Hello people of earth! How are you guys (and girls) doing? Me? School's ending in three days, on Wednesday, and I'm pretty sad. You see, half of the school is going to one high school, while the other half is going to another. A lot of my friends I might never see again and the thought of that is a downer.

But other than that, I'm great! Great weekend and pretty excited for the summer- along with Taken! As soon as this story is done, (cue the frowns) Taken is starting up, along with the winners for the OC contest that is still going away! (cue the smiles)

Hope you're having a great day or night or whatever!

~GoGreen52

Chapter 35- Homecoming

-Annabeth POV-

Sitting and listening to a bunch of people talking while you feel alone isn't really fun if you think about it.

Yet, somehow, I found myself in that situation.

Earlier today, Thalia told me she was going to have everyone over for dinner. She has been letting me stay with her at her new apartment that she got when I was gone. I didn't really feel like staying at the place that Luke tried to kill me, at least, not yet. I mean, if I never stay there, it would be a waste of money to have it, and I can't just sell it.

Well, Thalia thinks it's funny whenever I try to explain to her why I'm staying with her in the first place. I guess it takes a good look at death to get you to understand, huh?

Thought so.

When she decided to tell me about the dinner, even though she didn't exactly tell me when she planned the dang thing, let's just say we need to buy a new lampshade for her side-table. Not exactly one of the best moments in my life.

We got in a fight about how Percy was coming, and how she didn't tell me, and how a best friend wouldn't invite an ex that I was secretly crushing on, etc. I'm starting to think she doesn't think that I can handle my own love life. I mean, why is she even having the dinner anyways?

As the day went on, I started thinking about how I could talk to Percy. I had a feeling that Thalia would try to get us to talk with each other anyways, so since this was my love life, I'm going to talk to Percy by myself. On my own time.

Mwahahahaha!

I sighed. This dinner is going to make me go insane. And the worst part of it- I know it's happening.

Anyways, the dinner is boring. Well, for me, anyways. It turns out everyone is here. And by everyone I mean, Jason, Piper, Leo, a girl Leo brought, Nico, Grover, Juniper, and Percy.

Yes, Percy is here.

And yes, I haven't talked to him yet. Even if I have been planning and strategizing about what I was going to say to him and all of the possible answers I would probably get, I still haven't talked to him yet.

Hopefully Thals doesn't notice.

I've been looking at him for the past 30 minutes. I swear he has gotten hotter than the last time I saw him. His hair is its own being, wild and wavy, but at the same time, it is as calm as the sea. His eyes are still the same green orbs I remember, but they don't look as bright as they used to. He's more toned, too. He's wearing a tight blue shirt that showcases his muscles perfectly.

He's the type of guy that doesn't look like he cares and he still looks good. We all know looks can be deceiving, though. Percy really does care about how people see him. He cares.

I cracked a small smile, watching as he was in a heated discussion with Jason. The two turned out to be pretty good friends, I guess. Piper was watching the two as I was, but she was right next to Jason, who was next to Percy, while I was at the opposite end of the table.

I'm making myself sound like a stalker.

Stuck in my own thoughts, I didn't notice right away when Percy locked eyes with me. And when I did, I felt the blood rush to my cheeks, and looked down.

How embarrassing! He probably thinks I'm a stalker!

My heart was pounding, and it felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I really missed that feeling.

Stella (the girl Leo brought over), Piper, Juniper, and Thalia, decided to pull me out of my train of thought, and into a debate on if Llamas or Koala Bears are cuter.

"Llamas spit on people, you know that, right?" I asked, and Piper and Thalia, who though Llamas are cuter, shrugged.

"But their faces and their cool names practically speak for themselves- 'C' 'U' 'T' 'E'- cute!" Piper announced, leaning into Jason.

I laughed, trying to picture exactly what her point is.

"Sure, their names are cool Piper, but that doesn't mean they are cuter! Take a second to think about that, please," Juniper argued.

Piper, being the more carefree type of person, flicked her off.

And Juniper, being the more un-readable type of person, stuck her tongue out at her.

"Jason, Grover? Please control you're girlfriends. They're getting a bit naughty over here," Thalia announced, causing the two girls to blush.

Everyone laughed at that.

Dinner turned out to not be that bad after that, since the food was good, and the people were funny. Stella seemed to be a cool person, and actually laughed at all of Leo's jokes, and listened to his stories. I think she was the only person who actually did that.

She must either really like him, or wants to have his money, because seriously- the chic seems perfect for Leo.

After a while, we all were standing around, talking in different groups, watching the game or listening to music. I was listening to the small talk, but my back was to everybody, and I was looking at the perfect view of the city. We were higher up, so we could see a good part of central park.

It always amazed me to look out on the city at night-time. The lights captivated me- made me feel more at home.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I turned around to be met with a pair of green orbs. The same ones that had lost their spark, the same ones that belong to the one person I would give up everything for.

"Yeah. I'm alright. Why?"

Percy scratched the back of his head, and I smiled at how familiar yet new it was to me. "Well, for starters, you're not really social, and you're looking out at the city with a sad look on your face. And I don't know about you, but usually when people do that they're not okay."

I raised an eyebrow at him, and then turned to look at the city again. "I guess sometimes I get too thoughtful, you know?"

Percy nudged me a bit, and I felt that familiar spark. "You know, I think I know you think too much, Wise Girl."

I looked up at him, smiling at my nick-name. "I know you know I do, Seaweed Brain."

Percy smiled, and I think it mirrored mine. We stood in silence, smiling at each other.

All of the sudden, after taking a look around the room, he leaned down to whisper something in my ear. "Want to skip out with me, Wise Girl?"

I cocked an eyebrow, but as soon as I saw the hopeful expression, I shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

His smile could've made me melt in my place right there.

"Well, we best be on our way," Percy announced, holding out his elbow. I smiled, and locked elbows with him, and we skipped our way out of the apartment.

Unsurprisingly, no one stopped us.

Percy lead me to his motorcycle, something I had no idea he owned, and he handed me a helmet.

"For the lady."

I laughed, and put it on. He threw on his, and hopped on the bike. "Hop on my trusted steed, fair maiden. We best be off to our destination."

I wacked him on the arm before I hopped on after him, holding onto his torso for dear life.

We rode on, and I rested my head on his back. I felt his muscles tense up a bit, but all in the same few seconds, he relaxed. I breathed in his scent, even though I have no idea how, since I was on a motorcycle, cruising between cars and around them, I still did.

And he smelled the same from the first time I met him.

I almost didn't notice when we stopped, and tilted a bit to a side. I hopped off first, and took off my helmet at the same time. I didn't really like the thing that much, anyways.

Percy took his off, and put them where he got them while I got to take a good look at where he brought us.

Our old penthouse.

"Um… Percy? Why are we here?"

He shrugged. "Thalia told me why you stay with her… and how she wants to be able to have some nights for herself."

"And she thinks you can help me?"

He shrugged, yet again. "Hey, it's worth a shot, right?"

I sighed, and looked at the building before looking back at him again. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

The trip inside wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Percy had an arm around my shoulder, which kind of distracted me, so I was kind of able to forget about the fact how I was practically killed in this building a good year before.

Hey, I said kind of.

When we got to the door leading into the penthouse, I closed my eyes. My head was pounding, and my stomach hurt. Every instinct I had was telling me to just turn around and leave.

But I have to do this for Thalia. For my friends.

I took a deep breath.

"You ready Wise Girl?"

Unable to speak, I just gave a stiff nod, and he opened the door, using a key I had long forgotten about.

We walked in, and my legs felt like they were about to give out. I was hit with too many memories to swallow.

I wrote letters to everyone I could think of, starting with the person who changed me. Told me to live a little. And, it went down from there.

I wrote many apologies, especially that. I would probably use those letters to send to my friends, even if something bad doesn't happen, so I don't have to hear them yell back in my face… like I'm sure would happen. I'm sure they wouldn't even give me a chance to speak, so I guess letters would be the only way.

When I finished, I put them in my desk drawer, a place I knew anyone would find it. I knew someone was targeting me. I knew right at this second… they were coming to get me. Woman's intuition, you know?

ut honestly I didn't care. I would get what I deserved. After what I did to my friends, to the people who took me in when life got tough, I knew I deserved the ultimate punishment:

Death.

But at the same time, I knew they would give a crap about what's going to happen. And they don't have to… I guess it just saddens me.

All of the sudden (not really unexpected) my front door broke open, and someone wearing a mask charged in.

"Hello Miss Chase. I missed you years ago, and now I finally found you."

The man took off his mask.

I was staring into the icy blue eyes of Luke Castellen… Percy's Agent.

"Why are you here?" I asked, praying it wasn't the reason I thought. Cheesy, I know, but he might jump out and say 'surprise!' but now… I don't think that applies for what's going on.

"To kill the last survivor. That's why."

He came at me, and I tried to fight back, but I didn't last long. He had me on the floor, and the gun pointed at me chest.

"Why Luke? Why after all these years?" I asked, crying in fear. Images of the murder flashed through my head, and I knew he was going to kill me. I mean, he already killed everyone else… why not me?

"Because you were the one I couldn't get. And now after all these years… I will finally get you."

I stopped crying. Instead, and stared him down, looking at him in the eyes. I wouldn't let him get the satisfaction that he would get if I was scared. I wouldn't- no, couldn't let him get that satisfaction. I owe it to my mother… to my friends.

"Fine. Kill me. But look me in the eyes when you do it."

He glared at me. "You're just like your mother, you know that?"

I smirked and nodded. I smiled down at me. "I did the same with her. She made me look in her eyes… that's how I knew who you were. Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Mrs. Athena Chase."

My eyes widened and he took the shot, and I let the sickly sweet darkness overcome me.

"Annabeth? Annabeth, please answer me!"

I looked around, seeing the dead room ahead of me. Tears were streaming from my eyes, and I was hyperventilating… I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe in here.

"P-Percy, Luke shot me," I whispered.

I looked up to see his pained expression, and a tear escape from his eye. "I-I'm so sorry, Annabeth. I should've been here- I should've stopped him."

At that moment, looking into his eyes, those green orbs, I knew that he felt what I felt. He felt that same sadness, that same depression after losing a love… hell, he probably felt worse. He thought I was dead.

I hugged him.

I hugged him like I was never going to let go.

I was never going to let go.

"I forgive you, Percy. But please forgive me."

He cracked a small, but sad smile. "I forgive you too, Annabeth."

In the heat of the moment, something that could really only be described as a magnet, pulled us together. I pulled his head down to mine, stealing him in for a kiss.

He responded, wrapping his arms around my waist, ending up tangled in my hair. I put everything into that kiss- and I knew he did too.

All of the sorrow, all of the pain, all of the hope… it was all in there.

When we pulled apart, I was glowing. "I love you, Perseus Jackson."

He smiled, shining bright enough to leave the sun in shame. "I love you too, Annabeth Chase."

And suddenly, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I guess this place didn't seem so bad anymore. "Percy, I want to live here."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Okay… I'll get you the keys-"

"No Percy… I want to live here- with you."

I saw the wheels turning, and a bright smile formed on his face. "You really mean it?"

"Of course I do, Seaweed Brain."

He pulled me in for a hug, whispering in my ear, "Welcome home."

That was finally the day I started healing. It was the day I knew I was always going to be loved. It was the day that I knew that It was my final homecoming.

This is the last chapter for Homecoming We still have an Epilouge, which the dead-line for all OC's. So get them in before it's too late! And FINALLY! THEY'RE TOGETHER! PERCABETH FOREVER!

Haha… well, that was awkward.

~GoGreen52