Chapter 7: The other side

''If not us, who? If not now, when?''- John F. Kennedy

''S-sure.'' Piper's voice quivered and she mentally cursed herself for letting him see the effect he had on her. She stepped away to let him in.

''What's with the vase?'' Jason asked pointing to the item in her other hand curiously.

''It's the middle of the night and someone rang my doorbell so I grabbed the first thing I saw.'' She defended herself while leading him to the living room. His quiet chuckle reached her ears.

She went to return the vase to her original place while he sat on the couch next to her huddled blanket.

''What criminal rings the doorbell Pipes?'' he chuckled at her again and she turned to him with narrowed eyes.

''What normal person visits in the middle of the night?'' she snapped at him and he raised his hands in surrender, his smile still visible. ''What do you want to talk about anyway?''

At this Jason sobered, his smile wavering. He waited for Piper to sit next to him and get comfortable under the blanket before speaking.

''Well, I've been thinking and I have to tell you something. Piper…''

''I got it.'' She cut him off. She didn't want to hear it. It was enough that she saw it earlier today. His choice was clear enough. ''And it's okay, I understand. I hope that we can still be friends though. I understand if you don't want to but…I missed you.''

Piper decided to stop here with her rambling before she could embarrass herself even more. She was fiddling with her hands in her lap, watching as her fingers tangle and untangle, while waiting for Jason to tell something…anything actually. Just to clear everything up already.

''What are you talking about?'' he asked suddenly and Piper looked up at his utterly confused expression.

''I saw you with Reyna today. And I'm happy for you, I really am. I expected it actually but that doesn't matter.'' Great, she was rambling again. Get a grip Mclean! ''The point is that I really missed you while I was in Los Angeles. And remembering all the time we spent together, you, Leo and I…I don't want to loose that.''

''You saw…'' Jason started with a questioning look but then his face cleared up in understanding. ''You think we're back together.''

It wasn't a question, it was a statement. And Piper felt like someone had punched the air out of her.

''Piper, I can't be your friend.'' He said desperately and she felt herself go numb immediately, trying to stop the pain that was to come in a few seconds. Because she could feel it, in her own eyes. The traitorous tears were already welling up there.

Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently yet firmly. She was startled and her tears didn't spill out, thankfully. Her face turned towards him again.

''Hear me out Mclean!'' he said to her, his eyes boring into hers and making it unable for her to look away. ''I can't be your friend. Not anymore. Heck, I don't want us to be just friends. I want so much more with you. I want you.''

Everything was silent after that. Piper's heart had stopped for a long second before it started beating again, ten times faster than before. Jason was still searching her face for her answer.

He wanted her? After all this time, he preferred her?

''And what about Reyna?'' the question slipped out of her lips quickly, almost desperately.

''We talked a week after I got back from Montauk. We both agreed that things between us…it wasn't working for quite sometime. We used to be great together but somewhere along the way we just lost it.'' He said before chuckling. ''She said we were too similar to work out. That things were better when we were friends. Less fighting at least. We were out as friends when you saw us in the ice-cream shop earlier.''

More silence filled the space. Piper was literally wordless; her brain was dizzy with everything she had heard. And suddenly, she became aware of the barely-there space between her and Jason, of her blanked tangled at her waist where his hands were settled. Shit, they were really close!

His eyes quickly roamed over her before settling on her eyes and in his electric blue eyes she saw so many emotions. One of them she recognized from that night: lust.

''So where are we now?'' she asked lowly, her body unconsciously moving towards him.

''Where do you want us to be?'' Jason questioned, a smile playing mischievously on his lips.

He leaned in and his breath ghosted over her lips and neck, making her shiver slightly. His hands had reached her thighs where he was rubbing soothing circles through the fabric of her shorts. And she was a goner.

''Shit.'' Piper hissed and her hands immediately found his hair, tangling her fingers there and bringing him closer to her. Her lips met his with unhidden urgency and need. Jason smirked, answering with as much force as her, but that soon turned into a growl when her hands found the hem of his shirt and she pulled it up and away from his body.

A phone ringing brought Jason out from his peaceful sleep the next morning and he groaned. Couldn't he sleep just for a few more minutes? He snuggled closer to the warm pillow next to him but it tried to escape his grip. His brows furrowed in confusion but at least the annoying phone stopped ringing.

''Yeah?'' a familiar voice mumbled sleepily next to him and it took him only a second to remember where he was and who was next to him. Someone far better than a pillow. He felt the smile on his face but decided to do nothing about it, even if he was looking like a total goof.

The bed shifted again and Jason felt her rising up slightly. Was she sitting up? No way was she escaping him so quickly. He encircled her waist more securely.

''Well, actually, he is here.'' Piper's voice reached his mind and he forced one eye open to look up at her.

Her hair was a messy…well, mess but he wasn't surprised after all the times he tangled his hands in her soft locks last night. Her kaleidoscopic eyes were on him while she was talking on her phone, a small smile playing on her lips. Was she nervous? Why? And who was on the phone?

The one name she mouthed sobered him up quicker than a cold shower. Thalia. Shit! He was in for some big trouble.

Piper gave him the phone then and he gingerly took it and brought it to his ear.

''Hey sis, how's it going?'' Jason started cheerfully while Piper laid again, her back turned towards him. Her body was shaking and Jason had the feeling that she was laughing.

''Are you insane? You got me scared shitless when you flew out of home last night and you didn't even bother to bring your phone with you. Do you want me to get a heart-attack or you're simply suicidal?'' she scolded him, practically yelling in his ear.

''No and no. I simply forgot it okay.'' He defended himself, leaving the cheery voice. It wasn't going to help with her anyway.

''What are you doing at Piper's anyway? Did you spend the night there?''

''Uh…yeah?'' his answer came more as a question, causing Thalia to stay silent for a while.

''Oh god Jason, you and Piper…you two are sleeping together?''

''Well, maybe.'' He said carefully. That was something he didn't want to talk about with his sister and through the phone while Piper was laughing like crazy next to him.

''Maybe? What does that mean? I swear if you hurt her…''

''Okay, yes! Happy?'' he almost yelled at her. Man, she was such a pain in the ass sometimes. Who was he kidding; she was a pain all the time.

''I hope that you are being careful…''she started.

''We are, we're not stupid.''

''…because I don't want to became an aunt until you turn at least twenty-three, no twenty-five.''

''God, Thalia are you being careful with Nico?'' Jason asked but as soon as his question left his lips he regretted it. ''No, don't answer this one, I seriously don't need to know.''

Thalia was quiet for a while. ''How…you know?''

''Oh yeah, I know alright. You two aren't very subtle and you my dearest sister can't shut your mouth if your life depended on it.''

''Okay, we close that matter.'' She said hurriedly and Jason smiled triumphantly. Little brother: 1, big sister: 0.

''Okay.''

''But come back before lunch, dad's going to be home today and he's going to ask questions anyway.''

Shit! Again. ''Fine, bye now.'' And with that he disconnected the call and left Piper's phone on the bedside table.

Piper was still chuckling, her face hidden from him. Time for sweet revenge.

His hands snaked around her waist again, admiring the softness of her skin. He found the spot he wanted and passed his fingers lightly over it, making Piper yelp in surprise and laugh. He continued tickling her until she turned in his arms and pressed herself to his bare chest. Um, yeah, distraction there.

''Good morning.'' He mumbled before leaning in to kiss her forehead.

''Mhm…good morning to you too.'' She responded in the same tone, before their lips met in a sweet kiss.

Her hands skimmed his bare chest and quickly found their way around his neck. With her playing with his hair and the fabric of her lingerie rubbing on his skin, he couldn't help the moan that escaped his mouth and tightened his grip with his hands inching up her back. Their kiss deepened and soon, Jason was lying on his back with Piper straddling him. God, she tasted like something sweet and tasty. It made him hungry in more ways than one.

A grumble, coming from Jason's stomach, caused Piper to giggle and they had to separate, both gasping for air.

''Someone's hungry.'' She remarked, looking in his eyes while lying on his chest. He had to prop himself up on one elbow to see her properly.

''Gee, I wonder how you guessed.'' He joked, trying to sound sarcastic but the effect wasn't good with the smirk on his face.

His fingers found her tattoo then and he started stroking it gently. Believe. It was a good message. She had always been a believer. It suited her.

Piper's lips brushed his one more time before she jumped off of him and off the bed.

''Hey, where are you going?'' Jason whined while secretly staring at her. Man, her body…man up Grace, you have to get out of bed today! He deciding that getting up now was a good idea.

''Well, first in the bathroom and then in the kitchen. I need a coffee and you're hungry so breakfast is up.'' She answered while rummaging through her wardrobe.

''Want any help?'' he asked while pulling his jeans on and looking around for his shirt. ''Have you seen my shirt?''

Even when she was with her back towards him, Jason could see her ears turning pink. She was blushing.

''Sorry, but I don't want my kitchen to burn. And I think your shirt is in the living room.'' She answered with a chuckle.

''Hey, I burned that toast once. Leo burns food all the time!'' he whined and Piper laughed again, turning to her boyfriend.

''That's why Leo is completely forbidden to do anything in the kitchen. You are not. For now. I'm coming back in a minute.'' She said and headed to the bathroom but Jason pulled her in for another kiss before she could disappear. She was just…irresistible, walking around almost completely naked.

After she closed the bathroom door he went down, first to get his shirt and then in the well-equipped kitchen. After a quick thinking he decide to leave the food preparing to her after all. He really didn't want to burn something. But hey, coffee was easy enough for him to make without messing something up so he started doing just that. Better safe than sorry, right.

He had just found two cups from the dryer when Piper entered the kitchen.

''Thanks.'' She beamed at him when he gave her a cup.

He leaned on the kitchen table looking at her while she went to the cupboard.

''What do you want? There's cereal, I can make sandwiches too. Once I tried for pancakes but I can't promise anything…'' she was rambling, playing with the cup in her hands and not looking away from the cupboard she was in front. She was nervous for some reason.

''You choose.'' Jason answered, eyeing her carefully, trying to find the source of her uneasiness.

''Cereal then?''

''Sure.''

She nodded to herself and took a drink from her coffee before pulling out bowls and spoons. Jason brought out the milk from the fridge and watched Piper for a full minute jumping up in attempt to reach the cereal box before retrieving it for her.

''Thanks.'' She mumbled, shyly smiling up at him.

''Always for you Pipes.'' He smiled at her and cupped the side of her neck. He kissed her tenderly, waiting until she was relaxed. ''What's with the nervousness?''

Piper looked down at the place where she had gripped his shirt and released him. Jason put a finger under her chin and raised her head up to look at her eyes properly. She sighed.

''It's really nothing, just…this is new between us and I don't know how am I supposed to act. I don't want it to be awkward…''

''Then relax. It's me Piper, you know me. And I know you so act normal. Do what you want to do.''

Piper stepped on her tiptoes and gave him a chaste kiss.

''Like that?'' she asked, making him chuckle and hug her.

''Just like that.'' He whispered in her hair before they both separated and went to eat.

After a few minutes Piper's phone rang again.

''Leo.'' She announced, looking at the caller's ID.

''Oh, he knows by the way. About the whole thing I mean.'' Jason said then and Piper looked at him.

''Here comes the never-ending teasing.'' She sighed before picking up.

As she was talking with their best friend Jason found himself staring at her. Life had a funny way to bring people together. But it was good that things worked out in the end.

A\N: And this was it guys, the last chapter. The only thing left is the epilogue, which will come next Sunday. There will be a surprise which some of you (or maybe all of you) had guessed. It really isn't so hard. Well, if not, you'll find out next week.

Thanks to all my reviewers. Seventy reviews! I can't believe it! You just made me seventy times happier!

Review please to let me know if I did well with the JASPER here. I promised that there would be a lot right. Anyway, see you next week! Review please, it really means a lot! Love you guys soooo much!