So here's Chapter 6. Rather short A/N this time, then straight into the Chapter. Half of the Chapter focuses on Nico and Rachel, the other on Percy and Annabeth. I'm not entirely sure about the Nico/Rachel part, but I do like it, for what it's worth.

Review replies:

PERCAPANDA111 - Isn't fluff fantastic?

smartgirlsan - This soon enough?

Snowflake Eliza Cahill Sparkle - Well then, I'm hoping you think this Chapter is just as cute.

Disclaimer - Last I checked, I wasn't Rick Riordan.

~11:30 am, the next day~

-Nico-

The pale-skinned Italian took another sip of the lukewarm coffee in front of him and leaned back in his chair, sighing as he felt the small coffee shop's heating system kick in, sending much-needed warm air across his exposed arms. "Where the hell is she?" he muttered anxiously.

"She was supposed to be here ten minutes ago".

After a couple more minutes waiting, and just as Nico was starting to put serious consideration towards the idea that he should cut his losses and leave before he wasted any more time waiting for someone who obviously wasn't going to show up, the bell over the shop door tinkled quietly, and, as had been his habit for the past ten minutes, he looked up almost immediately, sighing in relief as the red-haired girl walked through the door. She smiled as she noticed him, and sank down into the soft leather of the chair across the table from him. "Hi, Nico"

He smiled. "Good to see you made it, Rachel. I was starting to wonder if you were even going to show up or not".

He feigned indifference, but there was still a visible hint in his eyes that he was more bothered by her lateness than he was letting on. Rachel smiled softly, picking at a loose strand on one knee of the paint-stained jeans she was wearing. "Yeah. I'm really sorry about that, actually. I kind of fell asleep while watching TV and only woke up about twenty minutes ago".

He nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Anyway... Percy told me that you haven't been seeing anyone... romantically... in the past two weeks?"

Rachel nodded, never taking her eyes off of the black-haired young man across from her. "He told you the truth. Did he tell you what I said to him when I saw him last week?"

Nico shook his head, and leaned forward in his seat, curious. "I wasn't even aware that the two of you had talked last week. What did you say to him?"

"I just told him that... That part of the reason I broke up with him a month ago was because I was starting to develop... feelings... for you".

Nico blinked. "You're joking. You're joking, right?"

The red-haired girl looked confused. "No, why would you think I would joke about something that serious?"

Nico leaned forward, taking another sip of his coffee, before responding. "It's just... It's funny to hear you say that you were starting to develop feelings for me. I've actually been wanting to ask you out since you and Percy broke up. In fact, part of the reason I asked you to meet me here was to ask you if you wanted to go see a movie tonight".

Rachel considered the suggestion for a couple of seconds. "Actually, I'd love to. What were you thinking of seeing?"

"I actually haven't decided yet. The new Marvel movie looks really good though".

Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "Actually, I've kind of been meaning to see that one..."

~Elsewhere, at practically the exact same time~

-Percy Jackson-

"Hey, Percy!"

I turned, nodding to my brown-haired colleague as he approached the tank where I was currently working. "What's up, Ryan?"

"There's someone here asking to see you".

I was momentarily confused. As far as I knew, none of my friends ever dropped by the aquarium to surprise me, or even to take up my offer of a free tour. It was a habit formed over several years, and one that was slowly starting to annoy me. "Who?"

Ryan shrugged. "She didn't give a name. Tall, though. Maybe just a couple of inches shorter than you".

I raised an eyebrow. "With curly blonde hair and grey eyes?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

I smiled slightly. No doubt about it whatsoever, it was Annabeth. "Lucky guess. Alright, lead the way".

We made our way back through the various tanks towards the gift shop entrance, and I smiled slightly as I spotted the blonde-haired girl standing in front of the piranha tank just outside the store, watching the red-bellied fish swim slowly back and forth. "Annabeth?"

She glanced up, her face breaking into a soft smile as she noticed me. "Hi, Percy".

I moved towards her, pulling her into a hug. "What're you doing here? Not that I'm complaining, I just wasn't expecting to see you until 1, that's all".

She laughed. "I finished work early, so I figured I'd drop by and surprise you. Maybe see if you wanted to get an early coffee and then we could come here and I could take you up on that tour you promised me?"

"Actually, that sounds like a good idea".

Ryan coughed gently behind me. "Aren't you going to introduce me, Percy?"

I blushed. "Oh, right. Sorry, man. Annabeth, this is Ryan, one of my co-workers. Ryan, this is Annabeth, my..."

I paused, thinking. Was girlfriend the best word to use to describe what Annabeth was to me? Sure, I hoped that she was my girlfriend. But we'd only been on one date, and that was only the day before. In fact, we'd only known each other for about three or four days. Luckily, Annabeth stepped in before I could embarrass myself further. "I'm his girlfriend. Nice to meet you, Ryan" she replied simply, extending her hand.

He took it warmly, and they shook for a few seconds before he let go and turned to me, poking me in the shoulder with one finger. "Dude, you never mentioned you had a girlfriend"

"Probably because we only started dating yesterday" Annabeth commented.

I nodded, grinning. "Well, that's the most important reason anyway".

I bent slightly, pressing a quick kiss to the cheek of the blonde-haired young woman who was now (apparently) my girlfriend. "Hey, I'm just going to grab my jacket and then we can go, alright? It shouldn't take more than a few minutes, I promise"

Annabeth smiled gently. "Alright, I'll wait here for you".

I turned to my colleague. "Ryan, can you let Mr. Brians know that I'm taking my break now?"

"Of course, man".

"Thanks. I owe you".

"Damn right you do. But we'll discuss that later. Just have fun, alright?"

I chuckled. It was obvious why Ryan and I got along as well as we did. He was a damn good friend. "You know it".

He nodded before walking off in the direction of our boss's office, and I stood next to Annabeth for a few seconds before she turned to me. "Weren't you going to go get your jacket?"

"Oh, right. Of course".

A couple of minutes later, I walked back to her, slipping my jacket on as I reached her. She smiled at me. "Ready to go?"

"You bet".

Once outside, we paused to get our bearings, and I decided to take the opportunity to clarify something that had been bugging me. "So, you're my girlfriend now?"

Annabeth smiled. "I guess so. If you want me to be".

I couldn't help but smile back at her. "I'd like nothing more. But to make it official..."

I paused, taking a quick breath to steady my nerves (yes, I was nervous even though I already knew what she was going to say) before meeting her eyes. "Annabeth Chase, would you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?"

She laughed, nodding, reaching out to take my hand with her own, and her eyes sparkled with undisguised affection as she answered. "Yes. Yes, Percy, I will".

So Percy and Annabeth's relationship is now official (wow, that did not take long). And the movie that Nico and Rachel are planning to see is either Captain America 2 or Guardians of the Galaxy. I still haven't decided which yet.