If Annabeth had gone missing instead of Percy 😊. Sorry. And ImKindOfTwisted , you thought the Something Flowery books were bad. Hope you like it. 😏

Percy grinned down at his girlfriend, who was looking towards the approaching Athena's Cabin. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, like always, and her grey eyes were focused on the distance. It hadn't been that long, had it? Since Percy had finally been able to call her his girlfriend. His girlfriend

It seemed impossible. But it was true. Annabeth was finally his girlfriend. After five years of friendship, and for one of those years she was his crush, he finally was able to call her My girlfriend.

'Hey Perce, want to go sword fight?'

'Nah, my girlfriend and I are going to the docks.'

Percy and Annabeth.

Annabeth and Percy.

"What?" He heard her voice ask, snapping him out of his thoughts. Annabeth was looking at him with raised eyebrows, making him realize he's been staring at her goofily the whole time.

"Nothing." He replied, grinning. They'd reached the Athena cabin, it's door rising above their head, an owl statue staring at them heavily. She rolled her eyes.

"Right. Goodnight, Seaweed Brain." She said, reaching for the door, but Percy caught her wrist, pouting.

"Hey..." He said dejectedly, "No kiss?" It was dark outside, but he could tell that her cheeks turned slightly red.

"You idiot." She shook her head fondly, reaching up to press her lips to his. Percy sighed, putting his hands on her waist.

"Goodnight, Seaweed Brain." She said again, and he backed down the stairs, waving his hand at her.

"Goodnight, Wise Girl. I'll see you in the morning."

But he didn't.

///

He woke up to someone shaking him roughly. Urgently. He blinked slightly against the flashlight that was being shown in his face. He yawned.

"Connor? What are you-"

"Where's Annabeth?" Asked Chiron sternly from behind Connor. The beam of light swiveled around and Percy saw his mentor's stern face. Percy blinked. Malcolm stood nervously at the doorway, rubbing his arms.

"Uh, Athena Cabin?" Percy replied, "Bathroom? How should I know? It's like, five in the morning."

Malcolm and Connor exchanged glances, and Chiron nodded. The son of Hermes sprinted from the room, as fast as he could. Which was pretty darn fast.

"Percy..." Chiron's face looked aged, worried, "Annabeth wasn't in her cabin, nor the restroom, or the showers. We came in here in hopes that... Well, hoping that she'd have stayed with you."

Percy's heart was beating out of his chest as he glanced at Malcolm, who looked pained.

"Percy," Annabeth's half brother started, "Annabeth is gone."

///

He was infuriated.

Three days. Not an Iris Message, not a call, not even a sign from the gods! Three days, three days he searched for her... Three days he cried and hit things and cursed the gods. But she was still gone.

Swept from her bed, in the middle of the night, just gone. No finality, no screaming or fighting, no scuffle. She just disappeared.

And then, a shimmer of hope. A light in the darkness. The possibility that maybe, just maybe, she could be found.

But he was wrong. The blond kid knew nothing. He was as ignorant as a mortal as to what was going on. Percy wanted to punch him in the face.

"In the chariot." He ordered, surprised at how gruff his voice was. Clarisse took a deep breath, glancing over to where Percy stood. But his back was turned and he was making his way to the chariot.

"I..." Clarisse shook her head, waving the demigods towards where the tall black haired boy had just climbed into the chariot, "He just lost his girlfriend... We're trying to find her, but no luck. We thought maybe..." She didn't finish her sentence. Then her posture hardened and she herded the kids to the chariot.

///

Percy leaned his head against Zeus's fist, trying to stop the pain. Everything hurt. His heart, his mind, his chest. His heart, because he missed her, his mind because he hadn't slept in days, and his chest because... Well, because of the crying.

He had to be strong, he tried to remind himself, but something in his gut told him that he wouldn't follow through. Not after what Chiron said. He had guided Percy into the Big House, just a day before, sat him down on the couch, and fixed him with a sad gaze.

"Percy," Said Chiron mournfully, "You do realize... This search is unlikely to yield any gain. I have to... If she isn't found in a week, I'll have to pronounce her..." Percy closed his eyes, "Dead."

The word resonated in his ears for the rest of the day, making his throat feel like there were cold metal rods in it, and his heart feel torn to shreds.

The words didn't work together. Annabeth and dead. They didn't sound right. Feel right.

Percy tightened his arms around his chest and heaved another sob, shaking. They weren't right. Annabeth wasn't... Wasn't... He couldn't even bring himself to think the word himself.

His palms were clammy, and he remembered the way they felt on her hips. When they'd danced while on a quest. How he was sure his sweaty hands would gross her out, but she still smiled and talked to him like normal.

He remembered the way it felt to hold her for the first time. How his heart started beating out of his chest and how butterflies had erupted in his stomach. He had never been that close to a girl, besides his mom, let alone Annabeth.

And he remembered how it felt to kiss her underwater. How his arms felt wrapped around her, keeping them afloat, how she tasted like mint.

Gods, even her smell made him want to sob. The lemony scent that made his mind go fuzzy and that always reminded him of home. He once asked her, quite embarrassingly, why she smelled like lemons. She'd grinned and said, 'Well that was random.' And he'd blushed, but she laughed and kissed his forehead, 'It's my shampoo, Seaweed Brain. Besides, lemons repel spiders.'

And they'd laughed, laid back against the trunk of a tree, and continued talking. Talking about everything really, why lemons repelled spiders- to which she answered 'The citrus, Seaweed Brain, they don't like the smell, or maybe the taste, of the acid'- why she needed to go to those measures in order to keep away spiders.

"I'll kill all the spiders for you, Annabeth." He'd grinned. Annabeth rolled her eyes, but he knew she was slightly touched. "It's true. You'll always have me to keep you safe."

"I don't need you to keep me safe, idiot." She'd laughed. But Percy just smiled and kissed her temple lightly.

He wished he could go back to that. To the time when he could truthfully say he'd always keep her safe. To when he could leisurely promise that he would protect her from anything.

He broke his promise.

///

The hull of the Argo II creaked from above him as he descended the ladder. His heart was beating out of his chest as he felt the eyes of a thousand demigods watching his every move.

When he reached the bottom, he glanced around at the awaiting demigods. He searched for a sign of blonde hair and grey eyes. But found nothing.

It took ages for Reyna to say they could go and eat, Percy was starved, but he was also nauseous from anticipation. And the crowd scattered. He felt Leo and Jason staring at his back as he searched the area one more time.

"Bro, maybe we should... Maybe she's not here..." Jason said quietly, "Maybe we were wrong, I-"

"She's here." Percy snapped, looking at the two over his shoulder, "She has to be."

And he started walking through the ranks, scattering demigods. He had half the mind to call her name, but didn't want the Romans surrounding him to think he was insane.

"You're looking for Annabeth." A voice said to his left. Percy whirled around, staring into the hard eyes of Reyna. The praetor.

"You know her?" Percy asked hopefully. Reyna sighed, looking at him sympathetically.

"You won't find her here, I can assure you of that." She replied, shaking her head. Percy's heart stopped.

"Why?" He asked quietly. Reyna bowed her head.

"Because Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Minerva, was killed retrieving the golden eagle of the twelfth legion."

Percy's heart stopped, and he looked at Reyna with wide eyes, "No... She can't be..."

"You may ask Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque, those two were on the quest with her. They were the only survivors."

Percy swallowed, disbelief crowding every thought, "She... How?" His voice quavered.

"Drowning." Reyna replied tightly, starting to back away, "I do not know much, remember. But ask Frank and Hazel. They saw it."

And she left.

The feeling of grief paired with denial was overwhelming. He had to find Hazel and Frank, whoever they were, and they were going to tell them where she was. What had happened.

He stomped into the area where all the demigods were eating, tapping a kid's shoulder and muttering a question.

"Where's Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque?" He asked. The brunet guy pointed to where a boy and girl sat, their arms around each other.

Percy practically ran towards them, putting his hand on Frank's shoulder. The guy turned around, his dark eyes shocked.

"We need to talk." Was all Percy dared say. Hazel and Frank seemed to get it, and stood with him from their seats in the corner.

They led Percy to a deserted road, where vines grew in the trail and the sun beat down on their heads heavily.

"You're Percy." Hazel whispered tearfully. Frank looked at his shoes.

"Yes." Percy replied, looking between the two, "Reyna... She said... Where's Annabeth?" He asked. Tears dropped down Hazel's cheeks.

"She's... She's..." And the tears were coming so fast she had to wipe them with the inside of her shirt collar.

"Dead." Frank said morosely, gulping. Percy stared straight ahead, and Frank and Hazel exchanged glances, confused as to why he wasn't screaming at them. Then the tears came. Heavy, hot tears.

"No..." He whispered, his voice breaking, and he leaned on the fence heavily.

Hazel had started sobbing, and Frank was gulping back his tears as he held her. And together they witnessed the last piece of Percy Jackson's dignity crumble. He sunk to the ground, his heart stuttering and beating hard enough to power a city.

"We're so sorry..." Frank shook his head.

"She... She talked about you. So much." Hazel wiped her eyes, "She never forgot you. She forgot almost everything, but she didn't forget you."

Percy wrapped his arms around himself and sobbed harder. They were those silent sobs. The ones so filled with grief that they didn't even have to make a sound in order for everyone to know how your heart was broken.

Frank and Hazel started to move away, but Percy looked up.

"You know how long... How long it's been since I've been away from her for more than a winter?" Frank and Hazel shook their heads.

"Five years." He whispered, and they could hear the anger in his voice. But his eyes were wild. The look of a boy that had just lost his whole world and was left in the jungle, alone. "And I'll never see her again."

He didn't even have to say because of you. They knew what he meant. It wasn't like they hadn't blamed themselves. Frank had tried to save her, but unfortunately... She was already gone. Hazel could have somehow helped her with Arion. She could have saved her. But she didn't. She had brought Annabeth's body back to camp, the limp girl in Frank's arms as Hazel choked back sobs, riding towards camp.

And now, Annabeth Chase, was gone. And she'd be that way for a long, long time.

///

Her body was in the death ward. Laying there peacefully. Like she was sleeping. But she was pale, her arms cold. And Percy could hardly believe it was the same girl. The same girl he'd kissed, held, loved.

The same girl he loves.

It was a shocking revelation. Though he had known it deep in his mind. Percy loved Annabeth. He fell in love with her, the feelings stronger than he'd ever felt. And yet, it wasn't strong enough to keep her alive.

Her blonde hair was tasseled, like she'd just gotten out of the shower, and her eyes were closed. Percy sunk to his knees, his hand inching towards her's.

"I wouldn't do that. If I were you." A voice said behind him. Percy turned to see a boy, his blonde hair stringy and his blue eyes bored.

"Wha-"

"Touch her," The boy replied, "She's been dead for hours. She's cold as a rock." He opened his hand and fingered a leather necklace.

"Hey!" Percy exclaimed, jumping up to grab Annabeth's necklace from the boy. He moved his hand out of Percy's reach and examined him closely.

"Octavian, and I suppose you're The Great Percy Jackson."

"That's mine." Percy growled, staring at the necklace in Octavian's grasp. The auger just laughed, letting it slide between his hands.

"No, it was Annabeth Chase's. And she was a part of the legion. I'm afraid it belongs to New Rome now." He examined it closely. It disgusted Percy how Octavian could talk about Annabeth's death like it was merely a bridge to gain.

"It belongs to her closest friends and family." Percy said evenly, his hand twitching towards Riptide, "Which would be me. Or her dad."

Octavian simply smiled and made his hand a fist, closing away the leather bead necklace from the rest of the world, "Sorry, I'm afraid that isn't-"

"It's true." A voice said from the doorway, and Percy looked to see Reyna standing there, "It belongs to her friends. Hand it over, auger."

Octavian gave Percy a baleful glare before slapping the necklace into the boy's open palm. Percy closed his eyes at the feel of the leather, and remembered how he'd count each bead while she slept next to him. Eleven years she'd been at Camp Half Blood. Well, ten and a half.

"Now, don't you have some teddy bears to gut?" Reyna said. Octavian left after that, but not without 'bumping into' Percy. It didn't bother the boy, however, who was looking at the gold college ring in the middle of the beads. He fastened the necklace around his neck, looking at it fell over his own beads.

Reyna had left, simply nodding her head towards the boy, and now he was alone. Just him, Annabeth's necklace, and Annabeth's cold body.

///

Percy stepped up in front of the gods, his feet spread apart, his fists clenched. Athena tapped her fingers on her throne, refusing to look at Percy as he stared at each god/goddess individually. Even Aphrodite gave him a sympathetic smile, then brought out a box of tissues.

"No." Zeus said. And the demigods behind Percy jumped at the sound. Reyna wondered why the god had already replied when Percy hadn't even asked. "It is impossible." He thundered.

But Percy stood his ground, look towards his dad, and then at Athena, "Is it?" He asked. Athena turned her head and again Percy was shocked by how much she and Annabeth looked alike. The Olympians didn't even mention how he was challenging a god's word.

Athena held her head up, "My daughter is dead, and she is gone for good." But she looked away quickly. Percy could hear his friends shift awkwardly behind him.

"Is she?" This time he turned his head to where Nico stood, his hands folded. The boy was stiff, and he turned to look Percy in the eye.

"Thanatos is freed. My father has little say in who is released from death," Nico swallowed and looked directly at Athena, "But if it is an unjust death... Perhaps..." He glanced towards Hazel.

"Do not think us Olympians are ignorant of your little trick, Nico di Angelo, we are fully aware that one demigod in this room is not supposed to be alive." Athena said sternly.

"It's just whether or not we choose to act on that thought." Apollo grinned.

Hades shifted uncomfortably, looking towards his son with a warning glint in his eyes.

"The boy," Aphrodite started, "Has been through all the trials of the best heroes, and more. He even has the courage to stand up and ask if-" She sniffled, "If he could have one reward."

Piper rolled her eyes at her mother's drama, but said nothing.

"We have offered you immortality, Son." Poseidon said softly, "And that offer still stands-" His friends gasped, "But, perhaps a choice..."

The gods all exchanged glances.

"A choice?" Percy voiced, "My Lords?" He added, hoping to get on their good side.

"Immortality... Is a precious thing. Worth thousands of rewards. The highest of all offers," Hermes said thoughtfully, "Surely, with such a big reward, getting him something else wouldn't be too hard, especially since it's less."

Percy's heart was beating out of his chest and he looked to where his father sat smiling at him.

"So, Perseus Jackson. Here is your choice," He said 'choice' like he already knew what Percy would pick, "Immortality-"

"Or a 'get out of Hades free pass.'" Apollo winked, "Redeemable on any certain, demigod, of your choosing."

His friends expected him to hesitate, wonder if retrieving Annabeth from Hades was worth giving up immortality, but he started speaking as soon as Apollo stopped.

"Annabeth. I choose Annabeth."

///

She showed up in a flurry of flowers and golden light.

Yeah, right.

More like she popped into existence at Percy's feet.

Immediately he cried out, dropping to his knees, and holding her against him. Her body was warm, and just that brought tears to his eyes. The gods looked on with smiles, Even Ares, shaking their heads.

Percy looked up at Zeus with his eyes swimming in tears, "Thank you." He muttered, picking Annabeth up. She was light, and dressed in a purple SPQR shirt and jeans, which looked odd on her, and Percy carried her back towards his friends, not taking his eyes off her face. If anything, being dead had made her even more beautiful. And Percy watched the rise and fall of her chest, ecstatic she was breathing, that she was alive.

He could tell all his friends were staring in shock at the two of them, Jason and Leo mostly because of Annabeth herself, c'mon, the girl literally just popped up out of nowhere, and Frank and Hazel because they had missed their friend and couldn't believe she was back, and then Piper, who was staring because she was in awe of the love that radiated off of Percy.

And Nico, who was happy to see Percy wasn't depressed and moody anymore. It was terribly unattractive. Which seemed ironic. At least it had helped him get over the boy.

Annabeth woke up when they were on the Argo II, bolting upright in bed and grasping at the sheets, gasping in air. Percy leapt up from his seat, practically diving into the bed to calm her. He shushed her softly, tears running down his face.

"Annabeth... Gods... Shh." She took several breaths, then looked at Percy with wide eyes.

"Why are you..." Then she looked panicked, "Percy Jackson, you didn't die." She said firmly. Percy shook his head, wiping his face embarrassedly.

"No, I'm alive, and so are you." He smiled. Annabeth blinked up at him.

"No, I died... I died fighting off those souls, I fell into the water..."

"I brought you back, Wise Girl." Percy cried, holding her against him and thankfully taking in her smell. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I brought you back..."

He didn't even let her ask for an explanation, he just held her, kissing her every now and then, burying his face in her neck and listening to her heartbeat. They lay sprawled on his bed, him in jeans and an orange tee shirt, and her purple tee shirt contrasting his. He pulled her flush against him, like he couldn't stand to think of letting her go again.

Never again.

Edited this, so hopefully it will be all good. Sorry for any typos. Also, I cried while writing this. So yeah. Sorry for any confusion with the typos