I'm updating again today 'cos it's my birthday. After this, back to normal schedule! XD

To Riordanlover16- He vaguely knows what he's doing, sure sure :P Ooooh it's a crossover! I'm slowly working my way through all of Rick's stuff again, just about to start Son of Neptune. (I never finished my rewrites of ToA, hopefully this spurs me to finish!)

To LooneyPeach- (Chapter 14) I write Lizzie with a single brain cell that isn't always plugged in, I love her dearly :D (Chapter 15) Who doesn't love mini golf? (Over here, we call it crazy golf, much better :P) Psst, you didn't review Chapter 16, hint hint, nudge nudge ;)

Nico hung around for a while. Percy and Annabeth had to leave to get back to Tobias, promising to bring him to visit his aunt soon. He sat with Piper for a little while; over the years he and the daughter of Aphrodite had developed an unusual friendship. She was bright and headstrong. He was dark and headstrong. Somehow, it worked.

They talked in low tones over tea about Leoisa, as Piper had dubbed them. She did chide Nico for shoving Leo in the bush, but two seconds later admitted it was kind of funny. Leo was as much a brother to her as Nico was to Louisa and who didn't find amusement in their brother being pushed into a bush?

Nico only relayed the events on the roof to Jessica. Jessica clucked her tongue and, after an hour or so, sent Leo out to drag Louisa in. "Kicking and screaming if you have to, just get her inside."

Leo was quick to obey. This freed up Louisa's mortal friends, Lizzie and Piper, who had been interrogating him. Nico had only spent so much time with the mortals. They were equally amusing and confusing, especially that Mikey. Nico had never known him to run out of energy or smiles, wondering how it was humanly possible for the dude to still function.

He learned quickly not to question it.

Dylan seemed to enjoy the Leo-bush-push story and clapped Nico on the shoulder. Connor was less impressed, but saw the reasoning behind it. Only Louisa could tell Nico to fuck off without repercussions.

Mikey, however, told him off.

"Be nice to Leo! He's looking after Lou! They're going to get married!"

"Do they know that?"

"No, I'm working on it."

"You're strange."

"So are you."

"You're strange strange though."

"Mmph. Piper, tell him. We've already planned the wedding. Well, three weddings actually, so they can pick which one they want. Piper, Piper, do you think three is enough? Maybe we should do more."

"I'm telling you, the fancy dress would go down a treat."

"Yes, but when I say fancy dress, I mean black tie. When you say fancy dress, you mean orcs and Stormtroopers."

"Leo would love to get married as a Stormtrooper."

"I'd get married as a Stormtrooper," Lizzie butted in, nodding. "If I had anyone to marry," she added in an undertone. Mikey waved his hands in protest.

"No Stormtroopers!"

Nico cleared his throat. He sensed a debate rising and had not the time nor the energy for it. Piper and Mikey agreed to settle it another day, something about returning to the drawing board. Dylan mumbled something about work tomorrow and took his leave. Connor went soon after. Mikey only went when he had cuddled his nibling one last time. That had been about two hours ago. Nico and Piper were in the kitchen. Lizzie had gone out, fancying some late-night takeaway. Leo and Louisa were in the living room with Bradley. It was dark out.

Piper sighed, looking down into her half-drunk tea.

"What's your plan now?" she asked. Nico gestured with the biscuit tin he was raiding. Piper shook her head.

"I need to talk to Lou," he said. "I'm staying tonight. I know she's up with the baby, so I'll try and catch her."

"About what?" Nico inspected a chocolate digestive before answering.

"She had trouble with PTSD before she disappeared for a year. It's hit an all new high now. She needs help."

"We'll help her, all of us."

"I know." Nico nibbled the biscuit. "You can do the Leoisa thing. That's more your speed than mine." He made a face and Piper laughed.

"I see. I'll handle the nice positive side of things, you'll deal with the nitty gritty negative side, yes?"

"Yes. I'm good at that."

"Don't do it alone though. You've got to look after yourself too."

"Lou's protected me for years. She had and has my back without question. I'll do the same for her." Piper nodded. She didn't know the cousins' history, but she knew it was deep. Nothing could get between them.

Nico had a sizeable bruise on his jaw, something he was rubbing now. Piper smiled and he grunted. "I kind of asked for it. Antagonising her."

"You did." Piper drained the last of her tea. "Well, I'd better get on. Mikey wants to meet tomorrow for more wedding planning."

"Do you really think they'll get married? Lou's still…" Nico trailed off. Maybe before she had vanished for a year, things could have worked out. Maybe things still could, but was this kind of talk expecting too much? Was it pressurising?

Piper smiled at him, a knowing defiant smile.

"Let's just say I have inside knowledge. Try and get some sleep tonight, you—"

"Look like death warmed up," Nico finished for her with an eye roll. It was one of her regular quips. It was never funny, but that didn't stop her. She grinned cheekily and messed his hair. Nico grumbled in Italian and she swept from the room. He heard her saying her goodbyes to Leo and Louisa, and then to Jessica who had stuck her head out of her room to see what all the noise was.

A few minutes after she left, Leo came in.

"I'm sorry I told you to fuck off earlier."

"I'm not sorry I pushed you in a bush."

"Ah. Lou said you'll say that. She said to tell you—" He drew a finger across his throat. "Her words, not mine." Nico nodded, sipping his tea.

"OK, I'm sorry I pushed you in the bush."

"You're not."

"I'm not, but Lou's listening, so I am."

Leo smiled at this, relaxing. Nico managed a half-smile. Leo was a good friend of his, even if they did drive each other crazy. He could see why Louisa got on so well with him— similar sense of humour and mischief, but also the same sense of loyalty. It had been common knowledge on the Argo II that Leo had a thing for Louisa. It had been rumour that she had a thing for him, although too blind to have seen it.

Did she see it now?

Nico offered Leo a biscuit. "Don't tell Jessica." Leo grinned.

"I won't if you won't."

"Deal. Can I ask you something?"

"Oh, you as well? I'm getting asked a lot of somethings lately."

"Why did you sign Bradley's birth certificate?"

"Lou asked me to."

"Is that it?"

"I… I also wanted to."

"It's a big responsibility," Nico said, holding his gaze. Leo nodded.

"I know. I can do it though."

"How do you feel about it?"

"Ooh, you've turned into a proper little therapist," Leo smiled teasingly. "I feel great about it, thank you. I'd do it again. Don't give me that look either. I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm not going to back down or disappear. I'll be there for Bradley; I've literally signed up for it."

"Where are you getting your money from?"

"Did Lou put you up to that one?"

"Well? Where?" Leo just tapped his nose. Nico huffed. "Alright, fine. Any dodgy business though—"

"I'll be fed to Cerberus, I know."

"Glad we're clear on that."

Leo took two more biscuits and then his leave. He gave a very deep bow to Nico, stuck his tongue out when he came back up. Nico was tempted to throw his mug at him, thinking better of it at the thought of Jessica. She was a scary lady.

He followed Leo out, standing in the kitchen doorway. Louisa was sat on the sofa, feeding Bradley. Storm was curled up at her feet, snoring softly.

Louisa looked up as Leo approached, tipping her head back.

"Are you goin'?"

"Yeah, I'd better get a wriggle on. Got some errands in the morning. And no, not robbing banks or stealing the Declaration of Independence kind of errands. Normal work errands."

"What work?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Tell me now."

"No."

"Asshole." Leo snorted a laugh and she pouted.

"I will see you tomorrow," he promised. "Bye, Lou. Bye, chiquito." He dithered for a second, then ducked to press a quick kiss to Louisa's head. Then he darted away and vanished out the front door.

Louisa stared after him. Nico cleared his throat and she gave a little squeak.

"What does 'chiquito' mean?" Nico asked, trying to keep his tone level. It was very clear he planned to tease her, however, and she hunched her shoulders, electing to concentrate on Bradley instead. "Wait 'til I tell Piper. And Mikey."

"Don't you dare."

"I'm texting them as we speak."

"You have Mikey's number?"

"For emergencies. And for… oh, what did Piper call it? Leoisa? Yes, Leoisa. For emergencies and for Leoisa updates. There, sent." Within seconds, Louisa's phone was buzzing across the coffee table. It was a new model Leo had gifted her yesterday. A phone safe for demigods to use and damn near indestructible.

Louisa stared at it in horror. A chain of messages and missed calls danced the device across the table. Storm awoke at the noise of it, huffing angrily. She picked it up in her mouth, rising with an irritated shuffle of her wings. She clopped away, tossing the phone into Louisa's room. The buzzing was softened by the bed it had landed on, though it may as well have been a foghorn.

"Nico," Louisa said as her pegasus made herself comfortable on the rug again. "I'm goin' to kill you."

"You'll thank me later."

He got it now. He had seen how Louisa had looked at Leo and it was rumour no more. "Hey, should I get Leoisa T-shirts printed? Like you did Solangelo ones?" Louisa ignored him, sitting Bradley on her knee. With one hand, she covered herself back over. "Lou. Lou." She continued to blank him, patting and rubbing Bradley's back.

Nico got her later, about two in the morning. Bradley had hardly begun to cry when she picked him up, having laid awake. His diaper was dirty and he was hungry, again. Nico was sitting in the kitchen, munching his way through a cheese and ham sandwich.

She didn't notice him right away. He hadn't turned the light on, preferring to sit quietly in his domain, as Will called it. She opened the fridge, selecting a bottle of milk. She turned around before she shut it, accustomed to kicking it closed behind her. In its light, she saw a shape sitting in the dark.

"What the fuck?"

"Don't throw that at me, I know where it's been."

"Nico?!"

"No, I'm Batman."

"What the fuck?!"

"I was hungry."

"Sittin' in the dark like a fuckin'…" She kicked the fridge shut, heaving a sigh. Bradley grizzled at her. "I know, I know. Hold on." She set the bottle on the counter, holding it down firmly while also twisting the lid off. The one-handed skills of a mother.

She put it in the microwave, studying Nico's shadow in the glow through the fuzzy window. "Fucker."

"Likewise."

He waited for her to be sat at the island too, Bradley guzzling at his bottle. Nico had finished his sandwich, wiping crumbs from his hands onto his plate. "Why are you hiding your anger?" He felt rather than saw her look at him, sensed her frown. "I know you're angry."

"I'm not."

"Your storm says otherwise."

"I'm fine."

"You're not. You can't lie to me."

He saw her silhouette in the moonlight filtering through the blinds, saw her shaking her head. Nico looked to the vague shape of the bundle she held, listened to the hungry little noises. "Why aren't you angry? No, wait. Why aren't you letting yourself be angry?"

"Been spendin' too much time with Mr. D, ain't ya?"

"Answer the question."

"I don't want to."

"You don't want to answer or you don't want to be angry?"

"No."

"Why?"

He could feel the heat of her glare. He pushed his plate to one side and rested his hands on the surface.

She did not answer for a long while. Bradley finished his bottle in this time and was lifted to her shoulder to be winded. Nico could hear her taking forcibly steady breaths, slowly in and slowly out. She did not want a repeat of the roof, not now. In her current state, Nico was surprised she hadn't knocked herself out, a display like that.

"I don't want Bradley gettin' blamed."

"Why would he get blamed?"

"I ain't angry at him."

"I didn't say you were."

"I won't be angry at him. He didn't ask to be born anymore than we did." Nico couldn't argue with that.

"But you are angry," he pressed gently. She didn't answer, turning her head away. "Lou, no-one is angry at Bradley. Or you. You can stop worrying about that."

"I'm not—"

"You can't lie to me, Lou."

"He's just a baby. He don't deserve all this. I won't be angry with him, I won't."

"Be angry somewhere else then," Nico advised. "Shout at me if you want, I can take it." She stayed quiet, shifting Bradley in her hold. A few minutes later, she rose and took him back to bed. Nico let her go.

He was still sitting there when the sun came up and still there when Jessica came in a little while after. She threw a hairbrush at him, not yet awake enough to remember she had had a guest stay the night. Nico, having expected the attack, ducked, and the hairbrush banged into the cupboard behind him.

"Little shit," Jessica scolded. "What are you sitting in here for? Did you get any sleep?"

"I talked to Lou."

"Wait, I need coffee first."

Nico recounted the conversation, nursing his own coffee. Jessica hummed in thought when he was done, twisting a loose lock of hair about her finger.

"She does need therapy," she eventually said. "A hell of a lot of therapy."

"Will she go?"

"Maybe. There's only so many storms that will relieve things."

"I'll talk to Mr. D."

"In the meantime, I will talk to Leo."

"Why?"

"Because he makes her forget things for a while. Maybe he'll have an idea." She glanced at the clock on the wall, sipped her coffee. "I'll ring him after breakfast. What are you having?"

"I had a sandwich."

"When?" Nico shrugged.

"Few hours ago."

"Bacon and eggs it is then. No, shut up."

"Yes, Mom." She smiled at that. It had taken a few years, but sometimes he called her Mom rather than Jessica, per her instructions. Considering she had only given birth once, she had quite a few children.

And because it's my birthday, y'all have to leave a review ;)