Sorry about the wait, guys. Real life and school and everything got in the way. You know how it is.

Disclaimer: We own nothing. The ninjas got caught again.

Reece's POV:

I can't say I was the most level headed at the moment. The sweet taste of nectar still lingered in my mouth, overwhelming me with nostalgia. That and the dizziness from my stomach piercing - I was pretty incompetent.

And tearful. I might have broken down a little. Or maybe a lot.

Okay, yeah - a lot.

While Roxy bandaged my middle - it hurt like Tartarus – I spilled my guts (not literally thankfully) to Chelsea about my dad. After saving my life I felt that she deserved to know. It really wasn't fair to leave her in the dark, since a lot of the things I'd done would just seem jerkish and immature without an explanation, and were still kind of jerkish and immature with the explanation. But that was in the past, and I decided to overlook that as I told Chelsea about my dad.

"When I was ten years old my dad disappeared and no one could find him. They thought he was dead. My hat, my Reds hat, he gave it to me for my tenth birthday. That's why I cling to it like it's my life line. That's why I attacked you and why I was so upset when it got lost. That's the voice the Cyclops taunted me with. I haven't seen my dad since I was ten. He's no longer missing, but whenever I leave camp things like Cyclopes' and Minotaurs and hell hounds come out to play. It's not safe and usually Chiron won't let me. I don't care about that though... As soon as I'm better I'm going to go see him. I won't go back to camp until I have. I... I don't really want to come back to camp. Roxy is my only friend and, well your life would be a lot easier if I was gone. I just want to see my dad again. I'm sorry I've treated you like a jerk. Thanks for saving my life. A lot. Oh, and you wanted to figure out my fear? Arsonphobia. Fear of fire. I freak out if a candle is lit. But I swear, if I do come back to camp and you try to use that against me, I'll get a dog." Roxy finishes bandaging me, and I'm in desperate need of a nap, so they leave me be on the couch bed and I pass out, for once with no nightmares at all.

I dream of Roxy. Her face is lit up by a flashlight and she's laughing. She's telling stories like one does around a campfire, but she vetoed the camp fire, because of my fear. She's so beautiful. She finishes her story - she's amazing with words - and leans over and kisses me. I wake up with a jolt. Before I can leave to find my dad, I'm going to need to do something.

Roxy is awake and reading, I slept a long time, occupied by the wonderful dream. She smiles at me.

"Chelsea ordered pizza if you're hungry."

"I am but first," I hesitate.

"Yeah?"

"I think I have a reason to come back to camp."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. You. You're pretty awesome, and really smart."

"I'm a daughter of Athena."

"Yeah, but you're still exceptionally awesome. And you're also really pretty."

"I am?" she said, smirking a little.

"You are." I pull her to her feet, wrap my arms around her neck, and kiss her.

I figure if I had enough courage to yell "You'll stub your toe!" at a Minotaur then I have enough courage to kiss Roxy. We break away. She shrugs.

"You'll have to work on your kisses. I'd be willing to practice with you." I think that means she likes me.

I pack what little I have left of my belongings and am about to leave - I'll find my own way back somehow - when Chelsea stops me.

"Hey, Reece. You told me about your dad. You should know..."

Yeah, cliffhanger. We're cruel like that. Don't worry – all will be revealed next chapter.

Also, yes, we ship Reece and Roxy. Deal with it.