Yo... I'm so sorry. I haven't been a good writer to you all... I promised you regular updates but the Saturday I was supposed to update, I was at GoodPhil (for those of you who know what that is) and then the next time after that, I was in Galveston all day. I feel super bad that I've left y'all hanging for a whole month. But, the good news is that I haven't stopped writing so I've got a good amount of buffer chapters and the semester's almost so I'll be here more. :) I promise I haven't forgotten about you.

wisegirl2106 (Guest): I hope you and all the other Chuck fans reading this enjoyed that. :) And I'm glad that someone actually got the reference.

Nekotite: I've got a lot planned for this story. I planned on it ending this chapter but a few chapters ago I had an epiphany so I expanded it. So, the rising action is starting to get steep. :P

Dawnwizard8010: Still waiting on those scene suggestions. ;)

Guest (Guest): It's Percy. Something stupid is bound to happen.

Jedi1: Always put trust in your significant other over others. I look forward to your reaction to where this is going. ;)

Chasing Lightning Seaowls: I am! I would never abandon a story! I'm actually usually pretty good about updating regularly but college has been getting in the way of my life. LOL

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Percy Jackson and the Olympians... Obviously since I am in no way, shape, or form Rick Riordan.

"Mom, I hate that I have to work with Drew! Why can't Malcolm just take the case from here?" Annabeth argued. It was so out of character that she went to her mother to complain about anything. But with everything going on, she hadn't really had a chance to be with Percy and ever since he told her about Drew's visit to his office, he'd been slightly more distant and it worried her. It's been a little over a week since then and every night, Annabeth stayed up, wondering what Drew could have possibly told Percy to get him to hold back. She needed to talk to him in person but first, she needed to get rid of Drew.

"Annabeth," Athena said sternly. "If you are going to own this firm, you must learn to work with more difficult clients. And besides, she's approved your design so she'll be out of your hair in no time."

"Next time, at least check with me before you agree to volunteer me for a project."

"It is your job to accept any project I give you and complete it with professionalism and elegance. You do not own this company yet and you are only a senior architect. You still answer to me, Annabeth. Perhaps your incapability to see this minor project through is evidence that you cannot handle the responsibility of running Olive Brach Architects." Annabeth's eyes widened at the accusation and stood up from her seat in front of her mother's desk.

"No!" she exclaimed, before realizing her outburst. "No," she said in a much calmer tone, sitting back down in the chair. "I can handle the project and the company."

"Very well. I'm glad that that's settled." Athena stood up and gathered her laptop and a couple of folders. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to get to. You may show yourself out." With that, the older architect left the room, leaving Annabeth alone to make her way back to her office.

Huffing, she slouched in her desk chair. Well that was a bust. Suddenly, her phone started ringing, pulling her from her thoughts. Checking the caller ID, she smiled and answered. "Hey, you," she greeted.

"Hey," Percy answered. "Are you busy?"

"Not at the moment. I'm about to go to lunch. You?"

"Nope." Suddenly, there was a knock on her door.

"Hold on one second, Percy." She lowered the phone and called out to the person to enter the room. When the door opened, Annabeth was shocked to see her boyfriend, standing there with a plastic bag, no doubt filled with food. She hung up her phone and stood from her desk, meeting him halfway, and pulled him into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Surprise," he smiled. "I haven't seen you since you've been so busy and I figured that the best time to do that would be during lunch, so… I have food from your favorite Thai place." She kissed him.

I guess there's nothing for me to worry about, she thought.

"You're so sweet. Thank you," she said. They made their way to her couch and spread the food containers across the coffee table. The couple enjoyed their lunch in an amicable silence before Percy broke it.

"So," he said, clearing his throat and setting his food on the table in front of him. "What have you been up to lately?"

"Oh, not much. Just work," Annabeth replied, mirroring his actions.

"What kind of work?" Annabeth blinked. She wasn't sure but she thought she heard malice laced into his question.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just interested in what you do. I mean it's taken up so much of your time." Now Annabeth was starting to get angry. His question sounded innocent enough but the undertone made it feel like he was accusing her of using work as an excuse to not be with him. Of course it was taking up her time. It was work.

"Well I'm sorry that my job is keeping me busy, but this is what I do. You know that. Sure I may have had more time to be with you before but now that we've been assimilated back into the real world, I'm expected to be as productive as before."

"But Annabeth, your life isn't the same as before. Your job isn't the only thing you have anymore. I'm here. You need to include me into your life. Make time for me. For us. Our relationship isn't something that's only there when you have time for it. It's a full time thing." The blonde architect shook her head and sighed, tired.

"Percy, I get that. I do. But between four projects and the transfer, I barely have time for a good night's sleep in my own apartment."

"Do you though? Do you really get it? I don't want this relationship to be some fling because we were the only two people on an island and biology kicked in. I want to believe that we really do have feelings for each other and that we're both in this for the long haul. But right now, it feels like I've got two feet in and you've only got one. And I'm tired of taking care of three feet by myself."

"What are you trying to say?" Annabeth was confused. She was all in in this relationship; she just didn't have the time at the moment. As soon as her projects clears up and the transfer was complete, she'd have more free time to be with Percy, but it didn't seem like he wanted to wait for that. He was being completely irrational about the whole thing and he kept telling her that she didn't understand when, really, he didn't.

"I'm saying that we both need time to figure things out."

"You want to break up?" Annabeth could feel the tears threatening to fill her eyes and spill over but she pushed them back.

"No. Not really. Just… take a breather to see if our relationship is really going somewhere or if we're just fooling ourselves." Annabeth stood up and looked out her massive window to the city below. For once, she didn't know what to say or do. She was lost.

"So what are you saying?" she asked again, eyes never wavering from the ironically beautiful day. "That you don't want to see me anymore? That you came all the way down here to have lunch with me and then tell me that you don't think I'm committed to our relationship? Because, Percy, I am. You may not see it, but I am. I'm trying. I'm just busy. I just don't have time right now-"

"You're supposed to make time!" he interrupted.

"-But," Annabeth continued as though Percy hadn't interrupted her., "if you want a break, then you can have one. From what I can understand, from your point of view, it won't be any different from the way things are now." Her voice started to crack and she knew she was dangerously close to breaking down and crying. And she did not want that to happen in front of him. In the reflection of the window, she could see him stand up from the couch and take step closer to her but she topped him. "You should go," she said, her voice – thankfully – steady. "That's what you want, right? To go?"

"Annabeth-"

She shook her head, interrupting him. "Just… Leave. Please." The last word came out as a whisper. So low that she wasn't sure he heard her say it. But it hurt too much and Annabeth's pride refused to let someone see her cry.

"Annabeth, I'm not breaking up with you," he tried. That threw her over the edge. She spun around to face him, her eyes red and rimmed with hurt and tears.

"Really? Because that sure sounds like what you're doing. Because I can't give you everything you need. And no, I'm not being dramatic. Because I don't even know where this is coming from. I haven't lied to you. I haven't willingly turned down a chance to be with you. I haven't done anything to cause doubt. Unless I have and I couldn't see it, but Percy, I don't know what you're thinking and it frightens me because I can look into anyone's eyes and know what they're thinking and feeling and I just can't with you. You're a mystery to me and I don't know what I've done to make you feel this way about me, about us. And right now, I need you to leave because I'm going to cry and I'd rather not have you see me do that. So whether or not you're breaking up with me, I need you to leave." Percy hadn't moved from his spot so Annabeth firmed her voice. "Now." She watched as Percy blinked with hurt before leaving her office. It was then that Annabeth truly broke down, falling to her knees, sobbing. Never had Annabeth cried over a guy. But then, no guy had ever made her feel the way Percy had. He had quickly become a beacon, something that would lead her to a life with permanence and happiness and love. And now, he turned his light off and Annabeth was lost once more, unsure of where to go. And for once, she didn't know how to find her way back.

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Percy felt terrible. He'd made Annabeth cry. But he still believed in his position. A relationship involved two people, not just one. And Annabeth hadn't done much to show that she'd gone out of her way for him. It was as though she only kept him around to unwind every now and then. Percy was more than just a kept man. Annabeth needed to understand that and he thought that their not-really-a-break break was essential for her to have a chance to figure out where she wanted them to be.

Percy did not decide this right away. He'd spent all week figuring out how to approach their relationship and he honestly thought that this was best. Sure they were hurt now, but down the line, this could only benefit them. Trying to erase the look of hurt that was etched on Annabeth's face as she spoke, Percy made his way down to his car and back to his apartment.

•-•

Two weeks later, Percy figured that he and Annabeth have had enough time to think things through. Well, that she had time to think things through. He made his way up to her office and walked up to Gwen, Annabeth's assistant. "Hey, Gwen," he greeted.

"Percy! I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah. Is Annabeth in?" A frown found its way onto the brunette's face.

"She didn't tell you? She's out of the country for a couple of days. She'll be back on Friday."

He nearly paled. Out of the country? He swallowed "N-No, she didn't. Do you know what for?"

"Not really. Just that she was meeting with a client about designing a home. I can't believe she didn't tell you."

He shook his head. "We've both been really busy lately and haven't really had time to talk."

"Oh. Well. Sorry. Do you want me to let you know when she's back?"

"Uh… No. That's fine. Thanks anyway, Gwen."

"No problem!"

Percy walked away after that, heading straight for his car. Annabeth was gone and he didn't even know. She didn't even tell him. Why would she? You practically broke up with her, the little voice in his head snorted.

We're not broken up! he thought back.

Well the fact that the two of you haven't talked once in two weeks since you decided to 'take a break' doesn't really help your case, does it?

Oh, shut up.

How funny would it be if she thought about it and realized that she didn't want to be in a relationship with you?

Not helping.

I'm just saying. Percy rolled his eyes and froze. He was officially going crazy. He just rolled his eyes at himself. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he unlocked his car and got in, making the drive back to his apartment.

Once in the confines of his home, seated on his couch, Percy got to thinking about Annabeth again. He wondered what she was doing out of the country. Gwen had said it was for a job. A house. But Annabeth didn't design houses. She designed corporate buildings or monuments. Not private homes. So why was she doing one now? And why did it require her to be out of the country? He wished so desperately to call her but he didn't know where she was and she was probably angry at him so if he happened to call her in the middle of the night and woke her up, that would not be good.

Percy groaned. He wished he could just talk to her. Maybe explain himself better. He'd gone over their conversation in his head and realized that he did sound like he was breaking up with her; he wasn't clear on what was going through his mind. And now, Annabeth was who knows where in the world and probably moving on.

She'd be back on Friday and while Percy didn't know what time she'd be back specifically, but he was going to be there to talk to her. He was going to explain himself, and he was going to get back together with her. He wanted a relationship with her and he wanted it to work. And he was going to do everything he could to do that.

And voila! The next chapter is done! I should be back in two weeks... ;)

I'm still looking for scenes and stuff. Even if you have a one-shot idea or if you have a song you want me to base a one-shot off of. I gotchu!

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