I'm sorry guys for not updating sooner, but there has been a lot going on in my life. And, I admit, I had writers block again. Who invented that anyway? I'd like to give them a piece of my mind on that highly infectious author's disease that comes around from time to time. It is very annoying.

And now that that small rant is over, please remember that I own nothing belonging to Rick Riordan in this one-shot.

other than that... enjoy.

Beautiful As You

She was worried. Day in and day out, her worry kept growing. She made threats that she would kill him when she next saw him. She told the other nymphs that she would strangle him with her bare hands for the months of worry that he had put her through. And then when the war began, she thought that she was going to die with worry. There had been no way of knowing if he was alive or not before, but with the start of the war there was an even slimmer chance than before. Again her worried thoughts led her to want to 'strangle' him if she ever found out that he was alive. Alas, all that she said she would do quickly evaporated from her like Lord Apollo shining down on her leaves when she found out that he was alive and well.

" Grover!" She screamed seconds before launching herself into a flying-tackle hug.

Said satyr spun her around a couple of times when he caught her (probably to steady himself a little too), before placing a quick kiss on her cheek and making sure her feet touched the ground once more. Then he led her down the path to the beach, the roar of the excited crowd dying down with each step further away the couple took.

The beach was calm that night, glistening in the shining stars above as they peaked slowly back into the world. The waves crashed gently against the shore. It was hard to believe that only a few hours before there had been a war raging. Hard to believe that where there was now peace, there used to be chaos. Slowly the two made their way through the break towards the forest.

" Where have you been?" she asked, months of worry lacing each word.

Instantly he became uncomfortable. " W-well, Juniper. I-I've been asleep." He stuttered.

" You've been asleep."

Juniper didn't mean to sound nasty. It was just all her worry finally finding a way out of her. And now that the excitement from the dining pavilion was over, that worry had returned with a vengeance. Unfortunately, that meant that Grover was getting the full force of the attack now. But somehow he senses her worry and inner turmoil and wrapped her hand in his. It was a small gesture, but a comforting one. And it instantly told her that everything was going to be okay.

" I never meant to fall asleep." He said gently. " Morpheus had placed me under one of his sleeping spells. Percy woke me up before the battle and I've been helping ever since. I'm sorry I didn't see you earlier."

Juniper, however, wasn't satisfied. She had been worried for months and all Grover had to say about it was 'I'm sorry'. Well guess what, buddy. She thought to herself, tears brimming her eyes. 'I'm sorry' doesn't cut it. She was about to say something about that, too, when Grover stopped her.

" Listen, Juniper." He began. " I know you're probably hating me right now and planning very painful ways to kill me. But just look at the horizon and tell me what you see."

The nymph was about to protest against it, explain that doing something like ignoring your worried to death girlfriend was something that wasn't on the universal 'to do' list if a boyfriend wanted to keep that girlfriend. But the pleading look in the satyr's deep brown eyes made her turn to the sight behind her. And what a sight it was. Pure magic made from Nature's best. Apollo, though probably sore, must have been extremely happy that night. Or at least extremely relieved considering how many never made it home again.

The warm pink, dull orange and glimmering gold of the sunset was pure magic. There was no other way to describe it. And the way it shimmered on top of the ocean only added to the effect. It was one of the best sunsets she had seen. And the darkening surroundings merely seemed to frame that moment for just that, a moment… a small expanse of beauty somewhere between sun and stars that lasted only a moment each and every day. Slowly, Juniper turned back to Grover.

" I see the sunset." She said, awe coating her words as it always did when she watched the sun rise and fall every day. " As magical as Apollo and Hecate always make it at this time of day."

" Do you want to know what I see?" Grover replied. With a nod of Juniper's head, he continued. " I see nothing but you. The sunset makes you more beautiful. And I admit that I made a mistake. I know I'm not perfect… but can you forgive me? Will you give me a second chance?"

" You really see me that way?" Tears once more returned to Juniper's eyes, though this time it was for a completely different reason.

" Really, really." A soft smile began to spread over Grover's usually nervous features.

They were only two small words that he had heard multiple times from his cousin, but they were powerful. In fact, they were that powerful that Juniper leapt into his arms again, her tears finally spilling over. At that moment, one particular memory returned to Grover's mind. It was a simple memory, stargazing with the very girl that was in his arms on their first official date. Artemis's moon shone so brightly that a rainbow had surrounded it and there were shooting stars everywhere. That truly was a magical night.

" To me, nothing will be as beautiful as you are right now and for always." He whispered into her ear as the moon finally too her place in the skies.

" And you will always be mine." She replied through her own tears and his shirt.

" Always?"

" You're my Lord of the Wild and nothing is going to change that."

" So I got my second change?"

Juniper laughed, but she did manage a small 'I love you' as an answer to the satyr. And with that, just like everyone else that night, the couple celebrated the safe return of those still alive and the victory of the gods. But more importantly, they celebrated each other's lone presence that the other had unknowingly been hungry for.

Okay, so hopefully I got everyone in character. And if you haven't already guessed it by now, yes I did get the idea for this from TLO when Juniper lunges herself at Grover after the Battle of Manhattan is won.

Anyway, hope you like it and please let me know your thoughts on it. Again I'm sorry, but you'd be pleased to know that I have an idea for at least the next two or three chapters.