Strange

Chapter 25: Four Years

10:00 am, Saturday, June 4th, 2011

Percy Jackson had made it to graduation.

Graduation.

Sure, he wasn't one of the seniors actually graduating, but this still meant something. That would be him next year.

He would walk that stage, he would get that diploma, he would graduate. He would make it, he had to, he had come this close already.

A year. He had a year, and even if he died the day after graduation, he would have made it, he would have been the first Greek demigod to graduate high school in years.

He and Annabeth, and Piper. Greek demigods who had done it made it past sixteen. Survived through war, and pain, and the pit, and done something that hadn't been done in centuries.

He could cry.

Jason was lucky, not having the constant reminder of the bloody fates of those who came before you, the short lives and painful deaths. Romans could retire, and Percy was jealous.

He would go to college.

He didn't have a lot of hope he would make all the way through.

But that was a step, progress, change. He could set a new path, and people could follow, going further and further until something had fundamentally changed.

So what if he died at nineteen or twenty? He would have survived four more years than any Greek Demigod of the past centuries had. Four years. Small in the long run of a roman, or a mortals life span, but centuries to the Greeks.

Four years.

He could do it.

That would be his number, his goal. Every breath, and every second after that was a blessing, and he would not let those breaths be wasted.

The day prior in his final class of the year, English with his stepfather, Paul had asked his class what their goals for their senior year and college were.

Percys first thought was four years. He would survive for four years past the age every other Greek Demigod who had lived in the past centuries had. He and Annabeth would be the oldest demigods since ancient times.

They had gone around, and Percy had said something that brought confusion to those who didn't know him, know the truth of who he was. "Bee in College for one year, and have a twentieth birthday," He had said.

Paul had hung his head, all too aware that his stepson had been destined to the fate of a hero the second that oath had been broken. Consequences for an immortal breaking an oath over the boundary between death and life, a child taken away.

The next person had gone, leaving the class to ponder the meaning of his words.

Annabeth had been the next of the demigods to go. "Do everything I can. Go to Greece when I want to and it isn't..." she trailed off and shook her head, "Forget that. I want to see the Parthenon, one more time." The determination in her voice broke Percy's heart.

She had wanted to see the building named for her mother for years. And she had, but she had been on a quest, in danger. She wasn't allowed to see it how she wanted to. She hadn't gotten to walk around and touch it, and that hurt.

Piper had said she wanted to see her sister Lacy go to prom, to graduate. Jason had said he didn't know.

Envy coursed through Percy for a moment when Jason had said that. He had the luxury of not having the constant reminders that he shouldn't be alive, he had time to think, to live. He didn't have to do everything he wanted the second he could.

He could live and breathe and rest.

The Greek demigods, Percy and Nico in particular, and Annabeth by association with Percy, they had to run. They had to do everything they could because every day could be their last.

The graduation ended, and Percy and Annabeth got up, looking for their friends. Jason and Piper were the first to find them, having sat fairly close to them.

They found Damien and Kate next, and finally Sydney and Cameron. The latter couple had been talking to a couple, who Cameron introduced as his parents.

Percy could see the resemblance, immediately. He looked just like his father, with the same dark skin and tight curls, and warm brown eyes. Camerons mother smiled at all of them, and Percy didn't miss the glance over them.

They managed to pry Cameron away from his parents, and they found a spot under a tree to talk and relax for a few minutes.

While everyone else chatted, Annabeth and Percy moved away to another tree, close by, but far enough they could talk in peace. Annabeth took Percy's hand in hers. She spoke quietly in Greek, "We really made it to graduation. We made it."

Percy gave a breathless laugh, the reality sinking in again "We did. We made it Annabeth. We made it."

Annabeth smiled and wiped a tear away. "I never thought..." she paused for a moment, "I never thought I would be here."

Percy nodded along, leaning back to the tree, and closing his eyes. He gave a peaceful sigh. Annabeth moved closer to her, and he put an arm around her, savouring part of the moment.

He opened his eyes and turned to Annabeth, before giving her a kiss. He felt Ananbeth break out into a grin, and he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Annabeth laughed, a beautiful sound, and Percy laughed with her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He pressed his forehead to hers and laughed again, before giving her another kiss.

He had four more years that he wanted to live.

And he would kiss her every day.

Fin

Wow. It's done. Thank you so much to everyone who stuck with me, commented, gave kudos, and even just read this fic. It was my first Percy Jackson fic ever, and I have never been so proud to call something mine.

The story will continue in A World of Monsters.