Disclaimer- I'm very bad at these. I don't own it.

Chapter Twenty Two Nothing Will Change

Annabeth and Percy sat snuggled next to each other on the couch watching TV. The album had finally been completed. Annabeth had written the final song with Percy throwing in random ideas as he strummed along on his guitar, trying to come up with a melody for the song: Words. It had been a masterpiece, beautiful and emotionally powerful.

And now they were both drained. After three long days and nights they were both exhausted so they had collapsed onto the couch, two bowls of ice-cream in their hands, Annabeth's was peppermint and Percy's was chocolate.

"Did you know that in some ice-cream they use seaweed," Annabeth said randomly as she put a spoonful into her mouth.

Percy looked at the ice-cream and made a face. "I suddenly have lost all appetite for ice-cream," he joked.

"Oh shut up Seaweed Brain and eat your ice-cream," she said, nudging him.

In the middle of the TV show Annabeth had found for them to watch a new report flashed across the TV. Instead of the perky and annoying anchor woman, a man dressed in a suit with a killer smile was sitting at the desk. It was Hermes Mercury, the owner of the news station.

"Sorry for interrupting your regularly scheduled show but this just in, Percy Jackson's new girl has been discovered to be not a model or an actress but a nobody. Her name is Annabeth Chase, a twenty two year old college student from UCLA who is transferring to NYU at the beginning of the next school year. She currently works at Olympian Scrolls for the famous writer Athena Minerva Penhollow otherwise known as A.M. Penworth, the author of the famous crime and mystery novels, Storm's Warning Series. But who is Annabeth Chase? We put our best team on the job to figure it out."

The screen flashed to a Iris standing in front of an old building with people staring at her as if they had never seen a TV cameraman and reporter. "Hello New York City, Iris Nubes here," she said, smiling and then launched off into her long speech which must have been prepared for her. "I'm standing in front of Janus's Doors, an apartment complex where Miss Annabeth Christine Chase lives. We have yet to run into her and we can only help but wonder if her and Percy Jackson are together right now. We tried to interview Ms. Chase's coworker at Olympian Scrolls but he refused to speak on the matter."

The clip flashed to Malcolm who looked irritated at a camera being shoved in his face. "No I don't know about Annabeth's love life and I don't care what you have to say, it's Annabeth's life so just flip off and leave her alone," Malcolm said as he pointed his finger in the air.

Annabeth's eyes popped open as she watched it and then laughed. "Good old Malcolm," she said.

"I knew I liked him when I met him," Percy agreed. "You know we don't have to watch this."

"Are you kidding? And lose the opportunity to watch an in-depth story on my life? No way, we're watching this," Annabeth said. "This is only a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"You're crazy Wise Girl," Percy laughed.

"Nope, just not famous so hush up so I can listen," she said.

"So when Mr. Grey would not answer our questions we turned to other sources," Iris said. "Turns out Ms. Chase is a recent orphan, her mother presumably died when she was a child and her father recently died a few weeks ago. Mrs. Sue Chase, Annabeth Chase's step-mother also refused to speak on it saying that it was 'family business' so we tried for a different angle and what we found was surprising."

"Annabeth Chase is also known as WiseGirl36 to all of her fans on Writer's Corner, a place where inspiring writers try and publish their works. WiseGirl36 is one of the most popular writers on the website, shattering records with her latest work, The Letter Writer. We can only wonder and wait to see if we'll be seeing her books in stores soon."

"So how did Mr. Jackson and Ms. Chase meet? That is to be determined. If you have any information on the couple please call the number at the bottom of the screen. Until then, we wish the couple the best of luck."

The screen flashed back to the TV show they had been watching.

"Well that was… informative," Annabeth said, leaning against Percy.

"Very," he said. "I'm sorry that you have to get tangled up in this whole mess. I could try and get the newspapers and news stations to stop showing your story but I don't think I can do much more."

Annabeth shrugged. "Whatever, I knew this would happen when I started hanging out with you and I actually knew you were Percy Jackson," she said giving him a pointed look which made him squirm. You're a bad influence Percy Jackson," she laughed. "But I think that you're worth it."

"Glad to know Wise Girl," he said. "Glad to know."

o.O.o

When Nico D'Angelo came back to his apartment that night he was instantly greeted by laughter. "Come on Percy, Finding Nemo is not a classic!" Annabeth said.

"Of course it is Wise Girl! Please, for me?" Nico heard Percy ask.

"I already watched the Little Mermaid with you," Annabeth complained.

"Hey you liked that one!" Percy said. Nico heard Annabeth make a huffing sound.

"Hey guys," Nico said going into the theater room, the room with the large TV screen across one wall and the different array of couches and chairs. Percy and Annabeth were currently sitting next to each other on one couch, legs crossed and a bowl of popcorn between them. An empty cardboard box which Nico could only assume at one point had pizza lay on the ground.

"Hey Nico," Percy said, tossing a kernel of popcorn into his mouth. "Don't worry we finished the album," Percy said. He then gave a smug grin to Annabeth. "And you said it was impossible."

"I didn't say impossible, I just said highly unlikely and very stressful which it was!" Annabeth countered back.

"Did you name it?" Nico asked.

"Yep, the Letters," Percy said. "And we're going to put the Words for the Wise and Thoughts for the Humble for each song that I based it on."

Nico shifted his glance from Percy to Annabeth. Percy had never talked so freely about the letters to anyone, not even himself. "Percy…I thought those letters were too personal."

Percy shrugged. "I found my letter writer, I don't need to rely on them anymore. I've got her," Percy said, nodding towards Annabeth.

Nico's eyes widened. "Wait… you mean… you wrote the letters?"

Annabeth grinned and nodded. "Yeah, funny how small the world is. And don't you dare start singing that song again," she said, poking Percy in the side.

"Who me?" Percy said, trying to sound innocent. He laughed and then poked Annabeth back in the side. Nico shook his head.

"Nico did you know that this girl has lived in New York City for most of her life and has never been to the Empire State building?" Percy said as he nudged Annabeth in the side.

"I've never had the time or the reason!" Annabeth complained.

"Everyone has to go to the Empire State Building, it's like law that's implied with living in New York City. I can't believe you've never been."

"I want to I just don't have the time," Annabeth said.

"Well make time," Percy said back, poking her again. She laughed. Nico smirked at the two of them.

"It was only a matter of time," he said and then headed to the kitchen. Those two were so different and yet so perfect for each other. Nico couldn't help but sigh, at last they might be able to get the happy ending both of them had been waiting for.

"Hey Nico! There are pancakes in the fridge for you if you want them!" Percy yelled.

Nico grinned. And maybe with Annabeth they could get some decent cooking around here.

o.O.o

"You don't have to do this," Annabeth said, standing in one of the four guest rooms in Percy and Nico's apartment, her arms crossed. It was the size of her apartment with a large king sized bed and floor to ceiling windows which looked out over the skyline of New York City.

"You're kidding me right? I'm not letting you go back to your apartment, not with all those crazy reporters outside. Plus Nico's fine with it," Percy said as he lay on the bed, his arms behind his head as his green eyes studied Annabeth. "I already sent some people over to grab the stuff you need, some clothes and your laptop."

Annabeth blushed at the thought of people going through her clothes and looking in her apartment for her things.

"I just don't want to be a burden or something," Annabeth sighed, pushing an unruly curl of hair behind her ear.

"You won't be a burden Wise Girl," he said. "You worry too much." Annabeth scowled at him and he laughed. "Come here," he said, opening his arms up. Annabeth gave in and climbed onto the bed next to him. He folded his arms around her and held her close.

It felt so perfect. Who would have thought that Percy Jackson would fall in love? The man who had everything and yet nothing at the same time.

"So what does this make us?" Annabeth asked.

"It makes us no different than who we were before, don't worry Wise Girl, I promise nothing is going to change between us," Percy said, kissing her brow. "We're just… closer now."

"A whole lot closer," Annabeth snorted.

"But you like it, admit it," Percy said. Annabeth sighed.

"Yeah… I guess I do. It's just so weird. I mean we've only known each other for a few weeks, a month at the most and here we are," she said, motioning with her hand to around the room.

"Hey why do you think this is crazy? I mean some people go on dates with people before they even meet each other, that's crazy," Percy said. "And plus, I've known you for years so technically by those standards we're not strangers."

Annabeth laughed. "Well by technicalities, these things don't happen at all. This is like a story or a fairytale."

Percy kissed Annabeth's forehead. "Well it's about time you got your fairytale."

o.O.o

"You sure you'll be fine?" Percy asked as he pulled up in front of Olympian Scrolls. Annabeth looked at him incredulously.

"Of course I'll be fine, I can handle myself Seaweed Brain. I'm a big girl," she said. "Don't worry." Last night after one final kiss goodnight Percy had left her room and Annabeth had fallen asleep with a smile on her face. She woke up early the next morning to make Nico and Percy breakfast and then had told Percy that she had to leave to get to her work. Of course Percy had ignored her protests when he said he'd drive her so she had given into him and had gone to change into the clothes that Percy had somehow gotten from her apartment.

"I can't help it Wise Girl," Percy said, his brow creasing. "I don't want you to get hurt or something."

"Percy I'm just going to work, it's not like I'm going to the war or something," Annabeth laughed. "And Malcolm will be there and I think Athena will be there as well. Which speaking of Athena she has a lot of explaining to do. She never told me she wrote the Storm's Warning Series! I mean I love those books! How could she not tell me that she had written them? You'd think she'd tell…"

"Annabeth?" Percy said, interupting her.

"Yeah Percy?" She asked.

"You're rambling."

"Sorry," Annabeth said, blushing.

"No don't be, I find it actually cute but you better get going inside before you're late to work."

"Good point, I'll see you at five?" She asked.

"Of course," Percy said, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "Have fun," he said.

"You too, make sure the people love our album," she said, grinning. After he dropped her off, Percy was on his way to Olympian Records to show Mr. D his album: The Letters. Percy liked the way she said that it was their album. He smiled.

"I will," he said and then unlocked the doors. "I'll see you Wise Girl."

"See you too Seaweed Brain." And then she opened the door and stepped out of the car, grabbing her bag after. She smiled at Percy and then waved before slamming the door close. She then hurried inside the building. When Percy was sure that she got in alright he pulled away and drove off.

Inside the bell above the door rang as Annabeth opened the door. Malcolm was leaning against the front counter helping an elderly lady. When he saw Annabeth he grinned and waved at her and then went back to helping his customer.

Annabeth headed into the back room to take off her coat. "Ms. Chase may I speak to you for a moment in my office?" Annabeth turned around to see Athena leaning on the doorframe, watching her with intense grey eyes.

"Alright," Annabeth said and followed Athena into her office which was just off of the back room. Athena took a seat behind her desk and then motioned for Annabeth to sit across from her.

"Ms. Chase, I have to ask you about your relationship with Mr. Jackson," Athena said, lacing her fingers together and contemplating Annabeth. Annabeth forced herself not to squirm under Athena's gaze. "Will this be taking up a lot of your work time?" She asked. Annabeth's eyes popped open. She thought Athena would tell her that she would not tolerate having her work at her store with all the pesky reporters. "Because I could care less about the reporters but being on time to work is another thing. Being late for work in unacceptable."

Annabeth had to recompose herself. "Don't worry Athena, I'll be on time every day. My relationship with Percy won't change a thing," she said confidently.

Athena nodded. "That's all then Ms. Chase, I'll make sure to handle that annoying rabble of press that shows up every other hour. You may go."

Annabeth stood up and headed to the door. "Wait one last thing Ms. Chase," Annabeth turned on her heals to look at Athena. "Make sure he treats you right, I would hate to see you get your heart broken." Annabeth looked at Athena surprised. What she had said almost sounded… motherly, as if she really cared about her.

"Don't worry Athena, I'll be fine," Annabeth said and then headed out the door.

"Hey Annie," Malcolm said. Annabeth made a face. Ever since Thalia had come in and called her Annie, Malcolm had taken to calling her Annie as well.

"Hey Mal," Annabeth said as she came behind the counter and reached around him for the binder which held their instructions for the day. "Nice finger," she said, talking about the middle finger Malcolm had so sincerely pointed at the reporters on the TV.

"Thanks, I thought it was a beautiful touch," Malcolm said smugly. "So Percy Jackson huh? I knew he was familiar when he came in here. But I thought you guys said you were just friends, whatever happened to old Luke boy?" He asked.

Annabeth shrugged. "I dumped him."

"Good for you Annie, I was waiting for it," Malcolm said, raising his hand for a high five.

"What is with Luke? What was so bad about him? First Percy now you," Annabeth said, shaking her head. "It wasn't like he did anything bad to me."

"Yet…" Malcolm pointed out. "Trust me Annie, I can smell douchebag miles away and Luke reeked of it."

"Thanks Malcolm," Annabeth said sarcastically.

"But Percy… now Percy didn't reek like Luke did," Malcolm grinned.

"Oh shut up," Annabeth said, hitting him on the shoulder with the binder.

"Tell me, how did you manage to snag Percy Jackson? It's not like you two walk in the same circles or something. How did you even manage to get him?"

"What's it to you?" Annabeth asked, looking through the binder.

"I want to learn your secrets so I can try it on Jennifer Lawrence," Malcolm said waggling his eyebrows.

"I'm sure Lacey would just be thrilled to hear that you said that," Annabeth said dryly.

"Oh come on Annie, how did you manage to even meet the Percy Jackson?" Malcolm asked.

"I wrote a story," Annabeth said. "So I don't think it'll work with you and Jennifer Malcolm, you may be a wonderful gamer and mathlete but you're a gods awful writer."

"One can learn," Malcolm replied.

"No you can't learn to write, you have to feel it Malcolm, you have to want the words to speak to you and you have to love the words."

Malcolm shook his head. "Annabeth sometimes I really don't understand you at all."

"That makes two of us," she muttered. "I'm going to go try to find the books for this order," she said, holding up the sheet of paper which had been tucked into the front folder of the binder.

"You do that but I still want to hear all of the details between you and Mr. Jackson," Malcolm said.

"The only details you'll get are the ones you'll find in your imagination," Annabeth said, tossing her curls over her shoulder.

"I have a pretty imaginative imagination," Malcolm mused. Annabeth snorted and then disappeared into the random stacks of books and bookshelves.

"Damn it, how hard is it to find the Prince by Machiavelli?" Annabeth asked as she ran her fingers over the spines of the books in the back of Olympian Scrolls in the classics section. She felt a hand clasp her shoulder and she winced at the pressure that was forced on it.

"Percy Jackson? That's who you dump me for?" Annabeth flinched at Luke's harsh words. She turned around to see Luke's blue eyes resembling a hurricane as he looked at her with a gaze which could break down even the strongest person.

"Luke you're hurting me," Annabeth said, trying to force her voice to be calm under his intense gaze. "Will you let go of my shoulder?" She asked.

"Not until you tell me why you dumped me for Percy Jackson," Luke spat.

"I did not dump you because of Percy," Annabeth said calmly. "I just didn't think you and I were going to work out. It's not like we're in highschool anymore."

"We would have worked out just fine!" Luke said angrily. "I always knew ever since elementary school that you and I would work out!"

"Well obviously you were wrong," Annabeth said, folding her arms. "Because you had your chance and you wasted it. I gave you another one but really Luke, I don't think it's going to work out. I'm just saving both of us the heart ache."

"What about my heartache right now?" Luke asked, squeezing her shoulder tighter.

"You'll get over it, you always do. Don't you remember what you told me back when we were kids and you used to dump girls left and right and through the window? 'Oh Annabeth it's okay, I never really loved them, it's just another girl.' I'm just another girl Luke so get over me just like you got over everyone else." She wrenched herself out from under his grip and turned around.

"Don't turn your back to me!" Luke said.

"I can do whatever I want!" Annabeth said as she whirled around angrily. "Don't tell me what to do Luke Castellan!" She hissed. "It might have worked when I was seven but it's not going to work now. I've grown up and I suggest you do as well."

Luke leaned against the book shelf, studying her. "I'm surprised that it's you and Percy Jackson, I thought you were better than that."

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked, trying to hold back the venom in her voice.

Luke laughed coldly. "Don't you remember Annie, Percy Jackson, back in highschool he was the biggest player there was. What's to say that he won't do the same thing now, play your heart and leave you in the dust."

Annabeth felt her blood boiling. "Last time I checked you didn't have the cleanest track record either Luke."

"But at least I didn't call you a freak like he did," Luke said. Annabeth felt like a knife was being stabbed into her heart.

How could she forget?

Yeah, Percy Jackson was the boy who had continually called her a freak every day of her junior high career and well into her high school as well. He was the boy who knocked her books out of her hands and told her she was ugly when he stood around with his ground of friends all dressed in black leather and smoking behind the building.

How could she have forgotten?

"See Annabeth, I would never do that to you," Luke said softly as he tried to wrap his arms around her. "I would never call you a freak. He's not worth you."

Annabeth pushed him away angrily. "He's changed, I know he has. Unlike you, you self-loving… pig!" She said. "He might have been an idiot in highschool but so were you and right now, he's not an idiot but you still are. So if I were you, I'd realize where I've been beaten and leave me alone!" She moved to push past him but Luke grabbed her wrist.

"You do not walk away from me," Luke said.

"Watch me," Annabeth challenged. They stood there, Luke's hand squeezing her wrist tightly. It was probably going to bruise, Annabeth realized. "Let go of me Luke," she said, her voice dangerously quiet.

"No."

"Excuse me young man, I'm going to have to ask you to unhand my employee and leave my store." Annabeth felt herself calming down as saw Athena stand in the aisle, looking at Luke with her cool and steady gaze. Malcolm was standing behind her, grinning.

Luke dropped his grip from Annabeth's wrist.

No one was able to stand up to Athena's glare.

"I'll see you later Annabeth, I'm not done yet," he said and then stalked out of the store.

"And don't come back!" Malcolm called after him when Luke slammed the door behind him. Annabeth glared at him and Malcolm gave her a look of innocence. "See I told you, douchebag."

"Are you alright Ms. Chase?" Athena asked. Annabeth nodded. "Good, I would hate to have one of my employees injured while working. It's a terrible mess to clean up with the Department," she said and then brushed her hands together and disappeared.

"Wow, sounded like she actually cares," Malcolm said as Annabeth rubbed her wrist on the irritated skin from where Luke had grabbed her.

"Yeah… she sounded the same way in the office," Annabeth said contemplating Athena's words.

"You should probably get some ice on that," Malcolm said, nodding towards her wrist which was beginning to swell.

"Yeah… I probably should."

o.O.o

"Guess who," A voice whispered in Annabeth's ear as two hands clamped down over her eyes.

"Percy," Annabeth complained, as she pulled his hands off.

"Ah you're no fun," Percy whined as he moved to hold Annabeth's hand.

"Percy, I'm working," Annabeth sighed.

"No you're not, your shift ended three minutes ago, therefore you can leave. Come on I've got somewhere I want to take you," Percy said.

"Okay, okay let me grab my coat," Annabeth said and then disappeared into the back room. Percy stood in front of the counter, looking at a book.

"So you're Percy Jackson, the boy who's dating my employee." Percy whirled around to see a tall woman with startling grey eyes staring at him.

"Uh… uh yes ma'am," Percy said. He had never seen a woman so terrifying and… powerful when she looked at him.

Athena studied Percy with her intense eyes. "You better not mess up with this or else I swear I will flay you alive," Athena said, sticking her nose into the air. Percy's eyes popped open. Since when did someone's employer care that much about their employee?

"Athena, I'm leaving, is that alright?" Annabeth asked as she reappeared with her coat on. Athena was still studying Percy but nodded. "Great, come on Percy," she said, grabbing Percy's arm and dragging him towards the door.

"It was nice meeting you Ms. Penhollow," Percy called as they left the building. "Gods she gives me the creeps," Percy said as they headed to his car.

"Oh she's not that bad," Annabeth said. "She just takes some getting used to."

"Whatever you say," Percy said as they hopped into his car.

"So where are we going?" Annabeth asked.

"It's a surprise," Percy said, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he gripped the steering wheel and backed out of the parking spot. "I have some good news though," Percy said.

"Oh and what is that?"

"Mr. D and the board loved our CD. It'll be out in stores in a few months but they're preparing a tour for it," Percy said as he looked over his shoulder as he spun the wheel to get out of the tightly jammed New York traffic. "They especially loved the Words for the Wise for each song."

"Percy that's awesome!" Annabeth said excitedly.

"I know, they're favorites were Words, Falling Slowly, and Kiss me," he said as he managed to weave in and out of traffic. "But the Writer had a few of the softer women in tears."

Annabeth was beaming. "I'm so proud of you."

"Of us," Percy corrected. "I couldn't have done it without you." He swerved into a parking space. Annabeth looked around confused. They were parked in the middle of a shopping section, very common and nothing special.

"Percy why are we here?" She asked as they hopped out.

"Because it's a surprise. I'm going to blindfold you okay?" He said. Annabeth looked at him skeptically.

"Honestly Percy, that's so cliché," she said.

"I know… I know… I'm just an old fashioned kind of guy," Percy said with his award winning smile as he tied the blindfold behind her ears. "Just hold my hand and we'll go." Annabeth slipped her hand into Percy's. She smiled at the feeling.

"You know we must look like idiots to everyone else," she said.

"Eh, most people in New York look like idiots," Percy laughed. "I can only wonder what the press will say about us."

"I can already see tomorrow's headlines: Superstar kidnaps Girlfriend and walks through busy New York Streets," Annabeth said causing Percy to laugh.

"Or even better: Superstar, Percy Jackson's New Girlfriend is BLIND!"

"Oh yes, because me wearing a bandana around my eyes constitutes me for being blind," Annabeth said sarcastically.

"Hey, half the time I wonder myself how the heck they get some of those headlines, like the one about that celebrity giving birth to a whale, that one was weird."

"What?!" Annabeth said.

"Didn't you read that? Oh that was a good one," Percy laughed. "But we're here so just a bit longer," Percy promised. Annabeth heard a door open and she was confused as she heard a bunch of people talking around her.

"Hello Tom, can I have the key?" Percy asked a man.

"Here you go Mr. Jackson, have fun and just return it when you're done. No one else will be up there while you are," a man, Tom, Annabeth presumed, responded.

Percy led Annabeth to what she assumed was an elevator by the dinging noise it made. They stepped in and she heard Percy swipe a card and the elevator began to rise. "This is terrible elevator music," Annabeth said.

"I know, I think about that every single time I come here, they need to get new elevator music, it drives me nuts!" Percy agreed.

"So where are we?" Annabeth asked.

"You'll see in a few minutes," Percy said and she could hear the grin in his voice. The elevator door opened and a few minutes later Annabeth felt cold wind blast against her face. "Okay, don't scream. The view makes most people scream at first," Percy whispered in her ear as he moved to take off her blindfold.

Annabeth opened her eyes and she gasped.

"Oh Percy! It's beautiful!" She said as she looked out at the New York Skyline.

"I told you that you had to come here at least once," Percy said smirking.