First Family Dinner
Percy was stressed. Not only did he fail his most recent English test, but his finals were coming up soon, and if he failed even one subject, his life was over. Oh, and Annabeth's family was coming to town to see her...and her brand new boyfriend. He had to worry about explaining his grade to his mom, studying for finals, and impressing Annabeth's dad, all in one weekend.
"Just run me through with Riptide," he told Annabeth one afternoon as he was complaining to her.
"You're invulnerable, Percy."
"Great, I can't even die right."
Annabeth smiled, reaching out for her boyfriend's hand. "I'll make you a deal. If you don't pass all of your finals and my dad doesn't like you, I'll tell your mom about your grade."
"It won't matter. I'm the one who got the grade."
"Okay...how about I tutor you? For the finals? And ask Paul for a retake! He's your English teacher, after all. And besides, my dad likes you."
"Yeah, as Percy, the guy was going to save his daughter's life from the evil Titan. Not, Percy, the guy who makes out with his daughter whenever he gets the chance."
"You just made it sound like you were making out with your daughter."
Percy sighed. "See? I'm bad at English. I'm just doomed."
Annabeth stroked the skin of his palm soothingly. "It's not the end of the world, Seaweed Brain. I'll tutor you for finals and I'm sure Paul will give you a retake. You just have to worry about my dad, now. And my little brothers."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Just be you. You're wonderful."
It seemed like a decent idea, just being himself. But himself wanted to kiss Annabeth every second of the day. That's just the way it was lately. Though neither of them knew it, they were in their honeymoon stage, still, and since they hadn't seen each other enough, it was even more intense.
"But it's not like I can kiss you in front of them."
"I don't see why not."
"Annabeth--what happened the last time we kissed?"
She blushed. "Okay, so we got a bit distracted! But I'll control myself this time."
"It's not you. It's me. Once I start, I...it's impossible to stop."
"It's like that for both of us," she insisted. "Is it not possible that I'm attracted to you? That I like kissing you?"
"Well...unlikely may be a better word."
She rolled her eyes. "You need to come to grips with the fact that you're cute. Handsome. Hot, even. And it's very likely for girls to want to kiss you. As long as I'm the only one who gets to."
"You like kissing me?"
She was in the middle of proving it to him when she pulled away, frowning. "See? We did it again. We're supposed to be talking about dinner with my family!"
"Right." Percy ran a hand through his hair, brushing down the tangles Annabeth had recently formed with her fingers.
"You're mom was nice to let me use the kitchen. I don't really have enough room in my dorm room kitchen to make a meal for six."
"I guess it's good my mom and Paul went to Montauk for the weekend, eh?"
Annabeth smiled. "Yeah. But they would've been welcome at dinner, too."
"I know. But I'd rather not have to share you with my mom. She adores you."
"So...appropriate dinner conversations do not include the war, okay? Barely even mention camp. I don't wanna get all mixed up with my step-mom again. You can talk to my brothers about...basically video games is what they're into right now. They're going into 5th grade next year and are starting to warm up to girls, but if they ask you if you're my boyfriend, you say?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"That's it."
She smiled. "I've trained you well."
"What if your dad brings up camp?"
Annabeth rested her head against Percy's shoulder. "Just say it was normal half-blood stuff."
"So don't mention the half hour we spent under the lake on my birthday?"
"Probably not."
"Or the hour we spent on the beach after dark? Or spring break--"
"No, Percy. You shouldn't."
He grinned cheekily. "Just checking."
“I’m gonna make spaghetti. That’s the safest thing I can think of.” She kissed his cheek and stood, grabbing her jacket from the arm of the couch. “I’ll be by tomorrow at noon.”
“But I thought they weren’t coming until 7, so you didn’t have to be until like…4.”
“I can’t spend time with my boyfriend on a Saturday?”
Percy stood, pausing at the door with her. He leaned against it, blocking her exit. “It’s allowed, and very much welcomed. Bring a movie or something. As long as it’s not a documentary.”
She laughed, pulling him close for a moment. Dizzy from the aftermath of the kiss, Annabeth shook her head and stumbled out the door, giving a tiny wave to Percy. Gods, she loved him.
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“What can I do?” Percy asked, coming behind her as she stirred the spaghetti sauce. “Want a taster?” He settled his hands on her hips. “Or I can watch this while you change into that dress you were so excited about.” The word passed his lips sarcastically. Annabeth had wanted to impress her family, but she didn’t always like dresses.
She turned in his arms, holding a spoon. “Taste.”
He did. “It tastes like spaghetti sauce.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes and tasted a bit as well. She looked up at Percy and their eyes met.
“You think it’ll be okay?” she asked.
His face was getting closer and closer.
“Percy?”
“One kiss, Annabeth?” he whispered.
“No! They’ll be here, soon!”
“One last kiss?” His nose brushed against hers. “Before I’m sentenced to the wrath of your family? Please, Annabeth? You wouldn’t want me to die without kissing me one last time…”
She closed her eyes and their lips met carefully. Then harder. More passionate. The spoon dropped to the floor as she tangled her fingers in his messy two-weeks-past-needing-a-haircut hair and the sauce bubbled on the stove, forgotten.
In weeks earlier, they had been tentatively testing limits, and as Percy’s hands skimmed the waistband of her jeans for the first time, she backed into the counter and Percy pressed closer to her. It was a moment they would later look back on and wonder what the hell they’d been thinking.
As Percy dipped his hands under her camp T-shirt, lingering at her hips only, Annabeth arched her back and then let her head fall back. When she lifted it back up, intent on kissing Percy’s lips again, Annabeth found her hair heavy, and her back suddenly wet and warm. When she spun, Percy gasped, was silent for a moment, and started laughing loudly and enthusiastically.
Annabeth turned back to him. “Don’t tell me.”
He reached around her, turning off the stove. “Go shower. I’ll start another batch of sauce.”
She looked for a moment like she was going to cry or hit him, and then just marched out of the room, mortified and angry.
Percy worked silently. Ten minutes later, he heard the hairdryer going, then her in his closet, trying to find her dress. When she came out, her ponytail was devoid of spaghetti sauce. She took over at the stove and Percy went to trade his T-shirt for a blue button down. Only the best for Annabeth’s family.
When he emerged, Annabeth was setting the table.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said.
She smiled and opened her mouth to respond, but a knock at the door interrupted her. Percy’s smile melted off his face. Annabeth kissed his cheek. “I’ll get it,” she told him.
He gave her a small peck on the lips as a thank you and could tell he wanted to kiss her longer, but hurried over to the door before he got the chance. She hugged her father first, stepmom second, and the boys last. They strolled in, one of them with their hands in their pockets, the other playing a Nintendo.
“How are you?” her father asked.
“I’m fine, Daddy. How was the flight?”
“Good. The boys are excited to meet Percy again, now that they’re older. They’re ready to ask him questions. I assumed that would be my job tonight, but it appears you have a fan club.”
Annabeth squeezed her father’s hand and closed the door behind them as they entered. Percy was finishing setting the table as looked up as the last fork was set in place. Annabeth went to stand by her boyfriend.
Fredrick’s wife greeted Percy first with a handshake. Then Annabeth’s father stared at Percy. “I met you two years ago when you were saving my daughter’s life. I was very glad you had her as a friend, Percy. Let’s hope you make me glad she chose you as her…boyfriend.” He looked sickened at the word.
“I’ll try, sir.” They shook hands.
Matthew and Bobby wandered over.
“You’re her boyfriend now?” one of them asked.
Percy grabbed Annabeth’s hand. “Yeah.”
“Have you kissed her, yet?”
“Um—”
“Dinner’s ready,” Annabeth interrupted. “You guys must be hungry.” She gestured to the table and they all sat. Percy took a bottle of wine from the fridge and offered a glass to the adults. It was unopened, he assured them. Annabeth’s father drank wine, his wife cola. The boys had milk, and Percy gave Annabeth—while hidden in the kitchen—a sip of nectar to make it through the evening and a glass of water.
There was no pause in the conversation as they ate. Frederick’s wife rambled about the boys. The boys talked to Percy about video games and girls, once stopping to ask again to ask if they had kissed—and with a fearful glance at Annabeth and then her father had answered, “Yes.”—and Frederick had spoken to Annabeth about his new projects. Finally, the conversation shifted to Percy and Annabeth.
“When did this happen?”
Percy squeezed Annabeth’s hand under the table. “Last summer,” she said.
“So he’s why you wanted to stay in New York.”
Percy gazed at her cheekily, expecting her to argue with the statement, even though he knew he was a contributing factor.
“Well, I’m rebuilding Olympus still, and need to be close for that, right?”
At the mention of Olympus, Frederick glanced at his wife, but Mrs. Chase didn’t say anything but, “Of course.”
“But I’m the main reason,” he teased, staring at Annabeth adoringly.
Frederick’s hand tightened on his fork and Percy quickly looked away, not wanting to be stabbed repeatedly with a utensil.
“Percy, I believe my sons have already planned a painfully embarrassing interrogation for you, so I just have one question.” Percy waited patiently and Annabeth squeezed his hand. “Do you care about my daughter?”
“Enough to risk my life for her, sir,” he said, not hesitating. “I’d never hurt her.”
Mr. Chase nodded and set down his fork. “That’s all I needed to hear. By the way, how do you do in school?”
A/N: :) I thought it was funny that Annabeth got her hair ruined, but not really sure why I put it in there…hmmm…maybe I just want Percy for myself;) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed.
Love always,
E. M. Zeray