This is going to be very depressing. Some of you might be guessing what happens but if you aren't then I hope you enjoy the sadness. Oh by the way, I skip four years old because in the previous chapter, Darren was, like, a week away from being four.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

Third Person


Young five year old Darren Christopher Paul Grace Di Angelo clung to his daddy's leg as the thirty-three year old held his head low and walked down the aisle. But this was not at all like the wedding that was only 4 years ago. For they were not celebrating the start of a family, but instead they were mourning the loss of a woman that was too young to die. At age 31, Thalia Grace- Di Angelo had passed away from leukemia.

Nico remembered the talk they had not only four days before.

*Flash Back*

Nico sat by the Thalia's weak frame when she brought up something he never wanted to hear.

"Promise me you'll remarry." She whispered to him as he snaps his head, a look of disbelief on his face. "If not for you, for Darren, he needs a mommy."

"He has one." Nico said, trying to keep his voice even. "No one in the entire world could replace you." He always believed she would make it, no matter what the doctors said.

"Nico…" she said before going into another coughing fit. When she got her breathing under control and resumed her talk. "Nico, please… You need to stop kidding yourself. I'm not going to live to see Darren sixth birthday. You need to help him get father in his life. It's better if you just… I just wish I could leave you something behind. Something that could make up for the past year I've been in this damned hospital bed."

"You did give me something. Something I'll never be able to repay you for." Her eyes started to close, and he knew he had only a minute. "You gave me your love. You gave me the chance to be everything I've been…" As the heart monitor line began to go down, he let out a breath and he whispered the last part of his speech. "You gave me our son. I'll always love you, Thalia Grace." He said pressing his lips to her forehead.

And with her last breath, she got out the last words she'd ever say, "Forever… And… Always…" and with that, there was nothing but a flat line on the monitor.

When Nico returned home that night, Darren was asleep. As Nico spotted Percy, it seemed as if Percy knew what happened, and he gathered Nico in a hug, like a father would do so to his son. And Nico cried. That's all he did.

The first words Darren spoke to his dad the next day were, "Is mommy coming home?"

All Nico could do was hug his son and tell him gently, "No, buddy. Mommy's in a better place now. She's not hurting anymore."

*End of Flash Back*

Darren sat next to his Uncle Percy as Nico neared the podium where he would give the speech he never wanted to read.

"We're here to remember the short lived life of Thalia Grace. She was a great person, had pure heart, and dedicated her life to loving her son. While it took a bit of time o get her to trust me, I regret nothing that I did. She left this note apologizing to all of us. It says, 'To everyone here, I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you as I died. I want to apologize for making all of you worry.'" Nico breath caught in his throat and he stopped reading from it. "Like I said, she had a big heart. Even when she wasn't to blame, she'd say sorry. Her last wish to me was to remarry. As much as I hate to refuse her demand, I can't. It's too hard thinking of me with someone else beside her. I'll always miss you, Thals. There won't be a day that goes by that I won't think about you. I want you to know, Darren already has a mommy. He always will." He wiped away his tears as he took a seat next to his son, putting his arm around him. Darren was crying into Nico's jacket at that time.

Darren said something that broke Nico's heart that day. He looked up at her casket and smiled, then whispered, "Bye, Bye, Mommy."


Yes, that part about asking if my grandma was coming home was true, except I said, "Where's Grandma, Mommy?" Yes, I was an adorable little girl… What the hell happened? If you guys wouldn't mind reviewing, please do. There's been over 100 views yet only about 4 reviews. Do it for the little innocent Skylar.