This was just what he wanted. The one time he felt safe with another person, sorry, goddess, something bad happened. That was just great. Were the gods cursing him for feeling happiness for once in his miserable life?

Right, back to the life-threatening thing happening outside his mind. Without realising it, Nico had stepped in front of Hestia with his arms out, as if he were protecting a mortal girl. He drew his Stygian ice sword, looking around for the threat. He hadn't had time to think that Hestia was far from fragile. She called upon her goddess powers to defend them both. Once a pathetic bonfire, the flames roared with Hestia's anger at the interruption. Glinting eyes were visible at the edge of the light's reaches, the monsters had finally announced their presence. Hoping her show of power would drive the monsters back, the fire only drew more attention to them. Several venomous pit scorpions began to circle menacingly around them, barely avoiding the flames.

'Quick Hestia, you have to get out of here!' Nico whispered frantically at her.

He had already lost Bianca, he couldn't lose anyone else he cared about.

'No, we can work together, I'm not powerless, you know.' She replied with a hint of annoyance.

Wielding the flames, she focused on one scorpion that was closer than the rest. A loud, female war cry was heard as she threw all of her rage into attacking the scorpion.

She hadn't anticipated that the other scorpions would attack at lightening speed, putting Nico in grave danger. He swung his dark sword back and forth, hoping that the fall of two monsters would stop the others from attacking. Hestia stepped away from Nico, drawing the monsters to attack her instead.

'No!' Nico cried. This wasn't happening! Just as the three remaining pit scorpions leaped to sting Hestia, Nico leaped in front of her, and bore the three stings to his arm he tried to protect himself with.

Smiling as much as scorpions can, they backed away into the darkness, leaving Hestia in tears over Nico's limp body. Hestia heard a faint moan:

'Uhhhhhh, don't feel so good.'

She had to act quick if she wanted to save him. Lifting him over her shoulder like a tantrum-throwing toddler, she ran towards the bigger campfire, praying to herself and her siblings that he would live.

Not quickly enough, she reached the safe border of Camp Half-Blood, and screamed for help.

At the party, the Greeks and Romans were dancing and laughing together. Any other day, Hestia would have been ecstatic that the two sides were finally getting along, but today she needed them to be quiet and save a life. She sprinted as fast as one could holding a lanky teenage boy. When she got to the middle of the party, she yelled to everyone, using the campfire to gain their attention. The life of the party was extinguished, it took on a sober tone as everyone saw the limp form she was carrying. A faint trotting was heard, as Chiron entered the scene.

'Whatever happened here Hestia?' Chiron asked her. Gasps went around as people realised she was the Big Three's sister, older than most of the Olympians.

'Pit scorpions, I can't stay down here for long, I have to return to Olympus. Save him, I beg you,' she pleaded with all her heart. Stepping away from the gathered crowd, she walked straight into their bonfire, and disappeared from view.

A cough brought everyone's attention back to the dire situation. Everyone rushed to attend to Nico, who's rough breaths may be his last. Chiron galloped into the Big House, gathering the right supplies to heal Nico.

During all of the commotion, Nico was talking with his 'beloved' father.

'Funny that, my caring father decides to see me when I'm dying.' Nico tended to be pretty sardonic at the worst times.

'I know you would love to be reborn and escape your life, or even spend eternity in Elysium, but you're not going to die.' Hades said solemnly to his only son. 'I know I haven't been an amazing father, but I do care, even though I haven't shown it, at all. Hestia is my favorite sibling, and she was distraught when she told me what happened. I'm helping you now because I care about both of you.'

Just as Nico was going to offload 16 years of rejection onto his father, he woke up. He was fully healed, but disappointed. Worried faces came into focus around him. He wished Hestia was one of them, but she was nowhere to be seen. Getting up slowly, he pushed past the crowd, and shut himself in his cabin alone. Lighting the fireplace, he lay down and prayed that Hestia would come back.