A/N: Honestly the fact that I'm getting this chapter out so soon in the middle of midterms is a miracle.

I hope you enjoy this one, it's my favorite so far.

Percy Jackson had a plan.

A crazy plan, but a plan nonetheless.

Currently, he and Annabeth were listening to the officiator explain the process of crossing the river.

"Percy."

He turned his head toward Annabeth. He'd been holding her hand like a safety line since they got on the train from Elysium. (He didn't plan on letting go anytime soon, either.) Now she was looking at him with apprehension on her face.

"What?"

"Were you listening?" she asked.

"Define listenting."

Percy heard Nico, who was lucky enough to be their guide, groan beside him. He smirked.

"He said," Annabeth continued, "that we can't go in the river together." The words took a second or two to sink in, and when they did, he turned to the official.

"No."

The officiator blinked, his eyes red with exhaustion.

"I'm sorry?" he asked. Nico sighed again in the distance.

"No," Percy repeated. He felt Annabeth squeeze his hand reassuringly, and he met her gray eyes as he continued. "We go together or not at all,"

"Unfortunately," Nico said quietly, "you may not have much of a choice." Percy flicked his gaze over to him. He was wearing a deep frown, his arms folded. His eyes held a question, and Percy shook his head ever so slightly.

"He's right," The officiator said, and Percy's attention switched back to the exhausted looking man. "I'm really not supposed to let you-"

"Please," Annabeth interrupted, speaking for the first time. "I know we technically have to go separately. But..." she swallowed and closed her eyes. "It would be easier for the both of us if we could- if we could go together." And to Percy's shock, he saw a tear run down her cheek.

The officiator sighed, putting a hand to his temple.

"I don't have time for this," he said. "Fine. whatever. Just get going. I have a lot of people to take care of today." He waved his hand in the direction of the Lethe and called the next set of names.

Percy, who had been sure that the officiator would need much more convincing, let Annabeth lead him over to the river bank. Nico trailed behind them, shaking his head.

"I don't know how you managed that," he said. "You're lucky that Leon was replacing Orion at the gate today."

"We can be persuasive," Annabeth said simply, without a trace of distress in her voice. She turned to look at Percy, and he felt a surge of pride for her.

"You almost had me there," he said. "Nice job." Annabeth gave a small smile.

"Thanks," she said. She turned to face the river, and her smile faded slightly. "Are you ready for this?" Percy nodded and stared at the flowing water.

"As I'll ever be," he said, tightening his hold on Annabeth's hand.

"And you're sure..." Annabeth cleared her throat. "You're sure this will work?" But even as Percy nodded, he heard a deep sigh.

"It won't." Annabeth and Percy looked over at Nico, who stood a few feet away from them, leaning on his stygian iron staff. There was sadness in his eyes as he said the words.

"I've done it before," Percy told Nico.

"For yourself," Nico said, throwing his hands in the air. "You protected yourself. And it took all your strength." Percy straightened and folded his arms, feeling more motivated at Nico's discouragement.

"I can try," he said determinedly. Nico shook his head jerkily.

"Percy it's-"

"Worth a shot." The boys turned at the sound of Annabeth's voice. Her stern gray eyes met Percy's, and then Nico's. "We have nothing to lose."

"And if it doesn't work?" Nico said, evidently still frustrated.

"Then we forget," Percy replied, taking hold of Annabeth's hand again, holding it tightly.

"And we'll find each other anyway," Annabeth finished for him. There was silence for a long time as the group stared each other down. Nico finally broke the silence, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"You're set on doing this then?" He asked in a pained voice. Percy nodded once, and Annabeth spoke up.

"It was the only reason we agreed to do it," she said determinedly. "We- losing our memories of each other is something we won't negotiate."

Well, Percy thought privately, it was more like something that he wouldn't negotiate. Percy had spent far too much of his existence with a lost memory. Had he been able to remember his first life during the second go-around as a demigod, (his most recent one) he would have. It had been a big gamble back then, deciding whether or not to lose his memories and try for a second life, and while (through some miracle) he and Annabeth had been able to find each other in their second life, the only reason Percy had agreed to go for the final time was this plan.

Nico closed his eyes, and Percy gave him a small smile that he couldn't see.

"Nico," he said, "It's going to be fine. I can do this." And he was certain he could. True, he'd never tried it past the one time... hundreds (probably) of years ago, but it was worth the shot, wasn't it? And if it didn't work, well then.

They'd found each other before.

They could do it again.

And really, he had no doubt they would. But it would be a thousand times easier if he and Annabeth could remember who the other was. And after everything they've shared over their past two lives together, Percy couldn't imagine forgetting Annabeth again.

"Fine," Nico said. "But if anyone asks, I wasn't a part of this." Annabeth smiled at him.

"Part of what?" She asked innocently. Nico gave her the smallest of smiles and nodded approvingly.

"Good luck you two," he said. And with a final wave, he melted into the shadows.

"And he says he isn't one for dramatics," Percy said dryly. Annabeth snorted with laughter.

"I'm going to miss seeing him all the time," she said. "Though it will be nice to have a life again." Percy smiled and met her gray eyes.

"Last one," he said.

"Last one," Annabeth repeated. She searched his face, like she was trying to memorize every feature. Then she kissed him softly, and Percy pulled her closer to him, savoring what would be some of their final moments before rebirth. Before they were separated for who knew how long. "This is going to work." Annabeth said once they broke apart, and Percy nodded.

"It will." he murmured, "And we'll find each other."

"Always." They took a step back from each other, and Percy took her hand, his heart beating rapidly.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Ready," she said with a nod.

They turned to face the river, and Percy concentrated on it. Imagining the water and the course it ran through the Underworld, ready to bend it to his will.

He took a deep breath, and together, hands held tightly, they entered the river.

And when they came out the other side, Percy knew his name.

A/N: A thousand thank you's to those who read this! I hope it brought you joy. It was a lot of fun to write, let me know what you liked or didn't like! Have a wonderful day friends!

Now I am going to take a nap because I've been up since 3:30 rip.