Okay, so a little surprise in here that you may or may not have picked up on in chapter one. Enjoy! ~Ali

Chapter Two

I open my eyes to see someone lying in front of me, the very spear that almost ended my life poking out of his chest. He looks weakly at me, and tries for a smile, but he coughs instead.

"I-I'm sorry," he says, stuttering, "I couldn't let either of you die…"

"Percy," I say, holding him close, "hang on, okay? Chiron is coming, you'll be fine. You'll be fine." I say it mostly to myself, trying to convince myself that he will be fine. But deep down, I know he won't be.

"No, Annabeth. You and I both know it. The spear went through my Achilles. I'm dying Annabeth."

It took eight months. Eight months for me to mostly get over Percy's death and return to camp. I don't even really know when or how I decided; I just got in the car one day and drove. The closer I get, the more impatient I get. But before I go to camp I stop by his grave. The gods had put it on Olympus. It was in a small meadow just ahead as you exited the elevator. Kneeling down, I have to read the inscription several times before my brain registers what it was seeing.

Here lies Perseus Jackson

Hero and Savoir of Olympus

Husband and Father

August 18th, 1993 - August 15th, 2018

23 years old

Below that were two quotes.

"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor." ~Aristotle

"Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friend." (*) ~Unknown

I have to wrap my arms around my chest to keep myself from falling to pieces. Above the plaque was a big statue in his honor. It was his likeness, and he was in full armor, standing with Riptide drawn. He was just sparring with a friend, proven by the goofy smile on his face. It looked just like him.

Finally I leave, and continue on to camp. I left the car at the bottom of the hill. When I finally huff and puff my way up Half-Blood Hill, I just stand and stare for a while. Thalia happens to be nearby, and she sees me immediately.

"Annabeth?" I could see her whisper. Then she runs up to me and nearly tackles me.

"Whoa! Easy Thals!" I laugh.

"Easy?" Thalia demands, "Easy? You've been gone for eight months and you want me to be 'easy'? You're crazy!" She laughs.

"I know," I sigh.

Thalia hugs me again. "Welcome home Annabeth."

One Month Later

"Annabeth, you have to let go! He's ready, and you have to let go!" Thalia says.

"No!" I scream, clenching my fists. It just hurts so much!

"Annabeth. Let. The. Baby. Come." Thalia says, getting right in my face.

"No, I can't, I can't, Percy…" I give in, and I can feel him coming now.

"Shhhh," Thalia tries to soothe me.

"No, Percy's not, Percy has to be here-" I'm cut off by another contraction.

"Annabeth, you have to let go."

"Percy…"

* That quote is paraphrased and the author is unknown. I do not own.

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