In the first hour of a demigod's 25th birthday, the first sentence their soulmate says to them appears on their wrist. The only problem is that demigods don't tend to live that long.

   So when Percy realized his 25th birthday was in a month, he could suddenly feel his stomach churn.

—

   A soulmate. Percy has a soulmate. He never thought he'd make it this far. He honestly didn't even believe Chiron when he was told there was someone out there destined to be his. He remembers laughing as the centaur looked at him, his arms folded over his chest and an expression on his face that told Percy it wasn't a joke.

   At the time it seemed even more ridiculous than the fact that he was a demigod.

   And then he met Medusa, and Ares, and had "saved" the war gods shield and Aphrodite's scarf while fighting off mechanical spiders all while trying to get to the underworld to save his mom. After that summer, he could believe just about anything; even the crazy idea that he has a soulmate.

   Then he turned 16. He ended a war, saved Olympus and Manhattan, and kissed his best friend Annabeth. Percy thought to himself at that moment "Maybe I do have a soulmate. And gods do I hope it's her."

   He was sure. For 6 years he was certain that Annabeth was going to be his soulmate. You don't go through war, deny godhood, and fall into Tartarus for someone for them to not be your soulmate.

   That is until they were both 22.

   Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase had both moved to New Rome to go to college. They were offered a nice apartment with rent control because of their years of services in protecting the world. Life was looking up. They got to spend every night together, attend school, and for once in their lives they were able to think and dream about the future.

   Life continued to flow smoothly for the most part of 3 years, but at the age of twenty, Percy started growing restless. He was going to his classes, he only had 1 year left before he got his degree. But something was pulling at his gut, his head was starting to become foggy. He was unable to focus on his schooling, his part time job he had seemed to become too monotonous. Everything was just too... slow.

   He couldn't do it. Percy wasn't one to settle down and have the same job, the same day for the rest of his life. When you go from battling monsters and fearing for your life every day to - this? Work and school and home. It was killing him. Worse than any monster had ever tried.

   Percy was depressed.

   Annabeth started to notice, of course she did, she was too smart for her own good. She suggested therapy. The two were already going but it was a once a month thing that they tended to do together. She suggested he start going more often, and by himself. Maybe it would help.

   Percy agreed. He started going 2 times a month, once with Annabeth and once by himself. It started to help, so they increased the meetings. Now he goes every week.

   When he wasn't in therapy, at work, or at school. He's with Annabeth. The only person in his life he always feels safe around. But despite all the therapy, despite how kind and helpful his wonderful girlfriend is, something still felt... off.

   Being with Annabeth was all he'd ever wanted. The life they have now was all he'd ever dreamed of! He makes blue pancakes for them for weekend breakfasts, they get take out every Friday. They made the second room into an office where one half of the room is covered in blueprints and math and architecture things he could never understand no matter how hard he tries. Life is exactly how he hoped it would be.

   But it's not enough.

   Percy realizes this one night while they are eating their weekly takeout (this week they got Pho) and watching season 2 of NCIS. Annabeth is in the middle of explaining, for the 100th time, how there's no way they would have the technology to "enhance" an image that blurry in 2004.

   The demigod sat up suddenly, and placed his chopsticks atop his bowl. "Annabeth," he interrupts her rant, "I think... I think we need to talk."

   The blond paused the show, and the two of them sat side by side, holding hands and Percy explained his dilemma. He talked about his therapy sessions, how he feels as if every day had become too stagnant, and finally he confesses that their relationship has started to lose its spark. Everyday has blended together, and it felt less like they were Percy and Annabeth, power couple of the century. And more like Percy and Annabeth, roommates who share a bed and home. It felt like their relationship was coming to an end.

   The two sat in silence for a while. Tears in both of their eyes. Their hands still clasped and their legs touching. It takes a while before the silence is broken. Annabeth suggests they take a break. Percy shakes his head, tears in his eyes, and says no.

   More silence. Annabeth then suggests maybe, after this semester, they take a break from school and travel a little. Go back to camp, help out with the new campers, then head to Canada, Mexico, Brazil, anywhere! Annabeth suggests the two of them could spend a semester, maybe a whole year, traveling. Maybe that will help.

   Percy agrees.

   The rest of the semester goes by just as slow as it started, but this time the two tried harder to be romantic. They went out on more dates, went to parties together, and tried to change up their routine. It worked. For the most part.

   After the semester ended, the two took a break, asked Hazel and Frank to house sit for them, and they left. They visited Camp, greeted their friends there, spent a week with Chiron looking over camp news and updating themselves on how everything has been since they've been gone. Then, after that, they headed to Canada, drove through it on the way to Alaska, and then they planned on going to Mexico, realized halfway there that they should have gone with Annabeth's plan (as always) on the most direct path from point A to point B. And they had fun.

   For 5 months they traveled, by car, then by boat to Europe. It was some of the most fun they'd had in a long time, the monsters they fought along the way couldn't ruin that for them. But still something was wrong.

   By the time they made it to London, the two of them were on the London Eye. Percy stood there looking out while Annabeth explained the history of the Eye. And Percy realized something.

   He does love Annabeth. He always has and he thinks he always will. But he's not in love with her. He was, when they were younger, when he kissed her at camp that first time. When they fell into Tartarus. They were in love. But not now.

   Annabeth is his best friend. He will always love her. He will always see her grey eyes when he looks up on a cloudy day. He'll see her blond curls every time he looks at the sun. Her smile will be in his dreams and every time he sees some strange old building he will hear her voice in his head telling him words he will never understand. Every second of his day he will think about her, because he and her are connected. They always will be.

   They will always be Percy and Annabeth. But they can't be the couple they always thought they would be.

   When Percy and Annabeth get to their hotel room, Percy asks her to sit down; he tells her what he's realized. He tells her she will always be in his heart but he doesn't think she can be his any longer.

   Annabeth cried that night. Percy too. They held one another and let the tears fall. The next morning, after spending one last night in each other's arms, Annabeth confesses that she knew this day would come. She tells Percy that she knows he doesn't love her anymore, but she was hoping this trip would change things. She was hoping they could stay together, at least until her 25th birthday, where they would find out for sure if they were soulmates- soulmates just like she planned.

   Percy gave her one last kiss. The two continue on their trip, they go to the places they planned, they travel home together. And when they arrive, a month later, in their shared apartment, they realize how much their life is going to change.

   They agreed to spend 1 last night in the same bed, they were tired from their trip and dealing with everything would be too much. But the next day they start moving things around so Percy can live in the office. He spent the next night on the couch.

   Days pass and Percy feels restless. He has to leave. It's painful for both of them. He tells Annabeth he thinks it would be best for them both if he moves out. She agreed, and they spend the next few weeks looking for a place for him to move into.

   He asked Hazel and Frank first, he wouldn't have to move out of New Rome if they agreed. They don't have room, so he asks Piper, but she says her roommate didn't end up moving out like she was supposed to and they both renewed their lease.

   Percy goes through the list of friends, and finds no one. He realizes he will have to move back to New York. "But I don't think Mom will have room for me, Estelle took my old room." He tells Annabeth.

   "Well, what about Nico and Will? They live in a two bedroom in Manhattan right? I'm sure they'd love some help with rent." Annabeth always had good ideas.

   That week, Percy texted Nico, asking if they could meet up for coffee. Nico agreed, and that Sunday he shadow traveled to New Rome and the two met up at Percy's favorite coffee shop.

   "I have a question for you," Percy was nervous. They hadn't told everyone about the break up, and for some reason telling Nico made him even more anxious. "I was wondering, well you see I'm thinking of moving back home, and I was wondering if I could move into your second room in your apartment."

   When the words came out, Nico froze. His hands gripped his coffee cup and his eyes never left the stained rim. "You, you're moving back to New York? Just you? What about Annabeth?" His voice was quiet, he almost sounded how he used to when he was 13. Scared and confused.

   Percy wondered why.

   He looked down at his coffee, watching as an ice cube floats down into the caramel goodness. This place also added blue food coloring to the drinks Percy ordered, after a he jokingly asked for it one time. "Well you see," he started, unable to look away from his drink, "Annabeth and I... we broke up."

   The two sat in silence for a moment. Nico staring wide eyed at Percy, and Percy moving to stir his coffee with his straw.

   "You broke up? When? I assumed you two would be together forever- I mean you literally fell into the underworld for her-"

   "I know," Percy interrupted, "I know. And I'd do it again but... we weren't meant to be. You know that trip we took?" Nico nodded, "We broke up then. I did it. It sucked man."

   "Yeah... yeah I can imagine. When Will and I broke up it felt I lost a part of me- even when it was mutual-"

   "Wait you and Will broke up? What- hold on."

   "Oh - yeah. We broke up a few months ago. I didn't tell you?"

   "No?!"

   "Oh."

   "So... wait so you two don't live together anymore or-"

   "No. We don't- I moved back to Camp. Someone needs to keep the Hades cabin clean."

   "Oh... so I'm guessing I couldn't room with you then?"

   Nico chuckled, "No I guess not."

   "I can't believe we both broke up with our people this year. You and I..." Percy looked out the window at the people walking by.

   Percy and Annabeth were the IT couple for years- and then Will and Nico became it after everyone else moved out of Camp. And now here they all are. Single. Something Percy never thought would happen.

   "You know," Nico started, then took a sip of his drink, "You could always move back to Camp. It's been weird there without all our friends. All the new kids keep coming up and asking me to show them cool tricks and things- it's crazy. You deserve some of this attention- you're the one who actually saved the world."

   "That's exactly why we moved away. So we wouldn't have to deal with all the attention." Percy smiled. "But... I guess yeah. Yeah I could always move back home. I just- I'm worried I'm going to get into another rut ya know?"

   "Yeah, but there's always projects around Camp. And Chiron could use some help. And it wouldn't have to be permanently. Maybe just till the end of the summer- or till Christmas or something. Hell, maybe you and I could get a place after."

   Percy sat in silence for a minute, thinking. He did miss camp, and Chiron has seemed in need of some helping hands. And he could see his mom more often- no one ever said he didn't have to take his car. And now that he's an adult he can leave whenever- who says he needs to wait for a quest!

   "Yeah. Yeah maybe you're right." Percy smiled at his friend. "I think maybe moving back is the best idea. I'll talk to Annabeth and my mom and stuff about it. And hey- you and I would be neighbors. Then there's no excuse for us to not update each other on important things, such as break ups." He leaned forward onto his elbows, and smirked at the brunette in front of him.

   Nico blushed a little, a small smile on his lips. "Well, when you're ready to move let me know. We could make it a road trip."

   "What? You're not gonna shadow travel my stuff for me to help me move! How rude."

   "Hey! After the Pantheon I am done with large cargo! You can rent a service if you need help"

   Percy let out a mock scoff, "And I thought you were my friend!"

   "I am your friend! A friend who's offering to take you on a life altering road trip!" Nico smiled wider.

   "Oh no," Percy shook his head,"No more life altering road trips! I'll only accept your offer if you promise we have a normal, mortal, touristy road trip. Take me to like... Michigan or- ohhh take me to Utah. I wanna look at that boring large salt lake and all the Mormons. Something boring please."

   Percy was leaning forward now, his face about halfway across the table. Only a few inches from Nico. He had his dopey grin on his face and Nico's face was turning a darker shade with each word that passed his lips.

   "Alright," Nico held out his hand, "A boring, mortal, tourist road trip. I'll even buy you stupid little magnets or bumper stickers."

   Percy took his hand and they shook on it. "Perfect."

   They held hands a bit longer than appropriate, but neither really noticed.