Second Chances

Chapter 2 - House Arrest

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

It had been a good week since the incident at the camp lake. Ha, I can't believe I just called my engagement and minor godhood an incident. At the moment me and Percy were staying up on Olympus to avoid any unwanted attention from campers or hunters alike. We had been staying in Lady Artemis' temple, and to be honest it had been a little weird spending the first night alone with Percy in the same room like that. I mean, we had quested together many times sure, but even with two beds in the guest room Artemis had provided, it felt really awkward. I guess there was still a lot to adjust to, the whole being with a boy forever, kind of thing.

I had so much on my mind, I wasn't really sure where to start or what to think. Aphrodite was busily making wedding arrangements on a daily basis in the mornings, and Artemis would constantly take down the majority of them and her ideas later that night. Father had a private talk with me and Artemis a few days prior, and despite my soon losing maidenhood, he thought it was best to keep me on as her lieutenant for the hunters a while longer. I didn't know what to think of being a hunter and potentially being the only girl there who wasn't entirely committed to the cause.

Percy walked into our room, having just gotten back from the Olympian Council. "Hey Thals, how is everything so far today?"

I tried to not laugh at him. If he got too nervous or overly worried he would get a little odd with his interaction with me. We did still have a lot to adjust to, but I'd be lying if I said it was bad or I wasn't enjoying this so far.

"Nothing special yet, but your later than usual, something up?" I gave him a questioning but concerned look as he tried to smile for me. "Sorta." He mumbled out in reply back. "Oh gods, what is it Percy?" I was starting to seriously get worried, when he sat down on the bed next to me and reached apprehensively for my hand.

"I had a talk with my dad today after the council, and they told me that you're not leaving the hunters. Yet or for a while anyway." He sighed heavily as he said it and his eyes seemed heavier than usual. I quickly gripped the sides of his face and made him focus harder.

"Your not being granted godhood or anything, not while you remain with Artemis and the hunters." His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to seriously talk with father about this. "So, you mean that I can still die in battle, don't you?" The words tried to get caught in my throat as I choked them out forcefully. Percy just nodded rather sullenly.

A million thoughts flooded into my head all at once, the most significant being if something were to happen to me in battle. I had no guarantee of survival like Percy did, and yet the Gods still wanted to toy with us and their own idea of a second chance by just as quickly ripping it away. I was highly upset at this predicament, and might have lost my temper had Percy not rested his head against my shoulder. "Thals, I'm so tired. The meetings take a lot out of me, all the bickering and arguments are hard to withstand, and I'm just a minor god. The rest of the day is free, so can we do nothing?"

We both laid back on the bed, not saying anything but just laying there next to each other. Surprisingly we did this quite a lot, even my lady had come in before and laughed at seeing us. She said that it fit Percy to a tee. I can't really explain it a whole lot, but besides our disagreements with each other, we've always been able to just calm each other down by being close. Percy drifted off to sleep first, it wasn't long before I was right behind him.

(Annabeth's P.O.V.)

The last few days atop Olympus were much odder than usual. I didn't find myself bumping into that many Gods as I worked on my obsessive project. See, my mother Athena, had helped get me my biggest desire possible and now here I was building a lasting monument to the gods. I was redesigning Olympus.

Lately though, everything had seemed to be going extra crazy and I knew I would have a slight break for the weekend, so I decided it would be a good time to check in on everything down at Camp Half-Blood. I honestly did feel a bit guilty about how I had just ditched Percy after he gave up so much for me, but I seriously had no time for boys. Maybe I could still visit the seaweed brain though and we could talk about things like after I finished with Olympus.

It wasn't that I didn't like Percy, I think it was more of me being a litle overly obsessed with my current work. So I contacted Chiron with an Iris Message, and let him know I'd be at camp within a few hours. I collected everything I needed for the weekend's trip and made my way back to camp.

(Chiron's P.O.V.)

"Annabeth just told me she coming back to camp, for a short visit." I said with apprehension as I turned around to Dionysus at the pinochle table with Grover. "Hmm..." was all I got from the God of wine, before he looked up at me with a flash of concern. "I'm not sure I want that annoying Athena girl to interfere with my sister's engagement."

Grover passed a look between the both of us, he was best friends with all three of the people involved and this could easily turn into a rather ugly love triangle. "Do you really think keeping Annabeth from knowing about Percy and Thalia will be such a good idea? Even if she did dump him, I'm not sure she thinks he'll be unavailable for later." Grover gave a nervous bleat or two with his statement.

"That, is exactly why the girl is annoying." Mr. D said coldly. "Thalia and Perry are going to have enough complications with father's plans as it is. Some snotty girl who can't decide what she wants still, won't be doing them any favors." I understood the sentiment, and he was right but it wasn't going to make this any easier.

We settled down and talked lightly over the upcoming subject before Annabeth finally arrived. She looked terrible, like she had been working nonstop for the last few months. "Hello dear, how are things for you?"

She gave an incredulous look at me, and frowned. "Maybe I was too harsh on Percy... the Gods have been extremely busy the last couple of weeks and..." the girl was cut off by Dionysus.

"You did ditch the boy on your own accord, correct?" He asked with a colder tone than usual, she only nodded sheepishly. "Why are you complaining about a decision you willingly made? If it bothers you, perhaps you would have been wise enough to reconsider it before you did it."

I was a little stunned he was giving constructive criticism to her, but his next comment made me think he was upset and just rubbing things in. "Besides, us Gods have been busy because we had a new Sea God recently." The look of shock and terror on her face made her light up like a pinball machine as the realization hit of what he said.

"Oh my gods... Percy accepted godhood?" Her face was extremely pale as Mr. D just nodded at her. He was no longer paying any attention to her now, demanding Grover to continue the pinochle game. Before I could say anything though, Annabeth took off running to the cabins.

(Annabeth P.O.V.)

I was such an i***t. I got so wrapped up in my work and despite the slight affair I had with Apollo, I had made Percy choose immortality. Unless I was able to achieve the same thing, which I knew was near impossible, he would be lost to me forever now. I burst into the Athena cabin and threw myself down on my bed and just started crying in frustration.

Malcolm and a few of the other kids just looked at me with a bit of shock. He finally asked me what the problem was. "I got overly obsessed with building Olympus and might have lost Percy forever." I said between sobs, but he understood how I was with architecture and just gave me a reassuring pat on the back.

"I doubt it's irrevesible, right?" I looked up with questioning eyes at him. "I mean, the two of you have had some pretty major fights and problems before, but it always works itself out. I'm sure this will be no different if you just go find him and explain it all. It'll be okay." I wanted to believe him, but I wasn't exactly sure this time would be okay. Malcolm was right though, I wouldn't give up on this, I would get Percy back. "Thanks.." I said with a sniffle as I drifted off to sleep.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

I woke up with Thalia curled up next to me on top of our bed, in Artemis' temple on Olympus. I gently shook her awake and smiled as she lazily opened her eyes at me. "Hey pinecone, we've taken a long enough nap. We should talk with our dads soon, and lady Artemis also."

I got up and went over to pick out from fresher, better looking, clothes to wear. I picked some regular jean pants and a green Billabong shirt. I tossed Thalia a pair of black jeans and a match black shirt. "I'll go find Atremis while you get changed." I told her blushingly, and hurried out of the room.

It wasn't overly hard to find Artemis, or anyone else for that matter. They seemed to be all together in the throne room. "Ah, Perseus, what excellent timing." Hestia smiled at me, gaining a few annoyed glances from some of the other Gods.

"Father, we should consider this idea again, it's unfair to them both." I looked over to Athena to see her pleading about what I guessed was his refusal to have Thalia away from the hunt yet. I stood there just watching and listening to them all arguing about what to do with us, once again, when I felt a hand slip into mine lightly.

"Hey, how is this all going?" She looked worried and tired still but I knew that even if the outcome was bad, she would be next to me for it. She had been every other time something important has taken place. So has Annabeth. An annoying voice from the back of my head tried to remind me as well.

"Father.. Lord Zeus.." Thalia started, gaining concerned looks from around the Olympian council. "If you want either of us to really have a second chance, don't separate us please. There is still a lot for either of us to really experience together. It's not fair if you take that away!" Her voice grew dangerously sharper, a hint of anger growing at the edges.

"What do you think of that Artemis?" He gave a suspicious look towards the virgin Goddess of the hunt. "You don't surely mean that?" She seemed a bit upset but nodded silently afterwards. "I guess he would still have to interact with my hunters, and I'm worried that if I lose my lieutenant and something goes wrong, that I'll be short one of my closest friends."

If her remarks shocked me any, I did a terrible job of hiding it. My mouth was as open as it could be possibly get and Thalia was trying not to laugh at my expression.

Zeus gave a heavy sigh and looked sternly at us both. "Thalia, you will rejoin the hunt until the day of your marriage. Perseus, you will continue your current duties but are restricted to the big house at the demigods camp. You will stay there until we send for you next."

"Father no..." Thalia tried to interject but he was having no objections from anyway. I hung my head sadly and just replied with a very weak okay. After the council was over, I headed back to my father's temple on Olympus. I was a little amazed to find it wasn't empty when I arrived.

"Perseus, come on in." My father, Poseidon, smiled at me happily and ruffled my hair once I was inside. "I'm sorry about how thing are going to be for a little bit, but it's for the best I'm sure." He said so but he really didn't seem like he exactly believed it himself. "Thanks dad, but I'm really worried if something were to go wrong with her hunt or anything." He placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded sympathetically.

"I mean, even if Thalia was still just a hunter, it would bother me a lot of anything happened to her." There it was again, my fatal flaw rearing it's head again. "It's good you care about your friends and family son." He told me kindly. "You need to figure out what you really want though. You're going to have a long time with somebody, and we need to know your making the right choice in this."

I was shocked and completely at a loss for words. I knew in the back of my mind that this made sense, was I really over everything with Annabeth. I nodded and headed towards the entrance of Olympus.

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

I couldn't find Percy anywhere after the meeting took place, Artemis hadn't seen him either, but I had a small suspicion of what he was doing. So I settled down to talk with lady Artemis for a bit. "How long do you think Percy will be stuck on house arrest?" I asked with a little joke towards her.

She looked at me sympathetically, and smiled. "I'm sure you might suspect this already, but he has a few important decisions to still make. I won't lose my best huntress just because some man can't make up his mind of what he wants." I small sliver of doubt crept slowly into my head with that.

"You think Percy still might choose Annabeth, don't you?" She didn't answer me, but I knew that I was right. They were worried that this would soon backfire, and this is covering all the bases. It made logical sense, I mean if Percy and I were to go a step further with things now, I would have nowhere to go if we didn't work out.

"Ugh... are relationships really this frustrating!" I mumbled a bit more loudly than I would have wanted in front of my lady. I bowed and apologized and rushed out of the room. I had to find Percy before he went back to Camp. I hoped I wasn't too late and had already missed him. .

Artemis caught me before I could make it too far away. "Thalia, you have until tomorrow to be back with the hunt. You can escort him to camp and spend a little time with him if you need. I trust you."

I nodded and thanked her, rushing off towards the entrance of Olympus as fast as I could. That's when I finally spotted him, he was heading my direction but staring down at his feet stupidly. I stood directly in his path, he would either have to walk into me, or over me. He almost did just that, smacking right into with a thud.

"Ow.. that smarts!" He looked up to see me standing in his path. "Were you just gonna leave me without saying anything, you stupid kelp head?" I tried to give him a menacing glare, but I guess there was too much worry in my face. "Oh, yeah... sorry Thalia. I didn't know if I should actually come find you or anything."

He sounded a little broken, distracted, and about as concerned and uncertain as I had ever heard him. He looked like he was fourteen or fifteen again, struggling with if he could really fight Kronos and Luke. I did the only thing that popped into my head, and I tried to give him a hug. It was uncomfortable and awkward and neither of us were really in the right mind to comfort each other.

"I want to come with you to camp." I told him flatly. "Lady Artemis said I could spend a little time with you today, and I don't want you being all isolated with yourself just yet." I punched him lightly in the shoulder as we headed back down to New York.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

I felt a little better being able to ride with Thalia back to camp. We took my deep sea green hummer back to camp. She wasn't too excited about the color, but it she did say that it beat walking. Honestly, I missed driving around some, but for this time I just wanted the extra time with her.

"I had a talk with my father." I told her as we drove through New York and Manhattan, back towards Long Island. She raised her eyebrows at the thought. "Oh, about what?" I explained to hear about him informing me of what decisions I would need to make and everything like that to her. She just nodded along mumbling okays on occassion.

"Well.." She said before taking a deep breath. "Lady Artemis said something similar to me. That they are worried I'd be without you or the hunters, if we made a mistake in this." Her face looked pained as the words slipped out. "Oh gods, I totally didn't mean it come out like that Perce..." I smiled at her softly, I knew she didn't.

I kept thinking in my head about how Aphrodite told me that this wouldn't be easy, but I'm not sure this is exactly what she had in mind. There was slight voice faintly in the very corners of my mind telling me the most simplest message ever. Trust yourself. If it seems hard, breathe and take a second. Just trust yourself.

We finally arrived at camp and headed towards the big house. I was going to head up to the second floor when Chiron and Mr. D both stopped me. "We heard from Hermes about the situation." Chiron started in. "There is a room for you up on the second floor, near mine, at the end of the hall." I nodded and Dionysus cut in. "Don't plan on staying here too long, unless you want to talk over my job as director." He laughed and got serious for once after that. "I expect you to participate in pinochle often with me."

I almost caught myself glaring, but Thalia was trying her hardest to not burst out laughing. She tugged at my hand and dragged me upstairs to my new room. It looked similar to my cabin actually, which put me at some ease. All of my thoughts were abruptly cut off as she grabbed both of my hands to get my attention.

"I can't stay very long, but I'll try to be by and visit you when I can get a chance." The air had it's usual uncomfortable kind of tension, but this kind was different than it had been times before. "Percy, I trust you, so please trust yourself." It was like she was inside my head, I mentally shivered at the thought, but was quickly brought back to reality.

Thalia leaned in and pressed her lips against mine softly. My mind went blank and I just stood there as she kissed me. It wasn't like any kiss that I ever had with Annabeth before, this was uniquely different all it's own. It felt as if she was trying to tell me it would be okay in just one moment. It held all of her frustration, worry, and fear that this one kiss would be the last she might ever have.

Thalia pulled away slowly as she looked into my eyes. I still had failed to react to her yet and as she took a step backwards from me, I softly reached for the sides of the face and pulled her back. I returned her kiss just as softly as she had a moment before. It was the only way to let her know it would be okay. I blushed as she told me she had to go, and we didn't waste any words on anything else. She left to go back to the hunt, and I plopped down on my new bed. I sighed and laid back, stretching out and staring at the ceiling. Just trust yourself, and trust her. The voice kept repeating until I drifted off to sleep.