WILL
There's nothing we can do but wait. Reyna, Hazel, Percy, Annabeth and me. Nothing until we see Nico again.
'He'll be okay.' Reyna says, sitting beside me at the edge of the river, 'Nico has a knack for these things.'
'He also has a knack for almost dying.' I say. She smiles slightly.
'I can't argue with that.' She says, 'but he never dies.'
'Sometimes he does.' I say. Again she smiles.
'Of course.' She says.
We wait for a while. No one has any sense of how long it's been. And then Hazel spots figures coming closer. Four people.
'Why are there four?' Annabeth asks, 'that wasn't the plan.'
'Percy do the water thing.' I say, and after a moment he does.
The droplets separate from each other, and the four of them come running through. Nico, Piper, Jason, and a girl I can't place. Percy falls to his knees again, and looks up.
'Oh my Gods.' He says. He and Annabeth stare at the girl. They must know her.
Hazel is the first to hug Jason. She throws herself into his arms, beaming, and Jason hugs her back. After the initial shock of seeing the girl, Percy and Annabeth both compose themselves, and hug Jason; they take their time reuniting.
And then Reyna steps to Jason. She stares at him for a moment, before they hug.
I don't see how it ends, because I direct my attention to Nico and the girl.
'Hey-' I say.
'Will-' Nico says, falling short. Percy and Annabeth both approach us.
'Bianca.' Percy says, quietly.
'Hi Percy.' She says, 'been a while.'
'Bianca?' I ask, unable to stop myself. I turn to Nico. 'Bianca? Your sister? This is your sister?'
'Hi. Nice to meet you.' She says. She turns to Nico, expecting an introduction.
'This is Will.' He says, tripping over his words, 'this is Will. Will. My...this is my boyfriend. Will.'
Bianca momentarily looks surprised, but it turns into a smile. She looks at me.
'Will.' She says, 'nice to meet you.'
'You...too.' I say.
She turns to Percy, who still stares at her. He hasn't moved since she said hello.
'I'm so sorry.' He says, quietly and suddenly, 'I'm so sorry. I...I couldn't-'
'It wasn't your fault.' She says, 'it was never your fault.'
He still can only stare at her, so she steps forward and hugs him gently. After a moment, he hugs her back.
