EEK IT'S ANNABETH AND REYNA. I adore these two. So much. SO much.

Also, warning: There will be some mentions of Jason in this. Not in a way of discrediting his and Piper's relationship, and I'm also not trying to demonize him. I just imagine that Reyna has a lot of hurt in connection with him, and that she and Annabeth can understand each other in many, many ways.

Also, this takes place at the very end of HoH.

...

When they finished eating, Reyna was suddenly struck by a desperate need to be alone.

The others were dispersing anyway; under the guise of gathering her things for the trip she was about to embark on, she stood and slipped away as well. Her things were in the stable – where she'd landed before realizing that Scipio wasn't going to make it.

Packing didn't take long – she had everything together as it was. She'd only been there a few hours, and already was about to leave again . . . but this time, without Scipio.

His halter was with her things; she gripped it in one hand and tried hard not to cry. She'd had enough of that for one day.

Looking at all the others, she couldn't help but feel achingly lonely. Percy and Annabeth had seemed glued together as they ate – sides pressed together, fingers interlaced. Frank – her new co-praetor; that would take some getting used to – was so attentive to Hazel. And Jason . . .

Jason had barely even acknowledged her. Had stuck by his girlfriend's side the whole time, and aside from praising Frank to her he'd acted as though he didn't even know Reyna.

It wasn't so much that he didn't care for her the way she cared for him. It was more that he didn't seem to care for her at all anymore. As though their friendship and comradeship had counted for nothing.

She looked down at Scipio's halter in her hand and sighed.

"Hey." The voice came from the entrance to the stable, from someone she hadn't even heard approaching. She looked up with a start; Annabeth was standing in the doorway. "Mind if I join you?"

Despite her earlier desire to be alone, Reyna suddenly decided that she didn't mind Annabeth's company at all. "Feel free." She gestured to the spot next to her.

Annabeth crossed the stable and slid down to sit beside Reyna, pressing her back against the wall. "Thanks."

Reyna looked over at her. She looked older than she had the last time they'd seen one another – in Charleston, the same place Reyna had had that devastating meeting with Venus. She supposed that that prophecy was coming true now – despite her efforts to pretend that it wouldn't.

"How are you doing?" Annabeth broke the silence; she was looking down at the halter in Reyna's hands. She placed a hand on it, squeezing, and Reyna felt the companionship and support as though they were traveling through the leather.

She sighed. "Shouldn't I be asking you the same question?"

Annabeth's face tightened. "Maybe, but I really don't want to answer it." She paused. "I guess I understand if you don't want to, either."

Reyna shrugged. "Isn't the answer self-explanatory?"

Still holding onto the halter, Annabeth turned and met her eyes. Reyna could practically see her own weariness mirrored in the stormy gray. "I guess." Then Annabeth fixed her gaze on her knees.

"It doesn't really matter, anyway," Reyna said, surprising herself with the fact that she was still talking. "A praetor puts her legion first." Although she knew that she would sacrifice anything for her legion, she couldn't swallow down the bitter taste in her mouth.

Annabeth shrugged. "Maybe that's why Jason isn't praetor anymore."

Reyna flinched – she couldn't help it. "I suppose so," she muttered anyway.

"What was he to you?" asked Annabeth. She didn't seem as though she were prying or pitying – she seemed sympathetic and open. Maybe that was the reason that Reyna didn't close up right away. "Or would 'is' be a better word?"

Reyna sighed again and dropped the halter, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. How could she sum it up so that Annabeth would understand?

"I trusted him," she said finally, simply, and when she dared to meet Annabeth's eyes she saw understanding there. The other girl reached out and touched her hand, and Reyna, instead of flinching away, let her.

"I see why it hurts, then," Annabeth said after a moment, and a metal ball surfaced in Reyna's throat.

"That's not important, though," she managed, trying to swallow it down. You are the praetor of Rome, she reminded herself. Get ahold of yourself. "The war is important – and finding unity between the camps. A good praetor sacrifices for her legion."

"Yes," Annabeth mused. "You're a great praetor, Reyna. The legion is lucky to have you."

"I broke their ancient laws. I effectively betrayed them." If it had all been for nothing –

"No," Annabeth corrected. "You're saving them. They'll realize it eventually, and things will resolve themselves." She hesitated, and then forged on. "You and Frank will make a good team. You'll be the leaders they deserve."

"I hope so," Reyna murmured. She leaned against the wall, brushing her hand against Scipio's halter again. "I hope this doesn't end up the way it always has in the past. I hope we can resolve our differences without war."

"I believe we can." Annabeth's face was steely. "I – Percy and I" – She stumbled over her words, but eventually spoke again. "The reason we made it out – we were helped by a Titan and a giant."

"A Titan and" –

Annabeth's eyes were too wide and bright. "Yeah. I can't – we would have died down there if not for them." She blinked fast; took a shuddery breath. "My point is that things don't have to be so black and white. We don't have to stick with what's always been true in the past."

She fished around in her pocket for a moment, and pulled out a silver coin – something older than a denarius. "My – my mother gave me this, when she sent me on the quest to save her statue. Now I think it needs to go to you."

"Annabeth . . ." Reyna hesitated. Despite herself, she held out her hand.

Annabeth pressed the coin into it. "It's a sign that things can change," she said. "A Roman, righting millennia-old wrongs. The Mark of Athena is yours now."

Reyna closed her fingers around the coin. It was warm – maybe from Annabeth's pocket, or maybe from some kind of godly blessing. For whatever reason, she knew it was important. She slipped it into her pouch. "Thank you," she said.

"I don't know what you'll face on your journey," Annabeth admitted, "but you'll have Athena with you. Maybe the coin will bring you luck."

"Thank you," Reyna repeated. She felt as though Annabeth had entrusted her with more than just a coin – she'd passed on the safety of her camp, the one that meant more to her than any other place ever had, to Reyna. Suddenly, Reyna felt a new duty settle over her – more than just to her legion, more than just to Rome. A duty to Annabeth. A duty to her friend.

But this was one duty she didn't mind having.

Their eyes held for another minute, and Annabeth smiled – a weary and sad smile, but one nonetheless. Reyna felt the corners of her mouth pull up as well. Maybe the end of some things could mean the start of others.

"Hey!" Another voice broke in then, a rough one. "There you are! I've been looking for you!"

That crazy faun – satyr – who was now Reyna's traveling companion had burst into the stable, clutching a bag and a baseball bat. Reyna tried not to wince.

Annabeth stood up awkwardly. "I'll . . . uh, I'll leave you two to get your stuff together." She gave Reyna an apologetic grimace. "See you in a few minutes."

Reyna took a deep breath and looked down at the halter one last time. There was no reason to bring it with her. She left it lying on the floor of the stable and hefted her small bag. "Ready?" she said to the coach.

"Ready?" he barked. "I was born ready!" He brandished his baseball bat; Reyna ducked. Together they headed up the hill to the others.

Everyone was standing around, bidding them goodbye and good luck. Reyna saved her farewell to Annabeth for last. She wrapped her arms around her, and Annabeth gripped her back just as firmly.

"We will succeed," Reyna promised, wanting Annabeth to know that she realized how much she was trusting her – and how determined she was not to betray that trust.

Annabeth pulled back and held Reyna's shoulders. Her face was calm and understanding.

"I know you will."

...

Also, this is the last scene that I have ready-written. I do want to continue this, but it will take a lot longer. Also, please feel free to send me suggestions in reviews or PMs! I can't promise to write them, but I'll definitely look at and consider them.