Hey gang! Happy Thursday :) Thanks as always for the reviews. I don't think I have much to say today, so enjoy the chapter!


LIII
PIPER

Even though Poseidon had told them to get some rest, and also despite the fact that it was the middle of the night, sleep was the last thing on Piper's mind. And she wasn't the only one who felt that way. As she and the others left the amphitheater and walked back across the camp, the place was buzzing with activity. It had been crowded before, what with the addition of the Romans and the few new campers who'd been brought in, but now with everyone out and about the major areas seemed even more so. Everywhere people were marveling at the end of the war, glad of their freedom from Erebos and Nyx's conquest. It was great to walk around and see smiles on people's faces, see campers talking and laughing with their neighbors as if the entire battle had never happened.

But even still, it was impossible to forget everything they'd been through. While smiles were numerous, so were tears and serious eyes. So many of them had been hurt or lost their lives that night. For every person celebrating, there was another helping the wounded or mourning a dead friend. Every time Piper saw a body lying still, her heart would skip a beat as she imaged it being Leo or Frank or Hazel or one of her cabin mates. And each time she'd release a short sigh of relief when it wasn't, feeling guilty all the while because even though it hadn't been one of her own best friends, it had been somebody's.

They didn't have a count of how many people they'd lost. It wasn't a significant number statistically speaking, but when those gone were people you personally knew, anything above zero felt painfully significant. Piper learned that two Greek counselors had been killed—Butch from the Iris cabin and Clarisse from Ares. Butch had been in charge of the team defending the children and elderly in the newer cabins behind the strawberry fields, and had gone down against one of Erebos's doppelgangers that had tried to get through. Clarisse, Piper heard, had decimated an impressive number of those shadow-men in the dark before she'd fallen while protecting one of her half-siblings.

They'd also lost a staggering four Roman centurions. When Piper had heard this, she'd nearly had a heart attack in fear—until a little while later when she'd discovered that neither Frank nor Hazel was included in that number. Who were included were both Fourth Cohort leaders and one each from the Third and Second Cohorts, including the guy name Larry whom Piper had spoken with on a few occasions. According to Reyna, very few deaths occurred among the Twelfth Legion aside from those four. And when each of the remaining Greek counselors had rounded up their cabin mates, the report was similar.

Though deaths were few, the number of serious injuries received was much higher. Every bed in the infirmary was full, as well as some of those in the cabins that hadn't been damaged by Erebos's black fire. Injuries ranged from minor lacerations to broken bones to life-threatening burns. Katie Gardner had suffered some sort of stab wound in her shoulder and had taken up the bed beside her boyfriend, whose condition had improved despite the continuance of his coma. Thalia Grace was confined to the infirmary as well, but all Piper knew was that she had taken some serious fire damage during the battle. Piper's half-brother Mitchell had suffered a bad slice across the face that had severed one of his ears and left him with an ugly scar beneath his left eye and across his nose. Leo, she was anxious to discover, had been caught in yet another collapsing building (though thankfully a much smaller one this time) and was now sedated in the infirmary tent while the healers busied themselves with him and everyone else. She'd been assured that his life wasn't in danger, but still she made a mental note to later have a serious talk with him about his newfound habit of getting himself buried under rubble.

Chiron had returned to Camp Half-Blood with Piper and many of the others and had gone straight to help Octavian defend the Big House and infirmary. And it was a good thing he had, otherwise who knew how much worse the damage could have been. Once the battle ended, he took immediately to cantering around the camp, assessing the statuses of the many groups of campers and assigning them jobs. It was a sign of everyone's strength and obedience that there were no complaints. After all, they'd just fought a war. Presumably they deserved a little time off. That being said, though, everyone seemed to realize that there was too much remaining to do before they could relax completely. Piper, Jason, Percy, Annabeth, and Nico ran into Chiron near the cabins and he'd demanded at once to know what had happened—how exactly they'd won the war. With some apparent reluctance, Percy and Annabeth recounted their story, and hearing the whole thing for the first time Piper felt a sympathetic twinge of pain in her heart at the look on Annabeth's face when Percy explained how he'd asked her to kill him and she'd been forced to comply. She couldn't ever imagine having to do something like that to someone she loved.

But still, the fact that it had all miraculously worked out in the end seemed to lighten the otherwise heavy atmosphere. Chiron looked troubled at the news of what had happened, but even he had to admit that it was in the past and couldn't be argued, especially since Percy was perfectly fine now and Erebos was gone for good. Instead, the centaur advised Piper and the others to spread out and offer their assistance wherever it was needed, which was something none of them hesitated to do.

The hours until morning came were long—so long that when the sky above finally started to brighten Piper felt like it had been days since Erebos's defeat. They'd spread the word to the other counselors and centurions about their summons to Mount Olympus and agreed to meet at the pine tree that marked the camp's border at first light. From there, they'd take pegasi to Manhattan to meet the gods, along with whatever it was they'd have to say.

When the time came, Piper and Jason were the first to arrive at the meeting place, followed quickly by Frank, Hazel, Octavian, and the Third Cohort centurion, Hank (the other two surviving centurions were both confined to the infirmary). Grover showed up next with Percy, Annabeth, and Nico, and not long after them came Lou Ellen Baker and Connor Stoll, who reported that Thalia, Katie, and Pollux wouldn't be coming due to injury and that Will Solace would also be staying behind to assist with medical efforts. Clovis wandered sleepily up Half-Blood Hill a few minutes later. Last to arrive were Reyna and, slightly to Piper's surprise, Leo, who was looking much better and back on his feet—well, in a manner of speaking, anyway. One of his legs had been pretty badly busted up and he was walking on crutches. The only other person they'd told was Chiron, but the activities director had insisted that he was more needed at camp, and that he really had no place at the Olympian council anyhow. No argument to the contrary seemed sufficient to change his mind.

Together, the fifteen of them hopped the camp's eight fastest pegasi and headed straight for Manhattan in a heavy, steely silence. No one said it out loud, but Piper knew they were nervous. Poseidon had been friendly enough when inviting them to the mountain of the gods, but he'd always been one of the more approachable immortals. Where the others were concerned, their moods and intentions were much more difficult to decipher. When it came down to it, the way this meeting would go was anyone's guess.

When they reached the Empire State Building and let themselves in, they found the lobby a wreck. The floor and walls were cracked, tables were overturned, torn papers lay everywhere. A disgruntled-looking man in a janitor's uniform was sweeping monster dust from the floor with a push broom. It looked more or less like a willful tornado had made sweeps of the room, purposely ransacking everything in sight.

As they entered, the janitor looked up and scowled. "No tours today," he said gruffly, sparing them a brief glance before returning his eyes to his broom. "Had a break-in overnight. Bunch'a delinquent vandals. I ain't gettin' paid near enough for this."

Someone snorted in amusement and Piper glanced to her right to see Leo with a hand over his mouth, obviously trying very hard not to crack up. "What?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm sorry," he said in a slightly strained voice. "It's not really funny, I just—" A laugh broke through his sentence. "I don't know, I can't help it. After everything…" Inexplicably, he seemed to just lose it after that. He lowered his head and leaned on his crutches, overcome by a random fit of laughter. As the janitor's expression slackened and he stared at Leo like he'd gone completely nuts, Piper felt a wide grin spread unconsciously over her face and before she knew it she'd started giggling as well. She glanced at Jason, who cracked a smile and chuckled—at Percy, who doubled over with a crazy grin and burst out laughing—at Annabeth and Reyna, who were covering their mouths and trying and failing not to look amused—at Frank, who chuckled almost nervously and looked around in confusion while Hazel smiled at him—at Connor, who laughed loudly and thumped Lou Ellen on the back as she giggled in response. Even Octavian was glancing at the ground, shaking his head with an amused smile.

Piper couldn't explain what was going through her head. Something about seeing the entrance to the palace of the gods so wrecked and messy just made the whole thing less surreal, less frightening. It was like their camp—a place that was supposed to be safe, untouchable by evil. Until last night, when one god had gone and destroyed both.

Or so they'd thought. But when they walked into the Empire State Building that morning, something seemed to click—it was still standing. Despite having been damaged by the culminating battle of the war, caught between two opposing armies, Olympus wasn't gone. And neither was Camp Half-Blood. Sure, it needed some hefty repairs, but their home was still standing, still whole after everything it had been through. Just like they were. And just as they had the power to fix their home, they had the power to fix themselves and each other.

As Piper looked around at her friends, all of whom were smiling and laughing as though they hadn't a care in the world, she knew they were all thinking the exact same thing. It didn't matter what the gods said or did that morning. Because they'd survived. They would go on, whatever happened. Even if nothing else, at least they were still standing.

The janitor's face had started to turn a ruddy shade of burgundy as the scowl returned to his expression. "I ain't sure what you kids are findin' so funny," he said irritably. "But I think it's prob'ly time ya get goin' before I get ya charged with trespassing."

"No—actually, we're here to see the gods," Jason said hurriedly. "We got an invite from Poseidon, said to come by at sunrise."

The janitor narrowed his eyes. "Ain't no idea what you're talkin' about, kid. Now scram before I call the cops."

"You don't want to do that," Piper said sweetly, charmspeak in her voice and a smile on her face. "We're the ones who helped the gods end the war. They really do want to see us. Why don't you just get us one of those nice red keycards and we'll be on our way?"

The janitor blinked hazily and shook his head, eyeing Piper with a hint of vague suspicion. "Aphrodite girl, eh?" he said, confirming their suspicions that he knew exactly what they were talking about. "Alright, alright. Hold yer horses." He leaned his broom against the wall and trudged around the half-collapsed front desk, kicking dust and ashes up as he walked. He reached under the counter and produced a thin, red keycard, scowling again as he handed it to Jason. "Good luck, kids. They ain't in the best of moods up there right now. Been hearin' odd stuff all mornin'."

"Thanks," Jason said with a smile before leading the way into the elevator, the other fourteen piling in behind him.

The city of Olympus looked very much like it had when Piper had left the mountain late the previous night—that is to say, not great. Not only had it had to endure being inhabited by monsters and destructive gods for the past six weeks, but also a city-wide battle. Piper felt a little guilty as they ascended the stone steps up the mountainside and she took in the sights, but beneath that she knew that the alternative to their actions would have been much worse. If they hadn't broken in to free the gods, who knew how long Erebos and his army would have remained? At least this way, everything had been brought to an end. And besides, these were gods. How hard could it be for them to clean up their city?

When they reached the summit, Piper understood what the janitor had meant. It was clear that inside the palace, the gods were having an intense discussion. The sky above the courtyard was a stormy gray, with clouds swirling and lightning flashing above them every few minutes. There was no rain falling, which was a welcome change, but the ground was still damp and slippery from the earlier downpour. As they crossed the courtyard, Piper could hear the dull thrum of indistinct voices coming from behind the great entry doors. It wasn't until they were near enough that she could make out what they were saying.

"All I'm saying is, if we're redesigning the place anyway, why not go for a more artistic approach? The last setup was a bit too practical—boring, even. We need some pizzazz!"

"Are you calling my daughter's designs boring?"

"Please, Athena, he's only grumpy because there wasn't a statue of him on every street corner. The design was flawless, as you know."

"Thank you, Artemis."

"Flawless? Pshh. The biased tribute was a flaw, if you ask me."

"No one asked you, brother—"

"If we're talking about tributes—" Piper breathed in sharply as she recognized her mother's voice. "—I'd love a few more of myself, too. How about one in the central courtyard—oh, with a glittering fountain and gold trims? I'm sure Demeter and her daughter would be happy to supply some flowers—"

"Oh, would I, now?"

"Enough of this," an authoritative female voice interrupted. "The specifics can be ironed out at later date. More importantly for the time being, I would endeavor to remind you all to regain yourselves and stop making fools of us before our guests." She said the word much like one might address a persistently annoying fly buzzing around their head, but it was enough for silence to fall in response. Standing just outside the doors, Piper and the others exchanged slightly apprehensive glances. Evidently, that was their cue.

With a steady breath, Jason approached the giant doors and raised a fist, knocking it twice against the oak. A booming voice said, "Enter," and immediately the doors swung open to reveal the throne room of the gods. Thirteen sets of eyes fixed on them as all major Olympians looked down from their thrones. All of them had abandoned their battle armor and were dressed more or less normally, though that hardly made them any less intimidating.

"Welcome, all of you," Poseidon said with a friendly smile. Looking around, Piper was glad to see that he wasn't the only one who looked happy to see them. Identical, pleased expressions could be seen on the faces of Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, and Hermes. Hephaestus was scowling as usual, but his eyes had a distinct twinkle in them. The corners of Athena's mouth had turned up just barely and her eyes were a warm gray rather than a cold steel. Dionysus looked like he was trying specifically not to look happy, which told Piper that he probably was. Ares had his arms crossed and a satisfied smirk on his face. Demeter looked down her nose at them, as expected, but there wasn't quite as much contempt in her eyes. Hades—well, Hades looked the same as he always did. No surprise there. And as for Zeus and Hera—the two of them had long since perfected the regal, godly poker face.

"Come in, come in," Aphrodite said brightly, beckoning them forward. Her blue eyes scanned the group and came to rest on Piper, her smile widening to show perfect, white teeth.

"I suppose we'd better get to it, then," Poseidon decided with a glance at Zeus. "Do you agree?"

"Yes, very well," Zeus said in his stiff, booming voice as he watched Piper and the others. His eyes, predictably, lingered on Jason, but unlike Poseidon and Aphrodite his face remained expressionless. "My brother has seen fit to invite you all here to thank you for your assistance in ridding ourselves of Nyx and Erebos."

Poseidon smiled at them, seeming unbothered by Zeus's off-handed tone. "It couldn't have been done without you."

Zeus rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't say that." Piper noticed Percy tense beside her and assumed that he, like her, was resisting the urge to point out that they had in fact dealt the final blows to both Nyx and Erebos. And not only that, but if it hadn't been for them the gods might still have been trapped in Hypnos's enchanted sleep. Evidently, a few of the other gods seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because though no one spoke there were quite a few disapproving stares directed at the Lord of the Sky—particularly from Athena and Hephaestus.

"Even so," Zeus went on, his expression tightening as he shifted under the eyes on him. "We, er… We do appreciate… the help you offered. Yes. And now that the war is over and things are settling down, we've agreed that a few rewards are in order. Some of us," he shot a stiff glance to his right, where Poseidon was still smiling at Piper and the others, "believe that as your entire army was involved in the battle, each person deserves some form of recognition. However, as you've undoubtedly seen on your way up here, we have a good deal on our plates at the moment and simply can't afford the strain to our resources. Therefore, we've decided to award only those whose actions were most crucial to our victory. Any other recognition will be at the discretion of the affected council member."

"Hmph," Hades muttered, crossing his arms. "Considering that some of you should not be drawing breath right now, the fact that you are could constitute as reward enough."

"Yes, Hades, you've made your stance very clear," Zeus said impatiently, earning an irritated scowl from the Lord of the Dead. "Unfortunately, the vote is in favor. Now, to business. First—Jason Grace and Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano."

Reyna cringed visibly as she and Jason stepped forward. Piper couldn't blame her. With a name like that, she'd probably start going by only her first name, too.

"We understand the city of New Rome was destroyed by Nyx during the lunar eclipse," Zeus went on. "For joining forces with Camp Half-Blood despite this hardship and helping to defend Olympus, we're prepared to offer you building materials from our own forges to repair what you've lost. Additionally, we've contacted the Wolf House in regards to refilling your ranks. Lupa has agreed to redouble recruitment efforts and expedite induction training."

Jason and Reyna exchanged surprised glances. "Thank you, Lord Zeus," Reyna said as they both bowed respectfully.

"All of you," Jason added with a tentative look around the throne room.

Zeus nodded, signaling them to reclaim their places among the other spectators. He then glanced at Hephaestus, who leaned forward on his chair and growled, "Leo Valdez."

With a little difficulty, Leo made his way forward. He inclined his head to Zeus before turning to his father and saying, "I'd kneel and all, but you know…" He lifted one crutch and waved it in the air.

"No need," Hephaestus replied gruffly. "Thanks to you, Nyx was taken out of the picture before things with Erebos erupted. We're making plans to have her locked deep in the Underworld so she can't break out again. For that—and for freeing Hypnos twice and helping him wake the rest of us—I've got the go-ahead to offer you a job."

Leo blinked uncertainly. "A job?"

"In my forge," the god of fire explained. "Engineer for the gods. It's demanding, I'll warn you, but the stuff you could make—well, it ain't stuff you can find in the mortal world, that's for sure."

For once Leo looked speechless. He stared at his father with his mouth open, totally taken aback by this request. Piper shared his surprise. She wanted to be excited for him—spending time with your godly parent doing what you loved most was like the ultimate dream for most demigods—but a tiny inner voice reminded her that this would probably mean she'd hardly ever see him again. Maybe never at all. And that was difficult to ignore.

Despite her misgivings, Piper was sure to give Leo a reassuring grin when he looked over at her in indecision. "That's… awesome," he said to Hephaestus, still sounding stunned. "Seriously. That sounds… completely epic. But…" His eyes met Piper's again and for a brief instant she felt like she could read his mind. She knew exactly what he was going to say. His gaze swept over Jason, Annabeth, and the others, lingering a few seconds longer on Reyna, before he finished, "I think they need me more at camp."

Hephaestus nodded. "Fair enough. Home is a complicated thing. When you find it, it's awful tough to give it up. But if you won't take the job, at least let me offer you something else instead." Leo frowned in surprise as the god pressed a button on the arm of his mechanical chair and a compartment opened on the lower left side. He reached into it and pulled something out before snapping it closed.

Leo's eyes widened hungrily as he recognized the object. "A tool belt?"

"Not unlike the one you lost. The difference—this one's connected to my own storehouse under Mount Olympus. Got any tool or material you could ever need. Unlimited access." He tossed the belt to his son, who snatched it out of the air and stared at it like he was holding the secret to the universe in his hands.

"Whoa," Leo said, a grin spreading across his face. "Man, sixteen years' worth of birthdays and Christmases and this tops 'em all, hands down." He looked up at his father. "Thanks. Really."

Again Hephaestus nodded stiffly. "You done me proud, kid. I should be thankin' you." Leo gave an uncomfortable laugh in response.

"Yes, very good," Zeus said, rolling his eyes as Leo slung his new tool belt over his shoulder and retreated out of the spotlight. "That being done, let's move on to the last two and get this finished."

"If you say," Poseidon said with a small smile. Exchanging a nod with Athena, he called out, "Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson."

Annabeth gripped Percy's hand as they stepped away from the others. Piper was impressed at the total lack of nervousness on both their faces as they approached the gods.

"We know what happened this morning," Poseidon told them. "How you two were responsible for drawing Erebos's real form into the open and defeating him. You should know that your actions erased so much of his power and essence that we believe it will be impossible for him to regain a physical body ever again. Yet another threat you've eliminated for us." He chuckled. "Personally, I'm starting to think we ought to make you two our permanent bodyguards." Percy snorted like he found that idea completely ridiculous, and Annabeth suppressed a smile. A few of the gods reacted similarly—Ares, in particular, muttered under his breath, "Fat chance of that."

"Ordinarily," Zeus cut in firmly with a stern glance at Poseidon, "we would offer you both the… overly-generous, in my opinion, gift of immortality. But seeing as you turned it down once, I have no real mind to present it a second time."

Piper breathed in sharply in surprise. She didn't know the gods even made that kind of offer. But to hear that her friends had received it before—and turned it down, no less? She made a mental note to ask them for details later as Percy exchanged a glance with Annabeth and replied, "That's… probably for the best."

Zeus shook his head. "The ungratefulness of you demigods astounds me sometimes."

"No, we're grateful, seriously," Percy insisted as Annabeth nodded in agreement. "It's just… I don't want to live forever, to spend all that time watching the world suffer and not being able to do anything to help. I know human lives look so short and meaningless to you guys, but… for us, they're… real." Annabeth squeezed his hand and he smiled at her. "I don't think I can give that up."

Piper couldn't help but smile as she felt a swell of respect for the two of them. It can't have been easy to turn down immortality. She knew a lot of people who would jump at the chance to live forever, never aging or growing weak. But the thing about being a demigod was that it made you really cherish your life—really understand its meaning. Things just seemed to mean more when you had to fight for them.

"Very well, then," Zeus said with an irritated sigh. "Is there anything you do want? Another outlandish promise, perhaps?"

"No, no, I'm good," Percy replied. "All I want is… well, a life that means something. And that's something I have to make for myself."

"If you insist. In that case, you and Annabeth Chase—"

"Actually," Annabeth spoke up, "there is something I want. If it's okay with you." Hera's expression seemed to sour a bit, but Zeus just waved a hand, indicating Annabeth to continue. "I want you to help us restore Camp Half-Blood. Also, I'd like to expand it, if we can. To make room for everyone."

There was a low murmur of surprise. Zeus raised his eyebrows. "You wish to bring the Greeks and Romans together?"

"No," Annabeth argued confidently. "I wish to bring our family together." Hera arched an eyebrow, as though she took the mention of 'family' very seriously, as all the other gods' attentions seemed to fix on Annabeth in interest. Zeus's eyebrows angled together, but he made no sound. "I know it'll be dangerous," Annabeth went on, "having so many of us in one place. But after everything that's happened, I think we all just need to be close to each other."

As Percy smiled and slid an arm around Annabeth's waist, Piper realized that she was right. All of them—Greek and Roman alike—had been through so much together in recent weeks alone. When she thought of Jason, Reyna, and the others moving back across the country, it just didn't feel right anymore.

Apparently, Annabeth still wasn't finished. "I'd… also like to request that we re-name the camp," she said. "After all, it's not just half-bloods anymore."

The gods were all quiet for a long moment. When Zeus finally spoke, he asked, "Do you have a name in mind?"

Seeming strengthened by not being immediately shot down, Annabeth answered, "Camp Lumina. Because together, we're stronger than any darkness."

Piper frowned. The name couldn't have been Greek, because she didn't immediately understand it. Probably noting her expression, Jason leaned over and whispered, "It's Latin. It means 'light'."

So Annabeth had picked a Latin name. Silently, Piper thought that was a great idea. She remembered her talk with Octavian about how worried he'd been that the Roman culture would disappear in their cohabitation at Camp Half-Blood. Maybe this would be the first step in the right direction.

"For what it's worth," Jason said aloud, this time addressing the entire room, "I support Annabeth's request." He slid his hand into Piper's and smiled.

On his other side, Reyna nodded in agreement. "As do I."

"Well, brother," Poseidon said with a smile, "it sounds like the decision has been made."

"Very well," Zeus said, lifting his chin. "We will assist in the restoration, expansion, and protection of your camp, which will from this day be known as Camp Lumina. I trust you understand what you're getting into."

"We can do it," Annabeth said, sounding sure. "I know it."

Zeus lifted a shoulder. "Then it's done. I'd say that counts as reward enough. Are you satisfied?" he asked Poseidon with a hint of sarcasm.

Poseidon nodded. "Very."

"In that case, I declare this meeting of the Olympian council closed. And I suggest everyone get to work immediately. There will be plenty of time to celebrate when our city is no longer a pile of wreckage."

Despite the suggestion, the gods evidently were in no mood to buckle down on repairs. Piper started to tug Jason toward the exit, feeling that it was time they leave, but she hadn't gotten far before her mother swooped down on her and pulled her into a bone-breaking hug.

"Piper, you were amazing!" she said in a breathy voice as Piper squirmed awkwardly. She knew Aphrodite had always been the hugging type, but that didn't make her any more prepared.

"But… I didn't really do anything," Piper protested, trying not to gag as the potent scent of flowery perfume wafted over her.

Aphrodite backed up and held her at arm's length. Her hair was a long, flowing caramel color today and certainly didn't look like she'd just participated in a night-long battle, much unlike her daughter's, which was matted and messy.

"Of course you did!" she insisted. "No one appreciates the effect of a positive attitude, honestly. You've really started to understand the truth of love and beauty—real love and beauty. When you can find it anywhere, bring it out in others—that's not easy to do. Believe me, I would know." She beamed at Piper. "I'm so proud of you."

Despite any doubts, those words did make Piper feel pretty good about herself. Hearing a god praise you and tell you they were proud was a major confidence-booster.

"And you!" Aphrodite went on, turning to Jason and giving him a winning smile. "Oh, I just love you both!" She spread her arms wide and pulled the two of them into a very uncomfortable group hug.

"Thanks, Mom," Piper said with a grin.

After a few more similar minutes, Piper and Jason were finally able to break free when Aphrodite went to talk to Demeter. Looking around the room, she noticed that she wasn't the only one who'd been intercepted on their way out. Grover was standing beside Dionysus's throne and talking quickly, waving his arms in a slightly agitated way while the wine god nodded half-heartedly. Hermes was talking quietly with Connor a little ways away, and both had serious expressions on their faces. Ares had a hand clamped on Frank's shoulder and was speaking very loudly with a smirk on his face—Piper distinctly heard the word 'drakon' from all the way across the room. Hades was standing beside his throne with his hands clasped behind his back, giving Nico some sort of orders. Clovis, predictably, had dozed off in the corner, and Octavian, Hank, and Lou Ellen were nowhere to be found—perhaps they'd made it out and were already on their way down the mountain.

Spotting Leo and Reyna near the entrance doors, Piper nudged Jason and said, "Come on, let's get out of here." He nodded, looking grateful for the request, and led the way. They caught up with Leo and Reyna at the same time Percy and Annabeth reached the doors, and just before they could close them again a voice called out, "Wait up!" as Frank hurried toward them, Hazel and Nico trudging along behind him.

"Glad that's over," Frank said with a relieved sigh. He looked much calmer now that they'd left the gods behind.

"Oh, it wasn't so bad," Hazel argued with a smile. "You heard him, he was bragging about you! 'That's two of my children who're drakon-slayers!'" She laughed at the embarrassed look on Frank's face. Then she slid her hand into his as they all started across the courtyard, and suddenly he didn't look quite so displeased anymore.

"I'd say as a whole, though, that definitely could've gone worse," Percy said. "They didn't even threaten to kill us."

Piper asked, "Does that happen often?"

Percy shrugged. "You'd be surprised."

"You know," Reyna pointed out, "if you'd taken them up on their offer, they would be able to threaten to kill you anymore."

He shrugged again, eyes shooting toward Annabeth, who smiled. "Eh, it's not worth it," he said simply.

"I gotta say, though, man," Leo put in, shaking his head with a crooked grin. "That stuff you told the gods about wanting a life that means something? I've had pizza with less cheese."

Percy laughed. "You want to talk 'cheesy', how about Annabeth?" He straightened his back and held out his arms dramatically. "'Camp Lumina: Because together, we're stronger than any darkness.' Sounds like the tagline for a healthcare company."

"Maybe we can get it printed on our Christmas cards," Leo suggested.

Piper laughed heartily, not realizing how much she'd missed talking and joking with her friends. The Shadow War had only lasted six weeks, but they'd been the longest six weeks of Piper's life—which was saying something as she hadn't really led the most normal of lifestyles. But now, with it gone, she had nothing to worry about anymore. She could finally relax, for the first time in what felt like forever.

"It's really over," she said aloud after a minute, prompting everyone around her to exchange smiles in agreement.

"Hey, what about the prophecy?" Frank remembered. "Did it all come true, or are we still waiting for something to come and surprise us?"

"Well," Annabeth said thoughtfully. "'Darkness falls from blood and sand, a war of shadows to rend the land.' That bit's obvious enough."

"'Son of the Storm-bringer, doomed to fail,'" Hazel recited.

"That was me," Percy told them. "I tried to beat Erebos myself, but I couldn't do it. Annabeth did it instead."

Nico continued, "'And sleep entombed in fiery jail,' that was Hypnos. Literal sleep, trapped in Nightflame in Nyx's palace."

"'Hero's sacrifice buries the night,'" Annabeth added.

"Leo," Piper said at once. "Even though it was only temporary, you really did die to defeat her. That's a sacrifice if there ever was one."

"Wait—you actually died?" Percy interrupted, shooting Leo a surprised look.

"Yup," Leo admitted. "I'm the walking dead now, just like Hazel. And you, I guess."

"So what, now three of us have been clinically dead?" Jason realized.

"Three and a half, if you count Nico," Leo said with a smirk.

Nico glared at him. "Ha, ha."

Jason laughed ruefully and shook his head. "That's gotta be some kind of record."

"What about the last line of the prophecy?" Frank asked with a frown. "'Crimson and gold together bring light.' What does that mean?"

"It's us and the gods," Annabeth answered.

"Our blood," Reyna caught on. "We're crimson, they're gold. We needed to work together to win the war. Now it makes sense."

"They always do after the fact," Annabeth said wryly.

"I don't know about you guys," Percy said, stretching his arms as they descended the bottom of the stone steps and started across the narrow walkway to the elevator, "but I'm hoping we don't hear another prophecy for a long time."

"No arguments here," Leo agreed. "I'm not normally one for peace and quiet, but heck if I couldn't use some right now. I think I've had enough excitement lately to last me at least a few years. Or, you know, until the next war breaks out."

"Ugh, don't even joke about that," Piper complained as they grouped around the elevator doors and Leo used the end of one of his crutches to punch the button.

"Well, whatever happens," Annabeth said, "one thing's for sure." She looked around at them all and smiled. "We face it together. As a family."

Piper felt Jason take her hand and she turned to exchange smiles with him. She leaned her other elbow on Leo's shoulder and chuckled as he grinned and bumped his arm against Reyna's, forcing her to smile in return. Percy wrapped an arm around Annabeth and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. Hazel and Frank beamed at each other, and even Nico shook his head and smiled.

And as the elevator arrived and the doors opened, Piper looked around at her family and realized that she could never, ever have imagined a better one.


*tear* Only one chapter left! This one was a lot of fun to write, actually. Especially the end. It's just so... I don't know, light-hearted, compared to how dark the rest of this was. It's a nice change :)

Last chapter will be up on Monday - rain, shine, or sudden zombie apocalypse. Oh gosh it's gonna be so sad to see this go after an entire year... But all good things must come to an end, yadda yadda. How 'bout a review in the meantime?

See you all on Monday! Later days!

-oMM