You're not sorry
I love uncle Rick's story, I wouldn't change anything about it. But I just couldn't help wondering, what if?
I don't own heroes of olympus or any of the characters, all rights go to Rick Riordan, and I'm just doing this for FUN, not any money or fame.
The sun shone through the windows, it was a beautiful December morning, and today was the beginning of forever. They had decided to tie the knot on the anniversary of the day they met. Because really, that was the beginning of forever, if you were being technical. He had his tux all ready, pants pressed, blue tie, and the cologne she liked best. This was the best day ever. But there was still a lot to do, a quick shower, a clean t-shirt, then a quick stop at the armoury to make sure everything was ready in case of a post-wedding potentially deadly monster attack, you know the usual. Then things get crazy. Because then there he would have to check on the flowers, the rings, the cake, Leo to make sure he didn't accidentally blow something up….yep, there was a lot to do.
Locking the door of their house, he started to jog through New Rome, smiling at a couple holding hands at a café, blissfully lost in each others eyes, hadn't that been them, once upon a time? Just another couple, trying to figure whatever 'love' was?
Wow, got a little sentimental there. He thought chuckling and shaking his head. Finally, he reached the florist. After assuring Dora, the florist that he wouldn't break the roses, he set off to the armoury. After a few wrong turns, a short unexpected trip to the lady's room, those girls hit hard! He finally managed to run into Dakota who pointed him in the general opposite direction. Luckily Hazel walked by moments later and 'escorted' him to his destination, mumbling something that sounded like, "Weddings make people forget chairs." Or maybe it was things.
After a quick survey of the freshly polished weapons, he made sure the quivers were well stocked and checked to make sure the catapults were loaded. Just as he was checking the hilt of an imperial gold sword, Frank walked in, ducking to make sure his head didn't hit the doorway.
"Hey," Frank greeted, "you know you don't have to personally check to make sure the weapons are ready right? The legion does that itself twice a day."
But the young groom simply shook his head and stated, "I just want to be sure nothing goes wrong."
Frank patted him on the back, "Everything well be fine, trust me. Oh by the way someone is waiting for you at the crossroads outside, you better go meet 'em."
The groom nodded and jogged out, wondering who the heck wanted to see him.
They better not ruin the wedding.
—
Standing at the crossroads was a tall lady, with her back turned. At first he thought it was Hecate, you know, because she's the goddess of crossroads and all that. But when the woman heard the crunch of gravel she turned revealing Lady Juno, but she seemed
to be missing her signature goat skin cloak.
"Lady Juno," he said, confused.
"Hello young hero, big day isn't it? Oh, and it's Lady Hera, but I can't stay long," She corrected.
"Thank the gods," he whispered.
"I'm going to pretend you said that because of nerves, and I say what I need to say." "Go on then, I need to go," he snapped slightly annoyed.
"Well then, let's get started. Do you remember that winter years ago, when I took your memory?" Hera asked.
The young demigod nodded.
"Well, at the end of the quest I supposedly gave you back all your memories, but…"
"But…" he asked, afraid of where this was going.
"But…I kept a few." The young hero opened his mouth to speak but Hera stopped him, "Let me finish. It wasn't my choice, Aphrodite appeared to me in a dream the day after you freed me, asking me to keep a few memories, saying that it would be bad for the quest if I gave you them back, and I agreed. But now, because I'm the goddess of marriage, I have to give you these back, so you can make this choice with all this in mind, alright? I have nothing your fiancé, but if I have to make sure you make the right choice uninfluenced." Hera finished.
"But WHY didn't you give me these memories back before?!" He yelled furious.
"Because I needed you to believe in the Aphrodite girl, she helped you through a lot, I couldn't have you thinking of someone else back at camp, it would have ruined everything! Plus, Aphrodite already said she'd never find love in a…." Suddenly Hera's form flickered, "I have to go, goodbye." Then she waved her hand in a circle and flashed away.
The young hero stood there, confused. After a moment the world started to spin and the ground turned purple, purple? he thought, then the world went dark.
—
He was walking in New Rome, hand in hand with a girl, but he couldn't see her clearly, it was blurry and out of focus. He could only catch little bits. An ear here, a flicker of a cape there. He slowly he leaned in and whispered, "Let's go to your favourite place."
"Alright," a sweet voice answered. He climbed the steps to the garden, where the fountain of Bacchus spouted out water. The garden was in full bloom, the scents of Jasmine, Rose and Lavender wafted into his nose. He inhaled deeply, at peace.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" the girl asked.
"You're beautiful," he said and they kissed. The kiss was sweet and soft. And just as they pulled away he felt his head start to pound with starburst of colour. With each burst a new memory came, and his mystery girl became more and more detailed.
A burst and he was pulling her through New Rome laughing, "Come on! You need a break." She smiled, her long black whipping behind her.
Sitting in a café shoving a piece of chocolate cake in her direction, her black eyes widening as she stared at the pastry.
"Happy Birthday," he said.
"You remembered!" Her smile was blinding.
Sparring with her in the arena, her long sword against his javelin. Her agile body ducking and weaving around him.
Leading the charge on , her last words were, "Don't die!" Before she disappeared in the throng of monsters.
Standing outside her house, a winter chill in the air leaning against the door as she tugged her purple cloak around herself. Leaning in at the same time she did, and the kissed, her face as clear as crystal now. "I love you….Reyna." (Mystery girl revealed! So who's the boy?)
"Reyna!" He shouted bolting upright, there was gravel in his hair but he didn't care. He needed to find her.
—
He found her, sitting at a table in the café, staring at her cup of hot chocolate.
"Reyna!" He called.
She smiled when she saw him. "Hello -to-be.
"Reyna, I have to ask you something," he panted exhausted from his long crazed run to find her.
"Ask away," she said seriously, knowing this had to be important if he had come so quickly that he was out of breath.
"Did we date at one point?" asked abruptly. He watched as Reyna's eyes widen in shock.
"Well," she started, "that was abrupt. And…yes, for 2 months, we were best friends before that."
"So it's true," he whispered, "When did we break up?"
"We didn't," Reyna replied.
"Then why? When I came back?" He asked confused, "You acted so jealous, I just thought it was a one-sided thing…" he trailed off. Reyna gestured for him to sit, he realized he had been standing all this time, he took the seat across from his old friend.
When he sat down Reyna looked him straight in the eye had started to speak,
"Jason*, the last time we did anything that implied there was an 'us' was when you kissed me good-night the night before you disappeared. Then you went missing for 8 months. When you returned and I found out you had lost you're memory and that you were dating Piper. I waited for you to come to me and tell me that it was over. Instead, you got hit in the head with a brick, blew up my city and flew off on the Argo II. It was a great reunion."
"Reyna-'' Jason started.
"Let me finish," Reyna interrupted, "Jason, if all this is coming back to you after 4 years, I'm going to be a little ticked off. I'll be a little frustrated you want to get back together after all these years, and I'm sorry to say this but I'll have to turn you down,"
"Reyna-" Jason tried again to interrupt, but Reyna ignored him,
"For three reasons. 1, because Aphrodite said it wouldn't work, long story, 2 because Piper's my friend and I won't let you hurt her and 3 I'm over you anyways, so yeah, I'm sorry," She looked at Jason, guilt and victory in her eyes.
"Now can I say what I want to say?" Jason asked. Reyna nodded, "Good, now first, I don't want us to get back together!"
"Oh…well this is awkward," Reyna muttered turning red.
"Yeah I know, let me finish. Reyna you need to know this before I say anything more," Jason said firmly. He told her the whole story, from meeting Hera to having his flashbacks, he told her everything. Reyna was a good listener.
When he finished he said, "Reyna, I'm not sorry."
"Not sorry?" Reyna asked her eyes narrowed.
"Not sorry," Jason confirmed, "I'm not sorry for the time we spent together, or the things we did. I'm not sorry I went and got together with Piper and I'm going to marry her in an hour. I'm only sorry for one thing, that I hurt you. I think now we can officially say that I'm going to marry Piper with all my heart. I love her, and I'm not sorry that I do." Jason stared at Reyna, waiting for a response.
Finally Reyna whispered, "Bit harsh, don't you think?"
"Yeah, sorry about that," Jason mumbled sheepishly, "I hope you'll forgive me and still come to the wedding."
Reyna mustered a smile, "Of course I forgive you, I mean, at least you didn't sugar-coat anything."
Jason smiled, "So…you'll still come?"
"Well…" Reyna started, "I kinda have to, I'm a bridesmaid after all." The word bride sent off alarm bells in Jason's head.
"Reyna, can we keep this between the two of us? Piper…." Jason trailed off.
"Oh, right, it'll be our little secret," Reyna assured.
"Then I'll be off, see you soon." Jason rose from his seat and gave Reyna a short quick hug. Then he turned and without a backward glance, walked off.
—
Reyna wished she had held on to the hug longer, called him back, kissed him, anything but stand up and watch him go. She sank down into her seat and for the first time in years, cried over him. It wasn't even crying, merely a few tears, but still she felt guilt in her stomach. She had promised Nico she wouldn't cry over Jason ever again after he caught her crying on Christmas. Sorry Neeks. she thought. Did Jason know what a can of memories he had opened? Just when she thought she might actually be ready to finally commit to a clearsighted mortal who she had been dating for over a year, Jason comes along and knocks her back to square one. Does he know how much I cried over him? How I lay awake for nights on end after I saw him with Piper? Does he know how long I hoped against hope he'd come back to me one day? Does he? Does he know the worst of it? That when Octavian was rallying the campers, a small part of me agreed because I wanted to kill Piper so badly? And he's not SORRY! Reyna took a shuddering breath and tried to compose herself, at least, at least now I can move on, finally, now that I know there's really no hope he'll ever come back, right? RIGHT?
Slowly Reyna rose from her seat and stared at Jason's receding back. As a final tear streaked down her face she whispered,
"You're not sorry."
*Mystery boy revealed!
Hey guys! So I want to know, down in the comments fight it out! Which do you ship Jeyna or Jiper? Personally, I don't like Piper as much as Reyna, but still…