AN: Hey Yall! New update and a really long chapter! It's pretty late but it's pretty LONG! I didn't plan on this being so long really but it happened to be more hilarious because of it so it's OK ! :) There will be a part 3 to this that will be pretty short from what I have planned. Thank you guys for reading! Read and review and follow and fav... as always! This is Annabeth's POV

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PJO OR HoO! I'M NOT UNCLE RICK! I ONLY OWN MY PLOT

ENJOY :)

We continued to unpack boxes, full of things from medical books to flashlights and... plants? I really never would've expected Nico to have plants in his house but they could be used for medicine and everyone needs some household beauty. Percy made a remark though, saying something like "will you shine light into Nico's soul? Because honestly I think Hades is going to be upset with Nico having more light then necessary because we all know what kind of things you do that gives light where the sun don't shine!"

He laughed hysterically at his own joke, as always and again, as always he left Nico and Will blushing from their scalps to their toes. As much as I fought it, the sight allowed a smile break on to my face. I changed it to a smirk and rolled my eyes. "Seaweed brain...you are something else". I walked over to him and kissed him. Nico and Will couldn't help but grin either.

As Nico shook his head at his honorary brother, Will made a comeback saying "We all know what happens where the sun don't shine. What about underwater? Don't you two do down there all the time?" He questioned, and for once I stammered out of embarrassment and felt blood rush to my cheeks, my feet and everywhere between. I grinned eventually and covered my face still looking at the ground. It's not like it wasn't entirely false, but we didn't do it fully yet. Only very heavy making out. That's what made me blush so much. I finally looked at Percy to see that he was STILL laughing!

I watched him in awe wondering how long he could laugh for. He calmed down after a minute and started all over again as he looked up at Will, who stood smirking at his accuracy and quickly shook his head.

"THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST JOKE I'VE EVER HEARD!" He walked over to Will and knelt down in front of him, "I bow down before thou" he said as he bent his head down.

Will looked amused as he started to pet Percy. "There there" he said. At this, even Nico had to laugh. He couldn't resist. I grinned as well.

I walked over to them and said "This puppy I shall name Seaweed Brain". I received a bark and a lick on my hand. I grinned and wiped it on his forehead, to which he frowned. "C'mon guys. There are still a lot of boxes left!" I said as I pulled up Percy and ruffled Nico's hair.

Lately he'd become a lot more comfortable with people touching him especially us, the seven. Nico flinched and my touch and backed away just a bit, like his old self, but seemed to control himself as he put on a forced smile. I looked him in the eye, to read his emotions, as feelings were often shown through someone's eyes for some reason. It was one of the only things I never understood. Especially since no matter how hard I tried I can't control what emotions were shown in my eyes. At least not completely.

What I saw, wasn't really surprising. It was fear, apprehension and anxiety that radiated from his eyes. When I first noticed this, his edginess really, it was when we came in. Particularly because he was holding a sword and Will was covering him. They were prepared to fight a monster or something, not hang out with friends. If Nico was still apprehensive, then something must've been wrong.

Just now, I touched him casually to see what his reaction was, as I was doing all night. He seemed really on edge. I acted normally so he wouldn't worry more, and so that he wouldn't be suspicious of my information gathering methods. Also, I kind of figured that whatever was wrong would be taken care of if they didn't tell Percy and me. I knew that if they needed help they would tell us and ask. After all, Percy is one of the most powerful demigods alive, but so is Nico. Nico would be fine, because he was Nico. Son of Hades. Will wouldn't let him take on too much burden either.

Speaking of Will, he was talking to Percy, normally really and if anything, more perky than usual. This could be his attempt to forget the incident or cover up suspicion though. He could really be distracting us from Nico too.

The joke he made earlier, was something he doesn't usually do. He isn't usually the one to be a jokester, only with certain people, and rarely with us. I mean, I could be paranoid about this, but I could also be right. As a daughter of Athena, one of these guesses are probably right.

We continued to open boxes, and set the items on one of the only pieces of furniture they had set up, a table. A commonly sized table, with curved edges, with Greek letters etched into the sides of the unfinished cherry wood table. I liked the fact that it was unfinished because it gave off a raw feeling, like it was stripped bare of everything keeping it from revealing its journey and story. The rawness resembled the journey the two of them took, showing just how far they've each come and how they help each other like the unfinished table compliments the Greek letters, and they, together, tell a story.

When it came to large items, and to later in the day, we ended up putting everything on the floor and creating an assembly line, but really two small ones. Percy and I stood next to one another each with a box each, and I passed items to Nico, while Percy passed his to Will so they could put it into a pile or put it away right away. I made sure to stand in front of Nico quickly, so that I could observe him. It seemed that he was still on edge. He kept glancing around the room, and back to the table at the area where the medical books were. As if, he had seen someone or something there before and was waiting for it to reappear.

As I did my work, I dropped one of the pillows on purpose to observe him. As he felt it touch his ankle, he jumped and looked back at me, with wide eyes. Once he saw the pillow, he sighed with relief shook his head, and offered a small but obviously forced smile. "Sorry" I mumbled, like I was embarrassed that I, a daughter of Athena dropped a pillow. I continued my work but pondered what could've happened.

It was most likely a dream though. I decided to tell Percy, oblivious Seaweed Brain he was. "Oh, hey Perce can you come with me to add cheese to the food? It was supposed to be put 2 hours after cooking." With my eyes I told him that it wasn't true but that I needed to tell him. He grinned and I knew he got the message and looked back at the guys, saying "Be right back!"

I walked to the kitchen and pulled him aside, "Did you notice that Will and Nico were acting a little differently?"

"Well, Will became really funny overnight," he grinned but I slapped his arm, causing him to wince.

"You know what I mean. Hadn't Will seemed a bit more outgoing than usual? And hasn't Nico seemed a bit more edgy?" I asked him, hoping he wasn't THAT much of a Seaweed Brain.

"Will usually doesn't make jokes that are that good. But Nico is usually a bit quiet, and if he's edgy he might be tired."

I bit my lip. "I don't think so Perce. Something happened, which caused them to be armed at the door. Just pay attention see if you notice anything." He nodded.

We walked back out, hand in hand and I ruffled his hair acting normally and kissed his lips.

"Get a room!" Will called out! I looked back at Percy and smiled but told him with my eyes, told ya so. He smiled back.

As we continued with the seemingly never-ending work, I could tell Percy was paying more attention. Anytime each one of them showed their exaggerated perkiness (Will) or edginess, (Nico), I gave him more subtle pointed looks that nobody else would've noticed. That's only because we've been doing silent communication for like 9 years.

We made another excuse to leave, saying that Percy's mom wanted the cookies to be heated up 10 minutes before eating, and Percy wanted some. That part wasn't a lie though. In reality, I wanted some too.

"Did you notice those? Huh Seaweed Brain?" I asked him.

"Yea, yeah I did. How couldn't I have seen it before? I'm his brother. I should see these things like this!" He had a sad look on his face, and I put my hands around his neck, his hands automatically going to my waist.

"You're oblivious Percy. And I'm kind of worried too but let's be real. He's Nico."

Percy nodded. "He is strong enough, no doubt, and Will with him, they're practically unstoppable… But… still…" he paused to shake his head "I can't help but be worried. Where are Hazel and Frank, I mean, he's her brother. They should be here right? They might know about this, or be able to help them."

"They're stuck with Praetor duties." I checked the clock, "I talked to Hazel earlier. They should be here any second actually." The doorbell rang. I couldn't help the smug smile that broke my face. I'm really always right. I gave Percy a quick peck on the lips, "Come on. Heat the cookies before they get suspicious of cold cookies." He shook his head and smiled as I walked out of the kitchen to greet who I knew were Hazel and Frank.