Hey guys! *Hides behind my hands* I'm VERY MUCH aware that it's been a year (it's actually been exactly a year...365 days). I was planning on just abandoning this story, which, I know that sucks but I was loosing inspiration. However, I got a second wind and I'm going to try really hard to finish this story. This chapter is actually kind of short, but my next chapters hopefully will be longer.

Previously on Layers...

Percy cleared his throat quietly and shook his head.

"Not exactly. Your dad had passed away about month before they started the afair."

Annabeth sucked in a fast breath. You know that bearly contained rage she had going on earlier? Yeah well it's been let loose.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!"

Percy was trying really hard not to jump out of his truck and charge into Annabeth's house to give Athena a piece of his mind.

His reason?

The same thing keeping him from getting out of his truck.

His bawling girlfriend sitting on his lap.

Annabeth went through stages to get to that point.

First, she was livid:

"What the fuck is wrong with her? Her husband was barely underneath the ground and she's out fucking random douches! Sorry Percy."

"No, you're right."

Then, she was hysterical:

"Why the fuck," Annabeth chuckled, "Is Athena such a shitty person? I just don't understand!" She yelled/laughed.

"I don't know, Beth. I don't know," He sighed.

And finally, the sorrow stage:

"My dad had been buried for 2 seconds before she found the next man to hop on! I guess that shows how happy their marriage was." She sobbed.

Percy pulled her over the console and cradled her in his arms. "I'm so sorry baby."

Annabeth tucked her head under his chin as her cries slowed.

Annabeth sniffled, "I'm sorry, Perce. I'm being so selfish right now." She wiped her face and sat up.

Percy looked to her incredulously, "Okay," he said with a slight chuckle, "Please tell me why in the world you think you're being selfish."

She looked at him warmly, "Because I've always known my mom was a bitch. But your dad...Percy I know it's hard to hear something like that about someone you looked up to." She cradled his face as him eyes and smile grew dim. "As soon as you called me to come out here to you, you were so prepared to take care of me, and to help me. I sat here in your lap for 30 minutes, I've done my crying, now it's your turn."

Percy sat there staring absentmindedly out of the window silently when Annabeth gently suggested that they go back to his house to sleep until things calm down.

Percy quietly agreed and drove them back to where his mom stood waiting in her robe, ready to soothe the both of them.

Percy reached her first and was enveloped by her small stature. Annabeth stood behind not wanting to intrude, but was pulled forward by Percy, including her in the hug.

After a few moments Sally pulled away and instructed that they both go to Percy's room, feeling that separating them would do no good with the two of them heeling.

When they reached his room, Percy grabbed a pair a sweats and a top for Annabeth, and some boxers for himself and immediately stripped down, not caring if his girlfriend saw.

Annabeth, too drained to feel much, stripped without a care and climbed into both Percy's bed and arms.

(...)

Annabeth could feel the wetness dripping on her shoulder, but it took her a little longer to feel the tremors in the body pressed up against hers, as Percy tried to hold in his sobs.

She turned towards him and cradled him in her arms. Percy jerked up and hastily tried to wipe away his tears.

"Sorry," he mumbled and tried to shuffle away from her.

She held him tighter, "Stop, It's okay. Let it out." She rubbed his back and Percy burrowed his head into her chest.

She stroked his hair as he silently cried.

"I'm sorry, I'm such a pussy." He whispered.

She lightly pulled on his hair to get him to lift his head. "Percy when I broke down in your car, did you think any less of me? Think that I was weak?" She demanded.

Percy shook his head quickly and pulled Annabeth so that she was laying on his chest. "No, not at all, but-"

"You think that you should be stronger?" She interrupted.

He nodded quietly.

"You loved your dad," she said looking into his bright eyes, even more vibrant from his tears. "You still love your dad. This was bound to affect you. You let me lean on you, let me help you the same way." She hesitated, "I love you Percy, you don't always have to be strong with me."

His face transformed into a smile so wide that his eyes almost closed, "You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that."

He pulled her in for a soft kiss and rested his forehead against her's. "I love you too, Beth."

Annabeth pressed her lips against his and hooked her leg over the both of his.

Percy deepened the kiss and drew her closer to him, he immediately groaned when he felt her chest press against his own.

He tried to slow them down, but was surprised to feel Annabeth dragging his shirt up.

He finished pulling it off and hissed as she started kissing down his chest.

When she got to his boxers he pulled on her shoulders to bring her up so he could look at her.

He stared into her eyes, "Are you sure? I need you to be sure because if we do this, Beth...there's no turning back for me."

He pulled her head down to kiss her forehead gently. "I know our emotions are

really high right now, and as much as I want to —you can't believe how much I want to— I also don't want this to be something you regret later on."

Annabeth smiled at her sweet boyfriend, softly, "Percy if I've never been sure about anything, I'm sure about you, about us, and I want to make love with you...right now."

And so they did.

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