A/N:

Crossover Junkie, this chapter is dedicated to you. You have the amazing ability of reviving dead creativity. I read your review and everything just fell in place for this chapter.

Guest, no this is not a solangelo. As for timeline? Umm... uh... after Heroes of Olympus and the Serpent's Shadow? Yeah, let's just go with that.

Kitstorm666, pfft... sleep is overrated. (No offense Sandman or Somnus...)

Oh, so I'm trying to write a chapter where Nico meets Walt, but I can't seem to think of anything. Any suggestions?

Then after that... a Sadie confrontation... DUN DUN DUN

To the story!

"Hey Dad." Nico walked into the throne room.

Hades looked up momentarily surprised, "Oh, Nico. I didn't know you were coming to-"

Nico shrugged, interrupting his father, "It's okay."

He set down a happy meal.

Hades raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you too old for those?"

Nico stammered, "Wh-what?" He felt his face get warm, "Nooooo."

Hades frowned, "Okay, if you say so."

Nico flushed again, "A-actually... Umm... It's for you." He whispered.

Hades raised both eyebrows, "You brought me... A happy meal."

Nico fingered the bright yellow handles of the vibrant red box, "Well I had to guess what you wanted," he mumbled.

An awkward silence fell between them.

Hades looked closely at his son. Was something bothering him? Was there something going on he should be worried about?

He hadn't really had the best father so he felt like he was totally lost in this father thing.

His eyes fell on the gold charm Nico wore around his neck.

His eyes widened instantly, "What is that?" He jabbed a finger at the offending object.

Nico stepped back, "It's a umm... It's-"

Hades would've paled if his skin wasn't already as white as could be. "It's Egyptian isn't it," he whispered.

Nico jumped, "You know about the Egyptians?"

Hades pushed Nico's hair back looking for scratches or bruises or worse, "Did they hurt you? Are you okay?"

Nico pushed the hand away, "I'm fine."

Nico felt uncomfortable under his father's full attention. Funny, he always craved being noticed by his father, but when it happened, he didn't know what to do.

Hades took a calming breath. He realized he was probably freaking Nico out if the expression on his face said anything.

"May I see it?" Hades held hand out.

Nico hesitated than slid it off the chain. He paused again, not wanting to let it go.

"I won't break it," Hades promised.

Nico let go.

Hades turned it over in his hands examining it with interest, "What do those hieroglyphics say?"

Nico flushed and looked down, "They say 'Akh'."

Hades sighed, "But what does that mean."

"Brother." It was whispered but it still echoed in the empty room.

Hades stepped back, "No." He shook his head, "You are not getting involved with the Egyptians."

Nico's head shot up, "What? You can't do that!"

Hades pressed his lips together, "I very well can and will."

Nico felt tears well up in his eyes, but fought them back, "He's my friend. I can hang out with him and we can just talk and eat McDonald's! He's a god I can actually have a conversation with that is just friendly and not quest related! He cares about me!"

Hades wanted to run away, hide, be anywhere else but here. Why was being a father so hard? He was concerned for his son, but it seemed like he just messed things up.

"He's a god I can actually have a conversation with." Hades was surprised by the surge of jealousy he felt. He could never seem to have a casual conversation with his own son.

Nico felt bad. He had promised Anubis that he'd try not to give his father such a hard time, but it was so aggravating! He guessed he was just not used to being a son.

"I- I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking down and shuffling his feet.

Hades sighed, "No, it's my fault." Nico looked at his with surprise.

Hades looked at those brown eyes, the eyes that had seen too much, the eyes that had cried many times, the eyes that looked so much like his mother's, "I- I just don't want you to get hurt."

Nico's eyes widened. His father cared.

Hades was not expecting Nico to wrap his arms around him, "Thank you."

Hades hesitantly hugged him back.

Nico pulled away awkwardly after a few seconds.

Hades handed the charm back to him and Nico slipped it back on.

Hades looked at the bright vibrant happy meal, "Was that his idea too?"

Nico shrugged, "Yeah, Anubis said I should not be so hard on you. You're not the worst dad ever." He smiled.

Hades chuckled, "I guess you're not the worst son either." Nico's smile grew.

Hades opened up the happy meal, "So... Anubis, right?" He paused, "Huh, he does look a lot like you or at least he did 500 years ago."

"You've met him before?"

Hades chuckled again, "Yes, when his Underworld jutted into mine. It took years to sort the souls back into their proper place."

Hades sat down and so did Nico. Hades nibbled at a fry from the happy meal, "Anubis looked so flustered. He kept running about as a jackal, trying to keep the spirits in the right places like a sheep dog."

Nico laughed and so did Hades and it somehow felt right. The two of them sitting together, laughing and talking.

They knew they weren't the best father nor the best son, but they knew that they sure were gonna try.