Aftermath-Percabeth

Chapter Fifty-Five

"You sure you're okay?"

"I know how to walk, seaweed brain," Annabeth replied sarcastically as Percy grabbed her hands.

Percy frowned. "I know, I know. I just want to make sure you're safe."

It had been two days since the hellhound attack and each day Annabeth grew stronger and more annoyed with staying in the infirmary.

"Let's go for a walk," Annabeth suggested. Percy frowned hesitantly. "Come on, it won't hurt! Besides, Hazel and Frank are watching the kids."

Percy slipped his hand into Annabeth's. "Fine, but only if you promise to take it easy."

"Fine, I will," Annabeth replied defiantly. Percy frowned and widened his eyes. She sighed. "I swear, Percy!"

"Okay, okay, let's go," he said with a laugh and led her out of the infirmary.

And, of course, Annabeth was the one who was walking faster than him and who seemed to be having a blast. Percy, on the other hand, was heavily panting and failing to keep up.

"You want me to slow down, seaweed brain?" Annabeth asked as she peered back at him, her tongue out. "Your old bones too brittle?"

Percy groaned and waved her off. "My bones and I are fine, but we thank you for you concern."

Annabeth rolled her eyes and grabbed Percy's hand again. "Okay, okay, I'll slow down. Only if you promise to stop being so weird and protective."

"I thought you loved it when I'm weird and protective!" Percy protested, a slight grin on his face.

"Let's keep walking," Annabeth said. "Let's go down to the lake. I bet it's gorgeous right now."

Percy nodded, his throat tight. "Okay, you sure you're up to it?"

Annabeth sighed. "I thought we went over this."

"I'm sorry, I'm just....I'm just nervous," Percy admitted as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "You were attacked by a hellhound, and on my watch!"

"Percy, this wasn't your fault!" Annabeth exclaimed, her face growing red. "You can't keep blaming yourself for something we can't control."

"I think we should be more careful," Percy replied. "More armor, more weapons, be more alert—"

"No," Annabeth said firmly. She crossed her arms. "We don't need the kids growing up with more weapons around, okay?"

Percy tousled back his hair. "Well, maybe we should get more ambrosia, or, or....I don't know! I just know I hated bringing you here, not knowing if you were even alive, Annabeth!"

Annabeth pursed her lips. "I know, Percy. But what are we supposed to do? We're demigods! We can't control this!"

"We should move," Percy suggested.

"What?" Annabeth asked, raising an eyebrow. "But our lives are in New York. Are you suggesting New Rome?"

Percy sighed. "I dunno, wise girl. Maybe we could move to the suburbs. By Hazel and Frank."

Annabeth peered at her shoes. She knew he was right. "So closer to camp?"

"Yeah, I think that'd be good," Percy replied. "The kids would get better schooling around here, too. And we could still commute into the city every morning."

"I....I guess? I mean, that's actually our best course of action," Annabeth decided. She met Percy's eyes and smiled lightly. "I guess we should move, right? Not too far, though."

Percy grabbed her hand. "Of course not. I can't be too far away from my job. You and yours, too. But won't it be nice being near camp? Maybe we could even teach classes on the weekends and bring Marina and Charlie here."

Annabeth stared wistfully out into the lake. "I think they'd like that....yeah...."

"So this is real? We're really moving into a house near camp?" Percy asked, trying to keep back his excitement.

Annabeth laughed and pulled Percy into a kiss. "It sure is, seaweed brain."