CHAPTER 12:

Percy POV

This is incredible.

The only people besides the gods and Annabeth's dad that know what I'm going to do are the Seven, Coach, Thalia, Nico, Tyson, Chiron and the Athena Cabin.

I can't believe that Athena agreed to let me propose to Annabeth.

This is a dream come true.

Without any warning, I picked Annabeth up and spun her around in the air.

She was surprised, and yelped slightly. "What was that for, Seaweed Brain?" She asked, with flushed cheeks.

"Nothing, I'm just really happy right now." I answered, squeezing her hand.

They met the rest of the demigods outside of the Empire State Building.

Thalia saw the ecstatic look on my face. "She agreed, Perce. You're good to go!" She squealed.

I nodded.

Annabeth looked annoyed. "Does everyone know what you're talking about but me?" She asked.

I just smiled at her.

She rolled her eyes, and I quickly changed the subject. "So who's coming the day after tomorrow, Wise Girl?" I asked.

She smiled. "My friends form San Francisco-Amelia; her boyfriend, Danny; Mary; her boyfriend, Steve; and Jonas." She said. I smiled.

We got into the cars and drove back to the house.

Nico and Leo began preparing rooms for Bianca and Calypso, both looking happier than I had seen them in a while.

Annabeth and I got to work preparing rooms for her 5 friends.

Annabeth POV

What is Percy hiding?

I trust him completely, and I know that this surprise is probably for something good, but being a child of Athena, I'm naturally curious.

By then, it was about 10:00, and so we got ready for bed.

He wrapped his arms around me and I smiled at him.

"I love you Seaweed Brain." I whispered to him.

He kissed me. "Love you more, Wise Girl."

I snort. "Impossible."

"Nothing's impossible, Wise Girl." He smiled at me, kissed me once more, and then we drifted off to sleep.

Percy POV

I was overly happy and fell asleep, with a smile on my face.

I woke, however, to something horrible. A scream-Annabeth's scream.

She had her eyes screwed shut and was tossing and turning fitfully in her sleep. A nightmare-and a Tartarus one at that.

I gently stroked her cheek, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, until she calmed down and woke up.

"Sorry for waking you, Perce." She whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

I smiled wryly. "It's nothing, Wise Girl." I whispered back to her.

"I can't go back to sleep right now, Percy." She said, stumbling out of bed.

I climbed out after her. "Let's go to the pool then."

She shook her head. "You go back to sleep, Seaweed Brain."

"No way. I'm coming with you." She smiled at me.

Hands intertwined, we made our way to the indoor pool. I jumped in, and then pulled Annabeth down in with me.

She laughed, as I created an air bubble underwater.

I pulled her in and dried her off. For a moment, I just stared at her.

When she noticed me staring she blushed.

She smoothed her hair self-consciously. "Why are you staring at me Seaweed Brain?" She whispered, still blushing.

"Because you are the most beautiful person that I have ever laid eyes on." I say truthfully.

"Don't be ridiculous, Percy! You've seen all of the Aphrodite girls, and Aphrodite herself. I'm not nearly as pretty as them." She scoffed.

Annabeth POV

When I told him that I'm not nearly as pretty as the Aphrodite girls or Aphrodite herself, I couldn't help but notice this look in Percy's eyes.

It was passionate and firm, and made his gorgeous eyes even bluer than normal.

"Annabeth, listen to me." He said, gripping my hands tightly. "The Aphrodite girls are stuck up brats, except for Piper, and have too much makeup on so they look like clowns. And every time I see Aphrodite, she looks just like you, but the only thing is, that she dresses up your image, putting to much makeup on, etc. You are beautiful without all that stuff, making you, in my mind, at least, the most beautiful person that I have ever seen." He had this pure vision of love in his eyes.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I threw my arms around him. "You are perfect, Percy! I love you."

"Nah, Wise Girl. You're perfect." This just made me smile wider and hug him tighter.

We sat in the bubble for a little while longer, just talking, until I realized that we should probably begin getting ready for school. I realized that today Bianca and Calypso would be here, tomorrow my friends would be here, and the day after tomorrow is my birthday!

As we climbed out of the pool, Percy leaned in close to me.

"I have a surprise for you on your birthday." He whispered.

My eyes lit up. "Really?" I say, squeezing his arm tightly.

He nods, but there is a slightly nervous look in his eyes.

We get to our room, and while Percy showers, I lay on the bed thinking about my wonderful boyfriend.

He emerges from the bathroom; clad in jeans and a gray tee-shirt with a leather jacket that Nico gave him. He strides over to me and kisses my cheek.

I smile, and then walk to the bathroom to take my shower.

I blow dry my hair afterwards, and straighten it. I realized that when straightened, my hair reached my waist. This was surprising because I rarely straighten my hair. I clip my hair up slightly in the back, getting the loose tendrils away from my face.

I put on a blue tank top with a black crop top on top. I put on gray shorts with a blue pattern on the bottom and put on these sneakers that Percy gave me last Christmas. They were gray and green with Sharpie marks all over. He wrote all these sweet things on the sides of the shoes. All these inside jokes like "PEANUT BUTTER" and "FISH PONIES" and "Air bubble ;)" and "Mt. St. Helens" and on and on. I obviously loved them.

I came out of the bathroom. I didn't see Percy anywhere, and I immediately panicked.

"Percy. Where are you?" I asked. Then I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind. "Hey there, Wise Girl. I was getting something from my closet, sorry." He whispered.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Percy, you scared me. I thought that you went missing again." I whispered in a vulnerable voice, tears threatening to spill.

He turned me so that I was facing him. "I'm really sorry, Wise Girl. I was getting this from my closet where I had hidden it." He pulled out this necklace that made me gasp.

It had a silver chain with a heart locket. I opened it. On one side was a picture of Percy and me as 12 year olds, right after our first quest, looking awkward and uncomfortable with each other but smiling nonetheless, and on the other side was a picture of our reunion at Camp Jupiter. I have no idea who took a picture of that particular moment, but it was perfect nonetheless.

"Oh, Seaweed Brain! It's beautiful!" I whispered.

He locked it around my neck and kissed my temple. "I love you, Wise Girl."

"Love you too, Perce. Seaweed Brain! This must have cost a fortune! Why did yo-" He cut me off.

"Tyson…" He said and I smiled.

"Tell him I said thank you." I kissed him lightly.

"I will. And, by the way, Wise Girl-you look magnificent." I blushed furiously.

He intertwined my hand in his, and then checked his watch. "Everyone will be waking up around now." Instantaneously, the wake-up call blared in everyone's room.

I gasped suddenly. "Percy! Bianca and Calypso!" His eyes widened.

We ran out of the room to the room that Nico had set up for his sister. On the bed, was a girl who was sleeping soundly despite all of the noise.

Percy snickered. "I guess she sleeps like the dead." I smacked him, and then cautiously walked up to Bianca's bed. I shook her wake gently.

Her eyes opened and she saw me. "You-you're that girl that helped to rescue me and Nico. Are you dead too?" She asked. Then she noticed Percy. "Percy? You're dead as well?"

He smiled sweetly. "Bianca, your brother was granted a wish, and he wished for your dad to bring you back." He whispered.

Her eyes widened. "Nico?" She breathed.

I nodded. "If you get ready, we can go see him. We have to go to school, and, sorry but you're going to have to come with us." I said, smiling wryly at her.

She returned my smile, and then ran into her closet.

She took a quick shower, while Percy and I conversed on her bed. She emerged after a few minutes, in a black tank top with a white cardigan and a black skirt.

She turned to me immediately. "Can we go see Nico, now?" She pleaded.

I nodded, and lead her to her brother's room. I knocked gently on the door. Nico opened it immediately, all prepared for school.

He noticed who was with us. "Bianca." He murmured. He ran to his sister and hugged her.