It's been weeks again, I know. I'm sorry! Anyway, the story's coming to an end… probably no more than three or four chapters left. Enjoy!

THALIA

"Wow, this house is big."

"Yes, Mr Gustin is a very adept business man." Zeus commented as he adjusted his jacket.

The door opened to reveal an old woman in her mid to late fifties. "You are Zeus and 'is children?" she asked in a distinctly French accent.

Zeus nodded, "Yes, we are."

"Excellent, I am Arielle the 'ouse keeper. The Di Angelo's and the Jacksons are already seated with Monsieur and Madame Gustin. Mademoiselle Bethany, who seems quite taken with the one you call Nico, has just retired for a nap. " she smiled softly as she gestured to them to enter.

I stiffened imperceptibly and followed behind Zeus and Jason as we were led through the elegant foyer and onto the patio that overlooked the extensive grounds.

I could see Percy, Annabeth and Nico playing with the twins as Poseidon, Pluto and the elderly couple who I assumed to be the Gustins conversed easily.

They were yet to see us but as Arielle opened the door, all heads turned towards us.

"Allow me to present Monsieur Zeus, Monsieur Jason and Mademoiselle Thalia." She gestured for us to enter and then retreated behind us.

"Zeus! Il mio bambino, vieni qui mi permetta di darle un bacio" Gaia rose to her feet and dashed forward and embraced him.

"It has been too long! You forgot old Gaia who always indulged you?" she chastised him as she kissed his two cheeks. She glanced behind him as she noticed Jason and I.

"You must be Thalia, oh bella! You are such a beautiful woman. And you Jason, you remind me much of your father when he was your age, I hope you're much less of a rascal!" Jason and I smiled and returned her hugs.

The older man rose to his feet and came forward. He shook hands with Zeus, then Jason and I and more calmly introduced himself. "Pleasure to meet you all, I am Mr Chase Gustin," he said in a British accent.

"Excellent, now that we are all here, Arielle is going to start serving the food. My youngest granddaughter Bethany will join us shortly. Nico organized a host of activities that left the poor girl exhausted," Gaia chuckled.

I forced myself to make sure my smile didn't melt too much. As we gathered round the long table, I noticed that all the adults sat on one side. Mr Gustin sat at one end with his wife to his right and Pluto to his left. Poseidon and Zeus sat on the next two seats facing each other. Then Jason sat beside Zeus and there was an empty chair beside him. Next was Nico and I so I assumed the chair beside Nico was for his new woman Bethany. I was unamused because it meant I would have to endure their intimate gestures and heated looks until the subject of their marriage came up. Beside me was Annabeth and opposite her was Percy. The twins were in a double highchair at the head of the table opposite Mr Gustin.

The meal went on smoothly. I mostly chatted with Annabeth and Percy, restricting my communication with Nico to only direct answers to his enquiries. Percy and Annabeth seemed to sense the tension between us but focused on their twins.

Soon Gaia turned her attention to outside of the table and the conversation flowed easily.

I quickly grew to admire and adore Gaia; she was funny, witty, kind and compassionate. She asked about all our lives and even threw in some motherly advice about any problems or incidents we may face.

I was beyond relieved when the conversation did not flow into relationships. I wasn't sure I could watch them fawn over Nico's new romance.

I felt his eyes on me through most of the dinner. He looked like a god in his pitch black suit that he carried so well he looked completely edible. His tall, lean, broad shouldered frame made him look absolutely dashing. The contrast of the stark white, open collared shirt on his tan skin and against the black suit seemed to emphasize his abundant sensuality. His pith black hair was unruly on his head, and he had a five o'clock shadow that made him look even sexier than he already did.

It had only taken a few surreptitious glances to cover his entire appearance and my heart hadn't stopped beating at double time since then. I could feel his heated gaze prickling my skin and I almost felt sorry for his probable bride to be if he was still looking at me like this.

Something in the back of my head told me I should feel extremely sorry for myself if he made butterflies explode in my stomach and my heart gallop away with just a look.

I lost track of the conversation and before I knew it, they were clearing the table. All too soon for my liking the young couple excused themselves too put their children down to nap.

There was an awkward silence between Nico and I which went unnoticed by the rest of the group.

"What activities did you occupy Bethany with that got her so tired?" I asked as nonchalantly as possible

Nico blinked for a second before smiled lasciviously. "Oh, a bit of swimming here, a bit of riding there, she was exhausted by the time our morning activities were over."

I sat there stunned that he suddenly seemed so forthcoming with information. "Oh," was all I could say. My stomach felt like I had poured acid in it and my chest felt too tight.

"Excuse me for a second," was all I could get out before strolling down the patio stairs and walking the few metres to the other side of the beautiful fountain. It was already late afternoon and the skies were beginning to yellow.

"Thalia!" I heard him calling as I sat down on the other side of the fountain protected from the adults view by the large monument spouting water out of various nooks and crannies.

"What was that all about?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

I shrugged, "nothing I just feel sick."

He stared at me for a full minute before he came to stand in front of me, "Why do you do this all the time?" he asked with a hint of anger.

I snapped my head up as I looked at him in confusion, "Do what?"

"Hide your bloody thoughts from me and expect me to figure them out! Then you go around for days with this crazy idea in your head and you won't tell me what wrong I've done so I can't acquit myself. I'm just damned to my punishment!" he snarled furiously.

"Why do my thoughts matter to you?" I shot back at him.

"I think you know damn well why Thalia." I heard the steel in his voice. Nico Di Angelo was here to fight.

"No I don't because I was just a fuck buddy, the moment I ended that you saddled up with some French woman and was excited for your father to meet her too!" I couldn't hold it in anymore. He had to know that I knew.

He looked blankly at me and blinked twice. I felt triumph creep into my system and I continued my tirade. He wanted to accuse me of shielding my thoughts; I was going to lay his deceitful ways before him. "Yes I know about your small girl with a big personality. She's here today ecstatic to meet your dad and you have the gall to stare at me like I was anything more than a warm body for your bed!"

Nico continued to hold my gaze. I took his silence for acceptance. "You disgust me." I spat out.

I began to make my way back up to the patio when he grabbed my hand. "Are you done with your rant?"

I looked at him warily and nodded stiffly. He smiled and nodded back, "Good." Was all he said before he pulled me in and kissed me so passionately it took my breath away.

He pulled back, "God Thalia, I love you so much. You have no idea how much." I thought I had heard wrongly, did he just say he loved me?

He leaned back and captured my lips in another chaste kiss. I still struggled to speak as he wound his hands tight around me, "God you have no idea how sexy you are when you're angry. I'm rock solid just from your performance."

He continued to nip at my neck as he held my wrist and let it brush over his straining erection. I gasped in surprise but I was still unable to break from his hold as he feasted on my neck. He nipped at the base of my thoat and all the heat flowed to my belly as I moaned in appreciation.

"W-what about Bethany?" I asked in between pleasured gasps. I was probably an awful person only remembering this now when he was doing sinful things to me

His hands roamed down my body to cup my ass and press me against him. He then moved his hand to my calf and hooked my left leg over his waist so he could grind into me more definitely.

"Bethany is a seven year old child I helped rescue when she was lost in Paris." He murmured as he continued his ministrations on me. I barely acknowledged his explanation through my positively lust addled brain. The friction of his hips rocking against me had me floating in pleasure.

"Oh God," I moaned as the shocks of pleasure burned through me.

Suddenly he stopped and dropped my leg then stepped back. "I love you Thalia, I have for a long time now and even though you dismissed me before, I figured that it was because of this misconception you allowed grow in your head. I still don't know how you feel about me but I know you care. You wouldn't have been so jealous otherwise. Take a chance on me Thals."

He knelt down before me and took both my hands, I started to hyperventilate right there and then. "I know that you'll always be the woman for me and that one day I plan to marry you but for now I don't want to scare you into such a big commitment. So Thalia Grace, say you'll be my girlfriend?" he asks as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a very beautiful necklace. It was a simple silver chain with a reasonable sized yellow diamond hanging off it.

"Oh God yes!" I exclaimed as he rose from the floor and beamed at me. He stepped behind me as the helped me put the necklace on. Once it was in its proper position I turned round and kissed him again. "I'm so sorry Nico for not trusting you. I feel so stupid," I whispered to him as I felt tears welling in my eyes.

He kissed my cheeks tenderly. "We have forever to work on your trust issues Thalia."

I stared at him for a full minute and I think in that moment I fell so much more in love with him that I was almost bursting with it.

"I love you too Nico, so much" I kissed him again more ardently than before. "Slow down if not I might just take you against this fountain." He laughed as he pried his mouth of mine. I continued kissing down his neck.

"I'm going to have you before we leave this house Di Angelo so find me a dark corner and I will let you have your way with me" I whispered sultrily into his ear and bit his earlobe

NICO

I felt my blood freeze then overheat in a millisecond. There was no way I would make it home in this state. "They have this cute little study that no one ever goes to, look pale and follow my lead." I said as I grabbed her hand and strolled casually walked back to where the adults were and smiled slightly, "She's fine, she said she was just feeling a little tired. I offered to the room beside the one where the twins are so she can lay down for a few minutes."

Thalia looked sufficiently pale and nodded at the adults. Gaia stood up, "Thalia dear do feel better, Nico will take good care of you upstairs." Thalia nodded weekly. Gaia turned her attention to me, "Call Arielle if you need anything."

"I will," I promised as I led Thalia out of the room.

We made it up the stairs and into the study without a problem. There was only an old desk and chair stationed in front of a large window. Shelves of books lined the room but there wasn't much else. I didn't get a chance to really observe either because once I shut the door and locked it, Thalia attacked me.

I kissed her back reverently, relishing in the feel of her body in my hands. She slipped off her dress easily and stood before me in a barely there lace bra, a garter holding up her stockings and high heels. No panties. She was something out of one of my favourite erotic fantasies. I hauled her to me and set her against the table. I wasted no time in parting her thighs and kneeling between her legs to taste her.

"God Thals, you're soaking the table." I whispered into her heat. She shuddered involuntarily and shoved my head between her legs.

My tongue made contact with her folds and she shivered in delight. I looked up at her as I continued to probe and lick, my erection grew harder at the sight before me. She looked so wanton and sexy above me; her thighs spread wide as she pressed my head between her legs and leaned back against her other hand, her nipples straining against the sheer material of her bra, her skin flushed in arousal and her hooded lids looking down at him. Her mouth was slightly open as she panted softly in response to my ministrations.

I probed deeper and raised my hands to cup her bottom and lift her to me fully. Then my tongue entered her before I withdrew and circled her nub. She moaned in delight and I came on done.

I bolted to my feet and undid my belt and divested myself of my trousers with surprising speed. I lifted her off the table and walked round the desk to the chair. I sat in it then turned her so she sat in my lap with her back to me. I braced her arms on the table and swiftly entered her from behind.

She moaned appreciatively and I rocked into her continuously. She was so hot, so tight and so wet. It was going to take herculean effort to hold off until I had made her come undone twice but I was going to do it. I tilted her hips backwards a bit more before plunging more deeply into her. I unhooked her bra and played with her sensitized tips. She panted even more and became frantic against me. I could tell she was close, I dropped one hand from her nipple to her clit. My hand splayed over her flat stomach to angle her properly again to allow for deeper penetration then my fingers repeatedly stroked her until Thalia trembled and tightened sharply around me.

I slowed to prolong her orgasm and gritted my teeth to prevent my release. Once I had emptied myself into her I rose with her boneless and deposited her on the desk. I positioned her bottom at the edge of the desk and let her feet dangle over. "Now I'm going to have you again."

I dropped my head to her still straining nipples and suckled deeply. I fondled and pinched at her till she was squirming beneath me again then I spread her legs wide and entered her. This time I was slower as I rocked into her powerfully. As the pleasure started to escalate I grabbed a foot and placed it over my shoulder as I continued to deeply penetrate her body. She undulated beneath me and met each one of my strokes.

I kissed her tenderly as I rocked inside her and then I continued to lavish her nipples with the same amount of love. Soon I felt her tensing around me and she locked her legs around my waist then dug her nails into my buttocks to make me go deeper. I thrust harder and deeper into her and soon the friction was so much I began to see stars as she clenched even harder around me

She called out my name softly but repeatedly as her second orgasm rocked through her more violently than the first. I couldn't withstand the pleasure of her coming with me inside her I released deep into her warmth and tried not to collapse on her.

"God Nico, you really missed me." Thalia managed to whisper as she lay completely sated on the desk. "Now you have to carry me because I cannot walk till tomorrow." She yawned and seemed to doze off on the table.

I rolled my eyes and removed myself from her as I gathered up her bra and dress. I was sated to my toes so I was unsure of how it was I could walk any distance. I looked at Thalia's naked sleeping body and shook my head; this was going to take a while.

THALIA

I woke about an hour later to find Annabeth sitting beside me. She smirked as she looked at me, "Nico obviously missed you."

I blushed furiously at her comment. "I was such a fool." I groaned as I covered my heated face with my hands.

"You were, and you better make it up to him. The poor kid has been head over heels for months!"

I blushed again, "I guess I have been too. Am I the only one who didn't realize?"

"You knew but you decided not to listen to anyone because you were being so ridiculously obtuse."

I glared at Annabeth but she just shrugged, "What it's true"

"Thanks Annabeth."

She smiled brightly, "You're absolutely welcome. Anyway now that Nico has screwed your brains out. Are wedding bells on the horizon? It's been what seven months since you've met?"

I blushed, again. "He said he's going to marry me," I mumbled as I looked down, "But he gave me this necklace as and asked me to be his girlfriend first."

Annabeth stared at it with wide eyes, "That diamond is huge. I think that's one of the diamonds rumoured to be part of the French Crown Jewels stolen sometime during the French Revolution. It looks a lot like the one on Nico's great grandmother's ring."

Thalia lifted her languid limbs from the bed. She was surprised to find herself fully dressed but she ignored it. "Well, I think that's it then. I really doubt I'm ever going to find anyone more perfect and willing to deal with me and my madness." She shrugged and smirked at Annabeth, "The next few months are just a formality."

Annabeth squealed in excitement. "Thalia, he's not going to wait months. I can bet you infinite bragging rights that he'll propose in the next month and you'll be living with him in no more than two months."

Thalia shrugged, "I say he'll propose in three months and ask me to move in at the same time."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "Deal, game on Miss Grace. Silena's going to love this."