Chapter 24

GUYS SOOO SORRY. HAD EXAMS THEN WENT ON FAMILY HOLIDAY THEN WAS MOVING HOUSES. BASICALLY IT HAS BEEN STRESSFUL. THIS IS THE PENULTIMATE CHAPTER... ENJOY!

THALIA

After we about thirty minutes of Annabeth teasing me, Nico entered and informed us that the adults had gone to watch a play somewhere in town so he had been charged with giving me a ride home. Needless to say I didn't make it back to Zeus's house that evening.

I opened my eyes and felt disoriented for a few moments. The sunrays shone into the room through the large windows and the French doors. This wasn't my bed or my room. I noticed my lack of clothing and then I remembered the previous night's activities and an involuntary blush graced my features. I was given further proof of the…rigour of the previous night when I stretched my limbs and felt various aches and twinges wrack my body.

I gathered the sheet to cover my naked body and was about to rise from the bed when in walks my gorgeous boyfriend carrying a tray filled with food and French pastries. He grinned at me before placing the tray on the bedside table and swooping in to give me a deep, longing kiss.

"Morning love," he murmured against my lips before releasing them and placing the tray on the bed.

I was famished; I dug in hungrily and only stopped when I noticed he wasn't eating. I slowed down my chewing and swallowed before I spoke, "Aren't you going to eat?"

He smirked, "I'm waiting for my breakfast to be ready."

I nodded and continued eating, "What are you having?"

"You," I almost choked on my eggs and felt my skin flush again. I audibly swallowed the bite in my mouth and glanced at him again only just now taking note of the hungry glint in his eyes. A shiver passed through me and I slowly moved the tray off my lap and onto the side table.

I rose from the bed taking the sheet with me and walked towards his bathroom. Once I stood before the door, I took on a provocative pose and he let the sheet drop. I gave him a seductive look before lowering my voice and saying, "Breakfast is served."

Nico was across the room in record time and we continued their pleasurable activities well into the day.

Once he'd finally gotten his fill, we both lay in his bed now slightly pruned from our last time in the shower. I had just woken up from my nap and I was completely bare except for the necklace Nico had given to me

He looked down at me as I raised my body and turned so that I was no longer laying stomach first on his bed. The coolness of the stone on my chest alerted me to its presence.

"Annabeth said this diamond looks like the one on your mothers ring?"

He nodded; it's from a collection-if you can call it that that has been in my family for decades.

I nodded and remembered again that I didn't deserve this magnificent man after what I had done.

"Nico I'm so sorry." I said my voice choked with shame

He looked down at me with a frown, "What for?"

"The way I treated you- Stop! Let me finish." I took a deep breath and continued, "I insulted you numerous times and jumped to completely unfounded conclusions not just now in Paris but before with the baby and I'm so sorry."

He took me in his arms and wiped the few stray tears that had escaped from my eyes, "It's alright Thalia. I have forgiven you" I let him hold me as I cried a bit more before he kissed my forehead and my eyelids.

"So what are we doing for your birthday in two days?" he asked with a grin.

"Well, Annabeth is already planning something and you weren't invited before but now you are." I blushed sheepishly

He laughed at my obvious discomfort. "Sweetheart I helped to plan the entire thing. Annie was busy with her two devil spawns."

I hit him in the chest, "Don't call them that! Those two babies are the cutest things I've ever seen."

"So, do you love children?" he asked and it was meant to be a casual question but for us it was so much more.

I grinned at him, "I love children. I want a whole gaggle of them." He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. "I'm not sure about a whole gaggle but maybe four will be enough to keep you occupied." He nipped my earlobe and proceeded to kiss down my neck.

I hummed and I had to admit it sounded disturbingly similar to a cat purring. He started to play with my nipples and I let my eyes slide shut as I savoured the feeling of his skilful touch, "Haven't you had enough?"

"Of you? Not for another week at least." He responded as he slipped into me and rocked steadily in and out till I was nearly sobbing.

We didn't leave the house till dinnertime the next evening, which was the night before my birthday.

"Silena called today wondering if you still had any brains left, apparently I have been-and I quote- screwing you out of them" he stated smugly.

I hit his chest in mock anger and sighed, "I think I owe her an apology. She tried to be a good friend but I was too pig-headed to listen and I feel like I insulted her intelligence in a way."

Nico wrapped his arm around me and kissed my head, "How about we head over to her house now. I'm sure Jason will be happy to see you too." I nodded but kept silent as he hailed a cab and rattled off the address.

A few minutes later we were standing on the front door of their house waiting to be let in. Silena opened the door and beamed at us, "Well what do you know, he hasn't- excuse my French-fucked you into oblivion"

I laughed and reached out to hug her, "I'm so sorry Sil for not listening to you," I said in her ear while she was still in my embrace

She hugged me back tightly, "Well now you've learnt your lesson. The daughter of the love goddess is always right!"

I hear Nico chuckle lowly as he ushered us inside. "Is Beckendorf in the vicinity?"

"Yeah he is upstairs working on some project with Leo," Silena responded. I cracked a smile as Nico's face turned into a grimace. "On second thoughts I'll just stay down here with you ladies."

"Wise choice young Nico."

We entered the living room to see Jason and Piper absorbed in the movie they were watching. When they noticed us enter Piper immediately hopped to her feet to give me and Nico hugs and then she took my two hands in hers and scanned them. When she didn't find what she was looking for she pouted for a moment before catching sight of my necklace and breaking out into a smile.

"Aha! See Jason. I won the bet!"

"What? I don't see anything on her fingers!"

"No but look at her necklace," she twirled excitedly and stretched her hand out, "Pay up lover boy."

Jason grumbled but brought out his wallet and started counting through notes.

"Am I the only one who is super confused?" Nico said.

Piper chuckled as she collected her winnings from Jason and then started to explain. "We bet on how long it would take for you both to get over yourselves and be together. I bet on before your birthday he bet on after."

Jason looked at Nico and frowned, "You couldn't just wait a few more days. I just lost fifty bucks."

Nico grinned and rumpled his hair, "Rookie move dude, never bet against a Beauregard woman. They always win."

A few hours later, I lay on Nico's chest as we watched some mind numbing television show in his apartment, or rather house. At some point he got up and entered the kitchen. When he returned he was carrying a beautiful cake with a candle on it and a bottle of champagne.

"Happy Birthday Thalia, make a wish" he placed the cake on the table before me and continued to gaze at me from his spot on the floor.

I felt my throat tighten as I looked at the cake and tried to think of something that I wanted that I didn't already have. I wish that I never have to leave him.

I closed my eyes and made my wish as I blew out the candle. He placed a knife in my hands and I cut the cake. When I saw what type of cake it was I felt my eyes water, "How did you know?"

"You told me a few months ago." He shrugged as he came to sit beside me and open the bottle of champagne.

He took the plate with his slice and set it on the table before handing me a glass. We ate our cake in silence but my eyes never strayed far from his. Once we were done he gathered me in his arms and led me slowly to his bedroom. In the soft moonlight of the Paris night he made love to me and declared his unwavering devotion without any words but I could feel it.

I took him in my body and my soul and each time he took me over the edge he whispered those words in my ear and made sure that this birthday was one I would never forget.

When I woke up again I noticed it was way passed lunchtime and again Nico was nowhere to be found. I heard female voices coming from outside though so I got up and put on a shirt of his from last night, before stumbling my way outside.

"Happy Birthday!" Silena and Annabeth screamed at the same time.

I blinked sleepily and noticed there were about four women dressed in white that were doing Annabeth and Silena's nails on complete luxury manicure and pedicure chairs. There was an extra chair, that I presumed was for me and most of the furniture in the massive living room was still there.

"What on earth is all this?" I managed to croak.

"Well, this is the start of your birthday courtesy of your daddy dearest. Once we're done with mani-pedi's we will move straight into the full body scrub and wax before we go shopping for your birthday dinner dress and undergarments." Silena explained.

"Why do undergarments matter?" I asked as I was ushered into the chair.

"Sweetheart everyone knows a woman in sexy Lingerie feels like she is on top of the world. Not to mention it would be a nice treat for Nico who's been such a darling" Annabeth explained.

"I'm just surprised he hasn't proposed yet." Silena commented to Annabeth

"It's only been four days officially"

"So what, the poor boy has been head over heels for her for months," Silena snorted.

"Yes but she didn't listen to anybody when we told her" Annabeth tutted.

"Do you know she dropped the bomb about her supposed pregnancy then was surprised when the poor lad couldn't move to chase her then concluded that when he called her later he wanted to fire her!"

Annabeth looked mortified, "No!"

Silena nodded in fake sympathy, "Oh yes, in fact-"

"I'm right here guys!" I interjected with my face now completely red with embarrassment

"Good, I never did like gossips. Much better when the person can hear" Annabeth responded.

"I was stupid okay! Are you guys happy now?" I groaned as the women began to fiddle with my hands.

They both exchanged a look before giving her smug smiles, "Yes we are." Silena answered for both of them.

I shot them both glares and let my head fall back against the headrest as I drifted off to sleep.

Once I was done with all the beauty treatments they had for me, I was dressed in a bathrobe and led down Nico's private elevator to the floor below his. Annabeth opened the door and I was in shock at the sight before me.

There were racks and racks of clothes and other garments and shoes, each with one representative standing before it. I looked at Silena and Annabeth in confusion, "What on earth?"

"Well this was my idea and your daddy agreed. I chose the newest lines from five of my favourite designers and asked fashion experts I trusted to be here to help pick your outfits. We also have ten dummy models that are your size to try the stuff on. It's like our own mini fashion show!"

I was in shock; this was by far the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. "I don't even know how I can ever thank you." I said looking at Silena ad Annabeth.

"Don't thank us yet! We aren't done. Girls out you come!" Annabeth shouted. I turned toward the corridor and out came three of my best friends; Zoe, Phoebe and Penelope.

There was suddenly a session of very girly squealing that I deny being a part of. By the time it was over I had tears in my eyes as I looked at Annabeth and Silena. I ran up to them and embraced them tightly. "I love you guys!" I exclaimed as I squeezed them even tighter. I felt them both struggle to be released from my iron grip but I was too excited to pay them any attention.

Finally they extracted themselves from my hold and we all settled down with champagne flutes and waited for the "show" to start.

Silena stood before us all and introduced each line. We clapped and cheered as each outfit came out. The champagne flowed freely and everyone got along as if we'd all been friends for years. We started with Lingerie before proceeding to the actual outfits and once I had shortlisted three of each it was time to model them for the girls.

Finally after three hours of playing fashion designer, I had my outfit, I was slightly tipsy and it was time for dinner.

Being surrounded by all my friends, my family and Nico, the one who made all this possible ensured that my heart remained as buoyant as ever all through the dinner and the rest of the evening. Once dinner was over, I allowed Nico guide me into his luxurious Rolls Royce and transport us back to his apartment.

As we set foot into his apartment I gave him a long slow kiss and poured all my gratitude and thanks into the kiss. I let him hold me for a while as we stood there in his apartment, slow dancing to no music.

"I love you Thalia, so much" he whispered to me as he pressed his lips against my forehead.

"I love you too Nicolas" We continued to dance in the dark expanse of his living room until finally we succumbed to each other and the passions we inspired.

3 weeks later…

The last three weeks had been utter bliss. We had been sorting out the documents for Jason's guardianship form and Zeus suggested that Jason move into his apartment seeing as he would be taking over with Primary custody. I still kept my apartment even though I more or less lived with Nico now.

Regardless, I missed Jason terribly and once in a while I would pick him up from school and we would lie in our old living room watching movies and eating junk food. On some days we did the same thing with our father on others we did it with Nico but it was clear that Jason adored the two major male influences in his life.

I sat in Nico's apartment putting his schedules for the day in order when I felt my stomach lurch. I placed my laptop on the couch and ran to the bathroom to throw up. As I cleaned my mouth I realised something, the last time I had thrown up like that I had thought I was pregnant. I counted the weeks since my last period in my head and suddenly felt like my eyes were going to bug out of my head. I couldn't believe it…

NICO

"Dude, relax, everything will be fine!" Percy urged me.

"Yeah sure, I'm taking my girlfriend to dinner at the top of the statue of liberty to propose to her and ask her to move in with me and you're telling me to CALM DOWN?" Nico screamed.

Percy chuckled, "Dude relax, you look like you're about to have a conniption and that vein in your head is throbbing. It wouldn't do you any good to have an aneurism right now, Thalia certainly wouldn't appreciate it"

I glared at Percy and he just continued to chuckle.

"I have the ring and big necklace stored in my apartment just waiting for me. So I want all these arrangements finished by this weekend okay?"

Percy gave me a strange look and rolled his eyes, "Yes Mr Nico sir" he drawled sarcastically.

I gave him a shove before strolling out of my office building and into a waiting car. I dropped Percy off at home and made my way home to my soon to be wife.

Nico entered the house and was delighted to see Thalia still in his t-shirt. He had only been gone for a few hours but normally she would have been completely dressed and ready for her day.

She hopped of the chair and skipped over to him and Nico had to drag his eyes away from her bare shapely legs and the tantalizing bounce of her unrestrained breasts. "Hi sweetheart." He ducked down and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Things escalated pretty quickly and the two ended up making frantic love on the couch much like they had after the first night they spent together.

Thalia sighed as she let her sweaty head fall against his bare chest from where she sat straddling him. He stroked her back slowly and languorously in a manner that made her almost purr with affection.

"I love you" he said to her. Thalia felt her throat close up at the thought of what she had discovered today.

She sat up and looked into his deep chocolate eyes before saying, "I love you too."

He gazed into her eyes for a few more seconds before speaking again.

"Will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?"

Thalia felt her jaw go through the floor. Had he really just proposed? Wow.

The tears started forming in her eyes as she nodded mutely and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Thalia decided there was no better time than the present to share her own news.

"I'm pregnant"