A/N: Once again, THIS STORY ISN'T MINE! I can't take credit for writing this masterpiece, I just copied and pasted it from tumblr so it can reach a larger audience! The writer of this story is tumblr user storiesoftheseven . Here's the link to the master post of Falling For the Devil : post/116271170930/fftd-master-post
Know I've done wrong, left your heart torn, is that what devils do? Took you so low,where only fools go, I shook the angel in you.
"I have to be the worst husband ever."
Annabeth looked up from the seating chart she was working on for the Heart Association benefit next week, "What?"
Percy chuckled at her and walked into her office, "I'm the worst husband ever."
Annabeth set her pen down, "I won't argue with that."
Percy raised an eyebrow at her and sat down, she sighed, "Why are you a terrible husband?"
He leaned forward, "I missed your birthday."
She laughed, "Don't worry about it, no one has celebrated my birthday in years, it's just another day."
Percy frowned at her, "Really?"
Annabeth shrugged, "I don't even remember the last birthday party I had… don't worry, though… not everyone is as forgetful as you," She teased, "Thalia, Piper, Jason and Nico called and wished me a 'Happy Birthday' and they wanted to take me out to dinner this weekend, since it's been so busy lately."
Percy shook his head, "That might a little…. hard since you're not going to in New York this weekend."
Annabeth leaned back in her seat, "Why am I not going to be in New York?"
Percy walked around her desk and leaned against it, facing her, "I thought we could take a little trip, get away from New York."
Annabeth smiled at the idea of getting away with Percy for the weekend, getting out of the hum drum of the city and everything that came with it, "Sounds appealing."
Percy smiled, "Good, pack a bag… we're leaving in," He looked down at his watch, "Four hours."
Annabeth scoffed, "I have to finish this and fax it to Elizabeth Dare before lunch."
Percy rolled his eyes, "Finish it up and then pack a bag, it's not a big deal. Don't stress about it… that's the point of vacation- not to stress."
Annabeth leaned up and pulled on his arm, he smiled slightly and leaned down, their lips met in a small kiss, "Thank you."
Percy kissed her again, "I'm pretty sure you don't need to thank me for missing your birthday and trying to make up for it."
Annabeth laughed and leaned back in her chair again, "Go away, I have to finish this if you want to leave this afternoon." Percy leaned down and kissed her hair before leaving the room.
Two hours later Annabeth was rushing around her room, more than eager to leave for vacation with Percy. She had no idea where they were going so she kind of packed for any scenario. When Percy knocked on her door, she was changing into something more comfortable. He let himself in as she stood in the middle of her closet.
"I'm changing." She called.
She heard his chuckle as she buttoned her pants, "Looks like I walked in at the right time."
Annabeth rolled her eyes as she pulled a shirt off of the hanger. She looked at him as she slid her arms through the shirt. He was leaning against her closet door in jeans and a t-shirt. She smiled, happy to be able to ogle him without feeling ashamed for it.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
She nodded, "My luggage is by the door, you could have just taken it to the car."
Percy smirked and walked toward her as she pulled the shirt over her head, "And have missed this?"
Annabeth pulled her hair out of the collar of the shirt and looked at him, "Absolutely shameless." Percy smiled and leaned in toward her, she reached up on her toes and kissed him.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they walked out of her closet, he shut the door.
He grabbed her larger suitcase as she grabbed her carry on, "That is for me to know and you to find out." Annabeth laughed as they walked toward the car. Once the luggage was loaded Percy drove them to the private airstrip, Charles and Travis in the backseat as Percy and Annabeth sat up front.
When they were finally on the airplane and sitting beside each other, a reminder of how far they had come in the last month and half, Annabeth finally calmed down. She had barely finished with the seating arrangement before she emailed it over to Elizabeth Dare, the head of the Heart Association and chairperson for the benefit.
Annabeth had thought it would be hard working with the woman who had spawned the evil heiress that was Rachel Dare but it wasn't bad at all. Elizabeth was kind and meticulous to a fault, she and Annabeth actually got along really well. Which led Annabeth to believe that Rachel was more like her father than her mother.
"We have a three hour flight." Percy said looking at her.
Annabeth smiled at him, "Well, that means we're not going to Paris."
Percy laughed, "No, no…. not Paris…. at least this time we're not going to Paris, we're going somewhere a little more secluded. A place where we can blend in and not feel so suffocated by the city."
She nodded happy to have this time alone with him. They had both come a long way in a month- so many old prejudices and old chains being broken from their former judgements. It made Annabeth laugh if she really thought about it- the change they had both made.
Whether or not he realized what he was doing, Percy was clinging to her and she relished it. She loved how he held her and kissed her now, she loved how willing he was to open up to her about his day. He still kept a lot to himself but he was more willing to talk to her and she would take whatever he was offering her- because she was in it for the long haul. Annabeth would wait for however long it took for him to open up completely to her. He was worth that much to her.
She lifted the arm separating them as the plane leveled off in the sky. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she leaned against him. He was on his phone, looking at an email. She reached up and took the phone out of his hand.
"We're on vacation, no business- Reyna can handle everything for a couple days."
Percy laughed and she felt his lips brush against her forehead, "Okay…. okay- no business."
A pleasant warmth began to spread through her as his thumb rubbed against her skin, where her shirt had ridden up. She loved the feel of his bare skin against hers, she loved the pull that it brought out in her. The pull towards him.
It was an odd thought really, to know- that even after everything he had put her through- that she was falling in love with him. It should scare her but it didn't, it made her more confident because she knew he could fall for her too. One day, when he was more in touch with his emotions and the things he absolutely needed in his life.
Percy leaned his head against hers and she smiled at the small amount of comfort he sought in her. Annabeth laced her fingers with his and hummed in contentment, this was what she had always wanted- who knew Percy Jackson could give her exactly what she had always wanted in a relationship.
0-0-0-0-0
When Percy said the place he was taking her was secluded, he had meant it. She was little confused as she stepped off the private airplane and into the humid evening sunlight of Turks and Caicos.
Annabeth turned around to face Percy, "You brought me to the Caribbean for a weekend vacation?"
Percy walked toward her, "I missed your birthday, it's a lot to make up for."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Stop pretending that the only reason we're here is to make up for my birthday. I'm not stupid Percy, I know you've been working harder than usual lately."
He frowned and walked around her. She sighed and followed him off the plane and into the car waiting for them on the tarmac. Annabeth slid into the back seat as Percy talked to the driver for a few moments. She watched him as he got into the car, the driver got into the car moments after him and they were off.
Percy was more distant than he had been in weeks as they drove down the small island streets. Annabeth looked out the window and watched the sun go down, by the time they made it to their villa the sun was gone.
"I had the owners stock the kitchen." Percy said opening the door to the Villa. Annabeth glanced at him.
"So, I'm suppose to play wife and cook for you?"
Percy smiled playfully at her, "Well, you are my wife."
"And how do you know I won't poison your food?" Annabeth asked with a sly smile.
Percy glared, albeit playfully, at her, "I guess I'll just have to take my chances."
Annabeth laughed at him as they walked around the large Villa, "Travis and Charles will take the upstairs and our room is downstairs."
She raised an eyebrow at him, "Our?" The only time they had ever shared a room was the two days they'd called a truce on their honeymoon.
Percy shrugged as she followed him into the master suite. He set their bags in the closet as she looked around the large room. It was beautiful, no doubt. She looked back at Percy- he was changing out of his clothing. She watched the way his back flexed as he lifted his shirt over his head, it was nice.
She vaguely remembered her second day in the mansion, watching him work out in front of her in the gym back home. She had thought he was gorgeous then but didn't ever imagine she would get her chance to run her hands over the hard planes of muscle.
Annabeth shook her head and walked over to a lamp, she flipped the switch on and sat on the bed. She felt oddly excited. They were alone, sharing a room on an island for three whole days. She smiled to herself at the possibility this trip held for them.
"Care to share what you're thinking about."
Annabeth looked at Percy, he was standing at the end of the four poster king size bed. She smiled again, only this time a bit more mischievously and crawled toward him on hands and knees. His eyes widened comically for a moment, she reached him and lifted up on her knees.
He grabbed her waist as she pulled him in for a kiss. There was nothing sweet about it, no lips grazing the other's but it wasn't rough either. Just passionate and filled with longing, she had wanted him so bad over the past month and half- now she might be able to have him again.
Percy pulled her closer to him as his mouth slanted over hers. It would be so easy to pull him onto the bed, to let the pull that was between them engulf them. She tightened the grip she had on his hair, pulling slightly as she felt something akin to adrenaline- passion or lust, maybe- race through her veins.
If she didn't pull back now, then it would no doubt take them over. And maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if it did but Annabeth didn't think he was ready for something other than sex. She wanted love and she knew that if they kept going on the road they were on he could give her that one day.
So, she did the most impossible thing in the world and slowed their feverish kisses. They were both panting as she leaned her forehead against his. Percy's eyes were closed and his hands were gripping her thighs with bruising force, she hadn't realized they had moved during their makeout.
After several moments he moved his hands and pulled away completely. She smiled at him, "I'll cook some dinner." She suggested.
Percy nodded, "Okay."
Almost an hour later she was setting down their meal on the outdoor table, listening to the waves crash to the shore. She grabbed a bottle of wine from the kitchen and called for Percy, who had been in and out of the kitchen while she cooked. He had spent the first twenty minutes distracting her with his loving embraces and chaste kisses.
She sat down in one of the chairs as he walked through the back door. Annabeth smiled at him and took a sip of the wine.
"I should let you cook more often." Percy said sitting across from her.
She laughed, "We'll leave it for special occasions."
They ate dinner together, like they so often did- only this time with the sounds of summer as background music. The waves crashing, the wind blowing down the beach, the sound of birds in the night roaming over the water.
It was nice, the wind wasn't blowing too harshly- just enough to combat the humid summer air. When they finished she washed up the dishes and put them away while Percy still sat on the back deck of the villa with his glass of wine.
She joined him and instead of sitting in the chair beside him, she chose his lap. His free hand settled on her waist as she looked at him. Annabeth couldn't get over how different all of this was, how different their relationship was now. They still had no definition but she was okay with that for the time being, as long as he didn't retreat back into his shell of distrust.
"What are you thinking about?" Percy whispered up at her.
She looked at down at him, his shirt clung to his body in the humid night- his hair windswept. He was so beautiful, and he knew it- he knew exactly the effect he had on women. He knew how to use his looks to get what he wanted.
But that was the old Percy, this was the new Percy. He was different than he use to be, well to her he was different- he was the same to anyone else.
"I want to ask you a question." Annabeth said raising her hand and placing it on his shoulder, letting it slowly go higher- up his neck and then down again.
"My permission has never stopped you before." He teased.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and leaned into kiss him, she hesitated about an inch from his lips. Letting him complete the trip, letting him make the conscience decision to kiss her. He leaned up and kissed her slowly with pliant, willing lips. She melted into him, letting the kiss lead the night.
He pulled away a moment later, "That wasn't your question."
Annabeth smiled at him, "No, it wasn't," she paused and took a sip of her wine before setting it on the table behind her, "The day you told me about your mother," He nodded as she swallowed tightly.
"You said you'd let me go," His eyes narrowed and she could see the wall slowly forming in his eyes, building itself against whatever she was about to say. Annabeth shook her head and wound her fingers into his hair- trying to be reassuring.
"I want to know if you would you have really let me go." Annabeth whispered watching his expression warily.
It took a minute for him to answer, the mistrust clear in his eyes, "I like to think that I would have."
Annabeth let her hand unwind out of his hair and move to cup his cheek, "You knew I wouldn't leave."
Percy smiled slightly at her, his eyes clear as the caribbean on a beautiful summer day, "I needed to know, Annabeth… I needed to hear you say it."
Annabeth sighed and leaned into kiss his lips, "So, it was a test."
Percy looked away sheepishly, Annabeth knew it would take awhile for his begrudging nature to wane. "I'm not upset, Percy." She whispered as she pulled his face to look at her again.
"I don't deserve you at all, Annabeth." He said leaning into her hand that was still on his cheek.
Annabeth shook her head, "Stop saying that, everyone deserves at least one person to love them."
Percy gasped quietly as she looked at him, repeating the words in her head. She realized she had said "love."
"Do you love me, Annabeth?" He asked, holding her gaze.
She bit her lip for a moment, not sure if her confession would be prudent to confess. She could see the fear in his eyes, the fear of losing someone he loved. That was why he was still holding himself at arms length from her. Sure, he was allowing affection but he was still holding himself at bay because he didn't want to love her and then lose her.
"Do you want me to?" She asked back, quietly.
Percy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I shouldn't." She smiled, relieved at his answer.
"But," She pushed for him to continue.
His eyes opened, "But," he smiled, "I think…. that you're right, we all need at least one person who loves us," He smirked at her, "It gives us morals and balance, as my wife once put it."
She chuckled, "She must be pretty wise, then."
Percy pulled her closer, "She is."
Annabeth sighed into his arms, leaning her forehead against his. Progress, all of this was progress- they weren't even out of the city twelve hours and he was already confessing things to her. She knew right then that this trip would be amazing for them, it would bring them so much closer.
"Ready for bed?" She asked, leaning back, "I'm tired."
Percy nodded, "Go on, I'll be in a minute- just need to call Reyna."
She eyed him as she stood, "I thought we weren't going to worry about work."
Percy leaned up and kissed her, "I wasn't but she sent me a text earlier, something happened and I need to know how bad it was."
Annabeth sighed and looked away from him, "Kronos." She whispered.
Percy cupped her cheek to make her look at him, "What do you know?"
She smiled sheepishly at him, "I may or may not have heard the conversation you had with him at the Fourth of July party."
Percy's jaw flexed and he looked away from her, "And he may or may not have caught me eavesdropping."
He looked back at her with wide eyes and let her go completely, "Fuck," Annabeth stepped back, "You're already on their radar because of Luke, now you had to draw even more attention to yourself! I'm trying to keep you safe, Annabeth and you're making it incredibly difficult."
Annabeth winced, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I was just walking to my room and you're door was open."
He glared at her as she walked forward slowly, "You know me, Percy… I couldn't not listen."
Percy held his hands up to try and stop her from coming forward, she guessed he was pretty angry with her. Well, so what. This was her birthday and she wasn't going to let his irrational anger keep her from enjoying it. She wrapped her hands around both of his wrist and leaned against him.
"Nothing is going to happen to me." She whispered.
She felt his body loosen and lean into her, "Don't keep things like that from me, I need to know what you know."
She looked up at him, "Okay."
He leaned into kiss her, making her smile, "Go get ready for bed, I'll be in soon."
She nodded and pulled away from him, grabbing their wine glasses along the way. She watched him through the windows as she set his glass in the sink but poured herself another glass. He was pacing on the back deck talking on the phone. She shook her head and walked to their room, running a bath for herself while she waited for him to finish.
0-0-0-0-0
"This was the worst possible time for you to leave New York." Reyna said through the phone.
Percy sighed, "I'm going to be back in two days, you can handle things for two days."
Reyna snorted, "Not at this rate," she paused, "He got the shipment, I don't know how he knew where the drop point was but he did."
Percy cursed and ran a hand through his hair, he had long suspected Kronos had a mole on the inside of Percy's operation- now he knew he did.
"We have to flush out the traitor." Percy said.
"I know but we still have to address this attack, he only left one of our guys alive this time. The rest of the team is unaccounted for."
Percy cursed again, "Okay, send a few guys in and have Connor lead the team."
"Are you sure about Connor? Travis isn't with him and you know how they work better as a team."
Percy looked back through the door, eager to get back to Annabeth- eager to forget for a little while why he was on vacation in the first place, "Besides you, Connor is the only one of my guys in New York I trust to lead a team."
Reyna sighed, "You're right. When you get back we need to talk about how we're going to take care of this problem once and for all. No more putting this on the back burner, Kronos is out for blood- more specifically he's out for yours."
"I know, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Bye."
Percy ended the phone call and took a deep breath before pushing it back out. Kronos had been playing hard the last few weeks. He had taken out several of Percy's guys already, which made Percy believe Kronos had managed to get someone on the inside. How else would he know about all of the jobs Percy had going on.
It seemed that Kronos was always one step ahead of him. It angered Percy- he should be able to out wit this new player. He should be able to beat him, it crossed his mind that maybe he had gone soft since he married Annabeth.
Maybe he needed to define the areas of their relationship again but… he couldn't do that. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her. That thought scared and excited him more than it should. Percy put his phone in his pocket before he walked through the back door. He shut it behind him and locked the door.
He checked the front door locks and then went to the bedroom he was sharing with Annabeth. He hadn't offered to do separate rooms this time because he wanted to fall asleep beside her, he wanted to hold her.
It was selfish, maybe she did want her own room but he couldn't bring himself to ask. He discarded his clothing and put on his sleep pants and walked into the bathroom. He smiled when he saw his wife in a bubble utopia in the bathtub.
"Think you have enough bubbles?" He teased sitting on the side of the tub.
Annabeth smiled up at him and took a sip of her wine, "You could join me, the bath is big enough for both." Percy swallowed and glanced down at the water and then back at her. He would love nothing more than to join her but wouldn't that just tempt them into having sex?
Percy knew that Annabeth wanted to be with him and he desperately wanted to be with her again. But he also knew that the next time they were together intimately it would probably mean a whole more than it had before. He knew feelings would be involved and that would be more than he had ever experienced in the bedroom.
He shook his head and kissed her lips, "Take your time. I'll be in the bed when you finish." She frowned at him but let him go without saying anything.
Percy walked back into the bedroom and pulled the decorative pillows off the bed. He folded the comforter down and got into the large four poster bed. He played with his phone until Annabeth got out of the bath tub. Exiting the bathroom in only a towel, he watched as she turned her back to him and then dropped the towel.
Giving him a perfect view of her backside, he groaned- she was trying to kill him. She slipped on some underwear and then a tank top before getting into the bed.
She yawned as Percy opened his arms for her, she smiled and laid her head on his chest. It was like they had done it a thousand times when in reality they hadn't. They had never been normal, they had never had anything normal between them.
He kissed her hair, "Goodnight."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing soothing circles into his hip- it felt good. Percy hadn't realized how lonely he had been lately until now, how lonely it had been in his room- by himself.
"Goodnight." She whispered and kissed his chest.
He smiled and started playing with a piece of her hair, maybe they wouldn't have to sleep separately after this trip. Maybe he could finally put to use the master bedroom that he could never sleep in. It was too large for one person, but it was perfect for two people.
Percy smiled as he closed his eyes, another plan forming in his mind. Something that would certainly keep her busy over the next several weeks and keep her in the dark about what was actually going on with Kronos.