AN: Hey guys, I'm sorry that I haven't updated this story in so long. It's not abandoned I promise. I was concentrating on Fire Triangle, and then when I was going to update, my brother needed the laptop for coursework, which I have to concede, is perhaps slightly more important than this story.

I'm so glad you all liked Jason's entrance, and in this chapter you will have Tristan's reaction to the budding actor being 'that Jason'.

Disclaimer: If you recognise it, then I don't own it.

And with no further ado...

Chapter 4: Yeah, that Jason.

Piper was still in shock. She had no clue that Jason could act. Especially not like that! Thought she had a feeling that he acted so well because it wasn't acting. He actually was a Roman general, not that he was going to be telling anyone that.

Glancing across the room, she noticed Sebastian beckon her over, his face alight with a broad grin. He looked as though he had just won the lottery. So did some of the other actors. She heard the actor who was going to play her dad's army leader, and second in command, whispering to the actress beside him, "That boy has talent!"

She felt like turning around and singing that "that boy" was her boyfriend. Though she suspected that thought came from Aphrodite, seemed like something her mom would giggle over. She gave a little frown and wiped the thought from her mind. Sure she was cool with Aphrodite being her mom, but that didn't mean she was going to turn into a giggling weakling!

By the time she had finished that thought, she was standing in front of Sebastian, and the actors around him had gone quiet. She tried not to gulp as they all looked at her. Sebastian spoke, "Now, I know we were all impressed with Mr Grace, but I would like your input Piper. Do you have any problems with him? Now is the time to speak up, because once we have cast him, he's here to stay."

Piper wasn't going to object to Jason at all, but as she opened her mouth to say so, she heard one of the actors by Sebastian whispering to another. "If she says she has a problem with kissing him, I swear I will chuck her out the window."

Piper couldn't help but laugh over the not so subtle comment. When you were in a silent room whispers carried pretty far. She glanced at the actor who would be playing her main guard; he didn't look apologetic at all, and merely smirked at her. He reminded her of a thirty year old Leo, or what Leo would probably be like in twelve years. She saw so much of Leo in him, that she immediately retorted the way she would had he been Leo.

"As my future prison warden has pointed out so kindly," here she sent a matching smirk at him, "I would be plain idiotic to object. Plus, Jason pretty fit." The actor who had spoke slung an arm around her shoulders, and spoke to Sebastian.

"I like this one," he poked her in the arm and grinned, "I'm keeping her".

Piper laughed again, and gave a full out grin, "Why sir, I don't even know your name!" She spun herself out from under his arms, and pretended to hide behind her father, who was grinning himself at the two's performance.

The man gave a faux gasp, and bowed to the ground, "Allow me to introduce myself Princess Piper, I am Lord Troy Richards, son of the noblest family of Richards. My father, Richard the four hundred and sixteenth, decided to name his son something different for a change."

Tristan stepped forward, and frowned at Troy. "What is your intention toward my daughter?" Piper couldn't help but gasp at that, her dad was joining in? This was probably the closest she and her father had acted in... Years. Acted of course, an appropriate pun for the situation.

"Nothing unseemly my lord, merely ask her hand."

Piper stepped around her dad and rejoined the conversation, "Oh, my Lord Troy, I am truly honoured, but my heart belongs to another..."

Their charade, which until now had just been accompanied by various snickers from the gathered actors and actresses, was interrupted by a hung gasp from the reporter in the corner. Piper frowned, then realised that she had just admitted she had a boyfriend. That would be like a goldmine to the press, who had been clamouring for as much information as they could find on Tristan's mysterious trouble maker of a daughter.

Troy had turned to her in surprise, breaking the act himself. "You have a boyfriend."

"Yep" Piper really should have recognised the gleam in Troy's eyes.

"What's his name?"

"Not telling." Troy frowned at that, and turned to Tristan, throwing his arm over her dad's shoulders, as he grinned.

"Hey Trissy-dear, what's the name of your daughter's boyfriend?"

Tristan McLean gave an esperated sigh, "if you would remove your arm..." Troy eagerly moved away, and looked at Tristan.

"Well..."

"Still not telling."

Troy frowned and turned back to Piper, a gleam in his eye. "I will find out missy, and I will make sure I manage to prank him with shaving cream on Jello."

"He won't fall for it!"

"He will fall for it; everyone falls for it the first time."

"Yes, but it wouldn't be the first time." Piper smiled, remembering the time on the Argo two, when Leo had managed to get everyone with that prank, including himself so that he wouldn't be a suspect. His maniacal laugh had given him away though, and he found his shower would only run ice cold water till he grovelled to Percy to change it back.

Troy's response was cut off by Sebastian, as he cleared his throat, and gave the two of them a pointed look. "While I'm sure we're all incredibly excited at the prospect of Piper's absent boyfriend," he glanced at the reporter, who had the good sense to try look abashed, but wasn't really managing it. "But we have some auditionees outside who are waiting for our decision. I believe it was unanimously Jason, am I correct?"

The other actors and actresses gave a variety of agreements, with Troy's "Yep!" being the loudest.

"Ok, then, and I will be offering the others minor roles in the army, yes?" Another round of agreements ensued. Sebastian nodded, and asked Tracy, who was going to be acting as Piper's servant, if she would be willing to show the four in.

They first three seemed somewhat nervous, and entered slowly, with Jason's blank face behind them, his eyes meeting with Pipers, and lighting up. She could almost see lightning bolts in them. She smiled at him, before glancing at the reporter in horror, she didn't want the media to actually realise she knew Jason. If they tried to dig up his past, well it would end badly, was an understatement.

She let out the breath she had been holding when she realised that the reporter and cameraman were still trained on the four who had just entered. Jason seemed to realise that she wanted him to keep their relationship secret. He looked a little hurt, and she knew she would have to explain later.

The three that hadn't got the role took it reasonably ok, though one of them set a jealous glare at Jason back, making Piper frown. Jason looked a little shocked too, and Piper knew that it was his first time acting, and he probably hadn't expected to win.

It was almost an hour later that Piper got a chance to get Jason to himself, and Troy had cleared toe corner, declaring that the Centurion Marcus and his bride to be Princess Adonia needed some private time to get acquainted, and Piper was grateful. She didn't appreciate the innuendo he had added on the end of that statement, but she did appreciate the space.

"Jason, I want to keep us being together a secret. I'm not ashamed of you or anything, and I know you well enough that you will have either used the mist, or Leo's hacking skills to create a back-story for why you haven't been heard of since you were two, but..."

"Piper, I get it."

"You do?"

"Yeah, the media haven't had anything on the mysterious daughter of Tristan McLean. If it gets out that we're dating, they're going to try to dig things up about the both of us. We don't want that happening anymore than it needs to."

Piper smiled at Jason, resisting the urge to reach up and kiss him, and thanked her mom mentally that she got such an awesome boyfriend. The sweet voice in her head that rang with giggles as it replied "You're welcome honey!" almost made her physically cringe.

Jason grinned at her face, "I know, I know, I'm awesome." Piper grinned and lightly slapped him around the head.

"Careful Jason, if your head gets any bigger it won't fit in your costumes helmet."

Piper and Jason stood up, and headed for the doors, intending to sneak outside for a brief moment. They were blocked by the large body of Tristan McLean. "Where are you two going?"

"Nowhere."
"Outside."

"Ummm" The two looked at each other, then back at Tristan. Who stared at them silently until Piper began to fiddle, blaming her ADHD for her impatience.

"Jason Grace." Jason straitened, and looked at Tristan directly, instead of the floor.

"Yes sir."

"That Jason?"

"Yes sir."

Tristan took a long look at Jason before claiming loudly, "You could be worse," ignoring Piper's embarrassed cry of "Dad!"

Tristan leaned forward, and whispered menacingly into Jason's face, "If you hurt her, I will ruin you. Fame can be remarkably useful sometimes." Jason was spared the reply by a crash in the parking lot outside, and a familiar voice exclaiming, "Schist!"

Piper was at the window before she registered moving, there was a half crashed helicopter outside, and a familiar Latina Santa's elf clambering from the wreck. Piper shared a glance with Jason, while they decided who would pretend they didn't know Leo. They came to an agreement and Piper raised her voice to yell out the window.

"Leo! What in the name of What, did you just do?!"

Leo jumped at the voice and looked up at Piper's voice the floor above, "Oh, hey there Beauty Queen."

Hope you like it folks, and please send a oh-so-lovely review winging merrily in my direction. BYE NOW!