The Olympian Council had a meeting to update all of the gods and half-bloods present at the winter meetings. One thing they agreed to was to accept the recommendations of all the committees with the exception of gun control-even Ares agreed it was too extreme at this time. Afterwards, the half-bloods and a couple of hunters decided to get together for a campfire chat before they all head back to camp, the hunt or the outside world.
"This was a really good couple of days," Jason says holding his marshmallow into the flames. "I'm glad we came."
"Me..." Piper starts to say but stops when she gets a whiff of the burning marshmallow. She puts her hand to her mouth and starts to walk off but realizes she's not going to make it. She leans behind her husband's back and spits out the little bit of bile that came up.
"You okay?" Jason asks tossing his stick into the fire and turning toward her. She nods then wipes her mouth on the back of her hand. "Did you get any on me?" She shakes her head no.
"Sorry guys," she says now embarrassed for that to have happened in front of everybody.
"What's that all about?" Leo asks curiously.
"The smell of the marshmallows are not agreeing with me I guess," Piper says not wanting to make a big deal of it. As Rachel and Annabeth walk up together carrying a cake. The girls start singing which gets everyone else started.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Thalia. Happy birthday to you."
"You guys," Thalia says blushing. "You know I don't really have birthdays anymore."
"But you missed too many of them when you were a tree," Percy says with a smile.
"I don't remember ever celebrating a birthday with you even though I'm your little brother," Jason adds. Thalia hugs her brother then blows out the candles.
As Annabeth and Thalia start slicing and serving cake, Rachel looks at Piper and says, "You feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," Piper insists.
When Rachel continues to look are her funny, Jason says, "What it is?"
"Um, nothing," Rachel says.
"Cake Piper?" Annabeth asks offering her a piece.
"Pass, thanks," Piper says as Jason takes the cake instead.
"I wish you guys were coming back to camp with us," Leo says. "I still miss you."
"That baby will be here before you know it. Then you won't have time to miss us," Jason laughs.
"Speaking of babies," Crystal says looking a Drew, "how are you doing?"
"I feel pretty good especially since I got my size two jeans on again," she answers with a smile.
"I should smack you," Clarisse says only half kidding. Drew just smile more.
"Lacy, you're going to miss that baby when you go back to school," Piper tells her little sister.
"I know. I can't wait for summer," Lacy agrees pulling little Callista up to her face and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"I'm sure she'll still have plenty of diapers for you to change this summer," Butch says with a laugh.
"So Thalia, where is the Hunt off to next?" Jason asks his sister as she takes another bite of cake.
"Mm, wherever Lady Artemis decides to go," she says.
"We usually don't know until Lady Artemis decides what she wants to hunt next," Phoebe agrees.
"I glad she let you guys come to the campfire," Sherman says resulting in a glare from both Pheobe and Jennifer, the hunters, and Nyssa.
"Don't get any ideas Sherman," Thalia warns. "We still have the same rules."
"And even if we didn't..." Phoebe says with a sneer indicating she wouldn't give Ares's son the time of day.
"Speaking of the hunt, we should be returning to Lady Artemis," Thalia says. "We will be leaving early in the morning."
"You take care of yourself," Jason says standing to give his sister a hug.
"You too, little brother," she says hugging him back.
"Jennifer you take care," Piper says hugging her sister as well then passing her off to Drew and Lacy for hugs.
"Take care of your little bundle," Jennifer tells Drew as she kisses Callista's head.
"We will," Drew assures her.
"We should probably head back to Aphrodite's as well," Jason says, "before Piper pukes again."
"I didn't puke," she says. "I just spit up a little bit."
"Sure you did," her husband chuckles. "Rachel, what is it? You haven't taken your eyes off Piper since you came back with the cake."
"I...Um...well, it was nothing. I just thought I saw something weird," the oracle says.
"What did you see?" Piper asks.
"It doesn't mean anything," Rachel says.
"We'll be the judge of that," Jason says.
"I just had a vision of Piper holding babies," she says.
"A baby?" Piper says.
"It was probably, Callista," Drew suggests.
"Could have meant anything," Rachel agrees.
"Well, I'm not pregnant if that's what you think," Piper says more to reassure herself than Rachel.
"You sure, I mean you are up here in your parent's territory," Percy offers looking at Jason.
"We've refrained from doing anything while we have been up here, just in case," his cousin says. "Like you said, Rachel, it could mean anything."
"Let's get back to mom's," Piper says taking her husband's hand.
"We'll see you guys later," Jason says prompting a round of good nights.
"Do you really think she's pregnant?" Annabeth asks looking at Rachel. Rachel just smiles.
"You two are back early Phobos says when Piper and Jason enter the palace sitting room.
"I thought you were going back to your Dad's tonight," Piper asks not wanting to deal with her war brothers tonight after everything else.
"We are," Deimos says. "We were just here bugging the crap out of Anteros."
"You can leave now," the Erote suggests.
"Fine," the twins says with a laugh and head for the door.
"Why do you hang out with those two?" Jason asks.
"You know what they say about love and war," Piper's brother says as Aphroditus enters the room.
"Can I talk to you a minute?" Piper asks her big brother.
"Certainly," he says leading her into another room while Jason takes a seat with Anteros.
"NO IT CAN'T BE!" Piper says rather loudly after a minutes or so.
"Piper," Jason calls out to her. Piper runs from the other room crying and puts her arms around Jason. "What's wrong," he asks her even though he's afraid he might know the answer.
When she doesn't answer, Aphroditus says, "She is children."
"You mean child," Anteros corrects.
"No I mean children. She is pregnant with twins," his brother explains.
"How can that be?" Jason says kissing the top of his wife's head.
"You know she did this," Piper sobs.
"Come on," her husband says taking her hand.
"Where are you going?" Anteros asks.
"To talk to my parents," he says angrily.
"You can't go in there," Ganymede says when Jason and Piper walk into the palace.
"Watch me," Jason says pushing the cupbearer.
"...better before we had all the other gods making suggestions," Demeter is saying when the two half-bloods enter the room.
"Jason?" Zeus says surprised to see his son.
"Where is Ganymede? He should not have let you enter," Hera says.
"He's on his butt in the hallway," Jason says. "Who do you think you are, doing this?"
"Excuse me?" his dad says with a raised eyebrow.
"You gave us your word. Now you've gone and done this."
"Jason," Piper whispers trying to warn him as steam is raising off of his father's head.
"I have done nothing and no one, not even my son, speaks to me in that tone," Zeus barks.
"I'm not your son," Jason sneers. "My father has more decency than to go back on his word."
"Jason," his mother-in-law says getting up from her throne and stepping between the god and his son in an attempt to stop him before her daughter becomes a widow.
"Before I incinerate you, perhaps you should tell me what it is that I have done," his father asks, and by the change in his expression, Jason can tell it's really Jupiter now.
"You promised you would give us time," his son says.
"Time for what?" his dad asks.
"Before a baby," Piper says answering the question.
"Are you saying..."
"Rachel and Hermaphroditus both says we're having a baby...I mean two babies," Jason tells him.
"Ohhhhh," Aphrodite says grabbing Piper and smothering her with hugs.
"Mom, I can't breathe," Piper mumbles.
"We agreed to six months," Jupiter says.
"And by my calendar, we still have a little bit of time," his son says.
"What's a couple of weeks," Hera says keenly interested in her manicure.
"You did this?" her husband asks looking at her now.
"What? They were here. It seemed like a good time. You know it's what you wanted," his wife replies.
"We haven't even had sex while we were here," Jason says wondering how she managed.
"Did you know that human sperm can live inside a woman for two days?" Hera tells him.
"You know, I've had twins before," Aphordite now tells Piper like she should be really excited about this development.
"I assure you," Jupiter says looking back to Jason, "that I didn't have anything to do with this. However, what is done is done. Congratulations. I am very pleased."
"Well I'm not," Jason says.
"You'll get used to the idea," his father assures him. "Trust me."
"No matter what," Jason says looking at Hera, "you won't ever be a grandmother to my kids."
Hera laughs like she knows better.
"Aphrodite, perhaps you should take your daughter and her husband and leave. Give them a chance to let the idea of parenthood sink in," Demeter suggests.
"Come along," Aphrodite says putting her arm around Piper and leading her toward the doorway. "You too, Jason," she calls over her shoulder when he doesn't immediately follow. "Can't have you getting yourself killed now, can we."
"I'll never forgive you for this," Jason tells Hera then turns to walk away.
"I've heard that before," the goddess laughs.
