A/N: Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I skipped yesterday because I didn't have the energy for poetry and, honestly, I don't now either. I'll do it at some point soon. Anyway, for the eleventh day of FanFiction I present to you...


The Last Laugh

Leo walked out and wandered down the corridor to a room he'd commandeered earlier in the evening. It was furnished very sparsely with only a wooden table and two uncomfortable looking chairs. On the table lay and array of mechanical toys he'd made over the past week. Most of them weren't quite finished, however, which is why he had cornered Will and told him to tell the children some sort of funny story while he did this. Although he hadn't exactly specified what 'this' was, meaning great confusion for Will. Oh well. It was sure to turn out fine.


Will gulped as he gazed at the sea of children before him. He was good with children, great in fact. Hope could attest to that. He just wasn't good at talking to them. Telling them about medical things, sure. Explaining what was the matter with them, piece of cake. But telling them funny stories? No. Why, oh why, did Leo have to do this to him?

Okay, he had something. It was very good but it was something. Well, here goes nothing.


"Okay, kids. Um... I'm Will and I've been asked to tell you a story while Leo does... Whatever he's doing. Er..."

Will's voice trailed off as he looked at the blank faces of the children. Nothing he said would ever be right. He glanced pleadingly at the other adults in the room.

"Help" he mouthed.

Jason sighed and walked over to Will's chair.

"Alright kids. Will here seems to be struggling a little so I'll tell you how we," he pointed to the rest of the Seven. "Got Will and Nico together."


Will face palmed and groaned. "This wasn't the kind of help I had in mind, Jason."

"I don't care. That's the help you're getting. You want to do it on your own again?"

Will shook his head.

"Thought not. Alright, we had known that the two liked each other for months now, but they were both too obtuse to see it. So what we did was orchestrate a little plot to get them to confess their love.

The first thing we did was invite them both down to the lake for a supposed 'camp meeting'. Percy used his powers over water to make it absolutely still and crystal clear. When they got there I conjured up a small breeze which made Will offer Nico his jumper to wear because Apollo kids are naturally warm at all times. It was huge on Nico but it was very cute."


"We persuaded Frank to turn into a cloud of fireflies which lit up the scene beautifully and Hazel summoned some precious gems to sit just on the surface so they caught the light of the fireflies and bounced the light everywhere. Leo had rigged up a sound system with some very soft music and a few other contraptions around the place. All Piper had to do was camp out with us in our tree because her mere presence radiated love and romance, being a daughter of Aphrodite and all."

"I badly wanted to charmspeak them into confessing their love and kissing but even I know that's against the rules of love," Piper interjected.

"Annabeth, obviously, was the brains behind this little plot. She made sure we were all in the correct position and that everything was perfect. They stood awkwardly together for ages as if waiting for something to happen. When they realised it was all a ruse, Nico turned to leave but Will made him stay. After several hours there was a spark and eventually Will confessed all. It was very romantic and pretty and I'm sure they're both very happy I told you this."


Jason beamed at the children who all sat enthralled. Will and Nico were both bright red. Nico was covering his face with his hands and it seemed like he was trying to sink into the floor.

Suddenly there was a loud jingling noise and Leo burst into the room. He was wearing a too-big Santa outfit and carrying a large bag of presents.

"Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas! I met Santa in the hall and he said he had a load of presents for you but couldn't deliver them himself because he had no time so he gave them to me to give! Come over here and get them!"

The adults in the room smiled as the kids swarmed Leo. He had crafted them all amazing snow globes that were unique to each one of them and came to life when you shook them. It really was a fantastic Christmas.


Leo beamed as the room emptied. He'd really enjoyed these past two days talking to the kids and he'd really miss it. Who knows, though? Maybe they'd ask him to do it again even if it did mean their constant embarrassment. Leo smiled at the thought and headed out after Calypso and their kids, switching off the lights as he went.


A/N: I actually feel really sad at finishing this. I've really enjoyed writing it and I've had it going since November last year so it's kind of become a thing that's constant. I probably sound really silly. Anyway, please review and I'll be updating my 100 One Shot Challenge tomorrow. Bye!