Vacations were unheard of for the hunters, though I wished it had stayed that way. Despite my protests, Lady Artemis had insisted. My head wasn't in it, I was… struggling. Barely two weeks ago, Piper had died. We'd never been especially close, not even after Jason died. I'd never blamed her for it but I'd also never gone to any effort to talk to her afterwards. We had always been more of close acquaintances or friends of friends, a situation I was fine with. What made it difficult was that Piper was the last half-blood from my time. She had lived a long life but, finally, she had died and it felt like my last connection to the mortal realm had been severed.

It was the anniversary of Percy and Annabeth's deaths too. Jason's was coming up and Luke's at the end of the summer. There were so many more: Zoe, Bianca, Grover, Sally, Nico, but it was so exhausting keeping track of the ones I could keep track of, never mind adding more.

My feet carried me absently down the street. A lot had changed in my time in the Hunt and yet so much stayed the same. Some cars had no drivers and most were electric.

I rolled my eyes as another middle aged man revved his red supercar, despite being stuck in the middle of a traffic jam. Some things never changed, mid-life crises being one of them.

I pushed open the door to a coffee shop and the bell rang. If I had to go on vacation, I had to do something to get my mind off of everything. At least until I could convince Artemis that I was ok to rejoin the Hunt.

I froze as I scanned the shop, my eyes immediately landing on a boy in line. He looked about 19 years old with messy, raven black hair. It could have been a coincidence but, as soon as he turned round, I could not mistake those sea green eyes or that carefree grin for anyone else as Percy Jackson's face looked right at me. He looked at me with a slight frown as I felt the blood drain from my face. It was him. For the first time in 60 years, I saw him again. Older than I'd ever seen him when he was alive but it was still him.

He walked up to me. "Everything alright? You look a little sick."

I nodded, unsurely. "Y- yeah. You just, you look like someone I know- knew."

He looked at me, sadly. "I- I'm sorry to hear that. Did he-"

I nodded. "He's dead. It's- it's the anniversary, this week."

He looked a little apprehensive. "Do you have someone to spend the day with? I can't imagine being alone when having to deal with something like that."

I shook my head, feeling the sadness of the loss well up fresh in my heart.

He gave me a sympathetic look. "Do you want to sit with me then?"

I nodded. "I would appreciate that."

We got back in line, together this time, and I began examining the pastries in the display.

"What was he like?" Percy asked.

I hesitated. "He was oblivious as Ha- as hell. Goofy at times but also the smartest person alive when it really mattered."

Percy nodded. "Wish I had that. I just got the stupid."

"No way," I argued. I'd had enough of Percy's self-deprecation in his first lifetime, I would not let it stand this time. "You knew I needed help, you knew I needed someone to keep me company. In just the few minutes I've known you, you've shown more emotional intelligence than most men I've known." I tried to keep my tone level and avoid suspicion but I couldn't stop myself from getting heated.

Percy laughed. "Wow. Well, I accept the compliment because I'm scared of what you'll do if I don't." He paused as we took another step forward in the queue. "Do you want to tell me more about him? What was he to you?"
I sighed. "He was my cousin. That boy," I laughed as I thought back. "Loyal to a fault. He was sassy even when it very well should have got him killed but it didn't because-" I shrugged, laughing. "-I dunno, because he's Percy?"

Percy's eyes widened and I silently cursed myself for slipping up. "His name is Percy?"
I nodded. "Yeah."

He laughed. "My name is Percy. How spooky."

"Spooky, yeah."

He seemed to notice my less than enthusiastic response and sobered up. "Sorry. He sounds like a great guy."

A tiny smile appeared on my face. "He was."

We both went silent for a beat as the line moved forward another spot.

"What brings you here, then?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

He shrugged. "I dunno. It's not the closest coffee shop, I had to travel, like, two hours to get here. Certainly not the best coffee."

We reached the front of the line and my heart very nearly stopped as we saw the cashier, about the same age as Percy. Her blonde hair and stormy grey eyes were utterly unmistakeable. I'd known Annabeth for a lot longer than I'd known Percy, after all.

Percy gave me a concerned look. "Hey, you ok?"
I nodded, dumbly. Did the Fates have it out for me? Out of all the coffee shops I could have walked into at any of the times, it just so happened to line up with both of them.

Annabeth smiled at us. "What can I get you-" Her smile faltered slightly as she looked at me, realising I was with Percy. "-two?"

Percy turned back to her with a goofy grin that took me back decades to when I'd first met him. "I'd like a cold brew coffee and she will take…" He waited for me to fill him in but I was still too floored, staring at the two faces in front of me, looking as though no time at all had passed. "She will take a cappuccino."

Annabeth nodded. "Absolutely." She smiled as she wrote down the order and took Percy's money. "On the way."

I noticed Percy swiping a couple of sugar packets as he and I walked to a two-seater table at the back of the store where we wouldn't get many people over-hearing us.

We were both silent for a while, unsure of what to say. Annabeth called our orders and Percy stood and brought them back for me. He'd also grabbed a chocolate chip muffin while he was at it.

I took the cup and took a cautious sip. It was exactly how I used to like it before I'd become immortal, though I hadn't had it like that in a long time. "Thank you."

He grinned, sheepishly. "I hope I got it right."

I closed my eyes as I took another slow sip, allowing the memories to flood back. "It's perfect, thank you. I'm Thalia, by the way."

He nodded, looking at me carefully. "I am not surprised."

I barked out in laughter as I let out a yelp of protest. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

He laughed as he shrugged. "I have no idea. I couldn't have guessed it but, as soon as you told me, I just thought, 'yep! That fits!'"

My laughter died down. "You remind me a lot of him," I said, cautiously, unsure if I should even mention this to him. He tilted his head, his eyes furrowing in confusion. The expression sent my gut twisting, being a look that was almost synonymous with Percy himself. "Obviously, there's your looks. But your behaviour as well. Same kindness, gentleness, obliviousness."
Percy smirked slightly. "You could say.. that we have the same… Percy-nality."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing at that, no matter how much I wanted to. "Same gods-awful sense of humour." If he'd noticed the plural, he didn't mention it. I sighed, taking another sip of coffee. My eyes drifted around and I saw Annabeth glaring at us. Percy seemed to notice too and the smile disappeared from his face.

Percy pushed the muffin towards me and I began to pull away the case. "If- if you don't mind me asking," he muttered, a little nervously. "How did he die?"

I paused. "Yeah, yeah you can ask." I didn't answer him immediately. How could I explain? He was mortal now, he couldn't understand half of the context to what he had done at the end of his last life. But I felt like I had to talk to him about it. I didn't know why but I had to talk to him. "He- uhh. We." I sighed. "It's- it's hard to explain."

"It's alright," he assured. "Take your time."

"He had a girlfriend-" I froze, my hands flying to my mouth. "Oh my gods, they never had the chance to get married!"

Percy just watched me, sadly, as I pulled myself together.

I cleared my throat. "A- anyway. When I said he was loyal, I meant it. This boy would sacrifice the world to save one person."
Percy nodded, as though he could identify with the sentiment.

I shook my head. "Gods, that boy sacrificed so much." After a moment of careful thought, I spoke again. "We got into this… fight. These bad people attacked us. They kept attacking us again and again, they really had it out for our parents."
Percy frowned. "Why? Who were they?"

I almost laughed. "To be honest, who didn't have it out for our parents? They weren't the… nicest of people." I paused as I pulled away a small piece of the muffin and chewed it slowly. "Anyway, one day we were fighting these people when something went wrong." I hesitated. How could I describe what happened? "They- tried to stab one of us, this kid called Grover. Percy saw the blade before anyone else and threw Grover out the way. Then, An- Percy's girlfriend attacked the guy who'd stabbed him. She killed him but not before taking a few slashes to the stomach herself." Thalia knew that the blade and wounds the mortal Percy was probably imagining would not even be close to what happened, the amount of damage Annabeth fought through to avenge him, nor the immense pain wrought from the poison: gorgon's blood. "They both died at the scene."

Percy nodded, sadly. "That- sounds awful. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. That girl was brave though."

I took another small bite of the muffin. "She was amazing. If she hadn't killed that guy, he would have tried to work his way through the rest of us. Those two saved us more times than I can count."

Percy sipped his drink slowly. "I can't imagine doing something like that. I mean, I love my family and friends and I would do anything for them. But I can't imagine doing that."

I almost laughed. "I couldn't either before I did. None of us could. You don't know what you're capable of until you're forced to do it." I looked him dead in the eyes. "I hope you never have to learn what you are capable of."

Percy nodded slowly, hearing how serious I was. "I hope so too."

We fell into silence as I finished the muffin, chewing it slowly and taking small bites.

Looking up, I saw Percy's eyes drifting over to where Annabeth was working on the counter. "You come here often?" I asked.

"Huh?" he asked, not looking away. "Oh, yeah."

I smirked. "But you don't like the coffee," I stated.

He looked at the coffee in his hands. "Oh, yeah. It's not the best."

"I think I know why you come here."
His eyes snapped up to meet mine. "What?"

I smiled. Still the same oblivious kid. "Cause of her, Kelp Head!" I laughed.

He blushed deeply. "Wha- no. She's just- Kelp Head?"

I shook my head, silently cursing myself again for my slip up. "Cause you're oblivious. You clearly like her."

He went to protest but stopped. "She doesn't like me back though. She absolutely hates me."

I giggled again. "Did you not see how she smiled when she saw you? Or that jealous look she gave me when she realised we came in together?" He hesitated and I took another drink.

He shook his head. "She thinks I'm an idiot. I mean, she's not wrong. But she always gets so annoyed at me."

I nodded as an idea dawned on me. A cheeky grin worked its way onto my face. I'd sworn off romance but, maybe, I could do a little interfering here and there. "Give me one second."

As I stood, Percy's eyes widened as he went to stop me. "What are you doing?"

"Helping."

I walked to the counter where Annabeth was sipping from her water bottle. "Not trying your coffee? Surely it's free for staff?"

She scowled slightly as she looked at me. "Not a fan of coffee," she answered sharply.

I raised my eyebrow. "Not a fan of coffee or not a fan of this coffee?" She didn't answer, turning away and wiping down the counter. "Cause my friend over there isn't a fan of the coffee here either but he always makes the trip anyway. Maybe you two could find a coffee shop with some nicer drinks a little closer to home?"

Annabeth shot round and frowned at me. "What?" She looked over to where Percy was just staring at us, helplessly. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," I started as I leaned against the counter. "That Percy goes far out of his way to come here but it's not for the coffee." I winked at her and smirked triumphantly as she blushed. "I'll let you two work out the finer details."

I walked back to the table, picking up my coffee. "You're welcome."

"What did you do?" Percy asked, standing to face me.

"I just got you a date, Kelp Head." I took some money out of my pocket and put it on the table. "For the coffee. Thank you, Percy. Seriously. You have no idea how much that helped me." I downed the rest of the coffee, relishing in the memories it brought back one final time.

He nodded. "No problem, Thalia." He looked over my shoulder and I spun round to see Annabeth approaching with a smile on her face. "Thank you, too."

"You're welcome, Perc'." I couldn't hide the grin as I began to walk away with my coffee, pausing to smile at Annabeth. "Good luck, Wise Girl. He's a bit oblivious at times."
She laughed. "Don't I know it."

As I walked out of the coffee shop, I looked back at my two friends already chatting excitedly as though they'd known each other since they were twelve. I smiled at how happy they already were and, as the door swung closed behind me, I felt lighter than I had in decades, perhaps since I first lost them. Because they weren't gone.
I'd miss them, sure. But they were happy. And pushing them towards that may just have helped.