Nina Fary had been teaching first grade for almost seven years, and there wasn't one year she didn't dread the mid-January portion of the year.

Not only were her kids much more bouncy and antsy due to the fading buzz of the holiday season, and snow was a good distraction, but it was also the time of the years the senior class from Goode High would come and visit.

It was times like those she didn't regret teaching younger kids. There hadn't been a single year where one of the seniors would get it in their mind and decide to talk back to her like she was their maid.

She knew the teachers tried their hardest, but she had no doubt the seniors were so infected with senioritis to care by this time of the year. Brash, loud and arrogant, they made the teacher's eye twitch.

But she had a feeling this year would all be different.

It all started when she received an email from one Paul Blofis - one of the teachers who would be accompanying the students when they visited in a week and a half. She had, at first, assumed it to be confirmation of times and the activities they would be participating in, but it was about something else.

The email read:

Dear Nina,

I want to start by saying that we are very excited to be visiting next Wednesday. But I must inform you that one of the students, my step-son Percy Jackson, who will be in the group visiting your room, has a service dog.

We initially did not plan for her to come along, but the past few weeks have been tough for him for a broad list of reasons. There may be one other service dog, belonging to Annabeth Chase, who will be in the other room, tagging along, all though we are not quite sure as of right now.

I must request that you inform your students of this, and, to the best of your ability, to tell that what is not to be done. I have attached a form of the basics.

Thank you for understanding,

Paul Blofis.

Nina was surprised by the email, no doubt. But she knew that if her students didn't know how to act, how to behave around the dogs, the consequences may not be pretty.

Later that day, she told her students.

They squealed and jumped around, talking about dogs and how excited they were. They were saying "Doggy!" and talking about their dogs at home.

"I know you all are very excited to see the dog," Nina said, shushing the chatter, "But she is not there for your entertainment. She is helping her owner feel better. Unless she is not wearing her vest, you are not to touch her or call her. Okay?"

Saddened nods went around the room, pouts on the children's faces. She resided the urge to sigh. She would have to keep reminding them throughout the next few days, no doubt.

That night she sent out an email to the parents, informing them of the situation and requesting that they too, go over the rules around the dogs, and help their child be polite and respectful to her.

And today was the day.

The seniors would arrive at Nine o'clock, giving Nina just under an hour to get the room set up and go over the rules one last time.

There was a knock at the door, two minutes past nine. Nina took a deep breath, smoothed her skirts and let the senior class of Goode High in.

She saw the person with the dog moments later. He was talking with another girl, the dog trailing behind him. He had one hand lightly holding a leash while he gestured wildly with the other.

There were more seniors than kindergartners, no surprise there, so each kindergartner got two seniors to help them with the activities.

Little Caroline was with service dog boy, Percy if she remembered correctly, and the girl he had been talking to when he walked in. They sat at one of the tables, the tall and gangly boy looking almost cartoonish sitting in the small chair.

Nina had never been more proud of her kids as they barely acknowledged the dog, at least when they were nearby. She didn't miss all the glances they would shoot the pretty dog, but whenever they passed, it was almost like she didn't exist.

Nina was proud.

Percy Jackson was smiling.

The little first grader, Caroline was a true leader.

She bossed him and Piper on how to do the activities, laughed at his bad jokes, reminding him so much of his Annabeth.

Piper grinned at him as Caroline bounced off to retrieve more supplies for their projects, "She's like a mini Annabeth. Just with less," Piper searched for the words, "I'll stab you, I guess."

Percy nodded, smiling wistfully as he recalled the early years of him knowing Annabeth. Piper gave him a light jab in the ribs, "Stop daydreaming lover boy."

"Oh shut up," He hissed.

Paul, having noticed the interaction from across the room, raised an eyebrow. Percy smiled innocently and his stepfather rolled his eyes, before gesturing him to focus back.

Caroline was skipping back over by this point, a few sheets of paper in her hands, along with a few coloured pencils.

The next activity made Percy internally groan. It was one of those All About Me sheets that schools seemed to love. The good thing though was the large font, and easy to read font. But despite that, the words still moved around just a bit.

Piper and Caroline set to work immediately, Piper helping Caroline with the words she didn't know. Percy quietly started filling in the questions, biting his lip as he worked through the words.

And replies took even longer. A trick he used was to form his response first in Greek, then translate, tending to find his spelling and grammar to be much better. The only problem - it took time.

But they got through, and Caroline insisted on reading his responses out loud, having not seen them yet.

"My favourite colour is," she read, "blue." She looked up at him, "Purple is better," she huffed.

Percy scowled, "Well I disagree."

Piper rolled her eyes, "Play nice Perce," she hissed.

"I live with," her eyes widened. "You live with a lot of people!"

Both Percy and Piper laughed, well aware of the fact that there were six people, along with two large dogs in their Manhattan apartment. Caroline continued to read, and whenever she struggled with a word, Piper would help.

"I am eighteen years old. Wow, you're ancient." Caroline breathed.

Percy laughed, trying to cover the twinge in his heart. He was old, given his parentage and the fate he had. Enough of that, he chided himself, don't think about that right now.

"My favourite animal is," Caroline squinted, and Piper leaned over, laughing once she saw the animal listed.

"Pegasi or Hippocampi." Piper gave him a look, "Really Percy?"

Percy just shrugged.

Piper explained the animals to Caroline, who seemed very intrigued.

"Okay, last question!" Caroline chirped. Percy glanced at the wall. Ten till. "When I'm older I want to..." she tilted her head. "There's no answer! Percy, why is there no answer?"

Percy gave her a soft smile, and when Caroline would look back on it years later she would see the sadness in it. "I don't think about that stuff a lot."

Piper sighed, glancing out the window, all too aware why he never thought about the future. He didn't really have one, not one that was as long as Caroline would think.

"Why?" Caroline asked, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Percy could have said a hundred things. Because I don't have one? Because I'll probably be dead before you get into middle school? Because my future is going to be too bloody to put unto page? Because I'm eighteen and never thought I would live to sixteen?

Instead, he shrugged.

The first-grade teacher, Ms Fary, rung a bell, bringing attention to her. "Okay, class!" She chirped, clapping her hands together, "Snack time! Get some jackets on and show your buddies how we get a snack here!"

The students jumped up, and Caroline took Piper, who Percy was noticing she seemed to like more, by the wrist, dragging her to where all the coats were hanging.

Percy didn't mind, as he tugged lightly on Tides leash. She stood up from where she had pressed herself against his legs, and he was now free to finally stand. He stood, stretching out the soreness in his muscles.

He walked over to Piper and Caroline, who was walking towards the door that would lead to the playground. Piper grinned at him, and Caroline looked up at him, finally seeing how tall he was when he stood next to him.

They walked out, and the three of them got in line for a snack.

"Gods I can't remember the last time I had a snack break," Percy said, trying to think to remember.

"Same," Piper said as they got their cups of Goldfish and Apple Juice.

"Where do you want to sit?" Piper asked Caroline.

"You choose!" Caroline said, smiling brightly.

Piper glanced at Percy, who was scanning the assembled group, looking for something. Eventually, his face broke out into a wide grin and he gestured for Caroline and Piper to follow.

"Were probably gonna sit with his girlfriend," Piper whispered to the younger girl, who burst into giggles.

Piper was proved right when Percy slid into a seat next to Annabeth, arm immediately wrapping around her waist. Caroline bounded over, and Piper smiled when she saw her own boyfriend sitting there.

Caroline seemed excited to see the other girl sitting there, as they burst into enthusiastic chatter moments after Caroline had sat down. Jason and Piper watched them, both much more absorbed with the young girls.

They were also allowing Percy and Annabeth a few moments alone. Mid wintertime was never easy for them, due to the quest that had caused Percy to see his first death, hold the sky, and battle his first titan. Annabeth herself had been kidnapped, manipulated by someone she still wanted to believe was good, and held the sky for hour after excruciating hour.

Rocky and Tide were pressed close to their owners, steady supports to exhausted people. Percy's hand didn't leave Annabeths side, not even when they were brought into the conversation or when they got up to watch the kids play on the playground.

They had about an hour and a half of more activities before they would break for lunch, so Percy, after checking no one was watching, made sure to give Annabeth a quick, yet love-filled kiss, before his hand left her side and they parted.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Paul raise a brow at him as he walked back into the classroom. He blushed and ducked his head ever so slightly, glad that the person who had noticed wouldn't reprimand them.

The activities continued, and Percy laughed and was cheered by funny stories and fun games, but in the back of his mind the memory of their quick kiss, and the way her eyes had sparkled lingered.

Finally, Lunch arrived.

His mom had packed the entire group some sack lunches, so Percy was excited to see what his mom had made. Caroline made them wait for her as she grabbed her lunch pail, before skipping to a lunchtable.

This time, it was Annabeth's turn to come up to Percy.

She slid next to him as he had, but her hand went to his back instead of his side. Percy was glad that his back was to a wall as she hiked up his shirt a bit to touch the bare skin of his Achilles spot, and he bit his lip as the currents came.

Piper and Jason had noticed but had chosen to politely ignore the way friends touched and smiled, letting those be theirs only. They knew touch meant a lot to them, and drawing attention would make them have to stop for fear of getting in trouble.

Paul had also noticed and gave the hand on his stepsons back a quick once over, but he breezed by their table, saying nothing of it. Every time a teacher they didn't know or didn't think would be cool with it passed, Annabeth's hand would move off the bare skin but would come back seconds later.

Tide and Rocky were let off their duties as recess hit and the first graders had a ball playing with the dogs, laughing and playing catch.

Percy and Annabeth watched from the sidelines, his arm around her shoulders and her hand on his Achillies Heel, both wanting the safety and connection of the heel back.

But Percy was also afraid. He was sure Annabeth could sense his fear and anxiety around it growing as it became more and more obvious the strength of the curse was slowly returning.

If Percy had to guess, the curse would be full strength by graduation. Five months. He could live with five months.

The next five months wouldn't be fun, he was certain on that. He ached all over, the curse slowly strengthening his skin again. The small of his back was sensitive and while Annaeths touched were goof today, they could be unbearable tomorrow.

He was also getting more tired, a downside to the curse he had forgotten about. He couldn't count on one hand how many cokes he would have in a week, trying to get through a day and not crash in the middle of class.

Percy looked up as he felt something cold settle on his face. It had started to softly snow, and he smiled as the flakes fell.

Annabeth smiled as she curled closer to him, her eyes fluttering shut as she took in his warmth. The snowflakes dusted her cheeks and stuck to her dark lashes, and Percy smiled.

-

Getting the curse back slowly does not sound fun. Big Ow.

Yes, the teacher is named after everyone's favourite Heartrender Nina Zenik. Can I marry her?

I can see @misslina12000 's eye-roll from here. Ask her, and she will confirm. I talk about Six of Crows a lot. A lot. (*Cough Cough* Specifically Kaz Brekker *Cough Cough*)