Me: Heyo! I don't own PJATO or HOO, so please don't sue me!
Chapter One: Annabeth
"Happy birthday to you!" A chorus of voices rang out, completing a song I had heard so many times before. I looked around at my group of friends, and I knew I couldn't be happier. There was only one thing I wanted now. I took a breath, and blew out the dancing flames of the candles on the cake. I grinned, holding tight to my wish, watching the last wispy curls of smoke disappear into the air. Percy squeezed my hand.
"Happy twenty-third birthday, wise girl." He said, his beautiful green eyes twinkling.
"I love you, seaweed brain." I said, pinching his cheek like he was a little boy. I then had a sudden urge to kiss him, but my dreamy thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
"We gonna cut this thing or not?" Leo asked. "Me gusta cake." He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked diabolically, his curly hair unruly, just like always. Leo eyed up the cake, and I could tell why. It looked delicious. The cylindrical confection was smoothly iced with sweet buttercream frosting. Tiny blue and green icing flowers were in clusters around the edges of the cake, almost as if they had grown there. It was so simple, yet so perfect at the same time. I picked up the knife, and waggled it at Leo, jokingly reminding him that I was in charge today. He raised his hands in surrender, and Calypso smiled knowingly, taking his hand. I delved the knife into the cake, and cut the first slice, revealing the moist vanilla cake underneath. I kept cutting, until everyone had a hearty slice. Piper grinned at me, her long, choppy hair falling into her multicolored eyes.
"Birthday girl gets the first bite!" She exclaimed excitedly. I took my plastic fork gingerly and snagged a bite of cake off my paper plate. I raised it to my mouth in slow motion, just to taunt my beloved friends. I closed my eyes and ate it, savoring the rich flavors that burst into my mouth.
"Happy birthday, Annabeth. We love you!" Thalia said next to me, her mouth full of cake. I shoved my best friend, who in turn shoved me back. Frank and Hazel nodded in agreement, not daring to speak with their mouths full of cake. All too soon, we finished our cake, and left the pavilion. I looked out over Camp Half Blood, my favorite place in the world. Jason clasped his hands together.
"So," he said, stretching out the 'o', "We've got some party games planned and-"
"Hang on there, sparky," Percy interrupted, causing Jason to frown. "Wise girl and I have got something to do first." Without missing a beat, Percy grabbed my hand, and started running. I ran with him, not that I had a choice. But I didn't care. The summer wind ran through my hair as Percy pulled me towards the dock. He slowed to a stop at the edge, and we looked out on the turquoise lake. Percy pulled me into a warm hug. He let go, all too soon, his mesmerizing eyes gazing straight into mine. He tucked a strand of my curly hair that had gone astray behind my ear. I reached for his hand, but he jumped into the lake, showering me with a cold splash of water. I blinked the water out of my eyes, stunned. Peering into the water, I looked for Percy, watching the last few bubbles surface. I waited a moment, but I still couldn't see him.
"Perseus Jackson!" I yelled. "Get back up here!" Still no Percy. I got down on my hands and knees, and put my face close to the rippling surface of the water. "You can't hide down there forever, ya know!" I said, slightly annoyed. "I'll give you to the count of three. One." A moment's silence. "Two." Yet another agonizingly quiet second passed. "Three." Percy's head popped out of the water, and kissed me. It was the best feeling, his warm lips pressed to mine. I didn't want it to end, but Percy pulled me into the lake.
"Seaweed brain." I whispered as we floated inside an opaque bubble, submerged in the lake. He took my hand, and slowly kissed my nose.
"C'mon, wise girl. I've got something to show you." And with that, the current swirled around us, sweeping us away into the depths of the lake. Schools of various fish swam by, their scales iridescantly reflecting the sunlight. Along the way, we passed a forest of seaweed, swaying, almost dancing, in the swift current.
"Oh no, Percy!" I exclaimed in mock surprise. "You lost your brain! It's floating around over there!" I widened my eyes, and pointed wildly at the mass of leafy green plants. Percy rolled his eyes.
"You're lucky I love you so much," he said, "or else I would have dumped you a long time ago."
"I love you too, Percy." I said, leaning into his chest. He smelled so good, like sea salt and an ocean breeze. I guess that comes from being son of the sea god. We continued on, until we came to the entrance of a cozy looking underwater cave. We glided into the cavern, which opened up into a larger chamber, and it was a glorious sight to see. The curved walls met at a high, vaulted ceiling. Colorful corals and sea anemones dotted the stone cavern, tiny fish flitting about. There were several openings in the ceiling that allowed rays of sunshine to stream down. Although all this was great, the best thing about the cave were its main inhabitants. I was stunned. I hadn't seen these guys since our quest to find the Golden Fleece! They were the hippocampi, half horse, half fish, and all amazing. I then realized that after the quest, we hadn't seen them again. And with a twinge of guilt, I realized that I hadn't given it a second thought.
"Annabeth, you remember Rainbow, right?" Percy said, grinning. I nodded. Rainbow was the hippocampi Tyson, Percy's cyclops half-brother, had ridden, befriended, and named. And the name had stuck. Rainbow swam to greet us, his gorgeous scales shifting color, akin to his namesake. Tentatively, a female hippocampus followed, presumably his girlfriend. At once, I saw that she was more than that. An adorable baby hippocampus swam around her energetically, but not daring to venture too far. "This is Abilene. She and Rainbow settled down here, and had little Brin." I didn't know what to say, for the first time in a long time.
"Congratulations! She's a beautiful baby!" I blurted out, trying not to feel awkward. Percy wrapped his arm around my shoulders comfortingly, and said,
"I thought you'd like to see them," Percy smiled. "we can come back later if you want to, but I've got another surprise for you."
"Sounds suspicious, seaweed brain," I replied. "but okay." I turned to the small family of hippocampi and smiled. "I promise I'll be back!" I managed to say, before Percy's currents snatched us away once more. We headed back the way we had come, and before I knew it we were back on the dock, and Percy was leading me away. We walked down the stretch of beach, hand in hand. I had kicked off my shoes quite a while ago, and my toes were enjoying the silky white sand. The little waves stretched to reach us with their soft white hands, but to no avail.
"We're almost there!" Percy said, sounding as happy as little kid in a candy shop. We walked a little faster, and just as we turned a bend, I saw the surprise. A checkered picnic blanket lay out on the beach. There was a small basket of strawberries, and a gift basket. As we approached the blanket, slightly larger waves crashed onto the beach, as if a storm was brewing. Or maybe it was Percy. I kneeled in front of the gift basket, poking through the various goodies There was a fluffy teddy bear that held an envelope, and a beautiful bouquet of red roses. I picked up the teddy bear (which happened to be extremely soft) and pulled the card out from in between its magnetic paws. I opened it carefully, and attempted to read it, my dyslexia turning it into alphabet soup. After a few minutes of deciphering, I finally made out what it said. In printed black letters it said: I loved you yesterday, I love you still. I always have, I always will. I smiled, the short but endearing message warming my heart. Below that, in blue ink, it said: As long as we're together. Love, Percy. My eyes started to tear up, with both joy and sadness. I traced Percy's handwriting, remembering the words I had whispered into Percy's ear as we fell into the shadowy depths of Tartarus, holding each other, so long ago. As long as we're together. I needed to hold his hand. So badly. But when I looked to my side, he wasn't there. I stood up and turned around, but what I saw surprised me even more than see my old hippocampi friends again. Percy was down on one knee, a small box open in his palm.
"Annabeth Chase. Will you marry me?" He said, and I choked up. I covered my mouth with my hands, tears threatening to spill over.
"Yes." I whispered. "Yes!" I said again, more confidently. Percy stood up, grinning from ear to ear, and slipped the ring onto my left hand. It wasn't anything fancy, just a silver band and a simple diamond. But it was perfect. The wish I had made as I had blown out the candles had finally come true. Percy leaned in to kiss me, but I stopped him.
"Wait." I said, turning my head slightly. "Do I hear music?" Percy blushed, and gestured across the lake sheepishly. Sure enough, I saw one of the demigods from the Apollo cabin, playing a lyre. I waved, and he waved back, looking excited that all had gone well. I turned my gaze back to Percy. "I love you, seaweed brain." And he kissed me.