Archive of Our Own

Piper jolted awake with a start, eyes frantically scanning the unfamiliar room. Fluorescent lights reflected off the white tile floors and walls, effectively creating a sterile and neutral environment. She looked down and saw a bright blue hospital gown covering her body beneath the blankets of what appeared to be a hospital cot. In a spare chair at the foot of her bed was the slumped over figure of a blonde girl whose curls were messily spread across the mattress.

Piper shifted herself to the top of the bed so as to not disturb the other girl, but the faint rustling of sheets must have awoken her regardless. Stormy grey eyes connected with her own kaleidoscope ones, and a grin spread across the blonde’s face. Her eyes widened with happiness and what looked to be adoration.

“Will,” she croaked out, voice scratchy as if she had been crying for days. A curly-haired blond boy in scrubs and a white coat rushed past the curtain partition, stopping right next to Piper’s bedside.

“Thank the Gods that you’re awake, Piper,” he breathed out as he ran a hand through his hair. He turned to the blonde girl and gave a slight nod of his head towards the curtain. The girl seemed to understand what he was asking but looked hesitant to fulfill his demand, yet she made her exit regardless. She walked to the curtain before stopping, turning around, and making her way over to Piper. She picked up her hand gently and gave it a light squeeze with a smile before exiting.

Will made his way to Piper’s side and began wrapping a sleeve around her bicep. “So, Piper, what’s the last thing you remember? You’ve been out cold for a couple of days.” He placed his stethoscope under the sleeve as he took her blood pressure, the metal cold to the touch of her warm body.

Piper faltered, racking her brain for her last memory. “I was… at the Grand Canyon. For this school field trip. Jason and Leo were there…” Her memory felt foggy, as if it was within arm’s reach but was too slippery for her to grab. “Where are they? Are they okay?”

Will’s cheery expression had begun to darken as she recalled the trip to the Grand Canyon but fell completely at her question. He quickly regained his composure though and busied himself by hanging up his equipment. He mumbled some number to himself before unwrapping the cuff. “Uh, yeah. You can see them soon.” Will’s voice trailed off as he wrote things on the clipboard in his hand before letting out a sigh and hanging it on the end of her bed. “I’m gonna go grab some people; I’ll be right back.”

He quickly rushed out of the room, leaving Piper alone in the blocked-off hospital chamber. Will seemed familiar but she couldn’t place where she knew him from. He looked too young to be any sort of medical professional yet he worked with ease and familiarity. The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was the only noise her brain could focus on as she racked through her mind for details she felt were missing.

In the end, she came up empty-handed, but a few images flashed through her mind with little context. First, she saw Jason, Leo, and herself on what looked like a… dragon? Then, she was sharing a bagel with the blonde girl from earlier on what appeared to be a big boat. She saw Jason hold and kiss her on the roof of a building, sprawled out under the stars. Finally, she saw what appeared to be a ship captain holding a golden spear, a wicked smile written across his face.

None of the images made sense to her and she felt herself tightly gripping the sheets of her bed. The curtain to her room was slowly pulled back and an older man in a wheelchair entered. Piper felt she should know this man, but once again couldn’t remember why or how.

He stopped at the foot of her bed and cleared his throat, eyes filled with sympathy. “Piper, dear, do you recall where you are?” Piper looked around but shook her head at the man. “How about this: who are your parents?”

“Tristan McLean and…” her voice trailed off as the dust began to clear off some forgotten memories. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. “Aphrodite… and you’re Chiron.” The older man nodded his head in confirmation as he folded his hands in his lap.

At the recognition of her parentage came brief bursts of memories. Slowly, pieces started to come back to her in an unorganized manner, most parts still thickly coated in dust. The images she saw made little sense to her, and she knew now that she was at a summer camp of some sort, but nothing more came to mind. “On the bright side, I don’t have to re-explain to you that the Greek gods are real and are producing demigod children. But, Piper, do you remember who that blonde girl from earlier is?”

Piper racked the deepest parts of her brain for information but could find nothing more than that mere image of them sharing a bagel. Tears welled in her eyes and she finally shook her head as she threw up her hands in frustration. Chiron let out a faint sigh, shaking his head lightly. “Patience, child. It will all come back to you soon.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Her voice was hoarse and thick with fear. She didn’t want to live her life trying to piece together this missing portion of her life.

Chiron took one of her hands in his and offered a warm smile. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Now, you have been through a great deal, dear. However, before we discuss that I think it would be beneficial to see some friendly faces. I hope that it might help stir some memories for you in a gentle way and remind you of the last year and a half. Is that okay with you?”

Piper couldn’t believe she was forgetting an entire year and a half of her life besides bits and pieces, but she offered a nod and sat up straight in her bed. The centaur, she now remembered, released her hand and offered a final smile before departing the room. Hushed whispers could be heard on the other side of the curtain but Piper wasn’t able to make out what was being said.

Leo was the first one to come in, still bursting with the same energy as she remembered from the few memories she had. He seemed to be a key piece of the last year, and the sight of him brought warmth to her body. Leo’s presence felt safe— felt like home. He wore the same devious smile as he did in that memory of them on the dragon, and his eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Pipes!” he cheered as he ran to her side, enveloping her in a hug. Piper returned the gesture before pulling back and offering him a smile.

Something felt off about Leo though, however. It was as if he wasn’t supposed to be here. Or as if someone was missing. Oh . “Where’s Jason?” her voice broke as she said his name, an unexplainable sadness filling her chest.

She wasn’t the only one feeling the effects; Leo’s face fell at the mention of the other boy. Piper was beginning to get frustrated as to why everyone reacted that way at the mention of Jason, but despite her best efforts, she couldn’t figure out why. “Jason is at Camp Jupiter. Doing one of his little shrine projects or something,” Leo chuckled, although there was a forced feeling to it.

The two talked for another half hour before Leo excused himself. He managed to retell their journey together with Jason almost a year and a half ago, including why they were on a dragon. As Leo narrated the story there were moments where Piper was able to fill in bits and pieces that came back to her, but nothing outside of that quest made much sense to her. 

The blonde girl was the next one to enter the room after Leo’s departure. She ran to Piper and collapsed into a heap at the side of her bed, sobs echoing through the room. The blonde gripped her hand so tight that Piper thought she would cut off circulation. However, Piper used her free hand to stroke through the blonde’s curls, her body acting of its own accord as if she had done this a million times.

“Chiron says that you don’t remember me.” Her voice dropped off at the end of her sentence, a restrained sob stopping her words. “So… I guess, what do you want to know?” The blonde let out a dry laugh at the end, but Piper could tell it was forced.

Piper scrunched her face in thought before giving the blonde’s hand a squeeze. “Well, a name would be a good place to start,” she laughed in an attempt to make the other girl smile. It was successful, although her smile was still frail and weak.

“Annabeth,” she replied simply. The name sent butterflies into her stomach and heat into her core.

“I remember us sharing a bagel on that… ship? But that’s all I have— I’m sorry. Anything you want to tell me, I’m game.” Piper focused her expression on her lap when she saw Annabeth’s grey eyes fill with tears.

She wiped her eyes quickly before looking up at Piper. “We met not long after you got to camp, and we saved the world together…” Annabeth trailed off and seemed deep in thought on what to say next as if she was picking her words carefully. “You were— sorry I mean are— my best friend… and more.” The last part was so quiet that Piper could barely make out the words.

“And more? But what about Jason?” She was more confused than anything at this point, and when the same sullen expression fell on Annabeth’s face she felt herself panic internally. Piper knew she was attracted to girls, that wasn’t what was confusing her, but as far as she could tell, she was happily with Jason.

Annabeth took a deep breath before redirecting her eyes to Piper. “You guys broke up right after we saved the world. It’s a long story… But then, you and I spent a lot of time together after that. One thing led to another and… yeah. Today is actually our ten-month anniversary,” Annabeth chuckled, but there was still a morose undertone in her words and demeanor.

Piper couldn’t remember any of this, but she felt that it was okay to trust Annabeth. Her next words were choppy and broken, almost as if her heart shattered and the residual pieces spelled out her next question. “I loved you once? I don’t remember…” A tear trailed down her cheek and fell into her hand as her brain struggled to untangle her mess of dusty memories.

That seemed to be Annabeth’s breaking point as well. The girl had been doing a good job keeping her composure, but Piper’s words seemed to send her into a spiral. She pulled her knees to her chest and let out a light sob before standing and excusing herself. Before Piper could even call out to the girl she was gone, leaving her alone once again in the infirmary.

Piper wasn’t sure how much time passed between Annabeth’s departure and Chiron’s return. It could have been minutes, hours, even days. She focused on the curtain in front of her, waiting for Annabeth to return, hug her, and tell her it would be alright. That they would get through this together. But that didn’t happen.

Instead, Chiron made his way back into her room and stopped in the place Annabeth had been. He looked at her with compassion and sympathy, making dread settle in Piper’s stomach. The centaur took a deep breath before beginning to recount all that she had forgotten. The more he explained to her, the more seemed to come back, but Chiron could only supply so much. He wasn’t there on the Argo II or the Acropolis in Athens. He wasn’t there to experience the most tender and intimate moments between her and the others— only able to supply what he saw and heard from other campers.

Her memories began to return— she remembered the other members of the Seven plus Nico and Reyna— but her memories with them were faulty. Those of Leo and Jason were strongest, but still slightly rusty as if she was missing something crucial. She remembered Leo’s death and the loss that came with it, but couldn’t place how he was back. There was no memory of how she found out, and more importantly whether or not she punched him for pulling that kind of stunt.

Chiron’s next words were delicate, and he talked to her as if discussing something important with a child who couldn’t quite grasp what they were being presented. He didn’t do it in a patronizing way, rather one of hesitation and comfort. It was exactly how her father had explained to her that her dog passed away when she was five. Oh no .

Piper’s breath hitched at the thought, and Chiron must have noticed as he reached out to hold her hand in his. “You and Jason fought bravely, my dear, but there was no way for both of you to make it out alive. The Fates destined it that only one of you would survive, and at that moment Jason decided that you would live.” Piper felt a guttural scream claw its way out of her throat, tearing her vocal cords to shreds and leaving her vulnerable. 

The memory of the man with the spear began to expand, playing almost in slow motion in her mind. She watched as Caligula drove the golden spear straight between Jason’s shoulder blades, unable to look away. She thought of the time that Jason said getting stabbed through the back would be the worst way to die. And she watched as Caligula tore his spear from Jason’s body before striking him once more, eliminating any chance of survival.

Another scream tore through her and reverberated off the walls of the infirmary. Her body shook with the influx of emotion, her mix of feelings crashing into her like a tidal wave. First came the grief and sorrow. Even if they weren’t romantically together, Piper considered Jason her platonic soulmate. He was her best friend, and too many things were left unsaid between them. Their time together was cruelly cut short by the Fates, and all Piper wanted was five more minutes with him. Quiet sobs shook her body and filled the room as she curled into herself.

After the grief came the anger. The pure anger at Caligula, the Gods, Apollo, the Fates, and everyone else for letting this happen. Her fists clenched at her sides, body trembling with rage. She grabbed a pillow off her bed and chucked it at the nearby wall, relishing in the slight deflation as it collided with the hard surface. Chiron sat there wordlessly, undoubtedly letting her process her emotions. She knew that Jason made his choice, and he was the one person she was not mad at, but she hated herself for letting him do that to save her.

Finally, came the guilt. Realistically, Piper knew that she couldn’t have prevented what happened and that Jason chose to let her live that day, but the guilt that he was actually dead broke her. The survivor’s guilt lingered over her in every move she made, making her wonder who would have to die next to protect her. Tears streamed freely down her face and she curled up once more into a fetal position on her bed. Slowly, the room started to darken as her body became overwhelmed with exhaustion from processing her emotions, and she allowed herself to fall asleep.

When she awoke, Annabeth was sitting at her bedside once more. A flower crown with small, blue flowers sat in her lap as she mumbled quietly to herself. Piper summoned all her strength to sit up and face the blonde. “They’re forget-me-nots,” Annabeth whispered, and Piper wasn’t sure if she was supposed to even hear it.

“They’re beautiful,” Piper replied, positioning her body to face the other girl. Annabeth’s finger was idly tracing over the pattern of flowers, her grey eyes staying trained on her lap.

Annabeth let out a sigh before tilting her face upwards and connecting her eyes with Piper’s. “They are. We made these together,” she said, seemingly searching Piper’s face for a reaction. Piper combed her brain but her memories with the blonde were still gone. By now, a lot of her memories had returned, but most regarding Annabeth stayed out of reach. 

When Piper offered no sign of recognition, Annabeth sighed again. “We sat in the strawberry fields and wove them. My head laid in your lap and your fingers raked through my hair— you loved doing that. I showed you the basic pattern and we made matching ones. You brought yours back to California when you left, and we got them enchanted with magic from the Demeter cabin to make sure they never die… mostly.” Annabeth raised her fingers from the flowers and Piper noticed the slow wilting of the beautiful flowers.

A gasp passed Piper’s lips before she could contain it, and her arm instinctively reached out to grab the crown. “W-why is it dying?” she whispered as if her voice alone would expedite the decaying process.

Piper watched as a single tear dribbled down Annabeth’s cheek, which she hastily wiped away. “The magic stops them from dying as long as we don’t forget each other, hence the name. I guess since you can’t remember me that the magic is wearing off,” Annabeth said. 

“But I do remember! I remember some things,” Piper exclaimed before reaching over to grasp Annabeth’s hand. “Help me, Annabeth. Help me to remember.” Her pleading caused Annabeth’s grey eyes to fill with warmth and adoration, pupils widening under her gaze. She gave Piper a simple nod before squeezing her hand, leaning in for a hug.

The touch sent sparks through Piper’s body, making all her extremities tingle and fill with warmth. Annabeth’s hair smelled like lemons and her hands were soft. The contact felt familiar as if they had done it a million times before, and Piper could feel herself relax in the other girl’s hold. “Happy belated ten months, Annabeth,” Piper whispered into the other girl’s hair.

Annabeth untangled herself from Piper at the speed of light, pulling back to stare at her with a look of shock. “How did you—”

“You mentioned it,” Piper interrupted, intertwining their hands once more. Annabeth’s face fell slightly at the confession but she quickly masked it with a smile.

“Happy ten months, Piper. And, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I know it can’t be easy, but I’m going to be here as much as you want me to be,” Annabeth whispered like it was sacred scripture. She offered Piper a smile, a genuine one this time, before leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek.

The act sent another wave of emotions through Piper, although this was a more pleasant rush. Her cheek tingled from where Annabeth’s lips were just prior, and she pressed a hand to the spot. She smiled at Annabeth, assuring her that her actions were okay and more than welcome, before clearing her throat. “Thank you, Annabeth. I hope you’re a good storyteller because we’re in this one for the long haul.”

Their laughs bounced off the walls of the infirmary, filling the eerily quiet building with warmth. This was how they spent the afternoon: holding hands as Annabeth told her different stories from as far back as their first encounter. Occasionally, Will came in to check her vitals and run different tests, but they were left alone for the most part.

Annabeth did her best to avoid stories that Jason played a major part in, or ones from their time as a couple together. Piper was thankful for this, not sure that she was quite ready yet for those tales. The wounds were still too fresh and most memories just seemed to rub salt more than anything else.

Leo dropped in a few times as well, listening to stories as well as contributing sometimes. It was nice to be surrounded by the two people she considered her family the most, at least away from her father. Annabeth informed her that it was now August 7th, meaning that Jason’s death was just under a week ago. The burial rites had been performed the night she arrived according to Annabeth, done by an unusually teary-eyed Nico di Angelo.

During one of the times Leo stopped in, they filled her in on what led to her winding up back at Camp Half-Blood. She was able to faintly remember it, although it was still fuzzy at some parts. She remembered kneeling on the beach, body trembling over Jason’s corpse as she stroked his hair and tried to charmspeak him back into the world of the living. Remembered the way she whispered to herself that this was a dream and Jason was actually okay, hidden away in his dorm room studying physics. 

She remembered her father calling for help and ushering her inside. The way that she spewed cruel words at Apollo and blamed him for his death. After hours of sobbing into her father’s chest and a phone call from the hospital saying Jason was gone, the two drove to his school to gather his possessions. She remembered gathering the notebooks and dioramas with Jason’s plans for shrines that she passed on to Apollo, as well as the jacket of his that she stashed in the box with her belongings.

The jacket she picked had been her favorite when they were together, and while it no longer held romantic symbolism it was the last thing she had of his. The last physical item she had to hang onto her best friend. She remembered Apollo showing up to take Jason’s body to Camp Jupiter— and Leo’s heartbroken expression when he realized what had happened.

That was as far as her memory would take her, but Leo said that upon his arrival the emotions became too much and she collapsed. He hauled her onto Festus, promised her father that he would get help, and set off for Camp Half-Blood. Leo had somehow managed to send Annabeth a warning that they were on their way and that something terrible happened, promising to fill her in when they arrived.

Leo and Annabeth rushed Piper to the infirmary as soon as Festus touched the ground, and she was out cold for the last three days. Leo finished the story right as the warning conch sounded for curfew. Will came by to discharge Piper but insisted that if she needed anything she would come and get him or another Apollo camper. Piper promised that she would and left the cabin hand-in-hand with Annabeth.

They crossed the green between the cabins, stopping at the front porch of the Aphrodite cabin. As Piper looked at the building she felt her stomach drop and an intense feeling of dread wash over her. The distress must have been visible on her face because Annabeth leaned in closer to her and squeezed her hand extra tight. “Are you going to be okay?” 

Piper wasn’t sure how to answer. So much changed in her world within the last week that she didn’t know how she was going to be. Piper wasn’t one to make promises she couldn’t keep, so she gave Annabeth’s hand a gentle squeeze before conveying her feelings. Annabeth simply nodded and reminded Piper that if she needed anything she was only two cabins away, then leaned over and gave Piper a kiss goodnight on the cheek.

Piper stood on the porch of her cabin and watched Annabeth’s retreating form, an attempt to delay making her way inside. Once Annabeth disappeared into her own cabin and remained there for a count of ten, Piper braced herself mentally and grabbed the doorknob. She slowly pushed the door open, the silence of the cabin unsettling her further. 

All of her siblings were sitting in their respective bunks, each paying her no attention and doing their own thing. Piper crossed the cabin to her bunk as quickly as possible, the echoing of her footsteps being the only noise. As far as she could remember, the Aphrodite cabin was never this quiet, although she appreciated the silence at this moment. She wanted nothing more than to curl up, fall asleep, and forget the troubles of her life. So that was what she did.

Piper knew that demigods never had normal dreams, but dreams in which their godly parents appeared were abnormal— even for their standards. Yet here she was, sitting in Central Park beside her mother, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Her mother was one of the last people she wanted to see at this moment, so she simply sat quietly and waited for her mother to address her.

“Piper, my dear, I am so glad you’re here,” Aphrodite said softly as she spread her arms open in a gesture that Piper figured meant she wanted a hug. She did not oblige. Aphrodite’s smile faltered for a second before she dropped her arms to her side once more. “I know that you do not wish to see me right now, but we have much to discuss.”

Piper snickered— as if anything her mother was going to say to her at this moment was more important than the things that tore apart her life in the last week. Piper offered her mother an eye roll before crossing her arms over her chest with a huff. “Not interested.”

“You may very well be, once you decide to hear me out that is,” Aphrodite said calmly. “I promise that I am here only to offer you wisdom in your time of need, as well as offer a way to get your memories back as well.” 

Piper’s interest piqued at her mother’s proposal but she was still hesitant. Things never came easy when they came to her mother. “And why should I trust you?”

Now it was the goddess’ turn to chuckle, turning to face her daughter with a sympathetic look on her face. “Because my dear, your problems are rooted in love. And who better to guide you than me?”

“What do you mean they’re rooted in love? Jason just died , Mom! I barely have my memories intact, and any with Annabeth are slipping away.” Piper was beginning to grow more and more frustrated with her mother’s mind games but refused to give in to her.

Aphrodite hesitated before replying, causing Piper’s skepticism to rise even more. “Do you remember the story of what happened to your sister, Silena?”

Piper did know the story. Drew made a point of recounting it on her first day at Camp Half-Blood, and it was then and there that she decided to get rid of the stupid tradition. “She didn’t complete your stupid ‘Rite of Passage’ and she and her boyfriend suffered a tragic fate. What does that have to do with me?”

“My dear, it has everything to do with you. The Rite of Passage isn’t the foolish tradition you believe it is, rather a lesson that all of my children must learn. If they do not, then they are doomed to romantic troubles. Are you beginning to understand where I am going with this, Piper?” The gears were turning in Piper’s head and she wanted nothing more than to make them stop. If her mother was implying what she thought she was, then Piper wasn’t sure how she was going to react.

The goddess must have taken her silence as a no because she began her lecture once again. “You see, Piper, when Silena chose to not complete the Rite of Passage it solidified her fate. That was what Drew was trying to warn you of on your first day at Camp.”

Piper felt anger bubbling up inside her, her fists clenching at her sides. “But I broke up with him! There was no need for him to die,” she cried out. Her mother looked at her with sympathy before reaching over and rubbing her back soothingly.

“Yes, you did break up with him. However, there was still so much platonic love between you two that the Rite was never completed. Then you began to see that Chase girl and the cycle continued once more,” Aphrodite explained.

The anger bubbling in her chest turned to fear. Piper knew her mother wasn’t the scariest Olympian, but at this moment she felt like a trembling child waiting for her mother to reprimand her. Right now, she realized what her mother meant when she told her a year and a half ago that love is so powerful it could bring even the Gods to their knees.

“Love is not something to fear, Piper. But it is something that you need to learn to control— before you let it control you. That is what the Rite is about, not foolishly breaking someone’s heart to further yourself.” Aphrodite’s expression was firm yet loving, her own silent plea for Piper to understand the implications of her words.

Piper felt like there was a frog in her throat, threatening to crawl its way out. “But I don’t want to break Annabeth’s heart,” she blurted out, covering her mouth with her hands instantly after the words slipped past her lips.

Her mother chuckled lightly before clearing her throat. “Do not worry, dear; you may not have to. Your memories with Annabeth are out of reach because of me. Don’t break her heart, rather find a way to come together as a team to rediscover the power and beauty of love. When you do, all of your memories will be restored.”

Piper scrunched her nose, thinking over her mother’s proposition. It seemed too good and too easy, something that was never a good sign when dealing with immortal deities. “What’s the catch? You’re just asking me to fall in love with Annabeth, again?”

“Precisely. And there is no catch. I told you, Piper, you must learn to control love as to not let it control you. You have undergone so much change and loss in the last week that now is the perfect time to carry this out. I hope you will understand, my dear, but I fear for now our time is up. I will be watching over you always, and never forget that I love you very much.” Aphrodite pressed a kiss to her forehead, and with that, she was gone.

Piper woke calmly and basked in the way that the sun filtered through the cabin windows onto her bed. She sat up with a yawn, stretching her arms outwards to work out the kinks in her body. Just as she was about to make an observation about the calmness engulfing her cabin, a hairbrush hit her chest and fell to her lap.

She looked around for the offender, none other than her sister, Drew. Drew stood there fully ready for the day with her signature smirk, staring down Piper. She cleared her throat before picking up the brush in her lap. “Can I… help you?”

“Nope, just figured that you could use something to tame that mess of hair. I know your arrival wasn’t exactly planned so I wasn’t sure what you had. There’s a toothbrush in the bathroom for you, too.” Drew shrugged before turning on her heel and skipping out the door of the cabin.

Piper sat on her bed, her jaw dropped to the floor in shock at her sister’s thoughtfulness. The two started on a bad foot, but since then their relationship took a turn for the better. Piper made a mental note to thank her later, before pushing herself out of bed to get ready for the day.

The routine was familiar and she relied mainly on muscle memories to complete it. She took a shower, embracing the way the steam and hot water felt on her skin. Her fingers scrubbed the shampoo into her scalp in calming circles, paying extra attention to the pressure points on the back of her head. Once she was dried off and dressed, she brushed her teeth and washed her face before heading to the dining pavilion for breakfast.

Her eyes connected with Annabeth’s as she sat at the Aphrodite table, and she offered the blonde a smile. Her nerves still sparked whenever it came to Annabeth, now for more than one reason, but the daughter of Athena’s presence also calmed Piper. She engaged in conversation with her siblings throughout the meal and tried to eat a decently sized portion. Falling back into routine and taking care of herself were two things that would help her move on and find peace.

After a plate of pancakes and a bowl of fruit, Piper excused herself from the table and made her way over to Annabeth. The blonde was sitting on the green, a book in hand and a picnic blanket sprawled underneath her body. Piper stopped her walk to take in the beauty of the girl in front of her. Her breath caught in her throat and she watched as Annabeth’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Are you gonna come over here or are you just going to stand and stare?” Annabeth laughed before blowing a kiss in Piper’s direction.

Piper nearly tripped over her own feet running to sit next to the blonde. Annabeth bookmarked her page before sitting up to better face her, and Piper’s breath was taken away by how the light reflected off Annabeth’s tan skin. It cast her in an ethereal glow, and Piper swore that Annabeth could be mistaken for a child of Apollo at this moment. Her blonde curls were free and bounced with her movement, seemingly soaking in the light of the sun.

Annabeth’s beauty was breathtaking, and Piper found herself unable to form coherent thoughts. “Hi,” she managed to breathe out. Annabeth chuckled at her before replying with her own greeting. Piper continued to stare at the girl in front of her and felt herself getting lost in those grey eyes. My mother’s task might not be so hard if she always looks this breathtaking , she thought. “My mom came to talk to me last night,” Piper blurted out.

A confused look fell across Annabeth’s face but she simply nodded. “What did she say?” This was the question that Piper dreaded, but knew that she would have to answer eventually. Piper recounted the dream to Annabeth, not holding back any details. She bared her heart to the other girl, letting her emotions take the driver’s seat.

Annabeth took all of this in stride, only nodding to show she was listening and contributing when it was necessary or she had a question. By the end of it, she had a smile on her face. “So we just have to fall in love all over again?” When Piper just nodded her head Annabeth’s face broke into a wicked grin. “Sounds easy enough.” 

Annabeth outstretched a hand to the brunette, her confident smirk still on her lips. “I’m Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena and Architect of Olympus. A pleasure to meet you.” Piper stared with wide eyes at the girl in front of her before bursting out into laughter. She clutched her stomach as laughs tore their way out of her throat. Annabeth’s face fell to a playful look and she lightly pushed Piper’s shoulder. “Oh, come on! You have to play along!”

Piper wheezed out a final laugh before sitting up. Taking a deep breath to steady herself she looked at the other girl who still wore a look of feigned hurt. “Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help it though; you are absolutely ridiculous.” Her words were met with a playful slap on the arm from Annabeth and another round of laughter from the both of them. “Fine. I’m Piper McLean, daughter of Aphrodite and Tristan McLean.”

Annabeth mock gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “Tristan McLean? Like, the Tristan McLean? Well, I see where you get your good looks from.” She fanned herself before erupting into another fit of laughter. Piper’s eyes widened at Annabeth’s words and her face contorted into a description that could only be read as gross .

“Oh, I’m going to get you for that one,” Piper shrieked before reaching across the space for the other girl. Annabeth rolled away to avoid her grasp, but her laughter slowed her down greatly. She was making her way to stand and run when Piper grabbed her ankle, effectively sending her flying back down to the blanket. 

Piper crawled and sat on Annabeth’s legs, pinning her to the ground and ruining any chance of escape. Piper slowly trailed her hands up Annabeth’s body, pausing at her stomach. She laid her palms flat on the blonde’s stomach for only a second before she began to wiggle her fingers. Her hands roamed Annabeth’s torso in search of extra sensitive tickle spots, and the blonde thrashed beneath her as laughter roared through her body. 

“Piper! Piper, stop,” Annabeth breathed out in between laughs, her hands making their way to Piper’s side and squeezing. Piper relented in her tickling, deciding she would much rather take in the sight of Annabeth. Her cheeks were flushed red from laughter and her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath once more. Her curls were spread across the blanket in a messy pattern, and her pupils were so dilated that only a thin circle of grey remained.

She decided that she may not remember all of her time with Annabeth yet, but knew that Annabeth never looked more beautiful than she did now. Piper also knew that she really wanted to kiss her. Slowly, she raised her hand to tuck a curl behind Annabeth’s ear before leaning down. Her body took over her movements, automatically tilting her head to the right and closing her eyes. Their lips were mere inches apart when the conch sound echoed throughout camp, sending Piper flying backward in shock.

The two girls sat up and giggled at their reactions, lacing their hands together as they stood. It was time for them to head to their daily activities, so they walked as far as they could together before having to head their own ways. Piper was about to bid Annabeth goodbye before the blonde grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. She swooped down to hurriedly whisper in her ear, “Don’t go to the dining pavilion for lunch. Meet me at the Big House.” Piper wasn’t even given a chance to respond before Annabeth let go and jogged to catch up with her siblings.

Archery was never Piper’s strongest area or most favorite activity, but the newfound dread she had standing at the archery range startled her. She tried to shake it off as nerves, but as she nocked an arrow she felt her hands trembling. Straightening her posture and leveling her arm parallel to the ground, Piper tugged the arrow back and aimed at the target. She took a deep breath before letting herself relax and fire.

Only, as she watched the arrow fly towards the target, it was no longer a target. Rather it was Jason, and she helplessly watched as an arrow pierced right through his heart. “Stop!” she screamed, bow dropping to the ground. She felt her body sink to the grass, felt the way the mud squished beneath her knees. Another scream left her lips and she felt her hands pull at her hair as she mumbled to herself. “No, no, no. This can’t be real.”

She muttered things like this to herself like a mantra, her breathing rapidly picking up in pace. Distantly, she could feel the eyes of her siblings on her, as well as hear the frantic cries to get help, but Piper’s thoughts drowned out her surroundings. Her heart thumped so loudly and quickly that she was sure it was going to burst out of her chest at any given moment. Her mind was flooded with thoughts from her survivor’s guilt, convincing her that she should have died in his place.

Just when Piper thought she was going to drown in the weight of everything, she felt a comforting hand at the small of her back. Someone was whispering in her ear and stroking her hair, but she couldn’t tell who it was or what they were saying. Piper tried to push all of her thoughts down and focus on these new sensations.

Eventually, after a couple of minutes of this repeated behavior, Piper was able to make out messy blonde curls and the scent of lemons. Annabeth . Piper collapsed into the girl’s waiting arms, feeling the dam of her feelings break. As Piper sobbed into Annabeth’s chest, she felt pressure on her lower and middle back. Firm circles were being rubbed in a soothing pattern as reassurances and comforting words were whispered in her ear.

After an unknown amount of time to Piper, she was able to ground herself. She detached herself from the blonde and shakily stood up, hand still clasped in Annabeth’s. Annabeth excused them and walked Piper to the Big House, leading her into the living room and stopping at the couch. They sat there, side by side in comfortable silence before Annabeth broke it. “Do you want to talk about it?”

A shiver went down Piper’s spine as she recollected what happened. She went to open her mouth when Annabeth interrupted. “Before you start, would you think having Chiron and Mr. D here would help? Actually, it is more would you be okay with that? I think it’s important for them to be aware of your situation, and they might be able to help. But there’s no pressure.” Annabeth squeezed her hand, the gesture mixed with her thoughtfulness bringing tears to her eyes. She gave Annabeth a nod of approval, retracting her hand to allow Annabeth to get Chiron and Mr. D.

She sat on the couch, hands clasped in her lap and staring at Seymour for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Annabeth returned and took her place on the couch once more. Chiron remained in wheelchair form whereas Mr. D took the armchair. Nobody spoke, waiting for her to make the first move. She took her time explaining everything, taking breaks when necessary to collect her thoughts or ground herself. Annabeth’s hand never left hers, the comforting grip helping her through it all.

When she was finished, she trained her eyes downward and waited for someone to speak. She expected a witty remark from Mr. D, but the god made no such move. Instead, he offered her a sad smile. “What you’re going through is most likely a form of PTSD, Piper. I think it’s important that you tell Chiron what exactly happened surrounding Jason, so we know how to try and minimize these reactions.” His words were soft, something very out of character from the god she knew. “But, I think it would also be beneficial for you to talk about it with someone, so I’m extending an invitation. Meet with me at least once a week, we can start there, just to talk. You know where to find me when you’re ready; it’s not like I can leave.” The last sentence was punctuated with his signature scowl, but his eyes were still filled with empathy.

With that, the god disappeared from the room, leaving her, Chiron, and Annabeth. Chiron was the next to speak, clearing his throat before beginning. “Piper, I know that it is hard but Mr. D was right. You should inform us of what occurred. We don’t have to do it right now, but I think for now our best bet would be to have you avoid combat-related activities. Does that sound like a good start?” Piper nodded her head and offered her thanks, promising to talk to Chiron before the end of the week about Jason.

Once their conversation was over, Chiron excused himself to his office with a nod and a smile directed her way. Piper and Annabeth sat on the couch in comfortable silence. “Thank you for being there,” Piper whispered. She didn’t face Annabeth, but she needed the blonde to know that she appreciated her actions today.

Out of her peripheral, Piper saw Annabeth flash a smile and felt another squeeze to her hand. “You don’t have to thank me. I just want to be there for you, idiot.” She enveloped Piper in a tight hug, running her hands through Piper’s choppy, chestnut-colored hair. “Now, if you’re still up for it, do you wanna see what I had planned?”

Piper pulled back from the blonde with a curious look, quickly standing off the couch and dragging Annabeth up with her. Annabeth let out a laugh and dragged Piper through the Big House, down the steps of the porch, and all the way to the strawberry fields. There, Piper saw nymphs and dryads rushing around to put the final touches on a picnic they had set up. Piper felt her jaw drop at the sight in front of her.

Right next to the fields was a baby blue blanket with all of her favorite foods spread across it. There was a bouquet of flowers in the middle and a little pink, heart-shaped cake that read ‘ Happy 10 Months ’ in neat cursive. Goblets of sparkling water were filled and placed delicately in the middle, and a box of painting supplies was placed next to the blanket. It was so much yet so thoughtful, and it brought tears to her eyes.

Next to her, Annabeth was fiddling with her hand nervously as she watched Piper for a reaction. Upon seeing the tears in her eyes a look of panic spread across Annabeth’s face, and the blonde began to ramble. “I’m sorry if it’s too much too soon! I just- We had a picnic like this for our first date, minus the cake of course, and I wanted to recreate it with you. If you don’t like it we don’t have to stay! I—“ 

Her rambling was cut off by Piper cupping her cheek, causing her breath to hitch. “It’s not too much; it’s perfect. Thank you, Annabeth.” Piper offered a smile before turning to the picnic in front of them. She intertwined their hands and led them to sit on the blanket, close enough that their knees touched yet far enough that they weren’t constantly elbowing each other. The views at Camp Half-Blood were truly beautiful, and Piper took in the way the strawberry fields glistened under the sunlight.

The two girls sat and enjoyed their lunch, telling each other stories and stupid jokes every now and then. When their main course was complete they went to cut into the cake. Piper stopped Annabeth right before she was about to cut it which elicited a confused expression from the blonde. Before she could react, Piper swiped her index finger through the icing on top of the cake and wiped it across Annabeth’s face, starting with her nose and leading to her cheek. Annabeth squealed at the creamy substance coating her face. Piper laughed at Annabeth’s horrified expression, but that just allowed Annabeth to catch her off guard.

Piper was laughing so hard that she threw her head back— right as Annabeth leaned forward to smear icing across her face. Instead of reaching her nose like she aimed for, Annabeth’s finger started at Piper’s cheek and dragged across her lips. Piper darted her tongue out to lick the remaining icing off Annabeth’s finger, relishing in the second squeal that coaxed out of the blonde. Piper’s laughter doubled at this, and her tongue darted around to lick the icing off her face. 

Thinking she won, Piper turned to the blonde with a triumphant look— something that disappeared when she was met with a slice of cake to the face. Annabeth had cake smashed her, and the blonde now wore a wicked grin as she took in her work with satisfaction. “Oh, Chase, you are in so much trouble!”

Annabeth giggled, but she was on guard now. Piper’s attempt to cake smash her back was futile, and she was only able to succeed after many minutes of rolling and wrestling around. Eventually, Piper found herself straddling Annabeth’s torso, similar to this morning, and stared down at the girl with a cocky grin. Piper began to lean forward, closing her eyes and tilting her head once more. Annabeth replicated her movements, their faces inching closer and closer together. By the time their breaths were intermingling between them, Piper suddenly stopped. She watched as Annabeth opened her eyes to question why Piper paused, but before she could even get a word out there was a piece of cake smashed in her face.

Piper let out a victorious laugh, staring at the blonde below her whose face was now decorated in various shades of pink— both from the cake and her own blush. Annabeth rolled her eyes before pushing Piper gently. “I hate you,” she said with a roll of her eyes, but there was no true malice to her words. 

Satisfied with her work, Piper got up and reclaimed her seat on the blanket. She cut them both slices of cake, for actual eating, while Annabeth cleaned up her face. When she was finished, she scooted closer to Piper and graciously accepted the cake. They ate in silence, just basking in each other’s presence. “I got us out of afternoon activities, by the way,” Annabeth stated casually in between bites.

Piper made a questioning noise as she chewed a mouthful of cake, looking over Annabeth with her head cocked. After swallowing, she took a sip of water before giving her verbal response. “How did you manage that?”

Annabeth shrugged, a sly smile on her face. “Wasn’t that hard. I had some favors to cash in.” She smiled at Piper before nodding her head towards the box of painting supplies. “I thought maybe we could paint together.” Piper’s face lit up at the idea of painting— she wasn’t great but she did enjoy it a lot— which Annabeth probably knew. She nodded furiously in excitement before leaning over and pressing a kiss to Annabeth’s cheek.

“Thank you. For all of this. I’ve loved it.” I love you . The unspoken words rang through her head, but she was too afraid to say them at this moment. Piper knew that Annabeth understood based on the adoring look she received. “Now you’re stuck with me all afternoon,” she teased as she slung an arm around Annabeth’s shoulders, pulling them closer together.

“Oh no, what will I do?” Annabeth feigned disgust before rolling her eyes and tugging Piper closer to her. The two finished their cakes and sat cuddled closely, just enjoying spending time together. Annabeth laid her head in Piper’s lap and let her play with her hair— braiding it, running her hand through it, etc. Piper lightly massaged Annabeth’s scalp, paying special attention to the pressure points and any other areas that seemed extra sensitive. After a couple of minutes there, she moved down to Annabeth’s neck and shoulders. She rubbed the tension out of them and did her best to work out all the knots and kinks.

Annabeth relaxed in her lap, letting out quiet breaths to convey her satisfaction. Eventually, the blonde pushed herself into an upright position and turned to face Piper. “Wanna paint now?” The sun was beginning to set, the consequences of early springtime. Varying shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink streaked across the sky as if they were painted by Van Gogh himself. The loss of light cast shadows onto the strawberry fields, the red berries appearing almost crimson.

The two set up their easels with ease, Piper’s stationed a few inches behind Annabeth. From her seat, the brunette could take in the view of Annabeth sitting in front of the sunset. Absentmindedly, she picked up her brush and started making strokes to portray the image in front of her: Annabeth’s blonde curls turned almost copper under the glow of the sunset, a halo of light surrounding her head, and her skin sparkling as it reflected the pastel colors of the sky.

By the time that Piper realized what she was painting, she already had a rough sketch of the back of Annabeth’s body and the sunset mapped out. A soft hum of satisfaction with her work left her mouth, but when Annabeth turned to see the source of the noise she frantically covered her canvas. “It’s a surprise,” she mumbled, flashing the blonde a smile. Annabeth looked at her quizzically before shrugging and turning back to her own canvas.

The sun had long since set by the time the girls were finished with their projects, but luckily the camp was illuminated enough to allow them to finish their work. Annabeth dragged her brush across the canvas once more before letting out a cheer of, “Ta-da!” A smirk was on her face and she turned to face Piper, canvas cradled in her arms. “On the count of three?” Piper nodded before taking a deep breath.

“One.”

Piper prayed to any God that would listen that Annabeth didn’t hate it.

“Two.”

In the last minute effort,last-minute she added a finishing touch, hoping to use this to convey to Annabeth all the things she was too scared to say.

“Three.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Piper flipped the canvas to face Annabeth and turned her face away, scared of the reaction. Silence. The silence stretched on for what felt like eons before Piper heard a sniffle from the other girl. Turning her face back, Piper saw Annabeth wipe a tear from her eye and blow her nose into a tissue before ghosting her finger along the lines of the painting. Her finger followed the curve of every curl, pausing when she reached a familiar blue flower woven throughout her hair. 

“Piper…” Her voice was light and she sounded out of breath as if this painting knocked all the wind out of her. “It’s beautiful,” she sobbed as another tear rolled down her cheek. Piper figured it was her turn to look at Annabeth’s painting and saw that it was an elaborate-looking house with two figures standing in front of it. Upon closer inspection, the two figures were them .

She couldn’t believe her eyes and physically felt her mouth hanging open. She wasn’t even sure how to respond, but Annabeth spoke again before she could even close her mouth. “When I was thirteen, I listened to the song that the Sirens sang to me. They showed me what I wanted most in life at that time— a fixed family— but that was before I met you. Now, all I want is you, Piper. And to build our dream house.” She chuckled after that last part, but her hand found Piper’s once more.

Their cold hands laid between them, intertwined on the blanket, as they just stared at each other with more adoration and love than humanly possible. The feeling of love was overwhelming and consuming; it could take over your entire being if you were to let it. That is what her mother was warning her about— not being afraid of love and breaking someone’s heart. 

At this moment, Piper knew she would choose Annabeth a million times over again, no matter how many times her memories of the blonde were stolen. If they were able to reform such a deep bond in this short period of time then Piper figured that this was the purest form of love.

After that night, Piper began to feel more at home again at camp. Her impromptu arrival left her feeling like an outcast in those early days, but as she slowly let herself fall back into the routine and move forward she felt safe again. 

Safe .

That was a word she had been struggling with since her arrival. She knew the demigod world was dangerous and led to early deaths for many, but after witnessing the death of her best friend directly after mourning the loss of her other best friend— although he returned she wasn’t aware of that until days before Jason’s death. Safety wasn’t something she was even sure she believed in.

Gradually, though, she began to familiarize herself with the word. She came to reach a point where she wasn’t looking over her shoulder constantly or seeing visions of Jason. Eventually, she felt confident that she was in a place where she could safely return to combat training, although she re-acclimated herself slowly— almost like a child getting in a pool for the first time.

She committed to her weekly meetings with Mr. D, making sure that she went at least once a week but often more if it was a particularly rough patch. 

There was one day where the magical borders were turned off for a couple of hours to let in the rain of a passing thunderstorm. Piper found herself sitting on the porch of the Aphrodite cabin, watching as the rain fell onto the steps and thunder echoed through the sky. 

Knees pulled to her chin, Piper stared at the shapes the lightning made as it pulsed and cracked through the sky. She sat out there for nearly a half-hour before one of her siblings came out and silently took a seat next to her. “I know you miss him, but you can’t sit out here forever, Piper,” the voice, Drew she realized, said. Drew placed a hand on Piper’s bicep, gentle but reassuring.

She let out a sigh, turning to face her sister. “I know. I’ll come in soon.” 

Drew didn’t push any further, rather gave her a nod and a comforting squeeze on her arm. She stood and turned to look down at Piper before speaking once more. “We’re here for you, and we love you. Even if you are a pain in the butt, sometimes.” With that, Drew smiled once more and walked back into the Aphrodite cabin.

Piper remained in her spot for another moment before sighing. A tear slid down her cheek, mingling with the raindrops that had made their home on her face. “I miss you, Jason, and I hope you’re okay.” She forced herself to stand and dragged her feet into the Aphrodite cabin, a smile finding her face when she saw a towel placed on her bunk awaiting her return.

That was the last time that Piper cried over Jason. She missed him like crazy, but she knew that part of the healing process was learning to move on. Learning to allow the space in her heart he had previously occupied to be filled by someone else. Whether that be her siblings, friends, or Annabeth. 

Annabeth .

The blonde had been consistently helpful throughout the entire process. When Piper needed her, she was there but also knew when to allow her space and not press. She continued to avoid openly talking about Jason, but slowly found ways to integrate him into a conversation without upsetting Piper. She offered wisdom, her mother’s gift or so she says, and held her hand when she needed something to ground her to the world.

Annabeth helped her remember things she had forgotten as well as help rediscover herself as a person. According to Mr. D, she was making good progress, and having these consistent positive influences helped her healing process. Annabeth listened to whatever Piper wanted to talk about when she needed an outlet, but there was a firm line between them that they both understood not to cross.

They went on a substantial amount of dates, alternating between the two of them who would plan. Taking things slow was important to Piper, making sure that she had control over her life and her feelings before committing to another person. Annabeth respected and understood this, letting her lead the way when it came to new advances.

However, the most exciting day was when Annabeth got a date approved for the two of them outside of camp borders. According to her, it hadn’t taken much, but Piper took her word with a grain of salt. Piper clutched onto Annabeth’s hand so intensely that she worried circulation would cut off when they exited the camp borders. “It’s okay,” Annabeth breathed into her ear which allowed Piper to relax slightly.

They had nothing special planned for their date, opting to aimlessly wander the streets of Manhattan and see what they could find. That day, they decided that they were just going to act like regular, mortal teenagers for once. Well, that was until Piper woke up to find a credit card with a note from her mom insisting she ‘have fun and buy herself something nice’ on her pillow. She wasn’t going to complain about free money, or her mother showing her love, so she accepted the gift and said a prayer of thanks as she got ready that day. 

The couple strolled through the streets of Manhattan with their hands intertwined and smiles on their faces. Annabeth showed her the significant landmarks and rambled on about the history and architectural design behind each of them. Piper didn’t understand much of what her girlfriend was saying, but she thought moments like this were more authentic than unconditional love— the purest form of love.

They returned that day after a long day of walking and shopping, just in time for the campfire. Sitting huddled together under a blanket in the amphitheater, hands intertwined and roasting marshmallows over the fire, Piper realized that this was her home. That Annabeth was her home . The fire reflected beautifully off Annabeth, similarly to how she looked in the light of a sunset.

Halfway through a song from the Apollo cabin, Piper leaned over to whisper to Annabeth. “Wanna go on a walk with me?” The blonde raised her head from its previous resting place on Piper’s shoulder and nodded with a smile. They stood and made their way through the crowds as stealthily as possible. As they reached the edge of the amphitheater, Piper began to run, dragging Annabeth behind her.

Annabeth let out a laugh at the sudden change of pace and attempted to regain her footing. “Slow down,” she gasped between laughs when she finally stopped stumbling. Piper slowed and allowed the blonde to catch up, although she was never that far behind considering their intertwined hands. Silently, Piper led them to the green of the cabins; this seemed to become their spot over the past weeks.

Piper shrugged the blanket off and laid it on the ground, close to Hestia’s hearth but far enough as to not disturb the goddess. Still holding Annabeth’s hand, Piper reclined back until her back was flat against the ground, only cushioned by their thin blanket. Her right hand was intertwined with Annabeth’s left, and she felt her thumb tracing circles on the back of the blonde’s hand. Together, they laid and stared up at the sky above them.

“If a shooting star was to pass right now, what would you wish for?” Annabeth asked quietly, eyes still trained on the sky.

Piper hummed, wondering what she should say. There were plenty of things that she wanted to redo, the real challenge was deciding which was most important. So, when she came up with her answer it was final. “Nothing.”

Annabeth turned her head to look at Piper, grey eyes meeting Piper’s own. Her eyebrows were scrunched in confusion and her lips pursed as if that wasn’t the answer she was expecting. “Nothing?”

Piper just shook her head, turning her face to look up at the sky. “Nope. If I changed anything, then there is no guarantee that we would wind up here, together, and that isn’t something I’m willing to risk.” Piper knew her declaration was bold, essentially turning down any offer in the name of love. Yet, at that moment she knew that her decision was the right one. 

Annabeth was silent beside her, shocked by the words of the brunette. “The last memory I have with Jason from when we were together was stargazing.” The silence thickened between them, Jason being a subject they tiptoed around, but she needed this to move forward. Both with her own life and with Annabeth. “That’s why I wanted to bring you here. Jason, aid something about writing our own story and getting a fresh start. I want that for us— not necessarily a completely fresh start because gods knows we’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.” The two let out a laugh at the word before Piper spoke again. “Just, I want us to be the ones to dictate our future.”

Piper turned to face Annabeth, her grey eyes wide with shock yet filled with love. “I want that, too,” she mumbled, smiling at the girl lying beside her. 

She wasn’t sure what overcame her at the moment, maybe it was the vulnerability or the removal of guilt from her shoulders, but Piper sat up and pulled Annabeth with her. Before the blonde could ask any questions, Piper cupped her face and leaned close. Just as their lips were about to connect, Piper whispered, “I love you.” It was so quiet that she wasn’t even sure Annabeth heard, but as their lips connected for the first time that Piper could remember she felt herself melt into Annabeth’s touch.

Her body was on fire, starting at her lips and traveling to her fingers and toes. Blood rushed through her body and roared in her ears, effectively cutting off any other stimuli besides Annabeth. Annabeth’s lips were soft and tasted like marshmallows, a lasting effect of their s’mores from earlier. Her hand found its way to the small of Piper’s back effortlessly, the other threading in her chestnut locks.

Piper’s one handheld them upright and the other held Annabeth’s cheek as their lips continued to dance with each other. The heat in her core felt hotter than molten lava, and as Annabeth’s hand in her hair made its way to her scalp she felt a sudden surge of energy. Under Annabeth’s touch, the last of her memories flooded back, searing into her brain and rushing through her body.

Images flashed through her mind of her and Annabeth over the last year and a half, both platonic and romantic. They became so overwhelming that she pulled away quickly, gasping for breath. Annabeth studied her with a concerned expression and reached her hand out. “I remember,” Piper breathed out, watching as Annabeth’s face seemingly glowed at her words. She fell forward into Annabeth with a sob, wrapping her arms tightly around the blonde’s neck. 

Annabeth sobbed with her, relief flooding through both of their veins. She was the first to pull away though, jumping to her feet with a start. “Follow me,” she called down to Piper before racing towards the Athena cabin. Piper scrambled to her feet and followed after, entering the door Annabeth had left open. On the edge of Annabeth’s bed sat the familiar blue crown of forget-me-nots, their previously wilting state restored to full health.

Annabeth beamed at the sight before pulling Piper closer to her and connecting their lips once more. They pulled back for air and rested their foreheads together, just like all those months ago in Sparta. “I love you, too,” Annabeth breathed out, her words ghosting over Piper’s cheek. Piper broke out into a smile and sent a quiet thank you to her mother, hoping she was listening.

Love is the most powerful motivator in the world. It spurs mortals to greatness. Their noblest and bravest acts are done for love.