"Percy?" Annabeth asked groggily as she slowly stirred from her slumber. "Are you awake?"

Percy grinned before wrapping his arm around her. "Yeah."

"What are we going to do?" Annabeth asked.

"About what?" Percy asked and yawned.

"Our wedding," Annabeth replied. "Do you really want a super big dream wedding? Because that takes time and money to arrange. I want to spend our savings actually living, not on one night."

Percy nodded. "I was thinking that, too. I just thought you might want a dream wedding."

"I mean, it'd be nice, but I'm not certain that's what I truly want," Annabeth admitted. "And besides, I can't think of waiting almost a year to marry you."

Percy stretched and yawned before pulling off his bed covers. He ran to their dresser and started rummaging around in it.

"Percy, what are you doing?" Annabeth asked and arched an eyebrow.

"You'll see," Percy replied with a wink. He ran all around their room and started placing clothes on the foot of their bed. By then Annabeth was super skeptical of him.

"Ta-da!" Percy said as she straightened the clothes to align an outfit. "What do you think?"

"Of what?" Annabeth asked as she peered down at the clothes. "What am I looking at?"

"What I'm going to wear today."

"Why should I care what you wear today? You're not a toddler," Annabeth replied. "Wait, why is it so fancy?"

To them, being two broke kids freshly out of college, fancy was a nice button up or nice blouse with dress pants or a skirt. Nothing truly fancy.

Annabeth arched an eyebrow at him. "Do you have a job interview?"

"No, but I'm getting married today," he replied simply as if she should know about it.

"You want to get married...today? Nothing's planned," Annabeth replied.

Percy smiled. "I know. It's spontaneous! We can get on a bus to Atlantic City and get married in a cheap wedding chapel. Something cheesy like that."

A small smile appeared on Annabeth's face. She didn't hate the idea. In fact, she loved it. "That's perfect, honestly. We can call the rest of the seven to come since they're all here. This could work!"

"Wait," Percy said as Annabeth shot out of bed. "What about my mom, Paul, and Estelle? Shouldn't they be there?"

Annabeth frowned. "Yeah, my dad would probably kill me if he weren't invited, but he's in San Francisco."

Percy sighed and sat down on the bed. "I guess this isn't happening after all."

Annabeth slid down to the end of the bed and wrapped her arm around Percy. "Maybe this could happen..."

"How? We both just agreed that our parents need to be there," Percy admitted.

"What if we got married with only our friends in Atlantic City and then had a small ceremony with our family," she explained. "We'd technically be married sooner and we'd spent less money."

Percy's eyes lit up. "Annabeth Chase, you're a genius!"

Annabeth smirked at him and started picking out an outfit. In a few hours they were dressed and had invited everyone to meet them at a Greyhound Station, where they would explain everything.

Piper, Jason, Hazel, and Frank were first to arrive since they were all staying at a hotel together since they'd all flown in from New Rome for August to be with the rest of the seven and get away from college.

"Hey guys," Hazel greeted with a smile. "Are we going somewhere fancy? I feel totally underdressed now."

Annabeth and Percy both peered down at their outfits. Percy was dressed in a deep blue button up, a black tie, a black suit jacket, dress pants, and nice shoes. Annabeth wore a matching blue dress which complimented her figure nicely. Her dress was paired with a nice pair of heels and a stylish black hair clip.

The rest of their friends were all dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers.

"No, not really," Percy lied. "I'm certain you guys will be appropriately dressed."

Piper glared at them suspiciously and arched an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes, of course. Now where are Leo and Calypso?" Annabeth asked nervously, frantically trying to change the subject. She could tell Piper was thinking of charm speaking them into telling the truth.

"Uh, I think they're looking for a new place," Jason said, still skeptical of Percy and Annabeth's secretiveness. "I mean, they live in a studio and I saw a realtor's card on their counter when we went to visit them."

"There they are," Frank said as Leo and Calypso got out of a nearby cab. They approached the group, wide smiles on both of their faces. 

"Sorry, guys," Leo apologized. "We just lost track of time."

"Looking at apartments?" Hazel asked.

"Uh, no, actually," Calypso replied. "We're looking at stores."

"Stores? Why?" Piper asked.

"We're opening our garage," Leo admitted. "Our dream store/garage. I must've told you guys about this!"

The rest of the seven frowned, wondering if everyone else had no memory of this.

Annabeth frowned. "Well, uh, congrats, I guess. I think our bus should be here soon."

"Bus? Where are we going?" Calypso asked.

Annabeth looked at Percy and nodded. He smiled and started to reveal their plan.

"So that's why we're going to Atlantic City," Percy finished. The seven just stared at him, dumbstruck.

"That's...." Piper started. "Insane. You guys have always wanted a dream wedding, right?"

"Well, that was then," Annabeth said. "Now we want something different. We want to get married soon as possible. Oh, there's our bus!"

They all rushed into the bus and dropped the conversation. Being demigods they understood Percy and Annabeth's view, but they all thought they were a bit insane.

"This sure brings back memories, huh?" Percy whispered into Annabeth's ear.

She smiled. "Yeah, but it feels wrong without Grover here."

Percy had called Grover that morning to invite him along, but he declined as Juniper was nine months pregnant and could give birth at any minute. He was sad, but they understood.

Annabeth had also called Thalia to invite her, but she was currently in Oregon with the hunters of Artemis and there was no way she could return in time.

After a few hours they finally arrived at Atlantic City with, thankfully, not any monster interference.

"Let's go find you two a wedding chapel," Leo said. "There's gotta be one around here. They're practically everywhere waiting for a mistake to happen."

Annabeth glared at Leo and Percy just frowned.

Leo laughed nervously. "I didn't mean you two! This totally isn't a mistake. I'm talking about dumb people."

"Nice save, Leo," Jason whispered sarcastically.

"Let's just find a chapel," Percy said. "I think I saw one on the way here."

They all followed Percy to a small light pink and run down building a few blocks away. It had a bright lit up sign, but some of the letters were burned out, so instead of reading 'Wedding Chapel' it read 'ding apel'.

Annabeth sighed. This wasn't where she imagined getting married, but it would work. She shoved open the door which rang as she opened it. They all stepped into a giant carpeted and wood wall paneled room.

"This looks...romantic," Piper said with a queasy smile. "I mean, the carpet is red. Like roses, not blood."

"Thanks for being optimistic, Pipes," Percy said and rolled his eyes. The group made their way over to the large wooden desk where a wrinkly old woman with large hair and winged glasses sat with her feet up while filing her nails.

"Hello, we'd like to get married, please," Annabeth said with a small giggle.

"Do you have a license?" the woman croaked without looking up from her nails.

Percy frowned at Annabeth before returning the frown to the woman. "A license? No, we're getting hitched."

"Yes, you'll need a license for that."

Annabeth laughed. "I think you're confused, ma'am. We'd just like to get hitched, not an official proper wedding."

The woman huffed. "Yes, I know what you're referring to, but that's not right. I know how to do my job. They only have crazy things like that in Vegas. Does this look like Vegas to you?"

"No, but you see we have to get married today!" Percy objected.

"Are you gonna tell me some sappy story of how you two have the most romantic and corny love story?"

"Yes, actually," Percy said. "We've known each other for twelve years, and have been dating for nine."

The woman looked unimpressed. "You know there's no way I can actually prove that?"

"I can!" Piper said. "I've known them for almost their whole relationship."

"I have, too," Jason said. "Now, please let them get married."

"I'm sorry, you have to have a marriage license," she replied angrily before continuing to file her nails.

Annabeth led the group back outside to make a new plan.

"It can't be that hard to get a marriage license, right?" Annabeth asked. "Someone google it."

"On it," Frank replied and started typing. After a few breathless moments he frowned. "No, it takes a week at least."

Percy sighed. "Pipes, why don't you charmspeak her?"

Piper shrugged. "Fine, but you two owe me!"

"This can be your wedding present from us," Annabeth replied as she opened the door for Piper.

"We have to get them gifts still?" Calypso whispered.

"Wait! Stop!" the woman at the desk yelled. She was now surrounded by two security men. "I heard you all talking about charming me or something. It's probably some messed up slang for murder or something. You have to leave. Now!"

"Ma'am, we meant nothing of the kind," Piper said in a soothing voice.

"You have the right to remain silent," one of the guards said as they shoved them all out of the chapel. "Now go!"

As they were pushed out into the streets all of them were out of hope-except Percy.

"I guess we have to have the dream wedding," Annabeth said with a sigh. She pulled out her phone to start researching wedding venues with space as soon as possible.

"Wait," Percy replied. "Let's get a boat."

Annabeth frowned. "We kinda need to pay for the wedding first. Then we'll see."

Percy shook his head. "No, let's get married on a ship. Like, by a ship captain."

"You two can't be serious," Piper said as Annabeth's face lit up.

"You're a genius, Percy!" she shrieked. "Now let's go find a ship captain!"

The rest of them stared at each other awkwardly as Annabeth and Percy ran off, trying to get the attention of a cab driver. Soon they were all stuffed in a few cabs and on their way to the beach.

"I've always wanted to get married on the beach," Percy admitted with a small blush as he took Annabeth's hand in his. "And now, I get to marry you. Which is a real dream come true."

"I love you, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said with a light grin. "Now let's go get married."

The beach was humid and full of angry warm people, complaining about the awful July weather. Boats lined the shore and the docks, all crowded with more complaining people.

"I think there's one flaw in your plan," Hazel said.

"One?" Leo whispered, who was quickly elbowed by Jason and Calypso, causing him to wince.

Percy's smile dropped. "What?"

"You two don't own a ship and it looks like there's no rentals here," Hazel said as she peered around the beach. They all immediately started looking for a boat rental, but alas Hazel was right.

"We'll just bribe a ship already in the water," Annabeth said matter of factly. "Everything is going to be fine. We're getting married today and that's the end of the story."

Annabeth took Percy's hand and led him to a nearby dock. There she led him up a ramp and onto the boat, which looked pretty empty.

"Annabeth, should we even be over here? Isn't this illeg-"

"Hello?!" Annabeth called and started knocking on a door to an inside section. "Hello, is anyone in there?"

After a few more yells and knocks an angry looking middle aged man with a wispy white beard appeared.

"Who the hell is banging on my ship?!" he yelled. Then he spotted them. "What are you doing on my ship?"

"Uh, hi," Percy said with a smile. "We were wondering if you could, um, marry us?"

The man paused before laughing hysterically at them. 

"Percy, give him some money!" Annabeth protested.

Percy's eyes widened. "Annabeth, I've got this!"

She raised her hands in surrender and walked off the boat. "I trust you!"

Percy turned back to the captain. "Could you please help us out? My fiancé and I have known each other for twelve years and, er, we recently just had a life or death situation and would like to get married as soon as possible."

"You dying?" he asked and looked Percy up and down.

"No, sir," Percy said and shook his head.

"She dying?"

"No."

"Then I can't help you."

The man turned to open the door to the inside of the ship when Percy stopped him. He gripped his shoulder and turned him to face him.

"Just wait," Percy said and pulled out his wallet. He found some cash and held it up so the man could see. "Is this enough?"

The man seized the cash and squinted at it. "This is three dollars. Now I'm going to take this since you've wasted my time. Go tell your little fiancé that she can go fu-"

Percy grew red before slapping the man across the face. "Don't talk about her like that!"

The man's eyes widened. "I can talk how I please. This is my boat and you're trespassing!"

The captain Percy to the side of the boat where he jumped off and into the sea. His body hit the water with a large splash and he fell to the bottom.

"That'll teach you!"

Then the wave came. It crashed over the whole boat and nearly drowned the now cursing captain.

"Piper, please charmspeak someone into letting us use their boat," Percy said calmly as he landed next to his friends.

Piper nodded and rushed off to the nearest boat. After a few minutes of banter she summoned them onto the boat.

By then the sun was setting rapidly and the temperature had begun to cool down.

"You two ready?" the captain asked them. He was a short and kind man who was more than happy to help. Well, after a little help from Piper.

Percy smiled at Annabeth and was more confident than he'd ever felt. "Yes."

Calypso handed Annabeth a bouquet of flowers she'd collected at the beach while Piper readjusted her outfit.

Hazel handed Percy a beautiful gold ring she'd found with her powers before wishing him luck.

They all lined up holding some old candles the captain had found in the back and Leo had lit them. Percy stood next to the captain as Annabeth walked down the makeshift aisle.

Then Piper began to hum the wedding theme. She glared at Jason who joined in, and then the rest joined as well. They weren't the best choir but Percy and Annabeth were touched by the gesture.

The humming stopped as Annabeth made her way to the end and the ceremony began.

"I think a short version shall be best, yes?" the captain asked. They both nodded. "Okay, let me begin."

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, through sickness and help, er, what's your name?" he asked, addressing Annabeth.

Then, in that moment, everything became clear to Annabeth. She didn't want to get married on some old boat by some man who didn't even know her name. She wanted to actually celebrate her love with Percy, not like this.

"I can't get married here," Annabeth said. All the color drained from Percy's face. "No, no! It's not like that. I just want our wedding to be, well, special."

Percy took Annabeth's hands and smiled. "I did, too."

Percy pulled her into a long kiss before wrapping his arms around her.

"Let's get off this ship," Annabeth announced, "and plan our wedding."

The rest of the night was devoted to hanging out at Percy and Annabeth's apartment. They ordered pizza and the rest of the seven poked jokes at them for not getting married.

At the end of the day, both Percy and Annabeth knew they were making the right decision.