I know, right? Two updates in one day! I'm on a roll my friends. Like, I might not stop here. I have a whole list of ideas.

Also, I had people ask me if Emeraude from It's Called College would make an appearance. So here she is. I might add her in a few more chapters later, idk yet.

This chapter is set about three months before last chapter. Anyway, since most of my chapters are centred around Jeyna, so I wanted to do one that's entirely Percabeth. Some Reynabeth friendship and some jealousy included. -Izzy

Emeraude

Pairing: Percy and Annabeth

Set 1.75 years after It's Called College

Annabeth had never been very jealous. Well… except when Rachel had a crush on Percy. And when she found out about Calypso. And when she thought he cheated on her. But anyone would be reasonably furious in that situation.

What she meant to say was that she'd never been jealous of Emeraude.

Now, Emeraude was a long story. A very, very long story.

Percy had been blackmailed with Annabeth's safety into pretending to have cheated on her with her arch enemy. She'd been horrified and distraught. She'd found comfort in a holiday with Reyna – to Paris, which probably wasn't the smartest idea. Percy had gone off the radar completely, after Annabeth told him never to speak to her again.

He'd eft New Rome and gotten drunk to try and forget his problems, like all college kids did. He'd stumbled into an alleyway, where he'd come across two men who'd searched him for money. Feeling numb, he didn't really care. But when they pulled out the engagement ring he'd planned on giving Annabeth, he started fighting. And he was a good fighter. The men ended up lodging a bullet in his torso, and left him there to die.

But he was still a good fighter. He made his way to the nearest body of water and let Poseidon carry him to someone who could help him.

That someone was Emeraude. She was a woman who lived in Spain, who healed Percy and let him live with her for a couple months. Annabeth had only ever seen one picture of her, but she was beautiful. Olive skin, and big brown eyes. Red lips and thick, long black hair. She had the kind of slim, curvy body most women would kill for, and a smile that could brighten up the room considerably.

Annabeth hadn't been jealous of her, because she saved Percy's life, and Percy still turned her down because he was in love with Annabeth. Emeraude had been okay with him. She understood him. Annabeth wasn't jealous of her. She owed her.

One week, that changed. Annabeth and Percy were strolling down the streets of Chicago as they held a market place. They looked at different colorful stalls and held hands, laughing with each other. That happiness faded only slightly when Percy exclaimed, "Emeraude!"

Annabeth followed his line of gaze to the woman, standing at a cupcake stall and paying for a strawberry thing. Annabeth had never seen her in person before. She acted as though she didn't know she was beautiful, but she didn't care to find out. She laughed and smiled with everyone she spoke to and dressed brightly, in a sunhat and a spring dress.

"Percy!" She grinned, walking over to fling her arms around him. He returned the hug with a matching smile. Then she turned to his girlfriend and looked impressed. "You must be Annabelle, right? No! Annabeth?"

Annabeth was almost mad she got her name wrong, but Percy had only told Emeraude about her once, over three years ago, so she couldn't be mad. "Yeah," Annabeth said, keeping her voice as cheery as Emeraude did.

"It's nice to meet you!" Emeraude leaned in for a hug which Annabeth returned, trying to ignore how soft this girl's skin was.

"Yeah, you too," she said.

Emeraude turned back to Percy and sighed. "How are you. How's the bullet wound?"

"It's only a faint scar now," he said, lifting his shirt up to show her. Annabeth wished he wouldn't. "Thank you, again. For everything."

"I just did what anyone would do when a man turns up in your back garden bleeding to death," Emeraude shrugged.

"What are you doing in Chicago?" Percy asked her.

"Oh, I'm backpacking across America with some friends," Emeraude replied, making sure to keep her eyes flickering between Annabeth and Percy, addressing them both. Annabeth knew she was trying to be kind, but she couldn't help the nagging voice at the back of her head reminding her that she was doing everything perfectly. She was easy to like. Not so easy to like around your boyfriend. "I'm only in this city for a couple weeks to work. Keep the money up, you know?"

After a minute or two, Emeraude gave them a small wave before leaving them. "She's so nice," Annabeth said, honestly.

"Yeah, she's pretty awesome." Percy nodded.

-0-0-0-0-0-

The next couple weeks were not so awesome.

It started the day after they ran into Emeraude. Percy got up early and went to leave their apartment almost straight away. "Wait, where are going?" Annabeth asked. He hadn't even had something to eat.

"Oh, I'm have breakfast with Emeraude, to catch up," he explained. "I'll be back soon." He left without another word or a kiss or anything.

The later, she dropped him home from work. They were laughing in his car, listening to music and singing along. He hugged her before he got out of the car. That was more than he gave her that morning.

That became a routinely thing. Percy worked at the nearest elementary school, and every day Emeraude would drop him home.

Annabeth knew Percy would never be unfaithful. She knew him and she trusted him. But Emeraude had fallen for him once, so she couldn't help but wonder if she was going to fall for him again. Would she make a move?

She shook her head and sighed to herself. She was overthinking all of this. Emeraude was a great, kind person. Her and Percy were just friends. Besides, every evening she got Percy for dinner and movie nights, and that was enough.

Then things got worse. One night he invited Emeraude around for dinner. She kept calling him Liam as though it was an inside joke. That had been the name he went by when he first met her.

Then one night, when Percy and Annabeth sat down to watch a movie she bought on pay-per-view, he said he'd gone to the cinema to watch it with Emeraude already.

"I mean, I'm not being irrational, am I?" Annabeth asked one day, pouring two glasses of wine out for herself and Reyna as they sat in her living room. "He's spending so much time with her. I don't get it. Don't they run out of things to talk about?"

"It's not irrational," Reyna assured her. "It's kind of bitchy."

"I'm fine with boy/girl friendships, trust me," Annabeth continued. "Jason, Leo, Frank. I'm friends with all of them, and more. And I'm fine with him being friends with you, and Piper, Hazel. Even Rachel and Calypso, and he once liked them. But if it's a girl who used to crush on him and he's spending this much time with her… I mean, it's not ideal."

"Exactly," Reyna said, nodding.

Annabeth just sighed, sipping her wine. "Be honest. Am I being a bitch?"

Reyna paused before shaking her head. "No. I mean, I'm good with Jason and Piper being friends, for example. But like, if they spent all day together, go to the movies together… then I'd be annoyed too."

-0-0-0-0-0-

Nothing actually kicked off until the last night of Emeraude's stay in Chicago. Annabeth and Percy had been planning a big romantic night out, to a fancy restaurant with fancy champagne and food. Annabeth had already gotten dressed up in a navy blue and black dress that fell to her knees, and she'd pinned her curly hair up into an elaborate bun that framed her face with tendrils of hair. Her eyes were bright and she'd even slipped into a pair of heels.

Percy was out with Jason, but he was supposed to be out any minute to leave. She ended up calling him.

"Hey, where are you?" She asked, pacing their living room.

"Hm?"

"We're supposed to leave, like… now? We have reservations." With the phone pressed to her ear, she started making sure she had everything she needed in her bag.

"Wait, was that tonight?" Percy asked. "I thought that was next Saturday?"

Annabeth paused, looking up and clenching her fists. "Are you serious?" She asked. "You're not serious. Percy, tell me you're kidding me!"

"No, I'm not kidding," he said. "Aw crap. I just promised to spend the evening with Em. She's got something serious to talk about. And we're kind of sightseeing." Em.

Annabeth felt her face fall. "Oh that's fine," she said, through gritted teeth. "You spend the night with Em and her serious talk. I mean what sights are you even seeing?"

"Oh, we're going to the top of the City New building that Reyna works at," Percy replied. "Beautiful place. You can see the whole city all lit up. Em leaves tomorrow, so I thought she should leave with such a nice view."

Annabeth felt her fist squeeze the phone in her hand. "How kind of you."

"You not mad, are you?" Percy asked. Gods, he could be so stupid sometimes. "I mean; we can always reschedule dinner. Em's only in town for one more night, and she said her talk is urgent."

"No, I'm not mad," she lied. "Have a fun evening." She hung up the phone and instantly dialed another number. She told Reyna everything. How Emeraude wanted to have a serious talk with Percy on top of a beautiful rooftop. "Am I being irrational now?"

"No!" Reyna exclaimed. "I've been to that rooftop a thousand times. It's the most romantic place in the city."

"So what do I do?" Annabeth asked.

"We go and kick some ass, that's what," Reyna said.

She arrived five minutes later and her and Annabeth hailed the next cab. "He's not cheating on me," Annabeth said, determinedly. "He can't be. He'd the nicest guy I know, if I turned him into a cheater then-"

"You didn't," Reyna said. "And he's not cheating. But she's probably being a bitch and trying to get him to. I mean, where does she get the nerve? You're so much prettier than her."

"I love you," Annabeth admitted.

"I know," Reyna replied.

The cab driver just smiled. "Going to kick a boyfriend's ass?" He laughed.

"Well I didn't put these heels on for nothing," Annabeth replied, managing a cruel smirk. She looked over to Reyna, who was just wearing jeans and a leather jacket, her long dark hair free of any braid or ponytail. Instantly Annabeth felt silly in her dress and heels. Humiliated even. She'd been stood up. By Percy of all people. By a girl who saved his life and tried to kiss him.

And now she was angry.

The cab pulled up outside the tall building. Reyna had the keys to the front door, after working there for over a year, and Annabeth vaguely wondered how Percy even got in. The two girls ran over to the elevator and went up in silence. "I can't believe this is happening," Annabeth whispered, more to herself than to Reyna.

Her breathing was heavy, and scared. They made it to the top floor and Reyna lead her up some stairs to the door that lead to the roof. And Annabeth felt a lump in her throat, instantly afraid of what she'd see if she opened that door.

Roses. And candles.

Behind the big, heavy, metal door was roses and candles. The whole rooftop was covered with little flames that smelled like vanilla and jasmine, and rose petals covered the floor. Reyna was right. With the lights of the city, at this time of night the setting was almost too romantic. And no girl set all this up to woo a boy.

This was done by Percy. Percy put all this out for Emeraude.

"It's all romantic," Annabeth said, in disbelief. "Reyna, it's romantic. Percy's cheating on me."

She turned to look at her friend, but Reyna was just smiling. She handed Annabeth a piece of card and kissed her cheek before closing the door, leaving Annabeth out on the roof.

"Reyna, wait!" Annabeth exclaimed in confusion.

She turned the piece of card over to read the cursive written on the back.

Wise Girl. I know you're worried. But look down.

Annabeth paused before doing so, finding another piece of card on the floor. She picked that one up and read.

I'm sorry I've been spending so much time with Emeraude. The thing is: She's the daughter of Aphrodite. And I needed some love advice…

She looked around for another card and walked forward to pick on up. She started to notice the trail.

You see, I've been thinking for months about how to do this. Everything was so cliché or predictable. Or boring.

Annabeth moved forward to pick up the next piece of card.

It's been so hard these last two weeks, to spend so much time with you, and not ruin the plan. To sit next to you and stay silent. To wait.

The next piece of card was on a little table a few feet away.

I'm sorry I've been distant, but the distance has lead up to this moment. To this question.

Annabeth found the last piece of card on the floor at the end of the trail of roses.

Will you marry me?

She read it and her face fell. She could feel tears in her eyes, and she couldn't believe she'd been so silly. So scared of losing him. She felt like all her insides had just been shaken up and she couldn't breathe. And suddenly, she felt so guilty.

Percy came around of the piles of roses, with that crooked smile on his face. He was wearing a tuxedo and had combed his hair for this and everything. "I wanted you to be surprised," he started. "There was no way this could be unpredictable unless you expected something else."

"You scared me," Annabeth admitted, almost breathlessly. "I've just spent the last few weeks being irrational, and scared. I panicked and I was jealous. Percy why would you scare me like that?"

He kept that smile on. "Because that's what relationships are," he replied. "It's feeling scared and panicking. It's feeling irrational and feeling jealous. I feel that way every moment that I'm apart from you. But then I actually see you. And all that goes away because all I feel then is love. And I can breathe again."

She paused before wiping a tear from her cheek. "You freaked the hell out of me."

"I won't lie to you," he promised, "about the big stuff. But if it's in favor of a totally awesome surprise…" He moved closer to her and pulled the engagement ring from the necklace she always wore. He got down on one knee and Annabeth took a deep breath. "Annabeth Chase. Will you be irrational, scared, panicky, jealous and in love for the rest of our lives? Will you marry me?"

She barely paused before nodding. "Yes," she whispered. Breathily, and just once. She didn't squeal or repeat the word. She'd just been driven crazy. And like Percy said, now they were together and she could breathe again. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up to kiss her. They wrapped their arms around one another and kept kissing.

"I changed the time of our reservation," he added. "We're supposed to be there in twenty minutes."

AN: Okay so two notes:

1) If a girl who used to have a big crush on your boyfriend started spending more time with him than you, and needed to have a serious talk on top of a romantic rooftop, any girl would be jealous and crazy. I would. You probably would. Not just Annabeth.

2) I wanted Percabeth's proposal to be INTERESTING. I wanted it to surprise you guys and I didn't want it to be boring. I was hoping that I surprised some of you, or worried some of you. Since Annabeth had the ring, and knew Percy was going to propose at some point, it had to be surprising.

The way I think about it, Percy wasn't intending to make Annabeth jealous, but when he realised she was, he decided to use that to his advantage.

Don't forget to review!

You can also make request on my tumblr: imaginationisagift, if you want to do it anonymously. -Izzy