First of all I am so sorry but this will break your leico shipper hearts.
Second of all, I am inlove with Demi Lovato's Stonecold.
Third of all, sorry for taking for ever to write, the next few days I will upload a couple of chapters for you.
Fourth of all, enjoy!

Nico sat on the bench with several others. All strangers. This whole place was taken from something that wasn't normal. A part of Nico said that this wasn't even really happening. After all it was four years since Leo disappeared, only three months ago that he returned. Nico had faced it that Leo probably had been dead but he had waited. Waited. Waited. Waited.

He had loved Leo so hard that he sometimes laid awake at night, wondering, thinking that it couldn't be normal for his heart to hurt this much. Loving Leo was like a heart attack, being away was worse.

On the Argo II they hadn't had so much space. Even when Nico could sleep in Percy's room he hadn't wanted to it, it felt like he had to acknowledge that Percy was gone if he did. And Percy wasn't gone, he wasn't dead, it felt wrong to take his room then. So during the nights when he didn't wander around, or go to Hazel, he sat in the machine room with Leo. Helping him with the tinkering that the son of Hephaestus did.

Later they cleared Leo's bed of his little projects, of the blueprints, of tools, just so that the two of them could lay down and sleep. Just sleep, nothing more. Well Nico and he would stare at each other, sometimes talk, but nothing more. Nothing more until the last night. The night when Nico were to go away with Reyna and Coach Hedge.

That kiss had meant everything. So had the letter that Hazel later gave him. When Gaea was gone. When he had felt Leo dying but then again not really. When the sky was blue again, when the camp took care of the dead or the hurt. That letter that he had carried around everywhere because the words were to precious to leave behind.

It had hurt Nico too much to be with anyone else. Even when Will Solace came around with his sunshine and those smiles. Nico couldn't bear it. Couldn't bear being more than friends, and Will understood.

But here he was. On a bench in a church. Leo stood by the altar in his black tuxedo, Jason by his side because he was the best man. Percy sat on the front row with Annabeth, neither of them wanted to be a bridesmaid or the grooms man. They supported the marriage but didn't want to plan a thing, especially with them now being pregnant and all. Planning a kid was exhausting. Apparently. Nico didn't really know since he couldn't get pregnant and didn't have to worry about his boyfriend getting pregnant either. Mostly because Nico is gay, secondly because he didn't even have a boyfriend.

Never had.

Not since Leo.

Leo with his curly hair, impish grin, and that wonderful black tuxedo with a red tie. Leo who hated the fire that burned inside of him, the Leo that was afraid that he would accidentally burn someone again.

Did Calypso know that? Did she care?

The day Leo had told him that he and Calypso were to marry... a part of him had died. Another had studied Calypso. Sure there had been four years since he and Leo had known each other, Leo had matured and grown up so much since then, but Nico could still see the same lost fifteen-year-old. The same boy who didn't think he was good enough to be a part of the seven prophecy. The same boy that cried at night because he was so scared about what Nemesis had told him.

Calypso had been sarcastic and a pain in the butt. She had joked, talked to loud, and was generally annoying. Towards Leo, towards Nico, towards all of Leo's friends that had been so ecstatic that Leo had returned home.

Calypso with those eyes that hid to many things. The girl had been on an island almost her entire life, she was an immortal. Doomed to fall in love with every man to step a foot on her island. Leo deserved better than her, Nico understood his crush he had had before. Back when Leo thought that everything revolved around having a relationship. When Leo thought that the world only cared when your status wasn't single. Back then Nico could see why Leo had fallen for Calypso, he understood why he had to go back and get her. a promise on the river Styx. Leo would have died. But Nico never thought that Leo would stay away all those years only to return with a fiancé on his arm.

Didn't the letter mean anything to him?

Then the music started. That god awful bridal marsh, and everyone turned around to look at the bride with her white dress and teary eyes. Nico was dead set on Leo, on Leo who suddenly looked pale and ill. Nico's stare didn't waver and when Leo's eyes sought him out he gave a reassuring smile because whatever anyone else said he still loved Leo.

Four years and counting. He would love him.

Calypso reached the alter, Hazel took her flowers and offered a kiss on the cheek. Leo had asked if Hazel could be Calypso's maid of honor. Hazel had said yes even when she saw Nico's heart breaking. What were she to do? She was Leo's friend too.

The priest started talking, Nico stopped listening, he couldn't bear hearing them saying 'I do', or those ridicules vows. He didn't even want to be here.

The only reason he came was because Will had said it would do him good. Will who had talked to him all night when Nico laid sleepless. Had talked while Nico bit back his tears, because there had gone four years and he should be over the Latino that had stolen his heart.

So here he was. believing only for a minute that he would soon feel better. He wanted Leo to be happy and if this was the price then so be it. Leo deserved happiness after the whole seven prophecy and Nico wouldn't step between Leo and his fate. Even if Nico wasn't his fate.

A burning sadness crawled up his throat as the ceremony continued. A camper on his right turned to say something but quickly turned away again when he saw Nico.

It wasn't a secret that the son of Hades was in love with the son of Hephaestus who had disappeared during the war. Everyone knew Nico. Everyone knew his feelings.

So once again he bit back the tears and tried to convince himself that this was for the best. He wasn't going to tear Leo's heart apart. If Leo wanted Calypso, then Nico would let him have her. The two of them were after all beautiful together in a way that Leo and Nico could never be.

At the party after Nico sat at the table with Percy and Annabeth. Hazel was out dancing with Jason; Frank couldn't come to the wedding since he still ruled Camp Jupiter. Reyna hadn't come either. Nico didn't blame them, neither of them really liked Leo. In this moment Nico didn't really like Leo either.

Leo who had looked over at him multiple times, looking to see if Nico was hurt. During those moments he plastered a smile on his face, talked with Percy, or invited Will to come and dance with him.

Leo saw a man who enjoyed himself on the dancefloor, someone who wasn't hurt, or dead inside.

But Nico was lying on the cold wooden floor, dying, with a gasping breath that would never return to his body. It would hurt less to be trapped in Tartarus then be here.

"Isn't weird," Hazel said sitting down next to Nico when the song was over, "Leo have two faces."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well one when he looks at Calypso, that one is full of love and longing, of happiness..." she swallowed and didn't continue.

"And one when he sees me?" Nico asked quietly as if the room would collapse on top of them if he said it too loud.

"It's a weird one. He loves you, I can see it, Piper even says that she can see the love between you two." Hazel gave him a pitiful smile. "He looks at you with love, loss, and wonder. Have you guys... talked?"

"No. He returned home, screamed that he was to marry and then nothing." Nico sighed, "you could think he was embarrassed and I can't do anything."

"Why? You can talk to him." Said his sister with the warmest eyes he had ever seen, she would always support him and be on his side, even if he ended the world she would be there for him.

"I want him to be happy. Even if it means that he is with someone else."

"You waited for four years." Will butted into the conversation ruthlessly.

"I would wait another four if that is what it takes." Nico smiled. "I can live through anything William. Truly. If he is happy with her than let him have it that way. I will not be stone cold and end their marriage, for Hera's sake, they have only been married for three hours."

"He could at least have talked to you alone." Will said crossing his arms.

"He didn't, and if that doesn't show how he feels than I don't know what will. Nico burn up the letter and forget about him." Hazel said taking her brother's hand in hers. "Nico you get to live and love too."

"I want to dance." He said huskily, "Will?"

"Sure thing." Will stood up and took Nico to the dance floor.

The dance, the music, the alcohol that swirled around in Nico's body turned him fuzzy. That was good. He didn't want to remember because even when he so desperately wanted to feel happy for Leo, he couldn't understand. He wanted to know why Leo hadn't talked to him, why Leo hadn't said a god damn thing. Was there something wrong?

If only he was braver. In that case he would go up to Leo himself and talk to him. Make him explain why he was away for so long, only to return with a woman on his arm and a fake smile on his lips.

Hadn't Nico been enough for him?

Had that last night meant nothing? Had the letter?

Will was an amazing dance partner, an amazing friend. While Leo was away Nico hadn't had much to do. He was there for Will whenever the son of Apollo called. When Percy needed help too, or Reyna. Traveling between the camps had become his job and he didn't mind. He needed to be occupied because otherwise he would crumple. Just as he was doing now.

Will twirled him around and his gaze looked with Leo's.

Leo who was dancing with his new wife, his hands on her hips, his smile that was meant just for her. He was happy. Calypso was happy, her white dress amazingly beautiful, her shining smile that would blind anyone but Leo.

Nico excused himself before he ran to a dark corner and shadow traveled to the back of the church.

He gulped the air as if he hadn't breathed for hours. He felt the tears sting his eyes and for once he didn't held them back. What was the point. He had been dancing with her, being happy with her, he had married her.

Once Nico had thought that when Leo came back they would marry, they would get a nice house, adopt 4-7 kids, maybe have a cat or a dog. He had painted a picture and now he was tearing it apart. It would never happen.

He was finally face to face with reality and it broke him even more. After the wedding was over he promised himself that he wouldn't see Leo again. He couldn't. He would go on with his life, settle down with Will, get a hamster, start over a new leaf.

On the weekends he would help Percy and Annabeth with their new baby, he would visit camp Jupiter more. He would... he would...

It started raining. It couldn't get more depressing than that.

That was until he saw those black shoes.

"I'm sorry." The words weren't enough.

"I'm happy for you. I mean I can't really understand why, everything in the letter," he took the letter out, he had had it in the inner pocket of his jacket. "I am happy for you... even if you choose her."

"I thought you were over me. Hazel told me only this morning that you had waited." Leo sounded so small that for a moment the two of them were back at the Argo II machine room, the two of them fumbling to get to Leo's room, stripping each other of their t-shirts.

"You could have talked to me, I had had this stupid letter, I have believed it for so long." Nico said suddenly much harsher and angrier than he meant. "I thought that for once I had found someone, but of course the fates hate me, I am doomed to be miserable."

"Nico I love you."

"Then why did you continue to marriage?"

"Because I am happy with her. Sure we bicker and fight. But I can see a future with her, one that I couldn't see with you."

"Like I said Leo, I am happy for you, I wish you the best. Can you... I love you. Was the letter true?"

The letter was soaked, the writing smeared. Nico was happy because he was going to cry even harder if he had to read it again. He had forced himself to read it before bed every night, wishing and hoping for the Leo's wishes to come true.

"It was true, but I was fifteen."

"Thank you. Go back to your wife before she starts getting any ideas." Nico said coldly, he was hurt and sad but he wouldn't take the happiness away from the person that he thought deserved it the most.

The thing with feelings is that they are hard to kill. Hard to avoid. Hard to feel. Nico would forever be in love with Leo, but the feeling would falter and fade. Someday, not tomorrow, or a year from now, maybe not even ten years from now, but someday, he would wake up and not love Leo the same way.

Feelings are so hard to kill because they want to be felt. It's no one's fault. The heart decides what is worth feeling, we just have to live with that.

Nico didn't meet Leo's eyes, didn't look at Leo's freckles, or tanned skin, didn't face him at all. He simply stared at those black shoes until they disappeared.

Love comes and love goes. Growing up Nico had always been ashamed for liking guys. Still am a bit. But love is love and people shouldn't be afraid of it.

Nico swallowed the love, harvested his feelings, went on with his life. Maybe next year would be a better year for him.

The rain was still thundering down, soaking him, making his black hair plaster to his face. He didn't want to go inside though. He liked the feel of the rain on his skin. He liked feeling the cold reach down to his bones.

It was Annabeth who came and fetched him. Her round belly, her blond hair, her red cheeks. She just had to look at him to understand what had happened. During these past years the two of them had become great friends.

"I'm glad it's over." She said in a small voice.

"Me too." Nico nodded and took her hand, her warm hand.

"This day has been a roller coaster huh?"

"Yeah." Nico scoffed.

"Will is worried about you. Hazel too but she won't admit it. She likes to think that you can take care of yourself."

"Well I can."

"That's good to know." Annabeth smiled and playfully shoved him.

"Not fair, I can't shove you back!"

"Why not?" she asked offended.

"Precious cargo, baby on board." Nico said poking her stomach, then putting his hand on it because he could feel the baby kick.

"Will you be the godfather?"

"I would love too." Nico smiled.

"I think you can live through this di Angelo. You are a brave kid. The best." Annabeth stated and led him inside were Percy greeted them.

And just like that Nico felt a little better. The warmth, the kindness of friends, Will's warm hands and teasing smiles. Nico's heart still ached, he still felt haunted, but he was a little bit better and for now, that was enough.