Here is the fabled chapter 20 at last! WOOHOO.

Annabeth

I woke to the sound of fingers on guitar strings, plucking softly.

I cracked my eyes open, trying to figure out where I was.

A soft mattress beneath my probing fingers, a light duvet covering the lower half of my body: okay, I was in a bed. I took in my surroundings. Dark blue walls, weak light filtering through clumsily closed curtains, half-illuminating the boy sitting on the bed next to me, his head bent, his scruffy ebony hair falling into his vibrant green eyes, which were half closed in concentration as his fingers roamed down the neck of the guitar, sounding out chords.

Percy.

A flash back to last night flickered through my groggy mind, making my skin heat up and prickle just at the thought. My throat constricted slightly and my stomach done a knot as I observed my boyfriend. He was shirtless, the hard muscles of his shoulders rolling under his tanned skin. His forearms rested against his thighs as he cradled the guitar which he was playing.

Percy lifted his head, and my eyes couldn't help being drawn to the arch of his smooth neck, and the sharpness of his collarbone.

Long black eyelashes tangled together as he blinked.

My gaze travelled down his face, past his straight nose, his high cheekbones, down to his lips, pink in the morning daylight.

I remembered with red cheeks the way those lips slid against mine, the way they travelled over my jaw, down my neck, teeth nipping lightly on my prone skin. I smiled involuntarily at my thoughts, trying to dispel the flush in my face.

"Morning," I murmured, pushing myself up onto my elbows, my head resting back on the headboard of the bed. Percy's quick fingers stilled on the strings, and his head turned toward me, a smile already lighting up his face.

"Morning, Sleepy Head," he replied, leaning across to brush his lips against mine, sending shockwaves through my nerves. I tangled my hand in his silky hair, leaning into the kiss.

We broke apart after a moment and Percy gave me that cocky grin of his. "Someone's awake," he teased. I rolled my grey eyes, giving him another peck on the mouth, earning a chuckle that warmed my insides.

"Like the guitar," I said, tapping lightly on it, feeling the polished turquoise wood beneath my fingertips. "Really surprised that it's blue," I continued and Percy sighed, smirking all the same.

"Blue's an awesome colour," he countered, and I giggled. "Never said it wasn't," I shot back. He put the guitar down, and opened his arms out for a hug.

As I rapped my arms around his torso, I relaxed into his chest, burying my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his ocean scent. He always smelt like the fresh sea air on a spring day, bright and breezy. His strong arms wound around me, the muscles like wire, the skin like velvet.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked, leaning back to look up at him. His nose brushed against mine, sending weird but warm shivers through my fingertips.

His sea green eyes had mischievous glint that I was used to by now. "Great. How 'bout you, Wise Girl?"

"Wonderfully," I replied, resting my forehead gently against his, leaning in and kissing him softly.

Percy smiled against my mouth, and opened his, letting his cool breath wash over my face as his tongue slid over my bottom lip without hesitation. I dug my fingers into his black locks, pulling his lips down harder on my own, nibbling lightly on his tongue. He took a sharp breath, but didn't break off our mash of lip, teeth and tongue, for which I was grateful. My hands drifted down his back, tracing the hard line of his shoulder blades, the flowing skin of his torso. His skin was hot, and my fingertips drew scorching lines along it, mapping out a steaming pathway.

My heart was beating out of my chest, the way it usually did when this happened with Percy and I. It did back flips and front flips and twists and turns, pumping the blood around my body ten to the dozen.

On the bedside table, his phone beeped with an incoming text message. I broke off, gasping in air, my lungs expanding painfully.

"Ignore it," Percy said quietly, crushing his lips back on mine, and I didn't protest. About five seconds later, the phone beeped again, and my hands tightened on his neck, my finger tapping on his jaw lightly. The phone beeped again, and Percy pulled away from me with an annoyed huff, keeping one hand still tangled in my loose golden hair.

Staring at the screen, Percy huffed again. "Percy, come home now," he mocked the message, likely from his father, his voice edged with anger.

"Your dad?" I asked, frowning and leaning into him, trying to see the phone's screen.

Percy, come home now, the first text read.

Percy Jackson, I am warning you, the second text said.

You are in serious trouble, Percy, the last text stated.

"Wow, really scary," I muttered and Percy laughed without humour, shutting the phone down and throwing it on the table.

He buried his face into my hair, and I felt his warm lips press against my scalp. A shiver ran through me. I stroked the side of his neck with my thumb, and I could see gooseflesh pop up where ever I touched, and grinned.

"He's such an asshole," Percy said, his arms tightening around me.

"Tell me about it," I murmured, rolling my eyes. "Daddy troubles much?"

Percy sighed in agreement, his chest deflating against mine.

Taylor Swift's Wonderland blared through the speakers in Percy's bedroom as I danced around the bed.

"Didn't they tell us 'don't rush into things', didn't you flash your green eyes at me?" I sang along, smiling at the thought of Percy's sea green eyes staring into mine, all swirling blues and greens and teals. "Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds? Ooh, didn't it all seem new and exciting, I felt your arms twisting around me, I should have slept with one eye open at night."

I heard clapping from the doorway and whipped around to find Percy leaning against the wood, his bare shoulder braced, muscles standing to attention. He had a smirk on his face, his eyes sparkling as he observed me.

I blushed, fidgeting. "The new Taylor Swift, I'm telling you," Percy teased, and I smiled, my cheeks flushing an even brighter red. He pushed off from the doorway, and walked toward me. I reached out and tangled my fingers through his, pulling him closer, so our feet were touching. I put my free hand on his cheek, and his eyes closed, his head leaning into my palm.

I leaned up, breathing through my nose. Percy's lips parted slightly, waiting for my own to press against them. I grinned and said, "you know you're really cute when you want me to kiss you?"

His eyes flew open, revealing blown out pupils, irises more black than green. "I hate you," he whispered, pouting.

"Nope, you don't," I replied, kissing his cheek. "I'm just sneaky."

"I was going to tell you that I'd found breakfast," he breathed, leaning lower so his lips just grazed below my jaw line where my pulse pumped fast. "But since you're being sneaky, I've decided I'll be sneaky too."

"Damn it," I hissed playfully. "Played at my own game."

Percy laughed, his breath making my skin jump. "So, just to review, we're both being sneaky, and we both really want to kiss each other?"

I nodded. "Exactly."

Percy lifted his head, his eyes boring into mine. "We can do what we want, right?"

"Right," I agreed, and kissed him.

"Now, you, you are just being downright evil," I told Percy as he smirked at me from behind the kitchen island, his palms resting gently on it's marble surface, his bare arms flexing as his fingers drummed lightly, making out a boom boom boom boom beat against the stone top.

If I got distracted by his smirk and his tanned, muscular arms, I'd be down one dignity point and down a meal in my stomach. If I looked at his abs for too long, or gazed into his green eyes, I'd be hungry until lunch with my cheeks burning the whole time.

So I stood still in the centre of the kitchen, trying not to think about how sharp his cheekbones were or how his sweatpants hung off his slim hips and-

"Stop," I murmured to myself, closing my eyes. If I digressed from my goal of getting food in my belly, well, let's just say I'd be a bit cranky.

"So, Wise Girl, a challenge. Not of your wit or your intelligence, but of your restraint," Percy grinned, running a hand through his hair, and it sprung into a quiff that made my stomach mush and my brain scramble. Yeah, Annabeth Chase, great, witty, smart Annabeth Chase being turned to a jelly mess by a handsome boy's hair. I was something, alright.

"If you can keep yourself off me for one hour-"

"Providing you can keep yourself off me," I pointed out, pulling my hair out of it's ponytail and shaking it out onto my shoulders where it fell in soft, luxurious waves of gold. I saw Percy pupils dilate and his pulse quicken his neck and smiled. Hey, two could play at this game.

"-you'll get your breakfast," he continued as if I hadn't spoken, but there was a slight under-current tremble that hadn't been there before in his cocky voice. "And maybe even dessert," his eyes sparkled and I felt my stomach heat up and my knees prick.

"Well, then, I'll be fine," I said, full of confidence that I didn't have because his smile was becoming to much to handle. All I wanted was to jump across that island and-

STOP. FOOD IS NEEDED. FOOD IS GOOD. FOOD IS LIFE.

I took a deep breath, flashed a flirty smiled at my, oh goddamn, still shirtless boyfriend, and fled from the kitchen, trying to keep my breathing in check. I tried to forget how soft his lips were, or how strong his jaw was, or how smooth his hands were.

And, there I went again. I put my head in my hands, rubbing at my eyes until colours swirled behind my eyelids and my head began to pound.

I felt a presence behind me, and turned around, stepping back from Percy as he stood there smiling innocently. My hand ached to stretch out and touch him, as did my heart, but my belly and head were in disagreement. That was enough to keep me from disgracing myself.

"Sorry, Annabeth, I was just wondering if I could get by you to go upstairs? If that's alright with you, of course, my lady," he said, courteous with a twinkle in his eye. His mouth quirked up at my momentarily bewildered expression.

"Seaweed Brain," I muttered at him and with a laugh, he brushed by me, careful to let the skin of his arm brush against mine. It took all my dignity to not grab hold of him.

A half an hour passed that had me in the living room and Percy cheerily whistling in the kitchen.

"How long does this have to happen?" I asked loudly, so he could hear me.

"Oh, you know, as long as it does," he replied breezily, and I could hear the aggravating smirk in his voice.

"You're really annoying when you have the upper hand," I grumbled, pulling my knees up to my chest as I sat on the couch. "I hate it when you have the upper hand."

He sauntered into the room, thankfully with a shirt on. The tight, green t-shirt didn't leave much to be desired, though. It clung to his biceps, and it left the hard skin of his stomach exposed if he so much as reached out to put his hand on the doorway, which he was doing now.

I averted my eyes, swallowing. "Wise Girl, you're really cute when you're angry, do you know that?"

"And you're really cute when you're making me angry, do you know that?" I shot back, quickly realising that it wasn't an insult that I had just threw at him, but a compliment. I frowned, sighing. My game was weak when I didn't have food.

An hour passed, and my stomach continued to grow angrier. I was considering using force to make Percy give me the breakfast, but I knew it wouldn't work. And, anyway, I could tell he was getting weak, just by the way he was staring at me.

I could almost feel his fingers tightening on the armrests of the chair he was trying to lounge nonchalantly on and failing. His foot kept twitching and his left arm kept flexing, as if he were thinking about getting up and resisting halfway through the action.

As I watched T.V, not really taking in what was happening, my mind mostly concentrated on not glancing over at my boyfriend, who was now taking up that beat again, his feet now tapping against the wooden floorboards. Boom boom boom boom, boom boom boom boom.

All I heard was that tapping, for the next ten minutes.

It was driving me insane.

"PERCY!" I burst out, glaring at him. His foot stopped, and he shrunk back in his chair slightly, his eyes widening fractionally.

"Yes?"

"Stop. That. Tapping," I said, more calmly and quietly. Percy gulped, and nodded, exhaling. "Sure thing," he said.

We were silent for a couple more minutes, before he broke it. "This is stupid," he muttered, and stood up suddenly. My head whipped around, away from the telly screen, my lips have open to ask what was wrong, when his own mouth came crashing down on mine.

He kissed me like he was a drowning man and I was his oxygen. He kissed me like he was a damned man and I was his redemption. He kissed me he was a lonely man and I was his home.

And then he stopped, pulling away jerkily, as if it pained him to do it, to remove his lips from mine. His fingers still cupped my cheeks, brushing along my earlobes.

"What was that about restraint?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Inside, I was hopping about like a mad woman, but in my head I was thinking about pancakes and bacon. Oh, and maybe kissing Percy again, but that was like a little corner of my mind, just poking about, getting in the way of food.

"I- didn't think that restraint was needed anymore," he breathed, and I chuckled, brushing a finger across his cheekbone, watching the way his green eyes swivelled to watch my hand move.

I leaned in and we kissed again, his mouth warm and gentler than before. "So," I said when we broke apart. "Breakfast, please, Mr. Jackson."

He smiled suddenly, and I felt my heart constricting. He wasn't gonna give it to me, was he? My eyes narrowed. "Well, I just wanted to ask you something before I give you this delightful breakfast…" he trailed off, and I gave him a questioning look, menace in my glare.

"What is this question?" I asked, teeth grinding.

Percy got up off the couch, and my hand slid down his arm, flopping onto the couch.

"Well…" he said slowly, backing out off the sitting room. "I just wanted to know…."

"What?"

He grinned. "I'd just like to know what you'd like on your pancakes."

I scowled at him. "I hate you."

"I know."

"Pancakes, del a pancakes!" Percy declared, raising his hands in the air, clutching two plates in his fingers. "Sugar and lemon juice for dear Annabeth," he popped the plate down in front of me, and I drooled at the sight of the golden brown pancakes, covered in sugar, with lemon juice dripping down the sides. "And a lot of Nutella for me," he said, and put the other plate down, and plopped into a chair, gazing at me.

"Where did you get these?" I asked, motioning to the deliciousness on a plate.

Percy grinned. "I may or may not have popped to the shop while you were still asleep. Do you know that you sleep like a dead person? I mean, nothing can wake you up. Literally, I sang 'Wake me up before you go' at the top of my voice and you didn't move an inch."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure. Okay, which shop did you go to? I didn't spot any on the way here."

Percy smiled again. "Oh, there's just one down the road from here. Used to go to it all the time with my mom." His smirk faltered, and he looked down at his pancakes. "Anyway! Eat up."

As I dove into my pancakes, I watched Percy eat. He cut the stack of pancakes down the middle, the chocolate spread he'd heartily put on it oozed out the sides and over the edges. As he all but inhaled the pancakes, I giggled as his face got more and more chocolate over it. On his cheeks, beside his lips, on his nose and forehead (don't ask how). I gobbled up my breakfast, finishing just as his knife and fork clattered against the plate.

"That was yummy," Percy moaned, licking his lips, not noticing that he had chocolate in his hair, also.

I laughed again, and he looked up as I got out of my chair. I walked over to him, bending down to press a kiss to his chocolaty cheek, my fingers roaming through his thick black locks. "Thanks, Seaweed Brain," I murmured, smiling.

"My pleasure," he grinned, his hand securing around my neck, bringing me back down for another sweet kiss. My tongue darted out, licking the side of his mouth, the chocolate tasting like heaven.

"Hey!" he chuckled against my lips, pulling away slightly. "I'm not for licking, Annabeth Chase."

I grinned. "Yeah, but chocolate is."

It was the middle of the day, and I was tucked up in Percy's arms, half asleep.

As he breathed out gently, I could feel his breath stir my hair and I sighed in content, nuzzling my head deeper against his chest. I could hear his steady heartbeat, comfortably thumping in my ear.

I loved him so much, I could feel it in my heart. I loved Percy like I'd known him all my life. I loved him, I loved him, I loved him.

All I wanted to do for the rest of time was lie there, just silent, listening to his beating heart. To just feel his arms around me, strong and warm and safe. There was no outside world when I was with him. It was just Percy, just Seaweed Brain.

"Annabeth," he murmured, his voice soft and sleepy, like velvet.

"Yes?" I answered, smiling into the cotton of his t-shirt.

"It's kind of disconcerting when you realise that there's more people out there than me and you. It just feels like it's just us, right now, doesn't it? Or I am I going bonkers?"

I laughed lightly, giving his torso a squeeze. "I feel exactly the same way. As if, if we opened the front door right now, there'd be nothing there. Except this, right now."

"We're really soppy, you realise?" Percy chuckled.

"I do, Mr. Jackson, I do."

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," I whispered back, not realising I'd been tearing up until the first drop of wet fell onto his t-shirt. I sniffed in surprise, and wiped at my eyes.

"Hey, Wise Girl, are you crying? Annabeth, what's wrong?" I felt Percy shift beneath me, his legs tensing along with the muscles of his stomach, pressed against my abdomen.

"I don't know," I said, feeling another tear streak down my face. "I- I actually don't know. Just ignore me," I sniffed again.

"No, love, what is it?" Percy pushed up from our lounging position, his back hitting the couch's armrest as he stared at me in concern, his lovely green eyes crinkled at the corners.

I shook my head, trying to expel my tears, screwing my eyes shut. "I love you," I told Percy again, my head dropping onto his shoulder, my arms tightening around him. "I love you so much."

His fingers stroked down my spine, and he buried his face in my hair, his lips brushing against my scalp. "I love you too. Love you too," he repeated.

I lifted my head, and I let my fingers play along his collarbone, watching as the tendons in his neck stood out as he looked down at me. "Annabeth?" he whispered.

I tilted my face up and kissed him softly, crying again, the tears sneaking between our lips, turning the kiss salty and wet. I clutched the back of Percy's neck as if it was my lifeboat, my mouth trailing along his cheek down to his jawbone, then onto his neck. He sucked in a breath as I let my tongue dart out, circling around his pulse point. "Annabeth," he murmured again, but it came out as more of a moan this time.

"Mmm," I hummed against his throat, and a shudder racked through his body, his hands tightening at my sides as he let out a harsh breath.

Carefully, I began to suck gently on the sensitive skin at the curve of his neck, then, as he gave a soft groan, harder. His breathing came more rapidly, his lungs working over time. I stopped sucking, sliding my tongue against the bruised skin, and Percy sighed.

"Did you just give me a hickey?" he asked as my mouth kissed along his bobbing Adam's apple and back up again to his jaw line where I stayed, my heart pumping particularly fast in my chest, my tears drying up.

"Maybe," I said, my lips straying to his, and we kissed for a while, just enjoying the sensation of it.

I glanced at his throat when we broke apart, nearly smug in seeing the skin where I'd sucked raised and already bruising.

Percy's fingers lifted to the affected area, his fingers probing lightly on the damaged skin. He winced but then grinned. "You pack one hell of a hickey, woman," he told me and I rolled my eyes.

"You're such a idiot," I said, setting my forehead against his. "And I'm in love with you. I guess that makes me an idiot too."

Percy laughed, kissing my nose lightly. "Annabeth Chase, idiot by association. Never thought I'd see the day."

Percy

I stared at myself in the mirror. My dark hair fell across my forehead, and I could see my lips were pinker than normal, reddening around the edges. I smiled as I thought about my girlfriend. I could almost feel her mouth on my neck, sucking and licking, and the thought made my skin heat up and my nerve endings prickle because damn.

I loved her so much, and I decided I didn't feel embarrassed for giving in earlier because, if I hadn't, we'd still be going now, and I'd be insane. So much for cleverness. Never try to outsmart Annabeth Chase. It was a obvious law of logic.

"Percy!" I heard her voice call, and perked up, my eyes visibly twinkling in the mirror.

"Yeah, Wise Girl?" I answered, unlocking the bathroom door and stepping out into the hallway. Annabeth stood at the threshold of the kitchen, smiling at me. Her hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders in soft, golden waves. Her stormy grey eyes observed me, and her plump lips picked up at the corners as her gaze flickered to my throat.

"I've made supper," she said, walked toward me slowly, her bare feet silent against the hard wooden floor. She always moved with the grace and agility of a gazelle, and I found myself being caught up in the wave her slender shoulders moved, and how the muscles in her legs rippled as she sauntered toward me.

"Oh, good," I murmured when she was right in front of me. "I'm famished."

Annabeth grinned and stood on her tip-toes, winding her arms around my neck. I dipped down and planted a kiss on her forehead, her cheek and finally her lips.

I realised, with a smile against her mouth, that all Annabeth and I had been doing all day was essentially making out. Not that I was complaining in the slightest, and neither was she.

"I love you," I breathed, hugging her tightly to me, nuzzling my face into the crook of her neck.

"I love you too."

I took her gently by the waist, one hand tilting her chin up so that my searching lips brushed against hers easily. Kissing her softly, I moved forward, my whole body tingling with the feeling of Annabeth pressed against me. She stepped backward too, her fingers twining in my hair, making a small shiver run down my spine.

Then she was up against the hallway wall, and her legs came up to encircle my waist. Our kisses became more feverish. I was panting as our mouths came apart for a moment, then connected again, Annabeth's teeth catching my bottom lip. I groaned, pressing her more securely against the wall.

Her fingers trailed down my chest, down, down, and then to the hemline of my jeans. As I stroked her cheek, deepening the lip-lock we were in even more, feeling her chest rise against my own, her fingers hooked under my t-shirt, lifting it slightly. I felt the warmth in my stomach become hotter as her nails scraped along my abdomen, up along my abs, her forearms pulling the t-shirt higher and higher until I lifted my arms at her request, and I had no longer a garment covering the top half of my body.

My hands wound into her hair again, but I didn't kiss her. Annabeth stared at me with those grey eyes, her long dark eyelashes brushing against the apples of her cheeks as she blinked. "What's wrong?" she asked, breathless as she dropped my t-shirt to the floor beside me.

"What did you make for supper?" I asked, smirking as she rolled her eyes, the pads of her fingers brushing over my collarbone. Our faces were so close, our noses were brushing, and I took enjoyment to see how much it strained her not to kiss me.

"I made spaghetti bolognese, if it interests you that much," Annabeth said quietly. "I think it's probably cold by now. Not that I mind." Her hands drifted along my shoulders, down my biceps.

"I don't mind that much either," I told her, and recaptured her lips with a lingering kiss, which turned heated again quickly, and we were both breathing hard. My hands strayed from her hair, down her slender shoulders, along her arms and down to her waist where I fingered the edge of her blouse. I broke away from Annabeth, twisting the shirt's flimsy fabric between my fingers. "Do you-"

"Yes," she interrupted me, and blushed scarlet. "I mean- I mean yes."

Without breaking my gaze into her eyes, I lifted my fingers and undid the first button on her shirt, waiting to see a flash of apprehension in her eyes, or her hand to reach up and grasp my own, pushing me away from her. But her passive expression didn't change. My heartbeat sped up, and I could feel her quickened breathing on my cheek as I undid the next three buttons, pausing for a moment after, checking her face again. She smiled, planting a kiss on my lips. "Hey," she whispered, "it's okay. Go on. I'm sure."

"I love you," I said, as if that was the answer to everything. Well, maybe it was.

Annabeth nodded, her hands stroking my cheekbones. "I love you too. Now move it, slowpoke."

I undid the rest of the buttons with shaking hands, letting the blouse fall open, revealing her flat stomach, barely covered by a blue camisole. She lifted her shoulders, letting the shirt slide off and hit the floor with a whisper.

I let my eyes wander over her bare shoulders, the smooth, tanned skin only interrupted by the straps of her camisole, and down to see the soft curve of her chest-

"Eyes front soldier," Annabeth whispered playfully. My eyes snapped to hers, which were sparkling with amusement.

"My eyes are always front," I replied as she giggled.

"Mine aren't," she said, her hands sliding down my bare chest, and I laughed. I wound my arms around her waist, and backed away from the wall, making my way toward the stairs.

Annabeth put her arms around my neck, kissing me gently as I scrambled up the flight of stairs, stumbling slightly. "You're such charmer, Mr. Jackson," she breathed against my mouth as I pushed my bedroom door open with my foot, sauntering in and closing it behind me.

I nodded. "I know. That's why you love me."

"Can't disagree with that," she murmured just as I put my lips to hers again, sitting down on the bed. I grabbed the camisole and pulled it swiftly over her head, letting it drop to the ground. Annabeth's hands stilled for a moment on my shoulders and I stiffened, my throat tightening.

"Do you- want this?" I asked her jerkily, trying to ignore the feeling of her bare stomach pressed up against mine, and the off white bra that was now the only thing she was wearing on the top half of her body.

"Yes," she said. "I do, but- just give me a minute." Her head dropped to my shoulder, and her breaths came quick and shallow.

"I know," I said, littering light kisses down her throat and across her shoulder.

Annabeth gave a throaty laugh as I swept her curls over her shoulder, smattering more kisses over her exposed neck. "You're making this really hard but really easy at the same time," she told me.

I stopped my mouth at the crook of her neck, sighing, my stomach doing loops inside my body, my skin prickling and heating up everywhere Annabeth's bare skin met mine. My thoughts were completely scrambled in my head, only Annabeth's name came through clear in my mind. I was breathing heavily; I couldn't exactly believe this was happening.

Annabeth's fingers came to the buckle of my jeans and I inhaled, my heart doing over time. Nimbly, she undid the belt and the button, and I lifted her chin to kiss her again. She slid off the bed, and I went with her, my jeans slipping off. I kicked them away, taking her face in my hands, our kisses hot and intense.

As Annabeth pulled off her black leggings, my mind started to process what was happening. She stood there before me, her skin glistening in the dying sunlight that filtered through the window. Her long legs and hips curved in the exact right places, and I reached out and fitted my hand on her waist, my fingers tracing circles in the skin there. She was so beautiful, the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

"Ogling, much?" Annabeth teased, her hand running up my arms, leaving gooseflesh in it's wake.

"Shut up," I murmured, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You're so gorgeous, do you know that?"

"Takes one to know one," she said back, her lips skating along my collarbone, making me shiver.

"I know you gave me a compliment there, I just can't figure out how," I told her, and she giggled, giving the bruised flesh of my neck a lingering kiss.

"Do you want to do this?" I asked again, suddenly serious. My hands shook with anticipation as I waited for her to answer.

Annabeth gazed at me for the longest time. Then, smiling, she said, "Of course, Percy. Of course."

With that consent, I pulled her down with me onto the bed.

Piper

I had messed up, I knew that.

But, I was in this deep, why not just keep going? It wasn't like I could scrape back from this, so the only direction I could go in was down.

That's what I tried to convince myself, at least, as I went through my photos of Annabeth and Percy, trying not to feel like a stalker.

You are a stalker, a little voice in the very back of my mind whispered. They're your friends, and you're doing this?! Shame on you, Piper McLean. Shame on you.

There. It was a particularly good photo. Percy laughing, his arms around Annabeth, her head leant against his chest, the edges of her mouth picked up in a suppressed smile. I clicked on it, adding it to my email I was going to send to the magazine Shebang!. I scrolled on, finding another one. Percy's lips pressed against Annabeth's forehead as they stretched out along her bed. It was slightly blurry, but I had taken it in a hurry, hoping they wouldn't see me peeking in through Annabeth's bedroom window.

Dear Shebang!,

Here are some more photos of Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase on your request, I hope they are adequate.

From,

Anon.

I sent the email, exhaling as I clicked out of the tab, erasing my internet history, just in case. There was a knock on the door. I quickly shut my Mac Book, swivelling away from my desk as I called, "Come in!"

The door opened revealing Jason. I tensed. We had been on rocky ground recently, probably due to me acting odd. I hated what I was doing to my relationship with him, but I didn't know how to stop. Our romance, along with our friendship, seemed to be unravelling, and all I could do was watch as we grew further and further apart.

"Hey, Jase," I said, smiling weakly at my boyfriend as he leaned on the door frame, his blonde hair sparkling in the fluorescent lights of my room at the Jackson Manor.

"Sup, Pipes," he replied, walking quietly in, shutting the door behind him. I got up off the chair, taking a hesitant step in his direction. I took another step, and laid my hand on his arm.

"Jason, I-"

"Are you cheating on me?" the sudden question that left his lips sent me reeling, my ears ringing with the hurt and suspicion in his voice, which was normally so cheery. The small scar on his upper lip pulled as his lips pursed.

"What?" I asked, dazedly, blinking. How could he think that? "Of course, not, Jase. I'm-"

"What's wrong then?" he replied, his voice low as he shook my hand off his arm, staring grimly into my eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

I felt the tears well up at the truth threatened to burst from me, ruining everything and everyone I cared about. But I couldn't tell him. I could never tell him.

"I don't know, Jase," I sobbed. "I don't know." As the tears slipped down my face, I saw his face soften, and he pulled me into his arms, making soothing shushing noises. I cried against his chest, soaking his shirt, bunching the fabric between my fingers.

I didn't know.

I just didn't know what to do.

Annabeth

(The next morning.)

As I woke, I felt blissfully happy. I was warm, snuggled up in my comfy duvet back at the Jackson's house.

No. That was wrong.

Coming to, I felt strong arms around me, a blanket shifting over my bare shoulder. My head was tucked up against something warm and soft, and a steady thumping filled my ears. A heartbeat.

My eyes flew open, my own heart pumping faster. I took a moment to focus, but when I did, all I saw was the smooth tanned skin of Percy's chest, and the curve and bulge of his bicep.

My brain was slowly moving from sleep mode into alert mode, and with it, memories came. Memories of the night before. They flashed before my eyes.

"Do you want to do this?" Percy asked seriously, his sea green eyes sparkling in the sun set light, his bare arms tensing; I could feel his hands shaking by my waist. His fingers drew light circles in the skin there. I was suddenly hyper-aware that all I was wearing was my bra and panties. I could feel my breath coming quicker and quicker as I gazed at Percy.

"Of course, Percy," the words fell from my lips, and I felt myself smiling, my heart attempting to beat out of my chest; I was surprised he couldn't hear it, "of course."

Percy grinned back, lowering his lips to mine as he pulled me onto the bed.

I gasped quietly, my eyes closing. I reached out a hand, pulling the covers up slightly and looking down at myself. I felt a bubble of half-shocked, half-delighted laughter threaten to escape my mouth: I was completely naked.

Lowering the duvet, I moved my head to look up to Percy's sleeping face, wiping the trail of drool coming from his open mouth with a grin. I was faced with another flash back.

"Annabeth," Percy groaned, throwing his head back. I sucked in breaths, my lungs burning. I felt Percy's fingers fumbling around for the strap of my bra and I bit my lip, reaching back and guiding his hands until they found the buckle. He quickly unhooked it and a lump formed in my throat. It wasn't that I was scared about this with Percy, he was the person I trusted most in the world, it was that I was scared about myself. I was totally new to all this. A boy had never seen me topless before, and I didn't know how my brain was going to react.

"Annabeth," Percy whispered, looking into my eyes before pressing a kiss to my lips. "Hey, I love you. I love you so much. Everything's fine. Everything's fine."

I nodded. "I know," I said, and let the bra slide off, flinging it off the side of the bed. "I know."

Percy smiled in his sleep, his head twitching slightly. I stared at him for a couple of beats, trying to memorise all the planes of his beautiful face. Many flashes of last night ran through my head, making me blush crimson. My chest swelled with love as I ran my hand down Percy's arm. He murmured, his head bending, tucking into the crook of my neck.

Percy stared into my eyes, his gaze not flickering once down to my chest, which I was strangely grateful for, but also slightly disappointed. Only when his fingers slid down my shoulders, over the curve of my breasts, did I give a little laugh. Percy grinned and I brought my mouth to his, shivering as his fingers slipped over my stomach.

A small smile made its way onto my face, along with a squeal that was trapped in the base of my throat. I ran my hand through Percy's bed head. We had actually- that had happened. I almost needed to pinch myself. The euphoria built up in my belly, making my hands tremble. Percy's breath tickled my neck, and I felt a bolt of lightening hit the core of my body, bringing with it a small breathy moan that I tried to muffle.

"Annabeth?" Percy's soft, sleepily gruff voice made my breath quicken. I couldn't help that the way he said my name was unbelievably sexy, especially after last night.

Oh my god. Last night.

"Good morning," I said weakly, and his nose nuzzled against my neck.

I felt his arm snake around my waist, his fingers sliding deliberately slowly across my stomach, making my skin jump at his touch.

"How are you this fine morning?" he asked, and I could almost feel him grinning.

"Oh, you know. Same old, same old."

I shifted slightly, and he made a noise of comfort deep in his throat; it rumbled in his chest where my hand lay, and it vibrated through me, and I shivered, biting my lip. He kissed my neck lightly, and I caressed his shoulder in response. "I love you," I told him.

"Love you, too, Wise Girl."

"Um, about last night-" Percy's chuckle interrupted my awkward sentence.

"What?" I exclaimed, indignant. He pulled back, his green eyes sparkling in a way that made my stomach bounce.

He shook his head, bringing a hand up to stroke my hair, his fingertips brushing along my scalp. "I love you," he repeated and I smiled, leaning in to kiss him. "Ditto."

I saw his gaze travel down my neck, onto the curve of my shoulders, where the blanket was tucked securely under my armpit. His mouth opened. "Wait," he said, his eyes wide. "That actually happened? I wasn't just dreaming?"

I rolled my eyes, letting a fond smile drift across my lips. "You're such a doof, Percy."

A light rosy blush filled his cheeks, and his ducked his head. "We- we actually had sex?" I blushed too, at the bluntness of his question, but also the happiness in his voice.

"Yes, I think so," I answered, my fingers tightening on his arm.

He looked up, his smile soft, and gave me a lingering kiss that melted my insides.

Percy broke away, but stayed close, so our noses brushed together. I let my body relax, and let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding in. When a quiet laugh left his mouth, I quirked a smile, knowing soon I'd be in a fit of giggles. Percy started to chuckle, and I could feel the bubbles rising in my chest, bursting out of my mouth. As we laughed, I took his face in my hands and press a kisses on his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks and his lips, over and over. "I love you. I love you," I murmured continuously.

He stopped laughing gradually, pressing his forehead against mine, giving me a light peck on the nose. "Why are you so beautiful?" he asked. I shrugged playfully, smiling widely. "I think it just kind of happens. My eyes are my best feature, I'd say."

Percy nudged my nose with his own. "You're modest, too," he teased. He stared into my eyes. I took moments like this to try and pinpoint the colour of his alluring irises. They were a swirl of blue, green and something else. Gold, I thought. Like sunlight hitting the sea.

I bit my lip, my insides fluttering. How did this happen? I remembered making supper; spaghetti bolognese. Percy had been in the bathroom, and I'd called him out. He'd stood in the hallway, tall and attractive as ever. And then- everything just spiralled. And here we were.

"So," I sighed, nuzzling my head into my pillow, "are we good?"

Percy grinned, his fingertips whispering up my arm and across my collar bone. "We are most definitely good."

"Did I ever tell you that we have a swimming pool?" Percy asked, his hand entwined with mine as we walked down the stairs. I twisted around so that he was looking down at me, and I raised my face to stare into his eyes.

"Nope, you haven't," I told him, bouncing on the balls of my feet, unable to shake the butterflies that knocked around in my stomach every time Percy looked at me.

"Well, we do," he murmured, a playful smile on his face as he leaned down, catching my face in his hands. I stood on my tiptoes and out lips connected, eliciting a quiet moan from us both. I stumbled slightly on the stair, my foot slipping off and Percy pulled back, grinning. "Careful, there," he whispered, steadying me with his hands on my shoulders. "Wouldn't want you getting hurt."

I bit my lip, fluttering my eyelashes. "Maybe you'll have to carry me to the pool so that I don't injure myself," I said, putting on my best flirty voice.

Percy eyelids drooped slightly, and in a low voice that put my stomach in a knot he replied, "Oh, that's a great idea." Quick as a flash, I was scooped up, his left arm around my knees, his right supporting my back. I laid my head on his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, continuing down the stairwell.

There we are, my beauties! Hope you enjoyed, and there's a whole load more Percabeth where that came from. I have the next chapter planned out, and it is fluffiness city! Love you all, and thank you so much for your continued support,

~FanaticPJ2003. ;)