Hey Guys!

I know I have been missing in action for a long time and no excuse can justify that so I am just gonna say I am sorry about that. But I have been really occupied with some important business and couldn't make up time for writing. Anyways, let me not waste any more time of yours. Here's the next chapter, which is kind of a filler. But I promise, next one's gonna be much power packed and hopefully I'll be able to put it up sooner.

Happy Reading!

Piper walked into the kitchen. After knowing Annabeth for so long, she discerned Annabeth needed to be left alone to come in terms with what just transpired.

Annabeth pulled her legs up to her bosom as she curled at the corner of her couch and wrapped her hands around her knees. Her body seemed to have become numb as her heart and mind swamped with emotions. It had taken her long to accept that she wasn't the one who had been the reason for someone's death. And now, she was back at square one.

Life is never supposed to come easy. If it did, it wouldn't be life. Hardships are what make life. All what we can do is make life as easy as possible. Not by eluding the challenges thrown at you but by accepting and facing them head on. Annabeth knew this better than anyone. Whatever she had achieved till the day, nothing had come cheap. She wasn't apprehensive or scared of fighting more to surge ahead.

What she dreaded was being the cause of someone's hardships. Being well acquainted with the agony one feels on privation of a loved one, the one thing she had vowed to never be was the reason for it. And yet, she had come to see this day.

Honestly, she could no longer fathom how much of a culprit she had been. She was rational enough to see that she wasn't the sole remiss. But did she feel guilty? A thousand times yes. Her heart over weighed with regret. Howsoever small her fault might have been, it still was a fault.

Annabeth was brought back to senses when she felt a hand on her shoulders. She glanced up to see Piper holding two cups of coffee and wearing a tight smile. Annabeth took her cup as Piper settled beside her on the couch and silently sipped her drink.

Annabeth wrapped her hands around the hot cup of beverage and stared into blank space subconsciously, letting the heat seep in. She was well aware of the pair of kaleidoscopic eyes of her best friend scrutinizing her.

As she felt the weight shift on the couch, Annabeth glanced up to see Piper standing over her. Piper took the cup of coffee from her hands and placed it on the table, alongside hers and engulfed Annabeth in a comforting hug.

Annabeth was thankful to Piper, for a hug was exactly what she needed. She buried her head in Piper's neck and clutched her desperately like a lost child.

Piper could feel the moisture through her shirt as she rubbed her best friend's back in consolation. Annabeth was weeping. It broke Piper's heart to witness her best friend torment herself for no fault of hers.

"You know Annabeth, some incredibly gallant and plucky person had once told me that the hardest lesson in life is letting go. Whether it is guilt, anger, love, loss or betrayal, change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go. That guilt is a wasted emotion. It is a weight that will crush you whether you deserve it or not."

Piper paused and slowly, as Annabeth's whimpers subsided, continued,

"It was you Annabeth, who had taught me this. To fight till the end. To battle for what is rightfully yours and not let the judgemental world drag you down. Then why are you torturing yourself with this misplaced guilt?"

Annabeth pulled away and stared at her fingers in her lap.

"When I escaped from that place, it was in the middle of a jungle. There were trees everywhere... I didn't know where to go. But I kept running. I was badly scathed, my pricked feet left a trail of blood along the path, but I couldn't feel anything.. anything, I was numb."

She glanced up, her eyes brimmed with tears and pain evident in her gray orbs. Then she continued, her lips quivering as she spoke,

"I couldn't think or understand, all that played in my head were his words... his last words to me. He asked me to keep running and not to stop or let them catch me again. He wanted me to live fearlessly and not let anyone deter my courage. So I kept going , cluelessly. But after the incident, I couldn't do it. I was torpefied. I had this void in me, that could never be filled. First mom, and then him... I could never be the same again, not without them."

She shut her eyes as the tears trailed down her cheeks and sighed.

"I wouldn't want someone... anyone else going the through the desolation of losing a loved one in such a way."

Piper's heart ached for the girl in front of her. Life could be so cruel. Piper just hoped everything would fall in place for her and she would get her happily ever after sooner.

Annabeth took in a deep shaky breathe and composed herself. She appeared much sober now.

"But you are right. I shouldn't beat myself up about something I had no say in. I have no reason to be guilty. That man is grief-stricken and not in his senses. Maybe he will see the bigger picture once he his sober. Maybe not. Someone else's disposition shouldn't dictate the way I feel about myself or how I lead my life."

Piper smiled at her friend and hugged her again, this time out of gratification and admiration. The courage and intrepidity this girl displayed every time, it would never cease to amaze her.

"That's my girl. Now come on, have your coffee." Annabeth wiped her tears and gave her a tight smile.

"By the way, I am going back to work tomorrow." Annabeth said, taking a sip of her beverage. Piper narrowed her eyes at her friend who just shrugged at her and sighed in defeat.

"Well I won't even try to stop you because I know I can't."

Don't forget to review and let me know your thoughts on this. Next chapter will be up soon. Till then , Bye!