Hello! I am back after another ridiculously long break. I have been literally the worst when it comes to updating this story and I am so, so sorry. However, I am happy to announce that I have a plan, some of which is partly written already, for the next chapter, which I think is going to be the final chapter for this story, not including an epilogue. I have recently graduated and have some free time now while I am waiting for licenses to come through before I can start work, so I am planning to work on wrapping this story up for you all who have been so incredibly patient and amazing.

This chapter honestly, is kinda boring, but I had a good part of it written a while ago and wanted to finish up the scenes I had already started. Just some fun fluff for you all to get us all back into the swing of this story. I hope you enjoy!

"So, Logan," Frederick Chase began carefully, eyeing the teenager from his spot across the kitchen table, "have you given any more thought to college, what you're going to study?"

It was a Saturday in September. Annabeth's dad and stepmom had brought lunch over and we sat around the table, having finished eating a short while ago. The Chases had lived in New York for the better part of nine months now, having moved back in January from California for Frederick's new job. Overall, having them close by had been nice, though I couldn't say Logan's situation hadn't made things somewhat complicated. They hadn't freaked out the way Annabeth feared they might when he'd first come back injured last summer, but they'd never quite managed normalcy with it either. Granted, Logan's own struggles coming to terms with everything hadn't helped, but the Chases had not been as discrete as they probably thought they had in their tiptoeing around him. Even now, over a year later, with Logan having come so far from the traumatized, bitter shell he'd been, they seemed to still be working on it. But they were trying. They had been so far away for most of the kids' lives. I supposed it was an adjustment for them as well, now having a regular front row seat to just what it meant to be descended from Greek gods.

Logan nodded in reply to his grandfather's question. "I want to do a pre-law major. New Rome has a good program. I'm planning to apply as soon as I take my SAT."

Frederick's eyebrows rose in surprise, smiling some. "Pre-law? Really? That's a great path. Hard but worth it."

Logan nodded again, a determined glint appearing in his eyes. "I want to go into family law. To help kids like us, legacies and half-bloods, the ones who aren't lucky enough to have good family situations like we do." A glance at Annabeth and me. "I know things have been better since the war and Dad making the gods take responsibility for their kids, but it's not perfect. There are still half-bloods in bad situations, with mortal parents who don't want them or don't care. I want to change that. Work with Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter to make sure those kids get what they need to be safe and successful."

I couldn't help the wide smile that crossed my face. Gods, this kid. He never ceased to amaze me. All my children did. This wasn't news to Annabeth and me. Logan had discussed his plans with us in the past, even back before the quest and his injury, he'd seen the issues many of his fellow campers and friends faced, even now when things were supposed to be better, and wanted to help, to change things. That dream had taken a backseat for a while after he'd come home last summer, when he'd been lost and broken. But he'd brought it up again after returning from camp this year, as he healed. He started researching, preparing. He'd been in contact with the program in New Rome. He was on his way to accomplishing it all. I couldn't have been prouder.

Frederick smiled too. "Well I think that's great, Logan. They'll be lucky to have you. But, hey, if you change your mind about California, I could put in a good word for you at Columbia. It's good to have options. You just say the word."

Logan smiled and patiently promised his grandfather that he would keep his options open, but I knew he wouldn't change his mind. For Logan, like with any student who chose New Rome, it was about more than just college. He wouldn't have to pretend there. He'd be safe. And with all the adopted aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby, he'd never be lonely either.

"What about you, Nick?" Theresa asked, looking at the fourteen-year old seated across the room at the counter with Carly, a checkerboard between them. He made a face at his sister as she jumped one of his kings and claimed it, and looked over at the older woman. "Any idea what you want to do after school?"

Nicky shrugged. He'd only just begun his freshmen year and had plenty of time to figure out what he wanted. He was incredibly smart, but had never been as naturally gifted as Logan when it came to academics. And unlike his brother, he did not plan ahead quite that far. The two had always looked very alike, but it was obvious who favored which parent. "I think it would be cool to be a sword instructor."

There was a heartbeat of silence and I all but dared either of them to say something disparaging about that career path. Frederick and Theresa had always pushed their children hard when it came to expectations and success. And granted, all of their children had chosen successful careers by their standards, but that didn't mean the pressure hadn't been a lot on them. And while the older Chases had grown in a lot of ways as the years had progressed, some beliefs were ingrained deeply. But they said nothing, which I thought was wise.

Nicky seemed unconcerned with the brief shift and looked back at the game board before him. Logan, though, grinned and jumped to his brother's defense, whether he needed it or not. "He'd be great at it," he told their grandparents, "Nicky's an incredible swordsman. He was better than me, even before all of this." He gestured toward his lap and the wheelchair he sat in.

Frederick only smiled. "I'm sure he is. And I'm sure he will be wonderful at whatever he decides to do." Nicky looked over and offered him a small smirk in acknowledgement.

Theresa smiled and nodded her own agreement before turning to Annabeth. "Have you heard from the twins lately?"

"Bobby texted me the other day. He sent pictures from Ava's ballet recital."

Theresa beamed. "She's adorable, isn't she?"

"Very," Annabeth agreed easily. "I haven't heard from Matt in a few weeks. They were busy with the move last I heard."

Frederick's wife nodded. "They're settling in now, I think. They video-called the other day. Showed us what they'd done with the place. It's really coming together. I think they're liking Chicago so far."

"Did he mention he'll be coming through here next month?" Frederick asked. Annabeth shook her head. "He has a meeting in the city for a new project. Liz is going to come with him to visit. They're flying in the night before and staying with us. It would be great if they could see all of you before they leave."

"Maybe we can plan for dinner that night if they're free," Annabeth offered, glancing at me.

I nodded. "That would be great."

"I'll give them a call later and ask about it," she promised, surely before Theresa could offer to do it right then and there. Having them nearby had been nice, but sometimes, I think in their effort to make up for lost time, they bordered on overbearing. But they seemed satisfied with that and changed the subject to work. Logan, surely bored with sitting through the small talk by this point, asked to be excused. Nicky and Carly had already wandered off after finishing their game - Carly the victor, of course. He called Ollie to him and wheeled himself toward the back door, producing a tennis ball from somewhere and following the excited dog outside with it. He closed the door quickly behind him, before the first few fallen leaves of fall could make their way inside with the breeze.

The Chases watched him as he went, and when the door had closed firmly behind Logan and he had wheeled himself to the edge of the porch, Frederick smiled a bit. "He looks good." He observed,

Annabeth answered first, a contented look crossing her face as she too watched our oldest as he tossed the ball into the yard. "He is," she said, "He really is."

Later that evening, I danced out of the way of Nicky's blade, parrying his sword strike with my own. The sun was nearly touching the horizon and it would be getting dark soon. The days had started to be noticeably shorter the past couple weeks as fall really took hold, but my son had asked me to spar with him and who was I to deny him?

And it was safe to say I was having to work to keep up. Hard.

It had been a while since I'd sparred with him. A long while actually, since Hannah was his preferred practice partner during the school year. But she was busy tonight with her family and I'd been more than happy to step in when he'd sought me out shortly after the Chases made their departure for the night.

It had been something I'd done with both boys and later Carly as they'd gotten older and each learned the truth about their godly heritage. Annabeth and I had each done our part to teach the basics and then a little more when they weren't at camp. And it made me a little sad to think about how these times had become less frequent with each passing year as they grew older and their parents apparently became less cool.

Nicky had always been a great swordsman, impressing his teachers at camp early on. And I had always taken great pride in that fact, since I liked to fancy myself a master swordsman in my own right. But with each year, Nicky's skill had grown and the difference between thirty and forty really started to hit home for me. I didn't consider myself particularly old and I kept myself in good shape out of habit and necessity, but there was no denying that I wasn't a teenager anymore and I tended to feel it just a bit more these days after a particularly grueling match. Meanwhile, our kids only grew stronger and quicker by the day. And they knew it too, judging by the slight smirk Nicky wore as he forced me to play defense against him once more.

I brought my sword up in an arc, blocking his strike, only for him to feint and parry to the left, forcing me to yield a step as I blocked yet another of his advances. We went back and forth for several more minutes and I had to admit, Nicky gained the upper hand more than once. His endless hours spent training with Hannah were evident in the notable number of Roman tactics he mixed in with the usual Greek style he preferred. I knew enough about those techniques to hold my own, but not much more than that. I wasn't sure if I was genuinely losing my touch or if my son was simply that good. If I'd had time to truly process anything other than the grueling pattern of strike, block, parry, strike, dodge, repeat, I would have likely decided I was perfectly okay with that latter option. But maybe not so much the former.

Nicky ducked beneath my counterstrike and followed up with several follow-up maneuvers in quick succession. I was able to block - but only just. I could tell from the glint in his gray eyes that he thought victory was imminent.

But I wasn't ready to give in just yet. I'd spent nearly three-quarters of my life at this point with a relentless daughter of Athena as my preferred sparring partner, and as such, I'd picked up a few tricks even Nicky hadn't been privy to yet. Tricks I saved for moments just like this to keep him on his toes.

On his next strike, I saw an opening. I moved in close, surprising him, and caught the side of his wrist with Riptide's pommel before grabbing him and sidestepping to put him in an arm lock. His sword fell to the grass. I let him go before he could feel all but the slightest physical discomfort from the maneuver and scooped his fallen sword up, offering it to him hilt-first. I couldn't help the small smirk I felt gracing my lips.

Nicky, eyes wide, glanced from the sword, to me, and back again before he reached out and took it back. Then he grinned, shaking his head a bit. "I really thought I had you on that one," he admitted wistfully.

"You'll get there one day." I grinned back,

He just rolled his eyes, closing the sword back into the silver bracelet that concealed it and sliding it onto the wrist I'd let go of. "I guess I do appreciate that you don't ever let me win," he admitted grudgingly, "Even if it's annoying."

I laughed. "It forces you to get better."

He shrugged good-naturedly. "Guess there's a reason everyone says you're the best."

"You're better," I told him. He looked doubtful. "Trust me. I've had a lot more time to practice."

"And a lot more near-death experiences?"

I laughed. "Now you sound like your mom."

But he wasn't exactly wrong.

Early the next morning, I rolled over to find Annabeth's side of the bed cold and empty. Though half-asleep, I was aware of the fact that the sun had not yet risen and her absence was confusing enough that I opened my eyes fully in the dark room. As suspected, Annabeth was not in bed. Her covers were thrown back and no light came from the open bathroom door. I squinted at the clock. Five-ten in the morning.

Annabeth had always been something of an early riser, but it was the weekend and we'd been up late the night before watching a movie Hazel had recommended during the camp's peace celebration last month. Usually, we took these mornings slow and at least stayed in bed until sunrise, enjoying the quiet and aloneness before the chaos of the day began.

Alert now, I kicked off the blanket and swung my feet to the floor. I wasn't necessarily worried - there were a hundred explanations for why Annabeth's side of the bed would be so cold so early, but after everything we'd been through, it was hard not to think the worst at times. I made my way out into the hall and downstairs. I wasn't worried, but I'll admit my heart rate did slow a bit when I saw the light peeking out from her half-open office door. The sound of typing grew clearer as I drew closer and I peered inside in time to see Annabeth sigh heavily and rest her head in her hands, staring at something on the laptop screen before her.

"It's a bit early to look so stressed," I commented blandly.

She looked up and dropped her hands to her lap. "Yeah, well someone should tell my client that."

"I thought you told them you weren't working weekends anymore since your promotion."

Another sigh. "I did. But a bigshot client of ours is wanting to build a ritzy condo complex in the Hamptons and decided last night apparently that he wants basically a completely new design from what we already agreed upon, but still expects the plans to be ready to be presented at our meeting tomorrow morning. I woke up to a string of panicked messages from Lindsay at four-thirty. I've been putting out fires since then."

I shook my head. "You can't just tell him it will take time to change the plans?"

"Normally, yeah, and during normal business hours. But it's a high profile project and the CEO of the firm is personally involved, I guess, and doesn't want to risk the bad press of it all."

"That makes no sense." Annabeth just shrugged helplessly and checked the screen on her phone. "I'm sorry, babe. You need anything?"

She smirked humorlessly. "A reminder that I actually really do love my job despite leadership occasionally being completely unreasonable?"

"You say the word and we can retire tomorrow," I promised. "We'll go wherever you want. I know New Rome's been trying to get you to move there for years."

She quirked an eyebrow, still smiling. "You love New York."

"I love you. I go where you do." I grinned. "Though I don't think my mom would ever forgive me if I took her grandkids that far away from her."

Annabeth chuckled. "Don't worry, Seaweed Brain. I love the life we built here and I have no plans to change that anytime soon."

I smiled. "Good."

"Alright, now leave me alone so I can hopefully get this taken care of before the kids get up. We've got Nick's soccer game at nine and I am not letting this ruin my whole day."

"I'll make you some coffee," I said, stepping back into the hall.

"You're the best."

Thank you so much for reading! If you wouldn't mind, go ahead and leave a review to let me know you're still here.