Hey, Guess what? First serious story. Yes it's M. No there isn't much humor. Serious faced Ryan activated. Any who enjoy the story.

For my lovely sister who shared this idea with me when she herself could not put it into words.

The Argo landed with a mighty thud in the middle of Camp Half Blood.

"Everyone ready?" Leo called ready to open the hatch.

"Ready." Percy said taking Annabeth's hand. She smiled at him before nodding.

"Let's get this over with." Jason side patting his sword just in case.

"Downer much?" Annabeth laughed.

"I prefer the term realist." He smiled back.

Hazel and Frank gave their approving glances to Leo who promptly opened the hatch.

They were greeted with cheers. Ancient languages were spat in excitement.

"Three cheers for our heroes!" Demigods called out in glee. They'd did it. Their Six saviors had defeated Gaea. Who would have though it? The Six sure didn't believe it. They hardly even remembered it.

"Jason!" The Romans shouted embracing their missing leader. Reyna smacked him as greeting.

"I could just about kill you for all the trouble you've caused me! What's the big idea!? Leaving me all by myself to be the sole Praetor!"

"I didn't quite have a choice." He laughed.

"Oh, you're laughing now!" She slapped him again, "Remind me to beat you to a living pulp later."

"After coffee?" He asked. She again slapped him but agreed to coffee later.

Percy and Annabeth were raised high on the shoulders of their friends. The Greeks loudly sang 'Fore he and she's a jolly good fellow!'

Leo was embraced by his Cabin tossed between friends.

Hazel and Frank were patted on the back, cheered for their victories.

"Heroes." Chiron said gathering each demigods attention, "You have fought long and hard for the days of peace. This day, that goal has been obtained." Cheers so loud deafness would fall on any random by passer commenced, "Though we know peace is never permanent we celebrate all that we've won. Tonight we shall celebrate our victories." Again the camps cheered. They cheered as one camp.

That night as the celebration roared through Long Island the Six demigods were exalted. Saviors of the world. The mightiest heroes of all. Anyone within ten miles could hear the celebration. The mortals just assumed it was some kind of summer frat party.

The celebration lasted an entire week. Singing and dancing. Feasts and frivolities. They had won, actually won. The war between them was over.

Many of the demigods asked the Six what happened. How they won. The Six gave the same response. The battle was so fierce they hardly remembered it. They only knew it was a miracle they came out with their lives.

Only Jason found this odd. He heard Percy and Annabeth answering a few questions from two very eager daughters of Athena.

"And we ran, we ran until we were all safely on the Argo." Annabeth smiled at the young girls, "That's all I can really tell you."

Jason didn't remember running. He remembered being pried out of battle. He suddenly remembered pain, not physical pain, but pain nonetheless. Something shattering inside of him. Like making a decision he didn't consent to.

"Hey." Percy greeted, "Roman."

"Yes, Greek?"

"Oh you stop that." Annabeth laughed.

"He started it." Jason claimed.

Percy laughed, "Seriously though. The gods have asked for a meeting. Next week, Friday."

"I'll be there." He promised.

"You better." Percy took his girlfriend back toward Cabin Three.

Reyna walked up behind Jason and kicked the back of his knees. He, on instinct, turned around and grabbed her.

"Calm down." She laughed, knowing fully well his grasp was friendly. "Ready for coffee?"

"Yeah. Let's go." He said following her to the Mess Hall. When they sat down Reyna started talking. She filled him in on all he missed while he was gone. She fed him memories that Juno had stolen. He listened patiently. He nodded and laughed when the stories called for it.

As Reyna finished her story she asked him a much dreaded question.

"What happened while you were fighting Gaea? I want to hear it from you." Her hands grabbed his. Rough from holding a sword.

"I... I'm not sure. I remember a dust storm. I remember darkness." He stopped feeling a pulse of pain run through his mind. Like it were fighting him to stay silent, "She kept throwing more monsters at us.

"I... I'm not entirely sure. But I think I made a tough call."

Reyna looked troubled by this, "But everyone came back. All six of you are safe."

"I know, but I have a feeling..."

"Jason. Everything is fine. I swear you feel guilty about everything." She laughed again making him feel only a slight bit better.

"I feel like I lost something meaningful." He said.

"Maybe you lost some form of innocence. Maybe you lost something you never knew you had before. Maybe it's nothing." He nodded, "I missed you Jason."

He suddenly realized just how tired she looked. Aged beyond her years, "I'm proud of you Reyna. You did well. Kept my camp in line."

"Your camp!? Excuse you, it is now my camp."

"I've lived there for twelve of my sixteen years." He laughed.

"It's my baby. I've been taking care of it alone for seven months." The two bantered about whose Camp it really was.

Neither of them expected to wind up kissing. And neither of them had the same train of thought.

Reyna felt bubbles inside of her, like she couldn't be happier if the gods allowed such happiness on earth. Jason felt utter distress. He couldn't believe what he'd allowed himself to do. Where was his restraint?

When they pulled back Reyna kept her eyes closed, Jason did not.

"What did we just do?" He asked. He felt wrong. Like this wasn't supposed to happen.

"Well, Jason, most people would call that a kiss." She smiled.

"But-... But we don't kiss!" He said frantically.

Reyna's heart sank, "Well, I mean-"

"You're my best friend Reyna. That's what we've always been. Best friends."

She sighed, "Haven't you ever wanted more from us?"

"No, Reyna. Not from you. All I've ever wanted is to be like your brother. Your best friend the person you can always count on."

"Like a boyfriend."

"Do you really need a boyfriend with all you're going through?"

She was suddenly confused, "We could go through it together Jason."

"But... You've never-"

"I've always wanted this. Always."

"... Why me? I'm an awful choice."

She almost laughed, "No you're not at all. Can you really think so little of yourself after all of this? And can you really think so little of my for wanting you?"

"You deserve better."

"Why do you feel so guilty? Jason no one died."

"But I can't shake this feeling that something went south. I don't know what and I don't know why. Something bad happened. I need to know what and why."

Reyna tucked her hair behind her ear, "Am I really that bad at kissing?"

Jason blushed crimson, "It's not your kissing Reyna. It's my conscious."

"Well, tell your conscious to shove it. I've been alone for too long. I need someone with me."

"But does that someone have to be your boyfriend?" He asked desperately.

"Why do you feel so bad? You can tell me."

"I've told you all I know."

"In that case." Reyna took his hand and led him into the forest of Camp, "Look at me." He did, "I want you to remember every word I say."

"Got it."

She grabbed him and kissed him with a thick kind of longing.

"Every word I could ever say? I just said it. I've given you all I have. Or at least, I can. I know you've never had a girlfriend and I know I've never had a boyfriend. But let's try this out? Take it for a joyride and if it doesn't work out we can still be best friends. I want to be a part of your life, no matter what. Girlfriend or not. But give me a chance."

His heart felt heavy with regret. He did not like kissing Reyna. Well he did, but he didn't. He was confused actually. Really confused.

He agreed to take a chance. Jason and Reyna, the couple everyone in Camp Jupiter had been saying, really they're not together yet!? What's taking so long! Was finally together.

On the outside happy as could be, Reyna was relaxing after months of stress. Finally she had someone to balance being Praetor with again. Finally having her best friend back.

Jason, on the other hand felt incredible guilt. He felt shame. He felt utterly terrified.

He didn't know why he felt guilty. And he felt guilty for feeling guilty.

He consulted Percy on this matter Thursday evening.

"Percy, can I talk to you after dinner?" He asked as the two of them headed to the Mess Hall.

"Annabeth and I were going to hang out after dinner. Can we talk about it now?"

Jason sighed, "Sure."

"Shoot."

"I feel bad dating Reyna should I break up with her?"

"Woah, wait back up. Why do you feel bad?"

"I don't know!" Jason suddenly went turbo speed explaining how ever since they started this whole dating thing he'd felt guilty.

"Slow down, Jason. It's okay to be nervous. It's your first relationship after all."

"No it isn't." He said without thinking.

"Really?" Percy asked, "Do you have more game than you let on?"

"No..." Jason said suddenly confused.

"Who was she?"

"I don't know... I mean I never... Uhg! Just tell me if I should break up with Reyna or not."

"I can't bro. That's for you to decide." Jason sighed, "Look, talk to your dad tomorrow. We'll be seeing what they want and probably have a celebration after. You'll feel better once all of this is wrapped up nice and neat with a little blue bow. Now, food."

Jason still felt guilty, but let his friend lead him to the Mess Hall, where he guiltily held Reyna's hand throughout the feast.