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They all come together in Percy and Annabeth's house. It's the biggest one, but they still have to do a little juggling to fit everyone around a table.

Leo's been in the kitchen with Frank and Annabeth since early in the afternoon, cooking up a storm; Frank is actually helping, Annabeth is mostly overseeing but will chop something if both of them have their hands full.

They'll be exchanging gifts right after Leo finishes putting dinner in the oven and Frank puts desert in the fridge.

Hazel and Percy are setting things up in the living, Reyna, Jason and Pipper discuss music; he doesn't know what Nico is doing, but is overly aware of the other being there.

They haven't been talking much lately, and Leo's aware that once the new year settles in he'll see almost nothing of him; particularly now that he no longer needs Leo's help. It sucks, it really, real sucks; but he's come to terms with this reality

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Nico thinks on how to approach Leo, after talking to Reyna, he's made a bit of a discovery, and he thinks if he doesn't voice it soon he'll go the rest of his life wondering. He's learned firsthand just how awful wondering can be.

But he also doesn't want to make it obvious, so he when Leo steps out Nico finds a way to slip behind him; and then it's just the two of them under the stars. Moonlight paints Leo differently, darker, a sort of nod to what he hides behind loud humor; Nico has to take a few breaths in order for his words to not stutter.

"I've been talking with Reyna"

Leo gives him a look, like he's not sure where Nico's going with this, which is fair given what their last conversation was about.

"I had a few things to get around, and she was a lot of help"

This causes a nod, and he notices just how tired the other looks.

"She also told me a few things I missed way back when"

The expression on Leo's face changes then, and his whole body goes rigid, eyes staring sharply at Nico. There's a moment where silence hangs heavily between them, and tension runs the air like electricity; and then Leo takes a breath and looks away.

"Yeah, I found you"

The ground beneath Nico shifts, and settles, as tiny things suddenly come back to him, clear as day.

"Why didn't you tell me?" 

Leo runs a hand through the back of his hair, and there's something like hurt in his voice.

"I didn't want you to feel like you owed me anything, or like I helped you out of pity, or some other third thing"

And for whatever reason, Nico believes him.

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It takes only a moment for the peace to break, first comes footsteps, as they find themselves no longer alone, and then the night sky lights up. The silence is broken next, with a chorus of voices cheering together.

There's a new distance there, something that feels almost jarring, and when Nico gets a window to look, as every pair kisses, Leo is nowhere to be seen. Reyna is at his side the next moment, and he's pulled into a hug he returns distractedly; he still congratulates everyone as he's meant to.

Leo reappears only shortly, to call them inside for dessert, but in the chaos of everything, there's no room to talk. The Latino is wearing the jacket he'd come with, the old military style one he's always had, frayed at the edges, color dulled from the passing of time; he gives one of those small smiles he does when he wants to trick someone, and it probably says a lot that it actually works.

"I'm gonna have to go now, I promised to take the morning shift tomorrow"

There's a small bag with all the presents labeled with his name, and there's a round of protests but Leo shoes all of them down easily, then Percy steps up.

"I'll walk you to the door"

"Thanks, bye guys, happy new year"

Nico isn't sure what he feels as he watches them go, but it's something, something he doesn't think he likes; but it's not his place to stop them. Had he known just how long it would take for him and Leo to talk again, maybe he would have.

There are plenty of what-if scenarios to consider when thinking about this moment in particular, and there'll be even more down the line, when he remembers it. But the year has ended, and the one thing Nico is actually sure about, is that he has changed, things have changed, and they will keep changing.

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