I'm really excited for this chapter! It's going to be a long one. :-) Enjoy.

Important thing to note... This will be yaio (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

Nico POV

I felt incredibly awkward about last night.

I could not believe I had reacted like that. But the thought of kissing Percy, that was not something I could think about. If I hadn't left, I have no doubt that Percy would have kissed me without a second thought. I was not sure as to how I would react if the son of the sea god was to kiss me. It was making me nervous just thinking about it.

I took a deep breath to try and clear my mind. I closed my eyes for a second and went to wake up Percy.

I had no doubt that he would be able to get to breakfast on his own by now, but I couldn't resist those few moments before he woke. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep. I knew that I was torturing myself but seeing him look so relaxed, it was like a drug that I couldn't kick.

I rolled my eyes at that thought, I need professional help.

I entered the Poseidon cabin. I knew that this morning would be weird. I really did not want to have to explain myself to him.

How could I even start to justify my reaction? Sorry, but I've been in love with you for years and I couldn't stand the thought of you kissing me just to appease some idiotic campers who couldn't stay out of other people's business? I'll pass on that one.

I looked down at Percy, the sooner he was up the sooner I could leave. "Hey Percy, it's time to wake up."

He opened his eyes and they went straight to mine. Gods he has amazing eyes. I had to look away. I took a deep breath and started to leave.

"Wait Nico," I closed my eyes. I really did not want to have this conversation. I turned back so that I could see him out of the corner of my eye.

"What do you need Percy."

He hopped out of bed and came to stand beside me. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked highly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry about last night." My eyes snapped to his in confusion. What is he apologizing for? "They were out of line. They apologized after you left..." He looked at me like he had suddenly recalled something. "By the way, if anyone asks, you're uncomfortable with public displays of affection because you were born in the 40's."

I nodded. That was a fair excuse actually; I was surprised he had come up with it. I considered using it for when he asks about my reaction.

I focused my attention back on the conversation, I couldn't understand his behavior.

"They felt really bad afterwards..." Percy looked nervous.

Why would he be anxious? I narrowed my eyes. I had a bad feeling about this. "What did you do?"

Percy stepped back. "Please don't kill me."

This was going to be bad. "I make no promises. Now tell me what you did."

He cleared his throat and gave me a sheepish look. "Well after you left and I gave that excuse, they ummm... they were crying and were begging me to let them make it up to us."

Oh gods, this could be bad. "Make it up to us how."

"I can't tell you. They made me swear it on the River Styx."

"If you don't tell me what you did, you will be seeing that river in person shortly." I was beyond furious. I really did not care for Aphrodite or any of her descendents. I didn't trust them in any way, shape, or form.

Percy took another step back. "Listen I can't tell you, but I promise it's not that bad."

I took a step towards him contemplating as to whether to draw my sword, or simply pummel him into the ground. "Give me one reason as to why I shouldn't beat you."

"Please Nico, just trust me."

I paused. He was asking me to trust him. I had asked him to do the same thing on many occasions. If there was one thing that could make me hesitate, that was it.

I couldn't decide. On the one hand, I didn't want anything to do with the love goddess and her family. But on the other hand, I did trust Percy.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. "How about this, I will trust your judgment right now. I will let them to 'make it up' to us. But if it's anything like the last time they tried to help, I will beat you within an inch of your life. Understand?"

Percy gulped and nodded.

"Good, now get dressed. It's time for breakfast." I turned around and walked away.

ΩΩΩ

I ate as quickly as I could.

I did not want to spend any additional time around the Aphrodite cabin. Throughout breakfast they kept whispering and throwing glancing at Percy and me. This was going to be bad.

Percy ran up to me before I was able to escape. I was still angry at him for agreeing to let them interfere with our fictional relationship.

He was working on the reconstruction team today. I had never been so glad to be assigned to the garden.

"Meet me outside the Hades cabin at six pm okay?"

It was obvious that they were going to 'fix' everything tonight. "Fine, I will be there."

Percy gave me a small smile and walked away.

I sighed. I was really dreading tonight.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. How is it that when your dreading something, time seems to move faster because of it?

I headed back to my cabin at 5:30 for a quick shower and a change of clothes. Weeding the garden was messy work.

Percy was sitting on my steps at precisely 5:59. He looked a little nervous. I felt a little bad but at the same time I hadn't ruled out the pummeling option yet.

Percy smiled and offered me his hand. I thought about just walking away but I figured if I had his hand, I could keep him from running if this was as bad as I was expecting. I sighed and took his hand.

Percy started walking towards the beach. I felt my eyebrows scrunch together. Were we going for a swim? That didn't seem likely. It didn't seem like the Aphrodite cabin's style. The sun was just about to set so I supposed it could have kind of been considered romantic. A swim wouldn't be so bad, but I hadn't brought my swim trunks.

When we reached the beach Percy led us away from the place that we would normally swim. We reached the edge of the sand and he brought us to a little foot path at the bass of a hill. I don't know if it could truly be considered a path, if Percy hadn't been leading me, I doubt that I would have noticed it.

The path led us through the small forest and down the far side of the hill. When the path opened up, it revealed a small, hidden, cove.

The entire cove could not have been bigger than the Hades cabin. The waves lapped at the miniature beach, and the soft beige sand stretched all the way to the rock face. The hill that we had climbed formed an overhang, which would shelter this little paradise from any weather.

I was speechless. It was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. "I had no idea that this was here."

Percy smiled, "Me neither. Apparently it's an Aphrodite cabin secret." I felt a small smile on my lips. I turned back to looked around and realize that there was a small dining table set for two. I felt my shoulders stiffen slightly. Percy noticed my reaction and fidgeted. "They set up a private dinner for us. I suppose that this would be considered our first date."

I did not know exactly what I was expecting but it wasn't that. I suppose I was afraid that the children of Aphrodite would try to force me to express my feelings like their sibling, Eros, had. A date actually made a lot of sense. After all, unlike Eros who was a god, the half blood children of the love goddess would not be able to best me in a fight. I immediately felt myself relax. I could handle having dinner with Percy.

Then what he had actually said sunk in. We're on a date? I felt the breath rush out of my lungs. I had to force myself to calm down. I was suddenly very nervous. I had never been on a date before.

"So should I run?" I glanced at Percy. He seemed pretty anxious waiting for my reaction.

I shook my head and looked back at the table. "Your fine," I may have been very nervous but I wasn't going to kill him because he took me on a date. I bit my lip. I didn't want to ask him but since I had no experience to go on, I had no choice. "What, umm... what do people, you know, do on a date?"

Percy looked surprised and then rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, I don't really have all that much experience myself. I've only ever been on a few dates with... well you know. We were always busy. As far as I can tell, it's like hanging out but in a romantic setting."

Huh. I can deal with just hanging out. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Percy smiled and pulled me towards the table. I reached out to pull out my chair but he beat me too it. I raised an eyebrow and he chuckled. "Sarah told me in no uncertain terms, that I was to act like a gentleman or she would convince her friend from the Hecate cabin to curse me."

I frowned as I sat down. I had just had a very bad thought. "Does that mean that their watching us?"

Percy smirked. "No, they wanted to, but I made them swear on the River Styx that no one would watch or interfere. That's how they got me to promise not to tell you. We compromised," He chuckled. "Well, my promise and me pointing out the fact that it would be the opposite of helpful if you found out we had an audience. Either way, we have the evening free of spies." Percy looked very satisfied with himself. I had to look away.

I chose to examine the table. I couldn't help but smile. They had covered the table top in a red and white checkered cloth. There were two candle holders with the candles already lit. They were giving of a surprising amount of light, which made me believe that they might have been magic. In the center of the table there was a single red rose in a vase. The sun setting in the background created the perfect atmosphere. Percy completed the picture when he pulled two champagne flutes, two plates of chicken alfredo, and a bottle of sparkling wine out of a picnic basket.

It was so clichéd. It looked like they had pulled it straight off the set of every romantic movie every set in Italy.

I chuckled, it was absolutely perfect.

If they had asked me to design my ideal first date, it could not have been more magnificent then this one, straight down to the boy across from me.

I found myself praying to Aphrodite that, for this one evening, I would be able to forget about everything else.

Percy smiled at me, "So am I forgiven then?"

I tilted my head and pretended to think about it. "Well...I guess I can forgive you." I smiled.

Percy laughed and poured our drinks.

ΩΩΩ

Percy POV

I could not remember the last time I had smiled this much.

As we ate our dinner we chatted about everything and nothing. We talked about childhood pets or, for him, lack thereof, music, places we would like to go one day, favorite colors, everything. I have no idea how long we spoke. He even taught me a few words of Italian.

He laughed when I asked him to teach me the word for idiot. "Why would you want to learn that?"

I smiled. I had not seen Nico act like this since I first met him. "I believe it is highly important to have the ability to insult someone in any language."

Nico smiled at me, "That one's easy, it's 'idiota'."

I nodded, "I can probably remember that."

Finally we ended up kicking off our shoes and going wading in the ocean. We had a small water fight that, needless to say, I won.

Ultimately we ended up laying on the beach together, still talking, as we watched the stars. I had my arm around his shoulders. I wasn't sure exactly when it had happened, but eventually his head had ended up on my chest. I wasn't really questioning it as somehow I had ended up running my fingers through his hair. I felt strangely blissful.

I was halfway through the story of the many schools I had been expelled from when I realized that he had fallen asleep. I sighed as I realized that I had no idea what time it was. It was probably really late, way after curfew.

I smiled and wrapped my other arm around the son of Hades and started to rub his arm. I felt him begin to stir, "Hey Nico?" I felt him breathe deeply, "We should probably head back to our cabins."

Nico sat up and rubbed his eyes. I couldn't help but find him adorable when he was sleepy. He may have been a terrifying force to reckon with in battle but, when he was just waking up, he was sweet. I smiled at the thought of what he would say if I told him that he was cute. I doubted that it would be a positive reaction.

I felt my eyebrows pull together, since when do I think Nico is cute? I shrugged at the thought. I was probably just tired.

I smiled and stood up. I offered Nico my hand and helped pull him to his feet. He stretched. "I've never seen you so tired before Nico."

"I was having a really good sleep."

"I'm that good of pillow, hey?"

Nico smiled, and looked away. "Come on sea-prince. Let's get back."

That's a new one. I smiled at the nickname. It was a lot better than fish-face. "Alright ghost king, come on."

ΩΩΩ

We managed to make it back to the cabins without incident. I was right about it being late. There campfire was long over.

I hadn't even realized that the walk was over until we were both standing on the Hades porch.

Nico looked at the door and sighed. I had a feeling he didn't want tonight to end either. We always seemed to be at odds; it was hard to allow the night to when we had gotten along so well to end. I wished that the two of us could spend time together like that more often. It was amazing. I hadn't thought of her once.

"Do you think the Aphrodite cabin will mind if we go back there again?"

I smiled, "Nope. Sarah told me that we are free to go there as often as we want as long as we don't tell anyone else about it."

Nico perked up at that. "That's good to hear. I think that might be my new favorite place."

I laughed, "Agreed. It's beautiful."

Nico looked down. I couldn't be sure in the dark but it almost looked like he was blushing. "I should probably go in."

I nodded absently. For some reason I really liked the thought that I had made the son of Hades blush. I smiled and using the hand that wasn't holding his, I tilted his head up so that I would be able to see his face better.

There was indeed a bright flush of color on his cheeks. Without thinking it through, I found myself leaning forward. The last thing I saw as my eyes slipped closed was his eyes expanding as my lips met his.

ΩΩΩ

Nico POV

I felt his lips on mine. I couldn't move. If I was to move in the slightest I felt like it would shatter whatever beautiful dream this was.

His lips were so incredibly soft against mine and I could taste just the slightest hint of salt. I felt his mouth moving but found myself completely unable to respond. The only thought racing through my head was Percy is kissing me; Percy is kissing me, oh gods... Percy is kissing me!

I discovered that I was not breathing. At the moment, that seemed like a small price to pay. I could handle not breathing if it meant that he would keep kissing me. I felt like I would pass out from lack of oxygen but I didn't mind.

Suddenly I felt Percy stiffen and pull back. I felt the air rush into my oxygen deprived lungs. My face was completely devoid of emotions. The feeling in my chest could not be described by anything as simple as an emotion. My heart felt like it was going a thousand miles an hour. I felt Percy remove his hands from my neck and hair. Huh, when did he move his hands?

My eyes snapped to his and my heart froze. He was looking at me in such shock, like he couldn't believe he had just done that. He fell back a step. I could see the apology in his eyes and I couldn't take it. I had just had the most incredible night of my life and Percy, the Percy, twice savior of Olympus, hero of both great prophecies, the boy I have been in love with for years, had just kissed me.

I refused to allow him to say anything that would affect my memories of tonight.

I opened the door to my cabin and locked it behind me.

I fell against the door and felt my hand go to my lips.

Percy kissed me...