Months and weeks passed as Percy and Annabeth were a happy couple together. When Annabeth asked him "You'll stay won't you? I can't exactly pay you now." he laughed and responded. "Of course I will-you're worth more than any pay I could ever get."

They took turns manning the lighthouse and one day while Annabeth was sharpening her Celestial bronze knife she'd gotten as a gift a long time ago, Percy came up beside her, holding a lightly balanced blade. "You want to practice?" he asked.

She smirked. "I'm pretty good."

He shrugged. "Same."

Annabeth held out her knife. "Let's do this thing."

Percy drew out his sword and made the first move, slashing at her leg but she quickly parried and slashed at him with clear quick strokes, moving in closer so she'd have the advantage. The son of Posideon blocked every one, throwing in some of his own moves, and trying to push her away from him with his sword but they just stayed. They continued, standing at even paces, thrusting, twirling, and blocking. Percy tried some hits to the side and legs, even feinting to her head but she caught every one.

Annabeth knew Percy was good but she was too. She had been training by herself for some years and she knew the quick reactive movements of feints and turns. She moved light on her feet, keeping up with Percy's momentum and grinned at him. "You're actually pretty good," she acknowledged.

He laughed. "Thanks." Neither of them broke their footwork until Annabeth saw a spot in which he wasn't protecting and slipped underneath his sword, holding her dagger to his throat. She grinned. "Well, well, well."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Annabeth?"

Then she realized that he was holding his sword at her throat and she instantly burst into laughter.

"Wow, you really are good," Percy admitted.

Annabeth shrugged. "Huh, so we both of the same amount of skill level. The aptitude and momentum of thrust appeals to-"

Percy put up a hand and chuckled. "Wait a moment Wise Girl, your talking to Seaweed Brain here." He put an arm around her waist and held her close to which she smiled and leaned in for a passionate kiss.

After they broke apart, Percy sighed. "Annabeth, its been a year since I came here and I know your still shaken up. So am I. But I need to leave."

Annabeth pulled away, shooting daggers at him with her stormy gray eyes. "What?"

He laughed. "Not leave you like that. I need to make enough money so we can get married, Annabeth. I still have a mother waiting for me. Annabeth, I want us to be happy. I'm going to take a job out sea for only a couple years. It won't be long, you don't have to worry."

A bout of de ja vu hit Annabeth and she blanched, taking a few steps back, a few hesitant tears pooling in her eyes. "That's what my father said to me before he left," she whispered quietly, fighting to meet his gaze.

Percy gripped her hand. "Annabeth, I'm so sorry. But I need to do this. I want us to get married and live happily forever. But I just need a bit of time to make enough money for a living."

"Why can't we just be poor?" Annabeth pleaded softly. "I don't care! I just want you. I couldn't handle it if you died too."

Percy sighed and Annabeth kissed him on the lips, then seized his shoulders. "I need you," she said softly.

He grabbed both of her hands and gestured to a boat that he'd put together. "Annabeth, I need you too. But I must go."

Annabeth fought back tears then grabbed him in a crushing hug. "I understand," she muttered. "But you've got to come back."

Percy smiled tenderly at her. "Annabeth, death cannot stop true love. Only delay it for a while."

She grinned. "You actually came up with something clever, Seaweed Brain."

He shrugged. "I try, Wise Girl."

A ship came into view and before long, Percy was boarding, a blue sack slung over his shoulder. "I love you Wise Girl!"

Annabeth waved, a steely hand gripping her heart, making it impossible to breathe. "Be safe, Seaweed Brain!"

And then he was gone, melted as the wind, never to return again.

Annabeth ran into the lighthouse, then fell on the floor, on the verge of tears and then began to set the lamps.

After a year had passed, Malcolm came with another heart-crushing letter telling her that the Dread Pirate Beckendorf had capsized her love's ship and as everyone knew, he took no prisoners. Perseus Jackson, her Seaweed Brain, was gone.

It was too much for her. Annabeth ran to the beach and yelled at the sea "I HATE YOU! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? FIRST MY FATHER NOW YOUR OWN SON! WHY? WHY? WHY? WE WOULD'VE BEEN HAPPY TOGETHER! AND ITS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Her yelling fits caused her voice to get hoarse, and she stormed back into the lighthouse, preparing for the shining beams to bounce onto the clear waves.

Annabeth didn't want to do anything with the ocean. She felt a pure deep hatred for her mother's nemesis now. Everyone she loved had been taken and there was nothing she could do about it. Malcolm was the only thing close to family she had left and he would stop by time to time, bringing fresh fish for her.

Annabeth knew she couldn't stop working the lighthouse-it was a part of her now and it gave her memories of when she still had her father and Percy and everything was alright. Most people would've been driven insane but she held on to everything she had and kept living although all she really wanted to do was jump into the ocean and let it claim her life.

Her cherished memories remained locked in her tormented soul but Annabeth would never forget she and Seaweed Brain's first practice swordfight and their last.