Percylover008 this is for you! You will be unbreakable!

Also for Son of the Sea 100896 for all your support! Can't thank you enough!

Leo's POV

I trudged gloomily through the darkness, back toward my cabin, my heart aching. I was tired, but I didn't want to sleep. I only had who knows how many hours left of being here at Camp Half-Blood with Anne, and I didn't want to sleep through them.

I let myself in quietly and undressed. I pulled on an old T-shirt and was about to get into bed when I remembered all the metal that was probably still piled there. Sighing, I went to scoop some off the pile when my fingers hit air. I realized my cabinmates had cleared it off for me. "Thanks, guys," I whispered into the dark cabin.

I sat down on my bed and for a while just stared at nothing, trying to get my jumbled thoughts in order. I didn't want to sleep, but I was pretty tired. I knew I should probably get some sleep before tomorrow. But something wouldn't let me.

I lay back on my pillow, feeling lonely. The cabin seemed so empty and quiet with all my siblings asleep. My eyes started to close and I didn't object. I was just too tired. I let myself slip away, my mind protesting but my body too tired to obey.

Laughter.

A flash of something, like a smile.

Blue depths of something…the lake? Her eyes?

Somewhere I don't recognize…is it the woods?

Where are we going, Leo?

I'm sorry…I don't…

A sparkle of silver…she's wearing my gift…

Tears…her tears…

Did I cause this? What did I do?

Something warm…like a hug…

What's going on?

The hazy images trickled lazily around my mind, hanging just out of reach. I wanted to catch one, examine it properly, but my clouded senses prevented me. I wanted to wake up, but I wasn't sure how to do that. I shifted and the images faded, slipping away like a disappointed sigh. You had your chance to see what's ahead. Too late now, isn't it?

I'm sorry…I don't understand, I thought, trying to wake up. At last my eyes opened and I groaned in disappointment. It was still dark out, but through the window I could see a slight, faint light glimmering at the horizon.

I sat up and rubbed my shoulder. Maybe I could get up and watch the sunrise. I really didn't want to go back to sleep; I'd have to be up in a while anyway. I swung my legs out of bed and threw on last night's jeans, my jacket, and my shoes before I walked quietly to the door and slipped outside.

The morning air was cool and fresh; when I exhaled I could see my breath a little. I trudged over to the hearth in the middle of the U-shape of cabins and sat down next to it. The fire wasn't going, but warmth seemed to hang in the air there.

I turned to face the direction of the sunrise. Already the sky was beginning to turn brilliant shades of pink and orange. I smiled, thinking of last night. She was right, sunrises are more hopeful. I couldn't help wondering how today would go. It could be good, or it could be horrible. I guess it'll be what I make it.

I watched the sun climb upward slowly but steadily. The symbol of Anne's father, Apollo, god of music and healing. A superpowerful being that can bend almost anything to his will. Almost anything.

I knew what I wanted to ask.

"Apollo," I began quietly. "I…I know this might sound kind of unusual, but I'm not worried about myself today. I mean, I probably should be, I don't want to sound overconfident, but…I guess you kind of have to be me right now…you see, it's for…" I broke off and sighed. If Apollo was listening, he was probably getting annoyed with me by now.

I took a deep breath. "Just keep Anne safe, will you? I want to see her again."

Nothing felt different. No magical glow lit up the hearth or anything to prove that Apollo was listening. But suddenly I realized that the sun's meager light felt warm on my skin, warmer than it should be at this early hour, almost hot. "Thanks," I said, smiling. "That really means a lot to me."

"What does?" said a voice behind me.

I jumped and turned around to see Jason standing behind me, his blond hair messed up and his eyes blinking sleepily. His jeans and shirt were wrinkled, as though he'd slept in them. "Sorry," he said, smiling. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"It's cool," I said, indicating the spot next to me. "Wanna sit?"

"Sure," he said, sliding down to sit cross-legged next to me. "Why're you up so early?"

I shrugged. "Didn't want to sleep. You?"

Jason shook his head. "I didn't want to either. Well, I mean, I knew I'd better sleep before today, but I was just too wired."

He yawned before continuing, "What were you saying when I walked up?"

"Nothing," I answered. "Just talking to myself."

"If you say so," Jason said. "So, how'd last night go?"

My face broke into a wide smile. "It was amazing."

Jason smiled warmly at me. "Did she like the gift?"

"She loved it."

"I thought she would. Anne seems like a great girl; you really lucked out, man," Jason said, nudging me with his elbow. "I mean, look at all the girls you've chased after in the time I've known you. And Piper was right; they don't deserve you, or like with Thalia, it just wouldn't work out." He smiled and turned his eyes on me. "You're the guy who falls in love with every girl he meets. It's kinda nice to know you found one who loves you back."

I smiled down at my hands in my lap before I looked up at Jason. "Thanks," I said. "Really. That's a really nice thing to say."

Jason glanced away, looking kind of embarrassed. "You're welcome."

"So…is the ship all ready?" I asked.

Jason nodded. "Yeah. It's ready when we are."

"Are you?" I couldn't help asking.

Jason's eyes flitted to the side. "Not really. Well, I mean, I guess I am physically, but mentally…"

"That's exactly how I feel," I said. "Like everything's all set up for you, but you have to charge in there and be this hero, and you, like…can't find your weapon or something?"

"That's it," Jason said. "It's like we don't have time to prepare. We just get thrown in there and we just have to do the best we can, I guess."

"Quests suck."

Jason burst out laughing. "That just about sums it up sometimes." He grinned. "But they can be fun, too. Remember flying on Festus? That was amazing."

I smiled to remember that. Good old Festus.

Jason opened his mouth to say something, but both our heads turned when we heard a cabin door open behind us. A few Demeter campers were trudging sleepily out of their cabin, probably heading down to breakfast.

"We should probably go eat," I said. "We'll have to leave soon."

"Yeah," Jason replied. "See you at the pavilion," he said as we got to our feet.

"See you," I said, starting to walk back toward my cabin. I walked in through the door and my cabinmates, who were just starting to get up, greeted me sleepily.

"Where were you?" Nyssa asked through a yawn.

"I couldn't sleep. I just went for a walk," I answered, leaning over to prod my sister Carter awake. She blinked open her startlingly blue eyes and yawned. "What time is it?" she muttered, still sounding half-asleep.

"It's time to get up," I told her, turning away. "and eat breakfast. I'm hungry."

In a few minutes the cabin was clearing out as my siblings trudged after me to the pavilion. We arrived at the same time as the Aphrodite cabin and I returned the greeting smile Piper gave me. She looked slightly tense, but that was hardly surprising. I was thinking that I was actually starting to feel less nervous than I had before, but I still jumped a mile when someone caught my wrist.

I turned around to see Ashley standing behind me and grinning. "So?" she asked, letting go of my arm and brushing a strand of her hair behind one ear. "How'd last night go?"

I broke into a smile. "It went great. Thanks for all your help."

She grinned, her brown eyes sparkling happily. "My pleasure."

One of her half-brothers called something to her, and she turned her head. "Coming!"

"Sorry," she said to me. "Gotta go, but see you."

"See you," I replied, smiling at her. She smiled back and bounced over to her siblings. I rejoined mine, who were getting their food. I took some for myself and used my fork to nudge some of it into the flames in the brazier, sending up a small prayer to my dad that the quest might go smoothly. Really, I knew better; with me around nothing ever went smoothly, but I figured it didn't hurt to ask.

I sat down at the Hephaestus table with my cabinmates as the rest of the cabins began to straggle in. Will Solace led the Apollo cabin in and Anne smiled at me from across the pavilion. Her wavy blond hair was pulled up in a messy bun the way it was the night we met, and her pretty face was once again free of makeup. I smiled back at her and she broke away from her cabinmates to come over to me.

"Good morning," she said, smiling across the table at my siblings before turning to me. "Sleep all right?"

I grimaced. "Sort of."

She winced sympathetically, then broke into a smile. "Well, as long as you don't fall asleep while you're steering the ship, you should be fine."

"Should be?" I said, grinning up at her. "That's not exactly reassuring."

She just made a face at me and swiped an orange slice off my plate.

"Hey!" I protested, laughing as she sauntered away to rejoin her cabinmates.

"You two are so cute," Carter said from across the table, grinning at me from over her pancakes. I ducked my head, embarrassed. "Well, you and Charlie sure are getting close…" I retorted teasingly. It was no secret that Carter had a thing for Charlie, a Hermes guy who was new to camp.

It was her turn to look away, embarrassed, but she recovered enough to smack my hand when I tried to snitch one of her slices of toast. "Hey!" she said, her blue eyes flashing with amusement and indignation. "Just 'cause Anne took your orange slice doesn't mean you can steal from me!"

I rolled my eyes and turned to face front as Chiron stomped a hoof on the floor to get everyone's attention.

"Good morning," he greeted us. "I know most of you have heard that the quest undertakers are leaving this morning. I encourage you all to wish them luck on their journey."

I nervously swallowed a mouthful of cereal and tried to smile at all the people who were turning to look at me. I tried to project an air of, No sweat; I got this, but I don't know how convincing I was.

Eventually all the eyes shifted back to Chiron, who apparently had finished speaking. Everyone turned back to their food and their conversations with their tablemates.

I listened to Nyssa asking Jake if he was up to taking the position of head counselor while I was gone.

"Sure," Jake said. "Not permanently, though. Leo's a way better head counselor than I ever was."

I smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks."

"We're gonna miss you," Carter said. "Come back, okay? Cabin Nine wouldn't be the same without you."

"Thanks," I repeated, ducking my head embarrassedly and pretending to be interested in my fork. "But can we talk about something else for a while?"

"It's true though," Jake said. "Don't deny it, man." He grinned. "But, fine. What else can we talk about?"

"Um…Carter, how's Charlie doing?" I improvised. "I haven't seen him in a few days."

Her eyes lit up and she started telling all who would listen something about Charlie. I finished my food and leaned back on the bench as far as I could without falling over backwards, enjoying the surprising calm of the morning. Yesterday this prospect had seemed impossible. Today it seemed possible.

Thanks to Anne.

I looked over at her from my table. She was laughing with some of her brothers, and as I watched she turned her head to talk to Cameron, and then whipped around in a hurry to stop Scott from stealing something from her little bowl of fruit. I laughed.

Chiron raised his voice to be hears over the chatter. "Excuse the interruption, but those leaving today may be excused now to pack or attend to anything else in relation to the quest."

My head jerked toward Chiron. Packing! Shoot; I didn't remember!

"You didn't forget, did you?" Carter said, noticing the expression on my face. "Nice one, Leo."

"No, I didn't forget, I…" I sighed. "Okay, I forgot."

"Well, go then!" she said. "You're excused; nothing's keeping you!"

"I'm going!" I said, getting up and walking quickly across the pavilion. Anne turned around as I passed the Apollo table. "Where're you going in such a hurry?"

Then she narrowed her eyes. "You didn't forget to pack, did you?"

I shook my head in disbelief. Seriously, how do girls always know these things? "Yeah, I did," I admitted.

Anne got up. "Let me help," she offered with a smile. You're not gonna know what to bring anyway."

I nodded; that was probably true.

Someone at the Ares table behind us snickered. "No detours, you two."

"Grow up," Anne replied tartly, her blue eyes flashing as she glared at them.

"Why doesn't Carter come with us," I suggested, waving her over from our table. She came trotting over and I explained.

"Sure, I'll help," she said, striding away in the direction of the Hephaestus cabin with a purposeful air. Anne and I smiled at each other. I offered my hand and she took it, ignoring the Ares cabin behind us. We walked after Carter, her hand warm in mine and a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Don't own Carter or Charlie they are Percylover008's very awesome characters! Please read her amazing story and read more about them! Also don't own Heroes of Olympus, but I wish I did! (don't we all?) lol