Chapter 26

Percy POV

It has been a few days since we defeated Kronos, the Titans, Gaea, and her giants. It has been a few days of celebrations, of good will, of hope. It has also been a few days of tearful goodbyes, of heartfelt so longs, of one last weeping hug, as everyone parts ways to go where life takes them, whether it be with their family or to a new job.

Annabeth and I, however, are one of the last ones to go, but only because we wanted to say goodbye to everyone before we go, which we have. Now, I'm just sitting by on the beach waiting for Wise Girl to finish packing.

"Hey, Percy," said Jason, as he sat next to me

"Why are you out here all alone?" asked Reyna sitting on the other side of me

"I'm waiting for Wise Girl to finish packing," I said, and the two nod in understanding

They didn't say anything after that, but I could tell that they were looking out at the ocean as well.

"Hey Seaweed Brain," said Annabeth as she sat down on my lap

"Done packing?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her neck

"Yup," she giggled, before pushed off me

"No PDA allowed," said Jason

"This is the beach," I said, "I don't know what you Romans think of beaches, but in America, we allow PDA on our beaches."

Everyone laughed for a second before looking back out at the ocean

"It seems so surreal, doesn't it?" I asked after a while

"What do you mean?" asked Jason

"I mean," I said, "After all these years of fighting Kronos and raiding his side, it's all done."

"The war's all over," said Annabeth, "we got our compensations."

"We definitely did," I said

"Compensations?" asked Reyna

"Kronos killed our parents," said Travis, coming behind us with the rest of the gang, and Hazel, Frank, Hylla, and Zoe

"Not both of them," said Connor, "just the one we mainly stay with, and their spouse if applicable."

"I still can't believe it's all over," said Chris, before hearing a smacking noise

"Do you believe it now?" asked Travis, and I had a feeling Connor had slapped him

"I did believe it before," said Chris, "I just have a hard time accepting it."

"Oh, then that's different," said Travis

I could almost feel Chris's confusion behind me.

"So," said Katie, "what now?"

"Well," I said, "we go back to the mundane lives of everyone else, I guess."

"But after all this?" asked Reyna

"It might be hard, depending on the person," I said, "but no matter how hard, we're all in this together, right guys?"

"Right!" they agreed

Annabeth and I stood up and turned around, and Jason and Reyna followed our examples

"Go mango?" I asked, putting my hand in

"Why mango?" asked Zoe

"Why not?" asked Annabetj

They all looked at each other before shrugging, and putting their hands in as well, even the Romans, Hylla, and Zoe

I counted down from 10, and after that, we all cheered and yelled, "Go Mango!" before laughing and walking our way off the beach, with our backs to the camps.