Just so you know, I don't exactly know the rules for Nico's game Mythomagic so I apologize if I totally did it wrong...

Enjoy!


Nico's POV

"Ha! I have Zeus! He causes 600 damage, right?"

"Yeah but I played Apollo, who has 2000 in defense so it's useless anyway," I teased.

She grew red and stuck her tongue out. "No fair! This is my first time and you're not even giving me a chance."

I rolled my eyes. "More like our tenth game. You just don't have what it takes."

Twelve year old Rosa scoffed. Her birthday was a week ago, July 13th. She was a small petite thing with the boldest attitude in the world. I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought she was prettiest girl ever. She had dark brown, curly hair and rosy cheeks, but her best features were, well are, her bright blue eyes. They were as clear as the tropical waters off an island, perfect and striking.

"So," she began as I began to clear the table of the game pieces as the daughter of Persephone had officially lost interest. "What was your first kiss like, Nico?" She began to put the cards back into the proper piles as her eyes observed me.

I gave her a look, my cheeks going rosy. I rolled my eyes and said, "I never kissed a girl before. That's gross." But of course my curiosity got the best of me. "Why do you care anyway?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I was reading a Harry Potter book the other day and at one part, Harry and Cho kissed. It seemed foreign and caused me to wonder what it would be like." Foreign. Gods, Rosa and her vocabulary.

I bit my lip and then scoffed at her. "Even if I did know, I wouldn't even think about describing it. That's a thing girls talk about with other girls. Not guys."

She rolled her eyes. "Please. Just because you're a boy, doesn't imply that there is anything wrong with sharing kissing experiences. I mean in all probability, I don't believe I'll ever know. I'm never going to meet a prince or a hero or a wizard."

I narrowed my eyes at her, throwing the cards I was collecting down. "Hey! If you haven't noticed, I just helped save Olympus four months ago! I am most definitely a hero." Then I clamped my mouth shut. Oh why could I never keep my mouth shut with this girl?

Her brow arched. Rosa placed her piles down gently and crossed her arms. "So does that mean you'll kiss me?"

I went bright red like one of Apollo's sacred cows. "Um...I…well…"

With a roll of those blue orbs, I knew I was done for. "It's just a kiss, you chicken. It will be proof that you really are a hero..." Oh and she thinks I'm devious. .

I let out a sigh. Well I wasn't about to let her degrade my new found status. What fortune I have...not. "Ok," I muttered.

Rosa blushed, probably taken a back that I said yes. She stood up and walked around the table gracefully. She came down and sat next to me, her short lilac sun dress spreading elegantly around her. We looked around and at each other awkwardly for a few moments and then she cleared her throat.

"So you ready?" I shrugged. I saw her breathe through her nose which I realized was a big nervous habit of hers.

I leaned forward and she did the same. Our lips met. I felt all warm on the inside and weird. I mean, this was my first kiss. She pulled away from me, cheeks flushed and eyes all big. I looked away from her, hiding my smile.

Strawberries. She tasted like strawberries.

I let out a yawn. Humph. "I wonder if she still does," I murmured. My eyes almost drooped again but then suddenly they widened. I sat up, pulling at my hair. What the bloody hell of Hades? I stood up and muttered curse words as I stomped into the bathroom to drown myself in cold water.

"To the gods, oh holy mother of Zeus. Shit, shit, shit, shit. How in Hades can she always be on my thoughts?"

I heard a chuckle and found Leo grinning at me from the top bunk. He always crashed here when I came back to camp as he has come to resent the constant schedules of his siblings. "Man, who is this Rosa?" He emphasized her name with a funny accent. That deserved a punch. "She's got you all wacked."

I groaned and face-palmed. "Just no one, ok?"

He rolled his eyes, the mischievous grin remaining. "Oh sure. No one at all."

I glared. "Don't say anything to anyone. It's my problem."

"Problem, eh? What does that mean?"

I really need to watch my slip-ups. I almost wanted to bit my lip but that was pathetic. When did I become so...weird? I eyed the son of Hephaestus as something dawned upon me. "How did you know her name was Rosa?"

"Ah, so we have a confession."

I glared. "Valdez."

He smirked. "Someone can't stop muttering in his sleep every night. 'Rosa, Rosa...' You may as well break into one of those dramatic monologues!" The Hispanic boy jumped from the bunk and broke into a grin. "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

I gave him a look. "I thought that was Juliet's line?"

He rolled his eyes and put on a fake apologetic face. "Oh sorry. I'm not a nerd!"

I scoffed. "I don't read that crap."

"Then there is no reason for you to know that."

I arched a brow. "Then how do you...?"

"Di Angelo, trust me when I say you don't want to know. Aphrodite trying to set me up with someone...I learned a lot of things." We both cringed. It was like a death sentence when that goddess became a part of a demigod's love life. Rather face a whole army of monsters. I turned my back on him and turned on the flat screen. The New York 24 hour News channel was on. The glare only deepened.

"Whoa. Is that...?"

"It would seem so."

Kronos was causing trouble again. His goals were still very much the same however along with some of his old allies, he brought new ones in. That included the snow goddess, Khione.

"BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE SNOWSTORMS FROM NORTH HEADED FOR U.S."

Leo and I locked gazes. Things just got a hell of a lot worse.

Rosa's POV

"Did you hear about the storms that ice bitch has conquered up? It seems Kronos is trying a new strategy."

"Try all he wants, but he'll only fail again."

"Now dear, I believe all of the gods should still take this into precaution. If we don't handle this situation correctly, it could very well lead to the end of the Olympian reign."

I heard Hades scoff as he usually would when my mother would say something sensible. And yet she still wants to go along with marriage of his son. Could you imagine? I may look similar to my mother and possess her powers, but my father must have had a rebellious streak because I hate being passive. That idiot and I would be at each other's throats every second.

Anyway, it seems as though these approaching storms are all the rage for the gods. A goddess called Khione is said to have created massive ones up in Canada and was sending them south. A nice belated Christmas present. Or maybe an early Valentine's Day gift?

It must have all of the gods angry though. Hermes didn't seem like one to swear, but this turn of events seems to have him bent out of shape. Maybe the winds and snow will get in the way of some of his travel routes.

"Well it seems Zeus will be calling some meeting soon. His temper has been terrible lately." The messenger god scanned the room before whispering, "It's really annoying."

The said man's brother smirked. "Wonderful." Persephone rolled her eyes, scolding him with a slap to the arm. He shrugged and Hermes chuckled.

"Good day, Hades. My lady." As he turned to leave, his blue eyes found me and he smiled gently. For as long as I have known him, his face was rather pleasant, his salt-pepper hair giving him a middle aged father look. "My Rosa, Aphrodite wasn't kidding when she said you've become beautiful. More and more every day. I didn't see last time I was around during the winter."

My cheeks flushed. Oh gods, she talks about me to other gods? I smiled faintly, stepping out from my listening place behind a black pillar. "Probably off reading somewhere. So it seems trouble is brewing above." I stated rather than question. Obviously if one's evil father was sending a generous amount of giant blizzards, it was bad news.

His grin faded. "It would seem so. But nothing for you to worry about." The smile returned and slowly turned into a smirk. "I've heard the news." I groaned and a chuckle escaped his lips.

"Rosa is never pleasant when it comes to the topic, Hermes," my mother stated with a sigh.

I gaped at her. "Whose side are you on?"

The other god laughed again. "I'll try my best in finding a suitable wedding present."

"Make it something expensive. I like classy gifts." I wanted to jump into Styx when I heard that voice. We all turned to see Nico waltzing in with a smirk on his lips, as usual. His hands were crossed behind his back and I couldn't help but feel as though he was up to something. Again. He stated sincerely, "Plus it can only be the best for my lovely fiancé, right Rosa?"

I gave him my deadliest glare. I couldn't believe him. He was serious and now he was going to start this in front of our parents and a god? I despise him.

Hermes gave him a look of surprise while my mother gaped in shock and his father had actually seemed confused. The younger male god then nodded, almost in approval. "Well I suppose you're right. A girl like Rosa should be treated as such. I hope that you will take great care of her, di Angelo."

He finally reached us, stepping up to me. "I completely agree with you, Hermes. For you, darling." And he handed me a single rose, a color of charming lavender. Either he had great intuition or had actually done some research because the meaning of it was purely planned. Enchantment, love at first sight. It would have been cute if it wasn't coming to me. I did not want this attention.

I did a double-take and then slowly took it from his fingers. "Um...Y-You're clearly taking this a little too far."

He chuckled and I think my heart skipped a beat at the sound. It wasn't one of malice or satisfaction, but pure intentions. Could it really be that he was doing this because he cared about the outcome of our relationship? The son of Hades leaned forward and winked.

"Oh you haven't seen anything yet."

Short but sweet? Review!

Q: what is your favorite flower?