egnlotsc

[egnlotsc]

i'd let you break my heart (if i can see you again) - egnlotsc | pt. 2 of 2

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth is a bakery owner and Percy is the ruthless CEO of the company threatening to shut down her bakery; and a chance meeting and a power outage reveals a side of percy that annabeth could've never expected~~

Percy wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but as he finished off the last cookie in the cooler, he realized he didn’t care one bit.

Annabeth laughed, shaking her head as she set down the empty cupcake wrapper in her hand and brushed a curl out of her face. “So, you grew up in Montana, what made you move to New York?”

“Work,” Percy admitted, brushing cookie crumbs from his hands. “After graduation, two of my buddies and I decided to build a business from the ground up. One of my buddies, Jason, came from a wealthy family and his dad invested in our business."

"Ten years later, we’re still going strong. About a year ago our other cofounder, Frank, got married and decided to move out of state to be closer to his wife’s family. He still visits every month or so to make sure things are running smoothly.”

Annabeth smiled warmly, her face displaying her unabashed interest in their conversation. “That must’ve been hard, having to say goodbye to someone you’ve built an entire company with.”

“It was,” Percy replied, twisting his hands together. So far, he had avoided mentioning the company’s name or even its line of work, just that he worked in commercial real estate and development.

“However, I don’t blame him. I’m not the easiest person to work with. Jason handles it far better than Frank ever did.” Annabeth raised an eyebrow, her face skeptical.

“I can’t imagine that, you went out of your way to help me when you didn’t have to. You saved my shop.” Percy avoided her gaze, scared she would see the truth written across his face.

Desperate to turn the situation away from his lie of omission, Percy found himself telling the woman he’d known for only a few hours a story only two other people in the world knew.

“Three years ago, my business won an award we’d been working towards our entire careers. My dad flew in from Montana to attend the award ceremony. I was supposed to pick him up from the airport, but our board of directors decided it was the perfect time for a meeting that I had no choice but to attend."

"I sent my father money to take a cab to the ceremony hall. Halfway through my meeting, I-I…” Percy’s voice cracked with emotion, the words suddenly unable to form.

Percy felt Annabeth reach out, her fingers intertwining with his as she moved close enough until she was pressed against his side. He looked into her eyes, her eyes filled with warmth and compassion, and felt the strength he needed to continue.

“I got a call from an unknown number. I had half a mind not to answer it, but something inside of me told me to. I stepped out of my meeting against my better judgement and answered. It was the NYPD.”

Annabeth let out a small gasp, her face twisted in heartbreak as his words sank in. “The cab driver had hit black ice. Neither my father nor the driver made it.”

“I’m so sorry, Percy,” Annabeth exclaimed, her eyes watery with emotion and her grip on his hand tightening. “I ended up going to the award show that night, but not after an entire bottle of Crown I had in my apartment."

"Suffice to say, the acceptance speech I gave wasn’t appreciated by the crowd. It took me two years to rebuild my reputation.”

Annabeth’s face shifted to a contemplative expression and Percy worried he had revealed too much. “I became a recluse after that night, rarely leaving my office. I spent months taking on clients I never would’ve considered prior to the accident and became someone to fear in the corporate world."

"I don’t like who I became or how I acted. Neither did Frank. I may have solidified our company in the real estate field, but I lost one of my best friends and myself in the process.”

“Percy, that’s horrible. No one deserves to go through that.” Percy shook his head, brushing the tears from his cheeks.

“I pay the price of that night every day of my life. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same man I was before. I’m angry, hateful, and have no compassion. I became the ruthless business mogul I swore to never become.”

“Oh Percy,” Annabeth whispered, moving until she was kneeling in front of him, their faces inches apart. Percy could smell her sweet scent, similar to the cupcakes they’d shared earlier.

“You’re not any of those things.” Annabeth was so intoxicating, Percy couldn’t find it in himself to disagree with her words.

If she knew what he really did for work, if she knew his company was shutting down the bakery she worked for, she’d have a very different outlook on him.

A moment of silence passed as a question hung in the air between them, Percy’s gaze straying to her lips before glancing back up at her eyes again.

A soft smile was all Percy needed to wrap an arm around her waist as he had hours before, pulling her against his chest and her lips to his.

Annabeth let out a soft whimper as Percy deepened the kiss, her fingers carding through his already messy hair and his slipping under the hem of her shirt slightly.

Percy lost track of time as their lips moved together, drawing her bottom lip between his teeth and swiping his tongue across hers.

Once it felt as if they couldn’t breathe, Percy pulled back, his breathing heavy as he looked into Annabeth’s flushed face and wide eyes.

“I hope that was alright,” he whispered, his fingers running up and down Annabeth’s sides softly. A smile slowly spread across Annabeth’s face in response.

“It was more than alright.” Annabeth replied, drawing him back in once more.

~~~

Annabeth awoke with a start, registering a warmth against her side and across her waist as she blinked the sleep from her eyes and took in her surroundings.

The memories of the night prior filled her mind as her gaze landed on Percy’s sleeping form beside her, his coat draped over their bodies and his arm acting as a cushion for their heads against the cold, hard kitchen tile.

At that moment, Annabeth realized she could see clearly and noticed the light filtering in through the windows, the surrounding mall visible outside.

Sitting up slowly, Annabeth noticed Percy’s phone lying on the floor next to them, its screen lit up with an incoming call. 

Jason Grace flashed across the screen, before the call transferred to voicemail to reveal the time. “Five?!” Annabeth exclaimed a little too loudly, causing Percy to stir.

A soft groan came from his form before eyes opened, his gaze colliding with Annabeth’s and unveiled confusion crossing his features.

“Is the storm over?” Percy asked, sitting up and loosening his tie further, undoing another button on his shirt. Annabeth bit her lip at the motion before remembering his question. “It’s five…” her voice trailed off as she waited for his reaction.

Percy shot to his feet, running a hand through his hair and scooping his phone off of the floor, swiping on the screen. His eyes widened as he swiped through his notifications, pausing suddenly.

Annabeth could see the conflicting emotions on Percy’s face, curiosity coursing through her as she observed his actions.

“Jason’s here,” Percy finally spoke, his gaze snapping up to hers. “I should go let him know I’m alive.” Annabeth nodded, silently watching as he ran out of the kitchen doors.

Catching the door as it swung shut, Annabeth peeked her head out to see a tall blonde man with a matching suit pacing back and forth in front of the bakery.

The man, whom she assumed to be Jason, glanced up from his phone when Percy unlocked the door and stepped outside.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Annabeth stepped further into the lobby, pressing herself against the booths in an effort to not be seen by the two men; who looked to be having a heated conversation, if their rapid hand movements and angry expressions were any indication.

Annabeth reached the booth closest to the door and slid into it, pieces of the conversation filtering into the shop loud enough for her to hear. “Why would you help her, Perce?” Jason’s voice was unfamiliar and harsh, a vast change from Percy’s soft and open one.

“I couldn’t stop myself…she just works there…I don’t know who the owner is…” Percy’s words were jumbled and made no sense, but Annabeth couldn’t ignore the warning signs flashing in her mind as she remembered what had happened before the power went out.

“You can’t let your emotions…Jackson Industries is nothing if you give this up for one girl…don’t get attached…” Annabeth stopped listening the minute the name Jackson Industries tumbled from Jason’s lips, Percy’s stories from hours prior flashing through her mind.

His company that he built, working in commercial real estate, his self-description of being a ruthless business mogul who overtook businesses without a second thought.

Anger filled Annabeth as she slid out of the booth, rushing to the kitchen and snatching his jacket from the floor.

Annabeth barely registered her movements as she stormed to the front door, pulling it open with a force she didn’t know she had.

Both men’s heads snapped to her in surprise, their mouths frozen mid-sentence. “Jackson Industries? Seriously?” The color drained from Percy’s face as he realized that she knew everything.

Tossing the jacket in his direction, not caring whether he caught it or where it landed, Annabeth spit out a final goodbye. “I’m glad to know my business meant so little to you, even after you saved it last night. Maybe you should try a career in acting, you’re very good at it!”

Annabeth spun on her heel, making her way to the back door. “ She’s the owner, Percy? Are you an idiot? How did you not know that?”

Jason’s words echoed behind her, the pain of Percy’s lies threatening to overtake her. How could she have been so blind, so dumb, so in love with a man she’d just met that morning?

The back door slammed behind Annabeth as she rushed to her car, the tears spilling down her cheeks with each step. As she sank into the driver’s seat, she finally allowed the emotions to crash onto her.

She had fallen for the man ripping her business right out from under her, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

~~~

Percy growled in frustration, images of Annabeth - her blonde curls, soft lips, and bright smile - filling his head as he crumpled the paper in front of him and threw it across the room.

Burying his head in his hands, Percy barely registered Jason entering the office and sinking into the chair across from him.

“Are you going to continue sulking, or get off of your ass and do something about this?” Jason’s words cut through Percy’s self-loathing, his gaze lifting to meet his friend’s. Glaring at Jason, Percy sat back up, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What do you suggest I do, Jason? She’ll never speak to me again. I’m a ruthless, evil villain plotting the demise of her business.”

Jason chuckled, ignoring Percy’s dagger-like stare. “Besides being dramatic, you could see if there’s anything you can do to alter the sale. Maybe she can buy her shop back from you.”

Percy shook his head, gesturing to the paper currently lying crumpled in the corner of the office. “I’ve already looked. I’ve looked at every damn clause, line, and word in the deed of sale. Nothing can be done to save her bakery.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Jackson.” Percy glanced at his friend, certain Jason had gone insane. “What do you mean?” Jason smiled knowingly before turning to the office door.

“Come in,” Jason called, Percy watching in apprehensive curiosity as a woman with red hair appeared in the doorway.

“This is Rachel Dare, she’s the manager of Olympus Bakery .” Percy watched as Rachel sat down next to Jason, a smile etched on her face as she faced him head-on.

“Hello, Percy. It’s nice to meet you.” Raising an eyebrow, Percy turned to his friend, confusion evident in his expression. “When the storm happened, Rachel left to find help to restore the store’s power. I found her outside of the mechanic’s, freezing and lost.”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel shot Jason a look, crossing her arms over her chest. “I wasn’t some lost damsel in distress. I had no idea what to do when I realized the mechanic was closed. Jason had come out of a nearby shop and saw me pacing.”

Unsure of where this conversation was going, Percy sat back in his chair, nodding for them to continue. “We went to a nearby cafe and she told me that the bakery was on the line, not just from the storm, but from the impending sale with our company.”

Rachel nodded, producing a folded up paper from her pocket. “Jason listened to me, more than any of your other execs did when I tried to renegotiate the deal over the past week. After some discussion, he agreed to look over the original deed of sale when Annabeth and I first bought the store over five years ago.”

Percy held out a hand, trying to understand Rachel’s words. “I thought you were the manager,” he started, watching as Jason smiled to himself in silence.

Rachel nodded, laying the paper on the desk in front of her. “I am, but I also own half of the business, while Annabeth owns the other half. I just can’t stand the term “owner”, I find it stuffy and it has too many strings attached. It’s a hell of a lot easier to refer to myself as the manager, except on paper.”

Percy found himself liking Rachel more and more as she spoke. He was beginning to understand why Jason was willing to listen to her in the first place.

Rachel slid the paper across the desk until it landed in front of Percy. Shooting a look at Jason, Percy pulled the paper towards him and skimmed its contents.

A small arrow had been drawn to a clause near the bottom of the paper, a cluster of unassuming sentences he’d probably have overlooked without the nudge.

“In the event of the sale of the entire mall, the rightful owners of Olympus Bakery have the jurisdiction to choose to remain in the original store or move to a new location, provided the entire worth of the store be provided to them as financial aid.” Percy read, his mind racing as he tried to fully comprehend the implications of the clause.

“When Annabeth and I decided to start the bakery, she knew that there was a high chance of one of us being forced to make a decision regarding the company, whether the other was present or not. It’s the nature of business, and she’d seen it happen to her mom’s flower shop before she passed.”

Percy glanced up at those words, remembering Annabeth’s avoidance of the mention of her parents. Rachel gave him a soft, knowing smile before continuing. “So, if you’ll look towards the middle of the deed,” Percy noticed another small arrow he’d missed the first time near the middle.

“We built in a failsafe in order to save our business. We trusted each other enough to make the right decision if it came down to it.”

“If one party of ownership is not present during negotiations or discussions regarding Olympus Bakery , the other is permitted to have a final say in the future of the business, no exceptions apply.” This time, it was Jason who produced another paper, placing it next to the deed.

“We don’t trust each other like that, so you’ll have to sign off on this, but I found a solution. A compromise that works for both our company and Annabeth’s.”

Rachel spoke next, leaning forward in her seat as if in anticipation. “I’m willing, and I’m sure Annabeth will be too, to move our bakery to another location and give up the mall for your company. Barring, of course, that you and Jason can find us a new location. That’s all I ask.”

Percy looked into Jason’s eyes, knowing his friend was sincere in his willingness to help. He sat in contemplation for a moment, flashes of the day he spent with Annabeth filling his mind - her touch, her lips, her hands, her smile.

It was then he realized he’d made up his decision a week ago, when he first looked into Annabeth’s eyes and chose to help her in a time of need.

Nodding slowly, Percy watched smiles spread across Jason and Rachel’s faces as he reached for a pen and in a single motion, signed his name on the new contract.

“I think we do trust each other like that, Jason,” Percy said as he slid the contract back towards his friend. “The first rule of business is read every single word of a contract, no matter how long it is. However, in this case, I won’t. I trust that you’re doing the right thing. Now let’s find these woman a damn bakery.”

As Jason stood up and pulled Percy into a hug, followed by Rachel, Percy knew deep down he’d made the right decision.

Sure, he’d lose out on some of the sale money to cover the expense of a new location for the bakery, but he didn’t care one bit.

He’d give up everything he had built to see Annabeth smile again.

~~~

Annabeth had just taped another box shut when Rachel stepped into the kitchen, an uncharacteristically calm expression on her face despite the circumstances.

“God, Rachel, where have you been? I’ve been packing all day!” Annabeth exclaimed, her emotions spilling over as she set down the tape she’d been holding and leaned heavily against the wall beside her.

“I’m sorry, Anna,” was Rachel’s reply as she made her way to the back door, disappearing before Annabeth could get another word out. “Damnit!” Annabeth yelled, yanking her phone out of her pocket.

Already sitting on the screen was a text from Rachel that simply read, You’ll forgive me for this eventually . Now more confused than before, Annabeth stared at it for a moment before another text appeared. There’s someone waiting for you in the lobby. I promise everything will be okay. Love, Rach.

Rolling her eyes at her friend’s cryptic nonsense, Annabeth pushed open the door to the kitchen, prepared to see another sad, inquiring customer wondering why their favorite bakery was closing.

Annabeth came to an abrupt halt as she realized it wasn’t a customer, it was Percy. He stood there, in the middle of the bakery he single-handedly destroyed, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt despite the winter weather outside.

Tears threatened to fall as Annabeth backed up, her first instinct to run and hide from him. She didn’t want to feel the sting of his betrayal for a second longer. However, something stopped her from moving, something deep down that told her to listen, just for a minute.

“What do you want?” Annabeth spit out, pretending not to notice the hurt flash across Percy’s face. His messy jet black hair fell in his eyes, a smattering of freckles across his cheeks prominent in the bakery’s warm lighting. “Please, just give me five minutes. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

Pushing down her fear, Annabeth nodded slowly, her gaze sharp and unrelenting as she stepped out of the kitchen’s doorway.

She stopped a foot away from Percy, knowing a step further would crumple her composure for good.

“The day of the storm, Jason ran into someone, someone who understood how much this bakery meant to you. Jason, ever the empath, agreed to look into the sale with Jackson Industries to see if there was anything we missed in the fine print. Turns out, there was.”

Annabeth felt as if she couldn’t take in a breath, her heart beating impossibly fast as she tried to understand Percy’s words. Percy stepped forward, a paper dangling from his outstretched hand. “In the original sale of the bakery, there was a hidden clause. See for yourself,” Percy continued, motioning to the paper.

Annabeth unfolded the paper gently, her eyes scanning the document until she noticed a small paragraph with an arrow pointing to it.

Her eyes widened as she read the sentences, her mind racing. Percy held out another paper, his green eyes filled with a warmth she had only seen when they sat on the floor of the bakery’s kitchen, trading stories and cookies a week prior.

“That clause you implemented in the contract was the best damn business decision you’ve ever made, Annabeth. You chose a good business partner.” Annabeth glanced at the second paper, her world tilting when she recognized Rachel’s signature on one of the lines.

“W-What is this?” Annabeth choked out, unable to take a breath in. “It’s a contract, between Jackson Industries and Olympus Bakery stating that we will fully fund your search for another location. In the original deed, we only had to provide the original amount of this store as financial aid, but I cannot in my right conscience do so."

"Rachel is very convincing, but I didn’t need her to decide that I wanted to help. I made that decision a week ago when I stood in this lobby.” Tears had begun to pour down Annabeth’s cheeks, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care.

“In fact, working in commercial real estate has its perks. I already found a prime location, about a mile away from here. It’s twice the size and can accommodate any growth that your business may have, which I know will happen."

"That little article stunt caused a big stir in this city. There are people protesting outside of my office building. You have a larger impact than you could have ever imagined, Annabeth, and it’s because of who you are as a person.”

Annabeth felt her knees weakening as the reality of Percy’s words sunk in, her head spinning with visions of a future - a future with a booming business, a future with Percy by her side.

“Who am I?” Annabeth whispered, looking up at Percy who was suddenly inches away from her. “You are determined, passionate, caring, stubborn as all hell,” Percy took her hands in his, looking into her eyes, “but most of all, you are beautiful and all-consuming, and the only thing I’ve been able to think about for the past week.”

Percy reached out, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb as his scent surrounded her, bringing her back to the week prior when she had his jacket around her shoulders.

“You did all of this for me? Even though it hurt your business?” Annabeth asked, unable to tear her gaze away from Percy’s.

“Annabeth, I’d throw everything away for you.” A soft sob escaped Annabeth’s lips as she jumped forward, enjoying the ways his muscular arms tightened around her waist as her lips collided with his.

Percy groaned softly as he guided them to the kitchen, pausing with his back pressed against the swinging door and his warm hands gripping her waist.

Pulling back slightly, Percy looked into her eyes, an open expression of adoration written across his face. “Thank God for blizzards,” he whispered, eliciting a giggle from Annabeth as she threaded her fingers into his thick, messy hair.

As the kitchen door swung shut behind them, the only thought in Annabeth’s mind was of the future; a future far better than she could have ever imagined.

A future that was right around the corner.

~~~

Annabeth brushed her hands on her apron, coating it in flour as she placed another tray of cookies on the counter.

Rachel smiled at her from her perch at the register, the line of customers stretching out of the door and onto the walkway just outside of the bakery.

Despite the busy atmosphere, Annabeth felt more at peace than she ever had as she took in the packed booth and tables, and the gorgeous view outside; a far cry from the dull parking lot of the outdoor mall.

The bell on the door announced the arrival of another customer, and Annabeth turned to retrieve the apple pie she knew was rapidly cooling in the kitchen when a deep, masculine voice interrupted her.

“You know, the line is kind of blocking the front entrance of my building,” the man said, a smirk evident in his tone.

Annabeth’s gaze snapped up to meet his, the man’s familiar green eyes and freckles coming into focus. “You’re stealing my clientele.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “I highly doubt your big-wig corporate clients are interested in sweet treats.” The man laughed, his eyes trained on Annabeth as she stepped out from behind the counter.

“You’d be surprised. Your praline cupcakes are a big hit in the break room. I have to fight the entire HR team to get one each morning.” Annabeth laughed, now inches away from the man. “Well, they’re never in short supply, at least not for you.”

He smiled, reaching out and intertwining their fingers, his thumb brushing over her wedding rings absentmindedly. Percy reached out, pulling her against his chest, ignoring the crowd surrounding them.

“Well, Mrs. Jackson, how about you show me where I can get some more?” Grinning, Annabeth pulled Percy into the kitchen, unable to take her eyes off of the way his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink and the way his green eyes darkened as his gaze slid to her lips.

“Of course, Mr. Jackson,” Annabeth whispered before pulling her husband into a kiss, the cold metal of his wedding band shocking against the warm skin at her waist.

As the sounds of the bakery echoed all around them, Annabeth knew she had finally reached the future she had dreamed of, and it was so much better than she could have ever pictured.

~~the end~~

[egnlotsc]

i'd let you break my heart (if i can see you again) - egnlotsc | pt. 1 of 2

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth is a bakery owner and Percy is the ruthless CEO of the company threatening to shut down her bakery; and a chance meeting and a power outage reveals a side of percy that annabeth could've never expected~~

“This is not happening,” Annabeth exclaimed, the bakery’s door slamming shut behind her with the noise of the entrance bell amplified as it swung back and forth.

Rachel glanced up at the sound, her eyes wide as she watched Annabeth pace in circles in front of the counter, an envelope gripped tightly in her hand.

“What’s that?” Rachel nodded towards the letter, watching as Annabeth’s face twisted in barely-concealed anger as she tossed the envelope in front of Rachel.

Annabeth groaned in frustration, brushing a stray curl out of her eyes that had fallen from her messy braid that she had long since cared about fixing.

“Anna, what is this?” Rachel’s voice was uncharacteristically serious as she flipped through the letter, her brow furrowed in worry.

“You tell me, Rach,” Annabeth responded, sinking heavily into one of the stools lined up in front of the counter. Her gaze fixed on the row of festive cupcakes lining the shelves behind the counter’s glass barrier, her thoughts scattered as the harsh legal jargon played over in her mind like a horror flick.

“Notice of sale by Jackson Industries…eviction date twenty-third of December...” Rachel’s voice trailed off, the implication of the letter’s content etched across her expression.

“Right before the holidays? These corporate execs truly have no heart.” Annabeth nodded, her heart heavy as she glanced around the colorful, cheerful shop.

An image of bare, empty walls in the shop's future appeared in her mind, reigniting her anger and determination. “No,” Annabeth’s voice was sharp, piercing through the heavy silence of the shop.

Annabeth shot up, ignoring the harsh scraping sound of her stool against the checkered floor as she caught Rachel's gaze.

“We’re not going to let this happen. They can pry this bakery out of my cold, dead hands,” Annabeth exclaimed, throwing her coat on a nearby booth and pulling her pink apron over her head.

“We have an hour until we open. Let’s prove to Jackson Industries that we’re not going down without a fight.”

Rachel grinned, pulling her matching apron over her head and grabbing the nearest mixing bowl. “What do you have in mind?” Annabeth simply smiled in response, pulling her phone from her apron pocket and swiping it on.

Rachel glanced at her curiously as Annabeth held the phone to her ear, listening to it ring with anticipation. “San Francisco Intelligencer,” the voice on the other end answered. “Hello,” Annabeth began, catching Rachel’s eye.

“May I speak to Leo Valdez? Tell him it’s Annabeth Chase.” Rachel’s eyes widened as Annabeth’s plan became clearer.

A moment passed in silence before Leo’s voice filtered through the line. “Beth? It’s been a long time. What can I help you with?”

A grin spread across Annabeth’s face. “Leo, I need you to do me a favor. I promise it’s worth your time.” Leo paused for a moment before speaking, a smile evident in his voice. “Anything for you, Annabeth.”

~~~

“Jackson!” Jason’s voice cut through the relaxing silence of Percy’s office, a wrinkled newspaper landing on top of the desk.

Raising an eyebrow at his friend’s uncharacteristic behavior, Percy glanced at the newspaper, his heart dropping as the headline registered in the mind.

“Jackson Industries Strikes Down Local Staple Ahead of Holidays ,” Percy read aloud, his gaze connecting with Jason’s.

“Jason, this is bad.” Scoffing, Jason sunk down into one of the chairs situated in front of the desk, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. “This is worse than bad, Perce. It’s awful. The board is going to lose their minds when they catch wind of this.”

Sighing heavily, Percy buried his face in his hands, his mind spinning. He had spent over a decade building this business from the ground up, and a single article from the city’s largest media conglomerate has the chance to destroy it in one fell swoop.

Percy pulled the newspaper towards him, scanning the article before his eyes landed on the author.

“Leo Valdez, Editor In Chief,” Percy growled, standing up from the desk and loosening his tie. “I want you to get him on the phone as soon as possible,” Percy eyed his friend, who glanced up at him wearily. “I’ve tried, Perce. He’s unreachable. He refuses to speak to anyone.”

Percy crumped the newspaper into a ball, tossing it into the trash can beside his desk. “Then we go to the source.” “Leo’s the source,” Jason responded, skepticism laced in his tone.

Percy shook his head, scooping up his coat and tossing it over his shoulder. “ Olympus Bakery is the source.”

Percy made his way to the office door, about to push it open when Jason appeared in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest. “You can’t just barge in there and demand that they have the article taken down. You don’t even know if the bakery is involved with the article.”

Scowling, Percy glared at his friend in indignation. “The article is about the damn bakery, Jason. Defamation, whether direct or indirect, is a clear violation of our contract with the outdoor mall the bakery is located in. I’m just going to make sure the owner understands the consequences if the article isn’t taken down.”

Percy pushed past Jason, making his way into the hallway. “Percy.” Sighing, Percy spun back around to face his friend. “What?” “Don’t let your emotions get ahead of you. You remember what happened last time.”

“Whatever, Jason. I know what I’m doing, otherwise I wouldn’t be the CEO of this company.”

As he walked briskly to his car, Percy tried his best to push Jason’s disappointed expression out of his mind, blocking out the memories of three years prior.

He knew what he was doing, and no one would stop him from saving his company’s reputation.

~~~

Pulling to a stop in front of the shopping center, Percy glanced around until his gaze landed on Olympus Bakery, its bright storefront adorned with colorful holiday lights and pink trim glaringly obvious against the dull, half-empty mall surrounding it.

When Percy had first shown interest in purchasing the outdoor mall, it had seemed to be an easy transfer of ownership, with only a handful stores left in operation that were mere months away from declaring bankruptcy.

The area surrounding the outdoor mall had expanded over the past few years to house larger shopping complexes that drew traffic away from the mall.

What Percy hadn’t expected, however, was the lone survivor - a bakery that defied all odds and sold out every day, its line wrapping around the block each morning.

Even some of Percy’s team members were big fans of the bakery, often raving about the new desserts that were dropped each month in the company’s break room.

Percy found it trivial, obsessing over something as baseless as dessert when there was far more important matters to focus on, particularly during the corporate world’s busy season - the holidays.

As he stepped out of his car, Percy noticed the snow beginning to fall, lightly coating the parking lot. He hadn’t heard of a storm brewing, but December in Manhattan was unpredictable. He’d have to make this quick.

Within seconds, Percy found himself standing in front the bakery, squinting his eyes against the garish, bright look of the store’s décor as pulled open the door.

A soft tinkle of a bell announced Percy’s arrival, the sound barely registering in his mind as the smell of fresh-baked goods hit him like a wave, a sweet undertone of cinnamon and nutmeg following the scent.

Percy took a step forward, his gaze scanning the rows and rows of sweets in the glass case that spanned from one side of the bakery to the other, trying to recollect his thoughts and remember the reason he was standing in the bakery in the first place.

Percy was about to reach the counter when the door to the kitchen in the back of the building swung open, giving him no time to react before something slammed into his side.

Time seemed to slow as he registered that the impact had been caused by a woman wearing far too much pink and precariously balancing a tray of cupcakes.

It was at that moment that Percy realized the woman was losing her balance, and without a second thought he shot his arm out and wrapped it around her waist while gently taking the cupcake tray from her hands.

Percy spun the woman into his chest, his gaze catching hers as her soft, sweet scent overtook his senses. The woman’s wide, grey eyes captured his attention, her curly blonde hair escaping its messy braid and falling into her face.

Percy snapped back to reality as he registered the sound of clapping and whistling from the onlookers and the shocked look on the woman’s face.

Clearing his throat, Percy let go of the woman, trying to catch his breath and forget the way she felt in his arms and the warmth of her skin under his arm.

A warm blush filled the woman’s cheeks as she studied Percy, before her gaze fell on the tray of cupcakes still clutched in his arms. “Sorry,” Percy muttered, handing the tray back to the woman as he cleared his throat again, trying desperately to regain his composure.

“Thank you,” the woman replied, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “You saved both myself and my cupcakes.” Percy smiled softly, shrugging.

“It’d be a shame to have to toss a perfectly good tray of cupcakes,” he replied, shocking himself with the joke. Percy didn’t joke, or at least he hadn’t in a long time.

“Definitely,” she replied, sliding the tray onto the counter beside her and sticking out her hand. “I’m Annabeth.” Percy couldn’t stop his heart from skipping at her words, the uniqueness of her name suiting her delicate features perfectly.

“Percy,” he replied as he shook her hand, pretending not to notice the way he didn’t want to let go or the way he wanted to pull her back into his chest like moments before.

“So, Percy, besides becoming a hero, what brings you in today?” “I’m looking for the owner,” he replied, watching as her expression shifted into cautious curiosity. “May I ask what this is for?”

Percy paused for a moment, trying to find the right words, Jason’s warning echoing in his mind. He couldn’t cause a scene, no matter how much he wanted to. “Business matters.”

Annabeth let out a soft laugh, crossing her arms across her chest and effectively causing all of Percy’s thoughts to leave his head. This woman was all-consuming, taking over his senses with every word she spoke.

“I’ll be right back, Percy,” Annabeth finally spoke, her tone suddenly apprehensive as she spun around, disappearing into the same door she had came from minutes prior. Percy took a seat at a nearby table, unable to tear his gaze away from the door.

“What just happened?” He whispered to himself, pulling his phone out of his pocket and mindlessly scrolling through emails in an effort to remind himself why he was really sitting inside of the bakery that suddenly had the power to tear his business apart.

~~~

Annabeth stood in the middle of the kitchen, her head spinning as she tried to understand the events of the past five minutes and why she was so breathless from a single customer - if he was even a customer.

An admittedly handsome man in a suit asking for the owner was never good for a business, much less one like hers that had just been bought behind her back.

Annabeth tried to push his piercing green eyes and perfectly messy dark hair out of her mind, biting her lip as she remembered the way his suit was just tight enough to reveal his toned arms.

Rachel appeared from around the corner, a tray of fresh-baked cookies in one hand before coming to a stop when she noticed Annabeth’s face.

“Anna, what’s wrong? You look pale.” Annabeth sighed, turning to face her friend as she fiddled with the string of her apron.

“Some guy in a suit is asking for the owner,” she replied, leaning against one of the fridges. Rachel laughed, setting down the cookie tray. “Okay, why didn’t you see what he wanted.”

“I don’t know, Rach…if this is what I think it is, then he’s here to talk about the sale. I don’t want it to be real.” Rachel smiled softly, wrapping an arm around Annabeth in comfort.

“It’s always going to be real, Anna. We’re just two small bakery owners in a sea of corporate sharks. The article was a good idea, but I don’t know if it will be enough to save us.”

Annabeth tried to stop the tears from forming as she glanced around her favorite place in the world, knowing it could all be gone in just seven days.

“Go and talk to him, Anna. We can’t avoid it forever.” Knowing her friend was right, Annabeth turned to exit when a loud clunk echoed through the bakery, before the whole store was plunged into darkness in a split second.

Annabeth yelped in surprise, glancing around in shock until she could see Rachel’s figure outlined in the darkness.

“What just happened?” she exclaimed, reaching her hand into her pocket for her phone before realizing with horror that it wasn’t there.

Rachel’s worried voice filtered through the silence. “I think we lost power from the storm.” “Storm?!” Annabeth racked her brain to remember any mention of a storm in her weather app this morning.

“Yeah, there was a freak winter storm headed this way. I meant to tell you but the peanut butter cookies wouldn’t bake correctly and I got distracted.” Annabeth brushed her curls out of her eyes, trying her best to squint in the pitch black of the kitchen.

“What are we going to do?” Annabeth whispered, her heart beating in fear as she realized the dozens of cupcakes, cookies, and pies on the line if they weren’t properly refrigerated.

She’d lose hundreds of dollars of baked goods if they couldn’t restore the power. Rachel slid her phone out of her pocket and turned it on, the harsh white of the screen illuminating her face. “Damn it!” she exclaimed angrily. “No service! The storm must’ve caused it to go out.”

Annabeth took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Rachel, go see if the mechanic across the street has anything we could use. He should still be there.”

Rachel squeezed Annabeth’s hand in confirmation before disappearing back around the corner. Annabeth held her arms out, feeling around for any corners or stray carts she might run into.

Finally, she reached the kitchen door, pushing it open to reveal an equally-dark, empty store. Annabeth gently stepped forward, her heels clicking on the floor before a deep, worried voice startled her. “What happened?”

Letting out a small scream of surprise, Annabeth spun to face a dark figure standing inches away from her. The man’s warm hand reached out, steadying her as she almost lost her balance for a second time.

“It’s just me,” the man exclaimed, amusement evident in his tone, and it took Annabeth’s brain a second to realize it was the suited man from earlier, Percy.

“You’re still here?” Annabeth exclaimed in shock, her words coming out breathless. “Yes, I figured it’d be best if I stayed put since the power went out and it’s probably not safe to drive in this storm, either.”

“I have hours worth of prepped goods in the fridges,” Annabeth burst out, unable to focus on anything other than saving her life’s work. “I don’t know what to do…” her voice cracked with emotion as she realized just how helpless she was in this situation.

A moment of silence passed before Percy responded. “I might be able to look at the fridges. I’m sure they have a failsafe built in, if they’re industrial-grade.”

Annabeth couldn’t seem to process his words, shock coursing through her as she tried to comprehend that the man who very likely worked for the company wanting to destroy her business was willing to help her save hundreds of dollars of profit.

“Are-are you sure?” Annabeth stuttered out, realizing that Percy’s hand was still resting on her arm. “Of course, Annabeth,” he replied, squeezing her arm slightly. Annabeth could feel her cheeks flush and her stomach fill with butterflies at the way he said her name.

“Okay,” she responded, her voice a whisper. “Follow me.” Percy’s hand slid down her arm until his fingers were intertwined with hers, causing her to let out a sharp breath at the contact.

“Just so you don’t fall,” Percy said, an undertone she couldn’t quite identify present in his voice. Taking a deep breath, Annabeth took a step forward, wondering just how she got herself into this situation.

~~~

Percy angled his phone’s flashlight behind the first fridge, his eyes scanning each wire, screw, and compartment, searching for something that could indicate a way to jumpstart the power.

Memories of his time bent over car engines and handmade electronic creations flashed through his mind as he fiddled with a wire.

Swallowing down the imminent pain the memories always brought, Percy hardened his expression and straightened up, placing his phone face down on the counter.

It didn’t provide much light, just enough to show Annabeth’s concerned expression. “I’m not seeing anything,” Percy admitted, trying to ignore how much the pain in Annabeth’s face affected him. It shouldn’t - she worked for the bakery currently defaming his business.

Pushing past his better judgement, Percy cleared his throat, glancing around the dark kitchen. “Do you have any coolers?” Annabeth’s glanced up at him, nodding slowly as she started walking towards the back of the kitchen and pulling open a door that revealed a small walk-in closet.

The closet’s shelves were stocked with catering supplies, with a handful of portable coolers lining the floor. “Let’s put the items in the fridge in the coolers. It isn’t a permanent solution, but it should help keep them cold for some time.” A small smile flitted across Annabeth’s face as she began hauling coolers out of the closet.

Percy couldn’t tear his gaze away from the determination on her face, the way she bit her lip as she concentrated on her task.

Even in the phone’s light, Annabeth was beautiful, there was no denying it. However, Percy knew better than to let his feelings ahead of his goal.

Feelings, emotions, whatever he wanted to call it, had almost destroyed his company three years ago. Percy sure as hell wasn’t letting it happen again. Shaking his head, Percy shoved his emotions back down and got to work.

Fifteen minutes had passed in a blur as Percy and Annabeth transferred baked goods from each fridge into the coolers, packing them together so tightly he worried they would be crushed.

Annabeth didn’t seem to worry, or if she did, he couldn’t tell. She was difficult to read, something he didn’t encounter often in the corporate world.

Percy was used to black or white business deals made by people who only cared about one thing in their lives - reaching the top. He wasn’t used to the feeling of walking on the edge of something, the feeling of looking into someone’s eyes or brushing their hand and feeling like nothing else mattered. This was dangerous.

“What are we going to do now?” Annabeth whispered, seeming to give up her composure as she sank down on the floor, the hem of her pink apron falling over her legs.

“There has to be something,” Percy replied, sitting down next to her. Annabeth glanced up at him in surprise, pulling her legs up to her chest and resting her chin on top of her knees.

This was the most relaxed Percy had seen her act since he arrived. “Does the building have a generator?” Percy asked cautiously. He knew the answer, of course.

Weeks of studying the mall’s blueprints and layout taught him where each and every machine was located. Percy figured it wasn’t the best time to make that known, so he waited for her answer instead.

Annabeth lifted her head, hope flitting across her expression. “It does! I haven’t had to use it in the five years I’ve owned the store, so my memory is fuzzy of where it’s located at.” Percy took a deep breath before speaking, choosing his words carefully. “I might have an idea of where it is.”

Annabeth looked at him, her face unreadable before she nodded slowly. “Lead the way,” she replied, accepting his hand that he held out. Lifting her gently off of the floor, Percy slid his phone back into his pocket, plunging them back into darkness.

As they made their way to the exit, Percy grabbed his coat off of the chair he had been sitting in hours ago and held it out towards Annabeth.

Annabeth shook her head, her eyes wide. “I have a coat…” she trailed off as she looked around the shop. “I don’t know where it went.” Percy took his coat and draped it over her shoulders, ignoring her protests.

“My suit jacket is more than enough. If I’m correct about the generator’s location, we’re not too far away. Please.”

Annabeth sighed, slipping her arms into his jacket which was slightly too big on her. Percy hated how attractive she was wearing his clothes, and how much he couldn’t look away.

~~~

Annabeth watched as Percy pushed open the door, the smell of his cologne engulfing her as she wrapped his jacket tightly around her body.

Shaking off the craziness of the situation, Annabeth braced herself as they stepped out into the cold, wet blizzard surrounding the shop.

Freezing flakes of snow pelted her face as she blindly held onto Percy’s arm, wondering how he was able to see where he was going when she could barely see him inches in front of her.

Within a minute, Annabeth’s hands and face were already numb, but she gritted her teeth and trudged forward, breathing a sigh of relief when Percy finally came to a stop in front of a large grey box covered in snow.

In the back of her mind, Annabeth wondered how he knew exactly where the generator was and didn’t need even the most basic of directions towards the general area of the building’s mechanical interface.

The blizzard quickly erased her mind of that thought, though, and she watched as Percy brushed the snow off of the generator and handed her his phone.

“Hold the light back here, there should be some instructions written on the back.” Annabeth studied Percy as his eyes scanned the back of the generator, a scowl crossing his face as he stood back up.

“Whoever was in charge of maintenance must’ve been slacking, the generator only has a third of a tank of fuel left. That’s enough to power one of the fridges and potentially an oven or two.”

Annabeth’s heart sank as she realized the implication of his words. There would be no heating or lighting until the storm was over and the power was restored.

“Well,” she replied, crossing her arms tightly over her chest, “It’s better than nothing.” Percy nodded gravely, crouching down and flicking a switch on the back of the generator. It roared to life, indicator lights flashing red and green.

“Yes!” Percy exclaimed, pulling Annabeth into a hug as a huge grin spread across his face. Annabeth blushed at his excitement, enjoying the warmth of his arms and the feeling of her head against his chest. After a moment, Percy pulled back, clearing his throat and avoiding her gaze.

Annabeth felt the tension between them as he held out his arm for her to take. As they made their way back to the store, Annabeth watched the man in front of her, the man who decided to help save her store in spite of his intentions when he first appeared.

All she could wonder is why he chose to help her when he very well could have left as soon as the snow began to fall; why he chose to brave the blizzard just for the chance to save her baked goods.

When they reached the front door, Percy pulled it open with ease and ushered her inside, closing and locking the door behind them.

They looked at each other for a moment before rushing towards the kitchen, their movements a flurry of transferring cupcakes, cookies, and pies from the coolers into the single working fridge - that Percy had perfectly predicted would work - and cramming in as much as possible.

They still had a full cooler by the time they filled the fridge, and Annabeth looked at it in despair, knowing that the baked goods were lost for good.

They wouldn’t last more than an hour in the cooler, much less through the rest of the blizzard.

Annabeth felt Percy’s eyes on her before he gently lifted her chin with his finger, his green eyes trained on hers. “I’m sorry we can’t save this cooler, but we can make the most of it.”

Percy grinned before reaching down, pulling out a cookie and unwrapping the cellophane.

Annabeth felt a smile cross her face as she took the cookie from Percy, biting into it. “You’re right. We should eat something anyway,” Annabeth responded, sitting in front of the cooler.

Percy mirrored her movement, his smile infectious as he bit into a cookie of his own.

Annabeth had no clue how she had gotten here, but in the moment, she didn’t care one bit.

pt. 2 in the next post :)

[egnlotsc]

we found wonderland, you and i got lost in it - egnlotsc

~~A Beauty and the Beast retelling in which Annabeth is an architectural appraiser and Percy is the jaded owner of the estate she must live with for the next month~~

"Annabeth, I need you to go. You know I can't leave." Annabeth shot a look at her dad, tapping her heel against the tiled floor. "For a month? During my only break?"

Frederick sighed wearily, pushing his glasses up his nose and rubbing his eyes. "If you don't do this, I can't see why you should remain in this position." She gasped sharply, whirling to face him. "This is OUR company, Dad. You can't fire me from my own business."

"Annabeth, it's not your business yet. Frankly, it won't ever be if you can't obey me." She felt the blood drain from her face as her dream of owning her own architectural company slip from her grasp.

She glanced around at the pictures lining the walls of the office, her dreams captured in simple wooden frames.

"Fine. You won, Dad. When do I leave?"

~~~

Percy slammed his hand on the counter, scaring the bird perched on the branch outside of the kitchen window. "Grover, for the last time, I do not need an architectural appraisal for the estate. I'm perfectly capable of handling this on my own."

He listened to Grover's sigh of disapproval from the other side of the line. "Perce, your anger act is getting tiresome. I already hired a company, they're sending down a representative who will be staying at the estate until their job is finished."

Percy growled in frustration, hanging up the phone. He jerked a hair through his hair, trying to slow his breathing.

The kitchen door swung open, revealing a pair of arms clutching overflowing grocery bags. "Perseus, I picked up some extra food for the representative from Chase & Corp. I am sure you will be hospitable."

Maggie's dark eyebrows raised in anticipation of his response. He glared at her, crossing his arms across his chest. "I already told you and Grover I don't want some incompetent lawyer in my estate."

Maggie shot him a look that effectively shut him up, setting the bags on the counter. "If you speak to the rep like you just did to me, I guarantee you will never sell this house. They will be happy to leave you here to brood in your own misery."

Percy chose to ignore her comment, retreating to the seclusion of his office on the other end of the west wing. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but wonder what this representative would be like.

He hadn't spoken to another person in months beyond Maggie and Grover. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he made his way to the decanter placed in front of the window overlooking the expanse of the front gardens.

As he downed his glass, he tried to ignore the loneliness lacing his innermost feelings.

~~~

Annabeth rolled her suitcase up the front walkway, in awe of the beauty of estate and its respective property.

The arch lining the entrance was adorned with sprigs of cherry blossoms and ivy, adding to the evanescence of the experience.

When she reached the front door, she ran a hand through her blonde curls, adjusting her hair clip as she stepped up to the doorbell and pressed it.

A gorgeous medley of chimes resonated in the relative silence before footsteps sounded in front of the door.

The oak door opened quickly, startling Annabeth before she caught sight of the man behind of it.

She bit her lip to keep from gasping aloud. His jet black hair fell across his forehead and covered his stormy green eyes. He was the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome.

He raked his gaze over her before looking into her eyes, the anger coating his expression preventing Annabeth from speaking. "Who are you and why are you on my property?"

The malice laced in the man's voice caused Annabeth to back up slightly. She squared her shoulder, trying to exude confidence. "I'm Annabeth Chase. I'm here for the architectural appraisal on the Jackson Estate."

His gaze was like steel as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I was expecting someone...more experienced."

Annabeth scoffed. "My age or gender is not indicative of my experience in my department." He raised an eyebrow at her tone, his judgment of her clear.

"Are you sure you couldn't find someone more suitable for the appraisal?" She bit her tongue to prevent a few choice words from slipping out.

"I am looking to speak to Mr. Jackson, the owner of the estate," she snapped, adjusting her blouse as she waited in tense silence. The man glared at her. "I am Percy Jackson."

"Of course you are," she muttered under her breath. "Are you going to let me in, or should I sleep on the porch?"

Annabeth admitted it wasn't the most professional of responses, but something about Percy brought it out of her.

Percy scoffed, stepping out of the door's threshold and holding out his arm. "Right this way, Princess." He spit out the last word, earning a withering glare from Annabeth as she lugged her suitcase into the foyer.

"Your room is in the west wing. Unfortunately, it's the only location of our guest rooms." Annabeth raised an eyebrow at his tone, but followed behind him, already distracted by the stunning beauty of the 17th-century architecture.

Annabeth was about to comment when a small clicking sound interrupted them. She glanced to see a small terrier by her feet, whimpering softly as it pawed her leg.

"Awww," she cooed, bending down to pet him. Percy stopped walking, turning around to glace at the scene. He stood stiffly before relenting at her questioning gaze.

"His name is Buzz." She smiled, scratching behind the dog's ears before standing up. "Let's go," Percy said gruffly as he continued down the hall.

Before she knew it, they had reached was Annabeth assumed to be the west wing. Percy led to her a door at the end of the wing, opening the door and gesturing inside.

"There is a bathroom on the far side. I am sure you can figure out the rest. I will be in my room," Percy motioned to a large set of double doors a few feet away before he spun around and left her standing there.

Annabeth took a deep breath to calm her temper before stepping into the bedroom. She gasped softly, running her hand over the solid dark oak of the four-poster bed.

"At least the room is nice," she muttered as she sat on edge of the bed trying to prepare herself for the weeks to come.

~~~

Percy tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep after the day's events. He couldn't believe the representative was an admittedly stunning woman with a sharp tongue and an intolerance for his hatred for life.

He could picture the way Annabeth's curly blonde hair fell over her shoulders, the way her blouse hugged her figure just right, and how her grey eyes reflected the sun in a way that drove him crazy.

It had been long time since he had felt this way about someone, and he hated it.

How could he let his emotions get the better of him? At that moment, he vowed to avoid Annabeth as much as possible.

It was a mansion, after all. How hard could it be for Percy to avoid her? He rolled onto his side, suddenly glad he never slept in a shirt because the room felt too hot, too stuffy.

What was wrong with him?

"Buzz," he whispered softly, relieved when the dog's furry head appeared beside him. He patted him softly before drifting off into a restless sleep.

~~~

Annabeth awoke to a beam of light streaming in through the large window on the other side of the room. Sitting up slowly, she rubbed her eyes and took in her surroundings.

Adjusting the strap of her tank top, she slowly climbed out of bed and walked over to her suitcase, pulling out her workout clothes and water bottle.

As she pulled on her sports bra and managed her into a ponytail, she couldn't help but wonder where Percy was, or what he was doing. She had slept in later than intended, hence her insistence to begin her daily run.

As she stepped out into the hallway, Annabeth's gaze landed on the doors to Percy's room, but she quickly looked away and made her way through the estate's seemingly endless maze of hallways before arriving at the back door leading to the gardens and vineyard lining the property. Annabeth grinned. It was perfect for a run.

She had just reached the back of the property line when she heard movement from the distance. Annabeth was a tough woman, she had learned from a young age how to handle danger.

Clutching her water bottle, she continued jogging, scanning her surroundings every so often before she caught a glimpse of another person running in the same direction.

Annabeth gasped slightly as she recognized the man's jet black hair and confident stride, surprised that Percy was a runner.

He didn't seem to see her, so she continued until her hunger became too much to ignore. As she made her way back to the estate, she wondered if she would run into Percy when she prepared breakfast.

He seemed set on avoiding her, but she knew she would eventually have to sit down and discuss their plan with him. "Can't wait," Annabeth muttered sarcastically, pushing open the door at the back entrance to the kitchen.

She made her way to the fridge, pulling out the egg carton and packet of bacon. Annabeth had just started frying the bacon when the door to the kitchen slammed open, causing her to yelp in surprise.

Percy's head shot up at the sound, his scowl deepening as he realized her presence.

Annabeth also noticed the way his eyes lingered on her attire, but when she glanced up at him he tore his gaze away and lifted up the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Annabeth bit the inside of her cheek hard at the sight of his sculpted stomach, spinning back around and busying herself with plating the bacon and eggs. "I made some breakfast," she spoke up, her voice far too chipper for the situation.

Percy appeared by her side, snatching the carton of milk and chugging from it. Annabeth glared up at him, appalled at his lack of basic manners. "Have you ever heard of a glass?"

He lowered the carton, shaking his head and muttering something under his breath. "I can take care of my own breakfast," Percy snapped, scooping an apple out of the bowl on the counter and storming out the room.

Annabeth stared down at her plate, trying to ignore the hurt flaring in her chest. What was so unlikeable about her?

~~~

Percy crumpled up the piece of paper in front of him, throwing it across the room as he buried his face in his hands. He couldn't concentrate when he could hear the clicking of Annabeth's heels outside of his office door constantly.

What in the world could she possibly be doing that required so much walking back and forth? Percy stood abruptly, startling Buzz who had been sleeping soundly at his feet.

"Sorry," he muttered to the dog as he stepped out of his office and spotted Annabeth standing on a step ladder, perched on her tip toes as she ran a gloved hand over a section of the crown molding lining the place where the wall met the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" he demanded a bit louder than he had meant to, causing Annabeth to jump at the sound of his voice in the silent hallway. She seemed to jump quite a bit.

"These pieces are polystyrene," she responded, ignoring his question. "They're quite dated. These could easily add thousands to the value of the house." Percy laughed without humor, stepping closer to her. "Look, I don't care what adds value or how you come across it. Just try to be more quiet."

Annabeth's face fell at his tone, and he could feel the guilt deep in his gut at the look on her face. "I-" he began but suddenly Annabeth tipped back, and he jumped to action, reaching out just in time to catch her as she fell off the ladder.

Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up at him, and he realized just how close their faces were. Annabeth smelled like an intoxicating floral perfume that caused his senses to go haywire as he gently set her on feet and stepped away from her slowly.

"Thank you," she whispered before turning back around and grabbing her bag, quickly walking down the hallway and into the front room.

Percy scrubbed a hand down his face, trying desperately to forget how soft Annabeth's skin had been and the way she made him feel.

The sound of clicking behind him reminded him that he had to feed Buzz, who had appeared at his feet and was now whimpering. Percy sighed. "C'mon, it's time to eat."

~~~

Annabeth squinted at the laptop's screen in front her, trying to reconcile the list of numbers with the notes she had taken earlier in the day.

The creak of the door caused her to glance up, surprised when no one appeared in the doorway. Suddenly, Buzz jumped up onto the bed, curling up in her lap.

She grinned, leaning down to kiss his head and settling back into the pillows and typing away. Her father was expecting the spreadsheet with projected data the next morning and she had yet to finish.

An hour passed when the sound of footsteps drew her out of her thoughts. Her door opened to reveal Percy standing there - sans shirt - which did things to her heart that she refused to admit.

"Annabeth? What are you still doing awake at 2 in the morning?" His voice was gruff from sleep, his eyes landing to Buzz curled up in her lap.

She glanced up at him, chancing a soft smile before responding. "My dad - he wants me to turn in some projections tomorrow morning. I haven't finished yet." Percy raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised at her answer.

"He's sending you work on top of the appraisal?" Annabeth nodded, lowering her eyes to her lap. "He expects a lot of me. And I'm not one to disappoint."

Percy cleared his throat, gesturing to Buzz. "He's not the type of dog to like to cuddle. I can't believe he's taken to you so quickly." Annabeth bit her lip. "I guess he likes me." Percy nodded, his ever-present scowl still gracing his face but lessened.

"Get some rest, Annabeth. We have a lot to do tomorrow. My estate carer Maggie will give you a proper tour tomorrow."

Annabeth nodded, closing her laptop's lid and curling under the covers, listening to Percy's steps retreating.

~~~

"This is the solarium," Maggie announced, opening a side door to reveal a breathtaking room. Its walls were lined with stained glass windows and a gorgeous rose bush sat in the center, its petals coating the floor.

Maggie lowered her voice, leading Annabeth further into the room. "Percy refuses to let me clean this room. In fact, if he knew we were in here, he would kill me. His mother..." Maggie trailed off, running a hand over the windowsill in front of her.

"Percy's mother was an amazing woman. She loved this room. Since she passed, he had refused to step foot in here."

Annabeth laid a hand on Maggie's arm. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea." Maggie shot Annabeth a wan smile. "Oh, well. The past is the past, you know?"

Annabeth was about to ask another question when Percy's voice echoed through the silence. Maggie's eyes widened, and the older woman gently led Annabeth towards the exit. "Let's go. We don't need to make him upset."

Annabeth stopped Maggie in the hallway before they reached the kitchen. "Thank you for being so kind. It's a nice change." Maggie gave Annabeth a knowing look before pulling her into a hug.

"You've lasted much longer than most would. I think you're wearing Percy down." Annabeth laughed softly. "I'm sure my constant one-sided conversations with him aren't doing me any favors."

Maggie shook her head adamantly. "You don't see the whole picture, honey. He's eaten every plate of food you've left for him and saved each of the notes. Your efforts aren't going unnoticed."

Annabeth couldn't help but smile at Maggie's words. For the past two weeks, Annabeth had prepared herself a plate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then left a plate in the fridge or on the counter with a simple note for Percy.

She couldn't believe he had actually saved her notes. In fact, they had fallen into a sort of routine during her stay. Each morning, Annabeth would go for a run and see Percy.

She had even waved a few times, of course he barely acknowledged her despite her efforts. She would spend the rest of the day studying the estate and charting her findings.

Percy would emerge from his office at exactly eight each evening, and nod at her before making his way to his bedroom for the night.

Annabeth glanced back at the solarium before an idea struck her. It was risky, but it was necessary.

As she followed Maggie into the kitchen, she formulated the plan and hoped that in the end it would be worth it.

~~~

Percy returned from his weekly trip to the town, stepping into the house and registering the silence. He had grown used to the sound of Annabeth walking around, appraising the house.

Percy made his way through the estate, confused as to where she could be before he stumbled upon the hallway that contained the solarium, his heart stopping as he realized the door was propped open.

He quickened his pace, throwing open the door to reveal Annabeth sweeping the floor, her back turned to him as she hummed softly. His gaze landed on the rose bush in the center of the room, its leaves trimmed and flowers missing.

"What are you doing in here?" Percy boomed. Annabeth whirled around, her gaze wide and innocent. It only made him angrier. "I-I just felt it could use some care..." Annabeth's explanation trailed off when he stepped closer to her.

"This room is off-limits! You had no right to be in here," he snapped. The shock on Annabeth's face faded into indignation. "Do you want to sell this estate or not, Percy?"

"What are you talking about? Of course I do!" Percy's voice rose with each word, filling the space around them.

"This room is a serious selling point! If it looks like a mess, do you think someone is going to want to buy this estate?"

"Watch what you say about my estate," he growled. Annabeth sighed exasperatedly. "I was just trying to help, Percy!"

He could feel his vision tinting red as the memories of his mom filtered through the cracks of his carefully-constructed walls. "Mind your own business, Ms. Chase. I hired you to appraise the house, not to play housekeeper. I advise you to leave this room."

Annabeth simply stood there, her grey eyes boring into his. "What is so wrong about me being in here? You hired me to appraise the whole house, not just selected rooms that I have permission to enter. Stop trying to control me."

Percy couldn't take her infuriating logic anymore. "You are my client, AND YOU WILL OBEY MY RULES!" He swept his hand across the room and accidently hit the rose bush, sending it crashing to the ground.

Annabeth yelped, jumping back to avoid the shattered vase. He glanced up, suddenly realizing what a mistake he had just made. "Annabeth, I-" he began, but she quickly cut him off.

"This is the last time you will speak to me, Mr. Jackson! You have been nothing but rude to me since I arrived, and I have tried to be civil but I can't handle it anymore! You're so full of hate and misery that you take it out on those who try to help you! I quit!"

Tears glittered in Annabeth's eyes as she slowly backed out of the room. "I hope it was worth it, Percy," she whispered just loud enough for him to catch before she turned and fled down the hallway.

Percy sunk to the soil-coated floor, burying his head in his hands. What had he done?

~~~

Annabeth had almost made it to her car when Maggie's voice called out from behind her, stopping her in her tracks.

When she turned around, Maggie took in her tear-stained cheeks and broken expression and pulled her into a tight hug. "What happened, sweetie?"

"He yelled at me, and broke his mother's rose bush. I quit, Maggie. I couldn't take it anymore." Maggie's expression was grave as she listened.

She led Annabeth to a nearby bench, motioning for her to sit. "Wait here. I have something I must do."

Annabeth nodded sullenly, sinking onto the bench's cold surface.

~~~

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" Maggie's shrill voice pulled Percy from his misery. He flinched at her tone and made his way into the kitchen, where Maggie stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a positively murderous expression on her usually sweet features.

"How dare you shout at Annabeth! That girl has been nothing but nice to you since she arrived despite your horrible attitude towards life, and yet you drive her away! Your mother would be so disappointed in you!"

Percy looked up, the realization of his serious mistake weighing on his shoulders. "She's sitting on the bench on the front lawn. Now you take your sorry butt outside and apologize for your behavior and hope to God she decides to stay!"

He nodded, muttering a "Yes, ma'am," before making his way to the front door.

He immediately spotted Annabeth's slumped form, his heart pounding with regret as he came closer and noticed how red her eyes were from crying.

She glanced up as he approached and curled into herself, refusing to make eye contact with him. He sat on the edge of the bench, keeping a respectable distance between them before clearing his throat.

"Annabeth, I am so sorry. I don't know what got into me. I must have been the memories that room resurfaced..." he trailed off, staring at the ground in shame.

Percy felt Annabeth shift beside him, before her hand settled on his arm. He looked up at her, and noticed the hurt in her eyes had faded.

"Percy, it's okay. It doesn't excuse your behavior, but I understand." They locked eyes for a moment before Percy stood up, holding out a hand and relishing the feeling as Annabeth slipped her hand into his. "Come with me. I'd like to show you something."

Annabeth nodded as he led her back into the house and up into the east wing. When they reached a picture frame hung on the wall, he stopped but remained holding Annabeth's hand.

"This was my mom, Sally Jackson," he explained. Annabeth gasped softly, running her eyes over the painting.

"She was beautiful, Percy." He smiled softly. "Yes, she was." But he wasn't looking at the picture.

He was looking at Annabeth.

~~~

"Percy, I can't believe you got away with that," Annabeth gasped, giggling as she took a sip of her wine. Percy's green eyes sparkled as he grinned in response. "I was in high school. What can I say?"

Annabeth glanced around at the living room her and Percy had been sitting in for the past three hours, sharing a bottle and trading stories of their childhoods.

She couldn't believe how much Percy had transformed from the gruff, uncaring man he been not only a week ago.

Ever since the incident in the solarium, Annabeth and Percy had become a lot closer. It was tentative at first, but soon they became a team not only as client and representative, but also as housemates.

They began eating their meals together, and Percy had even taken Annabeth on a moonlight tour through the vineyard. A week prior, Annabeth would have laughed if someone had told her that her and Percy would become friends - or something more than that.

Percy stood up, holding out a hand. Annabeth shot him a curious look before allowing him to pull her up. He leaned over and switched on the stereo, causing soft music to filter through the speakers.

"Dance with me," he asked, his eyes twinkling. Annabeth laughed softly before allowing him to pull her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as his wrapped around her waist.

She sunk into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. A few moments passed in blissful silence before Percy reached down and lifted her chin up, his gaze holding hers.

"Annabeth, I never thanked you," he whispered. "For what?" He smiled, cupping her face in his hand. "For changing my outlook on life. For being you."

Annabeth's heart fluttered as she looked up at him. "Of course, Percy." His eyes asked a silent question, and as soon as she nodded, he crushed her to his chest and captured her mouth in his.

She gasped softly as he gripped her waist, kissing her so thoroughly she was surprised she was still standing. A soft whimper escaped her as he walked her backward until they fell onto the couch behind them.

Percy pulled back to look at her, and she couldn't help but stare at his eyes which were much more blue than green up close, and the way the blush on his cheeks highlighted his freckles.

"You don't know what you do to me, Annabeth," he whispered before pulling her back to his lips.

~~~

Annabeth shot up with a gasp, gulping in air as she realized that what she had saw was simply a nightmare.

Her expansive bedroom seemed too empty, too large, so she pulled back the covers and used the light of her phone and the moonlight filtering through the large floor-to-ceiling windows to make her way to Percy's room.

She gently pushed open the doors, her gaze landing on his (shirtless, she might add) sleeping form. Annabeth bit her lip before making her way to the other side of his bed, gently pushing back the covers and climbing underneath.

They smelled so much like him she would have been content stealing one of his blankets and curling up in it, but she felt Percy shift beside her before his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against his chest.

"Missed me?" Percy's voice, rough with sleep, whispered in her ear. She shivered at the sound and curled into his chest. "Nightmare," she whispered.

He hooked a finger under her chin and smiled softly as he kissed her, biting her bottom lip between his teeth. "It's okay, Beth. I'm here." She smiled and rested her hand on his chest, drifting off into a peaceful sleep for the first time in a long time.

Annabeth woke the next morning to a weight pressed against her side and an overwhelming sense of happiness bubbling inside of her.

She sat up slowly, relishing the feeling of Percy's arm still draped across her. He shifted before sitting up as well, running a hand through his hair which she found unfairly attractive.

Annabeth was sure her hair looked terrible, but Percy seemed only focus on her face - or more accurately, her lips.

He took a deep breath before taking her hand and turning her to face him fully. "Annabeth, there's something I've been wanting to ask you and since you're leaving soon I don't want to wait any longer. I know it's only been a month since we met but I can't deny the way I feel about you, and how much I want to make you mine."

Annabeth gasped as the meaning of his words hit her fully. "Annabeth Chase, there is no one else in the world that I would rather spend the rest of my life with. I want to wake up next to you every morning, I want to make a family with you, and I want to grow old with you."

Percy took a deep breath, reaching up and wiping a few of the tears that were now trailing down her cheeks in abundance. "Will you make me the happiest man alive, and marry me?"

Annabeth choked back a sob and nodded vigorously, jumping into Percy's arms. "Of course I'll marry you, Perseus Jackson," she answered before attacking his face with persistent kisses and causing them both to fall back onto the bed.

Annabeth realized in that moment that home wasn't a place, it was a person. And she had found hers.

~~~

"I'm home!" Annabeth's voice rang through the silence, causing Percy to look up in anticipation of seeing his wife for the first time in a week after her business trip.

Percy jumped up, making his way out of the west wing and into the estate's kitchen where Annabeth stood, looking radiant as the afternoon sunlight reflected off of her golden curls and the rings on her finger.

He scooped her into his arms, loving the feeling of her body against his and the way her lipstick tasted of strawberries as he kissed her senseless. Annabeth pulled back, running her hand across his cheek before stepping back.

Percy immediately crouched down and placed his hand on her swollen stomach, tears gathering in his eyes as he looked at the child they had created.

"I can't wait to meet you and be your daddy," he whispered to her stomach before standing back up and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"We have some time to make up for," Percy murmured in Annabeth's ear, grinning at the way she blushed profusely at his words. "I love you, Mr. Jackson," she whispered in response before pulling him down for another kiss that left his head spinning.

In the best way possible, of course.

[egnlotsc]

do you catch your breath (when i look at you?) - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU where Annabeth's car breaks down en route to an important business conference and Percy is a laid back mechanic with a penchant for getting under Annabeth's skin~~

If I get one more email from purchasing about the Larson deal, I'm going to throw my phone into a ditch," Annabeth exclaimed, her knuckles white against the black leather of her steering wheel.

"That's probably not the best idea, Beth," Piper's voice echoed from the car's speakers, her tone amused.

"I know," Annabeth grumbled in response, her eyes trained on the seemingly endless road ahead of her.

"This was supposed to be a relaxing reprieve from office life, or at least that's what Nico said."

Annabeth could almost picture Piper's eye roll at her words, their shared annoyance with their boss hanging in the air.

"Nico has no clue what he's talking about. He can't look five feet past his own cushy high-rise office."

Annabeth laughed at her friend's sarcastic response, flipping on her signal and merging into the left lane with ease.

"Two more hours and I can be out of this damn car,” she noted as she glanced at the GPS.

"Well, good luck on the rest of the drive, Beth. Unfortunately those of us still stuck at the office must continue our work," Piper responded, a hint of a smile evident in her voice.

"Have fun with the office work, Pipes!" Annabeth replied, hanging up the call and settling in for another two hours of driving.

Annabeth had just reached the halfway mark when a loud shudder from the car shook her out of her thoughts, the steering wheel beneath her hands shaking as the car began slowing down.

"Shit," Annabeth muttered, glancing at the various flashing lights on her dash.

Pulling from her limited memory of driver's ed classes she took in high school, Annabeth turned her wheel towards the shoulder of the highway, gently guiding her car to a stop on the side of the road.

Within seconds, the car completely stopped, all of the lights shutting off and an unsettling silence filling the air.

Annabeth took in her surroundings, miles of farmland stretching as far as she could see in either direction.

Sliding her phone out of her purse, she turned it on and sighed in relief when she realized she still had a few bars of signal.

Quickly pulling up a search engine, Annabeth frantically typed in "nearest tow service" and watched with anticipation as the screen loaded to show a disappointingly short list of tow companies.

Her heart sank as she noted that all of them were miles away and would take hours to reach her.

She was about to swipe out of the screen when her gaze landed on a website just below the tow company list, Jackson Auto Shop its only defining feature.

Annabeth took in a breath when she noticed it was only two miles from her location, and a small green Open symbol was listed next to the link.

"Here goes nothing," Annabeth spoke aloud before clicking on the linked phone number, waiting as it rang in anticipation. After the fifth ring, Annabeth sighed, listening as the voicemail kicked in.

"Damnit," Annabeth exclaimed, gripping her phone so tightly she was surprised she didn't break it.

What the hell was she going to do now?

~~~

"Jackson, I don't know how we have any business when you can't even answer the damn phone," Leo called from his position under the car they were working on.

Rolling his eyes, Percy ran a hand through his messy hair, ignoring the fact that his hands were covered in oil from the pan he had just replaced.

"Valdez, the phone isn't just for me. You can answer it too," Percy replied, scowling at his best friend.

Leo rolled out from under the car, sitting up and wiping his hands on an a nearby oil rag.

“No can do, Perce,” he replied, standing up and pulling open a drawer. “You know I prefer to stay behind the scenes.”

Percy was about to reply to Leo’s idiotic comment when a knock echoed throughout the garage, both men’s heads turning to the door leading to the office.

Leo grinned, gripping a wrench in his hand as he began to slide underneath the car. “Good luck, Perce.”

Vowing to strangle his best friend and only employee later, Percy made his way over to the office door.

He pulled open the door to reveal a sight he had not prepared himself for, his brain trying to reconcile the sight before him.

Standing in the doorway was a very angry looking woman wearing a blouse, heels, and dress pants, her curly blonde hair spilling out of its ponytail and curls falling into her face.

In his five years of operating Jackson Auto Shop, Percy had grown accustomed to a specific customer archetype; small-town farmers and blue collar workers who spent their days outside working with their hands, or the occasional person from the nearby town who needed a more complicated fix that required outsourcing from the town’s mechanic.

The woman who stood before him, however, was the exact opposite of who he expected to walk through his doors.

This woman seemed to step straight out of corporate America, her disheveled appearance jarring against her expensive attire and handbag dangling from her right arm.

The woman’s glare didn’t lessen as she looked up at Percy, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Can I help you, ma’am?” Percy asked, stepping forward slightly.

“I called your shop thirty minutes ago,” she snipped, her tone accusatory. “I am sorry about that, ma’am. We are deep into a restoration for a long-time client.”

Eyeing Percy, the woman glanced past him and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, you seem very busy,” she replied, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Percy stiffened, crossing his arms over his chest and looking the woman in the eye. “Is there is anything I can help you with?”

Although he tried to keep a professional demeanor, he couldn’t help but let a slight bit of animosity seep into his tone.

Something about this woman brought it out of him, despite his mother’s years of teaching him to speak respectfully at all times.

The woman sighed, fiddling with the shiny new smartphone in her manicured hands. “I was on my way to a business conference about an hour away when my car broke down with no warning. I had to walk here, on foot, for a half an hour, since you apparently don’t know how to operate a phone.”

Percy smirked at the woman’s words, stepping back and holding his arm out in a sweeping gesture.

“We can discuss repairs in my office,” he replied, watching as the woman’s face soured before she pushed her way past him, her intoxicating floral perfume filling the air, her arm brushing against his.

Percy couldn’t tear his gaze away from the way her blouse hugged her waist, or the click of her pink heels on his garage floor.

She was overwhelming in every way possible, but somehow, Percy couldn’t wait to see what came next.

~~~

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at the man in front of her, pretending not to notice how handsome he was or the way his deep voice and cocky smirk made her feel.

Clearing her throat, she glanced over the pricing sheet in front of her, pushing it back toward Percy.

“Should we even be discussing prices when I was forced to walk two miles to be sitting here?”

Percy’s eyes darkened at her tone, a tense silence stretching between them before Percy sat back in his chair, picking up the pricing sheet and tearing it down the middle, his eyes never leaving Annabeth’s.

“Consider it a favor. It isn’t the first time I’ve been given shit for not answering the phone today,” Percy stated, amusement dancing across his features.

Annabeth couldn’t help but smile at his words, before catching herself and schooling her expression.

“Thank you, Percy. Now, what happens next? I have important meetings to attend for the next twenty-four hours.”

Percy remained silent for a moment before folding his hands together. “Leo just left to retrieve your car from the highway. So for now, we have to play the waiting game.”

Annabeth shook her head fervently, upcoming deadlines flashing through her mind. “I thought you said this would be a simple fix,” she replied, skeptical.

“That was until you described the car shutting down with multiple engine lights flashing,” Percy replied, his tone steady.

“More than likely, something went out in your engine, which means a complicated, costly repair ninety percent of the time. Until I can look at the car myself, I have to assume the worst.”

Sighing, Annabeth sunk against the chair, pieces of her ponytail falling into her vision.

“Whatever needs to be done,” she relented, her dreams of solidifying herself as the lead on the Larson deal slipping from her grasp.

Percy’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, an unreadable expression crossing his face, before he cleared his throat and stood up from the desk.

“Let me check on Leo’s ETA,” he muttered, disappearing into the garage.

Annabeth slumped down in her chair, resting her head in her hands. Good thing her office was hybrid and allowed video meetings in case of an emergency.

She’d endure Nico’s snide comments about her commitment level as long as she attended her meetings in some form.

Her head spun as she realized the long day ahead of her, stuck with a man who couldn’t even bother to answer his damn office phone on time.

~~~

“Damnit!” Percy exclaimed, the wrench he was holding slipping out of his grasp and clattering to the garage floor.

Leo poked his head out from his position under the hood, an eyebrow raised at Percy’s exclamation.

“Perce, you need a break. You’ve been at this nonstop for the past five hours. It’s dark outside and we both need rest.”

Percy shook his head, frustration brewing inside of him. “Not until it’s fixed,” he growled in response.

Leo’s expression was unreadable as he fiddled with his tool belt. “Okay,” he relented, ducking back under the hood.

Percy could tell there was more his friend wanted to say, but he wasn’t in the mood to be questioned.

For some reason, Percy couldn’t step away from this fix. He tried to convince himself it was because it was a complicated engine repair that required hands-on labor, but deep down, he knew that wasn’t the real reason.

The real reason was sitting on the other side of the wall, her soft voice filtering through the walls as she took her third meeting of the day. Percy admired her dedication.

It couldn’t be easy working from his cramped, messy office desk covered in unorganized papers and empty coffee cups.

Percy had just finished installing a new belt on the car’s engine when the office door creaked open, the soft clicking of heels sounding against the concrete floor.

Percy rolled out from under the car, glancing up to see Annabeth standing a few feet away, two steaming cups of coffee in her hands and a pensive expression on her face.

“I figured you’d need a refill,” she spoke, nodding towards the three abandoned cups littering the area near the car. “Plus, I don’t think I can look at my computer for another minute without losing my mind,” she muttered, eliciting a chuckle from Percy.

“Thank you,” he replied, wiping his hands and taking the cup from her, their fingers brushing momentarily, Percy’s heart jumping at the brief contact.

He didn’t miss the way Annabeth’s cheeks filled with blush before she averted her gaze, glancing around the garage.

“How’s the engine coming along?” Annabeth’s tone was conversational, a hint of worry underlying it that Percy knew well from years of working as a mechanic.

Percy took a sip of his coffee, his gaze drifting to the car in front of them.

“Honestly, I can’t say for sure,” he responded, struggling to find the right words. “I have fixed some of the smaller issues, but it’s hard to tackle the bigger repairs by myself. I sent Leo home hours ago, his wife would’ve come here and dragged him away herself if I made him stay.”

Annabeth laughed at his words, her soft smile lighting up her face in a way Percy couldn’t look away from.

She glanced under the car’s hood, her lips pursed in concentration. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Percy jerked his head up in surprise, trying to reconcile her words with the fiery, attractive woman he had met hours prior.

Annabeth smirked at his reaction, kneeling down on the floor next to him, not seeming to care about dirtying her clothes.

“Believe it or not, but I’ve grew up helping my dad fix cars. It’s been years, but I’m sure I can still remember the basics.” Annabeth replied, reaching up and tying her hair into a bun.

Percy tracked the movement with his gaze, a smile growing on his face.

This woman was infectious, lighting a fire inside of him with each time she looked his way or spoke a word.

Working side-by-side with her on the car would test his feelings, but Percy found that didn’t really care.

“Sure,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “As long as you can keep up,” he replied, a challenge in his tone.

A sparkle appeared in Annabeth’s eye at his words, her smile solidifying the feelings he’d been denying since the moment she walked into his garage.

~~~

“Feed the wire through this opening,” Percy explained, his voice muffled from his position under the car.

Annabeth bit her lip in concentration, carefully threading the red wire in her grasp through the small opening in between the engine and its plastic casing.

“Good, now hold it until I can reattach it,” Percy replied, his tan skin and dark hair barely visible from where she stood, bent under the hood.

Annabeth had long since lost track of the time, the past few hours spent buried in mechanical terminology and grease.

Percy slid out from under the car, his hair a mess and grease smeared across his cheek.

Annabeth couldn’t believe how attractive he was under the florescent lights of the garage. Sitting up, Percy sighed, glancing up at Annabeth.

“Let’s give her a go,” he exclaimed, climbing into the open driver’s seat and placing his hand on the keys dangling from the ignition switch.

His green eyes met Annabeth’s, hope and exhaustion decorating his features. Annabeth took a deep breath, praying it would finally work this time.

The engine roared to life, Percy’s face lighting up with excitement. Clambering out of the car, Percy moved to where Annabeth was standing, wrapping her in a tight hug and spinning her around.

Annabeth giggled, overcome with an emotion she’d never felt before, one she couldn’t quite name.

Time seemed to slow as Percy gently set Annabeth back on her feet, their faces inches apart and their breathing heavy.

Percy’s eyes darkened as his gaze slid down to her lips, his fingers brushing against the bare skin at her waist where her blouse didn’t fully cover.

Annabeth felt herself move, the space between them diminishing in a heartbeat as her lips met his, Percy’s hands tightening on her waist in response.

All coherent thought left her mind as Percy guided her backwards, her back pressing against the side of the car.

Threading her fingers through Percy’s messy hair, Annabeth deepened the kiss, gasping softly as he slid his tongue over her bottom lip.

She felt him smile against her mouth before he pulled back, a breathless silence stretching between them.

“I’m sorry,” Annabeth whispered, attempting to step back. Percy shook his head, reaching out and swiping his thumb across her cheek.

“Grease,” he murmured, open adoration displayed on his face. “Annabeth, there is no need to be sorry. That was the best damn two minutes of my life,” he replied, his gaze steady with hers.

Annabeth blushed, butterflies filling her stomach at his sweet words. “I’m heading back to the city tomorrow,” she whispered, the reality of her situation weighing on her. “I know,” Percy replied, his voice wavering.

“We’ve got a few hours until sunrise,” he continued, gesturing to a clock on the wall she hadn’t noticed. “Let’s get some rest and see what happens in the morning.”

Annabeth watched as Percy opened a nearby cabinet to reveal a few rolled-up sleeping bags.

“I spend a lot of late nights here, much to Leo’s chagrin,” Percy explained, selecting two bags and unrolling them on the floor next to the car. “It’s no hotel bed, but I hope it works.”

Annabeth smiled, walking over to where he stood and pressing her lips against his for a moment before pulling away.

“After everything you’ve done for me, I’d sleep on the cold hard floor. It’s perfect.”

Percy green eyes sparkled as they crawled into their bags, his warm smile and freckled cheeks filling her vision as she drifted to sleep.

~~~

Percy tried to ignore the pain in his chest as he filled up the second coffee cup, his mind a mess of jumbled thoughts as he stirred in a splash of creamer and placed a lid on the cup.

Taking a deep breath, he walked out of the office and into the garage, his gaze landing on Annabeth’s figure as she slid her laptop into its bag.

Percy eyes met Annabeth’s as he approached, the same expression of heartbreak spread across her beautiful features. He hated knowing he was the cause of it, the one who led her to feel this way.

“A splash of cream, just how you like it,” he spoke, holding out the coffee towards her.

Annabeth smiled softly, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “Thank you, Percy,” she whispered, gripping the cup with both hands tighter than needed.

A few moments of silence stretched between them before she sighed, placing the coffee on the hood of her car.

“Twenty-four hours ago, I couldn’t wait to leave the second I was done, now, I want to throw it all away, all for someone I met a day ago.” Annabeth’s voice was laced with amusement, despite the pain in her expression.

“I wouldn’t let you,” Percy responded, stepping forward and taking her hands. “Your career is the priority, Beth. I’ll wait for you, as long as it takes.”

Annabeth shook her head, her hands trembling in his grasp. “I couldn’t ask you to do that. You deserve someone who can be there for you.”

Percy reached out, tucking a curl that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear. “You’re worth waiting for, whether you want to believe it or not. You have been worth it since you stormed in here and scolded me for not answering my phone.”

Annabeth laughed softly at his words, a tear trailing down her cheek.

Percy led Annabeth to the driver’s door, pulling her against his chest. “I may not be good at answering the shop’s phone, but I will sure as hell answer any call from you. We will find a way to make this work, even if it takes time.”

Percy barely finished his sentence before Annabeth’s mouth was on his, her tears mixing into their kiss.

Percy poured his heart into their embrace, despite the uncertainty surrounding their relationship.

Their careers and locations proved a difficult barrier, but he had faith they’d push through.

It’s not everyday you fall in love at first sight, but somehow, he had.

He wasn’t about to let go of this kind of love anytime soon.

~~~

The bell above the door chimed as it opened, revealed a frazzled young woman dressed in a blouse and heels, her hair falling out of its ponytail as she rushed over to the desk.

Annabeth smiled knowingly from where she leaned against the counter behind the desk, setting down the stack of receipts she had been examining.

“Breakdown?” Annabeth questioned, her tone soft and understanding. The woman odded, her purse sliding down her shoulder as she sank into the chair facing the desk.

“How’d you know?” she asked, her tone weary. “Experience,” Annabeth replied, a soft laugh following.

“It just stopped about a mile down the road,” the woman explained, her words rushed with panic.

Annabeth began to respond when the door behind the desk swung open, a handsome man with dark, messy hair and sparkling green eyes emerging.

“Man, that sounds familiar,” he replied, smiling broadly at the woman. Annabeth laughed, instinctively moving closer to the man.

“It sure does,” she replied, feeling the man’s arm slide around her waist. “You won’t believe it, but the same thing happened to me three years ago.”

The woman’s eyes widened at Annabeth’s words, glancing between Annabeth and the man. “I was on my way to a business conference, and my car stopped a mile away from here. I tried calling, but this one,” she jerked her thumb at the man, a smirk sliding across his face, “didn’t answer. I had to walk a mile in heels to get here.”

The woman gasped, the panic subsiding from her face at their banter. “Did everything turn out okay?” Annabeth could hear a hint of hope in the woman’s voice.

Smiling, Annabeth placed her hand on Percy’s chest, her wedding rings glittering in the office’s florescent lighting.

“I’d say so. I walked in with a broken car, and walked out with a fixed car and a husband,” she replied, watching the realization and shock at her words fill the woman’s face. “I’m Annabeth, and this is my husband Percy. You’re in good hands.”

Percy spun Annabeth into his chest, uncaring of the fact they had an audience, albeit a panicked one. “I’m glad I didn’t answer the phone,” he whispered, leaning in and capturing her lips in his.

Annabeth sank into her husband’s kiss, his wedding ring cold against the warm skin at her waist.

She’d found her happily-ever-after in a place she’d never have expected, and couldn’t be happier.

[egnlotsc]

my heart don't understand why i got you on my mind - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth and Percy are rival shop owners in a charming town square~~

Annabeth hummed along to the Christmas carol filtering through the courtyard as she placed an ornament on the tree's branch.

She had just stepped off the step ladder when a deep voice from behind her startled her. 

"It's a bit early for Christmas decorations," the man commented, a condescending smirk spreading across his face as he surveyed the three hours of work Annabeth had put into decorating her storefront. 

Annabeth scoffed, glaring up at the man who, much to her dismay, was a good foot taller than her.

It was hard to be intimidating when the person had to look down at you. 

"It's Black Friday. It's officially the Christmas season." She tried to control the bite in her tone, but with the way the man was looking at her, she couldn't help it. 

He ran a hand through his dark hair in an unfairly attractive way, infuriating her with that smirk of his. "Last I checked, the Christmas season starts on Christmas day."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him, throwing a hand up in exasperation. "Semantics. Who are you, and why are you judging my decorating decisions?" 

The man's green eyes sparkled with amusement as he gestured to his shirt. "The uniform didn't give it away?" 

Deep Sea Escapades was printed in the corner of the shirt, a corny picture of a coral reef resting beneath the name. 

Suddenly, the man's uncanny ability to get underneath Annabeth's skin made much more sense. 

Deep Sea Escapades was a new store that had just opened across from Annabeth's quaint bookstore Forever Between The Pages, drawing away her business for the past two weeks. 

"You're from that place?" Annabeth spit out, unable to keep the malice from her voice. The man's eyebrows raised, the corners of his lips turning up further. 

"Do you have something against my store?" Annabeth sighed as the true meaning of his words sunk in. He didn't just work there, the man was the owner. 

"Yes," she exclaimed, her hands on her hips. "You've been taking my best costumers for the past two weeks. I had to cut one of my bestselling books from the delivery order because I couldn't afford to pay for it anymore!" 

The man at least had the decency to look slightly guilty as he ran his hand through his hair again.

Annabeth tried not to watch the way the muscles in his arm flexed as he did so, and the way his black shirt stretched across his broad chest. 

"I apologize if my business is successful," he snapped, his gaze raking over Annabeth's pale pink blouse, short tan skirt, and beige wedges. She turned her face away to hide her blush. 

Rolling her eyes, she glanced across the square at his store. "What do you even sell?" she asked, surprising herself. Since he moved in, she had only overheard talk of his shop but not specifics. 

Raising an eyebrow, the man held out his hand. Annabeth glanced at it warily, looking back up at him.

"I don't bite," he chuckled. "I decided it's about time to introduce myself if I'm going to show you my store despite your hatred for it."

Annabeth bit her lip, slowly sliding her hand into his and biting back a gasp at the almost-electric feeling she got from the simple touch. "I'm Percy Jackson, owner of Deep Sea Escapades." 

Annabeth cleared her throat, unable to look away from their clasped hands. "Annabeth Chase. I own Forever Between The Pages, the local bookstore which used to very successful."

The last part she said with a pointed glare, secretly enjoying the way his eyes darkened at her words. 

Suddenly realizing they were still holding hands, Annabeth yanked hers back and crossed her arms protectively across her chest. "Now are you going to show me your store, or are we going to stand here all night?" 

Percy swept out his arm in an exaggerated gesture. "Let's go." Annabeth rolled her eyes at his sarcastic tone, making her way across the road leading to the other side of the town square. 

~~~

Percy generally considered himself to be a respectful man - his mother wouldn't have raised him any other way.

Yet, something about the firecracker blonde currently leading the way across the square, her annoyingly attractive skirt swaying against her legs, brought the malice out of him. 

When he had first seen her perched on a ladder out of his store's window, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Although he had seen glimpses of Annabeth throughout the past two weeks, he hadn't truly realized how beautiful she was until that moment. 

What he hadn't expected was the spitfire he encountered, nor had he expected how much he would enjoy fighting with her.

He also hadn't planned on inviting her to his shop, but the selfish part of him wanted to spend more time with her even if it was under the guise of showing off his store. 

Percy increased his pace to keep up with her, trying and failing to keep from admiring the way her pink blouse curved around her waist. He reached the door, holding it open for her. 

Annabeth smiled slightly before stepping in, her calculating grey eyes roaming over the shelves stocked with various underwater gear and the display cases housing expensive air tanks. 

"A scuba supply shop?" she commented, her tone holding an air of surprise. "Not what you expected?" he inquired, moving past her to flip on the lights.

"No," Annabeth admitted, running a manicured hand over a case filled with air pressure instruments. "Honestly, I thought it was a fishing store." 

Percy chuckled, making his way back behind the counter. "Fishing isn't my thing. Plus, we live on a saltwater coastline. It's easier to dive than fish." 

Annabeth hummed her agreement, slowly walking around the store and taking in each item.

Percy felt oddly self-conscious watching her take in his shop, wondering what she thought of his life's work. 

She stepped up to the counter, looking up at him with curiosity in her expression. "What about this shop makes it so appealing to my loyal customers?" 

Percy laughed slightly, unable to look away from the girl in front of him. "I was wondering the same thing. What connection is there between a bookstore and a scuba gear store?" 

She laughed, a beautiful sound he wanted to hear for the rest of his life. "How about I show you Forever Between The Pages and we can decide for ourselves?" 

Percy grinned, flipping off the lights and making his way out of his shop.

There was something special about the bookstore's owner, and he was determined to figure out how a girl he just met could make him feel the way he did.

~~~

Annabeth handed the bag to one of her regulars, smiling widely as she waved goodbye. Mr. Curtis was a sweet old man who came every Friday to buy a book for his wife who was bedridden.

Annabeth's heart melted every time Mr. Curtis talked of her, his face lit up with innocent adoration. 

She glanced at her watch, reaching to turn off her "open" sign when she happened to glance across the street.

Her gaze caught on Percy, as it often did over the past week. She knew she kept looking because she liked him, more than she cared to admit.

This time, though, she noticed his demeanor was different. Usually, he had on his heart-stopping smile while speaking to a customer, but now he had his head in his hands, his hair a mess. 

Frowning to herself, she went to balance the register but instead found herself stepping out from behind the counter and making her way across the street. Something drew her to him, and it wasn't simply attraction. 

Annabeth pulled open the door to Deep Sea Escapades, watching as Percy's head rose from his desk.

His eyes widened as he realized her presence. In that moment, Annabeth could see the exhaustion and stress laced in his features. 

"Annabeth! What are you doing here?" Percy exclaimed, sliding out from behind the counter. Annabeth blushed slightly, realizing she didn't have a real reason for coming other than noticing his obvious distress. 

"I...I saw you through my window. You looked stressed. I figured..." she trailed off, biting her lip as she took in Percy's reaction to her words. Something crossed his face, an expression she couldn't place. 

"Wow, was I that obvious?" he chuckled drily, running his hand through his hair. Annabeth blushed harder, chiding herself for allowing her emotions to get the best of her. "I mean...yes, but I wanted to make sure you were okay." 

Percy caught her gaze, the surprise in his features evident. "If I'm being honest, I'm beyond stressed and overwhelmed. I just received an order from the marina. They want seventy five scuba gear bundles, and there's only one of me. I don't think I'm ever going to get the order completed in time." 

Annabeth gasped softly, understanding how he felt. "Wow...that's a huge order. That will do wonders for your business," she ventured, hoping to help him see the silver lining. 

Percy smiled softly, looking around at his shop. "That's true. I just haven't had the time or funds to hire employees yet. I don't know if I can do it by myself." 

Annabeth grinned, making a quick decision she knew would put her heart on the line. "Well, good thing you're not alone." Percy's head snapped up, hope and apprehension flitting across his face. 

"Annabeth, are you sure? This is a lot of work and I know you have your shop." She shook her head, stepping closer to him and trying to ignore how much she enjoyed the scent of his cologne.

"I'm closed for the day. If we work together you will finish much quicker than you ever could by yourself." 

Percy held her stare, searching her face. "Okay," he replied, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. "You'd help me even though I steal your customers?" 

Annabeth laughed softly, making her way behind his counter. "I guess there is some goodness in my heart."

Percy grinned, stepping up next to her, his eyes lingering her on lips for a second too long. "Let's get to work."

Percy turned around to grab a piece of paper behind him, and Annabeth took that time to collect herself.

She was in too deep to back out now, and if she was being honest, she didn't want to. 

She may be gambling her emotions, but something deep inside told her Percy was worth the risk. 

~~~

Percy handed Annabeth the last wet suit, watching as she carefully packed it into the box and closed the lid with a triumphant smile. "We did it," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with accomplishment. 

Percy laughed, running a hand across his forehead. It had taken them three hours to pack up all of the items in the order, but they had done it - together. 

Throughout those three hours, Percy and Annabeth had talked nonstop. Percy had never felt such an instant connection to someone before, had never been able to open up so quickly and know they would listen and understand. 

If he was being honest with himself, he was falling for the owner of the bookstore, hard. Unfortunately, he didn't know if she felt the same way. He hoped to God she did. 

"I don't think I could ever thank you enough," Percy began, turning to face Annabeth who had hopped up on the counter behind him. She blushed slightly, the color complimenting her features. 

"Don't mention it," she replied, her eyes widening as he stepped closer. "Annabeth, you helped me despite us being rivals. I think there's another reason you came over here." 

Annabeth looked away, her hands smoothing her skirt over and over. Percy hooked a finger underneath her chin, gently turning her face towards his. Annabeth bit her lip, and Percy had a hard time looking away. 

"I think there might have been another reason," she whispered, finally looking him in the eye. Percy stepped closer until he was against the counter, his hands hovering near her waist.

"I'm going to kiss you," he murmured, enjoying the way her eyes lit up at his words. "If you don't want me to, I will back away now."

Annabeth shook her head, lacing her arms around his neck. "I think you should stop talking and kiss me, Jackson." Percy grinned before pulling her against his chest, crushing his mouth against hers.

She sighed, a soft whimper escaping her that only made him kiss her harder. She wrapped her legs around him, allowing Percy to pick her up off of the counter and set her on the floor. 

He ran his hands up and down her sides, his fingers brushing against the hem of her blouse and the soft skin underneath.

After a few blissful minutes, Percy pulled back, resting his forehead against hers as they struggled to catch their breath. "Wow," Annabeth whispered, her eyes sparkling. 

Percy used his thumb to wipe away a smudge of her lipstick in the corner of her mouth, knowing he was likely wearing most of it. Annabeth smoothed down her hair, glancing around the empty shop with a giggle. 

"I have to say, I've never imagined I would kiss a guy in the middle of a scuba gear shop," she said, lacing her fingers with Percy's. He chuckled, pulling her into his side.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replied, gently kissing the side of her head. 

Her floral perfume overtook his senses as he held her for a moment, trying to comprehend that she was his. He had never been so lucky. 

"Even though we don't hate each other anymore, don't think we aren't still rivals," Annabeth teased.

"May the best shop win," Percy replied, watching that familiar spark light in Annabeth's eye that he loved so much before pulling her into another kiss. 

~~~

"It's a bit early for Christmas decorations," a deep voice from behind Annabeth exclaimed. Annabeth scoffed, spinning around to face the man. "It's Black Friday. It's officially the Christmas season." 

Annabeth stepped closer to the man as she spoke, her eyes trained on his cocky smile. "Last I checked, the Christmas season starts on Christmas day."

She crossed her arms across her chest, the rings on her finger glinting in the multicolored Christmas lights behind her. 

"We've talked about this," Annabeth replied, chest-to-chest with the dark-haired man in front of her. "I'll decorate my shop when I feel like it, Mr. Jackson." 

The man grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against his chest. "It's still too early, Mrs. Jackson." She rolled her eyes, pulling her husband into a kiss.

"It's never too early," she whispered against his lips, giggling when he lifted her off of her feet. 

"You're right," he replied, lacing their fingers together, the cold metal of his wedding band sinking into her skin. "It's never too early to celebrate."

[egnlotsc]

are you the one who holds the sun? (and keeps the storm from rolling in) - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth is an author in need of inspiration and Percy is a celebrity chef on the run, their worlds colliding when they accidentally book the same snowy cabin~~

“This is going to be worth it, Piper! Trust me. By the end of this trip, I will have found my inspiration and finished the draft.” Annabeth shot a smile at her friend, gently folding the shirt in her hand and placing it in the suitcase in front of her.

Piper smiled, reaching out and placing her hand on Annabeth’s arm in a comforting manner. “I hope so, Anna. You know how Nico gets with his deadlines.” Annabeth sighed, recalling Nico’s persistent emails currently flooding her inbox. 

“It will be the perfect environment for writing. A snowy mountain cabin, in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no distractions and endless possibilities. I was so lucky I was able to get the deposit in before the deadline. These next two weeks will be life-changing!”

Piper, grinning, walked to Annabeth’s side and wrapped her friend in a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you, Anna. Send me lots of pictures!”

Annabeth glanced longingly at her suitcase, ready to escape her stuffy New York apartment and rediscover her love for writing.

She hoped the fresh mountain air would be a better muse than anything in the city could provide. 

“It’s time for things to change, Pipes.”

Squeezing Annabeth’s hand, Piper echoed her sentiment, tossing the final shirt in the suitcase.

~~~

Annabeth stepped out of the connecting gate into the airport, glancing around in wonder at the snowy peaks visible outside of the building’s glass windows.

Making her way down the main walkway, she spotted the baggage claim and dashed over, scanning the large screens for her flight’s number. 

Placing the second claim area as hers, she stood in front of it, mindlessly scrolling on her phone and swiping away yet another of Nico’s emails.

A loud buzzer sounded, the baggage conveyor beginning to move and suitcases pouring out of the chute in the opposite wall. 

After a few moments, Annabeth caught sight of her suitcase, its bright pink handle striking against the muted tones of the bags surrounding it.

Smoothing her skirt, she reached out to grab the handle at the same time as another hand gripped the bag, pulling it away from her. 

Letting out a shocked gasp, Annabeth spun to face the culprit, her cheeks flushing as she took in the attractive man currently clutching her suitcase, his muscular arms prominent against the long-sleeved green shirt and khakis he was sporting. 

Briefly, she wondered why he was wearing sunglasses indoors. Paired with a backwards cap, Annabeth couldn’t tell much from his features. 

“Excuse me!” Annabeth exclaimed, stepping up to the man, ignoring the fact that she was a good five inches shorter than him, even in heels.

The man raised an eyebrow, an annoyingly cocky smirk spreading across his face at her outburst. “Can I help you?” he replied, removing his cap and running his free hand through his messy, jet-black hair. 

Her traitorous eyes tracked the motion as she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to appear intimidating. “That’s my suitcase,” she stated, motioning to it with a wave of her hand.

The man chuckled, glancing down at the bag and examining it. “Pretty sure it’s mine, ma’am.” 

Lifting her chin, Annabeth looked the man in his sunglass-covered eyes and ignored the butterflies forming in her stomach. “With the pink handle?”

The side of the man’s mouth lifted slightly at her tone and he nodded slowly, as if he was addressing a child. 

“I marked mine with pink tape so someone wouldn’t try to take it.” Annabeth scoffed, shaking her head. “I did the same thing. I guess great minds think alike,” she replied, watching as the man looked her up and down, his gaze pausing on her mouth for half a second before snapping back up to her eyes. 

“I guess there’s only one way to find out who is the true owner,” he stated, laying the suitcase flat on the ground and reaching for the zipper.

“Wait!” Annabeth shouted, drawing attention from those around them. Smiling sheepishly, she dove in front of the suitcase and placed her hand on top of it. 

The man looked at her in shock, holding his hands up in the air as if he were being arrested. “Woah, what do you have in there? Something top secret?”

Glaring at him, Annabeth lifted her hand and looked him in the eye. “I’d prefer if a stranger didn’t see all of my belongings.” Annabeth could feel her cheeks heating as the recognition dawned on the man’s face. 

“Okay, you can look first,” he said, evidently holding back a laugh at Annabeth’s crazed expression.

Gently pulling the zipper towards her, Annabeth peered into the suitcase and immediately spotted her prized writing journal surrounded by a plethora of floral skirts and sundresses. 

“It’s mine,” she announced, pulling a sundress out of the bag and holding it out for the man to see.

He looked at it for a moment before looking back at her, an unreadable expression etched across his face. His fists clenched at his side, highlighting his muscular forearms. 

Nodding, the man pushed the suitcase towards Annabeth, the cocky smirk returning to his face as if it’d never left.

“Can’t say I own one of those,” he replied, gesturing to the dress Annabeth was stuffing back into the suitcase. Annabeth lifted herself off of the ground, pulling the suitcase to her side. 

“Thank you,” she stated. “I hope you find your bag.” With that, Annabeth turned on her heel, ready to begin her rapid exit away from the situation.

The man’s deep voice echoed behind her, resonating through her. Looking back, Annabeth watched as he lowered his sunglasses, revealing a striking pair of forest-green eyes. 

“Let’s hope there’s not another poor soul who tries to take your bag.” 

Shooting the man a deadly glare over her shoulder, Annabeth rushed away, her high ponytail swishing across her shoulders with each step.

Annabeth couldn’t wait until she was finally alone, tucked in her cabin away from the world. 

More importantly, away from that man and his luggage-stealing ways. 

~~~

The key slid into the lock perfectly, eliciting a smile from Annabeth as she pushed open the heavy wooden door to reveal a gorgeous mountain cabin, complete with a large fireplace, lavish furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the grandiose landscape blanketing the cabin. 

Pulling her suitcase behind her, Annabeth made her way into the main living room, spinning in a circle with a large grin.

“This is perfect,” she exclaimed, setting her keys on the kitchen table and heading towards the stairs in hopes of finding a king-sized bed to fall into for the next few hours. 

When she made it to the second floor, she scanned the various doors, deciding on one perfectly tucked away at the end of the hallway.

Pushing open the door, Annabeth was too focused on making sure her suitcase made it over the edge of the doorframe to notice the body lying in the bed. 

Annabeth’s eyes landed on the bed, a scream erupting from her as she registered the head lying on the pillow, the person’s mop of jet-black hair concealing their face.

The man jerked awake, shooting up and meeting Annabeth’s fear-filled face with a pair of oddly familiar green eyes. 

“You?!” Annabeth exclaimed, unclenching her grip on the suitcase and stepping back slightly in shock.

Placing a hand over his chest, the man pulled the sheets back towards him; strands of his perpetually messy hair falling in front of his eyes.

“You?!” he echoed, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace as he studied her, his eyes darting around in all directions. “What are you doing in my cabin?”

Annabeth let out a shocked laugh. “Your cabin? It’s mine! I booked it last week!” 

The man laughed in response, crossing his arms over his chest. Annabeth couldn’t help but stare at the way his plain white t-shirt stretched over his chest in response to the movement. “I booked mine two weeks ago. Seems like it’s more my cabin than yours.” 

Annabeth huffed, stepping closer to the man, enjoying the way his eyes widened slightly at her approach.

“This trip is very important to me. So if you don’t mind, you can pack up and find a different accommodation.” 

The man scoffed loudly, an incredulous expression forming on his face. “Seriously? If anyone needs to pack up and leave, it’s you. I was here first and I booked the cabin before you did.”

“I don’t know that. You could just be lying,” Annabeth retorted, her hands resting on hips in what she hoped was a defiant stance. 

“Don’t accuse me of lying when you’re standing in my cabin, claiming it’s yours!” The man jumped out of the bed, ready to open his mouth again when Annabeth’s shocked, flustered expression stopped him in his tracks. 

“Oh,” Annabeth whispered, her face beet red as she did her best to ignore the fact that the man was only wearing boxers and a tight t-shirt. 

She had no idea what to do next. 

~~~

Shit.

Percy felt as if he had just stepped into one of his nightmares.

Standing there, in only his boxers and a t-shirt, he looked into the eyes of the most beautiful, angry women he’d ever encountered and realized there was nothing he could do to fix the situation. 

Scrambling for cover, Percy yanked one of the pillows off of the bed and covered his torso with it, hoping the small decorative pillow was large enough to cover the important parts.

The girl spun around, her floral skirt swirling around her legs as Percy's eyes lingered on the movement. 

“I’m so sorry,” Percy exclaimed, his heavy breathing evident in the otherwise silent bedroom. “It’s okay, how about you, uh, get dressed, and we can discuss this later?”

Percy sighed in relief, echoing his agreement and watching as she rushed out of the bedroom, the door shutting behind her and leaving Percy with his thoughts. 

He was not looking forward to the conversation he was about to have. 

Thirty minutes later, Percy sat fully clothed at the massive kitchen island, pretending to be engrossed in one of the apples that had been sitting in a bowl in the center of the island.

He stiffened when he heard the click-clack of heels behind him, turning slowly to reveal the woman he had just flashed, her face significantly less red but still wary. 

“I’m Percy. Percy Jackson,” he stated, stepping off the kitchen stool and standing in front of her.

He watched with enjoyment as the blush returned to her cheeks, her bottom lip sliding into her mouth in the most distracting way. 

“Annabeth Chase,” she replied, holding out her hand. Percy hadn’t heard such a name before, but it fit her perfectly.

“Do you usually argue with others about stolen luggage?” Percy asked, unable to resist teasing her. Her eyes lit up with challenge, a scowl sliding onto her face. 

“Do you usually flash unsuspecting victims in their own homes?” Percy rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “Once again, it’s not your home.”

Annabeth sighed heavily, leaning a hip against the kitchen island and studying him. 

“Look, there’s clearly been a mixup. I tried to call the rental agency earlier, but they didn’t respond. Something about their office being closed today. I found a nice hotel a few miles from here. I will move there until I can find out who is the true owner of the cabin for the next two weeks.” 

Percy raised an eyebrow, surprised at her relenting. He thought he’d have to fight for his place in this cabin. “Alright,” he responded, glancing at the luggage placed by the door.

“Let me at least help with your bags.” Looking at him for a moment, Annabeth nodded slowly and followed him to the front door. 

She put her hand on the handle and pulled it open to reveal several feet of snow coating the ground, swirls of falling snow obstructing their view of the driveway and beyond.

She let out a small gasp, her hand sliding into her purse and pulling out a cell phone. 

Percy watched as she furiously typed on the phone before a defeated look crossed her face. “There’s a blizzard forecasted for the next twenty-four hours. The roads are closed in every direction.”

Percy couldn’t stop the smirk from crossing his face at Annabeth's words. “So you’re stuck with me?”

Annabeth glowered at him, her cheeks pink with anger and her stormy grey eyes ablaze. “Like hell I am. I’ll just walk.”

Percy laughed incredulously, looking down at the fiery woman before him. “No, you’re not. I’m not adding assisted manslaughter to my to-do list today.” 

Annabeth shook her head, grabbing the pink handle of her suitcase and pushing it out the door. Percy didn’t think before reaching out, wrapping his arm around Annabeth’s waist and pulling her out of the doorway.

Her back pressed against his chest, her free hand clutching his wrist as they watched the door slam closed by a particularly strong gust of wind. 

Percy could feel Annabeth’s heavy breaths as she freed herself from his grip, spinning to face him.

He couldn’t help but watch as her golden blonde curls landed perfectly against her shoulders, her face close enough for him to make out the soft smattering of freckles on her nose and the flakes of gold in her grey eyes. 

Unable to stop himself, Percy leaned in closer, enthralled with the way her eyes widened and her lips parted at his closeness.

“I’ll stay out of your way, City Girl, if you stay out of mine. It’ll be like I’m not here,” he whispered.

Annabeth’s eyes darkened at his words, her eyes trained on his lips before catching his. 

“We have a deal, as long as you don’t call me City Girl,” was Annabeth’s response. “No promises,” Percy let go of her waist, stepping backwards.

Annabeth was captivating, all-consuming, and hated his guts - a recipe for disaster for Percy’s heart. 

This was shaping up to be the most interesting twenty-four hours of his life, and he couldn’t wait to see where it led. 

~~~

Annabeth had spent the last four hours stationed in the cabin’s office; her laptop, journal, and various crumpled sheets of paper and notecards spread across the glossy surface of the ornate desk she was seated at. This office had been a selling point for Annabeth when she was searching for properties to book. 

Little did she know the office would also come with the world’s most aggravating, sarcastic, egotistical Greek God of a man.

Annabeth had done her best to ignore Percy’s presence in the cabin, pretending not to notice every footstep, door closing, or cabinet slamming since she had learned they were stuck together. 

Annabeth meant it when she said she would stay out of his way - Percy Jackson was the very definition of a distraction, a temptation she couldn’t indulge in no matter the cost.

Luckily, he had relented the master bedroom to Annabeth as an apology, meaning Annabeth had a massive bed to look forward to at the end of the day. 

She had just finished introducing a new character to her story when a soft knock on the office door startled her, causing her arm to knock over one of the many stacks of paper placed next to her laptop.

Scowling, Annabeth scooped up the papers and threw them back onto the desk, spinning her chair around to face the office doors. 

Percy peered at her through the glass doors, his ever-present smirk situated on his face as he balanced a plate in his hand. Narrowing her eyes, Annabeth stood up and pulled open the door, eyeing her new cellmate warily. 

“I figured you were hungry since you haven’t left this room in hours. I thought I’d make you a plate.” Annabeth’s heart beat faster at Percy’s words, her mind trying to reconcile this kind, thoughtful action with the cocky asshole she had met earlier that day. 

Percy chuckled, glancing down at the sandwich on the plate. “It’s not poisoned, City Girl. Believe it or not, I know how to cook.”

Rolling her eyes at his sarcastic tone, Annabeth took the plate, picked up the sandwich, and examined it before taking a tentative bite. 

The sandwich’s flavors exploded in her mouth, every single bite one of perfection as she scarfed the first half of the sandwich down.

Percy watched in amusement as she blushed scarlet, wiping crumbs from her mouth. “I take it you like it?” 

Annabeth nodded, looking at Percy in awe. How did this man know how to cook so well? Turning back to the office, Annabeth glanced over her shoulder and gave Percy a slight smile.

“Thank you,” she whispered, before shutting the door behind her, sinking into her chair with a smile. 

Eyeing her laptop as an idea formed in her mind, Annabeth set the plate next to her before pulling up Google and typing Percy Jackson into the search box.

Taking a deep breath, she hit “Enter” and sucked in a breath at the pages of results that appeared. 

Her eyes skimmed the headlines, pausing on the most recent one from two days prior. “Celebrity chef Percy Jackson disappeared from the Hollywood scene just days before the annual Chef Showdown on Food Network. Jackson was up against Luke Castellan, his strongest competitor in years. Sources from Jackson’s team state that they have been unable to reach the star, with only his lifelong best friend and manager Jason Grace aware of his whereabouts…” 

Annabeth could feel her jaw drop as she processed the information in front of her. Suddenly, it all made sense. From the moment they met, she had felt a sense of familiarity with Percy Jackson she couldn’t place.

Memories of Piper’s gushing over her favorite celebrity chef filled her head, Percy’s name in Piper’s voice echoing in her mind. How could she have not seen it sooner? 

Percy was more than some guy she was stuck with - he was M.I.A from Hollywood, the man everyone was looking for.

No wonder he had been wearing sunglasses indoors. He was on the run. 

Annabeth’s problems seemed small in comparison now. All she knew for sure was she was now in deeper than she could have ever expected. 

~~~

Percy scowled at his phone, throwing it on the bed as it buzzed once again, Jason’s name flashing across the screen.

Deep down, Percy felt bad ignoring his best friend of twenty-four years, knowing they had a history that ran so deep that he couldn’t truly hide from Jason and his persistence. 

Running his hands through his already messy hair, Percy made his way down the stairs and into the main room, looking out the window as the snow battered against the glass panes, the land outside barely visible in the thick blizzard. 

He had just decided to sharpen his lucky set of knives for the hundredth time when he sensed another presence in the area, turning around to see Annabeth leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest and that damn flowery pink skirt hugging her waist perfectly.

“What are you doing?” Annabeth asked conversationally, making her way into the main room and pausing a few feet away from him.

“I don’t know yet. I didn’t quite have a plan when I booked this place. I just…” he trailed off, unsure of how much to reveal to the virtual stranger in front of him. 

“Wanted to hide?” she finished, his gaze snapping up to hers in shock. Did she know? Was she going to rat him out? Was he no longer in hiding? 

“I get that,” Annabeth continued, sinking onto one of the many armchairs spread across the room.

“That’s partly why I came here. I guess you could say I’m hiding too, hiding from a deadline, from what everyone expects of me.” 

Percy raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. He sat down across from Annabeth, watching as she fiddled with a well-worn leather-bound notebook in her hands.

Her bright pink nails stood out against the muted brown tone of the notebook’s surface. 

“I’m an author,” she admitted, gesturing to the notebook she held. “Romantic mysteries. It’s in high demand these days; part thriller, part romantic comedy. The pressure from my publisher is intense, so I felt like a change of scenery would help my writer’s block.” 

Annabeth’s words resonated with Percy more than she could imagine. It felt as if he was speaking to himself, just in a different context - an author instead of a famous chef. 

“I’m in the same boat, in a way,” Percy began, wringing his hands together. It seemed Annabeth had connections, and one slip from her could give away his location.

“I needed a change in scenery as well. Sometimes, staying in the same place, repeating the same motions over and over again, can only make things worse.” 

Annabeth studied him, her eyes stormy as she contemplated his words. It seemed as if she wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure how to.

She had just begun to speak when a loud boom resounded through the cabin, the entire room going dark. Annabeth let out a squeak of surprise, her face barely visible in the dim light from the windows. 

Percy slid his phone out of his pocket, switched on the flashlight, and laid it face-down on the coffee table before them.

Annabeth’s fear-filled face was visible in the harsh white light, her eyes shining as she looked at him. “What the hell just happened?” she whispered, clutching her notebook tightly in her lap. 

“Looks like we lost power. I doubt there’s a backup generator in this place. I have some friends who live in Colorado who swear off generators. They like to boast that their properties never lose power. I think it’s moronic.” Annabeth laughed softly at Percy’s tone, her eyes tracking his movement. 

“I’ll get a fire going and gather some blankets. It’s about to get freezing in this place.”

Percy could feel Annabeth’s eyes on him as she stood up, smoothing out her skirt. “Okay, I’ll check all of the linen closets and the bedrooms.” 

As she disappeared up the stairs, Percy took a deep breath. It was getting harder and harder to hide his true identity from Annabeth. 

She was messing with his head in every way possible. 

~~~

An hour later, Annabeth sat in front of the fire, a cup of tea resting in her hands. Percy had surprised her with fire-steeped tea when she returned with the blankets, stating that it would help “regulate their internal body temperatures”.

However, Annabeth felt there was more to the gesture judging by the way Percy kept sneaking looks at her, his eyes darkening with each glance. 

“So, are you going to tell me how you know how to make such a killer sandwich and this fire tea?” Annabeth questioned, glancing at the man across from her. She could see the conflict across his face as he contemplated her question. 

“How about you tell me why you ran from your publisher first?” Percy shot back, his eyes shining with a challenge. Annabeth’s heart skipped a beat, her fingers tightening around the mug she held.

“There’s not much to tell,” she finally spoke, studying the fire’s flames intently. 

“I wrote a New York Times Best Seller two years ago. It launched my career and transformed my hobby into something real. However, it’s always harder the second time around. Everyone has their ideas of how the sequel should play out, about how it should end. My first draft was rejected by the publisher. Nico felt it was too stale, too underwhelming.”

Percy winced sympathetically, his face reflecting her pain. Annabeth took a breath, continuing. “Since then, I’ve been stuck in a rut. No matter what I type, it doesn’t feel right. My best friend Piper suggested I take a vacation somewhere scenic to inspire me. When I saw this cabin, it felt like a step in the right direction.” 

“Until you found me in your bed,” Percy finished, his face still, unchanging. Annabeth’s heart ached at the pain in his expression.

“It’s not your fault, Percy. I think writing isn’t in my future anymore. I was stupid to think some wood cabin could rewrite destiny.” 

Percy took a deep breath, setting down his mug and moving closer to her. Annabeth felt the butterflies reignite in her stomach as he came face-to-face with her, just inches away.

“What lies in the past isn’t indicative of your future, Sonia. You can’t let one success or failure determine the rest of your life.” Percy spoke as if he was citing a monologue, his eyes locked on hers. 

Annabeth took in a sharp breath, the words echoing in her head. She remembered writing those exact words four years prior, her hands shaking with nerves as she added them to the draft.

“My mother’s murder has yet to be solved. I may have changed one person’s life, but I don’t think it’s possible to change mine, Charles,” Annabeth finished, her voice cracking at the end. 

“You read my book?” she whispered, her head swirling with emotion. Percy smiled softly, reaching out and tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

“It was recommended to me by my childhood best friend. He’s been a fan of your work for years. That line has always stuck with me.”

Annabeth contemplated a second before speaking, hoping she wouldn’t overstep. “Then why are you running from your future, Chef Jackson?”

Percy’s eyes flared in shock as her words landed, his face draining of color. 

“I should’ve let you walk to that damn hotel,” Percy growled, backing away. “Are the paps already on their way? Did Castellan pay you enough to destroy my life?”

Annabeth’s heartbeat was impossibly fast as she realized what he thought of her. 

“You’d seriously believe I’d sell you out to the press for a paycheck? I know what it’s like in the limelight; every word you speak, every action you take, analyzed and dissected.”

Annabeth glared at the man in front of her, her heart shattering into hundreds of pieces. “I thought my book resonated with you, Percy,” she spit out, standing up and backing away from him.

Spinning on her heel, Annabeth glanced over her shoulder to see an incredibly conflicted Percy, his green eyes as dark as the night sky and his fists clenched at his sides. “I hope it was worth it, Percy Jackson.” 

With that final word, Annabeth walked out of the room, the only sound the crackling of the fireplace and the click of her heels on the polished wood floor. 

~~~

“Fuck!” Percy yelled, watching as Annabeth swiped a jacket from the coat rack near the door and slammed the door behind her, the snow filtering into the foyer and coating the floor.

Without a second’s hesitation, Percy threw on his coat and yanked open the door, squinting against the barrage of icy snow and darkness of the horizon. 

“Annabeth!” he screamed, making his way down the driveway. Relief spread through him when he spotted her car still parked outside, untouched.

“Annabeth! It’s not safe out here!” Percy yelled into the horizon, no response to be found. 

Fifteen minutes passed with nothing but the howling wind and his thoughts as company, his chest tightening with each minute.

Finally, about a mile down the road, he spotted a flash of pink. “Annabeth!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the mountain air. 

“What do you want, Jackson?” a female voice shouted back, allowing Percy to breathe for the first time since she disappeared.

“Get your ass back to the cabin! You’re crazy!” Annabeth suddenly appeared in front of him, her nose and cheeks pink from the cold and her blonde hair sprinkled with snow.

“You’re crazy if you think I wanted to be stuck in that damn cabin with you,” she retorted, her eyes shining with fury.

Percy reached out, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her into his chest, not intending to let go of her anytime soon. 

Leaning close enough to smell Annabeth’s intoxicating floral perfume, Percy cupped her chin in his hands and whispered, “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you run out into a storm without making things right.”

Annabeth stood still for a moment, her grey eyes sparkling and her lips parted slightly, and Percy couldn’t take it anymore. 

In a split second, his lips were inches from Annabeth’s and his eyes were locked on hers, a question dancing in their depths.

Annabeth smiled softly and that was all it took for Percy to capture her mouth in his, a soft whimper escaping her as she threaded her hands through Percy’s hair. 

Blissfully ignorant of the snow swirling around them, Percy deepened their kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth and his hands running up and down her sides; fingers teasing the hem of her blouse and the warm skin beneath. 

In that moment, Percy couldn’t have cared less about the scandal waiting for him back in Hollywood.

All he could see was Annabeth, smiling at him from the finish line. 

Maybe that’s all he’ll ever need. 

~~~

Cameras flashed in Percy’s face as he made his way off of the stage, Jason appearing by his side in record time.

“Perce, you did phenomenal! The judges loved your dishes, particularly the carbonara. I heard Mr. Kinsworth raving about it to his wife backstage.” 

Percy smiled at his friend, brushing his hair off of his face as he followed Jason to the car parked outside.

“Thank you, man. It means a lot. I’m sure the tabloids will be all over my comeback,” Percy replied, climbing into the backseat and leaning towards the driver. 

“I can’t be late, Leo, the signing is in fifteen minutes!” Leo turned to face Percy, smiling broadly. “Don’t worry, Jackson, I’ll make sure you get there in time.” 

With that, the car sped off, Percy nervously checking his watch every few minutes.

After what felt like an eternity, the car pulled in front of a large warehouse, a line of people spilling out of the main entrance, identical books clutched in each of their hands. 

Leo guided the car into an alley off to the side, sliding open Percy and Jason’s doors and grinning as they climbed out. “Good luck, Perce!”

Percy waved at his friend, following Jason into a back door on the side of the building, his eyes scanning the area for a glimpse of blonde curls and a killer smile. 

Jason ushered him to the side of the stage just moments before the panel began, the members filing onto the stage and taking their places in front of small microphones. The middle seat, however, remained empty. 

“Welcome to The Ivy Beneath tour! I am excited to present to you the author of the four-time New York Times Bestselling Author, Annabeth Chase!”

The crowd went wild at the announcer’s words, but all sound disappeared when Annabeth stepped on stage, her forest-green dress highlighting the gold tones in her hair and perfectly conforming to her figure. 

Percy’s heart burst with love and excitement as he watched her speak in front of the crowd, her words full of confidence and wisdom.

When the line of fans finally tapered off, retreating to their seats with their newly signed books, Jason nudged Percy with a whisper, “Go get her, Perce.” 

Taking a deep breath, Percy confidently strode into the crowd, tuning out the shocked gasps and whispers. Annabeth’s stormy grey eyes landed on him, her face lighting up in shock.

Standing in front of the stage, he held out his hand and grinned as she slid off of the stage, landing in front of him. 

“What are you doing here?” Annabeth questioned, a smile spreading across her face. “Watching my wife celebrate her fourth New York Times Best Seller, of course,” Percy replied, watching the blush fill Annabeth’s cheeks as she took in his appearance. 

“Did you just come from the Chef Showdown ?” she exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest, the rings adorning her left hand glittering in the stage lights.

“Anything for the woman who changed my life,” Percy whispered, pulling her towards him and capturing her mouth in his. 

Percy smiled against his wife’s lips as she kissed him back, both of them ignoring the flashing phone cameras and cheers surrounding them. 

In his crazy, fame-filled world, Annabeth shined brighter than all of the cameras. 

She was his North Star, guiding him home and rewriting destiny.

[egnlotsc]

you think that i don't notice (but i do)

~~Percabeth AU where all Percy wants is to help out his mom but he soon finds himself stuck in a grocery store with a girl he can't stand (or so he thinks) and a full night ahead of him~~

9:33pm

Percy sighed into the receiver with barley-vailed exasperation. "Mom, I can't. Don't you have a car?"

Deep down, he felt terrible for the attitude he was pulling with his mother, but his day was getting worse and worse as each hour passed.

"Estelle's fever is getting worse, Percy, and Paul's meeting is running late. I wouldn't have called you if I was able to get the medicine myself."

A few seconds of internal debating led to his response, "Of course, Mom. I'll see you in an hour or so."

As he pulled the car into park, he mentally prepared for the late-night grocery rush of a Saturday night. It seemed there was a reason his city was nicknamed "The City that Never Sleeps".

After grabbing a cart and walking the long distance from his car, he immediately headed for the aisle near the back of the store that housed the medicine and health products, one he knew well due to the years he spent labeled as an "accident-prone" child, or at least that's what his mother liked to tell him.

When he entered the aisle, he was too preoccupied in his mission to notice the girl a few feet away from him, who had her head buried in her phone, heading straight towards him.

Just as he reached the shelf that held the medicine that matched his mother's overly specific description, he felt someone slam into his side.

It took Percy a few seconds to reorient himself and assess his situation, which lead to the discovery that his arms were currently wrapped around the waist of the girl who had crashed into him.

When he looked up at her from where she had landed on top of him, she looked slightly dazed before her gaze drifted to her phone lying a few feet away, the large crack in the glass visible from their position on the hard tile floor.

She scowled so fiercely it made him uneasy as she pushed herself off of him, scampering over to the device and scooping it up.

Spinning on her heel, she marched over to where he was still sprawled on the floor and leaned down, her startling grey eyes glaring daggers at him as she dangled her phone in his face. "Thanks a lot, jerk," she snarled.

Percy pulled himself off of the floor into a standing position, quickly realizing he was at least six inches taller than her, even with the white heels she was wearing.

He also took that time to take in the rest of her appearance. Her curly blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, complimenting the off-the-shoulder floral blouse and jeans she wore.

He held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you." She rolled her eyes at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course you didn't."

Percy narrowed his eyes at her, trying to gauge her motive. It wasn't every day random girls verbally assaulted him in the grocery store.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She huffed, looking him straight in the eye. "Wouldn't you like to know," she muttered, raking her gaze over him.

If there was one thing Percy didn't like, it was unjustified judgement - and this girl was dangerously close to crossing the line. "Look, I'm just trying to get medicine. Now if you wouldn't mind, you're in my way."

He hadn't meant for the sentence to come out in the way it did. Sally Jackson raised her son well, but he couldn't control the venom dripping off of the words. Something about this girl pulled it out of him.

The girl moved an inch to the side, crossing her arms defiantly. Percy rolled his eyes, moving past her to grab the box off of the shelf until he realized he could still feel her angered stare on his back.

He spun around, tucking the box under his arm. "What?" She laughed bitterly. "Nothing, nothing at all."

Percy had enough of this girl's superiority complex. He stepped closer to her, watching her eyes widen slightly as he approached.

"Just tell me what I could have possibly done to bother you, Princess." He spit the last word out, silently enjoying the indignation that flared across her face. "Don't call me that," she sneered, poking her finger into his chest.

"You're just so-so..." she trailed off, gesturing wildly at his form. He glanced down at his plain leather jacket before raising an eyebrow at her. "I'm not sure I follow."

She sighed angrily, and he could practically see the gears turning in her head.

She opened her mouth to reply when suddenly the lights switched off, and Percy suddenly registered the dead silence that followed. "What the..." he trailed off, his head swirling with questions.

The girl gasped, glancing down at her watch before stomping her heel. She gave him a look filled with such hatred he was surprised she didn't strangle him. "The store closes at ten, you idiot!" She exclaimed.

Percy took the time to glance down at his own watch, the numbers revealing the thirty minutes he had spent arguing with the girl a few feet away.

"Don't they normally clean at the end of the day?" Percy wondered aloud, momentarily forgetting the furious woman in front of him. He could hear the outrage as she replied.

"It's a holiday weekend, meaning the employees go home early and they clean on Monday night." He rolled his eyes at her deliberate, berating tone. "Right. Well, what are we going to do now? My sister needs this medicine."

In the dim light provided by the nearby freezer section, Percy could see the girl's expression soften slightly. Leave it to Estelle to have an impact on someone who doesn't even know her.

"Is...is she okay?" The girl's voice was timid, a complete one eighty from the anger laced through it not two minutes ago. He nodded in response. "She has a fever. My mom and stepdad weren't able to go to the store, so they asked me. But it looks as though she won't be receiving this medicine anytime soon."

A few seconds passed in silence before the girl gripped his hand, startling him. "C'mon," she exclaimed urgently, pulling him through the aisles and towards the front of the store.

They skidded to a stop in front of the large glass sliding doors. The girl stepped towards them, reaching out her hand. They waited for a moment before he could see her shoulders slump in defeat.

She turned to him, the regret evident on her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Percy resisted the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms - then immediately wondered where the thought came from.

He just met this girl thirty minutes ago, but something about her drew him in. He wanted to know more about her, even with the hostility she had shown him not ten minutes prior.

"It's alright," he replied honestly. He reached into his pocket to text him mother and tell her the news before cursing under his breath. The girl's head snapped up at the sound. "What's wrong?" She asked, the concern evident in her face. "I left my phone in my car."

She glanced at him regretfully before holding up her own phone. "And mine's dead. That's why I ran into you, I was trying to finish an email before it died."

He couldn't resist smirking at her words. "Ah, so you finally admit that you ran into me?" She scowled at him. "Don't push your luck, Mr. Leather Jacket," she quipped in response.

Percy's grin widened at the nickname. "Well, Princess, what do you suggest we do about this?" "Stop calling me that," she grumbled, glancing around the expansive space surrounding them. "We're just going to have to wait it out. I don't think anyone will come until around nine in the morning tomorrow."

He nodded, gesturing to an aisle that was illuminated by the light from the freezer section. "Let's sit down." She followed him, sitting across from him and tucking her legs underneath her. "So..." he began, unable to decide where the conversation should go.

"I think I should know your name if you want me to stop calling you Princess, no promises though." The slight smile that accompanied her reaction made the teasing worth it for him.

"I'm Annabeth," she replied, and Percy found himself letting the name slide off of his tongue. "Annabeth...that suits you."

She grinned slightly, eyeing him. "Only fair you tell me yours," she replied. "I'm Percy."

When her eyes sparkled in the dim light, Percy knew that this girl was someone he wanted to get to know.

12:48am

"Percy, where is the cookie dough ice cream?" Annabeth's voice reverberated through the empty store. Percy glanced up from his position crouched in front of the lawn chairs.

"Freezer section," he yelled in response, scooping two large chairs in his arms before making his way to where Annabeth was standing in front of one of the many freezers.

"I know that, smart-alek," she snipped, accepting the chair he handed her. "I meant which freezer. If I don't get ice cream, I'm going to have a meltdown."

He grinned at the borderline insane look on her face before pointing towards the freezer behind her, the ice cream container perched on the top shelf. Annabeth glanced at it and back at him, her predicament clear in her expression.

In response, Percy leaned against one of the shelves, crossing his arms across his chest and shooting her a challenging glace. She glared at him, causing his heart to flutter slightly.

He admitted that the past three hours with her had caused some feelings to emerge, but he chose to bury them. It didn't mean he couldn't tease her, though.

"Something wrong?" he asked, enjoying the exasperation in her expression. "No," Annabeth replied indignantly, spinning around and yanking the door open, lifting herself up onto her tippy-toes.

Percy watched with amusement as Annabeth tried her best to reach the top shelf, trying his hardest to ignore the curve of her waist as she stretched.

After a few more seconds of struggling, she stepped down and faced him, her face twisted in defeat accompanied by a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "Can you help?" She muttered, refusing to meet his gaze.

He smirked, walking up to the freezer and easily grabbing the container off of the shelf.

When Percy handed her the ice cream, Annabeth looked up at him, a stray curl falling into her eyes, and Percy could feel himself falling for her harder than he already was.

2:17am

Annabeth giggled loudly, her spoon scraping the bottom of the empty ice cream container as she smacked Percy in the arm. "I can't believe you said that to your teacher, Perce!"

He grinned in response, his gut hurting from laughing so hard. "You know me, I attract conflict," he drawled sarcastically, enjoying the way Annabeth rolled her eyes in retaliation.

"You wish you did." Annabeth yawned slightly, setting the container on the ground beside of her. "I have a meeting tomorrow at noon..." she trailed off, and Percy nodded in understanding.

"I wasn't able to find any blankets or sleeping bags that weren't packaged," he noted, eyeing Annabeth's reaction.

She sighed before gesturing towards the floor. "Well, at least I can cross 'slept on the floor of a grocery store' off of my bucket list," she quipped, eliciting a chuckle from Percy.

Percy allowed her to lie down first, not even bothering to hide the fact that he was watching the way she curled up, her heels abandoned by the chair she previously occupied.

He followed her motion, respectfully keeping his distance from her form. "Good night, Annabeth," he whispered, smiling when he heard a soft, "Night, Perce," in response.

4:29am

Percy awoke to a sound coming from near him. Glancing over, he noticed Annabeth's sleeping frame shaking as she curled further into herself. He quickly realized that she had no sweater or coat with her, and they were sleeping in the freezer section.

Percy didn't think before shrugging off his leather jacket - the same one she had made fun of hours before - and gently making his way over to where she was. He draped the jacket over her, smiling slightly when he realized it covered her entirely.

Percy wanted to pull her into him to keep her warm, but he resisted, moving back to his original spot. A few minutes had passed before he felt movement next to him and a soft voice whispered his name.

He turned on his side, glancing up at Annabeth's sleepy face framed by her curls. "I'm still cold," she whispered, a blush spreading across her face.

He smiled softly, opening his arms and watching her curl up against him, her head buried in his chest as his arms wrapped around her small waist.

Annabeth placed her hand on his chest, glancing up at him. "Thank you. For everything." Percy tightened his grip on her in response. "Of course, Beth."

She smiled sleepily before placing a feather-light kiss on his cheek. He spent the next few minutes lying awake as her intoxicating lemon scent surrounded him; her soft breathing filling the silence as he wondered how he got so lucky.

7:05am

Percy awoke with a warmth pressed against his side, and it took him a few moments to remember where he was. When he did, he couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face as he glanced down at the girl in his arms.

Annabeth had her back facing him, her fingers tangled with his with his leather jacket wrapped around her body. Suddenly, she shifted, her eyes fluttering open as she took in her surroundings.

When she glanced down at the arm curled around her waist, she turned around to face him, an adorable blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Hey," she whispered, and Percy grinned. "Hey, Princess." She smacked his chest weakly, grinning nonetheless. Annabeth sat up fully, before looking him in eye.

"Look...I know I already said it but thank you for staying with me. I don't do well on my own." He gently pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes before responding.

"Of course, Beth. It's not like I could have gone anywhere, anyway," he teased, causing her to glare at him slightly. "Shut up," she replied, but the malice in her words was nonexistent.

Their eyes locked and Percy felt the rightness of the situation all through him. He pulled her closer, taking in her sparking grey eyes, pink cheeks, and messy blonde hair.

He glanced down at Annabeth's lips, then back at her, hoping she could read the question written in his eyes. She looked up him before nodding, her lips spreading into a grin.

He slipped his arms around her waist, his hands brushing the skin underneath her blouse slightly as hers went around his neck. "You ready, Beth?" he whispered, enjoying the ways her eyes lit up. "Always," was all she could respond before his mouth settled over hers.

Percy's heart beat quicker as a soft sigh escaped her mouth before she threaded her fingers into his hair, making it more of a mess than it already was.

He cupped her cheek with one hand, deepening the kiss and gently biting her bottom lip. Her soft whimper that followed his movement caused him to grin into the kiss, before pulling her onto his lap fully and kissing her deeply.

Annabeth's hands continued to mess his hair as his slipped under her blouse slightly. She shivered, pulling herself closer to him and running a hand across his jaw.

She pulled back after a few moments and Percy took in her kiss-swollen lips and her dark pink cheeks, his face pulling into a soft dreamy smile that he didn't bother to disguise.

"Beth," he whispered, catching her gaze. "Do you want to go on a date with me? A real one." She grinned, pulling his mouth down to hers for another mind-numbing kiss that was too short in his opinion. "Of course, you idiot."

With that, he pulled her down next to him, peppering kisses over her face. "This has got to be the weirdest meet-cute in the history of meet-cutes, ever," she giggled and he smothered his grin in her neck, breathing in her lemony scent.

"But it lead me to you," he whispered, pressing his lips to hers.

9:17am

Percy placed a chaste kiss on his sister's head before kissing his mom's cheek in goodbye, shutting the door behind him.

He climbed into his car, turning towards Annabeth who sat in his passenger seat and grabbing her hand, a dreamy smile plastered on his face as they drove away.

~~~

9:55pm

"Percy, we have to hurry!" the girl exclaimed, gripping his hand as she pulled him through the aisles, the exasperation evident in her features.

Percy smiled at the familiarity of the situation, allowing his wife to tug him towards the medicine aisle. "We have five minutes until the store closes, and Charlie needs the medicine." "I know, Princess. We don't need a repeat of what happened five years ago," he winked at her, causing her to roll her eyes.

"Stop it, Perce. This is serious." Percy plucked the box off of the shelf, tucking it under his arm and slipping the other around Annabeth's waist as they rushed towards the check out.

11:37pm

Percy gently closed the bathroom door behind him, walking over to the drawer to grab a shirt.

He glanced up and his gaze landed on Annabeth's sleeping form in the bed, her curly blonde hair splayed across the pillow and one of his old shirts hanging off of her small frame. He grinned, pulling the shirt over his head and slipping under the covers.

Annabeth shifted beside him, turning to face him as a sleepy smile spread across her face. "I love you," she whispered, curling into his side.

Her left hand splayed across his chest, the soft light of the moon through the window catching on the glittering diamonds of her wedding rings.

Percy picked up her hand, kissing it before turning towards her, pulling her closer by the waist and kissing her thoroughly on the mouth.

He couldn't help but enjoy the way her soft lips moved against his, reminding him of all of those years ago on the floor of the grocery store.

"I love you too, Beth," he whispered before falling asleep with his wife beside him and their two-year old son fast asleep in the room across the hallway, his dream come true.

[egnlotsc]

honey, pick your poison (can i pick you?) - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU where Annabeth is forced to go camping with her father and Percy is her cocky, attractive tour guide who knows just how to get under her skin~~

“Camping?!” Piper exclaimed incredulously, twirling a strand of hair around her finger and narrowing her eyes at Annabeth.

Annabeth nodded, sighing as she fiddled with the straw of the iced coffee in front of her. “Yes, at a campground. My father can’t quite grasp the fact that I am no longer ten years old anymore.” 

“I’m surprised he even offered this trip in the first place,” Piper responded, a hint of indignation present in her tone. “He hasn’t acknowledged your presence for the past nine years.”

“I think my mom’s Europe trip last summer guilted him into it. They’re always competing for the role of ‘best absentee parent," Annabeth replied. 

With a knowing look, Piper reached out and squeezed Annabeth’s hand. “Well,” Annabeth stood up, gathering her drink and keys, “I guess it’s time to finish packing. I’ve been putting it off.” 

Piper smiled sympathetically as she followed Annabeth to the store’s entrance. “Ugh. Camping clothes. I couldn’t imagine wearing anything that isn’t bright and colorful. 

Annabeth laughed at her friend’s dramatic shudder, hooking her arm through Piper’s as they reached the parking lot. “Tell me about it. My father made sure to have his stylist bring me a stack of clothes. They’re all various shades of brown and green. I felt like a tree when I tried one of the outfits on.” 

Piper giggled, pulling Annabeth to her car. “C’mon, Anna. Let’s make the best of this.” Annabeth smiled, Piper’s determination rubbing off on her.

Who said she couldn’t turn this trip around? 

~~~

The minute the car pulled into the campground’s entrance, Annabeth felt her positive outlook sour at the scene before her.

Her mother would sometimes go on “glamping” trips with her college friends, and Annabeth had created an image in her head filled with massive tents decorated with flowers, pillows, and fairy lights. 

This was a far cry from her vision; with its sprawling acres of woods accompanied by wood cabins, bonfires, and a handful of small tents littered around the property.

She watched as children splashed in a large lake near the cabins, their parents grilling or lounging by the nearby fire. 

“Isn’t this wonderful, Annabeth?” Frederick exclaimed, gesturing at the property with a wide grin. “Fresh mountain air and a chance to connect with nature!”

Annabeth could only nod in response, already dreading the next seven days. “Yes, dad, it’s very…pretty.” Her father shot her a look, climbing out of the car and opening the trunk.

Undoing her seatbelt, Annabeth stepped out, her heels immediately sinking into the dirt below her. Scowling, she pried her feet from the ground and carefully walked to where her father stood. 

“Annabeth, do you really need this many clothes?” He asked, gesturing to her two full-sized suitcases spread out in front him. “I wanted options,” was her only reply, grasping a suitcase in each hand and making her way towards a large wooden building with a sign reading “Commons” adorning its entrance. 

Annabeth knew she was out of place the moment she stepped foot into the Commons’ main room, staring up in awe at the seemingly endless ceiling and dozens of deer heads decorating the walls.

A massive chandelier made of wooden logs hung in the center of the building, shining down on a circular seating area complete with a fireplace and tree trunks serving as tables. 

Her heels clicked across the floor as she made her way to the front desk, ignoring all of the eyes trained on her. Annabeth was used to attention, as she had spent her childhood attending various charity dinners and cocktail parties with her world-famous architect mother. This, however, was a different type of attention. 

Clearing her throat, she smoothed her skirt and smiled at the skeptical concierge behind the ornate wooden desk. “Hello, I’m here to check-in!” “You don’t have to check in,” the concierge responded, bemusement written across his face. 

Annabeth could feel her confidence slipping as she glanced around the room, her gaze landing on the various signs stating “No Check-In Required”. “Just find the cabin number that was given to you when you booked," he continued, a placating smile resting on his lips. 

Footsteps resounded behind Annabeth, a hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “I apologize, sir. This is her first time camping,” Frederick exclaimed, earning a glare from Annabeth. “It’s no problem, sir. We always welcome newcomers.” 

“One of our tour guides will show you to your cabin and go over your itinerary for the next three days,” the concierge - whose name tag read George - explained, gesturing to the seating area nearby. “He is currently on his way. You are welcome to the coffee bar in the meantime.” 

“Finally, something I can get behind,” Annabeth thought to herself, making her way to the coffee bar as her father continued conversing with George. 

Annabeth had just picked up a handful of sweetener packets, emptying their contents into her cup when a voice sounded from behind her, causing her yelp in surprise.

“I think your coffee is sweet enough.” Annabeth spun around, coming face to face with a cocky smirk, deep green eyes, and jet-black hair. 

Glaring at the boy in front of her, Annabeth did her best to focus on anything other than his muscular arms crossed over his chest or the smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks.

"Excuse me?” Annabeth replied, glancing down at the small mound of sugar at the bottom of the cup. “I like it sweet.”

Raising an eyebrow, the boy swept his gaze over her, eliciting a warm blush to spread across her cheeks at his scrutiny. He narrowed his eyes at her shoes, looking back up at her.

“You do know you’re at a campground, right?” His condescending tone lit a spark in Annabeth, her glare sharpening. “I am well aware, thank you very much. I am an expert at walking in heels.” 

The boy laughed, the sound grating on Annabeth’s nerves. “We’ll see about that.” Annabeth crossed her arms across her chest, surveying him.

She realized in that moment he was wearing a uniform of sorts, dark black jeans paired with a tight polo shirt embroidered with the campground’s logo. A name tag identical to the concierge’s was pinned to his chest, “Percy” etched onto the surface. 

Percy smirked at her incredulous expression before speaking. “I’m assuming you’re Annabeth?” The way her name rolled off of his tongue cause butterflies to flap in her stomach, which she tried her hardest to shoo away.

There was no chance in hell she could be attracted to this cocky, egotistical boy standing before her. 

“Who’s asking?” Annabeth responded, raising her chin in defiance. “Your tour guide,” Percy deadpanned, watching in amusement as horror filled Annabeth’s expression. Annabeth opened her mouth to reply when her father’s voice cut her off. 

“This must be our tour guide!” Percy’s cocky smirk transformed into a sweet smile at her father’s words.

Annabeth watched in unabashed anger as Percy charmed her father, his demeanor one of a sweet, polite teenage boy instead of the one Annabeth had witnessed just moments prior. 

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your cabin,” Percy began, his gaze catching on Annabeth as she trailed behind her father, clutching her coffee cup so tightly it was a wonder it didn’t crumple in her hands. 

“Your first activity of the day will be a guided bird-watching tour by the camp’s resident expert, followed by a hike in the woods where you’ll be able to see all different kinds of wildlife. Later tonight…” 

Annabeth tuned out Percy’s voice as she contemplated the best way to get out of these activities. Her father had failed to mention this was a guided camping experience until halfway through the ride to the campsite. 

This week was going to be the death of her. 

~~~

“Perce!” Jason’s voice echoed throughout the staff lounge, jerking Percy out of thoughts. “What’s going on, man?” Jason questioned, his piercing gaze trained on Percy. “You’ve been distracted all evening.”

“It’s probably that hot New York chick he’s guiding this week,” Leo piped up, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“Shut up, Leo,” Percy grumbled, tossing a french fry at his friend’s head. Jason spun around, the controller dangling from his hand.

“Hot New York chick?” Percy rolled his eyes at his friends, running a hand through his messy black hair. “Both of you can shut up.”

Leo shook his head, a shit-eating grin spread across his face. “No can do, Perce!” Jason raised an eyebrow, training his eyes on Percy.

“What’s this about a New York girl?” Percy sighed, trying his hardest to ignore the way her image in his head made him feel. 

“It’s nothing to write home about,” Percy responded, trying for nonchalance. “Her and her father are my tour for this week. Nothing special, just giving them the generic bird-watching, hiking, and canoeing tour.”

Leo slid onto the couch next to him, swinging an arm around Percy’s shoulders. “Percy forgot to mention that’s she gorgeous.” 

Glaring at his friend, Percy freed himself from Leo and paced around the room, ignoring his friends’ knowing looks.

The only thing playing through his mind was Annabeth - her long, blonde curls that fell down her back, the way her tight pink sundress hugged her figure, its skirt swishing around her legs, and the click of her bright pink heels against the tile of the Commons. 

She was all-consuming, despite her stuck-up, stuffy city girl exterior. The way her sharp grey eyes shined as she countered all of his quick remarks played on repeat in his head, her soft vanilla scent still evident in the air around him - or maybe that was just in his head. 

The only thing that Percy knew for sure was that he had to keep his distance from Annabeth.

She was dangerous for his senses, and he had vowed to steer clear of distractions after his dad passed away two summers prior. 

Percy had long since placed the idea of love far in the back of his mind, the memory of his mom’s sleepless, tear-filled nights fresh in his mind.

He knew deep down he couldn’t handle facing the same heartbreak she had, building carefully-constructed walls around his heart and closing the doors for good. 

His newfound jaded, dark personality had kept most girls away from him, which is exactly what he wanted.

As long as he continued to play his role as the cold, egotistical teenage boy he was skilled at, Annabeth would be a distant memory by the end of the three days. 

But deep down, Percy knew it wouldn’t be as easy as he kept telling himself to stay away from Annabeth Chase and her New York charm. 

~~~

Annabeth closed the final drawer of the dresser, surveying the space before her. Her room consisted of a queen-sized four-poster bed with a frame made of wooden logs, a mahogany dresser and nightstand, and a small bathroom tucked into the corner.

Her father stepped into the room holding a small green pamphlet. “There’s a bird-watching tour in about a half an hour, as Percy mentioned earlier.”

Annabeth grimaced at the mention of his name, her previous anger reemerging. “Let’s get ready and we can head out together." 

Annabeth opened her mouth to decline before realizing she didn’t have anything better to do. “Sure,” she replied, sighing. “At least it’s not canoeing or horseback riding.” Frederick smiled widely, gesturing to the cabin’s door. 

“I’ll meet you on the porch in fifteen minutes. Remember, it’s outdoors, so dress appropriately,” Frederick continued. Annabeth looked down at her outfit, shaking her head.

“I see nothing wrong with this,” she grumbled to herself, turning on her heel towards her dresser. 

Annabeth surveying the various dresses, blouses, and skirts neatly folded inside. She knew enough about the outdoors to know walking long distances wouldn’t be easy in a skirt, but a nice, summery dress would do the trick and still allow her to express her penchant for fashion. 

No matter where she was, Annabeth found a way to incorporate style into any situation.

Whatever her father or Percy thought be damned, Annabeth knew just what she was in for. 

~~~

Thirty minutes later, Annabeth and her father walked side-by-side down a wooded trail, the soft ground crunching beneath her purple flats.

A pair of binoculars hung around her neck, a notebook clutched in one hand and her cell phone in the other.

She had just found a bar of signal to respond to Piper’s text when a commanding voice addressed the group. “Hello, everyone, and welcome to Sunset Peak’s birdwatching tour!”

Annabeth glanced up front beyond the people in front of her, her gaze landing on a young guy around her age with bright blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. 

“My name is Jason and I am the camp’s resident avian expert and current undergraduate student in wildlife studies. I will be leading your tour today…” 

Annabeth tuned Jason’s voice out as she glanced at her surroundings, preparing herself for the boredom that awaited her. 

The trail was standard, a straight shot through a line of massive trees on either side, the leaves creating a cover and casting a speckled shadow over the path.

Just beyond the tree line, a large body of water was visible, glimmering in the afternoon sunlight. 

Annabeth took in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air and soft warmth of the sun on her skin.

Lifting her binoculars to her eyes, she scanned the trees, spotting a few sparrows perching on branches. 

She had just spied a particularly colorful bird when her binoculars caught glimpse of a body slicing through the lake, arms lifting in and out of the water as they swam laps in a small area. 

Annabeth watched in wonder as the person expertly navigated the waters of the lake. A head lifted out of the water, and the man ran a hand through his jet-black hair, shaking the water out of it. 

Shock coursed through Annabeth as she realized who the mystery swimmer was. “Percy?” she whispered to herself, lowering her binoculars. She hadn’t expected him to be such a strong swimmer, but it made sense for someone who worked at a campground. 

Once again, Percy had built permanent residence in Annabeth’s mind, images of him flashing before her eyes and painting her cheeks with an unwanted blush. 

“Stop it,” she spit out, pinching her arm. “You cannot afford to have feelings for someone, much less an egotistical prick like Percy.” 

But deep down, Annabeth knew she couldn’t avoid her feelings for the jaded boy whom she would be stuck with for the next three days. 

~~~

Percy slid onto the log next to Jason, taking a sip from the cup of hot chocolate he held. “How was the bird tour?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at Jason.

Jason smirked, sliding his phone into his pocket and turning to face Percy. “Want to know about a certain someone?” he teased, elbowing Percy. 

Percy scowled, shaking his head. “I don’t care about her, Jase. Just making conversation.” Jason grinned broadly, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Sure, Perce, whatever you say,” he teased. 

Percy opened his mouth to respond when a crunch of footsteps sounded from behind him, leading Jason to turn around.

A grin similar to Leo’s from earlier formed on his face as his eyes followed a figure in Percy’s peripheral. 

“New York chick,” Jason whispered, that stupid smirk never disappearing. Percy tried not to react to his friend’s words, tried to ignore the magnitude of her presence nearby.

He barely knew this girl, yet the minute she walked into a room he couldn’t keep her out of his mind. Turning his head slightly, Percy took in her soft yellow sundress that highlighted her figure just right, her hair bouncing around her shoulders as if she was the star of some shampoo commercial. They were in the woods, for crying out loud. 

“Careful, Perce. You’re going to make her think you’re some stalker if you keep staring the way you are.” Percy’s gaze snapped back to his friend. “I am not staring. I was just looking.” 

“Mhm, whatever you say, man. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some s’mores to make with Leo. We’re competing to see who can put the most marshmallows on one. Loser has to swim laps in bear cove.” 

Percy shook his head at his friends’ stupidity, his traitorous eyes drifting back to Annabeth, who stood by the s’mores table, studying its contents. Before he could stop himself, Percy stood up and made his way over to her. 

“It’s called a s’more,” he teased, watching as Annabeth spun around, a scowl already fixed on her face. Percy clenched his fist in an effort to not react to how stunning she was when angry. 

“I know what a s’more is, Percy.” Grinning, he picked up a marshmallow, stabbing it onto the end of a metal stick. “Wasn’t sure, City Girl.”

Annabeth huffed, gripping the graham cracker in her hand so tight he was surprised it didn’t crumble into thousands of pieces. 

“City Girl? Really?” her voice was sharp as she placed a couple of marshmallows onto her plate. “That���s what you are, isn’t it?” 

Annabeth stepped closer to him, close enough for her perfume to permeate his senses again. “That’s not all I am, Country Boy,” she retorted, walking towards the fire.

The anger in Annabeth’s expression deepened when he sat down next to her on a log. 

Her arm brushed up against Percy as she held her stick out towards the fire, goosebumps spreading down his arm in response.

“Don’t you have some stargazing tour to lead?” Annabeth questioned after a few moments of silence. 

Chuckling, Percy reached out and laid his hand on top of hers, rotating her stick so her marshmallow wouldn’t burn.

Annabeth’s cheeks filled with pink as she watched his movements, her grey eyes wide. 

“You have to turn it, otherwise the marshmallow would burn. It’s all in the wrist movement.” Annabeth remained silent, studying him as she pulled the marshmallow out of the fire, its golden-brown crust evident in the soft light of the bonfire.

“Perfect,” she whispered, looking up at him. Percy could feel his world shift at this one glance. He could feel himself falling into the depths of her eyes, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her skin.

He stood up abruptly, wiping his hands of the crumbs clinging to them. 

“Have a good night, City Girl. Don’t get lost on the way back.” Percy could feel Annabeth’s eyes on him as he walked away, faster than he meant to. The effect she had on him was more than he could handle. 

She was magnetic, drawing him into something he couldn’t climb back out of.

~~~

Annabeth scooted her pancake around her plate, the fork scraping against the bottom of it as she stared off into space. She couldn’t get the interaction with Percy the night prior out of her mind. 

The way he looked at her, the way he touched her hand, the way he abruptly turned cold and ran away…none of it made sense.

She hadn’t felt such an instant connection, whether it be good or bad, with someone before. 

“What are we doing today?” she asked, looking at her dad who sat across from her, typing away on his laptop. “It’s the big hike today,” he responded, sliding the pamphlet across the table in her direction.

“It’s eight miles long and will last all day, around six hours of walking with stops in between. We’re going to see hundreds of different wildlife and foliage!” 

Holding back a comment in protest, Annabeth opened the pamphlet and flipped through the pages until she landed on the spread titled “All-Day Hike: An Outdoor Adventure To Remember!”

Her father’s descriptions of the hike were sprawled across the pages, her stomach sinking with each word she read. 

Annabeth hadn’t signed up for this trip, and she sure as hell hadn’t signed up for a six-hour hike through the middle of nowhere.

“I can just stay back at the cabin, make sure no bears break in,” she replied, closing the pamphlet and setting it down on the table. 

Frederick glanced up at her, his expression stern as he adjusted his glasses. “You’re coming with. I paid for both of us to participate in this trip. It will be good for you.”

Annabeth sighed heavily, scooping up her plate and depositing it in the sink. “We’ll see about that,” she replied, making her way to her bedroom. 

“What have I gotten myself into?” she exclaimed, sinking down onto the mattress. Six hours hiking in the heat, with Percy as their guide?

She hadn’t missed his name in the pamphlet, listed under the “Guides” section.

According to the blurb about him, Percy had worked at the camp for three years and had been a participant since he was five years old.

He had history with this place, which made him even more of an enigma she couldn’t keep out of her head. 

Now, she was going to spend the next six hours avoiding him at all costs and trying not to get lost along the way. 

“Here we go,” Annabeth muttered, pulling open a drawer and searching through her clothes for the perfect outfit for a six hour hike. 

~~~

The late-morning sun danced across Annabeth’s skin as the group made their way deeper into the forest, the sounds of various animals filling the air along with the crunch of the ground under everyone’s feet. 

She had spent the past forty-five minutes ignoring Percy’s presence at the front of the group, pretending to be engrossed in the hiking booklet they were given at the beginning of the activity. 

Annabeth had been pleased to learn that there was a “checkpoint” of sorts every hour that had a food and water station.

At least she wouldn’t be hungry or thirsty on this modern-day torture method disguised as a hike. 

Percy’s voice floated in her direction, his commanding tone evident in the speech he was currently making about the history of the trail they were on. 

After the longest fifteen minutes of Annabeth’s life, they finally reached the first checkpoint. 

Annabeth made her way over to the small table covered in water bottles and various snacks, scooping up a bag of trail mix and digging in.

Setting her bag down, she leaned against the table and checked her phone, a chuckle escaping her at the photo Piper had sent of her and Rachel at the mall, wearing ridiculous outfits. 

Annabeth had just finished off the last cashew when the other tour guide, Leo, began to speak.

“Okay, folks, let’s continue this adventure! We are going to head off onto the next offshoot of the trail, known as the rainbow trail due to its colorful foliage and wildlife.” 

Annabeth threw away her wrapper in the trashcan next to the table and joined the group, steeling herself for the next five hours. 

It was thirty minutes later when Annabeth realized she was not, in fact, wearing her backpack.

“Shit,” she exclaimed, causing the people in front of her to turn around and stare. “Sorry,” Annabeth whispered. 

“Dad,” she whispered, “I forgot my backpack at the last checkpoint!” Frederick sighed, gesturing behind them. “Go get it, before it gets too far away. 

“Yes,” she replied quickly, already spinning around. “I’ll be back,” she called behind her, speed-walking away from the group and into the unknown. 

~~~

Percy had just finished telling an elderly couple about the life cycle of caterpillars when he realized with a start he hadn’t seen Annabeth in over an hour.

He had began the hike stealing glimpses of her every few minutes, unable to keep his gaze away from her captivating blue sundress and the blue bow fluttering behind her in the soft breeze. 

Scanning the group, she was nowhere to be seen, the space next to her father empty.

Excusing himself, Percy made his way to where Frederick Chase was standing, scribbling in a journal. 

“Mr. Chase, do you know where Annabeth is? Just trying to keep a headcount.” Frederick looked at him, his expression neutral. “She left her backpack at the last checkpoint. She went back to get it.” 

Fear coursed through Percy as he stared wide-eyed at the man in front of him. “How long ago did she leave?”

“Around fifteen minutes ago. She should be on her way back now, but knowing Annabeth, she probably is taking her time trying to find a signal for her phone.”

Surprised at Annabeth’s father’s apathy toward the situation, Percy dashed over to Leo and whispered, “Annabeth is missing. Take over the group for me. Don’t let the others know she’s gone.” 

Leo nodded, his gaze determined. “Be safe, Perce.” “Don’t worry, man. I know these woods like the back of my hand.” Percy spun on his heel, his gaze set on the horizon. 

Despite his willingness to stay away from Annabeth, he wasn’t about to let her put herself in danger. 

Fifteen minutes passed uneventfully as Percy made his way backwards on the trail, calling out Annabeth’s name in hopes she’d hear.

He had just passed one of the trail’s offshoots when a crunch of leaves resounded, causing Percy to whip his head towards the sound.

“Annabeth?” he called, stepping closer to the offshoot. More crunching sounded in response, drawing Percy deeper into the woods.

Unclipping his flashlight from his belt, he held it in his hand, ready to turn it on when the tree cover became too dark to let any light shine through. 

Percy kept making his way forward, shifting slightly left or right based on where the crunching sound was coming from.

Eventually, he had ventured so far into the forest that he had no idea what direction he was headed in. 

He was about to call out her name again when a muffled voice interrupted the silence. “Hello?” “Annabeth!” Percy yelled, turning left sharply towards the sound.

“Percy?” Annabeth exclaimed, emerging from behind a nearby tree. 

Relief flooded Percy’s body as he ran towards her, taking in her messy ponytail and dirt-stained blue dress, her makeup smudged under her eyes and her cheeks pink from the sun.

“Oh my God, Annabeth,” Percy exclaimed, coming to a stop inches away from her. “You found me,” she whispered, her grey eyes wide in fear. “I thought I was done for.” 

“Oh, Annabeth,” was all Percy could manage, reaching out slightly before stopping himself. “Are you hurt?” he asked, clearing his throat.

“Just a few scratches,” Annabeth replied, pulling up the hem of her dress to reveal a few long, red scratches on her right thigh. 

Ignoring the heat filling his cheeks at the sight, Percy reached out and gently touched Annabeth’s leg, running his thumb across her skin.

“Once we get back I’ll grab the first aid kit from Leo. I was too worried about finding you to remember to bring it.” “I’m just glad you found me,” she responded, smoothing out her dress. 

Percy sighed, glancing up at the sky. “It’s starting to get dark. We should start heading back now before we lose the light. It’s going to take a while to make it back, you really put us out of the way of the main camp on your little adventure.” 

Glowering at him, Annabeth rubbed her arms, looking around. “Why is it so cold? It’s July,” she muttered. Percy barked out an incredulous laugh, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed in anger at his reaction. 

“Welcome to the woods, City Girl. The tree covering is blocking any remaining heat from the sunset.” 

Rolling her eyes, Annabeth stood up and brushed off her skirt with unveiled aggression. “There’s no way you find any of this enjoyable,” she muttered and turned her back to Percy. 

“If you hadn’t gotten yourself lost, you could be in a warm bed right about now,” Percy retorted, watching in amusement as Annabeth whirled around to face him, her grey eyes sparkling with anger. 

“You really know how to be an asshole, Percy,” Annabeth replied, her expression hard as she crossed her arms over her chest. Percy averted his gaze, clenching his fists in an effort not to react to the movement. 

“There’s a difference between honesty and being an asshole,” Percy responded, stepping forward until their faces were inches apart; a soft dusting of freckles visible across Annabeth’s nose and drawing Percy’s attention. 

Annabeth scoffed, a moment of silence passing between them before she finally spoke, her expression unreadable. “You can’t take me seriously.” 

Raising an eyebrow, Percy glanced over her outfit before replying. “I don’t tend to take people seriously who wear dresses and bows on an eight-mile hike.” “Are you complaining?” Annabeth snipped in reply. 

Percy watched as her cheeks filled with blush at her own words, her fists clenched tightly by her sides. "No,” he replied after a moment. “I’m not. However, you can’t blame me for judging you. You did get lost in the woods on your first hike.” 

The familiar annoyance and anger returned to Annabeth’s face as she leaned forward slightly, her vanilla perfume filling the area around them. 

“If I hadn’t been dragged on this stupid hike by my absentee father, I wouldn’t have gotten lost in the first place, and I wouldn’t be stuck in the damn woods with the world’s biggest asshole,” she snipped, her eyes shining with fury.

Percy smirked, her anger only serving to make him further attracted to the girl in front of him. “That’s a lot of “if’s’,” he whispered, their faces mere inches apart from each other. 

“God, you’re infuriating,” Annabeth exclaimed, opening her mouth to speak further when Percy’s sense of self-control abandoned him, his arm reaching out and pulling her against his chest; the soft material of her sundress at her waist warm against his hand. 

“Am I really?” Percy asked, waiting. Waiting for a sign.

~~~

Annabeth’s heart was beating impossibly fast as she registered Percy’s arm around her waist, his forest-green eyes wide and his messy black hair perfectly tousled despite the day’s events. 

This boy was sensory overload, breaking down her walls and working his way right into her heart. She knew her anger was simply a facade, poorly concealing her strong attraction for her tour guide. 

As Percy kept his gaze trained on her, Annabeth struggled to hold back the feelings she’d been fighting since the first time she’d laid her eyes on him, at the coffee bar in the Commons.

“You’re infuriating as hell,” Annabeth whispered, and that was all she could manage to say before his lips landed on hers, his hands grasping onto her sides as hers intertwined into his impossibly soft hair. 

Groaning softly, Percy guided them backwards until his back was against the tree behind him, pulling Annabeth against his toned chest and deepening their kiss.

Annabeth smiled against Percy’s mouth as his hands trailed up and down her sides, his fingers mapping every inch of her waist and hips. 

She feverishly kissed him back, his tongue sliding across her bottom lip in response. It was only when she felt as if her lungs couldn’t hold any more air that she pulled back, the remnants of her ponytail falling into her face and the strap of her dress sliding down her shoulder. 

A few moments passed in silence as they both caught their breath, the reality of the past two minutes washing over them.

“I-I’m so sorry,” Annabeth whispered, beginning to step away. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. 

“Don’t apologize for the best two minutes of my entire life,” Percy whispered, Annabeth’s cheeks warming at his words.

“Are you sure about that, Country Boy? It’s not the first time you rode a horse, or swam in the lake?” Percy smiled softly, shaking his head. 

“You are the best thing this camp has brought me, despite how much you drive me crazy, Annabeth.” Butterflies filling her stomach, Annabeth glanced down at her hands; a smile spread across her face. 

In that moment, Annabeth knew she had found something real, something tangible.

Something a lot like love. 

~~~

“Alright everyone,” Percy exclaimed, guiding the group towards the Commons with practiced ease. “We have made it back to home base. Feel free to explore from here, and if you have any questions, I will stick around for a few more minutes to answer them!” 

Chatter broke out among the group as families decided where to head to next. Percy had just slid his phone out of his pocket to check what time his next tour was when a voice broke through his focused silence.

“Excuse me, I have a question?” Percy glanced up, his gaze falling on a woman standing a few feet away, a dark-haired toddler perched on her hip. 

The woman’s blonde hair fell in soft curls over her shoulders, her grey eyes calculative as she made her way to where Percy was standing.

The little boy on the woman’s hip smiled happily as they approached, babbling incoherently. 

The woman paid no mind to the boy’s actions as she stood distractingly close to Percy, her vanilla perfume overtaking his senses and his ability to think clearly. 

“I’m looking for the camp director,” the woman began, leveling her gaze with Percy. Holding back a smile, Percy crossed his arms over his chest.

“You found him,” he replied, enjoying the spark that lit in the woman’s eye at his words. 

Stepping forward, the woman smiled knowingly as Percy’s gaze slid down her body. “It’s unprofessional to check out clientele,” the woman remarked, her pink cheeks giving away just how much Percy was affecting her. 

“Not when they share my last name,” Percy replied, reaching out and sliding his arm around his wife’s waist, pulling her against his chest.

Her hand came to rest on his chest, her wedding rings glittering in the warm light of the chandelier above them. 

“Dada!” the toddler in her arms exclaimed, reaching out towards Percy.

His heart filled with warmth as he looked at his family, kissing his son on the head before capturing Annabeth’s lips with his, enjoying the soft sigh she let out as he deepened the kiss. 

Percy had found his home after years of searching, and he couldn’t have asked for more.

[egnlotsc]

i got a spark in me - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth can't stand her project partner until a stack of papers and a broken elevator reveal feelings Annabeth had never seen coming~~

Annabeth sighed wearily as she chugged the last of her coffee, barely holding onto the stack of folders she clutched against her side as she stepped into the elevator, sinking into the corner after the pressing her floor's button.

"Thank God," she muttered as she surveyed the empty space, soft piano music drifting through the silence.

Annabeth cherished the five-minute elevator ride each morning up to the 60th floor of the architecture firm. She wouldn't give up her job for anything, but there were days when she wanted to quit on the spot and punch her project partner in the face for being insufferable and lazy, and today was one of those days.

Annabeth had stayed up until three in the morning the prior night finishing her project partner's half of his quarterly report, which in his typical fashion he chose to put off until the last minute.

When she had texted him about it over her rapidly-cooling plate of ramen noodles the evening before, even though it was a week before the project was due, he had simply responded with a "I'll get it done, princess," to which she chucked her phone across the kitchen, watching silently as it slammed against the wall and fell to the floor with a loud crash.

She glanced down at said phone, ignoring the large crack in its surface, rolling her eyes at the how ridiculously early it was. Just as the doors were about to slide shut, leaving Annabeth to relish the silence and peace, a hand stuck through the small gap, effectively stopping the door's retreat.

Annabeth resisted the urge to scream in frustration, sinking even further back into the corner and burying her head in her phone.

She vaguely registered a person step into the already-cramped space until they exclaimed in an all-too-familiar deep, teasing voice, "Same floor! Would you look at that, princess."

Annabeth flinched at the use of the nickname, grating her teeth in an attempt to reign in her growing anger. "We're project partners, idiot. Of course we're going to the same floor."

Her eyes met his sparkling green ones as a smirk spread across his face. He raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

Annabeth clenched her fists, gripping onto the metal bar behind her with a strength she didn't know she had.

"Oh, we're talking about beds, are we? How about we talk about the fact that I waited three hours for you to tell me you finished your half of the project, and when you didn't, I had to sacrifice three whole hours of my sleep to finish it for you?"

She could see the confusion take over his features, and something else followed it - hurt? Anger? Before ultimately settling on anger.

But she didn't have time to dwell on it before he spoke up, dragging a hand through his perpetually-messy raven hair. "Typical. You always do this," he muttered. "Excuse me? I always do what?"

Annabeth's voice raised slightly as she stepped towards him. He rolled his eyes. "Jump to conclusions. Decide that your work is better than anyone else's and do it for them because they couldn't possibly do it better than Little Miss Perfect."

She gasped, tightening her grip on her the stack of papers she still clutched, certain they were wrinkled from her death grip on them.

"What did you just call me?" He sneered in response, stepping closer to her. She tried her hardest to ignore his intoxicating scent - a delicious ocean scent that made her weak in the knees. "Little. Miss. Perfect," he replied, bridging the gap between them with each word.

She glared at him. "Lazy, infuriating, slacker," she shot back, poking her finger into his surprisingly well-toned chest. She once again saw something flash across his gaze, but this time, there was unfamiliar undertone that followed.

He scowled, leaning down and fishing something out of his backpack sitting by feet. She barely had time to register what he was doing before a flash of white shot into her vision, landing with a decisive plop at her feet.

She could make out the title to his half of the report spread across of the top, and the scattered pile revealed just how long it was - past the required page count. She stared at it for a moment before slowly lifting her gaze, looking to his eyes.

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Guess you have a decision to make," he clipped, gesturing to the papers in her arm. "Trust me or implement your failsafe."

She straightened at his words, huffing indignantly as she brushed a lock of blonde hair out of her face that was falling out of her impossibly messy braid.

"Failsafe?" she scoffed, watching his eyes light with a fire that made her heart flutter - no, fill with contempt and hatred, that's what she meant.

"Yes, failsafe. Your favorite method. Since you can't seem to look past your own pride," he replied. "I can't believe how unbelievably-" A loud thud resounded in the elevator, cutting off the rest of her shout.

A delayed jolt caused her to violently lurch sideways, slamming against the wall. She sat up with a renewed purpose, the adrenaline overriding her soon-to-be throbbing hip. He still stood there, only having moved an inch or so to latch onto the metal bar next to them.

She scowled at him, marching over to the button panel. "What the Hades just happened?" she half-screamed, jabbing at random buttons so vigorously she was surprised she hadn't shattered the glass covering them.

"The elevator stopped," a voice came from behind her, and she stomped her heel, whirling around to face him. "I got that, genius. What are we supposed to do now? I can't be late, but I'm sure you could."

He rolled his eyes at her comment, sauntering up to the panel and pressing a large red button labeled "Emergency" in a much calmer manner than she had done moments prior.

A moment later, it beeped, and he picked up the small hand-held telephone she seemed to have overlooked, glancing at her with a smug smile as he waited for a moment before speaking.

"Yes, the elevator just stopped in the middle of the ride, and it won't move again." He glanced up at the frozen display above the panel. "Floor 34," he replied. "Yes, it's just myself and my project partner," he answered, shooting her a look to which she responded with a scowl.

He hung up the phone a second later, pointedly stepping into her line of vision to force her to hold his gaze. "Thirty minutes." He held up a hand to silence her protests. "She's calling our boss. For now, you're stuck with me."

She rolled her eyes skyward, taking a deep breath. "Whatever. Now, if I remember correctly, we were discussing your comments on my hard work."

He sighed, shoving a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "Like I said," he began, glancing down at the papers still scattered across the floor from earlier. "You have a decision to make."

Her anger flared with new purpose as she stepped back in front of him, glaring up at his tall frame. "I have no such decision to make, Jackson. Don't get some fantasy in your head."

His eyes danced with enmity as he held her gaze. "Fantasy, huh, princess?" She stomped her foot, the clack of her heel echoing off of the tiled floor.

"That is not what I meant! Now if you'd actually do something for once in your life, and stop being a infuriating-" She was cut off again, but this time by a twisted mix of her worst possible nightmare and her favorite dream.

She barely had time to take a breath before she was suddenly being pushed against the elevator's wall, her back digging into the metal bar as his eyes caught hers, a silent question dancing in their depths.

She barely processed her nod before his lips slammed against hers, causing her to gasp sharply as he smiled against her lips. One of his hands dug into her hair, causing her braid falling apart, while the other rested on her waist as he pulled her closer.

Overcoming her shock, she began to kiss him back feverishly, her hand playing with his hair as his lips moved against hers. She wasn't sure how much time passed before she pulled back, gasping for breath, her face burning and her heart beating wildly.

He bit his lip, and it took everything in her not to pull him back down for another go-around. "What," she gasped, "-was that?" He smirked, his hand still firmly wrapped around her waist.

"The only way to get you to stop yelling at me," he whispered, his lips inches from hers.

She bit her own lip, wincing at the pain from the bruises that were sure to be forming. But she shook it off, dropping her stack of crinkled papers that she still held to the floor and watched as they scattered on the floor, mingling with the ones he had thrown down.

"We have a week," she whispered, enjoying the ways his eyes stayed fixed to her lips as she talked. "Until the project is due. What do you say that we change it up a bit? Work on it together."

Her ability to form complete sentences flew out the window when she was around him, but oddly, she didn't mind - not after that kiss.

Don't get her wrong, he was still the most infuriating, annoying, aggravating person on Earth, but Styx, did he know how to kiss. Maybe she was wrong about him. He had done his half of the project, after all.

Percy grinned, his chuckle sending butterflies flapping away in her stomach. "Thank you, princess," he whispered, tilting his head. "For trusting me." She smiled before throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him back down for another breathtaking kiss.

When the firefighters arrived twenty minutes later, it took all it had in her to pull away from him. She couldn't keep the grin off of her face, intertwining their fingers and squeezing his hand as the doors slid open.

~~~

Annabeth absently stirred the pot on the stove, her mind wandering as she tapped her foot to the rhythm of the soft music floating in from the nursery.

She had just turned off the stove when she heard the front door unlock, biting her lip as a smile broke out on her face.

Not a moment later, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, and she giggled, turning around and burying her face in his neck. "You're home," she whispered, enjoying the way his arms tightened around her before he pulled back and studied her.

The look of pure adoration and love in his eyes as his gaze traveled over her outfit - his old t-shirt that hung off of her small frame, the edges of her black gym shorts peeking out from under its hem - made her heart flutter uncontrollably.

"Hey, princess," Percy whispered, pulling her into a kiss that never failed to make her blush like a schoolgirl with a crush. She smiled as he pulled away, kissing him on the cheek before turning around and pulling the pot off of the stove.

"Go away before the food gets too cold," she whined, pushing his chest. He chuckled before shooting her a grin. "I'll be right back."

When he returned two minutes later, their two-year old son resting in his arms with a sleepy smile, Annabeth swore she fell in love with her husband all over again.

They found each other in the most unconventional way - but she wouldn't trade her family for anything else in the world. He was hers, and that's all that mattered.

[egnlotsc]

you're not invisible to me - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Percy needs a roommate, and Annabeth needs a place to live...but there's only one bed. Good thing he leaves when she comes home.~~

“You agreed to what ?!” Piper’s voice echoed through the crowded coffee shop, leading Annabeth to shoot a glare at her friend as half the shop’s occupants turned their heads towards the commotion.

“Piper!” Annabeth hissed, smiling apologetically at the young woman seated near them, who had dropped her stack of papers she had been holding. “Calm down. It’s the best deal I could find.”

Piper scoffed, sipping her coffee in response. “The best deal would be paying a little out of your set budget. Not agreeing to live with a man you’ve never met, whose main stipulation is that you have to share the same bed!”

Annabeth sighed, toying with the end of her messy braid. “It sounds worse when you put it that way.” Piper rolled her eyes, her incredulity written across her face.

“Besides, we’re not sharing the bed…in that way. Only whenever one of us isn’t there. He works nights as a security guard at the museum downtown, so by the time I leave for work in the morning, he will just be getting off his shift. We might not ever see each other.”

“That’s a big “if”, Anna. Are you sure you can trust this guy?” Annabeth nodded, leveling her gaze with Piper’s. “Apparently he’s an old friend of Leo’s.”

Piper laughed, shaking her head. “Any friend of Leo’s should be questioned.” Annabeth rolled her eyes at her friend. “Piper, we’re friends with Leo.”

“We’re the exceptions,” she responded. “Actually, I’m the exception. Maybe you’re just as crazy as him with this idea of yours.” Sighing at Piper’s continuous nagging, Annabeth stood up, pulling her purse over her shoulder.

“You’ll see, Pipes. It will work out perfectly, and then I’ll be able to say ‘I told you so’!” Piper laughed in response, hooking her arm through Annabeth’s. “Sure, Anna, sure.”

~~~

Annabeth slid her key into the door’s lock, gently turning it until she heard a soft click. She pushed open the door slowly, her apprehension getting the best of her despite her earlier confidence in the situation.

As she surveyed the spacious apartment in front of her, Annabeth felt her nerves dissipate slightly when her gaze landed on the view outside of the window. “Wow,” she whispered to herself, stepping further into the room, the sound of her suitcase against the hardwood breaking the silence.

As she moved from area to area, Annabeth couldn’t believe her luck. When she had stumbled upon the listing on one of the local housing websites she had become all-too-familiar with over the past few months, she thought it was a joke.

A stunning Manhattan high-rise with the lowest monthly rent she’d ever seen, with the condition that there was only room for a single bed? The poster, who simply identified himself as Percy Jackson, went on to explain that due to his long hours on the night shift, he was never home.

Annabeth’s heart had filled with sympathy as he described that after his mom had became sick, he fell into debt due to the expensive hospital and treatment bills and needed an extra source of income to pay them off.

Thus, his idea to have an “invisible” roommate was born. Annabeth fit the description of his ideal roommate perfectly; she worked a day job that lasted until dinner time, and wouldn’t arrive home until he had already left for work. In theory, they would never have to interact. It would be as if they both lived alone.

The next day, the ad had come up in a conversation with her longtime friend Leo over their weekly dinner at their favorite Manhattan diner.

Leo, ever the character, had immediately been on board with the idea. As he was reading through the posting, his face had gone slack-jawed. Percy Jackson had been Leo’s best friend in high school. Leo was quite the tech whiz and within minutes confirmed Percy’s identity.

It hadn’t taken her long to make her decision.

When she reached the single bedroom, she sucked in a breath before entering. She was surprised to see a queen-sized bed, dressed in a simple white comforter with matching pillows.

Percy wasn’t kidding - despite the lavish interior of the apartment, there wasn’t room for a second bed. The other two rooms were a bathroom and a laundry room.

Annabeth sank onto the bed, pulling her suitcase up beside it. “Here we go,” she whispered to herself, shrugging off her cardigan.

~~~

That night, Annabeth stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, combing her hair as she contemplated how the rest of the night was going to play out. She had changed into her sleepwear long ago, but procrastinated actually climbing into bed.

The idea of someone else using the bed just as frequently as her was something she couldn’t quite wrap her head around. “It’s basically a hotel bed,” Annabeth muttered to herself, making her way back into the bedroom. She pulled back the covers, sinking down into the soft material of the mattress.

The first thing she noticed was how good the comforter smelled. Since she had been expecting a detergent smell, it took her a second to realize it was cologne.

She hadn’t even considered the idea that her new roommate would wear something so…captivating. It smelled like a mixture of everything good in the world, paired with a day on the beach. A smile creeped onto Annabeth’s face as she pulled the covers around her, breathing in her new favorite scent.

It was distinctly male, causing her to blush slightly as the reality of her situation set in. “What have I gotten myself into?” Annabeth whispered into the quiet apartment.

She fell asleep within minutes.

~~~

Percy tossed his jacket onto the back of the kitchen chair, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Today had been particularity tiring, as a few drunk NYU kids decided to have a party outside of the museum at three in the morning, causing a commotion that about lost him his job.

He glanced around the apartment, his gaze catching on a small suitcase tucked in the corner of the room near the bedroom door. His roommate must have arrived yesterday afternoon, according to the bag’s presence.

If he was being honest, Percy didn’t know too much about his new roommate. He had been so desperate for any sort of income that he had picked the first application he found that didn’t give him a headache.

There were some odd individuals in New York; so when he stumbled upon her application it had been a refreshing change in pace. In his haste to find a renter, Percy hadn’t thought to ask for any kind of identification other than proof of prior residence and a valid bank statement. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have at least a picture of the person who now lives in his apartment.

All he knew about her was her name was Annabeth Chase, and she was a year younger than him. She had previously lived closer to downtown, in a small apartment complex Percy had passed a few times on his way to work when his usual route was blocked.

His first thought after contacting her was how pretty her name was. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he tried to force himself to think of something else. It’s not like he was ever going to see her. Their schedules didn’t overlap for even one hour of the day.

After brushing his teeth and raising an eyebrow at the sheer amount of hair and makeup products now occupying two of his four bathroom drawers, Percy entered the bedroom and took in the neatly made bed, the pillows strategically propped up against the headboard.

He pulled open one of the dresser drawers, relieved to find his own clothes still in their place. Percy quickly changed before sliding into the covers, freezing when he registered the soft lemony scent currently overtaking his senses.

Percy’s heart beat faster as he realized it was her scent. Annabeth had slept on the same side as he did last night. It occurred to him in that moment how distinctly lonely his life had been since his mom fell sick.

He had pushed his friends away, and hadn’t dated since his ex, Rachel. That was years ago. “That’s why you’re acting so weird, Percy. You’re just lonely.”

Even to him, his own reasoning sounded like a lie. As he settled beneath the covers, he whispered to himself, “What have I gotten into?”

He fell asleep within minutes.

~~~

Annabeth knew she should have stayed at Piper’s house after she came down with a fever, but she had been too weak to even pick up the phone and call her friend.

In her grogginess, she hadn’t realized that by staying home from work the next day, she’d break the cycle her and Percy had kept up for the past two months - she comes, he goes; she goes, he comes.

So when she awoke the next morning - or afternoon, she wasn’t sure - the first thing she had seen was a pair of green eyes staring back at her.

She was too weary to react physically, but her heart stopped for a second before she registered the sunlight streaming through the window and the time on the clock that certainly wasn’t seven-fifteen A.M.

Memories flooded back of the night before, when suddenly she felt she was burning up and called off of work while fighting off a bought of nausea. Percy, she thought to herself, taking in his concerned expression.

He was holding a leather jacket and a pair of car keys, his messy black hair falling into his eyes as he stood a few feet away from the bed. He was even more attractive than she ever could have imagined.

Annabeth tried to sit up, but winced as pain sliced through her head. Percy seemed to snap out of his shocked state, setting down his belongings before stepping closer to her. “Annabeth?” he questioned, his voice wary.

All she could do was nod in response, holding a hand up to her forehead. “Are you okay?” Percy continued, sitting down on the small section of the bed near her right side.

Even through her pain, she could smell the familiar scent of his cologne, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe properly. He was so close.

“I think I have the flu,” she whispered in response, her throat flaring in pain. Percy winced in sympathy, reaching up and gently pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. “You’re definitely warm,” he noted, eyeing the bottle of medicine on the bedside table. “Have you taken any of this?” Annabeth nodded.

“I took two last night, and then immediately fell asleep. I was hoping the fever would break overnight.” Percy chuckled slightly, reaching over and picking up the medicine bottle.

“The flu lasts longer than a day, Annabeth,” he replied softly. The tenderness in his voice did things to her heart she didn’t want to admit.

“I didn’t want to break our deal,” Annabeth whispered, looking down at her hands. She sucked in a breath when she felt his fingers gently lift her chin until she was looking into his gorgeous green eyes. “The deal doesn’t apply when you’re sick. It’s your apartment. You’re allowed to stay home to rest.”

She blushed slightly as she realized he had nowhere to sleep. “What about you?” Annabeth replied, gesturing to the bed. “I can sleep on the couch,” Percy answered, shaking his head when she began to protest.

“Let me do this, Annabeth,” he whispered, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, before turning around abruptly.

Annabeth blushed scarlet as she watched his retreating form, chiding herself for feeling the way she did. How did she have such strong feelings towards a man she had quite literally just met? How had Percy Jackson become such a focal point in her life?

~~~

Percy tossed and turned on the uncomfortable leather couch, shifting under the thin blanket he had dug out from the linen closet. It wasn’t just the couch’s lack of comfort preventing him from sleeping. It was the girl in the room twenty feet away from him.

It was an understatement to say he was surprised when he arrived home from work and discovered the prettiest girl he’d ever seen laying in his bed. He hadn’t meant to wake her, but the hinge of the door he kept forgetting to oil creaked loudly when he had opened it.

Annabeth’s blonde hair and striking grey eyes kept dancing across Percy’s vision, her lemon scent coming back to him as clearly as if he was lying in bed like every other night, simply imagining what she looked like.

Although he could have easily found her on some form of social media, Percy decided against it because he could feel himself falling for her despite not knowing anything about her besides her signature scent, the foods she most frequently left in the fridge, and her penchant for floral blouses and skirts if the closet was any indication.

Percy berated himself internally for allowing his feelings for Annabeth to shine through the way they had earlier. Something had possessed him to touch her chin, to push her hair behind her ear, to focus way too much on her lips.

The idea of falling in love with someone solely from their scent was laughable at best, yet Percy knew deep down he had somehow made it a reality.

He couldn’t even fathom the idea of her feeling the same way, yet something about the way she had looked at him during their encounter made him wonder.

Could they ever be more than invisible roommates?

~~~

When Annabeth awoke several hours later, she felt much better than she had that morning. Sitting up slowly, she glanced around the darkened room and realized it was well past four P.M., the time that Percy usually left for work.

A glass of water rested on her bedside table, and she downed the whole glass before sliding out from under the covers, adjusting the tank top and cotton shorts she was still wearing from the day prior. Annabeth had just pulled open the door when she stopped dead in her tracks, shock flowing through her system.

Percy’s back was to her as he stirred a pot on the stove, the soft sounds of the TV filtering into the kitchen from the living room. “Percy?” Annabeth exclaimed, stepping further into the kitchen. He spun around, smiling when his gaze fell on her.

She felt her heart flutter as she took in his smile. “You’re awake,” he replied, turning off the stove and pouring the contents of the pot into a bowl next to the stove. “I was just about to finish dinner.”

Annabeth’s could feel her hunger building, and she wrapped her arms around her mid section, narrowing her eyes at the man in front of her.

“Why aren’t you at work?” Percy set down the salt shaker he had been holding, stepping closer to her. “Did you think I was going to leave you here when you were sick?” “It’s just the flu, Percy,” she responded, a blush rising on her cheeks at the look in his eyes.

He looked like he truly cared about her…but that couldn’t be right. They barely knew each other. “It doesn’t matter,” he replied, his face serious. Annabeth realized in that moment that he was referring to his mom.

As far as she knew, Percy’s mom was still sick. Yet, the sincerity in his expression puzzled her. Could he care about her more than he let on?

“I’m feeling better,” Annabeth decided, gently wrapping her fingers around his wrist and pulling his hand up to her forehead. Percy didn’t look away as he pressed his hand against it. “You’ve cooled down,” was his response.

His eyes had turned a shade darker, which led Annabeth to realize the distance between them had dwindled significantly. If she moved an inch forward, they would be touching.

“Is there any other reason you didn’t go to work tonight?” Annabeth whispered, surprising herself with her boldness.

“Oh, Annabeth,” he sighed, reaching out and wrapping an arm around her waist. She gasped in surprise, registering the warmth of his skin through the thin cotton material of her tank top.

“For the past two months, I’ve told myself it’s impossible to develop feelings for someone without knowing them, but I was lying. Every night since you moved in, I’ve slept better than I have in years. When my mom became sick, I pushed everyone in my life away. Until you came into my life, I never realized how lonely I was."

"You filled the emptiness in me, simply with your lemon shampoo, and your floral blouses, and your endless hair products. Just knowing those things are what made you, you, was enough for me to love again.”

Annabeth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. For a moment, she wondering if she was only dreaming, and she would wake up in the empty bed, the smell of Percy’s cologne being the only thing linking her to him. He…loved her?

He loved the small things that made up who she was, like the same shampoo she’d been using since middle school, and her obsession with anything floral print?

Annabeth could feel her eyes watering as she wrapped her arms around Percy’s neck, pulling herself closer to him. His gaze drifted to her lips before snapping back to meet hers, a question in the depth of his eyes.

She didn’t think before she crashed her lips against his, shivering as his hands grazed the strip of exposed skin at her waist from where her tank top had ridden up.

Pulling her against his chest, Percy deepened the kiss, walking them backwards until her back pressed against the kitchen counter.

Annabeth threaded her fingers through his impossibly soft black hair, whimpering softly when his hands ran up and down her sides, his lips moving to her jaw for a moment before he kissed her again, softer this time.

Annabeth pulled back a few minutes later, resting her forehead against Percy’s. She feels his thumb swipe against her cheek, and realizes there are still tears glittering on her lashes. Her heart is racing, her lips tingling and warm.

Annabeth never wants to move from her position in his arms, his wrapped around her waist holding her tight. She feels as if she’s floating.

Looking into the eyes of the man who she never imagined falling for, the one person in her life who’s made her feel as no one else has, she realizes something for certain.

She’s in love.

And she plans on never letting go.

~~~

“Okay, Mom. I’ll make sure she knows. I love you,” Percy responded, his tone exasperate as he tried for the third time to get his mom to hang up.

Finally, the line clicks and Percy slides his phone into his pocket, pulling out his keys and unlocking the door. A soft humming filters through the house, bringing a grin to Percy’s face that gets bigger the closer he gets to the kitchen.

His gaze lands on the woman in front of the stove, watching as she hums along to a Christmas song coming from the radio at the end of the counter.

Her long, curly blonde hair spills over her shoulders and down her back, coming to rest at the waistband of her white skirt. Setting down his bag on the counter to alert her of his presence, Percy steps up behind her and slides his arms around her waist, his palms resting on the swell of her stomach.

Annabeth giggles softly, turning in his arms and pressing into him. She’s wearing this captivating red lipstick that Percy can’t seem to take his eyes off of, and she notices, biting her lip and moving just out of his reach.

Shooting his wife a playful glare, he lowers his mouth to hers, suppressing a grin when her protests are muffled by his lips. Percy knows he’s messing up her lipstick, but with the way her hands trail under his shirt, he knows she doesn’t really mind.

Annabeth tastes like the apple pie filling simmering on the stove, and Percy can’t get enough of it, of her.

She’s everything he ever could have wished for, and all it took was a spur-of-the-moment post for Percy to find his forever home with the girl of his dreams, and the child they have created.

He couldn’t ask for more.

[egnlotsc]

love has got me swept away - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth is the bubbly owner of a cozy inn and Percy is an injured firefighter with a chip on his shoulder~~

"Annie, where are the new tablecloths? Cal moved them and it's like they've disappeared into thin air..." Piper's voice trailed off as she stepped into the room.

Annabeth glanced down from her perch on the rickety old ladder, the tips of her fingers just barely brushing against the overhead light's edge. "Annabeth, what are you doing?" Piper questioned, her brown eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. 

Annabeth rolled her eyes in response to Piper's overly concerned tone. "I'm trying to change the bulb, it's burned out." Piper sighed heavily. "You're going to hurt yourself. Why didn't you ask Leo to help you?"

Annabeth made her way down the ladder, careful to avoid the thinner rungs. "He already does so much for this inn, Pipes. I wanted to try something on my own for once." Piper's gaze softened as she glanced up at the light. 

"How about we just leave it alone? It's not the world's most pressing matter." Annabeth smirked at her best friend's sarcastic tone.

"In other news, we have a new guest arriving today. He has some special accommodations that we need to go over," Piper continued, leading Annabeth to the desk in the lobby where a binder sat, overflowing with papers.

Annabeth's eyes widened as she took in the small, chunky text littered across each page. 

"What on Earth?" Piper nodded knowingly, scooping up the binder and opening it.

"My exact reaction when I saw this monster-binder. His name is Percy Jackson, he's a firefighter from the town over. Apparently he was injured during a call and needs a place to rest away from..." Piper squinted at the page she held, "...prying eyes. Is he a celebrity or something?" Annabeth smacked her friend's arm, biting back a smile. "Be nice, Piper." 

Piper opened her mouth to retort when the inn's bell chimed, announcing the arrival of a guest. Annabeth smoothed her thigh-length floral skirt and stepped into the main room, her gaze catching first on a tall, blonde man with glasses who held a briefcase in each hand.

The man appeared to be exasperated, his voice projecting across the room. "Perce, stop being difficult. This was the best we could find on short notice." 

Annabeth bristled at the man's words, biting her lip in an effort not to speak up. She took a step forward to greet the guest when another man entered, leaning heavily on a single crutch.

Annabeth took in his messy black hair and piercing green eyes, catching on the bright blue cast wrapped around his left leg. Her cheeks flushed as she realized just how attractive this new arrival was, but she internally chided herself for her thoughts. 

The click of Annabeth's heels against the lobby's tile alerted the two men of her presence. The blonde offered her a sheepish smile, while the other looked her up and down, his face unchanging.

She cleared her throat, plastering on the brightest smile she could muster while simultaneously ignoring the way Mr. Cast was making her feel. 

"Welcome to the Sapphire Inn! I am Annabeth Chase, owner and manager. How can I help you?" The first man stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I am Jason Grace, Percy's best friend and personal caretaker."

The dark-haired man scoffed, shifting his weight uncomfortably. Jason cleared his throat. "Percy's been...unhappy since the accident. I apologize in advance for his attitude and behavior." 

Annabeth bit her lip, unsure how to respond. "It's quite alright, Mr. Grace. If you are ready, I can show you to your rooms." Jason smiled gratefully, following her down the hallway. "I have placed you in rooms across from each other. I figured it would allow for easier access."

She stopped in front of two doors, holding the door open tentatively for Percy. He brushed past her as he limped through the threshold, forcing her to bite back a remark. 

Jason smiled at Annabeth as he followed Percy into the room, whispering a soft thank you before the door shut behind the two men. Annabeth sunk against the wall, letting out a heavy sigh. She mentally prepared for the longest month of her life. 

~~~

So far, Percy had managed to avoid any human interaction beyond Jason's constant nagging. He was moments away from locking himself in his room for the rest of eternity.

Two weeks prior, he had been doing what he loved - firefighting - with full mobility. Now, he could barely walk across the room to get a cup of water. How pathetic. 

A soft knock on the door caused Percy to glance up in confusion. Jason never knocked, instead choosing to bust through the door as if there was a murderer around the corner or something equally as dramatic.

"Come in," Percy called, refusing to move from his position on the couch. It's not like he would make it to the door in a normal amount of time, anyway. 

Annabeth stuck her head in the room, smiling much to wide for any normal human being - or maybe Percy was just being pessimistic. "Mr. Jackson?" He merely nodded, wishing for the hundredth time his door had a lock.

The woman stepped into the room fully, revealing the stack of towels she held in her arms. "I brought you some fresh towels. I trust your stay has been well so far?" 

Percy held back a sigh, nodding his answer. As Annabeth turned to leave, he couldn't help but let his gaze linger on the way her curls fell down her back, the way her skirt swayed around her legs as she walked.

Suddenly, he came back to reality, shaking his head. Stop thinking about her. You're not here to become attached. You're here to heal and leave as quick as possible. 

~~~

Annabeth pulled the tray of cookies from the oven, sighing wearily as she turned off the heat. Yet another bulb had burned out on the lobby's overhead light. Leo had taken Calypso on a weekend in the city, meaning she was short a handyman.

Her thoughts were scattered as she leaned against the counter. A searing pain interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced down to see her arm resting against the pan fresh out of the oven. 

Biting back a yelp at the pain, she quickly removed her arm and ran to the sink. She had just stuck her arm under the cold water, wincing at the shock of it, when an odd clicking resounded from behind her.

She looked over her shoulder and saw Percy making his way into the kitchen, his crutch bouncing against the hardwood floor. He didn't seem to notice her at first, his gaze focused on the tray of cookies abandoned on the counter. 

Annabeth shifted her arm, accidentally letting out a whimper as the ice cold water hit the most sensitive area of skin. Percy's head whipped around at the sound, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him.

Annabeth couldn't find it in herself to be embarrassed, though she knew without a doubt that she looked ridiculous with half of her body in the industrial sink Calypso just had to have for her kitchen. She blew a strand of hair out of her face, shooting Percy a sheepish smile. 

"Smelled the cookies, huh?" Percy didn't respond, instead moving as quickly as he could to her side, his hands reaching for her arm. Annabeth gasped softly as her arm was removed from the water and the air hit it.

"Annabeth, this is a third degree burn." Percy's voice was deathly serious as he looked down into her eyes. Briefly, she wondered how he knew before she remembered the whole reason he was leaning on his crutch. 

"I set my arm on the cookie pan accidentally," Annabeth explained, watching as Percy's closed-off expression softened at her words. "Only you," he muttered, beginning to turn around in search of something.

Annabeth's pulse jumped at the surprising amount of affection laced in his words. He had only been at the Inn for two weeks, after all. Sure, they had had a few conversations, one that had lasted over an hour after Percy had bumped his leg trying to take a walk and Jason banished him to the sitting room couch as punishment. However, Annabeth hadn't expected...whatever that was. 

"What is that supposed to mean?" Annabeth questioned, setting her good hand on her hip with what she hoped was an intimidating expression. Percy didn't seem fazed though as he began digging through the nearby drawers.

"Piper told me about some of your...mishaps," he responded, glancing up at her with a meaningful expression, his green eyes tinged with amusement. Annabeth's cheeks flushed as she mentally prepared the epic lecture she was going to give her best friend the next time she saw her. 

"So, I'm a bit clumsy. Everyone is." Percy chuckled lowly, causing Annabeth's heart to race. She bit her lip, focusing solely on Percy's frantic searching. "What are you looking for?" Percy didn't respond for a moment, muttering something under his breath that she couldn't quite make out.

"It's a kitchen. Where in the world is the first aid kit?" Annabeth smiled at the exasperation in his tone before pointing at the cabinet underneath the sink. He nodded before using his good leg nudge the door open, leaning down slightly and scooping it up.

Annabeth was admittedly impressed with his resourcefulness. Yet another thing that made Percy Jackson all the more dangerous for Annabeth's emotions. 

Annabeth realized with a start how close Percy's face was as he leaned in to look closer at her arm. She couldn't help but watch the way he focused entirely on making sure her arm was properly bandaged, the way he handled her arm with a uncharacteristic gentleness.

His touch sent goosebumps down Annabeth's arm, and she could only pray he blamed it on the cold air blowing across her still-damp skin.

When Percy finished taping off the last of the gauze, she looked up and blinked in surprise at the expression written across his face. It was nothing like anything she had ever seen before. 

For a moment, the world slowed around them as his gaze traced the length of her face, pausing for a second too long on her lips. Annabeth could feel herself leaning in, and she was almost certain he was leaning in too.

His cologne, some kind of oceanic scent that Annabeth couldn't get enough of, enveloped her as the distance between them became smaller and smaller. Annabeth could almost feel his kiss when a loud crash resounded from the lobby, startling Annabeth backwards away from Percy.

She pressed her lips together, trying to tamper down the disappointment rising in her chest. Since when did she feel like this? Since when has a man been able to affect her the way Percy can?

"I'm fine!" Piper's voice echoed throughout the Inn, shattering the tense silence between the two. Percy cleared his throat, his eyes stormy with emotions Annabeth couldn't read. "We need to get you to the hospital," he gestured towards the kitchen's door. Annabeth shook her head, her mind racing faster than she could keep up with. "It's fine, Percy. I have to help Piper with the books-" "Oh no, you won't," Percy's voice was firm as he gently placed a hand on her back, leading her out of the kitchen. 

"The first thing we learned during safety training is that a burn second degree or higher requires immediate medical attention." Annabeth scoffed, irritated with his urgency.

"I need to..." she trailed off as he wrapped is free arm around her waist, his touch rendering her speechless. "If I have to carry you out of this inn, I will, Annabeth."

Annabeth could only nod as they made their way to his truck, where Jason was already sitting in the driver's seat. 

Jason smiled knowingly as Percy opened the passenger side door for her. Annabeth raised an eyebrow, prompting Jason to laugh. "Piper saw Percy bandaging your burn. I knew Percy would drag out to the hospital one way or another so I figured I'd just wait in the truck."

Percy glared at his friend as he used the built-in step on the side of the truck to hoist himself into the back, expertly draping his crutch across his lap. "Shut up, Jase," he growled. Jason laughed heartedly before pulling out of the parking lot.

Annabeth risked a glance in the rearview mirror and caught Percy staring at her. The look on his face, one of concern and something deeper, affected her more than she cared to admit. 

~~~

Percy ran his hands over his face, furious that he had almost allowed himself to kiss Annabeth back in the kitchen. The way his heart had dropped when he saw the swollen redness of her arm still was fresh in his memory.

It wasn't just because of the years of training he had, or his inability to abandon someone who was hurt, it was his growing feelings for the owner of the Sapphire Inn.

She was so girly, so flirty, so headstrong it drove him crazy. He hadn't felt like this for anybody before. 

Jason sank into the chair next to him, a paper coffee cup balanced in the crook of his arm and a stack of papers in his hands. "Discharge papers," he explained, picking up a pen.

Percy shot Jason a look of gratitude for filling out Annabeth's papers and collecting her information via her wallet that she had lent Jason before being admitted. Percy had since learned her middle name was Rose, she was a month younger than him, and she didn't carry any cash. 

Percy had just successfully blocked one of his many thoughts about a certain inn keeper when the door across from where he and Jason were seated opened to reveal Annabeth standing on the other side.

Her braid was disheveled, curly strands falling across her face and into her eyes. Her soft pink dress stood out against the harsh white walls of the hospital, and suddenly Percy couldn't take it anymore. 

Disregarding his crutch, Percy stood and in a few steps had Annabeth pulled up against his chest, his hands gripping the soft material at her waist. Annabeth's strawberry perfume filled his senses as she let out a small gasp at his close proximity, her grey eyes widening in shock.

Percy glanced down at her lips and back up, enjoying the way her cheeks pinkened before she nodded imperceptibly and he didn't hesitate to crush his mouth against hers.

Splaying his hands across her back, he gently guided Annabeth back into her hospital room and allowed the door to shut behind him before pulling back, tucking a fallen curl behind her ear. 

"About time," Annabeth whispered before threading her hands through his hair and pulling him back down to her lips. Percy lost track of time as he kissed Annabeth with everything he had, losing himself in everything about her.

He had just pulled her onto his lap when a knock on the door interrupted, forcing Percy to pull back from Annabeth. Jason's amused voice echoed through the closed door. "I wouldn't recommend continuing whatever you two are doing in a hospital. At least wait until we get back to the inn!" 

Percy growled with frustration, scooping up the pillow on Annabeth's bed and hurling it at the door. "Shut up, Jason!" he yelled before turning back to Annabeth, whose eyes were sparkling with amusement.

Percy grinned, wrapping an arm around Annabeth's waist and falling back onto the bed, pulling her down beside him. Annabeth giggled softly, curling into his chest. "All of the places in the world you could have gone, and you came to my inn."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Beth," he whispered in reply, kissing her like he wanted to since the moment he saw her in the lobby his first day at the Sapphire Inn. 

~~~

Annabeth glanced up from her book at the sound of the inn's bell, smiling to herself when she heard the telltale sounds of the local firefighters laughing and teasing each other as they prepared for their weekly dinner at the Inn.

Annabeth carefully stood up, setting a hand on her slightly swollen stomach as she made her way into the lobby. She had just reached her second trimester, meaning she was at the stage where her husband acted as if her simply walking to the kitchen would cause her to break every bone her in her body. 

As she stepped into the front entrance of the inn, she watched with amusement as one of the firefighters, Zach, elbowed the dark-haired man in the middle of the group. "Excited to see your wife, Perce?" Jason stepped up next to Percy and smirked.

"What kind of question is that, Zach? You know Percy can't go five minutes without talking about her. Annabeth this, Annabeth that-" Jason was cut off by Percy's shove.

"I hate you, Jase. You have no room to talk, Mr. I'm Obsessed With Piper." Jason blushed at the mention of his fiancee. 

"He's not wrong, Jason," Annabeth teased, enjoying the way her husband's face lit up at the sight of her. Jason rolled his eyes, stepping out of the way as Percy pushed past him and rushed to Annabeth's side.

"Beth, what are you doing down here?" She rolled her eyes at Percy's words, glaring up at him. "I'm four months pregnant, Percy. I'm not bedridden." Annabeth could hear Percy's crew snicker behind him, grinning at the slight annoyance on her husband's face.

She was about to turn around and greet the rest of the guys when Percy wrapped an arm around her waist and spun her into his chest. 

Annabeth glanced up to see a smirk on his face before he pulled into a kiss so passionate she could feel herself getting lightheaded. Whistles and cheers resonated behind them, but Annabeth paid no attention as she sunk into her husband's embrace.

Another moment passed before he pulled back, a sly smile spreading across his face as he registered Annabeth's cheeks flush with embarrassment at the display of affection. "Gotcha," he exclaimed.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, resting her forehead against his chest. "You better not embarrass our child like that," she replied, one hand on her hip.

Percy gave a look so full of love her heart felt like it might burst. "Our child," he whispered, setting his hands on her stomach. "Our child."

Annabeth smiled up at her husband, knowing that she had found her happily ever after.

[egnlotsc]

this night is sparkling, don't you let it go - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Percy is a burnt-out, disgruntled hockey star and Annabeth is a struggling journalist who are thrown together unexpectedly during a storm~~

A loud cheer resonated from the living room, prompting Annabeth to roll her eyes as she set a bowl of chips next to where Piper sat at the kitchen counter.

Piper shot her a knowing look, dipping a chip into the queso dip in front of her. "Pipes, why couldn't you have married a guy who was obsessed with, I don't know, golf?"

Piper laughed, her eyes trained on her husband as he threw up his arms in annoyance at the TV. "I don't think I'll ever understand your grudge against hockey, Anna."

"I guess three years of my articles being passed over for a sports write-up has made me jaded towards the sport," Annabeth responded with a sigh.

Piper gave her a sympathetic smile, well aware of Annabeth's struggles to get published at the online news company she worked for. "That doesn't mean you have to hate the sport itself. It's harmless."

Annabeth scoffed, turning toward her friend. "You only think that because Jason converted you into a fan." "I'm hardly a fan," Piper responded. "I just know more about it since I married Jason."

"Exactly my point," Annabeth replied. "You're a fan." Piper turned to respond when Jason's voice boomed across the house. "NOT AGAIN!" Annabeth sighed, pulling Piper up with her.

"C'mon, let's go see what life-shattering thing just happened." Piper elbowed her as they made their way into the living room. "Be nice, Anna," she chided with a slight grin.

Piper laid her hand on Jason's shoulder, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "What's going on?" she asked. Jason threaded his fingers through hers before answering.

"Jackson keeps fumbling the passes. He's the best on the team, yet he hasn't scored once this game." He gestured toward the screen, where the camera had zoomed in on a player with the number thirty-five displayed on his jersey.

"I'm sure he will, babe," Piper replied, rolling her eyes playfully in Annabeth's direction. Annabeth bit back a laugh, her gaze straying back to the screen where number thirty-five was sitting on the sidelines with his head in his hands.

~~~

Annabeth glared at her phone, tempted to throw it into the oncoming traffic next to her as she made her way to her favorite coffee shop, Cup of Joe.

Her boss had assigned her yet another article on pointless celebrity gossip, ignoring her request to shift to the environmental column.

Pulling open the door to the shop, Annabeth breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee and smiled at Hazel, who stood behind the counter, rearranging the floor-to-ceiling display of coffees from around the world.

"Hey, Annabeth!" she called, already turning to enter Annabeth's usual into the register.

Annabeth slipped her laptop out of her bag, shooting Hazel a greatful smile when she set her coffee in front of her. "What's the topic this time?" "Some heiress just got engaged to her equally-rich boyfriend. Apparently that's news-worthy these days." Annabeth responded with a sarcastic laugh.

"Good luck," Hazel teased, making her way back to the register. Taking a deep breath, Annabeth began her research into the lives of the wealthy Dares.

~~~

Percy groaned in frustration, hitting the puck harder than he meant to and watching as it soared across the rink, smacking against the wall.

Ignoring the looks from his teammates, he stomped into the locker room, sliding his phone out of his locker and hitting speed dial.

"Matt, I want you to figure out what the hell is wrong with me, and get it fixed immediately. I'm at my breaking point with this stupid rut I'm stuck in," he growled into the phone before jamming the end call button. Percy studied his hands, wondering what idiotic joke the universe decided to play on him.

He was a few more missed passes away from being kicked off the team and losing all he had worked for since he was young.

Percy could see the disappointment on his father's face as he broke the news he no longer played for one of the biggest teams in the NHL because he couldn't hit a freaking plastic disk into a net.

Percy sunk to the floor in front of his locker, tossing his phone onto the bench in front of him as he glared at the ceiling. "I'm a damn joke," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

~~~

A few hours passed uneventfully as Annabeth made her way through two more coffees and three scrapped drafts of her article. She brushed her hair out of her eyes, trying to fix her messy braid but failing.

The empty cafe was a blessing as Annabeth was sure her mascara was smudged from how often she had rubbed her eyes in the past three hours.

She had just reached for her cup when the cafe's door slammed open, revealing a man furiously arguing with a person on the other end of the phone pressed to his ear.

Hazel glanced up from her perch at the register, a knowing look spreading across her face as she watched the man make his way to one of the tables at the back of the room.

Annabeth studied the man, suddenly self-conscious of her disheveled appearance. His messy black hair fell into his green eyes, paired with a smattering of freckles dotting his face which only served to make him more attractive.

His muscular build suggested he was very active, his arms flexing as he gestured angrily before hanging up the call, dropping his head into his hands.

She had just began the first sentence on the new draft of her article when the man's voice echoed through the small shop again, erasing any sympathy Annabeth had for the man in an instant.

She was beyond the point of forgiving, spinning in her chair to glare at the man as he yelled into his phone yet again.

"Did you not hear me the first time, Matt? Figure it out, I don't care how, or else you'll be looking for a new job!" Annabeth couldn't take his yelling anymore as she marched over to where he sat, crossing her arms across her chest.

The man glanced up at her, the anger in his face fading into confusion at her sudden appearance as he lowered his phone.

"Do you mind?" she demanded, watching his eyes widen slightly at the venom in her voice. "Excuse me?" he replied, his voice laced with indignation.

"Some of us are here for a reason, not just to berate people over the phone," Annabeth seethed, blowing a stray curl out of her eyes. His eyes tracked the movement before meeting hers again.

"Do you know who you're talking to?" he demanded, standing to face her. She tried to school her expression as she realized just how tall he was. Paired with his muscular physique, he was intimidating even to her. Annabeth scoffed, raising an eyebrow at his conceited tone. "No, I don't. Am I supposed to?"

The man narrowed his green eyes at Annabeth, opening his mouth to respond when a clap of thunder shook the store's foundation, the lights flickering in response.

She glanced out the window, shocked to see the downfall of rain beating against the glass panes. Annabeth's phone began to rang, and she picked it up to reveal Hazel's picture displayed on the screen.

Hazel's voice filtered through her phone speaker, "Hey, Annabeth. I stopped at the store to grab some milk but I'm stuck here due to the storm. I can't make it back. Are you okay by yourself?"

Annabeth glanced at the man in front of her, the reality that she was trapped with someone so infuriating and self-absorbed sinking in. "Yeah, Hazel, I can manage," she responded, hanging up reluctantly.

"Looks like we're trapped," Annabeth announced, watching the man's reaction carefully. "Great," he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Annabeth couldn't help but watch the way his muscles flexed as he did so. "Is that an inconvenience for you?" she retorted. His gaze snapped up to meet hers, the anger in his expression prominent.

Before he could respond, the lights flickered once more before going out completely. Annabeth gasped softly, unsure of what to do. It wasn't something she liked to share, but she wasn't a fan of the dark - especially when trapped with an annoyingly handsome stranger.

She could hear the man move around for a moment before he spoke, his voice surprisingly soft. "Hold out your hand."

Annabeth stood still for a moment, debating internally whether to trust him. After a few seconds, she reached out her hand. "Okay," she replied softly.

She bit her lip when she felt his warm hand slide into hers, trying to ignore the way his touch made her feel. Annabeth was momentarily grateful for the darkness, as her blush wasn't visible. She just hoped she had made the right choice.

~~~

As Percy led the girl across the room to where he had been sitting moments prior, he couldn't fathom what had brought him into this situation - his hand holding a girl's who had just spent the past fifteen minutes yelling at him with a confidence he had never seen before.

Her messy blonde hair and sparkling grey eyes had affected him more than he'd like to admit.

Percy helped her into his chair, missing the warmth of her touch as she slipped her hand out of his.

He felt around on the table until he found his cell phone, swiping on the screen and finding the flashlight. Even in the harsh, bright light, the woman was still beautiful.

Clearing his throat, Percy held out his hand again. "I'm Percy Jackson," he introduced, watching as she pondered this new piece of information. "Annabeth Chase," she responded, a small smile gracing her features.

As he studied the woman in front of him, he realized that his life was about to change in some way - he just wasn't sure if it was good or bad.

~~~

Annabeth laughed as Percy squinted in the dim light of his phone, carefully pouring cream into the cup in front of him. She slid a container of cinnamon towards him, watching as he sprinkled it on with serious concentration.

"Voila," he exclaimed, holding it out towards her. She carefully took a sip, gasping at the mixture of flavors. "How did you do that?"

Percy grinned, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's a hidden talent of mine." She rolled her eyes at his cocky tone, leaning against the counter next to him.

Glancing at the clock on Percy's phone, she was shocked to see it read three in the morning. "We should probably find some way to get some rest. My article is due at noon."

"Ah yes, the one about Rachel Dare and her engagement to Michael Johnson?" Percy asked as he ducked behind the counter, searching through the cabinets.

Annabeth sighed in response. "Unfortunately. I'm sick of trivial gossip. We're a reputable news conglomerate, yet we stoop to the level of celebrity gossip."

Percy emerged from behind the counter, a stack of blankets in his arms. Annabeth felt a smile spread across her face as she rushed up to him. "How did you know those were back there?"

"I saw them when we were looking for the cinnamon. Apparently Cup of Joe is prepared for anything." She spread out a blanket on the floor, dropping her jacket on top of it to act as a makeshift pillow.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I wish we had gotten stuck in a furniture store, or at least something bigger." Annabeth said, staring at the hard ground in front of her.

Percy appeared next to her, nodding in agreement. "I guess this is the best we can do," he replied, lowering himself to the ground. His muscular frame barely fit on the small blanket - and Annabeth couldn't look away.

It hit her in that moment that she had to sleep next to this man she was very quickly becoming more and more attracted to, despite her efforts to suppress her feelings.

For the past two hours, he had listened intently to her struggles with her job, providing the kind of support only Piper had been able to do. The undeniable connection she felt with him was overwhelming, in the best way possible.

Annabeth laid down on the hard linoleum flooring, curling up under the thin blanket. Percy laid close enough for to feel his warmth, and their proximity prompted her to admit something she was too scared to before.

"I want to quit my job, Percy," she whispered, barely making out Percy's features in the dark. The rain falling outside provided a soft background noise in the otherwise silent store.

A few moments passed in silence before he spoke. "Are you happy with what you've been doing?" "No," she responded, fiddling with the frayed edge of the blanket.

"I want to write about environmental issues. Things that matter." She felt Percy shift under his blanket. "Don't settle for less. Work towards more."

"That's profound," Annabeth commented. "It's what my coach always tells us." "Your coach?" she asked, wondering what he meant by that. Percy cleared his throat, avoiding her question.

"Promise me, Annabeth, that you will find a way to write what you want to write, not what you're asked to." "I will," she whispered, biting back a gasp when she felt his fingers thread through hers.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

~~~

Percy slowly opened his eyes, squinting at his unfamiliar surroundings. He took in the light shining through the large windows and registered the warmth at his side.

Glancing down, his heart sped up at the sight of Annabeth curled up into his chest, her blonde curls spread across the blanket. His arm had ended up around her waist, his fingers brushing the strip of skin where her shirt had ridden up.

He watched her sleeping form for a moment, disbelieving of how lucky he was to have met someone as amazing as Annabeth.

Careful not to wake her, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the time, his eyes widening as he realized it was almost eleven thirty in the morning. Dozens of missed calls littered the screen, solidifying his panic.

Percy gently shook Annabeth, taking a second to watch as her eyes fluttered open. She glanced around for a moment, the confusion on her face evident, before her gaze collided with his.

A strong blush spread across Annabeth's cheeks, and she bit her lip as she sat up.

"What time is it?" she asked, and for a moment Percy didn't want to break the enchantment laced in the moment, but he couldn't let her miss her deadline. "It's almost eleven thirty."

Her gaze snapped up to his, the color draining from her face. She shot up off the floor, grabbing her jacket and slipping her laptop back into her bag.

Annabeth stopped in front of the door, her gaze locking with Percy's. Time slowed down as they held eye contact, and in that moment Percy knew he couldn't live with himself if he didn't act.

Standing up, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist, pulling her into his chest. She gasped softly as he leaned in until his lips were inches from her.

"Is this okay?" he whispered, a grin spreading across his face when she nodded softly. He pulled her mouth to his, kissing her the way he had wanted to since she had marched up to him the night prior, her grey eyes filled with a fire he couldn't resist.

Percy tightened his grip on Annabeth, backing her into the door as they kissed. After a few moments, he pulled back, enjoying the dazed look in her eye.

"I have to go," she whispered, reaching up and kissing him once more before turning around and pushing open the door. He stepped out into the daylight, watching as her skirt swished around her legs as she ran in the direction of the parking lot.

In that moment, he knew he would do anything to find her again.

~~~

"Anna, are you okay?" Piper asked, reaching out and laying her hand on Annabeth's arm. Annabeth glanced up, noting the concern on her best friend's face.

She smiled softly, standing up from her desk and pulling out a box. "Yeah, I am." Piper's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. "You're quitting?" Annabeth nodded, placing the last of her items into the box.

A smile spread across Piper's face as she reached out and pulled Annabeth into a hug. "I'm so happy for you." Annabeth laughed, surprised. "You're glad I'm quitting?"

Piper glanced up at her friend. "Of course I am. Ever since that storm last week - which I wish you would tell me more about - you've been different. In a good way."

Annabeth bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check. It wasn't like her to fall so easily, yet Percy had taken her heart with him when she had left that fateful morning.

She wasn't sure if she would ever see him again. Annabeth pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder, slipping the box under her arm. "I've got to drop this off, but I'll meet you for lunch after?"

Piper nodded. "I'll see you then." Annabeth turned to leave but her gaze caught on the TV, which was tuned to some news station that covered mainly sports.

She rolled her eyes, about to turn away when a painfully familiar face filled the screen. The box fell to Annabeth's feet with a clatter as she tried to reconcile the man on the TV with the one she had fallen for less than a week prior.

"NHL Giant's star Percy Jackson shocked the world when he threw down his stick in the middle of the third period, fleeing the court with no explanation. He was last seen sprinting down the streets of New York in full uniform. The game has since called a time out, with two goals and three assists on the scoreboard..."

"Annabeth?!" Piper's worried voice pulled Annabeth back to the present, where the whole office was staring at her in shock. She glanced down at the mess around her feet, the contents of the box spilled across the office floor.

Annabeth looked back at the screen, where live footage of the rink showed confused fans and players standing around, unsure of what to do.

Piper had just reached Annabeth's side when the door to the office flew open, revealing a man decked in full hockey gear, his skates dangling from his hand and his black hair messier than usual.

Annabeth looked into Percy's green eyes with shock, convinced she was imagining him and she would wake up any minute, back in her bed.

"Annabeth," Percy said, walking towards her. She could hear the confused murmurs of the office workers, the flashing of phone cameras filling her peripheral vision. Yet, the only thing she could see was the man in front of her.

"Percy, what are you doing here?" "I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was," he replied, gesturing to his uniform. "I've been struggling with my performance for months. It was nice to escape the hockey world...to be normal for once."

Annabeth could feel tears forming as she took him in, her heart breaking and healing all at once. "I quit my job," she whispered, watching his eyes light up as he registered her words. "That's my girl," he replied, stepping up to her.

"You changed me, Annabeth. You made me realize that I've been slacking. I became obsessed with the notoriety of hockey, and abandoned my practice. It's because of you I am still on the team."

She gasped softly, reaching out for him. He linked their hands together, looking her in the eye. "I realized in the middle of today's game that I need you, Annabeth. Not seeing you in the stands, not being able to run into your arms after a win, or a loss...it wasn't right. I may be too late, and maybe it's too soon, but I love you, Annabeth Chase, and I'm not afraid for the world to know."

Annabeth smiled, her tears sliding down her cheeks as she looked into the eyes of the man she loved and whispered back, "I love you too, Percy Jackson."

Next thing she knew, she was in his arms, and his lips were on hers. Cheers resounded through the office as the feeling of Percy's lips on hers overtook her senses, and she fell deeper in love than she had ever thought possible.

~~~

"C'mon Jackson! You can do it!" Jason's voice rang throughout the rink, mixing with the other thousands of voices of Giants fans.

Piper let out a whoop, linking her arm with Annabeth's as number thirty-five flew across the rink, his stick poised expertly in expectation of the shot he was about to make.

The timer beeped as the seconds dwindled, and Annabeth watched in breathless anticipation as Percy Jackson made the game-winning shot, the buzzer sounding right as the puck sailed into the net.

The rink exploded with noise and excitement, and Annabeth grabbed Piper, pulling her into a tight hug.

Piper used one hand to pull her out of the her seat, dragging Jason with the other as the three of them sprinted to the entrance of the rink, the crowd thickening as people gathered in hopes of spotting a member of the team.

Annabeth scanned the crowd, yelping in surprise when she was suddenly lifted in the air.

Annabeth looked down to see her husband's sparkling green eyes, his hair falling into them as he lowered her to the ground. "Hey," she whispered, enjoying the way he watched her lips with unabashed hunger.

"Hello there, Mrs. Jackson," he replied, pulling her against his chest. She grinned, grabbing his face and kissing him right there, tuning out the cacophony of sounds surrounding them.

In that moment, Annabeth knew that she had found everything she ever could have wanted - and it was all thanks to a gossip article, an angry hockey player, and a thunderstorm.

[egnlotsc]

i guess i like playing with fire (let's fire it up one more time) - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Annabeth is forced to go to Athena's college "friend reunion" and encounters one of their sons, Percy, whom last time she saw five years prior was scrawny and annoying, and now looks as if he should be modeling in his free time~~

“Remind me why I have to accompany you to this useless reunion, Athena?” Annabeth snipped, glaring at her mother as she flipped through the fashion magazine on her lap.

Athena gave her daughter a look as she trimmed a leaf on her olive tree, clear annoyance decorating her features. “Is it impossible for you to do a simple task without argument, Annabeth?”

Annabeth rolled her eyes, choosing not to entertain her mother’s words. “Just seems pointless. It’s your friends, not mine. I haven’t seen any of these people in years.”

“Neither have I, Annabeth. That’s the point of a reunion.” With a sigh, Annabeth rose from the chair and tucked the magazine under her arm. “I guess I’ll start packing,” she retorted, turning on her heel and pretending not to notice the ever-present disappointment on her mother’s face. It had become a stationary expression.

Annabeth couldn’t remember the last time her mother was proud of her. Maybe when she was born. As she ascended the stairs toward her room, she contemplated how the next few days would play out.

First, they would travel to California, where her mother attended college decades ago. Athena had a tight-knit friend group throughout college to the point where, almost forty years later, they still chose to meet up every five years for a “friend reunion”.

Annabeth had grown up with only two best friends who attended specialty colleges thousands of miles apart. She felt as if talking on the phone with Piper and Rachel a few times a month was enough for her. She didn’t see any use in forcing them to fly to her just so they could have some lunch and talk about the same things they did on the phone.

Annabeth knew she was cynical, but it wasn’t her in character to be overly sentimental. For how harsh and cold her mother was, she was surprised Athena held as much value in the reunions as she did. It didn’t seem to suit her character.

Annabeth was her mother’s daughter, for sure, but this was one area in which she and her mother differed. This meant Annabeth would suffer while her mother would spend hours bragging about some new build she had created or another useless award she had won that month.

It was all trivial and superficial in Annabeth’s eyes. Her mother just wanted a reason to flaunt her accomplishments - as if she didn’t do it enough.

By the time Annabeth was done mentally ranting about her mother’s choices in life, she had messily packed her suitcase - she didn’t pack nicely for occasions she didn’t feel deserved it - and was sitting in her seat on their private jet, her headphones blaring music loud enough to drown out her mother’s endless rambling.

“We will see Sally first…her house is on the way…Percy is your age…not sure if you remember…” Athena’s voice filtered in and out of Annabeth’s range of hearing during pauses in each song.

Annabeth nodded, acting as if the mismatched sentences and phrases made any sort of sense to her. She did catch two names in her mother’s words - Sally and Percy. Anger flitted in her chest as she slowly remembered who they were.

Sally was Athena’s best friend from high school who had attended college with her as well. Sally had a nineteen-year-old son named Percy who had driven Annabeth crazy since she was old enough to comprehend who Percy was. He liked to pull her hair, steal her books, and eat her food. Anything he could do to get under her skin.

She slid an earbud out, glancing at Athena who seemed surprised by her acknowledgment. “Percy is coming?” she asked, deliberately pronouncing each syllable of his name.

Athena was fully aware of her daughter’s hatred of Sally’s son, Annabeth had complained about Percy since she could form sentences. Despite only seeing him every few years, she had practically grown up with him. He had been to Annabeth’s house a few times when they were younger, back when Sally and Athena had more time to see each other.

“Annabeth, be nice. He’s matured a lot since you last saw him.” Annabeth scoffed, raising an eyebrow at her mother’s ridiculous words. “I highly doubt that. I’m not sure his brain matured past the age of fourteen. He probably hit his peak intelligence then.”

Athena shook her head at her daughter once again. “If you continue to speak to him the way you are speaking to me, you are not going to have a pleasant trip. Remember, Annabeth, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

Annabeth mouthed her mother’s favorite saying along with her voice, earning another glare from Athena. Athena turned back to her laptop, muttering under her breath loud enough for Annabeth to hear.

“Percy is such a nice boy. Sally and I had always hoped you two would get married.” Annabeth knew with certainty that would never happen. They’d kill each other before they could make it to the altar.

~~~

“Athena!” a loud female voice exclaimed, the sound filling Annabeth’s ears and making her flinch. Annabeth wouldn’t admit it, but she loved Sally. Sally was the complete opposite of her mother, a loving, caring woman who would give the world for her children.

Percy’s baby sister Estelle was propped on Sally’s hip, happily chewing on her pacifier as her mom threw her arms around Athena. Annabeth smiled politely, fiddling with the strap of her sundress uncomfortably. Sally pulled back, gently hugging Annabeth with a wide smile. “My, my, Annabeth, you’re so beautiful! Your mom must be so proud.”

Annabeth resisted scoffing, instead smiling softly at Estelle who made some admittedly adorable baby noises in return. Annabeth began to reply when suddenly, a deep voice interrupted her and the pleasant silence surrounding them.

“Mom! Where is the food? I’m starving!” Annabeth bit back a gasp as the owner of the voice came into view. The boy looked as if he had stepped off the runway ten minutes prior. His tan skin highlighted his lean, muscular figure, and complimented his jet-black hair that fell in a perfect swoop across his forehead.

Trying her best to keep a blush off of her cheeks, Annabeth simply watched as a look of amusement crossed Sally’s face. “It hasn’t been set out yet. You ate on the way here, you can wait another hour or so.”

The boy’s identity become clearer, much to Annabeth’s horror. It was Percy, but sure as hell not the Percy she remembered. The Percy from five years prior was a scrawny high school freshman with braces and hair that stuck up in all directions; not some Greek god that stepped straight of mythology and rivaled the likes of modern male models.

Percy’s shockingly green eyes landed on Annabeth, who had been unsuccessfully attempting not to stare for the past five minutes. A slow smirk spread across his face, causing unwanted butterflies to flit across Annabeth’s stomach.

She couldn’t stand the effect this boy had on her. “Annabeth Chase,” he exclaimed, his eyes flashing with egotistical confidence. Annabeth hardened her expression, lifting her chin slightly in passive acknowledgment. “Hello, Percy,” she replied.

His gaze slid down her figure before settling back on her face. “You’ve changed,” was all Percy said. Annabeth scoffed at his words. “Five years does tend to change a person, especially during puberty.”

“Some things never change, Smartie,” Percy laughed, emphasizing the old nickname he had given Annabeth after he had discovered she enjoyed reading architecture and science books in her free time. A familiar annoyance filed Annabeth at Percy’s remark, and she began to retaliate before Athena placed a hand on her arm.

“Annabeth,” Athena stated, her voice loud enough to drown out Annabeth’s snarky remark towards Percy. “Let’s get settled at our table. I need your assistance with some last-minute decor.”

Percy smirked at the pure rage on Annabeth’s face as her mother dragged her away toward the seating area. Annabeth vowed at that moment to destroy Percy’s massive ego - no matter what it took. It’s about time someone taught him a lesson in manners.

~~~

Percy watched silently as Annabeth moved back and forth across the venue, her yellow sundress hugging her figure in a way he couldn’t help but notice. Her blonde hair fell across her back in soft curls, moving along with her as she ran from table to table setting up silverware and plates.

Popping a cheese cube into his mouth, he tore his gaze away from her - reluctantly - and made his way over to the snack table to refill his plate. As he walked, he pondered the events that had just taken place.

When Percy’s mom had invited him along for the reunion, he had initially refused. At nineteen, he worked a part-time job on top of full-time classes and didn’t see any value in taking off time from work and school to take a road trip across the state just to make small talk with people he hadn’t interacted with in years.

However, his mom seemed to know him better than he knew himself and subtly mentioned Annabeth would be attending. He never missed a chance to mess with her. When she was angry or annoyed, her cheeks turned pink and her gray eyes sparkled in a way that kept him coming back for more. She was addicting.

He had just piled his plate with more cheese and crackers when he realized he could no longer see Annabeth’s form flitting across the patio. Confused, he glanced around, his gaze catching on a small yellow flash moving into the woods surrounding the venue.

He realized with a start it was Annabeth, making her way down the wood’s built-in trail. He knew Athena would lose her shit if her daughter were out of her sight for more than ten minutes at a time, so he was more than intrigued at Annabeth’s sudden disappearance from the action.

Setting his plate down on a nearby table, he made his way towards the small opening in the trees a few hundred feet away. The entrance to the woods was admittedly beautiful, with flowering vines draped across the trees’ branches.

However, Percy was familiar with the outdoors after years of camping with Jason and Grover and knew that the dangers lurked within the expanse of flora. Despite her soft, feminine appearance, even Percy was aware of Annabeth’s inner strength. Annabeth was wicked smart -hence her nickname he was quite proud of - and could very well handle herself.

Even so, Percy refused to let her roam the woods by herself. For the first time since the “friend reunions” began, they had chosen a different venue than their usual as it had been booked out for a wedding.

According to his mom, Athena had a few choice words for the happy couple. Percy could only imagine living in such a household his entire life. No wonder Annabeth always had some sassy remark to each of his taunts. It was annoyingly attractive, the way she could cut down his teasing with a simple sentence - more than it should be.

~~~

Annabeth took a deep breath as she made her way deeper into the woods. Athena had become insufferable, more than usual, during the decorating.

Annabeth had grown tired of hearing “Move that an inch to the left,” or “It’s crooked, Annabeth. You know how design works. You’re the daughter of one of the world’s most famous architects!” and made her escape when her mother disappeared inside the venue in search of a different shade of tablecloths.

At first, the small opening in the woods draped with flowers had seemed inviting. Now, Annabeth wasn’t so sure she had made a smart decision.

The darkness became more potent the further she trekked, the well-worn path becoming less smooth and narrower. It was clear most people didn’t risk going as far as she had. Annabeth prided herself on being a generally brave, fearless person.

Yet, even she could develop reservations from a dark wooded path. Her head snapped up at the sound of rustling nearby. “I know Taekwondo,” she warned the darkness to her left. Despite her fear, her voice was strong. 

“Never let your fear show in your voice or posture, Annabeth. You cannot lose the upper hand.” Her mother’s voice filled her head, providing some form of comfort - at least as much comfort as Athena could provide.

A familiar chuckle resonated, causing Annabeth’s heart to sink as she realized who had caused the rustling. “Good to know. I wasn’t planning on breaking out my Karate skills today, but I’m always up for a match,” Percy responded, stepping out into the small amount of sunlight filtering through the dark cover of leaves above them.

Somehow, the dim light made him even more attractive - Annabeth wasn’t sure that was possible. Annabeth rolled her eyes at his remark, crossing her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here, Percy? How did you even find me?” Percy laughed, a grin breaking across his face. “I noticed you leave and decided to tag along.”

“I needed an escape,” Annabeth replied, beginning to retrace her steps. “Clearly you don’t know how an escape works.” Percy followed her as she made her way back in the direction she had come from.

“Oh, I do. The woods aren’t exactly the safest place, though. I didn’t want you to get lost.” Annabeth scoffed, adjusting the strap of her sundress which had fallen slightly.

Percy followed the movement, suppressing the feelings her bare shoulder conjured inside of him. “How sweet,” Annabeth snipped, brushing a branch out of her way. “I can handle myself.”

Percy smiled at the venom in her tone. “Oh, trust me, I know, Smartie.” Annabeth spun around to face him, her grey eyes filled with fiery anger. “Why do you find such enjoyment in being insufferable?” she exclaimed, stopping in her tracks.

Her sudden stop didn’t allow Percy to react in time, and he collided with her, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Percy had landed directly on top of Annabeth, his arms wrapped tightly around her small waist, the hem of her sundress flipped up and exposing her thigh.

He couldn’t keep the blush from his cheeks as he took in their position, slowly looking at Annabeth whose expression, for a split second, was one he couldn’t decipher before it switched back to her usual combination of annoyance and superiority.

Even so, her cheeks were as red as his, betraying her true feelings. Annabeth struggled against his grasp, glaring at him as he failed to let go of her for a few seconds. “Percy,” she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. “Let me go.” Percy shot her a grin before lifting himself off of her, holding out a hand to help her up.

She instead pushed herself up, ignoring his outstretched hand, and brushed off the back of her sundress. “This dress was new,” she griped, her cheeks still painted pink with a telling blush. “Not my fault you decided to stop in the middle of the pathway,” he replied, holding his hands up in a sarcastic gesture of surrender.

“God, you’re impossible,” Annabeth groaned, running a hand through her slightly-messy hair. Narrowing her gaze at him, she stepped closer, her lips pursed in repressed fury. “You never answered my question,” she stated, her crossed arms pushing the front of her dress down slightly. It was incredibly distracting for Percy. She didn’t seem to know just how gorgeous she was.

“It’s fun,” was Percy’s response, the tension between them palpable. Annabeth threw her hands in the air, turning on her heel to continue walking. The motion caused her sundress to swish across her legs, making Percy clench his fists to prevent reaching out and pulling her into his arms.

“Annabeth, wait. Let me help you find your way back.” Annabeth was already several hundred feet away, her footsteps becoming quieter with each passing moment. “I can handle myself!” she yelled back, disappearing into the darkness.

Percy sighed heavily, beginning to follow. Annabeth said he was insufferable? She was the same way.

~~~

Annabeth had lost track of how long she had been walking. At this point, she couldn’t even tell if she had walked in the same direction the whole time. She felt as if she was underwater, in the middle of the ocean, unable to tell which way was up or down.

Her breathing had become faster as the minutes progressed. The darkness seemed to stretch on for miles, with only a small sliver of light hitting the ground from the gaps in the leaves above.

She could no longer hear Percy’s steady footsteps behind her, which worried her further. As much as she hated to admit it, she was glad he had come after her.

Annabeth had become accustomed to being alone due to her mother’s frequent business trips, meetings, and awards ceremonies as well as an absentee father. She couldn’t remember the last time a check had come in the mail from him.

However, there were moments when she hated being alone. Deep down, she knew this was one of them. Annabeth may have been raised a strong, independent woman who could handle herself, but it didn’t mean she didn’t wish for another’s presence at times.

Glancing behind her, she only saw darkness as she tried to make out a glimpse of Percy’s form, or even hear the soft crunching of leaves beneath his feet. Annabeth soon realized she had made a mistake turning her head when she tripped over a stray tree root in the ground she hadn’t seen.

Time seemed to slow as Annabeth lost her balance once again, falling forward with her arms outstretched in anticipation of impact. Sharp pain shot through her wrists and arms as she collided with the ground, the sharp rocks and twigs digging into her skin.

Annabeth had let out a startled cry when she fell, which had thankfully alerted Percy of her location as she soon heard fast footsteps and his familiar voice yelling her name. Percy came into view, his eyes wide in alarm as he scanned the area.

“Down here,” Annabeth whispered, the wind knocked out of her lungs and a persistent, throbbing pain radiating from her left foot. “Oh my god, Annabeth,” Percy exclaimed, concern etched across his features as he knelt on the ground next to her. “What happened, Beth?” he asked, his voice taking on an uncharacteristic softness.

Despite the pain she was in, Annabeth blushed at the tenderness in his tone and the shortened version of her name. No one had ever called her that. It was her new favorite thing. “I tripped over a tree root. I think I hurt my ankle,” she replied, gesturing towards her foot which she realized was turned at a slight angle.

Percy gently reached towards her foot, his face gravely serious as he touched her ankle ever so slightly. Annabeth whimpered softly at the contact, causing Percy to quickly retract his hand.

“It’s definitely swollen. We need to get you some sort of medical attention,” he stated. “I don’t want you to walk on it, Beth. I’ll have to carry you.” Annabeth shook her head fervently, her face flaming at the thought. “I’m fine, I can walk.”

Percy shot her look which effectively stopped her in her tracks. “Please don’t argue. Let me help you.” Annabeth slowly nodded, sitting up so he could slip his arm behind her back.

Percy then slid his other arm under her knees, bracing himself to stand. “Hold on tight,” he instructed, slowly lifting her. She winced when her foot lifted, the movement causing sharp pain to shoot through her leg.

“I think it’s broken, Percy,” she whispered, her eyes landing on his sympathetic green ones. “It’s okay, Beth. Just hold on tight. I’ll get us back.” Annabeth nodded, burying her head in Percy’s shoulder and breathing in his intoxicating oceanic scent.

She felt so comfortable in his arms, a feeling of belonging she hadn’t felt in years. Somehow, she knew she’d be okay in his care, which shocked her to her core. Annabeth couldn’t believe how much trust she held in this boy whom she had hated for so long.

~~~

Percy held Annabeth’s body closer to his chest, secretly enjoying her warmth and the way she felt in his arms. Her skin was soft, her hair smelling of a sweet lemon shampoo. Percy’s heart was beating so fast, he would be shocked if Annabeth hadn’t noticed.

The effect she had on him was unbelievable. Percy sighed in relief as the trail become lighter, sunlight filtering across Annabeth’s body as the trees began to open up and the path cleared.

“We made it,” he whispered, watching as Annabeth’s head lifted off his shoulder. A soft smile drifted across her face, her eyes lighting up. “It feels so good to see light,” she whispered, glancing up at him.

Percy opened his mouth to agree with her statement when Annabeth moved suddenly, cutting him off. All coherent thought left Percy’s brain in an instant as the feeling of her soft lips pressing against his filled his senses.

She was overwhelming - in the best way possible. Annabeth’s scent, her hand resting on his cheek, and the soft brush of her tongue against his bottom lip were all he could focus on.

After a few seconds that felt more like a few hours, she pulled back, a wide smile across her face. “Thank you,” she whispered, brushing his cheek with her fingers before turning back to face the entrance of the woods in front of them.

The next few minutes passed in a blur as Percy’s brain hyper-focused on what had just happened. He didn’t register his mom and Athena’s concerned exclamations as they noticed Percy carrying Annabeth fireman-style out of the woods, or the 911 call made by Athena, or the stretcher Annabeth was placed on. His world had just tilted on its axis - and he wasn’t sure he would ever be the same.

~~~

Eight Years Later

“Mommy,” Chase whined in the way only a three-year-old can, clutching his stuffed owl tightly in his tiny fists. “Where are we going?” Annabeth smiled at her son, scooping him up and kissing him all over the face. He giggled happily.

“To see Grammy!” she exclaimed, watching as Chase’s face lit up. “Gammy!” he cheered joyously, squirming in her arms. “C’mon, baby,” Annabeth said, lowering Chase to the floor and taking his hand. “Let’s get in the car!”

Annabeth slid the SUV’s door open, smiling widely at her son as she reached over and unbuckled him. He scrambled into her arms, scanning the area in search of his grandma.

It was sweet how much he loved Athena, a blessing Annabeth had been asking for since he was born. Athena turned out to be an amazing grandparent, transforming into a loving, kind, caring grandma who looked out for her grandchild. She had even stepped up her mother game, supporting Annabeth more than she ever had. Annabeth couldn’t ask for more.

Athena appeared at Annabeth’s side, pulling her daughter into a hug before holding out her arms for Chase. “Hey, buddy!” she exclaimed, balancing her grandson on her hip. “Let’s go find Aunt Sally!”

Annabeth watched with a wide smile as they made their way to the seating area where Sally was standing, talking with one of her and Athena’s college friends. Annabeth was about to turn around to lock up the car when a deep, cocky voice interrupted her.

“Smartie! Look who decided to grace us with her presence!” Annabeth rolled her eyes, spinning on her heel to face the man behind her, her arms crossed over her chest.

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that,” she retorted, watching as Percy’s gaze slid down her body, pausing ever so slightly on her chest. “My eyes are up here,” she scoffed. Percy laughed, stepping closer. “C’mon, Beth, can’t I admire my wife? After all, she is the prettiest woman on the face of the Earth.”

Annabeth laughed, uncrossing her arms. The light caught on the sparkling rings on her left hand, speckling across Percy’s confident expression. “That might be an exaggeration, Perce,” she replied, laughing softly as her husband pulled her against his chest in one quick motion.

She looked up at Percy with wide eyes, blushing slightly at the look on his face. “I never lie, Beth,” he said before pulling her face to his, his lips moving across hers in a way that never failed to fill her stomach with butterflies, even eight years after their first kiss.

When Percy pulled away, she interlocked their hands and they made their way towards the reunion which was in full force. Listening to the happy giggles of Chase in the distance, she glanced up at her husband who was watching him with a look of such love. In that moment, Annabeth knew she had found her forever - with someone she had never expected.

[egnlotsc]

i've been dancing in the dark, you've been dancing in the light - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which they're academic rivals stranded on a camping trip during a storm, and only one of their tents survives the storm~~

Annabeth carefully folded the shirt in front of her, laying it gently in the duffle bag on her comforter. "I still think this isn't one of your best ideas," she said, pointedly glancing at Rachel.

Rachel grinned, adjusting the pillow in her lap as she observed Annabeth's meticulous packing routine. 

"It will be good for you. You rarely participate in any of our school's social events. You're always so busy doing things for others. It's about time you did something for yourself."

Annabeth knew she couldn't argue with Rachel. Her friend was somehow always right, wiser than most eighteen-year-olds. "Fine," she sighed, zipping her duffle bag shut and spinning around. "Let's do this."

~~~

Annabeth squinted in an effort to read the small print on the instruction booklet, the poles of her brand-new tent spread out on the ground in front of her.

Rachel had disappeared fifteen minutes prior, leaving Annabeth to figure out how to build it on her own. She had just figured out which pole corresponded to the pictures when a chuckle sounded from behind her. 

"Well, well. Is Miss Valedictorian-to-be struggling to build a simple tent?" Annabeth whirled around, coming face-to-face with a pair of sparkling green eyes and a cocky grin.

The color drained from her face as she realized Rachel had left out a key detail of the excursion - the person she couldn't stand the most was tagging along. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, crossing her arms defiantly across her chest. 

"It's a class trip, Annabeth. Last I checked, I am a senior like you, and therefore a member of this class. Pretty sure that means I am allowed to be here." Percy responded with an infuriatingly smug tone.

Rolling her eyes, Annabeth turned back around, preparing to continue her set-up when a rumble of thunder interrupted her actions. "Was that thunder?" she questioned, eyeing Percy who looked just as confused as her. 

Slowly, she registered the sudden lack of tents and camp equipment surrounding them and the persistent buzzing of both her and Percy's phones.

Glancing down at the screen, she saw a text from Rachel and read it aloud. "Huge storm heading towards the campsite. Piper offered me a ride, but we didn't have time to return. Sorry, Beth. If you stay in your tent, you should be fine! Text me after the storm so I know you're okay." 

Annabeth let out a shocked laugh, looking up at the sky which had turned three shades darker since her conversation with Percy. "We're on our own," was all she could say.

Percy shook his head, eyeing the pieces of her tent littering the ground. "Do you want some help?" he asked, his tone condescending. "No thanks," she snapped, leaning down to pick up the instruction manual. "Not from you."

An emotion flashed in Percy's eyes that she couldn't register before he shrugged, backing away. "Good luck," he called out sarcastically as he made his way back to his bag a few feet away.

Annabeth bit her lip, preventing a snarky remark from escaping her lips. She didn't feel like wasting her energy on him. Percy knew just how to get under her skin. 

~~~

An hour had passed, and much to her dismay, Annabeth had made little progress on her tent. Percy, on the other hand, had finished his in less than ten minutes and had been inside since then.

She could smell some sort of food cooking from his tent, annoying her further. How was he so effortlessly good at camping? He didn't try in anything school-related, yet he was some sort of outdoor savant? It bothered her more than she cared to admit. 

Annabeth had just finished securing the poles into the ground when a small drop of rain splattered onto her arm, soon followed by dozens more. "No," she muttered, brushing her arm in an attempt to wipe off the water. "Please, not yet."

Percy poked his head out of his tent, watching her with a smug expression as she fumbled to tie the corner of the tent around the first pole. "You're not going to finish in time," he said, his eyes shining competitively. Annabeth glared at him, wiping the water falling down her face away. 

"Watch me," she spat out, her heart beating fast as the wind picked up. Just as the sky opened up, Annabeth finished tying the last corner and practically threw herself inside of the tent.

She smiled to herself as she looked around the space, admiring her work. Percy didn't know just who he was up against. He hadn't since the first day he stepped foot into their school sophomore year, his cocky demeanor radiating throughout the hallways.

From the first time Annabeth had laid eyes on the boy who was set to become her arch nemesis, both academically and socially, she only had one goal - to take him down. So far, she had.

She wasn't about to stop now despite the end of their senior approaching quickly. Annabeth still held the top spot and was determined to keep it that way. 

~~~

Percy listened to the wind whistling outside of the thin walls of his tent, his eyes tracing the corners of his tent for leakage. Although he was more than confident in his camping abilities, this storm was shaping up to be one of the worst he'd ever camped in.

Before his dad passed and he and his mother were forced to move across the country to live with his grandparents, he spent every weekend camping with his dad. He had never felt more at home than he did outside, under the stars. 

As much as Percy tried to keep his mind off of the girl in the tent beside him, he couldn't. Annabeth Chase had been a thorn in his side since his first day of sophomore year, when she had been assigned his tour guide.

At first, he had been excited for the cute blonde girl to show him around. She had been the first positive thing he'd seen since they'd arrived in California the week prior. However, the moment Annabeth spoke, it was clear she had no interest in being cordial. 

He never was able to quite figure out why she held so much resentment towards him. Percy had learned quickly that the school's reigning student was not to be messed with. Yet, he couldn't stop himself from teasing her every chance he had.

Something about the anger in her grey eyes and the way her curly blonde hair bounced against her shoulders when she snapped at him lit a fire inside of him in a way he'd never felt before. 

When Percy had seen her arrive at the camping trip, he surprised himself with how excited he was to see her. After all, they couldn't stand each other. So why did his heart race, and his face heat up when he looked at her?

Why couldn't he stop watching the way her cropped tank hugged her figure, and the way her eyes sparkled as she joked around with Rachel Dare, or rolled them at him? 

Scrubbing a hand over his face in frustration, Percy suddenly registered the loud crashes of thunder outside, and the small flashes of light breaking through his tent's dark fabric. "Annabeth," he exclaimed, realizing he had never made she had built her tent.

The venom in her tone had forced him to back off even though deep down, he wanted to help her. He wanted to accidentally brush against her as they attached the tent to the poles, to be close enough to smell her perfume and see the mascara on her lashes. 

Slowly unzipping his tent, Percy leaned out, immediately shielding his face from the harsh, pelting rain. Annabeth's tent was up, but it was beginning to sag inwards, the water pooling on the top.

"Annabeth!" he yelled, worried his voice would be carried away in the wind. Just as he opened his mouth to yell again, Annabeth's tent collapsed, revealing her soaked form. She scrambled for purchase, her eyes wide in fear as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky. 

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled one more time, scrambling out of his tent and racing towards her. He slipped on the slick, wet ground, catching himself at the last minute.

"What are you doing?" she yelled, brushing her hair out of her face as she watched him stumble towards her, wide-eyed. "Saving you!" he responded, finally reaching her. He held a hand out to her. "Grab my hand!" Annabeth hesitated for a moment before another rumble of thunder startled her. 

Annabeth's hand slid into Percy's, and he held it tight as they made their way back to his tent. He struggled to open the zipper, his fingers too cold to fully grasp the metal. Finally, the fabric gave way and they fell on top of his sleeping bag.

Percy realized his arms were wrapped around Annabeth, his fingers brushing the skin of her waist where her shirt had ridden up. Her face was buried in his neck as she shivered violently.

Percy freed his arm, reaching over and grabbing his coat. He wrapped it around Annabeth, watching as her frantic breathing slowed.

Annabeth looked up at him, her wet hair falling into her eyes as she looked around Percy’s tent. “How do you know how to build a tent so well?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Percy held back a smirk at the slight jealousy in her tone. “Years of camping with my father,” was his response, his chest tightening at the mention of his late father. Annabeth caught his gaze, an unexpected softness on her face.

“I’m sorry about your father,” she said, and he could detect the sincerity in her words. He had heard those five words thousands of times over the years, but they didn’t feel forced or dipped in sympathy. He knew she truly cared. But why?

“Thank you,” he whispered, sliding his arm out from underneath Annabeth as she slowly climbed to her feet. “Thank you,” she responded, gesturing to the tent surrounding them.

“I didn’t expect this.” Percy stood up as well, walking closer to her and watching as her eyes widened slightly. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, using his thumb to brush a droplet of rain off her cheek.

Somehow, he could smell Annabeth’s intoxicating floral perfume and it only served to distract him further. “I couldn’t leave you out there, Annabeth,” he said in reply.

Annabeth shot him a questioning gaze as she pulled his coat tighter around her. “But we can’t stand each other.” Percy chuckled wryly, running a hand through his damp hair. “Correction - you can’t stand me.” Annabeth scoffed, stepping closer to him. “What does that mean?”

“I could tell from the first words you spoke to me our sophomore year that you didn’t like me. I’ve learned to keep my distance since then.” Annabeth’s grey eyes sparkled with anger as she processed his words.

“Keep your distance ? You’ve had it out for my perfect academic record for the past three years! When I last spoke to Mrs. Bradshaw, she said I was only slightly ahead of you for valedictorian.”

“I can’t help it if I’m smart, Beth,” Percy retorted, crossing his arms across his chest. He noticed Annabeth’s cheeks redden as she focused on the movement before she tore her gaze away to glare at him.

“Have you ever heard of humility?” Annabeth snapped in response, taking another step forward. “And don’t call me Beth.” Suddenly, they were nose-to-nose and Percy realized just how fast his heart was racing.

The anger in Annabeth’s face faded into something softer, something stronger, and a few moments passed in silence before they both moved at once. 

Before he knew it, his lips were on hers and the only thing Percy could comprehend was how soft Annabeth’s mouth was, the feeling of her waist under his fingers, and the pure electricity flowing through him at her touch. 

He never knew he could feel like this, and he never wanted it to end. From the way she was melting into his touch, he knew Annabeth felt the same way. 

~~~

Annabeth pulled back in a daze, unable to catch her breath. She could still feel Percy’s mouth on hers, the gentleness of his kiss and touch forever etched into her memory.

She had always found Percy annoyingly attractive, with his dark hair, sharp jawline, and emerald green eyes. It didn’t help that he looked as if he was some gym god; even though she knew he rarely worked out.

Annabeth hated to admit it, but over the past year, she had found herself stealing glances at Percy during class, unable to look away from the one person she couldn’t stand the most. 

Yet, here she was, wrapped in his arms under the pouring rain. She didn’t know what would happen next. Graduation was just around the corner, and if she did make valedictorian, she would be off to her dream school and halfway across the country.

For a girl who had her whole life planned by the time she was eight, she was somehow alright with walking down an uncertain path - with someone she had never seen as a part of her future. 

Annabeth leaned in and kissed Percy again, smiling against his lips at the thought of a future with him in it. 

~~~

Percy awoke slowly, a smile spreading across his face as he felt Annabeth’s warmth against his side and the soft sounds of her breathing.

He was about to sit up when the sound of grass crunching from outside the tent, followed by a cacophony of familiar voices stopped him. “Annabeth! Percy!” Rachel yelled, her footsteps stopping in front of the tent. “We’re in here,” Percy responded, his voice still raspy from sleep.

“Where’s Annabeth?” Rachel demanded, her tone sharp. Percy felt movement by his side, and Annabeth sat up, her eyes bright and her cheeks tinged pink. “In here,” she responded, a slight smirk on her face. 

Percy heard a sharp gasp from outside, before the tent’s zipper moved and Rachel’s shocked face peeked through. “Rachel!” Annabeth exclaimed, her hands resting on her hips. “Ever heard of privacy?” Rachel raised an eyebrow, her gaze trailing over Percy and Annabeth’s messy hair and clothing.

Granted, it was from the rain, but Rachel didn’t know that. Percy opened his mouth to defend their appearances when Annabeth lifted herself up, her lips meeting his and stealing his breath away.

Shocked gasps and exclamations from the rest of their classmates filled the silence, but Annabeth didn’t move away, instead sinking further into his embrace. 

He simply tightened his grip on Annabeth’s waist, kissing her with all he had. 

And he didn’t plan to let go anytime soon.

[egnlotsc]

tonight, we might get it right (never say never with you) - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth AU in which Percy is Annabeth's downstairs neighbor and is kept awake by her failing attempts to build a table and goes to investigate~~

Percy sighed with contentedness as he sank onto the soft cushions of his couch, his hand reaching for the remote resting on the small table to his right.

Clicking on the TV, he mindlessly flipped through the channels, eventually settling on a rerun of an old sitcom he had seen a few episodes of in the past. 

The characters had just crashed their friend's wedding in an attempt to halt the marriage when a loud bang sounded through Percy's apartment, causing him to jump out of his seat in shock.

"What the hell?" he muttered, scanning the apartment's small interior in an attempt to locate the source of the sound. 

A few moments passed in silence, leading Percy to shrug it off and make his way back to the couch. Living in a small apartment complex in downtown Manhattan meant sound was to be expected.

Plus, he lived on the fourth floor, therefore he had neighbors both above and below who made all types of noises.

He resumed the program, chuckling at the episode's witty commentary. Suddenly, another loud bang followed by a distinct sound of shattered glass echoed through his apartment. This time, Percy could tell the sound was coming from directly above him. 

Percy debated on going upstairs and investigating, or simply ignoring it as he usually did. He was sure his upstairs neighbors had simply dropped something.

He hadn't seen the Graces around in a while, but he knew the wife, Piper, was a clumsy artist who often dropped her sculptures or painting supplies. 

He had decided to leave it alone when a second shattering sound filled the silence. Percy sighed heavily, the exhaustion from his long shift that day overcoming him.

He glared at the ceiling, shaking his head. "How many things can one person drop?" he grumbled, making his way to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

After brushing his teeth and changing into a plain white t-shirt and gym shorts, Percy sank into his sheets, his eyes already closing in anticipation of the good night's rest ahead of him.

He had just begun to drift off when an incessant banging sound - softer than before but still bothersome nonetheless - rang throughout his apartment. 

"That's it!" Percy growled, throwing back his covers and scrambling around in his dark room for his tennis shoes. "This ends now," he muttered, shutting the door behind him and making his way to the elevators at the end of the hall. 

It was at that moment that he realized he was still in his sleepwear, but he was too fired up to care. It's not like it mattered; Piper and Jason were old friends of Percy's and had known him for years as a result of living in the same building. 

The elevator's bell jerked Percy out of his thoughts, as he stepped out, his eyes trained on a doorway near the end of the hall. Even from his position just outside of the elevator, he could hear the sound of muffled banging. He was shocked no one else was out in the hallway, searching for the source of the irritating sound shattering the peace. 

Within a few seconds, Percy stood in front of the door, his fist raised in anticipation of knocking. When a small pause in the banging occurred, he pounded on the hardwood a few times before waiting.

He heard the sounds of someone shuffling around before the door's latch slid open and revealed a sight Percy had in no way been prepared for. 

Instead of coming face-to-face with his old friends or their golden retriever, Storm, Percy found himself staring at a stranger - a small, petite blonde around his age.

Her grey eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed pink. Her hair fell over her shoulders in soft curls, one side of her oversized t-shirt slipping off of her shoulder. 

In the girl's hand was an electric screwdriver, its surface coated in wood dust and paint splatters. In fact, she herself was coated in both of those materials.

White paint speckled her legs and arms, a particularly large splatter centered on the front of her shirt. As Percy looked closer, he could see a few speckles on her cheeks and a smudge of paint across her nose. 

A few seconds passed as the girl became increasingly redder in the face, her eyes trained on his attire. Percy didn't consider himself to be a self-conscious person, but when a girl as pretty as the one in front of him was staring, he couldn't help but cross his arms over his chest in an attempt to cover himself.

"You're not Piper," were the only words that he could utter, glancing behind the girl into her apartment. It was littered with cardboard moving boxes and buckets of paint.

In the center of the room sat a half-finished kitchen table lying on its side. It only had two legs and was coated in splotchy white paint - the same as the girl. 

She laughed slightly, fiddling with the screwdriver in her hands. "No, I'm not." Percy cleared his throat, shifting his weight as he tried to process the situation.

"Where are Jason and Piper?" The girl bit her lip, her face still tinged pink. Percy had to clench his fist to avoid staring at her mouth. "They moved out. I bought the apartment from them," she explained, her voice soft but steady. 

"What?" Percy exclaimed, shocked at the news. Neither Jason nor Piper had said a word to him about moving. "I'm Annabeth," the girl replied, setting down the screwdriver and holding out her hand.

"Percy," he responded, sliding his hand into hers. "I live below you." At his words, Annabeth's face turned red again and her eyes widened. 

"You're here because of the noise," she exclaimed. "Yes," Percy responded, his initial shock wearing off and being replaced by his earlier annoyance.

"I'm assuming it's from the table you're trying to build?" he asked, gesturing behind her. Annabeth's face scrunched up, her arms crossing against her chest. Percy tried his best not to stare at the low scoop of her shirt as she did so. 

"Trying to?" she exclaimed, her grey eyes stormy. "I know what I'm doing!" Percy smirked at her tone, suddenly enjoying this interaction. "Then why did I hear breaking glass more than once?"

Annabeth blushed once again, her glare still drilling into him. "That was unrelated." Percy raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning the mess behind her. 

"It's one in the morning, Annabeth. How about you restart your building spree in the morning after everyone has gone to work?"

Her scowl deepened, and as she opened her mouth to respond, the table - which had been leaning precariously on its side for the past ten minutes - finally gave way, crashing to the ground in a wooden heap. 

Both Percy and Annabeth jumped, and a few moments passed in silence as they both stared at the mess in front of them. Annabeth turned to face Percy, defeat written across her face.

"I have no idea what the hell I'm doing," she muttered, kicking at a piece of wood that had rolled towards the doorway when the table fell. 

Percy fought to keep a smile off of his face as he contemplated his next move. "How about I help you?" he asked, watching carefully for Annabeth's reaction.

She glanced at him quizzically, her gaze scanning him up and down, lingering briefly on his chest. "Why would you do that?" she asked, her arms still crossed against her chest defiantly. 

"So I can actually sleep for the next week," he replied, enjoying the way she glared at him. "Fine," she agreed, stepping out of the doorframe to let him in. "Just this once."

Percy grinned, brushing past her and fighting to ignore her soft floral scent and the way her warm skin felt as he accidentally grazed her arm.

"Let me show you how it's actually done," Percy said, unable to tear his gaze away from the challenge in her eyes. 

"We'll see about that." 

~~~

Annabeth winced as she stood up from her crouched position, her entire body sore from the non-stop painting, sanding, and assembling she had done for the past three hours. Who knew a table could be so complicated to construct? 

Those three hours had been filled with Annabeth's desperate attempts to comprehend the poorly-translated instructions included with the kit, and Percy's persistent teasing on her abilities to use electric power tools properly.

As much as she hated to admit it, she had spent more time smiling, laughing, and blushing tonight than she had in months. Annabeth hadn't connected this easily with anyone in years.

It seemed as if she didn't have to hide her true self around Percy. It was as if they had known each other for years - not just hours. 

She took advantage of Percy's momentary distraction with a particularly finicky screw to study him. Annabeth still couldn't quite believe an incredibly attractive stranger was helping her build a table at four in the morning.

When she had heard the incessant banging on her door earlier that night, she had assumed it was some grumpy neighbor; not someone who managed to give her butterflies with a single glance. 

Annabeth felt like her world had shifted on its axis as she struggled to tear her gaze away from Percy. She was too late, however, when his head lifted up, his dark green eyes connecting with hers.

Time seemed to slow as they simply looked at each other, the tension only breaking after a spare screw rolled off the table and fell to the ground with a clatter. 

Percy cleared his throat, averting his eyes as he scooped up the screw and placed it back on the table. "That should be it," he exclaimed, lifting himself off the ground and once again towering over Annabeth.

He was a lot less intimidating when he was seated, Annabeth noted. "Are you sure?" she asked, glancing over at the table. It seemed sturdy, but then again; Annabeth didn't know much about furniture. She simply had to trust that this annoyingly attractive stranger before her knew what he was doing. 

Percy's lips curled into a smirk as he lifted a dark eyebrow at her. "You don't trust me?" he questioned, stepping forward in her direction. Annabeth bit back a gasp at their sudden close proximity.

"I don't know you," she countered, watching a small spark light in Percy's eyes at her challenging tone. "I'd say we at least know each other after three hours of building a table together," Percy replied, chuckling softly. 

"It's a table, not a heart-felt conversation over coffee," was the only reply Annabeth could manage. She hated how much Percy affected her - with his jet-black hair, green eyes, lean but muscular build, and the splattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose.

Annabeth prided herself on being a strong, independent woman, but all it took was one attractive man for her to lose both her composure and the ability to put a table together. 

Percy chuckled again, stepping even closer than before so they were practically face-to-face - or, at least, as much as they could be. Annabeth had to tilt her head up slightly to fully look him in the eyes. "We had a few of those, too," he responded.

Annabeth couldn't deny his statement, as they had spent the past three hours telling each other stories of their lives and some of their deepest secrets while constructing the table. Deep down, she feared the connection she had felt with Percy and what it could lead to. 

Realizing how close Percy was to her, Annabeth began to step back, attempting to put some distance between them. She was a master at avoidance, and this situation was no different.

However, Annabeth had only made it a few inches when her foot caught on the spare leg of the table that she had forgotten to move. She felt her foot slide out from underneath her, and she braced herself for the painful landing when she suddenly stopped mid-way to the ground. 

Annabeth opened her eyes to reveal Percy's face inches from hers, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Her chest was pressed against his, and she was suddenly hyperaware of the warmth of his fingers against the skin of her waist and the small flecks of blue in his green eyes.

Annabeth could feel herself moving closer, their fast-beating hearts and heavy breaths the only sound in the room. 

"You make me feel something I haven't felt in a long time," Percy whispered, his words sending a shiver through Annabeth. She could feel a blush paint her cheeks as she stared up at him in wide-eyed disbelief. She couldn't wrap her head around the idea that he felt the same as she did.

Although he had been flirty all night, she had simply chalked it up to his personality and deemed her attraction one-sided. But with the way he was looking at her, the heat in his eyes, and his gaze locked on her lips, she knew it wasn't one-sided at all. 

Before Annabeth could fully process the situation, Percy’s lips were on hers and she no longer could form a coherent thought. The softness of his lips, the intoxicating scent of his cologne, and the warmth of his body moving against hers were enough to cause her knees to weaken.

Percy simply pulled her closer to his body, walking them backward until they fell onto her couch, her head landing on the soft pillow propped against its arm. She let out a soft sigh as his tongue brushed against her lips and drank in the feeling, wishing it could never end.

Eventually, Percy pulled back, his dark eyes filled with emotion, his freckled cheeks tinged slightly pink. His hair was messy from her hands, falling across his forehead into his eyes. Annabeth traced his jaw with her finger, biting her swollen lip as she studied him.

“Was that okay?” Percy whispered, tucking a curl behind her ear with a tenderness she had never experienced before. “Yes, more than okay,” she responded, her gaze falling back down to his lips. He grinned, lacing their fingers together.

“It seems we’re doing things out of order,” he paused, looking her straight in the eyes. “So, will you go on a date with me?” Annabeth laughed, lifting her face to his. “Of course I will,” was her response before she kissed him, sealing the deal for good. 

~~~

Percy slid the key into the lock, pushing open the door. He could hear a faint banging sound coming from further in the house, and he raised an eyebrow, intrigued as to what could be the source of the noise.

Percy set his keys on the counter, shrugging off his jacket and hanging it on the back of the kitchen chair. Making his way through the kitchen, he entered the living room, a soft dialogue echoing from the TV which was currently playing a family sitcom.

Sitting on the floor of the living room was a petite woman with curly blonde hair falling over her shoulders, her face scrunched in concentration as she hammered a piece of wood. 

The woman’s head lifted as Percy entered the room, and a soft pink blush spread across her cheeks as he surveyed the room. Pieces of cardboard and wood were strewn about, accompanied by various tools and a handful of loose screws.

“In my defense, I have never been able to comprehend these instruction booklets,” she muttered, her voice laced with annoyance. She was obviously embarrassed, her gaze trained on her lap and her hands fiddling with the hammer she had been using moments prior.

Percy couldn’t help but let out a laugh, causing her face to turn redder and her eyes to narrow. 

“It’s not funny,” she exclaimed, crossing her arms across her chest. Percy smirked, walking further into the room and kneeling in front of her. Using his finger, he lifted her chin slightly, enjoying the faux anger on her face. He knew she was attempting to hide her embarrassment.

“This feels like deja vu, doesn’t it, Beth?” he asked, watching as she stared at him with zero amusement. “Shut up…” she began but was cut off by Percy’s lips on hers, whimpering slightly as he deepened the kiss, sliding his hands down to her hips.

After a moment, he pulled back, holding back a shit-eating grin as she bit her lip. “You’re going to pay for that,” Annabeth said, standing up and grabbing his hand. Percy laughed, pulling his wife into his chest. 

“How about you forget about this table and show me, Mrs. Jackson?” Percy asked, watching his wife’s face light up, her mouth twisting into a playful smirk. “Oh, I will, Mr. Jackson,” she replied before lacing their fingers together and capturing his mouth in hers.

Thanks to Annabeth’s terrible construction skills, he found his forever - and he couldn’t be happier.

[egnlotsc]

welcome! <3

hi! i've been writing percabeth fics since 2020, primarily using ao3, however i decided to expand to tumblr as well :)

i'm a bit late to the tumblr party but i decided to join to repost my ao3 fics to a wider audience!

i'm a current senior in college with a very busy schedule and three jobs so i try my best to be consistent with posting :)

i may add tidbits of fics and extra content here in the near future, so feel free to stick around!

other sites you'll find me on:

ao3:

https://archiveofourown.org/users/egnlotsc

quotev:

https://www.quotev.com/egnlotsc

fanfiction.net:

https://www.fanfiction.net/u/14545671/

wattpad:

https://www.wattpad.com/user/vxea242

~~all of my fic's titles are from songs that hold a special place in my heart, so here's a playlist with all of them :)

[egnlotsc]

let me be your last first kiss - egnlotsc

~~Percabeth Royalty AU in which Annabeth meets Prince Percy and Annabeth learns that the media isn't always right and that Prince Percy is so much more than she could have ever dreamed~~

Annabeth slumped against the counter, brushing flower petals off her skirt as she struggled to catch her breath. Rachel raised an eyebrow at her from across the shop, continuing to organize the multicolored roses strewn across the display in front of her. 

Annabeth glared at her friend, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to tame it, but it was clear her curls had a different idea. "Rach, whose bright idea was it to accept an order for a wedding party of seventy five?" 

Rachel laughed, setting down the pink rose she had been holding as she made her way to Annabeth's side. "Yours, Anna." 

Annabeth sighed heavily, glancing around at her once-organized shop. Remnants of flowers lie everywhere, the displays a mess of petals and stems. 

She bent down to pick up a lily by her heel when a commotion outside interrupted the relative silence of the shop. 

"What the..." Rachel's exclamation trailed off as three men in suits and sunglasses desperately tried to push away a horde of overly excited women. 

Annabeth moved closer to the window and groaned as she recognized the man in the midst of the crowd, and the focus of the women's attention. 

"Is that..." Rachel came up next to Annabeth, her green eyes wide in shock. "Prince Percy." Annabeth's voice was clipped as she observed Prince Percy's crowd of adorers.

Rachel recovered from her shock, glancing at Annabeth in bemusement. "Not a fan?" Annabeth scoffed, smoothing her skirt as she glanced over at friend. "The opposite. Have you ever seen his interviews? He's so full of himself. His ego is larger than his kingdom." 

Rachel chuckled, her eyes still watching the crowd which had stopped right in front of the shop. "Annabeth, those are just interviews. The majority of them are scripted." 

Annabeth huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I still can't stand him." Rachel stepped in front of her. "Wipe the scowl off of your face, Chase. Maybe the Prince's crowd of fans will want to buy him some flowers." 

Annabeth reluctantly turned from the window, making her way back to the counter. "Doubtful." Rachel opened her mouth to reply when the door swung open with force, rattling the display adjacent to it. 

Annabeth watched in horror as the three suited men rushed inside, dragging Prince Percy along with them before slamming the door shut and holding it closed with their weight.

Rachel winked and disappeared into the back room, ignoring Annabeth's hushed protests. Vowing to tear into her traitorous friend later, Annabeth straightened and stepped out from behind the counter, observing the scene in front of her. 

The crowd was banging incessantly on the door and windows, their shouts muffled from the glass. The bodyguards glanced up, seeming to realize for the first time someone was in the shop. 

One of them stepped forward to speak but was cut off by Prince Percy. He plastered a large grin on his face that was sure to make any woman melt - any woman except Annabeth, of course. 

"I apologize for the spectacle, Miss." Annabeth tried her best to ignore his smooth British accent, instead choosing to cross her arms across her chest. 

Percy's charming grin faltered at her cold response, but he seemed to remember the situation at hand and continued on. "As you can see, I had a run-in with some fans and it got a bit out of control." 

Annabeth scoffed, suddenly over his fake charm and perfect royal persona. "A bit out of control?"

Her tone was sharper than she intended as she gestured to the crowd still banging on her windows. "I'd be surprised if my glass is still intact when this is all over."

Percy raised an eyebrow at Annabeth's tone, "With all respect, ma'am, I'm not sure you can understand-" Annabeth laughed loudly, cutting Percy off. 

"I understand perfectly fine, Your Highness." Annabeth tried to control the sarcasm dripping off of her words, but she was beyond the point of caring. 

"Take a look around. I just spent five hours assembling bouquets, wreaths, and arrangements for a wedding party of seventy five. Seventy five. Each of them had their own idea of how the floral should look, and then you burst in here, almost destroying one of my displays because you can't handle twenty women falling at your feet." 

Percy's expression was unreadable as he processed Annabeth's words, the silence between them thick with tension. Out of the corner of her eye, Annabeth could see one of the bodyguards hide a smile behind their hand. 

After another moment of silence, Percy turned to his bodyguards. "Carter, hold the door. Marcus and Ethan, help the lady clean up." 

Annabeth sucked in a breath, shocked at the selfless display from the Prince. Percy stepped up to her, holding out his hand in a placating gesture. 

"I'm sorry, Miss..." he trailed off, his sparkling green eyes holding her gaze in expectation. "Annabeth," she replied, her voice soft as she slid her hand into his and shook it. 

Annabeth bit her lip, trying not to show how much his touch affected her. "Annabeth. That's a beautiful name." 

She blushed, chiding herself for falling for his charm. "Thank you, Your Highness." Percy grinned, chuckling. "It's nice not to hear it used as an insult." 

Annabeth turned her face away, embarrassed of her previous actions. Percy gently tipped up her chin, looking into her eyes. "It's okay, Annabeth. It's refreshing to be treated normally for once." 

Annabeth smiled softly in gratitude before glancing over at the confused bodyguards who had recently been joined by a thoroughly amused Rachel. 

Percy grinned, spreading his arms out in a commanding gesture. Annabeth could see how he was to be king, his demeanor called for obedience. 

She couldn't help but watch the way he easily designated each person to a role, his arms flexing against the attractive suit jacket he was wearing. Rachel appeared next to Annabeth, shooting her a knowing grin. 

"Shut up, Rachel," Annabeth muttered, the corners of her mouth turning up in a smile as she realized her friend truly did know best. Rachel elbowed her side gently, glancing in Percy's direction. 

Annabeth looked up to see Percy looking at her, grinning softly as he swept up a pile of petals at his feet. What a sight, she thought to herself. The prince of Astoria sweeping the floor of her small florist shop. 

~~~

Two hours passed in a blur, the six of them working harmoniously to clean the shop. The mob of women had since disappeared after Rachel closed the blinds, muttering their disappointment as they dispersed. 

Annabeth and Percy fell into a steady conversation, effortlessly swapping childhood stories and learning little parts of each other. Annabeth also spent the time forcefully pushing down her growing feelings for the prince.

Percy made her feel special, like she had never felt before. The way he listened to her talk about her struggles with an absent, uncaring mother showed her he truly cared about her - and she wasn't sure how to react. 

Annabeth had stepped forward to straighten one of the racks near the counter when she suddenly slipped on a stray rose, her foot sliding out from under her. She braced herself to hit the floor when a pair of arms of wrapped around her waist, stopping her descent. 

She looked up to see Percy's face inches away from hers, the concern on his features threatening to break down the walls around her heart. She bit her lip, unable to look away from him - his eyes, his hair, his lips. 

Annabeth could see the conflict in his emerald eyes, Percy's sense of propriety fighting against his desire to show her how he felt. In that moment, she made up her mind. It was about time she did something spontaneous, after a lifetime of following the rules. 

Annabeth nodded softly, eagerly watching the way Percy's eyes lit up before he leaned down and kissed her, his mouth curving into a smile against her lips. He dipped Annabeth further, kissing her with a sweetness she had never felt before. 

Annabeth threaded her fingers into his hair, gasping softly as he deepened the kiss. His fingers brushed against the strip of skin her skirt didn't cover, causing her to shiver at the warmth. 

Percy pulled back, setting her upright and keeping his hands on her waist. "Would you like to go on a date with me, Annabeth?" he whispered, grinning softly. She laughed in reply. "Of course I would, Percy." 

As Percy pulled her back into his arms, Annabeth caught sight of Rachel, who grinned brightly at her before spinning around and chiding the bodyguard who was trying to rearrange the display of tulips, her arms waving dramatically as the poor man tried to keep up with her rapid-fire instructions. 

Annabeth buried her smile in Percy's shoulder, unable to believe how much her life had changed in a few short hours - and it was all thanks to the mob of women after the heartthrob Prince of Astoria.

~~~

Annabeth laughed as she passed a newsstand with freshly-printed magazines proclaiming "Prince Percy and Annabeth - The World's Favorite Royal Couple!", shaking her head at the blown-up headshot of her and Percy from the year prior splashed across the magazine's cover. 

She knew that dating a prince for more than two years came with the unfortunate side effect of the media, but she still wasn't used to seeing her face on magazines and television screens. 

Annabeth reached the entrance of her shop, digging out her keys to unlock the door and making her way inside. She had just set down her purse when she noticed pink rose petals strewn across the floor. 

She had just swept the night before, so it made no sense for the rose petals to be everywhere. She turned around to grab the phone and call Rachel when she noticed a single white rose lying on the counter, a note resting beneath it. 

Intrigued, she picked it up, gasping softly when she recognized Percy's familiar handwriting. 

My Dearest Annabeth, it read, I decided I should take you back where it all began. When I was ushered into your shop, I had no idea that day I would meet a woman who would change my life in so many ways. When you yelled at me that day, it only made me fall more in love with you. You are everything I could have asked for - and so much more. I love you to the end of time. There is something I've been meaning to ask you, and I believe it's time. I would like you to turn around.

Annabeth slowly turned around, her heart beating in anticipation as her gaze fell upon the love of her life standing in the doorway. He was wearing the same suit jacket he had the day they met, a small red box resting in his palm. 

Annabeth's hand flew to her mouth as a tear fell down her cheek. Percy stepped forward, dropping to one knee in front of her. "Annabeth Chase, there aren't enough words to explain how much I love you, but these four are the best I have. Will you marry me?" 

"Of course I will, Perce," she exclaimed through her tears before falling into his arms, knowing that what she had found with him was priceless.