Hello world! It's my duty as a kind and caring (coughs) big brother to provide you with the lovebirds' next chapter. Well I would say more, but I'm being threatened not to type another chapter if I do, so... Here's the chapter. :D

Chapter 20: Finally

Percy's POV

Just a few hours ago our parents informed us that we'd have to defend Olympus like we had done twenty six years ago. Only this time, it would be harder since two Hecatonchires would be against, but we would also have the Gods on our side. In this war, it wouldn't be the young demigods defending the center of our world. It would be the older ones. People like Amber, our kids and us ourselves. We wouldn't let Amy or John go on this one because of David. He was just a little over two months after all and we couldn't take the risk of making him an orphan. Although, I really wanted Alex and the rest to stay behind I knew that not only they were needed but there was no way to hold them back. Especially after we let Liam go into Tartarus.

"What are you thinking about?" Annabeth asked me leaning against my shoulder. We were trying to act as normal as possible so as not to alert the young ones, which meant that we had to have our normal dinner at the pavilion like nothing had happened.

"Nothing..." I trailed off not wanting to upset her more. Liam's location was enough.

"I know you, Seaweed Brain. You're doing that thing with your eye-brows, which you only do when you're thinking hard." She said caressing my cheek as I smiled at her. "So..?"

"Just how history repeats itself..." I said shrugging. "You were right again."

"I really hate I was right this time." She said and I could see that she was on the verge of tears. Our son's location was already stressing her out. If you add Melanie's abduction and now the war... It was only natural for any of us to be like that.

"Annabeth, please try not to break down. The young ones don't know of the threat and we want to keep it that way, remember?" I asked wrapping my arms around her in an attempt to comfort both of us. She held her breath for a few short seconds trying to regain her composure and then turned her head to me kissing me softly.

"Thank you Percy." She said smiling weakly.

"Anything for my wife." I said and kissed her forehead.

"Um.. guys." Thalia trailed off nudging my wife.

"What happened Thals?" Annabeth asked turning to our friend.

"I think they want to talk to us." She answered gesturing to the Gods. Sure enough, they were motioning us to come to them so I got both of us up and went to them.

"What happened?" I asked once we were close.

"It's about Liam." How could such a short sentence make us gasp and freak out...

"Is he...?" Annabeth started but couldn't finish. I just waited for their answer trying to prepare myself for the worst.

"No. Of course he's not dead." Aphrodite said a little bit too loudly.

"Then why the sad faces?" Clarisse asked getting closer with the others.

"Because now there isn't even the chance of a miracle." My dad answered.

"What do you mean?" Travis asked first.

"Up until a few short hours ago, we all thought that there was the slightest possibility that Liam wouldn't actually have to choose between Zeus and Melanie, but find a way around it." Apollo said, but that's what we've all been hoping for even since we realized what Erebus's plan was. What had changed?

"Okay... How about you tell us something we don't know for a change?" Clarisse asked frustrated as Chris tried to calm her.

"Melanie was pregnant." Nyx said coming out of nowhere.

"WHAT!" Annabeth and I yelled surprised.

"Your son was to become a father." She said slowly as if talking to five-year-olds as we stood stunned.

"First of all, how is this relevant to Liam's task and second, why did you say 'WAS'?" Jenny asked.

"I said 'was' because Melanie miscarried a few hours ago, which is why I was crying earlier. And her miscarriage has everything to do with Liam's task." Nyx answered as we all stood there speechless.

"How...?" that was all Annabeth breathed.

"How what?" Hermes asked. "How did she miscarry or how does everything have to do with our hopes?" We could only nod unable to form a word.

"The fact that Liam went into Tartarus was enough on its own to stress her out immensely. All Zeus had to do was it out frequently and annoy her." Nyx answered and my temper started getting out of control.

"Why would he do that? Kill an innocent, unborn child?" Nico asked repulsed.

"Zeus is vicious and selfish. All he cares about is his survival. He thought that by making Melanie miscarry, Erebus would have less to blackmail Liam with." Athena answered.

"How can I be related to that... to that monster?" Thalia exclaimed burying her face in Nico's chest as he comforted her.

"I'm going to kill him. I don't know how yet, but I will." I said in a menacing tone as water surrounded both mine and Annabeth's bodies since she was standing so close to me.

"You won't have to, because Liam surely will. Which leads us to the loss of hope." Ares said.

"When Zeus dies, Olympus will fall apart." Hephaestus said.

"Why? There still will be eleven of you." Travis pointed out.

"Eleven without a leader. We'll scatter, crave for more power and eventually fight each other. It's in our nature." Artemis replied.

"Okay.. okay... back up a second though. How could Liam ever kill Zeus? He may be one of the best fighters, if not the best, but Zeus is a God while he's a demigod." Chris said.

"We've given him the means to do so." Aphrodite said.

"He CAN kill Zeus. Just like he DID kill Typhon about an hour ago." Nyx said and we...

"WHAT!" Me and my friends exclaimed. The shock replaced my anger and the water seized to surround me and Annabeth.

"But Typhon is immortal... How..?" Annabeth stammered.

"Haven't you ever noticed how we've always avoided being touched by his sword?" Hades asked.

"Yeah, but that's been part of his training..." Jenny trailed off.

"No. That was part of keeping ourselves alive." Apollo corrected.

"So you're saying that our son has the power to kill Gods?" I asked stunned just like the rest as the Gods nodded.

"Considering your adventures, Percy, we thought we should give him every potential to be victorious against any opponent." Artemis started. "We trained him to the fullest and made him the best at everything. We managed to maximize his abilities, both mental and physical, and I even taught him how to overcome his vision issues." She continued.

"But all that would be useless against an immortal. Percy, you defeated Hyperion only because you thought of using the hand of Midas against him. But now that's no longer possible, so I forged a blade that could slice through anything and anyone. Human, demigod, God or titan. That blade we gave Liam and I called it Achilles." Hephaestus finished.

"You really gave him a sword that can kill you all?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Yes, son of Poseidon. They did." Hera answered.

"Weren't you afraid he might turn against you?" Jenny asked as all the crying seemed to die down gradually.

"We trust him." Aphrodite said smiling.

"The recent events show that you should have." Hera said making us all glare at her.

"It's neither ours nor is it Liam's fault that your husband acted so foolishly." Athena yelled and went to attack the queen of the Gods, but at the last minute was stopped by my dad.

"Stop it, Athena. She's not worth it." He said holding on her wrist tightly. I guess that was a simple of example of how easily they can get in a fight... In the next moment, Annabeth turned to Nyx with her eye-brows raised indicating she probably made another one of her frequent discoveries. Or was about to.

"Nyx, how do you know all this? About Liam and Melanie? How can you feel them in Tartarus..?" She asked and the Goddess looked down.

"I can't tell you. If I do, the seal will be broken and Tartarus's inmates will wander free around the world." She answered as my wife slapped her forehead. Huh?

"If I guess right, you'll tell us though, won't you?" She asked as Nyx lifted her head up seeming excited.

"You figured it out?" She asked.

"I think so. When mom said that your going in Tartarus wouldn't be like betraying your brother, you stayed silent, which meant that you would." Annabeth said but I couldn't see where she was going with it. "But Tartarus isn't Erebus's domain, so going in there you wouldn't betray him but someone else who is also a brother of yours.." She continued.

"Keep on, Annabeth." Nyx said nodding.

"Just a few days ago, I came across a part of Hesiod's Theogony, which said that Tartarus is a deity and ruler of the place named after him. He's your brother, isn't he?" My wife asked and all of us looked at Nyx expectantly.

"Finally!" The Goddess exclaimed. "Hesiod was the only one to believe that Tartarus was a deity. Nobody dares enter his domain because of the titans, so nobody knows of his existence. Until now."

Liam's POV

After killing Typhon, I sat on one of the rocks there trying to process what I had just done. What the sword I was given when I was just ten years old was capable of. Not only did the blade make Typhon bleed, but it also sliced through his neck with extreme easiness. Like stabbing a monster. The Gods had given me the ultimate weapon. A weapon that could mean the end of them if I chose it. They trusted me enough to give it to me. That had to mean something.

When I was sure that I was composed, I got up and went towards the hill on which the fortress of the two brothers was located. I encountered many monsters on my way up there, but none of them seemed to have any interest in me. They just kept on with their tasks like I didn't exist. They would of course look at me, but other than that I was completely ignored. I didn't know what make of this. Should I be glad that Tartarus didn't send anyone else against me? Or should I be afraid that he held the worst for last?

I didn't have any more time to think about that because I had reached the top of the hill with the huge gates being in front of me. Surprisingly, they were open wide as if the two brothers were expecting me. I was in Tartarus's domain which probably meant that if he concentrated on me he would be able to sense my presence at his doorstep and the fact that no one was here to stop got me a little worried. What had they planned. Grasping Achilles with two hands, I walked in. The moment I stepped my foot inside what seemed to be the courtyard, a man appeared in front of me.

"Hello great male. We've been expecting you." He said smiling. I don't know what it was, but I really didn't like his smile.

"Who are you?" That was the first question I needed answered before asking about Erebus.

"Well, how about I give you a clue? You just murdered my son, although I really don't care, and you're in my domain." He said and realization hit me.

"Tartarus." I breathed. "So you're Erebus's accomplice."

"More like the brain of the whole operation. My brother is just my puppet doing what I tell him to in exchange for this." He replied showing around with his hands. "This is the only place no one dares to hurt him. Not even Nyx. But enough about me. Why don't you keep on. I'm sure you'll find my surprise... um... how can I say this?... Let's just say that it won't be so joyful." He said snickering and disappeared into the main building.

I didn't get the chance to ask him where Erebus was, but since he was the mastermind behind the whole operation of taking over Olympus somehow, it was him I had to deal with not his brother so I went in after him. Between scanning the place and trying to memorize every detail, I also tried to figure out what Tartarus's "surprise" for me could be. One thing was for sure though: I wouldn't like it. After a while of exploring the "palace" I came across gigantic double doors to what probably was my destination. With the power of the water, I pushed them open and went in. The man I had seen a little over a week ago in Melanie's room was sitting in a pitch black throne... Erebus. When I entered he looked up smirking.

"Welcome Liam Kai Jackson." He said clapping. Finally I had reached my destination and I'm sure I'm not gonna like this...

Liam finally reaches the fortress! Exciting... Or at least it would be if we had the next chappie ready, so we can read on, right? It's all up to lovebirds boys and girls. I'm just typing and that only because I'm too eager to read the chappies. So the lovebirds and my baby self salute you... For now... :P

The one and only...

Mike! :P