Piper and Leo are great friends and I love that for them. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter- it won't be too long all things considered until this fic is officially finished and we're onto the minific. So yeah I hope you're looking forward to that :D.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Leo's used to shit like that with his family, he reacts on pure instinct and he decided to save his poor unscarred new friend from such horrible trauma. And I will admit Jason and Brick would be a devastating break up, they've just been through so much together. And with the Roman AU I'm honestly not sure yet. I have the basic plans for the early stages down but I mean, I haven't started writing it yet- I told myself I'd wait until I finished this series before starting that one though it is tempting to start it now I will be honest- I'm worried I'd get sidetracked and end up not finishing this series.
Quip Scarlet: Leo Valdez; the friend everyone would love to have!
Weirdhead: Leo is scarred from that sight and Jason nearly was lol.
Black' Victor Cachat: Piper is scary powerful if you think about it- and Leo's just used to that sort of thing, he wanted to defend his poor buddy.

Leo was definitely gonna drag Piper on quests from now on. Life was just so much easier with her around to talk people into doing what they needed- he'd never fully understood just how amazing a power it was- sure Drew was terrifying with it but he'd never really seen her use it for anything that important. He should probably apologise for underestimating her some day soon.

In any case, between himself and Piper they were soon in the air- and Leo did love his gift with machines, since Jason didn't know how to fly a helicopter it was down to Leo, who hadn't done it before.

As long as he let himself stay relaxed and calm he could do it by instinct- and so as they flew north over the Richmond Bridge the sun was starting to go down and Leo was humming to himself. He did almost laugh when he imagined what his aunt Rosa would think if she could see him now- which then turned into a mental image of Percy chasing his aunt screaming murder- it was probably a good thing they'd never met. It would not have been pretty.

He was drawn out of his thoughts by Piper's voice. "Going okay?" she sounded nervous- and of course she did. He hadn't exactly hidden the fact that he'd never flown a helicopter before.

"I'm fine, it's a Hepheastus kid perk." he declared, giving a little grin, "We just get machines- and I'm one of the best at it. Though Harley can probably rival me but he's like, basically a baby so he doesn't count." he glanced towards Jason. "So dude. What exactly is Wolf House. What are we heading into?"

Jason knelt between their seats. "An abandoned mansion in the Sonoma Valley. A demigod built it—Jack London."

Leo couldn't place the name. "He an actor?"

"Writer," Piper said. "Adventure stuff, right? Call of the Wild? White Fang?"

"Yeah," Jason said. "He was a son of Mercury—I mean, Hermes. He was an adventurer, travelled the world. He was even a hobo for a while. Then he made a fortune writing. He bought a big ranch in the country and decided to build this huge mansion—the Wolf House."

"Named that 'cause he wrote about wolves?" Leo guessed.

"Partially," Jason said. "But the site, and the reason he wrote about wolves—he was dropping hints about his personal experience. There're a lot of holes in his life story—how he was born, who his dad was, why he wandered around so much—stuff you can only explain if you know he was a demigod."

The bay slipped behind them, and the helicopter continued north. Ahead of them, yellow hills rolled out as far as Leo could see.

"So, this Jack London. You said Mercury first right? One of Luke's brothers. He's was a Roman Demigod then. I'm guessing he didn't go to Camp Half-blood."

"No," Jason said. "No, he didn't."

"You're starting to remember right?"

"Pieces," Jason said. "Only pieces. None of it good. The Wolf House is on sacred ground. It's where London started his journey as a child—where he found out he was a demigod. That's why he returned there. He thought he could live there, claim that land, but it wasn't meant for him. The Wolf House was cursed. It burned in a fire a week before he and his wife were supposed to move in. A few years later, London died, and his ashes were buried on the site. "

"So," Piper said, "how do you know all this?"

A shadow crossed Jason's face. Probably just a cloud, but Leo could swear the shape looked like an eagle.

"I started my journey there too. It's where I was abandoned." Jason said. "It's a powerful place for demigods, a dangerous place. If Gaea can claim it, use its power to entomb Hera on the solstice and raise Porphyrion—that might be enough to awaken the earth goddess fully."

Leo kept his hand on the joystick, guiding the chopper at full speed—racing toward the north. He could see some weather ahead—a spot of darkness like a cloudbank or a storm, right where they were going.

He swallowed hard, this was big. And it was on him and his friends- sure the war had been big but that had been everyone. The weight hadn't been on his shoulders, he'd never doubted that they'd find a way. Percy had been there.

She'd been so strong, so unstoppable, right up until the last time he'd seen her alive, running off with Luke, rushing off to save the whole world.

Gods but he missed her.

His heart ached at the thought. He wished she was with him, he'd feel better about their chances then. She was gone, he'd seen her body limp and empty- and Hades had told Nico time and time again that she was settling in well to Elysium- even if Nico was forbidden from visiting for the first year- Hades had been firm about that- he was worried that Nico would end up not having a life in the world above and that it would cause Percy pain hearing about her family and not being there to see it.

It was understandable- if somewhat stupid in Leo's opinion.

Still. Dwelling on his sister wouldn't help him. He could just imagine her now, rolling her eyes and telling him to focus, so focus he did, letting his instincts take over as he announced, "We're maybe half an hour out. If you want to get some rest guys then do it now."

Jason strapped himself into the back of the helicopter and passed out almost immediately. Piper and Leo stayed wide-awake.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Leo aid, "Your dad'll be fine, you know. Nobody's gonna mess with him with Hedge around. He's crazy but he's a good guy."

Piper glanced over, and Leo was struck by how much she'd changed. Not just physically. Her presence was stronger. She seemed more … here. At Wilderness School she'd spent the month he'd known her trying not to be seen, hiding out in the back row of the classroom, the back of the bus, the corner of the lunchroom as far as possible from the loud kids. Now she would be impossible to miss. It didn't matter what she was wearing —you'd have to look at her.

He felt insanely proud honestly- she deserved that confidence, she'd sure as Hades earned it.

"My dad," she said thoughtfully. "Yeah, I know. Calypso and Coach Hedge will look after him. I trust them. I was thinking about Jason actually. I'm worried about him."

Leo nodded. The closer they got to that bank of dark clouds, the more Leo worried, too. "He's starting to remember. That's got to make him a little edgy. It would me."

"But what if … what if he's a different person?" and that explained it. Leo gave Piper a sidelong glance, a smile playing across his lips.

"Pipes, here's the thing. He has amnesia. But that won't affect his personality." he thought about what Jason had told him before, "If anything I think Jason's felt more free to be himself now than he did before- I don't know for sure but he's probably freer to be himself now than he has ever been. So we know the real Jason. I'm sure of it." Piper smoothed her dress, which was tattered and burned from their fight on Mount Diablo. "I hope you're right. I need him…" She cleared her throat. "I mean I need to trust him."

"Relax Beauty Queen." Leo shot her a grin, "I'm not gonna judge you. I think you two work pretty well together. And I get it." he tightened his grip on the controls. "You've been through a lot. You're terrified of losing anything else, terrified of your world shifting more." he looked straight ahead, "I- when Percy died I think my whole family were like that at first- we still are. That's why they freaked out when I went missing. I know that if I lost one of them or Calypso I'd probably lose my shit. Or one of you two." he gave Piper a wry smile, "So, you're not worried about losing me?"

"No." Piper's voice was firm, "You're probably the most constant thing in my life since all of this started." she stated honestly, "You're the best friend I've ever had and if there's one person I have no doubts about it's you. I trust you with my life. I know you're not just going to turn around and change on me. I can rely on you Leo. More than I've ever been able to rely on any one else before."

And Leo felt a rush of warmth at that, his eyes wide, "I-" he swallowed hard.

"For the record you're probably my best friend too." he said after a moment, "I was lucky- I was so annoyed at Hera for sending me to that school but- in a way I'm kinda glad she did because if she hadn't I wouldn't have met you. And Beauty Queen you are awesome- you're the most badass, brave, loyal strong daughter of Aphrodite I have ever met- and I've met and live in terror of your older sister so that's saying something- and if you tell her I will run away and live under a rock so that she doesn't brutally murder me."

That made Piper laugh loudly, tossing her head back. "Drew is formidable."

"You did a real good job at winning her over." Leo grinned "She likes you-"

"Yeah." Piper shook her head, smiling widely, "She's... terrifying."

"How did you pull it off?"

"Well for one things I told her you were my best friend because you were the first person to ever be friends with me for me instead of wanting to use me- She seemed to think that you are for me what Percy was for her."

"Ah." Leo nodded, "That makes sense." he admitted, "Drew would have done anything for Percy I think. She'd have killed for her. I know that. Drew had a tough life before."

"And-" Piper gave a weak shrug, "she made me admit what was going on with my dad. That helped too I think, she told me about how- how she was working for your enemies before she met Percy so I think she saw herself in me. Which is good for me."

"Very good for you. Believe me if I had to chose I would definitely want her as a friend not an enemy." Leo smiled sadly, "It'll be good for her to have someone to look out for. She's not really made any new friends since-"

"Since your sister died."

And Leo flinched but he nodded, blinking back burning tears.

"Yeah. Since then." he let out a breath, "She's in Elysium now though. Probably living it up with the others who died- I doubt it's possible to be sad in
Elysium."

"Can-" Piper looked hesitant. "Can you tell me about it? About what happened to her I mean. Clearly she was important to just about everyone. And I know- I know it still hurts you. I used to wonder why you'd go all sad and quiet every so often in school. Now I know."

"It was the first great prophecy." Leo said after a long moment, "Obviously the one we're a part of was the prophecy of the seven, which as you've heard is the second Great Prophecy. The first one was, 'A half-blood of the eldest gods, shall reach sixteen against all odds, to see the world in endless sleep, a heroes soul cursed blade shall reap, a single choice shall end their days, Olympus to preserve or raze.'" he turned his face to look at Piper. "The prophecy was about the rise of Kronos. And my big sister saved the world on her sixteenth birthday and she died doing it." he swallowed hard, blinking rapidly, "I was on Olympus when it happened- I didn't- I didn't- the only ones in the throne room were her, Ethan, Luke and Kronos. By the time I arrived- the gods were already there and Percy was already dead in Luke's arms. And Luke and Ethan were the only survivors. I don't know what happened. I don't know how it all went down, and I'm never going to ask. But I know that she saved the entire world that day." he shook his head, "My sister was the greatest hero to have ever lived."