Thanks to everyone who reviewed and all that!

This is the last chapter and I (probably) won't be adding any more.

Chapter Twenty-One: To the Moon and Back Again

Annabeth POV

Percy and I returned to Camp Half-Blood along with all the others. During dinner, we ate in silence, only speaking occasionally to say things like "pass the potatoes". It felt strange. I wanted to talk to him. Every single time I tried, it got caught in my throat. Why? Was I really jealous that he kissed Nico?

After that, I decided not to try to speak. When we finished eating, everyone went back to their cabins. I chose to stay outside. I sat alone on a log, watching the stars. Who was out there?

I was aware of a presence beside me. Percy walked around the log and sat down next to me.

"Hey," he said softly. "You okay?"

I couldn't stand it. I simply burst into tears. I wanted the tears to all stop, for myself to stop looking like a fool, but my body wouldn't listen to me.

"S-sorry," I said between sobs. "It's just… it's just all so complicated and I'm just worried th-that I don't m-mean much anymore."

He slowly wrapped his arms around me.

"Shh," he said. "It's okay."

I felt like a child. My cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

"You're always going to be important to me, Wise Girl," he said, pulling me tighter. The tears slowly went away, and I sighed.

"Life is hard," he continued, "and life for a demigod is practically a living hell. You can fight it. You're strong. I know you, Annabeth. After all these years of being together, I know that you can do it. You've faced many dangerous things. You'll get through this one. Think of it as just another monster to fight."

I looked up at him, staring into his sea-green eyes. I'd never realized just how complex they were—about a million shades of green and blue, mysterious and deep like the sea, all mixed in together. There were flecks of orange and gold in them from the campfire.

"Kiss for luck?" he asked hopefully, like he had that one time before.

Oh, he just meant so much to me.

"Come back alive, Seaweed Brain. Then we'll see."

Yet I reached up and connected my lips with his anyway.

I could feel his warmth. His arms around me. I slowly brought my hands up to his neck and pulled myself closer. I knew that after searching for someone for so long, I'd finally found who I was looking for.

I closed my eyes, treasuring every second. It was over all too fast, but I knew that there were more to come in the future.

I found my eyes looking into his again.

He smiled. "It's getting kind of late, isn't it? Let's go back."

I took my hand in his and we started our way back to the cabins together.

"Percy," I said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"What… what about Nico?"

Percy looked thoughtful for a moment. He stared off into the distance, then said softly, "I think he is fine now."

As we walked away, I caught a glimpse of Nico di Angelo watching us from far off in the woods. The look on his face wasn't sadness. Or grief. Or anger.

It was almost happy.

Epilogue

I exhaled. The end of yet another summer at Camp Half-Blood had passed. A lot had happened. I had planned on staying with Percy over the year, but unfortunately we both had important business to attend to, so I would be staying at camp and he would be going home. I guess I would have to wait another year.

"Bye, Seaweed Brain," I said, "and don't you dare go get another girl while you're away from me."

He chuckled. "I won't. Who could ever compare to you?" He leaned over me, kissing the top of my head softly, and then he was gone. His scent lingered in my hair.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Nico watching us—but he no longer had that devastated look he always wore before. He gave a slight grin at me.

"Um… congratulations," he said shyly, indicating towards the sparkling ring on my left hand.

"Thanks," I said as I headed towards the Athena cabin by myself.

As I lay curled up on my bunk, I surprisingly didn't feel compelled to read a book. I felt as if there was something else I needed to do. What was it?

A glimmer of light caught my eye. I turned to see a very familiar pale purple book, made out of leathery fabric.

Just write something in your diary…

… and know that I will always be listening.

I smiled, ever so slightly, as I picked up a pen and turned to a blank page.

Dear Kana,

Today was a very nice day…

THE END