So, so, so, so, so sorry that this has taken me so long. I was camping. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't terrible either. And I had writers block, so i was coming up dry. Here's my new chapter though. I'm so super grateful for the ideas, I'll try to use some of those in a later chapter or something.

Someone replied to the Nico love story question with a vehement "NO THALICO!" Well, I AGREE! I am so anti-cousin pairing or god pairing with demigod. So no Thalico, darling, not to worry.

A guest also said I have spunk or that a character had spunk, I'm not sure which. But thank you anyway. I like you.

Now for the story! Enjoy, darlings.

If you ask Nico and Percy about "That Day" they'll both say that they remember it vividly. Percy will say it was raining. Nico will maintain it was cold. Percy swears it was the single most frustrating, scariest weekend ever, while Nico rolls his eyes and states that he was right all along and if Percy thought that was the scariest thing ever than he really was a wuss. They both told it a little differently, but the facts remained the same and the fact was:

Percy and Nico were different.

Very different.

For one, Percy was out going. And Nico, although brave and nearly fearless, was not. Second, Nico, while not shy, did not-under any circumstances-like people. Percy did. And Percy has on multiple occasions, been described as one of the most trusting people that ever lived.

And Nico, sure as Hades, did not.

And if you don't trust, you can't really make friends. So that is why, after five weeks of school, Nico di Angelo was still friendless. And why Percy, being Percy, was concerned.

Annabeth did her best to quell Percy's anxiety, but to no avail. It kept building and building, until finally, Percy snapped.

It was the start of a three day weekend for the cousins. The were walking back to the apartment together, quietly enjoying the freedom of the autumn day. They made small talk occasionally until they reached the apartment. Once they were inside, Nico made a beeline for his room and Percy made for the kitchen. He began to assemble ingredients for a snack, gathering his thoughts.

"Nico?" He finally called out. Percy heard an answering call of affirmation. "Come here please!"

Nico walked into the room. "Yeah?"

Percy fixed him with his sea-green gaze. "We need to talk."

"What about?" asked Nico suspiciously.

"I've noticed," Percy said slowly, "That you don't really... hang out... with anyone."

Instantly Nico stiffened, unease portrayed in every line of his body, although his face remained expressionless. "Yeah," he replied. "So?"

"So," Percy stressed. "I think you should try harder."

"Try harder at what?" asked Nico sharply, black eyes narrowing.

"At making friends!" Percy exclaimed, throwing his hands up. This caused a few water droplets to fly from the sink. Percy calmed down. "It's not... it's not healthy for you, Nico. You have to try."

Nico arched one dark eye brow and crossed his arms. "And if I don't?"

Percy just looked dumbfounded. "What?"

"What happens if I don't try."

Percy started to look a little miffed at his charge. "I don't know, Nico, I guess you'll have to spend the rest of your life cold-hearted, lonely, and friendless."

"Good," snapped Nico. Percy felt his anger rise up in him like a great wave, rising high and then slamming into the beach full force.

"No! Not good, Nico!" snarled Percy, fists clenched. The water in the sink began to slosh around, but neither boy paid it any attention. "You can't live like that!"

"Don't tell me what to do, Percy!" yelled Nico, shadows gathering around his clenched fists.

"I'll tell you what to do and a Hades of a lot more! And you know why? 'Cause I'm in charge of you!" Percy yelled right back.

"And I have no idea why anyone thought that was a good idea!" Nico howled, darkness now swirling around him. His eyes were bright, glinting like sharp obsidian at Percy.

There was now a mini-tsunami in the kitchen sink now. Percy's fists were clenched. "Well, good idea or not, I'm in charge of you now. And I'm telling you that you need friends and you need to try harder to makes some or so help me Zeus I'll think of some way to punish you! Got it?" Percy shouted, water sloshing around the cousin's feet.

The two demigods glared at each other for a few moments longer, anger and rage reflected in their eyes. Suddenly Nico turned on his heel and strode out of the room. Percy hollered after him. "And where do you think you're going, Nico?"

"Out!" Nico yelled back, opening the door.

"Out where!?" Percy shouted at his cousins back.

"Out of here!" were the final words of Nico di Angelo as he stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door. He dashed to the shadows of the stairwell and disappeared.

Percy swore loudly in Greek and attempted to clean up the mess in the kitchen. After a few minutes of more water explosions, Percy gave up trying to clean and went to his room. He shoved open his window and sat outside on the fire escape, listening to the sound of his city. While he sat, he thought about Nico and their fight, among other things. By the time he went inside, more than three hours had passed and most of Percy's feelings of anger had receded. He still felt a slight twinge of annoyance when he thought of the fight, but most of the anger was gone. The Hero of Olympus cleaned up the kitchen and set about making dinner for two, half-expecting Nico to come walking in at any moment.

He didn't.

Percy finished dinner and set the table for two, setting out Nico's favorite cup and filling it with pomegranate juice, stirring in three table spoons of sugar, just the way Nico liked it, still waiting for the door to open.

It didn't.

The food began to get cold, so Percy began to eat alone. He didn't enjoy it as much as Nico would, his cousin enjoyed Italian food much more than he did, so he saved some of the alfredo pasta for Nico, who would walk in any minute.

He didn't.

Percy did his dishes, but left the remainders of the meal on the table for a certain son of Hades who would easily devour everything left out when he returned home. Then Percy would tease him about getting fat and they would watch a movie, mocking it, easily laughing and teasing each other.

They didn't.

Finally, Percy excepted that Nico needed more time to chill out and wasn't coming home tonight. It was midnight when Percy turned in and swore to check for Nico in the morning. But still the son of the sea-god laid awake, listening for the sound a window creaking open, signaling that Nico had come home.

It never came.

To be continued...

Well, my darlings, this is part one of a three parter story. I hope y'all enjoy it. I included an idea that coralie14 gave me, Percy adjusting to this new responsibility. I think it's a fabulous idea, don't you all?

Anyway, the next couple chapters are hopefully gonna be up soon. It just depends on how long it takes me to write my first draft on paper then transfer to the computer for publishing.

Wish me luck, my lovelies!

Silva