Things We Lost In The Fire (Sequel)

Jane Valdez

Listen to the song while reading this. 😃

"Leo! Put me down!" Jane laughed loudly.

"Admit it!" Leo cried, his hands firmly around her waist.

"Fine! Leo Valdez is the hottest guy at either camp, and is forever taken by Jane Volturi!" she yelled in defeat. Leo set her gently on her feet.

"Damn right," he grinned. She laughed and kissed his nose.

"Don't expect an encore, Valdez." Jane said sassily. "'Cause we all know how easy it would be for me to kick your ass." The fire-user grinned crookedly.

"Yes ma'am. I won't forget." Jane pulled him in for a kiss.

"I know you will, my blood-singer."

Jane forged ahead, determined to find the love of her thousand-year life. The boy who pulled her back from the edge multiple times. The one who had bravely―yet still idiotically―threatened Caius when he had struck her.

'Leo is mine. I am his. Anything else is unbearable.' She thought as she fought her way through a patch of carnivorous green weeds.

Being human again had its consequences—such as lacking her previous super-human strength. But she also didn't need blood anymore, a plus.

"Jane?" a voice asked in a barely more than a whisper. She turned to look at the speaker. His eyes and hair were dark, his face unnaturally pale and beautiful. Alec, her beloved brother. Jane nodded wordlessly.

"Your eyes," he murmured, surprised and elated. "They're green. Like you're human again." She nodded again.

Alec stepped forward and hugged her, nuzzling his face into her blonde hair. "I've missed you," he whispered. Jane pulled back to look him in the face.

"As I've missed you. But where is he―Leo?" Alec pointed to the beach.

"He spends a lot of time there. He really misses you, Jane. Please make him happy again." Jane kissed her brother's cheek before darting off to the beach.

There, at the waters' edge, was Leo Valdez.

Jane approached slowly, blushing madly as she realized what she was wearing for the first time. Her hair hung loose, her dark green eyes wide and innocent. She was dressed in a simple red Greek chiton, her feet bare.

"I missed you," she said to his back, her voice cracking with restrained emotion. The effect was immediate. Leo whirled around, his brown eyes hopeful and sad.

"Janie," he breathed. Jane placed her hands on her hips.

"Well, that's nice. I come back from the dead, and all I get is that stupid nickna—" She was cut off as his lips were placed firmly on hers. "That's more like it," she giggled.

Leo looked down on her. "Do you really hate that nickname?" he asked jokingly. Jane laughed and shook her head.

"No, it's special. You gave it to me, after all." she replied softly. Leo swallowed nervously. "There's something I have to ask you. I promised myself I would if you ever came back to me." Jane cocked her head to the side, confused.

"Leo, what on Earth are you talking about?"

He got down on one knee and pulled something out of his tool belt. "Jane, when I'm with you, I'm truly happy. I don't have to fake a smile or force a laugh when I'm with you. So, Jane Volturi, will you please marry me?" Jane's hands covered her mouth as he spoke.

Now she forced them down, over her re-beating heart. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes," she said louder. "I'll marry you, Leo."

The son of Hephaestus slipped the ring on her finger. "'I may be only a mechanic, but you're a queen.'" she read. The ring itself was made of braided silver, the gemstone made of a chunk of ruby.

"It's beautiful, Leo." Jane murmured. "Just like you," he mumbled right before he kissed her again.

"Wait. Jane, sing for me?" he pleaded, a sly look in his eyes. The blonde sighed hugely. "Fine. Um......oh, I got it.

Diamond rings and old bar stools.

One's for queens and one's for fools.

One's the future and one's the past.

One's forever and one won't last."

Jane knew the song well. It was the song they had danced to at the Snow Ball.

"I finally have you again." He sighed in relief.

"Now that you have me, what will you do  with me?" Jane asked, truly curious.

"Put you somewhere you will stay out of trouble." Leo muttered. Jane put her hands on either side of his face.

"Leo, listen to me. I'm never leaving you again." she said firmly. But Leo's eyes still held fear.

"Promise?" he whispered. Jane nodded.

"I swear it on the River Styx." she vowed. And she meant it.

This chapter made me happy. I added one memory that I forgot last time, so that's kind of a bonus.

Later, Cupcakes. 🍧