This is the last chapter. It's been this long, but it's finally over. Parting is such bittersweet sorrow, and a final thank you to anybody who ever favorited/followed/reviewed this story, and I just appreciate it so much!

(because right now this feels like the worst thing i've ever written)

Annabeth POV

"Are you nervous?" Annabeth asked her best friend, who was clad in an unsurprisingly unconventional wedding dress: a red and black one, all lace overlay on a full oxblood-hued skirt and high waist. All the decor was to match: a red tablecloth, black chandelier, and somehow Zeus Grace had found red and black wineglasses from only God knew where.

"You've asked me that question at least three times, Annabeth. And every single time my answer has been the same. Do you realize that this is insanity, sometimes categorized as doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results?" Thalia was pacing maniacally now, and every time she moved, the heavy chiffon and tulle of her dress made crinkling noises.

"You'll wrinkle your gown if you continue to do that!" scolded Silena, but it was clearly half-hearted because Thalia had done this at least three times by now, and her hair was coming undone.

"If you're not nervous, why on earth must you insist on acting like it?" interjected Annabeth.

"It's exactly as you said; I'm acting nervous. After all, what in the heavens would I have to be nervous about? It's not as if someone would object when the priest says 'speak now or forever hold your peace'' or he'll leave me at the altar when he discovers what I have to say, or-"

"Shush, no one is objecting, he is most likely not to leave you, that's the cue, and everyone in their places!" Silena called authoritatively.

The last thing anyone heard before the bridal march started was Thalia saying," Most likely?"

"You cried when Thalia came down the aisle," Percy accused, as they listened to the happy couple say their vows.

"I did no such thing!" Annabeth protested with a laugh, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her red silk bridesmaid dress with an Empire waist. But no amount of preening would hide her eyes -swollen and red from crying- or stained handkerchief, wet with tears.

"Yes, you did!" her companion chuckled, sliding an arm around his wife's bare shoulders.

"For the last time, Percy, I don't cry. Now be quiet, this is the good part," she commanded, smacking his hand off of her.

"Do you, Thalia Grace, take Nico di Angelo, to be your lawfully wedded husband?" asked the bored-looking priest.

"I do," Thalia stated, tears shining in her eyes as brightly as her smile shone on her face.

"And do you, Nico di Angelo, take Thalia Grace to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Nico replied, his usually somber face breaking out into a grin at the words.

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Across the room, Annabeth rested her hand on Percy's arm leaning back against her husband.

"Do you think she's told him yet?" she murmured.

"No, and he won't find out any sooner if you keep watching them!" Percy whispered back with a chuckle.

"But this is important!" the blonde protested, turning around and folding her arms across her chest awkwardly- well, really just the one, because in the other, she held their daughter (After many long debate-like-conversations, Sally Athena Jackson.)

"I will make you a deal."

"What sort of deal?"

"If you go for an entire song's worth of a dance with me -without looking over at them to see if Thalia's told him yet- I will do whatever you want for an entire day. Anything. Just dance with me."

Annabeth mimed a pose of deep thought, then told him, "But don't you already do that?"

"Without putting up a fight, then. Come on, Wise Girl. For me?"

"And what of Sally?" She smiled, watching Percy squirm.

Athena appeared out of nowhere, and said, "Give me my granddaughter, Annabeth."

Percy chimed in. "Yes, give her Sally, Annabeth."

She shot dirty looks at the two of them, before snapping accusatorily, "The two of you are conspiring against me! Mother, I thought you hated Percy!"

"Oh, don't be silly. I simply wanted to spend time with my only grandchild, and he obliged. Must you be so paranoid?" Athena chastised.

"There are no excuses left, so why don't you just agree?" Percy cajoled.

Annabeth sighed. "I suppose you'll get your way... this time.'' The blonde passed her child to her mother and took her husband's waiting hand.

meanwhile, Thalia's POV

Thalia bit her lip, nervous, her teeth scraping off her raspberry-hued lipstick ahd leaving blood in its place.

"Do you regret marrying me?" There's a teasing lilt to his voice, but she gets the feeling that if she peeled it away she'd find real fear, real worry.

"No, that's not it at all!" Her voice fills with reassurance, mingled with hurt because he hurt thinking she could possibly feel regret at being Thalia di Angelo.

"What troubles you, then? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Thalia looks away, wedging her lower lip between her teeth, tasting the waxiness of lipstick and salt-sharp flavour of blood.

""Hey. Look at me," His touch is gentle yet firm, like his voice as her nudges her chin up with one hand, brushing off the blood welling on her lip.

"I'm pregnant."

She can't do anything after the proclamation tumbles from her mouth, paralyzing her so all she does is stare at him. Is this the last time she'llever kiss those lips, dance in those arms, wipe tears from those eyes? Wait... tears?

"Is this something you want?" He asks her, hands tender on his waist, his voice mirroring his grip again.

"She swallows, runs the idea through her head, allows herself to for the first time since she's found out, vows to be a better mother than her mother, envisions children with dark hair and dark eyes, maybe blue eyes.

"It's what I want."

And in the end, this is why she married him, why she loves him: because he's her everything, and she's his, and he always put his everything first.