Short final chapter for this one my guys!
Replies:
Undeath9087: Well you are not wrong there lol. And yep, Percy's stuck with that.
Thickneck: I mean, I don't think I am but who knows lol

After talking to Bob and Damasen Luke carried Percy over to where Nico and Bianca were- though Nico was leaving, and Percy smiled slightly at Bianca as she watched the other girl- though Bianca stopped when she noticed Percy, giving her a faint smile. "Hey Percy."

"Hey Bianca." Percy patted Luke's shoulder, "Put me down would ya?"

"I-"

"Put me down and go away- I'll be fine with Bianca."

"Fine." Luke rolled his eyes fondly, "But I swear Sephie- if you somehow get yourself hurt I will kick your ass-"

"Of course you will." Percy rolled her eyes fondly, "You're you." but he did set her down on the grass- and once he was gone Percy focused her gaze on Bianca, who gave her a tired smile.

"I didn't expect you to come out and check on me."

"Not really checking on you so much." Percy paused, "But- are you okay? I know Nico's probably already driving you insane with fussing but I mean- I have to ask." she shifted slightly, "You didn't have anyone down there-"

"I was probably better off than you were for a lot of it." Bianca said quietly, not meeting Percy's gaze. "Percy- I'm sorry that-"

"Nope." Percy shook her head, "Whatever you were about to say sorry for just no okay? No."

"But Percy if I'd have been more careful when we first came back-"

"Bianca Alabaster is- was- a tricky bastard. He'd have found some way to do it even if you were being more careful- and neither of us were expecting him to show up-"

"He was Archie. Wasn't he?" the question was blunt, and Percy winced at it.

"Uh- yeah, yeah I'm afraid I have to confirm that one- but Bianca that wasn't your fault either-"

"But I didn't stop him from taking you away- Hazel told me- she told me that Frank walked in on him in the freaking baths with you- he-"

"He would have forced himself on me." Percy said calmly, "Yeah, yeah he would have. But you didn't know it was him- I wasn't willing to admit it to myself when he first followed us back and Hera didn't give me the time to process and accept it. None of which is on you."

And Percy could see some of the tension easing from Bianca's shoulders, and she gave her a soft smile, "Besides, I feel like I kinda owe you. You did get the others to the House of Hades. If you hadn't done that then let's be realistic here- I'd be dead and so would Nico and Leo."

"Nico is my brother and-" Bianca hesitated, "You're my friend-" she looked as if she half expected Percy to correct her- and she relaxed when Percy didn't, "Of course I was going to help you."

"Well I appreciate it anyway. I owe you my life. And the fact that you're doing this- helping Reyna." Percy saw Bianca's cheeks flushing very slightly- and she knew Nico well enough, and Bianca was his sister after all- they had some things in common. Yep. Bianca definitely had a crush on Reyna.

"It just- it makes the most sense is all." Bianca said quickly.

"Of course." Percy nodded, "Reyna's awesome anyway- you two working together, with Coach Hedge and Calypso? You'll be fine."

"I hope you're right." Bianca's smile was very slightly strained, "I've never done anything on this level before. A part of me feels like I should have just asked Nico but- but he's told me he's not leaving you and Leo any time soon."

"I'm sorry-"

"No, no I get it." Bianca gave a smile tinged with sadness, "You guys went through the pit together. He's gonna be pretty attached for a while. It makes sense."

And Bianca looked so lonely for just a second- which made sense didn't it. If she'd truly felt at home with the hunters she'd have never left them- but who did she really have? She didn't have very many real friends- not close ones anyway- and her relationship with Nico had been strained- she had Hazel but she knew that Bianca felt like she had to be responsible for Hazel.

It had to be hard for her.

Hopefully this trip with Reyna would help her-maybe they'd actually get their acts together and start dating- Percy would be very pleased to hear that.

And at that point Reyna arrived with Coach Hedge, Leo and Calypso- as did Annabeth and Rachel-and they all said their goodbyes- Reyna even bent down to hug Percy tightly- at which point Percy may or may not have whispered into Reyna's ear for her to look after Bianca- which had earned her a small nod- and Leo and Calypso said their final goodbyes whilst Coach Hedge almost bounced excitedly, clearly eager to get home and see his wife and his baby.

And soon enough the four of them were gone, leaving the three girls and Leo on the hill- at which point Leo let out a soft sight and turned to look at them. "Is this how it feels for Cal when I go off on quests?"

"Probably." Percy's lips twitched, "Sucks huh?"

"Massively. I'm gonna go show Bob and Damasen where they'll be staying. We'll be setting sail after nightfall-"

"Nightfall." Percy straightened slightly, an idea forming in her mind. "That sounds great." she watched Leo go- before Annabeth and Rachel helped her up onto the deck again- the three of them sitting on the deck, sitting by the starboard rail when they took off.

They set sail after nightfall.

They veered Southwest until they reached the coast, then splashed down in the Ionian Sea. Percy was relieved to feel the waves beneath her again.

It would have been a shorter trip to Athens over land, but after the crew's experience with mountain spirits in Italy- which Annabeth and Rachel regaled Percy with, they'd decided not to fly over Gaea's territory any more than they had to. They would sail around the Greek mainland, following the routes that Greek heroes had taken in the ancient times.

And Percy was definitely okay with that- being on the sea- it felt almost like being home- and she breathed in deeply, enjoying the feeling of the fresh air filling her lungs- still a novel feeling after the toxic poison of the pit- and the feeling of the salty spray in her arms.

She could feel the currents beneath her-it almost felt to Percy like the sea was welcoming her home.

She threaded her fingers through her girlfriends as she led back so that she was staring up at the sky- and she could hear the others- doing various tasks, talking amongst themselves or training- but Percy didn't care about any of that as she stared up at the stars. At the night.

It made her think about Nyx- she wondered what the goddess was doing now. Tartarus could hardly kill her- she wasn't sure which of them would be stronger but she hoped it was Nyx.

And she closed her eyes- she'd prayed earlier of course, to thank Nyx but- well. She had more time now.

Lady Nyx
. Thank you, for helping me see the night sky again. I guess I was right. The night can be beautiful and good- powerful and dangerous but beautiful and freeing too. I don't think anything I ever do will be enough to thank you so- for now I just- I guess I just wanted to say that I hope you're okay. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble with your brother. But hey, if you find my life entertaining then hopefully I'm worth it.
And I hope you never change. There's freedom in darkness. More people should realise that.

And maybe it was just Percy's imagination- it probably was- but as she led there she could almost hear Nyx's laughter- faint and amused.