Nico awoke with a small child nestled in the crook of his arm. He almost jumped but stopped when he noticed that she was asleep. He looked around and realized that he was in the infirmary. Again. Will had dozed off in a reclining chair, and his head had lolled down, his chin to his chest. His breathing was soft and equal, and Nico couldn't help but take a few moments to admire his boyfriend. 

It was night-time, but he couldn't tell what time it was. He didn't know how long he'd been in dreamland with Hypnos, but his wound still hurt. He looked down at the side of his chest and found his torso wrapped in bandages. He lifted up some of them and found that his wound was sealed with stitches. Although not stitches of string. Stitches made of shadows. His eyes widened and he looked from his wound to Will. 

"Will!" he hissed, careful not to disturb the sleeping child. Something was off about her, but he couldn't quite tell what. She shifted in her slumber and readjusted her position, her thumb falling out of her mouth and lying limp on Nico's bicep. He twitched but tried to ignore her. Will woke up with a start and his head fell down into his lap before it snapped back up, and his alert eyes fixed on Nico's dark brown ones in fear. Realising nothing was wrong, he relaxed and rubbed his face with his hands. 

"Morning Sunshine. I see you've met our little ball of surprises" he smiled softly, his grin widening when Nico looked at him, confused. Will stood up, cracking his back as he did so, before padding silently over to his lover and child. Gently, he cupped Nico's chin in his hands and tilted his face. "Look a little closer" he murmured, before pressing his lips in a thin line, awaiting his boyfriend's reaction. 

Nico looked down at the little girl lying in his arms. Really looked. He almost fell out of the bed when he recognised her. He frantically looked between his daughter and his boyfriend in surprise and fear. Fear that this was a dream. Fear it wasn't real. 

"No..." he breathed, his eyes tearing up. "It- it can't be. She's with- with the Yongs" he began to cry, cradling the small child to his chest, afraid she'd disappear. Will shook his head, smiling as tears of joy fell down his cheeks. He sat beside Nico and held him while he cried and apologised to Bianca, even though she was still asleep. 

Will explained everything that had happened between Nico defeating the invisible monsters and him waking up in the infirmary.  Nico shook slightly, rocking. A million thoughts raced through his mind. His baby was home. He wasn't a terrible father. They could still be a family. 

He leant against Will after he stopped crying and kissed him fervently, still trembling slightly.

"We're gonna be a family" he whispered. "Oh my gods. I love you Will" he kissed his boyfriend again. "I love you so much" Will's cheeks also held signs of the tears that had leaked from his eyes.

"I love you too" he said, shaking his head slightly at the events. He looked down at Bianca. "And we're gonna love her with all of our hearts as well" Nico nodded, hugging the little girl gently.

"With every fiber of my being" he replied, kissing her on her forehead. "With everything I can give. Ti amo Bianca. Ti amo mio bambino" he whispered, snuggling up to his daughter. She smiled in her sleep, and curled into his embrace as if to say:

"Me too Pàpà. Me too"