Author's note-

Here's the second installment! Enjoy!

-SOS

2. Lights

The next day, Percy came home from his job (training kids at Camp Half-Blood) at three o'clock in the afternoon with a bag. Of course, his kids jumped on top of him, wondering what was in the bag. Was it some presents? Maybe some food, especially blue pancakes or cookies? But they were disappointed, because all that Percy had in his bag were some holiday lights.

"Come on, guys, they're not that boring," Percy said to Bella and Ethan, who were pouting at the sight of a long string of multicolored lights. "See, we can hang them up around the house. Let's surprise Mommy, and hang them in the living room."

Bella smiled, and grabbed one end of the light string. "I don't think so, Daddy," she said in an adorable five-year-old voice. "We can decorate you!"

Ethan knew exactly what she was thinking. He pulled the string of lights over to Percy, and started wrapping it around him. Bella helped by giving him more of the Christmas lights as he needed them. Percy let his children have their fun, knowing they wouldn't intentionally hurt him, or break the lights.

When her father was all tied up in the string of holiday lights, Bella walked over to the outlet in the wall and plugged Percy's Christmas light string. At that moment, Annabeth's key turned in the lock, and she walked in.

"Geez, Percy," Annabeth said, laughing. "I didn't know you could get turned on so easily…"

"Annabeth, we have kids here!" Percy exclaimed, laughing nonetheless. He hopped over to the wall outlet and unplugged himself from the wall. Then, with Annabeth's help, he untangled the lights from his body.

"Sorry Daddy, we wanted to surprise Mommy with you lit up like that," Ethan said softly. He gave his father a hug, and so did Bella.

Annabeth joined in the hug. "I was very surprised," she said, grinning. "Now who wants to actually set up the lights? I thought that was the original plan, right?"

"Yeah," said Ethan, "but we got caught up."

"More like I got tied up," Percy said, winking at his family. They all laughed.

"Well," Annabeth began, "Who wants to help with the lights?"

And after a few hours, the slightly dysfunctional family was done putting up the lights, and ready for the next day of the Christmas season.