I would like to apologize for the bottom author's note in the last chapter. I was going through one of my depressed slumps. I'll try to make sure that it doesn't happen again, although I can't really make many promises on that.

But thank you, for all of the support! I'm still not thoroughly convinced that my writing is that good, and I'm still a bit nervous about losing readers since it's like I'm dragging this out, but thanks for all of the kind words!

I did take some of you guys' advice and take it slow with this chapter. I didn't touch it until I got a good headway on with "A Common Memory," another Solangelo one-shot, and I wrote the beginning of a brutal murder scene that's at the end of one of the other multi-chapter fics I'll write. I even finished the Furby exorcism story (don't ask). It felt good to take a break!

In short: I'm much better, and got some other writings done. Thank you again!

Also, I realized that not a single person at camp is gonna pass up on the opportunity to catch Will and Nico underneath the mistletoe, so I decided to write something where Nico gets called down to the Underworld as the reason why Solangelo got no mistletoe time in this fic. But "Underneath the Mistletoe" makes up for that lol. This chapter is slightly angsty though.

GUEST REVIEWS

Guest: Thank you! Yeah, it's starting to get to the part where there's a bit more angst (the angst really kicks in in like Chapter 25 tho). Happy late holidays to you as well!

Pi not Pie: You're welcome! Hah, I'm not really one of those authors, more like one of those "at least once a week is my goal and if I'm lucky I can upload twice a week" authors. I'm trying to get it to move faster there's just so many requests to write out omg. Unfortunately, my mom already planned everything out down to the last detail, except for me not packing sweaters (I despise wearing long sleeves indoors except when they're pajamas or a bathrobe). And here is my next update! :D

Shipper: Will defended himself with "I don't trust him there's something about him" and Nico lectured him about judging others by their appearances. I might write that idk though.

Guest: I will forever make references okay.

Guest: Abby is that you yelling about why they aren't speaking I should've never told you that this account existed jeez.

Guest: Technically he caused them so I can't really. Eh not really bad advice though, thanks! And I hope that your Christmas was great too!

Guest: Thank you!

Disclaimer: If Rick Riordan wrote brutal murder scenes, they could never be published in the PJO books. And I mean brutal as in "internal organs on full display" brutal.

Chapter 20: Only Know You Love Him When You Let Him Go

"And then," Jason finished, clumsily stabbing a piece of chicken with his fork, "Dakota ran out of the bathroom, and suddenly Justin Bieber music played out of it. Everyone was screaming, and Octavian actually fell out of the window. One of the best pranks ever."

Percy snorted, taking a sip of his water. "Please. That's nothing compared to what the Stolls alone have done."

Piper groaned. "Please, don't bring them up. If they hear us, they'll join the conversation, and they will never shut up about their pranks!" She stuck a forkful of pasta salad in her mouth.

Hazel shrugged. "I don't know. I hear so much about them that I wanna hear about their pranks. Especially if they're 'so much better' than the pranks us Romans pull!"

Calypso shook her head, absentmindedly twirling spaghetti around her fork. "Trust me, Hazel. You should not ask, for they'll make you listen to every story about their pranks."

"Hear, hear!" Percy raised his glass into the air.

It was the third day of winter break, and Camp Half-Blood was almost overflowing. A few guest cabins were being constructed, along with the temples and cabins for the minor gods and goddesses that Jason had been busy overseeing. Camp Jupiter had arrived two days before, and so far both camps were getting along great. Lupa sat up with Chiron at the head table at every dinner, and the Romans mixed with just about every table, especially since the "Sit with your cabin" rule had been abolished.

On that particular Monday evening, the Seven, Calypso, Nico, and Reyna were seated all around the Zeus table, telling jokes and swapping stories about what had happened during the school year. Percy and Annabeth told one story about how three students at their school hotwired the PDA system to play children's songs all day, which had sparked a discussion about pranks. Jason, Frank, and Reyna, having been praetors at one point or another, had plenty to share.

"Yes, that is good and all, but I believe that Jason has not told you about the truly best pranks that have taken place at Camp Jupiter." Reyna roughly elbowed Jason.

He frowned. "What?"

Reyna glared at him. "The tea prank."

Jason hit himself up the head. "Oh, right! How could I forget?" He cleared his throat. "So, what happened is that the Mercury kids gathered up a bunch of tea bags-"

"Hold up, hold up," Hazel interrupted, holding out her hand. She glanced around the table, frowning. "Where's Nico?"

Silverware clattered to the table, as everyone turned to look for the son of Hades in the dining pavilion. But no trace of jet-black hair or dark gray and black clothing was to be found. Not even at the Hades table or the Apollo table, where Will occasionally got him-forced him, really-to eat.

"Wasn't he just here?" Leo pointed at a half-eaten burger on a plate, along with an apple and some sweet potato fries. "That's his meal, right? Why would he leave in the middle of a meal?"

"I don't know why," Annabeth said, standing up and pushing her plate away from her. "But we should go and find him."

The rest of the group of friends agreed, standing up with her. Soon, they had all spread across the camp.

"Nico?" Frank stuck his head in the sword-training arena, frowning when he realized that it was abandoned.

"Hey, Neeks!" Percy opened the door to the stables. "Have any of you guys seen Nico?"

Every pegasi in the stables shook their head.

"See him, Piper?" Jason asked as they glided above the outskirts of the forest.

"Nope." Piper shook her head. "Ugh, where'd he go?"

Reyna hammered on the door to the Hades cabin. "Di Angelo!" she yelled.

Something fell with a loud crash within the cabin, and a long string of unflattering Italian words followed. Hazel sighed in relief. "Thanks the gods!" She opened the door. "Nico, we've been looking for you! What's-"

"Are you packing?" Reyna interrupted.

A suitcase was lying open on the floor, with clothes scattered all around it. Obviously, it was the object that had fallen. Nico was crouched with a pair of dark jeans in his hands, staring up at Reyna and Hazel. He had the decency to look guilty.

Reyna strode into the cabin, scowling. "Did you think we wouldn't notice your absence?" she demanded. "We're not going to let you slip away, you know."

Nico stood up, dropping the jeans. "Look, I know what you're thinking. But it's not that!"

"Are you even well enough to shadow-travel?" Reyna protested, marching up to him. "I thought you had been forbidden from using your powers until next year!"

"I'm not shadow-traveling away!" Nico argued. "It's something else!"

"Nico?" Hazel walked up past Reyna. She tried to fight back the tears that she knew were gathering in her eyes. "You're-You're not leaving, are you?"

Nico looked at her, and his gaze softened. "No. No, I'm not leaving. Not permanently, at least."

Hazel just about collapsed with relief, but she smiled instead. "Good." Reyna's expression relaxed, losing some of its anger. "But why is there a suitcase full of your clothing lying on the floor, then?"

Nico bent down to pick up the jeans. "My dad summoned me. Apparently, there's a problem with some of the spirits in the Underworld, and he needs me to help out."

"Wouldn't he have summoned me too?" Hazel tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Nico grunted, picking up a shirt. "No offense, but any powers that you have involving death aren't that strong. Your powers lie more with riches than the dead. Plus, the whole…thing."

"Yeah. That." Hazel didn't like to talk about the possibility of Pluto taking her back to the dead the moment that she stepped into the Underworld.

Reyna raised an eyebrow. "How long will you be gone?"

Nico froze. "Uh…" he stammered, and Hazel realized that neither she nor Reyna were going to like the answer. "I might not come back until next year?"

"WHAT?!" Hazel squawked, and Reyna looked like lightning had struck her.

"What do you mean, 'until next year?' Surely, the problem cannot be that bad!" Reyna exclaimed.

Nico finished gathering up the clothes, and started to refold them. "Spirits of the Underworld can be very finicky. Plus, this has been happening a lot, according to Father. He's set up some patrols already, but he needs more help. And, well, I'm not busy."

"'Not busy?!'" Hazel walked up to Nico and shook his arm. "But Nico! You can't miss Christmas and New Year's! We had so much planned-all of us! I wanted to go ice-skating on the lake here with you, and go into the city and explore! Plus, there's the gift exchange! I know that Jason already got something for you, and I did too! And the fireworks on New Year's! You can't miss it!"

Nico sighed again. "Look, it'll be fine. We can do all of those things once I get back, okay? I'm not gonna miss a whole lot."

"Nico." Reyna walked up to the other side of Nico, carefully placing her hand on his shoulder. He tensed, but didn't say anything. "Hazel's your sister, and I'm your friend. This holiday will not be the same without you. You also have many other friends here that wish to spend Christmas and New Year's with you-Jason, Piper, Percy, Annabeth, Frank, Leo-so many to name. What will they think of this?"

"Yeah, what will Will think?" Hazel asked. Reyna shot her a disapproving glare. Underneath the touch of their skin, they felt Nico tense again at the mention of Will.

"Who cares what Will thinks?" Nico snapped. "Now, can I continue packing in peace?"

This time, the look that Reyna gave Hazel was concerned. They both had their suspicions about Nico's feelings for Will, and vice versa. If Nico really did like Will, as they suspected he did, then why would he snap at the mention of Will's name?

"Nico?" Hazel stepped back and let her hand fall from Nico's arm. Reyna did the same. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine. Just…Just a little stressed about this trip. That's all." Nico picked up a carefully folded shirt and placed it in the suitcase.

"Look, if it's stressing you out, then maybe you shouldn't go! I mean, Father will understand-"

"No." Nico's grip on the shirt tightened, before it relaxed. "He needs me, and I should go. Alright? No arguing with that."

"But Nico-" Reyna protested.

"No. I'm going, and that's final." He resumed packing.

Reyna sighed. "The others are going to try and make you stay. You know how Jason is."

"Don't I know," Nico muttered, shoving a pair of socks into the suitcase.

"He's not going to be convinced easily."

"Neither am I." He seemed to move faster, packing faster than he had been a few seconds later.

Hazel and Reyna glanced towards each other. Was there another reason that Nico was going? And if there was, what could it possibly be?

"Done."

Nico slammed the suitcase shut, the loud bang causing Hazel to jump. He picked it up and turned around, trudging up to the door and opening it. Hazel and Reyna followed.

"How are you going to get there? You can't shadow-travel," Reyna pointed out.

"Father sent Jules-Albert up to get me. He should be waiting up at the entrance to camp in his car," Nico replied, not turning around to face her.

"Do you know exactly when you'll get back?" Hazel asked.

"Next year, probably the second or third. If I'm lucky, the first."

"And you have no idea what Father needs you for?"

"Problems with the spirits. That's all that I know. It's fine, he's called me down for stuff like this before."

"Thank Zeus!"

Jason and Piper jogged up to them, followed by the rest of their friends. Frank moved to stand behind Hazel. Nico glared at all of them.

"We've been looking everywhere for you! We're so glad that Hazel and Reyna found you-" Annabeth stopped herself and pointed at Nico's suitcase. "Wait, why do you have a suitcase?"

"You're not leaving, are you? You can't!" Jason protested. Calypso nodded eagerly with him.

Nico facepalmed. "I'm not leaving! Why does everyone think that?" He sighed yet again. "No, my father summoned me to the Underworld for a few days. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a ride to catch." He started moving again in the direction of Half-Blood Hill.

Everyone followed. "How long will you be gone?" Frank asked.

"I'm not sure, exactly. Most likely through to the New Year's."

"Wait a sec," Leo interjected. "You're not gonna miss Christmas, are you?"

Nico didn't answer, but his pace quickened.

"Nico! You can't!" Percy yelled, jogging up to the son of Hades.

As the rest of their friends clamored up to Nico, trying to convince him not to go, Reyna and Hazel were pushed to the back of the group.

"Something's up," was the first thing that Hazel said.

Reyna grunted. "Yes, I believe so. Even if I do not approve of all of this meddling in Nico's life."

"We're just trying to help!" Hazel protested. "He deserves someone special in his life. Everyone does! Unless if they don't want someone, that is. But still!"

"And if you go too far, and mess it all up?"

Hazel hesitated, biting her bottom lip as she thought up a response. "Well, I don't think that'll happen," she finally replied.

Reyna rolled her eyes. "Something will happen. Something always does. It doesn't matter if that something works in your favor or not. Just be prepared."

Hazel opened her mouth to reply, but a cheery voice cut her off.

"Hey, guys!"

Hazel and Reyna turned around to find Will Solace running up to them. He stopped and waved, slightly out of breath. "What's going on? Because it's not every day a group of demigods are all yelling at another demigod. Especially when Nico's the demigod being yelled at."

"Hi!" Hazel waved back. Reyna nodded in greeting. "Yeah, I guess that it is sorta rare."

"It is. But, well, everyone's sorta staring…" Will gestured to the pavilion, where nearly everyone had turned to see the six boisterous demigods and the Titaness yelling at Nico not to go. Hazel was surprised. She wasn't aware that they had moved fast enough to be up to the pavilion by now.

"Oh." Hazel could feel her face blush, and had to resist the urge to fan herself. "I-I didn't know that we were here already!"

"We're nearly to the hill, actually," Reyna pointed out.

"Goodness!" Hazel did fan herself at that point, and waved to a few of the demigods in the pavilion. Most of them turned back to their meals, but a few continued to stare.

"Hey, can I ask why everyone is yelling at Nico?" Will asked, matching their casual pace with his long legs.

"Nico was summoned by his father to come down to the Underworld," Reyna explained. "Apparently, there has been a few problems with spirits and whatnot lately, so Pluto-Hades, I mean, needed more help. And Nico is his son, so he would be the obvious choice."

Will was silent for a few moments, before his pace quickened and he stomped up ahead of them. "Death Head," he growled. Hazel stifled a few giggles, while Reyna just stared at Will.

"Oh, hey Will!" Percy greeted the son of Apollo as he stomped past him towards Nico. Will glared, before refocusing.

"Death Boy, I swear, if you are shadow-traveling to the Underworld," Will threatened, "The moment you get back I will chain you to an infirmary bed and I will not let you leave until the Summer Solstice."

Nico turned around and glared at Will. With a start, Hazel realized that they were at the foot of Half-Blood Hill. "No, Will, I'm not."

Will crossed his arms. "Then how are you getting there?"

"Remember that zombie chauffeur that I told you about?"

"The what?" Frank muttered.

"Yeah. Jewel-Albuquerque?"

"Jules-Albert," Nico corrected, "but yeah. He's driving me there. There's a special entrance in Central Park that he can use."

"Um, you need music for that!" Percy interrupted.

"Shut up, Percy!" Nico snapped. "My father sent him up to get me, so he can just drive through it. No music required."

Percy grumbled.

"I see. And you're going there because…?"

"Restless spirits. A few are trying to break free from the Fields of Asphodel, and my father needs all the help that he can get."

Will nodded. "And how long will you be gone?"

Nico looked down at his feet.

"Nico. Tell me."

No response. Hazel held her breath.

"Death Head."

Nico looked back up. "I'm not coming back until next year, at the latest."

Will looked like someone had punched him in the gut. "What?"

"You heard me: I'm not gonna be back until next year. Probably the second or third."

"But-But-" Will ran his hands through his curly blonde hair. "Dude! You can't just go! Christmas is on Thursday, and there's gonna be a New Year's party! Plus, the fireworks! They're gonna put the Fourth of July fireworks to shame, apparently. You can't miss that!"

Nico scowled. "So? I'll be back. Besides, it's not that much."

"Uh, yes, it is."

"Uh, no, it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not."

Will narrowed his eyes. "Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Nico's hand dropped down to his side, where he usually kept his sword. "No."

"Yes."

"No-"

"Guys! Cut it out!" Piper unexpectedly broke up the fight by stepping in between them. Jason look torn between applauding his girlfriend or reprimanding her for breaking up his OTP's interaction.

"Why?" Nico growled.

Piper gave him a weird look. "Why are you fighting like this? Gods, so hostile." She cleared her throat. "Look, Nico. None of us want you to go! All of us have things that we want to do, and pretty much all of them involve you in some way. You're our friend, so we want to hang out with you." Will nodded behind her, and Nico glared up at him. "Besides, Christmas is an awful time to spend alone, along with New Year's. I'm not saying that you're gonna be alone down there, but it might seem that way without all of you friends there.

"But," she added, holding up a hand before Nico could protest. "This is pretty important, since your dad summoned you and all. Plus, loose spirits are never a good thing. We all know that, right?"

Everyone nodded, except Will, who just looked confused.

Piper grinned. "Yup. They're terrible. Now, hopefully, you get the problem all wrapped up before Christmas, so that we can all spend time with you! If not…" She tapped her bottom lip. "Hmm. I suppose that we'll have to wait until you get back, so that we can have Christmas."

Nico shook his head. "Look, guys, that's nice and all. But you shouldn't have to put off your Christmas for me. Just give me my presents or whatever when I get back."

"I don't know, a Christmas party with you and everyone else sounds pretty fun," Annabeth said. "Plus, you wouldn't want to miss the look on Percy's face when he gets his gag gifts."

"Wise Girl!" Percy complained. Annabeth laughed.

"I agree!" Hazel stepped up to Nico's side. "Please, let's have our Christmas when you get back. A private little party, with just the…" She counted all of the people gathered there. "…Eleven of us!"

Will pointed at himself. "Wait, why did you count me?"

Hazel pursed her lips. "Well, I'm sure that you wouldn't mind spending Christmas with Nico and all of us." She paused. "Then again, you do have other friends, so you'd probably be doing Christmas things with them. So you don't have to join us-"

"Nope," Will interrupted her. "I'll join your Christmas party for Nico. But if anyone tries to tag along with me, it's not my fault. Lou and Cecil can be pretty annoying when they put their minds to it."

"So it's settled then?" Jason asked. "A Christmas party with Nico?"

"Yup!" was Leo's answer.

Jason pumped his fist in the air.

"Now, you promise to be careful, yes?" Reyna asked Nico, crossing her arms.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mother." But there was a trace of a smile on his face.

Hazel gave Nico a hug, and Reyna joined her. Nico stiffened as usual, but relaxed soon after. Leo and Calypso shook his hand, while Piper and Annabeth pulled him in for another hug. Frank shook his hand as well, while Jason and Percy gave him bro hugs. Hazel could've sworn that Will looked jealous, so she elbowed him.

"Are you going to say goodbye?" she asked.

Will blinked. "What?"

"Say goodbye to Nico! Give him a hug or something."

This time, Hazel could definitely read the expression on Will's face: Embarrassment. "Excuse me?!" he hissed.

Hazel stared at him and sighed. "Say goodbye to him, or I'll push you into him."

"Fine, fine." Will grumbled and stepped up to Nico, holding out his fist for a fist bump. "Good luck down under, dude," he said. Hazel mentally smacked herself.

"It's not Australia, but thanks anyways." After a moment's hesitation, Nico returned the fist bump. He then started to walk up the hill, with everyone yelling more "Goodbye's!" and "Good luck's!" at him.

After he disappeared over the hill, Reyna whirled around to glare at Will. Hazel lurched away, caught by surprise.

"What?" Will asked, raising both of his eyebrows.

"I swear, by every major or minor deity that is out there," Reyna snarled, "if you do anything to hurt Nico, be it on purpose or not, I will find a way to have you trampled by every wild animal that there is on this Earth, before I run you through with all of my swords and flick out your organs one by one while you still breathe." She pulled out her sword for emphasis. "Am I clear, Solace?"

Will backed up away from her, hands held up in surrender. And expression "Whoa, whoa, okay. Let's not kill the healer, shall we?"

Reyna narrowed her eyes and jabbed her sword towards him in response. "Am I?" she asked again in a dangerously calm voice.

Will paled and swallowed. "Y-Yes. Yes, you are, ma'am. Um, I mean…"

"Good." Just like that, Reyna slipped her sword back into its scabbard, and her face went back to neutral. "Let us return to our dinners, and plan Nico's Christmas party." She turned around and marched away.

Will rubbed his neck, right where Reyna's sword had been dangerously close to striking. "What was that about?" he squeaked.

"Just…Just do as she says, alright?" Jason patted his shoulder weakly, and Will flinched slightly. Jason removed his hand.

"She's got a point. I wanna finish my chicken," Frank said as he started to walk back to the dining pavilion. Hazel skipped up to him.

"Can I have a piece?" she asked.

"Sure, just as long as I get one of your apple slices."

Hazel smiled. "Deal."

*JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS ROBIN LAID AN EGGGGGGGGG*

As it turned out, Nico didn't get to return until the second of January. Everyone Iris-messaged him at least twice while he was away, even if they didn't last very long since the connection was terrible in the Underworld. Not even "O Fleecy, do me a solid" made the connection any better.

When he got back, the demigods whooped, and Leo even dropped a few firecrackers from his pocket onto the ground. The loud snapping sound scared Frank into a bulldog, and he leapt into Hazel's arms. Not expecting the weight, she stumbled back into Jason, who in turn fell into Percy, who in turn fell into Annabeth, who pushed Percy back and called him a Seaweed Brain. Leo, who wasn't even aware that firecrackers were in his pocket, leapt into Calypso's arms. Calypso just sighed very loudly. Nico rolled his eyes at all of them, but he still laughed.

The day after Nico's return was the day the group had their little Christmas party, which was in the Poseidon cabin. Will came to it, and as he had promised, Lou Ellen and Cecil had tagged along. Lou Ellen had even convinced Miranda Gardiner to come, and Cecil claimed that he was "stag." It was a little awkward, since most of the people there didn't really know the other four that had come. But they soon made good friends. Hazel had a lovely chat with Lou Ellen about problems and benefits of controlling the Mist, and Cecil's jokes had everyone laughing. Miranda proved herself to be an excellent braider, and just about completely redid Piper's hair. Jason was staring at Piper's new hairdo all evening.

As for Will, his usually sunny disposition was made even sunnier by the promise of a party, and his energy was almost boundless. Hazel hoped that it was even sunnier because of Nico's presence. She noticed that some of the others thought so as well, since Jason shoved Nico towards Will at almost every opportunity, and Cecil jokingly made a heart around Will and Nico with his hands when the other two boys were deep in conversation. Lou Ellen and Miranda had a few whispered conversations, which mostly involved Lou Ellen gesturing towards Will and Nico and Miranda shaking her head. Reyna frowned whenever something like that happened.

The party lasted late into the night, and everyone ended up falling asleep on a bunk or somewhere else comfy in the cabin. Percy didn't seem to mind-after all, he had enough bunks and comfy places to share.

Hazel was just about to drift off, when she suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Nico for an hour or so. Panicking, she sat straight up in her bunk and swept her gaze across the cabin, until she found a familiar mop of black hair.

Nico was snoring away on one of Percy's couches, which was apparently where Will had also fallen asleep. Nico's head was lying on Will's shoulder, and Will had an arm casually draped across Nico's shoulders. If you glanced at them, you would guess that they were a couple who had fallen asleep together after marathoning some movies.

Hazel smiled. "Good night, Nico, and good night to your-hopefully-future boyfriend as well." She settled back down on her bunk and closed her eyes.

In the morning, Nico and Will were the only ones still asleep, almost in the exact position that Hazel had seen them in the night before. Leo and Cecil grinned at each other.

"Shall we?" Cecil held out his arm in mock politeness.

"We shall," Leo snickered, before pulling out an air horn from his tool belt. Hazel had just enough time to cover her ears and silently curse both of the boys.

FAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nico eyes jerked open, and he fell to the side. He let out a long string of Italian words. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Will jerked awake, and stood up. "YES SIR!" he shouted, saluting, before he realized his surroundings. "Wait, what?"

Leo doubled over laughing, and Cecil was rolling on the floor. "HA HA-YOUR FACE-I JUST-OH MY GODS THAT WAS SO PERFECT-HELP ME 911 I'M DYING-AH HA HA HA HA-"

Will scowled, and kicked him in his side. "You're an ass," he growled. Cecil groaned.

Calypso yanked the air horn out of Leo's hands, and blew it in his face. Leo yelped and stumbled backwards into a bunk, tripping over it to fall with a loud crash on the other side of it. This time, everyone laughed. Leo sat back up, rubbing his head and scowling. "Callie! How could you?" he whimpered.

Calypso leaned across the bunk to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Sorry, sweetie," she cooed. "But I had to make sure that you tasted your own medicine. Now, it's time for breakfast." She held out a hand to help Leo up, and he took it.

"Well, now that the lovebirds are up, it's breakfast time!" Lou Ellen cheered.

"Lou, we are not lovebirds," Will grumbled. Something flickered across Nico's face, but it was gone before Hazel could place it.

"Sure, keep lying to yourself. C'mon, 'Randa!" Lou Ellen tugged on her girlfriend's arm, and soon had dragged her out the door. Miranda waved apologetically over her shoulder.

Percy rubbed his eyes. "Yes. Food. Must. Eat. To. Function. Properly." He yawned. Annabeth punched his arm.

"Seaweed Brain," she scoffed.

"Wise Girl!" he complained, but she walked out the door and he had to jog to keep up.

Soon, everyone else had left the cabin, besides Reyna, Hazel, Frank, Nico, and Will. Reyna glared at Will and did the "I'm watching you" gesture before she turned to the door and walked out. Will gulped.

"So, do we just…go, then?" He asked.

Hazel nodded. Frank took her hand in his. "Let's go, Hazel. I hope they still had oatmeal," he mused. Hazel blushed slightly before nodding at him again, and turning to face her brother and Will.

"Let's go, you two!" she beamed.

Nico shrugged. "I'm game. After over a week of bland Underworld food, even spinach sounds good."

"It's also good for you," Will pointed out as they walked to the door.

"You just made it sound less appetizing."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean you can't eat it."

Hazel laughed, and when Frank asked her what was so funny, she just shook her head. Perhaps Will was better for Nico than she originally thought he was.

I had a great winter break! I got a lot of cool stuff for Christmas, and San Antonio was great! I even got to go on my first-ever ghost tour! I've always wanted to go on one lol. I heard some really creepy stories! ALSO OVER THE GARDEN WALL WAS MARATHONED AGAIN ON CARTOON NETWORK OMG I sat through all of it whooping.

I also hit not only 888 followers, not only 900 followers, BUT A THOUSAND FOLLOWERS ON TUMBLR HOLY CRAP! I also sorta befriended annabethisterrified, which is slightly weird to me since I sorta idolize her. Also ARADIA-PARADIA LIKES PERCY JACKSON AND THEY DREW SOLANGELO AHHHH (I have a bit of a crush on Para okay it's fucking ridiculous). PLUS SOME ANON TOLD PARADIA THAT THIS ACCOUNT EXISTS? LIKE OMG WHAT? Paradia if you are reading this I am so sorry.

Okay, let's see…The chapter plan says I have up to chapter 28, and this is chapter 20. So I have chapters 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 to write, and at least 5 of them are gonna be nice, long chapters.

We're eight chapters away from the end, and six away from the epilogue! Woohoo!

…Okay, maybe not so much "woohoo" as "boohoo," since that means we're getting closer to the end here.

I'm hoping to end this fic before Spring Break in March, actually, since that's my London trip and I hope to spend it mostly writing-free. Solangelo will probably finally be canon around Valentine's Day. Like that is my goal canon Solangelo on the day of love aka the day that I will spend single again.

Also, I've been thinking about writing a short fic about Alex, because I've had this idea for zher meeting Laura and them finally getting together bc I adore Alex. It'll start out the April or May before Gaea attacks Camp Half-Blood, while Percy is still sleeping and Leo is still building the Argo II. Boy, wish I was Percy. I'd love to sleep for like six months I mean I can't sleep over seven hours anyways. Originally, the fic was going to be a one-shot, but then I realized that it's gonna take a lot longer to write.

I got the Furby one-shot up! It's called "Devil-spawn" and the only thing I regret about it is that it is 8,500+ words. It wasn't supposed to be that long I swear. Also "A Common Memory" will be up at some point it'll be the next thing that I upload lol.

Anywho, more favorite lines?

Also, I hope that all of you had wonderful holidays!

Deranged Shadow Fangirl