Announcement!

I have started writing a story called "Moments in Time" and it's a collection of one-shots varying from Percabeth to Jasper to Caleo or Frazel and I'm taking requests as well!

So please go read it when I upload it, I would love for you guys to.

Also another warning: this is the second to last chapter!

Chapter 37

Annabeth

A screech that resembled the noise of nails scraping down a chalkboard filled Annabeth's ears, causing her to cry out in pain. The noise was so loud, so intense, that she was sure her ears were just about bleeding.

She finally gained the courage to open her eyes, realizing that Percy needed her help, and that she would do anything to stop whatever it was trying to kill him. She looked up and mixed in with the blood-red clouds and toxic air was the evil she-demons that swooped down and bared their fangs at Percy.

He held Riptide in one hand, but Annabeth could see from where she was standing that he was wearing out. There were tatters in his jeans, and his shirt, was barely that – a ripped up shirt to a point where he didn't even need to wear it.

"Percy!" Annabeth cried out. Her voice was hoarse and scratchy, and she felt like her lungs were on fire with every breath. Percy turned and locked eyes with her, and that's when Annabeth realized that she was stuck.

She looked down at the goo that had surrounded her feet, encasing them in a sturdy hold. Her sword was a few feet away from her, lying on the ground like it was taunting her.

She could see the Doors of Death. They were so close, they were so close, dammit!

Suddenly, Annabeth was plucked from the ground like a blueberry, and she let out a scream, kicking at her attack, but she stopped when she realized it wasn't an attacker. Bob the Titan had held her as he bounded towards the Doors of Death, charging through monsters.

"Bob!" Annabeth cried desperately, "Percy!"

"There is no time," Bob said solemnly, and Annabeth could see the look of hurt in his eyes that swirled around his pupils.

"I don't care!" Annabeth cried once more. "We're not leaving him!"

She looked back at Percy and noticed that he was wearing out. He looked over to them, and had the audacity to smile as Bob carried her away. Annabeth screamed as he smiled, a real goddamn smile that had her weak in the knees, and then she felt the tears fall off of her chin furiously.

"No!" she cried, but Percy just mouthed the words; I love you.

And then he was gone.

Annabeth woke up in a cold sweat. She was breathing heavily, and her heart was pounding against her chest. It took her a minute to take in her surroundings, since the room was dark, but the bed was cold. It was much too cold for a bed that she and Percy were sharing, and suddenly Annabeth panicked.

She turned over and saw that his side of the bed was empty and she tried to force down the strangled scream that made its way up to her throat.

"Wise Girl?" he spoke gently, and Annabeth spun around to see him walking over towards his bunk. The Poseidon cabin was dark, besides the moonlight coming in from the windows. Annabeth felt relief wash over her as Percy sat back down on the bed and looked at her in concern. His eyebrows scrunched together, and he reached forward while brushing a stray curl back from her face.

"I had a nightmare," she breathed and closed her eyes while scooting closer to him. She wanted to be as close to him as she possibly could, and she wanted to hear him breath. As weird as that sounded, that was what she needed right now. She needed to know that he was here and he was with her.

"Hey, it's okay," Percy whispered while rubbing her back gently, barley ghosting his fingers over her spine and sending shivers down her back. Annabeth buried her face in his neck, and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent.

They laid in silence for a few minutes, before Percy was the one to break the silence.

"I've been thinking about it a lot," he murmured, and Annabeth lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. He was absentmindedly stroking her hair, almost lulling her to sleep, but not quite. She was still rather shaken up from her dream, and she didn't want to fall back into that slumber.

Percy had a faraway look in his eyes as he looked out the window. His eyes particularly caught the gaze of the moon, and when he blinked, his eyes looked even more glossed over then before.

Annabeth didn't like it.

"About?" she pressed, wanting him to come back to reality. She needed him to come back because he was her rock, and without him, she would float away and be consumed by her dreams.

"Everything, I guess," he whispered and looked back down at her, meeting her eyes. Annabeth almost let out a sigh of relief as he looked at her, but she held it in by the way he looked so…sad.

"What do you mean?" she asked, and Percy leaned back, still holding her close to him.

"Tartarus," he said the name so bitterly that Annabeth felt a chill run through her spine like someone had just sent an icicle down her shirt. She looked down, averting her eyes from his gaze as she played with a loose string of the comforter.

"And all of the people that lost their lives in the war," he continued, "Beckondorf, too…I miss them all, Annabeth."

Annabeth looked up this time, and was surprised to see the way that Percy's eyes glossed over with tears. None of them slipped from his corneas, but his eyes looked as if they were made of glass and with one fragile touch they would break. Annabeth propped herself up on her elbows, pushing the thoughts of her dream in the back of her mind. She would address that later, right now Percy needed her.

"I know," Annabeth whispered, and she did. She felt the same thing every day. She thought about Luke every time she passed the Apollo cabin, and she thought about her nightmares all of the time from that horrible pit that she and Percy had fallen into.

They laid in silence for a few more minutes until a small wet droplet fell onto Annabeth's forearm, and she noticed that a lone streak made its way down Percy's cheek. She leaned up, and kissed away the next tear that was falling. Percy let out a sigh, and pulled her closer to him before kissing the top of her head.

"I love you," he murmured. Annabeth's heart sighed with relief, not that she doubted his love for her, but every time he said it, she felt even more reassured that he was here, and he loved her, and she loved him, and they were together.

"I love you, too."

Skye

Skye glanced at the small digital watch on her wrist and smiled lightly as the time struck midnight.

She looked up at the sky, and spotted the moon in all of its glory as it glowed brightly overhead. The waves lapped lightly against the shore, and Skye looked around at the empty beach that had been filled with campers only hours before.

"Happy birthday to me," Skye whispered as she finally became seventeen. She knew that Fletcher also was seventeen, but he was sound asleep and Skye couldn't sleep.

"Usually I'm a heavy sleeper," a voice said, startling her. Skye turned and almost jumped into the water when she noticed the tall blond man standing behind her. He was dressed in khaki shorts, leather flip-flops, and a white tank top. He had dark sunglasses over his eyes, even in the moonlight.

Skye stared at the man, and didn't know what to do as he came over to her and sat next to her on the edge of the dock that went over the side of the canoe lake. Her legs dangled over the edge, and she swung them lightly back and forth. As soon as the man sat next to her, his strong cologne filled her nose. He didn't look any older than twenty.

"The moon is so bright tonight, huh?" he said and turned to look at Skye with a grin. She couldn't see his eyes through those sunglasses, but she nodded anyways.

"I'm more of a morning person," the man said while leaning back on his hands, "but if seeing my daughter on her birthday means getting up at the stroke of midnight, then I guess I'm all for it."

Skye sat frozen in shock as she turned to look at Apollo himself, wondering how she hadn't figured it out. Skye hadn't said anything yet, but now she really didn't know what to say. Apollo however, jumped right into a conversation, not even letting Skye take in the fact that her father was sitting right next to him. She had never really had a lot of one-on-one time with Apollo, and now that she did, she didn't know what to say to him. Good work, Skye.

"I never thought one of my daughters would end up with a son of Hermes," Apollo said while crinkling his nose, "but I guess that Stoll boy will do."

Skye blushed from the tip of her nose to the very end of her toes. She looked down at her swinging feet, and laughed nervously.

"Fletcher already warned Connor about how he better treat me right," Skye said softly which was very out of character for her. She supposes that being in Apollo's presence may be a little nerve-wracking, so why not lower your voice so he can't hear a word you say?

Apollo laughed. His laugh was clear and loud, and she was pretty sure the night got a little less cold as he did so.

"Your brother is a good kid," Apollo said, in all seriousness this time. "But really, stepping down from that Jackson boy to a son of Hermes? Skye, I thought I taught you better than that."

His tone was completely joking, but the sudden remembrance of Skye's…rather large crush on Percy made her extremely self-conscious and made her wonder how she could be so…out of line. She had kissed him when he lost his memory for crying out loud! Like…who does that?

"Don't worry," Apollo said, noticing her sudden discomfort. "That Stoll boy is better for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Skye asked defensively, but Apollo laughed once more.

"That Jackson boy is trouble. I give credit to the daughter of Athena for putting up with him for so long." Apollo leaned forward a bit, and Skye noticed that he towered over her. "Anyways, for my daughter's birthday, what does she want?"

Skye was taken aback by this question. What does she want? She didn't know what she wanted.

A few months ago she would've said Percy Jackson.

After that, she would have said that she wanted someone to love her.

After that, she would have said that she didn't want to be alone.

And even after that she would have said that she wanted Fletcher to be happy.

But now?

What did she want?

She didn't know.

She had great friends, a wonderful brother who seemed happy, (even though he and Reyna decided to stick to mainly just friends), a great boyfriend (well, she and Connor hadn't officially made it out to be that, but she figured just as much), and…she was happy.

What did she want?

"I want…I want the people I care about to be happy," she responded with a soft tone as she thought about everyone she cared about.

She wanted her mom to be happy with that new guy she was dating. She wanted Percy and Annabeth to be happy together. She wanted Fletcher to find someone new who wouldn't screw him over, but still be good friends with Reyna. She wanted Will and Nico to be happy together and…and she wanted everyone at camp to stop worrying and to just…live a little.

She felt like everyone was actually enjoying themselves last night at the fireworks, and she wanted it to be like that all of the time. She knew it was a large request, but, that's what she wanted.

Apollo smiled, and folded his hands together.

"You've come a long way, Skye," he said and smiled at her. Skye felt a sense of pride fill her chest, and she felt like she was going to explode from happiness. Apollo held out his hand.

"But unfortunately, I cannot grant your wish," he said.

Skye looked down as she deflated with disappointment. She didn't blame Apollo, it was a lot to ask for, but she couldn't blame herself for trying either.

"It's okay," she said, "but that is what I want. If I can't have it, that's okay."

Apollo was silent for a few minutes before he turned to his daughter and smiled.

"You may just get your wish."