A/N: Well hello there! Yeah, it didn't take me that long to update this time! *throws hands in the air cheerfully but awkwardly*

Drowning In You
Chapter 4: True Love

Nico stumbled down the stairs awkwardly, still feeling hazy and disoriented by his dream. His hair was stuck up in tuffs- looking more of a mess than usual. Although he was unsure what to do now he walked throughout the house purposefully. He didn't know where he was going, but he felt as though there was something important he should have been doing. Fumbling his way into the living room he sat down on the couch, tucking his feet up under himself like he normally did. Everything about the place looked the same; the sofa, the coffee table, the TV, the old stained rug- it all looked the same but Nico felt as though something was different or out of place.

Leaning his body against the couch arm Nico realized (for the first time) that there was a jacket strew over it. He stared at the article of clothing for a moment, perplexed about where it had come from. Finally, Nico figured out whose jacket it was. Apparently his father had arrived home from work since he fell asleep. What the hell is wrong with me today? Nico wondered. It was just a stupid dream. I need to just forget about it! I can't focus on anything if I keep worrying about it!

Struggling to his feet Nico jumped up from the couch. Shaking his head, trying his best to clear any thoughts about that stupid dream, Nico headed towards the kitchen. The first thing Nico noticed when he walked into the kitchen was the fact that his father was standing behind the stove actually using the stove. Normally Hades wouldn't cook anything that took longer than ten minutes and couldn't be made by using a microwave or toaster. Nico hadn't eaten an actual meal (as in a meal that wasn't a frozen TV dinner) at home since his mother died. Bianca would cook every once in a while, but Nico wouldn't considered the charred remains of a once decent food a meal. The next thing that surprised Nico was the fact that his father was actually listening as Bianca chattered on about something and he was also smiling! Hades often nodded and pretended to listen when one of his children talked, but never truly did he listen, unless it was something actually important. The fact that he was smiling blew Nico away. His father? Smiling? Impossible!

Nico felt as though he had stepped in a parallel universe. First, he starts to like Leo, next his father is smiling. Either he was hallucinating or something was terribly wrong. Approaching the kitchen table cautiously, Nico looked back and forth between his sister and his father. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of listening to two talking, Bianca noticed that her little brother was there.

"Hey, Nico. Are you finally awake?" She said cheerfully- although Nico could tell she was still slightly peeved at him, even though he had no idea what he had done to her.

Hades glanced over at his son with a light smile, something Nico didn't gain from his father often. Although there relationship as a family had been quite better since the situation with Nico and Percy, Hades and his son still didn't exactly get along.

"Hi, dad. When did you get back from work?" Nico questioned before rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I've only been here about twenty minutes. I heard that Leo Valdez is back. I remember you and him use to be great friends." Hades said looking thoughtfully at his son.

"Yeah, great friends." Nico replied weakly. He looked between his sister and his father, wondering which would be the next to speak. Neither said a word.

Nico flopped down at the kitchen table, gazing around the room aimlessly with a heavy heart. He didn't know why, but the guilt from his dream was gnawing at him. It wasn't his fault he had that dream about Leo. He couldn't control what his subconscious came up with. Even if it wasn't his fault Nico knew he had to find a way to ease his guilt. Maybe a trip to visit Percy would make him feel so much better. He needed to apologize to the boy anyways. Standing up slowly Nico looked at his father (who was still standing behind the stove).

"Umm…..Dad, I have a question. Can I borrow your car?" Nico tried his best to look innocent, but his father frowned at him.

"Sorry, you can't. One of the tires is going flat and I don't want you to drive it until I can get that fixed." Hades shook his head, wondering where he son was wanting to go anyways.

"Oh….Well, I guess that's alright. I mean I can walk instead." Nico didn't bother to fix up or grab a jacket as he walked towards the back door located on the other side of the kitchen. "See you all in a little while. I'm going to go visiting Percy for a while."

Hades nodded as Nico walked out the door. Now he understood why his son wanted to leave so bad. He truly did love that boy.

Nico walked down the lonely street by himself. The world seemed to be at rest. Not a single car drifted down the street. Not a single person walked aimlessly down the side walk. There wasn't a single sound besides the faint sound of his heartbeat and the distant sound of a dog barking. Reeling in his pocket Nico took out his headphones and MP3 player. Shoving the ear buds in his ears he played the first song he could find, desperate to fill the silence. The music immediately began to pour into his ears.

"There ain't no rest for the wicked. Money don't grow on trees. We got bills to pay. We got mouths to feed. Ain't nothing in this world for free. No, we can't slow down, we can't hold back."

"Though you know we wish we could. You know there ain't no rest for the wicked until we close our eyes for good." Nico began to sing along quietly under his breath. He hated walking epically when it seemed to take forever.

After what seemed like an eternity Nico finally found himself standing on the Jackson's front porch. He approached the door slowly, now feeling a slight pinch of fear. What if Percy didn't want to see him? What if the boy was still pissed with him over what happen with Leo? Swallowing his fear Nico tapped lightly on the door. He waited a moment, praying that Percy wouldn't slam the door on him if he answered. It felt as though Nico had been standing in front of the door for a lifetime. It took him a minute, but he quickly shook his head and started to step away from the porch, figuring no one was going to answer. Suddenly, with his back turned, Nico heard the door open.

Whirling around he looked at Sally Jackson who was watching him curiously from the doorway.

"I thought no one was going to answer." Nico said as he rubbed the back of his neck embarrassedly and stumbled towards the door.

"You should have waited a minute. I would have answered eventually." Sally said with a faint smile. Nico grinned back at her- he was trying his best to be as nice as possible. He was still worried that Sally would eventually change her mind and once again forbid Percy from seeing him. That would be a true nightmare for Nico.

"Sorry." Nico blushed as he stepped through the door. "I just didn't know if anyone was home or not."

"Well, next time if the door is open just come on in. You don't have to knock. After all, you're family now." Sally smiled at him as they stepped into the living room. Looking over Nico saw Percy's stepfather sitting on the couch. Nico waved at Paul lightly. The man waved back, looking at the boy cheerfully. Nico remembered the first time he saw Paul (although they didn't exactly meet at the time); it was the day when Percy's mother came home after Nico had spent night with Percy at the swim meet. In the end she ran the boy off and on his way out Nico caught a glimpse of (a very surprised) Paul.

"So, is Percy in his room? I really need to talk to him." Nico asked urgently. Now that he was actually there the guilt about his dream was really getting to him.

"Oh, yeah he's in his room. Just go right on in." Sally said with a polite wave of her hand before she walked over towards Paul and the couch. Nico glanced down the hall towards Percy's door. The boy moved quickly towards the room, praying that his boyfriend wouldn't be too angry with him. Grabbing the door knob harshly Nico pulled the door open. Gazing inside he saw Percy lounging lazily on his bed, stretched out and searching through a magazine.

"Percy?" Nico said lightly. He watched as Percy jerked up quickly, surprised that Nico was actually there.

"N-Nico?" Percy asked shocked. Suddenly, he surprise slowly faded, forming into something more sinister. "Why the hell aren't you with your new boyfriend?!"

Nico didn't reply. He only closed the bedroom door behind him, stepping further into the room. Walking slowly he approached the bed. Without warning he crawled up onto Percy bed, leaning over the boy who was now lying on his back. He gazed down at Percy lovingly, although his eyes reflected his guilt.

"I'm so sorry." Nico whimpered lightly to Percy as he intertwined his fingers in the boy's own, bending down over him and pressing a tender kiss on the boy's lips.

Percy looked up at his boyfriend curiously before pushing the boy away. Nico backed up a little on the bed and gazed up at Percy as the boy rose from the bed. What's wrong with him? Percy wondered.

"Nico, are you alright?" Percy asked. Before he could comprehend what was happening Nico moved forward, wrapping his arms around Percy body, arms entangled around Percy neck.

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Me and Leo…..We're just friends. He's nothing compared to you." Nico muttered into Percy neck. Percy was stunned. Truly he expect Nico to brush the whole thing off or wait for Percy to apologize to him for leaving, not the other way around.

"Nico, I- I didn't think anything about it. I mean I was a little upset about it- I shouldn't have run of like that. I was just mad, but you didn't have to apologize, Nico." Percy gazed down at his boyfriend lovingly, placing a tender kiss to the top of the boy's head.

"Yes, I do. I need to apologize. It was all my fault." Nico murmured again, pulling away from the boy. He felt weak; sitting on his knees in front of Percy, begging the boy for forgiveness. Suddenly, before he could utter another word, Nico was forced down onto the bed, his back pressed down as Percy leaned over to of his body.

"No, you really don't." Percy smirked down at Nico as he leaned over the boy, one hand lightly cascading Nico's face, turning it to allow Percy lips to brush the boy's cheek. His other hand moved small trails down Nico's stomach, causing the boy to moan. Slowly his hand moved up to the front of Nico's shirt, pulling the fabric down a little to expose more of Nico's neck and collarbone. Percy began placing a soft trail of kisses down Nico's neck, his other hand leaving the boy's face and tracing the inside of his thighs.

"Percy, what if….." Nico was cut off by a moan a Percy's hand traveled up from his thighs and tenderly slid down the waist band of his jeans. "What if your mom comes in?"

Percy stopped for a second, gazing down at the boy beneath him. Although he knew Nico was right it was hard to stop when the boy was lying under him, looking like that; hair slightly tussled, eyes half lidded, cheeks tainted red. Backing up off the boy Percy shook his head. He hated it so much when Nico was right. Slowly holding out his hand Percy helped Nico sit back up.

"Sorry, I just want you so much. You're adorable when you apologize." Percy laughed lightly as Nico smirked at him.

"I know I am." Nico said sweetly. Leaning forward he once again placed a small kiss on Percy's lips. "I think I'd better get going. I told my dad I would be home soon."

"Aw, do you really have to go? I don't want you too." Percy pouted slightly.

"I'm afraid I have to. I love you, Percy." Nico whispered softly as he jumped up from the boy's bed.

"I love you, Nico. Oh and by the way, in case you want to come over sometime on next Saturday, my mom and Paul will be gone the entire day. That means no interruptions. We can do whatever we want." Percy grinned broadly at the boy.

"I can't wait." Nico said with a slightly laugh as he opened the bedroom door.

"I'll keep the door unlocked for you." Percy said before waving bye to the boy.

Once outside Nico could once again entire time he was talking to Percy he was holding his breath, praying that the boy wouldn't throw him out for being such a inconsiderate bastard earlier. Now that he knew that Percy was once again on his side the Nico could rest easy. In fact he felt like he was the luckiest guy in the world considering he Saturday would be pretty interesting.

Continuing his trek down the street Nico was about to replace his head phones like he had done before when suddenly he heard a noise from behind him. Glancing around he saw the bike streak passed him, only to come to a stop a short ways in front of him. The moment Nico realized who the girl was his throat became as dry as cotton.

Annabeth stood in front of him looking at him strangely. Finally she spoke.

"Hey there, Nico. What's up?" She said cheerfully.

"Um…. Hi..Annabeth." Nico muttered awkwardly to her. She gazed at him before shaking her head.

"Listen Nico, I don't have anything against you. I mean I'm not completely unreasonable, even though I'm sure Percy has led you to believe that I am. I just got angry at that bastard for going behind my back. I mean he could have at least broken up with me first. So stop acting so strange. I'm not going to bite." Annabeth justified.

Nico sighed lightly. "I told Percy to break up with you earlier." The boy hissed under his breath.

"What was that?" Annabeth asked curiously. Nico shook his head quickly, praying that the girl hadn't heard him. Instead she just smiled down at him.

"So why are you out this way anyways?" Nico asked cautiously. He was afraid to pry for information from the girl. She was probably more dangerous than Luke.

"Oh, I was just cutting through here. Luke lives on the next street over and I was just going to drop in for a visit. I'm sure you were here visiting Percy, am I right? Mind if I walk with you for a while. Well, pedal next to you for a while is more like it." Annabeth laughed softly at her own joke before looking back at Nico.

Nico felt uncomfortable with the girl so close to him- after all he had put her through hell and back, but he didn't want to be rude. "Sure." He whispered quietly.