"Wise Girl?"

I blinked and Percy's face came into focus. "Percy? What time is it?"

"Shh, just after 2," He laid down next to me in my bed, snuggling under the covers. He laced his fingers with mine. "I'm okay, just go back to sleep."

I shook my head and rubbed my face with my free hand. "No, what happened?"

He shrugged, closing his eyes. "Nightmare."

"Perce-" I placed a hand on his shoulder, where I could feel his tense muscles through the thin layer of a worn t-shirt. "-you have to tell me about it. We talk, remember?"

He sighed as I moved closer, wrapping an arm around his waist. I rubbed circles on the small of his back. "Kronos, he was killing my father. Dad was screaming so much. Screaming at me. I couldn't move, I just stood there in shock as Kronos stabbed him repeatedly," I wiped away a tear that fell down Percy's check, my heart breaking. "I tried to move, but I was frozen. I watched him die, Annabeth."

I rubbed my thumb across his cheek, sea-green filling my vision. "Percy, I can't say much about your father. It's true that he is dead, but he didn't die that way. Kronos didn't stab him, he didn't bleed to death. There was little pain in his death. And he loved you, he loved you with all of his heart. In his last moments, he would have been thinking about you, your brother and your mother. You three were his world."

Percy rested his head on the bottom of my neck, breathing in and out slowly trying to calm his rapid breathing.

"Did you come through the tunnels?"

He nodded and moved his hands up to his face, wiping away tears as I brushed my fingers through his hair.

What kind of grandfather would do this to their own grandson? He was in so much pain right now, and all I could do was lay down next to him.

"Can I do anything for you?" I whispered in his ear.

He shook his head. "You're doing a great job right now."

I kissed the top of his head, closing my eyes. "I'm in love with you."

He didn't say anything in return, but I knew that it just meant that he couldn't say it, or he would break down even more.

I yawned, stretching my arms out around me, slowly opening my eyes.

"Ow!"

"Huh?" I turned around to see Percy massaging his face. It seemed like I had accidentally slapped his face. "Oh, gods. Sorry Perce."

He grinned at me. "It's the best way to be woken up, actually. Getting hit in the face by your girlfriend."

I laughed, looking out my window. "You feeling better?"

"Of course. You always help."

I squinted my eyes at him. "I didn't do anything."

"But your morning breath did!" His face irrupted into a massive grin.

My mouth opened slightly, as a blush crept onto my cheeks. I pushed him hard in the chest. "Go, before my maids come."

"Aw," He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. He smelled like the ocean. "How about I make it up to you for hurting your feelings by taking you on a date today?"

I didn't get a chance to answer, as Hazel jumped out of the wardrobe. "Yes! She will go on a date with you!"

I bolted up, alarmed at her presence. "Hazel?"

She waved shyly at me from the door of the wardrobe. Justine and Alicia coming out to stand behind her.

"What?" I asked.

"We came in here to wake you up, and we found Percy here too." Alicia gestured to where Percy had nearly fallen asleep again next to me. "So we decided to wait until you woke up."

I blinked, then sighed and decided to get out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Percy asked, his arm outstretched towards me, trying to pull me back towards him.

I sidestepped the arm. "I'm going to get ready for breakfast. You should too."

"No, thank you." He shrugged and dropped his arm, pulling the cover up over his shoulders.

"You're going to be late for breakfast."

"Then let us go on a breakfast date in our pyjamas."

I rolled my eyes. "Only you four can see me in my pyjamas,"

Percy groaned. "But they're so cute. Little owls with graduation hats. Adorable."

"Are you saying the pyjamas are adorable, or the person wearing them is?" Alicia walked back out of the wardrobe with a burgundy coloured  dress and flat shoes because of my still sore ankle.

"The latter," Percy answered.

"Fine, fine." I put my hands on my hips. "We shall go on a breakfast date, but dressed. And before or after we go, I need to stop and talk to Thalia-"

"Can't do that." Percy interrupted.

I sighed and placed a hand on my forehead, remembering. "Dam it. Why did you have to eliminate her?"

"She's my cousin!" Percy shirked.

"What?" Justine stuck her head out from the bathroom.

"Nothing!" Percy and I answered in unison.

Justine raised her eyebrows at us but didn't question it further. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

I picked up a pillow and threw it at Percy. "You're such a Seaweed Brain!"

He ignored the pillow that hit him in the face. "Why did you need to talk to Thalia?"

"Luke wanted me to, remember?" I sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Well, lucky I have thought things through, hey?" Percy got out from underneath the covers and sat down next to me. "Cause she lived in a hut in the middle of nowhere, with Luke, I gave her our holiday house in Sonage-" Which is the next province over. "-so she can be contacted by phone."

I smiled at Percy. "So I can call her and give the phone to Luke?"

He nodded. "And depending on his sentence and when we announce Thalia as apart of the family, they can see each other."

I frowned. "Well, how long is the Selection going to go for?"

He raised his eyebrows at me. "That is for me to know, and for you to find out!"

Percy took the tunnels back to his room, whilst I showered and changed. They put me in a beautiful dress and expertly did my hair and makeup, like always.

"Any nightmares, miss?" Justine asked as I put my shoes on.

I shook my head. "No, not last night. Percy did though, that's why he slept with me. I think if he didn't come then I would've had one."

"Aw," Hazel cooed. "That's cute."

I rolled my eyes and thanked Percy for knocking on the door at that exact moment.

"Ready?" He asked. He was wearing button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Matching suit pants on his legs as well.

"Bye ladies!" I yelled out behind me as I closed the door.

"So," Percy led me outside. "Why a date?"

I couldn't suppress the thought of him proposing. I knew it wasn't going to happen, as we were only in the top seven. He would wait until the top three, which would be closer to his birthday. Whilst in the shower, I remember a conversation that we had had on a date. He wants the Selection to be over by his birthday, and so does the council so they can appoint him as King. It seems that Sally and Paul want to pass the job over as soon as possible.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Fair point."

We sat underneath a white pavilion, ivy tangled around the thin wooden columns holding the roof up. The chairs and table were painted white, the legs metal twisted into a fancy pattern. On the table were two steaming bowls of porridge.

I raised my eyebrows at Percy as he pulled out my chair for me. "This was set up quickly."

"You see," He sat down opposite me. "I'm can run really fast."

"Eh," I shook my head. "Swim fast, maybe. But run? No!"

He placed his hand on his heart. "What's the world I'm looking for to describe my feelings? Oh right. Hurt, betrayal."

I rolled my eyes but picked up the silver spoon next to my plate, and was about to scope a spoon up when Percy held up his hand.

"Wait!"

I watched with amusement as he focused his whole body and concentration on drawing a heart on top of the porridge out of honey.

He grinned at his lopsided heart. "There. You may eat now."

I chuckled but didn't wait any longer to fill the emptiness in my stomach.

"So," I started a few moments later. "Frank and Nico are visiting."

Percy nodded, his smiling growing across his face. "It will be good. Because it's so close to my 18th, I think they're going to stay for it."

"Oooh," I ate another mouthful of delicious porridge. "They're going to stay at the palace for that week?"

"I think Frank and his family might go visit his northern relatives once they've had their party here," Percy shrugged. "I know Hades and Maria were talking about heading to our beach house."

"Gods, I don't think Nico would like that." I shuddered for the boy.

Percy laughed. "Yes, I don't think he would like it."

"Guess who I'm in a group with."

"Uh," He thought for a moment. "People?"

I rolled my eyes. "Reyna and Katie. I would have had to deal with Nancy, but thank the gods you eliminated her."

"Why are you thanking the gods?" Percy asked, sounding actually hurt. "I'm the one who eliminated her, not them."

I reached my hand across the table, squeezing his. "Thank you."

He nodded pleased with his answer, and I held back another eye roll. He was totally joking, and he didn't let go of my hand.

"I feel bad for Piper though. She has to work with Drew."

"Aw come on, she's not that bad."

I eyes widened. "She'll totally disrespect the New Asian culture. You watch."

"When do you want to go see Luke?"

I squinted my eyes at him but decided not to question him about the topic change. "After Will, maybe?"

Percy nodded. "Cool. Mum and Paul want to talk to me after lunch. They probably are going to remind me that I need a wife."

"Aw, Seaweed Brain," I rubbed my thumb across his knuckles. "You don't need a wife, you need a full-time carer."

He pulled back his hand. "I was hoping you would be that full-time carer."

"What?" My heart rate slowed down.

Percy's neck started to turn red. "What?"

"What did you just say?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "I didn't say anything apart from what."

I squinted my eyes at him. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, not making eye contact with me. "One hundred percent sure."

As we were walking to go see Will, Percy filled the short comfortable silence that we were experiencing. "I don't know if you know, but the Report is tonight."

I slowed my pace. "Oh. Am I expected to join in?"

He scrunched his face up. "No, not really. But I am. It would be nice to have you backstage if you're not going to join."

I bit my lip, looking down at the floor. If I didn't go on, and Percy did, would people see me as weak? Afraid? Would they pity me? Make fun of me? But what if I did go on? I was ninety-nine percent sure that Apollo would be asking questions, and they would probably relate back to Tartarus. But then again, if I went on and composed myself, people would see me as strong. Maybe even brave.

"If I go on, Apollo will ask questions, won't he?"

Percy nodded. "I can ask him to not ask questions about it, but the public will soon want answers and pieces to finish the puzzle. Maybe Mum and Paul want to talk setting up an interview with reporters," Percy groaned. "How painful."

I bumped his shoulder with mine. "No, it wouldn't be. We'd be there together and we can recount how kick butt we were."

Percy held his hands up, pretending to hold a sword. "True, true."

I laughed, pulling him to the doors of the hospital wing. Will checked all the same things again as he did yesterday, and asked all the same questions. It didn't take as long though because he had a nurse with him.

"Done!" Will smiled at us.

"Yes!" Percy grabbed my hand, pulling me up from my chair. "Thank you and goodbye."

We left Will chuckling behind us.

"You want to call Thalia right?" Percy held my hand as we slowly climbed up the stairs, knowing that if we moved to fast we would both have trouble breathing.

I nodded my head. "Why are we going up?"

"We have to get the phone, silly."

"Oh."

I waited out the front of Percy's room as he grabbed his phone off his desk. He punched the numbers in as we walked back down towards the prison cells.

He held the phone up to his ear. "Hey Thals, it's Percy."

Thalia replied, her voice muddled through the speaker.

"No," Percy looked over at me. "Annabeth wanted to speak to you."

Thalia said something again and Percy grinned, nodding. "Yes, we are totally sorry about that." He rolled his eyes at whatever her response was. "Okay, I'm going to hand you off to Annabeth. See you soon."

Percy gave me the phone, and I smiled my thanks to him. I held the receiver near my ear. "Hi, Thalia."

"Annabeth!" She responded. "What's up?"

I sighed. "You need to promise me you won't hang up on me."

There was silence for a few moments as we rounded the corner to the stairs leading down to the prison cells. "Okay then..."

"I'm going to give this phone to Luke-"

"Seriously?!"

"-and you are going to talk to him."

"I already told you he's a jerk." I heard her slam a door through the speaker.

"I know he's a jerk," We stopped out the front of Luke's cell, where he stood up from his bed. I waved at him. "But he helped us remember?"

Percy explained what was happening to Luke.

"But he also kidnapped you and Percy!"

"Thalia!" I snapped, gaining everyone's attention. "Stop being so stubborn and talk to him, for the gods sake. Yes, he hurt us but then he fixed his mistakes. I don't know when you'll get to see him again, this may be your only chance."

There was silence on the other end. "Hand him over."

I jumped up and down and nodded to Percy, who opened the cell door.

"But, before you do, tell him to prepare himself because he's going to get yelled at."

I smiled into the phone. "Will do. Thank you, Thalia."

She grumbled a thank you back as I gave the phone to Luke. "She going to yell at you."

Luke squeezed my shoulder. "Thanks for the heads up. And thanks for the pillow, it's so much better."

I nodded, waving goodbye as Luke sat down on the bed. He placed the phone to his ear and said a quiet hello, but he then pulled the phone quickly from his ear as Thalia started her rant.

"Officer," Percy talked to the guard stationed next to Luke's cell. "When he's finished, can you please take that phone and put it on my desk in my bedroom?"

The guard nodded. "Of course, your Highness."

"Thank you."

Percy and I parted ways at the top of the staircase, as he needed to talk to his parents and I needed to prepare myself for the Report.

"Love you!" He called over his shoulder as he walked away.

I rolled my eyes but I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face.

I closed my bedroom door behind me with a nervous gulp.

"What's up?" Alicia passed me holding new bathroom towels in her hand.

"I have to go on the Report tonight."

She stopped and turned back around to face me. "Oh. Are you ready?"

I held my hands up and then let them drop. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

They fixed the loose strands in my hair after I had dinner in my room, asking practise questions that soon turned ridiculous.

"How are you Lady Annabeth?" Hazel lowered her voice to try an mimic Apollo, making a weird face in the process.

I tried not to laugh. "I'm doing good, Apollo."

Justine smirked. "What did you miss most, whilst you were gone?"

"My fantastic maids, of course."

"Do you think," Alicia giggled. "Do you think Prince Percy will propose soon?"

I placed my hand on my heart, fanning myself. "Well, I do hope so, because I'm just completely in love with him!"

We dissolved into a fit of giggles, clutching at each other and the bench to try and keep ourselves upright. It was good to laugh again and to smile. Especially with such amazing people. Hazel, with her always bubbly attitude but fierce mouth if she really needed it. Alicia had so much sarcasm it could fill the whole Indian Ocean, but she could listen to your hearts desires and worries anytime of the day. Justine was wise, always knowing the right thing to say to you if you either needed sympathy or a good awakening.

Before leaving I hugged all of them.

"Remember, we'll be watching." Alicia squeezed my shoulder.

"And Percy will be there." Justine straightened my dress.

That's what I needed to hear. Percy would be there. He would answer questions too. He would be able to jump in if necessary. He would be there for me, and I would be there for him. That's all we really need.

I smiled my thanks and walked out of the room, my heels clicking on the tile floor as I made my way to the filming studio.

When I walked in, my ears were overloaded with sound. A girl rushed in front of me, a black headpiece around her head, her hands flying everywhere as she talked, stressed into her mouthpiece. A man walked past, a piece of fabric draped over his arm, a makeup brush in the other. He was yelling at someone across the room, something about needing more blush. Apollo was standing off into a corner, someone cuffing his cufflinks, another one brushing a comb through his already perfect hair. He saw me looking at him and winked at me, flashing his perfectly straight teeth.

I slowly walked in, looking for anyone that could save me from this. All of a sudden, Will pooped up on my side.

His placed a comforting hand on my elbow. "Breathe Annabeth, breathe." He whispered, calmly into my ear.

It wasn't until then did I realise that my breathing was coming out short and quick, my lungs constricting for much-needed air.

I followed his orders, and after awhile I was able to breathe normally again. "What?" I asked.

He shrugged. "You were just overwhelmed. The walk, the nerves and just everyone in this room would have caused it. You have to remember, your lungs aren't like they were before. You can't strain them as much."

I closed my eyes. "What happens if it happens again while we're filming?"

He squeezed my forearm, causing me to open my eyes. "We take the attention off you and I'll run over to help you through it. When Percy gets here, I'm going to have a talk with you two and my dad."

I almost forgot that this geeky, almost charming doctor was the son of the 'hot', according to Thalia, and egotistical Apollo. It made me think who Will's mother was. She would've had to have been strong to put up with Apollo but also caring to nurture a sweet boy.

"Cool," I nodded. "Just come and find me, I guess."

He nodded as I walked away, towards where some of the Selected were waiting.

Katie smiled at me. "So apparently you, Reyna and I are hosting the Italians."

I bit my lip, remembering the two assignments I had due. "It seems so."

"I was talking to Reyna before," My eyes flickered over to were Reyna was standing, wearing a beautiful, long sleeve gold dress talking to Calypso as Katie talked. "And we were thinking of catching up sometime tomorrow to start planning."

I nodded. "I have to go to the doctors after breakfast, but I'm free the rest of the day."

Katie fixed the sleeve of her olive green dress. "I'm glad I'm in your group. You know stuff about Royalty and everything that goes with it. Plus you're friends with the Italians, so bonus points."

My eyes passed over her shoulder, watching as Percy walked in with his parents. "Lucky us."

The conversation ended there because Will waved me over.

I walked over and smiled at Percy, he returned it with a wink of his sea-green eye.

"Dad!" Will called out.

Apollo casually walked over. He shook Percy's hand. "Your Highness." And he took mine, planting a kiss on my knuckles. Any other girl would have blushed, but I was not fooled, so I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, son?"

"These two have been through hell and back, you need to understand that. Try not to joke about it and be careful with the questions."

"Of course I will," Apollo flashed us another one of his famous smiles. "You two will be at the front of my mind, as well as me."

I tried to hide my laughter as I watched Will's face contort into one of annoyance. "Anyway, Percy, Annabeth, if you're having any troubles at all just tell me. We'll tune the cameras off if we have to."

Both Will and Apollo excused themselves, so it was just me and Percy.

He took my hand, rubbing circles on the back of my palm. "You okay?"

I nodded. "Just one question, though. What if they ask me about Luke? What do I say?"

He paused for a moment thinking of an answer. "The truth. That he betrayed us but came through in the end. Just don't tell anyone that we've been visiting him," He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "We're not really supposed to do that."

I shrugged. "Well, who's going to stop me?"

Someone to our right called out that we had twenty seconds until we were live.

I reached up and kissed Percy on the cheek. "Remember, I'm right here."

He nodded, smiling slightly. "I'm here, too."

He squeezed my hand before rushing over to where he usually sat. I bolted pass assistants, maids and guards to try and get to my seat. I sat down with three seconds to go.

The Selected had one row, seeing as there was only seven of us. The podium was set up as usual and as Paul and Sally started to talk about news, I noticed that the chair that Apollo normally sat on was accompanied by two more. Normally it was just his and one other, but this time there was one more. Would Percy be joining us for interviews?

My suspicions were soon answered. Apollo came walking into the stage and started a conversation with Percy, then invited him to take a seat.

Apollo spun around to the camera. "Now, let's ask our beloved Selected some questions. First, we have Piper McClean, from Whites!"

Piper stood up and gracefully walked over to the seat next to Percy.

"How are you this fine evening?" Apollo asked.

She continued smiling. "I'm very well, thank you. How about you?"

"I'm spectacular, like always. Are you glad that Prince Percy is back?"

Piper nodded, looking over at Percy. "Definitely. I was so worried about him, and Lady Annabeth of course," Piper made eye contact with me, and I smiled at her. "We've become close friends, all three of us. I was so relieved when I got the news that they were both alive and safe."

Apollo then moved on to questions about politics and fashion. He asked the same questions, somewhat rephrased, to all the other girls. Drew had to stop Apollo from talking because she needed a tissue, apparently, she was crying. Reyna answered with a stone face, which I had gathered was protecting a hurricane of emotions. Rachel answered about Percy and didn't mention me. I didn't blame her, we weren't really friends. Calypso was quiet because of her nerves. Katie answered like Piper. It seemed I was going last.

"And now for the interview, I'm sure you've all been waiting for. It's time to Lady Annabeth to answer some questions!"

I breathed out slowly as I walked over to my seat, making sure that I was smiling because three cameras were trained on my face. I caught Will's eye where he was standing backstage. He smiled at me and mouthed "breathe."

I sat down next to Percy, watching as his had twitched. He wanted to hold my hand, but he hadn't for any of the other girls, so he couldn't for me. Instead, he decided to adjust where he was sitting so his thigh was pressed against mine. It felt good to have some physical contact with him.

Apollo smiled at me. "How are you, Lady Annabeth?"

"I'm doing good, thank you."

"I'm just going to jump for it. What happened?"

I cocked my head to the side as I thought of an answer. My mind raced as I tried to find the right words. "I'm assuming you're referring to the recent events that happened to Prince Percy and I. To put it simply, we were betrayed by friends, kidnapped and locked in a prison cell."

Apollo shook his head, smiling sadly. "It must have been very hard for you, I know that I would have lost my sanity. How did you cope?"

"I had Percy and hope. Prince Percy was there for me throughout the whole time, and we relied on each other. It was just his support and presence that helped me. I also had hope that we would get out, that we would see our families again."

"How did you cope, your Highness?" Apollo focused on Percy.

Percy turned his head towards me. "Lady Annabeth. She was there for me, she helped me. Without her, I would not be the way I am. Mentally and physically."

Apollo smirked at us. "It seems you two now have a bond."

"We've always had one," Percy answered for me. "And now we have matching hair." He played with my piece of grey hair that had fallen out of my hairstyle ages ago.

Apollo smiled. "How did you escape?"

"With so much help. We had help from two other prisoners who-who gave up their lives for us." I tried to slow my breathing. "And we had help from a friend who changed his mind."

"Rumours have been flying around like crazy. One of them, which is the craziest, says that your grandfather, Prince Percy, planned the whole event. Is this true?"

Percy looked over his shoulder at his mum and Paul. They communicated silently for a moment and then Percy put his focus back on Apollo.

"This is true. Kronos Jackson was alive and planned everything."

A series of gasps echoed through the room as the rumour was confirmed.

"It seems that the late King Kronos was not killed but ran away to start a rebellion," I didn't care that the cameras were watching us, I took Percy's hand as I told the world the truth. "He wished to take the crown again, from Percy, and he believed that by taking me as well, he would be able to get it."

Apollo rubbed his forehead with his hand. "It's hard to believe."

Percy squeezed my hand, nodding.

"Thank you Lady Annabeth, that's all the question I have for this evening." Apollo turned back to the camera. "Thank you, great citizens of Illèa, for tuning in this evening. See you next week!"

The cameras all turned off. Percy wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I could feel his heart beating and we both closed out eyes, listening to each other's breaths.

He gave me a kiss on the forehead before he was pulled away by people asking questions.

I slipped out unnoticed.

4764 words. Stars, that was a lot!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! How's everyone new year going? What are your new year resolutions?

Has anyone read the Lunar Chronicles?!? I just finished the series yesterday, and oh my gods. FREAKING LOVED EVERY WORD! So many new ships. If you haven't read them, go! What are you waiting for?!?

Did you enjoy this chapter? I had a good time writing it :)

It's only 11am where I am and it's already 33 degrees. Whaaaat? Meant to hit plus 40 in other areas. To my Aussie readers, I wish you good luck.

Love you all dearly and wishing you a fabulous weekend!

- Squirrel