Percy's POV

"It is March 23, isn't this white shit supposed to clear up? You know, in like a lion, out like a lamb, and all that shit?" Annabeth asked with a scowl.

"This 'white shit' is snow. And yes." I said.

"Winter is taking too long." Annabeth complained as we trudged through the snow to my car.

"Yep, it always seems to." I mumbled as I tried not to slip.

"Now, in San Francisco, we didn't have this issue." Annabeth grumbled as she stared at her feet, trying not to fall as well.

"I could imagine." I came across an icy patch. "Careful." I warned Annabeth and grabbed her hand, helping her. She latched onto my arm as she slipped, almost falling. I was able to steady her, despite the limp warm feeling my arm got from her hold.

"Exactly what I mean." She said through gritted teeth. She sniffled, which was adorable. Her nose was red, along with her cheeks from the cold air. She was wearing a beanie over her wild curls, and I had to stop myself from staring at her throughout the day. "Why did you park so far away again?"

"There weren't any other spots," I shrugged. Annabeth shivered. "You're cold." She had only been wearing a zip up hoodie, and it was freezing outside.

"No I'm not."

"Then why did you shiver?"

"Because of the tag in my shirt."

"Then why are your teeth chattering?"

"Habit."

"Lies!" I insisted. "What did I tell you last night?"

"I'm fine, Percy." She kept walking. "It's not a big dea—" Annabeth fell. I immediately tried to grab her, but I was too late. I tried to pull her up, but started slipping. She let go of my hands, telling me to hold on. She sighed before she started laughing. I stared laughing as well, not being able to help myself. She looked so gorgeous. Her smile was brighter than the sun reflecting on the snow.

"Here," I reached out my hands, being sturdier now. She took them and I pulled her up. "Alright, let's try to stay on our feet."

"Shut up, Asshole." She smiled and gently shoved me. I chuckled, and felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I hoped Annabeth hadn't noticed.

When we finally made it to my car, Annabeth grabbed the car door handle and said, "Three fucking million years later."

I quickly went to the passenger side and we got in. I turned the heat all the way up, and I sighed. "Here," My words were breathy as I turned the vent towards Annabeth. She mumbled a thanks.

She plugged in the aux cord to her phone.

Switching into airplane mode again
We're not all right but I'll pretend
Press my cheek against the glass
Just be good 'till I get back

><•><

"Let's have a snowball fight." I suggested. We were hanging out in Annabeth's room.

"No."

"Why?" I taunted. "Scared to lose, Chase?" I teased her.

"Please, I would whoop your ass in a snowball fight." She said smugly.

"Really? Then let's go." I smirked at her.

"I see what you're doing." She started, giving me a steely stare. "And it's working." She jumped up and pulled on her boots. I followed in suit, both of us rushing down the stairs.

"Would you stop being so obnoxious?" Helen asked as she walked from the kitchen.

"Nope." Annabeth said as she grabbed her jacket and pulled it on.

"Where are you going?" Helen's voice sounded nothing like the endearing tone it should have. It held no warmth, much like the woman herself.

"Narnia." Annabeth's voice dripped with sarcasm. I kept myself from laughing. "Where do you think?"

"Watch your tone with me, young lady." Helen warned, giving Annabeth a glare. It was almost the most intimidating glare I had seen; but Annabeth's was scarier. They glared at each other and everything seemed to stand still. I didn't dare move. The air seemed to crackle with electricity. It was dangerous, like lightning.

The silence was broken by Bobby and Matthew coming prancing through the house. "Where are you going Annie?" Matthew asked.

I had become pretty good at being able to tell them apart. They weren't exactly identical, but it wasn't hard to mix them up.

"We were gonna have a snowball fight." Annabeth's face broke out with a grin, her whole demeanor completely changing. She seemed to melt around the boys. Like no matter how mad or upset she was, she'd pull it together for them, like they made her feel better. I wished that I could make her that happy.

"A snowball fight?" Matthew asked.

"Cool!" Bobby smiled. "Can we come too?"

"Mommy, please?" The boys asked relentlessly.

Helen finally gave in. "Be careful with them." She gave Annabeth and I a threatening look as if to say, hurt my babies and I'll kill you. I nodded my understanding, gulping. "Alright. Let's get you ready." Helen led the boys away.

"I'm am so gonna kick your ass." Annabeth smirked.

"Yeah right. Snowball fights were my shit when I was younger. My mom said I also had quite an arm when I was little. I used to play catch with my dad." I explained. I noticed how Annabeth tensed a little when I mentioned my dad. "Hey. I'm not sad about it, at least not anymore. It's okay. I know that everything happens for a reason now, and that I'll see him again. Someday." I smiled.

Annabeth grinned so wide, and it made me smile wider too. "Well, I'm glad that you feel that way. Maybe I should have the same outlook." She sighed.

"Hey, it took me a long time to feel how I do and to come to terms with it and accept it. Its not easy, but it feels good. So, take your time." I nudged her with my elbow. She smirked and nudged me back.

"We're ready!" The boys came back, all bundled up in coats, scarves, hats, and gloves. I had to admit thy looked adorable. Annabeth laughed, and I could tell she agreed.

"Alrighty, ya little gremlins," Annabeth tickled them a bit, making them giggle. "Let's go!" She led them out of the house. I looked back at Helen to see a small smile on her face, as she watched Annabeth take the boys outside. I quickly turned and walked outside before she noticed that I saw her.

Maybe she isn't so bad after all.

Just as I was thinking so, I was pelted in the stomach with a snowball. I had a feeling Annabeth threw it before I even looked up, because it hurt. "Hey!" I called.

"Sorry, Seaweed Brain." She shrugged. "Just playing the game." She smirked.

"Oh it's on," I grabbed some snow to make a snowball.

"I wanna be on Percy's team!" Matthew called.

"Nice!" I high-fived him as he ran up to me.

"What the heck, man!" Annabeth called. "You know what?" She taunted. "That's fine because me and Bobby are gonna win!"

"Yeah!" Bobby yelled with a snowball in his little hand.

"I don't believe it! Me and Matthew are gonna whoop your a—butts!" I quickly corrected myself.

Annabeth snorted. "Nice save."

"Thank you," I flashed her a smile and a wink. She laughed.

"Alright! We get some time to prepare!" She yelled. "And, go!" She yelled.

"Come on, Matt." I grabbed his hand and we ran to a small hill of snow. I showed him how to add snow to build up a wall. Soon we had a pretty solid fort. However, Annabeth and Bobby weren't doing too bad. They also had a wall, and I assumed they were making snowballs behind it, but I couldn't see. Occasionally, Annabeth and I would look up at the same time, and give each other playful glares. The boys then did the same thing, making us laugh.

I showed Matthew how to make a good-sized snowball. "So you grab some snow," I watched as Matt followed as I did. "Then you press it into a ball like this." I formed the snowball.

"Like this?" He asked and held up his little snowball.

"Yeah, good job, bud." I smiled at him. He grinned so widely at me. I couldn't help but realize how he looked like Annabeth. I suddenly had a vision of me, Annabeth, and maybe twins of our own, playing in the snow. I smiled wider, not being able to help myself. I knew that that probably wouldn't ever happen, but I still held on to the image. Who knows, maybe it will?

Probably not.

"Are we ready?" Annabeth called, pulling me from my trance. I blushed when our eyes met, even though she couldn't have possibly known what I was just thinking, it still felt like she did. I hoped she didn't notice.

"Yeah!" Matthew and Bobby called.

"Three, two, one!" Annabeth threw a snowball, and it hit our wall, though she was clearly aiming for me. She laughed as I gave her a look like, what the hell, man?

"Alright, and throw it!" I helped Matthew. He threw it and it hit the back of Annabeth's head, who wasn't paying attention. She turned with her mouth wide open. I threw another snowball and it hit her in the face and the mouth. I burst out laughing, and so did the boys as she cleaned her face off.

Fuck you, she mouthed, making me laugh harder. We kept going back and forth, one snowball after the other. After a little while, tragedy struck.

Bobby turned on his own teammate, dumping a pile of snow on Annabeth's head. The tragic thing was, Matthew did the same to me. Annabeth and I exchanged a look, let's get them.

"Come here, you little gremlin!" Annabeth got up and chased Bobby as he squealed and ran.
Matthew started laughing.

"Oh you too!" I chased after him. Annabeth and I ran after the boys until we met up and started chasing them both. Finally, Annabeth scooped up Bobby and I grabbed Matthew, spinning them around, before falling into the snow. We tickled them and tickled them, making them squeal and laugh.

Once again, I imagined what it would be like if Annabeth and I had ended up together and had a family of our own. I smiled hugely, and looked at Annabeth. We were both a little winded, but she looked beautiful. There were snowflakes in her hair, and her cheeks and nose were sprayed with a rosy blush from the cold air. Her breaths came out in white puffs from the low temperatures. She smiled at me. And for a few brief moments, which felt like forever, we had that moment. That moment of silence, peace, content. There was no need for conversation, for we gazed into each other's eyes, being able to read each other through the light in our irises.

"I'm cold." Matthew said. Bobby agreed. The moment was broken, but I was okay with that, because at least it happened.

"Alright," I stood up, grabbing the boys as Annabeth did as well. "Let's get you kiddos inside." We all held hands as we walked back inside.

"Was it fun?" Helen asked we led the boys inside. She started helping them with their coats.

"Yeah!" They both started to ramble at the same time.

Helen laughed. "Alright. Go play with your toys while I make some hot chocolate." She smiled at them as they ran off to the den.

I started pulling off my coat and shoes, Annabeth doing the same.

"It'd be rude of me not to ask," Helen was back to her unfriendly tone. "But would either of you like hot chocolate?"

"That'd be pretty nice," Annabeth said. "Surprising, coming from you." She mumbled. Thankfully, Helen either didn't hear her, or decide to ignore the comment.

"If you wouldn't mind?" I shrugged.

"Sure." She turned and walked into the kitchen, leaving us alone in the foyer.

"I totally won." Annabeth smirked at me.

"Oh you so did not," I disagreed. "I did. I hit you in the face."

"Well..." Annabeth tried to think of something. "Fine," She grumbled. "You w..."

"Hm?" I asked obnoxiously.

"You wi..." she mumbled.

"I'm sorry, you gotta speak up." I smirked at her and she playfully glared at me.

"You win!" She said. "There. I said it!"

"Thank you." I smiled at her. She rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen, smiling.

"Thank you." Helen put the hot chocolate on the table as I sat down.

Annabeth sipped hers, and I nudged her with my elbow. "What?" She asked. I nodded to Helen. She rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Helen then walked out of the kitchen, leaving Annabeth and I to enjoy our hot coco alone.

"This was fun. We should do it again sometime." I sipped my hot coco.

"Agreed." Annabeth smiled at me. And I smiled back.

•••

Authors note

I hope y'all know these are legit fillers to pass the time. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed another bad chapter! I started math nine today and I have to wake up at 6 am to be at school by 7 because they have it before class now and omfg I wanna die and it's been one day.
Anyways, thanks for all the reads (we close to 10k!!!!) don't forget to vote, comment, etc. thanks and love you guys!
-bella💕