A/N: This is a JEYNA fic. So if you like Piper, either PM me so I can change your mind, or leave right now. (Sorry that was a bit harsh... but...) Anyway, I've wanted to write this for a while, but I could never get it right. And I think I finally did. Oh, and writing this first chapter KILLED me. I wanted to throw up, scream, and totally TRASH Piper. But of course I couldn't. Because that would be way OOC. But I swear, no more chapters are as bad as this. And just by the way... I've yet to create a cover, but I'll have it on once it's done. (I need to get photoshop) For now, the cover is just my profile pic. Well, here's the fic!

Jason hated saying good-bye. Camp Jupiter had been his home for so long, and he hated leaving it. But with so many new paths to go, one of the few things he knew was that wherever he went, Piper would always be at his side. Scanning the faces of his friends and colleagues at Camp Jupiter, Jason prepared to say good-bye. His eyes passed over many familiar faces, sad and disappointed that he had chosen to leave, and not to stay. Jason quickly skipped over Reyna, who had no expression on her face. She had been like that ever since the battle, when Jason saved Piper instead of Hylla.

Amid the chaos Jason saw three minotaurs advance on Piper. It was obvious she wouldn't be able to defeat all three. They were massive.

"Jason!" A scream ripped through the air. Reyna. He turned, and saw her battling her way toward Hylla, who was about to be struck down by a giant. Without a second thought, Jason lunged to help Piper, turning his back on Reyna's desperation, and leaving Hylla to die under the giant's hand.

Jason sighed inwardly. Well, at least that was what Reyna thinks. I was just trying to save the girl that I love–

"Well?" Octavian's drawl cut through Jason's memories. "Are you not even going to give a farewell to your old camp?" Jason's gaze fell on him. His skinny frame, his face, and most of all, his eyes. The unmistakable look of greed glinted in those eyes of his. Realization crashed upon him. He had been so stupid to not realize it before. Octavian wanted Jason to leave. He wanted it so badly. Because if Jason left, then three months later, at the Feast of Fortuna, another praetor would be elected, and Octavian would ensure that this time, it would be him. Jason shuddered at the horrors Octavian could make possible if he were given praetorship, one of them including trying to establish a dictatorship that would lead to another war. That couldn't happen. Ever so reluctantly, he turned back to Piper.

"Jason?" Piper asked uncertainly. "Aren't you–" She trailed off. Piper could read his expression better than almost everyone, and realization struck that he had changed his mind and wasn't going with her. Pain and sadness crossed her face, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Why?"

"Piper," Jason whispered. He hated seeing her like this. "I love you. You can Iris-message me any time you want, I won't even care if it's at one in the morning. We'll keep in touch until the next time we meet, I promise." Lowering his voice even further, so nobody could hear him but Piper, Jason said, "I'll tell you why I have to stay the next time we talk." Cupping her face in his hands, Jason kissed her gently, a sweet good-bye kiss.

"I'll miss you."

"I know."

Piper slowly turned around and boarded the Argo II, with silent tears streaming down her face. Jason watched as the ship departed, with all of his friends from Camp Half-Blood, and a few from Camp Jupiter whom had chosen to switch, perhaps for the reason that Jason had wanted to. And with Piper, the prettiest girl Jason had ever knew. He focused on her uneven chocolate brown hair until he could see her no more, and then continued staring after the ship until that too, disappeared.

The crowd gathered in front of the departed Argo II slowly dispersed, everybody returning to their normal duties. Normal. Jason's life would never be normal, he sensed it. Finally turning away, he returned to his cabin. Immediately picking up a drachma, Jason Iris-messaged Piper.

"Piper. Can we talk?" She was alone in her cabin

"Jason!" Piper nodded vigorously. "Yes."

"I promised that I would tell you why I had to stay. Well, you probably didn't notice, but Octavian wanted me to leave so badly. In a few months time, at the Feast of Fortuna, another praetor is going to be elected, and Octavian will to anything to ensure that it is him."

"So if you're there, he won't be elected?" Piper asked dubiously.

"I think so. I've been praetor before, so the members of Camp Jupiter will probably be more willing to elect me rather than Octavian."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with Octavian being elected, isn't there?" Piper obviously didn't believe her own statement, but she said it anyway in a futile attempt to convince Jason to stay.

"It could likely lead to another war. I don't want that, because Octavian was never friendly with you guys. If he takes dictatorship, it'll be chaos. And I'm pretty sure I'd rather not be at your side than have you dead when I could have prevented it." Piper still tried to stay with her argument.

"Reyna can stop that."

"No she can't, Piper. Reyna can't do everything." Jason cut off abruptly, not wanting to say more. Piper didn't know that Reyna blamed him for not saving her sister, and Jason didn't intend to tell her. Besides, Jason had chosen Piper and not Reyna. Overall, Jason didn't like mentioning Reyna. Was that guilt he felt every time? Or was it…something more? Piper sighed, taking Jason out of his thoughts. He could tell that she was defeated.

"Well, I really miss you."

"I know. I do too."

"Leo's calling for me, and it sounds like it's something urgent-talk later, okay?" Jason smiled, and Piper smiled back. "Love you."

"Love you too," Jason replied.

Hours later, as Jason was lying on his bed after another chat with Piper, he remembered the strange feeling he had when Piper asked if Reyna could stop Octavian. It was guilt. It was guilt. Jason kept thinking that phrase over and over, but the more he said it, the more he didn't believe it. It was more than guilt, almost…no. Jason shook that thought from his head. It was compassion and guilt, nothing more. Half-satisfied, he finally fell asleep.

Days passed, lengthening into weeks, then months. Jason and Piper Iris-messaged every day, then every other day after more time passed. Life became as normal as possible for Jason. Reyna was still indifferent to him, Octavian glared at him all day, he trained and hung out with Frank, Hazel, and other good friends. I wish Piper were here. Jason often found himself thinking that thought. I wish I could see her. Actually see her, not through Iris-messaging. Jason's wish, as he will find out very soon, would come true. Yet he always felt that something was missing, like a part of him had been ripped out and hurt every day. This had been the case even when Piper was beside him. In fact, it had started when he had first chosen Piper over Reyna… But there is time, Jason thought as he got up and prepared for breakfast. I have plenty of time to think about that. Besides, I love her so much that it doesn't matter. Or does it? Do I really love Piper as much as I think I do? Jason had been thinking like that lately. Every time, he would forcefully push the thought from his head and move on.

He met Hazel and Frank on his way to breakfast one morning, and felt a pang of envy. They were together and happy. With each other. Joining them, he sat down. Suddenly, a son of Mercury hurtled in.

"Reyna!" He yelled, waving something that looked rather like a flaming scroll in his hand. Jason wondered if the flames hurt. "A message from them!"

R&R please! Tell me what you think... and feel free to rant about Piper anytime.

-Hazel

P.S. If you're part of the STABS Society, tell me who you are and what you think :D