Percy Jackson knocked nervously on the door of the Athena cabin. No matter how many times he told himself that there was nothing to worry about it never helped. He found himself wondering if what he was going to do was really such a good idea. He was saved any more doubts however when the door opened. Percy recognised Malcolm, one of the older children of Athena at Camp Half-Blood. Pushing away his worries Percy decided saying something was better than standing there like a slightly bemused fish.

"Hi Malcolm, have you seen Annabeth?"

Understanding and amusement flashed across Malcolm's face. "Yeah, I think she's looking over some building plans. Do you want me to get her?"

"Only if she's not too busy."

Malcolm grinned. "Oh, I don't think she'll mind the interruption seeing as it's you."

Malcolm turned to go inside then seemed to remember something. "Oh and Percy..."

"Yeah?"

"Good luck."

With that Malcolm disappeared back into the cabin leaving a slightly confused and even more nervous Percy.

A few moments later Annabeth appeared at the door and Percy's heart decided smashing through his rib cage was a good idea, the way it always seemed to when he was around her.

"Sorry if I interrupted your work. I just wondered if you wanted to go down to the beach after dinner."

Percy relaxed when Annabeth smiled. "Sure Seaweed Brain."

"Great, so...see you at dinner?"

"Definitely."


The beach was almost deserted but Percy liked the peacefulness of it. He put his nervousness at what he planned to do out of his mind and just enjoyed walking hand in hand with Annabeth with no Kronos, no Tartarus and no Gaea. In fact it was only because for once in their lives there was no imminent doom requiring their attention that he finally felt able to do what he'd wanted to do ever since he saw the long, peaceful life demigods could have at Camp Jupiter. With a nervous swallow Percy tried to persuade his stomach to stop doing double somersaults.

"Annabeth, there's been-" He cleared his throat as she turned to look at him. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you." He trailed off as his throat suddenly felt painfully dry. Why in Hades' name was this so hard?

"Go on." The hope he thought he saw in her eyes gave him the courage to continue.

"We've known each other for 10 years now. It's been 6 years since we defeated Kronos, it was 6 years ago today that the Great Prophecy was fulfilled but most importantly it's 6 years to the day since the happiest day of my life because it's 6 years to the day since our first kiss. Since them we've even survived Tartarus and defeated Gaea. I couldn't have done any of those things without you. I trust you with my life and without you I wouldn't be alive today. I could compare you to an angel or a goddess but the truth is that you're incomparable. You're the kindest, bravest, most intelligent person I've ever known and I love you."

Percy dropped down on one knee and seeing the look of happiness and surprise on her face made all the worrying and nervousness worthwhile. "Annabeth Chase, will you marry me?"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

Percy smiled hopefully. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes you adorable idiot!"

She kissed him and Percy would later decide that it was definitely the best non-underwater kiss of all time.

"Oh and Percy..."

"Yeah?"

"I love you too, but I'm still not going to make things easy for you."