Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 25: Voyage Home

Gough Island

Percy's POV

Six hours after the battle with Atlas

I was beginning to wake up, I felt someone holding my hand.

"Annabeth, Annabeth" I said. The person abruptly dropped my hand, so I opened my eyes and sitting next to my bed was Calypso looking as beautiful as ever, but I saw sadness in her eyes.

"Brave one, you're awake now." Calypso said. I looked at her for a minute and then I decided to speak.

"Where am I?" I asked curiously.

"You're on the research ship in the infirmary." Calypso said. I looked around the room and I saw a few people that I recognized. Chris was in the bed next to me and I could tell that Terra was sitting next to him. I saw Malcolm sitting up in the bed next to Chris with Athena sitting next to him. On the last bed I saw Luke sitting there talking to Thalia, he looked upset, I had know idea what was going on there. I didn't see Annabeth anywhere.

"Do you know where Annabeth is?" I asked. Calypso lowered her head and I saw a lone tear roll down her cheek.

"You love her don't you?" Calypso asked sadly. I had to tell her, she deserved to know.

"Yes, I love her with all my being. I'm sorry Calypso, I will always be grateful to you for saving me and for being my friend. Annabeth is my soul mate and I would never do anything to hurt her, I hope you can understand." I said sincerely.

Calypso looked at me and smiled tenderly. "You truly have grown up brave one, I see that you finally realized your love for her. She is a lucky young women to have a man such as you." Calypso said. She knew all this time.

"You knew that I loved someone else?" I asked in disbelief. Calypso smiled at me.

"It was part of my punishment. I would fall in love with someone who was already taken not just someone who had to leave. I always knew that you loved someone else, you didn't leave me to fulfill the prophecy you left to be with her. That is the truth." Calypso said. I was shocked I never knew that was the reason but it did make sense now. Back then I was so mixed up inside, but now that I'm older I look back on that time and its all so clear. I heard someone clear their voice and we both looked up to see my brother Triton standing in front of us.

"Tri, it is so good to see you." I said with a smile.

"If I'm interrupting something I can come back later." Triton said as he looked directly at Calypso, I think I saw a little red on his face, which is weird since he has a slight blue skin color, but certainly much lighter than a merman.

"This is Calypso, she's a friend." I said with a smile. "Calypso this is my brother Triton, prince and heir to the throne of Atlantis." I said, that made Triton blush more, which of course is what I was trying to cause. Calypso lifted her hand toward my brother and he took it gently and kissed the back of her hand.

"A pleasure my lady." Triton said smoothly. Calypso blushed toward my brother. I smiled happily at them.

"An honor my lord." Calypso said. The two of them began to talk quietly to each other completely oblivious to me. I looked over to Malcolm's bed and I saw Athena looking at me curiously with a broad smile on her face. I smiled back and shrugged my shoulders, but before Triton or Calypso could notice I turned the shrug into a stretch and I added a yawn for good measure.

"I'm still tired, is it ok if I talk to both of you later?" I asked. Calypso and Triton both nodded and walked out of the infirmary together side by side. The next thing I knew Athena was sitting next to me and smiling.

"You look better." Athena said. I smiled back at her.

"I feel a lot better, I guess my dad and Theseus told you what happened." I said.

"Annabeth helped fill me in as well. A pretty impressive new ability." Athena said.

"I wish I could remember how I did it." I said.

"It's ok you will figure it out and I'm sure your father will help." Athena said. She studied my face for a moment and I felt a little awkard.

"You want to see Annabeth don't you." Athena said. I started to blush furiously.

"It's that obvious, huh?" I asked.

"Pretty much, I'm sorry, but I overheard your conversation with Calypso." Athena said.

"Were you worried that I would do something stupid?" I asked. Athena started to laugh.

"Actually no, I was more worried about Annabeth, I could tell she was jealous." Athena said.

"I know, but I'm glad I spoke to Calypso it puts all of those past events into perspective now. Even back on the island prior to the end of the war I was in love with Annabeth. Now that I look back on those times its so obvious, but I was so consumed with my own problems and worries I never saw it until it was almost too late." I said. Athena held my hand in hers and squeezed.

"I know you love my daughter as much as Theseus loves me and I couldn't be happier for her. You do your father and brother proud Percy. You are the greatest demigod to ever live, but do you act like Herakles or Achilles, no you are the most humble person I know, the most caring and loyal. I know you get tired of hearing this, but you are much like your brother, but in some ways you are even better. I think thats why your father and brother love you as much as they do. They see you as a better version of themselves. Now don't ever tell them I told you that or you'll get it." Athena said with fake warning in her voice.

"I understand." I said as I began to laugh. Athena looked at me curiously.

"What's so funny?" Athena asked.

"If you would have told me five years ago that you would tell me what you just did I would have called you a liar. Back then you were ready to vaporize me for even talking to Annabeth, now look at us. Talking to each other as if your my older sister or something." I said sincerely. Athena jus smiled and pulled me into a hug.

"You can always consider me like your older sister, got it." Athena said.

"I will." I said as she released me from the hug, we heard a slight cough and turned around to see a red faced Annabeth staring at us.

"Why are you hugging my boyfriend?" Annabeth asked with embarassment in her voice.

Athena smiled at her and stood up to give her a hug. "Well, I am his sister-in-law aren't I?" Athena asked sarcastically. I saw Annabeth smile at me. I smiled in return with a slight redness to my face as I could feel my cheeks warm. Athena and Annabeth broke apart, Athena said her goodbyes and walked out of the infirmary. Annabeth sat down next to me. We were both quiet for a few minutes, until I couldn't take it anymore.

"You're not mad at me because of Calypso are you?" I asked hoping for the best.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked trying to sound like she didn't know why she would be angry.

"Well your mom seemed to think that you were jealous or something." I said matter-of-factly. I saw Annabeth's face turn red.

"Well I saw Calypso holding your hand and it did make me mad." Annabeth said. I was a little shocked that she would admit it so easily, I wonder if Athena had spoken with her earlier.

"Well your mom overheard my conversation with Calypso, so if you need to double check what I'm about to tell you feel free." I said.

Annabeth just stared at me. "I know you wouldn't lie to me, what did you two talk about?" Annabeth asked curiously.

"We talked about my time on her island and she told me the real reason I left, not the one that I had convinced myself of. She said I left because I loved you and that I was too confused inside to see it. When she told me that everything that happened back in those days came back to me and made perfect sense now. I did leave her island to be with you not to fulfill the prophecy. It might sound selfish, but it was killing me inside not being able to see you, but I just convinced myself that I left for my friends and family." I said, when I finished I saw tears in Annabeth's eyes and then she jumped into my arms and gave me a hug tha almost broke my ribs. "Annabeth, my ribs." Annabeth let go of me quickly and her face was as red as a tomato.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it." She said defensively. I grabbed her hand and held onto it for dear life.

"Now are you going to tell me what's going on since I've been out of it for hours?" I asked sarcastically. Annabeth smiled and scooted her chair closer to my bed. She told me about Crius and Iapetus, that made me feel sick to my stomach. She told me that all the students except Chris, Terra and I were under a spell of the mist which would keep them asleep for a day until we could get closer to New York. By then everyone would be off the ship except for the Seals and the students. "So we only have about eighteen hours left until you and the others have to leave?" Annabeth's smile faded away and she nodded. "Then we better make the most of it, I sat up in the bed. Annabeth scooted her chair back from the bed as I pulled my legs over the edge of the bed in order to try to stand up. My legs felt sluggish, but once my feet were on the floor I felt better. Annabeth stood up and by then I saw Thalia walk over, she looked like she had been crying. She gave Annabeth and I a look that said don't ask so we left it alone for now. I slowly stood up and my legs held firm, I let out a sigh of relief, but I already felt tired. I looked around and saw what I was looking for. "Thals can you hand me that pitcher of water on the night stand?" Thalia grabbed the pitcher and handed it to me. I motioned for both of them to stand back. I poured the pitcher over my head. Annabeth and Thalia both started to laugh, then I absorbed the water into my skin, even the water in my clothes was absorbed. I felt my strength increase two fold and I began to walk slowly, but confidently. I walked that way for a few minutes until I was confident I was ok. "How about a walk on deck?" Annabeth and Thalia both smiled at me. The three of us walked out of the door, but I couldn't help notice Luke's look of disappointment as we passed him. Thalia just ignored him, but I knew that Annabeth saw it too.

Some drama resolved, I wonder why Thalia was crying and why does Luke look so disappointed?