LOL. Wow, no one seems to trust Apollo, poor god of truth... :-) I have been planning this chapter since I first introduced him. I'm excited. We finally get to find out as to why Apollo wouldn't heal Nico.

Important thing to note... This will be yaoi (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

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Nico POV

I glared at the sun god. What is he doing here...?

"Lord Apollo. To what do we owe the honor?" I glared at the son of Jupiter beside me, why were Romans always so formal?

The god of music glanced at Jason, "I was asked to deliver a message to Calypso."

I frowned. Before anyone could ask what the message was, Percy spoke. "I thought that delivering messages was Hermes job."

Apollo laughed. "It is. I agreed to do this one as a favor." He winked at the son of Poseidon and I had to grit my teeth.

Calypso stepped forward. "What is the message Lord Apollo?"

He raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Hello Calypso. Long time no see, you're looking good."

The goddess rolled her eyes and politely smiled. "Thank you, now about that message?"

Apollo blinked and then grinned once more. "Zeus would like to speak to you. He's in the throne room on Olympus."

I looked at the Calypso. I could sense that she was nervous. I didn't blame her. The last time she would have been too Olympus would have been when she was sentenced to spend the next few millennia on a cursed island.

"Of course, but I do have my belongings in the cargo..."

Apollo snapped his fingers. "Already taken care of, I moved them to your room on Olympus."

The goddess nodded and turned to our crew. "Thank you heroes, I owe you a great debt. I am certain that we shall meet again." She turned to Percy and put her hand on his shoulder. I frowned and had to look away. "Good luck Percy."

There was a bright flash and when I looked back Calypso was gone. I hoped that I would see her again. I didn't know what Zeus wanted but I prayed that she would be alright.

Apollo cleared his throat to regain our attention.

"So, now that that's out of the way, good job. The seven of you have done what no other demigod has ever been able to. You found Ogygia and freed Calypso." Apollo turned to his son and smiled, "I am proud of all of you."

I watched as Ryan smiled at his dad. I could see that the son of the sun god wanted to hug him but wasn't certain as to how he would be received. Apollo started to chuckle and stepped forward to embrace his son. Ryan looked surprised but returned the hug. I could never imagine my dad hugging me like that but then again, neither of us were exactly affectionate people.

Apollo pulled back and clasped his son on the shoulder. "Good job Ryan." I could see exactly how much Apollo's praise meant to him. The sun god looked around once more before his eyes locked on the son of the sea god. "I have to leave soon but before I go I was hoping I could speak to you for a moment Percy."

Percy looked shocked, "Me? Okay, sure."

I watched as he stood up and walked towards the god. For a second I could have sworn that Apollo's eyes flashed to mine before he wrapped his arm around Percy's shoulders.

For one moment the jealousy I felt was so severe that I couldn't see. I hadn't even realized that I had started to pull the shadows towards myself until Jason clamped his hand on my shoulder in warning. I grit my teeth and forced myself to release the shadows. I watched as Apollo pulled Percy to the very front of the ship to speak. I couldn't stand the sight of someone else holding my sea-prince, I had to look away.

I didn't believe I had ever felt as jealous of anyone as I did in that moment. The years I had spent watching Percy and Annabeth together were nothing compared to seeing Percy in the arms of Apollo. I wasn't entirely certain why.

I took a deep breath and tried to clear my mind...

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Percy POV

I was highly uncomfortable with Apollo's arm around me. I started to feel very nervous about the coming conversation. I silently prayed that Apollo was not about to come onto me. Mortals who refused the gods tended to get turned into shrubbery...

We got to the very front of the ship and I managed to slip out of his hold. I leaned onto the railing and Apollo sat beside me. I looked back over the ship to see my friend watching me nervously. I glanced towards the helm but Nico didn't even seem to care. He was just looking out over the waves with the same angry mask that had been on his face for the last six day. I sighed and looked at the Olympian beside me. He seemed to be watching me with amusement.

I couldn't understand why he always insisted on making me break the silence. I tried to resist but after what felt like hours, yet was probably only a couple of minutes, my ADHD got the better of me. "So what can I help you with Apollo?"

Apollo smiled. "Nothing actually, I came here to help you."

"Help me with what? We've already freed Calypso."

The god of music started to laugh. "Who said it was about her? I am here to help you with the son of Hades."

I felt myself start to blush. "What about him?"

Apollo shook his head. "One doesn't have to be the goddess of love to see that you have a thing for him... or to see that he likes you."

I bit my lip. "Forgive me for saying so but I think you wrong about Nico. He doesn't like me anymore; he won't even let me talk to him."

The god of healing spread his arms and smirked. "That is what I've come to help you with."

I felt my eyebrows furrow in confusion. A god is offering me help...? "What's the catch?"

"Who says that there's a catch?"

I rolled my eyes. "There's always a catch when a god offers to help."

Apollo shrugged, "That is usually true but this time, it's not you who asked me to help. A certain Olympian did that."

"Who was it?" I couldn't understand why any god would care so deeply about my love life.

Apollo raised and eyebrow and smirked, "You really can't guess? It was Aphrodite of course."

"What?" I frowned. "She wanted me to be with..." I couldn't bring myself to say her name.

"Says who? Besides, this quest is about love and she is very interested in the outcome..."

I shook my head. "I don't understand. What exactly does freeing Calypso have to do with love?"

"Absolutely nothing, but don't you remember the prophecy? The son of Hades is quite important to the second half of the quest." I could clearly remember the words that Rachel had spoken...

"Seven demigods shall travel to where the sun is risen,

The goddess shall be saved from her eternal prison,

For an old love one's heart shall begin to yearn,

For a new love, a passion, shall begin to burn,

A choice to be made, a matter of heart,

To old love be true, or new love to start."

I felt my jaw drop but I couldn't do anything about it. The new love was Nico. Now that I looked back it was painfully obvious. My brain felt like it was going a hundred miles an hour...

Apollo smiled knowingly at me. "This quest was only partially to do with Calypso. It was mostly about you."

I shook my head. "But if this quest is about love, then why are you the one here?"

The god of music shrugged. "She asked me to come lend a hand to the quest. Apparently the son of Hades had a bad experience with her son, Cupid, and now doesn't trust her... She offered me a favor, and it's never a bad idea to have the goddess of love owe you one."

"But if she asked you to help, then why didn't you heal Nico?"

"I told you Zeus ordered against it. Besides, even if he hadn't she would have asked me not to."

I felt myself starting to get mad. "Why? He nearly died!"

Apollo gave me a warning look and I took a deep breath. "Let me ask you this, if Nico hadn't been attacked, do you think you would have discovered how you felt about him?"

I blinked. I wish that I could have said yes but I didn't think that I would have. I had been acting amazingly obtuse. I sighed in defeat, "Probably not."

"Exactly. Your love life could have gone two ways. Aphrodite wanted you to see both paths."

I bit my lip. "And now that I have seen both ways?"

"What you do is up to you."

I tilted my head. "Why are you explaining all this to me? Not that I don't appreciate it but I'm used to gods keeping me in the dark about their motives."

Apollo smiled and gestured behind him. I looked over his shoulder and saw Nico glaring at us. "Aphrodite was getting tired of him avoiding you. Apparently he is the jealous type."

I started laughing. "So that's why you put your arm around me. I was thinking that you had a crush on me. You had me worried there for a moment, I was positive I was going to spend the rest of my life as a house plant."

The sun god chuckled. "Well you are stunning but Poseidon would beat me to a bloody pulp if I was to corrupt his baby boy. And I really don't feel like drowning anytime soon."

I blushed. I wondered what my dad would think of me having a boyfriend...

I bit my lip and smiled at the sun god, "So, now what do I do?"

Apollo stood up and put his hand on my shoulder. "Now you go talk to him. It's a small ship Percy. He can only avoid you for so long..."

I smiled at the god of music. "Thank you Apollo."

He winked at me, "Don't mention it." I blinked and when I opened my eyes he was gone.

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Nico POV

I was in a terrible mood. I don't know what he said but ever since Apollo had left, Percy seemed to be on cloud nine. I didn't want Apollo to be the one who made Percy happy, I wanted it to be me that brought a smile to the face of the sea prince.

But you aren't making him smile. You are the one making him frown... I sighed. Sometimes I hated my brain...

I wanted listen to what he had to say, I really did, but I was terrified. I couldn't take Jason's advice because if he was wrong I would be crushed.

After my shift was done I went to my room. I didn't want to hang around and listen to Jason try to convince me. I couldn't wait to get back to camp. I needed a long holiday away from a certain green eyed demigod.

I was lying on my bed with my arm across my eyes when I heard a knock on the door. I rolled my eyes but didn't get up. Only one person ever came to my room. "Go away Grace..."

The knocking paused for a moment before resuming. I sighed and sat up. I unlocked the door, "I said go away Gra..." My mouth froze halfway through the word. Standing outside my room with his hand still in the air was the handsome son of the sea god.

"We need to talk." I didn't think I had ever seen Percy look as serious as he did at that moment.

"Go away." I tried to close the door but Percy put his foot in the door jam and pushed it open.

"No, I'm tired of you avoiding me. I have something that I need to tell you and I'm not leaving until I do."

I felt my heart pick up its pace. Percy was in my room. I took a deep breath and forced the blush away from my face. "Fine, I will leave then."

I took a step towards the open door before it was slammed shut. I felt my stomach clench as I watched Percy lock the bolt. The next thing I knew he was spinning me around and pushing my back against the door.

"Percy, what are you..."

I was silenced when a pair of soft warm lips were pressed against mine. I felt my eyes go wide and my heart started to race.

Percy was kissing me...!