They had discovered soon after Percy emerged that while Percy had been a tree, the rate at which he aged had slowed slightly. Instead of being 14 about to be 15, he was now 13 about to be 14. This meant that Thalia was still the prophecy child as she would be turning 15 in December.

After Thalia and Annabeth had to be practically dragged off of the unconscious boy, he had been taken to the infirmary where he had slept for three days. During this time Thalia had not left his side, even sleeping in the room with him, wanting to be the first person he saw when he woke up.

Annabeth was by her side most of the time but she, being younger than Thalia, was forced to leave by Chiron to get rest in her cabin.

However, when Percy did eventually wake up Thalia almost missed it. She had left to go to the bathroom and when she returned he was beginning to stir. She instantly ran over to his side, determined that she be the first thing he saw. She had no idea why it was so important to her that she be what he first sees when he wakes up but all she knew was that if he saw someone else first it would hurt.

When they had been on the run Thalia and Percy had developed a very close relationship. Despite Percy joining the group last he had made an instant impact. His never ending optimism, even after all that he had been through, had been a breath of fresh air for the group.

As Thalia and Percy had both been children of the Big Three, they had had an instant connection. They bickered and argued, but would have each other's back in an instant and understood each other better than anyone else. They were both the same age, while Luke was their older brother and Annabeth was their little sister.

So when Percy opened his eyes and the first thing he saw in 4 years, other than when he was delirious and first exited the tree, was a beautiful pair of electric blue eyes he thought that he must be dreaming. That is until he was wrapped in a bone crushing hug.

"You idiot!" Thalia screamed through tears.

"Thalia?" Percy questioned.

Thalia then pulled away and he was able to get a good look at her. She looked different to how he remembered her. Before her hair had been short and spiky, but now it was slightly longer, going down to her shoulders. She looked older and more mature, but she still had the smattering of freckles across her face that he always thought looked adorable.

"Why do you look so different?" Percy asked.

Thalia instantly snapped out of her state of disbelief that Percy was actually alive.

"What do you remember Percy?"

"I was fighting on the hill as you and the others made it to camp and then I got hit and was on the ground bleeding. After that it all just went dark." Percy's eyes suddenly widened. "Are you all alright. Did Annabeth, Grover and Luke make it as well."

Thalia flinched at the last name, but Percy didn't notice.

"Yes we all made it here safely." Thalia paused, thinking carefully about her next words. Looking straight into his eyes, which she had to fight against the urge to not get lost in, she began slowly, "But that all happened four years ago."

"What!" Percy practically screamed. "Are you joking Thalia because if you are it's not funny."

She gently shook her head. "I'm not joking, that's why I look different." Thalia also couldn't help but think of how different Percy now looked as well. He had exited the tree three years older than before and the changes were clear. He still had the same pair of sea green eyes and his hair was the same unruly mess of raven hair, but his face had changed. His face had become more defined, with a clear jawline and cheekbones. His features were more angular and he already had looks that many teenage girls would go crazy for. Thalia shook these thoughts out of her head.

"What happened to me then?" He asked.

"When I managed to get away from the others and make it to the top of the hill I saw you on the floor bleeding out. Suddenly, almost out of nowhere, a huge amount of water materialised and hit you. There was a bright flash of light and when it was gone there was a pine tree where you had been." Thalia took a deep breath before continuing. "We all thought you were dead. I thought you were gone. I thought you had left me." Thalia began to sob uncontrollably.

Thalia then felt a pair of arms wrap around her.

"Hey. This isn't the Thalia I know." Percy said. "Everything's alright now. I'm never going to leave you again."

"You better not or else I'll shock you so hard you'll wish you were a tree again." She sniffled. He laughed at that, glad that his old friend was still the same. Speaking of old friends.

"Hey Thalia where are Annabeth and Luke?" Thalia froze. She knew she would have to answer it eventually but she didn't realise it would be so soon.

"Annabeth is fine. She was here earlier. I think she might have gone to get some food." She said, trying to avoid the bubbling volcano that was the topic of Luke's betrayal.

Thalia knew how Percy would react, assuming his time as a tree hadn't drastically changed him. He would be furious, Percy was fiercely loyal to his friends and family, but if that loyalty was not reciprocated, then he would not react well.

"Ok, but where is Luke? He's not dead is he?" Percy asked worriedly.

'He may as well be,' Thalia thought to herself.

Taking a deep breath Thalia looked into Percy's sea green eyes and began to tell him about her quest to retrieve the lightning bolt. Percy did not question why she began to tell him this story. He realised it must have been important. Thalia was not someone to just randomly bring up something that had no relevance, so he listened.

As the story progressed and he heard of the things she did like beating Medusa and entering, and escaping the Underworld, he couldn't help but stare in awe at the girl before him. However, like all good things there had to be an end to this and when he heard what Luke did his usually bright eyes dimmed, looking almost black. The ground began to shake and panicked cries could be heard from outside wondering what was happening.

"Percy calm down!" Thalia desperately shouted as she moved towards Percy but fell due to the earthquake .

"He promised me! He swore he would protect you and then tried to claim I would be with him and he was doing it in my name!" Percy spat lost in his rage.

Thalia continued to crawl to Percy, placing a gentle hand on his arm. Looking down Percy saw her pleading eyes and noticed what he was doing.

Suddenly, the shaking stopped and everything returned to normal. Looking down in shame Percy began, "I'm sorry I lost control."

"It's ok Percy. I understand."

"No you don't Thalia. You're not the reason he changed and betrayed us. I am. He's doing it because of me and honestly thinking about it, it doesn't surprise me one bit that he has turned on the Gods. He always was too angry towards them and now he's using me as an excuse to get what he thinks is revenge. He knew that I didn't hate my father for what happened." Percy looked up after finishing his rant.

"It's my fault as well Percy. I should've seen what was happening but I didn't. Neither did Annabeth or Grover. Looking back now I can see how he was becoming more angry and bitter but we ignored it because it was Luke and now look what happened. So don't only blame yourself Percy. We are all at fault. If anything you are the only one who isn't." She finished looking at him.

"Thanks Thalia. Now," Percy stood up, "why don't you show me this camp that I never arrived at." he grinned.

Thalia laughed, glad that the happy go lucky and sarcastic Percy was back. She liked him much better this way than the dark and serious way he was acting before.

Grabbing his hand Thalia practically dragged Percy behind her. Exiting the Big House Percy stopped and stood in awe. Before his lay the most beautiful place he had ever seen. There were a large pasture of strawberry fields that a group of satyrs and nymphs were wandering and working in. He could make out a horseshoe of cabins that surrounded a commons area that had statues fountains and some basketball hoops that some tanned kids with blond hair were making every shot in without fail, looking like they could win the three point contest with their eyes shut.

'Must be kids of Apollo.' Percy thought.

He could make out what looked to be a dining pavillion in a greek style and a simple circular arena that he could already envision himself spending vast amounts of time in working on his swordsmanship with…

The thought of 'him' almost sent Percy into another rage but he calmed himself and continued to look around in awe. He could see a large tightly packed forest and a canoe lake, but then he looked towards the very edge of camp and there he saw something that almost made him squeal like an Aphrodite girl. The sea. It was enchanting to him. Calm and serene. Nothing made Percy feel better than being by water, but the sea had an affect on him that no other body of water could compare to. When he was at the sea was when he truly felt complete. Whenever he had to leave the sea, it almost felt like he was leaving a part of his soul behind. He almost sprinted for it then and there, but he then remembered he was not alone.

When Grover had told him that there was a safe haven for demigods he hadn't been able to believe him. He thought there might be a few others like him, maybe twenty or thirty, but there were around one hundred campers here.

'Wow the Gods really get around.'

"Ah Percy you're awake." Startled, Percy turned around to see a large figure towering over him. They had brown hair with intense, but kind, brown eyes and a beautiful pure white lower body of a horse.

Percy, being who he was instantly said the first thing that came to mind.

"You're a centaur."

He visibly heard Thalia facepalm next to him. The centaur in question only chuckled.

"That I am child and it is very nice to finally meet you."

'Why would a centaur have wanted to meet me?' Percy thought. 'Wait! A centaur at a camp

for training demigods.'

"Chiron?" Percy said, half a statement and question.

"Glad to see that you're head isn't completely filled with kelp." Thalia commented.

Percy very maturely then stuck his tongue out at her while Chiron merely shook his head and laughed softly at the interaction between the two.

"Yes child you are correct. I am Chiron and after four years it is a pleasure to finally be able to speak to a person such as yourself."

"What's so special about me?" Percy asked confused.

"And there's the kelp head." Thalia murmured.

"My boy, you held off all three Kindly Ones and a pack of hellhounds to save your friends." Chiron stated as if it were obvious.

Percy blushed, "Anyone else would've done the same thing."

"The fact that you think like that Percy is what sets you apart."

There was a lull in the conversation as Percy processed what had just been said. Thalia rolled her eyes as she thought of how it was exactly like Percy to not realise what was so special about him,

"Percy!" All three of them turned towards the cry before Percy was tackled by a blur of blonde. He fell over backwards holding onto the person that had grabbed him and was about to throw them off when he saw their eyes. A startling grey that held so much intelligence and wisdom far beyond their years.

"Annabeth!" Percy cried happily as he hugged the girl who he saw as a little sister.

"You're back. You're actually back." The now 11 year old girl exclaimed.

"Yes he is my dear, but if you could let young Perseus up that we could explain to him what is going on at the moment." Chiron interrupted.

"Actually I've already done most of that Chiron." Thalia said.

"Because Thalia's already done that does that mean I can show Percy around Camp?" Annabeth asked excitedly.

Looking at her, Percy could still see the joyful little girl that he had met four years ago. She had grown taller, more athletic and looked more mature, but underneath he could still see his little sister that he would do anything to protect. This made Percy think whether when 'he' betrayed them if he thought of how it would affect her and this made Percy's blood boil. However, he was back now and he would not let anything happen to her if he could help it.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Thalia asked pointedly.

Annabeth went crimson and mumbled an apology.

"I see no reason not to. Dinner is in a few hours so you should just finish before that." Chiron then looked at Percy, "We will talk more after dinner Percy." Percy nodded in response before practically being dragged away by Annabeth with Thalia is tow.

Linebreak

The tour took around two hours and by the end of it Percy was exhausted. Percy loved Annabeth, but she could really go on for a while. Percy was lying down in Cabin 3. His first impression of the cabin was that it had been personally made for him. It smelt like the sea and it was simple in its design. Not outlandish and in your face like some of the other cabins, but simple and sleek, just how he liked it. He thought about how his day had been.

Percy also felt a little creeped out during the tour. He was never really one that like attention much and would usually do his best to stay out of the limelight, so when they were walking around and everyone was staring at him and whispering as if he had come back from the dead, which he guessed he kind of had, he was quite uncomfortable.

Thalia had realised this quickly and glared at the campers who rapidly turned away and returned to what they were previously doing, but once they thought they were gone would resume their whisperings and starings.

Percy understood. It probably wasn't everyday that someone who had supposedly been dead for the past four years came out of a tree alive and well.

He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he had been gone for four years. To him it seemed like the blink of an eye. The aging thing confused him even more now. Thalia was older than him now which was strange. It seemed so insignificant, but he couldn't help but feel as if there were larger ramifications to it.

A conch horn blowing took him out of his thoughts.

'Guess it's time for dinner,' he thought.

A knock on the door got him off the bed as he went and answered to see Thalia standing in front of him.

"It's dinner time and I thought you might need some help getting there after being a tree for a while."

"Thanks. You're so kind." Percy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Thalia only replied with a smirk before walking away. She looked over her shoulder.

"Are you coming or not Seaweed Brain?"

Percy quickly began to follow Thalia to the pavilion. All the way there campers stared at him as he walked past. Some in awe while a group of pretty girls looked at him and giggled when they noticed him looking back.

'Wonder what that's about?' Percy thought to himself confused.

Thalia saw the girls and glared at them harshly causing them to turn away.

They eventually reached the pavilion and entered.

"You're table's that one there." Thalia said pointing out a table before she walked off to another one. During the tour Annabeth had told him about how the cabins had to sit at their own tables which he thought was unfair. That meant that him and Thalia had to sit by themselves, but he couldn't do anything about it so he sat down.

Once everyone had arrived the food began being served and Percy thought he was in Elysium. Considering that the last time he could remember eating had been when they were on the run, when gourmet meals where not exactly common, the food before him looked devine. As he was about to begin eating though he saw people getting up and going to a brazier in the middle and scraping a portion of food into the fire. He could see each person saying something as they did it and guessed they were sacrificing food to the Gods.

He hurriedly got up, wanting to begin eating as quickly as possible. When it was his turn Percy pushed a large piece of brisket and some grapes into the fire before saying, "To Poseidon. Thank you for saving me Dad."

He quickly sat down and began wolfing down the food. It tasted incredible and Percy wished he had another stomach to eat more as he felt like he was about to burst.

Once everyone had finished eating Chiron hit his hoof against the ground gaining everyone's attention. "Campers!" He shouted, "Today we welcome a new hero to camp." He turned to the man next to him who looked like a cherub with his potbelly and round face.

"Oh yes another brat. Welcome to camp Peter Johnson." Chiron whispered something in his ear. "Fine. Percy Jackson." He quickly sat down and resumed drinking a can of coke.

Everyone turned to look at Percy, causing him to smile and wave awkwardly.

"Now there will be capture the flag tomorrow after dinner," Chiron continued, "and don't forget cabin inspection tomorrow which is being done by the Aphrodite Cabin."

Everyone soon got up and left. Percy felt dead on his feet as he stood and Chiron, noticing this, told him that they could talk the next day. Percy nodded gratefully before walking towards his cabin with Annabeth and Thalia who had joined him.

When they reached his cabin they wished each other goodnight.

"You better be here in the morning Kelp Head." Thalia added. "I don't want to wake up and find a tree in the middle of the Poseidon Cabin." They all laughed at that before Percy entered the cabin.

As he changed and fell on the bed he couldn't help but think that he finally felt like he was somewhere that he belonged for the first time in his life. Even if the other campers were treating him slightly differently, he had Thalia and Annabeth and he felt safe for the first time in his life. After having to deal with Gabe and then being on the run, it was a strange, but welcome feeling to be safe and he welcomed it with open arms.

His last thought before Percy fell asleep was that he finally found a home.

AN: Sorry about the long wait guys it's just that I have exams coming up and I haven't done a lot of work through the year so I'm kind of having to cram and I know that's not an excuse so again I am sorry.

Anyway thank you guys for the support on the story. Considering how bad a writer I am, it's mind blowing for me to get so many followers and favorites is incredible so thank you guys.

Anyway until next time, which will hopefully be sooner, see ya.