For Takara Phoenix's Nicercy Valentines Contest. Sorry its late guys, I meant to get it out sooner but then I lost my mojo for this and I didn't want to just push it out :/ But I got back into it and tarrdaa. Sorry if it's it bit rushed at the end, anyway enjoy the story. :)

He really wanted to open his eyes, how was he supposed to keep them closed with all this excitement bubbling up inside him? Maybe if his right eye accidently opened-

"I know what you're thinking mio cuore, don't you dare!" Nico's tone was playful but had a stern warning underneath it. Jeesh, fine then mister grumps, my eyes won't open! Percy sarcastically thought.

Since his eyes were closed Percy had to rely on his other senses. He could hear the way Nico's footsteps were moving around franticly in their living room. Was Nico trying to stomp his footprint into the wood? Honestly if he wasn't careful he was going to crash face first into the floor. The traffic from outside seemed quieter than usual, but then again Percy's heart was beating in his ear's because of the excitement. The son of Poseidon smelled candles… he recognised the scents; vanilla (his boyfriends favourite ice-cream) and black raspberry (like his mother's blue raspberry desert's.) Now, the older boy was sure this was supposed to make him feel happy or something but really it just made him feel hungry. Damn it why must he always think of food, even in serious moments like now? His mouth was watering from just thinking of the ripe juice fruit and just as his stomach was about to voice its agreement-

"Ok amare," Came a breathless reply. "You can open your eyes now." Sea green eyes revealed themselves as Percy slowly looked around their small apartment living room. His heart stopped and his breathing hitched as the son of Poseidon surveyed the lightly lit scenery. The room was dark; the green curtains closed, but silver Christmas light chains were hung beautifully around the place. Around the windows, above the oak door, circling the cream ceiling edges…

In front of the television was a couple of chairs with a long blue blanket thrown over them; like the forts Nico and Percy sometimes made when they watched movies and were bored of sitting on the couch. The young dark haired man walked closer to examine the small blue covered fortress. There was some light chains around it too, the entrance was low with the blanket falling over the top a little and coming over the sides; pushed back with… duct tape? Percy gave his boyfriend a worried sideward glance.

The brown eyed male was rubbing the back of his neck nervously, taking notice of what Percy was looking at. "I couldn't find anything else that would hold…" He replied sheepishly. "But I drew hearts on it!" He dignified. His older boyfriend just kept staring at him like he became a Hydra and grew a new head. The son of Hades gave a timid smile in response while rubbing his sweaty hands together.

The green eyed man looked at the duct tape again and true to his word Nico had drawn big red hearts with what looked like a lot of felt-tip pens. The son of Poseidon continued on with his investigation and saw that instead of another blanket on the hard wooden floor – like they usually did – there was a blow up mattress covered in black pillows and a thin white sheet. All around the beautiful display of affection were the candles he had smelt earlier; they were the only source of light along with the chains in the dark room, with food in front of the self-made tent; varying from chocolates to crisps and strawberries. Percy smiled and blushed at what his boyfriend did just for him. No one had ever done something so special for him before and it made his smile widen.

Nico on the other hand was having a panic attack; he just saw his older boyfriends back and couldn't tell what he was thinking. Why wasn't he saying anything? Didn't he like it? Was it the duct tape?

He ran out of time to use anything else though! Percy said that they shouldn't do anything fancy or stressful this year, said he wanted to have a fun and relaxing evening with his boyfriend. This was simple right? Maybe Nico should have asked his brother-in-law about how to 'keep it simple'; since that seemed to be his motto…

"I um…," He coughed, "I-You-said to keep it simple… so I… um… did?" The younger of the two managed to stutter out, though the ending of his sentence was asked like a meek, confused question. "Tartaro , io sono un idiota…" The half Italian muttered under his breath. Gods this was so embarrassing. The son of Hades was about to apologise for everything but his boyfriend turned round with the biggest smile on his face like he was the king of the world. "This is your idea about keeping it simple?" The favoured son of Poseidon gestured to the display Nico had worked so hard on, with his hands. Nico stood there; turning crimson and unsure of what to do or say. "I love it." Was Percy's soft reply; the light blush on his cheeks creeping to his ears. "This is the sweetest thing I've ever seen Nico." The younger Greek demigod gave a bashful smile. "The Aphrodite kids would love this, should we take a picture for Mitchell so he can fawn over you some more?" Percy playfully bantered. And…there goes the moment. Nico thought dryly. Mitchell needed to back off some; the son of Aphrodite didn't seem to get it into his super blonde curly head that the dark eyed man wasn't interested. Percy, along with the rest of their friends, (including Piper, Mitchell's half-sister) thought it was a great way to tease him. Nico smiled darkly, the ghost king would have his revenge, just wait and see.

Once they were clad in their pyjamas they got comfy inside the small fort that was in front of the TV. They were watching 'The Note Book' since Nico had declared it a tradition to watch cheesy love film's on Valentine's Day. The green eyed man couldn't argue with his boyfriend; the son of Hades was Italian after all and a romantic at heart, so it was impossible to watch anything else.

Halfway through the movie the two boys had cocooned themselves with the white sheet and were snuggling each other; Percy's back to Nico's chest with his boyfriend's head resting on top of his. The heroes of Olympus felt content just being close to one another and being in each other's arms.

But the closer it got to the end the more the dark eyed man became nervous and jittery; moving about slightly and eyes downcast a lot. This made the youngest demi-god son of Poseidon worried.

"Nico… are you… alright?" He asked as the film drawled to an end. The oldest hero's voice was soft and gentle but with concern seeping into the tone. The youngest Greek looked into his boyfriends bright eyes and let out a shaky sigh as he reached over to his left, pushing the blue blanket that covered them away a little, before bringing the object in his hand to Percy's line of sight. It was a rose but not like the ordinary red ones everyone got this time of year, they were blue but not plain blue; at the base of the flower they were a dark vivid blue that got lighter and lighter the further up the soft petals it went, the fading light blue at the very top was so light it looked almost white.

The powerful son of the sea god was fascinated by the flower in his boyfriends' hands. It was so beautiful to look at and looked so soft that the green eyed boy was afraid to touch it; least he break it, like he usually did with delicate things.

"At first-um-I thought of painting it blue but then I remembered Persephone owed me a favour so I asked her for a proper, real blue rose for you and not those stupid dyed ones the mortals are trying to make that always turn lilac instead." Nico explained. Was this why his normally confident and calm boyfriend turned really nervous tonight? "It's beautiful Nico, thank you." Percy said gratefully as he took the offered rose from his lover.

The sweet sent flowed up his nose and filed him with contentment and love. A dazed smile slid onto his face. The corner of his eye caught his boyfriends fidgeting form and Percy looked up to see his flustered face. "I um- also got you something else." The son of Hades opened his palm to revile an onyx ring with dark electric green patterns like waves circling around the band. Poseidon's favourite son was flabbergasted. "I know that you didn't want anything special today but I couldn't help myself when I saw this and thought of you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Percy, I know we will fight and it won't always be sunshine and rainbows but that doesn't mean it will be bad. We will just have to work through it like we always do; if we make up after a fight then that shows how much we mean to each other. I know you don't believe in soul mates amare, but I can't imagine my life without you, please don't ever leave me. I love you so much Percy, please say yes."

Tears of joy were gathering in Percy's eyes, "Oh Nico, you stole me line." Nico's expression turned to confusion. "Huh?" He asked oh so smartly. The green eyed boy chuckled through his happy tears. "What I mean is…" He pulled out a small black box from his pocket which he had kept hidden from his boyfriend. When he opened it Nico lost his breath. There in the box was also a ring; a September sapphire ring with black shadow like claws crawling around the band. The oldest demi-god gently smiled. "I know I said I didn't want us to do anything special today but that was because I was going to surprise you with this." Nico gazed transfixed at the ring. "And you were just going to pull it out before we went to bed?" He asked jokingly. Percy huffed and blew away some black hair that was trying to hide his face. "I was going to give it to you after any sex you wanted, ok?" The Sea God's son cursed himself quietly when the response came out agitated and slightly flustered. He peeked at his boyfriend and felt some triumph when Nico's face was like a tomato. "O-Oh, I see." The underworld child lamely remarked.

The Jackson just chuckled and kissed the younger boys nose. "You're adorable my little Ghost King." He muttered dreamily. "I'm not little or adorable." Nico grumbled. Percy suddenly jumped up with enthusiasm. "Oh, we have to tell the others! Come on, come on and get up!" The death prince was starting to get dizzy watching his lover jump up and down like a little kid on a sugar rush. "I'm sure they have other things planned than listening to this." He tried to reason but the favoured son of Poseidon was already out the door. Nico sighed as he got up and headed to the door. "Shouldn't have proposed so soon." The dark haired boy grumbled, pulling his jacket closer. "Then it would have gone Percy's way." Continued the self-moping. "Now we have to go to friends and I won't get sex for ages." The son of Hades felt like dying. "At least he liked it." A dopey smile slid onto his face. He didn't really care how they proposed as long as the outcome was a yes. Nico glanced up at the sound of his boyfriends laughter and chatty voice as he talked over his phone. Percy was happy and that made Nico feel like everything was perfect, as he always felt around his older boyfriend. "Ready to go my love? Or can't you wait to talk to our friends in person?" The di Angelo kissed the top of his boyfriends head. His fiancé blushed while saying his goodbyes and pocketed his phone again. "S-Sorry," he replied, "Just excited." Nico laughed and hugged the little hero. "I was only teasing mio bello." Everything was fine, and everything would continue to be so as long as they were together.

Forever and always. Nico looked lovely at Percy and his boyfriend did the same. The smile split his face at the thought.

Hope you guys liked it. :)

Tartaro , io sono un idiota… = Tartarus, I'm such an idiot…

mio cuore = my heart

amare = love