Hi, everyone! Just want to say a few things first.

Obsessivebookdiva: Haha, so sorry about that. The thing is, I'm doing all of this is secret (hence the "secret" in "secretchica." I have no idea why I chose chica. I'm not even Spanish. :P) so it's best to lock myself in my room at night and write so I won't be discovered by my many family members. As for posting the chapter that late, oops.

bookworm of gallifrey: Thank you so much for constructive criticism. I really needed that. Point you!

Also, I saw the Sea of Monsters opening night. *sobs for inaccuracy* So many thing were wrong.

So, who all enjoyed that little spot of budding romance in the last chapter? I know I did. There is much more to come. So much more...

Numero cuatro (number four). Words cannot describe how embarrassed I am about my grammatical mistakes in the last chapter. Bad chica! No more errors!

Disclaimer: All character mentioned in this story, aside from Perry, belong to Rick Riordan. I do not own any characters mentioned excluding Perry.

All right then. Let's get things started. LET US UPHOLD OUR EXPEDITION! (I wonder if anyone is even reading these.)

Perry's POV

My stomach makes a noise that sounds like a lion.

It's almost seven o'clock at night and the only thing I've eaten today is a banana over twelve hours ago. Now, you think since I've been on the streets so long, I would be able to go a longer time without getting hungry than the average teenager, right? Wrong. Since I've spent almost two weeks on this ship, I am now accustomed to at least two meals a day. On the bright side of that statement, I put on some weight so I don't look like someone threw a human skeleton into a bag of flesh.

All day, I've been on the deck of the Argo II rigorously practicing my archery. I couldn't sleep last night, what with everyone finding out my secret, so I've been shooting arrows at a target practically since dawn. I'm trying to be as good as Frank, so I've been trying to shoot a round of arrows and have them all hit bulls-eye. No luck. Are they even hitting the target? Barely.

To tell you the truth, even though my archery could use a lot of work, that isn't the reason I'm up here. Honestly, I don't think I can face my shipmates. I just know they won't treat me the same, or maybe they'll be too afraid to talk to me. Leo was sweet about it, but I'm not so sure everyone else will be as forgiving. Especially Coach Hedge. He'll probably only see me as a monster and come at me with his baseball bat.

I groan in frustration as I miss another shot. I know that my arm is still healing, but this is ridiculous. I stomp over to the stupid target, full of anger, retrieve my arrows, and start to shoot again.

As I place another arrow to be shot, I hear Hazel's voice behind me. "Um, Perry? You've been up here all day. Don't you think it's about time for a break?"

I don't take my eyes of the target. "No, why do you ask?" I let out a huff as the arrow flies straight past the damn thing.

"Well, I heard you leave your room really early this morning," she starts. I turn around and give her a look hat asks "What were you doing up that early?" She reads my expression and answers, "I was sea sick. Again." I nod and turn back to my archery. Hazel continues. "Anyway, you didn't come to any meals today and I thought you might be hungry."

When I let go of the bow, the arrows secures itself on the target. Sure, it might be at least a foot away from the center of the target, but it's a start. "I ate earlier today," I respond. Okay, that isn't exactly lying. I'm just not telling the whole truth. I start to pull out another arrow as Hazel says, "All right, but we left a plate on the table for you if you're hungry." And with that, she heads below deck.

"Okay," I think to myself, "This arrow is going to be the bulls eye." I take a deep breath and shoot. I arrows soars clear off the boat and into the water below. I run over to the edge of the boat. I arrive just in time to see my arrow submerge from the ocean. "Note to self; Learn how to use a different weapon."

"I don't know. I think that was your best shot so far," I hear Leo tease as he walks up behind me. He stands next to me and focuses on the arrow that is now, literally, swimming with the fishes. "Yep, definitely your best shot."

I playfully shove him. "You're so mean. I'm trying my hardest. The arrows are obviously the problem."

He gives a nod and mocks, "Obviously. The problem is the demigod-made, fully functional, easy shoot archery equipment. Not the archer at all."

I smile and scoff at him. "Well, at least we figured out that mystery. I'm just not good at archery."

Leo shrugs. "Not everyone is. In fact, Frank is the only archer demigod that I've met that isn't a child of Apollo or a Hunter of Artemis. But, hey, I spent most of my time locked up and building this ship."

I lean on the railing of the boat and face him. "Do you have a weapon? You know, other than turning into Johnny Storm(1)."

Leo lets a small laugh escape. "I take offence to that." I raise and eyebrow and continue to grin at him. He continues. "Well, I do have this really big hammer that I pull out of my utility belt, but I usually don't use that."

I turn my head. "Hmm. Sounds fancy. Can I see?"

"It's just a hammer..."

"Yeah, but I still wanna see."

Leo shakes his head. Nevertheless, he reaches into his utility belt and pulls out a three-foot-long hammer. He uses his "Special Child of Hephaestus" powers to light it on fire. I nod at him. "Impressive."

Leo puts the hammer back into his belt. "Isn't it though?"

I laugh and look across the ocean at the setting sun.

Leo's POV

"Leo?" Perry asks after a long, comfortable silence. We've been watching the sun set for a while and I'd forgotten where I was.

"Hmm?" I respond.

"Can I ask you a few questions without you freaking out again?"

I look over to her. "I guess but I can't guarantee anything."

Perry looks at her hands that rest plainly on the railing of the Argo II. "Yesterday when you were... um, comforting me, I guess," my fingers start to smoke a little at the mention of yesterday's events where Perry and I were alone. "You said something about your mom?"

I look off at the sunset again and take a moment for the thoughts to collect. Perry starts nervously, "If I crossed some kind of a line or it's too personal, then you don't need to answer it."

"No, you're fine. I was just thinking about it." Then I start to explain everything.

I told Perry about my mom, the mechanic, who was destined for greater things, but no one would take her seriously enough to give her a chance. But that was okay, because she said as long as she had me, she was happy. I told her about Tia Callida, who actually turned out the be the Greek goddess Hera. I told her that my mother and I would love to stay late in the workshop and build things together. Lastly, I told Perry how my mother died and the horrible guilt I felt then.

Perry uses a moment to take it all in. When she looks like she processed everything, she looks at me with sadness in her eyes. "Oh, Leo. That's terrible. I am so sorry."

I shrug. "It wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't yours either. That Gaea monster made you do it. She deserves to be dirt"

I smile at her. She looks back. "Not my best insult was it?"

I shake my head at her. "No, no it was not."

Perry smiles for a moment, but then her face gets serious. "Leo, can I ask you another question?"

"You just did," I answer nonchalantly.

"Okay, then can I ask you another question?"

"Just used that one too," I joke.

"Smart ass," Perry mumbles. I let out a mock sigh. "Fine. You can ask one more question."

Perry rolls her eyes. "Thank you." She hesitates a little and asks the question in a small voice. "What happened to Percy and Annabeth?"

I freeze. "Please don't go into creepy mindless zone again," I plead myself. I stare at my feet, ashamed. Suddenly, I don't feel too comfortable being in the sea. "Well, the thing is..." I start, but my voice fades. Perry looks at me with concern, looking ready to snap me out of a trance. "I-I just don't think I can give you the whole story. I mean I can, but I just... can't." I'm not even close to ready to explain their fall to anyone, even Perry. I feel emotionally unstable whenever I even think about it. "I can try though..."

Before Perry can stop me, I give a version of the story so simple, a newborn could understand it. "Basically, there used to be eight of us on this boat before Nico came. boy named Percy and a girl named Annabeth. They were dating. And, uh, through a series of very unfortunate events, Annabeth and Percy... they fell... into Tartarus..."

Perry gasps. "That's horrible. So everyone is trying to figure out a way to get them out?" I nod. "Oh wow..." Perry whispers. She looks at the setting sun, which is now half-way under the ocean. The wind is blowing through her black and white hair and the sun illuminates her face. I unconsciously take her hand in mine.

She seems a little shocked by the gesture at first, and I do everything I can to make my hand stay flame free. After a few seconds of awkwardness, she grasps my hand back and looks at the horizon again. I smile and do the same.

And for that instant, we're at peace, holding hands and watching the sunset together.

A/N: Fun times all around! Yay, romance!

(1) Let me explain who Johnny Storm is in case you aren't familiar with him (you probably are and just don't know it). He's part of Marvel's Fantastic Four team. He is the brother to Sue Storm, Invisible Woman. Johnny is more commonly known as The Human Torch, as he can catch on fire. He is most known for his famous line "Flame on!" as referenced in The Lost Hero.

So! I've decided that I'm going to do shout outs at the beginning of the chapters now (more so than I've been doing) so don't be afraid to ask questions. It could be about this chapter, a previous chapter, an upcoming chapter, me, other stories I have in minds, ice cream flavors, or anything you want.

Well then, safe travels and see ya next time!