Percy stops trying to overpower Geras and hugs him instead. While holding the god of old age, Percy thinks about the grandparents he never knew, his mother’s losses, and the possibility of growing old with Annabeth and Grover. Percy realizes that accepting old age with loved ones is better than dying young, even if age brings pain and decline.

Geras is stunned by Percy’s choice. The god relaxes, becomes emotional, and asks why Percy embraced him. Percy explains that he will be wrestling with old age for his whole life and is willing to accept that, but he also offers to continue the fight if Geras thinks Percy’s life should end now.

Geras admits that ending Percy’s life at seventeen would be wrong and says it is not Percy’s time. Geras asks whether Percy would drink from the chalice to become immortal, and Percy says no because Percy wants a full human life, including the difficult parts. Geras is impressed that Percy is unlike the gods who reject old age.

Geras summons the chalice and gives it back, saying it belongs on Olympus even if the immortals there have turned away from him. After Geras disappears in a cloud of talcum powder, Percy catches the heavy chalice. Grover celebrates, and Annabeth praises Percy’s risky but perfect strategy, telling Percy she hopes they someday get to see him become an old man.

Before the group can contact Ganymede, a decorated Hula-Hoop falls from the sky. Annabeth identifies the hoop as a symbol of Ganymede’s eternal youth and finds a note attached to it. The message says Ganymede is trapped on Olympus and needs the cup immediately because Zeus is not waiting for Sunday: Zeus is hosting his mother for brunch right now.