Nico

For the first time in months, I slept without having any dreams.  This was by far the best that I've felt in the morning in a long ass time.  Maybe it had something to do with our activities last night after dinner.  If that was the case, Will was going to be in trouble.  It was just before dawn and I was still laying on my sleeping husband's chest.  We still had some time before we had to get ready and I was way too comfortable to wake him up.  Besides, I enjoyed listening to the soft beat of his heart.  A heart, that I knew only beat for me.

I was kind of glad last night when Jason had his little conversation with us.  It was a conversation that needed to happen and Jason starting it made me feel a lot better.  At least he didn't have any hard feelings toward us.  I still think that he's rather good looking, but he's no Will.  My husband's body was the only one that I needed in my life.  Yes, I'm sure that we'll still check other guys out, it's only natural.  However, we didn't need to be with anyone else to make us happy.

Last night definitely proved that fact to me.  I don't think that I have ever been so completely satisfied since our honeymoon.  However, I did kind of feel a little bad about leaving the bite marks on Will's arms and hands though.  In my defense, it was either bite down on him or wake the whole camp up.  It may have taken him a couple years, but he was starting to get really good at doing his job.  Sex with my hubby was always great, but sometimes, I liked it to be a little rougher.  I know that it's kind of weird, but there was something about giving myself completely to him that really got me going.  Plus, the pleasure that he gave me while he was doing it was out of this world.

Just thinking about last night was bringing a smile back to my half-awake face.  I glanced at the clock on the nightstand, there was still about an hour until we had to get up.  I nuzzled my face into my baby's smooth chest and tightened my grip around his torso.  Even when he was sleeping, his body still had a calming effect on me.  Just the heat radiating off him alone was more than enough relax me.  Not wanting to waste an hour, I closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep snuggled up to my lover's warm body.

...

Right after we finished our breakfast, we found Argus waiting by the camps van as promised.  Just as we were about to get into the van, Chiron camp trotting over to us.  He had a somewhat troubled look on his face that made me start to worry.

"Heroes," he said, "I have just found out something that may be valuable information.  There appears to be a situation at the Empire State Building."

Will asked, "what kind of situation?"

Chiron replied, "the news report called it some kind of hostage situation.  All of the entrances and exits to the lobby have been sealed off."

Jason said, "well, it looks like that's where we're headed then."

Chiron continued, "go with caution my friends.  If something happens to our entrance to Olympus, well, I don't even want to fathom the consequences."

"We will Chiron, thank you for the news."

We got into the van, shut the doors, and buckled up.  Argus tended not to abide by the posted speed limits and today he needed to drive fast.  The van peeled out of the camp and raced us toward the train station.

...

Will put his hand on my leg as the train entered the tunnels.  He did not handle being underground well in any way, shape, or form.  The absence of natural light seemed to bring out a side of my husband that I didn't like to see.  I leaned against his side and rubbed his arm, trying to soothe him the best that I could.  Sliding my hand down his arm, I took his big hand into my smaller one.  I could hear him sigh as he squeezed my hand and smiled at me.

It wasn't too much longer before the train pulled into the station.  I knew that it would be best to get Will onto the street as soon as possible.  The minute the train stopped, I stood up, pulling Will along with me.  We grabbed our backpacks and made a bee line to the doors with Jason and Piper right behind us.  Even though rush hour was over, the station was still pretty busy.  Zig zagging around the other people in the station, I led our little group through the maze of tunnels and stairs until we were standing on the street.

The exit we took from Penn Station wasn't that far from the Empire State Building.  Even with the normal noise from the city, police sirens could still be heard a from a few blocks away.  With Will's hand still in mine, we walked toward the sirens as fast as we could.  As we got closer, the towering structure came into sight.  My eyes followed the building up as it approached the sky.  Directly above it, there were pure black clouds swirling in the sky.  I could honestly say that I have never seen anything like it before, except for maybe in a movie or something.  I didn't even realize that I had stopped walking until Will jerked my arm.

"I'm sorry baby, I've just never seen anything like this before."

"It's alright, Nico," Will replied while smiling at me with his brilliant white teeth.  "The situation here must be worse than we thought."

Piper yelled, "hey, love birds!  I think that we better hurry up before this gets out of control."

We kept going until we reached the mass of people standing outside the police barricade.  They were yelling and screaming at the police on the other side of the barricade.   We were still about a block away from the building and it didn't look like anyone was getting through.  Will squeezed my hand and I looked at him.  He moved his head, motioning for us to go off to the side.  I nodded in reply and grabbed Jason's arm, pulling him and Piper along with us.  Will led us to a spot beside another building where nobody else was standing.

"Nico," he said, "I think that your dark powers are needed here."

"I agree, but you're gonna have to help me.  I don't want to fall over when we get inside."

Will replied, "I gotcha angel."  He turned his head and looked at Jason and Piper.  "What about Piper?  We can't just leave her our here on the street."

Jason jumped in, "NO, she comes with us.  There's no way that I'd leave her out here by herself."  He turned at looked at Piper.  "You'll just have to hide somewhere quick when we get inside."

Piper nodded and replied, "I think I can handle that."

"Alright, I don't think that we should waste any more time.  Everyone, join hands."

Since Will was already holding my hand, Jason grabbed the other.  Will and Jason each took one of Pipers hands, completing the circle.  I could feel Wills healing power go up my arm and into my chest.  It was now or never and I could only hope that I pull this off without passing out.  Closing my eyes, I pictured the lobby in my head.  The shadows encompassed us and we dissolved into the darkness.

...

As soon as we reappeared inside the Empire State Building, I let go of Jason's hand and fell into Will's chest.  He let go of Piper and wrapped his arms around me.  More of his healing energy poured into me, giving me the strength to stand on my own.  As I looked around our surroundings, I realized that we were standing in the middle of the main elevator bank.  That wasn't the strange thing though.  The strange thing was, everything was wet.  It was like a water main exploded and covered everything in the lobby.  That was when I got a feeling that I knew who were we dealing with.

"Piper, find a place to hide, but stay close to the elevators."

She kissed Jason before running down the hallway.  Once Piper was hidden away safely, the three of us started walking slowly toward the lobby.  When we finally reached the lobby entrance, I was amazed by the sight in front of me.  The entrances were being blocked by walls of water.  I turned my attention to the middle of the lobby and there he was.  I could only see the back of his head, but it was definitely him.  I could feel the blood drain from my face as I looked at him.  It was the man that I once had a profound crush on when I was younger.  The one and only, Son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson.  I knew at that time, this was one fight that I was not looking forward to.

He quickly turned around and looked right at us.  I could tell by the look in his eyes he was under the influence of Chaos.  His eyes were dark instead of his usual sea green.  They looked like someone else was looking through them.  The thought of hurting Percy was killing me inside.  Maybe, with a little luck, I could try the diplomatic approach instead.

"Percy... it's me... Nico."

He looked at me for a minute and shook his head.  It was as if some little bit of memory was getting through.  He looked at the floor before looking back to us.  The same blank stare returned to his face.

Percy said, "demigods, the time has come to end our parents rein on this Earth.  You may join me if you wish.  If you try to stop me, I will have no choice but to kill you."

I could feel my grip on the hilt of my sword tighten.  My knuckles were starting to turn white and I could feel myself starting to shake.  I was just about to charge him when I felt a hand on my shoulder.  I turned to my side and found Jason looking at me.

He said, "Nico, let us handle this one.  If something happens to us, then you'll have to fight him."

It took all that I had just to nod an approval to him.  I personally didn't want any harm to come to any of them.  All I could do was silently pray to the Gods while Will and Jason went in after Percy.  Just as Will got close to him, a wave of water came from the side and pushed my baby down the hall.  I wanted to run after him, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to move.  Jason got to him next and managed to jump out of the way of the next wave.  However, he slipped on the wet tile and slid into the wall.

Percy looked at me once again.  He still had the same blank look on his face.  He held out his arm and motioned his fingers, beckoning me to try and attack him.  Holding my sword up, I took baby steps toward him.  Once fully inside the lobby, I noticed waves coming toward me from both sides.  I jumped back to where I was looked at him again.  When I looked at Percy, I saw Jason standing behind him against the wall.  Jason started levitating off the ground, holding his arms up in the air.  Just as the waves collided in front of me, there was a loud bang and the hairs on my arms all stood up.  I watched in front of me as the waves were suddenly filled with lightning.

After the water settled on the ground, I saw Percy laying on the floor.  He was completely soaked and wasn't moving.  As I ran over to him, the black haze left his body and disappeared into the air.  The water that was once blocking the entrances was now covering the floor.  I got to Percy and knelt down beside him.  His chest was still rising and falling with each breath.  At least he was still alive, although unconscious.  Jason and Will joined me, standing over us.

"We have to get to Olympus."

Jason asked, "what about him?"

"Fuck... he's coming with us.  Carry him to the elevator."

Jason grabbed Percy's arms while Will grabbed his legs.  They carried him, following behind me as we rushed to the elevators.  Piper was already standing there, keeping the door to the elevator open for us.  Once all five of us were inside, they laid Percy down on the floor as the doors shut behind us.  I pushed the button with the Greek symbol for Omega on it.  Usually, this was when the elevator shot up to the 600th floor.  Strangely, this time nothing happened.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me."

Will wrapped his arm around my stomach.  "Angel, if Olympus is still closed off, the elevator won't work."

"It fucking has to work, we need to get up there.  Zeus, Dad, Apollo, Zephyr, fucking Eros, someone, please help us."

I pushed the button repeatedly, and we still stayed on the ground floor.  This thing had to work, we desperately needed to get to Olympus.  As I kept jamming my finger into the button, blood started coming out around my nail.  The blood was starting to drip off the bottom of my finger as Will tried to pull me back from the panel.  I made one last attempt to push the button again.  By that time, my fingertip barely reached the button.  I barely just pushed it in as my trying angel pulled me back.  I think that everyone was surprised when the elevator dinged and shot up toward Mount Olympus, 6000 feet above us.