I hissed in pain for the third time in the ten minutes that I had been sitting down. I was attempting to clean all this annoying blood off my knife without success due to the fact everytime I cleared a spot, my own blood would replace it. Key word there, attempting. Why was I so distracted you may ask. Well the answer was simple.

Percy.

I bit my lip and sighed. Last night was the office Christmas party; let's just say I can roundhouse kick men five times larger and stronger than I am, but I cannot hold my liquor. From what I gathered after my intense headache and reacting ceased, Percy was being a gentleman and had brought me home. Only once we arrived however, I seduced him into bed.

Though, from the huge smile he was wearing-the only thing he was wearing by the way-while he was sleeping, it didn't look like he put up much of a fight.

So here I was, trying to get my mind off of him. Cleaning my weapons always made me focus or-right now is a perfect example-I get hurt. After the fifth cut I threw the highly decorated devil blade across the room in frustration. It wedged itself into the wall about four feet above the ground; Kade's eye level, my brain thought subconsciously almost as if a reminder to take it down before he could pull it out and play with it, which would be very bad.

Maybe I thought, I should just...give in and, for the first time in my life, not fight something that could be actually a very positive addition to my life. That's how I agreed to taking Madison in, I knew it was a bad idea but...after the first day I knew it had been a good decision; and maybe-just maybe-I could let my emotions rule my life sometimes instead of my head.

But my head had gotten me out of more life/death situations than possible to count, my emotions? They had no experience in what was good and what was a horrible idea doomed to fail. Then again, everything improves with practice...no. No. It was not a good idea.

Period.

I could not get attached, my deadline was nearly up. Oh god, my deadline. The point where I'm suppose to return to Israel, my family-what's left of it, and more importantly, betray all the people here I've come to love. Well ok, love is a very strong word for me considering I have only loved...about four to five people in my 29 year life span. Three of which were dead.

I shook my head and ran my hands through my rats nest mop of hair. I decided I should get ready for the day, I wanted to take the kids out ice skating today to celebrate. I didn't really do the 'Christmas' thing, I'm a Hanukkah girl, but I was going to for their sake. I even went so far as to buy a tree. We were going to decorate it when we got home with the new ornaments I planed to buy.

Chiron, bless his old heart, told me about a booth at the local mall that the kids could make their own personal ornaments at. I nearly tackled him to the ground in a hug; it was an amazing idea.

Even though Madison has been living with me for three previous Christmas holidays, she understood it wasn't in my beliefs to celebrate it, and was happily satisfied with Hanukkah's eight presents. But now that we had Kade, I wanted his first Christmas with me-us-to be as perfect as I could get it. He deserved that after everything he's gone through.

So, before I went to take a shower, I took the tree I purchased from a tree park and set it up on a stand. It was a real tree, I saw the advertisements for plastic ones, but decided to go all out with a real one.

Satisfied, I headed back into my room. As I passed them, I checked on Kade and Madison, who were snoozing happily. They were on Christmas break from school, so they didn't have to go all this week and until a week after New Years. I smiled as I thought of the friends Kade had over just the other day, he was finally accompanying himself into what I hoped would be a new, successful life. He had friends, he was finally the normal weight for a seven year old, and he didn't flinch-for the most part-when I went to take his hand or lift him into his car seat or just hug him for that matter. I was very proud of his progress.

Percy was still sleeping when I walked into my room. The sheets were pooled around his waist and he was laying on his back with his head turned to the side, half nuzzling my pillow. I found myself staring at his chest. He was very well toned, he was always at the gym when I went down to train, and it has definitely paid off.

No. I mentally slapped myself, then actually slapped my cheeks in hope it would have double the effect. It worked long enough for me to get to the shower. I sighed as the hot water pounded against my back therapeutically.

About half way through my therapy session, a knock and a muffled request came from my bedroom. I stuck my head out of the sliding door to hear it better. Percy was mumbling something I couldn't understand. "There is food in the kitchen." I called back to him before going back to my shower.

It was a total guess, but I knew him well enough that he either wanted a shower or food. I guess I was right because the knocking and grumbling ceased. I smiled lightly to myself, that boy loved his food.

Reluctantly, I turned the knob to stop the water and stepped out; drying myself off and getting dressed in a blue top, one strap hung over my shoulder on my upper bicep, and black work pants.

I walked through my room and the hallway, making my way into the kitchen. I went slowly because, I'll admit it, I didn't know what to say or how he or I would react to what I might say.

I was scared.

Which was totally irrational. I was a professional assassin, I've taken down 145+ kilogram men, but I couldn't face a crush? What was wrong with me? I took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.

Percy was sitting at the island on a stool eating a bowl of puffed wheat-I mean...cereal. When I walked in, he looked up with a smile on his face. He stood up to meet me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I hesitated, placing my hands on his shoulders. "Good morning beautiful." Percy mumbled between kisses to my neck.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and took a dive into dangerous waters. I lifted Percy's head up and kissed him fully on the lips. When I pulled back, he had the widest smile on his face. As if he was scared I would change my mind, Percy kissed me again.

"Momma?" A tired voice came from behind me. I pulled away from Percy and turned around. Kade was shuffling out of his room, rubbing his eyes and holding a stuffed robot I had gotten him at one point. I know, a stuffed robot? Americans make plush toys out of everything these days.

I jumped. "Yes sweetie?" I asked.

"What's for bwreakfast?" I walked over to him and picked him up. He may be regular weight for a seven year old, but he was still on the light side, only about 45 so I could still lift him easily.

"Well, you can have cereal like Percy, or I can make you pancakes, waffles, eggs..." I trailed off, setting him down on the island. I put an arm on either side of him and leaned down lightly so I could look him in the eyes.

He seemed to think about it for a moment, looking over at the oven then to Percy's half eaten bowl. Suddenly his face lit up. "I want cereal, like Percy!"

I smiled and gently moved him down to the stool next to Percy to go get him a bowl. I watched as the two ate. Percy was talking to me about something but I wasn't really paying attention, I was too busy watching Kade imitate every move Percy made. It was quite amusing actually.

About ten minutes later, Maddi walked in fully dressed. She walked over to me and gave me hug. "What's for breakfast?" She asked.

"Well, you can have cereal..." I trailed off, looking at the boys.

Madison looked at them then turned back to me. "I'll get the batter, you get the iron."

I chuckled lightly and moved to a lower cabinet. "Wait, you make waffles from scratch?" Percy asked in surprise.

I bent down to get the waffle iron out, still feeling his eyes on me on a place I was going to hit him for looking at later, before answering him. "Yes, how else do you make them?"

Percy muttered something but didn't say anything. I hummed in victory, taking the freshly made batter from Madison.

"I need to talk to you." Percy said as I walked around the store. The kids were making ornaments, there are no words that could describe their excitement when I told them my plans for an actual Christmas.

"What about?" I asked as I looked through model cars that Kade was interested in.

"Last night...this morning..." He trailed off, keeping his eyes distinctly focused on my every move.

"You should have seen the way Kade was copying yo-" I stopped my sentence abruptly when I was pressed against the shelves and his face invaded my personal bubble. He stared at me as if he expected me to say something. I glared back at him and kept my face blank as he shifted under it uncomfortably.

"I need to know where I stand." He said finally, leaning down to press his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, but said nothing. Hands wrapped around my upper arms and squeezed lightly to get my attention. Hesitantly I let them flutter open and stared into his sea green orbs. "Annabeth."

"I-" I swallowed my voice crack before it could embarrass me. "Percy...I cannot-"

"But you can!" His grip on my arms became tighter to get his point across and his eyes searched mine. "Just say what you feel Annabeth, stop keeping it all bottled in."

"I really cannot-" Frustrated, Percy smashed his lips against mine.

"Annabeth," He whispered, forehead pressed against mine once more. "I've fallen in love with you, I can't help it, but I need to know if you return it. Or even if you don't, I just have to know!"

I was fully aware that we were in the toy aisle and any young boy could run into it at any moment looking for a car and finding two adults having a moment. I couldn't delay this anymore than necessary in case we were kicked out, I still have a lot of shopping to do. Plus, this confrontation was inevitable I suppose.

"Percy, I-I do, but. No, I cannot. I am so very sorry."

"Momma! Come look at my ornament!" I broke away from Percy's grip before he could register what was going on.


So I thought I posted this a week ago...and I hadn't...so...yeah. Sorry about that.

Yours,

~Arty