A/N: This was edited by my amazing friend, kudos to them.

'It wasn't that hard to get into the underworld.' Will noted, walking down through the stream of souls to Hades' palace. Especially since he didn't have Nico taking him this time. This was supposed to be a secret visit, call Will old fashioned but he was here to ask Hades for his permission to propose to his son. He would be heading off to college soon, with the deadline for when he had to move, and it finally gave him the courage to propose. He'd simply walked past the guards, as they recognized him from his dozens of times he'd been here, also having a pass from Hades that might have helped.

He'd reached the gate when his nerves started to fray. Hades was so protective of Nico, and if Will was honest so was he. He wouldn't blame Hades for saying no, he would still propose if he said no, but it would be a huge relief to have his blessing. The gate swung open. This was his last chance to back out, but he stepped into the court yard. The gate swung closed behind him. He followed the path, knowing he had no reason to be so on edge. He'd met Hades before, and he'd spent enough time around Nico to figure out to how to see past his mask. He wasn't as scary as he liked to portray.

The doors to the palace opened as soon as he stepped onto the steps. He finally stepped into the palace, a list of different ways to start the conversation popping into his mind as he neared the throne room. His first knock barely made a noise against the metal, to which he sighed and knocked a little louder. The doors of the throne room opened and he finally caught sight of Hades. His eyes were less intense today, and a small smile pulled at his lips as he greeted me. "Will, you don't need to knock, that hasn't been required for a long time."

All the words I'd planned to say died in my throat. "Sorry," I managed. Of all the things I had been expecting, it wasn't this. "Habits."

He didn't look surprised. "Now, why are you here? Especially since my son doesn't seem to be aware of your presence."

"I've actually come here to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"I'd like your permission for Nico's hand in marriage." I said before I could lose my nerve.

"Why?" From how Hades' lip twitched after he said that, it had clearly not been something he'd meant to say.

"I'd just feel better if I had your blessing. Since I know my father already approves."

"When do you intend to ask?" Hades asked.

My words abandoned me for the second time in the last ten minutes. "Is that a yes?" I finally managed.

"You were going to ask him even if I said no." Hades said with an amused expression. "My answer clearly has no change in the outcome, but yes, you have my blessing to marry my son."

The tangle of nerves in my stomach relaxed. "I haven't decided when yet." I admitted. "But soon before we have to move."

Hades nodded. "Do you have a ring?"

"Not yet. I was planning on getting one today, since Nico's out of town."

Hades' hand drifted to his pocket, he looked slightly torn but he finally pulled something out of his pocket, "Use this one." He said, offering me a ring. It was a simple design, a thin loop of silver, but it was clearly well made.

I took the band and rolled it around in my palm.

"It's his mother's." Hades said.

A jolt of surprise almost made me drop it.

"I can't take this." I said, trying to give it back. Hades pushed it back.

"It's doing no good sitting here. It should be used, and see the sunlight."

Hades took the ring and rubbed the metal, eyes becoming darker with grief. He moved to hand it back, his fingers brushing Will's hand. A jolt ran down his arm, and the throne room melted away.

I was standing on a bridge over a canal, where a woman was waiting. Her hair was tucked into a bun, a hat casting shade over her eyes. She was wearing a darker colored dress, and her gloves were sitting on the wall of bridge. She rested her hands on the wall; a purple bruise had started forming on the back of her left hand. A familiar looking man walked up to the bridge; the woman turned and Will gasped. Her kids resembled her. Nico had her eyes, and Bianca had her smile. Which meant the man was Hades, though he looked different today, as his shoulders were tense, and he was messing with something in his hands. Maria studied him for a moment before she smiled softly. She grabbed her gloves and met him under the shade.

"I wasn't expecting you until tonight." She said lightly.

"I managed to sneak away." He said, finally seeing the bruise, and he grabbed her hand. Maira didn't say a word.

"Who did this?" Hades sounded angry.

"I hit my hand on a door knob." She said, gently pulling her hand away and meeting his gaze. She grabbed his hand this time and rubbed her fingers over his knuckles.

"I know why you're here." She said. "Please don't tell me you bought a really fancy ring."

Hades blinked in surprise.

She chuckled. "I know you better than you think I do. Now, how much did the ring cost you?"

Hades pulled it out. Maria stared at the thin silver band, eyes lighting up in recognition.

"Is it perchance made out of the same silver that I found last week?"

"It is."

Her eyes sparkled in amusement. "Well at least now I don't have to feel bad about telling you no."

Hades opened his mouth, but she raised a hand. "I don't want you to marry me out of guilt. I know you love me, and I love you. But I love my job. I have thick skin, I can handle it."

The scene burned away, cutting off Hades' response.

Hades pulled his hand away as Will clutched the ring in his hand. He didn't think before lunging forward and wrapping his arms around Hades, who stiffened in surprise.

"I'll use it."

Hades hugged him back, and his grip was a little weak, but Will had a feeling that Hades was actually enjoying the touch, at least a little bit.

I pulled away before Hades, only because I didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

"Would you like a ride back to camp?" Hades asked.

I put the ring in my pocket. "Thank you. That would be super helpful."

The shadows came up and swallowed him, and he reappeared outside the Hades cabin. He reached back into his pocket, making sure the ring was still there. It was. Now all he had to do was find the right place.

A/N: Thanks for reading, BW12.