That evening, Hades' birthday dinner went smoothly, with no unexpected twists, turns, or anything similar to last year's flaming tuxedo incident by the end of the meal. Nico breathed a sigh of relief as this year's (un-tampered) birthday candles were extinguished by a single breath from Hades, watching a similar relieved smile light up his stepmother's face.

"Happy birthday, love," Persephone said sweetly, reaching over to her right and putting a slender hand over Hades' left hand, slotting her fingers into his as their rings clinked together quietly.

Nico watched as his father's crow's feet crinkled up with affection, a rare smile matching his wife's blooming on his face.

I want something like this someday, Nico thought, seeing the difference in his dad's demeanor between now and when Persephone was away for work. His worry lines, normally making his face look sunken and weary, seemed to rewind decades into the past. A youthful spark illuminated his gaze every time he set eyes on his wife's face, framed by her bright pink pixie cut.

An ageless romance. To have someone there at your side through thick and thin, sharing burdens at your lowest points and celebrating with you at your best. To even dream of being able to reach that point of mutual understanding was an unattainable fantasy.

But considering recent events, maybe it wasn't so unattainable. Maybe not everybody was revolted at the thought of his presence. Maybe it was possible for him to be cared about and care about someone else without causing harm to either of them. But only time would tell.

The car ride home was almost disgustingly romantic, as Nico third wheeled in the backseat of his dad's "8-cylinder, Nero Ribelle Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo", while Hades and Persephone held hands across the center console. One of Chopin's many Nocturnes played quietly in the background as the sound of bustling traffic at 8 in the evening faintly blared in the background.

Normally, third-wheeling with his parents was not Nico's ideal Sunday evening. But this time around, Nico finally was able to notice the little signs of affection and emotion between the pair and couldn't help but wonder if one day he would find himself in a similar situation.

Nico slept dreamlessly that night, no thoughts plaguing his mind in the shape of the frequent nightmares he experienced. It was warm, quiet, and safe. When the buzzing of his phone alarm fished his consciousness from the deep waters of sleep, he realized that for once, he was glad he had woken up that day.

Five minutes of frantically scrambling for his belongings later, Nico was out the door and rushing to get to school half an hour earlier than any other day. As the door slammed shut, Hades raised his head from the newspaper he was reading and turned to share an intrigued glance with Persephone.

"I don't think I've ever seen him leave for school on time in his life," Persephone murmured, tucking a magenta lock behind her ear. Hades thought back to the absent-minded, but content expression that Nico wore on his face for all of last night, and raised an eyebrow in response, gears turning.

He stood up abruptly from the kitchen bar island he had been leaning on, heading towards his office as Persephone looked on, perplexed.

"I'm going to call a friend," Hades announced over his shoulder as he left, Persephone taking another sip of her herbal tea in response. A small smile crept up her face, fully aware of what the wistful expression she saw on her stepson's face last night in the rearview mirror meant. Not too many years ago, that very expression had been hers, all in the backseat of the same car.

Finally, someone had come along for him that made his world a little less lonely.

Nico daydreamed through his morning classes, only snapping out of his daze at the dismissal bell for his fourth-period class. He slipped between the crowds in the hallway as the dining hall quickly approached, eyes scanning the surroundings for a familiar mop of curly blonde hair.

A pair of calm blue eyes found his in the throng, and quickly lit up as recognition flooded his features. Will broke out into a blinding grin, waving Nico over to the side. Nico walked up slowly, a fluttering feeling in his stomach causing him to hesitate.

Will looked at Nico happily, and cocked his head to the side, motioning for Nico to follow him. The pair passed bustling table after table, until they wound up on the opposite side of the room, standing in front of an empty table save for three people huddled together over a phone, laughing at a video.

Nico stopped a few steps behind Will, watching as the blonde tapped the boy with shoulder-length cornrows dressed in a dark purple suit on his left shoulder from behind his back, before sliding in on the empty seat on the right, Will guffawing in laughter when the unknown boy whipped to the left, before turning back to the right and playfully swatting Will on the arm.

Nico felt his heart lurch. There's no way, right? He said he wanted to introduce me to his friends, not a significant other.

Why am I feeling like this? I don't have any right to be disappointed that he's taken. Nico watched as a short ginger with neon green highlights reached across the table and took Will's hands in her own, excitedly, as she began chatting excitedly about something that was completely drowned out in the bustling sounds of the cafeteria.

Will suddenly turned around to look at Nico, who was leaning up against the wall with his bag at his feet, aviator jacket collar seemingly swallowing up his angular jawline. Will watched Nico for a moment as he replied to the girl, before pulling his hands away and walking back up to Nico. A lanky girl with dark bronze hair and the greenest eyes Nico had ever seen shot him a small smile, before returning her gaze to the other two.

"Hey, Nico," Will said, a concerned look in his eyes. "Are you okay? You can come sit down if you want, but if you're uncomfortable don't feel like I'm forcing you to meet them."

Nico blinked in surprise, no longer lost in thought.

"N-no, I'm fine, sorry," Nico stammered, shaking his head quickly. "I don't know, I'm not really good at meeting new people."

Will frowned. "I'm sorry if I pushed you to come out here, if you'd rather not do this today, I don't mind going back to the library with you. I got too excited and didn't ask you what you thought today before leading you over here."

Nico quickly verbally backpedaled, "No, no, it's fine-", but Will cut him off as he continued. "Please just tell me if I'm putting you in an uncomfortable situation, I promise I won't be mad, I just- "

Nico shook his head and reached out to grab Will by the forearm. "Hey," Nico insistently said, causing Will to freeze and look at Nico. "I didn't say that I didn't want to, just give me a moment."

Will breathed a sigh of relief, tension leaving his shoulders. "Did you want me to wait with you somewhere until you're ready?"

Nico shook his head again, a small smile unknowingly creeping up onto his face at the level of concern Will was showing to someone like him. "Go back to them and enjoy yourself, I'll hop in when I'm ready."

Will nodded, eyes crinkling up in understanding, before turning away and sliding back into his seat with his friends.

Nico drew in a deep breath, willing his hands to stop shaking as he pulled the hand that was on Will's forearm back into his pocket, wiping the sweat off the palms of his hands as he did so.

You can do this. Just breathe. Nico steeled his nerves, slowly exhaled, and stepped towards the lunch table.