As Long as I Have You

Demi-gods Know How to Get Down

PERCY

Percy couldn't remember the last time that all of his favorite people had all been in the same room together. His best guess: 5 years ago, after the Second Giant War. Somehow, Annabeth had managed to do it again, all by herself, without the help of a world-ending war.

As Percy looked around the coliseum, he felt the love everyone had for him radiating off the pillars, moving throughout the space, and dancing with the blue lights and blue streamers.

Every single one of the guests was dressed in traditional Roman or Greek garb. Percy marveled at the sight of all of his friends acting like normal 21st-century adults, just now in chitons and togas. As he took in the room, it made him laugh at how many of the party guests were struggling to keep the cloth wrapped properly around their bodies, tugging and tucking to make sure they didn't flash anyone.

To his right were Thalia and some other hunters of Artemis, dancing? At least Percy guessed that's what they were doing. Grover was at the snack table on his left, one hand holding an overflowing plate and the other holding the hand of his new fiancée, Juniper. In the center, he could see Leo, Jason, and Frank having a heated discussion. Not too far away were Calypso, Piper, and Hazel, glancing at their boyfriends and giggling. They were definitely up to something. Over by the back pillars, he saw his mom, stepdad Paul Blofis, Coach Hedge, and Chiron engaged in conversation. Percy really wished he could listen to that discussion. In the shadows, he saw Nico being dragged to the dance floor by Will and Reyna. Already on the floor, Percy caught his half brother, Tyson, doing the cha-cha slide with his harpy girlfriend, Ella. The rest of the party guests included his friends from college, SPQR soldiers, and some Camp Half-Blood kids.

However, despite everything happening before him, Percy only had eyes for one. His one. His soulmate. His Wise Girl. His Annabeth. As the party went on, Percy still had his fun, still engaged with all the people there to celebrate him; however, his eyes were always darting around, trying to find Annabeth in the crowd. Anytime it took more than five seconds to spot her, his adrenaline would spike, his breathing rapidly increasing until his eyes found his target.

As the party continued into the night, Percy had the nagging feeling that he had forgotten something. It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of Annabeth gingerly eating a cracker at the food table that he remembered. His morning came rushing back to him, having originally been washed away with the alcohol from his delay at the bar with Frank and Hazel.

Very slowly, he made his way across the space, getting stopped by guests wishing him a happy birthday and wanting to catch up.

He was almost to Annabeth before Leo stopped him. "I hear you had an interesting birthday present this morning, Jackson."

Percy spun towards Leo, a blush already making its way into his cheeks. "How do you know about that?"

"Annabeth told Piper, Piper told Jason, Jason told me," Leo said, shrugging, his tan toga cloth falling slightly off his shoulder. "Sounds like you have a sick dick."

"Dude, shut up," Percy responded in a joking tone, a smile flirting across his face despite his protests.

"No, really, man, tell me your secrets; Calypso still owes me a birthday gift," Leo continued on, wrapping an arm around Percy's shoulder.

"I guess that secret's just gonna have to die with me," Percy responded, catching another sight of Annabeth. Easily, he brushed Leo's arm off his shoulder and continued his pursuit towards her.

"Not cool, dude!" Leo called out, barely audible over the blast of "American Idiot" playing on the speakers.

Finally, after a long and treacherous journey, Percy had made his way to Annabeth. Her back was to him as she analyzed the snack table, allowing him to sneak up on her and wrap his arms around her waist, nestling his chin into her shoulder.

"Hi Wise Girl," Percy whispered into her ear as the blast of Green Day faded from the speakers.

Annabeth didn't have a chance to respond as the DJ started talking into the microphone. "This one is for all you Psyche and Eroses, Orpheus and Eurydices, Percy and Annabeths."

All eyes turned toward the couple as "A Thousand Years" began drifting through the air.

Ignoring all the eyes, Percy whispered into Annabeth's ear. "Who do you think I should ask to dance?"

Annabeth turned to look into Percy's eyes, a smile making its way onto her face. Gods, he loved when he made her smile.

Percy's own smile disappeared when she punched him in the gut. "Me, Seaweed Brain."

With that, Percy allowed Annabeth to lead him to the dance floor. The entire party's eyes were following them, but none of that mattered. Percy only had eyes for Annabeth, one hand on the small of her back, the other holding her hand as they shuffled across the dance floor. It didn't matter that neither of them really knew what they were doing; they were so in tune with one another that they never stepped on each other's toes or awkwardly bumped into each other. A lot had changed since their first dance at Westover Hall eight years ago.

As the song progressed, more couples joined them, allowing Percy and Annabeth to blend in with the crowd and continue their dance in private.

Percy leaned his head into Annabeth's, speaking into her ear to be heard above the music. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Percy, really."

"Maybe we should call it a night? Head home; that way you can get some rest."

At that, Annabeth pushed their hands up, forcing Percy to spin her. As her chiton skirt flared out and her curls bounced, Percy couldn't help but admire her. Gods, she looked gorgeous.

"We are not leaving this party, your birthday party, that I worked so hard to plan," she said once finishing the spin and pulling herself back to Percy. "I'm really and truly fine."

Percy wasn't sure if he trusted her, considering out of all the amazing things on the snack table, she was eating Ritz crackers. However, having dated Annabeth for the past five years and known her for almost ten, he knew better than to get her upset. His best guess was that he was already toeing that line, showing up drunk and all.

"If you say so, Wise Girl," Percy relented, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.

They stayed on the dance floor for a couple more songs, swaying and shuffling with an occasional spin or dip, content just to be holding onto each other in all the craziness that was the party.

When the DJ switched up the vibe to "Hotel Room Service," they ultimately decided it was time for a break, leaving the dance floor and making their way to the snack table for a drink. As they made their way through the crowd, their hands never left each other locked together, only separating to let Percy ladle the blue punch into blue solo cups.

Handing the cup to Annabeth, he proposed a toast, raising his cup. "Wouldn't have made it to 22 without you, Annabeth."

"To 22 more," she replied, clinking her plastic cup to his before they both took a sip.

Just as quickly as Annabeth took the sip, she was spitting it back into her cup.

"What? What's wrong?" Percy asked, concerned.

"There's alcohol in this," Annabeth stated, looking at the cup with disgust.

As hard as Percy tried, he couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his words; it really wasn't his fault that it was a part of who he was. "Well, yeah, it is a party."

"I just wasn't thinking," she replied, tossing the cup into the garbage.

"Thinking about what, Wise Girl?" Percy asked, looking curiously into his own cup, now wondering if he shouldn't be drinking the punch, which tasted pretty good to him.

"Nothing, nothing," Annabeth reassured him. "I actually think I hear Hazel looking for me; I should probably go find her."

With that, she left Percy standing confused by the snack table, disappearing into the crowd.

"So, I hear there's a secret I need to get out of you?" Jason asked, taking the place that Annabeth had just disappeared from.