Okay, this is another that I know a lot of hopes are riding on, so I hope this lives up to them.

...

Two days later, after the celebrations ended and the Romans started packing up to go, Annabeth and Percy hitched a ride with Argus into town.

Even after all these months, Percy knew where to go. Annabeth held his hand as they strolled down the sidewalk. She limped slightly; her jeans rubbed uncomfortably against the bandages on her right leg. After the battle, she'd gone to have her wounds healed, but they'd been too deep and left for too long (oh, and contaminated with dirt and monster dust) to be healed quickly. They were going to scar, but Annabeth was far past caring about her physical scars. It was the mental and emotional ones that ran deeper.

Leo hadn't been seen in the last few days, and they'd pretty much accepted that he wouldn't be. It was . . . it was weird. When they'd first met, he'd annoyed Annabeth to no end . . . but at the same time, his stupid sense of humor and easy impertinence had reminded her a little bit of Percy. Because of that, she'd always had a little soft spot for him, no matter how irritating he was.

Not only that, she and Leo had made a great team – often working together through some sort of strange mutual understanding. They hadn't talked all that often – no deep, revealing conversations – but somehow that easy silence and the hum of machines and ideas had formed a bond between them that neither of them could really explain.

And somehow – somehow, though she'd known there would be casualties before the war ended, she'd never really imagined that it would be Leo.

But Hazel and Frank had said that it was his plan. And it fit with what Nike had said – that he'd always been planning to sacrifice himself. And Nico and Hazel had pretty much confirmed that he – that he wasn't coming back.

The last few days had been so busy that Annabeth hadn't had time to rest, really – hadn't had time to think about what had changed and what would be different now. The last two nights she hadn't slept in her cabin – the first night she'd stayed up so late talking and catching up with Rachel that she'd crashed in the cave, sharing Rachel's queen-sized bed. The second night she, Piper, and Reyna had slept in the Romans' camp, really getting to know one another the way they hadn't had the chance to before.

Now, she steeled herself to sleep in the Athena cabin, alone in a bed with nothing but dreams to keep her company. On the Argo II she'd been able to stave off nightmares by staying awake, sitting at her desk and either designing buildings or mapping out battle plans. In the Athena cabin, she would no longer be alone, and Percy would no longer be just down the hall. Annabeth wasn't sure what she would do about sleeping – or not, as the case may be.

Despite – or because of – everything that had happened, she was glad it was over. At least, she hoped it was. The day before, Reyna and Frank had approached her and asked her to be an official advisor and strategist for New Rome. They set up a day and time for a weekly Iris-message meeting – hopefully now that the split-personality disorder was over and the gods were calm, Iris-messages would be working.

Next to her, Percy froze, jerking her out of her thoughts. She looked up – the destination was almost as familiar to her as it was to him.

The apartment building where Sally Jackson and Paul Blofis lived.

Percy twisted his hands in his shirt. It was blue, Annabeth noticed – Percy was obviously hoping for the comfort that blue always provided him.

"Why so nervous, Seaweed Brain?" she asked. "She's going to be overjoyed to see you."

"I – I know." Percy's voice was thick with sadness and guilt. "But I – I didn't see her for months. I didn't even – I haven't even heard her voice in so long. I don't" –

"It'll be fine," Annabeth promised him. She squeezed his hand reassuringly, and reached out to hit the buzzer.

When Sally opened the door, her mouth dropped open.

She stared from one to the other for a moment, and Annabeth wondered exactly what she was seeing. She wondered if Sally was noticing every new scar on their bodies, every change in their features. She wondered if Sally could see the difference in their eyes, knew what they had experienced.

Probably Sally Jackson was amazing enough to do that.

"Percy" – she choked out – and then he was in her arms.

Annabeth stood to the side, a little uncomfortable but mostly incredibly happy. She was so relieved that she'd been able to do this for Sally – that she'd been able to bring her son back to her.

They were both crying, and neither of them cared. Sally sobbed openly; Percy's head was buried in his mother's neck, but his shoulders were shaking.

"What - ?"

Annabeth turned towards the voice; Paul Blofis had come shuffling out of the bedroom, still in a bathrobe and slippers. Their eyes locked. "Annabeth?" he asked. "And" –

Then he seemed to understand. He let out a little gasp, and Percy looked up. He and Paul locked eyes.

And then Paul was in the huddle, too, and the three of them were reunited. Seeing them there together – Annabeth couldn't stop smiling.

Then Sally's arm snaked out and pulled Annabeth in, and they were all locked in an eight-armed embrace. Annabeth had no idea where her arms even were, but she didn't care. She just held on.

"Mom" – Percy pulled back. His eyes were red; his voice cracked. "Mom, I love you. I missed you so much."

"Percy" – She kissed the top of his head. "Percy, my little boy – I love you, too. I missed you – I was going crazy with worry! I got your letters – and your phone message – but they didn't say enough. Tel me what happened. What did you do? Where all did you go?"

Annabeth locked eyes with Percy. A message passed between them. Did you tell her about Tartarus in your letters?

He shook his head.

She raised her eyebrows at him. You have to. We have to.

He inclined his head. Okay.

She widened her eyes, indicating that she would speak first. He nodded in agreement.

"Sally," she said, "I – we have to tell you something."

Sally snapped her head around to look at Annabeth. Her eyes were soft. "Okay," she said. "How about we go into the living room, and sit down. I'll see if we have anything to eat."

She bustled into the kitchen, wiping her eyes as she went. Paul ushered Annabeth and Percy into the other room. They sat on the couch; Paul sank into his armchair.

Annabeth noticed that Percy's eyes were scanning the area, taking in his home. His lip trembled; she laced her fingers through his and squeezed.

"Percy" – Paul's voice was husky; he cleared his throat and started again. "Percy, you have no idea how glad we are to see you again. Your mom was going out of her mind the whole time you were gone."

Percy winced. "I know, Paul, I'm sorry. Believe me, it wasn't my choice. Please tell Mom she's welcome to join the People-Who-Want-to-Yell-at-Hera Club."

Annabeth raised their joined hands into the air. "I'm the president," she volunteered, and Paul laughed.

"Annabeth, you, too," he said. "It's good to see you here, too – safe and sound."

"Thanks." Annabeth's cheeks warmed up. Sometimes she really didn't know what to do with herself when people said things like that to her.

Sally came into the room with a pot of hot chocolate and some mugs. Her eyes were puffier than they had been before, but happier than Annabeth had seen them in a long time. She squeezed onto the couch beside Percy, wrapping her arm around him and holding him close. "So tell us," she said. "Where exactly did you go?"

So Percy told her about waking up at the Wolf House with Lupa, and then journeying to Camp Jupiter, chased by gorgons. He told her about his quest with Frank and Hazel, and going to Alaska to fight a giant. He told about the reunion with the others, and their journey to Rome.

Then Annabeth picked up the story. She felt herself tensing, because she knew she was about to explain to Percy's mother how she had dragged him into Tartarus. Guilt started to swell up inside her, and she couldn't meet Sally's eyes.

"Sally," she said, "you remember the last time I came to visit you before we left?"

"Of course."

Annabeth couldn't tear her eyes away from her lap. "So on my way back, at the subway station, I ran into my mom. But she wasn't my mom. It was Minerva. And she was . . . she was acting strangely."

She recounted the whole disturbing conversation, all the information about the Mark of Athena, and the solo quest she'd been asked to complete. She talked about finding the map, figuring out she had to rescue the Athena Parthenos, traveling beneath the dark Roman caverns, pursued by spiders –

Her voice broke off. She swallowed, and kept studying her knees.

"It was Arachne, wasn't it?" asked Sally, her voice soft.

Annabeth gulped back a sob. "Yeah. And I tricked her – I trapped her, and I was going to wait until the others came and rescued the statue. But I – but I" –

Percy squeezed her hand. He'd promised her he didn't blame her, but she couldn't help blaming herself.

"I – I taunted her. I told her I'd outsmarted her, told her I was going to rescue the statue. I did the same thing Odysseus did, that caused him to be lost at sea. And I – I" –

"What happened, Annabeth?"

"Next to where we were, there was a pit." Annabeth choked on the next words. "A pit that led to Tartarus. And I – Arachne attacked me with silk, and even though she was trapped, she could have killed me, but then – then the others showed up, and she fell into Tartarus, and she – and she – she'd attached some silk to my ankle, and I didn't realize it, and she – and she" –

Her voice died. How could she tell Sally this?

The silence expanded; she finally had no choice but to finish. "She dragged me down with her."

Before she could explain what Percy had done, Sally had placed her fingers on her chin and tilted her face up. Her eyes were incredibly kind, and very sad. "Percy went in after you, didn't he?" she said.

"Yes!" Annabeth burst out. "He did! And I'm so sorry, Sally, I'm so sorry I dragged your son into Tartarus, it's my fault, all my stupid pride" –

"Hang on," interrupted Percy. "Didn't we go over this already? Didn't I already tell you it wasn't your fault?"

But Annabeth looked at Sally, waiting. Sally's face crumpled again, tears beginning to seep from the corners of her eyes.

Then she leaned across the couch and gathered them both into her arms. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I'm so, so sorry."

"You're not . . . mad at me?" Annabeth tried to wrap her head around that.

"Of course not!" Sally kissed her forehead. "Of course you taunted Arachne. I would have, too, if anyone had put me through something like what you did. And Percy . . ." She turned to smile at him. "Percy did just what any true hero would do. I've taught him well."

Annabeth started to cry in earnest now, and soon they were all wrapped in another many-armed hug, which Paul got up from his chair to join. When they broke apart, Paul squeezed onto the couch with them so that they were all close. Annabeth felt warmth radiating through her.

They didn't talk too much about Tartarus. Only to tell them about Bob and Damasen, and keep their memories alive, as they had promised. They moved on to escaping, moving on, defeating the giants, fighting Gaea on Half-Blood Hill –

"And now we're here," finished Percy. "Hopefully for good this time."

"Oh, it's for good," promised Annabeth. "You're never getting away from me again, Seaweed Brain." She glanced around at Sally and Paul. "From us. If Hera kidnaps you again, I will personally march up to Olympus and punch her in the face."

Thunder rumbled. Annabeth glared at the sky. She'd had enough of the gods' interference and entitlement. And they would not dare blast her after everything she'd done for them. "Bring it on, Hera. I don't care anymore."

Sally set her hand on Annabeth's. "It's okay," she said. "You're back, and it's all going to be okay."

...

They spent the morning with Sally and Paul, but they couldn't stay too long. They had to go back to camp, to say goodbye to the Romans and Ella and Tyson. And Rachel. Annabeth and Percy had no idea how she'd managed to get around her dad on that one, but when they'd asked her, she'd just winked and said, "I have my ways."

Annabeth wasn't sure she really wanted to know what those "ways" were.

Back at Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth stuck to Percy's side. Now that they were together, without any missions, fear temples or annoying goddesses to get in the way, she didn't want to split up again.

"What are we going to do this next year?" wondered Percy, as they watched the Romans' SUVs begin to speed away. "Are you going back to San Francisco?"

Annabeth chewed her lip. She hadn't seen her father in a long time – she should at least go see him and tell him that she was okay. But at the same time . . . she knew Percy wouldn't want to leave his mother, and she had no desire to live in San Francisco – at least not for now. Camp Half-Blood was where she belonged.

"I think I'll stay here," she decided. "I've gone to schools in New York before; I can do it again. I mean, I've been thrown around in schools so much that senior year shouldn't matter."

"And then?" Percy looked hopeful. She knew what he was waiting for.

"Well," she said, "I always did plan to go to college."

"College?" Percy looked a little blindsided. Clearly she was going to have to spell it out for him.

"You did say there was one in New Rome, right?"

"Wait. Did you just - ?" A slow grin spread across Percy's face, and then he let out a yell that the Romans could probably still hear, even from however far away they already were.

"Calm down, Seaweed Brain!" She smacked him lightly, but she felt the same way. Never separated again. Her heart was singing.

Then, across the commons, a figure made its way toward them. Nico di Angelo.

"Hey, man," said Percy, smiling at him. "Annabeth just told me some good news." He turned to smile at her. "Sorry if I got a little loud."

Annabeth studied Nico. He seemed . . . happier, somehow. Not totally, maybe, but a little bit less restless. As though something in him had been calmed down. "We're going to spend our senior year together, here in New York," she explained. "And after graduation" –

Percy cut her off. "College in New Rome!" His smile grew bigger, if at all possible. "Four years with no monsters to fight, no battles, no stupid prophecies. Just me and Annabeth, getting our degrees, hanging out at cafés, enjoying California" –

He had obviously given this a lot of thought. Annabeth's insides suddenly felt like roasted marshmallows. "And after that . . ." She pressed her lips to his cheek. "Well, Reyna and Frank said we could live in New Rome as long as we like."

She wasn't so sure about that just yet, but she could always spend her summers at Camp Half-Blood. And it might be nice to be near her father. Besides, who knew what might happen between now and then?

"That's great." Nico seemed almost surprised at his words. "I'm staying here, too, at Camp Half-Blood."

"Awesome!" Annabeth could practically feel Percy's relief. She knew he had been worried about Nico – so had she. But now, maybe, they could spend some time getting to know him better. Really getting to know him.

"So, since we're going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp," Nico hesitated, and then plowed on, "I think I should clear the air."

Annabeth held her breath. Something was coming. She could sense – maybe she'd started learning from Piper after all – she knew that Nico was about to tell them whatever it was that he hadn't been saying.

"For a long time, I had a crush on you." Nico's eyes were focused right on Percy. "I just wanted you to know."

The shock hit Annabeth like cold water. Percy. Nico . . . had had a crush on Percy. So that meant . . .

Oh.

Suddenly, everything began to fall into place. The pieces crashed together, and the whole thing finally made sense.

Clearly, Percy wasn't feeling the same understanding. "You" –

"Yeah." Nico didn't seem thrown off. "You're a great person. But I'm over that. I'm happy for you guys."

Annabeth kept her eyes on Nico's, and she could see that he was telling the truth. For some reason, instead of being angry, or possessive, she felt relieved.

Now that she knew, she understood Nico di Angelo better than she ever had before. And she could empathize. Who wouldn't have a crush on Percy, after all?

"You . . . so you mean . . ."

Percy apparently wasn't as far along as she was.

"Right."

Annabeth felt a smile creep onto her face. If Nico was able to admit it, then he was telling the truth. He had moved on from whatever he had felt for Percy – and was ready to get to know them as true friends.

Percy was still floundering. "Wait, so you mean" –

"Right. But it's cool. We're cool. I mean, I see now . . . you're cute, but you're not my type."

At that, Annabeth almost started laughing. She got the feeling that getting to know Nico di Angelo was going to be fun.

"I'm not your type." Percy's face was a mixture of confused, shocked, and - was he offended? "Wait. So" –

Nico wasn't interested in waiting. "See you around, Percy," he said. "Annabeth." He turned to her, and their eyes met. She felt an understanding pass between them, and her smile widened.

She held up her hand, wanting to make sure Nico understood that she didn't begrudge him at all. That, in fact, she was excited to get to know him.

He seemed to understand. He slapped her hand in a high five, giving her a tiny smile in return.

Then he turned and walked away, and Percy turned to Annabeth.

"So, you mean, Nico" –

"Yes, Seaweed Brain." She rolled her eyes, but pulled him in for a kiss.

When they broke apart, his eyes focused on her face. "If that was supposed to make me less confused, it didn't work," he informed her.

"So you mean you really didn't understand?" She gave him a teasing smile. "Seemed pretty clear to me."

"Give me a break!" he protested. "I'm in shock right now, okay? How are you handling this so calmly?"

"It cleared up a lot of things for me, actually." She smiled at him. "You're okay with it, right?"

"Nico liking guys?" He looked confused. "Or Nico liking me?"

"Both. Either." She shrugged. "But he doesn't like you anymore, so you better not start pursuing him." She kissed him again. "From now on, you're all mine."

He wrapped his arms around her; she sank into his embrace, feeling safer than ever. No matter what happened, as long as they were together they'd be all right.

"Yeah," he whispered into her hair. "I am. And I am so okay with that."

...

So this is it for BoO. I'm considering having this be it for this story, because I've finished with everything that was in the book. But at the same time, I'm not totally ready to let go of this universe and my personal headcanons just yet. So if you want me to continue it, leave a review and (if possible) a prompt for another story. I may write it, or I may not (depends on if life gets in the way or not), but if you send me ideas I'm more likely to write more than to not. And even if you just want to discuss headcanons and BoO or Percy Jackson in general, I'm always willing to talk.

Thanks so much for reading this.