Chapter 2

A few of the gods vanished upon the conclusion of the funerals. Percy, Piper and Hazel left the throne room and began walking through Olympus in silence. It wasn't long before they went their separate ways though. Each of them wanted to be alone. Percy went to a secluded courtyard that Annabeth had designed into Olympus to be a spot just for the two of them. Inside was a bench under an ash tree which for whatever magical reason produced apples. Not only that, Annabeth made sure that the apples were blue instead of red or green. There was a fountain with designs from each of their adventures together wrapped around half of it like a series of panels in a comic book. The other half was left blank as a way to be excited about their future adventures together. Percy sat against the tree and closed his eyes.

Not long later, Percy heard someone sit on the bench. Opening one eye, he saw his father.

"Blue apples, huh?" Poseidon said.

"Yeah. Mom always makes my food blue, it's a habit Annabeth picked up." Percy said with a wistful smile.

"I knew Sally did that, never knew why though."

"Smelly Gabe said there wasn't blue food. She proved him wrong." Percy said with a cheeky grin. Which cause Poseidon to laugh.

"I always admired her resilience. Each time I looked in on your life from when you were about 7 you had blue food, it drove me mad not knowing."

This time Percy and Poseidon laughed together, eventually falling into hysterics with tears pouring. When they finally stopped laughing, they sat in a comfortable silence. A little while later, Percy asked a question that he'd been desperate to ask for a while. "Does it get any easier?"

"Does what get easier?" Poseidon asked back.

"Losing people."

"The pain lessens, but it's never easy losing someone."

"Does it hurt the same amount each time one of your kids dies?" Percy asked Poseidon, eyes downcast.

"No. It depends on the kid, if I'm being honest. Because our side of the family changes like the tide, some of my children are monsters. Figuratively. I don't mourn those children, but it still hurts. I mourn who they could have been. If I get to spend a lot of time with one of my children then it can be easier to mourn their passing because I got to know them. Or it can be devastating because losing someone you love so much can be truly heartbreaking." Percy sat in silence, listening intently. Poseidon continued, "I still mourn the deaths of some of my children, even though they died centuries and centuries ago. But losing someone like that makes you all the more appreciative of who you still have. I'm not sure if you know, but you have living demigod siblings. I try to be part of their lives as much as I can as well, but it's difficult."

Percy frowned. "You have other living demigods?"

"Yeah, one is a hunter of Artemis, I'm surprised Thalia didn't tell you. Unless Artemis hasn't woken her up yet...Elizabeth was put to sleep after the great prophecy about you was made, in case she broke her oath. I should remind Artemis to wake her up. Your other sister, Catherine, was just 17 when the prophecy was issued, which made her safe from Zeus, as she couldn't be the child of the prophecy. She's 83 now, lives in a small home on an island in the Caribbean that I control. The nature spirits take care of her."

"Wow. I thought I was your only living demigod, I…I can't believe I never asked beforehand." Percy said.

"Well it's an unspoken rule of the gods that when a child reaches old age you minimise talking about them and where they are so that you don't draw monsters to their location. They earn their rest from the difficult lives that they lead."

"I understand. I'd love to meet her." Percy said.

"That sounds incredible. I've told her stories about you. I'm sure she would be thrilled." Poseidon said. "I suspect you will have another couple visitors before the night is done, so I will leave you alone."

"Thanks dad."

"No worries Percy."

O.o.O.o.O

Percy's dad was right, within the hour Athena appeared, sitting gingerly on the bench, as though she wasn't sure she was welcome in the courtyard.

"Hey Athena." Percy opened.

"Hi Percy." She replied.

"How are you doing?"

"Not very well. I've been…deflecting. I went to my cabin, filled in Annabeth's brothers and sisters on what happened."

"That's kind of you. I really wasn't looking forward to doing that."

Silence fell between them, it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but there was some awkwardness.

"I think I understand it now." Athena stated.

"Understand what?" Percy said with a frown.

"Why she loved you."

Percy's eyes widened, that wasn't what he was expecting to hear. "What do you mean?"

"I had reservations about you. I gave you permission to date Annabeth after the war with the Titans, but I still had doubts, you are a child of Poseidon after all."

"Right…" Percy said, uncertain where she was going with that statement.

"Then you allowed yourself to fall to Tartarus with her. I asked Hera to show me your memories from the pit, both for emotional reasons and educational. Your loyalty to her, unwillingness to let her be alone like that…what I want to say is you've earned my trust. Completely."

Percy was speechless. He hadn't expected such raw honesty from Athena. His dad was always straight with him, but he and Athena hated each other, so for her to be so open with Percy was like 'taking a hit from the master bolt while your back is turned surprising'. "Thank you." Percy managed. Athena nodded and made to leave, but Percy called out "Not to ruin a moment, but I think my Dad is slightly more mature than he used to be, you should consider giving him another chance."

Athena pursed her lips and nodded before walking away. Percy wasn't sure if that meant that she was going to give his dad another chance at friendship or what, but it was a start.

O.o.O.o.O

Not long later, Artemis entered the courtyard. She stood awkwardly, like she wasn't sure she should be there. Percy stood from next to the ash tree and walked over to the railing that looked out over the city. Leaning against it, Artemis came over and stood next to him.

"Thank you for freeing my mother." She said.

"No problem. It was the right thing to do." Percy replied.

"Why did you do it?"

"I just said. It was the right thing to do."

"There had to be another reason."

Percy paused before sighing and beginning to explain. "When I blew up Mount St Helens, I was blasted to Ogygia. Calypso helped me recover, and you know how her curse works."

"Yes?"

"I promised that I would find a way to free her, I thought I had when the gods made their promise after the titan war. Then I found out this last week that Leo went to Ogygia and she was still there. I was angry; the gods hadn't honoured their promise, when not doing so was what led to Luke turning on them in the first place. It was infuriating. I promised Leo that I would do whatever I had to in order to help him keep his promise to set her free. Then he died in the battle earlier today. I decided to make sure that the gods kept their promise. Her not being there though, it makes me suspect that Leo might have survived and found a way back to her."

"No man finds Ogygia twice." Artemis said.

"True, but a boy with an overactive imagination and mind-boggling engineering skills might."

"So you didn't intend to help my mother specifically?"

"No. I'm sorry, hers was the first name the popped into my head when it came to peaceful titans. I'm glad I've helped set her free, but I wasn't thinking of her specifically."

"I appreciate your honesty. And regardless of if it was specific or not, you have my gratitude Percy Jackson." Artemis said before walking away briskly.

Not long after, Percy made his way out of the courtyard and into Olympus proper. It was a later part of the party to celebrate the victory. Zeus was standing off to the side watching the last few people dancing. Percy went over to him and extremely politely asked him to make the top of the empire state building glow blue. Zeus, in spite of looking mildly annoyed at the sight of Percy, which was normal, didn't question it and wave his hand saying it was done. Percy began walking around the remainder of the party, ultimately finding Piper and Hazel having a quiet discussion amongst themselves. When they saw Percy they stood up, Piper walking over and wrapping her arms around his neck. Before letting him go and letting Hazel wrap her arms around his waist.

"We didn't know where you were." Piper said, teary.

"I went to a courtyard Annabeth designed, it was a nice secluded place only a few people know about. I just wanted to be alone for a little while."

"We get that." Hazel said. "We only met up again a little while ago. Spoke to our parents, you know, the usual."

"Yeah, I spoke to my dad, Athena and Artemis."

"Artemis? What did she want with you?" Piper asked.

"To thank me for getting her mother freed."

"Right."

"Well, I was going to wait for you to get here Percy, for me to tell you both this. You might want to take a seat." Hazel said.

Percy and Piper sat down, looking at Hazel expectantly.

"So while I was speaking to my father, we were discussing me living permanently." Hazel began.

"Ok? And what was the decision?" Percy asked.

"He left it up to me, but he gave me options." Hazel said. "Option one, live and be guaranteed Elysium, unfortunately Frank has already undergone rebirth, which can't be undone unless he reaches the Isles. Option two, return to the underworld and go directly to the Isles without undergoing rebirth. On top of that, father tells me that I'm on my first life, which means I won't gain any other person's memories when I arrive. If I return to the underworld, I can keep Annabeth company, and I can use Nico on rare occasions to carry messages to you guys."

"So what are you going to do?" Piper asked, shocked.

"I don't know." Hazel said. "It's a big decision, and not really one I'm ready to make. He's given me until sunset tomorrow to decide. But I'm thinking I will go to the Isles."

"Whatever your decision we'll support you, Hazel." Percy said.

"Then I'll do it. Thanks guys." Hazel said.

Piper and Percy stood up and the three of them hugged for a few minutes, just soaking in their last moments together.

"Looks like it's going to just be you and me now, Percy." Piper said as they pulled out of the hug.

"Actually, I'm not certain about that. Leo was working on a way to get back to Calypso on Ogygia. If she isn't there anymore, it's possible Leo is alive out there with her."

"You really believe that?" Hazel said, eyes huge. Piper looked like she was trying not to break down again.

"Thank the gods. I didn't want to hope…" She began, before Percy cut her off.

"It isn't certain. I'm just saying that it's possible he and Calypso are out there."

"I know…it's just…"

"I know." Percy said with a smile.

Percy turned his head and let out a yelp. Pluto had silently materialised behind Hazel. Piper turned to see why he freaked out and let out a shrill shriek in surprise.

Hazel turned to her father. "I sensed you made your decision." Pluto said.

"Take me to the underworld. Please." Hazel said.

"Of course. I honestly expected you to choose differently, but I won't complain to having you somewhere I can see you regularly." Pluto said with a small smile.

"Before you go Uncle. Can I ask you something?" Percy said.

"Of course." Pluto said as he shifted to Hades. "What is it, Percy?"

"I know you probably can't answer this, but what life am I on? I have pretty awful luck, so knowing me I'll get killed by a monster in the next few years, so I want to know if it's worth waiting for death to reunite with Annabeth on the Isles, or if I have lives to go."

"Percy! Don't talk like that!" Piper exclaimed.

"Please Uncle. I need to know." Percy said.

"Hm. You're on your first life. There also isn't any guarantee that you would get your memories back, that only happens on occasion, I'm not entirely sure why to be honest. I'm sorry Percy." Hades said.

"Don't worry about it, thank you for telling me." Percy said as he watched Hades shift back into Pluto.

"Say your goodbyes, Hazel. I'll know when you're done." Pluto said, drifting away.

"Well…this is it, I suppose." Hazel said, starting to cry again.

"I suppose it is. I'm going to miss you so much Hazel." Percy said, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm trying really hard not to cry right now." Hazel said pulling out of the hug and as she moved into Piper's arms.

"Me too. I'm all cried out today. Too many friends gone." Piper said tearfully.

Hazel pulled out of the hug and began to walk away from them. "I love you guys. Remember that." Hazel said before Pluto appeared and touched her, making them both melt into darkness.

"So now what?" Piper asked Percy.

"Haven't a clue. Back to camp? We could go see my mom, she would love to meet you, and I should probably bring her up to speed on everything…" Percy responded.

"Sounds wonderful. I should let you know I've met your mom a couple times, I went with Annabeth while you were at Camp Jupiter."

"Oh. That makes things easier. Shall we then?"

"Lead the way."