"Where's your head at, seaweed brain?" her tone seemed teasing, but for as long as Percy had known Annabeth, he knew that her question was anything but teasing.

He supposed her question was warranted, he hadn't exactly said much since Calypso's arrival, but then again—what could he say? Sure there was a brief, three-minute time period back during the whole Gaea thing that he considered what it'd be like living in the normal world with Calypso existing in it, but there had been, like, two hundred and sixty five other things for him to worry about at the time. He hadn't really stopped to consider what that would mean for him for very long. Add that to the fact that he'd forgotten about mentioning Calypso to the gods again, and you had a very confused and stressed out son of Poseidon.

He felt Annabeth's hand clutch his, and she pulled him to a stop. She was looking down at her feet and biting her lip in a very un-Annabeth manner that made him feel even worse, "…Percy, please just say something."

He sighed, "I don't know. I don't know what to say. I'm an idiot."

"You're not an idiot," she half-smiled, "only sometimes, but generally you're not an idiot."

"I forgot about Calypso again, Annabeth, I forgot about her after the Titan War, and I forgot about her again after the Giants…after everything she's been through, after how she helped me, and after I…." He looked up in frustration, needing to say something he knew Annabeth didn't want to hear, "She loved me, Annabeth, and I abandoned her. What she must think of me…and it's not like I didn't-…I did care for her, she meant something to me…"

He trailed off as Annabeth's eyes dropped to the ground, "Does she mean something to you now?"

"What? No! I mean, I guess, in a sense-" he cut off at the hurt look on Annabeth's eyes, "No, not like that! Not like…not like you do…"

Annabeth took a deep breath, "I think you're gonna have to talk me through this, seaweed brain." She mumbled softly.

Percy sighed, "I don't love her." He noticed Annabeth's shoulders sag with what he could only assume was relief. "But I do care about her, at least I thought I did. She was kind to me and I guess now I just feel…"

"Guilty?"

"Yes, maybe that's it. Guilty. I let her down Annabeth, and I owed her, after everything…"

"Even after she cursed me?" She'd said it so softly Percy almost thought she'd imagined it.

Right, he thought, how could I forget? Well this is just a mess. He sighed once more, what was he supposed to do now?

As if to make matters worse, it was at that moment that his eyes travelled up to the door of the Hypnos cabin, where a certain goddess had just stepped out to squint at the early morning light.

"You should talk to her." Annabeth's voice was muted, not half as commanding as he usually expected it to be.

Percy looked down at her, "I should." He kissed her forehead, "We're okay though, right?"

She smiled weakly, "Yes, we're okay."

Percy nodded and kissed her lightly on the cheek as he approached the Hypnos cabin, Calypso's unmoving gaze already locked onto him as he approached.

"Percy Jackson," she stated softly, "we meet again."

As he stepped closer he couldn't help but notice her tousled hair, her wrinkly clothes, and just the slightest hint of red in her eyes. She was still inhumanely beautiful, but still…she looked exhausted. Could goddesses look so exhausted?

"It is good to see you again, Calypso," he said as the two of them strolled away from the cabin and around the perimeter of the woods, "I guess it's time we talk."

"Yes, I suppose it's long overdue," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"But first…how's Leo?" He asked.

For the first time during the conversation, Calypso showed a trace of emotion—her eyebrows met in a frown and she looked worriedly back in the direction of the Hypnos cabin. "He's okay now, it looks like he's just sleeping. It was a rough night for him. Clovis checked on him and said he'd be asleep for a few more hours. Piper kicked me out and said I needed the fresh air."

Percy smiled, "She's kind of demanding when she wants to be, isn't she?"

"She cares deeply for her friends."

Percy was surprised; already, it seemed Calypso had sized Piper up fairly well. But then again, how could anything about this goddess surprise him?

Calypso stopped walking and leaned against a tree, "I know why you've come to me, Percy Jackson, so go ahead and get it off your chest." She leveled her gaze at him, and he had a particular feeling that he was an ant being held under a magnifying glass. Calypso had a way of making him feel extremely inept.

Percy took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. The words aren't enough to make up for what I did to you, but I needed to tell you nonetheless. I'm sorry that I left you, and I'm sorry that I didn't make sure the gods followed through with their promises. I was too caught up in my own world to realize what injustice I'd done to you."

Calypso nodded, as if knowing this was exactly what he would say, "Yes, I suppose you must feel bad."

"I didn't realize how bad it was until…" He trailed off, unsure how to bring up the subject, "Until I saw how that curse affected Annabeth."

At this, Calypso looked confused, "A curse? What…You can't mean…?" understanding seemed to dawn on her, "Oh Percy, what happened?" She drew a hand to her mouth, a horrified look on her face.

"We got attacked by some arai while me and Annabeth were stuck in Tartarus" he said it softly, watching Calypso's face closely, "When she cut one of them down, it triggered a curse…she felt I abandoned her. And I kept calling out to her, but she didn't hear me. It was horrible to have to see her like that."

"Oh no," she murmured, "I never thought…Oh Percy, I'm so sorry. I can't believe—I mean to think that you would ever actually encounter an arai…" She pushed off the tree and started pacing, "I said it in anger, I was so angry at you, and I just—I never thought it would ever hurt anyone, I was just so mad at the time, and-and jealous, because you'd forgotten about me and I was so alone…." She stopped pacing and looked up at Percy, and he almost thought he saw tears in her eyes, "Percy you must know I never intended to hurt you and Annabeth, not really. I never imagined it would ever harm you."

Percy nodded, knowing this had always been the case. As upset as she may have been, Percy knew Calypso was not cruel, "It's okay, I forgive you. I was never mad at you to begin with. I know I hurt you…" he hesitated, "but Annabeth…I'm not sure if she feels that way."

Calypso cringed, "She must hate me."

"No, she doesn't hate you," he shook his head, "I just don't think she knows what to make of you. It's been long enough for her to let go of any anger she may have had. But you should probably talk to her about all that."

"Yes, I probably should," she murmured to herself.

Percy took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Look, Calypso, are we…are we okay?"

Calypso leveled him with that steely gaze once more, the one that made him feel he was being thoroughly dissected, "I suppose like Annabeth, it's been long enough for me to let go of any anger I may have had."

He gave her a half-smile, "So…?"

Calypso rolled her eyes good naturedly, "Look, Percy Jackson, you did hurt me, but it's not like I'm still pining after you. I have moved on, you know."

Percy nodded and his eyes travelled back to the Hypnos cabin, "Yes, I noticed."

"The way I felt for you," she said slowly, "It wasn't the same. It was childish and it was adoring and it was a fascination. You were a hero and I was cursed to love you for it from the moment I saw you. But Leo…he was different from the start. I could never love again, not like I love him."

There was just the smallest part of Percy that stung at being called second-rate, that tiny little part of him that he'd harbored deep inside him since the second he left Ogygia. The part that would always wonder 'what if?' But in a way, that rebellious part of him helped him understand Calypso's feelings a bit more—she'd been cursed to love every man that came to her island, just as Percy felt he'd been cursed to always wonder what might have been for choosing to leave the same island. Either way, they both knew that it was never meant to be. He truly smiled at Calypso now, "I'm glad you found him. You two seem good together."

She smiled back, and this time, it looked genuine, yet wary, almost tired, "Yes, I suppose we do."

Percy peered at her closely once more, "But you're not really the same Calypso I left on that island, are you?"

Calypso sighed softly, "No, I suppose I'm not at all the same goddess you met."

"You look tired." He said slowly, "But goddesses never look tired…"

"No, they don't."

He gaped at her, not at all expecting such a candid admission from her, "So you mean to say you…?"

"I'm not a goddess anymore, if that's what you're asking."

"Wow," he muttered, "I never thought…you really did that for him?"

"Of course," she mumbled silently, "how could I not?"

He watched her profile as she stared back at the Hypnos cabin, a wistful smile in her face. With the early morning light, the sun played rather beautifully with her hair and brought out golds and coppers that weren't normally visible. For a moment, he could see the old Calypso, the one he'd seen standing on that island so many years ago, staring witfully out into the sea…And yet, in an instant, that girl was gone, and there stood the new Calypso. She was the same, yet…stronger. More assured. Confident. And loved.

Yes, Calypso was definitely the most beautiful mortal he'd ever laid eyes on, but she was not the girl for him. He knew that now, more than ever, as he saw how clearly she was besotted with the Latin fireball. And a pressure he hadn't realized was within him suddenly released, for he didn't have to worry about Calypso anymore. She was happy, and he didn't need to feel responsible for her. She'd found her own way out of her prison…with Leo.

"You should head back," he said, "we'll have plenty of time to catch up later."

Calypso nodded as the two began making their way back towards the cabin, "Yes, I'm sure he must be waking up soon…"

Percy looked up when she trailed off, only to realize Annabeth was standing near the cabin, watching them closely with those grey eyes of hers. "Annabeth," he smiled at her, "I'm not sure if the two of you have been properly introduced."

Annabeth smiled uneasily, "I'm sure we're past the pleasantries now."

Percy frowned, it was unusual for him to see Annabeth behave so unsure of herself.

Calypso nonetheless extended her hand to Annabeth, and upon shaking it, pulled Annabeth into a hug. The daughter of Athena seemed taken aback but as soon as Calypso's embrace started, it was over, and she was holding Annabeth's hands in her own.

"Annabeth," she said firmly, "I am so sorry. That curse I wished on you, I should have never done that. It was said in anger and it was a horrible, terrible mistake. I don't know how I could ever make that up to you."

Annabeth's eyebrows shot up, "Oh…well…it wasn't…it was a long time ago." Her eyes locked with his, and he felt that she, like him, was reliving those horrible days in Tartarus for a moment.

Calypso persisted, "Yes, it was. And I want you to know that my doing that…that's not me. I don't wish any harm on you Annabeth, I never did. I was so upset and so jealous…I wasn't thinking clearly."

Annabeth smiled at the ex-goddess, "To think that someone like you could be jealous of a girl like me…"

Calypso smiled, "Don't sell yourself short, I've heard a lot about your great feats. I was interested to hear about your battle plans for the Games. Very strategic, you honor your mother with such great schemes."

Annabeth's face lit up, "Jason told me some of your suggestions. You should definitely come join us for our next council meeting, I'm sure—"

At that time, Piper stuck her head out the door of the Hypnos cabin, "Calypso! Clovis says Leo should be waking up within the hour. I figured I'd go get us breakfast while we wait?"

"Yes, that would be lovely," Calypso smiled as she walked up to the cabin. She turned back to Percy and Annabeth, "I'm glad we got to talk, Percy Jackson." Does she always have to say my full name? "And Annabeth, I feel this is not the last we'll speak of my actions towards you, but I hope you and I may become friends in the future."

Annabeth nodded and smiled back at Calypso, "Yes, I think I'd like that."

And with that, Calypso strolled past Piper and disappeared from their view. Percy took her hand in his and the two began strolling in the general direction of breakfast.

"So I take it your talk went well?" she asked.

Percy nodded, "Yeah, I think so. But to be honest, I'm surprised you forgave her so easily though…I mean I know it wasn't my grudge to hold, but I thought you'd be more upset at being cursed."

Annabeth nodded, "Well of course I was. I think some part of me hated her for a while." She sighed and looked up at Percy, "But to be honest looking at her now, all I can think about is how I felt when I was under that curse. I felt absolutely miserable, Percy. To feel so abandoned, so unloved…I guess I understand exactly how she felt..." she got up on her tiptoes and pecked him lightly, "and I guess I realized I couldn't blame her for loving you like that. She truly was feeling awful at that time."

Percy grinned, "Well, I'm such a great guy, you know…"

Annabeth laughed and shoved him lightly, "Sure, keep telling yourself that, Seaweed brain."

Percy laughed, feeling like the weight he'd felt since the moment Calypso stepped foot in Camp Half-Blood lifting off his shoulders. Feeling the need to indulge Annabeth, given that she'd been so accepting of Calypso's apologies, he broached the one subject he was sure would get Annabeth in a great mood, "So about these war strategies…"

A/N: I'M ALIVEEEEEEEEE. Not really, just barely. Hey guys guess what—law school is hard, and it's time consuming—who knew?

I am sorry that this story has lapsed into a hiatus, it was never my intention to leave everybody hanging! Unfortunately, life is busy and the busier I get, the less time I have to be creative and put out a good product for you. This felt like a filler chapter, but it got out what I'd originally envisioned for this encounter. It's been a while since I've worked on this story, and I've come up with some new ideas of where I want it to end up. However, I think the ending will now lead to a more realistic one than the somewhat cliché one I originally intended.

That being said, I want to thank all of you that have continued to review even during my long hiatus. It's really those sporadic reviews that spurred me to re-read my story and think of a new direction for it—I'd hate to let all of you down like that!

I can't promise I'll get another chapter out for the next month or so because I'll be busy taking the Bar exam, but I do promise that at least by August I should have plenty of free time to be creative and finish this story out.

Please feel free to leave me a review and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear what you guys think of this chapter (especially since I haven't read the books in a while and wasn't sure how closely I was tracking the character traits), and also let me know what you think of the story so far.

Thanks for reading :)