Oh hai! So I haven't written anything for fanfiction in a while. I was thinking about Christmas drabbles I could write about and this idea came about. Now I'm going to be honest and say the idea sprung when I was reading Teen Titans Go! Issue 47, so it isn't 100% my idea but I made my own revolving my favorite character, Annabeth Chase. I might write more Christmas drabbles if this gets a good wrap! Get it? Wrap! I need to get un – grounded….. I miss my life.

It was exactly the week before Christmas. The cabins were decked with bright lights, paper snowflakes taped on the door, icicles dangling from the roof, in the center of camp where the bonfires usually took place now stood a giant Christmas tree elaborately decorated and of course people running all over the place with suitcases preparing to go home for the Holidays. It was truly an uplifting sight to see from my view. With all the wonderful feelings being displayed by everyone there was a completely different feeling inside the Athena cabin. Something that troubled me.

I watched Annabeth flipping through her photo album letting tear drops land on the pictures sealed inside. They were of happy memories. Annabeth and I joyfully throwing snowballs at each other on a snowy day wearing traditional green and red Christmas colors. Another of Annabeth being carried by both Thalia and I wearing Santa hats. She glided her fingers across a particular picture, it was a memory I surely would never forget. Christmas morning sharing a cup of hot chocolate watching the sun rise illuminating the edges of the same giant Christmas tree Chiron still put up every year. It was one of those scenes you take with you to your grave, trust me. She continued to cry turning the pages more and more anxiously. Nico slowly opened the door letting himself in and sitting himself beside her.

"Hey."

Annabeth slammed the book shut and shoved it in her pillow case.

"Oh, hi." She sniffed looking back at him.

"Katie is getting on my nerves." Nico chuckled. "She keeps trying to put reindeer antlers on me. Somehow I don't think a red nose and antlers won't compliment my complexion." He gave a smile even though she obviously wasn't going to remove her frown. She's always so stubborn.

"Yeah." She looked down on the ground trying not to make any eye contact with Nico. She hates when people try to consult her. She sniffed again.

"Are you okay or something bothering you? Is it Grover's singing?"

Annabeth shrugged. Normally she'd probably scold him for poking fun at a friend but laugh at the joke. She's authentic that way.

"Just – getting sick." She sniffed. She never could lie.

"Do you want me to get you some soup? Get you a glass of water? Anything at all?" Nico put his hand on her shoulder for comfort. Annabeth shooed his hand off and walked to the door.

"Annabeth, wait!" Nico begged watching her walk out the door.

I wish I could be there for her just to for Christmas, like I was every year. Things have changed dramatically these past years but she couldn't go home nor could she have snow ball fights and watch the Christmas sun rise. Annabeth walked into the forest and once she was deep enough threw her dagger at a tree grunting. She pulled it out with as much force as possible throwing it at another tree, and another and another. She didn't want to talk about her feelings, she wasn't that kind of girl. All she wanted was to deal with things her way. The way that seemed a little hostile for some.

"Angry I see." Thalia appeared in front of her. "Tell me what has the tree done to you?"

"What." Annabeth demanded turning away.

"Seems like everyone is heading home for the holidays. Don't you think your family wants you home? I'm pretty sure your Dad –"

"You don't know anything!" Annabeth interrupted.

"What are you talking about I've known you longer than anyone here!"

"It doesn't matter Thalia, San Francisco isn't my home. As for my father don't you dare even assume you know his thoughts. You have immense power but you cannot read minds."

"I never said I could, I just think you should go hom-"

"This is my home. This is where I've spent almost ten Christmases!"

"It seems like you don't even want to fix things or even discuss how you feel. Your one of my dearest friends please talk to me."

"Because even if I did you wouldn't understand." Annabeth walked away, scrunched eye brows and clutched fists.

It was true. Not even Thalia, someone who experienced a lot of the same memories in Annabeths photo album understood her. Not many people did. I've always been the only one she was never too ashamed or embarrassed to talk to about anything and everything; and I always listened to every word she said. I may not have had all the answers but I knew how to make her feel comfortable. She made her way to the Chirstmas tree and looked at an ornament she had made.

"I heard your argument with Thalia." Grover came behind her.

"Are you too trying to make me feel better." She said sarcastically.

"I know you have a lot of issues with your family back in California and this time of year is making you feel a bit lonely but that doesn't give you any permission to yell at anyone."

"I know and I will apologize but I want to be alone."

"Annabeth –"

"Just forget it Grover."

"C'mon can you at least look at me!"

"I think Chiron is calling you."

If there was one thing Annabeth was an expert at it was keeping her feelings bottled up. It was something she struggled with all her life. I blamed her hubris. Showing weakness was not option for her, I'd tell her it wasn't her being weak, it was her being human. She marched to the top of the hill and watched as almost the entire camp piled into buses. Her eyes watered but just as she was going to let tears run down her cheeks a voice made her wipe them away.

"Ah yes I'll be coming home for Christmas." Percy sung. "Sounds better when I sing it, huh?"

Annabeth kept looking down at the campers packing the bus. Percy sighed and walked ahead of her to look back at her, knowing she was never going to turn her head.

"Listen, I get it. You don't want to talk about the "F" word, and I don't mean fire truck." Percy smirked. "Look, I know this great place with hot coco, a gingerbread house with gumdrops, excellent roasted ham, and a view of snow falling over this beautiful city called New York."

Annabeth crossed her arms and looked at her feet. "Hmmm." She mumbled.

"My girlfriend seems to prefer to hang around with a goat boy screaming Christmas carols so I'm a bit bummed out." Percy looked for a smile in her. "Would you like to join me?"

Annabeth stared out the window of the Jackson Apartment. She watched the snow fall over the city as the sun set. No, it wasn't the average Christmas. She listened to Sally scold Paul on where to place the tree, that was much smaller than the one at camp.

"I said it was beautiful." Percy offered her a cookie.

"Thanks."

"There's no kind of feeling quite like –"

"If I hear the "C" word one more time."

"You mean cookie?" He said as he bit the head off of an innocent gingerbread man.

"Percy I - " She stopped herself. She didn't know what to say. "I just."

"Annabeth, there's no need for you to explain or even tell me how you feel but just know you're my best friend and as long as I'm here there will always be a bite size tree in my living room with a present with your name on it."

"There's a gift, for me?"

"Nothing huge but, I had to."

"Good because I got you something too."

"Yeah that would have been a bit awkward."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Just know home is where ever makes you happy."

"I'm happy now."

"Well then!"

"Don't get too excited."

"Oh I'm not because I just know somewhere there are two small boys shaking boxes wrapped in green ribbons and unless they get a phone call from a certain gray eyed girl both those boys are going to be quite surprised to unwrap a frilly dress or blouse."

Annabeth looked away slowly shifting back to her confusion. Maybe I was always ever going to be the only one to ever understand her.

"You don't have to, but at least know I love you and so do a lot of other people." Percy wrapped his arms around her.

"The sun is setting." She rested her head on his chest.

"Is that mistletoe?"

Annabeth looked up but saw nothing. "Percy there's nothing there."

"Yeah I know but it would be so much more romantic if there were mistletoe there instead of just us –" She didn't let him finish. Instead she pulled his collar and kissed him.

Perhaps there is someone who understands her better than I ever could.

Awh que cute : ) By the way the person narrating, in case you didn't catch on, is Luke. Please review and flames will only make Sally's gingerbread men burn.