It was a strange feeling. you know when you invest so much time and effort in to something and then its all of the sudden it's done and everyone has that weight lifted from their shoulders. But yet something seems weird, not bad, but different. That's basically the only way to describe the Argo II on the way back to camp from Rome.

Me, coach Hedge, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, and Hazel were the only ones aboard, the other Greeks and Romans had found other ways back. I sat up on the upper deck over looking the lower deck and farther out the sea. Both my hands gripping the rail and my raven black hair blowing back in the wind. The deck was quite, only wind could be heard along with my heartbeat. I leaned my head back closing my eyes and taking in the salty breeze. It gave me power, strength, and a sense of home so far away from my actual home.

I knew the others were below deck in the rec. room probably eating and celebrating. But yet a sadness hung in the air. How many had we lost the count hadn't been finished when I last heard so their would be no way to know till the Argo II landed safely back at camp, but I could already tell you that too many had been lost for this cause. Friends ding in front of me stabbed threw the heart with swords or attacked by a hellhound left to die in a cold alone battle field. War raging on around them, their life flashing before their eyes them never graduating high school, finding love, or having a family and I felt some what responsible.

Now I know theres nothing I could've done and they died fighting for a cause but I feel like, why wasn't it me? I've escaped death so many times its almost unfair. I had saved myself and my friends so many times from the cold, tightening grip of death it was almost illogical. it's not like I wanna die I would much rather prefer to live and live safely for that matter but yet the question always rings through my skull like nails on a chalk board repeating, Why them and not me?

I had my eyes glued to the horizon I almost didn't notice the blonde beauty walk up next to me and grip the rail with her hands leaning forward and taking a look around.

"Mr. Party Pooper wanna come down the rec. room with us, were eating dinner soon?" She asked nudging my arm and smiling. "What are you even doing up here anyway?"

Her blonde hair was down and blowing in the wing. The sun was setting on the Atlantic and the orange, red, and yellow sky reflected back on her golden hair and skin. She looked prettier than Aphrodite herself, I leaned over and brushed a curl back so her full profile was in view to me. She continued to look out on the horizon her eyes a light sparkling grey but I knew she was waiting for an answer.

"Needed to clear my head Iv'e just been thinking about a lot." I told her nudging her slightly back.

She looked me in the eyes, us both resting our fore arms on the rail leaning forward. It was some weird power we had on each other. Just by looking in each others eyes we could read each other's emotions. Maybe it was because we had been battle partners for so long or maybe it was that we kept no secrets but whatever it was she was using it right now to decipher me like a puzzle.

"Don't feel bad it's not your fault Percy." She told me leaning in and cupping my face.

I closed my eyes taking in the heat from where her palms rested on my cheek and the sparks on my ears from where her fingers brushed. "Why not me? Why not me Annabeth?"

"You can't regret living," She told me bringing me closer to her "Obviously you weren't meant to go."

"And they were?" I asked in a tone harsher than I meant for it to come out.

"We can't know why bad things happen Percy, we can only accept that they happened and keep going." She told me in a stern yet caring, passionate voice. "we can't go back and change the past but we sure as hell can't let it affect the future."

I leaned forward and kissed her. It was soft, slow, and loving. She always knew the right things t say to me at the right time.

I pulled back and she hugged me. Sometimes I forgot what it was like to be in a pure state of bliss, You know those moments were nothing could be ruined. Those few seconds that you would never forget as long as you lived.

We pulled apart and we looked back out over the railing, I wrapped my arms around her from behind. We nuzzled together and watched the sky go from a peach to a fire red and then a citrus yellow. Eventually the sun disappeared in the Atlantic and the cold dark night consumed the sky. The wind was always worse when your on water compared to land but at night the air became really cool. I could feel Annabeth shiver in my arms and I realized both her and I were in shorts.

I leaned down and whispered through her hair into her hair. "You think everyone still down there?"

She flipped to face me but still was encased in my arms. "Of course Leo down their it's probably a party now that will rage into the early morning hours." She told me and broke loose from my embrace grabbing my hands and leading me below deck to were all of our friends were all eating and celebrating our great win. I stopped Annabeth right before we got into the room and gave her a kiss.

"What was that for?" she asked.

I smiled at her she was so beautiful. "I love you so much and you deserve to hear that every minute, of every, hour of everyday." I kissed her quickly again.

She smiled into the kiss and I just prayed that we would get a break after this.

AN Hey Y'all so there may be 2 chapters out tonight so watch out for that:)

~Stay Beautiful my Readers~

-Chloe