I have come to realise that Percy's step dad is called Paul, so from now on I will call him Paul instead of Phill. Sorry for any confusion :)

Chapter twenty five

the night came to an end, with almost everyone heading off to their homes/ hotels. Mum gave me a kiss and pushed a tipsy dad out of the door, giving Percy and Me a little time together. He hardly left my side all night, though we were mostly hanging out with grover, with the occasional relative and comment from Momma.

I seriously love that woman. She is fierce, tough and practically drop kicked a drunk Gabe out the door when he got a little handsy with her. She doesn't like being touched unless she instigates it.

It was a little after one am when momma and Grover gave us hugs and said – Grover helping momma with her coat again – and left, but not before I promised to come round to their house for dinner.

"What a night" Percy grumbled, falling back on his bed backwards with a soft thump. "come on. It wasn't that bad"

"Yeah you didn't have to drown in the slobber from your great aunt as she kissed you on the cheek" he groaned, holding his hands out to me like a baby wanting his mummy. It was cute, in a kind of pathetic way. "Yeah but it must be nice to have your family around for Christmas"

"I'd rather just spend the day with you in bed" he wined, pulling me next to him and curling his body around mine like the big baby he was. "You know, I have to go home tonight"

"No you don't" he groaned wrapping his arms tighter so I couldn't move "Are you going to let me go?" I teased, not really wanting to leave him but knowing I had too seeing as I had to wake up in bed for Christmas day. Wake up, heave breakfast, open presents then have a fun filled family day full of movies and games and everything we had been doing since I was a kid.

"never" Percy whispered into my hair "Excuse me"

"Annabeth I am never letting you go." I turned round in his arms to face him "after that whole picture thing"

"Percy, it's fine"

"No it's not. I actually doubted you, which is stupid because I know you would never cheat on me. Especially with Jason. And since it happened, i've been feeling like crap. I love you okay"

"I love you too seaweed brain" I smiled, giving him a small kiss on the lips before gracefully rolling out of the bed and onto my feet "i have to go" I whispered, making my way towards his bedroom door "Wise girl wait" he stopped me, moving off his bed and to his chest of draws. Pulling out a small package, he handed it to me with a smile on his face "Happy chirstmas" he whispered, and with a parting kiss – that lasted a lot longer then intended – I left his house for mine.

Percy's POV

Waking up without Annabeth on Christmas day was not something I liked, but she did want to spend Christmas with family so that was fair enough. At least I got to see her last night. She looked stunning, and I had to move away more then once to try to calm myself down.

The smell of bacon wafted through the house thanks to mum. There were many perks to having a chef for a mother. First was all the free food at the restaurant, then there was the built in job if I ever needed one – but between school, swimming and Annabeth, mum took pity and stopped nagging me to come work for her. Then there were the killer breakfasts to wake up to. The special occasion spreads that I longed for during the year. Christmas being the best one.

A friend breakfast waited on the table for me in my spot, mum plating up all the additional food whilst Paul sat there, sipping his morning coffee and reading the paper like he always did. But instead of being dressed for the office, he was dressed in Pjs. We all were, and we will stay that way for the rest of the day.

"Happy Christmas Percy" mum smiled, giving me a loving hug before getting back to the food. I'd always had a pretty close relationship with my mum. Before Paul came into the picture, it had been just us after dad's accident. I hadn't known my dad, he was young when he died, but I still had the pictures and a few seconds of memory that I stored away for today. Christmas was for family, all family, even those that have gone. Mum taught me that when I was younger. Digging in to the mountain of food that was on my plate, I moaned in appreciation, suddenly very hungry.

Between Paul and I, breakfast was finished in no time, which meant we had the torture of waiting for mum to finish and mum was a slow eater. She sped up a little because it was Christmas and she loved getting presents.

Once that last morsel had left the plate, I was up, rushing to the Christmas tree which stood in the living room, a mountain of presents under it. The only good thing about inviting the family over for a party Christmas eve, was the presents that came with them.

And there was nothing slow about it in our family, we actually had a race to see who could open them the fastest. Which is why Paul and I had devised a plan to slow mum down, because she became a mad woman when she saw a present. Instead of getting mum one big one form each of us, we gave her about ten or so little ones. Which surprisingly didn't slow her down.

"Oh hey, this one's from Annabeth, you left it on the table by the door last night" Mum said, handing me the small package. Obviously a book – what else would come from my wise girl – but which one?

It was the first thing I opened, setting the card down beside me before ripping open the package. My heart stopped. A copy of Ten thousand leagues under the sea, exactly like the one dad used to read me that stood in the cupboard in the kitchen because it was too fragile now to read, was reviled under the wrapping.

"Percy?" Paul asked, stopping his wrapping expedition to look at me. "Read the card darling" mum said, her pile already unwrapped with wrapping paper scattered in little pieces around her. I set the book down in front of me, not wanting to let it out of my sight before ripping the card. It was one of those generic Christmas ones, with a snowflake on it. But opening it, I saw a practical essay written inside. Oh Wise girl

Happy Christmas seaweed brain :) if you're reading this then I'm amazed, you're usually all about the present as I have heard from your mother. Yes, we talk. But heres a little explanation to the gift. It's not a replacement for the copy your dad left you. I don't want to replace it. But that copy means so much, and I know all about finding comfort between the pages of a book. So hers another cop for you to read, without damaging the copy you already have. That way hopefully you can still find the comfort of the words, as well as the comfort from your original copy.

I love you. Your Wise girl.