AN: Hey guys! It's me again! With the next chapter. Sometimes, sitting down for an evening and writing is one of the best things in the world.

Also. I just wanted to thank my readers again. Seriously, you guys keep me going!

Let me know how I did! I do read the reviews, believe it or not. I like constructive criticism or just positive feedback in general. At least, I hope it's positive. :)

Not Riordan. I don't own PJO.

We've been spending almost every waking, and sleeping, moment together. Since the gas station, I've felt devalued, objectified, and all around crappy. Percy sensed this, and tried to make me as happy as I could be. Admittedly, some days were better than others. We went to the movies, had some coffee at the café just down the road, and actually got around to doing that '300 ways to get kicked out of Wal-Mart' list. We got pretty close to doing all three hundred before eventually getting kicked out. Even some of the workers helped us out with the list. Apparently, Wal-Mart is all about customer service—even helping you get kicked out of their store.

Two days before Christmas, we decided that we were going to get some gift shopping done. Granted, we weren't actually seeing our families right on Christmas, but we still got the gifts regardless. After a few hours of shopping, we decided to go to a local drive-in burger joint. We had discovered 'Sebastian's Burgers' a couple months back and were thoroughly impressed. If someone wanted a classic burger from a genuine sixties drive-in, this was the place to go.

I noticed that Percy was particularly quiet the whole afternoon, which wasn't unusual while he shopped, but even during lunch he kept to himself. It didn't go unnoticed. We had just pulled back into the parking lot of our complex and Percy pulled into a spot labeled 'C-2'. He shut the car off and pulled the key out of the ignition slowly—as if he was completely zoned out.

"Perce, are you in there?" I ask, lightly knocking on his noggin. "Earth to Percy, come in!"

"Whoa," he flailed his arms like he was in the middle of a swarm of bees. "Oh. Sorry, Annabeth," he shrugged, "Just lost in thought, I guess."

"What about?" I lean forward, my hair falling over my shoulder, and tilted my head to one side. Percy must have been rubbing off on me.

"You," he said quietly, then raised his hands in defense at my expression, eyes wide. "I meant, about what I want to get you for Christmas."

A smile formed on my face. He was cute when he turned sheepish. Like a little kid.

"Percy, you don't have to get me anything," I respond as I raised an eyebrow. "You've already done so much for me this year so far, so technically we could call it even, right?"

"No! Annabeth!" He held his hands out in front of him as if he was pleading with me. Pleading with me to get me a present—Percy in a nutshell. "I want to. I really do. Do you have anything on your list that you know your parents aren't getting for you?"

"Well, they definitely aren't getting that pony for me that I've wanted since I was five. It's unfortunate, but I think I can manage." Percy Laughed. I sat and actually pondered.

What do I want?

"Well, sadly the pony thing will have to be out of the options again this year. Is there anything that I can get for you outside of the animal kingdom? Or books?"

Dang it.

"Why not a book? I like books!" I almost whined.

"You already have tons of them. Plus," he pokes my forehead, "you need to get out more, anyways. Always being cooped up in your room reading books or studying, it must be exhausting."

"For you, maybe. For the record, I love reading for endless hours. If I could, I would finish a one thousand page book in one sitting. But no," I sighed. "I have to settle for two sittings. It's rough!" I retorted at his look. He simply shook his head.

"What a hardship," he deadpanned. "But seriously. Do you know what you want?"

My mind reeled. What did I want? I couldn't think of anything I couldn't live without. I shrugged, coming up with nothing.

"Not a clue." He lifted an eyebrow.

"Not an answer."

"Well, will you at least give me time to think about it?"

"Sure. But remember, Christmas is only two days away."

"What? Are you not going to get me a gift if I don't tell you what I want before the due date?"

"No, but I figured it would at least help you think about what you want. You're kind of a time crunch thinker."

He seriously knew me too well.

"Fine," I folded my arms, "I'll try to get back to you by tomorrow."

"Solid," he said victoriously. "And while we're at it," Percy looked both directions then leaned in and brushed the hair away from my ear. "I want a NERF gun," he whispered.

I busted out laughing.

"Okay, Mr. Secretive, but what on earth do you need one of those for?"

"The guys and I have NERF gun wars too often to count, and I don't have a gun. I just end up borrowing one of the Stoll brother's extra pistols. As you can probably put together, a pistol against a full on turret gun can pose quite a problem."

"Who in their right mind has a NERF turret gun?"

"Connor does, and that's why he's only a little reluctant to loan me his pistol. This is serious business, believe it or not. The more guns you have, the better off you are."

"Well, I actually already purchased your gift. But I won't mind passing the message along to your mom."

"You did?" He tilted his head curiously.

"Of course I did!" I blanched. "What, did you think I wasn't going to get you anything? What kind of friend would I be, then?"

He shrugged his shoulder in defeat.

"Okay, then, Annabeth," he started as he opened his door to exit the car. "Did you buy it today while we were shopping together?"

"Yes, I actually left your gift out in the open for you to see, completely hidden in plain sight," I said in mock sincerity while exiting the car to walk to the door with him. "Do you know me at all, Seaweed Brain?"

"Fine, you're right," he admitted with an eye roll. "You probably got it for me about five years ago waiting for the perfect Christmas to give it to me." We had reached the door to his apartment and he put the key in the door to unlock it. Leo had gone home yesterday to see his family for Christmas, so it was now just the two of us from our little family living in the complex. He opened the door and pushed it all the way back to allow clearance of both us and the shopping bags of gifts.

"And I accused you of not knowing me," I pointed my finger at him, poking his chest a few times as we entered. "Maybe I just don't know you as well as I thought."

"Yeah, maybe," his voice drifted off. With a light laugh, he removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair once he set the bags down on the table. He seemed nervous for some reason. I reached my hand out to grab his arm, but he cut me off. "I'm going to go take a shower," he said, shrugging off his jacket. "Feel free to hang out here if you like, though. There are strawberry Pop-Tarts in the cupboard. I shouldn't be too long." With that, he turned on his heel and walked briskly up the stairs. I heard him shut the bathroom door and turn on the exhaust fan.

What just happened?

Confused, I too shrugged my coat off and instantly regretted it. It was really cold in there. I headed up the stairs and went into his room straight to his closet. I opened the door and was about to duck down to enter my closet, when I saw a comfy looking sweatshirt of his right in front of me. The same sweatshirt he threw at me to go out in the first snow of the season, I realized. I grabbed it and smiled, remembering the happy night. When did I become such a girl? As I pulled the sweatshirt over my head, I mentally scolded myself, weakly. I then shut his closet door and left his room to go downstairs to the living room. I walked over to their couch and found the remote to turn on the television. I changed the channel to Jeopardy and settled in, grabbing the blanket and a pillow and lay down. I pulled the hood above my head and the sleeves of Percy's sweatshirt over my hands to keep the warmth in. I must have been exhausted because the next thing I knew, I was drifting off to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of a door opening then shutting upstairs. I groaned as his footsteps signaled his descent on the stairs. Opening one eye, I turned my head to the staircase where he then stood at the bottom and was instantly greeted with the form of my friend, shaking his head and smirking.

"I wondered what happened to that sweatshirt," he laughed. "I got back to my room and it was gone."

"Sorry, were you going to wear it?"

"No, I found another one. Don't worry about it, Annabeth," he said as he walked into the kitchen. "Do you want some cocoa?"

"Sure!" I responded. He got out two mugs and put the ingredients in them. After a couple minutes in the microwave, he brought over two piping hot mugs of cocoa. I sat up and grabbed mine between the fabrics of his sweatshirt, dropped my hood, and took a sip. It was perfect. I sighed into my mug, leaning back on the sofa contentedly. He leaned back into the sofa as well, our shoulders barely touching.

It seemed that since the gas station incident, every time we've come into contact there is a weight behind it. Every touch seems to be trying to communicate something. As to what that something was, I was curious. He continuously asked me if I was okay after the incident and, admittedly, I wasn't fully okay, but recovering. I hadn't thought about what he went through that night.

What kind of friend am I?

"Percy," I placed my mug down on the coffee table in front of us and turned to look him in his sea-green eyes. "You continue to ask me how I'm doing since, well, you know," I paused as he tensed, knowing exactly what topic I was about to bring up. He, too, placed his mug down on the table. "I was just wondering—how are you doing? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Annabeth," he almost snapped at me and turned away from my examining glance. For a couple minutes we said nothing. I knew he had to admit it when he was ready, so I waited. After a couple minutes, he puffed a sigh and turned back to me, eyes completely changed. They were more affectionate, present, and all around softer than they had been since the incident. I knew I hit a soft spot.

"Fine," he sighed again. "I was really angry that night. Like really angry. Who did that guy think he was? Not to mention that was probably illegal. As soon as I saw you forced up against the wall, the fear in your eyes," he trailed off, bringing his hand up to my neck and tracing circles into the curve just below my ear. He closed his eyes and brought his forehead to mine. I closed my eyes as well, soaking in his presence. "I knew I had to do something. I wasn't even thinking clearly, but my body seemed to know exactly what it was doing, thanks to the adrenaline. I had to save my damsel in distress," he swallowed hard. "My Wise Girl," he said quieter, placing his other hand on my knee that rested on the couch. I took a deep breath, smiling.

"My Annabeth," he whispered. His voice was becoming raspy. I swallowed as I placed my hand on his that rested on my knee, running my thumb over his knuckles. He brushed his nose against mine as he closed the gap between us, and kissed me.

I had fallen into the kiss instantly, grasping his hand sitting on my knee and bringing my other one up to pull him closer by fisting the fabric on the collar of his sweatshirt. He slid his hand down from my neck, trailing along my arm and down to my hip. I let go of his sweatshirt and ran my hand along his collar bone to rest behind his neck, trailing his still-damp hairline. He moved his other hand to the side of my ribs as I let out a sigh. He laughed lightly placing another kiss to my lips, then my jaw, and finally underneath my ear. He tucked his head in the nook of my neck and breathed heavily. I ran my hand through his damp hair.

"Sorry," he said airily, then laughed, tightening his hold on me as I adjusted myself even closer to him—practically sitting in his lap.

"What are you sorry for exactly, Seaweed Brain?" I said slightly breathless.

"You got your Christmas present early." We both laughed.

"This was my present?"

"It was going to be if you didn't tell me what you wanted by then." He kissed my neck, just above my collar bone.

"And how did you know I would like it?" I rested my head on top of his.

"Because I know you," he said simply, his breath cascading down my collar bone. I shivered, not because I was cold.

"I must say, you know me well, then," I smiled.

"Fairly well, yeah," he lifted his head to look into my eyes. His hand moved to my face to run through my hair. I closed my eyes, letting his hand explore.

"Then you should know what to get me, since you know me," I laughed, opening my eyes.

"You can't do that to me, Wise Girl. I need to know what you actually want; otherwise it'll just be a disappointment."

"Nope. I'm giving you a challenge," I give him a light peck on the lips. "And for the record, I don't think you'll go wrong with an iTunes gift card or even simply taking me out to dinner. Either one would do."

"Well good thing the gift card is an option," he scratched the back of his ear. "Dinner would be embarrassing."

I pouted.

"Because you would be taking me out on a date?"

"No! Annabeth!" He took my face in both of his hands. "Not that—honestly! I would take you proudly. I'm just worried I would end up doing something stupid to make you regret going. This is me we are talking about."

"Yeah, but it's you who I kind of like, Seaweed Brain." I rolled my eyes to further prove to the boy that I could 'handle it'. He smiled and shook his head.

"Well, those are two options, but if you have any more ideas, let me know. I want to give you something you will enjoy for years to come." He kissed my forehead and leaned over to grab his cocoa. His sweatshirt lifted just a bit and gifted me with the sight of a tiny section of his hip bone. I blushed and reached for my cocoa, too. As I leaned into him, I felt all the tension that he has kept bottled up since that night slowly disappear.

And in its place, feelings of joy and contentment as we settled down and flicked through channel after channel. Neither of us was really paying any attention now that we had beaten that emotional barrier.

It could have also had something to do with our close proximity, and our new relationship development of wordlessly becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.