"...you are loved..."

"I love you." A rosy cheek Italian, fourteen-year-old boy with the palest of features said. Voice even. No emotion. Just a simple fact. His onyx black eyes bore into shocked sea-green eyes.

"Oh...Nico I-um-I'm-" The Sea Prince didn't know what to say. Trying to find the right words to say to the 'emotionless' Italian. Nico held up his hand that silence the wide-eyed Sea Prince.

"I've had this silly crush on you since I was ten." Nico gave a dry-almost painful-chuckle. "You were everything. Handsome. Charming. Funny. In your own way...smart. It nearly crushed me when I found out about you and Annabeth."

Percy gave Nico a sad look. Not one of pity. Just sad.

"Nico, I'm sorry." Percy truly was sorry. Sorry about his broken promise. Sorry about not looking harder for Nico. Sorry for not looking out for Nico and having him go down a dangerous path.

Percy was just sorry.

"I know." He knew Percy truly felt guilty for Bianca di Angelo's death. He knew Percy felt guilty for leaving Nico on his own and felt like Nico's decisions were his fault.

Nico let a soft sigh past his doll-like-chapped and cracked-lips. "I'm not asking you to be with me, Percy Jackson. You're the Son of Poseidon, and I'm the Son of Hades. You bring light, and I'm shrouded in darkness."

"What are you asking of me, Nico di Angelo: Son of Hades, self-proclaimed Ghost King, and Ambassador of Pluto?"

"Reject me."

"Okay."

Percy tried to find the right words for the young Ghost King. Bright sea-green eyes look towards the sunny sky and a delicate smile graced his lips. Percy truly felt at peace. Wind flowing through his unruly, dark hair and the sun making his tan skin glow. Percy looked at Nico.

He could finally give Nico what he wanted.

The Son of Hades was on edge and bracing for something: cruel, insensitive, fake. Nico didn't know. Just something so he could face reality.

"Nico...I love you." Onyx black eyes widen and his lips parted in a gasp. "But I don't love you the way you love me. It is a friendly love. A brotherly love. Nothing more Nico. I'm truly am sorry I can't love you the way you love me."

Nico nodded and closed his eyes. He turned around, so his back was facing Percy.

About to go into the shadow of the tree, Percy started to speak again.

"But you're not what you say you are. You are good in your own way. You make mistakes, because you are human, Nico. Yes...you are a child of Hades, but you're so much more than that title."

Nico didn't realize how close Percy was until his back and head felt Percy's chest and stomach.

Percy gave Nico a back hug and whispered gently in Nico's ear, "Someone will love you despite all your flaws and will learn to accept them because they are a part of you. Whether that is Will Solace, another demigod, or a human. Don't forget Nico you are loved. And-"

Nico's eyes widened like saucers. Nico hastily turned around and saw his hero walk towards Camp Half-Blood. Hands in his pocket without a care in the world.

A month after the war with Gaea and her Titans was when Percy Jackson officially rejected Nico di Angelo.

Nico mumbled something under his breath that only the wind could hear his confession.

His silent confession.