AN: This was sitting in my computer for awhile but I couldn't finish it so today I found it and the end finally made an appearance. Thanks to my beta Lhu.

Disclaimer: Whatever it is, it's not mine.

Birthday

He remembered the first birthday he had after leaving the Lotus Hotel. Bianca had bought him a blueberry muffin, his favorite, and had given him a bear hug, and they walked outside school sharing the muffin and enjoying each other's company. It was his happiest memory.

Bianca was gone, and the child inside him had died as well. But then, he showed up at Percy's apartment. And he saw the piece of cake in his room. "Is that a blue cake?" and he felt sad and lonely, because he had never been in a birthday party, and Percy smiled and invited him in and they ate cake and ice cream and, for a little while, he felt like the child he was again.

But it not last long, he had come with a serious matter to talk, and he buried the child again. They had a war to fight, and they fought and they had won. He was in the Olympus and his father was proud of him, and the gods had welcomed his father and him as well among them. Then he began the construction of his own cabin. And he lived among the living again. He felt kind of happy.

And, although he wasn't alone anymore, he felt lonely, because everyone in the camp was kind of friendly, but he didn't have friends, except for Percy, who had left in the fall. But now the winter had come, and the long nights revived his grieves.

It was his birthday. Not that anybody knew that. The only one who knew, who cared, had abandoned him, and then, she had died. He never told that to anyone else. Yet, part of him wished he had told someone, he felt lonelier and he missed Bianca even more.

The pain in his chest was growing. Bianca had said to him that talking could help ease the pain. He had never believed her, he had always walled up inside whatever bothered him. But now the pain was crushing him, the child inside him was longing for the sister he would never have again.

During the day his dark mood and monosyllabic answers had driven away everyone in the camp. At night he didn't even came to the fire with the others, he said he wasn't feeling well, which was the truth, if you think about it.

He sat in his bed staring at the wall, his mind dwelling in self-pity and sorrow. A knock in the door bring him out of his thoughts. "It's open". Percy entered his cabin.

"Hey there! I didn't see you at the fire."

"I wasn't in the mood for it tonight." He said in a weary voice.

"OK… So, tell me, why haven't you told anyone it was your birthday today?" Percy asked, as nonchalantly as possible. His eyes widened in surprise. "How, in Hades name, do you know this?"

"It wasn't that hard. Chiron had to go to your school to settle your disappearance, while there he got your files for your 'transference' to a new school."

"Oh!"

"You still didn't answer my question you know."

He shuddered. "Bianca was the only one who cared, so I don't see the point anymore."

Percy smiled. "So I shouldn't have brought these muffins. Too bad, now I'll have to eat them alone." He started to walk towards the door. "Very well, see you later Nico."

"Wait! You brought those to me?"

"Yeah! We're friends now, you know."

He smiled. "Yeah! I seem to forget that easily. Sorry about that."

"Very well, since the clock is moving and I'm hungry I will accept your apologies", Percy said in a formal tone. And grinning he added, "now that the formalities have passed. Happy Birthday Nico! Here, I brought you a muffin."

Nico smiled again. "Thanks!"

And at least for one night Nico was a child again, and for the second time he remembered, he had a happy birthday.