Finally the war against Gaea was over. Hopefully nothing else old and ancient would stir and cause trouble because he was so done with it. After his memory was wiped and then falling into Tartarus with Annabeth and all the battles and fights against monsters he had been in, all he wanted to do was get a break.

He prayed to the gods that they'd hear it. I'm done, choose someone else to do your hero work. But he knew no matter how much he tried to deny it, he knew that if he had more quests and wars to fight in his life, it would be up to the fates and the gods to decide so he wouldn't have a choice regardless.

After being gone for almost a year, he was worried he was going to have to repeat the 10th grade, but Paul helped him with a rigorous catch up program so he would be allowed to enter the 11th grade. It was excruciating, but Annabeth also helped encourage him, giving him motivation like you don't want to seem stupid by being held back. Suuuuper supportive. He got through it needless to say and would be starting school that day.

Goode was alright. He did a better job at not getting in trouble, but seriously he didn't try to, just being a demigod got him into enough as it was. Unfortunately, Goode was going to be lonelier after Rachel transferred to the ladies academy for her deal she made with her father in exchange to help Percy in the Titan War. However, Percy made a few other friends Freshman year that he could potentially become closer with for the school year.

He thought about staying at camp year round, but his mom, Paul, and Annabeth all insisted that he go because it was important for his future, but the only future Percy could see at the moment was dying to some monster, maybe even back in Tartarus. He didn't need an education to die.

He could feel his heart race start to pick up and he knew that if he couldn't get his brain off this topic, he would probably have a panic attack in the middle of the hallway which would definitely cause more stares and whispers than what he had already as he tried to find his locker. It was to be expected. One can't just disappear for months and reappear to expect that people won't talk.

When he got to his locker he opened it to put some of his stuff away and when he was done, he reached to close it, but someone else slammed it shut. He jumped in surprise, his hand instinctively reaching into his pocket to grab Riptide and point it in pen form at the perpetrator.

"Woah calm down with that pen Percy," said Nathan, looking a bit scared at how fast Percy had pulled out the pen and had it at his throat. He muttered a curse in ancient greek before twirling the pen through his fingers and shoving it into his pocket. Percy has gotten more on edge since the war, especially after Tartarus, waiting for something to jump out at him or come after him at any given second.

"I'm sorry, you startled me so I used the closest thing I had to defend myself," Percy laughed it off.

"Anyways, so where were you?" Nathan asked. Percy knew that was coming and he's been trying to come up with a great cover story, but he wasn't really smart and it hurt his brain.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth," he laughed awkwardly.

"You can't just disappear for months without a trace and then say something like that!" Nathan scolded.

"Look Nate, I had some crazy family stuff going on, lots of drama, it was like a full scale war," Percy said. Technically that was true.

"That doesn't explain why left without a word," Nathan frowned, still demanding more from Percy.

"I guess that would have to do with my aunt. She sprung most of this stuff on me out of nowhere and I had to leave without getting a chance to say something. You know I'm not allowed to have a phone. It just happened so fast I couldn't do anything," Percy explained.

"Whatever, I guess you're off the hook for now. Anyways, how did you even move up a grade anyway?" Nathan asked.

"Paul helped me get stuff done that I needed to pass the grade, it was not fun, but I didn't want to be held back," Percy said.

"Sorry for pestering you, I'm glad you're back man," Nathan said lightly hitting the back of his fist against Percy's chest in a friendly gesture.

"Thanks, Nate," Percy said.

"I see some of the girls missed you too," Nathan made an emphasis at a group of girls gathered across the hall looking at him.

"Woah, I don't remember being popular with the girls here," Percy gulped. "What's with this all the sudden," he questioned.

"Well dude, most girls backed off because of Rachel, but also, have you seen yourself man? I mean this in the least gayest way, but, whatever you were doing last year, definitely helped your physical appeal, you're pretty muscular now, added with your hair and eyes, face it buddy, you're a real catch," Nathan said. Percy laughed internally, haha catch, and the son of the sea god.

"Umm, thanks? But I have a girlfriend..." Percy trailed off.

"So you and Rachel finally-" Nathan started.

"No, we never liked each other like that," Percy interrupted quickly. "Her name's Annabeth. Let me tell you, she's a tough girl, but we've been through some crazy stuff together, we met when we were twelve at camp and she has been my best friend ever since, then, last year on my birthday, we started dating," Percy said as he imagined his girlfriend. The way her blond hair curled like a princess, the way her startling gray eyes looked through him, calculating his every move, the way she called him Seaweed Brain and tried to cover her smile with an annoyed expression, the way she-

"Hello! Earth to Percy! Man you're whipped if you get that look in your eye just thinking about her, not cool man," Nathan teased. "And there you go talking about your camp again, why are you so obsessed with that place?" He asked.

"It's like my home, the people there understand me and care about me, it's hard to explain, but it's one of the best places on earth. It's the place where I belong," he tried to explain.

"Woah, seriously? Maybe I'll have to check it out sometime. What's it called?" Nathan asked.

"Well... the thing is... It's pretty exclusive," Percy said sheepishly.

"So how do I get in?" He asked excitedly.

"Well, you have to be scouted," Percy explained. Nathan's face fell.

"Oh. So there's not a chance I could go with you?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, but no. Camp is like a whole other world. It's super hard to wrap your mind around it, you should be grateful that you don't have to see the things I do," Percy said, a far away look coming into his eyes. Nathan looked at him curiously.

"You okay man?" He asked. Percy shook himself out of his daze.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered quickly. Suddenly, the first bell rang. Percy had to go to his Greek Mythology class.

"Wait up! What class do you have first?" Nathan asked.

"Greek Mythology," he answered.

"Same! I'm so glad I can have someone to joke around with in that boring class," Nathan smiled brightly. Percy's face slightly fell.

"Yeah, boring," he said.

"Come on!" Nathan said, lightly slapping his back. It had felt like hitting a rock. They walked to class together, and once they got there, they picked seats in the back of the class to sit next to each other and not pay attention.

"Dude, some of the girls are totally staring at you," Nathan nudged him with his elbow. Percy looked up to see a shy looking girl with brown hair and brown eyes looking back at him from two rows up. As soon as she was caught, her face turned bright red. She whipped her head back around and rested it on her folded elbows.

"I told you, I already have a girlfriend," Percy said.

"I know I know, but she doesn't," he said. The bell rang for class to start.

"Whatever," Percy mumbled. The class seemed to drag on. Nathan was trying to distract him, but for some reason, he just wasn't feeling up to it.

"Can anybody tell me where all the Greek monsters are sent when they die? Anyone?" Percy shot up from laying his head on the table. His heart rate was speeding up. His mouth became dry and he was breathing heavily, feeling like he couldn't get enough air.

"You okay, Percy?" Nathan asked. He shook his head as he started to break out in a sweat, but cold.

"Percy! Why don't you answer?" The teacher asked, aware that he knew the answer from the way he had perked up. He cursed in his head before swallowing thickly.

"Tartarus," he croaked out, feeling very weak and hazy all the sudden. He was getting tunnel vision and the sound around him seemed to sound muffled in his ears. His vision started getting fuzzy until his surroundings faded around him. He opened his eyes to find himself back in Tartarus. They were surrounded by monsters. An angry empousa seeking revenge, two Cyclopes, and others he wasn't so sure about. Annabeth was there, but she was weak. Her grip around him was loose as he held Riptide against the attackers. But there were too many. He charged one cyclops and managed to get an attack in before the other rammed into him. The empousa was charging toward Annabeth, and he was exhausted but he couldn't let her get hurt. Annabeth pulled out her knife but the empousa just smacked it away, cackling wildly. He charged her but it was too late. She had used her monster leg to destroy Annabeth's stomach. She was bleeding profusely. She coughed up blood. Suddenly the monsters just vanished, and it was him and her. But she was still dying.

"Percy," she said, weakly raising her hand to his face, cupping his cheek. He grabbed her wrist to keep it there.

"Annabeth, don't go!" He whimpered. Tears started to well up in his eyes.

"I love you, Seaweed Brain," she whispered.

"No! This isn't the end! We're gonna get out, live our lives together! Annabeth!" He screamed. Her eyes began to close and her hand was becoming limp against his cheek. She fell back and he heard the final breath leave her mouth. He was sobbing.

"ANNABETH! ANNABETH!" He howled in pain. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," he whispered. He held her close to his chest, not caring as her blood soaked his shirt. All he could feel was emptiness at the loss of his best friend, the love of his life. He couldn't stop crying. His soul was being ripped out. He screamed in grief. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice, muffled in his ear.

"Percy," it was like a whisper.

"Percy," it was a little louder, but he couldn't stop the pain.

"Percy!" The voice yelled, right in his ear. He started to become more aware of his surroundings.

"Seaweed Brain I'm here!" The voice in his ear told him. He realized it was Annabeth. But how? He had just watched her die in his arms.

"Wake up! It's okay! We're alive!" His Wise Girl said, and suddenly, he was awake, shooting up to realize he didn't recognize his surroundings. He was not where he was whenever the panic attack was brought on. As he took in where he was, he almost jumped out of his skin as the voice of Annabeth spoke in his ear.

"You awake now?" She asked. That's when he realized that Paul was next to him with a phone in his hand, pressed up against Percy's face. He took the phone carefully from him as Paul offered him a worried smile. He turned and used the old phone on the wall, likely to call his mom.

"Yeah, I am," he said breathlessly, his body still trying to calm down. His heart rate was slowing down and his vision and hearing were back to normal, but he was still in a cold sweat.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"It was horrible," he said truthfully.

"I know I can't be with you in person right now to help you through it, but the others couldn't snap you out of it, so Paul called me, and it worked," she explained. "Anyways, what happened?" She asked. Suddenly, as if he couldn't stop it, he started to sob again. He had realized when he woke up his cheeks were wet so he probably had cried while he was out, but all the pain of the moment just came back.

"We were fighting some monsters, and you were already hurt. I couldn't protect you, and... you, you died," he sobbed, his voice breaking and squeaking at many parts. It was silent on the other end for a moment before Annabeth spoke again.

"It's okay, I'm okay, I know how you feel. The more we've been apart recently, it's just been getting worse, I've been seeing you die a lot as well you know? It's scary," she said, and he could tell by her voice that she had started to cry to.

"I love you so much Wise Girl," Percy said. "I don't know how much more of this we can take. We need to be by each other otherwise the attacks will just get worse again,"

"I love you too, Seaweed Brain. You're right though, it's embarrassing enough as it is, but people don't know how to respond to us. I think that the best decision for us is to be near each other, so when these attacks happen, we can deal with them better, and they won't happen as frequently," She agreed.

"We need to talk to our parents about it," he sighed, finally calmed down, but still crying a little bit. "I don't care where we go, as long as you're with me," he said honestly. Annabeth laughed.

"That's super cheesy," she teased.

"But it's true. You're my best friend, and the love of my life, I don't want to lose you," he said.

"You're my-" she started to say but was interrupted. He heard a faint voice in the background.

"Annabeth, times up, you need to come back into class," the voice said sternly.

"Yes Mrs. Harris," he heard Annabeth say.

"I'm sorry Percy, I have to go, we can talk later," she said reluctantly.

"Bye, I love you," he said.

"I love you too," and with that, she was gone.

"Percy, come over here," Paul said, waving him over. Paul handed him the phone.

"Percy, Honey, are you okay?" His mom's voice came through, soothing him.

"Yeah mom, I'm okay, Paul called Annabeth from my phone, we may have a monster attack in a little, but I can deal with it. Anyways, even if they are dangerous, they came in handy, so thanks Mom," he said.

"I'm so glad she was able to reach you. It's always so hard for us to break you out of it. Anyways, how's your first day?" His mom asked.

"It's barely even started," he laughed. "But anyways, there's something I need to talk to you about," he said seriously.

"What is it Honey?" She asked.

"Well, Annabeth and I talked about it, and we've both noticed that our attacks and nightmares get worse the more we aren't around each other. We thought it might be best to be closer to each other, we aren't sure on the details, but anything is better than the distance now," Percy explained.

"I see... we can talk about this later when you get home okay Honey?" She said.

"Alright, I probably have to go back to class anyway," he said. "Love you, bye," he said.

"Love you too Sweetie," his mom said before he hung up. He put the phone back on the wall as Paul gently laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Percy," he said kindly. Percy smiled at him.

"No, thank you, it was you who called Annabeth, wasn't it? I'm guessing you brought me here too," he said.

"Yeah, I was called into the room, your friend Nathan wanted to come but... anyways, look Percy, I may not be your actual father, but I do want to be there for you. So anytime you need something, especially at school, you can come to me okay?" He said, ruffling Percy's already messy hair.

"Thank you Paul," he said gratefully.

"Now, let's get you back to class okay?" Paul said as they walked out of what Percy guesses was the nurse's office.

"Also, your teachers have been informed of your potential for attacks, so if one should happen again, they are asked to immediately call me. I hope that's not the case," Paul said as they stopped outside his class. He patted Percy on the back.

"Have a good day," he said before walking down the hall to most likely resume his class. Percy sighed before opening the door.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-A/N-

Okay, so this is like almost 3,000 words which is insane, I typically don't have chapters this big XD. Anyways, this could be a one-shot, but I already have a few more chapter ideas. Nothing super long unfortunately, probably under 10 chapters, but I definitely have an idea of where I want this to go.

For those of you who don't know me, hi, I'm YouDontKnowShipping. This is my first ever Percabeth fanfiction, but I got back into the series after hearing the musical and finding out there was going to be a Disney Plus series. I've always shipped Percabeth, but for some reason, I just got absorbed into it recently, and thus, this was born.

Anyways, I absolutely love it when they are affected mentally by Tartarus so I knew I had to write a fic like this. But also, despite how trashy they are, I love the mortal friends concepts where the mortals think they're Percy or Annabeth's best friends but then the other comes to visit and shenanigans ensue. So look out for one of those because I live for them XD. Anyways, until next time,

YouDontKnowShipping