"Should we watch another episode?" Hazel asked as she tried to bite back a yawn. It wasn't from being tired physically as it was from being tired of the couch. She got up every day and moved around on her crutches. Her doctor had set out a plan for her recovery, so she just had to follow it.

"Do you want to?" Nico asked. He was lounging on the couch next to her with a bowl of popcorn in his hand. Most of it was eaten, and Hazel didn't think she could eat anymore. "Or do you want to go to bed?"

"I'm not sure," Hazel began. She looked at the ground and saw that Reyna was asleep. It was bad enough that Hazel had taken Reyna's room. Now, she was forcing her to lay on the hard floor. Even with the small spread of blankets below her, it couldn't be that comfortable. Her dogs were curled up by her side. "We're not going to bother Reyna, are we?"

"No," Nico replied. He raised his head and looked down at Reyna. "She's tired after her date with Annabeth."

"Date?" Hazel repeated with a gasp. She saw a smirk come to Nico's face. "Is that why you wouldn't stop grinning at her when she walked in?"

"Well, that, and I knew I was going to beat her ass in Mario Kart," Nico replied.

"Until I beat yours," Hazel teased. The light from the television revealed Nico's scowl.

"You cheated," Nico accused as he crossed his arms and huffed.

"I picked the character that you suggested!" Hazel defended. "And, you even made me switch controllers with Reyna after I started winning! I think you're a bad loser."

"And I think you're an abysmal winner," Nico countered. Hazel gave him a look. Nico huffed again and turned his head. "I am not a bad loser!"

"Whatever you have to tell yourself," Hazel conceded sarcastically. She laid her head back on the couch. "Is it okay if we find another show to watch?"

"Sure. Anything sound good?"

"Not sure," Hazel began as Nico handed her the remote. She started to browse through the shows. "Let me know if you see anything."

It was quiet as they browsed through shows and their previews. Hazel couldn't help but feel like a burden. Reyna and Nico were accommodating so far. They were kind to her and took care of her. It didn't stop her from feeling terrible. All she did was lay in bed all day while Nico and Reyna were at the gym.

When they got home, one of them, mostly Nico, made dinner for them. They hung out with her and entertained her, and Frank even came over most nights. Were those two getting annoyed at her?

"Am I a burden, Nico?" Hazel asked softly.

"Not for a single second," Nico answered without hesitation.

"But, I-"

"You're not a burden," Nico insisted. "If I thought you were, I wouldn't have invited you over. I don't mind taking care of you, and Reyna secretly likes having another person besides me around."

Hazel felt the couch shift slightly, like Reyna had put her weight against it, and then turned. She glanced down and saw that Reyna's face was scrunched up slightly. It didn't look like she was having a peaceful sleep.

"I just feel like one," Hazel admitted. "I know you guys are being supportive of me, and I appreciate it. I just feel terrible."

"Don't," Nico said gently. "If the situations were reversed, you would help me without hesitation. You would probably be taking better care of me than I am of you."

"You're taking great care of me," Hazel argued with a warm smile. "Thank you, Nico."

"You're welcome," Nico returned. Hazel went back to browsing and felt the couch shift again. Nico frowned and leaned forward. Hazel saw the two dogs rise like their sleep had been disturbed. Reyna shifted again before relaxing.

"How is the front desk?" Hazel asked as she looked back at Nico.

"I'm still enjoying it. It's fun to be the person that everyone has to go through to get inside," Nico answered. "A lot of people look scared when they walk in and see they have to talk to me."

"But, you're so cute," Hazel protested teasingly. Nico scowled and puckered his lips. "How can you scare people with that pretty little face?"

"I'm going to put on a horror movie," Nico decided spitefully. Hazel felt a heavy weight slam right into the couch, and a gasp left Reyna. She let out ragged breaths a few moments later.

"Reyna?" Hazel gasped as she quickly sat up. Reyna had her back pressed against the couch, but she slowly rolled onto her stomach. She looked up at Hazel. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Reyna answered. She placed both hands to her face and slowly dragged her hands down. A deep breath left her. "Just a n...nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hazel asked. Reyna didn't answer as she looked at the television. Nico stood and left the room, making his way to the kitchen. "We were looking for something to watch. Nico suggested a horror movie."

"You don't like horror movies," Reyna pointed out as she rubbed her eyes. Her dogs settled by her side, and Reyna began to pet both of them. She started to grind her top teeth against her bottom lip, an agitated look marred her face.

"I don't," Hazel confirmed. "Unless you two want to watch it. I can suck it up."

"We're not putting on a horror movie," Nico voiced his new decision from the kitchen. "What's that comedy you talked about the other day?"

"I'll find it," Hazel replied as she browsed the TV, but she was focused on Reyna in her peripheral. Her friend kept petting her dogs, almost mechanically. Reyna's eyes were shooting all around the room. Hazel wanted to help, but she didn't know what to say.

As Hazel found the show, Nico made his way back into the living room. He handed a cup to Hazel and another to Reyna. Nico spoke, "It's hot chocolate. Be careful."

Hazel looked down at the mug. Little marshmallows rested inside, and steam drifted out of the cup. Reyna nursed the cup of hot chocolate as she pulled her knees close to herself. Nico sat on the couch next to Hazel.

"I'm not hogging the couch, am I?" Nico asked.

"No," Hazel replied. "There's room for the three of us."

"Get up then," Nico ordered Reyna. It took a moment for Reyna to sit in between them. She pulled her knees up to her chest again and wrapped her arms back around them, gripping the cup with both hands. Her knuckles were white from how tightly she gripped it.

"What's this about again?" Nico asked as he glanced at Hazel.

"It's one of those found family comedies," Hazel answered. "They're a bunch of broke college students who come up with a plan to marry each other to get more loan support."

"Is it a romantic comedy?" Nico asked as his nose crinkled. Hazel grinned at him. "Ew. Fine. One episode."

"You're going to fall in love after one episode," Hazel promised. "Just like you did that soap opera!"

"I did not!" Nico protested. "I only watched it because you couldn't stop talking about it."

"Sure. That's why you watched ahead of me," Hazel remarked. Nico glared at her and looked ahead. Hazel chuckled and turned on the first episode. The three watched it in silence.

Hazel found herself quickly engrossed by the show. She always liked to watch silly dramas like this to let her brain relax. Especially around the time that she or her teammates had a fight. Hazel found herself worrying about their fights more than her.

Annabeth was going to defend her title against one of the most experienced fighters in the league. Reyna had a rematch against the woman who broke her elbow and kept getting in her head with trash talk. Hazel was worried that Annabeth would lose her title. She was an amazing fighter, but what if Arachne got her in a submission? What if Clarisse broke another of Reyna's limbs, even with that clause in the contract?

Hazel didn't want her friends to be hurt. Those fights were going to be so violent. What if what happened to her happened to them? Hazel shook her head and then closed her eyes. No; her friends were not going to be hurt like that. What happened to her was a freak accident. As the episode ended, Hazel skipped to the next one and then paused it.

"We can watch another," Nico voiced quickly. He cleared his throat. "Only if you want."

"I just need to go to the bathroom," Hazel replied as she tried to fight a yawn. "And maybe to sleep."

Hazel carefully stood from the couch, and Nico helped her. She grabbed her crutches and made her way to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and doing her nightly routine, she made it to Reyna's room. Nico was already getting the bed ready for her and fluffing the pillows.

"He acts like this is a five star hotel," Reyna complained as she leaned on the doorframe. Hazel smiled at her. She made it to the bed and slowly laid in it. Reyna moved over to her and pulled the blanket over her.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Hazel. I just..."

"Nightmares suck," Hazel gently interrupted. Reyna nodded her agreement. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but we're here if you do."

"I know. Thank you," Reyna said. She gently stroked hair out of Hazel's face. "Nightmares about my father bring me right back to my childhood. I hate it."

"I'm sorry," Hazel said sincerely. Reyna smiled at her and adjusted the blankets. "I'm also sorry that I stole your bed."

"You're borrowing it because you're hurt, Hazel. If I was hurt, you would offer me a place to stay," Reyna excused.

"I would take care of you if you were hurt," Nico called out as he adjusted the other side of Hazel's covers.

"My point exactly," Reyna retorted. Nico rolled his eyes. "Point is Hazel, you are not a burden to us. We love having you here. You would help us through anything that we go through, and we are going to help you as well.

"You're Nico's sister," Reyna continued. She sat next to Hazel and brushed more hair out of her face. "And, you're like a sister to me, Hazel. We're family, and family sticks with each other no matter what. They help each other out. That's why you're going to stop worrying about being a burden."

"And if you want to pay us back, you can help me in Rome," Nico said as he sat on Hazels' other side. "I'm worried that I'm going to mess things up with Will's mom. Every time that he talks about her, he just lights up. She sounds so perfect, so if I disappoint her, things aren't going to work out."

"Just be yourself," Hazel advised.

"Why would I do that?" Nico demanded. "I'm a terrible person. I'm just going to scare her away, and then, my relationship with Will is going to be ruined."

"Nico, you're freaking out over nothing," Hazel assured. She rubbed Nico's back.

"If I disappointed Will's mother or didn't live up to her image of me, it would kill Will. That would hurt me to see," Nico admitted with a heavy sigh. "I don't know."

"Nico, you're not going to lose Will if his mother doesn't like you. There are plenty of relationships like that, but at the same time, it's going to be okay," Hazel explained. She settled against Nico. "Honestly, I was scared to go meet my family."

"I was worried that they wouldn't like me or that I would disappoint them. And I did, in the end," Hazel expressed.

"You didn't."

"To them, I was a disappointment," Hazel opened up as she grabbed Nico's hand. "And, it really did hurt me. It hurt that they thought of me like that, but I realized a few things: one, I can't let someone's opinion of me be the only thing that I value; I have to value my own opinion more."

"Two, it's okay to be hurt. That's a part of life. Physically…" Hazel said as she pointed down at her leg. "Or mentally. It hurts in the moment, but it makes you stronger in the end. It's a part of life."

"I'm not drunk enough for you to be this sweet," Nico groaned. Hazel rolled her eyes. "But, thank you. It helps a lot.

"Get some sleep," Nico said. He kissed Hazel's forehead and stood. Reyna squeezed Hazel's shoulder and stood. They both walked out of the room. Hazel laid back against the bed and smiled as the light was turned off. It didn't take long for her to fall into a peaceful sleep.