A/N This is my first fic in a very very long time, so please bear with me as I get back into it. Construrctive criticism is more than welcome, though nonconstructive flames will be soundly ignored. The title is a working title. I would welcome anyone interested in helping me to edit! Those, please understand that this first chapter was written and uploaded between 11:15pm and 3am.
Mostly, this is something I've been toying with and decided to write to help me deal with the long months between now and the Son of Neptune. This is taking place shortly after the close of The Lost Hero.

Thank you for reading!

Miette

**Disclaimer** Nothing that comes from the imagination of Rick Riordan or is from the Percy Jackson and the Olympian's Novels or The Lost Hero belongs to me.

Bia took a deep anxious breath. She knew that if she were a stranger walking up on the Schola like this she'd be quickly dead, or at least maimed and taken prisoner till they could determine who she was, what her business was, and how she should be handled. However, for Percy's sake, and hopefully Jason's too, she had to try this. She'd have already incurred Lupa's wrath by leaving the boundaries of the Schola without her blessing and by herself, so she may as well follow through with her plan. At least, if she succeeded she may redeem herself in the mother wolfs eyes and her comrades. Besides, what seemed to be the plan of Lady Juno was a moderately sound one, and it coincided with the dreams Bia had been having. It was time for her meet more of her extended family and Godly related relatives. It was past time for the whole family to be brought together and she was determined to do her part.

Reaching up, the girl checked the placement of her Pugio, the dagger carried by Roman Legionnaires, camouflaged in a sheath that doubled as a clip to hold her thick auburn hair in a bun. This and her Spatha, or long sword, were the only two weapons she was currently bearing. Everything else, including her armor, were packed away in her Sarcina, the packed carried by Legionnaires. Her Roman upbringing caused her to balk at walking into what she knew to be potentially an enemy stronghold thusly unprepared, but she knew she was otherwise as prepared as she could be and trusted her mothers guidance to follow her dreams and help to bring the two sides together. Besides, she didn't think it would look well to walk into Camp Half-blood speaking peace but dressed for battle.

With a last breath, Bia walked the last few minutes of her journey into Camp Half-blood. She heard as the alarm was sounded announcing the presence of an unexpected outsider. As she reached the thinning of the woods before the camp proper, she was impressed with the small band of campers who surrounded her. They appeared to be a patrol of some sort. They stood, in shorts and bright orange tee-shirts, surrounding her, weapons at the ready. Bia spread her empty hands before her in a gesture of peace.

"Please, I am Bia daughter of Vesta, Tribuni Angusticlavii and Praefectus Fabrum of the Roman Schola. I come in peace from the Schola and wish an audience with," she stumbled over the strange name she'd pulled from her dream and placed into her rehearsed speech "Chiron and your leaders. I also wish to see Jason Grace if he is among you."

A boy standing in front of Bia and just to the right glanced at the girl beside him, who evidently was the leader. She gripped a wicked looking spear and looked at Bia with distrust.

"Vesta?" the boy asked.

"Our 'Hestia'." Said a male voice standing behind Bia. She didn't dare turn to look. "I didn't know Hestia had any children."

"Those titles are Latin. Mine isn't good enough to translate…"

For the first time the leader girl spoke, "Tribuni Angusticlavii, equestrian officer, and Praefectus Fabrum, Leader of the artisans? Is that correct daughter of Hestia?"

"Emendo," quickly, Bia changed her Latin answer into English, "Correct, yes, Dux." Bia saluted the girl after the Roman fashion, her right arm outstretched, parallel to the ground, the fingers of her hand together, flat.

"Dux?" Another voice, this one belonging to a girl Bia could see out of the corner of her eye off to her left.

"Umm…" Bia wracked her brain for the closest translation, only ever having used this title in Latin, "Leader? Commander? It has no particular rank, but evidently this girl," here she gestured to the girl who had translated her titles, "Seems to be the leader of your patrol." The boy who had questioned who Vesta was laughed. "She's got you picked out Clarisse."

"Well, you're in luck about Jason, he and Piper and Leo just got back from their quest earlier this week." Clarisse said, "No more small talk, whistle or not; the others will be worried and waiting for us after the alarm going off." Turning to Bia she said "Daughter of Hestia we need to take your weapons for right now, I'm sure you…"

"Yes, of course," Bia removed her Spatha from its sheath and leaned over and laid it on the ground as far in front of her as she could. Quickly it was picked up as she debated if she should remove her Pugio or not. She decided to. It wasn't as though she was going to be able to take down a whole camp with it, and if she got desperate, the bracelet on her left wrist expanded into the six Plumbata usually clipped inside her shield. If necessary, these darts would at least allow her to go down fighting.

The small patrol lead Bia the rest of the way out of the woods, still surrounding her, alert for any movement on her part. When they reached clearing of the camp proper, Bia was taken by what she saw, both the campers ready to face any threat she may pose or go to the aide of Clarisse and her patrol of they whistled for aide after the alarm had been sounded and by the beauty of the camp. Where the Schola looked like an army encampment, and military training camp, Camp Half-blood looked like an incredible summer camp.

"Stand down!" Clarisse called to her fellow campers waiting armed and ready. "Where are Chiron and Jason!"

"Here!" Both male voices called, hurrying toward Clarisse and her small party.

"Bia?" Jason stopped dead, shocked when he saw and recognized the petite Roman girl standing at the center of the Greek patrol.

"Legatus legionis," Bia saluted Jason as she had Clarisse, and swept into a curtsy keeping her head bowed.

"Orior," Jason said, not even realizing he'd spoken Latin when telling Bia to rise from her obeisance. Bia smiled and threw herself into her lost friends arms. Continuing in Latin out of habit, she said "We've missed you." She let go of him and stepped back so she could get a good look at him.

"What are you doing here? Lupa…"

"Has no idea and will kill me, but I had to come. It's a long story, besides Percy…"

At that, Annabeth who had come to stand by Chiron and Clarisse with the other cabin leaders spoke up "Percy? What about Percy?"

Bia looked at Annabeth evaluating, then broke into a big smile, "You're Annabeth! Oh!" she switched to English, realizing that she and Jason had been speaking in Latin after hearing Annabeth question her in English. Bia ran and hugged Annabeth with nearly as much enthusiasm as she had Jason.

"I can't believe I found you so easily I thought you were going to be a demi-god! Sorry," she stepped back smiling sheepishly, realizing that perhaps this girl wouldn't like a stranger hugging her so familiarly.

Jason laughed, also switching back to English, "Bia's very friendly." Turning to Chiron and having unconsciously adapted the more formal manner of the Romans for situations like this Jason said, "Chiron, fellow campers, may I present Bia McCarthy, daughter of Vesta and my," Jason didn't notice, but Bia saw one of the girls standing with the leaders of the camper cringe when he said 'my', "Tribuni Angusticlavii and the Praefectus Fabrum of," he paused, "the Roman Camp."

"You don't have that memory yet?" Bia asked looking at Jason when he faltered at the name their camp. He shook his head, irritated. "I'm sorry, Mamma told me that I can't push or encourage your memory too much. Hopefully, simply my presence will help."

"Yea, I guess." Jason was still irritated.

"Bia, you are most welcome here at Camp Half-blood. Lynett," he turned to the girl to Bia's left, "I think we can return Bia's blades to her." The girl handed the sword and knife to Bia, both of which she sheathed.

"I need one of those! Fashionable and useful!" a female voice from the crowd said. The girl who Bia had noticed cringe at the word 'my' turned toward the voice.

"No, Lacy, you do not. Not until you have more training in knife fighting."

Lacy sighed, "I've been practicing with Annabeth! I'm getting better."

Annabeth smiled, "She is, it's true. Maybe for your birthday. Now," Annabeth turned to Chiron, "should we head to the big house?"

"Yes. Cabin leaders, meeting in 15 minutes, everyone else back to your regular activities. We'll discuss everything at dinner tonight."

With some grumbling, everyone broke up. The campers were irritated at again not getting to know what was going on immediately, but were pleased to not have the responsibility that went along with the privilege for the cabin leaders.

"Malcolm," Clarisse turned to the boy on her right, "you finish leading the patrol."

"Sure." He turned to his patrol mates, "Come on guys." As the patrol left to finish their duty, and Clarisse and the other leaders to do whatever they needed to before the meeting, Bia realized she was alone with Jason, Annabeth, and Chiron.

"Well, come on," Annabeth said, "Let's head up to the Big House and wait for everyone. Bia, will you tell me what's going on with Percy before the meeting?" Bia didn't want to have to tell any part of her story twice, but she figured this poor girl who must have been going crazy with worry deserved what relief Bia could give her.

"Of course, Amica." Bia put her arm through Annabeth's and the two girls walked slightly away from Jason and Chiron as the four made their way to the big house.

Again, thank you for reading!

Miette