Disclaimer: No one is as awesome as Uncle Rick. Especially me. Characters belong to him.

Warning: slight cursing

IMPORTANT A/N PLEASE READ: Okay, now that I've got your attention I guess I'll tell you now before I forget later. Annabeth is 21, since the last chapter or two was a whole year skipped. Sorry if I forgot to mention that.

Anyway, continue reading!

"What?" Thalia asked incredulously. Annabeth shrugged, slipping into the plain faded pink sundress Silena had lent her. "Why the hell isn't he picking you up? Isn't that what you're supposed to do on a date?" She demanded, following her into the bedroom.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I've told you 16 times that I'm not going on the date. Zip." Thalia obliged, zipping the dress up and huffing. "Right," she said, and Annabeth thought her manager would let the subject drop. "You're just going to meet the parents." Ugh. Why was she so intent on knowing every detail of her love life? Since when was she Gwen?

Actually, since the subject came up, Gwen had been relatively quiet, giving Annabeth sideways glances. She was hiding something. But at the moment, Annabeth was dealing with Thalia, so she would have to hound her later.

"Thalia, I've already met Sally and seen Paul once or twice. And I've babysat Tyson before." Before...their connections broke off, Annabeth used to be like an extra special extended family member to the Jacksons'. They weren't that big, but it was still a family, way less defective than hers. She remembered spending nights at Percy's when her family would be extra annoying or if they were ignoring her altogether. Sally wouldn't question it, just open her arms wide with a warm smile and Tyson, Percy's little brother, would always be delighted to have new company. She missed having an almost-mother.

After four-almost five- years, she was excited to finally see her again. And Tyson too, of course. And as she'd been trying to explain to Thalia, it was Sally who had asked Annabeth to attend Tyson's graduation, not Percy. Sally had consoled her that Percy had no idea she was coming.

It was a good thing, kind of. After their...date (it still felt weird saying it!), they had only seen each other a few more times(each better than the rest) and then they hadn't seen much of each other, almost as if the other was trying to figure out what was going on between them now. It's been a month. Annabeth wasn't sure where they stood, but now she was wishing she wasn't so intent on sinking the Percabeth ship before. She was the one who pushed him away that time; it was her fault. She wouldn't blame him if he wanted to just forget about her.

And then, on the other hand, it would kind of be weird to show up out of the blue supposedly uninvited as if she couldn't stay away or something. [A/N: sorry, I was listening to Adele lol]

When Sally had quickly assured Annabeth it was her wanting Annabeth to attend, not Percy's scheme or something, Annabeth said yes without hesitation, unlike the first time. But, it seemed like Sally was keeping a little bit of information from Annabeth. She could always tell when Sally was lying- the woman was just too good natured- but she decided she should just let it go. You can't just pry something out of someone after not speaking to them after five years.

Lately it seemed like everyone was being more secretive than usual. Annabeth felt completely blindsided, which was an odd transition for her- she'd never really been the one excluded, she'd always known and watch the person keep trying to pry out of her what she was hiding.

"Thalia!" Annabeth exploded. For the past five minutes Thalia had been asking questions, not leaving any room for her to actually answer them. Almost as if she was trying to distract Annabeth. "It's not a date. Percy doesn't even know I'm going to be there. Today's Tyson's day, not mine."

They both heard a loud snort from Piper, who had been staring at Annabeth's fish tank and listening to their conversation. "What?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh, no, nothing. I was just thinking about a joke I heard this morning. Do you want to hear it?"

Annabeth's eyebrows knitted. Something was definitely going on.

No one was looking at her. Not even sparing a glance in her direction. No, she wasn't one of those self-absorbed celebrities that need attention 24/7 or they would die, but it was just...weird not having people stare at her, what with the busy year it had been.

When she pulled up to Goode high school, Annabeth hesitated. She remembered graduating, how excited she was to get to escape high school. But even in the real word- no, the barbie doll world that is called Hollywood, was just an even more screwed up, delusional, stereotypical version of high school. It was always who was having sex, who was dating who, who was pregnant and cheated, whoever was rich would flaunt everything to feel better about themselves. She was starting to think the only difference was the ages. If she could, she would have gone back in time to warn her past self not to become famous. Although she was the basket case among her fellow celebrities, everyone still gave her attention- both negative and positive- that she didn't want or deserve.

She never would have made it through her years of school without Percy. Even when they had a falling out, he would still take care of her. She used to know him, and he would never consider leaving her. He promised to protect her from harm from anyone. But Percy had broke that promise more than anyone else, so much so that the promise had disintegrated and spread out in an eternal abyss. He never wanted to see her cry, and she knew it. He was only human, and they were all flawed creatures. Knowing that this perfect being was so flawed made her love him more. His flaws were beautiful.

Annabeth was going to do it. She had made a revelation in the surprisingly quiet car [Thalia had said she would skip out on this event and let Annabeth borrow the car]: she was going to talk to him. There was nothing standing in their way anymore. No bitchy girlfriends or hiding feelings from each other. No more doubts. She loved him and he loved her. So what was the issue? They couldn't let love die simply because of severed communication.

She had spent most of her life with Percy and wasn't ready to have him ripped away so suddenly. She had to do something about that. So she had a plan. She had spent the rest of the car ride prepping and pumping herself up, but when she saw the school, everything melted away and she felt her nerves coil tightly in the pit pf her stomach.

Sally was waiting for her on the concrete stairs, smiling brightly when she saw Annabeth. Before Annabeth could even completely get herself out of the car, Sally had her in a bear hug, one the younger girl returned full-heartedly.

"I've missed you so much Sally," Annabeth smiled. Sally pulled away, dabbing at her eyes. "You've grown so big...you're a woman now!" Annabeth felt her face heat up. Having a mother had been something deprived of her at a young age, and Sally, who's parents died in a plane crash, knew the feeling all too well. So she tried her hardest to make Annabeth feel like she had someone to turn to, and Annabeth felt eternally grateful for that. "I've promised myself I wouldn't cry. Percy never told me how much you've changed." She looked her over.

"Per...Percy talks about me?" Annabeth asked in a small voice. Sally stared at her blankly then a sly smirk grew on her face. "He never stopped talking about you. Even before you two met again, he'd always said you were his biggest what if. Always wondered about you, Annabeth. Just like old times."

Just like old times...

The thought of Percy still being hung up over her like she'd been for him filled Annabeth with warmth. Maybe that breaking up incident had just been another falling out. They could've stayed in contact at least. They still missed each other, but were too stubborn to call the other. Maybe all they needed was to have an excuse to meet again. She felt so stupid- all along, he was waiting for her, just like she'd done for were both the Rapunzel in the situation. All she could have done was call out to him.

Which is why she wouldn't wait for Percy this time. She would make the first move.

"Ah-um, where is he?" Annabeth asked, feeling awkward again. Sally lightly hit her forehead and rolled her eyes at herself. "I'm so sorry, where are my manners? The graduation must have already started. He's inside."

"Oh- Sally, I didn't mean to make you late-"

She hushed Annabeth. "Oh honey, it's not you. It's my chatting that's making delaying us."

So the walked up the stairs and into the building. Annabeth felt a sense of deja vu, when she was the one who was graduating and she was so nervous she hid in a broom closet. Sally had come found her, and gave her one of those mom speeches, and literally walked Annabeth down the isle to her seat in the auditorium.

Annabeth's eyebrows knitted. She didn't hear any music, or the noise of people sitting in their sleep or any murmurs of conversation. "Sally-"

Sally stopped. "Oh dear. I told Percy it was 8 a.m. not p.m.!"

"Are you sure? I mean, I can go check with the office..." And then she realized that there was no one else here. Outside,there were a whole bunch of cars in the parking lot, and balloons all over. She had even seen a group of students entering from the side door.

"No, its quite alright honey. I just have to go find Tyson- I think he went over there." She pointed down the hallway.

"Oh, I can do it for you Sally. Besides; It'd be nice to see Tyson again," Annabeth offered. Sally smiled gratefully. "Thank you, dear. I'll be waiting outside."

And so Annabeth set off in the direction Sally pointed, not one hundred percent sure where she was going. She stopped in front of the auditorium doors, and pushed her way in. He might've been there, wondering where everyone else was. But, a few minutes later, she still couldn't find him.

Right when Annabeth was about to turn and leave, she stopped. Honestly, she had no idea how she could have missed it. From the stage, it might as well have been a neon billboard.

In the inside of a rose petal heart, there was a sheet of paper that said 'Outside' in chicken scratch writing. Curiosity winning the battle against common sense, Annabeth pushed open the metal side doors and walked out, a silky smooth rose petal in one of her hands.

It took her a moment to see it, but when she did, a childish grin grew on her features. She couldn't wipe the smile off, nor did she want to.

PERCY'S POV

Annabeth's reaction was priceless. He wish he would have taken a picture to remember the moment, but it didn't matter. He would remember this moment forever. As he watched her awed expression, his smile grew painfully wide. His hands wrung together in front of him and he was a nervous wreck, but seeing Annabeth made all his uneasiness dissipate.

When she finally got to where he was- she had been slowly walking- she finally looked at him, and her smile widened by a fraction. "Percy...how did you...?"

He shrugged. "It's nothing."

"Seriously?" she asked. Okay, well , he had been planning this since last month, and everything finally seemed to fall into place. He knew Annabeth loved the gazebo when they were in high school, and he remembered her talking about that was one of her favorite memories, so he had tried his hardest to recreate it. Paper lanterns of different colors and Christmas tree lights wrapped around the trees surrounding the area and crossing above them, almost making it look like they were under stars. He added more to the scene too- a small lake with swans and beautiful Lilly pads. He had even expanded the space of the tiny gazebo, replacing the wood and adding a new marble statue. There were even several benches, two pushed together with a makeshift dinner table accompanied with plates and candles.

"This is not not nothing. This is..." her eyes finally met his, "amazing."

And in that moment, he knew what he was about to do was the right choice. He loved Annabeth- probably more than he loved himself, as overplayed as that sounds. Almost all of his memories included her, and he wanted to continue making memories. He loved Annabeth. As many times as he said it, he meant it even more.

Annabeth truly was beautif- no, she was gorgeous. Her awed expression mixed with the soft lighting made her seem like a child going to a carnival for the first time. And her eyes- those eyes that he had seen, dreamed about for years- looked at him with such adoration and affection it almost made him wonder if she felt the same way.

For a second he panicked- what if she didn't feel anything close to how he felt? At least not anymore? And then he quickly pushed that thought away. He would not let himself think negatively.

Before he lost his nerve, he kissed her lightly, more like a peck, and then pulled back, suddenly feeling like a huge dork. He loved the way Annabeth made him feel unsure and nervous, yet at the same time comfortable and loved. Only Annabeth could make him feel that way.

No matter how many girls had passed by in the last years, Annabeth still held a huge chunk of his heart. She was his first and only love, and it was painfully obvious that that love was never going away.

He took a deep breath and took her hand gently, leading her to a bench. "Do you remember how you always used to despise cliches? And how I'd always try my hardest to recreate those cliches for you?" He asked. She stared at him for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "Well, yeah, but I'm starting to think my whole life is a cliche."

He grinned, and she smiled too. "Well, one more cliche wouldn't hurt, would it?" He asked. She didn't answer, just watched him skeptically as he stood up and grabbed his guitar. He stepped back, forgetting about the small step that leads into the gazebo, and tripped, righting himself before he could fall. Annabeth laughed. "Percy, what is this about? I thoug-"

He interrupted. "Just stop thinking for once. Nothing has to make sense at the moment. Just listen."

A serenade was probably the oldest trick in the cliche dictionary, but he strummed the guitar anyways, watching the beautiful woman in front of him.

"It's too late, baby, there's no turning around,

I got my hands in my pocket and my head in a cloud

This is how I do, when I think about you

I never thought that you could break me apart

I keep a sinister smile and a hold on my heart

Wanted to get inside,

had to get in line

But not this time

'Cause you caught me off guard

Then I was running and screaming

I feel like a hero and you are my heroine

I won't try to philosophize

I'll just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes

This is how I feel...and it's so so real

I got a closet filled up to the brim

With the ghosts of my past and the skeletons

And I don't know why you'd even try, but I won't lie

You caught me off guard

But now I'm not running or screaming

I feel like a hero and you are my heroine

Do you know know that your love

is the sweetest sin?

And I feel a weakness coming on

Never felt so good to be so wrong

Had my heart on lockdown

And you turned me around

And I'm feeling like a newborn child

Every time I'm blessed to see you smile

It's not complicated,

I was so jaded

And you cau-" Percy stopped, looking up. His cheek was wet, and he was certain he wasn't crying. Annabeth, however, looked like she was close to.

Crap. It was raining. The one thing he hadn't looked into- the freaking weather-came around to bite him in the ass. Annabeth looked up too, and then she looked back at Percy. "Seaweed Brain," she muttered, and smiled.

Although she was partially sheltered from the rain, she stood up and walked into the rain to him. While she seemed unfazed by this surprise in plan, Percy was deflated. He had worked so hard to make this perfect for her, just to have it ruined by a bitter mother nature.

Annabeth grabbed his chin and made him look at her. "Yes, that was perfectly cliched. But I liked the song," she smiled. He shrugged dejectedly. "Annabe-" She put a finger to his lips.

"You know how you worked up the courage to sing that all to me? Don't lie, I could see how you looked like you were ready to throw up. Well, now it's my turn for a confession." By now they were soaking wet, but neither of them seemed to notice. Percy watched with befuddlement as she lowered to the ground, eventually settling on one knee.

"Percy, I love you," His heart fluttered like a school girl, and he refused to break contact with the brilliant grey eyes staring up at him. "I always have and I most likely always will. I think I've loved you before I even knew what it was or how it worked. And, although, if I remember correctly, you did tell me you could never love me, I believe you. But, I'm sick of the mind games. I don't want a relationship built off of lies and deception and ending up with either one of them wanting to off themselves," her eyes flashed dangerously when he opened his mouth. "I should really hate you. You were- are, I'm still not sure- a major douche bag. But, I'm tired of having to share you with the world. I want you to be mine, as possessive as that sounds. No more lies, no more insecurity, no more bullshit. As long as I'm not the lousy sidekick, I'm perfectly fine with being your heroine."

Annabeth paused. He had no idea what she was trying to say. To him, it sounded like she was breaking off their nonexistent relationship for good, unlike the time where she had broke communications off because she was jealous. This sounded permanent. The exact opposite of what he wanted. Needed.

She rolled her eyes. "Your so dense, Percy." She reached in her pocket and pulled out a blue ringpop with green stripes. "Will you marry me, Seaweed Brain?"

Everything stopped. His whole world was Annabeth. Annabeth racing him when they were kids, Annabeth smiling at him during one of his many trips to the hospital, Annabeth kissing him; simply Annabeth, her eyes, her hair, and her smell of lemons and old books.

She was his Annabeth, most importantly. When he didn't answer, an anxious expression replaced the one she had been wearing before. "Percy?" She asked in a small voice. She glanced at the object in her hand. "I didn't have time to pick up a real ring, and it took me forever to find a blue one- hey, what are you doing?"

He got on one knee too, so they were now at eye level, and he smiled. He reached in his pocket and pulled out an actual ring. Upon further inspection, the silver surface had an owl engraved in it, with huge diamond eyes. The inside had a date etched into it, June 14, their anniversary.

"You kind of ruined it," he stated bluntly. Annabeth stared at him and a laugh forced its way past his lips. "I kind of wanted to be the hero proposing to his damsel, making the big heartwarming speech. But Annabeth, the one wearing the pants in this relationship apparently, steals my thunder and makes me seem like a copycat, proposing too. Will you be my Wise Girl?"

"Ignoring how sexist that was, I'm fine with being the heroine as long as your my hero. Wait- you proposed?" She asked. Percy raised and eyebrow. "So is that a no, 'cause I can-" She stopped him, laughing. "No! It's a yes!"

They exchanged rings, Percy taking a huge bite out of his. Annabeth laughed and stood up, Percy following suit. "So it's really starting how it ended, huh?" Annabeth asked wistfully, looking back at the school. "Not yet." Percy said, grabbing her close. "I don't love you," He lied and she laughed, though he could see in her eyes that she was telling him not to joke like that. "I'm kidding." He rolled his eyes and she grabbed his face and kissed him.

He lifted his leg like the women in the old movies, and Annabeth laughed so loud she pulled back, holding her stomach and nearly choking on the rain. "Okay," she finally said. "I think I've reached my cliche limit for the day."

Rolling his eyes, he reached for her, but she ducked out or his arms and started running, laughing all the while. "C'mere!" He chased her, laughing too.

He never thought, in a million years, that he would get engaged. To Annabeth no less. Even though they were dating in high school, he never thought of it seriously. But that was the different between himself then and now. He never realized how much he truly needed her until she was gone.

At least now he knew he would never do something so stupid ever again.

A/N:

Sorry for the antclimatic ending. I don't know when this will be posted, but its March 21. I wanted to finish this before mine and simrasimigirl's birthday.

Ah! It's over! :( I'm so sad. I've given you as much Percabeth fluff as I've promised and have failed to deliver in other song was Hero/Heroine by boys like girls. I kind of tweaked the lyrics a lil bit, if anyone noticed. Oh, and I know a lot of you wanted more Percy POVs, so here you go.

And, I am aware Percy's been acting a bit bipolar (not that there's anything wrong with bipolarness[?]) and I will try to sort that out in the sequel. I've also decided their anniversary was June 14, the day they bonded for the first time.

There was something important I needed to tell you guys but I can't remember...I guess I'll update this chapter if anything.

Okay, although B.F. is over, that doesn't mean I'll automatically start the sequel. I'm thinking about a little spin-off one-shot explaining a few things. I dunno. But it has come to my attention that there are severe errors that will need to be fixed. So, as of now, this story is officially under revision. Don't start freaking out if stuff disappear and new things show up. Sorry.

Oh, and the sequel's going well. Except the title. And summary. And pretty much how everything's going to work out. But I have the ideas and cameos and new characters, so that's going well.

In the mean time, I'll be finishing the two stories I had to put on hold because of Beautifully Flawed. Stupidity Killed the Cat and In The Grey.

Oh, and shout out to Amethystgirly for being the 200th reviewer! I think. I literally kicked my laptop when I logged on to 202 reviews! Thank you so much GFreaks [the name I am officially dubbing my fans, if I have any]! If anyone comes up with a better name, please tell me. I'm desperate.

Review! :(

I dare you, reader, to put your honest opinion of this fanfiction in a review.

~Greekfreak302

Almost forgot to ask; which sounds better? Shattered Elysium or Imperfect Utopia?