Soldier Chapter 35
Percy had just got out of Annabeth's shower when he got a text from Bobby saying they were on their way to the apartment. Knowing how much Annabeth liked him in his dress uniform Percy decided to put it on for the last time and propose to her in it. After receiving another text saying they were coming up the stairs Percy quickly grabbed the ring off the dresser and waited for Annabeth and the twins to enter the apartment around the corner in the hallway. What Annabeth didn't know was that her dad got a new job offer at NYU and that he and Susan had moved here last week. Bobby and Matthew stayed in San Francisco to finish school and make sure everything with the house went okay. So Bobby and Matthew weren't staying with her over spring break they would be going home once Annabeth saw Percy in her apartment.
Leaning against the wall Percy could hear Annabeth, and the boys outside.
"We just ate dinner, how could you be hungry?" Annabeth asked opening the door and stepping into her apartment.
"I'm a teenage boy, I have a fast metabolism" Matthew said shrugging.
"This is an awesome place, a little girly but awesome. Where'd these flowers come from?" Bobby asked looking at the bouquet of red roses on the table next to the door.
"What?" Annabeth asked turning around to look at the flowers, but what she missed was Bobby and Matthew smirking and winking at Percy who quietly walked out from around the corner. "There's a note" Annabeth said not turning around.
"Well read it" Bobby said smiling.
Pulling the card out of the envelope it said 'Turn around' frowning Annabeth spoke "All it says is to turn around".
"Then turn around" Percy said from behind her.
Eyes widening Annabeth turned around to see Percy standing there in his dress uniform smiling at her. Bobby and Matthew quietly backed out of the apartment closing the door, Annabeth didn't even notice.
"Percy" she breathed out still shocked to see him.
Percy's smile got even larger as he stepped towards her stopping right in front of her before bending down on one knee, causing Annabeth to suck in a breath and her eyes' to get even wider.
"I have officially retired from the army; I no longer have to leave my family or the love of my life. I love you Annabeth, and I can't imagine what my life would be like if you weren't in it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I hope you feel the same way. Annabeth Chase will you marry me?"
"Percy" Annabeth breathed out falling to her knees in front of him and throwing her arms around his neck "Oh my god Percy" she cried into his shoulder.
Percy wrapped his arms around her hugging her tightly to his body "I'm here, I'm safe, and I'm here for good, I love you so much" he whispered to her over and over.
After a couple of minutes Annabeth pulled back enough to look him in the eye "Yes, yes I'll marry you" she said finally answering him.
Percy laughed "I thought you'd never answer me" he said pulling the ring out of the box and slipping it onto her finger.
"Percy it's gorgeous" Annabeth said looking from the ring to Percy "I love you so much" she said before finally pressing her lips to his.
Later that evening Annabeth and Percy lay on her bed with her head on his chest listening to his strong heartbeat. Percy had told her about the Humvee accident which irritated her that she wasn't told about it but she understood why. He had also told her about his new job with his dad and how her family had moved to New York.
"I still can't believe your back" Annabeth said as they lay together.
Percy smiled "I know it all happened very fast but I'm glad to finally be back with you".
"So am I Perce. How did you get in my apartment?" Annabeth asked moving so she could look at him.
"Thalia left her old key for me with my dad, he gave it to me when he picked me up" Percy said.
"Thalia new, who else knew?" Annabeth asked demandingly.
"My dad, Paul, my mom, Thalia, Luke, Nico, and of course your family, the only people who didn't know where you and Gracie" Percy said.
"When are you going to tell Gracie?" Annabeth asked.
"Tomorrow is her birthday; my parents are throwing her a party at some kiddie restaurant. When she blows her candles out I'm going to surprise her" Percy said smiling.
"She's going to freak out when she sees you" Annabeth said laughing.
"I know but I'm excited. Tell me about everything that's happened" Percy said.
"Not much changed, Luke and Thalia are finishing up their wedding plans. She's on talking terms with her dad, Piper is designing her wedding dress and she's getting on better terms with Jason slowly. Luke graduated the police academy and has started working, he loves it. Nico and Katie are doing well, but Nico was pretty down in the dumps for a couple weeks after you left. But I kept my promise to you and helped Katie get him back to normal. Other than that nothing has really changed much" Annabeth said sitting up "I'm getting hungry, you wanna call something in?"
"Sure I could really go for some Chinese food" Percy said watching her as she wrapped the sheet around her body to search for some clothing.
"Okay let me put some clothes on and then I'll call them" Annabeth said as she put on a pair of shorts and a shirt.
"Can we have Luke, Thalia, Nico and Katie come over as well?" Percy asked.
"Of course, but they have to leave tonight. Because were still celebrating our engagement" Annabeth said smiling.
Percy laughed "I agree completely wise girl. You call everyone and I'll call the Chinese place okay?"
Annabeth pecked his lips "Sounds good Perce".
Percy had just stepped into the front room when the front door burst open and Thalia and Nico burst through.
"Hey Kelp Head" Thalia said smiling at him.
Percy smiled opening his arms to hug Thalia "Hey pinecone face". Thalia laughed shaking her head before stepping into Percy's arms and hugging him.
"Missed you Perce" she said quietly.
"I missed you to Thals" Percy said before releasing her.
Percy looked at Nico who was standing by the door trying to act like he didn't care. "Hey Nico, how you been?"
Nico shrugged "Not too bad, what about you Perce?"
"Jesus Christ Nico, just man up and hug him already" Katie said pushing her boyfriend towards his cousin and best friend.
Percy laughed pulling him into a hug which Nico easily responded to. "I missed you Nico".
"I missed you to Percy" Nico said smiling.
Katie rolled her eyes "Thinks he's so much stronger than me, but the instant he sees his cousin he turns into a baby".
Thalia laughed "I love you more and more every time I see you" she said clapping her on the back. Making Katie stumble forward and wince in pain.
Once Percy and Nico pulled away Percy gave Luke the weird manly hug that guys do.
"Where's Annie?" Thalia asked flopping down on the couch.
"She's in the shower I'll see if she's ready" Percy said going down the hall.
"Hey babe everyone's here you're missing all the heart touching reunions" Percy said leaning against the bathroom door frame as Annabeth slipped on a pair of pants.
"Yeah I'll be right there Perce" Annabeth said turning around to smile at him.
"Okay just hurry up please Thalia's getting twitchy" Percy said before pecking her lips.
Annabeth laughed "Just don't let her break anything".
"I heard that Annie, I'm not going to break anything if you stop making out with my cousin and hurry up and get dressed" Thalia said from her spot on Annabeth's bed.
"Should I find this creepy that you're sitting in my fiancé's bedroom as she gets dressed?" Percy asked.
"Trust me kelp head this is nothing" Thalia said before her eyes widened "Did you just say fiancé?"
Annabeth smiled stepping out of the bathroom to Percy's relief with a shirt on "Yes he did, he proposed to me a couple of hours ago and I said yes".
"Oh my god" Thalia said standing up and pulling Annabeth into a hug "Were going to be family now".
Annabeth laughed "Yes we are, come on let's go tell everyone else".
"Way to man up Kelp Head" Thalia said clapping him on the back.
When they went back into the front room the Chinese food had already arrived and everyone was helping set it out in the kitchen. "Hey everyone listen up these two knuckle heads have some news" Thalia called.
Percy laughed "Were engaged".
"Do I have to threaten you again Jackson?" Luke said trying to be threatening but failed horribly because of the smile on his face "Congrats you two" he said hugging Annabeth and kissing her cheek.
After everyone congratulated them they all sat down around the TV and talked about Percy being overseas and how they planned telling their parents. Percy sat with his arm around Annabeth as he looked around the room filled with his friends and family the people he would always love and cherish especially the beautiful blonde women sitting next to him.