Percy's POV (recap)

"I'm cured," I breathed, blissfully breathless. "I'm cured."

(Several weeks later)

Central Park was once again enveloped by the serenity of night. Crickets chirped around Annabeth and I as we strolled down the pathway, relaxed and at ease.

There had been no sign of Lycaon or his old pack in the few months that had passed. I, in a moment of courage and brilliance, had whisked Annabeth away on another date night to replace the memory of our last one. And hopefully, if this night went right, it would create a new memory that we would cherish forever.

Carefully, keeping an eye on all my surroundings just in case, I led Annabeth over to a park bench illuminated by the glow of the full moon overhead. She gave me a look out of the corner of her eye before complying, tucking her midnight blue dress under her legs as she perched delicately on the cool faux-wood.

"Percy-" She started, but I interrupted.

"Annabeth, I know I wasn't the best boyfriend for a while there-"

"I told you, I've already forgiven you!"

I gave her a small smile, continuing to talk. "-And I want to make it up to you."

Annabeth closed her mouth, her lips pursed as she waited with anticipation for what I would say.

"Annabeth," I said, "it took me a while to admit it to myself and everyone else, but I think I've loved you since I saw you. You're beautiful, smart, and you've never been fooled by my charming good looks." She raised her eyebrow at this, but didn't interrupt. I smiled. "I said some things I regret, lately, and I do regret it with my whole heart."

Annabeth sighed, about to tell me I was forgiven (again) but I talked over whatever words she had started to say.

"Yes, I know I'm forgiven, but that doesn't stop me from feeling terrible about it. Annabeth Chase, I want to love you for the rest of my life. I'm never going to stop loving you."

"Oh, Percy, I'll never stop loving you, either." Annabeth leaned in to kiss me, her eyes slipping closed. Though I desperately wanted to accept the kiss, I placed a finger to her delicate lips.

Whispering, I said, "Annabeth, wait." She pulled away to stare at me with curious confusion.
Carefully, I stood up in front of my beautiful girlfriend. Her chin was tilted upwards, her brow crumpled. The moonlight caught on her long, flowing hair, making her look like an angel sent down from heaven.

Gods, I hope this works... I prayed.

"I don't want to lose you ever again, Annabeth Chase," I said. Slowly, deliberately, I knelt down on one knee and retrieved a small velvet box from my trouser pocket. Annabeth's eyes were watering, her strong fingers with the nails painted a peachy color covering her glossed lips.

"Annabeth Chase, will you do me the honor of marrying me?" I whispered, hardly daring to hope she'd say yes.

For a long moment, she just stared at me, refusing to let the tears drip from her eyes. Her fingers were shaking ever so slightly as she hide her mouth.

Finally, she murmured, "Yes." Then, louder, she said, "Yes! Oh, Percy, yes!"

I leaped up, sweeping her into my arms as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. Breathing in deeply, relief coursing through my body, I planted a kiss onto her collar bone.

After a moment, we pulled apart. I snuck a kiss on her lips, just a quick one, before she pulled away again.

Smirking at me with an eyebrow slightly raised, Annabeth asked, "Did you think I would say no?"

I laughed, faintly red. "You never make things easy for me."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, a smile still on her face as she refused to dignify that with a response. Wrapping her arms around me, Annabeth placed her hands on the back of my head and pulled me into her. We embraced, our lips locking together, and we didn't part until we had both run out of air.

"This'll be a new beginning for us," I promised the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on.
"I promise."

Three months later, and Annabeth and I had started to plan our wedding. I was sitting in my cabin, picking out some details, while Annabeth was out looking for a dress.

Suddenly, a sea-salt breeze swept through the small space.

"Hey Dad," I greeted the Hawaiian-shirt-wearing god. I smiled. "What're you doing here?"

The old sea god shrugged. "Olympus and Atlantis were both in an uproar over what happened to you so long ago. It took me forever trying to sort everything out, but I finally managed. I just wanted to talk to you."

"What'd you want to talk about?" I asked, brow furrowing.

Poseidon stared at me for a moment, dissecting my every movement. Without a hint, he suddenly said, "I'm proud of you, son."

"Proud of me?" I asked, the sentiment not computing. "For what?"

"For going through everything you've been through and still being a good person."

I stared at him for a moment. Finally, with a small smile on my face, I said, "Thanks Dad."

Poseidon smiled back at me before clearing his throat obnoxiously. "Well, also, I wanted to tell you some things."

The frown materialized back on my face. "What kinds of things?" Can you blame me for assuming the worst? For all I knew, Atlantis was under attack and my dad wanted me to become his immortal general. Worst and weirder things have happened.

He immediately knew what I was worried about, though. "No, no!" He was quick to assure. "Nothing big. It's not even bad, I don't think. At least, I don't think it's bad. You might, because you demigods can be weird like that."

"What is it?" I couldn't seem to hide the suspicion in my voice. The gods had never quite understood the difference between good and bad, though my dad was better than some. (Cough cough Zeus.)

Poseidon rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "How do I put this without sounding like a creepy stalker...?"

"If you're asking that question, Dad, I can pretty much guarantee that there's no way not to sound like a creepy stalker."

He laughed. "And that's why you're my favorite mortal son!"

I waited with a grin on my face for him to continue.

"I, uh, overheard your prayer to Aphrodite before you had proposed to Annabeth." I must've been making a face, because he was quick to say, "I was over at her temple at a party and she squealed so loudly when she got it!" I gestured for him to continue, not really buying the phony lie.

The sea god pursed his lips before saying, "I know Athena and I have gotten gotten along about your relationship..."

I groaned. "Dad, you're not telling me to break up with her, are you? Because we're engaged now and I love her and-"

"No, no!" Poseidon cut in hastily. "No, nothing like that! I love Annabeth, in a father-in-law way. She keeps you out of trouble." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "That's kinda what I was trying to tell you. Athena and I both recognize that without Annabeth, you might not be here."

"That's a bit of an understatement," I muttered.

My dad wisely ignored me. (I guess Athena is rubbing off on him after all.) "She's proven to be loyal, brave, wise, and many other qualities that I personally hold dear. Therefore, I have decided to grant her a gift."

Still wary of this sudden gift, I eyed my dad cautiously. "And what would that be? It's not like the gift Aphrodite tried to give me when she found out that Annabeth and I got together, is it? Because if it is, Dad, I have to say that I'm so not into that."

The god of the sea looked confused and mildly concerned. "What? I have no idea what that love goddess was trying to give you, but I think I can guarantee that it isn't like that."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Good." After a beat, I said, "So what is it?"

Trying to build up a dramatic flair like his younger brother, my dad gestured grandly and said,

"I have blessed the lovely Annabeth Chase with... Drum roll, please."

I rolled my eyes fondly at his antics, slapping the ladder to the bunk bed as some weak kind of drum roll.

Poseidon snorted. "You call that a drum roll? It will have to do. I have blessed Annabeth with the ability to travel to Atlantis!"

I stared at my dad in shock. "Really?" I couldn't believe it.

A nervous frown settled on Poseidon's face when he saw my lack of reaction. "What? Is it a bad gift? I thought it would be-"

Suddenly, I stepped forwards and threw my arms around the sea god. "It's perfect, Dad! She's always wanted to go! She's going to be so excited when I tell her! Oh, she won't shut up about your architecture now."

I felt Poseidon shake as he laughed. "Well, then you're both welcome. And your friend, the Lord of the Wild?"

I pulled away to look at him. "Grover. What about him?"

Poseidon had a smile on his face as he said, "I think it's high time the Lord of the Wild was able to visit the marine wild."

"Thanks Dad!" I threw my arms around him again in an over-excited man-hug. "Oh, everyone is going to be so excited! You're the best dad ever."

The king of the sea grinned widely. "I'm proud of you, Percy. No other demigod could've done what you've managed to accomplish."

The argument that I hadn't done it alone died on my tongue. I couldn't bring myself to ruin this moment.

It was a new beginning, for all of us. Soon, Annabeth and I would be married. Maybe we would even be able to have kids someday. Dad gave us the best gift ever, the ability to go to his kingdom whenever we wanted. Annabeth would love it. And now, we could even take Grover with us. I owed them enough to do that for them. It's a new beginning. The winds of change have finally come.

The End

Notes

This is the final chapter guys!! I hope everyone enjoyed it. :) Check me out on fanfiction.net (same username: Izzybella12) for my other works! Thank you!! :)