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Leo

Leo never thought in a million years he would be best friends with Annabeth Chase. Not that he ever had anything against Annabeth, he just never thought they would be close. She was the leader at camp. A legend. Girlfriend of another camp legend. While he was at camp, she was never around, always out looking for Percy. When they finally boarded the Argo II, he stayed by Jason and Piper, leaving her to be reunited with Percy. Was she a friend? Of course! But a close friend? Not really.

But now? Now they were bonded in a way Leo never thought possible. Jason, he actual best friend, he wasn't even talking to anymore. He was terrified that he was going to let something slip about what he planned to do. He didn't intentionally mean to distance himself, but he found himself going to Annabeth more and more. Jason grew up in a sheltered camp. He only left camp two times to go on quests before his memory wipe. Annabeth and Leo? They grew up on the streets, running away from homes.

Also, they were still running away from guilt. The guilt of killing someone. Annabeth thinks she killed Percy and Luke and Leo thinks he killed Percy and his mother. They both share that grief that no one else does. Plus, as weird as Leo might previously have thought it was, Annabeth was a great conversationalist. He loved talking to her. He told her all about Calypso and how insanely in love he was and she didn't even laugh once. Now that he got to know Annabeth, she was actually pretty cool.

"Hey, can you pass me the wrench?" Leo asked, half his body concealed in the walls. After keeping Festus's build a secret for so long, it was so nice to update someone on the process, even if she doesn't completely understand it.

"Sure." She handed him the tool, then said, "We'll be in Ithaca soon."

Right. Ithaca. Annabeth's secret. After their conversation, Annabeth had revealed the secret she had been keeping from everyone. Apparently in a classic demigod dream, Annabeth overheard talk about some meeting in Ithaca on the third of the month with the giants. Annabeth had been too scared to tell everyone because she was sure they wouldn't let her go.

"I might be reaching but... the giants have constant communication with the monsters in Tartarus." She had said a couple days later.

"You think they might say something about Percy?" Leo didn't like to bring up his name. It seemed like an insult to avoid him like that, especially after everything he did, but he tended to bring down moral a lot.

"I'm just worried that if Jason or Frank go, they wont tell me things. To protect me." Annabeth's gaze was far away.

And Annabeth was right. In the nearly two weeks since the doors closed, the others had been treating her like a different person. They had been running in front of her to open doors, making every meal for her, and the thing that bothered Annabeth the most, they had been keeping information from her. A monster would attack at night and they would go out of their way to make sure Annabeth didn't know. It was driving her insane. So any information about Percy? There was a high chance that she would never hear.

Leo wiggled out of the wall to see Annabeth's expression. "So what are you thinking? Sneak out?"

"I guess so. How would we do it without them noticing?" Annabeth was spinning Leo's hammer.

"I'll make up some BS about how the engine needs to cool and we'll stop over night. We'll take guard duty and they'll be asleep. Yeah?" Leo put his wrench down.

"Yeah. That'll work." Annabeth said, but her expression was still troubled.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Leo got back to ground level.

"It's just... I'm nervous they'll smell us. They chased me and... me and Percy all the way across Tartarus. If they recognize my smell, they'll know I survived." Annabeth talked faster after Percy's name, brushing passed the fact she said it.

"I wonder what we smell like to them." Leo crossed his legs.

"Buttery bread." Annabeth gave a smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Annabeth's smile turned sad, as if she was remembering something painful. "Leo, I'm going to try to sleep before we leave, okay?"

"Yeah you definitely should. I know you didn't sleep last night."

ooooooooooooooooooooo

The following night, Annabeth and Leo crouched behind a large boulder on the outskirts of Ithaca. After not much convincing, Jason let the two of them be on guard duty together. They usually do groups of three, but not many people could say no to Annabeth these days.

They peaked over the boulder and quickly counted the giants present. Annabeth flashed eight fingers to Leo and he confirmed. They were waiting on twelve.

"We need to discuss the sacrifice." Hyperion grunted.

"Not yet brother. We still wait for more." Spoke Porphyron in a booming voice.

"If they are late, so be it. We cannot stay in the same place for long. Lest mother gets angry." Polybotes exclaimed.

Leo and Annabeth glanced at each other. It was clear that the giants were nervous. It never occurred to Leo that the giants had specific rules. Clearly they were breaking some. No matter how powerful the giants are, Gaea still rules all. Peaking again, Leo saw weapons of dead demigods laying in Polybotes's hair. He sat back down heavily, imagining the poor people who had to see that ugly face in their last moments.

"I concur. We start the meeting. If they miss, they miss." Hyperion said.

"I assume we start with the reason we are all here. Mother's last message." Polybotes said.

"I don't understand. Why change the location of the awakening?" Orion stated.

"Ambush." Alcyoneus grinned.

"But why Athens?" Hyperion questioned.

"And why only tell us now?" said Porphyron. Annabeth flipped her head towards Leo. The both mouthed the word "Athens" excitedly. The resumed listening intently.

"Olympus is way more powerful location then Athens. It doesn't make sense." Enceladus went on.

"Maybe that's the point. Olympus is powerful for the gods. Athens is a place of a godly fight. Maybe Mother thinks that will work to our advantage." Porphyron said wisely. Annabeth stiffened beside Leo.

"Did all of us get Mother's message? And none of us got an explanation?" Orion grumbled.

"Well, all of us other than that traitor, Dameson." Polybotes laughed. Suddenly, Annabeth went ridged. She whipped around and almost looked like she was going to stand up. Leo grabbed her arm to keep her seated. "what are you doing?" he mouthed urgently, but Annabeth wasn't paying attention.

"What ended up happening to Dameson?" Orion asked.

"Tending sheep I've heard." Enceladus smirked. "But Father destroyed him recently. He will not betray us anymore." Annabeth started shaking. Her breath was coming in shakily and a little louder than what Leo would have liked.

"Hey hey hey." Leo said in a hushed whisper. "It's okay. Calm down. Please sit down."

"Destroyed for what?" Orion roared.

"Helping that little seaweed and the other one. The girl." Enceladus gave a loud laugh. Leo stared at Annabeth in shock and horror. She got help from a giant?

"They still alive?" Alcyoneus entered the conversation.

"They closed the doors, so at least one of them is still with Father. Don't worry. I sent my best guy after them. They wont bother us ever again. It's the other pricks we have to worry about now." Enceladus smiled as if that was the best news.

"Quiet brothers." Polybotes spoke. "I was right behind them the entire time I was with Father. I've gotten very familiar with their scent." Leo and Annabeth froze. Annabeth looked at Leo with tears on her face.

"And?" Orion asked.

"One of them is here." Polybotes growled.

Leo grabbed Annabeth's hand and started sprinting down the hill. The giant's conversation became distant. Annabeth was running at his side, but she was sobbing. Leo climbed the rope later with masterful speed and helped Annabeth up the remaining rungs. He ran to the consol and turned the ship on quickly. Pushing the throtle all the way, the ship lurched to a start.

As the ship sped off across the ocean, Leo could hear the giants bellowing behind him.