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Jason had been at Camp Jupiter for about eight years, and the longer he stayed the more he dreamt of his home with his mom and Thalia. He didn’t tell anyone at first, because he didn’t know them and he knew they would just tell him that his time was better spent helping them and learning to fight.
Then Reyna arrived at camp and slowly he began to open up to her. He told her how he still wished that his mom would come get him and take him home so he wouldn’t ever have to fight again. He told her about the few things he remembered about the place he was born and still stubbornly refused to think of as anything other than home.
One night when they were quietly whispering back and forth about their own respective families Reyna asks him, “you know she was a bad mom right?”
Jason paused for a second, because that didn’t make sense, “what?” He asked finally.
“Your mother,” she began, “she was a bad mom.”
“No,” he whispered, trying to come up with the right words to explain how complicated it really was.
“Yes,” Reyna said resolutely “she left you and your sister alone for days, that's not good parenting.”
“She was working”
"She was drunk!” Jason startled at the sudden yelling, “How do you not see how bad she was!”
“She loved me!” He yelled close to crying.
“She left you.” Reyna said quietly and simply and it was that factual calm tone that sent Jason over the edge to the point of silent sobs.
“I don’t understand,” he whispered.
“I know you don't,” she began softly.
“Why did she leave me,” his quiet sobs had escalated to full loud heaving ones now.
“I don’t know,” she said simply.
Then she reached forwards and hugged him, holding him close and letting him sob.
They stayed there until the sun began to rise, invading their little shadowed sanctuary with light, and marking the beginning of a new day.
“I think I need to find something new to dream about.” Jason said looking at the bright streaks of sunlight.
“Yeah,” Reyna said “lets find it together”
And with that they stood and prepared for the day.