A/N I just finished reading Clockwork Princess and had so many feels I was going to write a short story on it. But no. After i'm done Back To Me I think i'm going to give myself a long ass break. I introduced Calypso a different way in chapter 10, as the last one was bad. I didn't get any feedback and I always get at least get one or two so I thought THIS intro was bad too. Then Bek assured me it wasn't and anyways, i got some responses after some time . Me overreacting as usual. I don't know why I needed to say all this. It's not even relevant.. Whatever. Expect chapter 12 next month. Also, this story is soo going to be longer than 20 chapters *head slam*

Annabeth quietly closed the door behind her. Although it was pretty warm in the Cincinnati night, she wore a light hoodie with her just because she felt exposed and somehow asserted that the hoodie could keep anyone from seeing her. She could have used her yankee's cap (which she and Percy found with the rest of her lost things in tartarus) but she didn't want to hide from her friends. Using it would make her feel guilty, like she was using it for the wrong reason. All she wanted to do is see Percy. Not only to be near him but also to check in on him. Earlier had left her worried.

After the meeting had ended, everyone dispersed. Leo said there was a big dent on the side of the boat so they had to stop and do repairs. Fortunately, he didn't need any supplies, just time. Frank went with him to help. Annabeth saw Jason, Percy, and Hazel on the other side of the deck.

"Calypso's dad is Atlas?" Hazel asked, uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes," Percy replied looking out to the sea.

"Can we trust her? I mean, didn't she help him out in the war against the gods?" Jason's calm, reasonable tone

"People change," Percy's eyes hadn't drifted off the fixed point.

Percy's blunt short answers has been annoying Annabeth lately. It's like all the feeling drowned out of him and all that was left was a monotone voice answering questions like he didn't care whether it went one way or another. And then the dead, sad look in his eyes. Gods. It made her want to shake some life back into him. Especially after that dream she had, she needed to warn him but she was afraid that he wouldn't listen, or worse; not do anything about it. Those two seemed to be pretty much the same thing these days.

Annabeth reached the front of his door and paused. His light wasn't on, and there was no noise from within.

She couldn't help remembering the past, in tartarus. It still gave her nightmares, and it was hard to bounce back into her regular state. Or..as regular as you can get. Annabeth had had perfect faith that she would return normal within time, with Percy no less. Now, with no real change in Percy, she was scared to admit that she was doubtful. For him, for her, for both; she wasn't sure. She didn't think she could never return normal without Percy by her side. Especially after he said the sweetest things right when they were at their end in Tartarus.

"Annabeth," Percy's blood-streaked face found her's and he suddenly pulleded her under the dim protection of a wall. Percy knew they didn't have much time before the distraction they pulled ran out. It was bright, brighter than it had ever been in hell. Percy's sword had always given them light but the brightness of the Doors of Death plus Percy's sword made Annabeth's eyes spot with black dots as she cringed and then adjusted to the brightness. Annabeth could see every detail of Percy's gaunt face. The face she couldn't see clearly for days. The face that had devastation written all over it.

"Percy! Come on, we have to-"

"Listen Annabeth!" Percy's voice was frantic but he took a deep breath to calm himself. Closing his eyes, and when he opened them, it had the most sad, desperate, hard resolution it has only when he made the most difficult of decisions. It also had the unfathomable loving look that always made Annabeth catch her breath, as it did now.

"Percy?" Concern echoed her voice as she reached out to place her hand on his cheek. His eyes fluttered following the path of her hand. He gasped suddenly and grabbed her by the shoulders, slightly shaking Annabeth.

"Annabeth," he repeated her name as if it were the last time he could say it. "Annabeth, Annabeth, Annabeth, I thought I could have the world with you." Annabeth blinked, not understanding and dawning realization made her want to smack herself for not figuring it out sooner.

"Percy! No you couldn't!-"

He looked up suddenly with a new burst of fierceness. "Listen," he said. "If we can't have a life together, at least you can. If I can't live with you, at least I say I lived for you. At least I had the time of my life with you, however short that time was."

A sad smile flitted across his face. Annabeth couldn't say a word, she felt as if she were in another dimension hearing this from another person's body. But no, this was Percy. This was Percy's face she was touching. This was Percy's earnest sea green eyes she was witnessing, Percy's sweet face that was always marked with more age and responsibility than it ever should have been at the age of 17. The thought of Percy being in any more pain quickly sparked her anger. He didn't deserve it, neither of them did.

"Percy, you can't. I won't let you,," she said forcing calm as much as she could. "You won't survive down here by yourself. You can't die-" she choked on the last part. Opening her mouth, she tried again but her throat was too tight.

"I wouldn't be dead," Percy's eyes were soft as he traced circles on the back of her hand and brushed his thumb lightly against her cheekbone.

"Not if you were living. You would be breathing for me. Seeing for me, feeling for me, you would be living for me. Just imagine," Percy gave a pained smile.

"You would build new-age skyscrapers, keep the earth safe from monsters, have a family." He choked out the last part and looked away for a second. Percy's face was blurry, and Annabeth distantly noticed that her face was wet. Annabeth who was always quick with words couldn't form any, couldn't even think anything but no no no no NO!

Just as suddenly, the lights turned off.

They had found them.

The ancient monsters excited voices headed around the corner. But Annabeth couldn't pay attention to any of that, not when Percy leaned over and kissed her like that.

"I love you," he said, just before the world went completely and forever dark for years but was days without his presence..

She twisted the doorknob. The moonlight came shining in through the window besides Percy's bed. There were clothes strewn everywhere, Percy's leather gear half on the tabletop, the other half fallen off to the floor. Trainers at the foot of his bed. Well, given some credit his shoes seem to be identical, even if the socks don't match. But there was only one thing she was looking for in this room. Percy.

Through the dim moonlight across his face, Annabeth could see Percy's tight face strained in pain. Sweat coated his forehead and ran down his face like streaks of tears. His left hand fisted in the sheets, the right hanging from the edge of the bed, twitching, like it does during the abrupt aftereffects of a fatal shot. Your body doesn't know that it's dying and so it knows nothing else but to twitch till it can move no more.

"Percy!" Annabeth ran to him.

Percy shoots out of bed and grabs something. He can't see, he doesn't know if his eyes are open or closed. All he could feel is the racing of his heart and all he could hear were the screams, then something, his name called out by someone woke him up.

Anchor Anchor Anchor, Percy thought desperately his hand tightening.

"Ow Percy, let go!" It was Annabeth's voice. Annabeth who had woken him up.

Let go Let go Let go! Percy gasped and let go of his anchor for good.

It was just a dream, it was just a dream, it was just- ohmygods, Percy pulled his hair and gave a strangled scream.

"Percy? Percy what's wrong?" Annabeth now was reaching out for him, very concerned.

Percy pulled away from her.

"Please. Please leave," he choked out through clenched teeth.

"I.." Annabeth started.

"Please. I need you to leave," his voice was very hoarse but precise.

Annabeth felt a flash of hurt but worry overpowered it.

"Okay, Percy," she said softly. She didn't try to touch him again. Percy heard the muffled closing of the door behind her as she left him.

A/N Hope you liked the romance, it's not going to happen that often. I was thinking about doing this a long time ago and finally remembered to put it up on here. I saw one author doing this fun game thing where she asks the readers if they want a sneak peak of the next chapter they should review and say that they do and her favorite review gets a sneak peak of the next chapter. I thought that was a fun idea, at least for me since I get to interact with yall more! If you're a guest, give me your ff name or twitter or something. I doubt a lot of people will enter so i'll just randomly choose one out, maybe two, or just give it to everyone,whatever. We'll figure it out. I'm excited! :D