Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HoO.

Chapter 2!

Percy's POV:

I paced in front of the restaurant that Annabeth said to meet at. Where was she? I was still debating whether or not I should go find her or wait a couple more minutes to see if she showed up. She wouldn't be late unless there was an emergency, like a monster or something. Or if she got caught up on an architectural book and forgot about the time. But she said she was going sightseeing today, so she couldn't be reading.

Making my decision, I rushed down to the end of the block, making random turns while praying to the gods to lead me toward Annabeth. After making about 3 random turns, I saw Annabeth running towards me, panting slightly. She saw me and stopped running.

Walking over to me, she explained, "Sorry I'm late, I passed out in the last sightseeing spot. " Then she grabbed my hand and started walking back to the restaurant.

"Um, ok. But did you pass out because, you know, demigod stuff, or just health stuff?"

"Seaweed Brain! Do I look unhealthy to you?"

"Um, no?" I replied. She laughed at my uncertainty.

"Yes, it was demigod stuff. Well, most likely, except it didn't really show anything special. I'll tell you over dinner. Let's go!" We walked slowly back to the restaurant. I spoke to waiter about how I was just here and that I shouldn't have to wait in line again.

"Ah, yes. You were here, 20 minutes ago?" I nodded my head absentmindedly while Annabeth glared at me.

"Twenty minutes ago? It's seven now. Which means you were late by ten minutes." She stated flatly.

"So? You were late, too! What are you doing chewing me out? Lecture yourself!" I whined very immaturely. She rolled her eyes at me as the waiter led us to our table. We sat down and I asked her why she was late.

"Well, you know how I was going sightseeing? Well, I found this place on the internet that was called the Princess' Garden. It sounded cool, so I went to check it out today. It had sort of a creepy feeling to it, you know. Like, um what do you picture when I say a Princess' Garden?"

"Um, I don't know. A cool place with a whole bunch of flowers and maybe a pond? A stone pathway, nice lawn, maybe?" I suggested.

"Okay, well this place was nothing like that. It might as well be the exact opposite of what you described. There was only one plant that was alive and it was this weird ivy growing over everything. Anyways, I was exploring it, trying to figure out why it was this way, and I sat down on this rock to think. I just passed out for three hours and I got kind of a vision."

A waitress came to take our order.

"I'll have a sprite and a pasta with Alfredo sauce." Annabeth ordered.

"How about a coke and, hm… Pizza!" The waitress walked away and I motioned for Annabeth to continue.

"Basically it was a girl that looked sort of like me in the garden, only it was just a tiny bit more alive. Then some guy came up to her and they had a short conversation."

"What'd they say?" I rushed. She threw her hands up.

"I don't know! It was like someone blocked out the sound so I couldn't hear. Then I woke up and it was 6:47."

"Hm. That's weird. Why would they send you a vision like that? I mean it's just two people having a conversation. One that you can't even hear."

"Exactly! But why would they cut out the sound unless the message was hidden in their conversation? Something weird is going on, and I don't like it."

We ate in silence. Annabeth, no doubt, was think about possibilities about her vision. I was just concentration on my wonderful pizza, because I am not a big thinker. Afterwards, we left. I, of course being the gentleman, paid for the dinner. We walked back to the hotel even though it was getting dark and once we got to the hotel room, Annabeth sat down on the bed and stared at the wall facing her. I sat down next to her.

"Annabeth?"

"Hmm?"

"Okay, I was getting a bit worried there." I stifle a laugh, but continued. "Why you take a rest and sleep on it. And we'll talk more tomorrow."

"Okay, sure Percy." She agreed.

I took a quick shower and went to bed.

Annabeth's POV:

I didn't tell Percy what I had a vague suspicion of. The thing was, when I saw the man in my flashback, I recognized him. Sure, he had brown hair. Sure he had blue eyes, but he was Percy. I don't know really how to describe how I recognized him.

When I looked at him, I felt whatever it was that only Percy can make me feel like. No, it wasn't the feeling of falling in love. More like a spark of electricity when you are close to your soul mate. Like when matching magnets get close enough together, they automatically snap together. Right?

Another thing was how he did everything. His hair, the way it looked like someone tries to make it tamer but it was still messy. His eyes showed exactly what he really felt.

Now that I think about it, Percy's eyes tell a whole story sometimes. Right before battle, they shine with pride. Confidence. Loyalty. That no matter what, he is going to fight as hard as he can, even if he dies fighting.

A couple years ago, after the second giant war, we sat on the hill and watched the fireworks together. The fireworks were supposed to tell us that we should celebrate that we won. That those who died would forever be in our hearts. They would never leave us. When I looked into Percy's eyes that night, they held so much pain. I could tell that he was blaming himself for each of their deaths. It was just too much for one person, no matter how strong, to take. I knew that when he went back to his cabin at night, he would be crying himself to sleep, wishing that he had done something to prevent their deaths, that maybe he could have died instead.

"Annabeth." I was shocked at his appearance. His eyes were red from crying. He had dark bags under eyes from saying up all night. His voice was hoarse and ragged. If only he knew that we didn't blame him for their deaths. I knew what he was going to say next.

"I just wish I could have done something, you know? I mean, I was leading them to their deaths! I knew I should have let Jason lead. Now I've gone and gotten them killed. This is so, so, awful. I'm a horrible person. I must seem heartless, huh?" I couldn't believe him. He was the one that helped us win the war. Without him, Gaea's side surely would have won.

"Percy. Percy, listen to me. You aren't to blame for any of those deaths. The people that died, they knew what they were getting themselves into, yet they still stayed by your side anyways. That's because they trust you. It was their choice, but they didn't back down. Besides, there was nothing you could have done! You've already done everything for us."I tried to reassure him.

"Why? Why does it have to be me? Is it because I'm Poseidon's son? I was born with so many expectations, Annabeth! Worst of all is that the fates seem so determined to kill me. Every time I live, but someone else dies. Someone, someone I lo-"he fell to his knees and started sobbing.

"Love."I whispered. It was so awful. I heard that all heroes have breaking points. When all of the killing and questing and expectations fall down on their shoulders. It's just too bug a weight to carry. Even heavier than the sky. Had Percy reached his? All I knew at the moment was that he just wanted to be alone.

"If you want to talk, you know where to find me." I bit my lip and walked back to my cabin as slowly as I could, looking back every couple of steps. I hated leaving him in such a state of vulnerability, but I knew he wanted his space and time to think.

I searched through the darkness to see his bed. In his sleep, one would never recognize him as the buy who blamed himself for other people's deaths that weren't even his fault. He looked so innocent and carefree. Maybe how he looked before he got into all this "demigod stuff".

In the morning, Percy demanded that I show him the garden I went to yesterday. We walked along the same road I walked yesterday. The same thoughts passed through my head.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked me. I chuckled softly.

"Believe it or not, I was thinking about the same things as I was yesterday when I walked these steps."

"Well, I was just suddenly overcome with a huge wave of curiosity, just a couple steps back, but I sort of feel like I shouldn't be doing this. I have no idea why. I mean, it's not against the law to go to this place, is it?"

I couldn't help but find his statement funny. "Of course it's not illegal, Seaweed Brain! Anyways, we're here!" I broke into a sprint and ran to the gate of the garden where I abruptly stopped. I felt a weird connection to the place. Whenever I wasn't there, I felt like I was disobeying someone or something, but if I was there, I couldn't wait to get out.

I lifted the ivy on the gate to show Percy the Greek words imprinted it. He slowly mouthed it to himelf and nodded to me. A cloak of silence smothered the garden as we explored. I felt myself holding in my breath and remembered to breathe.

Percy wanted to explore the area near the entrance, so I walked over to the worn out furniture and leaned on one of them. I waited for a while for Percy and I heard a rustle. Even though it was probably Percy, I couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

Walking over, I saw Percy glancing over wearing a familiar expression that I had seen on someone else before. Where had I seen it?

A jolt went through me. I remembered the positions and clothes of the two people in my vision. The man stood where Percy was, with the same expression, one of inquisitiveness. The girl was where I was. I was even wearing a white dress similar to hers.

Wondering what was going to happen next, I only had one thought. What the Hades was going on?

Okay, I know. Bad ending. Anyways, I definitely did not see that whole emotional flashback coming. It just came out, I guess.

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~Iridescent Coconut~