A/N: Nico is a good kid guys. He got Dio a Christmas present

'Hey.'

Dionysus looked up from the report he had been reading. 'I didn't even hear you coming.'

'You weren't supposed to.'

'Not?' He snapped his fingers and a second chair appeared. 'You are lucky. I've got some time.' He'd never not have time, but still. 'Yet, I mean only some. I have other obligations tomorrow.'

'Tomorrow is Christmas!'

'Your point?'

I sat down. 'I mean, It's your birthday, I guess.'

He raised his eyebrows. 'Oh, so you figured that out already. Yes, it is, and the same goes for Odin.' He sighed. 'You know Jesus is born on the 25th of december as well. Hence Christmas. Every year, the birthday boy collects both me and Odin, so that we can take a hike, imagine, the same hike every single year for over two-thousand years now, that takes five hours. And we start at five in the morning, so once we are done, it is only just ten A.M.' He looked like the embodiment of tiredness after he said it.

'Ah-ha. That sounds really annoying.'

'It depends. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.' He pushed the report aside. 'Anyway, what are you here for? Anxious about Christmas?'

'I mean, maybe a little, but that wasn't my main point. I will be going to Wills' house again to celebrate this year. Wills' mother is a nice lady and aunt Natalia won't be invited this year. I believe Naomi Solace has gone no-contact with her, even.'

'Good to hear. Yet, what is the matter then?'

I got the little paper bag with the brooch out of my pocket. 'Since it is your birthday, and Christmas, and perhaps the Saturnalia too? I don't know, anyway, I got you this.' I pushed the paper bag towards him.

Suddenly very interested, he picked it up. He unpacked the brooch and held it against the light. 'It's… really beautiful, actually.'

I shrugged. 'Yeah.'

'No, as in, really, really beautiful.'

I stared at the table. 'What did you expect? Me to have a bad taste?'

He gave me a sideways look. 'Ah, he's still in there.'

I expected him to say I was on thin ice next, but he didn't. Not this time. Probably in the conscience that I knew I wouldn't be so lucky next time.

He put the brooch on his shirt. I nodded. 'Good.'

'I hope you didn't curse it.'

'Who knows.'

'You never do, I suppose.'

I turned my chair around and stared at camp for some time. 'I am looking forward to Christmas tomorrow,' I said. 'I really do.'

'Yet?' He gave me a sly smile. A glass of Apple juice appeared. I gratefully picked it up.

'Last year, it was fun, but it was all eclipsed by aunt Natalia's behaviour.' I shrugged. 'She won't be there, but I hope there won't be someone else ruining it one way or another. I am afraid something will go wrong.' I narrowed my eyes. 'Wow, that sounds familiar. It can't be the first time I said that.'

'I can quite certainly say it is not.'

I sighed. 'At least I know why I am so nervous now. Last year, I was constantly taunted by aunt Natalia. I thought it did not bother me much, but the nasty aftertaste is still there.' I raised my eyebrows. 'I least I clearly now whats' wrong.'

'You seem to understand why you are worried really well. This might be a more easy cause to figure it out for, but can you analyse the way you thought of it?'

'I was angry and sad. I tried to figure out why that was and this was what clearly came to mind. So, seeing as how it is clearly at the front of my mind, there was no denying that that was probably it.' I took a sip of my juice.

'Yes, very good. So, you identified how you felt and then you thought of why you felt like that.'

I slowly nodded.

'Do you think a thought pattern like that is something you can also try next time you feel anxious?'

'Eh, well, maybe.'

'Sounds stupid, I know…'

'Not really. Not stupider than some other things you told me.'

'Touché.'

'I'll try it.'

'Trying is okay. And about the anxieties you are having right now: Are you still going tomorrow?'

'Of course! Will and I are leaving tonight, actually, maybe I should have mentioned that.'

'You'll see how it goes. My prediction is that it will be quite fun, but something small will go wrong. That is how most family parties go.' He groaned. 'Except on Olympus. There they start with one tiny argument and end up with ten full-blown fights. That is part of the reason why I am partly happy I get to hang out with Jesus and Odin on my birthday, or Christmas or whatever. At least they don't fight about everything, from eon old feuds to how the sauce is all wrong.'

'He. Nice.' My eyes fell on the report, which had almost dropped onto the floor. 'It wasn't exactly my plan to talk for this long.'

Dionysus pulled his papers closer. 'It is alright. I hope you can go to your family party in peace, now.' He looked at the brooch and began to smile. 'And thanks for this. Thanks a lot.'

I smiled back. 'Yes, you're very welcome.' I stood up and drank up the rest of the spicy apple juice. 'I'll see you after Christmas, or your birthday, or the Saturnalia, or whatever else, then.'

He nodded. 'See you then.'

'Happy birthday.'

'Bye now.' He turned back to his report, while I stepped down the porch and went to the Apollo cabin. I had important things to pack up.

A/N: Not me looking through my own chapters trying to figure out what aunt Natalia was called again.

Saying it once again: It is NOT academically proven that Dionysus (AND ABSOLUTELY NOT ODIN, *I* MADE THAT UP) have their birthday on the 25th. I just think this is funny. Don't take this as proof or as a 'serious' academic theory of anything. Please don't.

Also, little sad, little happy: I have planned and written out the entirety of the story. Don't worry: It will run to at least chapter 71. I say 'at least,' because if there is anything you really really want to see/anything that Nico should experience/talk about, tell me right now! You can do that via comment or drop me an ask on Tumblr ( lifeofroos).