Winter Traditions


"There's so much snow," Nico said in awe as Will, Reyna, and he walked into field behind the Solace house. He was wearing the winter gear he had gotten for his birthday since the temperature had dropped into the single digits. Will really did not want to go outside, since he hated cold weather with a passion, but Nico had insisted. There had not been more than two inches of snow the night before; however, it had seemed to snow overnight. Now there were at least nine eight inches of the crystalline substance. He had never allowed himself to look at the beauty of it until now.

The older demigods shared a look as the youngest squatted down to gather a handful of snow. When he was done forming it into a ball, he placed it on the ground before rolling it around to make it bigger.

"Nico, are you going to make a snowman?" Will asked with surprise evident in his voice.

He shrugged, continuing his efforts until the ball was bigger than a beach ball. "When my family and I first moved to America snow was a big deal to my sister and I. I was always obsessed with building snowmen," he admitted reluctantly. "My sister liked making snow angels better but she always helped me anyway. I haven't made a snowman in years so I just thought…" He wasn't looking, but he heard Will's loud footfalls as he ran towards his house.

Reyna smiled, walking over to aid Nico in his endeavor. "I'll make the head, you make the rest of the body."

Nico grinned. "Okay, Ra-Ra."

The snowball she had made to make the snowman's head hit the son of Hades in the back, causing him to chuckle. He was the only one that got away with calling her that.

A few minutes later, just as Reyna placed the smallest ball of snow on the other two already stacked together, Will came running through the snow at them. In his hand he held a carrot, two sticks, and several dark gray rocks.

"Here you go!" He said with a bright smile on his face. Despite his constant tan, Nico could see the pink on his cheeks from the cold.

"Thanks, Sunshine." Within a minute a snowman a little under four feet tall was standing proudly in front of the trio, arms raised in the air and a smile made from rocks on its "face". Its carrot nose stuck out crookedly, but that gave it character.

Will put his hand on Nico's shoulder, an idea bubbling though his lips and out into the open. "We should make snow angels!"

"But then I'll get my pants all wet," the son of Hades whined.

Reyna rolled her eyes. "You can attack the first werewolf head on, but you're against making a snow angel because you'll get a little wet? You're so silly sometimes."

"Silly? Me, the son of Hades and Ghost King, silly? I am the prince of the Underworld; I am not—"

He was cut off as a snowball thrown by his boyfriend hit him square in the chest.

"If you don't want to make a snow angel, di Angelo," Will said with a teasing grin as he formed another tiny spherical weapon, "then we're going to have a snowball fight instead."

"Oh you're on! Reyna, let's get him!"


"That was totally not fair. Two against one is just cruel, and Reyna's hits packed a punch. Do you have a mechanical arm or something?" The son of Apollo complained.

Reyna let a small laugh escape her. "No, but I have two mechanical dogs."

"Very funny."

After the three had shed themselves of their winter gear and such, Will's mother surprised the teenagers with chocolate chip cookies and milk in the kitchen. There was also something else sitting in the middle of the table. This something made Nico's eyes widen in shock and left him with his jaw hanging in awe.

"Is that a panettone?"

Ms. Solace smiled, a strand of her light auburn hair falling in front of her face for a moment before she tucked it behind an ear. "I did some research on the internet about some Italian traditions and a bunch of recipes for panettone came up. It read that they were quite popular during the Christmas season, correct? I might have made some adjustments to the recipe, mainly adding more chocolate than warranted, but I'm sure it'll taste wonderful. Would you like a slice?"

To say Nico was touched was an understatement. When he was a child his mother had made Bianca and him many of the cakes; they had been a tradition in his family.

"Yes, please. Thank you so much," he added gratefully.

"It was no trouble at all."

Nico was handed a plate with a generous slice of panettone. She handed Will and Reyna one too, both of them curious of the Italian desert.

"It's delicious," the son of Hades voiced after the first bite. "My mother's was a bit different, although I can't remember much what hers tasted like, but yours is amazing. I am surprised that you put so much chocolate in though. Will yells at me if I eat too many sweets."

Will groaned at being called out by his boyfriend. "You always forget to brush your teeth, di Angelo! You need to in order to prevent cavities."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Being a demigod whether or not I get a cavity or two is the least of my worries. I brush them every morning and most of the time at night; that should be enough."

"You're supposed to brush them after every meal or snack."

"Will, no one has time for that."

Crossing his arms, Will quirked an eyebrow. "This is coming from the boy that'll sleep in the middle of camp when he can be doing anything from swimming in the lake, kicking Ares kids' butts, or frolicking in the Strawberry Fields."

A laugh escaped Reyna. "Nico frolicking? Does he do this often, Will?"

"I do not frolic!"


The next morning, Nico, Will, and Reyna Iris messaged the Jackson residence, McLean estate, and Grandma Zhang's apartment to wish their friends Merry Christmas. They made their greetings quick since their ADHD was making them antsy to know what was inside the boxes underneath the Solace family Christmas tree. The trio as well as the other demigods had exchanged presents beforehand to be opened on Christmas; now that they could finally open them without betraying their consciences there was nothing holding them back.

"Wait just a moment," Will's mother said as the three teenagers walked into the room and began arranging the presents by whom they were to. Their OCD couldn't allow them to remain mixed up. "I want pictures of everyone together first."

Will pouted. "But mom, the curiosity is killing me!"

"William, you will persevere through a few pictures or I'll take your presents back."

Her son gasped before pulling Nico and Reyna into a friendly hug and smiling brightly. "Hurry you guys, before she takes the presents!"

A few minutes later, after Ms. Solace was placated, the demigods tore into their presents.

Will was excited to get a bunch of audio books from his mother. He had really wanted to read The Kane Chronicles for a long time, but it frustrated him to read books because of his dyslexia. Listening to audio books was much easier. However, he was less excited about the socks and underwear he'd gotten.

Cecil had gotten him an intricate woodcarving of the sun, to which Will rolled his eyes at despite his smile. Something told him he'd stolen it. Lou Ellen had made him a card as she did every year, this one hexed so that it sang Christmas songs every time he opened it. To his embarrassment, Percy, Jason, and Leo had gotten him very thin, lacy black lingerie.

"What am I going to do with a bra and… panties?" He asked with a disturbed shiver. "Your brothers are jerks, Nico."

The son of Hades merely smirked. "When we get back just tell them they fit nicely. I'll back you up, saying I thought you looked sexy in them before taking them off."

Reyna was almost choking with laughter at the positively devious looks on her friends' faces. Ms. Solace shook her head but didn't comment. She knew her son well enough to know Nico would keep him from being killed with lightning, water, and fire.

Nico had been given an awesome black watch by Hazel. It apparently cursed anyone who wore it, but Nico didn't mind that fact before putting it on immediately. He was a son of Hades; he would most likely be fine.

Jason, Percy, Leo, and Frank had worked together making him a card. When he opened it he expected it to be full of badly drawn pictures and barely legible writing. He wasn't wrong, but that wasn't the only thing in it either.

Dear young Nico, the elegant writing on the back of the picture in his hand read. Your friends have been trying to contact me for months, so do not blame them for the lateness of this gift. I have been busy with the Hunters and generally smite or ignore males trying to get in contact with me. Nevertheless, after many weeks pestering me I listening to their prayers and gave them this to hand to you. Your sister was a fine, strong girl. It is only fair that you have at least one picture of her. Also, after reading this hold out your hand. It is only right that you keep what will appear before you. Use it wisely, for no male has held one of these in a very long time. Artemis.

After staring at the picture of his ten year-old self and his sister standing side by side before they had known they were demigods, Nico did as he read and held his hand out in front of him. Everyone in the room gasped in shock when a beautifully crafted silver bow materialized onto the center of his palm. Even as a quiver appeared on his back filled with arrows just as silver as the bow, Nico could only stare in awe at the gift. He knew why it was so important.

"This was Bianca's bow," he breathed. "Why would Artemis let me have this?"

Reyna knitted her brow in confusion. "I would normally tease you by saying that since you're no threat to her Hunters she tolerates you slightly more than other males, but it most likely has to do with the fact it belonged to your sister."

"I know that, but…" He didn't voice that it struck him as too nice for the goddess of the Hunt. Something told him if he said that out loud he'd be turned into a deer and then hunted. Still, he'd treasure the gift always.

Reyna had gotten a book on ancient swordsmanship from Annabeth. From Jason and Percy she received poorly written Christmas cards, their dyslexia turning "Merry Christmas" into "Marry Christmaster" and "Happy Holidays" into "Hippy Holadays". Their effort made her smile though.

Piper's gift, however, was a note. At first Reyna was confused; however, after reading it her eyes threatened to brim with tears.

Dear Reyna, it read. I know it's not much of a gift, but while Jason was making your card and I was thinking what you would want my dagger starting glowing. You know it can see the future, right? Anyway, I saw something you should be aware of. In my dagger there was a boy with white hair and red eyes. He was extremely pale, so I assume he is albino, but nevermind that. You two were walking together across the streets of New Rome when all of a sudden he kissed you. Right on the lips too, if I might add. You didn't gut him like a trout either. Basically, what I'm telling you is that my mother was mistaken to make you think you would never find love. It seems to me you'll be meeting someone soon, Reyna. I just thought you'd like to know. Love, Piper.

She clutched the note to her chest tightly. Piper was wrong to say she hadn't gotten her much of a gift. Hope was the most meaningful gift she'd ever been given.