Percy grinned as he knocked on Annabeth's cabin door.
He was planning on taking full advantage of Hedge going with Nico and Reyna back to camp.
Leo was navigating, Frank and Jason were defending the deck, and there was no insane satyr babysitter to keep him from spending some time alone with his girlfriend.
"Come in."
Her voice was heavy and tearful. With a sickening feeling he lost his good mood as fast as he lost his lunch riding Arion.
He opened the door cautiously.
"Hey." He said gently.
"Hey."
Annabeth was propped on the side of her bed against the wall, reading a Greek grammar textbook.
That was bad. There were only two times she reviewed Greek grammar: when she was teaching the younger kids or when she was very, very upset.
Percy sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand.
"What's wrong?"
She didn't answer for a second. She just put the textbook away and leaned onto Percy's back, resting her chin on the crook of his neck.
Before Percy could register the thought Okay, I got her to put the book down. Progress. Annabeth suddenly began sobbing violently, muted by Percy's shirt but still racking her entire body.
Percy didn't ask questions. He just pulled her into the tightest hug he could manage, whispering it would be alright into her hair.
Unlike the day two years ago he had freaked out when she had needed a reassuring hug in Cabin Six he didn't feel awkward and stunned. He just hoped he could comfort her. He gazed at the top of her head as he cradled her. She didn't make a habit of crying in front of anyone, even him. When she did, it was never over anything he could easily fix. And he had a feeling he knew what was upsetting her.
She tried to speak through tears and a runny nose and involuntary sobs but all he could discern was
"I killed them."
He was right. Bob and Damasen. What happened at the Doors of Death haunted him too. He tried to put up a brave face for their friends, they both did. But for the last few days his nightmares were of Bob accusing him of his murder. Now he suspected hers were similar.
Percy grimaced. He didn't consider she was as tortured by guilt over their deaths as he was. He had considered it so completely his fault, the idea she blamed herself didn't enter his mind.
As Percy was kicking himself, Annabeth was composing herself. She glanced at him shyly. She was always embarrassed by crying around others. She thought it made her seem weak. She had this weird idea people saw her that way because she was blond and blubbering wouldn't help her image.
"I told Damasen to choose his own destiny." Annabeth murmured, solemn and calm. "It was my fault they died."
"No it wasn't." Percy insisted. "Annabeth, he was stuck in a mile wide patch of Tartarus killing a drakon every day. Is that life? Now, when he's reborn, he can leave. He knows there's more out there. You saved him."
"And Bob?" Annabeth asked savagely. "He wasn't stuck anywhere anymore. He could have been free, if he hadn't died. And I let it happen."
"He will be free. When he's reborn. You gotta-" Percy's voice broke. "You gotta believe that. "
"I want to. But Percy, Tartarus…I mean, you know what that place is like. I can't believe in a happy ending for them anymore than I can…than I can believe it for Luke. Or us."
She didn't like to bring up Luke any more than he liked to bring up Rachel but Percy knew she worried about what he got in the Underworld: punishment or reward.
And they were all doubting if they'd get out of this war alive.
"We have to." Percy insisted again. "We have to try for a future for their sakes. We have to keep going so-"
He faltered. Images of a future in a New Rome danced in his mind. Images he still didn't know Annabeth would like. Getting nagged by Annabeth to do his college homework, sharing coffee in the town, playing war games with the legion, and later…maybe later…
To stall bringing up the sensitive topic, he reached for the textbook, and the bookmark fell out as he was putting it on the shelf.
When he picked it up he saw it was the photograph of him and Annabeth smiling at the lake, holding hands.
He smiled softly.
"You kept this?"
Annabeth shrugged. "I like it."
"You complained for a week when Chiron put it on his wall."
Annabeth glared at him and stuck her tongue out and he laughed.
"Whatever." He smirked. "Anyway, you had the night shift, didn't you? Why don't you get some sleep?"
"Nah, I…can't sleep." Annabeth muttered, trying to sound casual.
"Want me to stay with you?"
Annabeth smiled deviously.
"Everyone will talk."
"Let them."
Percy curled up with her on the bed. She nestled into his arms.
As she drifted off to sleep, he looked at the photo where they were giddily happy and wonderfully nervous in their new relationship.
They would be there again. They had a future, thanks to a gentle Giant and a friendly Titan.
A/N: Requested by dada6565 and foreverskysong! I hope you liked it and thank you for reading and the reviews!