Dreams of Tomorrow
Piper sat beside Jason, her fingers absently playing with his golden hair, something he knew he was much too vain about, but she couldn’t help it—she loved how much he cared about it. She looked at him, her heart full of both affection and uncertainty. There was a topic that had been weighing on her mind for a while, one she hadn’t been sure how to bring up. But now, with the quiet evening stretching out before them, she decided it was time.
“Jason, have you ever thought about children?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with a hint of hesitation. She studied his face, looking for any sign of hesitation. This wasn’t a small question—this was about their future, about something that could change everything.
Jason, caught off guard, turned his gaze to her, his electric blue eyes reflecting the dim light of the room. Piper’s heart skipped a beat as she watched him, wondering if he was trying to figure out where this conversation was going. She couldn’t help but admire the way his eyes always seemed to see straight through her, like he could read her thoughts even before she spoke them.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to keep his expression neutral. “What made you ask that?” he replied, his voice thoughtful, though she could sense the curiosity beneath it.
Piper hesitated for a moment, her fingers still playing with the strands of his hair. She hadn’t expected it to feel so weighty. It was one thing to think about the idea, and another to actually voice it out loud.
“Well,” she began slowly, “Annabeth told me that she and Percy were trying for one, and I just wondered if you wanted one too?” The words hung in the air, as if they had taken on a life of their own. She searched his face, hoping for an answer, but also feeling the weight of the uncertainty.
Jason didn’t immediately respond, and Piper felt the silence stretch on longer than she had anticipated. Her mind quickly started to race. They were young—both of them. Jason was just 21, and she was a couple of years older. But they were both mature, responsible in ways that most of their friends weren’t. She felt ready for this. Maybe even more than ready. She just hoped he was, too.
As she waited for him to speak, her mind wandered to the future. They had built something special over the years—she and Jason, together. And it was hard to ignore the thought that with his striking blond hair and his chiseled jawline, and her silky brown hair and kaleidoscopic eyes, they would have the most beautiful children. .
Jason’s gaze softened, and Piper could tell he was processing everything she had said. She knew his mind was turning over numbers and possibilities—he wasn’t the type to jump into anything without thinking it through. He made a decent income from his military job, about $60,000 a year, which was enough for now, but they were comfortable enough with his inheritance from his late mother and her own steady salary as a psychologist.
Her heart raced as he ran through all of it in his mind. She didn’t want to push him, but she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jason leaned in slightly, his expression shifting into something more tender. “I’m fine with having children, as long as they look like you,” he said with a grin that lit up his whole face.
Piper’s breath caught, and she couldn’t stop the wave of relief that flooded over her. She had been holding her breath, unsure of what he would say, but now it felt like the weight of the world had lifted from her shoulders.
Her eyes softened, and she smiled up at him, feeling that familiar warmth in her chest. "You really mean that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though she didn’t need him to say it again. She could see it in his eyes.
Jason nodded, his smile widening. “Yeah. I do. I want to build a life with you, Piper. And if a baby is part of that, then I’m all in.”
Piper’s heart swelled, and her cheeks flushed with a mixture of joy and disbelief. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear those words until now. She let out a sigh, relief washing over her, and in that moment, everything felt like it was falling into place.
"Do you want to start trying when you come back?" she asked, her eyes filled with hope and excitement.
Jason sat up slightly, taking a moment to consider her words. His fingers gently ran through her hair, and he found himself momentarily lost in the thought of a child. The thought of raising a little one with Piper, watching them grow together, was something he’d never truly imagined until now. But now, it felt like the right thing.
His smile widened, and he leaned in to kiss her forehead gently. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.” He paused for a beat, his expression growing more serious. "I want to build a life with you, Piper. And if a baby is part of that, then I’m all in."
Piper’s eyes sparkled with emotion, a wave of joy sweeping through her. She hadn’t realized just how much she wanted this until now—until she saw Jason’s easy acceptance. She had always known he was the one, but hearing him say it, hearing him speak about their future so confidently, made her heart swell with love.
The room felt warmer suddenly, and even the silence between them felt comforting, as if they were both on the same page about something so big, something that would change their lives forever. Piper let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and rested her head against his chest, her heart beating in rhythm with his.
"Jason, I can’t believe we’re talking about this," she murmured, a laugh escaping her lips. "It feels like everything is falling into place."
Jason chuckled softly, pulling her a little closer. "I know, right? It’s crazy. But it feels right. When I get back, we’ll figure it out together." His voice was filled with quiet certainty, a promise that no matter what, they would face it all side by side.
Piper nodded, a contented sigh escaping her. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but with Jason by her side, she was ready for anything.