Oceana: Oh wow it didn't save-

Leo: You didn't save it.

Pearl: Well who knew it would shut down?

Nico: Everyone.

Oceana: Okay, so I did the race for life on Sunday the 15th and we don't know if that's a British thing or not.

Pearl: That's pretty much it, yeah.

Oceana: And also now I've left it so long it's confusing.

Leo: Basically.

*Cont*

Nico felt a soft sensation spread where Morgan's fingers lingered on his back and neck. This closeness, the contact. It was like an explosion to his senses after only seen Fun Snaps all his life. It was almost too overwhelming as the events of the past few weeks, leading up to his capture by the giants and the bronze jar episode, murky and painful to remember, found their way past his mental walls and spilled into his lake of mind like ink onto a blank sheet. He pulled sharply away from Morgan, but buried his head in her neck when she whimpered at his apparent rejection.

He'd lost too much to endanger Morgan by allowing her to care for him. First Bianca, whose loss had torn a gaping hole in his heart, the tragedy which had burst his happy childhood bubble and exposed him to the harsh reality of a demigod's life. Hazel had done her best to fill that void, but she didn't really know what it was like. She had problems of her own. Nico was just glad she was happy. Even when he had tried to put distance between himself and his friends, to protect them, by attempting to help with the Prophecy almost a month ago - Gods, he honestly didn't know what the date was anymore, but he did't really want to; after all, that would just add more of the salt of reality to the wound of his life - he had still endangered the Seven when they had tried to rescue him. Hazel, Frank and Leo almost dying at the hands of Gaia beneath the Pantheon. Jason, Piper... Percy.

Morgan knew. And she had done her best to assure and console. He had always snapped at her, his emotional turmoil lashing out at her. And then they'd been separated. Before tonight, Nico felt so much spite and betrayal over his fall into Tartarus, he didn't regret how he treated Morgan. Now he realised how he'd been unfair.

But still, he thought bitterly, none of them understand. How could they ever understand?

One thing though, Morgan had accepted him. Pried him a little out of his shell. There was no pity in their conversations, no awkwardness. And he loved her for it. But he shouldn't. As much as Nico anguished himself over knowing how easily he endangered the ones he loved, and how his presence was worse than his absence, he believed it was for the best. This war would be better off without him.

It's different now though, isn't it? The thought was rocking in the back of his mind as turmoil and dilemma raged it out in his consciousness. Finally, when he'd found someone who might...

Morgan, sensing his unease hugged him closer and stroked his hair in a warm, maternal gesture. Nico didn't want lose himself with Morgan now, or he'd become to selfish and not be able to leave when the time came.

'Are you thinking too much?' Hiding genuine concern under a jibe, Morgan maneuvered so Nico was lying next to her in the infirmary bed. She lay her head on his chest and toyed with Nico's thumb ring.

'Don't I always?' Nico sighed, a long remorseful sound.

Morgan sat up and looked at him. Nico's eyes were glued to the ceiling, trying to find a break in the flawless plasterwork.

'You know, they say when you sigh, you let happiness from your soul.'

Not missing a beat Nico replied deadpan. 'And when you sneeze your soul is trying to flee to Elysium.'

'Ah, but then it encounters the deadly Cerberus, and while it's preoccupied distracting the great "spotted one" someone topside says "bless you" and your soul get's stuffed back into your nose which is why it goes all runny.'

Frowning to disguise the creeping smirk across his face, Nico wondered aloud. 'Riiight. What's with "spotted one"?' Morgan placed her hands on his chest and rested her chin ontop, her eyes glittering.

'The name Cerberus comes from the Indo-European word kerberos, which was adopted as the Greek kerberos and later translated to cerberus in Latin. And kerberos means "spotted".'

Nico bit his lip. 'So the three headed hell-hound, guardian to the Underworld and my dad's slavering beast is called... Spot?'

Morgan laughed. 'Your dad is so original! I bet you're secretly called Nicola.' (AN: Niiiiicolaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa this joke isn't mine I saw it online. Genius!)

Clearing his throat repeatedly, Nico looked Morgan directly in the eye. 'Nico is short for Nicholas, which in turn is derived from the Greek Nikodemos, later Nikolaos. It's a combination of "nike" and "laos".'

'Victory of the people...' Morgan murmured.

Nico tapped Morgan's nose. 'Exactly. Now what does Morgan mean? Is it as heralding and patriotic as mine?' His voice dripped with heavy sarcasm and distaste, especially at "patriotic".

'It means "sea dweller" or "bright sea".' Morgan glanced toward the door leading out of the sick bay. It was currently occupied by the Athena Parthenos' marble feet. 'Although I did often visit beaches with my mum (AN: Yes I am British) and watch the sun go down.'

Laying back and nestling in Nico's arms, she also looked up at the ceiling.

'Close your eyes,' She said, breathing deeply and burying her face in his dark shirt. 'Imagine the constellations splayed across an inky sky-'

'I don't have to.' Nico interrupted, and kissed her hair gently. They shadow traveled on deck, where the sky was still starry. Heavy clouds drifted past, obscuring their sight of the sky. Morgan's eyes were still closed, but she felt the change in atmosphere. He'd brought the blanket with them, and they sat in the crow's nest on the mainmast, overlooking the clouds.

'How...?' Nico mumbled, holding Morgan close. Seeing the moonlight jagged on the deck, she waved her hand at the sky. It cleared immediately.

'Stand-in goddess of travel, remember?' Morgan yawned. 'Clear skies... are a specialty...'

She rubbed her eyes and pointed at the stars. 'Look how they shine. In reality, so many of these stars are gone, but behold their courage. They burn brightly even after death. If they have strength to continue, so do you.' It wasn't question.

Nico started at Morgan's statement. He hadn't said anything about leaving to anyone. But before he could ask her what she meant, Morgan had drifted off into sleep, safe in his arms.

Nico: Ew.

Leo: STFU! That was the most adorable, motivating-

Pearl: You sound like Oceana after HTTYD2.

Oceana: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THE FEEEEEEEEEELS MAAAAAAAN! WHY?!

Leo: ...

Nico: Um.

Pearl: Yeah so as an apology for not updating for about...

Leo: Two months.

Pearl: That was a load of fluff. And fangirl tears.

Oceana: *drags Leo behind her* WE'RE WATCHING IT AGAIN

Leo: B-but you're-

Nico: Mentally unstable? Emotionally unhinged? Dangerous?

Pearl: The irony.

Nico: *smirks unnervingly* It's my epitaph.

Pearl: *shudders* Let's move on.

Morgan: *carrying loads of stuff* Hi guys, sorry I'm late I was- Oh okay, everyone's leaving oh right then... 3:

*Oceana and Leo can be heard crying next door*

*Everyone exchanges looks*

Pearl: Remind me to buy her that movie.

Nico: Seconded.

/That was a long AN...