A/N: Heyyooo everyone!

I'm sorry for the late update, but I have such little free time these days. I have to apologize in advance because updates might be even slower in the following month or so, because my term tests are coming up and I need to prove myself to my mom.... I'm terrified.

-but I love my readers so I'll update the first chance I get okay?

Aaanyways that being said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FAN!!!! Well.... Happy BELATED birthday. HEHE I hope you had a good one!

"Why don't you invite your 'friend' over for dinner? Or you could have a movie night?"

Nico was ready to bang his head against the wall. His mother was relentless. Ever since she found out he had a friend, she was being frustratingly suggestive.

God, someone help him.

"Mom, he's just a frieeeeennnnndddddddd," Nico couldn't help the whiney tone in his reply, trying hard not to tear his hair out.

"Of course, I said friend, didn't I?" Maria smirked, "whatever makes you want to clarify that fact so much? Unless you're trying to hide something?"

Nico was seriously contemplating searching on Google for the fastest way to get disowned.

If he was going to be tormented at the breakfast table every day? How on earth was he going to find the will to live through the day?

You'll find your will at school, waiting for you by your locker in that ugly yellow hoodie-

When did that small voice in the back of Nico's head learn to make puns? And act on its own accord?

And why the heck did that voice now sound like that ugly-yellow-hoodie-wearing ball of sunshine?

Scratch trying to find a way to get disowned, he's going to google how to effectively kill himself.

He dragged himself out of his chair, eager to get out of the house as soon as possible.

"I'm gonna be late!" he said, throwing his backpack over his shoulder.

Maria raised her eyebrows in surprise, "hm? You still have an hour-"

"Uh- I have to uh- go to the library to finish a project... yeah-"

Nico braced himself as he saw the twinkle in his mother's eye.

"Are you sure you're going to school early to finish this project and not to meet up with that 'friend' of yours-"

"MOM!"

**************

Nico thought the situation couldn't get worse.

Oh, how wrong he was....

Nico, tired from that wretched pop quiz he was forced to take in history during the last period, pushed the door open to his house.

"Mom!" he called, "I'm home!"

"I'm in the kitchen!" he heard her melodious voice float through the hallway.

Nico dragged his feet upstairs, deposited his back in his room and padded back downstairs, pursuing the utterly heavenly smell wafting from that kitchen.

Maria, feeling her son's presence rather than hearing him (for he had freakishly quiet footsteps) turned around with a smile. She ruffled his hair fondly.

Nico couldn't help but lean into her soft touch.

Hm... maybe he won't get himself disowned.

His mother gestured towards the oven, "pizza for dinner!"

Yep... Nico was most certainly NOT getting himself disowned. His mother made the best pizza there is. How could he, even for a moment, think about leaving that behind?

He opened his mouth, about to complement her about how good it smells, and that he was sure it would taste great, as usual-

The doorbell chose that moment to ring.

Both of them jerked their heads up at the sound.

"Are we expecting someone?" Nico questioned, tilting his head.

Maria looked bemused, "no, I'm pretty sure I didn't invite anyone over."

"Maybe it's that crazy lady from across the street hoping to sell one of those scary garden ornaments she makes again?"

"Nico, don't be rude!" Maria scolded half-heartedly, "you shouldn't say things like that about passionate artists!"

Nico hmmed sheepishly, he knew he lacked a filter sometimes, but he couldn't help himself.

Maria added an afterthought, "but her sculptures are a little edgy..."

Nico smirked, satisfied that she agreed.

The doorbell rang again. And again.

"Ugh, it's definitely her, she doesn't stop ringing until someone comes to the door!" Nico groaned. That one time he had gone to the door to find that old lady there holding a life-sized stone garden ornament had been a nightmare.

"Nico, go check the door, will you?" Maria requested, her voice honey sweet.

Nico could not believe it! She was sacrificing her own son?! He flashed her a look of utter betrayal, "but-"

"Please, darling?" his mother proceeded to stare at him with her big eyes.

And that was one skill that Maria didn't pass down to her son.

Her undefeated puppy eyes.

That's how, a few seconds later, Nico found himself steeling his guts, fingers reaching for the door knob, prepared to face the old lady and her scary statues of doom.

He grasped the knob, turned it, he could hear the lock clicking. The door made a little creak as it swung open.

Nico braced himself.

And there, on the doorstep, stood-

"Will?" Nico blinked.

There, in all his ugly yellow hoodied eye-burning glory, stood Will Solace.

That tiny voice in the back of his mind immediately chimed up, you mean your will to live?

Shut up, brain!

Will looked slightly breathless, tan cheeks flushed.

"Hey!" he said, cheeky smile lighting up the whole neighborhood.

"Uh hi?" forgive Nico for his lack of enthusiasm, but he was trying to restrain his heart, which had decided that it was the perfect time to do the tango inside his ribcage.

Will looked so.... radiant-

"Nico?" his mother's voice shook him out of his thoughts. He cast a look over his shoulder to see her coming up behind him, wiping her flour-coated hands on her apron, "who is it?"

Alarm bells and red lights went off in Nico's brain.

Oh no! If Mary Sunshine and his mother were to get acquainted, who knows what would happen!

"Uh- no one!" Nico tried to force Will down the steps, but the dolt sidestepped him and beamed at his mother.

His mom smiled back at him kindly, her warm eyes bright, "hello there! Who might you be?"

Nico was two seconds away from shadow travelling to some lonely deserted island.

Will enthusiastically introduced himself, jutting out his hand, "Hello Mrs. Di Angelo! I'm Will, Nico's boyfriend!"

Maria's smile grew by a thousand times as she took his tanned fingers in her own, "I'm Maria, darling, pleasure to meet you. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Nico was doomed.

Word count: 1047

A/N: HEHEHEHEH poor Nico!

So, how was it? I'm sorry for late updates again, but busyyy.

Constructive criticism is always appreciated!