Please ignore the fact that I was too slow to publish this on the actual holiday again. I feel like I'm close enough to New Years for this one still LOL. (Also, side note: if you couldn't tell, I'm a big fan of lawyer Jason.) Have fun!!

7:52

It had been a busy year for Jason Grace, he realized as he cleaned the living room.

He'd gotten his undergrad in the spring and had started his first semester at law school only a few months ago. Percy and he, soon after celebrating their fourth anniversary, had moved into an actual apartment together now that they were out of school (Percy was, at least), and Jason underestimated how much he'd love waking up each day next to stolen blankets and a mess of black hair at his side. Mostly the latter. He had to admit that he also appreciated the fact that Percy made most of their meals. His boyfriend was basically Gordon Ramsay, in Jason's opinion.

His train of thought was interrupted by a sudden clanging of metal from the kitchen across the room. With scrunched up eyebrows, he glanced over to catch Percy running a frustrated hand through his hair. He seemed stressed for most of the day leading up to that point, and Jason had already decided to persuade Percy against hosting any future events if possible. Jason wasn't even sure why Percy was so worried—their friends had already come over and hung out dozens of times. The only difference was that today was a holiday.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked, setting the vacuum aside and joining Percy behind the kitchen island.

Whatever Percy had been making was now in pieces that were probably on the floor until Percy picked them up and set them back on the tray. He plopped the tray onto the counter.

"I might just go to the store," Percy muttered with a sigh, leaning against the countertop.

Jason smiled as he joined Percy at his side. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Percy told him, "I just...procrastinated a bit too much."

Jason didn't buy it, but Percy clearly had no desire to discuss it. He'd figure it out before the end of the night, Jason was sure. He went over the brief list of who was coming over later with Percy, even though Jason had it memorized by now, in an attempt to change the subject. It seemed to work, as Percy's failed attempt sat untouched and unnoticed on the stove beside them.

Percy glanced over at the microwave clock. "I guess I should go now before everything closes. Might already be too late."

"I believe in you," Jason gave his vote of confidence.

"I'll be back," Percy dramatically pushed himself away from the counter and made his way towards the door, "I love you."

"Love you, too," Jason called over his shoulder as Percy vanished from the apartment.

He cleaned up Percy's mess and finished vacuuming the floors before deciding everything looked presentable enough, although he did also spend a few unnecessary minutes adjusting the throw pillows' positions on the couch. Jason patiently waited until Annabeth strolled into their apartment, not bothering to knock. Percy gave her a key and seemed to think she was a third resident, and Jason would be more than willing to comply if she'd contribute to paying the rent. For now, though, he just decided to allow it for Percy's sake. Jason enjoyed having her around enough most of the time that he could get over it.

"Where's Percy?" She asked, handing Jason a bottle of wine that she knew he liked. Percy wasn't much of a drinker, even on special occasions, so people's alcohol-related gifts tended to be catered towards Jason. Thankfully, Percy never seemed to mind. He was terrible at receiving gifts anyway...

"Store," Jason supplied along with a quiet thank you, "I think some of his food wasn't working out."

She nodded as her eyes scanned the apartment. "You cleaned up nice, huh?"

"I vacuumed," Jason told her bluntly.

Annabeth laughed at him. "How generous of you."

Jason then got Annabeth started on trying to find the TV channel with the ball drop for later that night. He was usually bad with technology, and Percy had other things on his mind, apparently. She made several jokes at Jason's expense about it while she found the channel, but at least she was successful. Still, Jason was relieved when someone else knocked on the door, revealing Piper and Leo when he opened it.

8:47

Within the next hour, Percy had returned, and a collection of their friends littered the apartment. Jason was caught up in an incredibly competitive game of poker with a few of them. He'd gotten significantly better at playing since he started dating Percy, the best player in the group by far. The last time he saw Percy, he was talking to Piper and Hazel in the kitchen. From the looks of it, they were having enough fun on their own. The girls kept grinning at Percy while he showed them something on his phone—probably a funny video of Jason, if he was being realistic.

11:59

The night carried on casually with Jason making his rounds to talk to everyone before finally meeting back up with Percy indefinitely once the countdown to midnight started. They gently clang their glasses together, both of them staying sober for the night to make sure none of their friends tried to drive home, and Jason wrapped a loose arm around Percy's waist.

"Here's to year five," Jason said, perhaps with too much confidence. Percy didn't answer, but Jason could feel his boyfriend lean into his side affectionately at his words.

12:00

When the countdown hit zero, Percy gently pulled Jason in for the same lazy, cliché kiss that they'd shared every year.

"Happy new year," Percy told him, his eyes lighting up at Jason's smile before he repeated his statement for the rest of the room. A series of brief celebrations rang out, and somehow Piper and Leo had acquired kazoos for the night. Jason confiscated them at 12:04 per literally everyone's request.

2:28

Eventually, Percy and Jason had managed to clear everybody out of their apartment and safely sent them home or to Piper's place down the street. Either way, they were no longer Percy's or Jason's responsibility. Their short cleanup was mostly silent, save for Percy's soft humming. He only did that when he was nervous, Jason noted to himself. Maybe it was the aftermath of his earlier nerves that destroyed his food.

Jason was more than grateful when they finally got to settle down on the couch. He sighed and draped his arm over Percy's shoulder as Percy cuddled into his side.

Jason ran a slow hand through his dark hair. "I think tonight was a success."

"Not for you," Percy told him, "I heard about your poker winnings."

"They were cheating," Jason playfully accused his friends. He'd lost several dollars by the end of it all.

Percy scoffed. "What's the point in dating me if not to always win when you gamble?"

"I could name several things better about dating you than your manipulative gambling style," Jason laughed. "I don't think that would've kept me around for, like, four and a half years."

"It was my kind and charming personality then," Percy noted jokingly.

"I'm not sure that's how I would describe it," Jason grinned at him, "but I'd say that definitely has something to do with it."

Jason was satisfied once he saw Percy's smile, their conversation dying down as they took an opportunity to merely enjoy each other's presence.

Suddenly, Percy spoke up again, much softer than before, "We should get married."

"Excuse me?" Jason wasn't sure he'd heard that right.

He could feel Percy tense in his arms. "Sorry, I-I just...," he sighed. "I love you, and I want to spend my life with you...y'know?"

Jason was only vaguely aware that his mouth hung open ever so slightly as his brain short-circuited. Percy continued, "I had a whole romantic night planned out to ask you because I know you love that shit, but I can't just not tell you anymore. I don't even remember the last time I had to keep something from you, Jase, it was eating me alive."

Jason, once he got over his shock, grinned despite the fact that he knew Percy couldn't see him. "I certainly wouldn't have minded that, but I think I might like your method more."

"I feel like that's a lie," Percy accused him.

"It's not," Jason insisted with only a hint of defensiveness, "spontaneously giving me a very open-ended and inconclusive proposal was very Percy of you."

"Will you marry me?" Percy helped him out, finally picking up his head to look Jason in the eyes. "I can go get the ring I bought if you want me down on one knee and all that jazz, but I'm very comfortable here."

Jason loved this idiot.

"I'd love to marry you," Jason agreed with a smile, placing a hand on Percy's cheek and connecting their lips for a brief moment before continuing, "but I do want to wear that ring around so I can tell everyone I'm engaged."

Percy's eyes were bright. "Maybe I'll still give you your sappy proposal at dinner. You can have the ring then, and maybe we'll get free food out of it."

"Sounds perfect," Jason laughed, pausing very briefly before he spoke again. "This is...weird."

Percy settled back into his original position with a smile that made Jason's heart swell a little bit—it was a true, genuine Percy smile. "Only if you make it weird. Also, I'm keeping my last name," Percy noted with a joking tone, even if Jason knew he was serious.

"I'll have to consider," Jason hummed contemplatively, "Jason Jackson is fun, but how else will our friends make fun of me whenever I trip if my last name isn't Grace?"

"Whatever you wanna do," Percy said, even though Jason already knew that would be his response. "I suppose I'll love you either way."

"We're getting married," Jason was clearly still in a bit of disbelief. "You're going to be my husband."

"Yes, Jase, that's how it works," Percy muttered, closing his eyes as he relaxed against the blond.

Jason felt the corners of his mouth pull upwards. He was getting married. He let himself appreciate the thought while the silence lasted. Jason had no problem picturing their lives together. The entire day leading up to that point finally made sense, too. He'd been wondering all day why Percy was so worked up and jittery, but now that Jason knew he was probably thinking about a proposal of all things, Percy's behavior made much more sense. He also had a suspicion that Piper and Hazel may have seen Jason's ring before him...

Suddenly, Percy sat up and almost knocked all of Jason's teeth out. He received a panicked look from Jason that he mirrored with just as much intensity.

"I gotta call my mom," Percy stated.

Yay wedding!

I fucking love weddings LMAO

Anyways, I hope everybody had a nice New Years. I got my covid booster on the 30th so I was sick on nye bc those vaccines hate me. All 3 made me like ILL. I didn't think about that when I scheduled my appointment. Silly me🤚🏻

I'll see you guys soon!! Hope you liked it!!