GO FORWARD AND BE EATEN.

GO BACK AND REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

NOT MUCH OF A CHOICE, IS IT?

Yes, well, I had to. Although I think my favorite one is called 52: The Best Thing, I had to do this little number of how it should happen right after they defeat Gaea. They are currently in the throne room om the Mt. Olympus in Greece and exausted. Piper to the rescue!

This is a quote from A Countess Below Stairs: - who had known him since his birth saw in the new lines around his eyes, the skin streached tight across the cheekbones, the price paid by those who forced themselves against their deepest nature, to excel at war.

Annabeth POV

I was sitting on the edge of one of those old fashioned reclining couches with Percy's head in my lap. I thought he was asleep,(having defeated Gaea in about half an hour, we were a bit tired,) and I was slowly stroking his hair and about to nod off myself, when he opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Hey Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you marry me?"

I froze. I literally couldn't move. That was the very last thing I had expected.

"Not now, I mean, we have to finish school first, well you have to, anyway," he amended.

That woke me up.

"You're finishing school too Seaweedbrain," I said severely.

"Fine, but when we're done with school, will you marry me?"

I didn't even have to think about it.

"Yes Percy, I'll marry you. Now go to sleep, you look half dead, and I need rest too."

"I wonder why," he muttered, but he smiled.

I was almost asleep, again, when Percy muttered," Make sure your Mom doesn't blast me, 'kay?"

I almost laughed, "I promise I won't let her hurt you."

And we fell asleep.

Piper POV

I wove my way through the crow and ended at the edge of the throne room and spotted Percy and Annabeth resting on a couch.

I was about to call out to them when I stopped. I had just noticed something. They looked very . . . old. There were premature lines on their faces and the grey streaks had never been more prominent.

I realized with a jolt, that this was the second time they had been pushed into winning a war for the gods.

They're barely 18, I thought, and yet the gods have been messing with their lives more than anyone else's.

I had to do something. I had to find my mother.

Quickly, I hurried away. I must have gone around the room three times already, before I found her laughing with Demeter.

"Mom, can I talk to you for a second. Privately," I added, when Demeter looked curious.

"Of course dear."

She led me away from the throne room and stopped in a pavilion outside.

"What's wrong?"

I looked at her seriously.

"Look, I know you want Percy and Annabeth to have this big, tragic romance, but I want you to stop. Stop messing with their lives. You and the other gods. I mean, they've done and gone through so much already. They are my friends, and I can't bear to see them so sad. They already look so old and tired for their age. They should be going on dates and worrying about homework, not traveling all over the world trying to stop a war and keep the person they love."

After my little speech, I held my breath, waiting.

Aphrodite sighed. "I suppose, in light of recent events, I could let them off the hook. But really Piper," she said, her eyes lighting up," You should consider the wonderful beginning they've already made. They could be the most famous love story of the century! The one people will talk about for ages, the one that will make all the others pale in comparison."

"I know mother," I said as understandingly as I could," But all the romance stories people seem to remember best, they always put the characters through such drama that there is never a real happy ending for them. But a happy ending is just what these two deserve."

"All right," my mother said almost sulkily," I won't bother them anymore. But," she added," that doesn't mean that their love lives will be perfect from now on. They can mess up plenty by themselves."

I smiled, "I know they can. But I also know," I continued," that they'll always make up in the end."

Aphrodite smiled too," That is very true."

She kissed me on my cheek.

" I'm proud of you fille. But you must invite me to their wedding. And yours."

"Mooom!"

"So how is Jason anyway?" she asked winking.

I blushed and we went back inside.

When we walked into the room, I spotted Athena starting towards the sleeping forms of Percy and Annabeth. She looked murderous and unfortunatelly had a spear in her hand.

"Uh oh," I muttered and hurried to intercept her.

"Hi, Lady Athena," I said giving her my most winning smile and effectivly blocking her way, making her stop short. She glared at me.

"I know what you are doing, Piper McLean, daughter of Aphrodite," she warned, "do not try to protect them. This has gone on long enough. It isn't safe, it isn't natural, and it will only hurt them in the end. It is not wise to take such risks."

"But, Lady Athena, they love each other more than anything!" I cried desperately. "Annabeth was the only thing keeping Percy mortal, and she was what he rememberd and loved enough to keep going when Hera took all his other memories away! Annabeth's gone through Hell, literally, for Percy, and she can't be right without him! They are strong enough to take all that and still be happy!"

"Even strength has to bow to wisdom," Athena told me.

"Maybe so," I said bravely, even though I was shaking inside, "but even wisdom has to bow to love. Love does bring pain and misery, but all the happiest moments in our lives are because of some form of love. Those two will never love anyone or anything as much as each other, so if they are apart, they will never be really happy. In a way, isn't that its own kind of wisdom?"

Athena looked at me.

I flattered myself in thinking I had rather impressed her.

Slowly she lowered her spear.

"You are very wise and courages for a Aphrodite girl. Very well. I will not interfere. But," she added, fingering her weapon, "if he hurts or disrespects my daughter, or gets her pregnant before they are married, he will wake one day to find this spear stuck through his heart." With that, she burt into a colum of flame and vanished.

Okay then.

I've always seen Piper as a kind of protector of Percy's and Annabeth's love, because she is their friend and is still sensible and a daughter of Aphrodite.

So . . .

REVIEW!

Or else I won't update.