Capture the... Fiancé?


I rest my head against the table. I guess I was slightly grateful for the "sitting with your cabin only" rule. It helps me think about my plans again.

I take out the small blue box from my pocket, grazing my hand over the soft leather. I finger the hinges, letting the cold metal cool my hands. Swallowing hard, I open the box for the hundredth time that day. It is June 24, the Feast of Fortuna at camp Jupiter. And for me? It is the time I would decide my love for the rest of my life. If she would accept me that is.

"Examining your crotch, Seaweed Brain?" And there she is, my Wise Girl.

Fortunately, she is on the other side of the table, and she can't see what is in my hands. I snap the box shut quietly, grinning slightly. "No. You think you can turn me on that fast?"

Annabeth laughs and begins to blush. "Well... Kinda, yeah."

I blush myself, knowing what she was referring to. I subtly slip the box back into my shorts and stand up. Holding my hand out, I ask her to join me at the campfire. We walk over, passing the other tables. Connor and Travis wink at me from the Hermes table.

Travis stands up, and my eyes widen in warning. "Hey, Counselor Jackson! Have you done the deed yet?" He winks at me and smiles.

Connor begins laughing as both of our faces turn bright red. Thankfully, the other campers can't hear over the noise. Annabeth supposes it's something else, but I know they mean the proposal. She stiffens up, and i wrap my arm tighter around her. I don't need her going off the the infirmary before I even propose during capture the flag!

I fix him with a deadly glare. "Shut up, Travis." I shove past them with her still on my arm.

Annabeth looks over her shoulder, a similar glare on her face, but much more frightening. "You boys are just jealous of Percy. Sorry you haven't got yourselves any female company."

I chuckled at her. Just one of the many reasons I loved her.

We sit down on a log as the sun slowly makes its way to the west. The east side of the skies are turning gray, and the west are a kaleidoscope of colors. I stare at Annabeth as she looks into the fire pit, smiling peacefully. Her blonde hair reflects the rainbow in the sky. Her gray hair falls on her face, and I slowly reach up. I turn it in my fingers, smiling sadly at the memories and pain it came with.

She looks at me through her lashes, holding back a laugh. "Percy, what are you doing?"

I smile at her. "I'm admiring you."

She rolls her eyes and takes my scarred, rough hands. "Piper took me out shopping today. Usually, I'd be pretty bored, but she found me this gorgeous blue dress you might like."

I scoff. "Please, I like you on anything. Red, yellow, green, blue, purple."

She rests her hands against my chest. "No, but for the big party on Olympus. It's gorgeous. You just might marry me on the spot!"

She laughs, and I join her a bit more nervously. Did she know? Was she on to me? Did somebody spill?

"And how are the buildings going on in Olympus anyway?" I lean back on the log, getting a better view of her. Annabeth Jackson. Mrs. Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson.

"Oh! Percy, they're letting me convert a part of it to a mix. Roman and Greek! I know that you might think they look the same- your little mind might not be able to tell the difference-"

"Hey!" I shove her slightly and we laugh.

"What?" She says, acting innocent. "Anyways, we might be able to live there someday, Percy. You and I on Olympus. I'll work on architecture, and you can do plumbing-"

I roll my eyes. "Alright. Enough with the little jokes." She laughs and I pull her in. Her hands fist around my t-shirt, and I hug her tighter.

She nuzzles her head against my neck, smelling my scent. Ocean and sea breeze, just the way she likes it.I can smell her, too. I smell the parchment paper they use up in Olympus, and the heat of the computers. Her curly hair tickles my neck lightly, and her fingers draw buildings through my glance at each other the same time and hold each other's gaze. Her gray eyes remind me of the sky of the ocean right before sunset. She's the beginning and end of my night and day.I lean down and capture her lips briefly before the horn from the dining pavilion blows. Annabeth groans and gets up. She pulls me up and along with her.

Chiron stands at the front of the open building. He's in his full form, and he's looking quite well. His beard is graying a bit at the ends, but otherwise, he looks as good as he did when I first came to camp. From the stage, he smiles down at me with a knowing glance. I have my arm around Annabeth, pulling her close to me. Everyone knows about it. They're all in the plan. If they weren't, I would be stabbed ungratefully as I proposed to her.

"We're having our traditional game of capture the flag, everyone!" Chiron announces. Around me, campers cheer. I feel fingers tap my shoulder, and I look back to see Piper and Jason. Jason smiles at me, and Piper gives me a small thumbs up.

"Percy and... Let's have Jason lead the teams this time. Annabeth, you've been a captain for two months straight, don't look at me like that." The crowd chuckles and Jason and I step to the front.

Chiron sticks his hand down the middle of the gathering and they part. As planned, Annabeth "accidentally" joins Jason's side. She mouths sorry to me and I shrug, playing it off. My hands are shaking more than usual. The excitement, ADHD, and coke are staring to get to me.

Jason's team stays in the pavilion, and I bring my team towards the woods after gathering our armor. I try counting all the people, but there are over fifty, especially with the Aphrodite cabin also among the mix. They don't want to miss out on the big event. I run my hands over my face, starting to regret my decision for a big proposal. The younger campers looked up at me happily.

"Well, you guys all know the plan... Right?" I ask all of them. Piper looks out into the gathering and raises an eyebrow, silently asking them to recite it.

"Grab our own flag and sell the ring attached to it!" Connor shouts from somewhere in the back. I roll my eyes as everyone else laughs lightly.

Will Solace shoves Travis lightly. "Don't worry, Percy. Everything will be fine. I can feel it."

I nod in silent thanks, and we head off to our side of the river. I can hear Jason's team on the east side with their clatter of armor and talking. I walk up to a small pine and hang the flag on the lowest branch. Slowly, I take out the ring and begin tying up the fabric around the hole. The ring glitters with the sunlight filtering from the trees. My stomach churns as I look at it, knowing what it meant. In the distance, the horn sounds and I begin tying the knot messily. I rush to my post, a few feet away behind a couple of rocks.

In the distance, I hear the clash of metal, and I know it has begun. I squat lower, listening intently. I pick Riptide out from my pocket and uncap it. The pen grows to the full size of my sword, and I wait. It was highly unlikely anyone would attack me, but for the sake of looking natural, I kept Riptide squat is becoming unbearable. I hear the defense disappearing behind the trees. Not being able to keep still, I begin waddling like a duck. My sword drags behind me, weighing me down. I fall on my butt and sit there, waiting. Everything seems so quiet and slow, especially since I was not out in battle like usual.

A few minutes later, I hear Annabeth's group approaching quietly, and I can't help but smile. A couple more minutes until the big event. The footsteps stop.

"No one's near the flag," I hear her say. "It's so low! This has to be a trick! You, go check the right wing! You, go check the left!"

The camper that has to go to the left, pauses. "Do you really think that's necessary. We may be wasting time..."

"Just check, please. The faster we do this, the faster we can leave," she says.

I gulp heavily. She should've just gone for the flag! Where are the "reinforcements" that are supposed to keep her group busy?!

The boy looks around the left wing. He searches everywhere but where I am and walks back to Annabeth. "All clear."

Annabeth eyes him suspiciously. "Are you sure? You didn't behind those rocks over-"

And then I hear the rustle of leaves to my right. The group of defenders appear and begin to attack- all but Annabeth. She rushes to the tree branch, untying the falg in haste. It doesn't take to long before she starts speeding back towards her side. I jump out from behind the rocks and keep chasing her.

The woods zoom past as we run, me a few feet behind her. Trees blur behind me. All I can hear are small sounds of shouts and grunts. My blood is pounding in my ears, and I am breathing heavily. She runs gracefully, not tripping on anything. Her hair flies out behind her, and her hand grasps the flag tightly. I push harder, determined to catch up, and nearly trip on a slippery leaf. She glances back halfway, hearing my squeal, and grunts.

"I knew you were back there! Ugh! I knew Sean was lying!" She shouts.

"Surprise, wise girl!" I shout back. We keep running. She makes sharp turns to throw me off course, but for once, I think faster than her. Annabeth uses the trees and bushes as obstacles.

"Oh, come on!" I hear her mutter. I laugh while I run.

She hops down uneven ground, and I'm about ready to stop myself when I run faster and jump. I fly through the air for a few seconds, and I can't help but think that maybe I have some Zeus in me, but as soon as I start going up, gravity pulls me back down.

I'm heading towards her, and I tackle her from behind. She struggles underneath me, trying to escape. The river is only a few meters away.

She pounds my armor from beneath me. "Get off me, Seaweed Brain!"

I laugh at her vain attempts. "Nuh-uh."

I see Jason running up the hill from their side. He smiles when he sees us and pauses to laugh. People are beginning to gather around us.

"Perseus Jackson! If you don't get off me right now, I swear to the gods!" She shouts. I laugh and rip the blue flag from her hands. I get up, ready to untie the ring from the flag when I stop.

It isn't there. My eyes widen, and I look around. Nothing was on the ground except for dirt and leaves... And a dead squirrel, but I ignored that.

Annabeth makes a grab for the flag. "I'll take tha-" I pull it away from her.

"Nope. Sorry," I say. My eyes are still scanning the ground, looking for the celestial bronze ring. I get on my hands and knees and begin searching.

Piper calls out from behind me. "What happened?"

"I can't find it!" I say back. I start retracing my steps.

"Dammit, Percy. The flag is in your hands!" Annabeth groans in exasperation. She massages her temple with her dirt covered hands.

"Not the flag!" I shout. I start retracing my steps.

"Help him find it!" Jason demands. Everyone starts looking at the ground. Annabeth looks confused.

"Percy, what are you looking for?" She asks calmly. Her voice is laced with concern. I run around the trees, searching for something bright.

"This," a dark voice says behind me. I turn around to see Nico holding up a fist with only what I can assume had the ring in it. He is smiling darkly. "I felt it fall. Decided to help an old friend, even though this may cause my team to lose."

I run up to him and hug him tightly. I place a quick kiss on the top of his head. He gets stiff and hands me the ring, his pale face a bright red.

"Here," he whispers not looking at me. He shoves the ring in my hands, and I clean it with the bottom of my shirt.

"Thanks bro, I owe you one," I whisper. "Listen... I'm glad you're around. I'm still sorry about..." Nico holds a hand up and shrugs. His face is impassive, and then he hesitantly punches me on my shoulder.

He gives me a half smile. "I'm happy for you... Bro."

I smile big for him and walk over to Annabeth. The circle around us has grown, and even Chiron is standing there. He smiles and me, and I smile back.

"Percy, what's going on?" Annabeth asks me quietly. I smile at her.

"You'll see in a moment," I whisper back.

"Hurry up, Jackson!" Clarisse shouts, and the people around her almost attempt to glare at her.

I stand in front of Annabeth and wrap the ring in the blue flag. I get down on one knee and her eyes widen. A giant blush spreads across her face.

I smile at her, and I cannot remember a happier moment in my life. "This didn't go quite as planned," I begin. "But all the necessary elements are with us right now. Gods, I don't think I can even think right now."

"You never do," she says quietly. Her smile is so big, I can barely see her eyes.

"Oh, Wise Girl. What can I say? I freaking love you. You're my only queen, my only goddess- Hera, don't kill me." I get a few laughs and continue. "You're always there for me. And everyone knows, I would always remember you even if my memory was swiped. You're my happy thought. You're the Hera to my Zeus, the Seven to my seas, the half to my blood. Will you also award me the greatest prize a hero can get? Will you be the wife to my husband?" I unfold the flag, and present her the ring.

Her eyes are glazed over, and heck, I'm already crying with joy. She punches me in the shoulder, and I fall down. I begin to rub it. "Hey-!" She tackles me to the ground and then hugs me.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes, you silly seahorse!" She laughs through her tears streaming down her face. I pull back and the kiss her immediately. Her lips are moist from her tears... Or maybe they're mine.

Suddenly, we're being lifted up on Chiron. The crowd had started cheering as we were kissing and I hadn't even heard them. Annabeth began laughing, I wrap my arms around her tightly. I kiss the top of her nose, and she pulls my head down for a big kiss. She pulls apart and we rest our foreheads together. I slip the ring on her finger and smile.

"You know," she shouts over the people to me. "Even though I didn't bring the flag over to my side, it seems like I still won the prize."


A/N: Heyo! This is my first PJO and HOO story! I hope this was okay! Please tell me what you thought! Review/favorite/follow! Please tell me if you have any advice!

Should I continue this? Should I just leave it hear as a pleasure read? Was it good? Am I worthy enough to write another PJO/HOO story? Tell me in the reviews!

~Franky