Sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I had some things to do this week.

Enjoy Chapter 19.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus. All rights go to Rick Riordan.

XIX Luke's Back!

(Annabeth)

When Luke walked through the gates to our camp, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't understand how he could have come back. Nico didn't explain, just went straight to Percy. I wondered what Percy would say on this matter? Would he let him stay? Surely he would, after what he did during the Titan War. However, Luke hadn't been very nice to him, even when he was dying. I hope Percy allows him to come back. It would be great to have my old friend back.

I went to the headquarters tent, in case I needed to persuade Percy to allow Luke to join us. When I went inside, I found that Percy had already accepted Luke. That was great, until I saw Percy and Nico talking in hushed tones.

I made out two words. "Luke." And "Can we trust him?"

Both came from Nico, so I stormed up to him.

"You should trust Luke after all that he did to help us win the Titan War!" I yelled.

"Calm down." Percy said, but I wouldn't listen to him. How dare anybody suspect Luke. He sacrificed himself to kill Kronos.

"No, I will not calm down, Percy Jackson! Don't defend him. Let him tell me to my face exactly why we cannot trust Luke after he sacrificed himself to scatter Kronos into a thousand pieces?"

"I—" Nico stuttered.

"Speak up, or do you know that you are wrong? Are you just trying to hide the fact that you are suspecting one of the heroes of the Titan War?"

That finally got Nico angry. I probably shouldn't have done that.

"He was talking to Gaea, Annabeth! I saw him talking to a huge mass of Earth. How can I know whether or not he stayed true to us? He doesn't exactly have the cleanest record!"

I slapped him for those last few words. A few seconds later, we were fighting. I had pulled out my knife, and he had pulled out his sword. It would've gotten way out of hand had Percy not stopped our fight. He blocked Nico's sword with Riptide, and grabbed my arm with his other hand. I stuggled, before calming down. I realized that I was in the wrong. Nico hadn't been there when Luke had sacrificed himself. He also saw Luke talking to Gaea, and that is fishy. Gaea's very good at tricking people, and Luke could be tricked just like he was tricked to fight for Kronos. I knew I had to apologize.

"I'm sorry that I slapped you Nico, but I still think that Luke is loyal."

He was breathing hard. I could tell that he was still angry, but more controlled. He didn't say anything, just stalked out of the tent.

"Are you hurt?" Percy asked me.

"I'm fine. What's his problem? Why can't he accept my apology?"

"Sometimes, people just need some time to cool down. He'll come around. You'll see. In a few days, he'll talk to you again. If he doesn't, I'll talk to him."

"Thanks Percy."

"No problem." Percy said, before heading out to the training area.

"I'm going to train." He said over his shoulder.

I sat down in one of the chairs, and pulled some notes toward me. I was looking for flaws in our strategy, when Luke came in.

"Hey!"

I immediately started blushing. I had always liked Luke, however hard it had been for me to admit it. I never told anyone, not even Percy, although I think he suspects.

"H- H- Hello Luke." I hate my stutter.

"So, what's going on?"

"Not much, c- can I ask y- you a question?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"W-What were you t- talking about with G- Gaea?"

"Oh… she offered me a place in her army. I declined, because I've learned from past mistakes. I don't think that power gives me anything."

I tuned out there. He rambled on, while I studied him. The blond hair, blue eyes (A/N I think Luke had blue eyes right?), and that scar on his cheek from that dragon. I still had the claw that he had cut off while he had been fighting Ladon.

Just then, Frank burst into the tent.

"Gaea's attacking again. She's coming from both the north and the south, and there are tons of monsters. Athena had ordered all fit and able demigods to ready their weapons and face the oncoming threat. She wants you there too Annabeth. Something about helping her with strategy."

"OK Frank, I'll be there immediately. Tell my mom that I'll be there, and then tell her that I wish to command the demigods that are going to defend the south side of our camp."

He nodded and rushed off. Luke and I grabbed our weapons, and ran after him toward where Athena and the rest of the gods stood. When I got there, Athena gave me a nod, and told me to go defend.

"Use Sequence 2412!" She yelled over the noise of the monsters and the demigods around us.

Uh Oh. If she told me to use THAT sequence, we must be in real trouble indeed.

(Josh)

Over the past few days, I learned a lot of swordplay and strategies. Finally Gaea saw it fit to give me part of her vast army to attack the gods' south side of the base. I was ready to destroy them, and enter the base. I was going to make my godly parent pay for abandoning me. I led the monsters up the hill leading to their base. I heard the horn sound, which meant for me to attack. Meanwhile, another part of the army led by Porphyrion would attack the north. I had faith that we would win, so without hesitation I ordered my troops to charge.

We sped across the open ground. Everything went great, until monsters started dropping like flies. I looked to see the problem, and saw silver arrows flying through the air, piercing monsters, and turning them into golden dust. Mother Earth couldn't resurrect them all, since that would take a lot of energy that she didn't have. However, by the time the third volley of arrows came, the monsters were already swarming the walls of the camp. I was about to join the fray and hack some demigods to oblivion when something hard and heavy hit me in the head. Everything went black, and I fell to the ground.

I wasn't going to put too much in a chapter

Guess what happens in the reviews!

-RAfan2421