Chp 9
Annabeth's POV
Christmas Eve

I got out my car and walked up the steps of Percy's parents house. We were going over for his mom Sally's amazing turkey dinner. I knocked on the door. Paul answered the door. He gave a smile and I gave him a hug.

He let me in and closed the door behind me. I took my jacket off and brushed off my red dress. It came to above my knees and had long sleeves with an open back, and I had decided to wear it with black stockings and my black high heel ankle length boots. I had my hair in a plait down my back with my necklace Percy gave me on.

"Hi Annabeth!" Sally said as we walked into the kitchen. I gave her a hug and was surprised to see Percy's dad there. "Hi Annabeth. Nice to see you again." He said, smiling as he gave me a hug. "Percy isn't here yet. He's late as always." Sally said, handing me a glass of white wine.

I chuckled and thanked her, taking my position in the doorway of the kitchen as always. Sally shook her head with a smile as we all heard the front door open and close. "Hi, sorry I'm late. Couldn't find something." Percy called, hanging up his came through and gave me a smile.

He cupped my cheek and gave me a kiss. "Mistletoe." He said when he pulled away, and I chuckled as I looked up at the little hanging green plant. He turned to his mom and Paul and saw his dad. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Percy, my boy." His dad said, grinning. He obviously didn't know his dad was coming down for Christmas to see him. He hugged all his parents and said, "Where is my little sister?" I smiled as Sally said, "She's upstairs. You two can go get her if you want."

Percy grinned and grabbed my hand, pulling me upstairs along with him. We got to Emily's room and went in. She looked up from where she was playing with her toys. She grinned. "Percy!" She said, jumping up. She hugged his legs and he picked her up, sitting her on his hip. "Annie!" She said, noticing me and reaching out do me to hold her.

I took her from Percy and smiled at her. "Hey Em, how are you?" I asked, sitting her down on her bed. I started fixing her hair as she told me all about how she was excited for opening her presents.

When she was done we took her downstairs. Sally was just dishing up supper when we arrived downstairs. I put her down and she walked around and got to her seat at the table.

I got my glass of wine and Percy put his hand on the small of my back. I smiled up at him and he kissed my temple. When Sally started carrying through plates, he pulled out a seat for me and we sat down. Once everyone was seated, Paul did a prayer and we began eating.

Sally updated it us with her usual and Paul told us about Goode. We finished and Sally brought out the dessert. It was divine as always. She got up to take the plates through and I stood as well. "Annabeth, don't worry." She said, smiling. I waved it off and collected the plates.

We went through to the kitchen and she opened the dishwasher. "So how has Emily been lately?" I asked. She sighed. "She's good." She said, smiling. "You know, I always thought with having raised Percy, it would be easier the second time around. But I'm getting older and I'm not as fast as I used to be." She said, chuckling.

I smiled. "Well you did a really good job with Percy, I think you're doing great with Em." I said. She smiled. We finished packing up the dishwasher and joined the others in the lounge with our drinks.

Percy was busy talking to his dad so I sat down on the couch next to the Christmas tree. Emily came over and sat down on the floor in front of me. I put down my glass and gave her a smile. "I like your shoes." She said, looking at my shoes with a smile.

I chuckled. "Thanks." She looked at the presents under the tree. "You've known Percy for a long time, hey?" She said, standing up and pulling herself up onto the couch. She played with my fingers and I said, "Yeah. We've been best friends for a long time."

She smiled. "I asked mommy about Percy's daddy yesterday. I asked why she didn't marry him. And she said she loved him, but she wasn't in love with him." She said. I nodded.

"And when you came over a few weeks ago, when you left, you said you love him and he said he loved you too." She said, then looked up at me. "Do you love him like mom loves dad or like mom loved Percy's daddy?"

How do you answer your boyfriends little sister to that question? I smiled and looked over to where Percy was in deep conversation with his dad. I looked at her and said, "When did you start looking into love lives?" I tickled her and she giggled,

"I was just hoping that maybe you and Percy will get married." She said. I smiled at the very thought. "Well you never know what happens - he might end up getting a new girlfriend and marry her." I said.

She frowned. "But he loves you. Isn't that what people do when they love each other?" She asked. I nodded. "If he proposes then yes, I would marry him. But don't go around telling people that I'm going to marry him." I said, tickling her. She giggled and ran towards her mom to get away from my tickling war.

Percy finished talking with his dad and came to sit by me. He rested his hand on my thigh and took a sip of his beer. "Nice chat with your dad?" I asked. He nodded and gave a smile. "You came up in it." He said. I raised an eyebrow. "You've told him how horrible your girlfriend is?" I asked.

He laughed. "No." He said. "He asked how things were between us." I waited. "I told him things were great." He said. I rolled my eyes with a smile. "What?" He asked, chuckling. "Your sister has been talking to me about if I love you or if I'm in love with you and all you tell you dad is 'things are great'." I said.

He looked at me. "And? What did you tell her?" I chuckled. "I'm serious." He said, smiling. "You should know by now." I said. He still waited, looking at me with a smile. "I am in love with you, Perseus Jackson." I clarified, surprised he didn't even know. "I am completely and utterly in love with you that I would go anywhere and do anything for you."

He looked at me. I blushed and chuckled. "You made me sound so soppy and all 'I'm a clingy girlfriend' now." He smiled and said, "I am completely and utterly in love with you too Annabeth Chase." I couldn't help keeping the smile off my face.

"Okay, photo time by the tree." Sally said, interrupting the private conversation we were having with our eyes. We got up and put down our glasses. Paul set up the camera on the tripod and we huddled together, making sure you could still see the tree in the background.

"Everyone ready?" Paul asked. We all said we were and he pressed the button. He quickly ran and got his position. The camera flashed and we all let out the breath we had been holding.

We all just enjoyed the evening. "Okay Em, if you don't go to bed then Santa won't come." Sally said. She clapped her hands together and went around saying goodnight to everyone. Sally excused herself as she went upstairs with Emily.

I relaxed into Percy's side. I heard my phone ringing where it was in my jacket pocket. I let out a little groan as I got up and went to answer it. I smiled as I saw it was my dad.

Percy probably guessed it was my dad. I went into the study and closed the door so that I didn't disrupt them if they wanted to talk. "Hey Dad." I said, leaning against Sally's desk. "Hey my darling, how are you?" He asked, his voice cheerful as always.

"I'm good and yourself?"

"I'm good. We all missed you tonight. Used to flying you home." He said. I smiled.

"Yeah, I miss you guys."

He let out a breath. "And how was your evening? You were with Sally and Paul, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's been really great." I said.

"And Percy still treating you well?" He asked. I chuckled at the question. "When has he not?" I asked. He chuckled. "I know, just doing my fatherly duties." He said.

I heard some background noise and then he said, "Everyone wants to say hi." I held the phone away from my ear as my family all shouted a loud hello. He chatted to me for a bit about stuff there.

"Well I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening." He said. I started my walk back to my jacket. Percy gave me a smile. "Thanks, you too." I said. "Remember, study well."

"As always."

"And always stay streetwise."

"Yes."

"And don't get up to any funny business with Percy."

"Okay, I'm hanging up now dad." I said, embarrassed. He chuckled. "One more thing." He said. I listened, waiting. "Remember I always love you." I smiled.

"I love you too dad. Now go enjoy your evening." He chuckled and said goodbye. I shook my head as I put my phone away. Sally had joined them again. "My family send their love." I said, taking a seat next to Percy again.

He smiled and handed me my coffee. "You plan on going to visit them again soon?" Paul asked, sipping his coffee. "I was thinking maybe in summer. I might get this go with me." I said, nudging Percy. He scoffed.

"Hell yes." He said, as if it was obvious. We all laughed at him. While the adults all talked, we finished our coffee. "You coming to my place tonight?" I asked him. He nodded. "Of course, I'm not leaving you alone on Christmas." He said, smiling.

The adults finished talking and Percy said, "We're going to head home." We all stood and said goodbye to each other. Percy and I pulled on our jackets and said goodbye once more before leaving.

We went off in our separate cars but met up at my place. We went in and headed for my room. We changed out our clothes that we had worn and into our pajamas. Despite it being winter, he still slept in his usual boxers, as the cold didn't bother him much.

I got into bed as he went to the bathroom. I sat up and looked over the Christmas messages from the guys and Mel. I replied to all of them and sent my Christmas wishes. I looked up as Percy came back into the room. I smiled and put my phone down.

He got in next to me and we lay down. I switched off the lights and he pulled me to his chest. "Night." He said. I smiled. "Night Perce."

Quick question - why is no one reviewing? ( besides Mila-is-a-bookworm-100)