Nico POV

"You must think you're quite the hero now, don't you Nico?" Thalia asked, letting out a weary sigh that broke the silence between them. In the aftermath of a brutal and cataclysmic war that had shaken the very foundations of Olympus, the two of us walked side by side through the radian halls of Olympus. Even though Percy still wasn't on speaking terms with Thalia, she was my cousin, and apparently she had been slightly worried for me during my… ah… disappearance.

I chuckled softly, my dark eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Hero? Me? That's not a title I'm wearing, Thalia. I'm just glad it's all over." Thalia shot me a sidelong glance.

"You may not be flaunting it, but don't deny that the demigods are singing songs of your bravery. After everything you did during the war, you've earned yourself a reputation." I shook my head, a rueful smile tugging at my lips.

"I'm not one for seeking attention. All that matters is that we succeeded in saving our world. Labels don't mean much."

"And would Percy agree?" I paused, choosing my words carefully.

"Percy only needed a title so that everyone else would take him seriously and listen when he came to them with news of war. Truth be told, I'm sure he's sick of these titles as it is. He definitely doesn't want more." Thalia sighed, obviously not wanting to say anything else and get on even worse terms with Percy.

"How was your time with Lady Eris then?" she asked, quickly changing the subject. My grin widened as a mischievous glint danced in my eyes.

"Ah, so you've heard about that, have you? Living with the goddess of discord was quite the experience." Thalia raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.
"Tell me more. What was it like, being in the presence of someone who thrives on chaos?" I smirked as the memories came rolling back.
"Let's just say it was never dull. Lady Eris has a way of keeping you on your toes, always questioning and challenging you. But you know what? It taught me a lot." Thalia's curiosity was now fully ignited.

"Taught you what?" My expression turned contemplative.

"Well, before I got mad at her for thinking she was the sole reason Percy had been sent to Tartarus, she taught me that discord isn't just about destruction. It can also be a catalyst for growth and change. Living with chaos made me appreciate the balance we need in our lives. The truth is, as much as I hate to admit it, our world runs on chaos and discord. Perhaps another day I'll explain chaos theory to you and you'll see what I mean, but almost everything loves to tend towards chaos. It's quite cool actually." Thalia smirked.

"Who would've thought? The brooding son of Hades finding enlightenment through chaos." Again I chuckled.
"Life has a way of surprising us, doesn't it?" Thalia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "You've come a long way, Nico. From the boy who felt like an outcast to the one who is now Percy's right hand man." My smile softened.
"And you've come a long way too, Thalia. We all have."

As we continued our leisurely stroll through the celestial splendour of Olympus, a sharp twinge of pain shot through my side, causing me to wince involuntarily. I instinctively moved my hand to cover the source of discomfort, hoping Thalia hadn't noticed. However, Thalia, with her ever-watchful eyes, immediately picked up on my discomfort. She shot me a concerned look, her gaze honing in on my hand.

"Nico, what's wrong?" Her tone was both caring and demanding, a reflection of our shared history and the camaraderie that had evolved between us. I sighed, realising that I couldn't hide it from her.
"It's nothing, really. Just a small wound from the battle. I'll ask Percy to take a look at it later." Thalia's expression turned incredulous.

"Nico, seriously? Let me see." I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly moved my hand aside to reveal the small gash on my side. It wasn't deep, but it was still bothering me more than I'd like to admit. Unfortunately, fighting seven Itegra's at the same time makes you prone to attacks. Who would've ever guessed…

Thalia's eyes narrowed as she assessed the wound, her concern deepening.

"Come on, Nico. We're not far from Artemis's palace, and… well, no one else is probably gonna be there to kick you out. Let me patch you up properly," Thalia insisted, her tone brooking no argument. I opened my mouth to protest, but Thalia's determination was unyielding. She led me towards a secluded alcove nestled amidst the heavenly architecture of Olympus. Her quarters, a reflection of her connection with Artemis, exuded a sense of both strength and tranquillity. Thalia retrieved a compact medical kit from a shelf, her fingers moving with practised ease.

"Sit," she ordered, pointing to a cushioned seat. I complied, feeling a mix of discomfort and gratitude. Thalia's care for her companions was well-known among the Hunters, and it was a privilege to receive it firsthand.

As Thalia cleaned the wound with meticulous precision, her touch was surprisingly gentle, her fingers deftly navigating the medical instruments. The pain ebbed as a sense of warmth and trust settled between us. Her eyes were focused, her brow furrowed in concentration, but her lips curved slightly in a soft, reassuring smile.

"You know," she began, her voice quiet as she continued her work, "it's moments like these that remind us of how far we've come. We're not just demigods fighting battles anymore. We're survivors, friends, and maybe even something more."

"Something more?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. She simply shot me a smirk, before finishing tending to my wound, her hands lingering on my side for a brief moment before she leaned back, satisfied.

"There," she said, securing the bandage with a confident gesture. "All patched up." I met her gaze, gratitude mingling with a sense of warmth that extended beyond the physical wound she had tended.
"Thanks, Thalia." She grinned, her icy blue eyes lighting up.

"Don't mention it. Just remember, we're in this together, no matter what surprises life throws our way."

And as we stood there, surrounded by the ethereal beauty of Olympus and the echoes of battles won, I couldn't help but feel that in each other's company, we had found a steadfast anchor amidst the ever-changing tides of our existence.

Percy POV

As Artemis and I walked together, the tension in the air slowly began to dissipate. She looked at me, her eyes soft with a mix of relief and concern.

"I'm glad you're safe," she said, her voice gentle. "But how did you manage to survive? What happened?" I took a deep breath, recounting the intricate plan we had concocted to defeat Gone.

"When the barrier blocking my godly powers fell, me and Eris… did some stuff, and I basically managed to run away, though I was still injured from being harmed in a mortal state. Eris needed Gone to believe I was dead for the plan to work. Anyway, after a while, it worked, and then, we struck back. He didn't see it coming."
"None of us did," Artemis said with a small smile. I nodded.

"Indeed, but at least it all worked out in the end." Artemis listened intently, her gaze never leaving my face.

"It was a risky plan," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "But I'm grateful it worked. We all thought you were gone for good." As we walked, the moonlight cast a gentle glow on her features. I could see the genuine worry in her eyes, and it struck a chord within me. I knew she cared, even though our paths had been uncertain and tumultuous.

I cleared my throat, the weight of my words heavy in the air.
"Artemis," I began, "there's something I've wanted to talk to you about." Her brows furrowed, curiosity evident.

"What is it, Percy?" I took a deep breath, feeling my heart race. This was it.

"I want to talk about what happened between us," I said, my voice steady. "I want to address the pain I felt, the confusion, and... everything else." Artemis stopped walking, her gaze fixed on me, her expression a mix of surprise and anticipation.

"Percy," she said softly, "I am so sorry for what I did to you all those years ago. It was an accident, I overreacted, I didn't listen to my senses, and I never intended for any of it to happen. I never meant to hurt you." My throat tightened as I looked at her, realising the sincerity in her words. I reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm.
"I know," I said, my voice soft. "And I've had a lot of time to think. I understand that accidents happen, and that sometimes we make mistakes."

Artemis's eyes searched mine, as if seeking reassurance. "Does that mean... Can we move on from this?" I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"Yes, Artemis. We can move on. We've both been through so much, and dwelling on the past won't do us any good. This whole war made me somehow realise that I've missed you, and I want us to be able to face the future together." A genuine smile lit up her face.

"Thank you, Percy," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I've missed you too, ever since that fateful day, and I want nothing more than to put all of this behind us."

All of a sudden, I heard a voice calling out to me.

"Hey Percy!" Calypso yelled from the other side of the street. "You gotta check this out!" I frowned, glancing at Artemis.

"What is it?" Artemis shook her head, indicating she didn't know either.

"I'm not sure, Percy."

"Alright, I'll be there soon," I yelled across to her, before making my way to where she and a bunch of other gods were gathered. Gods, campers, and hunters were all huddled around something. As we approached, Calypso waved us over.

"Look at this," she said, pointing to a statue in the centre. My eyes widened as I saw the monument. It was a statue of me, standing heroically with my staff, surrounded by monsters that were expertly sculpted. At the top, it read:

"In memory of Percy Jackson, who fell in battle against the forces of darkness." I chuckled, a mixture of amusement and disbelief washing over me.

"They really went all out for this, didn't they?"

"Oh we did!" Zeus's voice boomed. "After all, you deserved it, nephew." I smiled.

"Now tell me, how many titles did I get?" Artemis rolled her eyes while Zeus, Poseidon and Apollo chuckled, as if they'd been expecting that.

"Quite a few actually," Apollo smirked. "Man, half of the statue is filled with your titles."
"Slayer of Kronos," Poseidon began, "Bane of Giant's, Prophecy of Seven… Hang on." Poseidon's gaze shifted to the bottom of the monument, his expression darkening. He pointed to the added words that read, "and the love of Artemis."

Immediately, everyone went silent, watching as Poseidon growled, clearly not amused.

"Artemis," he began, struggling to keep calm, "you had no right to add that."

"Come on Poseidon-"

"No! I haven't forgotten what you did to my son all those years ago. Maybe you had an epiphany and realised how good Percy was, but I didn't have one for what I think of you, and that is-" I stepped in before the argument could escalate.

"It's alright, Poseidon. I don't mind." I turned to Artemis, giving her a playful smile. "Though I do think they exaggerated a bit." Artemis smirked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"You have to admit, it adds a certain flair." Poseidon huffed, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Well, fine. Just don't let it go to your head."

However, just before the teasing could continue, I cleared my throat, drawing their attention back to the monument.
"You know, there's something missing from this," I mused to myself. Curious, they all turned to me.
"What's missing?" Artemis asked.

"Well," I began slyly. "I think everyone has forgotten one of my titles, a rather new one at that."
"Not more!" Hestia groaned, giggling playfully. "Tell us, what is this last title we all forgot?" I paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath.

"Percy Jackson…" I began.

"Yes?" Zeus asked. I smirked.

"The Lover Of Artemis."

Ahhhhh he finally said it! 72 chapters, and finally, Percy said the words! Hope this was another nice chapter, albeit a bit boring. Might even be getting some other ships involved now as well...