**So, I kept on writing into the next chapter before I looked at my notes and saw I originally planned to end it here [by "here" I meant "there" i.e. the end of last chapter *facepalm*] :P I feel like my chapters are getting shorter, are they?

Anyway, reviews please, I love to know what you guys are thinking, are there any questions about characters or stuff that you're wondering about, because I might forget to re-mention something and I'd hate to leave any plot holes, so please gimme a shout :)

Oh my goodness Ican'twaittofinishthischapterrrrrr**

Nico felt his heart speed up and hands clench as he saw that goddamn stupid blonde hair, and it was only Hades mentally shoving him back that stopped him from summoning some skeletons to drag Jason away that second.

'Nico, what are you doing here?' Hades's deep voice commanded the room, and only the crackling of the huge fireplace and Percy's crazed mumblings filled the silence. At the sound, Hades and Jason turned to Percy, who was kneeling on the ground, still chained up, rocking slightly and mumbling nothings, occasionally wincing and growling. Nico saw both Hades's and Jason's faces twist into a mixture of confusion and disgust. He suddenly felt quite insulted and protective.

'I need help with Percy.' Nico gestured to his boyfriend, and his father raised an eyebrow as if to say he could see that pretty well on his own. 'Mania. But I also need to talk to you.'

There was a pause as everyone thought about whether or not they should say something. Rachael fiddled with the chain, Percy laughed at a joke in his head, Nico glared at Jason, who scuffed his feet against the ground, and Hades tried to figure the whole situation out.

'You're right.' He finally said, drawing Nico's frightful gaze from Jason. 'We should… Discuss things. You can leave your friend here, walk with me.' Hades turned to leave, and as Nico followed his father, he shot killer looks at Jason, who lowered his gaze and tried to hug the wall as much as he could, moving further away from Nico as the son of Hades left the room.

Nico and Hades walked for a few minutes in silence, and when they were well and truly lost in the castle corridors, far enough for Nico to not be able to sense the mania/Percy's bitter aura anymore, the Ghost King breathed a sigh of relief.

And then let out another one as he prepared to ask his father a question that he knew he wouldn't like the answer to.

'Why have you been shutting me out?' Nico hated how he sounded like a jilted schoolgirl, but he had to know. Hades visibly tensed and his answer was short and bitten out.

'What makes you think that?' He said, staring straight ahead. Nico couldn't have hidden his downcast expression if he tried. He glanced up at his father, the stoic look on his face revealing no emotion except pure apathy.

Strangely enough, Nico found himself thinking of Hephaestus. Leo seemed like he talked with his godly parent quite a bit, and Nico had heard of the amazing floating dragon-head occurrence. Not for the first time, Nico wished not that his father was a normal dad, but that he at least acted like a dad. Before he realised he was staring, Hades glanced down at his son to see why he hadn't responded. At seeing Nico's glum expression clearly focused on him, he cleared his throat. Nico looked back to his feet.

'Really?' He asked quietly, but the halls in the land of the dead were quiet, the sound of their footfalls being soaked up by the parched walls. 'It wasn't that hard, Dad. Under the earth is meant to be where I'm most comfortable, but I just got migraines. Being in the dark—' Hades winced at his son's soulless laugh, 'made me scared!' He sighed.

'I just want to know why, and then I'll be out of your hair, forever. I know you'd only want to see me when I die, and hopefully I'd've brought honour on our legacy or something…' Nico was mumbling, but was still abruptly cut off when wiry yet strong arms wrapped around him.

Oh shit, Nico swore to himself, I pissed him off— hug of death.

When a forlorn sigh rustled his hair, and no instantaneous offended-god-induced death came, Nico was no less scared, but even more confused. Which made him more pissed off. Without really knowing what he was doing, Nico shoved his father away from him.

'Don't think you can just show some affection and I'll idolise you again, Hades.' He spat the name, though Hades didn't flinch, just bore that same expression on his face that Nico only fully read when he'd calmed down.

Shame. Pity. Mostly sadness.

Nico was understandably caught off guard.

Hades approached him again, slower this time. Still, before Nico had time to realised Hades was going to hug him again, he was wrapped up in, well, fatherly arms. After what must've been quite a few minutes, Nico felt himself relax in to the touch, which was beyond strange.

'Remember, when I told you that I've rarely seen my children happy, and I sincerely wished you could be the difference? I really meant that, Nico.' Nico's name sounded strange coming from his father's mouth. 'Only I… I didn't actually believe it would happen. I mean no offence, son, I just didn't see your happiness coming, and, well.' Another sigh, and the arms around Nico loosened a fraction.

'Things are lonely down here, and—' Hades stopped midway, and cleared his throat, using the moment to hold Nico at arms length and look him in the eye, which was no small amount intimidating.

'I was jealous. I'm sorry, Nico. I didn't even know I was hurting you that badly, but I… Well, I'm sure you know I don't have the most agreeable personality even at the best of times.' Hades attempted a cautious smile, but it soon faded to shame again as he saw Nico's expressionless face. Hades' hands dropped from Nico's shoulders as he took another deep breath.

'I'm sorry, Nico, I am. I was… Acting childish. I wasn't putting what was best for you first, so… I am sorry. I know it's difficult to have a father that's not even really the same species, but I could try harder to at least be one.'

Once again, Nico was a little taken aback. Not only was one of the most stubborn and grudge-prone gods admitting to doing something stupid, he was apologising, too.

'Holy shit,' Nico managed quietly, then frowned. 'Who are you and what have you done with my dad?'

Hades didn't exactly laugh, but he smiled. That still pissed Nico off a bit because it seemed like Hades thought he had been forgiven, which was not the case.

'So that's why you, you… Boycotted the awards ceremony?' Nico growled. 'You couldn't stand seeing me happy?!'

There was silence, and out of the corner of his eye Nico might've seen a spectre float through one wall and into the other, but he remained staring at Hades.

'Yes, Nico. Fortunately Poseidon was willing to—'

'No, I don't care about that! I don't care about any stupid laurel, I care about you hating my boyfriend!' Nico knew he was yelling, and that Hades's patience was probably running out, but he couldn't help himself.

'I don't,' Hades paused, 'hate Perseus, Nico—'

'Then what's your problem? Or are you just so fucked in the head that you want to ruin all happiness you see?!'

That seemed to do it; Hades eyes went as cold as the stone that made his castle, and Nico felt his soul shrivel a little in fear.

'I do not. Hate. Percy.' Hades repeated slowly. 'Nor your happiness, though if it makes you act like this, I might just begin to. I was jealous of your happiness, and wasn't aware that that was manifesting to you.' Strangely, Hades's face went soft again with his next words.

'I apologised, Nico. Perhaps you could take a lesson from an Olympian and try to forgive me.' The ruler of the Underworld straightened up and turned back the way the two had come from.

'That's all there is to it. Now, let's see about your friend. I mean,' Hades began to walk ahead, and Nico couldn't see his face as he spoke next, 'Let's see about Percy.'

~ Yay, Hades isn't really a homophobic arsehole! ~

Oh, this was bad.

'Oh, this is bad.' Hades said as they stepped into the apparently empty throne room.

'Dad,' Nico said, refusing to let panic enter his voice but pretty much failing, 'please tell me Persephone just took them somewhere.'

He looked to Hades to see the man frown, and Nico's hands began to tremble from how worried he was.

'Persephone escorted your friend—' Nico glared at Hades. 'Fellow camp-mate—' Nico's stare still spoke volumes, and Hades sighed. 'Jason back topside, but that only should've taken a moment…' Hades turned to face his son. 'Percy isn't in the Underworld, Nico.'

Damnit, the mania had probably wanted to cause more ruckus in New Rome, and Nico felt himself pale to think that a crazy Percy and love-struck Jason were alone up there, together.

'Dad, you gotta—'

'Nico—'

'No Dad, this is serious! I have to—'

'Percy isn't on Earth, either, Nico.' Hades said sombrely. Nico stopped his rantings, and a cold feeling came over him.

'He's… Dead?' It escaped Nico's notice that if Percy was dead, he would still be in the Underworld, but that was the only explanation that came to mind. Hades shook his head no. Nico frowned.

'Then what?' Nico asked. Hades turned and strode over to the huge hearth that burned with souls of the damned.

'There's no way a mania could get into Olympus, and I don't sense Percy on Earth, or a mania down here. Maniae are creatures of madness and chaos, Nico.' Hades waved a slender hand over the flames, the small deformed hands of the damned trying to grasp his fingers to escape. 'There's only one more place it could be.'

The coldness that came over Nico before was nothing compared to the chill that stopped his lungs and heart for a moment when he realised where Percy was, and where he'd have to go to rescue him.

'Tartarus.'

**OOOOOOHHH SHIIIEET! Also, when Nico said, "It wasn't that hard, Dad." The Dad was my 22,666th word! Just thought the triple six on the god of the underworld was funny :)

Stay tuned, and tell me whatcha think, and thank you for reading!**