/Let's get back on track, shall we? Here's another chapter for the weekend. Also, I'm publishing my first in a series of holiday PJO shorts today, so check that out as well if you want some holiday fun!

Chapter 29 - We End a Rivalry

Piper, Percy and I walked through the curtain of snake mucus. Not a fun experience, but didn't deserve a spot on my top ten worst experiences. When we emerged we found ourselves in a cool, dark pit. Maybe the temple's basement? The snake mucus curtain rippled and appeared to become solid rock. Piper pressed against it but it held firm. We were officially stuck - no way back. It was strange - that gave me courage. No more running. Not from the Giants, not from fear, not from destiny. Time to own up to it - all of it.

I bent down, examining the area under us. Sets of three lines dashed across the ground in several places. Evidence of an explosion was on the walls around us. I didn't know if the others could tell, but I could. This was the place where Poseidon and Athena had first had their competition.

"This is the place." I murmured to the others. "Percy, these are the trident marks of Poseidon."

Percy bent down and hesitantly brushed the scars in the earth. "He must've been using his extra-extra-large trident."

"And this is where he struck the earth. Where he made the salt-water spring emerge, when he had the contest with my mom to sponsor Athens."

"So this is where the rivalry started?" Percy asked me.

"Yeah."

Percy pulled me to him and kissed me, long and hard. It felt good, but also sad. In a way, it felt like a goodbye. I enjoyed the moment, remembering all the ones before it. Every moment that had made me fall in love with this crazy, sometimes annoying, but always amazing, son of Poseidon. I remembered the look when he sent Medusa's head to Olympus and I realized he wasn't just going to sit quietly and accept his fate. I remembered the ride on the zoo truck, carrying us across the country. That was the moment I realized Percy wasn't just another demigod - he was smart, and sweet, and loyal. We actually talked and I realized his advice was worth listening to. I remembered the look on his face when he left his mom in the Underworld, even though it nearly broke him to do so. That was the moment I realized how strong he truly was - not just because he had crazy magical powers, but because he was strong enough to do what was needed in difficult moments.

I remembered him befriending Tyson, even though he didn't realize Tyson was a cyclops. He had been Tyson's only friend at a school where they were both bullied. That was the moment I fell for his heart - big enough to love a cyclops. I remembered his determination to save Grover - not just the Golden Fleece, but his friend. His sheer determination to protect his friends, at all costs. It was brave and stupid, but it definitely made me admire him. I remembered opening up to him on that quest and being surprised that he always listened. I remembered my fear, and, yeah, ok, amusement, when I found out he was turned into a guinea pig. He was a really cute guinea pig. I remembered him saving me from the Sirens, even though I hit and kicked him to get away. That was the moment I realized that sometimes I could trust him more than even myself. It had been hard for me to trust again, especially after Luke betrayed us. But that was the moment I began to fully, completely, trust Percy. I remembered how he went along with my plan against Polyphemus, completely trusting me as well. Then, aboard Luke's ship he duelled Luke and, in the process, tricked him into revealing his plan and saving Chiron. That was the moment that I realized Percy wasn't just smart and brave - he was a great strategist. He knew a lot about tactics and could be an equal in a fight.

I remembered our first dance at Westover Hall. I had already started to have some serious feelings for the guy, but that was the moment I realized they were totally unreciprocated. Then, he disobeyed orders to come find me. Not Artemis, not defeat Luke, just to find me. Save me. That was the moment that I knew he loved me too. At least as a friend, if not more. I remembered the look of panic he gave me when he thought I was the one joining the Hunters of Artemis instead of Thalia. He hadn't needed to tell me, but I knew what he was thinking. He didn't want me to leave. That was when I realized that we were partners - connected together, by fate or the prophecy or simply because we wanted to be. We wouldn't leave each other.

I remembered our first date being totally ruined by Percy blowing up another school and Rachel running out after him. I remembered accidentally finding the Labyrinth with him, and feeling grateful because there was no one I'd rather be in a deadly situation with. We made a great team and were always looking out for one another. I remember feeling so terrified when I heard my prophecy for my quest - thinking that the line And lose a love to a fate worse than death meant Percy. I hadn't wanted to ask him to come - I'd been so scared to lose him. I wanted to protect him, save him, leave him behind. But I also knew that fighting prophecy never worked. For all I knew, Percy would've been killed back at Camp had I left him behind. So I asked him to come. And when he agreed, so readily…. He might as well have told me he loved me. That was the moment I knew, really knew, I was in love with Percy Jackson.

I remembered at Geryon's ranch, how Percy had risked all of our lives to save Nico. I wasn't even a bit mad at him - I would have wanted to save Nico too. I admired the heck out of him that day - how he managed to clean the stables without destroying the river spirit, how he managed to kill Geryon even though he can barely shoot a bow, how he convinced Eurytion to change his fate and stop supplying the Titan army. He even managed to convince Nico to join our side. That day made me fall deeper and deeper in love with him. Then, Mount St. Helens. Such a bad moment in my life. But it was the first time I kissed him - really kissed him. The weeks after, wondering if he was dead, wishing I could find him, desperate to go back, re-do that moment, find a way to save us both. It had been absolute torture. Fighting Kampe alongside him, knowing with certainty that if we died, we'd at least die together. We were partners, fully and completely.

A memory shot through my mind. The day I learned the complete Great Prophecy. I had known some of the lines - A half blood of the eldest gods, shall reach sixteen against all odds, and see the world in endless sleep. And the last line, Olympus to preserve or raze. But I hadn't known two of the lines. Two that would change my life forever.

It was the summer of the Titan War, the one where Percy would turn sixteen. It was a couple days before the rest of the Camp came back, to prepare for the War. I'd been here for a few weeks - things at my dad's had gone sour and I left again. But that was for the best - I'd been able to help Chiron with war preparations and strategy. But that day, Chiron called me into his office in the Big House.

"Annabeth, it's time you know the full prophecy. But first, I need your oath. Nothing you learn here today can be shared, not with anyone, until I say you can."

My heart thudded. "I swear upon the River Styx, I will not reveal anything I learn about the prophecy to anyone until Chiron says it is ok." Thunder boomed outside and, was it my imagination, or was it more ominous today?

Chiron looked grave as he handed me the scroll. I gently unravelled it and read it aloud. "A half-blood of the eldest gods shall reach sixteen against all odds - that's Percy. He'll turn sixteen this August."

Chiron looked pained, and turned to stare out the window. Confused, I continued. "And see the world in endless sleep, the hero's soul cursed blade shall -" My voice caught. "No. No no no no."

"My dear -"

"A single choice shall end his days? No. Chiron, there's got to be something -"

"Annabeth, you know fighting prophecy -"

"No!" I screamed, throwing the scroll back at Chiron. "You knew? This whole time? You knew that Percy would die in the end? No matter what?"

"Annabeth, prophecies are often vague, there could be -"

"What? Another meaning to the 'end his days' part? Yeah, 'cause that's got tons of alternate meanings Chiron."

"My dear -"

I was pacing around the room. "I trusted you!" I screamed at him. "I-I…. you're here to help heroes, not let them get killed!"

"Annabeth, please -"

"You've just been letting Percy go out on quests, go about his life, without telling him that he's doomed to die no matter what?"

"The gods insisted -"

"Don't talk about the gods!" I screamed, pounding my fist on the wall. "You could've found a way! You could've found a way to tell him, to help him, to change -"

"To change the prophecy? You know that I can not."

I glared at Chiron. "You told Percy to trust you, and this is what you do?"

Chiron reached towards me. "Annabeth, calm down -"

I grabbed the bookshelf and yanked it down between us. "No. I don't care what you do, I'm going to save my friend."

I turned and ran. I ran to the bus station and caught a bus to Manhattan. I went straight to Percy's apartment. I was going to tell him. I'd take the punishment from breaking an oath on the Styx. Percy deserved to know. I was about to cross the street when I saw him. He was walking with Rachel, laughing and eating ice cream. They were wearing matching Goode High School t-shirts. I watched him smile at her, his whole face lighting up. He looked so happy. So…. normal. Percy hadn't gotten to have a normal life for a long time. He finally got to live at home, with his mom and his step-dad Paul and he got to have normal friends like Rachel. Percy deserved to have that. He deserved to have a happy, normal life. Even if…. Well, even if I wasn't a part of it. Let's face it, I've never been normal. I've never had a normal life. Percy, he had a family who loved him. Friends who cared about him. What did I have?

Since Luke had turned, I'd heard the whispers. Most of my camp friends assumed I was a spy, or that I'd turn against them. They'd drifted apart, all but a handful of close friends. My mortal family - would they even care, or would I be a problem solved if I died?

I brushed the tears from my eyes and turned. I knew what I had to do. I went straight to the Empire State Building, up to the 100th floor. I found my mom waiting in her temple, almost like she expected me.

"Hello, Annabeth." She said simply, calmly.

I did not feel calm, but I did feel certain. "Mom, Chiron said I have a part to play in this prophecy. I… I don't know what that part is. But, if I'm already involved, I was wondering, I was hoping -"

"Just say it child."

"Take me instead." I blurted out. "Not Percy. Change the ending. I'll make the choice. Let me be the one to die, not him."

Mom studied me carefully. "You know this isn't possible. I can not change -"

"Chiron said I had a part to play. So did Hermes. I'm involved, somehow. So… if there's a way….. Do it. Let me take the fall." I stared at the floor as I whispered. "Percy's got a family, people to live for. I don't. Please, just, let me do this for him."

"You can not." I could hear her voice, calm and firm, but no harshness in it. There wasn't kindness or sympathy, but more like….. Firm knowledge. Coolness.

"Please." I whispered, looking up to meet her eyes.

The memory faded. I remembered his face when he learned the full prophecy, that he would die in the end anyway. I'd tried to tell him what Chiron had told me, that there could be a double meaning. I'd still been hoping…. Well, that my mom would be able to find a way. Let me take the fall instead of him. I hadn't been able to look him in the eyes.

More memories flashed in front of me. I remembered calling him a coward, then him disappearing. I'd thought I'd made him angry, scared him away. I was so scared that I had ended our friendship, our relationship before it began. I remembered Percy jumping to defend me against Hermes's anger, even though he had no idea what I had done. I remembered the feeling, suddenly knowing Percy would die if I didn't take that knife. I remembered the pain as it stabbed into my shoulder, the poison working its way towards my heart like shards of glass. Percy's cute face when he showed up with Will to try to save me. His eyebrows were all scrunched together and concerned. The moment he finally knew what had to happen and trusted Luke to handle the prophecy. Or maybe…. Percy had just trusted me, not Luke.

I remembered trying to hide my expression when he was offered godhood. Who could've denied that? The ability to never die, never be used as a pawn of the gods again? But Percy had. He chose not to leave. I remembered when he looked back at me, and I realized that finally, someone in my life was choosing not to leave. I'm not sure I've ever smiled more than that in my life.

When he admitted to me that what he thought about to keep himself mortal, what he thought about during his bath in the River Styx, one of the most painful experiences, was me. Because I kept him hopeful. Our first real kiss, at the bottom of the canoe lake. Our first dates. Spending time in Paris. Those wonderful months before Gaea took him, when we were an (almost) normal couple. Meeting again in New Rome, seeing him again and knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he remembered me and still loved me. Our journey across the US and the Atlantic, his sweet determination to follow me as long as he could in Rome. His decision to come with me to Tartarus. Because we were partners. Forever.

I wasn't sure how long we had stood there, kissing, when Percy pulled away. "The rivalry ends here. I love you, Wise Girl." Percy told me with feeling, his forehead pressed against mine. I let out a little sigh-whimper, almost as a reflex, and melted into him.

"Sorry, I had to do that." Percy said to someone behind me. That's when I remembered where we were. Oops. Yeah, Piper was standing there in silence that whole time. I turned to her with a sheepish smile.

"How could a daughter of Aphrodite not approve? You're a great boyfriend." She assured us.

A second whimper-sigh came from me, then I cleared my throat and said, "So, um, anyway. We're beneath the Erechtheion. It's a temple to both Athena and Poseidon. The Parthenon should be diagonally to the southeast. We'll need to sneak around the perimeter and disable as many siege weapons as we can. Make an approach path for the Argo II." I managed to say it, but it was hard, because Percy was tickling the back of my neck with one finger.

"It's broad daylight. How will we go unnoticed?" Piper asked me.

"That's why I made a plan with Frank and Hazel. Hopefully… ah, look." I pointed up as a bee flew into the cave. Several more bees followed until we were looking at a swarm.

"Say hi to Frank everybody." I told the group.

Piper waved as Frank flew off.

"How does that even work?" Percy asked in wonder. "Like, one bee's a finger, two bees are his eyes?"

"I don't know. But he's our go-between. As soon as she gives Hazel the word she will -"

Percy yelped, cutting off what I was about to say. I clamped his mouth shut before he could scream more and alert the enemies. Hazel's disguise had worked - both of us looked like Earthborne.

"Hazel's Mist." Piper said. I turned to her. She was also transformed into an Earthborne. We were now ready to go sneak amongst the monsters.

"Wow, Annabeth. I'm really glad I kissed you before you changed." Percy joked.

"Thanks a lot. We should get going. I'll move clockwise around the perimeter. Piper, you move counter-clockwise. Percy, you scout down the middle."

"Wait." Percy interrupted. "We're walking into the middle of the whole blood-spilling sacrifice that we've been warned about, and you want to split up even more?"

"We'll cover more ground that way. We have to hurry. That chanting -"

"Right." Piper agreed. "We'll meet up at the Giants' throne."