AN:This one was a hard one to write, explanation below the chapter.

Previously

The call of duty ran rampant within Percy. He knew better than anyone that if one should wish for peace, than one must be prepared for war. And Percy Jackson certainly wished for peace. With a resolute heart, Percy stood from the bench he had sat on and walked towards the Principia.

Presently

"You WHAT?"

Percy almost flinched the force that Annabeth roared. Nonetheless, he knew he'd have to face the music.

"I'm going to lead the First Cohort onto an operational deployment" he replied calmly

"And not once did it occur to you to consult me?" Annabeth snarled.

Percy really did flinch this time. That one stung. No, it burned. He hadn't consulted Annabeth once, and he recognized that he made a huge mistake by not doing it. The betrayal in her voice made him realized that he had hurt her more than if he'd have just told her before agreeing.

"It did." he admitted. "but I…."

"You what?" Annabeth spat.

"I don't know" he whispered softly.

"What did they offer you? Power? Money? Bragging rights?" Annabeth thundered.

Percy felt a flicker of annoyance at the insinuation that he could be won over by such childish things, but he wisely kept silent. He had no right to be angry with her, not while he was so clearly in the wrong that Annabeth's anger was justified.

"Nothing. They came to me for help." Percy said.

Annabeth snorted. "And you just decided to help them instead of building the life we've always wanted to live?"

"It's only temporary!" Percy protested.

"Oh please. Do you honestly expect me to believe that?" Annabeth shot back, before taking a breathing deeply. "Percy…I don't understand, we've been planning this for years. We've been dreaming about a peaceful life since we found Zeus' bolt. So, why can't we have that?"

"Annabeth…"

"No, let me speak Percy. The Giant War is over. We're safe, and we're together. We're going to college, we just bought a house for gods sake. And you're throwing all that away by joining the Legion again. For fucks sake Percy, look at where you are! You're in the safest place for demigods on this fucking planet! Does that mean nothing to you?" Annabeth shouted.

"It means the world to me Annabeth, but we both know that people are needed so other people can be safe." Percy said softly.

"Don't you start with that bullshit. You've done your years of fighting. You've protected this world enough."

Percy didn't have an answer to that. It was true, he HAD done more than enough fighting. He could go to Olympus right now and ask for godhood, and there was a high chance that he'd be granted it in recognition of everything he's done for the gods.

"Look Annabeth. I will do this tour and nothing else. I will come home to you, and we'll pick up where we left off. We're still us, and there's nothing more that matters to me." Percy said.

Annabeth shook her head sadly. "Percy, this is no us. Not anymore. As soon as you agreed to go, there was no us anymore. You left me behind Percy, and you left the remnants of us shattered all around me. We went through Tartarus together, but I guess that means nothing now"."

Percy's vision blurred with tears. "Annabeth…"

"No Percy, I can't change it. I'm sorry."

Annabeth got up and walked to the door, throwing one last sad look at the man she loved, before turning and closing the door behind her.

Percy's dam finally broke. Tears came hot and fast, and it wasn't long before he was reduced to a blubbering mess on his knees. Percy had fucked up, and he knew it very well. But he couldn't change it. He couldn't change the fact that he broke his soulmate in ways Tartarus never could.

They shared everything together. Every thought, every free minute, every worry and every doubt. The first thing he kept from her was the very last thing he would ever tell her. He repaid her trust and her love with secrets and deceit.

He didn't register the flash of flame and the smell of salt that permeated the air in his room before he felt two sets of arms wrap around him.

"I'm sorry son" a man's voice rumbled

"Dad? Why are you here?"

"I always feel it when one of my sons is suffering"

"I felt the loss as well" a female's voice said.

"Hestia?"

"Who else?" Hestia gave a watery chuckle.

The three stood for a while, simply letting Percy sob into their respective shoulders. The two deities knew Percy lost much, and that the loss of Annabeth may well have been his breaking point. He suffered so much for the good of Olympus, and both Poseidon and Hestia wished above all else he would one day reap the benefits.

"I'm sorry, it got a little too much" Percy said sadly

"Percy, it's hard, but you can only go forwards. There's no going back now." Poseidon said.

Percy's eyes filled with some spark, before he nodded. He understood the hidden meaning in his father's words.

"We must take our leave, but should you need us, you can always call." Poseidon said.

Percy nodded, before the two deities flashed away, leaving him alone once again. He took his mind off of Annabeth for the time being, there'd always be time for that later. Now he needed to be ready for his duty.

First things first, he needed a set of armor. Armor worthy of an officer of Rome, and certainly armor worthy of Perseus Jackson.

He exited his apartment and quickly walked towards the chief armorer of the Legion.

AN: Going to end this one here. Next chapter will be more focused towards the actual plot.

As some of you know, I'm currently serving as an officer in the United States Navy, and this chapter is based heavily on my personal experience. Hell, the whole beginning of this book is basically based of the trouble I had joining the Navy. Anyways I had basically the same conversation with my girlfriend at the time, and our relationship unfortunately ended the same way. For all my readers out there that are thinking of joining the military, no matter what nation, let me offer you a piece of advice:

Think of your home life.

The military is an amazing job. You met plenty of great people (and plenty not so great), you travel the world, you learn skills that you may or may not be able to find a great career with after your service. But there are people at home. And those people are sacrificing a lot too. They miss you just as much, if not more than you miss them.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, yet everything comes with strings attached.