He's Gone Away…

Chapter 3

Reminiscing

Annabeth's POV

I dreamed of Percy! I dreamed of the night we went camping, about weeks ago. Why he took me camping in winter, I'll never know. But it was wonderful.

Tears welled up at the memory. Percy, oh, gods… When you proposed to me all I could think was, well, everything, nothing and happiness. I have NEVER been more confused and completely happy in my life. And when we kissed it felt if the world was PERFECT! And as you know I hardly ever think anything is perfect. Except for you… And after that kiss, we kissed more and more and … Well… You know…

"Hay!"

"AHHHHHH!"

"Sorry, Annabeth, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's ok Piper."

"Annabeth… You were smiling, what were you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about Percy and when we went camping."

"Can you tell me?"

"Um… Ya, I'll tell you some of it." Annabeth said hesitantly.

"Well, it was snowing and"

"Wait, snowing?"

"Ya, Percy thought it was romantic, that seaweed brain, but all it was it was cold! But that was fine. It gave him an excuse to wrap his arms around me…"

Two minutes later… "Uhh… Annabeth. Earth to Annabeth."

"Sorry, I was thinking about Percy."

"So, your camping trip…"

"What camping trip?" Exclaimed Thalia, who had just walked up to them, at the base of Thalia's Tree.

"Thals, you know the one… (After Thalia's blank look.) The one in the oh, so romantic FREEZING snow!"

"Oh, that one, so where were you?"

"The part where there was snow."

"You mean the beginning?"

"Yep!"

"Okey dokey! I'm listening!"

"Oh, goody!" (Sarcastically)

"So, Annabeth can you tell the story!" exclaimed Piper, who was excluded from that little conversation.

Oh, what should I tell them… I really miss Percy… Tears started to fall down her check. I wish he was here.

"Annabeth, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I don't want you crying!"

Angrily swiping the tears from her eyes, "I'm fine."

"So, when we got there, we set up camp. Of course I did all the work and he still managed to knock the tent down three times. Finally once we got it set up, I started to make a fire, which was NOT going well. After an hour of painstaking work I started a fire and started to make hot coco. Percy got so excited he almost knocked it over. Then when it was ready, around 5:30, we made dinner. It's a good thing a packed extra hot coco and smores materials. By the time the stars came out, we had finished dinner and were making smores."

"After smores, we got up and walked down to the shore of the lake. The moon was out and it was romantic, thought I hope Artemis wasn't looking, and then we started kissing. Then Percy pulled out a present. He told me to open it, but I said it's not Christmas yet. Percy told me that it is an early Christmas present and to "open it before it snows." So I did…" Annabeth started crying.

A while later, "It was a ring, an engagement ring…" She sobbed, while Thalia moved around to hug her and Piper put a hand on her nee reassuringly.

Once Annabeth regained her composure she continued with, "Well, after I had opened it, he asked me. "Annabeth, I have known you since we were 12 and I have loved you just as long. Will you marry me? We can marry tomorrow, in a month, a year or ten. When doesn't matter much to me as long as you know I love you with all my heart and I will keep loving you till I die."" Tears were silently rolling down her checks while telling them this, "he also said, "I will never forget you and NEVER EVER be able to stop loving you; Annabeth please don't cry I can't stand it." Then I laughed and said they were tears of joy and I didn't care when we married, and I would always love him, till the end of the world."

"That is SO romantic," exclaimed Piper, just like her mother.

"Well after that he kissed me, with such passion that I thought I would melt. Then it started snowing… I think your mother, Piper, had something to do with that." Annabeth smiled.

"Well after that we went back to our camp, put out the fire and went into the tent." Annabeth grinned wider then before (if that was even possible).

"Annabeth, what happened next?" (Piper)

"I've told you too much already." The conch signaling lunch blew. "Time for lunch."