Chapter One: Piper's POV

Tonight Piper was mad at herself for two reasons. Maybe three. But she was too proud, and sad, and still a bit hopeful, to allow her mind to wander there. Perhaps she would later, when she was alone with her thoughts on the beach or when she was alone with Hazel. Hazel, and Nico, were the only two people around her right now that could understand her.

So for now. It was two reasons. Just the two. But she smiled anyway, because that was just what was expected of her. And there were toasts, to her and the Seven, and respectfully bowed heads at the mention of Leo's name towards his brothers and sisters. But they never lasted long. This was a party of course, and the parties thrown by Aphrodite's cabin were always the best. So Piper couldn't let this party be ruined by her sour face. Just two reasons.

One of the reasons was the party itself. Actually, it was both if she was being honest. Though the party had not been her idea, but she was the leader of her cabin. So therefore the party, and much of its planning, had fallen on her shoulders. So she was mad herself for letting this party happen in the first place. This was a time of mourning, especially for the Seven. And to force a party in their honor on them… it was insulting. Especially when one of them was dead. Supposedly dead. Or really dead? Who in hades knows.

Nonetheless, the Aphrodite party was true to its history and was fun. Not the, hey! Lets play games and sing songs fun. The hey! Let's scream and laugh at the top of our lungs and sneak behind the cabins and make out kind of fun. Because we're alive. And we owe it to the people who aren't anymore to act like we are. So the second reason? She was letting herself have fun. And Leo was dead. So this was not acceptable. Just the two. Just the two.

But she was also thankful tonight. For the whoops of laughter and the fire and the merriment that flowed like water. She was thankful to be holding hands with Jason, and to watch Annabeth's face crack a smile at some joke that Percy had made. Thankful for Nico, who was sitting pensively beside a positively beaming Will Solace and definitely thankful for the love that beamed on Hazel and Frank's faces as the crackling bonfire illuminated her gorgeous copper hair. So many reasons to be thankful, not mad. And yet… No. Just the two. Just the two.

But Piper could not admit that to herself, when the rush of the party was over and the plates cleared away and (almost) everyone was asleep in their respective cabins. Because there was a third reason Piper was angry with herself. And it wasn't just the party.

'It's,' she thought as she turned to cry into her already tear-soaked pillow, 'I'm finally admitting to myself that Leo is really gone.'

Author's Note: Hey! Second story, yay. Hopefully I can keep up with his one AND my other one (hinthint its called Annabeth Chase and the Lightning Thief, check it out) please like and comment!