Author: TippierCoffee

Disclaimer: I do not own — nor do I claim the rights to — the Percy Jackson universe or any of its characters. All credit goes to rightful owner, Mr. Rick Riordan.

Epilogue.

Will Solace counted his blessings.

Sure, he was an orphan whose parents might be dead at this point, but he was also, somehow, boyfriends with former Crown Prince Nico di Angelo. Not just that, but he was Nico's private doctor, and partner in ambassador business. He lived in the big castle where he'd made friends with almost all the staff, and Nico's family. Even though he wished Nico could meet his parents, talking about them was enough for now. Because Will Solace had something he hadn't had in a long time. He had love, and freedom, and felt like a person. He had humour, and banter, and kisses throughout the day.

Sometimes he'd wake up in the nights still, scared he might have dreamed it all up, only to find himself in the spacious castle room, looking out onto the field, onto the hedge maze where he first bumped into Nico two years ago. When he saw it, he couldn't help but smile, and look up at the stars, wondering where the Star Realm was, and whispering a silent thank to his fairy, Shine.

Will had things he had wanted for a long time, and all the freedom he could dream of when he was off duty. On those days, he would take Chastity on a ride into town, searching out Hermes to chat with him again and thank him for those mornings where he came and made Will's day a little more bearable.

There were still questions he hadn't managed to find the answer to: Where his parents were, why his step family decided to treat him so foul, but Will Solace counted his blessings.

Nico di Angelo, on the other hand, used to be The Crown Prince, destined to rule the Kingdom once his father passed away. He thought he was doomed to the expectations and duties of marrying a woman for the sake of the Kingdom, and live his life unhappily, the only happiness and idea of love coming from kissing guards in secret. He used to fear ruining his friendship with Reyna due to their arrangement, and instead, he caused a bit of friction between the Kingdoms when he backed out of the arrangements, which was quickly smoothed out by him and Reyna together.

Even better than that, Hades would have allowed this even if he were still to be the next successor. Instead, Hazel had taken his place from him, and he was forever grateful for her. He could tell already her and Frank would make good and just rulers. They invited Nico and Will to all their meetings, and had them help out with important decisions. He and Will went out as ambassadors, changing the rules of the Worker Houses to be housing places and offer work actvation for the homeless for up to three years. They created more jobs in cooperation with Reyna's Kingdom, and followed up on all the adopted children to see if they had a decent life. They rode from collective to collective, advertising the new, improved Worker Houses. The collectives were to change into these same Worker Houses over the years.

They hadn't found Will's parents yet, and they hadn't found Bianca yet. But maybe, one day, they might. And maybe, they might not. Nico figured he shouldn't be too hung up about it, since he helped rule a Kingdom. Instead, he would take a page from Will's book, and focus on the good things in his life.

He had a boyfriend, a loving sister and brother-in-law, an understanding father, and an encouraging step-mother. All in all, Nico considered himself quite happy in this moment.

So, you see, maybe, if the stars had aligned differently, and life had handed them another deck of cards, these two strangers from vastly different backgrounds might not have met. Might never had known the other existed.

Maybe, Will Solace would live in a small, crumbling house with his parents, working as a shoe-shiner to help earn money for the family, and snuggle close to his parents at night while they told him stories and showed him love.

Maybe, Nico di Angelo would tease Bianca's husband-to-be, and be her flower boy, her right hand, her best friend. Maybe, he would be able to sneak off with one of the other boys and steal forbidden kisses in the dark nights, and be almost happy because he knew some form of love.

But, life had a way of shaping itself around you without your permission, and so, Will Solace found himself in a relationship with a former Crown Prince turned ambassador, and a doctor-in-training of the castle, and Nico di Angelo found himself the ambassador, and adviser of a Queen who shouldn't even have ruled this Kingdom, in a relationship with the most wonderful young man he had yet to meet, truly, truly happy because he knew genuine love.

Criticism and/or advice on improvement is always welcome and highly appreciated.

~*~TippierCoffee~*~