I do not own anything from Rick Riordan's Universe. Enjoy.

Chapter 20

Annabeth refreshed her mail home page for the hundredth time, but still, there were no new emails yet. She knew she was being highly impatient, because she had just sent the design a couple of days ago, but she was hoping for at least a confirmation response.

She closed her laptop and sighed. Arachne was her last hope since she had handed her two weeks' notice to her boss at the bookshop and Connor had told her he would take a while before finding another part-time job for her. At that point, she didn't even care working as an assistant again as long as she was part of an architecture firm.

Annabeth took a deep breath and tried to get her laptop into her bag under the front seat, without waking Percy up. He had his head against her shoulder and had been sleeping for the last four hours, even throughout turbulences and Annabeth's constant shifting. She envied his capacity of falling asleep in almost anything.

She decided to watch a movie to kill the rest of the time, but just then the captain's voice announced they were already descending. She looked outside the window and watched the sun gently rising and caressing the lazy clouds below her. The sight made her warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Okay, so maybe she was overthinking again. A week with Percy in Australia was supposed to be some kind of vacation for her, right? So, for her mental sake, she should better stop thinking about Arachne and her unemployed state, if she didn't want her trip to be ruined by stress and paranoia.

Stop thinking and relax…she could do that. Definitely.

Could she?

"Excuse me," the flight attendant said, taking Annabeth's attention away from the window. "We are close to landing, could you…" and then she signaled Percy and his seat.

"Oh, sure."

She smiled gratefully and then proceeded to check the rest of the seats. Annabeth shook Percy gently.

"Hey," she whispered. "Babe, it's time to wake up. We are close to landing."

It took a little more shaking before Percy finally stirred in his sleep and groggily sat upon his chair. He looked so cute with his head ruffled up and how confused his eyes were.

"You need to pull up your seat." She said, giggling at his dazed state.

He did what she asked and then rubbed his eyes, before looking at her in a funny way.

"What?" she asked.

"I had a weird dream." He said, putting her seatbelt back on.

"Really? What was it?"

He closed his eyes as if remembering. "Well, I don't remember much. But at the end, I heard you calling me 'babe'…"

"Definitely a weird dream." She said, hiding her smirk. "I would never call you that."

Percy narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips while he thought deeply. "It felt so real…"

"How did you sleep?" she interrupted before he could realize it was not a dream.

He yawned. "It was awesome. I practically didn't feel the flight, and I really hate flying." He grabbed her hand and smiled. "Did you get some sleep too?"

"Um, no. But it's okay. That way I can keep track of my jet lag."

Percy frowned. "But you took your pills before taking off."

"Yeah, but I guess my insomnia is worse while flying."

"What did you do all this time then?"

"I read some books and worked on some stuff on my laptop."

Percy sighed and laid against his chair. "Please don't tell you spent the whole flight waiting for Arachne's response."

"I didn't." she lied.

"Good, because you're supposed to be on this trip to relax."

She swallowed. "I know. I'll try to remember that."

HeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeyth

"Is it here?" Annabeth asked excitedly as their cab stopped in front of an old and big yellow house with Ocean's logo on the metallic doors. The sunrays clashed against the brick roof and produced a warm feeling by just looking at it. The balconies and verandas gave it a colonial vibe and were perfect for the subtropical area.

Percy leaned towards her and looked outside of the window. "Yep, it is."

"Then what are we waiting for?" she said, opening her door and stepping out of the car. The climate was a little warm and humid, but not enough to be unbearable, and Annabeth was relieved they hadn't come in summer.

She got the trunk and started getting their stuff out before the driver could even help her. When all their bags were on the sidewalk, Percy gave the kind driver a tip, and they watched as the small car left towards the same direction they had come from.

"It was nice of your dad to arrange our transportation," Annabeth told him, as they approached the intercom next to the gates.

"It was, but I think he did it because he was more excited than I had accepted the job than myself."

"He just thinks you'll be happier doing this."

Percy chuckled. "Nah. He was just relieved that he was finally getting another assistant. A good one." Annabeth hated when Percy underestimated his own job. It was true that he wasn't exactly the greatest assistant ever, but it was because it wasn't his thing. She knew he was going to be the best at studying the oceans.

"It's hard to be good at something you don't like, Percy."

He shrugged. "You were a good assistant…and an excellent bookseller."

"That's because I'm a work freak."

He laughed. "Yeah, you're right." He pushed the black button on the intercom, and they waited for a few seconds.

"Hello?" asked a voice on the other end.

Percy smiled. "Tyson? It's Percy."

"Percy!" the voice answered, cheerfully. "Come in, come in!"

There was a buzz and the metal gates opened. They grabbed their bags and headed towards the entrance stone stairs that lead to the principal wooden doors. Annabeth was gawking at the distribution of the white windows and the exterior supports holding the balconies and a high roof. She would have loved to incorporate those colonial factors into modern architecture.

The door opened and a tall and broad guy stood there, giving them a toothy smile. He had wavy chocolate-brown hair and big hands. His shirt had the same logo as the metallic door, and he had a stained apron on top. But there was one thing that caught her attention. He had a patch on his left eye.

"Percy!" The guy yelled again and squeezed Percy in a huge hug. Percy, trying to breathe again, patted his back and said, "Good to see you again, big guy." Finally, the young man let her boyfriend go, and turned towards her, his smile still on.

"Tyson, this is my girlfriend Annabeth." Percy introduced her. "Annabeth, this is my friend Tyson. We studied together for a while and he got a job in here, after graduating."

"Percy helped me with my classes," Tyson said, stretching Annabeth's hand.

"He did?" she looked at her boyfriend, who was mildly blushing.

"Oh, yeah. He was one of the best in class!"

Annabeth blinked. "He was? Why didn't I know any of this?" she demanded to Percy. He just shrugged and said, "It never came up, Wise Girl. Besides, I was good, but in no way at your same level."

"And you still remained as an assistant for so long?" she kept asking, and Tyson shifted uncomfortably.

"So were you." Percy fired back.

She shook her head and closed her eyes. Relax. Remember, you're on vacation and are not supposed to fight. You're just tired from the flight.

"Okay. Let's just get inside." She said, smiling politely at Tyson. "It's nice to meet you, Tyson."

"Same. You are really pretty." He answered, avoiding her eyes, and her gaze softened.

"That's really sweet. Thank you."

Then she grabbed her bags and got inside. As she stepped into the common area, she heard Tyson whispering to Percy, "Sorry for getting you in trouble." Her boyfriend sighed and said, "It's okay, big guy. You did nothing wrong."

As the boys talked about random things, Annabeth stopped to detail the interior of that beautiful house. The ceiling was higher than she had imagined, and there were amazing grey fans spinning slowly, so the room was a bit fresher. There were a big open concept kitchen and large living room with several places to sit. On the other side of the room, there was a deck with stairs leading to what Annabeth assumed was the ocean. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves.

"Annabeth?" Percy asked, getting her out of her architect stage.

"Yeah?"

"Ready to go to our room?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah." She grabbed her bags again and followed the guys to the left-wing of the house. They went up the stairs and entered the final room on the right side of the hallway. Annabeth almost jumped of joy when she saw the little balcony on the room, and they had a view of the sea.

"This was Jeff's room. You got lucky he was reassigned to Iceland." Tyson said, standing on the doorframe. "The bathroom is the door in the front, and there's another one at the other end of the hallway." Annabeth left her bags on the floor and walked directly to the balcony. She opened the French style doors and the sea breeze hit her face. It was wonderful.

"Thanks, Tyson." She heard Percy saying, and she got back into the room to also thank Percy's friend for his attention.

"You're welcome, guys." He was about to close the room when his eyebrows raised, and his right eye widened. "Oh, I forgot. I was making breakfast for you in case you were hungry. You can come down at any time."

Percy looked at her for an answer. She wasn't hungry at all, but Tyson was so nice she couldn't say no to him. She nodded.

"Thanks, big guy," Percy said. "We'll be down in a sec."

"Cool." Tyson finally closing the door, and then they were alone.

Annabeth grabbed one of her bags and placed them on their queen-sized bed. "Tyson is nice." She said, getting her clothes out.

"He's the nicest person I've ever met. He likes almost everyone, even if he had a rough childhood." He agreed as he approached her from behind. "What are you doing?"

"Unpacking." She said, folding the clothes on a neat pile. Percy groaned, dramatically.

"Do we have to do that now?"

"Well, you don't have to. But what better time than now? And knowing you, it'll be the end of the week and your clothes are gonna be all wrinkled up in a corner."

"Nah…they'll be all wrinkled up in a bag."

Annabeth laughed and she stopped unpacking when Percy sneaked his arms around her stomach. He started swaying her slowly, and she closed her eyes. "Are we cool with whatever happened downstairs?" he whispered. "Which, by the way, I still don't know why you got so worked up about."

She sighed and turned in his arms, so they were facing each other. "It was nothing. I'm just really tired and I guess that made me a little cranky."

"Don't you want to stay and sleep then?"

"Of course not! I need to spend this day with you since you start working tomorrow. And if I touch that bed now, nothing's getting me out ever again. You just have to put up with my character for today."

He smiled. "I love your character." He said, and then he kissed her, slowly.

"You think it's impossible." She whispered.

"It is. But it's also hot."

Annabeth laughed and they kept kissing, each time with more urgency until Percy had her cornered against the bed.

"Tyson is waiting for us," Annabeth said out of breath when they both started exploring each other's bodies a little bit too much.

"I'm sure he can wait a few minutes more."

Annabeth thought it was rude of them to keep his friend waiting with their breakfast, but her body had other plans when she took off his shirt and found herself saying, "Yeah, he can wait."

HeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeyth

Her mind had lied to her. She was, indeed, starving. Tyson's French Toasts were incredible, and she even had a second portion after asking him if it was okay for her to have more. He had been excited that Annabeth had liked his cooking, and to show her how grateful she was, she had given him a peck on his cheek before washing all the dishes herself.

"The other's wanted to say hi," Tyson told Percy, still blushed from Annabeth's kiss. "But they had to run a few tests today and we are on a very tight schedule. Still, your welcoming party is tonight, and we are all glad you finally accepted the job."

Percy chuckled. "I'm glad I'm here too, big guy. But I haven't accepted it yet."

"Oh, but you will! Percy loves the sea, more than anything in the world." Tyson told Annabeth. "At the end of the week, he'll be begging Poseidon to let him stay. Right?"

Annabeth forced a smile. "If he's happy here, then yes. He should stay."

Tyson nodded vigorously and said, "And you'll be staying too, right?"

Annabeth frowned. "Um…"

"Thanks for the food, Tyson." Percy interrupted with suspicious speed. "I'm gonna take Annabeth for a walk on the beach if that's okay with you."

"Of course! The beach is beautiful, and the weather is perfect today. Just remember to wear a lot of sunscreens." He said, moving his shirt so they could see their sunburned shoulders.

They waved goodbye and promised him to be there by six, to celebrate Percy's welcome party. Then, Annabeth followed her boyfriend through the small deck, down the stairs, and into the white-ish beach. They took off their shoes and walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

The view was beautiful, and it was definitely something they couldn't see in New York. Montauk was amazing, but it was just a minimized version of what they were experiencing right now. The air was cleaner, and Percy was happier looking at that ocean than the Hudson river back home.

"This is wonderful," she said as they finally turned back and made their way back to the house so they could shower and go see the town closest to them.

"It is," he grabbed her hand. "What do you think about the house?"

Her eyes shinned. "It's a classic one, Percy. It's very charming and, although old, it seems that your company has taken great care of it, and even I think they've done some restoration work. I love colonial architecture. It's so colorful and full of life, and it makes you want to cheer up every time you see those balconies and verandas." Percy chuckled and Annabeth frowned. "What?"

"You realize I didn't understand a word of what you just said."

She pushed him playfully. "That's your problem, Seaweed Brain. You should have paid for attention in your history class back at school." He stuck out her tongue at her and she laughed. "Fine. I won't talk about it with you again."

"Oh, no. You got me wrong. I love hearing you talk about it, even if I don't get it. You get so excited about it, it's cute."

Annabeth blushed. "It's what I love."

"I know." They kept walking, and when the house entered their vision again, Annabeth said, "So, you share the house with other researchers, right?"

"Yep."

"Any beautiful scientists I should worry about before I leave you here for a good time?" she joked. Percy, however, didn't take her comment with humor.

He shrugged. "Don't know, don't care."

When he didn't say anything else, she grabbed his hand and they finished their walk, in silence.

HeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeythereimalinebreakenjoyyourdayHeyth

Annabeth watched with a small smile on her lips how much Percy was enjoying being the center of attention. Everyone was asking him about his studies, his thoughts, his goals, and they weren't even concerned about him having any kind of favoritism by being the son of the big boss.

She knew Percy was very good at socializing and making new friends, but even she was amazed at how quickly he had connected with all the scientists living in the yellow house. They all seemed like a family, and they had adopted Percy into their vibe almost immediately.

That's why Annabeth didn't mind sitting in the kitchen table on her own, watching how happy he looked sharing with the others on the deck, as the waves crashed against the beach under the starry night.

"Beer?" someone asked beside her, and Annabeth turned to find a young woman offering her a green glass bottle.

"Uh, thanks. Tamara, right?" she accepted the beer, and the woman sat on the chair next to her.

"Yeah, and your name is?"

"Annabeth."

Tamara smiled, and her freckles expanded through her cheeks. "Nice to meet you, Annabeth. I offered one of these to your boyfriend and he turned it down…is he pregnant?"

Annabeth laughed. "No, that I know of. He just doesn't like drinking." She took a sip from the bitter drink and sighed. "It's pretty good."

"It's a local one."

She nodded and tried to conceal a yawn, so her companion wouldn't think she was boring her. Luckily, it wasn't the case.

"Jet lag is hitting you?" Tamara asked.

"Yeah. I didn't get any sleep on the plane."

"Well, it usually takes a couple of weeks to get used to it, but you're leaving again in seven days. So, sorry but it's gonna be a constant festival of yawning."

Annabeth laughed. "Damn. But I think that's what you get when you travel to the other side of the world for just one week."

"Agree." Tamara looked at the people on the deck. "We all think it's very sweet of you to travel all the way here just to support him."

"He would have done the same."

Annabeth finished her beer, and Tamara offered to go for more. "I don't know if I should…"

"Oh, c'mon. You are the only one of us who doesn't go to work tomorrow, so drink for us." Tamara said laughing, and Annabeth finally agreed.

They talked a bit about themselves. Tamara was from LA and had studied Biology in Berkeley. She had worked with Greenpeace for a few years, before getting a job offer for Ocean's Enterprises. She told Annabeth how she had started in Shanghai, then in Brazil, and had finally been assigned to Australia.

Annabeth whistled. "You've traveled a lot for being our age."

"That's mostly out the job," Tamara said, and then shrugged. "There are on-going investigations all over the world, and we, as scientists, love to take part in as many as we can." She smiled. "I wouldn't be surprised if your boyfriend is reassigned to a different part of the world in six months; maybe Iceland, or Japan, or Nicaragua…" she stopped when she noticed Annabeth's sad expression. "But you don't have to think about it now. He hasn't even accepted the job, right?"

Annabeth sighed. "Right."

But he should, she thought.

"And what do you do?" Tamara asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'm an architect."

"That's so cool! And what are you working on?"

Annabeth finished her third beer. "I'm, currently, unemployed. But I've just applied to a firm in New York, and I'm waiting for their answer."

"Have you only looked in New York? Because there are some nice firms in here, as well."

"Yeah, but I'm interested in only New York, for now. The best ones are there."

"You're ambitious. I like that in a woman." Tamara said winking at her, and Annabeth almost choked in her beer. Her new friend laughed and said, "Your boyfriend it's coming so I better get moving. It was nice talking to you, Annabeth."

Then she stood up and left a very confused Annabeth sitting on the table. Percy took the seat in which Tamara had been on and smiled at her.

"Hey! Tamara's nice, right?"

"Um, yeah. Although I think she just flirted with me."

Percy laughed. "Oh, man. And I missed it?"

"The thing is…" Annabeth continued, placing her fourth beer on the table. "I think I liked it."

He stopped laughing and raised an eyebrow. "Should I be the one concerned about cute people in this house?"

It was her turn to laugh as she threw her arms around his neck. "Don't worry, Seaweed Brain. I'm only attracted to men, so far." She bit her lip. "Well, just one for now."

She played with his hair as he smirked and asked, "I wonder who he is?"

"Oh, you know him well."

"I do?"

"You even studied with him."

"Really?"

Percy leaned in for a kiss, but Annabeth pushed him back. "What are you doing? I can't do that to Tyson."

His expression was priceless, and she exploded into a fit of laughter so hard that she had to hold her stomach.

"Very funny, Wise Girl," Percy said sarcastically. He pushed the beer far away from her and said, "I think you've had enough of these. And, FYI, Tyson already has a girlfriend, so sorry but he's not available."

"He has?" Annabeth asked, drying her tears.

"Yep. Her name is Ella and she has a bookstore in the town we visited today." He clicked his tongue. "Maybe you should send her your cv since you have a master's in selling books."

"Haha."

She watched as Tyson talked with a few of his friends and was even mimicking some parts of a story.

"What happened to his eye?" she asked out of curiosity.

"Streetfight."

Annabeth blinked. "How?"

"He used to be homeless and, one day, he slept in the wrong part of the city."

"That's terrible."

"Yeah, but Tyson is a tough guy. He was welcomed by one of my father's foundations and they paid for his studies. He says he's indebted to him since then."

"Wow. He must feel very accomplished."

"Nah. Tyson is too humble for that."

Percy grabbed her hand and they watched the others socialize for a while. At some point, two other scientists sat with them on the table and talked to Percy about the data they had recollected that day. Annabeth listened attentively for the first twenty minutes, but after that, she had to fight her eyelids from closing due to exhaustion.

She must have been to concentrate on being awake, that she was surprised and relieved when Percy told them, "We should go to sleep now. I don't want jet lag to ruin my first day of work."

They said goodbye to Percy's colleagues and they finally headed towards their room. After readying themselves to go to sleep, Annabeth asked what his agenda was for the next day.

"The guys are taking me to see the lab and then show me how they collect samples on the reef. It's gonna be interesting. What about you? What do you want to do tomorrow?" He got into bed, while Annabeth finished arranging their stuff in the small closet.

"Eat. Sleep. Read. At least, until you come back, and then we can go exploring. That if you don't finish too tired." And, probably, freak out over not getting an answer from Arachne. No answer. "Percy?"

The snoring coming from the bed answered her. She finished unpacking and finally went sleeping, thinking that she only had six days left with him. It was going to hurt, but now she was more curtained that Percy needed to take this job, even if it meant staying away from her. That's why she had come after all. She had until the end of the week to convince him to stay.

A/N: Hey, guys! Ok, good news and bad news.

Bad news: There are only ten chapters left.

Good News: Hell is about to get loose! Brace yourselves for a lot of drama and hard decisions. I'm really going to spice things up.

Thank you so much for everyone who has liked the story so far.

Kudos!