To say that Annabeth Chase was nervous would be an understatement. For 5 years she had been gone aiding Lady Chaos in her fight to rid the world of the evil that surrounded the universe. She was unsure of the welcome she would have back the place she called home for some many years, and even more unsure of the reaction of the other campers that would be there awaiting her. She hoped that she would be welcomed back with open arms but knew that would not be the most likely scenario.

"Annabeth my child it is time, are you ready to return?" Lady Chaos asked her while putting a hand on Annabeth's shoulder.

Annabeth smiled up at Lady Chaos, "Yes my Lady, it has been far too long, I miss them all."

"By all I assume you mean Percy? Do not worry my dear, I am sure he has missed you greatly and is anticipating your return." Chaos assured her before gathering the other members of her team. "Alright are you all ready?'

Cries of yes and of course could be heard around Chaos.

Annabeth sighed, "Yes let's go."

Camp Half Blood

Camp Half Blood was buzzing, after the news of aid coming after the recent monster attacks and disappearance of demigods any good news was welcome. For the older campers a familiar face was among the crowd of helpers come to aid the demigods in their fight.

Annabeth Chase looked around at her old home, for 5 years she was gone, and it was if nothing had changed.

"Annabeth welcome back my child it has been far too long." Chiron approached her with tears in his eyes and a beaming smile.

"Chiron it's been so long I'm glad to see that you're doing well. How have things been since I've left?" Annabeth smiled back giving the Centaur a hug.

"Quiet until the last couple months with the increasing attacks disrupting the peace we've had."

"Look who it is, the princess returns." Clarisse taunted her from behind Chiron.

"Good to see you too Clarisse, it's been too long." Annabeth couldn't help but smile and look at her old rival.

"Can't say I've missed you but it's weird without you around here." Clarisse admitted while walking forward.

"Means a lot coming from you." Annabeth chuckled before giving Clarisse a hug.

"Oh, ho ho looky her its Annabethy Beth back again" Leo exclaimed running up the hill.

"Hey Leo, how are you?" Annabeth smiled before hugging Leo as well.

"I'm good where did you go? It's been so long, and you never told me where you were going."

"We told you where she went you idiot, you just didn't listen to us." Jason's' voice rang out near the back of the forming crowd. "Hey Annabeth, how are you?"

"I'm good Jason, glad to be back, how about you? How are you and Piper?"

"We're good we're happy, she's been going to school for fashion design in New York, so she hasn't been around Camp much but she's happy doing it so I'm happy for her."

"Where are Frank and Hazel?"

"They're at Camp Jupiter, they're used to the Roman lifestyle and wanted to stay there. They come by and visit every month, so we see them often."

"Chiron I believe we need to have a meeting with all the cabin leaders, and possibly grabbing the Praetors from Camp Jupiter would help a lot, get all of the explaining out of the way all together." Annabeth told Chiron, "I can introduce the other members that are here today, and we can figure out a game plan."

"I shall gather the others and contact Camp Jupiter." Chiron said while walking away.

"Melissa, you and the others follow Chiron, I'll be there shortly to meet up with you all." Annabeth told a member of Chaos's helpers.

Annabeth turned back and looked at Jason, she was happy to see him again and the fact that he wasn't angry really helped her feel better.

"So, any changes to the cabin leaders?" Annabeth asked.

"Not really, the number of Demi-Gods is pretty much the same, some leaving some coming, but overall nothing too much." Jason explained as they walked towards the Big House, silence enveloped them before Jason clapped, "Right there's a new member of the Poseidon Cabin. 13-year-old girl named Rose, little spark plug that one is, puts all the energy of the Hermes Cabin to shame. You'll she her at the meeting.

"What about Percy?" Annabeth asked confused as to why he wouldn't be at the meeting.

Jason looked down when she mentioned Percy's name.

"He left camp, not long after you had left, I know that he helps the Gods every once in a while and that his dad visits him, but none of us have had contact with him. The only people who do are Thalia and Nico." Jason responded.

"How does he help the gods?" Annabeth asked curious as to what Percy was up to.

"As far as I know he helps bring new Demi-Gods to Camp, he never enters Camp but takes them up to the tree. He's also helped out Nico with a couple things in the underworld as well as Artemis and the hunt. Overall it sounds like he's settled down now." Jason responded.

"Is Thalia still mad?" Annabeth asked afraid of the answer.

"She still won't mention your name, she was hurt, I think because you left without telling her. I know that she, Percy and Nico are really close and that they occasionally go out for some drinks and stuff but apart from that, I don't keep much contact with her either unfortunately." Jason said before he noticed that Annabeth had stopped walking.

Annabeth could not help but look at the statue in front of her, it showed Percy Nico and herself with their weapons out but with smiles on their faces. Below was a plaque,

'To the heroes who saved Olympus twice in its greatest hour of need, Nico Di Angelo Son of Hades, Annabeth Chase Daughter of Athena and Perseus Jackson Son of Poseidon.'

"Percy hates the monument, wanted it taken down, he sai-"

"That he was never the real hero in the wars, that the heroes were those that aren't here right now, living with us all." Annabeth finished with tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, Nico hates it as well, says if they were going to make it, at least don't show him smiling. There's one in Camp Jupiter with the seven from the quest as well." Jason told her while he looked at the statue.

"Where is Nico?" Annabeth asked unsure if she could even face him.

FLASHBACK

"How could you just leave, what the hell Annabeth." Nico yelled at her.

"You think I want to leave? This is the chance of a lifetime Nico, leaving and traveling the Universe imagine all the things that I could learn."

"You're willing to leave years of being with us, working fighting together for a chance to learn something? You're going to leave Percy, he loves you."

"I love him as well, but this is something that I need to do Nico, Ill regret it my entire life if I don't go."

Nico looked at her in disbelief, "And you won't regret leaving Percy, fine leave then, don't expect me to be kind to you if you return."

FLASHBACK END

"He's down near the beach, he just finished teaching a class on sword fighting so he should be relaxing there." Jason told Annabeth.

"I'll go grab him, he might not know about the meeting anyhow." Annabeth said while walking towards the beach.

"Annabeth" Jason called out, "Be careful, he has a shorter temper then he used to."

Annabeth nodded before walking off.

Camp Half Blood Beach

Nico sat on the beach looking out into the water, enjoying the silence and the calm of the waves, it appeared that Poseidon was in a good mood today. Curious Nico thought to himself, he figured the God of the Sea would be in a bad mood considering the news that had come down from Olympus earlier and the people who had arrived.

He sighed to himself, 'I wonder how Percy will react to all of this, he finally seemed to be moving on with everything and enjoying his life now. Of course, it wouldn't be Percy if his life wasn't normal.'

Nico sat there for a couple more minutes before getting up to head back into Camp.

"Nico how have you been?" A voice called out to him.

Nico stopped and rubbed his head to prepare for the headache about to arrive during this conversation.

"You going to ignore me now as well? We're friends Nico."

"I don't know you, unless you want a fight I suggest you leave while you still can."

"Really you're threatening me. We're friends Nico."

"No, we were friends, then you left without any regard for any of us. Frankly I don't care that you left Camp, I get it you lost a lot here and the memories would be hard to live with, but did you even consider what you were doing to him?"

"Of course, I did, I even offe- "

"You didn't because you knew he wouldn't accept how could he? Leave his mom? Leave Paul and most importantly leave Hannah? You didn't think about it at all, you thought about yourself."

"So, it's wrong for me to be selfish, to want to try and live a normal life?"

"How in the world is living up there a normal life? You could have had a normal life here. With him, he loved you and was willing to do anything for you, hell he even jumped into Tartarus for you and turned down Go-"

"Shut up Nico! You don't think I don't know that? You don't think I've lived the last 2 years with that knowledge and it torturing me for leaving him, I love him Nico I did back then I still do now but I needed something different in my life, I couldn't stay here anymore especially after Tartarus."

"Tell yourself that Annabeth but Percy went through just as much or more, bathing in the Styx, having a prophecy which stated he would either succeed or fail in saving Olympus. He then lost his memories and had to fight just to get back to you before jumping into Tartarus so that you wouldn't be alone. Yet he wanted to stay, because he didn't want any other demigod to go through what you both did, and he did that for 5 years now, but of course a hero's path is never easy. Annabeth, I think it would be best if you just did what you needed to and leave, for him it would be the best thing to do, he finally has a life again."

Nico sighed and he could hear the waves behind him reacting to what seemed to be the presence of Annabeth, washing move aggressively and the formally passive sea getting rougher as time progressed.

"I never wanted to leave him, our you, or anyone for that matter, I've gone by everyday missing all of you and wanting to come back to be with you all again, but I had an obligation and a job to do once I left. I regret I every day that I left him, and I have to live with that now, all I ask is the chance to sit down and talk to him Nico, that's all I need." Annabeth told Nico tears forming in her eyes.

"If you want to know where he is, you aren't going to get that information from me. As I said before, leave while you can."

"Nico, then what was Percy's wish granted by the gods?"

Nico looked at Annabeth in the eyes. "To be left alone."