Hey guys! Super short update I know! Probably laced with mistakes and typos but I really wanted to put this out there for you guys because I feel like I'm letting my readers down by not updating. It isn't that I don't want to but I do have a full course load in Uni right now on top of my job and it's kicking me down so hard. I hope you guy enjoy this glimpse into Percy and Annabeth's relationship and the depth of their feelings to one another. I hope in doesn't feel too rushed and let me know what you think! The next update, if I am being very honest, will most likely be December when all my school work is over and done with! But more updates will obviously available during my breaks! I hope you all enjoy!

Christmas was approaching at a much faster pace than Percy had anticipated and for the first time in a long time, he was really looking forward to it. He finally had a Christmas to look forward to, what with all his new friends, his new family and… Annabeth. Something about Annabeth just made him smile. She had quickly become his greatest friend, a best friend anybody would dream of having. She was kind, she was funny, she cared about his wellbeing, his grades… she cared about him and she was one of the first to do so in a long time. More importantly, she was gorgeous. Some people might not find that important but Percy did. He often found himself staring at her when he could, mostly admiring her eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes in the world. He usually tried not make it obvious when he was staring but Piper had caught him doing so many times before. He always tried not to blush but it was hard not too when she shot him him a knowing smirk. So it didn't really surprise him when he got a message from her, a month before Christmas asking him what he was going to get Annabeth. He stared down at his phone, contemplating an answer.

Percy: I hadn't really thought about it much

He was basically lying to her. Percy had though about this a lot and everything he thought of just was not good enough. Annabeth meant so much to him and he wanted his gift to mean something to her.

Piper: First… lie. Second, a bunch of us are planning on going Christmas shopping tomorrow to beat the Christmas rush. I can help you pick out a gift for her!

Percy: Sounds good. But won't she be there? Won't she know?

Piper: We can split from the group for a bit don't worry about it too much!

Percy: Alright. Just text me before you come pick me up so I can get ready!

The next day, Percy found himself squished next to Piper and Jason in the backseat of Annabeth's car as they made their way into downtown Long Island.

"We could head into the city if you guys want… but we all know how much traffic thats going to be" Annabeth says making them all shake their head.

"The mall is fine, if anything we can head downtown later on." Piper says putting her hand on Jason's thigh smiling at him. He grins sneaking a small kiss before blushing when he noticed Percy was looking. Percy smirks at him before looking towards the front where Annabeth and Calypso were sitting. Annabeth catches his eye through the rear view mirror, smiling at him before turning her eyes to the front something Percy was thankful for as she missed out on the deep blush that covered his cheeks. Jason smirks nudging him teasingly.

"Shut up" Percy hisses at him, smiling a bit. Piper rolls her eyes shaking her head at the both of them. It wasn't long before they reach the mall meeting up with the rest of their friends. Calypso gravitates towards Leo as Percy greets Nico and Will.

"So many people to shop for" Percy says looking around at all his friends, putting his hands in his pockets frowning trying to budget his spendings in his head. Jason comes up behind him tapping his shoulders.

"Don't think too hard about it man. We decided to do a secret Santa! So you can buy just for that person and maybe for others if you want to. Never done that before but it'll be fun" Jason says making Percy smile at him. He felt that the reason they probably never done it was because they could all afford to buy each other gifts and he was grateful they understood his position. They all gathered around Annabeth who was holding a hat with all the names inside. They passed the hat around grabbing a name and Percy ended up picking Annabeth. He glanced over at her briefly before slipping the paper in his pocket a smile on his face. Considering who he picked, Percy now only had to buy for his mom and a few others. His mother and him were probably going to share responsibility for the gifts of his cousins and he had decided to probably get a little something for Piper since she was going to help him out with everything. All in all, it was going to be a lot less costly than he had anticipated. Piper walked over to him after they were all finished picking out their names and nudges him having noticed the smile on his face.

"Get a good pick?" She asks him with a teasing, almost knowing smile. He rolls his eyes smiling at her nodding.

"You?" He asks her and she nods smiling. They all separate into little groups in order to make shopping and moving around much easier. Percy, Jason and Piper separate off into one, leaving almost instantly much to Annabeth's discontent. She had really wanted to help Percy pick out his gift… In reality though, it was more about spending time with him than helping him. Being with Percy was like nothing she had ever had before. He was kind, selfless, goody and gorgeous. Just being around him just made her so happy because that was just the kind of person he was, even if half the time the stupidest things were coming out of his mouth and she couldn't help but role her eyes. He never failed to put a smile on her face, he never failed to make her feel like she was important to him. And he was so very important to her. There were days where she couldn't think of a life without Percy. He had so quickly become her best friend, a person she could never do without and as much as it thrilled her, it also terrified her. Her mother had been that person once upon a time, but she had left. Her father was never around, always working or taking care of her step-family before her. Her first crush Luke had broken her heart by abandoning her as soon as she entered high school. He was too old fo her anyway but she never had the kind of relationship she was now experiencing with Percy that did not end badly and she was so terrified of having that happen with him because it wouldn't just ruin her, she also felt like it would hurt him, something she would never want do. Annabeth looked back at the trio walking off towards the other side of the mall and shook those thoughts out of her head. She was just being silly. Nothing like that could happen between her and Percy. She wouldn't loose him, not if she could help it.