A/N: I have been putting off writing for ages so I thought that I'd finally update a few of my stories for you all. And, even better, this is going to be a happy fic! Yay! I've decided to put slight Reynico in this so I apologise if you're not a big fan. It's set during BoO when Reyna, Nico and Coach Hedge are on their quest with the Athena Parthenos.

Heal

It was getting late so Reyna had told the other two to get some rest while she took first watch. Nico needed some shut eye after the days travelling and the Coach had been looking troubled after emerging out of the woods. She figured something bad was happening at camp which meant they needed to get the Athena Parthenos back as soon as possible. But with Nico in as bad a condition as he was, swift travel was impossible. She sighed and settled her back against a wall. It was going to be a long night.

Two hours later and Reyna was beginning to drop off. She'd been trained to always be alert and never fall asleep on the job but it had been a weary few days and she was tiring more easily. Besides, the land was so peaceful; it didn't seem like anything would dare break the peace and quiet, not even monsters.

Peace. She hadn't known such a thing in a long time. Not since she had... Not since her father... She shifted in position and tried to force the memory out of her head. She had relived that day time and again and it got worse every time. She felt wetness on her face and was shocked to find she was crying. If anyone saw her now... Of course, even if they did they wouldn't care. Reyna had run out of people to care about her.

"Reyna?"

A quiet voice to her left made Reyna jump. Nico di Angelo was sitting up, his dark eyes blinking at her out of his pale face.

"Nico, you're awake. Sorry I was just thinking."

"Are you okay?" Concern was clear in his voice and he looked so worried.

"I'm fine," she reassured him. "Go back to sleep; you need the rest."

"You don't need to pretend you're alright, you know. Not around me." She was startled by the amount of sadness in his voice. Sometimes it was hard to believe that he was just fourteen.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's okay to cry. I know you wouldn't want to do it in front of the legion, and maybe not even the Coach, but you can around me. I do it too."

"You do?" Surprised as she was, Reyna couldn't help but feel guilty that she hadn't realised it before. In hindsight it seemed so obvious. The pain and the darkness she had felt when he had shared his strength with her had to have an outlet.

He looked her full in the face then, and she felt like those dark eyes could see info her very soul. She remembered fourteen years of pain and guilt and torment and saw them once more. She felt ashamed of herself for not noticing before, and quickly looked down.

"Of course. For at least a year after my sister died I cried myself to sleep every night. It was horrible. I hated every minute of it. I would lie with only the dead for company and let myself cry. I still do sometimes, it's just nobody's ever heard me. I don't tell them either because I tell myself that they won't care, even though I know they probably would."

"I get it. In my case, though, I know people won't care."

"I care." For the second time that night, Nico had surprised Reyna. She looked at him sharply to see if he was just humouring her but, no, he appeared to be completely sincere.

"Thanks." She wasn't sure what else to say. This time he smiled, which completely transformed his face. Suddenly he looked like the teenager he was meant to be, and not someone who had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Go to sleep, Reyna. I'll take this watch; you look done in." She agreed and lay down, pulling her cloak over her.

Maybe Venus was right. Maybe s demigod wouldn't fully heal her heart, but this kid had at least started to.

A/N: Again, I am so so sorry for how long this has been in coming. I hope it was worth the wait. I'll try and update more regularly but, what with school and all, I can't promise anything. As usual, tell me your thoughts and hopefully I'll have another chapter up soon!