Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! And to the new followers and everyone who put this story in their favorites. It means a lot to me that you guys like reading this.

Well, here's chapter 7.


HEAVEN

Hades was visiting Maria di Angelo, in Washington DC, where she lived with their children in a big and beautiful house. Being the daughter of a diplomat ensured her a good living, since her family was wealthy. Because of that reason, Maria could provide for her children without needing help of anybody else.

The Lord of the Underworld visited Maria often, during his free time, or as much free time as his duties allowed him. He enjoyed immensely being around her and liked helping her to raise the children, because he loved her deeply. He hadn't felt that kind of love in a very long time, so long that he couldn't even remember what true, unconditional love felt like, much less with a mortal woman. He just couldn't stay away from Maria and the children for too long; he craved their company.

Today was a normal day like others. Maria was bathing Bianca upstairs and he was watching over Nico, who had gone out to play outside with his little friends. The door was open so he could oversee Nico from the living room, while he read the newspaper comfortably seated in the sofa.

After Nico finished playing, he entered into the house with a somber expression, which surprised the god of the Dead, given that his son was usually very cheerful.

The child was looking at a little ball that he was holding in his hands, barely moving. There seemed to be sadness in his eyes.

Hades stared at Nico concerned, waiting for a reaction.

"Papa?" the little boy asked, looking up at his father.

"Yes?"

"What happens to people when they die?"

"What? Why do you ask?" Hades questioned him in alarm. He didn't expect Nico to find out his true identity until he was much older. He wondered what might have happened to his son for him to make such questions.

"My friend Marco's dad died in the war. He said it was alright though, because his dad went to heaven", the kid told his father.

The Lord of the Underworld was speechless. He had no idea what to say.

"What is heaven?" Nico kept interrogating his father.

Hades put the newspaper away and eyed his son intently, while deciding how to respond. "You see Nico", he began to explain, "when people die, their souls keep living and go to another place. Good people go to a nice, beautiful place where they will always be happy. Some call this place heaven."

Nico stared at the ball in his hands; he squeezed it absentmindedly as he seemed to consider this.

"Will you die too?"

"No. I won't. I am…different to other dads", Hades replied.

"And me? Will I die?"

That question took the god aback. A lump formed in this throat. Suddenly, the idea of this little child dying struck him as a terrible thing; it felt like someone had stabbed him in the stomach with a sharp knife.

Being an immortal who had lived for thousands of years, Hades was accustomed to see his children die. As the Lord of the Dead, he knew very well that everyone dies eventually, thus, the death of his children wasn't a real tragedy for him. He expected it actually, considering that his demigod children tended to live less than others. He loved all his children, well, most of them anyway, but with Nico and Bianca it was different. Because he had a closer connection to them, he also had a bigger attachment to them.

"Yes. Someday", Hades told Nico at last. He thought there was no point in lying.

"But, mamma and Bianca will be there too right? We'll all be together in heaven?"

"I don't know. No one can know that" the god answered honestly.

Nico lowered his head again, sadly. He looked terrified at the prospect of being alone in heaven, separated from his loved ones.

"Don't worry. You will not be alone", Hades said, to appease the child's uneasiness. "I will be there. You will meet with me after you die", he added, not without some irony.

"Really?" Nico asked, hopeful.

"I assure you."


75 years later

Hades returned from Olympus really happy. They had won the battle against Kronos, his relatives welcomed him for the first time in millennia and, finally, one of his children received a hero's welcome. Also, it was delightful to get recognition from Zeus, and watch the great King of the gods being humiliated in his pride by a demigod. On the other hand, how arrogant that boy Jackson, telling the gods what to do, although, since the son of Poseidon demanded a cabin for him at Camp Half-Blood, Hades guessed he couldn't hate him that much anymore.

The Lord of the Dead was heading towards his palace in the Underworld, still dressed in his black armor and red cloak, so lost in his thoughts that he almost crashed into Nico, who was marching in the opposite direction.

Nico stopped just in time, avoiding a collision with his father.

"Father", his son addressed him, almost panting.

"Nico. Where are you going?" the god asked him in turn.

The boy pointed towards Elysium with his index finger.

"Bianca", Hades observed.

Nico nodded.

"So…you lifted the curse on the Oracle", the young demigod remarked after a moment of silence.

"I did", the Lord of the Dead replied, a bit uncomfortable.

His son smiled at him, which made the god feel weird. He tried to keep walking but Nico stopped him again.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"When Bianca and I were younger and we believed we were orphans, she used to tell me that our parents were in heaven", Nico told him. "I guess what I want to know is…what I want to ask…is my mother in heaven?"

The Lord of the Underworld felt a strange déjà vu, like he already had this conversation before. Nevertheless, he shook off that feeling to give a proper answer. "If by heaven you mean Elysium, then yes, the answer is yes."

"Oh. That's…good to know" Nico said, smiling genuinely.

Hades turned to look in direction to Elysium, trying not to be overwhelmed by certain memories that threatened to flood his mind. Gazing at Nico, the god found irresistible making an offer to his son. An offer he knew the boy would accept in a heartbeat. "Would you, um, would you like to meet her?"


The End.

Review and tell me what you think.

Also, keep sending your ideas and suggestions for future chapters. They're really helpful :)