A/N: Oneshot! Nico and Lily, for everyone who requested some oneshots of them after ME ended! So here you are, thank you for being patient!

Now and Forever

Lily stood in front of Annabeth's mirror, checking her reflection one last time. Jessie had twisted her dark hair up into an elegant sort of updo, with a few wavy tendrils down to frame her face, and Lily had been forbidden on pain of death to touch her hair. Jessie had declared that she would probably ruin it. Turning, Lily admired her outfit – her sister-in-law had insisted on picking it out. Grimacing as she remembered Annabeth's no-nonsense tone when giving it to her, Lily felt her expression change into a smile as she remembered Percy and Annabeth's wedding over the summer. It had been the sweetest thing; Percy had chosen Montauk as the venue. Lily glanced down at her own bare finger, feeling a slight pang of disappointment. Then she sighed, irritated with herself. She was only twenty-four, there was plenty of time for a proposal and marriage.

Her dress was a deep scarlet in color, and it fit her like a glove. It had a sweetheart neckline, and black sequins decorating her small waist. She had slipped on five-inch heels for the occasion, black to match the sequins. The dress stopped a few inches above her knee – neither too short nor too long. Perfect. Makeup was minimal, and jewelry…a matching set of platinum hearts as earrings, and a plain necklace with a platinum heart dangling on it. All the hearts decorated with sparkling diamonds, a birthday gift from Nico this year. Ah, the perks of having a boyfriend whose father controlled the earth's supply of precious metals.

"Lily!" Annabeth shouted from outside, knocking on her door. "Come on out, almost everyone's here! We're waiting on you!"

"Coming!" Lily called, rubbing a vanilla scented lotion into her wrists, elbows, and neck before leaving the room.

Downstairs – in Percy's home, of course – the party was in full swing. It was New Year's Eve, and Annabeth and Thalia had been in charge of decorating. The house, naturally, had been decorated with various shades of silver and gray, but the overall effect was stunning. The Christmas tree in the corner sparkled with colored lights and ornaments, and scented candles had been clumped throughout the rooms, bathing the walls in a warm flickering light.

"Jessie!" Lily hugged her friend tightly, stepping back. Jessie was wearing a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt and jeans, and Lily raised her eyebrows but didn't comment. The t-shirt was incredibly baggy on the archer's slender but curvy frame, and Lily had a sneaking suspicion that it was Leo's shirt her friend was wearing. But she decided not to comment.

"Have you seen Nico yet?" Jessie asked, a gleam in her eye.

"No, is he here?" Lily's eyes swept the crowd, but either Nico hadn't yet arrived, or he was doing an excellent job of hiding in the throng.

"Yeah, he was talking to Leo a few minutes ago. Something about Superbowl plans or something." Jessie motioned over into a corner. "They were over there, last I saw them."

"Okay," Lily said, maneuvering through the people, occasionally stopping to say hello, before finally reaching the dark corner Jessie had indicated. But it was empty.

"Looking for someone?" A deep voice said behind her.

Lily grinned, turning. "Definitely not you," she said, looking over Nico's shoulder, cursing the fact that he was still much taller than her, even with her insanely high heels on. "There was this really cute guy I was talking to a minute ago, and I thought if I came here he'd follow, but –"

She was cut off when Nico's mouth smashed down on hers, and Lily couldn't help moaning as he nibbled on her bottom lip, swiping his tongue along after his teeth before suddenly plunging in. He slammed her against the wall, one hand tilting her head back and up, the other low on her hips.

"You," he growled, pulling back slightly, "Are not allowed to kiss anyone else. Ever. Even look at. Got it?"

Lily fought a smirk. Nico was still very much the same – but he'd grown from their teenage years, into a tall, intoxicatingly handsome young man with the silkiest hair she'd ever run her hands through. The addition of extra muscles, the product of spending hours in the gym with Percy every week, had been another bonus. But he was still possessive, still easily angered, and still incredibly sweet.

"Mmm," she said, reaching up and pulling his head down, trying to kiss him again. The first one had been too short to be adequate.

But Nico was being frustrating. Instead of kissing her, he bent even further down, his lips latching on to her neck, kissing the skin there lightly. "Got it?" he breathed against her skin, before suddenly scraping the newly-kissed spot with his teeth. Lily cried out softly, her nails digging into his shoulder, her fingers gripping his hair. Nico bit down, suckling and biting with a nearly furious passion, and suddenly eased up, feather-kissing the new mark he had created. "Got it?" His whisper was husky in her ear.

"Yes," she breathed, kissing his earlobe.

With a choked sound of relief, Nico bent over her again, and this time Lily smiled as his mouth met hers again. His lips parted for her almost instantly, and she let her tongue twine with his, dancing the same way they had been for years, every second of it still feeling like the first time. He was rubbing her spine with two fingers, and as he hit a sensitive point Lily gasped, arching her back, and Nico, his chest rumbling with laughter, took advantage of her further opened mouth to penetrate deeper.

When they broke apart, they were both panting, and Nico observed with a smirk that her lips were swollen and her eyes bright but slightly dazed. She looked like a girl well-kissed.

"I missed you," he said, pressing her breathless body to his chest.

"You just had to spend the whole week in LA," Lily mumbled, still annoyed over his absence. "I had no one to walk on the beach with me!"

"That's only because you insist on taking your walks at two in the morning," Nico chuckled, "And I'm usually the only person awake."

"No," she said sulkily, "It's just that everyone else is doing…other things."

"And would you like to?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Shut up," Lily blushed, slapping his firm chest lightly, and then leaving her hand there, slowly tracing his pectoral muscles through the thin black shirt he'd worn. Her hand inched down, fingering his abs, and Nico felt his breathing starting to become shallow. If she didn't stop soon…

"Hey, the countdown's starting soon!" Percy bellowed over the music and noise in the room. "Everyone in the living room!"

A few moments later, they all crowded into the living room. Some couples had begun celebrating early – Katie had her arms and lips firmly planted on Travis, and several others had followed their lead, Jessie and Leo included. Annabeth was pulling out glasses in the kitchen, and Percy had a bottle of champagne ready. Lily leaned back against Nico's chest, surveying the scene.

"I love these guys," she whispered.

"Love you too," Nico chuckled.

"It's 11:59!" Someone shouted, and the room erupted in noise again.

Lily turned to say something to Nico, and then frowned. Where was he? She looked down, and gasped.

He was on one knee, a small shimmering black box open in his hand, a slender and beautiful ring inside it.

"I'm no good at making speeches," Nico said softly, "But Lily, I love you, and I want to spend every moment I have left with you." He paused, seeming to search for words, and then looked up at her. "Marry me?"

The countdown had begun behind her, the announcer's voice loud on the TV. The room was silent – Lily had a feeling everyone had cottoned on to what was happening. But she could only stare at her boyfriend, her heart hammering in her chest, frozen.

Just when Nico had begun to look worried, and the announcer's voice had just shouted out a loud "Eight!" Lily shrieked, "Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes!"

She flung herself at Nico, knocking him over as they kissed again, their lips opening and closing together, his hands on her back and in her hair. Nico pulled out of the kiss and slipped the ring over her finger – it was a band formed solely of blue topaz, and it glimmered beautifully in the candlelight.

His eyes were so close, and Lily felt tears forming, seeing her excitement and happiness mirrored in his gaze. "I love you," she whispered, hugging him close, pressing her face into his warm neck, loving the way his strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist, making her feel so secure and loved.

"I love you too," he breathed, kissing her hair and standing up in the same movement, pulling her up with him.

"We're getting married!" Lily screamed, tackling him with another hug, and this time Nico lifted her clear off the floor, spinning her around and laughing.

"Yes we are!" he shouted, dipping her backwards and kissing her deeply. "Would you believe," he muttered, in between kisses, "I've been carrying that ring in my pocket for two weeks, wondering when and how to give it to you?"

Lily giggled, beaming up at him. "I can believe it," she said, gasping at his lips moved to her collarbone. "You take forever to make up your mind."

"I've made it up now," he said, grinning roguishly, and swooped down to claim her mouth again.

Someone cleared his throat behind them, and Lily opened her eyes to feel Nico's lips and tongue leaving her mouth, making her feel strangely empty.

"Happy New Year?" Percy said cautiously, faltering under Nico's irritated gaze.

"Seriously, Percy?" Nico glared. "Happy New Year. Now shut up and let me kiss my fiancée in peace!"

But it was not to be. Annabeth intruded, hugging Lily tightly and shrieking congratulations, and suddenly there was a throng of girls where moments ago only his girl had been, and Nico groaned, leaning back against the wall and giving Percy his scariest glare. It was working. He hadn't seen the son of Poseidon look so scared in years.

Snickering, Nico pulled Percy in for a quick hug.

"Congratulations," Percy grinned, "But I don't know if I should be congratulating you. Do you have any idea what you're in for?"

Nico smirked. "Better idea than you know."

Percy blanched.

Lily came out of nowhere, her arms trapping her brother and fiancé at the same time, holding them both tightly.

"Congratulations," Percy smiled down at her. "Nico, you keep her happy, got it? Or you're going to have to deal with me."

"I will," Nico said seriously, looking down at the beautiful girl sparkling with smiles at his side, nuzzling into her neck. "I love you, princess," he told her softly.

Lily kissed him lightly, keeping it chaste this time. "You too, darling."

He raised his eyebrows. "Darling?"

"Honey? Sweetie? Sweetie-pie? Teddy bear?"

Percy started laughing.

Nico groaned. "Can we please just stick with Nico?"

Lily was grinning, and about to reply, when Jessie's scream cut through everything else.

"Nico! You ruined her hair!"

Lily smiled, twining her arms around Nico's chest as she felt her hair come loose. This was definitely the best night of her life – but she was sure he was going to keep changing her mind about that.