Perseus POV

The two week mark had come. The summer campers were leaving to go back home. That used to be me, but now Annabeth had drawn out all of the plans for my palace and Tyson was gathering his Cyclops friends to construct it. It is going to be amazing. Which, you're probably thinking, is obvious since Annabeth is designing it. Like duh. But it beyond anything I could've imagined. I knew she was amazing at what she did, but amazing doesn't even begin to describe it. Growing up I never had nice things. To be frank, we didn't have any money to spare. A special treat for me was visiting a skateboard shop... just to look. And it was my favorite thing in the world. And I thank the gods everyday for giving me such an amazing mother. But this palace will be insane. It'll have the Montauk cabin-like feel to the upstairs except it'll more spacious and nicer. Annabeth called it rustic, but I don't know. It's going to have enough bedrooms for my mom and Paul, me, and any friends I would have stay with me. The kitchen will automatically be stocked with food so I'll never have to go hungry again. There will be an entire room dedicated to combat then a room for my mom to write in. It's going to be on the shore of the Sound, so it's right near my father's palace and camp. On the roof there will be a pool and a places to sit that is decked out for star-gazing (Artemis is going to give me some instruments for that). And in the driveway there will be a cherry red Spyder Maserati sports car. To get into my palace you will need explicit permission, so no one can hurt the people I care about in there.

A dream come true.

Tonight was the last night of camp, which included the bead ceremony. The Hephaestus cabin had designed the bead this year. It showed the Empire State Building, and etched in tiny Greek letters, spiraling around the image, were the names of all the heroes who had died defending Olympus. There were too many names, any names at all were too many names. I was surprised when Jake Mason handed me a bead. He looked straight into my eyes, nodded slightly, and muttered that I deserved it. Once placed in my palm he spun around and returned to his siblings. Blinking, I put the bead around the leather necklace. Four beads. It felt like a lot, but then I realized I would never get another one. Ever since I read the prophecy this summer had been building up to a suffocating finality. Except instead of a horrible death I got immortality. I wondered which was worse.

"Never forget this summer!" Chiron told us. "We have discovered bravery and friendship and courage this summer. We have upheld the honor of the camp. We fought beside Lord Perseus and saved Olympus!"

He smiled at me, and everybody cheered. I averted my gaze to the fire, I saw a little girl in a brown dress tending the flames. She winked at me with red glowing eyes. No one else seemed to notice her, but I realized maybe she preferred it that way. Sometimes I felt the same way.

"And now," Chiron said, "early to bed! Remember, you must vacate your cabins by noon tomorrow unless you've made arrangements to stay the year with us. The cleaning haipies will eat any stragglers, and I'd hate to end the summer on a sour note!"

The next morning, Annabeth and I stood at the top of Half Blood Hill. We watched the buses and vans pull away, taking most of the campers back to the real world. Only the year-rounders would stay. Annabeth was going to a boarding school in New York City. I was leaving today to stay with my mom and Paul until my palace was complete. I had called them a bunch since the war was over, but they still didn't know my secret. I was going to tell them today. How do you tell your mom that her son who was always on the verge of death, that he was going to live forever?

After saying goodbye to Rachel, I turned my attention to Annabeth. "You've been thinking about Rachel's prophecy?" I asked, but I wasn't really asking.

"How did you know?"

"Because I know you." She bumped me with her shoulder.

"Okay, so I have. Six half-bloods shall answer the call. I wonder who they'll be."

"Yep," I agreed. "And all that stuff about the world falling in storm or fire."

"And foes at the Doors of Death. I don't know, Percy, but I don't like it. I thought... well, maybe the world would get some peace for a change."

"Wouldn't be Camp Half-Blood if it was peaceful," I said.

"I guess you're right... hopefully the prophecy won't happen for years."

"Could be a problem for another generation," I agreed. "Then we can kick back and enjoy." She nodded, though she still seemed uneasy. I didn't blame her, but it was hard to feel upset on such a nice day. With her next to me, knowing that I wasn't really saying goodbye, I wasn't upset at all. We had lots of time. I had all of time.

"Are you alright?" I asked. I watched her face flicker with hesitation. Something very rare in Annabeth.

"No... not really," she said quietly.

"What's wrong?"

"Dreams," she said, "My dreams have gotten worse. I see-"

"Hey, take your time." I rubbed her back as she closed her eyes, struggling to speak.

"I see things from my past. A lot from the war, but stuff from before too. All of it mixing together so it doesn't make any sense. It just engulfs me with this- this paralysing fear."

"And it's different from demigod dreams?" I asked. I had had a lot of terrifying dreams, but nothing like what she was describing. She shook her head vigorously.

"Very. It's just so much death and hurt..." Her voice nearly broke me. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close to my chest. I was desperately hoping I could be some source of comfort.

"What can I do for you?" I asked. I needed to help her.

"Just help me forget. Help me live."

"I can do that," I told her. I needed to be able to do that. I just hoped I would be enough. And so we sat in silence, trying to find out how to start living again.

"Race you to the road?"

"You are so going to lose." She took off down Half Blood Hill and I sprinted after her.

For once, I didn't look back, because my whole world was in front of me.

I knocked three times then waited a beat and knocked again. It was my mom and I's secret knock. I don't know when or how it started, but it did. When she knocked it I would know that it wasn't Gabe that was going to come barreling through my door. And whenever someone opens my door without knocking, well let's just say it still makes me flinch.

"Percy!" my mom said. She hugged me so hard. I saw Paul standing behind her with a barely contained grin. "You're home!"

"I'm home."

"Come in. Come in!" she said. She made me sit at the table as she whipped up breakfast for me. My hands were shaking as I sat there. They both seemed so happy, so ready to have me back. I knew I had to tell them, but this was harder to do than asking for her blessing earlier this summer.

"Ready to go back to work, Paul?" I asked. The school year rapidly approached and it was the only segue into the conversation that I really needed to have that I could think of.

"Oh yes. Don't get me wrong, I'll miss summer, but I love my job," Paul said. "Are you ready for school? Your mom says that Goode will be the only school you'll attend for two years straight." My mom grinned at Paul, but I wasn't smiling.

"Actually, high school isn't really an option for me anymore," I told them. The kitchen went silent for a moment and my mom slowly turned around. Paul's eyes were wide, but he only stared at my mom.

"What?" she said. I'm not sure how she made it sound like two syllables, but she managed. I swallowed hard.

"I'm not going back to school. I can't."

"Don't be silly. I know you've been through a lot, but you have to go to school."

"Mom, you aren't listening. I cannot go back. I just can't," I emphasized. Her hands flew to her hips and she stared at me, trying to decipher if I was joking or not.

"And why not? If you want to go to camp full time, you can just say so."

"I-" I couldn't speak. I couldn't bring myself to say it. My mom's expectant eyes stared at me.

"Percy?" my mom said. "What's going on, honey?"

"During the war, when I went up to Olympus, you know that I had to fight Kronos. You knew there was a prophecy and that I was chosen in it. The prophecy, well it spoke of a hero. 'The hero's soul cursed blade shall reap, a single choice shall end his days'. Everyone thought I was the hero, but I wasn't. The prophecy was about me, yes, but I wasn't the hero. I told you how Luke had taken on Kronos and had the Curse of Achilles so he was invinsible, except for one spot. But Kronos' soul hadn't settled, and Luke's old self was still able to break through for a few moments. Annabeth brought Luke out, and Luke realized he didn't want Kronos to win. I handed Luke the cursed blade and Luke killed himself. He killed Kronos. And we won the war."

"It's okay, it's alright," his mom echoed over and over. I barely heard it over my string of words.

"The Olympians wanted to award us for helping them. It was meant to stroke our egos, to make us submissive to them again. So we forgot that they needed us more than we needed them," I said. "They started with Tyson. He became General of the Cyclops army and was rewarded a weapon of his choice. Then Grover. He became Lord of the Wild and held a seat at the Council of Cloven. Annabeth, she became Head Architect of Olympus. All of them were huge honors and they all deserved it so, so much. But when they got to me, they said they would grant me any wish. They said they would make me a god if I wanted. And I accepted."

"You- you're a god? Like a full out Greek God!?" Paul choked out, breaking the silence. He looked at me with a mixture of fear and amazement, but that all fell when he saw my mom's face.

"Yes." My voice was on it's last legs, but I needed her to say something. Anything. "Mom?" Tears had gathered in my eyes. Why did I cry so much more as a god than as a demigod?

"Sweetie, it's okay. We're okay." She pulled me into a long hug. I sat on the couch beside her and we just held each other. No words. No sounds. Just a reminder that we're both still there. A reminder that everything is going to be okay now.

"Mom? Are you happy?"

"I'm happy for you, baby," She said with a wistful smile. "It's just a shock, but you're safe now. They can't hurt you anymore." I sat there thinking of all the horrible ways they could hurt me. There are much worse pains then death, after all, and if I had it my way than everyone I cared about would be immortal too.

"I know, but I don't want anyone hurting you either. Annabeth designed my palace for me and I want you and Paul to come live there with me. As a family," I said. I wanted this more than anything. My mom. Paul. Annabeth. Family.

"Live with you? Where?"

"Mom it'll be perfect. It's going to be like the Montauk cabin except better. You'll have a room all set up for your writing. There will be a pool and a place to star gaze. It'll be on the beach and near Camp. And it'll be so safe!" I told her. "And we'll be together again. Me, you, and Paul. I'll be able to protect you."

"Oh Percy," she said. "That sounds great, but Paul and I will need to talk about it. His job is here after all."

"Don't worry. I can take care of that if you need. There's a high school just up the road and I've already secured a spot for Paul if he wants it," I explained. She looked to Paul and asked a silent question.

"Oh what the heck! Of course I want to live in a freaking palace with my stepson who happens to be a God!" Paul said. He sounded like a five year old who was given a lollipop and I loved that about him.

"We'll be happy to join you," my mom said, laughing. Her husband was literally jumping for joy.

"Should I go quit right now? The school year didn't even start yet, but what the heck," Paul said running into the other room. When he was gone I looked back to my mom. She was still chuckling at her husband's antics.

"Paul is great, Mom. He's a good man."

"I know," she said with a sad smile. "I'm sorry about-"

"Don't," I said. "Don't apologize. You were trying to protect me."

"There should've been another way-"

"I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry you had to stay with him. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But now you won't have to protect me anymore."

"You think you need to protect everyone that has ever loved you, but sometimes love is pure and selfless and needs nothing in return. I married Gabe and I suffered due consequences. The fact that you faced those same consequences is something I'll never forgive myself for. And it, in no way, was ever your fault."

"I know. I know it was neither of our faults, but I'll never stop blaming myself and neither will you. So I guess we'll just have to forgive each other instead," I told her. She smiled at me and I knew things were going to be okay.