A/N: Thanks to everyone who has kept up with the story so far, and for those who are just getting a look at it for the first time. Also want to personally thank justawriter33 and mbfJennifer for their input, help and support in my creative process (and just general randomness). Without further ado, hope this chapter wows you all..

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

I had returned to the hunter's camp a couple of hours before my deadline from Lady Artemis, but honestly I didn't want to have to see Percy locked up like some kid on bad behaviour because of me. Even if the truth was that he was being kept on restricted access to anywhere. Artemis had already informed me beforehand that the other hunters knew that I could very possibly be excused from their ranks and oath. It made me sad looking at them all, and I knew behind each of their glances and smiles were many thoughts and questions just itching to get out.

I had settled down rather reluctantly in my tent, avoiding as many of the other girls as I possibly could. I personally wished that I could be back in Olympus right now, in Lady Artemis' temple again. My thoughts were unfortunately interrupted as the Goddess entered with our best tracker, and my second in command, Phoebe. I politely showed my lady her due respect and plopped back onto my makeshift bed.

"Thalia, I wanted to discuss who your successor might be, to cover our bases ahead of time." I nodded in understanding, whether I fully agreed with the situation still or not. It really was all going by so fast, and I secretly worried that I would forget about Percy and my new stirring well of emotions.

"My lady, I take it you mean for Phoebe to take over as your lieutenant, if I were to depart?" I glanced between the two and got a sympathetic nod for my answer. "Yes, but we are also in the process of recruiting other worthy candidates as well." My curiosity might have gotten the better of me as I wondered aloud who that might be. "Other worthy candidates? Phoebe is one of our best."

I looked a little nervous as lady Artemis responded in kind to my unusual line of thinking tonight. "At the moment, there are four specific girls we are trying to recruit, and I would appreciate your opinion on all of them. Your help recruiting them would be even more wanted, since you are still my lieutenant." I forced a smile but it wasn't because I was unhappy with the situation. "I understand, please tell me who they are."

Lady Artemis began with the first two, the two most obvious choices. "Katie Gardner and Annabeth Chase." She looked to Phoebe and then myself, as I thought of my response. "I really don't think Annabeth is an advisable choice anymore, considering..." I let my sentence trail off, not daring to finish the thought we all shared. "Katie on the other hand, she seems to have a growing distaste for boys but I'm uncertain if she's currently skilled enough to be much leadership wise. She would be a good addition I think, she just doesn't cross me as the type to actively pursue battles willingly yet."

I groaned inwardly as I kept my gaze fixed on lady Artemis. "I see then. I thought as much with both girls already, it's good to know you share the same inclinations." She paused for just a moment before asking about the other girls. "The other two are a bit younger but both seem to have the right potential. A girl of Athena named Alexis, and one from my brother who is called Elyssa. Both are just barely older than Bianca was upon her joining."

I looked over at Phoebe finally, for the first time in quite a few minutes. "What do you think of all this?" She gulped and smiled nervously before replying. "It's true that you would be allowed to help out some with the hunt still, correct?" Oh my gods, I had nearly forgotten what father had said at the lake during all the recent commotion. I smiled brightly and looked at lady Artemis for assurance. "I do believe so, yes." I answered a bit cheerfully.

"Lady Artemis, I personally believe that Phoebe should be next in line for your lieutenant. I will still be around either way for an advisory role, and would gladly lend my assistance with battles." We all three looked satisfied and pleased with this discussion and outcome. Artemis spoke softly before leaving the tent with Phoebe. "Thalia, tomorrow we try and gain a few new recruits for the hunt, just in case." I nodded, watching them both leave as I laid down to finally sleep.

(Annabeth's P.O.V.)

I heard from the Stoll brothers that Percy had been summoned to camp, and was in the big house. I knew that now was the perfect chance for me to talk to him and hopefully sort out our whole misunderstanding. I was confident that as a child of Athena, there wasn't anything I couldn't make him see or talk through to him about. It was early in the morning and I knew breakfast wouldn't be for a little while longer. I had no activities until much later in the afternoon, so now was the perfect time for this.

It only took me a few moments to reach the big house, and Chiron hesitantly told me which room was now Percy's. He didn't go into any further detail than that, something seemed a little odd about the whole situation but I knew it shouldn't be hard for that seaweed brain to spill it all to me. I smiled deviously as I knocked on the bedroom door.

"C'mon in.." Came the familiar call from inside the room. "Hey there, Percy." I tried to say as politely as possible as I entered his room. It looked an awful lot like the Poseidon cabin he had stayed in for so many years, it unnerved me a little bit but at the same time made me happy to see that he hadn't really changed any. "I was uh, hoping we could talk some." He gave me a suspicious stare and I had no choice but to admit a little bit to him. "I know that I wasn't exactly fair to you, while I was working on restoring Olympus." I swear I heard him slightly snort at the comment, I just shrugged it off and kept going.

"Percy, listen please. I'm sorry that I got too caught up in my work and everything and ended up forgetting about you some. We've had some rough patches before, but it always works out between us and you mean the world to me." I could see the wheels inside his saltwater head turning slowly as he thought about it all. "I'm not really going anywhere for a while, so do you mind if I think about it?"

Ha, that idiot think about it? This is so in the bag. I smiled smugly at him, thinking how much easier this had been that I thought it would. "Of course, Percy. I'll be back by tomorrow to see you. I look forward to the good news." I confidently left his room feeling happy as I headed out to the pavilion for breakfast.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

What? Perseus, you can't seriously be thinking of letting that girl be with you again! Have you completely lost your mind? The voice in my head crooned loudly as Annabeth left the room. "What do you mean? She's been one of my best friends for years and I really loved her a lot." I answered to myself, unsure completely why I was talking out loud. I had been having these conversations more and more frequently since becoming a God.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. She might have cared seriously about you once, but think about what she told you just now. She failed to bring up the fact she cheated on you. She made it all sound like it was such a simple mistake and there was never really any harm done. The voice grew more persistent and I was starting to worry I was seriously losing my mind. I took a heavy sigh as I swallowed hard on my former emotions and terribly mixed feelings. "I can't believe she would be so underhanded towards me... this is like before the battle with Kronos. So does she seem me as convenient or something?"

I worried about what the answer would be, but I didn't hear anything in return. I silently sat there on my bed for what seemed like hours on end, but no helpful voice or extra thoughts pushed me in the direction to go. I sighed heavily as I much have spent a couple more hours thinking about everything. I could see from out the window that the sun would be setting before long, and I hadn't really come to a definite decision for anything. I was really starting to doubt myself and lose hope on ever being happy or sane.

"Perseus, I will always hold onto your hope, even when it seems the hardest. Have you already forgotten that?" I cast my eyes up from the floor to see Hestia smiling at me softly. "You trusted me with your hope once before, and I won't ever let you lose sight of it." It immediately hit me that it had been her voice inside of my head all this time, reminding me of the truth.

"Lady Hestia..." my tongue started to fail itself as I fought for to form the words in my mouth. "I don't know what to do. I thought I had dealt with my issues and Annabeth, but I feel like accepting godhood was just a way to run away from the problem." I tried to not look at pathetic as I felt, but I smiled at her anyway. I mean, it was nearly impossible to not feel at home and peaceful around her, even if everything inside my head was so jumbled.

"Are you really that scared of what the truth might be? I think perhaps you're just worried that Thalia will do the same as Annabeth. Percy, trust her and yourself. Tell her how you really feel inside and if she can accept that from you, then you will have found something that Annabeth never truly offered." I nodded as I carefully listened and thought of what she said, it was so comforting and seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear, even if I had already heard it countless times already.

"Remember, despite everything you've had to face so far, you have yet to give up hope. Even when it was all you had left. You trusted me before with your hope, I will not let you ever lose it." My face brightened and I smiled a little bigger at the young looking Goddess in front of me. "When you find it hard trusting in yourself, trust in me and the other people who you know won't let you down. Your hope is always kept in your heart. Use it."

Just as simple as that she was gone and everything seemed a lot clearer than it had been for quite a while. I knew that good or bad, I wouldn't give up on what I felt right now. I had to find a way to let that special someone know that I chose her, now I just had to figure out how. The idea struck me like a tidal wave that had come crashing down on an unsuspecting island. I quickly thanked my father and aunt, and began to set my plan into motion.

I knew that Chiron and Dionysus would be getting back from dinner soon, so I proceeded downstairs to meet them when they got back with what I considered to be an excellent proposal. It didn't really take that long for them to get back and both seemed slightly surprised to see me awaiting them with a very big and ridiculous grin on my face.

"Dionysus, Chiron.. I had a crazy idea while I was up considering things today." Both gave each other wary glances before I continued. "I would like to take over as the Director of Camp Half-Blood, in your place, cousin. With a small condition." Mr. D's face seemed to get an excited expression as he motioned me to continue. "You have my utmost attention now, Percy."

"I would like to speak with father, Lord Zeus, and the rest of the council about my intentions. First though, I would like to see Artemis, Thalia and Annabeth." Chiron looked at me like I was insane, asking for all three to be in the room with me while I made what was most undoubtedly my choice. Dionysus just nodded gleefully and proceeded to grant my first request and carry out the second.

"Percy, are you sure about what your doing?" I smiled and hugged my centaur mentor. "More than anything, and will you please get Annabeth for me?" He still looked a little worried as he galloped away in the fresh moonlight. I went to the meeting room inside of the big house, knowing it would be just moments before my eternal life took a more permanent turn.

(Dionysus's P.O.V.)

I wasn't going to waste any time on this idea. Even if he had been a frequently annoying younger cousin a good deal of the time and besides helping protect my son Castor in the battle for Olympus before, he was offering me a loophole out of this accursed job of watching snot faced brats train and whine all day.

I informed my sisters first, Artemis and Thalia, before heading to Mount Olympus and tracking down the Gods and Goddesses. It took me a little while but I successfully told them all of how Percy was ready to choose now and that he was requesting a full council to make his intentions known. They were going to give him exactly an hour before it would be held.

Artemis was arriving with Thalia when I returned back from Olympus. "Percy, you have exactly one hour before the council meets. Best of luck to you." I had no plans on listening to whatever his personal request for my sisters were, I would hear it all soon enough I was sure.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

Dionysus delivered the news swiftly and returned with just as much speed. I could have swore I had given the message to Hermes, had I known better. Artemis and Thalia had already arrived and Chiron had been informed to allow Annabeth in after we finished talking. I looked at both of the hunter, the Lady and her officer and smiled politely, trying not to appear too enthused yet.

"Artemis, thank you for coming on such short notice. I apologize in advance that this might alter the structure and look for your hunters a little bit." I caught notice of Thalia flexing her hands nervously as Artemis watched me carefully.

"Thalia... the truth is that I've been worried that things between us would up like how they were with myself and Annabeth. I hated the idea that I could ruin your immortality and take away your lieutenant." I said making a small gesture to Artemis. "I lost sight of what mattered, of the people that I trusted and because of that, the trust in myself. I just wanted you to know that, and that I'm sorry for not believing in us or our friendship. I know deep down that you're meant to be my second chance at this, and I hope that I'm yours."

I bit my lip uncomfortably and hard, a small bit of inchor running into my mouth. It tasted oddly metallic and funny as I looked between the two and awaited some kind of response. "Really, Percy?" Thalia gave me a questioning look as I could feel my heart leap into my throat. I barely was able to nod back to her, but gathered up the courage to finish my thought.

"I want to go beyond just helping bridge the Gods with the heroes, mortals and hunters. I want to take over as the Camp Director, and help train and properly watch over them all and help guide them correctly. Thalia can stay here with me and come and go with the hunters both, if she would have me, and if you would allow it lady Artemis."

Thalia's face seemed to be a growing shade of red, her cheeks looked like they were flushing as she nervously looked at Artemis. "I approve, provided that our father does so as well once again. I see that you have indeed overcome your indecision and that pleases me, knowing so I could accept handing over Thalia for you." Thalia immediately hugged me, her face was still burning red as she gave a fast kiss on the lips. "That's a yes a by the way, kelp head." She said with a smile that made me momentarily forget about everything else until Artemis cleared her throat.

"We aren't out of the woods yet, you two. Try to keep down the affection to a minimum until it's really official." We both tried not to laugh, as Dionysus came back in the room. "Time's almost up, you got a few moments to tell the news to blondie."

I exhaled and took a long deep breath as I reached for Thalia's hand while Chiron let himself and Annabeth in finally. "Well, seaweed brains?" She huffed at me, obviously annoyed that she had been kept waiting. It took her a moment to notice Thalia holding my hand and Artemis beside us with a content but resigned kind of expression on her face.

"I guess this means that you don't want to be with me again?" She gave a questioning look at me, but Dionysus replied before I could. "Well, duh. Did you expect him to congratulate you with a hug, kiss and a lollipop?" Thalia and Artemis both snickered lightly as I kept my attention focused. Annabeth looked completely taken back by the moment, her confidence crumbling before us.

"Annabeth, you will still be one of my dear friends, but you did a lot more than just momentarily forget about me. That's all unimportant though, because there is so much more I can do as a God now, and you showed me all of that. I really hope that you understand." I smiled warmly at her, I wanted her to know that I still would consider her an important friend because she was.

"Ugh... you're going to chose a hunter over me? Do you think that's really fair to Thalia or Artemis any? Why don't you just go pick a mortal like Rachel? Your such a stupid jerk..."

Dionysus cut her off at those words, his eyes glowing with a menacing purple flame. "Girl, despite your past with Perseus, that is no way to speak to any Olympian God. I don't care if you feel upset, hurt or anything for that matter. There are proper ways to address Gods and Goddesses, and you need to be doing so immediately, for your best interest!" Chiron quietly placed a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, ushering her outside of the big house as Dionysus looked at the three of us.

"I've been dying to do that for a while now, that girl can really get on my nerves. Well, shall we be going?" All four of us burst out laughing as we took Thalia with us to Olympus. The council was just getting ready to start when we arrived. I steadied myself and roughly recounted my ideas the camp and demigods to Zeus and the others. Without much surprise really, Dionysus was the one who suggested we put it to our customary vote. I was enthused to find that nobody was objecting, my idea was going to be put into effect very soon.

As soon as everything had been decided officially, Aphrodite shouted a bit louder than she really needed to. "Finally, we can throw a wedding worthy of, well, us." I squeezed the hand of the black haired punk girl beside me, and found it being squeezed back just a tightly. Zeus proudly looked at my father, Poseidon, and then at me and Thalia. "Well, let's get the wedding preparations underway. Until the ceremony takes place, Thalia will keep her Hunters immortality, and then the two of you will be moved into the big house." The throne room burst out with cheers and excitement, my curiosity wondering what it must have sounded like down below at camp and everywhere else.

A/N: Next Chapter will be the big important wedding for the Gods! Don't miss your reservation to this grand, exquisite event. RSVP (Read and Review!) Thanks everyone!