NICO CHAPTER! TIME TO CELEBRATE! *screeches loudly in celebratory happiness*

I love Nico. He's my bae. And Reyna is my baby; I've built on her character a lot; so much so that I feel like she's mine sometimes...*sigh.* But she's Uncle Rick's, along with all the rest.

And, of course, he's probably going to kill them. Because that always seems to happen to me-I get attached, they get killed. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?

Oh, wait. Who am I talking to? *hits forehead to punish self for blondeness* Duh. Of course you guys know.

I'm in a very write-ey mood today. Which doesn't happen often, AT ALL. When I'm in a mood like this, I churn out chapters like nobody's business and end up with five or six chapters more than I intended to write.

So, get excited, guys. You're probably going to get a lot of chapters really soon.

OH! Almost forgot-HAPPY FOUR THOUSAND REVIEWS! *balloons fall mysteriously from sky and glitter confetti explodes everywhere* Thanks, guys! Unfortunately, I have no double update for you-you guys have gone way too fast for me this time. I can barely keep up. *smirks* Anyway, I have a proposition for you.

If you guys get to ten thousand reviews before the end of this, which, unfortunately, is coming soon, I will post all of the end chapters in one ginormous update. That way the pain won't be quite so drawn out.

But, please, guys, don't be too fast on this, kay? There's this one cliffhanger I really want the chance to leave you guys on...I mean, it's majorly torturous, like, worse than Mark of Athena torturous. Which is why I want to do it. Because I'm sadistic and evil and whenever I do finally leave you guys on that cliffhanger, I will be cackling with joy so hard I'll fall out of my chair, because that is me and my evilness.

So. 10,000 reviews. 6,000 reviews in the next few weeks. CAN YOU DO IT?

I so love setting near-impossible, almost-unattainable goals for you guys. *grins* You're going to have a brief moment of cool confidence, like HECK YEAH WE CAN DO THAT, and then you're gonna have the freak-out-HOLY CRAP NO WHY WE CAN'T DO TEN THOUSAND REVIEWS IN A FEW WEEKS WHAT IN HADES IS SHE THINKING WHY IS SHE DOING THIS IS SHE INSANE-and I am going to laugh.

But seriously, I love you guys. *grin widens* (I seem to be channeling Rick's spirit today...get ready for some epic chapters, my lovelies!) *cackles*

Chapter XCVIII

Nico

Nico never liked the Romans much. When his father first showed him the camp, he kind of hated them, actually. A lot. And the way they treated him and Hazel like outcasts didn't really help much. At least the Greeks always tried to include him more-the Romans always muttered about them and stayed away from them as if they carried plague.

But that just makes his newfound feelings for Reyna extremely ironic.

Nico watches from a shadowy corner as she explains things to the Fifth Cohort, her expression hard and determined. Her purple praetor's cape ripples behind her, and her messy braid sways mesmerizingly from side to side as she talks.

He finally rips his gaze away from her to find Gwen looking at him with a sympathetic expression-he furrows his brow, wondering what reason she'd have to be sympathetic to him.

Ever so quickly, her eyes flick from his face to Reyna's, and then back again, and he understands.

His cheeks burn, and he averts his gaze to the opposite direction, staring absentmindedly at a tent some distance away, waiting for her to finish so he can escort her, along with the members of the Fifth Cohort, back into Camp Half-Blood.

There's no way she feels the same. He tells himself, his right hand tightening into a fist. Why would she? There's no reason for someone like her to give someone like me a second glance.

He feels a light hand on his shoulder, and turns to find Gwen there.

"We're ready to leave now, Nico." She tells him, and he realizes with some surprise that most of the gathered demigods are looking at him-except Reyna, who's talking with someone who looks like a messenger of sorts.

"Thanks for telling me, Gwen." He replies, keeping his tone even, neutral. He takes a step forward, but before he can get anywhere, she grabs his arm-not violently, just to stop him. She walks around in front of him, standing close to his left shoulder, and looks up at him-he's slightly taller than she is, though not by much.

"If you feel the way about Reyna that I think you do, Nico, don't wait." She says, her voice soft. "If you wait too long, you won't get another chance."

Nico looks at her, really looks at her, for the first time, and finds a surprising compassion in her eyes. A wisdom beyond her years. Whatever she's been through, she's more than she looks, and Nico suspects she isn't giving him the advice lightly.

He doesn't reply, and she doesn't say anything more. She just releases his arm and walks away, back to her place at the front of the Fifth, and Nico follows her after a brief, startled pause.

He notices Reyna glancing questioningly between the two of them, a wrinkle in her brow betraying her confusion. There's something else there, too, something familiar-but he can't place it, no matter how hard he tries.

He makes his way to her side, and his shoulder brushes hers as he takes his place-it sends warmth spreading through him, and it takes everything in him to keep from blushing.

"What was that about?" Reyna asks him quietly, without looking over. Common tactic; she doesn't want the others to think her unprofessional. "What did Gwen want?"

"Nothing." He replies. "She just wanted to tell me something."

Reyna glances at him, but doesn't pry, and he appreciates her for that. He'd probably die from embarassment if she did ask-and he'd never be able to lie; the blush would give everything away.

She takes a long look up at the sky, staring at the moon and the stars, and then sighs, looking down. "Better get going. We don't have long before those monsters decide to launch the first attack."

Nico nods, and they take the lead in front of the Fifth Cohort, taking the shortest path through camp and then hiking up the hill, where Thalia's pine stands with the Golden Fleece glittering in its branches and Peleus wrapped around the trunk. But even that particular wonder is swept away by the Athena Parthenos, standing tall and regal on the top of the hill. Clarisse is still standing at the base, although the other guards have been replaced.

Nico can hear the demigods behind him murmuring in quiet awe, and smiles-bitterly, not from amusement. If they knew what the statue really meant, how troublesome and seemingly useless it is, they wouldn't be so awed by it. All it does is attract monsters and get people in trouble.

"You should sleep, Clarisse." Reyna greets the daughter of Ares. "You're all your camp has."

Clarisse gives her a long, hard look before responding. "No. They have you too, now." But she falls in on Reyna's other side as they continue down into the main part of camp.

"I sent Will down about an hour ago to tell everyone about the alliance." She informs them brusquely. "The cabins should all be ready for you, and there are extra rooms in the Big House for those that don't have room."

Reyna nods in thanks. "I told the Fifth about your way of doing things here-how you separate into cabins based on your godly parent. They understand-some of them are actually excited at the idea of meeting more of their siblings."

"Any daughers of Aphrodite will have to be careful." Clarisse grumbles. "Drew's a right pain in the-"

She's interrupted by the Stoll brothers-Nico groans inwardly. Not again. He thinks. He glares at them and tightens his grip on the pommel of his sword.

"Not excited to see us, Nico?" Travis asks cheerfully.

"Pity, that." Connor adds. "We had such fun planned for later."

Nico growls at them, and Reyna grins at his agitation, bumping her shoulder against his in a friendly way. "They're not that bad, Nico. Besides, you know they're just playing."

Travis and Connor look at her and do a double take as if they've just noticed her. "Reyna! It's been forever!" Then, they each grab her by an arm and plant a kiss on her cheek, pulling away with identical grins and stepping safely out of reach.

Reyna's cheeks are red, and she looks a little flustered, but not so much that she can't glare at them.

"I'm going to kill you both." She tells them, her eyes fiery.

Travis and Connor's grins disappear, replaced by exaggerated pleading expressions. "Oh, no, Your Majesty, we beg of you!"

"Have mercy on our poor demented minds!" Travis adds.

"We mean no harm, Your Highest Highness of All Highnesses!" Connor pleads.

"Go away, Stolls, before you find yourselves with my sword at your throat." Reyna threatens, baring her teeth.

Travis and Connor straighten and bow repeatedly to her, backing slowly away while pretend-thanking her.

"Thank you, Queen Reyna!" Travis exclaims.

"Your mercy has no bounds!" Connor announces.

"Oh, shove it." Reyna tells them. "You're both idiots."

They stand up, their hands clasped to their chests in mock offense. "You wound me!"

"I might cry!"

Then they both grin, and, since they're several yards away from her, judge it safe to aggravate her once again.

"My eyes will ache for not beholding your beauty while we're parted!" Travis complains, making horribly exaggerated goo goo eyes at her. "Till we meet again, my gorgeous lady!"

Connor just grins flirtatiously and points both index fingers at her casually. "Catch you later, sunshine."

Reyna takes a threatening step forward, and they scatter, running in a zig-zag pattern down the hill to evade her.

Nico takes one look at the expression on her face and starts laughing out loud, causing Clarisse's eyebrows to shoot up in surprise before settling back into her trademark scowl.

"Idiots." Reyna growls, still glaring after the Stolls. But there's a certain warmth in her eyes, too-a fondness at their idiocy.

When Nico manages to stop laughing, and wipes his eyes, she turns to him with a warm smile and gestures for them to go on. "Come on, Shadow Boy, we have work to do."

Nico follows without complaint, still smiling a little, and it isn't long before they arrive at the cabins, where the cabin counselors are waiting for them.

And, yes, Travis and Connor are there too. Which leaves Nico to wonder why they came up in the first place.

Reyna turns to the members of the Fifth Cohort. "These are the cabin counselors. While you're here, listen to them, don't pick fights, and try not to murder anyone, okay?"

They nod or murmur agreement, and she quickly goes on. "They're going to sort you into the cabins, and I know some of you don't particularly like that idea, but while we're here, we're following their rules. If they don't have enough room for a few of you, there are extra rooms up at the Big House." She points to the mansion they passed on the way. "The sooner you all get settled, the sooner everyone can get back to sleep, so cooperate!"

After that, the cabin counselors take charge, introducing themselves and which god their cabins represent, warmly greeting their newfound siblings. Even Clarisse manages to show some genuine enthusiasm, although her grin looks more like a bear's than a sister's. Drew, of course, is the opposite of warm, greeting everyone with icy glares and empty words of welcome.

On the whole, though, it goes well, and a few of the other cabin counselors make sure to pull aside the Roman daughters of Venus to warn them about Drew's charmspeak and general manner.

Although it's a bit of a squeeze for some of the cabins, they manage to find room for everyone, and they're all quickly given tours and introductions of their cabins. Before the door of the Aphrodite cabin, Nico just catches a glimpse of Lacy embracing one of her new sisters, and knows that they'll do fine there.

When all the doors are shut, Reyna slumps and blows out a sigh of relief, rolling her shoulders and taking her hand off of her sword. Then she turns to Nico, genuine worry in her eyes. "Do you think they'll be okay?"

Nico, besides feeling surprise that she'd let her guard down so much around him, feels another wave of warmth at her concern, and awkwardly puts a hand on her shoulder in what he hopes is a reassuring way. "They'll be perfectly fine, Reyna. They might get pickpocketed by the members of the Hermes cabin, and Clarisse might bruise a few people up, and Drew will always give them the cold shoulder-but they'll be accepted. They already have been, actually-I don't think I've ever seen a more enthusiastic welcome of new demigods than that."

She smiles at him, and then reaches up and slips his hand off of her shoulder, twining her fingers with his instead. "Thanks, Nico."

His heart is beating a mile a minute and his mouth has gone as dry as the desert, but he manages to say, "No problem."

Then an image of Percy blocks everything out, and the warmth is gone, replaced only by cold and pain, and he feels his shields go back up immediately, protecting him from this strange girl in front of him who, despite everything, has managed to find a way to his heart.

He slips his hand from hers, and gestures to the Big House, ignoring the look of hurt that momentarily shows in Reyna's eyes before she hides it, schooling her expression back into neutrality.

"Are you going to sleep in the Big House again tonight?" He asks her, his tone even, business-like.

"I don't know." She replies, her tone the same. "Bellona doesn't have a Greek counterpart, so I don't have a cabin to stay in like the others."

"The Big House rooms are all kept ready for unexpected guests, so you can have whichever room you'd like." Nico tells her, and she nods.

"I'll probably just sleep in the same room as last night." She says, and Nico can feel his cheeks flush with warmth, remembering how he woke up next to her, but he ignores the blush and just nods.

"I'm sure that's fine. They probably have some form of pajamas in the dressers, too, so all you have to do is look. I'm sure you'll find something." He continues, feeling a stab of guilt at his cold tone. Then, before he can stop the words from escaping, he adds, "But you're always welcome in the Hades cabin, with me."

He feels red color his cheeks again, and quickly looks away, focusing on a dirty part of his shoe.

"No." Reyna replies, her voice quiet. "Thanks. I'll just sleep in the Big House."

Nico nods, not looking up from his shoe, and he can feel her looking at him. After a moment or two of silence, Reyna shifts and then starts to walk away, and Nico looks after her just in time to catch a glimpse of her expression, and what he sees there freezes him where he stands.

Not quite disappointment, not quite pain. But something familiar to him, all the same.

It was hopelessness.

Poor, poor baby. I'm sorry. You know momma loves you, though, right? ;) Even if I continuously put you in painful situations and currently have you believing that the girl you're in love with doesn't have a single feeling like that towards you...But I do love you; you're my bae. Beautiful bae, my sweet little baby, baby, baaaaaaby...(I'm crooning this like a lullaby, just fyi-I'm singing in my head now...)

It's a writing day, guys. My creative juices flow with the crazy. So the insanity's showing a little more than usual...you'll just have to gag that little voice in the back of your head that's saying, "Stay far away from this girl, she's mentally unstable" otherwise you'll never find out what happens to everyone...

I love you, and I just realized that I made an accidental rhyme in the second to last line of this chapter, which is completely irrelevant but cool all the same; try not to worry too much about my sanity, and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!