This is where it gets slightly canon.

Captured by Gaea - An Epilogue

PERCY

The celebration lasted for days. The two demigod camp's spent that time at Camp Half-Blood, making new friends and allies, sharing training syllabuses and generally having a great time.

The first night the eight heroes came back was the most explosive. The Vulcan and Hephaestus cabins had combined forces and created one hell of an elaborate batch of fireworks. Their excuses were if the eight came back, they could launch them. If Gaea took over the world, they could piss her off a little.

After the fireworks came the campfire sing-along, which doubled into toasting and confessions.

Percy raised his hand in the air for quiet and it was granted immediately. He took a deep breath and stood up, looking around at the combined demigod camps clustered around the roaring red fire.

"So, we saved the world again," he began. "Hopefully it'll be the last time in my lifetime."

There were some chuckles at that.

"And I just want to say to you all: thank you." He swallowed. "For not giving up on me when I'd given up on myself, for coming and getting me when I thought I'd never be rescued."

Percy moved his arms out sideways and his fingers snagged in two different shirts. He pulled the owners up beside him and looked around again.

"If it weren't for these seven people behind me, I'd be dead. But the two I have with me right now… they helped me the most. Leo Valdez and Piper McLean." He hugged the two demigods close. "Love you guys."

There was loud applause and whistling as Piper and Leo grinned and gripped Percy back.

"And my wonderful girlfriend, Annabeth," Percy continued when they'd finished. "Whom I love more than even Aphrodite can understand."

Piper and Leo backed away to let Annabeth get to Percy. She threw her arms around him and the campfires occupants wolf-whistled as they kissed softly. When everyone was quiet, Percy opened his mouth to say one more thing.

"I, uh, want to say something," a different voice interrupted. Percy swivelled his head around to see Nico shuffling his feet on the sand. He looked, for lack of a better word, terrified. Nico walked in front of Percy, glanced at the audience he had, then back at the son of Poseidon.

"Percy," he started. His face was blank. "For the longest time I… I had a crush on you." He scuffed the sand at his feet. "But I don't anymore. You're still a great hero and my… friend… I just had to clear the air. Sorry."

The shadows started to swallow him up.

"And, I'm leaving Camp Half-Blood now. So I also wanted to say goodbye."

He raised his hand.

"Bye."

More shadows congealed around his legs and he started to shadow-travel away until Jason reached out from behind Percy and grabbed his wrist. Nico was half hidden in darkness and what Percy could see of his face it was confused.

"Jason?" he asked. Jason followed his hand to the son of Hades' side and then faced the camps.

"Nico confessed because I told him he wouldn't be judged," he said, practically daring anyone to contradict him. Someone from the crowd raised their hand and walked forward. They had blond hair and blue eyes with freckles on their nose. It was Will Solace, a son of Apollo.

"We're not really allowed to judge," Will said with an easy grin. "Half our gods have flirted with or fallen for mortals the same gender as them. It's in our religion."

He shrugged.

"If it's any consolation, I'm hella gay."

Nico went bright red and the shadows stopped moving as fast. Jason smiled blindingly at Will before glancing at the son of Hades.

"Do you still want to leave?" he asked. Nico eyed Will discreetly.

"Not so much," he replied. The two camps burst into applause and Percy wiped the confused expression off his face so he could grin and clap Nico on the back.

All in all, it was one of the best nights anyone had ever had.

Percy felt mortal school was a bit of a joke now. After all he'd been through? But he wanted to catch up to Annabeth so he'd be ready when they went to Uni in New Rome. So there he was, first day back at Goode High.

He managed to survive the day and keep his panic attacks to a minimal. After school he went to swim training. He cautiously removed his shirt and stuffed it in his bag.

"Hi, Percy!" someone in the locker room called and Percy turned around to see his semi-friend Carter standing next to him, grinning, his brown eyes sparkling. As Percy straightened up though, Carter's expression changed to shock. His normally brown skin paled and Percy thought he knew why but wasn't going to admit it.

"Uh, hi," Carter said again. "Where've you been?"

"Some family issues," Percy half-lied. Carter nodded slowly, his gaze trapped on the colourful scars all over Percy that he shouldn't be able to see.

"D-Did you get a tattoo or something?" he stuttered, gesturing vaguely to Percy's back. Percy rolled his shoulders.

"I suppose you could say that," he replied quietly. Carter looked freaked out and slowly turned around to rummage in his back.

"I, um, have a racing shirt you can wear if you don't want anyone to see it," he mumbled, and Percy smiled at him.

"Thanks, man," he agreed, taking the shirt and pulling it over his head. He was surprised it fit.

"You, uh, ready to go then?" Carter asked, shifting from foot to foot. Percy nodded and they made their way out of the change room. As they neared the pool, Carter caught Percy's arm and whispered in his ear.

"You are telling me why you're covered in scars later, man," he warned, danger flashing in his gaze. Carter generally didn't look like much, but Percy had learned that whenever the kid got serious about something, everything hit the fan. He'd seen his dark skinned friend beat up a whole group of guys just because they were making fun of his sister, Sadie.

Percy just breathed in.

"Your call, dude," he said, before diving into the water.

Kane Chronicles, anyone? If you haven't read them, they're by Rick Riordan and it's basically Egyptian Mythology come to life and THEY ARE PERFECTION I SWEAR. There are official published crossovers between PJO and Kane Chronicles so I recommend you check them out.

So, here we are. All over red-rover. I'm going to put some stats up:

Total chapters: 31
Total reviews: 409 (currently)
Total story views: 120, 687 (WHAT!)
Communities added to: 1
Follows: 278
Favourites: 215

Wow guys. Thank you all for going on this ride with me and dealing with late updates, bad writing and grammar mistakes. I really loved all your support and I'm going to miss it.

I declare Captured by Gaea OFFICIALLY OVER

THE END

See you all on the flip side,

Jasmine Out!