It took a long ass time but finally I arrived at the Camp Jupiter border. It was almost painful how close Reyna was. I didn't even know what I was going to say to her. After everything that had happened between us I didn't even know if she would forgive me. I know I wouldn't forgive me but I also know that I would forgive Reyna in a heartbeat, no matter what she did. I would always love that girl. "Uuuuugh" Just thinking about Reyna made my heart hurt. I missed her so much. I can't wait to be in her loving embrace again even if it's in a chokehold. I went to set foot in New Rome, but I forgot one thing, Terminus. Just as I was about to cross the border the big block head appeared.
"Jason Grace. Son of Jupiter. Former Praetor of the 12th Legion. State your business." Terminus's deep rich baritone voice boomed out against the midnight black sky..
"I, Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter, wish to see Praetor Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano."
"You know we all thought you were dead." His words caught me by surprise. It wasn't like him to be this emotional. I never thought he cared about me.
"I am very sorry for all of the pain I caused. Truly I just want to make it right."
"I don't know if I can let you pass. I need to protect my people." At that moment I knew exactly who he was referring to. Reyna.
"I am so so so sorry I didn't mean to hurt Reyna. All I want is to make things right." I know Terminus could sense my truth.
"Hurt her again and I'll have you out on your ass so fast before you blink. You won't be able to even disappear again." I know he wasn't joking.
"Yes sir." I quickly ran past the border before he could change his mind. I knew exactly where I was heading. I ran past all the shops me and Reyna used to visit together, everything seemed stuck in mourning, there were black banners hanging next to the shop doors. I felt so guilty not only for Reyna but for my friends here as well. I left and forgot about them too. I hurt them as well. I couldn't focus on that now, the only thing that mattered was Reyna. I had to get to Reyna. I ran faster, I ran past where we used to take our nightly walks, our tree that we used to have picnics under every Sunday, the praetors offices, then finally the praetors houses. I stopped before I entered her house. It was about the same as the last time I was here. Wow, that was a while ago…
It was the night before I disappeared. We had gone out to get some drinks with a couple Legionnaires and Centurions. We were both a bit drunk and tipsy as we stumbled into her house. We kicked off our shoes and I pulled her closer to me. Our body's were pressed flush together, I looked into her dark onyx eyes, only this time they weren't dark because of their color they were dark with desire. I smirked and crashed my lips onto hers. The kiss was hot and passionate, we kissed until we both had to come up for air then we kissed again. I pushed her against the wall and put my hand on her thigh, slowly inching up higher and higher. She wrapped her legs around my waist and grabbed the collar of my shirt and pressed me against her harder, like she needed me to breathe. I picked her up and started walking to her bedroom. I started to trail kisses down her neck to her collarbone taking my time, going slow, thinking that I had all the time in the world. I definitely left a couple marks. But she definitely didn't seem to mind by the way she threw her head back to give me better access and the moans she would let through her perfect lips. I smirk and start to push back her shirt exposing her SPQR on her muscular arm. I let myself leave marks up and down her collar bone. Once we got to her bed I laid her down and hovered over her, now it was her who smirked. She started to unbutton my shirt and let her hands… wander. I won't tell you the rest, that seems something for only the two of us. Well after… We just stayed in bed and cuddled the rest of the night, occasionally lazily making out. We just enjoyed being together, thinking that we had all the time in the world. Oh how wrong we were. I braided her hair and she read to me in Latin. We dozed on and off the entire night, each time she fell asleep I would lie awake watching her sleep, she looked so peaceful. The way she snored and the cute little way she would mutter gibberish in her sleep. I almost didn't realize that it was morning until it started to peek through the window. "Rey, Rey Rey." I said kissing her cheek to wake her up. She just smiled, hummed in contentment, and turned over to bury her face deep into my chest. I chuckled at Reyna and traced patterns on her arm, and outlined her tattoo. "I know Rey Rey, trust me I don't wanna get up either but… we gotta. Hey it's Sunday which means it's picnic day." I said trying to coax her out of her sleep, "I'll get your favorite tamales."
That got her up, "Really?" She mumbled against my chest.
"Really. I promise. Look I gotta go home and shower and get some fresh clothes but after I'll meet you at our tree. Okay?" I asked while playing with one of her curls.
"Ya know we could always shower here." She said while looking me in the eye and smirking.
"Well as tempting as that sounds, Rey Rey. And trust me it does sound tempting," I said while kissing her softly, "Buuut I do have to go home, it's been a couple days since I've been back other than to change, and I'm pretty sure all my plants are dead." I chuckled.
"Fine. I guess that gives me time to train. Before our picnic." She said and kissed me lightly before getting out of bed. I already missed her warmth and the way she fit perfectly on my side. Like pieces of the same puzzle. I got up, kissed her goodbye and finally went home. I had just gotten in the door and put my keys away when I saw someone sitting on my couch.
"Hello? Can I help you?" I asked questionally as I started for the javelin that was stored in my umbrella holder.
'I'm sorry Jason Grace."
"Wait how do you-" I started before a blinding flash of light. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the back of a school bus holding hands with a girl who wasn't Reyna.
I sighed and then it suddenly dawned on me that I had no idea what the heck I was going to say to her, I also didn't know if she would even talk to me. I sighed and went to find the key, the problem was I had no idea if she had moved the key or not. All the plants had wilted and based on the shape of them they had been that way for a while. The key was still under the same pot but what was odd is that the door wasn't locked. Reyna ALWAYS locked her door. I pushed it open as slowly and quietly as I could which was hard because of how squeaky it was. What I saw when I went through the hallway shocked me. The coffee table that was normally in the center of her living room had been slashed to splinters. There was broken glass everywhere and her couch looked like it went a couple rounds with Reyna's javelin. The throw pillow that was normally shoved in the corner of the couch was ripped to shreds and there were feathers everywhere. I looked into the kitchen which was just as much as a wreck where bags of opened chips, take out containers, and empty pizza boxes littered the island and her kettle had a giant dent shaped like her fist. Aurum and Argentum were whimpering on their beds in the corner but immediately perked up when they saw me. "Hey boys!" I whispered yelled, petting them before they could topple me. "Look I'll give you all the pets you want later. But now I gotta see your mom." I threw one of their toys to keep them occupied for a little while as I tried to find Reyna. I crept down the hallway, careful to keep quiet incase she was asleep. I crept into her bedroom when I noticed she wasn't there. Her bed was perfectly made, her curtains were drawn tightly shut, and her pictures had all collected dust, well all but one. There were two spaces open. There used to be a picture of me and Reyna inside a photo booth from the fair that I took her to after the war in one space and in the other there used to be a picture of her and Dakota. Her room looked exactly the same as it had the first time I had been there. I heard muffled sobs coming from her spare room. I quickly turned and opened the door, but what I saw broke my heart. Reyna was in the center of the room curled up in a ball crying so hard she was shaking with sobs. It physically hurt me to see her this way. Her Javelin was discarded across the room and her knuckles were bloody and raw which I guess explains the punching bag laying on the floor with the chain snapped and indents the size of Reyna's fists. The picture frames that were missing from her room were on the floor, the glass from the frames were busted and she was clutching the photos for dear life. Drops of blood and tears stained the pictures. I quickly drop against the wall and bring her into my lap hugging her close. I wasn't going to let her go this time.
"J-Jason?" She croaked, finally looking at me. Her eyes were bloodshot lie she had been crying for quite some time and the bags under her eyes were bigger than I had ever seen them. She started to sob even harder.
"Shh Shh I'm here Rey. I'm here, I am so sorry that I left." I said pressing her closer to me and kissing her forehead.
She pulled away from me and turned away so I couldn't see her tear stained face. She tucked her knees into her chest holding them in place with her hands. "This is cruel even for you Venus." She said before putting her head back on her knees.
That's when it dawned on me. She thought that I was a dream. "Hey Rey, I promise you I'm here, I am not a dream, I promise. But you need to sleep." I said. I pulled her back into my chest, she tried to resist but I wouldn't let her go, not again. She finally stopped struggling against me and fell asleep. I stayed up and memorized everything about her again, as if it was the first time I had seen her before falling asleep as well where even my dreams were about her. It was the best sleep I've had in a while.