A/N: Hey guys! Back again with another update! This takes place after chapter 4! Hope you like it!
"Where are we going?" Annabeth's sleepy voice mumbles as she leans against his arm. He chuckles at how adorable she sounds and leads her right up to the passenger's side of his car. Opening the door for her, he makes sure she's situated with the blanket still wrapped around her before walking to the driver's side.
It's just starting to get light out, the entire sky changing from a faint gray to an even lighter sky blue as he begins to drive.
"You'll see," he replies softly, finally answering her question. "You can go back to sleep, I'll wake you up."
"I can stay…awake…" she's already drifting off to sleep before she can finish the sentence, pulling the blanket even tighter around herself.
He can't help his smile at the action, his heart yearning for her even though she's right there next to him.
It's earlier than even he's used to waking up, and the sight before him is captivating. As he drives, the sky blue is turning warmer with hints of white and yellow fading in. He just hopes they make it there on time.
According to his GPS, they will, but there's always that part of him that doubts it. Just like the part that doubts that Annabeth Chase even wants to be here right now.
He chances a glance at her sleeping form, blanket pulled tight around her. She looks so beautiful in the morning light, so peaceful.
So much more than he can ever be.
He often wonders why she's dating him of all people, when she has the option of literally anyone else. But here she is, by his side, in his car. Even though he woke her up and told her to follow him at five in the morning.
He pulls into the parking lot, just as the sky is breaking out into a spectacular pink-orange.
"Annabeth," he says gently, nudging her awake. "We're here."
"Hmm?" she says, blinking slowly awake.
He gets out of the car and walks over to her side to help her out. "Come on."
"We're at…the beach?" she asks, still blinking sleep out of her eyes as she scans their surroundings.
He grabs her hand and leads her closer to the water. Pulling out the other blanket he brought, he lays it down on the sand.
"My lady," he says, gesturing for her to sit. She giggles, still wrapped up in her other blanket and still looking absolutely adorable. He'd made sure she had a jacket because even though it's California, it can get chilly on a February morning.
He sits down beside her and right away she leans against his shoulder, both of them facing the glorious sight before them.
"It's beautiful," she says as they watch the run rise over the water.
"Like you."
She breathes out a laugh, shaking her head at him but he just gives her a smile in return. It may be cheesy but it's true.
"Like you," she counters, booping his nose.
He just laughs and pulls her in even closer, turning back to watch the waves on the water.
"Happy early-Valentine's day," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to her head.
"Thank you," she says, tilting her head up to peck his lips. "It's amazing."
"I'm sorry I couldn't actually give you a gift," he says, looking away.
"Percy." Her voice is stern. "The dinner you cooked last night and the movie and this, it's all amazing and more than enough."
"Yeah, but I know we can't spend the actual day together and I wanted to get you something more than chocolate but I couldn't thin—"
"Percy," she interrupts again. With two fingers, she forces him to face her. "This is amazing because you're here. You're more than enough." She leans forward to peck his lips. "I just want to spend time with you, it's the only gift I need."
"But—"
She shakes her head. "No buts. Percy, please don't feel like you need to do something special. Being with you is special enough."
"But why?"
The question that's been haunting his mind finally bursts forth. "Why did you choose me of all people, you could—"
"Why did you choose me?" she asks. "Is it because I'm famous?"
"What! No, of course not!" he quickly sits up, ready to dispel that thought from her mind. "You're so kind and funny and a great person and amazing, and—"
"So why can't I like you for the same reasons?" She meets his gaze. "Why can't I like you because you're kind and funny and a great person and absolutely amazing?"
She grabs his hand.
"Percy, I chose you because I like you, it's as simple as that."
And it makes all the sense in the world when she puts it like that. She tugs him closer and leans her head on his shoulder again.
"And this is special and amazing because I'm with the person I like. Plus," she adds in a more causal tone. "I've never done this."
"What?"
"Watched a sunrise. I've watched sunsets over the beach but never a sunrise."
She turns to him. "Thank you."
He doesn't know what to say. How does he explain how much he appreciates her, for seeing him, for choosing him, how does he explain how lucky he feels to have someone like her?
"Thank you," is what he finally decides on.
And with the sand underneath them and the sun rising in the sky above them, the two meet in the middle for a kiss.
A/N: Shoutout to anon on tumblr who requested a going to the beach fic! Just wanted some more soft and loving Percabeth fluff content this month, so here it is!
As I said above, this happens after the events of chapter 4!
Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for reading!
See ya! :)