The last chapter of the Minific- and may I just say holy fuck but even I think this is tooth rottingly sweet fluff and I love it so freaking much. Also- I won't be posting tomorrow due to a busy day so you shall have to wait for the start of the SOM fic.
Replies:
Thickneck: *looks at this chapter* hmmmm, more adorable coming right up. Also, Percy is the best gift giver, closely followed by Piper.
Undeath9087: Yeah, yeah this one is wonderful I must admit, so so much pure fluffy goodness. And yeah, Haley does not like Percy or her friends and she is not impressed that the new girl somehow already is a part of the group.
Guest: Oh it is. Percy is 100% the type to fuck you over during a pillow fight. She has no mercy.

Sometimes Percy found it shocking how fast time seemed to fly. But it did- and soon enough it had been over six months since they'd brought Annabeth home with them. And she'd truly became a part of Brooklyn House- Percy knew there were some moments when Annabeth missed her old home.

Camp Half-blood.

She didn't talk about it very much. Her memories of the Camp were tied quite closely with Luke which was not a good thing. From the few conversations they'd had about Luke- well, Annabeth was struggling. There was a time when he'd been kind, a good person who'd cared for a frightened little girl. He'd been her hero, so having him turn around and hurt her like that- even if it hadn't been his intentions to hurt her, well. That sort of damage couldn't heal overnight.

A part of Annabeth still loved him- Percy knew that much, could see it in her eyes whenever Annabeth did talk about him. His betrayal had caused her an insane level of pain. It was a wonder she hadn't broken.

But Annabeth was strong. She'd been able to heal somewhat, with the space away from the bad memories and with people around to help.

There were still moments when she got sad, or angry about her hand and what had happened, but overall Percy would say that the daughter of Athena seemed a lot happier than she had at first.

And, as an added bonus she seemed pretty excited at the idea of celebrating Christmas with the Kanes- apparently while they had small celebrations at Camp for Christmas they didn't go all out.

The Kanes however did.

the first Christmases after Julius' death they hadn't celebrated at all. Oh the rest of the kids at Brooklyn House had been free to but the Kanes hadn't wanted too- there were too many painful memories. After all the first Christmas together had been spent mourning their fathers loss, the three kids away from their mother and then getting left behind by Amos- though he had been possessed by Set so they didn't blame him.

And of course they'd been under attack for half of the day.

So yeah, celebrating the holiday a year later hadn't appealed to them, it had not been the best day.

But after the first year they'd agreed that the twins deserved to have magical Christmases- the first year hadn't been so bad for them because they'd been way too little to care anyway- but after that first year they'd started celebrating again. And if Sally Kane was celebrating something then it was going to be awesome.

And Annabeth was- well, like a little kid at Christmas.

She'd gotten very into it, helping them set up the tree, put up decorations, baking cookies- which was something the whole Kane family plus partners and best friends got involved in.

It usually resulted in total chaos- but it was fun- and Sally always made sure to take loads of pictures- several of which Percy planned on putting up in her bedroom- especially the one her mom had taken of her, Piper and Annabeth mid flour battle- all three of them laughing as they made a complete mess.

It was safe to say that it was a Christmas Annabeth would definitely remember.

Brooklyn House was always a little quieter than normal on Christmas day- because of kids going to visit their families, and so on the morning the Kane family and co, minus Amos who was going to visit later in the day, were gathered outside on the terrace eating breakfast as they started exchanging gifts- which was always Percy's favorite part of the day.

She did so love giving people presents- and she was more than willing to admit that she was most excited about her present for Annabeth- oh her gift for Piper was awesome too- Percy had spent hours arranging with Tristan for him and Piper to go on a holiday just each other- skiing, Percy happened to know for a fact that Piper adored skiing so it seemed like a pretty good plan to the daughter of Poseidon.

And the fact that Piper had almost cried when Percy had handed it over was a very strong sign that the other girl appreciated it.

In return Piper had gotten Percy a barrette which had been made with beautiful abalone, that seemed to almost glow when Percy turned it over in her hands, and pearls. And Percy could tell that it had been hand made, Piper had collected the pearls and stone herself and paid someone to make them into a barrette.

And it was especially thoughtful because Piper knew Percy's history of insecurity with her hair. She'd long ago gotten over it of course, but a present that highlighted her hair, made specifically to decorate it? That was like Piper saying that the thing that stood out most about Percy was beautiful.

So yeah, that made Percy feel all warm and bubbly inside.

But nothing, nothing could beat the moment she'd given Annabeth her present.

It had taken a long time to make- Walt had helped Percy, had taught her but she'd done most of the work herself.

To anyone else it would just look like a fancy piece of jewellery, they'd made it out of platinum- for it's strength.

It was a ring bracelet- the bracelet itself was a platinum band, the inside had hieroglyphs carved into the metal, which had been tricky because it wasn't a thick band, and on the centre of the band were three stones. Two little lapis lazuli stones embedded either side of a malachite stone- for wisdom and healing. The sheen of the blue stones and the green stone was very pretty against the silver color of the metal.

And branching out from the band of metal, connected to a little hook next to the malachite stone, were five delicate chains, that connected to five little rings. they each had a little malachite stone embedded into them, and hieroglyphs were traced on the inside of them too.

And it took Annabeth some time to realise just what the gift did.

Percy had helped her put it on, Annabeth had been frowning as Percy had insisted it needed to be worn on her right hand.

And then she'd finally gotten it on and she had, without even thinking, lifted her hand to look at it, curling and uncurling her fingers, "It's really pretty Percy. Tha-" she paused, clearly taking in what she'd done before, "I- I just-" she curled her fingers again, "Oh my gods- oh my gods!" and then she'd thrown herself at Percy, sobbing, and Percy wrapped her arms around Annabeth tightly, laughing at the sheer joy in the other girls expression.

"Hey! Hey it's okay." Percy couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips. "It's not a magic cure. You'll only be able to wear it for three hours max before it starts hurting and you'll need to take a break but-"

"I can use my right hand again." Annabeth was almost gushing, "Even if it's only for three hours at a time you have no idea how-" she looked like she was about to burst into tears, "Thank you thank you thank you!"

"Well now my present feels super lame." Piper was laughing, "There's no topping that huh?"

"What can I say, I'm the best at presents."

And Annabeth was practically bouncing in her seat as she admired her hand, curling and uncurling her fingers constantly, clearly doing it just because she could.

The others were talking amongst themselves, giving the three girls a little bit of privacy- though Percy noticed Walt giving her an approving smile and a little nod of his head.

"I'm sure your presents great too." Annabeth was grinning, "I just-"

"Oh no don't worry." Piper laughed, "Believe me I know that's the best present ever." she pulled a little package out and handed it to Annabeth, "Why don't you try using that present to help you open mine."

Annabeth did, blinking down at the little card that had been wrapped up before, "Is this- is this a membership card for the Metropolitan Museum of- oh my gods Piper I-"

"Highest level of membership." Piper added with a small grin, "You get so excited every time we visit a place like that and I figured if you have a membership you'll be able to get access to areas normal guests don't get to go and-" and Annabeth cut off Piper by hugging her tightly.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you two." Annabeth's voice was unsteady, "I don't think I could ever ask for better friends than you guys. And I-I don't even have anything to give you guys really-" she had gotten them presents. She'd gotten Percy a little glass ornament- a trident, and Piper a little glass dove. And Percy happened to think they were adorable, and she may have plans to get Annabeth a little owl so they'd all have matching ones. But she could sort of get why Annabeth was suddenly looking guilty.

"Annabeth we don't expect huge presents I love my trident."

"And my dove is so cute." Piper agreed, "You don't have to spend tonnes of money on us."

"But the presents you guys gave me-"

"We're also rich bitches." Percy pointed out. "So if you really wanna look at it that way, you spent a higher percent of the money you have on us than we did on you. Not that it matters-"

"I just-" Annabeth swallowed hard, "I should have done better-"

"No, no you shouldn't." Piper shook her head, "Annabeth is this- you don't feel like if you don't match it we won't want you around or anything. Right?" and honestly, Percy really appreciated how perceptive Piper was when it came to emotions. She could usually figure stuff to do with feelings out pretty easily.

"I-" Annabeth hesitated, "I-" she looked like she was fighting to put her thoughts into words. A rare thing for her- she was usually pretty damn good with words. "I just- I don't want to lose you guys." she muttered the words, "I- everyone else seems to leave me and-"

"That would be because they either had no choice or are assholes." Percy's voice was gentle. "We're not going anywhere. You're stuck with us. Forever and ever right Pipes."

"Damn straight." Piper grinned, "Who else are we going to copy our homework from?"

"You shouldn't be copying it all!" Annabeth laughed, and there was that genuine smile, "You guys are so ridiculous. You're infuriating you know that right." she shook her head before. "I- you guys know that meeting you both is one of the best things to have ever happened to me right? You changed my life."

"And you changed ours too." Piper declared, "We're gonna stick it out together from here on out-"

"Percy!" the cry that interrupted them came from Alexander, "Percy! Momma says we can go in the pool if you comes in with us."

"Please!" and Estelle joined in too, the two of them rushing to Percy's side. And Percy laughed as Sally sighed loudly.

"My exact words were that if Percy said yes you could play in the pool after we'd all finished breakfast."

"Well." Percy grinned, scooping a twin up in each arm and pulling them onto her lap, glancing between Ananbeth and Piper, who both gave small smiles and nodded.

So Percy grinned, "I think I'm finished with my breakfast. What about you guys?"

"Yes!" Alexander nodded so frantically that he nearly headbutted Percy, and Estelle lightly tugged her hair.

"I'm finished too!"

"Well then-" Percy stood up so quick that she knocked her chair down and threw herself and the twins into the pool, the splash from the impact catching Annabeth and Piper, who both let out startled yells and laughs.

And Percy had to admit, that with the sound of everyones laughter- and her mother's exasperated sigh filling the air around them, there really was no better way to spend Christmas.