Eighteen years passed, the baby Nico grew up knowing nothing of his unconventional heritage. But you're not here to hear how Nico the baby grew up. You're here to hear how Nico became a man and find his true love.
Now, Nico worked in a bakery, helping Mrs. Smith. He had met a pretty girl named Annabeth who was a regular at the bakery. He fell in love with her. One night, he took a bouquet of daisies to her house in hopes of courting her. He stopped outside her house and found a small rock which he threw at her window on the second story, She came to the window expecting Will Solace, and when she saw Nico, she was let down. She kept up a polite tone, "Did I forget anything at the bakery, Nico?"
He shook his head, "No Annabeth. I just thought I would bring..."
A cane knocked the daisies out of his hand, and when he looked up he saw Will. The smirk on his face was laughing. "Bakery boy by day, peeping tom by night. Hello, Nico."
"Hello, Will."
Will poked and picked on poor Nico. Annabeth asked him to leave the poor boy alone but Will continued to pick on Nico, telling him Annabeth was too good for him. After a while, Will left him alone and went into Annabeth's house. Annabeth felt bad for Nico, but she knew she had no feelings for him. That did not mean she would not string him along. The next day, she came to the bakery. His boss rolled her eyes, and let him take care of her. But she had him so flustered he made mistake after mistake and his boss couldn't see keeping him on. So he was let go. Nico slowly walked home, wondering how he was going to explain it to his father.
Nico stood at the stove, making dinner, "Father, I lost my job. NO that won't work.. Father, I'm sorry. I lost my job. Oh I sound like an idiot..."
"Yes, you do son, but I already knew about you losing your job."
Nico looked at his father, "Maybe Mrs. Smith was right, maybe I am deluding myself. I'll never be good enough for Annabeth."
"She said that? Well, you are good enough, I don't think Annabeth is good enough for you. Nico,"
"You want to know how last night went? It was horrible. I'm not like Will or the rest of them."
"Son, I can tell you that every man I've envied in my life has lived a rather dull life. So you don't fit in the popular crowd? I take that as a good omen. Popularity is a waste of your time and energy. They are only weak-minded. You, my son, are destined for more than this provincial life."
Hades smiled at his son. Nico couldn't help but smile back at his father.
Later that night, Nico went back to Annabeth's house, and threw another rock at her window. She came out and sighed when she saw him, "Nico! I clearly said.."
"I know. But I have a surprise for you, Annabeth."
She rolled her eyes, closed her window and left. Nico sighed and started slowly walking home. Suddenly he heard a voice say, "it's not my birthday for another month, you know."
He smiled at Annabeth as she walked to him. He held out his arm and she took it. They walked to a clearing near the entrance of the wall.