Once Percy and Annabeth were back at Camp, Percy made Blackjack land on Half-Blood hill. Because it was a sunny day there, the Golden Fleece comfortingly glowed and shimmered underneath the sunlight with protection. With one hand, Percy led Annabeth inside of the borders of their safe haven. Blackjack clopped behind them; Percy heard the flutter of his wings from a long flight home.
As the pair looked around, they saw that the occupants of Camp were still up to their daily duties: training for inevitable battles with monsters and learning about who they are. Although learning how to defend yourself was necessary, learning about your heritage was just as important. She knew that Percy thought it was, too, because for eleven long years of his life, he didn't know he had such power or that his absent father was Poseidon. Annabeth thanked the gods that she had found Thalia and Luke so early, because even though she was young, not knowing her true identity would have driven her crazy.
Once she felt her hand being squeezed, she looked up at her boyfriend. He smiled down at her, but he had a look of concern on his face. Annabeth knew he knew she was in deep thought. She returned a quiet smile that simply said: "I'm fine". Percy nodded and soon enough, they ended up in front of his cabin. Percy sat down on the stairs before Annabeth followed suit. They both looked out at the lake that was conveniently near his cabin. They both saw some campers cutting through the water and laughing in their canoes. This was the kind of music they both liked to hear.
Annabeth's eyes flickered to her boyfriend when he perked up suddenly as if remembering something. He mumbled something between the lines that he'll be right back. He disappeared into the cabin before he reappeared in front of her. Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him as he sat back next to her. In his palm there was a small, green velvet bag with drawstrings. Annabeth's eyebrows raised and she looked to Percy from the bag.
"Perce," She started. "You didn't have to . . . you've already done enough for me. . ." Percy cracked a smile and offered the bag out to her.
"Stop sounding like me after we kiss, WiseGirl, and open it." Annabeth sighed at him before she picked the back with a couple of fingers. She gently eased it open and a simple, ring of silver fell into her palm. Her lips curved into a smile that made Percy's heart drop. She picked the ring up and studied it. She laughed once she saw what was engraved on the inside. In curvy lettering, the message said: "WiseGirl and Seaweed Brain". She turned her smile towards her boyfriend as she looked at him; she enclosed the ring in her palm.
"Thank you, Percy. It's very nice." Percy smiled and nodded, running a hand through his hair.
"You're welcome, but I couldn't have done it without the kids of Hephaestus and Aphrodite," He admitted with a shrug. Annabeth could tell he was blushing a bit. Annabeth's smile grew at his confession. She took off her Camp necklace and strung the ring next to her bead with the trident: the clay memory of when Percy made his first appearance at Camp. That was a year she would never forget or regret: she retrieved her first quest and the beginning of her first relationship. Although it kind of meddled with the pattern of the beads, she thought it fit right in.
Percy's eyebrows rose once he saw what she was doing. He opened his mouth to protest her actions, but he quickly shut his mouth after he decided to not say anything.
Maybe he would save the ring for another time and purpose.