A/N: It's reflection time.

It was eight P.M. when we walked into Denny's. Mary looked up. 'I'm sorry, but I'll be leaving soon.'

'Yes,' I said, 'Because you should go hug Ernest. And study. How is he doing? And how is it going?'

'It is still almost like we are blessed,' she answered, with a sarcastic look to Dionysus, 'and my studies are going well. If it goes on like this, I can stop working in this place in May or early june.'

'Yay! Or, well, yay…'

'I get what you mean. It is pretty yay.' She winked and put a parcel on the counter, with a golden bow around it. 'I heard it is your birthday tomorrow?'

'I mean… yes!'

'My sources told me.'

I looked over my shoulder. Dionysus shrugged and I snickered. 'Ah, yes. Sources. Do you also know how these sources found out?'

'General divinity.' She tapped the gift. 'Are you going to open it?'

Careful not to tear the paper, I opened it, even though it was pretty clear it was a book. At least, I thought so until I saw it was actually a box of chocolates shaped like a book.

'How ingenious.'

'Absolutely, right? And the chocolates have the shape of skulls.'

'It's a gift that keeps on giving.' I looked up at Mary and smiled. 'Thanks, Mary. Thanks a lot.'

She smiled. 'Do you want orange juice? I was going to make some.'

Of course I wanted orange Juice, even when I saw that it was made from Persephone's sacred oranges. I decided not to ask how Mary got her hands on a full box of them.

Dionysus and I sat down in our regular spot. 'What is it?' I asked. 'Why did I have to come?'

'Tomorrow is your birthday. That means it has almost been a year that you first started therapy.'

What. 'Really?'

'Yes.' He smiled. 'I thought we should evaluate what was discussed.'

'A lot.' A god, goddang lot.

'A whole lot.'

'You don't say.'

'I did.'

I sighed, while Mary placed two glasses of orange juice on our table. 'Bon appetit.' She smiled and walked back to the counter, presumably to continue packing her stuff so she could go home after we left.

Dionysus turned back to me, while I took a sip of my orange juice. 'Anyway. Do you think therapy has helped you?'

I nodded, without hesitation. 'Yes. It has helped me. I feel more…' my voice trailed off. 'I really do, it really has, but if I say it, I might jinx it.'

Dionysus slowly nodded. 'I can promise that that will not happen, but it is okay. You don't have to say it. That is something a lot of people feel.'

I nodded, before taking a deep breath. 'I feel better,' I said then, which made Dionysus smile. 'All the really big issues that were blocking my mind have been talked about. They are not completely gone, but my brain feels lighter. I learned how to give everything a place in my life.' I took a pause to take a sip of orange juice. 'Yet, now I do have more room to overthink other things, mostly other people. Like with May.' I shrugged.

Dionysus slowly nodded. 'That sounds plausible.'

'Yes. It does cause a lot of stress when I am constantly thinking of random people.' I took a sip, until I realised what he probably wanted me to say. 'I think that might need to be the next step. Manage the stress and the impulsive thoughts now that the big trauma is out of the way.'

'Indeed, but you must be cautious. It is very possible that some old fears come back.'

'Yes. Although, a lot of the fear disappeared after I faced the Elder Gods.'

'That doesn't mean it can't come back. Keep looking out for yourself, okay? The really nasty voices won't come back, but the nightmares might.'

I nodded. 'Okay.'

'To come back to what you said before: you mean that you have a lot more room in your head to overthink, mostly about other people.'

I took a sip of my orange juice. 'Yes. I hope that issue doesn't become bigger, because as said before, it causes stress.'

'Not if we treat you properly and not as long as the peaceful Elder Gods protect your mind. However, be cautious. We need to focus on finding a way to help you deal with the new thoughts you described. Both so that you don't impulsively decide to take a trip and so that you aren't constantly pestered by fear.'

I thought back to what happened with May. It reminded me of the trogs, who I also impulsively followed. 'I agree.'

'Than that can be our starting point for next sessions. You worked through the raw fears, now we need to work on the rough edges so that you can go on with your life without having as much therapy as you do now.'

I nodded. This all sounded very smart, or something. 'Yes. Do we have a plan, then?'

He nodded. 'I think we do. And, Nico, I really am proud of you for the progress you made this last year. You talked about a lot, dealt with a lot, found ways to give something a place. You are currently in a way healthier mindset than when you started.'

'Thanks.'

'Now you just need to learn how to live your life.'

'Live my life. That's a good one.'

He nodded. 'Yet, right now there is only one proper plan.'

'Is it, by any chance, sleep?'

'It is. Drink up that juice, then we'll get you home.'

The next morning, I was suddenly sixteen. Will, who was still asleep, had his arms wrapped around me.

I turned my head to look at the clock on my nightstand and noticed that there were some tiny objects laying next to it. Softly, I pushed Will away from me a little, so that I could see what it was. There were a few coins, a card, a shiny packet and a note. Happy birthday, to another year of not losing your head, -D, was all the note read. Clearly Dionysus.

The shiny pack was a Mythomagic booster pack, from a Dionysian expansion set. Very funny. There were ten regular drachmas and two black ones, to be used in the Underworld. I narrowed my eyes, wondering if this man was implying something by giving me two underworld coins. Oh, what the heck, probably not.

The card was difficult to read without lamplight, until I had deciphered my own name on top of the card. 'Nico di Angelo, Ghost king.' I gasped. This was a card, an official card even, of myself. I sat up and snapped the light on to take a better look.

'Urgh... Nico?' Will asked sleepily. 'What are you…'

'Will, look…' I pointed at the card. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my shoulder.

'Hm? Oh… is that a mythomagic card with you on it?'

'It is an official mythomagic card with me on it,' I corrected him. 'Not that I play that anymore…'

'You don't have to lie to me.' He kissed my neck. I put the card down.

'No, I don't,' I said, while I kissed him back. On the mouth this time.

A/N: I legit once found a box of chocolates in the shape of a book.

Okay boys, if you write a world where magic is real, there should be a mechanic that protects you against mental illness. I think the Elder Gods will be able to do that.

Final exams have started which means I am officially dead now.

Next chapter will be Nico celebrating his birthday with the Jacksons.