*Last chapter. :) And sorry for killing Annabeth. But sometimes to do the right thing everyone has to make a sacrifice now and then.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Rick Riordan's.*

*Chapter 12*

(2 days later)

Percy threw the tuxedo to the side without looking at it. He didn't want a reminder of what was one of the happiest times of his life. And though he wasn't sure how to feel about celebrating anniversaries every month, he'd gladly do it again.

He was rummaging through his trunk for a fresh pair of pants. What happened to the old ones, well, Clarisse got a little too carried away with the special matches used to start the campfire. His pants burned orange and yellow and red before he finally put it out with creek water. It was the first time they'd had a good laugh since Annabeth died.

Percy winced. He didn't like thinking of Annabeth that way. It hurt too much. It was easier to think of her as temporarily gone.

Percy was finally back at Camp Half-Blood. Finally back home. Jason, Piper, and a few others were still at Camp Jupiter, helping clean up the ruins. Percy had come back to tell the others.

Everyone was at the campfire, all except Percy, though it wasn't exactly a happy event. The fire was purple and low, the singing of corny campfire songs the only thing keeping it aflame.

"We still have to go to Greece," Percy realized out loud. He had forgotten. The original Mount Olympus. If Gaea succeeds, it could ruin everything and destroy the gods. The attack on Rome was just a diversion.

Annabeth was d-temporarily gone because of that diversion.

Rage boiled inside him. His hands clenched.

"Gaea, you evil witch," Percy spat out, hoping she heard him.

I did you a favor, Gaea's sleepy voice whispered. Though she sounded much more awake now. I had to get rid of her. She was standing in my way.

"Rot in Tartarus," Percy growled, but recieved no answer. Percy punched the floor, just as Thalia walked in.

"What?" Percy snapped, his hand throbbing.

Thalia narrowed her eyes. "Don't get an attitude, Percy, I'm just delivering a message."

Percy craddled his hand, sure he had broken a knukle. "Message?"

Thalia nodded. "Yeah. You're being called to Olympus."

Percy blinked. "Wait, what? I thought Olympus was closed."

"Guess Dad finally came to his senses," Thalia said, shrugging. "But you need to go. Now. It's apparently important."

"Okay." Percy faltered. What was happening? Was Zeus planning something, like his death, maybe? Or did Athena want to talk to him about . . . Percy swallowed. He stood, trying to keep his anger down. The last thing he wanted to do was snap at Thalia. Again.

"Thanks," he said.

Thalia softened. "You're welcome. Come on, Kelp Head. Let's go get your hand fixed so you can go."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Percy was riding shotgun in the camp van, Argus driving. His eyes - the ones Percy could see, anyway - was staring at him. The eye on Argus's hand winked at him. Or was it just blinking?

The car pulled to a stop in front of the Empire State building. Percy swallowed, suddenly fearful.

"See you, Argus," he said, trying to sound cheeful, when in reality he was silently panicking.

Argus winked - it looked like his eyes were doing the wave. He drove away. Percy took a deep breath and entered the building.

"Hey, Poseidon's kid. Haven't seen you around for a while," the desk guy said as Percy approached.

"Yeah, I know," Percy said.

The desk guy leaned in close. "So, apparently something big's happening up there. Something about your trip to Greece."

Percy blinked. "You know about that?"

"Sure. Hermes visits from time to time."

"Well, I need to go up," Percy said, heading for the elevators.

Percy leaned his back against the wall as the elevator slowly rose to Olympus, listening to the 80s music and trying not to think. Everytime his thoughts went to Annabeth, and that hurt too much. So instead he concentrated on the song, closing his eyes and listening to the beat of the rythm.

Finally the doors slid open. As soon as he stepped off he saw just how bad things had gotten. The satyrs and nymphs were sitting and whispering, not dancing and chatting happily like they were the last time Percy was here. Even the trees look depressed. He felt all eyes on him as he passed. and to his complete shock, they smiled when they saw him. Some whispered excitedly to their friends.

Okay, Percy thought. He hesitated at the doors of Olympus. He prayed to Poseidon that he wasn't here to be sentenced to death or worse, to talk about Annabeth's death, and walked inside.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

To say inside was an understatement. The place was huge, stretching longer than a football field. In the middle of the throne room sat the twelve Olympians, all of them present. Hermes winked when he saw him. Aphrodite giggled and waved. Percy blushed inspite himself and smiled back. Poseidon smiled and nodded. And Athena . . .

She was studying him curiously. But she didn't look like she hated him, for once. Instead the look was . . . approving.

"Percy Jackson," Zeus said.

Percy tore his eyes away from Athena and finally noticed the group standing in front of the thrones, by Hestia's fire, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground in her brown dress, poking at the fire with a stick. She smiled warmly at him.

"Hey, Percy," Jason said, smiling. Piper was beside him, holding his hand. Leo was by Jason's side, along with Hazel and Frank.

"What are you guys doing here?" he asked, noting how they were all smiling. He wondered if Apollo had tried to crack a joke or something.

"They're here," Athena said, "Because of your quest to Greece."

"We need to get there. Gaea's already planning to attack the original Mount Olympus," Jason said.

Athena nodded. "Yes. The ship is already ready. You have fresh clothes, food, and some Nectar and Ambrosia. You need to leave as soon as possible."

"Then let's go." Percy turned to leave, but the others didn't move.

"What?" he asked. "And why are you guys smiling?" Percy thought they'd still be upset about Annabeth. Apparently that wasn't the case, and Percy became mad.

Before Percy could speak, Athena said, "It's time."

"Time?" Time for what? Time to leave? He was trying to do that, but the others were still standing there.

Suddenly a figure stepped from behind Athena's throne. Percy's breath caught in his throat. What . . . no . . . it couldn't be . . . .

She wore a breastplate and helmet, her hair tied in a ponytail and her knife in her belt. She took off her helmet and smiled, her gray eyes shining.

"You didn't seriously think you were leaving without me, did you, Seaweed Brain?" she said, smirking.

Percy figured his face looked really funny right now, but he didn't care. All he cared about was the girl standing in front of him.

"Oh my gods," he breathed. He reached out and touched her cheek. "Annabeth."

THE END

*Nice cliffhanger, huh? Thanks for reading.*