Authors Note: Finally, the last chapter, the aftermath. Everything except this story belongs to Rick Riordan. Enjoy.
Percy's POV
It was now dark, and the ArgoII was making it's way back to Long Island, back home.
For hours now Hazel had been crying in Hedge's room where Percy had placed Nico's dead body, he had noticed that everyone was in a sad, mournful mood ever since Gaea was defeated. Weird Percy thought.
Across the deck Jason called over "hey, Percy there's something that we need to talk about", as Percy drew closer he could see more cuts and bruises on his face. " look, it's about Nico" Jason started, "a-about Nico? I think I've had enough talk about Nico for the rest of my life!" Percy shouted with frustration.
"Listen to me Percy, I know the timing is bad of what happened, but this something really important that happened when you were in Tarturus." Jason said raising his voice in a demanding sort of way.
"Nico and I were fighting Cupid and well it turns out that he had a crush on you when you first met"
Percy froze in a surprised way. "He had a . . . crush on me?" "Well I would suppose so, after all he was gay."
He thought for a while then suddenly it all made sense, with him keeping his promise to lead the others to the doors of death, but why still why would Nico save Percy's life? after what happened with Bianca he was more than sure that Nico hated him more than he loved him.
The hours had past by, everyone was asleep, except Percy. He wanted to see Nico one last time to say good-bye, but Percy wasn't the one to summon the dead, so he did the second best thing. Carefully, he got out of bed, crept through the hallway making sure not a single noise was made that could wake the others. Finally he made it to Hedge's room, it was slightly dark but Percy could make his way around the room.
Really he hadn't realized that during Hazel's mourning she had cleaned the room, so it was neat and tidy. Percy made his way towards the bed where Nico laid upon, his eyes had been closed so he looked as if he were only sleeping except his heart did not beat.
Percy sat on the side of the bed and began to talk "hey Nico, look I just want to say that, uh, I'm sorry what happened today, it was all my fault. I never wanted you to die, and Jason told me something that was important and I can't imagine what you have been through", his eyes were getting watery, and within a few seconds Percy was crying, he didn't matter if he woke the others he wanted- wanted, he didn't know what he wanted so badly. Was it the guilt that was burned inside of him or just wanting all of this to be a cruel dream, "Nico, I-I'll always remember you I promise, you won't die in vain. Always think of you, always, always" he mumbled.
A whisper spoke to him "Percy? what are you doing up?" It was Annabeth, he looked at her and saw how concerned she looked when she found him now, that even Percy realized, hugging the corpse of Nico. Before he could say anything she walked over to him and gently hugged Percy and said "you can let it out, I don't mind"
So then throughout the rest of the night the only thing that kept in rhythm with the calm waves of the ocean, was the sound of tears being shed.
Authors Note: so I hope you all enjoyed crying your eyes out right now, and really lets all hope Riordan doesn't kill Nico in the blood of Olympus. Remember I take requests.