Nico kept his promise. The next day he pulled me aside to start teaching me the Italian language and even added some lessons on the culture and such. And a few days later, at midnight, he pulled me out of my cabin to tell me his decision along with some other things.

And now it was official.

The gods seemed to be keeping up with their promise since a lot more demigods kept coming in. And new cabins were under construction.

I helped with Nemesis, Hecate and a few others including Hades. Even if Nico was going to be the only demigod in it, we still built it. Obsidian walls, a skull on the front door and Greek fire torches at the entrance. I even got some skeletons to help out too.

During a break, when I was just sitting next to the cabin, it was almost finished, Mrs. O'Leary bounded over to me from the forest. Along with a familiar face striding toward me.

"Hades?" I stood.

"Hello, Claira. Ready for your wish's fulfillment?" he asked.

"Uh-"

"Father?" Nico asked from behind us.

"Son, don't worry. I won't keep her in the Underworld permanently. She'll just be going to visit her mother," Hades explained.

"Oh... um... ok," Nico stuttered. I turned to him and gave him a smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Don't ruin your own father's cabin while I'm gone," 

And then Hades and I melted into the shadows.

***

He led me to one of the islands.

"This is Elysium. Where your mother is," he said. Then pointed to a bench a few feet off.

Sitting there was a lady that looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She had black hair... black eyes... a kind smile that made me so nostalgic...

"I'll have someone summon you when the time limit is up," Hades said then started walking away.

"Thank you so much, Lord Hades!" I bowed.

I heard him falter at my act. "Um... you're welcome, Claira,"

Then he walked away, melting into the darkness of the Underworld.

I ran over to my mom and tackled her with a hug. Since I was in her realm she was in a solid form with skin and everything.

"I miss you so much, Clair," she hugged me tight.

"Me too," I buried my face into the crook of her neck.

The first thing she noticed was my hair.

"What did you do?! I mean I heard there was a war and everything but-"

"Mom just... just let me start from the beginning," I smiled at her.

And then I proceeded to tell her what happened while she was gone. Everything starting from right after her death.

I even showed her the birthday gift from Dad, my small Italian phrases that Nico taught me so far, as well as the fact that I knew Morse code by heart.

She kept her smile the whole time I was talking and sometimes we would double over laughing at some parts.

Once I finally caught up to the part where my hair turned white, she had a look of pride on her face.

"Sacrificing yourself for your friend? You've grown to be a beautiful, wise young woman, Claira," she smiled at me.

When it felt like the time limit was up soon, Mom asked a very embarrassing question.

"Did you manage to get a boyfriend while I was gone?"

I hid my face in my hands. "Mom!" 

"Well, who?" She grinned as I looked up at her.

"It's time, Clair," a familiar voice said behind me. I turned to see Nico.

"Wow, perfect timing," I smiled up at him and gestured for him to sit next to me.

"Mom, this is Nico di Angelo-"

"The son of Hades. I've met him once before. Last year in fact. He's told me a few stories of his own," She smiled.

"Well, isn't that convenient? Because he's my boyfriend," I smiled at her.

Nico leaned over and smiled at Mom.

"Good to see you again, Ms. Vega,"

"You too, Nico. Take care of my daughter for me, ok?" She gave him a smile as she stood up.

"No problem, Ms. Vega," He nodded as she walked away.

***

When we got back up to camp, Percy and Annie walked up.

"Where have you been? We were trying to look for you two yesterday," Annie asked.

Percy seemed to be glaring at Nico.

"Don't worry we weren't doing anything," I rolled my eyes at Percy. "Hades was just fulfilling my wish. Nico came to pick me up from the Underworld,"

But Percy didn't seem satisfied with that answer.

"Oh my gods, Percy! Could you stop being so grouchy?" Annie and I yelled simultaneously.

"Ever since Clair and Nico got together you've been such a baby!" Annie glared up at her boyfriend.

"A... a what?" Percy asked, confused.

"You've been whining ever since the first second it was official. At least be happy for your sister as well as Nico. I mean come on!" Annie rolled her eyes.

Percy let out a sigh and nodded. "Alright," he mumbled.

He looked directly at Nico and cracked a small smile. I could see that it was genuine. "Cause if Ms. Vega didn't have anything to say about it... then I guess I shouldn't,"

"Sounds fair enough," Nico muttered to me, making me giggle.

On the last day of camp, Percy and I were walking along the beach one last time.

I was barefoot, holding my converse in my hand.

We just walked, talked, laughed... and then:

"Good day for fishing," Our Dad, Poseidon, was standing knee deep in the surf with a deep sea fishing rod, the line more than halfway across Long Island Sound.

"Hey, Dad,"

"What brings you here?"

"Never really got to talk in private on Olympus," he turned to us. "I wanted to thank you. Both of you,"

"Hey don't leave out that one moment with Nico-"

"Of course I could never forget that moment. And I see it worked out well," Dad smirked at me, making me blush.

Percy bumped me on the shoulder as the Sound began to boil. And at the end of Dad's line, a huge green sea serpent breached the water. It seemed to put up a fight but Dad just sighed, whipping out a knife to cut the line.

"Not eating size. I have to release the little ones or the wardens will be all over me," he whined.

"Little ones?" Percy and I asked, simultaneously.

But he just grinned at the both of us. "You two are doing well with those new cabins. I guess this means I can claim all those other sons and daughters of mine and send you some more siblings next summer,"

"Ha, ha," Percy muttered, sarcastically.

"Make sure to get me a baby sister!" I yelled, making Poseidon let out a laugh.

"I'll see you soon, kids. And remember, know which fish are big enough to land, eh?" He gave us one last smile and dissolved in the sea breeze.

That night was the last night at camp... the bead ceremony. The Hephaestus cabin had been appointed to design the bead this year.

And the design almost made me cry: it showed the Empire State Building and written in tiny Greek letters, going around the image were the names of all the heroes that had died defending Olympus. 

I felt proud to wear the bead on my necklace. Four beads now along with a little gift Nico gave me during the week: a ruby plucked directly from his father's palace gardens.

For a son of Hades, he knew how to impress a girl.

"Never forget this summer!" Chiron said, limping in front of the fire. "We have discovered bravery, friendship, and courage this summer. We have upheld the honor of the camp,"

Chiron smiled at Percy and everyone cheered. But my eyes landed on a special someone at the fire. The little girl in a brown dress smiled at me and nodded, happily tending to her beloved hearth.

***

The next day, I found Nico in the forest.

"You really didn't think I'd let you go without a goodbye now, right?" I called, startling him.

He turned to me with a guilty smile.

"Sorry, Clair. I didn't want to worry you-"

"That has nothing to do with it. I'm officially your girlfriend now, idiot. I'll always want to see you off," I smiled and walked up to him for a hug.

"I know," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"What will you be doing this time?" I asked.

He held me close as he answered. "I was getting to that. I told you already, no more secrets between us. I promise," he mumbled and sighed. "I'll be... trying to get Bianca back,"

"Nico-"

"Don't say anything about it. I've made my decision already," he said.

I let out a breath and nodded.

"Ok then. I won't," I looked up at him. "But just know that I will Iris message you once in a while, alright? Just to check up on you. I don't want to stay in the dark again or have to rely on my friends for information,"

He let out a chuckle as we pulled away. "Ok. I'll look forward to them," He leaned down and gave me a lingering kiss on my lips. "Ti amo,"

Then Nico backed up into the shade of a tree and shadow traveled out of camp.

I smiled, thinking of his final words to me. "I love you too,"

Then I started making my way to Half-Blood Hill. I could already see the blonde hair of Annabeth Chase and the black hair of Percy Jackson.

I summoned the winds and flew up to them, breaking their intertwined hands. "Heya! Did I interrupt anything? Please tell me I did," I grinned at the both of them.

"Sorry Clair. You just flew into a silence," Annie shrugged.

I rolled my eyes, grabbed their wrists, and let them hold each others' hands again.

"Fine. I'll see ya at the van," I flew down the Hill, my white hair flying behind me.

***

And that is the final wrap of this series! If you have stayed with it 'til the very end then first of all thank you! And second of all HOW?!?! My writing style was terrible in the first book, how could you just simply go onto the next book?!

But in all seriousness, whether this is your first read of one of my books or if you actually did stick with all five books I am eternally grateful and thankful!

And to answer the obvious question, I will continue into the Heroes of Olympus cause hey, why not?

Soooo Thanks for Reading! And I will see you in the next book!
:D