Even if it's just a cold
COLD!
She could feel the coldness all around her. Nothing was warm.
Normally Annabeth loved winter. She loved the wind, the rain falling down and most of all the snow. It was so fluffy and so special. It was one of the few things that could make her cheerful and childlike.
Having grown up in San Francisco she hadn't really felt the cold. She hadn't felt the real winter. And coming to New York experiencing it for the first time made her absolutely love it. And when she felt the snow in her fingers, when she made a long walk admiring the town covered in snow, she decided that winter was all she could ask for.
But not today.
Today she wanted to feel the sun burning her body. She wanted to get into a warm piscine and literally boil inside. Okay not boil but you get the point.
But she had tried everything. She had tried wearing lots of clothes, 5 layers of thin and thick t-shirts and sweaters (Percy's sweaters). She had also wrapped herself in two blue blankets but she could still feel the cold in her bones. Then she thought that starting a fire in the fireplace would be the solution to her problem.
Spoiler Alert: It wasn't.
She tried to make a fire but it was too small and she had too little energy to try harder. Then she decided to turn the heating on.
She could feel the warmth in her fingers but her body kept shivering. She didn't know what else to do. She had tried everything. It was like her skin was covered with thick ice and nothing could pass through it.
Perhaps she should move her body in order to make it warm. Should she go for a run or maybe start walking madly in the living room?
Looking outside from her window she immediately cross out the option of the run. It was so dark that she wouldn't even be able to see her nose. Plus it seemed extremely cold. And right now feeling even colder was not an option for her. What could she do inside the house?
So she started walking inside the whole house. And thinking.
Maybe I should make a tea or a hot chocolate to warm up? She questioned herself still wrapped in blankets.
Okay the drink is my last try. After that I am just going to lie in bed with all the blankets around me she ended her thoughts too exhausted to even consider finding another way to warm her body.
At first tea seemed to work. And Annabeth couldn't help the small smile appearing in her lips when she felt the warmth in her body. But not for too long. After less than five minutes the tea was undrinkable and her body was as cold as ice.
Strangely, Annabeth decide to admit defeat and head for the bed. Maybe trying to sleeping.
Half an hour later, lying in her bed, unable to sleep and still cold, she ended up that today was not the day for her to make plans. Nothing worked. Not a single one of her plans to either warm up or fall asleep.
While she was counting sheep for the seventh time (she has ADHD, she can't focus. Don't blame her) she heard keys in the door lock.
Finally her mind almost screamed.
Percy is home she thought and a little smile made its way on her face.
She could hear him searching for her but she had no energy to shout at him.
"Annabeth?" he asked loudly, the worry evident in his voice.
"Here" she answered as loud as she could.
Percy entered the room still in his coat and boots, his eyes scanning every each of it, his worried expression still on his face. When he saw the blankets in their bed he assumed that Annabeth would be underneath. What he didn't assume was the she would be in such a big mess. Her eyes were red and hardly open, her face was pale and she was shivering,
"Wise Girl"
"What's wrong?" he whispered while brushing her hair.
"Cold" she whispered back moving herself near him to feel him closer.
He quickly took off his coat and boats and took her in his embrace. He could feel her face burning under his touch and her cold hands touching his warm ones.
"Oh my gods, you are burning" he said to her.
"Oh don't worry I am just cold" she whispered back feeling better with Percy by her side. Percy didn't seem to believe her. The look on his face clearly showed that he hadn't calmed down at all.
"Has anyone told you that you are cute when you're worried?" she asked him innocently yet knowingly giving him a small smile.
Percy couldn't resist but smile back at his beautiful girlfriend.
After few minutes of relaxation, Percy knew that he should take Annabeth's temperature and make sure that she gets better. Okay first things first.
"Annabeth" he whispered in fear of waking her up.
"Wise Girl" he whispered again a little louder.
"Hmm" was Annabeth's answer.
Percy didn't want anything more than letting her fall asleep there and take the rest that she needs. But he knew he couldn't do it, at least not until she takes her medicine.
"We have to take your temperature, sweetheart" he told her getting up from the bed.
He headed to the kitchen to take the thermometer and within seconds he was back at her side, handing it to her.
"I am cold" Annabeth said once again unable to keep it inside of her.
"I know" he said wrapping his arm around her small waist.
"How long have you been feeling like that?" he asked her.
"From work but when I got back it got worse." She complained like a little child.
Percy couldn't help laughing at her small pout at the end.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked him somewhat confused but also pulling him closer to her. (What? He was WARM)
"Nothing" he replied smiling.
"You know you are really cute when you are sick" he told her with eyes shining from love.
"I am not sick" she told him stubbornly.
"Oh I think you are"
"Am not" she denied once again.
"Then, let's see" He said taking the thermometer from her.
"39.2°C"
"Not sick at all" he murmured under his breath.
"What?" she asked half asleep.
"Let's give you your medicine" he told her lovingly.
"Yes, doctor" she whispered with a grin in her face.
Percy gave her a small smile before going to the kitchen to bring the medicine. Thankfully, Sally had given them some in case one of them gets sick. Gods bless Mama Sally!
Thanks to her, Percy knew what to do. Or at least some of the things he needed to do.
Annabeth drank the medicine, which was disgusting as Percy understood from her facial expressions, and then changed her clothes into a pair of pajamas. Percy changed his work clothes too and brought a tub filled with cool water in the room just in case Annabeth needed it. He also brought some cough drops, a bottle of water and few biscuits to help Annabeth drink her medicine in seven hours. After making sure that they had what was necessary, he lied down next to her.
She curled into his embrace, placing her face into his chest. He wrapped her with his right hand, holding her close to him. He could feel her having difficulties to adjust and he knew that as much as she didn't want to admit it, she was in pain. When she finally made herself comfortable, he brushed her hair off her face feeling her smiling at his small gesture. After a few minutes he heard her breathing calming down and he knew that she had fallen asleep.
But not for long. After less than two hours she was awake, having a huge headache hurting every inch of her brain. She tried to make herself sleepy but the pain must have taken away all her strength. She was feeling somewhat warmer because of Percy but she knew that her sickness had taken control over her.
She didn't want to wake Percy. He had been working really hard and he needed his sleep. All he did today was taking care of her. She decided to stand up, as much as she didn't want to, to clean her face and brush her teeth. Perhaps the water would make her feel better. She stood up as quietly as she could and headed to the bathroom.
Her head was now killing her and she was unable to think anything else. Her stomach was also in pain, contracting violently and forcing everything up and down. Before she couldn't even understand it she was on her knees, sweat dripping down her face. She tried to stop it but her stomach couldn't take it. She moved near the toilet sit feeling worse and worse as time passed.
She wanted to cry from the exhaustion but she refused to do so. It was just a cold, she could handle it.
That was when a knock was heard on her door.
"Wise Girl" Percy's voice said while Percy put his whole weight to the door.
"Are you okay?" he said, once again worried about her.
"Yeah, I am fine" she answered clearly not fine.
"Can I come in?" he asked sweetly but demandingly, refusing to take no for an answer.
Annabeth wanted to say no….. And she wanted to say yes.
She wanted for him to relax and sleep like a normal person, not stay up all night because of her. Plus, let's not forget that he could get sick too. But she would love having him close to her, holding her hand and filling her with warmth.
"You know, I am not leaving until you open the door, right?"
Annabeth, knowing Percy, knew that he meant what he said. He was willing to stay all night outside that door to make sure that she is okay. Without answering his previous questions, she unlocked the door and let him in.
Percy sat behind her on the floor, making her a ponytail and hanging her close to him.
"It's okay"
"I know" she answered
"No, I mean" Percy made a pause and Annabeth turned around to face him, his sea green eyes sparkling, trying to give her a message.
"It's okay not to be okay for a while"
"Oh" was Annabeth's reply clearly surprised by his sudden comment.
A comfortable silence followed and Annabeth buried herself deeper into Percy's embrace.
"Thank you" she whispered after a few minutes looking into his unique eyes.
Percy kissed her cheek lovingly.
"Now, let's get you to bed" he told her, helping her to stand up.
Before Annabeth could realize what happened, she was in the air. Percy had grabbed her and carried her gently to their bedroom.
"Put me down or…" she told him trying to manage a death glare. Percy had to admit that her glare was pretty scary considering that she was sick but he wasn't willing to let her down.
"Just enjoy the privileges"
"Of what?" she asked him sarcastically
"Having me as a boyfriend, Wise Girl" he answered, as thought it was obvious.
They were now in their bed and Annabeth was taking a different medicine to stop that awful headache. She had difficulties swallowing but two biscuits seemed to help her.
"Now, time to sleep" Percy said, with a big smile on his face
"Hmmm" was all that was heard from Annabeth's side, before she took Percy close to her, hugging him like a pillow.
"Next time wake me up, okay?" he said quietly knowing that she could hear him.
She nodded her head while looking deep into his eyes.
"Okay, Seaweed Brain"
"Thanks" she said before giving him a peck on the lips and falling asleep into his chest.
The next morning, Annabeth was feeling better. Being around Percy had that effect on her, as cliché as this could be heard. She was still warm and sweating but they were handling it.
After taking her temperature (38°C) Percy suggested Annabeth that she should take a bath so as to help her with her fever. He filled their bath with warm water and Annabeth took a long shower. Then she wore another pair of pajamas, one of Percy's sweater and a pair of pants, and laid down on their bed. Thankfully, it was Saturday so Percy was able to stay with her all day.
Annabeth was better because of the bath so they decided to play a board game to pass their time. After a lot of debating Annabeth managed to convince Percy, promising him lots of kisses, to play Monopoly. (Not the first time)
Annabeth was not as competitive as usual but she still was aiming for the win. Her big smile on her face and her shining eyes were everything Percy needed. Seeing her better made him want to play Monopoly for the whole day.
But they soon got bored, so they decided to watch a movie. And now it was Percy's turn to persuade Annabeth to watch Finding Nemo for the hundredth time. Percy Jackson had a talent in persuading his girlfriend.
As it got darker Annabeth's fever got higher but Percy was there to give her, her medicine and tuck her in their bed. She had also had another bath to help her feel better through the night. Annabeth despite her sickness couldn't help appreciating the care Percy showed towards her.
Luckily, that night was easier. Annabeth (and Percy) was calmer and more relaxed. Of course she woke up multiple time to take her medicine or drink another glass water, and even throw up once.
Both of them stayed at bed all the next day, playing silly games and watching boring movies. Annabeth was getting better thanks to Percy, while she was spending a surprisingly nice weekend.
When Monday came, Annabeth had no fever. She had a running nose but that was all she had. Percy tried to get her not to go to work but he failed miserably. She promised him though that she would return earlier than usual and they could have lunch on her break.
On Sunday night, they were both sitting at their bed with blankets wrapped around themselves and two bowls of hot soup in front of them.
"I can't believe you cooked" Annabeth said impressed by Percy.
"You know that I cook" Percy told her defensively, while having a big proud smile on his face.
"You do cook but not simple things. You usual go for the special ones or extremely hard to ruin our kitchen" she said back laughing.
"Yeah but now, we don't need special meals we need soup to be better" he explained to her like she was a fifth year old and not a young woman.
Annabeth really loved him when he was talking about her or him and he was using 'we'. It was like they were actually one person who had the same needs.
In her head, it does sound less creepy than this.
"What?" Percy asked her when she didn't answer to him.
"I think that we should go and wash the dishes" she told him as they had now finished their soups.
"And by 'we' I mean you" she said laughing.
"Oh no miss, we are going to wash the dishes"
"But I am sick" she complained too bored to even consider getting up from the bed.
"A sick woman can't got to work"
"Not this sick woman"
"The boyfriend of the sick woman would never let her go to work"
Annabeth thought about it and not wanting to risk it quickly said "This healthy woman can surely washes the dishes"
"I am sure" Percy said.
When Annabeth made her way to the kitchen, Percy followed her closely.
"What?" Annabeth now asked him as she was putting the plates into the dish washer.
"Nothing, I just don't want to stay and wait for you in our bedroom. I am bored."
Annabeth shot him a look.
"I am ADHD" he justified.
"So am I" she told him laughing at his facial expression.
"You control it. I am not" Percy said having so much energy that he could run a marathon right that moment, of course only if Annabeth could join him, which she couldn't. So it was not really an option.
When the couple laid down on their bed, the time was really late. They turned all the lights off and wished each other good night. Percy wrapped Annabeth into his embrace while placed her head in his chest and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you" she whispered to him.
"For what?" he asked honestly confused.
Only Percy could not know why someone is thanking him. He has been helping her for the whole weekend being literally her babysitter and now he asks her why she thanks him. This man is truly unbelievable.
"I am a healthy woman thanks to you" she explained to him smiling.
"That is not true" he said.
"It is" Annabeth argued.
"It's because of the medicine Annabeth" Percy said with a childlike voice wanting to prove her his points.
"But you got me the medicine. You made me feel better. Even though I was disgusting"
"You weren't" Percy interrupted her.
"You stood by my side the whole time" she continued.
"So it really is because of you"
"Oh Annabeth when are you gonna realize it?"
"Realize what?" she asked confused.
"I will be with you forever. I will fight by your side at every war, I will be here anytime. Even if it is just a simple cold" he said to her touching her cheek and giving her a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you for always being here. Even when anyone else would."
"I am never letting you go"
"Neither am I"
"I Love you" she whispered to him.
"I love you too, Annabeth"
Annabeth was looking at him with so much love. He was the man for her
For simple or worse
Even if it is just a cold
Author's note
Just a fluffy cute Percabeth oneshot. I hope you like it.
I literally love that ship. I adore them from the bottom of my heart. & I will surely write more fanfictions about them. 3
Please write a REVIEW or give it a favourite or follow if this story puts a smile on your face!
Thank you all !
P.S. : Just wanted to mention that I don't own the photo. It's a great photo that I found on Pinterest.