Here's the next chapter! I'm sorry that it took me so long to write it, but the university keeps me always busy. I hope you like this chapter and please let me know what you think.

I don't own the characters or places!

Nico POV

Nico woke up early that morning. He didn't have bad dreams which surprised him. Normally, he was bothered by nightmares. Especially since the events of the previous days. He looked at his watch on the nightstand and sighed. It was not even six in the morning and far too early to stand up yet. However, Nico didn't feel like he could sleep again. And just lying there wouldn't help him either; it was his last day at Camp Half-Blood and there were still many things to do. Nico sighed and stood up.

A look through the window told him that most of the other campers were still asleep. There were only a few people walking through the Camp – mostly patrols to secure the borders – and they didn't look very happy. Nico got dressed quickly – grey jeans and dark blue t-shirt – and left his cabin. A few others looked at him in surprise. It was very unusual that the son of Hades left his cabin this early. Nico ignored the questioning looks they were giving him and walked through the camp silently. Sometimes, he nodded when other campers greeted him, but otherwise he didn't say anything. He was lost in thoughts. They had to find out where to start their quest today. Tomorrow, they would go to Camp Jupiter and see Reyna. And then they would go on their journey to save both camps.

To Nico's surprise, Percy was already sitting on his table. He looked wearily at his sandwich and Nico wondered why he was already awake. However, you could ask yourself the same question about himself as well. Nico decided to ask Percy nonetheless.

"You look tired." He said and sat down opposite Percy, who used this moment to yawn.

"Good morning to you, too." Percy muttered and blinked a few times. Slowly, a surprised expression appeared on his face. "Nico? Why are you awake? It's like six in the morning."

"Half past six." Another voice corrected Percy and Nico didn't have to turn around to know that Will was walking towards them. When the son of Apollo sat down next to him and touched Nico's shoulder, he turned around. Of course his boyfriend looked great. However, there were dark rings under his eyes and it looked like Will didn't sleep at all.

Will smiled at Nico – a tired smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You are early." Will noticed and Nico raised his eyebrows.

"And you look like you didn't sleep last night." He replied simply.

Now the smile on Will's lips faded slowly. Nico's boyfriend sighed. "That could be true." Will admitted and ran a hand through his hair.

"Nightmares?" Nico asked and to his surprise, Will nodded. It just had been a guess, normally Will didn't sleep bad. It was always Nico who dreamed the strange things. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, it's nothing." Will said quickly and looked at his breakfast. Somehow, Nico had the feeling that something was bothering him. When he looked at Percy, there was a strange expression on his face. He was looking at Will.

"Did I miss something?" Nico asked slowly and raised his eyebrows again.

Percy opened his mouth to reply something, but he was interrupted by someone calling their names. Nico turned around to see Annabeth walking towards them, a wide smile on her lips. When she got closer, Nico noticed that she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Her hair was a complete mess and it looked like Annabeth hadn't slept as well. Nevertheless, her eyes were shining in triumph. Apparently, she had found something.

"Where do we go?" Nico asked without waiting for her to say something.

"London!" Annabeth exclaimed excitedly. She didn't seem to be surprised by Nico's question.

Next to him, Will grinned at Annabeth. "London? Why?"

Annabeth sat down next to Percy and glanced at him in confusion. She wasn't used to him being awake that early. Suddenly, she looked from Percy to Nico and frowned. "Why are you so early?" She asked and both Percy and Nico shrugged.

"Couldn't sleep anymore." Percy muttered.

"Me neither." Nico added.

Then Annabeth turned to Will and raised an eyebrow when she noticed how tired he looked. "Didn't sleep at all?" She asked and he nodded.

Annabeth sighed. "Wonderful. The two boys who will go on that quest for us look like they'll break down soon. You have to get some sleep tonight."

"I'm not even tired." Nico complained and Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Have you looked into a mirror this morning?"

"I did."

"And what did you see?"

"Me."

"Did you look different than usual?"

Nico didn't understand why she was asking all this. "No."

Annabeth smiled slightly. "You see?"

It took him a few moments to understand what she wanted to tell him. Next to Annabeth, Percy chuckled and even Will smiled. However, Nico's boyfriend didn't laugh at this. He was grateful for that.

"London." Nico interrupted them and they all became serious again.

"Yes, London." Annabeth smiled. "It was easy, after all."

"That's good." Percy muttered. He was chewing his sandwich and wrapped an arm around Annabeth's shoulders. After swallowing, Percy cleared his throat. "And will you also explain what was easy?"

His girlfriend rolled his eyes and tried to look annoyed. However, there was an amused glance in her eyes. "I was about to do that when you interrupted me, Seaweed Brain."

Percy ignored her statement. "Now tell us how you found out that they have to go to London."

"The man in the suit with the hat." Annabeth repeated Maria's words slowly and nodded at Nico. "First, I thought it meant a special person. A man who did something important in history. Demigod history, if you want to call it like that. However, I found nothing in the old books with the tales." She paused and looked into her tea. "They were mostly about Greece, of course. Demigods didn't travel to England in the past, probably because it was too far away from home." With home she meant Greece, Nico was sure about that. "So I decided to look somewhere else." Annabeth continued.

"Modern history?" Will asked and she nodded.

"Exactly."

"Let me guess, Greece still didn't have stories about a guy in a suit." Percy threw in.

Annabeth nodded again. "If you wouldn't interrupt me all the time, I could tell you how I found out that it is London."

She looked around to see if they would interrupt her again. When no one said a word, she continued. "Modern history." She repeated Will's words. "You won't believe how many men in suits have done special things in London. However, that seemed too easy. So I tried something else. Ancient and modern history weren't the solution to this riddle. What if we were looking for someone who never did anything that was worth becoming history? Or if we were searching someone who is still alive?"

Nico leaned forward and from the corner of his eyes, he saw that Will did the same. Without thinking about it, Nico took his hand and squeezed it. Will looked from Annabeth to him and smiled; this time it reached his eyes and they were shining.

"I talked to Chiron about this. However, he didn't know anyone in England. And he had no idea whom I could ask. Last evening, I had an idea. So I talked to Grover. Maybe we weren't even talking about a human man, but about something else? Grover couldn't help me as well. But someone else heard us talking about this. And it seems like Coach Hedge has a few friends in Europe. They like to play baseball. And one of these satyrs, who lives in London, owns a shop. He sells souvenirs and other small things you don't really need. As a disguise, he always wears a suit and a hat. Otherwise, it would be too obvious what he really is."

They all stared at her silently. Around them, more people were coming to eat breakfast. Annabeth was still smiling at them proudly.

After what seemed like hours to Nico, Percy shook his head. "A satyr. Seriously?" At the surprised tone in his voice, Annabeth's smile faded slowly.

"Yeah, seems so. Or do you have a better idea?" She asked skeptically. When no one said something, she nodded. "I thought so."

"That's brilliant." Will interrupted them. "Annabeth, you're a genius!" Nico looked at his boyfriend and wanted to raise his eyebrows, when Will squeezed his hand painfully tight and someone kicked his leg under the table.

"I don't think that we would have ever found out about this without you." Nico agreed with Will loudly. "Thanks to you we know where we have to start out quest!" He smiled at Annabeth and she looked at them for a few seconds uncertainly. Probably to make sure that they were serious about this. Then she relaxed and actually smiled back.

"Thank you, boys. It wasn't easy to find out about this."

Nico nodded. "I don't think that anyone else would have been able to do it."

"We would have never thought about asking the satyrs." Will added.

Suddenly, Annabeth started to laugh. "Just because boys never really think something through." She ran a hand through her hair and frowned. "I don't know what you are going to do now, but I need a shower." She looked questioningly at Nico and Will. "Will you tell the others about this?"

Nico nodded. "Of course. And we'll inform Reyna and the others at Camp Jupiter as well."

Annabeth smiled widely. "That's great. I see you later." She stood up and walked towards the Athena cabin without looking at Percy once more.

They exchanged glances and Percy narrowed his eyes. "It was not necessary to praise her that much."

Will chuckled. "You shouldn't have been so skeptical."

"I don't think that she'll forgive you that quickly." Nico laughed while Percy just sighed.

After breakfast, Nico and Will told Chiron about Annabeth's discovery. To their surprise, Chiron wasn't skeptical about the whole story. He just nodded thoughtfully and promised them to organize a council meeting that would take place at noon.

When their conversation with Chiron was over, they walked to the Hades cabin. Nico wanted to send an Iris message to Camp Jupiter immediately and since he was the only inhabitant of the cabin, they wouldn't be bothered there.

Will held Nico's hand while they made their way through the Camp. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Nico closed his eyes and tried to imagine what this day would be like if there wasn't someone who wanted to kill all the demigods. He would have a nice day with his boyfriend. Maybe there would be a game of capture the flag. And they wouldn't get attacked like last time. They could just enjoy being together. Because that was exactly what Nico wanted. To have Will for himself. Something that wasn't possible in times like this.

"What are you thinking?" Will asked quietly and when Nico opened his eyes, he saw that he was watching him.

"I tried to imagine what it would be like to have no problems." He admitted slowly when they entered his cabin.

Will looked surprised. "Not possible since we're demigods." He muttered and sighed. "But I know what you mean. I've been thinking about that as well." Will sat down on the bed and gestured Nico to sit down next to him. He did.

"We're running from one problem to the next." Will continued and wrapped his arms around Nico. "Sometimes, I fear that this will never end. The danger. The conflicts. The fights. War." Death. Nico added in his thoughts. Will did not have to say it, Nico knew what his boyfriend was thinking. "We never really had time." There was a sad expression on Will's face now and Nico wanted nothing more than to make him look happy again.

He smiled at Will and touched his cheek. "Don't look so sad, Sunshine." He whispered. "I'm sure that everything will be alright. Where is your positive attitude? Normally, I'm the one who's always expecting the worst."

Will leaned into his touch. "I'm sorry, Nico. I'm just afraid, I think. Tomorrow, we'll start our quest. And no one knows what will happen."

"Don't apologize. It's alright to be afraid sometimes. Everyone feels that way."

Will frowned. "You too?" He asked hesitantly and Nico nodded.

"Of course. The first time I've been out there on my own, I had been terrified. But I didn't have anyone who went with me. I was alone. And in Rome, I felt afraid as well. Until I met Percy and the others, I've also been there alone. When I was with the others, it was better. To know that someone is at your side and will fight with you, no matter what happens. And do you want to know why I don't feel afraid this time?" He paused. Will was looking at him wide-eyed and Nico wanted nothing more than to kiss him right now. However, that would have to wait. "I will not be alone. We'll go out there together. And Reyna will be with us too. The two people I trust the most will be there. That makes it much easier." Will opened his mouth to say something, but Nico shook his head shortly. "I don't want to say that you shouldn't be afraid. Only fools are not. But you should know that we'll go through this together. You are not alone in this, Will."

Will was still looking at him with wide eyes and they were shining. Before Nico knew what was happening, Will's grip around his shoulders tightened and he leaned in to kiss him. The kiss didn't last long and when they pulled back, Will chuckled. "Since when are you so wise?"

Nico laughed. "I'm not. Believe me, I really don't feel that way. I was just talking out of experience."

Suddenly, the smile on Will's lips vanished. "You shouldn't have to." He whispered and Nico sighed.

"Will-" He muttered and hoped that he would just drop the theme.

"It drives me crazy. To know how alone you've been."

"You can't change the past, Will." Nico said simply.

"I know." Will shook his head. "That doesn't mean that I have to like this. Everything that happened to you…"

"Hey, Will, look at me." Nico touched Will's cheek and forced his boyfriend to look at him. "I'm fine. And all those things are in the past. And it's better if they stay there."

"There are still things you didn't tell me, right?" The question took Nico by surprise and he dropped his hands.

"What do you mean?"

"I can see it in your eyes, sometimes when you seem to be far away. Then something comes to your mind that makes you feel uncomfortable. You even look scared sometimes." So he had not been able to hide it from Will. Nico had already expected this. His boyfriend used to notice everything. Of course Nico couldn't hide Tartarus from him. But what should he do know? He was not ready to talk about this… Not with Will. With Percy, it was different. He had been there too. He knew what it was like.

"It's nothing." Nico whispered flatly.

"Nico…"

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "Please don't." He muttered. "I'll tell you, one day. But not now, alright? I just can't talk about it." After some time, Nico dared to open his eyes again. He immediately wished that he wouldn't have done it. The sad – no, the heartbroken expression on Will's face made everything worse. And then Will hugged him tightly, like he never wanted to let Nico go. And Nico hoped that he wouldn't.

They stayed like that for a long time and Nico felt himself relax in Will's embrace. He knew that they should talk to Reyna at Camp Jupiter and tell her what Annabeth found out about their quest. And the council meeting would also take place soon. Nevertheless, Nico didn't want to let go of Will. He wanted to enjoy this moment they had together. Who knew when the next time would be they could just be together, without worrying. Well, or without worrying about their lives being in danger, at least.

"We should talk to Reyna, shouldn't we?" Will asked and Nico sighed.

"Probably." He agreed hesitantly and let go of Will. To his surprise, his boyfriend was smiling again.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you about this. I won't do it again, I promise. It's just… I hate it when you feel bad and I can't help you, Death Boy." The old nickname left his lips and Nico doubted that he noticed it.

"I have to apologize. I'll tell you about it, I swear."

"When you're ready." Will said simply and smiled. Suddenly, Nico couldn't hold himself back any longer and wrapped his arms around Will to kiss him.