Nico's POV

I took a deep breath as I pushed open the glass double doors of the newly founded Demigod Orphanage. It was founded for demigod infants/children who had abusive/dead/unstable mortal parents and/or godly parents who couldn't "interfere with their children's' lives." My Stygian iron sword clanked against the glass and Will's bow snapped back in Leo's face. Will squeezed my hand reassuringly and linked his arm in mine.

Today was the day. We were finally going to become parents.

We had promised each other not to give away our name suggestions. For both of us, it had boiled down to two names; a boys name and a girls name. Today was the day our lives would change forever.

Of course, Will and I weren't allowed to do this on our own. We were flanked by Percy, Leo, Calypso, Annabeth, Frank, Hazel, Jason, Piper, and even Reyna, who had dropped everything and insisted upon coming with us. Percy was hyperventilating and leaning on Annabeth, who rolled her eyes. "Annabeth, I'm not ready for this. This is such a huge step, a huge milestone in our lives- what if I can't do it? What if I fail? I can barely take care of myself, let alone a tiny, fragile baby!" He started breathing into a paper bag. "I'M NOT READY TO BE A FATHER YET!" Annabeth sighed. "This isn't even your baby, Percy." She shook her head, annoyed. "This is Will and Nico's baby!" "Oh, puh-lease, Annabeth, this is everyone's baby!" Percy exclaimed dramatically. I glanced at our group. Calypso was giggling at something Leo had said about Percy's outburst, Jason was whispering about how he was so proud of us and swelling with pride, while Piper smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and handed him a pack of tissues. Hazel and Frank just looked plain overjoyed. "Uncle Frank and Auntie Hazel." I had winked at the two when I first broke the news of us adopting. (Naturally, Hazel was the first person I told, along with Frank.) Reyna smiled appreciatively as I glanced at her. She gave me a swift thumbs up and practically shoved me and Will up to the front desk.

"Names?" The receptionist asked without glancing up. "William and Nico di Angelo-Solace" Will stated. "Godly parents?" The receptionist replied without batting an eyelid. "Son of Apollo and son of Hades respectively." I answered swiftly. The receptionist glanced at an open binder next to her and finally looked up. She smiled, but her eyes were cold, looking at my sword in obvious distaste. Will sensed it too, because he stiffened next to me. "Misters di Angelo-Solace, you have been pre-approved, correct?" Will and I both nodded. It was true; we had been pre approved to see if we were fit to have a child in our house. "Are you all a group?" She seemed to have just noticed the 7 plus Calypso and Reyna. "We're tagging along for moral support, lady. Enough of the questions!" Leo complained, and Calypso elbowed him in the side. The receptionist raised a brow, but led us into the next room. Will was bouncing nervously on his heels and twiddling his fingers, glancing at me and at the floor, at his hands, the ceiling, everywhere. "Infant or child? Any godly parent preferences?" the receptionist asked indifferently. "Erm, we were thinking an infant. We weren't considering any specific gender." Will responded absentmindedly. "Of any godly parent is fine. Except, of course, Apollo or Hades." I added. "Though it would be weird if the kid were a child of any of your guy's parents." I directed the last comment towards our friends. "Okay, Misters Solace and di Angelo, you may see the children in this room." The receptionist said. "When you have made a decision, bring the child out and you may fill out the paperwork." Will drew his breath. "Come on, Solace." I half-smirked. "Today will be the day our lives will change for the better." And he followed me into the room.

There were so many babies in one room! I mean, SOOOO many babies. Children of every god/goddess imaginable. Will practically dragged me along. "Nico, Neeks, look!" He pointed excitedly at every cradle. "Calm yourself, William." I laughed. Will let go of my hand and wandered over to a son of Hermes and tickled him under the chin. I didn't pay much attention until Will exclaimed in alarm a few moments later. I bolted over to find Will fishing around in the child's mouth and pulling his golden wedding band out of it. He slipped it on his finger, shook his head slightly, and moved away. "I don't have anything against him, but he would get into a lot of trouble." he muttered to me. I strayed over to a cradle hosting a child of Hecate. I picked her up and she looked at me. I looked at her. She looked at me. Then she smacked my face and started shrieking.

The child went back in the cradle.

This went on for a while. "Will, I'm kinda starting to think there's no kid here for us." I murmured, clasping his hand and intertwining our fingers."Don't say that." he said quietly. "There's got to be one. I know it, Neeks. I just know it. Come on." He placed a soft kiss on my cheek, almost barely noticeable. To passersby he might've been whispering in my ear. At that moment, the door swung open. An employee walked in carrying a baby swaddled in a pale, buttery yellow blanket with lightly embroidered silvery patterns on one edge. The baby was squirming and having a fit. He settled the baby inside her cradle with a bottle and other necessities, then left. Will basically dragged me over there. "Calm down, lightbulb!" I groaned, rubbing my sore arm. I read the label on her cradle; she was a child of Demeter. Well, I thought, this would be awkward between Persephone, Demeter, and me. Will was bent over the crib, beaming and peering into the little face. He was practically glowing. The daughter of Demeter stayed quiet for a second as Will picked her up and started walking in circles, saying over-brightly," Hello, sunshine! I'm Will, and that cuddly ball of death over there is Nico!" Then she started wailing, face reddening. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Will looked on the verge of tears as he tried calming her. I emerged from my shadowy corner and plucked the child from Will's arms and started whispering the jumbled lyrics to some of my favorite songs. The baby girl quieted and stared into my eyes, her own solemn, deep blue-mixed-with-black pupils sparkling. She had feathery, soft black hair and pale skin with freckles splashed across her nose. I finished the last few words of the chorus to Surefire by John Legend and smiled. She smiled back.

"There now, bambina, that wasn't so hard now. I apologize for William. He can be overbearing, but he just likes you. Something I can relate to." I spoke gruffly. "Will, come here." I called. He laughed bitterly from the floor. "And unleash the apocalypse?" he asked, hanging his head. "I don't think so." "You idiota ipocrita, get your rear over here before I have to drag you up myself." Will grudgingly obliged. I could almost see our everyone's noses pressed against the glass as they watched the scene unfold. "Dolce bambina here was just tense. You freaked her out with your overbearing happiness. She had nothing against you." I quickly added as a plus. I passed the baby over to Will, who held the child against his chest. "Sorry about earlier." he whispered, low-keying the brightness of his tone. He was silent for a moment, then said," You have really pretty eyes, you know that, right?" The baby took his finger and held it, settling into the blankets. He drew a breath and stiffened. I started humming Surefire again and for a few minutes, it was just the three of us, standing there, and for those few minutes, time stood still. I felt so whole, if that's how you would describe this. Complete.

I glanced at Will and he glanced at me. He raised an eyebrow and I nodded. He handed the child to me, and I whispered," Dolce bambina, if you'll have us, it would be our honour to be your fathers." The baby smiled and gurgled, touching my face with her tiny hand. I slowly returned the gesture. "And now, for the bane of my existence." Will announced, kicking the doors open. "Paperwork."

The child was passed on to the girls (since they were more coordinated than Leo, Percy, Frank, and Jason combined, and also cause the guys left to find a dam snack bar) while Will and I filled out the paperwork. That was expected. What we did NOT expect was our receptionist lady to turn into a flying, spitting demon and start ripping the paperwork to shreds. I drew my sword and Will notched an arrow. I yelled at Annabeth to take the kid and hide with the girls- which she promptly ignored. She gave the baby to Calypso while she, Piper, Hazel, and Reyna busted out the touch the godsforsaken child or nice guys who just want a family and we will rip out your eyes and shove them in your ears so you can see how stupid you sound sparring. Let's just say the receptionist lady was literal dust within 3 minutes by the hands Fantastic (Female!) Four.

"The intensity of that attack was scary and somewhat disturbing." Will mumbled, a little freaked out. I kissed him to shut him up. The guys came back with Calypso and the kid, Jason stuffing Cheez-Its in his mouth and asking," What'd we miss?" "A wicked battle." Hazel examined her nails and blew a puff of hair out of her face. "Can we go before we get attacked again?" I whined, already halfway down the hall. As Reyna gave the long-story-short of what happened, we went to the front desk and explained the attack. I redid the paperwork as Will sorted out the technicalities. Finally, after about an hour, they dropped the bomb.

"What will you name her? Needs to go on paperwork." My husband and I glanced at each other. "You have your choice?" He nodded. "You?" I nodded back. "I did some research… won't say by what means, but in the end I decided on Bianca." I choked on air. "How the hell do you know about Bianca?" I said between retches. "Hey, Annabeth, I'm getting kinda thirsty, wanna come to the snack bar with me?" Percy proposed quickly."Sit down, Jackson!" I growled. The baby started fussing in Piper's arms. She quickly gave her to Will. I looked up at Will, ready to scream at him in the middle of the orphanage for prying into my very PERSONAL past, when I saw how his eyes were shining as he gazed down into my face (damn you, high difference!) and bounced the baby on his knee. "It's… really perfect." I wound up mumbling. And it was. "So, my ray of darkness, what did you choose for your name?" "Kayla." Will's eyes widened. "Nico-" I clapped a hand over his mouth to shut him up. "I- I owe her, Will. It's the least and probably the most I could do at this point." I hung my head. "You have to understand that." Will hesitated. "Fine. But no guilt-tripping yourself after this. Doctor's orders." I cracked a smile. "And, it just occurred to me now, but how about also…"

I leant over and whispered the name in his ear. Will's eyes lit up and he nodded. I took a deep breath and peered down into my daughter's sweet little face, her eyes sparkling at me.

"Hello, Bianca Kayla Maria di Angelo-Solace."