Piper lay on the bed, her fingers absentmindedly combing through Jason’s blond hair as he rested his head on her chest. The sunlight streaming through the small window bathed the room in a soft golden glow, and for once, the world outside felt distant. No monsters, no quests, no prophecies—just the steady rhythm of his breathing and the warmth they shared.

Jason murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, shifting slightly, and Piper smiled. He looked so at peace, far from the weight of his responsibilities as a son of Jupiter.

“You’re always carrying the world on your shoulders,” she whispered, pressing a light kiss to his temple. “But I’m here to help you carry it.”

In that moment, nothing else mattered but the two of them, tangled together, safe and sound.