A/N: I'm just here to remind you that this fic is not dead. Time goes by fast but my depressed ass sure doesn't write fast. Warnings for implied sexual content.

THE REST OF OUR LIVES

Chapter 7

Annabeth wanted to curse at Apollo for the ray of sunshine that was glowing right at her eye. She grumbled and tried to hide her face in her pillow. From the other side of the bed, a second sound indicating an irritated Percy came right after it. It was seemingly at the sudden reaction coming from Annabeth, but she wanted to think of it as an affirmation of her struggle with the sun.

She rubbed her mattery eyes and slowly opened them up to gaze at the still asleep Percy. She thought to herself, 'If his hair is a mess like this, then I don't want to know the current state of mine.' Stretching out to wake her whole body up, she yawned softly so as to not wake her fiancée up just yet. She wanted to gaze at him a little before their day begins; examine his all too familiar face, now lightly covered with dark stubble. And maybe she could make him cuddle her again just for a few minutes more in the bed.

She moved closer to his naked torso, gently tracing his shoulder blades, and shamelessly admiring his back muscles while he was lying on his stomach.

Yes, having a son of Poseidon as your boyfriend was wonderful indeed. No longer the scrawny teenager when they first started dating, Percy arguably had the best shoulders according to Annabeth's judgment. And she trusted her judgment. 'I love swimming,' she thought.

She placed the faintest kiss on his right shoulder and smiled to herself. If he is still asleep, then why not test out his reaction to… this?

"Hmm… What is this? What are you planning?" Percy mumbled, now awakened by the motion.

With an innocent tone, Annabeth answered, "You don't like it? I thought you would."

Percy complained, "Like it? You don't think this is torture?" Annabeth giggled near his ear while he kept on:

"I mean, what is even the point if I can feel 'em but can't touch 'em?"

Perfectly stuck on his back, Annabeth hugged him from above, leaving sweet and apologetic kisses on some particular spots. She said to him, "It seems I got you good last night. So, this is my apology. Sorry."

Percy slightly turned his head – and failed – to get a look at her face, saying, "What do you mean?"

"You don't remember?" Annabeth asked. Percy mumbled a sleepy "No," so she gently scratched his right arm in order to demonstrate.

"…Oh! Yeah, that was something," he paused for a quick chuckle, then said, "Is it bad?"

Looking at the red but slowly fainting scratch marks on his back, Annabeth sighed, "I'm afraid they spell out the words 'simp for Annabeth', so…"

"Lies!" Percy exclaimed. He threw her off his back to her side of the bed with Annabeth laughing at him. "Don't get upset, Seaweed Brain. I don't mind it at all!" she said. Percy laughed along with her, saying, "Yeah, well… It's not like I have a choice not to be. I mean, look at you."

While she was distracted and laughing at him, Percy managed to place himself between her legs, standing on his knees with his hands on her thighs. He wore that mischievous smirk of his; both of them took a quick moment to admire their view until Annabeth supported herself on her elbows and broke the silence:

"In normal circumstances, maybe I would indulge that look on your face; but we're both filthy." Percy pouted at that. "I'll hop in the shower first while you get rid of that morning breath of yours."

Percy checked his breath, "I don't have stinky breath… at least not that bad," he said.

Annabeth responded, "I'll put it in your words then: it's fishy."

"You break my heart, Wise Girl," he put a hand on his heart.

Just then, three knocks against the cabin door were heard and a voice calling:

"Annabeth? Are you guys in there?"

"Shit. Percy, get dressed. It's Piper," said Annabeth.

Percy didn't move at first. "We don't have to open the door. We'll just tell her we're not under favorable circumstances at the moment," he whispered.

"Percy! It's rude! Move, I have to find my clothes." Percy sighed defeatedly.

A few more knocks against the door. "Hello? You two didn't show up at breakfast, so Chiron and I got worried," said Piper.

Percy complained, "Damn! We missed breakfast? I'm hungry!"

"Percy, shut up and put some clothes on! I can't find mine, have you seen them?"

While the two were silently arguing, Piper pressed on, "Is everything okay? You know, after last night?"

"What?" Percy looked at Annabeth. "How does she know about last night?" Annabeth answered heatedly, "She saw me chasing after you; it's not important, just… Would you quit stalling?! Find my clothes, at least!"

"Fine! What's the big deal? They're probably around the bed; how can you not find them?" Percy asked.

"Don't patronize me!" said Annabeth, grabbing the covers on the bed until she finds her clothes. Meanwhile, Piper got impatient:

"Okay. Guys? Sorry, but I'm coming in."

Until Annabeth could call out, "Piper, no!" she opened the door to find Percy with just a pair of boxers on and in front of Annabeth so as to hide her still sheet-covered body.

"Oh! Okay! Umm… Guess you guys made up quickly after that fight, so…" But there was also the fact that Percy's back was facing Piper. "Oh my gods, Percy, what happened to your – you know what? No, I don't want to know the details."

Annabeth yelled out, "Piper, get in and close the door for crying out loud!"

"Okay, okay!" Piper closed the cabin's door and continued, "If I knew you guys were… like this, I wouldn't try to get in in the first place!"

"See? What did I tell you?" Percy said to Annabeth. He had moved to hug Annabeth's side meanwhile. Piper thought the scene before her looked a lot like post-make-up sex Mr. and Mrs. Smith, especially now with Percy scratching his head and giving that unabashed look exactly like in the movie… and that made her one of the nosy neighbors checking if everything is alright.

"Percy, I swear the gods… Give me some clothes from the bag. Anything!" He sighed and reached for their bag of clothes, then grabbed the first shirt he got his hands on and held it out to Annabeth: his large-sized Knicks t-shirt. He also found his blue jeans on the ground and quickly put them on.

"I'm turning around so you can get dressed," said Piper. The two agreed for her to do so. Later, they sat on the side of the bed that was towards her. Annabeth, finding the shirt's length insufficient, had quickly found a pair of pajama shorts in their bag of clothes to put on before she joined Percy. After she was facing them again, Piper quipped:

"So, I'm assuming this was probably what poor Frank had felt when he found you guys in the stables of Argo II years ago…"

"How many times am I supposed to clear this up? It wasn't like that!" Annabeth's outburst didn't stop Piper from snickering though."We're telling the truth; nothing happened that night. We were talking, got tired, then fell asleep there. Why on earth would we want to – ugh, I don't want to discuss this; this is stupid," Annabeth said, looking away from Piper with a scowl on her face.

"We made out a bit though," said Percy.

Annabeth shot him an incredulous look. "Was that supposed to help my argument? Some details are meant to be kept private – no offense Piper."

"I know, I know. None taken here."

As much as Annabeth loved Piper and trusted her as a dear friend, she was still a very private person at heart. They were already caught in a much more inappropriate manner than just two teenagers making out, so she didn't need any reminding of embarrassing past moments or any more details that should stay between just her and Percy. She reckoned Piper would eventually make at least one joke about her sharp nails though which will make her want to curl up and die.

"Anyways, I just wanted to come by and check if everything was okay since you didn't show up at breakfast… and now I know why," Piper said. She was trying and failing to hide a smirk. "If you guys are planning to get on the road right away, I'll see if I can find some food for you. I wouldn't want you to leave with empty stomachs."

"Wait, what time…" Annabeth started but Percy was too excited for the prospect of breakfast and spoke at the same time as her, "Yes! Please, that'd be awesome."

Annabeth shook her head side to side before continuing, "Pipes, what time is it exactly?"

"It should be past twelve o'clock by now," Piper answered.

"Oh, my gods… We slept like two logs into the afternoon," said Annabeth, taking her face in her hands. She heaved a sigh, then raised her head to say, "It's probably best if we start to get ready then. And Piper…" Annabeth looked at her with a vexed expression, "…We'll need a bit more food to use as a sacrifice as well if you can."

Piper nodded understandingly. Annabeth had told her about the agreement they had with Hera over last night's dinner. No doubt she was taking pity on her, Annabeth thought. Piper herself has never been a fan of the Queen of the Olympians.

"You got it," she moved towards the door of the cabin. "I'll leave you to it then. See you when I see you."

When Piper left the cabin, Annabeth muttered to herself, "That was mortifying."

Although Percy's appetite was more important to him at the moment. "I feel like eating a big sandwich with some orange juice on the side… I hope Piper finds something like that, I'm starving."

She just can't with him sometimes.

"Are you sure you didn't forget anything back in the cabin?"

"I'm pretty sure you reminded me of everything I needed to pack."

Hand in hand, they were walking towards the unlit campfire logs to meet with Piper and get the daily sacrifice out of the way when Annabeth looked at Percy with her body moving slightly away from him and her eyes warning him to be careful.

"I said that with a grateful tone," Percy explained himself. "It hurts my pride to admit it sometimes, but I know I turn into a mess if you're not there to remind me things." He pulled her closer by her hand and gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek. "Love you, babe."

Annabeth looked away smiling. "Nice save," she said and squeezed his hand intertwined with hers.

"Stop being all cute and mushy, it makes me want to have a relationship." Piper had arrived before them with a paper bag of food. "Hope you guys are okay with turkey sandwiches."

"How did you know?!" Percy ran to Piper, immediately leaving his fiancée at the prospect of the food he had been craving. "You are absolutely the best, Piper. Thank you!"

"My gods… Never thought I'd see the day when Percy Jackson tells me I'm the best," said Piper, surprised at Percy's reaction. She turned to Annabeth, saying, "Is he trying to get on your good side or something?"

"Trying to make sense out of Percy's actions while he is hungry is useless, honestly," Annabeth answered, walking towards them. "But he was hoping you'd bring us sandwiches."

Looking inside the paper bag, Percy saw two bottles and got more excited:

"Orange juice?!"

"Apple, I'm afraid," Piper answered. Percy pouted a little and said, "Man, you were so close to perfect."

Piper rolled her eyes at him and then asked the two of them, "Do you guys really need to hurry? We can sit around the fire and you'll eat your food properly. Not while driving, because that's dangerous, don't do that."

Annabeth said, "Well… Percy will probably inhale two of these in just a minute anyway, so why not?"

"You bet your sweet ass I will, Wise Girl," said Percy, already sitting down and tearing open one of the packages.

Annabeth gave him an 'I'm-done-with-you' look. "I swear, you get more shameless by the day."

They sat down and chatted away while Percy and Annabeth had their breakfast which actually turned into lunch. They were just about to build their small fire when a voice was heard behind them:

"Leo would take care of that in a second if he were here."

The three of them turned around to find Calypso approaching them with Chiron following her. "Hello, children," Chiron greeted them. "Percy. Annabeth. I hope you two have rested well. We missed you at breakfast."

Piper turned her head away to hide her smirk while Annabeth quickly tried to explain.

"We're so sorry, Chiron. We didn't mean to sleep so late. It's just that we've… had a very late night. Talking – and uh…"

"Celebrating," Percy completed her with a grin. Annabeth gave him a pleading look, but Percy just shrugged his shoulders. "It was your birthday! Felt more like it was mine, but – aghh…" Annabeth thought he definitely deserved that pinch on his back. "I promise I'll make it up to you," he muttered quickly.

Eager to change the topic, Annabeth said to Chiron:

"Thank you for the hospitality you've shown us, Chiron. But I'm afraid we'll be on our way once we burn our sacrifice."

"This is goodbye for us once again then," Chiron said. "Before you leave, may I suggest that three of you," he gestured to them and Calypso, "talk your differences over? I would hate to see you leave things sour with each other."

"Chiron…" Annabeth wanted to reject his offer, but Chiron already started to turn around. "I'll give you a moment," he said.

"I can leave too if you guys…" Piper offered, but Calypso reassured her:

"It's okay, Piper. There's no need."

Annabeth looked at Calypso, trying to pinpoint her intentions. It irritated her that she took charge of the situation and answered Piper without asking her opinion or Percy's.

Percy put his arm around her waist and spoke softly to her ear:

"It's alright, Beth. Come on."

Annabeth turned her face to him. "Percy, no. I don't – I don't think I can. I don't need this right now."

"Let's just hear what she has to say. You don't have to say anything to her if you don't want to."

"Annabeth," Calypso called out to her. "Please. I won't keep you long."

Percy held her hand and slowly walked them towards Calypso. Annabeth held on tight.

"I'd like to apologize to you both," said Calypso. Surprised at her conciliatory tone, Annabeth listened closely. Partly because she was still waiting for a crack in her demeanor, but she tried her best to stay neutral for Chiron's sake.

"You were right. I should not have reacted so poorly when the gods failed to grant Percy's wish and left me to my fate once again. I couldn't begin to imagine what you two have been through during your time in Tartarus. I admire your strength to have endured, well… hell itself."

Annabeth squeezed Percy's hand a bit tighter.

"I'm sorry for that… and I'm also sorry for lying to you last night, Annabeth." Calypso looked down at her fidgeting hands as she spoke with a weak voice. "You were right. I was standing on the stairs far longer than I've admitted to you. With all that's happened with Leo, I… I was in a fragile and self-destructive mental space. Still am, I think, to be frank. Seeing you two together for the first time – and so happy… It – it made me question myself."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked.

"I just asked myself why. Why is it that every hero who left my island seems to get their happy ending with someone else while I'm stuck with… myself? Even now," she laughed nervously, "Even though I'm free from my prison, I still get left behind. It's not some trick that gods are putting me through, it's not some curse… It's me. It turned out that I only have myself to blame for my misfortunes after all."

"No, Calypso…" Percy started, but Calypso stopped him.

"It's okay, Percy." She wiped away a stray tear on her cheek and took a deep breath before continuing, "You did nothing wrong, neither of you. In fact, even though it appears that we don't see eye to eye much with Annabeth, I can see why you chose to get back to her."

She locked eyes with Annabeth. "She's fierce. You need a woman like that. Odysseus had someone like that too. A woman that will fight for you, to stay by your side no matter what… I wish I could be that woman for Leo." Her voice kept betraying Calypso. "But I'm afraid I – I think I lost him for good, this time."

"You can be," said Annabeth. "You can still be it for Leo. He needs someone like that too. If you really want to be with him, fight for him then. He may be the only hero who came back to save you from your island, but you have to understand that he may not always come back for you. Go to him. Meet him in the middle," she looked at Percy with corners of her mouth slightly lifting to form a barely visible smile. "Life in the mortal world is too short to waste on doubts and insecurities."

Percy smiled back at Annabeth lovingly. He told Calypso:

"We accept your apology, Calypso…" Then he lifted his gaze from Annabeth to speak to Calypso directly, "…If you'll also have ours."

"Our conversation last night didn't have to be so hateful towards each other. I'm especially sorry for how I handled it, I just – I saw red… when I saw your hand raised against Annabeth and I couldn't control my anger after that."

"You were right to stop me, Percy," said Calypso. "It's alright, I get it now. Rage induced more rage and… here we are. You were only trying to protect her, and I respect that."

"And about what you said…" Percy started, only to be cut short once again.

"Do not worry about what I said. It was said in the heat of the moment, out of a desire to hurt you back." She smiled admiringly. "Your loyalty to your beloved is to be commended, Percy Jackson, not to be disgraced."

"Thank you, Calypso."

Calypso sighed, relieved. "Well, don't let me keep you any longer. I hear you two have a lot to celebrate for."

"Yeah," Percy slipped out a breathy laugh, looking at Annabeth once more. "Yeah, we do."

"Don't give up on Leo, Calypso," said Annabeth. "Take him as he is. He doesn't need comparisons or change; he just needs to be accepted – appreciated for who he is. After that, I'm sure you'll find your way back to each other. He loves you and genuinely cares about you. Don't waste that."

"I won't. I'll heed your advice. Safe travels to you both," she said. She gave them a thankful smile, then turned around and they watched her walk away. When she was out of earshot, Piper finally spoke:

"I will be needing some details to understand what just went down – if you can give me some."

Annabeth replied, "Let's get this sacrifice out of the way, Pipes, and then I'll fill you in on our way to the car."

The two said their goodbyes to their friends and finally got on the road for their weekend getaway.

They also stopped for some grocery shopping on the way so that they wouldn't starve for two days. And they probably would because of Percy. If it weren't for Annabeth asking him how they will feed themselves when they get there, Percy wouldn't remember that they needed to bring food with them when he already had a full stomach.

Annabeth was enjoying the scenery through the car windows when, out of the blue, Percy asked her to open the glove box where he stashed a tiny bottle of nectar he got from the camp. Then he told her to take a few sips from the bottle, to which Annabeth replied:

"Why would I do that?"

"For your upcoming birthday present," he said, winking at her. Though Annabeth was still looking confused as can be. So, heaving a sigh, he explained further:

"Annabeth. We've practically been at it since I put that ring on your finger… Remember when we first moved in together? We couldn't keep our hands off each other just because we could, and then you ended up being sore for days?"

Looking outside the window, Annabeth grimaced. "Please don't remind me."

"Yeah… Drink up, babe – if you still want me to blow your back out," he said nonchalantly, focusing on the road.

A baffled Annabeth locked her gaze on his face. After a brief moment, she murmured absent-mindedly, "You've never been sexier than you are right now."

Percy turned to her, chuckling, "What?"

"Nothing. Shut up. Eyes on the road."

Percy laughed some more. She took two sips then put the bottle back in the glove box.

It was a nice and sunny day outside with a touch of breeze to accommodate the seaside weather in Montauk. So, after they settled in their modest cabin, Annabeth proposed they go for a walk along the beach. It would be nice to dip their bare feet in the crashing waves and bask in the smell of the ocean; Percy was only too glad to do it of course.

They walked hand in hand for a bit. Didn't do much talking, instead, they relished the sound of the waves and seagulls. It relaxed them, at least just a bit. It helped them forget their troubles and gave them content, carefree smiles.

Percy decided to skip some stones when Annabeth pulled out her phone to capture some of the beautiful scenery around them. She liked to take pictures whenever she saw something naturally captivating – and now, after a few pictures taken of the golden hour beach, she was indubitably captivated by her fiancée.

She watched him move his body, looking for the perfect throw. The light breeze was hitting his face; dark locks of hair gently flying around and his white button-down beach shirt giving her a nice glance of exposed skin with its top three buttons undone. His chain around his neck shined in the sun and she couldn't keep herself from taking photos of him as well.

He did not realize it at first; but when he did, he started walking towards her while complaining and joking around:

"Stop! I'm not ready for my supermodel photo shoot!"

Annabeth just laughed and took more shots as he slowly closed the distance between them. After seeing her laugh, Percy was joining along too.

"Babe, I'm serious. You look way more picture-worthy than me. Don't waste your phone memory… Here, give me your phone and I'll take some nice shots of you; the light is hitting you in every perfect way right now."

He was sweet. The sweetest, really. But that's why she wanted to take some nice pictures of him; he barely had a few that really captured his handsome features that Annabeth loved to look at. So she made it her own personal quest to seize every opportunity that allowed her to take those shots. Besides the silly ones. She loved to take those too.

"No, you just stay right where you are. This is part of my birthday now. I'm allowed – as the birthday girl," she took one of him grinning, "to take photos of my hot new fiancée."

"Wow… Okay, I like that. Being your trophy husband was all I ever wanted to do anyway."

They both laughed at their antics while Annabeth gently placed her unoccupied hand on his cheek. She fondly traced her thumb along his stubble with him smiling at her wearing that adoring look in his eyes. She snapped a shot.

He held that hand as they held each other's gaze and placed a kiss on her palm. His smile imprinted there. She snapped one more shot.

Then, he moved her hand right above his heart while still holding on; both the pendant on his chain and her engagement ring shining bright under the sun. And Annabeth got it all on her camera roll.

"I feel like I should be getting a kiss now," said Percy.

Annabeth replied teasingly, "Is that so?"

"Uh-huh. You owe me. Copyrights."

Annabeth chuckled as he moved her phone away and gave her a chaste but long kiss. Annabeth's arms traveled from his chest to around his neck and Percy placed his arms tightly around her waist. After their perfect little moment, they pulled away with their noses brushing.

"When did we become this cheesy couple?" Annabeth asked.

"Don't know. I like cheese though." He made her laugh once more. He liked doing that. "I also like you."

"Wow, the big reveal…"

"Yeah… Sorry if it's too late."

She smiled and took her phone back from him. "Do you want to see the pictures I took?

"Sure. Let's see 'em."

She scrolled through a bunch of shots, showing her favorites to him. But she especially gushed about the last three and said:

"I want to put these on my Instagram. We didn't really make a public announcement for our engagement, we just told people we got to see, so… I think these three can get the job done."

"Shouldn't we be putting a picture of two of us?" Percy asked. "It's just my dumb face and your hand in these."

"No," She gave him a quick kiss on his jaw. "They're perfect," she said with a wide smile.

Without wasting a second, she got on the app. She chose those three photos from her gallery and then wrote a playful caption to go along with it:

Just caught this fish-boy. He was definitely a catch, so I said yes.

"Aren't you the one who always complains about my sea-related puns? This is identity theft," Percy jokingly complained.

"Yeah well… you snooze, you lose, Seaweed Brain. I make the puns now."

Posted.

"So… Do you really think I'm a catch?"

"I don't know. Can you cook me dinner?"

Percy laughed at her. Then he started to walk back towards the cabin without answering her question. So, Annabeth called out to him:

"A catch should know how to cook, and you're making me pasta tonight!"

Percy turned around and walked backward while speaking to her. "I thought I was only dealing with thirsty Annabeth tonight, not hungry Annabeth."

She threw sand at his smug face and chased him all the way back to the cabin after that.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Comments are appreciated more than ever. My tumblr: getwokescullyy