Apollo handed me some ambrosia to nibble on while I sat in the ocean.

"Don't mind her. Short of me, she hasn't really had any sparring partners. That's why we were here…in case things got carried away." Apollo told me.

I didn't know what to say but nodded my instead as I finished off my ambrosia. My muscles were still a bit sore, but nothing a good night's sleep wouldn't help.

Apollo clapped my shoulder. "You were phenomenal. Really impressive." He told me before he walked away.

I stood reluctantly and made my way to my dad and Artemis talking.

My dad gave her a pointed look.

"Good fight Percy. Sorry if I got a bit out of hand." She said. It wasn't overly dramatic, but I believed she meant it.

"It's all good. It was a bit of fun, but nothing I'd do again in a hurry." I told her cutting off that bit of hope I saw gleaming in her eyes. Thankfully, they quickly deflated.

"Well done Percy." My dad said happily as he clapped my back a few times.

And let me tell you, when you are sore all over and a god hits your back a few times in good humor, it doesn't feel like good humor. I think if he did it one more time I would have dropped like a hurt minotaur.

"Thanks," I replied sheepishly stretching out my back a bit more. Which, in armor, is harder than it sounds. "Is it time for dinner yet?" I asked.

"They just started," Artemis informed me.

"Ugh." I groaned.

It was a nice end to the day. We had an array of different foods. I got to eat with Apollo, Artemis, and my dad. And for once, it felt like my imaginary life was my real life. All I was missing was Zoe.

Despite how tired I was I still sitting on the beach long after Apollo and my dad left, and the Hunters called it a night. They were all excited about swimming tomorrow in an actual ocean.

"How are you doing?" Artemis asked as her twenty-something form came to sit beside me. "You've been quiet since they've left."

"Just thinking," I told her.

"Do I have to pull it out of you, or are you just going to tell me?" She huffed.

"Zoe. I don't know if it is a good idea for me to go see her." I admitted.

"You're afraid that it'll confirm your worst fears." She whispered as she leaned back on her hands.

I nodded unable to bring myself to answer.

"I don't think you should fear that." She told me. "I think that is exactly what you need to do, and before the winter solstice."

"So, how does it work?" I asked.

"I have made an arrangement with Hades. Your father tells me you can water travel now. So, you will go as you did before to DOA studios, and hand over something special to Charon and he will take you directly to Hades. Hades will then escort you to Elysium to see Zoe. Just know, the longer you are there, the harder it will be for you to leave." She said very softly.

"You made an arrangement with Hades?" I asked. "For me?"

"That's what friends do Percy." She sighed. "Besides, it's the least I could do."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"When I lost Zoe, and then half the Hunters…I felt alone. Sad. Empty. But, you were my friend through it all despite how nasty I got. You are the best friend I could have asked for." She confessed.

"You are my best friend too Artemis," I said reaching out and squeezed her hand once before I let go.

"I'm going to call it a night. This obnoxious half-blood really wiped me out." Artemis said standing. I put the envelope for Charon on your nightstand. We will be here for the rest of the week and then we will be heading north…that is, if you want to join back up before your big day."

"My mom is requiring me to be home the night before the Solstice. She says she has something special planned." I told her.

"Either way, I am only an iris message away," Artemis said before she walked to her tent.

"Thank you Lieutenant," I told the wind to carry to her.

She paused but kept walking shaking her head.

That night I was plagued by nightmares of all the ways this could go wrong with Zoe. But despite it all, I packed my Hunter's bag and stepped towards the ocean willing me to the west coast. I arrived on the same beach that I fought Ares on and made my way on foot to the recording studio. I was still wearing my silver coat and bag, but nobody looked at me funny.

I sighed deeply as I made my way to Charon, who actually remembered me. I gave him the envelope. After seeing a single black piece of fabric with moving faces he took me immediately to the elevator and we went by ourselves across the river.

Hades wasn't in the house when I arrived, but Nico heard me and came to greet me. He was only a couple inches shorter than me and was happy I came. I asked about the camp, but he said that it was really sad after the battle, but from what he heard it looked like next year was going to be amazing because of all the new kids coming, and the cabins were all supposed to be done by then. We ate breakfast together and then we were informed that Hades was back.

Nico stayed in the kitchen and I went to the throne room, after promising to see him again sooner rather than later. Hades stood when I walked in.

I bowed. "Uncle," I said as respectfully as I could.

"So, future god, here to see your old girlfriend I hear?" He asked bluntly.

"I am here to see Zoe," I confirmed.

He nodded once in understanding. I remembered how Bianca and Nico's mom was taken away from him too, and I wondered if he ever went to see her. I kept forgetting that some gods could read minds as I saw him give a slight nod once. I nodded my thanks because that's how guys do it. A series of grunts, grins, raised eyebrows and nods.

"Come on. I got loads to do before the solstice since they are going all out this year." He said gesturing towards the door that went off the side. Once we were outside in Persephone's garden he stopped. "I want you to take this," Hades said handing me a platinum ring with a round black stone set into like a high school ring, but instead of the school it said, "Perseus, son of Poseidon."

"This will help keep you safe when you are in the Underworld. I really want to tell you what it does, but I don't. A magician doesn't like to give away the tricks of the trades, get me?" He asked.

I didn't really, but I nodded anyway. 'Don't take the ring off.' I thought.

"Artemis said I shouldn't stay long, right?" I asked for clarification.

"Don't take the ring off and you'll be fine," Hades answered.

"Okay," I told him.

"Okay." He said clasping his hands.

And before I knew what happened we were standing before a gate. "Touch the ring to the gate." He told me.

I did as he said, and it sprung open.

"To get out do the same thing to leave. This pearl doesn't work on the inside of Elysium." Hades said handing me a pearl. He sounded like he wanted me to say more, but didn't. When I looked up, he was gone.

After I made my way through the gate it closed automatically, and very quickly. I made my way down the path to what the was a small town, but in actuality was the welcoming committee. One came running when I got closer. He was a portly guy in his mid-forties and couldn't be more than five feet tall wearing, gods bless him, tights. I tried to remember my medieval European history trying to pinpoint his clothes, but I came up blank as he greeted me with a smile.
"Name?" He asked as he pulled out a long scroll.

"I'm not on there. I am here visiting." I said gesturing around with my left hand. Immediately he noticed my ring judging by the widening of his eyes.

"Of course sir! Here to see anybody in particular?" He asked peppily.

"Zoe Nightshade," I answered.

He pulled out his long scroll and read through it. "Yes, of course. If you could get in, I'll be delighted to take you to her." The man said indicating a motorcycle with a sidecar. I thanked him and climbed in awkwardly.

"How long will it take?" I asked as he climbed on. He barely turned the ignition on before he turned it off.

"We are there already." He said with an amused smile.

"Huh," I said climbing out inspecting my surroundings. It was truly a hodgepodge of different houses of different time periods, but it didn't look tacky at all like I thought. It was beautiful. Everybody's own heaven together. He gestured towards a little path and as soon as I stepped on it I felt a warm burst of sea air. I followed the path past the trees and it took me down some wooden stairs and let me out on the beach. It was just like Ogygia. And laying in the sand in a white tunic was Zoe.

Words failed me. I didn't want to intrude, but I was lost. So, I did what I do best. Be as awkward as I could while going for cool and steady. I knocked on the stair banister, and said, "Ding Dong." I mentally face palmed as she sat up shocked.

I just stood there. I couldn't even bring myself to move. Part of it was an embarrassment, and part of it was because I didn't even plan on what I was going to say. I just worked my butt off to impress Artemis to make it happen, but hoping for and being there were two different things.

"Percy?" She asked standing up and making her way over to me. "What are you doing here?" she asked when she got closer.

"I came to see you," I said biting my lip.

"How did you get here?" She asked truly shocked, but not angry that I was here.

I didn't know what to say still so I just waved my hand once showing off the ring that explained it all to Mr. Tights. "I made a deal with Artemis, who made a deal with Hades, and now I have a ring." Yep. Perseus Jackson, god of awkward moments.

She looked taken aback, and I hope she knew what it was because Hades didn't explain.

"Come sit with me." She said turning and making her way back to the beach. She didn't sit on the sand but sat on the same piece of driftwood that she used in my gift when I fought my dad.

Was all of this a coincidence?

"So." I said looking around at her version of paradise.

"Are you okay?" Zoe asked concerned.

"Honestly. No." I admitted as I shifted to look at her. I didn't want to be here and waste my time not taking in every bit of her.

She frowned and took my hand and squeezed.

I started from the battle, my time on Olympus, Aphrodite's gift, to waking up alone, Artemis' deal, my reward, then my time with the Hunters, Artemis' tests, my dad, and my journey here. I let it all out. I cried more than once. She didn't once let go of my hand and it felt good to have her back.

She waited until I was out of steam and then pulled with me to sit with her on the beach with our backs against the log.

"I thought it was just me," Zoe said quietly. I looked at her in confusion.

"I was laying in the woods, Yellowstone Park. It was my favorite place for us to set up camp. There was this spring there. I couldn't get enough it. It was surrounded by trees, but if you laid near the spring you could look up and see the sky. It was a breathtaking view. Well, I was imagining I was there, but in here you know, and I got lost in the same thing." She confessed.

"What?" I asked just as confused as before. "You lived the gift too?"

"Yes." She said turning to face me. "I saw it all. I heard it all. Experienced it all." She said quietly.

I pulled her to me and cried silently as I held her. "Gods Zoe, I love you."

"I love you too Percy. I'm sorry I waited until the end to tell you." She said hugging me back tightly.

"It doesn't matter. I knew you did." I told her. "Thank you. Thank you for making this real. Since I woke up I thought…" I said trailing off.

"I know. Me too." Zoe said. "I can't believe you did all that to get a chance to talk to me."

"You are worth it and so much more," I said picking up her hand and kissing the back of it.

"Percy?" She asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"I'm no longer a Hunter." She whispered.

"I know," I said leaning in to kiss her lightly on her cheek. "Dance with me," I whispered in her ear.

I took off my boots, socks, and Hunter gear and then stuck out my hand. She grabbed it and I pulled to her feet. Soft classical music began to play in the background. We danced in the sand and then I pulled her out on top of the water.

"How long can you stay?" She asked quietly like she was scared of ruining the moment.

"I have to be back in New York on the 20th." I looked down at my watch and saw it was the 5th. "So, about two weeks," I answered just as softly as she did. I didn't say anything else, but we danced until the album was done.

I had to pay attention to the watch. Sunlight and nighttime didn't mean much here since it went with Zoe's whims.

We talked. A lot. I told her of the things I had planned for us after the prophecy. The places I wanted to take her. Marry her. Have little Zercy's running around at a beach house somewhere. And she told me that she hoped for those things too. And how when she woke up, it was like her life was stolen for her, and for the first time since getting to Elysium she was upset to be there. But, she was more thankful than anything, like I was too. To know it wasn't one-sided, and to us, it was real.

I got to experience more than one first with her while I was there besides slow dancing with a girl on a beach. I had my first kiss. My first girlfriend, in the flesh, or real world, or whatever you want to call it. My first date. And it was perfect because she never experienced those things either. There was no right or wrong. We just did what felt natural and it was priceless to me, and I know it meant just as much to her.

I tried to make sure she knew how much I cherished her with everything we did. And we did a lot. The special ring also allowed me to tap into Zoe's heaven and we got to go to an amusement park, the movies, and so much more. On my last night there, I tried to make it as special as I could. We had dinner next to the spring, danced, and we gave ourselves to each other under the stars. We both didn't know if we would ever see each other again, but that was part of the reason it was so special. It was a something intimate between the two of us, a single manifestation of the love we had together, and a bittersweet goodbye. I told her that I couldn't see myself giving myself to another woman first since she was the first to claim my heart. She shed a few tears. The first that I saw from her, ever. And she said she felt the same way.

It was with a heavy heart that we had to say our goodbyes.

"I'll carry you always. In my heart, and in your sword." I told her as I hugged her.

"I'll carry you always." She said as she hugged me back. "Take care Percy, I love you and thank you. For everything."

"I love you too Zoe," I said as I kissed her forehead and turned to leave.