WARNING: SPOILERS FOR TOA/THE BURNING MAZE AHEAD

Hey guys, so I need I said in the last story that I was working on a longer fic and that it would hopefully be coming soon. I still am working on that one, but it's taking longer that I planned, mostly because I'm just not super motivated about it right now, but don't worry, I'll finish it eventually. In the meantime, I saw something on Instagram regarding this and it gave me the idea for this one shot. Hope y'all enjoy!

Constructive criticism is appreciated, as I know I'm not exactly the best writer.

I do not Own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Rick does.

Piper regretted a lot of things, but this was not one of them.

When she threw herself in front of that spear, all she could think about was him. His blonde hair, his electric blue eyes, the little scar above his lip… it was just him, him, him. Did Piper regret breaking up with Jason? Not exactly, they both had some stuff to figure out on their own, without each other. But even if their relationship was originally built on a false reality, on a lie created for Hera's purposes, Piper didn't feel like that made it any less real, or any less pleasant. She truly believed that she and Jason worked together, that they balanced each other out nicely, and that they both truly cared for the each other.

Which is why Piper had not hesitated to throw herself in the way of that spear to protect him, because that's what you do when you care about someone, even if you aren't technically together anymore. She didn't regret it for one second. She did, however, regret that it had to happen so soon, and that she didn't get a chance to make amends, to reconcile with Jason. After she had taken the spear, everything had gone fuzzy rather quickly. She could make out some shouting and screaming, and she could see a fuzzy image of Jason leaning over her, she could feel him holding her head, and she could make out his mouth moving rapidly, but she couldn't make out any of the words. Everything went black after that.

Her judgement had gone by just as quick. The three judges took one look at her, mumbled something to each other about "one of the seven", and pointed her towards the door that glowed brightly. Piper moved towards it slowly, even though she knew exactly what was behind it. Elysium, she thought to herself.

Walking down the cobblestone pathway, Piper couldn't help but think that Elysium reminded her so much of Ancient Greece. She recognized the landscape and the buildings from when the Argo II arrived in Greece to stop Gaia from rising. The only difference was that none of the buildings were old and crumbling, and there were no giants. It was like Ancient Greece had been restored to its former glory, only it was permanent. Makes sense, Piper thought, then she smiled. Annabeth will like this when she gets here. Though she missed her friend, Piper hoped that day don't come too soon. She continued on down the pathway, not sure where to go, or what to do. She was trying to remember if any of her friends would be here, when she looked up and saw someone walking towards her.

The girl was very beautiful, with long, dark brown hair, and fascinating blue eyes. Her face shone with kindness, and her skin glistened in the Elysium sun. She was walking towards Piper, with an inviting grin on her face, stopping just a few feet in front of the recently deceased demigod.

"Hello there," the girl said. Her voice was sweet, and welcoming. Piper couldn't help but feel like she recognized this girl from somewhere, but she couldn't remember where exactly.

"You must be the one mother was telling me about."

Piper was extremely puzzled now, but the other girl seemed to pick up on this.

"I can see you're as confused as I am. My mother told me earlier that someone would be arriving today, someone who I would very much appreciate meeting. I don't know how, but when you arrived, I could feel something pulling me towards you, so here I am."

The girl extended her hand in introduction.

"My name is Silena. Silena Bouregard, daughter of…"

"Aphrodite," Piper finished, her eyes wide in shock, and amazement.

Silena tilted her head, a puzzled smile still on her face. Piper cleared her throat and shook the other girl's hand.

"Piper Mclean, also a daughter of Aphrodite. I-I've heard a lot about you."

Silena's smile grew wide at the first part, and then dimmed at the second.

"It's very nice to meet you, Piper. Though I bet you're surprised to find me here, with what you've probably been told about me."

"On the contrary, everyone, well, almost everyone, speaks of you as a hero."

Silena had a solemn look on her face, but her lips curved up slightly at Piper words.

"That's good… I guess."

She was silent for a minute. Piper wanted to say something, but she was still in awe of the fact that she was now standing in front of the girl whom she had looked up to for so long as a former head of the Aphrodite cabin.

Finally, Silena looked back at her, a look of wondering on her face.

"So, Piper, I'm assuming that since you're a daughter of Aphrodite, you know all about a certain couple…"

Piper knew exactly who she was talking about before she even said it.

"Percabeth? Yeah… I might know of them," She smiled cheekily as she said this.

"So, they are together?"

Piper nodded, as if to say duh.

"I knew it! Oh my gods, I knew it!" Silena was jumping around with joy, fists pumping in the air, in true daughter of Aphrodite fashion.

Once she had finally calmed down, she grabbed Piper's hand and started leading her down the pathway.

"I need you to tell me EVERYTHING… actually, just tell me your whole story while you're at it."

So the two girls walked together, Piper talking and Silena listening. Piper told her everything. She told Silena about how the Titan War had ended, at least to the best of her knowledge. Silena practically fainted at the story of how Percy and Annabeth finally got together.

"Percy always described you as a 'Guerilla Warfare Barbie' apparently," Piper said in reference to her new friend.

Silena laughed at this, tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

"I always knew those two would end up together. I'm just so happy for both of them, they both deserve to have someone as dependable as each other." Piper realized that this girl was probably the first, and biggest, supporter of 'Percabeth'.

"Oh, just wait till you hear what happens later," Piper replied, and then continued with her story.

She told Silena about Hera's plan, how she was given fake memories, only to realize later that it was a trick of the mist, and that her relationship with Jason was a lie. Piper talked about coming to camp, and then her quest with Leo and Jason. How Annabeth was going crazy without Percy, and how Piper fell for Jason again, except it was for real this time. Silena laughed when she found out about Festus, mumbling something about myrmekes, and fireworks.

Piper then talked about traveling to Camp Jupiter on the Argo II, making sure to give Silena all the mushy details about Percy and Annabeth's reunion. She then recounted their trip across the U.S. and then ultimately their trip to the ancient lands. Piper choked up when she got to the part when Annabeth and Percy fell, and she could see the solemn look on Silena's face as she told her. Piper was relieved, since most Aphrodite girls just giggled and cooed when talking about how Percy wouldn't let Annabeth fall in by herself. They didn't understand just how horrible it really was, and that neither of the two demigods went there by choice, but by necessity. Silena seemed to understand that.

"Percy and Annabeth never really talked about what Tartarus was like, they only told us little bits, mostly about Bob and Damasen, who helped them escape. All we know is that they experienced some things no other god or demigod has ever experienced before. They came out of it very… different."

Silena only nodded.

Piper continued on with her story, talking about how they closed the doors of death, recovering Percy and Annabeth, and then made their way to Ancient Greece. She talked about how it felt, fighting the giants alongside her friends, and alongside their mother.

"I just want to say," Piper said, "That I have never felt as much an urge to squeal at an inappropriate time, as I did when Percy told Annabeth his "The rivalry ends here" line. I mean, we were walking towards our deaths essentially, and he goes and pulls that stunt, like… come on!"

Silena laughed, her face full of understanding.

"Percy has always been so clueless sometimes; he was even worse before him and Annabeth got to together if you can believe that."

"Oh, trust me, I've heard the stories."

Silena nodded, "And yet… he was always one of the sweetest, most thoughtful people I've ever met. I truly believe only someone like Annabeth could deserve him."

Piper wholeheartedly agreed.

Then she came to the part of the story after the giant war, and her mood soured. She told Silena about how she eventually broke up with Jason, because she felt like their relationship was built on a lie, and that they didn't know who they were without each other.

"I don't regret breaking up with him exactly, it was a good chance for me to figure out who I was without him. But at the same time, it didn't feel right… and I just… I don't know. I'm supposed to be good at this stuff, I'm a daughter of the freaking goddess of love for crying out loud."

Piper was trying her hardest not to burst into tears. Silena did her best to console her, gently rubbing her shoulders with either hand.

"I understand how you feel Piper, believe me. And I think you did the right thing, trying to figure out who you were… who you are, on your own, without Jason. But that doesn't change the fact that you still loved him, correct?"

Piper nodded. "I wanted to get back together at some point, I wasn't sure when exactly, but I knew that we were already connected, so much so that a part of me would always belong to him. I just… I just never got the chance to tell him that."

Piper told Silena about their trip into the burning maze, how she made a split-second decision to defend the boy she cared about so much.

"It happened so fast," She said between sobs, "I never got the chance to make amends, or to tell him how I felt. Now he'll have to live on, thinking I didn't care about him as much as I did… as much as I still do."

Silena was now holding Piper in a tight hug, making soft 'sshh' sounds, trying to console the younger girl.

"I think Jason knows exactly how you feel, sweetie. He knew why you two had to breakup, and he knew that you two would find your way back to each other eventually. And if he ever had any doubts, he definitely knew after you sacrificed yourself to protect him."

"But what if he doesn't understand? What if he doesn't understand that I couldn't just sit by and watch him die? He's a roman, he thinks sacrifice is something you do out of honor, something you do for your country, not something you do for someone you love."

Silena was silent for a moment. Piper could then feel her shifting, so that she was holding Piper in front of her, her hands placed on either of Piper's shoulders. Silena looked down into Piper's eyes, her smile full of sadness, understanding, and comfort.

She finally spoke, "Did Jason ever sacrifice anything for you?"

Piper was silent for a second, as she racked her memory. It didn't take long for realization to hit her. She remembered all the things he had done for her, how he had planned on remaining at Camp Half-Blood with her, at least until he became Pontifex Maximus. She remembered how he would do things that were so un-roman of him, like sneaking out of his cabin past curfew, to spend a night on the roof with her. Silena smiled as she saw the realization make its way across Piper's face.

"You see? I think Jason knew all about sacrificing for the one he loves, because you taught him how."

"Me?" Piper asked confused.

SIlena nodded, "We may not be the most powerful when it comes to fighting, or strategy, or anything like that. But we understand sacrifice. Not a sacrifice for honor, or glory, or for some greater good. Lots of people understand that. But sacrificing yourself for someone, because you love them? That's something not very many people can wrap their heads around. But it's what makes daughters of Aphrodite so powerful, because we understand love better than anyone."

She seemed to get a faraway look in her eyes, as if she was talking to herself as well. "We know what it means to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of those we love."

Piper could only smile. Thanks to Silena, she now felt as if a great burden had been lifted off of her shoulders, she felt as if she had truly arrived now, and she was ready for Elysium. At this moment however, another person was walking towards them and Silena's eyes sparkled.

The boy was tall… very tall, with dark skin, and a build that reminded Piper very much of Frank Zhang. He had dark hair, brown eyes, and he gave off an intimidating, but friendly demeanor. By the way he was looking at Silena, and Silena was looking at him, Piper figured she knew exactly who this was already.

"Charlie!" Silena exclaimed, "Come here! I want you to meet someone!"

The boy smiled and strode over to them, placing his arm around Silena, accompanied by a quick peck to her cheek. He then turned and smiled at Piper.

"Charlie, this… "Silena gestured towards Piper, "Is my sister Piper."

Piper was shocked at Silena's introduction. It was almost surreal, the thought that this girl, a hero of the Titan War, had acknowledged Piper as her sister. Piper couldn't help the blush that crept up on her face.

"Nice to meet you Piper," Charlie smiled down at her.

"Likewise, I've heard a lot about you too, Beckendorf."

The boy grinned at the mention of his nickname, like he hadn't been called that in a long time.

Silena spoke again, "Piper here was the most recent head of the Aphrodite cabin. Apparently, that snob Drew had completely undone all my work, until Piper came along, and made it even better than before."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that Silena…"

"Nonsense, if what you told me is true, the Aphrodite cabin is in as good a shape as it ever was. Oh, and Charlie, guess who ended up getting together finally?"

The look on Beckendorf's face told Piper he didn't even have to guess to know who Silena was talking about. Silena began to repeat everything Piper had told her about the favorite couple, at a very alarming pace no less.

The girl sure can talk, Piper thought to herself, but she smiled regardless. Her mind wandered to her friends for a second, wondering if they were okay, wondering if he was okay. Her heart was filled with longing, but also… peace. She couldn't explain it, but she was happy, because now, thanks to Silena, she was sure that Jason knew. And that was good enough for her.

By now, Silena had finished talking, and Piper turned to find them both facing her direction. Silena was looking at her with a knowing look.

"You'll wait for him, correct?"

Piper nodded, "Yes, but hopefully he doesn't get here for a while, I can wait till then."

The other two nodded in agreement. At that moment, Piper suddenly realized something, and she shifted to look at Beckendorf.

"You know, it's a real shame you never got to meet Leo… or Festus for that matter… I mean, when he was Festus and not an out-of-control, mechanical dragon."

Beckendorf had a look of pure confusion, but Silena was giggling next to him, and she gestured for Piper to follow them, as she grabbed Charlie's arm. The three of them walked down the pathway, as Piper told Charlie about a couple of her closest friends.

Welp, I hope that was emotional enough for y'all.

Silena's appearance varies depending on what you're reading, but I went with how she was described in the actual series, mostly The Last Olympian.

I was inspired to write this fic when I saw something on Instagram about how Piper and Silena never met, and I thought it would be a cool thing to write about. I just had to figure out how to make it happen in a way that made at least a little sense. I hope you guys liked it.