Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also if you haven't read them yet read 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Early Adventures' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Magical Labyrinth' as well as the one shots 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Stolen Chariot' The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Sword of Hades', and The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Bronze Dragon' before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned. Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.

We Say Good-Bye for Now

Camp went late that summer. It lasted two more weeks, right up to the start of a new school year, and I have to admit they were the best two weeks of my life. And I'm not saying it because Annabeth will kill me if I say other wise.

The Hunters got their rematch against the campers, and regain their victory over us. It didn't help Thalia knew Annabeth and me well to come up with a plan to counter ours. At least there were no consequences after the game, mostly because we kept a close eye on the Stoll Brothers and the rest of Hermes Cabin until after the Hunters left.

Anyways, when I'm not spending time with Annabeth, or keeping my promise to Hermes, I been mostly busy with my sword teaching lessons. It seemed that now everyone want to learn from me.

Grover had taken over the satyr seekers and was sending them out across the world to find unclaimed half-bloods. So far, the gods had kept their promise. New demigods were popping up all over the place—not just in America, but in a lot of other countries as well.

"We can hardly keep up," Grover admitted one afternoon as we were talking at the canoe lake. "We're going to need a bigger travel budget, and I could use a hundred more satyrs."

"Yeah, but the satyrs you have are working super hard," I said. "I think they're scared of you."

Grover blushed. "That's silly. I'm not scary."

"You're a lord of the Wild, dude. The chosen one of Pan. A member of the Council of—"

"Stop it!" Grover protested. "You're as bad as Juniper. I think she wants me to run for president next."

He chewed on a tin can as we stared across the lake at the line of new cabins under construction. The U-shape would be a complete rectangle, and the demigods had really taken to the new task with gusto.

All the new cabins were part of Annabeth's designs, but she made sure to follow any suggestions the minor god's kids want for their cabins.

As he said he would, Ethan Nakamura—or I should say, head counselor of what would be cabin sixteen for his mother: Nemesis—was instructing the cyclopes to build a cabin that proudly represents his mother, that his new siblings would be proud to stay in. Ethan earned the title of head counsellor by help keeping balance in the world while at the same time keeping his promise to his mother.

Nico had some undead builders working on Hades' cabin—soon to be cabin thirteen—which Nico was head counsellor of. Even though he was still only a kid in it, it was going to look pretty cool: solid obsidian walls with a skull over the door and torches that burned with green fire twenty-four hours a day.

Along with Hades and Nemesis, Iris, Hecate and Hebe along with Hypnos: God of Sleep and father of Morpheus, Nike: Goddess of Victory, Tyche: goddess of luck would be getting cabins. They kept adding new ones to the blueprints every day. It was going so well, Annabeth and Chiron were talking about adding an entirely new wing of cabins just so they could have enough room.

The Hermes Cabin was a lot less crowded now, because most of the unclaimed kids had received sigs from their godly parents. It happened almost every night, and every night more demigods straggled over the property line with the satyr guides, usually with some nasty monsters pursuing them, but almost all of them made it through.

The cabins weren't the only projects at work.

Katie and her siblings from Demeter's cabin also worked on a garden to honor their immortal sister Persephone next to the Straw berry Fields, which we called the Garden of Persephone II since there's already a garden of Persephone in the Underworld.

Since Hestia does have a hearth in camp to honor her but not many people realized it, I asked Beckendorf to help make a plaque for the Hearth so that every camper knew it was the Hearth of Hestia and how she stayed on Olympus for us when all the other Olympians were fighting their own battles. I didn't know if Hestia wanted a Cabin, but I thought it was the least I could do for her.

"It's going to be a lot different next summer," I said. "Chiron's expecting we'll have twice as many campers."

"Yeah," Grover agreed. "But it'll be the same old place."

He sighed contently.

I watch as Tyson led a group of Cyclops builders. They were hoisting huge stones in place for Hecate cabin, and I knew it was a delicate job. Each stone was engraved with magical writing, and if they dropped one, it would either explode or turn everyone within half a mile into tree. I doubt any demigods wanted that.

"I'll be traveling a lot," Grover warned, "Between protecting nature and finding new half-bloods. I may not see you as much."

"Won't change anything," I said. "You're still my best friend—practically my brother."

He grinned. "Thanks Percy."

In the late afternoon, I was taking one last walk along the beach when a familiar voice said, "Good day for fishing."

My dad was standing knee-deep in the surf, wearing his typical Bermuda shorts, beat-cap, and a real subtle pink-and-green Tommy Bahama shirt. He had a deep-sea fishing rod in his hands, and when he cast it the line went way out—like halfway across Long Island Sound.

"Hey, Dad," I said. "What brings you here?"

He winked. "Never really got to talk in private on Olympus. I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me? You came to the rescue."

"Yes, and I got my palace destroyed in the process, but Zeus kept his word about helping me getting it rebuilt. I've gotten so many thank-you cards from the other gods. Even Ares wrote one, though I think Hera forced him to. It's rather gratifying. So, thank you. I suppose even the gods can learn new tricks."

The Sound began to boil. At the end of my dad's line, a huge green sea serpent erupted from the water. It thrashed and fought, but dad just sighed. Holding his fishing pole with one hand, he whipped out his knife and cut the line. The monster sank below the surface.

"Not eating size," he complained. "I have to released the little ones or the game wardens will be over me. Oh by, the way. Happy late birthday son."

Dad tossed me two sand dollars.

"Two?" I asked.

"A little extra for saving Olympus," Dad explained. "Your girlfriend doing well with those cabins by the way. I suppose this means I can finally full fill your childhood wish and get you siblings."

I blushed but because of the second thing he said. "How did you find out about Annabeth and me?"

Dad grinned. "Naiads talk son, you should know that."

That made me blushed even more causing dad to laugh, "Don't worry, I'm not going to be like Athena and go against it, no matter how much Athena annoys me."

"Or how much you keep bringing up Annabeth every time I over think things," I said.

"The point is, if Annabeth makes you happy, I won't stand in the way," Dad said as he reeled in his empty line. "I'll see you soon, Percy. And remember, know which fish are big enough to land."

With that he dissolved in the sea breeze, leaving a fishing pole in the sand.

That evening was the last night at camp—the bead ceremony. The Hephaestus Cabin had design this bead this year. It showed the Empire State Building, and etched in tiny Greek letters, spiraling around the image were the names of all the heroes who had died defending Olympus. There were too many names, but I was proud to wear the bead to honor them. I put it on my necklace—nine beads now, one bead for each year I attended Camp Half-Blood and survived.

Back then I never thought Luke would betray us, or the Titan lord would use him to rise and start a second Titan war, or Luke would sacrifice himself to end it, not to mention that I would have a cyclops for an adopted half-brother or met the Hundred Handed one and became his brother, or see Pan's death. I especially didn't think that I would be dating the very same girl who tried to bash me with a hammer when we met and shortly after became friends. But it all happened, and I'm glad to say, Luke's sacrifice wasn't for nothing.

"Never forget this summer!" Chiron told us. He had healed remarkably well, but he still trotted in front of the fire with a slight limp. "We have discovered bravery and friendship and courage this summer. We have upheld the honor of the camp."

He smiled at me, and everybody cheered. As I looked at the fire, I saw Hestia attending the flames in her little girl form. She winked at me with glowing eyes. No one else seemed to notice her but she seemed appreciative about the new celestial bronze plaque at the Hearth. I smiled back at her and nodded.

"And now," Chiron said, "early to bed. Remember, you must vacate your cabins by noon tomorrow unless you've made arrangements to stay the year with us. The cleaning harpies will eat any stranglers, and I'd hate to end the summer on a sour note!"

The next morning, Annabeth and I stood at the top of Half-Blood Hill. We watched the buses and vans pulled away, taking most campers back to the real world. Only a few veterans were staying behind along with a few newcomers, but I was heading back to Goode High School for my sophomore year.

"Good-bye," Rachel said to us as she shouldered her bag. She looked pretty nervous, but she was keeping a promise to her father and attending Clarion Academy in New Hampshire. It would be next summer before we got our Oracle back.

"You'll do great," Annabeth hugged her. I held back the urge to chuckle. Ever since Rachel became the oracle and unavailable, those two became good friends.

Rachel bit her lip. "I hope you're right. I'm a little worried. What if somebody asks what's on the next math test and I started spouting prophecies in the middle of geometry class? The Pythagorean theorem shall be problem two… Gods, that would be embarrassing."

Annabeth laughed, and to my relief, it made Rachel smile.

"Well," she said, "you two be good to each other." She looked at me like I'm the biggest trouble maker. Before I could protest, Rachel wished us well and ran down the hill to catch her ride.

Annabeth thank goodness, would be staying in New York. She'd gotten permission from her parents to attend a boarding school in the city so she could be close to Olympus ad oversee the rebuilding efforts.

"And close to me?" I asked.

"Well, someone's got a big sense of his own importance." But she laced her fingers through mine.

The guard dragon Peleus curled contently around the pine tree underneath the Golden Fleece and began to snore, blowing steam with every breath. Peleus' job especially been easier since Beckendorf finally been able to finish repairing the bronze dragon to guard the borders.

"You've been thinking about Rachel's prophecy?" I asked Annabeth.

She frowned. "How did you know?"

"Because I knew you since we were seven," I pointed out.

She bumped me with her shoulder. "Okay, so I have. Seven Half-Bloods shall answer the call. If you're right about it involving you and the other six greatest heroes of our generation ever to be known, it could mean it will be soon."

"Yeah," I agreed. "But remember what Apollo said, we should enjoy our time of peace while we can."

She nodded, though she seemed uneasy. I didn't blame her, I was worried as well. But Hal was also right, knowing too much about the future is dangerous, so I decided to take Apollo's advice.

"Race you to the road?" I said.

"You are so going to lose." Annabeth took off down Half-Blood Hill and I sprinted after her.

For once, I didn't look back as I know I'll be back to see my second home again.

A/N: I will be doing 'The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus' series after one shot of the 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' version of the Staff of Hermes.