Thank you for the reviews. I hope this one is good. This chapter, though, is centered mostly around one subject. I promise, the next chap will most likely have more things happening than this. Also, a lot more interesting (if I'm a good writer, that is). I'd like feedback on this chapter. Thanks and please enjoy! Nothing is sick-minded here, just in case...! :D

3. I Fish Out A Little Box

Annabeth was sitting across the apartment's living room polishing her favorite knife. Her grey eyes intent on the knife that had saved Olympus. I smiled. She looked beautiful when she polished her knife. My hand slid inside my pocket as I watched from the kitchen. I felt the small tiny ring box and my heart hammered. I knew that inside that little box was a ring I'd slide onto her finger if she said yes. But that's what I was afraid of; if she said yes.

I was sitting at the kitchen table, trying to work up the nerve to set things in motion. Taking a glance towards Annabeth, making sure she couldn't see me, I grabbed her phone and dialed camp.

"Hello?" someone answered cautiously.

"Chiron?" I whispered.

"Percy, is something wrong?" Chiron asked worriedly.

"No, no, but can you send Blackjack over here?"

"Percy, I'm not sure that's a very good idea. It could be dangerous."

"Chiron, please. It's very important," I pleaded. Chiron sighed.

"Okay then, Percy. But be careful."

"You got it. Thanks Chiron," I said, quickly hanging up. I exhaled. I hadn't done anything yet, and I was still freaking out. I collected my cool and walked into the living room.

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to, uh... I don't know. You want to go to the Gateway Arch…?" I asked, sitting down next to her and running my fingers through her hair. She put the knife down and flashed me a smile as big as day.

"Are you serious, Percy? Really?" she asked excitedly.

"Sure, babe," I said. She tackled me in a hug and we fell to the floor. She laughed as she attacked my face with kisses. The last time we'd gone to the Gateway Arch it was about seven years ago? When we were stashed into a cart with a fat lady, who happened to be Echidna, and her Chihuahua and when her "nice" little Chihuahua turned into a rabid, fire-breathing, poisonous Chimera. I can tell you, I've never gone near another Chihuahua since.

"But how are we getting there?" Annabeth asked. I smiled. I grabbed her waist and rolled until I was the one on top of her.

"Don't I always have a plan?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow.

"Percy, your plans almost never work," she said.

"I love how much faith you have in me," I said dramatically. "But I do have a plan…" I thought. "that works," I corrected. I added a goofy grin to accompany what I'd said and Annabeth laughed.

Knock, knock, boss! I smiled.

"My plan has just arrived," I said, standing up and pulling Annabeth back up to her feet. She had a confused expression on her face, but she didn't say anything. We crawled out the window and walked up the stairs to the terrace. Blackjack stood there waiting for us. He clopped his hooves against the cement in excitement when he saw us. Annabeth laughed.

"Okay, maybe I was… um… maybe I was…" Annabeth hesitated. I put my finger under her chin and moved her head until her grey eyes were staring at mine.

"You were…?" I asked innocently. She smiled.

"Wroooo- wroo- wrong," Annabeth finally said. I smiled.

"I know," I said, giving her a peck on the lips.

Yo, boss! Long time no see!

"I saw you yesterday," I said, as Annabeth jumped up on Blackjack.

So what's you're point? I just rolled my eyes. I jumped up, put my hands around Annabeth and held on to Blackjack's mane so we wouldn't fall off.

"Gateway Arch, Blackjack," I said and Blackjack took off soaring into the air. After a while, we saw a familiar arch. Annabeth squealed. Blackjack settled down on the terrace of a random building and we jumped off.

See ya later, boss!

"See ya Blackjack," I said as he took off again.

"See you!" Annabeth said as she entwined her fingers with mine and we calmly made our way towards the Gateway Arch. Annabeth getting more excited the closer we got. When we entered the museum Annabeth started jumping up and down like she was a little girl again.

"Percy, this is so cool. I'm so glad you brought me-" Annabeth stopped. A confused expression crossed her face and she looked at me.

"Why did you bring me here? I mean, we don't usually go out unexpectedly," Annabeth said. I freaked out. I didn't know what to tell her.

"I wanted to rekindle a lost memory," I lied. She scoffed.

"You want to rekindle the memory about a Chihuahua almost killing you, destroying a monument and you jumping off not knowing if you would survive the fall or not?" Annabeth asked, raising an eyebrow. I decided to quickly change the subject.

"Hey, look! They added how they fixed the arch after the Chimera ruined it. Wanna look?" I said, pulling her forward and showing her one of those tiny podiums full of information. She was about to protest when she started reading. I let go a quiet sigh of relief. After she towed me around the museum spewing all kinds of facts about the arch and other structures we finally made it to the elevator; the tiny cart that would curve and take us to the top.

Annabeth's smile never faded, which I was glad about. The elevator doors slid open. We climbed inside, and to my relief no one climbed in with us. As the elevator moved, a grabbed my stomach and closed my eyes to keep me from getting queasy. Annabeth giggled.

"You okay?" Annabeth laughed as she put her hand on my shoulder. Instead of talking, I simply nodded. By the time we had reached the top, I was leaning slightly on Annabeth. The elevator doors opened and the tour guide started explaining about how the arch had been fixed after a misfortunate accident (a.k.a Chimera). Then the tour guide's eyes suddenly opened wide.

"Hey, aren't you that kid that supposedly blew up the arch? The wanted fugitive that turned out to be a kidnapped kid?" the tour guide asked. I chuckled nervously.

"Well, that depends…" I chuckled quietly. The tour guide eyed me.

"Yeah! It is you! And- hey! You were the blonde girl that was with him and there was also another guy… looked a little bit older than you two. The one with the funny limp," he said, getting excited and creasing his brows as he tried to remember. Annabeth and I looked at each other and a swift memory pulsated between us.

"Yes, that was us," Annabeth said.

"Yeah, I thought you two looked familiar. Anyways, over here…" he trailed off, showing us some buildings through the windows. Annabeth and I just laughed. At the end of the observation deck Annabeth stared out a window, I guessed remembering when we had come so long ago.

All of a sudden my hands felt a little sweaty and my hand instinctively crawled inside my pocket to feel the little box. This was it. This was the moment. Taking in a sharp breath I grabbed her hand. She reluctantly removed her gaze from the window and looked at me with a slight smile.

"Annabeth… There is a reason why we came here," I began. She raised an eyebrow, but waited for me to continue.

"I wanted to ask you something. Something important."

"Yes?" Annabeth asked, almost like a song.

"Annabeth, we've been through a lot and I thought it was time…" I said, as I fished for the little box inside my pocket. Annabeth's eyes grew wide in shock when I pulled it out. Just like the movies, I knelt on one knee and opened the little box. Annabeth turned bright red and her jaw dropped.

"Annabeth… will you marry me?"