Hey, you fabulous people! I'm updating today instead of Thursday because I was planning on updating You're Music to My Ears tomorrow and I had this chapter ready, so yeah! We're going to see a few more characters in this chapter, though more will be added in later as well. :D

Please read, review, and enjoy! :)

- June 4th, 1774 -

Percy steadied Annabeth's grip on the pistol. "Only high-ranking officers, majors and generals have pistols," he informed her. "They are much easier to carry around and shoot than muskets, but they are more expensive, so foot-soldiers cannot use them."

"If I can learn to shoot it, do you think you could acquire me one?" she asked. "I would pay you for it, obviously."

Percy considered. The request didn't surprise him – of course, not many normal girls would ask for a pistol, but Annabeth definitely had reconstructed his previous opinion of women. "I probably could, but first you must be able to aim and shoot accurately. Very accurately." He pointed at the target, a hunk of wood about ten yards away, the red bulls-eye they had painted earlier glistening in the sun. "Of course, powder and shot are not very easy to come by nowadays, either. The army is guarding it maliciously to avoid any Whigs stealing it."

Tensions had grown in Boston. The citizens were tired and angry with the harbor still closed, and theft had grown in the marketplace with unemployed men desperate for food. If the harbor was continued to be closed, fighting between the Whigs and Tories would almost certainly break out.

Percy was started out of his thoughts by the wild gleam in Annabeth's eye. He took a step back, having learned the hard way it was better to back away when she looked like this. Her slender hands, tanned from being in the sun so often lately, grasped the warm metal, her finger an inch from the trigger. Her feet spread in an unladylike, but balanced stance, set firmer into the ground as her forefinger moved to the trigger, and –

Crack! The small gun fired with a puff of powder and a spark, and a dark hole in the direct center of the red circle appeared. Annabeth, her pretty face smudged with gunpowder, sent Percy a smug grin.

"All right," said Percy slowly, staring at the target in stunned disbelief. He had only shown Annabeth how to work the pistol a few minutes before, and this had been her first shot. "Now, let us see if you can do it again."

Annabeth put a bit more powder in the pistol, set her feet, and aimed again. Another crack; another minuscule hole almost touching the first one.

Percy gaped.

"So," she asked, blowing the smoke from the barrel calmly, "when can you get me that gun?"

•

- June 7th, 1774 –

"Officer Jackson, would you care for some tea?" Mrs. Chase asked.

Percy glanced up from the book he was reading. "No, but thank you."

Mrs. Chase nodded warmly and went to Annabeth. "Annabeth, dear, would you like some?"

Percy saw Annabeth's full pink lips purse into a slight frown. "No, thank you, Mother." He and she both agreed that they would not drink Loyalist tea, but it was difficult, living with the Chases, who were Loyalists to the core.

"Your library is amazing, Mrs. Chase," Percy said to change the subject. "Did you bring the books from England?"

Mrs. Chase nodded, smiling. "Yes. Annabeth and Frederick both enjoy reading, though I believe that us ladies," she glanced fondly at Annabeth, "have better pastimes."

"Mother," Annabeth growled from her chair by the open window. The salty breeze blowing from the harbor ruffled her long, golden curls as her tanned brow wrinkled with disgust. "A lady can be knowledgeable and intelligent."

"But, dear, a man looks for a gentle, submissive wife, not one with dozens of ideas stuffed in her head from reading books!" Mrs. Chase tried.

Percy watched as Annabeth lifted her chin a notch and answered, "Then maybe I shall not wed. I could remain an old maid and tend a tavern."

Mrs. Chase gasped, obviously hearing this idea for the first time. "Annabeth!"

"Yes, mother?" her daughter answered challengingly. "I know many perfectly respectable women who run mercantile or taverns or dress shops. Maybe I shall be one of them."

Percy almost laughed. The idea of Annabeth, who hated the extravagant dresses her mother insisted she wear so often, owning a dress shop was absurd. The tavern or mercantile, though, he could picture. Annabeth was fiercely independent, but she loved helping out at the Chases' shop.

Mrs. Chase sighed. "Annabeth, darling, there are many girls who are married and have children at your age. Very few women could actually manage a shop on their own, without a husband."

"What? You doubt my abilities, Mother?" Annabeth asked with a dry laugh. "Luke and I manage most of the accounting at Father's mercantile, and I help out so often, I could easily run it on my own."

Her mother looked weary. Percy suddenly pitied Mrs. Chase; her daughter must be a hard child to raise. "We shall discuss this later, Annabeth. Have you forgotten Officer Jackson is in the room? This is not the proper place or time for this argument."

Annabeth flushed, seeming to notice Percy for the first time. "I apologize, Per – Officer Jackson. I had forgotten you were here."

Percy nodded, hiding his grin. "Quite alright, Miss Chase."

Hazel suddenly appeared at the parlor door. "Ma'am," she said, curtsying, "there is someone at the door. Should I let him in, Miss Chase?"

Annabeth smiled gently. "How many times to I have to tell you, Hazel? You can call me Annabeth."

Mrs. Chase stiffened. "Annabeth, she is a servant, not an equal. She is perfectly correct in calling you Miss Chase."

Annabeth's cheeks flushed. "Mother – "

Mrs. Chase held up her hand. "No more, Annabeth. I do not wish to speak about this again. Hazel, you were saying?"

Hazel sent Annabeth a grateful glance from her warm amber eyes, then turned her attention back to her mistress. "There is a message for Miss Chase. If you will come to the door…"

Percy stood up and exchanged a silent conversation with Annabeth. It was either a message from Major Pitcairn or else one of the Observers, but this would not be a good time with Mrs. Chase in the room.

They followed Hazel's bobbing cinnamon-colored curls to the front door. A burly young man, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old, stood there. He bowed politely to Annabeth and her mother and nodded at Percy. His heart fluttered in relief – this was one of the major's servant boys, not an Observer.

"I have a message for Miss Annabeth Chase, from Major Pitcairn," he announced. "My name is Frank Zhang, and the major wishes me to tell you…" he trailed off as his gaze fell on Hazel, who still stood holding the heavy door open. Her dark cheeks flushed and she quickly looked at the ground. Frank swallowed, then continued. "He wishes me to tell Miss Chase that she is requested to meet with him tomorrow afternoon."

"Tell him I shall be there," Annabeth answered.

"I… I will," the young man answered, still gazing at Hazel with a tinge of red in his cheeks. "Uh… good day, ma'am." He probably meant it for Mrs. Chase, but Percy could see it extended to the still-blushing young maid.

Frank tore his gaze away from Hazel and stepped back out to the door, tipping his hat, and then bounded down the steps, only to trip over his own feet and barely avoid falling on his face. Percy struggled to contain his laughter as the boy looked back over his shoulder, his face beet-red, and then smile like an angel at the young maid before continuing on his way.

Mrs. Chase frowned at Hazel as the maid shut the door, a small smile on her face. "Thank you, Hazel. You may leave now." Hazel curtsied and exited. Annabeth's mother turned her eyes to Percy and Annabeth. "Now, Officer Jackson, can you please bring Annabeth to the camp tomorrow? I can tell Dr. Chase to leave his carriage – "

"'Tis quite alright, Mother, I can ride on Per – Officer Jackson's horse," Annabeth said quickly.

Mrs. Chase raised her eyebrows. "Absolutely not, dear. You must ride in the carriage. A lady does not ride double, especially in the strong sun we have had."

Percy sighed inwardly, knowing another argument was forthcoming. Annabeth and her mother seemed to argue every time they opened their mouths to one another.

"Father probably needs his carriage, though, for a house call. He was telling me about it just yesterday," Annabeth lied smoothly. "I could use Thalia's horse, though."

Mrs. Chase seemed to realize Annabeth would either ride Thalia's mount or double with Percy no matter what she said and shook her head. "Alright, but you must wear your hat. Your skin is getting darker by the day, and a lady's skin should be pale, not as brown as an Indian!"

"Yes ma'am," answered Annabeth tautly, her pale yellow dress swishing as she turned to go to her room. She spun around again suddenly and fixed Percy in a stormy stare. "Oh, Officer Jackson, have you yet gotten the… the package I asked you about a few days ago?"

Percy's face turned blank for a few seconds. "What package?"

"The package I asked you about?" Annabeth insisted, sending him a heated look. "Remember?"

The pistol! "Oh, uh, I have inquired about it, and I should have it by tomorrow," Percy answered quickly.

Annabeth gave him another look, one that Percy was rather accustomed to; the look that said You are really an idiot sometimes. He supposed he deserved it. "Thank you, Officer Jackson."

Percy grinned at her, making Annabeth roll her silver eyes again. "My pleasure, Miss Chase."

•

- June 8th, 1774 -

"Thalia, please?" Annabeth begged. Percy wondered how anyone could refuse Annabeth's puppy-dog grey eyes, but Thalia didn't budge. "I have to."

"No," the black-haired girl said, shaking her head. "I told you, Pine doesn't like anyone to ride him beside me."

"But I'm a good rider!" Annabeth insisted.

"I do not care. Pine will throw you, and do we really want that? Besides, he doesn't like sidesaddles, and knowing your mother, she will make you ride sidesaddle." Thalia crossed her arms obstinately.

Annabeth groaned. "Thals, I have to go to the camp. You know that."

"Find someone else," Thalia answered stubbornly. "I am sorry, Beth, but do I really want you to get thrown halfway to the camp? Ask your father. Maybe you could borrow one of his carriage horses."

Annabeth groaned. "I told Mother he had a house call yesterday so we wouldn't have to ride in the carriage. The problem is, he really does have a house call."

"What's the matter, Bethie?" asked a young blond man, walking up to the little group.

Percy stiffened, though he didn't really know why. Something about this handsome young man and the way Annabeth glanced at him made him uneasy.

"Oh, hello, Luke," she said brightly. "I needed to borrow a horse, and Thalia will not let me use Pine."

"Now why would she do that?" the young man teasingly.

Thalia huffed, but she softened. "Luke, don't you dare start using that face on me. Annabeth cannot ride Pine."

Luke looked mock-hurt. "What face?"

Thalia rolled her electric blue eyes. "The face you always make when you want something."

Luke laughed. "I don't know what you are talking about, Thals."

"I really, really need a horse for this afternoon, though, Luke," Annabeth pleaded.

"For what, Annie?" he asked, his blue-grey eyes softening. Percy could tell he and Annabeth were close. "What will you be doing?"

"We will be going riding," Percy injected himself into the conversation. "Annabeth's mother did not wish us to ride double on my horse." He could feel envy rising up in a green stream in his heart, though why he was jealous of Annabeth's and Luke's relationship he wasn't sure. They had obviously known each other for a while, and Percy was painfully aware that Annabeth was not a small, innocent child anymore, as Luke seemed to view her.

Luke raised his eyebrows unconcernedly, as though noticing Percy for the first time. "And you are…"

"Senior Officer Perseus Jackson of the Royal Army," Percy stated, ignoring Annabeth's annoyed look. "I am currently quartered at the Chases' residence and will continue to be there until His Majesty sees fit."

Percy thought he saw a flicker of something in Luke's eyes, be it anger, jealousy, or something else, he couldn't tell. "Of course, officer," the blond-haired man said, bowing courteously. He turned back to Annabeth, and there was a coolness in his voice that had not been present a moment before. "If it pleases you, Annabeth, you may borrow my horse."

Annabeth's blond eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but she said simply, "Thank you so much, Luke." Her arms found her way around his neck in a quick embrace of thanks, and Percy saw Luke's clenched hands and stiffened shoulders relax at her gentle touch. The green flame of jealousy burned a little brighter.

"Of course, Annie," he murmured into her shoulder. Pulling back, he coughed awkwardly, and the coldness returned to his gaze. "Well, I shall go get Hermes. Shall I bring him to your house?"

"No," Annabeth said quickly, shaking her golden head. "I am going to the mercantile now, so if you could bring her there?"

"Certainly. I have to be there this afternoon anyway." Luke bowed. "I must be going now, Thalia," – his expression turned frosty – "Annabeth. Officer Jackson," he said nodding stiffly at Percy. Percy nodded back, his neck feeling rigid.

The three of them watched silently as Luke strode down the street. "He acted strangely after you introduced yourself, Perseus," Annabeth observed angrily. "Could you not have simply let me introduce you?"

"He would have met me anyway, Annabeth. I don't see the problem here," Percy answered, frustrated.

"He was acting strangely," Thalia agreed, sounding more worried than upset with him.

"Have you two been arguing again?" Annabeth asked her.

Thalia bit her lip. "Yes. I was surprised he was that jovial in the beginning. I think he was happy to see you, Annabeth, and then when Officer Jackson said you were going riding together, he looked jealous. I think he's just being overprotective; he still views you as his little sister, Beth."

Annabeth nodded, and Percy refused to notice the light that had faded from her eyes as Luke walked away. "I suppose. Do you think I should tell him, Thalia? About the Observers, and then Major Pitcairn's offer?"

Thalia shook her head slowly. "I rarely keep things from Luke, but I think it would be best if you did not tell him, if not only for a while. He's not been acting like himself lately."

Annabeth nodded disappointedly, biting her lip. "Yes, you're right. Come on, Perseus, we should probably be going to the shop now." She turned to Thalia. "Bye, Thals."

"Goodbye, Beth," Thalia answered, giving her friend a quick embrace. "Be careful, all right? With the Major, I mean."

"I will," replied Annabeth quietly. Percy noticed her eyebrows were crinkling again. She always did that when she was confused or nervous, or worse, angry. He hoped she wasn't, or at least not at him – an angry Annabeth was a frightening Annabeth.

Thalia raised her hand in farewell as Percy and Annabeth began to walk down the side of the narrow alleyway. Percy could hear the bustling marketplace a few streets away.

He reached out and patted Annabeth's shoulder, trying to be comforting, but she jerked away. The episode with Luke was affecting her more than she had let on. "Annabeth – "

"Save it," she snapped. "I do not wish to talk to you right now."

"But Annabeth – " he tried again.

"Percy, I said to be quiet!"

"Annabeth! We are not going in the right direction to the shop," Percy told her.

Annabeth didn't hesitate as she continued to stalk down the street. "I know. It is only about eleven, and Luke doesn't begin working until at least one."

"So… where are we going?" Percy ventured cautiously.

Her curls whipped around as she turned to him angrily, inconspicuously wiping a tear spilling from her grey eyes. "For the last time, Percy, I do not want to speak to you or anyone else right now! If you can't hold your tongue, then leave me be!"

Percy sighed and remained silent, falling behind the young woman and following her. Her brisk, angry steps wound through the town, down side streets and cool, dark allies, avoiding the main streets. Suddenly they stepped between two buildings and onto the wharf, streaked with sunlight. Percy winced, his eyes not used to the light after the shadowing streets they had just come from. He was temporarily blind for just a moment, but that was all it took for Annabeth to slip away.

He opened his eyes again, grimacing, and found that the girl had disappeared. "Annabeth?" he called, thinking for a moment she had simply gone into another ally. But she didn't answer.

"Annabeth!" he tried again, searching over the abandoned wharf for the young woman. He strode across the bricked walkway to where the sea lapped against the stones. Barnacles clung to a forgotten fishing net, halfway in the water. The tide seemed to be going out, the water gradually receding.

Percy felt a twinge of panic but forced it down with an air of irrational calmness. Annabeth couldn't be in the water; they had been too far away when she disappeared, and she would have made a splash if she had fallen in.

His heart seemed to skip a beat when he heard a muffled sob coming from behind a couple of boxes stacked by the edge of the wharf. He made his way towards it quietly. "Annabeth?" he asked again, softly.

She was crying, her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking, her bare feet dangling over the edge of the wharf and lapping the water, her lavender dress crumpled to her knees. Percy knelt down quietly, took off his shoes and long stockings and laid them beside hers, and sat next to her. His long legs dangled, toes grazing the water. He realized suddenly this was the first time he had seen Annabeth cry – even when she had broken her ankle, she hadn't shed a tear. And now she was sobbing.

All because of him. He really wished he could learn to think before he acted, for once. Luke was an old friend of Annabeth's – why did he feel the need to protect her when the blond-haired young man was around? That handsome smile carried something sinister, very hidden, very veiled, but there.

It wasn't just jealousy, he told himself. It was wanting to keep Annabeth safe (though she had told him time and again she could keep herself safe). Percy felt a surge of protectiveness go through his veins even when Annabeth wasn't in danger, though she usually found a way to insert herself into any risk available. It was just… Annabeth. He certainly hadn't thought, when he had bumped into Annabeth that rainy spring day, that he would ever grow this close to her.

Annabeth sniffled, and he instinctively leaned over to offer her a handkerchief. She accepted it quietly, then said, "I am sorry."

"'Tis nothing to be sorry for, Annabeth," he answered, knowing he was treading on thin ice here, but wanting to get it out anyway. "I shouldn't have introduced myself like that, right then. You were right."

"I shouldn't have made such a large issue of it, but I have known Luke for years, and to see him act like that…" she took a deep, quaking breath. "I'm sorry."

Percy nodded, knowing now was not the time to tell her about the veiled malice he thought he saw in Luke's eyes.

Annabeth pulled her pale feet from the water and slowly pulled her long, long stockings back up. Percy quickly averted his eyes until she reached for her shoes. He quickly pulled on his own stockings and shoes and helped her up. "Shall we go to the mercantile now?" he asked.

Annabeth nodding, wiping the last remaining tears from her cheeks. "Let's go."

Percy took her hand, and even through her red-rimmed eyes and wrinkled dress, her tangled curls and tear-streaked face, Percy honestly thought she looked beautiful.

Then he chastised himself. Where did that come from? He and Annabeth Chase could never love each other – she was too smart and witty and sarcastic, he was too stubborn and laid-back. She was a sixteen-year-old Loyalist girl in Boston; he was eighteen, a senior officer, and would be moving back to England as soon as the king permitted.

Their situations were too different. Their core personalities were too different. They wouldn't fit.

But when Annabeth enfolded his hand with a grateful little smile, and when the salty breeze blew a loose wooden bucket into their way and Percy had to jump over it and she laughed, the sweet, bell-like laugh she possessed, the sparkle back in her silver eyes when she looked at him –

Percy grinned back, and decided maybe, just maybe, they could try.

And that's all for today, everyone! PLEASE REVIEW because every single review makes me smile and inexplicably brightens my day. :D For all of you have have already reviewed, faved, or followed, can I just say thank y'all SO much? Ya'll are amazing. *heart*

WM