AFTER A CRAZY TURN OF EVENTS, PERCY WAS ALIVE AS LILY ran up to the blonde, giving him a tight hug.  "You scared us! We - we thought you were dead."

"I - I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have made you so worried." Percy stated, returning the hug.  Victor wore a bit of a teasing smile, noticing Percy's cheeks turning red.  "I think he likes my friend." he whispered to Annabeth, causing the girl to scoff.  "Oh, please.  How can you tell?"

"He's blushing.  Can't you see it?" Annabeth looked at the blonde boy and nodded her head, "You're right.  He's red as a tomato."  The girl couldn't help but glance at the boy next to her.  Ever since they left Medusa's and the train ride, she had some weird feeling in her stomach whenever the boy talked to her.  Maybe she was sick?

The group of friends continued their journey on foot since the cops were looking for them since they crashed an Amtrak train (curse the Mist).  A motorcycle approached them, revving their engine very obnoxiously.  "Need some help?" the biker asked, causing Grover to furrow his eyebrows.  "Beg your pardon?"

"I asked if you could use some help."

"Nope, no.  We're - we're good.  Appreciate you for asking, though.  So long." Grover stated as the kids tried to continue walking.  "You don't seem too good."

Annabeth rolled her eyes at the man, "We don't want anything from you."  Victor nodded his head, "Yeah, plus following a bunch of kids is super creepy.  You're lucky we don't get the cops."

"I mean, I'm just offering since you guys are so behind schedule.  I mean, the summer solstice is a few days away and as much as I would love to see a good war pop off, as your big cousin, I feel like, maybe, I wanna give you a hand."  A good war? That could only mean one thing.  "Cousin?" Percy questioned, staring at the man in confusion.

"Ares." Annabeth answered, causing Victor to cross his arms.  Out of all the chances he could meet the god of war himself, it just had to be on his first quest.  "You must be Athena's kid.  Always gotta be the wisest of the bunch.  And you must be my son.  You've got that same scary look as your sister, it runs in the family."

"I really don't want to talk to you.  What are you even doing here?"

"Wow, okay.  That was harsh.  Think of it as some father - son bonding time but with your friends."

"That's a sh-"

"That sounds great! We're actually a bit hungry right now so do you know anywhere we could eat?" Grover stated, earning a harsh glare from Victor.  "There's a halfway decent diner up the road.  If you want my help, you'll meet me there.  But don't dawdle, won't wait forever." Ares warned, starting up his motorcycle.  As he drove away, Victor was pissed.  "What was that for?" he asked.  "Look, I know you're mad but you can't really say that stuff, especially to the gods.  You're lucky he didn't curse you."

"Whatever.  Let's go eat crappy burgers." he stated, walking towards the diner.

But that would come with a price.

AS LILY ATE HER MEAL, ARES SPOKE TO THEM, showing a video of Percy's step dad lying to the press about Percy.  Long story short, Ares wanted his shield back, sending Victor, Annabeth, and Percy to retrieve it while Grover and Lily kept him distracted.  As they walked towards the entrance of the Tunnel of Love, Victor felt shivers down his spine.  "This place looks so creepy.  Let's just find the shield and get out of here."

Percy smirked, noticing how Annabeth looked at Victor.  "I'll stay out here while you two go in there."

"What?" Victor and Annabeth exclaimed, staring at the blonde boy.  "Look, it'll make things worse if we all go together.  Plus, I'm a kid of the big three so who knows what trouble that could get us into?"

"Wow, you actually managed to say something smart." Annabeth teased, earning a snicker from Victor.  Percy rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.  "Yeah, yeah.  Just go."  Victor and Annabeth climbed into the boat, sitting in silence... well, until a saxophone started to play.  "What is happening right now?" Annabeth asked, causing Victor to groan.  "Why is Careless Whisper playing now?"

"Is that bad?"  Victor shook his head, smiling.  "No but it plays a lot on the radio."  Annabeth couldn't help but feel butterflies in her stomach again, muttering Greek curses in her head.  Why was she feeling this way? "So... why do you think Ares would put his shield here?"

"Well, that's because of Hephaestus's story.  Do you know the history of him and your dad?"

"Wait... oh my gods, ew! Ares dated Aphrodite and Hephaestus caught them.  I still can't believe he's dating Lily's mom."

"It happens a lot in Greek history, actually.  It has a way of repeating itself."  Victor smiled at her as she smiled back at him.  Suddenly, the ride powered down, causing the kids to look at one another with confusion.  The boat dropped, speeding through the water.  "What is happening?" Victor exclaimed as he and Annabeth screamed in fear, the girl clinging onto him for dear life.  The ride eventually slowed down again as the two were still a bit fearful.  That's when Victor noticed Ares' shield in the distance, suggesting that they get it.  The two jumped off the boat and into the water, trying to swim.  Annabeth was struggling, trying not to drown. Victor grabbed her by the hand, leading her to the golden statue.

THE TWO EVENTUALLY GOT ONTO SHORE, their clothes drenched.  "Are you okay?" he asked, earning a nod from Annabeth.  They stared at the statue holding the shield, studying it.  "How are we going to get it?"

"These things are connected somehow.  It's a machine, but how do you start the machine?"

"Well, like you said earlier, this is all because of Hephaestus' story, right? I know that the throne was given as a gift to Hera but when she sat on it, she couldn't get up.  The Gods tried to help her but it didn't work.  So the Gods promised Hephaestus that if he let Hera free, Aphrodite would be his wife.  That means... the chair must be the key! Annabeth, do you know what this means?"

"I think so?"

"If one of us sits on the throne, then the other can get the shield! We grab the shield and we're out of here.  So what do you say?"  Annabeth smiled, nodding her head.  "That sounds like a plan.  Who's going to sit on the chair?"  Victor tried not to look in her eyes, causing Annabeth to furrow her brows.  "Victor, this is crazy.  You can't sit on that chair, you'll-"

"Look, this is the only way I can prove myself to Ares.  Plus, our friends are stuck with him and we have no other choice.  At least your mom will see how brave you are and you'll be seen as a hero.  History has a way of repeating itself, right? Let me be the person who sacrifices themselves to save others."

"I can't let you do that."

"Why not?"

"Because there has to be another way to show your dad that you're worthy. You can't do this."

"Please, okay? I'll - I'll be fine." Victor stated, as he walked to the chair.  "Wait."  Victor turned around, only to be met with a hug from Annabeth.  "I'll try and get you out of the chair, okay?"  Victor nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.  "Well, hopefully if my dad takes pity on me, he'll turn me into something more useful because I do not want to be a tree."  Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Don't insult Thalia, she was a hero, okay?"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. But please just get the shield, okay?"

"Okay." Annabeth stated, watching him sit on the throne.  As he turned to gold, the boy managed to say something.  "If you ever leave camp, ask Lily for my mom's address.  Tell her that I love her, okay? As for Lily, please tell her that she's the best person I could ask for.  And tell Clarisse that I forgive her." He finally turned to gold, leaving Annabeth in tears.  The shield dropped, causing Annabeth to touch the chair.  As she tried to operate it, a man called from above.  "Can I help you? Do you need some help finding your way out? So, off you go."

As Annabeth tried to turn the gears on the chair, she looked at the man. "I'm not leaving without my friend."

"Yeah, that isn't how it works.  It's kind of a one - way sort of thing.  It can't be undone." Annabeth furrowed her brows, "How do you know?"

"Because I built it." Annabeth sighed, trying to concentrate.  "I'm not leaving here without my friend.  And if you aren't going to help me, could you maybe leave me alone so I can focus?"

"In spite of what my brother might've told you, I am not someone who'll be pushed around.  I know your mother was displeased with you recently.  We both know how she gets.  But this was a lot. Even for her."  Annabeth stopped trying to move the gear, slowly standing up.  "You walk outta here with that shield... and you're a hero. On your way to the greatest glory.  She'll be proud and you will be forgiven, and all will go back to being as it always has been, always will be... as it should be."

"It isn't how it should be! It isn't! Eat or be eaten.  Power and glory and nothing else matters.  Ares is that way, Zeus is that way, my mother is that way."  Annabeth glanced at Victor's statue. "All he wanted to do was prove himself to his dad, even if it meant giving up his life just for me to prove to my own mother that I'm worthy.  Maybe I was that way once.  But I don't want to be that way anymore.  I won't be like all of you, I just won't." 

Hephaestus took out a flute, playing it as the gears slowly started to move.  The gold began to melt away, freeing Victor.  Annabeth pulled him from the chair, staring up at the God of Fire.  "Some of us don't like being that way either.  You're a good kid, Annabeth.  I'll put in a good word with your mom for you."  With that, Hephaestus left, leaving the two demigods alone.  "How did you manage to set me free?"

"I spoke to him.  It doesn't matter anyways, what matters is that you're okay." she stated, giving him a hug.  Even though she felt the stupid butterflies in her stomach again, she didn't really care.

She was just happy that she was able to hold him once again, especially after almost losing someone special to her.

Annabeth, Percy, and Victor had reached the diner, placing Ares' shield on the table.  "We got what you asked for.  What was it you said earlier? To think of this as a father - son bonding moment? Well, that could happen if you give us a ride." Victor stated, earning a smile from Annabeth.

Now sitting in a loading truck full of animals, the kids tried to make themselves comfortable.  "So how was getting the shield?" Lily asked, sitting next to Percy.  "Yeah, how did it go?"

"Well, for starters, Percy made me and Annabeth go on the Tunnel of Love alone.  It was pretty scary."

"Yeah, plus Victor got turned into gold.  I still can't believe you were going to make me leave you there."

"Well, one of us had to make it back alive.  Also, call me Vic."

"I don't think I'll get used to that but I can try."  As the two continued to talk about their journey, Lily couldn't help but smile.  She had a feeling that they would mean something to one another.  But for now, they were just two strangers trying to get to know each other.

Little did they know that it would eventually bloom into something more.

Maya Speaks 💫:

Bro I almost started crying while writing this chapter like Annabeth almost lost Victor omg

The way Percy left them alone is CRAZY I would've hit him bc why would you do that??

Three more chapters guys... but on the bright side, I get to write Lily and Percy's story next!!