marine biologist... Percy would never hate me, right? But again, I thought the same of my stepmother and we can't stand each other.

If I left, he would be sad but eventually moved on. He might find happiness in someone else. He might get married after college and have a happy life without more prophecies. He deserved to be happy after all we have been through. This was my prophecy and I had to keep him out of it. No matter what, I had to leave. I couldn't fight against the Fates and they wanted me far.

I cried silently and slept in his arms for one last time.

Morning came and I was alone. I heard the shower on and I knew it was Percy. I got up and stretched loving a moment of peace before a huge wave of nauseas washed over me. I needed the bathroom but Percy was there. If he saw me throwing up, I would be in trouble. I took deep breaths trying to conquer my nauseas with positive thinking but I was dead wrong. I just couldn't hold it any longer and ran outside to the farthest bush. Thankfully, it was still too early and there were no campers on sight. I wiped my mouth and walked to my cabin. I needed a good shower myself.

In my cabin, some of my siblings were stretching or already dressing. Malcolm stared at me with hawk eyes. I went to the bathroom and washed my teeth.

"Annabeth, can we talk in private?" said Malcolm as I was picking some clothes to get into the shower.

"Sure. Let's go outside" I said and I knew this wasn't going to be good.

Once outside, Malcolm stared at me with hard cold calculating eyes that I knew perfectly.

"What's wrong?" said Malcolm as he crossed his arms and looked up and down at me.

"Nothing" I said crossing my arms too at him. We stared at each other in a silently battle of power.

"I don't buy it, Chase" said Malcolm without giving out a single inch. I wasn't either. We were both very alike. We hated to lose, but I had to give in to avoid more confrontations. I had to deceive him like a pro.

"Well... I'm just having trouble sleeping, you know, the whole Tartarus and war thing" I said with a weak defeated voice. Real silent tears left my eyes. I hoped this would work. Malcolm's stare softened and walked to hug me. He was such a good brother and second in command. The cabin would be fine with him as their leader.

Malcolm swung me softly as he stroked my hair. I felt like crying harder and I did. He probably thought that it was about my nightmares and I let him think that. Do I really need to make him look at me with pity: the silly teenager pregnant girl? I just needed some comfort right now. I was about to leave them for good.

"Annabeth, everything will be OK. Percy and I will help you to get through" said Malcolm and wiped my tears. I just nodded to him. I really wanted to believe his words and I just smiled to him. Malcolm kissed my forehead and we stayed there hugging for some minutes.

Percy walked into us and stared at us before clearing his throat.

"Annabeth, Malcolm, what's going on?" said Percy really confused by our actions. If we weren't siblings, I guessed it would look like standard cheating.

"Nothing, Percy. Annabeth is just a bit sad. She had a really bad dream, right sis?" said Malcolm and for a moment I suspected if he was really knew the truth or he really believed my lies. I looked up to Malcolm and we stared at each other for a second. I nodded to Malcolm and looked to Percy nodding at him too.

"Come here, wise girl" said Percy and Malcolm let go of me. I walked to hug Percy and I just broke into tears. I wanted so much to tell him the truth but the words were choked in my throat. Percy did his best comforting me. Malcolm left us alone.

"What's wrong, wise girl?" said Percy as he stroked my hair.

"Malcolm told you. I just had a bad dream" I mumbled in his chest.

"Why didn't you tell me?" said Percy and that was an excellent question. I froze for a second thinking in the best answer.

"You were in the shower and I really thought it was nothing. I went to my cabin and Malcolm saw me shaking. It's ok, really" I said trying to believe that was the truth. I sounded so simple and believable instead of the whole truth.

"I see. I love you" said Percy and I just nodded and kissed him softly. I really hoped he wouldn't taste a single trace of vomit in my mouth. I washed my teeth but you never know.

After a good shower and breakfast, Percy and I spent some time on the beach just chilling and hugging each other until the conch horn announced that Capture the Flag was starting soon.

My mind wasn't on the game this time but we still win. I acted happy and excited when Malcolm brought the flag across the victory line.

After the game, I spent girl quality time with Hazel, Piper, Rachel and Clarisse. We talked about boyfriends, prom dresses and possible colleges. I enjoyed my last moments with them. We laughed and just were happy.

After dinner and sing-along, Percy walked me to my cabin. I guessed I acted very well the whole day but…

"What's wrong, wise girl?" said Percy as we were standing feet of my cabin's door.

"Nothing" I said smiling.

"Are you sure?" said Percy and I just nodded. We stared and kissed hotly. I wrapped my arms on his neck and lifted me of the ground. I was really savoring this goodnight kiss

"Ahem" said a very familiar voice from the doorframe. We turned to see Malcolm crossing his arm at us. He looked like a typical dad waiting for his teenage daughter.

"Sorry, Malcolm. Good night everybody" said Percy scratching his head and kissed me goodnight.

"I will go later" I whispered and entered my cabin with Malcolm not losing sight of me.

I waited for everybody to be sleeping before sneaking out like usual. I walked slowly to Percy's cabin. I found him waiting for me sitting on the edge of the bed. I saw him and I just wanted to hug him, to kiss him, to be with him one more time. I wanted so bad to stay but I had to leave. I had to protect him… I removed all my clothes before standing in front of him. We made love one last time and we drifted into sleep with my head on his chest wrapping him like a pillow.

It was around 4 am when I woke up ready to leave. I sat on the edge of bed when I felt Percy stirring. He raised his eyes to my naked frame and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm sorry" I said softly as I kissed his forehead.

"What's going on, wise girl?" said Percy yawning.

"Nothing. I just had a bad dream. Sorry if I woke you up" I said.

"Don't worry about it. Come here" said Percy pulling me to his chest. "Tell me about your dream"

"It's not important, really. Go back to sleep. I was going for water anyway" I said and kissed him.

"Sure?" said Percy with his eyes closing and drifting back to sleep.

"Yeah, sure. Sweet dreams. I love you" I said and kissed his lips softly.

"I love you too" mumbled Percy and he was sleeping again.

I stood up quietly with tears in my eyes. I got dressed, got my backpack from under the dusty bed and I walked out of the only life I really knew and love. I was truly a coward as I left in the middle of the night. I had broken our promise of being together even after Tartarus but I couldn't drag him to another prophecy. He didn't deserve it.

Author's Note: I must address that Annabeth is leaving. She is protecting Percy.

Regardless her strong character, she is a scared hormonal pregnant teen. She is irrational... I know, I have two kids and I was on my 20s. Sorry on the touchy subject but for some women, the hormones make you do very unlikely things like the cravings, mood swings and yelling at your husband because he forgot to pick up something.

Of course, she could stay but the prophecy is sending her away.