This is my new story. Staged after the giant war. If you hate Reyna then don't read it. This is how I think the books will end anyway. Please read and review and I'll continue it :)) hope you like it.
Percy was sitting on the bank of the Tiber river. One year had passed since the Giant War, one year since his heart had been shattered and Annabeth had died. She had saved them all, but in the end Gaea took her, before she lapsed back into her eternal slumber. When that happened, Percy thought that he would go mad. The pain was worse than anything he could have ever imagined. Thalia took a break from the hunters, just to be by his side after the disaster. Annabeth was like a sister to her and she felt the horrible pain as well. Percy was grateful for her help. The fact that Frank and Hazel were killed as well didn't help Percy cope any better. Even though Jason, Leo and Piper tried to cheer him up in some way, they couldn't help. His heart was broken and that was the end of it. When they returned from the quest, Jason and Percy had an agreement. Jason went to Camp Half-Blood and Percy stayed as Praetor at Camp Jupiter. Jason fell in love with Piper, so he couldn't leave her and Percy wanted to escape from his old camp. Being there after Annabeth died just hurt to much.
He was not the only person hurting in the beginning though, Reyna suffered too, after Jason left for the Greek camp, forever. She did like him after all but she let him go, realizing that things would never be the same. In Percy's misery, she was the one who understood him the most, and the one who helped him deal with the pain. Eventually he found himself getting used to the Romans, the whole camp, and a new life. Rachel, Thalia, Grover and Tyson still visited him once in a while and he made a lot of friends among the Romans. Even Octavian was cordial towards him after the war. So his life was continuing in this manner. The reason he came to the river today was to think. His life was changing now, he was sure of it. The reason for the change was Reyna.
After he became praetor, even though she would never admit it, but she had taken a liking to him. That was one of the main reasons she was able to let Jason go. It was also the reason that she managed to heal Percy's heart. She made the pain go away and like she said so long ago, praetors work very closely together and it was common for them to be romantically involved with each other. This time was no exception. Already they were spending more time than necessary together. They would stroll and talk for hours and Percy got to know the real her, not the battle-hardened mask she wore for the Romans. He flashed back to a few months ago. They were sitting on temple hill. Ever since he returned from the war, the Romans began to honor Neptune more and decided to rebuild his temple. Now it too looked grand and majestic, nothing on the Jupiter temple, but still impressive. Percy had taken to a habit of sitting next to it and gazing at the camp from the hill. He would just loose himself in thought and gaze down at the marvelous view. After a while, Reyna began to join him in his hiding place. Just like him, she needed to get away from the duties of being praetor and just take a break. So they would sit there and talk or just gaze at the view smiling. A few weeks ago that began to change. Without even realizing it, they held each others hands and sometimes Reyna would lean on his chest as they sat together. They would talk about absolutely anything: they're childhood, they're battles and quests. Sometimes they talked about they're wishes and desires, gods and monsters. It took a long time for Percy to realize that they only did that because they enjoyed each others company. Then, yesterday evening, Reyna finally asked the key question,
" Will you ever move on?" she asked him, as she looked into his eyes. When he gave her a quizzical look she added " Move on from the pain, I mean. Will you ever look at another girl after Annabeths death?" The question took him off guard, he wasn't ready to answer it. Yet as he looked into her eyes, he already knew the answer, he had known it for months already but was to afraid to admit it to himself.
He managed to smile at her, " And why are you so interested in that?" he asked in a playful tone. Reyna smiled, and punched him playfully,
" I just want to know if you will ever become the person you were. Well, will you answer the question?" He deliberated for a moment on his answer and then looked into her eyes meaningfully, " Reyna," he said softly, " I have already moved on in a way and a certain girl has caught my eye." Reyna seemed to grasp the meaning and her breath stopped for a moment.
She looked away and asked " Anyone in particular?" Percy winced internally as he remembered Annabeth asking that very same question, but then he shook himself out of the memory. No use to dwell on the past, now was the time to embrace the future, " Well, I can tell you that she is a beautiful, dark-haired, praetor." He smiled. Reyna turned around, and her eyes were shining. That's when Percy pulled her into his arms and finally kissed her. He felt his chest grow warm and he realized just how much he missed actually liking someone. The feeling he felt for Reyna, was no different than what he had felt for Annabeth. Like they were just meant to be. Reyna put her arms around his neck and they sat there like that for a while, neither wanting to break the kiss. Eventually they pulled away, gasping for breath.
" I never thought you would move on, but I'm glad you did." Reyna told him. " I never thought I would either," Percy sighed, " But I'm glad I did, too." Reyna smiled at him again and they sat there in silence as they watched the sunset.
Percy came to the river next morning to think about the implications of what had happened. He really liked Reyna, that was official, but to be with her, he had to let go Annabeth, forever, and that was still very painful. He sat there in a depressed silence when a voice spoke behind him, " I knew I would find you here." It was Reyna. She came and sat down next to him. " Percy, I really like you, but nothing will work out with us if you don't let Annabeth go." Percy was startled for a moment, " How do you know that I had not let her go already?"
Reyna sighed, " That's because I know you. You are too loyal, your fatal flaw is loyalty. I figured you would have a hard time letting someone go." Percy realized that she knew him a lot better than he thought. He looked at the water gushing rapidly through the river, wishing he could let all his worry and pain flow away with it. Sadly things were never so easy. But he knew what to do now. He loved Annabeth, but she was gone. Now was the time to move on. He turned to Reyna and smiled at her, " Don't worry, I let go." Reyna looked at him doubtfully but he insisted,
"Annabeth was my past. In many ways the best part, but she is gone and I let go. I let go of my old camp, my heritage and I am ready to let go of my memory as well." The determinacy in his voice seemed to convince Reyna because she actually smiled and hugged him.
"Good," she whispered to him, " I thought you would never come around." They stood up together and Percy gave her a kiss before they set of towards his new home, Camp Jupiter. Percy did not look back.