A/N: So sorry for not updating, I have no excuses. Sorry.

Phoenix's POV

I had hightailed it out of the restaurant as fast as possible, mumbling excuses. I couldn't stay there, the pain of seeing Tony's look of shock at the mention of Sally having a daughter, through my eyelashes, was too much.

It wasn't the first time Sally hadn't told her friends of my existence, but this was her best friend. Her lack of care really hurt.

I sighed, I would have to return to Camp Half-Blood to tell Hercules of his mother's death. Maybe Nico had sensed it and told him, I hoped he did as that would make my job way easier and I would get to see my crush.

I had been crushing on Nico since I met him, his beautiful voice, face and hair made it hard not to, and his eyes. Oh gods, his eyes. They were so easy to get lost in. He was also so caring and kind, you could see how much he had cared about Bianca, even after her death, any mention of her and his eyes would soften and the corners of his mouth would curl up slightly.

The problem was that he had been crushing on Hercules for years, and I am pretty sure he likes Will Solace, Son of Apollo, now. He only saw me as a friend.

I sighed and looked around, finding myself in a dark alley, before teleporting to CHB. I appeared at the edge of the forest and walked over to the lake to find Hercules chatting up some Aphrodite camper.

I walked over to him and asked him for a minute, when he refused I dragged him into our cabin. When he glared at me I decided to get to the point.

"Hercules, Sally's dead. There was an explosion during the attack on New York."

He stared at me, disbelief dominant on his face, before rage twisted his features.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE SAVED HER! YOU WERE THERE! YOU SNUCK OF CAMP TO HELP PEOPLE! WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP HER?" He screamed at me.

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

He raised his hand above his head and was about to hit me when there was a knock on the door. He glared at me again before walking over and opening the door.

Nico stood there, with tear stacks on his cheeks and puffy eyes. Sally had been like a mother to him.

It had caused me great pain when I saw the way she treated him.

Why couldn't she treat me like that?

Despite that I tried to be happy for him. At least he had a loving mother figure.

He deserved it.

I didn't. I had let her die. If I had been quicker I might have been able to save her. But I wasn't. So now Nico and Hercules had to suffer. All because I wasn't good enough. I hated myself for hurting them.

Nico turned to look at Hercules first, which stung a bit but I was used to it, but after seeing the rage on his face he turned to me.

I internally winced when I saw the pain on his face, knowing I was at fault for his pain brought a huge wave of guilt upon me.

"You knew."

I nodded,"I snuck out of camp to help keep the mortals safe. I-I went to check up on her after it had finished. The apartment building was gone, destroyed in an explosion."

I winced, waiting for him to lash out, to blame me, anything. I hadn't expected him to hug me.

My eyes flew open in shock when I felt his arms wrap around me. I froze, before melting into his comforting embrace. I hadn't realised tears were streaming down my face.

I was about to break away when I felt a wetness on my head, I was shocked when I realised Nico was crying too, looks like he needed the hug as much as I did.

It felt... amazing, knowing he needed me as much as I needed him.

Our moment was ruined when Hercules growled.

"HOW CAN YOU HUG HER! SHE WAS THERE AND DIDN'T SAVE HER!"

Nico was saved from answering by a knock on the door. I dried my eyes and placed my calm facade back on my face as it had cracked in the past few minutes, before opening the door to see Clarisse.

"Chiron wants to see Hercules and Nix at the Big House, get along runts."

Nico and Hercules scowled at her while I smirked at her. She glared harshly at them but her gaze softened when it met mine.

Clary was my best friend at CHB. She was one of the few that still trusted me after everyone found out I was attending both camps. She was also one of the few people who knew I was a great fighter. All in all I trusted her more than Sally and Hercules put together.

I nodded and walked out with the Hercules following me to the Big House. I hesitated before knocking, sensing Chiron's nervousness. We heard a quiet "Enter" before Hercules opened the door and barged in.

"What do you need? Is there another quest I need to add to my list of achievements?"

Chiron sighed and shook his head. "Ah, my dear boy, come in sit down, you too Phoenix."

Hercules sat down while I remained standing. We both stared at him curiously, before he sighed and got to the point.

"I have heard about your mother's unfortunate demise and I wish to offer my condolences."

We both looked at him, unimpressed, and he seemed to get the hint.

"A man called earlier, he said he was a friend of your mother's. He had heard about her death and wished to offer you a place to stay, said he would be your legal guardian."

I thought it over and looked over a Hercules to find him doing the same. I decided to find out a bit more about this man.

"This man, what's his name?"

"His name, is Tony Stark."