Christmas Day

Sleep on the night before Christmas never came easy for me. I have this habit of being too anxious for the following morning to open presents. This could be considered my last kid Christmas as I am seventeen and already have my own home waiting for me to turn eighteen. This year however I slept like a log. I blame it on sleeping next to my amazing boyfriend Nico. He just made me feel so comfortable that I just didn't want to get up. "Percy," I heard my mom's voice coming from outside my door. "Its eight thirty and Paul wants to open presents."

"We'll be out in a minute," I said smiling at the thought of my stepdad acting like a kid. "Nico, my one and only, it's time to get up. Paul is acting like a little kid and wants to open presents."

"What time is it?" Nico asked.

"Eight thirty," I replied. "This is the latest I've ever slept on Christmas morning."

"Is someone cooking bacon?" Nico asked sitting up sniffing the air like he was a dog.

"It's probably what mom is fixing for breakfast. Now, up you get we need to open presents," I replied and walked towards the door.

As I walked out of my room I had the sudden urge to use the bathroom so I walked down the hall and ran into Paul, "Merry Christmas Percy! Hurry up we need to open presents so we can eat."

"Merry Christmas to you too Paul!" I replied. "You are a grown man and you are acting like a five year old."

"It's just because I love Christmas so much," Paul laughed. "It's my favorite holiday of the year."

"Well let me go pee and Nico will probably have to once he is out here too then we will be in there," I said and walked into the bathroom. Once I was done washing my hands I opened the door to see a very disgruntled Nico. "What's wrong my love?"

"I just talked to Paul and he is way too cheery for eight thirty in the morning," Nico grunted. "Now could you please excuse me I feel like my bladder is about to explode."

"Go ahead," I winked. "Come to the living room when you are done."

I walked past him and he shut the door so I headed to the living room where Paul and my mom were sitting talking. "Where's Nico?" mom asked.

"He said his bladder was about to explode," I replied with a laugh.

"Well I'm glad he made it to the bathroom then," she said. "Are you ready for presents?"

"Yeah," I replied with a huge smile and that's when Nico walked in and sat next to me.

"Since you are both up and in here now let us begin," Paul said and started handing out presents. I had seven presents, Nico had six, mom had four, and Paul had three. I went first and opened my biggest one from Paul and my mom. It was a new TV for our house. Next Nico went and he opened his biggest from Paul and my mom. It was a Blu-Ray player. Paul went next and opened his from me and Nico. It was a pocket watch that told the exact time of day, what the weather would be like, and all the latest sports scores. Mom opened the one from me and Nico next and it was a brand new set of cookie sheets. My next present was the complete series of Doctor Who and Torchwood. Nico's was the complete series up to this point of Supernatural. Paul got Season Tickets to watch the New York Giants for life. Mom got a bracelet with matching necklace.

My remainder presents were all from Paul and my mom. I started to get worried that Nico hadn't gotten me anything. Nico's final gift was from me he started unwrapping it and I watched his face intently. It was a ring blessed by Poseidon to let Nico come into the water and breathe underneath it would also allow him free access to Atlantis.

"Percy…." Nico said. "This is the best present anyone has ever gotten me. I love you so much." He then leaned over and kissed me full on the lips. "I hope my present can even come close to this." He handed me a small package.

I slowly started unwrapping the present until I saw a blue velvet box and then Nico scooted closer to me and said, "I know I want to be with you forever. You are my world and I love you more than anything. This is however not an engagement, but a promise. I promise that after the day I turn eighteen that I will propose to you. You are the only person I have ever loved this much and it would be an honor if you would accept my promise. Do you?"

"Of course you idiot," I replied with tears rolling down my cheeks I looked over at my mom who also had tears on her cheeks.

"I'm so proud of both of you," she said coming over to look at the promise ring which was a dark nickel plated ring with a blue and a green stone on it. On the inside of the band it said "Je t'aime de tout mon coeur, Perseus Jackson."

I leaned over and kissed Nico hard on his lips. As our tongues began to explore each other's mouths Paul cleared his throat and said, "As happy I am for you two, I don't want to see that. Let's go eat breakfast and then we can watch Christmas movies all day."

After we ate breakfast, we all piled into the living room and cuddled up on the two couches and watched a few of our favorite Christmas movies. From A Christmas Story to The Santa Clause there was a movie for all of us, even my new favorite Christmas movie Rise of the Guardians. As the evening turned to night we all said our goodnights over hot cocoa with marshmallows and went off to bed. Early the next morning Nico and I left for Australia for two months. Little did we know that this would be a little bit more of an adventure than we originally planned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Le Fin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note: We hope you all enjoyed our little fun. The French on the ring is translated from Google because we were both way too tired to remember how exactly to say "I love you with all my heart" in French. Anyway, we both hope you have a wonderful and safe Christmas. For those who do not celebrate it, have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Merry Christmas,

Aaron (Theseus) and Matt (Orion)