DISCLAIMER: I don't know why I bother anymore. Everyone knows what this is and that its existence inherently means that I don't own shit. Somewhere along the four year journey this fic has been, disclaimers fell out of practice but I didn't get the memo. And, you know, old habits die hard and all that… So once more, for old time's sake. I do not own Percy Jackson. I just kidnapped the characters and dropped them in a high school for troubled kids.

A/N: So here it is. The End. Finally. Sorry that it took so long, but here you have it. Thank you so much for sticking with me and for all your kind words! I've loved writing for this ship and I just hope it's been worth the wait. God, it'll be weird to not be working on this fic anymore. Four years of my life have gone into this thing… Anyway, goodbye, and thank you so much for reading!

~~~oOo~~~

They ended up falling asleep on the roof, still tangled in each other and the blanket. It wasn't until noon that Nico begun to wake. It felt like a dream, hazy and comfortable and warm. He decided that waking up in Leo's arms was one of his favorite things in the world. Then he realized that the sun was up too high for him to be able to make first or second period.

"Shit," he exclaimed, pulling away from Leo and sitting up to rub at his eyes. Leo rolled on to his back and blearily opened his eyes.

"What's up?" He asked, tiredly blinking at Nico.

"We slept late."

"And?"

"And we missed at least the first half of school."

"It's no big deal. You never miss, you've earned a day off. And I don't care about school anyway, so why does it matter?"

"I don't like missing school." Nico insisted, and Leo shrugged.

"Alright, let's clean up and get to school, then. I bet it's almost lunch by now." Leo started gathering up the rest of the snacks and put them, along with the lamp, into the basket. "C'mon, get off the blanket and help me fold it." Nico did as he was told, but he was surprised— and pleased— that Leo was so willing to hurry and get to class even though he couldn't care less about it. It meant that, while Leo didn't care about school, he did care about Nico. That sent a thrill up Nico's spine. He didn't know if he'd ever stop feeling so amazed and delighted when he remembered that Leo liked him.

Nico took the telescope back to the astronomy room and Leo dropped the basket and blanket back in their dorm. Nico debated going back to his room and changing, but the bell had just rung for lunch and he wanted to eat. Besides, he was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, an outfit he had about twenty different combinations of, so who'd notice anyway?

"Nico, wait up," Leo jogged to meet him as he started into the cafeteria. Leo, Nico noticed, had taken the time to change. They got through the food line in record time because most everyone had already been through it. Nico held his box in one hand, letting the other one wonder to the figurine in his pocket for a moment. He gave it a small squeeze for comfort and his mind wondered to Bianca, wishing she could be here. That he could tell her who he was and that he was with someone…He withdrew his hand, not wanting to get worked up about that now. The important part was that Bianca would've been happy for him.

"So…" Leo started, then trailed off.

"So?" Nico prompted.

"I guess I kinda forgotten to clear this up, which is dumb because it's kinda important. But we're, uh, dating now, yeah?" Leo rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, smiling at Nico with apprehension.

"Yes— I mean, do you want to be?" Nico asked, then added "Dating?" for clarification, and a "Me?" for further clarification.

"Yeah."

"Okay. Then. Yes. I think we are."

"Great!" Leo beamed, and, after consideration, grabbed Nico's hand. Just as they arrived at their lunch table. Nico went red, but he was pleased, and squeezed Leo's hand to let him know that. Hazel noticed first, eyes snagging on their hands as she turned to greet them. Her pause made Frank look over too.

"Where were you two this morning?" He asked, unaware that anything was different, but giving Nico a curious look, obviously wondering what had him so embarrassed.

"We thought you guys might have finally killed each other," Jason said, eyes full of amusement. Everyone laughed, excluding Hazel, who's eyes were still locked on Leo's and Nico's intertwined fingers. Jason followed her line of sight. "Oh," his eyebrows shot up. He was a lot less subtle than Hazel about it, making everyone else search for the source of his surprise. They did, one by one.

"I knew it!" Piper shot at Leo, obviously thinking back to their 'thinly veiled hypothetical' conversations.

"Aha," Frank said, seeming to understand something. Likely why Nico's moods seemed to correlate with the state of his relationship with Leo.

"So, when did that happen?"Annabeth asked with a small smile.

"I told you so! I told you all that they're perfect together, but did any of you believe me? Noooooo. But I was right!" Percy yelled delightedly. "I was right about Frank and Hazel, and I was right about Leo and Nico. Really, why do you people doubt me?"

"Because you used lotion as conditioner for almost a month?" Annabeth supplied.

"You're not usually right about things, man." Jason offered.

"Phooey on you both. I am the ultimate match maker."

"Bullshit, you just made things worse," Nico snorted, putting his food on the table and slipping into place, pulling Leo along beside him.

"It's true," Frank affirmed. "You're shipping was nothing but mortifying."

"You can't spell mortifying without fun," Percy shrugged, earning a small punch in the shoulder form Annabeth. They went on, laughing and talking like all was normal, and Nico loved it. It was no big deal, really. They all accepted it without question and moved on.

"You could have told me, you know." Hazel told him softly from across the table.

"I know. But I only got around to telling myself a bit ago." Nico said, hoping Hazel wasn't offended he'd kept this from her.

"Alright, that's fair. Just…I'm here for you, okay?"

"Thank you. I'm still getting used to people being here for me, I guess." Nico offered her a smile and she returned it ten times over.

"I hope this doesn't mean our club is being disbanded," Frank cut in sheepishly. "I'm really getting into Mythomagic again."

"Ooh, I like playing Mythomagic with you guys too!" Piper slid easily into their conversation from her previous teasing of Percy.

"Don't worry, the clubs still going strong." Nico assured them.

"Wait, what club? And why would it be disbanded because of us?" Leo asked, brow furrowed. Nico smiled sweetly.

"Oh, no reason."

"I feel like I'm at the butt end of a hurtful joke."

"You are." Nico kissed his cheek lightly. "You can come to our next meeting. But we're not changing the name."

"Are you guys having secret meetings without us?" Percy demanded.

"That's pretty rude, Pipes, I can't believe you didn't invite me," Jason mock-pouted.

"You can all join, if you want." Nico shrugged.

"Perfect. We can hold meetings on the roof," Annabeth suggested. They were all enthusiastic about the idea.

"That's nice and all, but what's the name? Why won't you change it? Why do you think I'd want to change it? How am I the butt end of a mean joke?"

"It's called the Leo Valdez is a Little Shit Club." Nico grinned at Leo's offended expression and squeezed his hand under the table.

"I cannot believe that my own boyfriend is a member of such a rude and offensive club!"

"Co-founder, actually," Nico corrected. Everyone was laughing again, and Leo joined in.

Once conversation had moved on again, though, he leaned into Nico and whispered, "That's pretty cute of you, to start a club about me."

"Shut up," but his heart wasn't in it. He was too content to be miffed at being called cute.

"Make me; you can't." Leo grinned his impish grin and his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"We'll see." Nico said, then turned to join in the conversation with his friends. He felt happier than he'd thought he ever could after Bianca had died. There was still an ache for her in his chest, but he was surrounded by friends, and holding hands with the boy he loved, and laughing with his little sister, and life didn't seem so bad. Maybe this school was the best thing that'd ever happened to him.