Me: Update! This is the final chapter!

Percy: Rick Riordan owns the Percy Jackson and The Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series and the characters. Not the gods, though. And . . .

Annabeth: Percy! Mel didn't ask you to do the disclaimer yet!

Me: Let it be, Annabeth. Everyone know he's a goofball.

Percy: Yeah, Wise Gi . . . Wait, what?

Me: Hehehe, jokes over. Special thanks to Orange Pens and Messy Hands for the pointers! Now on with the story!

The Sunday afternoon was starting to get better for Annabeth.

"O-Okay . . . I'll come," she sniffled into her phone and mumbled a short 'bye' before she hung up.

Annabeth was glad to have a smartphone at last: It was monster-proof and was a Leo Valdez trademark. He had created it with his fellow Hephaestus cabin mates' help last year, and now the demigods all over the world need not be worried about being a monster snack if they carried a phone. Of course, they weren't free; you had to buy it with drachmas or denarii or fifty bags of junk food like chips, pizzas, burgers and all, with sodas, but whatever.

And it was starting to be a pain with Mirana asking almost every day why Annabeth didn't have a phone; that too for the past two years.

Speaking of Mirana, she was staring at Annabeth while eating a packet of chips.

Annabeth raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"Hm?" was the brunette's only genius reply.

Annabeth sighed.

"Percy . . ." The name sounded so familiar, yet so magical, on her tongue that it made Annabeth feel tingles roll down her spine ". . . asked me to meet him in the Central Park. What do I do?" Annabeth asked, desperate for an answer. For any answer.

Again, it wasn't like her to ask for answers. She was usually the one providing them. Everyone came to her for solutions. But desperate situations needed desperate measures.

"Need I tell you?" Mirana took her hands out of the packet and giggled, "Hike up your shorts, wear my blue tank top and get the hell outta here and into your boyfriend's arms."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. Mirana was sometimes as bad as those Aphrodite girls with their perfect make up, perfectly styled hair and expensive Gucci dresses and shoes. Except Mirana was a tomboy.

Then again, so was Piper.

Numerous thoughts swirled in her head which was very typical of her and she was glad to acknowledge the well-known feeling.

She could also feel that Aphrodite had been messing around with her thoughts and their relationship lately and it annoyed her to such an extent that she wanted to throttle the goddess of love.

She took a quick bath and did exactly what Mirana had suggested (more likely ordered) her to do and grabbed her purse before another thought struck her mind and she pulled Mirana in a quick hug.

"Thank you," she whispered in her ear as Mirana returned the hug.

"You're welcome," she smiled at Annabeth, "Now go before I call Jackson and tell him you're not coming."

Annabeth nodded chuckling, and exited the room.

She made her way out of the dorm lobby and just as she was making her way towards the bus stand, two hand shot out from behind her and clamped themselves on her eyes.

Her first assumption was that it was some stupid monster but she discarded the thought as suddenly but gently, a body pressed against her own.

And her brain as well has heart almost melted through her body as her nose picked up the salty smell of the sea; the one she had grown to love.

"Per-" she began but was ceased with a small "Shh…" in her ear. And even if she didn't admit, it made her heart go all goo-goo.

"Come with me," Percy mumbled in her hair.

Annabeth complied without any protesting remarks.

Percy started walking and steered Annabeth along, his palms, calloused from sword-fighting and battles, never leaving their spot.

"No peeking!" He laughed at Annabeth's unsuccessful attempt to move her head away from his grasp, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

He pressed his palms tighter.

"You better not make me trip, Jackson," Annabeth grumbled.

"I won't, Chase."

"Percy? Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"I like to know everything about surprises."

Percy laughed again.

"That you do. But then it won't be a surprise."

Annabeth sighed but inside her heart was doing a somersault, cartwheel and jumping-jack combo. Reason? Percy seldom gave her surprises, most of which were random facts Annabeth didn't think he knew.

Percy opened the door of a car, which Annabeth suspected was his stepfather's – Paul's – Prius.

"Okay, Wise Girl," Annabeth could literally hear the smile in his voice, "Climb in but no peeking during and after the ride!"

"Fine. Just let go already."

"Promise me."

"Fine . . . Fine . . . I promise."

Annabeth rolled her eyes as he let go of them but kept her word.

Percy strapped Annabeth's seat's seat-belt and began driving. He hit the radio and the song which bared from the speakers made Annabeth smirk: Under The Sea from The Little Mermaid.

After what seemed like eternity, the car came to a halt.

Annabeth could hear the nearby splashes of water. She mentally smiled; it was so like Percy to take her to someplace having water. But if they were someday going to have a date in a bathroom, for gods' sake, she would have to smack his seaweed filled head hard.

"Don't open your eyes, Annabeth," Percy said again and Annabeth groaned.

"Where are we?" she asked as he got her out of the car.

"We're not there yet."

Annabeth sighed but nodded.

"Come on."

He clasped her hand in his and started leading her to wherever he was going.

Annabeth figured they were at a beach. The slippery sand almost made her tumble once. The atmosphere was warm and she could smell the salty aroma that she always experienced near Percy, only intensified.

Though amazing, she wished that Percy had warned her before he straight out went and dived in the sea with her in tow.

"Hold on, Wise Girl," Percy muttered from somewhere near her.

'I am holding my breath,' was Annabeth's exact thought but she decided to not voice it out.

Then she felt the wetness of the water go away and she opened her eyes. She found out that she could breathe as well. She was in an air bubble and surprisingly dry.

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" Annabeth screamed, glaring at the said son of Poseidon, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKI . . ."

"Sorry, Wise Girl," Percy rubbed his neck awkwardly, "Now come on. Its surprise time for you."

Percy manipulated the bubble easily and she sat on the floor of the bubble, if you will call it that, her eyes still closed shut.

Then suddenly, as if the lights went out, Annabeth felt the surroundings going pitch black.

"Percy?"

"Shh . . . Look. Open your eyes now."

And it came into view: A cave. But not just any cave. It was a football-stadium sized cave full of crystals, shining brighter than any of the gems even Hazel Levesque could have ever summoned. The ceiling was pretty high and crystal stalactites hung in a zig-zag formation. There in the center of the cave was a lake, which had a small lake-island in it.

And the lake-island had a number of dishes on a table for two, which was adorned with candles, though how Percy had managed to light fire under the sea, Annabeth didn't know.

Annabeth, mesmerized by the beauty of the cave, only gave a quick nod when Percy bowed and offered her his hand, saying, "Milady?".

Their walk across the water with no bridge didn't bring her out of her haze. Nor did the fact that even though Percy popped the bubble, she too was breathing normal underwater.

But the 'Forgive me?' written on one of the plates in blue color on the table did.

"B-but Percy?" Annabeth managed once she came out of the reverie.

"I'm really sorry, Wise Girl," Percy smiled at her sheepishly, as if he was still guilty, "I-I shouldn't have lashed at you. And I swear Sarah forced herself on me just as you came in. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. My life sucked. I was called a delinquent. A trouble. I only had Mom and sometime later Grover for support. But . . . But then I met you at Camp Half-Blood and even though you said that I drooled in my sleep, I couldn't help but admire you. We've endured so much together, Annabeth. We've survived not one but two Great Prophecies. A simple 'I love you' doesn't really cover my feelings right now."

He took Annabeth's hands in his.

"You are a part of me. A very intelligent, beautiful, and though an admittedly 'know-it-all' part . . . But a part I couldn't live without. No one – no one – could take your place in my heart."

Percy placed her hands on his chest, right where his heart should be. Annabeth could feel the thudding of his heart beat.

"I'm yours. My heart, Wise Girl, beats for you."

"Percy, I . . ."

"No, wait," he interrupted her, "I've got something for you."

He pulled out a blue velvet box and opened it. On the tiny cushion sat a simple platinum band with a minuscule blue heart-shaped crystal encrusted in its centre.

"Annabeth Chase, will you accept this promise ring as a symbol of my never-ending love for you?"

Annabeth's eyes brimmed with tears. Yet, she chuckled.

"You're so cheesy sometimes, Seaweed Brain."

He kissed her and she reciprocated as fiercely. Her hands entangled themselves in his jet black hair while his grasped her neck, deepening the kiss.

"I love you, Seaweed Brain . . . I love you," Annabeth gasped for air as they broke apart.

"I love you too, Wise Girl . . . More than you can imagine," Percy replied, caressing her cheeks.

He held her gaze the entire time he took her left hand and slid the ring on her ring finger.

Uncharacteristically, Annabeth blushed and let the tears fall and Percy gently wiped them away, smiling.

Tears pooled in his eyes as well.

Then there was a small tinkling sound, like of a metal object being dropped.

Their heads whirled towards the plate. Instead of the 'Forgive me?', a similar platinum band with a grey heart-shaped crystal sat in the middle of the plate with a note.

Annabeth opened the note and smiled to herself. On it was written 'For Percabeth – XOXO, Aphrodite' in pink color. Not to mention the note smelled of perfume only the goddess of love would use. She took the ring and Percy's hand and slid the ring on his ring finger.

Percy chuckled.

"No asking, Wise Girl?"

"Oh, shut up, Seaweed Brain."

He laughed and kissed her again. Of course, the blissful moment was broken by the loud grumbling coming from Percy's stomach.

Percy grinned as Annabeth laughed.

"Okay let's eat now. I'm starved!"

Annabeth grinned and nodded.

And as she sat there grinning as Percy rambled on and on about how Leo and Jason pranked Piper the other day (of which Annabeth already knew, courtesy to Piper), Annabeth couldn't help but uncharacteristically giggle.

Maybe Piper was rubbing off on her, or maybe Aphrodite was messing with her head yet again, but Annabeth agreed to what Percy had said before: He was hers.

"Seaweed Brain?"

"Hm?" Percy momentarily stopped his rant.

"You're mine. Just mine."

Me: Aaaand, done! Did you guys like it?

Percy: We kissed.

Annabeth: Gods, Seaweed Brain would never be that chivalrous.

Percy: I am whatever-that-was!

Annabeth: 'Whatever-that-was'? Really?

Me: Fight later, lovebirds. I don't wanna witness your steamy kisses any more than I need to.

Percy: Hey!

Annabeth: Very funny, Mel. Okay, guys, Review/Favorite/Follow!

Me: Yeah, dear readers, please make me happy by reviewing/favoring/following!