Hi guys! This chapter greatly lacks exciting action and cute romance, but it's just as important to the story. The characters are still kind of beat up from the School of Secrets finale, and need a chance to regroup and work some things out, so unfortunately, this chapter is necessary. There will be lots of action and PERCABETH in the next chapter though! :) Shout outs:

PepsiCola541- Your guess is close, but not quite spot on. They are demigods, but they also aren't. Ok, that made no sense. :P I'm not sure how to explain it without giving the plot away… ok, they are demigods, but not the same way as RR writes them… does that make any sense? Probably not… oh, well. As to my organization skills, I do like to be organized ;) Although I didn't have a chapter outline for School of Secrets (Simply because when I started writing it, I didn't expect people to want a sequel!) And your Reopened Chapters cliffy KILLED ME, by the way. Oh, and would you be interested in co-writing a story with me? Just a thought… (Gods, that was a long shout out!)

Guest- Thanks so much for coming back and reviewing anyways! :) And there will be major Percabeth in the next chapter ;)

MarMar5678- Thalia and Percy do know they're cousins- it was mentioned once in School of Secrets, but very briefly. Sorry for the confusion :(

Disclaimer: Nope, nada, no, I do not own anything… but the plot! *sniffs pathetically*

Annabeth's POV

Chiron had left me overly confused, but I didn't let it show. It was early in the morning, we were all exhausted, and currently we were all in the streets. The sensible part of my mind (the part that wasn't fried by recent events) went into autopilot, springing into action.

"We need to get inside, find a place to stay," I heard myself say. The others nodded mutely, evidently also confused by Chiron's words.

"Who lived here in Manhattan before they were sent off to the MIST Academy?" Asked Percy, following my train of thought. A few hands went up- Thalia, Grover, Percy, and Rachel were all Manhattan residents.

"Ok," I said, thinking. "Until we can all get home- wherever home may be- we'll have to be temporary roommates again. Thalia, Nico and Reyna will stay with you. Grover, you'll take Leo and Piper. Rachel, you take Frank and Hazel."

"What about you?" Asked Percy, frowning. "You don't live in Manhattan, do you?"

"No," I admitted. "I live in San Francisco."

"California?" Gasped Percy, and I knew why it bothered him. California was across the country, and a long distance relationship was going to be difficult.

"Yep, California," I sighed. Percy still looked uneasy, but pushed it aside.

"Well, you still need a place to stay for the night," he said firmly. "Er- day, I guess. You know what I mean!" He rambled.

"Percy, I need to get home-"

"How? And in the condition you're in? No way. You can stay with my mom and me until you're better," he said, considering the matter closed. Leo made a cat whistle from the background.

"I dunno," Leo teased. "Maybe we should break the happy couple up. Who knows what they'd do-" he broke off when Thalia smacked him over the head.

"Leo!" I scolded, my face tomato red. Percy looked much the same way. "You're sure your mom won't mind?" I asked, turning back to Percy.

"Nah, she'll love you," Percy said confidently.

"Ok," I relented. The group split up, heading our separate ways. No one said goodbye, but we were all thinking it. We were pretty spread out across the country- Percy and I were a good example- and who knew if our friendships would survive. Then again, Chiron seemed to think that our adventure wasn't over yet.

I followed Percy down the winding streets of Manhattan, exhausted.

"We're almost there," he told me, the bags under his eyes showing he felt much the same way. The brief nap I'd gotten on the plane hadn't restored my energy fully, and my body ached from various bruises and scratches. Percy led me to a tall apartment building. It wasn't an overly fancy apartment building, but it was nice enough to be called a home.

"It's not much," Percy said as he led me to the elevators, guessing my thoughts. "But it's home." I nodded slightly, following him. We leaned against the elevator walls, our bruised bodies aching for rest.

The maid in the elevator looked pretty freaked out, examining the two exhausted and beat up teens she was sharing the elevator with. When the elevator door opened with a small ding she shot out the door, happy to get away from Percy and I. Percy shot me a look, laughing, then stopped abruptly as if laughing hurt. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a tan door with Jackson scrawled on it. Pulling a key from under the matt, he opened the door.

"Paul?" Called a voice from the apartment as the door slid open.

"Hi, Mom," called Percy. "Who's Paul?" At his words a tall woman with long brown hair and a sun-tanned face (who I assumed was Percy's mom) emerged from what looked like the kitchen.

"Percy!" She cried, embracing him. Percy winced as she hugged him, his bruised ribs probably hurting, but didn't push his mom away. Despite the pain, he looked happy to see his mom.

While son and mother greeted each other, I examined the apartment. It was small and had a homey touch to it. The light blue walls and worn brown couch made up the living room, and a blue hallway lead of to what I assumed must be the bedrooms and bathroom. The kitchen smelled like fresh-baked cookies and a small sign on the wall read Home is were the heart is. Percy was right- it wasn't much, but I loved it instantly. It seemed to scream home. The fluffy couch and fresh baked cookie smell- my home never had that.

"Who is this?" Asked Percy's mom, interrupting my thoughts. "She looks as beat up as you! What happened?" She fretted, taking me by the shoulders and examining me.

"Mom, this is Annabeth," Percy said. "My girlfriend." Mrs. Jackson seemed to freeze at his words before a large smile over took her face. By the way her eyes crinkled up at the corners, it was clear she smiled a lot.

"Nice to meet you, Annabeth," Mrs. Jackson said sincerely.

"You too, Mrs. Jackson," I smiled. Mrs. Jackson waved a hand dismissively.

"Sally is fine. Take a seat, you two, and tell me what happened." We obliged, sitting at a rectangular table near the kitchen, and Sally quickly whipped up a plate of…where those blue chocolate chip cookies? Percy immediately grabbed one, telling our story to Sally. She was a great listener, gasping and awing at just the right times. My mind flashed to my stepmom- I was pretty sure she never asked what I'd been doing. Sally was like the polar opposite.

"Thank you for taking care of my son, Annabeth," Sally said, smiling at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

"No problem, although he doesn't always make it easy!" I snorted, casting a teasing glance at Percy, who pretended to frown indignantly.

"Hey! I'm very, uh… safe." He stammered. "Ok, fine. Told you Mom would like you." He added, smiling at me.

"You two must be exhausted," Sally said, collecting the now-empty cookie plate. "Annabeth did you get a cookie, honey?"

"No, ma'am, but it's fine," I said quickly. Sally cast a disproving look at her son.

"Percy," she scolded. Percy shrugged sheepishly. "I'll make more later," Sally decided. "For now, you both need rest. Percy, show Annabeth to the guest room, please. I'm going to run to the pharmacy and grab some medicine and painkillers- you both could use them!" She told us, getting up and grabbing her purse.

"Thanks Sally," I yawned, exhausted.

"My pleasure, dear," Sally said gently. "Get some rest." Then she turned and left the apartment. Percy stood up and led me to a small cream-colored room. There was a window, a small twin bed with a blue quilt, and a closet and desk in the corner. There was also a shelf on the wall full of photo albums, which I knew I would enjoy looking through later.

"Uh, it's not much, but-" Percy began, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. I cut him off with a light kiss.

"It's perfect," I told him, and I meant it. This, what he had- this was a home. He smiled at me, looking pleased.

"I'm glad you like it," he said softly, giving me another kiss. "'Night, Wise Girl." Then he left the room, closing the door softly behind him. I fell on the bed, to tired to even take off my shoes, and sleep overcame me instantly.

Meh. Kind of a slow, boring chapter, but oh well. In other news, I have a new story called Not so Mortal After All, and it's a story where you submit the characters. Check it out please! Reviewer's question: If Sally was a demigod (Just play pretend with me for a moment here) who do you think her godly parent would be? And don't say Poseidon, because that would be beyond weird. I'd say Hestia. Until next time!