Will had been to the Underworld once before. Hades had wanted to meet the one making his son so happy. The whole thing had been a complete debacle but Will had never been more thankful for the experience because he now stood, for the second time, at the steps of the Palace of Hades. He wasn't sure he needed to knock his heart was beating that loud, but he did so anyway.

He had no idea what he was going to say. What did he even want from the king of the Underworld? What was he thinking, disturbing a god, his boyfriend's father, no less?

Oh. Late boyfriend.

The door opened by itself after a couple of moments. Will anxiously stepped through. It was even colder than Will remembered from last time. Was Hades also grieving for his son, or was Will just unwelcome?

"In here, son of Apollo," Hades called.

Will gulped and followed the sound of the voice into the grand hall. Will instantly fell to his knees before the deity.

"So," Hades boomed. "You think because you were welcome here once, you can just wander in to my realm? I seldom permit living souls to enter my domain without my express permission."

Will stayed silent and stared at his hands. Why was he here? To beg for Nico's life?

"And after the words you last exchanged with my son, I am seeing few reasons not to blast you through my floor."

Will braced himself. This was the end. He had pissed off a god. "I'm sorry I let my temper get ahead of me. My intentions were honorable. I love Nico and I just wanted to protect him," Will told Hades. His voice was hoarse from hours of screaming and crying. "I'm sorry I failed."

"Rise, son of Apollo. Your time is not up yet." Hades had a strange expression on his face, like he was trying to make a difficult decision. At last he spoke again. "I will offer you an opportunity I have offered once before. May you succeed where he did not and you will get your wish. This is also your chance to gain my approval of your relationship with my son."

Will couldn't believe it. Hades was forgiving him?

"But," the Lord of the Dead continued. "You must prove your love. I will release my son's soul and he will follow you out. But only your love can guide him. You must not turn to face him until you reach the sunlight. If you cannot trust him you shall lose him forever."

Will nodded. "I can do it. Thank you, Lord Hades. I won't let Nico down."

Hades brushed him aside dismissively and Will bowed again and fled from the palace.

It was a long, tempting walk through the Underworld. He could feel a presence behind him. He desperately hoped it was Nico. He didn't want to believe Hades would be cruel enough to lie to him just to get him out of the Underworld.

He did not turn.

Will kept walking, one foot in front of the other in front of someone he wasn't entirely certain was there.

No. Nico was there. He had to be.

Will began to talk. He talked about all the things Nico had missed while he was on his quest. The pranks from the Hermes cabin. A call from Reyna.

But he avoided the subject of how he had been. Will knew he wouldn't be able to talk about feelings without looking at Nico, and looking at Nico would mean he would never have the chance to talk about his feelings.

He'd lost Nico once and would forever blame himself. He would do his dammed best to make sure he didn't mess up this second chance.

He hadn't told anyone at camp where he was going. He was sure they would be frantic that he was missing. Lou Ellen would probably kill him when he got back.

He also didn't know how he would explain Nico's reappearance. He hoped people would brush it aside like they did with Hazel. But nobody had seen Hazel die; nobody had known her before.

Will would solve that problem later. He had to do this. If he failed then he didn't know what he would do. The hope was overpowering.

Charon made a comment about disliking returning souls to the mortal world.

Will's heart soared. Nico was there. The journey across the Styx was a lot easier on the return.

At the other end he left the boat, turning his back on the Underworld. He had the overwhelming urge to turn. But the thought that he could save Nico won out. He focused his gaze straight up towards the light. He had almost made it. He was almost there.

He kept going. He could almost smell Nico. He couldn't hear footsteps, but Nico usually walked as silently as possible so that didn't worry him.

Will stepped into the light.

He had done it. He had made it.

Elation bubbled up inside. He turned. Finally.

Then his heart stopped. He was alone. It had been a trick; only a foolish trick. There was no Nico.

"No," Will choked. He sank to the floor, burying his face in his hands. This was cruel, this was torture. To heal his despair with hope, only to crush him again. "NO!" His throat was agony. Everything was agony.

Will was even more distraught than before. And this time he was alone. He had been tricked. A foolish trick.

And then suddenly he wasn't alone. He sensed somebody crouching next to him and a hand on his arm. A shaky voice called out to him.

"W-Will?"

Will gave a roaring sob and flung his arms around Nico, burying his face in his neck.

"You were gone. I let you die. Oh gods, Nico, you're alive! If you ever die again, I swear I'll kill you," Will muttered into the skin he never thought he'd feel again. "I'm so sorry. I failed you." He pressed a hand into Nico's neck, relaxing when he felt the constant pulse beneath his fingers.

Nico wrapped his hands around the back of Will's head and kissed him softly. They rested their foreheads against each other's. They were both crying.

"You saved me, Will. I should've listened to you. Next time I go on a quest I'm taking you. And I'm sorry. For the argument."

"You're sorry? It was all my fault. I should've had more faith in you."

Nico tried to interrupt. "But you were right, I d-"

Will cut him off. "Don't say it. If you were anything like me you weren't fighting your best. I should've had more faith in you and I definitely shouldn't have said what I did. I swear I didn't mean a word. I love you so much. I even faced your dad alone."

"I saw," Nico replied. A distant look settled on his face. "It was strange. I've been to the Underworld so any times but it's very different when you're dead. I didn't want to be there. Thank you," he said, turning back to Will. "You were so brave. I didn't think I could love you any more until now. And I forgive you."

He kissed Will again. And again.

Next thing Will knew, Nico was shadow travelling them to his cabin. Will barely noticed being pressed against the wall; the only thing that mattered in that moment was that Nico was warm and there and kissing him, and he hadn't thought things would ever be this perfect ever again.

It felt almost like a dream.

I might do a chapter three? Maybe?

Honestly, I don't think I got the characters perfect. I know I'm not the best author.

I hope you liked this! :)

Disclaimer (I forgot again): I don't own the characters, this is inspired by the works of Rick Riordan and Greek Mythology