Well hello everyone. Hope you liked that last chapter:) I figured I owe y'all a fluffy one after that, so here ya go!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Annabeth

Sometimes things happen in life, and we wish we were dreaming. We open our eyes, dazedly looking up at the ceiling, and for a moment we thank our lucky stars it wasn't real. That it didn't happen. That our lives aren't irreversibly changed and damaged and shattered, because the universe can't possibly be that cruel. I think it's these moments, these small glimmers of hope, that allow humans to keep some of their innocence. You see, when you have a group of people like my friends and I, who have gone through so much and really don't see an end to the pain in the horizon, it's easy-simpler and less heart wrenching- to believe we were dreaming. So for a moment we do.

But sometimes it isn't a dream.

I'm sitting in the hospital room currently, and I'm really trying my best not to look at the bed that has a sheet already being placed over it. My head has been trying to process everything for the past three hours, ever since I got the call. I don't understand.

It's just-

I really don't understand.

I breathe in the smell of the sterilized room, my eyes fixed on the dried blood on the floor. They missed a spot. It's actually really bothering me, because if they're gonna make this place smell like this, you'd think that would mean something for their efficiency and ability to clean after themselves. Especially when it's making the girl next to me sob uncontrollably.

I pat her head uncomfortably, trying to smooth down her blonde curls. She's really a very pretty girl, with her straw-colored hair and bright blue eyes. Except her thin lips are pursed into a non-existent line as her body is wracked with sobs, the tears flooding down her cheeks silently. I don't know too much about her, just that she's twenty-three and her name is Charlotte. She wears a thin blue sundress that matches her eyes, and white flats adorn her feet. She looks sweet, especially for having been coming out of a bar tonight.

The police come over to her again, and she repeats the story to them. How she met a guy a couple of weeks ago, and he'd been very attractive and they'd immediately hit it off. How he'd impressed her with the fact he was the heir to Poseidon's Palace. How two weeks after their meeting, he'd told her he'd never thought he'd actually fall for her, and how she was different. How his name was Triton Krenklin.

She told the police how they were to meet at Willie's, a bar that was halfway between their two houses, which had been the place where they first met. She explained how he asked her to marry him. How she had said yes happily, and how the whole bar had applauded them. She told them that he had gotten her the book Little Women as a present to her, because he knew she'd always wanted a first-edition. She told them how she had forgotten her purse inside, and he'd gone to retrieve it.

I wince as her hand that is in mine squeezes tighter, as she gets to the part. The part where an unknown figure had shot at them, and how Triton had pushed her behind a van. She told them how he'd told her that he loved her, and how everything would be okay. She told them how she had shaken her head, telling him to stay with her and to not try and be a hero. How he'd told her that he'd never been the hero before, and how it was about damn time he took responsibility for something.

She told them how the unknown figure had shot him right between the eyes, and she couldn't even look up at him from how afraid she was.

I really shouldn't be the one in this room, I'm a thirteen-year-old girl and I'm not even a Krenklin, but Poseidon was currently in a press conference that involved the entire family, and Sally was off trying to bring everyone food for the night, and Percy had asked me so really, I had to be here.

Percy had sounded so numb when he called me earlier, and I had immediately known something was wrong when he'd just said, "I need you to come with me somewhere." It had scared me when I'd heard the somber tone in his voice, but when I followed the address and it had led me to a hospital, I'd been quick to thank Helen and hop out of the car. Percy had been in the process of being pulled into the conference at the time, so all he'd done was come to me quickly, pressing his forehead against mine and whispering the words 'thank you'.

They should be done soon, actually, and then I'd be relieved off of Charlotte duty, because really I'd never been one for the hard topics, especially with people I don't know. I didn't completely understand how to deal with people when they were in this state, and seeing someone like this brought back too many memories of my mom.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Percy's head creep through the window, and I gently removed myself from Charlotte, telling her I'd be back soon. I slipped out of the hospital room, feeling my shoulders unclench at the sight of Percy.

He looked awful, with his hair all over the place and his blue plaid pajamas that he'd been sporting upon receiving the call. He appeared as if he were two seconds away from throwing up, and I could see his eyes watering with unshed tears. Nonetheless, he pulled me towards him immediately after the door closed behind me, burying his nose into the folds of my neck. I hugged him back immediately, wanting to share how much I cared about him in that touch, wanting to make him understand that I was here, that I was his best friend, that I was relieved it wasn't him.

"Can we take a nap? Then we can talk." His voice was hoarse as his eyes met mine, hands tightening slightly where they were pressed to my hips. I smiled at him and kissed his forehead, my stomach clenching at how he was about to break down. "Of course, Perce. Whatever you want."

We went to a nearby vending machine, grabbing some snacks and a water bottle for Charlotte. We found her still sitting where I left her, fingering the ring gleaming on her left hand. After checking in on her and making sure she was okay, we found Mrs. Jackson, who was bustling around giving food to everyone. Even Poseidon, who embraced her in a quick but firm hug in thanks, looking younger and more out of his element than I'd ever seen him as he clutched to a remnant of simpler times. She took us back to the Jackson residence after that.

Percy and I have grown to understand each other pretty well in the last year, which is why we both immediately piled onto the couch in the living room, too tired to trek upstairs. When I opened my mouth to ask him how he felt, he just shook his head, pulling my hand to him and holding it tightly.

"Do you have any idea who's behind it?" I whispered a few minutes later, unable to take the not knowing. He nodded. "You don't think it's..."

He nodded again. "I could be wrong," he whispered back, eyes turning to meet my own, as if desperately asking me to prove him wrong. "I could be wrong, right? Please, Annabeth, tell me this isn't all my fault."

"Your fault?" I scoffed slightly, squeezing his fingers twice. "We both know that none of this is your fault, Perce."

His eyes darkened, and though they were swimming with tears, they looked murderous. In a deathly quiet tone, he asked. "Do you know what he did to me, Wise Girl?" I didn't answer. His fingers tightened in mine, and his voice was barely controlled when he continued. "Every day, I'd come home wishing he was dead."

"Percy, you don't have to-"

"Yes," he huffed out angrily, letting my hand drop. "I do. Every single day, he was waiting for me. He-" he broke off, gulping down forcibly. "He'd grab me by my hair, and he'd push me up against a wall, and he'd tell me that I wasn't worth the mud on his boots. And then he'd throw me to the floor and kick me with them."

I didn't want to hear this. "Percy, it's okay, I-"

"No!" He turned to me, voice wavering as a tear slipped onto his cheek, rapidly making its way down to his chin as two more followed it. "It's not! Because my brother is dead, and it's probably because of him." I felt tears slipping down my face as I nodded for him to continue. "He didn't just beat me up, Annabeth. He beat up my mom. She'd show up to work covered in black and blue and people pretended not to notice. I told myself I'd never let that- that monster hurt my family again. But he did!"

"Percy, we don't know it's him!" I pleaded desperately, slightly sobbing as I scooted closer to him. His eyes were angry as he glared down at his hands, as if he's the one who just murdered someone. I cupped his face, forced him to look at me, and I let out a sob at how black his green eyes looked. "And even if it is, don't you ever blame yourself for the crimes that pig committed. He- Perce, he abused you. Do you understand that? You're the victim here! Not the villain."

Percy Jackson's face at this moment would forever be engraved in my mind. His eyes were almost as dark as his hair, his eyebrows pulled down in misery. His lips were pursed and wavering, tears streaking down his cheeks. His nose was pinched in the effort of holding it together, and I could see the absolute loathing he felt for himself seeping from him. It made me cry harder. "Percy Jackson, you listen to me right now, you have to promise me you won't do anything stupid, alright? This. Is. Not. Your. Fault. I swear I'll kill you if you think otherwise."

We stared at each other, just two kids on a worn down couch in a small suburban home in New York City, and when he nodded to me a few minutes later, I knew he was sealing the promise. He held onto me as if I was the only thing he was sure of, and I held onto him as if I let go he'd fall apart, because chances were both of those statements were true.

...

It seemed the Jackson's solution for everything was a day at the beach, because twenty-four hours later we were sitting on the sand of Montauk Beach. With an armed escort surrounding the perimeter of the area, of course. Poseidon Krenklin wasn't taking any more chances.

I could tell this was taking a toll on him, because he wasn't swimming, and he always swam, especially when he was like this.

We'd been out here for a few hours now and it was getting really dark, so I guess it didn't come as a surprise when Percy bid me good night and made his way to the cabin, where Sally Jackson had retired hours ago. I decided to stay out there a bit longer.

It had been a really long forty-eight hours. Not to mention I'd stood up Matthew for what was supposed to be our first date, but I figured the situation called for it. Sure, I could have let him know, but that whole situation- with me getting so caught up in all of that drama that I agreed to a date with him- had happened so quickly and suddenly that I barely realized I'd said yes until later. I still don't know completely why I did.

Okay, that's kind of a lie. I don't completely know the reason why I did, but I do know that Percy kissing me played a big part in it.

I can't have those sorts of feelings for my best friend, especially in the state he's in right now. The only thing that makes sense about my life is that Percy's in it, and I'm not going to ruin that just because he doesn't like me back-

I really need to stop thinking so much about that. I'll go out with Matthew, and eventually those feelings I have for Percy will just...go away. Yeah. That sounds about right. Plus, Matthew isn't horrible or anything, he really is a sweet guy. Funny, too. Thinking about that reminds me of this time him and Leo-

My breath hitched as I was reminded of Leo. About two weeks ago, he ran away, and if what Hazel and Percy told me was true, it had something to do with Piper. Which doesn't make any sense at all because I was pretty sure they were best friends, and he even spent summer vacation with her. Though Leo and I weren't as close as some other friends I have, we did still understand each other pretty well. I mean, we both are hard-working and we can always talk about architecture together because he always appreciated it. Plus, we both watched our mom's die before our eyes, so-

Maybe I should just stop thinking in general. I looked down at my green one-piece, and sighed to myself. Might as well make use of it.

The water was cold. Like, I'm inside an ice cube hiding up in my refrigerator cold. Still, I pushed further into the waves, welcoming it in a way. It was sort of...peaceful. Calming, even. The waves were a bit rougher that night, they were pushing against me and it was sort of hard to stay in place, so I moved further in. I went about waist level as I stared out at the ocean.

It was in this moment, when I was completely and totally at piece, that I began to see the similarities between the dreams that haunted me at night and where I currently was. I looked around, noticing that instead of the waves pushing me out towards the shore, they were now lulling me in towards the deep. I was in just below my shoulders when I really began to panic.

It felt too much like the dreams, looked too much like them, and I felt myself being pulled further and further away from the shore. At this point, I was trying to kick back towards it, but it was as if I was pushing against a wall, making about two inches of progress before being pushed back a few feet. The water was just below my chin when I started to scream.

"Percy," I whispered into the night, looking out at the cabin that seemed so close yet so far at the same time. "Perce," I said a little louder, before realizing if I wanted him to hear me, I'd have to try a whole lot harder. "Percy!"

I was sobbing into the night when I saw him run out of the cabin, but he couldn't see me, and my head fell below the water.

It was horrible. Have you ever had a nightmare come to life? Because it was like my worst fears were all arising, and for a moment I couldn't tell if I was asleep or awake, because this was so much like them and I could feel my breath shortening as I fell further and further away from the surface. I couldn't tell if the tears falling from the holds of my tightly shut eyes were real or if they were the ocean, but all I knew was that whether or not I opened them all I could see was black. Black, black, black, and a part of me, a part I'd been trying to suppress for a long time, liked it. It liked the feeling of the breath slowly falling away from my lips and the cold seeping into my bones and I cried out underwater because that part of me was crying to allow it to continue. Because I couldn't think anything. I couldn't feel anything. I felt as if...as if nothing really mattered in the blackness of the night and the whelming of the ocean and as I fell into that state of being content I let out a laugh below the ocean.

Because for a moment I didn't have to think. For a moment none of it was real. For a moment my mind was blank in exhilaration.

Then that moment ended. The panic seeped in more than the cold and more than the blackness and more than anything but it was too late. I made my choice when I stopped fighting a few minutes ago, and now all I could think was how much I regretted it. Because now I had no breath and now I had no strength and now I couldn't fight back but I made my choice. And I chose wrong.

C'mon, Annabeth. Put your hands together in front of you. Pull them away from each other with power. Use the water. Zig zag motions with your feet.

I shake my head, but the mantra continues around me, and I'm so tired. I try and I try, but I can't reach the top. I can't tell which way is the top.

Just as I'm sinking, I feel a hand grip mine and pull me up, up, up. I break the surface and cough up the water in my mouth. "Don't you dare die on me, Wise Girl. Don't you dare."

I start to fall back into the water, but he doesn't let me. He pulls me and pulls me, and then huffs out angrily. "If you keep this up, we'll both drown! C'mon, put your hands together in front of you, then pull them away from each other. Kick your legs, c'mon, Beth!"

I gasp in the effort, but do as I'm told. I'm not going to let Percy die because of my shitty will to live. "Okay..."

We made it to the beach, both crashing onto the sand and attempting to catch our breaths, and suddenly the severity of what I just did hits me. For once, I didn't care that tears were streaming down my face. I didn't pay any attention to the freezing water that bit against my skin. I let myself be weak. I let myself cry. I let someone else know that I'm hurting and let them take my burdens.

I knew he probably had a million questions, and that he probably thought I was crazy or stupid or all of the above, but right now I couldn't bring myself to care. The silence stretched around as we heavily breathed in the air, and I loved him for understanding that I needed some time.

My head dropped heavily onto his chest, and I let his steady, melodic heartbeat calm me down, just like it had so many times before. This was no different. Except for the heartbroken sobs that began to overtake my body as I clung to him. His arms wrapped around me just as tightly, and I felt like a horrible person for worrying him as I heard him shakily breathe out. I seriously need to stop letting something that happened seven years ago control my life. Over and over, I mutter the words 'I'm sorry' into him, feeling myself break further.

I don't even completely know what I'm apologizing for. Worrying him? Almost dying? Being the indirect cause for my mother's death?

Because I had to be, I realized. I had to be the reason she was gone. My parents were perfect before me, it doesn't make sense to suddenly kill yourself. It doesn't make sense to cheat on your wife and not even care. The only that makes sense is that I tore my family apart, and maybe that's the reason for my dreams. Because deep down, I've always known that. I've always known that my role in this was so much bigger than they were letting on, and I was so sorry for being born and ruining everything that sometimes I just can't take it anymore. It strikes so suddenly, so unbearingly, every once in a while, and now this was the result.

I pulled Percy into my mess and I was so terribly sorry about it, because all I ever wanted was for someone to love me and to not stop loving me. I wanted someone to stick with me, and maybe I saw this perfect person that I could never be like and dragged him down with me, because really that's the only thing that makes sense.

His fingers softly run through my hair, soothingly and delicately, but also slightly desperately as if taking in the fact that I'm still here. His ocean sent is amplified by our surroundings, appeasing me further until the tears just slip down my face quietly. The tears slow, and then come to a stop, and that's when I realize he's crying. His hold on me. doesn't loosen as his silent tears fall down his face, and he looks completely and utterly exhausted. I lower my head in shame, but he lifts my chin and I meet his eyes.

"Annabeth..." He croaks, and I'm shocked by the heartbreak and loss my name carries. He sounds as if he's in pain, voice hoarse and eyes searhing mine desperately. "Annabeth..." he repeats, more sternly and more determined, eyes fixed on my own. I just stare at him. "Annabeth?"

"Ye-" my voice breaks and I clear it and try again. "Yeah, Perce?"

He almost glares at me, but there's something desperate and urgent about it. "You have to promise me."

I think I know what he means, but I still suck in a breath and turn away from him. His hand grasps my chin, and I'm staring back into his eyes. "You have to promise me." He repeats, harsher and angrier than before.

"Promise..." I muse. Promises are never kept. No one has ever followed through on a promise they made to me. "Promise...what exactly?"

His glare breaks and I see all of the desperation, anger, despair, worry, and love that has been simultaneously swimming inside him in the past couple of months. "Promise you won't leave."

Tears fall down my cheeks, and he takes one hand and gently wipes them away. His hand glides across my cheeks, finally resting by cupping one side of my face softly. Green eyes, cracked and broken and full of heartbreak, but pure and real, stare back at me, and all I can do is nod before his lips gently press to my cheek, and my nose and, and my forehead, dancing everywhere but my lips, once getting just the corner of my mouth.

"Thank you," he whispers, and then his eyes are closing and I'm falling asleep on the shore of Montauk Beach, wrapped in my best friend's arms.

So, not fluffy. Whoops. I've had that last scene written for so long, I'm glad I can finally share it with y'all :)

For the record, the security Poseidon placed is kind of far away because they wanted to keep their privacy, which is why they didn't come help, which I know is stupid but blame Poseidon.

I hope y'all enjoyed, let me know if y'all want me to keep replying to your reviews!

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