CHAPTER 20:

THE NEXT DAY (STILL PERCY POV)

I woke up really early, thank gosh. It was Annabeth's birthday.

Which meant that I was proposing to her today. Yeah-I was extremely nervous, but at the same time I was really excited. This is Annabeth. There's no need to be nervous around her, she's more than my girlfriend, she's also one of my best friends. I shouldn't be nervous around her.

As soon as I woke up though, I kissed her forehead gently and then stood up.

My girlfriend was 17 today, and besides proposing I'm also doing a scavenger hunt type thing for her.

Clues would lead her to her me, and I would have her really special gift(s).

I set everything up as fast as I can and then I nudge Thalia until she wakes up.

"Kelp Head you better have a good reason for waking me up at 6:00 in the morning." She said, faking calmness.

"I do. Your best friend turns 17 today and I need help making a cake." I say, dragging her into the kitchen.

She freezes. "Are you really going to do it today?" She whispers.

I pause in my dragging. "Yeah. I am. Do you think she'll say yes?" I ask, painfully desperate.

She looks at me in the eye and I see the most serious, un-violent look that Thalia has ever worn. "Kelp Head. She loves you more than anything else in the entire world. Of course she will." I feel much better after Thalia's pep talk.

The two of us make a cake, which surprisingly isn't too burned. Who'd have guessed that the two of us could do something like this without setting our house on fire? I sure didn't…

It was Nico that woke up next. He rubbed his eyes and stumbled into the kitchen. With his hair all over the place I couldn't help but think that he looked like the Nico before Bianca had died-happy, innocent and fun-loving.

"What are you guys doing?" He asked, sleep slurring his words.

"Making Annabeth a birthday cake." I answered, putting the last candle in the cake.

His eyes widened and he cursed softly in Greek under his breath. "That's today?" He asked, panicked.

Thalia nods. "Yeah, why?"

"I didn't buy her a present!" He said, looking really upset.

"I'm sure that she won't mind." I say, trying to console the poor kid.

"Probably not, but Annabeth was the first person besides you to actually accept me as a son of Hades. The least I can do is get her a present." I smile at him.

"Take your motorcycle. We'll cover for you if anyone asks." He looks at me gratefully.

"Thanks Perce." He says, running out of the room.

Thalia and I laugh. "Should we tell him he's still in his pajamas?" She asked.

"Nah, it's okay-we're his cousins, we can let this go." I say and she nods in agreement.

The two of us talk about how the Hunters are while waiting for everyone else to wake up.

Nearly everyone else woke up at once. First Piper and Jason walked in, followed by the Stolls, Katie, Chris and Clarisse. Then Leo and Calypso, holding hands and chatting happily walked in. Grover came bleating in exhaustion with Bianca trailing behind, also tired. Coach, Mellie and Marissa came in, with Marissa's hair looking like it had gone through a hurricane. Di and Mia come in also, talking with Annabeth's California friends. Frank and Hazel came in talking with Annabeth.

When she saw the cake with the candles lit she froze.

"Percy Jackson. What in Hades are you doing? You already got me a cake yesterday. I think we've celebrated my birthday enough." She protested.

I shake my head. "Not even close to enough Wise Girl."

She smiles weakly. "I love you." She says hugging my tightly.

I whisper the words back to her and Thalia rolls her eyes. "Just blow out the candles Annie. PLEASE?" She begs.

Annabeth blows out the candles and her eyes meet mine. I can't help but wonder what she wished for, just like I wondered yesterday night…

All of us eat the cake (blue velvet of course) and suddenly Nico runs back in.

"I GOT IT!" He yells triumphantly. "Here Annabeth, this is my gift for you." He says, handing a gift bag to her.

She looks surprised, but opens it nonetheless.

Inside is a new sketchpad and pencils, and also a book on Greek and Roman style architecture.

"Thanks Nico. But really you didn't have to." She said, hugging him tightly.

"But I did." He said simply.

"Wise Girl," I interrupt. "I have something I have to do… Why don't you go to our room and get ready. That surprise… It's coming soon." I say, my nerves jittery.

"Um… Alright. Be back soon Seaweed Brain." She said, kissing my cheek lightly.

Annabeth POV

It's official. My boyfriend is the best person in the universe.

When I walk into our room I quickly shower and change. When I walk out of the bathroom, I notice a note lying on the bed.

Curious, I walk over to it and read it.

Roses are Red

Violets are blue

In my favorite room

There's a surprise for you

LOVE, SEAWEED BRAIN

Yup. The best person.

Okay. So his favorite room… The kitchen? No… The pool room!

Getting excited, I rush to the room with the indoor pool and see a note and a bouquet of flowers sitting next to the pool. I go to pick them up and realize that my stupidly sweet boyfriend got my favorite flowers-not roses, but lavenders.

I love him.

I read the note, while absentmindedly smelling the beautiful flowers.

You're the best in the world

I like your hair in princess curls

Go to the garage and drive to the place

Where we had our first date, Ms. Chase

His rhyming is getting worse, but how could I not love him?

Following his instructions, I dutifully make my way to the garage and take his car to the place where we had our first date.

Central Park.

Yes, it's a very cliché New York couple thing to do, but it was amazing anyways.

When I arrive, I see a group of little kids playing hopscotch and few parents watching from a short distance.

I walk a bit closer and see that near their hopscotch drawing was a note written in blue chalk with a tub of sidewalk chalk near it.

First I want you to have fun

Draw with the chalk and play in the sun

Then, go to my mom's apartment

There's something there with a great scent

(BRING SOME FOR ME TOO)

Oh Seaweed Brain.

I take a purple chalk out of the tub and begin to draw a flower. (AN: I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS ACTUALLY ALLOWED BUT IT'S FOR THE STORY)

I notice the kids watching looking like they want to draw also.

"Do you want to color with me?" I ask them as sweet as I can manage.

Very excited, they nod and I motion for them to join.

For ten or fifteen minutes we color together and by the end, the whole sidewalk is covered in flowers, hearts, peace symbols, soccer balls and so much more.

I wave goodbye to the kids and begin to make my way to Sally's house.

Once I arrive, I park the car and make my way to her apartment. When she opens the door she doesn't look surprised to see me.

"Annabeth dear! It's so nice to see you. I would love to stay and chat, but Percy told me that you have to hurry and keep going so that when you bring him the cookies they won't be cold." She said, rolling her eyes and holding up the plate of blue cookies.

I laugh. "Thanks so much Sally. Is there a note also?" I ask, taking the plate.

"Oh yes, here you go. Bye Annabeth!" She said and I waved in response.

I read the note the moment I get into the car, snacking on a cookie as I do so.

Absolutely wonderful job so far

Now, I need you to get back to the car

Drive all the way to the where the gods live

They have something to give

(To you)

Well he messed up badly with that one…

I drive to Mt. Olympus and ask for the 600th floor.

"There is none." The guy says, not even looking up.

"I am Annabeth Chase. Daughter of Athena, architect of Olympus, survivor or Tartarus and so much more." I say, my voice steely calm.

He jumps in surprise and begins to stutter an excuse.

"Just give me the card." I say.

He does as I ask and I take the elevator up.

As soon as I exit the elevator, I see my mom and Percy's dad arguing.

I roll my eyes and go to break it up.

"Mom! Lord Poseidon! Please stop arguing for once." I beg.

They blush and turn to me.

"I'm sorry Annabeth. Here's my gift to you." My mom says, giving me a small ticket. "It will grant you access to speak to any dead scholar that you would like and take them anywhere for a span of an hour. I had to beg Hades, but I got it out of him."

"Wow, um thanks a lot mom." I say, hugging her.

"And, Annabeth, seeing as Percy and you are dating, I got you something as well." I never would have expected that. Poseidon was giving a daughter of Athena a birthday gift?

It's a whistle. "Um… Thank you Lord Poseidon?" I say, very confused.

He laughs heartily. "If you blow it, Blackjack's number one companion, Guido will come to you, and as long as you where this, you will be able to understand him, and he you."

That was… unbelievable.

"Thank you so much, Lord Poseidon." I say, eyes wide.

"You can call me Poseidon, Annabeth." He says winking.

"Oh, and one more thing. Here's the note Percy left for you." My mom says, handing me a small piece of paper.

Come back home, it's gift opening time

I know you're annoyed, but please don't whine

At the end there's one last surprise for you

So hurry back, everyone else is waiting too!

Attached to the note is a Hershey's kiss. Oh Percy.

Waving goodbye to my mom and Poseidon, I rush out of Mt. Olympus.

I hurry back to the house, probably breaking few speed limits, but it's okay.

I run into the house, where trail of rose petals leads me to the sitting room and a teddy bear sits at the very end. It's holding a blue heart and stitched in gray is 'I love you.'

I pick it up and hug it. "Oh Seaweed Brain." Then, everyone comes in. Everyone… Except for Percy.

"Before he comes, open our presents, okay?" Piper asks. I nod, but I can't help but wish he was here.

Piper and Jason got me the entire Hunger Games series (AN: WHICH I DO NOT OWN. UNFORTUNATELY). Leo and Calypso got me a really pretty bracelet that had an owl charm. Leo said that if you tug on the owl, it would turn in to a shield. Hazel and Frank got me a necklace that was in the shape of an A. Chris, Clarisse, the Stolls and Katie all chipped in to get me a bracelet that was engraved with my name and Percy's also, which was really sweet of them. Coach, Mellie and Marissa got me the first few Nancy Drew books (AN: DON'T OWN IT). Grover got me a pencil that if I draw with it, I can make a miniature model of whatever it was that I was drawing. So if I was drawing a building plan, a 3D mini model would pop up. Bianca and Thalia both got me a set of hunters knives, because they said that according to Artemis, I would have been a great Huntress.

After I opened everyone's presents, I heard footsteps.

I turned to see my Seaweed Brain. I ran into his arms. "You're little scavenger hunt was too sweet. Thank you so much." I kissed him to show how thankful I was.

He pulled away after a second and held my hands tightly.

"I have two more gifts for you."

"Per-" He interrupts my protests.

"No. You're my girlfriend, I can spoil you as much as I want." I blushed at that.

"Here is the first gift." He said, handing me en envelope. I open in excitedly to see two plane tickets.

Huh?

I read them aloud. "Round trip to Greece, party of two." I freeze.

He didn't.

"Perseus Jackson. Did you just get us tickets to go to Greece?" I ask.

"Yup. We can go see the Parthenon just like you've always wanted. And, I know that you want to build something permanent so… Annabeth Chase. We have known each other for so, so long. It's safe to say that you know all my secrets and I know all of yours. We're soul-mates, destined to be. Annabeth, the FATES themselves put us together. Aphrodite has our entire life planned out. And I want that life. So, so badly I want all of our five kids running around, and coming home to you every single day for the rest of my life. I want to be able to spoil my daughters, our daughters, and make our sons just like us. I want to see the greatest legacies ever, I want to see our kids. But most of all, Annabeth, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So Wise Girl, will you marry me?" He asks, getting on one knee and pulling out the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen.

I didn't even realize that I was crying until my vision blurred.

I take his hand. "Of course, Seaweed Brain. Of course I'll marry you."