Hello! So today is the day. Well not the exact end, but this is the last chapter before the epilogue. Now, this chapter will show the ending of their story as of today. But the epilogue will show them in a few years times. So enjoy your happy ever after!

Enjoy!

"You okay?" I heard Thalia's voice from behind the door. Her voice brought me out of the trance my mind held me in.

I had been staring at myself in the mirror for over five minutes.

And not in the conceited way either.

Thalia had been helping me pick out a costume for the past hour. We had gone to the costume shop for a-day-before hunt for costumes.

Thalia found her costumes instantly, a purgatory angel. And while she went for something scary I wanted something a bit more casual. Something that meant something.

And the costumes we had been finding weren't really what I was looking for.

But hidden between a slutty nurse and an Angel of Death costume was the one that I had been searching for.

I took the costume and quickly went to the changing room. Thalia had seen me and followed along.

She stayed in the hallway while I changed into the costume in front of the wall mirror.

You know how in the movies when a character is searching for a wedding dress and it shows them in the changing room putting on dress after dress until finally they put on the one.

Well, I may be a drama queen but I had just found the one.

I cleared my throat and responded, "yeah sorry. I'm coming out now."

I quickly took off the costume, putting it back into the bag with care, put on my clothes and headed out of the changing room.

She gave me a smile, "found what you want?"

I returned the smile and said, "yeah."

The costume was a stupid idea. I don't know why I chose something sentimental when all it would do was make me sad. All it was making me do was feel like shit.

The choice seemed like such a good one at the time. But maybe in the changing room I was going on impulse instead of thinking about what the costume meant.

It was a Yankee's woman uniform. It came with striped tight fitted pants, and a navy blue shirt with the Yankee logo over my right breast.

The uniform wasn't the problem. The hat was.

Months before my mother left my family she had given me a Yankee's hat. I had kept it all these years and had even worn it on several occasions. It was dirty, and ripped in some places but it was the one thing that meant something to me.

And here I was thinking I could wear it to a dance only months after her death.

I think that makes me selfish. Or stupid.

No, it makes me both.

I stood in front of my stand up mirror, the hat scrunched up in my hand. I hadn't putten it on yet. I imagined what it would feel like to put it on.

The feeling of all the air escaping my lungs, leaving me hollow. Gravity pushing down on top of me.

But it wasn't like that. Slowly I had unraveled the hat and placed it on my head. Tucking my hair in the ponytail through the hole in the back. It was a little snug on my scalp. But the air stayed in my lungs and gravity stayed in placed. It felt blissful.

I gave my reflection a half smile

I thought back to the day my mother had given me the hat, it was the same day she left. She had said that it had been hers when she was a teenager and that she thought i should have it.

I imagined my mom wearing the hat. My dad always said I looked like her, so did she look how I looked now? Curly blond hair, rosy cheeks and the same glint in my grey eyes.

I hoped so.

I hoped she could look down and be proud of me. I hope she is right now.

The party started in five minutes and Percy still hadn't shown up to my house. I was getting antsy, as I sat at the counter, my feet tapping quickly on the tiled floor.

My fingers strummed a beat onto the tabletop as I watched the digital clock on the stove.

7:56

I had exactly four minutes to get to the front door of Thalia's house or she will have my head on a plate for the guest to eat.

I had subdued to counting the seconds go by until the doorbell ringing made me jump up and run to the door.

As I opened it I saw percy standing there, a trident in his hand, a scaly latex orange top, tight fitted green pants that matched his shoes, gloves and eyes.

I scrunched up my face and looked him up and down.

Once I brought my eyes up from his costume I met his eyes which had the same glint of mischief in them as the first time I met him.

"What do you think?" he asked, gesturing towards his outfit.

"Methinks you are insane." I said pushing past him to get to my truck.

He followed quickly, taking long strides to keep up with my fast pace.

Once I got into the driver seat and him successfully into the passenger I started the car up and sped out the driveway and down the road.

Percy was squished against his trident until he threw it into the back seat.

He stared at me for a while once he turned back, I quickly glanced to my right before bringing my eyes back to the road and asked, "what?"

He smiled and shook his head, "Nothing, my little baseball player."

I rolled my eyes, "yeah okay, fish."

He gasped and brought a hand to his chest, "how dare you, I am clearly Aquaman."

I laughed, "yeah I see that," I pointed to the back, "lovely trident."

He laughed, "oh no Annie the real trident is somewhere more south." he pointed to his crotch and wiggled his eyebrows at me.

Keeping one hand on the wheel I used the other to hit him in the arm, "Percy! You are disgusting."

He pressed his back against the window in an attempt to dodge my hits and laughed, "you make it too easy!"

Thalias house finally came into view as we neared the string of cars parked alongside the sidewalk.

I successfully parallel parked between a black van and convertible before Percy and I got out of the car and started towards the house, trident and all.

"8:07! You are seven minutes late!" Spit hit my face as Thalia greeted me at the door.

"Always a pleasure, best friend." I said in a dry voice as I wiped at my cheek with the back of my hand.

"Annie, do you think Thalia would let me keep my trident in her room?" Percy voiced came from behind me as he stepped up the stairs and into the house.

Once Thalia saw Percy her face twisted into one of horror, "What the fuck is that?" She asked, pointing at his torso.

Percy ran a hand through his hair, "It's Aquaman. This is not the reaction I thought the costume would make." He said.

Thalia shook her head, threw her hands up into the air, turned on her heel and yelled to the sky, "four year olds! I am friends with four year olds!" Before walking away.

Percy turned to me, "she was a Jedi. You saw that too right?"

I nodded my head, "Yup"

"And yet I'm the four year old." He laughed.

I laughed and shook my head, "she's just stressed she'll be fine once the tequila comes out."

"It isn't a party till the teens get shit-faced."

We moved through the entryway and headed towards her living room.

Percy's trident hit the doorframe as we entered through the entryway causing him to swear under his breath, "I can't carry this around the whole night." He looked around then grabbed my hand with his free hand and asked, "where's Thalia's room? I can't do this all night."

I laughed and started pulling him across the living room, bumping into people as they danced. Once we got through the sea of people we ended up in the hallway to Thalia and Jason's room.

I guided Percy to Thalia's room, turned on the light and shut the door behind us.

"I won't forget you buddy." He whispered to his trident before placing a kiss on it and leaning it against the wall.

I laughed, "You're unbelievable." I sat down on the edge of Thalia's bed.

I remembered all the times Thalia and I had pulled all-nighters at our infamous sleepovers right in this very room. Her room hadn't changed much, besides the deep dark purple wallpaper and posters.

Percy cracked a smile and walked up to me, wrapping his hands around my waist.

"Yeah but it got you too laugh so who cares."

I gave him a slight smile and locked my hands behind his back.

"Yeah, I don't do that as much as I should."

He held each side of my face and slowly brought his down to mine. His lips brushed mine slowly until his mouth opened and his teeth grazed my bottom lip causing me to deepen the kiss and allow him to engulf me in his heat and love.

When we finally separated for air he spoke, "I miss your laugh." He pecked my lips, "so if I have to make myself look stupid it's a small price to see you be happy again."

I moved my hands from his back to his cheeks. I slowly caressed his jaw with my thumb.

"You make me happy." I said.

With our eyes locked, arms engulfing each other, and the faint sound of music beyond the walls I knew that you would never be able to love someone as much as I loved him.

It's said that the pupils dilate when looking at someone or something you love. Well then our eyes must have been the size of saucers.

Then, as if he was reading my brain, he said, "I love you."

I had never heard someone sound so sure as he did then.

I've never been known to have a way with words like the famous poets do. So instead of using my lips to speak words of love and lust I used my lips for other things.

I dug my hands into Percy's hair and lightly tugged. I felt him smile against my lips as he moved his hands from my waist to the bed. I slowly pulled him down on top of me. My back hit the bed and his lips went to my neck, slowly grazing it with his teeth and tongue. A slight moan escaped my mouth which made a low chuckle escape Percy's mouth. His breath hit my neck making a chill to go down my spine.

"You think Thalia cares that we're in here doing this?" Percy mumbled into my neck.

"What she doesnt know wont kill her." I declared as Percy's hands went to my waist, slightly pushing the material up, showing part of my stomach.

"And when she finds out she'll kill you." A voice coming from the hallway broke up apart. Percy landed on the floor while I stayed frozen on the bed.

Thalia walzed into the room, he jedi helmet off, hanging from a chain connected to her belt. She grabbed Percy by the hair and yanked him up. He let out a yelp which made Thalia and I laugh. She pushed him towards the door and beckoned me with her finger.

"You too goldie locks. I can't have you too prepubescent kids fucking like animals in heat." She talked with a stern voice which let me know Thalia meant business.

We both stood in the hallway, out faces red and our eyes wide.

Thalia let out a laugh, "You guys look like you just seen a ghost." She clapped her hands together, "well, I have a party to host." She pushed her way out of the room and down the hallway leaving us very confused and very horny.

Heat.

It swallows you up. Until that is the only thing you can feel. Heat to your left, your right. Everywhere.

I was being engulfed by the heat of Percy's flames. Flying around me like an angel with heavenly fire.

He held me, his chin slack on my shoulder and his arms wrapped tightly around me.

I could feel his heart pounding against his chest right into my ear and I laid my head against him.

We slowly swayed to the music that filled the air. Leo was deejaying the party which meant Percy's song request were fulfilled hastily.

Several other couples danced around us. Pairs of people with their own stories, their own love. Their own shared heat.

And Percy and I were part of them.

Percy mumbled along to the song in my ear as I shut my eyes and listened to the beat of his heart match mine.

"Annabeth…" I heard him mumble it softly into my ear.

My eyes met his. Green smashing into grey like the sea in the eye of the storm.

"Yes…" I said dragging out the word.

"I promise to love you until my heart takes it last strained beat." He rested his forehead on mine and continued, "and I promise, that beat will be for your heart."

I felt a sting in the back of my eye and soon realized that tears had begun to run down my cheeks.

Percy gave me a lopsided smile and kissed my tear stained cheeks.

"And I promise I will know love only when its being in love with you." His eyes shone like a flames from a fire, "because I am and always will be, in love you." His voice felt strained, like he had been dying to let the words escape.

I smiled and more tears came. He brushed them away and slowly let his lips come down to mine. They were soft and familiar.

When we separated I knew I had to show him how much I truly did love him.

So I ripped out my heart, leaving it bare for him to see and let the words flood out of my mouth.

"I always thought I was smart. Always thought I would have a solution for any problem. And when I first met you God knows I knew you were gonna be the biggest problem I would have to face." He smiled and brought me closer, resting his chin on top of my head. I wrapped my arms around him and continued.

"Loving you seemed like a problem. At first it was. But I have now decided that not every problem needs to be fixed. You are impulsive and brave and sweet and absolutely everything I could ever want. And I love you. Completely and entirely love you." My face felt sticky from the tears and my legs felt weak but, my heart felt alive and safe in his hands.

"One day Annabeth I will take you away from everything that can hurt you and shield you. Then, I'll put a ring on your finger and babies in your stomach." He looked down at me."But most importantly, I'll give happiness and so much love."

I smiled and wrapped my hands around his neck, "and I'll gladly give you the same."

We talked more of love and happiness. Love and happiness we will give each other. We held each other with care and urgency.

Until finally, the night came to an end and Percy engulfed me in his flames once more, in his bed with his hands exploring my body as if an island filled with treasure for only the bravest.

Our heat engulfing us with its flames until we laid in bed, breathless ashes crumbling into each other.

And we spoke words of love the whole time.

I just want to give a thanks to those who read, and took the time to review and follow and favorite. And even those you just took a glance. Thank youI cry as I try to find words to stumble over onto a keyboard. But there really are no words to explain my gratitude to you guys.

Percy and Annabeths story as teenagers is over. They are happy and in love. I will be posting the epilogue in a few weeks time but you do not have to read it. If you are happy with this ending then you keep this ending. The epilogue will show them in a few years time. It under no circumstances has to be the future you see for them. I believe that the author will put the characters on the page and once they finish it is the readers turn to continue the story if they wish to. The epilogue will show a happy ending as I believe these characters deserve one the most. I spent two years of my life writing this and although I hate the first 20 chapters this story holds a big place in my heart. I will not be doing a sequel. A rewrite could be something I choose to do in the future but ti will not be until the all the stories I have in mind our completed.

This story will be completed when I upload the epilogue but this is the first fan-fictions I have completed and it will be the first of many, I promise.

Thank you, for everything.

I hope you laughed, cried and loved with these characters as I did.

XOXO

Your friend, Bella.