Marcus sat on one of the benches they had found in what was left of Annabeth's Workshop, which they had carried outside to be around their campfire for the night. There hadn't been a discussion to try and finish their hike down the mountain that day. They had all had close enough calls that they felt the need to rest before continuing on their way.

Marcus stared moodily into the flames. They've been gone for a while… He raised an eyebrow at his own thoughts, feeling something stir in his heart. Was that… Jealousy? He shook his head ruefully. No. He was just concerned. They had just had proof that even the remote wilderness wasn't safe, yet Phil had practically dragged Chastity away from him.. He shook his head again. Away from the building into the woods. Phil hadn't looked happy. Not that I can blame him… Throwing herself into danger like that… and she lectures me on self sacrificing…

Marcus thought back to Chastity's miraculous reappearance. And it had been miraculous. Right when he had needed her most, she appeared. And more than that, she had saved him. He had known she was improving, getting stronger, but the power she had shown… Guess I never paid attention to how much she's improved. Just the thought of how her voice had sounded brought a small smile to his face. He was proud of her. That's what this feeling must be. She was as close to his heart as Maddie was, though he'd never say it. To see her power improve so much while he hadn't been paying her attention… Maybe I should fix that.

With the thought of Maddie, Marcus looked up at the sky, the crescent moon shining among the stars this far away from civilization. Wonder what her nightly talk is sounding like tonight? What is she gushing about to a Goddess who doesn't answer… The thought darkened his mood. A Goddess who was the reason he could never admit to her how he felt. How his heart raced when she was close to him. How he couldn't bear to see her do anything but smile. How he would know she was around just by catching that faintest trace of hazelnuts in the air, and that alone was enough to comfort him. How-

Marcus snapped back to reality, so hard he swayed in his seat a little. Where did that come from? He had spent so long burying thoughts like that… He knew it was hopeless. His life wasn't some old romantic myth where against all odds, love prevailed. Life wasn't like that. He'd met Love firsthand, both the emotional side in Aphrodite and the more physical side in her son Eros, and neither seemed like the kind to give him a happy ending. Marcus scowled, losing himself in the flames again. Eros..

Glancing up, he saw Chastity stomping back to camp, obviously heated about something. Though, Marcus wondered if somebody else would be able to notice what he did. She was angry sure, that much was obvious, but she was defensively angry. The way her chin was pulled down and her stride told him that. Her eyes flashed, even from a distance, but he could see the moisture that was kept at bay there too. Whatever had happened between her and Phil, it had upset her.

"You okay?" He asked simply when she sat down on the bench they had set up on the other end of the fire.

"Of course I am." She said testily, though the fact she had responded at all meant she was willing to talk, just maybe not about what had happened. Maybe best not to pry… Not my relationship after all.

"Where's Phil?" He asked instead, taking up a stick and poking at the flames, stoking them just a little.

"He said he'd take the first watch. Doesn't think we're safe here." Chastity stared at the flames, and her mirroring of what Marcus himself had just been doing spoke volumes.

Marcus watched her for a moment. He couldn't help it. Something was different about her he just… couldn't quite place it. Her posture was the same as normal, if a bit defensive at the moment. Her hair seemed to gleam in the mixture of starlight and firelight. The flames cast dancing shadows across her face, the shadows playing around the curvature of her chin, the twist of her lips as she brooded. Her eyes reflected the fire, and he found that for the briefest of moments, he couldn't look away. Her eyes snapped to his, breaking the spell, and he quickly glanced down at the flames himself. What the hell…? Why was he thinking like that? Looking at her like that? Because she had saved him? They'd done that thousands of times for each other over the years they'd known each other. He didn't get it…

He glanced at her again, catching her staring into the flames. A small smile touched his lips as he recalled the words she had once said to him, turning them against her. "You know, brooding is hot and all, but it's like-"

"Shut up Marcus." Chastity said simply, though a small smile touched her lips.

He felt a smile come to his face in response. "What, you can say it, but I can't?"

"I can say it because it's something I would say. It sounds wrong when you even try." She replied, a small trace of teasing coming into her voice. Guess that's one way to try and bring her back from wherever her mind is right now.

"So what would sound right for me to compare brooding to?"

"I don't know… Something boring probably." She went back to staring into the flames.

"Well that's just plain rude." Marcus said with mock hurt, trying to draw her back out of her shell. He was rewarded with Chastity's eyes snapping back to his, though a frown was on her face.

"Really? After everything you've done lately, that was rude?" Her tone turned dangerous, almost causing him to physically flinch. And just when I thought we'd gotten past that…

"Chastity, I told you I'm sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't always cut it Marcus." She said quietly. Marcus watched her start to close up to him again, and for some reason he couldn't let that happen.

"Chastity, I know I've been… an asshole." He began, feeling encouraged when she looked at him again. "I've never been the best at relying on others, you know that. I just… I don't want other people getting hurt… dying… because of me." He felt a lump come to his throat. Like you almost did today… He didn't know what he'd do if Chastity… If she… He couldn't even think it. He knew Aphrodite had told him to protect all of his group, and maybe that was part of it, but next to Maddie, Chastity was the oldest friend he had. She was dear to him. Why do I feel like I'm only realizing this now?

He saw Chastity's posture soften, her eyes becoming gentler, less hostile. "And how do you think I'd… we'd all feel if something happened to you? Look, whether I like it or not, this whole New Olympian thing is happening and you're stuck right in the middle. You can't do everything alone. Stop being a stubborn jackass and let us be by your side dammit."

Marcus smiled. "Fine, fine. After today, I guess it's not like I can say you haven't grown strong enough to keep up after all. Just do me a favor huh?"

"Hm?"

"The next time you want me to wrap you in my arms, you don't have to almost get shot to do it." Marcus was rewarded for his teasing comment with what he suspected was a blush, though he couldn't be sure in the firelight. Standing, he wished Chastity good night before heading to the one man tent he had set up just inside the crumbled walls of Annabeth's Workshop. As he lay in his sleeping bag, one thought raced through his mind before he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Why the hell did I say that…?