Chapter 22

The sun was high in the sky, its light pouring down on the hill where Thalia's pine stood tall against the bright blue backdrop. The day was warm, with only the occasional breeze stirring the air and rustling the needles of the pine tree overhead. Thalia and I had been spending every second together since we got back to camp a week ago. She brought up the idea of sitting under her pine, away from the activity of camp to spend some time together alone.

As Thalia and I reached the top of the hill, I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm settle over me. This place, with its wide view of the camp below, had always felt special—like it was outside of time, untouched by everything we had been through. But now, standing here with Thalia beside me, it felt different—more personal.

We sat down beneath the shade of the pine, the soft grass beneath us warm from the sun. Thalia leaned back against the tree, and I settled in close beside her, our shoulders pressed up against each other. The quiet enveloped us, a peaceful kind of silence that didn't need filling. Just being here together, under the bright sky, felt right. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting gentle patterns on the ground around us.

Thalia shifted slightly, resting her head against the trunk. "You know," she said, a teasing smile playing at her lips, "for a place with so many monsters and life-threatening quests, this camp sure knows how to have a peaceful moment."

I chuckled, glancing sideways at her. "It's all about balance. Go on life-threatening adventures one day, relax under a tree the next."

She nudged me with her elbow, her smile widening. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Only when you're around," I replied, the words slipping out before I could think twice.

Thalia turned her head to look at me, her electric blue eyes bright in the sunlight. "Careful, Percy. You're starting to sound sentimental."

I grinned, leaning back on my hands. "Hey, I can be sentimental when the moment calls for it. Besides, I'm still enjoying the fact that we can spend time together without something trying to kill us."

She laughed softly, her fingers brushing against mine as she reached out. "Yeah," she said, her voice quieter now, but still light. "I guess we've earned it."

A gentle quiet wrapped around us, and I felt Thalia's fingers begin to trace lightly over my hand. Neither of us rushed to fill the silence. The peacefulness of the moment seemed to stretch on, a welcome contrast to the chaos we had experienced just a week ago.

After a while, Thalia's reflective voice broke the stillness. "This where we first met."

I glanced over, watching her as she gazed up at the pine tree. "Yeah," I said softly. "I remember."

Her fingers continued tracing mine, the movement slow and deliberate, as if she were grounding herself in the moment. "It's also where I fell in love with you."

The quiet that followed was meaningful. Thalia wasn't someone who usually let herself be vulnerable, but now, here, it felt natural. She was letting her guard down, not because she had to, but because we trusted each other. Because we loved each other. And somehow, that made everything feel right.

I squeezed her hand gently, unsure of how to respond. "I didn't know," I admitted, my voice softer than I intended. "I had no idea."

Thalia let out a quiet laugh, but there was no sarcasm in it—just warmth. "Of course, you didn't," she teased lightly. "You're Percy Jackson. Oblivious as ever."

I smiled, shaking my head slightly. "Guess I'm lucky you held out long enough for me to figure it out."

Thalia's smile widened, her eyes glinting with that familiar spark. "Yeah, well, I'm stubborn like that," she said, her voice soft but teasing. Then, her expression shifted slightly, more serious, though no less warm. "It took me a long time to get here, Percy. I fought it for years, trying to convince myself it didn't matter. But… I was so wrong."

I looked at her, the weight of her words settling between us. "And you don't regret leaving the Hunters for me?"

She shook her head gently, her voice soft but steady. "Not even a little. I love you, Percy, and I choose you. Over everything. That's not going to change."

I squeezed her hand, the warmth of her touch grounding me. "I love you, too, Thalia. And I'm choosing you, now and always."

Her smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Good. Because I'd hate to have to kick your butt if you changed your mind."

I chuckled, leaning in just a little closer. "No chance of that."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the breeze rustling the pine needles above us. I shifted slightly, turning to face her more fully, our hands still loosely intertwined.

"You know," I continued, a small smile tugging at my lips, "this is also where we first opened up to each other, too. That day when we finally stopped pretending everything was fine."

Thalia tilted her head slightly, studying my face with a quiet intensity. Her electric blue eyes seemed to search for something beneath the surface. "Feels like forever ago. You've changed a lot since then," she said softly, her voice thoughtful.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Yeah? How so?"

She tilted her head, studying me. "Back when I first saw you at camp this time, you looked like you were barely keeping it together. Like there was this weight on you that just wouldn't go away."

I nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "Yeah... I guess I was. Things were a mess."

Thalia's fingers traced over my hand again, more gently now, her voice softening. "But now, when I look at you... I don't see that anymore. You're different, Percy. Lighter. Happier." Her eyes flickered with something warm, a smile playing at the edges of her lips. "It's been incredible to see you like this."

Hearing that from her hit me in a way I hadn't expected. I squeezed her hand gently, my heart full. "It's because of you," I said, my voice low but steady. "You helped me get here."

Thalia's smile deepened, and she looked at me with an intensity that was both tender and unwavering. "Well, I guess that makes two of us," she said softly, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "I'm just so glad I chose to come to camp when I did. It changed everything."

I blinked, the realization dawning on me as I turned to her, narrowing my eyes with a playful grin. "Wait a second… So what was the real reason you came to camp? You're telling me it wasn't just because the Hunters needed a break?"

Thalia's smirk widened, and there was a mischievous glint in her electric blue eyes as she leaned in slightly. "Took you long enough to figure it out, Percy."

She paused for a beat, then, with a soft yet teasing tone, added, "I came to see you, Percy. That's the real reason."

Her confession settled between us, and I couldn't help but smile, warmth spreading through me. "So you came all the way just to see me?" I teased lightly, though the emotion in my chest was real.

Thalia rolled her eyes, but her smile was unmistakable. "Don't push it."

I laughed softly, leaning closer. "I'm not pushing anything."

Thalia shrugged, her fingers tracing mine again. "I wanted to come for a long time. But I kept telling myself it wasn't a good idea. I kept fighting it." She glanced up at me, her smile turning softer. "Eventually, I couldn't take it any longer."

"One of the best things I ever did." She looked up at me with a warm smile. "I'm glad I did."

I smiled at her, feeling the warmth of her words settle between us. The breeze stirred the pine needles above, and for a moment, everything around us seemed to still.

We leaned in slightly, our foreheads almost touching. The space between us felt natural, comfortable. Thalia's fingers traced lazy patterns along my hand, her touch grounding me.

"I'm glad you did too," I said quietly, my voice barely breaking the peaceful quiet that surrounded us.

She smiled, soft and real, not the teasing smirk she usually wore. It was just her, open and unguarded. Her blue eyes met mine, and in the stillness, there was nothing left to say. We'd been through so much, but now... now it was simple.

I reached out, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, and she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into the touch, her hand resting on mine for a moment, like it had always been meant to be there.

Slowly, I leaned in, closing the space between us, and our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was slow, deliberate—like we were savoring the moment, taking our time to let it sink in. Her hand found its way to the back of my neck, pulling me just a little closer, and I felt the warmth of her body against mine. The kiss deepened, but it wasn't rushed. It was filled with everything we hadn't said but always felt.

When we finally pulled back, we stayed close, foreheads resting together. I could still feel her breath against my lips, and she let out a soft laugh, her fingers brushing against my cheek.

"I guess we finally figured it out," she whispered, her voice soft and full of warmth.

I smiled, my heart full in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. "Yeah... I think we did."

For a moment, we just sat there, wrapped in the peaceful quiet, the sun warm on our skin and the world around us still. The chaos, the battles, the uncertainty—it all felt like a distant memory now. Here, with Thalia beside me, everything just made sense.

I glanced over at her, watching the way the sunlight danced in her eyes, and I couldn't help but feel like this was exactly where we were meant to be.

"Together," I said quietly, squeezing her hand, the future stretched out before us.

"Together."

The End