Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter took a little longer SO LONG. Initially it was just that I was busy with school but then I lost all internet for the better part of a month! Argh! I always wondered why my favorites tooks so long to update and now I KNOW. Anyway, this was super fun, I hope you all like.

Percy

Percy had messaged his mom and stepdad Paul as soon as things had been calm at camp. It had been an all too brief and fleeting reunion for Percy's taste. The months they had spent apart had grown to years in Percy's mind. Today, three full days after the battle, he and Annabeth were going to his home for some good, quality time in the mortal world. One whole week of completely normal dates, waking up in his own home, and home cooked blue-food from his mom. The corners of Percy's eyes crinkled with a smile just thinking about it.

He and Annabeth sat atop Guido, who had stayed behind despite repeatedly pledging his love to Reyna. To Guido's own denial, he had developed an unhealthy obsession with her. Or, at least, talking about her. He was making Percy a little nauseous. 'Reyna's beautiful hair, the way she'd saved Blackjack, blah, blah, blah'

"You're a pegasi she's a woman, I think this may be a lost cause, man," Percy tried to lay it on him gently.

"Whoa man, we're just friends," Guido said as he then began to reminisce about the the color of Reyna's eyes and how they sparkled in the light. Percy rolled his own glimmering malachite eyes. Annabeth fidgeted, she kept looking back to check if their saddle bags were still there.

"Calm down, wise girl," he patted the hand around his waist, eventually resting his fingers on her own.

"I know, Percy. I just can't help it. I can't imagine losing the few things I have left," she murmured into his shoulder, squeezing his hand affectionately.

"We're almost there," he said, and they truly were. As they flew over Manhattan, he could see his old apartment building in the distance; only a few lights in it's side windows still shining. Percy could see the one that must have been his kitchen, lit brightly. His heart leapt in his chest, surging ahead of him. He could just imagine his mother and Paul, holding hands across the kitchen table, or sitting watching television, waiting for their arrival.

Guido swooped down, landing gracefully on the roof of the building. Percy could see the door to the roof was still propped open with a stone, per his request. He twisted tufts of Guidos mane gently between his shaking hands. As Guido's hoofs clattered across the concrete, Percy swung his leg around carefully dismounting, reaching up to lift Annabeth off quickly. He was sure he must've been bouncing up and down with excitement liked a child on Christmas morning. By the look on Annabeth's face he was sure of it. He unstrapped the saddlebags swiftly from Guido's back, patting his horse friend appreciatively. Guido whinnied and stirred his hooves.

"Put in a good word for me with the lovely lady, eh?" Guido asked smoothly.

"Just friends, Guido?" Percy laughed.

"Oh- uh… yeah," Guido said rather uncomfortably flying off, still calling request over his shoulder as he went. Percy bounced on his heels, pivoting quickly.

"Alright," he grabbed Annabeth's hand, "Let's go!" He began towards the door all but running, Annabeth not far behind. The crash of the heavy door was far behind them, and the stairway echoed with their laughter and the slapping of their feet. Six flights of breathless stairs later, Percy bust through the hallway door, Annabeth in tow with a newly disheveled updo. When they reached the door, he began knocking repeatedly in rhythms from childhood songs he sang with his mother on long car rides to the beach, shifting from foot-to-foot excitedly.

Sally pulled the door open halfway through the first song. She yanked her son into her arms, hugging him as only a mother could. Percy closed his eyes so happy to be home again, for a moment he forgot about everything else. She kissed his hair, his cheeks, cooing about how tall he'd gotten or that he looked too thin. The warmth of his mother's embrace made him feel like he was twelve years old again, just having released her from the underworld and hugging her with all his might. As soon as she'd released him she moved in on Annabeth to her obvious surprise. She went through similar motions with Annabeth, a sweet hug, kissing her hair, holding her out in front to admire how beautiful she had become. Annabeth blushed modestly, but she wasn't uncomfortable at all, Sally was liked family to her. Maybe she really will be someday, we're a little young now but someday soon- Whoa man, get it together. We're only 16.

Percy zipped back to reality where he was walking up to 'manly-hug' Paul. Paul gave him comforting pat on the back.

"Saving the world again and I actually get to know this time," Paul laughed. Percy joined in.

"I seem to be making a habit of it," Percy joked, earning a poke in the ribs from Annabeth.

"You're not the only one saving it, Seaweed Brain," she laughed along with them. Percy looked down at the saddlebag in her hand, he must have dropped it when he'd hugged his mom.

"I guess we better go put our stuff away," Percy said rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

"You'd better," Sally said, "I need to finish up dinner, all of your favorites," she smiled warmly. Percy smiled broadly, giving her one last tight hug and kiss on the top of her head before he left for his bedroom with Annabeth.

Annabeth placed their things slowly on the floor admiring his bedroom like it was a place she hadn't been several times.

"So, you'll sleep in here," Percy said brightly, "I'll be out on the couch. Holler if you need anything," he winked at her. She shoved him softly.

"I could sleep on the couch, you know? You're a bit tall and I don't need quite so much space," she gestured in a wide arch to the bed.

"No, no. I insist," Percy said playfully, "Really though, it's fine." She kissed his cheek, and turned to unpack. Percy stood up straight, a good seven inches taller than her, looking down as she busied herself elsewhere. The way she meticulously placed her things in an orderly manner throughout the room, the fact that although her movement was sloppy and habitual her placements were perfect, Percy loved it. He could watch her for days, just moving around a room.

She raised a quizzical eyebrow, "Gonna unpack, genius?"

"Just for that!" he came rushing in her direction. He tickled her until there were tears in her eyes. He loved to hear her laugh, musical and bubbly.

"Never again?" he asked,

"Never again," she smiled at his familiar words.

He released her, finishing his unpacking; they hadn't had much to bring. Generally at camp you wore clothes, washed them, and wore them again. They had stopped on the way to buy some more clothes. It had taken a bit longer than it probably should've, considering they really had no idea what sizes they were now. The last time they'd really been able to shop, they were fourteen years old. A two year difference had definitely changed a lot of things.

Unpacking finished, they hurried out into the family room.

"Not ready!" Sally called from the kitchen in a muffled panic. Paul laughed somewhere in the distance. Percy and Annabeth took seats on the couch in front of the television, Percy wrapped his arm around her shoulders in typical boyfriend fashion. Six o'clock news on the screen, having excused the enormous gathering of teens and monsters on long island and the explosions seen from miles around as a rowdy concert with pyrotechnics, saying that, "a fight had erupted between multiple audience members". Close enough, Percy thought to himself.

"Okay!" his mom said excitedly as she entered, "Dinner is served."

Every bit of the meal was perfect and to finish off, blue chocolate chip cookies. The cookies tasted exactly like the first ambrosia Percy had ever had, well at least while he was conscious. It reminded him how far they had come. With Annabeth from, 'you drool when you sleep' to, 'I love you'. They laughed as a family, sharing everything that had happened. A darker moment came in explaining that they had been to Tartarus and back again. They tried to make it seem easy, like they hadn't been so close to death on a regular basis but Sally had to stop them.

"Save it for later dear, your mom's poor heart can't handle it. I know you'd never tell me how truly dangerous things are and this is already giving me heart failure." Sally laughed half-heartedly. They played board games, Paul filled them in on all that had happened since they left which wasn't much. It was amazing to Percy, these past three months had felt like a lifetime, it was hard to admit, but he'd never be the same person he was when he'd left for camp just a few short months ago.

It was nearly one in the morning when they all felt contented enough to go to bed. He and Annabeth stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing their teeth side-by-side. They fought over the sink space with their elbows playfully. Annabeth wore one of his camp t-shirts with sweatpant. Is it bad that I find that very attractive? He himself wore some basketball shorts and a white T-shirt. Annabeth took a drink of water from the sink, also very attractive.

"I think this is the first time I've seen you in regular clothes in a long time," she noted.

"I know," he said with a mouth full of toothbrush; he spat into the sink, "You should wear my clothes more often." She laughed. They walked together down the hallway to the living room, he could see the door to his bedroom from the couch but it seemed all too far away. He walked Annabeth to the door her face growing dark. She stared at his bed mournfully and he knew why.

"It will be okay, leave it to me, I'll fight those nightmares away with my bare hands," he pecked her 'goodnight', walking away to take his own place sprawled on the couch.

Three in the morning, and he still couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling, his excitement keeping him awake; he was home. Percy couldn't believe the comfort of being here but also, he was so excited to experience a normal life. He couldn't wait. He wiggled his toes, shifting around in his blanket, covering his eyes to keep himself from seeing the city, still awake outside. He was a good fifteen minutes into a thumb wrestling match with himself when he heard her.

Annabeth, whimpering in the other room, muttering curses to invisible enemies. Her cries were becoming louder, he knew that soon they would become screams. He shot off the couch, walking nimbly through the open door to his bedroom. There she lay, the shadows cast across her anguished face, her hair sprawled across his pillow. She clutched to his bed for dear life, her lips moving quickly with words unspoken. He took her left hand in his right, using his other hand to shake her shoulder softly.

"Wake up, Annabeth," he pleaded, she shook her head back and forth, he hoped his voice was not contributing to her nightmares as she said it had in nights previous. He squeezed her hand tightly, "Annabeth, wake up," he said in the most commanding way he could muster. Her eyes shot open. The shock in them quickly turned to sorrow. He lifted his hands to her face as the tears spilled down it, wiping them away with his thumbs.

"Just a dream," he cooed over and over.

"Just a dream," she matched his rhythm, eventually breathing deeply instead of taking hiccupy sobbs. They sat eyes closed, foreheads rested together. She pulled away from his face, a long yawn escaping her lips. Percy laughed, looking up at her hair that stuck out every-which-way and her sleepy eyes that drooped in the moonlight.

"Scooch over," he whispered pushing her hip gently with his palm. She scooted to her right as he climbed in beside her. She turned to face his bedroom wall as he wrapped himself around the back of her body, "Go to sleep, Wise Girl."

The early morning sun shimmered through the window of Percy Jackson's bedroom. The cool grey eyes that stared whimsically into his own rolled in a wide arch.

"Took you long enough," Annabeth crooned. Percy yawned dramatically into his hand, looking back at her glowing face. Her hair had been combed back into place, and her breath smelled minty against his face. She had probably taken the time to get ready before he woke. She looked much happier than she'd been in previous weeks. He wondered what could have caused this.

"No nightmares?" Percy asked surprisedly.

"No nightmares."

Piper

Piper saw Will's blonde mop of hair pop out from the infirmary at just the wrong time. The early morning sun lit the courtyard, but it also lit the dark flowing cascade of hair followed by a camp shirt cut into a crop top with some high-rise cutoff shorts that was Drew Tanaka. She strut her way across the field, straight toward Solace's busy figure. Piper jogged casually after her but Drew's legs were far longer than her own. When she reached the side of the infirmary, puffing for air, she could already hear the conversation,

"Hun, you've been hanging around di Angelo too much lately," Drew pouted, "You should take some time off to chill with us girls. We've been missing you around the volleyball court," Drew ran her finger down Will's bicep.

"I would," Will said, oblivious to her flirting, "But I've got a lot to do since the war is over."

"If you ask me," Drew began secretively, "This whole war was a waste of time, except for maybe the cute Romans… You're quite the looker yourself," Piper could hear the charmspeak in her voice. It was feeble compared to her own and very blatant, like a slap of wind to the face instead of a nonchalant breeze. Drew angled herself close to Will, looking up into his slightly offended eyes. Will was trying to hide it, but he didn't like her insulting the war effort, Piper could tell.

"Drew!" Piper called, "Aphrodite is about to have cleaning inspection, we need you back at the cabin soon," Piper lied smoothly. Inspection wasn't for another few hours and they didn't really need much cleaning anyway. Will looked like he would have said something but his mouth just floundered until he let out a brief muddled, "Yeah". Drew glared at Piper.

"Sure thing, honey. Just let me check on a friend or two," Drew pointed to the infirmary then paraded inside. Piper rolled her eyes.

"Sorry Will, but I think Drew may be developing a thing for you, although I'm not sure if it qualifies as a thing if it's just a vengeful infatuation," Piper huffed an exasperated sigh.

"No way," Will looks surprised laughing, "I suppose I'll have to break it to her softly then." Will laughed.

"I don't think that will spare you her wrath," Piper laughed half-heartedly, "She kinda plans in advance… I should've warned you sooner,"

"Well, unfortunately for her, this hot piece of man bats for the other team if you know what I mean," Will winked, cracking up. This excited Piper, her hypothesis was confirmed, or at least Will might like Nico as she had suspected. Surely her instincts, as the daughter of love herself, were correct in thinking that there were feelings between the two of them. Drew busted through the door at that moment glamorously.

"See you around, sugar," she pecked Will's cheek affectionately, then breezed past them in a blast of perfume scented hair. Piper shook her head morosely.

"I guess I'll go check on Nico," Piper said. Will's face lit up at the name.

"And I've got work to do," he concluded awkwardly. Piper chuckled under her breath. Piper entered the busy infirmary, careful not to step in the way of a bustling child of Apollo. She was certain at any moment one of them would not notice her and accidentally impale her with a syringe or scalpel. She found Nico's room, pulling the door open gently, surprised by Nico's flabbergasted expression. His mouth kept bobbing open and closed like a singing fish ornament while his hands pointed in random directions. He pointed to himself, to the door and to the side in alternating order.

"What's wrong, Nico?" Piper asked confused. This appeared to set his mind off into a tumble of questions,

"What in the...What? What even? I don't-ugh!" Nico stammered.

"Whoa, full sentences, please," Piper laughed.

"Is there a reason some, what I assume was an Aphrodite, girl just came in and lectured me about staying away from, 'her man'?" Nico gaped, exaggerating wildly on 'her man'. Piper's face burned bright red.

"Drew," Piper hissed.

"Is that who that was? Guess she is a bit older than when I saw her last,"

"Perhaps," Piper mumbled. She could already feel it, she had to find someway to get the boys together before Drew could muck things up because, oh boy, could Drew muck things up. Drew wouldn't give up unless Will was taken and even that might not perturb her. Piper pulled herself out of her head.

"How are you feeling, Nico?" she smiled hopefully.

"I'm actually feeling a lot better," Nico stretched demonstrating, "With the exception of the phobia I've developed for neurotic doctors," he chuckled darkly. Oh, Nico, Piper thought, you know you like him.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Piper said enthusiastically. Nico yawned, trying not to be rude but obviously tired.

"Oh, I'll go so that you can sleep. I hope you keep feeling better."

"You don't have to go, I'm sorry, I'm just a little sleepy,"

"That's okay, Jason and I have some planning to do."

"Alright, Piper. Go have fun," and Nico actually smiled.

Planning sessions with Jason weren't as productive as she would have hoped. She decided maybe she would ask Mr. D if there were any consequences for threatening other campers. Maybe that would be a good way to put Drew in a bind. Then she'd be out of the way so that the boys could be together long enough for their plan to work. Piper marched determinedly across the campus to the big house. Surprisingly, she saw a sweatsuit clad man jogging off the porch, to then, suddenly 'pop' out of existence. Piper trotted up to see Mr. D clapping excitedly in an actual suit? What?

"Hey, Mr. D, I was wonder-" she began trying to hide her confusion but was cut off,

"Hey Pal, I'd loved to stay and chat- wait, no- no I wouldn't- anyway! I've been summoned to the mountain, good to have a break from all you little irritants- I mean loving children." Piper stepped forward but Mr. D pushed her right back into place, "Au revoir! I wouldn't watch this is I were you," Piper covered her face as Dionysus changed into his godly form. In a spark of maroon light he vanished.

"So much for that plan, I guess I could ask Chiron," Piper began back down the hill in search of Chiron praying to Aphrodite that their plan would work.

Thalia

The Hunters knew it was not a regular day when Hermes shot from the sky in his jogging suit to deliver the message that Artemis' presence was required in Olympus. Now as they sat in the throne room waiting for the final arrival of the messenger god himself who was running late from message delivery, she couldn't help but wonder why they were here.

Of course, the gods sat arguing, always fighting but this time it seemed slightly worse than usual. This meeting was about something big and Zeus was especially heated, arguing with Artemis like no other. Thalia hadn't even seen Artemis fight this badly with Apollo and that spoke volumes. Apollo sat sullenly in his chair, the only god who appeared to not be fighting with anyone. He strummed on his lyre softly, illustrating the scene with a melancholy tune. Athena argued with Ares about the war in the corner, who had had better tactics, whose children had fought more strategically. Aphrodite toyed with Dionysus about parties and who had thrown the better ragger after the grammy's last year. Zeus ended his fight with Artemis with a loud growl that silenced the other conversations as well. Hermes came into the room with a familiar 'pop' like an altitude change on an airplane. Hermes took his seat.

"I call this court to order!" Zeus' voice thundered through the room. The Hunters who sat next to Hestia's hearth began to stir around Thalia, each trying to get the best view. That view was already held by herself of course being the top ranked huntress.

"What is this?" a new youngster named Chloe asked timidly.

"Apollo's trial," Hestia said sweetly. Her eyes glimmered with the flame of her hearth as she smiled sweetly at the child. Apollo's trial? Thalia wondered.

"We are gathered here today to determine the fate of one, Phoebus Apollo. How do you plead?" Dike, goddess of justice, called out across the chamber. This voice reminded Thalia of a blade slicing through frozen metal.

"Not guilty," Apollo wailed dramatically.

"Hades, bring forth the evidence," Zeus beckoned with loud impatience. Hades whirled his hand lazily and from the ground erupted a coil of mist. The smoke whirled, straying from the center of its cyclone and snapping back again; becoming the figure of a young boy in a purple shirt and white roman robe.

"Exhibit A," called Dike, "The child that you helped to find and worship the earth mother," Dike's glassy voice cut through the fallacies of every situation. Thalia wasn't so sure it wasn't cutting her soul too. Apollo let out a whimper, he was no longer being dramatic, he was truly devastated. He had risen from his chair to kneel before the image of Octavian.

"My son," he said quietly. His form appeared to age, instead of his usual teenage appearance Thalia had once been attracted to, he became a grown man weeping at the ghost of his child. He reached for the spirit.

"Enough with the pleasantries," Zeus swiped Octavians image out of existence. "We are all aware of your guilt. This is not a trial, this is a sentencing," Zeus slammed himself back into his chair.

"Suggested sentence?" Dike asked emotionless.

"Exile?" Athena suggested. Everyone shot out their ideas at once.

"Suspension!"

"Give Helios his job back!"

"Ten labors?" Hera asked, "I know some really good ones,"

"Turn him into one of those cows he loves so much!"

"Tartarus!"

"No poetry for a year!" The punishments flew in from all directions, each more ridiculous than the next.

"If you ask me," Thalia muttered to her hunters, "A hundred years with no dating would do the trick."

"Wait!" Artemis shot in, "My brothers crimes are no worse than what several of us are guilty of, should we not take this into account?" Artemis was standing, glowing silver before the crowd of, now, growing bored gods. No fun without blood Thalia observed.

"Daughter," Zeus growled, "I understand your perspective on the subject," He gritted his teeth, "Although, not permanent or handled with the most severity, his punishment must still be torturous. He has earned it," Zeus turned to glare at his son, whom had taken up dramatically playing his lyre once more, as if he had not just mourned the sight of his dead son.

"What will you do? How will you keep him in a torturous environment for such an allotted amount of time?" Hera asked impatiently.

"That's what we are here to decide, wife!" Zeus howled.

There came a sharp cackling laughter from the corner of the throne room. The sound grew louder, becoming booming laughter. Every god and goddess looked in the direction of chortling.

"I think I've got just the thing for you," Dionysus was still shaking with laughter as he patted Apollo's shoulder.

Will

Nico had acted very strangely during lunch on their second day together. It had only been thirty minutes since Will had left but he couldn't stop himself. He wanted to go back so badly and ask what had been wrong. Will was in the middle of tourniqueting a wound on an Aries boy named Jack, when his train of thought was interrupted.

"Ow!" Jack yelped. Will looked down to see his tourniquet was a little too tight…

"Sorry!" Will loosened it to a proper level tightness. Jack rubbed his upper arm where the tourniquet was fastened and Jessica came to wheel him away. She shot Will a playful glare,

"Stop hurting my patients, just go see him," Jessica kicked Will's chair leg, nodding toward Nico's room. Will turned to respond but she was gone then, off down the hallway to give stitches to a poorly tourniqueted arm. Will huffed, running his fingers through his hair. I really need to focus, he chastised himself. He gave a quick backward glance to the infirmary, all seemed under control. He finally decided it was best if he figured out his feelings before hurting more patients, and walked briskly to where he wanted to be most. Will opened the door quickly, his grin gleaming on his face, but Nico nearly jumped out of his skin. Nico had no shirt on, he was mid clothing change and squealing. Will just laughed at him.

"I've already seen you topless, death boy," Will teased.

"That doesn't mean I like it, sunshine," Nico said defensively which deflated Will's spirits but the nickname made his heart flutter.

"Well, without further adieu, I am selfish and would appreciate your company. Also, you are acting strangely today and I will get to the bottom of it," Will stroked a fake goatee and held an imaginary magnifying glass to his face. Nico rolled his eyes but, surprisingly, didn't reach to put his shirt back on. He just sat down, lounging on his cot.

"Oh yes, I'm strange. However, I don't think I'll be entertaining," Nico had a glimmer in his eyes but it vanished after a moment, he began to look embarrassed, like he was hiding something.

"There it is!" Will called, "That's exactly it, what's wrong?" Will accused. Nico began to fumble with his words.

"It's nothing," Nico looked almost confused by his own embarrassment. He started to fidget, he was reaching for his shirt when Will stopped him. He grabbed the boys shoulder and studied his eyes.

"Nico, what's going on?" Nico looked like he was very disappointed in himself, just generally disappointed in the world. Although he shook his head refusing to answer.

"Nico di Angelo," Will breathed, "I will take away your shirt if you don't tell me," Will snatched it up, holding it high in the air, far out of Nico's reach. Nico frowned, he stayed silent for a long time but finally broke as Will lifted the shirt higher.

"A girl came and yelled at me today, she said to stay away from 'her man'. I think she meant you?" Nico asked, he was growing calmer in the face but his eyes revealed him. He was afraid of Will's response. Will laughed out loud. Nico raised an eyebrow.

"Was she tall, dark haired, Japanese?" Will asked smiling.

Nico nodded. Will laughed some more which seemed to calm Nico.

"Figures," Will muttered, "Well, she's not really my type," Will winked at Nico who blushed crimson but knit his brows in confusion. Will rolled his eyes "But, you know who is?" Will leaned closer to Nico. He turned Nico's head by placing a finger on his chin, as if to whisper in his ear. Will's heart betrayed him, thundering in his temple.

Suddenly, outside came the thundering band of the Apollo cabin. They played the victory song that Apollo usually sang after winning capture the flag. However, this time it radiated through the entire camp, as if hooked up to some enormous speaker system.

"Come one, come all," boomed a familiar manly voice through the speaker like sound. Will shot up, Nico tugged his shirt on and was by Will's side in an instant.

"What the?" Will began as he and Nico walked from his room and out of the infirmary. Campers raced down the hills with smiling faces.

"Meeting at the fire pit!" a Hermes boy called as he ran past. The Hermes boy patted him on the back and Will sincerely hope he had not just been pick pocketed. He and Nico walked together, Will trying to keep a reasonable pace for Nico to follow. He was surprised however that Nico walked pretty fast regardless of being mortally wounded. As they came over the crest of the hill that the fire pit lay below, Will could hear his siblings calling,

"Meet the new camp director!" New camp director? A very familiar man stood in the center of the fire pit. Literally, in the fire.

"DAD?" Will blurted loudly. Apollo stood in the center of a roaring fire, the flames billowing around him. He wore a camp shirt and aviator sunglasses, pointing stoically to his adoring crowd members. He turned to Will's voice.

"Hey, son!" Apollo called cheerily, "Nice date you've got yourself there," Apollo gestured to Nico, "Ready for some quality time with dear-old-dad, huh?"

Will was aghast but Nico had stumbled, slumping into a bleacher for support. Already exhausted from their walk, Nico's face was ashen. Will supported Nico's waist, and without another word to his father, marched back to the infirmary. Back in Nico's room, the younger boy pulled away.

"Hey man," Nico said weekly, "What did he mean date? You looked really upset,"

"Sorry, Nico," Will tried to calm himself, "I get a hot temper when he tries to jump into my life like that, he abandoned my mom like any other selfish god. It drives me nuts. They have all the time in the world, they can do whatever they want but as soon as things get serious they just leave," Will scratched the back of his head roughly.

"Oh," Nico said quietly, "I understand completely, for a long time I hated my father." Will shook his head. He studied the wall behind Nico, the way his shadow looked so normal now but with yesterdays proof, Will knew Nico could will it to change. He sighed, focusing on the young demigod.

"Yes, well, I believe around this time I was being selfish and trying to…" Will wracked his brain, why had he wanted to see Nico? "Ah! Trying to find what was wrong," Will brought out his trusty imaginary magnifying glass once again.

"Solace," Nico groaned, "I already told you,"

"You did?" Will wracked his brain but finding the truth, blushed violently, "Oh… yeah,"

"Yep," Nico was looking away, determined.

"Want to play a fun game of questions?" Will suggested.

"Sure," Nico pounced, "Earlier, you said- and then- anyway, what is your type?" Nico reached for a paper cup of water taking a satisfied sarcastic sip.

"Oh, men," Will said casually as Nico snorted water up his nose. "My turn," Will continued smoothly, "What was the best day of your life?" This caught Nico off guard but pulled him out of his chargin. He sat his water down, focusing off in the distance, he smiled faintly.

"That's hard, because that day was probably my worst too," Nico smiled more fondly, "Probably," he began slowly, "The day Percy and Annabeth found Bianca and I at Westover Hall. They both accepted me, showed me a new amazing world just like I'd always hoped for. I was always one of those kids that played the card game, or read the fantasy book and dreamed it would be my life. That day, it finally happened."

"Why is it the worst day?" Will said tentatively. Nico took a stale breath, looking at Will for the first time in a while,

"Because it's also the day Bianca truly left me, the day that started it all. The day that led me on the path to where I am now," he expression was bitter but Will felt a heat beginning to boil in his stomach.

"And what?" Will said in, what was probably, too loud a tone, "Is this not good enough for you? Jeez, Nico!" Will raked a hand through his hair, standing to pace, "Is this not enough? Is it not enough that I care about you now? Everyone here, we've needed you time and time again. You have been there for us and we see all you do for us. We appreciate you and we like you! I like you, Nico! Do you like us? Do you like me? This is the life you get, I always thought it was so fortunate but is this not enough for you?" Nico's eyes were wide, yanked out of his memories and baffled.

"I- I," Nico began. Will could see Nico's confliction, his eyes darting, lines forming on his brow. "I do. I like them. I like you. You heard me before, you know exactly how I feel," It was Nico's turn to be angry now, he had told Will. He had opened up and shared his fears and Will had reacted to Nico's past selfishly. He had just wanted Nico to love the path he led as much as Will did. It had, after all, led Nico straight to Will. Will regained his clarity and starring the son of death right in the face said,

"I'm sorry, just-" Will sat back down, a smile creeping across his face, "Let me prove to you why you shouldn't be afraid."

Author's Note: OMG LEMMIE JUST SAY I AM SO SORRY AGAIN. This chapter has been done forever my editor was just being a poo.

Love ya'll, see you soon! XOXO