Uptown Girl

"Beth, I think we should break up..."

"What?" She asked, broken, tears pooling up in her eyes.

But we should really get to the beginning first. Let's go back four years ago.

It wasn't actually Percy's plan to go out tonight. But his roommate Frank and Frank's girlfriend Hazel, who were also his two best friends, had dragged him along, convinced that he needed to get out. He was writing a paper about sea turtles, but his ADHD and Dyslexia were killing him and even the introduction was too much to ask.

They went to a preppier party than they were used to, but the party was hosted by the friend of Hazel's roommate and Hazel convinced them they should go. And so they went.

He was happy he did go, looking back at it all.

Because that is where he met her.

He fell for her the minute he saw her. Literally, unfortunately.

Something about her made him notice her immediately. Like fate was telling him: here she is.

But as he was walking into the house and looking at her, he didn't see a lost stool and tripped over it and fell on the floor. Everyone immediately looked at him. He of course turned red, but not like a cute light blush on his cheek, oh no, full on red from his neck to the start of his hairline and ears not excluded.

Everyone looked away as they saw what caused the noise, probably thinking he was drunk.

Almost everyone looked away. Of course Frank and Hazel did not, who helped him get up and asked if he was okay, but she also kept looking at him.

As he observed her some more, as she seemed to do with him, he could practically smell the money. But for once he didn't dislike it. Maybe it was because he grew up very poor and is still working three jobs to get himself through college, that he felt some resentment towards rich people and didn't normally like preppy girls. But with her it was different. As she looked at him, he didn't feel like she was judging him for his shoes that were practically being held together by sheer willpower as he's had them since he started college.

For the rest of the night they danced around each other, stealing glances and smiles. He was getting up the courage to ask her to dance or talk to her, but kept backing out. Frank and Hazel were out on the dancefloor and he was sitting alone, distracted by thinking on what to say to her, when she was suddenly before him.

"Hi, I'm Annabeth."

And after all that thinking all he could muster was, "Hi. That's a nice name."

"Thanks. And yours is?"

"Percy."

And that is how it started, Percy and Annabeth. Perce and Beth. Seaweed Brain and Wisegirl.

They sat close together on that couch, getting to know each other and laughing and flirting. They even danced, though he really sucked at it, which they laughed about luckily. They were talking about where they came from, she from California and he from New York.

"I've always wanted to know how New York is for someone who's always lived here."

"Well I can show you, let's ditch the party." He suggested, holding his hand out.

She grabbed it, smiling. "Deal."

They walked hand in hand through the city. She was wearing a nice blue dress and black heels, his simple denim jacket was draped over her shoulders as she was cold. She looked absolutely stunning.

He learned that she went to Yale and lived in New Haven. She studied Architecture and was at the top of her class. Her parents were divorced, her father a professor and mother the boss of a big architecture firm with offices all over the world, the main office being in Manhattan. It was passed down by generation and Annabeth was next in line. A complete opposite of his life, his mother had been a single mother for almost all his life, always working crappy jobs to support them. Though she eventually married Paul, a nice guy, and could finally start writing her books as she always dreamt off.

Eventually they got themselves walking on Time Square, he always liked the lights.

He was feeling bold for once, "Hey Annabeth." He called softly. She kept walking for a second before also stopping. He had already stopped so their arms were stretched, but they were still holding hands.

"What?" She smiled.

He smiled back, pulling her close to him, still holding her hand and wrapped the other one around her waist. "This okay?" He mumbled, as he leaned down, their lips almost touching.

"More than okay." She replied and kissed him.

The kiss was great, he deepened it and she happily went along. After that they walked back slowly, both giddy, they stopped to kiss a few times. Eventually they returned back to the apartment where the party was and that is where they said goodbye. They exchanged numbers and he kissed her goodbye one more time.

They talked on the phone a lot and went on a couple of dates. They spent the summer together, she practically moved into his place, they couldn't get enough of each other. They officially started dating on his birthday, at the end of the summer. They hadn't had the talk yet, though they were as official as could get.

She had thrown him a surprise party, inviting his friends and family and decorating the place blue and getting these blue snacks. She had even attempted at baking him a blue brownie, though it failed, according to her, and got a cake at a bakery instead.

They sat together on the fire escape, the party still going on inside, she was leaning her head on his shoulder, enjoying the August weather and sharing her brownie. "The party is amazing, you're amazing."

"You're so cheesy." They were silent for a long time, just enjoying each other, "You know, I was scared you were gonna leave." She confessed.

"What? I would never just leave. I-" He wanted to say 'I love you', a feeling he had been having for a longer time.

"I know, it's just some irrational fear I sometimes have. But I know you're not going to leave and this summer together has been great,"

"Are you breaking up with me?" He joked, she snorted and elbowed him in the side softly, before continuing.

"I want to say is that I want us to be official. Like, we haven't had the talk yet about if we're official or not, Perce. I know you assumed after a few dates and always call me your girlfriend, but I'm more of a control freak and need to have things clear."

He laughed and turned to face her. "Well I would love to be official and sorry I assumed. But you're not ashamed of me being your boyfriend? I mean look where you come from and where I come from?"

"You're being crazy. I don't care about the differences, just you. If you won't judge me for mine."

"Of course not."

He cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her softly.

Eventually they pulled away, their foreheads together and just enjoying each other.

"I love you, Beth."

She opened her eyes for a second, one millisecond of shock before she smiled and kissed him. He happily obliged. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist.

"I love you too." She mumbled between kisses and turned to sit on his lap, still making out.

They were interrupted by Grover, his best friend from high school, poking his head through the window that led to the fire escape.

"Wow. Sorry guys. We were looking for you and couldn't find you."

Annabeth hid her head against Percy's neck, face red and embarrassed. He was also red, but laughed. "Sorry, man, we're coming."

As soon as Grover shut the window they burst out laughing. Annabeth got off his lap and stood up, offering him a hand to get up.

"I love you." She said, before stepping inside.

"I love you too." He kissed her cheek and let her go inside, following her right after.

About a year and a half later, things were still going great between them. They traveled back and forth between New Haven and New York and spent practically all their free time together. She helped him study and he distracted her while she was studying. They ate at his mother's frequently and his mother loved Annabeth. They had spent the whole summer together and they even went to Montauk for two weeks. Life was good.

And Annabeth wanted him to meet her parents. She thought that a dinner was the best neutral setting for them to meet, but since she still lived in a dorm, there wasn't really enough room and she had an annoying roommate, who was already complaining if Percy stayed over. So Percy offered to host it at his place. Frank could stay over at Hazel's, like he did a lot of the time anyways, and he could make a nice dinner. Annabeth had been hesitant at first, but Percy had assured her that he didn't care if they would shittalk his apartment or his income and 'breeding'.

Annabeth was very nervous though, since at first only her father could come, but yesterday her mother had called her angry that she wasn't invited. So Annabeth had no choice but to also invite her. And now she was completely freaking out the whole day.

"Hey, relax. It's going to be fine. I'll be on my best behavior, I'm even wearing a tie." He reassured her as he was making the spaghetti ready. He thought it was best for them to eat right away. He had made a simple three dinner course with some soup, spaghetti and a lava cake. Annabeth had approved everything, so he was sure they couldn't attack him at that.

She took a deep breath, "You're right. It's just that my parents are never together, let alone speak to each other. The last time they were in a room together was at my high school graduation and well,"

"It did not go well." He finished. "It's going to be alright. I know you wanted me to meet them separately, but this will be fine."

"I know you have a whole step by step plan of how it is going to go and a list of topics. You can tell me."

"First they will come in and be all grumpy. You can open the door and introduce yourself and I will walk over all casual like I'm not nervous at all. Then they will want some wine, luckily you got their favorite and then we'll eat, they will bitch and moan and probably fight the whole time and they will leave. You will have officially met and everyone will be kind of happy. And to make up for this terrible night I have a little surprise after..." She smiled seductively.

"Oh?"

"Let's just say that I have a different outfit ready for later." She winked.

"Well this dress looks really good on you." He complimented. She was wearing a red dress, a color both her parents did not absolutely hate.

She walked up close to him and tiptoed to whisper in his ear, "Then you'll really like what I'm wearing underneath."

He groaned, "You're killing me, Beth."

"Just keep that in mind when my parents are drilling you with questions and their horrible assumptions. Now for what to talk about," Annabeth started, but was interrupted by the doorbell.

"Oh my God, they're here." She took a deep breath in and out and let them in through the intercom.

A minute later there was a knock and Percy rushed over to open it, turning the stove off.

He had seen her parents in a few pictures Annabeth had shown him, but seeing them in real life was still different.

"Hello, I'm Percy." He greeted and let them go inside before holding his hand out to shake. They shook his hand and introduced themselves, though they didn't look pleased.

"Hello." Annabeth walked up to them and put an arm around Percy's middle, trying to reassure him. They were observing his apartment and scrunched up their noses.

"Hello, Annabeth. How have you been, honey?" His father greeted and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Fine, last year at Yale, so I'm already looking for where to go after."

"What nonsense, you'll come work for me and I'll provide you with a nice apartment on the Upper East Side." Her mother interrupted. "Where do we have drinks?"

"You can sit on the couch, I'll have the soup ready in a bit. Can I take your coats?" Percy asked.

"Thank you." She sat, though she didn't make eye contact with him. He took her coat and her father's and hung them on the coatrack behind him.

They sat down on the couch, Annabeth giving them a glass of wine while he finished the soup.

Eventually they sat down at the table.

"You live in a... charming neighborhood, Percy. And how fun that there is no escalator."

He smiled politely. "Thank you. I happen to like walking stairs. Keeps me fit."

"Sorry I didn't catch your last name? What was it again? Maybe I know some of your father's family."

He'd doubt it. "Jackson. And it's my mother's name."

Athena raised her eyebrows in question. "And why is that if I may ask? Are your parents not married?"

Annabeth looked nervously and though Frederick kept quiet, he did seem interested.

"Actually they're not. My mother had me at nineteen and my father died at sea before I was even born."

"That sounds like an unstable childhood." She commented.

"Excuse me?" Percy didn't care what anybody said about him, but his mother was a different case.

"So what are you studying right now, Percy? I assume you are going to school." Frederick interrupted.

"I am studying marine biology at NYU."

He nodded, Percy couldn't tell if he was impressed or not.

Athena was definitely not though.

Annabeth grabbed his hand under the table, but he stood up, "I'll get the spaghetti."

"How handy that you can cook yourself."

"Percy is a great cook." Annabeth interjected. "His pancakes are to die for."

"Too bad that you didn't make those then." Athena commented, though it didn't really sound sincere. "It is very charming that you cook for yourself. Do you ever cook Annabeth?"

"I'm terrible at it, so I'm dependent on Percy for my food." Annabeth jokes. "We cook together, though. I chop the vegetables and try not to ruin anything else." She added.

Athena frowned. "Why would you do that? You do not do staff's jobs for them."

Percy was turned with his back to them, but was absolutely disgusted with her. Annabeth apparently too, because she stood up to help him, holding a plate for him. "Percy is not a staff member, he is my boyfriend who just happens to cook for me. I do not pay him. And you shouldn't compare him to the staff at your house." Annabeth said irritatedly.

Percy handed everyone their plate and didn't make eye contact, feeling really uncomfortable, and sat down next to Annabeth.

"We want to talk about something Annabeth." Frederick spoke up, the tension thick.

"We?"

"Yes, your mother and I discussed this and agreed."

"You two talked? And agreed?"

"Yes." Her mother said shortly. "So Percy, could you maybe leave for some time? We'd really like to discuss this with her."

Percy pursed his lips, feeling like shit. He already stood up when Annabeth pulled him back down next to her.

"No! You can't just kick someone out of their own home. Percy, stay, it's fine."

"It's fine, Beth. I can leave. I still need to get some groceries anyways." He lied.

"See he doesn't mind." Athena smiled.

"No, he's staying. You can say whatever you want to say to me with him here." Annabeth said resolutely, holding his hand tight. She was nervous.

"Annabeth, dear..." Her father started, but she cut him off. "Well spit it out what you want to say."

"You know this isn't going to work dear." Athena said. "You've had your fun with this boy, living with him in this hobo apartment and thinking you're so different from us, but now it's time to return to the real world."

Percy was too stunned to speak, just sitting there dumbfounded.

"You're graduating this year, honey." Her father added. "It's time to get a good job at your mother's firm and start dating a nice guy from good breeding and eventually marry him. He isn't from the same life as we are. And what are you going to do? Take his name later? Jackson doesn't mean anything. And we can certainly not take him on vacations or introduce him to our friends, can you imagine the engagement announcement in the newspaper? It would be a complete joke. He doesn't even have a dad to write down."

"You have to face that it's just not going to work, Annabeth. And that you can better break up now and still find a good guy when you're young." Athena added.

That was it for Percy, he just stood up and walked to his room where he got out of the window onto the fire escape.

He could still hear them screaming though. Well, it was mostly Annabeth.

"You need to leave! How can you say something like that in his own house? He's been cooking all night to make a perfect dinner for you two and I tortured him to make everything perfect so that you would like him. But you only care about what you think he is. He's a person, not just a credit score, and I love him. Like it or not, we're together. I don't know why I'm even surprised with how heartless you are. Leave."

It was probably half an hour later when Annabeth climbed through the window and sat down next to him.

They didn't say anything for a long time, both probably not knowing what to say.

He had loosened his tie and she had taken her heels off. He looked at the city lights, the world buzzing around them, while they were sitting here in silence.

She eventually grabbed his face, two hands holding either side of his face at his jaw.

She looked beautiful, gray eyes sparkling in the city lights, curls hanging loose. He probably didn't look so good. He hoped that his eyes weren't red from the crying.

"Did you hear what happened after you left?" She asked softly, almost whispering. He nodded.

She let his face go and grabbed his hands, squeezing them. "I meant it. I love you, Percy. And I don't want anyone else."

"They have a point, you know. I could never give you what a rich guy could. I have no status. I can't even afford this hobo apartment alone. I have to take extra shifts when we have an anniversary coming up, just so I can afford to take you out somewhere nice. And I know things will pick up next year when I get a real job, but it will not be the same."

Tears pooled up in her eyes. He didn't see Annabeth cry often. "I hate for you to be so insecure about our relationship because of them. You know what a rich guy can't give me that you can? Love. You're the only one I love and who I want to be with. Remember that, okay?"

He nodded, letting the denigrating comments go, "I love you." He mumbled and kissed her.

Before Percy knew it was time to graduate, he attended her ceremony at another seat from her parents and celebrated. They 'forced' her to get dinner with them, but they celebrated extensively when she came back. At Percy's graduation Annabeth sat with his mother and they went to celebrate it all together. He was relieved he would never need to go to school again and see New Haven ever again.

Frank and Hazel were moving in together in another apartment, which hurt, because he was really going to miss Frank as a roommate, though he would still see his friends frequently.

Annabeth had gotten her own apartment from her mother, in the name of the company, but Annabeth had decided to move in with him. Because they really wanted to live together of course and they were practically living together, but Annabeth had probably partially done it to stick it to her mother.

And it was an amazing year of them living together, always waking up together and going to sleep next to each other, mostly having dinner together and just being happy. From baking wars to her reading a book out loud to him as he laid with his head on her lap when they were sitting on the couch together. Yeah, truly amazing.

But then it happened, it was on her birthday when her mother showed up uninvited. She wasn't home, out for lunch with her friend Piper, while he was preparing the surprise party. So you could imagine the heart attack Percy almost had when he opened the door, still singing and dancing along with Led Zeppelin, and saw Athena standing there cold as ever.

She looked at him, frowning, looking at what he was wearing. Though the apartment was party-ready, he certainly wasn't; wearing his old jeans that looked hideous, but were too good to throw away and a T-shirt that Annabeth had given him a year ago with a funny print on it. Yeah, she probably didn't approve.

"Is my daughter here?" Athena asked, no greeting or anything, and walked inside, pushing past him. Scrunching her nose up as she looked at the decorations that were hung everywhere.

"Actually she's not. She's out at lunch."

"New boyfriend?" She asked, genuinely. He didn't even know how to respond to that, but decided it was not worth it.

"No, we're still together. She's not coming back for a while, she's busy all day. I can ask her to call you." He offered, hoping that she would leave.

"Don't be silly. It's obvious you're throwing her a party. I can wait until she gets back. Is there somewhere I can wait for her?"

"I guess the couch?" He pointed at the couch and she sighed and sat down.

"Oh and Percy, could you maybe turn this horrible music off?"

He nodded and continued decorating and preparing the snacks, eventually he changed into a nicer pair of jeans and her favorite dress shirt of his. Neither one of them said anything. He had tried to call and text Annabeth to warn her, but she didn't reply.

One hour later, the guests, friends of hers and both of them, seeped in. Athena sat between them like a complete outcast, clearly not belonging in the crowd. Percy had put some music back on again, Annabeth's favorites, and everything seemed fine. A few minutes later Annabeth and Piper walked in, she smiled widely and jumped on him wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. "Thank you." She beamed, looking around.

"Your mother is here." He whispered in her ear and he turned her around so that she could see the couch where her mother was sitting annoyed, legs crossed over each other. She stood up and walked up to Annabeth.

"Can we talk? I've been waiting for forever to talk to you in person." She smiled politely.

Annabeth smiled back, a tight smile and nothing like the one she just had, and led her to her 'office', in other words, Frank's old room where she worked sometimes.

The party continued on like something weird hadn't happened just yet. Percy talked to their guests, thanking them for coming on his and Annabeth's behalf. He couldn't help but nervously glance at the closed door of her office.

It took an entire half an hour before they came out, Athena looking smug and Annabeth looking as pale as a ghost. She left without saying goodbye to anybody, not even Annabeth's Yale friends. Annabeth walked up to him and she hugged him.

"You're amazing, Perce." And kissed him.

"What's wrong? You look pale?" He asked, concerned.

"I'll tell you later. I want to enjoy this party now." She smiled softly and pecked his lips one more time before she walked off to their friends to talk to them. That was the beginning of the end.

The party was over for some time when they were laying together in bed, her head resting on his chest, hearing his heartbeat and tracing patterns on his chest. He had his arms around her, looking at the ceiling.

"I need to go to London." She confessed. Percy tensed up. "Funny, Beth."

"My mother is forcing me. She wants me to go to lead the firm in London, to see how I do it."

"You're not kidding." He mumbled and sat up. She sat up as well and grabbed his dress shirt from the ground and put it on, covering herself. "For how long?"

"A year. After a year I can decide if I want to stay or not. And I need to leave on the first of August. I begged her to let me leave after your birthday, but she didn't like that. I'm so sorry."

"You shouldn't apologize. This is a great opportunity for you." He said, his heart aching. "I'm just- I'm really going to miss you, Beth."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she kissed him. He kissed her back passionately. God, he was going to miss this.

They tried to make the best of their last time together. Spending every moment together. But time went too fast and before he knew it he was throwing her a London themed party. He had made British snacks like fish and chips and hung decorations all London themed around the apartment. Everyone dressed up as something London related, from Queen Elizabeth to a King's guard.

Annabeth loved it and said goodbye to everyone. And lastly, the next morning to him. He had wanted to drop her off at the airport, but she didn't want that, so she kissed him goodbye by the door and was picked up by a chauffeur of her mother's company.

"Bye, Percy. I love you so much."

"Goodbye, Beth. I love you too. Don't forget me. I'll be here waiting for you to get back."

She burst out crying at that and hugged him tight. He wrapped his arms around her, never wanting to let her go. Convincing her to stay here with him, he knew that she would if he would ask her. But he couldn't, this was a great opportunity for her and he loved her too much to take that from her. So he let her go and kissed her one last time.

He stood in the street looking at the car until he couldn't see her anymore. As he walked back inside their apartment he felt completely empty. He saw something on their kitchen table. On it was a note that read, "Love you, Seaweed Brain. To London and back." Beneath it was a picture frame of his favorite picture of theirs. It was made a few months ago on Montauk, when they went there with his mother, Paul and Estelle. They were sitting on the beach, she sitting between his legs, him with his arms around her and kissing her neck softly. Meanwhile Annabeth was smiling at the camera, beautiful as ever. He hadn't even noticed that his mother had taken the picture, until she had sent it to them.

Tears fell onto the glass of the picture frame. He hadn't even noticed that he was crying. He quickly wiped his eyes and set the picture frame on next to their other photos. This was going to be a long year.

"What's up Beth?" He asked as he picked up the phone. It was currently around 5.30 pm and he was walking up the stairs to his apartment, just getting back from his job. It was January and that meant she was almost half way down on her London job and would be back in six months. Unfortunately he hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving, she couldn't go home for Christmas and New Year's Eve. But he was going to visit her in May for a week and then she would be back in August.

"Nothing, just missing you. How was your day?"

"Terrible. This girl at the office won't stop flirting with me. She's new and I have to work her in, so when I'm telling her stuff she keeps looking at me with those eyes..."

"Those eyes?" Annabeth asked, he could hear the smile in her voice.

"Like sex eyes. You know, normal girlfriends are jealous when someone flirts with their boyfriend, but no, you're laughing at me." He joked.

She laughed at that. "Well, normal girlfriends probably can't trust their boyfriend. I can."

"But to make a long story short, she has been really annoying and I had to turn her down again. Telling her I'm not interested." He continued, keeping the phone between his shoulder and ear to open the door, twisting the key.

"Then what are you interested in?" She teased as he continued to struggle with the key.

"You." He replied. And walked in. He didn't see it immediately. But when he did the phone fell out of his hand to the floor. Because there, sitting on the couch with a big smile on her face, was the love of his life, Annabeth.

She stood up and both rushed to each other. She jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and he held her, hugging her tight. Then they kissed each other. He could feel his heart beating in his ears. He couldn't believe that she was here with him and that he was really kissing her.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked as they finally reluctantly pulled away.

"There was a conference here in New York and I volunteered to go. So I'm here for three days. One for the company and two with you."

He smiled and kissed her again. "I'm so happy to see you. I love you."

She pecked his lips. "You've gotten more handsome. I almost forgot how beautiful your eyes are. You know I completely understand that girl with her sex eyes."

He rolled her eyes and laughed. "Funny girl." He muttered as he walked to the bedroom.

"Oh, who's making sex eyes now?" She teased and they both laughed before he shut her up by kissing her.

They were up all night, making up for the time they'd spent apart. He knew that he missed her, but he hadn't realized how much now that she was here again. Together; entangled limbs under thick covers of the January cold.

"We don't have a song. In May we've been together for four years and still we don't have a song." She rambled.

"What do you think of Uptown Girl?" He suggested.

She laughed, "I love that, that's great. You should play it when you propose." She joked.

A second later both stiffened and sat up, facing each other.

"When I propose?" He muttered.

"Uhm..." She stammered.

"You'd want that?" He asked hopefully, smiling, but not wanting to push her into something she didn't want.

"Yeah. Not right now, but you shouldn't wait too long. I mean we're turning twenty five in a few months and have been dating for almost four years. Where did you think this was going?"

Percy couldn't stop smiling. "Okay, I'll get you a ring."

Annabeth returned the smile. Percy began to press kisses on her neck up and down. "My parents would freak out."

"All the more reasons to do it." He muttered between kisses, making Annabeth burst out of laughter.

These three days together were awesome, they said goodbye to each other with a heavy heart, but reminded each other that they would see each other only four months later in May on their anniversary; they disagreed when their exact anniversary was, but settled on when the night they'd met. He started saving up and picking extra shifts to get her a nice ring. A few days before he left for London he and Piper went to buy a ring. Piper was much better at that kind of stuff and knew what Annabeth would like. He left the ring at home and had to try his hardest not to tell Annabeth about it.

He hated airplanes and flying, but for Annabeth he would gladly take all the flights in the world. He couldn't wait to see her again in real life. As he arrived he saw her standing amongst many people, though she immediately stood out from them.

She was wearing a beautiful simple blue dress that ended just above her knees and had her hair down, just the way he liked it the most. She was wearing a pair of simple sneakers. She had taken this whole week off to fully spend time together, she had made a lot of plans for them to do. In her hands she held a piece of cardboard with his name on in big letters and a heart next to it. She was looking for him, standing on her toes to scan the crowd easier. Percy wasn't super tall, though he was definitely considered tall, certainly for Annabeth as he was a head taller than her.

She finally spotted him and he rushed over to her. Evolving her into a hug. He was overjoyed when he could finally breathe her scent in again, the lemon scent of her hair driving him crazy.

"Hi." He greeted and gave her a quick kiss, making out at an airport didn't seem all too appropriate.

"Hi." She replied, "I'm just so happy to see you again!" She exclaimed, smiling wide and hugging him tight again. Eventually she let him go and he wrapped an arm around her as they walked out. They fought over who would carry his luggage, but he won. They took a cab and arrived at her gigantic apartment.

They were catching each other up on all kinds of stuff, like they didn't talk to each other every day on the phone. She gave him a quick tour of her apartment, which was about five times the size of their apartment in New York.

"So my mother is actually here too." Annabeth casually mentioned.

"What?" Percy almost jumped out of his skin. "Like in this apartment?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "No silly, in town. She heard that I took a week off. Normally she is in New York, but she was so angry that I took a week off that she immediately put me off a few big projects and started to lead them. I might have told her that I took off because you were coming here for a week and of course she didn't like that."

"I'm so sorry. You could've just told me and we could've canceled. This is your career."

"It's fine, Percy. She can do whatever she wants, she's just mad that I took control in my own hands and wants to show me that she gets to call the shots when it comes down to it. She only wants me to do that. It's only three more months and then I'm back with you in New York."

"Three more months." He repeated with a big smile.

"You know, since our last conversation about your proposal I've been thinking a lot about it." She started as she sat him down at the dinner table and grabbed two glasses for them.

"Oh?" He remarked, smiling, knowing just what to say to tease her, "I completely forgot about that. But what were you thinking about?"

She rolled her eyes and playfully smacked his shoulder as she handed him a glass of Coke and sat down across from him. "Well of course when my parents will hear they will freak out and that will be a whole soap opera on its own, but we'll get through that, they'll want us to marry where they both have their fancy summer homes, where all their friends are..."

"They want me around their friends?"

"Yes. You are better than nothing to show. But we're not going to do that. I thought of a nice summer wedding at Montauk with only close friends and family."

He practically melted that she had already thought so much about it. It was typical Annabeth though.

"We're not even engaged yet, you know that right?"

"Yet?" She teased. Both stood up and she wrapped her arms around his neck while he wrapped his around her waist and swayed her around softly.

"Well I may or may not have thought about it too. Though I just kept it to engagement plans."

"You could do it now. Just rip the bandage off." She smiled.

"No. I will do it when you don't really expect it, playing Uptown Girl in the background and down on one knee."

She let out a content sigh and kissed him. He began to unbutton her dress and was left with his mouth dry when he saw what she was wearing underneath.

"A little surprise." She smiled and he groaned, picking her up.

About an hour later they sat contently on the couch only a thin blanket half draped over them as they held each other. Happy to get to hold each other again. They were talking about the most random stuff when someone knocked on the door.

He looked at Annabeth with eyebrows raised, but she was as confused as he was.

"I have no idea who that could be." She shrugged, already about to stand up. But he beat her to it, looking for his clothes that were scattered all around her apartment.

"Just put some pants on and you'll be fine. Guys have the privilege to be shirtless." She said from her position on the couch that was far enough from the door that she was fine if she just stayed under the blanket, which she had wrapped completely around herself.

As he put on his pants he walked towards the door and opened it. And of course, because this always seemed to happen to Percy, it was his monster of a mother in law at the door.

"Hello." He shouted surprised, trying to not convey how shocked he was.

"I see that you've made a safe arrival to London."

"Mom?" Annabeth shouted surprised as she stood up, forgetting for a second that she only had a blanket around her. When she did realize she turned as red as Percy and sat down quickly.

Percy looked around the apartment and saw how bad it looked. Pieces of clothes were thrown everywhere and with how they both looked, from Annabeth's disheveled hair to her swollen lips and the hickey on her neck, it was more than obvious of what had happened.

"Mother, you caught us at a bad time. Maybe you can leave and we'll talk some other time? Or you just call me."

"I'll go to the restroom for a few minutes so you can tidy yourself up. Or will I find something unpleasant there?"

Annabeth sighed annoyed. "No you won't. But I suggest you just leave."

Athena paused for a second. "It is really urgent Annabeth, so no." She bent down and picked Annabeth's bra up from the floor, studying it for a second. "You've gone all out for this visit." She remarked, scrunching her nose up in disgust and handing it to Annabeth as she walked away.

Percy walked over to her. "Oh my God." He whisper-shouted, as he didn't want her mother to overhear.

"I'm so sorry, Percy. She's a psychopath." Annabeth replied, she gave him a quick peck on the lips before starting to gather all their clothing.

"Should I grab some other underwear for you?" He offered.

"No, it's more than okay." She was already putting it on and Percy had tried his best to ignore how absolutely stunning and beautiful she looked.

She put her dress back on and he pulled his T-shirt back over his head. "Can you button me up?" She asked, struggling with the buttons on her back.

He nodded and walked over to her, buttoning her up. He had to focus extremely to get the job done. He pressed a soft kiss to her neck, "Good luck, Beth." He sat down in the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to distract himself with.

"Mom, you can come out. Meet me on the balcony." She called and walked straight to the balcony.

Percy didn't try to listen in, but couldn't help it as he walked into the bedroom to change into clean clothes, since he had been wearing this a whole plane flight long, as the window of the bedroom was opened.

"You're crazy! I'm not choosing between Percy or my job!" He heard Annabeth shout.

"Well you have to. He's distracting you. And I won't have it. So this is how it's going to be; either you break up with him or you I'll name someone else as my successor. It's up to you."

He didn't hear what Annabeth's answer was as he quickly walked out and to the kitchen again. His heart was beating in his ears, his throat felt impossibly tight and his heart clenched painfully. He knew Annabeth, and so he knew she wouldn't break up with him for her career, but how could he let her ruin that?

He kept pondering over it until they walked past, Athena didn't say goodbye as she walked out. Annabeth walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Tears were already threatening to spill as he had decided what he was going to say.

"I don't belong here, not anymore, do I?"

"Percy, what are you talking about?" Her voice was soft and impossibly sweet, making it all the harder to do.

"What am I even doing here?"

"You're visiting me in London." She answered softly.

"I don't belong in your world. And I've told myself for four years that that doesn't matter and that our love is enough and that you don't need me to belong. But that visit from your mother made everything clear. Your career is everything for you and I don't want to be the cause for it to end. "

"I don't care about it, Percy. It means nothing without you. Maybe you don't belong there, but you belong with me." She grabbed his hands, desperate. "I don't know where this is coming from. Not less than ten minutes ago everything was fine and now this."

"If you have to choose between me and your career you shouldn't choose me."

"Percy what are you saying? Did you hear what my mother said, because I don't care about that."

"Beth, I think we should break up..."

"What?" She asked, broken, tears pooling up in her eyes. "In three months I'm done with London and we can stay here in New York for forever. We're going to get engaged and marry on the Beach in Montauk. Please, don't do this. I know you love me too."

This made Percy cry as well. "Of course I love you. I'm doing this for you. I'm setting you free."

"Setting me free? I'm not some rescue animal at your job, jerk!" She cried. "I don't care what my mother threatens with. You are the one I choose. And I'd like for you to let me be the one who makes the decisions about my own life." She looked at him, hoping he would change his mind, but he really thought that this would be best for her even if it hurt him like hell.

She shook her head and pushed past him and out of the apartment.

"Beth, wait," He grabbed her arm, gently, tears streaming down both of their faces, "It's your apartment, so I should leave..."

"Percy, this is not the end, I just need some time to cool off, so let me go." She said coolly and he listened to her. Letting her go and slam the door behind her.

He stood there paralyzed, realizing what he had just done, what he had destroyed. He stumbled to the kitchen, to drink some water to calm down, but practically collapsed and burst out crying, sitting on the ground leaning against the counter.

After a few minutes Percy heard someone frantically knock on the door.

"Percy! Percy! Let me in!" It was Annabeth. He stood up, wiping his eyes and taking a deep breath. He opened the door, standing aside for her to walk in.

"I'm not breaking up. I will not stand for it." She rambled as she stood before him.

"Beth," He started, but she interrupted him. She kissed him, he couldn't help but melt into it and respond. He wrapped his arm around her and when she pulled away he kissed her again.

Eventually they had to pull away because of a lack of air.

"That isn't a kiss of someone who wants to break up." She muttered breathless. She held his jaw, so he was forced to look her in the eyes. "Tell me you want to break up. Because it is not best for me and if it is then you cannot decide so. I'm not going, Percy."

"But,"

"No, I don't care about you coming from a different world. I'm your uptown girl, remember? I only want to be with you and you belong with me. I'll quit and we will be forever rid of her. I don't need her job, her firm or her blood money. Just you. You are all I need. And I know you don't feel at home in my world sometimes and if you don't like coming to business parties and dinners then you don't have to, I just like showing you off. Everybody is always amazed with you when they meet you." He rolled his eyes at how absurd that sounded. "It's true. I would never lie to you. And just forget about my parents. My mother is a bitch and my father is just a spineless weasel who is afraid of what people will say. You're worth it Percy."

He nodded, throat tight.

"You're not getting rid of me this easily." She joked, kissing him softly, a less intense kiss than the one before, but still as passionate. "But you have to stop doubting us and if you're good enough for me. You are and you shouldn't decide stuff for me. I can make my own decisions."

"You're right, I'm so sorry, it's just that I would never forgive myself if your career was ruined because of me."

"My career isn't completely dependent on my mother. It'll turn out fine. I'll call her right now. I'm sure she won't even let me quit, she'll be without a successor and would ruin over five generations worth of tradition, she will never do that." She said as she grabbed her phone and called her mother.

"Hi, mother, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. If you make me choose between being your successor and Percy, then I choose Percy. So I'll quit and I don't need any of your money anymore."

There was a long silence on the other line. He could imagine how mad she was right now.

"Then you finish your time in London and then figure it out yourself." Her voice was cold and emotionless.

Annabeth hung up and breathed in and out a couple of times. "I can't believe I just did that. It's crazy that I don't have a safety net to fall back on now." She mused.

"Welcome to the real world." Percy joked and hugged her.

Their days together flew by all too quickly. Before he knew it, they were saying goodbye at the airport. He dreaded the flight, almost as much as saying goodbye, but tried to act tough for Annabeth. Though she completely saw through his act.

"Bye, Seaweed Brain." She smiled and kissed him softly.

"Bye, Wise Girl, next time you see me, I'll be holding a ring."

Her smile grew even wider, "Can't wait."

They hugged and kissed one last time before he walked off, having to hurry to not miss his flight.

He kept his promise. Because three months later when Annabeth walked into their apartment he was down on one knee, dressed in his nicest suit with her favorite tie of his, Uptown Girl playing in the background and the apartment all cleaned up and decorated.

Tears immediately filled her eyes as she dropped everything in her hands and rushed over to him.

"Sorry, I couldn't pick you up, I was busy."

She only smiled, nodding him along.

"So, Annabeth Chase, Beth, Wise Girl, the love of my life and my uptown girl, I can't describe how happy you make since we met over four years ago. I would've never guessed that when I went to that party that I would meet the love of my life. But I literally fell for you and with good reason, because since then, my life has been amazing and even though we have a few difficulties, it's all worth it. I love you, Annabeth with all I am and that is why I will ask you this: will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

Both of them smiled, grins impossibly wide, when she nodded frantically, saying yes a thousand times over and falling down in front of him, kissing him. 

A/N

Thanks for reading and respect if you finished it! I really loved this one and their relationship, it felt really fun and a nice thing to write. I'm kind of sad that I have to write something else now... I really hoped you liked it and a comment would make my day! And if you know on which couple this is loosely based on (there is like one main couple, but the break up of another couple from that same show was my inspiration for they "break up"), you're amazing, so comment that, I'd love to hear your thoughts! And if you don't know, just ask! Have a great day! Love you all, who read this and support me!