By the end of lunch, the di Angelos were back to their usual selves.

Alinah was playing with Amarilla and Alethia.

Jack and Acquilla were reading a book by the pond- with Nico scowling at Acquilla all the way.

And Sebastian was sleeping in his arms.

He'd seen triton giving some little kids 'comfort' talks, trying his best to fill in for Percy- regardless of whether or not the children all ran away crying…- and helping the others catch younger campers on the run. So that was where he'd been.

"Hey basty," he said. (omg. Reading that nickname with my eyes wide. If that y was an a….. Percy's death would be all he could hope for *cough* overprotective mom *cough**cough*.

Sebastian gurgled up at him, smiling. The smile reminding him of Percy's, resulting in him smiling.

"Wanna go check up on your mom?" he asked.

It may've been his imagination, but he could've sworn he saw the two-month old nod.

They headed to the infirmary.

"Hey, Will!" he greeted the healer.

"Hey, Nico!" greeted the blonde back, smiling, "He's getting better. If id guess, id say two or three more days."

Nico nearly dropped Sebastian in happiness.

"That's great. So is it ok if Sebastian sees him?"

"Sure," beamed Will, smiling at the infant in Nico's arms, "Of course you can bring the little tike in."

Nico nodded his thanks and entered with Sebastian in tow.

There was Percy, laying on the bed. Nico sighed a bit in relief, when he noticed that a bit of Percy's color had returned.

He pulled the chair near Percy, and turned Sebastian so that he could face his mother.

"Hey Perce," he said, not even sure that Percy could hear him, "I-I just want you to know that the kids are okay now, they're fine, and safe, and happy. They-they," his voice cracked, "they miss you. I miss you. camp misses you, and even though she wont ever admit it, I can tell Clarisse misses you too," he laughed a little on the last one.

"so p-please don't, just don't give up, okay?"

he knew it was useless to talk to Percy while the latter was in a coma, but that didn't make it feel any less real.

"say hi basty," he turned to his son.

Sebastian opened his mouth and let out a gurgle, that, again, could've just been his imagination, but he swore it sounded like 'mamma'

They walked out. A weight off Nico's chest. he knew it was silly, but every second Percy was in there, he felt like he was being punished for something. Something incredibly horrible, or else they (the punishers) wouldn't have done something so cruel.

He carried Sebastian to the hades cabin, a.k.a where they were all currently living.

He heard some hushed murmurs, and decided- even though he knew it was morally wrong; and frankly more Percy's style; even though he was supposed to be filling in for him. excuse found!, anyway- to eavesdrop, spying on them from the peek-hole, where he could hear them properly.

He heard Amarilla sniffing, "It's just like last time."

"Which is why we know he'll get better," said Jack, though he sounded hesitant.

"But what if he doesn't?" asked Alethia.

"He will or else we wouldn't be here," again, Jack acting his part as the voice of reason for two emotional females. (it is not supposed to insult. If it did id be insulting myself. But it is true.)

"But what if he's out long? You remember what happened…." Amarilla's voice trailed off, leaving Nico curious.

What had happened to cause so much worry amongst the three? It couldn't've been that bad, could it?

"You remember, Jack," said Alethia, "Last time, mommy almost, he-he almost didn't wake up," she sobbed.

"Hold on," said Jack, "You seem to forget that there were other lives on the line, here."

"Yeah, but Sebby's fine," said Amarilla, shrugging, "sure he ended up born a couple ounces smaller."

"He nearly died! They both did!" yelled Jack, furious at what his sister had just said.

"And who's fault was that?" asked Alethia.

Through the peep-hole, Nico could see Jack's face go red with rage, "EXCUSE ME! HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK OF BLAMING SEBBY FOR THAT YOU LITTLE B****"

Nico cringed, where did his son learn that word? Then remembered several instances in the past three days when he may or may not have used it. oops. But what were they talking about.

"Well it's not mom's! hence the three of us!" retorted Alethia.

"Oh," said Jack, "So because it's not mom's fault, it's automatically Sebastian's fault!? Big news you two! NOT EVERY BIRTHING IS A SUCCESS! Just the fact that the two of them made it out alive should be good enough, but no you've just got to blame Sebastian. Blame the baby because his birthing had some 'complications'!"

he heard some crashing and rumbling, though he couldn't see it very well, and finally, he saw Jack stormed out of the cabin.

Nico looked down in horror. His son, his beautiful, precious, delicate little baby, had nearly caused his mother's death, and worse, his own!?

Knowing this should've made him mad, should've made him spiteful towards his child- but, all it did, was make him hold Sebastian closer, as if afraid that if he didn't, Sebastian would drop dead.

He couldn't do it. he just couldn't hate the child in his arms, and could you blame him?

Sebastian was a child, a young, tiny, delicate little child. A child who'd been close to never even opening his eyes, never breathing, all because his birthing was 'complicated'.

All it did was make Nico treasure him more than he had, treasure him more than he ever thought he could treasure something- except Percy, of course, but he didn't count seeing as he was the mother.

He held Sebastian tight and cried. That's right. Nico di Angelo cried. Into a two month old's hair. He wept, bawled- however you want to describe it.

Sebastian reached out a tiny hand to touch his father's cheek, as if sensing his discomfort.

And then, he smiled. He actually smiled.

Wow, he thought, two things id never thought I could do without Percy.

"Don't worry," he choked, a hand on Sebastian, "you're safe. You're safe, and healthy, and loved, and no one's going to ever take that away from you, understand?"

He saw the infant in his arm(not arms, arm, 'cause that's how tiny no.4 is mi compadres) give a tiny nod, and felt his heart flutter. The first true bit of warmth he'd felt since the arrow hit Percy.

And then, he went inside and looked around.

Oh boy, this was not good….

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

done. bye.

-httyd4eva

peace out yo ;p