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Chapter twenty four

Tonight was Christmas eve, and tonight the night of the Jackson's Christmas party, which to be fair I was looking forward too. A chance to have fun with my friends and scoff some of Percy's mums food which was gorgeous.

We would also be exchanging gifts. That part I wasn't looking forward too really. I was kind of second guessing my gift. Would he like it? Would he think I was trying to replace his father's memory? Was I overstepping my bounds? Mum had to talk me down several times from returning it and just getting him a watch or something. Oh well too late now.

"Annabeth" mum called from the bottom of the stairs. I guess it was time to go. I put on an over coat and grabbed Percy's present from my desk, taking a deep breath and running down the stairs.

"You look -" Percy gasped as I took off my overcoat revealing the deep red dress I had on underneath "You don't look so bad yourself" I sighed, taking him in. dressed in a navy blue button down and dark jeans, my heart started to beat faster, and feelings started to come up again.

"Happy Christmas Wise Girl" he said, taking me In his arms and and giving me a kiss appropriate for the company. "Merry Christmas Seaweed Brain" I whispered back to him, giving him another small kiss before handing him his present "Hope you like it" I smiled, trying to squash any feelings I had towards the present "Yours is upstairs" he smiled, taking me by the hand and leading me away from the room full of people.

The placed looked amazing, tastefully decorated with fairy lights and tinsel and baubles. There was a huge tree standing in front of the window decorated to perfection,Seriously a lot of people had turned out this year, apparently Percy's mum had a lot of friends and family that came, so you wouldn't think we would have been caught trying to sneak upstairs would you?

"And where do you think you're going?" a male voice sounded. Turning around I saw a man in about his late fifties I would have guessed, standing a few steps down from us with a glass of wine in his hand. He wasn't the most pleasant of people, his Hawaiian shirt almost fully open showing off a stained white vest, his hair line severely receded showing off the top of his scalp. And the smell wasn't exactly pleasant either. The guy needed to bath in deodorant, even thought that probably wouldn't help.

"Uncle Gabe" Percy tentatively said, his hand gripping mine like a vice. Obviously not a favourite uncle. "Merry Christmas"

"and who is this?" Gabe asked, giving me the once over several times which made my skin crawl. It was like he was undressing me with his eyes, peeling away the layers of fabric in his head which made me want to bolt back across to the front door and put my coat back on so it could act as a type of shield against his gaze.

"Annabeth, this is Gabe my uncle on my step-dads side. Gabe this is my girlfriend Annabeth" he said, his voice holding an unspoken warning. Stepping down to my level, his arm found my waist, pulling me towards him in a kind of protective way making me feel a lot better.

"The pleasure's all mine" he drawled, almost like he was expecting me to hold out my hand but my body refused, offering him instead a small smile. Before anything else could happen, the door bell rang again saving us – for now – from Gabe. Percy's mum rushed to the door, looking every bit the vintage hostess in her gorgeous dress.

"Hey Sally, you gorgeous woman" were the first sounds heard when the door was opened, Grover stepping through followed by this deeply fabulous woman that was obviously Momma Underwood.

Momma was hot. Slightly on the bigger side, she filled out her dress with those curves that all girls wanted, and most men wanted to get at. someone I had herd much about through Grover and his obsessive bitching about her. He loved her, but she apparently was a very opinionated woman and Grover stood no chance in winning an argument against her.

Moving down off the stairs, Grover came over to us a look of disbelief on his face "Seriously" he said "That woman is crazy"

"What did she do now?" I smiled, giving him a hug. Percy gave him a more manly bro hand clap thing that they always did at school before wishing him a happy Christmas. "I had to sit through one of her many fashion shows trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight, which just so happened to be the first one she tried on" he complained, shaking his head like he was trying to get rid of an unpleasant memory.

"Grover, come give your Momma a hand with her coat" she laughed from the doorway which she had been standing in chatting to Sally. Sighing, Grover made his way over to the woman "And who is this lovely lady?"

"Momma" Percy said, taking my hand in his "This is my girlfriend Annabeth"

"What? Percy has a girlfriend and you didn't tell me" she scolded Grover, giving him a light slap around the head "Sorry Momma, guess it slipped my mind"

"Slipped your mind honestly, this is important news right here, our little Percy's all grown up" she practically shouted, making some of the other guests look in our direction. I started to feel the blood filling my cheeks as she pulled me into a strong hug, the kind only a Momma can give. "Well aren't you beautiful. Seriously Percy she is way too good for you" she joked, holding up my hand so I would spin around for them

"Don't I know it" Percy smiled, pulling me back into his arms once I had stopped spinning and holding me still "Now" Momma addressed me "If this boy here ever gives you any trouble, you come tell Momma and she will sort them out for you okay?"

"Okay" I smiled, pulling away form Percy to gave Momma a quick hug. And with a wink and a smirk, she was swept away into the sea of relatives and friends. Grover just stood on the sidelines shaking his head at her as he hung up her coat with the others.

"So that's your Momma huh?"

"She'll be yours too if you don't watch out" he warned, a little humor in his voice as he took a glass from a nearby table. We were being trusted with alcohol which did surprise me after the whole beach party fiasco, but as long as it wasn't beer I wasn't complaining.

"You know, we're not going to get a moment alone tonight" Percy whispered in my ear "You'll survive" I teased, taking a sip of my mimosa which were really nice. before long Percy was called to help with the food plates, leaving me and a couple of his mother's friends talking in the corner.