Jason turned to find Piper clutching a cup of tea.

"What?"

"I brought you a cup of tea."

Piper's eyes held shadows. She hadn't been sleeping. Jason hadn't been either.

"Tea?"

"You mentioned you find it soothing."

Jason blushed and took the cup.

He'd mentioned off-handedly once in conversation that he liked tea. Piper had remembered.

"I am fine. I just need to find something to do."

Jason wasn't expecting Piper's face to fall.

"I… I hear that. But if it helps, its ok to be not fine."

"I'm fine." Piper had enough on her plate. She didn't need him on top of it.

"Says the person running off and being busy all the time. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."

"I would never," Jason blurted. It was old instinct. There had been a time when Piper had been terrified of him forgetting her. She'd outgrown it in their travels, but her discomfort was something he never wanted to see again.

"I'm teasing you, Sparkie. We've both been struggling." Piper sighed.

"I just…"

"I get it. But that doesn't mean I don't get concerned. Sometimes, it feels like you rely on work to keep you from dealing with your issues. You did it all of our trip from New Rome. Your work ethic is wonderful when it doesn't mean you're not dealing with your issues."

"I don't…" Jason wasn't sure how to refute that.

"I love you, Sparkie. I just can't help being concerned. You always put everyone in front of you and I can't complain too much, because, gods, that's why I love you. But maybe sometimes try prioritizing yourself."

Jason swallowed. "I'm sorry. I- just- I miss Leo. If I let myself have time to think, I keep blaming myself for his death. It's not fair. I'm just…"

Piper nodded. "You don't need to explain. I feel it to. Leo was our friend. Its logical that we mourn him. It's okay that you're grieving. Hades, I don't even know how to feel. I go between feeling sad and hating myself for it. Because Leo would have wanted me to be happy. It doesn't make sense but-"

"It does. The first time I lost someone—" Jason waited for Piper to tense up. He waited for her to close off or grow fearful. She didn't. His Piper had grown.

"The first time I lost someone and really got it, I was seven years old. There was a centurion, named Elois. He was really friendly and…" Jason hesitated, old instincts firing at him not to get Elois in trouble. "He was nice to us little kids. Would give us candy and sometimes sneak us out. One day he was killed while on patrol. He successfully protected the border but at the cost of his life. There was a whole procession and yet… It was the first death of someone I knew. He was someone who had cared for me. I hated him for abandoning me. I missed him. I hated myself for not doing something. And I hated that I had no idea how to react. People react differently to loss and its okay to feel lost and confused."

"You were seven. I'm sixteen, I should know. This isn't my first loss. I've lost Grampa—"

"And that means you suddenly know everything. The thing about loss is that it doesn't get any easier. You never really know how to react. Leo was my best friend. He was our best friend. Even worse he died for us. Do you really think there's any good way to respond to it? I've been doing my best to avoid it. The same way I did when I was made praetor after the Titan War.

"Maybe you don't know how to handle it. Maybe you are lost and confused. But… whatever you're going through is normal. No one should have to—" Jason cut himself off.

He tasted salt.

He'd been crying.

Piper's face was streaked with tears as well.

"I've been trying. But I've not been doing well." She admitted. "He was like a brother to me and there's a part of me that hates myself for not spending enough time with him. For not caring for him. That tells me if I'd tried to do better."

Jason pulled her into a hug. Piper just collapsed into his arms.

"I'm here," he whispered.

"I'm sorry." Piper shivered. "I came here to comfort you and it feels like you're… you're comforting me."

Jason turned and gave her a weak smile. "I appreciate it. I… I've been used to just ignoring my emotions—"

"—that doesn't seem healthy, long term"

"—It isn't. I… just I needed this too. I'm not going to push you away again."

"Of course," Piper choked. "We're a team, you and I and I'd follow you anywhere."

"Dangerous thing to say."

"I'm a dangerous girl."

"I love you, Piper. I'm never going to leave you."

Piper relaxed in his arms. "Quite the assumption that I ever plan on letting you go. But seriously, Grace, thank you."

"No, thank you."

Leo's death was still sharp. It wasn't going to fade. His impish grin was going to haunt Jason forever. All the one's he saved were. But here, in Piper's arms, finally feeling his grief. Jason knew they were going to be okay.