Leo's POV

"Jeez, are you okay?" Jason asked, coming to my side and pulling me up off the floor of Bunker 9.

I rubbed my stinging knees. "More or less. Thanks, man." I shot a glare at Piper, who was busy laughing her head off. "No thanks to you."

Let me explain that my plan was to walk into the bunker with all the cool confidence of a powerful quest undertaker, not somebody who just got totally humiliated. What really happened was that I came flying through the door like a maniac, tripped on the doorframe, and fell on my face.

Even Annabeth, standing across the bunker with a crate of supplies, was hiding an amused grin behind her hand. Pain and double humiliation aside, I actually felt kind of good. I hadn't seen Annabeth smile in weeks.

"So, what're we doing?" I said, trying to get back my dignity. "Can I help with anything?"

"Yes you can," Annabeth said, dumping a wooden crate into my arms. My knees buckled and I tried not to drop it on my foot. "You can put this with the others in the ship."

Grumbling to myself, I did as I was told. Annabeth gave me another crate, and then another while she walked around making sure everything was in order. Piper recovered from her laughing fit and helped Jason gather together some formidable weapons.

"So, where'd you go before you came here?" Annabeth asked me as she handed me another crate. "Careful with that, it's full of bottles of nectar."

"So it should make a spectacular mess when I drop it," I said sarcastically, carrying it onto the ship. "And it's kind of a long story."

"We've got all night," Piper remarked, cleaning off a shield with a rag.

"Actually, I don't," I said, remembering. "I have something important in…" I checked the time on the wall clock my cabinmates had put up, which, frankly, looked stupid and out of place; something modern in the ancient bunker. "…about an hour and a half."

"What do you have to do that's more important than preparing for the quest?" Annabeth demanded, pinning me under her gray gaze.

I tried not to shrink away. "Um, I've got a date with Anne tonight."

Piper turned around. "Are you serious? That's great!"

Jason grinned. "Way to go, Leo! Sure took you long enough though," he laughed.

I tried to smile. "I know. Our first and probably last, since I'm leaving tomorrow."

Jason's and Piper's smiles morphed to sadness. "Oh, yeah," Piper said. "I'm sorry, Leo. That's awful; we know how much you like her."

Annabeth tilted her head. "Anne Soleil from Apollo?"

I nodded.

"How long have you two been together?" Her voice sounded sad now, wistful.

I had to think. "Three nights and two days." I frowned. That didn't seem right. But it was. "But it feels like I've known her forever."

Her eyes took on a grieving expression. "Take your time, then. I know how it feels to be separated from someone special."

I smiled at her. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

"You know you have to give her something," Piper said as she rubbed her thumb across the hilt of a sword.

"Like what?" I said, stacking another crate with the others.

Piper gave me a look like that should be obvious. "Basically whatever you think she'll like that isn't something lame. Wake up and smell the coffee, Valdez."

I wanted to smack my palm into my forehead. Why hadn't I thought of that before? True, Anne probably wouldn't mind if I didn't show up with a dozen red roses, but I'd feel bad if I didn't give her something. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I left tomorrow without giving Anne something that showed how much I cared about her?

"Well, what do you suggest?" I asked, trying not to sound like I had no idea.

Piper frowned. "Well, there really isn't much you can do on such short notice. You could pick some flowers, but then you'd probably have the dryads, satyrs, and all of Demeter cabin after you."

I winced. "I'd like to avoid being attacked by plants, if possible." I'd seen the satyrs' reed-pipe songs in action.

"Less talk, more work," Annabeth said, handing me a bigger crate. I braced myself but then realized it was empty. "Put the weapons in there," Annabeth instructed, walking away to get another crate.

I carried my crate over to Jason and Piper and helped them start loading weapons into it. "Any more ideas?" I asked.

"Does she wear jewelry or anything?" Jason asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Um, no," I said. "Just her Camp Half-Blood necklace."

"Speaking of Camp Half-Blood necklaces, how many beads do you have, Annabeth?" Piper asked as Annabeth came over with the second crate. "I've never seen a camper with that many."

"Hmm?" Annabeth said, sounding distracted. She really did have a lot of beads, I noticed, but strung on the cord with them was a gold ring. I'd never seen anyone with something else onto their necklace.

"Whose ring is that?" I asked curiously.

"What? Oh, that was my dad's college ring," she replied, her hand going to her necklace. "Why?"

I didn't reply. An idea was shaping in my mind. It was perfect. I checked the clock again: six-fifty. I had time.

I started shoveling weapons into the crate, careful not to scratch any of them.

"Forget a gift for a second," Piper said, scrutinizing me. "What are you going to wear?"

I almost dropped the sword I was holding onto my foot. "I haven't even thought about that!" I said, silently cursing myself.

Piper sighed and shook her head, looking as if she was trying not to smile. "Leo, honestly. Were you planning to pick her up wearing jeans and your jacket?"

I didn't even need to look to know my clothes were probably not the cleanest. "Well of course not," I protested. "But it's not like I have anything really nice."

"Well probably neither does she," Jason chipped in. "She doesn't seem like the kind of girl to own a bunch of skirts and stuff. She's more like Piper, what I've seen of her."

Piper gave him a quick sideways glance like, I am being complimented, right? before turning back to me. "Jason's right. But you want to show her you care, right? I doubt she's just going to wear everyday clothes."

"Well, what do you suggest I do, then?" I said, putting more weapons into the crate, trying to move fast while acknowledging Annabeth's death glare: If you scratch something you won't be alive to go on that date of yours.

"Definitely clean up a little," Piper said. "I'm sorry!" she protested when I glared at her. "But even if you don't have the best clothes, you won't look like you've spent a day at the forges and then decided to go on a spur-of-the-moment date."

That made sense. I was starting to feel a little more reassured. Anne probably wouldn't care what I was wearing; I knew she wasn't that shallow. And she probably wouldn't be too dressed up herself. Even if I was a little underdressed, hopefully my gift and, of course, my incredible charm, would make up for it.

Feeling a little better, I kept loading the weapons into the crate, keeping a close eye on the time.

"Why do you keep watching the clock?" Jason laughed. "It's not going to run away."

I cracked a smile. "Sorry. But I have to pick up Anne at eight and I need time to prepare the gift before that."

"Have you thought of what to give her?" Piper said.

I couldn't help grinning. "Yep."

"Are you going to tell us?" Jason said expectantly.

I told them.

"That's a great idea," Jason said. "Very original."

"Think so?" I said.

"Leo, she's going to love it," Piper said, her multicolored eyes sparkling.

Annabeth heaved a sigh. "It is a good idea, but we need you for the preparations…"

"Then let's work faster," Jason said, picking up some knives and placing them into a crate. "You're going to need time if you're going to pull this one off."

"And if there's anything you need help with, we got your back," Piper said, smiling confidently as she put a shield in the box.

I smiled. "Thanks, guys. I'll let you know."

For the next twenty minutes we worked until the ship was completely prepared for tomorrow. "I'll let Chiron know and see if there's anything else we need to do," Annabeth said to me, walking away in the direction of the Big House. "You do what you have to do for tonight. And good luck."

"Thanks, I'll need it," I said.

"You won't," Piper said. "Just be yourself. If she hasn't been scared away by you yet it's unlikely she will be tonight."

"Oh, thanks," I replied sarcastically.

Jason clapped me on the back. "Go get 'em."

"Ow, c'mon, I really don't need a bruise," I complained, rubbing my back.

Jason just grinned at me. "Well, unless you'll be taking off your shirt I can't see how that would affect much."

I rolled my eyes. "Way to give a pep talk, guys."

"C'mon, loosen up," Piper said, pushing my arm. "You'll be fine. She obviously likes you. She won't freak out if it doesn't go perfectly."

"Piper's right," Jason added. "Just relax and have fun."

I smiled at them. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it."

"You've faced down giants," Jason said. "One date isn't much scarier."

I forced a grin. "We'll see. Gotta go, but I'll see you guys."

I jogged away in the direction of the cabins, repeating their encouraging words over and over in my mind.

"I got this," I said to myself. "Just prepare the gift, clean up a little, change clothes, and pick her up at eight. I can do this. Jason said it himself: I've faced fire-breathing giants." I laughed. "Leo Valdez: half-blood, Cyclops-slayer, boyfriend. If there's ever a perilous situation to be faced, whether it's a fight with a monster or a date in less than an hour, I can handle it no prob."

Laughing to myself I lengthened my stride until I was running through the woods back toward the heart of Camp Half-Blood.

Diamondsgirl: Yayyy! Leo's happy! And of course it has *nothing* to do with that extra check I gave him…*bitter glare*

Leo: Diamondsgirl101! I totally love you! You are the best director-person EVER! *throws arms around*

Diamondsgirl: Yeah yeah I love you too now go get ready for your date! And you have to make that gift, the props people won't do it for you!

Leo: On my way! *skips away singing happily*

Anne: *walks up in heels looking like shes about to fall over* Um—

Diamondsgirl: LOOK OUT! *pushes her behind tree* LEO CAN'T SEE YOU YET! IT MUST BE A SURPRISE!

Anne: ookayyyy… *from behind tree* why was Leo hugging you? and why is he…skipping?

Diamondsgirl: No reason! And of course it had nothing to do with that bonus I gave him *bitter grumbly voice*

Anne: Why don't I get a bonus? I work just as hard as Leo does! Im standing here in makeup and a dress and I almost fell over in these heels when you pushed me behind that tree!

Diamondsgirl: *wraps arm comfortingly around Anne* my friend, you are just going through withdrawal of the perfume in the Aphrodite cabin. I think it messed up your mind…just a little. But I can fix that! as your all-powerful creator, I can do anything! Yay for me!

Anne: Okay. Can you—

Diamondsgirl: No. Now review people! I love y'all!