So, the Christmas chapter. The one that put this fic on hiatus, the one i am dying to write and dreading. Hopefully, this will be good.

"Can I have butterscotch Cucciolo?" Nico said, looking up at Bianca.

She was wearing the same clothes that she'd been wearing the day Percy saved them from all those years ago. Nico was also wearing the same clothes he was wearing that life changing day and appeared to be the same age as he was back then.

"Of course Gattino." She looked down at him with a sunny smile.

They were standing outside a gelato store from the 1940's. There was a katobleps standing next to them eating denim pants but that made sense in a weird way and the street was a strange shade of purple.

"Two strawberry ice creams please." Said a voice coming from next to the siblings. Standing there was Hazel in a jumpsuit made out of sparkling gems varying from ruby to amethyst. Nico frowned. He wanted butterscotch.

"Here you go." said the ice cream lady who had a beard going all the way past her knees. She stretched over the counter and gave them two lemon sorbets. Nico scowled. He was ok with strawberry but lemon sorbet just was pushing it too much. He was about to protest but before he could he looked down to see that his ice cream had melted all over his hand.

"Hey Bia-" He stopped to realise that Bianca was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Hazel. "Cucciolo! Hazel!" He shouted. "Cucc-"

"Nico!"

Nico spun round to see Will sanding a few meters away. Will's eyes sparkled in the Italian sun and he seemed to be glowing like a true angel. He eyes widened and he was running towards the blond boy with open arms. Because he was still a ten year old, Will was a good two heads taller than him but Nico threw himself into his embrace anyway.

Will hugged him tightly. "We'll get that butterscotch ice cream, yeah?" He said.

Nico nodded.

"But the list is up you know."

What?

"THE LIST'S UP GUYS! COME ON!"

Wha...

Nico sat up groggily and squinted and the direction the voice was coming from and decided very quickly that where ever the place the voice was coming from, it was far too bright and cold for Nico to venture to. Yup, he rather snuggle back into Will, fall sleep again and get his fucking butterscotch ice cream.

He turned around ready to put his head in the other boy's chest and carry on with his lovely sunny dream with all his favourite people-safely inside his bed.

While remembering Bianca was still quite sore to Nico, he saw her regularly in his dreams as they replayed all his best memories of her, even if they were tinted with strange details. It made him happy remembering their nicknames for each other and their ice cream choices. He loved thinking about the Italian sun and sight of all the colourful ice cream. Although he didn't have many memories of Italy because he left a young age, he always remembered passing the gelato stand and gazing at all the colours and flavours before his sister or mother tugged him along. Compared to nowhere days, there wasn't many flavours back then but to a three year old Nico, he couldn't imagine that there was finer ice cream anywhere else.

Will was starting to appear in his dreams more and more often now too. Nico wasn't complaining at all, he very much welcomed the blond's face and smile, awake or asleep. He also welcomed Will's chest when he was cold because someone had rudely woke him up.

And so, he turned around, to go to sleep again. Cue the music, close the curtains, show's ove-

Nico frowned. There seemed to be a problem. There was no Will.

He groaned into the pillow (while simultaneously inhaling Will's heavenly scent of lavender and antiseptic- which surprisingly went well together) and dramatically spread himself over the entire bed like an Italian starfish.

"Betrayal." He whispered softly before he hauled himself up into a sitting position and half-heartedly rubbed his eyes before looking round the almost empty Apollo cabin. Most of the inhabitants had left already, although they had obviously been in a rush if the rumpled duvets and creased clothes strewn everywhere were anything to go by. The List, whatever it was, couldn't be that important.

Oh well. He would just have to venture into the cold, harsh outside because his personal hot water bottle abandoned him. Hmph.

He stood up and stretched a long stretch while yawning. I need new pyjamas, He thought. Right now he was just wearing a large black t-shirt that was far too big for him and some cotton shorts with little socks to keep his feet warm. He never got too cold because he was supposed to have a Will Solace warming him up but today he was freezing.

"You'd better get changed. If Will sees you like that, he'd probably have a nosebleed." A voice mumbled to his left that made Nico jump. He knew the cabin wasn't empty, he didn't think anyone was awake!

A snort came for his left. "True." Another voice mumbled. Nico was suddenly very awake and made a break for the bathroom, ignoring the sleepy chuckles following him.

10 minutes later Nico was walking across the green towards Will, Percy, Annabeth, Piper and Jason. To his surprise, Hazel, Frank and Reyna were standing right next to them, all wearing purple jumpers with a holly writhe and the letters SPQR inside it. Nico snorted, he didn't know Camp Jupiter did Christmas. He could just imagine the Roman army going into battle with little red hats on their heads and Reyna dressed as Father Christmas.

Better not say that out loud.

"That took you a while Nico." Percy said, grinning. "Will said you were dead to the world when he left you."

"Well I was until someone came in screaming about some list." Nico scowled. "It was cold." He gave a glare at Will, pointedly ignoring the huge grins spreading on Jason and Percy's face.

"Well I'm sorry for leaving you, you should wear more pyjamas to heat yourself up." Will responded with a wry grin.

Again, ignoring Jason and Percy. Oh and Piper and Annabeth.

"How am I supposed to heat myself up? I am literally darkness." Nico shot back, crossing his arms.

Frank bit his lip and Hazel seemed to be fighting with her lip muscles.

"You could heat you're self up if you tried, you just love me too much so you won't leave me." Will said.

For fuck's sake, even Reyna looked amused.

"Vorrei, pero sei troppo carino, bastardo." Nico grumbled.

Will laughed. "I have no idea what you just said but I am more than sure I am supposed to be offended."

Bastard indeed, even his laugh sent little shivers down Nico's spine.

Jason opened his mouth with a giant grin on his face but before he could say anything, Lou Ellen and Cecil ran up whooping and shouting.

"We did it! We made it on the list and we're on for three days forthcoming!" Cecil screamed.

Suddenly chaos erupted. Cecil and Lou Ellen were hoisted on someone's shoulders and everyone around Nico was high fiving and being ridiculously happy. Annabeth, Piper and Hazel were doing some kind of Olympus' Shit I'm so happy right now dance and Reyna looked the most happy Nico had seen her in a while. The other four boys were busy parading the Heroes of the List around on their shoulders and Nico just, well, stood there. It's pretty hard to celebrate when you don't know what you're supposed celebrating.

He made his way over to Reyna, who seemed to be the only sane person at that present moment.

"Ok, I give up. What is this holy list." Nico said to her.

She grinned at him. "I have been told that once a year, at Christmas time, the camp give the appropriate protections and permission to let groups of campers go into New York and shop for the holidays. So today, the list went up and, of course, Camp Half-Blood went mad. Before 7 in the morning all the good spots are taken."

"Good spots?" Nico had never really been shopping in December.

"Apparently, shops get their sales on now but haven't run out of stock. So it's perfect. Or so Piper told me." Reyna said and frowned a bit. It dawned on Nico than, like himself, Reyna had never been Christmas shopping before and this was quite new to her. That made two of them

He turned to look at the chaos that hadn't lessened in the past few minutes. "Good luck to us."

He heard a soft snort next to him and he realised he was really glad he had Reyna next to him at that moment despite the Christmas jumper. He enjoyed just going through life with her, not sure what will happen next but knowing that together they could face anything, any fight, any dilemma and any busy, manic, crazed Christmas shoppers. Now what to buy her... What to buy anyone really. He had some thinking to do but he could do it. He focused on Will's smiling face and his free laugh, so different to the nightmares the boy had every night. He would make Will's present extra special he decided.

Christmas had begun.

"Nico."

"What?

"...I got you something."

"Will what is it, I-" Gasp.

"Come here Nico..."

"No."

"I have something else too..."

"You didn't!"

"I did."

"You're crazy. Crazy!"

"Nico, this is not negotiable."

"Never."

"Nico..."

...

"Put them on Nico."

Hiss.

"Are you going to get me annoyed Nico?"

"You'll never see me in them alive."

"I think not..."

"Will, what, Will! No don't you dare-!"

Thud.

"Tada!"

Nico staggered up off the floor with the help of a soft hand belonging to a beautiful, blond boy. Well, he said beautiful but right now it was more annoying and irritating.

Today was the day of the Christmas shopping and everyone in their group had gone a bit nuts. It was like the camp was like prison and this was their first taste of freedom, well, you know, if prison came with amazing meals, life saving skills and lovely beds. Although the toilets were pretty prison like. Hmm.

Anyway, they had all agreed (note: begrudgingly agreed) to wear stupid Christmas sweaters. ("Come on Nico, you could have a skull with a red nose on the front of your sweater!" "Shut it Grace.") So while Will had being going around in an obnoxiously bright, yellow turtleneck woollen sweater with a green Christmas tree in the middle of it with golden suns that lit up and flashed when ever Will smiled, Nico had a black woollen sweater with five rows of white skulls on the front of it and X's all the way down the sleeves. Will wanted him to wear a black sweater with cats of the front of it with the words "Miaow" and "Purrr" of the front but Nico drew the line there. But Will had looked really suspicious when they had brought the sweaters. And now Nico knew why. The bastard had gone and purchased it himself and, yes, you guessed it, that was what Nico was wearing now.

The cheeky bugger had also bought a pair of reindeer antlers with jingle bells on them. Oh, and it seemed that Lou Ellen had put something on them so they stuck to his head and he couldn't remove them. Shit.

Before he could get Will, the boy had sprinted out the door like whippets were nipping at his heels yelling, "We'll be late, come on Nico!"

"I'll be the death of you Solace!" And Nico ran after him.

Once they were both at the mini-van that was taking the group to the city, Nico was more than pissed.

"Will I swear I will kill you..."

Will rolled his eyes. "Oh Nico, stop being an over dramatic goose and get in."

Still grumbling, Nico climbed into the van and the door was closed behind him. He walked down the aisle in the van looking for a spare seat. On the first row sat Percy next to Grover who Nico was a bit surprised to see as Grover had been quite busy recently. Across from them sat Jason and Frank and behind them sat Annabeth and Piper who appeared to be talking about whether waffles or pancakes were better for breakfast. Opposite them were Lou Ellen and Cecil who seemed to be counting their money up for the day ("Did you steal this Cecil." "Never! No. Maybe. Only some, STOP LOOKING LIKE THAT LOU!") Finally in the back row sat Hazel and Reyna sitting behind Annabeth and Piper and across from them sat Will with an empty seat next to him.

Will smiled and patted the seat next to him. Despite the fact that Nico was dressed in a cat jumper with reindeer antlers on his head and it was basically all Will's fault, Nico's heart always melted a little at the blonde's smile and also he looked just plain adorable with the little golden suns lighting up on his jumper.

"Come sit."

"I shall, I think."

Nico sat down next to Will and was very aware that blonde hair was tickling his ear and he could almost feel Will's little breath on his cheek. Sitting next to Will on the mini-bus then was like sitting in a little bubble of warmth and safety. He felt like that a lot with Will. Safe.

The heat radiating from the solace next to Nico was soothing despite the cold weather outside and no matter what Will did, Nico could never stay angry at him. Will would always do something ridiculously stupid or say some silly joke and suddenly he glowed a little brighter than before. What Nico didn't understand though was the fact that at night, when he was asleep, Will's death-aura (or whatever you wanted to call it) always rose. He seemed to think, or maybe even be, in danger all night. Sometimes it was so strong it disturbed Nico in his dreams. No matter what the dream, he would wake up knowing that it had been a hard night for the boy next to him and Will would be extra happy all morning, just to cover it up. Last night had been one of those nights and Nico was really beginning to worry a lot. At first he just thought it was PTSD but he had asked a few other medics on camp about it and from what they all said, Will should've be getting better, not worse.

"What's wrong Death Boy? You look really serious."

"No, I'm fine, don't... Don't worry, ok?"Nico said. Looking down at their knees he just wanted to hug the boy. He always thought of people making him feel safe and sound and warm. Something he'd been longing for since Bianca had died. But he had never really thought that anyone could derive joy and comfort from himself but right now all Nico wanted to do was hold Will, and never let go.

Suddenly the van gave a lurch forward and Nico could feel them going forward. A cheer went up from everyone as the Half-Blood Valley starts going by in a blur and then they were going onwards to the city.

"Let's have a song!" Percy yelled.

"Something Chritsmassy!" Piper replied with.

Jason cleared his throat.

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

In a lane, snow is glistening,

A beautiful night, we're happy tonight..."

"WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND!" Everyone finished off.

Next to him, Will yawned.

"Will are you-"

"I'm fine. Just tired." Will cut him off but Nico was having none of it.

"No, Will, you seriously worrying me now, this is not healthy."

"That's ironic." Will snorted sleepily, "My patient worrying about their doctor. But seriously Neeks, I'm fine, I just want to..." Will's eyes were closing slowly and a few seconds later, he was snoring with his head laying on Nico's shoulder. Nico could feel a blush rising but thanks to the singing, no one noticed except from Reyna who gave Nico a knowing look before turning back to the rest of the group. Nico looked at the boy next to him and took his hand, sadness in his heart to see the boy he loved going though so much pain. He'd better say awake, no matter how tired he was, to make sure Will didn't have nightmares. But the temptation was so... tempting. To just lean on Will and go to... sleep... Yeah...

"To face unafraid,

The plans that we've made,

Walking in a winter wonderland..."

(A/N Guys, this will go straight on to the Christmas part, I'm sorry if you were getting excited for them going around New York and stuff but this fic stresses me a bit *a lot* and so it would be easier to go onto the Chrismas bit. If you want, after I finish this fic I could maybe write the New York part afterwards if I get enough requests. Sorry guys!)

T'was the morrow of Christmas,

And all through the camp,

Not a light could be seen,

Not one lit lamp.

Small stocking were hung by each bed with care,

In hope someone special had left something there.

The campers were nestled, all snug in their beds.

And the Ares cabin dreamt of cutting off heads.

So Will Solace in yellow,

And Nico in black,

Were about to be woken from a long winters nap...

Nico opened his eyes slowly, trying to look at as much as possible without having to move his body. It felt special today... Something nice was going to happen but what? He could probably think much clearer when he was properly awake, but right now all Nico wanted to do was go back to sleep in the warmth of Will's bed and decree a law stating he never had to get out of bed before eleven A.M. Also, the sleigh bells in the background didn't really help his thought process at all...

Wait.

Sleigh bells?

"Whillg." Murmured Nico, muffled by Will's shoulder. "Whg-mrfh." He breathed in for air, releasing his face and started again. "Why is there sleigh bells ringing."

"Hold on..." Will muttered back.

Nico frowned. What was going on?

Suddenly strings came to join with the bells.

"Oh, naturally there's a bunch of violins as well." Nico said thinking his morning couldn't get any weirder.

"Christmas Quartet, actually." Will said.

"It's two violins, a viola and a cello." Someone else muttered.

"It happens every year." Said a voice from a different bed.

"Are you kidding?" Someone that sounded like Austin said. "We had jingle bells last year!"

"Austin, with all that has gone on, do you think Dad really had the time to create another Christmas playlist?" Said Kayla. "He's probably got the same decor too."

"Decor...?" Nico muttered and finally decided to heave himself up.

Oh shit.

Yesterday the Apollo cabin had been just the same as any non-festive day. There were eight beds all lined up with all kinds of different things lying around them. Four of the beds always had some kind of sheet music on them and it usually wasn't even moved when the campers slept. The magic of the cabin kept the paper from crumpling. Two of the beds (one being Will's) had two dozen spare plasters and bandages lying on them, in them and around them and if you wanted any paracetamol or ibuprofen there was a 99% chance that there was some in a metre radius of these beds. The other two beds where just always covered in books. One bed (Leah's bed) had stacks of books on poetry and Van Gogh piled up next to the bed and they were constantly being knocked over much to Leah's annoyance. The other bed was Kayla's and sometimes, no matter how much Nico liked Kayla, he couldn't help but be slightly worried at how maybe books on "How To Use Plague And Illness To Your Strength" there were lying around her bed. But hey, sometimes Nico woke up to her using the plasters around Will's bed as target practice with her bow and arrow so the books weren't the strangest thing about Kayla.

At the end of the cabin there was a large space that was used as a general storage space that tended to be called, you guessed, The Space. On the walls were lines of different arrows, different bows, three shelves of music, about seven music cases with seven different instruments and eight music stands pushed to the side. It's was where everyone put all their items that could be freely shared and used. Not today.

All the instruments, all the bows, all the books, they were all gone. The beds and floor had all been cleaned up and the only thing that decorated the beds were little stockings, filled to the brim. In the gap at the end of the room, there was a ginormous Christmas tree, decorated quite traditionally. All the lights were a soft yellow, giving a homely glow to the room and on the very top, there was an orange sun, gleaming like a halo. On the bottom of the tree, miniature bows were pulling arrows back and shooting them to the next bow and they continued like that, round and round the tree. The next row up was clarinets, the next was a flute and to finish the instruments was a piccolo. The last row was clear diamonds twinkling and giving off small rays of light that turned into rainbows when they hit a surface and altogether the tree was one of the beautiful things Nico had ever seen.

When Nico looked up the ceiling made it seem as if there was no roof and it was snowing but Kayla told him that it was only an illusion.

Obviously, this was very different from last night.

A sudden squeal was heard from Austin's bed, sending Nico five feet in the air.

"I got a new score book!" Austin was holding an empty score book in one hand and the little stocking in the other. "YES!"

"You have tons of empty score in the pile in The Space, why is that special?" Nico asked.

Austin rolled his eyes as if was so obvious. "Because, oh-so-not-musical-one, it's MY score. If I write on the shared score, I can't really keep it to myself, can I? You have this... sense of 'You have to share the stuff in the shared space or I'm telling Dad' when you use something from The Space." Nico may have imaged it but Austin seemed to be glaring at Max, the cellist of the cabin. "So if I just left it there, anyone can take my music and write it out for another instrument, like, I don't know, a cello!" Yup, Austin was defiantly glaring. "But now, I can write my own music and no one can take it and I can upload it to YouTube in peace."

"Well I got a new conducting baton so you can go suck it!" Max shot back.

"Woah, ok guys, chill." Will said, suddenly much more awake. "I'm sure your presents are both wonderful and you both equally love them but I can't play any instrument for shit so, you know, you're both making me feel significantly less intelligent. Any, what did I get..." Suddenly Will turned cherry red and shut the top of his stocking fast. Nico noticed Kayla and Leah were both smirking at the both of them. Nico was confused.

"What did you get Will?" Nico asked with a frown.

"Yes, Will, what did Apollo get you..." Purred Leah.

"Nothing!" Squeaked Will, ten octaves higher than his normal voice.

Kayla looked like the Cheshire cat at this point. "No, really William, what did Dad give you, you know him being the most bisexu-"

"NICO!" Will practically yelled, "You have a stocking, look, at the end of the bed! What, what is in it. Open it. Now. Doctors orders."

"Ok..." Nico opened his little red stocking to just find a piece of paper. He took it out. "'Go to your own cabin.' Strange present." He shrugged. "Shall we?" He asked Will who looked like he was about to explode.

"Yes. 100%. But first, let's get changed." Will seemed very anxious to get out and ten minutes later, they were both dressed and really to go, Will pushing Nico out the door, covering his ears from Kayla and Leah's cackling laughter.

Nico slowly opened the dark, heavy door to the Hades cabin. Nico hadn't been in the cabin for weeks, in fact, he'd barely seen it at all since it had been refurbished. He peeked in and after he had a first glimpse of the inside, he flung open the door.

Inside, all the beds had been cleared away and the only thing in the room was a tree, not dissimilar to the tree in the Apollo cabin except this tree was completely black. Unlike what Nico expected, which was little skulls, there was lots of sparkling gems and moons. White lights gleamed, contrasting with the dark branches and on the very top there was a star, covered in silver diamonds. The shutters were pulled over the windows on the ceiling so that the tree was the only light in the room. At the bottom of the tree were piles and piles of presents, all in elegant, black wrapping and silver ribbons tied them all up neatly.

Wow... All this... Did his dad do this?

"Who does this?" Nico whispered.

"The gods." Will replied. "The year you came to camp, the gods were getting slightly worried about the amount of people going to... Kronos' side." He swallowed. "So they thought that showing the camper that they knew their kids by giving all of their kids presents that they knew people wanted and it stuck. But no one ever really looked in this cabin. It always had its curtains closed."

They stood there in peace for a minute before the door behind them opened slowly and inside came Hazel and Frank.

"Hey Nico." Hazel whispered. "Hiya Will." She waved a little.

Frank just stood there looking in awe at the tree. "It's a little different to the Ares cabin." He muttered. Will snorted.

A few minutes passed as they all gazed at the tree.

"Are... Are those presents for us?" Hazel said.

"I think so." Nico responded with.

"Well let's see shall we?"

They walked up to the tree and Nico saw a letter on one of the branches. He picked it up and opened it.

"What is it?" Hazel asked.

"I think it's from Dad... Should I read it?" After a few nods he opened it.

"Dear Nico and Hazel.

Merry Christmas, children. I am sorry for not seeing you on this day mortals celebrate so extensively but I hope you can forgive me.

But first things first: Your presents.

I've never had a task such as this one, getting presents for my loved ones. Persphone is different, I have known her for a millennia, but you two precious mortals are different. You lives pass so quickly in my eyes and so in the few Christmas' I have with you, I hope I am a relief and not so much of a burden.

Half of the presents under the tree are for Hazel and half for Nico minus two gifts. You will know which ones they are when you see them. Open them last.

Hazel.

When you were first born, I was Pluto, god of riches and I fell for your mother when she summoned me. She was so beautiful and radiant and watching you grow up, I honestly felt grief, knowing how I cursed the two of you. I don't want your forgiveness for all I did, I just want you to know that I am proud to call you my daughter and I am glad that Nico brought you back when he did. I am not good at these sentimental letters, I am sorry about that but I just ask that you never stop surprising me with your talents and take care of yourself. I have lost you once without out appreciating you. Now I see you properly, I couldn't bear to see you before the judges in the underworld again.

Nico,

I apologise for everything. I see you now as the son you always were, before I was just too blind to see clearly. Bianca is safe, Hermes checked for me and she was born into a good family worthy of her but I shall never compare you to her again. She has gone and in her place is a strong boy who I am proud to call my son. I hope Jules Albert is doing alright and is driving just as well as he used to. He came in handy with me when he was under my control and I hope he is the same to you.

But Nico, you are my son and I have no hesitation in saying that you are the best son I have had. Never stop –as the mortals say- kicking arse. I will always be proud of you. Unless you come home with Jackson or Grace as your partner. However I will tolerate Solace despite his obnoxious father.

I hope to see the two of you soon, alive though, not dead, and I look forward to seeing you grow up.

Hades/Pluto/Father/Dad."

"You know, as much as I can hate the guy sometimes, I genuinely think Dad put time and love into that letter." Hazel said.

"Yeah. Don't mention it too much on our next meeting, this is probably the first time he's done anything like this and won't know how to react." Nico snorted but inside, he was glowing. While his father had never really been a sold pillar in his life it made him feel good knowing his father cared anyway.

Even if his father had basically just said to date Will.

"I don't want to be that materialistic person that doesn't care about touching letters, but are you going to open your presents or..." Will trailed off.

"Yeah, that what I'm thinking." Frank said bashfully.

Hazel laughed and just kissed Frank on the forehead. "Ok guys. Shall we do the honours Nico?"

"Yes we shall Hazel."

Seconds later wrapping paper covered the floor as the two made their way through each gift with the help of Frank and Will, occasionally squealing and shouting with joy.

Finally after what seemed like thousands of gifts (it was 50, 25 each) they got down to the last two gifts, the ones that were specifically for the end.

"On three." Nico said. Hazel nodded.

"One, two, three."

Gasp.

Inside a box was one small picture, framed in gold and it was the best gift out of the lot.

"Are you ok?" He heard Will ask behind him. Nico just nodded dumbly and lifted the picture out of the box carefully. Staring back out at him was four people. His mother, his father, his sister and himself. His mum was smiling a full, genuine smile with one arm holding a three year old Bianca looking vaguely at the camera and using the other arm to hold Nico who seemed to be very interested in the concept of a hand and was staring intently at his right one. His father stood regally next them, his hand on his mother's shoulder in a formal way but his face was smiling slightly and Nico could tell he was happy.

A tear slipped down Nico's cheek and he felt Will hug him from behind.

"They both loved you Nico." Will whispered. Nico nodded and leaned back into his embrace, letting the hot tears cascade down his face. He was over their deaths, he wasn't haunted by them but gods, he missed them so much. Just to see their faces together happy as a family made him sob harder. He turned round in Will's arms and cried into his shirt clutching the photo.

"I just miss them." Nico whispered.

"I know Neeks. But you've got us now."

"Yes but..." He let out a sob.

"Hey, it's ok... Shushh..." Will hugged him tighter. After a minute Nico calmed down and released himself from his Will Cocoon and turned around to see Hazel in Frank's arms, tears running down her cheeks, holding a picture frame similar to his.

"My mum..." She whispered. Nico just nodded and took Will's hand. He walked over to Hazel with Will and smiled.

"Look at us." He chuckled. "We make a right pair." He lifted his hand and wiped away her tears. "Let's wipe them away shall we?" Hazel giggled and then slapped a hand over her mouth.

Nico grinned. "That's better. Come on. Let's see the others."

The four of them opened the door to the cabin and Will and Nico walked out first.

"Er, guys?" Hazel said, a feral grin plastered over her face. She pointed upwards.

Hanging above them was a piece of mistletoe.

Oh.

Nico looked at Will.

Will looked at Nico.

And Nico leaned in.

And Will leaned in.

And their lips touched.

And it was magical.

Nico wanted to kiss and kiss and kiss but he had to stop. What if Will didn't like him?

So they pulled apart with a blush dusting their faces.

"OH MY GODS!" Someone who sounded like Jason yelled.

Nico and Will turned around to see all their friends looking at them. Turns out it was Jason's voice.

"Just bloody kiss you idiots!" Percy shouted.

"I swear if Will mentions Nico's name in any love sick sentence again I will go die." Cecil said with a practically murderous look.

"If you two don't kiss or something I will use charmspeak!" Piper threatened. "And we know you both want it so it will work."

Suddenly the whole group erupted in calls of "Oh my gods, you're so oblivious.", "Just kiss." And "Ugh, it's so obvious!"

Nico wasn't quite sure what to do. To give in or... Well- whumph!

Will had his face in his hand and he smashed their lips together. Nico was very ok with this.

Will softened his hand and moved one onto Nico's cheek and one on his hip while Nico wrapped his arms round his neck. After a moment their lips started to move together and soon they were in a beautiful rhythm of breathing, then kissing, then a tease of tongue. At one point one of them moaned and Nico almost lost his mind.

After a minute or two they broke apart, panting.

"Please," Will said, "I'm so sick of fighting this, please just date me."

Nico laughed, he felt high on helium. "Of course, yes, yes. Yes. Date me. I don't know what I'm saying, sorry."

Will laughed. "Thank you."

Their friends cheered in the background and Hazel came up next to them, popping their little bubble.

"Let's go to the Poseidon cabin for present, yeah?" She said gently. They nodded.

As they walked down the steps, Hazel whispered to Nico, "Well done Nico."

Nico smiled so hard he thought he would explode.

The Poseidon cabin was ready and festive by the time they got there.

"Wow... This is so nice! Did you do this Percy?" Grover asked.

Percy laughed. "No, Dad did it last night I think. All the other cabins are like this aren't they?"

After a few nods Grover blushed. "Sorry, I don't really look at the cabins..."

"Hey, it's fine. Let's just celebrate now." Percy patted him on the back.

"Yeah!" Lou Ellen cried out, "Present time, woo!"

And just like that everyone got excited as if someone had flicked a switch.

They all sat in a circle on the floor with their presents piled in the middle, in front of the blue Christmas tree with water spouting out the top. All the couples were sitting in each other's laps looking stupidly lovesick. Hazel in Frank's lap holding hands, Piper was in Jason's lap, poking his scar that he got when he tried to eat a stapler, Percy sat in Annabeth's lap looking into her eyes while she played with his hair and finally Nico looked at Will and shrugged, looking around.

"Stop being all cold, you know you love me." Will said.

"Shut up Solace, I don't do all this fluffy, dating stuff." Nico said with a scowl but sat in Will's lap anyway crossing his arms when Will wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Oh come on, you fell asleep on me on the mini-van, don't tell me you don't do the 'fluffy, dating stuff'."

Nico blushed tomato red and looked down. "You fell asleep first. And it was only because you won't see help for your night-"

"Hey, it's Christmas, let's not mention my... problem," Will hesitated a bit. "Listen Nico, I appreciate your concern but you can't do anything, no one can. That's why I hide it. I'm a doctor, I know I have a problem, but I also know that there is only one person that can sort this out and he's... dead." Will whispered the last part. "So if we could just-"

"Ok Will I get it. Don't worry, you don't have to talk about it. It's Christmas as you said, let's just have a good time." Nico said. When Will stayed quiet, Nico realised what he was doing. "William Solace, it is Christmas and as your newly appointed boyfriend I forbid you to feel guilty or do anything but enjoy yourself ok? Smile, you're wearing your stupid Christmas jumper that lights up when you smile so light it up." Nico said. Will just laughed and then buried his head into Nico's back.

Nico turned back to the group who were distracted, trying to find their presents to put in the pile, but Lou Ellen, Cecil and Reyna were staring at him intently. Cecil mouthed, 'Is Will ok?'. Nico just nodded and proceeded to rub circles on Will hands in what he hoped to be a relaxing manner. He would help Will someday and when he said help, he meant completely fix. There would be no more nightmares, no more sadness and Will would be happy. Well and truly happy.

Finally people started to calm down and the present pile had reached its great climax. Nico felt Will lift his head and knew that he would be wearing a perfect smile, shielding himself from anyone who asked any questions.

"Can we give out the presents now?" Asked Frank who was looking at Hazel and then around the rest of the group.

Hazel was lucky to have Frank Nico thought. Frank was just a fluffy panda when it came down to the truth and he cared about Hazel so deeply. In fact everyone was lucky to have their other half. The room was just so full happiness at the moment, Nico wasn't sure whether to smile and join in or get the nearest bucket and throw up.

"But first," Will said from behind him, "Let's put some music on in the background, yeah?"

A cheer went up from everyone and Piper jumped up to put a CD on.

Soon Mariah Carey was singing out of the speakers and the gifts were being passed around. Everyone was crying out in joy as paper was ripped and beautiful presents were revealed.

It was soon obvious why Frank had been so eager to share his gift. She opened a box to lift up a beautiful necklace, a key covered in pink gemstones. Hazel turned it around and saw that the back was made of silver with the words 'Hazel, I trust you with my key.' inscribed on the back.

"Aww, Frank, that's adorable!" Hazel exclaimed.

"The gem stones are all real kunzites which are the gems of romance and signifies eternal love." Everyone around them awwwwed and Nico was so ready to grab the nearest bin but then Frank added, "Say the last part."

Hazel frowned. "I trust you with my key? WHOA!" Suddenly she was holding a sword the length of her arm and the hilt was decorated with the kunzites. "How did you do this? How much did it cost you!"

Frank tapped the side of his nose. "Being a child of Mars has its merits. And the price is only my business." Hazel just hugged him.

"How do I get it back into a necklace?"

"Say, 'And I trust you too'."

The deadly weapon turned back into a sweet necklace again and Hazel looked enchanted.

Nico was reaching for Will's present from himself when Will tapped him on the back and handed him a thin book-looking gift wrapped up.

"Oh, thank you. Here's your gift too." Nico said giving him a package.

He then tore open his present to be greeted with a score. A music score. From the boy who couldn't play music. Nico bit his lip and looked back at Will who was looking at him like a child looking at their mother for approval.

"Will..." Nico looked back at the score. It had a key signature and a time signature that matched the notes and lyrics and a piano part with a guitar as well. Nico read the words for about five bars before turning back to Will. "Did you write this yourself?"

Will nodded, his eyes wide with pride.

"Will I... I love it. Does it all fit? You know, does the music all go together?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Will this is amazing." Nico whispered. "I'm so proud and so touched..." And there wasn't one part of that sentence that wasn't true. Nico honestly hadn't felt this proud of someone since Hazel first controlled the Mist.

"I also convinced my sister from Camp Jupiter to come down here and give you piano lessons. I've seen you looking at the grand piano in the cabin and I thought you appreciate it and also you'd be able to play the piece I wrote..." He trailed off with a blush on his face.

"I love it all. Yes, I was looking at the piano and... oh my gods... Will." Nico couldn't help it. He was sitting in the lap of the most gorgeous, adorable, amazing boy in the whole wide world so he just kissed him. A short but sweet kiss but Nico wasn't done. He kissed him again, still short, and again and again. And then he kissed him for a good few seconds. And then he turned around completely and straddled him before kissing him again for ten seconds. He wrapped his hands around Will's neck and then kissed him until he ran out of breath. His mouth started to move and a pair of arms wrapped round his waist. He didn't quicken the pace at all, he just kissed Will in an almost lazy manner.

He didn't know how long they kissed but when Will slid his tongue into Nico's mouth, someone said,

"Guys come on, get a room!"

They broke apart and just looked at each other, not even caring that everyone in the room was staring at them.

"Did you really enjoy the music that much?" Will said with a grin.

"Honestly and truthfully, I loved the music and it means so much to me. I will play it with you beside me and the picture of my family on a grand piano when we're middle-aged and have our existential crises' trailing after us. But really, I just wanted to kiss you."

Will smiled. "I enjoyed it."

"Good. Now open my gift."

Inside a box was a pile of bones. Even without seeing them, Nico could fell everyone else's confused looks. To them it was a pile of bones. But in reality...

"Hold them and say 'Kitty Kitty.'"

Will took them in his hand and repeated the words. The bones started to move by themselves and Will dropped them in surprise. Within a few seconds a small kitten made of bones was nudging Will's leg for attention.

"Small Bob..." Percy whispered behind him. Nico turned around and nodded.

"When you told me about Bob's new friend, it stuck in the back of my mind and gave me inspiration for this." He turned back to Will. "You can give code names to the bones to turn into curtain animals or things. But they can only be small. Sorry."

"I love it Nico." Will said, stroking the cat before looking at Nico in the eye. "I love it. And it may be too early to say this but... I think I love you."

Nico couldn't help but grin ear to ear, so much that his face hurt. He leaned in and...

"Oh please don't kiss again. I love a healthy relationship but it just makes the rest of us uncomfortable."

"Oh shut up Lou, it's young love!" Cecil argued.

Nico and Will just chuckled and Will pecked Nico on the lips before popping his head up.

"I love this song!"

"What is it?" Nico asked, he didn't really recognise many song even after his hellish lessons with Will's cabin mates.

"OoH! This is Fairytale of New York!" Annabeth exclaimed. "My dad used to play this a lot!"

Will lifted Nico up bridal style before chucking him onto a bed.

Percy stood up too and put and arm round Will's shoulders before the song started.

"It was Christmas Eve babe," They started in a ridiculously low voice and Nico was already giggling.

"In the drunk tank,

An old man said to me, won't see another one,

And then he sang a song,

The Rare Old Mountain Dew,

I turned my face away,

And dreamed about you..."

Five hours later they were all lying in the bunks, the room lit up only by the Christmas tree. The music was still playing in the background and Nico was very happy, snuggled up to Will, wrapped in blankets.

"Merry Christmas guys." Percy said softly.

"New Years next." Grover snorted.

"Pass the marshmallows." Cecil said.

A rustling was heard and a great oof came from Cecil.

"Thanks Reyna." He grumbled.

A thumbs up came from another bed.

"To a great Christmas!" Piper lifted her glass up.

"And to no hangover tomorrow!" Will said, lifting his glass.

Many 'Hear, hear!'s was heard after that statement.

"And to new love." Will whispered to Nico.

"Mhuph..." Nico nodded as Will softly kissed him.

He leant back into Will's embrace. "Was it a special Christmas for you?"

Will chuckled and put his head into Nico's neck. "Yes. It was by far the best and most special Christmas I have ever had."

"Good..." Nico almost nodded off but managed to stay awake.

"Go to sleep Nico." He kissed Nico neck and wrapped the blanket tighter around him.

"If I must..." Nico let his head fall back into Will's chest and closed his eyes.

Before he fell asleep he heard one more whisper.

"I'm so lucky to have you Nico..."

And a smile graced his face as well as a little tear.

FINALLY!

7,800 words later and I've finished the chapter while humming Fairytale of New York (fav Christmas song ever, seriously, so good.)

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and please review! I worked so hard on this chapter all for you guys!

Also, can anyone guess what Apollo put in Will's stocking ;)

I don't speak Italian so anyone who does please correct me and I do play multiple instruments so i know what I'm saying there but otherwise, I think I'm fine.

Love you all lots,

PalletshippingSolangeloLove