I'm really steamrolling towards the end now that it's in sight:

Annabeth Chase POV

I sat huddled against Percy on board the helicopter that the feds had chartered for us. We were on our way back to New York. His arms were around me, and my head was against his chest. In my ear, I could hear his heartbeat, slow and steady, like a drum. It comforted me.

After Hazel had called the feds, they'd come running. Agent Zeus had, understandably, been a bit mad that my friends had disobeyed him and gone off on their own, but really, what had he expected? Impulsive teenagers were bound to disobey authority.

Luke had been arrested. He was being taken to Washington, D.C., where he was expected to be interrogated on Kronos' operations in the United States. The warehouse I'd been trapped in had been searched by the police and dozens of metric tonnes of drugs had been discovered. Ethan Nakamura had managed to escape, but authorities across the West Coast were now on high alert for him. In the meantime, patrols along the border between the US and Mexico had been stepped up in an attempt to catch any of Kronos' operatives.

Sadly, though, Agent Zeus had informed us, it was unlikely that Luke was in possession of any really important information. Most likely, he'd just end up in a jail cell for the rest of his life, and the fight against Kronos and his drug empire would continue.

"But don't get me wrong," he'd told us. "You did your country a great service today by catching this scoundrel." He looked at Percy, then at me. "And missy," he added, "I'd keep a hold on this fella if I were you. He's a keeper. He travelled over 2,500 miles and crossed the country to find you. I hope you know how lucky you are."

I'd looked at Percy, who looked a little embarrassed. "I've always known how lucky I am," I said softly. Percy had looked up then and given me an ear-to-ear grin.

I smiled now as I remembered our conversation. Then I looked up at Percy. He was looking down at me. The tenderness in his sea-green eyes was nothing I could ever hope to deserve but was something I sincerely hoped to aspire to.

Reaching up, I cupped his face in my hand. "I love you," I told him.

He smiled. "I know," he whispered.

Leaning down, he claimed my lips, and I melted into the kiss, just as I had done so many times. My fingers twisted into his hair, and I held him close. It seemed like an eternity before I broke off the kiss.

"I mean it," I told him breathlessly. "I love you so much, Percy, for what you did for me, and for staying with me for so long. I love you and I won't ever deserve you."

"Don't talk like that, baby," he whispered back to me. "I love you, too."

I was silent for a minute.

"We're going to have to go back to school," I said quietly. "That never occurred to me."

Percy chuckled softly. "After an adventure like this, school seems horribly mundane now, doesn't it?"

I turned to him. "Summer's almost upon us. We're sixteen. In two years, we'll be graduating from high school."

"I know all that," he said, looking bewildered. "I've known all that for a while."

I bit my lip. "I can't stand the thought of – of going to college and not being able to see you anymore."

There was silence, and then Percy tilted my head up. His eyes, the sea-green eyes I'd fallen in love with, were burning with determination.

"Let's make a vow," he suggested. "To never lose contact with each other. Annabeth, when we finally part ways after high school, I swear it will be temporary. I will call you every day, talk to you every day, because if I don't I will go insane. And when we're done with college, I'll come find you, wherever you are, and we'll be together. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, Annabeth – I don't care where we are, or what you're doing or what I'm doing. What matters to me is that I'm with you." He stopped, and then suddenly looked bashful. "If you'll have me, that is," he added, suddenly shy.

I was taken aback by his honesty and by his words. No one had ever talked so honestly to me before – no one had ever expressed such love for me. I could tell by the way he talked that he meant every syllable. And yet, he seemed surprised when I reached up and cupped his face again.

"What kind of question is that?" I whispered. "Of course I'll have you, Percy. I'll have you every day for the rest of our lives."

The glow in his eyes lit to an incredible shine of hope and joy. "I wasn't sure," he mumbled.

I laughed, despite the emotions I was feeling. "You can be such a Seaweed Brain sometimes."

Our lips met again. Then we broke apart, and we stayed silent for the rest of the flight to New York, just enjoying each other's presence.

Just a bit of Percabeth fluff ;D and it's chapter 29! Next chapter will probably be the last. I think so, at least - 30 is a nice, round number, don't you think? Anyway, what did you guys think of this chapter? Reviews please!