I turned around. Aloisyus was still standing behind me, looking wide-eyed. I stepped back, took his hand, and looked at my father again.
'Thank you,' I forced out of my mouth. I wasn't sure whether to be grateful. It was all just a bit too much.
We receded down the steps, and I didn't look back.
~
All the way to Camp Half-Blood, we didn't talk. I had no idea what to say, and apparently, neither did Aloisyus. Besides, I had enough to think about.
I was now officially a goddess.
Goddess of Arts and Sciences.
It was quite a lot to wrap my head around. I knew I was a goddess, if only for a few days, but this felt... Final. Like there was no going back.
Maybe there wasn't.

At Camp Half-Blood, there was no one there to receive us at the Big House. No one had expected us to return, apparently.
It only took me an instant to know where they were. It was the same as with the Hydra, I just knew. The same way I could hear all the birds singing in the forest, feel the power radiating from the Golden Fleece, that the dining horn had rang 7 minutes ago, and pretty much everything else in the near vicinity.
It was very confusing.
Aloisyus trotted alongside me wordlessly, though still holding my hand. I squeezed it in reassurance, remembering him doing the same thing not very long ago.
The whole dining hall silenced when we walked in, all eyes turned towards us. Chiron smiled at me, and announced to everyone,
'All hail Anne, Goddess of Arts and Sciences.'
Everyone lowered their heads, and I felt myself fluster.
'You, um, don't have to, do that,' I said, looking around hesitantly. I walked towards the Poseidon table, Aloisyus close behind me. It did not take long for the murmur to start up again after I sat down.
Percy was looking at me with a mixture of pride and... Jealousy?
'Well done, sis.' He said.
'Um, thanks.' I looked at the empty plate in front of me and suddenly realized that I would have to eat the food of the gods.
I wasn't really hungry anyway.
Aloisyus had sat down next to me and was chatting away with Tyson, Percy's cyclops half brother(long story). He seemed at ease, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He was still worried about it.
It.
I had made a decision about that too, but I waited until he was finished eating to tell him.
'Aloisyus, could we, um, talk? On the beach?'
He nodded, suddenly looking severe again.
I felt some eyes follow us as we left the dining pavilion, but everyone kept talking.
On the beach, I could barely hear them anymore. I sat down, suddenly nervous.
All this time, Aloisyus had been the strong one, with me blubbering all over him. The little surge of strength that I had had left me again, leaving me scared and insecure.
But one thing I knew.
I really was in love with him.
And it was time to tell him.
'I, um, thought about what you said, in New York. About me only knowing you - properly - for three days, and I began doubting if I really was in love with you,' he nodded,
'and on Olympus, when you were standing behind me, I thought... I couldn't bear to lose you. You gave me the strength to talk, to argue -argue!- with one of the gods, and I-I realized that I am in love with you. It doesn't matter if it was only three days, maybe I was in love with you before that, but it doesn't matter, I am now.'
I took a deep breath. I'd been rambling, and he hadn't said a word. I was afraid to look up to him, and kept on staring at my hands.

I was still looking at them when he slid one of his hands into mine and used the other one to lift my chin.

'I am in love with you too. Still am, and will be for a while.' I half laughed, half cried in relief, and when he kissed me, I could taste tears on my lips.

In that moment, however, I was happy.

Notes

Oooookay. That one was really cheesy, I hope not too much. I didn't really get any answers on whether to write some chapters from Aloisyus' POV, but I'm not sure if I want to it anyway:P
If I do, I'm doing it, if you'll read it or not.

This might very well be the last chapter, but maybe I'll do a bonus chapter about Anne learning about her powers.

Had a bit of trouble using enter with this one, so sorry for the annoying layout.

Anyways,
Bye(for now)

Jente