Due to the translator's mistake, in the Polish version of The Lost Hero, Lou Ellen was introduced as a boy. - fun fact I stumbled across whilst researching these characters. On an unrelated note, what does whilst mean? I know it means "while" but why not just say that? What's the point of having a more complicated word?! Is it meant to be like "whom"? But that doesn't make sense! I use it all the time but now I just think I was grammatically incorrect.

The song used is "You Are My Sunshine." If you're a Solangelo fanfiction reader and you haven't heard this song yet, I am highly disappointed. Go listen to it right now! It is so sweet, especially when you think of it in the context of Nico and Will.

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Will grabbed Nico's hand, expression full of worry. Nico looked so peaceful when he was asleep. His constant guarded look finally let down. He was so tense all the time, Will just wanted to break down those walls, but he knew 4 days of knowing him wouldn't be enough to get him to trust him. When they kissed, Will was surprised, to say the least, when Nico kissed back. After everything he had gone through, although Will didn't really know much about that, he was still able to like Will. He, the amazing Nico di Angelo, apparently the Ghost King, liked him back. It probably was just a spur of the moment thing, but it was amazing nonetheless. And... if Nico didn't reciprocate the feelings... all Will wanted was for him to be happy. If he was happier with a real hero, then so be it.

Will brushed the hair out of Nico's eyes, it was getting pretty long, and kissed him on the forehead. All Nico needed right now was light, and Will couldn't even give him that.

Nico still looked incredibly pale, if Will hadn't been checking his pulse every 5 minutes he would have thought he was dead. His fingertips would occasionally become transparent, those times Will's heart nearly stopped, but he regained physicality after a few moments. It broke Will's heart to see his Death Boy look so... dead.

Will kept his hand where it was, but leaned back in his chair. He looked at Nico lovingly and began humming. He squinted and noticed that Nico's fingers, which had just gone transparent again, immediately regained form. Will stopped humming out of shock, but then he began singing the song he was humming.

"You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are gray.

You'll never know dear,

How much I'd miss you.

So please don't take

My sunshine away."

He nearly cried as he saw Nico regain color. At first Will feared he might fade out of existence, with what was happening to his fingers, but now he was gaining more hope. He grabbed his other hand and continued singing.

"The other night, dear,

As I lay sleeping,

I dreamed I held you in my arms.

When I awoke, dear,

I was mistaken,

And I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When sky's are gray.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you,

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away..."

"I'm not going anywhere," Nico croaked, although it was barely above a whisper.

"Nico!" Will cried.

He cupped Nico's face in his hand.

Oh gods, he was alive! Will tried to act confident around Lou Ellen and Cecil, but in reality he was terrified that Nico would fade away.

"So you don't hate me?" He said in a questioning voice.

Will nearly laughed, "No! No, of course not. I love you."

Nico shook his head, "No... no. I'm a monster. I nearly killed him. Worse. I nearly made him into a mindless ghost." He was tearing up now.

"No... no. Don't think like that. Nearly. You nearly did it, but you didn't," Will tried to console him.

Nico shook his head again and seemed to completely block Will out after that. Will tried speaking to him, but he gave up eventually.

He sighed. He knew this all was new to Nico, and they only really got to talk for the first time just 4 days ago. Before that, Will had just admired him from a distance.

After a few moments of Nico picking at the sheets and Will just staring at him, the others returned. Will let go of Nico's hand, surprised when he saw Nico look a little upset about it, but the expression was gone so quickly Will was sure he had imagined it.

Lou studied him for a second, but didn't say anything even though Will was sure she noticed his red eyes. Cecil, on the other hand, was completely oblivious.

"What's she doing here?" Nico asked, most likely referring to the little girl.

"Oh hey, you're up," Cecil said. He sounded strange.

The little girl giggled.

"Well, she kept following us, so we decided we might as well take her with us," Will answered.

Nico rolled his eyes, "You're going to get us killed some day."

"And you could've last night." Will was shocked to hear Cecil say that. He could see Lou was too.

Only Nico didn't look shocked, "Fair point."

"What?! No! Nico, what happened last night was not your fault!" Will exclaimed.

"Don't listen to Cecil, he doesn't understand," Lou glared at Cecil.

"Understand what?! Look, I like di Angelo as well," Will glared at him for that, "Not in that way," Cecil continued, giving Will a look, "but that doesn't mean I have to go ignoring the war elephant in the room."

Lou was about to say something, but Nico said first, "Never thought Cecil would be the only one with sense in the group."

"Hey," Cecil protested.

"W-What?!" Will exclaimed.

"Nico, stop that," Lou knelt by his bed. Nico looked shock at the gesture, "Don't beat yourself up over it."

"And why not?!" Nico was getting angry, "I nearly obliterated his soul, for Hades' sake! He has every right to hate me, so I don't need your pity."

"Hold on, I never said I hated you," Cecil said.

"Well you should," Nico said.

"I was just saying. I-" Nico interrupted, "Cecil it's fine. You don't have to apologize for being reasonable. You're wary of me, and that's the right thing to do. It's the sensible thing to do. I'm not even saying that in a self deprecating kind of way, I'm serious. Now it looks like you've all gotten a chance to freshen up, so I'll go do that."

Will began to protest as Nico sat up but he was still ignoring him. He grabbed some spare clothes, the wipes, a toothbrush even though there was no sink, and left the tent.

"Will, I-" Cecil began.

"No," Will cut him off, "I don't want to hear it."

He began preoccupying himself with making Nico's bed, not wanting to even look at Cecil. How dare he say such things to Nico? It wasn't like it was Nico's fault. He had lost control. He could hear Lou and Cecil arguing in the background of his thoughts.

"In my defense-"

"Save it!"

"Look, Lou Ellen, I-"

"You don't have a clue what it's like. He's hurting and you just go saying stuff like that."

"Be reasonable."

"Be kind!"

"I still like him, I'm not trying to insult him or something, I'm just trying to-"

"Trying to what?"

"Agh! He could be dangerous! We've only known him for 4 days, how could you let your guard down so fast?! How could you trust him just like that?!"

Will turned around so fast he could have gotten whiplash, "Because he is a hero. He risked his life carrying that statue back half way across the world just to help the people that never accepted him before. And, in the first war, he convinced his father to join his brothers. He convinced his father to set aside a thousands of years old rivalry, just to help the camp. He is a hero, Cecil. That is why I trust him." He was breathing heavily now.

Cecil just looked down at the floor.

Nico reentered the tent. He looked a lot more refreshed, but still pale and tired. He obviously noticed the atmosphere, but acted indifferent to it. Cecil looked like he felt awful, but he also seemed to stand by what he thought. He didn't hate Nico, but still... How could he not trust him?! After everything?!

"So kiddo," Nico sat down on the bed, "If you're staying with us, then at least tell us your name."

The little girl looked up at him.

"Do you have a name?" Lou asked.

She just looked at her.

"Then we'll have to give you one," Will smiled, "Anyone have a suggestion?"

"Bianca," Nico said immediately.

She giggled.

"She likes it," Cecil said.

Will gave Nico a small smile as he was looking at the little girl with the ghost of a smile on his face.

"It's perfect," Will said, looking at Nico.

Nico smiled sadly back at him.

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Thanks again for reading, don't forget to leave a review, they make my day, constructive criticism is always welcomed. And, please, what does whilst mean?!