A/N

This chapter is kinda dark, so beware. I thought it was interesting to see Annabeth break down because shes always the strong one, holding it together for everyone else. SO please please please review, its very fruustrating to have like 35 people view it, and only get 2 reviews.

Thank you sm Violet2971! and Guest! Reviews make me giddy :)

Let me know if you like this and if you want me to keep updatiing

Toodles lovies, muah

Annabeth

Annabeth gasped and shot up. She ran a hand over her face trying to forget her nightmare. She kept seeing flashes of their time in Tartarus, moments that she wished she could forget. Memory after memory played in her head while she slept. Like a montage she was forced to watch. Akhlys, Nyx, the demon grandmothers, Percy half dead consumed by all the curses.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm her shaking nerves, and looked at Percy sleeping beside her. His dark hair and rugged features looked even more striking at night.

Annabeth was glad Percy could sleep. He needed it. They'd been sailing on the sea for a while now, and he was their best asset there. She sighed, gazing at him. His soft snores calmed her, but she knew he was going through similar things.

She could see it in the way his brows drew together and his quick breaths.

She hasn't been able to sleep calmly since they got back from Tartarus because she's been so afraid of the nightmares.

Gods she thought.

Why can't we put this behind us. I can not be dealing with this. Especially now.

She lay back down on her pillow looking at the ceiling of her cabin. We need to get over this. She shuddered and turned her gaze to Percy, looking at him silently. Gods she loved him. She really loved him. He wasn't just her boyfriend. He was her best friend, her soulmate, her other half. He was the one who could get her to calm down, and the one who could get her most riled up she thought dryly. She smiled softly, closing her eyes hoping the nightmares would stay away.

They didn't

Images of Tartarus flashed throughout her head

Percy drowning Akhlys

Annabeth jerked in her sleep

Drinking fire from the phlegethon

Fighting the demon furies

She gasped, shaking

Seeing Tartarus himself appear to them

Fighting to keep the doors of death closed

Annabeth tossed wildly sobbing, still asleep

She heard someone yelling her name

It was too soft over the pain and horror her dreams were unleashing onto her

ANNABETH she heard...

"ANNABETH wake up!"

Annabeth gasped awake shouting and crying. She opened her eyes sharply. Percy was on top of her restraining her arms trying to keep her from hitting him. She stopped fighting him and he let go.

Percy immediately enveloped her in his arms and whispered comforts into her ear while she cried into his shoulder. Annabeth's breathing was ragged as she struggled to hold on to him.

"You're ok, we're ok. We're together." "I'm here" Percy promised her. "I'm not going anywhere I swear. I love you. We're together"

Percy held her until he felt her tears subside and she started breathing shakily. He looked her straight in the eyes to try to figure out the root of her pain. Annabeth shuddered with tears streaming silently down her face and cried,

"Please don't leave me"

"Never." Percy swore.

We are never being separated again. But," He tried to meet her eyes again, "you have to talk to me, and tell me what happened"

Annabeth looked away, shutting her eyes.

"I can't"She said miserably It's not on you, I don't want to burden you"

He tilted her chin up so that her eyes met his. "I love you. You are supposed to burden me with this. I will help you. We have to help each other. Wise girl, after everything we've been through, I can't bear it if you shut me out."

Annabeth got off the bed and started pacing the room crying.

"I can't go back there Percy. I KEEP GOING BACK THERE. I can't take it anymore" She sobbed

She started knocking things over as she was trembling and shaking. Annabeth's fear had blinded her vision and she was spinning in reckless oblivion, knocking things off tables, shattering glass. She was gasping for air and squeezed her eyes closed trying to control her emotions. She grasped around her blindly for something else to break and felt herself grab something sharp.

"No Annabeth, baby, no," His voice soothing

Percy jumped up and took the ivory knife she had grabbed, from her hands. Annabeth barely registered the movement. She slid to the floor and crumpled into a ball. Wrapping her arms around Percy as he slid down next to her, she held him, her rock, the only thing keeping her grounded now. He put his chin on her head letting her lay against his chest. Slowly her breath steadied and her cries stopped, except for the occasional tear.

He stroked her hair and murmured

"We'll be ok"

Giving her a kiss on her head he whispered,

"I love you"

Annabeth slowly relaxed in his arms. She looked up at him, he had his eyes closed and he was still murmuring sweet comforts in her ear. She turned in his arms so that she faced him. Her hand went to his cheek and wiped a tear off his face, that he had shed for her pain, she realized. He leaned into her touch breathing heavily, as she realized he needed her touch as much as she needed his.

Her Seaweed Brain slowly opened his eyes to meet hers. He searched her eyes, filling with worry and pain, as he desperately tried to fix what she was going through. She took a hiccuping breath, and he placed his forehead on hers, holding her hands

"Gods, Annabeth" He whispered. Their breathing matched and Annabeth gazed at Percy tearfully, as she tried to steady her breathing.

Percy tilted her head up so that their lips were a breadth away, their breathing heavy as they battled the emotions coursing through them.

Annabeth blinked away the tears in her eyes, never breaking her gaze with Percy. In his eyes she could see that she was safe, that she wouldn't have to go through their past again. Tartarus was over. She didn't have to go back.

Percy's eyes softened as he took in what she was feeling, the never ending fear. He brushed away a tear that was rolling down her cheek, and smiled softly at her. He moved his head slowly towards hers, closing the stifling distance between them until their lips touched and he kissed her softly. He put everything he wanted her to feel into the kiss. Love, Safe, Home, Connection. Annabeth closed her eyes as she reacted to his soft kiss, mixed with salty tears rolling down both their faces. The tears only added to the reality of the moment. She could feel the love and acceptance he poured into the kiss, and she knew she was safe. She slowly deepened the kiss, running her hands through his dark black hair, basking in the outpouring feeling of love she felt towards Percy.

The kiss was more intimate than what they'd ever done before, not because of the heat, but because of the connection, she thought.

Percy's moved his hands to Annabeth's waist, supporting her, and deepening the kiss. At long last, they slowly pulled apart, Annabeths breathing ragged from the intensity of the kiss, and the emotions still running through her. She felt his arms wrap around her and hold her safely onto him. Annabeth lay her head softly on Percy's chest and closed her eyes.

"Seaweed Brain?" She whispered

"Yeah?" He smiled softly at the nickname that had turned into an endearment, kissing the top of her hair

"I can't sleep" She said tentatively.
"I mean, I haven't been able to sleep at all without remembering. I don't know how you're doing it."

"I know." He sighed. "The truth is i'm not. I'm reliving it over and over again. Gods, I don't know why its affecting you so much more. I wish I did. I want to figure out how to help you, but I just- don't know how" He said frustratedly.

"You are helping." She kissed him softly.

"This, you being here, is helping." She reassured him. "For now, that's enough.
That's all I need, Please

Percy sighed, but kissed her head again, still laying on the wall, holding Annabeth, who lay peacefully in his arms. Annabeth closed her eyes, not to sleep, but to relax in the safe arms of her Seaweed Brain.

Sooooo let me know what you think please, its really helpful to hear other peoples opinons.

Aight I'll leave you alone now, go eat blue (yes the color blue, what else).

Also if you have any suggestions you want me to write about please tell me! I'm open to anything (besides reynico) Solengelo all the way!