Hello everyone! So, it's finally it. The Heroes of Olympus series is over. Now before anyone starts listing their complaints about the ending or swooning or fainting, let us look back in remembrance the past few years. *Looks up into the sky* ...Oh. Oh yeah, it was just a bunch of years of drooling over books and hissing at anyone who came near me in the days of early October. Huh. Oh well. Continuing! There was alot left unsaid with Blood of Olympus. My own personal opinion? I think he wanted to give his readers the freedom to figure out what happened next. We can take a pretty good guess, can't we? And I'm sure there'll be a million more fanfics just like this one, but hey, I want to post this because it feels like I'm marking a memorial or something. I don't know what I'm saying. I'm rambling. I really hope that all the cliffhangers(note; none of the cliffhangers were as bad as the one in MOA) are really Rick's way of saying; "Jk, I'm gonna make another series with these guys." But no. *sigh*. Also, this was shorter than I thought it was. Sorry. I'll try to make them longer in upcoming chapters, but for now it's just...meh. SO! BEFORE I CAN ALLOW MYSELF TO RAMBLE AND LOSE YOUR ATTENTION ANY LONGER, I PRESENT TO YOU A LITTLE DITTY I STARTED IN STUDY HALL AND WHO KNOWS WHEN I'LL FINISH IT. CUE THE FLUFFY STUFF! Oh, and remember, review! XD
The sun fading-leaving behind trails of pink clouds that seemed to sputter and die out as they moved up.
If Percy followed their paths and kept going-away from the water and the sun, he could see stars outlined by a black sky. It was impossible to find a line where the evening and night clashed. It just seemed to flow together easily.
A deep breath of rapidly cooling air made Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, aware of what was happening back on the ground again.
A fire crackled in front of them. Nothing huge or magical like the one held at the pavilion. The embers flickered up and were outlined by the quiet ocean before dissipating into the air. The fire they'd made was just before the beach started-near the shores. Long Island was hosting a beautiful soon-to-be night. The ocean was compelled by it to be quiet and let the bugs sing. The fire had been started by Annabeth to keep them warm, not to be boisterous or blinding.
Speaking of, the daughter of Athena, with her tucked safely against him, his arm around her shoulders, her warm side against his, her perfect lemon-scented hair tickling the collar of his shirt...
Percy tried not to grin. Really, he tried, but he ultimately failed. A burst of warmth seemed to erupt from his chest and he silently cursed the goddess Aphrodite as he pressed his lips against the top of Annabeth Chase's crazy blonde hair.
She snickered at his affectionate display. When he pulled his head back, she turned her head and stared into his eyes.
Percy could not fathom those eyes. Gray was such an under appreciated color. The way her eyes caught the closest light source and reflected them-currently reflecting a sea green-and made it their own, better version of that color.
"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth chortled slightly, leaning in.
He smiled and leaned in as well. He could still feel that warmth that forced his lips into that very smile, that warmth that made him feel jittery yet calm all at once, and that warmth that made him press his lips against hers.
Annabeth was the one who pulled away first, much to his disappointment. She huffed out a breath which tickled on his face. "Gods, I love you." She whispered. Maybe she didn't even mean to.
Just those words-those words, had the canyon of warmth suddenly split wider and the warmth became an unbearably hot searing pain. In that moment, Percy almost wished for a different set of words. A set of words that could describe the impossibly vast love he had for this one girl. Words that could multiply the meaning of 'I love you'. He have to ask Aphrodite, when he got the chance. Or maybe he could get Piper to pass the message.
In the meantime, there were actions more powerful than words could ever be.
He wrapped his arms around Annabeth and pulled her to her feet.
"Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth questioned softly.
Percy said nothing, just rocked her side to side. For a while, he swayed with her, resting his chin on her head. He could feel her hair swishing back and forth with each motion.
Finally, he sucked in a deep breath through his nose, and spun Annabeth away from him-just barely giving himself time to move his hands from around her to her hands-before pulling her close again.
Gods, he hoped he wasn't being too cheesy.
But the heat in his chest pushed him forward. Basically screamed at him to do it.
Her eyes darted from their intertwined left hands-currently pointed towards their left-the woods. Then she fixed her gaze on their also intertwined right hands, currently pointed towards the ocean. Finally, her eyes met his. Once again, the stormy gray adopted a sea green.
He waited.
She laughed and let go of his right hand. Before he could protest, she planted his now free hand on her waist, then lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "Like this, Percy." She murmured.
Her fingers were warm and soft. When they slipped a bit and slide a centimeter to the side-he felt the tingle in his toes. "Does your hand stay there?" He mumbled, reveling in the feeling.
Annabeth laughed and shook her head no. She pulled it away, leaving Percy's skin missing the warmth. But it didn't go far. Her hand landed on his shoulder, where it gently gripped. "Here." She whispered.
Percy smirked and took a step forward. Annabeth followed the minute only after a moment's hesitation.
At first, it was tentative-slow, long strides, and the occasional clash of sneakers. Neither minded. Then, their footsteps slowly became more secure. As one, they stepped. As one, they glided over the grass. And as one, they pulled themselves towards each other.
They're steps took them around the sputtering fire-embers dancing into the air-as if jealous of the two demigods. The log they had been sitting on was now just another step they eased themselves onto and over. A simple obstacle that made their dance even more beautiful. To make it simply radiate.
Then came the laughter.
If anything could complete the dance, it was the laughter. Not music. Not lights. Not a fancy gown or brilliantly sewn tux. Not a stage or brushed hair. Not an audience. No.
Laughter.
The first to let the happiness take shape was Annabeth. Her soft laugh was not petite or quiet. It wasn't loud ether. It was the laugh one rarely encounters-one that comes from the heart. The heart, or the warmth the heart feels, when with someone you love.
As for Percy, as soon as Annabeth's happiness broke free and took shape, his own happiness multiplied. Amazing how when you care for someone that much, their happiness is all your happiness seems to be. So he laughed the same soft, but not quiet or even loud laugh with her.
They laughed as he spun her. They laughed as they slipped around the fire. They laughed as they stepped over the log.
And, finally, they laughed as the sun's rays finally vanished beneath a silent blue surface. They laughed as Percy spun Annabeth around and back to his chest. They're hands somehow slipped from each other's grasp and went around each other.
"Annabeth," Percy started. His laughter had finally concluded with that last spin. Annabeth was still chuckling, but it was low enough that she could be spoken over, and her eyes met his attentively. "I was thinking of heading home for a week or two."
Annabeth's laughter finally ended with a shaky breath "To see your mom."
The son of Poseidon nodded. "Yeah. I can't imagine how..." He trailed off and tightened his grip on his girlfriend. "Anyways, I'm gonna ask Chiron for permission tomorrow."
The night had begun. Now, the cold air seemed to weave around them, fighting against the small wafts of warmth from the flames. But neither minded. After all of what had happened, the pair loved the stars much too fondly to fear the night.
"I don't even know if Chiron will let me." Percy rattled. "There's so much still to be repaired, and-"
"Percy?" Annabeth cut off softly. Her arms were taught around his waist. He felt her hand brush over the small of his back-once the only place where he could be killed. Her hand caressed his gently. His back tingled. "He's not gonna say no."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"What if someone else came with me?"
"Depends who."
"Come with me."
"..."
"Will you?"
And there were no more words that night, for their lips were suddenly preoccupied.