Percy was lying on the ground, unconscious. Annabeth's heart practically stopped when she saw the love of her seventeen years of life lying there motionless with no heartbeat. She ran towards him, tears already filling her eyes.
She shook him wildly as everyone gathered round. "Perseus Jackson wake up before I punch the Tarturus out of you!"
Jason put a hand on her shoulder, and told her it was too late. "No!" she screamed. "No it can't be!"
That's when Nico stepped in. He was already crying, and he announced that he could save Percy. Annabeth was desperate and begged Nico to help, which he gladly did. The son of hades and Percy's lifeless form shadow travelled away from Annabeth, leaving her with a false sense of hope in her aching chest.
...
After hours and hours of begging, Hades finally agreed to the deal his son proposed. But he made one condition: Percy's spirit must agree to return.
Nico was relieved and was crushed to see Percy's spirit materialize in front of him, because of how amazing he looked, even while dead. "Percy...Percy you're dead."
"Yeah, I know." Percy's ghost smiled.
"Percy-"
"I'm not going back." Percy's ghost said softly, and it started to sound more like an echo that his actual voice.
"Please, come back. Come back with me. Come to Camp Half Blood and be happy." Nico was crying now. "We need you, Annabeth needs you, I need you, please just-"
"I can't." Percy's spirit says. His sea green eyes start to fade to a mellow green, like the color of the inside of a line. "I'm tired, Nico. Plus, I'll be in paradise. I won't be with Annabeth for a while, yeah but I know you'll take care of her for me-"
"Please." Nico made another plea, whih would be his last.
"I'm sorry." Percy said. Then he faded completely.
...
When Nico returned, he was empty. His eyes emotionless, his heart hallowed and numb.
Annabeth knew, by the absence of Percy, that Nico was unsuccessful. She cried for weeks.
...
A month later, Nico approaches Annabeth.
"I loved him." She whispers softly.
"I did too."