Here's the last chapter, like I promised. Sucks that with this the story will be finished, but I hope chapter four measures up to the standard I've set.

-Beth M

~LINE BREAK OF AWESOMENESS~

Killing the last monster was Leo's pleasure. As the gods looked on and the Minotaur blew away in the wind, Jason walked up to Leo and laid a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of his memories of Kate. "Come on, Leo," Jason told him. "She's gone, and it's time to go home."

Leo nodded, never taking his eyes off of where the Minotaur had been. "Okay. But before we go to Camp Half-Blood, I have a promise to keep."

~LINE BREAK OF AWESOMENESS~

Even before Leo could make out details, he could see the figure standing at the shore. She was waiting for him, holding him to his promise.

Even before the gangplank was fully lowered, Leo was running down it. He nearly knocked Calypso to the ground as he wrapped his arms around her. Her brown eyes widened in shock as he kissed her, as she whispered, "Leo. You came back."

Leo cracked a smile. "So I did." He kissed her again and whispered, "So I did..."

His heart beat against hers, her breath wet his cheeks. The moment was perfect, but like all perfect moments, it had to end. Leo was the one to pull away, but he told her to run and pack what she owned while he took down the forge in the woods and all the things they'd built. He insisted that she leave the gardens and the fountain, which Calypso wasn't happy about, but just as a joke he made a sign that read "Gone 4 Good" and stuck it in the sand.

He took her hand as they ran up the gangplank, and as the ship pulled away, he had the honor of kissing her tears away.

~LINE BREAK OF AWESOMENESS~

Eighteen years old

It was the third annual "yay-we-won-the-Giant-War-and-didn't-all-die" campfire, and Leo was nervous. Chiron had agreed to let mortal parents through the camp boundaries for the anniversary, and this year, Leo was happier than usual.

Uncle Miguel patted him on the shoulder, and Uncle Diego wished him luck in Morse code. Beth- much to his indignation- gave him a noogie, and Ashley told him that he'd better make this good. With his family's support, Leo walked out onto the arena floor, preparing to ask the most important question of his life.

He had to call for quiet several times before the crowd obliged. With all the campers and parents silent at last, he smiled just a little nervously and turned to where Calypso was sitting.

"The reason I'm embarrassing myself like this," Leo announced- which got a few chuckles; Leo was always embarrassing himself in some way- "is because I need to ask someone a question. Calypso?" Calypso made her way down the arena's bleachers until she was standing next to him.

He found the ring box on the first try, pulled it open, got down on one knew, and said, "Calypso, will you marry me?"

Looking back, he'd find it strange that five words could shape a lifetime. But in that moment, as the campers deafened the gods with their cheers, as the fire soared to the stars, as the answer was certain even before it was given, all Leo had eyes for was his beloved as she whispered for his alone to hear.

"Yes."

And in that moment, everything was perfect.

~LINE BREAK OF AWESOMENESS~

Epilogue

Sixty-two years old

"Oh, come on, Grandpa! Is that all that happened?" ten-year-old Callie cried.

"Of course not!" her cousin, seven-year-old Tristan, admonished. "After Grandma Callie said yes, a bunch of rockets went off, and Uncle Frank turned into a dragon, and there were Tibetans an' fireworks an'- an' lots of stuff!"

Leo wasn't sure where his grandson had gotten the Tibetans from. He made a mental note to tell Roxanne not to let her son read Terry Pratchett.

Twenty-two-year-old Sammy- there had always been a Sammy Valdez, going all the way back to Leo's great-grandfather's great-granddad, even if, in Leo's daughter's case, Sammy was a Samantha- poked his head around the doorframe. "Hey, Grandpa, Grandma says to tell you the roast's on."

"All right," Leo told Tomas's son. "Tell her I'll be there in a bit."

Around the Thanksgiving table, the entire family sat: Sally and Paul, Susan Chase, Matthew and Bobby Chase and their families, Nico and Reyna, the seven and Calypso and their children (not to mention the grandkids), Beth and her husband, Ashley and her husband, Kick and Jex and everyone else lucky enough to be part of the seven's family.

Sally, as the oldest, started saying grace. Leo took his wife's hand under the table, and with his other hand, he fingered the four rings on the chain around his neck: an engineer's ring, a ring that was a promise broken, a ring that was a promise kept, and one that was a promise made: four rings for four women, his mother, his lover, his girlfriend, and his wife.

And when he died, the necklace would be left on his grave, as a reminder of the life of the child set down to nap in the sink of a long-burned-downed workshop.

~LINE BREAK OF AWESOMENESS~

And so ends another story. I hope you enjoyed the ride- I certainly did.

Leo's kids: Tomas, Samantha, Roxanne, and Esperanza.

Leo's grandkids: Tristan, Sammy, Esperanza (Essi), Callie, and Leah.

Goodbye my people!

-Beth M