Thalia's POV

Reyna was no where to be found. I wasn't sure if maybe she'd already gone back to New Rome without saying good bye first but I figured she wasn't the type of person to do something like that.

I'd found out that after dinner tonight I'd be leaving with the others again. I'd already told everyone but her. Then again I was able to find everyone but her. Part of me was tired of this cat and mouse game we'd had going on. Part of me said fuck it, let her go, but the other part of me was clinging to the hope she'd come back from wherever she was.

So I decided to busy myself with something. I wasn't sure what I was doing but I found myself in the forges. I'd been here numerous times before, mainly to craft arrows which I was sick and tired of doing after having to make dozens of them for the war.

However I had to give the Hephaestus kids some credit. There was something calming about being in the forges. The warmth was somewhat comforting and the sound of hammers and sizzling of metal and grease was something therapeutic.

I guess that was probably why Hephaestus always spent his time in the forges rather than Olympus. Must have been more tolerable talking to the things you make rather than your own chaotic family.

Yet I wasn't the only one in the forges. Through the heat that clouded the room with waves of exothermic energy I could see Malcolm and Nyssa talking away.

"Yeah my cabin and I are starting to repair the throne room. We're running the designs by my mom." Malcolm said with a shrug. "But we need someone to help re make the thrones and I figured you and Leo were probably be the best option for that."

"Thanks! Yeah it'd be cool to do." Nyssa nodded pulling her hair back in a bandana as always. "Also there's something I wanted to ask you in return."

"Well I'm listening so shoot," Malcolm shrugged.

"Wanna go out sometime? Like on a date?" Nyssa asked casually. I tried not to laugh at the dumbfounded look that flashed across Malcolm's face.

"Uh huh, I mean yeah, yeah totally!" Malcolm nodded. Nyssa smiled and kissed him quickly on the cheek.

"Cool now get out I have work to do." She ordered.

"Right." Malcolm nodded and ran off smiling like an idiot.

"So that's how you get a date." I joked. Nyssa looked up in surprise then smiled.

"I've wanted to ask him for a while but he gets so stressed sometimes it's like he literally doesn't hear anything." Nyssa sighed.

"Tell me about it. Annabeth gets like that too. One time I told her that Percy was on fire and she just nodded." Nyssa laughed along with me at that.

"So what are you here for? Making more arrows?" She teased.

"Oh Gods no." I shook my head. "Nah I'm bored and I had an idea is all."

"Well don't let me stop you from doing whatever it is you want." Nyssa said. "Besides I have my own work to do."

"Right. Well I'll just scram." I said walking off to the farthest work station away from hers not wanting to distract her.

After a moment of thought I set to work. I found the right metal which was an interesting type of bronze. It wasn't exactly pure, it was swirled together with iron, making a collage of different colors.

Heating it wasn't hard I'd worked with bronze plenty of times before. Selecting the mold for the weapon and casting it wasn't difficult either. It was almost like I'd been working in the forge my entire life.

"Oh what are ya working on?" Leo asked sitting on the work table.

"Stuff." I said simply shoving him off. He rolled his eyes and hopped back up.

"Yeah but what kind of stuff?" He asked.

"Why do you need to know?" I asked glaring at him.

"Cause this is my forge." He said puffing out his chest.

"Well guess what? I don't care." He rolled his eyes and hopped off. "Go bug your sister."

"Now why would I do that?" He asked.

"Because she just landed a date with Malcolm." Leo gasped and squeaked like a little girl.

"Nyssa you have a boyfriend?" He asked running off. Laughing at my own creativeness I set back to work. The weapon was finished for the most part, but now came the hard stuff. The detail work.

Carving into the soft metal was a delicate process. If you messed up you were most likely not going to be able to fix it. So for once I kept a steady hand and concentrated as much as I possibly could.

After what was probably around two hours of work the entire thing was done. Smiling I took a step back and observed my work. It looked great. I placed it with the other weapons to cool and harden. I'd come back for it later.

As I walked back outside Nyssa gave me a look that was pleading with me to make Leo shut up. Smiling I just shrugged and left her to deal with her obnoxious brother.

Squinting from the light that belonged to the outside world I of course bumped into someone. And who else should it be other than Reyna.

"I swear you need glasses more than your brother." She said steadying me so I wouldn't fall.

"Maybe." I shrugged. "Where have you been I was looking everywhere for you. I was gonna tell you that I was leaving after dinner."

"I was busy." Reyna said simply. "Why are you all covered in soot?"

"I was busy too." I said glancing at my hands which were almost as bad as Leo's.

"Yeah okay." She nodded scanning me up and down for a moment. "Look I'll see you after dinner okay? Frank said he needed me for something and I gotta go."

"Oh." I couldn't help the drop in my tone of voice. "Yeah okay. Don't let me get in the way."

Reyna smiled thinly for a moment before running off. Sighing I kicked the ground and groaned. "What is wrong with me?"

"Nothing but you need a haircut." Artemis said wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "And if you're mad feel free to talk about it while I take care of that mess you call hair."

"You've been waiting to do this forever haven't you?" I asked.

"Yes. Yes I have. It's bugging me." She said with a shrug.

"Alright start snipping." I sighed sitting down right then and there on the grass.

"Oh don't be so mad. It'll make you look nicer." Artemis smiled.

"And why would I want that?" I asked.

"I don't know you tell me." She said. Rolling my eyes I sat still while she snipped away. It really was nice to be free of my long hair that never seemed to stay out of my face.  Soon enough it was back to my old length. "There. All done."

"Thanks." I smiled running a hand through it. "It feels nice."

"So what was all that grumbling for?" Artemis asked fixing it so it wasn't as wild.

"Uh no reason." I shrugged. But there was one. I no longer had an excuse for Reyna to tie my hair back or run her fingers through it.

"Now go shower or something you smell." Artemis said her nose wrinkling up slightly.

"Wow thanks. Parent of the year award goes to you." I laughed.

"Well daughter of the year award most certainly goes to you." She said not minding my sarcasm by countering it with something sweet and sincere.

"Thanks." I smiled and ran off to shower because in all honesty I probably did smell.

After scrubbing and trying my best to get every bit of dirt off of me I gave up and decided it was good enough. Dressing I headed back out to see that it was sadly enough very close to dinner time.

"Awe crap." Mumbling I walked back off to the forge and retrieved what I had made earlier collapsing it and putting it in my pocket for later. Well, if everything worked out that was.

By the time I had gotten what I needed the horn sounded signaling dinner. My heart sank a bit though as I noticed Reyna was yet again no where to be found.

Sitting down at my table I didn't bother participating in the boisterous and happy conversation because all I could think about was the fact that I'd put time and energy into something that I probably wouldn't even be able to give to her.

"Don't look so glum." Zoë said sitting next to me.

"Sorry I can't help it just not in a good mood is all." I said smiling slightly.

"I see you finally got a haircut." Zoë pointed out.

"Yeah." I laughed lightly.

"Well it looks nice." Zoë smiled making small talk. But I could see even she didn't want to leave and it occurred to me she wasn't to keen on leaving her sister.

The rest of dinner the two of us ate in silence a stark contrast from the attitudes of the others. Once finished I stood to leave when something rooted me to the spot. It felt like I'd been hit by a truck.

"Holy shit." I almost didn't recognize her. She'd arrived later than the others but I understood why. Her previously long hair was now just below chin length. It was like seeing a totally different person but god was she hot.

Zoë grabbed my arm and pulled me back down in my seat saving me from further embarrassment. I must have had a pretty stupid look on my face because she smacked me hard.

"Ow!" I winced holding my cheek.

"Sorry." Zoë said. "But you gotta keep it together. Honestly don't make a fool of yourself."

"Right yeah." I nodded. "But did you see her?!"

"Yes I did." Zoë laughed.

"Just making sure." I said and turned back to what I was eating but my leg bounced up and down at a spastic pace. I glanced up every now and then to make sure Reyna really was sitting at the opposite end of the table and I wasn't hallucinating. I mean she was always pretty with her long hair and it made me kind of sad that she'd cut it off but for some reason the sudden change had made me realize something.

Reyna was the type of person who looked good in literally everything, shorthair or long hair, she was a fucking princess. If time could have slowed down it certainly did and I found myself waiting anxiously for everyone to finish whatever it was they were eating and to just leave.

"You're staring." Zoë mumbled slightly amused.

"I can't help it." I growled earning a muffled laugh from her.

"Tell you what, I'll help clear out the pavilion." Zoë grinned.

"And how are you gonna do that?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Easy." Zoë smiled and stood up. I instantly regretted the decision to let her do whatever it was she was about to do. "I have been informed by a little bird...Leo...that he's requested a good old dunking in the lake."

Everyone immediately paused what they were doing and stared at Zoë excitedly. For a few horrible seconds I thought she was about to say my name. Instead she said two others. "As it turns out Nyssa and Malcolm have a little thing going on. And I figured since it's our last day here why not have a little fun."

"No!" Malcolm whined while everyone else cheered. Dinner was completely forgotten as the two campers were picked up by the crowd of excited friends and family. They were marched off to the lake where they would inevitably be thrown in.

"So that's what that is like." Reyna said her eyes wide with horror as we were left the last two in the pavilion.

"Yep. Scary isn't it?" I asked standing up.

"More like terrifying." She muttered.

"That too. So uh...I kind of have to go." I said. Reyna pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded. "But I kind of made something for you as a thank you."

"You didn't have to-" I held up my hand cutting her off. I pulled the cylinder out of my pocket the bronze was unscathed and glistening. I tossed it to her which she caught with ease.

She examined it turning it over in her hands. Standing she carefully pressed the small button and it expanded into a long sturdy spear. Her eyes lit up with surprise and a spark of happiness that made me smile.

"Go on test it out." I said.

"I'm not done looking at it." She said giving me a playful glare. She studied the engravings with a careful eye. "I thought you couldn't draw."

"Surprise. I guess I can if I actually try." I smiled.

"Is that us falling off the train?" She asked laughing.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Oh look it's you." Reyna smiled. "I love how you made yourself more attractive than me."

"I did not!" I said.

"I'm kidding." Reyna laughed and spun it around a bit. "It's perfect. Thank you."

"No problem it was the least I could do." I paused for a moment before blurting something out I didn't mean to. "Why did you cut your hair?"

Reyna glanced up at me a bit amused. "Well most of it was pretty much dead ends since it's been forever since I had a haircut. And it was also pretty damaged from all the fighting and such."

"Makes sense." I nodded.

"Also because I figured you'd notice it." Reyna smiled lightly.

"Well I did. So you're welcome." I laughed.

Reyna rolled her eyes and picked something up from under the table and threw it at me. I was a bit surprised but managed to catch it.

"No way." I smiled. She'd thrown a brand new leather jacket at me. "Where'd you get this?"

"I snuck out to a mall and bought it." Reyna shrugged. "Sort of."

"What do you mean sort of?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"I left what money I had but I pretty much stole it." She smiled cutely. "Anyways I told you when this all started I'd get you a new one and never followed through on the promise so there you go."

"Well thanks it's pretty cool." I smiled slipping it on. Reyna nodded but a sort of sad look came over her. A moment of silence passed between us,

"Guess this is it then." I said walking over and extending my hand. Reyna took it and gave a firm shake.

"Thanks for helping me get my sister back. Even if it wasn't part of the original plan." She smiled.

"Anytime. And thanks for looking out for me even if you couldn't keep the promise and thanks for helping." Reyna nodded looking down at the ground.

"We'll still talk right?" She asked still holding my hand.

"Of course. Blood pact remember?" I asked tilting her chin up so she'd look at me.

I wasn't prepared to see the extent of her sadness. People say eyes are the gateway to the soul and they must have been right because in her eyes I saw a million different things.

She was sad, the color of those beautiful little doorways darkened, like the light was slowly fading from them. Tears pooled at the edges of her eyes ready to spill down that perfectly sculpted face of hers. She would never say it not to me, and I'd never have noticed it if I hadn't looked into those beautiful eyes of hers, that she really didn't want me to go.

My hand shifted to her cheek and she subtly leaned into the touch, hesitantly, a little scared.

"You don't want me to go do you?" I asked quietly.

"What would make you think that?" She asked resting her hand over mine.

"Just a little intuition is all." I smiled slightly. She laughed lightly and rolled her eyes pulling my hand away from her cheek.

"Well that intuition would be right." She said taking a step backwards. She wiped her eyes quickly before any tears could fall.

"What's your intuition say?" I asked.

"Just that what's happening is inevitable." Reyna said sadly.

"Is that your intuition or is that you?" I asked titling my head slightly.

"Does it matter?" She asked smiling and running a hand through her hair.

"Yes." I nodded. "Because if you're referring to me then you'd be right."

"What do you mean?" Reyna asked. Taking a step towards her I rested a hand on her cheek. Her breath hitched in her throat and for a moment I hesitated. I doubted what I was doing because in reality I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing, I wasn't thinking. But maybe that was the key.

"Fuck it." And with that I kissed her. She hesitated in surprise before kissing back her arms wrapping around me lightly. Her lips were surprisingly sweet and soft everything you wouldn't expect.

Reyna pulled back sucking in a sharp breath and I noticed tears running down her cheeks that she was trying desperately to hide.

"Why are you crying?" I asked wiping them away.

"I just..." She shook her head and smiled brightly. "I thought...I thought that I was stuck loving somebody all over again who was never going to return the feelings I felt. I mean your heart and Páthos-"

She stopped talking only to kiss me again as if I were suddenly going to disappear. She pulled back again her face practically glowing and the sadness in her expression had been replaced with raw and tender excitement and love.

"I can't explain it." I said smiling. "It felt right to kiss you and the thought of making you sad-Reyna I guess I just realized I needed to stop thinking. Because I thought that everything was over that I was back at square one but I'm not I don't know how."

"I thought so to." Reyna looked down holding my hands in hers. "Like I said I thought...I thought you were only ever going to see me as a friend that you wouldn't care about me but how-? I mean you saw him break it you felt it."

"I'm going to put it as simply as I possibly can." I said pecking her on the lips. "All I can think of is that you stole my heart before he could ever break it and I was too oblivious to realize it."

"You poetic little shit." Reyna said pulling me into a tight hug.

"I'm serious. I-the last few weeks it hurt to think that you were avoiding me. I thought it was something I'd done." I mumbled.

"Sorry. I was just trying to distance myself to make it less painful." Reyna said.

"Well I won't hold it against you but I'm going to have to have a rain check on leaving." Reyna looked at me with surprise. "That is if you're staying I'll head back to New Rome with you."

"You should ask for permission first." Reyna and I both turned and it would have been comical from anyone watching.

"Sorry Artemis I-"
The goddess held up a hand and smiled resting her other hand on her hip.

"Don't worry about it. Honestly it took you way to long to just kiss her." Artemis mused.

I felt my cheeks heat up with an uncomfortable blush. "I mean I uh-surprise?"

"Wow way to play it cool." Reyna said rolling her eyes.

And that's how it happened. That's how the Praetor of New Rome would become my girlfriend. Where not more than a few minutes later we'd be joining Nyssa and Malcolm in the lake. Or how I ended up back in New Rome the place where all of it started. Standing on the doorstep of Reyna's home holding her hand.

"Never thought I'd be back at this place." I said.

"Well aren't I just full of surprises?" Reyna smiled tugging me up the steps and pausing at the door. "Ready?"

With a nod she opened the door and walked inside where Aurum and Argentum were there to greet her. She smiled brightly as the showered her in love. With a content sigh I knelt down as both dogs came barreling towards me. A warm and gentle breeze blew the door shut.

But you know what they say, when one door shuts, another one opens.