Annabeth sat at the long, wooden table, diagrams set out before her. The house she was working on was harder, requiring more rooms than the space could possibly provide. If she got it right, they would be rewarded with more money than she had ever gotten before.

"Hey, Annie." Percy sat next to her, setting a cup of coffee by her papers. "The kids are in bed."

"Good..." she sipped the coffee, not looking at him.

"So...how do you like the house?" Percy asked. "I got in for cheap. Can you believe it?"

"It's pretty," Annabeth commented.

Percy sighed. "It's our second night here and you haven't even looked at it."

Annabeth gestured to her papers. "I'm working. This is a hard one, Perce."

Percy looked at the papers. "Do you think you can figure it out?"

Annabeth nodded. "With time... How do the girls like the house?"

"They love it." Percy smiled. "All they've been doing has been exploring it."

"Is it safe for them to go off on their own?" Annabeth asked. "It's old."

"I checked everything," Percy assured her. "It's fine. Do you want to come to bed? It's late."

"I have work, Percy." Annabeth drank more of the coffee. "You can go up. I know it's been a long day for you."

Percy scratched the back of his neck. "Are you hungry?"

Annabeth shook her head. "I've been snacking on pretzels."

"Okay..." he got up. "Then I'll go to bed. Promise to go to sleep before midnight?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, okay."

Percy looked at her before going upstairs, the steps creaking underneath his weigh. Annabeth worked herself too hard, spent her nights not sleeping. It had been awhile since his wife had even kissed him.

Annabeth spoke once Percy was gone, having waited to make sure he wasn't in hearing range. "What do you possibly see in him?"

A pale boy stepped out of the shadows, a noose mark around his thin neck. Black hair, black eyes, dark suit. "He's your husband, Annabeth."

"And yet you have a crush on him." Annabeth smiled. "I want to know why."

He sat on the table next to her papers. "Why are you working yourself to death?"

"You answer my question first, Nico."

"Fine, whatever." he shrugged. "I don't know. I just do. But nothing's ever gonna happen about it so forget that you know."

Annabeth glanced at him. "You seem awfully calm about it."

Nico put his hand to her cup of coffee, tried to feel its warmth. "I'm used to being dead by now. Now, answer my question."

Annabeth sighed. "Fine. You know you're a pain in the ass, right?"

"I always try to be."

"It'll pay good money." Annabeth finally admitted. "Percy spent our money on this house trying to cheer me up. Now we have nothing. So I'm getting money for our family."

"Oh." Nico swung his feet. "Money, I forgot. You guys have to like eat and stuff."

Annabeth cracked a smile. "Yes, we have to eat and stuff."

"That sucks." Nico looked to the ceiling. "Do you want some help?"

"I don't think you could help, sorry." Annabeth started to doodle on another paper. "It's best that I stick to just myself."

Nico pointed to the blueprints. "You messed up right here."

Annabeth's head snapped to the side to look at where he was pointing. "What do you mean?"

"Cut this room in half." Nico took her pencil and drew a dotted line down the page. "Hear me out. The left bedroom doesn't need two closets. Cutting out the walk-in closet gives the right bedroom enough space for you to cut it in half and make another room. Barely, but it works."

Annabeth thought for a minute before gently moving Nico's hand off the paper. "Fine, I admit it. You're right."

Nico grinned. "Glad I could be of assistance."

Annabeth waved him away. "Okay. Go back to wherever you stay."

Nico got off the table. "Have you explored the house yet?"

Annabeth shook her head. "Why?"

Nico shrugged. "Just wondering... And just a warning. There's a lake in those woods. Be careful."

And then he was gone, leaving her alone in the old dining room, alone with her thoughts. How had she gotten so comfortable with a ghost? When had she ever believed in them?