Disclaimer: Do I look like Rick to you? Do I?


Leo and Piper absolutely loved Camp. Some of the older campers thought they were 'absolutely adorable' - their words, not mine - and I found myself agreeing. They were cute when they were all hyperactive and happy.

Dionysus and Chiron, however, were more occupied with trying to figure out how Jason and I were even alive. I decided to let them guess for the rest of their immortal lives.

Speaking of Jason, he got claimed immediately. Immediately, as in, got claimed when he stepped foot in Camp. With thundering and lightning and all.

Poseidon, not to be outdone, had a whole dolphin show during my claiming.

Seriously, dad?

Leo and Piper were claimed in much the same way as canon. The daughter of Aphrodite was not pleased with the makeover.

Even at nine-years-old, she hates dressing up. Way to go, kiddo.

I somehow became fast friends with Luke Castellan, who had been in Camp for a while now. Apparently, he'd come with Annabeth, Ethan and Clarisse. Other than that, Clarisse was the one who sacrificed herself and turned into a tree on Half-Blood Hill. Canon divergence? Yes. Did it happen because Jason and I existed? Also yes.

Luke was actually very cool when he wasn't bitter and trying to overthrow the gods. Ethan was a shy, secluded kid, but he was sweet. Annabeth, on the other hand, was a chatterbox. A very cute chatterbox.

I just hoped coming to Camp Half-Blood wasn't a bad decision.


The stars were beautiful.

"Hey," a voice said, sitting beside me on the tree.

"Hey."

"So, any reason you're sitting on a tree?"

"No reason." I shrugged. "Any reason you're sitting next to me?"

"Ah but you see, Sephie, I do have a reason."

"Don't call me Sephie, Grace."

"I've been calling you that for two years and you haven't killed me," Jason told me. "I'll take my chances."

He had a point. Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, the nickname was kinda cute.

"Why are we on a tree?" I asked him. "Because the last time we both climbed up a tree and sat on a branch next to each other late at night, we had a heart-to-heart talk about missing our old lives and families or something."

"I wanted another heart-to-heart."

I sighed. "Of course you did."

You know, how in cartoons there's a light bulb over the character's head when they get an idea? Yeah. I think the light bulb might've appeared above me right about now.

"Do you want to know how I died?"

"Well yeah. I was always curious," he paused. "But asking you straight out would be rude."

"It would. I would have punched you."

Jason snorted. "Don't people say talking about it helps?"

Okay, Percy. It's about time you get this out of your system. At least Jase won't think you're nuts.

"So, the year was 2027. I was sightseeing at the Empire State Building."

"You build up quite the narrative," Jason commented dryly.

"Gotta add some humor to the depressing story," I quipped.

"Mm."

"Anyway, somehow, someway, there was a shootout, right there, in the middle of the lobby. All exits were sealed."

Jase was paying attention, but I could see he was reminded of something.

"I, being the reckless twenty-three-year-old that I was, managed to take a gun out of an officer's hand and began shooting the enemy group."

"That sounds reckless. And dangerous."

"It was. Obviously, I had no training, and thus did not know anything. Obviously, the gun meant I was mistaken for an officer. Obviously, I got shot."

"And then you died."

"Not immediately, no. At first, I was dying. Then someone came. I recalled him being the receptionist or something. He did something - I forgot what - it helped, and I was holding on. But Murphy's law: if something can go wrong, it will go wrong."

"He got shot, lost concentration, and you died. Then he died."

"Yeah- wait, how do you know that?"

Jason gave me a halfhearted grin. "The receptionist that almost saved your life, at your service."

I gave a low whistle.

"So I died in your arms, and now we're partners-in-crime in our second lives. Beautiful."

Jason quirked his lips.

"I'm sorry for causing your death," I apologized.

"Jackson, it's not your fault, and you better not think that. Or so help me gods, I will shake you until the thought leaves your hard head."

I giggled.

"You're cute when you're not a complete cinnamon roll."

Jason rolled his eyes.

I don't know how long we sat there, on the tree branch, stargazing, but I do distinctly remember Jason falling off the tree when the breakfast conch horn sounded.


A/N: Okay so the death is kind of unrealistic - but writer's liberty, right? And now we know why the title is what it is! And chatty Annabeth would be so freaking adorable! Until next time!

Ciao,
Arty