Hi! First off, thank you for all the reviews! There were eight voters, and it was a close choice. This was because of two reasons. One, choices A, B, and C all had two votes while D and E had none. Two, two of the voters voted for two choices. GoldenBug Prime, Anistasia D Flight1962, thank you for your votes, but I can't do both. I can take parts from them, but not the whole thing. So, as the author, I get the final choice. And my choice is B. This is because I like it, Chapter 11 is a nice transition for it, and YJV voted for it. She has reviewed almost every chapter that I've posted for this story, so here's her reward!

However, for those of you who wanted A, I will be doing a time skip of the six months in-between! There will be a chapter that says what's going on, and that is it. It is also this chapter.

For those of you who wanted C, don't worry! Percy's younger brother will be coming in eventually, I just don't know when.

I hope everyone is happy with my choice, and enjoy!

Warning: This chapter skips around a lot, so the dates are important. I'm sorry if it's confusing.

I do not own Percy Jackson.

23:57:02; January 17, 2013; Lost Creek State Park:

Thalia ran as fast as she could, but she knew she could never catch him. Once, before he was bitten, definitely. With her blessing of Artemis and Percy being slow, there was no doubt. But now, he was a vampire and could run even faster than her, faster than a mustang headed down the highway. Faster even than a cheetah. Not even that big cat could catch a vampire who could run from Montana to New York in less than twenty-five minutes.

After another thirty seconds, Thalia slowed to a stop. Her cousin was nowhere in sight, and Nico needed her. The other Hunters and Artemis would help him, but he needed a friendly face. With that thought in mind, Thalia turned and sprinted back the way she came.

02:43:30; January 19, 2013; somewhere in the United States:

Percy ran. He had been running for more than twenty-four hours now, but that was all he knew. Circle after circle, city after city, forest after forest, street after street. Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, California, Washington. Sometimes he cut across the country, seeing Tennessee and Kansas, Oklahoma and Nevada. Other times he crossed into Canada and over to Alaska and back. He just kept running.

23:56:44; January 24, 2013; Lost Creek State Park:

Nico stared up at the canvas ceiling. His boyfriend had been gone for a week now. Exactly a week. Thalia had calculated the time and told him that Percy first started running at three minutes and sixteen seconds to midnight on January 17, 2013. Now, it was a week later and he still wasn't back. What was he waiting for? The son of Hades wondered.

The Hunters to leave, so he could come back in quiet and not disrupt life anymore? The Hunters were still here, even though their week was up. He knew they were staying just to take care of him.

Maybe Haley was the problem. Maybe Percy wanted her gone so he wouldn't hurt her. Nico knew she was still here, too, but he didn't see her. He refused. Now that he was a vampire, he was too scared to even touch her. Was this how Percy felt at first? But then, none of their friends were babies.

Did Percy think he was dead? Was he running because he couldn't stand to find out for sure, preferring to live in some fantasy world where the son of Hades was still alive, just gone on a long trip?

Or maybe - and this was what Nico feared the most - Percy was lying hurt somewhere, unable to stand and come home.

20:28:42; January 25, 2013; somewhere in the United States:

Percy collapsed to the ground, exhausted to the point that he could move no more. He had been running for more than a week now, and his body had reached its limits. Even a vampire, it seemed, couldn't run forever. 'That's disappointing', was the last thought the son of Poseidon had before passing out.

22:13:59; January 26, 2013; somewhere in the United States:

Percy awoke to the feeling of a cold, wet cloth being gently wiped over his brow. Blinking in confusion and to clear away the water droplets that clouded his eyelashes, the son of Poseidon peered up at the face above him.

It was lined with creases, obviously from laughing and smiling a lot. Bright red hair was swept back and held in a pony tail. Dark brown eyes, filled with worry, watched him. Percy stared back as the worry disappeared, replaced with relief.

"You're awake," the woman said, smiling. "I was wondering if you ever would."

"How-," Percy paused and coughed, clearing his dry throat. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Oh, I'd say about a day. Probably more than that, but I can't read the clock faces anymore with these eyes. Too old, much too old. Barely see anything these days, but let me tell you, you were a sight when I found you collapsed in my front lawn yesterday."

"Wha-? How did I get there?" the child of the prophecy inquired.

"Well, you probably collapsed on the sidewalk first and fell into my grass. No gate, you see," she smiled. "However, I would like to thank you."

"For what?" Percy asked, confused. What person would thank a boy who fell unconscious in their yard?

"For not landing on my marigolds, of course!" she laughed.

Percy smiled. He had only just met the old woman, but he liked her already. And obviously, she wasn't a monster. She would have eaten them in that case. Although, there was one thing he wanted to know...

"What's your name?"

"Mary. One of the reasons I adore marigolds, you see. And yours?"

"Huh? Oh, Percy."

Nodding, she seemed to consider something, then spoke again, "You are welcome to stay for as long as you like, Percy. I have a room upstairs just for runaways-"

"I'm not-" Percy started to protest, only to be cut off.

"And it is yours if you want it. Of course, I would prefer you go home to your family, who I am sure are missing you, but I know how it is. Sometimes you just need to figure things out."

"Exactly..." the son of Poseidon trailed off, staring at her in shock. She had named it before he even could. He did need to think things over. But he knew he couldn't accept her offer. Monsters would come eventually, and while they found his blood bitter now, his smell was even sweeter. "But I can't stay. I would like to, but... this is something I need to do on my own."

Mary nodded, then said, "Very well. However, if you ever change your mind, I'm here."

Percy nodded, stood, and headed for the door. He knew he would never come back, even though it pained him. He liked her, how she was so friendly and willing to do anything for a stranger, how she was so aware of the problems in the world and wise to their ways but did what she could.

"Good bye," he smiled at her, and Mary smiled back.

Walking out the door and down the path, he paused and looked back to find her standing in the doorway. "Umm... where am I?"

Letting out a small laugh, Mary replied, "North Carolina, of course."

19:52:09; July 5, 2013; somewhere in the United States:

Percy smiled softly to himself as he cleared a fallen tree. He had been gone from home for more than six months. During that time, he had taken Mary's words to heart and thought. He had thought more than he had in his whole life, and had come to one conclusion after watching families celebrate Independence Day on July Fourth in Washington D.C.

His family was Nico and Haley, and they were his world. He couldn't live without them. Where they were, he had to be too. That was just the way things worked.

He was on his way home.

So, raise your hand if you found Mary absolutely wonderful? She kind of just appeared in there, and no, she won't be back - probably - but I love her anyway. Next chapter, Percy is home again.

Please review!