A/N: I own nothing. Enjoy!

"Lacy, you were the informant?" Annabeth asked.

The young girl nodded, the tiredness evident in her eyes. She was courageous for undergoing all those ordeals, Annabeth felt. Going against one's father was never easy, even if one's father was a murderous son of a bitch.

"Thank you," Percy said. "Things could have gone a lot worse."

"I should have spoken up sooner. Or did something sooner instead of letting my father slap around my mother and other women so often." Lacy's eyes started to brim with tears.

"Nonsense. The fact that you did speak up is commendable," Rachel tutted. "You will be a fantastic trainee at the temple of Apollo."

The leader of the women who helped in the counterattack came by. "It's been a while, Captain Jackson. Or I should say Earl Perseus Jackson."

"Lieutenant Zoe," Percy bowed his head in respect.

"Last time I saw you, you were just a wolf cub. Now you have grown into a fine man of your own."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'm truly grateful for all you've done." Percy turned to Annabeth. "Lady Zoe is the leader of Huntresses of Artemis, a sister subdivision of the priestesses of Apollo. We've fought alongside during the war."

Annabeth's eyes widened admiringly. "I've heard of the Huntresses of Artemis! I've always wanted to be a part of them. Well, that is, until I got married," she added ruefully.

The beautiful woman laughed. "And a fine addition you would have made! Pity that you must take a vow of virginity to take part, and judging by your marriage to this one, you are most certainly not a virgin."

Annabeth was grateful that the darkness of night and grime hid her burgeoning blush.

"Let us all head somewhere safer. The storm is picking up up again." Percy said grimly. "We'll worry about the whereabouts of Baron Rodrick later. He won't survive in this weather."

Percy held his cloak over Annabeth's head. Annabeth squeezed his hand, knowing that in addition to covering her from rain, he was trying to block out the bodies that were in view.

Percy hustled her off the ship. Besides him, Annabeth could feel him shaking. Whether from the cold, fear, or anger, she didn't know.

They ended up not going back to the hotel, in case any of the baron's men were still on standby. Rachel gave them a room in their rented safehouse and bid them good night.

As soon as Rachel left and the door was closed, Annabeth found her back pressed against the wall.

Percy captured her lips in a searing kiss, one full of urgency and need. His tongue elicited gasps, stealing every chance of taking a breath. Every time she opened her mouth to talk, he just swallowed the words right out of her.

Annabeth let him do as he wanted, savoring the feel of his body pressed against hers. He was here with her. No other rude surprises in the form of kidnappings or battles from rejected suitors would come now.

At last after making her lips swollen and bruised, he ended up just holding her, burrowing her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder.

"I thought you were hurt," Percy said quietly. "I really believed he had you. You could have been hurt so easily."

"I'm here." Annabeth said simply.

"When I saw the sword pressed against your neck, I was just so furious. I would have snapped just like that." The frustration built up in his face. She had never seen such anger in his green eyes before. He had never been angry with her before, and he wasn't now. Just furious at what had transpired that night.

"It's okay, I'm here now. Safe. With you." She reached up, cradling the side of his face with her palm. He had gotten a cut from the battle earlier. Luckily, it was shallow. Even if it scarred, she would have still thought him as handsome as ever. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Annabeth," he laughed weakly. "All the names they call me, Monster of the Seas or whatever, they're all accurate. I've never wanted you to see that side of me. My hands are tainted with blood."

"And you did all that because you had to." Annabeth stroked his cheek soothingly. "You saved countless lives during the war. And you saved mine." She pulled his forehead down to connect with hers. "Everything went fine in the end, hasn't it? I'm safe, and you're safe. Baron Rodrick is no longer a threat to us."

Percy smiled crookedly, although his smile was still laced with sadness. "And here all I wanted was a quiet marriage life with you. You're not scared of me?" He asked hesitantly. "Or hate me?"

It was then she realized with a start that Perseus Jackson, with the title of an Earl, despite all those horrid gossip and nicknames others had given him, could be vulnerable.

On the ship, in front of all his sailors and the Huntresses of Artemis, he had been completely composed. No weaknesses, no flaws. But in front of her, he didn't need to be. There was no need for Perseus Jackson to put up a facade.

He could just be himself. He was only human, after all.

There was still so much she wanted to know about him. In the days before their marriage and the few weeks after, he had displayed only facets of what society dictated.

There was the Percy whose sarcastic remarks gave her both thrills and exasperation, the Percy who lit up a room with his crooked smile, the Percy who listened to her rants about architecture and seemed to find it cute. Then there were the stories she didn't know; the Percy who fought alongside the Huntresses of Artemis, the Percy who commanded a ship just by his demeanor, the Percy whose anger and pain from the battlefield was hidden from her.

Was it all right for her to know everything about him? Would he let her?

A small droplet ran down her cheeks. Percy brushed her tear away gently, his thumb smearing the salty liquid away.

He always treated her gently. But she knew there were sides to him that was rough like an unpolished diamond. There was pain, both emotional and physical in his past.

Another tear fell. She didn't need to always be strong as well. Not in front of him. Acknowledging her own weaknesses and mistakes was tough for her to do, something her pride would not let her do. But perhaps, recognition could be a strength as well.

"If I was scared or hated you, I wouldn't have married you."

Those green eyes that she loved searched hers anxiously, and she did her best to communicate everything to him. Sometimes words were not enough, but actions were.

Annabeth pulled her husband to the bed. She wanted to imprint every inch of herself on his body tonight. Something to show that she was not going anywhere without him.

Percy's green eyes darkened again, this time not with fury. "Are you sure?" He questioned. "You must be tired from all what has happened tonight, and-"

She shut him up with a deep burning kiss, relishing how his arms wrapped around her waist. There was stubble beginning to grow on his jaw. Her tongue swiped at the stubble, feeling the slight roughness underneath. "When I married you, I already accepted every side of you, the good and the bad. You can't return me so easily either." Annabeth smiled.

"I wouldn't want to." Percy stated. "You're stuck with me, Annabeth, for better or for worse."

"As long as you know it."

Later that night, Annabeth lay with her head on Percy's chest. Her body was still thrown over his, but he didn't complain once. Lazily, he stroked her back, the pattern lulling her to sleep.

"Annabeth?"

"Hmm, what is it?" His fingers laced comfortingly in her tousled hair.

Percy shifted until they were lying side by side, facing each other. "I love you," he said seriously.

Warmth blossomed in her chest. Love was illogical and stupid, but she couldn't stop her heart from beating so quickly. If she ever lost him, there would always be a part of her that felt incomplete.

She pressed his palm against her chest, letting him feel her heartbeat. "I love you, too."

It was home in his arms.

A/N: Aye, even the most fantastic journeys must come to an end. See you next chapter, my lovelies~