Annabeth's p.o.v.

The winter faded, just like the one before it, and the world soldiered on.

In the months that followed the second Christmas, Germany had declared war on Portugal, adding another nation to the Allied movement (by default). It was the end June 1916 now, and it seemed as though the "War of the Nations" would soon be coming to an end. I prayed that it was true. We had received whispered reports that there was going to be a joint operation between the English and the French. The two nation's troops had decided to converge in the Somme Valley of France to work on obliterating a part of the German line. With morale being so low, it was nice to have something concrete to hope for again.

I packed my suitcase quickly and efficiently. There was truly no telling when I would be returning to Boisleux au Mont—perhaps never, if the Allies won the war. Being so close to Somme, only a little over an hour's drive, many doctors and nurses were being called to the battle site in apprehension of the coming fight. The allied nations expected casualties, and with two different armies coming together as one, they would need more medical officers to come to their aid.

Piper flashed me a smile as she stuffed her belongings into her trunk, snapping the latches in a flourish to show that she had finished. I felt myself smile back. Perhaps, in a few months, we would be going home! Like several others, however, I didn't want to let myself hope too much. This was war, after all. Something could go wrong and—

"Doctor Chase?" A voice sounded from the door. "Your transport is ready to leave."

I nodded to the messenger and lifted my suitcase off of the cot I had utilized for the duration of my stay. Piper and I's beds would soon be filled by other nurses as we vacated the clearing station. I put my hat on at the threshold of the door, and picked up my medical bag, making my way to the vehicle that would carry us to Somme. Will joined us and gave Piper and I a hand getting into the truck as well as getting our luggage stowed away. We each sat side by side on the bench-like seats of the transport, only a thick wall of canvas keeping us from falling back and out onto the dirt road. It was a rough way of traveling, but it got the job done.

We exchanged glances with the others riding (or getting jostled) with us—a mixture of soldiers and medical staff, the latter of whom's uniforms sported red crosses, the brightest color in the gloom of the dark truck. The band around each of our arms could feel heavy at times, though no heavier than a gun, I'd assume. In the time waiting to arrive, I thought about the letter in my pocket. It was already addressed to Percy, with my new forwarding notice upon it so he would know where to send any future missives. I would send it as soon as we arrived in Somme.

Dear Percy,

The war is moving, and I am moving with it. No doubt you have heard of the combination of English and French troops in the Somme Valley. Many people around here seem to think this is the shift in the war that we all have been waiting for. I must admit that I hope it is. But at the same time I don't want to be too hopeful. Like it or not, the Germans are just as capable of tackling us as we are of them. We need this though, and I plan on doing all I can to help. Perhaps we will be seeing each other soon? I truly hope so. It's been so long since we've seen each other. I pray nothing has changed too much since that day in London.

I know your "marching orders" have you stationed somewhere in the North Sea…my letters have found you so far. How are we faring on that front? It's difficult to discern where everything in this war stands when you yourself are standing in the middle of it. Hunting down U-boats cannot be very exciting, can it? Must I remind you (as I always do) to be careful? Make wise choices so that we may see each other again. I don't know what I would do if we couldn't find each other after all of this is over. That's what I focus on. After. After this is behind us, this world will never see another war. Everyone around me calls it "The War to End All Wars". Do you think that's true? That humanity can go on without fighting each other? I'm not sure what I believe at this point.

However, believe me when I say that I love you. That is something I cannot doubt.

Your last letter mentioned your mother. How is she? More aptly put, how are you? From what I understood from your wording, you didn't seem very pleased with her new beau? I'm being rational when I say this, I promise, but I think it is for the best. This "Paul Blofis" could be a wonderful man. You said he was a teacher? Educators are usually fine people. I hope this reassures you in some way.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but nothing you can say will deter me from being nervous about meeting your mother. I do so hope to make a good impression when that day comes…be it far in the future or not.

I live for your letters and love you with all of my heart.

Yours always,

Annabeth

I traced the outline of the letter in my pocket, the crisp folds creating a small rectangle. If one thing could calm my troubled mind, it was Percy. I found myself thinking of him often—whenever I had a spare moment, really. How could have a person I had only met once or twice capture my heart so tightly. Perhaps that was how fate operated.

After an hour of traveling over rough terrain, I was drawn out of my thoughts by Will nudging me with his elbow. We both looked out the back of the truck and watched the zooming landscape slow down. We had approached the Somme Valley, where the British Empire and the French Third Republic had gathered together. The lot of us clambered down from the truck and spent a moment observing the landscape. A patchwork of marshes accompanied the meandering Somme River, all surrounded by hills that studded the territory. It was not in the least bit flat, and I wondered for half a second if this was the right location to be attempting a siege of ground. The thought fluttered away as a man approached our small group.

The uniformed soldier led us through a small jerry-rigged tent city that sat half underground, burrowed into the dirt to provide better coverage. He spoke in a heavy French accent of the two shifts, day and night, as well as the marking of patients who would be sent by ambulance to the nearest hospital, the Order of St. John Hospital in Etaples, where a better equipped medical staff could handle them. Several times, he repeated that our job was to stabilize, not to perform surgery. Otherwise, we would just be treating any immediate or current injuries that the soldiers had.

Piper and I settled into our new accommodations, if you could call them that. The walls were made of grimy sheets, used as dividers between the male and female sides of the quarters for "wound center staff". The medical staff did have it slightly better—we at least had a tin roof that would protect our materials from any rain or storm. Sandbags were built up against the dirt wall. We were sitting in our very own make-shift trench. "Home sweet home" was a stretch.

Will ducked into our area and joined us on the small cot that Piper and I would be sharing for the duration of our stay in Somme. Will had shed his uniform jacket due to the summer heat and was adjusting his suspenders when he said, "Not the best place to stay on holiday, yeah?"

I cracked a smile. That's how we would get through this: shared camaraderie and sarcastic larks. "I would give it two stars, at best."

"Try one." Piper chimed in as she reached down to retie the laces on her boots. "Shall we walk around? Try to get to know the place?"

Will and I shared a glance. Since our removal from Boisleux au Mont was so sudden, Piper hadn't the chance to send a letter to Jason asking if his regiment would be stationed in Somme as well. We both knew she would want to explore sooner or later, for the low improbability that he would already be here.

"Sure." I got up. "I still need to send my letter to Percy. I don't see the harm in taking a look around in the meantime."

Piper lit up immediately and brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. Will deftly caught one of her hands and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "Quit fussing, you look fine. Worry about your hair in the event that he is actually here."

Piper blushed red and said nothing. I smirked slightly and took Will's other arm. Together we ambled up the pathway to where several officers were unloading supplies and necessities, introducing ourselves and asking for directions to the postmaster's area. Piper and Will waited outside the small, dim tent for me, where an older man sat and worked behind a desk that was really an overturned container that had the words "THIS SIDE UP" printed across the side. There, I sent my letter—or rather, it was stamped and carded into a large box along with many, many others.

When I stepped out into the sunlight again, Piper was speaking with another officer, "Do you know if the Lancashire Fusiliers are stationed here?"

The soldier stood favoring his right leg, and said, "Miss, you will have to be more specific. Which battalion?"

Piper replied instantly. "The 11th."

He thought a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I believe they're here. It is a bit of a walk—"

"That's no problem!"

Saddled with a crude list of directional instructions, the three of us set out again, this time at a faster pace. Piper was ecstatic, hands practically shaking as she readjusted the ring on her left ring finger. Two twists around, she turned it each time. I felt myself growing excited too. It wasn't every day that we received such good news as this. Reuniting Piper with her beloved had become today's mission.

"I'm not usually like this," Piper began. "But I feel as though I might cry!"

"No one will judge if you do." Will reassured her.

We had to stop and ask for directions once more before we entered the area where Lieutenant Jason Grace should have been staying. Piper bit her lip and looked around, her eyes jumping from person to person.

I tapped the shoulder of the nearest officer and asked, "Is there a Lieutenant Grace here?"

"Who's asking?" The soldier said in a thick English accent.

I nodded to Piper and threw her a grin, "His fiancée."

His eyes widened like saucers, the excitement of our small trio passing directly to him. He called over his shoulder, saying, "Oi! Someone find Grace! He needs to see this!"

We had caught the attention of most of the men in the area, and they stared at us. This was probably some of the first positive entertainment they'd had in weeks. A man pushed his way through the throng, his blond hair and broad shoulders giving away that he was the one we had been searching for. It was Jason Grace.

His jaw slackened at the sight. "Pipes?"

In that moment, Piper threw herself into Jason's arms. He caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist and twirling around. I felt my eyes prick with tears as Jason set Piper down, their lips finding each other's and pressing together in perfect harmony as whoops and hollers reigned down from all of Jason's military buddies.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling, and Will slipped his hand into mine as we gazed at the reunited couple. We both missed our own beloveds, and the sight before us was enough to give us hope for our futures. Jason and Piper broke apart and settled back into a tight embrace; Piper keeping her face buried in the crook of Jason's neck.

Without skipping a beat, Jason looked about and asked to the gathered crowd, "Is anyone here a preacher?"