Sorry for not updating. But also not sorry.

Sunlight filtered through the window and hit Piper's face. She scowled in her sleep and buried her face in her pillow. The insistent light eventually drove her awake. Piper blinked and stretched. Sleepily, she looked around the small cabin. She frowned. Where were the other beds? Why was there a curtain? Oh. Right. Piper remembered. She had come back to Alaska and failed to get Percy back. So she fell asleep outside next to Mrs. O'Leary which might not have been her smartest idea. It had been really cold. She must be in a hunter's cabin. There were traps hanging on the wall, all polished along with a bow and a quiver filled with arrows. She wrapped the black blanket around her and pushed back the curtain.

There wasn't much to look at. Just a chair, a computer setup, and a television. Piper noticed the stairs leading downstairs. What kind of cabin had two floors? A loft, maybe, but not a whole other floor. Curious, she walked down.

The first floor was just as spartan as the second. A table with a chair sat towards one end near the small kitchen. A fire crackled in the hearth and a pot hung over it. Piper sniffed the air. Smelled like vegetable stew. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since the plane ride.

The other part had a chair and another hearth. A small carpet covered the wood floor. Windows showed the outside, which was covered in snow. Piper sat at the small table, wondering if anyone lived here when the door opened. She jumped up, sword and dagger drawn before realizing that her weapons wouldn't harm a mortal.

"You can put those away now," Percy said. "You know damn well I can beat you in fight and you're probably very hungry. So sit down and wait." Piper sat. Percy went over to the hearth and stirred the stew. He threw some herbs in and sniffed it. It must have been good enough, so he lifted the pot off the hook and set it on a small countertop. Placing a bowl next to it, he filled it and gave it to Piper. gave it to his guest. Piper took it along with an offered spoon. She took a sip of it.

"Did your cooking skills improve, Jackson?" Piper asked, slightly laughing. Percy didn't smile.

"I've always been good at cooking," he said. Piper went back to her stew while also trying to get a read on Percy's emotions. After the Giant War, Piper had tried and succeeded at getting her siblings to develop more abilities. She had refused to believe that a child of Aphrodite's only powers were looking good, having an immaculate fashion sense, and being matchmakers. During that time, she helped her siblings learn to read other emotions better, along with hers. As such, she was often brought in during arguments to help dissolve the situation.

As she focused on Percy, his emotions slowly came to her. He was sad. This made sense seeing as Annabeth, the love of his life, his soulmate, was dead. One emotion trumped that and there was so much of it. Anger. Percy was extremely angry. He was mad at the gods for not protecting Annabeth, mad at the Fates for letting her die, mad at himself for not being able to protect her, mad at Chiron for not allowing him on the quest with Annabeth, and mad at… at Piper. She didn't blame him for the last one. There wasn't much else. Yes, he was happy being alone, but he wanted company. Someone to stay with him, to be with him. Someone close to his heart. Piper sensed apprehension within him. It felt new, as if it had just popped up.

Piper finished her stew. Percy grabbed it and set it in the sink. He turned around, bracing his hands against the countertop.

"Why did you come back?" he asked. "Why would you come to me when you have at least two other places to go to? What is here that isn't at camp?"

"You," Piper simply said. "You're here and not at camp." Percy scowled. Piper rarely saw that expression on his face and she didn't like that.

"Quit scowling," she ordered. "Or it'll stick." Percy rolled his eyes..

"Did you bring any clothes?" He asked. Piper shrugged.

"Only a few," Percy sighed.

"How many days can you last?"

"I'd be fine wearing the same ones for two days and I brought enough for three days," she said. Percy stared at her.

"You understand that this is Alaska? Cold, harsh, and unforgiving. If you want to stay here, you have to help." Piper nodded.

"What do I have to do?"

-One month later-

Piper stabbed at Percy with her sword. He effortlessly countered, sidestepped, and disarmed her. Piper stumbled and fell.

"You gotta stay on your feet, Pipes. If you fall in a fight, you die," Percy picked up her sword and handed it to her. "Try again. And don't stab. I hardly do and it really only works if your opponent is off guard." Piper stood back up and shifted her foot. She rushed forward and slashed. Percy blocked. Metal rang on metal as they exchanged blows. Piper was barely able to keep up as Percy rained blow after blow on her blade. Piper focused. She watched Percy's attacks. Left, right, left, up, slash, down, right, left, open! Piper struck. Icicle grazed Percy's shoulder. He yelped and stumbled backwards. As he fell, he kicked out Piper's legs. She landed on his chest, their faces inches apart. Piper stared at Percy's green eyes. Then she realized their position and scrambled off.

"Uh, sorry." Piper said. Percy stood and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's fine. I fell and knocked you down," he recapped Riptide and looked up at the sky. "I think it's time for lunch."

Lunch was prepared without a hitch. Percy fixed himself a moose meat sandwich, much to his friend's disdain. Piper threw together a salad, which Percy wrinkled his nose at. They went outside and sat on the ground. Percy chewed silently on his sandwich. Piper poked at her salad before setting her fork down.

"Why won't you come back?" She asked. Percy glanced sideways at her, scowling. Piper's instincts told her to stop, but she pressed harder. "I mean, seriously, people miss you. You're a leader there. The younger campers looked up to you and the older ones saw you as one of the best. Hell, even Clarisse thought you were a better sword fighter than her. The camp needs you, Percy." Percy finished his sandwich. He stared into space, not moving.

"I'm never going back, Piper. Not with you here with me," he said, quietly. "Besides, someone else needs to step up and lead." The son of Poseidon stood and went back inside. A burning desire to be near him drove Piper to follow.

As she stepped inside, Percy was washing his plate. Or rather, he was gathering tools to fix something. Not for the first time, Piper stared at his arm muscles. How could she not? They were well defined after years of monster and sword fighting. Living in the wilderness had helped too. Piper set her unfinished food on the table. Percy glanced over at her, but paid her no heed. Piper stepped closer to him. He flinched slightly.

"Pipes?"

"I'm not leaving you here alone, Percy," Piper whispered. She wrapped her arms around Percy. "You can't be alone forever."

"I know," he murmured into her hair. Piper looked up and into his bright green eyes. They shone with a light she hadn't seen since Annabeth had left, the last time Percy saw his girlfriend. It was a light of worry. Piper listened to Percy's emotions. He was worried that Piper would eventually leave and never be seen again. He failed to protect someone he cared about once and it wouldn't happen again. Percy was unwaveringly loyal to those he loved. And Piper was among those.

"Percy, I need to tell you something," Piper whispered, burying her face in Percy's chest.

"What?"

"I'm in love with you." she said. When Percy was quiet for longer than she liked, Piper looked up. Percy was staring down at her.

Say it. Piper thought.

"Pipes, I-"

Say it, Fishsticks.

"I am, too. In love with you." Percy finally said. They were quiet, still holding each other, still staring into the other's eyes. Unable to stand it, Piper pulled Percy's face down to hers and kissed him.

And she vowed, right there, that Percy would never be alone again.

Y'know, to be honest, I kinda hate myself for waiting so long for this. Meh. I can deal with it. GEN update next! -RFA