Author's note: This has been my writers block story over the past week, but I finished it this evening and decided I had to post it... It has to be the cheesiest thing I have ever written. Ever. So of course it was the most enjoyable to write, too.
I'll probably add more chapters as I go along, not sure yet. I'm already partway through another one.
I don't own Percy Jackson, in case you hadn't figured...
We do not remember days. We remember moments~ Cesare Pavese
Annabeth hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron as she went to get the door, yelling up the stairs tell her stepmother dinner was nearly ready as she went. The smell of the ocean reached her before she turned around and saw him.
"Hey there Wise Girl. Apparently I have a girlfriend in the area who needs some help babysitting?"
Grinning as she rolled her eyes, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway. At the same moment, her Dad came into the hall.
"Adri, are you nearly ready?" He called up the stairs. "Going to miss our reservation at this rate." He mumbled under his breath.
"Hey there Mr Chase." Percy said, his arm still around Annabeth's waist and lopsided smile firmly in place.
"Percy!" Exclaimed Annabeth's father was evidently taken aback a moment, but he was quick to recover. "It's good of you to do this. It's been hard to find any time, what with the new baby and everything, so we really appreciate your help."
"It's not a problem. Really." Percy assured him.
Annabeth grinned at her father, then turned to Percy, placing her hands gently on his chest. "Come on. Pizza's nearly done. You're just in time to make blue cupcakes."
"Mmm." He murmured as he entered the kitchen, allowing the pizza smell to waft over him. "How did you make blue pizza?"
"Bit of an experiment." Confessed Annabeth as she got it out of the oven. "Adri gave me the recipe for homemade pizza dough, and since you were coming, I thought I'd add some food colouring. It looks like it's gone off or something."
Percy laughed as he sit down at the kitchen table in the centre of the room. "I think it looks perfect."
Adri's heels echoed slightly as she came into the kitchen, affixing an earring in her ear lobe.
"You look nice." Smiled Annabeth, looking up from her perch on the counter.
"Thank you." Adri smiled in return. "You're looking rather lovely yourself. I thought it was just a quiet night in?"
Annabeth blushed ever so slightly. "Date night for us as well as you. Besides, I'm not that dressed up. I couldn't even be bothered changing out of my jeans."
"Well, you look pretty either way. Hey Percy, I don't know if Frederick's already said, but thanks for doing this. Both of you. We're leaving in a minute." She told them. "Lou's down for the night, I think, but if she wakes up there's nappies in the bathroom cabinet and some milk in the fridge. I've put a list of emergency numbers on the counter, call us if you need to. Bobby and Matthew should be in bed by ten at the very latest, since it's a school night, but we shouldn't be back too late. You can help yourself to whatever you like from the fridge or cupboards."
Annabeth laughed, hopping off the counter. "Don't tell Percy that. He'll eat us out of house and home!"
Adri grinned. "Alright. Well, thank you both again. And behave yourselves."
With a kiss on the cheek for Annabeth (which smelt of perfume) and a smile for Percy, both her and Annabeth's father left.
Percy waited until the car had driven away, before getting off the chair and walking over to her, wrapping his arms around her neck.
"Things look like they're getting better. With your step mum, I mean."
Annabeth's brow wrinkled. "I think so. We're both trying" She untangled her arms so she could put them around his waist and peck him on the lips. "Come on. Before this blue pizza gets cold."
"Where's our dinner?" Bobby demanded, appearing out of nowhere. Annabeth jumped. She and Percy had been sat at opposite ends of the table, deep in conversation. So far, they'd covered the rebuilding of Olympus, which Annabeth was overseeing (though only briefly. Annabeth knew how glazed over his eyes would become when they covered architecture in detail, and she didn't want to bore him,) Camp Half Blood, their plans for the summer solstice, Annabeth's upcoming birthday, on and on. Annabeth felt safe in Percy's presence, happy like she hadn't been in a long time, almost like Tartarus had never happened... Which was ridiculous, because he'd been in Tartarus with her.
So engrossed with their 'date night' they had completely forgotten about the fact that they were babysitting.
"Right here. I was just keeping it warm for you." She said, turning her back to hide how flustered she was.
"You're Percy Jackson." Matthew informed Percy, playing the 'protective younger brother'. "Annabeth's boyfriend."
Percy laughed. "Hey, man. Pleased to meet you."
Rolling her eyes for Percy's benefit, Annabeth set the pizza on the table. "Yes, it's chicken and pepperoni." she informed Bobby before he so much as opened his mouth, winking.
"So, have you guys done your homework?" Asked Annabeth, breaking the awkward silence.
"No." Scowled Matthew, just as Bobby said "Yes."
"You should do it after dinner." Annabeth told Matthew, before turning to Bobby. "And your room is a tip. Clean it please."
"Yes mum." Muttered Bobby.
"What was that?" Asked Annabeth, here eyes narrowing as her tone grew dangerous. Matthew flinched, and Percy grinned.
"Nothing."
After that, silent fell around the little kitchen table, apart from the loud munching of pizza issuing from both Percy and Matthew's corner... Throughout the meal, Bobby's eyes kept flickering from Annabeth to Percy and back again, as though trying to figure something out.
For their part, Percy and Annabeth seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation. For no apparent reason, Annabeth's eyes would spark with laughter, or an inexplicable smile would tug at Percy's lips, though no one had said anything remotely funny or even interesting so far.
"Are you going to marry Annabeth?" Bobby blurted out suddenly, halfway through the meal. Annabeth's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed. Matthew, too, seemed to sense danger.
"Bobby, why don't we-"
"Maybe." Percy laughed, meeting Annabeth's eyes from across the table. "Bit premature, though, don't you think?"
"Sorry. Stupid ADHD. Makes me say stuff I don't mean to."
"Know the feeling." Laughed Percy. "My ADHD's always acting up at the worst moments."
As Bobby grinned appreciatively and turned away to talk to Matthew, Annabeth winked and mouthed 'nice save.' Percy just smiled.
"Blue cupcakes?" Annabeth grinned, once Bobby and Matthew had gone off down the hall to do the chores she had issued.
Percy smiled in agreement, collecting the plates and dumping them in the sink as he poured hot water and washing up liquid over them. Annabeth grinned, and grabbed a dish cloth.
"You do dishes? Maybe I really will marry you!" She grinned.
Laughing, Percy splashed her with soapy water.
"Oh, I am so going to get you for that!" She gasped. A full blown dish cloth war ensued, which ended (rather predictably) with them both flat on their backs in a soapy puddle of water on the floor...
"Draw?" Asked Annabeth, looking down at the top Aphrodite had made her promise to wear as she peeled a sopping wet curl off her face. The poor fabric was drenched in dishwater, completely plastered to her, but somehow she didn't feel that sorry.
It wasn't really her style anyway.
"Draw." Percy laughed, biting his lip.
"Alright. Blue cupcakes." Annabeth reminded him.
As it transpired, Percy was about as responsible with cake mixture as he was with dish water. Annabeth swore there was more batter on her face, in her hair and on her clothes and bare arms than there was in the cake cases...
Licking out the bowl was fun, though.
Percy looked at her and grinned.
"You've got a bit of flour just here." he said, trailing a finger down her cheek and wiping gloopy blue cake on her wherever he touched. Laughing, she grabbed the bag of flour from the side and threw a dust cloud all over him.
He turned to her and grinned, his teeth seeming especially white and his tongue very blue...
"Oh, that's freaky." She laughed. "You look grey! It's like seeing 50 years into the future. You look all old and crippled!"
The truth was, his bright eyes still shone with mirth and his smile was still lopsided and sarcastic... He was seaweed brain, her seaweed brain, and that was just the way she liked him.
He laughed. "You know, I think I put a bit too much food colouring in that. This many e numbers can't be good for me."
"I thought it was a really intense blue!" Annabeth half sighed, half laughed. "Percy, you used almost half the bottle! Stick out your tongue!"
Laughter so hysterical she almost wet herself overtook her. "Oh my gods, Percy! You look like an old alien!"
Percy laughed. "Well, you're one to talk! You're covered in so much cake mixture you look like a blond smurf. Come to think of it, there is a blond smurf, isn't there?"
Annabeth couldn't help it. She burst out laughing, yet again.
After both of them showered and got changed, and the kitchen (at Annabeth's insistence) was properly cleaned up, they sat down to watch a film.
Percy, however, didn't seem very interested in the Life of Pi. He was preoccupied with playing with Annabeth's still-slightly-damp curls.
"I like you better like this." he said suddenly. Taken aback, Annabeth realised he was blushing even in the half light of the living room.
"Like what?" she asked softly.
"This." He clarified vaguely, waving his hand over her. "Without any makeup on, with your hair damp and down, dressed in one of my old jumpers."
"Thanks, Percy." It was her turn to blush now. Tugging slightly self consciously at the ratty, over large jumper Percy had leant her the other month and making a half hearted attempt to flatten her hair, she smiled at him. "Not so bad yourself you know." She told him, tangling her hands in his hair.
"Oh really, Wise Girl?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hump hmm." The sound of the clearing of a throat had them both turning at the same time, Annabeth practically falling off the couch. Bobby. The kid had to have the worst timing in the history of the world...
"Isn't it your bedtime or something?" Annabeth asked, with obvious impatience.
"It's like 8 o clock." Bobby laughed.
"Exactly." Annabeth replied. "Eight... Is it really eight?" She asked Percy, who shrugged in reply. "Well, yeah. Anyway, eight o clock is really far too late for you to be up. On a school night! You're 13, not 20!" She mock scolded. Bobby grinned.
"Anyway, I'm bored."
Annabeth frowned. "You're always bored."
"So am I, as it happens." Matthew appeared suddenly at Bobby's side. "You don't mind if we join you guys, I'm sure, what with you both being incredibly responsible babysitters and all."
"As it happens, I do mind, actually-" Annabeth began.
"Excellent." Bobby cut across her, grinning as if he was enjoying himself quite a lot. "Budge up."
"Fine." Annabeth replied, as Percy sat up. Hesitating for a fraction of a second, she sat down on his lap, her legs hanging off the edge of the sofa, hands tangled back in his hair. Percy smirked.
"You know, just because they say babysit, doesn't mean you actually have to sit on someone, Annabeth." Matthew sighed, throwing himself down onto the couch next to them. Laughing, Annabeth stuck her tongue out.
"Just because you've never had a girlfriend, Matthew darling."
Rolling his eyes didn't quite disguise her brother's wounded pride. He didn't really say much to either of them for the rest of the evening...
"Alright." Said Annabeth, glancing at the clock which now read ten o clock. "Time for bed."
After some protests, Bobby and Matthew trudged up the stairs, complaining loudly. It wasn't long after that that a crash reached their ears, followed by some quite colourful cursing on Matthew's part...
"Please, please, please." Muttered Annabeth, crossing her fingers against Percy's chest. "For the love of Athena, don't let them have woken Lou."
They both waited a moment, listening intently, before a sudden, shrill cry reached their ears.
"Now they've done it." Annabeth scowled. Sighing, she untangled herself from Percy and trudged up the stairs, muttering to herself about stupid brothers.
"Go to bed." She told Bobby in a tired sort of tone. "I'll sort this."
For a moment, Lou seemed quieter in her arms. "That's it, kid." Annabeth sighed, rocking her back and forth. "Go back to sleep for your big sister."
Without warning, the baby's eyes flew open, her face turning red as she opened her mouth and screamed at what seemed to be the top of her lungs...
"Every night this week, Lou." Annabeth groaned, cooing in a gentle sort of tone as she reprimanded the little bundle of blankets. "Every single night you've prevented me from sleeping. Not that I would have been doing much sleeping anyways, after the other summer, but still. Just for tonight, please, could you not just sleep like a good little baby?"
Neck prickling, Annabeth suddenly got the feeling someone was watching her... As her hand curled around her knife, however, the smell of the sea reached her nostrils.
Spinning around so fast she made Lou scream her loudest yet, she realised it was just Percy, stood in the doorway with a slightly grin on his face. Watching her...
"Here." He said, holding out his arms. "Let me try."
Somewhat doubtful, Annabeth looked him up and down. Percy laughed.
"Come on! What? You afraid I'm going to drop her or something?" He demanded.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of, seaweed brain." She replied. He grinned, and held out his arms again.
"I'm not going to drop her. Just- trust me on this one, wise girl."
Hesitating only a second longer, Annabeth gently placed her sister in his arms.
"Hey there." Percy whispered, stroking her cheek with his forefinger. Immediately, she stopped crying and looked at him inquisitively, her dark eyes wide. After a moment, her plump lips curved into a wide yawn. Percy laughed softly. "That was a big yawn if ever I saw one."
Barely a minute passed before she was sound asleep. Annabeth's eyes widened in wonderment.
"How did you do that?" She whispered. Percy shrugged.
"I've babysat before, you know."
Settled back in the living room, they reached a join agreement that they really didn't want to watch another film, so they curled up on the sofa with blue cupcakes, quiet music on in the background, sending chills up Annabeth's spine.
The lamp cast a soft halo of light on the living room. In the daytime, this was Annabeth's least favourite room. It was too large and too airy, with a giant carpet in rusty autumn colours as the only item in the centre of the room, a large bay window and little other furniture besides the bookcase, sofa and television.
At night, however, it was a wholly different story. The curtains shut out the outside world, making it feel much more cosy. The lamp in the corner came into full use, bathing the room in its dimmed down golden light, the sofa so much more comfortable and the room as a whole much less cold...
"Mmm." Muttered Annabeth appreciatively, licking blue icing off her finger as she curled up against Percy's chest. "The mess was worth it. These are good cupcakes."
"Mmm." Muttered Percy, his own mouth still full of cupcake. Suddenly, he sat up and leapt to his feet, almost dislodging Annabeth off his chest and onto the floor for the second time that evening. As it was, she only just managed to stay on the sofa.
He held out a hand. "Come on, wise girl. Dance with me?"
Pathetic puppy dog eyes. Annabeth sighed. How she ever managed to win a single fight with Percy was beyond her. Right now, there didn't seem to be much point in attempting it. Besides, this was her favourite song...
"What's got into you today?" She laughed, placing her hand in Percy's outstretched palm and allowing him to pull her up.
"Nothing." He said. "I just missed you is all. And this song reminded me of when we danced for the first proper time- you know, just after our second quest."
Annabeth smiled, allowing herself to be pulled slightly closer, putting her arms around his neck and bringing their lips so close together she could feel every breath he took, the salt water taste of his lips almost registering on her tongue...
"That's really sweet, Percy."
His eyes seemed to burn an even more intense and beautiful green than usual- as if every emotion had been made twice as vivid, and all of it was shown right here.
Annabeth bit her lip, and brushed her finger over the grey hair just visible by his left ear which, after fading a couple of years ago, had reappeared when they emerged from tartarus. As he met her eyes, unblinking, she realised they had stopped dancing.
She didn't want to move from this spot, though. With Percy's arms around her waist, his face mere inches from her own, the music floating all around them... It was perfection, captured in a single breath.
"Really, though." She whispered. "Why'd you want to dance?"
Percy shrugged. "I figured we could use some practice. If we're going to get married, I mean."
Annabeth's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare hope...
"I'll pick out a date, shall I?" She whispered, unknotting her hands from his hair.
"Mmm hmm." Percy murmured, removing his hands from her waist and fishing a moment in his back pocket.
"What's this?" She asked blankly, looking at the velvet box. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat, and (pulling away just barely) she clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh my gods, Percy! I was joking!"
He shrugged in return. "Yeah, well. I wasn't."
Annabeth took a steadying breath, and put her hands back around his neck. "Well then, I guess I'm going to have to say yes."
"Hold on a minute!" Percy laughed. "I had this huge speech planned! I was going to get down on one knee and everything!"
Annabeth couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. "Big speech? One knee? You? Alright, this I have to see!"
Grinning, Percy got down on one knee and took her hand. "Annabeth Chase, we've survived through a whole lot of stuff. Gods, Titans, Gaia and a whole load of monsters. And I figured we only really survived because we were together. I couldn't have done any of it without you. And while I can't promise that the future is free of any of those things, or that we'll always be safe, I can promise that the future will never, ever find us parted every again. So... I guess... Wise girl, will you marry me?"
Annabeth grinned. "Holy Hades, Percy, that has to be the cheesiest, most cringeworthy thing you've ever said to me." She sighed. "And also the sweetest. So... I guess... Seaweed brain, yes I will."
Percy grinned, and slid the ring onto her finger. Their lips crashed together, and it felt like nothing either had ever experienced. Like the house could have caught on fire, neither of them would have known or cared. Suddenly, Annabeth pulled away.
"On one condition." She laughed, gasping slightly for air. Percy frowned.
"What?"
"There has to be blue cupcakes."
Percy laughed. "As to that, I think it would be a bit of a crime if there wasn't."
And when Frederick and Adri Chase arrived home to see both of them curled up on the sofa, completely knocked out (Percy drooling ever so slightly!), with a ring sparkling on Annabeth's finger and blue cupcake wrappers scattered all over the living room floor, they honestly couldn't have been happier...
