Her guys! A new chapter up. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the PJO characters!

Reyna's POV:

I made it back to my principia unnoticed. I step inside the room and stiffly slide into my bed sheets. My eyes flutter closed and I hope for a dreamless sleep.

The rain is pouring on the windows. I am scribbling something on some papers, indulged in my work. The door opens, and I am startled. Who would visit me so late? I look up and take in a sharp breath.

Him.

No. No. No. I thought I'd never have this… dream, again. Why? Why now? I want to scream, and tell myself to walk away, to do something. Anything but stay here.

I try to return my gaze to my work and continue, but I can't. My emotions are roaring, and I feel my cheeks getting hot. "Reyna?" the blonde boy asks softly. "I need to tell you something."

I tear my eyes from the paper to look at him. Dark eyes and electric blue lock, and my breathing becomes heavy. Will he confess his love for me? Gods, my hair must look so messy and I must look tired.

He makes me feel so insecure, like I'm not worthy of his love. But, how can I be so sure he loves me in the first place?

He has to. I've seen the way he looks at me. The way he stumbles with his words when we are discussing something of the camp, alone.

How long I've yearned to speak of something else, of us. But, I can't say anything unless I know for sure. If I do, and he doesn't feel the same, I'll look like a fool. And Reyna isn't a fool.

"Yes?" I say quietly, trying- and failing- at sounding nonchalant. My voice is almost a shy whisper. He walks over to me, and stands over me. He scratches his head and sighs.

I stand and clear my throat. "Yes?" I ask again, my heart racing. But instead of a reply, he just kisses me. He grabs my arms and clashes our lips together roughly. I widen my eyes in surprise, but quickly shake it off, and begin to kiss him back.

I try to kiss him sweetly, but he doesn't. His kiss is harsh and rough, and I want to pull him off me, to tell him to stop, but I can't. My heart betrays me, saying: Isn't this what you've always wanted?

No? Yes. Yes. Of course it is.

"NO!" I scream at the top of my lungs, lunging in between myself and Jason. "NO! STOP!" But I don't listen. I never listen to myself in this dream.

So I let him French kiss me, to nip at my lips, and to touch me. My skin tingles at his touch, and I kiss him lovingly, letting all my emotions drip through my lips.

I'm bawling now, hugging myself tightly. My dream self continues to kiss Jason, and I cry harder.

And so when his fingertips tug at the shoulder of my toga, I let him slip it off me, and let it drop to the floor with a soundless thud. My back touches the bed and he starts to take off his own clothes.

"No," I cry out, shuddering. I turn away. I weep as I know what happens next. I just don't want to see anymore. When I know it's over, I turn around again. I watch myself frantic to lock eyes with the blonde boy, to tell him what I've held in me for so long.

"I love you," I murmur. Jason kisses me neck and doesn't even look up. My breath catches in my throat. Jason finally looks up, but catches my eyes briefly. Then he gets up abruptly and pulls on his clothes.

I prop myself up on my elbows, and my eyebrows knit. "Jason?" I say, breathless. Did I rush? Was this not the right time? Of course it's the time, I think. We just-just made…

"I've got to go." he says simply.

Go?

I walk up to Jason, my fists balled, crying in hysterics. "HOW COULD YOU, YOU-YOU MONSTER!" I screech. My fists are flung at him, but as always, they past right through him. And he keeps talking.

"Um, good night." he mutters as he turns and starts for the door.

"Jason?" my voice trembles, and silent tears streak my face.

Something in me shatters, something breaks that can never be fixed.

The sound of the door shutting rings in my ears. "But-" I say hollowly to no one. And I rise out of my bed, and curl into a ball in a corner. I cry until my throat closes shut, until my head spins.

How stupid am I?

I look at myself, and bite my lip. "He played you." I say quietly, "Like he will again before he disappears. And then he'll come back, with another girl, and he'll tear you down again."

The door opens again. I look up, and my eyes widen. He's not supposed to be here…

"Reyna? It's going to be okay…" a black haired boy whispers. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly. He kisses the top of my head and caresses my cheek. "It'll be okay, it'll be okay."

I look up. "Even if I'm…" my voice cracks. "…used?"

Percy nods, hugging me tighter. "I'll always love you, Reyna. Always."

He stands to look at me, the real me. "Reyna, I'm so, so sorry." he whispers. His jaw is clenched. "And when I get back, Jason will pay." he hisses.

I frown.

"Wait, are we… sharing dreams?" I say, worried.

He nods. "I know. The real me, knows."

I shake my head. "No. I... You shouldn't have seen that."

Percy's gaze shifts and his eyes seem sad. "Why not?"

"I never want anyone to know that Reyna is a…" I choke, "whore."

Percy grits his teeth. "You are not a whore." he says firmly. "Don't ever say that again."

My shoulders sag. "But it's true," I say dully. Percy shakes his head and steps toward me and kisses me. Even if it is such a dream, the kiss makes me feel alive again. I feel so warm, and so safe.

"You are beautiful, Reyna." he whispers, his forehead resting on mine.

"Thank you," I whisper and he smiles.

"I'll be home soon," he promises, giving my cheek a final kiss. "I've got to go. Goodbye."

I nod, my lips forming a small smile. Genuine happiness sparks across his face and he whispers, "I love you."

And then he's gone.

He loves me.

I don't feel so alone anymore. Because I have him, and I realize that I need him, I really do- more than he'll ever need me- and I'm okay with that. I smile, whispering, "I'm not alone. I am free." to myself over and over until I wake up.

()()()()

Percy's POV:

I wake to a pang of pain in my chest.

That's why there are so many walls up.

My teeth clench, and I feel my cheeks burning. I curse in Greek, Roman, and English. Leo looks up from fiddling with his tool belt to mutter, "Jeez, I know you're a son of Poseidon and all, but seriously, no need to be a sailor mouth."

I frown, and then laugh, in spite of myself.

I turn to look out of our tourist bus's window. We are in Rome, thanks to Piper and her charmspeaking ways. We managed to get some "last-minute" passes to board the bus. The bus jerks to a halt near a café. Before my dream with Reyna, I had a short dream with my father.

He sounded very worried, but told me Annabeth was here. Before the dream shifted, he told me to be careful. I promised him I would.

"Uh, so where do we start?" Frank says, interrupting my thoughts.

I turn to look at him. "Everywhere," I say grimly, starting down the street.

"But- can't we eat first?" Frank whines. I spin around to roll my eyes, smiling.

"Fine,"

Frank grins. "C'mon, Hazel." he says, tugging the daughter of Pluto towards the café. Leo and Piper shrug and start for the café as well.

I start toward the place too, until I notice a small phone booth. I bite my lip and turn sideways. The group was gathered at a table near the window. They were laughing and messing around.

I need to hear her voice one last time.

So I pick up the phone, slip in some quarters, and dial her number. The phone only rings once. "Hello?" a voice breathes. "Reyna?" I whisper.

"P-Percy?" the voice is small.

"I'm sorry." I say, and Reyna breathes in sharply.

"It's okay." she replies. Silence gathers upon us.

"Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful, okay?" her voice is firm and demanding. I smile wide.

"I promise, my praetor." I say jokingly.

"Don't push it, Jackson." I can hear the smile in her voice.

"I love you," I say simply. How easy it seems to roll off my tongue. So sincere and so right.

Another long silence gathers upon us. Seconds pass, and they feel like hours. My blood turns to ice, and my heart stops cold. I seem to hold in my breath until I hear her reply.

"I…"

Please deposit fifty more cents.

"Damnit!" I shout, louder than I meant it to be. I throw the phone back into its holder, fuming. I rake my fingers through my hair and sigh.

"So close," I whisper, smiling ruefully. And I turn and walk back into the café, to my waiting friends.

"You okay?" Piper says, frowning.

I nod, smiling. "Yeah, just- ...yeah."

Leo shrugs and continues his story about fixing Festus; I tune him out- I've heard this story a million times since the curly haired boy landed at Camp Jupiter- and I think of Reyna.

I can't wait to go home. I look out the window and at the sky.

Where are you, Annabeth?

So...

I don't know if I'm fully satisfied with this. I mean, I don't want Jason to come off as a major douche, but I don't want him to be a hero, either.

I guess I did this so you'd know how difficult it is for Reyna to open up about her feelings, so when (IF) she does it for Percy, it'll be ten times as special.

*sigh* Yeah...

Review, and tell me your thoughts, please! :)

-The TimeMachine