I feel like this chapter is a tad short for some reason? But I like it anyway and I felt like the end was a good place to stop so… ENJOY!

Annabeth woke up with a start. She was lying on the floor of her apartment, drenched head to toe in sweat. For a second she just sat in shock, and then she began to sob. The wails racked her body as she pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked back and forth. She didn't sleep for the remaining two days until Percy returned.

"I'm so sorry, Wise Girl." Percy whispered, sitting up.

He reached around Annabeth and pulled her closer to him, hugging her from behind as they sat on the bed. Annabeth relaxed a bit against him. She let out a shuddered breath as she remembered her nightmare and shut her eyes tight. Percy's grip on her tightened and he planted a kiss on the top of her head.

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah, Percy?"

"I love you, you know that, right?"

"I know, Seaweed Brain," She said with a smile that he couldn't see as she was facing away from him, "I love you, too."

At that, she turned around in his arms and slung her arms around his neck, leaning her head so her forehead rested on his.

"As long as we're together, I'll never stop loving you," She whispered, eyes closed.

"As long as we're together." Percy replied.

He then closed the small distance between them and captured her lips with his. Annabeth instantly reciprocated, slipping her fingers into his hair. His arms tightened around her waist, putting them almost chest to chest. The kiss was slow, long, and breathtaking. Annabeth was the one to pull back, her face contorted, trying to hold in the tears.

"Hey, hey. I love you, it's okay, I love you." Percy said, concern evident on his face.

Annabeth attempted to compose herself but as she squeezed her eyes even tighter a few tears slipped down her cheeks, a tiny whimper escaped her throat. Percy placed his hands on the sides of her face and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. Annabeth didn't break down often, but when she did, it was always because of a particularly bad nightmare.

Every time it happened, the nightmare was about him somehow turning against her and her losing the last person in her life that she truly trusted and loved with all of her. The dreams showed just how painful it must have been to witness Luke turn on her. She couldn't live through that again.

"Annabeth, look at me." Percy said.

Annabeth's lids opened to reveal her stormy grey eyes, tears clinging to her lashes.

"I – love - you," He said firmly, punctuating each word with a tiny kiss, "Do you understand that? I love you and I will never ever leave you. Ever. I'm so sorry that I left you here to visit my parents. I'm so sorry about Tartarus and about Luke and all the other gods forsaken crap that has happened in between, but I, Perseus Jackson, will never ever leave you. Do you hear me?"

Annabeth blinked a few times, more tears sliding down her face, and nodded. Percy pressed their lips together once more in a passionate kiss filled with all the love he felt for her. Her lips were salty from the tears and she had to pull away after a few seconds, unable to breathe through her nose.

She let out a little laugh as she sniffled and wiped at her face. She then dropped her hands into her lap and looked at Percy.

"Thank you." She smiled, "And stop apologizing for going to New York. I can't keep you from seeing your parents, what kind of girlfriend would I be if I did?"

"Well, next time you're coming with me, okay?"

She laughed again, "Okay," Annabeth said, standing up from the bed and turning toward the door. "Now I really do need to get my homework done, Percy."

"One last thing." Percy said from behind her.

Annabeth turned around, lips poised in a response but she didn't say anything when she saw Percy down on one knee next to her bed. His hair was rumpled and his shirt was wrinkled, but he was holding a little black box with a ring inside.

"Annabeth Chase, will you marry me?"

OOOOOOHHHHHH cliff hanger! What do y'all think she's gonna sayyyyy? (Oh come on, you already know the answer, this is a Percabeth story for heaven's sake.) I wasn't planning on it going in the direction to be honest but I'm liking it. I hope you are too! If you like it or see something that needs to be fixed, please please please review! Love you all! Thank you for reading! The next installment may be the last one and I'm not sure when it will be up but this probably won't be the end (but I'm not making any promises)