Her body ached continuously.

"Emilia."

Jason poked her gently the next morning, once Hylla had gone to fix her a plate for breakfast. Emilia was staring at the mirror after brushing her teeth, so zoned out she didn't realize she had company until she felt Jason's touch.

"Hey, good morning," he said softly. "Pollux and Piper were with me when we Iris-messaged your aunt, let her and your siblings know what happened. Your dad and stepmom are still in Mexico but they'll be coming back soon."

"How did Xochitl react?" whispered Emilia, lip trembling. "When you told her about Leo?"

"I didn't tell her," said Jason quietly. "I didn't... I couldn't... I didn't want to speak of it. I said he was busy fixing stuff up in Camp. Piper used a bit of charmspeak to make her believe it... she knew something wasn't right. I'll be with you whenever you're ready to say anything... if you'd like."

Emilia leaned onto the sink, trying to steady herself. "Thank you, Jason. I..." She turned away, breathing heavily and trying not to cry. "I'm so sorry. I failed all of you. I failed Leo."

"Don't say that," he insisted. "You trusted him. That's why he picked you to know about it and not us. You loved him so, so much, he never doubted that you'd let him have his choice no matter what it made you feel. It's why so many of us feel comfortable around you."

Her mouth twitched. "A far cry from the girl who first arrived here, making everyone steer clear."

"You're not that girl anymore. You haven't been for awhile. You became our friend. Our sister. I know how much it meant to Leo that you cared for him, that you became his family. My family, too, and Piper's. I still... can't remember a lot from before Hera took my memories. I'm not sure I'll ever get that back. But you've taught me what it means to be a brother. So... in the coming months, now that I'll get to see Thalia more, it's your example I'll follow. I'm glad I didn't lose you, too. When I saw you on the ground at the Acropolis..." His eyes sparkled with tears. "I don't know what I would've done if both of you were gone. There's still hope, because he had the physician's cure. But with only one dose..."

She reached out, burying her head in his chest and sobbing. He closed the door of the bathroom, allowing himself to cry, too.

She gathered the strength to exit the cabin if only to say goodbye to Frank, Hazel, and Reyna. Hylla had asked Krista to lead the Amazons back to Seattle, intending to remain with Emilia even through her eventual return to San Diego to see her family again.

In the distance, the Romans were picking up their gear and toting it across the hill. On the other side, a fleet of black SUVs waited to transport the legion cross-country back to California. She guessed that would be an interesting road trip.

"Ella the harpy is going with them, you know," said Jason to her and Nico, who'd come to watch where they stood. "She and Tyson. Even Rachel Elizabeth Dare. They're going to work together to try to reconstruct the Sibylline Books."

"That should be interesting," said Nico.

"Could take years," said Jason. "But with the voice of Delphi extinguished until Apollo regains favor with Zeus..."

"Rachel still can't see the future?"

Jason shook his head. "With any luck, Artemis will get him out of trouble with Zeus and the power of prophecy will work again. But for now those Sibylline Books might be our only way to get guidance for quests."

"Personally," said Nico, "I could do without prophecies or quests for a while."

"Yep," muttered Emilia. She patted Nico's shoulder. "Listen... I'm super proud of you. You did an amazing job with the Athena Parthenos. I admire you a lot."

Nico tried for a half-smile. "Thanks, Emilia. Listen, about Leo..." He hesitated. "I felt his death. But it felt... different. I don't know what to make of that. I just thought you should know."

"Thank you," she whispered. She excused herself, leading Hylla to the top of the hill.

"This is a cute camp," said Hylla. "Would have liked to come here as a younger demigod, if I'd had the chance. I'd like to participate in a game of capture-the-flag."

"We'll make it work," said Emilia, tugging at her fingers to minimize their trembling. "So... how are you feeling? About Kinzie, about the battle..."

"You're checking in on me in a moment like this?" said Hylla. "You almost died, Emilia, and within a few hours, you watched your brother..." She trailed off. "We've both been through so much."

"Emphasis on both," said Emilia. She found the strength to say, "I'm just glad it's over. We're together now. Whatever trauma, we're going to get through it. I've already told Will I'll come see him at the end of the week if... nothing. I think you should join us. Or book your own session, too... talk things out."

Hylla nodded. "That... would probably be a good idea. My decision is final, you know. I spoke to Chiron while I was getting you breakfast... he can help me get into college. What do you say we both become Berkeley Brains?"

Emilia squeezed her hand. "I'd very much like that. I heard Percy and Annabeth are going to College in New Rome. We'd be close by to them, to Reyna."

"Speaking of Reyna," said Hylla, "my little sister got to talking with Thalia Grace. Apparently, the Hunters have become quite appealing to her."

"Things change," said Emilia, mostly to herself. She couldn't have imagined this moment even half a year ago. "I... I can't claim I'm going to be okay, whether Leo comes back or not. But I promise to work on myself, if you'll be patient with me. I still want to explore life with you. I know there is so much more than all this monster-fighting. If you'll stick by me... I'll find it in myself to brave that new quest, regardless of how this week ends."

"Always," promised Hylla, cupping her face and pressing a firm kiss on her lips. "We deserve better than what the world has given us, Emilia. And I like to think you are better for me."

-

It wasn't until the morning after that Emilia felt her energy starting to return. It was still difficult to move around Camp, especially without the joyous Roman energy around every corner (Pollux was channeling all of Krista's energy into the tour he helped Emilia give to Hylla), but they made it work.

They'd been at the edge of the woods when she felt a tug, the familiar sensation of being drawn home, as she'd been in Tartarus.

"Give me a second," she said to Pollux and Hylla. "I think my mother wants to talk to me."

She went into the forest alone, hoping Grover wasn't nearby– he'd probably jump out of his skin in fright at the sight of Eris. Though, he was probably occupied elsewhere with Juniper, who had been rattling off a list of all the things they had to do to get the Camp back into shape.

"Mother," she called, looking into the shadows beneath each tree. "Where are you?"

Eris formed from the darkness of a bush. "That is much easier now, though I admit, a damp forest isn't quite as nice as an observatory."

Emilia smiled, genuinely. "Hey, if you can try to take a bit more of a human form– a little less shadow and flickering and the purple tint in your skin– then we can go to the real observatory any day you want. Mother-daughter trip."

"That would be nice." Eris floated over, placing her hand on Emilia's shoulder. "Oh, my sweet girl. The discord within you, it's unbearable to me. I so despise seeing you in pain."

Not long ago, you would've caused it, thought Emilia. She was happy that they were past that. "I'm glad you can be here freely, even if called forth by my... suffering. I am looking forward to having more moments to just chat. What did Athena say?"

Eris beamed. "Well, it appears you and your friend Jason had quite the moving speech. Zeus is still upset, of course, but Athena has wisely counseled that this argument be thought into. Artemis has argued in your favor as well, and I'm sure Apollo will chime in once it is safe to be in the throne room at the same time as his father. The gods will support Jason in acknowledging all gods in each Camp. As for me, I've... been given a place on Olympus. I may go between there and the Mansion of Night all I wish. Delicate little quarters near Hypnos, Morpheus, and Nemesis. I'm sure my mother will miss my presence, but, well, I'll have the freedom of visiting you each time."

"As long as you try to call first," said Emilia, mostly playfully. "Would be awkward if you appear right as I'm showering, or something."

"Of course, I only come when you are in need of me or when you call me, to ensure I don't intrude." She smiled in the direction of Hylla and Pollux, barely visible through the branches. "She's beautiful, Emilia. I'm glad that she makes you so happy."

She blushed. "Yeah... she really is. Mother... thank you for everything. Truly."

"I wish I'd done it from the first, my dear. I'm glad I was able to save your life. I wasn't sure it'd work, but I thought... I never formally claimed you. You didn't see it, of course, but I brought a tiny apple of discord over your head that day, in the hopes you'd be filled with my life force. I'm not sure if your powers will be as pronounced, but I suppose one neverforgets the lessons learned in the Pit. You are still my daughter, and granddaughter of Nyx. A fierce demigod who has accomplished great things. I am so very proud of you, for being one of the Eight, for saving our world."

"Leo saved the world," whispered Emilia. "I... I guess I helped, but..."

Eris's smile only grew. Emilia wasn't sure why, until she heard the roar of a dragon overhead.

"EMILIA!" She heard Hylla and Pollux shouting.

"How–?" She saw Eris shrug.

"Not my doing," said Eris. "Not really. Asclepius is good at what he does. But I may have... pushed with the shadows to bring him back faster. The poor thing was lost for a bit. That simply wouldn't do."

She pulled her mother into a tight hug before she sprinted back out of the forest, where the campers were staring up at Festus, gleaming in the sun, the same way he had the morning of their first quest.

"Hey!" yelled Leo when he saw Jason and Piper joining Emilia. "Man, being dead sucked. But that physician's cure? That stuff is worse."

-

A/N: Keep reading for the Final Author's Note!