Lest We Forget
It had been two years, five months and thirty-three day since Nico Di Angelo had gone to serve his country. If you can imagine all his friends at camp half-blood was eager for news on the 18 year Old's return.
It was august twenty-first. Grover, Percy, Annabeth, Rachel, Leo, Jason, Piper and Chiron sat waiting for Reyna to come back with the mail.
"God how long does it take a girl to go get the mail!" Jason exclaimed. Out of all the people who were waiting for new about Nico, Jason seemed to be taking his absence the hardest.
"You know she's jus as nervous as you." Piper answered, rubbing her boyfriends back. It was today that Nico was supposed to come home from war, and everyone at camp was buzzing with the return of the missing camper.
The door to the big house swung open. Everyone in the room sat on the edge of their seat, waiting for news. Reyna walked in empty handed.
"Well?" Leo yelled at the roman. Reyna looked around the room sadly. Everyone slouched back in his or her seats.
"There was nothing there." Reyna said quietly.
"I wouldn't be so sure." An amused voice said from the door. And there, leaning against the doorframe, was Nico Di Angelo. He was dressed in the standard army camouflage, with a backpack hooked over one shoulder. Other then a few new scars on his bare arms, he looked like the little 16 years old who had gotten on the bus.
A collective gasp went through the room. Everyone sat frozen for a moment. Jason was the first one to recover. He sprung himself at Nico. If he had done that two years earlier Nico would have fallen over, but as it was he barely even moved.
Everyone crowded Nico, wanting to hear stories and find out how he was. The girl's cried and even if the boy won't admit it, cried to.
After everyone was settled, Nico looked around the room. Sure he had made plenty of friends in the war and he loved serving his country but he missed his family. And looking around now he realized that this was his family, and he would never trade them for anything.
In honor of all the men and women who sever in war to protect the freedom we love so much. Thank you for everything you do.
~BJ
