"Merry Christmas, sleepy head," says Reyna, rolling over. "Come on, let's go meet everyone for hot chocolate."

Piper mumbles something incoherent and rolls over, dragging the covers over her body and away from Reyna. "Bed."

"No, come on, it's nine in the morning," says Reyna. "On Christmas. No one sleeps past nine on Christmas morning."

"I do. Now shut up before I kick you," says Piper.

Reyna stares at her for a few seconds, trying to determine the best plan of attack. Usually Piper would attack her if she turned on the lights, unfairly manicured nails going for her arms. Reyna's prior attempts at pulling the blankets off of Piper usually failed, as the younger girl was bizarrely strong when wrapped in blankets like a cocoon. And the one time Reyna tried pushing her out of the bed, Piper hit the floor with a thump and started wailing until Reyna felt so bad Piper turned off the fake tears.

So, all her usual tactics are out of commission. It is time for the more desperate of measures.

"Piper," Reyna singsongs quietly, her lips near Piper's ear, "honey, it's time to get up."

Piper mumbles something that Reyna thought could probably pass for no. Reyna brushes a lock of hair from Piper's eyes and kisses her forehead gently, then places a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Awake yet?"

A little smile spreads across Piper's face. "Nope," she says, eyes still shut. "Still asleep."

Reyna kisses her cheekbones, her eyelids, her temples, whispering, "Merry Christmas, sleepyhead. Are you awake now?" after every touch of her lips. Piper responds to each with, "No, I'm still asleep."

Finally Reyna leans down to press a kiss firmly on Piper's lips, and that's the moment Piper's hands wind up around Reyna's shoulders and pull her down against Piper.

"I think I'm awake now," Piper says a few moments later.

"Your eyes are still closed though," says Reyna, kissing along Piper's cheekbone. "You worried Santa's going to catch you sneaking a peek at the presents?"

Piper opens her eyes. "Nah, I just don't want to get out of bed yet," she says, her smile soft and honest. "I'm having a pretty good Christmas morning here."

Reyna sighs – Piper doesn't say that kind of thing often, but when she does she means it – but forces herself to get out of bed, offering a hand to the sleep-rumpled Piper. "We can spend Christmas Night in here too. I don't want to miss breakfast."

Piper sighs dramatically and tumbles out of bed, wrapped in the sheets and blankets in a way that makes her look even more cocooned than she had before. "I suppose I should get dressed?" she asks, looking a little downtrodden.

Reyna sneaks a peek outside the Big House window where she has been staying. "Everyone else is in pajamas. I think you're fine."

Piper pulls out the invisibility cap Annabeth had loaned her for the night and shoves it on her head, sneaking a last kiss to Reyna's cheek before darting out of the door before Reyna left.

When the two get to the fire, burning low and jolly on the holiday morning, Piper shoots her a grin like she hasn't seen Reyna in days. "Hey, Queen," she says, snarky as she usually is in public. "How's it going on this lovely Christmas morn?"

"Pretty good, Princess," says Reyna, and it's tough to keep from sitting too-close to Piper as she folds her legs in the chair. "Pretty good."