Percy

We all see Reyna making out with Leo Valdez the president of TSA and the engineering apprentice to Beckendorf. The dorkiest kid known in the entire school. Don't get me wrong he's cool, just... No one thought those two would go at it in an ice rink.

I make it a point to ask them about their tongue war. Annabeth doesn't appreciate the joke, but it was golden. Reyna says she knew I'd ask her that but responds with a 'damn well amazing. And I won.'

"Get your head out of the ocean and help me." Annabeth says sticking her hands out for me to help her.

I laugh again, "Come on wise girl. I know you have it in you." I take her hands and guide her through the rink.

"Every year. Every damned year,"

"You're getting better."

"Shut it seaweed brain." She laughs.

"Careful I'm the one keeping you on your own two feet." She leans forward and kisses me. "There, better?"

"So much better." I laugh, "Hey I've got a great idea."

"Hm?" She asks cautiously. I pick her up on my back and skate as fast as I can. "This is a very bad idea!" She says clinging to me.

"What are you talking about this is the best idea I've ever had!"

"Percy I don't think you should-" I skate even faster so her shrill cries turn into laughter.

Eventually I set her back down.

"See that wasn't so bad." I tell her.

"Wasn't so bad!?"

"You enjoyed it don't even try to tell me that wasn't fun."

"I swear sometimes Percy." I lean down to kiss her.

"You love it."

"No, I love you. There's a difference." She corrects me.

"Whatever you say." I look up at the large Christmas tree in the center of the rink, "I just wish we'd find a suitable adventure this year."

"Hasn't finding Jason with a new girl, and Reyna actually skating been enough for you?"

"Not at all. I wish for, you know, something big to happen. I wish that this Christmas season becomes the most memorable to date. Yeah, that's my Christmas wish that this season be our most memorable to date."

"Alright seaweed brain let's get off the ice with everyone else." I take her in my arms again and kiss her. "C'mon, I'm freezing."

"As you wish." I tell her whisking her off the ice where everyone else is readily taking off their skates. "So what now?"

"Your place for blue hot chocolate?" Frank asks.

"That's always next let's mix things up a bit." I say.

"Oh no, that won't end well." Reyna says.

"What do you guys want to do?" I ask, no one responds. "Pipes, you pick since you're new."

"Well..." She starts but looks far too embarrassed to continue.

"What is it? You've got an idea?"

"To be honest? I've never celebrated Christmas before." I says shyly.

"Like ever?" Leo asks.

"Like ever." She agrees.

"Why not?" Thalia asks.

"My dad's always working on Christmas." She shrugs.

"What about your mom?" Reyna asks.

"My mom died right after I was born. It's just me and my dad."

"I'm sorry." Frank says, we all know how much he misses his mom.

"I've never lived in a place long enough to celebrate Christmas. Although I did celebrate Hanukkah one year, but that was because I was living near a Temple and I loved talking to the Rabbi and he invited me to sit in during his family's celebration."

"Well then looks like we're going to have to treat you to the full on holiday experience." I decide.

"I know, why don't we take you to central park. It's beautiful there." Hazel says walking up and hugging Frank from behind.

"Central park four days from Christmas?" I contemplate the idea. "Yeah I guess."

"I have a better idea." Jason says, "No offense Hazel, but how about taking her to the Holiday Market? They're still open for a few more hours."

"Great idea Jason, but why not take her to both?" I executively decide. "Come on friends to the Holiday Market."

So I courageously lead the way toward the Holiday market which is jam packed with novelty shoppers.

We meander in and out of the crowds to check out different booths. Pipers eyes light up at every festive thing she sees, which is quite literally everything.

Annabeth stays glued to my side as we walk up to a huge ornament stand. Like most things here they're pretty damn cheap.

So I pick out ornaments for Annabeth and I. A stack of books for her and a tidal wave for me. Since I love the beach and she loves to read.

I see Jason leading Piper through the stands as if she's his kid, but he's so into her. He's into her so much it hurts.

"You think they're cute?" I ask when we take a seat to feast upon roasted nuts.

"So cute." She says but kisses me immediately after. "We're still cuter."

"Oh yeah way cuter, like ten times cuter." I kiss her again before the other join us. Frank and Hazel silent as ever, Thalia being thoughtful Leo making Reyna laugh like I've never seen, and Jason bringing in a very happy and very festive Piper.

"Enjoying the shops?"

"We should go now." Jason says.

"Why?" Annabeth asks.

"I may have pissed off that one lady who sells ceramics." He says, "Let's go to Central park huh?" He asks when we here the pounding feet of someone chasing close behind. "Run?" Jason asks.

"Run." I agree as we run through the crowds and out of the shops.

When we hit the streets again we point out different sculptures decorated with lights and Santa hats. Piper can't seem to stop bubbling with joy. As we walk through the streets her eyes shine with the sprit of the holiday.

It reminds me that I used to be that giddy once, and I have the choice to still be that giddy. So why aren't I?

Well that all changes when we get to central park. They have Christmas craft stations. We all pick a side and start making little paper crafts, snowflakes, and what have you. Maybe Hazel's string of people cut from crisp white paper have triangle heads, and maybe Piper used so much glitter it will never come off her hands, maybe Leo and Reyna would have made more snowflakes if she weren't sitting on his lap. And maybe if Annabeth hadn't decided to go all perfectionist on her snowflakes we wouldn't have ended up dragging her away from the table just so we could catch a ride in the horse drawn carriage to the other side of the park where they have Christmas town set up.

But that's what made it so great.

We gave all our crafts to Piper. She said she was going to decorate her apartment with them. That made me feel good. Like a kid who got his art up on the fridge.

Reaching Christmas town Piper's eyes almost pop clean out of her head.

"You are so deprived." Reyna laughs as Leo leans down to kiss her cheek.

"Not really, just in sentimental things." She says as we walk into Christmas town.

We all stick together laughing so hard we cry when Piper sees Santa Claus for the first time ever.

"Oh my god is that Santa?" She asks stopping clear in her track.

"Yeah." Frank laughs patting her shoulder.

"Go hug him!" Leo encourages.

"I can do that?" She asks.

"Sure. Why wouldn't you?" Thalia asks thoroughly entertained.

Piper stands still, "Come on." Jason and I drag her over to Santa who spots us immediately.

"Well hello there children!" He says in a jolly tone.

"Hey Santa." I greet casually as if we're just two friends meeting for lunch, "Listen our friend here has never had a real Christmas before and we're showing her around. Got any suggestions?"

He laughs at my question, "Take her through my workshop of course." He gestures to the rest of Christmas town.

"Thanks Santa." I say.

"Pipes you want a picture?" Jason asks.

"I guess." She says the smile on her face is undeniable. We get a good shot of her with Santa when Mrs. Claus comes around the corner.

She starts to joke with Santa, claiming Piper is one of Santa's other women. This makes Piper so breathless we just hope she doesn't faint. It's a complete riot.

She gets a picture with Mrs. Claus too. And before we leave the Clauses gift her a small Christmas tree which she is free to decorate.

"I think I'm going to cry." She says.

"You haven't even seen the train ride yet." Thalia tells her. The train is one of Thalia's favorite part of Christmas Town.

When we go (Which isn't often) it's the first and only thing she wants to do. We all climb into one car as we go through central park.

"So Pipes where you from?" Leo asks.

"Recently California, but I only lived there for two months."

"Move around a lot?" Reyna asks.

"Like you wouldn't believe."

"How long will you be here?" Thalia asks.

"Hopefully until the end of Junior year. If I stay until the start of Senior year I'll stay that whole year as well."

"You're a Junior, at what High school?" Annabeth asks.

"Not sure yet, we haven't figured out what district I'm in."

"When you find out you have to tell us. We all go to the same school." Annabeth loves school.

"Is that a narwhal?!" Piper asks looking out at the scenery.

"It's plastic but yeah." Reyna says.

"Okay I love it here. Officially."

"Where else have you been besides here?" Frank asks.

"Allover since I was born my dad takes me where ever he's working."

"Does that happen often?" Hazel asks.

"Every few months or so. A year if we're lucky."

"That's gotta be rough, is he really between jobs that much?" Frank asks.

"Not necessarily he just travels for work a lot. Right now he's in South Korea working on something. He'll be in London for New Years..." She stares at all the lights and festive buildings in an almost forlorn way.

"You're alone for the holidays?" I ask.

"Well..." She looks at all of us, "Not so much anymore." She smiles so sincerely I can't help but feel the Christmas joy.

"Operation Christmas cheer is a success then?" Thalia asks.

"Not quiet." I say, "One more stop and then my house."

"Where could we possibly go now?" Annabeth asks.

"Just follow my lead and you'll see." I say leading the gang through town until we reach our destination.

"The Empire State building? Are they even open?" Annabeth asks.

"They don't call it the city that never sleeps for nothing." I say walking in the front door. I immediately veer to the visitors lane which is not nearly as filled as it would be on say Valentines day.

It's really only us. I mean who in their right mind would go up the Empire State building days before Christmas?

The guy is really cool and lets us in quickly.

"Welcome to Christmas and New York, Pipes. Enjoy your stay." I tell her as the elevator doors open.

It's started snowing in our ascent to the top. She looks like she could cry when she steps out to see the stars and the lights below.

"Guys... This is the best Christmas ever!" She jumps around a bit as she stares lovingly to the sky.

"I agree." Reyna says, "Best Christmas outing ever."

"Same." Jason smiles watching Piper bounce up and down.

"So it's decided Seaweed brain." Annabeth turns to me, "This Christmas is the most memorable to date. You got your wish."

"And you got yours wise girl." I say, "It's been your dream to be kissed up here remember?" I lean down and kiss her.

Cars are probably honking at one another, and people are probably alone this Christmas, that normally keeps me down. But right now? I feel above all that and I feel above all them.

Piper reminded me that Christmas can still bring light to your eyes and joy to your soul even when it's been a hard year like it's been for Frank, Hazel, Thalia, Jason, and Reyna.

Christmas is perfect right here with all my friends and the city below us. We've got no where left to go but up, and that's all this Christmas has done.

Go up.