The old man walked around to the kitchen. His hands, wrinkled with age, bore both scars and calluses. On his way, he stopped by the end table and picked up the picture that sat on it. There was a handsome young man with untidy black hair and sea-green eyes wearing a tuxedo, and a beautiful young woman with curly blonde hair and storm-gray eyes wearing a bride's dress and veil. He sighed, remembering every detail of that day...
"Percy!" my mother called.
I groaned. It was my wedding day. Couldn't she leave me alone for once?
"What?" I called back.
"Come in here!" she said.
I left the room I was in and stepped into the adjoining one. My mother was there in her blue dress, looking at me with tears in her multicolored eyes. She started fussing over me, straightening my jacket, tying my tie correctly (I wanted to wear a clip-on, but Annabeth wouldn't let me...), trying to flatten my untidy hair. The entire time, she was trying not to sob. What is it with women?
When she was done, I stepped back and looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't look half bad, if I do say so myself. I was wearing a black tux, with a white shirt underneath. I also had on a blue tie in honor of my mom.
I nervously started playing with my tie. I wondered if Annabeth was as nervous as me. Probably not.
*****
"ARGH!" I yelled. "I can't get it right!"
"Calm down, Annabeth!" Rachel said to me, trying to suppress a smile. "Here, let me do that for you."
She arranged my veil so that it didn't completely cover up all of my face. My hair was in a straight sheet down my back. I had minimal makeup on (I hate trying to wash it off), and my dress was literally the most gorgeous thing I had ever worn. It was a simple thing, with one shoulder and silver beading, trimmed with silver on the bottom and top. It fit me perfectly, and I felt awesome when I wore it.
I was nervous, though. "Do you think he'll like it?" I asked Rachel. She was wearing a blue bridesmaid dress, also with silver edging. Her usually frizzy hair was pulled back into an elaborate bun.
"Annabeth." She put her hand on my shoulder. "Percy will love you however you are."
I tried not to cry when she said this. I knew it was true. Percy.. he was my everything. I loved him so much. And I knew he felt the same way about me.
We had picked a small church by the ocean for the ceremony. It was open-air, so you could smell the beautiful sea breeze. I had insisted, though, that there were guards everywhere. Half-blood guards, of course. I didn't want any monsters ruining my wedding day.
My father was waiting for me outside the room. For once, he had taken off his aviator goggles. He was neatly dressed in a suit and tie. He had the twins with him. My stepmom was nowhere in sight, but I knew she must be close by.
Dad stared at me. "Wow," he said. "You look... so grown up." He bit his lip, trying not to cry. The twins just nodded, looking bored.
I hugged my dad, and slowly made my way toward the church. I wondered how Percy was faring.
*****
I smacked Grover's hand away from the tablecloth. He was trying to eat it, and I couldn't have my best man ruining Annabeth's careful arrangements.
I was making the final check to make sure everything was in order. I smiled, thinking of Annabeth's perfectionism. She would kill someone (quite literally) if anything went wrong.
I felt in my pocket. Yep, there was Riptide. It was better safe than sorry, and I knew Annabeth would have her knife somewhere on her person. There were plenty of guards, and the mist was strong to mask all the mortal eyes, but, still, when you're a half-blood, anything's possible.
I saw Octavian was already seated. I still didn't really trust the guy, but it would be bad manners if I didn't invite him. Besides, Rachel had insisted.
Reyna came in and sat down. I quickly left the chapel. There were guests pouring in, and anyway, I would be standing at the altar pretty soon.
*****
It was time. Time to walk up and say "I do." After today, I would never lose Percy again. Not to some other girl, not to anything.
I heard the music start, and my dad took my arm and guided me forward. I looked up. Oh my gods. There was Percy.
*****
The music started. I felt my palms get sweaty, and I wiped them on my pants. There was a collective gasp, and all my thoughts went away. There was Annabeth.
I had never seen anything so beautiful. She was a billion times more beautiful than any goddess. She was radiant. Our eyes met, and she gave me a small smile, as if to say, it's finally happening.
*****
Percy looked at me, with those gorgeous sea-green eyes, and all my worries went away. I saw Rachel, Thalia, Hazel, and Piper standing up by my place, and Grover, Jason, Frank, and Leo by Percy, but it was as if they weren't there. As my dad kissed me on the cheek and I took my spot, all that was there was me and Percy.
*****
Oh my gods. It's finally happening.
*****
Oh my gods. It's finally happening.
*****
I was vaguely aware of the ceremony. I don't think my eyes left Annabeth's once the entire time. Suddenly, I was aware of us both saying "I do", my mom crying in the front row, and then the preacher pronounced us husband and wife. I was kissing Annabeth and nothing mattered any more.
*****
I didn't want the kiss to end, but finally Percy and I had to pull away. I felt so happy, it can't be described in words. We had done it. We were married. I couldn't believe it. Percy and I were together, never to be separated no matter what tried to come between us. We were locked in an eternal embrace.
The crowd cheered, and then we hopped into the limo and rode to the reception hall. It was an old building, but it had a nice dance floor and vaguely reminded me of Olympus's throne room.
Percy was given a knife (bad idea), but then he invited me to help him cut the cake (how very considerate; letting the bride help you cut the cake), a gorgeous blue cake decorated with silver owls and waves. As I put my hand over his, he whispered in my ear, "Don't mess this up, Wise Girl."
"Not a chance, Seaweed Brain."
We shared the first piece, and then went around accepting congratulations. Octavian looked rather awkward in a suit, but at least he hadn't worn a toga. "Have you seen Rachel?" he asked me, after he told me that I looked very nice and congratulated me (I don't know if that was Octavian or a clone...). I told him no, and then he said, "Well, if you see her, tell her I'm looking for her."
"Why?"
He blushed. "Official oracle business."
I smiled. "Okay, I will."
He wandered off.
Reyna came over and offered congratulations. We had a nice chat, and then went over to look for Piper and Jason.
All of the Hunters of Artemis showed up, and several Amazons (Reyna had insisted we invite her sister; Hylla had decided to bring several friends.). Everything became a blur. So many people! Finally, I found Percy again, and it was time for our first dance.
*****
Annabeth led me onto the dance floor. I hoped I wouldn't step on her this time, or trip and bring both of us down. She had kind of taught me how to dance, along with some of her friends, but I wasn't exactly graceful. I hoped and prayed to Aphrodite that I wouldn't mess it up.
On the speakers came Jason Mraz's, "I Won't Give Up". Annabeth and I had first listened to it right after we defeated Kronos, so it held a lot of meaning for both of us.
She put her arms around my neck, I put my hands on her hips, and we started swaying back and forth. We were both glad to be back in each other's arms. Annabeth put her head on my neck, and we just stayed that way, swaying gently, knowing we were safe with each other.
It was over all too soon. As the last note faded away, I kissed her. Everyone cheered, and I heard several people wolf-whistling; probably the Stoll brothers, and most likely Leo. When we broke apart, I looked around. I saw so many people, all of whom we knew and cherished. There was Chiron in his wheelchair, Nico, Connor and Travis, Clarisse, Jake, Will, and so many others from Camp Half-Blood. There was Octavian (standing very close to Rachel, I might add...), Reyna, Frank with his arm around Hazel, Jason with Piper, and Leo standing behind them. I realized I had been through so much with these people. And I didn't know how I would have made it without them.
I caught a glimpse of my dad in the crowd. He was trying to find my mom, who was with Paul Blofis. I would try to talk to him later. I also saw Athena staring at me. I quickly turned away. I figured I'd tell Annabeth to go say hi to her and make her leave. She still didn't like me, since I obviously hadn't heeded the warning to stay away from her daughter, and I didn't want her to see Poseidon. Wow, a married half-blood still doesn't get a break.
*****
The dance was all I had ever dreamed of. The right song, the right setting, and, of course, the perfect man. This was how it should be.
Soon enough, I saw the dance floor fill up as the DJ cranked the tunes. Leo and Frank were fighting over who who got to dance with Hazel first, Jason and Piper were slow dancing, and the Amazons were mingling with some sons of Ares. I saw Rachel and Octavian talk, smile at each other, and then, with old-fashioned courtesy, Octavian offered Rachel his arm, and they walked onto the dance floor.
*****
Finally, all the presents had gone home, the guests had left, and the mess was cleaned up. And not a single monster had attacked the whole time.
On the car ride back to our small, secluded house by the ocean, Annabeth leaned her head against my shoulder. We had done it. We had lived long enough to get married.
The old man put down the photo. He looked above the fireplace with the swords on the mantle, at the mirror. The sea-green eyes looked back at him, and he thought about her, with her radiant face on that day. He would never forget her as long as he lived. They would always be locked in an eternal embrace. That would never change.
