Once again, I do not own PJO, nor will I ever. Sadly. I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT GUYS! COME ON, IM GETTING NOTHING HERE!

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Jake's POV

Rue… the name sounded amazing, as it rolled off my tongue… Rue… Last night had been amazing. First, I had held Rue's hand, even though it was only for a second, and then once everyone had been on the Argo II and we were a few miles from the camp, Rue had leaned against me as we sat on the top deck, watching Leo steer the vessel.

Love. My. Life.

In the morning Annabeth was at the very tip of the ship, gazing out intently at the trees that were under us. I came over to her, holding two apples in my hands. "Here," I gently whispered, nudging her arm with one fruit. She looked down at it and took it, grudgingly. "You have to eat Annabeth," I said when she didn't take a bite. "You'll need to keep up your strength for our journey. We're gonna be in deep trouble when we get back."

"But we'll have Percy."

I walked off when she wouldn't say anything else.

Leo was still manning the wheel, so I went up to see how he was doing.

"How're ya Leo? Need a break on that thing?"

"I'm doing just fine Jake. Think I'll quit after a few more hours," snickered the Hephaestus boy back.

I analyzed the Argo from his viewpoint. All of the copper was shimmering, and it seemed like we were sailing across the sky because the ground was so far below us. "This really is a beautiful thing Leo. Nice craftsmanship."

"Cabin worked hard on it. We have a few days of nonstop work invested in this ship. It better look good."

"Dude, the workmanship is incredible and—" Something caught my eye. Rue just emerged from below deck, rubbing sleep from her icy blue eyes as the sun illuminated her face. I wanted nothing more than to just hold her in my arms and kiss her, making her shine that smile of hers, brighter than the sun. Rue strode gracefully across to Annabeth. She called her name, and motioned for her to come below deck.

Leo started to laugh, and my face turned as red as a beet. "By gods," he chuckled, "never thought I'd see the day a Hermes and Apollo camper fall in love."

"It is not love!" I defended. "She's just…" I adopted that dreamy expression again before sighing. "… Perfect. What's wrong with me Leo? How did this happen, to me? Shin would never approve!"

"The goddess works in mysterious ways," continued the boy, his face suddenly hard, serious. "It's a privilege to find love, not a right, so go after every single opportunity." Leo grinned. "Besides, Shin's a jerk."

Did I just get a lesson on the universe by a—what? Twelve, thirteen year old boy? Either way, I'm sure glad I did.

Rue's POV

It was late afternoon when I received the Iris Message.

I was studying a few maps of the country, drawing different trails and marking out obstacles that we should avoid. Jake sauntered into the drawing room.

"Hey Rue, what're ya doing?" he piped, sidling up next to me.

"Checking our location." He drew his arm around my back and pointed at a big circle I had drawn on one of the maps, made with red Sharpie.

"What's that?"

I sighed. "A minor god's shack. Stay clear away from him; he's a bad guy."

"And that one?" His finger was on a jagged black line that went up and down like a mountain range.

"Mystical river. Shortcut to the River Styx. I discovered it when I was delivering a message to one of the Hunters." When he pointed to another, one I had drawn a heart around, located in Utah, a few tears came to my eyes. That one was special. "We don't go near there," I whispered. "That was where one of my dearest friends… expired." Jake made a little noise like he was trying to speak, but I stopped him. "He was a satyr. We had met at a concert believe it or not. You know, there's little time for me to make a friend since I'm running everywhere. So me a-and… his name was Ashton… we encountered a few demons. He was bitten… and that was the end of him." I grinned, a few tears running down my cheeks. "He turned into an orchid… I planted him near the shortcut to the Styx… he still guards it."

Jake lifted my head and brushed away the salty water from my skin with his thumb. "Why do I always screw up with you?" he murmured.

"You don't… always…"

"Everything I say or do basically makes you cry." I pushed him away.

"Oh so now I'm weak?"

"See?" he roared back. "Another screw up!"

Gods now I felt bad. "Jake I—" He kept shaking his head, his hands in the air, pacing around. I cupped his face with my small hands. "Calm down." Jake stopped, and I stared into his amazing eyes the color of the sky… His head dipped lower, while I raised mine closer to his by standing on my tip toes.

I could feel his warm breath on my lips, his strong arms tighten around me…

"Hey Rue, how's it goi-" Both of our heads spun to our right, a shivering image appearing from thin air in front of us. Carter was looking at us through the Iris Message. "Am I interrupting something? I could come back later." Even though her face was red, she still managed to giggle at us. Jake and I broke the embrace and took a step away from each other.

Did I just try to kiss him? Oh my gods I'm so screwed up… he's gonna hate me now forever.

"What is it, um, Carter?" blushed Jake, brushing his black hair with his hand.

"Everyone at camp wants to know how you guys are doing."

"Leo says we'll be in the area in about two days. Does Chiron expect anything?"

"Nope, but he's getting kind of anxious; can't find Jason, Piper, or Annabeth. He thinks the rest of you are off doing something busy, which apparently you are…" She started cackling on the other end. Charlie came in just then to join her.

"Hey guys," he gave her a peck on the cheek. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing!" Jake and I shouted at the same time. "Nothing, nothing at all." Charlie slashed through the broadcast with his hand, leaving Jake and I alone.

Wow this was awkward.

"I'm gonna go show Leo the maps," I blurted out hurriedly, basically running from the room. Jake called after me, but I didn't stop. My face was hot, and I was shaking. Gods I am so stupid.

Jake's POV

Rue's soft hands were touching my face, so gentle, and as our faces neared. I only had one thought: please, please kiss me. Her breath smelled faintly of lavender, an interesting scent, but I liked it nonetheless. I tightened my arms around her, and then my mind started to panic. Oh my gods will I screw this up? I mean, I've kissed girls before but none have been her, Rue, my heart's desire.

Then the Iris message had screwed everything up, and Rue had run off, leaving my lips untouched and my soul aching with longing.

For the next day, Rue avoided me. Was I too forceful? Apollo himself does have a harder time getting the ladies, believe it or not. He was a charmer, but too forceful about his love. Maybe I was too, and I totally blew it.

It was late at night when I was woken up to take my steering shift. Leo was snoring in the room next to me so loud it went through the metal walls, and so I kind of just woke up at the right time.

The moon made the bronze planking glitter in the night like a sea of stars. I thought it was beautiful, until I saw Rue manning the wheel. Her blonde hair was lightly brushed across her face, obscuring her blue sea eyes that I knew were staring intently at the horizon ahead. Every few moments or so she would turn the wheel, adjusting our course a few marks.

Rue didn't know I had glided up to the top deck. "Hello beautiful," I whispered, my mouth close to one ear. She jumped a little and tensed as I wrapped my arms around her petite waist.

"Jake, what are you doing?" she muttered. To my joy she relaxed and melted back onto me.

"We were kind of interrupted earlier. You stayed as far from me as possible after that."

"Well I kind of screwed up the… moment. I was…" she blushed beautifully, "…embarrassed."

"Really? I thought I was the one who had messed up the kiss."

"Who says we were gonna kiss?" I could imagine that default Hermes smirk glued to her face.

"Me." Wow that sounded kind of smooth. Let's see if I can keep this going… I took her chin in my hand and tilted her face towards mine. Our eyes closed as we slowly inched towards each other. Closer, closer… Her lavender breath was mixing into mine again… and, yup, there's that thought: please, please kiss me. This time, just one, and I'll be content…

Something bumped into the Argo II, sending it rolling to the left. We were thrown to the floor as something crashed into the hull again. "Really? Now?" I shouted, struggling to pick myself up from the deck. The others had come sprinting out, and when I glanced back at Rue, she was already standing up, a dagger in hand. Her eyes were squinting into the darkness.

"What is it?" roared Annabeth, staggering up to meet us.

"I don't know," Rue admitted, still staring out at the dark night sky. "But its big, and it's angry."

I was so focused on the two girls I didn't notice the sudden barrage of hits stop. Annabeth peered around, trying to see our attacker. "What's it doing now?" bellowed Piper from down below.

Rue shuddered. A sinking feeling filled my heart. "Watching," she replied. Then her voice rose, steadily, as if daring the monster to come to closer. "Jake," she said low at first, "it likes you." Goosebumps rose up my arms, and I pulled out my bow and quiver from thin air. "But we aren't afraid of you," she continued. "So show yourself like a real beast! You coward! Come out and face us so I can put you back in Tartarus!"

Something cold brushed against my ankle, and the next thing I knew I was hanging up near the sails, one godly hand wrapped tightly around my leg. In a flash I had fired six arrows upside down, they having the magical ability to not fall out of my quiver, but it had no effect on what was holding me.

Before my head crashed onto the tip of the mast, I caught a glimpse of one thing: Rue standing far below me, looking like a graceful angel of war.

Rue's POV

Jake was hanging upside down by a woman with long bright red hair, like the kind you get from a Parade colors hair dye set. His bow fell from one limp hand and fell to the deck, splintering into halves.

That was his favorite bow. She was gonna pay.

I immediately started to climb up the ratlines, knife clenched between my teeth like some pirate in an old movie. Quickly I reached the top, and perched myself near my unconscious friend. "Hey Tomato Top," I screamed, clutching my trusty weapon firmly in my hand. The woman glanced up, surprise in the brown eyes hidden behind the sleek modern glasses. "You better put him down gently or I'm gonna screw up that pretty little face of yours."

The woman, floating on air, stared at me, studying every detail, as if she were completely in nothing else but me. To tell you the truth, it was really, really creepy. "No," she said simply, returning her gaze to Jake. With one pale hand she brushed his side, faintly sighing like he was the most incredible thing she had ever seen. Hey, that was my guy! She should not be looking at him like that, so intrigued, so infatuated with him!

She's gonna get screwed up now. "Hey Ugly, let him go, got it? Get away from here!"

Her head snapped upright. Jake fell from her grasp, and I shrieked. His body tumbled head over heels back down to Earth. Jason luckily had been watching us at the time, and managed to cushion Jake's fall with himself. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure he was now unconscious.

I wasted no time in leaping towards our new enemy, wrapping my arm around her neck and trying to get a good choker hold going. Her long nails, painted as bright as a sunset, were clawing at me, gouging into my skin and making my blood flow in tiny rivulets. I stabbed my dagger deep into her chest. The woman let out an ear splitting wail as she bucked me off of her. I reached for a hanging rope to prevent myself from slamming into the deck. Before she could come at me again, golden Ichor flowing from her wound, I used my momentum to swing myself at her, legs extended, so my feet slammed into her face.

"Ate!" someone cried, the voice unfamiliar. Suddenly I was launched from my hold, thrown against one of the yardarms, and fell into a tangle of nets below me before darkness seemed to envelope my mind, suffocating me like a plastic bag placed over my head.

(Still Rue's POV)

My head was pounding, as if a toddler was banging their annoying rattles against my temples. When my eyes cracked open, I winced at the pain the lights were giving me. "So the last of the dogs awaken," cackled a high sweet voice. I could feel a presence near me, and something was put to my lips. I wouldn't suck into the straw.

"Come on Rue, please," whispered Jake's tender voice, lightly brushing his fingertips against my cheek. "It's nectar." I finally gave, tasting the cool nothingness of water. Okay, that may be the stupidest thing to taste in the all powerful medicine of the gods and stuff, but to me, it was the best drink on Earth. Have you ever been so thirsty, your throat dry as sand, coarse like sand paper, that the first drink you get is an ice cold bottle of water? So amazing.

I could feel all the agony I was feeling slightly dull as the magic worked its course. I moaned quietly, and Jake gathered me in his arms. "I'm so sorry I didn't save you," he mumbled, hurt and sorrow tinting his words.

"It's alright Jake. Gods where am I?" My eyes were roaming around a room, made of smooth white stone, with red velvet drapes hanging elegantly from the top of the walls. Gold braziers lit the room, and a large four poster bed was surrounded by golden sheets. I realized with a little embarrassment Jake and I were laying on it. "Um, Jake…"

"I know, I know, we're screwed," he sighed, petting my hair with his hand. "Rue just please, please, don't say anything distasteful. You'll regret it, okay, especially—"

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, sitting upright. "Where are we and why isn't it the Argo? We should be going to Percy instead of lying on a bed!"

"I believe I can answer that," said a light airy voice. I turned my head, and saw a teenage girl poised on a high back chair, legs crossed, back ramrod straight. Her long dark brown hair was tossed over one shoulder, and her ruby lips parted into a flawless smile. "The gods have asked me to keep you here until they come to pick you up."

"The gods?" I jumped up. "No, no! We are not staying here! Jake, come on, we're leaving before my stupid dad comes along." I marched over to one of the windows and flung it open, stretching out and looking down.

We were at least ten stories above the ground, the Argo II at least half that below us.

"Easy," I snickered, snapping my fingers. Little wings unfolded themselves from the sides of my shoes, and I hovered a foot in the air. "Alright, where are the others?" Apparently the teenager had not thought about my flying sneakers, and she quickly stood up. She was much taller than me, so I rose in the air to match her eye level.

"Lord Zeus does not permit you to leave."

"Lord Zeus can kiss my—"

"Rue!" interrupted Jake, shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes. "Who are you to say I cannot leave?" I looked her up and down, noting her make up that was too heavily put on, and the intense fire that burned behind her eyes if you looked too closely.

"Says Astarte," growled the young goddess.

I'm in trouble now. "You aren't the red head," I hissed. "Who was she? Your little henchman you got to do your dirty work? Coward."

"Rue stop!" Jake cried. I shot him a dangerous look.

"She is Ate, goddess of infatuation, obsession, guilt, and mischief." Make that really, really screwed.

"Where are my friends? You have no right to obstruct our quest!"

"They are safe, merely sitting in the other room. I decided it best to keep you separated." She faced away from me and strutted towards Jake, who was trying not to gaze her way. She trailed one long elegant finger along his chin, yanking his head towards her. My hands clumped into shaking fists.

"Milady, please don't," whispered Jake, his eyes cast downward. What was wrong?
Let's see: Astarte, a minor goddess of fire, fertility, astrology, war, vengeance, victory…

"You are quite a handsome young man Jake Wilder. You could stay with me, forever, you know. Just me and you, sleeping all night, playing all day…" She pressed him back against the mattress. His arms were struggling to push her away.

… and sexual prowess and love.

"Get away from him!" I snapped, throwing myself onto her. I tore her away from Jake, who seemed to be immobile. When we started banging around, Ate came running in, dragging me out of the room. Annabeth, Jason, Piper, and Leo were all in the living room, similarly furnished, glued down in their seats. "You stay away from him, you hear me Astarte? You stay away from Jake!"

"Rue, you're only making our situation worse!" shouted Annabeth, trying to pull me from the goddess. I slammed Astarte's head onto the glass of the coffee table, and BOOM. No more fighting. The goddess was unconscious on the floor.

"Take that you witch," I spat under my breath, brushing myself off. "Not my Jake."

Everyone was eerily silent, while I was still fuming, pissed off at the world. This was just wasting time, while any second Hermes or Athena or all of the twelve Olympians could poof in.

"Let's go guys," I growled, my wings flapping energetically.

RUE: The nerve of that goddess!

JAKE: She was pretty hot actually...

RUE (glaring at Jake): DID YOU REALLY JUST SAY THAT? I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!

JAKE: No, you love me, you know it.

RUE: SCORN is way more powerful than love dear, so you better get running! (starts running after him, smacking him with her flying shoes)

SATYRSUNITE (watching the scene sighing.): I'll get them later... Review please, I love you all!