AN: Sorry it's been so long. Sorry the last part was so short. This one is a bit longer, I'm just riding on the struggle bus with my writing right now.

Nico forced Connor to sit back down again, "Your brother and Katie will be fine as long as you stay put. I'm serious, Connor."

"But…" Connor looked heartbroken, "It's my nephew…"

"I know." Nico sighed and sat down, "But your niece needs you here. Travis trusted you to take care of her and I'm taking care of you while the agents take care of whoever it is that disabled the security system and make sure your sister-in-law and brother are safely taken to the hospital."

Connor groaned, "I just want this to be over. I want to go back to my life. Why can't they just leave me alone?"

Nico didn't have anything he could say about that. "Connor…that dream…"

Connor didn't respond.

"You told me to trust you to bear my burden until I could. I asked you to let me bear yours, but you didn't even scrape the surface of your issues when you trusted me with some of your baggage. Meaning…you didn't really trust me."

"Yes, I did. But some burdens we have to bear on our own." Connor looked over at Nico, "You of all people can't say that you don't keep secrets. I mean, did you even trust Will with what you saw in Tartarus?"

Nico flinched, then looked at the floor, "I just tried to forget that. It never really came up. How did you know that still haunted me?"

"When you came to me, I took your burden." Connor adjusted the blanket covering Zoey. Thankfully, the girl was fast asleep.

Nico took too long to realize the full impact of what he meant. "You…you saw everything I went through…everything I've been through…"

"From losing your sister to now. Yeah. Took me half an hour after you were asleep to reconcile all of it and get up. To move."

"But you did. Even with your own demons." Nico said, looking him over, "You're strong."

Connor looked sideways at Nico, "Being the child of a minor god, a hero that will never be recognized as one, that takes a lot of strength and will power. Will knew that. We have to step back and let the powerful demigods have the glory. Support them. Assist them. Then get out of the way and hope that they can finish saving the world."

"You don't believe that…" Nico hesitated.

"Nico, I've talked to my father once in my whole life. After the Titan war. Sure, I've gotten a couple small messages and one or two gifts over the years. But the powerful demigods like you, Percy, Annabeth…well, you get more active communication with your godly parent than any other demigods because you're the ones that do the important bits. The rest of us are just…tech support or whatever. It's easy to forget that we go through just as much as you all do." Connor got up and went over to the shelf, running his fingers along the covers of the books there.

Nico wondered if Connor was just trying to keep himself distracted from the dilemma at hand.

"So yeah. I've had to be strong. Because when I was taken, no one but my brother noticed." Connor snapped, turning, "When I was their prisoner, they mocked me everyday. They made it so I couldn't escape. A child of Hermes, and I couldn't pick the locks. I couldn't fight and I couldn't escape. Do you know how humiliating it is to live every day, unable to fight back against people who are hurting you because you aren't powerful like the other demigods. Knowing that they chose you because you aren't powerful? Knowing after you're rescued that your father didn't know or care that you had been taken. Violated. Relying on mortals."

Nico closed his eyes, suddenly ashamed. He remembered hearing about Connor getting kidnapped and…he had just shrugged it off as something that would be rectified quickly by Travis. It was just a bunch of mortals that had taken him. And then months had passed and there was still no sign of the people that had taken Connor. He, Will, and other demigods had just set out to start searching when the mortals found him.

Nico couldn't think of a single demigod that had helped Travis look before then, but there had to be someone.

He did remember going to the hospital with Will, standing to the side as Will talked privately with Travis and then leaving with a worried look. Will had just gotten Travis some lunch and they had gone back to camp. Told Nico that Connor would be fine with rest and recuperation.

"I guess I am strong. But that doesn't mean that I'm never weak. There's a reason I don't drink alcohol. It's a depressant and I have enough problems fighting it, just for it to get brought back to the surface again and you really aren't helping right now, Nico."

Nico realized Connor was close to a panic attack. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Nico!" Connor shouted, his voice breaking. A tear slipped out the corner of his eye, "Just…"

Nico got up slowly, a little scared of what he was seeing, "What?"

Connor squeezed his eyes shut, "Just…be here. In the present. Please." His voice was cracking and shaking.

Nico closed his eyes, seeing the understanding look in Connor's eyes during their first appointment, saw himself as Connor was now, broken and struggling to stay above the water's surface. Then he stepped forward and put his hands on Connor's shoulders, "I'm here. From now on. I'm here. Neither of us should be controlled by our pasts. Come on, there's a pack of cards here. Know any good games for two people?"

Connor met his gaze, then nodded, "Yeah. A few."

Nico grabbed the deck of cards, "Then let's play. Maybe that will help you relax. You need to sleep."

Connor nodded, sitting with Nico and starting a simple game of War.

Nico kept Connor playing, making sure there was no conversation.

Finally, Connor just sort of leaned back and dozed off.

Nico sighed and ran a hand through his hair. There were years of history that Nico would have to work past before Connor really trusted him and before he really trusted Connor. But this was the first step, right?

Nico checked his phone, then sent a text to Abby, asking if anything had been discovered.

She called instead of answering via text, "Hey, I didn't think that you would have cell service in the panic room."

"Yeah, well, no use being in a panic room if you can't call the police in an emergency. Any news from…anywhere?"

"They made it safely to the hospital. The FBI is now helping with the case. There wasn't anybody at your house, but they're having trouble getting the security system up and running again. No leads other than that."

Nico sighed, "Text me when you know more? Especially about Katie and Travis."

"Sure thing. How are Connor and Zoey holding up?"

"Zoey was scared, but she's asleep now. So is Connor."

"I'll send over some goodies in the morning."

"I better let you get back to work. Thanks, Abby."

"We'll keep you safe, Nico. We'll get these guys."

Nico took a deep breath, "I know. Talk to you later." He hung up, then found himself staring at the boy that he had fallen so hard for. He tried to figure out if he felt the same. But…of course he did. In fact…he felt it even stronger than before. He felt like every moment without Connor's touch when they were in each other's company was a moment where he was vulnerable and close to death. He felt like…if the older man ever stopped smiling at him, his heart would break and he would surely die. His life was connected to Connor's in some way, and he didn't want that connection to break.

Connor looked so peaceful.

Nico looked over at Zoey, then closed his eyes as he thought back to that hot summer night.

Connor had taken off his fake leg and dove into the pool, then splashed Nico, "Come on, dude, it's roasting outside."

Nico rolled his eyes and slowly lowered himself in, "It's cold."

"You'll get used to it. It's actually on the warmer spectrum. Normally I like it a little cooler than this, but this is still nice." Connor smiled at him, then looked curious, "Hey Nico, do you ever wonder what your life will be like in three or four years? Or wonder if what you hope will come true?"

Nico shrugged, getting all the way in and regretting it, "You first."

Connor had smiled at the floor, "Obviously I do, considering I asked in the first place."

Nico had blushed, "Well, yeah, but…what do you hope?"

"Well, I think I've said it before, but I hope I have kids someday. Every time I take care of Zoey I'm reminded of how much I want that someday. I want to build a family. I want to teach my kids how to fight, how to work. I want to hold my kid in my arms and look at them and see that look of complete…trust and faith that I will make it better because I'm their dad and…" Connor shook his head and ducked his head under the water, "I sound ridiculous."

Nico stared, "No, you make it sound good. Having another life depend on you."

Connor nodded, lazily swimming around.

"I'm surprised you never adopted."

Connor rolled his eyes, "Well, I applied."

"And?"

"I was told that with my disability and my history I wouldn't be able to without a spouse. And…I'm not sure I want to do it alone. I want to get married too. I want to share my life with someone so important to me that my life would be meaningless without them. That I can grow old with. Provided I survive that long. Someone who helps me forget the past because they are such an important part of my future. Am I making sense?"

Nico had nodded, "And I suppose Chiron didn't have any ideas about the kid thing?"

"Well, most kids don't come to camp until they're older than eight, at least. He suggested fostering." Connor splashed Nico, "Your turn to answer the questions."

Nico had waited while Connor ducked under again, "I haven't really thought about the future since Will…I know that he always wanted a family. Right now my only goal is finishing my degree and getting a job. I guess Will kind of made the idea of having kids appealing. But…without him…I don't know…" He had loved the way Connor talked about the future as well. "I guess I'm just not sure about what I want. Especially in a…significant other."

Connor nodded, "Being single certainly does suck."

"Yeah, I like the group I've been meeting with though. It's a nice step to getting back out there." And they understood his struggle with being completely in love with someone who was definitely straight. Nico could barely stop himself from staring at Connor's body. Thinking about him at night.

"Yeah, and maybe you'll meet someone through it. I don't know. Maybe I wasn't meant to have a family. Maybe I'm just meant to be single and…" Connor trailed off, looking sad.

Nico hadn't known what to say to try and cheer him up because he understood. He understood how hard it was to be alone. To not know your purpose.

Nico started awake, glancing over at Connor to make sure he was still asleep, then Zoey.

He shook his head and checked his phone. Two hours. He'd been out for two hours.

He groaned and got up to stretch. It'd been a while since he'd struggled with insomnia. Maybe slipping into Connor's dreams earlier had disrupted his mind or something.

Connor groaned, "Oh man, I hate when I fall asleep sitting up."

Nico couldn't help feeling relieved that Connor was awake even though he knew that Connor needed sleep. He didn't want to be the only one awake.

Connor rubbed his neck and got up, "How long was I out?"

"About two and a half hours." Nico told him, then snuck a step closer to him.

Connor stretched, then bent to check Zoey, "At least she's sleeping well. It's got to be close to morning."

"It's about four-thirty. Abby said she'd text me when she had news about Travis and Katie. But they made it safely to the hospital."

Connor nodded and yawned, "How's your back?"

"It's fine." Nico shrugged.

Connor casually put an arm around his shoulder and leaned his weight on Nico, "I hope everything is alright."

Nico leaned against the bunk so that he could bear Connor's weight, "I'm sure they're fine. I bet you have a nephew."

"I already had a nephew, he just hadn't been born yet." Connor said, head resting against Nico's head and shoulder.

"My bad." Nico smiled, enjoying the tickling sensation of Connor's hair against his ear.

"So, when did you get so cuddly?"

Nico froze a bit, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, earlier you came into my arms. You don't complain about me touching you or cuddling you or whatever. You used to hate it when anybody besides Will touched you. You would occasionally let someone else hug you. But this…" He gestured with his hand to the way he was leaning on Nico, "This would normally be forbidden."

Nico gave a slight shrug, "I don't know. Guess I'm just used to you." He lied. Normally Connor bought that sort of lie.

"I'm sorry, did you just lie to me? Twice? Did you really think you'd get away with that?"

I'd hoped. "Um, maybe."

"So, what's the real answer to my question?" Connor asked, removing his arm and head.

Nico's mind raced as he tried to grasp onto a believable answer. Nothing was coming to mind. "I…"

The door opened, and Agent McGee peeked in, "We're ready to take you to the hospital."

Connor nodded sharply, then picked up Zoey, "We'll finish that conversation later, Nico."

Nico knew better than to argue as he followed them up the stairs and out to the car.

There were twice as many agents as before.

"Connor, you remember Agent Fornell?" McGee asked, gesturing to a short man that was glaring at the world.

"I believe so." Connor nodded at the agent.

"Agent Fornell, this is our assistant forensic tech, Nico Di Angelo. They're roommates and threats have been made to him as well."

"Roommates? As in…" He gestured between them.

Connor rolled his eyes, "As in he's sleeping in the spare bedroom and paying me rent."

Nico nodded, "He doesn't swing that way."

Fornell didn't seem to know how to handle that answer.

"We should get going. I want to get to the hospital." Connor said, hugging Zoey closer and looking around nervously.

McGee finalized plans with the agents and pointed to a car, "Get in. I'll drive you there."

Zoey woke up when they got to the hospital, in surprisingly good spirits and excited to be with her uncle. She babbled happily about everything and nothing and seemed to be telling some sort of story about a giraffe that Connor responded to with enthusiasm.

Bishop was in the waiting room, "She's still in labor."

Connor nodded, taking a seat and playing with Zoey and her stuffed animals.

Nico got coffee, then sat across from them. Hospitals always made him nervous and uneasy. He could sense people dying and it wasn't a feeling he liked. He never visited Will when Will worked at the hospital. He'd had lunch once with Will, and then Will said not to do it again because he was about ready to have a panic attack just watching how anxious Nico had gotten over the course of their meal. Hadn't broken Nico's heart any.

It was another hour before Travis came out with a big grin, and took Zoey, "Hey, sweetheart, guess what?"

"Ice cream?"

Travis made a face, "Um, no, you have a baby brother."

"Oh…" She tilted her head and then grinned, "Is he cute?"

"Yeah, he is." Travis planted kisses on her face, "Mommy's resting right now, but you'll see her later."

"Okay."

Connor grinned at his brother, "They're okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, they're great." Travis was laughing a bit, grinning broadly and looking exquisitely happy.

Connor hugged his brother, "Happy for you, man. Mom would be proud of the family you've built."

Travis pulled away, "She'd be proud of both of us, Connor."

Connor gave him a smile.

"Nico, can you hold Zoey for a while. So I can show Connor his nephew?"

Nico nodded, "Yeah. Hey Zoey, want to play?"

She nodded and let him take her.

Then Nico watched from the corner of his eye as Connor and Travis disappeared down the hall.