A\N: Okay, I'm presenting you my AU one-shot. I hope that you'll like it. There are no gods or demigods. They are normal people in their twenties.
It will have two different endings because I can't really decide which one would be better. So I'm leaving you to choose what will happen in the end. Both of them are happy though so no one is leaving or dying, don't worry. For the disappointed ones, sorry, but I simply can't let them suffer. Sue me!
Enjoy!
The secret
''I think Jason is up to something.'' Hazel announced when everyone had gathered for lunch. Well, everyone except for Jason.
''No duh, Sherlock, tell me something new.'' Leo, one of her co-workers, said sarcastically while searching through the bags of take-out Chinese they had ordered for lunch.
The others in the room just chuckled but Hazel decided to ignore them.
It was the third time this week that agent Jason Grace from the New York Homicidal Department had left the team to eat lunch alone. His co-workers Frank Zang, Leo Valdez, Reyna White, Hazel Lévesque, Nico di Angelo and their leader (and Jason's big sister) Thalia Grace had noticed his strange behavior ever since it started a month ago but they had already decided to leave him alone. He was usually not the one to talk about his personal life much. They tried to get some information out of him but every time he felt cornered he either exited the room because 'someone was calling him', changed the subject or something along those lines. For a twenty-five-year-old agent, who had been in the team for only a year, he was very good at his job. A natural talent, some said.
''I found something!'' Nico burst through the door suddenly, startling his colleagues.
''Calm down Dead breath, how much coffee did you had by now?'' Thalia asked, eyeing him carefully.
Nico grimaced at the nickname but decided not to comment right now. What could he do: you can learn a lot of things down in the morgue, how could he not spend so much time there?
''Only two cups, mind you but that's not important. Look what a saw!'' he waved her off and eagerly went to the big screen, which was placed on the wall by the door so no one could see it from the hallway.
He was working excitedly on connecting his smart phone to the video system and didn't notice the strange looks he was getting from the others. Not that they could be blamed; seeing the dark, mysterious Nico di Angelo acting all hyper and smiling like a maniac could creep out anyone.
''Yes!'' he triumphantly fist-pumped the air and turned the screen on, starting a video.
Jason was leaning on his car, parked under a tree in front of a big building. He was obviously waiting for something to happen or more likely, for someone to arrive.
''So I decided to…check on our dearest friend. You can thank me for this later Grace. As you may know this is New York Medical College. I made this video just half an hour ago. Watch!''
With that all eyes turned to the screen again.
Jason checked his phone again and paced in front of the car for a while. After a few minutes three people came out: a couple holding hands and a brown haired woman in her early twenties. The couple passed by first but the other girl had stopped in the middle of the path to search for something in her bag. Jason then pushed himself off of the car and headed in her direction. She didn't notice him until he snapped his fingers in front of her face. She jumped up a little and smacked him lightly on the arm, causing both him and the team to laugh. The girl finally found what she was searching for, her phone, and placed it in her jeans' pocket. The team looked baffled when Jason casually put his hand on her shoulders and the two began talking and laughing while making their way towards the car.
As they neared Nico's hiding place, it could be seen that the girl had unevenly-cut mid-waist long chocolate hair with two small braids on either side of her face. The colour of her eyes couldn't be seen from this distance.
When they neared the car, she made an attempt to circle it and get to the passenger's seat when Jason caught her wrist and suddenly, she was pressed to the car with no escape route. Jason said something and smiled wickedly. The girl's bright smile rivaled his and he leaned in to kiss her.
For one long moment they didn't separate but then she smiled in the kiss and they had to pull away. She said something to him and touched the tip of his nose, making him throw his head back and laugh whole-heartedly. She used the opportunity to escape and went to the other side of the car. When he raised his eyebrows at her she just stuck her tongue out at him and got in the car.
Jason shook his head with a smile and got in too. The car passed Nico without any of its passengers to notice him.
The video ended and a heavy silence filled the space.
''Man, that's big.'' Frank spoke up first.
''Big? This is epic.'' Leo's eyes were still glued to the screen.
''Well, I think it was about time.'' Reyna concluded, leaning in her seat satisfied.
She and Jason were friends since kindergarten. Sure, they dated for a while in high school but found out that they were too similar for a relationship to work out and that they were better in being best friends. Neither of them had thought of going out again.
''She's pretty. And did you notice how he smiles at her?'' Hazel cooed which sounded a little weird out of her since she wasn't usually like this.
''Pretty? She's a knockout!'' Leo laughed but was quickly stopped by his partner Reyna, Hazel and Thalia when the three of them reached simultaneously to slap him.
''No hitting on Jason's girlfriend Valdez or I'll hunt you down.'' Reyna threatened with a pointed finger at his chest.
''I know you want me all for yourself Rey, don't worry. I wasn't planning on it either way, Jason is my best friend too you know.'' The boy cocked his eyebrow at her and she leaned in her chair again, blushing slightly.
''Okay you two, enough flirting. The question is who she is?'' Nico wondered and returned to a particular moment where her face was clearly visible.
''I want to know why he hadn't told us about this. Valdez, di Angelo, go check her picture and find out everything about her, if she has a police record, parentage, everything. I want you to report to me as soon as you have results.'' Thalia spoke in a stern voice that startled the rest. She had been so quiet that they forgot she was there.
She stormed out of the room muttering things like 'he's so dead' and 'I'm his sister goddamnit'.
''I'll go check on her.'' Hazel stood and motioned for Reyna to follow her which left the boys alone.
''Frank, are you coming with us?'' Nico asked while disconnecting his phone.
''As much as I want to I had two perfect reasons to stay out of this. First, my desk is buried in paperwork and second, I don't want Jason to chew out my head when he finds out that we're spying on him.'' The guy smiled victoriously at them.
''Please, like he will find out. He's just too drunk with love to notice.'' Leo laughed again.
''Who's drunk with love?'' Jason's voice sounded from the doorway and the three men looked at him with wide eyes. ''What?''
''Nothing, we just…didn't expect you here so early.'' Leo breathed out with a nervous smile at his friend.
''So why are you back so early?'' Nico hurried to distract Jason and save Leo from blowing up everything.
Jason didn't look convinced but decided to drop the subject for now.
''They called me for a new case because Thalia wasn't answering her phone.'' He answered eyeing them suspiciously.
''Well then, we better go in the conference room for the briefing.'' Frank urged and they all left quickly.
Jason shook his head and followed his friends. What was up with them? He may never know what happened when he was out. But for her, it was worth it.
''Thalia, we found the…missing puzzle peace. Leo's in the lab right now, waiting for you.'' Frank announced carefully. They had just found out who was Jason's mystery girl but since the said guy was with Thalia in her office, he had to choose his words.
He hoped that his sideways glances would make her understand what was happening.
She was confused just for a fraction of the second before her face cleared.
''Thanks, tell him I'll be there in a bit.'' She nodded gratefully to him and he hurried to leave.
''So Nico is in the morgue, waiting for the autopsy to be over, Reyna and Hazel are questioning the witnesses. Go help the girls and then check on Nico because he gets kind of distracted down there.'' She instructed him and they both stood up.
''We don't have suspects for now but maybe that will change after the interrogation.'' Jason said while opening the door to his sister.
''We'll see that. We have to see what Leo had found about the blood and hair you brought from the crime scene.''
They both nodded and parted ways: Jason walked to the elevator and Thalia headed to the labs.
She was still angry at her brother for not telling her about his girlfriend. They were always close, they worked together, practically see each other seventy-five percent of the day. Was this girl that bad or had Thalia done something wrong? She sighed and entered the lab, AKA Leo's domain.
''What do you have for me?'' she addressed him formally.
''For lover boy or for the case first?'' Leo smiled at her, looking up from a microscope.
''The case.''
''Okay, so I got a blood sample and a long black hair from the victim's t-shirt. The hair was with its root and I could make a proper DNA sample. Surprisingly, the hair turned out to be male's. The blood on the other hand was a woman's and I believe our victim was a man, right? Anyway, the said woman has AB negative blood type which is good because it's the rarest type of blood. I also noticed that the erythrocytes are shaped as half moons.''
''Anemic?'' Frank stated-asked then.
''Exactly. Not a serious form though but it still needs a regular hospital visits.''
''We'll check the hospitals for anemic women with blood type AB negative. Great job, something else?''
''Well, I still have to look up the hair for more information about the person. Hairs are like human libraries, like a tiny medical carton. They have traces from every medication that the person had ever taken. Or course it depends on how long is the hair…''
''Okay, okay, you'll update me when you finish. And what about the other thing?'' Thalia eagerly asked while collecting the papers Leo had given to her during his report.
''The name is Piper Ann Mclean, daughter of Aphrodite and Tristan Mclean, I think you know them both.'' Leo started, walking to his computer to show her the file.
''Who doesn't?'' Thalia asked sarcastically and motioned for him to continue.
''She's born in L.A. on August 26th 1991, age 21 soon to be 22. Between thirteen and fifteen she was caught several times for stealing different things like clothes, jewelry and wow, even a BMW! I'm starting to like this girl more and more!'' Leo exclaimed but when he met Thalia's eyes decided to continue. ''However, she wasn't charged with theft, she got out only with paying the damages. Most likely her parents had something to do with it.''
''Leo.'' Thalia warned him and he cleared his throat before continuing.
''Anyway, there is nothing after that: no stealing, no speed taxes not even a fine for wrong parking, nothing. I have her current address here in New York and that is all.''
''Excellent job Leo.'' Thalia congratulated him but Frank cut them off.
''Jason's coming!'' he hissed.
In a flash Leo had displayed a microscopic picture of the blood sample from the case. He started explaining about the series of test that he had to do to the hair.
''Hey guys, we finished the interrogations. Five witnesses have seen some important details and we let the others go. All of them described the same thing though: a loud piercing scream and gunshots but they don't agree about their number.'' Reyna announced.
''Did you by any chance met a guy with long black hair?'' Leo asked hopefully.
''Yeah, actually. I thought he was on drugs or something. He was shifting way too much, drinking a lot of water and sweating. He refused to give a blood sample though so I can't prove anything.'' Jason explained with knitted eyebrows.
''I'm sure that the hair that we found is his!'' Frank exclaimed then.
''Without proof, we can't keep him here, he's just a witness. He'll just call a layer and be out in no time.'' Reyna bitterly replied.
''I'll go talk with him, keep him here for a while. Leo, hurry up with the tests. If you find drugs in the hair, call me immediately. We can't let him go.'' Thalia announced with a strange spark in her intimidating eyes.
''I'll go to the morgue, see how's it going down there. Maybe we can find DNA under the victim's nails.'' Jason said and left the room.
''Hazel went to examine the bullets. I'll go watch the tapes from the security cameras in the market and see what I can get from them.'' Reyna informed them before leaving too.
''Okay, Frank, you'll come and help me question our long-haired friend downstairs more carefully. Leo, delete everything on the Mclean research.'' Thalia instructed him and he obeyed without questioning.
''Good, now back to work. Let's find this killer.''
A few hours later Thalia had called Nico, Frank, Hazel and Reyna in her office. She had gone on a short spying mission after Piper Mclean. She had took some pictures and wanted to show them to the rest of the crew. Leo was currently distracting Jason in the lab.
The pictures were taken in the college cafeteria where Piper was studying. On the first she was reading what looked like a heavy textbook while distractedly playing with a plastic coffee cup. The second one showed how a blond girl with princess curls was joining her at the table. On the third one the two girls were laughing and the blond's face could be finally seen. That was when Nico stopped Thalia.
''I know her, the blond girl!'' he exclaimed suddenly.
Four pairs of eyes looked at him with amazement.
''This is Annabeth Chase! God, I knew that Piper sounded familiar, but I never made the connection…''
''Wow, wow, time out. Where do you know her from?'' Frank asked.
''Annabeth is my cousin's girlfriend. You had met him once Thalia, Percy Jackson. Remember, when his dad Poseidon was found a year ago after being kidnapped for ten years.'' Nico explained with wide exited eyes.
''Yeah, I remember. So you're close with her then. Where's Piper's place in this?'' she responded curiously.
''She's Annabeth's best friend. Percy and Annabeth talk about her but we've never met.''
''So you can just ask them about her. Job done!'' Hazel suggested.
''Not needed, Annabeth had told me that Piper had tough past with her parents but moved on from it. She has speaks high of her and if Annabeth likes her then we have nothing to worry about.'' Nico relaxed with a smile in his chair, his hands behind his head.
Thalia shook his head and looked at the picture again. It wasn't fair of him to be so sexy. With his shirt riding up…Stop it!
''If you say so. But this still doesn't explain why Jason hasn't told us anything about her before. They are together probably for a month now. Why is he hiding her from us?'' Thalia desperately said. ''He has never been hiding something from me before.''
''I'm sure that nothing has changed between you two. And that he has a serious reason to keep us in the dark.'' Reyna reassured her with her hand on Thalia's.
''And if he doesn't have then we'll make him pay.'' Nico smiled at her too, making her heart skip a beat without her permission. She was so screwed.
''I think we should search these answers from Jason.'' Hazel suggested.
''Okay then, we'll keep track on him and Piper. Now, back to work, we still have to find who murdered the victim.''
''Hey Leo, how's it going?'' Jason asked as he entered the lab a few days later at lunch break.
Leo stopped the video he was watching and turned to his friend with a lazy smile.
''What, you're here for lunch break? Well, we must record that, it would be the first time in a…month, right?'' he teased him watching satisfied as his best friend grew more uncomfortable. ''Don't you have some other place to go today?''
Jason decided to change the subject before Leo could get too suspicious.
''So I see you haven't missed me much. Maybe Reyna occupies your time well enough, eh?''
It was Leo's turn to blush and start fumbling with his pencil. Jason laughed and went to sit with his best friend.
''Anyway, what are we watching?''
''Nothing much, some Youtube videos. There are some very insane people out there, you know.''
''Crazier than you? I want to see that!''
Both of them laughed and Leo started the video again.
Fifteen minutes later Jason's phone vibrated in his pocket and he swiftly pulled it out. His smile grew wider when he saw the caller's ID.
''I'll come back in a bit.'' He said to Leo as he exited the lab.
As soon as he made sure the coast was clear and everyone had went eating he picked up the phone.
''Hey beautiful, how it went?'' he smiled.
''Alright I guess. At last it's over. Now I have only one exam this afternoon and it'll be over for the semester. So, how are things with you?'' Piper finished lightly from the other end of the line.
''Calm, close to boring actually. After we finished the case yesterday, nothing major had happened. Now remind me why I couldn't come over for lunch?''
''I have to study Sparky. I just called to see what you're doing and to tell you that I'm halfway done. I'm bored out of my mind though.''
''Well, I could have helped with that but you didn't let me baby so now you're going to suffer.''
''So you don't suffer because I'm not there? Good to know, I was thinking of going out tonight, you know to celebrate the end of the exams. But I guess I can ask Mark from my course, he was so kind to me this morning…''
''No one is touching my girl, get it?'' he half-laughed, half-growled but Piper laughed at him.
''Your girl? Hm, watch out, I may get used to this. It sounds nice.''
''You better. So, I was actually thinking of inviting you to dinner tonight since I'm off of work tomorrow. What do you think, a table for two in Heros Perdita (The lost hero in Latin)?''
''It sounds good. We can eat there and then finish somewhere else.'' She said lowly, making Jason's imagination explode.
''Perfect!'' he just answered with the same tone and they chuckled. ''I'll pick you up at seven, okay?''
''Okay. Ugh, sheesh, alright! Jase, I have to go, Annabeth is starting to freak out. We have to get in class now.'' She sounded disappointed.
''No worries, I'll see you soon Beauty queen.''
''Jason Grace, do not use that nickname on me or else!''
''You know that you can't touch me, I'll put my handcuffs on you before you can blink.''
''I don't doubt that but…OUCH, okay! By Jase, see you at seven.''
''Bye Pipes.'' He said chuckling and before he could do anything else the line went dead.
Pretty amused, he went back to the lab only to see it empty. Where had Leo gone now?
''Are you sure Leo?'' Hazel asked impatiently.
''Absolutely. I heard him talking on his phone fifteen minutes ago, loud and clear.''
''Then we're going on a mission guys.'' Thalia announced. ''I, Reyna and Nico enter the restaurant while Leo, Frank and Hazel stay in a car outside. We'll have audio and video connection with the couple. Frank, can you put a microphone in Jason? He'll suspect something if I go to him.''
''I'll try.;; Frank smiled and Thalia nodded to him.
''Good. Guys, seven o'clock in front of the restaurant.''
They all nodded and separated to finish their work before the said hour.
''Okay people, the party is starting. Jason's car just pulled in front of the restaurant.'' Leo's voice sounded from the devices in Thalia, Reyna and Nico's ears.
''Turn on Jason's microphone.'' Thalia ordered and a few seconds later Jason and Piper's voices replaced the others'.
''Can you hear them?'' Thalia did a last check with Leo.
''We hear them and you crystal clear. We also set the camera, we just need to focus it on their table when they sit.'' Leo announced and put Jason microphone on the line again.
''I'm proud of you, you know.'' Jason was just saying to Piper who laughed.
''Please don't sound like my parents. You're only three years older than me.'' She chuckled at him.
''First, it's not necessary for me to be your parent to be proud of you. And second, do not ever joke with that. I, being your father…it would be so wrong.'' He finished with a strange voice.
''I have the feeling that he won't be able to keep his hands for himself much longer.'' Nico commented while picking up at his meal.
''Good thing you're not then, right?'' she said seductively and exited the car before Jason.
He followed her example just a few seconds later.
''You'll never let me be the gentleman, will you?''
''Nope, because I'll never let myself be the damsel in distress. Now let's go.''
He waited for her and when she reached him she pecked him lightly on the lips before linking her hand with his already stretched one. He intertwined their fingers and they went into the restaurant like that.
''I like this girl already!'' Hazel exclaimed but was shushed by the others in the car quickly.
Thalia herself was starting to like Piper too. Maybe her brother really had a god reason for hiding her. She would ask him about that later.
The receptionist, a woman around Jason's age, smiled cockily at the couple when they neared her desk. She flipped her hair and greeted Jason with a wide smile, completely ignoring Piper. ''What can I do for you?''
The woman was obviously flirting with Jason, batting her lashes and so on, but he didn't seem to care. Piper, on the other hand wasn't as careless.
''Ow, that chic at the front desk is in trouble.'' Leo snickered in Thalia's ear. ''Mclean will pummel her if she continues with this behavior.''
''Nah, Piper is more classy than that.'' Nico retorted with a knowing smile.
''You wanna bet?'' Leo asked then despite Hazel's protests.
''Fifty bucks that she'll show the receptionist how it's done.'' Nico immediately said.
''Fifty that she'll meet her with her hand, on the face and through the door.'' Leo agreed on the bet too.
''Guys!'' Reyna hissed and they stopped.
They had missed Jason's answer. Piper had narrowed her eyes at the woman in front of her probably wanting to burn her only with her eyes.
''Ah, yes, Grace. Table for two, right?'' the receptionist smiled at him again.
Piper interfered then, putting her hand gently but possessively on Jason's stomach and smiled at the baffled woman behind the desk.
''That's right. A booth actually, right baby?'' she turned to Jason with a dazzling smile.
''You heard my girl.'' He simply replied which made the woman's face scrunch like she had just swallowed a bitter lemon.
''Burned!'' Leo and Frank exclaimed at the same time and then high-fived.
Thalia face-palmed. Boys, what was she expecting of them: to be mature for once?
''Table sixteen, over there. Your waitress will come in a minute.'' The woman announced with a fake smile.
She started glaring daggers at Piper as soon as the couple headed to their table but they both didn't notice.
''I want my money Leo.'' Nico reminded him victoriously.
''Damn!'' the other one cursed under his breath.
Jason helped Piper in her seat and then sat across from her.
''Why was that?'' he asked her then.
''Hm, why was what?'' Piper asked innocently.
''Oh, you know exactly what. Tell me.''
''So you didn't notice her behavior? How she flirted shamelessly with you even though I was right next to you? Seriously?''
''I noticed but I simply didn't care. I'm not blind Pipes.'' He smiled wickedly at her. ''But even though I think it wasn't necessary, I liked it. You're very sexy when you're jealous.''
''I just showed that you're mine, that's all. I haven't slapped her or something, don't overreact.'' Piper announced with a sly smile not denying that she was jealous.
''Hm…so I'm yours? Good to know then.'' He teased.
Piper beamed at him but the waitress came before any of them could say anything else. She quickly took their order and went away. Silence fell between them.
''Thank you.'' Piper suddenly exclaimed then, making Jason look at her curiously.
''For what?'' he turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
''For putting up with me these weeks. I know I was a lot to deal with recently because of the exams and everything. It must have been hard so thank you for being so understanding.'' She said and smiled shyly at him, fumbling with her napkin.
Jason simply laughed but stopped himself when he saw Piper's red cheeks and neck.
''Believe me, it was nothing. You should see the chaos I'm in when we're working on a hard case. Your insomnia is the least problem. And when you haven't slept it's normal to be grumpy.'' He reassured her and she looked at his eyes.
''Well, I thought that I should apologize. But you got my interest here, what do you mean? What are you like when you're working on a hard case?'' she asked and leaned on her hands like a genuinely curious child.
Jason chuckled again and put his hands on the table too.
''Well, for once, I'm way more serious than usual. I'm concentrated and it's hard to reach my mind in these times. Believe me, people have tried and failed. It's like I became another person for a while.'' He admitted to her.
''I think I get it. You're just devoted to your work. It's a good thing I guess. Well, not for the bad guys that you are chasing but good for us. Annabeth is like this when it comes to medicine. Percy is pulling his hair out sometimes.'' She laughed and Jason joined her quickly.
''Please, don't start pulling your hair out. I won't forgive myself if you became bold because of me.''
That sent Piper into uncontrollable fits of laughter which subsided only when the waitress arrived with their meals.
They started eating into comfortable silence.
''So how do you find her so far?'' Nico asked Thalia.
She thought for a while but decided that there was no point in keeping it to herself.
''I think she's nice. She obviously likes Jason a lot and I can see it in his eyes that he feels the same. I like her but it still bugs me that he has been keeping quiet about all of this.'' She admitted looking in his eyes.
''I agree with you. He is head over heels for this girl, I haven't seen him like this.'' Reyna nodded too, involuntarily breaking their trance.
''Well, I like her too. He had become a lot more…happier after he met her, which I assume was a month ago. And they already act like they know each other for ears.'' Hazel spoke from the car outside.
''And she is not some Barbie girl. I would have never guessed who her parents are if you haven't told me.'' Frank joined in.
''So, detectives, what exactly is happening here?'' a voice brought Thalia, Nico and Reyna out of their train of thoughts and they turned with blank expressions towards its owner.
''Hey, Jason! What a coincidence! What are you doing here?'' Nico decided to play dumb but Jason just chuckled and sat next to Thalia.
He reached to his jeans' belt and placed a small microphone on the table.
''Hey Leo, Hazel, Frank. How is the evening going?'' he greeted them, looking in the device.
''They say it will be fine if you don't start chasing them around.'' Reyna said with a guarded expression.
''You know, I was wondering what was bugging me all this time, it was digging in me. I presume you put it there when I was changing after work?'' he asked curiously eyeing them one by one.
''It was Frank.'' Nico sighed.
''Are you mad?'' Thalia then spoke carefully.
''Actually no. But I'm a little ticked off that you didn't trust me enough to let me tell you when I wanted.'' He admitted in a serious tone.
''Well then, tell us now.'' His sister demanded and eyed him carefully.
''Okay.'' He sighed and looked behind Thalia.
She noticed how his eyes fixed on something and he waved his hand shortly before standing up. Nico, Reyna and Thalia all looked in the direction Jason was looking. Piper was walking towards their group with somewhat nervous smile on her face. When she came near enough, Jason encircled her waist gently and kissed her cheek before gesturing towards his friends and co-workers.
''Piper, these are Nico, Reyna and Thalia. Guys, this is Piper Mclean, my girlfriend.'' He announced.
''Nice to meet you.'' She smiled while shaking hands with each one of them.
''Nice to meet you too.'' Reyna smiled reassuringly at her and Piper relaxed a little.
''Why don't you two join us. We won't steal much of your time anyway.'' Thalia suggested then.
Jason looked at Piper in apology but she smiled reassuringly at him. Both Thalia and Reyna noticed how the couple seemed to understand each other without words.
Theytook a seat in the booth: Piper was next to Nico and Jason next to Thalia.
''So when exactly were you two going to share this with us?'' Nico decided to break the ice.
''Soon, very soon. It wasn't like we planned to hide it forever or something.'' Jason jumped in to reassure them.
''We just wanted to see how was it going, you know. And we both were kind of busy these past weeks.'' Piper agreed, secretly fiddling with her skirt under the table.
''How did you met?'' Thalia asked looking from her brother to his girlfriend and back again, a knowing smile making its way to her face.
Piper looked at her electric blue eyes, identical to Jason's, and relaxed a bit.
''We sort of ran into each other one Saturday morning.'' She answered smiling too.
Jason laughed then, making the others look curiously at him.
''Ran into each other? You practically ran into me and knocked me down like I was a plastic cup.'' He teased her, making her face grow crimson red.
''I said I was sorry. And you saw the dog that was chasing me, it wasn't like I was lying you.'' She defended herself with a slight huff to which Nico snickered.
Piper looked at him so intently that he immediately raised his hands in surrender.
''It was a Chihuahua Piper, not a bulldog!'' Jason managed to say before laughing again shortly followed by Nico. Reyna and Thalia were pretty amused but decided that it won't be nice to laugh.
''May I inform you that dogs just scare me, especially these little fur balls. They can be mean and do you actually know how sharp their teeth are?'' Piper glared at Jason who managed to control himself and smiled kindly at her.
''I haven't said anything else, had I?''
''Actually, I didn't hear you complain much.'' She smiled at him knowingly.
He just shrugged and then they both laughed.
The rest of the group just stood there, watching the couple with interest. Thalia and Reyna exchanged glances and smiled approvingly while Nico just winked at Jason without Piper could see him.
The dinner continued in a lighter mood after that. Piper relaxed completely when she understood that Jason's friends were all unique and at the same time just like him. She soon noticed the sparks that were occasionally passing between Thalia and Nico. She didn't know how these two had been working together all this time without actually getting together but she figured it won't be for long.
''Piper, can I ask you a question?'' Thalia turned to her when the guys went to the rest room.
''Yeah, what is it?'' she smiled at Jason's sister nicely.
''Why didn't he tell us about you two?''
Piper immediately became serious again. She couldn't help but notice the strange look on the other girl's face: disappointment maybe even sadness. Next to her Reyna was just curious.
''Well, actually he did it because…I asked him to.'' She finally admitted sheepishly, hoping that the girls wouldn't start yelling at her.
Reyna and Thalia looked at her questioningly at which Piper chuckled nervously.
''I…I don't like cops, police in general actually. Nothing personal, it's just I have some bad experience and I prefer to not be reminded of it.''
''What kind of experience?'' Reyna asked innocently, pretending to not know anything.
''Well, I had a rebellious period when I was little. I did some things I'm not really proud of and when people learn about them, they tend to judge so I just don't tell anymore. Jason however learned by himself. He probably checked my file or something, I won't be surprised. His curiosity is like a three-year-old's.''
Piper was looking at her hands, not meeting the girl's eyes.
If Thalia was angry before there was nothing left of that now. She completely understood what was like to be judged by the others, even though she didn't approve Piper's behavior.
''We checked you too.'' Reyna suddenly blurted out, making Thalia face-palm. ''Nico followed Jason last week when he went out at lunch break again. He showed us a video on which Jason was picking you up from your college.''
Piper had scrunched her brows and just then Thalia noticed her eyes: changing colour from blue to brown to green. She had never seen eyes like that.
Focus! Right.
''We didn't mean any harm; we just wanted to know what was Jason up to. And after that we found your file…'' Thalia started explaining but Piper had smiled bitterly which surprised her and she fell silent.
''So you know. But I guess the reason why I did all of this wasn't written there, right.''
''Tell us then.'' Reyna encouraged her with a smile.
Piper stayed silent. Thalia pleaded that the boys will stay in the restroom just for another ten minutes.
''Look Piper, I can see that you're a nice girl, a smart one too. And we all can see how happy you and Jason are together.'' Thalia started. Might as well put the carts on the table. She thought. ''If you don't want to tell us okay. I have made mistakes too but I moved on. And I can't judge you for what you have done in the past simply because you don't live there anymore.''
Piper looked from Thalia to Reyna. Determination was suddenly written in her kaleidoscopic eyes.
''I suppose you know who my parents are. Well, in that time, they had a tough marriage, they fought a lot. I was alone most of the time. I was lonely and I guess I acted like a spoiled brat but when neither of them arrived for my thirteenth birthday, I got very upset. My babysitter had taken me to the mall that day and I had managed to escape her. I didn't mean to steal the blouse, I just took it and went to find her but they caught me and called my parents. They came in the evening. That's when I realized that they only cared about me when I was in trouble.
After I stole the car and they almost sent me to reformatory I realized in how much trouble I actually was. Since then I decided that I was going to live for myself not for them. That's actually the biggest reason for me to come here in New York, so far away from California. And I must admit that this is one of the best decisions I've made.''
The three girls smiled at each other and then burst out laughing. That is how the guys found them.
''Well, it seems that we missed something very funny.''
''Nope, not actually.'' Thalia managed to say after a while.
Jason and Nico eyed the girls suspiciously but didn't ask any further in fear that they might actually answer them.
''It was very nice to meet you Thalia, Reyna, Nico.'' Piper said to them at the parking lot. The three were heading back to the car where Leo, Frank and Hazel were waiting.
''We should totally do this again soon.'' Reyna agreed with a glint in her eyes.
''Actually Piper, I want you to come to dinner at Saturday evening.'' Thalia invited her.
''But that's the family night when we go to dad's.'' Jason turned to his sister with a raised eyebrow. Boys.
''Exactly my little brother.'' She beamed at him mischievously.
''Don't tell me, another policeman?'' Piper chuckled at them.
''No, don't worry. He's a lawyer.''
''Great.'' The brown-haired girl tried to hide her nervousness but failed miserably, making the others laugh.
''Bye guys.'' Jason said and with draped hand over Piper's shoulders started walking towards his car.
They waved goodbye and disappeared in the darkness.
''I'm sorry that it went like this, the night I mean.'' Jason said as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
''Don't worry, it was nice. Your friends are … interesting.'' Piper chuckled then.
''You really liked it?'' he glanced nervously at her and she tried not to laugh at his expression.
''Don't worry Sparky, I'm fine. And I'm not mad at you if you worry about that. You definitely deserve a reward for being considerate and patient with me though.'' She finished with a coy smile, making him grin devilishly.
''I might actually agree because I don't know what will you think when you meet my dad. That will be interesting night.''
Before they knew it they were in front of Piper's apartment building. She invited him in and he followed her without further discussions. He waited for the elevator's doors to close before attacking her neck with kisses, making her squirm and shiver.
''Do you have any idea how much I love you?'' he asked in a husky voice.
Piper froze for a second and Jason realized what he had said. They hadn't said 'I love you' before. He hesitated just for a second.
''I love you Piper.'' He whispered in her ear, hugging her from behind.
''I love you too Jason, so much.'' was her answer, her voice dark and low and he was so turned on that it almost hurt.
They both totally forgot that they were still in the elevator and didn't care when an old lady saw them when the doors opened on Piper's floor. Mrs. Stevenson was going to throw her a fit in the morning, Piper thought but after a few seconds Jason had made her forget everything about the old lady.
A\N:Okay, this was long, actually the longest thing I had written. Ever. And it's not really done yet. There is still the second ending. So review and let me know if you liked this or not. Thanks!