Inconvenient Love

Chapter 1

"You're...what?" Nico looked up from his cup of coffee to stare at his father. The Saturday morning had suddenly turned tense. "What do you mean?"

His father was sitting in front of him, hands clasped together nervously. Hades di Angelo. People asked if he lived up to his namesake, but Nico thought he was a pretty good guy most of the time. But the dark eyes and hair didn't help the image others had of him. "I want to propose to her. You know I've been seeing her for a while-"

"Hazel's mom just died." Nico cut in. It seemed that Hades' taste in women was the only thing Nico hated about him. First, it was his own mother, then Persephone, then Hazel's mother, and now this new woman. How many could a guy go through? "And you're already looking to marry again. This will be your fourth marriage. That's insane, dad."

"It's been almost a year." Hades defended. "And you know how much I like Naomi-"

"That doesn't mean you have to marry her already!" Nico gestured around him at the large kitchen. "You'll be bringing her into this house."

"It's my house and my life." Hades stood up. "And I love her and you're going to respect her. Now, come with me."

Nico scowled. "Why?"

"I need help picking out a ring. You're gay, you can help."

Nico frowned at what his father would call logic. "That's not very accurate or polite, you know."

"Nico...please."

"Fine, fine." Nico stood up and grabbed his phone from the table. "But we're stopping for coffee."

Hades nodded in agreement before walking into the living room. "Hazel, are you coming?"

Nico followed quickly. "Wait, she already knows?"

Hazel looked up from the couch where she had been drawing, colored pencils scattered around her. "Why wouldn't I know?" She was a year or two younger than Nico, with curly hair and dark skin. She didn't look like the rest of the family but fit in well enough.

Nico shrugged helplessly. "Are you coming?" He gave her a pleading look. "Please?"

Hazel nodded. "We have to make sure he does it right this time."

Nico sighed in relief, thankful he didn't have to be alone with his father for the rest of the day. "Let's get going."

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It took all day for them to all agree on a ring. Afterward, Hades dropped them off at home before going to take Naomi out to dinner. As Nico unlocked their front door, his car drove away.

"Do you think she'll like it?" Hazel asked as she followed him inside. "I mean, he spent a lot of money on it. The diamond should be big enough."

"The money is probably the whole reason she's with him. Remember Persephone?" Nico grabbed his own keys. "I'm heading out. Will you be okay here alone? I can wait until Frank gets here to leave."

"I'll be fine." she suddenly looked worried. "Be safe, okay? I don't want to have to come pry you off of some random guy's lawn."

"It was one time, Hazel." Nico kissed her cheek. "Bye, don't wait up." He left without another word but remembered why he hadn't promised her request. At four in the morning, she and Frank came to get him. They found him at some random party, the wine bottle against his dry lips.

"Nico, come on." Hazel kept him close as she helped him to the car. Every night seemed to be the same. In the mornings he never remembered.

Once she got him in the car, Frank drove him home. The ride was silent save for Nico's hiccups, his head in Hazel's lap as he eyes opened and closed. Once they got home, Frank helped her get him up the tall stairs and into his bedroom, the dark walls seeming to calm her older brother more than she ever could. Once he was in bed, he passed out in seconds.

"Thank you for helping me get him." Hazel hugged Frank, looking down at Nico as he slept. "And thank Leo for calling us about him..."

"I will," Frank promised. "Are you okay?"

Hazel nodded. "Just worried. He's getting worse and worse."

"Did you ever figure out what's causing him to do it?" Frank asked.

Hazel shook her head. "Not even a little..." She caught sight of Nico's clock. "It's getting late. You should get home before your parents realize you're gone."

Frank nodded in agreement but didn't let her go. "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, I'm going to get him in pajamas and then get to bed." Hazel broke the hug. "I'll see you Monday at school."

He nodded. "Goodnight, Hazel."

"Goodnight, Frank."

He left the room, leaving her alone with her brother. Like most nights, she changed him and got him comfortable before getting to her own room to sleep. His drinking had gotten worse this past month, worse than it had been the rest of the year. Yet no one could ever pinpoint why.

But her world was getting a little too complicated to think about it long. Her father was marrying again, bringing a new stepmother and stepbrother into the house. And Nico had been right about one thing. That women was probably with him for his money, which wouldn't end good. It hadn't the last time.

Persephone. Nico had told her all about it. Before marrying her own mother, Hades had married a woman with an ancient name to match his own. Almost immediately, most of his money had been going to her. New dressed, diamond jewelry, nights out at the most expensive of restaurants. He only saw through her when he found out that she was stealing even more from him.

From what Nico had said, it had crushed him pretty bad to break up with her. But Hazel didn't believe that much. It had only taken him a couple of weeks to get with her own mother, then only a couple months later for them to get engaged. Maybe Hades just needed a woman in his life. Maybe he was trying to get a mother for Nico. But almost like he was cursed to live alone, they never stayed long.