Disclaimer: I do NOT own Percy Jackson.

A/N: Please excuse the lateness of your author for this story because she sucks at updating and isn't feeling well (again). Oh, and plus, I'm drowning in feels again, and have no idea how a court for divorce goes, and I really really am sorry if it's wrong, beauties. I tried my best to research whatever I could and am now seriously stressing over it if I messed up.

Four days later..

Athena's P.O.V:

"Athena Olympus (A/N: Sue me for the horrible name, I couldn't think of anything else)," Artemis, her lawyer, spoke, her voice booming through the whole courtroom. "You are here for deciding who will be the dominant parent for your daughter, Annabeth Chase, once you and your husband, Frederick, get divorced, correct?"

Athena pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes."

On the other side of the room, stood Frederick, wearing a small smirk on his face. Athena forced herself not to stare the ground, feeling overwhelmed at the fact that so many eyes were on her.

The spectators were watching, curious as to what the outcome would be, and Athena tried to ignore her lawyer and Frederick's lawyer, John, watching her.

"Now," Artemis spoke, sending shivers down Athena's spine. "Firstly, what is the cause for your marriage with Frederick Chase to be divorced?"

"I believe I am not in love with him anymore, it doesn't work out."

"Is that all?" Artemis asked.

Athena nodded. "Yes."

"Has your husband ever been abusive towards you?"

Shaking her head, Athena replied. "No."

"I see. Has he ever been abusive towards your daughter?"

"Never." Athena responded.

"Do you believe that if Frederick gains custody over Annabeth, she will be treated properly?"

Athena sucked in a breath, and prayed nobody had heard it. She instantly regained herself. "Yes."

"Do you agree upon having custody over your daughter?" The Judge questioned.

"No, Your Honor."

"Why is that?" Her lawyer asked.

"I never have time to spend with Annabeth. While she comes back from school, I am at work, and when I come home, I have many other papers to design, resulting in me never being there. There is always a seldom chance I am able to help her if she is sick, for I cannot take days off as easily." Athena replied.

"What is your current occupation?" Artemis asked Athena.

"I am an architect."

"What is your financial status?" The Judge asked her.

"I can support myself easily, as well as a family." Athena spoke, knowing she chose the wrong words.

"You may take your seat," The Judge spoke, and Athena nodded.

"Yes, Your Honor."

"May we please have Frederick come up to the witness box?"

Annabeth's P.O.V:

Annabeth held her breath as she watched what happened, not daring to breathe. She was in the back the courtroom, where not many people could see her, yet she could see everything that was happening clearly.

Frederick walked up into the witness box, and for a second, Annabeth couldn't recognize him. In the past four days, he'd changed completely. There was nothing about him that Annabeth saw as threatening, and he even had made breakfast and dinner for her, and had taken her out of ice-cream.

Still, Annabeth knew it could be part of the act, to gain custody over her. But that didn't make sense; if he hated her, why would he want custody over her?

She could see her mother and her tenseness, yet she couldn't understand why Athena was lying. Annabeth knew her mother didn't want her, and she was surprised anybody did. Of course, it hurt, but she wasn't allowed to say it. She had to take in her feelings, bottle them up just for the sake of her parents, and her being "old enough".

She watched as her father walked into the witness box, a small smile lingering at his lips.

"Frederick Chase, you are here to decide whom shall gain custody over your daughter, Annabeth Chase, correct?" His lawyer asks.

Frederick nods. "Yes."

"What was the cause of the marriage between you and Athena Olympus to come to an end?"

"We weren't working, I didn't feel anything for her anymore, and I'm positive she feels the same way." Frederick answered.

Annabeth saw her mother look at the ground, not looking up at the judge. She felt her heart breaking as she saw it happen.

No normal family would ever have to go child custody court. But her family had lost it's label of "normal" long ago.

She knew it was stupid, lying to the judges, but she wouldn't force her mother to keep her if she didn't want to.

She was snapped out of her thoughts once Frederick's lawyer started speaking again.

"Has your wife ever been abusive towards you?"

Frederick shook his head. "No."

"Has Athena been abusive towards your daughter?"

With that, Frederick gave a nod. "Yes."

"What types of abuse have occurred?" The Judge asked.

"Verbal abuse, Your Honor." Frederick answered, his voice confident.

"How long has the abuse been going on?" Frederick's lawyer asked.

"Ever since Annabeth started middle school. Athena has never accepted anything less than an A+. When she didn't, Athena would call her different things such as 'stupid' and 'not good enough', and threaten to kick her out." Frederick responded.

"Why was this never reported?"

Frederick took a deep breath. "Annabeth always told me it wasn't as bad as it seemed, and I was never really there to experience the abuse, but when I did, I immediately signed for a divorce."

"I see. Do you suspect that it is not safe for Athena to gain custody over your daughter?" The Judge asked.

Frederick nodded. "I know it isn't safe for Annabeth, and would do anything to make sure she's safe."

"Do you believe that gaining custody over your daughter is the best thing to do?" His lawyer asked.

"Yes."

"Why is that?" The Judge asked.

"It wouldn't be safe with Athena, Your Honor."

"And you are saying it would be safe with you as Annabeth's guardian?" The Judge asked.

"Yes, Your Honor." Frederick said.

"Do you believe you are capable of being Annabeth's guardian?" His lawyer asked him.

Frederick nodded. "Yes."

"What is your financial status?" The Judge asked.

When Frederick spoke, his eyebrows were slightly raised. "I have saved up money, I can support Annabeth with a house, everything she needs, Your Honor."

"Very well." The Judge said. "Now, you may sit down, Frederick Chase."

Annabeth's heart stopped beating once she heard the next words of the Judge. "Annabeth Chase, please come up to the witness box."

Annabeth took a deep breath, as one of the lawyers, Artemis, grabbed her hand, and led her down to the witness box, where everybody was watching. Annabeth felt her face flush, and heat rushed to her face.

There were so many professional people present, she couldn't help herself when she didn't look at anybody, trying to ignore everybody.

She had to look up when the Judge cleared his throat. "Annabeth Chase, correct?"

Annabeth nodded, remembering what her parents had acted like towards the Judge. "Yes, Your Honor."

"Due to circumstances, I am obligated to ask your questions, which you must answer truthfully. Is this alright with you?" The Judge asked her.

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Very well." The Judge said, and Annabeth tried to ignore the gazes that were on her.

"Firstly," The Judge asked. "Who do you feel the most comfortable with between your two parents?"

"My father, Your Honor." Annabeth replied, trying to prevent her voice from shaking.

"Why is that?"

"My father has always wanted to spend time with me, he has always been caring towards me, and has sat beside me when I was sick. My mother, on the other hand, never has." Annabeth responded.

"Has your mother ever been abusive towards you?" The Judge asked.

Annabeth stared at the ground, then back up. She forced herself to lie, remembering all the other times she had. "Yes, Your Honor."

"Has she ever done it in public?" The Judge questioned.

Annabeth shook her head. "No, Your Honor."

"For how long has she been abusing you?"

"About a few years ago. Since sixth grade."

The Judge then nodded. "Who do you feel the most safe with as a parent?"

"My father, Your Honor." Annabeth answered.

"Has your father ever been abusive towards you?" The Judge asked.

"No, Your Honor."

"Are you willing to move to New York with your father?"

Annabeth nodded, "Yes, Your Honor."

"How do you feel about visiting your mother on the holidays?" The Judge questioned her, and the spectators suddenly broke out in talking.

Raising a hand to quiet them, Annabeth nodded. "I'm fine with that, Your Honor."

"Even after she has been abusive towards you?" The Judge said.

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Why is that?"

"Because even though she is sometimes rude, she's still my mother, Your Honor." Annabeth responded, feeling a tug at her heart and then guilt for lying.

The spectators watched her, curiously.

"Very well." The Judge spoke, and Annabeth gripped the edge of the witness box, trying to stay calm.

He said something quietly, something Annabeth couldn't hear. He looked at Annabeth, then back at Athena, who was looking at Annabeth with an unreadable expression. He then turned to the lawyers, getting up. "Your verdict will be decided soon, a couple minutes. I will be back shortly." And with that, he left, and Annabeth was lead to sit in one of the rooms of the court by an unknown person as she waited, her heart beating rapidly.

The room smelled of mint and a water fountain was attached to the wall beside it, and chairs were placed along side the walls, paintings decorated the plan and wooden brown walls.

Her family was with her, and she tried to imagine it as though it was a friendly family get together, and not deciding who she would be staying with permanently as her family broke up.

Maybe it's my fault.

Her thoughts kept lingering to that sentence, that goddamned four lettered sentence that brought tears to her eyes. They pricked at the back of her eyes, and Annabeth sighed as she pressed her eyelids together, feeling the weight of a school bus on her chest.

Her parents didn't seem to notice her. But then again, it wasn't as though they ever did.

If Frederick gained custody.. She thought about Percy, about how it would feel for leaving him. They weren't what she'd call best friends, as they used to, and she had barely talked to him and the Fourth of July, but she still thought about him, and how he was with Gabe. But maybe she'd make friends, and her life would be different. Still, she felt a hole in her heart as she thought about leaving her mom, leaving the house she'd grown up in.

But was it really a home if she'd spent nights awake in the room crying because of her parents? Or sneaking out to get away from their yelling?

Not really.

But if she stayed with her mother, things would stay the same, with another school year of no friends, and sitting alone at lunch.

Still, she didn't let her hopes get high on making friends in New York, being the new girl in sophomore year wasn't something she was looking forward to.

She was interrupted from her thoughts when a woman who was dressed formally entered the room, looking at them.

"You may now enter the courtroom. The judge has made his decision."

Annabeth took a deep breath, as her "family", rose up from their seats, walking a distance apart from each other as the woman led them back to the courtroom, Annabeth behind them.

When they arrived, Annabeth was seated in the middle of the courtroom, as the spectators talked.

Annabeth tried to keep her face down, to block everything as her heart raced.

A moment later, the judge walked in, and sat down in his seat. He held a hand up to quiet down the spectators, and not even thirty seconds later, everything was silent.

Then, he spoke.

"Annabeth Chase, the verdict has been decided. By going through the evidence, we have found that Frederick Chase would be the best guardian for you."

He paused for a moment, and Annabeth dared to look at Athena's face. Her lips were thinned, and she wasn't looking at the judge, instead deciding to face the wall.

Annabeth felt a wave of guilt wash over her, but she ignored it as she turned back to the judge, who spoke again.

"Frederick Chase, you have gained full custody of your daughter, Annabeth Chase. "

Percy's P.O.V:

"Percy!" Rachel said over the line, laughing as Percy grinned along with her.

"What? Come on, Rach, you know it's true." he said, unable to help the smile that stretched across his face.

"I actually liked him. He wasn't that bad of an English teacher, you know." Rachel disagreed, yet Percy could detect the amusement in her tone.

He snorted. "Yeah. The teacher that made us stare at textbooks all day, refused to let us leave for bathroom breaks, and always used that annoying chalkboard?"

"Everybody knows the only reason you even asked to go to the bathroom was so you could ditch."

Percy shrugged, even though Rachel couldn't see him. "Pretty valid excuse if you ask me."

"Of course."

There was silence between the two, and as Percy handled the phone on his shoulder as he fixed off his room, something he would never do if it weren't for Gabe forcing him. He saw the cuts on his arms, and had to force himself not to be triggered once again, needing the pain of the blade to calm his nerves down after a few days ago.

He'd called Rachel in hopes of her making him forget, and he did, for about a minute. He couldn't help but feel as though he had been seen, somewhere and would have to pay the price.

He could hear the sounds of the remote clicking on the other line from where Rachel was flipping through the channels, probably sitting on the couch.

"So how's life?" Rachel asked.

You know. Drug dealing at 15, being blackmailed, hit and abused, but pretending like I'm okay. "Nothing much." Percy answered. "You?"

Rachel made a sighing noise. "Oh, you know, the usual. My dad being an ass."

Percy was quiet for a moment, feeling a hint of guilt coming through him, "I'm sorry."

His girlfriend sighed again. "You don't have to worry, it's not even that big of a deal. But I just feel kind of overwhelmed with his expectations and everything, you know?"

"Yeah," Percy said. "I know."

For a moment, Rachel was silent before she spoke in a quiet voice. "Percy?"

"Yeah?" Percy asked, a sinking feeling overwhelming him for no apparent reason.

"Did you hear about the drug dealer on the news in the city four days ago? They said he looked about 15?"

Percy almost dropped the phone. "What?"

"Yep," Rachel answered. "Isn't it sad? To see people our age doing drugs?"

A sickening feeling washed over Percy. "I guess so."

"I guess they have nothing better to do, and are stupid enough to turn to the drugs, huh? Drug dealers make me sick."

Percy nodded, getting up and walking over to the window of his room, the urge to cut even more prominent.

I guess they have nothing better to do, and are stupid enough to turn to the drugs, huh? Drug dealers make me sick.

"They make me sick too, Rach."

Percy sighed as he threw in the last of his materials, a coat and a hoodie into his backpack. It was late at night, and anxiety bubbled in his stomach as he came to terms about what he was going to do.

He checked the items off the list again, $400, a little over a dozen water bottles, a little bit of food, an umbrella (just in case), extra clothes, his phone and charger, and cold medicine.

Taking a deep breath, Percy shouldered his backpack and left the room, looking once again at the room he would leave behind.

Percy would have done it earlier; run away. If he had the guts, but now that it was clear he didn't have much of a choice, he left the room, walking slowly towards the door.

It was four in the morning, and Percy knew he had to leave before Gabe found him missing.

He didn't know what to expect, nor what would happen.

But as he opened the door of his "home", he knew one thing.

He wasn't coming back.

A/N: Okay first of all I don't know how a court runs, I did my best to research. Let me know if there's anything wrong and I'll rewrite is ASAP. Terrible ending. I know, and OOC-ness. I am really sorry. I haven't had any time to write, or update. I haven't started TWSH, either, and I've been feeling bad and lonely again. Plus life's been busier than ever, and it's just overwhelming.

But onto the reviews! :)

dbanjeezeez: I love this review, so much. Thank you so much! Guess you'll have to see if Percy's okay, huh? ;)

TigerL1ly81L: Haha, I agree! Athena's not the best as of right now, huh? Thank you so much, love! :) Can you let me know if the court thing is right in this? Thanks! :D I love you!

theartnerd333: Haha, I do know what you mean! Oh my gods, thank you! It really means a lot, love. I hope you liked this chapter! :)

ShatteredOwl: Same here. Thank you! :)

I3Riptide: Right? New York is amazing, honestly. Thank you so much, oh my gods, this means so much to me, you have no idea.

KeepSmiling: Who cares about the people who call you a nerd for wearing a CHB shirt? Ignore them. I'm sure we all have haters, but honestly, just don't let them get to you. Thank you so much, love. I hope you have an awesome day, and smile. Because you deserve it :)

geetanjalizara: Shit. Thank you so much! :D

marinaofthesea12: Oh this totally just made my day. I'm so glad to hear that!

greekgeekgirlbro: The only reason this story is even here in the first place is because of people as amazing and inspiring as you. Guess you'll have to see what's up with Athena ;) Ahhh, no! Don't buy my books. I totally just am speechless right now, oh my gods. Thank you so much! Honestly.

Someone the World Forgot: Alright, cool :) And WHY DOESN'T SHE? Wait and find out, honey ;) and he is screwed already, though, isn't he? Thank you!

Guest: Aw :) Hope you liked this chapter!

Jessica Jasso: You will, don't worry. Thank you so much, I hope you like this chapter too! :)

TheViolinWriter: Here it is! :) Thank you so much! :) I hope you liked this chapter!

Valdez-The-Repair-Girl: I missed your reviews, seriously. I did. I totally understand; you don't have to review every chapter, don't feel obligated to, love. :) Go get some rest, honestly, I want you to be rested and fine. Thank you so much! I look forward to your reviews.

uneednotnomyname: Oh my gods, this is so nice. Thank you so much! You'll have to see what happens with Percy ;) It totally is worth it to lose sleep over you guys, believe me. Haha, thanks! :)

IamCrystalClear: Thank you! :)

That's all of the reviews. For those of you that are reading TWSH, it's not even started yet. I'm sorry, but I feel like I need a break. Not some sort of "stop writing" break, but to stop stressing over updates, you know? Anyway, stay safe. Keep smiling, xxx.