Hey everyone! Update, comin' through. :) I'm sorry I'm posting so irregularly, but my life is insanely crazy and hectic right now, from school to music to sports to friends and just everything. I promise to (try) to update every week! This is again a shorter, slightly fluffy filler chapter, but when they get back to Boston the real fun begins. :D

Please read, review, and enjoy!

-September 23rd, 1774-

Annabeth recovered quickly from the fever that came close to taking her life. Within a few days, she was out of bed and eating at the table again. A week later she and Percy were taking long walks around the plantation, though she wasn't yet strong enough to go swimming. If they were in the woods, Jason and Piper would often join them, and the four grew to be close friends.

Oftentimes, though, Annabeth would catch Percy staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking. He would always have a strange look on his face; it was intense and almost passionate, but another emotion, as well. Admiration, maybe? She could hardly dare to think it any more than that.

He was also even more overprotective than he had been before the fever. The first time he insisted on holding her hand as she crossed a log over a small creek, she just rolled her eyes. But when he refused to allow her on her grandfather's horse to go with him, Jason and Piper on a ride, she got just a bit annoyed. He still refused to budge, and she grumpily went to her room to rest at Percy's insistence.

However, the third time, when Percy, Jason, and Piper were going to one of the fields and he told her she should go rest, Annabeth exploded.

"I'm not a baby, Percy. I got a little sick, I'm not a fragile flower or whatever delusion you're under – "

Percy's green eyes seemed to burn a little colder with anger. "Annabeth, you weren't a little sick, you almost died. Stop being such an idiot and take care of yourself. You don't always have to try to keep up with me or – "

"I'm not a fool," she hissed. "Not everything is a competition. This is my body, and I swear if I don't know when I am well then no one does. Quit treating me like a child, just because you're a bloody soldier and maybe you think that makes you better than me, Perseus Jackson, but it doesn't. I'm not an infant, and I can take care of myself."

"Oh, just like you always can? When you push away anyone who cares about you, Annabeth?" Percy asked, his voice ice-cold, and Annabeth felt an icicle pierce her heart with his words.

"I don't push people away," she said, her voice cracking. "Don't you dare say that."

"Maybe I do dare. Maybe then you'll learn to think and reason logically. I just want to protect you, stop being such a bloody idiot and stop pushing me away."

"Well, maybe I am," she told him fiercely. "Maybe I want to push you away. Maybe I don't give a damn about be protected, because I can take care of myself."

His eyes softened. "Annabeth, please – "

"No," she snapped, crossing her arms and turning her back so he couldn't see the tears welling in her eyes. "Just go. Go be with Piper and Jason, go enjoy yourself and leave me here."

She could hear him taking a step towards her. "Listen to me – "

"Just… go," she choked.

Annabeth heard him make a small sound, almost like a choked whisper, but then he turned around and slammed the door on his way out.

So began the longest fight in the history of their friendship. For a full twenty-four hours, Annabeth locked herself in her room, refusing to talk to Percy, and stayed in the barn for most of the day.

She struggled with herself the entire night, sleeping fitfully, her stomach twisting with worry and misery. Even just a day away from Percy seemed to tear her apart, though she would never admit that to him. He had already become a part of her, and ripping him away hurt so badly she wasn't sure if she could stand it.

Apparently Percy felt the same way, because at six o'clock the next morning, he was knocking on her bedroom door, his voice sounding hoarse. "Annabeth. Can… can I come in?"

She ignored how her heart felt a hundred times lighter just at the sound of hearing his voice, and the small, petty part of her wanted to let him suffer just a bit more. But she knew she would be punishing herself as well, and his voice sounded so soft and broken she knew she couldn't be away from him for any longer.

She quickly exited her bed, the coverlet twisted from her turning and tossing all night, and unlocked the door, forgetting she was only in a thin linen nightshift. Percy's eyes, red-rimmed and lavender circles underneath, looked so relieved she could have cried.

"Annabeth," he breathed, immediately embracing her. They both sighed as Annabeth's arms closed around him, like a piece of her had come back and completed the puzzle. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he murmured into her ear, ragged voice muffled by her frizzy curls. "I know I should have trusted you, but I just wanted you to be alright and I didn't think about how you felt – "

"Percy," she smiled, pulling back slightly and putting her finger on his lips to silence him. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. I just – completely overreacted and panicked, and I know you were only doing what you thought was best."

His face softened as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's not argue again, please?" he whispered into her hair. "I'm not sure if I can stand being angry at you."

She laughed, unsettled at her flushed cheeks and the heat radiating from her body at his close proximity. This was just Percy. They had hugged before; his toned torso was lean but powerful, he was half a head taller than her, his muscled arms were strong and warm and comforting – she knew that. So why did it feel different now?

For heaven's sake, was she blushing?

"Yeah, idiot," she managed, knowing Percy was blissfully unaware of her thoughts. "I never want to fight again either."

"Forgiven?" he asked as he pulled away, his sea-green eyes sparkling.

"Forgiven," she agreed.

(Of course, they fought and argued and disputed time and time again after that, because he was Percy, and she was Annabeth, and their very personalities clashed in every disagreement. But they always made up before the sun went down, because Annabeth knew, deep down, Percy was a part of her. And it hurts like hell when a piece of yourself isn't there.)

•

-September 27th, 1774-

Their remaining days passed quickly, and soon it was time for them to return to Boston. Percy had promised that Piper could travel with them; Jason would be following them a few weeks later. Annabeth watched the two young people – so different, in looks and situations and their very lives, but loving each other so much it made up for it – and she felt a pang of envy. Would someone ever love her so much that they would leave their home to stay with her?

The morning of their departure, the mansion was chaos. They had obviously not told Annabeth's grandparents about Piper coming with them, so when Jason arrived to "help", Percy and Annabeth just shared a grin. Some of her grandparents' slaves helped pack the wagon with their bags and an insane amount of food, mostly from her grandmother who was worried they would be hungry on the way back.

As soon as the barn was empty, everyone else being up at the house, Annabeth cupped her hands together and put them to her mouth, emitting a special whistle Piper had taught her a few days before. Within moments of hearing the signal, the Cherokee girl entered the barn, her small feet clad in the same quilled moccasins making no noise on the soft dirt floor. She held a bag of deerskin, presumably with some food or clothes inside.

"Here, hide under these blankets," Annabeth told her, climbing into the wagon. The canvas cover had been pulled over it, making a sort of tent over the wagon bed.

"Thank you," Piper whispered, tears in her eyes. "Without you, I would not be able to go to Boston."

Annabeth hugged her friend. Jason only had Tempest, no wagon, so there was no way Piper would be able to travel with him even if she was allowed, let alone without people seeing her. "You would have done the same for me, Pipes," she whispered.

The Indian girl smiled gratefully, squeezing Annabeth's hand, then quickly hid under the blankets. Annabeth fixed it so Piper wouldn't be seen, just as voices came around the corner. She jumped down from the wagon, wiping her sweaty hands on her pale lavender skirt. If her grandparents saw Piper now…

"Good-bye, dear," Sarah Chase said softly, hugging her granddaughter. "'Tis wonderful you were able to visit us. Be safe in Boston."

"We will miss you," added her grandfather in his booming voice, giving her a bear hug of his own. Annabeth giggled into his wool jacket.

"I'll miss you too, Grandfather. And you, Grandmother," she said, taking both their hands. "I will be back next summer, though."

"Good, good," replied Mr. Chase. "Oh, Sarah, did you give them their dinners?"

"Oh, I forgot," Mrs. Chase answered. She handed her husband two tin pails, like the kind schoolboys packed their dinners in. "If you'll just put those in the wagon…"

Annabeth caught her breath. "Don't worry about it, I can put them in there – "

"Nonsense, darling!" Mrs. Chase exclaimed. "Your grandfather might not be as spry as he used to be, but I'm sure he can make it into the wagon, at least."

Percy chose that moment to enter the barn with Jason. His eyes widened as he saw Mr. Chase making his way towards the wagon. He glanced questioningly towards Annabeth, who sent him back a silent message: Piper's in there.

"I'll take those, Mr. Chase!" he said quickly, covering it up with a nervous laugh. Before her grandfather could respond, Percy grabbed the pails and vaulted into the wagon, setting the pails down. Her grandparents looked cheerfully befuddled; they glanced at each other, but let Annabeth and Percy's strange actions go.

The two climbed up on the wagon seat, Percy offering Annabeth a hand. She settled herself on the already uncomfortable seat and waved rather violently at her grandparents and Jason as Percy took the reins and the horses pulled the wagon from the barn.

"Good-bye, grandfather and grandmother! Farewell, Jason!" she called.

"Farewell," answered Jason, his voice sounding heavy. It would only be about a week until Jason followed them to Boston, but Annabeth guessed since he spent almost every day with Piper normally, it would be hard on them both to not see each other for more than a week.

"And we're gone," Percy announced as they got onto the main dirt road, the sun beating down on Annabeth's shoulders. He glanced at her. "Didn't your grandmother say to wear your hat?"

"Yes," she huffed, pulling the large straw brim over her curls. "Piper, you can come out now."

Piper emerged from the blankets in the back of the wagon, the boxy canvas cover shading her from unfriendly eyes. "I brought some moccasins to work on, so I will stay back here," the brunette told Annabeth.

She nodded. "That's probably wise, at least until we get to a less busy part of the road." As if to prove her point, a carriage passed them, the rumbling wheels stirring up dust. Annabeth coughed, pulling out a small handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth.

She glanced at Percy. Already sweat had beaded on his brow, his skin much darker than it had been when they traveled down from Boston. She glanced down at her own arm. A few freckles dotted the tan skin, and she grimaced. Her step-mother would not be pleased – pale skin was the most fashionable, and freckles were frowned upon.

Annabeth felt a rivulet of sweat begin to trickle down her neck, and she pulled her long, tangled curls into a braid. The honey-colored strands had been in the sun so much that white-blond highlights ran through the tousled ringlets.

Within a few hours, they stopped by a small creek to give the horses a break and eat their dinners. Annabeth was grateful for the extra food, since Piper had only brought a bit of jerky for herself. They spread out a feast of cornbread, cold ham, thick slices of bread, and a canister of cool, creamy milk.

"Slow down," Annabeth scolded Percy, who was inhaling his meal. "We won't reach Boston until at least tomorrow, and this food must last until then."

"I apologize," Percy answered sarcastically, adding an eye-roll. Annabeth knew he had picked it up from her.

"Idiot," she muttered, running her hand through his black hair, which had grown hot to the touch from the sun. Piper sent her a little grin, like she knew something Annabeth didn't. When they were on the road again and Percy tugged one of the curls lose from her braid, Piper sent the same gaze towards her friend.

As they traveled back home, Annabeth may have purposely mussed up her best friend's hair, or let her eyes linger on the shifting muscles beneath his thin linen shirt soaked with sweat. And maybe she didn't mind when Piper sent her that knowing look again or when she caught Percy staring at her with that silly grin of his.

(In fact, her own smile might have just grown a little wider.)

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review! :)

WM