Chp 1
Percy's POV

I sighed as I left yet another meeting. I finally got to my office and sat on my couch. I put my head in my hands as I tried to gather my thoughts. I was tired, physically and emotionally drained. Having not slept for the past fifteen hours, I felt like hell and probably looked it too.

I tried to tell myself for the millionth time that I'm doing this for my dad. God, how I missed him.

Although him and mom hadn't stayed together after I was born, he was still there for me, still my dad, still the guy that taught me how to sail and swim and love the water as much as he did.

And when I was eighteen and graduated high school, I went off to swim for junior Olympics, having swum for states and nationals since I was sixteen.

Then he got sick. So I left my career at the age of twenty five. I lefty favorite thing to do ever, my dream career, my life, and went to stand in for him in his business.

And I knew nothing about economics. Everyone probably just thought I was the bosses son and if they impressed me they could get extra pay or something. I don't know what they thought back then.

And then he died unexpectedly two months later, and I was shocked that he left his whole company in my name. So everyone was looking up to me. And it was so hard. I wanted to try show that I was like my dad, live up to the expectations.

But I'm not as great as he was, not as powerful, not as responsible, not worthy. Not him. Although the people around me that were now working for me looked to me, and respected me, I knew deep down that I will never be my dad.

I was distracted from my thoughts as my sister came in, standing in front of me with a grin and saying, "You look terrible." I rolled my eyes as my head returned to my hands.

"What do you want, Mia?" I asked, my tone flat. Don't get me wrong, I love my sister to bits and would kill any guy that broke her heart. But that didn't mean we all still got annoyed at each other. Plus, I'm cranky form having no sleep for quite a while.

"I have some great news on this water side house." She said, sitting on the table in front of me. I sighed as I shook my head. She had been going on about a stupid lake house she thought I should buy. I guess she was a realtor.

"Mia, I don't have any interest in buying a house. I already have my own apartment in a fancy building." I said, flatly. She shook her head, stretching out her hand with a paper.

I took it and looked at it. My mouth literally was on the floor and my eyes popped out my head. "Oh my god, Mia, where did you find it?" I asked, in disbelief.

It was our old lake house we always went to as kids. I remember spending countless summers there, enjoying the sun, the cool lake water, the view and always the girls that were there.

"It came up on the listing, but I put a deposit down and all I need is for you to sign a few papers and it's yours." She said, smiling. In other cases, I would have been mad at her for giving my bank details and spending my money without permission way before, but this was a special case.

"When can we meet up with the person to-" I started but she held up a few papers and said, "You can sign them now, and the place will be yours by tonight."

I was just going to sign it when I slumped back and said, "Mia, I can't. I have work to do here. I need to make sure things go well. And I have a meeting in an hour, so I don't have time for a vacation."

She shook her head and jumped up, kneeling in front of me. "Percy, this is our family house, we can't give it up. I'm sure the business can run finely without you for a couple weeks, you have trustworthy people here." She said.

She looked at me with her big brown eyes. "Please." She begged. I sighed as I took the papers and signed it. She grinned and stood, taking the papers and walking to my front door. "If you leave after lunch you could get there at sunset."

I got my secretary and said, "Call for a meeting in five minutes."

~ Line break ~
Annabeth's POV

I smiled as I finished the last bit of work and packed it away. I went to my room and pulled on a bikini, needing to cool off in the lake. I walked out the lake house and glanced over at the house next door.

It was about twenty meters away with the for sale sign still on the front. Wait- back up. I strained my eyes, not believing the new sign. Sold. It wasn't even up for two days and was already sold?

I sighed as I thought of the people who used to own it. The Blowfis and Jackson's. They used to come every summer when I was a kid. I used to come up here with my grandparents every summer, and they would always be here.

Mia was my best friend. Her parents were wonderful too. Sally and Paul. They had always been so in love with each other, it was so romantic. And Sally's ex, Poseidon used to always be there too.

Percy's cousins and uncle, Zeus, and their family friends' sons were always there too. Zeus had one son, Jason, who was always looking at his friend Piper who he always invited along with. They had a friend, Leo, who always came along to avoid staying at the orphanage during summer. And Percy had two friends, Frank and Hazel, Frank being the son of his dad's friend and Hazel their friend.

And how could I forget Percy. His name even gave me goosebumps as I thought of the teenager who was four years older than me. I was ten, and he was fourteen. But the spring that made him stand our so much was him being wild.

He was so perfectly matured even at that age, his brood shoulders and tanned skin, and messy black hair that always seemed perfect. And his beautiful eyes. God, they were so intriguing.

He had always been the one to cheer everyone up, make jokes, enjoy everything about living. And he was really cute too. I had a crush on him for a long time.

But then they weren't back the next summer, but I different bunch of people. Old people. So there was no more stringy spray int he evening, no campfires, no bomb drops off the dock, no fun.

I shook the thoughts of them out my head and carried on to the dock. I dived off into the water, letting the cool liquid rehydrate me after a long day. I did a length of swimming past a few docks.

I let myself float on the water, looking up at the sky. It was cascaded in an array of oranges and purples and pinks as the sun was setting. It gave me an idea for one of my projects. I had been trying to put the final touches to this house that was gong to be built somewhere in some mountains where they would have a lovely view, but I forgot about the beautiful sunrise and sunset.

I quickly turned around and started swimming back. I climbed up the ladder on the side of the dock and stood, walking towards my place again. But as I walked back to my house, a fancy car pulled up next door.

My gut twisted and I had to keep from my mouth dropping to the floor. Same brood shoulders. Same messy hair. Same beautiful eyes. I guess I had been staring for a bit as I realized he was staring at me too.

I gave a smile and said, "Percy?" I walked his way and found my self in his arms, his arms pulling me into a hug. He pulled away and gave a big smile. "Annabeth, I can't believe it's really you." He said.

I let out a laugh. "Wow, you're looking great." I said, and he gave a smile. "Oh please, you look amazing. You're no longer the sweet, innocent girl next door I remembered." He said.

I chuckled as I hid my blush. I guess I was ten the last time we saw each other and now I'm twenty eight. "Eighteen years changes people." I joked, shrugging. I looked down and noticed I got him all wet. Reminding myself I was in a bikini.

"So what are you doing here?" He asked, making me smile. "I live here. Have been for the past four years." I said. "And you?" He grinned and said, "Mia found the old lake house so I bought it and am taking a few weeks off work to have a vacation."

I couldn't control my beating heart, hoping he couldn't hear it. "I'm actually just going in, you wanna join me?" He asked. I nodded and followed him tot he front steps.

He ran his hand over the door frame, and looked behind the rock on the front porch. "Surely it has to be somewhere here." He muttered. He finally gave up and kneeled down, pulling out a paper clip, bending it and picking the lock. I was amazed when he heard a click, stood and open the door.

But what we saw was devastating. He didn't say anything as he went in, looking around the inside if the house. The paint was peeling, and the floor boards needing updating, as they were bending in and looked rotten in some places.

We carried through to the kitchen, and saw the same thing, but broken tiles and the cabinets ripped out. "What happened around here?" He asked, running his hand against the back door of the kitchen.

I got my words together and said, "All the last residents were fine but the very last always had parties, and stuff." He rubbed his eyes, probably thinking about all the renovations this place would need.

"If you like, you can stay with me till this place is fixed up." I don't know where it came from, but suddenly they were said and he looked at me. "I wouldn't want to put you out, I can just try find something for a make do bed." He said.

Bit I insisted and he finally gave me a grateful look and said, "Thank you, I appreciate it a lot." So as we head out the front door and towards my place, he got out his bags and brought them in.

He ran his hand over the smooth counter, and smiled. "This place is exactly how I remember." I smiled down at my hands and said, "Yeah, my grandparents left it in he heir will for me, I never had the heart to change anything." He gave me a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He said.

I waved it off and showed him to the guest bedroom. "So," I asked, giving a smile. "What do you want for dinner?"