In the last two months Annabeth and Percy hung out almost everyday. Sometimes it was them at Percy's, taking care of the kids or Percy playing guitar for her. Other times Annabeth bugged him at work, going as far as spending hours just teasing him about the uniform he had to wear.

But there were also the times that Annabeth got to go watch one of his Swim practices.

And good lord did she love those days.

She would sit in the bleachers, backpack open and books all around as she did homework. She would watch Percy swim, he was the Captain and would give the others directions and/or advice, that always put a smile on her face.

The swim team members were super nice, the first practice she had come to-their first of the season-they had introduced themselves and made her feel less uncomfortable about being there. Percy was no slouch when it came to training, she realized, because every practice he pushed those boys to their limits. But, he was there to complement and encourage just as much if not more so.

Fall was approaching, which meant Percy had to switch to his second job, the surf shop closing for the colder weather.

His second job was was at a coffee shop two blocks away from their school, and man did Annabeth enjoy that. She teased him about being a barista and asked him for coffee every chance she got, of course the added bonus of seeing Percy in a white button-up, the top two buttons undone, with a tan apron hanging from his neck and tied around his waist was another reason she found a lot of her time spent at the counter of Hestia's Coffee House.

Annabeth didn't need a job, but she kinda wanted one. If only so she could get out of having Bobby and Matthew forced on her. She loved them both, no doubt, but their mother was right there and she didn't even have a job either. She just spent her husband's money and hung out with other women like herself.

So, she came up with the bright idea, to apply to said coffee shop. Percy didn't know of course.

And that led to the wonderful moment that Annabeth was sure to tease him about endlessly.

Percy was wiping down the counter, his co-worker running the cash register and calling out the names of the drinks Percy made. The day had lulled, as usual for the between rush of "just out of work" and "going into a long night shift." The cafe was warm and inviting with light brown walls and black booths, paintings hung up on the walls and curtains blocked out the windows in the front.

The black haired boy let his mind wander, green eyes distant as he chucked the rag into a box under the counter and let the chords of the next song he wanted to play for Annabeth run around in his head. He itched at the base of his neck, then the hairs on his arms stood up. Not in a bad, or nervous way, but warning nonetheless.

That's when someone jumped onto his back.

With a grunt, Percy caught himself, letting his hand clamp onto the counter and other one go to his back to feel whoever had just done that. When his hand landed on a curvy waist and blonde curls fell in front of his eyes he knew who it was.

Percy turned his chin to meet Annabeth's grey eyes, with a confused yet happy expression.

"Hey there Seaweed Brain! Guess who just got a job!" Her voice trilled sweetly in his ear and Percy fought the shiver down his spine as her breath pushed warmly against his neck. She hopped off of his back and he turned to face her, arms crossed and eyebrow raised.

Percy had to admit, the white button-up looked good on her. Though, unlike Percy, she had the sleeves all the way down and only the very top button undone. Her apron was just like Percy's only smaller. 

'Why didn't you tell me? I could have put a good word in for you.' Percy signed, his face a little exasperated at the blonde in front of him.

"Exactly! I wanted to get the job on my own." She crossed her arms, clearly mocking him, and pouted. Her golden curls were held back in a high ponytail, her bangs spilling over her forehead and swooped to her left ear. 

"You do know the boss already knew that you two knew each other, right?" Percy's, other, co-worker asked. His black hair was messy, but not like Percy's-more like he just never brushed it, one eye was covered by an eyepatch, the other a dark brown. His face was round, and he was just over Annabeth's height. 

Annabeth turned to him, her pout real now. "What?" 

The kid scoffed. "You've been hanging out around here for two weeks, you think the boss really wouldn't notice? You're here practically every time this guy has a shift." He jerked his thumb in Percy's direction, a sneer on his face. 

The blonde girl bristled a bit. "I'll have you know, I know she knew me! I was joking around with my friend. If you would kindly mind your own damn business we'd get along fine." Annabeth's lips pulled into a frown, arms crossed and chin up. Those grey eyes looked like chips of ice, Percy blinked at her a bit. Annabeth had plenty reason to be pissed, she didn't really care for the way this kid said 'this guy' like Percy didn't have a name. 

Percy pulled out his notepad, scribbling down a warning and shoving it out, between Annabeth and the other boy. "Ethan, knock it off. She knows Judo." The note said, the boy, Ethan, paled before backing off and going back to his work. Percy showed Annabeth what he wrote down, and the blonde had to shove her own hand over her mouth to block her laugh. 

Percy had found out that little fact when he had stolen her soda, he had just reached over her while she was studying on his bed and grabbed it. The whole thing was more just to try and get her attention so she would stop running herself ragged over her study guide. Then, the next thing he knew, he was pinned under her on the bed-her arm held to his throat as she blinked away her shock. 

She had spent thirty minutes apologizing, but Percy had just rolled around on the bed while silently laughing. 

Annabeth shoved at Percy's chest, not letting her mind notice how he didn't even stumble, or the fact that his chest was very solid and warm under her fingertips. Percy poked her side, she squeaked before running a few feet away. She glared at Percy playfully, he knew full well she was very ticklish. A fact he uses to his advantage on the daily. 

Mattie had even teamed up with him one day last week to pin her down and tickle her. 

Guessing by the teasing light of his green eyes, and the lift of his crooked smile, Annabeth guessed Percy knew exactly what she was remembering. She flipped him off before going to her station. 

That shift consisted of Annabeth trying to get the hang of the job, trying not to stab some asshole that had the audacity to try and grope a girl in front of him in line (Percy had seen it and made a point of snapping his fingers to get the guys attention before throwing one of his best glares his way, the guy stopped) and hip bumping Percy every time she passed him behind the counter. 

Percy offered to walk her home after work, but she had said it was fine and she was just going to get a taxi. He had agreed to it once she said she would text him the whole time. 

That night Percy stood in front of the mirror, his hair damp from his shower, sweatpants hanging low on his hips. 

His eyes trailed over his chest, something he never let anyone see. Boy was he glad that the school's swim uniform was a full-body one. 

Over his tanned skin, raised bits of lighter skin stretched out and crawled up his torso. They had faded over the years, five years to be exact, but they were still noticeable. His back was worse. 

Some were very small, little bits of broken glass from bottles had struck him here and there, and others were the size of the tip of a finger to the middle knuckle. Those were made by those broken bottles, but when they were thrown at him. 

Percy sighed, bending over, his hands braced on the sink counter. 

Everyone else in the house was asleep, that's the only reason he let a sound escape his lips as he whimpered. 

Today had been a good day! 

Then why was it hitting him so hard right now?!

He had spent the whole day with Annabeth, how was this happening? 

Why?

He thought of his cousins' faces. They had exchanged pictures, updating him on what  they looked like. They hadn't change at all, just less baby fat and sharper jaw lines. Well, expect Hazel her face was still just as round. 

Percy had been able to convince them to not hunt him down until Winter Break, they all had school. Even Thalia was in Collage, so she really couldn't just take a break. 

That didn't make the ache any better though. 

With his head still bent, Percy muttered to himself. The sound that came out of him was raspy, hard with disuse. He stumbled over the lyrics of a lullaby his mom would sing.

"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
Pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.

Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep,
Pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby."

Percy mumbled the words to himself, his throat tight as he forced it to make the sounds. 

Percy Jackson was mute. 

Percy Jackson hadn't uttered a word to anyone since the day his mother was taken from him. 

His words couldn't save her, so what was the point? 

But on nights like this, where his chest is just all that much tighter, he can't help but use his voice for something that had his mother smiling even at the darkest times. 

His singing. 

Percy straightened up, after quite sometime just spent in his own head, splashed some water in his face, then slipped from the bathroom to his bedroom and over to his bed.