I don't own Percy Jackson! That goes to Rick Riordan.

Its not like Thalia regretted her decision. She loved serving Artemis. But it never kept her from thinking about him.

She tried to hate him, really, she did. She would curse him and his stupid boy head until she ran out of words to call him. Then she would go back through the list another two times and maybe a third is she was really feeling down that day.

But she never meant it. She would be the first to admit that she had once thought about the Gods the same way he did. And so she couldn't hate him.

She knew that she could cry, and hurt, and feel betrayed all she wants, but never, ever did she possess the ability to let him go.

Even before, when they were out on their own, she couldn't.

At first, they had something really great going for them. They would flirt, and laugh, and have deep conversations with each other. And just as it was about to go somewhere, they found Annabeth.

Thalia loved the girl, really, but she couldn't help but hold some bitterness towards her. It wasn't the seven-year-olds fault, it was Luke's. But, like always, she couldn't blame him.

He pushed her away, said it wasn't appropriate to be together in front of Annabeth.

She'd later learn that Luke always had an excuse.

Thalia gave her life for him. She got turned into a freaking pine tree for him(part of her would like to believe it was for Annabeth and Grover too, but she knew better). And what waited for her when she woke? Her camp almost in ruins. And he, he had tried to kill her.

And the next winter, Thalia finally saw him again. But he was different.

Annabeth had tried to tell her about how much he'd changed, but no amount of warning could've prepared her for the heartbreak.

As they battled, Thalia met his eyes. She remembered his words perfectly.

"Sorry Thals, It never would've worked out." Luke had said.

She had managed to hide her tears, but the humiliation was unbearable.

So she pushed him off the cliff.

Imagine her anger when she learned the Idiot was still alive. He could never just let her alone.

And then finally Percy's sixteenth birthday came.

She fought hard and long beside her sisters. And once again she fought for Luke. Because even though she thought Annabeth was a little naïve for hoping he'd come back, she (and she'd never admit it out loud) had a bit of hope too.

She followed them to Olympus when Kronos invaded. Even though she never told anyone (and she never will) she only went to see him once last time. Heartbreak or no, she had to see his perfectly marred face one more time. But she never got to.

She'd go to Hades before she'd ever stop cursing Hera for stopping her.

She had fought for near three days, and she got plugged up by a Gods-damned statue.

She had tried not to cry when Luke's body was burned, but she couldn't hold it back.

Artemis didn't say a word, and she was grateful.

Being immortal had it's advantages though. She had all the time in the world to think it over, and she did. A lot.

It took her all of fifty years to realize it. Luke was right.

It was never meant to be for them. Luke was her forbidden item. The off-limits piece of candy that she never stopped chasing. She may not have gotten to taste it, but the sweet smell always lingered.