Percy watched with a small smile on his face.

Of course, the small smile was attributed to the fact that Reyna looked absolutely breathtaking in a silver gown, like some kind of Victorian princess or something. Sort of how he thought Annabeth might look like if she wore a gown like that.

Maybe, just maybe she would be at the party.

Percy knew he wasn't ready to lose his friendship with her at any cost. All the things they had been through, all those times they'd had each other's backs. That wasn't something a guy, especially a guy like him would ever be ready to just give up on.

He fixed his green tie and glanced at Reyna, who was staring at the mirror with an absolutely haunted expression. Percy rested a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, upon which she passed him a small smile that would've been convincing, if she hadn't been Reyna and he hadn't been Percy.

"She'll get it." He whispered in her ear, making her shiver. "Annabeth's understanding, and I might as well have been her parabatai. She can't be angry for long."

"I don't know her like you do, Percy." She breathed out. "And it's not…"

She trailed off, and something about her tone felt off. Like it wasn't Annabeth she was talking about.

His hand snaked to her waist, something Percy knew distracted her. Reyna visibly swallowed, and Percy wasn't exactly feeling like roses inside either. His head dipped down, right next to her earlobe so his breath fanned the side of her face. "Is this about Jason?" He whispered.

Her eyes fluttered shut. "I…" she sighed. "For the first time in forever, I'm actually…unsure. About him. About what the legion would think. I don't…I don't want to be the bad one here."

Percy's mood dampened and he realized exactly what Reyna was talking about. As Annabeth was looked up to by the rest of the Seven, and even Camp Half Blood, he knew Reyna would be taken by them in a bad light, having broken up what the Greeks considered the 'unsinkable ship'…Percy and Annabeth.

But then…

"This is your chance, then."

She opened her eyes, and looked at him if he was nuts, which he probably was. "You think I want a chance to come across as a villain in front of the very people with whom I want, as a diplomatic leader, to form an alliance with?"

"No, not like that." He quickly amended. "Your chance to develop your political skills…" he grinned. "And to introduce 'Preyna' to the demigods."

She rolled her eyes, hiding a smile, and hit him on the chest. "You dork."

He grinned, elated at having extracted a reaction out of her. "You love me."

She just revealed her smile; the rare genuine one Percy had grown to love. "I'm not the only one." Then her face darkened, as if a bad thought had just crossed her mind. "And what about Piper?"

Percy's eyes strayed to her tightly clenched fists, sensing her concern and worry for the daughter of Aphrodite. "You mean when Jason kissed…"

"Yeah." She replied in monotone, but he knew her well enough to know that the monotone voice of hers signified that she was deeply upset. The worst part was he had no idea how to comfort her, seeing as Piper was most definitely pissed at both Reyna and Jason for the unintentional kiss. Well, at least on Reyna's part.

He wanted to do something, to say something deep and insightful and gentle at the same time so that she would find some comfort in him…but unfortunately he himself did not know the Greek daughter of Aphrodite too well, until now having held only one justified conversation with her. To Percy, she seemed quiet and sensible, but from what he remembered, Aphrodite kids, no matter how smart, tended to get wound up or upset over the smallest of matters, though, granted, Jason kissing Reyna when he was still in a healthy relationship with Piper was definitely no small matter.

But it wasn't Reyna's fault.

"Try to talk to her." He said, simply not finding better advice.

"Oh yeah?" Reyna said bitterly, wrenching her hands from his advance, "Do you think I haven't thought about that? I don't think that would be very helpful if she's not even willing to look at me."

Her comments hurt, but Percy knew it wasn't intended on Reyna's part. He understood that she was stressed, and normally she would deal with it well…but she had both New Rome and her relationships with the others at stake on this one. And Percy knew from experience that she tended to get snappy and hurtfully sarcastic when she was upset or desperate.

He carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders, having first handedly experienced being sucker punched by her, and rested his chin on the top of her head. "You'll work it out. You're a good leader and a friend at the same time." He said in a low voice. "I trust you. So does Camp Jupiter."

She closed her eyes and sighed, slowly relieving the tension from her shoulders. "I know you do, Percy, which is why I can be myself with you. But Camp Jupiter is full of Romans. And Romans know only political and military power. I don't think it's going to be very easy."

Percy half smiled as she laced her fingers through his. "One at a time, rain. Let's get to the party."

I'm soooo sorry you guys. I've been a horrible author, and I have no excuses for my reckless, irresponsible five month absence. My exams were only for a month, and I know how incredibly infuriating it is when someone keeps updating regularly for a month and then disappears for five. Something happened over the course of five months, and I hope it changed me into a responsible person. I'm really, really sorry, guys, and I can swear it won't happen again. Mianhae! I'm sorry sorry sorry sorry that this was a filler chapter, but it highlighted Percy and Reyna's relationship more. How do you guys like the nickname Percy has for her? It's Rain (Reyn) if you didn't catch it…comment your opinion!