DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Rick Riordan. Song used is "Soldatino" by Paola Bennet.

When Nico finally manages to summon Bianca again, he almost collapses from exhaustion. He sits down heavily as her glowing form rises up from the ground to kneel in front of him.

"I thought-" He sniffs and runs his hand against his nose quickly. Then he gestures to the ground at her feet, "I thought Italian might work better...Anisette cookies," he explains, "like Mamma used to-"

She tilts her head, eyes watering, and offers him a small smile.

"Nico..."

"I miss you," His voice cracks.

"I miss you too Passerotto. You need sleep..."

"Bianca! I can't- I can't summon you again! Bianca please..." Nico lets his tears spill over, "please stay."

She stares at him sadly. "Tell me what's wrong, Nico."

For some reason Nico feels a desperate anger rise up in his chest: anger at his sister who left him and will never come back, and at himself for needing her to so badly. "You know what's wrong! I know you watch over me! I can feel you there! But you never-" He chokes on his words, and tugs on his hair. "Bianca..." He sobs, "I'm all alone...you left me."

And because she cannot hold him and cannot cry for him, she opens her mouth and sings. Her voice is low and lamenting. Nico vaguely recognizes the sounds, from his past or his dreams.

"Close your eyes
I know what you see
The darkness is high
And you're in ten feet deep
But we've survived more terrible monster than sleep
And you know i will be here, to tell you to breathe

Tu sei il mio soldatino
La ragione per cui vivo
Non ti scordar di me
Io vegliero su di te

Stumbling lost
The last choice of all that you meet
It's the cost
Of rulling those 'neath you feet
Paths you've crossed, and trust you're trying to keep
You're exhausted Listening for a voice that can't speak

Ma nico mio caro

Tu sei il mio soldatino
La ragione ho vissuto
Non ti scordar di me
Io vegliero su di te

So you run
Through shadows you roam
Seams undone
By the love you thought you could own
But he's just one
Of many that you might call home
And maybe someday, the bitter will fade from your bones
Fade from your bones

Eri il mio soldatino
Ora un principe oscuro
Ma anche per te, c'e una luce
Che ad un'altra vita ti conduce..."

She reaches out, and her fingers start to fade, the rest of her soon following suit. Even so, as Nico drifts into a dreamless sleep he could swear he feels her fingers smooth his hair back and hear her voice, the voice of an angel, whispering to him..

Hai una seconda vita... Andare lo rendono uno migliore...

Any comments, thoughts, constructive criticism, etc. is welcome and appreciated :)

Translations (Italian to English):
Passerotto = sparrow (term of endearment)

Tu sei il mio soldatino = You are my little soldier ~

La ragione per cui vivo = The reason I live Non ti scordar di me = Don't forget me Io vegliero su di te = I'm watching over you

Ma nico mio caro = My Nico, my dear

Tu sei il mio soldatino La ragione ho vissuto = The reason I lived Non ti scordar di me = Don't forget me Io vegliero su di te = I'm watching over you

Eri il mio soldatino = You were my little soldier Ora un principe oscuro Now a dark prince Ma anche per te, c'e una luce = But even for you, there's a light Che ad un'altra vita ti conduce = That leads you to another life

Hai una seconda vita...Andare lo rendono uno migliore = You have a second life...Go make it a better one