It was the year after they graduated that Will Solace planned to propose, his plans for the future bright enough to overshadow his fear. If all went well, his life would be amazing. If it didn't go so well... He'd see how Lukas had felt.

It was a week after he began to think about it when he knocked on Percy's door, a ring box already in his pocket. How he was going to propose, he'd never be sure. Nico would probably want something small but Will never knew for sure. Deep down, Nico was a romantic. He always had been.

"What?" Percy opened the door with a bowl of cereal in one hand. He only wore boxers, his body tan from his swimming throughout the summer. "What do you want? It's like seven in the morning."

"I know, the sun's been up for a couple hours." Will slipped in and started to pace, his hand gripping the box in his pocket. "Percy...I need your help. You're Nico's best friend. I need your input on how to do this."

"Will... It's seven in the morning." Percy rubbed his eyes. "What could I possibly have to help you with at seven in the morning?"

Will leaned his head against the wall, a blush slowly spreading over his tan cheeks. "I...I'm planning on...I'm planning to..."

"To...?" Percy ate another bite of cereal. "To get out of my house soon?"

Will shook his head. "This is serious, Percy."

"I am being serious." Percy defended. "I'm tired."

"I'm going to propose to Nico." Will blurted out. "So is that more important than your sleep schedule or should I go ask Annabeth?"

Percy dropped his spoon, it landed in the bowl with a clash of glass. "You're...serious...?"

Will nodded. "Yeah, I am. I think it's time."

Percy grinned. "Awesome! How are you planning on doing it?"

"Exactly." Will spread his hands. "I have no idea what to do. You know Nico better than anyone. What should I do?"

Percy set his bowl on the coffee table before cracking his neck. "How soon do you want to do it?"

"Soon." Will's hand moved to his pocket. "I got a ring and everything. I just...I just don't how I should do it."

"Leave it to me." Percy rushed to his room, coming back with a notepad and pen. "Tell me anything you have in mind."

Will sank onto the couch. "You're taking notes?"

"Shut up or I'm not helping." Percy started to doodle on the paper. "What are you thinking? Dinner? Or something private?"

"Nico would want private." Will mused. "He's not one for...public stuff."

"You're right." Percy agreed. "But what could you do privately...?" He tapped his pen against the notepad. "We need Annabeth's help."

"What? No!" Will sat straight up. "No, no, no. We don't need her help. Don't tell anyone, Percy. Not even Annabeth."

"She's not going to go tell Nico." Percy defended. "And she can really help us. I know she can. She's the smart one, you know."

"This isn't about smarts. This is about Nico." Will got up and began to pace again. "Nico. This is about him. I...I need it to be perfect. I need to make sure he won't say no."

"He wouldn't say no," Percy said. "I know he wouldn't."

"You don't know for sure." Will's hands moved to his hair and began to pull the blond strands. "He...he...he loves me. He said so himself. And I love him. But even if you love someone you might not want to spend the rest of your life with them. People who love each other break up all the time."

"Maybe if they ordered pizza..." Percy muttered to himself, now ignoring Will as he started to think of plans. "Pizza would be good. Maybe some champagne. I can get my mom to buy them some since they're underage..."

Will's face turned red. "I'm not drinking underage."

"In my mind, if you're old enough to get married then you're old enough to drink," Percy replied. "It's common sense."

"I'm not going to get arrested the night I propose to him." Will argued. "That'd be horrible."

"That'd actually be memorable."

"Percy."

"Fine, fine." Percy tossed the notebook on the table. "Go home. I'll call you later. I have an idea. I just need to make sure that it will...work out."

Will eyed the notepad. "Can I trust you?"

"Nico does."

"Fine." Will moved towards the door. "Thanks for this, Percy. I...I really had no clue what to do."

"Don't sweat it." Percy winked. "You'll just have to help me when it's my turn to propose to Annie."

"Annabeth will say yes no matter what you do." Will waved. "Bye. Don't forget to call me later."

Percy waved him away. "I have work to do."