Sadly, the end is nearing... this may or may not be the last chapter, and there won't be a sequel because I feel like this story is a one time thing you know? Anyways, check out my story "Masquerade" because after this is over, that will be my main priority because I need a co-writer for Bang Bang Bang and I may or may not b here during the summer. I have to take "summer courses" to be ready fo advanced math or whatever and I won't really have time until maybe early-mid July.

Annabeth immediately regreted saying it.

"Y-you love me?" Percy stuttered and pulled over.

"Just forget I said it." Annabeth sighed.

She could feel the tightening in her chest and the tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, no, no!" Percy said. "I-I love you too."

She stared up at him- her grey eyes big and cloudy.

"You do?" She asked.

"Yeah. Annabeth, I love you." He smiled sheepishly.

"It's really early in our relationship, I mean we've only been together for like an hour, but I love you. I do, and I hope when you said it you meant it." He said.

She nodded.

"I meant it. I love you." She whispered.

They both leaned over the cup-holders and arm rest and kissed.

Days later, they were in San Francisco. And Facebook official.

It was all a blur really. The days in-between when they first started dating to when they arrived in California were a jumble of congratulations messages on Facebook and 'omgimsohappyforyouguysyou'remyotp' calls from family and friends, mostly from Silena, Drew, and Sally.

But here they were, on the front of Annbeth's dad's house, waiting for someone to open the door.

A little blonde boy came running to the door and stared, wide-eyed, at Annabeth and Percy.

"A-Annie? You're back? BOBBY! MOM! ANNABETH'S HERE!" The boy sceamed. Annabeth facepalmed and sighed.

"Matthew, this is my boyfriend, Percy." She crossed her arms over her chest as they walked into the house.

"Boyfriend?" Percy smirked.

"Facebook official, right?" Annbeth chuckled.

They followed Matthew and Bobby into the kitchen where an Asian woman was cooking.

"Momomomomom!" Bobby and Matthew screached in-sync. "Annabeth's here!"

The woman lowered the fire and faced them. She seemed surprised, but then turned happy.

"Annabeth!" She exclaimed. "Why aren't you at college?"

"That's what I came here to talk to you about actually... where's my dad?" She looked around.

"He's in his study. Annabeth, who's this?" the woman asked, gesturing to Percy.

"He's her boyfriend!" Bobby said. The woman raised her brow. "Really?"

Percy nodde eagerly. "My name's Percy, Mrs. Chase," He smiled a goofy grin and extended his hand out to shake.

The woman took it and smiled. "Call me Susan, Percy."

"Susan." He nodded, still grinning. He's already met the parents.

Susan went out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. "Fredrick!" She yelled up. "Come down! It's important!"

They heard Annabeth's dad, Fredrick, grumble and unlock his study. He came down the stairs, a tie hanging loosely around his work shirt, rifling his hand through his hair and rubbing his eyes.

"What did the boys break- Annabeth?" He asked in disbelief.

"Hi dad..." she waved shyly.

"What are you-? Aren't you supposed to be at college?" He asked, blinking fiercely.

"That's what I wanted to tal to you about..." She trailed off.

"You could've called! Couldn't you tell me-" She cut him off.

"I had to do this in person," She stated. "Can I talk to you in private, please?" He nodded and furrowed his brows towards Percy.

"Who's this?"

"Percy Jackson, sir." Percy held his hand out to shake and he took it.

"And you are my daughter's...?"

"Boyfriend, sir."

Fredrick nodded and motioned for Annabeth to come outside with him.

"Are you a rocket scientist?"

"No way, dude! He's too good-looking for that! Are you an actor?"

"Nuh-uh! He's totally a writer!"

"But look at his biceps! You must be a football player, right? Can you introduce me to Dion Bailey?"

"BOYS!" Susan whisper-yelled. "Stop bombarding him with questions!"

"It's oay, ma'm," Percy smiled. "Actually, I'm a swimmer."

"Told ya so!" Bobby yelled.

"Nuh-uh! You said he was a football player!" Matthew argued.

"Matt! Bobby! Stop!" Susan said.

"MOM!" Bobby and Matthew pleaded. Susan shook her head. "Go to your rooms!"

"Moooooommmmm!" They whined. "Go!" Susan said.

"Dad! I don't want to be a doctor!" Annabeth said.

"But what about your dream? You've always wanted to be-" Fredrick Chase was cut off by his daughter.

"No, you've wanted me to be a doctor!" Annabeth had tears in her eyes.

He hasn't supported her for anything- not when she won that stupid Lego city building contest; not when she got an architect scholarship; not when she got an internship at one of New York's fifty best architect firms- never.

"What about when you were younger?" Fredrick asked. "How about when your mother-"

"Susan isn't my mom!" Annabeth protested, but her father ignored her.

"-and I bought you that doctor's kit when you were eight?"

"I SOLD IT TO WILL SOLACE FOR FIFTEEN BUCKS, DAD!" Annabeth yelled. She didn't care if the whole neighbourhood heard her. "I've never wanted to be a fucking doctor- never- but I went through two years of studying to make you proud!"

Fredrick Chase crossed his arms over his chest and exhaled, looking sternly at his daughter. "What about Percy? He's a medical major right." It sounded more like a demand than a question.

Annabeth shook her head. "He's a, uh, swimmer," She crossed her arms too. "Why does that matter?"

"Because if you two end up married then I want to know that you're stable!" He replied. Annabeth shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"Oh my Gods! Marriage? What is this, the fifties?! Just because I'm dating someone doesn't mean we're going to get married and have a bajillion kids!" Annabeth said. "And is it horrible that he's chasing his dream? So, stop changing the subject, dad! I don't want to be a doctor, so I'm changing my major."

Fredrick stared at her in disbelief. "You can't do that, Annabeth! You can't just change your mind in the middle of something-"

"Yes, you can!" Annabeth scoffed. "I get that this sounds selfish and all, but you weren't there for me when I was younger! You know, I could've gone to college for free.

"Gods, I got an architect scholarship at OU, but you wanted me to be a doctor, so I had to decline it." Annabeth stated, tears rolling down her cheeks. Fredrick Chase paled at his daughter's words. It was true in a way.

He hadn't been there for her- she probably told him about the scholarship, but he'd most likely wasn't listening. He sat down on the front porch, hanging his head in his hands.

"Annabeth..." He sighed. "You remind me of your mother so much." He smiled sheepishly.

"This is why we got divorced, you know?" He said, chuckling to himself.

"Because you tried to control her life?"

"No... because we wanted different things," He looked up at Annabeth, who had her arms folded and bloodshot eyes. "She wanted me to have a career and for us to have a family... and me? I wanted to chase my dreams- become a football player- maybe have kids sometime in the future... And then you came along.

"After your mother had you, she went to New York to start an architcture firm or something like that. I asked her to take you with her, but she said she couldn't, and I had to put my dreams on hold. Being a father came first." He smiled. Annabeth gnawed on her lips.

"I'm sorry, dad," She said. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know that you had to do all of those things and if-"

"Don't be, honey," Annabeth sat next to her dad and lay her head on his sweater-clothed shoulder. Them she began sobbing. "It's okay... it's okay, Annnabeth..."

And it's like she's five again- mad because the boys at school pulled on her pigtails- and it feels so innocent, pure even, that she contain it all.

Percy comes out through the front door and asks if she's ready to leave.

And for once in Annabeth Chase's life, she's ready.

So this is the last chapter after all. And I don't want an epilogue or anything, but if you want to write me a sequel, PM me. I would continue it, but I feel like my heart isn't in it anymore. I mean, this was my first fanfic ever (on Fanfiction) and it'll always hold a place dear in my heart, but I can't continue.

Oh, and Bang Bang Bang is looking for a co-writer. It's gonna be like you write a chapter in Doc X format and send it to me, then I'll post it sorta thing.

Maybe I'll have a contest for it, like write me a continuation of where I left off (in Doc X format and send it to me), and if I like what I read, then I'll Pm you.

XOXO

augustush waters (formerly District12n2)