Will Solace is a Southern boy, a teenager going into his senior year of high school. With no friends, no lover, and a small family, his days are spent sleeping or lounging around. When his father gets a job in NYC, will it be the start of a new life or simply just another place to sleep?

Nico di Angelo is a teenage, single parent, his daughter having been born from his immaturity and sexual confusion as an early teen. Now he was raising her with the help of his father, half sister, and friends, but nothing about fatherhood was ever easy. Now, with his little Bianca at two years old and him going into his senior year of high school, he's longing for a romantic relationship again. The new kid may just be the answer.

"Will, we need to talk." Naomi Solace opened the door to her son's bedroom, her blonde hair pulled back in a low ponytail. "Your dad has some news."

The late summer air was filtering in the open window, having caused Will to fall into a short nap on his bed. When his mother spoke, he looked up through half lidded eyes and tried his best not to yawn. "What?"

Naomi walked into the room and shut the window. "It's too cold for that, Will. Now, come on, your dad needs to tell you something."

"Something like...?" Will questioned.

"Something important." she looked around the room once more before heading out. "Come on, he's in the kitchen."

Will crawled out of bed and pulled a hoodie on. Everything in his room was warm colors, yellow and orange and even some red here and there. On the wall, he only had pictures of him and his parents where others would have pictures of their friends.

Only a couple weeks left before his school started again. A couple weeks of peace and quiet before he was sent to literal Hell for seven hours a day. Whatever his father had to tell him, he could only hope that it didn't upset the time he had left.

When Will finally emerged into the kitchen, he poured himself a cup of coffee from the still steaming pot.

"Will, good to see you awake." Apollo Solace was as odd as his name. His good looks were passed down to his son, along with his taste in music and the arts. "Have you been awake at all this summer?"

"Ha ha," Will looked between them. "So...what's the news?"

Apollo cleared his throat. He also had a cup of coffee, but his was almost white with flavored creamer. "Well, depending on how you take it, it can be good or bad. I know you hate the school you're at now, so it may be an improvement for you-"

"You're switching my schools?" Will asked. "Why?"

Naomi put her hand on Will's shoulder. "We're moving."

Will paused, his cup halfway to his lips. "How...how far?"

"New York!" Apollo exclaimed proudly. "Your father got the job he's been praying for!"

New York. Will had always wanted to visit, but he never thought about living there. It was far, too far, and he wasn't sure if he was excited or upset.

But he thought back to what his father said, thought about his current school. He needed to get out of this small town if he was going to go anywhere in life.

"When do we move?" he asked.

Naomi and Apollo shared a look, their thankful smiles no doubt from his acceptance to the idea.

"This weekend," Apollo said. "So we better start packing."

"This weekend?" Will repeated. "You don't realize how long it takes to pack, do you? We're going to be working nonstop!"

"You need some work ethic in you." Apollo tossed his own keys to him. "Go buy a couple bundles of boxes. I need to make sure our new house is ready."

Will pocketed the keys. "You're serious about all this? It's really happening? This isn't some sick ass joke?"

"Not a sick ass joke," Apollo assured him. "Though it would be a good one."

Nico descended the steps with little Bianca in his arms, the 2 year old having kept him up all night like usual. Now, she slept with her small head resting against his chest.

She had been an accident, had been made from Nico's immaturity and sexual confusion as an early teen. Now, as a single father, he matured faster than he thought possible. Nights he once spent partying were now spent making bottles and singing lullabies.

But he loved her, more than anything, and so did Hazel and his father. It was with their help that he became a decent father.

Now, in his senior year and his second year of parenting, he couldn't remember the last time he had five consecutive hours of sleep. All of it worked together to make sure he'd never go on a date or meet a guy.

As he walked into the kitchen, Nico first went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. "Bi's got a doctor appointment at noon. Hopefully she'll get something to help her feel better."

Hazel stood from her plate of breakfast to walk over to her brother and niece. She kissed Bianca's head, smiling at the sleeping toddler. "She'll get better, don't worry. Was she up all night again?"

Nico nodded. "Her throat was hurting." He took his cup and went to sit at the table, Hazel following. "School starts next week, right?"

"Yep," Hazel went back to eating just as their father walked in. Persephone, his newest and longest-term wife, looked over from the stove to greet her husband.

"Good morning." she kissed his cheek before handing him a plate. "Did everything with Apollo go okay?"

Hades nodded once before joining his kids at the table.

"Apollo?" Nico questioned. "Another guy with a weirdly specific Greek name?"

Hades sighed. "We grew up together, Nico. Our parents knew each other. He's moving back to New York this weekend. He's got a son around your age. I'm hoping you can show him around."

"Why can't Hazel?" Nico asked. "I'm busy." He gestured to Bianca as she began to cry, waking up from her short sleep.

"You can take her with you," Hades said. "You know you can. Besides, she needs more fresh air. She's too cooped up."

"She goes to daycare every time I go to school," Nico argued. "She leaves the house every day. That's not cooped up."

Hades gave him a look. "Please, Nico? Apollo is a good friend and he wants his son to make friends and get comfortable. He didn't have any friends at his last school."

"Fine." Nico bounced Bianca and took another drink of coffee. "Just tell me when he gets in town."

Soon enough he was upstairs, getting himself and Bianca ready to leave the house. Her eyes were bloodshot from whatever sickness she had picked up, causing her to cry whenever the sun hit her face. Even though she was already two, she couldn't talk as well as she was supposed to.

"I know, I know." Nico held her close as he descended the steps, her baby bag over his shoulder. "Hazel, I'm leaving!"

Hazel was suddenly at his side, her golden eyes sparkling. "Be careful. Text me when you get there."

Nico rolled his eyes at the familiar set of instructions. "Aye aye, captain."

Hazel hit his shoulder lightly before kissing the top of Bianca's head. "Good luck, sweetheart."

"Bye, bye..." Bianca looked miserable but waved to her only living aunt as Nico carried her out. Hazel waved back, her concerned eyes following them to the car.

"Again, thanks for driving." Nico slipped into the passengers seat and closed the door, Bianca in her carseat behind him.

"No problem." Percy looked over from the driver's seat before pulling away from the doctor's office. "How'd it go?"

"Strep throat," Nico said. "They gave me a script to pick up some medicine for her. Can we stop and get a coffee? I'll pay."

Percy nodded before driving to the nearest Tim Horton's. "Anything new, besides her being sick?"

Nico fished his wallet out of the baby bag. "Apparently dad's old friend is moving back from like another state or something and he's got a son. He wants me to show him around."

Percy looked over. "Apollo? That old friend?"

Nico handed over his card. "How'd you know?"

"Mom was telling me about it," Percy said. "Apparently my dad had known him, too. His son's name is Will, I think. Will Solace."

Nico hummed in thought. "So, they were all good friends, huh? A gang of kids named after gods."

Percy laughed as he pulled into the drive thru. "Yeah, I guess. Imagine what those teachers thought."

Nico snorted. Before long, Percy was holding a cup holder of drinks while also pulling into a parking spot. Once he parked, he started to hand them out. "Carmel macchiato for you. Chocolate milk for little Bianca because I get to spoil her."

"You got two of them." Nico pulled out one of her empty sippy cups and poured the chocolate milk into it.

"Yeah, one for me." Percy took the sippy cup from Nico's hands and reached into the back seat, handing it to Bianca. "Here, sweetheart. It's from Uncle Percy."

The two year old took the cup and thanked him, but the words were jumbled and hard to understand.

"She said thanks," Nico translated before lowering his voice. "Her speaking should be better."

Percy straightened up in his seat again. "I'm sure it's okay, Neeks. If you get too worried, ask her doctor next time you go."

Nico sipped from his coffee as Percy once again started to drive, knowing what Percy had said to be true. He shouldn't worry much about it. But when his mind was always focused on Bianca and Bianca only, that was hard.

"What pharmacy?" Percy asked.

"Rite Aid's fine." Nico pulled his phone out and texted Hazel the results of the appointment. "When I show the guy around, do you mind babysitting Bi?"

Percy grinned. "I love babysitting her. Of course, I will. Bi, you hear that? We're building a blanket fort this weekend."

Bianca squealed in excitement before starting to sob, no doubt agitating her already raw throat.

"Shhh..." Nico reached back and rubbed her small hand. "Drink some more chocolate milk. It'll help your throat."

Percy pulled into the parking lot. "Sorry for getting her...yeah. I have fun watching her."

"It's fine." Nico got the script and his wallet before stepping out of the car. "I'll be back. Bi, be good for Uncle Percy for like five minutes, okay?"

She nodded, her dark curls bouncing with each movement. One strand of her hair was stuck to her wet face, masking half her view of the two adults.

Nico closed the door before walking into the building, his dark eyes happy but sad, content but lonely. It had been awhile since he last dated, and at eighteen years old, he missed the romantic aspect of a relationship.

But he had Bianca, and he needed to put her ahead of everything, even his own loneliness.