Will and Nico's house contained many pictures. Just pictures of them, or pictures from special occasions. The mantelpiece was decorated with Will and Nico at graduation, them at Percy and Annabeth's wedding, them at the animal shelter with their newly adopted dog, Lee. Will in his uniform as an army doctor, Nico in front of his tattoo pallor with the winged sun-tattoo visible on his collarbone. At least one picture per room. Not in a way that you thought they were people who liked seeing their own face too much. It made the house feel and look homely.

If you visited the flat they shared, you'd most likely be greeted by the golden retriever Lee, happily barking and sniffling. You'd find Nico on the couch reading or drawing. On other occasions, you would find him cooking the most delicious Italian pastries.

You'd usually find Will close to Nico, but it was rare to even see Will around the apartment. Recently he'd been travelling all over America, teaching army nurses and doctors-to-be, and he was rarely home. This was the number one reason for all the pictures in their home, to remind Nico that Will would always be there for him.

Nico struggled every time Will had to leave. Will was his entire world. So, as a reminder, he'd put a picture in the pocket of his ripped jeans. He'd pull it out randomly, and stare at it, reassuring himself that Will would always come home. Their love was complicated, challenging, but unconditionally, if not occasionally hurting.

Will hated it when he had to go away for a few days, and leave Nico behind. He struggled and wanted to go home and cuddle into Nico, who always smelt like freshly cut wood and coffee. The smell comforted Will like nothing else could. Well, almost nothing else. Nico's eyes, chocolate with specks of gold, were what Will could stare into for hours on end.

He was often teased for wearing a locket on a silver chain because he would stare at it for hours at the time with a loving look in his eyes. It was a memory of home. Will and Nico at their lake with Lee sitting between them. The photo was taken just before Will had left for his tour across America, on their 7 year anniversary.

Will was planning something that'd probably result in a lot more pictures. They could never have enough. It was their safe haven.

"Solace! We want to extend the course by a week, so you can visit two more academies. Are you up for it?" Will's supervisor was a nice man, but a little too cold-hearted. He only thought business, never had sympathy.

"Sir, I was hoping to be leaving tonight. My flight leaves in a few hours. I already told my partner to come pick me up at the airport."

His supervisor looked Will up and down. On the work floor, they didn't know about Will's relationship, only that he had a long-time partner who he called regularly. They didn't really question it further.

"Okay Solace, we'll have to find someone else. Malcolm and Paolo will accompany you on your way back." With these words, the man left the room, leaving Will to finish packing.

Nico was restless. This morning Will had called him about the details of his flight. He'd also asked him to pick him up at the airport. Nico was glad that he had taken a day off, he wouldn't be able to set any tattoos without messing up from sheer nervousness. 09:00 PM. He had to leave for the airport now. Will's aeroplane would arrive at 10:05 PM, and it was a thirty minute drive to the airport.

Normally, if Will was leaving for a mission, he would procrastinate leaving for as long as possible, just to spend as much time as possible with Nico. Now he couldn't get through security fast enough, so he could sit down in the gate for 'private' planes.

On the drive to the airport, in a taxi, Will thought about how lucky he was with his job and the travel opportunities. They provided private planes for times like this: when someone travelled to train army troops in America. Will didn't have to wait with a lot of other passengers or sit next to a stranger. He could get to the airport 20 minutes before his plane was set to leave, and still get on without worries.

"Sir, we've arrived. That'll be $92.48 please" despite the short drive between the base and the airport, it cost a lot.

"Send the bill to this address, it'll be taken care of." Will handed the man his supervisor's card, like he'd been told previously.

The flight wasn't long, just two hours. He sat at the window, nervously and restlessly playing with the object in his pocket.

Nico stood in the welcome area, half an hour early. He was excited to see Will again, gold the blonde, smell his vanilla and orange scent. Nico never did cope well with being alone, his thought often being ready to shoot him down.

Will approached the doors, behind which he knew there'd be a raven haired Italian waiting who he was craving to take into his arms.

The security guards gave him the signal that he could walk through the doors. He slowly stepped forward. The automatic doors slid open at an agonizingly slow pace.

Nico was almost shaking visibly. The clock read 10:12, and his eyes were glued to the doors he thought his lover would be coming through any second. Suddenly the sound of automatic doors reached his ears, from just to his right. He turned his had so fast it almost caused whiplash.

Blue eyes met brown, and suddenly Will was running, dropping his bag on the floor. Then Nico was in his arms, clinging onto him for dear life. His head was tucked into the crook of Will's neck, and the blonde felt his shirt grow damp with tears.

"Shh, Nico. I'm back, I'll always come home, remember. I promised that. And I want to make you another promise." He stepped back from the hug, leaving the teary-eyed boy looking at him confusedly.

Will shakenly pulled something from his pocket and softly started speaking.

"Nico Di Angelo, I love you. And I am reminded of that every time I look at you. It's honestly the best feeling in the world. When I got this job, I made you a promise. I promised you that I'd always come home. And in the past five years I don't think I've ever broken this promise. But today I stand before you and promise you this: if you accept, I promise to be yours forever, and not even will do us apart. I don't need a house to call home. You, Nico Di Angelo, are my home. So, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"

Nico was staring at the blonde kneeling in front of him, tears streaming down his face anew. People around them were staring at the beautiful exchange.

"I... I... Yes, Will. Yes!" then they were both standing, just holding each other. The people watching applauded, but the two didn't even notice.

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What you will notice when you enter the Di Angelo-Solace home, is the large collection of pictures, scattered around the house. And in every picture you can find love.

Wait for me to come home