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The breakup between Annabeth and Percy was something to be expected after Annabeth, tired after Apollo and Artemis joined their quest after Leo, Hazel, and Percy had decided not to seek the cure from death, but instead asked for a way to stop Octavian, which was achieved thanks to a curse from Apollo, who had given Octavian his Sight but had taken his voice, telling a Percy busy explaining to the two gods that blue syrup on blue pancakes made everything so much better. "Blue food doesn't exist."
Piper and Jason might have been surprised by Percy's reaction, as he had been very quick to break up with Annabeth, saying he wouldn't be with someone who belittled such a fundamental part of Percy's life, but Leo, from similar experience, and Hazel and Frank, from their time spent with Percy, understood perfectly what was behind Percy's firm reaction.
The refusal to be stuck in the same toxic relationship as his mother.
In hindsight, the signs had all been there, but Percy had willfully blinded himself to everything, perhaps because he didn't want to be alone, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because everyone, including the gods, had pushed him towards Annabeth.
Artemis had maintained her judgment, given that Annabeth had demanded punishment from Artemis against the man who had used her and then left her.
Percy, then, had explained the story of the blue food to all the members of the Argo II.
He explained how Gabe had told his mother that blue food didn't exist and that since then, his mother had always tried to cook blue, to prove that what Gabe said wasn't true.
He added that, along with the fact that she had kept Jackson instead of taking Gabe's last name, it had been Percy's sign of hope throughout his childhood, knowing from that man was only temporary.
“Mom and I didn’t take Paul’s last name,” Percy finished the explanation, “but he’s legally Paul Jackson now, which made him even cooler, at least in my opinion.”
Artemis had threatened Annabeth, but it was Poseidon who cursed her as soon as they’d met on the Acropolis.
To stop Gaea, not to take a divine tour of the cradle of Western civilization.
Percy was just grateful that Kronos hadn’t had ferries for his entire army; it would have been hell to get to Greece otherwise.
Camp Half-Blood didn’t have ferries, and it was best not to mention the Roman fleet.
At the end of the war—Percy wasn’t the least bit concerned about what Athena and Hera’s punishment would be, knowing full well they’d deserved it—Apollo had gently grabbed his arm before disappearing and reappearing in that place Percy rather belatedly recognized as Delos.
“Where are we going?” Percy asked. “Because I was in a hurry to see my mother again.”
“Come with me, you'll love it,” Apollo promised, as excited as a golden retriever puppy.
“More than seeing my mother again, whom I haven't seen in a year?” Percy grimaced.
“Just look,” Apollo said finally, pointing ahead of Percy with a dramatic wave of his hand.
Following the wave, Percy held his breath.
Delos was always beautiful, but that particular spot was simply breathtaking.
Trees with blue flowers, trees with completely blue fruit, even apple trees, pear trees, and banana trees; shades of indigo, cobalt, and dark blue, almost like the sea.
And then came the animals: blue-feathered birds, butterflies, lizards, maybe fish in the waters around the island; animals Percy had never seen before.
And Percy continues to realize that Apollo is building an entire catalog of blue things just for him.
Percy turned, looking breathlessly at Apollo. “You remembered?”
“Of course I did,” Apollo replied, before picking up a blue mandarin orange and handing it to Percy. “Try it and tell me what you think.”
Percy tasted it, needing little prompting. The flavor was delicious.
“It is delicious,” Percy said finally, swallowing and gazing at the orchard in rapture.
A hand on his cheek brought Percy’s gaze back to Apollo, his breath catching in his chest when he saw the intensity of that golden-blue gaze fixed on her.
“I want to kiss you so much right now, Percy,” Apollo said, perhaps aware of the times when Percy had been oblivious to the flirtations of people who had now stopped being subtle and moved straight to a direct kiss.
“It would be foolish to say no after all this.” Percy replied, gesturing around him, at the blue trees, before looking at Apollo and tilting his head forward, letting their lips meet.
It was the first kiss Percy had given without being attacked by the other person.
It was perfect.