Nico's Return

Depressed Son of Hades

Reyna's POV

5 years.

5 years since Nico died, and I have to say, it has been the hardest 5 years I have ever experienced. Addy has grown up so much, and she still remembers Nico. Not well, but she talks about the man with the skull ring and dark eyes. She knows who he is, and it breaks my heart. It is the exact day that he died, and it is always a sad day around both camps. I stand, mentally preparing myself for the pain and hardship for that day. I'm not ready, and I'm not over it. I never will be. Hazel and I were effected the most, we were closest with him. Jason was a wreck too, everyone was. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I picture all the moments when he was the only one who could make me smile, and it brings tears to my eyes when I open them, but I blink them away. I quickly and dress, then walk out of my private quarters and go to the coffee shop and get a hot chocolate. They always calm me down, and that is exactly what I need. I sit sipping my hot beverage for nearly an hour just thinking when I decide to prepare for departure. Hazel, Frank,  Thalia, Bianca, Addy, myself, and anyone else who chooses to come go to Camp Half-Blood every year on this day and participate in the annual service. It started just for Nico, but it quickly it evolved to honor and remember every fallen hero. 

When we get to Camp Half-Blood, we are quickly greeted by solemn faces and mumbled hellos. Everyone walks to the dining pavilion and we begin to honor everyone who fell. This year, I am talking for Nico. We switch around who does it so we can always hear new stories. So far, it has been Hazel, Thalia, Jason, Person, and now me. People begin to talk about their friends and family. A lot of people are mentioned, most I do not know. We go done the list, and I wait for my turn to talk. I listen to the first few speeches then begin to drone that, thinking about Nico. That is, until I hear the small footsteps and a little voice begin to talk. 

"Hello, my name is Zoe," the small child says, then looks to her parents who nod in encouragement, "And I am going to talk about the stars. The first story is about the girl who I was named after, her name was Zoe by the way. Wait, you would know that, oops. Anyway, her name was Zoe Nightshade and she lives in the stars now. She saved my mommy and daddy and Miss Thalia and Nico and a lot of people. She seems very nice and at night daddy points to the stars and shows me where she is. We also say hello to the stars, for Bob, says mommy. Bob is the other person I am gong to talk about. He helped mommy and daddy out of Tar-tarta- tartar sauce," the audience chuckled at the child's mistake,"and my daddy says that he saved them So say hello to the stars for Bob and look for the girl and her bow and arrow," she finishes.

Applause erupt from the crowd as she stumbles back to Percy and Annabeth who have tears in their eyes. It's my turn now, so I stand. I slowly walk over to the front of the room and feel the stares of everyone on my back. I turn to face the audience, my face stony, "Hello"  I greet formally. 

My face softens as I begin to talk, "Nico used to hate when I would talk so formally. Well, as you can probably guess, that is who I am talking about. Nico was, he-he was, well, Nico. The depressed son of Hades who could make even me smile. He was so kind. He checked in the Bob who in turn saved Percy and Annabeth. He saved Addy who was barely one at the time. Only Nico would do that, save a young child and keep it. Most people would just drop it at the nearest orphanage. Instead, he saved and took care of this beautiful baby girl who he loved more than himself. And now she's gotten so big, a-and he isn't here to see it. What cruel trick of the fates is that? Nico, he deserved so much more than what he got. His mother and sister dead, he walked through Tartarus alone, he got a cheating ass boyfriend who killed him. Nico, gods Nico, you deserved so much more, and you never got it. Everyone is afraid of death, but accepted it. 'It's a part of life' you would tell, which I always found so ironic. When you think about it, death sucks. Everything someone was, everything someone could have been just gone. It's unfair and ridiculous. But I guess without death, there would be no consequence to action. That is what Nico was thinking, when he, um, when he dies. He was thinking that this would make up for his actions. What he didn't know as that everyone had already forgiven him. A long time ago. So I guess all I want to say is thank you. To every fallen hero. And especially to Nico who showed me that death hurts like hell, but hell teaches you a lesson. My lesson was that pain and heartache serve as scar tissue to remind you, but not to keep you wary. Nico, we miss you, More than you could ever know," I finish, tears streaming down my face. 

I quickly rush away and go to hide. I sit in a hidden area by the beach. I begin to talk to Nico, because I still have so much left to say. "Nico, I miss you, we all miss you so much. Will is serving his time in your father's castle doing Hades knows what, literally. But, we just want you back. So bad, you didn't know it, and I don't think we did either, but you really held us all together, You were what so many of us had in common. I can't thank you enough for that. I love you Nico, more than you could ever know." I say out loud, dropping my head. 

"Believe me, I know."