Camp Half-Blood was having yet another busy day, swathed in golden light from the setting sun. Stray arrows flew across the grounds to targets, Apollo kids grinning in glee as they made contact with the boards. Newcomers walked around the camp, ducking beneath arrows and trying not to be killed and to take in the camp in all it's glory. While at the same time looking incredibly lost.
A few clouds hovered over the camp, covering the blue and orange sky in grey patches, highlighted with yellow and pink and orange. There was a buzz in the air due to the arrival of the heroes back in camp.
Leo was in the forest as Lauren poked her way through the trees, her hair falling over her eyes and grinning happily now that the whole thing was over. He looked up as she called out to him, knocking gently against a tree to announce her presence. It worked and Leo looked up at her, grinning too. He asked her what happened and she admitted that she was the one who blew up the building. She was the one who ended it. Well, mostly.
Both of them laughed in glee and Leo held his hand up for a high-five. Lauren considered it for a moment before bracing her hand against his cheek and kissing him right on the lips, full-force and no pausing for a breath. It's brief but Leo cannot speak at all, merely scratching the back of his neck and smiling and then laughing. The pair of them laugh and Lauren asks him if she can help with whatever he is doing. Leo is glad of the help, despite his very excitable brain running at the speed of sound.
Elsewhere in camp, Piper was completely drained by the whole ordeal, choosing to ignore Jason's calling-out to her. She figures she can definitely ignore him for a week before pretending to forgive him for what he did in that strange other world. Sure, she knows that it was another world and that none of them knew about their situation back in camp, but that doesn't mean he has no ability or potential to still be an idiot in this world. Right?
The laughter of Hazel could be heard right across to the infirmary where Annabeth and Percy were (as Frank shape-shifted into a very bright pink butterfly, causing the giggles from Hazel).
Percy's eyelids flickered open and Annabeth sighed, relieved after hours of waiting by his side. Godsdamn him, seaweed brain. Of course he would be last to wake up; to keep her waiting. Annabeth smiled at him and tightened her grip on his hand as he turned his face to look at her, grinning in glee.
"You drool in your sleep," she said, acting indifferent for a moment before breaking out into a grin. Percy laughed and nodded, claiming that he is aware of that due to the many times that she's told him such a thing.
"I drool for you," he said, laughing at her disgusted face. He squeezed her hand gently before sitting up to peck her on the cheek. "So, what happened?"
"We all had some Titan-induced funky dreaming. He wanted to take what meant everything to us and turn it against us. So we were in this strange time-trapping coma. Well, you and the others were and Lauren wanted in too. She's a good partner in crime."
"Replacing me, are you?" She laughed and shook her head.
"Oh seaweed brain, I missed you. I fixed everything, and Lauren, but Luke is still... You know..."
"I'm sorry, Annabeth."
"What for?" she asked and smiled a little sadly. But then her eyes lit up. "We saved everything. Again." Then she leaned down and kissed him. And again. And again. Eventually, Chiron told her to 'canter off' and allow Percy some time to recuperate, despite him having been in 'sleep mode' for a long time. Percy just smiled to himself as he watched her go, and as she turned back to check if he was watching her.
Even if it was just some funky dream and attempt to ruin their lives, Percy had to admit that he had fun getting to know everyone all over again and he really did enjoy it. The moments which he shared with Annabeth in some semblance of normality. Even if they never got to be together like every rom-com might suggest that they would. But in this real life they are together and it's not just some silly game.
Gameover, Kronos. The demi-gods win again.
I truly am sad to finally be saying goodbye to this story as this is the updated version of the epilogue. I am sorry it took so long to finally post this. I will definitely never forget this story as it has led me to a whole other world of writing.
Thank you.
