Sorry for the hiatus! As always, I'd love any and all reviews :)

Marcus's POV

"What? You're what?" Annabeth stared in disbelief. "You're breaking up with me?"

If it was just a month ago, I would probably have cowered back under her steel gray eyes and razor sharp voice, pleading for forgiveness and promising to do her chores for her. Well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but something like that.

And it wouldn't even be hard, because I wanted any excuse to be able to keep calling her my girlfriend.

But it isn't meant to be. Better save myself a bit of heartbreak while I'm at it.

"Look, Annabeth. Don't get me wrong, I still love you."

"But you're breaking up with me?" She growled.

I blinked. I actually felt a bit happy, ridiculously enough, that she wasn't leaping for joy to be rid of be. "Sorry, but I think we both know that you still like Percy. And you know what? Percy still likes you. I'm sure of it." There I said it. Now she can be rid of me with no regrets.

She blinked. Once, twice. Then slowly, a tear leaked out. "I know he does."

Talk about mixed messages. Why is she crying? Gods, I've never understood girls and I probably never will.

She suddenly flung herself at me. "Whoa, girl..um..." Next thing I knew, she was crying into my shoulder. I awkwardly patted her.

"Marcus..."

"Um yes?"

She leaned back until she was inches from my face. "You were a great boyfriend, really. I love you, I really do. But you're right, I truly love Percy. I-I'm sorry. Marcus, I wish I could have been the girl for you. I'm sorry."

Oddly enough, it didn't hurt as much as I imagined it would. "S'ok" I cleared my throat.

"Thank you. Thank you, Marcus, for breaking up with me."

"Annabeth? Please...don't look back. For me, please."

She nodded and kissed me once lightly on the lips.

Then I watched as she walked away. She didn't look back.

...

And yah, you probably expected a happily ever after right? Annabeth reunited with her true love Percy, who realized what an ass he had been and ditched Morgana. Happily ever after. Maybe even poor Marcus, that's me guys!, even found a nice girlfriend later in.

You should have known better. When has happily ever after been that easy?

...

Percy's POV

I stumbled. Morgana was there to support me. I used to hate her, but I don't, not anymore. Maybe I was just too tired to. I have another headache. I'm getting those more now too. I leaned against a tree.

"Percy?" It's Annabeth; I would know her voice anywhere. "Percy? Please, I need to talk to you." Please, Annabeth, go away. I can't face you now. Please, I beg you.

"Percy." She was getting nearer and her voice sounded worried. "Percy, are you ok?"

"Yes." Since when has his voice been so weak? He cleared his throat. "Yes." Marginally better.

"Percy..." Judging from the worry in her voice, not much better. Gods, his headache was getting worse, and the forest was looking more and more like a Picasso drawing. He swayed a bit and then everything turned black.

Annabeth's POV

Annabeth had an intense desire to punch someone, anyone but preferably Percy, or cry her heart out, or both. How could the stupid seaweed brain not tell her that he was dying? Why did he have to come back and turn her world upside down? Why couldn't he let her heart, long dead, stay dead?

She looked fiercely at Morgana. "Is there no way to save him?" "None" was the soft answer. No, she refused to believe this. There's always a way. There has to be a way. She wasn't going to lose him again.

Morgana's POV

I lied. There was one way. Just one. But it would result in certain death, and there was no way I was going to let Annabeth try it. I'm not being kind or considerate or nice. No, this was for my own selfish reasons. If anyone were to die for Percy, it would be me. Then he would remember me, forever.

It started out as just a small crush. I was bored and he was so cute, so heroic. I was attracted, and I saved him so that I could play with him. But somehow, somewhere I fell in love, passionately, deeply, in love. And now, I was ready to die for him.