Guest (February 9th, 2015): We have gathered here today to remember the great fanfiction writer ForTheGloryOfSparta, who must have died in an accident or something because they HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER. WHAT THE HECK.

Guest (June 23rd, 2014): Friggin Update

The Social Out Cast (September 18th, 2104): The last time you Updated this was when I turned 13 and I am now 14 can you please update?

Yes, the last time I updated this story was in 2013. It is now 2015. I swear I didn't mean for that to happen. Every single time I saw reviews like the ones above, I always wanted to come and put some closure on this story. I never did though. I kept putting it off. I told myself I didn't have time, I told myself that I didn't have any ideas, I told myself I'd do it later. I never did it.

I am doing it today. I am giving it an ending. I wrote this kind of quickly and I hardly read through it, but I was worried that if I left it I would never come back to it. So I am just going to post what I have.

If you followed this way back when I started this, I hope you enjoy this final installment all these years later.

Happy reading!

~ForTheGloryOfSparta

After months and months of planning, it was hard to believe that the day was here. Hayley stood before the ornate mirror in the dressing room, and tried to look at herself critically. It was a little difficult to be critical, though, when she hardly even recognized the reflection as her own. A elegant twist of thick brown hair weighed heavily on her head, and her bright blue eyes were defined with flawless lines. Her pale skin was dusted with a soft shimmering powder that made it shimmer like mother of pearl. The white dress fit perfectly. She looked…

"Beautiful." Hayley lifted her eyes to look at her mother through the mirror. Sally stood a little bit behind her in her stunning blue dress. A light smile adorned her lips, but her eyes brimmed with repressed nostalgia. "There is no one more radiant than a bride on her wedding day."

Hayley smiled back at her mom. Sally helped her with some final touches before the ceremony began, but it hardly mattered to her once she heard her queue. As soon as she stepped into the grand hall and saw her soon-to-be husband at the end of the isle, she couldn't care less how she looked. She only cared about him. Aaron caught her eye from the end of the isle and all she could think was that he was as luminous as the sun; It was only fitting being a son of the god Apollo.

The wedding ceremony passed in a blur. Before she knew it, the whole party, which was quiet large given that she had invited both mortal and godly pieces of her family and friends, had moved into the reception hall. There was food and dancing and lots of hugging, and, of course speeches. About half way through dinner, after the appetizers had been cleared and the main course had been served, her parents stood up and initiated the ordeal.

Her maid of honor and bridesmaids went first. The group was composed of a few of her friends from college and her new husband's sisters. There were quiet a few of them given that the Apollo cabin at camp half-blood was one of the largest. They were a riot, teasing both Hayley and Aaron relentlessly. Aaron's grooms men followed with a powerpoint presentation named, "10 Things Hayley Should Know About Having Aaron as a Husband," which consisted mostly of thinly veiled references to being a demigod— mostly humorous because the mortals present were endlessly confused— and Aaron's most embarrassing moments

After heartfelt speeches from Hayley's parents and Aaron's mother, Percy stood up. He made his way to the podium at the front of the hall, which was actually a fair distance away from where Aaron and Hayley sat at their table. But when Percy's eyes found hers, she could almost forget about all the people and space between them. He was speaking directly to her.

"One might say that I was a troubled kid," Percy started. There was a small titter of laughter around the room; anyone who knew him when he was a kid, knew it was irrefutable. If anything, it was an understatement. "The year I was seventeen was particularly difficult. I was away from home for a little while, and I was out of contact for the duration of my time away. You can imagine my surprise, then, when I came back and there was a brand new tiny human in the house." More laughter.

"Coming back," he continued, "might have been harder than being away." There was a polite but tense silence. The official story was that he had been kidnapped. Sally and Paul hoped that and 'official story' wouldn't be necessary, but when people started asking questions, they had to come up with something. All the demigods present knew that the case had actually been much worse. "But Hayley, you were there and you were so much bright energy and so much potential for good. And that was only the beginning. My dear little sister, you have taught me so much, and you still are. For example, just today I learned that a seventeen year age gap between you and your little sister will make you feel old beyond belief when you get to her wedding. I got married when you were eight years old! Can you believe that! You were my flower girl!"

A picture was projected onto the white wall behind him. It was her at the age of eight getting ready for Percy and Annabeth's wedding. She was already in her dress, and she had her basket of flower petals sitting next to her on a vanity counter while she stared herself down in the mirror across the counter. She had stolen her mother's lipstick and had a thick line of red running off her lip and across her cheek. Annabeth stood at the edge of the frame, a make-up removal wipe held in hand. The guests all laughed while Aaron nudged her with his elbow, mouthing an affectionate and slightly mocking "aw" at her. She stuck her tongue out at him before returning attention to her brother.

"And now I am here and you are getting married and, at the age of twenty five, you are closer in age to my sixteen year old daughter than you are to me." It was true. Percy and Annabeth's oldest child Charlie was only nine years younger than her. "But it's okay because the age gap had some advantages, too. At least I had some practice with kids before I had my own." More pictures came up behind him. Seventeen year old Percy carrying an infant Hayley around on his hip while making a sandwich in the kitchen of their old apartment. Percy handing a screaming Hayley off to Annabeth. Twenty one year old Percy teaching four year old Hayley how to swim.

"And of course there is also the advantage of knowing the guy you end up marrying since he was a kid, too." A picture of a twenty five year Percy and nine year old Aaron in front of the big house at camp. Aaron had come to camp that year for the first time, and, when he showed a deep interest and talent for sword fighting, Percy had become a mentor for him. Percy had known him long before Hayley, actually. Her brother had invited Aaron over for dinner one evening a couple of years later, and it was only then that Aaron and Hayley became friends. "And while I wish you would have chosen someone who maybe wasn't so much of a trouble maker, I think this kid might suffice."

"You have grown up, Hayley. And I hope you will continue to grow for the rest of your life. Throughout your whole life, you have shocked me again and again with your kindness and your wisdom and your fortitude. You have handled every every challenge and every surprise life has thrown at you with shrewd grace. You are patient and funny. There is so much goodness in you." As he spoke, Hayley's mind pulled up images, memories; Percy explaining his godly heritage to her when she was fourteen and old enough to keep a secret, being thirteen and having her first babysitting job taking care of her youngest nephew who was only a newborn at the time, deciding that she could be the link between the camp and the mortal families because she has had to deal with it herself. She has come a long way, and, in that moment, it hit her that she never would have gotten there without Percy. He stood up there and gave his speech about all she has taught her, but, in reality, she owes him just as much— if not more.

"And while I am absolutely certain you could continue to grow on your own, I am so happy that you have someone to do it with you. I wish the best of luck to both of you. You have the whole world ahead of you." Percy finished his seat and made his way back to their table. Before he could sit down, Hayley surged to her feet and engulfed him in a crushing embrace.

"Thank you so much," she said.

He smiled crookedly at her, "No, thank you. You saved me."

Without being able to remember the time herself, Percy knew that Hayley would never be able to fully comprehend how true that was. He came back from the Giant War beaten and broken. Though the gods had won, he had been defeated. Left alone, he would have collapsed into the husk of himself. The life would have drained out of him, and without him, the same would have happened to the people around him. But new life was a light in the darkness, a breath of air in his collapsing lungs. So much potential for greatness and a reason to live. To build something new. Something better.

The End