Percy POV

"Everyone's waiting, Perseus," Calypso gently said, after knocking on my door. I had waited for this day for a while, always wondering what I should say. Everyone is waiting for me, but I don't want to go to them. One could say I was scared. For the last week, I have been improving. Now, I can use my powers in short bursts, train with Nico, do the chores (and wash the clothes properly!), and even flash around the island. My eyes are still a problem, and I can't fix them, no matter how hard I try. Well, at least I can see properly now, so yee! Still, everyone's time to leave comes, and I've pushed mine back as far as I can, but not anymore. Now, I need to move on, and be productive.

With a sigh, I struggle to close my suitcase. It's a bit more chunky than I wanted. It contains basically everything I will need. Ambrosia, nectar, toothbrush, toothpaste (we Gods still need to brush apparently) and a bunch of clothes which Calypso made for me, which was kind. Those clothes are actually really soft, which makes them feel amazing. I swear she put some kind of lotion into them. Looking at my watch, I realize that it is already 10:00 AM. I like checking the time. It reminds me of Tyson, who I need to visit soon. However, I'll probably need to keep everything about Artemis a secret, or he will either march straight to Olympus to kill her, or start crying so much that he would make the Pacific Ocean jealous. We were meant to leave at 9:30, and I hate being late. I really hope that everyone who came were also late, or they would've been waiting for half an hour.

This week has been so packed, with all of the therapy and chores and everything, that I can barely remember anything. The one thing I do remember was what Nico and Calypso said when I told them I had to leave. Some would have convinced me to stay. Others would've been glad to see me go, especially with all the work Nico and Calypso had been doing for me and my recovery. However, they acted… different, in a good way.

The food is great, as always, but I don't have much of an appetite. I don't know how they are going to react, when I tell them that I need to leave. It's not that I don't like it here. On the contrary, I love it, but I have too much to sort out between too many people. Besides, I haven't seen Piper, Jason and the gang gang in as long as I can remember. Also, I need to find Leo so that I can slap him fifty times and bury him underground. I can't believe that he is alive. I love him for being able to escape death… and hate him for how he made us all feel.

From across the table, Calypso smiles at me. I return it, trying to conceal my anxiety. The last thing I want to do is break Calypso's heart. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did. Last time, I left for Annabeth, and a couple of other things, but mainly Annabeth. It pained me to leave her, and I regretted it every day, but what made me the saddest, was when Annabeth betrayed me, and I knew that, had I stayed with Calypso, it never would've happened. Calypso has done more than anyone would've done for me. She nursed me back to health twice now, and I owe her too much. If she wants me to stay, then I will have no choice but to stay. I guess that's why I'm so anxious, so much that I can't even bring myself to act normal and eat my vegan steak. Don't ask me how that's even allowed. Maybe I should bring up a petition to ban vegan steaks, despite how nice they were, when I go back to the Olympian council… If they even let me.

Both Calypso and Nico were eyeing me, in different ways. Calypso was looking at me, frowning, as if she could tell something was wrong with me. I almost always gobbled her food up, but wasn't today. Nico, on the other hand, was not so much eyeing me, but was eyeing my steak. Sighing, I dumped it onto his plate. Eyes lit, he didn't hesitate to start wolfing it down. Calypso nudged him. She always had a thing for manners.

"Is everything okay, Perseus," Calypso askes, with a small smile. I looked up, ready to make some lie up, but one look into her eyes, and I knew that I just couldn't bring myself to.

"I will never be able to repay you for what you have done for me, Nico AND Calypso. You practically brought me back from the dead, and I want you to know, especially Calypso, I am in your debt. I owe you more than anyone else." She smiled at me again, this time uncertainty.

"Okay… but it's nothing," Calypso started, I interrupted immediately.

"NO NO NO!" I yelled, and she jumped. Taking a deep breath, I lowered my voice. "I'm sorry. It's just, you can't be that modest. I owe you, full stop." She nodded.

"I want to leave, Calypso," I said, surprised that tears were in my eyes. "I need to leave. I have so much to sort out, and, Gods my father thinks I'm dead by now." Again, she nodded. This time, however, there was something different. She wasn't smiling anymore, just crying.

"If you-you want to leave, then please just leave," she stuttered, trying to contain her tears. I shook my head.

"You see, it's not that simple. I told you, I owe you too much, and if me leaving will make you sad, then I just can't."

There was silence again, as everyone let that last statement soak in. Nico stopped eating, and sat up straight, looking as if he was doing some serious thinking.

"Why don't you come with us Cal-"

"Us?" I questioned, butting in rudely. Nico looked at me, with a glimmer in his eyes.

"I hope that you didn't think I would just let you go," Nico smirked. "I've rescued you, and now, I'm sticking with you, until I am certain that everything is sorted out, be that until I die. I'm sorry, but as Calypso said last week, you and me have already covalently bonded… not in that way, but I'm staying with you from now on."

I felt as if the half the sky had just been lifted off my shoulders. Nico knew that I was leaving, and was okay with it. Better yet, he was even coming with me, which would give me some company. Still, there was Calypso to deal with.

"Well?" Nico asked again. "Just come with us. We can come back here to Ogygia whenever you feel like, especially with Percy's flashing powers. Besides..." At point Nico leaned close to Calypso and muttered something to her. I couldn't tell what he said, but from her crimson face, I figured out that it was something which made me want to castrate Nico.

She looked at me, and smiled again. "What do you want, Perseus?" She asked, wiping the tears off her eyes. I didn't have to think about it much.

"If it were up to me, then I would never let you or Nico leave my side, especially after all you have done."

"Then, I'm coming with you, even if I will miss Ogygia. Maybe I can meet Leo again. We will come back here every few months, right?"
I assured her that there was no way I would miss out on my vegan steaks, and she fell for the lie.

Standing up, Calypso walked towards the door.

"Where are you going," Nico frowned. She stopped, and turned to face up, looking happier than I had even been.

"If we are leaving, then we'll need an audience, especially your new mother," Calypso said, before walking into her room. That night, I had the best rest that I'd had in a long time.

Zipping up the suitcase, I put a couple of sweets into my pocket, and a pen. I guess having a pen tricked me into thinking it was riptide, in a way. There wasn't much left to do aside from say the last goodbyes. Putting on a strong face, I opened my door and dragged my bag outside. The daylight blinded me. Calypso forced me to work in minimal light. Apparently it was meant to help my eye condition, which, as I said before, have barely improved, much to everyone's disappointment. I'm not sure who Calypso invited, but I made sure to tell her not to invite Poseidon. I couldn't bear to see him. It would be too much pain.

Once I opened the door, I got a good view of everyone who had come. On one side, sitting on a rock, was Nico, who, as usual, looked like he was feeling out of place. Calypso, on the other hand, was being her friendly self, and seemed to be talking to everyone. On the other side were a few Gods. Firstly, there was Hestia, my mother. I'd hate to see her reaction when she sees what I've done to my eyes. Next to her was Hephaestus , who had brought a small, brown package. Apollo came too. We had grown quite close, especially after the hours I'd spent in his temple. Aphrodite was there too, which was something I wasn't too happy about. Calypso should've known not to bring her. Finally, Hades was in the corner, looking at Nico with interest.

The second I stepped outside, everyone went silent. They were all staring at me.

"Sup?" I said uncomfortably. This made Apollo grin at my awkwardness.

Hestia was the first one to come to me. She looked at me sadly.

"Hello, Hestia," I said, smiling.

"At least you have your manners," she replied, caressing my face. Oh my days I was 18! I didn't need to be treated as a four year old. Stepping back, I asked, "How are you?" She smiled.

"Now that I know you are fine, I'm alright. What happened to your eyes?" She asked.

"Ooooh that's Mingetopouveior Syndrome!" Apollo said excitedly. How typical. It made me smirk at him. "Man, I've always wanted to see Mingetopouveior Syndrome, but never have. You're a real different God!" That made me frown.

"I figured that out Apollo," I added drily.

"It suits you," Hephaestus said in his deep voice. "Remember your eyes every time you see Artemis." My smile faded.

"What is it like on Olympus?" I asked, and a grim mood set.

"It's not good," Apollo finally said.

"Zeus is threatening to remove Artemis's immortality if he doesn't find out why you left," Aphrodite bluntly said. "Poseidon won't leave the sea. Artemis sits and cries in her room everyday. Zeus is literally losing his mind. There are search parties looking for you everywhere." I let that sink in.

"I'm sorry but who invited you?" I asked a bit bluntly.

She smirked. "I just came to tell you that Artemis knows about what happened between you and Calypso last week. Ya know, the smoochy mooch"
"WHAT!" me and Calypso screamed. "How did she find out?"

"Oh I created this one way love message that I can do with the help of Iris."
"So she knows I'm here?" I asked, trying to keep cool. Aphrodite shook her head.

"No, just that you are with a girl."

"One day, I'm gonna kill you," I muttered. On that happy note, Aphrodite left, and silence engulfed us again.

"I did it, Calypso," Hephaestus said, pointing to the parcel. Calypso nodded. I, on the other hand, was a bit confused as to what it was. I raised my hand,

"Errr you don't need to put your hand up," Hephaestus said uncomfortably.

"Ahhh right, well, what is the parcel thing?" I asked.

"That's a small present from me, for everything you've done. I've never properly thanked you for saving Olympus, even though the whole council did. You've done so much for my children, so, with Calypso's request, I decided to build you a weapon." While I was beyond joyful, I was a bit sad, seeing as it reminded me of riptide. Hephaestus passed me the package, and I ripped it open. Inside, was a small pen, much like Riptide. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was identical to Riptide. When I uncapped it, the weapon sprung out. It was not a sword… It was a stick.

Okay technically it was a staff, with spear heads on either end, but that was basically stick. I gave Calypso a death stare. Well, it looked like she had found out about the stick training and I was paying up. Nevertheless, I was insanely grateful for the staff, and for what Hephaestus said next.

"It will return to your pocket whenever you want. I tried to find your old sword, but couldn't. Still, rest assured that I have sent out three search parties to look for it. Ares never found it, so I couldn't give that to you. However, when we find it, I will combine the two, so you'll have a pen that can turn into a stick-staff and sword."

Word couldn't explain how thankful I was, but I think Hephaestus understood from my face. I was insanely grateful.

"So where are you going now?" Hestia asked me. I shrugged.

"I have some friends to meet up north," I said. "Then, I guess we'll just follow the current."

"We'll follow the steam too!" I quickly added after seeing Hestia's face. That made her smile.

At that point, there were many hung to be given out.

"I'll miss you cuz," Apollo said, giving me a tight hug. "Me too," Hades said.

"I can't thank you enough, Hades," I said to him. I'm in debt to too many people. He smiled.

"Don't worry. I could tell Artemis was being troublesome, and that you didn't want to go to Olympus. I just asked Nico to help.

"Your father didn't come," Hestia observed.

"No he didn't, Lady Hestia-"

"I'm your mother," Hestia said, raising her eyebrow.

"No he didn't mother," I corrected. "He would try to stop me from leaving, and wouldn't be able to bear it."
"But I would," Hestia asked. I was speechless as to how to reply.

"You're different. You're my mother and mothers are capable of- It's just- the Hearth- Warmer than and knlfknfolkjnevoerjnvilerwnkvbeirlbmnei." I was lost.

"What kinda sound was that!" Apollo yelled, smirking.

"Don't worry," Hestia said. "I understand."

I sighed in relief, and just enjoyed the company of my fellow, close Gods. We talked, had a small meal, and enjoyed ourselves, until it was midday. Then, I knew that I had to leave. Sooner or later, someone would be able to detect this powerful aura coming from Ogygia.

"It's time for me to leave," I told everyone, and we all stood up. "Please don't tell Zeus about what we are doing or where we are going," I requested. I just wanted some peace.

"Are you mad, cuz?" Apollo asked. "We're not telling anyone about how you're breaking the law, disobeying Zeus, and letting a Titaness escape." Hestia shut him up with a death glare, which looked pretty funny.

"Make sure you visit," They all chimed, each one giving their own goodbyes.

"I want an Iris message every week, or I'll recruit every monster in Tartarus to find you so I can make sure you're alright!" Hestia threatened. I'll remember to put that on the agenda as soon as possible.

"And remember, don't use your powers for a week. No flashing for a month. Eat lots. Keep warm-"

"I know mother! I'm only an idiot on Saturdays!" This made them all smile.

"I'll come back to Olympus one day, mother. One day, I will fix everything. And remember, I will always be, if any attack rises." Tears leaked from everyone's eyes, Hades included. Despite what everyone thought, I knew that this will be the last time I meet all of these Gods in person for the next few years. It's time to be Mike the Knight and do it right- Wait a second, I mean, it's time for me to lay low for a while.

Then, when the time is right, I'll return to Olympus. When the time is right...

So I think I'm going to divide this story into 4 parts. This is the end of part one. Soon I'll start part 2, probably next week some day. I hope you like it. Part 2 is going to be called "The War". If you want a name for Pat 1, then call it "The Pain". Feel free to leave any suggestions on what should happen next and constructive feedback.