Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

Note***- Will be boy x boy. (I promise, it is coming) Don't like? You don't have to read.

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January 3rd

Annabeth POV

All of us were sitting in a garden down by the Little Tiber. It was summer and I could smell the rain from last night on the breeze. Frank and Hazel were discreetly holding hands and Piper was lying with her head in Jason's lap. Calypso and Leo were sitting with their feet in the water. The goddess was currently scolding the son of Hephaestus for splashing her, but anyone could tell that she didn't really mind.

Nico and Reyna were debating the properties of the three different types of metal used in demigod weapons. I was joining in their conversation whenever I had something to add, but mostly I was enjoying the sun. It was nice to have a day just to relax.

I was wondering where Percy was but before I could ask, I saw him coming towards us with Fred in tow. The blond haired male seemed to be amused by the way Percy was pulling on his hand, trying to hurry him. Fred said something and I saw the son of the sea god pout. I couldn't help but smile at his actions.

I had a greeting on the tip of my tongue but I was stuck silent when Fred swung Percy around and wrapped an arm around his waist. The blue-eyed boy laughed and nuzzled his face against his willing captive's neck. Only a few moments passed before the son of the sea god gave up and wrapped his arms around the taller boy's shoulders with a smile. I felt a shot of jealousy rip through my stomach as I saw Percy tilt his head so that he could connect their lips. Fred responded with only too much enthusiasm.

When they broke apart I heard the son of Poseidon laughing. My heart gave a painful lurch when Fred raised a hand and brushed it along Percy's cheek. Even from my seat near the river, I could see the wonder in his eyes. As though he couldn't believe that the green-eyed boy was really there...

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I shot up in my bed with a gasp. I swallowed against a dry throat and looked around me. I was in my bed in New Rome, not down by the river. I took a deep breath and dragged a hand through my hair.

It was just a dream...

I looked over at the clock on my nightstand and frowned. It read 5:37am but there was no way I was going to be able to go back to sleep after that dream.

I sighed and got up. If I wasn't going to sleep, then I should get working on something useful. There was nothing to be gained by just lying there.

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By noon it was rather obvious that I was going to have an unproductive day. The dream had really shaken me. I was usually very good about being able to separate myself from my thoughts while I was working, but I found that I couldn't stop my mind from over analyzing the nightmare.

I kept wondering if it meant something or if it was a vision. I sighed and threw down my pencil. It was ridiculous. There were a million reasons as to why it was just a dream and nothing but illogical fear to say that it wasn't.

Yes, Fred was very flirty with Percy, more than with anyone else, and yes, Percy jokingly flirted right back, but that's all it was, a joke. I had known Percy since he was twelve and he had never shown even the slightest interest in any guy. He was interested in a couple of girls, but no males. It was just my minds way of telling me that I was afraid of losing Percy. My sub-conscious was reading the 'flirting' between them as reality and the tension in our relationship and creating unwelcome visions in response.

Still, I wasn't getting anything done here. Maybe it would help relieve some of the stress if I was to go and see him. Percy always had a way of helping me whenever the work started to get to be much. My stomach growled and that settled it. If I had to go and eat anyway, I might as well see if Percy was free to join me.

Then afterwards, maybe I would actually be able to get something accomplished.

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It was easy enough to track down the son of Poseidon. Even in the city, everyone knew who Percy was. After all, it wasn't too often that,even temporary, godhood was bestowed upon someone. It kinda made him an instant celebrity. I arrived at the edge of the training grounds just in time to see them put away their blades. I was glad that I wouldn't have to interrupt their practice in order to ask.

I walked towards them but I couldn't hear what they were saying. However, I did see the moment when Percy wrapped an arm around Fred's shoulders and laid his head down. It was a little too much like my nightmare. It only took a second before I was able to clear my thoughts. No matter how much it resembled my dream, it wasn't real. Besides, in my dream, Fred certainly wasn't glaring at the son of Poseidon.

I cleared my throat and Percy glanced over. When he saw it was me, he instantly pulled away. I could tell the son of the sea god was looking at me, but I was too busy looking at Fred. I could have imagined it, but I was almost positive that I saw the golden-haired man frown when Percy pulled away from him. However, the expression was gone before I could be certain and he turned his glare at me. When he saw who I was, his face went blank.

Before I could try to read the thoughts he was trying to hide, Percy spoke.

"Hey Wise-Girl," He gave me a smile and I was happy to return it. Percy always seemed so happy to see me.

"Hey Percy," I felt my smile fall a little as I turn to greet the blue eyed boy, "Hey Fred."

He cleared his throat, "Annabeth."

I liked Fred well enough, but there was something about him that always felt off. I felt it long before the nightmare. I just couldn't put my finger on what it was. He reminded me of something. Yet even after two months, I just couldn't remember what it was...

"Were you looking for me?"

I mentally shook off my reverie and smiled at my boyfriend, "Oh, ya. Sorry. I was wondering if you wanted to grab some lunch with me."

Percy's smile became even wider. "That sounds great, what do you say Fred?"

He turned to look at his friend so he didn't see my wince. I really didn't want to hang out with Fred today. Not after the dream I had last night, but there was no way I could say that. Especially considering that would mean explaining what I dreamt of. That was a conversation that I really didn't want to have, ever.

Fred cleared his throat. "Umm Perce, I think she meant just the two of you."

I felt a swell of gratitude towards the blue-eyed boy. As much as I loved Percy, he could be rather oblivious.

Percy's eyes widened in realization and he blushed. "Oh, okay. Sure."

I rolled my eyes at his reaction and stepped forward to take his hand. "Come on, Sea-weed brain."

I heard him call over his shoulder as we were walking away. "See you Fred."

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If I had originally thought that lunch might help me get my mind off the nightmare, I was sadly mistaken. Seeing Percy with his head on Fred's shoulder was bad, but the awkward distance during lunch only made it worse. I found myself talking more than I normally would to make up for the fact that Percy was hardly saying a word.

I had spent the last two weeks trying to convince myself that things weren't as bad as I had thought, but I was wrong. Taking more time out of my day to spend together as a couple wasn't helping. If anything, it was just brining our problems to light that much faster. Before we came to New Rome, we never ran out of things to talk about. This was the fourth time I had seen Percy in the last seven days, two days of which were spent as a group, and already I couldn't think of what to say. So I ended up talking about my work, about how Khione's temple was going.

If there was any topic that shouldn't have to become our major conversation point considering what our fight was about, that was it.

I would have felt better if Percy was angry or something at least because then, once he cooled down, we'd be able to talk it out. The fact that he wasn't and still had nothing to say made me worry.

I had been honest when I said that we had been through Tartarus together but, in the end, that wasn't everything. As long as there's a spark, you can fight so much harder for what you want. No matter how hard we were trying to keep in alive, our spark seemed to be going out.

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He walked me home but it almost felt like he was only doing it because it was expected. His body was there, but his brain wasn't. I knew without even asking that he was focusing on the same thing that I was.

When we got to the house, I was fairly certain he was planning on walking away without so much as a good-bye. Before he could, I reached up and pulled him down for a kiss.

I wasn't even surprised that I had to instigate it. Percy hadn't initiated any form of contact with me since our fight. He would always respond to my actions, he never pulled away, but any kiss, any hug, any touch, I had to make the first move. He may not have noticed, but I had. It worried me almost as much as the kiss itself.

His lips were just as soft as normal, he held me just as close, but something was missing, something fundamental.

We said good-bye and I left Percy on the porch and went upstairs. I should have gone back to my work, but my feet led me past the table and over to the window. I watched Percy walk away until he was out of sight.

Our relationship was changing. I could feel it in my soul. I didn't want to lose Percy, but I felt him slipping a little further from me every day. The worst part was I had no idea how to stop it. I was trying to change but there was a small part of me whispering that it was already too late, that the damage had been done.

I took a deep breath and leaned my head against the window. The dream may have been ridiculous, but it was partially right. I was losing him, a little more with every day. I felt like I was trying to hold water in my hands. No matter what how hard I tried to hold on, I couldn't stop him from sliding right through my fingers.

For the first time in my life, I couldn't think of a plan to fix things.

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Authors Note

Hope you liked the little aside I promised you guys. I figured if I was thinking about what Annabeth was feeling now, than chances are you were as well.

P.S. Don't worry. You will still be getting the chapter on Sunday, just like I said you would. This was just a bonus.