Your little hands wrapped around my finger To you, everything's funny Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up I won't let nobody hurt you
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favourite night light
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up
I kissed Jason's tiny cheek and caressed it before switching the little lightning bolt light on, shutting the door to his room as quietly as I could, smiling a little sadly. I drifted down to the kitchen to grab a glass of milk, and saw Mom standing there. She looked crazy.
"We're going on a trip tomorrow, Thalia." She barked at me – my usual reception. I shrugged.
"Sure, cool, is it something Jason will enjoy?" I smiled. Jason loved everything, he smiled like a maniac. He'd giggle if he was put in a liquidizer. Mom's face crumpled, but she put
her façade on again in the same instant.
"Yeah. Now, get to bed, girl, we need to be up early." I grabbed the milk carton off the sideboard and sprinted up to Jason's room, pulling a blanket around me for warmth and snuggled down next to my child, the child I loved and cared for so much more than its mother.
By the same time the next day, Jason was gone.
I see him now, so different but the same boy I love, my boy, my brother. He gave me a reason to be proud of being a Grace. I knew, the second he spoke to me, what being a mother felt like. If anything, anything, ever hurt him, I would break them. I love him. But I wish that he was still the baby who let me hold him, I wish he was still so little, I wish it was still so simple. But he's a warrior now, one of Lupa's. He'll always, always be my cub. I'd give anything to stop him facing the world alone, a simple wolf, a lone wolf. He needs a pack, like mine. I ended up the alpha wolf, and I know he will too.
Nothing's ever burned you.
Nothing's ever let you scarred.
I talk to you now, Jason. I know you are special. You are a warrior of Rome; you have the marks to prove it. But know you will never be a wolf in my mind. You will never be a quester in my sight; you will never be an adult in my thinking. You will, however, always be a hero. Nothing can change that about you, Jason. You will always be a hero. You have the Grace spirit. My Grace spirit.
Missing you, cub.
Thalia.