Today is August 18, which I think I have to consider the most important day throughout the entire series. We all know what August 18 means, right? Percy Jackson's, two time Savior of Olympus, great friend, stellar boyfriend, and so many other things, birthday. Of course, it's also the day everyone's OTP finally pulled their heads out of the sewer and worked up the nerve to kiss each other. But this day was also when the Second Titan War came to a close, when the Great Prophecy was fulfilled, and a new hero was born from the death of a traitor. So in honor of this special day, I've written a one shot (or a two-shot?) and I've poured my entire soul into it.

PS: This is set during Percy and Annabeth's college years in New Rome.

Annabeth's POV - August 17

I heard Percy groan before he rolled over and slammed his hand down on the alarm clock. I'm pretty sure he also mumbled some choice words when he missed the button the first time and it kept beeping. When he finally succeeded in shutting it up, he turned to face me.

"Tell me again why you think it's a good idea to wake up early the week before classes start?" he asked, eyes closed, his voice laced with irritation.

"Because Seaweed Brain," I responded, trying to sell my fake logic so I wouldn't have to tell him the real reason I was making us get up, "we need to get used to it. If we get in the routine now, it won't be so hard to get up next week when we have to actually do stuff during the day."

"I'd rather enjoy my last few days of sleeping in," he whined. I actually agreed with him, but he wasn't allowed to know that.

I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed, but before I could stand up, Percy wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back down against him.

"Percy." I sighed. "I really have to get up. You really have to up." But I really didn't want to. I was pretty comfortable right where I was.

"No." 

"Yes."

"No."

I gave up trying to argue with him and just tried to get out of his grasp instead. That didn't work either. Every time I pulled away, he tightened his arm lock more. Then just to aggravate me further, he laid his head on my hair that was sprawled out behind me, his nose touching the back of my head, so it was even more impossible to move.

"Fine, you have left me with no choice," I threatened.

"What are you going to-" he started to ask sarcastically, but I cut him off by slamming my shoulder into his chest. Unfortunately for him, he was laying on the edge of the bed, so when the impact startled him, he rolled right off onto the floor. This plan would have worked perfect for me... if he had let go of me as he fell. Instead, I landed on top of him, still trapped in his embrace.

"That was unnecessary," he grumbled.

"I warned you."

"Jokes on you, now we can just sleep here."

I had to laugh at him before I tried to get away. This time he let me.

I went into the bathroom and came out a few minutes later, only to find my boyfriend still laying on the floor. I really did need him to get up so I could get him out of the apartment.

"C'mon, lazy," I said while walking over to him. I grabbed his hand and started to literally drag him to the bathroom. He didn't start complaining until he was laying on the bathroom tiles.

"Oh, give it up already. Better take a shower, Seaweed Brain. You're starting to smell."

"I am not. But I'll just sleep in the shower.  I can breathe water, you know."

"Oh no, you have to take a quick shower because I need you to go to the grocery. We have nothing left in here to eat."

"Ugh. Why do I have to?"

"Because it's your turn, I went last time."

I had strategically bought, for the last month or so, the right amount of food while grocery shopping in order to take the correct number of trips so that Percy would have to go this morning. And the grocery had to be the place for Percy to go, instead of out with our friends or something, because he would wonder why I couldn't be there. Plus, I knew that I had a solid two hours to work with. You'd think after three years he'd learn, but he still has no idea where anything in the store is.

"But why do I have to go so early?"

"Because every other college student here is also going to be getting stuff right around now so you want to beat the crowds." I looked him right in the eye so he had no reason to call my (many) bluffs. I hated lying to him, but it was the only was to pull this off.

He sighed and looked up at me, defeated. "You are so lucky I love you."

I bent down and kissed him. "I love you too. And I am lucky."

Twenty minutes later, I had sent Percy and a very long list out the door. I immediately Iris Messaged Piper. She and Jason were also living in an apartment in New Rome, a few buildings down from us.

"Okay Pipes, he's gone."

"Alright, I'll be over in a few minutes, we will wrap up the details, and head out to get the gift," she said with a smile. "Hey, should we take Jason with us? I mean, not that it's not totally safe to go to a random person's house to get a dog or anything, but..."

I thought for a moment. "Yeah, you should probably ask him to come."

Pretty soon, me, Piper, and Jason were sitting at the table with various pieces of paper sprawled in front of us. It was the entire plan. The plan that was going to make Percy's birthday and our anniversary the most memorable yet. He was turning twenty-one and we'd been together for five years. I think that definitely calls for celebration. The entire Twelfth Legion, Camp Halfblood, and some more were meeting here in New Rome. That was hard enough to keep from Percy, but this morning was something else: my gift to him. A puppy.

The rational part of my brain told me that getting a dog was a terrible idea right now. I mean, training a puppy in the city at the beginning of a new school year was going to be a nightmare. But I just couldn't help but think how much Percy would like a pet. And I wanted a dog, not a cat, because dogs were loyal, just like Percy. A cheesy, dumb comparison, yes I know. But it's true. So that was why I sent the poor boy out this morning, so I could pick up the puppy and leave it at Hazel's for a day.

"So," Jason started, scratching his head, "Camp Halfblood is riding from New York to California on... Party Ponies?"

"Well, yes. It was the most convenient travel. And we wouldn't be able to keep them away anyway. They have that name for a reason."

Jason still looked confused after my explanation, and I realized that Chiron's relatives will probably knock the Romans off their feet. The Legion could withstand armies, monsters, and giants, but the Party Ponies might just end them. I smiled slightly at the thought.

"So everything looks good," Piper declared, skimming over the papers one last time. "Are we ready to go then?"

Jason and I both nodded, and we headed out to go pick up the puppy from someone's house just on the outskirts of the city. They were breeders, apparently.

When we were about halfway there, I stopped dead in my tracks, hit by a sudden realization. I had been so concerned about throwing this party that I hadn't considered the fact that Percy might be planning something behind my back. How bad would it be if we both tried to do something big for each other, and the whole day fell apart. I would hope our friends would keep that from happening but...

"Hey," I called out to Piper and Jason who were walking a little ways in front of me. They turned around. "Uh... you guys aren't hiding something from me, are you?"

I saw them make eye contact. I might be wrong, but I thought I saw concern flash between them. But then Piper just looked back at me and said, "What?"

"Like... Percy isn't having you help do something for me, right? That's why I hate that our anniversary is also his birthday, the only reason I hate it. I feel like I should always out-do him because it's his birthday, but then I feel like I keep him from carrying out his anniversary plans."

The two of them just shook their heads.

"Okay, good." But I wasn't sure I totally believed them.

-------

An hour or so later, I was sitting by Frank and Hazel with a yellow Lab in my lap. He was absolutely adorable, with floppy ears and brown eyes. I was going to let Percy name him tomorrow. The nice old lady that lived in the apartment beside Hazel said she would keep him during the party, which I was grateful for because I didn't know what else to do with him. He was too little to be left alone for that long right now.

"Thank you guys so much for keeping him tonight," I said as I handed over the pup to Hazel.

"No problem. You better go, you don't want Percy to beat you back," Hazel responded.

"Yeah," Frank added, "he's getting better at knowing what is in what aisle, too."

I laughed but quickly took their advice and left. Plus, I had one more thing to do before Percy was home. I hadn't told any of the others about it, because I wasn't sure I wanted to go through with it yet. 

I Iris Messaged Nico.

"Hey Annabeth," he greeted. "So, you want to do it?"

"As long as you think it'll end up okay."

"Well, I mean, it should. I talked to my dad, he said that I won't necessarily be able to control who comes through, but I'll easily be able to cut it off if it gets out of control."

"So you're saying... that anyone can come through."

"Anyone that has a tie to one of us." He looked me right in the eye when he said this. I knew he was thinking about the same person I was.

"Luke," I whispered. Nico nodded.

"I don't know if he'll want to, Annabeth. He never wants to talk to me when I visit the Underworld."

I took a deep breath. "I guess we will just find out then."

"You for sure want to do this?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll be ready."

"Thanks Nico. Have you told Will about this?"

"Ha. No. He'd freak on me. He still gets mad when I shadow travel too much."

"Well, I don't want to get you in trouble with your boyfriend," I joked.

"Oh please, I'm not scared of him." Nico smiled at me. "See you tomorrow." Then the connection broke.

I wanted Nico to connect us with some old friends. Beckendorf. Silena. Everyone else we lost in the wars. But he was using a new side of his powers, so we weren't sure how it was going to work. And I'm not sure I completely want it to work. I can't help but feel that this is a bad idea.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard the doorknob shake, signalling someone was trying to unlock it. Sure enough, Percy came trudging in, looking like an idiot. He had grocery bags everywhere. Hanging from his belt, all the way up his arms, even a few around his neck.

"Wow," was all I had to say.

"What? I wanted to get it all in one trip. Now please come help me."

Once I had saved him from the plastic bag attack, he asked me what I did while he was gone.

"Um, I took a shower. Did some laundry." Stupid, Annabeth. He could clearly see I did neither of those things. I should have said gone to library or something.

He glanced over at the dirty laundry pile, then walked closer to me and ran his fingers through my hair.

"Yeah, no you didn't." Crap. Now what was I supposed to say?

"Okay, well, actually-" He cut me off with a laugh.

"You fell back asleep, didn't you Wise Girl?"

"I - uh, yeah I did."

He just shook his head and smiled, muttering about how my waking up early idea was working so great. I silently sighed in relief and went to unpack the bags. Percy came over to help. We finished quickly, and as he was putting the last thing in the fridge, I went over and hugged him from behind. He rested his hands on my clasped ones in front of him.

"You're the best," I whispered into his shoulder.

"Tell me again." I couldn't see his face but I knew he was smirking.

"Perseus Jackson, you are the best."

He twisted around and held me tight.

"So I'm thinking tomorrow," he said after a long, comfortable silence, "we actually sleep in, then go get lunch somewhere and take a nice, long walk."

"That sounds amazing, but... Percy, I'm really sorry. Reyna just said she wants to meet with me tomorrow about lunch time. She wants me to design a new building for the city."

"Oh."

I wanted to look up and see his face, but his voice sounded shocked and slightly hurt, so I didn't trust myself not to crack and spoil the surprise and promise him I wasn't being a terrible girlfriend and doing business on such a special day. To keep from doing that, I talked more.

"But we can go out for breakfast! And take the walk later, after the meeting." We really could too, after the party. And I'd give him the dog after breakfast. His plans were really fitting well with mine. "And Reyna wants you there, too, because they want to add in some water feature on the interior."

"Yeah, that all sounds good." He cupped my chin and lifted my head up so I was making eye contact with him. "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter what I'm doing." And my heart melted a bit. "Also as long as you don't set the alarm so early."

I laughed and promised I wouldn't. Then we both leaned in for a long kiss.