They got the directions to the cemetery, and Annabeth drove rather quick. Each growing minute, though, Luke grew more and more tense and anxious.

"Annabeth?" Luke asked, his voice small and almost scared.

"Yeah?"

"I'm... I'm glad you're with me," he said.

"I'm glad I'm here, too."

The rest of the trip was silent. Luke hadn't noticed he was crying until a drop landed on his hand. Annabeth looked over at him, and laid her hand over his.

They pulled into the cemetery lot, and got out. They found a caretaker, who showed them to her grave, and left them. Each step felt like a thousand to Luke, and each breath felt short. The closer he got to his mother's grave, the heavier his heart felt.

When he saw the tombstone, he tried hard not to just break down into tears. It was his fault she's lying six feet under. If he hadn't lied to her, if he hadn't run away...

Annabeth knelt on one knee and offered a small prayer to Hades, before standing up.

"I'll give you some privacy," she said, tears welling in her eyes, before walking out of ear shot.

Luke just stood there for a bit, tears running down his face. He finally decided to speak, though.

"Hey, Mom..." he said in a shaky voice, but he didn't bother clearing his throat. "It's me. I... I am so so sorry. It's my fault you're down there. If I hadn't run away... If I hadn't lied to you... You'd still be here. Hell, so many people would be here. I made..." Luke sniffed. "So many bad choices. And it got so many people killed.

"I ran away... I ran away to protect you. I knew it was only a matter of time before the attacks started... But that action killed you, in the end.

"I... I just wanted to say... I made it, Mom. I found my way home. And I'm back for lunch."

And with that, Luke fell to his knees and crying. He soon felt hands rubbing his back, soothing him. He took a bit to compose himself, before standing up, his eyes bloodshot, and his wet face stinging in the cold. His blonde companion raised a gloved hand, wiping the tears from his eyes.

They walked to the car in silence. When they got to the car, Luke grabbed Annabeth's wrist, and she turned to him.

"Thank you for being with me," he said. "And I'm sorry for the mistakes I made."

"No, thank you, Luke. For showing me you're not the monster, or villain. You don't have to apologize," she said, and she shivered.

"Let's get back in the car," Luke suggested.

Annabeth simply nodded, and the two went in their doors.

They sat in the car, not doing anything but letting the heater warm them. Then, Luke felt Annabeth kiss his stained cheek.

"Happy New Years, Luke," she said softly.

"Happy New Years, Annie," he replied absently, and she started the long trip back to Camp.

So that's it. I couldn't end this fic without poking your hearts, again; that's how it started, that's how it should end.
And, yes, that last bit was Lukabeth-y, but I really don't care. I like the ship, and it's the end of the fic, anyway. You won't read a fluffy fic from me. You can imagine it as a friendly kiss on the cheek, which is actually more what I had in mind when I wrote it. But, I digress.
Goodbye forever, from this fic, for this is the end.
~SoA