(During Heroes of Olympus, before final fight after Tartar Sauce

This is with the tv series cast, so Leah, Walker, and other actors of the series are going to be what I'm picturing/writting)

Percy's POV

    "Annabeth? What's wrong?" I shook my sleeping girlfriend, who was having a serious nightmare. After Tartar Sauce, everyone understood me and Annabeth rooming together. We needed each other and reassurance that the other was still alive after Tartarus nightmares.

    She didn't wake up, but tears were running down her face and she started screaming. Hazel, Frank, Leo, Jason, Piper came rushing in. "She won't wake up, I don't know what she's seeing." I told them.

I put my hand on the top of her head, feeling her braids. I learned how to do them after our first quest, and it became a tradition for us to do a new style after every quest. It was our comfort method, bringing everything back to normal while acknowledging the change.

We did them during the first night on the Argo II, and again after Tartarus. They were pretty messy both times, and after Tartarus dried blood came off and onto my hands while I undid the old braids.

"It's gonna be okay, Wise Girl, it's gonna be okay."

(Annabeth's Dream, Her POV)

Ugh, it's cold. Mind over matter Annabeth, mind over matter. You escaped your stepmother and father, you found friends, and you're currently on your way to safety! Oh gods I'm tired.

"GROVER! Why are you walking so slow? If they catch up with-" Not again...

"Why is it that whenever we do bring you somewhere, you put my children, your BROTHERS, in danger!?"

"I'm sorry! It can't go very fast! These stupid shoes keep falling off!"

A high heel flew past my head, only a few feet away. "GET AWAY FROM US!"

"Oh, likely story Goatboy!"

"It's not my fault, please." "Likely story, FREAK!"

"Hey, lay off Thals, it's not if fault."

"Please, it's not my fault, I can't help it-"

"Oh be quiet Cas-"

"Oh, if I'm SO HORRIBLE to you, then run away! 'Oh, things couldn't be worse!' NOT WHEN YOUR PARENT RUNS THE UNIVERSE!! Leave Virginia! 'Oh, I'm Annabeth! Oh, things couldn't be worse!' "

"Please stop fighting..." my voice came out small and strangled.

Thalia's yelling, and Grover's arguing back, and Luke's attempt at calming them, became silent at once. "It's okay Annabeth, it's okay." He pulled me into a hug, like the big brother he has been to me for the past few months.

"I have an idea. I think it'll make you laugh, and these two knock it off." He jabbed his thumb at Thalia and Grover. He looked back at me with a goofy grin, mischief in his eyes. He started clapping a rhythm, and began a silly, dumb song.

"Oh golly, the road's getting bumpy
'Cause I got me some friends who just can't get along
Oh dear, when the team's getting grumpy
The trick to getting through it is singing this song!"

"Feel any better Annabeth?" I responded by crushing him with a hug. Thalia and Grover came over and joined in. When we finally pulled away, Thalia picked a twig and some leaves out of my hair, the result of sleeping outside for months. "At Camp, there's a girl name Clarisse. She's really good at giving braids, it might make it a bit easier for you. All up to you of course." Grover told me. "That sounds nice."

I was tired, and I leaned against Luke. Him being the big brother that he was to me, didn't have an issue. "Don't worry, we'll be safe soon. No one will be able to hurt us when we get to Camp. Now sleep, we're here for you.

"We'll be a family, I promise Annie."

(Back to the present, on the Argo II)

I screamed and bolted out of the bed I was in. I looked around, I wasn't in an alleyway. I wasn't with Thalia, Grover, or Luke.

"Luke?" I fell down. "You promised, YOU PROMISED!"

"Annie?" Piper came over. "What was it? You're safe now, we're here. Monsters won't get you." I heard some people in the background asking who Luke was. I think I saw a Percy send them an expression between a glare telling them to shut it and a desperate plea.

"Annabeth, it's going to be okay. We'll see Grover and Thalia soon. Luke is in Enulysm, okay? It's gonna be okay Wise Girl, it's gonna be okay." Percy hugged me. He put his lips onto my forehead lightly for a second, before tucking my head into the crook of his neck.

"We're all here for you Wise Girl, it'll be okay, it'll be okay." I cried into his should for an hour, before falling asleep. I realized in the morning that he stayed on the floor, holding me in his arms so that I wouldn't hit the floor or be disturbed. The others just asked if I was okay, but left it at that. I guess Percy talked to them too.

(A few months later, imagine Leo never "died")

I asked the Seven to meet me and Percy in the Poseidon Cabin. Camp has been well rebuilt, and Camp Jupiter was rebuilt within a few weeks. Not even.

Hazel liked braids ever since she met Clarisse, who decided that this was her little sister and would pummel anyone that hurt her. She braided Hazel's hair for her, and Hazel and taken to wearing golden hoops and charms braided into them.

"I wanted to tell you guys what that dream was on the Argo II. It was no monster either." I swallowed, looking up at them.

"This was how I got to Camp, with Thalia, Grover," I paused for a moment.

"And Luke Castellan."

Oh gods, this was supposed to be a nice happy story with sad-ish notes.

NOT FLAT OUT ANGST.

Okay, I might need more help than I thought, but whatever.

This idea originated from an idea from Jenny6445 and a video. I'm gonna try and put the video in too, and Clarisse braiding is another idea I found and loved is up top.

https://youtube.com/shorts/_dTHQ3za2EM?si=PmebajNRE5A_b6VQ