Chapter Four: The End of the Beginning

A/n: Sorry for not posting this before, the computer was being stupid. Review!

Jay stared in shock at her still face, her eyelashes that would never flutter open again, the lips that would never grin at him again, flashing pearly white teeth. Green eyes would never sparkle mischievously at him again. He didn't know how to feel except shock. Turning to the others, they all stared at her. Then Atlanta looked at him.

"Is she… dead?"

He nodded, and she shrieked in sorrow, flinging herself into Archie's open arms for comfort. He kissed the top of her red hair and buried his face into it, tears streaming down his cheeks. Neil stared in horror, and Odie sobbed quietly, Herry trying to make him feel better by putting a heavily muscular arm around his shoulders, but he couldn't keep from sobbing himself.

Then it all sank into Jay's mind, and he sank to the ground, wrapping his arms around his knees and burying his face into his jeans. Tears leaked and he found himself weeping, and remembering…

Theresa scolding, Theresa grinning, Theresa kissing his cheek… Idiot! She had liked him! Why hadn't he ever done anything about that?... Theresa flirting, Theresa swaggering away proudly, clinging to him after nearly being eaten by the Minotaur, Theresa fighting Cronus.

Jay blinked, tears still trickling down his nose and dropping to the ground, making a tiny splash on the tiled floor. Skirts swished above him, and he stared up at Persephone, who was staring at Theresa's body thoughtfully.

"Children," she said softly. "There may be a way to save her."

Jay took a sharp breath, telling himself not to get too hopeful, but he stared at her eagerly. "How?"

The others all turned as well to stare at her, their eyes wide with expectation like children on Christmas Eve.

"Please do tell us how," Zeus said. "I thought that she couldn't be saved."

"Well, the thing that killed her was the absence of her magic or telekinetic strength. That may have been linked to her life force, and when it all surged from her, so did her very life. If I could give her a little bit of her gift back, just enough to keep her alive, maybe we could save her…"

"But then you'd need to start over again training her…" Artemis pointed out.

"I thought Cronus was defeated," Odie said. Hera turned to him, face serious. "Just as we got all our powers back, so did Cronus."

"So… we still have to defeat him, then?" Herry asked. She nodded.

"The prophecy has not yet been broken," she announced. "Go ahead, Persephone."

The younger goddess nodded respectfully. "This time I will not let her get out of control," she promised, and closed her eyes, spreading out her arms. Ancient Greek poured from her mouth, and she suddenly grabbed Theresa's hand and squeezed, as if to squeeze life back into her.

Jay watched, fascinated, hoping against hope that it would work. Atlanta, with hands clasped below her chin, leaned against Archie, and Herry, Odie, and Neil bit their lips in anticipation.

A soft white light flowed from the air and into Theresa's body, and a healthy flush returned to her cheeks. Green sparkled against the light of the study as her eyes fluttered open, and everyone shrieked in joy. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes as though she had only been asleep. "What's going on? What happened?" Then she was engulfed with hugs by her friends, all except Jay, who was still too glad to believe.

Atlanta was the first to step back with a sly glance at Jay, pulling Archie with her. Then Odie, Herry, and Neil, who parted to let Jay through. "Hey Jay," Theresa said, smiling at him. That smile. Those eyes. Jay felt an overwhelming urge to hold her tightly, but he couldn't stop staring. She was alive. After losing her, he's been given another chance. He had to take it.

"Theresa!" he gasped, and then he dove off the highest diving board at the pool. He threw his arms around her and kissed her. Everyone whooped and grinned. Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she leaned into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Neil made a disgusted face. "Oh, get a room guys!" But he couldn't stop grinning.

Finally Jay pulled away, although reluctantly, but Theresa pulled him back again, closer and deeper. He closed his eyes and simply basked in having her nearer than ever. He hugged her so tightly he thought he'd never let go.

Neil made kissing noises, and this time nobody shut him up. They were too busy watching. But when he started singing, "Theresa and Jay, sitting in a tree…" Herry thought he had gone too far and grabbed him, threw him over his shoulder, and strode out of the room. He dumped him in the nearest garbage can and went back to see everyone grinning and clapping as Theresa and Jay blushed crimson, but smiled along with everyone else. When Neil rushed back in complaining about his hair, nobody told him to leave.

A few days later, the sun beating hard on their heads, the seven heroes set up camp on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Sunset was approaching, and the sky was filled with a contrast of pink and red and yellow. Archie and Atlanta teased each other merrily, Herry, Odie, and Neil argued light-heartedly over the best way to set up a tent, and Theresa and Jay took a break to watch the waves roll against the cliff, the spray stinging their cheeks. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, leaning against him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her close.

"You bet," he answered, but he wasn't looking at the scenery.

"I guess this is the end," she said softly. They had beaten Cronus a few days before, and Jay held her tighter and closer.

"Maybe not. Archie, Atlanta, and Herry, Odie, and Neil have decided to stay here to finish school. What about you?"

"I'll stay if you do."

"I will then, definitely."

She grinned and kissed his tanned cheek. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"For loving me even after I did all those horrible things."

"I didn't want to," he admitted. "But you're Theresa. I remembered who you really were." He smiled and turned to watch the sunset. They stood in silence, enjoying the shrieks of gulls and the companionship of close friends.

"This isn't the end," Theresa said to herself, smiling brightly. "This is simply the end of the beginning."

THE END