The sun shone brightly. It was unfair considering what was to happen that day.

"Are you alright Hazel?" Frank questioned lovingly rubbing my hand.

I shook my head trying to hold back tears. Of course I wasn't okay today's my brothers's funeral. He died on my 17th birthday...

"I'm here for you. Remember that ok?"

"Ok..." I respond.

We are sitting in the morgue waiting for something anything to interrupt having to say our final goodbyes...I wasn't there when it happened. Only Will was with him and he doesn't want to say how he went all I know is that there was a monster attack. I didn't pressure him after all it's just as hard or harder on him than on the rest of us.

I'm glad everyone is here with me today. Annabeth has an arm wrapped around Percy he's trembling in his seat with tears for the little boy he once knew. He grieves silently except for when he takes a long shaky breath. Annabeth too is mourning with him the tears silently slip down her face as she comforts her fiancé. Jason's standing in the back so we wouldn't see him crying hard his hands hiding his face. Jason was the first person Nico came out to. They had a special friendship he was close to Nico.

Piper walks over to me and just holds me in a long hug. It's the first time we'd seen each other in a couple weeks.

"I'm so sorry that this happened... I will always be here for you..." She whispered in my ear.

I let out the tears I'd been trying to hold in for everyone else's sake. The sobs wrack my body the tears slide down my face. My knees give out and I fall on the ground still wrapped in her arms.

"Why him?! Why?! Why?! Why?! . . . . . Why not me?" I cry.

Frank climbs out of his chair and holds me tight. "You weren't there. There was nothing anyone could have done. Besides he knew we needed you..."

The son of Apollo drew near us he helped me up and pulled me tight.

"He loved you so much... so much more than you realize... his last words were to you and me he said..." Will paused for a moment to get a shaky breath. "His last words were, 'You and Hazel are my family... I I love you.' Never think that it should have been you ever. He'd never forgive you."

I gaped in shock in the past week Will hadn't spoken anything about that day. And to think that he wanted to make sure that I know how much he loved me? He was always so closed off I guess I hadn't realized just how much he did care for me...

"I tried so hard to save him. I really did Hazel I hope you know that... I used every bit of medical knowledge and magic my father would give..." Will tries to continue but can't.

"Stop please just stop... it's not your fault. He loved you... Nico wouldn't want you to blame yourself. He... he wanted to marry you..." I start crying even harder. "He was going... to ask your father's permission at the next solstice and.. and..." I break down sobbing into Will's arms. It's too much to remember that Nico had had his whole life ahead of him.

Will and I continue to cry together knowing we had been Nico's closest friends and family.

9 Years later

Frank and I decided to adopt a baby as soon as we saw her we knew her name immediately.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Zhang this is your new daughter." Said a worker with a bright smile he handed Frank the beautiful baby girl with midnight black hair and pale pink skin.

"Here is the rest of the paper work." He said leading me to a table to sign the rest of the paperwork. When I got to the name I looked back at Frank and he nodded as the worker showed him how to hold the baby just right to support her neck. I smiled and signed the name.

Nicola Bianca Zhang

Author's note

I do not know much or almost anything about adoption so if this is waaaaay off track please please forgive me

Also don't kill me please and thank you