Hey! I got your iris message... what's the big emergency?" The two demigods looked up as a third joined them; his black hair was messy as if he'd just woken up and his bright green eyes positively dazzled with adventure.
"Where is Annabeth?"
"Mount Olympus. Apparently quite a few goddesses are being picky about their shrines. So you going to tell me what's happening? I don't even get a "great to see you, Percy"?"
"Great to see you, Percy," the girl said irritably. Percy frowned.
"Love the attitude, McLean. Jason, what's eating your girlfriend?"
"Piper's just stressed. Chiron has us going to all these demigods and bringing them back to camp and frankly, it's been exhausting." Percy nodded in understanding but Piper crossed her arms.
"You and Annabeth did say you were going to help."
"Pipes," Jason said warningly while Percy's brow quirked.
"Um, we have been helping. But you know good and well that we're in college now and we can't just leave on a quest whenever we feel like it. I don't recall you coming to our rescue when the last demigod rescue turned into an ambush on a giant glacier in Norway!" Piper opened her mouth to argue some more but Jason held up his hands.
"Guys, that's enough. We're all on the same side, remember? We have enough monsters to fight, let's not start killing each other, alright?" Percy and Piper nodded stiffly.
"So who are the demigods?"
"Well, they'e being guarded. Pipes and I have come across a group of monsters that we're not familiar with and frankly...they kind of terrify me."
"Annabeth would probably be better at this," Percy muttered. Though a part of him wished his clever girlfriend was here, the other part was relieved she was far away from trouble.
"Yeah but you might know what they are and how to stop them. Since you went to..." Percy glanced sharply at Piper, who fell silent immediately. She was about to bring up his less than pleasant trip to Tartarus and he needed no reminders of the horror he had faced there.
"Sorry," she muttered, looking embarrassed.
"What do they look like," Percy sighed.
"Scary stuff. And I tried to blast them with a lightning bolt but nothing. Maybe you can try your wicked water powers?" If the Son of Jupiter had no effect on whatever monsters these were, Percy wasn't sure if the Son of Posiedon would be able to help either. Still, he gripped the pen in his pocket- which could easily turn into his trusty weapon, a sword he called Riptide, whenever he needed.
"Ok. Where are they?"
"Peek around the corner. They remind me of furies but there's so many of them!"
Percy braced himself against the wall and peered around the edge. His stomach dropped and he let out a strangled gasp. Cold horror filled him completely as memories of Tartarus and intense pain came flooding back.
"Percy?" He had started to shake and sweat; he had faced tons of monsters before. It came with the demigod territory! But these were vicious creatures that he wanted to stay far away from.
"Bad news," Percy stammered. "Really bad news. We need to get out of here."
"There are two young demigods that we know of being kept in that warehouse. So what are they and how do we beat them?"
"Arai," he said in a shaky voice. Jason frowned but Piper's eyes widened.
"Curses?" Percy nodded.
"Do what now," Jason looked baffled.
"They're spirits of curses. If you kill one, you take on the curse. They're really unpleasant."
"I don't get it. What do you mean, take on the curse?" Percy rubbed his chest, which had been the first part of his body to receive an arai curse in Tartarus.
"They serve the slain," Piper whispered, "and give you the pain you inflicted."
"Exactly. And your monster count is about as high as mine. So you'd better watch out, bro." Jason peeked around the corner and huffed.
"Then how do we get around them?"
"A diversion. Two of us will fight off the arai while one goes in for the demigods."
"Percy, why don't you go find the kids? Piper and I can hold them off."
"Annabeth would kill me for letting a girl go into danger like that," he shook his head. "Piper can go get the kids and you and I can distract them. Try not to kill them if you can help it."
"Got it," Jason swallowed.
The arai hissed and shrieked when the two boys appeared. And it wasn't easy to keep from killing them; one lunged for Jason and tore at his shirt with her talons. He glanced at his bleeding chest and the next time she lunged, he was ready with his sword. She disappeared in a cloud of dust but Jason fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. He drew his hand away and saw blood.
"Shit," he said through gritted teeth. It had been a few years but he had been stabbed during his great quest and he wasn't a fan of the sensation.
"Easy bro," Percy said in his ear as he dragged him backwards. "Come on, you'll be fine."
"How...how do we defeat them if we can't kill them?"
"Our giant friend did it for us last time."
"Fresh out of giant friends. Where is your Cyclops brother when we need him?"
"I wouldn't want Tyson near these hags either. Come on. Let's see if we can lead them away."
But the monsters seemed to want to die and they continued to lunge at the boys. Percy cried out as one tried to gouge out his eyes and he stabbed her through the heart; the arai cackled as he fell to his knees, his thigh bleeding profusely.
Their heads jerked up when they heard a shrill scream and Jason paled.
"Piper!"
"Go," Percy nodded. "Go help her."
"But-"
"Go!" Jason ran off toward the warehouse, swinging at the bat-like creatures but thankfully not destroying them. Percy clutched his sword as he faced the group of monsters. Damn. This was going to hurt, he told himself.
Minutes later, most of the arai were gone and Percy's body was wracked with pain. He'd even gotten Phineas's curse, who had died from gorgon poisoning. That was the one that had nearly finished him in Tartarus and it may very well kill him this time too. He felt his strength draining as he continued to destroy the monsters. Blood poured down his face and chest, while his insides boiled. As the last of the arai vanished, Percy let out a pained scream.
"Percy!" He fell forward but a strong pair of arms caught him.
"Oh gods Piper, look at him!"
"Who is that?"
"He's the guy who saved all of our lives. You and your brother need to go with Piper. She will make sure you're safe."
"I don't understand!" Jason cast Piper a pleading look and she understood; Percy was getting worse and Jason needed to get him to a healer, fast.
"Just go with Piper. She will explain everything soon."
"You'll be ok," she asked him softly. He nodded, glancing down at his motionless friend.
"I'll never forgive myself if he-"
"Percy will be fine," she said urgently. "He has faced worse before." Has he? Jason tried to think but Percy's adventures and injuries were just too many to name.
"I'll meet you back at camp." She nodded and kissed him and Jason leaped into the air. He paid no attention to the shocked looks on the kids' faces; he summoned a wind to take him back to New Rome as quickly as he could.
"Annabeth," Percy whispered and Jason squeezed his eyes shut.
"Hang in there, buddy," he muttered. "Your girlfriend will kill you if you die on us."
Jason hadn't been to New Rome in several months but it looked much the same as it had when he had lived here. He ignored the curious looks as he ran through the streets with his friend flung over his shoulder. Percy was barely conscious, his wounds continuing to bleed while his heartbeat grew fainter. Jason was grateful for his demigod strength but even then, Percy's limp form was taking its toll on him.
"Jason!" He could barely turn but he knew that voice.
"Praetor! I need a healer, fast."
"What-" the girl's eyes widened when she saw who was flung over Jason's shoulder.
"Gods, what happened to him?"
"I'll explain later. Please Reyna. Help me save him." She nodded and gestured for him to follow her.
"Do you know how to reach Annabeth," he asked softly after the healer had left. Reyna bit her lip.
"She's gone to Olympus but she said she would be back tonight. I'll try to send an iris message."
"Iris message? You?" Reyna didn't smile.
"New Rome has changed, Jason. Percy and Annabeth have done much for our city. He can't die." He detected tears in her voice but he said nothing. He felt Percy's forehead, which was very warm.
"He's a fighter," he assured her but could say nothing else. Reyna excused herself to send Annabeth a message and Jason sat beside Percy's bed. He watched the healer force ambrosia and nectar down his friend's throat as guilt raged inside him. He should never have called Percy to help. He should have stayed and helped him kill the arai. Maybe if he had, Percy would have taken less curses and he would be ok.
Several hours later, Percy was still unconscious and multiple healers had checked on him. All of them looked weary and anxious.
Jason started when he heard loud footsteps echoing through the infirmary's hall and he looked up into a pair of glassy grey eyes.
"Please no." Percy's girlfriend Annabeth fell to her knees beside the bed and Jason knelt next to her.
"Come talk to him. He won't wake up for me. Maybe he will for you." He gave her his seat and she took his hand in hers. She brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes as she wiped at her face.
"What happened," she asked, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Arai," was all he said and she stifled a sob before lowering her face to his chest. Jason couldn't stand it and he strode outside, where night had fallen over the city.
"Dad," he said uncertainty. "And uh, Posiedon. Please save him. It's my fault he's like this. This isn't fair to him or to Annabeth. Heal him. Please." He didn't pray to the gods much, not even to his father, but he couldn't stand to see his friend like this.
"All of you up there," he said a little louder, "you all owe Percy. He has saved you all time and time again!" That probably was not the right thing to say at all but he didn't care; his anger continued to grow and he clenched his fists.
"Heal him! You have to heal him. He's a hero of Olympus, a hero of New Rome. You've got to help him. Please." The stars twinkled and the skies were silent; sighing deeply, he headed back into the infirmary where Annabeth was stroking Percy's pale cheek.
"- and you promised, Seaweed Brain. You promised never to leave me. You can't. You followed me to Tartarus and... don't go somewhere I can't follow, Percy. I love you. I love you so much." She broke off into sobs and Jason backed out of the room.
Two days later, Percy had made no improvements. Annabeth had circles under her eyes from staying by his side but she refused to leave when Jason, Frank, Hazel, Reyna, and even Coach Hedge offered to stay with him.
"Annabeth, you should really get some rest," Hazel stroked her hair.
"I am not leaving him," she said for the thousandth time.
"Hey cupcake, you look awful," Coach said sympathetically. "At least eat something." But Annabeth just stared down at her boyfriend, pleading for him to open his eyes.
"I don't know what else we can do," the healer said to Jason. "It's really up to the gods now." Hazel clapped a hand over her mouth and turned into Frank's chest; her boyfriend held her close and whispered soothing words into her curls. His sad eyes met Jason's and Jason sighed.
"Then let's all go up the hill to make offerings. We have to do whatever we can to get him back." Reyna nodded and lead the way up to the temples. All of them made multiple sacrifices to various gods and goddesses, and Reyna lingered in front of Neptune's statue.
"Neptune... Posiedon. Your son is a great hero. Hear me. As Praetor of New Rome, accept my offering and my plea. Please help your son. We need him. All of us do." She glanced miserably over her shoulder and Jason nodded. They all knelt before the statue of Posiedon. They figured if any god was going to come to Percy's aid, it would be his father.
Jason was further disturbed when he spoke to Piper the next morning.
"I got a message from my mom last night." He knew she meant in her dreams, as all demigods got important messages and visions in their dreams.
"So what did she say?"
"She said Percy is a tragic hero and that Annabeth...may have to find a way to go on without him." Jason was furious at Aphrodite and found it difficult to talk to his own girlfriend for the rest of the day.
Annabeth was starting to look as bad as Percy and Jason knew his friend would kick his ass for not taking proper care of his girlfriend.
"At least take a bite of ambrosia," Hazel urged.
"She's not wounded, though," Reyna whispered once they were out of the room. "Will the ambrosia still help her?"
"A broken heart is the worst wound of all," Hazel said softly.
Jason was furious with the gods and even more furious at himself. He should have been there to help him. Piper was strong and fearless; she would have been fine.
"You're torturing yourself," Hazel said from behind him. Jason gripped his blonde locks and sighed.
"I can't help but blame myself, Hazel. He shouldn't have faced those monsters alone. I should have stayed to help him."
"Piper needed you," she lay a hand on his arm. "And Percy understood that. Don't do this to yourself, Jason. Percy wouldn't blame you. Annabeth doesn't blame you-"
"But I blame me! It's my fault, Hazel!"
"No it isn't. It's no one's fault. The life of a demigod isn't fair. You of all people know that." He did but that didn't lessen his anger.
Annabeth hadn't meant to fall asleep but her eyes snapped open and she patted Percy's hand, making sure he was still there. Groaning, she covered her face and stifled a yawn.
"You're not taking care of yourself, my girl." She gasped and whirled around. She had only seen him on several occasions but she instantly recognized the Sea God.
"Lord Posiedon," she bowed her head. Posiedon approached his son's bed and sighed deeply. He wore a brightly colored shirt that did not belong in the dark infirmary, Annabeth thought, and his dark hair was shoved underneath a worn trucker hat.
"Can you heal him?" Posiedon's hand hovered over his son's face and he clenched his fist.
"I wish I could. The only thing I can do right now is offer a choice. Your mother wanted to do this but her hatred toward the Romans...well, she asked me to come in her place and I agreed. It was the only way Zeus would let me see him." Ridiculous, Annabeth thought. How could the gods be so selfish?
"Wait, my mom? What do you mean, offer a choice?"
"Percy loves you, Annabeth. It was the reason he turned down immortality all those years ago. Your mother might believe otherwise but I know my son's heart. He did it so he could stay with you." Annabeth had suspected but hearing it from his father, well, her steady river of tears just continued to flow.
"So why...are you here?"
"The gods are moved by your friends. They offered to make Percy immortal. To save him."
"What?" She gaped at the god, who was starting to just look like a sad old man.
"Since he cannot choose, it is your choice Annabeth. We can continue to hope for the best and wait to see if he wakes up on his own. Or we can make him a god."
"I can't make that choice," she gasped.
"You must. If he is to become a god, it must be done tonight, by the light of the full moon. That is why Athena sent me here to you now." Annabeth stared at Posiedon, then down at Percy. She longed to see those sea-green eyes again. That impish smile that created an adorable dimple in his cheek. That face that had annoyed her at first, then became the face she wanted to see everyday when she first rose from bed and every night before she fell asleep.
How different would that face be if he became immortal? He would never age. Eternally young and handsome, frozen at twenty.
Would he forget her? Would he come back often, to see her?
She knew his opinion on the matter. He never wanted that kind of power. He had been taunted for turning down such a gift but he didn't see it that way. Would he be furious, then, if she made this choice for him?
She looked back up into another pair of sea-green eyes and it made her tears come even more. How much he resembled his father, especially now that he was older.
"How am I supposed to choose," she whispered.
"You are a daughter of Athena, my dear, so I know you will want to listen to your brain. But this time, listen to your heart. What is it telling you?" She looked back down at Percy and squeezed his hand.
The infirmary door slammed and the group of friends all leaped to their feet.
"Annabeth? What's going on? Is he-" Jason wanted to ask if Percy was ok, but that was a stupid question.
"Is there something we can do," Hazel asked softly. Jason wished Piper were here; her charmspeak could soothe anyone and Annabeth needed it. She stood, straight-backed and proud but her lip trembled. Anyone else would have said she was not afraid but her friends knew better. Her eyes shone with terror and grief.
"I need some help moving Percy to the Temple of Posiedon."
"What?" Annabeth looked close to collapsing and Reyna was the first to reach her.
"Are you sure about this, Annabeth?" Jason frowned and glanced at Frank and Hazel in questioning. They shrugged, looking just as confused.
"It's the best thing for him," she said in a flat voice. She wasn't crying or shaking; her voice had lost all emotion. She was broken.
"And the gods will-?" Annabeth nodded.
"His father just came to me. He said it has to be tonight."
"Pardon my ignorance," Jason raised his hand. "But what has to be tonight? What's going on?"
"A way to save Percy."
"But how?" Annabeth's stormy eyes met his and he took a step backward.
"But- no. No, he doesn't want that. He's never wanted it."
"Don't you think I know that," she snapped. "What choice do I have?"
"Annabeth," Hazel said, slowly catching on. "Will Percy be angry about this?"
"Let him be angry. At least he'll be alive!"
"Percy doesn't want anything but you, Annabeth," Frank said sadly. "For the past few years all he has talked about is staying here and starting a family with you. You would be...well, that will be stolen from him."
"And if he dies?! What then? I can live with offering tributes at his statue, with seeing him whenever I go up to Mount Olympus. But I will die if he dies!" No one said anything. No one could.
"I want to ask one more person. Well, two. And if they say it seems hopeless, then I'm going through with the ceremony. And we have to hurry. It will be dark soon."
"Do we need to iris message anyone?"
"No, but who has the loudest whistle?" They all glanced at each other with a bemused frown.
The ground shook as shadows appeared on the walls of New Rome. Reyna spotted shaggy black hair atop a gigantic hellhound, and she rushed forward to embrace the newest arrival.
"Get me off this thing," a blonde boy groaned, reaching his trembling arms out. The boy with black hair grinned and jumped down, wrapping his arms around the blonde.
"Will isn't used to shadow travel yet. And it's even worse on Mrs. O'Leary."
"It's so good to see you, Nico," Reyna muttered. Nico smiled at his friends and hugged his sister but his smile faded quickly.
"Where is Annabeth?"
"Right here," she came forward and hesitantly hugged him.
"I'm so sorry," he said softly.
"Will, you're my last hope. Can you go check on him and-"
"I'll do everything I can, Annabeth," Will nodded, pushing his blonde curls out of his eyes. They watched him jog into the infirmary, clutching his black medic bag. Annabeth gestured for Nico to follow her and they walked a little ways away from the group while the rest of their friends tended to Mrs. O'Leary. Annabeth's voice was low and shaking as she told him about Posiedon's offer. Nico stared off into the distance as she talked. He had once had a crush on Percy and although his feelings for the boy were long gone, he couldn't imagine a world without Percy's stupid smile.
"So you're hoping Will can heal him."
"If Will Solace can't do anything, then I'll know it's hopeless."
"I wouldn't say that, Annabeth-"
"Nico, you're the son of Hades. Tell me the truth. He's dying, isn't he?" Nico hesitated but he couldn't lie to her; Annabeth and Percy had saved his life on numerous occasions.
"Yes," he said solemnly. "I can feel his spirit getting closer and closer to the Underworld."
"Then I have to do it. He may hate me for it. But I have to save him." He nodded and glanced back at the infirmary.
"Maybe Will can come up with something. My sunshine boy is quite a miracle worker, you know." Annabeth gave him a sad smile.
"I'm really happy for you, Nico. Really."
"I'm sorry that life sucks sometimes, Annabeth. I really am."
Will Solace came out of the infirmary with hunched shoulders and a melancholy expression. Hazel hid her face in Frank's chest and cried silently. Annabeth blinked back tears and nodded.
"Let's get him to his father's temple then."
Nico hesitated when he saw Percy; he had always seen the son of the sea god as fearless, almost invincible. Seeing him broken and bleeding and deathly pale made him sick to his stomach. As a son of Hades, he was used to death. This, however, this bothered him. The gods owed Percy, he felt. He was so tired of losing people.
They carried him outside into the night and up the hill toward Posideon's temple. The god himself was waiting for them and he moved forward to help. Annabeth stifled a sob at the broken look in the god's eyes.
"Sir... has anyone told Sally?"
"I will go to her tonight," he nodded. "He will need an adjustment period and I planned to take him with me to my palace."
"For how long?"
"He will need some time, Annabeth. But he will return to you soon. I know he will not stay away from you long." Annabeth wiped at a tear and Jason draped an arm around her shoulder.
"I feel like Pipes should be here," he mumbled. "She's better at this than I am."
"It's ok," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. "She and Leo are both on duty and I understand that. They'll see him again." Not as the same Percy Jackson, Jason thought. The next time they would see him, he would be an immortal being.
A god.
Jason shivered as they entered the temple and Posiedon waved his hand; a huge stone table appeared with a green blanket draped over it.
"Set him down here." They carefully laid him on the table and Posiedon's hand hovered over his son's face.
"I must ask you all to leave now. The gods will appear in their immortal states and you all know you can't witness that. Say your goodbyes now. I promise he will return to New Rome soon."
"I can't...i can't see him when he wakes up?" Annabeth's voice broke.
"I am sorry, my dear. It just isn't done." Annabeth buried her face in her boyfriend's chest and did not try to hide her tears. Her friends and Posiedon hung back, their faces downcast and their eyes closed. Finally Jason and Nico moved forward and wrapped her in their arms.
"Have faith, Annabeth," Posiedon called as they dragged the sobbing girl outside.
They had no idea how long it took to make someone a god but a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and a quick earthquake seemed to mark the end of it. They all turned toward the temple and Annabeth took a step forward. She gasped as a young woman with dark hair walked toward her, her stormy grey eyes fixed on Annabeth.
"Daughter," she held out her arms. "Walk with me."
"Did it work? Is he ok?" Athena wrapped her cloak around Annabeth and lead her away from her friends.
"Listen to me, Annabeth. Percy is a god now. You cannot expect him to stay on earth with you. So do not ask."
"What-"
"You do not realize what immortality means," the goddess spoke urgently. "Or what it can do to people. He might have cared very deeply for you as a mortal but you cannot hold onto those feelings any longer. You must let him go." Annabeth pushed out of her mother's arms and her eyes narrowed.
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because I don't want to watch my daughter pining over a two-timing god who will eventually move on."
"You don't know Percy," she screamed, not caring that she could wake up half of New Rome. "You never liked him just cause you have some stupid grudge with his father. Well I love him, Mom. And that will never change. And I know he loves me."
"Annabeth-"
"You've done your duty, you can leave." Annabeth shoved Athena's cloak back at her and stomped off. Athena sighed as she watched her heartbroken daughter retreat into the darkness.
Annabeth wasn't sure which statue she had collapsed against but then, she couldn't see much through her tears. She beat the ground with her fists and pulled at her hair. She and Percy had been through so much, just for it to end this way? She couldn't believe the cruelty of it.
"Percy said I would find you here." She jumped to her feet as an etherel blue glow hovered over her.
"Do yourself a favor, my sweet, and don't look up. I only came to deliver a message. Well, that and to give some advice." She nodded, staring at the ground.
"Athena loves you and hopes to spare you a lifetime of heartache. But she's wrong. She underestimates my boy's heart. That being said, he would like to see you." She very nearly looked up at him when she remembered she would be vaporized.
"But I thought I wasn't allowed."
"He refuses to leave without speaking to you first. As you know, Percy has a knack for breaking the rules." That was an understatement at best.
"Good luck to you, Annabeth. And don't lose heart." She felt a sweet caress, as if a wave from the ocean had stroked her face and then the blue light was gone. She struggled to her feet before Posiedon's words really hit her.
She took off running toward the temple and her footsteps echoed against the polished floor. A figure bathed in soft golden light stood in the middle of the room. Most gods favored classy and sophisticated clothing but he wore tattered blue jeans, a blue Henley, and worn leather shoes. His back was to her as he examined his own outstretched hands. Her little gasp made him drop his hands and whirl around.
Grey eyes met blue as she took him all in. He looked healthy, pristine, and that's when she remembered that he WAS perfect now.
"Annabeth," he breathed. With a sob, she forgot everything but his touch as she ran into his open arms.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," they both sobbed.
"Hey," he gripped her face in his hands and leaned back to look at her. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I was on my way to the Underworld. You saved me."
"But I'll never see you again."
"Of course you will," he wiped at her tears. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Wise Girl."
He kissed her nose and pulled her back to his chest.
"Listen to me. I love you so much and that could never change. Not even immortality will change that. I'm not going to pretend I know how this is going to work but I told you that you're never leaving me."
"I think I was the one who said that," she said with a watery smile. "And you're the one who is leaving me."
"I will always be with you, Annabeth. Even if you can't see me, I'll always be here." He touched the red flower on her necklace, which he had given to her years ago.
"If you need me, touch your necklace. And I'll come running. Or swimming, whichever is faster." She studied her necklace for a moment, and squeezed her eyes shut.
"You're a god now, Percy. Goddesses and nymphs are going to be falling at your feet once you get to Olympus."
"Well it's too bad that my heart is already taken. Stolen, long ago, by a clever demigod. A daughter of Athena, no less." She tried to smile but her mother's words echoed in her head. Percy's smile faltered and he took her hands, bringing them to his lips.
"Listen, I know that your mom probably told you to forget about me."
"Not in those exact words but yes, she said you would move on."
"Athena doesn't know me. Hell, she's never even really liked me. So I would expect her to believe that. But if you, Annabeth, if you honestly believe I'll just forget about you and move on... I don't know what we're doing. Because if you believe that, you don't know me at all."
"Oh Percy!" She flung her arms around him and her lips crashed against his. His hand went to her waist while the other rested in her hair. Annabeth was about to pull back when Percy's tongue prodded her lips and slipped into her mouth. They released small moans as their tongues danced together, or rather they battled for dominance because gods know that Percy and Annabeth couldn't do anything without a fight. She leaned back to breathe and felt his thumb wipe away her tears.
"Don't lose faith in me, Annabeth. I'll come back to you soon." He kissed her cheek and she opened her eyes.
"Nuh uh. Shut them, Wise Girl. Your mortal brain won't be able to comprehend this." She did as she was told and felt a sweet kiss on her lips.
"Tell Jason it wasn't his fault. Make sure Nico doesn't screw it up with Will. Tell Leo to take Calypso somewhere fancy for once. And just...watch out for the rest of them, ok?" She nodded and heard him taking a step back.
"I love you, Wise Girl." She opened her mouth to tell him she loved him when she heard a splash. Peeking through one eye, she saw he was gone and the golden light lingered only slightly.
Pizza, she heard in her mind, and cheeseburgers. Make those the first offerings you guys send to me.
Shaking her head and smiling, she trudged outside to where her friends waited. She touched her lip with her fingertip, feeling it tingle slightly. She could still taste salt on her tongue, could still feel his nimble fingers in her hair. She glanced down at the red sea flower he had given her and smiled.
"I love you too, Seaweed Brain."