Hey guys! Here's the next chapter! Wow, I never thought this story would reach 25 chapters! Ha! It was originally supposed to be a one-shot! Can you believe that?

I know you all probably don't want to hear this, but this is most likely the second to last chapter, though I may make two more, depending on how the next one turns out. Either way, we are approaching the end. However, before you despair, I have this idea of having an epilogue at the end of this story to finish it off the right way. Also, I am going to be writing a story about married life for Percy and Annabeth, kind of like a continuation of this story, but not really haha.

As always, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: PJO/HoO is owned by Rick Riordan, not me... obviously.

Paul made his way through the apartment, looking for his stepson. Despite what Percy said, Paul was worried about him, and wanted to make sure everything was okay with the demigod. Sally and Annabeth had left a little while ago to go to the grocery store and wouldn't be home for a while, so Paul was going to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to Percy. That is, if he could find him.

Paul had searched almost the entire apartment. The kitchen, living room, bathroom, Percy's room, even his and Sally's room, but all were empty. Paul had been planning on giving up his search, assuming that Percy had gone somewhere, when one last place came to mind.

He entered Percy's room once more, this time, looking closer. He walked across the relatively small room, to the open window. Sure enough, there stood Percy, on the fire escape, staring down at the city below. Paul knew he should have looked there sooner. It wasn't unusual for Percy to be out there. It seemed that the chaos of Manhattan was strangely calming to the demigod, though Paul wasn't sure how exactly. Maybe it had something to do with the ADHD?

Paul stepped through the window and joined Percy on the rickety fire escape, into the mid-July heat. He'd never liked those things, but he was willing to take his chances, just this once. Paul stood next to Percy, resting his hands on the railing, much in the same way Percy was. He studied his stepson, who paid him no attention as he studied the city skyline, though Paul knew that Percy knew he was there. Nothing got past him. Not anymore.

They stood there for a minute, the sounds of the city all around them. To Paul, it was noisy and chaotic, though it seemed to have the opposite effect on Percy.

"Hey," Percy said after a minute, and Paul was thankful to not have to begin the conversation.

"Hi," Paul responded quietly, trying to figure out what to say. Percy seemed to know this, because he waited, not saying anything, not looking away from the city before him. Finally Paul settled with, "How are you, Percy?"

Percy turned to look at Paul for a moment, before looking straight ahead again, but it was obvious he knew what Paul meant.

"It's… weird," Percy replied after a second. He paused, but Paul knew he wasn't finished. He continued after another few seconds. "When we first got back… from Tartarus," he said the word Tartarus strangely, like it was still difficult to get out, "it was hard to distinguish what was real and what wasn't. I guess that was a side effect or something…" Paul wasn't sure where Percy was going with this, but he listened nevertheless. "Anyway, I guess it's just weird now when it's not like that anymore. It's like I'd grown so used to the side effects that to not have them anymore, it's just…weird."

Paul narrowed his eyebrows, processing what he'd just heard. Percy was known not to make sense sometimes, and right now seemed to be one of those times. Then again, maybe he had made some sense, if one thought about it. Paul knew his point of view would always be different from Percy's, simply because Percy had experienced things that Paul had not and never would.

Percy snuck a glance at Paul's confused expression. "I mean, I'm not complaining," Percy explained, "It's just…"

"Weird," Paul supplied.

Percy cracked a small smile, a little embarrassed. "Yeah." Paul chuckled. The two were quiet for a minute. "Paul, can I ask you something?" Percy asked, breaking silence, if you can call it that in the city.

"Sure," Paul answered, turning to face the demigod.

"If you could do it all over; go back in time and do things differently, not have to deal with all of this, with… with me, would you?"

Paul blinked, taken completely off guard. Is that what Percy thought? That Paul regretted his decision to marry Sally? That he was a burden to Paul?

"Percy," he began, wanting to say so much, and having no clue how to say it, "If I could go back in time, I would do a lot of things differently. I would work harder in school. I would listen to my parents more and make sure they knew how much I loved them. I would enjoy the time I had to be young and free of responsibility, while it lasts. I could make a list a mile long of all the things I would do if I could go back in time and live my life differently, but out of everything that I would change if I could, there's one thing I wouldn't change in a million years, no matter what. I would never change having married your mom and I would never, ever change becoming your dad, Percy. In fact, if I could do anything differently, I would track down and marry your mom much sooner than I did. I would save her from that monster of a man she married, and I would help her raise you the way you deserved to be raised. So no, I wouldn't change how things turned out, because I don't regret them at all. Not a single thing."

Percy turned to Paul, incredulous. "You wouldn't rather not have to deal with everything that goes on because of me, because of who I am?"

"Percy, I won't tell you that I've never thought about how different things would be if you weren't a demigod; how much easier things would be on all of us, especially you, because I have. I think about it a lot, but there's a difference between thinking and wanting. In a way I guess I do want that, but not so things could be easier on me.

"I know things are hard for you, Percy. They were never easy, even before last winter. But you didn't choose this life, and it would be wrong for me to judge you based on something that you have absolutely no control over. So yes, in a way I do wish you weren't a demigod, but only so you wouldn't have to go through what you do."

"Why?" Percy asked, "It would be easier on you if I weren't a demigod. Heck, things would be worlds better for my mom if I wasn't either."

"That would be true," Paul answered, "if it really mattered to either of us. I can tell you right now, I wouldn't have it any other way, and I know your mom wouldn't either. We love you for you, Percy, every part of you. Most of the time, you hate this. I know you do, but you're a hero, and you accept your circumstances because it's what you need to do. It's what's right. That's what we love about you, Perce, the fact that you're selfless and good. You care about others and you put them first. You're ridiculously powerful, man, but it doesn't even faze you. It doesn't matter that you've faced down gods and defeated Titans, or that you've traveled through literal hell and survived. Few people wouldn't let that get to their head. You don't flaunt your power. You don't put yourself on a pedestal. You're a good guy, Percy, and that's what people love about you. That's what I love about you.

"Sure, maybe it would be easier sometimes if you weren't always off on dangerous quests, but only because we worry about you. It's not the monster attacks or the midnight missions, or the complications from Tartarus that we mind. It's the fear of the very good possibility that you could be in danger. We, especially your mother, worry because we love you. We want what's best for you, and we want you to live to see another day, because, no matter how nonchalant you are about everything, you've come close to dying probably hundreds of times, and parents are supposed to worry."

Percy studied the crowded streets below him. "Do you really consider me your son? Because… because I consider you my dad. And a really good one at that." At that last part, Percy looked up and cautiously glanced at Paul."

"Of course I do," Paul answered automatically. He didn't even have to think about that one. Was this really what Percy thought? That Paul didn't want him as a son? Since when? Maybe that's what Percy had meant when he'd said things were weird since he'd been recovering from Tartarus. Now that he was grounded in reality again, he knew how bad things had been during his recovery, and he thought he'd been a burden, that Paul didn't like him for being a demigod. "Percy," he continued, "You are my son, okay? I don't care that you're not biologically mine, and I don't care that you're half god. You are mine, and nothing can change that. I want you to know that."

Percy turned to look at Paul, misty eyed. "Sorry," Percy said, blinking away the tears. "I know things have been hard on you and mom lately, and I probably could have made things easier. It's just, Tartarus-"

"Percy," Paul interrupted, "I know. It's alright. It's not your fault, okay? Stop blaming yourself. I heard what happened down there, and I can't even imagine going through that. I'm just happy that you made it out in one piece, that you're still you, and that you are getting better every day. Nothing else matters. Not to me and definitely not to your mom."

"Do you really mean that?" Percy asked, studying the city streets again.

"I really do, Percy," Paul replied, "You have to believe me."

Percy shook his head. "Sorry. I do, and it's really good to know."

"I hope so, because that's not going to change."

Percy continued staring at Manhattan below him. "I guess it's just hard to believe sometimes. I mean, every other demigod I know either has parents who hate them because they're half-bloods, or no family at all. And then, here I am, with not only a mom who loves me, but now, a dad too."

Paul didn't really know how to respond to that. Eventually he said, "Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I can promise you that I'm not going anywhere, Perce."

Percy didn't respond right away. He stared down at his hands, mulling over what he had just heard, but he looked happier than before. "Thanks, Dad," he said after a minute or two, smiling a little. He looked much better now, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He hugged Paul.

"No problem, Percy," Paul said as Percy pulled away. "Don't blame yourself, "he added.

Percy took on wry expression. "Personal loyalty is my fatal flaw, Paul, but I'll try. I promise."

"That's all I can ask for," Paul replied, smiling.

Percy smiled for real now. "C'mon. Let's go inside. I know you hate this fire escape." Paul laughed, but didn't hesitate in following his stepson inside.

Paul wasn't really a fan of those emotional conversations that occurred from time to time since Percy and Annabeth's trip through Tartarus. He never seemed to know what to say, but somehow, he always managed to say what was both needed and true at the same time. He found that when he was just honest, he always managed to come up with the right words.

As Paul thought about it, he realized that it was probably normal for Percy to worry about such things as he had. Paul realized that it was probably just another step on the road to recovery, and he was happy to realize that now, Percy was recovered enough to be himself again, which consisted of concern of everyone else before himself. If he thought about it, after everything that year, it was perfectly normal, and should have been expected of Percy.

At the end of the day, going back to normal was almost as weird as the initial change for the demigods, but they would get there eventually. Paul had no doubt.

Paul couldn't help going back to Percy's question about going back in time and changing things. He had never really thought of things like that before, other than to wish that he'd met Sally much sooner than he had, but, as he thought about it, he realized that he really had meant what he'd told Percy. Even after everything that had gone on over the last few years, Paul really didn't regret a thing. He had married the love of his life and become a father to, in his opinion at least, the best kid in the world. He was happy with his life, completely and wholly satisfied, and he wouldn't change a thing. He just couldn't, because, even with everything that could be considered bad, nothing he could change about his life could ever make it as good as it was now.

Even if he could, Paul wouldn't change a thing.

Like it? Love it? Hate it(hope not)? Let me know!

I love, love, LOVE all the feedback I've been getting for this story. THANK YOU SO MUCH! In case you guys don't know, I really do read each and every review that is left for me via my stories, so it is certainly not in vain! It's really nice to know that all the hard work I put into these chapters is appreciated! Thanks a bunch!

Until the next chapter!