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"Annie, where are the new tablecloths? Cal moved them and it's like they've disappeared into thin air..." Piper's voice trailed off as she stepped into the room. Annabeth glanced down from her perch on the rickety old ladder, the tips of her fingers just barely brushing against the overhead light's edge. "Annabeth, what are you doing?" Piper questioned, her brown eyes wide as she took in the scene before her.
Annabeth rolled her eyes in response to Piper's overly concerned tone. "I'm trying to change the bulb, it's burned out." Piper sighed heavily. "You're going to hurt yourself. Why didn't you ask Leo to help you?" Annabeth made her way down the ladder, careful to avoid the thinner rungs. "He already does so much for this inn, Pipes. I wanted to try something on my own for once." Piper's gaze softened as she glanced up at the light.
"How about we just leave it alone? It's not the world's most pressing matter." Annabeth smirked at her best friend's sarcastic tone. "In other news, we have a new guest arriving today. He has some special accommodations that we need to go over," Piper continued, leading Annabeth to the desk in the lobby where a binder sat, overflowing with papers. Annabeth's eyes widened as she took in the small, chunky text littered across each page.
"What on Earth?" Piper nodded knowingly, scooping up the binder and opening it. "My exact reaction when I saw this monster-binder. His name is Percy Jackson, he's a firefighter from the town over. Apparently he was injured during a call and needs a place to rest away from..." Piper squinted at the page she held, "...prying eyes. Is he a celebrity or something?" Annabeth smacked her friend's arm, biting back a smile. "Be nice, Piper."
Piper opened her mouth to retort when the inn's bell chimed, announcing the arrival of a guest. Annabeth smoothed her thigh-length floral skirt and stepped into the main room, her gaze catching first on a tall, blonde man with glasses who held a briefcase in each hand. The man appeared to be exasperated, his voice projecting across the room. "Perce, stop being difficult. This was the best we could find on short notice."
Annabeth bristled at the man's words, biting her lip in an effort not to speak up. She took a step forward to greet the guest when another man entered, leaning heavily on a single crutch. Annabeth took in his messy black hair and piercing green eyes, catching on the bright blue cast wrapped around his left leg. Her cheeks flushed as she realized just how attractive this new arrival was, but she internally chided herself for her thoughts.
The click of Annabeth's heels against the lobby's tile alerted the two men of her presence. The blonde offered her a sheepish smile, while the other looked her up and down, his face unchanging. She cleared her throat, plastering on the brightest smile she could muster while simultaneously ignoring the way Mr. Cast was making her feel.
"Welcome to the Sapphire Inn! I am Annabeth Chase, owner and manager. How can I help you?" The first man stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I am Jason Grace, Percy's best friend and personal caretaker." The dark-haired man scoffed, shifting his weight uncomfortably. Jason cleared his throat. "Percy's been...unhappy since the accident. I apologize in advance for his attitude and behavior."
Annabeth bit her lip, unsure how to respond. "It's quite alright, Mr. Grace. If you are ready, I can show you to your rooms." Jason smiled gratefully, following her down the hallway. "I have placed you in rooms across from each other. I figured it would allow for easier access." She stopped in front of two doors, holding the door open tentatively for Percy. He brushed past her as he limped through the threshold, forcing her to bite back a remark.
Jason smiled at Annabeth as he followed Percy into the room, whispering a soft thank you before the door shut behind the two men. Annabeth sunk against the wall, letting out a heavy sigh. She mentally prepared for the longest month of her life.
***
So far, Percy had managed to avoid any human interaction beyond Jason's constant nagging. He was moments away from locking himself in his room for the rest of eternity. Two weeks prior, he had been doing what he loved - firefighting - with full mobility. Now, he could barely walk across the room to get a cup of water. How pathetic.
A soft knock on the door caused Percy to glance up in confusion. Jason never knocked, instead choosing to bust through the door as if there was a murderer around the corner or something equally as dramatic. "Come in," Percy called, refusing to move from his position on the couch. It's not like he would make it to the door in a normal amount of time, anyway.
Annabeth stuck her head in the room, smiling much to wide for any normal human being - or maybe Percy was just being pessimistic. "Mr. Jackson?" He merely nodded, wishing for the hundredth time his door had a lock. The woman stepped into the room fully, revealing the stack of towels she held in her arms. "I brought you some fresh towels. I trust your stay has been well so far?"
Percy held back a sigh, nodding his answer. As Annabeth turned to leave, he couldn't help but let his gaze linger on the way her curls fell down her back, the way her skirt swayed around her legs as she walked. Suddenly, he came back to reality, shaking his head. Stop thinking about her. You're not here to become attached. You're here to heal and leave as quick as possible.
***
Annabeth pulled the tray of cookies from the oven, sighing wearily as she turned off the heat. Yet another bulb had burned out on the lobby's overhead light. Leo had taken Calypso on a weekend in the city, meaning she was short a handyman. Her thoughts were scattered as she leaned against the counter. A searing pain interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced down to see her arm resting against the pan fresh out of the oven.
Biting back a yelp at the pain, she quickly removed her arm and ran to the sink. She had just stuck her arm under the cold water, wincing at the shock of it, when an odd clicking resounded from behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Percy making his way into the kitchen, his crutch bouncing against the hardwood floor. He didn't seem to notice her at first, his gaze focused on the tray of cookies abandoned on the counter.
Annabeth shifted her arm, accidentally letting out a whimper as the ice cold water hit the most sensitive area of skin. Percy's head whipped around at the sound, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. Annabeth couldn't find it in herself to be embarrassed, though she knew without a doubt that she looked ridiculous with half of her body in the industrial sink Calypso just had to have for her kitchen. She blew a strand of hair out of her face, shooting Percy a sheepish smile.
"Smelled the cookies, huh?" Percy didn't respond, instead moving as quickly as he could to her side, his hands reaching for her arm. Annabeth gasped softly as her arm was removed from the water and the air hit it. "Annabeth, this is a third degree burn." Percy's voice was deathly serious as he looked down into her eyes. Briefly, she wondered how he knew before she remembered the whole reason he was leaning on his crutch.
"I set my arm on the cookie pan accidentally," Annabeth explained, watching as Percy's closed-off expression softened at her words. "Only you," he muttered, beginning to turn around in search of something. Annabeth's pulse jumped at the surprising amount of affection laced in his words. He had only been at the Inn for two weeks, after all. Sure, they had had a few conversations, one that had lasted over an hour after Percy had bumped his leg trying to take a walk and Jason banished him to the sitting room couch as punishment. However, Annabeth hadn't expected...whatever that was.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Annabeth questioned, setting her good hand on her hip with what she hoped was an intimidating expression. Percy didn't seem fazed though as he began digging through the nearby drawers. "Piper told me about some of your...mishaps," he responded, glancing up at her with a meaningful expression, his green eyes tinged with amusement. Annabeth's cheeks flushed as she mentally prepared the epic lecture she was going to give her best friend the next time she saw her.
"So, I'm a bit clumsy. Everyone is." Percy chuckled lowly, causing Annabeth's heart to race. She bit her lip, focusing solely on Percy's frantic searching. "What are you looking for?" Percy didn't respond for a moment, muttering something under his breath that she couldn't quite make out. "It's a kitchen. Where in the world is the first aid kit?" Annabeth smiled at the exasperation in his tone before pointing at the cabinet underneath the sink. He nodded before using his good leg nudge the door open, leaning down slightly and scooping it up. Annabeth was admittedly impressed with his resourcefulness. Yet another thing that made Percy Jackson all the more dangerous for Annabeth's emotions.
Annabeth realized with a start how close Percy's face was as he leaned in to look closer at her arm. She couldn't help but watch the way he focused entirely on making sure her arm was properly bandaged, the way he handled her arm with a uncharacteristic gentleness. His touch sent goosebumps down Annabeth's arm, and she could only pray he blamed it on the cold air blowing across her still-damp skin. When Percy finished taping off the last of the gauze, she looked up and blinked in surprise at the expression written across his face. It was nothing like anything she had ever seen before.
For a moment, the world slowed around them as his gaze traced the length of her face, pausing for a second too long on her lips. Annabeth could feel herself leaning in, and she was almost certain he was leaning in too. His cologne, some kind of oceanic scent that Annabeth couldn't get enough of, enveloped her as the distance between them became smaller and smaller. Annabeth could almost feel his kiss when a loud crash resounded from the lobby, startling Annabeth backwards away from Percy. She pressed her lips together, trying to tamper down the disappointment rising in her chest. Since when did she feel like this? Since when has a man been able to affect her the way Percy can?
"I'm fine!" Piper's voice echoed throughout the Inn, shattering the tense silence between the two. Percy cleared his throat, his eyes stormy with emotions Annabeth couldn't read. "We need to get you to the hospital," he gestured towards the kitchen's door. Annabeth shook her head, her mind racing faster than she could keep up with. "It's fine, Percy. I have to help Piper with the books-" "Oh no, you won't," Percy's voice was firm as he gently placed a hand on her back, leading her out of the kitchen.
"The first thing we learned during safety training is that a burn second degree or higher requires immediate medical attention." Annabeth scoffed, irritated with his urgency. "I need to..." she trailed off as he wrapped is free arm around her waist, his touch rendering her speechless. "If I have to carry you out of this inn, I will, Annabeth." Annabeth could only nod as they made their way to his truck, where Jason was already sitting in the driver's seat.
Jason smiled knowingly as Percy opened the passenger side door for her. Annabeth raised an eyebrow, prompting Jason to laugh. "Piper saw Percy bandaging your burn. I knew Percy would drag out to the hospital one way or another so I figured I'd just wait in the truck." Percy glared at his friend as he used the built-in step on the side of the truck to hoist himself into the back, expertly draping his crutch across his lap. "Shut up, Jase," he growled. Jason laughed heartedly before pulling out of the parking lot. Annabeth risked a glance in the rearview mirror and caught Percy staring at her. The look on his face, one of concern and something deeper, affected her more than she cared to admit.
***
Percy ran his hands over his face, furious that he had almost allowed himself to kiss Annabeth back in the kitchen. The way his heart had dropped when he saw the swollen redness of her arm still was fresh in his memory. It wasn't just because of the years of training he had, or his inability to abandon someone who was hurt, it was his growing feelings for the owner of the Sapphire Inn. She was so girly, so flirty, so headstrong it drove him crazy. He hadn't felt like this for anybody before.
Jason sank into the chair next to him, a paper coffee cup balanced in the crook of his arm and a stack of papers in his hands. "Discharge papers," he explained, picking up a pen. Percy shot Jason a look of gratitude for filling out Annabeth's papers and collecting her information via her wallet that she had lent Jason before being admitted. Percy had since learned her middle name was Rose, she was a month younger than him, and she didn't carry any cash.
Percy had just successfully blocked one of his many thoughts about a certain inn keeper when the door across from where he and Jason were seated opened to reveal Annabeth standing on the other side. Her braid was disheveled, curly strands falling across her face and into her eyes. Her soft pink dress stood out against the harsh white walls of the hospital, and suddenly Percy couldn't take it anymore.
Disregarding his crutch, Percy stood and in a few steps had Annabeth pulled up against his chest, his hands gripping the soft material at her waist. Annabeth's strawberry perfume filled his senses as she let out a small gasp at his close proximity, her grey eyes widening in shock. Percy glanced down at her lips and back up, enjoying the way her cheeks pinkened before she nodded imperceptibly and he didn't hesitate to crush his mouth against hers. Splaying his hands across her back, he gently guided Annabeth back into her hospital room and allowed the door to shut behind him before pulling back, tucking a fallen curl behind her ear.
"About time," Annabeth whispered before threading her hands through his hair and pulling him back down to her lips. Percy lost track of time as he kissed Annabeth with everything he had, losing himself in everything about her. He had just pulled her onto his lap when a knock on the door interrupted, forcing Percy to pull back from Annabeth. Jason's amused voice echoed through the closed door. "I wouldn't recommend continuing whatever you two are doing in a hospital. At least wait until we get back to the inn!"
Percy growled with frustration, scooping up the pillow on Annabeth's bed and hurling it at the door. "Shut up, Jason!" he yelled before turning back to Annabeth, whose eyes were sparkling with amusement. Percy grinned, wrapping an arm around Annabeth's waist and falling back onto the bed, pulling her down beside him. Annabeth giggled softly, curling into his chest. "All of the places in the world you could have gone, and you came to my inn." "I wouldn't have it any other way, Beth," he whispered in reply, kissing her like he wanted to since the moment he saw her in the lobby his first day at the Sapphire Inn.
***
Annabeth glanced up from her book at the sound of the inn's bell, smiling to herself when she heard the telltale sounds of the local firefighters laughing and teasing each other as they prepared for their weekly dinner at the Inn. Annabeth carefully stood up, setting a hand on her slightly swollen stomach as she made her way into the lobby. She had just reached her second trimester, meaning she was at the stage where her husband acted as if her simply walking to the kitchen would cause her to break every bone her in her body.
As she stepped into the front entrance of the inn, she watched with amusement as one of the firefighters, Zach, elbowed the dark-haired man in the middle of the group. "Excited to see your wife, Perce?" Jason stepped up next to Percy and smirked. "What kind of question is that, Zach? You know Percy can't go five minutes without talking about her. Annabeth this, Annabeth that-" Jason was cut off by Percy's shove. "I hate you, Jase. You have no room to talk, Mr. I'm Obsessed With Piper." Jason blushed at the mention of his fiancee.
"He's not wrong, Jason," Annabeth teased, enjoying the way her husband's face lit up at the sight of her. Jason rolled his eyes, stepping out of the way as Percy pushed past him and rushed to Annabeth's side. "Beth, what are you doing down here?" She rolled her eyes at Percy's words, glaring up at him. "I'm four months pregnant, Percy. I'm not bedridden." Annabeth could hear Percy's crew snicker behind him, grinning at the slight annoyance on her husband's face. She was about to turn around and greet the rest of the guys when Percy wrapped an arm around her waist and spun her into his chest.
Annabeth glanced up to see a smirk on his face before he pulled into a kiss so passionate she could feel herself getting lightheaded. Whistles and cheers resonated behind them, but Annabeth paid no attention as she sunk into her husband's embrace. Another moment passed before he pulled back, a sly smile spreading across his face as he registered Annabeth's cheeks flush with embarrassment at the display of affection. "Gotcha," he exclaimed. Annabeth rolled her eyes, resting her forehead against his chest. "You better not embarrass our child like that," she replied, one hand on her hip. Percy gave a look so full of love her heart felt like it might burst. "Our child," he whispered, setting his hands on her stomach. "Our child." Annabeth smiled up at her husband, knowing that she had found her happily ever after.