Ugggggh, stop making me write fluffy chapters, I need to maim someone D:

To Riordanlover16- I will take it into consideration! XD Thank you, but I can only do cutesy for so long. I crave violence :3

Jessica hosted a fantastic Christmas Eve, therefore elected Sally to host a fantastic Christmas Day. It was not with everyone everyone this time, much to the relief of a few people. Sally and Paul were in charge of dinner. Estelle was in charge of inviting people in, taking their coats to the bedroom and offering mince pies. She did this with much gusto, her reindeer antlers headband wobbling precariously atop her curly hair.

"Merry Christmas!" she said over and over, beaming from ear to ear. Percy, Annabeth and Tobias were the first to arrive. Jessica and Harvey were next, Jessica carting Bradley in his elf onesie and hat. Louisa was a few steps behind, carrying the trifle as though it could explode at any second.

Leo was the last in attendance, apologising for being late. He was forgiven immediately, Estelle hug-tackling him around the middle.

"Hi to you too," Leo laughed, returning the embrace.

"Santa's been! Look!" And she proudly pointed out the shiny purple bike parked next to the Christmas tree. Estelle's letter to Santa had been of the utmost secrecy to all except Leo, one of the Big Man's trusty elves. She had whispered its contents to him only last week, just to make sure Santa knew she wanted a purple bike. Leo had crossed his heart to pass the information along, pulling Sally to one side once the girl had scampered away.

"Hey, that's a mighty cool bike!" Leo grinned. Estelle nodded madly, her antlers toppling over her face. Over her head, Sally mouthed thank you.

Estelle gripped his sleeves, bouncing on the soles of her feet.

"Thank you for telling him! I made the Nice List!"

"Of course you did!" Leo squished her face between his hands. "Santa said you were right at the very top!"

"He did?!"

"He did!" Leo beamed. Estelle inhaled sharply, eyes widening. Leo thought her head was set to burst, then the rest of her as the bouncing started again.

"MOM!"

"I heard, sweetheart," Sally assured.

"MOM, I'M AT THE TOP!" Leo may have started something there, but Estelle was over the moon, squealing and jumping and dancing. She dragged Leo by the hand to show off her new bike, showing him how the bell worked, the pedals, the cute little basket on the front she had already put her favourite teddy in. "Mom says I can ride it to school!" she beamed. "I'm going to have the coolest bike ever."

"Oh, for sure," Leo agreed, sneakily checking the training wheels were secure. "Santa sure knows how to pick the best bike for the best kid, doesn't he?"

"I love it!" she exclaimed, clambering on and revving the handles. "Mom, can we go out after dinner? Can we go out now? Can I please please please please go out now?" Sally glanced at the clock, pursing her lips.

"Alright, half an hour. Put your helmet on first though, young lady. We'll have no smashed skulls on Christmas." Estelle sprinted to her room, throwing aside her antlers. She was back seconds later in her big purple coat and jamming a bright purple helmet on.

"Purple's a good colour," Louisa remarked at Leo's shoulder, making him jump. He glared at her, jaw clenching.

"Stop it."

"You're so easy ta sneak up on."

"Stop it."

"Come on, come on, let's go!"

Being the elf that had scored her the treasured bike, Leo was the only one trusted to carry it outside. Louisa came along with them, once Jessica had wrestled the inevitable red hat on her head. The street was fairly quiet, most cars parked up while their occupants were getting together for Christmas Day. Louisa made sure Estelle's helmet was on nice and proper before letting her go.

"Not too far!" Louisa called. "To the corner 'n' back!"

"THIS IS AWESOME!" Estelle shrieked, spamming the bell. "THANK YOU, LEO! THANK YOU, SANTA!"

"You know," Leo said, hands in his pockets, "being an elf isn't too bad."

"Pretty sure you're her favourite person now. Which is bullshit— I'm her favourite person."

"Ah, but you didn't get her the coolest bike ever now, did you?"

"Neither did you. Santa did." She jerked her head back at the house.

"And who told Santa," Leo copied her motion, "to get her the coolest bike ever? Uh, yeah, me. Deal with it." He blew a raspberry. Louisa replied in kind, folding her arms sulkily. Leo leaned closer, grinning crookedly. "Aww, don't pout. I may be her favourite person, but you're her favourite big sister."

"Damn fuckin' straight, Lizzie's an asshole."

"LOOK HOW FAST I'M GOING!" Ding ding. "YOU WON'T TAKE ME ALIVE!"

"Oh, she is so your sister," Leo laughed. Louisa smirked proudly.

Estelle zipped up and down the street, shouting and singing delightedly. Other kids from neighbouring houses ventured out with toys of their own. Two others with bikes— though obviously not as cool as Estelle's— one with a scooter, several with footballs and one brave soul with a pogo stick.

"Merry Christmas!" Estelle said each time she pedalled past one. "Look at my bike! Merry Christmas! I like your shoes, are they new? Look at my bike, it's purple!"

"Kids!" Sally inevitably called. "Dinner!" Estelle looked round in horror. Sally put her hands on her hips. "Some time before the New Year please!" Estelle narrowed her eyes. Sally did too. "Don't you do it," she warned.

"You'll have to catch me first," Estelle countered in the same tone. "TO FREEDOM!"

"Lou!" Sally snapped her fingers. Estelle could pedal all she liked; she was no match for her big sister.

Leo blinked. One second, Louisa had been beside him. The next, she was sprinting after the tearaway and closing fast. She snatched Estelle up with one arm and grabbed the bike before it could careen into a neighbour's car with the other.

"No!" Estelle protested. "My bike!"

"You can have it back after dinner," Louisa promised.

"Only if you eat your vegetables," Sally added as they came within earshot.

"Pfft, I always eat my vegetables," Estelle turned her nose up. "I'm top of the Nice List."

"So I've heard." Sally unclipped the helmet and tucked it under her arm. "Go and wash your hands, Dad's serving food up now." She caught Leo by the arm as they filed back in, the bike safely stashed in the hallway. "Thank you," she whispered. "You should have seen her when she came down this morning." Leo gave a mock bow, hand over heart.

"It's all in a day's work for us elves."

She pinched his cheek, smiling, and motioned him inside. Chatter and warmth and the smell of dinner filled the house, music played softly somewhere in the background. The dining table had made some new friends, two other tables wedged either side, all three surrounded by a mishmash of chairs. The others were already taking their seats, little name cards in front of each place setting.

"Food!" Tobias demanded.

"Yes, you'll get food," Percy soothed, "but you need to go in your highchair first."

"Food!" Tobias insisted. He had apparently learned the stubborn toddler trait of not bending, refusing to be corralled into his chair by staying ramrod straight. No matter what Percy tried, he could not get the boy to sit or put his legs through or anything.

Tobias smacked his hands on the highchair's plastic surface, standing in its seat. "Food!"

"Need some help?" Leo offered. Percy side-eyed him.

"If you say anything about wavelengths, I will strangle you with tinsel."

"Festive," Leo remarked. Percy tipped Tobias upside down, holding him by the ankles. Tobias squealed, flailing his arms.

"There's a knack to this," Sally said, sweeping in. "You used to be exactly the same," she told her son. She scooped Tobias up. He saw himself being hoisted over the dreaded highchair once again and straightened his spine and legs with iron will. Sally, hands under his arms, squeezed just slightly and he giggled, squirming at the tickles. Sally had him in the chair in a heartbeat, strapping him in before he realised what was happening.

Percy gaped at her.

"Wizard," he breathed.

"Nope," Sally grinned slyly, "just a mother."

"Same thing," Percy nodded.

"Food!" Tobias batted his hands on the plastic tray again. There was no escape now, he found, despite his best wriggling and pulling at the straps. Subjected to his fate, he called out again. "FOOD!"

"Do you not feed him?" Leo asked bemusedly.

"He wants roast potatoes," Percy sighed. "Always roast potatoes, they're his favourite."

"Tatoes!" Tobias agreed.

Everyone was seated now. Percy sat with Tobias on his left and Annabeth, who had been helping in the kitchen, on his right. To the left of Tobias sat Louisa with Bradley on her knee. Leo sat between her and Estelle, who was still jabbering excitedly about her new bike. Sally and Paul came next, then Jessica and Harvey.

The Blofis Christmas dinner was, hands down, the best Christmas dinner Leo had ever seen and smelled and eaten. There was enough for seconds. Louisa stole one of his potatoes, an especially crispy one he had been saving until last. Bradley gurgled on her lap, transfixed by all the deliciousness around him, mouth opening and closing.

"Next year," Louisa told him. "Next year, you can have tatoes."

"Tatoes!" Tobias cheered, biting into one like an apple. The highchair wasn't so bad now he had been mollified with food.

"Do you do dinner like this every year?" Leo asked Sally.

"Sometimes," she said. "Last year we had a spread out, a proper buffet."

"Mm, that bean dip was lovely," Jessica nodded, chef-kissing her fingers. "You've got to give me the recipe."

"No," Sally defied teasingly.

"Not even as a Christmas present?"

"Your present is already under the tree. You have to wait."

"Harv, be a dear and magic it out of her for me."

"Um… no. Paul, could you pass the gravy?"

"Please!" Estelle corrected. "Manners don't cost a penny!" Harvey smiled apologetically.

"Paul, could you pass the gravy please?"

"I could," Paul said, tipping the gravy boat over his plate, "in a moment."

"There's plenty more in the kitchen," Sally said as Paul continued to smother his food in gravy and Harvey turned from patient to incredulous. "Does anyone want any more meat?"

"Tatoes!"

"You've had six already," Percy despaired. "Half of which is in your hair."

"Tatoes!" Tobias face-planted his plate, fluffy potato bits sticking to his cheeks and nose. Annabeth handed Percy a napkin, trying not to laugh. The apple didn't fall far from the tree, or, in this case, the tato far from the field.

Leo raised an eyebrow at Sally.

"Every year?" he asked. She smiled, eyes twinkling.

"Every year."

Despite the seconds and, in some cases, thirds, there was still plenty of room for dessert. The trifle Louisa had safely transported, Sally's famous fruitcake and a Christmas pudding and cookies and mince pies and homemade fudge and a hot apple pie served up with big scoops of ice-cream. Leo wasn't sure how he managed much more, feeling sleepy and full, but he couldn't pass up the sweet treats.

He looked to Louisa, on her fifth mince pie. She smiled around her mouthful when he caught her eye. Bradley was curled in the crook of her elbow, dozing peacefully.

Leo touched the infant's head, stroking the silky dark hair. He was too small to understand what was going on, but next year… next year he could join in. He could have his own tatoes and gawp at the lights on the tree. He would be walking by then, maybe even talking if Leo remembered right from his baby books. Yes, talking.

What would his first word be?

They lolloped around the table for a while, too full to move. Estelle was singing again, braiding Louisa's hair into thin plaits. Louisa didn't mind, dutifully sitting still. Jessica kept glancing over at the tree and then squinting at Sally, deprived of the dip recipe. Harvey was pretending not to notice her nudging him or her whispered requests for a magical extraction, reclining in his seat with his hands on his stomach and a contented look on his face.

Percy had somewhat managed to clean his son up. The worst of the potato mess was gone, quickly replaced with cookie crumbs and ice-cream dripping down his chin. Annabeth was working her way through the last slice of apple pie, bringing Paul up to date on New Athens. Sally was piling the empty plates.

Leo got up to help her. He washed and she dried, talking while they worked.

"Thank you," Leo said, "for having me over."

"Oh, don't be silly. You're family." Leo nearly dropped his next plate, sudsy water splashing his shirt. Sally smiled warmly. "Maybe next year, you can do Christmas dinner."

"Me?"

"Yes. All your big fancy riches, you could do it."

"We wouldn't all fit in my apartment."

"Who's to say you'd still be there in a year?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, with some secret knowledge. Leo couldn't tell what colour they were, green or blue or hazel depending on which way she turned her head. "You're always welcome at our table, Leo. There's plenty of room and… well, our Lou wouldn't have just anyone. You're very special, you know." She squeezed his arm. Leo's eyes burned and he concentrated on the sink, hands buried in the bubbly water.

Sally took his next plate and dried it, humming softly. She finished the next one before speaking again. Her tone was gentle, ready to withdraw if he did not want to respond. "Lou has told me a lot about you. I'm sorry about your mother." She noticed his shoulders tense, his jaw bunch. "No child should have to go through that, or anything that followed." Leo sniffed, stayed quiet.

She gave him a moment, pressing on carefully. "Lou was worried our Christmas would crowd you, yesterday and today. She was really happy when you said you'd come. She didn't want you to be alone for Christmas."

Leo watched some bubbles congregate on the back of his hand. Lonely Christmases were something he was all too familiar with.

He steeled himself with a slow breath, finally looking up.

"I didn't want to be alone either," he said hoarsely, "so thank you."

"So, we're agreed. You're doing Christmas next year?"

"Sure," Leo half-laughed. "I'll do Christmas next year." Sally grinned at him, turning to put the plates away. Leo dried his hands on the tea towel she had discarded. The aromas of dinner and baking still lingered in the kitchen and he found it a comfort, found it… homely.

You're family, Sally had said. It wasn't a throwaway comment, it wasn't said just to make him feel better. She had agreed to Louisa inviting him along, had fed him as she would any one of her own brood. She was Louisa's other mother, every inch Jessica's equal, but every inch her opposite too. Both women were fierce and protective of their families, both formidable, both so sure of their own minds, but how different their minds were.

There was a strength to Sally, a strength that came in the form of kindness. She was a pillar of good and her home was home to all who needed it. No-one would be turned away from her table, not while she cared as much as she did, not even Leo.

"Come on," Sally said, chin-pointing at the door. "We have presents to open."