A/N: Today I finally purchased Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods. Just have to finish An Abundance Of Katherines and My Sisters Keeper before I can start it :D Anyway, enjoy...

Every day for the next week at the crack of dawn Nico and Will worked on technique. Will got progressively better, but it was never a challenge for Nico to take him down. The two were resting by the river after a particularly vigorous session and Nico couldn't help but notice how the sun set gold into Will's hair. Or how he never looked sleepy even at half 6 in the morning.

He smiled to himself as Will looked over.

'What are you smiling at?' Will mused.

'The fact I'm still whipping you butt.' Smirked Nico.

Will chuckled and cast a stone into the lake, which bounced across the surface of the water.

'Bet ya can't do that.' Will grinned. Nico raised his eyebrows and threw a smooth rock into the dark water. The rock didn't even skim the surface but splashed and disappointingly sunk to the bottom of the river. Will picked up another stone and threw again, it went even further this time. And again, Nico's stone sunk.

'Please don't tell me you can't skim stones.' Will said in disbelief. Nico shrugged.

'Guess I never learnt.' Will grabbed Nico's wrist (causing Nico a mini heart attack) and yanked him up.

'Hey.' Nico protested.

'Shh, now turn side on and grab... that stone there.' Nico picked up the stone. Will positioned himself behind Nico as Nico's heart began to pick up pace. Will placed his hand over Nico's and swung it back.

'Swing your arm back like this.' Nico looked up at Will and felt himself blush; Will himself felt a little flustered and Nico noticed his eyes looked a little hazy. 'And release.' He whispered looking down at Nico. But Nico was frozen in a moment of absolute bliss.

He was lost in Will's eyes, he felt intoxicated as he let the smell of vanilla and metal waft around him; proving how close was to him. The contact felt nice to Nico, no longer uncomfortable. Different yes, uncomfortable no.

'Nico.' Will whispered, his eyes looked heavy and he closed them slowly, inclining his head towards Nico.

Oh god, is he gonna kiss me? Nico thought. And then he realised, he wouldn't mind if he did.

Nico closed his eyes too, determined to let his mind go.

'SURPRISE!' A voice shouted and Will and Nico jumped back, the stone clattering to the floor beneath them.

'Hazel!' Nico breathed, his chest heaving slightly.

'Hello big brother.' Hazel grinned, waggling her eyebrows. 'What are you guys up too... Will is it?'

Will cleared his throat. 'Mhmm yeah. And we were just... just er training. Nico's helping me with my sword work.' He whispered, his voice slightly hoarse.

Hazel glanced over to Nico, a look of pure amusement in her eyes. 'I bet, if you don't mind Will could i speak to my brother for a bit?'

Will nodded awkwardly and picked up his sword. 'I'll see you later Nico.' Will couldn't look him in the eye so he decided to look at his shoes instead. But Nico wasn't any better.

'Yeah.' Nico mumbled. Will slumped off towards the Big House and Nico watched him walk away.

'What was that?' Hazel questioned.

'Nothing.' Nico muttered grabbing up his own weapon.

'Ooookkkkaaaayyy.' Hazel said, her face turning a little more serious. 'Can we head back to the cabin, there's something I need to talk to you about.'

Nico sat awkwardly on the corning of his bed, while Hazel sat crossed legged on the bed next to him.

'Truth is.' She started, 'I didn't come here just to see you. Somethings wrong at camp Jupiter, you know Tyson Ella and Rachel came back with us to try and work out this whole oracle thing? Nico nodded. 'Well Ella was sleeping one day then bam. She was nervous and muttering on about a dream and Apollo. Only Tyson can really calm her down but here's the thing. She mentioned your name as well.'

Nico's face drained of all colour, and his throat felt dry. The dream. It wasn't just a dream. It was a message. But what did it mean?

'Nico...? You okay?' Hazel mumbled, placing a hand on Nico's shoulder causing Nico to shudder.

'I... I dreamt about Apollo last week, but he was old. It... it looked like he was dying. I just thought it was a dream.' Nico whispered.

'Have you told that boy you was with?'

Nico frowned. 'No... why?'

Hazel looked shocked. 'But isn't he a son of Apollo?'

'Well yes but...'

'Nico that's his dad!' Hazel said, getting off the bed and standing by the door.

'I just thought it was a dream!' Nico groaned. 'Where are you going?'

'The tents, Franks gathered the Greeks. We need to have a meeting. You need to tell them what you saw.' Hazel said, pushing out of the cabin.

'Wait! I don't understand why we need to have a meeting.' Nico called, running after her but she was gone.

As Nico walked into the tent there was a loud hustle and bustle of ADHD demigods trying to squeeze together to get a good look at Hazel, who was conversing with Frank. Rachel Dare was standing to the side, talking in hushed tones to Tyson. Nico scanned the crowd and spotted Will who waved over to him shyly. Nico gave a half hearted smile and mounted the stage and walked over to Hazel.

He was about to ask about Hazel what the hell was going on when Chiron appeared in full form and called attention from the demigods.

'Silence.' He roared. 'We are here for a very serious matter. As many of you know Zeus has punished Apollo for breaking his demands.' The Apollo kids hissed and booed. 'What you don't know is since then Apollo has gone missing...' The word hung in the air, filling it with dead silence. Missing. The Apollo kids began shouting almost immediately.

'What do you mean missing?'

'What has Zeus done?'

'What are we going to do about it.'

'Shhh half bloods. If we are going to get to the bottom of this we must assess the situation. A camper has previously had a dream of the god, as well as Ella, the harpy gaining some interesting visions. Rachel...?' Chiron passed over to the red head girl as she took the stage.

'By the looks of it we don't have much time...' Rachel began.

'Who had the dream?' A demigod piped up. Rachel opened her mouth to reply but looked over to Chiron who's eyes were trained on Nico.

'Me.' Nico mumbled.

A round of whispered filled the tent and Nico looked up long enough to see Will's face fall.

'Listen! This is good, Nico may have a connection with Apollo which can help us find him.' Rachel pushed on.

'He could have told us sooner!' Another demigod shouted angrily.

'For all he knew it was just a normal dream.' Rachel pressed. 'What's important is what we're gonna do now.'

'A quest.' Kayla shouted.

Chiron grumbled. 'It seems that way indeed. However it will be dangerous. Many of the monsters that were not destroyed post Gaea's rise will be desperate for the blood of the species who put there brothers back in the ground.' The crowd grumbled.

'So? This is important.' Kayla hissed.

'I agree a group should go, but who to go is a different story. I believe Nico should go, if he is well enough. As he seems to have the connection.' Chiron stated.

Nico felt his stomach drop. A quest... Hadn't he managed enough already?

'And a member of Apollo of course...' Chiron continued.

'Me.' Kayla smiled stepping forward, only to be hauled back by none other that Will.

'No way. No. I'm the best healer. If it's gonna be dangerous you're gonna need my skills.' His face was stone, Nico couldn't read him.

Kayla tutted, 'What about the skills you lack... Can you even hold a sword?'

'I've actually been practicing.' He muttered, and in half a second his sword was against the base of Kayla's neck. He turned to look at her.

'I'm going.' He said it with so much intensity Kayla stumbled back and sat, her face gaunt.

Will turned to look at Nico. His eyes hard.

'Guess it's me and you deathboy.' There was no playfulness left in his voice, it had been replaced by venom.

Chiron coughed uncomfortably. 'A third party is usually called upon too in time of a quest. I would like to suggest someone, who proved themselves in the war to be worthy of a task this size...?'

Will ignored Chiron and continued to stare at Nico.

'Lou Ellen.'

'Me!' Lou Ellen stood, still in her PJ's. 'You want me?'

Chiron nodded. 'Since no prophecy has been made to specify the nature of this quest you three seem to be the people I feel most confident sending.'

Lou Ellen just gaped at Chiron mouth open while talk went back and forth in the tent.

'So it's decided. Lou Ellen, Nico di Angelo and Will Solace, will you do your best to take this quest and find Apollo?'

It wasn't really a question. It never is. This is what we are. Nico thought. This is what we do.

Nico nodded, followed by Lou Ellen who was blushing ferociously.

'I will.' Will said clenching his jaw. He took one last look at Nico and exited the tent, leaving Nico feeling like the smallest human being in the world.

A/N: SO CLOSE TO A SOLANGELO MOMENT. BUT ALAS, THEY MUST GO ON A QUEST TO FREE APOLLO.