Okay so I just finished reading BoO (yeah I know I'm late to the partay but I've got buttload amount of work to do) and I gotta say, it was quite the cliffhanger. And yeah, I know Uncle Rick's like the king of cliffhangers but my imagination's just not emotionally quenched enough? I guess? Does that make sense? Anyway, so here's my take after what happens after the last chapter. Enjoy. REVIEWS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED.

Chapter I: Nico

Nico had been staring at his right hand for so long that he had eventually forgotten why he was looking at it so immensely in the first place. Then he remembered that he was recollecting the feeling of almost disappearing into darkness. He'd used up his shadow traveling powers to its limits that he was this close to being sent back into the Underworld. Flashes of memories of jumping from place to place with Reyna and Coach Hedge recurred inside his head.

It has been two weeks since Gaea woke yet Nico felt like it had been eons ago. Everything now was so peaceful, it was easy to forget how near they were to the end of the world. Looking at the reassuring view of the Sound, he knew he ought to feel safe but after facing the wrath of two major titans, Kronos and Gaea, Nico knew it wasn't long until chaos broke out again.

"I imagined you'd be here." The familiar lightness in the voice informed Nico that it was Will Solace before he even saw him. The son of Hades has no idea how Will manages to sneak up on him without going unnoticed. Must be an addition to his countless talents.

"I imagine you leaving me alone." Nico said. However, his words didn't contain any hostility.

Will sighed. He was at Nico's side now. "Seriously, what does it take to keep you in the infirmary for just three days?"

The shorter boy was about reply but became tongue-tied when he saw Will holding up an ear thermometer. Why the hades would he bring that?!

"Can you at least let me check your temperature?" The blond smiled tiredly.

Nico wasn't sure if it was just the way the sun outlined his hair or his stupid crooked smile, nonetheless, he thought Will Solace looked good. He surprised himself since he hadn't thought of anyone in that way not since, well, Percy.

"Yeah, I guess..." He rubbed the back of his neck and averted his gaze as the self-proclaimed 'doctor' placed the tip of the thermometer in his ear.

"Good! Since you didn't let me finish my general check-up... You practically ran off the second I took my eyes off of you." Will tried to sound menacing but his goody-two shoes look didn't exactly help him.

Nico didn't respond.

When the alarm produced a long beep, the son of Apollo glanced at the reading. "35.6." He said. "Not bad though I'd prefer if you-"

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud yell made them look up in the sky. They couldn't make out what it was or what the person was yelling. All they could see was a light shining amongst the clouds, like how metal reflects direct light.

"Come on!" Nico gestured to Will as he started to sprint off to where the thing was heading to land.

When they arrived at the amphitheater, Nico spotted Percy, Annabeth, Piper and Jason running in the front lines among a few other demigods. They were all looking up with narrowed eyes trying to figure out what the thing in the sky was. Unfortunately, no one held a weapon in hand in case it was an ambush team.

"HEYUUGAA IGG BEEE WEEYOOOO!" A person shouted once more but his words were still incoherent. Then Jason spoke. "Is... Is that Leo riding Festus?"

Nico knew the glasses enhanced Grace's vision but he didn't know that it enhanced it that good.

"LEO?! IS THAT YOU?" Piper shouted at the top of her lungs with her hand cupped around her mouth. She had her eyes tightly shut but Nico could tell there were tears attempting to fall on her cheeks.

The rider must have not heard Piper because he didn't shout back. After minutes of silence, Jason gathered wind beneath his feet and soared towards the figure. The daughter of Aphrodite tried to hold him back in case of a surprise attack but he was way out of reach.

"Ugh... The sun's blinding my eyes..." Annabeth muttered under her breath. "I can't see clearly."

Nico agreed inwardly. Looking at the sunny skies for too long made black spots appear near his eyes. He blinked a couple of times to try to get rid of it but obviously, he failed.

When Jason seemed to be a dot beside the figure, he started moving around, bouncing up and down, playing with the winds. He then stood behind them and soon, the speed of the descent increased.

When the figure became visible, Nico saw that it was indeed Leo Valdez with a girl beside him riding the bronze dragon, Festus. He couldn't believe his eyes. He and Hazel felt his death. And now here he is alive and waving crazily, wearing a wide grin like an ADHD kid who just ate a million pounds worth of sugar candy.

"Oh gods, it is Leo! Leo's alive!" Piper laughed with relief. She and Annabeth hugged tightly as everyone broke into a cheer of joy.

"That mischievous little boy..." Percy shook his head in a mixture of awe and disbelief. "I knew he'd make it."

"How did he manage to drink the Physician's cure after that explosion?" Will Solace looked amazed and respectful. "That son of Hephaestus really is something..."

As soon as the dragon finally made contact with the ground, Leo Valdez got off its back and landed dramatically, Ironman style. Slowly, he looked up and said with a low voice. "I'm back."

The girl beside him got off as well, her eyes rolling. "He rehearsed that a million times on the way here..."

Nico had never seen her but she looked absolutely beautiful despite the mundane choice of clothes. She wore a pair of jeans matched with a white blouse. Her cinnamon colored hair was braided down to one side. Her eyes gleamed brown as she took in her surroundings. Her face looked delicate like a marble sculpture. She looked no more than fifteen and yet she appeared to be like a goddess.

"Calypso..." Percy's voice echoed despite the loud cheering of the crowd.

The girl turned to him slowly. At first, there was shock written all over her face but then her gaze softened. She smiled sadly, as if greeting an old friend. "Percy."

"Leo!" Leo Valdez interrupted the moment. He looked back and forth between the two, who seemed to be having a silent conversation.

"Leo!" Piper repeated as she surged forward to hug-tackle him. Due to his scrawny stature, they both fell to the ground, Leo faking to being crushed by her weight. Soon enough, Jason joined the welcoming team. Percy and Annabeth added to the weight as they cooperatively crushed the previously-thought dead man.

"Guys... I get it... you all love Uncle Leo... but seriously... crushing me..." He wheezed out. The other campers laughed at the little scene before them. It's nice to see half of the group reunited again, they should alert Hazel and Frank and Reyna about the great news soon. Nico smiled at how happy they all looked.

"Nico," Annabeth called out. The son of Hades seemed to be shocked to be acknowledged. "Get in here!"

"Me?" Nico pointed at himself with a raised eyebrow. Beside him, Will was smirking.

"Of course you!" Jason said. "You're part of the team too. Come on, get in here!"

Rolling his eyes, Will punched Nico's back in a friendly way, causing him to lose balance and stumble towards the group. He fell on top of Annabeth. All of them started laughing and surprisingly, he found himself laughing with them.

Next chapter coming soon!