Chapter 23:
Percy POV (at camp)
When we arrived at camp, I hadn't even noticed. Annabeth and I had been talking about our old quests and I wasn't paying attention to anything around me.
"Er… Boss? We're here…" Blackjack trailed off awkwardly.
I look up surprised. Blackjack was right. "Wise Girl, we're here."
Annabeth excitedly jumped off and ran to the entrance of camp. "I've missed camp so much!" She said, and I smiled at her.
"Thanks Blackjack." I said appreciatively. "And I'll try to bring donuts next time."
He nickered excitedly. "Thanks, boss!"
"No problem Blackjack."
I waved to him once more before turning to see Annabeth still waiting for me impatiently.
"Ready, Seaweed Brain?" She asked teasingly.
"Yeah sorry Wise Girl." I say, jogging up to her and lacing our fingers together.
We enter camp, and I am pleased to notice that nothing has changed.
Ares kids are still as scary as always, Apollo kids are still playing basketball, Demeter kids are still gardening… It's just like how it's supposed to be.
I hear Annabeth sigh contentedly, and I squeeze her hand happily.
We turn when we hear someone behind us, and both immediately break into grins when we see Mr. D.
"Mr. D!" We shout, looking at each other trying not to laugh.
"Peter, Annie Bell. I thought I was rid of you for the year." He said, sounding disgusted.
"We couldn't survive without our favorite camp director!" Annabeth said, somehow managing to keep a straight face.
He sneered then walked away.
The two of us exchange looks and immediately just fall to the floor laughing. Annabeth and I had this bet going to see who could annoy Mr. D enough to the point where he walks away, disgusted.
And of course, Annabeth won again.
Oh well. You don't bet against Annabeth.
After we got our laughter under control, she held her hand out.
Grumbling, I fished around in my pocket for a drachma, and shoved it in her hand.
"Sorry Seaweed Brain, but you should have known. Daughter of Athena. And you know that Athena-"
"Always has a plan." I finish for her. "I know, Wise Girl."
She stuck her tongue out, and me-being very mature, mimicked the action.
Annabeth laughs and the two of us continue walking around camp.
We make a stop at the Athena cabin for her to see her brothers and sisters.
"Annabeth!" All the little kids shouted excitedly.
She ran to them, arms open and hugged them.
Though she didn't look it, she was very close to her siblings and was very protective of them all.
After hearing their smart people talk for awhile, I started getting bored, and tried pulling her out of the cabin.
"Wise Girl! Let's goooooo!" I whined.
She glared. "Seaweed Brain. Let go of my arm."
I let go of her arm.
She turned away and continued to talk to her siblings.
I sighed.
"Please Wise Girl?" I asked, pouting.
She sighed. "Fine Seaweed Brain, we can go." I internally pumped my fist in victory.
"Bye Annabeth!" All the kids shouted, and she waved by to them.
As soon as we were out of the cabin, I began dragging her to the beach, and we just sat.
Her head was on my shoulder, and I just took in her lemony and just completely Annabeth scent. I pulled her closer and she hugged me tighter.
"I love you Wise Girl." I whispered into her hair.
"I love you too Seaweed Brain." She murmured into my shirt.
After a few minutes of us relaxing, I give her a mischievous look.
"Hey Wise Girl? How do you feel about going for a swim?"
"PERCY JACKSON DON'T YOU DARE!" But it was too late, I had shoved her in and jumped in right after.
I made an air bubble where we sat. She glared at me.
"Percy! I didn't want to swim!"
"Sorry Wise Girl. Maybe a kiss will make you feel better?" I suggested cheekily.
Before she could respond, I pressed my lips onto hers, remembering the moment that we had gotten together. It was quite similar to this-both of us underwater, in an air bubble, kissing. It was probably the best day of my life.
Thalia POV
We were pretty much done preparing the party, and I was excited. I might be a Hunter of Artemis, but I was really happy that two of my best friends were getting the happiness that they deserved.
After we were ready, we all sat chatting about the wedding until Percy and Annabeth arrived.
They had walked in, both pretty much glowing.
"SURPRISE!" We shouted.
Percy's hand had instinctively gone to Riptide until he realized that it was us.
"What is all of this, you guys?" He asked.
"You're 'Happy Engagement' party." Chris answered.
Annabeth's jaw dropped. "You guys! You didn't have to do this for us!" She kept on protesting, until I walked up to her and covered her mouth with my hands.
"We wanted to, Annie. You're our best friends and we're happy for you. It's the least we could do."
"Thank you so much." She said, looking around the whole room. The decorations were pretty much flawless and all the presents were stacked up on a table with cake in the center.
"This is incredible you guys!" Kelp Head said.
"Repair Boy, light the candles and we can start eating cake and then Percy and Annabeth can open presents." Katie said.
Leo walked up to the cake and lit the candles up, also lighting up the tablecloth in the process.
Before we could all freak out, Percy lazily put the fire out and we all looked at each other. We laughed, because that is just the kind of party we would have-where the tablecloth gets set on fire.
It's just very… us.
We all get our cake, which Percy was pleased to find was blue again, and then sit around the couple, who then began to open presents.
"Open mine last." I ask Annabeth, who nods.
They reach for the first present, which happens to be from Hazel and smile sweetly at her.
"Thanks Haze." Percy says, once he opens it to find a card offering to have their wedding rings made by her father's finest jewels.
"Hazel that's so sweet of you." Annabeth says, hugging her.
"No problem, I'm so happy for you two."
Percy and Annabeth reach for the next gift, which is from Travis and Connor. They looked at the present warily, then at the twins with the same expression.
They snorted. "Calm down." They said, rolling their eyes.
Still slightly worried, they opened tore the wrapping paper off.
To find another layer of wrapping paper, which they then tore off.
To find yet another layer. Which they also tore off.
This kept going on, until finally Annabeth peeled the last layer. She frowned, confused, when she saw the present was a ticket.
"What is this for?"
"It's from dad-and it will let you go somewhere-anywhere-as a married couple. We couldn't think of anything else and IMed him for ideas." They said, shrugging.
"Thanks, that was actually really nice of you, for once. And here I was thinking something would, I don't know, explode on us or something." Annabeth said truthfully.
"I don't blame you." Katie said. "I heard them discussing a 'Happy Engagement' Prank, and smacked them both for it, which is why they asked their dad for ideas."
Everyone laughed at that.
I handed the two of them another present, which happened to be from…