Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus. I don't own anything written by Rick Riordan.
Author's Note: Please review. I really want to know what you all think of my writing. Constructive criticism will be especially appreciated. Anyways, thanks to everyone that's been encouraging me.
PLEASE READ ALL AUTHORS NOTES FOR THIS CHAPTER. THEY ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT.
1. This is the LAST CHAPTER. After this, I will post a new story (the sequel). It will be called the Sea's Battle.
2. Last chapter I said there would eight more chapters - I was wrong. That was the plan, but after I wrote out the chapter, I realized that this story was getting monotonous. Thank you to several reviews that helped me realize this. Also, I lost inspiration for this story - not for the sequel though. :)
3. I will post an A/N letting you know when the first chapter is up for The Sea's Battle. Otherwise, you can follow me and you will receive an alert to let you know I've posted something.
4. This is the part where my poll comes in handy. I've had one out asking which story I should write next. The winner was The Sea's Battle (64 votes). In second place, fem!PercyxApollo and fem!PercyxChaos were tied with 36 votes. In third place (surprisingly) was fem!PercyxJason (30 votes). If you want the rest of the results, look at my poll.
5. Please continue to vote on my poll as I will need a fall back story for when I'm lacking ideas for The Sea's Battle.
6. The Sea's Battle will be a lot more action packed and a lot less based on emotional recovery.
7. Last, but not least, I hope you enjoyed this story and are satisfied with this ending!
P.S. I know I said that was the last thing, but this chapter will be done from both Percy's and Ares's POVs. I'll put a line break in between and make it obvious whose POV it is.
Once the rest of the Olympians had appeared, along with the Seven – Athena had thought they would want to know what had happened to their friend – Ares explained the little he knew in a gruff voice.
"Where's Artemis?" was Zeus's first question. The king was clearly worried about whether his daughter was injured or not.
"She's fine. I sent her back to the Hunter's camp for some rest."
Zeus nodded his gratitude. He shot a glance towards Poseidon as though expecting him to speak up. When it was clear the sea god was in shock and wouldn't be speaking, Zeus asked, "Has Apollo said anything yet? Will Percy be alright?"
Ares shook his head. "He's been back there with her the whole time. I haven't heard anything from him."
Zeus gave a terse nod and then, by unspoken consent, the group of gods split up. The Seven moved to a corner of the room, whispering concernedly and clutching at each other. Hestia stepped towards Poseidon, speaking to him comfortingly. Hades and Zeus stood nearby, glancing at their brother uncertainly. Demeter and Hera stood together, talking.
Ares was left standing with Aphrodite as her husband gravitated towards his other brothers.
"It's her, isn't it?" asked the love goddess. "Percy, I mean."
"What?" Ares frowned in confusion.
"Percy's the one you fell for?" she asked again, elaborating.
Ares nodded and sighed, mind distracted by worry for said goddess.
Aphrodite squeezed his shoulder. "She'll be fine. I doubt she'll fade and even if she does die, she'll come back – reform."
"I suppose," agreed Ares, hesitantly. "I just-"
"You don't want her to be in pain," finished the goddess, understandingly. "And you don't want her to leave you."
Ares opened his mouth to reply, when Apollo and Asclepius came out from behind the curtain. At once, everyone fell quiet and turned towards the healers.
"I've done all I can," Apollo said. "She's not in danger of fading, but she still might die and have to reform."
There were a few sighs of relief.
"Can we visit her?" asked Poseidon, speaking for the first time since he had arrived.
"If you absolutely have to. But keep the visits short. She's unconscious and if she's to get through this alive, she'll need her rest."
The sea god nodded and immediately headed for the curtain.
Most of the other gods flashed away, not wanting to intrude on the time Percy would have with those closest to her. Only the Seven, Aphrodite, Hestia and Ares remained, awaiting their turn to sit with Percy after Poseidon.
Apollo, too, remained. "If she wakes up, let me know - I'll be able to get a better gauge on her condition if I can speak to her. Also, it'll mean that she most likely won't die."
Ares nodded and waited as the other gods took their turns before him, unable to work up the guts to watch Percy possibly die. Finally, his visit could no longer be put off and Ares, Apollo and Percy were the only gods left – the other gods had flashed away once their visit was over.
Apollo waved his brother in and closed the curtains behind him to provide privacy.
"Hey," said the war god, unsure of how to approach an unconscious person. He sat on the bed next to Percy's limp form and studied her. He body was pale from blood loss and her face was sunken. Ares's fingers gently grazed her cheeks before flinching away from the clammy feel of her skin. Instead, the war god grabbed her hand and stared at it while speaking. "I- I don't want you to die, you know," he started uncertainly. "You're my best friend and I know that even if you died, you would reform, but..." Ares gathered his courage. It was unlikely Percy could hear him, so he might as well get everything off his chest. "I- I like you - a lot. Gods, I don't know - I might even love you! And when you reform, I think I'll ask you out. I-" He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "Just, please - don't die."
Only Percy's labored breathing could be heard for a few moments, before-
Percy started to regain consciousness when she felt her hand being moved. The first thing to hit her was the pain. It was all encompassing for a moment before she managed to squash it down. The next thing was the weakness. The goddess could barely open her eyes, and - was that Ares? The god's lips were moving and it was another second before Percy could make out what he was saying.
"-might even love you! And when you reform, I think I'll ask you out. I- Just, please - don't die."
Ares sounded tired and upset and - wait. He liked her? And he though she was dying? No way in Tartarus was she going to spend years in that infernal pit trying to reform. Especially not now that Ares was going to ask her out on a date.
Gathering her strength, Percy managed to push one word out of her lips.
"Okay."
Ares froze as the softly spoken word permeated the air. His gaze slowly moved towards Percy's pain-furrowed face to see gorgeous sea-green eyes half open and watching him. She was awake - she wouldn't die - she would stay with him.
Percy watched Ares's frozen form fondly and summoned the energy to keep speaking. "I'll stay alive - and go out with you."
Ares stared at his - girlfriend? - for a moment before leaping towards her, a cry of "Thank the gods, you're awake!" leaving him, before his lips-
-smashed against hers. Percy's world suddenly became-
-brighter - steadier. Ares hadn't ever been as happy as he was in that moment knowing that Percy was alive and his. His possessive nature as a war god flared and he wrapped his arms around her.
Percy took advantage of the adrenaline suddenly running through her body and clenched Ares's shirt in her fists.
In the back of his mind, Ares knew he should get Apollo, but to Hades with that! Gods knew how long he'd been waiting for this moment.
Percy felt Ares's arms tighten around her and she was hit with a feeling of safety that she hadn't felt since... forever. She suddenly knew that she was surrounded by people who cared for her - who wouldn't let anything happen to her. And she'd finally found a person who would give up the world for her.
A/N: Well, there you have it - the last chapter! The ending is a little... disappointing? I don't know. I'd appreciate some feedback so I can improve it - I don't have a beta, so I use your reviews to help edit.
The sequel will hopefully be out soon. Till then, please review and vote on my poll. Like I said, I will need a fall back story to work on at the same time as The Sea's Battle - which should be up soon, by the way.
Anyways, I wrote this chapter differently - using both POVs and more 'broken up'. Do you guys prefer this style of writing or my other one? Review and let me know!