Let me tell you about the day Nico proposed to me first.

We had been together for about a year and a half. We had just graduated and we were about to move in together. We had found a cute affordable apartment and took the chance to move in together.

The day  he proposed we had gone out to celebrate me getting an internship I had really wanted. It was a late spring night and we had just finished up dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant.  

Nico took a hold of my hand, "Let's take a walk in the park."

Because I couldn't deny him anything, I said, "Okay." But then I looked up at the sky. It was nearing summer but all day I had seen clouds sneaking up on us. One last night of spring rain was on the way. "Nico, are you sure? It could rain."

"I'm not scared of the rain, Solace. Let it come." Satisfied with his answer, I didn't say anything else and let him lead me to the park.

Once there, we leisurely walked down the center path. We were in no hurry, just happy to be spending time with one another. At one point, Nico came closer and laid his head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around him, keeping him close. We walked that way for some time. Then Nico took a deep breath and moved away from me, his hand went to his pocket and he stopped me. It started to sprinkle. "I have something I want to ask you."

Not thinking he was going to propose, I got worried. Like any other couple, we argued and I thought it might have to do with something like that. What if he thought we should break up? But I couldn't have been further from the truth. "Yeah, go ahead."

Nico was nervous now, he fidgeted with whatever was in his pocket. The rain started coming down a little faster. "We've been━"

"Watch out!" Someone yelled from our right and we both looked in time to see a big fluffy dog running at us excitedly.

Nico and I jumped apart to different sides of the path and ended up on our butts on the grass. The dog jumped on me, licked me once and continued running away. The owner ran by and chuckled, but didn't stop as she said, "Sorry guys! Stan still thinks he's a puppy!" And then she was gone as she rounded the corner after Stan.

I stood and dusted off my butt and went over to Nico and held out my hand. When he took it and I pulled him up, it had started raining completely. I looked up to see the rain fall and then at him. "You're sure you aren't worried about getting sick?"

He shook his head, "That doesn't matter." He got serious and met my gaze. "Will," he got down on one knee and my heart sped up. He pulled out a ring from his pocket, " You know that I love you more than anyone, will you marry me?"

I remember being so surprised, all I could do for a couple minutes was stare at him. I forgot it was raining and all I could feel was the immense amount of love I held for him. I think I may have even started crying but I don't remember because my vision was already blurry from the rain and nothing could distort my vision of him. But once everything processed, as much as it could in my overly happy brain, I nodded, "Yes. Yes." He smiled and slipped on the ring. I got him to his feet a second time and kissed him. After the kiss, we were both giggling like schoolgirls. Up until that moment in time, that became the happiest day of my life.

We spent a week letting everyone know we were engaged and once everyone knew, we decided on the wedding day. When we told everyone, we had also asked what day would work for them and that's how we chose. December third. We actually wanted the day we started dating but since that would fall on a weekday, not everyone we wanted to be there would be able to make it so the closest we could do was December third. After moving into the apartment we chose and settling in, we started planning.

With work and life in general, the months we had until December to plan were the perfect amount of time. Especially with what we wanted the theme to be. Thankfully, with Lou Ellen's artistic talent, we were able to manage without it being to expensive. The decoration and setting at least. So on December third, everything was set to go, just as scheduled.

We had an outdoor wedding, in commemoration of our first date. In that very same park actually. We had moved two towns over from where we went to college so it was still a driving distance. While Nico and I got ready all morning in a hotel across from the park, professionals (also known as Annabeth and other friends) were setting up our perfect scenery for our nighttime wedding. Lou was running back and forth from helping me and making sure her gigantic art pieces were being well taken care of and set in the right places. But she didn't have to worry much, Annabeth was doing fantastic. She was very coordinated and careful.

Random tidbit, but I remember Lou and Cecil wouldn't let me put on my suit until the very last moment. They were afraid I would get food on it or something. Drama queens.

Anyway, finally, nighttime came and with my maid of honor and best man (we both had two close friends so we decided we would each have our own maid of honor and a best man), we rushed to wait for Nico at the altar. But when we got to the spot, I had to take a second to take in the beauty of what Lou and Annabeth had created for us.

Nico and I had wanted a wedding in the beautiful ruins of Greece. Anywhere there, as long as the amazing buildings were there but we did not have enough money to fly all the way out there and the amount to pay to have a wedding there. Lou, being an artist, said she would recreate a simple setting for us. But to me, it wasn't simple. I had no clue how she did it but there were six small columns to each side and four at the back and front. Those held the triangular front of a temple but there was no roof but instead, the triangle shaped front and back had as a "roof" were wooden trellises. There were vines intertwined in them along with white Christmas lights. Only those lights were lighting up the area. Behind the officiant was a statue of a Greek goddess and there was no question, it was the Aphrodite, the goddess of love. It looked breathtaking. And if Cecil hadn't moved me forward, I may have stood there staring forever. 

Nico didn't take long to arrive, and I saw the same expression I felt when I first saw the makeshift Greek temple. But if anything could outdo the setting it was him. We had chosen matching suits with inverted colors. So where his was white and black, mine was black and white. We decide that way because black and white were usually the colors for a wedding but we didn't want to restrict one color for either of us. So we wore both. We had had a hard time choosing who would wear which but then we decide he would wear the one with white as the main because he was always wearing dark colors and I would wear the one with black as its main because I always wore light colors. But after that, we had to decide who would walk down the aisle. Nico's dad had called and asked if he could walk him and that had decided that. Seeing them walk towards me, I almost started crying. Nico was so beautiful, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I almost couldn't believe it was happening.

(A/N: So these cuz I thought it was cute except with the white, I imagined a black shirt not white. And they're wearing ties. And the pants are the color of the jackets.)

At last, Nico reached my side and we were both smiling like crazy. Everything happening right then was magical and throughout everything, I had the threat of tears behind my eyes. This time I do know that I started crying through our vows. What Nico said is still with me. What'd he say? Well, he said, "Will, I know now that from the moment we bumped into each other our freshman year in college, our lives were already tied together. It took us years to properly meet but god am I glad we did because you've brought never before known happiness into my life and I want to spend all the time I have left on this Earth with you and no one else. Every look I get from you is so filled with love, it's like I'm being injected with pure happiness. I never thought I would have that until the day you came into my life. There are no words to describe the way I love you and what you have done for me. Some might say we rushed into this but I don't think it was quick enough. I think if it really was up to me, I would go back in time and marry you the day we had our first date. Our love is a story that can't compare to any other. I love you William and I am more than ready to start our life together."

What about me? Well I was already sobbing but I calmed enough to say what I wanted to. "People believed that long ago humans had two heads, four arms and legs but then were struck in half by the god Zeus. That was how soulmates came to be according to some people. I didn't think soulmates existed until I met you. Nico di Angelo, I believe you are my soulmate and I wish that it hadn't taken me so long to speak to you because that would have meant more time by your side. I only wish it were possible to stretch every moment I had with you into infinity because every moment I have with you is magical. Because of you I learned what soulmates are. I learned what magic is and I learned what real love is. Thank you, my love. And thank the heavens you were brought into my path in life because without you I would be lost."

"Over the years though, we might have said more romantic things but I know neither of us remembered to write our vows beforehand. So that was what came to mind at that moment." I shrugged and tried to wipe the tears that  had sprung to my eyes without letting my kids know. It seemed as I succeeded. They immediately started asking other questions.

"What song did you dance to? Doesn't the couple have to dance?" Alyn looked up at me with big round eyes.

"Yeah!" Solstice added, "We saw it on tv!"

I laughed, "Our song was Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus."

"That's the song you always listen to!" Alyn said excitedly.

I nodded, "Yes it is."

"When did dad get sick?" Solstice asked, her voice was quiet, like she didn't want to upset me just by asking. She knew it wasn't the happiest subject for me.

"He was already sick when I met him, darling." I smoothed back her hair to distract me from crying.

"When did he tell you then?"

"He told me pretty soon after we met."

Not knowing what else to say, we both kept quiet until Alyn spoke to change the subject.

"When did you want to get us?"

"How about I tell you guys tomorrow? I'll tell you the rest of the story."

Solstice jumped from the couch and raced to her bed. "Okay! The sooner I sleep, the sooner it's tomorrow!"

Alyn ran after her, "You're right!"

I went after them, wished them goodnight and turned out their lights. I went to my room, got ready to bed, kissed his picture and slept.