Chapter 5

Hey everyone!

Thank you guys so much for all your support. We can't believe we're at 45 reviews! You guys deserve this update.

As for the next one, we're asking for 60 total reviews. We know you can do it!

As always, we don't own PJO or HoO. All rights go to Rick Riordon.

Enjoy!

Jason Grace opens his eyes and quickly gets dressed, stumbling out of his cabin toward the Mess Hall for breakfast. He mentally goes through a checklist of things to do today. He has to help with training the younger campers, go to a meeting of cabin counselors, and practice his sword skills. In the evening, he plans to surprise Piper with a date under the stars.

As Jason walks toward his table, lost in his thoughts, he stumbles into Annabeth, who is forlornly staring at the empty Poseidon table.

"Sorry," he says quickly.

Annabeth's empty grey eyes turn to his. "You know what today is, don't you?" she whispers sorrowfully.

The son of Zeus shakes his head, confused.

"It's been a year," Annabeth says in a hollow voice. "One year since they died."

Jason feels as if he has been punched in the gut. Suddenly, all those memories - the gold explosion in the air, the blue burst of power, the flames from the funerals - come back to him. Each and every thought he had tried to put away deep in the recesses of his mind return.

He closes his eyes, trying to chase the memories away. "I can't believe that it has been so long," he says hoarsely.

Annabeth nods, then walks away, where the rest of her siblings are chatting enthusiastically, oblivious to her despair. Jason supposes that she will find a way of her own to mourn. Ever since Percy's death, Annabeth hasn't been the same. Nightmares from Tartarus still haunt her at night, and sometimes even during the day. Her ankle never healed properly after returning from Greece, and neither did her heart. Although Annabeth returned to her normal activities, she seemed more hollow, more empty, more dull. Her eyes are cold and empty, her face constantly pinched in a sad frown. She says she is okay, that she is healing, but Jason can tell that she is only pretending.

Jason wanders back to his table and sits down. He can't believe that it has been a year since they lost Percy and Leo. Both of their deaths had significantly impacted the camps. Leo had bravely led the Hephaestus cabin and discovered Bunker 9. On the other hand, Percy had led the entire camp, and had been a prominent figure in every camper's life at Camp Half-Blood. Not to mention that he had been a praetor at Camp Jupiter as well.

His eyes sweep the Mess Hall, and he sees tables full of laughing demigods, oblivious to the pain that he experienced a year ago. Jason's eyes rest on the empty table for the offspring of Hades, and he thinks of Nico, who hasn't been back for a year.

A soft hand rests on his shoulder. "You remember, too?" Piper asks.

"How could you tell?" Jason replies softly, remembering his best friend, who could practically read his mind.

"I can always tell what you're thinking," Piper says, a sorrowful smile gracing her delicate features.

Jason stands up. "We should do something for them," he says, determined to honor his friends. An idea forms in his mind. "Tonight, at the beach."

Piper nods. "I'll see you soon," she replies, kissing him gently on the cheek.

Jason walks aimlessly around the camp, lost in memories. His feet end up carrying him to the Big House. Inside, he can see pictures of Percy and Annabeth grinning with twin white streaks in their hair. There's also a picture of Percy with his mom, Sally Jackson.

Jason can still remember the heart-rending conversation Annabeth had had with Sally when she had to break the news to her. They had done it over IM, on the way back from Greece. Jason had stood right next to Annabeth as she had broken the sorrowful news. He had hated it, standing there watching as the grown woman broke into sobs, crying over the loss of her only son. He had hated watching Annabeth with tears streaming down her face, crying over the loss of her loving boyfriend. He had hated watching her spiral into darkness over the course of a year.

. . .

Jason heads to the beach with a picnic blanket, some food, and a few lanterns. He decides that the best way to honor Percy, Leo, and all of the demigods killed in the Giant War would be to light a lantern in honor for each of them.

A few minutes after he finishes laying the blanket on the beach, Piper appears. She's barefoot, wearing a knee length black dress, and her hair is curled.

A smile tugs at the edge of Jason's mouth. "You look beautiful," he says.

Piper grins. "You're not too bad yourself," she replies as Jason pulls her into a kiss.

She pulls back and looks at what Jason has set up for herself. "Jason," she whispers. "This is beautiful. They would love it."

Jason nods, and the two of them begin to light the lanterns. They enjoy each other's company as the floating lights disappear into the night sky.

"I wish Leo was here," Jason says wistfully, remembering his best friend. "He had a way with things, you know? It was almost as if he could fix anything, anyone."

"Yeah, he was the best," Piper replies, suddenly overwhelmed with memories. "But I'm glad I'm here Jason, with you. There's no where else I would rather be."

Piper's kaleidoscope eyes meet those of Jason. "Same here," he whispers, his voice husky. His lips crash against Piper's and for a moment, there is only the two of them, the lanterns, and the stars.

When they pull apart, Jason stares in Piper's eyes. "I love you," he whispers.

"I love you, too," she replies.

The two young demigods sit in a melancholy silence, until they hear a familiar voice calling into the darkness.

"Hello, is anybody there?"

He freezes. It can't be, Jason thinks. He turns to look into Piper's eyes. She looks just as shocked and scared and hopeful as he is.

Jason whirls around to stare into the sea-green eyes of Percy Jackson.

Sorry about the cliffhanger…

We hope you liked it! Remember the deal...more reviews, faster update.

QOTD: Who do you think would win in a battle against each other: Percy or Nico?

AOTD: One of us believes Percy, the other Nico.

See you next time!