ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ʙɪᴛᴇꜱ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴀʙᴇᴛʜ/ꜱᴏʟᴀɴɢᴇʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴊᴇᴄᴛ

ʟɪᴠ ɴɪᴄᴏ | ᴀɴɴᴀʙᴇᴛʜ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴜʙ

Nico can't help but smile.

He's helping to stand up what few chairs didn't get crushed or burnt by Leo. He even puts in the effort to tie the ribbons back into place, even though most of them are split in two, or, once again, burnt by Leo.

Hazel sweeps the clumps of fur that landed on the altar into a plastic container held by Frank. The fur on the ground is going to have to stay.

Percy and Leo are hauling the massive corpse away; they're taking it out of sight for now. After the wedding, they'll take it away for good.

Nico can see Will through the sliding doors. He's tending to Annabeth's burns.

Her dress isn't in good shape at all, she's covered in scrapes and bruises, and Nico's pretty sure he noticed a slight limp. However, she looks good. She seems better than ever. Is it possible that she got taller?

Everything's in shambles, and Nico can't help but smile. It's better than anything he would have expected. A massive monster attack bringing everyone together and ruining things is just what these people need. They're demigods. Did they really expect things to be perfect?

He swears he's seen this in a Hallmark movie before.

The door opens, and Piper emerges. "Everyone's inside and safe!" she reports.

"Are Leo and Percy back?" Hazel asks.

Piper gives a double thumbs up.

"Okay." Hazel takes a deep breath. "Let's get married!"

***

Nico still feels good. He thought he'd be one of those stone-faced older brothers, but nope. He's smiling like an idiot.

Like, look at how happy Hazel is! She's in love, and against all odds, she's getting married!

Turns out, Nico isn't immune to wedding fever. Looking at the tears streaming down people's faces and the gorgeous day they've been gifted, it's easy to imagine himself up there on the altar.

Maybe he'll write his own vows. He knows that's kind of trendy, but it's really romantic when you think about it. It's more personal too, especially for a guy like him who's been through a lot.

And he wants all his friends to be there. He can look past Percy's paranoia and Annabeth's tendency to show up to things hungover.

No, he hasn't forgotten about Will. He doesn't have to look past any of Will's quirks because he loves him for them, not in spite of them.

But Nico swears to Hades if Will Solace tries to shove cake in his face Nico will divorce him on the spot.

He can't wait to be up there.

Will is sitting across the way from Nico. He's crying, and he doesn't even know Hazel and Frank that well. Nico doesn't judge though. It's been quite a day.

Annabeth rests her head on Will's shoulder. She looks dreamy, and content, completely relaxed, but not like she's on drugs.

They've been so good for each other for so long, Annabeth and Will.

Nico decides not to mention getting back together. Will's right. Annabeth needs him, maybe not for much longer, but it isn't anybody's place to rush her into anything.

Annabeth sticks her tongue out at Nico. Oops. He's staring.

"Then by the power invested in me... by Juno..." Reyna recites. She doesn't sound so happy to reference Juno. "I now pronounce this couple husband and wife."

The silence becomes pronounced as Frank and Hazel continue to stare into each other's eyes, and Reyna slams her leather-bound notebook shut.

"What?" she asks. "We did it, right? Did I forget something?"

Percy laughs and throws an arm around his mom, holding her close. What a mama's boy. What did Nico ever see in this guy?

Hopefully, Annabeth's okay with Percy's quirks. Or maybe she doesn't have to have an opinion. She did almost just go up in flames, so she probably has more pressing issues.

Frank leans down and whispers in Reyna's ear.

"Oh! Yeah, I forgot about that part," Reyna says. She chuckles awkwardly. "You can kiss now."

Everyone cheers when Frank and Hazel kiss. Everyone's crying too.

Even Nico's crying, but he'll send a zombie army after the first person that mentions it.

Frank steps up to the microphone. "Alright, so the reception is going to take place right now in the banquet hall. There are plenty of subs for everyone!"

"Good gods, please eat subs," Hazel mumbles.

"Woo! Subs!" Annabeth yells. That woman is going to be in sub sandwich rehab soon if she doesn't get a grip.

Nico meets Will and Annabeth in the aisle. There was supposed to be some sort of timed exit with the wedding party, but they decided to drop that, as well as the assigned seating.

Besides, Hazel has no clue who her maid of honor is at this point.

But if you ask Nico, Annabeth made a pretty good one.

"C'mon, Will! I don't wanna miss out on the pretzel buns! Will, they have pretzel buns!" Annabeth yells.

Will rolls his eyes. "You're lucky I love you."

"How're you feeling?" Nico asks.

"Hangry!" shouts Annabeth.

Will sighs in exasperation. "I always cry at this sort of stuff. Makes me sentimental. But you know, I could go for a sub too. How about you?"

Nico smiles. "Half of me is super emotional, and the other half just wants to show you how good I got at doing that 'Cha Cha Slide' dance."

"Oh, I can't wait," Will teases. "I bet you look so good doing the Charlie Brown."

"Sexiest dance move ever, am I right?"

Will laughs and slides the door open, letting Annabeth and Nico in ahead of him.

They claim a table closest to the subs, which is likely to be a poor move later when they've all had a couple of drinks.

Percy approaches them, red in the face. "Hey, Will? Can I, uh, talk to you about something?"

Will nods his head. "What's up, Percy?"

"Actually," says Percy. "I was hoping we could go talk in the kitchen if that's alright."

It must be important. Will stands up, pushes in his chair, and follows Percy out.

"Know anything about that?" Nico asks Annabeth.

"If it's not about subs, I don't care," she says.

That's a valid point. Nico shrugs and takes a bite out of his sub.