DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS.

The walk to the Principia was a long one. Everyone in New Rome appeared eager to welcome Jason, the majority of the Roman demigods hardly paying attention to the fact that Greek demigods walked through New Rome.

Jason was having the time of his life. After 8 months he finally felt as though he belonged somewhere.

He caught a couple of glances of Annabeth taking in the architecture, and in front of her, Percy Jackson kept turning around to look at her, a crazy happy smile on his face each time.

"Err...hey man..." Jason barely heard Leo.

"Am...Are those ghosts?" Jason looked at Leo and burst out laughing.

"They're Lares; house ghosts. They are an important aspect of Camp Jupiter."

Leo nodded and Jason snickered still. Then he saw Piper trailing closely by his side. She looked a little scared.

Jason placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "You okay?"

"Am..." she nodded nervously.

"It'll be okay, don't worry." Jason said encouragingly and then removed his hand. He didn't want to hold her hand even though he knew she wanted him to, but the fact was, within the last 5-10 minutes of him being home, his life had become a bit more complicated than before.

They stopped. They had arrived at the principia. Reyna came off her Pegasus.

What's his name again? Slappy? Skippy? Whippy? Jason thought to himself.

"Our visitors will be questioned here at the principia. We will then hold an emergency senate meeting. You all shall be informed of all decisions and outcomes at muster. Until then, do not crowd around the principia. Go about your normal business. Now disperse." Reyna's voice echoed and soon enough, everyone was walking away from the principia. Jason could hear murmurs of excitement, fear, hatred and worry as the Greek demigods were now taken notice of.

Jason almost double over laughing when Percy grabbed Annabeth's hand and dragged her into the principia. Reyna's only reaction was to slap her forehead and mutter something rather threateningly as her stalked in after them.

Jason followed her in. When he stepped inside, he saw that Percy and Annabeth were only barely inside, and that while Annabeth was arguing with Percy for "running off", Percy was chanting "listen to me...listen to me", both of them would kiss each other randomly and resume their respective arguing and chanting.

It was an amusing sight so Jason looked at them for a while; they were oblivious to everything. After a while, Jason turned towards Reyna, who was sitting on her desk, behind her stood Aurum and Argentum.

She seemed nervous and...dear he say it? Slightly afraid.

He walked slowly towards her. His hands in his jeans pocket. A nervous smile threatened to erupt from his lips. Even though he barely had memories of her, the way his skin tingled and his stomach fluttered nervously; the way his breathing hitched as he neared her, he knew that she was someone who did, and who will always mean a lot to him.

He just hoped she wouldn't be too hard on him for disappearing or for not remembering her; after all, it was all the work of Juno. It was the will of the Goddess.

More importantly though, he hoped she wouldn't kiss him in front of Piper, at least not until he is ready to deal with such a situation.

A smile curved his lips.

"I see the mighty jelly bean bowl is still present. Lucky thing i didn't snatch that up and disappear right?

Reyna smiled at him and slid of the table into his arms. For a few minutes they clung to each other. Both hearts hammering in their respective chest until finally, a single slow rhythm was reached between them.

"I knew it. They kept saying that you wouldn't come back...that you were..." Reyna shook her head, as though trying to rid herself of some dreadful thought. "I never believed it...I never stopped looking for you...I always knew you'd come back."

Reyna was talking into Jason's t-shirt, but he heard her, more importantly he heard how happy and relieved she was. At the same time, he heard how tired her voice sounded. Looking after New Rome for 8 months would have been really hard, especially since she was alone. Jason wasn't even sure he could so that.

Reyna look up at him. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. He brushed a few strands from her face and realised that her hair was silky soft and her skin was smooth and soft. Her pink lips were slightly parted and Jason had the urge to trace it with his thumb.

The only flaw he found was the dark circles under her eyes.

I never stopped looking for you. Those dark circles confirmed that.

Reyna licked her lips. "Jason, Percy Hazel and Frank, they were sent on a dangerous quest, one that seemed hopeless...what about you? Were you safe? Were you in any danger? Or harmed?" Reyna's eyes frantically scanned Jason's face and shoulders, as though trying to find his injury.

Jason bit his tongue from telling her that he almost died, but thanks to Piper he didn't.

Piper!

Crap.

"I'm fine Reyna really" Jason said as he tried to put some distance between them. He turned towards the others and saw Leo and Piper standing awkwardly while Percy had his arm around Annabeth. Leo gave Jason thumbs up while Piper refused to meet his eyes.

"So you're Jason Grace. I've heard a lot about you, and by alot," Percy's eyes slid to Reyna and a mischievous grin played at the corner of his lips "I mean alot. From everybody of course." Percy sobered up, probably because Reyna was giving him her killer eyes. "Oh hey, you related to Thalia?"

"Yes actually" Jason smiled "she's my sister." Percy appeared to have been stunned into stupidity as he gaped at Jason and then Annabeth, whose only response was "I'll explain later seaweed brain."

"By the way, Percy Jackson, you should know you're all she talks about." Jason said, nodding to Annabeth who blushed.

"Good, because she's all I remembered. She's why I'm still alive." Percy said and Annabeth blushed even more.

That was a low blow to Jason. Percy remembered her? He actually remembered something? While he, Jason Grace was left with no memories and people he didn't know? Not that he was complaining about Piper or Leo...it's just that...it would have been nice to remember something...someone...

Only then did Jason realise that Percy would rest his gaze on Reyna and then back on Annabeth. What the...?

Just then, Hazel and Frank came in. Hazel and Jason grinned at each other.

"So the saving grace returns" Hazel said teasingly and Jason wrinkled his nose and laughed.

Afterwards, official introductions were made, and Jason wondered why Hazel acted so odd with Leo.

"Okay, so, how are we going to do this?" Reyna asked, bringing everyone's attention to the quest at hand.

"Percy spoke up, his voice a little shaky as though he was going to say something he'd rather not have to say.

"Am...Reyna you think maybe we three should..."

Percy didn't finish because Reyna was shaking her head.

"No Percy, we have more important things to discuss. The prophecy of the 7 has to be fulfilled and if we...well if we intend to work together...Greeks and Romans...well" Reyna stopped and bit her lip.

"It's never happened before." Annabeth said and Reyna nodded.

"We're going to need to convince them." Reyna continued

"Them?" Piper asked

"The senate" Reyna explained.

"But you believe us right" Jason asked, needing her to say yes for some reason.

Reyna looked at him and smiled at him as though questioning his sanity "Of course I do." Jason nodded, relief flooding through him.

Reyna continued.

"But Octavian isn't going to. He is going to try to ensure that the Greeks remain our enemies, and you, Jason, he is going to attack you for disappearing."

Jason nodded again.

Octavian.

Jason was never particularly fond of their auger. Gritting his teeth, he asked "where is he by the way?"

"Probably with his next victim" Percy replied.

"Victim?" Leo asked, while Piper and Annabeth wore worried expressions.

"He sacrifices teddy bears so see the future" Jason replied.

"Oh my panda...poor Bamboo... he was such a good pillow" Percy added.

Piper laughed while Annabeth look as though she was trying not to roll her eyes at him. Reyna on the other hand, rolled her eyes, making Jason laugh at her expression.

"Bamboo" Leo repeated and Percy nodded. "Why kill a panda named bamboo? Man that's just cold. C.O.L.D. What did he do cut his head off?"

"Err...nope...he guts them." Frank replied.

"People, focus please." Reyna said.

"But..."

"Look, he guts our teddies, but that's not why we have to worry about him. The fact is, Octavian is one of the more verbally gifted persons. He is capable of persuading people and he can do that without casting suspicion on himself. Plus his position as auger can interfere with the quest, with what help the Romans will give."

"Reyna's right, I'm actually surprised Percy's the praetor and not Octavian. No offense to you of course." Jason offered.

"None taken...I've seen him in action he can change a lot of minds, especially if he is able to plant some form of doubt." Percy replied, leaving everyone with a little more dread in their stomach.

"Well, aren't you guys the leaders, can't you just approve help for us and let us go?" Piper asked

"No, Rome was built on democracy and we can't act unless there is full agreement between all senate members." Reyna explained, and Piper nodded.

Again silence, at least until Leo spoke.

"Hey, what are the jelly beans for? They so don't go with the deco man."

Reyna and Jason smirked evilly at each other, while Percy said, "I have yet to learn its purpose."

Jason felt oddly happy at those words, the jelly bean bowl was still his and Reyna's secret.

"They're jelly beans seaweed brain, maybe there for eating?" Annabeth said to Percy, stating the annoyingly obvious. Jason grinned openly and Reyna tried to hide hers.

"oh no wise girl, even things that innocent in the hands of the daughter of Bellona automatically becomes a weapon." Jason laughed as Reyna glared at Percy. Annabeth looked annoyed at Percy's bluntness, while Piper looked freaked and Leo looked oddly excited.

"Maybe, Reyna you should take your dogs with you to the senate meeting." Hazel said quietly. Everyone looked to her.

"Octavian is going to attack Jason by saying he is lying, but if Aurum and Argentum are there, then they can prove that Jason is telling the truth."

"Okay, what dogs and how exactly are they going to help?" Leo asked Hazel, who quickly retreated a step behind Frank.

"Aurum. Argentum. Come" Reyna said in a loud, commanding tone.

When the silver and gold dog left their position and came to Reyna's side; Leo's face lit up with excitement. "Oh yea baby, now we're talking" he said as he rubbed his hands together.