Percy shuffled, a little uncomfortably, but at the same time with a smile on his face.

He was shuffling, on his own two feet again. Well, his own one foot and the prosthetic the Hephastus cabin had made for him in record time, but was shuffling nonetheless. He looked around the big house as he stood in the lobby area, hands in his pockets as he went over the pictures on the walls. He noticed some familiar faces in them, and even his own face a couple of times, but didn't really focus on them too much.

He was here for a reason. Business if you will, but pleasurable nonetheless.

He couldn't really help it not being all business, nor did he have a problem with that. Just about the second Artemis had flashed him to the big house the rest of the seven had just about smothered him in a hug. Piper, Jason, Frank, and Hazel, all crushing him in an embrace as they bombarded him with questions. Where'd he been? How was he? Why did he have one leg? There were some frustrations of course, and a couple mighty glares from Piper, but in the end the words that needed to be said were said.

Nico also made sure to stop by, bringing along Will Solace who at no point let go of his hand and at no point let the smile he was beaming fall from his face. Percy was smart enough to guess why that was and it was confirmed when he caught Nico planting a kiss on Will's cheek as they left the big house. He couldn't help but let that tug at his heart strings a little bit.

He'd answered their questions with smiles, sharing a few more hugs as he did before he eventually headed where he needed to go.

Chiron's office.

He knocked, rather softly, but was greeted just about immediately with a "Come on in."

He smiled to himself, pushing open the door and walking into the room, only to be met with a beaming smile from the old centaur.

"Percy..." He breathed, before his eyes drifted down to Percy's wound and a frown pulled across his lips, "...what on earth happened?"

Percy put his hands on his hips, tucking his jacket behind them as he pursed his lips at his teacher.

"Stepped in a bear trap."

Chiron was silent for a moment, an agonizing moment, before he breathed out a soft sigh and rubbed his face.

"It's good to see you again, son."

"Likewise." Percy replied with a smile as he walked up to chirons desk and took a seat across from him. He softly drummed his fingers on the big oak table as he glanced at the stain on Chiron's wall.

"Sorry about the rum, by the way." He mumbled.

"It's alright Percy." Chiron replied, "I'm sure you had... good enough reason to do that."

Percy shook his head, "Not really, but... that doesn't matter now." He reached into his pocket, and fished something our, handing it to Chiron as he continued, "I wanted to give you this."

Chiron lifted his gaze, looking at Percy's hand as a look of slight shock spread across his face.

It was Anaklusmos, Riptide, and Percy was handing it to him. Percy met his gaze with a slight smile.

"I know, not what you expected, but..." Percy gave his leg a soft slap with his free hand, "... I'm retired, and from what I've been told my new sword can handle Greek monsters just fine."

Chiron was still in shock, watching as Percy gently placed the pen on his desk, sliding it over to him.

"When you gave this to me, Chiron, it was to keep me safe on my travels, my adventures, my quests. But now?" He have the centaur a soft smile, "...now... it's time for it to keep a new hero safe."

The old horse was quiet for a moment, a slow burning moment that filled the room with thoughts that could only be properly portrayed on a face that was thousands of years old. Chiron let out a sigh, and smiled, taking the pen in his hand as he slipped it into the pocket of his blazer.

"Y'know Percy..." He began, but Percy raised his hand.

"I know, I know..." Percy said, raising to his feet with a smile, "...it's in my nature."

The centaur shook his head with a laugh, rising to his feet as he did.

"I'll see to it that riptide keeps a new hero safe, Percy."

Percy grinned, "Thanks Chiron. I honestly needed to get rid of it asap, because I get the feeling Zoe really, really doesn't like looking at it."

Chirons eyes raised up to Percy's, widening as they did.

"The girl in Alaska?" He asked, to which Percy nodded.

"The one and only." He said with a smile. Chiron let out a breath.

"You mean the ex hunter, right? We're talking about that Zoe?"

Percy let out a grin, "Yeah."

Chiron shook his head, "How'd you manage to pull that off, son?"

Percy shrugged, "Five years, Chiron. Anything can happen."

The centaur softly chuckled to himself, as he walked up next to Percy, clasping his hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Planning on staying a bit? Y'know, we're gonna have a game of capture the flag today, I'm sure you'd be welcome to join."

Percy shrugged, and slapped his thigh, "Not sure I'd be much use, anymore. Thanks for the offer though."

Chiron gave the boy a sad smile, before clapping him on the shoulder a few more times. "So this is it, then?"

Percy shifted, his gaze drifting from Chiron's as he looked at the floor.

"Yeah." He said, a soft breath of air flowing from his nose, "It is."

Chiron's face fell, and Percy looked back up at his old mentor, letting a smile crack through his emotions.

"I'll still visit, though. I do this have anything keeping me away anymore." He said, before gesturing to his leg, "Plus... not like it'll be too hard to keep me here. Just snag my peg leg and I'll be just about stranded in place."

Chiron let out a laugh, a soft chuckle that shook the old centaurs shoulders as he clapped his hand down on Percy's shoulder.

"I..." The ancient centaur said, his upper lip twitching as he did, "I've never been good at goodbyes, Percy. You'd think that by now I would be, or I'd at least be okay with saying it to you, all things considered, but..."

He paused, as a glint of emotion passed through his eyes, "... Well, let's hope this isn't goodbye. Not like last time anyways."

Percy couldn't really help himself as he pulled he old man into a hug, letting Chiron rest his chin on Percy's head.

"It won't be. I'll visit, I promise." Percy replied.

Chiron smiled, before he let Percy go, and the young man turned away from Chiron, leaving his office, and leaving the big house.

Percy looked around as he walked, watching faces turn to him, faces he recognized, faces he didn't. He took note that they all stared, not at his leg, or his honestly daring choice of double denim, but at him. His face, the hero they'd all known. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, savior of Olympus time and time again. They watched as he walked, before he stopped, right before the entrance to camp.

He turned around, taking note of the camp. He took a look back, one last look at the place that, for years, he'd called his home. He looked at the big house, at the Rock wall. He looked at the chariot track, and the strawberry fields. He looked at the lake, and the dock. He looked at the cabins, at his old cabin.

He smiled to himself, taking one last breath of the air as he eyed up the campers who'd followed him, followed the legendary Percy Jackson as he made his last trek from camp.

He looked at them, a soft smile passing over his lips as he did. He thought about the last words he'd said to them, the spitefulness he'd had. He thought about how a lot of them probably still felt, how he'd ruined this life for them. He thought about it, before he spoke.

"Good luck..." He said with a smile, turning away from the camp as he did, before looking over his shoulder and adding with a grin, "...heroes."

There were a couple cheers as he walked away. Past the border, past the pine tree, past all of that. Back to Artemis, who was waiting by the road.

Waiting to send him home.

One month later

Percy was restless. Actually, no, Percy wasn't restless, what Percy was was excited. Enthralled. Over the moon. Unbelievably eager, if you will.

He couldn't really stop bouncing his right knee and the unbelievably annoying habit he'd recently formed of loudly tapping an object (be it a pencil, a ruler, or in this case his lighter) on his prosthetic was on full display. To the point where the metallic tap tap tap loudly echoed throughout the police station, most likely fueled by the fact that his adhd was kicked into overdrive both due to his excitement, and on the opposite end, the mind melting boring paperwork he was doing.

The noise had continued to the point where it had even stirred Freya from her desk, who poked her head in with one of the most annoyed expressions he'd ever seen on her face.

"Sheriff..." She said, emphasizing the word as she spoke, "...can you please, and I can't emphasize this enough, stop the tapping before I rip off your other leg."

Percy's left hand froze, the lighter freezing in place as he glanced up at Freya, who now had on an officers uniform and a cowboy hat all her own. He smiled at her, placing Moskstraumen on his desk.

"Sorry, deputy..." He said, mimicking her speech and resulting in an eye roll from the daughter of Thor, "... I'm just a little excited, y'know?"

Freya sighed. A deep, exasperated noise that billowed out of her nose and mouth as she looked at him.

"Percy." She said, he glanced up at her.

"Yep?" He replied.

"She's been moved in for a month." Freya said, giving her head a shake, "Let her be moved in for a year before you start celebrating."

Percy sighed as he leaned back in his seat, pulling open his desk drawer to look at the little object inside.

A pendant. A simple, silver pendant on a silver chain, of an archer drawing her bow. He'd seen it in town, knowing he needed it immediately. It has admittedly cost a lot less after the shop keep found out who he was and what he'd done up on the mountain, bit still...

It was a lot, and maybe Freya was right. Or maybe she was wrong, and movie night would be even sappier tonight.

Percy felt a bit of excitement shoot up his spine as he stood up, grabbing the pendant as he did. He walked away from his desk, Freya shifting out of the way as he did.

"Leaving so soon, Percy?" She called, checking the clock, "You only stayed an extra hour today, what's the rush?"

He let out a chuckle, "Zoe was very adamant about it. Said she needed time to prepare, was the quote I believe."

Freya sighed, "She's even more of a dork about this than you, y'know."

Percy shot her a grin, "That's why we're so perfect together."

He left Freya with those word as he walked out the door, quickly walking down the steps as he stepped out of the station, plopping his cowboy hat on his head as he did.

Yeah, he'd kept it, and yeah, it was because Zoe had told him to.

He smiled to himself as he walked over to his truck, offering waves and smiles to people who passed him by, returning their morning sheriff 's with nods, smiles, and tips of his hat. He hopped in his truck, quickly starting her up before he pulled out of the station.

He remembered how this drive used to feel. How empty it had been as he used to just quietly listen to the radio as he made his way home. Or how he'd watch the rain drip on his windshield. He remembered that, how he used to be, and let out a smile. Not because he missed it, but because now it was something to be missed.

He weaved his way up the street, passing by the streetlights as he made his way up to his home.

No, their home he thought to himself as he pulled into his driveway. He parked the truck, turning it off as he stepped out, making sure to grab the pendant as he did. He walked up to the door, heart admittedly jack hammering in his chest as he did, before he took out his key and stuck it in his lock.

It wasn't even in for a micro second before the door swung open, and there she was.

Zoe. Beautiful, glowing, hair flowing, eyes shining, lips pulling into a slight smile she was desperately trying to hide behind a firm poker face, all while wearing faded jeans and a tight white long-sleeve that just couldn't help but drive Percy crazy. He took his hat off, reaching around the corner to toss it on his hat tree as he did, before he turned to her.

"Honey, I'm home." He said in a joking tone.

"You're late." She said, the smile pulling a bit more. He sighed and put his hands on his hips.

"Well, you did tell me to be, to be fair."

She pulled her lips into a pout, "Yeah, well that's before I realized how much I'd miss you." She said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. He chuckled as he entered, planting a kiss on her cheek and taking note of how her cheeks flushed when he did.

He tossed his coat on the rack before she dragged him into the house, past the kitchen and into the living room. The living room that had all the furniture pulled away from the walls and plastic on the floor.

Percy cocked an eyebrow, "Zoe?"

She turned to him as she rolled the sleeves up on her shirt, as she gestured to the coffee table in the middle of the room. There were paint brushes and cans of paint on the table.

Silver paint.

Percy looked at the paint, then back at his girlfriend with a grin.

"I'm guessing this is the Zoe and Percy color, then?"

She nodded, a slight smile on her face as she walked over to him, any and all frustration gone as she placed a gentle hand on his chest.

"My jacket is silver, our arrows are silver, Moskstraumen is silver..." She said, while glancing down at his pocket, "... which, speaking of Moskstraumen..."

She glanced over at the paint cans, then back at him, and he let out a sigh, fishing the lighter out of his pocket.

"Thank you Percy." She said in a mocking tone as he opened the blade.

"You're welcome Zoe." He said in a matching tone as he cut the cans open and poured them into the tray, before rolling his own sleeves up and grabbing a brush.

They got to work quickly, running the brushes over the walls as Zoe lightly hummed a song to herself. Percy noticed and recognized the tune.

"Is that-" He began, but stopped when she pressed a finger to his lips.

"All in good time, Jackson." She replied, with a conniving grin. He gulped and got back to painting as she let out a chuckle, painting all her own. It took them a while, but they finished painting the room.

They stood at the entrance, Percy's arm around Zoe as they admired their work. Percy let out a breath as he tightly held his girlfriend's shoulder.

"So." He said.

"So." She replied, a smile already on her face.

"So, I got you something." He said, a smile pulling at his lips.

She raised her eyebrows, nodding as she did. "Well, that's quite the coincidence, Jackson."

He turned to her with a squint, "Why's that?"

She looked up at him, her onyx eyes glinting as she smiled at him, "Becaus I got you something too, dummy."

He let out a soft sigh, as he took his arm off her shoulders, walking back over to his jacket as he reached for its pocket, not before shooting her a look.

"Close your eyes."

She made sure to roll them first. He smiled and fished the box out of his coat pocket, before moving back over to her. He took her hand and let her to the bathroom, her eyes still clamped shut as he did. He led her in front of the mirror and gently put the pendant around her neck.

"Okay." He said, softly squeezing her shoulders, "Open them."

She did, and the look on her face... it just about made Percy's heart melt.

Her hand drifted up to the pendant as her mouth fell slightly open, her eyes glistening as it did. She gently ran her fingers over it, feeling the cold metal under her digits.

"Percy, this is..."

"Not too crazy, I know." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I was thinking about getting group something extra, honestly. But I don't have time with all the new sheriff duties and getting used to the new leg, and-"

He stopped talking when she kissed him.

It was a soft kiss, a gentle one, One that, like always, made his eyes flutter and his heart pound and his hands involuntarily pull her close as he felt his body get several degrees hotter.

She pulled away, gently rubbing his cheek as she did.

"It's perfect." She said, to which he let out a nervous laugh and a breath of air. He rubbed the back of his neck again as a blush spread across her face, making her laugh, before his eyes snapped back up to her.

"Hold on, you said you have something for me."

She let out a sigh, before grabbing his hand and leading him out of the bathroom. He followed her as she pulled him along, leading him out of the bathroom and back into their kitchen, where he found something new on the counter.

A record player, and a box of vinyls.

He let his mouth fall open and turned to Zoe, who let out her classic shrug and smile combo.

"Astrid was doing was spring cleaning, and you already love old movies..." She reached into the box, pulling out a vinyl, "...I guessed old music was in your wheelhouse, too."

She held the record in her hands, the record he knew very, extremely well. The record that had a frayed case with an image of a man ina leather jacket jumping on an old porch of an old house. The record that he knew he'd probably listen to all night long... if she let him.

Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen.

She smiled as she pulled the vinyl from the case and put it on the player, putting the needle on the vinyl and turning it on as she did.

The song sprung to life immediately, and Percy recognized the beat also immediately, unable to help his toe from tapping to the beat.

Zoe noticed, letting out a soft laugh as she held her hand out.

"Feel like dancing, Jackson?" She asked with a smirk.

He grinned, taking her hand as he did.

"Like you wouldn't believe."

She let out a laugh all her own as they immediately got to dancing, swaying back and forth as the song played. The song flowed, and drove, filling them with energy as they twisted and spun to the beat, Percy making sure to sing along to every single line as Zoe tried, and failed, to hold back her laughter. They danced, not holding back at all as Percy made sure to add spins and twists to her movements as she swayed right along with him.

Then the song quieted down, if only for a second, and they caught each other's eyes. Percy felt his breath hitch, and his heart beat, just like it had on that beach all those years ago. He met her onyx eyes with his green orbs as thoughts passed over his mind. Thoughts of what the future held for them, thoughts of what tomorrow held for them. Hell, even some rather private thoughts about what tonight held for them.

He thought about how happy he was to be here, with her. How much he'd wanted to say that and how much he'd wanted to make her know how he'd felt all those years.

He thought about how much he loved her, and really couldn't help himself, not that he ever could with her, anyways. He lifted his hands to her cheeks as Bruce sang about shifting this world off his shoulders, before letting a slight twitch play across his mouth, his brownline softening as he spoke.

"I love you."

The words floated from his mouth, gentle and sweet. No ulterior desires, no deeper meanings. Nothing but the honest statement they wished to convey.

I love you.

A tear welled in her eye as she raised her hands to his cheeks, taking a deep breath as she spoke, her voice a gentle whisper that carried the words to his ears.

"I love you, too."

Then, of course, they kissed. It wasn't anything crazy, no tongue swirling or rolling of lips or intense moans or anything like that. Just a sweet, gentle kiss that made his heart pound and his knees weak and his face heat up like it was about to burst into flames.

They stayed like that, in his kitchen, holding each other. Years after they should've and yet still with years left to spend, all while another set of lines Percy knew all too well rang out of the record player. Words that really hit him right in the core as he held the woman he loved in his arms. Finally, finally together.

Can't start a fire

Worried about your little world falling apart

This gun's for hire

Even if we're just dancing in the dark

The End.

I know, a bit shorter of a chapter than you're used to, but I wanted to end on a short and sweet note, focusing on the main duo in my story.

Also, before I get any farther, I want to say this, and this is pretty important so READ THIS PLEASE: that song, dancing in the dark, is very, very influential to this story. It's the song I listened to months ago while I laid in bed and thought up the idea of Percy in Alaska, saving Norse mythology from Ragnarok with Zoe by his side. It would mean a lot to me if you gave it a listen while you had this story on your mind. You'll see a lot of similarities, totally and thematically from the song, and in my opinion, this story isn't truly done until you give it a listen and read the lyrics, especially in relation to the earlier chapters. Trust me, you won't regret it (helios didn't).

With all that being said, let's take a deep breath.

It's done. It's over.

Godless land is finished.

What's next.

Well, what's next is some much needed self criticism. Guys, I know. The Annabeth thing wasn't good. Well, maybe to some of you it was, but in hindsight, I can see flaws in my execution.

In my defense, none of this was planned (save for some key plot points I.e. Loki and Ragnarok). Just about every time I wrote a chapter it was me cracking it straight off the dome, so please give me a little slack for my poor attempt at, I know you're gonna hate me for this, Leifabeth.

You can blame Tombat invictus for that one.

Anyway, besides that, hindsight is 20/20 and there's other things I don't like about this story. Some plot points and pacing I don't necessarily like but, I'll be honest, chances of me going back and changing things?

Basically zero. (Edit: Disregard this, and what's below it. I did end up going back and changing things, and would rather be transparent about this than not. The original way I handled that element was very bad and it weighed on my mind constantly. Sorry for going back on my word but as time went on I just hated how Annabeth was written in the original version.)

I want to move forward as a writer. To continue to create and give you new things. More importantly, I want to be able to look back on what I've done and see where I've improved.

So godless land will most likely stay as it is. (Edit: It didn't, lol. Good job keeping your word, bronzey)

That being said, criticism is welcome. What are things you liked, and things you didn't? I've already had people say they love how I write dialogue, so that will definitely remain a focus of my efforts, but where would you line to see improvements? I'll read reviews and take notes and if you want to get in contact with me further, I'm very active in the tombat invictus discord server, so you can find me there.

As for what's next, as in story wise? I've already got it planned out. Probably not as big as godless land, but I'm gonna do my best to match, if not improve the quality of my work.

As for what it's about? Well, wouldn't you like to know? I'll give you a hint, a pretty giant hint though, in the form of three movie recommendations.

The Lost Boys by Joel Schumacher

Near Dark by Kathryn Bigelow

Fright night (Remake) by Craig Gillespie

I think that'll give you an idea for what's next ;)

That being said, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for reading. I know this A/N had gotten long as hell so I'll cut it short and leave you with this: I'm not done, not even close, and there's more to come.

See you all soon

-Bronzeandsteel

P.S. just so you know. Godless land part 2? Not in any way out of the question. I've got ideas, and maybe you'll see them in a year or so ;)