AUTHOR'S NOTE: I can not tell you guys how thankful I am for all those reviews, favorites, alerts, and everything! I also want to thank you all for the 1000+ views! I finally reached 1000! :) I'm going to give all you guys a bunny, a rainbow and marshmallows! LOL! Oh and a big thank you to horsecrazygirl13 for helping me with the beginning! Again, thanks and please review, and I hope you guys like it!

And then Percy raised his hand, and I flinched, waiting for the blow.

But it never came.

Instead, a strange look passed across Percy's face as he saw my reaction.

"You flinched." It was a statement, not a question.

Because he didn't ask a question, I wasn't going to respond. I just stared blankly back, my mouth slightly parted as I felt the water start leaking from my eyes.

He took a step closer to me, but I took a step back, cringing harshly again. It seemed like a dance. A twisted, messed up kind of dance.

"You thought I was going to hit you," he said quietly. Again, it was just a statement.

I let out a shaky breath, and a firm line was planted on my face.

"Annabeth, why would you think that I would actually hit you?" he asked, his sea-green, gloomy eyes burning intensely into mine.

"Well, what do you expect me to think?! You know who I've lived with all these years." I said angrily. "What did you want me to think? That you would start tickling me?"

He took another step towards me and our dance continued.

"Hey, don't bring all that onto me. That's not fair," he protested, and I felt his warm breath close to my ear.

"Hah," I laughed dryly. "Ever heard the term 'Life's not fair?" I said bitterly, looking down.

"Annabeth. Look at me," he commanded gently. I looked up, into those smoldering marbles.

And we just stared at each other for a moment, my eyes the color of thunder clouds, meeting his, the magnificent color of the ocean.

And he took yet another step forward. But this time, as I took a step back, I hit the wall. But still he came closer, until finally, the dance was over. He put his hands against the wall, on either side of me. Then, he leaned in, so that his lips were only centimeters from my mine.

"I would never hurt you. You don't understand how much you mean to me."

"How am I supposed to know that?" I shot back, trying not to let my voice break.

Leaning in, he closed the little space between us and my heart almost stopped. Bending down, he touched his lips to mine gently. I lightly pulled him in closer using the collar of his shirt and he chuckled against my lips.

I pulled away, embarrassed. "What?" he asked, amused again, all traces of him being sad or angry gone.

I was flustered, but I shook my head, laughing.

"I think you have a disorder." I joked.

"And what would that be?" Percy challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Bipolar."

He laughed, his voice filling the whole house.

I smiled, but it was wiped off my face in a heartbeat. "What day is it?" I said all of a sudden, my pleasant mood, destroyed.

"Uh," Percy replied, glancing at the calendar next to the refrigerator, "January 13."

I scowled as I saw the date for myself.

"What's wrong?"

I sighed. "My mom died today, 8 years ago."

"You never told me why," he realized.

I closed my eyes back to that horrible day.

"Mommy? You promised you would read this book to me before we go to sleep!"

I handed her The Little Mermaid, my favorite story that I had probably read 20 times already.

"Okay, okay." Mother smiled warmly and took the book out of my hand.

"Far out in the ocean the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower, and as clear as the purest glass." She started reading in her musical voice.

I smiled, getting sleepier by every word.

All of a sudden, dad came into the room. "Christina we need to get out of here! Hurry!" he screamed.

"What's going on?" Mother asked worried, dropping the book, the echo still ringing in my ears til this day.

"Mommy?" I asked, already getting out of bed.

"Come on honey. Follow daddy. We need to get out of here." she said calmly. "Just remember whatever happens, Annabells, I will always love you."

She gave me a tight hug, not knowing that would be the last time I would see her alive again. Not knowing that was the last time that I would feel her warm embrace.

"But I don't understand mommy! What's going on?" The panic rising in my voice.

Dad grabbed my hand, pulling me out of my room. Walls of fire were surrounding everywhere we looked. He carried me as he jumped over the burning chair that fell in our way.

Mother was trailing behind the whole time, coughing and getting weaker by the minuet from the black smoke she inhaled.

Dad and I got out of the building both breathing heavily, as we collapsed onto the hard cement outside, watching the building burn. Suddenly I looked around, realizing in horror.

Mother was still in the building.

I squirmed out of my dad's arms. "MOMMY!" I screamed, trying to get back into the building. Dad hollered at me to get back, running close behind.

I saw mother at the very entrance, reaching a dirt covered arm out to me, her pale grey eyes widening. She mouthed the three words that I would never forget as the building gave out and collapsed to the ground;the creaking of the wood splintering sounded like thunder, the fire, a wicked lightening.

"NO!" I screamed in devastating dread.

I would never forget the sound of my mother's cry for help.

My dad pulled me back by my waist, and I fight with all my might, but it didn't compare to his strength one bit.

"NO! I WANT MOMMY! I NEED HER! SOMEONE HAS TO HELP HER! PLEASE! NOOOOO!" I cried.

"She died in a fire." I stated close to tears, remembering the details of that day. "She got trapped in the building."

Percy caught the tear that fell and wiped it away.

"Shhh..." He told me, stroking my hair to calm me down. He mumbled against my hair. "I promise you, I will never let anything or anyone hurt you."

I nodded and fell into his embrace.

Looking outside the window, I saw the sunset.

"It's already 8?" I asked disappointed, my voice surprised. Time could pass so quickly when I was with him. Only him.

"Yeah," Percy agreed, "We need to get you ready for bed." He said with a smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes but got up and went into my room, with him following close behind.

He handed me my pajamas that were laying on my bed with a smirk.

I changed quickly in the bathroom, because the faster I changed, the more time that I would have time with Percy.

I ran out of the bathroom, almost tripping over my two feet. He caught me, with a humorous smile on his face.

"Anxious much?"

I laughed. "A little."

He leaned in to kiss me but I moved so he missed.

"You're gonna have to catch me first!" I taunted.

I ran around my room like a little kid.

"It's on!" Percy said laughing, accepting my challenge.

We ran around my room until I got tired and he grabbed me by my waist. "Gotcha!" He said, smiling widely, still holding on to me tightly. It was sweet he didn't want to let me go.

"I. Can't. Breath!" I said, strained.

He let go but turned around to face me, his eyes bright as the yellow, full moon outside my window. I've never seen him so real, so himself before.

"I'm sorry, I better be getting home," He said glancing at the clock.

I sat down on the bed, scared. He couldn't leave me now.

"Oh." I said, the disappointment in my voice crystal clear.

Percy grabbed my hand and sat on the bed next to me.

"Don't worry. I won't leave you." He said softly, reading my mind.

I blushed deeply and bit back a smile as he got into the bed with me. I suddenly realized I was exhausted, but I couldn't go to sleep knowing he was here with me.

Percy sang softly into my ear and stroked my messy hair.

I know it's hard, I feel it too

So don't bother faking

It doesn't matter what troubles you

I will help you take it

Here from the rain I shelter you

'Til the storm is ended

Fired as arrows, words untrue

But I'll defend...

Miss Pitiful you're so beautiful

I'm a light on, fall on me

Fall on me

Before the battle begins and until it's through

I'm like a barricade in between anything and you

So no matter how far, whatever it takes

You will make it through the day, I'm your barricade

("Barricade" By:Maddi Jane)

I felt myself drifting off to sleep. I knew then and there that it would cause me mental and physical pain if he left me. If I didn't have him in my life.

And with those thoughts, I fell into the most peaceful sleep I have ever had.

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