Annabeth.

The window was cold against my pale face.

I had been waiting in this room for the last thirty minutes, hardly breathing. The only sounds were the pattering of rain outside my window and the soft crackling of the fireplace nearby.

I closed my eyes, witnessing the film forever rewinding in my mind.

The sirens…they were so bright.

Red and blue…they changed so fast.

"Annabeth!"

Maybe if I stopped thinking, it would all go away.

Impossible. I'm Annabeth Chase; there was no way I could ever manage that.

"Mom…who are you?"

"I'm your mother." Dana leaned down, attempting to caress her daughter's face, but got her hands slapped away instead.

"Who are you really?" Annabeth whispered.

I opened my eyes and shook my head, but failed in erasing the words that changed my life.

I could never stop hearing them.

Dana sighed, and sat back. "I'm Athena…and I am a member of the U-council."

"Are you still thinking about your mother?"

I glanced at Sally Jackson, sitting on the couch beside me, holding a book.

"Yeah…I-I can't stop remembering." I scoot over and made a spot for the woman who had helped me through so much in the past months.

Sally sat, holding my hands in both of her own. "She did it to protect you. You can't blame her for wanting to keep you away from all that Olympian business."

"I know…" I shivered despite the heat in the room. "I just…I still can't believe they had him this whole time."

"I'd rather believe it than not." Sally said. "I missed him so much."

I didn't reply, thinking back to the memory I had from days before.

Sally and I were together, standing in the midst of what was left of Kronos's Army.

Next to us, stood Reyna, speaking to us about the news that had arrived in the morning.

"A few of them survived," she was saying. "But without Kronos to lead them, they'll quickly fall apart and we'll catch them once they do."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

"We've been keeping track of them for the past fifty years. We know who the enemy is." Reyna pulled her Praetor cape tighter around her shoulders, protecting herself from the strong gust with what little she had.

"Right."

For a moment all three of us stood there, taking in the chilly morning air and growing trees. Funny how a year ago they had been torn apart into what seemed something beyond repair, but now stood once more in the process of rebirth.

"How long have you known?" Sally glanced at Reyna, bringing up an earlier topic.

"I always have," Reyna replied. "Does this mean you won't forgive me?"

Sally smiled, warming the hearts of those around her. "I was never upset in the first place. I understand why you did it. So thank you."

Reyna blushed, digging her boots into the crunching snow beneath her. "It's fine."

"Now, tell me, how's Thalia doing?" Sally asked.

There was a knock on the door, breaking me from my train of thought. "Come in!"

A tall, tan-skinned man entered the room.

Sally looked away, suddenly much quieter than before. "Hello Poseidon. It's nice to see you."

The man squirmed where he stood, clearing his throat. "It's nice to see you too, Sally."

Sensing the tense atmosphere, I intervened. "Where is he?"

Poseidon sighed. "He's waiting across the hall."

I stood up, ready to push my way past whoever happened to be blocking my way. "I'll be in his room."

Poseidon grabbed my shoulder, keeping me from going past the door. "I want you to know now…he isn't the same."

I frowned, about to speak, but cut off by Poseidon.

"He's the same person," he said. "But…he didn't escape the bomb unscathed."

For the first time in nearly a year, I smiled, having found hope once again.

"But he's still my Percy…and that's all that matters."

That's what I thought.

…

After opening his bedroom door-

…

And seeing him for myself-

…

I wasn't so sure.

The End.

For Now.

Next update will be an author's note.

If you have any questions I'll answer them there.

I hoped you enjoyed A Pyrrhic Victory.

I know for a fact that I enjoyed writing it.

Thanks guys. :)