Mount Olympus

Years later...

Beth's P.O.V

"Send word to Chiron to congratulate Percy and Annabeth on my behalf." I ordered the rushing nymph, who was hurrying after me. All though the happy couple didn't remember me, didn't mean I had forgotten about them. I think I should pass by their house when they have fallen asleep, to see the new addition to the family. From what I have heard so far it was a healthy little girl. But then again, that's what they said about the last one...and when I showed up I found Andrew sleeping peacefully in his little bed, not a speck of pink in sight.

Percy and Annabeth had tough years after I had left. They defeated Kronos, brought the two camps together, returned from Tararus -a place no mortals had ever gone before, restored the gods of our sanity, and then followed to defeat Gia. Finally after all the looses they had and battles they fought they finally had time to marry. Now they were living in California to be closer to Annabeth's father with a little six year-old boy named Andrew and a newborn that was born just a day ago.

Making my way through Persephone's garden, I paused for a minute to heal a willowing flower that lay limp amongst the others. Once it was back to its former glory, I continued on my way.

"Oh, and I would gratefully appreciate if you made Hermes send the package on my desk to my father."

"Is that all mil'lady?" She asked, slightly bowing her head.

"Yes, that's all Ingrid. Thank-you, your dismissed." I said.

Lera, she was back to being Lera. Fooling around with mortal boys, planning pranks with Hermes, and having shopping sprees with Aphrodite. In other words she was just like I was when I was younger.

Now a day's I buried myself in my duties, and had little time to do anything else. The once almighty Ezabeth of Olympus was no more. And I had a slight suspesion that, that was what the Olympians wanted all along. Now that they made me crumble, I wasn't much of a threat of power to them -something, even my own parents, craved more than anything. They were ultimately power hungry, and destroyed anything -or anyone- that stood in their way.

ANEHTA JOSEPHINA SIMERTA AREH of OLYMPUS P.O.V.

The bright lanterns hung from the roof, and the soft tune of an oldie played in the background. Aunt Alice was running around like a chicken without it's head, making sure that everything was in it's place. All while I sat on the couch laughing at her antics.

"A.J.!" She yelled over her shoulder, as she passed infront of me, fixing the snacks on the coffee table. "Why aren't you waiting outside for the guest?! They should be here any second!"

Our 'guest' included the whole senior body -plus some younger students- from the local high school we attended to in our small rural town, where the nearest mall was a hour and a half away -something Alice wasnt happy with.

Seeing as I made no move -except from clutching my stomach- she stopped to scold me, putting her hands on her hips,"A.J. Cullen, get your butt out side to greet the guest!"

"Alice, leave the poor girl alone. It's her special day for goodness sake!" Esme scolded entering the room and giving me a kiss on the cheek. "Happy eighteenth birthday sweetie. God, you grew up so fast."

"Yeah Alice, it's my special day; let me be" I mocked sweetly batting my eyelashes at her.

I knew she wanted the best, but...she was a bit too much of a perfectionist at times.

"You are your mother's daughter." She mumbled under breath walking out of the door. It was so low that I wouldn't have heard it if I wasn't paying attention.

My mother?

Why would I be anything like her. Sure one of best childhood memories included a blonde haired beauty watching from afar while I ran around in lush green yard, but from what I had put together she left when I was young. And it wasn't like I could ask about her without making everyone gloomy for weeks!

I had tried that once, and even though I was just nine, I knew that it was something I should never ask again. The most sacred unspoken rule in our family was : do not talk or even mention her.

It was so bad that I didn't even know her name! I have faint memories of people calling her some unusual name but...I can't seem to get my mind to recall it. All she was called around here is 'her' or 'she'.

"Esme," I asked timidly, "what did Alice mean by that?"

Esme gave me a grim smile, and stared at me with eyes that held so much saddness. "I think you should ask your father that question. It's not my place to say."

Dad...ask my dad? Was she delusional?! It was clear that he was still very much in love with her and it hurt for him to even look at me. He won't admit it, but I could see it in his eyes when ever he's looking at me. It was as if he saw her through me.

Nodding wordlessly I walked to where the music flowed from gracefully. Knocking on the door a few seconds after entering, I took a deep breath hoping that I distracted my thoughts long enough for him not to know what I was going to ask about.

"Dad, I need to talk to...you" I whispered the last word, noticing that the person playing on the grand piano wasnt my dad. It was a strangely familiar women dressed as if she were an ancient warrior queen. It was hard to determine her age, her body and face seemed like she couldnt be more than a few years older than me, but her expression...it seemed so wise -and sad. When her long graceful fingers stoped flowing across the keys, she slightly turned her head in my direction noticing for the first time that someone else was in the room.

"Who are you?" I asked, searching around the room for my absent father. That tune...the one she played so flawlessly on the piano, was one I knew well. Dad used to play it for me when I had nightmares about strange creatures and monsters coming to get me, all he had to do was play those magical notes and all those nightmares went away. When I had asked him what it was called, he smiled painfully and slowely whispered, "Bella's Lullaby".

"A.j.?" Instead she whispered, slowly standing up and taking baby steps towards me.

"Woah!" I held up my hands in protest, "Who the hell are you?"

She stopped and gave me a small smile that reminded me of the ones my dad sometimes got, the smiles to hide away pain.

"I forget sometimes, you're all grown up now." She sighed, and then whispering to herself she murmered, "So this is what mom meant."

I continued to stare at her, debating on whether to stand here and see what she wanted, or run away and look for someone to tell who this person was. The second was the safest...but my curiosity got the best of me.

"Oh how you've grown." She continued. Without letting me have a chance to respond she was hugging me tightly all of a sudden. I know this should of bothered me because she was a complete stranger, but I felt...safe.

"Oh honey you don't know how much I've missed you. I promise that I won't ever let anyone make me leave you ever again." She smiled giddily, "their defenses were low tonight, that's why I was able to sneak it. But I swear as soon as the time is up I'll come and physically see you."

Physically? What did she mean? Wasnt she hugging me right now?

Before I could ask her, my vision went hazy and the last thing I heard was, "Sleep well my darling."

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear A.J., Happy Birthday to you!"

The family broke out in claps and laughs after I blew out my eighteen candles on the small cake. Since I was the only one who actually ate anything in this house, there was no need to the extreme. Especially since I didn't need to eat so much, becuase I took after the likeing for blood. I didn't go crazy if I didn't drink it. But it was like my favorite candy. I couldn't get enough, but I could live without it.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, sweetie." Dad hugged me, kissing the top of my head.

"Thanks, dad." I smiled up to him while cutting a piece of my cake. I was about to take a bite from it when Alice yelled out, "Emmett No!"

But it was too late, I felt large hands in the back of my head, pushing my face straight into my cake. Gasping, while wiping the cake off my face I stood up and glared him. "Seriously? I thought you promised that you wouldn't do that this year!"

When I was seven, he started the tradition if pushing my face in the cake. I didn't really mind the first few years, and enjoyed the food fights that followed it. But last year, I felt a rush of anger towards him and it made me freak out a bit. It seemed like I was losing myself control.

"Sorry, but I just couldn't help it." His loud booming voice laughed at me.

"Well then, maybe I would just have to teach you manners. Like a dog." I growled.

What happened next was unexpected. I had seen the La Push shifters change into their wolves many times, but what happened to Emmett was like nothing I had ever seen before. One second he was there, and the next a bulldog was barking in his spot.

The room fell silent, everyone stared wordlessly at the winning bulldog. The dog padded it's way to Rosalie and growled up at her when she held back an amused smile.

"And it's back." Alice finally broke the silence, looking up at me. "It was about time."

Back? What's back? Why the hell is no one freaking out as much as I am? They all just stare calmly at the dog!

"I still don't understand why it went away in the first place." Carlisle mused, "The only conclusion I have come up with is that it is related to Beth's disappearance."

"But why did she get it back just now? Wouldn't that mean that..." Esme trailed off looking at something behind me.

"Hello everyone." That voice. That eerie familiar voice that I had not heard in the longest time. It couldn't be!

Turning around I saw the one person who I didn't think I was going to see ever...Lera.

"Lera!" I screamed, jumping into her arms as she laughed at my antics. "Where have you been?! Why didn't you come back? I was so worried!"

Lera was my best friend growing up, she was the only one who my family actually let get to know me, as me. She was so close i concidered her my sister. She knew all about the vampire crap and she was cool with that. Unfortunatly she stoped coming a few years ago after a big earthquake shook the house.

Till this day, I still don't know why she seemed so terrified of the quake. She acted as if God himself caught her doing something she wasnt supposed to.

"I had...stuff to do." She smiled, waving at everyone else. "Everyone I have good news!"

I stepped back and looked at her in puzzlement, good news? What did she get a new boyfriend? Did she get engaged? Is she pregnant?

Oh my God! Am I going to be an Aunt!

"It lifted!"

What the hell was that supposed to mean? 'It's lifted'? I felt so left out. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces, and Esme even started squealing like Alice. The only one except for me in this room who was not acting like they were high was Dad. He stood frozen in his spot, shock was clearly written on his face.

"When?" Rosalie asked, holding barking Emmett in her arms.

"Just a few hours ago, so it would be long now." Lera answered her. And as if right in clue the whole house rumbled as the earth beneath us shook. I would've passed it off as a regular earthquake, if it wasnt for the fact that I felt the sudden urge to go outside.

Lera seemed to notice my internal battle and gave me a reassuring smile, "go ahead. You won't get hurt."

Hurt? My mind pondered for a second on what she meant by 'hurt', but I pushed my thoughts aside and raced out the door.

Oh...so this is what she meant.

Immeaditaly after I opened the door I noticed that not only had the earth continued to shake, but flashes of lightning were falling from the sky and hitting the ground every five feet.

But there was one flash, not far from where I was standing, that was the brightest of all. It was so bright that I doubt it was a flash of all.

Covering my eyes from the blinding light, I tripped when I tried stepping back. What the hell was that?!

Squinting my eyes, I could faintly make out a slight figure emerging from the light that was gradually lessinging.

In repeat, what the hell?!

Finally after what seemed like ages, everything calmed down, and the light finally disappeared...leaving a girl not much older than me in it's place.

She wore clothes that I had never seen before except on Hollywood movies. Gold braceltes embraced her arms and a leaf like crown rested in her head.

Her curly blonde hair covered her face as she rose from a crouching position. But as soon as she looked up, im couldn't help but to let a gasp out.

It was her!

The lady from my dreams, the one that in had faint memories about! Her eyes were the same ones I saw every time I looked in the mirror!

Even though I already knew who she was, I couldn't help but ask, "Who the hell are you?"

She raised her head in my direction with teary eyes. "My sweetheart, I think you already know."

"Mom?" I choked, my eyes burning with tears that were threatening to fall. So many times had I in visioned myself reuniting with her. And all of those times I had planed out to yell and kick her out of my life. But now being in the moment, I couldn't bring myself to it.

My mother was here! Actually here! Not as a fragment of my imagination, but in flesh and blood, standing a few feet away from me!

"Mom" I whispered once again, this time running to her and letting her hug me tight.

"Yes it's me baby. It's me." She hushed me, her voice wavering as if she was trying not to cry to. "I swear I won't ever, everleave again unless you want me too."

And with those words, she made my day.

BETH'S P.O.V (one final time)

"How is she?" Edward's voice whispered from the doorway. I was laying on the bed next to the sleeping A.J. Stroking her hair when he came in.

"She's alright." I smiled back, slowly getting up from the bed not wanting to wake her up. Shutting the door softly behind me, I once again turned my attention to him. "How about you? How are you holding up?"

"For someone one who's daughter's mother -who happens to be centuries older- just returned, I think I'm doing pretty fine if I do say myself." He quietly chuckled.

"I've missed you." I blurted out, not being able to hold it in any longer.

"So have I love. So have I."

He twirled a piece of my hair like he used to before, and then took my hand and lead me to what I believed was his room. Once inside I sat one his couch.

"What, no bed anymore?" I joked, remembering when he had bought a bed just for me when we had first met.

"I had no one to watch while they were sleeping." He shrugged as I laughed.

"So tell me, how much has our little girl grown up?" I asked, "Is she and Jake..."

"No. Jacob and her keep a purely friend relationship. But I overheard her talking on the phone with a mortal boy from town." He shuddered, "they seemed overly friendly."

"Ah, so our little A.J. has a mortal crush?" I pondered, "I wonder what Aohrodite has to say about that."

Knowing my devious relative, she probably had something to do this this little piece of information.

I could go back up to Olympus this very second and interrogate her on the subject, but that would mean breaking this little piece of heaven.

The Cullen's wernt immortal, not like the gods at least. And as Lera had just proved by turning Emmett to a dog- much to his dislike- that they were not immune to our power or weapons. They actually had possibilities of dieing, and I would not spend anymore time losing valuable minutes with them.

"I promise I'll never leave again." I whispered, kissing the edge of his jaw.

"Forever?" He asked breaking me out of my chain of thoughts, while holding my hands closed to his heart.

A small tinge in my heart made me realize that there would never truley be a 'forever', but still it didnt stop me from swearing:

"Forever."

THE END