Annabeth stares at her phone, confusion tugging her eyebrows together as her fingers hover over the screen. But she cannot think of a reply right away. Percy is no architecture fanatic; he probably doesn't know the difference between an arch and a vaulted ceiling. But here he is, asking her opinion on bridge construction. He must have researched it, and Percy doesn't come across as the researcher type either, so she is shocked. He has done this for her? To make a good impression? To make conversation? To show that he cares? A smaller voice asks.

Annabeth pushes it down and picks up her phone again, typing a quick reply - a short spiel about the structural benefits of a bowstring arch contenting with her personal preference for the aesthetic aspect of deck arch bridges. He probably won't have a clue what she's on about, but at least its something. They're talking.

Annabeth tells herself this is good. She shouldn't ignore him, she can't ignore him - this. The stubborn red letters on her timer confirm that every time she glances at her wrist. They are a brand of her future, marking her as taken. That much she resents. Her lack of choice in the matter; she has met him now and she must marry him and live with him and have babies with him and grow old with him. Just like that.

Her phone pings again but this time it is not Percy - he must be searching for a good reply to come back with - but Piper. THE DAY IS NEARLY DONE. Meet me in the foyer upon release? Annabeth smiles and replies with a quick confirmation before returning to her work. It's a Thursday, which means she and Piper don't get off work until half past eight. And because it's November, the sky outside the small windows has been dark for hours as Annabeth shuts her computer off and shrugs on her jacket, throwing her phone into her bag even as it pings with what is probably Percy's overdue reply.

Piper is waiting for her in the foyer, leaning against a wide stone pillar and biting her nails like she has done since she was eight years old. Despite the childish habit, she looks entirely professional in a pencil skirt and fitted jacket over a dark purple blouse; her hair is pulled back into a bun but has little braids threaded all the way around her head. The real Piper poking through. When she approaches, Annabeth smacks her friend's hand.

'Gross habit. Cut it out.'

'Yes, mom.' Piper grins and pushes away from the pillar and they walk towards the doors together. 'You're coming for dinner tonight.'

It isn't a question and they both know it. But Annabeth tries to get out of it anyway. 'I need to study,' she says, tugging her coat collar up against the harsh cold wind.

Piper gives her a look. 'You also need to eat. You can't live off jelly beans and tinned spaghetti.'

'I can try.'

'Come on. Jason's making fajitas; extra hot. And Leela's dying to see her godmother.'

It's the latter comment which crumbles Annabeth's resolve. As much as she despises the fact that her best friend's family is a forced one, she absolutely adores Piper and Jason's daughter, Leela, to whom she is godmother. Leela is the most adorable three year old on the planet; she has her mother's native american skin and her dark hair, and her father's piercing blue eyes and thin, pink lips.

Piper and Jason's apartment is on the upper east side of Manhattan with an inch of central park viewable through the tall windows in their living room. It's a sizeable apartment, comfortable, homely - unlike their first one together. Far nicer than the one Annabeth lives in. But that's one of the perks of finding your soulmate; sure, you lose a few civil liberties, but you have a partner for life and a nice place to live! What is there to complain about?

Piper unlocks the door in one swift movement and calls out before she is fully through it, shrugging out of her coat. Barely a second later, Leela comes waddling down the hall from the kitchen.

'Mama!' she cooes, chubby arms outstretched.

Piper scoops her up easily and smothers her face with kisses. 'Hi, baby girl! How was your day?'

'Good! I made pasta giants and pushed Timmy into the sand pit!'

'Well that wasn't very nice,' Piper chides.

Leela frowns indignantly. 'But he pushed me first! And - and he called me dirty cause my skin's all dark!'

Piper's face hardens and Annabeth sees her jaw clench infinitesimally. It takes her a moment to speak again. 'Well you still shouldn't have pushed him. That was very naughty of you.'

Leela pouts but doesn't rebuke. Her gaze falls to Annabeth and her face lights up again. 'Annabee!' she calls delightedly. Annabeth puts her bag on the floor and holds her arms out for Piper to pass the toddler over.

'How's my beautiful girl?' Annabeth asks, catching Piper's eye briefly as she slips away - towards the kitchen to find Jason.

Annabeth sets Leela down and they walk hand in hand down the hall towards the living room. On the way, they pass the kitchen where Annabeth catches a glimpse of Piper and Jason with their arms around one another, not kissing but talking quietly with their faces close together. Annabeth settles on the couch with Leela and listens to the toddler's dramatic tales of kindergarten, easing her fingers through the little girl's hair.

In the past, when Annabeth has considered the fact that her own children will one day be brought about under the command of a court order, she has never thought she would be able to love them. How could she look at them without being reminded how they were forced into her life? How can laws and court orders make for any happy family? But then she looks at Leela; at how much her parents love her, at how happy their little unit is - stressed, and often struggling to juggle their lives, but happy. And she is reminded of how much she loves the little girl herself, and the image of a little girl with blonde hair and grey eyes fills her mind before she can stop it. She's not entirely averse to having a family. She just wants it to be hers and not a construct of the government to save their failing society. Looking down at her chattering goddaughter now, Annabeth imagines her own child again, except this time the little girl has black tangled hair and sea green eyes. Percy's baby. Their baby.

Well, she definitely isn't ready for that yet.

A little while later, Jason walks in with a tired smile. 'Hey, Annabeth.'

Annabeth looks up from Leela, who is beginning to drool against her arm as her eyes flutter closed. She smiles, noticing Jason's rumpled collar and the dark circles under his eyes as he stoops down and scoops Leela into his arms.

'Time for bed, I think.'

'Night, Leela,' Annabeth says softly, smiling as she rests her head against her father's shoulder and starts sucking on her thumb.

Piper appears and kisses her daughter on the forehead as Jason carries her by. She herself is carrying Annabeth's bag.

'It was pinging,' she says as she drops it onto the couch.

Annabeth dives inside for her phone and sees three messages from Percy. She sighs and drops the phone back into her bag, setting it on the floor. Piper is scrutinising her from the other end of the couch.

'You're gonna have to stop ignoring the guy at some point.'

'I'm not ignoring him.'

Piper looks pointedly from the bag to Annabeth's face and raises her eyebrows.

'I'm not!' Annabeth insists. 'I just- jesus, Piper, I need some time.' She leans her head against the back of the couch and closes her eyes. 'Three days ago I lost three months of my life.'

Piper is silent for a moment, and then her voice is gentle. 'You haven't lost anything, Annabeth.'

'Except for my independence.'

Piper sighs, but says no more on the topic. She knows better than to argue with Annabeth about this; they have come too close to damaging their friendship beyond repair with these arguments before. Instead, Piper makes a comment about work, which effectively leads them into a ranting conversation which flows easily into dinner with Jason and a bottle of wine drank between the three of them.

Later, when Annabeth is far fuller and far happier than she has felt for days, she refuses Jason's and Piper's offers to stay the night and insists that she will be fine; she'll get a taxi, she won't get mugged, and she'll text when she gets home safe - she promises. She steps onto the street with no intention and no money to call a cab and pulls out her phone. There are two more messages from Percy to add to the three she has already ignored. She unlocks her phone, eyes trained on the screen as she starts walking down the street. The first message supports an argument for deck arches, but in the next messages he contradicts himself. And then for some reason he starts talking about support beams and Annabeth figures the pages of his book he is speiling all of this from have gotten stuck together.

Her fingers hover over the digital keyboard as she thinks of a reply, but then she changes her mind and calls him instead. It's a knee-jerk decision and as the dial tone rings on Annabeth feels a wave of regret tinged with a new feeling... nerves? But before she can change her mind, the phone stops ringing and Percy's thick voice comes through the speaker.

'Hello?' He sounds like he's just woken up and Annabeth realises with a wince that it's gone midnight. 'Hello?' Percy says again when she makes no immediate reply.

'Oh. Hi.' She says eventually. 'It's Annabeth, sorry I didn't realise how late it was. I'll let you go back to sleep.'

'No, no. It's fine.' She hears the faint sound of springs and pictures him sitting up in bed. And then puts a quick stop to that train of thought. 'What's up?'

'I… um. Sorry I didn't reply to your texts, I was having dinner with a friend.'

'That's okay.' His voice sounds a little weird but she can't figure out why. 'You home now?'

'Not yet.'

There's a pause. And then, 'You're walking home? Now?'

'Uh, yeah?'

'It's past midnight.'

She sighs impatiently. 'And I'm a poor defenceless girl who can't leave the house on my own?'

'Not at this time of night! Why don't you get a cab?'

She scoffs. 'Like I can afford a cab.'

Percy's voice is tight and his breath is heavy. She pictures him pacing his bedroom. 'Where are you?' he asks.

Annabeth looks up at the nearest street sign. 'Eighty second street on park avenue.'

Percy's breath expels through the speaker. 'Wait there.'

'Why?'

'Because I'm two blocks away. I'll walk you home.'

'I don't need an escort!' But he has already hung up. 'Ass,' she mutters, stuffing her phone into her pocket and leaning against the nearest building.

Less than five minutes later, Percy is jogging down the street towards her with a goofy smile on his face. He wears scruffy jeans and a blue jacket over a flannel shirt; a stark contrast to how she'd seen him three days ago. She can't decide whether she likes it or not; likes the way his shoulders bounce as he jogs and his hair is even wilder and messier than it had been the last time she saw him. And then she remembers that she doesn't care.

'Hey,' he says, slightly breathless. His cheeks are pink and he doesn't look at all cute.

His grin softens her demeanour, a little. She pushes off the wall as he catches up to her, his breath spilling out in a white cloud.

'I'm perfectly capable of walking home by myself.'

She swears he is smiling, though she stubbornly keeps her gaze on the sidewalk. 'I know that,' he says. 'I just wanted to… you know, keep you company. Besides, I'm a high-end escort and I never disappoint my clients.'

A burst of laughter escapes her lips before she can stop it and when she glances at his face, it seems the damage is already done: he's grinning like a maniac. Annabeth recomposes herself and frowns at the pavement.

'I'm just getting the subway anyway.'

'Awesome. I love the subway.'

She gives him a disbelieving look and he ducks his head, but makes no effort to take his words back.


He actually turns out to be pleasant company. He gives her this running commentary of strangers on the train, sitting perfectly close to her and leaning down to whisper in her ear. Maybe he doesn't realise he's doing it, but Annabeth is hyper aware. She spends most of her time shying away from contact like this, especially from men. She'll hug Jason, but she's known him since they were in middle school. And she's had very non-platonic contact with men - or more specifically, one man - in the past, but Percy is very different. He's warm and his shoulder is firm against hers but his touch doesn't feel threatening; he's hesitant. It's refreshing.

Once they are off the subway and into the dark night again, Percy keeps his distance from her. He walks along next to her with his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. When they reach her apartment she stops firmly outside the front door and faces him.

'So, now you know where I live. I guess there's no escaping.'

She expects a smart comeback, but Percy ducks his chin and winces just a little and Annabeth wants to kick herself. Just try being nice, just this once.

'Anyway, thank you. It was really sweet of you to walk me home.'

Percy smiles at this. Nervous, like a teenager on a first date. And then a thought strikes Annabeth; maybe this is his first date. Not everyone is like her; many people don't see the point of dating and sleeping with people who aren't their soulmates. What if he thinks she feels that way too? What if he thinks she is a virgin? Will he consider her having slept with someone else to be cheating?

'So,' Percy interrupts her internal meltdown, 'I should get going. Work in the morning.'

'Right.' She shifts her weight nervously. 'I would offer you a nightcap or something but I have, like, a bag of Cheetos and some Fruit Loops in my whole kitchen, so.'

He laughs. 'That's okay. And I'm glad your friend feeds you. My mom still does the same for me.'

'You hate cooking too?'

'Nah, I'm actually pretty good at that part. It's buying the food that I hate.'

'Well, that part I can do. I guess we balance each other out.'

'You do the shopping, I'll do the cooking.'

'It's a deal.'

And without quite realising it, she has set up a routine for the rest of their lives together. She avoids his imploring green eyes and pulls her keys out of her bag.

'Anyway. Good night.'

'Yeah, g'night.'

She looks up at him and impulsively leans forward, up on her toes, to kiss his cheek. 'Thank you. Let me know when you get home.'

Percy is looking slightly dazed, but he nods as she turns away from him to unlock the door and slip inside.

Two weeks slip by surprisingly fast when you're dreading what's at the end of it. Annabeth tries her hardest to put the wedding out of her mind, but her efforts are futile, especially with Percy texting her every day. She is finding it easier to talk to him now; he's nice to talk to – friendly, funny, even. But as soon as she remembers that he is going to be her husband, her walls fly back up and she shuts him down, shuts him out. As if she can make him go away by just not thinking about him.

The day the letter arrives in her mailbox downstairs, Annabeth stares at it for five minutes. The words print themselves into her mind. Congratulations! On behalf of the New York state council, we are happy to announce that your marriage to Percy Jackson will be taking place on Saturday the 24th of November at 13.00. Please arrive at the courthouse at least half an hour before the ceremony is due to begin. You will be designated a court room upon arrival. Please dress appropriately in formal wear.There is more information about their new apartment; a place in Greenwich Village which will be ready for them to move into on the day of their ceremony.

As small and crappy as her apartment is, Annabeth doesn't want to leave it. She doesn't want to leave her cranky single bed and the small, leaky refrigerator or the one person bathroom which is more of a wet room. Because all of these things are for her to live alone. Soon she will have a double bed and a large fridge and a bathroom for two. And she will have to share; share her space and her food and her life. She cannot keep herself from Percy forever.

But then again, maybe she can. Why should she open up to him? Because of some letters on her wrist? It's not like she really believes in them; believes that they make Percy Jackson her soulmate. He's just a guy. Some random guy she's known for less than two weeks and now she's expected to promise a life with him and live with him and give herself to him. All because of the timers.

Annabeth throws herself onto her tiny bed and glares at the blue dress hanging on the outside of her wardrobe. She had taken formal wear to be one of the outfits she wore to work, but Piper had insisted that she wear a dress. Piper is not adamant about many things when it comes to Annabeth, but when Annabeth had complained that she doesn't own a dress which isn't a work dress and there is no way in hell she is going to go out and spend her very little money on one, Piper had played dress up with her wardrobe. The dress is a grey-blue colour, sleeveless and just above knee-length. The material is soft against her skin and nowhere near warm enough for November, so she will be wearing tights and a grey cardigan with it. She refuses point-blank to wear heels and Piper settled for her black ankle boots.

The whole outfit is carefully hung up, waiting for her, staring at her as she glares back. On her bedside table, her phone vibrates and the ringtone starts. Annabeth picks it up and looks at the screen. Percy Jackson calling… She stares at the screen, considering ignoring him. But the ringtone is really annoying and things will be awkward enough tomorrow without her rejecting his call as well. She swipes her thumb across the bottom of the screen and holds the phone to her ear.

'Hello.'

'Hey.' In that one syllable, she notices how nervous his voice is. 'How are you?'

Annabeth settles back on her pillow and tries to think of Percy as just Percy, not the man she will be marrying in the morning. She tugs her sleeve down and pins it to her palm with her fingers.

'I'm okay.'

'What did you eat for dinner?'

She sighs. Percy seems to have taken it as a personal mission to make sure she eats properly. 'Wasn't hungry.'

'You haven't eaten anything?'

'I'm not going to wither away.'

'What do you have in your cupboards right now?'

Annabeth sighs heavily and stands up, crossing the tiny apartment to the corner kitchen, her bare feet slapping against the cheap lino, and starts pulling open cupboard doors. The phone is jammed between her shoulder and her ear as she rummages around finding… well, not much.

She gives Percy a running commentary. 'A couple of bowls - oh, I forgot I had this mug... Okay that bread is out of date and... oh! Lucky Charms.'

Percy's laugh sounds slightly strained, but he adds no further comment as she walks back to the bed and flops down on it. The phone is still tucked against her ear as she sticks her hand into the box and grabs a handful of cereal.

'So how was work today?' she asks him.

Percy groans. 'I think I have the single most boring job on the planet. You know what I spent the entire day doing? Go on - guess.'

'I'm not going to guess.'

'You suck. Anyway, I spent the entire day typing up handwritten complaints. I've been lying with a towel over my eyes since I got home, my head hurts so bad. I'll probably be wearing glasses this time next year.'

'You'd suit glasses.'

'Thanks.' He scoffs, not realising that she wasn't teasing him.

'Percy?'

'Yeah?'

'Why do you do that job if you hate it so much?'

There's a pause, and then he sighs. 'I'm sorry. I'll quit complaining about it, must be pretty annoying to hear me whine about it all the time.'

He's misinterpreted the meaning of her words again, but she does not correct him. From what she's discovered about Percy, he should be in a job where he interacts with others; possibly outside, definitely not stuck at an office desk. He's so restless that she wonders how he sits still long enough to type up one sentence, never mind a whole hoard of complaints.

'It's okay,' she says instead. 'I love hearing people complain. It's what I live for.'

'I'm sure it is, Annabeth Chase.'

It feels strange to hear him say her full name. Tomorrow, she will not become Annabeth Jackson; she refuses to change her name. And, as of yet, the law does not require her to. But she will not be single, independent Annabeth Chase. She will be married. And okay, she doesn't hate the guy, but she can't help but resent him for what he is taking from her. Her crappy single apartment and her easy single life.

'Annabeth, you still there?'

'Yeah,' she says, grabbing another handful of Lucky Charms, 'I'm right here.'

I can't believe it's Sunday already, they keep coming round so quickly.

I hope you're enjoying the interactions between P/A, they have been so much fun to write and develop. Rachel has started affectionately referring to my chapters as Grumpybeth chapters, which I suppose is pretty spot on. But I hope you all understand why Annabeth is behaving the way she is, and that you understand her reluctance towards Percy. All of you pining for romantic percabeth action - hang in there, your needs will be sated but this is a bit of a slow burner; you've got to let them develop.

anyway, don't forget to leave a review, or hop over to tumblr and message either of us - ananbeth (me) and rongasm (rach) - with any questions you have about the AU or just fill our inboxes up, we love it.

p.s. the title is from a song called The Muse by Darren Criss

until next week xx