Hey guys! Guess who's updating. ;) It's not really that long between chapters, I guess, but it feels like forever to me.

First, I'd like to thank the amazing people who have reviewed almost Every. Single. Chapter. You don't know how happy that makes me when I'm reading through them. And of course, all the other people who have reviewed as well - seriously, reviews are like free food to me. (And that's saying something. I love food. Especially tacos. And chocolate chip cookies.) :D Thank you all so, so much.

Second, I will probably be doing two or three more chapters after this - the Christmas party, one more coffee shop scene, and an epilogue. I hope you guys enjoy!

Third and last, please tell me if you want the Christmas party in some other POV than Annabeth's/Percy's. One reviewer suggested Piper, which is an awesome idea - I'm also thinking maybe Jason or Hazel. You tell me, though!

Alright, onto the story! Read, review, and enjoy!

Annabeth inconspicuously slipped behind a tree at the entrance of the park and watched out of the corner of her eye. Seaweed Brain hadn't noticed her yet, and she wanted to see how he acted when she wasn't around.

The young man, acting like a five year old (but was that surprising?), was at the community park, sticking his tongue out to catch snowflakes on the busy swings. Children, bundled up against the cold, were flying around the play space on tiny booted feet, their energy ten times more than normal because Christmas was only in a few days.

Annabeth peered out, glancing again toward the black hair under a beanie, the red nose ad wide, laughing mouth. Now Seaweed Brain had gotten up from his swing to let a little girl, no more than five, have it. She begged him to push her, and he obliged, grinning as he sent the swing flying. The girl squealed with delight, and soon the other seven swings, also claimed by small kids, were clamoring for Seaweed Brain to push them too.

She smiled into her knitted glove, feeling a happy blush as she watched them. Seaweed Brain was a natural with kids, better than anyone else his age or older that she had ever seen. He went on their level to play with them, did things that they liked, and just genuinely enjoyed talking to them. And the kids could tell. Seaweed Brain, working up a sweat even in the biting cold running from swing to swing, shouted "Underdog!" and ran under the squealing kid's flailing legs as the swing went soaring. Annabeth laughed at how the begging increased tenfold as seven other little kids began wailing for him to do it to them, too. His sea-green eyes sparkling with laughter, he indulged them.

Annabeth could have stayed behind that tree and watched him all day, but it was early dusk and the sun was beginning to descend. She thought with a start that today was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Her hands, even in her thick, knitted gloves, were getting cold and stiff, so she reluctantly decided to leave the little playground and make her way home.

As she turned around, a pair of big, gentle hands covered her eyes. "Guess who?"

She turned around, laughing. "Seaweed Brain!"

The green eyes went round with innocence. "Who, me?"

"Your beanie is crooked," Annabeth told him matter-of-factly, reaching up to straighten it. No, of course she didn't accidently touch his soft black hair. The idea.

"So's yours," Seaweed Brain said with mock-seriousness, straightening the grey beret over her blond curls. He waved good-bye to his adoring crowd of little kids and casually took Annabeth's hand, beginning to stroll down the walking trail leading to the parking lot. Snow crunched under their feet as they walked, and Annabeth couldn't control the giddiness that rose up in her as the warmth from his big hand leaked into her small, cold palm.

"So why were you here?" he asked, glancing down at her with his easy smile.

"Well, I went by the aquarium to find you after work, but you weren't there. So I asked Will Solace – I didn't know he was your boss, I guess you already knew him when you came over last Saturday – and he said that you liked to walk down to the park after you get off. So I went down here. I would have just texted you" – they had exchanged phone numbers a few days ago at the coffee shop – "but I lost my phone."

Seaweed Brain raised a thick black eyebrow. "I know, I'm so popular. So why were you trying to find me?"

She nudged him playfully. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to come over tomorrow night. Not for a movie night, but a Christmas party."

Seaweed Brain looked pleased. "I'd love to. Will it be at your apartment?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. And if you want you can bring some cookies or something, but don't feel like you have too."

He shrugged with an easy grin. "Okay. That sounds awesome."

They walked in silence for a while after that. Annabeth let the snow brush her eyelashes, barely able to keep from skipping. They walked by a large pine tree draped in red and white lights, and Annabeth thought absentmindedly how pretty Seaweed Brain's eyes were with the crimson lights reflecting in them. The city had decorated the public park beautifully, and in the growing dusk one could appreciate the gorgeous, sparkling lights dotting the grounds. Without even meaning too, she began to sing.

"Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright…" her sweet, soft voice cut through the gently falling snow like a bird's.

"Round, yon virgin, mother and child…" Seaweed Brain picked up. Annabeth looked up in surprise, and he just grinned down at her while singing. He had an unexpectedly beautiful voice, a deep, gentle tenor then blended exquisitely with her delicate soprano.

"Holy Infant, so tender and mild," they sang quietly, Seaweed Brain's arm around Annabeth's shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "Sleep in heavenly peace…" Annabeth's voice went up to the higher notes and Seaweed Brain's went down in beautiful harmony.

They stopped and faced each other on the frozen, snowy path as they sang the last line together. "Sleep in heavenly peace."

Annabeth froze, her breath puffing white into the bitterly cold air, because he was so close and so warm and so gorgeous, right there in the dancing shadows of the Christmas lights, that she wanted to kiss him.

Before she could, though, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers in one quick, almost voluntary motion. Annabeth rose on her tiptoes and let her arms find their way around his neck, his hands around her waist, deepening the kiss. His lips tasted like a mixture of salt and peppermint and coffee, which didn't sound like a good combination but it was, and Annabeth was willing to let this moment continue forever –

And then Seaweed Brain pulled away. "Hey."

Annabeth laughed breathlessly. "Hey."

Wordlessly, he pulled her close, his strong, powerful arms circling her and just so warm and safe and secure that Annabeth let a thought sneak into her mind. I would be perfectly happy spending the rest of my life with this guy.

She sighed against his flannel jacket, letting her head rest on his chest and smelling the mixture of coffee and Old Spice permeating his clothes. For what seemed like forever – this was another moment Annabeth could have let go on to eternity – they stood there, letting the snow gather on their shoulders and the twinkling, sparkling decorations bath them in a soft, festive light.

Finally, Annabeth pulled away, letting her eyes search his. "So, what now?" Immediately she regretted it, putting her foot in her mouth. But it had been so long – so long – since she had felt this, had actually wanted a relationship to continue. Could it happen?

Seaweed Brain grinned. "I think now would be the time I ask you if you want to do that again."

Annabeth giggled and stood on her tiptoes, pressing her overwhelming smile against his lips. When again they pulled back, Seaweed Brain brushed the snow from a blonde curl. "And see, now, I ask you if you'd like to go to dinner with me."

Annabeth laughed and put her hands on her hips. "Seaweed Brain, are you asking me out?"

He pretended to consider, his baby-seal eyes scrunching in thought. "Yeah, yeah, I think so."

In answer, she took his hand again, this time intertwining their fingers. "I think I might make time for you."

He grinned, looking smug. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Now I am," Annabeth told him, just as smugly.

He gestured to the path. "Then shall we go, m'lady?"

Annabeth giggled, feeling like she was floating. Had she ever felt this way before? No, no other guy had ever cared about her this way, this much, before. Seaweed Brain was one-of-a-kind.

She took his waiting hand. "Let's go."

ASDFGHJKL I LOVE PERCABETH. *ahem* Sorry. Anyway, remember to tell me what POV you want the next one in! Any constructive criticism/ideas are welcome! Thanks so much, everybody!

Oops, forgot to add the disclaimer. For like, a bunch of chapters. I really need to just put it on my profile. Let it be known that I do not own PJO or anything else you might recognize. :)

WM