BOO IS SOOOO CLOSE. I cant express my love for these characters, I love them all so very much!I seriously cant believe its coming all to an end in 12 days!

In celebration that we have only 12 freaking frack days to wait for the FINAL FINAL battle (that they absolutely win and no, nobody is gonna die because come on! Rick is not going to kill anyone duh) i wrote this oneshot that'd go right after the last page in hoh.

I hope you like it

Annabeth screaming was terrible and heartbreaking but Percy couldn't find her in the darkness.

"Where are you?" He screamed back, running around "Annabeth!"

The smell of Tartarus was penetrating and the thick air was making it impossible to see. He fell to his knees, desperately calling her name.

And then it hit him. After all the time he had dealing with dreams he somehow realized she wasn't really there.

The screaming was too real.

He forced himself to wake up and by doing that he got tangled in the sheets and fell off the bed face first, against wooden floor of his room in the Argo II.

His T-shirt was drenched in sweat, sticking to his body, so was his hair.

Her voice rang loudly in his ears again, and he stood and ran towards the door.

In the corridor he collided with Leo and Hazel running toward the exit.

"What's attacking as?!" Hazel asked him but he run straight down the hallway.

"Where's Annabeth!?" Leo asked

"The alarm didn't go off Leo!" Frank called appearing somewhere behind the others.

"Come on, guys! Piper and Jason are on deck"

Percy saw Piper running down the stairs and Jason a flash of blond hair behind her.

The couple was coming down from deck because they took the first watching shift.

He wanted to do the watch. Actually, he and Annabeth had volunteer but they others wouldn't let them. Percy was sure this was some kind of pity thing for Tartarus. 'You guys go rest' they kept insisting, it wasn't because they were mean or anything, right the opposite. Percy knew that, but the fact was he didn't want to 'go rest'.

The last thing he wanted was to sleep, he felt so useless and also he wanted to avoid sleeping. He hadn't slept 'well' for almost twenty days down there but now that he had a comfortable bed again he doubt he would sleep well, either.

After tossing and turning in the dark for half an hour, he turned all the lights in his room; he realized he couldn't sleep without it off. Every time he closed his eyes there were images there, hunting him.

He needed Annabeth desperately, after saying good night they parted to their rooms but he really didn't want to. He was hoping she would suggest something...he didn't even need to sleep, he could just stay sitting down on the floor of her room to be near her, but she didn't say anything so he thought maybe he was being clingy or stupid and went to his room.

"Guys! What's attacking us?"

"Nothing is attacking us" Jason replied with a grim expression.

"Annabeth!" He called breathless almost to her door.

Leo, Nico, Frank and Hazel all stopped suddenly colliding with one another; it would have been hilarious in another scenario.

"Percy!" Piper called but he pushed past her.

He threw Annabeth's door open and ran to her side. She wasn't being attacked by anything, it was just a nightmare but the feeling of his chest being crushed by a giant foot didn't go away. The sight of her wriggling and screaming at invisible forces was too much.

"Annabeth!"

He stood above her, trying to shake her awake, the panic evident in his voice.

"Wake up! I'm here. Please!"

Dream!Annabeth might have been struggling, not knowing which one was reality. He knew the feeling.

"Please" he called and shook her shoulder and palmed her cheeks "Wake up Annabeth! Come on"

She opened her eyes with a spasm while Percy insistently shook her.

"Percy!" she let out with a strangled voice and tried to sit up. He helped her to a sitting position and he kneeled on the floor in front of her.

She looked around the room, completely lost, probably expecting to find Tartarus around her.

"I can't see! The Arai made me blind!" Her eyes were teary, terror in her voice "I can't–" she faltered.

With the lights from the hallway on the room was clear enough to see each other but still quite dimly

"Turn the lights on," he said looking back just a second and somebody did as he commanded. He blinked for the new brightness. "Annabeth, you are not blind!" He told her cupping her face for her to look at him. "It was just a nightmare. You were asleep"

He looked into her dilated teary eyes "You're here, I'm here. In your room in the Argo II"

"No—" her breathing was so ragged and cold sweat ran down her temples

"Yes, we're here. We are here with our friends and you can see"

Her grey eyes were so hunted but he could tell she was starting to recognize her surroundings, to see him clearly. Her hands gripped his damp t-shirt and he crushed her to his chest.

"Percy" she breathed out.

"Shh, we're together. Okay?"

He continued talking softly in her ear, repeating his words over and over and it took her a few moments but she nodded against his shoulder. Her heartbeat was still crazy but her breathing slowed a little.

He caressed her cheeks and run his fingers over her curls, they smelled lemony as always.

Percy could feel a lot of pair of eyes staring at them. He heard Piper's voice saying something and then somebody replying.

Annabeth looked up at him cautiously as if to check if he was still there.

One of the guys spoke again but he couldn't make out the words.

She got startled at their friends at the door; they were all piled there looking at them. All of them except coach Hedge but he was a heavy sleeper and his room was the furthest away.

Annabeth looked at them for a few minutes. Percy wished they weren't there really, he knew they were concern but he didn't want them to see her like that, she was the leader.

Besides, he felt like this was private matter between them, Tartarus was their thing.

He met Nico's eyes, he was at the back beside Reyna, and he wondered again how he'd done it. Going through it all on his own. How he was sane and still going. The guy's expression was one of understanding.

Annabeth's gaze fell back to his and he caressed her hands and spoke softly to her.

He felt someone approach and his defenses went up, he didn't want anyone to touch her or bother her.

Piper walked her way into the room slowly not to scared Annabeth; she was holding a glass of water.

She sat down next to her. Annabeth didn't seem to be bothered by her presence, instead her body became less tense.

"Here" Her quiet peaceful voice touched Percy most deeply and he felt himself relaxing at her one word.

Annabeth accepted the water but didn't drink any, she just held the glass.

Percy didn't know Piper that well, he liked her of course, she was great, but they didn't have a super close relationship, but Annabeth did.

He never realized how much Annabeth needed a girl friend. She had Thalia but being a hunter she was never around. He knew how Annabeth and Piper got on very well; they bonded when he was gone. He had paid enough attention to them interacting, they kinda complemented each other.

The daughter of Aphrodite sat there beside her for a moment, she didn't even touch her. She kept quiet as well. Percy was glad she didn't go for 'are you okay?' Or 'do you want to talk about it?" No hugs or reassuring smiles.

But maybe he was just being an idiot and unfair with Piper, of course she wouldn't! She was a halfblood too, she knew those kinda stuff didn't really apply in their conversations.

After a moment she stood and looked at Percy, he tried letting the thank you clear in his eyes hoping she understood. She made a slight nod.

Their friends started moving backwards, maybe realizing that they shouldn't be staring...nobody talked while they walked different ways down the hall. As if the 7 remembered all at once that they had somewhere else to be at two in the morning.

"Thanks Pipes" Annabeth's voice sounded like she had a cold. "For the water"

"It was nothing, Annabeth" She put a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, and then got out closing the door after her.

Percy grabbed the glass of water and set it on the nightstand, because if his girlfriend kept gripping it like that she was most probably going to hurt herself.

Annabeth didn't even seem to realized she wasn't holding the glass anymore, she sat there motionless looking down at their hands intertwine in her lap. Percy was still kneeling on the wooden plank floor.

He kissed one of her cold hands realizing that her palm was bloody with nail cuts. He did his best to clean them.

"I'm sorry" she said after a moment.

"It's okay"

"No, I am sorry"

"What for?"

"For–for everything"

"For waking us? Everyone here has nightmares, it's o–" he talked lightly caressing her knuckles

"No," she whispered and shook her head

"What then?"

"I'm sorry for..." Her voice failed and she breathed in but then broke down and started sobbing, she covered her face with her hands.

Percy felt that panic rising again. Not knowing how to calm her, what to do. He was her boyfriend he should be able to make her feel good, safe, happy…anything.

The panic overtook him. No, not panic. This time it was something else: despair, dread, anger, rage. All the emotions cursed through his head making it hurt.

She was sobbing so badly. Really heartbroken sobbing, he couldn't remember the last time she had broken down so bad in front of him. She tried to breathe in to calm down but she was choking in her tears. Her chest moved up and down as the ragged breaths filled the room; she hug herself and rocked back and forth, her cheeks stained with the endless stream of tears…

He felt a lump in his throat as the terrible pain continued to engulf him, he couldn't breath either.

"Annabeth…!"

Percy sat on the bed and pulled her to his lap wrapping his arms around her tightly.

She cried against his t-shirt still damp for sweat and fisted the fabric in her hands. Her skin felt so cold against his and she was shivering so he grabbed the comforter and wrapped them both in it trying to warm her.

He didn't try to calm her down by saying something. Annabeth was no crier but for what they went through it was more than understandable. If she wanted to cry, she should be able to cry all she wanted.

They held the tears for 18 days no less. She needed the emotional release and so did he.

How could they...? They survived the depths of–they'd been there and they made it out. Percy shuddered at the thought of the place.

He started crying too, sometime after that, remembering, a blur of images of what they lived.

Damasen,

Bob...

He pressed his face to her shoulder and tried to think himself somewhere else, away from his head and his thoughts and the pain, away from this shitty situation.

"I'm sorry." He heard again muffled against his t-shirt.

"Why?" He choked

"You're crying" she noticed when she looked up and cleaned his tears, she started crying even harder because of that. Another strangled I'm sorry left her lips.

"Annabeth why are you apologizing?"

She crushed her lips to his and kissed him but he pulled away.

"Annabeth..."

"Because–its killing me" her voice failed again. "Percy...I just can't–I can't handle this. The guilt"

"Guilt? What are you talking about?"

"I'm the one...Percy! I'm so sorry. You should have never–how could I ever forgive myself?"

"I don't– what is this about?"

He really didn't know what she was apologizing for.

"You–It's my fault! I'm the one who dragged you–I'd never wanted something like that to happen to you"

"You feel guilty–What?"

"I'm sorry" she put her arms around his neck and started crying again.

Realization dawn on him after a moment 'I dragged you...'

"Annabeth! No–it's not your fault. How could it be your fault?"

She didn't say anything and kept her face pressed against his chest. He pushed her back softly to see her face. He couldn't believe she would think something like that. Annabeth was intelligent, how could she think it was her fault?

"Please don't–it was not your fault"

"But it's true"

"It's not true!" It came out louder than he meant to. He lowered his voice but the annoyance was clear in it "If that's your fault, then it's my fault because I couldn't pull you back up"

"What? No, of course not Percy!"

"See? We can be here all night blaming ourselves and arguing. Thinking about every what if, it won't do any good"

She didn't say anything, she looked down at her hands but Percy could tell she was not convinced.

"Please Annabeth–please. Don't." his tears started pooling on the corners of his eyes again "I don't blame you! Why would I do that? It was not your fault. It was not our fault; nothing has ever been our fault."

"But–" her lip quivered. He shook his head, the anguish filling his chest.

"Would you please stop thinking that way?" Now he was more desperate and his tone trembled dangerously about to break down in tears again. She seemed to notice that

He cupped her face between his hands and looked into her red and tired eyes. It was like her grey eyes had lost that spark he loved so much "We're still together" he ran his fingers over her messy bedhead.

She nodded after a moment, because seriously that was the most important thing. Her mouth curled into a pout and he knew she was about to start crying again. He cleaned his tears and tried to hide his frustration.

"And stop making that cute face"

"Now is not the time–"

"To tell you that you're cute? That time is all the time"

He tried for a smile to lighten things up and cleaned her tear streak cheeks with his thumbs.

They stared at each other a moment.

Another feeling stronger than all the others came crushing to his chest, all traces of anger fade away and he cleared his throat.

"Annabeth–" He bit his lip and then breathed in. "Annabeth..." Her eyes cleared and there was that spark on them that he loved so much. He was about to continue with his oh-so-not secret declaration. She kissed his lips sweetly not letting him finish his sentence.

She managed a small smile, "Percy, I know. Gods, of course, I know"

"You know everything, Smartass" he rolled his eyes pretending to be annoyed and it got a little laugh out of her.

"I love you, too. So much"

He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Percy could feel she was trying to calm down, his arms moved at her will whenever she breathed in and out, slowly and deeply.

"It's not even past two. You should sleep; you still have a few hours. Do you want me to stay?" He wanted to stay so badly; he wanted to stay for his own sake. He couldn't stand being away from her all the way in his room.

"Yes, please"

"Okay" he nodded relieved

"Percy, Can you open the door? I feel...trapped"

"Yes, of course" he got up and opened the door wide. The corridor was dark and quiet. Annabeth motioned for him to get the lights and she turned on the one in the bedside table.

Percy leaned against the headboard, not fully lying down on the mattress. She didn't tell him to lie down and he was grateful, she probably could sense that he didn't want to sleep. He preferred staying on a sitting position and watch over her.

He pulled the covers up to her chin and she hugged his waist and pressed her face against his side. He ran his hand through her hair and she was so tired she immediately started blinking slowly.

About half an hour after Annabeth fell asleep a dark figure appeared at the door, his face in the shadows. He knew who it was instantly and he moved Annabeth arm from around his waist and got up. She stirred a little but continued sleeping.

"Are you guys leaving?" He asked in a low voice.

"As soon as I get on deck"

"Nico..." He started but he never knew how to talk to the guy. It's not like he could just ask about Tartarus.

"Percy take care, this is far from done"

"Oh, thanks for the notice" he couldn't help the sarcasm. He was going to apologize because of her harsh remark but he saw a tiny smile in Nico's face. "Nico...You saw Annabeth, you know, before...I never–you. You...I mean, how are you?"

"oh, I'm grand"

Percy cursed and Nico only shrugged. "Sorry, it was a stupid question" he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Annabeth's sleeping form from the darkness of the corridor. He felt so bad for Nico, he and Annabeth had each other...

"Look Percy, it's okay. I know what you're trying to say" He nodded and then shrugged again, like he didn't matter.

"I don't know how you do it man" Nico raised an eyebrow "any tips?"

He laughed, the sound echoed in the hallway. It was a strange to hear him laugh, he never laughed.

"The feeling...it'll go away" He said.

Percy couldn't help to doubt.

"Really?" Nico didn't reply and he thought that maybe he was just saying so to make him feel better. He never considered Nico to be that kinda guy, the one that would want to make you feel better, to tell you everything was going to be okay, when the harsh truth was that it wasn't going to be. "Nico, If you ever–if we get back..."

"When" Nico corrected with a harsh voice. "When you get back"

Percy nodded, "When we get back...if you ever—if you want to talk..." the guy nodded

"I know" but Percy knew he was only saying so, Nico wouldn't go to him if he felt the urge to talk. He wouldn't go to anyone, and that's what really got him sad.

"I know I said it before, but have a safe trip. I know you're gonna make it, you lead them well when we were gone"

"Thanks Percy" he muttered.

"You and Reyna and coach. It's a good team"

Jason came down the stairs to get Nico at the same time Annaneth sat up in bed and called him a little anguished for not finding him on the bed.

"I'll be right there" Percy promised her.

"You guys...you stick together, okay?" Nico murmured nodding towards Annabeth "it's when you're strongest"

Percy nodded and caught him in a hug before he could step away. This could be the last time they see each other...no, no it wouldn't.

Nico tried to return the hug patting him awkwardly on the back and pulled away almost instantly.

Jason was standing on the side with a little smirk. The blond guy put his arm around Nico's shoulders, that he tried to shrugged off, but Percy saw that his grip was strong, and like that he led him towards the stairs.

"Nico" he called before he started going up "I'll see you soon, buddy."

"Mine is cabin thirteen" Percy broke into a grin

"I'll recognize it alright without the number, thanks" he could see a ghost of a smile in the son of Hades before he turned away.

Annabeth opened the covers for him, inviting him inside the bed and he felt bone tired. He instantly yawned and she smiled. He felt like sleeping now, he close the door halfway. He could only imagine horrified expressions of Hazel or Frank finding them snuggled in one bed and it brought a grin to his face.

She pulled the covers up around them and he brought her closer to his body. She was warm now and he embraced her tightly.

"What did he say before leaving?" She whispered already half asleep

"That we ought to stick together because that's when we're strongest" he whispered back

A hopeful little smile appeared on her face, she nodded with her eyes closed "He's right"

"I know" he kissed her forehead.

The next day according to Leo they were going to land in Greece but Percy couldn't think of the final battle...instead he thought of camp HalfBlood, a warm little spark of hope flared in his chest.

Hope, the last thing humans loose. He promised a long time ago he wasn't loosing this one, ever. The emotion grew warmer in his chest.

Warm like Cabin Three in summer afternoons...

Warm like the coals of Hestia's fire. He remembered the last Olympian. He remembered Home.

He thought of good times and his many friends, of bonfires, his cabin, and the Stoll's pranks, capture the Flag...Learning the constellations lying on the sand, naps under trees while Annabeth read and run her fingers through his scalp and underwater kisses...

He cherished those memories and swore for more good times to come with the seven new friends he had made along the way.

Now with a third place to call home, maybe, just maybe New Rome could happen...

Percy fell asleep almost instantly after closing his eyes. He knew terrors awaited him in 'dreamland' but Nico was right, (he hoped) the feeling would eventually go away.

Besides, as the son of Hades remarked, he had Annabeth and they needed to stick together.

But not only them. Sticking together, the seven were strongest.

Annabeth warm embrace and the rhythm of the Argo II in the Mare Nostrum lulled him to sleep.

tell me in the comments if you're dying of excitement for boo or if you want someone to die or who do you think its gonna die in boo!

In my opinion the seven are going to live, (not bc i want to, I mean OF COURSE i WANT THEM TO LIVE. But because its not like rr to kill main characters. Percabeth is soooo safe they freaking deserve a vacation for the rest of their life. and the only one Im scared for is Hazel because she was dead before and she kinda has to go back to being dead, but I think he's gonna give her like a second chance or smt)

only 12 days to know guys!

I CANT EXPRESS WITH WORDS HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THE BOOK!

Maria