A/N: If you want to help me, if you have any complains, questions, suggestions or if you just want to talk, message me. I'll reply. :D

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 4 – Misplaced Excitement

Annabeth's POV

"You shouldn't do that. Mom might have seen you." I said as I tied Percy's necktie once we reached the lobby of the building.

"Well, if it weren't for my awesome ninja skills." He said as he mimicked the cliché ninja moves and smiled down at me.

"Oh shut up." I playfully said.

After I tied his necktie, we left the building and went to out for lunch.

Percy had stopped over to take me out for lunch a while ago and his method of asking me included seducing me, or should I say trying to seduce me. Mom almost walked in on us but he immediately hid under my table. It doesn't stop there, he decides to continue being playful by running his fingers down my legs. I turned the chair around, deliberately hitting him. Now, that made him stop.

"I'll get a smoothie and a muffin." I ordered and gave the menu back to the waitress.

Percy looked at me incredulously and was about to protest, but I held up my hand, "I have a client that's going to be on trial later."

He immediately closed his mouth and nodded.

It had become a tradition that I only order those two every time I was going to court. That was because the first time I went to court, I felt so nervous and queasy. Of course, it was my first time. So before that, Percy said I should not eat a lot because I might throw up. I ended up ordering those two. Now years have passed by and I still eat those every time I go to court.

"One spaghetti, coke, and a muffin." Percy ordered.

He smiled at the waitress as he gave her the menu. I could practically see her swooning. I smiled to myself. He always had that effect with women but after spending years with him, I got used to it.

"You always make women swoon without even knowing it." I smiled at him.

"Really? Do I make you swoon?"

I gently shook my head and laughed at him when he pouted.

"Do you have plans for tonight?" He asked me.

"Nah, I think I'm staying in for tonight. Why'd you ask?"

"I wanted you to come along with me somewhere tonight."

"And where would that be?" I said as I put my hands on the table.

"You have to promise you'll come with me."

"Percy." I warned.

"I know you won't regret saying yes. Come on!"

"Fine." I laughed at his persistence. "I promise I'll go with you wherever you'll go tonight."

"Yay!" He clapped and mimicked a happy and excited kid.

"Now will you tell me?"

"I'm going to tell Mom about the engagement."

I looked at him in disbelief, "You're supposed to be doing this with Rachel, you fiancée."

"You already promised." He said smugly. "Plus, she can't make it tonight. She's at an exhibit in Brooklyn."

"Couldn't you tell your mom tomorrow?"

"I have this convention for doctors tomorrow."

"I can't believe you haven't told your mom about it. You know, being engage isn't something you keep from your mom."

"Yeah, that's why I'm telling her tonight."

"Couldn't you do it all by yourself?"

"I need moral support!"

"Why? It's not like she'll hunt you down and hack you with a machete because you asked someone to marry you."

Percy laughed and said, "Come on. You haven't visited Mom in a while now and you know how much she loves having you over."

I gave him an expressionless face, "I was just there last week."

"Eh, she can never get enough of you! And neither can I, that's why you have to come along!"

"Fine. What time will we go?"

"I'll just pick you up later." He gave me a knowing look.

I laughed at him and said, "I'll look forward to that."

Our orders arrive and despite my protests, Percy made me eat a bit of his spaghetti. I ate it unwillingly and begrudgingly. I left early and told him that I had to stop by the office before I go to court.

"I'll see you tonight, Seaweed Brain." I called before exiting the restaurant.

He just winked at me and waved.

I stopped over the office, grabbed my satchel filled with files, and headed to court. When I arrived, my client's was next and he was downright nervous. I told him to relax and take a deep breath.

The clerk of court called us next and announced our case. We went up and I started defending my client. Just as I was about to talk, someone's cell phone went off and echoed in the room. Everyone looked for whoever owned that phone. I scanned the crowed and saw a familiar face.

He immediately apologized and looked down. I made a mental note: Smack Percy's head as soon as we leave court.

After the trial, my client won and he wouldn't stop thanking me. I just smiled at him and congratulated him as we shook hands. Although it was not a surprise for me, I kind of expected it. I rarely lose, just saying.

I exited the room with Percy in tow. Once we were out of the court, I gave him a look which meant that I was waiting for an explanation.

"I didn't have any appointments and there weren't any operations." He looked down.

"So you thought that you could go to court and watch me?" I crossed my arms.

"It was moral support and I wanted to watch you."

I laughed at him and said, "It was a good thing that the judge was in a good mood. He could have made you leave the room!"

He sighed in relief and also laughed.

"Now, where are you planning to go? I'm going back to the office."

"I'll probably go back to the hospital now." He said as he checked his watch.

"You do that. I'll see you tonight."

"I'll fetch you later." He smiled and winked at me.

We said our good byes and parted ways. We walked down the stairs; I was about to hail a cab when he called me.

"Annabeth! Congratulations on the win." He smiled at me.

I suddenly remembered something. I ran towards him and smacked his head.

"What was that for?" He asked me as he rubbed his head.

"That's for interrupting the trial, Seaweed Brain!"

He had a grim expression and glumly said, "I'll see you later."

I laughed and brightly said, "I'll be waiting!"

I went back to the office and plopped down on my seat once I went in my office. I just sat down and stared into space for a few minutes until I decided to fix my files. I got my satchel and put my files into my steel file cabinet, under the "Done".

I turned my laptop on and the picture of Percy and me greeted me. Both of us were missing some teeth and were smiling widely into the camera. We had our arms on each other's shoulder. I remembered that that was my first ballet recital. Of course, Percy being himself, he just had to watch me.

I looked at my schedule for tomorrow and it looked like I was going to court again. I sighed and unwillingly stood up to look for my client's case file in my huge file cabinet for further study on the case. When I finally got it, I just put it in my satchel and sat back down on my chair.

I exited my office a few hours later and realized that I was all alone. I looked at the clock and I still had a couple minutes to get ready for the dinner with Percy's mom. I was battling with myself on either I should wear something special or no.

I was about to change my clothes for a simple black dress that I always hid in case of emergency when a knock echoed through the whole office. I opened the door and no surprise, Percy was there. He wasn't wearing what he wore a while ago. He changed into something more casual. Instead of long sleeved button-down polo, necktie, slacks, and dress shoes, he was wearing a simple polo, jeans, and sneakers. And that made me feel like I was overdressed.

"I feel like I'm overdressed." I confessed.

"No you aren't…well, maybe, yeah, you are."

"Wait, I'll just change my clothes." I announced then ran to my office.

Percy just sat down on my assistant's desk and toyed with the pens and paper clips. I ran around my office, in search for casual clothes. I ended up wearing a casual dress, which I also had hidden somewhere in my office, and my heels.

"Percy? Can you zip me up?" I asked as I opened the door of my office and poked my head out.

He looked up and said, "What?"

"I can't reach the zipper."

"Oh yeah, sure." He stood up and went in my office, "Turn around."

I obeyed and waited for the sound of the zipper. A few seconds later, I felt the dress tighten around me. I expected him to move away from me but he stayed behind me.

"You smell good." He said after a while.

"Why did you change your clothes?" I asked out of curiousity.

"I spilled coffee over it."

I laughed loudly and walked towards my desk. Percy sat down on the seat where my clients sit if we have an appointment. I removed my hair from the tight bun it has been in for the whole day. I was about to tie my hair into a messy chignon but Percy protested.

"What?" I asked him, now alert.

"Don't tie your hair."

"Why not?" I scrunched my eyebrows.

"I like your hair like that." He smiled.

I smiled at him and did what he said, "Sure why not."

I got my clothes, shoved them in a tote bag, and got my satchel and purse. Percy carried the tote bag, we exited the office, and I locked up. We left the building and he hailed the cab. Percy told the cab driver his mom's address and then we were off.

"Why not with Rachel, Percy?" I asked him.

"I already told you, we're busy."

"I bet there's a day when both of you aren't busy." I muttered, crossed my arms, and looked out the window.

"Look, I want you to go with me. Mom wants to see you, no surprise in that. Just go with it, there's no harm in going along."

"Fine."

Percy paid for the fare once we got there. He opened the door for me and we went up to the apartment. He got his keys and opened the door. The smell of roast beef greeted us.

"Mom," Percy called out, "we're here."

Percy's mom walked out of the kitchen with her hands wrapped around a dish cloth. She immediately smiled at us and told us to make ourselves at home because the roast beef wasn't ready yet.

Percy and I sat on the couch and just kept quiet. I smiled to myself when I remembered that when we were still in high school, we would stay over here and watch TV, do our assignments together, or just talk. Oh, those were the days.

I smiled at him and said, "Remember when we were high school?"

"I was thinking the same thing." He laughed.

"One of us would study on the couch and the other would take the floor."

"Oh, high school. I wish we could go back in time and do it all again."

I smiled at him but, once again, I got that feeling that he had another message hidden in what he just said.

"Percy, Annabeth, dinner is ready." His mom called from the kitchen.

We got off the couch and went to the kitchen where Percy's mom and stepdad were waiting for us.

"Good evening Mr and Mrs. Blofis." I greeted them.

"Good evening, Annabeth." Mr. Blofis greeted me back.

"Have a seat. Have a seat," Percy's mom smiled at me.

Percy pulled the seat for me, I sat down, and he pushed it back. A true gentleman. He sat down along with us and he smiled at his mom.

"The roast beef looks delectable, Mrs. Blofis."

"Thank you, dear. When Percy said that you were having dinner with us, I immediately took out my old cook book."

"Oh my, you didn't have to. Even if you just served us a bowl of cold cereal each, I'd still be delighted to have dinner with you."

She just smiled at me and told us to eat. Percy's mom prepared us some roast beef, mashed potatoes, and Caesar's salad. Indeed, they tasted delicious.

"So, Annabeth, what brought you here tonight?" Mr. Blofis asked me. "Not in a rude way. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I smiled at him and said, "Uhm, actually, Percy asked me to come along with him."

"Oh and why would that be, Percy?" His mom asked him.

Percy swallowed, put his utensils down, took a deep breath, and started, "Mom, you know that moment when two people are so in love and they decided to spend their lives together."

She had a straight face and asked him to continue.

"Like what happened between you and Paul. Both of you fell in love with one another and Paul realized that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. Mom, I-"

Percy was immediately cut off by his mom, "Oh, Percy! I'm so happy for you!"

She stood up and so did Percy. They shared a hug for a couple minutes. After their hug, Mr. Blofis hugged Percy and congratulated him. Mr. and Mrs. Blofis also reached out and hugged me. They were probably driven in the moment.

We sat back down, ate, and continued talking about Percy's engagement. Percy's mom couldn't stop smiling now.

"So, when are you planning to get married?" She asked.

"We haven't really thought about it."

Percy was smiling too. He was ecstatic that his mom was happy with his decision and with his engagement.

"Hmm, the theme? Have you decided on the theme of the wedding?"

"No, not yet."

"Oh, how rude of me. What did your parents say?"

I later realized that that question was for me.

"Uhm, Mom was happy for Percy." I was really puzzled now.

"For Percy?" Percy's mom was taken aback.

Percy started laughing and the Mr. Blofis and I started joining him. Percy's mom thought that Percy asked me to marry him.

"Mom, I didn't ask Annabeth to marry me." Percy said after calming himself down.

"Then who are you engaged with?"

"Rachel, Mom."

"I mean, it just seemed like you asked Annabeth to marry you since you brought her along to dinner. Oh don't laugh at me, Paul." His mom defended herself.

Percy just laughed.

"Where is Rachel?"

"She's at an art exhibit in Brooklyn."

"Didn't you at least think that both of you told me? What's Annabeth's role here now?"

"She's here for moral support." Percy simply said.

"He thinks you'll hunt him down and hack him with a machete." I butted in. "And Percy asked me to be his best woman."

His mom had a bewildered expression and Mr. Blofis just smiled as he continued eating.

"What is that, Percy?" She asked him.

"A female version of a best man." I laughed.

"Oh, Percy." She said while shaking her head gently and smiling.

We continued eating but I noticed that Percy's mom's smile wasn't as wide and bright as the one before; when she thought Percy asked me to marry him.

After we had dessert, we moved to the living room and talked about Percy's engagement. This time, his mom knew it was with Rachel.

"Good night, Mom." Percy said then kissed his mom's cheek.

"Night, Paul." He said as he shook his stepfather's hand and clapped his shoulder.

"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Blofis." I said.

Percy's mom hugged me and took this chance to whisper something to me, "I thought I was finally going to have you as my daughter, legally."

I chuckled and whispered back, "Sorry, Mrs. Blofis, but it looks like someone already won his heart before I can."

She released me and gave me a pitiful smile, "You'll always have his heart, darling."

I smiled at her and then bid them good bye. I went out the door and saw Percy, carrying my bags and waiting for me. We left the building and he hailed the cab. I thought we were supposed to part ways because the direction to my loft was different from his but Percy hailed a cab, told me to get in, and joined me in the cab.

"Two stops." He said and then told our addresses; telling the driver to go to my building first.

How could I forget? This is Percy we're talking about. My over protective best friend. Of course, it was typical Percy to bring me home.

"See? I told you your mom would be very happy for you! At least she didn't bring out the shot gun." I joked.

He laughed and said, "Yeah, but it was a precaution. Mom could never get mad when you're there."

"Really, Percy, why do you think your mom would get mad at you for asking someone you love to marry you?"

"I…really don't know."

I laughed at him and then I started complaining, "Ugh, I'm so sleepy and I have to review my client's case. I'm going back to court tomorrow."

Percy looked down at me, I always hated the fact that he was taller than me, and got me to put my head on his shoulder.

"Your building is still far away. You could catch up on you sleep." He said.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to go to sleep, "Hey, Percy."

"Yeah?"

"You smell good." I smiled.

He chuckled at me and said, "Thank you. Now, take a nap."

I laughed and then took a deep breath.

A few minutes later, I was being carried out of the cab bridal style.

"Can you wait for a few minutes? I'll be back." Percy told the driver.

"Percy." I muttered, still half asleep.

"Shh, I'll carry you up. Don't worry about it."

I snuggled closer to him and then I heard the elevator. Percy went in and tightened his grip around me.

"I'm heavy, aren't I?" I smiled.

"Actually, you're very light."

"Oh, pfft. Show off."

He chuckled and then got off when we reached my floor. He couldn't unlock my door with him carrying me like this. So he carried me over his shoulder.

"Dammit, Percy." I cussed.

He laughed at me and unlocked my door. When it was open, he carried me bridal style once again. He put me on top of my bed and sat down beside me.

"You should really eat more and gain weight."

"Oh, blah blah blah."

He laughed at me and put his hand on my cheek, "For a moment there, I thought I made a mistake by asking Rachel to marry me."

"What?" I softly asked.

He chuckled, thanked me for the night, said good night, kissed my forehead, and left me.

Wait, did he just say he thought he made a mistake by asking Rachel for her hand in marriage or was it just sleep, messing with my head?

A/N: Thanks for reading! :)

Tell me what you think of the chapter. Write a review. It makes me smile throughout the day. So make me smile and write a review :D

Question of the Chapter: Ever had those embarrassing Mom moments? :D