What If Three Days Meant Forever?

The End Of Dirt Face But Also Repair Boy

Nico POV

There it was.

The sky would have surely been illuminated if it were night, ending the battle in beautiful lights and explosions of cheering Greeks and Romans alike.

But that wasn't the case.

Instead, there was a second where people were too full of shock to be excited, the realization of what just happened having yet to hit them. Though that second was gone as quickly as it had come. Cheers erupted from the Half-Bloods.

You could have heard their shouts from miles away. It seemed I was the only one unhappy. Well, me and Piper that is. I watched as she cried in the distance, Jason's arm around her shoulder. I lowered my head for our fallen.... could I really call him a friend if we hadn't spoken much?

Leo Valdez. Gone.

The next few days were spent grieving. Chiron invited me to do the burial rights to which I immediately accepted.

Frank and Hazel confessed about knowing Leo's plan all along. "In Delos, Leo pulled the two of us aside. He pleaded with us to help him." Frank had said. At first, we were all angry at them and rightfully so. The conversation was filled with "what-ifs" and "should'ves", though deep down, we all knew that this was how it had to happen. The anger quickly subsided and we came to the conclusion that it was really hard to be mad at people when they were crying uncontrollably.

Clarisse La Rue was named the godmother of Coach Hedge and Mellie's son. It was obvious she was completely in wonder of the little guy and often acted as a bodyguard for him.

The Greeks and Romans started acting like old pals after the battle. It all seemed so surreal and equal that I almost felt emotional about it. Reyna hugging me at the pavilion did not help that whatsoever.

That night, I actually slept in the Hades cabin which is something I wouldn't usually do. It always seemed so lonely and dark. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the dark decor, but sheesh, we're not the undead. The bed was basically a coffin.

No, seriously.

A polished mahogany frame, brass railings, and red velvet pillows and blankets that resembled blood.

They literally thought we were vampires.

Though, with Hazel there, I could honestly say it could've been worse. Frank came by and talked with Hazel for a while before talking with me.

Then I talked with Hazel. Mostly about Leo's death and how it felt. "I just wish he hadn't died alone." She'd said, her voice thick with emotion. I carried her back to her bed that night after she cried herself to sleep in my arms. I carefully tucked her in and placed a kiss on her forehead, brushing a curl away from her closed eyes.

I found my gaze wondering over to the little table in the corner of the cabin - the shrine to Hades, decorated with bones and jewelry. "I suppose there's a first time for everything." I murmured to myself before kneeling down in front of it to pray for guidance.

It's now the third morning after the battle and I'm still knelt down in front of my father's alter in the corner of the cabin when a knock sounds at the door.

Hazel's still sleeping in her quarantined off coffin of a bed so I can't tell if it's caused her stir or not. I stand up and walk over to the door to see Jason Grace on the other side of it.

He gestures me out of the cabin and I notice just how haggard he actually looks. His glasses are crooked, his hair messy, and there are bags under his eyes.

He begins explaining his plans - how he'll now be going back and forth between camps to build shrines for the gods and have them remembered. In the distance, the Romans are breaking camp in the strawberry fields.