And so it begins! I hope you all enjoy this one- it does get pretty emotional in parts and there's a lot of badassery so I hope you all enjoy that- Percy takes no shit from some people, it's great. And I hope you guys enjoy the changes made to the attack on the Princess Andromeda over the next few chapters. Please read and review- tell me what you think, what your theories are, everything.

Percy had known she wouldn't have long after bathing in the Styx before things started to happen- Luke had been called back to Camp- they were preparing, Percy wasn't needed yet but she would be soon, after all they had plans to attack the Princess Andromeda, and Leo had went back too, he was doing a lot of work on Festus- he had plans to ride the bronze dragon into battle- Percy had at one time thought Beckendorf was sensible but clearly not because he seemed almost as excited about that idea as Leo was.
Percy hadn't seen Annabeth in person, sadly enough, though she and Rachel talked to her most nights on the phone or through Iris messages.

She hadn't mentioned her dip in the Styx to anyone yet- she was avoiding getting yelled at by her girlfriends, they wouldn't approve, she was sure of that much.

In any case, Percy was savouring the last days of freedom before the war hit full force, after all her birthday was only a week away. And she knew her mom and Paul were trying to help with that, trying to give her as much normality as she could before things went crazy.

They'd even taken her and Rachel to a private stretch of beach on the South Shore and Paul had let them borrow his Prius for a short drive- after all, she'd driven the sun before, surely she could handle a normal car- which she could honestly. She was a decent driver- though her mom had pointedly told them not to 'Do anything they shouldn't'
which had made Rachel laugh and Percy go bright red and glare at her mom.

In any case, she was enjoying herself with Rachel- though they both wished Annabeth was there with them as Percy drove them along, the windows open.

Percy had to admit that Rachel looked beautiful, her hair was tied back into a ponytail, a few curls falling free into her face and she wore a white blouse over her swimsuit.
The way the sun shone on her face made her hair look like fire and her eyes were gleaming as she sang along to the music Percy had blaring as the breeze made the loose strands of hair fly in her face.

A part of Percy wished this could last for a lifetime- the only way it could have been more perfect was if Annabeth was there too- and gods but Percy missed her other girlfriend- things just weren't the same without her, no matter how much she loved spending time with Rachel.

Percy was drawn out of her thoughts by Rachel's voice, "Oh! Oh look, pull over there!" she was pointing towards a ridge overlooking the Atlantic, and Percy pulled up quickly, turning off the engine and letting out a breath as she stared out at the sea- it looked beautiful, all glittery green and as smooth as glass- if Percy didn't know how busy her dad was she'd wonder if her dad was keeping it calm just for her.

"It's perfect." Percy turned her head to look at Rachel, who was looking at her, a soft look on her face. "What is it?"

"You look beautiful."

"I-" Percy flushed, looking down at herself- admittedly she had dressed up pretty- this was supposed to be a romantic date after all, she'd put on a sundress over her own swimsuit, a strappy blue one with white shells printed on it- admittedly she should probably dress more practically since she was technically on call for a mission but- well, one day, sure it was a risk but one day should be okay- and hey, worst came to worst she'd kick ass looking pretty in a sundress. "I do?"

"You look amazing." Rachel laughed, "I should have brought my drawing pad and my paints-"

"Oooh-" Percy grinned, "I could have posed for you-"

"Oh you so could." Rachel grinned, "It would have been awesome- I'd call it Beauty of the Sea- I'd keep it next to the one I sketched up of Annabeth that time in the book
store with the cafe-"

"I do like that painting." as Percy spoke she opened the car door and climbed out, letting out a happy sigh as she stared out at the sea.

"I wish you could come with me." Rachel had joined Percy, grabbing her hand and threading their fingers together. Rachel had invited her and Annabeth to her family's vacation house on St. Thomas for three days. Both Percy and Annabeth had had to turn her down- the timing just wasn't right, no matter how much Percy could really used
the break. She needed to be able to leave right away when the time for the mission came, and besides, who knew when things would really kick off? After all, no one had actually said that the war would start on her sixteenth birthday, it was just that the mysterious prophecy revolved around her turning sixteen.

"I wish I could too." Percy spoke after a moment, "I really do Rache. But you know I can't. If we could Annabeth and I would be there with you in a heartbeat- though I still think you were crazy to invite Annabeth because she would stab your dad-"

"Oh I know. I'd be cheering her on." Rachel grinned faintly.

"He still doesn't know you're into girls does he?"

"Nope, I can just imagine his head imploding if he found out that not only do I like girls, I also have two girlfriends. I feel like I should drop that bomb on him sometime when he's eating-"

"I mean, it would be funny." Percy snickered, moving to the car and perching on the hood, "Is he still trying to get you to go to that stupid finishing school?" which was the stupidest thing Percy had ever heard of. Rachel would never be a socialite, it just wasn't who she was.

"Clarion Ladies Academy." Rachel snorted in the opposite of the type of grace they'd expect at Clarion's. "I genuinely think I'd rather stare down a Titan again-"

"I mean-" Percy tried to stifle her laugh "You did do a very good job last time we saw my dear old gramps-"

"Damn straight I did." Rachel grinned at Percy, moving so that she was stood in front of her, hands on her hips, "Now, for the reason we really came out here-" and then Rachel was crowding Percy back against the hood of the car and laying her hands on the demigods hips as she pressed their lips together- and Percy let out a pleased noise against Rachel's lips as they kissed, her own hand reaching up and tangling into fire like red curls, her eyes fluttered closed as she savoured the moment.

Rachel always seemed to taste like coffee and chocolate- the clear sighted mortal had a hell of a sweet tooth- which made it pretty easy for Percy when she wanted to buy the other girl a present- and she always loved more art supplies.

Honestly Percy had never been happier than she was whenever she was with her girlfriends.

She felt Rachel's teeth scraping gently at her bottom lip and Percy parted her lips, kissing back just as eagerly as Rachel was kissing her, and she felt Rachel's hand sliding up her side- at which point Percy heard a very loud cry from above them.

"Gross! Jeeze Sephie, do you have to make out with your girlfriend right now?" and Percy closed her eyes as Rachel pulled back slightly, pressing her lips together in a thin line.

"Rache-"

"No you can't kill your brother." Rachel laughed, though her expression was almost shadowed- she knew what Luke's arrival meant after all- and Percy turned her head, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Luke landing a short distance away, clad in jeans, and a camp tee beneath his armor, and then-

"Hey boss lady! Sorry for interrupting your hot date-"

"Blackjack, my dude I love you but please don't call it that-"

"Beckendorf is right behind us." Luke dismounted and strode towards them quickly, "I figured I'd fly on ahead, mom told me you two were here, figured you'd rather not get caught making out- which, by the way, Gross-"

"Yeah yeah, I know you and Thal's do more than make out- you traumatized me that one time, I literally heard you-"

"Hey, we're grown ups, unlike you." his voice was teasing, and he was smiling widely as he closed the distance and hugged Percy. "We've tracked down the Princess Andromeda."

"You don't say." Percy's voice was thick with sarcasm, "I'd have never guessed. And here I thought you were here because you wanted to say hi-"

"Less with the sass." Luke shook his head, running his fingers through his head, "Anyway, we've located it. And we have the supplies."

"Which means it's go time." Rachel's voice was worried. "This is the big mission you guys have been prepping for for ages, right?"

"Yeah." Luke nodded, "It should be simple enough, we've done dry runs enough times. We have to be quick but we know what we're doing and if we do it right-"

"The Princess Andromeda goes boom along with a huge portion of their army." Percy finished, "Which means I have to cut our date short Rache-"

"Of course." Rachel nodded, "I get it. I'll get the car back to Paul and your mom. You be careful okay?"

"When am I ever not careful-"

"Do you want the list in chronological order or alphabetical?" Luke asked smoothly, "Because I feel like it'll take a while to go through everything I me-"

"Circe-"

"And I am shutting up." Luke declared, "No more talk of your craziness for me." he mimed zipping his lips shut, and Percy noticed another figure flying in from the distance- quickly growing closer.

Soon enough Beckendorf landed Porkpie next to Blackjack and he nodded at them as he dismounted.

"Hey Percy, Rachel." he gave a small nod, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yep." Percy nodded, letting out a breath, "Let me just grab my jacket from the car." but Rachel was already moving, opening the back door and grabbing out the jacket,
tossing it at Percy who pulled it on quickly. It was the one she'd been gifted by Drew over a year before. She kept it for sentimental value- also- pockets. She was very much a big fan of pockets- that was the only real drawback of the dress. It had no pockets. .

"We should head off now." Luke gave an apologetic look, "Sorry-"

"Nah, we knew we were taking a risk of being interrupted." Percy turned to Rachel, who gave a small nod.

"You do what you've gotta do, just do me a favor and come back you dumbass okay?"

"Well that's just ru-" Percy was cut off by Rachel yanking her by the front of the jacket, pulling her into a quick kiss before she pulled back.

"Come back alive and well and you'll get another-"

"Well if I have that to look forward to I can't not come back-" she ignored Luke miming gagging and Beckendorf's attempts to keep a straight face. "I love you Rache."

"Love you too Percy."

And with that Percy was climbing on Blackjack with Luke sliding on behind her as Beckendorf mounted Porkpie again- and then they were taking off and Percy shifted so that she could look back as they flew, watching as Rachel faded into a little dot in the distance, waving them off.

"I hate leaving her behind." Percy almost whispered the words, but Luke heard them and he tightened his grip on her waist.

"I know Sephie, but no matter how much of a fighter she might be- and I know she is, I've seen her sparring with you and Annabeth, she's still a mortal. Bringing her along would end terribly. She's safer going back to mom and Paul and then going home."

"I know. But I'm gonna miss her-"

"Percy you'll see her in a few days time probably."

"Yeah, but I'll still miss her. Just like I've missed Annabeth-"

"She's missed you too." Luke groaned, "Thalia's been complaining about it- apparently Annabeth's been a nightmare lately, she won't shut up about the stupid war keeping her away from her amazing girlfriends."

"What can I say. We are amazing."

"You'll see her soon." Luke promised, and Percy turned her head, staring forward as he said those words.

"First we have to destroy the Princess Andromeda."

"Yep." Luke nodded, "Let's blow the bastards back to Tartarus. Right Sephie?"