Percy's POV

It's been exactly one month of training with Poseidon and sometimes Ares. The training's been getting pretty enjoyable now since I'm learning more water abilities, fighting tactics, and even hand-to-hand combat. But other than that, life's been like living in Hades.

Practically every week I've had to go to dad's place and spend hours looking through beautiful women that don't really catch my eye and rejecting each one. While doing that, I've been lying to Athena constantly that I'm just going for some training, and lying to her is a lot harder than it may seem. Her deep gray eyes look like they're seeing into your soul…

To be completely honest, dad's even set me up on some blind dates which never seem to end well. As soon as I tell them my hearts belongs to someone else and then beg them not to tell Poseidon, the date ends horribly.

In fact, I was on one right now and surprise, surprise; it was with the one and only Annabeth at Red Lobster, ironic how a god of the seas is eating at a seafood restraunt.

Dad had no clue that she was Annabeth, and neither did I until she pulled off her black, wavy wig and blue contacts. I knew there was something familiar about her though.

"So…" I said while clearing my throat to break the awkward atmosphere. Before this wouldn't have been so weird but with me being with her mom and stuff just made me want to run out of there.

"Sorry about popping out of nowhere. Didn't expect to see me huh?" She asked with a small smile.

"Nope, not at all. So you obviously know about Poseidon trying to get me married ASAP."

"Yeah, actually as soon as I heard I decided to come with a small disguise, courtesy of an old friend from camp, daughter of Aphrodite." Of course, Aphrodite children are great with giving completely new looks and disguises.

"Well you caught me off-guard with the whole thing. So, why exactly did you come?"

"Percy… I just wanted to let you know that I sort of still need you. I don't know what it is, but I want you, yet I don't want you. I guess I'm probably just jealous that you're going to get married."

"Umm…uh… I see "This was now beyond awkward. "Be right back, I've got a major restroom emergency." I rushed out of my chair and into the restroom in a desperate attempt to escape.

"Calm down Percy. Just tell her the truth, she can understand right?" I told myself in the mirror. "Oh who am I kidding? She's going to kick me in places that should never be kicked!"

I ran my hand through my hair in distress. Would she understand? I mean, knowing how smart and mild Annabeth is about most things she's probably going to let it pass. Yeah, that sounds like her.

After having a little pep talk with myself in the mirror and washing my face to calm me down, I walked out, determined to tell her the whole truth. I took a seat and gave her my chilled, same-old Percy smile.

"So where were we?" I continued.

"Hmm, let's see, I told you about still wanting you a little and you ran off." I just shrugged. "Well, I just wanted to know… are you, you know, seeing anyone?" I looked around at any other place besides her face and coughed.

"You could say that. It's pretty much the reason I've been rejecting all the girls." There was silence after that and I dared to look at her face then instantly regretted it.

She was pissed. It was obvious, considering she had an eyebrow raised and a look on her face that made me think her hair would burst into flames at any second. She bolted up in her chair, causing it to fall to the ground. Well, this wasn't how I was expecting it to go.

"Who is it?" She asked sternly.

"Oh, it's a funny story actually. Umm… it's someone that you're very close to and uh, she's smart, great with battle strategies, brave, strong, amazingly beautiful…" I decided to stop because I could probably go on all night complimenting Athena.

"Just tell me who it is." Oh my gods, this seemed to be harder than fighting Kronos. I opened my mouth to say the name of the love of my life, but at that moment, Athena herself appeared behind me.

"And to this point I thought you were with your father. You know lying to me isn't a very good idea." Now, things couldn't get any more complicated.

"Sorry Athena just thought I could meet up with Annabeth again." She turned to her daughter and smiled in a motherly way.

"Hope he's not causing you too much trouble. He can be a handful." Annabeth eyed me and smirked.

"Well, he's a boy. They're all handfuls." They laughed together as I started to feel like a third-wheel. Athena leaned down close to my ear.

"Does she know?" She asked so quietly that even I could barely hear.

"I was getting to it… doesn't look good so far." I whispered back. She backed away again and patted my head. Probably to assure me that she's going to handle this.

"Mind if I take him away? He and I have some unfinished business to attend to." Annabeth looked at us suspiciously. Geez, are all women like this?

"Sure, I guess this conversation can wait." Suddenly, I felt a hard tugging at my ear.

"Ouch! Athena, that hurts!" She got close to my ear again.

"Sorry, but I'm just a little mad about all your lying streak." Oh man… I'm so dead.

Athena's POV

"Look, I was only lying to keep you from getting mad and probably murdering Poseidon."Percy started with a sigh.

I had dragged him to my palace where we were currently sitting on the semi-circular, caramel couch. He looked stressed and had his head in his hands, which wasn't a good sign.

To be honest, I had known he was lying about something the whole time but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Though I knew that scaring him to death about it would make him spill the entire truth to me.

I also got some small details out of Aphrodite but all she said was that 'Percy's not really at Poseidon's training most of the time.' Not a very good lead, but good enough. I ushered him on with a small nod

"Well you see Poseidon wouldn't really be happy with my choice, which is obviously you. He specifically told Lord Zeus that he didn't want me marrying any of his daughters and considering the rivalry you two have, he wouldn't be too happy about us. Now here's the weird part, he's um, actually looking for a bride for me."

Those words struck me like a lightning bolt and caused rage to flare through me.

"HE'S WHAT?" Percy avoided my intense glare which would probably kill him on the spot.

"He just wants to get me married as soon as I become a major god. He's also set me up on a couple of blind dates and Annabeth was in a disguise as one of them to talk to me about the whole thing."

"Wait a second, so you're telling me that behind my back, you've been going on dates?" My frustration intensified at the thought. Percy looked as scared as a puppy lost in the rain.

"It's not like that! You see, I explained to all of them that I love someone already and I've rejected every marriage invitation from every girl. Dad's not so happy about the delay in me choosing, at this rate he might just pick a bride himself."

"Over my everlasting body! I'd like to see him even try to get you married to anyone other than me." I instantly realized what I had just said and bit my tongue, but Percy had already noticed.

"So, you do want to marry me." There was a cocky grin on his face, which I have to admit, was rather adorable.

"I never implied that." I lied.

"Oh come on Athena, I heard the way you said that."

"You're obviously taking it the wrong way." He shrugged with that same smirk on his face.

"Fine then, maybe I should marry one of those nymphs, children of gods, or maybe even have an affair with Aphrodite since she seems up for it."

"Perseus!" I only called him that when I'm overly angry. I stared at him with increased outrage. He laughed a little at my reaction.

"I was just kidding. Even if you wouldn't marry me, I couldn't ever leave you." He put an arm over my shoulder to pull me close and smiled at me, then caressed my cheek with one hand.

Before I knew it, we were kissing nonstop, our lips fitting perfectly into each other's with each kiss. I know that's probably not something Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, would do, but considering how madly in love I am with this man, I made an exception.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update but I caught a sore throat from my sister and I needed a few days to rest. I'll try to update fast, and for those who don't know, the Percy x Artemis story is now up! "Part of the Hunt"