Percy tossed to the other side, searching for a comfortable position to fall asleep. His bed sheets fell to the floor and moon light brightened the room while the Argo II swayed in the wind. He rolled over on his stomach and groaned in his pillow. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to fall asleep. Usually he could sleep well on a ship but tonight was an exception. Nothing seemed to work and as he finally found a comfortable position on his stomach, the door opened.

Automatically he jumped to his feet and grabbed Riptide from under his pillow but he couldn't see a person in the darkness. He just could recognize the shape of- A cupcake?

He let riptide sink and starred at it.

The cupcake seemed to fly through the air while the small candle on top filled the room with light. On the blue icing stood in green: 'Happy Birthday' And just as he read it, Percy remembered that it was August the 18th, his birthday. Crazy, the last years he seemed to forget it easily. He glanced up from the cupcake into the air behind it.

With two steps he reached her and pulled away the cap from her blonde curls. Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend as she became visible and he looked at her surprised. She held out the blue cupcake to him, "You've got a wish."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Between them glowed the candle of the cupcake and dyed their faces in a soft honey-yellow. Percy thought for a moment before he blew it out. The room was black again as Annabeth wrapped her arms around his neck. He just could guess where her head was but he could feel her breath on his lips.

"Happy Birthday, Seaweed Brain," she whispered and closed the gap between them. The kiss was gentle and sweet but much too short. Annabeth pulled away and even through the darkness, she could see how Percy pouted and put her forehead against his. He kissed her nose-tip, "Thanks."
"Nah, I just wanted to see your face when a cupcake flies through your room. And it was worth it," she laughed.

"You're such a meanie. And this on my birthday," Percy whispered back.

"I think it became a kind of tradition," she chuckled. "And I bet one thousand drachmas that you forgot it was your birthday."
Percy silenced for a moment. Why did she know him so well?

"And now you think that I know you a way too well." Her smile became a smug and Percy rolled his eyes, while she started to laugh again. To stop her, he leaned in and captured her lips with his. Annabeth still smiled against his lips and pulled herself closer to him. They stood there kissing until Percy had to gasp for air. She smiled and let out an exhausted yawn.

"Did you bake the cupcake tonight?" He asked her and Annabeth smiled sheepishly. He glanced at the clock: 1:30. "You are crazy."
"Nice way to say thank you, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth rolled her eyes and slipped away from his arms, to fall in the pillows. She snatched the sheets from the floor and tugged herself in, yawning.

For the first time, Percy could imagine a life after his quest. Together with Annabeth in a small apartment somewhere close to Camp and his Mom's. Maybe he will go to college, maybe he will work at Camp as a sword fighting teacher. Maybe he and Annabeth are going to marry and maybe there will be kids running around in the apartment, as smart as their mother and as brave as their father. He smiled while Annabeth opened one eye and looked at him, "Are you going to stand there smiling all night?"

He ran his fingers through his hair as a small blush crept up his cheeks and he shook his head before he crawled in bed behind Annabeth. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the lemon scent. His eyes fell shut and he was almost sleeping as Annabeth spoke up again, "And after breakfast, we celebrate our anniversary."

The sea-green eyes widened in shock. Suddenly sleep seemed to be the minor issue.

Happy Birthday, Perce! And Happy Anniversary!