A short chapter again because I just want to drag this out so I can slap you with the Fortieth.

Annabeth's POV! Whoot!

I own nothing you recognize as canon.


XXXIX

ANNABETH

Annabeth understood what it was like to hold the sky. Her hair used to have a single streak of grey from it, as had Percy's.

The moment Tulio and Espie pushed Calypso forward was the moment Annabeth realized just how powerful demititans really were. And why they didn't exist very often. If Tulio and Esperanza had been alive during the Giant War, Gaea would easily have taken them and used them.

Seeing their Titanic aura rise up was magnificent. Watching them not only hold up most of the sky, but push it back onto Atlas was enough to almost bring Annabeth to her knees. She had flashbacks of how heavy that was. Pushing it back had not been an option back then, but if it had…neither she nor Percy would have been able to do it.

When the twins pushed it back and stood there, they looked like miniature Titans. Their aura was scarier than love-driven Leo, and that was saying a lot. Annabeth was instinctively reaching for her sword at her belt. If the twins somehow became Titans through that event…no, she couldn't afford to think like that.

Then the twins fell forward and collapsed next to Calypso. They were both shaking from the effort.

Sammy Leo immediately bolted for Espie. He turned her on her back and pleaded for her to wake up.

Annabeth ran for Tulio. She mirrored Sammy's movement. "Tulio," she said softly. "Wake up. Heal yourself and your family. Wake up!"

Tulio sputtered and opened tired light brown eyes. He groaned in misery.

Annabeth held his own hand to his face. "Come on, big guy," she urged. "Heal yourself."

Tulio's head began to loll. Annabeth held him steady and moved his hand to his lips. "Heal, Tulio."

When Tulio's lips brushed his skin, a little glow surrounded him. It was a soft white glow. Annabeth was reminded of Bob, and how the Titan could heal someone with his finger. She was glad that had been passed to Tulio.

The demititan's eyes focused more. He blinked rapidly and he stopped shaking. When his eyes locked on to Annabeth, he asked, "What happened?"

Annabeth smiled. "You and Espie saved your mother. Possibly the world. How does it feel?"

"Like my arms have been through a blender."

The daughter of Athena laughed. "Yeah, holding the sky can do that to you."

Tulio sat up and held his head. Annabeth noticed one of his curls was grey. Just one, unnoticeable within the mess of black unless he bent over. Espie had a similar grey curl, but hers was longer and near her eyes. She caught Sammy staring at it already, his eyes wide with awe.

Annabeth ruffled Tulio's curls. "Good job, kid."

He smiled sweetly, then looked over at the girls. He kissed his mother first, seeing as how she was closer, and shuffled over to kiss his sister.

Both of them woke up at the same time, groaning.

"Good morning," Tulio said. "Sleeping Beauties."

He helped them sit up. Calypso lifted her head and smiled. She held Tulio's face in her hands and kissed him on the forehead.

"Oh, my baby," she said sweetly.

She kissed Espie, too. Both twins smiled.

Then, Calypso grabbed their ears and tugged hard. They yelped in surprise.

"Don't you ever do anything stupid like that again," she scolded. "You two are just as reckless as your father! You are going to be the death of me! Don't even think about anything dangerous like that again, do you hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," the twins said, their faces contorted in pain.

Calypso released them, then hugged them both. "I still love you," she assured them. "And I'm grateful for what you did for me. Thank you so much, kids."

They sat there for a good long minute before Sammy Leo cleared his throat. "Um…Mrs. Valdez? About Leo?"

Calypso's head snapped up. "What about him?"

He pointed to where Leo lay, still unconscious.

Calypso gasped and crawled over to him on her hands and knees. She kissed him fully on the lips.

Suddenly, Leo's hands snaked through her hair and he kissed back. When they broke apart, he grinned. "Finally," he whispered. "'I don't think my heart could've taken much more…"

"I'm so sorry," Calypso said. "Next time I'll tell my father to keep us together when he captures me."

Leo chuckled. Then, he looked around. "What did I miss?"

Piper told him what happened. His eyes widened and he looked at the twins.

"Way to go, kids!" he cheered. "Way to be more useful than your old man!"

The Valdez family laughed and shared a hug. Everyone else joined in. Annabeth felt light and giddy, happy that it was over.

"Thank the gods," Percy mumbled. "Now we can go home."

"I think not, Percy Jackson!"

As that terrible voice boomed in the cave, a horrible chill went up Annabeth's spine. Andy, who was amazingly still with the group, yelped and hid his face in his flippers.

"I may still be holding up the sky, but I've got one last trick up my sleeve to get rid of you pests!"

The ground shook. Rocks rained down upon them. The ceiling cracked.

"If I have to hold up the sky...then I'll make you hold up the earth!"

Lacy screamed, "He's bringing down the cavern! He's planning on crushing us!"


A/N: Next chapter is the awesome #40: The great escape! It will be in Calypso's POV, ladies and gents.