LAST CHAPTER! Wow. What a journey it has been. Not gonna say much here, instead wait for an A/N chapter tomorrow. But the story ends today. And sorry for the one-week delay. I got incredibly sick last Thursday and was unable to write. One week later, I recovered, so give me a positive review as a reward. /j

Timewalker123: Thanks a lot! I have some plans regarding this, which I will fully explain tomorrow.

skotos07: If you acknowledge the oath, you have to make something out of it, can't flat out ignore the thing, after all.

GreyVal: As said in the first review, that is something I plan on. In some capacity. Again, more on that tomorrow if nothing unforeseen happens.

LCon: Thanks man!

TurtlesTale, Death Fury and TheFiction101: Thank you!

Sh4d0wz: Well... Tune on tomorrow to find out. But you got very close to the truth.

"Wait. Please go through it again. Just one more time"

Artemis couldn't help but sigh. Much like in the Throne Room, she expected an outburst from the two Hunters, especially Thalia. Instead, it seemed that the subject was too confusing for anyone to believe it at first.

"They're dating," Reyna interjected, making the former goddess a bit more relieved that someone got it without screaming or having their brain fried. "That's simple enough."

For some reason, the daughter of Bellona looked at her fellow Hunter with an ever-growing smirk on her lips. Thalia, in return, was doing her best to avoid Reyna's gaze.

"No, it isn't." The lieutenant said.

"Yes, it is." Reyna answered, extending her hand. Grumpily, Thalia snorted in anger and removed what seemed to be a dollar bill from her pocket, giving it to Reyna. Safe to say, Artemis was not expecting that.

"Were you two..." Artemis paused, trying to comprehend what had occurred. "Betting?"

"It wasn't my idea." Reyna said smugly, storing the bill inside her own pocket. "Thalia was so confident that she was willing to bet money that you wouldn't date him."

"Can you blame me?" Thalia said, meeting Artemis's gaze. "I suppose I expected too much."

Artemis felt a growing emptiness growing in her stomach. "Thalia..."

"Why?" Was all that her sister asked. Now, with her being mortal, thinking of her lieutenant as a sister made more sense. "What made you do this, Milady?"

The former goddess put her hands together on the table, attempting to find the best way to say how she felt about all of this to her Hunters. Unlike – most of – the council, she cared for the opinion of Thalia, Reyna, and all the other members of the Hunt. They were her family, in a way.

"I understand if you think of me as a hypocrite," Artemis said. "If you think I have betrayed your trust. But the way things were going..." Interestingly, she felt her eyes watering up, something she wouldn't have imagined it could happen this easily. Perhaps it was her mortality. "I was not happy anymore. It is no one's fault, certainly not from you two or any of the girls." She contained a sob, facing both Hunters directly. "I just needed some... something different. And I found some happiness again. I am not leaving forever; I could never neglect what I am."

"And Percy makes you happy?" Reyna asked, her hard features revealing some surprise, perhaps at Artemis's display of emotion.

"Yes," Artemis confirmed with a nod. "He does."

For a moment, there was silence. She knew Thalia had anger problems in the past, that she could lose her temper even if thanks to the mildest of things. Of course, she had gotten better, but Artemis fully expected some sort of confrontation, a lashing out. Be it verbal or physical.

To her shock, however, all that Thalia did was repeat Artemis's gesture from earlier and sigh, hiding her face with her hands.

"As much as I want to be angry at you," Her sister said, looking at her between her fingers. "I can't because I understand exactly how you feel. More than the Great Prophecy, it was the reason I joined the Hunt in the first place."

"Likewise." Reyna followed. "Kind of, I guess, but it fits."

"Yeah." Thalia agreed. "No matter how happy I was that I was finally living alongside Annabeth, that Percy had become a good friend, I couldn't stay at Camp Half-Blood, it wasn't doing it for me. The Hunt gave me some purpose, something else, and I suppose it is what you're feeling with Percy now."

Artemis nodded. "Quite an accurate description. I am sorry for... perhaps shaking your trust on me. I was supposed to be stronger than this. I suppose I deserve this for failing so hard at my one job, being a goddess." She laughed a humorless and solemn chuckle.

"Look, Lady Artemis," Reyna leaned forward. "We all know gods aren't perfect beings. That they are. flawed, they commit mistakes. But if anything, you've proven to better than the average god or goddess by actually facing whatever they planned to punish you."

"It's a nice change of pace." Thalia said, her face growing darker. Artemis knew exactly what her sister meant.

"And at any rate, it's not forever," Artemis said, perhaps to comfort herself more than anything. "I will be back. But..." She paused. "If you, or any of the other Hunters do choose to leave the Hunt... I will not punish any of you when I return-"

"Hey," The lieutenant called, interrupting the former goddess. "I'm sure they will understand. Most of them. Also, you have to consider that a lot of them probably wouldn't care too much about you breaking the oath, considering you're not a normal Hunter and a goddess."

"Perhaps," Artemis rubbed her eyes. She truly felt exhausted. "But you will oversee the Hunt during these five years. Do not make something to disband or anything like it."

"I feel offended, Milady." Thalia protested, but she had a smile on her face, just as Reyna did.

Artemis leaned back, feeling slightly more comfortable. "I know, I was joking. And I imagine the title isn't too appropriate now, is it?"

"Oh, do you have a mortal name like Apollo?" Reyna asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do." Taking her new wallet from the pocket of her jeans, Artemis grabbed the ID card and gave it to the daughter of Bellona, with Thalia look, with Thalia also looking at it.

"Lydia." The daughter of Zeus read it out loud with a shrug. "I guess it works."

Reyna hummed in agreement. "Where are you going now? Since you can't stay in America for five whole years."

"That is something I have not yet decided," Artemis said thoughtfully. "But there are some options on the table."

"Most realistic of them all being the United Kingdom." She added.

"Britain?" Thalia asked, sounding somewhat surprised. "I guess it's either that or Australia if you want to keep speaking English."

"Don't forget about New Zealand." Reyna remembered. "But there's always Greece on the menu as well."

"Can you even remember the ancient languages?" The lieutenant asked sincerely.

"Ita vero," Artemis said in perfect Latin. "I still have a brain, even if it is a mortal one."

"Quid relevium." Reyna muttered. "And you have a deadline of one week to leave?"

"That's correct." The former goddess nodded. "But we should be off quicker than that, even if Percy is currently occupied."

"Occupied with what?" Thalia asked.

"Talking to people." Artemis vaguely replied.

Being in Pittsburgh once more was probably not the wisest decision ever. Just being in Pennsylvania was uncomfortable enough after the whole Alabaster ordeal, but he was – rightfully - afraid of Ohio somehow showing up and tackling him to the ground again. Nonetheless, being escorted by Apollo in an orange Bugatti made this more bearable.

And that was, of course, after visiting Paul and Estelle at the new place they lived in East Village. The trip had been short, a few words shared between what once had been stepfather and stepson, but now friends nonetheless. The most gleaming aspect was, without a doubt, being able to see Estelle again. The young girl, now aged three, had arguably the most heart-melting smile Percy had ever seen in his entire life, and to his delight, she had roughly remembered him, signs of recognition appearing in her face when staring into his eyes. Paul had, once more, declared that if Percy needed, he could always come back, and this time, he signed off to it. Not that he didn't believe Paul, but because now he believed that he would come back. In time.

Now, being in a luxurious and modified sports automobile side by side with an Olympian felt weird.

However... Just this situation alone wasn't the only issue. There was more.

"Apollo?" Percy called, by instinct forgetting to address the god by a title. After the threat of throwing him out of Olympus personally if he failed against the Colossus, Percy believed that had been enough to dispense formalities.

"Yes, Percy?" Apollo answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

Slightly nervous, Percy looked out into the window. "You know, you seem to be taking the whole thing with Artemis quite well."

Apollo frowned. "And what does that mean?"

"Being honest, I expected you to be interrogating me, threatening me, or have outright skinned me alive. One of the three."

The frown on the god's face was replaced by a chuckle. "Before I was turned mortal, maybe that would have happened."

"Which of the three?"

"Interrogation." Apollo said, but he didn't look very convinced. "Either way, I'm not in the place to judge other people's choices. I know for a fact that you aren't a wizard that somehow mind-controlled Artemis into dating you-"

"I have met some magicians," Percy said abruptly. "And I was possessed by an Egyptian Goddess. But please, continue." He quickly said as Apollo lightly glared at him, although his expression had a bit of amusement in it.

"As I was saying, not able to trick Artemis into developing romantic feelings for you. Something like this must be genuine, I knew it from looking into Artemis's eyes. She is in love with you."

Percy was unable to keep his ears from heating up. "That's a hell of a claim."

"I'm most likely right, as always." Apollo smugly replied, bringing an eye roll to the demigod's face. "And I know you are too. I've met your entire family at this point, I know you are trustworthy enough."

"By the way, you didn't tell me you met Paul before." Percy said remembering what his former stepfather had told him.

"It was before the fight with Nero. I had no idea that your mother... you know." Apollo shifted in the driver seat. "But he was nice. Very nice. Wasn't expecting it, being honest."

"Neither was why when Mom first met him. I didn't have high hopes after Gabe." Percy's face darkened. "And how I retributed him? By blowing up the school he was a teacher."

Apollo laughed. "So like you, you little arsonist."

"It was self-defense!" Percy protested. "Anyway, thanks for not being pissed because of Artemis."

"I could never be. Not when it's you. Even if you have a questionable morality these days."

Percy once more rolled his eyes. "Said the Olympian."

"Be quiet, mortal." Apollo said in a playful tone. "Is this the place?" The god pointed towards a gas station in the distance.

"Yeah, it is." Apollo parked the car in front of the convenience store. "Five to ten, I'm back."

"Take your time." Said his... brother-in-law? Yeah, that checked. Percy exited the Bugatti and entered the store, the familiar ding sounding as the door was opened.

"Percy!" A familiar voice said from the other end of the store. "How're you doing, mate?"

"Good. And I mean it." Percy replied, sitting down in front of the balcony. "I'd like a coffee and five minutes of your time."

"Something in your mind?" Joe said as he took Percy's order.

"Lots of things."

"How many properties do you actually own?" Percy asked as he and Apollo entered an apartment located in Central Park South, with a view of the entire park.

"Let's just say I took an interest in the real estate market." The god responded as he unlocked the door. "She should have arrived by now, I think."

"You'd be right." A feminine voice spoke from inside the apartment, one that Percy recognized all too well. It hadn't been too much time since he left, thanks to Apollo's modified car, but every moment away from her was not very good, to put it mildly. When the door was opened, both god and demigod were greeted with a grin from Artemis. As Percy expected, the apartment looked ridiculously expensive.

"Hey, sis." Apollo said.

"Good evening, brother." Artemis replied in her best Olympian voice. "Quite a luxurious place that you have here."

Apollo shrugged. "Apart from the view," He pointed towards the window. "Not much that I really enjoy about this place. At any rate, I'm out."

"Where are you going?" Percy asked, taken a bit by surprise as Apollo handed him the keys to the apartment.

"Honestly? Who knows. But you can leave the keys under the carpet when you two leave."

"Why would you even need keys, brother?" Artemis asked with her arms folded.

"Convenience." Apollo replied with a smile.

"I suppose." She spoke. "You do know you can visit me, right?"

"Of course I do, sis." Apollo answered. "I do intend on doing that a lot."

"Good." Without warning, Artemis stepped forward and embraced the sun god in a hug that seemed to take Apollo by complete surprise. "Nevertheless, I will still miss you."

The Sun God recovered quickly, also hugging his twin sister. "I'll miss you too. But I know you will be fine."

"Yes, I will." Artemis smiled. "Unlike you, I have a sense of self-preservation."

"Yes, yes, sure thing." Apollo turned to Percy, extending his hand. "Good luck, man. That's all I can say. Live happily. Try to not have kids."

Despite his best efforts, Percy felt his face becoming red with embarrassment but shook Apollo's hand nonetheless. "Thanks. I will try. To live happily, that is. Geez."

Apollo flashed a smile, doing his best to ignore the piercing glare that Artemis was giving him. "Of course. Don't take all that I say too seriously."

The Sun God was gone with a last wave, leaving the couple alone at the apartment. Artemis still seemed angry.

"By Zeus, that wasn't necessary." She said, grabbing the keys from Percy's hand and locking the door.

"Yeah. Let's... not talk about children." Once more he found himself embarrassed by the mere thought. It was definitely too early to think about this.

"Yes." A moment of awkward silence was silence before Artemis unceremoniously grabbed him by the shirt and pulled Percy into what was undoubtedly their most heated kiss yet. So much so that they had to take it to the couch, unable to separate themselves. When their lips finally departed, both demigod and goddess-turned-mortal were incredibly out of breath like they had run up a long set of stairs.

"Wow." That was all that he could muster after that session of making out. Despite Artemis's hair being messy and out of place, he was still charmed by her expression.

"You will need to learn to recover faster than this, Percy." She said in a way that Percy never heard from her before.

"Well, excuse me if I'm having problems enduring these wonderful kisses from such a gorgeous person." He replied flirtingly, taking the courage to start the subsequent kiss himself. Although this one didn't last too long compared to the previous one, this would never be boring but any means, no matter how short it was.

"So," Artemis started, her voice a bit hoarse. "How was it out there?"

Percy shifted in his seat, still holding onto Artemis, with her also doing the same to him. "It was something. Joe recommended me Brighton and Hove."

"I have never been there," Artemis stated. "But I assume it would work since it's so close to the coast. Ideal for yourself."

Percy smiled. "Of course. It will probably be better than the pollution here. I feel dirty saying this, but I think I have a problem with the air of Manhattan after three years of living mostly in forests."

Artemis pouted. "I would be shocked if you endured it without issues."

"I can take it, it's just not that good," Percy said. "I also went to see Paul and Estelle."

"And how are they?" She inquired, already aware of who Percy's family was.

"They're fine, not much else to say. Estelle is a treat. I'm very glad she isn't associated with demigod life. She is too pure for that."

"I can believe that." Artemis nodded, resting her head on the couch. "Percy, I need to ask you something."

"Okay?" He replied, confused. "What is it?"

Artemis adjusted her posture, sitting straight. "Have you gotten over Annabeth? Or do you still have the same feelings that you had previously?"

Now that, that was a tricky question.

"I..." Percy started. "Look, it's not holding me back, I can assure you that."

"I know, but I'm not asking this just because of me and our relationship, but because of you as well. I can't have you still filled with regret for half a decade, can I?"

Percy chuckled, looking down. "I suppose not. But I'm getting around it."

"You do know you don't need to do it alone, right?"

"You mean something like therapy?" The demigod asked.

"You are a war veteran." Artemis stated. "And someone with a troubled childhood and adolescence. Even without what happened to Annabeth-"

"Yeah, I get it." Percy interrupted. "But I can't vent to a normal therapist, you know."

"We can get around to that when we land." Artemis said firmly, not leaving room for debate. But it was the last word that rang a bell in his head.

"Wait, land?"

With that, Artemis smiled widely, grabbing something from her pocket, and revealing it to be tickets. Plane tickets.

"You didn't think we would go to Britain by boat, did you?"

"I..." Percy found himself dumbstruck. "We could still use Mrs. O'Leary."

"Too risky."

"Blackjack, then?"

"Too many stops. He can arrive on his own later."

"But-" She placed a finger over his mouth, silencing him.

"But nothing." Artemis leaned towards him. "We are taking an airplane, and that's final. Father will not blast it out of the sky, not with myself inside of it."

"Comforting." Percy begrudgingly conceded, trying hard not to get lost in Artemis's scent. "When are we leaving?"

"Scheduled for 7 AM, tomorrow at the John F. Kennedy Airport." She read the information on the ticked out loud.

Percy inspected the surroundings for a clock, but found his fortune to be short. "What time is it?"

To his shock, Artemis pulled another unexpected object from her pocket. A cellphone.

"10:41. We still have time for a meal and then sleep." She answered with a smile.

Percy sighed. "Yeah, I suppose I can have dinner."

Waking up in the middle of the night wasn't good anymore, which was a tragedy to Artemis for a multitude of reasons. She felt ill, her joints ached, and her muscles screamed for her to return to sleep. But of course, she couldn't do it, since she had a seven-hour flight to take.

Most painful of all was having to wake up the drooling figure of Percy, peacefully sleeping beside her in the double bed that for some reason Apollo possessed. It was wild to think she slept with someone – not in the other sense, of course! - but it was something Artemis would have to adapt. The bare minimum, one could argue.

"Percy..." She called, shaking him slightly. He groaned in a way that was adorable to the former goddess, but it didn't deter her from trying to wake him up. "It's time to get ready."

"Already?" He groggily spoke, noticing the darkness outside.

"Yes, but do not feel alone in your despair." She said while caressing his hair. "I am just as upset as you are for being awakened so early."

"Okay." Slowly, he sat on the bed, stretching his arms with a yawn. "Poseidon's underpants, I'm getting soft."

"You'll get better eventually. Now go shower first, I am going to prepare some breakfast for us."

Percy nodded. "Alright. See you soon." Sharing a brief peck, they both walked away from the bedroom, him towards the bathroom and her towards the kitchen. This sense of normality was...

Well, it was weird. It didn't seem to suit Artemis too well, but at the same time, it was so comforting. Perhaps all she needed was time to adapt, but she was taking it well. Too well, even. As Artemis fried the bacon, all she thought about was the way Percy and her made out yesterday. What was that? That wasn't like her at all! Those moments could only be described as... intense. Yes. Yes!

It felt like she had resolved a puzzle, but soon the wave of thoughts return. That level of intensity wasn't like Artemis, instead, it fitted Diana more. Like Apollo, there wasn't too much separating her Roman and Greek personalities, although noticeably less than her brother. Regardless, Diana and Artemis were similar, with the former being, as she remembered earlier, more intense, and the latter more composed, less prone to an outburst and violence.

Diana hadn't met Percy, but she had liked him. More than Artemis was willing to tolerate. Two different minds, after all. But now? They were undoubtedly together, if that wild kiss showed anything, was that they were both united now.

And as she placed the plates on the table, a thought lingered in her mind. What was she now? She wasn't simply Artemis, that was clear, but the Greek aspect had always been more dominant in her, even now. She wasn't Diana. Not at all.

In the end, she had to settle for something.

"Hey." Percy appeared, already wearing the clothes he would use during travel. His dark jacket and pants – now perfectly washed and usable – along with a navy-blue t-shirt. "What's with that face?"

"Huh?" Just now she noticed that she had been grimacing. "Things in my head."

"Care to share?" Percy asked with concern, sitting at the table.

She sighed. "I don't know who I am, and my mind is making this a bigger deal than it actually is."

"You mean... Your personalities?"

"That makes it sound like I have a mental illness." She stated.

"Alright, sorry." Percy apologized as he munched on his eggs. "Did you... I don't know, inherit something from both sides?"

"Quite." She sat on her chair. "Why is this making me have an existential crisis?"

"We all need to have an identity. And you have one as a mortal. Lydia, you know."

She looked up, facing her now boyfriend directly. "Do you think it could work?"

Percy hummed. "It could work. The name is there for a reason."

"Alright," Lydia said, starting to feel a bit more relieved. "It's a process, right?"

"Of course." He agreed. "And you need to trust in it."

The rest of the... morning? Late evening? Whatever it was, it went by without much hiccups. Lydia took a shower and got ready, wearing a hoodie of all things, along with dark grey jeans. At 5:20, they were both ready and waiting for the Uber Driver.

"You look stunning." Percy flatteringly said.

"You'd think that even if I was wearing a plastic bag." She stated, but still smiling at the compliment. The drive to the airport was uneventful, with both staying in silence, and through the boarding as well. The silence was enough to please the former goddess, but she found herself holding onto Percy's hand every time she could. Now seated alongside each other, Lydia squeeze in his hand to comfort her boyfriend, for very good reason too.

"Are you sure he isn't going to blast the plane out of the sky?" Percy asked, nervously looking around like Zeus would show up with the master bolt in hand.

"He's not," Lydia stated, kissing him on the cheek. "You can calm down."

Notably, Percy did look less nervous. "Just because you asked nicely."

She smiled. A smile was easy to muster.

"How are you feeling?" Lydia, Artemis, Diana, whoever she was or chose to be, asked.

Percy looked straight into her eyes, facing her with those irises that made her throw everything away for a chance at happiness.

"Apart from the potential for being obliterated, I'm beyond happy, for the first time in a long while. You?"

And just as the plane started moving on its way to take off from the ground, only one word resonated inside her mind, something that truly defined her entire being at the present.

"Hopeful. I feel hopeful."

If you feel like there are loose ends to the story and unresolved problems... don't worry, I am aware. Again, come back tomorrow, then you will be enlightened. Trust me, I have not forgotten anything.