Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, or any other franchise in the Riordanverse. I do not own any of the characters from the Riordanverse or Greek Mythology. All bolded text is from the book and I do not own that either. I just own my writing and some of the reactions.

Please don't take down my story.


Percy sighed and closed his eyes, his fingers lightly gripping the edge of the medical bed.

He was sitting on the side of a bed in Apollo's quarters, munching on a cookie he had produced out of thin air. Apollo was muttering to himself and making hand gestures, a paper off to the side was taking notes as he examined Percy. Poseidon was hovering slightly, his cookie was left untouched as he looked nervously between Apollo and Percy, tapping his foot impatiently. About half way through, Athena got bored and dragged her daughter outside to talk. Future-Annabeth was still talking to her mother outside the door, Percy wished he could be there for her, it sounded like they were having an argument.

A moment later, Future-Annabeth comes back in, her eyes stormy and blazing. Percy wished he could wrap his arms around her, but Apollo and Poseidon would both kill him if he moved. Instead he shot his girlfriend a reassuring smile. Athena did not return.

Finally, Apollo seemed to be finished. Wish a last swish of his hands, the paper floated up to him. Apollo paled drastically.

"How are you-" His voice broke. "How are you still alive?"

Percy gave a half-hearted shrug, not trusting himself to speak. He inwardly cursed all his thoughts that reassured him 'Apollo's only checking for lasting damage, not past'. He's such an imbecile! Percy should know better after hearing about Asclepius.

Poseidon didn't seem to like this question, he tried to snatch the paper out of Apollo's hand but Apollo wouldn't budge, staring in horror at the notes in front of him.

After a beat of silence, Apollo seemed to wake up from his trance. He put on a bright fake smile. "No lasting damages, just make sure you eat enough. Now if you'll excuse me," He shuffled them out of his temple, looking sick.

Poseidon gave Percy a look. "Son," He began.

"It's in the past," Percy pleaded, interrupting. "We-we don't need to talk about it," He cursed his voice for shaking.

Poseidon gave him a hard once-over.

"Lord Poseidon, if I may," Future-Annabeth interjected. "All of this will appear in the books, after we've finished reading them, we can talk to Percy about all the dangers he's faced."

Poseidon stared at her too for a moment before his shoulder slumped and his face seemed to age one-hundred years. He turned on his heel and left for food.

Percy shot Future-Annabeth a grateful look, but she returned it with a hard one that seemed to say 'don't thank me yet'.

Apollo came rushing out of his temple, looking dishevelled. He took one look at Percy and shot off in the other direction, not meeting Percy's eyes or listening to his soft 'thank you'.

Percy sighed heavily. He knew he wasn't getting out of this one. Percy felt a sting of pleasure that he had people who cared so very much about him, then his throat closed in guilt, he shouldn't worry people.

Future-Annabeth seemed to know what he was feeling. She slipped her hand into his and gave in a soft squeeze before tugging him along to the kitchen.


Percy plonked down next to to his girlfriend after collecting his snacks. Percy couldn't help but grin as the gods finally talked to their kids, like a real family. Future-Annabeth was looking at look with so much confliction shining across her face. Percy patted her back softly.

Past-Annabeth was with Luke, chatting quickly about what she thinks might happen, and all the theories she has. Luke was taking it in, smiling fondly but it didn't quite meet his eyes. His sky blue eyes were hardened, surveying Olympus with barely contained disgust, and Percy knew that if he hadn't of been looking for it, he wouldn't have found it. But there was another emotion in his eyes, one that scared Percy.

Hunger.

Future-Annabeth griped his hand tightly and Percy knew they had come to the same conclusion.

Luke was going to try to steal the lightning bolt.

Percy watched as Luke's eye flickered back to the door of the throne room, then to the gods who were lounging around. Luke stood slowly and ruffled Past-Annabeth's hair before whispering something in her ear, walking swiftly to not attract attention. Looks like he's following rule one, Percy thought dryly.

He stood up quickly, with none of the grace Luke had. He told Future-Annabeth to distract the others, Percy felt anger churning for Luke but there was also pity, he didn't want Luke to get smited, especially if before they read the bigger crimes he committed.

Poseidon frowned slightly at him but didn't comment as Percy quickly went past him to chase after Luke. As soon as he left the room, Percy broke out into a run.

Once he got to the open-arch to the throne room, Percy skidded to a stop. Luke was holding the lightning bolt and seemed about to slide it into his backpack. The backpack Ares gave Percy, he realised.

Luke paused, his head turning to look at him, the lighting darkened his face, making his scar stand out against pale sweaty skin. Percy shivered. He couldn't look into those cold blue eyes without imagining them gold.

"I thought you might come and stop me," Luke murmured quietly, but his voice carried across the throne room.

"You better put that back, Luke," Percy told him. He cursed himself for feeling like a scared twelve-year-old again. He stared down titans and giants and primordials. He shouldn't be feeling so scared by a not-powerful demigod with daddy issues.

"No, I don't think I will," Luke decided, mesmerized by the bolt. Percy snorted despite himself. He couldn't help but think back to the Endgame meme. Luke's lip curled, he apparently didn't like that answer.

"They are going to be back soon, Luke," Percy sighed. "You don't want to get caught right?"

Luke smiled toothily. "Oh I won't."

"You're just a coward," Percy snapped. "A fucking coward who can't stand that daddy wasn't there for him, that Kronos wants to use him."

Luke's eyes darkened. "Watch your tone, before-"

"Before what?" Percy laughed coldly. "Before grandfather comes knocking? Before he plagues me with nightmares until I 'watch my tone'," Percy mocked.

"He is more powerful than you could ever imagine, weakling!" Luke roared, his facade crackling.

"He's dead!" Percy shouted. "Dead. Boom. If you really want to save him, why don't you just go jump into Tartaurus, prove your support!"

"The crooked one has been summoned by us, the demigods, by our stirring hatred for our parents, from a millennia of bitterness," Luke scorned.

"Don't try to make yourself the hero in this story, Luke," Percy sneered. "You're just in it for yourself. And soon, once you're too deep, you'll want to get out of it, and there'll be only one way. That's how it worked for me."

"Then your Luke is weak!" Luke snapped. "Too weak, too close-minded to see the true power."

"Is Annabeth weak?" Percy asked suddenly, radiating quiet fury. "Is Thalia?"

"Don't speak her name!"

"You're so afraid. So very afraid of losing your family, just like you did in my time."

"I will be smarter, I-I will be better, they'll see, they all will," Luke broke off into mutterings, his voice stuttering as he shook.

Percy's eyes softened. "You know, Annabeth told me that I was so much like Thalia that if we met, we'd either be best friends or worst enemies. And I'm glad to say it was the former. She's the sister I never had, Luke. They all are. We're family, for better or worse." He laughed without humour. "You know, even after you tricked her, lied to her, tortured her, Annabeth wouldn't believe you couldn't be saved. That faith..." Percy hesitated and spoke softer. "That nearly cost us everything. But in the end, she was right. Make them proud, Luke. Don't turn your back on us."

Luke was full out shaking now. His face was pale and gaunt, sweat dripping down his forehead as he wrung his hands. He was muttering to himself, asking-begging for his master to help him, but Percy knew the titan lord wouldn't answer.

"I'm not saying all is forgiven," Percy told him quietly. "I don't think me or my Annabeth will ever be able to look you in the eye. But your Annabeth will. Thalia will. She's coming back, Luke. It takes two years but she does. And when she found out what you had done, she broke down, cursing everyone and everything around her. She didn't move from her tree for weeks. Don't make that mistake."

Suddenly Luke stopped shaking completely, but he was still wringing his hands, he looked to Percy, ashen faced. "And-and if I do?"

"You won't be able to escape anyway. The Fates did some form of spell to stop time and stop anyone from leaving. That's why your master can't communicate with you," Luke looked up in shock, Percy felt another sting of pity that he cursed himself for. Luke just looked so naive. "There's always going to be a bigger shark, Luke, and it would do you good to remember that," Percy shivered. He remembered fighting the land he walked on. He remembered being frozen and helpless as he and his Annabeth nearly got devoured. He remembered the Arai, Achlys, the giants, the titans. But most of all, Percy remembered the hopeless feeling as he watched his friends die, one after the other. Percy knew that fate came knocking. Every. Damn. Time.

Percy put a hand on Luke's shoulder and he looked at Percy with broken eyes. "The cord, that-that was mine, wasn't it?"

"In my timeline," Percy agreed. Luke looked at him with confused blue eyes, but there was no amount of hope in them. They had a lot of work to do, Percy thought. "You have a chance, Luke. Take it. You don't have to like the system, I sure as Hades don't, but you have to accept most gods try. Don't turn this into a genocide for no reason. You don't need Kronos, Luke, but he needs you." Percy prodded Luke's chest.

There was a beat.

Percy pleaded to everything that he could make this stubborn son-of-a-bitch see reason.

And everything delivered.

The tension in Luke's stature broke. He let out a strangled sob before putting the lightning bolt back on Zeus' throne and slinging the backpack back onto himself. Percy gave him a half-hearted smile and patted his very old friend on the shoulder, guiding him to sit down on one of the sofas.

"Let it out," Percy whispered in his ear.

And Luke did.


The immortals and the demigods made their way back to the throne room.

Future-Annabeth had stalled for as long as she could, trying to seem casual. It worked for the most part, Athena and her past self were now regarding Future-Annabeth with suspicion. But it was worth it if Luke could now see reason.

Once they entered the throne room, Future-Annabeth noted Luke sleeping soundly, looking more peaceful than she had every saw him. Percy looked up and her and gave a thumbs-up. Future-Annabeth nearly cried out in relief, but managed to bite her tongue.

And yes, there on each of the thrones respectively was the master bolt and the helm of darkness.

She made her way to Percy and sat down next to him, sitting away from Luke.

Past-Annabeth looked suspiciously at Percy but also plonked down next to him, running her fingers through Luke's hair.

Once all the demigods and immortals were settled, the book was passed by Poseidon to Hades, who looked at his brother in shock.

"I still can't forgive you," Poseidon amended. "But I would rather hear your reason as quickly as possible, you deserve your chance, brother."

Percy couldn't help the grin that nearly split his features. He thought back to what Hermes said, just before the trip to the sea of monsters.

"If there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it."

And now, whilst Percy sat here, looking at his family as Hades readout of the chapter title-

"4 - MY MOTHER TEACHES ME BULLFIGHTING"

-he couldn't help but think, ain't that the truth.