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After dinner was the Senate meeting. Reyna had announced that all those who were to be there, were to meet at the Senate House in an hour.

I had no idea what to do, so I just grabbed Percy's hand and allowed him to lead me, as he seemed to know where he was going. I really hated not knowing…

We arrived at a group of houses on the Via Principalis, three of them. As far as I knew, there had only been two the last time I was here…

"Aren't these the praetor's houses?" I asked.

"Yup," Percy answered.

"Why are there three?" I questioned.

Percy smirked a little. "When I was named Praetor last summer, Reyna gave me Jason's house to live in, but it full of his stuff, and I'd already taken his job. I didn't want to take his house too." I smiled. That was such a Percy-thing to think. "I ended up just staying in the Fifth Cohort barracks. Jason told me earlier that the Romans built this house for me, so I wouldn't have to stay in the barracks, because, apparently, that's not what praetors do."

"They built a house just for you?" I asked, kind of surprised.

Percy nodded. "I would have been happy to stay with the Fifth Cohort, though…"

"So, if there's normally only two praetors, what happens when you aren't one anymore?"

Percy shrugged. "They knock it down," he said easily, "or turn it into something else."

"Well aren't you special," I replied sarcastically. Percy just grinned and opened the door, leading me inside. From the outside, the houses looked uniform, but on the inside, I could tell this house had been specially made for Percy. The walls were blue and green, and the wooden floors, the color of beach sand. The furniture was light blue. I realized that Percy's house here, very closely resembled the Poseidon cabin back at Camp Half-Blood, and I knew Jason must have been behind this.

"Um, am I supposed to be in here?" I asked Percy.

Percy shrugged. "I don't think anyone cares. I brought you in here. It's not like they'll tell me what I can and can't do." I held back a chuckle.

"Don't let it go to your head," I told him cheekily. Percy snorted. After a few seconds, I was serious again. "Percy, what are we going to do about tonight?" I know he knew what I meant. Since coming home from the quest, from hell, Percy and I had been unable to sleep alone. The one time we'd been separated had not gone well for either of us. How were we supposed to sleep tonight, if we weren't together? We certainly didn't need rumors spreading throughout camp about any "funny business" either.

Percy sighed. "We'll figure it out," he reassured me, "I'll talk to Reyna or something." I nodded. I guess that was the best he could do. Percy changed the subject. "I gotta go get ready, wait here. I'll be right back. Percy left the room, and I sat down on the couch to wait.

Not a minute later, the doorbell rang.

"Annabeth!" Percy called, "Can you get that?" I sighed and stood up. This was going to be interesting…

I opened the door to see Reyna standing there, holding, what looked like, clothing of some sort.

When I didn't say anything, she said, "Hi."

"Hi," I replied carefully. Part of my mind noted that I was being kind of rude, but I was more concerned about the very good possibility that Reyna was going to chew me out for being in a praetor's house. She didn't.

"I figured you'd be here," she told me, without a trace of unfriendliness. I guess she was over the fact that Percy had chosen me over her. I nodded, and she continued, "I was wondering if you were planning on attending the Senate meeting tonight."

"Yeah, I was," I told her, "If it's okay."

"It's fine, but I wanted to give you this," she said, holding out the fabric in her hands, "It's a toga. I would imagine it would be kind of uncomfortable if you were the only one in attendance who wasn't wearing one."

"Oh," I said pretty stupidly, before coming out of my shock. She wasn't here to yell at me or criticize me. She was here to make sure I felt comfortable in a foreign place. I'd thought she had only been nice to me earlier because Percy and Jason had been around, but now I realized that she was really okay with me. "Oh," I repeated, "Thank you." I smiled at Reyna, who smiled back.

"Good luck putting it on," she told me, "It took me half an hour the first time I tried."

I laughed. "Thanks."

Reyna nodded. "I'll leave you to get ready then," she said, and left. I shut the door and walked back inside, unfolding the clothes, and holding them up. I held a purple Camp Jupiter T-shirt and a plain white toga, nothing fancy, but that was fine with me. It was nice of Reyna to think of me.

I explored the house, looking for either a spare bedroom or a bathroom to change in. I found a bathroom first. I switched my everyday green T-shirt, for the SPQR one, and went to work with the toga. Maybe it was beginners luck, or maybe it had something having to do with being a daughter of the goddess of wisdom, battle strategy, and crafts, but I figured it out pretty quickly. I was ready in less than five minutes.

I resumed my place on the couch, waiting for Percy. After a few minutes, I glanced at the clock. We had twenty five minutes until the meeting, and we still had to get there. I was about to knock on Percy's bedroom door, when he entered the living room, and I had to try with every ounce of my being, not to burst out in laughter right there. He wore a purple T-shirt, same as me, but it was bunched and crooked from his attempts at putting on the toga. Said toga was wrapped around him like a bed sheet, and not at all correct. Somehow, he'd managed to wrap himself up in it so well, that he could barely move his arms. It was twisted and falling off, and seemingly tied in knots. I knew immediately, that only someone with a special skill could mess it up that badly.

Percy didn't even look up as he walked into the room. He was too busy trying, and failing, to untangle himself. "Annabeth, do you have any idea how you're supposed to wear this gods- forsaken thing?" I could feel myself turning red at the strain of holding back laughter, but I stood up and made my way over to him. He looked up for the first time, and saw my face, which was probably pretty obvious with my amusement at the situation. "Don't laugh at me!" Percy said, like an eight year old.

I lost it. I doubled over, laughing so hard, my insides hurt.

After a minute, I managed to calm down enough to talk, "Having some trouble there, Seaweed Brain?"

Percy glared at me, but I could tell he wasn't really mad. For the first time, he seemed to register that I wasn't dressed the same way I had been when he'd left me in the living room. "Uh, what's with the toga?" he asked me.

"Reyna dropped it off," I explained. "She thought I would be more comfortable if I wasn't the only one in normal clothes at the Senate meeting."

"Oh," Percy replied simply, before he apparently realized something," Wait a minute. So you put that on, for the first time, without help, did it right, and finished before I did?" he asked incredulously.

"Yup," I replied innocently, though I was still smiling a little.

Percy sighed, "Figures," he said, shaking his head, but I could tell he wasn't as upset as he was trying to be, "Just help me out here, will you."

I smiled wider, "You're such a Seaweed Brain," I told him, and went to work.

Five minutes later, Percy was untangled, and looking much more professional, now that he wasn't tied in knots in his own clothing. I picked up the purple cape that he had brought out with him, and put it on him, clasping it in the front, and taking a step back, smiling proudly.

Percy looked down at himself, then back at me, with a kind of amazed expression. "Is there something you haven't told me?" he asked, eyeing me funny.

I grinned. "You're an idiot, and I love you anyway."

Percy chuckled and kissed me, short and sweet. "You're amazing, you know that?" he asked me when we pulled away.

"I know," I told him cheekily. Percy grinned and grabbed my hand, leading me toward the door.

Along the way, we were met by Frank, who wore a red toga, and Jason, who wore clothes matching Percy's, white regal toga, and purple cape. Both had lifted up the bottoms to walk, showing their jeans underneath.

"You clean up nicely," Jason told Percy, jokingly. I realized that this was the first time Jason was seeing Percy dressed like this. Granted, he had been dressed like this the day the Argo II landed, but I kind of ruined it by Judo- throwing him to the ground.

To put it mildly, togas were annoying. Mine actually fit pretty well, so I didn't have much trouble with it, but it was like wearing a dress, and I hadn't done that in years. Some of the demigods that passed us were having much more trouble. Their hems would slide down, and they'd have to pull them up or trip on them. They fell off shoulders, and dragged in the back. It was obvious that no one really liked them.

I had read somewhere, that togas were like the tuxedos of Ancient Rome, and I had a feeling the Romans of ancient times hadn't liked them any better than the Romans of today did.

Percy didn't seem to have any trouble with his regalia, but I wasn't sure if that was because I'd put it on him, or if he just got lucky.

The four of us made our way toward the Pomerian Line, and I could see the Terminus statues lining the border of New Rome, now only fifteen feet in front of us.

"ID please!" the statue shouted at Frank, who was first, as we approached. Frank held up his Centurion's mark, and Terminus allowed him to pass. The son of Mars stood off to the side, waiting for his friends.

"Welcome, praetors!" the god greeted Percy and Jason. "Jason, your toga is crooked. Percy… well, actually, your attire is perfect, good job." I gave Percy a "hmm, I wonder how that could be" look, before turning to the statue.

"Annabeth Chase," Terminus announced, "Daughter of Athena, honorary council member. You may proceed." I thanked him, a bit confused, and joined the others.

"Honorary council member?" I asked Percy, too quiet for the others to hear.

Percy shrugged, "I'm not complaining," he whispered back.

He grabbed my hand, and we continued walking. I realized that the little legacy, Julia, who we had seen earlier wasn't here tonight, but then I realized that it was probably too late for her to be outside. She couldn't have been more than seven.

At the Senate House, Percy and Jason took their seats up front (Percy had been given a throne- like chair, to match Jason's and Reyna's). I suddenly became worried. Where was I supposed to sit? Frank nudged me. "You can sit with me," he told me. I was suddenly very thankful for Frank Zhang.

I don't know much about Senate meetings, but I guess it went okay. Just like Percy had predicted, Octavian stole the show, and was obviously aggravating everyone. I was very grateful when Reyna pretty much told him to shut his mouth.

I tried to follow the events of the meeting, but I didn't understand most of it, which was pretty frustrating, but, from the looks of things, Percy didn't either. He mostly kept quiet, which was how I knew he was just as lost as I was, maybe even more, since I had Frank explaining things here and there, in my ear. I could tell why Percy didn't like these meetings. They were boring. Despite what my boyfriend might say, I do have ADHD, and it was driving me crazy the whole time. Romans must not have this problem…

Finally, the Senate meeting ended. The praetors stuck around to finalize things for about fifteen minutes. I sat in the front row, waiting, until, surprisingly, I was called to join in on the conversation. It was mostly about plans to start adding an addition to the library in town, which had been a topic of conversation during the meeting, one of the few I'd actually followed.

"Annabeth, you can stay with me tonight, if you don't want to stay with one of the cohorts," Reyna offered, as the four of us made our way out of the Senate House. Percy and I exchanged glances. I turned to Reyna, and noticed Jason giving me a knowing, amused look.

I had no idea what to say, so I was beyond glad when Percy spoke up, but I quickly became horrified. "Um, Reyna," he said, "I, uh, was just gonna have her sleep with me." Wow, Seaweed Brain, could you have worded that any worse?"

"Oh," Reyna said in a small voice. I felt my cheeks heating up. I smacked Percy's arm.

"It's not like that!" I told her, more embarrassed than I'd been in a long time and desperate to be done with this conversation. Percy seemed to think about what he'd just said, and realized his mistake. He turned pink too.

"Oh, gods, no, not like that! I meant, I mean… Since going through, you know… Tartarus, it's hard to sleep alone. The nightmares... It's not like that! I meant- ugh!" He covered his eyes with his hands, shaking his head in embarrassment.

Jason burst out laughing. Great.

I sighed. "Okay, let me explain this," I said, pausing to glare at Percy, then turned back to Reyna. "Since coming home, the only way Percy and I can sleep at night is if we're together. Otherwise, the nightmares are unbearable." Reyna nodded, like this made sense. "But if you want me to, I can try to stay with-"

"No!" Reyna said, no longer looking so uncomfortable. The same could not be said for me. "No, absolutely, you should stay with Percy. Gods, I can't imagine how hard it's been for you two."

My face still felt pretty hot, but it felt like a dumbbell had just been lifted off my shoulders. "Thanks," I told Reyna gratefully and glared at Jason, who had stopped laughing, but was still smiling and chuckling occasionally. He stopped immediately.

We had stopped walking for the duration of that conversation, and we began walking again, but this time, in silence. No one said anything as we made it to the Via Principalis, and to the houses.

"Goodnight, guys," Reyna said, as she turned in the direction of her house. Jason, Percy, and I stood in front of the three structures for a minute.

"Sorry," Jason said to Percy, "but, man, that was hilarious." Percy glared at him, while I rolled my eyes.

"You just wait, Grace," Percy said. Jason just chuckled.

I sighed, "Goodnight, Jason," I told him, and grabbed Percy's hand, leading him toward the door of his house.

Once inside, I turned and glared at Percy. "I'm sorry!" he said, "I didn't mean to say it like that, I swear!" He looked at me, pleading with those eyes of his, for me to not be mad. I tried, I really did, but the more I tried, the more my anger just melted away. Gods, I loved this guy, even if he was an idiot at times, and I hated being mad at him, which made it difficult to ever be.

"Seaweed Brain," I said, but smiled. Percy visibly relaxed.

"Gods, that was so embarrassing," he said, pulling me close, and burying his head in my hair. "I love you," he said after a minute.

"I love you too," I told him, pulling away, "but next time, I explain the sleeping arrangements," I told him, dead serious.

Percy smiled. "Gladly," he replied, and kissed me.

That night, I slept in Percy's arms, like I did every night. And, to be honest, there's no place I'd rather be.

I'd been pretty hesitant to visit the Romans this weekend, but I was actually pretty glad I'd decided to come. I was learning that I'd been wrong about them. They were different, but not necessarily in a negative way.

And Reyna. Gods, I'd been wrong about her. The first time I met her, I'd immediately marked her as a potential enemy. I'd done everything in my power to earn her trust, but I'd never really paid any attention to her at all. I hadn't really wanted her trust; I'd just wanted Percy back. I hadn't really cared whether the camps could ever unite; I'd just wanted to finish the quest and please my mother. I'd thought I'd known a good deal about her, but, in reality, I'd known virtually nothing.

Reyna was a good person, a good leader, and a good friend. The longer I was here, and the more I got to know her; the more I learned, and the more I got to like her. She and I had a lot in common, and I felt bad that I'd been so quick to originally judge her.

She was a good person, leading a bunch of good people, well, mostly. Octavian came into question, but other than that, they were good people. Percy had told me this during the quest, but I hadn't listened, but now I was learning he was right. I may be a daughter of the wisdom goddess, and I may consider myself smart, but when it came to the Romans, I had been quite the opposite. When it came to people and friends, Percy was the genius, no matter how much he called me one. When it came down to it, Percy knew how to make great friends, and if he trusted them, I should have too.

Maybe it wasn't a matter of the Romans learning to respect the children of Athena after all. Maybe it a matter of me learning to respect them.

What did you think? Let me know! Please review.

I'm guessing this will be about 4 chapters, but we'll see.

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