Hey! It's me... again... I know, I know I disappeared. I was at camp for nine days and then my internet was down, so I was physically unable to post. Sorry!

Rating: T for language

Timezone: After Heroes of Olympus but not too far into the future. (They are about 20 to 22 years old.)

Setting: Shabby New York apartment

Disclaimer: Still don't own it. I honestly think that I won't ever own it... I'm kinda losing hope.

Annabeth turned one more time in the mirror and sighed. She scanned herself up and down one last time.

She looked the same as always; blond hair, the familiar grey streak standing out against her golden locks, trailing down to the middle of her back in ringlets, piercing grey eyes, fuller lips, tanned skin covered in oddly shaped white scars and her nose slightly sunburnt from the weekend, baggy orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, hanging off her sturdy frame, hugging slightly at her chest and hips, worn denim cutoff shorts at mid-thigh with her knife on her brown leather belt, half covered by the hem of her shirt, and her black converse sneakers, holes at the side and half of the soles worn away.

She sighed again and heard banging at the door. She jumped and one hand moved to her right hip, the familiar, leather-wrapped handle of her knife slipping into her hand.

"Annabeth? You okay?" It was Percy.

Annabeth sighed in relief and tucked her bangs behind her ear. "Yeah," she replied. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You've been in there for nearly half an hour," Percy said suspiciously. Though he acted stupid, Percy was very intelligent and observant. Annabeth seemed to forget that sometimes, but it was one of her favorite qualities about her boyfriend. Who she had been living with for nearly a month now.

"Oh, have I?" Annabeth asked, surprised. She hadn't known she had been in the bathroom, examining and picking apart her appearance for so long.

Percy's chuckle was muffled by the door. Annabeth heard him press his forehead against the wood. "Yeah, you have. Can I come in?"

She heard his hand rest on the doorknob and knew he was coming in no matter her answer was.

"Yeah, come in," she said quietly and sat down on the edge of the bathtub.

Percy pushed open the door slowly. He poked his head into the bathroom and gave her a sarcastic smile. "What's up?" he asked and sat down beside her. His arm automatically slipped around her waist and she leaned her head onto his shoulder.

She shrugged and buried her head into his shoulder. He rubbed her arm with his large hand, trying to comfort her. "Seriously, Annabeth. What's up?" he asked and kissed her hair.

"I don't know," she said. "I've never really had this problem before… You know, I just never thought about it that much; I never saw the need to…" She trailed off, her eyes unfocused.

"What are you talking about, Wise Girl?" Percy asked. He tilted her chin so she was looking into his green eyes with her grey ones. She licked her lips nervously and Percy noticed her wringing her hands together in her lap.

"Well," she said slowly, "I was wondering… Would you care if I, you know, wasn't as… Pretty as most girls?"

Percy raised his eyebrows at her in surprise. He had always imagined that Annabeth viewed herself the same way he viewed her; beautiful and unique. "Annabeth," he said slowly, "you're beautiful." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek chastely.

Annabeth blushed and shoved him with her elbow. "I'm serious, Percy."

"So am I, Annabeth," he said sternly. "Why would you ask me that?"

Annabeth shrugged again, not willing to answer.

Percy sighed in frustration. He hated it when his girlfriend got this way; bottled up and unwilling to share. "C'mon, Wise Girl. Talk to me. You can't keep stuff like that bottled up, you know. It's not heal-"

"I know! I know, okay?" Annabeth said and buried her face in her hands. "Someone just made a comment at work today… I guess I took it a little too seriously."

Annabeth worked at a local restaurant, waiting tables while she was studying at college. Percy worked at Camp Half-blood in the summer as a sword trainer and went to classes during the year.

"Was it Felicity again?" Percy asked and Annabeth nodded. Percy pressed his fingers to his temples angrily and let out a puff of breath through his clenched teeth.

Felicity was every teenage boy's dream; tall with a tiny waist, long legs, large breasts, full pouty lips, seductive blue eyes, and not much brain power. But, at the same time, she was manipulative, arrogant and seemed to hate Annabeth with every fibber of her being. Annabeth had done nothing wrong; in fact she had tried to be nice (It was a miracle!) to Felicity when she first met her. All she had done was say hello, but Felicity merely sneered at her unattractively and gave her a regretful half wave as their boss was right behind her.

That was four months ago. Since then, Felicity had been harassing Annabeth daily; giving her snide remarks as she passed her, taking her tables from her and, one day, she had gone so far as to trip her as she was carrying someone's food to their table. Percy had woken up with a text book laying open, face-down, on his chest to a seething Annabeth slamming the door, covered in salad dressing, ketchup and the diner's 'mystery burger sauce' (also known as Thousand Island dressing).

"I heard her and her friend giggling as I walked by. They were whispering all sorts of things… I guess one thing that stuck with me, well, they called me a 'stupid, fat, and ugly bitch.' I confronted them about it and they just scoffed at me and said, 'I wonder how she got a…hottie like that to go for her.' I asked them why they would say that and they just said that I wasn't…feminine and dainty enough for you. I just, do you care that I'm not…dainty?" Annabeth blushed in shame for her insecurities.

Percy shushed her and said, "Annabeth, I don't care if people think that you're not dainty. Why would you want to be? I like you the way you are. 'Sides, why would I want a girl who can't take care of herself and needs me to save her ass all the time? And I'm feminine enough for both of us, so you don't need to worry about that."

Annabeth laughed and Percy gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Better?" he asked.

"Yeah, much," she said. "Thanks. I don't really know why I even care what they think. It just bothers me so much."

"If it makes you feel any better, the guys at college say my name is fruity," Percy said with a smirk.

Annabeth laughed, "That's so mean! Don't you say anything back?"

"No," Percy said thoughtfully. His expression changed from thoughtful to mischievous. "But I do show them a picture of my hot girlfriend and they all go wide-eyed and their jaws drop."

Annabeth blushed. She was about to respond, but the doorbell cut her off. "Oh Hades! I forgot your mom and Paul were coming over for dinner! I haven't even changed yet! Get out, Percy, so I can change!"

Percy just smirked at her. "Why? You know I've already seen you naked."

"Percy freaking Jackson!"

Meh, not my best work, I know.

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Live, Love, Laugh and REVIEW!

-Lou