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~Prom...Percabeth style~

"Have you found your prom dress yet?" Tracey asked as she and the other Aphrodite girls painted their nails while waiting for Annabeth to arrive for their Ancient Greek class.

"Are you kidding? I picked it out a month ago. In fact, Josh already has a tie picked out to match! Want to see a picture?" Darby replied already scrolling through the camera roll of her phone. Technically phones weren't allowed in camp, but trying to separate an Aphrodite girl from her phone was like trying to take Narcissus's mirror away.

"Oh my Gods! That's gorgeous totally shows off your figure." Tracey squealed with delight along with her sisters as they crowded around Darby and her phone. Just then, Annabeth rushed in panting, arms full of scrolls, books, and blueprints.

"Sorry I'm late guys. I had to break up a fight between the Tyche and Nemesis cabins." She said breathlessly dropping her stuff on the table and hurriedly began setting up.

"Oh it's alright we were just talking about Prom." Tracey said dreamily, as the other girls smiled and giggled along with her.

"Yeah speaking of Prom, has Percy asked you yet? Are you two going as theme? What color is your dress?" Hannah asked rapid fire questions like a reporter. Annabeth shrugged absentmindedly as she started writing the Greek alphabet on the whiteboard.

"School dances really aren't our thing." Annabeth smirked as she saw all the children of the love goddess' jaws drop in unison.

"B-but its prom." Tracey said as if it needed no further explanation.

"Yeah, it's like the quintessential high school experience along with homecoming and graduation. You can't miss it, especially when you already have a boyfriend. That's like an insult to single people everywhere." Hannah pointed out sounding offended. Annabeth just shrugged again dismissing the idea and her campmates cries. Maybe there was a small part of her that was curious, and wanted to take part in something normal for once. They were right after all. Prom was one of those milestones like the American version of a Quinceañera or a bat mitzvah. Even if it was as lame as she thought, at least she could say she went. Right?

"We'll think about it." She promised "Now let's speak Greek." Before reviewing the verbs, they learned last week.

~)*(~

For the next few days Annabeth kept trying to find the right moment to bring prom up to Percy. She knew he would never ask her if she didn't give him hints. The guy hardly did any outside school functions except homework (most of the time), and swim team (which he only did to get an athletic scholarship some day). Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. Annabeth's lips curled up into a calculating smile. She knew exactly how to bring it up now.

~)*(~

"Why do I have to go through cabin inspection anyway? I'm the only one there most of the time." Percy complained as the two of them walked towards the minor god's cabins for inspection.

"Which in theory means it should be the cleanest." Annabeth pointed out knowing fully well Percy was a slob. "Are we going to have this conversation every week?"

"Yeah, but everyone else has cabin mates to help out with the cleaning. Tyson's hardly ever here anymore."

"Seaweed brain." Annabeth muttered shaking her head and staring up into the sky as if to say "gods help me". Percy just gave her a smirk and put his arm over her shoulders as they walked on.

"Speaking of cabin mates, how's swim team been? Have they accused you of being on PEDs yet?" She teased. He scowled and shook his head.

"Gods I wish. It's harder than I thought it would be. I actually have to swim, like with the correct form and stuff. Instead of just making the water propel me around. Also we have to do training in the weight room, and run on the track. It's almost as bad as when Jason made me go through the roman version of hell week. Not that I don't give myself a little boost now and then." He added with a devious wink. Annabeth rolled her eyes

"Typical Percy" she thought. She went on asking him more questions as they talked about school and friends they met there.

"Are any of your teammates going to prom?" She asked offhandedly as she scribbled down notes on her clipboard. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye to catch his reaction, and frowned when she didn't see a change at all.

"I don't know. I guess." He shrugged dismissively as he wrote stuff down on his own inspection sheet.

"Hmm well I suppose I wouldn't expect guys to talk about it much." She tucked her hair behind her ear, and lifting her chin a little higher. Percy's eyes narrowed.

"Wait, you're not wanting to go to prom or anything…Are you?" Annabeth shrugged.

"If the right person asked me, I'd be willing." She smirked deviously, and promptly turned on her heel and marched off to the next cabin. Percy stood there dubious for a moment. Since when did she want to go to a school dance? He sighed mildly annoyed at her little mind games as he caught up with her.

"Annabeth Chase, will you go to Prom with me?" he asked with a forced smile taking her hand. She gave him her deluxe unimpressed face.

"You're going to have to do better than that Seaweed brain." She huffed and kept walking.

"Oh c'mon. What do you want?" He whined in frustration as he walked in step beside her. Nothing could ever be easy with her, could it? Annabeth stayed quiet as she stopped in front of the Demeter cabin and wrote down some notes completely ignoring him. Percy frowned and looked around in annoyance trying to figure out what could be 'better' than his first attempt.

He smelled the flowers before he saw them. The Persephone cabin always had flowers growing along the walls. Suddenly, an idea popped in his mind. He was sure that Rosalie (the head counselor) wouldn't mind if he picked a few...

~)*(~

He rushed over to Annabeth who was already inside the Demeter cabin observing and checking off points. He walked up in front of her and dropped to one knee holding the flowers out.

"Annabeth Chase, will you please go to prom with me?" He asked with a genuine smile on his face this time. He could feel campers staring at them, but he didn't care, instead he was enjoying Annabeth's surprised face. She stared at him in shock, and quickly glanced around. All the girls in proximity were giggling, and pointing. She heard a couple of "awws". She rolled her eyes. Of course annoying, sweet, conniving Percy knew there was no way she'd blow him off if he concocted a public spectacle like this. She looked down at him. His sideways smile stretched from ear to ear, eyes bright with triumph. He knew he had her cornered.

"Yes, I'll go with you." She relented smiling and taking the flowers before whispering furiously so only he could hear. "Now will you stand up already it looks like you're proposing!" She hissed as she waved her arms around to the spectators, as if to say "move along nothing to see here." He stood up and gave her a kiss.

"Don't they call it a prom-posal?" He pointed out. She punched his arm in response.

~)*(~

"I'm so jealous of your hair. If I had your curls, I'd never keep them cooped up in a ponytail." Piper exclaimed as she did her best friend's hair. Annabeth just shrugged as she brushed on some eye-shadow. She hated her hair and it's frizzy curls and blondeness. It was always much easier just to keep it back. Not to mention that having your hair down was a hazard in combat.

"I'm done. I bet you ten bucks Percy will be speechless when he sees you." Piper smirked her hands gripping Annabeth's shoulders reassuringly. Annabeth blinked at her reflection in the mirror. Some of her hair was pulled back into a small ponytail in the back, so it wouldn't hang in her face. While the rest cascaded down her shoulders in ringlets. Her face framed by two smaller ringlets.

"Gods above. You're amazing Piper." Annabeth commended smiling and posing at different angles in the mirror. Piper grinned, her arms crossed in an "I'm-a-boss-and-you-know-it" pose.

"Well let it be known that I actually learned something from Drew." She laughed placing a jeweled hair clip in Annabeth's hair. Piper and her half-sister were on much better terms now even if it was more of a love-hate relationship.

"Well it shows." Annabeth agreed smiling as she dabbed on some lip gloss. Just then there was a knock at the door. "Shoot he's here!" Annabeth cried along with some Greek swears as she quickly puffed on some blush and got up looking for her shoes and purse. "He's finally on time for once in his life and it's now." She muttered turning the room into a disaster zone in her frenzy. Piper placed a hand over her mouth trying to smother her giggles as she got up to answer the door.

~)*(~

"Wow!" Piper greeted eyes wide as she not-so-subtly checked Percy out. Sure he'd always been cute and scruffy, but cleaned up…she could finally see why her sisters were always comparing him to Jason.

"Um…Hello to you to Piper." Percy replied looking mildly befuddled at her greeting. Piper coughed and brought her eyes back up to his face.

"Right yeah. It's good to you too Perce. Sorry I'm just impressed. You look so different…In a good way."

"Do I?" He asked looking down at himself sheepishly. Piper nodded grinning "and I thought Percy was going to be speechless" she thought to herself. "Uh is Annabeth ready? I'm not late am I?" He asked glancing at his watch for the umpteenth time that night.

"Oh No you're right on time. She's just busy turning the room upside down, but she should be done at any moment now." Piper teased leaning against the door frame and looking over her shoulder with a smirk on her face.

"You should have seen her cabin when she lost her cap one summer." he countered with a grin.

"I didn't lose my cap. I misplaced it." Annabeth clarified walking up to the two of them. Percy snorted and rolled his eyes in response before looking over at his girlfriend. He quickly shut up as his eyes widened and he started blinking in amazement. Annabeth grinned looking a little flustered herself at seeing him.

"Ha! Looks like you owe me ten bucks Annabeth!" Piper shouted breaking the couple's reverie. Annabeth sighed and reached into her purse and handed her bestie a ten.

"This is one bet where I'll gladly pay up.' she said smirking towards her boyfriend. Percy just looked between the two girls confused.

"Did I miss something?" he asked as Annabeth walked up and put her arm around his waist.

"Nah don't worry about it Perce. Now get together love birds picture time." Piper said flipping put her phone.

~)*(~

~Several adorable percabeth candids later~

"Now be sure to have her back by midnight." Piper said looking at Percy pointedly. He nodded absentmindedly his eyes never leaving Annabeth.

"Piper!" Annabeth chastised rolling her eyes and turning red.

"Hey I'm only filling in for your Dad here.' She reasoned but smiled as if to say she was joking.

"No worries Piper Paul already gave me the speech. Good night."

~)*(~

"This kind of goes without saying but you look amazing." Percy said squeezing Annabeth's hand tighter as they walked towards the elevator. The smile never left Annabeth's face as a rosy tint lightened her cheeks. She wore a silver satin dress with a form-fitting bodice and a knee-length, ruffled, full skirt. Percy had to mentally slap himself to keep from gawking at her. She was almost intimidatingly beautiful, but Percy was glad that even though she looked so different from her usual tom-boy look he still saw his Annabeth. Like how she wore flats instead of heels, her make-up was subtle, and she still wore her owl earrings.

"You don't look so bad yourself Seaweed brain.' She replied pulling him closer to her as she breathed in his usual salty scent mixed with the cologne he had on. Annabeth sighed feeling her higher brain functions dull. In a blue dress shirt, black satin vest and tie he could've been a model for men's dress wear in how well it was tailored to his tall lean frame. Even his hair was brushed and styled instead of its usual wild tousled look. She smiled mischievously and reached up and messed up his hair.

"Gah! What are you doing?" he cried reaching with both hands trying to smooth down his hair but to no avail. "Do you have any idea how long it took me to fix it like that?" She grinned wider and pulled on his tie to bring his head down to her level as she ran her fingers through his hair again. "Gods quit it, you win." He relented grabbing her wrists and pushing her away.

He looked at her miffed in an "are you happy now?" look.

"That's better. My seaweedbrain always has messy hair, and that's how I like it." She said reaching up and giving him a kiss to prove it. He rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Well next time could you tell me that before I spend two hours and an entire bottle of gel trying to fix it.' He grumbled as they walked into the elevator. Annabeth snorted.

"Since when do I make things that easy?" she stated as Percy pressed the button for the roof. He shook his head but managed a small knowing smirk as he slipped his hand into hers again.

"Um Percy shouldn't we be heading down?"

"No this is the right direction.' He replied poker-faced. Her smile faded, and she looked up at him skeptically. His poker face melted and he grinned squeezing her hand tighter in anticipation. Annabeth hated it when he knew something she didn't, especially surprises. His surprises both intrigued and terrified her usually they were good but Percy was unpredictable.

"Please tell me we're not riding to Prom on the back of Blackjack." Annabeth pleaded sounding disappointed. She loved the Pegasus, but she was wearing a dress, and all Piper's hard work on her hair would go to waste in the rush that was Pegasus riding.

"Not exactly." He replied with a wink a big grin on his face obviously pleased with the fact that Annabeth was the clueless one for once. Annabeth sighed crossing her arms praying that she wasn't going to end up regretting whatever Percy had planned. The doors dinged open, and he led her out to the roof…

~)*(~

Annabeth's jaw dropped in amazement. All her trepidation disappeared replaced with awe and joy. Stretching across the roof was one of those horse-drawn carriages that were all over Central Park. Except this one was covered in Christmas lights, sweet-smelling flowers, and drawn by pegasi with Blackjack in the lead.

"Blackjack and his friends refused to wear plumes like the usual carriage horses, but I hope you still like it I…" Percy began nervously after a minute of silence. Annabeth tackled him in a hug and kiss. He tripped in surprise but managed to keep his footing. When they broke apart Percy was grinning and a little red-faced.

"I'll take that as a yes?' he chuckled.

"Percy I love it. Where did you even get a carriage?" she asked already walking over and inspecting its inner workings and lovely decorations. Percy waved his hand like it was no big deal.

"Leo and his brood owed me a favor, so I asked them to build this, and the Persephone cabin was more than happy to decorate." He said climbing up into the carriage and offering Annabeth his hand to help her in.

"You did good Seaweed brain." Annabeth commended cuddling up next to him on the bench, as they took off. Compared to the supernatural adventures they take part in all the time, there was something uniquely magical about flying in a carriage. The city lights passing below them, the stars above, and cuddling with her best friend.

"Oh I almost forgot." He said untangling himself and turning around to grab something next to him. When he faced her again he was holding a corsage with blue and white flowers accented with pearls. As hard as she tried Annabeth couldn't wipe the stupid smile off her face, as Percy held her hand and pulled the corsage onto her wrist and kissed her cheek.

~)*(~

They landed a block away from the school and the pegasi trotted up to the entrance.

"REALLY!? YOU GOT A LIMO WHEN WE COULD HAVE HAD A CARRIAGE!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" a girl's voice shrieked as Percy and Annabeth arrived. Annabeth snickered as the girl slapped her date and stormed inside with a very confused, red-faced, apologetic guy running after her. Annabeth squeezed Percy's hand thinking about how lucky she was to have him, and finding amusement and pride that other girls were jealous of her for having such a great boyfriend.

Percy took her hand and led her inside. Prom had three sections, the refreshment and food area, the poker and blackjack tables, and the dance floor. The area was decorated with streamers, and balloons in a cheesy theme like "a night in Paris" or something.

"Been there done that." Percy thought amused upon walking in.

"Aww you two are adorable!' a chaperone squealed as she took their picture. They thanked her and made their way to the dance floor.

"You're not going to step on my toes again are you Seaweed brain?" Annabeth smirked as she took his hand in hers and pulled his other around her hip. He gave her a sly smile and dipped her so fast she let out a small yelp. Before she knew it she was being swept and twirled around. She was actually being led by him!

"Wh—When did you learn how to dance?" she asked flabbergasted as they rocked with the music.

"About a year ago before mom and Paul's wedding. Paul made me take dance lessons with him. Turns out there really is someone on earth who's a worse dancer than me." He said looking smug. Remembering how Paul accidentally broke his partners toe in one of their sessions.

"Well Paul definitely got his money's worth." She smiled as Percy spun her around.

"Just don't ask me to salsa, or sashay or any of those other dancing terms I can't pronounce." He grumbled.

"No worries, but now it's my turn to lead." She said wiggling her eyebrows slyly. She laughed at Percy's scared expression and pulled him along as the song changed.

~)*(~

Soon the DJ chose a slow song and they swayed together. Percy's arms around Annabeth's waist and her arms around his neck. She laid her head against his chest and He rested his chin on top of her head. It felt so good to be in his embrace breathing in his familiar smell, and listening to his heart as it beat in time with the music. She could just close her eyes and live in the moment forever.

"Percy?" she asked bringing her head up to look at him. He looked down at her, the lights of the disco ball making his eyes sparkle like emeralds every time they flashed by his face.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." She said sincerely pulling his head down into a kiss.

"Yeah.' He agreed pressing his forehead against hers staring into her eyes. "This isn't half as lame as I thought it would be. Good call as usual." He grumbled. She laughed and reached up to stroke his face. He was so cute whenever he admitted she was right (which was 99% of the time).

"Hey, you made some good calls tonight to. You can share some of the credit."

"Fine by me." He said leaning in for another kiss.

~)*(~

Prom went by in a flash, as they danced, and laughed at all the couples who came to prom drunk and made fools of themselves on the dance floor. They even tried their hands at poker, and decided to call it quits after winning five consecutive rounds to give the other kids a chance. Annabeth being the daughter of Athena, and Percy stating that one of the few things he learned from Gabe was how to bluff, the couple made an unstoppable force at the card games. Soon they were making their way out along with the other couples. They sat on a bench outside as they waited for Blackjack and his crew to arrive.

"You know we don't have to leave yet. It's only eleven. You want to go for a walk maybe get some ice cream?' Percy offered. Annabeth smiled.

"You're such a child." She chastised but stood up and grabbed his hand to pull him up, as they walked hand in hand down the sidewalk. He grinned and kissed the top of her head in response. They strolled for about five minutes just exchanging small talk and enjoying each other's company when they heard some rustling in an alley. Their battle senses kicked in as Percy reached for his pen, and Annabeth went for the knife in her purse.

"It's probably just alley cats." Percy guessed hopefully. Annabeth gave him a doubtful look as they slowly approached the alley.

"Ah half-bloods looks like it's a godly feast tonight!" two dracaena cackled fangs and talons bared. Percy and Annabeth nodded at each other knowing smirks on their faces before jumping into battle like they have done for years.

Because it wouldn't be a proper date if it wasn't eventually interrupted by the mythological.

~Fin~