Annabeth's POV
A box of pizza and seven terrible renditions of "I Can Show You The World" later, Percy and I decided to curl up in bed. I lay with my head resting on his chest, his steady heartbeat drowning out the dread the morning would bring. "Percy. I have to tell you something. I'm telling you this because I trust you." I say, sitting up. "You can tell me anything Annie." He replies, worry mixing into the sweet tone of his voice. "Tomorrow isn't just the four year anniversary of my mum's death… The day she died, we were walking home from the movies. Dad had had to meet a colleague, so mum had taken me to see the new Ice Age movie at the cinemas." My voice faltered for a second, and I contemplated just forgetting the whole thing. "Annabeth, you don't have to tell me. I'd never force anything out of you." His voice is sweet and comforting, and he wrapped his arms around me. "No, I have to tell you. I trust you Percy. The night she died, these three guys had followed us home, and forced us into an ally. They told my mum to give them her purse, but that wasn't what they wanted. Not really. Before they beat her to death… I'm sorry" I couldn't control it now. I was sobbing uncontrollably. "Shhh it's okay. It's okay. You're safe. Hey, look at me. I'll never let anything hurt you. Nothing." His comforting arms held me as I cried.
I don't remember falling asleep, but waking up next to Percy almost made today bearable. "Hey sleepy head. How you feeling?" he sounded worried, but was trying to put up a front for my benefit. His hair was sticking out at adorable angles, and his arms were still wrapped protectively around me. "Today is never a good day. I'm glad you're here Percy." He cranes his head to press his lips to mine. We stay that way for a while, laying there next to each other, not saying a word. It was peaceful, listening to the rhythm of his heart. "Percy?" "What is it Annie?" protectiveness creeped into his voice. "I saw it. The whole thing. I was twelve. Sometimes I think I'll never be able to be with someone, that way. It really messed me up Percy. That's why I study so hard. Anything to take my mind off the images that haunt me every time I close my eyes." I look down at my fingers intertwined with his. "That's why I tried to push you away. Thank you. For not giving up." "Hey. I would never try to pressure you into anything. And that whole thing from yesterday about me not looking at you the same way… You're the same amazing, smart, beautiful girl I'm crazy about.I'm crazy about you Annabeth. If anything, this just makes me want to be with you more. To keep you safe." Hey eyes were a flush of emotions.
I rose, and sat on his lap, a leg either side of him. "I know this may sound crazy, but I think I'm falling in love with you." My voice was shaky and nervous, but that all melted away when I saw his face light up. "I know for sure, I'm falling in love with you." He locked his lips to mine, slowly, but passionately all the same, like he was being gentle towards me. My hands found the familiar grove in his neck, and slid down his back. Growing confident that I felt safe, he placed his hands on my hips, pulling me on top of him as he slid down the headboard. "Percy. I don't think I can go any further." My voice was flustered, but adamant all the same. "I wasn't going to make you go any further. This is perfect." He said, brushing a lose strand of hair behind my ear, and planting another kiss on my lips.
Percy POV
What Annabeth had told me, had in no way lessened my attraction to her. To hear her saying the very words running through my head was exhilarating. I could see she felt the same. It was as if every worry flying round in her brain had been let go, and I was so happy that I was the reason behind it. After what she had been through, it didn't surprise me that she was scared to be intimate. That was fine by me. I just wanted her to feel comfortable with me. We can work up to that. To be honest though, I didn't care that she wasn't ready. Just being with her is enough. It's the little things she does. Like the feeling of her head resting on my chest while she sleept, or the way she subconsciously reaches up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. Waking up with her next to me this morning had been like a gift from the gods. She was so perfect for me. She calmed me down when I felt like bouncing off the walls (which was always). I wanted to be with her all the time.
"I'm going to go hop in the shower. There's pop tarts in the cupboard. Stay away from the stove okay" She said jokingly as she got up and grabbed a towel from the linen closet. I get up and follow her down the hall. "Leaving me alone is probably not the best idea. You should probably come back over here and keep an eye on me so I don't break your house." I say, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her back into her bedroom and onto her bed. She let out an adorable giggle, and pushed me off her. "I seriously need a shower. You'll have to just try your hardest." I raise my hand over my chest and pretend to be offended as she disappears into the bathroom. I grab some pop tarts from the kitchen, just as Annabeth walks into her room wrapped in a towel. "Will only be a minute" she says closing the door and I put my, now dry, shirt back on and take a seat on the couch. She comes out about a minute later, and she is literally the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. She has tied her hair effortlessly into a messy ponytail, and she's wearing a pair of denim shorts and the jumper I left on her floor yesterday. She eyes me for a moment then says "You know, I preferred you with that shirt on the floor." She winks at me, and then walks over to sit on my lap. "You know I could say the same to you" I say back jokingly. "You look beautiful."
"So Chase, you've still got The Little Mermaid recorded. You up for another round?" I say winking at her. "Oh gods no! If I have to listen to you sing Kiss the Girl one more time I'll go insane!" she says mockingly, kissing me to stop me from protesting. "Oh just by the way, I was trying to serenade you with my singing. I thought it was pretty damn good." I say breaking away from her, and get an eye roll in return. As I go to finish off the cherry pop tart in my hand, she steals the last bit and pops it in her mouth. "Chase. You should know never to steal a man's pop tarts!" I say, and jump on top of her. She squirms to get free as I start to tickle her. Before I knew what was happening, she had managed to get on top of me, and was sitting on my chest. "Damn Annie, you got some skills." I pull myself up into a sitting position, with Annabeth still straddling me. "You're so beautiful." I say, looking into those stormy eyes. She blushes a little, then runs her hand across my cheek. "And you're prefect for me."