In Time {Solangelo}

~ Will ~

He woke up in his bed. Alone. With Charlie standing over him, arms crossed, tapping her foot. "Well?" She demanded.

Will rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and sat up, "Well what?"

She examined her fingernails, "A certain, Nico di Angelo came in last night carrying you, he put you to bed then told us not to wake you up or he'd be mad." she raised an eyebrow, "What was that about?"

Will forced a shrug, the memories of last night where kind of fuzzy. "We talked. I fell asleep."

Charlie laughed and sat down next to him. She put her arm around him with surprising gentleness, "You okay?"

"What?"

"You were crying in your sleep. Is something wrong?"

He stiffened and Charlie looked up and smiled at him, "I won't tell, unless it's about you and Nico, you can trust me." Will wanted to laugh, but he didn't. He just sat in her embrace, quietly. She patted him on the back, "I'm here for you whenever your ready." She got up and left, leaving him alone.

* * *

He stepped into the warm sun, the light filled him with warmth, the same warmth that filled his body when Emmy or Charlie smiled at him, the same warms he got when Lyra laughed. The same warmth he got when Nico touched his arm. The same warmth he'd loved when she'd smiled at him.

He tried to stop, to push away the pain. He walked over to the edge of the woods, the same place he and Nico had been last night. He turned and walked along the edge of the tree line, looking for the stone. When he found it, he nelt. "I'm sorry." He muttered. The grave said nothing. He looked up at the sky, blue, clear, perfect. He closed his eyes, and silently prayed.

Then he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Nico, who raised an eyebrow, "Talking to rocks? That's a new one Solace."

Will shrugged and Nico seemed to read the situation, "Sorry."

"No, don't be... I'm... just..."

And suddenly Nico was there for him, with his hand on Will's shoulder. "Will, I'm sorry."

Will looked up at him, "Nico, It happened a long time ago... I'm over it."

Nico knelt and examined the stone, "She was your sister."

Will nodded silently, wishing for once the son of Hades wouldn't be so nosy.

The black haired boy looked up at him, "Look Will, I know death is is a hard thing to get over. But you have to learn from the experience, if you force everything, and everyone away..." Nico's voice sounded sad, reminiscent and Will realized that the son of Hades could have been talking about himself.

"If you try to run away... well hurt, anger, and pity, they can all run faster. They will catch up. And when they do..." His voice trailed off and he looked up at Will, "What I'm trying to say is that you can push away the feelings, let them come. Let your voice be heard. And make her death mean something. Live your life for her. Let what she said make a difference to you."

"I did. I made my life revolve around her last words. But it still hurts."

Nico smiled, not a creepy smile, but the kind of smile he must have had when he had been a child, a smile that he'd lost over the years and now he was reclaiming it, "That just means you love her." He put out his arms and Will was to stunned to move. "Will." Nico said flatly, "You do now this might be one of the only times I offer a hug."

Will nodded, still not moving. So Nico stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.

* * *

They walked into the dining pavilion, together. They sat down at the Apollo table as they waited for everyone to show up. "Hey, Will."

Will looked up from his book, "Yeah?"

"If you want... we can tell them... I... I think I'm ready..."

Will smiled, "Really?"

Nico nodded.

"Cool!" Will closed his book and turned to fully face his, now official, boyfriend. "One question."

Nico nodded, willing him to go on.

"How are we going to tell them without making it akward?"

"Um... I'm not really-" Nico was cut off by a loud squeal, they looked over to find Charlie standing there, "YOU GUYS ARE SITTING TOGETHER!!!" She jumped up and down, then slid onto the bench beside Will, "What'cha talking about?"

Will froze, he glanced at Nico for help. To his relief help came. "Well," Nico began, "I was just telling Will that he should have at least made an effort with his hair. I mean, doesn't he look like death?"

Charlie's eyes widened, "What did you just say?"

"Will looks like death." Nico said calmly, his eyes gleaming.

"He what?"

"Looks like death."

"You said that Will Solace looks like death?" Her voice rose with excitement.

Nico nodded, "Yes."

Charlie smiled and got up, "Gotta run!" She turned and ran off screaming, "KAYLEY! EMMY! JASON! I WAS RIGHT!!!!!"

Once she was gone Nico faced Will, "Well that was easy."

Will laughed.