Wow... I really didn't expect this to take off so soon... thanks guys! You really are fabulous!

To answer Aidreanne-Now's awesome question- I'm rolling with the theory that Hades is an Olympian. If that doesn't float your boat then pretend that he's there by special invitation for the celebration of Gaea's defeat. If you don't like that that either, well then... get over it because that's really the only time he's in here besides this chapter.

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

Oh! And this chapter's kinda sappy, FYI. Cute, but sappy and adorable and just makes a heart hurt for Nico. All Italian translations are from Google, so don't be hating on the grammar and whatnot. At the end will be the English translations, so just chill for now. Toodles!

The silence in the throne room was deafening. Athena was the first to find a voice. "I'm sorry," she choked out, "You what?"

"Request permission to be come Nico di Angelo's legal guardian," Percy repeated, not looking at Athena. "If Nico agrees, of course," he added, glancing back.

"Percy, are you sure-" Annabeth started, but Percy cut her off. "Of course I'm sure, Annabeth. I've never been more sure in my life," Percy stated confidently. he turned to look at Hades again. "I'll give some good reasons, too," he continued. "I'm almost eighteen-"

Athena interrupted him. "You're not even seventeen yet!"

"But I've been through more than most heroes and survived. I'm sure that with what I've been dealing with since I was twelve will more than make up for one year, Lady Athena," Percy argued reasonably, before continuing on as though she had never spoken. "I'm almost eighteen, and Nico is nearly fourteen, the same age I was when I first met him. It's been four years since I first met him, and since then I've been on quests with him, fought with- on the same and opposite sides- him, been family with him, and really gotten to know him, probably better than anyone else in this room." Even Nico couldn't argue with that. Percy wasn't done though. "He'll have a good place to be until he's eighteen, easy access to both camps, and you'll be able to get reports from me whenever you feel like it. But most importantly," Percy concluded. "Family doesn't leave family out in the cold." He kept eye contact with Hades. "Is this sufficient enough reason for you, Uncle?" Percy mentally crossed his fingers. He was hoping that card would work. Playing the family card was dangerous, it either guilted the gods into doing something or set them off because you tried to guilt them. As far as he knew, Percy was the only demigod really able to pull it off. Percy had hopes with Hades though. Playing the "Uncle" card usually worked with him.

Hades looked thoughtful. "Very well," he said slowly. "I suppose if Nico agrees..." Everyone looked at Nico, who nodded wordlessly, still surprised.

"It's settled then!" Percy said happily. "Nico, grab your bags. We're going home!"

Everyone left the throne room quietly, still shocked by Percy's wild request. Nico's bags had appeared in the lobby, and Nico wordlessly slung a backpack and duffel over his shoulders. He looked at Percy, as if unsure about what to do next, then reluctantly approached him where he was standing with the Seven and Thalia. They were still looking at him like he was crazy. Well, everyone but Thalia, who was looking at Nico with a small smile on her face. Kelp Head might actually have done something right for a change, she thought. It's about time we raised him right. Thalia made a few mental notes to ask for some time off so she could bond with her brother and cousins. It'd be nice to have the five of them be a family. She smiled thinking about it. Coffee Saturdays, Thalia thought dreamily. Just Jason, Perce, Nico, Hazel, and I.

"Sooo..." said Leo, breaking the silence that seemed to bind them all. "What should we do?"

"Well, you guys can do whatever you want, and we'll really have to hang out later sometime," Percy started, once again startling them all. Percy didn't want to hang out? "But Nico and I are going some where tonight."

"You are?"

"We are?"

"Yes, Nico, we are," Percy grinned. "Don't worry, I'll force you to be social later." Nico rolled his eye but followed Percy to his car outside. He waited patiently for Percy to finish making death sentences-oops, plans- for a group hangout later. Nico tossed his bags into the trunk then got into the passenger seat quietly, never once breaking his silence. After a few minutes, he noticed something that forced him to speak.

"Aren't we going to you're apartment?" Nico asked, confused.

"Eventually," Percy said mysteriously. Nico waited a few seconds more before asking the required follow-up question.

"So... where are we going?"

Percy just smiled as he turned onto a highway. "It's a surprise."

**********LINE BREAK*****************

Nico was out like a light when they arrived. Percy gently shook him awake. "Hey," he murmured softly, "We're here." Percy was already out of the car by the time Nico finally managed to stumble out of the car and look around groggily. "Where are we?" Nico mumbled. Percy slammed the back door of the car, swinging a black backpack over his shoulder that Nico hadn't noticed before. "You'll see," Percy said.

Nico followed Percy on a small hike from the car up a hill to a small forest glade. It was beautiful. The clear night sky was clearly visible above the grassy glen, trees completely surrounded the clearing, the only entrance was the way the duo had come in. A small crystal pool reflected the stars and the moon, barely a ripple over it's mirrored surface. Near the pool, a single white stone marker sat, serenely observing the two intruders. What are you doing here? it seemed to say, glinting softly in the moonlight.

Nico stopped beside Percy on the edge of the clearing. "Percy," he asked slowly, "What is this place?" Percy just looked at him, his deep sea-green eyes two identical pools of sorrow. With growing sadness, Percy watched Nico's eyes widen with realization and amazement. "How-how did you find it?" Nico asked shakily, looking back at the glade with new eyes.

"I asked Artemis," Percy replied softly. "I told her-I told her that you and I had a right to know where it was." Nico approached the marker slowly, sinking to his knees as he read the words carved into the stone:

Bianca di Angelo

Fearless Huntress

and

Beloved Sister

Ti amo, Bianca

How long he remained there, he didn't know. It could have been seconds or days or years. He only moved when Percy gently touched his shoulder. Looking up, black eyes met green. Silently, Percy handed Nico a single white candle, identical to the one he himself was holding. Together, they lit the candles and placed them on either side of Bianca's grave. Also from the black bag came white lilies and an offering of wine.

Nico felt a wetness on his cheeks and hurriedly tried to wipe them away. Percy noticed, of course, and said softly, "It's okay to cry, Nico. When you miss someone."

So he did.

For the first time in four years, Nico let go of the pain he felt for his sister. Percy held him tightly, a few tears of his own dampening Nico's hair as Nico soaked Percy's shirt through. After a long while, Nico's sobs started to subside. Slowly, the sobs turned into shudders and then into sniffles. Percy never once loosed his embrace, only letting go when Nico started to pull away. Percy stood, picking up the bag.

"I'll leave you two alone," he whispered. "Blow out the candles when you leave, Nico." Then he left.

Nico traced the letters on the gravestone before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry I've been such a jerk Bianca," Nico started. "I've just missed you so much. You were my family, and you left me. And it hurt." Nico paused. "And I've done a lot of bad things since you died. I pushed everyone away and never tried to be better." He paused again. "But I'm trying now, Bianca, I am. I helped stop Gaea, and brought our sister back. I just wish you'd let me bring you back." Nico took a great shuddering breath. "But I understand why I can't and why you did what you did." Nico blinked furiously. "I have a real family now, Bianca- Thalia, Hazel, Percy and everyone else. You'd be really proud of Percy, Bianca, he's been trying to keep me safe. He'll make a good brother. And Hazel is a good sister. But they'll never be you, Bianca, they won't ever be you." Tears pricked Nico's eyes. "I just wanted you to know that, well, I'm taken care of now, so you don't need to worry about me. I just wanted to tell you that." The tears were falling freely now, and Nico rested his head against the cool stone of the marble slab. "I just wanted to say, Bianca," Nico choked out, "Mi manchi. Mi manchi così tanto, Bianca. E io ti amo. Ti voglio tanto tanto." Nico blew out the candles and watched the smoke rise into the night sky.

"Buon compleanno, mia sorella."

Well... That's the end. Depressing, yet strangely uplifting. Anyway, Italian translations. Here you go:

Mi manchi. Mi manchi così tanto, Bianca. E io ti amp. Ti voglio tanto tanto. = I miss you. I miss you so much, Bianca. And I love you. I love you so much.

Buon compleanno, mia sorella. = Happy birthday, my sister.

Remember, all forign languages are curtsey of Google! Good night y'all!