coda

Percy isn't really sure what he's doing here, but figures it wouldn't hurt to try and mend some bridges before he found new ones to burn. (His mom had suggested it first and Annabeth had immediately agreed.) "I know," he begins, looking up at the enormous golden statue, "that we haven't been on the best of terms, but please, whatever I do to anger you in this lifetime, don't take it out on them. And if not for me, then for Jason and Thalia's sake. Their friends are on this quest too." He sighs, hoping that the sincerity is clear enough and that Zeus will give him a break, just this once.

He's halfway down Temple Hill when someone bumps into him. It's Reyna, he realizes, jogging in place and wearing the most casual attire he's ever seen her in. (Though he supposed he always figured that praetors weren't expected to wear dresses and togas and full battle armor all the time.) "You seem very pensive, Percy. What brings you here this early?"

"I, uh, just had a chat with someone that's not a particular fan of mine. Though he didn't do much talking back."

"Oh?" She's inscrutable and for a moment Percy wonders what it is about him that makes girls want to confuse him.

"I guess you could say turning down an offer of immortality isn't really an ego booster for the gods."

Reyna raises an eyebrow. "I see. You know, my mother might have been more sympathetic to your cause. But I'm glad you're here anyway. I needed an excuse to talk to you alone." Percy can't help feel a little nervous at her comment, even after seeing the way she lit up when she first saw Jason, but Reyna just laughs. "You have nothing to worry about. I just didn't want to give you this in front of everyone."

Percy finally notices the purple bag that Reyna's been holding, takes it when she extends her hand. He opens it, finding assorted shells inside. "Er… thanks?"

"They're all from the Bay Area. You already have enough denarii and weaponry for your journey, but I thought you might like a reminder that you have more than one home to save. And that you owe it to me to come back. That sand dollar is the last thing I have left from Circe's island."

"I'll return it," he says quickly, "I promise. But why not give it to Jason?"

"He's holding onto something else of mine." Reyna turns just the slightest bit red, though Percy's sure that if he pointed it out, she'd find a way to blame it on the sun while making a veiled threat, so he (wisely) keeps quiet.

It takes him a moment before he gets it, can just about hear Annabeth yell, "She's talking about her heart, Seaweed Brain!" in his head. "Oh," Percy says. "Well, then I also vow to give him a good slap if he even so much looks at a siren the wrong way."

Reyna lowers her eyes before finally whispering, "It's not monsters I'm worried about."

"I know. You can still count on me anyway. Though I'll hold you to defending the entire Western Hemisphere to the best of your abilities while we're gone."

She gives him a wide smile. "Spoken like a true Roman. You really are full of surprises, Percy Jackson. I think there's hope for you yet."

Walking back towards camp in their orange and purple shirts, he doesn't care whether or not they look like praetors. They're united and that's one more battle they've won against Gaia.

Annabeth takes a single deep breath and raises her hand, ready to knock when the door flings violently open. "Oh," she says, "I thought this villa was Reyna's."

"It is." Jason steps out and closes the door quickly behind him, and it is only then that she notices his disheveled appearance, from the wrinkled Camp Jupiter shirt to the bags under his eyes. "We stayed up pretty late talking strategy, because there is no way Octavian won't try to use our departure again as a bargaining chip for power, but Reyna refused to skip her morning run. Says it clears her head. You can wait at my—at the other villa- until she returns." Annabeth is shrewd enough to recognize that the offer is made not only as a courteous gesture, but as an act of protectiveness. She can only guess as to who it's meant to benefit more - his new friends or his old.

His room is neat and tidy - so very different from Cabin Three - and the walls are filled with memorabilia left behind by former praetors. Jason offers her the chair, smiles when he catches her looking at the few open books on his desk. (He's been so serious since they arrived, and she wonders if this is what he was like before he lost his memory.) "Reyna's not as bad as the others make her out to be, you know. She even kept everything in here just the way I left it. But enough talk about her. How's Percy doing?"

"As fine as he can be given the whole situation. It also helped that we were able to get in touch with his parents, and I know he's glad to see Tyson and Grover and be among our other friends again." When Annabeth hears nothing but silence, she looks up and sees Jason sitting on the corner of his bed, as if he's uncomfortable in what should be his domain. "Percy wouldn't - he doesn't- your position is safe. Just tell us what we need to do to give it back to you."

Jason shakes his head. "I wish it were that simple. Even with Reyna defending me, Octavian's already convinced half the camp that I abandoned them and that I've turned traitor. And you heard them at the Senate House - at this point, I'm not even sure a personal appearance by my father would help my cause."

Annabeth moves from her seat to place a hand on Jason's shoulder. "For what it's worth, you have us, you know. Just say the word and Camp Half-Blood will rally at your side. I'm sure that even that poor excuse for a Roman equivalent of Rachel Elizabeth Dare will tremble at the sight of so many Greeks tearing apart his teddy bears."

"Thanks," he says. "Oh, and Annabeth?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck. Reyna just came back."

Reyna isn't surprised to see this girl on her doorstep, not after all she's heard about her from Percy. She hopes, though, that it doesn't become a trend, this dropping in of uninvited guests. She can just imagine the son of Vulcan sprawled in her chair, exaggerating his valiant attempts to protect his beloved war ship while Piper used her Charmspeaking abilities to convince everyone to listen. He even tried it yesterday night in the mess hall, had turned to Hazel and said, "You ever see Home Alone? Yeah, it was like that, except with empousai," failing to notice that the poor girl had absolutely no idea what he meant. Reyna, meanwhile, had struggled to keep her mouth shut during the ordeal. One simply did not put monsters and the Wet Bandits in remotely the same category. (She can't help it; even if Jason always teased that he'd ditch her in New York City just because she wasn't a particular fan of pigeons, the sequel is her favorite.)

It's only when Annabeth politely coughs that Reyna snaps back to attention. "Come in," she finally says, as serious as can be.

"Reyna, I hope you know how sorry Percy and I—"

She waves her hand, stopping Annabeth mid-sentence. "Percy must have told you that I no longer have reason to hold a grudge, though you might want to stay clear of Hylla for the time being. You're leaving in a few hours. I know just as well as you do that we're not here to talk about what happened years ago at the spa."

"Hazel wasn't kidding when she said you were sharp." The other girl folds her hands together. "Reyna, I really came to here to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"For helping Percy complete his quest."

She's been so used to defending herself against criticism for the past few months that it takes her a moment to think of a reasonable response. "It was my duty to protect the camp, and improving Percy's chances of coming back was part of it. A living demigod, you'd agree, is in most cases a much better ally than a dead one."

"Yes, but you didn't have to support him as praetor, let alone trust him. But you did, even though you knew we had ruined your life on Circe's island and he could have been the reason Jason went missing. On top of that, you couldn't say anything to anyone about it. I can't imagine how scared and brave you must have been to bear that burden alone."

"I –"

It's Annabeth that cuts her off this time. "Say what you want about strategy or loyalty or responsibility to your legion. I know a hero when I see one, Greek or Roman."

Hearing this feels so different from Hylla's sisterly praise. This is a girl who doesn't know her, who has only ever seen her when she's at her worst, stressed and arguing with Octavian in front of the Senate to defend a ragtag group of Greeks. (It makes her feel that much more important.)

"Wait right there," she says. Reyna opens her trunk, reaches for a carefully wrapped bundle hidden in the corner. "I wasn't expecting to let go of this, but I think you should take this with you."

"What is it?"

"A good luck charm blessed by Bellona, for when you go to Rome." There's an olive branch tucked inside, one sent down to her by her mother when she had finally passed through Camp Jupiter's gates, a reminder of victory. Annabeth accepts it graciously and Reyna thinks there might not be anyone but a daughter of Minerva that she'd trust with it more.

Jason boards the Argo II, turns around to stare at the place he once so easily considered home. (Being back confuses him, because there's Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood and he feels so much a part of both.) He reaches into his pocket to feel the paper there, a note that Reyna had pressed into his hands when they had kissed goodbye. He doesn't need to read it, has long memorized the words. Better than everything in the sky…

"As surprising as it sounds," Percy says, walking up behind him, "I can honestly say that just knowing a place like this exists almost makes me want to thank Hera for what she did. Though I'd still like another chance to give her a piece of my mind. You feel the same?"

"Juno's my patroness, you know, so I can't say anything negative," he carefully replies.

"Well, I suppose it's easier not to hold a grudge when you didn't have to carry her across a river." Percy laughs and Jason has to admit that he's annoyed. At least one of them has to be serious, especially when there are lives on the line and so much at stake. Still, Jason finds he can't stay mad around the other boy for long, not with his ability to put others at ease. He stands there in quiet reflection, observing the hustle and bustle as the others make their final preparations, until Percy breaks the silence. "It's yours, you know."

"The praetorship? I already told you and Annabeth, it's not—"

"No, this ship, this crew, this team. It doesn't matter what the Senate says – it's yours. You're the one to lead us."

"…You sound like you're bowing out."

Percy looks at him and Jason suddenly feels so young, like there are things he doesn't know but should. "Sometimes it's best to take yourself out of the equation… You might want to talk to Thalia about it." Jason has a suspicious feeling that this sudden concession has to do with Annabeth, and is just about to ask Percy to explain about his sister when Leo yells that it's time to leave.

"Ready, Captain?" Percy asks.

Jason nods, fully aware that the others are looking to him for direction. "As I'll ever be." He moves to take his post, taking what last look at what he's leaving behind and reminding himself why he's doing so. He takes a deep breath and turns to the troops. "Leo! Full speed ahead!"

They soar.