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
Settle down with me, and I'll be your safety, you'll be my lady. I was made to keep your body warm but I'm cold as the wind blows so hold me in your arms. Oh no my heart's against your chest, your lips pressed to my neck, I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet and with this feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now.
Annabeth had always loved mornings the best growing up, right when the sun was streaming through her windows. It was always a new start to a new day- something could change or things could stay the same. There was always a glimmer of hope in the first moments after she woke up that her mother would be different today.
That she would want something to do with her- that she would spend time with her.
As she grew in her teenage years, her love of mornings stayed but the meaning behind it changed. It was still a new day but a new day to prove to her mother she was worth something.
When she went to college, when she got away from her mother, it changed again. She still loved mornings but this time it was because she had people to get up for. A roommate who hated mornings, as much as Annabeth complained about Thalia and her brashness she wouldn't ever take her for granted.
Thalia had shown her what it was like to be loved by the people you care for. She had given Annabeth something she had never known before. After Annabeth had married Percy, the mornings had been filled with dissent- she had her revenge- her bitterness carrying her through the day. Now, though- it was different.
Annabeth would never know when it had changed, when her heart made room for him- but she knew that her reasons for loving the mornings, now, were because of him. A new day to see if he had changed, a new day to see if he could give her something else- something a little more than what she had.
This morning was no different.
Annabeth stretched and bumped into Percy, she heard his chuckle and smiled. He had stayed with her until she woke up, the thought made butterflies dance in her stomach. She felt like a teenager as she searched for his warmth next to her. His arm hugged her closer as her fingers closed around his waist.
Percy kissed her cheek as she opened her eyes, his chest the first thing she saw. Annabeth couldn't resist placing a kiss there before leaning back to look at him. He smiled at her and she frowned. The bags under his eyes more prominent, she guessed that he really didn't go back to sleep.
"I wish you'd sleep more." She whispered.
Percy pursed his lips, "I sleep more with you than I ever did alone."
Annabeth kissed his forehead and then sat up, stretching- soreness radiating throughout her body. It was a reminder to the night they had, of the men ambushing them and then the night they spent tangled in each other- thankful they were alive.
"Are you okay?" Percy asked, sitting up behind her.
Annabeth looked at him over her shoulder, "I haven't really had a chance to dwell on everything."
Percy wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest, "Let's talk, then."
"Now?" She asked folding her hands over his on her stomach.
"Why not?" Percy whispered into her hair, "I'll go first, if it helps?"
Annabeth closed her eyes, her heart rate picking up speed, "Okay."
"This may sound silly, but after last night… I feel like I need to define the areas of our relationship… again." She nodded as he paused, "I know, lately- it's been confusing… for you… but," He paused and she smiled, it was cute the way he was struggling with words.
Annabeth turned around in his arms, a smile on her face, "You're laughing at me." He accused.
She shook her head, "No, no… I'm not…. you're just cute."
He laughed as his hands skimmed up her waist, under her shirt, "Cute? I've never been described as cute… menacing, mean, an ass, a dick, scary and good in the sack- yeah… but never cute."
Annabeth laughed out loud, she saw a different side of him everyday- this side- this teasing and scared man was something she found eternally endearing, "Well, add cute to the list."
He smiled at her before shaking his head, "You're distracting me."
She sighed and leaned back on her legs to better look at him, "No, I'm not."
He scowled, "What I'm trying to say is that…. I'm yours… completely…. no more girls on the side- I want to be with you and only you."
Annabeth looked at him, she figured she could play this one of two ways. The first being completely sappy and romantic- she could kiss him and then they would, most likely, make love again. The second way, she could tease him.
She opened her mouth as she ran her fingers up his arm and over his shoulder blade, "I, sort of, got that idea last night." She whispered.
Percy frowned at her as she muttered, "I want to be with you too." He smiled slightly and pulled her down against his chest, hugging her.
"I was so scared last night." He whispered into her hair.
Annabeth nuzzled into his neck, "Me too." They stayed like that for a while, him holding her close- rubbing his hand up and down her back.
Percy broke the silence, "Thank you."
"For what?" She asked into his neck.
He pulled her back by his shoulders, "If you hadn't of shot that guy I… honestly don't know if we would have made it through that."
Annabeth frowned, "I couldn't sit back and do nothing."
"I really want to be upset at you for doing that, for not waiting- for putting yourself at risk… but I can't be. Without your help I don't know what would have happened… Kronos' men could have gotten you and I could have been seriously hurt… or worse."
Annabeth shook her head, "Please don't say that, I don't even want to imagine what could have happened."
Percy smiled sadly, "But you need to understand this…. it's a part of the business Annabeth…. every single day I… don't know if I'm going to live or die…. we have a mole in our midst right now and I've known since your birthday…. and we still don't know who it is."
Annabeth looked away and was silent for a moment, "Do you ever think about… getting out of it?"
Percy pulled her face back to his, "The business?" She nodded- slowly, watching his expression.
"I've never had a reason too."
She bit her lip, "What about now?"
His expression softened, his hand curving around her cheek, "Honestly?" He asked, "I've been so busy with Kronos… and you that I haven't given it much thought… but right now, it doesn't sound so bad."
Annabeth smiled at him, "Maybe… one day." Percy nodded, shortly- she could see his hesitance behind his eyes. It dawned on her now, that he had always known he'd have a short lifespan. And right now wasn't any different- he wasn't going to promise anything that had to do with the future.
It made her sad, momentarily- more things about him coming to light. The other, unspoken, reason he didn't want to have children. He probably wouldn't be here to care for them- she would be the one to be mother and father if a child was produced through their marriage.
Annabeth pulled away from him, "I have a lot of stuff I need to do today and I know you do too."
He nodded, "I do… but we can have lunch together and then break off for the afternoon."
She smiled at him, "Of course… and you're forgetting the most important part of the day."
He looked at her, his expression confused, she laughed, "A shower."
0-0-0-0-0
After their shower and quick lunch they broke apart for the day. Annabeth hadn't really dressed up for her day, she just threw on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt to laze around in. She planned on tracing out a tentative sketch for their room, something she still couldn't wrap her head around.
Yesterday and last night had been huge for her in more ways than one. So many life changing things happened, so many thing to wrap her head around. Percy was committed to her, she was CEO of her mother's company, they had been ambushed- she had shot someone.
It was overwhelming.
She needed time to decompress, to come to grips with the depth of her love for Percy. A love that had her shooting people to save him. Annabeth grabbed her sketch book and called for tea to be brought to the master bedroom. On her way out she grabbed her phone and sent a text to Percy, telling him where she was in case he wanted to find her.
Annabeth made her way down the large corridor and up the grand staircase that no one ever saw. It was at the end of the hallway only Percy and Annabeth even set foot in. The trek up the stairs had Annabeth running her hands up the mahogany wood of the staircase- already dreaming of simple exposed beams and soft white linens.
The doors to the master bedroom were still just as beautiful as they had been yesterday. Today though, she stopped and took a moment to appreciate. Thinking of a way to incorporate them into the initial design of the room. When she was finally sitting in the center of the room with a tray of tea sitting next to her she allowed herself to dream.
Two hours and a whole pot of tea later she had something she was proud of- it needed work but the foundation was there. Annabeth lifted her arms up and stretched them before allowing herself to get off the floor. Sitting on the floor for so long definitely did nothing to improve the soreness in her muscles.
It was almost four in the afternoon when she emerged from the master suite and made the trek to Percy's office. He hadn't text her back earlier but Thalia had, demanding they get together the next day for lunch.
Annabeth made her way down the stairs with her sketchbook in hand, she had already sent a text to Katie asking for her opinion on a great contractor to work on the master suite. Katie sent her back a text with a meeting already set up with someone she trusted. It made Annabeth smile, Katie was always on top of everything- almost like she was Annabeth's personal assistant and not an interior designer extraordinaire.
Walking into Percy's office was different, she was more secure in her place with him. Ready to do whatever it took to protect him, she wasn't afraid of his outbursts or his horrible temper anymore. She just wanted to be with him and he with her.
Reyna was there, as Annabeth suspected she would be. They turned around to face her, Percy's face lighting up into a smile the moment she stepped into his office. It made her smile right back, like the lovesick teenager she felt like.
"Annabeth." Percy said, getting up from his office chair to greet her. He kissed her lips, so contrast to the last time she had interrupted a meeting between the two crime lords.
Reyna held her hand out when Percy stepped aside, "Annabeth, it's so nice to see you again, I just wish it were under less…. stressful circumstances."
Annabeth nodded and took her hand, "Me too."
Reyna looked at Percy, "We were just finishing up, let me grab my things and leave you guys alone."
Annabeth smiled at Reyna and looked at Percy, "Good meeting?"
His smile turned a bit sinister, a remnant of the old Percy, of the person she hated, "You could say that."
Annabeth shivered and he frowned as Reyna let herself out, he looked at her sketchbook, "Have something to show me?"
She shrugged, "I just laid out an initial plan for the master suite, I have a meeting with a contractor tomorrow morning and then probably lunch with Thalia afterwards."
He smiled at her, "Good, I'd love to be in the room by the end of summer."
Annabeth scoffed, "If we're lucky… that's less than a month away…. and that reminds me," She said with a wide smile, "Someone has a birthday coming up."
Percy shook his head, "Oh no, you are not planning anything."
Annabeth laughed, "What if I was planning on whisking you away to a remote destination?"
He smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Playing copy cat?"
She kissed him, "No, I just learned from the best."
Percy laughed and pulled away from her, "Come sit with me, I want to see what you drew up for the room." Annabeth smiled and allowed him to pull her to the couch in front of the fireplace.
She smiled as she opened her sketchbook and began to explain to him what each and every flick of her pencil meant. He listened to everything she told him and seemed thoroughly enraptured as she explained in detail the changes she was making to the room. It wasn't until she was finished that she finally let it sink in.
This was real, they were real- he was treating her the way she always wanted to be treated by her husband. He was listening to her, taking interest in the things she loved. Annabeth set her sketchbook beside her and leaned into him.
"I think it sounds wonderful," Percy murmured after moment, his fingers playing with her hair.
Annabeth smiled, "It will be once I'm finished with it… I'll probably drag Thalia furniture shopping with me after lunch tomorrow, that's a whole lot of room to fill up."
Percy chuckled in her ear, "I'm sure I will love whatever you buy."
Annabeth looked over her shoulder at him, "I would love it if you came with me sometime, picked out whatever you liked as well."
Percy frowned and paused, "I… don't know if we should go out in public together anymore."
She whirled around on him, "What do you mean?"
Percy leaned forward, "I just think that there will be a bigger bullseye on our backs if we go out together. If I'm to keep you safe from Kronos and his lackeys then I don't think, and Reyna agrees with me, that we should go out in public anymore."
Annabeth grit her teeth, "I could maybe understand if you didn't want to go out during the night anymore but daytime? What could he try during the day on the sidewalk?"
Percy smiled at her sadly, "You'd be surprised."
Annabeth shook her head, "Oh no, we are not putting our lives on hold just because of last night."
"Annabeth, we still have no idea who the mole is… I will not risk your safety."
She scoffed, "And not being seen in public with me will secure my safety?"
He shrugged, "It's not guaranteed but it might help."
She shook her head again, "Then, no, I'm not doing it." Annabeth stood up, her hands going straight to her hips, "We are not hiding from Kronos, we are not cowering in a corner while he does whatever he wants."
Percy stood up and faced her, "We are not cowering, just taking precautions…. besides, Reyna and I already have a plan… only told to the ones we trust explicitly."
Annabeth reached up and placed both of her hands at the nape of his neck, holding his gaze to hers, "We are not letting him win this war, Percy… I don't care what you have to do, make sure the son of bitch goes down." He smirked but she continued, "In the meantime and between your meetings with Reyna we are going furniture shopping- together. This is non-negotiable."
He frowned but clasped his hands around her waist, "You are truly a force to reckon with, Mrs. Jackson." Annabeth smiled as her heart skipped a beat, it was the first time he had referred to her married name with affection.
She laughed, "I think my husband is rubbing off on me."
He kissed her, "No, no… if anything… you're rubbing off on me…. helping me… be better." He whispered against her lips. She relished his honesty, the things he had told her last night and this morning would always stay with her.
She kissed him again, "Dinner on the terrace sounds nice," She said when she pulled back, "I have some magazines I want to flip through for decorating inspiration if you want to change and come outside with me while we wait for dinner to be served."
Percy sighed, "As tempting as that sounds, and believe be it does, I have some things I need to go over if I want to be free by dinner time and have the rest of the night off." Annabeth blushed at the implication, not really an obvious one but they both knew what would happen after dinner. Especially since they'd gone so long wanting the other and now that they finally had eachother they definitely were not wasting time.
She reached up and kissed him, letting it linger, letting him pull her tighter against him. Her heart thundering in her chest the longer the kiss continued. His hands skirting up under her shirt, her hands curling into his hair.
Annabeth tried to pull him a bit closer but he pulled back, placing one last kiss on her lips, "If we start now, I won't stop…. and I really have some things I need to attend to, a shipment is coming in later and I need my men ready for it… and I need to make sure we send the right ones so that Kronos doesn't get this one… like he got the last one."
She sighed and pulled away from him, "Don't be too long, I'll have the kitchen make your favorite."
He smiled as he slipped off his suit jacket and unbuttoned the top button on his shirt, always dressed the best- even in his home office, "Sounds perfect."
0-0-0-0-0
The next morning brought on a better day and a better mood for Percy. The new shipment made it out of the port successfully and to wherever he housed his products. Now that she knew she loved him, she didn't look too much into the illegal part of his practices. Though, she knew her conscious would rear its ugly head at some point.
But not now- not when she, finally, had him. Definitely not when he was trusting her with information and his heart.
His body was pressed against hers, her arms holding him while he slept- her chest pressing into his back. It was funny how they moved in their sleep because she distinctly remembered falling asleep on his chest, his hand running through her hair.
Annabeth kissed the spot between his shoulder blades and pulled away from him slowly. She needed to get her day started, she had a meeting with a contractor and lunch with Thalia. There was no telling what Percy needed to do today, most likely something to do with the shipment.
But she didn't have the heart to wake him up, Annabeth didn't know what time he finally fell asleep. He was sleeping so peacefully now, so she slipped out from under the sheets and then curled them around him again. Hoping he wouldn't notice her absence in his sleep.
Annabeth checked her phone before she walked to the bathroom. She had an email from her mother, informing her of the tentative date for the annual fundraiser to raise money for the local childrens hospital. Apparently, it was to be a masked ball this time.
She slipped the device back onto her nightstand and made the short trek to the bathroom. Annabeth got into the shower, wishing it were the shower in the master suite. She had to admit her excitement over a fresh start with him. She thought it would be good for them. Her shower was almost finished when she heard the wet smack of feet against tile.
She sighed, eyes closed under the waterfall faucet, "I was hoping you would sleep longer."
His throaty chuckle echoed in the large walk in shower, "Not a chance without you beside me."
She frowned and opened her eyes, the shampoo gone from her hair. His hair was sticking up all over the place, "You need a haircut, have your hairstylist come by the mansion this afternoon."
He smiled at her as they took turns under the faucet, "My hair hasn't exactly been the most important thing on my mind lately."
She frowned, "I know but we have a masked ball to attend in two weeks. I have a feeling mother is using it as way to announce my impending takeover of OI."
He sighed, "After the last two days I had forgotten about that." She smiled at him wishing
she could forget about it.
Three hours later she was in the car on her way to Manhattan, her morning meeting with the contractor passed by without fault. He had assured her that all of the changes she wanted made to the master bedroom were possible and would be done by the end of Summer.
Annabeth looked out the window, this was her first time out of the mansion since Kronos had tried to attack Percy and kidnap her. Charles was driving and Travis was sitting in the passenger seat. Percy had decided on keeping two of his best men with her whenever she left home.
It was annoying but she would do anything to quell the wild look in his eyes whenever she talked about leaving home for any length of time. Last night while they had made love it had been just as desperate as the night before. Percy clinging to her and whispering into her skin, Annabeth telling him over and over how much she loved him.
They hadn't gotten enough of the other until well into the night. It left a smile on her face as she smoothed her hair over her shoulders, Percy wasn't shy about sucking bruises into her skin. She had gotten several over the course of the two nights. Annabeth had lectured him on the importance of appearances while out in public after their shower but he hadn't cared. She had also told him how ridiculous a scarf would look in the dead of summertime.
He just smiled and kissed the spots he had left on her neck again, leaving her with one comment, "At least everyone will know we have a good sex life." She had promptly thrown her brush at him as he walked out of her bathroom.
Percy turned to her and winked before leaving her room to go change in his room. It was so different from the last time she had thrown something at him. She sighed as she remembered the cell phone she had chucked at him when he made her quit her job so many months ago. Percy had been pissed at her but offered her a small moment of truce as she leaned against his chest.
That night she couldn't possibly imagine being here today, really being his wife. They had ended up here because they couldn't control their attraction to the other. As much as Annabeth wanted to rewrite their past, rewrite the things he did to her she couldn't. She also couldn't regret the things that had happened in the last five months, they had led them here.
Her car stopped in front of the restaurant she was meeting Thalia in, Travis got out and opened her door for her. She thanked him as she slid from the leather seat, purse in hand. When she was walking into the small cafe, she felt happy. After all of this time her life finally felt normal, she was no longer lying to her best about her feelings for her husband.
Thalia waved Annabeth over and hugged her before she sat at the booth in the corner of the restaurant. They small talked until after the waiter had brought them drinks and had taken their orders.
"You look good," Thalia observed as Annabeth laughed.
"Are you implying I looked terrible before?"
Thalia rolled her eyes, "You look different… glowing, sort of… happy." Thalia's eyes took on a mischievous glint, "Is there anything you want to tell me? Is there a bun in the over?"
Annabeth shook her head and laughed, "Why do you always assume that?"
Thalia shrugged, "It's fun to tease you and besides… you're married and judging from the marks on your neck you have a very active sex life… why wouldn't it be safe to assume you could be knocked up?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "I'm not pregnant."
Thalia frowned, "That sucks, I've always wanted to be pregnant with my best friend."
Annabeth was mid sip when her mind caught up to Thalia's words, she all but slammed her drink on the the table and looked at Thalia. She was grinning, wide, waiting for Annabeth to make the connection.
"Are you-" Annabeth stuttered and then flew out of the booth and pulled Thalia in for a hug. Her best friend laughed but hugged her back.
"How?" Annabeth managed moments later.
Thalia laughed, "Do you really want those details?"
Annabeth thought over her words, "No! What I meant to say was…. Agh! I can't believe this!" Annabeth said pulling away from their hug.
Thalia got back into the booth and Annabeth did the same, "I'm only eight weeks pregnant, we found out a couple weeks ago and wanted to keep it a secret until after we had an ultrasound to confirm everything." Annabeth nodded, excitement bubbling over in her chest- she was so happy for her best friend.
"My due date is April seventeenth," Thalia picked up her drink and took a sip, "We're also getting married."
Annabeth shook her head, "Any other bombs you want to drop on me today?"
Thalia laughed, "No, I think that's about it."
Annabeth took her phone out, "Have you set a date, yet? I can give you Katie's number, she is a spectacular wedding planner."
Thalia shook her head, "It's okay… and I don't think I can afford Katie… we're just going to do the whole courthouse thing."
Annabeth set her phone down, "Thalia, you use to tell me you would never get married and now you are. At least have a small wedding at the house, overlooking the garden… please."
Thalia looked at her with wide eyes, "You want me to get married at your house?"
Annabeth nodded, "Just a small wedding, don't worry I can take care of everything." Her best friend opened her mouth just as the waiter set their food down.
A few seconds later Thalia spoke, "I can't let you do that."
Annabeth looked up at Thalia, "Yes, you can…. It's no trouble at all… you deserve a wedding day and not sitting in a courthouse all day waiting for your number to be called."
"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
Annabeth shrugged as she pierced a piece of lettuce with her fork, "Nope."
Thalia groaned, "Fine, you can plan me a wedding… just make sure it's before I start showing."
It wasn't until Annabeth was on her way back home, after they went furniture shopping and a phone call to Katie , that she really let it sink in. Her best friend was having a baby and getting married, the excitement she felt earlier was giving away to jealousy. Annabeth wanted a family, too.
She knew Percy's thoughts on the subject, she knew it wasn't an option for him and at the time it hadn't seemed like a hard thing to give up. Now, though, she could picture it. Annabeth could see little children playing on the back lawn of the mansion and she wanted it. She wanted it so badly. Percy would be an amazing father, he would be so loving- so unlike his father.
Annabeth arrived back at the mansion and went to Percy's office to let him know she was back. He only had Connor beside his open door, it was easy to walk in and lean against the wall and watch him as he worked. She couldn't stop the way more visions of children flitted through her mind, children running down the corridors- laughter filling the vacant halls.
Them running into their father's office, climbing into his lap. Percy kissing their cheeks and laughing at the things they told him. It made her smile as she focused back on the present. She knew they weren't ready for children, him especially but… maybe- one day. Once she had convinced him of leaving the business she could convince him to have children.
Annabeth walked forward and he looked up and smiled at her. She walked around the desk and sat in his lap, pulling his face to hers- kissing him freely. He kissed her back and she smiled, children could definitely wait a while- she wasn't ready to give this up just yet.