I had an overwhelming response to the last chapter so I'd really like to say thank you to everyone who reviewed! You guys are the ones who convince me to continue the story. Get ready for the feels because this is a sad chapter. I was on the verge of tears writing it. Okay maybe not, but after reading it you might be.

Age: 10

The sun was shining up above in the nearly cloudless sky. This seemed cruel to Nico. An insult to Bianca's memory. He stared at the lowering casket, tears rolling off of his face. All dressed in black, Nico felt the invisible pain shooting through him. When he closed his eyes he could almost see it again. The car crash was so sudden. One moment Bianca was laughing and smiling with Nico. The next, shattered glass was flying everywhere and the two children were weightless, held down only by their belts.

Nico's knuckles were white from the tight fists his hands were in. In one was the last thing Bianca ever gave him, during the very same car crash that killed her. Salty tears dripped onto the small Mythomagic figurine of the god of the underworld. Will stood silently beside Nico, his face pinched.

Nico was angry. Beyond angry. Not only was mother nature tarnishing Bianca's memory, but so was his own father. Half the people standing at this funeral didn't know who Bianca was, much less cared about her. Think of the devil and he shall appear, Nico thought as his father walked over. He too was dressed in all black, with his oily hair slicked back.

"Come Nico," his father said in a monotone voice, "there are some people I wish for you to meet."

Nico didn't answer. He continued to stare at Bianca's grave.

"Nico, come," his father insisted.

"No," he said softly, followed by some other inaudible words.

"Speak up Nico," his father said, "You know I hate the mumbling."

"I said no," Nico said, his voice suddenly icy, "That you never cared for Bianca did you. Did you!"

"How can you say such a thing," his father answered in a stern tone, "Of course I cared for your sister."

"You're heartless and cold," Nico said, his voice rising, "and I hate you!"

With that, Nico threw the little figure his sister had given him to the ground and ran off. After he managed to push his way through the crowd he sprinted past the procession of cars and through the graveyard.

Will was surprised to say the least. He had never seen this side of Nico before. Will set off to run after Nico, but tripped on something; it was the little figurine of Hades. With this, Nico completed his Mythomagic collection, but now, Will knew that it meant much more to Nico than finishing a collection for a stupid game. Will carefully picked it up, cleaning the dirt off with handkerchief. Will placed it in his pocket and ran after Nico, not giving a second glance to the silent man staring at him with a scowl.

It took Will a solid hour to locate his best friend. By this time the sun was starting to dip in the sky, making a lovely array of reds and oranges. Nico sat curled up in a little ball behind a gravestone. It took Will a few seconds to decipher the name: Maria di Angelo. Nico's mother. Nico barely spoke a word about his mother, but Will knew that she had died in a collapsing building when he was young.

Nico's head was pressed into his knees and covered with his arms, so all Will could really see was his mop of unruly, raven black hair. Will walked slowly, as if approaching a wild deer, careful not to startle Nico. Silently, Will sat down next to Nico on the half dead grass. This was the only evidence of winter in Los Angeles. A while passed before either of them moved. Nico slowly lifted his head to look at Will who stared at the sunset.

Nico's eyes were bloodshot and his face was covered in both wet and dry tears. He sniffled a little and Will looked over, offering him a grim little smile which went away almost immediately. Will pulled a tissue out of his sleeve, almost like magic, and handed it to Nico. Neither of them spoke a word. Silence was spread across the stone filled landscape like a blanket. Not even a bird or cicada could be heard.

"I brought candy," Will said.

"What kind?" Nico asked softly.

"Butterscotch," Will answered.

Will reached inside his pocket and pulled out a handful of the cellophane wrapped hard candies. Nico's hands were shaking as he unwrapped it and placed the butterscotch on his tongue.

"She's still watching me you know," Nico said, his voice barely a whisper.

Will's head whipped up to look at Nico, a question visible in his eyes.

"Bianca," Nico said, his voice catching on the single word.

His voice was distorted by the butterscotch candy but Will could still make out every word.

"I can feel her watching me," Nico's voice cracked, "from up there."

Nico pointed up, towards the darkening sky, filled with shades of royal purple and azure blue. His voice was filled with sorrow and mourning. Each word sounded painful. Yet he still retained the slightest shred of hope. Will didn't have the heart to contradict anything Nico said.

As Will looked at Nico once more he took in the pitiful look on his face and it tugged at his heartstrings. Never before had Will seen such pain in someone that he couldn't fix. Will wanted to help people, that's why he wanted to be a doctor, but as Nico sat there next to him, their knees touching, Will couldn't think of a single thing to help Nico. Maybe one thing that might temporarily numb the pain, but not completely get rid of it.

Will opened up his arms and wrapped them around Nico, pulling the downcast boy in a tight hug. Nico stiffened up at first, but soon collapsed into Will's warm embrace, his face pressed into Will's shoulder. His nose filled with the scent of oranges and bandaids for some reason. This is when the tears started to flow again, like a dam had broken and the river was released. He didn't make a sound, but the salty tears continued to pour down his cheeks and staining Will's shirt.

They sat there, huddling, as the sun finally disappeared behind the hills and night set in, bringing with it the cold, frozen air.

*Sniffle* Anybody have tissues out? Does anybody have suggestions for the story- please, I would like to hear them. Or if you have suggestions for one-shots or other stories? I open and I want ideas. w