So, you guys have only posted eight reviews. Now, normally, I would just keep waiting until I got ten. But I'm not completely evil, so I'm going to go ahead and update for those who did review. This time, I'll make it easier on you. Only six reviews until the next update. Considering that is two less than what you managed this time, it should be pretty easy, right?

Okay, so about the whole POV thing. I have one more chapter after this that will be the normal way I do it, and then I'll post two experimental chapters. The first will be in first person POV, and the second will be the way Uncle Ricki does it. Well, as close as possible to the way he does it, anyway. Is that okay with you guys?

Credit goes to Joseph (guest) for the idea of experiment chapters.

Happy Reading!

Chapter XXVII

Annabeth

The shower helps clear Annabeth's mind. Which isn't necessarily a good thing. It leaves the way clear for her memories of Tartarus to come sneaking up on her.

That's a big part of why she ever went swinging, and then climbing, and then jumping, with Percy. They're not things she would usually do. But they helped her keep her mind off of Tartarus, for once. And, surprisingly, they were actually pretty fun. Especially since she did them with Percy.

As she steps out of the shower and towels off, she wonders warily what will be waiting for her when she goes back upstairs. She trusts Percy with her life, but when it comes to small things like picnics and romantic gestures, or anything like that-well, not so much. It's not that he's stupid, or ridiculous, or anything. It's just that he likes pranks too much. And whenever he does something, it usually ends with him laughing and Annabeth threatening to strangle him.

She loves him. So much. She can hardly go a few minutes without him, let alone her whole life. Without him, she wouldn't be whole.

She doesn't really care about his ridiculous pranks. They just endear him to her more. It makes her smile to think back on them, although at one point, remembering them just would've exasperated her and made her worry more about what's waiting for her on deck.

She dresses in her usual jeans and Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. It makes her nostalgic for home. She wonders if she'll ever get to see it again. But then she shakes the thought away. She can't think like that. Or else the battle will be lost before it even starts.

She heads slowly up the stairs, pausing to listen for any suspicious sounds. She hears none. But as soon as she steps up on deck, a hand reaches from behind her and covers her eyes.

"Percy!" She complains, immediately knowing it's him. She tries to peel his hand away from her face, but he just puts his other hand over it too.

"No peeking!" He insists. Annabeth sighs and lets her hands fall to her sides. Percy takes one of his hands away from her eyes and uses it to guide her.

"Just a few more steps...there! Now open your eyes." He says, pulling his hand away. Annabeth opens her eyes and gasps.

"Oh, Percy!" She cries. He stands in front of her, a little unsure.

"Do you like it? I mean, I figured you would, but I want to make sure, because sometimes you act like you might like something when you really don't, and I didn't want that to happen. So I tried to make it as perfect as possible, and all, but-" Annabeth interrupts his nervous rambling with a kiss.

"Percy," She whispers to him after she pulls away, "Shut up."

He grins. "So you like it then?"

"I love it, Seaweed Brain." She tells him, completely sincere.

Percy has created the perfect picnic. He put a white picnic blanket on the deck, and covered it with all her favorite foods. There's even barbecue just like they have at Camp Half-Blood. And in the center of it all, by itself on a gold plate from the mess hall, is one perfect cupcake with silver icing and a single candle.

"I wanted to make it up to you." Percy tells her.

"Make what up to me?" Annabeth asks, confused.

"You spent your birthday in Tartarus. You deserved way better than that. And I know this isn't all that great, but I wanted to do something for you." He explains.

Annabeth is silent for a minute, looking up at him with a soft expression in her eyes. "Percy, you didn't have to make anything up to me. It wasn't your fault that we fell. And you didn't have to fall with me. That was pretty much the best birthday gift someone could have given me."

"Falling into Tartarus?" Percy asks. Now he's the one confused.

"No, Seaweed Brain. Tartarus was horrible. Actually, it was way, way worse than just 'horrible.' But if I had to fall, I'm really, really glad you were with me. I don't think I would have survived otherwise." Annabeth tells him. Percy gathers her in his arms.

"And I wouldn't have made it without you, Wise Girl." He murmurs. He kisses her, slow and sweet, and then pulls away and leads her over to the picnic blanket.

The sun shines brightly, not a cloud in sight. A cool breeze keeps it from getting too hot. The sea around them is tranquil, calm, and the most beautiful blue-green color Annabeth has ever seen. It's the perfect day for a perfect picnic.

They eat in silence. And while that might be awkward with anyone else, Annabeth's relationship with Percy is one where they can sit together in complete silence and still feel perfectly happy.

Annabeth eats a lot more than she would have before Tartarus. But after eating mostly drakon meat stew and drakon jerky with fire water, Annabeth will never take food for granted ever again.

Percy isn't any better. He eats as if he'll never eat again, chowing down on slice after slice of barbecue brisket and pizza. Annabeth wonders where he puts it all.

After they're both done eating, Percy reaches for the plate with the cupcake, but Annabeth stops him.

"Not yet." She says without explaining herself. She snuggles against Percy's chest and looks out at the horizon, where the sun is just starting to set. He wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on top of her head.

"I'm glad you're here, Percy." She sighs contentedly.

"I'll always be here. I won't ever leave you again. Remember, Wise Girl? As long as we're together." He whispers to her. She twists in his arms to face him, looking deep into his sea-green eyes.

"As long as we're together." She echoes softly. He kisses her on the forehead and then hugs her tightly, as if he has no intentions of ever letting her go.

"I love you." Annabeth whispers to him before he has a chance to.

"I love you more, Wise Girl." He murmurs into her hair. Annabeth smiles.

"Not a chance, Seaweed Brain." She says.

Annabeth watches as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Arcs of light and vibrant color light up the sky and streak across the water. The sky is filled with color-ruby red, soft orange, and every shade of purple from lavender to indigo. The brilliant crimson makes it look as if the sky is bleeding, like the sun is dieing. But the other colors-the oranges, and purples, and pinks. They say, We're not finished yet. Come back again tomorrow. We'll be here.

The last rays of the dieing sun illuminate their faces. Annabeth raises her face to the light and closes her eyes, allowing it to warm her all the way down to her bones. The sun might be dieing. But it will be reborn again tomorrow. No matter what happens, it will keep on rising and setting on the horizon.

For some reason, that is the thought that finally dispels her lingering doubts. That the sun will always be there.

Annabeth leans closer to her boyfriend, who is also so much more than that. He's her soulmate, her one true love, her best friend. He's her other half. He completes her, makes her whole. Without him, she would be lost forever.

She sighs happily and tilts her head against Percy's shoulder, towards the setting sun. Percy tightens his arms around her and kisses her gently on the cheek.

Thanks, Apollo. Annabeth thinks. I needed this.

So maybe this wasn't the super epic chapter you guys were hoping for, but it has FLUFF.And fluff is pretty awesome, so you should be happy.

How am I doing with all the mushy stuff? Okay? Good? Great? EPICLY AWESOME?

More action next chapter, I promise. :)