A/N: Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! And all those other languages I can't remember!

Everyone Else: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Me: …and you know what that means…

Isabel: You've been doing this all day…

Me: FREE TOYS! FREE TOYS FREE TOYS REJOICE REJOICE!

Jade: I thought it was free hugs….

Me: Oh yeaaah… FREE HUGS! FREE HUGS FREE HUGS!

(hugs all readers)

Nico: Someone had sugar today….

Percy POV

"Percy Jackson?"

I opened my crust filled eyes and saw wide violet ones staring right at me.

"Little Boots? How did you get in here?"

She poked my side as a sign to make room, then crawled in the bed next to me. She was holding a small yellow blanket and wearing yellow Spongebob Squarepants pajamas.

"A.J. sent me. I've been here for a looooooong time."

"Why would she need to send you?"

"Ummmm… she said something about the…uh…the 'pappy-rat-sy' "stalking" you, and she told me to give you this note." She pulled a note off of her back and gave it to me.

I squinted. It took me a while to decipher the words. It read:

Percy,

There is a large chance that the paparazzi are standing in front of your door. Get changed, pack your stuff, and then escape through the balcony. Mom and I will meet you there.

A.J.

At the bottom, it read: From the desk of Queen Anastasia XI.

I quickly got changed and combed my hair. I packed the rest of my junk in my backpack and slung it over my shoulder.

I carried Little Boots to the balcony and crouched down. A.J., dressed in jeans and a yellow sequined tee, waved up at me and motioned me to jump.

Holding the toddler close to me, I pushed off of the railing. Falling down underwater isn't as scary as it sounds. It's a lot like floating, actually.

I "fell" down and landed down on my feet next to A.J.

"Nice," she said. She had a bow and quiver strapped to her back and a sword slung on her hip.

"Mommy!" Little Boots cried. She ran into her mother's embrace.

Her mother was dressed in jeans in a flowing blue T-shirt. She had a sword strapped to her back.

She gave me a soft smile. "Hello, Percy."

"Hello, Your Majesty."

Her blue eyes twinkled. "Oh, none of that," she said with a wave of her hand. "Call me Christy."

"Okay… Christy. Where are we going?"

"We're going to the training grounds to work out last-minute details. Not to mention we still need to get the car on land."

"Yeah," A.J. added. "Mom and Dad teach there now that they're RETIRED."

Christy wrinkled her nose. "Anastasia, I swear, how many times do we have to go over this? I an NOT retired. My position has just been filled by my successor," She seemed to say the last part more to herself. "Retired," she muttered. "I'm 34. People who are 34 don't retire. I have a law degree, for pete's sake…"

"How did you find time to go to school?" I asked.

"Two words. Lady Athena," she replied. "Lady Athena gave us the gift of intelligence…"

"…which means we're ahead by four grade levels. And college is a two year thing. One year undergrad, and then the next year is grad school. But the system is messed up, so we still can't get a job until we're eighteen and all that junk," finished A.J.

"Nice."

We had reached the training grounds. We walked in the main amphitheater, where there were various teenagers fighting with swords, knives, spears, you name it. It was like a mini Camp Half-Blood. In the midst of all of the teens fighting, Annabeth and Tory were sparring off.

It seemed like the battle was ending, and soon Annabeth had the sword pointed at Tory's throat. They came over to us, and Annabeth gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

"Hey," I greeted her. "Where's Grover?"

"I think he's trying to indoctrinate some kids on vegetarianism or something…"

I looked over and saw Grover talking to a group of kids. "And then, they put the meat into a grinder…"

I facepalmed.

Tory smirked. "Don't worry. It won't work. We need meat to survive."

"はい、私たちはサメの血液を運ぶ。彼の話は彼らのために何もしません。" A.J. said.

"What?"

"She said; 'Yes, we carry shark's blood. His talk will do nothing for them,' " Annabeth replied. Of course Annabeth could speak Japanese. A.J. grinned, showing off her serrated canines again, and then went off to get Grover.

The five of us went to go sit in the seats surrounding the inside of the amphitheatre to plan.

"Okay," Tory said, tucking a pen behind his ear. "So, we have food, water, money… If we use magic in mortal crowded areas, we should get there in at least three days. "

"Then, when we get to Camp Half-Blood, we call the presence of my sisters by putting a lock of their hair in a ball of our fire. That's why the prophecy said to find two with power in their name. It takes two to call a person. Then, we do the Joining ceremony, go to Olympus, and save the world."

Ten minutes of awkward pause later…

"There is NO way it's gonna work out like that, is there?"

We all shook our heads. "Nooooo…"

A.J. gave a sour smirk. "Thought not."

Rachel POV

I was sitting in the Big House, sketching, while Justin and Nico were playing pinocle with Chiron and Mr. D. I had just finished signing my drawing, when I realized something.

It was Jenny Michaelson. Well, actually, her name was Anastasia Phoenix. I hadn't seen her since her wedding.

In the picture, she was wearing a long white dress. Her hair was put up in a bun, and a golden tiara sat upon her head. Large white wings sprouted from her back, and her arms were crossed in an X across her chest. Surrounding her were many names:

Αταλάντα. Atalanta.

Αναστασία. Anastasia.

Σόφια. Sofia.

Ανδρομέδα. Andromeda.

Αντιγόνη. Antigone.

I started to put the pieces together.

Anastasia Phoenix. Wings.

Oh. My. Gods.

I sat up.

"Chiron, I think the Phoenix isn't what you think it is."

A/N: I KNOW it sucks. It's kind of a filler.

Daniella: How's it going?

Me: Fine.

Daniella: Oh. Ok.

(Percy walks by with plate full of steak)

Percy: OH, hey A.J.

Me: (drools)

Taps: (muttering) Oh yeah, we'll get her to crack.

Me: And because it's Christmas…

Nico: GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Me:… I chained Nico under a mistletoe tree. Review and he'll be FORCED to kiss you.

Nico: LET ME OUT!