So, this is an emotional time for me— this story is coming to an end :'(. Not too quickly, but I can see the end in sight.

Well, enjoy it while it lasts.

Piper thought about the question for a long, long time, chewing her bottom lip and looking around the house. Jason waited anxiously, watching her with expecting eyes. If she said no, he may as well pack up his bags and go home. If she said yes, then Jason had a slight chance. It would probably never happen, but Jason had fought against Gaea. He was used to the odds being stacked against him.

Finally, with a hesitant chance that said she knew exactly what the consequences of the answer were, Piper said:

"Yes…. Sometimes." She hesitated, but the look Jason was giving her prompted her to carry on. "I miss all my friends, and really feeling like I fit in for once. Things here just aren't the same without demi-gods around me."

"And the campfires," Jason smiled. "You have to miss the campfires."

"Of course I miss the campfires," Piper laughed. "Plus, it gets a little lonely around here, with only Will to hang out with." Jason felt a pang of jealousy, but didn't let it show. He would happily be the only person in Piper's life.

He could have been, too— but he had to choose Reyna. Jason was starting to realize that mopping around would get him nowhere when it came to getting Piper back, so he was making an effort to stop. Still, it was hard to stop beating himself up about making the wrong choice— choosing the wrong road. He made a mental note to find Janus and slap the god upside the head.

"So what un-demigod stuff has been happening?" Jason asked, and Piper thought for a second.

"I got a movie part," she replied finally, and Jason looked impressed. She still couldn't believe that he was sitting here, in her house— inches away from where she had been making out with Will only minutes ago. She was struck by the sudden urge to lean in a kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hold him there. She didn't really realize how much she had missed him until she saw him— the sky-blue eyes and close-cropped blonde hair, the completely opened and honest look on his face. But she couldn't do that— she hated him.

"Really?" Jason asked, breaking her from her thoughts. "That's cool. What did you do?"

"It's in my dads new movie," Piper replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice. After her dad had scored that part on Troy, every movie business was clamoring for him to fill their parts— if they hadn't been already. He was busier than ever and barely had time for Piper at all. "I haven't actually been on set yet— I'm just an extra, really. No talking part."

"Eh," Jason shrugged. "It's a start, you know. Maybe someday you'll be just like your dad."

"I was thinking more a career in modeling," Piper smirked, shooting Jason a look. He felt his mouth go dry.

"That might work," he agreed, choking out the words and trying to stop himself from blushing. She hadn't looked at him like that since they sailed on the Argo, and he had forgotten how pretty she was.

They talked comfortably for a while more, Piper slowly dropping her guard and opening up more as they spoke. Jason was thrilled at how it had gone— less than twenty-four hours ago he had thought Piper wanted to run him through with her dagger. Now, they were both reclined comfortably on the couches, chatting idly and watching the TV.

Part of Jason— the part that wasn't admiring Piper or setting off mental confetti guns— wondered what Percy had been doing for the last three hours. It seemed Will was still unconscious outside, but the son of Poseidon was nowhere to be seen.

"We should find Percy," Piper said, voicing Jason's thoughts, and he nodded absent-mindedly. Secretly, he was disappointed that they were stopping their conversation, but he rose to his feet and headed outside. Piper was a few feet behind, locking the door behind her.

"Where is he?" Jason asked, looking around, but Percy was nowhere to be found.

"We could send him and Iris message," Piper shrugged. Will groaned from against the wall and Piper seemed to notice her fallen boyfriend for the first time. She rushed over and Jason followed, trying to contain his jealousy.

"Do you think we can wake him up?" Piper asked Jason when he drew beside her. He shrugged indifferently, not really caring if Will woke up or not. He would be perfectly happy if the stupid kid stayed unconscious forever, leaving the rode to Piper wide opened.

"Charm-speak him," he suggested dryly, and Piper glared at him. "What? You brought me back from the dead, didn't you?"

Piper turned her back to him and started shaking Will, trying to revive him. Jason had to admire Percy's handiwork: there was a lump on Will's head, but no open cuts and no depression on the skull. He had obviously bee somewhat careful while throwing the poor kid into a wall, trying not to send him to Hades.

"He's concussed," Jason analyzed, trying to redeem himself. "No caving in of the skull, so he should be a bit disoriented when he comes around. Nothing more, though."

"Of course not. I wasn't trying to kill him." Jason had been through far too mush to jump when random voices appeared behind him. Instead, he turned calmly and saw Percy standing there, swinging Riptide from hand to hand idly.

"Fine time for you to get back," he grumbled, gesturing to Will. "He's not waking up."

"You say that like it's my fault."

"You are the one who threw him into a wall," Piper added in from where she was squatted over her fallen boyfriends, trying to revive him with no success. Percy shrugged.

"Fair enough," he replied. He leaned over Will as well and Jason stood back, trying to not feel like a third wheel. He kind of wished that Will would stay unconscious for a couple more hours and Percy would have more prayers to fill out, so that he could spend some more time with Piper, even if it was just talking. In his mind, he was carefully debating how he should play his relationship with Piper. He could go straight for her heart, or he could wait.

Obviously, the second option was far less appealing to Jason, but he knew there was no point in shooting early and missing. There had to be some part of Piper that still resented him, and if he made a move that part would probably come out in full force.

Will groaned and stirred, rolling over and fluttering awake. Piper let out a long sigh of relief, and Jason felt jealousy stab through him. There goes my attention… he thought glumly.

Will's eyes focused on Percy and he yelped, scrambling backwards farther into the ditch he was thrown. "Get away!" he yelled. His eyes focused on Piper. "This guys crazy, Pipes! He threw me into a wall!"

Pipes. Piper had never liked Jason calling her that, even when they were kind-of-dating. She had always said it was only for her dad to call her, and it brought back painful memories of the Wilderness school and their first quest, when she had been lost and confused. For these reasons, Jason tried not to call her that, even though it slipped out every now and then. Apparently though, Piper had no qualms being called that by her mortal boyfriend.

"It's okay," Piper was telling him in a soothing tone. "Percy's… mentally challenged, and he sometimes does things that he shouldn't. But he's not dangerous, he really isn't."

"I'm so going to kill you," Percy mumbled, hiding Riptide so Will wouldn't see it. Piper shot him a warning glance, before helping her stricken boyfriend to his feet. For the first time, Will's eyes focused on Jason. They narrowed.

"Who's he?" He asked bluntly, pointing at Jason. Piper looked at loss of an answer, so Jason stepped in to save her.

"I'm Piper's ex," he admitted, wincing inwardly at how it sounded. "We went out when we were younger." Will's eyes went wide with recognition and he glared.

"You're the kid who broke her heart?" He growled, but Jason wasn't the slightest bit threatened. Instead, he was worried he would be forced to hurt this stupid mortal boy and make Piper mad.

"When you say it like that…" Jason trailed off, trying to act casual. "I guess so. She hated me for a while, but now she forgives me?" He finished hopefully, looking over at Piper. His stomach was churning with nerves as he awaited the answer, which seemed to be taking forever. Piper chewed her bottom lip, glancing between Jason and Will nervously.

"I guess so," she said hesitantly, and Jason felt his spirits soar. "I was mad at you for a while, but now…" she shrugged. "I kinda missed you. As a friend," she added hastily, which did nothing to dim Jason's spirits. He was forgiven. It was all going to work out, somehow. Will was the only obstruction now.

"You're forgiving him?" He asked incredulously. "Piper, you said you hated this guy."

"I did," she defended. "But now I don't. People can be forgiven, you know."

"What does this mean to us?" Will demanded. "We had plans, you know. We were going to go to college together."

"Hey," Jason shrugged, starting to feel left out. "Don't hesitate to do that on my part, dude. You two can go to college. Just keep it rated G." Will glared at him.

"Just because the farthest you've gone is holding hands," he snapped. "Doesn't mean that's the farthest we've gone." Jason felt rage swell inside of him and forced it down, instead putting on a cocky grin.

"Look, dude," he grinned. "No need to share your personal dreams with us. I'm sure your self time is occupied in a handy way, but we're talking about real relationships here."

Will lunged, but Piper held him back. "Guys!" She said desperately. "Can we not do this here?"

"Why are you defending him?" Will demanded, turning on her. "What does this mean to us?"

"This doesn't mean anything!" Piper exclaimed, exasperated. "What, am I not allowed to have friends any more?"

"From the way he's grinning, you went farther than just being friends," Will spat, and Jason felt an odd stab of pleasure at the annoyance he was causing Piper's boyfriend. Jason saw Piper's eyes flash dangerously and backed up slightly. So did Percy, who subtly moved closer to the pair.

"And you're suggesting what?" Piper demanded dangerously. Will looked lost for a moment.

"Well… it's just, I love you," he said. "And I don't want him getting in the way of us."

Sorry, I didn't know how to end it.

And I'm changing my updating schedule— it's just too much, three stories every week. I can barely manage it, and my school grades are dropping. So now I'm doing every other week. Sorry, guys. But it means the chapters will be longer.

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