Sorry it's taken a million years to update, but this is it: the last chapter (except for maybe an epilogue). Since it's so long, we did not edit as profusely as we normally do, but it should be fine.

Thanks for sticking with us! It's been a hard journey, but after pulling teeth and drinking our weight in coffee and tears, here it is.

Enjoy this chapter.

oOo

Percy woke up again, feeling like he was in someone else's body. Without even opening his eyes, he knew that he was completely healed; even the throbbing scrape on his forehead seemed to be gone. His stomach didn't even hurt, and he felt cleaner and better rested than he had in a very, very long time.

Carefully, and worried what he'd find, Percy peeled one eye open and then the other.

It took a few seconds for his vision to adjust against the light when he realized that above his bed was just light and not the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm not dead, am I? he wondered to himself, but then almost laughed. The Underworld was not even a close comparison to Heaven, and that is where he would go when he died. If he wasn't dead, though, then where was he?

When Percy turned his head, he was shocked to notice his muscles weren't sore, either. He was even more shocked when he absorbed more of his surroundings.

It appeared to him that he'd been asleep on a bed in a nest of pillows in what looked like a single-roomed sick bay. There was a nightstand next to the bed with a glass of nectar and a pitcher of water. The walls past that were marble polished so spectacularly that the shine almost hurt his eyes.

"This is weird," Percy sighed quietly to himself, and stood up. All of his muscles responded smoothly without injury, but he did a few laps around the room and stretched a bit to make sure.

The vague thought of How did I get so clean? crossed his mind, and then the thought of someone undressing him made him uncomfortable so he automatically glanced down at his clothes.

Instead of seeing his old orange T-shirt and jeans with holes nearly worn in the knees, he saw a white cotton button-up and thick cotton pants. The only times he'd ever been that comfortable was when his life was in immediate danger. Of course.

"The great hero awakens," said a voice behind him, and he turned.

Apollo grinned and leaned against the doorway. He—like Hermes was the previous night—was in a gold Grecian tunic cinched on one shoulder, sandals on his feet and a lyre strung around his neck. His perfectly tanned skin and blond hair made Percy feel a little dorky in comparison.

Percy meant to bow and show respect, but when he opened his mouth, what came out was: "Where are your loafers and Ray-Banz?"

To that, the sun god laughed, and his teeth glinted whiter than the marble surrounding them. "There've been some changes ever since that whole, ah…mix-up happened. None of it affected me because I'm Apollo in both Greek and Roman cultures. The others were fairly eager to embrace their original traditions. I have to say, though, these tunics are uncomfortably breezy."

Percy winced, the mental images of Apollo standing before a great gust of wind tempting his empty stomach to dry-heave all over the floor. Apollo, not noticing the shade of green the demigod was turning, sighed and put his hands on his hips grandly.

"Alas, I would share a limerick of my feelings but we need to get to the throne room in a timely manner," he said, shaking his head. "It's been a long morning."

"Morning?" Percy's mouth popped open in surprise. "But it was seven at night when we left."

"Yes, yes," Apollo left the room, Percy trailing curiously after him. As they walked a very grand marble corridor, he continued. "It takes time to heal seven very injured demigods, even for me. It was an executive decision." He shrugged. "No one argues with Zeus."

Percy noticed that the god had said "seven demigods," but he really didn't have the heart to correct him. The memory of Leo's death still stung.

After a few minutes, the demigod scratched the back of his head and spoke up. "Where's everyone else?"

"My sister brought the girls, and you're the last of the boys. They're waiting in the green room."

There was so much he wondered, Percy didn't even bother asking about the so-called "green room." However, when they got there, he felt kind of stupid.

The room was, indeed, very green. The walls, instead of being made of white marble, were a deep, swirling jade. There were glowing golden lights in the corner and jade statues of each of the gods, and the carpet looked like a forest floor.

"Percy!"

He'd been so caught up at the greenness of it all, that he failed to see a group of other demigods sitting in cozy-looking couches in one of the corners. Percy turned to see Annabeth running towards him. She caught him in a hug around the neck, and he hugged her back, loving the sweet lemon shampoo that her hair always smelled of.

When she pulled away, Percy got a good look at her and the rest of his friends. The boys were wearing clothes like his, but the girls—Piper, Hazel and Annabeth—were in white, sleeveless cotton gowns that were cinched under the chest and fell all the way to the floor.

Annabeth saw her boyfriend staring at her and she gripped the material uneasily. "I know, I know. These dresses are ridiculous. I don't see why we couldn't just wear what we were last night."

Artemis, who was perched on a stool near a second door, rolled her eyes. "Aphrodite said that the colors orange and purple clashed. Shallow goddess…" Sniffing, she hopped off her stool and disappeared behind the door, silvery skirts swishing around her knees.

Percy inwardly agreed, and a memory barely surfaced. He was thirteen, sitting in a convertible car holding a mirror up as the goddess as she fixed her flawless makeup. She'd looked a little like Annabeth to him at the time, and he just now made the connection. His subconscious had a crush on her before he even knew it. The thought made him laugh.

Annabeth, who was standing with her hands in his, took one away to tuck a strand of her loose hair behind one of her ears curiously. "What? What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Percy told her, and he kissed her cheek.

"That's okay. We don't mind if you ignore us. It's not like we thought you were dead or anything."

He glanced behind his girlfriend and saw Hazel standing there. The gown made her skin looked the color of dark chocolate, and her small hand was clasped in Frank's. Aside from her dazzling gown that made her look like a young princess, Percy saw something startling in her eyes that he couldn't quite place; something not quite Hazel. They were dark and hollow, the whites in her eyes shining an irritated red like she had done nothing but cry for several days. Even from the distance she was away from Percy, he could see her tiny frame shake and twitch, like she was ready to explode into an inferno of tears and anguish.

Grinning uncertainly, Percy opened his arms and hugged Hazel, who winced as though it hurt. Piper spontaneously threw her arms around the both of them, looking like she was either going to laugh or cry. Jason joined in, and then Annabeth, and finally Frank the Beast put his arms around the whole group.

Leo should be doing this with us, too, though Percy, feeling the wounds trying to reopen. He pushed it back furiously and enjoyed his time back with the old gang.

Hazel let out a muffled groan. Her face was squashed between Percy's chest and Piper's collarbone, and she couldn't breathe.

The group hug dismantled itself quicker than it had formed. While Hazel gasped for air, Frank and Percy fist-bumped.

"We thought you were…you know…" Frank said, shifting from foot to foot and looking embarrassed. "Hazel said she saw you fly into a mountain and get buried in a rock slide."

"That's pretty close to the truth," the other demigod admitted. "If Annabeth hadn't been there I would've died. Even afterwards at Camp. She saved me." He glanced over his shoulder at the three girls, who were talking amongst one another.

Annabeth looked over her shoulder, too, and winked at him.

"…Uh."

Thankfully, Artemis opened the large door a crack and interrupted them before anything else happened.

"It is time," the Huntress said, and adjusted the silver circlet on her head. She motioned for them. "The gods will see you now."

The door she was peering at them from swung wide and all six demigods found themselves walking into the throne room from a side door.

It was just as Percy remembered; the ceiling was twice as high as Grand Central Station, with columns reaching the top so thick, it would've taken several of him to wrap his arms around it. Constellations moved along the ceiling, twisting around the tops of the columns, reflecting on the marble carvings around the edges of the room.

Standing in the throne room, Percy knew how it felt to be an ant. Everything was larger than life and shone brighter than the sun.

Sitting in a semicircle were the usual twelve seats of the gods, except that they'd been transformed into elaborate marble thrones, with shapes and Greek stories carved into the bases. It was quite a change from the personalized chairs the gods seemed to always prefer, but it was as Apollo said: they were all obviously embracing original Grecian traditions.

Zeus sat in the middle of the semicircle in a glorious set of robes that practically screamed I'm going to roast your head off. Next to him was Poseidon, except the sea god's robes had a bluish tint to them.

Poseidon smiled down at Percy, his eyes crinkling.

Along with the twelve original gods, there were too many others to count.

The Hunters of Artemis stood off to the side, bows strapped to their backs. At the front of the group was Thalia Grace. Thalia wiggled her fingers at Percy and Annabeth and then blew a kiss to her brother.

Minor gods stood behind the twelve thrones, too. Nemesis was picking at her chipped teeth with a fingernail, sneering at the crowd. Janus was arguing with himself which one of him caused the victory. Hecate stood silent behind the throne of Aphrodite, a dark purple aura flowing around her body like steam as she stroked some sort of weasel-looking thing on her shoulder. Hypnos was napping on Eris, who was adding to a heated argument between Hebe, the goddess of youth, and Nike.

Percy had never seen so many gods in one place at one time. The whole room buzzed with concentrated power, like if someone lit a match the palace would explode.

When he saw the demigods, Zeus glanced around at his noisy company and squeezed his lightning bolt so a clap of thunder silenced the room around him.

"Much better." The 20-foot god cleared his throat and settled into his marble throne. "Now to business."

Apollo grew back to his giant size and settled onto his throne as well. "These seats are really uncomfortable..." he grumbled. "When can I get my gold lounger back?"

"Respect your origin," said Hera, sniffing with disapproval. "You didn't have someone else's conscience trying to burst its way out of your head."

The second after she said that, her whole form glowed and flickered, and sitting where Hera had been sitting was a very regal goddess. The new goddess had high cheekbones and ringlets spilling over her shoulders and very Roman-like golden dress on with sandals, and there was a half-wreath of leaves tucked on top of her golden curls. Ropes of jewels hung from her neck, and she sniffed again.

"You have no idea the headache caused by identity crisis," Juno said with a tragic expression. "It's so bothersome and exhausting."

Piper's mouth opened in shock and she blinked several times, as though not believing what she was seeing. "You're..."

"Roman, yes," the goddess said, looking at the demigod as though it was perfectly obvious. "Thank goodness your silly camps have finally decided to work their little disagreements out. It was dreadful."

Even the way the goddess spoke was lofty and Roman-sounding.

"But how can you be...better?" Piper asked, turning her head to look at her mom.

Aphrodite smiled and laughed, unintentionally making the boy's hearts skip.

"Dear Piper," the goddess adjusted her baby-pink Grecian gown. "We were only ever in such a pickle because of your two camps knowing of each other's existence and quarreling. That's how it's been forever, but uniting the camps was the trigger for all of this to happen. Originally, our Greek sides were only associated with the Greek demigods, and visa-versa, but when they collided for the first time in centuries, so did our Greek and Roman forms."

"Settling the external conflict resolved the internal one as well." Juno smiled, and then she turned back into Hera. "Obviously it'll take some getting used to, but we are family, after all."

Annabeth scoffed loudly and shook her head, ringlets of blond shifting over her tanned shoulder. She leaned over to Percy and whispered, "Like being family ever stopped them from trying to kill each other..."

Percy would have agreed with that snappy comeback, but the smell of Annabeth's lemon scented shampoo hit him like a gorgeous truck, and his eyes glazed over for a second before he realized Zeus was talking again.

"...why you're here, young demigods." The god scratched his beard with the tip of his lightning bolt, looking thoughtful. "You all were...quite helpful when it came to fighting Gaia, and it would have been extremely difficult without your assistance..."

"'Would have been difficult?'" Poseidon interrupted, glancing sideways at Zeus with a scruffy, raised eyebrow. "Pardon my blasphemy, brother, but I do not think it would have been at all possible without their help. Both Roman and Grecian alike."

Frank looked a little shock, but Hazel just tucked her arms around her chest and stared blank-facedly at the ground.

"Yes, I know," said the sea god before anyone else spoke up. "Greeks and Romans are not supposed to like each other, but there's no denying we wouldn't have succeeded without the help of the Romans. After all, it wasn't only our world you were saving."

With an irritated sigh in the back of his throat, Zeus leaned back in his throne and gripped his lightning bolt tightly, a soft hiss filling the room. "Yes, yes, thank you. I was just saying that. Anyways, this is the part where we say thank you. We do owe our gratitude to a bunch of kids, our kids, and naturally," his face softened, surprising smile lines forming in the corners of his eyes, "you will be rewarded." With a powerful nod, he gestured to the gods around the room, as if a silent understanding shot between them.

Eris stopped arguing, Nemesis put down the knife she was cutting her nails with, and all of the other gods stopped whatever they were doing to quiet down and show respect.

An eerie silence followed, and Percy couldn't help the feeling of impending doom. In the back of his mind, he thought about Zeus' offer of immortality when he first defeated Kronos. At the time, if he hadn't thought about his mom and Annabeth, it sounded like a dream come true; after all, who doesn't want the chance to live forever and do what you want? However, with all of the broken gods and ruined lives Percy had seen, he realized that immortality caused more problems than it solved. Was Zeus going to offer it again? Refusing immortality once was bad, refusing it twice...well, what if they didn't have a choice in the matter?

Percy was brought out of his reverie by his girlfriend squeezing his hand tightly. He looked over at her right as she let go. Her eyes were nervous and excited at the same time, but all she did was smile a little at him before going up to stand in front of her mother, Athena.

The goddess was standing in front of her throne, which had a spear and shield leaning up against it. A tawny barn owl was perched upon the shield, and it hooted softly at Annabeth's approach.

"My daughter," Athena began, "you were the logic and brain of this quest, and you have done the impossible several times over. Not only did you navigate your team through the forbidden waters, you survive a trip through Tartarus as well as recovered the Athena Parthenos single-handedly and restored honor to my name. Even though you may think some of your friends more as leaders, you completed the quest I gave to you with exceptional results before continuing and proving yourself the keystone to the Great Prophecy. You are truly my daughter."

Annabeth felt her face heat up at the high praise from her mother, but kept her head down and let the goddess continue.

"It is for that reason we have decided to let you go first. Now speak, my dear." The goddess took another step forwards and put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "What is it that you desire?"

"-that is reasonable," reminded Zeus, "and within our power."

For the first time in forever, Annabeth didn't have an answer right away. She stared at the floor, face pink from the compliments, and tucked her arms in tight to her chest. She took a minute thinking, but her face grew pinker with every second.

"I..." She started, hesitating, her grey eyes clouded. "I...I was thinking...because my laptop fell into Tartarus..."

"You would like to retrieve your laptop?"

"No, I know it's probably smashed to bits..."

There was a short pause, when the goddess in front of Annabeth cleared her throat. "Is there nothing else you would like?"

If she hadn't looked nervous before, Annabeth did right then. She fidgeted for a second, but a flash of courage sparked in her eyes and she looked up. "I was just thinking...maybe we can..." The courage faltered a little and her cheeks got even pinker, which was incredibly odd for her. "Maybe we can have a place together."

"I'm sorry, dear." Athena raised her eyebrows. "I'm not sure what you mean. 'We?'"

Annabeth stood a little taller, newly found confidence radiating from her. "I would like for Percy and I to have a place...in New Rome. Together. I want a place where we don't have to worry, and we could go to college and have a life there, and...I don't know...have a place to raise a family."

Percy's heart stopped as everyone except for Annabeth turned to look at him. Jason gave him a discreet thumbs-up, but Percy wasn't looking at him; he was staring at the back of his girlfriend's head.

It was obvious Annabeth was too embarrassed to meet Percy's gaze at that second.

It was also obvious that Annabeth's request took Athena completely by surprise.

The goddess puckered her lips in thought. The little brown owl behind her ruffled its wings with a gentle coo, and took flight to join its goddess. The second it landed on Athena's shoulder, however, her image flickered. Between one second and the next, Athena became Minerva. Her hair lightened to a shade of gentle brown and her eyes flashed with too many colors to concentrate on, and her robe twisted around her slim figure to brush her ankles and be pinned at one of her shoulders.

Annabeth's mouth opened in surprise just a little, but she quickly closed it and squared her shoulders bravely. "Lady Minerva."

"Lady Minerva," whispered Hazel to Frank. Both of them were looking at the goddess like she was a headless dog.

Everyone seemed surprised to see that particular goddess standing at the front of the room; even Zeus had a hard time hiding his raised eyebrows.

Though Athena was no longer Athena, she did not hesitate for a second in responding. "Your request is admirable, my child, but it is the rules of New Rome that grant anyone residence in their city. Neither Greek nor Romans are exceptions to those rules. "

"But you're Roman, my lady," Annabeth said, looking a little disappointed. "Don't you have the power to let us live there?"

Minerva thought for a second again, and those few seconds were the longest of Percy's life. He stood where he was, shifting from foot to foot, trying not to look anyone in the eye but wanting Annabeth to at least glance back and acknowledge him. He had no idea she was going to ask for that, and to be frank, it was a little embarrassing to have personal matters like that be announced out loud to the public. Percy was pretty sure that normal couples didn't have their personal, and very private, plans to move in together and have a life announced to a room full of gods, not to mention their best friends.

Jason, on the other hand, looked like he was doing his best not to laugh and kept winking back at Percy, which was not making matters any better.

After what felt like years, Minerva finally stopped and smiled. "You've grown so much, Annabeth, yet you still have a year left of mortal school. Are you planning on moving to New Rome only after you finish that schooling?" When Annabeth nodded yes, the goddess made a conclusive sound in her throat and changed back into Athena. "...Very well. I hereby grant your wish, Annabeth Chase, overriding any objections from the praetors-even if that is against my best judgment. The details will be sorted out by the current praetor, by the stern order of myself, but you have my word. There will be a place for you..." Athena paused and glanced over at Percy with a sturdy gaze, "...and Percy in New Rome."

Percy's first thought was, Wait, why did she pause so long before saying my name? and then came his second thought which flew at his brain with the force on an oncoming semi-truck.

"What?" The second the word was said, Percy clamped his mouth shut. He hadn't meant to say that aloud, but he couldn't help it; all at once, a world of possibilities came rushing into his head, but they were whirling so fast he couldn't see anything except for Annabeth walking back towards him. Her cheeks were red, but her eyes shone brighter than he'd seen them in a long time.

She assumed her position beside Percy again, grasping his hand in hers. Percy was certain he looked like either he was an inch from death or a sudden joyful outburst. He couldn't decide.

After giving him a quick peck on the cheek, Annabeth smiled her little cocky smile and whispered, "How about that, Seaweed Brain? We have a future after all."

Percy meant to say, "Awesome," but what came out of his mouth sounded more like a strangled cry. Whatever the noise was, it must've sounded like a dying animal, because Dionysius's giant leopard stood up out of a slumber with predatory eyes aimed at Percy, licking his mighty chops. It wasn't the most comforting thing ever.

Dionysius, noticing his over-sized house cat's hungry snarl, leaned forward in his golden seat and thwacked his leopard on the head with his Thyrsus, muttering some Greek curses under his breath.

"Seriously, Spot. If you eat ANOTHER demigod, I will have you neutered."

Poseidon let out a mighty chuckle that vibrated the room like an earthquake, his green eyes shining like bright beacons towards Percy. "Now, Now, Dionysius! Control your feline. I don't want him eating my son, and I'm sure you don't want another hundred years at Camp Half-Blood, hm?"

Quicker than anyone could see, the leopard disappeared and Dionysus sank down in his throne to avoid further confrontation that could end up with him having to spend more time at Camp.

"I thought so." The sea god chuckled again, and then turned back to look at the demigods. His eyes fell immediately upon his son, Percy, and smile lines appeared on his face. "No need to feel modest, Percy. Come on. Step forward."

Zeus raised his finger to look insulted and say something, but Jason quickly waved his dad down and gestured for his friend to go first.

Even though Percy did not really feel like letting go of Annabeth's hand, he felt the familiar tug of excitement and fear in his gut that went along with being directly addressed by a god. He swallowed and, after giving his girlfriend's hand a quick squeeze, he stepped up in front of his father and knelt onto one knee.

"Thank you, son. You may stand."

He did.

"Now." Poseidon stroked his beard. "You know I'm not the best at these kinds of speeches, since I normally leave them to my brother, but you must know I am incredibly proud of you, Percy. I would have expected any other demigod to get fed up with our world after your first quest, but no. You led your friends across the world on a quest that, if succeeded, would save the world. You willingly endured a trip through the Tartarus to close the Doors of Death and to accompany a fellow demigod. If that isn't the bravest thing I have ever heard a mortal doing, then I'll be a monkey's uncle." He gave a pointed look over at Jason, and all of the demigods laughed. Zeus, on the other hand, looked like he ate something sour.

"Man, the way you did that whole earthquake thing," Apollo threw his bare legs over the armrest of his chair, grinning like a male model, "That was crazy. I didn't even know demigods could have a power like that. I thought earthquakes were your thing, Unc."

"Yes, well, some half-bloods do have powers passed onto them from their godly parent that are actually powerful," Artemis snapped at her brother. "Show more respect to your elders, especially if you don't want to end up a smudge on the streets of New York below us."

Apollo whistled and rolled his eyes like it wasn't a big deal, but he was silent after that.

"So," continued Poseidon, looking back at his son as if Apollo hadn't even spoke, "tell me now what you would like as a reward. You have deserved it."

Percy had thought about it. He did wish that he could be as adorable and selfless as Annabeth had with her wish, but he knew he couldn't outdo a wish like that.

"Uhm..." he started, trying to stuff his hands in his pockets before he realized he had no pockets. "You know, honestly I have almost everything I could want. It'd be nice if there wasn't monsters stalking me all the time to eat my face, but you know...That's kinda the average life of a teenage demigod. Other than that, I have my home back, my awesome friends, my somewhat-normal life, and Annabeth." He heard someone behind him scoff, but in an adoring way, so he didn't turn. "There is one thing, though, that I'd kind of like back."

"Oh?" Zeus leaned back in chair, a bushy white eyebrow raised high up on his wrinkled face. "So you would like a gift this time around, Percy Jackson? I couldn't imagine what your request could be. More important than the gift of immortality, perhaps?"

Nobody missed his sarcastic eyeroll.

"Back?" Poseidon ignored his brother and raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah. In Tartarus, Annabeth and I ran into some trouble. Lord Hypnos graciously bailed us out, but in return he took something of mine and I would like it back: my sword, Riptide."

The sea god turned his head and raised his eyebrows even further at Hypnos, who was sleeping while standing up. When he cleared his throat, however, Hypnos woke with a start.

"H-Hm?" the other god mumbled, rubbing his eyes and blinking around the room.

"I hate to be one of those gods, Lord Hypnos," Poseidon said, crossing his arms, "but exactly how many times have we told you not to take weapons from demigods in Tartarus?"

Hypnos pursed his lips in thought. "...None?"

"I shouldn't have to tell you," the sea god replied calmly. "Now if you would please, return to young Mr. Jackson his weapon."

"I obtained this weapon as payment for my services...He knew well what he was getting himself…" Hypnos trailed off his slurred speech, his head leaning back slowly with a loud snore.

Percy watched his father stare incredulously at Hypnos, his giant hands quickly seizing his trident and slamming it down on the floor."Hypnos! HYPNOS! Wake up this instance!"

Hypnos snapped his head back with a obnoxious snort. "...into. Therefore, Riptide is rightfully mine. The boy may trade something of equal value if he so chooses to recover his weapon."

Poseidon shifted impatiently in his chair, squaring his almost dangerous gaze with Hypnos' sleepy one. "I do believe that he has saved this world-as well as us gods- enough for at least ten lifetimes, Hypnos. That also includes you. If the boy wishes for Riptide to be back in his possession, then let him have it back. We offered him immortality last time; we're not refusing him his own sword."

Almost reluctantly, Hypnos shuffled to the front of the crowd, scratching his askew robe attractively. He swept his hand down in an almost mocking bow, and Riptide snapped into existence in his outstretched fingers.

Percy took and pocketed it, feeling a lightweight floating in his chest like he'd been carrying a heavy burden but hadn't realized it until it was relieved from his shoulders. How had he won the war without it, again?

"Thank you," he told Hypnos and his father, and nodded his head briefly in thanks at both of them before resuming his place next to Annabeth.

"Jason Grace," spoke Zeus as soon as they were back in place, not wasting a second of anyone's time. He set his master bolt down and suddenly, in his place sat the Roman version of Zeus. He was all muscle and beard and power. "Your turn, boy."

If he hadn't looked so natural doing it, Percy would've been annoyed at how straight Jason held his back and how certain he looked, how professional. How Roman.

"Lord Jupiter." Jason knelt down in front of his parent, just like the others had.

"As a leader of your questing group, you also played an important role in preserving the human race." The Roman god nodded appreciatively. "In times of crisis, when two of your friends were in Tartarus, you took on the role of leader and upheld the honor of our name. Even when your own camp thought you had turned on them you did not stray from the right path, even when it was hard."

For some reason, instead of looking happier, Jason's sturdy expression wavered a little as his father said his speech.

"With your honor, strength, courage, and loyalty, you are the very embodiment of a Roman legionnaire. I am proud, son." Jupiter reached over at patted his son on the shoulder with a hand the size of a trash bin lid. "What is it that you wish?"

Jason stared at the floor, still kneeling. "Father...I'm proud to be Roman, but I can't be the perfect legionnaire you're making me out to be."

Jupiter frowned behind his beard, his eyes growing dark like a sky filling with storm clouds.

The demigod stood. "Dad, my wish is to be allowed to follow Piper back to Camp Half-Blood. I know I may not be Greek, but when I was at Camp Half-Blood there was something in the air that was not at Camp Jupiter."

When Hazel and Frank squirmed, Jason quickly put his hands up.

"There's nothing wrong with Camp Jupiter," he amended. "I grew up there, and it will always be a part of me, but I can't be who I really want to be with who I want to be with there." He shot a half-smile back at Piper. "I know you don't interfere directly with demigod life, and you can't make anyone 'like' me, but you are the king of the gods. What I want is your blessing-from both Jupiter and Zeus, and if you must, your permission. This is the beginning of a whole new era with Greeks and Romans united, and I want Piper and I to be-"

"The seeds of the future!" Apollo swept his hands grandly outwards. "Planted by the blessing of the king of the gods!"

"Seeds of the future?" Piper mumbled, looking uncomfortable.

"That's an awful metaphor," Percy whispered to Annabeth, who nodded.

"How romantic..." sighed Aphrodite.

Jupiter cracked his lightningbolt and everyone flinched, shutting up immediately. Static electricity crackled in his beard, and it was obvious by the looks on everyone's faces that they liked Jupiter a might less than Zeus.

"I understand this is an exciting day for everyone, but I would appreciate if everyone would curb their yammering skull caves and let me talk to my son," the king god said in a booming voice, shaking the ground with vibrations of his shout.

Silence answered.

"Good. Thank you. As for your request, Jason Grace," Jupiter directed his words to his son, folding both his giant hands on his lap. "I think that you are the perfect mortal for being a bridge between have my blessing to live at Camp Half-Blood, and I will see to it that no...Greeks will stand in your way."

The three Greek demigods in that room shot sideways glances at each other, but said nothing as Jason the Bridge bowed again to his father and return to his friends.

"Hey, Annabeth," Percy said into Annabeth's ear while Aphrodite was dramatically preparing her hair for her speech. "After this, do you want to go try out that new Chinese restaurant down 5th?"

"Sure," she whispered back, but looked up and elbowed him to pull his attention to the goddess.

"Dear Piper," Aphrodite started, sweeping her arms out as if to offer a hug, her gold bracelets jingling like wind chimes. "Oh, you look so lovely."

Piper did as her friends did before her and knelt in front of her parent, but her face was red. "...Thank you, Lady Aphrodite. It's genetics, I suppose. Haha..." Her discomfort of being in the spotlight was blaring like an airhorn, Percy thought. He hadn't been too particularly close to Piper, but he knew that public attention and beauty compliments were two things that made Piper tuck into her awkward turtle shell.

She, like Frank and Hazel, was sort of new to being in a roomful of almighty and powerful gods. If public speaking to a group of mortals was difficult, try talking to immortal beings that could melt your body into a puddle of demigod goo if the mood struck them.

"I am so very proud of you, dear," Aphrodite said, folding her hands. "You have always been so full of love and charming ferocity. On this past quest you were the kindly spoken word and the encouragement your friends needed to continue. You lent the world the strength in your heart and proved that even my children can be the fiercest warriors."

Piper's face grew even redder.

"Because I know it annoys you greatly-though I can't imagine why-I will refrain from giving you the blessing I did when you were first claimed, but know that I am very proud to call you my child." The goddess unclasped her hand and instead bent down to touch her daughter's cheek. "What would you like, dear Piper?"

The demigod stood slowly, looking like she was having trouble making up her mind. After a minute, she stopped chewing on her lip and lifted her head to look at her mom.

"Well...throughout the whole quest, the gift you gave me of charmspeaking has helped us several times get through, but it's never felt right. I've used that 'gift' to manipulate so many people, and even though I'm grateful that it's gotten us through this war, I think it's time that I give it back."

Give it back? Percy wondered. He glanced down at Annabeth and saw she was almost as confused as he was.

"I know, Mom." Piper knitted her eyebrows contritely. "It's not that I'm not grateful, honestly. I just do not believe that one person should have that kind of power. Everybody has the right to feel what they do and be in control of their own choices. I don't want to be responsible for controlling anybody else, ever in my life." She lowered her head. "Please, Lady Aphrodite. My wish is for you to take back the gift of charmspeak so I can be an equal with my friends and not carry that burden anymore."

"Burden?" The goddess of love put her hand to her bosom and her mouth formed a perfect "O" shape as if deeply insulted. "Piper, it is a gift. Dare you deny your lineage?"

"I'm not denying my lineage," the demigod replied, careful not to make her mom angry. "I just do not want or need that kind of ability."

Just as the goddess opened her mouth to say something, Zeus interrupted, looking over at Aphrodite.

"We promised them anything, remember, Lady Aphrodite?"

Aphrodite closed her mouth, looking agitated, but she agreed.

"Fine, daughter," she said, standing. "I may be insulted, but I will not deny you your reward. Close your eyes." When her daughter did as she was told, Aphrodite touched her finger to Piper's forehead. "...There you are, dear. We are finished."

Even though Piper turned and went to stand by Jason again, there was a lightness in her expression Percy hadn't seen in a long time. She looked relieved, but when she started to say something to her boyfriend, another booming voice shook the throne room.

"Frank Zhang!" Ares clapped his meaty hands together, startling everyone in the room, and turned into Mars with a violent flash of red.

Frank, who seemed the most startled of them all, flinched a little, but bent at the foot of his dad's throne. "Lord Mars."

"Aaah, there's my warrior! Real stroke of pure blood thirsty STRENGTH in you, it's practically just coming off of you in waves! WAVES OF BLOODTHIRSTY MANLINESS!" The throne room shook once more under Mar's loud voice, making Percy's (and probably everyone else's) eardrums nearly burst out of his head.

Frank quickly put a hand to his ear and cringed, suddenly looking like he was wishing he was anywhere but there in front of Mars. "T-Thank you, uh, Mars-"

"CALL ME DAD. You did an excellent job kicking butt and taking names, son. Couldn't of done it better myself! Well, ACTUALLY, I would've used an axe or a sword instead of a bow...Heck, I would have used the BODIES of my ENEMIES to make more BODIES. " The god threw back his head and let out a hearty laugh, which yet again made the throne room shake. When he stopped, he didn't even notice everyone else was looking like they just went deaf. "But never mind that, son, this is about your wish. What do you want? I bet it's a sweet sword, right? RIGHT? Wait, no, you want a giant axe to block out the SUN! WAIT, NO, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE POWER TO KILL A MAN WITH ONE PUNCH. I got it, son! I'll just grant-"

"A-Actually, no, uh...Dad," Frank cringed again, his baby face twisting like he ate something sour, "I don't want, eer, any of what you just said. Thank you, but no thank you. I was actually hoping that you could somehow...I don't know...fix my 'problem'."

Mars raised his eyebrow and crossed his meaty arms at his son, almost in disappointment. "You'd give up the opportunity to kill a man with one punch to fix your...BABY FACE and FLABBY MUSCLES?"

"Well, yes-wait no! My 'baby face and flabby muscles'?" Frank's face turned a bright cherry pink, his fists clenched tightly together and against his sides. "That isn't what I'm talking about! I don't have those problems! I'm talking about my life depending on a piece of wood!"

Frank-who was normally very quiet and reserved-sounded embarrassed and ready to defend himself some more if he had to. His hands were balled into fists, but his face was collected enough as he faced his father. Mars, on the other hand, didn't act like anything was out of the ordinary, and seemed to settle down when his son argued.

"Right, right," the war god laughed again. "That. Sorry, son. I got a little riled. Of course you mean your life depending on that piece of wood."

"Can the curse even be removed?" Frank asked, suddenly doubting his wish. He'd had the curse for so long, given to him by Gaea, but now that she's back to rest could it be taken away?

"Where's the stick?" Mars asked, holding out his hand. When Frank fished it gingerly from his pocket and handed it over, the god curled his fingers around it. "Yeah, okay. Do you feel any different now?"

Frank paused and felt patted his shirt down, as if he would feel a physical change. "I don't...think so?"

Huffing a little huff, Mars wordlessly handed the stick to Zeus, who ran his fingers over it and handed it back.

"How about now?" the war god asked.

Frank, who was feeling a cold sensation spreading inside of his chest like he'd just eaten a tub of frozen yogurt too fast, looked up. "...Maybe?"

"Then you don't need this anymore."

To everyone's surprise, the piece of wood in Mars's hand burst into flames and disintegrated within half a second.

Frank let out a yell and stumbled away from the fire, tripping and landing on his back. "Wh-Why did you-?" he gasped, but it took him a few more seconds to realize he was not dead. "...Hey..." He glanced down at himself, his hands flying to his chest as if he half expected himself to burst into flame, too. "I'm alive."

Mars simply rolled his eyes. "Oh please. Like I would set my own son on fire. I may be the god of war, but I'm not stupid."

Aphrodite leaned out of her throne and gave Mars an astonished look. "May I remind you that you have, indeed, set your own children on fire in the past? In fact, you have done so on more than one occasion."

"Oh...Right. Well, I wasn't going to set him on fire…" The war god scratched the back of his head with a sort of cocky grin, his eyes shining like torches towards Frank. "I just thought it would be funny seeing his face."

Even though Frank was obviously a little offended at that, he just bowed his head a little at his father. "Thank you, Lord Mars," he mumbled, and then he shuffled back to the other demigods.

Percy wasn't sure which one he disliked more: Ares or Mars. Either way, Percy tried to ignore the burning tug in his stomach that urged him to punch the god in the throat.

There was a moment of quiet while Mars sat in his throne, looking pleased, before Zeus cleared his throat.

"This leaves you, Hades," the king of the gods said, not bothering to turn around.

"Pluto, actually."

Percy hadn't seen him standing in the back of the room, but when his eyes fixated on the moving shadows, a man came into view. Unlike the Hades he met before, Pluto looked a lot more put-together and collected, with his neat suit and his neat hair and his expressionless face.

"Daughter," Pluto said, shrinking down to human size in front of Hazel. His voice was quiet and gentle, but stifling like a hot breeze through the Underworld.

However reluctant she seemed, Hazel bowed to her father in respect. "Lord Pluto," she said formally, not meeting his eyes.

When she didn't look up, Pluto reached over and touched his daughter's shoulder."Oh, Hazel. You've had such a struggle with your life, and now I admit to you part of that was my fault. I recognize that, but you've grown so much from this all."

The demigod started at the touch from her dad and looked up finally, her eyebrows knit.

"I don't ask you to ever forgive me, but I just want to tell you that and I am so proud of you." Pluto took his hand away, but his gentle tone stayed. "My children have never had a good name because of my own faults, but you, Hazel, give me a little hope. You're not so bad, kid."

From what Percy could see from his view behind Hazel, Hazel was trying not to cry.

"If anyone deserves a second chance," the god of the Underworld said, "it's you. You were given that clean slate to save the world, and we were not disappointed. Your courage and bravery proved that my decisions were the right ones. Now, what do you want, child?"

The brown curls of Hazel's hair shook as she shifted from foot to foot, looking like she was having a difficult time maintaining composure. As she looked from left to right, her friends saw that her eyes were shining red.

"...Everyone…" she said after swallowing several times. "Everyone is getting their wishes and are being congratulated by their godly parent, but I can't stop thinking about Leo. He should be here with us, getting his wish."

On the other side of the half-circle of thrones, Hephaestus lowered his head and his scarred face twisted a little, but he did not say anything, nor did he meet anyone's eyes.

Hazel lifted a shoulder in a sorrowful half-shrug. "He saved me. He saved all of us. I just…" She hiccuped and rubbed her face with both hands. "I wish he was here, Dad. Is there any way you can get him back to us?"

Pluto looked surprised at the request. He leaned up against the side of the nearest throne, which happened to belong to a sneering Hera. The edges of him blurred into the shadow as he thought.

"I hate to break it to you, daughter," the god said finally, "but as the god of the Underworld, I have to respect that the Fates have a plan for everyone. The balance has already been upset. Things are to be left as they are."

A strangled sound squeezed from Hazel's mouth, and it seemed like the temperature dropped several degrees.

Annabeth's hand clamped tighter around Percy's and she mumbled something inaudible.

"While the Doors of Death were open," Pluto continued, strolling around Hera's throne, "the dead were able to come back to the living, but now that the world is restored, the laws of the Underworld apply once more; those dead cannot be revived. Well, I say 'cannot,' but I mean I will not. Usually." He squinted to the back of the room, continuing to look thoughtful.

"Lord Pluto, if I may…" Frank sheepishly wormed his way beside Hazel, kneeling awkwardly next to her with a sort of a helpless glance towards the Roman god of the Underworld. "Isn't there something-anything-you can do to save him…? There must be something."

The god simply shook his head. "I apologize."

"But…" Hazel started shaking even more. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. "Leo deserves to be here!" she cried, pressing her palms to her eyes. "It's my fault he died! Please." Her legs buckled visibly and she dropped onto a weak knee. "Please, Dad-Lord Pluto. Please."

"Easy, child." Pluto put his hand on the demigod's head. "I wasn't quite finished. Yes, I won't bring anyone back from the dead for you, but fortunately this is not the case with your friend."

The teens standing before the gods all furrowed their brows.

"I'm not going to make a crazy-Romans joke," Percy told Annabeth, keeping his voice quiet, "but I think Pluto missed a memo somewhere."

Annabeth punched him in the stomach. Okay. So humor wasn't a good way to kill the sadness inside of him.

"I have ears, demigod," Pluto turned his eyes to Percy.

The second their eyes locked Percy felt his ears pop and for a second, he felt like his insides were freezer-burned and his vision went blank. It was over as soon as it started, but he got the message the god was sending him.

"I'm good," Percy wheezed, feeling his chest with both hands to make sure there wasn't a gaping hole in it.

Pluto, who acted like nothing happened, crossed his arms nonchalantly. "It's hard to bring back someone who is not dead."

Olympus, in one simultaneous moment, grew eerily quiet. The demigods exchanged glances of bewilderment, each of them silently asking the other what Pluto meant.

Hazel was the first one to speak after the incredibly silence.

"Lord Pluto," she choked, looking up with her uncertain golden eyes. "We saw it happen. He sacrificed himself so I could be saved. He got a javelin through the chest. He died." Those two words were sobbed.

"Wait." When Percy spoke, every single pair of eyes in the room fell on him. There was something in the back of his mind, nagging at his memory.

Unwillingly, he thought back to when Leo died, the crushing, helpless feeling. In his memory there was a flash of gold light that was too familiar.

Percy glanced briefly over at Annabeth before clearing his throat hesitantly. Despite himself, there was a sliver of hope inside of him. "You...you saved him...didn't you? Right before…he actually died. Just like you did with my mother."

Annabeth's eyebrows shot upwards, because she knew the story of when Hades stole Sally Jackson when they were 12.

"Let me get this straight," Jason began, a suddenly agitated expression darkening his normally assembled features, "You've had Leo this whole time? And you just weren't going to say anything?! You were going to let us continue to suffer in the...in the grief of losing our friend, and you weren't going to say anything?"

Pluto calmly turned his head in the other direction to look at Jason, but didn't seem to attack him in the way he attacked Percy. For a moment, his form flickered and he was in a set of dark robes and held a golden helm under his arm. When he flickered back, the god smiled without humor. "What is that saying you mortals like? We were...saving the best for last."

"'Saving the best for last…?' You were saving the best for…" Jason uttered an almost disgusted growl, his muscles tensing like a beast about to pounce. From they way he was glaring at Pluto, he looked like he was about five seconds away from rushing the god and punching him in the mouth. "Leo was my best friend," he said, barely controlling his rage. "Unless you actually mean what you're saying, I think Hazel should finish and we should leave.

"Pluto." In the center of the room, the king of the gods stood up and let out a sigh that caused thunder to rumble outside. "Stop antagonizing them. It's cruel."

"Sorry," Pluto laughed, but it was not an entirely friendly laugh. He snapped his fingers and the shadows between the two main thrones thickened. From the thickened shadows a form ruptured, taking substance within seconds and falling to the floor of the throne room.

Everyone held their breaths, and held one another.

"Dudes," the form coughed, standing up and holding the wrap of clean-looking bandages around his chest. "I think that burger I ate was bad."

"Leo!" Hazel launched herself at Leo and threw her arms around him. Piper wasn't a second behind her friend, gathering the both of them in her arms.

"I can't believe it-You're okay!" Piper gave him a quick peck on the cheek and snuggled the elvish looking demigod in her arms, along with Hazel.

The son of Hephaestus grinned his characteristic mischievous smile and wrapped his arms around his friends, his mop of hair sticking out in so many directions it was practically the world's messiest afro. "Uh, yeah. I'm better than okay; I'm Leo Valdez! Hel-llloo! Please don't tell me you forgot about your outrageously handsome and highly sought after Leo!"

"Oh my gods, just shut up and let me hug you."

Jason, who was left standing a little ways away, watched with disbelieving eyes at the scene before him. All traces of anger was now gone from him, and instead was replaced with an overwhelming amount of happiness. He watched Piper, Hazel, and Leo for a couple of moments, like he was unable to force his muscles to move towards his friend they all thought had been dead.

"Oh, come on." Annabeth laughed through her tears and yanked Percy forwards.

Percy, numb with shock and elation, stumbled after Annabeth, who sucked Jason into the group hug the second she was close enough.

The seven demigods were together again, a fleshy mass of tears and laughter in a pile on the floor of the throne room.

Percy's heart burned like feeling being restored in a limb that'd been asleep for an hour. He wasn't a big cryer, but his face was as wet as everyone else's, and words hiccuped by his friends vibrated his stomach painfully.

"Leo," they kept saying.

"You're alive."

"We thought you were dead, we saw you die."

"Leo, we missed you."

"I'm sorry I called you cockroach that night in Camp. I didn't mean it."

"I never thought I'd miss your machine-oil-and-body-odor smell."

"It is a really weird smell."

"Dude, I'm sorry I avoided you so much."

"You saved us all. You're even almost as smart as Annabeth."

"Sorry we already burned your shroud, bro."

Percy'd thought Leo was dead, and he thought it was going to haunt him for the rest of his short life. However, there Leo was, flexing his muscles and pretending not to cry along in the center of their friends.

None of them were ready to let go when an impatiently cleared throat interrupted their welcome-back dogpile.

"Hazel," Pluto said, folding his hands in front of him.

The icy voice stopped all the revelries and made the demigods look up at the god of the Underworld. Instantly, the demigods broke away from their group hug and snapped toward the gods in full attention. Nothing like the warm voice of the Hades/Pluto to interrupt a welcoming party.

"Y-Yes…?" Hazel meekly answered her father, pulling away farther from the group to stand in front of Pluto. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just…" She cleared her throat and gently bowed her head, "Thank you, Lord Pluto."

"Oh?" Pluto glanced about the crowd with an obvious disinterest, as though he was merely looking at some ants crawling about in the grass. "For what, Hazel? You have yet to tell me your wish."

"...Pardon me, Lord Pluto, but...I mean, all I wanted was for Leo to come back, and now he's here, so...I don't really have anything I want to wish for." She suddenly straightened her posture. "Unless...Unless if you're planning on sending me back to the Underworld…"

The god simply waved his hand dismissively at Hazel, gently shaking his broad head at her. "I have no idea what you are speaking of, daughter. Tell me your wish and that will be that." He raised his eyebrows in a musing tone. "There is nothing you desire? Absolutely nothing? Perhaps it is because of my age, but I was sure you had a curse."

A goddess seated next to Apollo sniffed disapprovingly. "Hades, I hate to say this, but today you're being a real-"

"Language, Artemis," Pluto rolled his eyes, "and it's Pluto, thank you. Maybe you are right, though. I find after such a long time with such an awful headache I'm enjoying being myself again."

"I wasn't going to use foul language," Artemis sniffed again, sinking a little into her seat in upset. "All I am saying is that these seven demigods saved the world. You should stop being so hostile towards them like this."

"I did not mean to upset you, daughter," Pluto amended.

"Fine," replied Hazel, looking torn between being angry at her father and behind happy Leo was back. "You can remove my curse. Please."

"Already done, child. I apologize for all of the grief it's caused you in your lifetimes." The edges of the god began to blur as he stepped backwards. "And Hazel?"

Chewing on her lip, Hazel met her dad's eyes just one last time.

"Your mother would have been very proud of you as well." With that and a sad smile, Pluto melted into the darkness and vanished.

When her father was gone, Hazel did her own "melting away into the shadows" and went back to the pile of her friends.

Leo was stuck in a loving neck-hug from Piper, who was under Jason's arm, and Percy and Annabeth were snuggling both each other and Piper at the same time. When Hazel joined again, Frank sucked her into the mass and put his arms around both her and Annabeth. They felt like a family again, and despite Leo cracking jokes in the silence and asking if they gave away any of his stuff while he was gone.

For a moment, the seven friends were just that, and it was wonderful.

After several minutes of allowing their children to wallow in their sty of happiness, the gods finally spoke again.

"Yes, the world is back to being wonderful," Dionysus said with much sarcasm, "but if you seven would kindly stop canoodling at our feet, we can finish with this deal and finally get onto the part of the night that I'm looking forwards to?"

Reluctantly, the demigods stood and regained their formal postures, straightening their rumpled cotton outfits. Percy couldn't help but stare at Annabeth through the corner of his eye, because now that his spirit was lightened incredibly by Leo's return, everything is that much more beautiful. Annabeth in her long, white gown was no exception at all.

Annabeth did her best to ignore her boyfriend's stares, but her face was getting a little pink. "Should we not ask," she said, putting her free hand on a hip, "what the part of the night you're looking forwards to is?"

Mr. D leaned closer to her in his throne, giving her a look like she just asked to smell his shoe. "I'm the god of parties, Annabelle."

"Annabeth."

"Gesundheit. We invited both your camps for a shindig later. Hiphip-hooray, and all that junk. There'll be fine wine, of course," Dionysus shifted in his chair to peer hopefully at Zeus, who rolled his eyes, "and dancing and snacks and all those things you mortals like. It'll be great. I'll be drunk."

When Zeus opened his mouth to say something, the other god cut him off.

"I know, I know," Mr. D said. "The kids can't drink the wine. We'll bring, I don't know, juice boxes or something. A punch fountain."

"A punch fountain that actually has chocolate milk instead of punch?" Hermes offered, crossing his legs and looking thoughtful. "And tiny peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches."

"Oh! Oh! That reminds me of a haiku I once wrote about chocolate milk," Apollo said brightly. "Just now, actually:

Oh chocolate milk,

In a punch fountain instead

of punch. Yummy yum."

"I think someone spiked your chocolate milk," Poseidon mumbled.

Mars frowned. "I think I'm allergic to milk. Is that possible?"

Athena rolled her eyes, "I didn't think it was possible for you to be so stupid, but here we are…"

"I think we should encourage our children to indulge in more healthy snacks...like gluten free crackers and dry cereal." Demeter beamed with giddy clap of her hands. "We can have a health party!"

"Hooray." Hypnos woke up very briefly from his nap. "I vote cheese whiz and crazy sprinkles." His eyes closed and he started snoring again.

"Do you know how awful cheese whiz is for your complexion?" Aphrodite, who was busy fixing her lipstick in a hand mirror, snuck her nose up.

"Now, now." Zeus let out a long sigh. In Percy's opinion, the guy looked like he could use an aspirin. "I know we all haven't been in a room together in quite some time, but let's not get so riled up. At any rate." The king of the gods turned his gaze down upon Percy and Annabeth. "We do not usually do this, but until Hermes sorts out the means of the camps getting here, you seven will have to just wait here in the halls before the party starts. There'll be guards, no worries." He narrowed an eye. "But no snooping, or I'll have to disintegrate you."

The demigods laughed nervously.

The snap of a shutting hand mirror drew everyone's attention to Aphrodite, who was tousling her curls. "Of course, I'll deal with your outfits. You simply cannot go to a party of this caliber in simple cotton."

"Gods," mumbled Piper, but nobody reacted.

"So until the party-" Zeus stood, "please try not to destroy anything, okay? Dismissed."

The gods and goddesses, obviously relieved at being released, then got up and left the throne room, talking-or in some cases, arguing-amongst themselves.

Fifteen minutes later, Percy and Annabeth found themselves on a balcony overlooking the Olympian gardens. The Muses and the Charites danced around fountains, playing pipes and lyres while birds fluttered merrily around them in the warmth of the garden. The voices of the nine Muses could be heard, sweet and melodious, even on the balcony above them.

"So," started Annabeth, leaning on the railing with her elbows. "I guess this is the end of another Great Prophecy."

Percy laughed. "I'm half expecting to wake up tomorrow morning to Chiron telling me there's another Great Prophecy and we need to go out and save the world again."

"If that happens, I quit."

He looked over at her curiously. "Really?"

"Of course not." Picking at her thumbnail, Annabeth's expression grew familiarly distracted and her eyebrows creased subconsciously. "It's funny. I feel...kind of disappointed."

Percy leaned in closer to his girlfriend and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, sighing in content when leaned back into him. "About what?"

"I don't know, Percy. All our lives, we've been fighting to protect the world and those who couldn't protect themselves. Whether it was a vengeful Titan or the Earth herself, there was alway a threat that loomed in the distance. Now... Well, we've cleared the horizon. So what do we do now? The world doesn't need us anymore, Percy. Could we live happy lives knowing that after everything that we've done, we'll just be normal people? We're not entirely needed anymore, are we?"

"I don't think we should think like that," Percy replied almost immediately, reaching to flick Annabeth's head affectionately. "I need you. Isn't that enough? Sure, the world may not need saving for another few months, but until then, we get to be just us."

The corners of Annabeth's mouth lifted. "It's about time," she said, looking over at her boyfriend with a look he found way too irresistible. "We deserve time to just be ourselves. Those few months last fall were the best in my life. I want that again."

"So do I. Picnics, walks in Paris, staying up late in our pajamas watching Netflix, visits to boring art museums..."

Annabeth elbowed him, but she was laughing.

"Alright, I'm kidding. Museums are great, as long as I'm there with you. Normal isn't a bad thing, either, and besides," Percy looked down at the Muses and Charites spinning on their toes, braided hair flying behind them and flowers blooming under their feet, "things probably won't be that normal. We are demigods, and not just any demigods, mind you. "

"Well." Annabeth put her arm around Percy's waist and kissed his cheek. "For once in my life, I think I'm actually happy about that." She blinked, her stormy grey eyes widening a bit in realization. "Percy...When we leave this party, we have a life in Camp Jupiter waiting for us. A future. Whenever we want, we can just...go there. That's what you've always wanted, isn't it?"

"Annabeth, the only thing I've ever wanted is to live, and spend that life with you every second of it. That sounds outrageously cheesy, but there's no other way to put it. I want to grow old with you."

She looked up, her cheeks red and her eyes shining. "Oh, thanks. You know, I've cried enough today, Perce."

"Sorr-"

"Don't apologize, stupid." Annabeth looked back out over the garden. "I love you."

It felt like a balloon was being filled in his chest, a swelling so full and bright Percy found himself turning Annabeth's head towards his and kissing her. His hand traced the line of her jawbone and snuck around her neck to cradle her head. He tried to put all that was in his heart into that kiss: love, pride, appreciation, friendship.

"Wait, I forgot to say 'I love you, too,'" Percy laughed against Annabeth's mouth, feeling the tickle of her eyelashes on his cheek.

When Annabeth started laughing, too, they gave up trying to kiss and just wrapped their arms around each other, giggling into one another's hair. It was as though the weight of the whole quest was lifting from their chests as they laughed, as if the more they laughed the better they felt. The war was over, Leo was back, and they were together again.

"Gods, Perce," Annabeth said finally, drawing back in her boyfriend's arms. "This is ridiculous. We're kissing on a balcony in an ancient Grecian city a thousand feet above New York City, waiting to join the gods of Olympus for a giant party put on for us after we sent the goddess of the Earth to sleep. "

"It's been a good day." Percy kissed her one more time before they lowered their arms and leaned against the railing again. "You know, we're alright, Wise Girl."

As they stood there at the balcony together, the Muses sang of new beginnings. A cloud on the edge of the garden shifted, displaying the city glowing in the dusk.

"Yeah, we are, Seaweed Brain. Yeah, we are."