So after about 6 months I finally decided to write something again. I have a rough idea of where I'm gonna take this story but nothing is set in stone yet. Please leave a review if you have the time. Enjoy!

Percy:

I awoke with a start. The echo of thunder crackled overhead and shook the foundations of my cabin. It damn nearly shook me out of bed. Gee thanks uncle. I thought to myself. That's not annoying at all. As if to prove a point three more echoes rang out, each louder than the first.

"Show off…" I muttered. Too awake now to fall asleep but too tired to leave my bed I just lay there listening to the crescendo of waves lightly slapping the sand outside. Sighing slightly I closed my eyes and breathed in the smells of the ocean. Soon enough though I got sick of the sound of my own breathing and the covers off. Making sure to say my curses to Zeus as I did it for waking me up at his demigodly hour. I stumbled towards the fountain in the centre of the cabin and rested my hand slightly above the water's surface. I closed my eyes and focused on gradually heating up the water until, slowly but surely a rainbow formed. I smiled to myself. Despite having done this hundreds of times by now it never seemed to get old. I rummaged through my pockets and dug out a few drachma and tossed them all into the rainbow. After all I might as well give my friend a bonus. The gods never paid their staff enough it seemed. And gods forbid Fleecy becomes the next Charon. I shuddered at the thought of Fleecy in a poorly fitted Italian suit begging for 'just one more coin.'

"Hey Fleecy. Do me a solid. Show me my brother Tyson. Most likely in Poseidon's Ocean forges."

"Sorry Percy." A familiar warm female voice said in the back of my mind. "I can't find him right now. He's probably just busy with work. You know how it's been lately."

I sighed, sadly I knew all too well. What with his new wife. Ella, his tasks in the forges on top of his demanding job as the commander of Olympus's troops Tyson could rarely answer my Iris messages anymore.

"That's okay..." I said biting my lip in frustration, causing the metallic taste of blood to fill my mouth.

"Thanks for the tip though. You know it means a lot to me. You're the only one who does that you know." I could hear the happiness in Fleecy's voice and that cheered me up a bit.

"You're welcome Fleecy." I said firmly. I meant it. "You deserve it after all the help you give me. I'd never remember everyone's birthdays if it weren't for you reminding me."

"Anytime." Fleecy said cheerily. "Besides, someone's gotta help you demigods keep track of birthdays. Oh, and Percy?" She said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Yeah?" I said suspiciously, unsure of what was so funny.

"Happy eighteenth birthday." Fleecy giggled lightly and before I could respond she was gone. Gods... I'm eighteen. I never even thought I'd make it to sixteen. Then again. A lot of things happened in my life I didn't expect. Tartarus... Annabeth. I yawned and shook my head. I was far too tired for these thoughts. I wandered to my bathroom, showers always wake me up. I walked into the shower and turned it to full. Wincing for a second as the heat hit me but then gradually I began to unwind. I always felt at home in the water. No matter where it was it felt like a part of me. I slumped slightly against the wall and drifted off again. So much for waking up. Eventually a shuffling noise just outside the cabin caused me to stir and rise. Sighing to myself I switched the water off and stepped back into the cold air and clumsily grasped for a towel. Being the son of Poseidon I could easily will myself to be dry but I liked the novelty of drying myself the normal way, over time I realised it was the little things that mattered. I walked over to a dusty old closet that smelled like rotten coral and fish guts, I pulled open the creaky wooden door and grabbed my orange camp T-shirt and a pair of jeans older than the Earth Mother herself. Just as i finished getting dressed I heard a knock at my door.

"Percy?" The voice of Thalia Grace asked cautiously from just outside the door. "Are you in there?"

"Thalia? What're you doing -"

"Come quick. It's Annabeth." Thalia urged in a tone that made my hair stand up on end. Usually she had to touch me for that to happen. I uncapped Riptide and hurled myself out the Poseidon cabin ready to cut down whatever threat was waiting for me. I was greeted with… nothing. There was nothing out here. Nothing but a… Tree... That wasn't there earlier... Oh gods. I thought to myself. Not again. Zeus and Artemis are gonna kill me.

"Thalia?" I said nervously, unsure if the Thalia tree could, or would respond. "Thalia? Please tell me that's not you."

Silence.

"Thalia? If that's you give me a sign."

The tree stood there stubbornly swaying in the gentle night breeze. Hmm. I thought. That could be Thalia after all. Just as I was about to inspect further I heard a loud rustling noise from behind me. Immediately I whirled around and raised Riptide.

"SURPRISE!" A set of voices yelled from the darkness. In an instant all the torches were set ablaze. To my right I saw Leo Valdez. A flame dancing lightly in his palm, he winked at me. To my left I spied Thalia Grace resting lightly on a tree stump in the moonlight smirking proudly. I saw a flurry of shadows glide in from the forests and Nico Di Angelo materialised and wandered over to Will who was sitting by a nearby bench. Nico gave me a curt nod when he saw me looking, I gave him a cautious wave. Things were never going to not be awkward between us it seemed. It could be worse. I thought to myself. At least he's not trying to kill you anymore."

I started walking over towards Thalia, either to punch or hug her, I hadn't decided yet. Probably both. Before I could get the opportunity to do either a blur of blonde hair slammed into me from behind knocking the wind out of me, before I could react I was flipped onto my back and pinned down by a rather smug looking daughter of Athena.

"Hello Seaweed Brain. Happy Birthday." Annabeth whispering in a tone that made me melt, she leaned in close and brushed her lips against mine, electrifying my body in way Thalia's lightning never could. After what felt like forever we separated and I took her hand and together we climbed to our feet. Annabeth immediately put her arms around me again before I had the chance to dust myself off. I looked down at her and smiled, she looked like an adorable blonde limpet.

"I love you Wise Girl." I said as I kissed her forehead.

"I love you too Seaweed Brain." She said back instantly. It was an instinct at this point. After all we'd been through together saying those three words felt natural. I looked at Annabeth and smiled once more, hugging her close and kissing her on the cheek.

"Hey Jackson. Don't make us throw you in the lake again." Clarisse huffed at me, crossing her arms and trying to keep up her facade of toughness but even she had a slight twinkle in her eye as she watched us. She noticed I was staring so she immediately turned around and punched one of the Ares campers in the stomach.

"Get me a piece of steak." The boy, who couldn't have been much younger than Clarisse herself immediately scrambled off clutching his stomach. "And make it raw!" Clarisse yelled after him.

Thalia walked over next looking bemused.

"Please tell me I'm going blind and you weren't actually talking to the tree Kelp Head" The color rose to my cheeks as I realised the entire camp must have seen me talking to a tree.

"Possibly... But I can never be too sure with you Pine Face." Thalia gave me a look like she wanted to punch me but then - "Come here you moron." She pulled me in and hugged me. Thalia held me for a few moments before realising she may have actually been acting nice so she pulled away and shoved me lightly.

"You smell like dirt." She said gruffly before punching me on the arm.

"Ow..." I muttered sarcastically. "If I were still fourteen that might have actually hurt."

"Watch it Kelp Head. Don't make me zap you on your birthday." I decided not to respond. Last time she zapped me I lost my sense of taste for a month.

"Wait. What are you even doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Cyprus hunting down Chimera's cousin?" I asked.

"Milady gave me the weekend off. You're lucky she likes you. You're the only man she doesn't plan on turning into a jackalope… Yet anyway." I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. Before I got the chance the ground beneath us began to shake.

"Is that you?" Thalia asked, with a small trace of fear on her face for the first time. "No… It's not -" I was cut off by a bellowing roar.

"BROTHER!" I heard a deep voice yell as I was tackled to the ground for the second time in a row. I felt like I had just been hit by an eighteen wheeler.

"Happy birthday brother!" I looked up and saw Tyson beaming from lopsided ear to lopsided ear, his one eye was as wide as it could possibly be. Tyson gave me a toothy grin and pulled me into a hug that would make an Anaconda jealous.

"Woahhh big guy. Watch the ribs." I mumbled. But clearly my voice was smothered by Tyson's flannel shirt as he only tightened his squeeze at my words. Finally. Just before my eyes popped out my sockets I was released from his clutches, gasping for air I looked up at Tyson. He'd grown a lot in the time since I'd last seen him. He must have been over eight feet tall by now. He was wearing an assortment of flannel shirts hastily sewn together into one loud purple and brown flannel shirt fit for a Cyclops, hanging loosely around his waist was a dark steel heavy duty belt that could have fitted around a small car, strapped to the belt's side was the most incredible looking stick on the planet drenched in… Was that blood? I thought to myself. No. It's probably just Kool Aid. I tried to get a closer look but Tyson ran past me towards my panicked looking girlfriend, Annabeth knew from firsthand experience how deadly a thing Tyson's legendary death hugs were, she looked left and right in a frantic panic but not even the daughter of Athena could find a way out of this situation.

"ANNABETH!" Tyson cried as he crashed into Annabeth, scooping her up like she weighed nothing and lifted her high into the air. Annabeth tried to speak but all she managed was a low hissing noise as the air was forced out her lungs. Just when I was about to intervene Tyson released her and ran towards Nico. "COUSIN!" He yelled in delight, Nico, for his part, looked terrified and immediately burst into a cloud shadows.

"Awww…" Tyson moaned sadly before spotting the Hephaestus campers.

"FRIENDS!" They all sprinted away unnaturally fast, clearly they'd heard of the legend that was Tyson's death hugs. After several minutes of watching Hephaestus campers run screaming for their lives I turned my attention back on Annabeth.

"Thank you for this. You have no idea how much this means to me." I said as I put my arms around her. Annabeth kissed me on the shoulder and led me towards the mysterious tree that wasn't Thalia after all.

"So I gotta know... Why the tree?" I asked.

Annabeth smiled. "My mom gave it to me. It grew from a seed from the tree of Hesperides." I looked at her quizzically, eyebrows raised. "Yes, that tree of Hesperides Percy." A million thoughts raced through my mind. Why did Athena give it to Annabeth? So she could become a god? What does this mean for us? Do I have to eat fruit now?

"I've been doing some thinking Seaweed brain... About us. About our future." Uh oh. Thinking. That's never good. I thought to myself.

"I've spoken to Reyna. She found a place for us to stay while we're at college in Camp Jupiter, it's this little place just outside Oakland Hills, great view of the Sea, you'd love it. Anyway... Reyna talked to Hylla and arranged for a safe place where she could keep the tree for us. And one day… One day… Not now… Gods… Not even anytime soon… But one day." Annabeth took in a short breath, steeling herself. "I'm gonna eat one. But only if you do too." She added quickly, quashing any doubts I had that were threatening to surface. I looked into her eyes and I saw the fear in them. It was the same look I had the night I thought I'd lose her to the Hunt. I've already turned down godhood. I thought to myself. But this isn't the same. One look in her eyes and I knew what I would say.

"I want you Percy. Now and forever. I know that's cheesy but it's the truth. I just…. I just love -" I cut her off with a kiss.

"I love you too, wise girl."

"So that's a yes?" Annabeth asked expectantly, her shoulders dropping slightly as she eased up slightly, she pulled my face towards hers and gave me one of her doe eyes looks she knew I could never refuse.

"When are we going?" I asked. Annabeth gave me a smile that made everything else go away. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow we start our new life together... That's if you want to of course." Annabeth said quickly. It was clear what she wanted me to say. "Fine." I said quietly, feigning reluctance. "But don't think this means I'm gonna start eating apples on a regular basis." Annabeth smirked and punched me playfully.

"When you're immortal you can eat whatever you like, until then I'm keeping my Seaweed Brain healthy." She said jokingly. My Seaweed Brain. My. I liked the way she said that.

"Yours? I asked nonchalantly.

"Of course. You're mine Seaweed Brain. And I don't plan on letting you go anytime soon." Annabeth said as she squeezed my hand reassuringly and pulled me in the direction of the festivities. We walked around various tables lined with food for a few minutes before I spied a rather reluctant looking Naaid acting as a Soda dispenser, the sugary black liquid poured out of her hands into the cups of sugar addicted campers, within seconds I was one of them, I allowed the cup to fill to the brim. After all, I am the son of Poseidon. I could control any liquid on the planet so what's one little cup against me. I looked at Annabeth and grinned cheesily. "Tonight… We feast!" I said as I sluggishly raised the cup above my head, spilling soda all over my shirt.

"Oops." I said sheepishly as Annabeth and the Naaid giggled at my clumsiness. My orange Camp Half Blood t-shirt was now an ugly red that marred the text, it now ironically simply said 'Camp Blood.'

"Fitting…" Annabeth muttered into her cup as she tried not to laugh again. Behind me I heard a strange sound that sounded like a weird blend of splashing and laughter, I looked behind me at the giggling Naaid and she immediately blushed a deep blue.

"Sorry Perry." The Naiad said apologetically, looking down at the ground in embarrassment.

Annabeth snorted. "Perry? Don't you mean Percy?"

The Naiad looked up, visibly confused. "No? Lord Dionysus told me specifically to call you by your name. Perry Johansson. He said people are always forgetting your name and that he didn't want you to feel forgotten on this special day. Your eleventh birthday."

Annabeth almost choked on her drink while I turned crimson red. Almost rivalling my shirt. I looked over at her. Pleading with her to let us leave with my eyes, she simply shook her head and gestured to her drink.

"He was pulling your leg." I said with a sigh. "My name's Percy Jackson not Perry Johansson. And do I look eleven?"

"No Lord. You most certainly do not." The Naiad said appreciatively, looking me up and down in a manner that immediately made me feel uncomfortable. I quickly tried to change the topic.

"So how did you end up as a soda fountain for my birthday party?" I asked.

"Lord Dionysus chose me himself. He said I was perfect for the job." The Naiad replied proudly.

"Why was that?"

"My name…" The Naiad said, her blush deepening to a murky sea blue. "Cola."

"Ohhh. That's a… Unique name. I like it though." I said back.

"Thank you Lord." Cola said. Fluttering her eyelashes and edging forward slightly.

"I'm glad you like it." She was uncomfortably close to my face. So close I could smell the sick sweet smell of soda now. Annabeth, who was seemingly done with her drink after all came over and wrapped herself around my left arm, she leaned in and whispered in my ear, she was so close I could practically feel her lips on my skin. I looked down at her questioning. Annabeth rolled her eyes and mouthed to me. "Now." Before I could say another word Annabeth grabbed my hand and began to pull me in the direction of my cabin.

"It was nice to meet you Cola." I stammered flusteredly. "I'll see you round!" Cola gave me a sad wave and turned to fill another campers cup with a scowl.

Before long Annabeth and I were both on the steps of the Poseidon cabin.

"It's a bit too early to sleep don't you think Annabeth?" Annabeth grinned and dragged me inside.

"Yeah well I'm not planning on sleeping, Seaweed Brain." I looked her in the eyes and saw the mixture of impatience and desire that lay beyond the grey exterior.

"Are… Are you sure we should?" I said as my nerves got the better of me.

"We're eighteen Seaweed Brain. We don't need to worry about Chiron anymore." Annabeth whispered as she pulled me in the direction of my bed.

"It's not Chiron I'm worried about…" I said. "If your mom finds out she'll probably turn me into a Percy sized Hellhound treat. That's if I'm lucky..." I looked down at Annabeth and suddenly I didn't care. I wanted this. We had waited long enough. We locked eyes and I knew she understood.

"Then we better make tonight worth it..." Annabeth whispered softly. "Now let's get you out of that shirt…"

Several hours later we were curled up in bed, our bodies intertwined as we lay together in silence listening to the soft crescendo of waves on the beach lapping gently against the shore. The silence was much more enjoyable now I had someone to share it with, I sighed happily and turned to face Annabeth, she'd fallen asleep on my chest, looking as peaceful as she was beautiful. I love you. I thought to myself. Tomorrow we start our new lives together. Annabeth began to snore lightly, her little flutters of breath tickling my chest gently. Gods she's adorable. Eventually, as my breathing fell in step with hers I drifted off into a blissful dreamless sleep.

I awoke hours later to an empty bed and the sound of screaming.

"Get help!"

"Where's Chiron? Get Chiron!"

I stumbled out of bed and walked over to the door, I was too tired for yet another prank in the same day. I threw open the cabin door and stepped out into the night, from somewhere in the shadows I heard the familiar voice of Thalia Grace screaming out for me.

"Percy! Help! It's… Oh gods… It's Annabeth."

"Come on Thals. I'm not falling for that twice in one day -" I entered a clearing and stopped dead in my tracks. Time itself seemed to freeze, the world stopped spinning, the Earth began to shake and crack open. The cracks widened and deepened and all around me I could hear the sounds of my friends being claimed by the pit below us. I fell to my knees uncaring and unfeeling. I felt Riptide slip into the abyss but I didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore, my world ended here, I raised my head and my tear stained gaze locked with the lifeless eyes of the daughter of Wisdom.