Hey again!

This chapter contains very much Percabeth indeed. My sister (a total percabethist) loved this chappie, when she read it. I hope you like it as much as she did! R&R.

Annabeth's POV

Oh my gods! What could it be? I ran to the big house, where Chiron had arranged the basement for Percy. Chiron was standing by the porch.

"Annabeth! I'm glad you came so fast," he said and motioned me to follow him inside. Thalia came right behind us. I went to sit on the chair beside Percy's bed. I had spent a remarkable amount of time just sitting there and talking to Percy. I looked at Chiron.

"Why did you want me here, Chiron?" I asked him.

"Apollo dropped by and said, that we should try feed him some ambrosia," he said. "And you have already been sitting next to his bed, so I suppose you could do something useful."

"Of course I will," I said. "So... Does this mean, that Percy will recover?" I asked Chiron.

"I think there is a possibility," he answered and passed me a bowl of ambrosia and a spoon. Then he left me and Thalia with Percy. I looked at Thalia.

"I'm sorry I haven't been much of a friend lately," I told her. It was true. I was more like a zombie because the lack of sleep and I hadn't been able to live like a human being. My thoughts had been clouded by insufferable sadness.

"It's okay, Annabeth. I understand you perfectly," Thalia said and walked closer to me. She sat on the floor and crossed her legs. "It's just painful to see you sad, you know," she added.

I started to shove ambrosia down Percy's throat.

"Percy asked me not to be sad. He wanted me to be happy," I said quietly. I hadn't told anyone about our talk at Olympus. "But it's hard not to be sad, when there's a possibility that he'll never wake up."

Thalia touched my leg.

"Don't give up hope, Annabeth. He'll wake up," she said softly. "Percy's strong and he has many good reasons to come back around."

I smiled slightly. I remembered when Percy had told me he'd fallen in love with me. His voice was soft and his eyes solemn. I knew he had meant it. That made me feel slightly better.

"Can I ask something, Annabeth?" Thalia asked.

"You already did," I smiled. "Sure, shoot."

"What precisely did happen before you went to get Apollo?" Thalia sounded slightly curious.

I hesitated. Thinking about those moments made me feel better, but they still hurt somehow. Would I be able to talk about it?

"Did he say anything important?" Thalia asked. Well, here goes nothing, I thought.

"He said he was in love with me," I said slowly.

I waited for the pain to come, but it didn't. Wow, I was stronger than I'd thought.

Thalia squealed.

"Oh, that's so sweet!" She clapped her hands.

I managed to smile at her.

"Yeah, it was," I said and sighed. Thalia's expression changed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked about it. I can see it's a difficult subject," she said.

"It's okay," I said and shoved another spoonful of ambrosia in Percy's mouth.

Neither one of us said anything after that. We just sat there. Thalia watched me feed Percy. After a while Thalia rose.

"I'm going to bed. Should I bring you something from breakfast?" she asked. I knew she was concerned about my health; I hadn't been eating either.

"I'm fine, but would you give an offering to my mother for me? Ask for some help," I asked her.

"Of course," Thalia said and left.

I looked at Percy. He'd looked just the same for two days. No signs of life, but his fluttering pulse. I couldn't even hear his breath, his lungs were so weak. I shoved another spoonful down his throat.

I sat there the whole night, feeding Percy. There were no windows in the basement, so I couldn't know then the sun would rise.

"You're not even drooling, Seaweed Brain," I said. I'd heard, that people in coma could hear what people around them said. I supposed it would make Percy happy, if I talked to him. I had done that often.

"Why can't you just wake up? Everyone's worried sick," I continued.

"You know, these past two days have been like an endless nightmare. The worst part is, that now that you are just lying there, there's no one to wake me up."

I pulled my iPod out of my pocket and put the earphones on. I knew just the song I wanted to hear now.

"Would you like to hear a song, Percy?" I asked. I put the other earphone in his ear.

"I know you love this one. You sang this to me in the tent, remember?" I asked and brushed his cheek.

I listened to the man and woman's duet in silence and thought of the night in the tent. Percy had sung me to sleep. I could almost hear his voice crooning the beautiful words in my ear. A wave of sadness swept over me. I wrapped my arms around my chest. I'd done that a lot, too. I'd found it helpful, just to curl up in a ball with my arms around me. It kinda soothed me and took most of the sadness away. I stroked Percy's face with my index finger and started to sing along:

"And there's no mountain too high, no river too wide,
sing out this song and I'll be there by your side.
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide,
but I'll love you until the end of time..."

Suddenly I heard Percy huff deeply. I took the earphones off.

"Percy? Can you hear me?" I asked and quickly fed him another spoonful of ambrosia.

No answer.

I felt a jolt of happiness. Finally, Percy had started to make some noise. I left the bowl on his bedside table and ran like mad. I ran all the way to the Mess Hall, where the campers were just finishing their breakfast.

"Chiron!" I yelled as I ran to the table twelve. Grover tapped Chiron and he turned to look at me.

"What is it, Annabeth?" he asked. "Did something happen?"

"Percy... huffed..." I panted. I had completely forgotten to breathe.

"Huffed?" Chiron looked confused. "Well, I guess that means there's still some life in him."

Thalia had seen me and she came running from Zeus' table.

"Anything new, Annabeth?" she asked.

"He's making huffing noises," I told her.

"I knew it!" she squealed. "He just wouldn't die yet!"

Thalia went to grab Nico and all of us, Chiron, Thalia, Nico, Grover and I went back to the big house. We gathered around his bed.

"So, what exactly happened here?" Chiron asked me.

"I was talking to him, as usual. Then I let him listen a song from my iPod and suddenly he just huffed," I said.

"Oooh, what song?" Grover asked.

"You remember the night in the tent, Grover?" I asked.

"Yeah, why?" said Grover.

"Percy sang me to sleep that night, after waking me up from my nightmare," I said and glanced at Percy.

"I made him listen to the same song he'd sung for me," I explained Grover, who looked confused.

"Oooh, now I understand everything!" Thalia said.

"I say..." Chiron mumbled.

"Chiron?" Nico asked.

"Yes?"

"Could it be possible if Percy had reacted to the song?" Nico wondered.

"It most certainly isn't impossible," Chiron said. "Annabeth, why would you try it again?"

"Sure, Chiron," I said and put an earphone in Percy's ear.

I was thrilled. Would he wake up? Could this be the way?

Nothing happened in a while. We waited in silence and watched Percy's blank face. The song came to its end and started to play again. I took the earphone out of Percy's ear and looked at my friends and Chiron.

"Don't worry, Annabeth. He'll still wake up," Grover comforted me.

I looked at Percy again. He just lay there, motionless, his eyes closed.

"Oh, Percy, why can't you just wake up?" I asked him.

Suddenly his eyelids fluttered a bit.

"Chiron!" I cried. "Did you see that?"

"What?" Chiron asked.

"His eyelids were moving," I said.

"Percy, do it again. Can you hear me?" I said to Percy. He huffed again and suddenly opened his sea green eyes.

"Yippee! He's alive!" Grover cried.

"Thank the gods!" Thalia breathed.

"Shh, don't disturb him," said Chiron.

Percy looked tired and confused, but he most certainly was alive. I can't put down in words how happy I was. My Seaweed Brain was okay!

"Anna...beth?" Percy mumbled. His voice was quiet and raspy.

"I'm here, Seaweed Brain," I said. Percy smiled.

"Told you... I wouldn't... die yet, didn't I?" he whispered. "Just like... I promised. Come what may."

"Of course you wouldn't. I would've killed you if you did!" I smiled at him.

"Percy, I'm so glad you're okay!" Chiron said. Thalia, Nico and Grover nodded in unison.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, guys," said Percy, still smiling.

"Okay, open up you," I said, offering Percy some ambrosia. He opened his mouth and I shoved the spoonful in his mouth.

"By the way, you didn't drool this time," I grinned.

We moved Percy back to the infirmary, from where he'd been transferred to the big house. Grover, Thalia, Nico and I took turns in taking care of him. In a few days Percy was strong enough to sit and eat by himself. His diet still consisted of nectar and ambrosia. He needed to fully recover. I would sit by his bed for hours, just talking to him. I was happy again. The other campers had noticed that too. Especially my siblings. When I arrived at Athena's table for lunch for the first time after the battle, all of them jumped up and hugged me, welcoming me back in their midst. I gladly offered a part of my meal for my mom.

Thank you, mother. For all of your help, I prayed.

It took a week until we could take Percy for little walks outside the infirmary. The other campers ran to greet him, when we first took him out. He still needed some support, because his legs were quite weak, but we were glad to offer our shoulders for his support. We were all so happy, that he was alive and kicking. There was only one thing, that bothered me – we hadn't said about our talk on the battlefield. I felt there were still some things unsaid. Every time I thought of it, I shoved the thoughts aside. I wanted Percy to fully recover before we would talk about it.

Pretty soon Percy was able to join us at meals. He still needed a portion of nectar twice a day, but he could eat proper food now. Chiron didn't let him eat alone, so Nico, Grover and Thalia were allowed to sit with him. I wasn't allowed to leave Athena's table, which kinda pissed me off, but we communicated silently over the mess hall.

After today's dinner the five of us took a walk down to the beach. Thalia had managed to convince a boy from Hermes' cabin to snitch a deck of cards from the camp store (Grover had been so anxious, while Percy had been unconscious, that he'd eaten the last deck). Nico taught us play 'Kings and asses'. I totally kicked his ass this time.

Being around water made Percy feel much better. Points for Poseidon! After a while of playing the boys started wrestling playfully and soon Percy was running along the coastline, chasing Nico and Grover, who had thrown a ton of sand down his shirt. Thalia and I looked at them, laughing. Grover tripped and fell with a puff of sand. That caused a domino effect, that ended in a heap of cursing guys.

"Percy's recovered so much today," Thalia mused.

"Yeah, the ocean does him good," I said.

"Hey, girls! Miss us much?" Grover jogged to us flanked by Percy and Nico.

"Look at you, Seaweed Brain! You're rife with energy!" I said as Percy sat down next to me.

"And look like it too!" Thalia added and ruffled his hair. Percy laughed.

"I feel alive again," he said blissfully and looked at me.

Later at the bonfire some people, who hadn't talked to Percy after he'd come around came to greet us. Pretty soon I saw Percy getting tired of all the partying and I offered to take him to his cabin to rest a bit. He was glad to get away from the hassle so we started to walk towards the cabins.

"You know, I've been thinking," Percy said, when we reached Poseidon's cabin and went in.

"About what?" I asked.

"About how you woke me up after the fight at Olympus." Percy sat on his bed and motioned me to do so too.

Uh-oh, here we go. I had been planning to ask Percy about it, but apparently he had done it first. Percy took my hand in his.

"I just want you to know, that I really meant everything I said back then," he said. His eyes were warm and the most beautiful sea green ever. My heart was beating madly and I forgot to breathe. I was completely lost in his eyes.

"Me too," I managed to say.

Percy brushed some strands of my hair behind my ear.

"So... What now?" I asked. "What are we going to do about it?"

"I planned to ask you that," Percy said. "Whatever suits you makes me happy. Except telling me to piss off and hating me for the rest of your life..." he babbled.

"Why in Hades would I do that?" I asked.

"Well, our parents aren't actually best friends and maybe you don't want to be with me because I'm a silly Seaweed Brain and..." I stopped him there, placing my index finger on his lips.

"Now, listen to me, Seaweed Brain," I said. "I couldn't even think of telling you to piss off. The two days you were unconscious were a complete nightmare. I have actually told you this before, while feeding you ambrosia, but I'll say it again to make sure you'll hear it. Yeah, those two days were a nightmare and the worst thing was, that there was no one to wake me up. No one to pull me on his lap and sing me back to peaceful slumber." I squeezed his hand in mine. Tears were starting to gather in my eyes again.

Percy pulled me in a warm embrace. He kissed my hair and whispered:

"Then I guess my only option is to never leave you."

He pulled back to look at my face. I knew my eyes were all pink and puffy, but I didn't care. There were so many emotions there at the same time, that I felt like my heart would explode any second. Percy, with all his sweetness and love was too much for me to bare. I clung to him, pressing myself against his chest.

"Promise you'll never leave me, Percy," I mumbled on his shoulder.

"I swear upon the river Styx, that I won't leave you alone again," Percy vowed.

"That's a promise you can't break," I said, pulling back.

"I know. I'm not intending to," he said and brushed my cheek. His face was so close to mine. I could feel his breath on my face.

Suddenly I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me:

"Annabeth Chase. We need to talk. Now."

My mother.

I jumped off Percy's bed to face a furious goddess of wisdom, who motioned me to follow her outside Percy's cabin. When she'd led me so far, that there was no way Percy could hear us, my mother turned to face me, her expression furious.

"I had heard, that you have been having a hard time, because of your... friend. I came to see if you're feeling any better and what do I find? My daughter is cuddling with a son of Poseidon on his bed!" Athena raged. "I have already told you, that I don't approve your friendship with him, but this is absolutely out of order!"

"But mom-," I tried to explain, but she wouldn't let me speak.

"Don't you 'mom' me! I thought we had talked this clear!" she went on. "My daughter snuggling with a son of Poseidon!" She spat the word 'Poseidon'. "I just can't condone this."

She was so mad. I just watched her storm in front of me. I had never seen her that angry and mind you, I've seen her mad lots of times.

"Now, I want you to explain. The excuse is better be impressive," Athena finally stopped yelling.

I really didn't know what to say. The truth, that I was in love with Percy, would make her kill him. And then me. Then again, I didn't have any other answer.

"The thing is, mom, that I like Percy. Very much. And I know you know it perfectly well," I said. "When I thought he was dead I wasn't able to live normally, as I suppose you've heard."

"Yes, Chiron told me about your bad condition. But that's not an excuse to betray your family," mom snapped. I tried again.

"We've been friends for so long, mom. I have grown to like him. It's done and can't be changed." I snapped my mouth shut. Athena stared me, her eyes open wide.

"Are you telling me, that you won't do what I tell you to? You are so-"

"In love, mother!" I interrupted her.

"LOVE?" mom shrieked. I watched her face to change color from white to red via green and blue. If gods could have an aneurysm, my mother would definitely have one now. Then she said:

"I have to run. Zeus said I couldn't stay long. He wants to talk. But we, little missy, we are not done. I will be back. Meanwhile keep your hands off that son of Poseidon."

Then she vanished. I was left alone, staring at my hands. Keep your hands off that don of Poseidon, my mom had said. I couldn't believe it.

That's what you get, a voice said in my head. When you don't plan everything beforehand.

"Shut up!" I snapped at my thoughts. Then again, it was true. I was a daughter of Athena. I will thrive if I plan everything. I had always relied on my head instead of my heart. Now I felt like I didn't know what to do. I felt lost. And what in Hades would I tell Percy? I'm sorry, Percy, but we just can't be even friends anymore, because my mother went nuts when I told her I was in love with you. I really am sorry. No way.

What should I do?

Percy's POV

This is just my luck. I had just sworn upon the river Styx, that I would never leave my Wise Girl. Then just out of nowhere BOOM! Lady Athena comes in and wants to talk with Annabeth. She had no other option, than to leave me alone on my bed. I watched her follow her mother out of my cabin, closing the door behind them. I lounged myself on my back. I stared the ceiling, gathering my thoughts. I was slightly mad at Athena. She'd interrupted our moment together. I'd been hoping for that moment since I'd woken up in the big house basement. I needed her to know how much she meant to me. This night had come in perfectly.

Suddenly a voice woke me up from my thoughts.

"It seems to me, that you are doing some major thinking there."

I sat up, startled. Poseidon was standing next to my bed.

"Yeah, I was actually," I said.

Why was he here? Annabeth's mom had just been here and she'd taken Annabeth with her. Now my father was interrupting my thoughts. I could sense something fishy going on. (Haha, fishy. It's funny, because Percy's dad is a sea god. Lol.)

"Won't you ask your old man to sit down?" my dad asked.

"Oh, yeah. Do sit down." I motioned towards an armchair next to my bedside table.

Poseidon sat down and looked at me, studying my expression.

"I've heard there's something going on between you and your friend Annabeth," he finally said.

Shit, so that's why he'd come. Who had told on us? There was only one person (well, person in a certain form) I could think of.

"Yes, I suppose what you've heard is true," I nodded slightly. My father looked taken aback. I suppose he hadn't thought the rumors were true.

"Perseus Jackson, I don't know what to say," Poseidon said. I shrugged.

"Whatever you may say, it's still true. I just hope you'll try to live with it," I said.

"You do understand, that it's a daughter of Athena we're talking about, right?" my dad asked, his tone hard. I nodded and dropped my eyes to my hands. I couldn't look at Poseidon. His eyes had gone the same color the sea went just before a huge storm.

"I know just who she is, father," I said.

"Yet you insist on being friends with her and maybe want even more?" he asked.

"Yes." I glanced at my father. His face was weirdly calm. How could it be? Everyone knows my father has a bad temper. Just like me. My bad temper had caused me to attack Kottos and spend the following days unconscious. The temper of the ocean. That's it! That's what the Oracle had meant. I just wished I'd get over with this and could tell the others.

"I can't accept that! I've tried to be reasonable, I've let you be friends with her, but this is out of question!" Poseidon said. I said nothing. I was afraid I'd start yelling at him and cause him to turn me into a slipper animalcule or something.

"Why do you insist on doing against as you're told?" my dad asked.

"There's no way to rein the ocean in," I said. "And because I'm in love with Annabeth."

"I see..." muttered Poseidon. I stared at him, my face hard. I wanted him to understand, that there was no way around the fact I'd fallen in love with Annabeth.

"Perseus," my father said and came to sit next to me on my bed. "I understand there's a romance going on."

He understood? I hadn't got a clue it would be so easy!

"But end it now." Poseidon stood up and faced me.

"I can't. I swore upon the river Styx," I said.

"I must go now, Zeus wants to speak with all of us, but remember what I said. Goodnight, Perseus," my father said and walked out of my cabin.

Oh, Styx. I just couldn't believe my bad luck. First Athena, now Poseidon! The next one coming around would probably be Aphrodite, who'd give me the crap of being incapable of kissing Annabeth. I really hoped I'd get to spend the rest of the day alone or with Annabeth if she'd come back. I'd had my share of gods for tonight.

Then something occurred to me: what would I tell Annabeth? I'm really sorry, but even though I swore upon Styx, my father wants me to leave you. So lets be just friends, okay? No, I don't think we can ever be really together, because gods are immortal and they would kill us... Hah! Yeah right. It would break my Wise Girl's heart.

I was woken up from my thoughts by the door of my cabin creaking open.

"Percy?" I heard Annabeth's voice calling me. Her face was chalk pale and she looked shaken. I stood up and walked to her.

"You okay? You should see your face," I said. I really didn't know how to be. Should I hug her? Should I not hug her? What should I do? Should I force her to leave? This was way too complicated.

"I'm okay... I guess," said Annabeth, though she didn't quite convince me.

"Did your mom give you a hard time?" I asked.

"It wasn't so bad..." she said, but didn't look me in the eyes. She was talking to my knees.

"Uh-oh, tell me everything," I said. I tried to take her hand in mine, but she pulled hers away.

"She was pissed to find us from each others arms," Annabeth mumbled, still obviously believing my knees could actually hear her.

"Ouch, tell me all the spine-chilling details," I tried to grin, but it was half-hearted.

"She told me to keep my hands off you," Annabeth said and finally looked at me.

"Wow, what happened to you?" she asked. "You look like you've just seen Mrs. O'Leary's evil twin!"

"My father dropped by to say hi," I said.

"What did he say?" asked Annabeth.

"'I understand there's a romance going on...'" I started, mimicking my dad's voice, but Annabeth interrupted me.

"Wow, better than my mom."

"'But end it now,'" I continued with the Poseidon-voice.

"Aww, man! This is not my day!" Annabeth cried.

"That makes two of us," I mumbled. "But don't worry, Annabeth. We'll think of something and we will have it our way."

"You think so?" she asked.

"I know so, because you're too important for me to lose," I said, looking into her eyes. Her beautiful, stormy grey eyes.

I took one step closer to Annabeth. Screw parents, I thought. I had waited this for years. I put my left hand on her waist. She tensed, but didn't pull back either. She might have been a bit confused. I brushed Annabeth's hair behind her ear with my free hand and left it on her cheek, cupping her face. I leaned closer to her. She placed her hands on my shoulders. I could feel her warm breath on my face. My head spun slightly.

"Percy! Annabeth! Oh!" someone shouted from the door. We quickly jumped apart.

"Oh, Hades!" I moaned. Grover was standing in the doorway, ogling us slightly embarrassed. I promised myself to kick his ass for this.

"I'm sorry... I didn't want to disturb you. I just... Well... There's someone, who wants to see you," he said, blushing.

"Who in Hades could it be now?" Annabeth asked.

"Well, I think it's better you come and see yourself," Grover said and we followed him outside.

He led us back to the bonfire, where people were still having fun. In the corner we could see someone eyeing us as Grover walked us toward him/her. As we walked closer I saw who the stranger was. And so did Annabeth. We glanced at each other.

"Holy shit!" Annabeth said.

"We could still run," I suggested.

"Too late," said Annabeth. We were standing in front of the stranger, who apparently wasn't a stranger at all.

Of course she would come. I knew it! Why, why did I have to be right? She opened up her arms smiling widely, baring a set of perfectly straight teeth and said:

"Oh, I'm so glad you came! I want to hear everything about your little romance!"

I was so going to kill Grover.

That was the 8th chapter of Come what may!
Now, my dear people, I have some bad news: I may not be able to write in a month or so, because I'm traveling and I won't be able to update. I'll try to put up another chapter before I leave, but I'm not sure if I can. I'll also try to write while I'm away so that I can just write it on my computer and put it up when I come back.

Until then, Peace, love, PJO.

Luv,

AC