The snow softly swirled in the gentle breeze, and the setting sun cast an almost candle-like glow on the ground. The serenity of the meadow was almost frightening to Annabeth. Her eyes darted around, searching for anything that even closely resembled a monster. She and Percy had scheduled to meet here because it was the only place in New York where you could see the stars, bright and clear. Like her eyes, Percy would joke. Annabeth grinned ruefully as she thought of her boyfriend. Percy. She had missed him. They had spent the first semester of college apart as she was in California, and he stayed in Manhattan. It was the first time they were apart after the war with Gaea. All the same, they always called each other before bed and left the phone on throughout the night. Hearing each other breathe helped with the nightmares from Tartarus. But it wasn't the same as being together. She had hopped on the first flight back after winter break started, and the two arranged to meet here. But where was her Seaweed Brain? The meadow was still quiet and undisturbed but with her luck, that could change any moment with the arrival of a monster.
There. Off by the trees. The leaves were rustling.
Annabeth instinctively clutched her dagger. "Ow! Stupid thorn," she heard someone say. A huge smile suddenly spread across her face.
She recognized that voice.
Percy stumbled in the thicket of trees. His winter coat kept getting caught in every branch he passed. In his eagerness to see Annabeth, he decided to take the shortcut through the trees. What a stupid idea, he thought to himself. Good thing Annabeth is a genius or where where would he be now? Just thinking about his Wise Girl made Percy's eyes sparkle. It had been so long since they had last seen each other in the flesh. He missed her constancy. Her constant teasing, always being a know-it-all, always beating him up during training, drying his tears after a nightmare, and never giving up on him. He shook his head at how far their relationship had come. As he mused, Percy saw a flash of blonde beyond the trees.
Annabeth.
Grinning madly, he crashed through the remainder of the thicket, disregarding the thorns. "Annabeth!" he shouted as he ran out into the clearing. The name died on his lips when he viewed the empty meadow. He chuckled. She must be playing games with him. Shaking his head in mock exasperation, Percy began to search every corner calling her name. As he continued to look to no avail, he grew increasingly worried. Where was she? Had something happened? Percy started panicking and took out Riptide. Suddenly, a familiar bronze knife is at his throat. A bronze knife that he would know anywhere. He turned around to see Annabeth beaming at him. They embraced tightly, and Percy gently said, "I love you" in her ear. She kissed his cheek in reply.
"Sorry for scaring you Seaweed Brain. My mother pulled a few favors and got my cap and knife back. I wanted to surprise you with it," Annabeth sheepishly said.
Percy laughed. The sun had already set, and the stars were shimmering in the clear night sky. There was no time to waste. Percy led Annabeth to the center of the meadow, and the both laid down on the glittering snow. Percy put his arm out for Annabeth to put her head on. With his hand curled around her shoulders, Percy looked to the sky with nostalgic yet remorseful eyes. Then, in unison, the two who had lost so much in their lives and suffered so much in Tartarus gazed longingly towards the stars and whispered, "Bob says hello."