Percy was dancing with Annabeth at Westover Hall. He was trying his best not to step on her feet, which she appreciated as they circled the floor. When she had asked him, he had seemed nervous at first, like he had expected her to judo-flip him over her shoulder. Come to think of it, she might have done that if he had asked her, just to assert her dominance. She was happy it was not a slow dance at least. The movement and music were keeping his kelp-filled brain happy and it meant he would not go and do something stupid. She had to push down the thought that he was quite cute when he did something stupid.

"Percy, I need to talk to you about something." Annabeth started as they went.

"Sure, Wise Girl. You know you can tell me anything. Unless it's school work related. I'll likely fall asleep but I'll give it my best try."

She rolled her eyes but knew he was being honest. He would try for her sake, even if he would not succeed. That was one of the many things she loved about Percy Jackson. She was not sure when it happened when the feelings she thought she had for Luke had changed. When Percy became the most important person in her life. She had so many people leave her life, that she could not bear to lose Percy. She needed him at her side, always.

"Percy, I care a lot about you. You may be an idiotic Seaweed Brain, but I can trust you to have my back. If I was captured by the enemy, I know you would tear the nation apart to get me back. You would not just let me go, the way my parents did. You would not leave me the way Luke did."

She felt Percy hug her a little more tightly. "You mean so much to me, Wise Girl. I would fight all of Kronos' men if it meant I could be by your side. We're a team, and nothing short of death will stop me from being there for you."

There was the kicker. Death, the thing that damn prophecy said would come for Percy. It would take him from her and she would be truly alone. She started to cry. She knew it was going to hurt, but he wanted this pain. She wanted to be with Percy until she couldn't anymore.

"Percy, I want us to be more than friends. I want to be your girlfriend."

They stopped moving and she looked up into Percy's sea-green eyes. So many emotions ran through those orbs before he smiled down at her.

"I don't know the first thing about being a boyfriend, Annabeth. Truth is, I never really pictured myself as the dating type. I'm always in danger, I never really had a chance to think about it. Sorry, if that makes me a bad person."

Annabeth giggled as she hugged him closer. "No, it just makes you a Seaweed Brain. Even a hero like yourself is allowed to be loved and happy."

Percy nodded. "Honestly, I couldn't see myself being with anyone with you, now you bring it up. I feel annoyed when you aren't around and I miss you so much. I want to see you every day, even if it's selfish."

She grinned up at him. "You aren't a selfish person, Percy. I can only imagine how conflicted that makes you feel."

He sighed. "I would love to date you, Annabeth. You do know what you signing up for, right?"

She lightly punched his shoulder. "Of course. And we don't have to jump straight to dates and kissing and stuff. Just knowing that you are mine is enough. The rest can wait until we are both ready."

Percy blushed and it nearly made her swoon. He was so handsome in that moment. "You and me, Wise Girl. Together, forever." He then sighed and shook his head. "Grover just contacted me. Thorn is on the move. We need to save the Di Angelo's. Shall we resume this conversation back at camp?"

She nodded and they separated. "Don't think you are getting out of it. We might need to have it at the bottom of the lake though. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to be teased for our new status."

Percy nodded. "Annabeth, what about Luke?"

She sighed, knowing this would come up. "I realized what I felt for him was never true love. More like what someone might feel for a sibling. I still want to try and save him, if we can. After all, he saved me as a little girl. However, if he refuses to be saved, I will fight him at your side. I will always choose you, Percy. I ran away from home all those years ago, and I feel like every step was only so I could find you."

Percy leaned in and hugged her again. "Thank you, Wise Girl. Now, let's go safe some demigods."