Remembering

Chp 1: Who are you?

Annabeth scanned the crowd: purple and gold togas, blooming flowers opening their petals as sun rays hit them, gurgling fountains, the proud temple arches...

The city was beautiful, but Annabeth was looking for one thing, and one thing only...

Percy.

Her eyes discerned him from the throng of confused Romans. His sea-green eyes sparkled in the sun. His raven hair flowed in time to the wind. His toga clung to him, defining his muscles. Annabeth's heart flipped in her chest and an avalanche of emotions threatened to come crashing down. Her emotional connection to Percy had become heart-wrenchingly intense during his separation. Every day, she lived in fear that he was dead, or worse, dying. She couldn't bear to think of him suffering at the mercy of a brutal monster. But now, he was alive. He was healthy. And he was here.

Annabeth's legs propelled her past Reyna and Jason. The wind rushed past her hair and tears burned in her eyes, but she didn't stop. She threw herself in Percy's arms, burying her face in his warm chest, trembling as his ocean scent met her nose.

Annabeth had prepared herself for anything during the months Percy disappeared. She was ready if he had disappeared forever, if a monster got to him first, heck she half expected his bones to be the only thing left of him. But, she never expected-

"Who are you?"