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Wow! I got 100 reviews! This is so awesome because: 1) I don't think I'm that great of an author (only in 7th grade) 2) I've only written 6 (now 7) chapters so far 3) This is only my second story! Thank you so much! 100th reviewer award goes to sarebear who, LOL is my best friend! You rock! Of course, all of my reviewers rock! Root beer for all of you (if you can manage to take it away from me before I drink it all ;))! Thanks so much!

This is a continuation of the last chapter. It's very different from the others, but I felt that I had to add it. Special thanks to mrsspecialk who came up with this chapter idea. You rock!

Nico POV

After destroying my new gift from Sam, I didn't feel like doing anything. For the rest of the day I just sat in my room, trying to keep my hyperactive self from going insane because of boredom.

I skipped dinner, not that anyone would miss me. Persephone is probably happy that I didn't show up. Hades probably doesn't even realize that I'm not there. I'm just a nobody.

At night, someone knocked on my door. I got up and opened the door. It was my dad. He had no real emotion on his face, just the same hard look that came with being the lord of the Dead.

"Good evening, son," my father greeted monotonously.

"Hey, Dad," I muttered. I still wasn't too happy that he forgot about my birthday. He is my dad and I'm pretty sure most fathers remember their son's birthdays. It's just a fact.

"Sit," he ordered. We walked over to my bed. I plopped down on the black sheets. Hades pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Son, you know I'm a busy man," my dad started. I nodded. "Good. Now you must know that, being the busy man I am, I can't always remember some things. For example, your birthday. I-"

I cut him off there. "I get it, Dad. You're an immortal god. Birthdays aren't that important to you." Then I blurted out. "But for mortals it is. Especially when they are kids." I hate to admit it, but tears were starting to form in my eyes.

A shadow of sympathy passed across Hades' face. "I can somewhat understand that," Hades replied. "Mortals like you feel like you have no importance in life, so you try to make the best of it by celebrating the fact that you lived another year."

That made me angry. "Is that what you think? That I'm a mortal of no importance? Is that what you thought of Bianca? Is that what you thought of Mom?" I yelled.

Hades rose from his chair, starting to grow in size. Blue flames danced along his hands. Anger shone in his eyes. "You dare bring your mother into this conversation?" He was going to kill me.

But I wasn't scared. "Oh, now you're going to blast me? Fine. I dare you to do it. Who cares, anyways? I'm just a puny mortal!" I stood my ground. No matter how terrified I was of my dad, he wasn't going to get away with what he just said.

The anger in his eyes dimmed. The flames died away, and he shrank back into his seat. He sighed. "You really are my son, aren't you?"

"Last I checked." I grumbled.

"I used to act the same way. Still do now even," Hades recalled. "I remember how angry I was when my brothers gave me the Underworld as my domain. I felt like I wasn't important, like they didn't want to see me." Sadness filled Hades' eyes. "I'm sorry, Nico."

My fatal flaw wanted to snap at him, but I nodded. "I'm sorry too." I mumbled.

A faint smile showed on his face, if the god of the dead can smile. "Happy birthday, son." He pulled out a small box wrapped in a ribbon. A birthday present.

"Persephone reminded me that it was your birthday," Hades said. Great. My evil stepmother, the person I probably disliked the most, knew when my birthday was and even had the nerve to remind my dad.

"Oh," I said, trying to hide my disappointment.

Hades gave a very small chuckle. "You guys really don't like each other do you? Persephone's not that bad. You have to give her a chance. She's been through some tough times."

"Um, dad?" I said. "Those tough times were because of you."

I thought he would erupt in flames again and blast me to ashes, but Dad just blushed. "I guess you're right. How about we make a deal. You try to be nice to your step-mother and I will promise you that she will never turn you into a flower, shrub, tree, or anything else ever again. Deal?" He held out his hand.

I shook his hand. It was as cold and hard as rock. "Deal."

Hades grunted happily. "Now. Open your present. I'm sure you'll find it interesting. Poseidon got Perseus one for his birthday so I thought you might like it too."

I opened the box and was very surprised to see what was inside. A slinky? No. A puppy? Persephone was allergic to those. A model rocket ship? No. It was an iPod Touch.

"Wow!" I said happily, forgetting about my previous anger. "Thanks, Dad!"

"You deserve it," Hades said. "I have to go now. There's been some traffic at the EZ death line. I have to go fix it."

I nodded then remembered something. "Wait. Can you stay here for a little bit longer?"

"Why?" Dad asked.

"I need help reading the instructions. Kind of dyslexic over here." I explained.

"Oh," Hades looked confused. "Don't these instructions have an Ancient Greek translation?"

"Maybe five thousand years ago," I said sarcastically. "Please help me?"

Dad sighed. "Can't you just figure it out without the instructions?"

I shook my head wildly. "No way. I need help."

He sighed again. "Fine," he huffed. "But only for 10 minutes. I've got lost souls running wild."

I smiled. "Thanks, Dad. This is the best birthday ever."

Thanks again! Please review! Maybe this story can get 200 reviews! OK, maybe that's a little high. XD