"Just out of curiosity," Percy said suddenly, lifting his eyes away from his homework.

"That's never a good start to a sentence," teased Annabeth.

"Whatever, Wise Girl," Percy paused. "Y'know, I could be about to say the most brilliant thing in the world right now and you would never know."

"Mm. Maybe you should write those brilliant ideas into the essay you're supposed to be working on."

"Ok, fine, if you really don't want to know."

"I don't."

"Ok," Percy sighed and went back to work.

In all honesty, Annabeth really wanted to know what he was going to say. But they needed to get back to work and this was probably the eighth time in the last half hour that the two ADHD college Freshmen had stopped to chat.

She tried to work for about five more minutes before she caved. "Ok, fine. What?"

Percy got that big, goofy grin on his face that comes around when he knows he's won. Annabeth will always roll her eyes and tease him but she really finds it quite endearing. She consistently found herself wanting to see that stupid cocky smile and, despite all hubris, she was willing to sacrifice her pride to see it on occasion. That was just like percy to make her fatal flaw less fatal. She doubted she did the same for him and his flaw of loyalty. Maybe it was selfish, but she didn't really mind that fact.

This idea was confirmed when he asked the question that had been holding Annabeth in suspense.

"If I asked you to marry me right now what would you say?"

"What?" Annabeth had heard him but she needed some buffer time to process what he had asked.

"If I asked you right now, what would you say?"

"I'd say this is a really lame way to propose and you'd better get more creative if you're looking for a yes," Annabeth lifted an eyebrow, "This isn't you proposing, is it?"

"Completely hypothetical, I swear," He sat up straight, making the dorm bed they were working on bounce and squeak, and put his hand over his heart, "Not even an ulterior motive. Just curious, promise."

Annabeth let out a quick sigh that was almost a laugh. "Well," She began. She paused for a moment. She knew her answer but she noticed Percy's chest and shoulders were completely still, literally waiting with baited breath, and she thought it amusing to build a bit of suspense.

"If you asked very nicely and maybe threw in a bit of flattery," Annabeth continued, "I would probably be inclined to say yes."

"Really?" Percy finally released his breath when he spoke, the word almost sounding like a cough as it left his mouth.

"You sound so surprised. You're the one who asked, Seaweed Brain."

"Yeah but," he looked away, "I didn't think you'd say yes."

Annabeth suddenly felt her face get warmer. She didn't know why she should be embarrassed since he had been the one to ask. Why would he ask in the first place if he didn't want to know?

Percy glanced back at her and must have seen her panic because he elaborated with "I just thought, you know, you like to plan things and know things and I just expected you to say we needed to wait longer until everything was certain and-"

"I am certain."

Annabeth didn't know why she'd interrupted him. Maybe she was making it worse but the truth is she did know. In fact, there are very few things that she knew with more certainty, if anything at all. She didn't know what hurdles would get thrown her way or where her life might take her. But she knew who she wanted with her when it happened. That she was absolutely sure of. And she saw no reason to deny it or put it on a back burner.

"Are you?" Annabeth inquired softly, secretly hoping he wouldn't hear her question.

Percy reached out his hand and tilted her chin so she was facing him again. With the same hand, he tucked her hair behind her ear.

"If I'm being completely honest, Annabeth, my only aspiration is to be with you as much as possible. I'm just waiting for you to say the word. That's why I was surprised."

"Well I'm saying it. The word."

The corners of his mouth started tilting up, inching their way into the beginnings of that stupid grin she loved so much. That stupid grin that so endearingly tells her he feels like he won.