Sorry for not updating last night, I was working on a Nico one-shot. It's a nice one, don't worry. Nico actually smiles in it. There's a bit of Leo and Nico bromance in it as well- those two would make the best team up ever, I think. Maybe with Percy as well…

Anyway, guest reviews:

To ApolloArtemis79 (that's so weird typing that…) Uh, yeah, Nico got laid. And he had a girlfriend and now has said girlfriend back.

To Taliesan, I haven't checked my PMs yet, but I did send one to that name you left me.

To Guest- it was meant to unexpected and I think a few people guessed Apollo.

To Guest who replied on Chapter 26 (I don't think I replied to you in previous chapters), no, Crystal didn't know he was autistic until that point as Alvie was worried about her ditching and joining the bullies.

Also, I'm thinking about putting up a poll- I can't decide which couple name is better- Cryvie or Crystie. I noticed in the last chapter that I didn't put who Cryvie was by- stupid Art! - So that was by PjoHP. LSR - thanks bud! But for some reason, Fanfiction wiped your name out of this author's note...
Crystie was by vivi-rose.

Last thing- I've been asked a few times if I'm ADHD (by some people on here) and I mentioned it to my 'friend' (long story) and she told me to go and get tested. Great morale booster… but anyway, I did an online test 'cos doctors are freaky and my mum was like 'there is no way you are ADHD'. The online test said it wasn't a diagnosis, so I might not be ADHD, (emphasis on might not be). Just another thing in my dull life I thought you should know. Oh and 'friend's latest boyfriend (another long story) is ADHD and dyslexic. There was me like *DEMIGOD!* and I've figured he's a son of Hephaestus as he's really good at fixing bikes, apparently.

Anyway, on with the fic! I have had chocolate!

Crystal laughed. "That suits you." She grinned, adjusting the pink hat with a feather in the purple ribbon around on Alvie's head. "Ooh, I like this one!" She picked up a casual hat, like one that singer Neyo wore or something. She took the pink hat from Alvie and replaced it with this one, putting it at a tilt that cast just enough shadow over his eyes.

"Why am I letting you put random hats on me?"

"You don't have a choice and you have to look snazzy for the party."

"Snazzy?"

"Are you dissing my vocab?" Alvie blinked at her. He looked adorably perplexed and that hat just added to the effect. Crystal smiled. "You are getting that hat." She told him.

"OK." She grabbed his hand and dragged him further along. Now he wasn't slowed down by crutches, she could drag him out and about for a day in the shopping mall. He had only agreed to this if she let him in the book store for a bit.

Half an hour later, Crystal had kitted Alvie out with the hat, a blue shirt with a white T-shirt underneath, black jeans and white trainers. Alvie seemed to like the outfit she had chosen for him; he just didn't like the price tags.

"Oh, don't worry. It was William's secret stash of money." He looked up at that. "He's not going to come back for it." She grinned devilishly. "And Mom said I could have it, but I snuck some in her purse, so it's OK." He still looked uncertain. "I'll buy you books and pizza." He smiled at that, a hint of agreement in his eyes.

They were standing in the queue to pay for Alvie's stuff and the small shoulder bag Crystal had found that she had to have. Alvie kept fidgeting though, looking around at everything. Crystal wasn't sure if he was having a psychic moment or if his ADHD was getting to him. "Are you OK?" She asked. He nodded. Crystal glanced around as well. "Nothing's going to get us, right?" He shook his head, holding her gaze briefly. "What then?"

"Um…" He glanced at something over his shoulder and she tried to follow his gaze, but he distracted her by dumping everything in her arms. "I've gotta get something." He told her, hurrying away before she could say anything.

"RUDE!" She shouted after him. He smiled back at her, a good and safe distance away. Crystal wanted to see what he was getting, but he vanished out of sight a few seconds later. Sighing dejectedly, she turned back to face the front, counting six people in front of her. She hated queues.

Alvie returned ten minutes later. She was two people from the front now. In his hand was a small bag. "What's in there?" He shook his head. "Uh, no, tell me. You left me on my own for ten minutes."

"Sorry." He mumbled, but he made no move to show her what was in the bag. It was a plain plastic blue bag, so she couldn't guess with a logo or anything.

"Where'd you go?"

"Not far."

"That doesn't narrow it down, Alvie." There was one person in front of them now. She'd be damned if she didn't get him to tell her what was in that bag right now.

But he persisted, the stubborn git.

They reached the checkout and he seemed to have become more secluded about what was in the bag. "Can I at least have a clue then?" He shook his head. Crystal studied him stubbornly, folding her arms as the lady scanned their items and neatly folded them into a bag. No wonder why it took ages to get here. "Please can I have a clue?" He shook his head again, looking amused. "Well then, you can forget that pizza."

"You'll find out later." He told her.

"But I don't want to know later, I want to know now. And stop smiling like that!" She was trying to glare at him, but his amusement was rubbing off on her and she found herself fighting her own smile.

"OK, can I know now?"

"No."

"Why? It's been ages!"

"It's been half an hour, Crystal."

"That's ages." She told him flatly. Alvie didn't respond, tucking into apple pie. He had insisted on buying her chocolate cake and a coffee seeing as she had bought him those clothes. "Can I look now?" He shook his head, munching on his pie. Crystal folded her arms stubbornly, slouching in her seat and pretending to sulk.

"I might give you a clue if you eat your cake." Crystal regarded him for a few seconds, before shrugging.

"Best offer you've given me so far."

But he didn't give her a clue when she had eaten her cake. Instead, he motioned to her coffee, drinking from his own. She glowered at his sudden burst of annoyingness, but started drinking her coffee.

"OK, can I look now?"

"No. We haven't been to the book store yet." Crystal groaned and put her head on the table in defeat.

"I am a bad influence." She mumbled. She looked up at him, resting her chin on the table. "You are a horrible piece of work now."

"I learnt from the best." He replied, sipping his coffee. She kicked him under the table.

"You can be so lovely and then so… so cruel. I didn't teach you that!" He just smiled.

It took another fifteen minutes of pleading before Alvie relented.

"It was for you anyway."

"You made me wait?" She tentatively took the bag, turning in her seat so he couldn't reach across the table and take it back.

It was another white box, but slimmer and longer than the one that presented her bracelet to her. She always wore the bracelet, one of her most treasured possessions.

It was a heart-shaped locket with green stones embedded in a smaller heart shape on. She struggled with the clasp for a few seconds before opening it. Inside, on the left 'Crystal and Alvie' had been engraved in cursive and on the right was a picture of them, smiling at the camera. She had captured him in a hug and forced him to smile for the picture.

"Oh… it's lovely!" She beamed at him. "Little help?" She asked, holding it up. Alvie shifted around the table as she lifted her hair. His hands were warm and gentle on the back of her neck as he secured the chain. She let her hair fall when he was finished, standing up and turning to crush him in a hug. After a few hesitant seconds, Alvie returned it. "You're the best." She smiled up at him. Alvie gave a timid smile in return, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Why are you so nice?" She shook her hand, making the bracelet jingle and him smile.

Alvie walked her home, carrying their shopping stuff. She wasn't allowed to carry anything, not even the lighter bags. She kept smiling at her bracelet and feeling for her locket, marvelling in the beauty of the simple objects. She absolutely loved them and decided to never take them off.

"You never did answer my question." He looked at her quizzically. "Why are you so nice?" He just shrugged. Crystal linked her arm through his, breathing in the cool winter night's air. She took warmth from him, resting her head on his shoulder and snuggling closer. "Why don't I take some stuff?"

"We're nearly back now." He told her.

"I know, but I feel meaning for making you carry everything back."

"You didn't make me."

"Well, you know what I mean." She waved it off with her free hand, making the charms on her bracelet jingle. They both smiled.

They reached Crystal's house a few minutes later.

"That's Nico's car."

"Ooh, should I go in? I don't want to walk on anything awkward…" Crystal bit her lip. Alvie stayed silent for a few seconds.

"No, you're safe. They're just having coffee." Crystal looked relieved.

"Are you sure?" He nodded. "I love having a psychic best friend who buys me pressies."

"And I can walk you up to the door now." She laughed.

"Well, walk me up to my door, dear sir." Alvie shifted the bags in his left hand into his right with the others and took her hand. She fumbled for her key with her free hand, smiling at the familiar feeling of his hand in hers. "Mom, we're back!"

"Ooh, how'd it go?" Joy bounced out of the kitchen, followed by Nico. Alvie set the bags on the floor and Joy instantly started to rummage through them. "I like this hat." She smiled, putting Alvie's new hat on. "There's a whole outfit in here!"

"It's Alvie's outfit for the Christmas party."

"Where's yours?" Joy demanded, checking the other bags.

"I didn't get one."

"It has to match his." Joy told her firmly, holding Crystal's gaze with wide, yet serious eyes. Then she looked curious. "You two are going together, right?" Crystal nodded, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. She kept her eyes on her mother as Joy continued rummaging through the bags, so she wasn't sure if Alvie was blushing like she was. Nico smiled at them knowingly, but he didn't draw Joy's attention to it, luckily.

Once Joy had looked through all the bags, she noticed the silver chain peeking out from under Crystal's T-shirt. She instantly demanded to know what it was, her eyes gleaming excitedly like a child on Christmas. Alvie's cheeks faded pink as Joy studied the locket and saw what was inside.

She laughed happily and attacked Alvie in a tight hug. "You're adorable!" She beamed. Alvie couldn't get his head around why everyone called him adorable. To Tobias, that was an offense to his manliness.

Joy held him at arm's length, smiling broadly. "You're adorable." She repeated, ruffling his hair. She retrieved his hat from her head and gently dropped it on his tousled hair. She tilted it slightly before smiling proudly and casually walking back to Nico, who instantly put his arm around her.

Crystal looked at Alvie. He seemed bewildered while still slightly pink in the face.

Yes, he was adorable. But she didn't dare say that around her mother…

OK, I might just do the Christmas party bit next. And I don't care if the times are wrong as I don't normally do weather (I don't think) but the all-school party Crystal asked Alvie to find out about was a Christmas one as it goes along with my plan. Just wait for the update!