Hello again! This is the sixth chapter of Come what may. Dig in! But first a special thanks to lilflipballer for betaing this story! Okay, now you can dig in! Enjoy!

Annabeth's POV

Olympus was pure chaos. When we arrived on the top, we almost got hit by a boulder the size of Grover's backpack when it was bulging with tin cans. Apparently Kottos and Gyes had gathered up a little army of anti-Olympians. There were cyclopes, other giants, some freaky spirits and in the lead, Kottos and Gyes. They were just like their much nicer brother – they were huge and muscular, but there had been something about Briareios... He was kind and friendliness glowed from him. But his brothers – pure evil. Their eyes (they had fifty heads, so I could see at least ten of their eyes from where we stood) were gleaming with hatred. In each of their hundred hands they held a rock, occasionally throwing one at the buildings. All of the Olympian gods were fighting against the intruding army. They were wearing full Greek battle armor. Zeus threw his bolts at the giants, who were tearing the buildings down, Poseidon was fighting a huge cyclops with his trident. My mom was carrying the original Aegis.

For a minute, we just stood there, staring at the view in horror.

"Should we help them?" Thalia asked from my right.

"I suppose we should. That's why we're here", I said. I glanced at Percy. He watched the battle, his face hard.

"Then let's go!" Nico yelled and ran towards the nearest cyclops, screaming wildly as he went. Dike pulled a dagger from her pocket and rocketed forward. Thalia and Grover glanced at each other, then joined Nico. I was about to follow them, but someone took my hand.

"Annabeth, wait", Percy said and pulled me back.

"But we need to hep them!" I said, pulling my hand off his.

I looked at Percy. He looked sad. I was sure he was thinking about the prophecy, about someone getting hurt. That was just like him. He was always worried about his friends getting hurt. Sometimes I just wished he'd cut it off. I didn't need protection. I had my cap and brains. That's enough for me.
Percy hesitated and then said quietly:

"Just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be careful, Seaweed Brain", I told him. "You keep yourself safe too."

Percy frowned. I didn't know why.

"I made a promise, Wise Girl", he said. "I promised you none of us will get hurt."

"Swear it upon the river Styx", I pleaded. He couldn't break his promise if he swore upon the river Styx.

Please, please, please, do it. I'll die if you get hurt, I thought.

"Annabeth", Percy said softly. "As much as I'd want, I can't swear that upon the river Styx."

I guess I understood. A son of Poseidon or not, no one could prevent someone getting hurt in this kind of a battle. My eyes stung. I tried to fight the tears.

"Oh, Annabeth. It's okay", Percy said and squeezed my hand.

"I know. It's just... I can't even think about someone getting hurt", I mumbled. I wiped my tears away.

"Okay. Let's kick some giant ass!" I said and we ran towards the action. I put my cap on and took my knife out of my sleeve, where I always kept it. I ran past Nico, who had summoned some dead spirits to help him fight a cyclops, who was near to its end. I saw Thalia and Grover fight an evil spirit. Grover was playing his pipes, making roots grow out of the ground and making the spirit get tangled in them. I searched something to attack, scanning the whole view. I dodged a boulder thrown by one of the titan brothers. The other was fighting a bunch of nymphs. The situation didn't look so good for them. The hundred-handed giant beat their asses in a matter of minutes.

Then I saw a cyclops running towards me. He was dazzled and his steps were wobbly. An easy kill, but who cares? I ran towards him, slashing his thigh with my knife as he ran past me. The cyclops wailed in pain and stopped to see who'd hurt him. I jumped on his back and stabbed him in his side. With another roar of pain the cyclops tried to grab me from his back but I was faster. I jumped off his back and went for the kill. I made my way in front of the cyclops and jabbed my knife through his stomach. The cyclops dissolved in golden smoke.

I wiped the hair off my face and looked around me. The number of the intruders had decreased a bit. Dike was fighting a humongous giant with Apollo, who was now aiming at it with his bow. Zeus threw his bolts towards one of the titan brothers. I saw Briareios wrestling with a cyclops. It was an easy fight for Briareios. With the number of his arms, the odds weren't too good for the poor cyclops. Then I was suddenly knocked down by someone. An evil spirit had killed a nymph, who'd fallen on top of me. I scrambled on my feet and looked at the nymph. Her beautiful, slightly green face was torn and she had a deep wound in her stomach. The spirit who'd killed her was moving away from me and the dead nymph. I ran after it and with one strike of my knife in its back it dissolved with a wail of pain.

I saw Percy run past me. I darted after him and tapped him on his shoulder. He startled.

"It's only me, Seaweed Brain", I whispered.

"Oh, hi, Wise Girl. How's it going?" Percy grinned at me. His face was gleaming with sweat and there were leaves and stuff in his hair.

"Good, good. I see you've done some hardcore fighting, huh?" I asked.

"Totally", he answered, knocking out a spirit on the way.

Then I heard a deafening wail of pain.

Percy's POV

I scanned the battlefield, searching for the source of the wail. Then I saw it. Briareios was lying on the ground, in the feet of one of his brothers. The giant freak raised about seventy of his hands with a boulder in each of them and threw the rocks at Briareios. The noise was deafening. Like an earthquake, avalanche and a huge explosion at the same time, accompanied by a scream of Briareios, who was now under a heap of rocks.

"Oh, Styx!" I cried.

My vision was clouded by red clouds. All I could see clearly was the Hundred-handed One, who was roaring with laughter now. I heard my pulse in my ears. I was outraged. This douchebag had just attacked Olympus, killed his brother and now he was laughing his ass off. I let out a wild yell and darted towards the brother of Briareios. My heart beat wildly as I ran. It was as my blood had spoken to me in rhythm with its beat: "Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance..."

"Percy! Don't!" I heard someone scream behind me, but I didn't care.
All I wanted now was to kill that ass, who was just laughing there. As an ADHD kid, revenge was the first thing I ever thought, when I got mad at someone.

"Hey, douchebag! Shut up and fight!" I yelled at the giant. All his heads turned to look at me.

"I shall squash you like a bug, young hero!" he roared and tried to grab me with half of his hands.
I dodged and slashed at him with Riptide, causing a wound on one of his arms. That didn't seem to affect him at all. He threw a rock at me. I threw myself on the ground, rolled once and got back on my feet again, only to be grabbed at again. I rolled left to avoid being grabbed. I saw the giant wince once and swing a few of his hands at something. Suddenly Annabeth was standing there. The giant had flung her cap off her head. It was lying in the ground, not within Annabeth's reach. The giant seemed to take some interest in Annabeth, because he left me alone for a while, now swinging his hands at her.

"Get your filthy hands off my daughter, Kottos!" I heard a woman yell.

Athena darted at Annabeth. Kottos was momentarily stunned, but that didn't last long. Together Annabeth and her mother attacked him. I snuck behind Kottos while he was busy with Athena and Annabeth and stabbed him with Riptide. He wailed and turned to me, exposing his back to the brainiacs.
I saw Annabeth slash at Kottos' legs. She was astonishingly beautiful, whenever she fought someone. Her face was filled with concentration as she planned, fighting at the same time. And her style in fighting – perfect. Considerate and aggressive in one package. Just my type of a girl.

As I watched Annabeth I left my own guard and soon regretted it. All I felt was a blow on the small of my back and I fell on the ground, yelling as I went. The pain was excruciating. I only heard a girl yell "No!" before I was swallowed by darkness.

Annabeth's POV

I was in a tough spot, when my mom came to help me. She yelled at the giant (Kottos, so she'd said) to keep his hands off me and ran beside me. Together we attacked his front. I saw Percy sneak behind him. I suppose he'd hurt Kottos, because soon he cried and turned to him. Mom and I went for his back, slashing where we could. It was kinda hard to reach anywhere, because Kottos was huge! I wounded his legs as much as I could. Mom, who was in her big form, sheared his back with her sword.

In the middle of slashing and stabbing I heard the most terrifying sound ever. A boy's yell and a 'thump'. I knew just who'd cried. Percy. I glanced around, trying to see what had happened to him and I saw him lying on the ground, unconscious.

"No!" I screamed. Tears started flowing from my eyes. How could this be possible? He'd promised me he'd be fine!
That's when it hit me. He had promised me. And broken his promise. Betrayed me.

"I'll kill you for that!" I yelled at Kottos, who was fighting my mother. He turned to me.

"You may try, girl, but you'll have a pitiful end, just like your little friend there", he said, pointing at Percy.

I didn't hear a thing anymore. All noise was drowned by blood roaring in my ears. I wanted revenge. I might never get Percy back, but I most certainly would kill that asshole, who'd taken him from me.
I charged at Kottos, ran from between his legs, slashing his thighs as I went. Kottos tried to grab me with many of his hands, but I swerved and dodged them. Meanwhile my mother was cutting his arms off. Many of his arms were bloody stubs. I attacked Kottos again, now jumping on his back and stabbed his shoulders and back. He wailed and tried to grasp me from his back. I tried to dodge his hands, but there were too many of them and he got a grip of my ankle. He lifted me up and dropped me. I waited for the crash and broken bones, but they never came. Instead someone caught me. I looked up, dazzled.
It was Poseidon.

"That was close there, huh, girl?" Poseidon asked. I couldn't do anything, but stare at him. I was a bit shocked.

Poseidon put me down and grasped his trident. Then he charged at Kottos, who was again fighting with my mom. I soon recovered from the shock and followed Poseidon. I wanted to be the one, who'd kill him. I wanted vengeance. So I attacked again. While Poseidon was fighting him with his trident and mom distracted him from behind, I made up a quick plan. It was useless though, because before I'd even started to act, Thalia, Grover and Nico were by my side.

"We saw..." Thalia said, but her voice broke. Tears were glistening in her eyes.

"I know", I told her. But this wasn't the right time for grief.

"Let's do this together", I told the others.

"For Percy", Grover agreed.

"Thalia, could you borrow me your bow and quiver?" I asked my best friend.

She handed them to me and I slipped my knife back in my sleeve. Then we all raised our weapons.

"For Percy!" we yelled as the four of us rocketed towards Kottos.
Thalia and Nico started slashing his legs, Grover threw cans in fury and I climbed on Kottos' back again. Now Kottos had so much to do, with two demigods, two Olympians and a satyr fighting him, that he didn't even notice me in his back. I drew the bow and shot at Kottos' head. He wailed and tripped. He still managed to retain his balance. My friends, mom and Poseidon understood what I was trying, so they attacked with superior force, compelling Kottos to concentrate on them and not me. I shot another arrow at his head. He stumbled again, but didn't fall. Single arrows didn't do enough, so I drew the bow again, now with two arrows. I'd tried that before, but it didn't end up that well. Now I had to succeed. Screw Dike, she could banish Gyes. I wanted an eye for an eye. I aimed at Kottos' head, the bow drawn. I forgot to breathe, I didn't hear anything. Just me, the bow and the unbearable grief for Percy. I released the string and heard Kottos cry in pain. I quickly shot another two in his head and he fell. The unfortunate thing was, that I was still on his back and I fell with him. Kottos' dead body dissolved in golden smoke. I fell on the ground hard, probably breaking my wrist, but I didn't care. I stood up. I didn't look at my friends, not mom, mot Poseidon. I just ran to Percy, who was lying in the ground. All the other giants and spirits were killed. They had arranged a spot, where Apollo treated wounded nymphs. I knelt over Percy and rolled him on his back. Nico, Grover, Thalia, Poseidon and my mom all came around me and Percy.

"He's still alive", Nico said. "I can sense it. I know when someone dies."

I felt a jolt of relief. He wasn't dead!

"But he's very weak. I'm not sure if he'll survive even with nectar and ambrosia", he added.

"Percy! Can you hear me?" I called him. "Please, wake up!"

His eyelids fluttered and his eyes opened slightly.

"Annabeth?" he croaked.

"Oh, Percy! You're alive! I thought I'd lost you forever", I stroked his cheek.

"Perrrr-cy!" Grover bleated, but I heard someone kick him.

"Ouch! Why did you do that?" he complained. I didn't hear the answer.

"Percy, I..." I started, but he silenced me, putting his finger on my lips.

"Shh, Annabeth. It's okay. I'm going to be fine. I promise", he said, taking my hand in his.

"No, Percy. It's not okay", I said, tears filling my eyes.

"But it will be", Percy whispered, reaching for my face, but didn't have enough strength.

"Percy..." I stroked his face again, leaning closer to him. "Don't try to tell me everything's going to be okay. Nico already told us", I said.

"No, Annabeth. Don't give up hope. I promised not to die. That's a promise I won't break", he said. He now had enough strength to touch my cheek with his hand. I took it with mine and kept it there. Tears were flowing down my cheeks.

"Annabeth, there's something I need to say. I've been waiting way too long", Percy said. He had some difficulties to breathe now.

"Tell me, Percy", I manage to say, before I broke into sobs.

"Don't cry, Annabeth. I hate seeing you cry", Percy whispered. "I wish you to be a happy Wise Girl, okay? Smile and laugh and enjoy your life."

"But you promised me you wouldn't get hurt", I sobbed.

"But I am not hurt, Annabeth", said Percy. "I can't feel any pain. Just a look of your face makes me forget all pain."

I was confused. He was probably raving. He seemed to be able to read my emotions, because he said:

"I mean it. The feel of your hand on mine, just a glimpse of your beautiful, grey eyes... It numbs the pain. I... I'm in love with you, Annabeth."

If I had been confused before, I don't know what I was now. He'd said the words I'd been waiting to hear for years. I knew just what I wanted to say back, but the words were stuck in my throat.

"If I die now, I'll die as a happy man. Knowing you're safe, looking into your grey eyes", Percy whispered. I stroked his face with my free hand, since my other hand was still holding his against my cheek.

"Percy, I..." I tried to speak, but there was still a lump in my throat, that enabled the words to come out. So I just lowered my face and pressed my lips against his. Just once. Then I pulled away. I tried to speak again. The lump in my throat had gotten a little bit smaller so I managed to whisper:

"I'm in love with you, too, Seaweed Brain."

I was still crying. It felt like all hope had gone. My Seaweed Brain was dying. I heard Apollo give orders to people, who were helping the wounded. Wait a sec... Apollo! I turned to the others. They'd been watching me and Percy the whole time. Thalia's eyes were red from crying. Grover had his arms around her. Nico just sat there in silence. My mother and Poseidon were talking a few meters away.

"Take care of Percy for a while", I said.

"Of course", Thalia said and hiccuped.

"Great. I have a plan", I said and ran away.

Thalia's POV

All of us ran to Percy, when we had taken care of Kottos. Even Athena and Poseidon came with us. Annabeth was in front of course. She'd probably broken her wrist in the fall, but that didn't seem to bother her. She'd just jumped on her feet and run like the wind. She knelt next to Percy and started to wake him up. Nico announced, that Percy was still alive, but only just. He could sense a faint life aura in him. To our relief, Percy soon opened his eyes and called Annabeth by her name.

"Perrrrr-cy!" Grover cried from beside me. I kicked him hard. This was Annabeth's moment.

"Ouch! Why did you do that?" he asked me, rubbing his leg. I didn't say anything, just motioned towards Annabeth and Percy, who were holding hands.

Nico, Grover and I sat down. I heard Athena say Poseidon something about a need to talk and they walked away. I thought about the future. Percy's death would hurt us all. We had been friends for years. If Percy died... That would leave us one short. I could never call him Seaweed Brain. Every time I would see water, I'd feel the grief of losing one of my best friends ever. Then I thought of Annabeth. Would I ever be able look at her again if Percy's number was up now? What would his death do to my best friend?

Grover sensed my grief and wrapped his arms around me, comforting me. He had always been there for me, big-hearted as he was. I guess I was a bit sweet on him. Grover, the tree-hugger goat boy. What could this influence me being a huntress? Grover's embrace was so comforting. Tears gathered in my eyes, flowing down my face.

"There, there, Thalia. It's okay", Grover tried to calm me down, but his voice broke and we cried together. Nico was just sitting beside us, staring at the ground. I wondered how he felt. Or course he was sad, but death was his father's domain. How did it feel?

Soon I couldn't think about Percy dying anymore. Instead I started to listen to Percy and Annabeth.

"I'll die as a happy man", I heard Percy say. No, it couldn't be true. He just couldn't die now! I glanced quickly at Percy and Annabeth. Just then I saw Annabeth lower her face and kiss Percy. Way to go, girl! Then a wave of sadness hit me. There was a possibility, that this would be their last kiss.

Suddenly Annabeth stood up. She turned to us and said:

"Take care of Percy for a while."

I promised to do so. I was still sobbing.

"Great, I have a plan", Annabeth said and ran towards the spot where Apollo and some others were helping the injured.

The three of us moved closer to Percy. His face was all bloody and pale. He looked horrible.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain", I said quietly. He coughed and greeted me back.

"What's up, Pinecone Face?" he tried to smile, but he winced and his eyes closed for a second.

"Oh, Percy! This is terrible. I'm a really bad protector!" Grover sniffled.

"It's okay, man, don't worry. And don't say that. You're the best protector and friend in the world!" said Percy. "Where did Annabeth go?" he asked.

"She said something about having a plan", Nico told him. "Gods bless her. She'll do anything in order to save you."

"Yeah, I suppose", Percy sighed.

"You know, Percy, you two would make the cutest couple ever!", said Grover.

"I know, right?" Percy said and winced in pain again.

"Son!" we heard a man say.

Poseidon and Athena were standing behind us, both looking worried. We made way for them.

"Father", Percy answered the sea god's call.

"I just wanted to say, that I'm very proud of you, my boy", Poseidon knelt next to his son, a single tear glistening on his cheek.

"Thanks, dad", said Percy. "That means a lot to me."

Then all of a sudden, Annabeth came back to us with Apollo running behind her.

"Okay, people, the god of medicine coming through!" Apollo said. We backed away of him and Percy as Apollo began to use his magic to save our best friends life.

Annabeth's POV

I sat on the top of the Half-Blood Hill, watching the sun set behind the New York skyline. I was thinking. I had done this in the past two days. I haven't slept at all after the battle at Olympus and it had been two days since. I have been worried sick. When I'd made up the plan, that would possibly save Percy I hadn't given a thought to the fact that even though Apollo was a god, he wasn't flawless. Now Percy had been in the infirmary for two days without giving any signs of life, except his pulse. I remembered how I'd made Apollo help us. If the situation had been any less sad, I would've laughed. I'd run to Apollo and yelled:

"I don't care if you aren't supposed to help heroes with their quests, but you'd better get your blooming ass over there this instant!"

When Apollo had refused I'd done the same, that Percy had done for us: I'd knelt at Apollo's feet and said:

"Oh, Lord Apollo!
Save my loved one's life now please.
You're so terrific."

"Oh, you have some hiding talent too, huh, daughter of Athena?" Apollo had said. "Well, I'll see what I can do."

Then he'd worked for about half an hour to save Percy and flown him and us here at camp.

I put on my earphones. I'd gotten an iPod as a gift from my father last christmas. There was one song, that I'd listened to, like, 24/7 after we had gotten back to camp. I knew it so well, that I sang along, even though every word hurt like someone was stabbing my gut with pins.

"The stars lean down to kiss you,
And I lie awake and miss you,
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere.
Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly,
But I'll miss your arms around me.
I'll send a postcard to you dear,
Cause I wish you were here.

I watch the night turn light blue,
But it's not the same without you,
Because it takes two to whisper quietly.
The silence isn't so bad,
Till I look at my hands and feel sad,
Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly.

I'll find opposing new ways,
Though I haven't slept in two days,
Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone.
But drenched in Vanilla twilight,
I'll sit on the front porch all night,
Waist deep in thought because when I think of you.
I don't feel so alone.
I don't feel so alone.
I don't feel so alone.

As many times as I blink I'll think of you tonight.
I'll think of you tonight.

When violet eyes get brighter,
And heavy wings grow lighter,
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again.
And I'll forget the world that I knew,
But I swear I won't forget you,
Oh if my voice could reach back through the past,
I'd whisper in your ear,
Oh darling I wish you were here."

I cried again. I had done that a lot after the battle. Percy was as good as dead. Still, I had to believe he wasn't gone. He'd said he had fallen in love with me. In the middle of the huge sorrow, I felt a sudden twinge of happiness, which made me feel hopeful too. Percy must wake up. I must speak to him again.

I heard someone run towards me. The steps came behind me.

"Annabeth!" I heard a yell. It was Thalia.

"What is it?" I asked, wiping my eyes. I didn't feel embarrassed to let Thalia see I had been crying again. She'd gotten used to it.

"It's Percy!" she said urgently. I jumped up and we ran to the big house.

What has happened? Will Percy and Annabeth have their happy ever after? I don't know. We'll see. I just had to put that song there. It's an awesome song and I think it fits there perfectly. It's Vanilla twilight by Owl city. Reviews are very much appreciated.

Peace, love, PJO.

AC