AN: I know, I know, I've took forever to update and I'm really, really sorry.

I'm making up for it with a nice cliffhanger waiting for you at the end! I added it at last minute. I've had a little writer's block and then I was writing this and then the end of the chapter just came to me and I think it's perfect.

I've realised that in chapter two I had said that Luke and Annabeth had met in University and married when they were twenty-two. I forgot all about writing that and I want you to ignore that and go with the marrying at eighteen and dating in high school.

I'm sorry about any spelling/grammar mistakes.

R&R…

Annabeth

I stare out of the plane window as it arrives in New York. I can't believe I'm back after so many years. I'm nervous about seeing Percy. What if things are awkward between us? I kissed him and he didn't kiss me back. I can't exactly blame him, can I? I threw myself at him.

I get off the plane as soon as it lands and head straight to the luggage claim. I text Percy on my cell phone and let him know that I've arrived. He text's back and tells me he'll be there soon. With my suitcase in hand I weave through the sea of people to the airport exit.

The sky is filled with gray clouds, hinting that it might rain any second. The window is blowing hard and I'm rubbing my arms to try and get warm as I lean against a wall, waiting for Percy. He arrives at around 9am in a blue car.

I push myself off the wall and head towards him as he gets out of his car. Our eyes meet and he smiles before walking towards me and then wrapping his arms around me. I'm surprised and it takes me a few seconds to hug him back after I let go of my suitcase. "Thank you so much for this," I whisper.

"It's fine. You can stay with me for as long as you want, you know that," he replies before pulling away and grabbing my suitcase. "Hop in."

I nod and climb into his car while he puts my case in the trunk. He gets in next to me, starts the engine and then drives off. "So…" he starts. "How have you been?"

"Stressed. I-I just couldn't be there anymore. I thought I was going to go insane. Luke and I have argued every night all week. I snapped at Jess and then decided I had to get away for a few days," I reply, running my hands through my hair and closing my eyes.

"You deserve a break," Percy says, resting a hand on my knee. I gulp and stare at his hand before sliding mine underneath his and entwining our fingers.

I look out the window but I can feel his eyes on me before he turns back to concentrate on the road.

We hold hands until we get to his place.

His apartment is nice and filled with pictures of Lilly and his family. There are three large bedrooms and he let's me stay in the biggest guest room which is next to his own room.

There are cardboard boxes all over the apartment. The guestroom's walls are painted blue and on a shelf there are a few photo frames.

I walk over and pick one up and I smile as I see Lilly and a little boy at a beach, both sticking their tongues out at the camera. That boy must've been Lilly's friend before they moved, I assume. I put the photo back down and look at another.

This one is of Percy and the same boy in the other picture. There's a resemblance that makes me wonder if this is Tyson, Percy's younger brother that he sometimes talks about. I put the photo down and turn back to the case that I put on the bed.

I decide that instead of unpacking I'll just keep my clothes in the case. I'm only staying for a few days- a week at most and it'll just take time packing and un-packing.

I walk out of the room and find Percy in the kitchen, pulling ingredients out of the cupboard. "Hi," I greet, taking a seat on a stool. "What you making?"

"Pancakes. I didn't have time to eat when you called. Want some?" he asks.

"Yeah, please. I'm starving," I reply. "Percy, I'm really thankful that you're letting me stay here."

"You've thanked me enough and if you thank me again then I'll kick you out," he jokes, smiling at me.

"I'm sorry I ignored your texts and all," I add, quietly, fiddling with my fingers.

"It's okay, seriously. You'd had a few beers and you were upset. You didn't know what you were doing. Besides, I wasn't complaining," he replies.

"But you wasn't kissing back, either," I say.

He turns and our eyes meet for a second before I look away.

"I was shocked and you ran off before I could've even returned it," he answers.

I gulp. He might've kissed back. I almost smile. Then I remember that I'm married and that kissing another man is classed as cheating. That would make me as bad as Luke.

"Do you think you and Luke will get a divorce?" he asks, flipping the pancakes in the pan.

"I don't know. I don't love him and we're always arguing but at the same time I don't want to take the kids away from their dad. Luke's lawyer friends will expect him to put up a fight and then we'll be arguing over the kids. It'll be a mess and I don't want to put the kids through that. It's not fair on them," I reply.

"You're' right. It's not fair on them but it also isn't fair on you. If you aren't happy then your kids won't be happy, trust me. When Rachel and I were going through that rough stage we were arguing over every stupid little thing and it got Lilly so upset. One day her teacher called us in to talk and she said that Lilly was falling behind on work and that she's much quieter.

"We hadn't been paying attention to her. We'd felt do guilty so Rachel and I got a divorce. I didn't want to put Lilly through any more pain so I just agreed to let her live with Rachel but I have her in the holidays."

"Why did you and Rachel divorce? I mean… was there a real reason?" I ask. Percy stares at the wall for a few minutes, looking dazes. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me to ask."

"It's okay," Percy says. "There were a lot of reasons."

He doesn't say anything else.

It's two days later when I decide to go visit my dad. I'm nervous and scared and excited and… I feel every emotion that there is. What if he's mad at me about leaving? What if he hates me and doesn't want anything to do with me? It's been fifteen years.

Percy had helped me find him and I found out that he never moved out of the house that I'd lived in with him. That's why I'm sitting outside my old house with Percy.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" he asks and I shake my head.

"No. I think I'd better do this on my own. You should go and I'll walk back to your house," I reply, unbuckling my seatbelt.

"Okay. Call me and I'll pick you up, okay?" he says and I nod.

"Thank you," I whisper and lean over to kiss his cheek before getting out of the car.

"Good luck," he calls as I slowly walk into the yard.

I wave as he drives off and then turn to face the house.

The outside is set up exactly as it was before. The only differences are the yellow paint has faded into a cream-ish colour, the green grass looks freshly cut and there are flowers decorating the garden, and the porch that used to be white has faded into gray. My dad never used to do the gardening. He must've hired someone to take care of it.

I take a deep breath and walk up the porch steps and towards the door. I hold my hand up to knock the dark glass but stop when I see that my hand is shaking.

"Come on, Annabeth," I mutter to myself and I clear my throat before knocking the door.

I can't see inside as the glass is dark but I can hear noise inside and a voice call out saying they'll be right there. I turn around and look at the houses nearby. I wonder if my old friend Clarisse's parents still live across the street.

I hear someone clear their voice behind me and I spin around to see a lady, around the age of fifty. Her hair is dyed a light brown but you can see gray wisps coming through and you can slightly see wrinkles around her brown eyes.

I have never seen the woman in my life.

"Hello, dear," she greets. "Can I help you?"

"Hi," I reply, shakily. "Is Fredrick Chase here?"

"He sure is. Come on in. I'm his wife, Sue," she says and my eyes widen. My dad re-married? When?

I step inside the house and tears fill my eyes when I sniff and smell lemons. My dad used to always spray the house with lemon spray. I used to hate it but he had always loved the smell. Everything he'd buy; shampoo or soap, were all scented like lemons.

I've missed that smell.

Sue closes the door behind me and shakes my hand.

"He's upstairs. I'll just go get him for you," she says and starts to climb the staircase before stopping halfway up and turning to face me.

"Who should I say is asking?"

"Annabeth Chase," I reply and Sue's face pales.

"Impossible," she mutters.

"Excuse me?" I ask, confused.

"You can't be Annabeth Chase," Sue replies, just loud enough so I can hear her.

"Of course I am," I say.

She shakes her head. "No. Is this some sick joke?" she snaps and I frown.

"What are talking about? What do you mean?" I ask. I've never been so confused.

"You can't be Annabeth Chase," Sue starts and then continues:

"Because she's dead…"

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