Three years later…

After the epic party I went to live in New Rome with Reyna. She had her praetor duties and I just wanted to be with her. Soon afterwards she resigned and appointed a girl from the 1st cohort during the Feast of Fortuna to take over. The seven demigods had stopped Gaea and saved the world. Frank came back as praetor and Hazel was promoted. Jason, Leo, Piper, Percy, and Annabeth stayed at CHB but visited their friends often. This included me. Percy and I grew very close after the Tartarus incident, but soon I knew it was time to leave.

While living at New Rome was great I missed the woods of where I grew up. Before I knew my parentage I lived with my grandpa in a log house and dug a well in the forest of Tennessee. He died when I was ten years old and, since he'd built the house with his own two hands, no one knew we lived there. The government didn't know because he didn't pay property taxes. He never bought the land. Just picked a section of woods where no one would stumble upon and built a house. Unfortunately, this also meant that I had no where to go once he passed. I had to take care of myself.

The only vehicle he ever owned was a 1951 Ford F-100. Every week we would drive into town (About ten miles of woods and the town is right there) and pick up what me needed. We also had a nice stockpile incase of emergencies. After he died I knew enough of what he taught me to keep the truck in working condition. I lived off the stockpiled food until my feet reached the pedals then started making my own runs into town. People there liked my grandfather and I so, being a small town, the gave me everything I needed food and toiletry wise. Anytime I wanted anything else I would have to hunt a deer, shoot it with the many guns we owned, and barter.

Growing up, I learned how to fend for myself, a skill that I quickly valued. I left the cabin behind when I was fifteen to go on the adventure in the Sea of Monsters after a visit from my father and met up with the seven half-bloods. I hadn't been back since. Now I longed for the woods, the hunting, the nature of the south. I missed the old pickup, too. So that day, three years after I'd moved to New Rome and started dating Reyna, we were walking through the streets of the city holding hands and sipping hot chocolate.

"Hey, can I talk to you about something serious?" I asked. Even though we were in California it was still cold. The January air cut through my sweatshirt and I shivered.

"What about?" She responded scrunching her eyebrows together in that cute way she does when she's thinking. I was slightly taller than her now so I had to look down to meet her eyes.

"Well, I miss the woods where I grew up and, being Greek, I don't exactly fit in here 100%. I was thinking… Maybe about moving back to Tennessee for a while and figured I should talk to you about it, since you have a pretty big say in my life," I explained.

"Oh…" she said, nervousness edging into her voice. In the past three years we'd gotten very close and I could tell she was afraid of losing me, "Do you mean by yourself?"

"If you wanted to go you're definitely welcome to. I don't have any living mortal relatives. But I couldn't ask you to come. New Rome is your home,"

"It may be… but I couldn't imagine my life without you in it," This made me smile. We're so easy together. After I got to know her she lost her intimidation and protectiveness and was really sweet, at least to me. I don't think I had any secrets from her.

"I couldn't either. That's why I talked to you first. If you didn't want me to go I wouldn't. You're the best thing in my life, I could never leave you,"

"Let me think about it, ok? This obviously means a lot to you and, so, it does to me too," She said, giving my hand a squeeze, "But let's just be together now. Plenty of time for thinking later. Besides, you still owe me a sleep over," She said, winking.

"Ok," I laughed, "Tonight I'll stay in the forum with you. Which of us in sleeping on the couch?"

"You. I'll sacrifice a lot for you but a not a bed," She joked.

"Fine by me," We made our way back to the barracks.

The praetor's bedroom was way better than the barracks. Each of the two rooms had a mini fridge stocked with every soda imaginable, poufy couches, a flat screen tv, and a giant king sized bed. Renya and I lay on the bed cuddling and watching a movie. Her head was in the space between my neck and shoulder, she was on her side with her legs tangled with mine underneath the blankets. We weren't really paying attention to the movie. We were more interested in each other. She had her nose not three inches from mine. We were talking about my moving. She was in good spirits about it.

"I think it would be great to visit the east coast. You know… under different circumstances. The last two times I was there I was either on the run from pirates or about to declare war. It might be nice," She explained.

"So, are you saying you want to come with me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. She kissed me.

"Yes, I am," She said, after the kiss was broken.

"You're sure?" I asked.

"Of course I'm sure," She nodded, "Anywhere you go I go too. Besides, how could

you survive without me?"

"I couldn't," I say.

"You're such a sweetheart," She laughed, "It's hard to believe you can kill a monster without crying, you big baby,"

I raised my eyebrows, "Excuse me? As I recall I saved your ass by fighting a god three years ago AND climbed out of Tartarus. You're calling me a baby?"

She laughed again, "Yes. I am. You probably only jumped into there to impress me,"

"I didn't even know you! But, if I had to do it all over again to save you, I would,"

She blushed and smiled, "I hope you never have to risk you life for me,"

"If it means saving you, I wouldn't think twice. A world without you in it is not one I want to live in. You mean the world to me… I love you," Believe it or not this was the first time either of us had said it. We'd both had trouble letting people in and had been reserved in what we say. But now, lying here beside my beautiful girlfriend and best friend I had ever known, I was sure I loved her.

"I love you too," She said. We were nose to nose, so close that our lips almost brushed together, "And I always will,"

With that she kissed me. It was a long kiss, our lips didn't part for about twenty seconds. When we finally separated I noticed Frank Zhang standing at the door.

"Holy Mars! You two were just… You're in the… PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE CLOTHES ON!" He screamed.

"Keep your voice down, Zhang!" Reyna ordered, "Do you want the people in REAL Rome to hear?" She got out of bed. She was wearing a dark purple tank top and tight black shorty shorts. She looked amazing.

"Don't you knock?" I asked laughing. Despite being embarrassed I could never stay mad at Frank. Even after his growth spurt in Italy. I loved the guy. Reyna was still mad though. Her faced burned a bright red.

"You just had to barge in here right then. We were having a moment," She said.

"Oh clearly. But it looked to me like you were having-" He was cut short.

"Choose your next words carefully!" Reya said.

"Sorry…" He muttered. I laughed again.

"Thank you, Mr. Canada," I said.

"What are you doing in here anyway?" Frank asked.

"Sophie let me keep the room when I stepped down. Jackson and I were just um, discussing something of great importance," She said looking at me.

"Frank, buddy, we're leaving camp. Not forever, but for a while," I explained.

"Oh… where are you going?"

"Tennessee. My home. We're gonna stay there a while to get away from the fighting and stuff. We need a break,"

"When are you leaving?"

"Two days," Reyna responded.

"Oh…" Frank looked down, "Well, I'm gonna miss you guys,"

"Hey, cheer up. We'll only be gone a year or so. I'll Iris message once a week," I said jokingly.

"Ha-ha. Just keep in touch when you go. I'll let you two get back to 'talking'," He said smiling.

"Cya in the morning, Frank," Reyna said. He turned and left us alone muttering "Why do I always have to find the sleeping couples," She stood there a moment just staring at me before she walked back over to the bed.

"Just hold me a while, ok?" She said laying back beside me, putting her back to me and sliding in close. I let her use my arm as a pillow and laid my other one over top of her. My chin was just above her head and I got as close to her as possible.

"You got it," I said, "But if we fall asleep like this and Zhang walks in again we're dead,"

"Shut up and snuggle, kelp breath," She whispered, laughing softly.

"Yes ma'am," I kissed the top of her head and waited until she fell asleep about thirty minutes later. I slid my arm out from under her head, pulled the covers up to her chin, kissed her on her cheek and walked out to one of the poofy couches. I flumped down onto one and fell asleep thinking of Tennessee.