DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot not the characters. RR owns them.

CHAPTER 19

PERCY POV

It's almost winter break and everyone's excited to finally take a break from school and enjoy the Christmas Holiday; and frankly, I'm one of them.

"Oh yeah! Three more days and it's Christmas break!" I said as we ate our lunch.

"Don't be too excited Kelp Head or you might just wet yourself." I glared at Thalia's rude comeback.

"Dude, can you please tell your girlfriend to shut her annoying mouth?" Thalia shot back a glare to me as well.

"Now, now. We don't need a brawl between you guys." Luke said as he caressed Thalia's hair.

"Fine. So, you guys have any plans this break?"

"I'll be just at home." Nico said casually.

"What? Dude, aren't your parents along with your sister will be going to Macau this Christmas?" I asked him.

"Yeah, but I don't want to come. They'll just make me carry all their shopping bags. That'll just ruin the holiday spirit." He said as he munch on his apple.

"You have that?" Thalia said teasingly while Nico just looked at her lazily and shrugged.

"Guess so."

We all laughed at that.

"How about you guys?"

"Well, Mom and Dad are in Italy and they won't be back until February, so I guess it'll just be me and Jason."

"Mom's going up the mountains with her yoga buddies, to which I find it weird since it'll be like negative zero at the top in this season." Luke said.

"Is there even a negative zero?" Ah, Annabeth always the smart one.

"I don't know. I suck at Math."

"How about you Wise girl? Any plans in stored?"

"Hmm, well, my parents and the twins will be visiting our grandparents in Frisco but I told them I won't be tagging along."

"Why's that? You're whole family's going there." Thalia said.

I felt Annabeth shift a bit and tense a little and I caught Nico glancing at her as well. Something's fishy.

"I uh, I can't… Uhm, they understand it though so I'll be just at our apartment—"

"And celebrating Christmas alone? Well, that doesn't seem right." Luke said.

"How about you guys come with me to celebrate Christmas with my dad?" I volunteered.

They all looked at me, shock expressions on their faces.

"What are you all looking at? Is there something on my face?" I scanned my face if there's dirt or something.

"You're… you're celebrating the holidays with your dad?" Thalia said.

"Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?" I replied.

"Wha—no! It's just that, well, we thought that you'll be spending it with your mom and Paul."

"Oh, no. They'll be visiting Paul's parents and I decided that I should spend Christmas with my dad. After all, I miss him and Tyson."

They all nodded but their expressions still didn't change.

"So, you guys up for it?"

"Yeah! Of course! I mean, why not?" Thalia said and all of them agreed.

"Great!"
"We're is your dad now, by the way. Where will we be spending the holidays?" Annabeth asked.

"We'll be celebrating it in Rome."

Today's the day.

Breathe in, breathe out.

My mom and Paul are busy packing their stuff for their trip while I lounge at the couch waiting for them. I already finished packing my luggage for our 1 week trip to Rome to celebrate Christmas with my dad and Tyson.

Now I know what you guys might think. I'm excited. Well, of course I am! I get to see my lil' brother again and my dad and I can go fishing. I missed hanging out with them, though sometime my dad gets on my nerves but still I love him.

Another reason is that, I get to spend Christmas with my friends and Annabeth. How good can it get?

"Hey, Percy? Are you done packing?" Mom asked as she was walking back and forth from their room to the kitchen. Probably, packing snacks for their trip.

"Yep!" Popping the "p" sound.

"Okay, why don't you put your luggage into the car and go get Annabeth." She said, calling out from their room.

"Okay, then." I stood up, grabbed my coat and luggage and headed down the apartment.

I put my luggage inside the trunk of the car and made my way to Annabeth's apartment.

I was about to knock on the door when it opened, revealing the most beautiful girl I have ever known.

Annabeth was wearing grey shirt layered with a denim jacket; skinny jeans that—I might say—was perfectly hugging her long legs; and uggs. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail and was wearing her Yankees cap.

She smiled at me, "Hey there, Seaweed brain. Excited?"

"Yeah. Can't wait to see my dad and Tyson." I got hold of her luggage and we went down stairs and placed hers inside the car as well.

We waited for mom and Paul to go down and when they did we went inside the car and drove off to the airport.

When we got there, Nico and Luke were already there.

We said our goodbyes to mom and Paul and made our way to them.

"So, where's Thalia?" Annabeth asked.

"Late. Again." Nico said, nonchalant.

I shook my head at how ignorant and nonchalant he can be sometimes; well, except for me anyways.

"What time's our flight again?" Luke asked.

"2:15 and it's only 12:20. You guys ate already?" I asked.

They all nodded. So we waited for Thalia to arrive. I saw Annabeth shiver a little and I instantly wrapped my arms around her. Hey, what can you say? My Wise girl's cold and needs warmth.

When Thalia arrived we were shock that she came with some company.

"Sorry we're late, guys." She said panting.

"It's cool but uh… I don't want to sound rude or be rude or anything—" Thalia got what I was about to ask and saved me from what I was trying hard to say without sounding like a complete jerk.

"Jason can't come to Paris because Mom and Dad were busy with work so they asked me if he could come along with us and since they won't let me got to your trip without him, might as well." She explained.

"Sorry about that. I asked mom to just let me stay and well, apparently they don't trust me enough to be alone for a week in our house without damaging it or setting it on fire."

I laughed at that. "No, man it's cool! I was worried that you don't have tickets since dad only got 5."

"Mom paid for the tickets. Thanks, man!" He gave me a high five.

"No problem, now come on. We have to get checked in now."

The plane landed and we got off. Since dad's still in his office, he got his chauffer to fetch us from the airport.

A tall guy with brown hair and black eyes wearing a suit with a cap on his head—like what chauffer's usually wear—was holding up a cardboard that reads 'Mr. Perseus Jackson' and damn it, my dad's gonna hear some from me later for using my real name.

I went near to the guy who's holding the cardboard, "Hi."

"Buongiorno, sei Signore Jackson?"

"Uh, sorry but I don't understand what you're saying."

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Signore. Are you, Signore Poseidon's, eh, son?" I can see that his not really much into speaking English. I saw his expression and I think he find it difficult to speak in English.

"Uhm, yeah. I am. Those," I pointed to my friends, "Are my, uh… amigos"

"Ah! Si! Come, come. I'll take you to your house, okay? Come." He gestured us to the car and when we got inside he drove off.

We arrived at dad's house—or shall I say, mansion—and once we got off, maids instantly helped us up with our luggage.

This house is huge! I mean, like a really huge! I studied the place and well, typical dad. His house had columns like an interior of a Greek building; the walls were painted bluish-green, like the colour of the ocean and the scent of the place… I inhaled,

"Ah, smells like the ocean."

"Wow, Percy! You're dad sure is rich!" Thalia complemented as her eyes wandered and examined the place.

I saw Annabeth touching the walls and running it with her hands. She's probably fascinated by the design of the place.

I went to her side.

"The architecture's well done. It's so beautiful Percy." She said with her eyes still examining on the interior of the house.

"Well, I bet that you'll be able to do something much better than this in the future." I smirked and she looked at me, looking pleased by what she heard.

"You really think so?"

I kissed her forehead, "I know so."

Each of us got settled in our own rooms. The house was enormous! It has 10 bedrooms to which I don't understand because it was just only my dad and Tyson and the maids have their own room down the basement; a cinema room, a play or arcade room, a music room, a library and so much more.

When I thought my dad was rich, I think I under-estimated him. I think he's even richer than Bill Gates! I know, I'm exaggerating too much.

Anyway, we were sitting in the lounge room just chillin' when someone entered the room.

"Percyyyyyyyyyyyy!" Two small but chubby hands had enveloped me in a tight bear hug.

"Ooffff!" I was nearly knocked over by it.

"I missed you so much big brother!"

"Hey buddy! How are ya?"

Tyson looked up to me and met his big brown eyes.

"I'm much better now that you're here." He said as he squeezed me tightly, even more."

"Now, now, Tyson; you wouldn't want your brother to run out of air now, do we?" A man who was tall and big, wearing Bermuda shorts and a white shirt layered with Hawaiian polo shirt and sandals, chuckled.

"Father." I said as I made my way towards the my dad.

"Percy," I looked at his eyes; his sea-green eyes for which my mom always used to tell me, that I have inherited to him. I see joy and excitement and as well as… longing?

He opened up his arms wide enough for two person to be enveloped in but I think right now, I'm all good to be fitted in those arms.

I gave him a hug. "I'm so glad that you're here, son."

"Me too, dad." I let go of him and made my attention back to my friends.

"So, dad, these are my friends," I started.

"This is Nico D' Angelo."

"Ah, yes. I know your Dad. A fine man."

"Psssh, yeah right." Trying his best to make it as audible as he can. I just rolled my eyes.

"You know Luke and Thalia."

"Yes. It's nice seeing you in person. And it looks like you guys are more than friends now, as I can see." Dad said as he was eyeing Thalia and Luke's intertwined hands.

"Uh, yeah." Luke bowed shyly. Wow! He can be shy? I didn't know about that?

"O-kay. And uhm, this is Annabeth." I made my way to her and wrapped my hands on her tiny but curvy waist.

"Oh, and it looks like there's more than one couple we've got here. Hi, Annabeth." My dad smiled to her.

"It's a good to meet you, Mr. Jackson." She said as she moved a bit away from me.

"Good to see you too, all of you! Now come! Dinner is almost done. Let's go down and gather in the dining hall."

After we all ate, we decided to hit the sacks for tonight since most of us are jetlagged from the plane. I was staring at the ceiling of my bedroom when I noticed my windowsill. I looked out from it and noticed little white snowflakes were coming down from the sky. I smiled.

I got up and went out of my room to get some water. I was near the kitchen when I saw a hint of light coming from it. Could it be a burglar? Nahhh. Dad has a lot, and when I say a lot I mean a lot of bodyguards guarding his house. I slowly crept in the hall and saw that the light was coming out from the refrigerator.

A small figure that was crouching down, searching for something to eat; I smirked when I realized who that person was.

"So, stealing food from the refrigerator in the middle of the night, huh. Is that a hobby I should be aware of?" I said as I leaned back on the counter which made her jumped.

"Oh, crap. Percy! Don't do that! You scared the hell out of me." She said as she held her chest probably freaked out I turned on the lights and when to get a glass.

"Sorry," I kissed her forehead.

"What are you doing down here?" I asked her.

"Well, I couldn't sleep so I thought of drinking milk to help me with my problem. And you, Seaweed brain?"

"Same." I got a carton of milk from the refrigerator and poured some in my glass. I swiftly made my way to get another and poured some milk and handed it to her. She smiled.

"So, since you can't sleep want to visit my room?" A loop-sided smiled crept on my face and she lightly punched me in the gut.

"Ow!"

"Serves you right for trying to seduce me, Seaweed brain." She said as she grabbed her glass and made her way out of the kitchen. I laughed at her gestures, pretending to be frustrated when clearly her face fails to hide her pink blushing cheeks.

When she was about to open her door I grabbed her hand and she turned to look at me with her wide, grey eyes.

"What?" She softly said.

"Uhm, I was wondering if you'd like to go out tomorrow."

She was silently looking at me, well more like observing then a small smile crept her beautiful face.

"Are you asking me out on a date, Mr. Jackson?" Teasing me with her hoarse voice.

"Uh… well… yeah… I mean, uh… if you know… you like… you want to or something." I said nervously. Damn this! Why am I stuttering?!

She placed her hands on my shoulder and leaned in, planting a light kiss on my lips. "Sure." And with that, she bid good night and went inside her room. I still feel her lips lingering on mine as I made my way back to my room.

I drank the milk and placed it on the table and laid down the bed.

They were three things running through my mind right now: first, how exciting it is to go fishing again with my dad; second: what to buy Christmas presents to my friends; and lastly, where to take Annabeth on our date tomorrow.

Finally! I've posted this chapter! I've been quite busy and I think I'm experiencing writers block tho I'm hoping not because I love you guys too much to stop this fic or be on hiatus. Rest assured that I am not ;)

Please do include is in your prayers. From where I am, we have been experiencing non stop heavy and intense rain. It's flooding everywhere :(

Anywho, enjoy reading this! I'll be back soon with the next chapter... hint hint, someone's making a return. *gasp* who is it? :D

Please Review! And thank you to everyone who did! :)

xx