I took a deep breath as I checked (triple check, mind you) the address I wrote down from my friend's agenda. After assuring myself I was in the correct building and that I could do this on my own, I put the paper down my jeans and walked into the reception of the building. There, a woman of 25/45 years was taking calls and giving directions to the visitors.

"Hello" I greeted her, trying not to sound nervous "I'm here to see Ms. Gardiner?" I said, though it sounded like a question.

"Name?" she asked, checking a paper.

"Maiwether, Ashton" I announced. Sorry I didn't introduced myself. Like I said, I'm Ashton Maiwether. I'm 27 years old and I'm here because... well, you'll see.

"Ah, yes! Ms. Gardiner is waiting for you" she nodded at me "Twelfth floor. Only office in the floor" she pointed at where the elevator was. I thanked her and headed that way, clutching my folder in my hand. Was I seriously gonna do this? Did I had any regrets? This and more questions attacked my brain. I almost lose my floor if I guy next to me didn't step down. I figured he was here for the same reason I was.

"Excuse me?" he tapped my shoulder, seeing me standing in front of the door, while he was walking pass it "You're here to see Miranda Gardiner?"

"That is correct" I agreed with him. I took a second to look at him. He was tall (normal high for a man of his age, probably 25, no more than 30 years), with blonde hair. His tan skin was hidden under a shirt and some jacket, along with jeans. His eyes, were thundering grey, like if he could analyzed million possibilities at the time.

"I'm Malcolm, her partner" he introduced himself. Suddenly, a hostility I didn't know I had against him, was gone. Vanished "Please, c'mon in" he opened the door to let me in.

"Thanks" I thanked him, walking in. The office was very small, but the amount of green around it made it cozy, big and open. Several plants, combined with the architectural design of the office made me realized I was in the right place.

"Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Water? A minute to take your surroundings?" the guy, Malcolm, added, with a smirk. It wasn't a mocking smirk. More like a 'All-people-look-around-when-they-first-come-in' smirk.

"Uh, water thanks" I saw him nod and walk into the office, right when a young woman of his same age, greeted him. She had long auburn hair, ombre on the tips. She was wearing jeans and a shirt, dressing similar to Malcolm. Her skin was also tan, like she just came from working under the sun. Her green eyes were like gems, contrasting even when the green of the plants.

"Malcolm? You're early?!" she mocked him, smiling. Her companion rolled his eyes.

"Nyssa didn't sleep last night" was his explanation "And you have a client"

"We have a client" she emphasized, smiling, before walking to me "Welcome to M&M Garden Constructions, I'm Miranda Gardiner" she took her hand out and I shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Gardiner. I'm Ashton Maiwether. I have an appointment"

"Oh, yes! I recall your call" she guided me to her desk, where we sat at both ends "And, please, call me Miranda. The Ms makes me feel I'm 80 years old, single and I have cats" she shuddered, trying to break the ice. I chuckled.

"A beautiful woman like you?" I complemented her, making her blush. Now, here's when you think: 'Don't flirt with her!!' Well, remember when I told you 'you'll see'? You're getting closer "I'm sure you'll be with a rock in that finger in no time!" And now, you're thinking, 'Did you just proposed to the girl?! You barely know her!!'.

"Can you call my boyfriend and let him know?" he played along with me.

"I'm in no condition of causing a fearing impression" I gestured myself. She smirked and pulled out a folder.

"Well, Mr. Maiwether-"

"Ashton. Mr. Maiwether was my father" I cut her, politely. She nods at me.

"Ashton, I'll be frank with you. We need to talk to Malcolm first" I frowned, not understanding "I can't create some flower scenario if we don't know the shape of it"

"Actually..." I placed my folder in her desk, shyly "I had some ideas..."

"May I?" she wondered, eyeing the folder. I nodded and let her see my designs and ideas. Her eyes widen even more as she checked every page. Total disaster, I knew it... "These... These are really good. It might compete with Malcolm's... Even with Annabeth's!! And she doesn't even work gardens..." she praised my job and I couldn't do anything else but hung my mouth open. My designs were good?!

"You- You really think so?"

"If I think so?!" she repeated, incredulous "Malcolm, get over here!!" she called her collegue, who walked in with some papers "Can you look at this designs?" she demanded him, crossing her arms and staring at me. Malcolm frowned, but nodded and watched the entire folder. I was ready to sink in my place because of my embarrassment.

"Who-" Malcolm looked up from the folder to me "You- You designed this?? This is awesome!!"

"Tha-Thanks" I stuttered a bit "My, um, fiancé helped me" I whispered and here, it's the 'you'll see' I was telling you about: I'm gay. There, I said it. Not ashamed, but is still hard to scream it out loud to people.

"Are you OK?" Miranda frowned, concern. I lied and nodded "Well, I don't know what to say, except... that it would be a pleasure to work with you"

"I agree with Miranda. Your work is impressive... We might even hire you" Malcolm joked in the end... Or that's what I thought in the moment.

~oOo~

"Ash!! I'm home!!" I heard Louis walking in, coming back from work. I was sitting in the kitchen table, with a glass of water in my hand, staring at the hundred of sketches I've done over the course of last month "There you are!" he walked from behind, kissing my hair. I didn't even flinch "Everything OK? Did my parents call?" he questioned me, worry. He hasn't heard from his parents since he dropped the bombs to them, same day.

"No, I just..." I trailed, looking at him "Do you think they're good?" I blurted out, pointing the sketches on the table.

"Again with this?" he teased me, sitting with me and holding my hand "Ash, this designs are great... I told you before and I'll tell you again. You should work free lance in this" he suggested for like, the hundred time this month.

"Maybe... I went to the garden designer today..." I told him.

"The one Mrs. Parker always blabs about?" he asked, surprised. I nodded.

"They wanna work with me. Lou, they wanna do one of my designs for our wedding" I emphasized to him. Louis looked at me like he'd won the lottery "Can you not grin at me like that?! I'm freaking out!! What if I mess up? Is not only a job or a sketch anymore!! This is our wedding we're talking about-" I rambled for hours (OK, maybe I'm exaggerating and I rambled for fifteen minutes), while Louis simply stared at me. When I finished, he stayed in silence for several minutes.

"I'm going with you" I blinked, not sure I heard right "When is the next appointment?"

"Um, in a month, but-"

"I'm going with you and then, we'll go shopping for rings" he ended the conversation with a kiss. Not that I complained.

~oOo~

A month passed and we got busy with a lot of things, mainly the wedding. We didn't want anything big, cause our parents thought we were making a mistake and stuff (mines thought I was being a spoiled big kid, who was gonna end up getting divorced after the year and get to bars late at night, searching for one night stands. Not even once, the gay argument came up. I don't know if that's good or bad). Louis' parents still couldn't accepted and declined (even when it was politely, I think they spitted in our face) the invitation.

"You still wanna come?" I checked one more time before walking into the building.

"Ash, stop this. You're not gonna make me cower back" Louis fired at me.

"I'm the one who's cowering back!!" I recognized "I'm seriously don't know if I can do this..."

"Ashton Meiwether, stop freaking out this instant or God help me of the punishment I'm gonna apply" he threaten me. I paled a bit, cause his punishments include from avoiding me, to hiding the best clothes, passing from canceling my favorites magazines and Netflix.

"Fine" I grumbled, walking into the building. Louis was smirking, walking by my side. We talked to the receptionist and she nodded, letting us climb into the elevator. When we got there, Miranda was waiting.

"Ashton!" she greeted me, with a warm hug and a kiss in the cheek "Just the man I'm excited to work with!" I looked away from her, blushing.

"My designs are not that good" I mumbled.

"Ashton, you have no idea of your potential" Louis argued with me. Miranda nodded in agreement.

"And, looks like you'll be busy for a while now" she announced, guiding us to her desk we sat, me with a frown "I may have been bragging about your abilities with my family and they all want to work with you" My eyes widen big in shocked. My sketches were a hobby!

"Really?" Louis wondered, curious. Miranda nodded again.

"My sister works in a primary school and she's been complaining about the bad green house they have. I've been busy to help her-"

"He can do it" Louis butted in, smiling. Before I could reply, Malcolm walked in.

"Sorry I'm late, Mira. I fall asleep in the new acuarium- Wow, our little discovered diamond came back" he grinned at me, and I waved at him "I'm sorry, I don't know you, yet" he emphasized, playfully.

"Louis Stintson, Ashton's fiancé" Louis got up and shook Malcolm's hand.

"Ah! Ashton's muse" he smirked at me. Miranda rolled her eyes.

"Malcolm, I thought you learnt your lesson last time you teased Will" she warned them. Malcolm winced.

"I couldn't stop talking in sonnets for a week" he complained, walking out.

"So, after that interruption, I'm more than excited to see new ideas. Louis, I want you to choose" Miranda ordered. Boy, it's gonna be a long meeting...

~oOo~

"More relived?" Louis asked, when we left the office.

"I didn't know you like my sketches that much" I acknowledged, surprised. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pull me closer.

"Everything that comes from that little brains of yours, I like it, OK? No, scratch that. I love it" he emphasized, smirking. I allowed myself to blush a little.

"I love you, too" I replied, smiling. He squeezed my shoulders and we walked around the jewelry stores. None were surprised to see us as a couple, but it was obvious they were uncomfortable. Until, we reached the last shop and a blond guy with blue eyes greeted us...

"Hello, welcome to Gifts from Elysium! How can I help you?"

----

Ta da!! Double update, as I promised!! Comment, review, critic... Anything!!!

P.S. Just for the record, I read one comment (don't remember who wrote it, don't feel bad about it) of when I wrote the Wyssa chapter, about how Malcolm couldn't be with Nyssa. I hope you like how I twisted things a bit!! This brings me to the topic that, I'll try to make all the canon couples that I can, but with some (like if Malcolm choose Nyssa or Miranda), I like to speculate or imagine with whom they got together. If I do a non canon paring (like when I did Jeyna), it belongs (to me, anyway) to an Alternative Universe in the same Universe. Confusing, right? But, I'm here to please your minds in fanfiction, so... :)

P.P.S. Question time!! Who were mentioned, but not named? Two correct answers!!

P.P.P.S. Again this announcement!! Next Friday is Halloween, so I want- no, I DEMAND some ideas about it with your fav PJO/HoO couples!! I might even do another Percabeth *wiggles eyebrows* Who knows...? Probably, I'll do a double update as well... You know, a normal chapter with a Halloween special...