The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

VII: Jason is Nico's dad now?

Jason's PoV:

Bad news is countered with being thought of as a dad? Sure.

It was the 26th of January, the day after Jason and Leo's prank on Elara had proved a success, and he was in the Big House because Chiron had summoned them all. By all, he means himself (duh), Leo, Elara, Piper and Annabeth.

"What's up?" Elara asked as the old centaur entered the room with glasses of lemonade for the five.

"You need to go back to school. And, before you start complaining- " They were totally going to start complaining. Why would they not? It's school for God's sake!

They're out here trying to save the world and Chiron decided that they need to go to school?! No! Absolutely not! Jason will suffer with little to no memories there!

Although, he had received another memory when he was hanging out with Nico the day previous:

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Jason was running through some streets with snow falling and all around them as though they were in a snow-globe as the scent of cinnamon, hot chocolate and nutmeg filled his nostrils. It was the perfect Christmas scene.

He was running after a girl with cinnamon brown hair decorated with snowflakes, curling out from underneath her warm red hat. She was wrapped up in an autumn red coat which complimented her rich skin beautifully.

He couldn't see her face just then, but from her height, he would guess that she was a couple of years younger than him. The two were laughing as they passed shop after shop selling an all manner of things: toys, books, weapons, clothes and coffee.

He was certain that it was nearing Christmas time, and -he didn't know how he knew- but Jason was positive that this was the girl's first Christmas in New Rome.

They came up to a neatly bricked café which looked cosy, warm and inviting with its glowing yellow lights and steams from coffee coming up out of behind the counter.

When they entered with a small bell jingling, he took notice of that same girl -the one who'd been holding a sword to his throat in one of his previous memories- sat by a dark green and milky white striped wall.

The girl he had previously been chasing through the streets made a beeline for the table the other was sat at (Reyna, her name was). That was when he saw her face: she had amber eyes.

"Hello!" She greeted Reyna cheerfully, taking off her coat to reveal a purple and white checkered shirt.

"Hi, Haze, Jace." The other girl responded and gave them both warm smiles. It was a lovely scene.

"Happy for a day off?" He wondered, sitting down next to the girl with curly hair (Hazel? Would that be her name?).

"Yes!" Reyna answered automatically as though it were obvious, causing him and Hazel to laugh.

A waiter came over with a tray of goodies as Jason was taking of his navy-blue coat. A pian au chocolate and mug of chai latte was placed in front of Reyna, a cinnamon roll and hot chocolate for Hazel, a fruit cake and strong coffee for Jason and a croissant and espresso was placed in the remaining space. Odd.

Clearly, he didn't think that was strange at all at the time. "How did you know?" He wondered, excitedly eating a forkful of fruit cake.

"I've known you long enough." Reyna grinned proudly.

The door opened again with the soft sound of a bell ringing, and there, walking towards them was Nico Di Angelo.

"Neeks!" He called and gave the boy's arm a small squeeze as he came to sit down in the vacant space.