Rachel Dare hated to cry.

This time, she'd blame the onions she was slicing and dicing in her tiny kitchen, trying to make dinner for her and her husband. But, it didn't matter how many water she poured on her eyes, the tears wouldn't go away. Not even when, between her sobs and tears and slices of the knife, she didn't hear her husband get home and hug her, hiding his face in her curly hair.

Why would she be crying? We'd have to go back almost a year and a half back, when the war against Gaea had finished.

After Gaea had been defeated and the Camps became allies, the Romans imprisoned, judged and exiled their Augur, Octavian. Octavian wondered around the country until he reached the edge of Camp Half-Blood, followed by monsters and in the brick of death. A camper found him and brought him in, where the healers did their job. Once he was recovered, he asked, almost begged for asylum, since he had nowhere else to go. Chiron, being the kind soul he was, offered him what he asked, in return that he would not leave Camp. Octavian accepted.

Who didn't accept as fast as he were the campers.

It wasn't until Rachel returned to camp the following summer (though, in her mind, the question was, why going back?), she found out this new reality in which Octavian would be part of her diary life. Everyone ignored the guy and he ignored everyone. But Rachel believed in second chances and, first because of pity and second, because of choice, she became his friend. Little by little, the campers saw Octavian wasn't exactly who he portrait to be. And, little by little, Rachel fell in love with him.

She knew they couldn't be, so she never made any implications nor hints. For her, Octavian simply saw her as a good friend.

One night near the end of the summer, out of the blue and surprising everyone, Apollo, god of propehcies, music and many other things, appeared during the bonfire. He walked directly to Rachel and began screaming at her, how dare her to break her oath and, after all he'd done for her, how she could betray him. Rachel didn't understand what was he talking about but Apollo gave her no time to explain. He, not only stripped her from the Spirit of Delphi (which wasn't much, because the Spirit had stopped showing up), but also from her vision through the Mist. And, since mortals can't cross the border of Camp, Rachel was immediately transported to the edges of Camp, behind the barrier.

Rachel spent the night on the out, screaming and hitting at the barrier, wanting to get in again, not understanding what she did wrong. When she gave up, all the tears came out. She had nothing with her, all her things were inside. Rachel cried because of the lose of her possessions, since she knew Apollo would probably burn them to ashes, but also for the lose of her friends. No one would dare to help her if that meant gaining an angry god as enemy.

She didn't count with Octavian's loyalty.

He had showed up around 4am with bags and stuff under his arms and camped next to her. Octavian had argued and fought with Apollo about what he did, him being the only one brave enough to step against the god. Not even Rachel's friends of years would dare to do so. Octavian fought with Apollo and won, earning the right to take Rachel's stuff out of the cave before he burned it. He spent hours putting stuff in bags, saving all he could. He apologized for not being able to save it all, but that he'll buy her new paintings and canvas and stuff for her to work. That he wasn't leaving her, even if that meant leave the protection of Camp Half-Blood.

She never felt more grateful.

It took them a while, but they made it to Rachel's parents' house, where they spent the night. But, neither was sleepy. They spent hours talking and wondering and, in Octavian's case, trying to make Rachel laugh. It was pass midnight when Rachel finally fell asleep, her head on top of his chest, his arm around her.

Imagine the reaction of her parents' when they caught them.

Rachel never fought with someone the way she fought her parents that day. She had been emotionally and physically exhausted from what happened with Apollo that she released all her frustration with her parents. And, they did no effort in understanding their daughter. They gave her a day, and only a day, to get out of the house. She was no longer recognized as their daughter and they'll never wanted to hear from her again.

In all, her weekend sucked.

Octavian was always by her side, supporting her and even exchanging some nasty words with her parents in her behalf. He agreed to help her search for a place while she packed. Rachel doubted he could make it, but he came a few hours later, excited that he found a small apartment. Though Rachel wasn't expecting luxury, she wasn't shocked when she saw the one-bedroom apartment that Octavian had managed. She thanked him from the bottom of her broken heart because she couldn't do more to show him how she felt.

That was the moment of the confession.

They started living together, getting any job they could get, since Rachel's name was popular and people didn't want to offered her job incase her parents found out and made them shut down. Luckily, Octavian got a job as assistant on the court house and, even though the job was demanding and bad-paid, it was just enough for rent and food. Rachel did her part as well. She'd wonder the city, in search for half-time jobs, one day jobs, or even painting in the streets. That was her regular gig. Sometimes, she'd find people moving out of house and, if they were considering throwing away some furniture, Rachel would bargain her way into giving it to her. Slowly, their tiny apartment looked like a home.

Six months after began living together, on Christmas nonetheless, Octavian proposed to her. He couldn't get enough for a ring, but she didn't care. She was happy that he wanted to live with her in that bad situation. That's how she knew his love for her was real.

Octavian was very careful with Rachel. There was one thing he always waited for and that was sleeping with her. He'd sleep on the floor or the couch, but never in the same bed as her, because he was certain that Apollo was gonna regret his mistake and take her back as his Oracle. He waited more than six months, until one night when he came home from work and found Rachel drunk in the couch, crying her heart out that no one wanted her and she was the worst human being ever. That she was hatred and despicable and horrible and not a good wife. Despite Rachel's mind state, they slept together.

Neither of them regretted that night. What Rachel did regret was the state she was when that happened, even when she could remember the whole thing. Since then, it became regular for Octavian to show his wife how much he loved her, especially when she felt upset about herself. A rose he'd pick up from Central Park, a snack he'd sneak out without paying from work. Anything that put a smile on her face.

Which brings us back to the present.

"What's wrong, love?" he whispered in her ear, taking the knife off her hand, just in case.

"Tomorrow is Christmas' Eve..." she mumbled, wiping her teared up eyes. Octavian understood perfectly, since he was in the same dilemma as her. He didn't know what to get her, since she deserved the whole world. She'll never admit it, but she missed her friends and that something permanent on her life "I wish I could give you what you want..." He lifted her chin and smiled at her.

"As cheesy as it sound, all I want for Christmas is you..." he quoted the famous song, kissing her forehead "Everything will turn around, you'll see..."

"I'm just- I'm just tired of waiting..." she recognized, hiding her face in his chest. He tried to sooth her, stroking her hair "Why the world hates me?"

"I don't hate you" he reminded her, pecking around her face "And, I'll never will"

It took him a while, but Rachel calmed down enough, though she delegated the knives duties to Octavian. Just in case.

The next morning, Rachel woke up early to make Octavian's breakfast. She loved to spend every moment they could together. And breakfast was one of them.

"I'll be back before dinner, I promise" Octavian promised her, kissing her goodbye for the day. Rachel offered him a smile in reassurance "I love you, Rach"

"I love you too, Ian" she assured him, closing the door behind him. She quickly took a shower and gathered her art supplies. She was on a mission to get Octavian his Christmas' present.

She walked around the stores that were opened for last minute buyers (like her) and checked if something could even remotely be worthy of Octavian's taste. It was a world-known thing that Octavian had a thing for teddy bears, though he could only saved one since his exile. The bear in question was found at the bottom of a drawer of a bureau that Rachel rescued from the streets. It wasn't a teddy bear per se, it was an old version of Eevee, the Pokemon, combining two of Octavian's passions, but it was very special for them, because of the sensation of hope that transmit it. While thinking on it, Rachel walked pass a store that sell antique teddy bears and saw one that could be worthy of Octavian's taste. She walked in and asked for the price. 1500 dollars, they said. She left the store, decide she would take the bear.

Octavian couldn't stop groaning because of the amount of work he was having. Why do people like to work more than usual on Christmas' Eve? He just wanted to be able to roam the streets and search for a present for his wife. Not that he hadn't thought about it. He was able to save one painting from Camp Half-Blood from her banish, a painting that she adores so much that she never hung because she thought it was not worthy of display. He was decided to get that special frame for her.

Rachel got to her usual spot on the subway and began painting by memory. People would stop and stare her work, some would ask for prices. Even some wanted her to make cartoons for them. Rachel never worked faster in her life, earning money to buy the present her husband deserved. She saw the money on her bag and she was proud of herself. Not only she was going to be able to buy the present, but maybe she could also afford something special for dinner!

She gathered all her stuff, when the day was over. She wasn't happy, she was ecstatic! Celebrating Christmas the way it's suppose to be celebrated... Walking down the streets, she heard noises coming from close and saw two teens pestering an older woman. She couldn't just watch, no matter how bad her luck was.

"Hey!" she screamed at them, grabbing some old pipe that was on the way "Stop bothering her and get lost!" The guys didn't listen and she got closer, hitting the first one on the back, and knocking him down. But she wasn't as fast for the second one. The guy hit her on the head, knocking her out cold.

Octavian was out during the lunch break, but unfortunately, it wasn't about him. His boss had ordered him to go get his lunch, wasting Octavian's free time and not allowing him to have his. This was something he was used to, eating when he could. Sometimes, even eating during the walk or his bathroom breaks.

Walking down the streets, trying to rush back to the office, he saw a blind man trying to cross the street. The poor man was moving his cane around, trying to stop someone, but people were too busy talking over their phones or rushing down the streets. Octavian sighed. The man was going the opposite direction he was, but the will to do a good action, more especially on Christmas' Eve, was more strong.

"Sir, allow me to help you" he offered him, placing a hand over his shoulder. The man thanked him and slowly and, even pushing some people out of the way, Octavian got the man to the other side of the street "Here you are, sir" The man thanked him again and pulled out from his messenger bag and envelope that he offered him, as a payment for his help. Octavian declined, but the man insisted. He said it was a Christmas' present and he must open it during Christmas' Day. Octavian thanked the man and saved the envelope on his back pocket, that small it was, before crossing the street again and going back to work.

Rachel was shaken awake by the elder woman she saved. Looking around, she noticed that it was the same street where she had lost her conscious, but apparently, it wasn't the only thing she lost. The woman, explained to her, with tears in her eyes that, while she was unconscious, the guys robbed her and took all the money. Rachel sat up desperately and began searching between her things. As the woman had mentioned, all the money she made during the day for Octavian's present was gone.

Rachel cried out the frustration. She didn't have the time to go back and do more drawings. The stores were about to close and people didn't stop to look at the street artists during the late rush hour. She felt hopeless and cursed. The woman tried to comfort her and she apologized profoundly for making her lose all that money. Rachel wiped her tears away, before standing up.

"It's not your fault, ma'am..." she assured her, trying to smile in reassurance. The woman insisted on giving her something, but Rachel declined. The woman was stubborn and, from her bag, took out an envelope and gave it to her "Um, thanks..." Rachel felt kind of stupid taking the envelope, but there was no other way "Thanks... for everything..." The woman told her not to open the envelope until tomorrow, and that she had to share the news with someone really special.

Rachel thanked the woman one last time and grabbed her things (she thought it was weird that the robbers wouldn't take her art supplies and her paintings, but she guessed they were on a hurry), sprinting down the street and to the teddy bear store. The store was still opened, but Rachel wouldn't go inside. She had no money, or at least, she was no close to the price of the present.

"Excuse me" Rachel turned around to see a woman with brown hair and some gray hair around. She was familiar somehow "Is that painting on sale? I've seen you perform on the streets..." she continued, trying to explain why she had been so direct. Rachel looked down and saw that her most precious painting, a landscape from Camp Half-Blood. Rachel wanted to hide the painting, saying it wasn't on sale, but it was late. Someone had seen it and now, they were putting a price on it. How do you put price on memories? "How much for it?"

"I-" Rachel couldn't decide. For one, she could say no and the woman would leave, though she wouldn't have money to but the present for Octavian. But, if she did sell it, she'd have money for the present, even though the last thing that connected both to a very unrealistic world would be gone "I-" Rachel checked her pockets one last time, trying to find some money that was saved from the robbery. She only found 50 dollars "1450 dollars" she blurted out, thinking it would be a high price for that woman to pay.

"Sold" the woman surprised her. She opened the wallet and handed her the money. Rachel couldn't believe her luck. How would someone walk around with more than 2000 dollars and yet, she was the one who got robbed? The woman took the painting, which wasn't big and thanked her before walking down the street. Rachel hugged the money closer to her and walked into the store, confident.

"I want that vintage Umbreon, please"

Octavian was running against the clock. His boss had made all the employees stay until very late and he was the last one who walked through the door. His desk had been stacked with papers all day and there was no way he could had escaped that. He begged to every god that didn't hate him yet that the store would still be open. Indeed, the store was still open, which was a miracle itself. What lowered his moral was that the owner was changing the prices of the articles. Octavian almost screamed his lungs out when he noticed the price of the frame he thought of buying was now costing the double.

"I don't have that amount of money..." he groaned to himself. Sitting in a near by bench, Octavian took out his Eevee teddy bear. He would always carry it with him, to take a glance at him when things got wrong or tough. Eevee was one of the many things that had kept him going through the years (besides Rachel, that's it) and it'd be very hard for him not to say he had acquire feelings towards the furry ball.

"Daddy, look at that teddy! It's perfect!" Octavian looked up from his bear to see a young little girl, who was dragging an older man, that looked like her father "Daddy, can we buy one like that for the baby? Please!" she begged her father, who looked really uncomfortable for the situation.

"Young man, how much for the teddy bear?" Octavian wanted to reply that the teddy wasn't for sale, but with one look onto the little girl's eyes and he was disarmed. On the other hand, if he sold it, he could acquire more money for his present to Rachel. Octavian set a price, a price so ridiculously high for a teddy bear, thinking that maybe the man would find it an exaggeration and would leave. But the man took his wallet out and paid him the exact amount he told him. Octavian was defeated and it costed him to hand the teddy to the little girl.

"Don't worry, sir... My new baby sibling will take good care of her" the girl promised him, smiling that innocent smile only kids could make. Octavian smiled back at her before walking inside the store and buying the frame. As long as Rachel is happy...

Rachel finished preparing the frugal Christmas' dinner she could manage. It wasn't enough, but she knew that all the efforts and sacrifices would be rewarded when she'd look at Octavian's face the second he open his present.

"Rachel! I'm home!" Rachel smirked to herself, while throwing on a tattered T-shirt. They weren't going out, so who cared who saw them.

"Welcome home" she greeted him, with a hug and a kiss that Octavian returned "And Merry Christmas' Eve" she whispered in the end. He smiled back at her before kissing her again.

"Merry Christmas' Eve, love" he repeated to her.

Dinner was short, but animately and filled with anxiety, from both of them. Rachel bounced her knee up and down, while Octavian played with the tablecloth. Finally, she couldn't handle it and gave him the little package where her present laid. Octavian took it with surprise and reverence, almost worshipping it.

"Open it up!" Rachel beamed at him. But Octavian simply handed her his present, also carefully wrapped.

"Together" he stated.

Rachel nodded and, after the count of three, Rachel opened the wrapping, careful not to rip it. Tears escaped her eyes when she saw the most magnificent frame ever. It was the perfect size for her painting, the painting she sold to get Octavian his present. The tears soon became of sadness as she stared at the frame.

Octavian wasn't any better. He opened the box to find out the perfect match for his sold teddy bear, yet now he didn't have it. Gods, how awful he felt about it now! How would he explained to her that he sold the only thing that was as sacred as her to buy her present? Speechless, he looked up and saw his wife in tears, hiding her face behind her hands. She was mumbling something he couldn't decipher, until he got closer.

"I sold the painting to buy your present" Octavian heard the guilt, the anguish and the fear behind that confession. In a way, that eased his own fear, because it meant that she loved him as much as he loved her. Wrapping his arms around her, he made his own confession. Rachel stared at him, in a mix with adoration and surprised. Octavian kept assuring her he didn't hate her and that everything was gonna be alright.

Because they got each other.

It was passed 3am, but Octavian wasn't able to sleep. Instead, he was busy watching his wife sleep, while he spooned her from behind. He loved her so much, he'd go back to the 'dark side' as she call it, only to offer her the world she lost. But, it would be no use now. Not without the cost of losing her.

"You think we can get them back?" she whispered softly, almost too low for him to miss it. But he's glad he didn't "Someday?"

"Someday..." he promised. She turned around and got closer to him, her head on top of his chest and her hand holding his shoulder. His arms were around her waist and stroking her cheek. The way it was suppose to be "You know, I forgot about this but a blind man gave me a gift last night" Rachel looked interest in his story, so he continued "He gave me this envelope, I wasn't suppose to open it until Christmas..."

"It's Christmas now..." she pointed out. Octavian smirked and grabbed the envelope inside his back pocket's pants and took it out. He opened it and found a paper with an address and a little key.

"OK, this is strange..." Octavian recognized, though he stopped when Rachel got up from bed and began searching her stuff "Um, love?"

"A woman gave me an envelope too yesterday... I forgot about it as well..." she admitted, getting back to bed with him. He wrapped his arms around her as she opened it. Rachel's expression turned into a frown when she found out a paper and a positive pregnancy test "You think she confused the envelopes? Because-"

"Let me see that note" he asked her, taking the note from her. The words 'It's a girl! Congrats!' were visible, but it was the signature under the note that intrigued him. It was a lipstick mark with a dove "No way..."

"What? What's wrong?" Rachel wondered, getting worried by the second. Octavian ignored her worry and placed a hand over her stomach. He didn't know how and he didn't want to figure how either, but the second he placed his hand there, he could hear another heart beat "No... I can't be-"

"-pregnant" Octavian completed for her, smiling "The note was from Venus herself, love..."

"Oh, gods..." she chuckled and hugged him tight, both filled with joy and happiness "We're having a baby..."

"And, something tell me, this ain't no regular house" he grabbed the little key, showing it at her. She smiled at him, tears coming out "Told you our luck would change..."

"And I never doubted you" she confessed, kissing him. Showing him her love for him.

After having lunch, Octavian and Rachel decided to go to the address of the key, not sure of what they'll find. They were ready for anything. Octavian wouldn't let Rachel out of his sight, especially now that she was carrying a baby. His baby. He still couldn't believe it. Rachel was leaning against his chest, a small smile showing in her lips.

"What do you think we find inside?" she wondered, giving herself some room to dream "I want a fireplace and maybe, a small front yard-" Octavian heard her rant about her fantasy, just hoping the reality wouldn't crush them.

"If not..." he stopped her for a second, smirking "I'll give you that again. I promise" he swore to her, kissing her temple.

"I don't need that, Ian..." she assured her, looking at him in the eyes "I need you"

"Cheesy like me" Octavian chuckled, stopping at the front of one house, that even their descriptions gone throw the window when they saw it. Two store tall, with a massive front yard, a swing hanging from a tree, a big bow wrapped around the mailbox. They walked to it and opened it, finding a letter.

It took us a while, but we found you. We felt really bad about what happened to you, so we wanted to give you something back... Shocked us that you didn't recognized us, but we don't blame you... You guys deserved the best after we turn our back on you... This is just the beginning.

Merry Christmas to the three of you!

A & H

"Annabeth and Hazel?"

"More like Vesta and Venus" Octavian, recognized, pulling the key out, walking into their new home.