Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter 15: Good-byes

Percy's POV

I woke up about two hours later and heard the dinner bell ring. I took a quick shower and got dressed. I made my way to the mess hall, people whispered when I walked by them. I guess they saw what happened at lunch and maybe even the fight at the lake. I felt so terrible about all of the horrible things that I said to my brother. He only wanted to protect me from my anger, I knew he was right. I needed to go away from my friends and family. I saw that image of Theseus holding the dead and bloodied Pirithous, his best friend. I felt the terrible guilt and sadness as if I lived through that event myself. I entered the mess hall and I avoided eye contact with anyone, I was too ashamed about my actions. I just wanted this day to end so I could just go into my year of exile. I needed to control this terrible power within me and I was determined to overcome it. I sat down at my father's table after getting some food and making an offering to all the gods. I made sure to pray to my brother and Athena, I wished for their forgiveness for my actions earlier today.

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't see or hear Chiron walk over and stand next me.

"How are you doing son?" Chiron asked.

"I'm so sorry for breaking camp rules and yelling at you sir!" I said.

"Percy, it's alright, you have been through so much, there is nothing to forgive, but you didn't answer my question." Chiron said.

"Sorry! I feel terrible about the way I acted toward you and Theseus, especially Theseus. I really disappointed him. Everyone at camp is afraid of me now, aren't they?" I asked.

"Those that don't know you that well are, but your friends they are more concerned than afraid. I can call them over if you would like?" Chiron said.

"No, that will be alright. I just want to be alone for awhile. I think I will go to the beach and think, tell them I'm sorry would you?" I asked. I could see that Chiron was worried, but he didn't push the subject.

"I will tell them, take care son." Chiron said. I nodded and then walked out of the mess hall and towards the lake.

I reached the lake then I walked to the end of the dock and sat down with my legs and feet dangling in the water. The lake water felt so good, but I didn't feel like a swim, not yet at least. It was now getting dark, but then I remembered that there was suppose to be a bonfire at the beach by the ocean. I walked back through camp and most people were gone. They were clearly at the beach getting ready for the evening activities. As I approached the beach I saw the three massive bonfires. The flames reached at least thirty feet into the air. The light from the fires lit up the faces of the campers that sat around them. The night was clear and beautiful you could see a sky full of stars. I walked passed the bonfire that was closest to the pier. I saw Annabeth, Will Solace, Thalia, Nico, Clarisse and the Stoll brothers. Will was playing his guitar. A part of me wanted to get my guitar and join them, but I was still too depressed. They saw me as I passed them and they all looked surprised to see me, but I just walked faster and climbed up onro the pier. The first sailing ship was the Sally, named after my mom. I boarded the ship and sat at the controls. I was close enough to the bonfire to hear Will playing his guitar and then I heard a girl sing. She had a beautiful voice and then I recognized the song, it was "Come Back to Me" by David Cook. The girl sang the lyrics beautifully and with a tremendous amount of feeling. I walked back down the pier and froze when I saw who was singing by the bonfire.

You say you gotta go and find yourself

You say that you're becoming someone else

Don't recognize the face in the mirror looking back at you

You say you're leaving as you look away

I know there's really nothing left to say

Just know I'm here whenever you need me I'll wait for you

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free

And when you've seen what you need to see

When you find you, come back to me

Take your time, I won't go anywhere

Picture you with the wind in your hair

I'll keep your things right where you left them

I'll be here for you

Oh and I'll let you go, I'll set you free

And when you've seen what you need to see

When you find you, come back to me

And I hope you find everything that you need

I'll be right here waiting to see

You find you, come back to me

I can't get close if you're not there

I can't get inside if there's no soul there

I can't face you, I can't save you

It's something you'll have to do

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free

And when you've seen what you need to see

When you find you, come back to me

Come back to me

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free

And when you've seen what you need to see

When you find you, come back to me

And I hope you find everything that you need

I'll be right here waiting to see

You find you, come back to me

You find you, come back to me

When you find you, come back to me

When you find you, come back to me

It was Annabeth, I didn't know she could sing. I walked down the steps from the pier, I just watched her sing. I didn't notice Nico or Thalia and the others watching me smiling. I couldn't take my eyes off of Annabeth. Her voice was hypnotic to me and I felt at peace for the first time in weeks. When Annabeth finished singing she saw me staring at her in a trance. I saw her smile and I came back to reality. She walked over to me and took my hand. She led me back up the stairs of the pier and onboard the ship named after my mom. We sat next to each at the aft of the ship on one of the benches. Annabeth was beautiful as usual with her curly blond hair and her gray eyes. Her face was perfectly tanned and she was incredibly graceful.

"Seaweed brain, are you alright?" She asked concerned.

It took me a while to compose my thoughts, but then I said, "I didn't know you could sing like that." Annabeth just smiled at me and said, "Well you're not the only one with surprises."

I smiled at that comment.

"Did you like it?" Annabeth asked.

"I always thought that you just looked like an angel, now you actually sound like one too." I said.

Annabeth smiled brightly at me and placed her head on my shoulder. I held her close to me, I felt complete. We broke apart after thirty minutes of just sitting and holding each other.

"I'm sorry about earlier today, I'm sorry if I scared you." I said anxiously.

"You did scare me, but I was more scared for you than myself." Annabeth said.

"I scared myself too! Seeing Theseus that way and feeling the anger and the power, I've never been so scared in my life." I said.

"It's alright, you're going to get help and then you're going to come back to me." Annaebeth said.

"I will, I love you more than anything in this world wise girl." I said.

"It's getting late. I'll walk you to your cabin and help you pack for tomorrow." Annabeth said. We walked back to my cabin hand in hand. Annabeth helped me pack and then I kissed her good night as she went back to her cabin.

I fell asleep after a couple of hours, tomorrow would be a sad day, but I knew the sooner I started the training the quicker I would be able to come back to Annabeth and our life together.

I awoke the next morning and I felt refreshed. I hope that was a good omen and that my training would be a success. I cleaned up and got dressed then I grabbed my bag. I walked toward the big house. I saw Annabeth, Nico and Thalia waiting for me on the porch.

"Good morning Percy!" Nico said as he ran up to me. I shook his hand.

"Nico, it's good to see you. Hi, Thalia." I said. Thalia nodded and said, "You look a lot better today."

"I feel better." I said.

"Hey seaweed brain, miss me?" Annabeth asked as she ran to me and held my arm.

"More than you could imagine." I said with a smile. We all four walked over the hill and down to the beach. Waiting for us there were Theseus, Athena, Poseidon, Triton and Chiron.

"Good morning!" I said as we approached. Everyone smiled at me and then I knew that all was forgiven from yesterday.

"Are you ready to go son?" Poseidon asked.

"Let me say good-bye dad." I said.

"Certainly!" Poseidon said. I said good-bye to Nico, Thalia and Chiron. Then I walked over to Theseus and Athena.

"Theseus and Athena, please forgive me for yesterday. I will miss both of you very much." I said.

"You're forgiven and I will miss you too." Athena said as she gave me a hug.

"Brother, I'm not mad at you. I'm worried, but I have faith in you. I love you." Theseus said as he gave me a big hug.

I walked over to Annabeth and we separated ourselves from the others for a few moments. "I don't want to leave you, not for second, not for a minute and certainly not for a year." I said.

"I know, but this has to be done. Remember I will always be here for you, I love you Percy." Annabeth said as she reached up and kissed me.

"I love you too! I promise I will succeed with this training and I will come back to you as soon as I'm able." I said and then I leaned down and kissed her passionately and placed my camp necklace in her hands.

"I'll be back for that." I said as I walked toward my father and brother.

"Brother, I wish we could see each other under better circumstances." Triton said as he gave me a hug.

"I know brother, me too." I said. I turned around standing between Poseidon and Triton. We then turned toward the sea and walked into the ocean. Before I dove underwater I turned and waved to all my friends and family. I looked at Annabeth and smiled then I said, "I love you." I turned and dove under the sea. I started my time in exile determined to control the anger and power within me. I won't let it control me!

I hope you enjoyed this final chapter of Last Summer. I have received some requests to do a sequel related to Percy's exile in Atlantis, sounds like a good idea, please let me know if you agree. Thank you to everyone who read this story and to all of the reviewers.