Seaweed and Wise - Never letting go

10. Half Blood City - planning future out (Percy's POV)

"We could go to college there."
"And have our own house!"
"And we could all work in the city."
"Make it ecological."
"You're a genius Annabeth!"
The leaving demigods kept on chattering.
Everyone but few left the meeting. Piper and Jason, Leo, Travis and Connor, Katie, Clarisse and Chris... We had all stayed. I kicked my legs up on the table but Annabeth hissed something and threw them down before landing next to me on the sofa.
Chiron raised an eyebrow.
"We obviously want to be here too," I said.
"This is about all of us," Piper hopped on the table to sit down. "Kinda," she smiled. "We're her friends."
Speaking of, Katie smiled too, hopefully relieved and knowing we were there to have their backs.
"Chiron, we're sorry if this dishonors you somehow," Katie almost whispered. "But we can't take it back anyway." She said more confidently. Katie looked like she was about to cry though. Which I'd completely understand... "And I wouldn't want to change it anyway." She shrugged slowly, turning to nod at Travis with a stupid sly grin plastered on her face.
Chiron tilted his head, probably thinking about what he should do now.
"I never had to deal with something like this in my entire life. To be honest, this era is wild. You two haven't done anything wrong, you're both adults and I have to respect that. Though yes, I'd expect anything from Travis but not you. Not this right now. It's a surprise."
Travis stared at Katie's stomach.
"But you're alive and well," he sighed. "You all know that demigods didn't get to live long enough to have children that often at all. Not many heroes lived past their twenties."
I could tell he was seriously honest in this moment. Stating the facts seemed to calm him down. And I've seen in his eyes the same sorrow as when he spoke of his former trainees and kids he knew hundreds and hundreds years ago.
"As to you Katie, I'm just glad you survived this battle in your state, it could have ended badly. And to all of you here... You are heroes, you proved it many times. And while it does offer you certain privileges, it doesn't mean that you're not finishing education or breaking curfews, and other rules." The man looked straight at me. I just rolled my eyes... Like if I had a choice anyway.
"I cannot let those of you who aren't of age to move into the city you're planning Annabeth."
"Don't look at me like that." I grinned. "We still plan to graduate at Goode this year." Annabeth said. "We're living at Percy's."
"Yeah, us too, if we don't burn it down or fail all the tests," Jason laughed.
The tension seemed to have disappeared.
"Calypso and I are going there too and once the school in Half Blood City is finished we'll transfer there, perhaps" Leo said.
I almost forgot he was only 15.
"I think that the one's who are supposed to go to college should stay here and help build the city. It's pointless to try it outside when we could start of safely next year." Chris said. "Maybe we just head on a mission to find the teachers for the school's, like satyrs, or the older demigods. And the minor gods could teach there too until we're able to do it by ourselves eventually."
Clarisse simply stared at him.
"What?" He laughed.
"Then I'll stay too." Clarisse announced.
"What about your mom?"
"She'll be fine." Clarisse said with a kinda girly smile that I've never seen on her. Then she kissed Chris.
After a while of chatting we had to go back to the infirmary though, fun was over, and me and Annabeth had to return.
Annabeth's hands were still like butterflies, giving out all the energy she could be using on drawing. She started reading some magazines and I sat next to her to read too but the text was too small and she read way faster.
"Oh my gods, are you sick Annabeth?" I asked as I noticed it was one of the teen magazines.
She laughed.
"I know, this is so stupid but I told Piper to ask her siblings for some of those. I don't want to look like a complete nerd in the school." She admitted.
"But that's why I love you Annabeth." I said. "You're my nerd and I don't care that you don't know who Edward Cullen is. Trust me," I laughed. "It's for your own good."
"You're right... Half of what's written here is making my head want to explode."
So she closed the magazine and I brought her the book she was reading before. And no, I never watched Twilight, but I suffered only as the mortals talked about it all the time in the year it came out.
"Thanks," Annabeth smiled.
We left the infirmary hours later when Apollo's kids finished dinner to finally eat too. Annabeth kept looking at me so pensively that I was afraid I forgot another anniversary or something like that.
"Today was really overwhelming. Don't you think?" I asked Annabeth, worried that I really forgot something and she was gonna kill me for it.
"Yeah," she muttered.
"Annabeth what are you thinking about?"
"Us," she grinned still in her I'm thinking voice.
I just grinned at her. "Oh. Lets go to bed, I'm tired."
Annabeth looked at me, then at the sky above.
"Percy, it's like 9 o'clock. Not even Rosie sleeps so soon and she's 7."
I shrugged, making the cutest face I could. It always worked on Annabeth.
"Fine," she sighed.
We didn't sleep right away, of course, hiding from the sight of everyone who could come but watching carefully we snuck a few well deserved moments alone, talking, kissing, making the other laugh.
Annabeth fell asleep about an hour after we got to our beds, not even finishing her chapter. I only pretended to fall asleep though which proved harder than I planned since I really wanted to drop dead onto the mattress. But I desperately needed to do something alone so I sneaked out of Athena's cabin once everyone was finally asleep. Or bribed someone to keep their mouths shut... Rosie was a light sleeper. I had to promise her to take her to an aquapark.
I ran to Poseidon's cabin because I had to Iris-message my father. Though I was surprised when he appeared.
"Hello boy, how are you?" My father smiled at me from under water.
"Great, I wanted to ask you something. Uhm..." I stopped myself to reevaluate my sanity. "Do you think Athena's gonna kill me if I ask Annabeth to marry me?"
Poseidon turned a shade too bright as he choked on a gasp.
"And what about my opinion?" He seeped out.
I paled.
"I- I thought you'd be okay with it," I stuttered.
"Just kidding Percy," Poseidon laughed. "I never know what to expect from that woman but if she let you stay in her cabin then I think she'll let you live. Serve it on a golden plate though. You're probably the first ones of your kinds who are not after each others' throats."
"Most of the time," I laughed.
But Poseidon looked back. I didn't see who was there but my father seemed really concerned suddenly.
"Perseus I'm really happy for you and I think you should ask Annabeth. I'm proud of you son but I have to go now. Something's happened."
He waved his hand through the mist, ending the talk.
"Thanks dad," I mumbled and walked to my bed.
After a few minutes I realized I didn't live there anymore and got up.
I opened the door to Athena's cabin to bump into Annabeth.
"Where were you? I was afraid when I woke up, you idiot."
She did look really worried.
"I'm sorry, I just needed to talk to my father."
"About what?" She asked as she walked back to her bed.
I lay next to her and kissed her forehead.
"You'll know soon enough," I snickered.
"Fine," Annabeth frowned. "Goodnight Percy," she yawned.
"Goodnight Annabeth," I whispered.

The next day I asked Piper to take Annabeth shopping or whatever she'd want to do. Piper had a good scent so she didn't ask and played it out as her idea. I only told her it was going to be an epic surprise.
I'd swear she knew what I had on my mind though.
Annabeth, much to my surprise, actually loved the idea of going to buy some clothes and things that she needed for school.
I went to bunker 9 with Leo afterwards and he made me the ring. It was a simple silver ring with a little stone I found in the sea. It was half grey and half green and it looked gorgeously convenient. I just couldn't wait to give it to my Wise girl.
Then I thought: What if she says no because we're too young?
Ever since we fell into Tartarus I realized I couldn't stand her truly leaving me ever again.
I'd go anywhere with Annabeth and I didn't care when we'd marry, I just wanted her to know how much I loved her. Even if it meant risking my life, theoretically.
I hoped she was going to say yes... And that Athena wouldn't fry me right when I finally pulled out the ring.