Disclaimer: I do not own Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson books, characters, series, movies, or anything else you may recognize.

Chapter Thirteen

We're On Our Way

"Oh the storm is raging against us now

If you're afraid of falling then don't look down

But we took the step, oh, we took the leap

And we'll take what comes, take what comes."

"Walking The Wire" by Imagine Dragons

Over the next few months, Leo and I spent a lot of time together. Jason and Piper had started dating and were practically attached at the hip, and Annabeth and Lee were being much more open about their relationship, so Leo and I were both feeling a little like third wheels amongst our friends. So whenever I had free time, I spent it on the ship with Leo, mostly keeping him company while he worked, but he occasionally asked me to help. And whenever Leo had a rare break from working on the Argo II, he came to a couple of my events as my date (which absolutely thrilled him).

And let me just clarify that just because he came as my date, didn't meant that we were in any way dating. I was and would always be in love with Percy, and everyone knew that. Leo admitted to having a crush on me when he first met me, especially because he only knew me from seeing me on the television and performing and what not. Once he got to know me, all romantic feelings toward me disappeared. I loved Leo, but as a brother. Apparently he loved me like a sister, too.

It was a nice relationship. I felt like I could talk to him about anything and everything, and he always seemed to get it. He made me laugh, too, which I was finding harder and harder to do as the months passed by.

So sometimes when Leo worked on the ship, I'd practice my choreography and vocals for my different shows and school assignments. The closer we got to the completion of the Argo II, the more time Leo had to spend going over the mechanics of the ship with Annabeth and I so that there was always someone aboard who could navigate it.

I was just getting into the limo post-interview in June when I got the message I had been waiting a year for.

It's time, Andee. We're all gathering ad we're leaving in two hours, Annabeth said into my mind.

On my way, I replied.

"I need to go straight home," I told the driver. As I leaned back in my seat, I couldn't stop fidgeting. The driver had barely put the vehicle in park and I was bolting through the front door of my house and up to my bedroom. Most of my belongings were already in my bag, but I liked to keep a few things in my room to make it look occupied. So I threw in a small picture album, some books, my laptop and some extra clothes – anything and everything I might want with me. I slipped my dagger into its sheath on my thigh and slung my bow and quiver across opposite shoulders.

Val stood in my doorway, holding Dimitrios on her hip. "It's time, isn't it?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling like someone had a hand around my heart and was squeezing it as tightly as they could. The odds were against me ever coming home from this quest, an in my excitement to be reunited with Percy, I had completely forgotten that. I may never see Val, Johnny or little Dimka ever again. Hell, if we didn't succeed on this quest, the world would end.

"I'll drive you," Val said, and immediately set about getting her car ready and getting Dimka into his car seat. The car ride over was silent, neither of us saying anything until we finally got to camp. We both got out of the car and saw the Argo II hovering above the cabins. "That's amazing."

I nodded in agreement. It was an enormous golden trireme with one huge sail and multiple banks of oars, which I knew doubled as spears from helping Leo build the ship. There were also two sets of giant crossbows that fired flaming arrows more powerful than anything I could shoot. We both stared at it for a moment before I attacked her with a hug, trying to stop myself from crying. "I love you, Val. Thank you for being my mom," I choked out.

"You never have to thank me for that," Val said. "I would do it a million times over. You're my daughter and I love you more than anything in the world." She sniffled a little as she pulled back. "But this isn't goodbye. You, Lee, Annabeth, Percy, and all the others are going to stop Her. I believe in you, and even if the gods can't hear, I'll be praying for you every moment of every day."

I nodded, a lump in my throat as I tried to say something, anything that could comfort her and myself, but nothing came. Instead, I hugged her again and moved back to the car where Dimka was sitting.

"I'm going to be gone for awhile, Dimka, but I want you to know that I love you very very much," I said.

He grinned. "Love you Dee Dee."

I hugged that precious child and kissed his little head as much as I could before I knew I had to go. I had to do whatever it took to give my little brother/godson the chance at a life in a normal world. That was the least I could do.

I watched as Val drove off with Dimka and took a deep breath before walking into camp. I jogged up to the crowd circling the rope ladder that led up to the Argo II. All of the senior counselors were gathered in a smaller group just a few steps in front of the ladder with Chiron.

"You ready for this?" Annabeth asked as she looked up at Leo, who was standing on the deck of the ship wearing a pirate's hat.

"Ready for what? Going to the Roman camp, seeing Percy, possibly fighting in another war, or saving the world?" I asked looking at my best friend. My sister. She was one of the few people who had been by my side through everything and would always be there. If there was anyone in the world who could do all of this, it was Annabeth, so I couldn't be more proud to have her by my side. I hooked my pinky with hers like we used to do when we were little. "I'm ready."

"Good to hear, co-strategos," Jason said, clapping me on the back.

Everyone took a few more minutes to say goodbye to all the campers, assigning different responsibilities and making sure we all had ways to stay in communication.

Chiron silenced the group before saying, "We wish you all the best of luck and may the gods be with you."

I was the first to climb up the ladder, pulling myself up rung by rung until I reached the lower deck of the ship. The bottom of the ship was made entirely of bulletproof glass, letting us see the ground far, far below us. I knew the layout of this ship like the back of my hand so I zipped my way up to my room, right next to the Poseidon room (which I had requested).

There was a room for each senior counselor, and each room had a twin-size bed, a small closet, and a small dresser or vanity depending on who the room was for. I put all my clothes in the small closet, hung pictures up all over the walls and a few of the more special ones on the mirror of my vanity.

I stood back to take in my handiwork and smiled, looking at all the pictures. I really loved photos – they were a way to travel back in time, even if it was just for one single moment.

I twisted my promise ring and smiled a little. After a year of what felt like solitude, I was one step closer to seeing the love of my life again. I couldn't believe how close we were.

I felt the ship start moving and knew that Leo and Annabeth would be busy in the control room, making sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. I needed to do something to keep busy.

Read. I would read.

I looked through my bag to see what books I had brought with me and decided on Harry Potter. I mean, of course I could re-read all the Greek 'myths' as mortals called them, but I had them practically memorized by now.

So Harry Potter it was. I laid down on my bed and opened the book, ready to start on the magical journey that didn't involve Greek gods and goddesses and titans and monsters. Just witches and wizards and evil warlords. It's totally different.

Totally different.

I could only get a few chapters in before I started getting antsy. I was getting completely overwhelmed by knowing I was getting closer and closer to Percy. How could I not be excited? I put a bookmark in so I wouldn't lose my spot and put the book down before heading up to the top deck. As I walked by the control room, I saw Annabeth and Leo hard at work, steering and mapping out the route we would take.

Jason and Piper were also on the top deck, hanging out near the railings of the ship. Jason had his arms around Piper and she had hers wound around his neck. The two were talking in hushed tones, both grinning widely. Every few minutes they would kiss and both would pull away smiling even bigger than before.

The green-eyed monster was taking over. They were so lucky to have each other, and I would be the first to admit how jealous I was. I was so incredibly jealous because they got to do all of this with the other right there, Jason had kind of been with Reyna back at Camp Jupiter. Basically they had started seeing each other in a more romantic light when he had disappeared from Camp Jupiter and ended up coming to Camp Half-Blood. So he got to choose what to do and he chose Piper, who was there. And honestly, from where I stood, that was the right choice. For him.

But for Percy and me, it was different. We had been dating for almost a year before he disappeared. And it had been extremely serious. I just wished more than anything that I could have Percy here with me, dealing with all of this end-of-the-world crap together. He was my other half and I missed him so much. I missed having those sweet little moments like Jason and Piper were having.

I went to the control room, trying to shake off all my negative thoughts. "How long until we arrive at Camp Jupiter?" I asked. Annabeth and Leo looked up slowly, as if awakening from a dream. Those two sure got in the zone with things like this.

"Sorry, what?"

"How long until we arrive at Camp Jupiter?" I repeated.

"Three days, four tops," Leo answered.

"You know that," Annabeth said in an almost suspicious tone of voice. She looked out to the deck and just responded with, "Ah."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped at her.

"I just – you need to be extremely realistic," Annabeth said. "There is a really good chance that when we arrive, Percy won't remember any of us. Keep in mind how long it took for Jason to remember things about his past – it could take Percy longer. We don't even know when he arrived at Camp Jupiter. Just…protect your heart, okay? Don't get your hopes up too high."

"I'm not." That was all I could say. My hopes were already up too high and there was nothing I could do to bring them down. If he were to remember anyone, it would be me, right?