Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan therefore I do not own Percy Jackson or any other characters.

Chapter 20

PERCY's PoV

I woke up with a smile on my face. It's been truly great having my friends spend their Christmas with us.

Dad was planning to have a Christmas Eve party with some colleagues tonight and it will be held at the garden.

I got up and went downstairs and headed to the dining hall.

"Good morning Kelp head. Good to know you're up now." Thalia greeted me with a smile which is by the way very unusual for me.

"Woah! You seem to be in a good mood. Woke up in the wrong side of the bed?" i said mockly at her.

She sent me a death glare. "shut up!" she said as she punched Luke lightly on his shoulder causing him to stop laughing.

"Sorry babe."

"Ugh!" i heard Nico as he was sipping his juice.

I laughed at him and made my way to Annabeth'a side.

"Good morning beautiful." giving her a light peck on the lips which made her smile.

"Damn it! You guys should really get a room." Nico said in frustration.

"Why don't you find a girl for you to be all lovey dovey, eh Death boy?" Thalia said.

"None of your business, Grace."

"Oh come on, nico! Maybe if u got urself a girl you might not be that all im-a-loner-leave-me-alone type of guy." she persisted.

"what's it to you? are u my mom now?" almost breaking his cool façade.

"besides, i'm no loner." regaining his composure.

"yeah right. I still think it'll be best for you." thalia added.

"me too!" Annabeth said, joining the conversation.

Nico just rolled his eyes and continued eating his waffles.

My dad entered the dining hall wearing his casual bermuda shorts and a sweater.

"Good morning Kids." we all said our good morning to him.

"So, as you all know, I'll be hosting a Christmas eve party tonight, so I want all of you looking presentable. I arranged a ride for all of you to gi shopping for a clothes to wear."

"Uh, dad. I think that's a bit too much?"

"None sense! You'll be leaving in 20 so better go get ready. I have to go to the office and check some papers then I'll go home after lunch. I'm taking Tyson with me or do you want to take him with you?"

"We'll take him." i said casually.

"okay then. I've made appointments to two of the most prestige fashion designer."

"o-okay." i'm finding it abit weird that dad's been awfully caring about fashion sense too much.

"I'll see you later. The party starts at 7 sharp." he gave us a smile and went off.

"Well that was something." Luke said breaking the silence.

"Come on," Annabeth stood up and held my hand. "Let's go get ready."

ANNABETH's PoV

Thalia and I are now waiting for the designer Percy's dad hired to dress us up. I really don't like dressing up; you know, wearing short dresses with glitters, stilletos, and oh how can I ever forget make-up. Damn it. If it wasn't for the party tonight I wouldn't be doing something as stupid as this.

A lady with a long caramel brown hair entered the room. She was wearing a pink lacy blouse, dark blue pants and red stilletos. She had light make up which really emphasizes her sparkling blue eyes. She was tall, like a runway model and she has fair toned skin.

"Good morning, ladies."

She greeted us with a lovely smile.

"I'm Sharen de Alure and I was sent her by Mr. Jackson to get you guys prepared for tonight's party, am I right?"

"Well duh" i nudged Thalia's side and have her warning look while Sharen looked like she dismissed Thalia's rude answer with a soft smile.

"Sorry about her, I'm Annabeth Chas and this rude girl right here is Thalia Grace."

"Hey! I'm not rude!"

I rolled my eyes at her.

"Nice meeting you girls. I'll be taking you to my boutique to let you try out some of my designs." She turned to the door behind her and opened it.

"Let's go?" She held te door for us. Thalia looked at me and I just shrugged.

After a very short ride, we entered Sharen de Alure's boutique and might I say, I gaped at her creations. The clothes at each side of the wall was something that you cannot say that are not beautiful.

It's not a glamorous type of dresses, their more like vintage looking yet very classy and elegant. I checked some of the dressed and what I thought was right. Each dress is uniquely designed.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, "What do you think?" I looked at her.

"They're all beautiful. Well-designed and has a unique design each dress."

She smiled softly, "I design my dresses with each of it containing a different story."

"Story?" Thalia butted in.

"Yes. My dresses tell a story with the design I make." She smiled at Thalia.

I touched one of the dress that she made. I wonder what kind of story these dresses tell.

"Come on now. Let's get started." She led as to the back of the shop.

When we entered her office, there was another person inside browsing through some magazines. She looked up and smiled.

"Ah, Mr. Jackson's people?" She said with a rough Italian accent.

"Yes Ari. Ladies, this is Ari Sanchez, my assistant her at the store."

Ari gave us a small smile and turned her attention back at Sharen.

"So, Sharen, shall we start, ya?" Still have that rough Italian accent.

"Okay, ladies, Ari will take you to the dressing room while I go get the clothes i picked out."

Ari led us to the door beside the couch and we went inside.

"Hey wait, can we uh, you know, do this one by one? I'm not really comfortable with sharing one dressing room with anyone."

I rolled my eyes. "Really now, Thalia?"

"What? It's true!"

"You're unbelievable"

In a matter of minutes, Sharen came back with six clothes on her arms.

"So, who gets to try on their dress first?" Sharen asked as she exchange glances from Thalia to me.

I pushed Thalia inside the dressing room and Sharen quickly gave her the clothes and shut the door closed.

When she got out, she was wearing an all black cocktail dress with a collar that was designed with white gems on it. It was silky and hang up just above her knees.

"Turn around" Sharen said.

Thalia rolled her eyes in annoyance but still did it anyway.

"So?" Thalia said with much annoyance. "I don't really like dressing up so will you please make this quick?!"

Sharen smiled, "I think that this dress suits you."

"How so?" I asked.

"Well you see darling, your friend here has this spunk in her; a rebellious side of her that is very much noticeable but the gems on her collar represents that she's a girl within that spunky attitude. A girl that is beautiful as a white crystal gem."

"Wow. So what's te story of this dress?"

"The dress tells a story of a lady transforming from a kid who's always been one of the boys into a lady who has this uh, what do you call it, swag within her yet stays classy. A girl out-growing her childish ways evolving into a lady."

"Yeah yeah. Enough with the talk. I'll change back now this dress is so itchy."

Sharen and I just laughed at her expression while Ari just smirked.

"Okay, Annabeth, your turn."

She handed me two dress. I went inside and changed into the firsy dress. I got out and Sharen examined me. She made me turn around just like what she made Thalia do.

"Hmm, too sweet. Try the other one."

I went back inside and changed into another dress.

"How about this?" I asked when i went back out.

She observed me from head to toe.

"Too preppy." She handed me anoter dress and when i went back out again she still disapproved the dress.

She paused for a minute and went back outside. It took her almost half an hour to get back and when she did, she wasn't holding any dress instead she was holding a piece of paper.

"I've designed a new dress for you. None of my dresses here fits you perfectly and i want to create a new dress that will tell a story of you."

I was dumbfounded. I was flattered that she'll do that.

"Wha-... Are you... Are you serious?"

"Yes. It'll be done before the party. I'll bring it to you later at around 6pm."

She placed the paper down and led us back to the shop.

"I'll make sure to make a dress perfect for you, darling."

There was something by the way she looked at me.

"I'll see you ladies later."

Percy's POV

Okay, the venue, check; the food, check; blanket, check; telescope, check; what else?

"Ugh!" I scramble my already unruled hair. I'm freaking out right now. This is the first time I've ever done this and with Annabeth, this date has to be perfect.

I checked my to do list to see if it lacks anything. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I lifted my gaze up to see Nico.

"Dude, chill will you?"

"I can't chill, Nico. This date has to be perfect."

He sighed and tool a sit next to me, we were at the balcony of our room.

"You're stressing yourself out, though as much as I would like to see you stress out because men, you look absolutely ridiculous with your eyes..."

I glared at him making fun of me.

"Uh, ehem, sorry, lost track." He sit up straight and continue talking.

"My point is, you don't need to have a perfect date. If you let yourself get too indulge with the date being perfect you might regret it in the end."

"How so?"

"Well first of all, your attention will be on the flow of the date instead of the person you are having a date with. Annabeth will not enjoy it if you'll make this date a perfect one."

"But she deserves nothing but perfection."

"Wow. And that came from a seaweed brain? Man, you got it bad!"

I rolled my eyes at my annoyance. "Hey, be serious!"

"Okay, okay. What I'm saying is don't give her a perfect date; instead give her a memorable one. The one that she'll most probably treasure her whole life and can tell it to her future grand kids."

I just stared at him. Nico is one hell of a guy. He can be a pain in the ass and can be as silence as a mouse but he's one great advicer.

"And that came from you?" I teased him and he headlocked me.

"Ow! Hey! Okay okay! I was just kidding!"

He let go of me.

"So, are you ready?"

Annabeth's pov

It was 4 in the afternoon and everyone inside the Jackson house was very busy. The dining area was being prepared by the maids and the grand room was also being decorated. I was in my room while Thalia went out with Luke; Nico and Percy was nowhere to be found so i decided to stay in.

I was reading a book about the different architure during the Greek times when I heard a knock on the door. I stood up and when I opened it, there standing was Sharen.

"Oh, hi."

She smiled at me, "i hope i wasn't disturbing you or anything. I just came here to personally give the dress to you."

"Oh right. Come on in." I let her in and closed the door.

"It took me a while to make this dress because at first glance at you Annabeth you are like no other ladies I have met."

I'm not sure whether to accept that as a compliment or what so i just nodded.

"You see, I actually see myself in you-well a younger version of me." She laughed softly.

"You're the girlfriend of Mr. Jackson's son am I right?"

I nodded in reply.

"When I was your age i used to have a boyfriend that looks exactly like your Percy, well not really, except for the eyes and hair; he had lucious blonde hair and brown eyes."

She took a sit opposite to me.

"My parents didn't approve of our relationship but t the end we manage to make them agree to it."

I just listened to her as she reminisce.

"It was our one year anniversary when I found out I was pregnant. I told him about assuming that he'll be thrilled. I was about to tell him that night but then fate has other plans for us."

She stared outside the veranda as o waited for her to continue.

"He was forced to marry a different girl. His childhood sweetheart. Their parents were business partners and they want their business to merge so they planned a wedding. I was devastated. I knew he didn't to marry her but it was the right thing to do. So he married her."

"What happened after that? You said you were pregnant."

"I kept my child of course but i was under depression, when I gave birth to her she was a very weak baby. She had to stay at the hospital for at least two weeks more. The doctor said she might not live longer so I just cherished my remaining days with her."

I waited for her to continue as I saw tears brimming for her eyes.

"She died after 4 months."

"Did... Did he knew about her?"

"No. I haven't seen him since he got married." She said as she straighten herself.

"Anyway, enough of the drama, here's your dress."

She handed me a red paper bag.

"Thanks."

She smiled and reached for my hand.

"This dress doesn't have story yet. I figured you'd be the one to make it."

She rose up and gave me a hug which caught me off guard.

"Follow your heart, Annabeth. Don't make the same mistakes I did."

With that she walked to the door and before she closed it she looked back to me and gave me her sweetest smile.

Follow my heart? Don't make the same mistakes she did? It actually gave my the creeps but I'll take note of it. It's already 5pm. Better get ready.

Percy's POV

Okay, this morning when I was planning the whole date I was thinking that things will go smoothly-not.

Damn it! It's already 8:30 in the evening and the party had already started. I was with my dad, being his son, I was his priced possesion. Tyson was over at the kiddie area along with the other children of dad's 'friends'.

Annabeth was with Thalia, Nico and Luke. Man, she looked si beautiful in that light blue dreas with white laces with her hair curled like a princess and swept at one side. Some of her hair shaped her small face and her light make up made her more beautiful than all the girls here.

I tapped impatiently as dad continue to talk to his business partner.

"So, does Percy here will soon take over the company?"

"Uh, well any parent would love that but I'm giving him the liberty to choose his future. After all I still have Tyson."

That's what I love about my dad. He's understanding but then again, at the moment, he's one big pain in the ass.

"Dad," I drew closer to him, "can I please go now."

He looked at me and laughed.

"Of course! I was wondering why you were following me the whole night."

I wanted to punch my dad's gut but I'll save that for later. Right now, I have to find Annabeth.

I scanned the room for my friends but all i see are a bunch of old people chattering and drinking their martini.

When I turned my gaze to the balcony, there I saw her.

"What are you doing here?"

She jumped a little, caught by suprised, when she heard me. She looked at me and smiled.

"Too many people inside. Too noisy."

"Aren't you getting cold?" I caressed er bare shoulders.

"A bit but I can manage."

I took off my jacket and placed it in her shoulders.

"Want to go?"

She looked at me skeptically.

"We can't-you can't. Your dad might need you here."

I looked back at my dad who was having a laugh with a bunch of old guys.

"I don't think he needs me here. Come on, I've got to show you something."

I held her hand as we went out the house. We walked through the garden and I led her into the forest.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll know soon." I tool out a handkerchief and blindfolded her eyes.

"Woah, hey! Seaweed brain! What the hell are you doing?!" She's trying to off the blindfold.

"Tss. Don't take it off!" I held both of her shoulders as I guided her through the forest.

"If I trip, better ready yourself for some pain, Seaweed brain!"

I just ignored her and continue to walk through the forest.

"Okay, we're here."

I slowly took off the blindfold.

"Open your eyes."

And from that moment on, the way her face lights up as she saw the place, there I knew that all things will work out perfectly. A perfect night to remember.

Third Person's POV

Back at the party where people are starting to leave a two people walked through the door and made their way to Poseidon.

"Poseidon."

The guy, who was busy talking to an older couple, turned to look at the person who called him.

Surprise was in his eyes.

"Oh, Brandon, so nice of you to come! I thought you wouldn't be able to make it."

The guy with chocolate brown hair with little gray streaks laughed a throathy laugh.

"How can I not come to my business partner's Christmas party? Sorry I ran a little late. I had to fetch my daughter at the airport."

Poseidon turned his gaze to the girl, she had long brown curls, green eyes and skin so fair. She smiled soflty at him in which he smiled in return.

"Poseidon, I would like you to meet my daughter, Calypso."

"Nice to have finally meet you Mr. Jackson."

Okay, please don't kill me or throw me down to tartarus. I know I haven't updated for a really long time but I was so caught up with school works! Please bear with me.

Good news though, it's out semestral break meaning, frequent updates!

Enjoy reading, and about Annabeth's past, 2 more chapters and you'll know. ;)

Thank you for everyone who's still reading and following my story. I love you guys so much! Please review and enjoy! :)

xx

daughterofposeidonhere