Author's Note:

Thank you so much for the reviews guys! Here's chapter 13!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything!

CHAPTER 13- SAN FRANCISCO

Annabeth felt a surge of excitement as she stepped and lowered the gap between her and Nico. She felt a need to come closer to him. Just to be near him. And suddenly, it made her ache; just standing there…wanting to know about someone who might no longer existed for her anyway—or shouldn't have. Two years. She fought for it for two years. She stared at him not knowing what to say.

And Nico looked at her wondering why. He smiled in a confusing way as if the lady wanted to tell him something. He could not understand why but there was something about her that bothered him. For a moment she felt her heart stop, but his smile told her that he had no idea who she was. She pulled at her hat a little to assure that he couldn't see the last tape on her head and held Fred a little closer in her arms for comfort as Nico continued to stare at her.

"I know this is a crazy thing to ask." It was Nico who spoke first. "I know we never met before but I feel strange. Going away for a vacation?"
"Ah… yes," and she smiled. Nico stared at her beautiful face and his eyes went to the folder she was holding and the sketch pad.

"Are you an artist?"

She nodded. "On my way to Mexico." Annabeth felt excited. She would like to ask about Percy and how he is. Had he seen him? Her heart ached just to hear even a little bit of news about him. How about Thalia? Any news about her? Oh gods. Nico did not recognize her!

"I hope you're not from Mexico. I surely would like to see you here again in San Francisco. You see, we need an artist in our team and we haven't found one yet. May I get in touch with you? I hope you've got a contact number where I could reach you." Nico interrupted.
Annabeth suddenly panicked. She can't reveal her identity to Nico. No, not yet.

"I hope you don't mind if I'll just get your contact number Nico. I will be away in the country and have no idea when I will be coming back. I will give you a call when…"

Nico's eyes widened. "How did you know my name?"

Annabeth muttered something under her breath.
"I…err …I heard the saleslady talking to you," she lied and with that she turned her back and got ready to walk away.

"Hey! Wait…please !"

"I'm afraid I have a plane to catch. Nice meeting you." and she walked away.

Her knees were trembling and her heart pounding hard. Nico was her first link to the past. She turned left towards the ladies' room to make sure Nico will not follow her. She will stay there first to freshen up and stabilize her emotion. Her meeting with Nico was not expected and not planned at all. How she will act once she sees familiar faces. Nico, Thalia, and most of all…most of all Percy!

"Welcome to San Francisco, Mr. Jackson!" His secretary smiled as he strode along the corridors of San Francisco International Airport. He smiled at the girl who was part of his San Francisco team. She looked so young almost fresh from graduate school. He missed the cheerful motherly look of Katie Williams back in the Philippines but Annabelle Wise, his new secretary looked very competent. She was blonde, tan skin and her eyes, ocean blue. He was staring at her blonde hair thinking of Annabeth. It was Sally who personally picked her and he was glad she made a good choice. They will make a good team. He looked at his watch and wondered if Nico and the rest of the group had arrived. He was supposed to be in the same plane as Thalia and Nico but at the last minute there was a delay in their flight and Percy begged off to take the next flight schedule. The rest of the team should have now been settled at Jackson Hotel and after a few hours of unpacking, he could start the briefing and talk about their future plans. Rachel phoned him before he left and announced her interest to follow him in San Francisco. Anyway, she needed to attend a convention regarding her father's telecom business. Percy wondered if after two years, Rachel could replace Annabeth in his heart. Anyway, Rachel is a wonderful girl and she had set her eyes only for Percy even during their childhood days. He and Rachel grew up together.

He was still thinking of Rachel when a girl walked past him tugging along a large suitcase and a dog on the other hand. He was mesmerized as he looked at her. She was walking fast as if in a hurry. Maybe, she's got a plane to catch. She looked like an artist because she was holding a folder of sketches. You can't miss her among the crowd for she wore a wide brim hat and her elegance stood out among the rest. She walked with grace like a fashion model and what made Percy stare at her back was her resemblance to Annabeth. Her presence made her think of Annabeth. Her body features looked like Annabeth's but this girl was super poised. She was in a hurry overtaking most of the people in front of her as she glided gracefully. The girl was already far from him but he can't take his eyes off her. It was only seconds and they were drowned by the fast moving crowd but Percy caught a glimpse of her face at the side. She was very beautiful and was almost perfect. Wondered if she was a movie star. Annabelle went ahead of him and when the beautiful girl was out of his view, he proceeded to the black limousine waiting to take him at the hotel. Even when he settled at the back of the car, he was still thinking of the gorgeous girl.

Annabeth was dead tired when she arrived at a hotel in Mexico. She spent three days there looking for new subjects for her gallery show. She brought out her sketches and in the next hours, worked on her last set of paintings. She couldn't believe she will be having a gallery show. Luke was very supportive in sponsoring the show. In between, she went out of the hotel and jogged along the fields, feeling the fresh air filled her lungs. She felt free and alive. It will be a good start. She wanted to extend her stay but she needed to go back to San Francisco and set the venue for her gallery show. When she came back after three days, she felt refreshed. Luke met her at the airport. Her skin had a good tan and her cheeks pink. She was wearing that warm glow all over her face. Luke had just arrived from Europe and he looked refreshed too from his vacation.

"Welcome back princess, I hope you didn't miss me as hell."

" Nope. As matter of fact, I found out I could live very well without you after all."

"Well, that's a good start . You can now kick me out and fire me."

"You know I won't do that. I still need you Luke,"and they laughed as they made their way towards his car.

They drove in the countryside as he floored the accelerator of the black Porsche. It was a delicious feeling, almost like flying, and there was no one else on the road. She adjusted her hat so the wind will not hurt her face. The lower half of her face had now been finished. Only the area on her forehead was still heavily taped, and the wide brimmed hat covered most of it. She was very beautiful . From what one could see, Dr. Luke had not only wrought a miracle, he had done an exquisite job. Annabeth herself was aware of it. Everyone stares at her, giving her an admiring look. She had lost another five pounds and looked long and sleek, like a beautiful jungle cat. She even played with her new voice now. She liked the new person she was becoming.

"You know, Luke, I've been thinking of changing my name." She said it with a sheepish little smile. Somehow it had sounded less foolish when she'd discussed it with Silena. Now she was sorry she'd brought it up. But Luke instantly put her at ease.

"That doesn't surprise me. You're a whole new girl, Annabeth. Why not a new name? Has anything special come to mind?" He looked at her fondly. "So, who's my new friend? What's her name?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I've been thinking of Sophia Johnson. How does it sound to you?"

He thought for a moment and then nodded. "Not bad … in fact, I like it. Do you know that Sophia Loren was one of the most beautiful face in the world in her time? It suits you. I like it very much. How did you come to it?"

"The name is from a very special friend in school while the last name is my grandmother's maiden name."

"My, what an exotic combination." They both laughed and Luke sat back with a small, satisfied smile. Sophia Johnson. "When are you thinking of changing it?" He watched her through the thin veil of fog.

"I don't know. I hadn't decided."

"Why not start using it right away? See how you like it. You know, you could use it on your work." He looked excited at the idea.. "Seriously, Annabeth why don't you?"

"What? Sign Sophia Johnson on my paintings?" She was amused at how seriously he was taking her. He and Silena were the only ones who saw her work.

"You might broaden your horizons a little. And keep a little mystery to your true identity. You will be launched on your gallery show as Sophia Johnson. I'll call and tell Kevin. He owns this gallery…"

"I'm nervous." She swallowed as she looked at the view. She was quite uncertain how she will face the world as Sophia Johnson.

"You have so much talent, don't be stingy with it. If you don't like the show or what it brought you, you just scratch out the name of Sophia Johnson. Give yourself a chance at least." There was a pleading note in his voice that pulled at her. Maybe that would make a difference. But she felt as though they'd been over this ground a thousand times before. Something froze in her at the thought of being a professional artist. It made her feel vulnerable. It made her … think of Percy.

"I'll think about it." It was the most positive response he'd ever gotten on the subject, and he was pleased.

"See that you do … Sophia." He looked at her with a broad smile, and she giggled.

"It feels funny to have a new name."

"Why? You have a new face. Does that feel funny too?"

"Not really. Not anymore. Thanks to Silena and to you. I've gotten used to it." Most women would have given their right arms to get a face as beautiful as hers and she knew it.

"Should I start calling you Sophia?" He was only teasing, until he saw a new light in her eyes. They were wonderful and alive.

"As a matter of fact… yes. I think I'll try it on for size."

"Perfect Sophia.."

They continued driving until Luke made a left turn and soon arrived at the city.

Yes, holding a show will be too perfect. It will be her stepping stone towards a new career. And this school year, she will be enrolling in an architectural course.

"Sophia.."

"Yes?"
"Do you … do you still miss him?" She was surprised at the sudden change of topic. There was such pain in Luke's eyes as he asked the question. He had to know. Now that the last bandage will be off her face in a few days, he felt sad not to be with her anymore.

"Sometimes. Not always. Why?" It was an honest answer.

"Do you still love him?"

She looked very hard into his eyes before answering. "I don't know. I remember him as he was, and us as we were, but none of that is real anymore. Let's face it. I'm not the same person, and he can't be either. The accident must have left a mark on us. Maybe if we saw each other again we'd both find that we had nothing left together. Like this, it's hard to say. You're left with only dreams of the past. Sometimes I wish I could see him just to get over with it. But I … I've come to understand that I will never … see him again." She said it with difficulty but finality. "So I just have to put the dreams away."

"That's not easily done." There was pain in his eyes again as he spoke to her. And suddenly she began to wonder if he had been through something similar.

"I like you so much Annabeth but …"

He slowed down and it made Annabeth feel uncomfortable. Luke was the only one she had now but soon, he too had to go. Nothing permanent in this world. It would be wonderful if she could love Luke like Percy but no she couldn't.

"I like you, too, Luke. But in my own peculiar way. As a brother perhaps…"

"That'll do for now." He was hurt by her answer.

"Luke… I… I don't know how to say this, but … I don't want to hurt you. I'm still packing up my past. Piece by piece, bit by bit. It may still take me a little time."

"It's okay." Annabeth is on her way to recovery and it's not easy for her to throw away her past just how much she wanted to.

"I…I don't even know how I will feel once I get to see Percy. I saw Nico, his best friend at the airport on my way to Mexico and the feeling was terrible. It made me want to cry. I want to ask him even just a bit about Percy but I can't. He did not recognize me."

"That was sudden. Did it make any difference?"

"Yes. It was as if I saw Percy himself. Kind of weird."

"Don't worry. When the time comes you will be ready. Anymore session with Silena?"

She shook her head. "I had terminated all my sessions with her. Maybe I will see her when the need arises. As for now, I need to pick up things and start my life all over again."

"Yes. Maybe." And his tone suddenly changed as he told her that his final work on her face will be done in three days time.

With all her paintings and all her work, Annabeth was glad to be back to her brushes as she signed Sophia Johnson. She was now ready for her gallery show. After finishing her final touches, she went out to see Jan Kevin Stutler, the gallery owner. She was excited discussing with him where to hang this and that.

"My! What a vast of talent! What a pour of emotions!" There were scenes of children playing, a sidewalk vendor with memorabilia's on hand, boats sailing in the sea, fishermen with a good catch, and a garden at dawn, your eyes couldn't get enough.

Then Kevin noticed two sets of paintings lying in a corner. He got one out. It was a beach scene with the sun glowing early in the morning casting its light on a rock that had been lying on a hill of white glowing sand. There was a bead of bracelet lying below a rock as if taking a peak. It was entitled" Till Death Do us Part".

"Wow! This is a masterpiece. A marvellous work! Where was this taken?"
It was seconds before Annabeth answered. "That's in Palawan, Philippines. It was my…my first painting Kevin. But it's not up for sale."

"Why?" Kevin asked in disbelief. "It's a pity you will hide this from the public."

"It…it held painful memories of the past that I meant to let go. Together with this other one."

Kevin held the other painting. It was a picture of a young couple holding each other's hand as they stroll in the park eating a cone of ice cream. "Those are Nico and Thalia, close friends of mine."

"They're so beautiful." Kevin can't take his eyes off the couple. "I hope you will change your mind."

Annabeth just gave him a sheepish smile. She wanted to tell Kevin those first two paintings of hers were the most important pieces of her life. She just needed sometime before she would let them go.