Percabeth One-Shots

6. Missing

Annabeth sat on her bed, watching the picture on her nightstand and wishing with everything she had that she was still in the moment when that picture was taken. She wiped away a tear as she thought of the picture. An image of her and Percy at the lake after their wounds from the giant war had healed. His goofy grin as he wrapped his arm around her, holding her in place for the picture.

How happy that day was compared to this one. Percy had left for a solo quest. Annabeth had wanted to go but he insisted she stay home, even got their friends to keep her here. He had promised, "I'll be home in a few days." She thought of those words everyday. For three years.

Three years, and the pain wasn't any less. Three years and she still cried over him. For Annabeth, the worst part was not knowing what had finally ended Perseus Jackson.

Her friends helped any way they could. But none could fill the emptiness that she felt. It consumed her very being. She felt so alone that it was suffocating.

She sat alone, even now. Inside an empty house just outside of camp. She had moved her after a year of him missing, in a hope that he would return to camp so she could greet him first. Annabeth's hope, as small as it was, vanished after two years allowing her to fall into a deep depression.

Like a robot, she moved to the kitchen and placed bread in the toaster. "You have to eat." Piper's voice rang in her head. With her back against the counter, she stared absently at the half finished plans on the table. Her siblings had encouraged her to continue her architecture plans. But she couldn't continue. After her depression set in, her plans had taken a dark turn, involving twisted designs that always seem to show death and suffering in Annabeth's eyes.

The sudden pop of the toaster made her jump a little too much. It made her wonder why she kept the stupid toaster. Since he disappeared, her nightmares had gotten worse. They kept her awake most nights which lead to dark circles under her eyes and the consumption of too much coffee.

She set the newly toasted pieces of bread on a plate and just stood still, suddenly losing her will to eat or even move. It was times like these when Annabeth's only hope was to be where ever Percy was. And if he was dead, gods she hoped to find what happened. She didn't have to wonder where he would go in death. A hero like him would be welcomed in Elysium with open arms.

There was a knock at the door. Grimly she looked towards it. Walking forward and reaching out, she pulled the handle.

"For the last time Piper, I'm fine." She spoke as she opened it. Though her tone spoke a different phrase.

As she opened the door fully, new tears started to flow. It wasn't the Cherokee girl that she had expected. In front of her stood a battered and bloody boy with black, unruly hair, green eyes, and a lopsided grin. The same that Annabeth had been watching in the picture not moments before.

"Is this some kind of joke?" She asked, her voice already hoarse.

"Annabeth, it's me." He spoke softly.

Annabeth's face started to drip with more flowing tears. "It's not funny. Playing around as him. You're sick and cruel!" She sobbed, all her pent up emotions surged forward as she fell to her knees, hands to her face to muffle the sobs that wracked her body.

"Annabeth, it's not a joke, I'm really here." He said, wrapping his arms around her.

She pushed him away. "If you are Percy, then what did you tell me before we fell into Tartarus. I asked you to let me go, what did you say?" She asked, desperate to hear him say the right answer, to finally hear proof that he was here, with her.

"I said 'Never' then you said 'As long as we're together.'" He answered.

As the weight of his answer hit Annabeth, she collapsed into his arms, her loud sobs shaking the leaves in the trees around them. A giant weight was lifted off her shoulders as Percy held her in his arms.

"W-why didn't you c-come back?" She sniffed after a moment.

"I wish I did but I couldn't. I had to stay away to keep you safe. But I'm here now, I love you Wise Girl."

~~~~~~~

Yeah I know you probably want to kill me. I said I would try to update daily but I just didn't have the time. The holidays are chaos in my life right now and with school I don't think I can keep daily updates. So I will bump it back to once a week until I get things a little more together.

Anyway I will post one more one shot next week, probably Friday, for Christmas then that will be it until after Christmas. So see ya then.