A/N: So, I have learned that I cannot follow a simple schedule. I wanted to update on Sundays, but then I got anxious and updated on Thursday. Then I thouBut here I am, on Monday, its been 4 days since last update, but... I'm gonna post chapter 3 anyways. Its where stuff actually gets good. I honestly cringe when I read the first two chapters.

Hades.

Pluto.

Lord of the Underworld.

Lord of the dead.

Nico's father.

In no time, the underworld had living visitors. Which would have been strange, if the visitors hadn't been Lord Hades' children.

"Please, master!" A random spirit wailed. "End my suffering! I don't deserve to be here!" Nico sighed and shook his leg free of the ghost. He kept Hazel almost uncomfortably close throughout the journey to the castle. She didn't need to be pestered as he always was.

The spirits seemed fond of Nico. Many similar incidents of groveling, begging, and clinging were shaken off with a couple of well worded threats. Strangely, none bothered Hazel. It was as if she were invisible to them, or maybe because Nico seemed more likely to be a child of Hades. Or maybe he just gave the 'I-will-kill-you-again-if-you-bother-her' vibe. Nico didn't know.

Out of the corner of his eye, Nico noticed a Fury, probably Alecto, fly off one of the poplar trees into the distance.

"Well, if we had wanted to surprise Dad, that's out." He muttered.

"What?" Hazel asked.

"Did you see the Fury-"

"Fury?"

"Yeah, Dad's personal servants. The things that look a tiny bit like harpies. Anyway, one just took off to the castle." Nico explained. It occurred to him that Hazel had never seen a Fury. Lucky her.

"Hey, Nico?" Hazel asked.

"Yes?"

"If Dad sees me, won't he have Thanatos or someone send me back to, you know, being dead?" Hazel brought up a good point. Nico had also been wondering that, but he had come to a conclusion.

"I don't think he would miss the chance to have another kid. The more illegal children, the better." Nico explained. "Just a theory, by the way. Don't blame me if it goes south."

"Goes south?"

"Don't worry, If worst comes to worst I'll talk some sense into him." Nico put a hand on his sword. "Also, I got this bad boy." He tried to mimic Leo's humor.

This earned a smile from Hazel, so he guessed it worked.

Finally, they reached the menacing black gates into the castle. "Home sweet home..." Hazel muttered. Neeks didn't even mind very much, he spent more time here than up above. To him, it kinda was home sweet home. It was a place where he wouldn't get bullied because of who his father was, at least. Well, there was Persephone, but he did his best to avoid her.

The gates swung open before them, thankfully. Two demigods, or even twenty, couldn't have opened those fifty foot tall gates.

"Son, daughter." Hades nodded. Hazel and Nico made their way quickly down the hall, where their father was waiting.

"Father." Nico dipped his head politely. Next to him, Hazel did the same.

"I was expecting you two earlier." Hades said. He didn't sound furious, but there was an icy anger resting in his tone.

"Yeah, real nice to send a skeleton to kidnap us." Nico muttered. "Apologies." He honestly hated being so polite and formal for his father, but he knew that disrespect would lead to some sort of punishment, like... Nico shivered, remembering when Persephone had turned him into a dandelion. Better to stay on his good side.

"The undead warrior was not to harm either of you." Of course, Hades hears all.

"You wanted to see us, um, Father?" Hazel asked, hesitantly.

"Ah yes, the question of the century. It has come to my attention that you two owe me some favors." Hades drawled.

"Favors? What favors?" Nico asked. He didn't recall Hades ever doing anything for either of them. If anything, Hades owed them some favors.

"Deeds in return for what I have done for you, do keep up child." Patronized Hades.

"I think he means what have you done for us?" Hazel said. Nico winced, that kind of talk could get her cursed down here, daughter of Pluto or no.

"You're one to talk, child. Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Hades smirked. Hazel and Nico both visibly paled, causing Hades' smirk to grow.

"I, erm..." Hazel stuttered.

"She means she's sorry, but please don't send her back." Nico pleaded. Hey, much as it tortured him, a little begging could mean life or death for his sister.

"And as for what I have done for my son, remember when you foiled my plans for you to be the prophesied child? And win you a place among the demigods who shun you?" Hades prodded. Nico certainty remembered. That was when he had accidentally tricked Percy into being captured by Hades. Nico had helped him escape, but if he hadn't, then Nico could have been the prophecies' child, earning both him and his father acceptance among their kin.

"I could have killed you then. You or that stupid son of Poseidon. But I didn't, and now I think you owe me a favor." The god of the underworld explained. "Even more, I gave you a home when no one else would, shared my powers with you, fed you, helped you grow up. Say what you will about me, but I do not abandon my children."

The kids in the room didn't speak.

"And Hazel, dear, I am the reason you are alive. If I hadn't kept your secret under lock and key, then the other gods surely would have killed you, if Persephone hadn't beaten them to it. I am the one who allowed Nico to bring you back. Greek or Roman, I do not abandon my own children." Hades finished.

Nico didn't deny it, Hades wasn't the worst father out there, not even by mortal standards. In fact, he was borderline good. Just out of practice. And kinda scary.

"So, the favors?" Hazel prompted.

"Right, of course." The smirk of death returned. "See, my new goal is ruling Olympus itself." He left the sentence there to hang in the silence. Hazel a eyes grew wide, and she placed a hand over her mouth in shock and horror.

Nico was also stunned, but not all that surprised. See, he had watched a mortal movie, Hercules, (totally inaccurate, by the way) but it had alerted him to the fact that Hades might actually go for the idea of ruling Olympus. It had scared him at first, but he hadn't thought it would actually happen.

Nico had been wrong.

A flash of movement to his left forced him to turn his head. It was Hazel, she had spun around and was now sprinting for the exit. That didn't really surprise him, either. Not a lot of things did.

The demigod turned back to his father, who was looking after his daughter, seemingly calm. Until you looked at his eyes. They had a silently anger within, and a poplar tree nearby burst into flames. The fire put itself out though, the anger subsided, and Hades sighed, putting a hand to his forehead.

"I thought that might happen." He said simply. He looked directly at Nico, giving him an uncomfortable feeling. Like he was expecting something.

"You can't really expect her to go against her friends, can you?" Nico said calmly. On the inside, he was running around screaming. If he had papers in hand, his inner self would have been scattering them everywhere. And kicking over potted trees.

"I had hoped." His father admitted. "It's a good thing you see sense, Nico. Otherwise everything would have been ruined." Nico's breathing quickened.

"I, erm, haven't actually agreed to anything..." Nico said quietly. If there was one thing he didn't want to do, it was piss off his dad.

But, as mentioned before, Hades hears all. "You haven't heard the plan yet."

"...What is it?" He asked hesitantly.

"Are you sure you don't have doubts?" Hades asked.

"Can I please get back to you tomorrow? I need to think." Nico's inner panic was beginning to soak through.

"Hmm, alright. But I expect you back here at this time tomorrow." What time was it? Nico looked at his watch, it was ten in the morning. Apparently he had been here for a while.

"Grazie." Nico dipped his head, and shadow traveled away.