I won't justify my absence other than saying I really just wasn't feeling it. And, I'm not going to make any more stupid excuses. I'll update when I have inspiration (maybe?).

Same day, pool—

There was no doubt to Percy that he would regain a spot on the swim team despite his year-long absence. What he didn't expect was the coach to welcome him with open hands, re-promoting him to captain while his friend Ryan stepped down willingly from having previously held the position.

Swim team try-outs, if he said so himself, went swimmingly. No pun intended. But in all honesty while his form was slightly out of shape, his endurance had substantially increased since the last time he had swum competitively. And no, Tartarus didn't count.

He felt at home, a refreshing change from the norms of school life. He had integrated himself back in seamlessly, getting to know the new members of the team who looked at him as though he were a school legend. Which he was he supposed for leading the school to first place almost two years ago.

He was vaguely aware of the tight Speedo and its feeling on his skin. He proceeded to drying himself off with the white towel located on the stands. The coach pulled him aside as the other boys hit the showers.

He clasped Percy's shoulder with a firm grasp of the arm, "Percy, it's been a while."

"It has sir," he answered cautiously.

Coach Charlie turned to face him, looking him straight in the eye with some hint of curiosity, but simply said, "I won't ask you questions now boy. It's your private life, and I am not going to intrude. But now that you're back, I expect nothing less than the best from you. Your utmost focus and devotion is to the team. I know I took a gamble reinstating you as captain, Percy. So, tell me I didn't make a mistake."

"I won't disappoint," Percy replied equally sincere.

Coach gave his shoulder a tight squeeze, "I thought as much. Now go change."

In the locker room, he saw Ryan throw him an inquiring glance, but Percy motioned to him that they'd talk later.

Once the others had left the room, Ryan waited for Percy to finish changing into a comfortable pair of soccer pants and loose t-shirt. The two walked out together, not saying anything until they reached the school entrance.

"Good practice man," Percy said, trying to break the silence pervading the air.

"Uh yeah dude," Ryan said, scratching the back of his head. "So, what did coach talk to you about?"

"He said he expected a lot of commitment and time. And, Ryan, I'm sorry about the whole captain thing. I…" he ended apologetically, not knowing how exactly to phrase it.

"Don't worry about it. It's chill. We all know that you deserved the spot. Just think of me as a placeholder for until you came back."

Percy couldn't see Ryan's face in the growing darkness, but he could hear the slight undertone of resent coming from the other boy.

"Ryan…" he began again.

"Percy, it's fine. I'll see you in class tomorrow," and without another word, the other boy turned in the opposite direction and left quickly.

Percy took out his cellphone (monster proof thanks to Leo), sending Annabeth a text message.

where r u? –P

I'll be there in 5. – A

And true to her word, Annabeth was there in five minutes. What surprised him was that she was walking. He slipped his hand around her waist as they began walking.

"Where were you?"

"Nearby Starbucks," she replied. "Try-outs got done twenty minutes ago."

"How were they?" he asked cautiously, judging by the tone of her voice that something was off.

"You know that Nancy Bobofit girl? Well, we're both co-captains of the team. She looked ready to rip me apart," Annabeth sighed.

Percy chuckled but stopped immediately upon noticing Annabeth's threatening glare, "You? Scared of Nancy?"

"I'm not scared, idiot. It's just frustrating that I have to deal with this petty mortal girl after all that we've been through. She's…she's just so damn smug and annoying! Gods, it's pathetic the way she drives me up the wall. All I wanted was a normal high school experience, and somehow this…this girl is just ruining it all." Annabeth took a deep breath, but Percy interrupted her before she could continue the rant.

He rubbed his hand in a circular motion against her back in a comforting manner, "Wise Girl, that's what high school is. I know that this isn't what you expected, but there are going to be girls like her everywhere you go. School, what can I say? It's all part of some social hierarchy system that I don't understand."

Annabeth muttered something under her breath.

"What was that?" Percy asked with a slight grin on his face.

"I still hate her, but she shouldn't be bothering me this much. She isn't even worth the trouble," she paused. "So, how was swim practice?"

"It was good, good. Coach expects me to put in a lot of time this year considering he made me captain again."

"That's great!"

"I know, but I won't have time to spend with you," he gave her those endearing puppy dog eyes.

Annabeth swatted him playfully, "Well, I have soccer practice too. We always have the weekend and time like now."

"It's not enough," he whined, resembling a child with each passing second.

"Percy," she said warningly.

"Alright, alright. But I expect you to attend all my swim meets. At least the home ones."

"If you come to my soccer games."

"Wouldn't miss them for the world," he replied with a wide smile on his face.

They got into the car, noting that they were the only remaining car in the parking lot.

"I didn't realize how late it is," Annabeth remarked. "Practice almost went till eight for you."

"That's Coach Charlie for you. He's all about endurance training. I'm fine with that. I just need to work some more on my form. It's actually terrible."

"You aren't cheating, are you?" Annabeth asked suddenly. "You know, being the son of the sea god and all?"

"Annabeth, please, that wounds me," he placed a fist where his heart was located, but smirking at the same time. "But to answer your question, no. I'm not doing anything to tap into my affinity for water other than simply swimming. If my body is naturally more suited for swimming, there's nothing I can do about it. But I swear I'm not controlling the water or anything like that."

"Good, you better not be," she said. By this time, the two had pulled into the parking garage.

"Hey, what about you being on Math Team? You're a daughter of Athena. I personally find that unfair."

"It's not the same," Annabeth protested hotly.

"Right," Percy replied with a teasing grin.

"It is not!"

"Chill, Annabeth, I was kidding."

Annabeth rolled her eyes at Percy's antics, "Whatever, I'm hungry. Let's go up and get something to eat."

"Yes M'am."

Unlocking the door, the two found themselves with an empty apartment. A note on the dining table said that Sally and Paul were at benefit dinner and would not be returning till past twelve. It also mentioned, to Annabeth's delight, that there was some leftover salad and pasta from last night's Italian takeout.

Percy made a face at the thought of having to eat tomatoes and the fact that his fiancée was eating cold pasta out of the fridge made him want to gag.

"You want to warm that maybe?" he asked.

"No, cold pasta is good," she replied, almost incomprehensibly due to the food in her mouth. She gulped down the food with a glass of cold milk.

Percy stood there for a while longer, wondering what to do.

"Are you going to eat?" she questioned him.

"I hate tomatoes."

"You're so picky," Annabeth sighed. "Fine, do you want to go out and get something. Perhaps Chipotle from down the street?"

"No, no. It's fine. Do cookies count as dinner?" he asked hopefully.

"Percy! You just went to swim practice. You think cookies will be sufficient."

"Geez, mom," he responded, with a roll of his eyes.

"I won't stand for that attitude, young man," Annabeth replied. The two stared at each other momentarily before cracking up.

"But no actually," Percy started, a bit short of breath from laughing, "What am I going to eat?"

"Is there anything in the freezer for you?" she asked. She washed her plate, putting it on the drying rack as the dishwasher was full. She grabbed the freezer handle, pulling it open. "There's frozen lasagna," she called back after poking her head in.

"Anything else…?"

"Or chicken nuggets."

"Ooh, the chicken nuggets please!"

Annabeth sighed at her fiancé's childish behavior, putting the nuggets on a plate and into the microwave.

"You're the best cook ever," he replied enthusiastically, tackling her with a hug, placing a swift kiss on her cheek.

Twenty chicken nuggets later, Percy was still hungry…and he really wanted blue cookies. "Annabeth," he began tentatively.

"Yes Percy?"

"Can we make cookies? Please?"

"Percy…"

"Please?" he pleaded with big green eyes.

"Don't you have homework?" Annabeth asked, trying not to be swayed by his tactics. Don't focus on his eyes, Annabeth, she would chide herself. But they're so gorgeous, bright, green, mesmerizing…no, focus.

"Fine."

"But, I promise…Wait, what?"

"I said fine."

"Like actually?"

"Yeah, like actually."

He leaned forward, this time planting a kiss on her lips, momentarily causing Annabeth to forget where she was. She could feel the grin on his lips against her, as though he knew he had this effect on her.

"I love you," he mumbled.

"I see that it only takes chicken nuggets and blue cookies for you to love someone," she grumbled. Percy simply chuckled, going back into the kitchen to find ingredients.

"To be honest, Perce," Annabeth began, "I've never baked cookies."

Percy's face looked like he had seen Medusa, one of horror. He sputtered, "You…you've never made cookies? We're fixing that right now."

The next hour was spent mixing dough and using wax paper to bake the cookies. Annabeth hadn't realized how arduous the task of cookie making was, but Percy made it seem like it was nothing. But then again, she wasn't focusing much, preferring to think about how sexy Percy looked in his apron.

But, that was before something flicked her in the face. Flour. She caught sight of Percy silently laughing at her now furious expression. She didn't think before she flicked back some more. But Percy dodged quickly.

What ensued was a battle worthy of the gods. Fortunately, only two eggs, a stick of butter, and a cup of flour were victimized. As she reached for another egg, Percy grabbed her by the waist, bringing her so close that their chests were touching. There was egg yolk dripping from raven black hair with hints of flour sprinkled through his hair. She expected that she wasn't any better.

"I think the cookies are ready," he whispered into her ear. How did he do that? How could anyone whisper about cookies and still sound sexy? He sidestepped her, with one hand holding hers while the other had on an oven mitt. He dexterously pulled out the fresh batch of blue chocolate chip cookies, placing them on the counter to cool.

Annabeth noted that half of them were perfectly shaped and cooked to perfection. The other half was burnt on the edges, given their shapeless mush-like appearance. The latter would be Annabeth's.

"Look's like I beat you at cookie making," he chuckled, taking a bite of one of her cookies. He dropped it immediately, a grimace on his face.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing," he said hastily.

"Why'd you drop them?" she asked.

"They were hot," he lied quickly. Annabeth looked at him with suspicion, but she could tell from their state that they were terrible. She grabbed one of Percy's cookies instead.

"Remind me not to hire you for our wedding catering."

"Shut up!"

"That reminds me. Should we be planning our wedding any time soon? It's already mid September."

"Eager much?" she replied teasingly.

"Hey, I was just curious," he put his hands up in surrender.

"Aphrodite mentioned something about planning the wedding for her quote: 'most favoritest couple ever'. I can't imagine how that's going to be."

Percy smacked his forehead in response, "This isn't going to end well. But actually, do we have any input?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. You, your mom, my mom, and I are going to meet with Aphrodite two weeks from not to finalize some things for the wedding."

"Oh boy, the joy."

"Come on. Let's clean up before your mom and Paul get home."

The two were surprisingly efficient in cleaning up, despite the one time the son of Poseidon lost his footing on the egg covered floor.

He sat there with a pouting look on his face, "That hurt." Annabeth, on the other hand, couldn't contain her laughter, full out snickering at her fiancé's plight.

"It's not funny," he crossed his arms, looking away.

Annabeth gave him an arm to pull him up, but instead, he pulled her down to a thud next time.

"PERSEUS JACKSON!"

"Relax, your whole face is covered in flour and eggs. Who cares if your ass is?"

The two sat down until Annabeth stood up. "I need to take a shower," she said curtly, leaving Percy alone sitting on the kitchen floor covered in eggs and flour.

"Wait, let me join in you!" he got up, making a run towards the bathroom. But it was already closed.

"In your wildest dreams, Seaweed Brain," he heard her call from inside. The shower started running.

Percy resolved to sit against the door, with his back to it. One day, but not now. He smiled, remembering Athena's warning. But then again, when did he ever listen to her?