Grover's POV

I ran up the hill behind Steve and Piper to see who was at the border. My steps were uneven due to my goat legs, but I was used to it.

I bleated at Piper to slow down, but I soon overtook her. We arrived at the border and I skidded to a stop. I scowled at the people standing there.

Piper stopped beside me and cocked her head to the side, frowning slightly. Steve didn't know who these people were, so he looked at us, took in our expressions, and then stepped forward.

"Who are you?" He asked. Annabeth's father stepped forward, gently pushing his wife behind him. "I'm Frederick Chase and this is my wife and sons, Bobby and Matthew. We're Annabeth's mortal family. Chiron sent for us, saying that Annabeth could use some support today." (Anyone know what color the twins's hair is?)

Steve turned back to us. "Do we let them in?" He asked. I saw the Chases shift uncomfortably behind Steve. I looked at Piper and we had a silent argument. I grunted and turned back to Steve.

"I suppose we have to," I grumbled. "I, Grover Underwood, give the Chase family permission to enter Camp Half-Blood."

At that, the twins came running forward, squealing in excitement. I can't believe they are already eleven!(correct me if I'm wrong) Mrs. Chase hurries forward with an apologetic look on her face as she tried to get the boys under control.

Frederick Chase just sighed and followed suit. I dismissed Piper and Steve so I could talk to the Chases alone and...update them on what recently happened here. I was already standing by Frederick so I motioned for Mrs. Chase(don't know what her name is either) to come join us. "Let them go," I told her, then yelled at the boys, "be careful! Stick together!"

Once I had both their attentions, my smile dropped. "Are you aware that there is a giant funeral here today?" I asked in a low tone. Mrs. Chase's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"Well, there was a major war here that ended four days ago and a lot of the our friends died. You actually just missed Magnus, him and his friends left a couple days ago."

Frederick looked at me sharply, "Magnus?" I mentally cursed myself. He doesn't know that Magnus is "alive". "Haha, whoops, I was thinking about someone else," I covered and quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, we recruited a lot of people too, like the Avengers, Magicians, hunters; and Camp Jupiter came to help too," I paused, trying to think about how to explain this.

"That means there were a lot of deaths, like I said, so we're having a mass funeral today. That also means that a lot of people got injured."

"How do you mean, Grover? Is Annabeth okay?" I sighed. "I'm getting to that. You see, Annabeth isn't exactly injured, but Percy took a hit. A really really bad hit."

I paused for effect. "The doctors don't know...don't know if he'll make it or not," my voice cracked, "so I guess that's why Chiron sent for you guys. Annabeth could use some support."

They nodded and followed me down the hill. "I can take you there right now," I offered. I was secretly excited at the prospect of seeing Percy, but also kind of scared.

When we got to the infirmary, I told the Chases to wait outside while I went in to get Annabeth. I walked past all the beds, some empty, some not.

Finally, I reached the curtained off area in the back. I knocked on the wall to notify Annabeth of my presence.

"Who is it?" Was the muffled reply I got. I created my throat, "Grover," I said.

"Come in."

So I pushed the curtain aside and stepped in. I froze in my tracks as I tried to process my best friend sitting in that bed. He looked like crap. Probably felt that way too.

He was propped up against a couple pillows with his fingers laced tightly in Annabeth's. His lopsided smirk was gone and pain shown clearly in his eyes. His eyes flicked to meet mine when I entered and I held them for a moment before I had to look away.

I started to feel choked up. "Man, what happened to you?" I asked. He chuckled and then that turned to a coughing fit. His face turned purple and Annabeth propped him up further and rubbed his back.

That's when I noticed the IV and the nasal cannula in his nose, there to help him breathe. My gods, my friend needs help breathing.
Man, what happened to you?

I cleared my throat again and tried for a smile. Percy stopped coughing and Annabeth helped him back down.

"Annabeth, you have some visitors here from California," I said. She looked up at me and nodded. She turned to Percy and whispered something in his ear. He smiled then, and nodded.

Annabeth stood and placed a kiss in his forehead. She walked to me and gave me a hug. I was not expecting it, so it took me a moment before I returned it.

"Can you stay with him for a little bit?" She asked and I nodded. She then proceeded to explain what to do if this happened, and how to contact the doctors if that happened, and finally, she left.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at him. He looked back at me. I didn't quite know what to say, so I turned to the cheesiest ice breaker ever.

"How're you feeling?" I asked. Percy barked a laugh. "Like shit," he answered. His voice was hoarse. His eyes started to water and he looked away from me.

"Hey, what is it?" I asked. Still not looking at me he said, "Grover, it hurts. It hurts like hell. And I should know because 1) I've been to hell, and 2) the sword came from hell."

"Percy..."

"No, Grover! I feel so helpless and weak. I'm just a burden to everyone else. I always have been."

That made me angry. I stood up. "Percy, just shut up, okay? If you're going to talk like that you can just shut the fuck up. Everyone here cares about you. Cares about you a lot, so just shut it. You're hurt. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has their ups and downs, but you are certainty not helpless and you are certainly not weak, do you hear me?"

He looked at me, tears streaming down his cheeks, and then looked back down at the sheets. 

I grabbed his chin and moved his head so he was looking straight at me. "We love you, Percy, and you don't always have to be the hero. It's okay to let go."

I leaned forward and gave him a hug. He hugged me back, shaking slightly. When we let go, he hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes. He cracked a smile, and though it was only a ghost of the one we all know and love, it seemed real enough.

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Annabeth's POV

I stepped out of the infirmary and was greeted with a pleasant surprise. My dad was standing there with my stepmom, watching the boys play with Frank and Tony.

When he heard the door shut he turned and his face lit up when he saw me. "Annabeth!"

"Dad!"

I ran forward into his arms and hugged him tightly. He laughed lightly into the embrace and I let go. When Grover said visitors from California, I automatically assumed it was someone from Camp Jupiter or something, not my family.

I tried to smile at my dad, but my lip was quivering. I tried to speak, but I couldn't talk around the lump on my throat. So instead I turned and gave my mom a hug. "How are you doing sweetie?" She asked kindly. I shrugged, still finding it hard to talk.

I turned and saw the twins running toward me. I giggled and caught Matthew in the air as he jumped towards me. I almost tripped as Bobby hugged my legs, almost tackling me to the ground.

"You guys are getting so big!" I exclaimed, finally finding my voice. "Well, we are eleven now," Matthew said, while looking at the ground. I could sense that they could feel the tension in the air.

I knelt on the ground and took one of each of their hands in mine. "Do you know why you guys are here today?" I asked. Bobby shook his head.

"Do you know what a funeral is?" I asked. Bobby paused and then nodded. Then Matthew nodded. "Well, a lot of my friends died recently and there's going to be a funeral in a little while, so I need you two to stay with mommy and daddy okay?" More nods.

"Where will you be?" Matthew asked. I sighed and squeezed their hands. "I'll be with Percy, forever and always."

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Piper's POV

I walked with Jason as we put together the final touches to the funeral. It was due to start in about ten minutes. All of the shrouds were in their places and the bodies had been buried already. There had been a crowd for that as well.

Nico led the burial and made sure everything was in order, and that all the bodies were buried with drachmas.

Now we are getting ready for the service where we would burn the shrouds and announce the deaths.

Leo hobbled around on his crutches, lighting forty-one candles. For forty-one deaths. Forty-one.

Katie and Miranda from the Demeter cabin were seeing to the flower arrangements. They all looked and smelled wonderful. The whole thing looked beautiful. These people deserved this, and we did good.

People were beginning to fill the seats we set out. The service was being held outside, in the lawn where the sun shown warmly and you could smell both the sea and the forest. It was a very pleasant and calming place.

In the council meeting, after Annabeth left, we discussed how the service would go. We voted on whether or not Chinese Lanterns were a good idea. We decided we would hand one out to everyone, along with a match(enchanted of course) to release into the sky after the service as a way to give the grieving closure.

It was a symbol of hope and finality and comfort. It was almost a unanimous vote. Clovis was sleeping.

I spotted Sally take a seat near the back with Paul and Estelle. I also saw Annabeth's family and some other familiar faces. I saw the Avengers take spots in the back and hunters in the middle. Campers spread out and nymphs and satyrs sat on the grass, not minding the seating arrangements.

Jason and I walked hand in hand over to Leo who's flaming finger hovered over the last candle. Each had a bronze band around the middle that  had the name of the dead engraved on it. This one read Harley.

I squeezed Leo's shoulder encouragingly and he took a deep breath and lit the final candle. Then we made our way to the spots Hazel and Frank were saving for us.

And then the service began.

Chiron galloped to the podium in the center of the stage and cleared his throat before testing the microphone that sat there. He looked like a weary old man up there in front of everyone.

He started his speech like this, "I've been around for a very long time. A very long time indeed. And these heroes never seize to amaze me. You all know why we are here today. We're here to mourn our heroes today. Our friends, our brothers, our sisters, our family.

"And I've seen many forms of pain. Felt them even. But there is one that hurts like no other. It catches you off guard and haunts you. It's different for everyone, and I'm going to tell you something. Everyone here is feeling it. It's called grief.

"It comes in waves and doesn't like to let go. I'm here to tell that it is okay. It's okay to feel that way. Everyone else here is experiencing it too. But I'm also here to tell you that it is okay to let go as well. It might seem like a horrible thing to say, but that's what your loved ones would want. We are all family here. It'll be okay.

"Now for the burning of the shrouds."

Chiron looked to the back of the crowd and all heads turned. A young girl with auburn hair and dressed in a brown dress made her way up the aisle. Her eyes blazed with fire, but they were not angry. They felt warm and comfortable.

I realized who she was. "Lady Hestia," I muttered as she walked by. She smiled warmly at me and continued on. It suddenly occurred to me that some of the gods were sitting in various spots around the crowd.

"The goddess Hestia will be burning the shrouds today, giving the souls, alive and deceased, the comfort of the hearth," Chiron stated.

Hestia made her way to the far end of the stage where the first shroud hung. A torch appeared in her hand as she waited for her cue.

Chiron began calling the names, and one by one, Hestia burned the shrouds.

"From Camp Half-Blood, Sophia Hanson, daughter of Apollo.

"Harley, son of Hephaestus.

"Austin Lake, son of Apollo.

"Cecil Markowitz, son of Hermes.

"Jake Mason, son of Hephaestus.

"Mitchell, son of Aphrodite.

"Malcolm Pace, son of Athena.

"Julian Sparrow, son of Hebe.

"Natalie Sport, daughter of Hermes.

"Kyle Trevor, son of Hermes.

"Holly Victor, daughter of Nike.

"Laurel Victor, daughter of Nike.

"Ellis Wakefield, son of Ares." Mark, Ellis's brother, took a shuddering breath and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

"And Sherman Yang, son of Ares." I heard Miranda moan.

"From Camp Jupiter, First Cohort," Chiron continued, "Noah James, son of Mars.

"Maria Willow, daughter of Ceres.

"From Second Cohort, Jordan Chris, son of Venus.

"Alexander Cooper, son of Venus.

"Eli O'Conner, son of Vulcan.

"Jade Scarlet, daughter of Mars.

"Form Third Cohort, Alia Gabriel, daughter of Apollo.

"Isaac Hunter, son of Bacchus.

"Lila Jacobson, daughter of Venus.

"From Fifth Cohort, Christina Thomas, daughter of Mercury."

Chiron paused and looked wearily at the stage which had many blazing shrouds. Then he forged ahead.

"Of the Hunters Of Artemis, Kingsley Ash, daughter of Ares.

"Alison Baily, daughter of Ben and Sheila Baily.

"Serenity Hart, daughter of Demeter.

"Lily Moch, daughter of Apollo(I swear I don't hate you, I was just fresh out of names).

"Calle Pierce, daughter of Owen and Lilac Woodley.

"And Annalise Riot, daughter of Helios."

"We Lost two cyclops from Commander Tyson's regiment. Their names were Bradly and Levi. We lost three giant eagles from Cano Jupiter by the names of Skyler, Dawn, and Dusk."

"We also lost three Pegasi, Cherry, Fife, and Guido, and a hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary, and a flying table by the name of Buford."

He lapsed into silence and everyone bowed there heads in respectful silence. After a little while, Chiron called for attention once more.

"I would now invite you to take out your Chinese Lanterns and strike the match to give it fire. We will be releasing them into the sky. It will represent different things for different individuals. For some it will bring closure, hope, or comfort. Grief is a pain we all feel. It is not something that tears us apart, but something that brings us together. Now release your grief and release your lanterns into the sky!"

A wave of lanterns floated through the evening air, the sun setting behind us. I leaned against Jason and watched the beauty of it all. Annabeth and Percy would be watching this all through an Iris message in the infirmary, but there's nothing like being actually here.

I breathed a sigh of content, at least for the moment. I felt a strange weight lifted off my shoulders and I really thought about Chiron's words.

It's okay to let go.

Alright then, I'll try.

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Hello people! So sorry that took so long! Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter(it was sad) and now I have to say important stuff, so please read.

So, I just finished reading Stephen King's It today and it was aMAZING!!!!! If you haven't read It already, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, I'm quite sure I had something else to say, but I can't seem to remember it.

Oh yeah! Most of the names listed are mine, save for the ones that are Rick's(duh). So yeah, just so you know.

Well, remember to vote and comment and have a wonderful day! Love you demigods:)