I know you've all been waiting for sometime now for the next chapter and I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting. Here is the next chapter!

It was around 3pm when Jackson finally woke up. "Someone was tired," I commented with a smile. "I started to think you drifted off into a coma or something and that would have made a dent in my plan to get to New York."

"Ha ha very funny," he commented with a smirk. "How are you doing back there Ava," he had turned around to look at her. I thought it was sweet that he making sure she was okay even though we just met him.

"Good," Ava squeaked and I saw in the rear-view that she gave her owl a squeeze. I really hoped that when we got to New York she would come out of her shell more, it worried me at times how shy she was. I mean she never really had many friends and part of that was my fault with having to protect her from the more dangerous part of my life and I always worried that someone may also catch on about Benny. I know it would be safer in New York for us and she could get to know people who where kind and caring, people that would never hurt her.

"Who's your friend," Jackson asked pointing to her Owl. It had actually been given as a gift to her from my mother, Athena, when Ava was born, along with a necklace with a little golden starfish on it from Poseidon.

"Stella," she told him. "My grandma gave her to me." She has never really met my mom since she had only come to see Ava the day she was born, but I knew she sent little signs to her at times. Ava would spot out owls all the time as if Athena just sent them her way. She loved owls, though I could tell she was her father's daughter as well. She loved the sea, I had taken her there once when she was 4 and ever since then she had told me how it was her favorite place in the world. I've been wanting to take her there again maybe when we get to New York I can take her to Long Island.

"That's a very pretty name," Jackson told her with a smile.

"Thank you," she said and I could here the smile on her lips as she spoke.

"You're very welcome," he replied to Ava and then he turned to me, "Let's stop at the next gas station to refill and stuff."

"Sounds good to me," I could use a food and break from driving and as long as we don't have another close call like we had this morning we would be good.

After about another hour of driving we found a rest stop and a pretty nice one at that. It had a WaWa, a repair shop, and even a little park/play ground area. First things first we got some gas and then we headed into the WaWa to get food.

"Mommy can I go on the play ground," Ava asked me with a big cheeky smile. She stood there with a lunch-able in her on hand and Stella the owl in the other.

I looked at Jackson not sure if he wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. "It's fine with me Anna," he assured me, "it will be good for all of us to get out of the car for a little while."

"Yeah baby you can play for a bit but first you have to eat," I told her. She nodded and we all made our way outside to a picnic table and started to eat our food.

After Ava was done eating she went to go to the playground which was in clear sight of where Jackson and I sat. "Make sure to stay in my sight," I yelled out to her which was replied by her giving me a thumb up. I couldn't help but let out a sigh at that.

We sat there in silence for a while eating our hoagies. I then started to do some thinking about Jackson and I realized I had no info about him other then his name was Jackson. I mean he didn't know a whole bunch about me but still more then I knew about him. "So what has you driving to New York City?" I asked him. I studied him as he sat in front of me as he seemed to collect his thoughts. He really was a good looking guy. I took notice to his outfit a navy blue zip up hoodie that was zipped up about half way. Under that I could see an orange t-shirt that was so pale with warn, I also noticed that at one point it had said something on it but that was also so warn away I could possibly start to decipher what it had once said.

"Going back home," he simply said. I looked at him wanting a little more information then just that. I could have guessed that one on my own. "I had been away…traveling the states for a few years now and it's time to come home. To see my family and friends…" he trailed off and got this half smile that played on his lips.

"Some one special back home you're hoping to see," I asked.

At that comment blush flushed his cheeks, "hopefully." I couldn't help but want to root for him. He seemed to be wishful about who ever this person was and something made me want to see him happy. Maybe it was because he helped me out and has been so kind to Ava and me or maybe it was because I liked to root for the under-dogs.

"Well here's to hoping," I said holding up my can of soda as if I was making a toast. He clicked his can to mine and we drank to hope.

We finished up our food and I collected Ava so we could make a trip to the bathroom before we got back on the road. When we got out of the bathroom I took notice to a payphone and a water fountain on the side of the building. "I'm going to go make a phone call you guys can just wait in the car. I'll be back in a few." Ava gave me a nod along with Jackson.

"Come on Ava lets get you in the car," he held out his hand to her and with my surprise she took it and started to walk back to the car with him.

I made my way past the pay phone and to the water fountain. I hit the button to turn on the water with my hip and then stuck my thumb over the top of it creating a mist which in return created a rainbow. With my free hand I dug out a drachma from my pocket. I had saved a few of them over the years just in case.

I held out the drachma, "oh goddess, accept this offering." With that I threw the coin into the rainbow which turned into a shimmer of gold. "Camp Half-Blood," I stated. Soon enough I saw camp, I was looking at the cabins I had redesigned. No one was there which made sense since dinner should have just started. Just then I saw a boy come out of Hades cabin. Could it be, "Nico?" I called out to him.

He turned to my voice and I saw his jaw drop, "Annabeth?" He walked over to me to get a better look."

I nodded with a huge smile on my face. It was so good to see someone from camp.

"What happened to you," he asked noticing my bruised face. "Where are you? Are you okay? Where's Ava?" He was asking questions so fast I couldn't answer him quick enough.

"Nico," I tried to chime in but was cut off, "Nico!" That got him to shut up. "I'm fine now, and so is Ava she's in the car with someone I know."

He nodded, "and the bruise?"

"I had been dating a guy for a few years," I started hating to explain it, "he was a little hands on."

"A little hands on have you not looked at yourself in the mirror?" He was angry I mean we had been through a lot together and was like my brother and he had been one of Percy's closest friends. He was there with me during my pregnancy. "How long has he been hitting you?"

"A year or so but that's not the point," I tried to explain to him. "Stop freaking out."

"A year how could I not freak out," he was pacing now. "Let me guess you let this go on until Ava got hurt," at this comment I felt my stomach drop. I already hated myself for that but hearing it come from someone was even worse.

"Don't you think I know that what I did was bad," I raised my voice, "I hate myself for putting her in danger. I called because I wanted to inform someone that I was coming home not get lectured about stuff I already know."

"You're coming home?" Nico asked.

"Yes do you really think I'm that stupid I would stay with someone who hurt my baby," I fumed. "I can't believe…."

Nico interrupted the start of my rant, "Annabeth I need to tell you something…"

"Save it Nico," I angrily stated, "You can tell me when I get home."

"No really Annabeth…" and with that I let go of the button stopping the water and the call. I walked to the car and got in slamming the door loudly.

Jackson looked at me and opened his mouth to question but Ava beat him to it. "Mommy, are you okay?"

"Yeah baby," I whispered and quickly wiped my eyes. "Lets get going," I told Jackson, who just gave me a nod and started the car.

So there's the next chapter guys. I hope you all liked it a lot!

Write on,

Spunkransom12