Summary: Leo and Ariana hit it off in class.

Pairings: Leo/Ariana

Notes: Please, don't burn me on the Mexican Tooth Fairy thing. It's a joke. It's funny. And I personally loved this chapter. :3 They so cute in the forges.

Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes of Olympus. Yet. And I will. o.O

For a moment, Ariana was confused. Why this big silence? Why was everyone looking at her funny? Sure, she was pretty hot in the new outfit, but that wasn't all of it.

Then it hit her. Mrs. Johansen's whiny old lady voice came through to her:

Artemis took a vow for eternal maidenhood. No kids, darlings. That's right, girls, no boys. Ever.

This was bad.

A million questions ran through her mind. Did this mean she had a vow to eternal maidenhood? Would they kill her? Was it really that bad?

Chiron stamped his hoof, but it was not necessary. No one was speaking, much less breathing.

"Back to your cabins. I want all the head counselors in the Big House, now." He did not look happy. The centaur motioned for Ariana to follow him. It felt like she was being sent to the principal's office. Slowly and with as much dignity as she could muster, Ariana plodded after the horse-man. She couldn't even take in the grandeur of the Big House when they arrived, though she did swipe a grape or two. Anxiety gave her the munchies.

As the head counselors filed in, Ariana was relieved to see Piper. Piper, however, had a war-like grimace on her face, and her gaze was cold. She dropped her gaze as she stood absently beside Chiron. Now she knew what science projects went through.

"This is serious."

"How serious? So her mom got sick of not having guys around, can we really blame Ariana for that?" Thank the gods for Jason.

"It was said that Zeus gave Artemis the option to go back on her oath when she wanted," pointed out a blonde girl.

"This is true, Annabeth, but what I am concerned about is how the Hunters and the rest of the gods will take this." Chiron rubbed his face, other arm dangling by his side as he tapped nervously on his second ribcage.

"I say we send her back to her father," snarled a brutish girl. "She'll bring us nothing but trouble.

"Can it, Clarisse. We can't just turn down another demigod. Monsters will follow her just as badly as if she were a child of the Big Three. She's obviously powerful. Leaving her alone…" Annabeth spread her hands, leaving an ominous opening for interpretation.

Leo finally spoke up, "Why are you guys talking about her like she isn't right in freaking front of us?" He jerked his chin at Ariana. "What do you want, señorita?"

The entire table looked at her. They all blinked slowly and seemed icy, shut off. Ariana struggled to swallow the cotton in her throat.

"What I want is to stay. Maybe even find out why my mom lost it, why I'm even alive." It felt like her dress was suffocating her. "But if I am such a threat to the camp's safety then perhaps it is best I went home."

"You want to stay," said Chiron softly.

"Aye." She could've bitten her tongue right then. "Yes, I do."

"Then we cannot turn you away. Annabeth, take Ariana to Cabin 8. The rest of you return to your beds."

Cabin 8 was a dream, despite the gloomy meeting. The floors were polished hardwood. The walls were made out of much the same material. There were very few beds. Some appeared to have been lived in.

"The Hunters of Artemis live here when they visit. They haven't been around for a while. We hope to keep it that way." Annabeth was fiddling with the fire pit in the center of the cabin. She swore in Ancient Greek.

"Let me." Ariana struck her tinder (courtesy of her mom's makeover quiver) and lit the semi-charred wood. Annabeth smirked in admiration.

"See you around camp."

Annabeth didn't let the door hit her on the way out.

Ariana found her duffle bags laying on a bed. She unpacked her things, hanging up jeans and her newest hunting outfits (also from her mom) in the carpeted closet. She kicked off her gladiator sandals and stuck them by the door with her tennis shoes and moccasins. Careful not to wrinkle anything, she folded her shorts and tank tops, laying out one of each to wear tomorrow. Ariana admired the cherry wood furniture and sighed when she saw a laptop and flat screen. Being an only child had its perks. She gazed in amazement at the dome on the ceiling that let in moonlight and sunlight. Her heart thudded painfully slowly in the emptiness.

The bathroom was tiled with marble countertops. A simple sink and shower complemented the tiles. She laid out her brushes, toothbrush and unfolded some towels for later use. She slithered out of her new gown and into her Happy Bunny pajamas, toothbrush in mouth and face smeared with toothpaste. Finishing her dental maintenance, she hopped onto her bed.

He mattress was hand sewn, stuffed with goose down. Her mattress cover was simply elk skin. The sheets were woven silk with 'Athena' stitched into the corner. Over that was a polar bear-fur cover. Her pillow was Artic fox fur; quail feathers were stuffed inside. It was like sleeping on a cloud. A very warm cloud. And yet…

It was an awfully big space for just one.

Sighing, Ariana hung up her pictures of Ireland she had taken on a vacation over a year ago. Pictures of her and her father came next. Then she laid out her multiple eco-friendly notebooks filled with poems, short stories and (her favorite) fan fiction. Having finished putting everything away, Ariana curled up under her polar bear covers and silk sheets.

"Good-night," she whispered to herself.

The fire burned out by itself.

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty!"

Ariana moaned as she struggled to hide her face from the sunlight streaming in from the dome in her cabin.

"Get up, girlie! We don't have all day! Archery's first thing on our class list…then we have nothing else together until lunch. Hey, we've got Arts 'n' Crafts together!"

"Leo?" she mumbled through a mouth full of pillow.

"No, it's the Mexican Tooth Fairy. Hola! Como estas?" The covers were drug from over her head. "Get up, you're gonna miss breakfast!"

Ariana kicked him away as she rose. Her hair fell over her eyes and she had to whip it out of her face.

"Whoa. Serious bed-head."

She slugged him in the arm before stomping into the bathroom and shutting the door. She locked it.

"No need to be so sour. Gods, who peed in your cornflakes?"

Despite her usual early morning hostility, she had to laugh from behind the white wood door.

"Aha! I knew she had a funny bone in one elbow."

"Shut up, Leo." She changed into shorts and a tank top, this outfit a little more covering. She slapped on sunscreen; she sprayed too much and it made her gag. Finally she brushed out her auburn hair before slinging her bow over her shoulder and tying her quiver to back. She had left the knife on last night. Stepping out of the bathroom, Ariana glowed. It might have been the sunscreen that hadn't quite dried yet. Leo didn't care. She was so fine!

"Leo? Breakfast?"

Shoot, he'd been staring! He cussed himself out in Spanish.

"Umm…"

"Uh, I said, 'Then let's get goin' Robin Hood-ess."

"Aye. I'm hungry for haggis! Haven't had some in a while."

"Haggis?"

"Lamb heart, lung and liver with onions and spices cooked in sheep's stomach."

Leo turned green. He managed to squeak, "I'm sorry I asked."

Ariana laughed and laced up her moccasins before leaving Cabin 8. Leo shut the door behind him and chatted about random things as they started for the pavilion; she loved not being the only one with ADHD anymore. She felt a pang of sadness as she realized she would be sitting alone while she ate.

"Hey, why the long face? Let me see that pretty smile!" He forcibly pulled her lips upward and managed to distort her entire face in the process. They both laughed.

"Alright, see you in Archery."

"Adios!"

Ariana took a seat on the cold bench after throwing in an offering and helped herself to haggis that tasted just like her father's recipe. She had a glass of tea to go with it and pancakes. The syrup was excellent, too, not the cheap Mrs. Butterworth's full-sugar mess. But real maple syrup, likely made here. Chiron stamped his hoof and sang the morning announcements, leaving Ariana out of it thankfully. At least for a while.

"What about Artemis' kid?" someone shouted.

"Ariana will be staying with us and we pray a sign from her mother comes soon. Now, off to your classes."

As Ariana cleared her area, she noticed people staring. Well, a lot of people staring.

Leo came up and glanced warningly at the passer-bys. They hurried on. The mischievous light in his dark eyes came back.

"Come on." He dropped his voice. "Don't pay attention to them, A. They're just jealous."

Ariana snorted, "As if. Anyway, let's head out." She shrugged her shoulder to readjust her bow. The pair trudged up one of the many hills at Camp Half-Blood. "Thanks, Leo."

Leo smiled, "No problem."

His hand brushed hers before drawing back quickly.

Her stomach jumped into her throat. Trying to distract herself, Ariana slid her quiver around to rest just above her right hip, close to her dagger. The length of the arrows were perfect. Ariana picked out a practice shaft and nocked it.

"Where's yours?"

"Chiron provides them for the Archery flunkies." Leo picked one at random. Ariana recoiled.

"No wonder. C'mere." She rummaged for a shorter bow. The string was thicker and easier for Leo's slender fingers to grip. It had a decent draw length and would surely improve his firing. "Use this one." Before he could respond they were called back.

"Now," Chiron began, pacing behind the archers. "Aim for your targets left shoulder. This spot is usually unprotected by armor and is a weak spot. Ariana, demonstrate."

She took her stance, forming an upside down Y. Raising her bow, she pulled back, chest arching forward to give her more control. The bow steadied in her hands. She gazed down the length of the arrow and aimed. Her fingers uncurled and the arrow thudded into the target's shoulder, buried up to the fletching.

"Excellent. Now the rest of you."

Ariana watched Leo copy her stance. "Like this?" She shook her head.

"No." Leaning down and pulled his right leg tighter in. "Keep your abs strong." She pushed in on his middle. "Slow your breathing to little, rhythmic puffs." He did as she asked. "Pull back. Anchor the string on the corner of your lip. Easy." She steadied his wrists with gentle hands. "Now aim small…That's it…" Her face was almost to his. She could feel the fire that burned in his lungs. "Release the string easily as though you do not want to give it up. Aim small…"

The arrow was half an inch low.

"Miss small." She grinned. "Nice."

"Whoa! Chiron, did you see that?"

"Beautiful, Leo! That was amazing! Excellent progress, Valdez."

Leo beamed. He pumped his fist. "Oh, yeah! Who's the man?" He danced in his archer's slot. Ariana couldn't resist a slight smirk. "Thanks, A!"

"No problem. We could make an archer outta you yet, mechanic." Leo ignored this and nocked another arrow. "Hit the neck, Valdez."

Slowly, he shifted and aimed. She watched him move, change the little things that determined everything. He fired. The arrow stuck in the base of the neck. She winced. Low. Armor might cover that spot. Leo was so ecstatic she dropped the thought immediately.

" 'Cause you know I'm bad! I'm bad!"

Ariana snickered. Maybe it'd be just a little fun to knock him off his pedestal. She knocked three arrows.

"A perfect line down the abs."

She fired. The arrows spaced themselves equally in the target's abdomen.

"Called it!" She mocked Leo and pumped his fist. "Who's the archer?"

"Show off!"

He pushed her and she pushed back, baring her sharp canines in a grin. Leo smiled a warm, welcoming smile. For a moment she could've swore he was going to say something. Ariana ducked her head, hiding her eyes behind their thick lashes.

"Alright, young heroes, move to your next class!"

Stupid ADHD making time go too fast!

"Lunch, then?"

"Lunch. Catch up with you later, A."

"Bye, Leo."

He hesitated before leaving, watching Ariana gallop to the sound to go kayaking.

Kayaking was a bust. She fell in the water twice. The second time some jerk from Ares' cabin pushed her boat over which was so not fair. Monster-fighting proved a much better class. She diced up an automaton of a Fury, er, Kindly One as they were called here. She was paired with one of her cousins, Will Solace, for scouting. He was head of Apollo's cabin. They hit it off instantly and took out half the other scouts easily with their toilet-plunger arrows to "prevent injury."

The Magic Conch blew again around noontime when everyone was nice and sweaty. Everyone scrambled for the pavilion, screaming and calling for friends, brothers and sisters. While Ariana could call for neither a brother or sister, something just as good jogged into view: Leo.

"Hey! You look like you've been treating your body with horse sweat."

"Haven't been to the stables yet," she said, grinning as she struggled for breath. "Scouting kicked my butt."

"Was there this morning. Not very good at the whole ninja thing."

"Never would have guessed." Her silvery gaze locked with his darker one. Mom, if you're there, make this work. Please. Maybe throw in a good word to Hephaestus, too? Thanks.

"So, uh," Leo cleared his throat. "A, are you…"

"Eh, Valdez! Your plate's gonna get eaten for you!"

"After lunch, Leo. Remember, we've got A & C to hit up, too." She jogged to her table and devoured her hamburgers and hotdogs. Oh, gods, there were onion rings! Pausing only to sip her Pepsi, she inhaled half her table. It was one of the best meals ever.

The conch blew a second time, signaling the end of lunch. With her place cleared, she linked back up with Leo.

"Hey! Been a while."

"I know, right? You've gotten taller!"

Ariana punched him. "That was a low blow, Valdez!"

"You would know."

Her mouth dropped open and immediately clenched again. "Jerk."

"C'mon, we're headed to my specialty now. Time to learn from the master, chicka." He started for the forges. Ariana gazed at the somewhat wrecked place. It looked like a plane had crashed and they said, "Hey, what an awesome place to build the forges!"

"Alright, it's gonna get hot in here!" It was another Hephaestus kid. "Girls, tie your hair back. Guys, too, if you need to. Leo, pass out aprons."

"Right on!" Leather aprons were handed down the line. Ariana reluctantly tied hers around her waist and slipped on the too big leather gloves. Leo wore nothing expect for the tool belt he always carried.

"Don't you need to get something?"

"No, you'll get why soon." A shadow crawled over his face. She cocked her head. Something was bothering him. And it had been for a while.

"I want everyone to make something with meaning. Guys, make steel roses for your girlfriend. Girls, make necklaces. Anything. And I want you to be able to tell me or anyone why you made this!"

Ariana didn't know where to start. She knew she wanted to make a wrist guard for her left arm so her bow didn't get beat up. She could engrave it to add the sentimental value. But she didn't even know what half of these tools were called!

"Know what you're makin'?" asked Leo.

"Yeah but I don't even know where to begin!"

"Easy. Pick out your metal or stone. Gold, silver, gemstones for decoration, celestial bronze…"

"Silver. Nothing flashy."

"Okay, so heat this over a fire." Leo flipped goggles over their faces as he started a fire in his hand.

"L-Leo?"

"Hand-me down trait from my dad." He warmed her silver. "Now mold it into what you want as it cools." She bent it into a tapering cone. Slowly it became cool enough to wear. She fit it on her wrist. It was a little loose, but as her arms bulked up it would fit her perfectly. For now she could attach an extra layer of leather on the inside. "Now, take this and weld the edges together."

"What if I slip?"

"Don't worry about that." She flicked the blow torch on and held it over the seam. Her hand shook and Leo gently laid his hand over hers, gripping it firmly. His lips hovered close to her ear and his body was mere centimeters-millimeters-from hers. He held her arm steady as they welded the wrist guard with dangerous precision.

"There."

Leo's hand left hers.

"Swirl the blow torch to make grooves for jewels. And heat a part and use a pick to write if you want."

Ariana watched him move to his own station and begin his work. She turned back and placed sapphires along the top of the guard where it met her hand. She did the same at the bottom. It glittered beautifully. She heated a decent portion and scrawled the Greek words for 'huntress', 'moonlight' and 'motherhood.' She smiled when it was finished and slipped it on her wrist.

"Meaning?" asked the Hephaestus guy in charge of the class.

"These three words are reminiscent of what my mother is goddess of. And the silver is for my cabin color."

"The sapphires?"

"My father's birthstone."

The "teacher" grunted and moved on. Ariana smiled at the wrist guard. Her hand still burned from the contact with Leo.

"Nice work."

"Thanks." She gazed at Leo with a shy smile passing over her lips. "What was it you were asking me earlier?"

"Are you…into that whole 'no boys' policy like your mom?" asked Leo softly, if not awkwardly. Her smile became a grin.

"Not a bit."

"Then…uh…are you…?"

Ariana ran her lips over his ear gently, whispering, "Consider me single right now, Valdez." She smiled as his whole frame heated.

"Next class!"

"See you later, Leo."

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