So, I apologize greatly for not completing this story earlier, but life has basically just gotten in the way. I'm currently in my last semester of university and trying to not drown in the never-ending pool of assignments and studies. Not only that, but things around me have changed, which means that I haven't had the same amount of time to be writing my stories. And finally, my motivation ever since beginning university a year and a half ago has gone down, so it's harder to write stories than it was in the past. But I've finally sat down and finished this story, so here is the epilogue!

Without further interruption, I'm going to let you guys read this epilogue and see the end of this story! So please, once you're done reading it, please REVIEW! I would love to get your opinion on it!

Disclaimer = I don't own Percy Jackson!

Epilogue

Annabeth's Point of View

Since waking up about a week ago, my strength had been returning in small spurts. It wasn't quick enough for my liking, but it was better to take it slow. At least, that's what Chiron kept telling me. I knew he was right, that I needed to get my strength quickly and not overdo it, but it felt wrong to miss so much training. Then again, I didn't want a repeat of what happened before Percy left, so I decided to follow Chiron's orders and rest.

Trust me, it was slowly killing me on the inside to do nothing, but without any sort of rest, my wound would never close.

Yesterday, I'd moved from the infirmary back to my own bed in the Athena cabin. They'd allowed me to get my rest out of that infernal place and relax in my own bed. And somehow, that simple act was actually making me feel better. Being around the books and maps that surrounded our cabin made me feel whole, something that I hadn't felt in a little while.

Today, as I sat in my bed, trying to read one of the numerous architecture books that we had in the cabin, the words didn't seem to register in my mind. Instead, my mind was drifting to the conversation Thalia and I had while I was recovering in the infirmary.

It was the day after Apollo had healed me, and Thalia and I were talking like old times. She'd been sitting beside my bed, retelling all of the horrendous things they'd gone through on their quest. But for some reason, it felt as though some part of the explanation had been cut out. It made me wonder what she was trying to hide from me…

"Honestly, it's a miracle we were all able to get out at all," Thalia finished, leaning back in her chair and smiling at me. But even though she tried to smile and push past the subject, I could tell something was missing.

Turning to look at her, I looked into her eyes and saw that she was slightly averting her eyes from mine, meaning that she was, in fact, hiding something. "Thalia…what aren't you telling me…?" I asked, seeing her completely avert her eyes from mine.

Thalia hesitated and sighed moments later, looking down at her lap. "Look, there's a reason we were stuck in the Underworld for so long," she said, her voice reducing in volume. But as she continued to look away from me, a sudden weight began to form within my stomach. "I mean, if Percy had listened to me, we wouldn't have had to think you were dead, but I digress—"

"Thalia…just tell me what happened…"

Thalia met my eyes momentarily before sighing and looking back down at her lap. "We were told that the last clue to get the antidote was in the Underworld. So, like idiots, we went in and a bunch of Keres ambushed us. In the beginning, things were going fine. We were kicking butt and winning, but then…" She took a deep breath and continued. "Percy wasn't looking at what was going on around him. He was focused on his own fight. So, I finished killing my own demon and turned around to see one with its claws out, ready to kill him. I didn't even think; I just acted. So I…I called out to him, but I knew he couldn't move away in time.

"I rushed over to Percy and pushed him out of the way, moving my body enough that the hit wouldn't be so bad."

My eyes widened in shock at this news. Immediately, my brain started thinking of possible scenarios as to how Thalia could still be alive right now. Demigods who had any knowledge of Underworld creatures knew that a Keres' talons were poisonous. In a matter of hours, Thalia should have been dead. So how was she still alive right now? And more importantly, how bad had that wound been?

I looked down to her stomach and Thalia seemed to understand my internal question. She turned around in her seat and lifted her shirt halfway up her back, making me gasp in complete shock. Even though only a part of her back was shown, there were still four ragged scars that ran diagonally across her back. Even so, it was obvious that those claws had nearly cut her spine wide open. I could only imagine how painful that must have been… She should have either been dead or paralyzed.

"But…how…? How are you still alive…?"

"Persephone," Thalia said as she turned around and brought her shirt back down. Things started to make sense. Persephone had the power to heal people with her potions and remedies, so it made sense that she was healed thanks to her. But I also knew something about the Underworld and, more importantly, Hades himself.

"All of that must have come at a price…" I stated.

Thalia nodded and didn't want to meet my eyes again, giving me that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Hades always likes to make deals, and I knew that it was going to be steep. When Percy wanted to keep going, I just told him to leave me behind to die." Once again, my eyes opened wide in shock. "But he's just as pigheaded as you are. He was completely stuck in his ways. All I remember at that point was Percy putting me on Grover's back and then probably passing out. After that, the next thing I remembered was waking up on a cot with Persephone looking over me."

I didn't know what to say to this. My mind kept returning to several years ago when Thalia had died for the first time. And when she told me that there was a strong possibility that she wasn't going to return, my stomach turned upside down and it felt as if time had slowed down, returning me to my childhood. All of those emotions I had felt during Thalia's death all those years ago returned and I tried to shake it off, not wanting to relive those moments any longer.

Instead, I tried to look at the positive things, such as the fact that Percy hadn't listened to her and she was still alive. Smiling over at her, I reached over and took her hand within mine shakily, knowing that simple movements like this would drain me eventually. Thalia looked up at me and squeezed my hand gently.

"I'm glad Percy didn't listen to you… I'd rather not go back to how it was all those years ago… If I were him, I wouldn't have listened to you either…"

Thalia laughed and shrugged, smiling widely at me. "Yeah, I kind of figured you wouldn't. You both are not only stubborn, but you're basically two peas in a pod," she said, making me chuckle once more.

My skin stretched from the action, forcing me to grind my teeth in pain. My stomach was still tender and, according to Chiron, it would take several days to a few weeks before I would be able to start training again. Thalia leaned forward slightly, concerned for my health, but I waved her off, knowing that it'll pass.

Thalia chuckled herself and leaned back in her chair. "Yeah, I stand corrected. You and Percy are the most pigheaded people I have ever met. I guess that's why you make a great couple."

Smiling at her as the pain began to subside, I thought back to all of the bickering Percy and I had done since we'd known each other. And, to be honest, Thalia's comment made sense. I hadn't noticed it before, but Percy and I bickered like an old married couple. Not only did we argue about who was right, but we also squabbled because we were both too proud to be saved. I'd always been too tough and strong headed, and Percy seemed to want to be the hero all the time. So, if we took a step back and examined each of our characteristics, I suppose it made sense that we would fit perfectly together. Our personalities were so closely matched.

Nodding once, my eyes diverted back to Thalia. "I suppose we are," I said, smiling at her. "But then again, if we weren't, life at camp would be way too boring."

Thalia laughed and nodded. "Yeah, you got that right."

Laughing shortly along with my friend, my thoughts suddenly turned to Thalia's explanation of their quest. More importantly, I focused on their expedition to the Underworld and how Thalia nearly died. Just the thought of losing Thalia, someone I'd known since I was a little girl on my way to Camp Half-Blood, turned my stomach upside down. I tried pushing past that thought, but it seemed as though the idea of losing the people I cared about stayed in the forefront of my mind. Maybe I could have helped if Luke hadn't nearly killed me. Would my being there have made a difference?

I would never know the answer to those questions, but it didn't matter anymore. I would no longer be put on the sideline, dying or not. That was a deep certainty.

Placing the book down on my lap, my mind continued to drift back to that afternoon and the uncomfortable feeling that settled within my stomach. Somehow, ever since Thalia and I talked, that feeling just wouldn't go away. Maybe it was because of the fact that hearing about Thalia's near demise scared the living Hellhounds out of me, or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't there to protect the people I loved. Either way, any way we looked at it, those thoughts didn't bode well, especially within me.

Since that day, I made a vow to myself, one that I would keep to my grave. I would no longer be sidelined while my friends risked their lives, either for the camp or for any of the campers, including myself.

But in order to keep that vow, I needed to get stronger, to heal. And knowing me, that was something that would be a great challenge, seeing as I could never sit still.

Speaking of sitting still, my ADHD started acting up again and made me anxious to get out of bed. Placing the architecture book on the floor, I slowly began getting out of bed, wincing as the skin on my stomach stretched uncomfortably. Placing a hand on my stomach, my eyes diverted to my stomach momentarily before looking up at the door, my need to get some fresh air overpowering the pain that was slowly fading away within my body. Standing up, my feet led me outside of the cabin and toward the open field, needing to just take a walk to change my thoughts. In fact, there was one thing I needed more than air or changing my mind or simply stretching my limbs, and my body was leading me straight to that one thing.

Making my way over to the waterfront, I watched as Percy was training alongside three other campers, none of which I could identify. Percy was sword fighting, so he didn't notice that I was here. Once he disarmed his foes, he shook their hands and let them be on their way, finally turning around and meeting my eyes.

Smiling at Percy, I made my way slowly over to him, my hand hovering over my stomach, seeing as pain continued to shoot up my body with each step. But as Percy noticed this, he rushed over to me and placed a hand on my back while holding onto my free hand with the other.

"Annabeth, what are you doing out of bed? You're supposed to be resting," Percy nagged, bringing me over to a large rock by the waterside. He suddenly looked into my eyes and his shoulders deflated. "Oh no, you are not coming out here to train! We are not doing that—"

"Calm down, Seaweed Brain," I reassured, waving him away. "I was just getting restless. You have no idea how crazy I've been going just resting. So, I figured I'd just take a walk. I mean, it's a pretty harmless thing, isn't it?"

Percy considered it and nodded slightly, helping me sit down on the large rock. "Alright, I guess that's fair. I mean, I'd be restless too if I was on bed rest as long as you have been," he said, sitting down beside me and turning his gaze toward me. "So, how are you feeling? Have you started getting some of your strength back?"

"It's slow, but it'll come back sooner or later."

"And is it hurting a lot?"

Shrugging slightly, my eyes averted to my stomach momentarily before turning back to him and saying, "It does, but not as much as that first day. But I'm sure it'll go away in no time if I keep resting. It's killing me to do so, but there's not much else I can do about it."

Percy chuckled and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Stubborn and impatient as usual, I see."

Chuckling alongside him, I grinned at him and bumped his elbow slightly. "Look who's talking. The first day you got here, you could barely stay in your bed long enough for me to give you some nectar and ambrosia."

Percy laughed and a small fluttering sensation resounded within my chest. It was always a weird sensation to feel my heart flutter whenever I was around Percy and react to his actions. In fact, I was more aware of this feeling since he saved my life. Maybe it was because of the fact that we had finally admitted our feelings for one another, but it didn't matter anymore. I liked the feelings he brought within me and now that I was aware of them, I didn't want them to go away.

"Whatever, Wise Girl," he said, waving off our current bickering. "I know you're eager to get back to training and everything, but just continue to listen to Chiron's advice and you'll be just fine. That is, unless you like staying in your bed and doing absolutely nothing for hours on end."

Groaning as he spoke, we both started laughing at the absurdity of it all. We both knew how difficult it was for a demigod to just sit still and do nothing for an extended period of time, even if it was for something as simple as letting our bodies rest. Not only did our ADHD prevent us from letting our brains remain on task for very long, but now that we were also trained in combat, it was impossible to sit still.

As the laughter died, silence took its place. And just as it became uncomfortable, I looked down at my hands on my lap and gathered the courage to say what I came to say.

"Thalia told me what happened on your quest, how you would stop at nothing in order to get the antidote," I said, turning my head slightly to see his reaction.

Percy's face fell as the memories seemed to resurface. As demigods, we were always thrown into combat, so we were forced to see things that would frighten others. It could even affect us in ways that others might not see. In this sense, we can compare it to a soldier with PTSD who was continuously thrown into combat. Whenever we mentioned a part of our quests or interactions with demons from the Underworld, flashbacks would soon enfold. And by what Thalia told me, Percy had been through a lot down in the Underworld. So, it was no surprise that he would be affected by the mere mention of this quest.

"It was necessary in order to help you," he said, closing his eyes. "I didn't care about Hades' rules. All that mattered was getting you that antidote and getting everyone back to camp."

"Thalia said it was a close call on many occasions, especially when she got scratched," I said, remembering the moment Thalia showed me part of her scar back in the infirmary. "She'd said that she could feel death pulling her toward Elysium, but you helped her."

Percy cringed at the thought and bunched his hands on his lap. "I wasn't going to lose anyone. Not you, not Thalia…not anyone."

Placing my hand on his, Percy's grip seemed to lessen considerably, almost as if my touch soothed him. "Percy, it's all right. We're all here. We're all alive because of you."

"But I nearly lost you. For so long, I thought that you were dead, that I had been too late to save you. I thought…I thought I had failed you…" he admitted, making my heart tug at the sadness in his voice.

Squeezing his hand again, I moved my other hand to his cheek and turned his head to face me. Percy opened his eyes and it shocked me to see the guilt in those bright sea green eyes of his, guilt that didn't need to be there anymore.

"Percy, I'm still here. You didn't fail me in the least," I reassured him, seeing that guilt still featured in his eyes. Squeezing his hand slightly tighter, I tried to make him see reason, emphasizing each word now. "Seaweed Brain, you did not fail me."

"Annabeth, I—"

"No, Percy. I don't want to hear it because there's no reason for you to feel guilty. I am still here, you stubborn idiot," I said, a smile making its way to my face. "We're all proud of what you guys have done, Percy. Especially me. And I'm very thankful for what you've done for me. Without you, I wouldn't be here right now."

Percy placed his hand on mine, which was still on his cheek, never taking his eyes off of me. "That's because I'd do anything for you, Annabeth. You should know that by now," he said, a chuckle making its way up my throat. "Besides, life at camp would be way too quiet without you."

Laughing at his comment and pushing aside the pain that resonated through my body, I smiled and slowly moved myself closer to him, mindful of my injury. "Hey, you're one to talk. You're always getting into troubler wherever you step, Seaweed Brain."

My boyfriend laughed as well and cupped my cheeks, leaning forward and kissing my forehead softly. "Well, I'm just glad we're both still here to cause mischief."

Smiling, my misty grey eyes locked with his sea green ones. "Yeah, Chiron would find camp too boring without the both of us." As Percy laughed once more, I sobered up slightly and moved to place my hands on top of his. "I love you, Percy."

He smiled in return and began rubbing his thumbs across my cheeks softly. "I love you too, Annabeth. More than you can possibly imagine."

Percy leaned forward and captured my lips with his, my body igniting under his touch as we kissed. Closing my eyes, I leaned into his touch and kissed him passionately. But in that moment, I realized that nothing could ever tear us apart. Throughout the years that we'd known each other, we'd gone through death, separation, loss, and so many other things. Even recently, we'd gone through the many stages of the fear of losing one another, yet we'd come out stronger than ever. Not only that, but our relationship was growing stronger because of it. We would go to the ends of the Earth and nothing could stop us.

No matter what the Gods would throw at us, we would conquer everything.

So, what did you all think of this wrap up? I know that it's been a bumpy ride with this, but we've finally seen the end of this and seen a happy ending! Annabeth and Percy are finally together and they're on the road to recovery! So, now that this story has come to an end, please let me know your opinions in some REVIEWS!

Thank you for sticking with me to the end of this!

Mortal-paralight

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