Someone had been knocking at the Aphrodite cabin door for nearly 2 minutes now. Piper was going to continue ignoring it, but the person behind the door yelled out her name. A few of her siblings turned to her from their beds, glaring. Everyone seemed to be giving her the same look, one that was threatening.

"Okay, okay!" Piper groaned rolling out of bed. Opening the door, she swore if it was Jason she'd -

Piper wasn't close to Nico in the same way Annabeth was but she was one of the few demigods Nico trusted. Still, the daughter of Aphrodite wasn't used to the son of Hades coming to talk to her, let alone visiting her at her cabin.

"Uhh hey Nico, what's up?"

Nico stood at the door awkwardly, swaying on his feet. Piper noticed he looked a bit embarrassed, self-conscious even. She'd never seem him in such a vulnerable state. When the boy had not replied, she began to feel concern.

"Nico, is everything alright?"

"Um, can we talk somewhere else? I don't really trust talking around - here -" gesturing in front of him. Piper nodded as she led Nico down the steps and into the clearing, she understood her sibling were a bit...gossipy. Whatever Nico was going to tell her must be confidential.

"This a better place?" Piper sat herself down on one of the benches near the woods. Nico followed prompt and nodded. It was still quite early in the morning, much to Piper's distaste although there weren't many campers around which would hopefully make Nico more comfortable.

After a bit Nico finally spoke. "I've come to you for some, uh, advice. I thought it would be useful to ask you, seeing as you're the daughter of Aphrodite and all."

Realisation hit Piper. Nico didn't come to her for any ordinary advice, no - that'd be too unusual for him. Instead, the quiet boy had come to her for relationship advice. She had voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Oooh, so it's that kind of advice."

"Yeah, can you help?" Nico slowly began drifting back into his agitated self.

"Of course, go ahead."

Nico knew coming to Piper was a good decision. She was understanding and calm unlike some figures in her life.

"It's about Will Solace. I don't know what to do with him! He makes me feel different. He doesn't seem intimidated by me, and even Percy and the others get intimidated by me occasionally." Piper nodded, the son of Hades wasn't exactly the charming type.

"Ever since that battle with Gaea I've had conflicted feelings about Solace. When he scolded me about not wanting to stay at camp; when he demanded to know why I hadn't visited him - it just gets me more confused! And ever since I started helping at the infirmary I can't help but look forward to being with him. Liking him is different to liking Percy, Piper, something's different." By now many of The Seven knew about Nico's old crush on Percy, it's a good thing he wasn't ashamed of it anymore.

"It's fine, even normal, for it to feel different. They're different people."

"I know. But I don't know what to do. Does Will even like me? I mean, he keeps getting too close for comfort, and even when I tell him off he still does it. Although that could be his arrogant self. On the other hand he keeps telling me things like how my lips look lonely or asking if it hurt when I fell from heaven - he knows my dad's the ruler of the Underworld and my last name may mean the angel but what kind of question is that?"

Piper had to stifle back a laughter. She knew Nico wasn't exactly 'modern' but she would've thought he'd know what flirting was. "I think Will is hitting on you, Nico. Those lines are for trying to pick you up."

"Pick me up? Why would he want to do that? It's not practical!"

The boy really was clueless, wasn't he? Piper chuckled, shaking her head. "You have no dating game at all, do you? Luckily, you have me. Next time he tells you another pick up line tell him this -" she whispered something into the boy's ear. The boy looked like he's about to protest but she stopped him. "Trust me. It'll give him an indication you like him."

Nico saw no point in saying something like that to Will; instead of protesting, he asked "but could Will even like someone like me? Is he even..."

"Oh no, no, no. Don't think like that! Besides, you won't know unless you try." Piper plastered on a charming grin which filled Nico with hope. Perhaps he'll try the pickup line out after all.

While walking back to civilisation with Piper it sunk in to Nico what he had just done. Had he really just confessed about his crush on Will? He had never even really opened up to anyone like this before. Instantly he felt regret but there was nothing he could do about it. Except maybe…

"Piper one other thing, I promise on the Styx and everything that if you mention a word of this to anyone, ANYONE, I will throw you into the Underworld. Or send an army of skeletons after you."

Piper threw her hands up in defense. "I won't, I won't." And she meant it, the threats of Nico di Angelo weren't to be taken lightly.

3 Weeks Earlier…

"Hey Piper! Can I talk to you for a second?" Piper looked up from her table but didn't have enough time to respond before the blond boy sat next to her. "So, I need your help."

Piper grunted. She just wanted to eat her meal in peace, without any pesky boys bothering her. Just the night before Jason and Percy had decided to dine with Piper. Where Annabeth was she had no idea but boy did she wish the girl was there to 'control' her boyfriend. Piper had done her best to contain the scene but it was no use. The boys couldn't be stopped. Soon, food was everywhere - on the table, on the ground and even in Piper's hair. Of course, boys being boys they left the scene and Piper was stuck cleaning the mess up all by herself. She cursed all children of the Big Three for having 'privileges' as Chiron failed to understand her explanation of what had happened.

"Can't you go to Jason? Percy? Or if you wanted a girl, Annabeth? I'm sure they would be much more helpful." It wasn't exactly sensible for Piper to be using her charmspeak on such a petty thing but these were desperate times.

Piper focused back on her meal, so she didn't see Will's sudden confusion. He had come here just for Piper, but why did he suddenly feel the urge to go to his other friends? The son of Apollo shook off the daze and began to talk again.

"I already went to them earlier, but they're all busy. Thus, you're being blessed by my presence instead."

Piper wasn't sure whether to be offended or not. She was annoyed at her friends, if they hadn't been busy she wouldn't be bothered right now. On the other hand, Piper wasn't Will's first choice of person but since the two weren't very close she decided to let that slide.

"What do you want, Will?"

"Information," Piper raised an eyebrow, "on a certain son of Hades. I just want to know, well, anything there is to know about him. What I should be aware of, what he likes - you know, the basic and important stuff."

"… and why would you need to possess such information?" Piper smiled, this could in turn result very well in her favour.

"I want to break down that dumb wall of his. Did you know he wanted to leave camp because he thought no one here was his friend? He has many friends here, and people who want to be his friend! i.e me. Although… I sorta want to be more than that." Will looked bashful.

Piper heard the rumours about Will and Nico but she didn't choose to believe them. Until now. If Will could make Nico happy, so be it. She will help, the boy deserved some brightness in his life.

"Okay loverboy, here's what you have to know. Nico isn't an affectionate person, that means no touchy-touchy and is very mindful of his personal space." At that, Will made a mental note to try get through that, forcibly if he must. "He doesn't like being told what to do either, he's very stubborn. Kind of like you, actually. I mean honestly I don't know too much about him either, he isn't very open. Maybe you can change that." Piper winked and smirked when she saw Will's cheeks tinting red. "You got what you want, now go!" Piper waved Will away and resumed eating.

Will wondered why he hadn't learnt much about Nico during the time they've spent together. Did Will not ask any questions? No, he always did. Will then realised that Nico would always seem to find a 'problem' and avoided answering most of Will's problems. Will wanted to make sure that didn't happen next time. Things were going to change.

A/N: hey guys! so hopefully I'll be able to update quite often for now, as I'm on holidays and have pre-written a few chapters. anyways, enjoy.