Percy Jackson - Returned Affection

Epilogue

Annabeth solemnly kicked a stone into the sound, her eyes focused on the reflection of the rising sun on the gentle waves. Anxiety had been running rampant through her mind ever since Chiron had let her know the hunters would be coming today. She knew he only did it because of Thalia always wanting to make sure she got to see the daughter of Athena, and she normally was grateful and happy to get such news. However, this time was different, this time there was another member of the hunt she wanted to see.

Annabeth's breakup with Percy had been mostly impulsive and irrational. Fueled by stress, anxiety, and misplaced jealousy, Annabeth had lashed out at Percy, blowing a simple misunderstanding into a breakup. When she went to apologize to him and ask for his forgiveness the next day, she didn't find the son of Poseidon, instead finding his furious cousin. Nico had verbally tossed her into Tartarus, though eventually calmed down enough to tell her that Percy had decided to go see his parents.

That supposed daytrip to his parents had turned into a month long disappearance. Annabeth spent that month panicked and distraught, trying everything she could to find Percy so she could talk to him (though it wasn't much since both Chiron and Mr. D outright refused any request to leave camp). By the time Percy did show up, everyone was surprised Percy wasn't returning to camp to stay, instead it was so he could gather his things. What was even more surprising was when Artemis herself came to whisk Percy away.

Not long after that, rumors started spreading of a relationship between the goddess and demigod, something that was later corroborated by a camper who kept in touch via iris message with a huntress friend of hers. Annabeth's panic and distraught turned into regret and lament, tightly wrapped in a burning coil of jealousy. She spent weeks after burying herself in research, sobbing and moping in the Poseidon cabin, or doing whatever she could to distract herself, all while trying to work up the nerve to contact Percy. Eventually, Annabeth tossed a drachma into some mist and chanted the magic words, only for her drachma to be spit back out with a frustrated Iris complaining about her messages not going through. After a few more tries, Annabeth was forced to give up and instead wrote out what she would say to Percy when the hunters visited next.

It had been well over than a year since the hunters' last visit, and a bit more than a year since anyone saw Percy. Now that he was finally coming, all of Annabeth's plans and her pages of apologies seemed inadequate. She knew the best strategy would be working on impulse and just speaking from her heart, instead of just reading from a script with detailed points. However, the lack of a structured plan and thought out contingencies only served to spike her anxiety even more.

At least Annabeth had some sort of silver lining to work with. Though, Annabeth hated herself for considering it good news. Rumor was that Percy and Artemis weren't doing well, and that Percy seemed about to break things off. Apparently only a month ago, Artemis did something that broke his trust and seemingly ruined the relationship.

She definitely felt guilty for adding this development to her plans, but Annabeth had been hoping to use this to get back with Percy. Maybe she could try and just be a shoulder he can rest his head on and then slowly move back into dating. Or she could go faster and try to get Percy to use her as almost a fallback. She shook her head. No, she desperately wanted Percy back, but she wouldn't lower herself to that. Besides, a relationship built on grief-fueled passion instead of organic love would be harder for her to keep, especially once Percy recovered.

Soon, a horn rang out through the camp. Annabeth jumped at the noise and felt herself start to hyperventilate as she panicked. It was too soon! She hadn't finalized any plans, she hadn't freshened up to help Percy notice her more, she hadn't even gotten lunch yet!

After steadying her breath, Annabeth quickly made her way to Thalia's Pine before her anxiety could convince her otherwise, and soon she spotted the gaggle of girls she had been waiting for. As she approached, though, she unconsciously slowed down as she spotted the tall figure of Percy Jackson.