Author's Note: I'm sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I have been busy and I've been suffering from the dreaded writer's block.
This chapter has some events I'm sure you'll like, and some bits of fluff. I hope this makes up for my absense.
I suspect I'm almost done with this fanfiction-my goal was about ten chapters and 5,000 words. I have eight chapters and a little over 4,500 words not including author's notes. There'll probably be another chapter and an epilogue or just two chapters.
As always, polite, constructive criticism is always welcome.
Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, or any characters/places associated with either series. All rights go to Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion.

Chapter Eight

Reyna's eyes flashed with anger as she grabbed Leo's hand and ran towards the door.

As they ran, Reyna asked, "Could you pinpoint about where they were from your dream?"

Leo nodded, quickly telling her where the dream occurred. Reyna continued running, storing the place in her mind.

The finally reached the hill where Leo's quarters lay in ruin and ash. Reyna and Leo both grimaced at the carnage. "Sorry, Reina. Sometimes I still can't control it. I try, I really do, but I was provoked."

Though Reyna couldn't bear the sight of any part of her precious camp in ruin, she nodded, understanding. "We can rebuild." Leo grinned a bit at that; Reyna's lips quirked in response.

But Reyna soon returned to her stony expression as she faced her legionnaires, telling them that there was a big chance that one of their own disobeyed her orders and she needed a party to find him. Many agreed to accompany her and Leo, always happy to get out of camp for awhile. "Let's go then," she said simply.

It took about half an hour for their small party to reach the destination, and sure enough, they found Octavian and the other Romans.

And, much to his dismay, Leo found his dream was true. There were his friends all stuck in a cage, the Romans treating them like animals. Leo almost burnt Octavian right there.

Reyna, on the other hand, acted calmly, but the glare in her eyes would make a trained assassin draw back in fear.

She turned to the son of Hephaestus beside her, "Go and free your friends. Help them patch up, give them some food and water, et cetera." She grinned viciously as she said, "I'll take care of Octavian."

Leo happily obliged, squeezing his Reina's clenched hand once before running over to the large cage where his friends were held hostage.

"Leo!" Piper exclaimed happily. "You're alive!"

"You all aren't getting rid of me that easily," he replied, grinning.

"Here," he said, reaching for the lock to melt it, "let me help you with that."

Twenty minutes of lock-melting, reacquainting themselves, and listening to Octavian getting punished later, the seven were free of their confinements. They were now chowing down contentedly, listening to Leo's story of what happened after he woke up, leaving about the bit about him and Reyna making out. (Not like the others didn't infer that part anyway, what with the handholding and all.)

After the seven were content with the amount of food occupying their stomachs, the party all travelled back to Camp Jupiter, Octavian and his men in chains—what Octavian had done was illegal, and he would pay for it.

Soon they were back at camp, and Reyna quickly saw that each of them were put in quality rooms with all their needs met. She made sure a healer looked at each of them and treated them for their various injuries. It had been a long night and now they could finally get some sleep.

Reyna took Leo to his new quarters last, making sure not to say anything about the fire that had occurred the night before. They walked slowly, hand in hand; taking comfort in the companionable silence neither cared to break. Leo's hand was warm in Reyna's and she liked it; feeling warm for the first time since before she left Puerto Rico for Circe's Island. Reyna's hand was cold in Leo's, a nice feeling; it took him away from the flames that destroyed his childhood, his mother, his home, his previous quarters, and most of himself.

At the door, they parted with small smiles and quick, chaste kisses. Reyna pulled away, cheeks flushed. "Goodnight, Valdez."

"Goodnight, my queen."

"I'm not a queen, Leo."

"You are, Reina. And not just any queen, either. You're my queen."

She smiled wider, kissed him once more, and left before he could see the heat that had rushed to her cheeks. Leo grinned after her, watching her shadow fade the farther she got, eventually disappearing all together. He then went inside and, without bothering to change, laid down on his bed and fell asleep.

For the first time in months, Leo slept peacefully, his dream world one of absolute bliss.