~ ☼ ~

Head over heels, I tumbled down the stairs, right into the wall at the bottom. Pain exploded in me, sharp and violent. For a moment, I couldn't breathe or see. All I could think of was that was always bone injuries for me - concussions and bruised backs, over and over again.

Then a voice said, "AJ?"

I opened my eyes, expecting Alec to be leaning over me. And sure enough, he was. I could've jumped for joy, but I was in so much pain that I could barely move.

"Oh my gods," he exclaimed, immediately leaning in to hug me. "I thought you were dead. Again."

"What!" I exclaimed. "How?"

But my voice was garbled. Alec groaned himself, then pulled away from me, immediately going for his pockets. He brought out ambrosia and stuffed it in my mouth before I could say another word.

I was getting tired of the taste of it, but I swallowed it anyway, grateful for the relief it gave me. It was just enough to make me sit up fully. now, I could see Alec was covered in dust, but the armory was perfectly in tact.

I spun my head around, maybe stupidly, looking for Liakada, while Alec garbled on. "I couldn't heal, couldn't do anything, couldn't -" He was panicked. He rubbed his hand across his face. "I was trying so hard to give someone stitches, but I had this - this mental breakdown. Will made me go sit down, so I could-"

Suddenly, there was a noise. We both spun to see the door I'd come through, somehow, go back into its position. not just closed and in the frame, but jammed once again. Effectively trapping us in, because we could never get a running start from the bottom of the stairs like I could at the top.

I sucked in a breath.

"Alec!" I exclaimed. "Finish the story."

I felt like I was in a horror movie. Something was coming to get us. Alec's jaw dropped, then he searched for the words. "I - I - fell asleep while sitting down. And I dreamt of you. Dreamt you were down here, trying to get Liakada, and you were hurt. So I came to find you, and I found the building in rubble."

I was breathless when I tried to ask, "What?"

"It wasn't Theia, it wasn't anything like Riley's powers, it was just a... normal psychic demigod dream," he said. Then, slowly, he dropped his hand from the side of his mouth. He looked limp. "In fact, you looked like you do now. I was seeing right now."

This should've been a relief. But it wasn't. He and I both knew it. Riley had predicted Alec was in danger, and something had made the building fall, after all. Suddenly, everything that had happened over the past few hours, over the past few years, seemed incredibly, horribly, fragile.

Because it wasn't just a monster who was guarding the armory. It wasn't the god of something neutral like sunshine or starlight. It was the titan of destruction. And with one swipe, he could knock down and eat up everything I'd built.

I looked at Alec. I needed him to know. Before it was too late. Needed something that could not be destroyed. But I couldn't get the words out, even as I looked in his brown eyes and saw everything I loved about summer itself.

Then he came out of the shadows.

"You tried to kill me, half-blood," he said, "But it didn't work."

Slowly, Alec and I turned our heads.

Perses was walking towards us. Maybe stumbling was the better word to use. His black, effervescent form was eaten up from the inside like moths had attacked him, but he still carried all the feelings of war with him. I had the feeling that if I touched him, or if he touched me, I'd be gone in an instant.

I still could not get up. I moved backwards, and Alec moved with me. neither of us moving to protect the other, just frozen together. I liked that more than Lucas' way of death.

Perses flicked his right hand and showed off what he held within it - Demeter's sickle, glowing green. Then, like a magician doing a card trick, he flicked his left hand, too, and there it was - Liakada. I wanted to yell at Alec that if anything, I would've come back for the sickle, for his sake. For Demeter's approval. Not Apollo's.

Then, Perses said, "Would you like one of these?"

I didn't know what to say. I gaped as he came to a stop, a few meters away from me. I felt sick watching him, like I was in the backseat of the car on a winding country road. I hardly knew how to think as he tossed Liakada my way and it landed with a clatter in front of me.

"I don't play games," Perses said, after a moment. "I will not taunt you. Take your sword - let your father's love be your last comfort."

I glared at Liakada. Glared at the idea of Apollo being my last comfort. Glared at how early on I'd taken on daddy issues after years of having a perfectly good father. I couldn't even have a complicated relationship with him the way some kids did. I just hated him. I hated that, most of all.

I kicked the sword away, but felt like I was betraying myself as I did it.

"I don't need his love," I said. "Just kill us already."

Perses looked at me for a moment, surprised I'd done this. Lenin had really done a number on him. I had to wonder where the statue had gone, if there was any way he'd swoop in and save me. I could say that much about my adoptive dad, if I had to criticize him at all - he was so patriotic that he'd probably rather die than be saved by a Lenin statue.

I remembered, suddenly, that they were on their way down here. To save me.

That Riley was out there, waiting on us. Saving people. If not everybody, if not every dog or every sleeping Red Square resident, at least those stuck in their cars.

That Alec was right here with me.

None of it felt like enough. None of it was a guarantee. I had no idea how much longer my parents would live for. Had no idea if, when this was all over, Riley and I would fight with each other again. If we'd fall apart because I was in love with our adoptive brother.

But I had to try. I couldn't let the Chernobyl of Titans take it away from me.

With all the energy I had in me, I lurched forward, grabbing Liakada and falling flat on my chest. It was what I was counting on, because it gave me the chance to shove the sword upwards, just as Perses lifted his foot in surprise.

He brought his foot down as I met Titan flesh. And rather than me turning him to ash instantly, or him crushing me, his body suddenly tore apart. Like a swarm of flies sent in a million different directions, his black form ricocheted around the room. Hitting walls, knocking down weapons, glitching out over and over, screeching with such a horrible noise that when I lowered my head into my hands, it was so quick that I almost got another concussion.

"Δεν μπορείς να με καταστρέψεις! Είμαι η ίδια η καταστροφή!" Perses screamed, his voice high like radio fallout.

"AJ!" Alec exclaimed, jumping down to me, grabbing the sickle. He pulled me to my feet, then yelled, "They're both Godly weapons! Just swing!"

So I swung.

And when I swung, as I hit Perses' many forms, it felt like static shock. I had to bite down to keep Liakada in my hands, to keep myself from tearing apart. Pain. Constant pain. Constant darkness, consuming me-

Then bright, brilliant light.

The room suddenly exploded with green. Green like spring, green like summer. Green like the last day of school, the first day of camp, Capture the Flag with your knees in the moss as you hide behind a rock. Green like the healing mint American Elm had put on my tongue. Green like my eyes.

I spun, panicked and taken aback, and swore, in the void, I hit something. Dread hit me like a rocket, so strong that I fell backwards.

The light disappeared.

Perses was gone. All the weapons were on the floor. Standing there, holding her sickle, was Demeter, in her more human form - brown skin, golden hair. Looking proud, then apologetic, then worried. Her eyes went where my eyes didn't want to go.

I'd hit Alec.

With my own sword, I'd hit Alec.

I jumped to my feet, immediately running over to him. "no!" I exclaimed. "no, no, please!"

Not him. Not Alec. But he was laying on the floor, and he was bleeding from his neck. I'd cut his fucking artery. Oh my gods, oh my gods-

"No!" I screamed. "No!"

I keeled over top of him, trying to capture his light before it disappeared. His New Jersey soul, his Brooklyn life, his healing hands, his too-calm smile that annoyed me so much that first summer. No. No. No. He was the only one who understood me. The only one around whom i felt safe.

"Help him!" I screamed, to Demeter, who pulled backwards. There were tears in her eyes, too, to my surprise. But she couldn't do anything; my ears were ringing too loud to hear her voice, but I could read her lips saying as much. She wasn't the god of healing. The god of new growth - the god of seeds. But not healing. not bringing back the dead. That was not spring. Spring was new.

"No," I cried. Alec was unconscious; his face was pale. I could not even say goodbye to him.

"Please." I put my face against his. Thinking of our first emotional moment together. That night in Virginia, when he'd told me he liked Johnny Cash. I'd told him You Are My Sunshine was too sappy. I'd do anything to feel any emotion with him now.

I was hysterical. I did not know what to do except to cope the only way I knew how - the only way that did not screw me over more. With music.

"You are my sunshine," I murmured. "My only sunshine."

I knew Demeter was still there. knew whoever the Greek Grim reaper was was probably standing on the threshold, watching me, too.

"You make me happy when skies are gray."

Maybe some last particle of Perses could hear me as he fell to Tartarus. But I was not embarrassed. For once, I did not care.

"You'll never know, dear, how much I love you-"

My voice broke. Please, Alec. Wake up. Let me tell you. Don't make me do this again.

"Please don't take my sunshine away."

When I was done, I felt Alec's cold face. Felt my hot face against it. Felt his pulse gone.

Felt my life gone.

Then, something happened. Something... warm.

For a moment, I swear I felt a flicker within his skin. A piece of pulse - a single chamber of his heart giving one beat.

I thought I was imagining it. Then it happened again, and again.

I think I heard Demeter say, "Keep singing."

So I did.

"The other night, dear," I said. "As I lay sleeping, I thought I held you in my arms."

God. now my emotions were coming back with me. This was so corny. But-

"When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken-"

I did not finish the verse.

When Will healed people, sometimes, I'd seen light come from his hand. not Alec's light, sheer light, but healing light. From Apollo. It was what set him apart from other medics. I saw the same thing coming from my mouth, coming over Alec like I was enchanting him awake. Briefly, the two kinds of light mixed, and as they did, I saw that fatal cut stitch itself back up like it had never happened. And all of his cuts and bruises - gone. Just like that -

He was safe.

Slowly, Alec opened his eyes. His voice was raspy when he asked, "AJ?"

I swear I heard Demeter gasp.

Then I pummeled into Alec with a hug, grabbing him so close that he'd never get away from me again. He was safe. He was safe.

"I love you," I murmured. "Oh my gods, I love you, Alec."

He didn't pull away or ask me what had happened. He just hugged me back, his hand at first tentative on my back, then grabbing my shirt. We were laying on the floor, so I guess we were more actively snuggling than hugging, but I didn't care. I'd never been so close to another person before. It was all I'd ever wanted. It'd taken 2 and a half deaths for me to realize...

It was worth the risk.

"Alec," I said, pulling away. His hand at first didn't give way, but then he let me go, so I could look at him. His eyes were still droopy, his muscles no doubt still sore. But he was sober, and his brown eyes looked clearly back at me.

"I love you," I repeated. "I don't know if you feel the same way, or if-"

He responded by immediately saying, "I love you too, AJ. Gods. I thought I was crazy."

Then he kissed me.

The first kiss in the woods was so surprising that it took me a moment to enjoy it. But this - this was a long time coming. Immediately, I melted, so precisely aware of his every movement. Aware of his lips fitting into mine, of his choosing to be with me, to love me, despite it all. Despite his loss and despite the risk. It made me love him more. He and I were partners in crime, no matter what.

Then, Demeter cleared her throat.

I jerked away from Alec, catching myself on my elbow so I didn't fall on my back. He blinked, then looked over the bridge of his nose at her - at the goddess who'd saved our lives. Who had seen all of that.

She looked back at us, serene and amused. All she said was, "I'd separate, unless you're ready for everyone to know."

Both of us furrowed our brows, but then I heard it - the footsteps upstairs. I didn't know what to do, whether to tell her or not. Alec and I could live like this - we could live in secret-

Riley bust the door down with a little less effort than I had. Maybe I'd been dramatic.

When she saw us from the stairwell, she gasped. There was nothing indicating that our floor positions were romantic, so I knew all she felt was relief at our safety. And, um, the goddess of grain standing a few feet away.

Riley took the stairs two at a time as Alec lifted himself up, immediately running to hug her. She hugged him back-

But couldn't focus. She pulled away. It really was Demeter she was gasping at, which was kind of funny.

"Lady Demeter," she said, instantly. She knelt, and Alec and I realized we should do the same. He shot me a surreptitious look, then went to his knees just as I did.

"My three questers," said the goddess. "It's good to have you all together again."

She smiled, and I got the sense I could look up again. As I did, I took in the goddess' form in full. She was wearing her complete Greek Goddess regalia, a deep sage green chiton that contrasted perfectly with the gold belt and helm she wore. I had to wonder if she had been off fighting titans wearing that, or if she'd stopped on the way here to make sure she looked her best.

"You've retrieved my sickle," she informed us, and I bit my tongue before I could say, Yeah, duh. "I was in the north when I felt half-blood hands touch it. It reconnected me to its presence. I suppose I got here just in time."

Confused, Riley looked at Alec and I, but we didn't have time to explain.

"Who found the sickle?" she asked.

"AJ," Alec said, immediately. "She found it herself, escaped that - that thing that was guarding it, then came back again."

Demeter's soil eyes went to me, intrigued.

"Alec looked for it more, though," I said. "My involvement was second-hand. Finding the sickle here was - accidental." I honestly couldn't even remember how I'd come here in the first place, but either way, I hadn't put in half the energy to finding it.

Demeter raised an eyebrow.

"You want to shrug off my blessing?"

Her BLESSING?!?!??!

I decided not to focus on that right now, instead trying to recover. "I just - I just want Alec to have it! He deserves it more."

"That's not how it works, child," Demeter said, back to sounding amused - to my relief. "And it sounds like the demititan wants you to have it, anyway."

My face went warm.

I hardly had time to look at Alec and Riley's reaction, to think about anything, before Demeter was walking towards me. The closer she got, the more I smelled spring. Freshly mowed grass and new life. Did I even want her blessing?

Finally, when the goddess stopped before me, she looked downwards. Her eyes met mine. "Rise."

I rose.

"I commune with the dryads," she said. "I do not control them, but I work hand-in-hand with them. They've told me they want your help."

I swallowed.

"I've heard that," I confirmed.

"Between that and what I've witnessed," said Demeter, "I think when I bless you, I will bestow on you not the blessing of the seed, but the blessing of the plenty. The harvest is yours, child. Eat up."

She tapped my head once, and I felt her magic run through me like the most life-saving summer breeze.

Then, she was gone.

For a moment, I just stood there.

I didn't know what to do, or how to react to what she'd just told me. Did I - did I have powers now? I was bewildered.

Slowly, I turned towards my friends.

Both of them were staring at me, not in shock, but in pride. Pride, surprise, and joy. For a moment, they just watched me react, Riley with her hands clasped together and Alec with his jaw permanently open in a smile.

Then they ran forward and hugged me.

~ ☼ ~

A/n: !!P!IJ OIEHW"O

I've been waiting to write that You Are My Sunshine scene since I was like 11 <3  This makes me so happy and I can't wait to finish this!!!! I love you Cabin 7 I love you Sunshine Trio!!!!!