This is one of the longest times I've gone without updating. One week. Just goes to show how much I spoil you guys.

Anyway, I'm right at the intersection of camping and the US to the A trip. So the next time you'll see of me will be in like a week and a half. Sorry about that.

This chapter is short, and apologizes for that. Hope you enjoy anyway!

Piper

"You have a jet," Percy clarified stupidly.

"Yes," said Piper. She had just finished calling the cab company and they were waiting for two taxis to arrive to take them to the airport.

"Who did you say your dad was again?" asked Frank.

Piper sighed wearily. "Tristan McLean, professional actor," she repeated. "Now stop acting so amazed. It's not so amazing!"

Leo grinned. "Yes it is, Piper. Just learn to accept it."

Thirty minutes later the demigods found themselves flying through customs on their way to the plane the McLean family owned. It wasn't a very big plane, but it was luxurious and had an onboard flight assistant that served drinks. (Leo loved that part.)

Annabeth sat in the back seats, jotting down notes every once in a while on a notepad provided to her at the airport. Frank and Hazel started up a normal talk with the flight-assistant while Percy remained in the washroom, claiming that he felt sick. Leo began to read some cook-magazine he found lying around, which left Piper with nothing to do.

"Hey, Pipes," Leo called her over after around fifteen minutes of flying. "Check out this recipe. Strawberries on spicy tacos. It sounds disgusting, but it's actually pretty ingenious."

Piper nodded. "Not as good as it sounds," she told him.

He looked up from the pages. "Tried it before?"

Piper nodded sadly. "My taste buds wilted on the spot," she said. "It was a confliction between sweetness and spiciness. The result was catastrophic."

Leo sighed, setting away the book. "What are we going to do?" he asked tiredly, as if their current situation just hit him. "I mean, when we get there? It's not like anyone except Annabeth over there is trying to figure out something."

Piper looked away. "I don't know. I really don't know." She paused. "Leo, when I was set in charge of distracting the Romans before, I froze. I literally stopped in fear. I was so… so terrified. I don't think I'd be able to do that again."

Leo did something strange. He got up, walked over, and gave Piper a hug. "We'd never ask you to do something that you wouldn't want to do," he said. "Don't worry."

Piper hugged him back. "Thank you, Leo. You're a great friend."

Suddenly the on-board assistant appeared. "Sir, your request for strawberries on tacos is nearly ready—"

"Cancel that," he told her, sitting back in his comfortable recliner once again, and Piper rolled her eyes.

Hazel walked up to them. "Leo, can I speak to you?" she asked. She seemed nervous somehow.

"Sure," he replied. "Let's hear it."

"Uh…" Hazel seemed embarrassed somehow. "Alone, actually. This is sort of private—"

"Oh, of course," said Leo. He stood up and the pair walked over to the back of the plane, discussing something severe in hushed tones. Hazel seemed to be explaining a lot, and Leo looked skeptical the entire time. Eventually she got him to return the diamond from earlier that day, which he still had in his pocket. Leo returned, sitting down next to Piper again.

"What was that about?" she asked.

"Something about me being her boyfriend from the 40s," he replied.

Piper nodded, looking away. "In the demigod world, things are so overcomplicated," she decided.

"Amen to that," agreed Leo.

Well, Hazel explained it. Now what?

Anyway, hope you liked it, and see you in, like, almost two weeks.

PS: Did anyone see the Blue Moon last night? (A Blue Moon is the second full moon of a calendar month.)