They sat for a while, strategizing, particularly planning the trip to Ogygia.

Leo had been able to expand Festus a little, making room for four people.

"I've seen enough of that island. I don't need to see it again, but if I make a list, could I get you to bring me some of the plants from my old garden? I want to plant them here." Calypso declared.

"Of course, baby girl" Leo replied, kissing his girlfriend. The two of them could be nauseatingly sweet together.

Over the last couple of days, Hermione had gotten the impression, that Calypso didn't like her very much. Whenever Hermione entered a room, Calypso would soon excuse herself and leave. She would avoid talking to Hermione, and when she couldn't avoid it, her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. At first, Hermione supposed it was because she was new to the group, but she was starting to think differently. She would have to do something about it soon. That kind of confrontation was always horrible though, she was hoping to avoid it.

"Then, who will go? Me and Hermione, obviously" Leo pointed out.

"Me too" Nico unsurprisingly volunteered.

"I think I'd like Percy to come too?" Hermione half asked.

Percy looked up at her, surprised.

"Me?"

"I might need your help. I don't know the layout of the island, or the magic that surrounds it. If we're unlucky, I might create a tsunami, that's going hit a magical barrier and turn around, to hit us in our faces. You could contain it."

Percy sat, blinking. He hadn't expected that. He looked to Annabeth, who just gave him a small smile.

"Um, sure. Okay." he agreed.

Percy felt awkward. Getting a little sister, was kind of easy, when she came from his mom and Paul. He felt prepared for that, after nine months of getting used to the idea. Getting a little sister, who was practically adult, was more powerful than him and had been kept a secret by people he knew and trusted, was very very different. He had gone from angry, to confused, to protective, and now awkward. Supremely awkward. He felt all the things, he imagined big brothers were supposed to feel, but he didn't feel comfortable with those feelings. He sure as hell didn't feel comfortable about the close bond, she obviously had with Nico. He still didn't know what to make of it. He wanted to protect her, but did he even have the right to be protective? He had only been her brother for a couple of days, and even so, they were more like awkward acquaintances.

…

When the meeting was concluded, everyone went by their business as usual. Frank and Annabeth, had gone out to find Jason. They had been called out, to settle a dispute between the people from the Athena Cabin, and some legionnaires. Being an Athena-kid in a Roman camp, wasn't easy.

Nico took Hermione's hand, and led her down the guest wing.

"So. My dad says hi." he said cheerfully.

"Does he now?" Hermione deadpanned, reclaiming her own hand, crossing her arms in front of her, turning towards him in the hall.

She looked at him, eyebrows raised.

He looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, you couldn't come. It could have had a lot of consequences if you did. If it was discovered, that Hades knew about you, and didn't notify Zeus immediately, it would be a scandal, diplomatically. As it is, Hermes has openly sided with Zeus, and isn't delivering messages to or from Poseidon anymore, and Poseidon is confined to his underwater palace for the time being. Zeus thinks, that if he can cut off the communications to Olympus, Poseidon can't gain followers there. He's still underestimating the minor gods though." Nico explained.

"What sure followers, does Zeus have at Olympus? It would be best for our plan, if there are as many neutral ones, as possible, not followers of Poseidon." Hermione pointed out, giving up her anger.

"Well, He'll definitely have Hera. She wouldn't compromise her own marriage, by angering her husband any further. He was pretty sore, after she went along with her plans in the war against Gaia, without consulting him. Hermes has openly declared allegiance, and my dad thinks that he might also have Ares, Hephaestus and Aphrodite. It's likely that Dionysus and Demeter and Artemis will side with Poseidon. The rest will probably remain neutral, and my dad thinks we have a good shot at Apollo helping us keep the peace at Olympus."

"But does Poseidon even want a war?"

"He might not have a choice. If Zeus decides on a direct attack, Poseidon will have no choice, but defend himself, and if all the minor gods, and some of the Olympians want him on the throne, he might have to take it. Better him than Ares, for instance, if there's a power vacuum."

Hermione sighed, looking defeated.

"All that mess, just because of me."

"Don't be stupid, we both know you're not. All this tension has built up, over centuries of grudges and bad communication." Nico pointed out.

She chuckled "Now, I know how Harry feels. I don't know, how many times I told him, the war wasn't his fault. Sorry for my self-pity.

He just smiled and took her hand again.

"I missed you." He said, looking her in the eye.

Hermione was just about to reply, when she was interrupted by Leo yelling "DINNER!" from the kitchen.

Instead, she huffed and yelled back "COMING!"

She looked back at him crinkling her nose. "Leo is an expert in bad timing, isn't he?"

When they came back to the dining room, everything was lined up, for tofu burgers. It smelled glorious, and tasted it too.

After eating, Leo and Hermione went into the living room, to look at the fireplace. After some minutes, the others joined them, Buford the wonder table following with a large bowl of fruit. Annabeth, Jason and Frank had returned as well, Will joining them, his boyfriend working late.

Leo and Hermione, were both lying on their backs, heads inside the fireplace, gesturing at the special features, Leo had installed, trying to determine which one was sabotaging Hermione's attempt at establishing a Floo connection. Leo was fascinated with Hermione's magic, and was trying to understand the Floo system, comparing it to the Labyrinth.

Pulling her head out of the fireplace, Hermione looked up, seeing Calypso glaring at her, huffing and storming out. Hermione looked after her, bewildered. It didn't seem like any of the others had noticed Calypso's abrupt departure, but Hermione resigned herself to the fact, that she would have to speak with the girl. And soon. She had an idea what it might be about, but Hermione was in no way interested in Leo.

Leo slid out of the fireplace too, and Hermione saw that he was covered in soot. She turned her wand to him, muttering "Scourgify".

"Dang girl! That tickles!" he laughed.

She turned her wand at herself, repeating the process. She went over, and sat in a sofa beside Nico leaning on him. The others were gathered around the living room. Leo lit a fire for them, creating a warm atmosphere, with orange dancing light. He seemed to notice Calypso was missing, and went out to find her.

…

Nico felt good. Sure, the world was slowly falling to pieces around them, but honestly, when wasn't it? He was surrounded by the people he considered friends. The people that meant the most to him. Especially the girl, he enjoyed sitting so close with.

For a while, they all sat in comfortable silence, when Nico spotted something amusing in the fruit bowl. He reached over, picking it up, presenting it to Hermione.

"Pomegranate?" He offered, with a cheeky smile.

Hermione blushed and swatted at his stomach.

"Okay, that's it! I thought you were gay!" Percy exclaimed, pointing at Nico.

Great, Percy, thanks for pointing that out in front of my potential love interest, Nico grumbled internally

Hermione snorted loudly and everyone turned their eyes to her. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please!" She exclaimed. "Like anyone could ever put Nico di Angelo in a box like that. No matter what kind of box you put out, Nico will never fit in any of them. Dark, light? Gay, straight? Old, young? No matter what, he will always be in the grey area in between. He will never be one or the other." She pointed out.

"I thought you knew him." She accused, walking over to the glass door, wanting to cool off on the patio.

She left a group of stunned looking people behind. The only ones, that didn't seem surprised, were Will, and Nico himself.

Will gave a small smile, and nodded at Nico, indicating that he wanted to speak privately. They walked out of the living room, down a hall.

Will stopped, leaning against a wall. He looked at Nico with a cocked eyebrow and a teasing smirk "So. A girl."

"Yeah, I know. I know what you're going to say, it's just that she's… and we.. I don't know. It's impossible to explain. Whenever we touch, it just feels so.. We're like..-"

"You're in harmony." Will said with a gentle smile on his face.

"Gods, you sound like your father now" Nico rolled his eyes.

"No, just hear me out. Do you know about the first humans?"

"You mean the four arms, four legs, two heads theory?"

"It's not a theory, Nico. I just want you to be happy. So, what if she's it? How long are you going to wait?"

Nico couldn't find an answer to that.

…

"Why in the name of Hades, would you say that, Percy, you complete idiot!?" Piper hissed.

"I just don't like it! And I don't like him flirting with her, and leading her on! I don't want her getting hurt!" Percy defended.

"Honestly, the way they look at each other? It's a damn miracle, they haven't even kissed yet. They sleep in the same bed, after all." Reyna pointed out, making Percy look green.

"I don't care." Hazel interrupted. "If they're happy, I really don't care."

"Think about Apollo" Jason said, quietly. "Hazel's right. It really doesn't matter."

"Being a big brother is horrible" Percy declared. "I really can't recommend it."

…

Hermione had gone out on the Patio, trying to cool down, but found another subject of aggravation instead.

Calypso.

"And you! What is your problem?! I'm not after your boyfriend, so what is it?!" she half screamed.

Calypso looked at her, bewildered.

"Boyfriend? Of course, you're not after my boyfriend, you're all over Nico!" She replied indignant.

"Then what is your problem with me?" Hermione hissed.

Calypso suddenly looked embarrassed.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "Did you know, that I used to be a great sorceress? I'm the daughter of Titans, and I was immortal." She said, looking wistful. "Zeus punished me for my father's deeds. He confined me to the island Ogygia. I was to spend eternity there, while the gods sent me heroes to fall in love with, only to laugh at my heartbreak, whenever they would leave. Zeus was supposed to release me after the Titan war, but he didn't. Leo came back for me." She gave a wet laugh, as if she still didn't quite believe it herself. "When I left Ogygia, I lost all my powers. I don't regret leaving, not for a second. I don't miss immortality, or the servants, but I do miss my magic. It feels like I'm missing a limb, and it's painful. What Hazel can do with the Mist is amazing, but what you do is so close to what my own powers used to be. I'm sorry, that I'm so bitter. I don't mean to be. It just hurts. All of you have these amazing powers and abilities, and compared to you, I just feel so useless." She ended, choking back a sob, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, Calypso." Hermione whispered, drawing the weeping girl in for a hug. "That's not true. I've seen your garden, and what you are growing there is extraordinary. I know herbologists, who would cut their left leg, if it meant they could do, what you do. I've honestly never seen anything like it. Many of those plants are so rare, and so hard to grow, that they are considered myths." She told her. Calypso looked at her intently, searching for lies or pity in Hermione's eyes. She found neither. "There are more ways of magic, than levitating things or turning people into frogs. I have some potions books in my bag, I think you should take a look at. You could be amazing." Hermione, suddenly got busy, pulling her purse out of her pocket, digging out book after book, thrusting them into Calypso's arms. After the fourth book, Leo came out of the shadows. Hermione had the impression, that he had been standing there for a while. "Dang, girl. What is that, Time Lord technology?" He asked with a cheeky wink. He then went to embrace Calypso, whispering in her ear. He took her books under one arm, and they walked back inside. "Thanks, Hermione" Calypso said, smiling, back over her shoulder.

…

Hermione chuckled. She felt better now, but the evening was beautiful. She decided staying outside a little more couldn't hurt. She walked down past the swimming pool, chuckling, as the small ripples in the water, followed her movements. She stopped, leaning against the railing at the end of the patio, looking down the lawn. Further down, she could see Leo's workshop, and looking sideways, she could see the twinkling of the moonlace in Calypso's garden.

"You're not as stealthy as you think, Ghost King." She said out loud, making Nico step out of the shadows, smiling sheepishly.

"So. I take it my brother isn't known for being the most tactful person in the world?"

He gave a small nervous laugh, rubbing his neck. "How do you figure?" he joked.

She hesitated "I don't care about that, you know that, right?" she whispered.

"I might have some idea." He mumbled.

"I spoke with Apollo about this once." He continued. "He came to me one day, when he was human. I was in a relationship with Will, at the time. He told me, that while he was happy, for me and Will, it wasn't meant to be in the long run. That we both had other people waiting for us, and not to be sad, when we fell apart. He could see it in me, you know. The confusion. He had had, both male and female lovers. He gave me a long poem about following my heart or gut or whatever. That's just really, hard if your heart and your gut tries to take you in different directions." He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I was so confused. But since meeting you again, I haven't been confused at all. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too. Gods, I've missed you." She said, her eyes shining.

Nico felt like he couldn't really say anything more. So he did, exactly, what his gut and his heart told him unanimously, and kissed her.

I felt glorious. The power he had felt, the first time they touched, was doubled tenfold. Her lips were warm and soft, and so much better than he had imagined. For a moment, he was worried, that he might drain her, like the first time he held her hand, but he had learned to control himself. It was hard though. Her power was intoxicating, everything about her was.

He broke the kiss, and rested his forehead against hers. "I can't lose you again" He whispered.

"You won't. I won't allow it." She deadpanned

"Bossy" He chuckled. He kissed her forehead and took her hand, leading her back inside. Choosing to ignore the fact, that all the curtains were moving, from where ten people had been peeking through them.

So. Longest chapter yet, and a pretty important one, for me at least.

Please leave a review for me. I really love it, when you do. :)