Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians!

Leo POV

''Didn't you die in the Giant War closing the Doors of Death?'' that sentence kept echoing in my mind while my brain frantically tried to process it. It couldn't be true. I refused to believe it. I looked around at the faces of the people from the future desperately trying to glean some information. Was this some kind of sick joke? However, everyone was solemn, their faces full of sorrow and grief.

''I really die?'' I finally managed to whisper.

''I am so sorry Leo,'' said Piper from the future before dissolving into tears. ''I am just so very sorry.''

That was all the confirmation that I needed. ''How did I die?'' I finally managed to ask. ''Did the Doors kill me, or Thantos, or giants or the Gods?''

''I am really sorry Leo!'' said Luke, worry and regret written all over his face. ''I should have kept my mouth shut''

''What's done is done. '' said Percy stepping forward. ''Anyway, Leo deserved to know. So did the others. Now let us go inside and discuss this.''

His face was gaunt and it seemed as though he had aged ten years. It was difficult to imagine him as the guy with whom we would joke around in the Argo II, who was always the first one to say something stupid, the guy Gleeson Hedge had yelled at for spending the night with Annabeth in the horse stables. His face was lined with worry and was deadly serious. With a start, I realised that the only time he had looked even remotely like this was when he had fallen into Tartarus with Annabeth just two days ago. The same look of resignation but determination had been there on his face even then.

I jerkily nodded my head.

''Alright then. Let's have this story out.'' I motioned to the other five demigods to follow-only to find that they were all rooted to the spot. Their eyes were filled with pity. For some reason, that only spurred me on. ''Guys, come ON!'' I said loudly.

Just then Annabeth (the future one obviously) burst forward. ''Leo, it w-was my fault. I am the one you should blame. If only I had been braver... more resolute and detached... then maybe...'' she trailed off and broke down completely, sobbing.

I was stunned and by the looks of it everyone (future demigods included) looked the same. They were all dumbstruck. Annabeth never cried or broke down. She was the leader, the strategist, the one leading everyone forward. Even when Percy was missing, she had never cried. What exactly had happened in the battle?

Only Percy seemed unsurprised. He quietly went to her and rubbing her back soothingly said, ''I feel the same way Wise Girl. I blame myself every single day and wonder if I could have done anything to save him. But there is nothing we can do now. Come on now, let us go inside. Saying that, they both went indoors.

What did Percy mean that he was to blame? What the Hades? Percy would never hurt me willingly. Why, even when he was possessed by the eldions, he had tried his best to restrain himself from attacking Jason. Ditto with Annabeth. I would trust her with my life.

''Um, guys, you had better come in.'' Said future Nico awkwardly. All six of us reluctantly followed him inside to his study. The rest of the people from the future gradually trudged in. Everyone was so quiet, it was like we were part of a funeral procession, not a Thanksgiving dinner. Yeah, my funeral. I thought dryly.

Nico only waited for Percy to come in apart from us and then closed the door. He turned to face the six of us. He cocked his head and looked at me for a long time. Finally he said, ''You are awfully calm considering the fact you know you are going to die in a few months at most.''

''Nico,'' said Percy warningly.

However, I did not feel scared or disappointed or disheartened hearing this. With a start, I realised that I was calm. I was not afraid of dying, of Thantos taking me away. A strange calmness fell over me. I would finally be with my mother again! I almost smiled at the thought. Death did not seem so bad after all.

''Yeah, I guess. I mean, what is going to happen will happen, right? There is nothing I can do that will change that. So tell me, how exactly did I die?''

Percy sighed. ''I guess Annabeth and I are the best people to tell you that. Actually me, since Annabeth was hysterical when it happened. We saw it, you know. It happened in front of our eyes. You might want to sit down as I tell you.''

We all sat on the couches and Percy then continued, ''After Annabeth and I were pulled into Tartarus, we were immediately attacked. Monsters surrounded us from all sides. Annabeth was in no condition to fight. Her ankle was broken. I had to fend off all the monsters by myself for a good ten to twelve hours. I do not even remember how long we were there. After sometime, time just ceased to exist. It was just monster after monster, battle after battle and never ending darkness.'' He paused, his eyes far away. He involuntarily shuddered and I saw how terrified he was even after all these years. It seemed that not even time could completely erase all the memories of that place.

''It is a wonder we did not go insane,'' he said absently, running his fingers over the two deep scars on his arm. ''Help finally did come to us, thank the Gods. We were surrounded by five dracanae and seven hellhounds when the Minotaur decided to attack. We were sure we were going to die. Just then, the spirits of Silena, Charles and Luke came. They had come from Elysium to help us. While Silena and Charles held off the monsters, Luke led us to the Doors of Death. We managed to close them with his help and ended up on the other side of the Doors, in Greece. The Doors were open and we were unable to close them, no matter how hard we tried. Then, before he disappeared, Luke told us that if the Doors had to be completely closed and Gaia had to be defeated, one of the seven demigods had to give up their lives willingly. He or she had to sacrifice himself or herself. That was the only way Gaia could be defeated.

Annabeth and I tried to think of any other solution but to no avail. The battle was raging all around us. We were outnumbered and even with the help of both the camps, we were losing. Then Annabeth decided to sacrifice herself. She was adamant about it. However, before she could stab herself, the Doors spoke.''

''Excuse me? Did you say the Doors spoke?'' asked Jason incredulously. I don't blame him. It did sound pretty incredible.

Percy smiled. ''Yeah, pretty crazy, isn't it? Anyway, they said that Annabeth's sacrifice would be useless as her heart was still tied to the mortal world. In other words, she loved me too much to let go. It was the same with me. Both of us were useless in this situation. It had to be someone else. Leo, you were fighting a centaur close by. You set yourself ablaze and killed it. In fact, the blaze was so powerful that every monster in a five mile radius was destroyed that very instant. The Doors said, 'that is the one I want.' And the next second you were on fire again although you had not done anything. I tried dousing you with water but it was futile. The blaze seemed to be immune to water. You were blazing brighter and brighter and then suddenly the blaze got extinguished. Annabeth and I ran to you-only to see you covered with burns. Gods-'' his voice broke''-it was horrible. You were still smiling.'' Percy could not go any further. He just sat motionless, staring at the wall, tears rolling down his cheeks.

''After that, the war ended pretty quickly. Monsters died quickly and in the end the Gods turned up to save the day apparently.'' Continued future Nico bitterly. ''Gaia was lulled back to sleep. I swear Leo, I tried to bring you back but it was no good. Even Apollo's healing was futile. Then Hades came forward and said something that once the Doors claimed a person, the person could not be brought back to life. It was ancient magic and irreversible. There was nothing we could do.'' He said, his head in his hands.

There was silence. We were too shocked to say anything. Then the future Nico cleared his throat. ''I met you in Elysium. I went there after the war. You met your mother there too. Also your great grandfather Sammy. You told me that you were finally happy and at peace.'' His voice died down.

Now I would be lying if I was to say that I was not stunned. The story had really shaken me up. Also, I had never seen Percy so broken. He had always seemed in control of the situation. Now, seeing how everyone was affected, I felt angry. It was not their fault I had died! I did not blame them and it was about time they stopped blaming themselves.

''It is not your fault, Percy!'' I exclaimed. ''the Doors claimed me. None of you pushed me in. Moreover, I am happy in Elysium. You all need to stop feeling guilty about the whole thing and move on!''

Nico POV

I developed a whole new respect for Leo. Although I was a child of Hades, I don't think I would have the courage to so gracefully accept the gruesome story of my death. In the two days I had known him, Leo had matured. From a laughing mechanic who was desperate to find a girlfriend, he had accepted his fate bravely and was trying to comfort my future self when it should have been the other way around! He was truly a hero.

Leo continued, ''None of you are to blame, do you hear that? NO ONE. '' he then turned to us and said sternly, '' and that goes for you all as well.''

''But Leo-'' protested Jason.

''No buts. My death stopped the war. It was destined to happen, was preordained by the Fates. Now you all better win the war-for me. Don't let my death go in vain.''

''Leo is right,'' I said. ''Getting depressed is not going to get us anywhere. We have to go ahead and fight this battle to win it.

My future self and Percy looked at me in pride. All the other five looked determined as well. I knew we were not going to let Leo's death go in vain. We would fight for him till the end.

''So what are we waiting for?'' asked Frank stoutly. ''Let's go back.''

''Yeah,'' agreed Jason. ''We have a war to win.''

''Hey guys,'' piped up Leo grinning, ''Since I am gonna die anyway, does it mean I can irritate you all as much as I want?''

''Sure, Repair Boy!'' laughed Piper.