So they're going to Homecoming.

Percy tells Jason the next day that they've changed their minds, and Jason's grin spreads so wide Percy thinks it's going to pop off his face. (Though the smile Emma shoots him across the room could have something to do with that) "That's awesome, man!" he says. He holds out his hand for a high five, and Percy obliges. "You and Annabeth should come eat dinner with my group before the dance!"

"You . . . have a group?"

"Course. It's senior year – gotta make the most of it, right? Emma and I, Henry and Makayla, and a couple of other people are getting together at my house before the dance for pictures and then going out somewhere to eat. You guys should come!"

"I'll talk to her," says Percy. "But . . . but it sounds like fun."

After school that day, he gets an Iris-message that terrifies him even more than the idea of going to Homecoming at all: it's Jason Grace on the other end of the message (Percy realizes with a shock of horror that he's going to have to start mentally differentiating between the two Jasons), and he wants to take Percy to get a suit.

"Uh, Jason, the dance is semiformal," he says. "I was just gonna wear, like, a button-up or something."

Jason grins wickedly at him. "Oh, no, you don't, Jackson," he says. "Piper is acting like a real Aphrodite kid and has declared that she's taking Annabeth shopping. And if they're going shopping for a dress, you and I are going to get you a suit."

"Sounds great," says Percy, "except I don't wear suits."

Jason is not deterred. "Yes, you do."

And that is how Percy ends up with Jason that weekend. The four of them meet outside Percy's apartment. After the appropriate hugs and greetings are dispensed, Piper grabs Annabeth's arm and tugs her away, leaving Jason and Percy alone.

Percy feels a sinking sensation, as though his doom is approaching – and Jason's broad grin doesn't help. It's a bit terrifying, actually. Jason hooks an arm around Percy's shoulder (one inch taller and he thinks he's so much better) and ruffles Percy's hair with his other hand. "Come with me, and I will teach you all that you need to know about suits, Perseus Jackson. I am older, and wiser" –

"Uh, actually," Percy squirms out from under Jason's arm, "I'm older. Don't get ahead of yourself, Grace."

It's funny how just a few months ago these words would have actual bite behind them. Now, Jason just laughs – genuine and open – and pulls back. "Come on, bro," he says. "Let's go shopping."

...

While Percy and Jason are off shopping for Percy, Annabeth and Piper are browsing dress stores. Piper is much more interested than Annabeth – rifling through racks of dresses with a practiced hand and eye. Annabeth can't help but wonder, "Have your siblings rubbed off on you, Pipes?"

Piper cocks her head to one side. "You know, I think they have. And just a couple of months ago I would have been horrified about that, but now I'm okay with it."

Annabeth smiles. "Maybe it's because you're realizing that strength can be more than just fighting skill."

Piper snorts. "Says she who still disarms me every time we spar."

Annabeth laughs. "Hey, when you're good, you're good."

"Well, you're good." Piper pulls aside a couple more dresses. "You know, something I never realized about the Aphrodite cabin is how great they can be with combining fashion and practicality. I'm learning a lot."

"Yeah?" Annabeth braces a hand on her hip. "Impress me."

"Well." Piper turns to her. "Okay, you know Angela's stilettos? Those things are deadly – I mean, literally deadly. The heels are celestial bronze, and she killed a dracaena once with one by impaling it through the eye."

Annabeth whistles. "Impressive."

Piper grins, turning back to the dresses. "Also, I can pick the perfect dress for you for this dance. You'll want something long enough to hide your leg sheath, but loose or with a slit so you have freedom of motion. Nothing strapless, so it won't fall off if you need to fight or run. Hmm, what else?" She pauses. "I can do your hair with celestial bronze bobby pins – Lacy and a couple of other people have stashes that I'm sure they'll let me dip into – so you have emergency backup weapons just in case. Flat, practical shoes. And I'm sure we can figure out more."

"Nice." Annabeth is happy to see Piper fitting in with her siblings – and really happy to have a friend who can help her with this. "I'm glad you know this stuff, because I'll need practicality. I'm still questioning this whole idea, really."

Piper turns away from the dresses unexpectedly and hugs her – Annabeth is surprised at first, but Piper has that magical ability to do just the right thing, and Annabeth finds herself relaxing. She doesn't even know if she can admit how much fear is still attached to this dance – to her whole life. She has enough trouble with the fears and uncertainties that plague her on a daily basis, with the memories of the wars, of Tartarus, that she still can't shake.

"Hey," says Piper softly, not letting go of Annabeth. "It'll be okay. You'll be okay."

And Annabeth doesn't know if Piper's charmspeaking or if she just wants so badly to believe it, but either way she leans her head on Piper's shoulder and lets herself be comforted.

...

Piper is as good as her word when it comes to shopping. When they meet up with the boys, at an Italian place to eat, Annabeth is holding a bag containing a dress that fits as many of Piper's qualifications as they could find, and a tie for Percy to match.

Percy and Jason get there a few minutes later, grinning broadly and both clutching far too many shopping bags. Jason's glasses are far too crooked on his face, and Percy's hair is more messed up than usual.

"You know," Piper whispers to her, "if Jason weren't so in love with me I'd be afraid he was going to leave me for Percy."

Annabeth can't help but laugh – Piper has put the sentiment perfectly into words. "I feel the same way. Hey, you two!"

Percy wraps Jason in a headlock as they approach; Jason hooks a leg around his ankle, and they are about to literally start wrestling in the middle of the sidewalk, when Piper clicks her tongue impatiently and grabs Jason's hand, tugging him free.

Percy breaks away and turns to greet Annabeth. "Hey," he says, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

She leans over to kiss him. "Hey yourself. Got your clothes?"

"Among other things," Jason breaks in, shaking his shopping bags.

"Do I want to know?" asks Piper, raising an eyebrow.

Jason seems to ponder. "Probably not."

Annabeth rolls her eyes and laces her fingers through Percy's. "You two are ridiculous. Let's just eat, shall we?"

...

It's harder to say goodbye to Jason and Piper than they would have thought. As Piper and Percy are hugging goodbye, Jason pulls Annabeth to the side.

"Hey, Annabeth," he mutters. "I wanted to ask you a favor, actually."

Annabeth arches her eyebrows and thinks about what Jason could possibly want from her. The answer comes to her too quickly, and she nods. "This is about your pontifex maximus thing, isn't it?"

"Yeah." He nibbles on his lip and shifts his feet. "I'm trying to compile a list of all the minor gods and goddesses who need temples and stuff, and Chiron is going to help me with it. But I was wondering . . . I mean, I know you and Percy are . . ."

"Tired?" Annabeth supplies. Gross understatement as it is, it's somehow the only word that can even vaguely sum up her profound exhaustion. It covers everything – the way she and Percy still sleep only a few hours every night, the way her nerves are frayed every day from jumpiness, the way they're both so sick of being used –

"Yeah." Jason sucks his lip almost completely into his mouth. "I just . . . you're the best architect I know, and I . . . was wondering if you'd help design the temples."

This is pretty much the request that Annabeth expected. This will be a big project, she knows. One that might interfere with the other ideas that have been creeping into her head – other things she could design. Things she could build that are so large and so scary that she can't even fully entertain the thought. Not yet. But it tempts her more and more every day.

"I . . ." She hesitates, but Jason looks nervous and unsure and pleading at the same time – how does Piper resist that face? And maybe she'll regret this, but – "Sure, Jason. I'll help."

His sigh of relief seems to come from his very bones. "Thanks so much," he says, and he leans forward to embrace her.

As she hugs him back she ponders how far they've come since she doubted his motives and refused to trust him. Now he's one of her best friends. "It was good to see you, Jason," she says with feeling. "Contact me about the temples, okay? I'll start working on them. No promises for speed, but I'll do my best."

"Your best is all I need," he promises. He kisses her on the cheek, which she didn't expect, but which warms her heart anyway.

Then he turns to Percy, and Piper throws herself into Annabeth's arms, hugging her warmly and enthusiastically. "I'll see you soon, okay?" she says. "I have to get you those bronze hairpins, after all."

"Yeah – I'll be waiting on those." Annabeth squeezes her tight. When she lets go, she flicks one of Piper's braids. "Have fun at camp, okay? Keep in touch."

"Will do," says Piper. "I will see you soon – you'll see." She kisses Annabeth's cheek, too. "And Annabeth – you're going to be okay. You both are."