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Percy saw a sea of demigods part from the forum. Even the bandaged and hurt demigods had shifted slightly to make way. Generations of demigods were watching from afar, grandparents walking together, kids Percy's age watching closely, and parents with babies trying to see what was happening.
Percy saw Reyna walk forward, towards the path of whoever was separating the sea of demigods. She ushered Percy to move behind her. He did.
Percy counted each step as he walked to the source of the crowd's division. When Reyna had seen the person, Percy was still several feet behind, but he had seen Reyna analyse the person calmly, and he saw the crowd gasp as another figure appeared behind them.
Percy started to walk quicker when he had seen Reyna straighten. The last thing he had heard before reaching them was "Ahh, Jason Grace, my former colleague." He saw a strand of long blonde hair, and he automatically knew who it had belonged too. He felt his heart pumped faster as he moved from behind Reyna to look at her.
And for the first time in what felt like centuries, Percy saw her. He saw Annabeth, and he felt all the tension he had been holding melt for a moment, replaced by complete love, and he was overwhelmed by it in the best possible way. He vaguely processed the presence of a blond guy next to her but paid no mind, not when Annabeth was here, really, truly in front of him.
They catch eyes, and he sees her soften immediately before they both run over to one another.
Percy carefully holds onto her face, afraid that this hadn't been real, couldn't have been real, and he feels Annabeth hold his face back before they kissed, and kissed, and kissed, and for a moment nothing and no one else mattered. The world could have been burning and Percy wouldn't have even considered leaving her side.
Wise Girl. Annabeth Chase. She was next to him, after all this time.
He pulled away and looked at her face, still holding onto her face with one hand as the other held onto her waist. Strands of her blonde hair covered her face, and he pulled them back to see her grey eyes, so full of emotions that Percy had fully reciprocated.
Percy was drowning in complete love with her.
Percy pulled her into a hug, and he felt her crush him so tightly that for a moment he couldn't breathe. He buried his face in her neck for a moment as he whispered "Gods, I never thought I'd see you again."
Annabeth hugged him tighter, and she had whispered back, "If you ever leave me again, I swear to all the gods—"
Percy laughed, a laugh of relief and joy and indescribable love.
"Consider me warned. I missed you too."
Annabeth pulled away and put her hands on his face again, and he felt her look at his face again, looking at him with... love? disbelief? worry? hope? He placed a kiss on her forehead and had almost whispered an I love you before he had heard a man cough awkwardly next to him.
"So, yeah..." The blonde guy awkwardly said. "It's good to be back."
The demigods, Jason, Piper, and Leo, introduced themselves as Percy and Annabeth held hands, still smiling and looking at one another in disbelief. He let go as Annabeth and Reyna shook hands, Reyna comparing Annabeth to an Amazon. Percy remembered how tight the hug was and how he had almost felt his body crush due to Annabeth's strength, and he had quickly internally agreed.
Reyna clasped her hands. "It seems we have a lot to discuss. Centurions!"
Roman senior officers had gathered around, and Hazel and Frank stood by Percy's side as Frank asked him about Annabeth, and Percy had been more than happy to answer. Percy saw Hazel frown at the direction of the new demigods, what were their names again, Pepper and Liam?
"Is everything okay?" He whispered.
Hazel shook her head and looked at Percy. "Yeah, fine," She said before looking away. She didn't look convincing, but as Reyna gave orders, Percy couldn't try to help.
"...Tell the legion to stand down! Dakota, alert the spirits in the kitchen. Tell them to prepare a welcome feast. And, Octavian—"
"You're letting the intruders into the camp?" He screeched. Percy thought Octavian sounded a lot like Mrs. Dodds. Mrs. Dodds sounded a bit better, though. "Reyna, the security risks—"
"We're not taking them to the camp, Octavian." Reyna looked pissed off. Percy wanted to cheer her on. "We'll eat here, in the forum."
"Oh, much better. You want us to relax in the shadow of their warship." he grumbled. Percy wanted to roll his eyes so hard that they'd roll to the back of his head and he'd never have to see Octavian's face again.
"These are our guests," Reyna stressed on every word. "We will welcome them, and we will talk to them. As augur, you should burn an offering to thank the gods for bringing Jason back to us safely."
"Good idea," Percy butted in. "Go burn your bears, Octavian."
Percy looked at Reyna as they smiled at one another before Reyna went back to work. "You have my orders. Go." Octavian shot Percy a look, and Percy felt so smug.
Percy walked towards Annabeth and slipped his hands into hers. "Don't mind Octavian. Most of the Romans are good people, like Frank and Hazel here, and Reyna. We'll be fine."
He placed a kiss on her head, and they had smiled at one another. Percy heard a faint laugh but had decided to ignore it, brushing it off as one of the twelve year olds playing.
All that had mattered to him now was that he had Annabeth and his friends, and he was happy, a moment of calm before the storm he knew was sure to follow.
"We'll be fine," Annabeth repeated, and they both tried convincing themselves they believed it.
"Excellent," Reyna said. She turned to Jason. "Let's talk, and we can have a proper reunion."
Annabeth placed a peck on Percy's neck before they had followed Reyna, and a part of Percy still could not believe he had Annabeth here, hand in hand again.