(Annabeth POV)
"Annabeth! The car is ready, and they're waiting for you!" Carl called out. He is one of the newer campers, arriving at camp after the wars, and according to Malcolm, a good candidate for the councilor position when his time at camp is done. I have stepped down from any leadership role in the cabin and at camp since I learned of Calypso moving in with Percy. And I have been preparing for my own move as well. A move and change that is a long time coming. "Got it! Thanks for letting me know!" I shouted back. I took one last look at the mirror, liking what I was seeing. It was no longer the sullen, withdrawn woman who looked back. Instead, a determined woman stared at me, eyes filled with drive and will. The old me was staring back at me as I stared at the mirror.
I smiled and turned back, taking in my room. The head councilor's room, really, but it has been given to me to use for far too long now. I am incredibly grateful for my siblings for allowing my selfishness for as long as they have. Looking around, the room is almost empty now. Most of my stuff has been shipped off ahead of me to the place where I am going to be moving. A place where my recovery and improvement would continue. Only the bed and a few clothes remained here. And in a few more days, even those will be gone when I finally leave. I hope the next occupant of this room will be a better person than I have been.
Shaking my head, I stepped out and closed the door behind me. I went straight to the entrance of the cabin and smiled at a few of my siblings milling about. They all gave me encouraging smiles, and for that I am truly thankful. They all knew what I went through, and though they judged me harshly at the start, they still supported me in the end. And now, every single one of them has expressed their support for the next steps I am taking to better myself. And the plans I made for my future. They did warn me to never repeat what I did, and I took those warnings to heart.
"Good luck, Annabeth!"
Malcolm embraced me as he met me by the front porch before seeing me off. I began the trek to the farm road beyond Half-Blood Hill, where the car and a few other campers are waiting. I am hitching a ride to the city to meet up with Percy for a discussion. This is going to be the second time we are going to meet, just the two of us. I smiled as I reached the Pine tree at the top and greeted Peleus, who still guarded the fleece hanging on the lowest branch. I started walking down the hill and saw 2 other people waiting beside a waiting van. Mark and Connor were going into the city for a supply run and picking up a few returning demigods on the way back. They both smiled as they saw me approach, and with a nod, we got in and began the long drive to the city.
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The drive to the city was a quiet affair, broken only by the occasional comments made by Mark and a few jokes by Connor. Connor, one of my oldest friends and one who tried to get with me after what I've done. He was very different from how he used to be, calmer and a whole lot more serious. He still had that mischievous air to him, but it is now subdued with age. I still remember him being there for me after the initial shock of what I'd done had died off. He was one of the few who was there for me since the start, though he did tell me off for being an idiot, and his harsh words at the time were some of the few that stuck with me.
Then he confessed after a few years of me being a literal zombie at camp, and back then I thought of going along. Of accepting and letting this man I've known longer than even Percy give me the love that I lost. Of letting Connor take Percy's place. But the thought of Percy finding out if he returned, the idea of another man being beside me, holding my hands. Another pair of lips kissing me pushed the idea away. Both my mind and heart rejected the idea of being with someone else other than Percy, even after what I've done. And so, I rejected his advances in a respectful way. Making sure he understood that I was not ready for a relationship at the time and that I still held hope for Percy coming back. What I wished didn't come true, and it took years for Percy to even appear, but I am glad I didn't fall for the trap of getting with someone just for the heck of it.
And now, years after, Connor and I are still good friends who supported each other.
We reached the city, and they dropped me off near Central Park, where Percy and I will meet. "Thanks for the ride, guys. Be careful on your way back." I bid them farewell and watched as they drove away. I turned and entered the park, walking along the path towards the benches where Percy and I usually spent time at, back when we were still together. I thought he would have chosen a new place when I invited him to talk months ago, but he didn't. It made me happy for some reason. I hurried over, knowing there was a chance Percy was already there. After five minutes of waiting, I spotted a dark-haired man sitting on the bench I was headed to.
I knew immediately who it was. Even from the back I would recognize him. Percy Jackson, the man I loved, and the man I still love. The man I hurt and the man I still want. The man who accepted me and the one I am looking to be with. I smiled as I watched him feed a bunch of birds on the ground. He had on a soft smile, the same one he always had whenever he interacted with animals. The way he cared for those around him warmed my heart, and I once again felt guilty for ever hurting such a gentle soul like him. I approached him slowly, still feeling that same trepidation I felt when we met again, a fear in me blooming when I think about how he could, all of a sudden, go back to hating me all over again. Something that he would be justified over.
I was about to call out to him when he suddenly turned towards me. He gave me a small smile, a far cry from the ones he used to give me, but something that gives me so much hope now. When I think about how he looked the last time I saw him before he disappeared. The hateful sneer on his face as he dismissed me—this small, gentle smile was leaps and bounds better. A sign of his acceptance and his possible forgiveness, something I am praying for.
"Annabeth"
The sound of my name coming from his lips still brings the same giddy feeling for me. Like a song composed only for me, it calls to me and makes me want to run to him. But I can't, and so I did the next best thing: I came closer and sat down next to him. I kept a few inches of space between us just to be polite even though my heart longed to be near him, to touch him. I smiled back and nodded at him, happy that at least he came to meet with me at my request.
"Thanks for coming, Percy. I really appreciate it."
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(Percy POV)
"Annabeth"
I called out when I turned to her; she was standing a few steps to my right, watching me feed a bunch of birds. I saw the same longing in her eyes that I saw when we met up for the first time back at my mom's place. I saw the excitement and the hope bloom in her eyes, and I couldn't help but feel bad for her. I know what she wanted to achieve, and even though I am not actively stopping her from making her plans and working forward with the intent to get back with me. I am also not actively accepting her advances. I am, what's the word, guarded. Yes, that's it.
I am guarded and careful in my time with her. This woman whom I once held higher than even myself. This woman whom I traded forever for, this woman I gave my heart to, and the woman who shattered it in one move.
Years have gone by, and the hate and anger I felt for her are gone. But it was replaced by a guarded concern, usually given to an acquaintance one is not really close to. And while we did have history together, that unfortunately is something we can never erase. I am not too fond of starting things over with her. I did offer my help for her recovery; I did say I am doing it for my friend rather than my ex. And my friend was a great friend, and I hope we could be like that again.
She sat beside me, keeping a polite distance, and yet I could tell she wanted to be closer. I am thankful for that; to see her being considerate of me was already a step up from how she was in the past. We were quiet for a while, me not talking about anything because she was the one to call this meeting, and also I don't really have anything to tell her. I only accepted to meet her today because I am going to be in the city to restock the branch with new pieces and to meet with a new customer.
"Thanks for coming, Percy. I really appreciate it."
She said after a while, a soft smile on her face. I took a minute to study her closely. Already, after only a few months after that first meeting, she was showing a lot of improvement. Her color was better, and her eyes were more alive instead of the dull look they had before. She was still a bit thin for my liking, but she was filling up nicely, showing that she is eating better and being more active. Gone was the wallow look she had; it was replaced by a quiet drive that I could feel pulsing from her. She was determined; that was obvious, but she was also driven. And for now, that is something to be thankful for.
"The timing was right; I had something to do in the city, so I had time," I told her honestly, and I saw understanding flicker in her eyes. What it is she understood, I had no idea, and I am not going to ask. "Still, thanks; I know you didn't have to accept," she insisted, and I just nodded, knowing she is right. I stayed silent and waited for her to speak again. After another stretch of silence, she suddenly spoke up, asking me to join her on a walk around the park.
"Okay," I agreed, getting to my feet. She followed, and soon, the two of us were walking along the familiar path around the central lake of the park. It was the same path we always took when we were still together all those years ago. Walking along this path brought back memories of the past, both with her and other people. "Do you remember this place?" She suddenly asked, pointing to a patch of grass to our right. "Of course I do," I replied with a smile. My mind brought up scenes from the past. Where she is pointing, a scene of me, her, and Grover played in front of my eyes. A scene of the three of us meeting up for an afternoon of catching up. Grover had just come back from doing his duties as Lord of the Wild. I turned to her, suddenly remembering something very important.
"How is Grover?" I asked, feeling a little bit guilty. It has been years since I got news of him. Ever since I told him I was going away, I have not gotten any news about him. Even after I established my business. I admit to almost forgetting him altogether; what a lousy friend I have become. Annabeth turned to me with a guarded look, and it made me nervous. "Last I heard, he went to Mexico, a bunch of nature spirits needing his help. Though that was two years ago, I haven't heard anything from him since." Her answer didn't help the guilt I was feeling. Making up my mind, I made a plan to try to find a way to contact that goat sooner rather than later.
We continued on our walk, going past some other memorable places. Places that made me smile as well as some that made me sad. We came upon a huge maple tree. I smirked at the tree, the remains of the once mighty Hyperion, which we defeated during the battle of Manhattan. We moved on, and when we reached the end of the path, we turned around, planning on walking back the way we came. I had just taken the first step when Annabeth reached over and grabbed my arm. If this had happened before, I would have pulled back harshly, but now, her touch did nothing to me. No aversion of disgust reared up from within me; it was just like a stranger reaching for your arm to get your attention. I turned to her to see a nervousness in her eyes. She was fidgeting and looking everywhere but at me. I waited for her to say what she had on her mind, and then she did. Her words were both expected and a shock to my mind.
"I love you!"
She declared, her eyes serious and her hands clasped in front of her. "I've always loved you, ever since we were kids until now. You were always going to be the one, and I hate myself for hurting you, for lying, for letting my own hubris take over again." Her eyes shone with an intensity I knew her to be capable of, the same one she usually had for facing challenging scenarios. And I knew this was one. I stared at her as she heaved, clearly still not done. "Even after you left, I found that I could not forget you! Even after people started showing interest in me, it was still you I wanted, still you I loved." She took a cautious step towards me, maybe afraid that I would take a step back from her approach. I didn't; I let her get closer, something she didn't expect but welcomed if her expression was anything to go by.
"For years, I suffered because of the hurt I caused you. And for years, I dreamed of meeting you again, even if just to apologize and say that I am very sorry for what I've done." Tears started to fall from her eyes as she looked up at me; she made to grab my hand, and again, I let her. I felt the familiar warmth and feel of her hand against mine. A feeling that I wished for when I was younger; now it was happening again, and all it felt like for me was familiar. My heart didn't beat faster, and it didn't move me in any way. How long would it stay like that? I didn't know, but I am not rushing to find out.
"When I heard about you from Malcolm, I thought it was a sign from the Fates—a sign that we could meet again, and I guess I was right about that. We did meet, but not in the way I thought it would." She continued as people walked past us, looking at us curiously. Maybe wondering what is happening between us two. We both ignored all those around us, our attention solely on each other. "Learning that you are with someone else didn't come as a surprise, to be honest." She continued, holding on to my hands like they were a lifeline of hers. "I knew it would happen eventually; I knew another woman would see you for the kind and loyal man that you are and snatch you up real quick." There was a sad smile on her face as she continued to speak, her hands now massaging mine. "I knew another woman would see what I saw, and unlike me, they would not take you for granted and would actually cherish you the way I should have cherished you."
Her words, more than a confession of love, were more like a reflection. Laying out everything she had bottled up, everything she wanted to tell me but wasn't able to. Only now that I am right in front of her, just the two of us, did she find the strength and will to let it all out. And I, like the sea, accepted everything, letting the tides wash away all the guilt she felt. Letting her start anew as if she were. As her friend, I am happy to be able to do this for her. But as her ex, I still am a bit conflicted. To see her suffering was admittedly bringing a sense of vindication for me, but as a person who loved her before, I still feel bad about seeing her suffering.
"What I didn't expect was to learn that you were with two people I actually know," she went on. "To find out that you were with Hazel and Piper was so much more than what I can handle." She smiled at me, a self-deprecating smile. "I actually passed out when I learned that you were engaged with Piper, you know." This was a shock to me; to hear her say that she passed out from learning that I was with Piper got me worrying about her. I was about to ask when she pulled me along the path we were walking on. "It came as a shock to me that Piper, one of my closest friends, ended up with you after the two of you left," she added after a while of walking hand in hand. "I just didn't think that it would ever be a possibility for the two of you to be together, so yes, I was shocked beyond consciousness," admitted Annabeth with a small smile.
We were nearing where we started, and she stopped talking for a while. That is until we were right in front of the bench we sat on earlier. We stood in front of it, face-to-face, as Annabeth turned her head up, looking at me with a hopeful expression. I knew she was waiting for my answer to her confession, and I knew I had to give her one. But while I no longer hold any anger for her, I still didn't have it in me to accept her back into my life. Maybe not now, maybe not ever. While I am not closing the door for that possibility, I am not keeping it open as well. If she ever walks back into my life, it will be due to her efforts. She has to open the door herself; she will have to walk through. I will not be the one to usher her in, nor will I invite her. And like what is happening with Calypso, she will have to prove that she can live in harmony with those that already live with me. Those who I now consider as my family.
Sitting down on the bench, I pulled her down, and she sat down beside me. We now find ourselves just like how we started the day, sitting side by side. Taking a deep breath, I turned to her, my lips ready to deliver the words that may or may not break her heart completely. "While I am happy to hear that you still hold the same love for me as you did before, I still can't accept it, Annabeth," I started, and I saw the hurt fill her eyes as she listened attentively. I pressed on, not wanting her anguish to be prolonged. "While I no longer feel the same hatred and anger for you for what you have done, the trust I had for you still isn't what it used to be. And without that trust, I don't think my heart could ever accept you like it did the other two." I pushed on, wishing that my words would somehow make it clear that I am not doing this to punish her. "Don't get me wrong, Annabeth. I believe you when you say that you have always loved me. But right now, love isn't enough for me, not love alone anyway," he added quickly. "I need more than that, and right now, you simply don't have my trust."
Annabeth had her head down, and I could see her tears falling on her lap. A pang of guilt and hurt rose in my heart as I lifted her head so she could look at me. "I'm not saying that I am rejecting you, Annabeth. I'm just saying that for right now, I can't accept you, but who knows what the future holds for us," I told her while her eyes searched mine for any hope, one I wish I could give her. I would hate to think of her simply giving up because I rejected her at this point. Not when she had just found the will to change after years of being left alone. "Take what happened to me, for example, after what happened between us. I never even thought of being with anyone again, and yet now I am engaged to two women!" I showed her a smile, and I saw a bit of life come back into her eyes—small wins. "So, please, while I said that I cannot accept your feelings for now, know that I have forgiven you and no longer feel any anger towards you. Just give us some more time, and then we'll see where the Fates will lead us," I finished, wiping the tears on her face with my thumb.
In a move I didn't expect, Annabeth launched herself at me, and I found myself in her embrace. She had her arms wrapped around my body as her face was nuzzled against my chest. I could feel her sobs as she cried her heart out. I began patting her on the back as she let out all she was feeling for the moment. The familiar feeling of having her in my arms is making me remember a time when things were easier and feelings were simpler. A time when it was just us two versus the world. Now it could never be like that again, not with the way my life is going. I sighed and allowed the girl who broke my heart to cry her heart out on my chest after I broke hers.
After about ten minutes, she backed off and released her hold on me. I managed to pull a handkerchief and passed it to her to use. She smiled appreciatively at me and mumbled a thanks as she wiped at her face. Then I saw her face turn red as she stared at my shirt. I looked down and saw her tear stains on it and understood her embarrassment. "Thanks, and sorry for that," she said shyly. I waved her concern away and willed my shirt dry. We were quiet for a bit as she got her bearings back. After a while, she sat back and exhaled loudly, as if expelling all the negative feelings she had. Then she turned back to me, and this time, there was a quiet resolve in her eyes, and I knew she would be fine. I also knew she had made a decision; what that decision is, I have no clue, but I will know soon enough.
"Thank you for being honest with me, Percy. And thank you for being kind even when you didn't have to," she started. "You didn't have to be so nice, nor did you have to explain anything. And yet you did, and for that I am thankful." She smiled, and then she stared forward, looking up at the sky. "To be honest, I never really expected for you to accept my confession. Not after what I'd done, but I just couldn't keep it in anymore; I needed to tell you, and I needed to hear your answer." The drive in her eyes was very obvious, and at that point, I knew that she was going to be okay, no matter what the future turns out for her. "Especially after this week." Her words made me tilt my head. What was she talking about? What happened last week?
"I'm leaving camp, Percy, after this week." I was about to ask her where she was going, but she was on a roll now. "I'm moving to California. I called Dad and asked for help in looking for a small place I could rent." I nodded; that was a good move on her part. One that I knew was available for her since 7 years ago. "He also got me a job at the university he's teaching in. A new start, a new place. I feel like this is what I need to change, really change for the better." She turned to me now, and the smile she had was so much like the ones she had when we were younger. The one she has whenever she is talking about her plans and building design. I was happy to see that, and I hope that she goes back to how she was. Not fully, of course; we all have changed, but I believe we all retained some parts of our younger selves as we grew older. The core values that made us who we truly are as a person.
"That's good to hear, Annabeth," I told her, congratulating her for her decision and showing her that I agree with her plans. "I hope that everything works for you over there, and remember that my offer for help still stands in whatever form you may need it," I said, reminding her, and I saw her smile light up a bit more. "Thank you! I'll keep it in mind." She replied. "Oh! By the way, I hope it's okay with you if I ask you out sometimes," she said softly. "I mean, we are going to be closer to each other after I move, so I wanted to ask." This was just like her, or at least the old her. Thinking of all possible options that could benefit her but without affecting the other person negatively. It was a surprise for me and one that I am looking forward to seeing more of. Although this forwardness was something new, it was a welcome change as well.
"Of course it's okay with me. I'm looking forward to your invite." I replied, and I saw the happiness shine in her eyes as she gave me the brightest smile I've seen on her since we met up that day in my mom's place. "Thanks." Her voice was much livelier now, and that alone made my decision to allow her to ask me out worth it. "Enough thanks. Do you need help in moving?" I asked, and she shook her head. "I've already sent most of my stuff ahead, and Dad said he got people to arrange it at my would-be place." Already, the change in her was noticeable, and the old Annabeth was shining through under the hollow and despondent version of her that I met. I hope she continues to improve, even if we don't end up together.
We talked about other things after that, like what her job would be and if she is looking forward to it. She told me that it was a simple librarian job for the university and that while she is doing that, she would also be working on getting her architecture license so she can finally be what she always dreamed of being since before she knew me. She also told me that she is looking forward to meeting new people, people who didn't know her as a demigod but just as her. A fresh start. Like she said. I told her about our plans to open a new branch of our store in California, and I extended an invitation to her for when we open. The sun was on its way down when we finally ran out of topics to talk about. We sat side by side on that bench for hours as we reconnected, two hearts that were hurt and drifted, two people who were changed by time and now are relearning how to relate to each other. two people who still have a lot to work on but are slowly getting there, one step at a time. No one rushing and no one pushing. Just letting the pieces fall as they may.
"It's getting late," I announced, and she nodded, getting to her feet and turning to me with a smile, a soft smile but one that is full of hope. We began to walk out of the park in silence, and for once, it didn't feel awkward. I think she was about to say goodbye when I cut her off with an invitation that just sprang out of my mouth. "Would you like to join me for dinner at my mom's place?" I blurted out, and I saw the shock on her face when she heard me. The disbelief in her eyes was quickly replaced by a giddiness I only see on people who got what they were wishing for. I hope she didn't get the wrong idea about my dinner invitation; I mean, it wasn't a date. Mom, Paul and Estelle were going to be there, and like I said earlier, I wasn't ready for her to be a part of my life in a romantic capacity. She gave a lovely smile as she nodded eagerly. "I would love to!" I returned her smile, and together, we walked side by side heading towards my mom's place. Not hand in hand but as reconnecting friends.