Grover carefully lit the candles and stood back, "That, is a proper candle lit dinner for two."
Percy just gaped, "G-man, you're the best."
Grover shrugged, giving his best friend a sheepish smile. "Well, you and Annabeth will be in New Rome in the fall. So after tonight you two owe me some time."
"If his lordship can spare some time." Percy teased.
Grover cringed, "I'm not joking, Percy. This might be the last real chance we get to hang out. I'm going to that Northpoint place in August with a few others to look over some…plans…and then it's back to my duties. And you two will be in New Rome and busy with school and each other and you'll forget all about me and then one day you'll see a picture and not be able to remember my name, and—"
"Whoa, nobody is going to forget you, G-man. How could we? You're my best friend an you've saved both of our lives. You're going to protect my kids someday."
Grover sniffled, "I suppose that's true."
"Besides, it's not like you're forbidden from coming to New Rome and I'll definitely be back here. My mom and Paul are still here. And Calli."
Grover smiled a bit at the thought of Percy's baby sister, Calliope Lane Blofis. "True. She's definitely something to come back for."
Percy nodded, "Yeah. It sucks that I'm going to miss some things. I'm a little worried that she won't remember me when I come back."
"Are you kidding? You're going to be Iris Messaging your mom all the time and there are pictures of you. You're going to be the coolest big brother ever because you are older than her and you'll be takin her on trips to California and all that. Cutting boys who hurt her in half. Taking her swimming."
"Yeah, Paul will definitely be watching me carefully if I do take her swimming. He trusts me, he's just super protective of her." Percy was grinning. "He's going to be a great dad."
"Helps that he started with you." Grover said.
Percy laughed.
Grover looked at the table, "We're forgetting something."
Percy looked at the table as well, "Yeah, but I can't place what."
"Food, ya ninnies. Ya forgot food." Penelope, a daughter of Iris, pointed out. She was standing at the edge of the clearing, looking amused.
"Um, why are you in the forest alone?" Grover asked nervously.
"I'm not," She drawled, folding her arms, and then nodded behind her, "I'm out here with Ellis Wakefield. He's prolonging a fight with a monster and I didn't feel like getting killed because of it. Ya forgot food. It's sorta important for a dinner, especially a romantic one."
Grover and Percy exchanged sheepish glances and then murmured thanks.
Penelope smirked, then glanced back, "Good luck, boys." She walked away.
Percy ran a hand through his hair, "Feel like as much of an idiot as I do?"
"Yeah," Grover let out a nervous bleat, "I'll go raid the kitchen?"
"Nah, I'll try. You've already helped enough, G-man." Percy clapped his best friend on the shoulder.
"What are best friends for?"