The Five Times Leo Valdez Almost Died and the One Time He Did

Doors of Death

Leo Valdez walked through the doors into the Underworld at the age of 67, a ripe old age for a demigod like himself.

He was wrinkled and his curls had turned into wavy wisps of gray. When he looked in the mirror he saw his great grandpa, Sammy Valdez, the one from Hazel's childhood in New Orleans.

He had two kids, a girl named Esperanza who was now 42 years old. She had long, dark, curly hair, dark brown eyes, and a mischievous grin. She had always been a trouble maker, loved to pull pranks, but was kind to everyone and never treated anyone poorly.

He had a boy, now 38, named Alexander. He was tall and thin with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and freckles running across his cheeks and nose. He was almost a spitting image of Calypso.

Calypso. Leo had landed down on her island so many I years ago. He swept her off and showed her the world. They dated until they were 22 when Leo finally got down on one knee. At first he was worried that they were too young but they were demigods and there was no telling how long they had to live. If Leo was going to spend the rest of his life with someone, he decided he wanted it to be her. They married and lived happily with each other until 3 years ago when she died of a stroke, mortality finally catching up with her and showing her what happened to all mortals in the end.

After she died Leo lived alone in his empty house. Alexander and Esperanza made sure to come by frequently and visit. They brought along their own children, one who looked exactly like Leo had when he was 15. Eventually, Leo's heart gave out as well. The doctors said it was a heart attack but his friends and family knew better- he had died of heart ache. He had spent 3 years without Calypso and he just couldn't do it anymore, he needed the love of his life back. So he laid in bed one night and greeted Thantos happily.

He now stood at the table facing three hooded figures. They seemed to look inside his soul. "Leo Valdez," one of them rasped.

"The one and only," he grinned wickedly.

"One of the seven. Gave his life to defeat Gaea," the one on the right said.

"Cheated Death," the one of the left snarled in return.

"Saved the immortal Calypso from her imprisonment on Ogygia," the one on the right suggested.

"And made her mortal and die," the one on the left countered.

"Saved countless lives," the right one shot.

"Killed his own mother," the left one volleyed back.

The hooded figure in the middle cut them off. "All those are minor accidents. He saved the whole world from destruction. If it weren't for him we would all be under Gaea's rule right now." The figure banged a gavel on the table. "You are granted Elysium." The other figures nodded.

Leo smiled at them gratefully and walked through. He couldn't wait to see Calypso, Hazel, and Jason again. They had all died before him and Leo was sure they had all found their way to Elysium.

As he walked to the brightly colored fields he noticed a slight spring in his step and for the first time in years his joints didn't hurt. He felt like he could jump and run. He looked down to find that he had been reverted back to his old 16 year old body. He smiled brightly. Calypso had to be here somewhere. He walked up to the gate that led into Elysium. As he got closer the gates opened up for him revealing a large field with brightly colored flowers and homes.

He walked in, following the sidewalk through the grass. He walked until he got to the little town holding only the best people. He walked through and looked at the names on the doors. Aristotle, Dante, Homer, Hercules. So many heroes where here and now he was one of them. He kept walking until he reached a tiny, wood house with a plate on the door that read 'Calypso'. Leo beamed at the name and ran up to the door. He took a deep breath before nocking on it.

He heard rustling coming from inside the house. A chair squeaked across the floor as someone stood to get up from inside. The was a click from the lock and the door swung open to reveal Calypso looking as young as she had been when he had first taken her off her island. She wore a white tunic and her light brown hair was swept to one side. She looked up at Leo with her sparkling brown eyes. Oh how Leo had missed them so much.

Calypso's mouth dropped. "Leo!" she yelled throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight.

Leo laughed. "Hey, Sunshine," he said hugging her back just as tightly.

"I can't believe you're here! It's been so long. What happened? How did you- you know- die?" she asked finally pulling away to look him in the eye but still keeping her arms on him.

Leo smiled sadly at her. "I missed you too much. My poor old heart couldn't take it anymore. I had to see you again."

"Oh, Leo," she smiled, tears forming in her eyes.

"No, don't cry. Why are you crying?" he asked wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Calypso sniffed and grabbed his hand that was rested on her cheek. "I'm just so happy to see you."

"I told you I would come back for you. I promised I would and I always will." Leo smiled and pulled her into a long, gentle kiss. It had been so long since her lips where on his. He had missed it so much.

They pulled back and Calypso looked at him with slight worry. "How are the Esperanza and Alex? The grandkids? Are they okay?"

"Relax, princesa, they're fine. They're living their lives happily. They're all doing amazing. They still have some life left to live. 'Till then it's just us," he smiled at her, pulling her in close for another kiss.

"I missed you so much, Leo," Calypso whispered.

"I missed you too, Sunshine."

Calypso smiled up at Leo. "Why don't I show you around? There's some people that have been wanting to see you."

Leo gave Calypso a quick peck before nodding. "I love you."

Calypso smiled at him. "I love you, too. Now come on, Jason is going to freak when he finds out that his best friend is here."

Leo followed Calypso around the town and met all of the ones they had lost. Jason tackled him in a bear hug that was so strong it would have killed him if he wasn't already dead. Hazel smiled up at Leo, tears in her eyes. Both of them asked him how everyone was doing, it was hard not knowing how the living where doing. Leo assured them they were all doing fine. "They just miss you guys," he said with a sad smile.

"I miss them, too," Hazel sighed brushing her hair out of her face. They all looked young again; youth had been restored to the kids who had saved the world.

Time went by and more people started making their way here. First Piper and then Frank a couple years later. Leo was sad to see his youngest granddaughter come through. She had died at 24. Someone had pulled a gun out and shot at her younger brother, the one who looked like Leo. She jumped in front of him and took the bullet. She died then but not before taking down the shooter herself. She was granted Elysium for her brave act.

After what seemed like eternity, Annabeth and Percy came walking through the gates, hand in hand. How they managed to die together at the same time, no one knew, but leave it to them to do it.

Leo was glad to be back with Calypso, living a happy, dead life. As long as he had his friends and his wife with him, he would never be sad again. And they were stuck together from now on.

Leo grabbed Calypso's hand and beamed at her. "C'mon, Sunshine, we have the rest of eternity to live."