What do you do when the quest has ended?
What do you do when the battle's won?
So many questions left unanswered
So many things still left undone

What do you do
When it's up to you to choose:
Has something ended or begun?
Stay or go? Pick one

- The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical, "Last Day of Summer"

She's submerged in a body of water. Where exactly, she doesn't really know. Only that her hair flutters like a cloud of ink above her head and never-ending darkness extends around her in all directions. If she strains her neck, Thalia swears she spots a surface every now and then, glistening with the promise of freedom from this strange hell. But every nerve, every muscle in her body remains frozen. At least she doesn't sink like dead weight off into oblivion.

Bubbles escape from her lips. She still doesn't move. She can only…be.

Thalia closes her eyes.

The next time she opens them, she doesn't know how much time has passed, only that she has to find a way out or she will drown in this motionless abyss for an eternity.

Swimming upwards is akin to wading through liquid mercury – so painfully slow – but her hand finally reaches out towards the surface. Towards the light.

When Thalia comes to, it isn't the grand awakening she expected it to be.

Her eyes, in fact, were already open. She finds herself staring at a white ceiling, dry mouth parted open. And perhaps she had always been staring at the ceiling, looking so familiar to that unbreakable surface she could never quite reach.

Thalia gulps. She tries a word: Hello? But only a hiss comes out.

She moves her hand instead with much more favorable results.

There's a short intake of breath. She shifts her head in the direction of the sound.

The world bombards her all at once, a far cry from the plain white ceiling. Too many multicolored monitors, all with their own steady beeps. Tubes, thin and fat, coiling at the edge of her bed – attached to her arms, she realizes. Rays of sunlight peek in through pale blue blinds, bright enough to make her squint.

And, sitting in the center of it all, clutching the arms of his worn green chair: Nico Di Angelo.

He looks on the verge of a heart attack. "I-I was having dreams." He takes a sharp breath. "I thought—"

Thalia cuts him off. "Where am I?" She swallows again, though the tension she feels is more than a dry throat. It feels unused, as if she hasn't spoken in ages.

Nico doesn't answer. He only pushes the nearest button by her bed. Thalia growls at him, a familiar defiance surging through her.

They wait. Nico stands, running his hand through his hair – longer now then what she remembers from before.

The more she stares though, the more she realizes just how different he looks from when they had pulled him out of Mount Othrys's cells. He's filled out more – no longer a boy in dire need of a cheeseburger. A man instead, though she's never really considered him a man until now.

Not that Nico is entirely unrecognizable: his clothes are relatively the same as they have always been: primarily jet black and radiating Fall Out Boy emo. One article, however, she does take note of – a silver band sitting happily on his ring finger.

"I need you not to freak out," he says finally.

She has half a mind to tell him that she's not the one that looks like they need to remain calm. Her mind still feels too foggy to quite process anything other than grouchiness. But the door swings open before Thalia can attempt to say anything longer than three words.

Asclepius steps in and she isn't at all surprised.

"Hmmm," is all he says. No hello, which she finds more than rude given their history together. "Welcome back I guess."

She only raises a single eyebrow.

The room remains as quiet as a morgue, only the sound of Asclepius flitting around the monitors to check her vitals. Eventually, he snorts, "You haven't told her yet, have you?"

Nico's jaw clenches.

The doctor smiles briefly. "I could do it, if you like. I know you didn't exactly have a statement prepared when you walked in today."

"Tell me what?" Thalia snaps, hating that this conversation treats her as if she isn't even in the room.

Nico sits down again. All the energy leaves his body in that instance and he seems like an old man.

He is an old man, she's reminded. Maybe not mentally or physically. But time – a lack of it – has left its scars on both of them.

Nico mutters in Italian. With all that time they spent together before her capture – going on missions, travelling the country, those long hours in the war room – she should've picked up a few words by now. Wishful thinking, of course.

"It's been five years since the fall of Mount Othrys, Thalia."

She says nothing. Her eyes flash towards the white ceiling.

"I'm sorry," Nico whispers. "I'm so sorry."

She doesn't say a word as Asclepius pokes and prods at her, scribbling notes down on a pad. Her thoughts, however, seem to have plunged down into the same abyss she was trapped in.

Lies. Lies. Lies.

Nico paces for hours. Thalia watches him as he slowly pieces together all that's happened. All that she missed.

The Olympians restored to power, allowing for Olympus and the camps to be rebuilt. Othrys and the Titans destroyed, shattered into such remnants of their former power it is unlikely they will ever reform again.

Kronos gone.

Nico tries to elaborate, thinking maybe she'd want to know how. But he can only get as far as describing a fist conjured from all the Four Winds gripping the Master Bolt, promptly ripping it out from where Thalia had planted it through Kronos's gut, before her heart rate skyrockets.

And Thalia sees flashes. Kronos choking her from one misstep. Thalia holding the crackling Master Bolt, still stuck in the shadows of that hallway, her friends and her enemies dying in the throne room. His scythe cutting into her side. Her back pressed against the broken dais. Red blood on her hands. Kronos's nails in her chest, accompanied by threats to rip out her heart.

"Enough," Asclepius retorts when her monitor goes haywire.

Nico shoots her an apologetic look as the god runs a glowing hand over her IV drip. "He won't be coming back. I promise."

Still, Thalia says nothing. But whatever healing powers Asclepius seems to possess surges through her veins, wiping away the aches from her body and the worries in her mind – temporarily anyway.

Finally, Asclepius shakes his head. "Different subject, Di Angelo."

Percy and Annabeth are… good, is what Nico tells her at first. Though he quickly realizes good is such a vague state of being. They're engaged, he thinks, though it's hard to keep track since no formal declaration has been made. Just years of cohabitation and talks about marriage but no real action as they continue meandering through the world around them and help with the rebuilding – whether it's the camps, Olympus, or just their normal lives.

Phoebe disappeared shortly after the Battle of Othrys, unsettling the Olympians who – for obvious reasons – would like to keep a tight leash on any remaining Titans still roaming the world. Apparently, Artemis has been hunting her down to force her back into her service, though she's been noticeably lax in doing so considering it's taken five years and counting.

Jason has done well for himself as far as Nico can tell, though the hierarchy and social politics of New Rome have always been tricky for him to digest. But Jason's status is apparently in stellar standing since a dispute with Reyna two years ago led to her relocation to Camp Half-Blood as opposed to his.

"Lover's quarrel?" Thalia comments, actively attempting to distract herself from the millionth needle Asclepius shoves in her arm.

He shrugs. "They've always had a strange relationship. Very on and off and hard to pinpoint what led to this particular fight. Honestly, I can only base observations off the outcome. Anyway, he seemed to have gotten over with it quickly – he met another girl and they hit it off pretty well."

"Anyone I know?"

He smirks. "Piper McLean."

"Piper?" She tries – and fails – to wrap her head around that. Never did she think her life before Othrys would ever merge with the life she built on Othrys. "Really?"

"We were all surprised too. But she also insisted on taking care of Elpis while you were here. For a time, she didn't trust anyone else around her. Jason is Elpis's uncle, technically, so he's always been an emergency contact for her and he'd visit Piper's place from time to time to see her… I guess they struck up something from there."

Thalia is the first to realize that Nico's brought up the elephant in the room. Elpis.

One look at her guttered eyes and he realizes it too. "She's eight now, going on nine. She looks just like you, which has been… hard on all of us. Especially since you never told us about her… before."

Thalia almost laughs. She's not sure when she would have had the time to tell him before. Maybe the time she had gone to visit him in his cell, but his rejection of Thalia had done enough in bruising her self-esteem. Telling him about Elpis then, not knowing what he would have thought of her, had never been an option. "I told Annabeth," she shrugs.

Nico snorts. "Well, she has the same terrible temper as you, if we had any doubts of her being yours."

Thalia nods, satisfied with that bit of information. All that Elpis has gone through the past five years can't be broken down and digested in an impromptu crash course.

Nico continues on with deaths on Othrys: Katie Gardner and her sister Miranda, Wu from Apollo, Malcolm from Athena, Orion, Callisto and Atalanta. The Dioscuri were promoted to some security position on Olympus, as far as Nico has heard. And Zoe Nightshade, as one of the last constellations Thalia had resurrected to stick around, opted for her return to the nighttime sky.

Then those who had left no trace at all: Orpheus, a majority of Hecate's traitorous children – including Alabaster. Then again, Mount Othrys collapsing shortly after the battle led to many bodies being crushed beneath all the rubble. Still, they both know better.

He tells her about a few more marriages too: Rafael Hernandez to a mortal from Miami, Clarisse and Chris running off to the courthouse last year without telling anyone.

"And you?"

Nico catches her staring at the ring on his finger. "We've been married for about a year and a half now."

He turns it around nervously as he gives a brief explanation of his relationship with Will Solace. She should be happy for him. But all Thalia can realize during his tale is that she hadn't been there for any of it, even before the coma. Life with Kronos had seen to that.

"Before the wedding, we were pretty ecstatic. You opened your eyes a couple times, babbling gibberish at first but then you were able to recognize us. Well, kind of. Most of them times you would get Luke and Jason confused and... Asclepius told us not to get our hopes up; brain scans kept showing that you were still in a coma and maybe you'd come around and maybe you wouldn't. Still didn't keep us from hoping that you'd start walking, join us for the wedding, and everything could go back to the way it was before."

Before comas, and Titans, and war.

"But you went into remission. As I told them was likely," Asclepius adds. "It wasn't the first time you'd supposedly woken up only to go back into a vegetable state. You weren't ready."

Not ready.

"Why am I not dead?" I should be. Kronos had gutted her like a fish – that she remembers vividly.

It takes a moment for Nico to respond. "I tried… looking for you. Down there. Especially during the bad times when you were having… complications. But I never could. I'd feel your presence in Asphodel but then it'd just disappear. I wasn't sure what that meant."

It means nothing. Thalia briefly closes her eyes. Only that death would've been better.

She looks to Asclepius, as if he can elaborate on what Nico's trying to get out. In fact, if she recalls from his myth, he's dealt in the realm of resurrection before. But the god only stares, no ready answers to why at all forthcoming.

"How?" she murmurs instead.

Asclepius perks up immediately, as if this change in topic is far more fascinating. "Soul transfer. Thanatos would be able to explain it better." He briefly waves his hand in the air, trying to search for the right words. "Hm. Well, to keep it short you're, uh… little parasite decided to pass on in your stead."

Nico's grimace deepens.

Thank you.

Thalia shakes her head. "She would never do that."

It's time for me to return the favor.

"I can't say as to what Rhea would or would not do. Only that she did it willingly and it brought us enough time," the god admits. "Though it still wasn't easy. You kissed a kidney and your gallbladder goodbye. We had to regrow your liver, though the gods have had exceptional practice with that thanks to Prometheus. But a working uterus, not so much – such damage has guaranteed you'll never have children again, not that I think that's entirely devastating for you."

Nico sighs. "What he means to say—"

"Is that you would be dead had Apollo or Will Solace been absent from that room. And let's not forget to mention your full-fledged demigod brother that was more than willing to offer himself up in a blood transfusion."

"—is that you're here now. Even if some people thought you would never wake up, you did." He pauses for a moment. "That's a good thing."

Still, the anger wells up inside of her. It means the Fates rather have me suffer than die in peace. It means that Rhea just used me to pass on.

"I want to leave," she finally says, probably the loudest phrase she's uttered since her awakening. Her glare turns on Asclepius. "Now."

"But there's paperwork…"

"You're a god. Let the paperwork do itself."

"That's a fair point… but we should run some more tests to be safe."

"Don't tell me what's safe and what isn't," Thalia snaps. Ten years of war, three of those stuck with a homicidal maniac, now five in a fucking coma like some damn soap opera. "I am leaving."

"Fine!" He throws his hands up in the air. "Fine. Di Angelo. Could you at least be a gentleman and accompany her?"

Nico shakes a bit. In a way, she feels sorry for him, knowing – that as much as he had wanted her to wake up – this hadn't been in the plans today and this is more than he and his stunted emotional growth can handle. "Just… slow down, Thalia. I'm going to get my car and bring it to the front. Please take your time and get dressed. At least let Asclepius take out your fucking catheter. Then we'll go eat—"

Asclepius, of course, interrupts. "She should start with small, bland portions and work her way up." Nico shoots him an ugly glare. "Or not, who wants to listen to a licensed medical professional anyway?"

"—and after that, I'll take you wherever you want to go from there. Deal?"

Grudgingly, she nods.

"At least take a fucking wheelchair." An exasperated hand wave and the door swings open. "If she passes out from fatigue in the next 30 minutes, you know where to bring her."

It only takes 15 minutes for Thalia to collapse on her own two feet once out of her hospital bed. But, coincidentally, they reach Nico's car anyway and she waves him off when he tells her they should turn back.

He curses, throwing the wheelchair Asclepius provided them into the back trunk. Nico slips into the driver's seat, briefly resting his head against the steering wheel and groaning, "Where to?"

The drive is mostly silent.

"There's two wings: elementary and secondary," he says as they pull up into the kiss-and-ride driveway of a fancy private school in the middle of Manhattan. Nico comes to a stop, shutting off the engine. "The most prestigious school in all of New York that regular people have never heard of – the Mist makes it that way. Only accepts demigods, legacies, and mortals with the Sight."

Thalia scoffs. "Olympian Hogwarts?"

"Pretty much." He grips the wheel tighter. "After seeing how they ran Camp Jupiter, Annabeth was determined to update Camp Half-Blood's organization and layout. She made the plans for the school, designed it herself. Percy had a big role in selling it to the Olympian council – I guess Camp Jupiter really turned him into a killer orator. If we did more than just protect demigods by keeping them corralled in a forgotten sanctuary, but actually provided them with the means and the education to survive monsters and the real world, then maybe we wouldn't have anything like the Titanomachy again."

"You mean there wouldn't be any more traitors to Olympus." She casts her gaze out upon the school again, vaguely wondering why the hell they hadn't thought of this before. Why she'd been given the life of a runaway vagrant, constantly afraid and resentful. "No more L—"

A thump on the window scares the shit out of both of them. Nico pales, hesitantly rolling down his window.

A familiar face pokes his head inside. Speak of the devil. "I can recognize your emo car stickers anywhere. You stalking m—" Luke cuts himself off when his eyes gravitate towards the passenger seat. "Oh."

Thalia tries to manage a smile. "Surprise?"

Luke only stares at her, his face unnaturally devoid of emotion, killing any sign of the hot-headed boy she'd known all those years ago. He might as well be a stranger to her: she'd never known him to have a 5'o clock shadow or hair grown past his ears – now pulled up into a top-knot. A man bun. Though she doubts now is the time to laugh at it.

Only Nico's conspicuous cough breaks the silence.

"Reyna has me on a tight schedule," Luke finally says. "I can't stay long."

Her heart sinks. "I… understand."

He scratches the back of his head. "There's extra room on the bus. You should come—" Luke spares a glance at the white vehicle parked on the left side of the kiss-and-ride lane in front of them and Thalia swears she sees him tense. "She'll want to see you."

Their gazes lock. Elpis.

Nico leans forward, grabbing Luke's attention and cutting off her view. "Is there a wheelchair lift?"

Thalia pokes him in the ribs.

"Of course," says Luke.

Nico rubs the side of his chest. "I'll drive then since you clearly seem distracted. Wouldn't want to wreck with the children."

She wants to ask where Nico learned to drive a bus. Then again, probably not the best question to ask having missed five years of her friends' lives.

"It'll teach them survival skills," Luke replies as an afterthought, his stare finding its way back to Thalia's. "Welcome back."

"Never thought I'd be back here."

New layout my ass.

Truthfully, she wants to say the Camp Half-Blood that greets her now is different than the one she remembers all those years ago – the first victim in their lengthy war against the Titans. But she can't, mostly because she can't really remember it (but whether that's because she doesn't want to or Kronos punched her one too many times, Thalia isn't sure). Almost in the same way she can't remember her mother's face, only emotions of how looking at it every day made her feel:

Angry. Overwhelmed. Isolated.

She'd been a teenager then, so it's somewhat understandable. But even now, as a 23-year old woman, she finds that those feelings haven't changed at all.

Thalia grimaces, shouldering the heavy box full of new clothes for her and Elpis. She looks up at the statue of a glowering Zeus in the middle of Cabin 1. "Hey, dad."

Nico steps in behind her, turning a circle to survey the dusty cabin. "Where do you want the rest of these boxes, Thals?"

She shrugs. "Doesn't really matter." She hardly knows what's in most of them: random shit given to her by Percy and Annabeth, a couple of things to make this barren place homier for her and Elpis. But if her memories from Camp Half-Blood are good for anything, they tell her that she's doomed to fail. "It'll all need to be unpacked anyway."

Annabeth and Luke enter the cabin as well, doing their best to smile.

"Yeah, well," Annabeth snorts, "knowing you, you'd leave them in the middle of the floor for a week, then complain about tripping over them every morning."

Thalia smirks. "Love you too."

Her eyes wander over to the bunk in the corner with Elpis's messy sheets on top.

Thalia feels a hand on her shoulder. "You can apply again in six months," Luke murmurs, as Annabeth and Nico go off on their own little tangent regarding home décor. "Maybe they'll give it to you."

"And how many times have you applied, Luke?" She raises an eyebrow. "Three? Were you ever approved?"

Thalia had been wise enough to catch on quickly. As a former traitor to Olympus, it makes sense as to why they would want to keep an eye on her, though Reyna had been careful to mask it under the guise of worrying for Thalia's health and safety (despite passing every single one of her physical and mental health evaluations these past few months).

Of course, years with Kronos taught her to look past the sugar-coated lies. Her milling around in Reyna's office in the Big House had led to her peeking at a paper titled the Bellerophon Initiative. To no one's surprise at all, Thalia had spotted her name at the bottom of the list along with Elpis before the Roman had moved it out of sight. Still, it had been enough for Thalia to piece it altogether: like Luke, she'll never get to leave this place.

Luke's expression sours. And honestly, she understands why he might still want to fight her on this. It's out of necessity, of course – of all people, Luke needs to believe that things have changed for the better. "We're not tied here. We can leave Camp Half-Blood whenever we want."

"Not if you enjoy being on the Heroes of Olympus pension." Which Thalia most certainly enjoyed, thank you very much. A nice hefty check to compensate somewhat for all of the physical and emotional turmoil she'd gone through just to put the Olympians back on the throne. In short, Thalia is well taken care of, that much she can't complain about. "And you should, considering we both have extra mouths to feed."

He rolls his eyes. "Good thing Four is two years away from turning 18. I'm starting to count the days."

Thalia is grateful for the change in topic. Discussing Olympian politics has a way of making everyone feel uncomfortable. She smiles. "You love him."

"Yeah, don't tell him that. I have a reputation to uphold."

Her eyes once again drift towards the bunk. The only bunk. "The least they could have done was stick her in Hermes cabin with Helias and Four." She frowns. "It might not look it, but Zeus's statue just exudes crushing loneliness."

"Oh, it certainly looks it." Luke peers at her from the corner of his eye. "It was only for the summers though – we all juggled her in and out otherwise."

"Thank the gods for that," she says half-heartedly. Elpis living with a statue of her godly grandfather for five years straight would have driven Thalia on a rampage.

Luke quiets for a second. A moment passes before he fishes around in his pocket, pulling out a nondescript pill bottle. "I stopped by in the infirmary today. Solace wanted to make sure I gave you these. They're Elpis's." Thalia almost stops breathing. "You're her official guardian again so you can administer them. Two pills every night before bed."

Thalia barely even registers grabbing them from him. She just stares at the label, trying to wonder where everything had gone so wrong.

Luke stops talking, maybe notices the panic blooming on her face. "Thalia, are you okay?"

"Yeah." How she manages to find her voice is a mystery. She sets the medication aside on a dresser and scans the room in search of a way out of this disastrous conversation waiting to happen. Luckily, Nico and Annabeth are still meddling around with her unpacked stuff. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go help these losers."

It takes hours to get her friends out of Cabin 1. Thalia understands, of course: she's been gone for so long and maybe, if they leave her alone for too long, then she'll just disappear again.

Thalia presses her back against the door and sinks to the floor. Her eyes remain glued on Elpis's medicine sitting on the dresser.

Antidepressants.

She wants to throw the pill bottle against the wall, rip out her sword and destroy the new couch Annabeth had gotten for her, form a tornado right in the middle of New York and tear this entire world apart. Thalia wants to run to Tartarus and scream at him: What did you do my baby?

The baby whose hurts Thalia could always fix if nothing else. But not anymore.

You took her away from me.

She shakes her head in disbelief. "You always have to have the last laugh, don't you?"

She storms in through Cabin 1 like a whirlwind, dropping her backpack at the door and kicking her sneakers off so violently one nearly knocks a blue vase off the side table by the door. She brushes off the sweat from her face, clinging to strands of black hair that have escaped her messy ponytail.

Elpis flings herself down on the bottom bunk, throwing her legs up in the air – both covered with what must be a dozen multicolored Spiderman band-aids.

With eyes narrowed, Thalia looks up from her chapter book. "I haven't seen you all day."

"We went to Olympus for a field trip." She sits up suddenly, grabbing the comforter at the edge of the bed and throwing it over her head. "I'm tired," she says, her voice somewhat muffled.

"Hm, that's right. Luke told me about it." Thalia shuts the book and sets it down on the coffee table. "How was it?"

"Fine."

"Okay…" Definitely not fine. "And school?"

"Fine." Thalia rolls her eyes just as Elpis continues, "Ms. Rachel sent a note home."

That piques her interest. "About what?"

There's a moment of silence. Grudgingly, her daughter uncovers her face. "Stuff we're learning next week. She wanted to know if it's okay."

Her eyebrows furrow. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"It's about the First Titanomachy. About Kronos." Thalia's entire body clenches as if Percy had dropped an entire bucket of ice water over her. Elpis finally meets her gaze. "She said I don't have to go to class if you don't want me to."

"Oh," Thalia says in a small voice, perhaps the only thing she can manage. "That's nice of her."

Elpis nods.

For a second, Thalia feels at a loss for words. She gets up slowly from the couch, taking those valuable breaths before forcing herself to move towards the bunk bed. She takes a seat. "I've always been honest with you—"

"She's worried about what everyone else will say," Elpis interjects, which she is somewhat grateful for. This is a conversation they've had a thousand times already and one they don't really want to have again.

The first time hadn't been easy. That day on the bus to camp, Elpis had looked at her as if seeing a ghost. And nothing in her life had prepared Thalia for that fateful conversation of explaining just how she had woken up after nearly being killed by Kronos, nor the many conversations after that away from prying ears. Particularly of what it had been like for Thalia to live on Mount Othrys, to make all the sacrifices she had to in order to keep Elpis safe.

They both had shed gallons of tears and Elpis had forgiven her, as if she had understood. But, as an eight-year-old, Thalia was often left to wonder if her daughter truly did understand.

And how does she not hate me every day for all of it?

Thalia frowns. "Are you worried about what everyone else will say?"

"No." Her eyes darken, staring off into the distance. "They're the ones that should be worried."

To be clear, Thalia Grace has never felt afraid of her own daughter despite whatever she might feel for the man who sired her (and even if she is more than aware that not everyone shares her sentiment). In fact, it's easy to forget when Elpis looks and acts so much like her. But then there are moments, little traits that appear, that don't reflect Thalia at all. Only him.

"Ms. Rachel told me you're not supposed to get into any more fights."

"If that's what you want," her daughter shrugs, that momentary cold spell once again diminishing into her typical fiery demeanor. "I'll try my best."

She sighs. "My little baby, so big and tough now. Mommy is the one that's supposed to take care of you, not the other way around. You don't need to defend me all the time."

"We're a team."

Thalia lays her head down beside Elpis. "We are, aren't we?"

She beams. "As long as I get to be in charge."

"Fat chance," her mother laughs. "Now, are you going to tell me about the field trip?"

"Ugh, it was so boring! And all the minor gods look at me weird."

Even after the messy field trip business, they talk for what seems like an eternity: Elpis nestled in the crook of her arm, both of them nesting between a mountain of blankets. The same moment she had envisioned so long ago in her darkest of moments.

When Elpis falls asleep at her side, Thalia can't help but think how lucky she is and how she wishes her entire life could be this tranquil. Because peace in the life of a demigod is never meant to last.

A crash sounds on the roof and the resulting jolt awake sends Thalia tumbling out of the bunk bed. She curses. Though a quick glance over at Elpis confirms that the girl is still sound asleep. Since she was an infant, Elpis slept through most of Thalia's thunderous arguments with Kronos and it doesn't surprise her that she hasn't stirred in the slightest.

Several more thuds sound, followed by the sudden crack of wooden beams splitting apart. A large bird drops down from a hole in the roof, squawking.

Without thinking, Thalia lunges towards the intruder. Though it takes her a few minutes to realize that the bird she's caught has a rather familiar face.

"Aquila?" She spares a glance at Elpis, who shoves the blanket off her face but otherwise doesn't open her eyes. "I thought you left."

He hisses, flapping neurotically in her grasp, desperate to escape. Very much unlike him, proud little monster that he normally is.

Thalia tries to set him down gently amidst all the panic. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Warning. Warning. Warning.

"You have to leave before someone finds you," she whispers. "A warning—?"

Following, very bad. Keep safe…- Go. I go.

"What…?" He soars through the hole in the roof. Thalia tries to follow him, throws open the door to Cabin 1 and frantically trying to spot him fluttering through the night sky. "Please, wait!"

But the eagle – her old friend – is long gone.

"Was he in trouble?"

She whips around, lightning in her hand crackling to life. "What are you doing here?"

From out of the shadows, Percy steps forward, the glow of her powers casting a dark blue light over half of his face. "Reyna needed some help at the Big House. I decided to stay the night in Cabin 3 – Annabeth has long hours on Olympus anyway."

She only nods, not sure what else to say. But since she's returned to the world of the living, such awkward silences between them aren't unusual. Perhaps it's the reason she hasn't seen Percy around for the past couple of weeks, other than the pressing matter of him finishing up summer classes at the University of New Rome.

Maybe it's due to lingering guilt over the Titan War and not stopping Kronos when he had the chance, thus preventing the ugly mess that had become Thalia's bleak reality. Or maybe it's because they're too similar – she finds that Percy often puts on a brave face for their friends, complete with an unshakeable optimism just realistic enough to keep him from being downright annoying. But it's a façade Thalia can see right past because it's one that she holds onto as well. They both have to live every day struggling with this dark past trailing in their wake.

Percy shoves his hands inside his pockets. He studies her for a moment. "I won't tell if you won't."

"Thank you," Thalia says, finalizing any hope of an extensive unwanted conversation. She has to appreciate the simplicity of not having to explain herself to him. He gets it. He always has.

Thalia casts her gaze back towards Cabin 1. "Goodnight, Percy."

Repairing the hole in the ceiling has Thalia up bright and early; unfortunate for a Saturday morning. But Thalia isn't a child anymore – she has a daughter and a dozen battle scars to prove it. And, if she wants anything done at camp, she has to do it herself. Not that she's incredibly eager to have people asking questions about any late-night happenings.

She steals a few supplies from Cabin 9 and gets to work after seeing Elpis off to her day-long battle training. From her vantage point atop Cabin 1 – which produces its own fair share of anxiety, being so high up off the ground – she can spot pretty much everyone between here and the Big House. As long as she can finish the job before Reyna spots her and becomes suspicious, she'd consider the day successful.

Thalia gets to work as soon as possible, hammering the planks into place. But over the sound of her beating nails into the roof, she fails to hear someone approaching until it's too late.

She hears a low whistle and nearly hammers her thumb into the wood. "Well, isn't that a sight." Swallowing a moment of panic, Thalia looks over the side of the roof to spot Luke with a shit-eating grin. "I never took you for a handyman."

"And I never took you for a bus driver," she shoots back. "There was a hole in the roof, figured dad wouldn't like the idea of his temple collapsing from a strong storm."

"Fair," Luke concedes. "Any idea how the hole got there?"

"No idea," she murmurs, brushing a bead of sweat off her forehead.

Luke stares and she knows he doesn't believe her whatsoever. He finally smirks. "Want to take a break with me?"

Her eyes narrow. "What sort of hard labor have you been up to today?"

"Think of this as more of a life break," he says. "I haven't been into the city for a while, at least not while on the job and stuck in traffic. I could use a day of exploring, maybe some good coffee."

"A coffee break," Thalia muses. "I'm sure I could squeeze that into my incredibly busy schedule."

"Go shower then. I refuse to go anywhere with you stinking up the place." He quirks an eyebrow. "You know, once you manage to find your way off the roof."

She rolls her eyes.

Thalia has to admit though: the idea of being a tourist in her own city sounds strangely appealing. After six months of being awake, she can't recall any moment she'd actually taken the time to enjoy herself, much less get away from all the gods and politics.

Though, once they leave camp in Luke's Toyota Prius, Thalia is instantly reminded why their trips into the city aren't frequent. It's entirely too much of a hassle driving the three hours from Montauk to Queens and then jumping on the subway into Manhattan – at that rate, the best course of action would've been to steal a pair of pegasi and then park them on top of the Empire State Building.

Nevertheless, their time in the car passes readily between sampling songs from a random alternative rock station and joking arguments about the latest Olympian gossip. From Queens, they take the subway to midtown and go on foot from there. It doesn't help that they have no set destination in mind, but, for once, not having a plan doesn't bother Thalia all that much.

Once landing in midtown, they walk for what must be hours: wandering into parks, venturing through Koreatown for some mouthwatering dumplings, even passing by the new and improved Empire State Building.

By the time the afternoon rolls around, they must be about a block from Times Square. Thalia spots a coffee shop across the street and pauses on the sidewalk, much to the ire of the old man walking behind them.

"How about we stop here?" She turns to Luke. "You did say you wanted coffee."

"Very true," he muses, surveying the busy street for the perfect opportunity to J-walk. "After you. If we've happened to walk into an empousai den I'd like to get a head start running."

As far as coffee shops go, it's a rather simple and forgettable: meant for quick pit stops. Though they do spot a few students with their laptops relaxed into the sofas pushed against the far wall.

Luke approaches the cashier. He orders his coffee black, to which Thalia wrinkles her nose. Maybe it's on purpose, she thinks, specifically so she won't be tempted to steal it from him.

"So," Luke says once he's finished paying and is ushered towards the pick-up counter, "any chance you'll tell me how you got a hole in that roof? Annabeth will be livid, you know."

"I know, which is why I don't plan on telling her what happened. Or anyone for that matter."

He bats his eyelashes. "Except me?"

Thalia rolls her eyes, but promptly caves. She ends up telling him the whole story – Aquila crashing through the roof, delivering his cryptic warning before taking off into the midnight sky, even her run-in with Percy and his promise to keep Aquila's appearance a secret.

"Sounds like he was being followed," Luke offers after listening to her spiel without interruption.

She shoves her hands into her coat pockets. "He should've stayed. I would have kept him safe."

"I'm sure he felt quite safe after the multiple times you tried to shoot him down like a wild turkey."

"We had an understanding," Thalia grumbles. "And I never went through with it."

"So, you let a bird with the power to bring Olympus to its knees out in the real world. Again." Ah, yes. The Ophiotaurus – yet another ultra-powerful monster she coincidentally lost track of. "This definitely won't come back to bite you in the ass."

She shrugs. "Yeah, well… maybe I deserve my spot on Reyna's little list."

"For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing," Luke says. "I can try talking to Hermes, seeing if he has any ways to track poultry. Though it might not amount to much if Aquila's gone this long undetected. You might have forgotten about him, but I doubt Artemis has."

Of course, her reaction to Thalia missing Aquila with Sagitta proved that the goddess had no qualms of shooting down wayward birds. Particularly ones that posed a threat to the Olympus's well-being. "Thanks anyway."

He snorts. "It seems, no matter what you do, trouble always has a way of finding you."

"My past has a way of finding me, you mean." Her lips purse. "I'm a demigod and a daughter of Zeus to boot. I don't think I'll ever be out of the clear.

"Do you ever wish—" The barista shouting his name cuts him off. Luke claims his mug. "Never mind," he quickly says as they walk towards the nearest table.

"No, go on." She takes the seat across from him. "As long as you aren't planning to overthrow Olympus again."

"Ha, ha. No, not that." He takes a long sip before speaking. "Sometimes, I wish I didn't know this world was out there. Wish I wasn't a half-blood. But then we would have never met. So much bad shit has happened to us over the years – we've fucked up a lot – but I wouldn't erase all the good stuff for anything else in the world."

"Neither would I," Thalia affirms.

"Still, sometimes it's nice to wish for a fresh start. An opportunity to leave all this… baggage behind."

"Yeah, I get it." Perhaps even more than Luke himself realizes. Of all the people in her life, Thalia cherishes Elpis the most. But she can never forget the circumstances that brought her daughter into being, and to have that sort of weight on her heart forever... "I—"

She doesn't get to finish that thought.

A barista appears before them, setting down a white mug on their table. "Hate to interrupt," she says sweetly. "Here's your drink, Thalia."

Her eyebrows furrow. "I didn't order anything. And how do you know my name?"

The barista smiles and winks. "It's on the house as long as we have a chat, you and I."

"Who—" She cuts herself off at the first sign of a familiar set of flaming red eyes. "Lady Hestia."

Luke stiffens. "Is something wrong? Is camp under attack?"

The goddess wipes her hands on her green apron. "Nothing of the sort. Even for any lingering enemies that do remain, my alter ego has it well under control."

The realization dawns on her. "You're not Hestia."

But the both of them are already hip to that little insight – the Hestia they know is a nine-year old girl that never leaves Camp Half-Blood. Not a teenage barista working a coffee shop in Manhattan. And though appearances can be deceiving when it comes to the gods – black hair versus brown hair, trading in a plain brown dress for a stained green apron – she even feels different. Stricter, more to the point.

Their confusion doesn't seem to faze the goddess. "I have a proposition for you, Thalia Grace. If only you could spare a minute of your time."

Grudgingly, she turns back to Luke. "Well, so much for a day off."

He stands immediately, dusting off his jacket. "It's fine. I'll go to the bathroom or something, give you guys a couple minutes."

"Sorry," she murmurs.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." The jibe isn't aimed at Thalia but she can feel its sting all the same. "If you need me, I'll be around."

The goddess readily slips into the now vacant seat across from the daughter of Zeus but they both wait for Luke to disappear down the hall before speaking.

"Lady Vesta," Thalia corrects herself this time around, though she still hasn't grown accustomed to the whole Greek-Roman fiasco after all these months (or, rather, years). "This is a welcomed surprise. I hope I haven't done anything wrong."

Vesta scrutinizes her. She puts a hand around Luke's mug and the coffee heats up to a gentle boil. "No, on the other hand, it seems as though you've been doing your best to stay under the radar."

"Guilty as charged." Thalia purses her lips. "My awakening proved to be inconvenient for most people. I rather not be more trouble."

Certainly not a lie. She had been deposited in the middle of her friend's lives as this new challenge they all of a sudden had to tackle. Though none of them would ever write her off as an inconvenience, there are times in the middle of the night when her guilt becomes all-consuming and Thalia just assumes they're all better off without her.

"Unfortunate, considering I want you to come to New Rome," the goddess says boldly and without consequence. She leans in, pressing her blazing hand on top of Thalia's. "We could do with a little more trouble."

"Why?" Even if her friends hadn't written her off as inconvenience, her presence has proven to be an unwanted conundrum to gods and demigods alike. Thalia's insurmountable baggage doesn't really allow her to be of any use to anyone other than stirring up a steaming pile of shit.

"I'm offering you… a job, as it were. A very important role in the structure of New Rome that I feel your abilities would be well-suited to."

Cautiously, Thalia draws back her hand and crosses her arms over her chest. "What kind of job is it? I think I'm a little too old for anything quest-related." Not that I'd accept anything that dangerous.

"You've heard of the Vestal Virgins."

It takes all her willpower not to snort. She's heard of them, alright – the only leadership position afforded to women during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. At least, until they proved too willful and were promptly disposed of through political marriages at the end of their service or, worse, being buried alive.

"I have." Thalia frowns. "A very important role indeed. Though I didn't think New Rome still had those sorts of archaic traditions."

"Much like Camp Half-Blood, many things have been updated for this new era we are living in. Slightly less misogyny and scapegoating."

So maybe I won't get buried alive the first second I step onto Roman soil? Her eyes flicker towards the bright neon sign that says Restrooms. Still no sign of Luke. "But not that much…"

"Not that much, no. Normally, you wouldn't even be eligible. The Romans typically choose from a group of young girls and they grow into their roles."

"Clearly, I'm not a little girl anymore." In more ways than one.

"No, you are not," Vesta sighs, as if seeing all the potential Thalia's lost with age. "Such a selection process, however, is not equipped to deal with a vacancy. Mei passed most unexpectedly and we now need someone close in age to the rest of the Vestals."

Color blooms across her cheeks. "I'm not a virgin."

Vesta isn't at all fazed by her confession, not that it was much of a surprise to begin with. "Which isn't required. Preferred, but not required."

"I still have a hard time believing I am anyone's first choice for what you say is an esteemed position."

"You're a war hero—"

"Traitor."

"Daughter of Zeus—"

"Wife of Kronos."

"Former huntress."

She almost laughs. "That got knocked up and had a kid."

Her eyes sharpen. "You restored power to the world order. To Olympus."

"And almost died, but I couldn't even do that right. I had to be stuck in a coma for five years." Which means five years of rumors spreading, five years of people talking about her behind her back, five years of being out of the loop. She sincerely doubts her reputation in New Rome will fair any better than her reputation here at Camp Half-Blood.

The goddess catches on quickly. "It doesn't matter. Vestals aren't elected." She splays her tanned fingers out on the table. "You're one amongst three candidates to be chosen by the Pontifex Maximus."

She purses her lips. "And who is this Pontifex Maximus?"

For a moment, Vesta only stares. "Jason Grace. Your brother."

Her mouth goes dry. "He hates me."

"He doesn't. He helped to save your life and he will choose you as the next replacement… if you wish it."

Thalia snorts. "Good ole Rome, still full of nepotism."

She hasn't spoken to Jason all this time, blaming it on his long-term European getaway with a Piper. But even with his return to California a couple weeks back, she still hadn't worked up the nerve to call him. Though from the way Vesta is talking, she clearly has been in contact with Thalia's brother.

But, Thalia tells herself as she pushes her guilt to the side once again, that's a problem for another day.

"Diana recommended you," Vesta says out of the blue.

Artemis. "Why?"

The goddess looks at her with a shocked albeit curious expression. It should be obvious, of course, how much Artemis cares about Thalia like no one ever has before. "A Huntress is always a favorite candidate for the sacred order. A way for her followers to leave without incurring shame or bodily harm."

Except Thalia had incurred both over the past decade, though perhaps not at the goddess's behest. If Artemis had recommended her…

"Thalia Grace, Vestal Virgin." It sounds strange on her tongue. "Not something I had envisioned."

"We should all take opportunities when they are presented to us," Vesta chastises, but it isn't as sharp as it could be, coming from a Roman goddess. Rather, a friend with surrogate mother vibes urging her not to be a fucking idiot.

"It's a chance for you to make a fresh start. You are still young enough to enroll in the University of New Rome. Your position would grant you free housing, a modest living stipend, a valued seat in the Senate, and citizenship for Elpis, of course." She takes a long sip of Luke's coffee before speaking again. "It also isn't forever, as what Diana typically requires. You would resume the contract from our dearly departed Mei. Eight years of service and then you are free to retire with the rest of the Vestals."

"Eight years." In her head it didn't seem long, especially since she'd spent nearly longer fighting against the Titan regime. Still…

Why do you hold back? says the small, critical voice in Thalia's head. She, of all people, should know the consequences of spurning the offer of a god. Yet, deep down, she knows that has no weight on her decision.

Vesta leans back when faced with Thalia's silence. "It is a commitment, I understand." She touches her hand again. "I will give you time to think on it."

"Thank you," she whispers, not quite trusting her voice. But when Thalia looks up from her cup of coffee, she finds Vesta herself has disappeared.

It doesn't take long for Luke to return after that. "Bathroom door was jam-…" his voice trails off at the sight of her grimace. He doesn't sit back down. "We should go."

Only on the way back to their parking spot does Thalia tell him about Vesta's job offer. Other than an obligatory congratulations, she can tell he's at a loss for words. So is she.

For the most part, their ride back to Camp Half-Blood is spent in silence. It's only when they catch sight of the sign, Delphi Strawberry Farms – 4 miles, that Luke smirks. "California, huh?"

"Where it all started," she responds with an exhale through her nose. California – where her and Jason were raised. Where they were separated. The place her mother had died and the place she'd run away from. Where she had been forced into marriage with Kronos, where Elpis and renewed hope in ending the war had been born. Where she had died.

"When do we leave?"

Her head whips around so fast Thalia almost sprains her neck. "We?" she scoffs.

"I'm coming with you, obviously."

Thalia stares at him for a long time, almost unsure of what to say. "I can't ask that of you, Luke." Though she'd be a liar if she said she was disappointed.

"I'm only here because of you and Four. And the only thing he really needs is a camp to be safe at. That'll be covered if he enrolls in Camp Jupiter. Which shouldn't be too hard – he's a nasty little thing and I doubt any initiation ceremony will beat him down too hard. Hell, maybe I can even use this to convince him to go to college in New Rome."

"But your job…?"

"Yes, camp bus driver and Reyna's secretary. It's my dream," Luke retorts. "Listen, I go through my day knowing everyone half expects me to betray them when the next new enemy shows its face. It doesn't matter how many times I help to save Olympus, they'll never forget what I did. It's why they made Reyna – a fucking stranger – director of Camp Half-Blood over me."

He grips the wheel a little tighter, as if realizing just how much pain he's just revealed to Thalia. She never knew he applied for the director position, and if she hadn't known she sincerely doubts Luke would have told anyone else. "I'm not tied to here anymore than you are. If you're going to travel across the country for a new start, I don't mind doing that either. But I'm not going to let you throw away this chance for a dumb reason like being alone."

Thalia clenches her teeth. "And if I just don't want to become a Vestal?"

"We both know that's bullshit," Luke says, simple as that. "I know you want to be remembered for something other than the Titan Lord's ex-wife."

She sighs. "I don't quite remember signing divorce papers."

"While I think stabbing Kronos with the Master Bolt is as good as any divorce paperwork, fine. Widow. Doesn't matter." He snorts. "The Thalia I know likes to feel important and totally in charge. Typical daughter of Zeus. This gig is perfect for you."

Thalia takes to nibbling her lip. "I'll have to talk to Jason."

"A talk long overdue," he adds.

Thalia blinks, taking another deep breath. "I'm scared, Luke," she admits.

"I know." He leans over to tap her knee and the gesture almost makes her sob. "And I'll always be here for you no matter what."

Tears leak out from her eyes. Luke doesn't acknowledge it, but he still holds onto the silence, giving her those precious moments to get herself together.

She laughs, her voice cracking a bit. "Is it too late to just run away again?"

"Like that ever solved any of our problems." A nostalgic smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "They always caught up with us eventually."

"I know. You can't blame me for trying, right?"

"We're too old now." Luke sighs this time. "Too comfortable with the idea of pensions, and coffee dates, and being role models. Just the other day Four said I make dad jokes."

"He's right you know."

"Traitor."

"Takes one to know one," she shoots back, a smile on her face.

He lets her think on it – they part ways as soon as they return to Camp Half-Blood, with Luke turning away towards the direction of the Big House.

Still, she can't stop turning his words over and over again in her mind.

"It doesn't matter how many times I help to save Olympus, they'll never forget what I did. It's why they made Reyna – a fucking stranger – director of Camp Half-Blood over me."

Her hands ball into fists. Time for thinking over.

Instead of marching towards Cabin 1, she steers on straight towards the fire pit. Truthfully, any other camp would deem a fire still lit past midnight a major safety violation, but it sort of helps that there's a nine-year old girl constantly watching the flames. As soon as Thalia feels the heat on her skin, the girl flickers into existence, sitting on a rotted log. She prods the red coals with a Celestial Bronze poker.

"Thalia Grace." Hestia smiles, though her eyes remain on the hearth. "Can I help you?"

She bites her lip. "I'm accepting your offer," Thalia says. "I want to go to New Rome. I want to become a Vestal Virgin."

Briefly, Hestia's form flickers again, but this time Thalia sees the other goddess that had interrupted her outing with Luke. "Put your hand in the fire."

"What?"

"Your hand. In the fire," she repeats, sweeter this time and with no sign of Vesta on the horizon. "To walk the path you seek, you must embrace the hearth. In turn, the hearth must embrace you."

"You're joking."

Hestia shrugs. "Afraid not. But you'll be fine."

Thalia takes a seat on the log beside her, dangerously close to the hearth. She extends her right hand, fingers trembling slightly. "So, just—"

An invisible force nudges her hand forward. She almost screams once plunged into the fire, expecting the heat to tear into her flesh. It doesn't. In fact, the flames feel strangely cold.

"Time for a change of allegiances," murmurs Hestia. Her eyes drift towards Kronos's mark on Thalia's arm. "Do you not agree?"

A spark on her forearm sputters to life – certainly not of her doing. If Thalia knows anything, it is that lightning and fire do not mix. The spark singes and she winces as it traces across the lines of black ink imbedded in her flesh.

She nearly stops breathing when the spark wipes them away like a magic eraser. Thalia remembers all the times she had scratched her arm raw in the hope that it would disappear just like this. Beneath all the black, Thalia can finally see the blue veins underneath.

The spark stops short when it reaches the imprint of his eye. Thalia tears her eyes away from the hearth to look at Hestia.

The goddess presses a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry it won't go away fully. That's the problem with curses – they're pretty hard to get rid of. Except by the person who casted it in the first place."

"It's fine," she musters out, desperate to keep the waterworks from making another appearance tonight. "Thank you."

Hestia leans over, withdrawing Thalia's hand from the flames. "You did well."

She studies her arm in the moonlight. The black lines do not return. "Is that all?"

The goddess simply nods. "I will speak with Jason at once." Hestia turns back to the hearth, a smirk tugging on her lips. "Welcome to the order, Thalia Grace."

Thalia keeps telling herself she'll actually find a real therapist one of these days. Not that she doesn't enjoy her sessions with Piper – in fact, it's pretty much the only way she ever gets to spend time with the daughter of Aphrodite, whose busy work schedule often has her divided between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. Turns out, an Aphrodite kid with some psychiatric training and charmspeaking ability is in high-demand for two camps wanting to ensure their PTSD-ridden war heroes don't jump off the nearest bridge.

"I'm fine," Thalia insists, per the usual. Though both of them know that nothing about this daughter of Zeus is ever fine.

Piper rolls her eyes. "Liar."

She leans back into the musty old sofa. "There's really nothing to report."

"Nothing happened this week? Are you sure?"

"Nothing," Thalia confirms. "I barely left Cabin 1."

"That's definitely a cause for concern." Piper jots down a few words in her notepad. "Any particular reason why?"

Thalia shakes her head.

Piper sighs. "You're bored," she suggests. Or depressed, but that remains unsaid.

Her eyes drift up towards the dusty ceiling. How Annabeth managed to capture the ancient, rotted interior of the previous Big House in this new 2.0 version is beyond her. "So? Boring is good, isn't it?"

"Good in that we're not kids trying to die on quests anymore," says Piper. "But we're still fidgety freedom fighters seeking out the next revolution."

"Well, unless there's a new rebellion for me to join up against an oppressive dictatorship, I doubt that problem is going to get fixed anytime soon."

"Thalia, sometimes rebellion isn't about fighting off a Titan regime. Sometimes rebellion can be something small, and something for ourselves." Piper slowly sets down her notebook and relaxes into her armchair. "I used to steal fancy Mercedes and take them out on joy rides. Not the safest outlet for my emotions, but a way for me to rebel against the man – namely my dad, who wasn't the best at paying attention to me at the time. I felt like doing that allowed me to regain some sort of control over my life, however misguided."

She gives a brief, uncomfortable chuckle. "Just to be clear, you're not encouraging me to steal cars?"

"Definitely not." Piper smiles. "But it's hard fitting in now, having to follow all these rules. It'll be worse in New Rome."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Thalia blurts out before she can stop herself. Piper, on the other hand, seems more than pleased that she's finally gotten this stubborn daughter of Zeus to open up.

She purses her lips. "On… Othrys, you remember the eyeliner we got for you?"

"I'd never forget."

"Even when times were rough, I knew if you could manage some sick wings nearly every day then we were going to make it through."

Thalia can't help but smile. "That iconic, was it?"

Her eyes soften. "Those little acts of rebellion, Thalia. They're more important than you realize."

"Yeah, I guess they are," she concedes.

"What Kronos did to us… it was pretty heavy shit. Stuff like that leaves scars that we don't even realize."

The therapist-client atmosphere fades away in an instant, leaving behind just two bruised and battered friends. Two survivors.

Piper continues, "A few months after the war, I found myself still waking up at the crack of dawn with this insane urge to clean everything in sight. I was safe now but some deep part of me thought that, if I didn't do it, there'd be dire consequences. Then, one day, I decided that I was done letting some idiot Titan control me from beyond the grave. Jason agreed to help once I told him what was wrong with me. We just drank a shit ton of coffee one night and binge-watched Jane the Virgin until 7am."

"Really?" Thalia tries to hold back a chuckle. In a way, she's surprised at how calm she is about Piper dating her brother despite her initial shock of having two parts of her life – her former life in California before Camp Half-Blood and her imprisonment on Othrys – interacting in the most unusual way. "How'd you convince him to do that?"

"It's actually a really great show once you get past the title," she chuckles. "By the time dawn rolled around, I was so exhausted. I couldn't even think about scrubbing floors, just a soft pillow to lay my head on."

"And you were fixed? Just like that?"

"If only," Piper snorts. "It took some time, a couple more all-nighters. But that first step towards wanting to change made all the difference."

Slowly, Thalia nods.

The daughter of Aphrodite crosses her legs. "So, what's something you want to change?"

Cabin 10 isn't particularly hard to find. Other than it's pink Barbie dollhouse exterior, it has a habitat of blasting Top 50 pop music when all the kids are away in school. Normally, she avoids the cabin like the plague, barricading herself in Cabin 1 and blasting Nico's early 2000s Emo Trash Shit playlist on Spotify to drown out the noise. But now that she's following Piper's recommendations…

"I don't care, I love it, I don't care
You're on a different road, I'm in the milky way
You want me down on earth, but I am up in space
You're so damn hard to please, we gotta kill this switch"

"You're from the 70's, but I'm a 90's bitch,"Thalia hums as she comes to a stop at the door.

Her fist hovers above the door, ready to pound, but nerves get the best of her. What am I even supposed to say? In the moment, she nearly turns back until she remembers just how annoying a disapproving Piper can be.

But, before Thalia makes the decision to knock or retreat, the door swings open. She almost cringes when she sees a blonde 12-year old with just a little too much highlighter on her cheeks.

The girl looks her up and down. "Can I help you?"

At the first sound of attitude, Thalia's inner mom rises up, itching to put the camper in her place. She quickly quells those feelings, masking them with a smile. "I need a favor."

She hesitates. "I'm not at—"

"I need you to cut my hair."

"I crashed my care into the bridge
I don't care, I love it"

Her eyebrows furrow. "You want… a makeover?"

The music stops.

Another Aphrodite girl – this one exceptionally familiar to Thalia – shoulders her way through.

"Drew."

She gives Thalia a tight nod before widening the door and beckoning her in with a tilt of her head. Slowly, Thalia steps inside where she finds no other campers – most of them probably at school right now – just a dozen boxes milling around on the floor.

She looks back to Drew. "You're moving out?"

She clicks her tongue for a moment, shoving her hands into the front pockets of her jeans. "Yeah. Reyna approved my relocation into the city and I figured it's about time for me to be a real adult." She smiles briefly. "I was on my way out, actually, but then someone said makeover."

"A haircut," Thalia emphasizes. "Nothing more."

"I can work with that."

She's ushered to the back of the cabin which seems like its own salon: a dozen wide-bowl sinks on one side, the other with a dozen smooth leather round chairs in front of lit up vanities.

Thalia sits.

The other Aphrodite girl – Jordan, as she now recalls – fetches scissors.

Silently, Drew unbraids Thalia's hair, running her sharpened nails through the thick black waves. "Anything particular in mind?"

Thalia shrugs. "A pixie."

Her nose wrinkles. "Not very specific."

"Because I don't care. Whatever you want, so long as all this is gone. Piper's orders."

Drew's fingers catch on a knot and she gives out a bitter laugh. "I couldn't agree more considering you don't seem like the type to care for it. You had servants for that." She turns back towards Jordan before the atmosphere can turn uncomfortable at the mention of their shared imprisonment. "Scissors and hair clippers."

Thalia's chair is turned away from the mirror. "You plan to surprise me?"

"Of course."

The buzzing clippers lull them into a long period of silence. In a way, Thalia finds it relaxing: Drew's fingers weaving through her scalp, the vibrating blades pressed against her neck, the sound of scissors snipping, the weightlessness she feels with every lock of hair that falls away.

You want to cut your hair?

His voice – rarely playful – but it had certainly been in that stolen moment in the war room. An amusing time for them both, though with Thalia still preoccupied by her own plan: ensuring Percy and Nico's survival. A plot Kronos had been more than aware of.

You'd never humor the idea. An undeniable truth: he would always keep her appearance in whatever way most resembled Rhea no matter what. We know both it would be a wasted thought, she told him, and Kronos readily agreed before fucking her on top of that table and Metis's poor map.

"Nasty scar," Drew comments, drawing Thalia out of her memories.

Her fingers fly to her cheek, to that scar. "Yeah," she murmurs while having her chair rolled over to the sink. "A lot of them are."

Drew presses down on a lever, lowering the back of the chair and letting Thalia rest her neck on the rim of the bowl. "Same." Before turning on the water, she lifts up her sleeve to reveal her tatted forearm – green vines do a good job of distracting from horizontal and vertical scars, all curling around a pink lotus flower.

Even as her head is placed under the running water and she closes her eyes, Thalia can still picture every detail of the tattoo.

"Clarisse and Chris opened a parlor in Queens – also operates as a solid rendezvous point when tracking down the occasional demigod," Drew says. "They were more than happy to work on the cover-up."

At this point, all she can hear is Piper's voice. So, what would you like to change? A seed of a thought, now turning into a full-blown weed. Thalia rolls her eyes.

"Half-off for fellow half-blood veterans," Drew continues. "They know how triggering scars can be."

Thalia bites her lip as she is rolled back in front of the vanity. "Write me down the address?"

Drew runs a towel over Thalia's hair and sends Jordan for the hair dryer before answering with a devilish grin. "Of course."

Elpis finds the idea of tattoos both terrifying and exhilarating.

Thalia kneels on the floor of Cabin 1 in front of the door-length mirror, trying not to laugh at her daughter. But the smile lines around her eyes betray her.

Elpis holds a bottle of tattoo lotion, her eyes wildly tracing the intricate patterns of the large tattoo on Thalia's right shoulder. "So, I just touch it?"

"Yes. Preferably with the lotion on your hands."

"But what if it comes off?"

"It won't. It's like drawing a picture on your skin with Sharpie but… worse. And forever."

"So, like the one on your arm?"

She fights the urge to cover the golden eye on her forearm. "Better than that one. No evil magic required, just a big needle."

That seems to satisfy her enough to get Elpis to rub the lotion on her mother's back. Thalia hums her approval, her mind following the avian outline on her skin that Elpis rubs over with smooth, thin fingers.

To most of her friends and acquaintances, Thalia's first-ever tattoo had no significant meaning – just an eagle, maybe to allude to her status as a daughter of Zeus. Only Percy and Luke know the truth. There's only one golden eagle roaming these parts, a major threat to Olympus, yet a secret she intends on taking to the grave. Loyalty is the only way she knows how to honor one of her last Constellations.

"Can I get one?" Elpis asks when she's finished, setting the bottle down on the floor.

Thalia almost snorts. As a young single mother, she knows half of Elpis's school already considers her a terrible parent for that fact alone, disregarding the former traitor and wife of Kronos part. "No, definitely not. Only when you're older. But, you can help me decide what I want to get next."

Thalia coats her hands with another layer of lotion and rubs it on her second tattoo, this one far more accessible: a black-tipped arrow covering the scythe wound that had nearly ended her life. Sagitta – Titan-Killer. She grins every time she looks at it.

She soon lathers up her third and most recent tattoo: a crescent moon between her breasts, hiding the puncture scars from Kronos's nails.

Elpis's face lights up. "Can I draw it?"

"I believe that's Chris's job. Though I'm sure he'll be needing an assistant for such a monumental task."

Her eyes seem to sparkle. "Okay, I have an idea." She dashes over to a corner of the room, rummaging through her discarded backpack. She rips out a school notebook and tears off a page scribbled in words Thalia can actually read.

As Elpis gets closer, Thalia realizes there's only one word on the paper, written over and over again: ἐλπίς

"It's your name."

"But in Ancient Greek!" It's the first time Thalia has ever seen Elpis excited over a school assignment. "We were learning the alphabet today and Ms. Rachel said I had the best handwriting out of everyone."

"I agree," Thalia says, trying to contain her laugh. "When I was your age, they tried to teach us cursive in school. Mine definitely didn't look so nice."

Elpis beams. She raises her eyebrows expectantly. "So…?"

"Your name." Thalia points to the thin scar just above her pelvis. "I know exactly where to put it."

The next time Nico stops by Camp Half-Blood he's shocked – though not really that surprised – to find the new Thalia greeting him.

"It was about time," he says instead, cautiously poking at her newly pierced ears and eyebrow. "Very bad bitch extraordinaire if you ask me. Definitely your kind of look."

"Funny, Luke said the same."

Along with: Way to take Piper's words to heart. But he'd been happy for her too, especially when something as simple as cleaning out her piercings with saline to keep them from getting infected got her out of bed in the morning.

Thalia laughs. "I'm headed to Camp Jupiter and my life is about to turn upside down so I guess out with the old, in with the new."

A month ago, those words might have been said with less glee. Now it seems lighter, something more than just mild acceptance. Excitement, even?

"I wish I was going with you," Nico admits with a twinge of sadness.

Thalia feels that pain too. Sure, Nico has his own life and maybe she isn't as attached to the hip with him like she is with Luke, or like they used to be during the war, but he's still always been there for her. After all, he'd been the first to see her wake up and, now, for him to be so far…

"As Ambassador to Pluto, I'm sure you'll find your way to New Rome eventually." She puts on a brave face. "Until then, if you ever need me, I'm only a phone call away."

He nods. "Right back at you. Don't be a stranger."

The door to the Big House flies open. "Di Angelo," Luke calls, throwing the last of his luggage out on the front lawn. He makes his way down the steps, a silent Four trailing in his wake. "You almost look like you haven't spent three months in the Underworld."

Nico shrugs. "Persephone invested in a tanning bed."

The door opens again. This time, Reyna steps out onto the porch and Nico gives her a little wave.

"I suppose this is goodbye," she says rather awkwardly and it's a feeling that Thalia can certainly empathize with. She had never made the time to get to know Reyna well – probably because of the whole Bellerophon Initiative thing which Thalia knew she had no control over. "Please don't burn New Rome down while tending to the sacred fire."

"I will try my absolute best not to."

Reyna gives her a simple nod, perhaps sensing Thalia's sincerity. She rummages in her pocket for a set of keys and tosses them to Luke. "Don't wreck my house, Castellan, or I will have my dogs tear you apart."

"Not a problem, boss lady." He does a quick double take. "Or, I guess, former boss lady."

"Find Dakota in the Twelfth Legion," she says to him. Reyna touches his shoulder, and for a moment it almost seems like she's sad to see him go. "He'll get you settled in and kick your ass for me in my absence."

"Wonderful," Luke mutters, just as Elpis and Helias come sprinting from the direction of the camp stables.

"We finally said goodbye to all the pegasi," says Elpis when she comes to a halt right in front of Thalia, nearly out of breath. "Helias cried the whole time."

"I did not!" the boy retorts, wiping the white lines of salt from his red cheeks.

Luke and Thalia lock eyes – cue to leave before they're privy to another argument between stubborn eight-year-olds. Sometimes she could hardly tell if Helias and Elpis hated each other's guts or secretly enjoyed all the time they spent with one another. Being the only Demi-Titan in existence is hard enough. Having someone else to share that burden helps to lighten the load – the only reason Piper, now Helias's adoptive mother, had allowed him to stay the extra weeks at Camp Half-Blood with Thalia and Elpis while she made her return to New Rome.

He claps his hands. "Enough chit-chat. Everyone grab a bag. We're running late."

With a final wave to Reyna, they finally head off in the direction of Half-Blood Hill. Thalia takes a final sweep of the familiar layout, deciding that perhaps she will miss this dingey old place just a bit. A few campers wave to them, wishing them luck.

By the old pine tree, they find a white SUV waiting, surrounded by more familiar faces: Annabeth and Percy, even Will Solace.

Solace glances at his watch as soon as they approach. "Could you have taken any longer? We still need to beat rush hour!"

"What can we say, goodbyes can't be rushed," Nico shrugs. "Trust me, I tried."

"You're damn right they won't be rushed," Percy retorts. "Come here you two."

"Ugh, Percy," Thalia hisses once enveloped her into his embrace. "If you start mother hen-ing me—"

He releases her before she can shock him, a smile on his face. "Please, that's Annabeth's job."

Another set of arms wrap around her and Thalia doesn't complain at all this time. "We're gonna miss you a lot," says Annabeth, her voice hoarse and face wet.

Her eyebrows furrow. "Tears?"

Annabeth shrugs, pawing at her face. "Yeah, I do that now."

"She does in fact. Annabeth with real emotions performing regular human antics. Who would've thought?"

That earns him a poke in the ribs. "Oh, shut up, Seaweed Brain."

"For what it's worth, I'll miss you all a lot too," Luke replies, though he doesn't seem so ready to make the same grand gestures in terms of bone crushing hugs and a waterfall of tears. "That just means we'll have to make a bigger effort to stay in touch."

Annabeth nods in agreement, her gaze softening as she stares at him. Perhaps thinking about everything the three of them have been through. "For sure."

Percy grins. "Don't you worry about that. New Rome is our alma mater. I'm sure we can make enough excuses to find our way back."

She laughs, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Trust me, once you get our daily IMs, you'll be sick of us."

"Good." Thalia gives her a sad smile. "Don't forget about me."

Luke snorts. "Impossible once a Thalia Grace enters your life."

The trunk slams shut and they all glance Nico's direction. "Everything's all packed." He dusts off his hands. "You ready?"

Thalia opens her mouth to speak but the words don't come as readily as she would like.

"Ready as we'll ever be," Luke answers for her. He takes Elpis's hand, leading her, Helias, and Four to their seats in the car.

Thalia tunes out the subsequent exchange of goodbyes between them and Annabeth and Percy, instead turning towards the tree. Her tree.

She touches the bark in a silent farewell. Certainly not the first time she's done this, and it certainly won't be the last – Thalia does intend to visit – but this time just feels different. Something she can't put into words.

"Ready," she says finally.

After a final round of hugs – far more crushing than the last round – Thalia finally slips into the backseat. Elpis grabs her hand, quelling her racing heart.

"Here's to hoping we don't get ambushed by a pod of monsters on the way there," Nico says rather cheerfully.

"I doubt any monster is bold enough to make us late for our flight," Solace grumbles as he puts the car into drive. They all wave to Percy and Annabeth, descending down Half-Blood Hill. "If anything, I'm more worried about the traffic."

In a strange way, Thalia hopes the traffic is bad enough to make them miss their flight, delay their departure for another day or another week. Of course, the second she wishes for it, the traffic to JFK is unusually light for a drive through the city and they arrive at their terminal in no time at all.

Nico and Will are quick to unbuckle and unload the luggage. The kids fly out their seats, perhaps not quite aware yet just how boring the line through TSA is bound to be.

Luke, perceptive as always, gives her one last look of concern. "It's not too late to turn back."

She takes a deep breath. "It is."

They leave the car together.

The nerves on her face must be more than apparent since she's sure Nico notices too. "I know how much you hate flying. We can postpone the flight."

"Yeah, I think I'd hate a week of driving with Luke and three kids way more. Especially since we'd be ambushed at every pit stop." She grabs a hold of her suitcase and steels herself one last time. "No, this is safer. I'm fine, I just… I'm really going to miss you guys."

"No one's dying, Thalia," Will says, giving her a wry smile. "We'll see you very soon."

He's more correct than he realizes, Thalia thinks. Most of her goodbyes have ended on a note of finality – her multiple encounters with death, her joining the Hunters, her return to Mount Othrys after being captured – coupled with the uncertainty of when or if she would ever see her friends and family again. But this time is different, a good sort of different she now realizes. This is an end with the promise of a reunion very soon. The end of a chapter in her life rather than the story of her life.

"I know," she replies, though this is the first time Thalia recalls meaning it.

She spares a glance down at Elpis, blue eyes brimming with a familiar impatience – a silent let's get on a move on already. Thalia smiles. "Time to go, Elpis."

And that is all folks! Honestly, it's taken me close to a decade just to finish this fic and I want to give a special thank you to all the people have been on this ride since the very beginning. But also the ones who decided to give it a chance (one person as recently as 3 days ago). I hope this ending did this monster of a story justice - I always intended to leave it a bit open-ended just in case I ever wanted to follow up with a one-shot or two.

For once last hoorah, leave as many wonderful reviews as you can since they've all brought me such joy over the years. And for anyone wanting to tune in to more Defiance material, check out Cataclysm for a very Rhea-centered prequel.