It's a shorter chapter and I apologize for that. I needed to get it pushed out there so I can settle into the grove of the story now. From here on out it's gonna be a shit ton of just Percy and Artemis. They're traveling on the road and ya they'll see friends and stuff but for the most part just them. I made this book with an end game in mind and I'll be damned if i stray from it LOL. I'll work on more consistent updates as well as making the chapters longer. Get ready for some emotional bonding cause that's what's gonna happen (:

Read on, My Friends.

Percy sat at his desk in his room, hand tightly gripping his pencil as he blinked down at the paper in frustration. He had been trying desperately to work out the ins and outs of this stupid math question but it was escaping him. Not for the first time Percy found himself wondering why he was even still here at this stupid school. Percy had given his everything to the world from age twelve to eighteen.

Was it wrong to want peace? To experience the life he had been denied? He had spent every day wondering if he would even be alive the next day. He was a legend to the Greek Pantheon now but he didn't want that. Percy just wanted to rest, to find a place he can settle down and grow old. He had given his life for the greater good and even when he decided to go to college it wasn't because he wanted to but rather because he wanted to be with Annabeth.

He knew how much it had meant to her and it was all he could do to keep up. The years he had spent running around playing hero were over and now he didn't know what he could do proceeding forward. He didn't even know what he was majoring at this point, he was just trying to get his base credits done. At the ripe age of nineteen he should be in the prime of his life but he just felt like he was missing his peace.

The pencil snapped and the sound it made caused Percy to jump, his body immediately filling with adrenaline. Ready to defend against a foe that could be lurking around the corner.

He frowned down at the broken pencil and paper before deciding he just didn't care about it. He tossed the broken pieces into the trash and threw himself on his bed. He wanted to wallow in his misery peacefully. Of course that wasn't something he could afford because as he sat there wondering what he should do with his life there was a knock on his door.

"Come in"

Percy almost did a double take when he saw her. She was in a white hoodie, blue skinny jeans and worn down converses. He glanced behind her and realized it was just her and he was immediately put on alert.

Her eyes calculated his actions and shock as they had done many times over the years. She smiled ever so slightly and Percy couldn't help the summersault his stomach did at the sight. Her blond princess curls were tied up into a ponytail and her pasture was almost reserved. She was slightly hunched over and she looked tired. She had bags under her eyes but she was ultimately still as beautiful as the day she had been when she first leaned over him shoving ambrosia down his throat asking why the Gods were upset.

Annabeth shut the door and came to lay down on the bed with him. His heart hammered in his chest and he felt like something was stuck in his throat. Annabeth didn't seem to mind though because she laid her head down on his chest just like she had done months ago.

"Hi Seaweed Brain." Annabeth whispered gently, her voice weak.

"Hi Wise Girl."

They sat in silence but Percy started to relax and he wrapped his arm around her, holding tightly. Briefly Mark flashed through his mind but he knew Annabeth wasn't like that so he didn't say anything about it.

"Are we still bestfriends, Percy?"

"What? Of course Annabeth! Why wouldn't we be? Just because we broke up doesn't mean you're still not my bestfriend." Percy had tightened his grip on her, not wanting to let her go or think he was lying.

Annabeth didn't say anything for a while after that and Percy knew that she was trying to gather her thoughts. He had spent many nights just holding the girl as she tried to calm her racing mind, one of the downsides of being her Mother's daughter.

Percy started to rub her back, trying all the tactics he had learned in their two years of dating. Percy was just trying to do everything he could to help the girl relax. She was very clearly upset about something and she was trying to work through it. He was mostly surprised she had sought him out for this rather than going to Mark but he wouldn't complain. It was nice to have his bestfriend around.

"Why are you still here, Percy?"

Percy blinked at the ceiling, not quite yet processing what Annabeth had said.

"Don't take that the wrong way, I just meant why do you stay here. Why are you still in college when it's very clear that this isn't something you want to do. What happens when you finish? A degree that you'll never do anything with and four years of your life wasted. No Percy, you shouldn't stay here." Annabeth had sat up at some point, her hand on his chest as she stared him in the eyes. "You're my bestfriend and I love you. It might not be romantic anymore but I still do. I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy and you're not happy here. You just have happy moments."

Percy's mouth gaped open as he stared down at her. He had quite literally just been thinking about this and she had shown up. Unable to stop himself, he started to chuckle. Annabeth shot him a very confused look.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I was just thinking about this, thinking about how this isn't something I want. This isn't me, Annabeth. I want to do something meaningful. Even if I have… Spent the better part of my life serving the Gods. I did it for my friends. Their kids. Hades knows that they will keep having kids and who knows what will happen in the future. I feel like if I retire that part of my life now, what do I have left?"

Percy took a deep breath and Annabeth watched him curiously. Annabeth knew that Percy had often talked of moving back to New York so he could be close to the camp in case anything were to happen. Although he had wanted to go to New Rome with her, the years he had spent protecting his home and friends had really worn down on him.

"So leave, go back to Camp. I'm sure Chiron would be happy to have you help out." Annabeth said, an encouraging smile on her face. She had come here with the intention of helping Percy sort out his life because she knew he wanted more than this and it seems he had already been on the way to that point.

"And do what? Mr.D and Chiron run the camp, what could I do?"

"Weapons teacher, help kids harness their powers. You're always worried about the future of the Camp so why not help influence it? We both know that for as much as we trained we would never have been prepared for the war we had experienced after years of living in peace. If you help teach them then they'll be prepared for the next time it happens."

"If it happens."

"If it happens."

Percy was silent, eyes locked with Annabeths. Seagreen was locked with Gray. Both eyes were brimmed with emotion of different kinds and yet with their eyes they communicated all they needed to say. Years of defending one another had led them to this point, to this point of trust.

"Go Percy. Stop wasting your life here, you don't want this. You were born to be free and enjoy life not wasting away over calculus."

Percy wrapped her into a tight hug, her own arms snaking around his shoulders and they held one another. Percy had almost forgotten how much Annabeth knew him within the time they had spent avoiding each other. He couldn't help the slight chuckle he let out.

"Don't let Mark see you holding me like this, he might get the wrong idea."

"Oh shut up Percy."

After another hour of just reconnecting and talking, Annabeth explained she had to go. She was apologetic and promised to keep in contact but Percy wasn't too sure she would be able to reach him any other way but IM because he had taken what she said literally.

The second she was gone he had stood up and started to throw the little amount of belongings he had brought and gathered into bags. He worked quickly, grabbing things he was sure he would need. His clothes took most of the room in the bags amusingly. He didn't really care about anything that had to do with school, very clearly trying to ignore it.

After packing he stepped into his bathroom and manipulated the water to form mist.

"Oh Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me Chiron at Camp Half-Blood."

The mist flickered before an image of the Centaur showed up. He was teaching Archery and helping one of the Demeter girl's hold the bow properly. She was roughly the age of 9 and she seemed incredibly interested in the plants around her and not the weapon of war in her hands.

It took Chiron a second to realize that Percy was watching with amusement in his eyes as the teacher tried to keep the girl's attention. Finally giving up he let her run off before turning to Percy with a twinkle in his eye.

"Percy, my boy. How can I help you today? It has been awhile since we last spoke." Chiron's voice was smooth and it warmed Percy's bones. Chiron was practically a father figure to Percy so to hear the Centaur address him really helped him.

"Hello Chiron, I would like to discuss something if you don't mind."

Ten minutes later Percy found himself absolutely hauling ass downstairs trying to get his truck loaded up. He stumbled and nearly toppled into Artemis when he came flying out of his room again with the last couple bags.

"Where are you going?" Her voice was slightly accusing and she stood with her hands on her hips, glaring up at him.

He grinned cheekily at her, "Home."

Artemis's eyebrows shot upwards as she processed what he said, slightly shocked. "Wait, you're leaving school?"

Percy blinked in confusion, wondering why that's all she seemed to care about. "Uhh, yea. I can't stand it here."

"Perseus Jackson, wait twenty minutes and I'll be down and ready to go."

His eyes widened in shock and before he could say anything she had already walked into her room and shut the door. He sat there like a fish for a minute before shaking his head and looking at Apollo who was leaning on the door frame of his dorm.

"Percy, If you hurt my sister so help me Gods I will personally hunt you down for the rest of your life and kill you far worse than I did your half brother and no amount of repercussions could stop me." Apollo was for once being incredibly serious and Percy wasn't too sure how to handle that.

He wasn't even sure why Apollo was threatening him.

"Apollo, I'm not sure why you're threatening me but you know me. I wouldn't hurt anyone, Hell I feel bad for killing monsters sometimes."

Apollo seemed to ponder his statement for a while, seemingly trying to understand what he should say. He glanced at the closed door to Artemis's room before staring Percy in the eyes.

"She likes you Percy and she won't understand how to navigate these feelings as a goddess let alone a mortal girl. Let her down gently, if you don't mind. I don't feel like having to kill you cause I genuinely like you."

With that Apollo had stepped back into his dorm room and shut the door before he could question him further. Percy was rooted to his position, eyes wide. How does one process the fact that a man hating goddess likes you.

Percy blinked and shook it off, deciding that he just needed to keep moving and he can think about this later. He ran to his truck to load the last two bags in. He stared at the small amount of things he owned before taking a deep breath and sighing.

After waiting five minutes, Artemis came running out the front door two bags in her hand and she threw them at him. He caught the bags relatively quickly and before he could ask if she was ready to go she had already ran off into the dorms to grab more things. He chuckled slightly and stepped around his truck to make one more call.

Manipulating the water for the bottle in his hand he once again called on his dear old friend Fleecy.

"Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me Thalia Grace in some forest."

The iris message flickered for a second before an automated voice came from it.

"Next time try and know a more pin point location Perseus."

He couldn't help the slight laugh that escaped him before coming face to face with his cousin. She was speaking with the hunters in a hushed town. It looks like they were all sharpening arrows.

"Hey, Thals!"

Immediately all the hunters whipped their heads around to stare at him, their eyes cold. The only person who didn't look about ready to skin him alive was Thalia who looked quite pleased to see he was still alive.

"What's up Kelp Head? What can I do for you?"

He was incredibly aware that the hunt was eyeing him down distrustfully. They didn't seem to like how close he was with their lieutenant. Of course they knew he wasn't like most men but still, it was hard to see a man interact with one of your sisters.

"Listen, I know this sounds crazy but Artemis has been staying with me at the dorms."

Before anything else could be said the hunt had started to shout and yell. Percy felt horror creep in his gut at his suprise for Artemis being ruined.

"Shhh! Be quiet before Artemis hears you guys!"

They went quiet but still glared at him with anger. Even Thalia didn't seem to be happy anymore.

"Explain yourself, Percy."

He shuddered slightly at the lack of nickname but did as she asked.

"I stumbled into Apollo, quite literally, and then Artemis stumbled into us. We've been going to school and she's been staying in her own dorm just in the same dorm building. That's what I meant."

The hunt seemed to relax at this point, no longer ready to skin him alive. He glanced back to the dorm and noticed Apollo was stalling Artemis so he could finish the conversation. She was growing increasingly angry.

"Look! I want to bring Artemis to come see you guys and she doesn't know i'm planning to do that. Just let me know where you are and I'll come over soon."

Thalia seemed to contemplate it, trying to make sure he was telling the truth but when Artemis's shouts at Apollo to let her go reached another level she nodded.

"We're at Yellowstone. Be here soon."

She swiped through the message as Artemis came up to him practically snarling in anger.

"Stupid brothers. Stupid men that can't let women leave."

Percy laughed slightly and helped load the rest of her bags into the car.

"Come on then, let's get on the road. We're gonna do some traveling before we settle down at Camp Half-Blood."

Next chapter should be up at max in two weeks. If it's not yell at me in my Pms or in the reviews so i feel pressured and start writing. Kidding, have a good rest of your week. For those starting school soon? good luck. For those working? Amen to y'all. Everyone else? Wanna trade lives?

Lev, out.