Percy POV

The government was flying us home on a private jet. While we were all the same age, we lived all over the country, so the trip was going to be a long one. The flight was going to the West coast first before heading to the east coast.

Frank, Hazel, Reyna, Jason, Piper, and Annabeth lived in California. Leo studies in California, but his family lives in Texas. Nico, Will, Rachel, Thalia, and I come from New York.

So, that's where we were headed.

However, I had to talk to Jason and Thalia before we landed in California. Jason and Piper would go back to their apartment, but he needed to know the truth.

"Hey, are you ready to have this conversation?" I asked quietly.

Thalia had just come back to her seat after feeding the baby. Now, baby Sally was sleeping in a crib that the CIA had provided.

Thalia took a deep breath and nodded. her gaze flitted to Jason before she gestured for me to join them. I was going to join them eventually because I had to tell them about Zeus. Regardless, I walked with Thalia towards Jason because she seemed nervous.

"Hi, Jason, may I speak with you in private?" Thalia asked softly.

Jason looked up from his conversation with Piper. They both seemed happy to be going back home. At least, they were happy.

To be honest, I was dreading the idea of going home. I wasn't even sure if I had a home to go back to. I didn't have a family anymore.

"Yeah, sure, Thalia. Um, where do we talk in private though?"

The private plane was spacious and luxurious, but everyone was scattered throughout. No section was private.

"There's a small room beyond the bathroom. That's where I fed the baby, so we can go there," Thalia responded.

The room in the back was meant to be an office based on the yellow wall decor. Clearly, the CIA had removed the desk and chairs, so it was an empty room. But, it was large enough to easily fit three people.

"So, what is it? You're making me a little nervous," Jason replied.

I sighed as I sat on the floor. This was a private conversation between them for now, so I was trying to stay back.

Thalia approached Jason and hugged him surprisingly.

"You're my baby brother, Jason," Thalia whispered. I couldn't help but smile at Jason's confused face. Regardless, he hugged his sister.

"I don't understand. I know that we have gotten close, but-"

"Jason, I saw the same memory that you saw in the blue room. While you were the little boy, I was the young girl. I lost you that day when I was adopted," Thalia explained.

"Wait, Thalia, I can't believe it," Jason said with a deep breath. "I mean, I did feel connected to you since the first day at Elysium, and we have the same eyes as well."

Thalia laughed as she agreed.

"I know that it's difficult to understand, but I am Thalia Grace. If you want, I can show you adoption papers or whatever. But, I am your sister."

Jason smiled. This time he initiated the embrace.

I could tell that Jason believed everything that he was being told, and I couldn't help but smile. This was everything. They were becoming a family. It was sad. I had lost my family whilst at Elysium, but they had become one.

Jason wiped a few tears from his face as he smiled.

"I guess that I also have a little niece as well. Gods, I'm so happy right now. Honestly, Piper was suggesting something like this, but it seemed impossible," Jason chuckled. His facial expressions were filled with joy and shock and everything else.

"I'm so grateful that I found you," Thalia whispered.

"I just don't get how Elysium knew about us. We were separated at a very young age, so I don't understand," Jason expressed.

"Well, I do understand," I spoke up as the smile faded from my face. They both faced me as I stood up.

"I'm not sure that you want to hear this, but you guys deserve to know the truth. You both have a personal connection to Elysium because of a biological family member. Your biological father is Zeus," I explained calmly.

They both looked shocked and disgusted at the same time.

"How do you know this?" Jason asked firmly.

"He told me himself. While Thalia and Annabeth were getting cleaned up, Zeus's patrol found me and Leo. I was holding the baby, and I told him to leave. he didn't deserve to mess up your lives any more than he already did," I explained. "You guys can ask Leo as well. He saw all of it."

"Zeus listened to you and left?"

"Much to my surprise, he did. I think that he does care about you guys, but he knows that he doesn't deserve either of you."

I paused as I let the information sink in. They both seemed to be in contemplation.

"I'm sorry, guys, but you guys needed to know. It's not my secret to keep," I said quietly. I started to walk out of the room. They deserved to discuss and bond alone.

Jason placed his hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"Thank you for telling us, Percy. You're one of the most loyal and honest that I know. I'm grateful," he expressed and Thalia agreed.

I was grateful for meeting them too. However, I now focused on the challenge ahead. I had no clue how I would handle my home with no family. With no mom.

Gods, I was feeling incredibly alone.

...

I walked alone on the stone pavement. The streets were bustling with people, but I refused to go any faster. Usually, I'd be running down this road because I would always be late to work. A CIA officer dropped me at my apartment complex.

However, I didn't go inside. I kept my bags with the doorman, Argus, who welcomed me back with sad eyes.

I was walking towards the hospital. According to the CIA, the staff respected my mother's wishes and continued with a cremation. Her urn was still in the hospital because no family member came to pick it up yet.

I was extremely tired as I paused in front of the hospital doors. It was one of the biggest hospitals in the city, and everyone was practically moving. Everyone except me.

As I made my way into the main lobby, I froze in front of an interaction.

Will was hugging a doctor in the lobby waiting area. My gaze lingered on the woman, who was crying as she hugged her son. Dr. Solace was an oncology-hematology doctor here. She was with my mother in her final moments.

I put on a smile as I walked towards them. I felt jealous of Will. He came back to his mother, who was happily hugging him right now.

Meanwhile, all I was feeling was loss and pain.

The mother and son pulled apart just as I approached them. "WILL, I didn't expect to see you here," I expressed.

"Percy. Mom, this is Percy. He's one of the people that was kidnapped with me. Without him, I wouldn't have survived and/or escaped," Will said with tears in his eyes. "Percy, seriously, I owe you everything for helping all of us escape."

"Thank you so much for supporting my son through it all. I was so worried, and I'm grateful for having him back," Dr. Solace expressed tearfully.

She turned and embraced me. I almost cried as I accepted her warm embrace.

I nodded before pulling away.

"Will helped me so much as well. We're all just glad that we made it out because others weren't as lucky." I conversed for a few more minutes before parting from them. They deserved to reunite in private.

I obtained the urn from the basement level. It was in a box that was carefully labeled and oriented. I carried the passage back home in a depressive mood.

Argus was waiting for me when I came back.

"Sir, I will follow you to the room since you'll need a key. Also, I am obligated to tell you that the apartment will be given to someone else within the week," Argus explained. He seemed sad as he expressed himself

"Sir, you've been gone without rent for a month and a half. Um, I moved your stuff into a storage closet on the next block. I'm sorry for your loss, sir," he expressed solemnly.

"It's okay, Argus. I wasn't expecting a fairytale welcome back."

Argus let me into the apartment where I was finally left alone since escaping. The apartment was empty, and it was weird. There was proof that my mom and I ever lived here. It proved that this wasn't my home anymore.

I sighed as I set my package on the coffee table. I sat in front of it. My mother's urn was simple and rustic.

I was hungry and thirsty, but there wasn't anything in my apartment. If my mother was still alive, she'd be baking and cooking everything while hugging me at the same time. Gods, I missed her so much.

My mind wandered towards Annabeth. The person I loved most in my life had passed away. Annabeth was next in line, and I was really missing her warmth and love. We had planned to stay in touch, but I wasn't sure. It was very easy for her to just go back to her life, right?

We hadn't even said a proper goodbye because the CIA ushered everyone out very quickly in California.

Tears bristled my eyes as I fell asleep on the couch.

My life was complete shit right now.

...

I woke up to a loud knocking on my door. For a second, I was back in Elysium before I took stock of my surroundings. No, I was just in my former apartment. I had been asleep for twelve hours. It was the next day.

I rubbed my eyes as I walked to my front door.

The people outside of my apartment surprised me. I wasn't expecting to see Thalia and baby Sally today. More importantly, Annabeth was standing there with a vibrant smile.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain," she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around me. I tightly hugged her as her lips pressed into my cheek.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked with a chuckle.

Annabeth's embrace tightened for a second before she pulled away. "Percy, I wasn't going to leave you here alone. I love you too much for that. So, are you going to let us in?"

"Yeah, absolutely." My smile was huge. I was incredibly thankful that they came here because I was actually losing it.

"Percy, why is the apartment empty?" Thalia asked.

"It's not my apartment anymore. I obviously didn't pay rent for over a month. Also, my mom passed away, and I don't really wanna stay here."

Baby Sally was in a car seat, and she was sleeping peacefully. I touched her hands gently before turning back to Annabeth and Thalia.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Annabeth asked as she took my hand.

Thalia's eyes glossed as she got lost in thought. She was sitting at the loveseat. I sat down with Annabeth on the three-seater. I didn't know what I was going to do. I probably had to get a job, and who knows.

"I don't really know, but I'll figure it out. Annabeth, why aren't you in California?" I asked curiously.

"California is where I lived, but it's not where the people I love are. I love you, Percy, and I couldn't leave you, especially now."

I smiled as I gazed into her beautiful eyes. "I love you too, Wise Girl."

My gaze fell upon my mother's urn again. I knew that Annabeth would stick by my side during the good and bad times. I was grateful for finding her and loving her.

"All right, that's enough love birds. Percy, I consider you as a brother, equal to Jason. And, you are my baby's uncle," Thalia said genuinely.

"Thank you, Thalia."

"So, would you like to come live in my apartment? I have no financial restrictions because of my job, so please come. Accept us as family," Thalia asked.

At first, I was shocked by her proposition. I didn't know what to say. Annabeth was smiling as she rubbed my hand.

However, the answer was obvious.

I was grateful for the new family and friends that I made during this horrible experience. My old life was gone, and I couldn't get it back. But, I could embrace a new life with Annabeth, Thalia, and the others. I smiled.

"YES. I love you guys so much. Thank you."

...