Epilogue

A Year Later

Percy

I've been saving up for this day for nearly a whole year. Annabeth doesn't know a thing. It's been a challenge to keep this hidden from her but I managed to keep my lips sealed and now today I finally get to make her my wife. Just like with the care home, our friends helped plan along with the new kids living in the care home.

The year has been tough but I wouldn't change it at all. Two months after the care home was finally fixed up we reopened and a whole bunch of kids moved in. I felt so proud to be able to stick the new sign above the door. Annabeth got to work right away and tried to make everyone feel at home.

In all there are fifteen kids- 8 girls and 7 boys. The youngest is seven-year-old Bethany. She's little but I can't say the same about her mouth. She likes having the attention on her, which is hard when there are fourteen other kids that need to be looked after, including my own.

The oldest is seventeen-year-old Riley, who turns eighteen in five days and has enough money to start renting out a little apartment a few blocks away. He's like the big brother of the group, always looking out for the younger kids at school. He has a nine-year-old sister, Gabrielle, whom he's planning on adopting as soon as he can. He knows that she's safe with us but he doesn't want to be split up from her.

The other's are:

Cassidy, who is thirteen and wants to be a model when she grows up.

Hannah is a ten year old that likes to paint on her bedroom wall. It was hilarious when one day she ran downstairs and into the kitchen with paint all over her, yelling that the paint had magically flew in her face.

There is fifteen-year-old Maryanne. She comes from a troubled background and is a little rebel. She often gets in trouble at school for not going to lessons but she always apologises to us when she comes home.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca is Cassidy's best friend. She, like Cassidy, wants to be famous though she wants to be a singer instead of being a model like her friend. I have to admit she does have a pretty good voice. She makes Annie and me proud when we watch her perform at her school talent show.

Jamie-Leigh and Hayden are identical eight-year-old twins. They remind Annabeth and I a lot like the Stoll brothers by switching places all the time and playing pranks on everyone. They'll be leaving the care home soon as a newly wedded couple that are unable to have children are adopting them.

The six other boys, not including Riley are:

Bobby who has brown hair that curls on his forehead. He's a fast runner and wants to be in the Olympics when he grows up. He's fifteen and is the joker of the large group. He always cheers everyone up if they're in a bad mood.

Dylan- a blonde-haired ten-year-old is so tiny that he looks five. He carries a play camera around the care home all the time, pretending to snap pictures of everyone. We think he's going to be a photographer.

There's seven-year-old Ryan, who has a huge crush on Ocean. Ocean is always shy around him and once told me that they are going to get married when they grow up. I don't know what to think about that. Silena thinks they are adorable together.

Liam is a ten-year-old orphan that had to have his leg amputated after being in the same car accident that killed his parents. He was very quiet when he arrived here but he came out of his shell a few days later.

Sixteen-year-old Kyle is Maryanne's best friend and is the only one who can calm her down when she's angry. They argue all the time but they always make up before the day ends. Annabeth has pointed out to me that they obviously like each other in 'that' way. At first I didn't see it but then I noticed how the two would often sneak glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

And finally there is fourteen-year-old Eric. He's probably the brainiest of the kids in the whole care home. If someone needs help with their homework then they always go to him. He sometimes reminds me of Annabeth when he says something that I don't understand. Obviously, I don't admit that I haven't got a clue what he's talking about because that would be so embarrassing.

"Daddy!" Ocean squeals, running into the kitchen where I am busy flipping a pancake in the air while everyone is eating at the small tables. "Mommy is getting Tommy dressed in those nice clothes you put out for him. She asked why you'd want him to wear something so smart when we are staying here all day."

"Tell mommy that I think we should go to the beach later because the weather is nice," I say with a wink. Ocean runs off out of the kitchen.

"What are you going to wear?" Rebecca asks as I put a pancake on her plate.

"A suit," I reply.

"Won't she suspect something?" she questions.

"Probably, but it is Annabeth. I'll say that I wanted to look smart or something. Can you make sure she puts that white summer dress on? I laid it out for her but she hates wearing dresses."

"Sure. I'll tell her that it compliments her eyes or something," she says before walking over to a table and sitting down to eat.

"Has everyone got a few pancakes on their plates or have I missed anyone out?" I call.

"Everyone is eating, Perce. Relax and chill for a while, Dude. It's your wedding day," Riley whispers, quietly, so Annabeth won't hear from the other room.

"I'm a little nervous, okay? I'll be a mess if I sit down and relax. I need to keep going over my vows in my head or I'm going to forget. The last thing I want is to embarrass myself by stumbling over my speech at my wedding," I say, patting the boy on the back. "We leave here at 1pm, kids."

"If anyone wants their hair done then come to my room when you finish eating," Maryanne announces. "I'm going to get ready now."

"Are you wearing a dress?" Kyle asks, curiously. Maryanne's cheeks turn a light shade of pink when she nods. She quickly turns on her heel and walks out of the room. "I've never seen her in a dress," Kyle mutters to himself.

"I think you'll like her no matter what she wears," I tease, ruffling his hair.

He blushes and carries on eating his pancakes.

"Percy, really? You are going to wear a suit to the beach?" Annabeth asks, looking at me like I'm crazy.

"What? I want to look smart," I reply, grinning, as she looks me up and down. I'm wearing a black suit with a silver tie that matches her eyes. I have combed my hair back so it doesn't look as messy as it usually does.

"You are going to ruin the nice outfit on the beach," she insists and I roll my eyes.

"Just go with it, will you?" I sigh and she frowns, suspiciously.

"Fine," she finally agrees before walking over to the car and getting into the passenger seat.

I breathe a sigh of relief and lock the door to the care home before jumping into the large van. I would've liked Annabeth to arrive at her wedding in style but I don't want her to be more suspicious than she already is.

"I like your dress, Mary," Annabeth comments as we drive off.

"Thanks. I felt like a change today," the girl replies, easily. She would be a great actress.

"In fact all of you look great. It looks like we are going to a party not a beach. Did this Seaweed Brain ask you to dress up, too?" she asks, playfully.

"Oh, come on. When was the last time you saw me in a suit, Wise Girl? I just want to look nice and smart for a change and I asked the others to do the same. Don't you think I look cute?" I smirk, glancing at her quickly before focusing on the road.

"If you say so," Annabeth says and the kids in the back chuckle.

"Daddy, did you remember the flowers for mommy?" Ocean calls from one of the seats behind us. Oh no…

"What flowers?" Annabeth asks.

"I –uh…" I trail off.

"We all wanted to show our thanks for being such a great person to us," Liam says.

"Aww, that's sweet. Thank you," Annabeth grins.

I look in the rear-view mirror at Liam and mouth 'thank you'. He nods and smiles at me.

We turn into the road that leads to the beach car park and I bite my lip, nervously, trying to remember my speech. "Isn't that Thalia's car?" Annabeth asks, pointing to a purple Ford parked in a space.

"Yeah. I asked everyone to come so we could all have a big day on the beach," I reply.

"You are full of surprises today," Annabeth comments as I park the van.

"You just wait," I grin and kiss her cheek before everyone jumps out of the van.

I glance at Riley and nod. He nods back and starts getting everyone in line while Annabeth picks up Tommy from his car seat in the van.

"Everyone ready?" I call when the car is locked and everyone is in line. Annabeth doesn't seem to even notice the order everyone is standing in. She puts Tommy on the ground and holds one of his hands as we start down the path that leads to the steps that end in the sand.

I go to Ocean and whisper, "Go hold your mommy's hand for me, okay? Make sure she's behind us all so everyone can get in place on the beach."

"Okay, Daddy," she whispers and runs over to Annabeth.

"Last one on the beach is a rotten egg!" I yell and run down the steps as fast as possible. The kids all chase after me, remembering what we had practised the night before when Annabeth had been putting Tommy to bed.

The white chairs on the sand come in view along with the archway that is decorated with flowers. All of our friends are sitting in the back row of seats while the priest stands near the arch, waiting to marry Annabeth and I.

"How's it going, Perce?" Grover asks as I reach the aisle that leads to the arch.

"It's going smoothly so far. Ocean nearly got us caught but I think we are fine," I say and turn to the other kids that have caught up to me. "Sit in the front. Maryanne, you know when to give Annabeth the rings, right?" I ask. She nods. "Great. Please, don't drop them."

She rolls her eyes at me and sits in place along with the others. I go shake hands with the priest and then turn to look at the top of the steps as Annabeth, Tommy and Ocean comes into view.

I watch Annabeth's reaction as she takes in the site in front of her. Her eyes widen and then snap in my direction. She stares at me and then at the rows of people. I notice Ocean tug on her hand to get her attention and a grin spreads across my fiancés face.

She picks Tommy up and, while still holding Ocean's hand, starts quickly walking down the steps. When they are in the sand she puts Tommy down and Ocean takes his hand before stepping away from them and walking towards us. I'm surprised she's remembered so much.

Annabeth slowly walks behind our children and stops at the start of the aisle while Ocean skips along the path with Tommy. "Go stand by there, sweetie," I whisper to Ocean, pointing to a free chair in the first row. She takes a seat next to Cassidy and the girl lifts a fussing Tommy onto her lap.

I turn back to Annabeth and find that she's already started walking down the aisle. There isn't any music. The only sound that can be heard is the waves coming from behind me. Annabeth's eyes are shining and the smile on her face is the biggest I've ever seen it.

She reaches my side and presses her lips to mine. The priest clears his throat before saying, teasingly, "You are meant to do that at the end."

Annabeth laughs and pulls away. "I think I'm dreaming," she whispers as the priest starts his speech.

"You're not. I've been planning this for a while. You've nearly caught us out hundreds of times," I say, quietly, holding her hand. "Who's the Seaweed Brain now, huh?" She rolls her eyes and concentrates on what the priest is saying. We repeat his words and then we say our vows.

I go first: "You know, I've been practising this for nearly a year and I've still forgotten what I planned on saying." I hear everyone laugh but it sounds like it's in the background. All I can see is Annabeth. "First, I want to promise that I'm going to stay with you forever. I am never going to let you go so you're going to have to put up with me for another fifty years at least. I love you so much and I promise to love you until… well, until I'm buried in the ground.

"A lot of things have happened in our lives. We've made a lot of mistakes but one thing I'll never regret is running away with you because if I had never thought of that stupid idea then we wouldn't be here now."

I catch a tear as it slides down Annabeth's cheek and then I turn to Maryanne. She hands me a simple silver band and I slide it onto Annabeth's finger.

"I really want to say something as sweet and special as that but right now I can barely form any words," Annabeth says, barely above a whisper. "I want you to know that I love you too, with all my heart. When my parents died I didn't want to be alive, I didn't think I deserved to be alive. I gave up hope. I didn't talk to anyone. I was alive but lifeless. And then came along you, Percy Jackson. I don't know how but you brought me back to life and I'm going to spend the rest of my life thanking you for that."

She places the silver band on my finger after taking it from Maryanne. I don't even wait for the priest to say anything next. I pull Annabeth to me and kiss my bride until we have to come up for air.

Years ago I thought the best day of my life was when Annabeth and I ran away. Then I thought it was when she told me she was pregnant. Then I changed it to the day Ocean was born. And then again I changed it to the day our Tommy was born. And a year ago I changed it to the day we opened the care home. And now I've changed my mind again.

Because today, from now forward, will be the best day of my life forever…

The End

And there we have it! I'm sorry if there are any spelling/grammar mistakes. I didn't want to have you wait even longer. I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I want to thank everyone who has ever reviewed, favourited and followed this story. You have both given me ideas for this story and gave me the push to carry on.