Because We Can

16~ Visiting Hours

something i forgot to address-

remember when in BIC (Because I Care), Annabeth had a hard time telling Percy she loved him? It took her years. where as here, Piper told Jason a little short of a year. there's a reason for that, and i'm getting to it. idk no one mentioned it so i guess it's ok but i just wanted you guys to know what i was going for.

so this chapter... just a warning. some of you guys are going to be upset, i know it -.- but there's literally no drama and i don't want to be a girly-girl and WANT drama but i'm getting a little bored

(also it's like a year after the great war and everything so yeah)

After a lazy lunch at Camp Half Blood, Percy ran into the dinning pavilion with Annabeth. They seemed to be a little shocked as they sat down in front of Leo, Jason, Piper and Nico, who had stopped by just to check in with Chiron.

"Reyna and Octavian," Percy began, out of breath. Annabeth finished for him, "They're coming to Camp."

Leo's eyes bulged as he stood up in a panic. "Hazel?"

Percy smirked. "Yeah, Valdez, Team Leo's coming, too."

~~

Hours before Reyna was said to arrive, Piper excused herself from Jason's side and went looking around for Annabeth. She'd told her worried boyfriend that she couldn't care less about Reyna, and that he wanted to talk to her, it was fine. But it really wasn't fine. Piper was not fine.

Finally, after searching in all the usual places Annabeth usually was, Piper found her in the Athena Cabin talking quietly with Percy. The door was open just a crack, and Piper stood just outside. She always had the urge to eavesdrop.

"I don't know, Beth," Percy was muttering, "It could be a trap. She said she wanted to apologise to Chiron, but it's already been a whole year."

Annabeth didn't say anything for a couple seconds. "Should we be prepared? Reyna seems like an honest person..."

"She also attacked us." Percy's voice had fire in it, fueled by an anger Piper had never seen in him before. "She attacked our home."

"Percy," Annabeth's voice was gentle, "That was Octavian. He's... well, he's a bitch."

He laughed, and Piper left, turning to see a mini van parking just outside the border.

~~

Jason stared up at the mini van on the crest of Half Blood Hill. He could already hear Octavian complaining.

"This was visit was completely unnecessary! And look at the way Frank parked the car... ridiculous! This shrubbery looks poisonous... IT IS A TREAT! WE NEED TO RETREAT IMMEDIATELY! PRAETOR-"

"Octavian," Reyna snapped, and Jason's heart stopped. "You will be civil to Camp Half Blood's members. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Praetor," he grumbled, and Jason watched as Frank and Hazel tumbled out of the van after them.

"Frank! Hazel!" Percy shouted, and ran up the hill with Annabeth to allow them through the borders. He gave them each bear-hugs (pun intended because Frank), completely ignoring Reyna and Octavian.

Jason slowly climbed up the hill, trying to keep his thoughts under control. It wasn't until Piper met him half way up that he even pretended to be lighthearted.

"You okay?" she asked him quietly. Reyna had not seen them yet.

"Yeah," he lied, and threaded his fingers though hers. "Perfect."

She bumped him with her shoulder. "I know that's not true," she whispered, and suddenly they were next to Reyna, and she was glaring at them.

"Hello, Jason," she said, her voice tight and her eyes hard. She offered a sharp nod. "Piper."

Jason was speechless, even though he was expecting it. How could she be so hostile towards him? He'd saved the gods and her camp twice. He'd been her best friend.

Percy, Annabeth, Frank and Hazel stopped catching up to break up the awkward tension next to them.

"Hey guys!" Hazel called awkwardly, and hugged Jason and Piper. "We've missed you guys! You guys..." She laughed nervously.

"Us too," Piper agreed, but was interrupted by Leo bursting into the scene.

"Hazel!" He hugged her so hard, he lifted her off the ground. Frank just stood to the side, giving Leo a pretty nasty look. Leo realized his mistake and muttered, "Oh. Hey, Zhang."

It would be a pretty weird dinner.

~~

Chiron allowed the Seven, Reyna, Octavian and Nico to sit at the same table for dinner, and Piper was thankful Reyna was at the opposite end of the table with Octavian, who grumbled all of his complaints to himself.

"So," Percy started, since it they had been just sitting there eating their food for a good fifteen minutes without saying a word, but his voice trailed off.

"How's Camp Jupiter?" Annabeth questioned, and her and Percy looked at each other like they were sharing a secret.

"It's... prospering," Octavian said, still huddled over his bowl of his own dinner; he'd refused to eat the food, insisting that it was poisoned. Still suspicious, he asked, "Why do you ask?"

Annabeth was stunned. "Uh, no reason-"

"LIAR!" Octavian shouted. "You little-"

"Stop it!" Reyna scolded him, and roughly put him in a headlock. By then, the rest of the camp had began to stare at them. One "it's good" look from Percy, though, and they lost interest.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "It was a mistake coming here. I thought this would mend the camps, but he-" she nodded at Octavian, who squirmed against her arms, "-Just makes everything worse." Piper caught her glance at Jason, but he wasn't even looking at her. Reyna left the table, heading towards the Big House, where they would be staying the night.

"Well," Jason sighed. All eyes were on him. "I guess that didn't work out very well."

Hazel, who had looked extremely uncomfortable until Octavian left, leaned against Frank. "No, it didn't. Do you have any other ideas, Jason?"

Piper was confused. "What do you mean?" she asked, to no one in particular.

He was awfully interested in his shoes.

Everyone except for Frank, Hazel and Jason seemed lost in the conversation.

"He didn't tell you guys," Frank murmured.

But Piper had already figured that part out.

oops.

"Gotta step away from my heart

Fragments of myself I forgot

I'm gonna go where it's dark

Rest my head against the stone."

-Softsides, Alpine

edit: so everyone seems to be confused by the ending so far and i think it's because i didn't say it was a cliffy even though it is... anyways IT WILL BE CONTINUED AND THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHAT PIPER FIGURED OUT.