THANK YOU DEDEBUG9 FOR FAVING MY STORY!

Ok, due to positive reception of the first chapter, I'm continuing this story! Yeah!

Disclaimer: I still do not own PJO; waiting for Rick to email me! JK!

Chapter 2: Cooking with Cap

Leo's P.O.V.

When I woke up the next morning, my head felt like an overstuffed taco, just so many things going on.

I threw on a t-shirt and jeans and went for a walk to sort my thoughts. I thought about Jason. I liked Piper and I was angry with him for freakin breaking her heart. But he was still my best friend, my go-to guy. How could I stay angry with him?

And then there was Piper…..Sigh. I'd always liked her, but I also knew she hated me and loved Jason. Now, Jason was gone and she needed comforting. I wanted to show her I could do better than him, I wouldn't leave her. But how? I mean, she was always telling me how annoying I was…..

Finally, I came up with a plan. It was desperate, but it was a plan.

My fingers dived into my jean pocket and fiddled with a spare drachma. I pulled it out.

"O' Iris, goddess of the rainbow, show me Jason Grace, Legion Camp, San Francisco, California," I said, mentally saying a prayer to Aphrodite.

A rainbow appeared in front of me, filled with Jason's sleeping face.

"Jason," I said nervously. Nothing.

"Jason," I said, a little louder. Still nothing. Gods, he's a heavy sleeper.

"Jason," I said yet again, practically yelling. Finally, the guy stirred.

"Argh, Leo, why'd you wake me up. I was sleeping," he complained.

"Sorry man. Hey look, Piper's been tear-eyed ever since you told her you just wanted to be friends. I need a way to cheer her up. Got any ideas? You know her a Hades of a lot better than me," I apologized.

"Hmm," suddenly Jason seemed wide awake, "Well, she likes chocolate chip cookies a lot…."

"Cool! Chocolate chip cookies….sounds easy." I replied.

Jason looked concerned, "Just don't blow anything up Valdez. Erh, hey, look man, tell Piper that this doesn't mean I won't talk to her or anything. It's just…..well, I like Reyna a lot. And I fell like I owe her, for all those months she thought I was missing. See, you guys are my friends and none of this changes that, kay? Good night Leo…." And he fell back asleep.

Hmmm, chocolate chip cookies, eh? I can do that. I think. Wait, what goes in those? Ok, maybe not. Another brilliant idea hit me then…Cap Anderson. Cap is this guy I know from the Demeter Cabin. He's super tall and tan with long (uncut) blonde hair and green eyes. If anyone here would know how to bake chocolate chip cookies, it would be him.

Slowly, still thinking about Piper, I made my way to the Demeter Cabin. I knocked on the door. Please answer, I thought.

The door flew open and I found myself face to face with Cap, toothbrush and all.

"Uhhh," he muttered, "Leo, what the Hades are you doing here? It's freaking 8 o'clock in the morning for Zeus's sake!"

I shifted.

"Uh, look, Cap, I need your help. See, I wanna make chocolate chip cookies for Piper. You know, to cheer her up. I figured if anyone could help me, it would be you."

He sighed, "Leo, you don't need to be an Aphrodite kid to see that you love Piper. Come on, you're just trying to get her attention."

"No," I said, wrinkling my nose in mock disgust, "How could you think that?"

Cap shrugged, "I don't know Leo. You just….can. Ok, now, you said something about chocolate chip cookies?"

A half-hour later, we were sitting in the Big House kitchen, gathering things to make chocolate chip cookies according to Chiron's grandma's secret recipe.

"Ok," Cap said to himself, "Flour, eggs, sugar, baking soda…."

"Hey, Captain Cook," I said, "Just help me make the cookies, ok."

"Oh," he said, flustered, "Sorry 'bout that. Yeah, just make the cookies."

Turns out chocolate chip cookies are pretty easy to make. But I wasn't letting Cap leave, not until those cookies were baked.

I wanted to use my fire powers to bake the cookies but Cap was uncomfortable with the idea.

"Leo," he suggested, "Let's just use the oven. I don't think Mr. D would appreciate us burning down the kitchen."

Unfortunately, he had a good point.

I think Cap wanted to do most of the baking, but I insisted. These where for my friend after all.

After what seemed like eternity, especially for a guy with ADHD, the cookies were done. I slid them onto a plate and walked over to the Aphrodite Cabin.

Piper was lying on her bunk, staring up at the ceiling. She looked like she'd been crying and her hair was messed up. But she still looked more beautiful than I thought humanly possible. Like always.

I approached her, smiling.

"Hey Piper," I greeted her.

She glanced at me and sighed. "Hey Leo. Wait…are those chocolate chip cookies?"

I smiled. "Sure are. Made um specially for you."

"Well then give um here!" Piper cried.

I chuckled as I handed them over. She seemed to inhale the cookies.

"Delicious!" she squealed.

We sat in silence as she finished them off.

"Well?" I said when she was done.

"Amazing Leo. You always were a good cook. Oh, and something else too."

"What?" I asked.

She squeezed my hand. "Thank you for making my day."

I thought of all we'd been through together. I wouldn't have traded all of those moments for that one.