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Epilogue
"C'mon Apollo! FASTER! I NEED YOU GO FASTER!" Percy groaned.
"Perce, I'm trying but your arm is in the way." Apollo whined, he had his reward. He got want he wanted and he was doing something he took pleasure in doing.
"Percy, I need the batter done now!" Sally yelled. Apollo was desperately trying to finish his Christmas cookies, while Percy was making the Blue Christmas Pudding batter. She scooped a little on her finger and rubbed it on Apollo's lip. He licked it and sighed.
"Oh god Sally, this is amazing!" He moaned. Paul came and sneakily took a dip.
"PAUL!" Percy yelled playfully.
"Sally, this is amazing!" Paul and Percy's mother had moved to a new house, not to far from where Camp Half-Blood was, although Percy didn't need to got there anymore, or in fact go to High School anymore, she had graduated.
"Poseidon, Hades and Zeus are coming soon and the rest are coming after!" Sally was stressing out. Since we had Apollo, he could clean up but Sally needed to get changed.
Percy loved the new house, it was a mansion compared to their old apartment. It was three storeys tall. The first level had a huge foyer and stairs leading up, a door to the side to the huge formal dining room and ballroom. The second door leading to the kitchen. Upstairs were all seven bedrooms and the bathrooms, the media room and living room. The third floor was an on roof garden and terrace. In the back was another huge garden and swimming pool.
Sally said it was a present from Poseidon, who apparently gave it to her for her birthday…
Percy's mother put the pudding in and was about to get the table set when Percy saw her mother.
"MUM! GO UP AND HAVE A SHOWER AND GET CHANGED! Apollo and I will handle this!"
"We will?" Apollo asked. Percy stood on his foot.
"We… Will!" He said trying to hold back the pain. Sally wasn't too sure but obeyed. Percy got everything ready, the crackers, the silverware, the knives, forks, and spoons. She added the last layer of glaze to the turkey and put it in the oven again. The puddings were done. Paul helped putting everything on the table while Apollo frosted his cookies and got the Christmas Soup ready.
Percy's mother's Christmas soup contains winter vegetables and some different meats but it was heaven on Earth. Everything was ready when Percy and Apollo left to get ready. Paul was with Mrs O'Leary in the backyard.
Both of them were ready when the doorbell rung.
"WE'LL GET IT!" Percy yelled to her mother. Poseidon was at the door with Hades.
"I smell the Christmas Pudding!" Hades handed a few boxes to Percy. Some were gifts and others were for decorating the tree. Poseidon hugged Percy and shook hands with Apollo. He gave Apollo the boxes and helped Percy carry Hades.
Hades was in the back with Paul. He had met the fellow only once at last years' party. He was nice enough.
"Lord Hades." Paul bowed respectfully. Hades nodded in respect and noticed the hellhound.
"Well, you have a hellhound? Why, what a wonderful surprise!" He petted Mrs O'Leary who was happy to smell the deadly smelling robes.
"It's Percy's actually but I take care of her when she is on Olympus…"
"Shall we get inside, it is cold?"
"Yes, come Mrs O'Leary!" The hound followed her new master inside the house.
"Welcome to all!" Sally said holding her glass of champagne. All the Olympians were there as well as Annabeth, Thalia, the hunters and Michael.
"We shall decorate the house now. Poseidon, Hades, Zeus, Paul and myself with door the terrace. Apollo, Percy, Annabeth, Thalia and Michael will do the Front Yard, Athena, Ares, Artemis and Aphrodite will set up the sleigh and Dionysus, Hermes, Demeter and Hephaestus will help with the mistletoe and repairing. When we are finished we shall gather and decorate the tree outside and inside."
Everyone scattered. Percy was just happy to be with her friends and Apollo. The front wasn't to bad and when they were done, Artemis' group helped.
"You know the myth of the sleigh…"
"Came from your sleigh, I remember!" Percy said helping the twin archers put up the last of the bells, hanging from the porch ceiling. Apollo placed a charm on the Santa doll to sing Jingle Bells Rock over and over again. Artemis made the sleigh sparkle with silver and Annabeth and Michael placed the tinsel on the columns outside.
Thalia and the rest of the hunters were placing lights and the holly on the door. The Merry Christmas sign was put up by Hephaestus and Hermes who swear he didn't steal it ("Likely story Hermes." Apollo said)
When we came back, Demeter put up the tree. There were holly berries among the tree. Hephaestus made an angel for the top from metal. Aphrodite made it a little livelier by doing the painting herself. Apollo and Artemis shoot some arrows, which then dissolved into sparkles that then fell and get entangled within the tree. Dionysus, Hermes and Ares made a few symbolic ornaments. Zeus made a duplicate of his bolt and hung it on the tree. Poseidon and Hades did the same. Athena made an owl from wood and hung it on the tree.
Percy made some water from a nearby lake and placed it over the tree. Poseidon manipulated it and changed it to ice. The ends of the tree were icicles. Percy's mum bought some fake snow and sprayed it on the tree.
The inside was quite similar. Soon they were all sitting down for dinner. Percy had such a great time. She cracked a cracker with Thalia, Annabeth, Apollo and her father. She wore all 4 crowns with pride. Poseidon laughed.
"My my, Sally, our Sea Princess has received her first few crowns!" Everyone started laughing. Maybe it was the thought of letting everything go around family because like all fathers, Poseidon was terrible at jokes.
When we reached the dessert Hades jumped at the pudding. He had finished about twelve when he was full.
"So you are all staying till New Year's Eve?" Percy asked hoping the answer was yes.
"OF COURSE!" Zeus boomed. All heads nodded in agreement. When the puddings were over it was time for talking and then dancing.
Dancing was Percy's favourite part of the party. The first dance was always with Poseidon. They usually did a mock waltz and ended with some water on the marble floor. Before, when they were in the apartment they went to Olympus for the party but Percy's mum got the pudding (Obviously). This year things were different, a good different.
After her father's dance she would wait for free dance when she, Annabeth and Thalia hit the floor. Percy waited at the side watching Artemis dance with Apollo. She smiled at the twins and couldn't help but laugh everything Apollo called her "Lil' sis." And Artemis groaned.
After they finished, Apollo walked to Percy.
"May I have this dance, m'lady?" Suddenly, Tango music came on and Percy grabbed his hands.
They were like two swans, they owned the floor. Poseidon was shocked while Zeus was laughing.
Apollo even got a hold of a thornless rose. When they finished everyone cheered. They were exhausted.
"6 months of dance lessons pay off right?" Apollo asked.
"You bet!" Percy replied getting a can of coke.
Apollo followed her and her friend to the pool. The sun was still shining a little but the orange sky suggested differently. Artemis came as well. Michael, Annabeth, Thalia, Artemis, Apollo and Percy sat at the edge of the pool with their feet in the water. Artemis' hunters left after dinner and would return for New Year's Eve. They had a replacement head while Artemis was with her family.
Percy rested her head on Apollo's shoulder.
"DO you lot wanna jump in? Percy asked. Everyone but Artemis was eager.
"Artemis, can you take a picture?"
"Um… ok?"
"Ok, cool poses everyone!" Percy said.
Percy was in the middle with Annabeth and Michael on her left and Thalia and Apollo on her right.
Artemis showed them the picture.
"That is awesome!" They all commented. Apollo managed to make 6 copies for us to hang in our houses. Everyone else joined them outside; they jumped into the water or stay dry, whatever. Percy couldn't help but feel she was really part of a family now
*****************CHRISTMAS DAY****************
The sun lighted up the morning. Percy then realised… who was driving the chariot?
"Apollo, who is driving the chariot?"
"Will… it's his punishment for the next 10 days…"
"Thank gods!" She flopped back into her pillow, about to close her eyes when they opened abruptly.
"CHRISTMAS! PRESENTS! She pulled Apollo out of bed and ran downstairs. Artemis and Sally were there talking.
"Hey lil' sis! Anything from mum?" Apollo asked as Percy looked for her present.
"Yeah, but we have to wait for everyone else. You guys go and wake them up."
Apollo ran to Hermes and Ares room first. Gods he wanted to do this for so long. He jumped on Hermes but covered his mouth so he wouldn't make a sign. He nodded his head towards Ares who was still sleeping. They both nodded.
They stood around his bed and suddenly "ARGHHHH!"
"ARGH!" Ares shot up and held his spear. Apollo and Hermes collapsed laughing. The woke up Hephaestus up by pretending to destroy his latest … whatever and woke the others up by jumping on them. Poseidon, Zeus and Hades were different. Everyone, including the girls crowded around and yelled either:
"LORD ZEUS THE SKY IS FALLING!"
"LORD POSEIDON THE OCEAN'S OVERFLOWING!"
"LORD HADES NO ONE LIKES YOU!"
"DAD YOU ARE EMBRASSING ME!"
They all woke up red faced.
"PRESENTS!" Percy guessed excitement ran in the family. Everyone ran to the tree and looked for their presents. This year was a generous haul; even Hades got something from everyone.
Percy loved every single present. Hephaestus gave her a new chest plate, which was blank because she didn't have an official symbol; Demeter and Dionysus got her an indoor planter and some moonlace seed. Percy remembered Calypso and wonder how she was… did another hero/heroine fall on her island? Had she forgotten the only female who landed on her island?
Hera and Zeus gave her a lamp with their symbols engraved on it, Athena gave her a diary/planner, Hades gave her an obsidian figurine, Ares gave her a new celestial bronze battle helmet and engraved in it was Anánkāi d'oudè theoì mákhontai, Not even the gods fight necessity. Hermes gave her a pair of flying sneakers, Aphrodite gave her a blue dress, Artemis gave her a silver bracelet with the moon engraved on it, Sally and Paul got her a scrapbook and Poseidon gave her a trident. At first, Percy thought it was just a stress ball until Poseidon stopped her from squeezing it. He took her to the ballroom and showed her what it really was.
"Like Riptide, it will return to your pocket if you lost it." He smiled and led her back. Apollo had a cheeky grin on his face.
"And her is my present." He passed it to her. She smiled and opened it. It was a small music box made from celestial bronze. Percy was beyond impressed. She felt the fine artwork on the side, and the blue velvet on the inside and the tune it played when she opened it. She sighed and placed in back in it's box. She wrapped her hands around Apollo's arms and kissed him. Apollo responded and soon it deepened. Only now did some people realise what was happening.
They broke apart when finally she hugged him.
"It is the most beautiful music box I have ever been given." Percy had a few other music boxes that were so beautiful. One was made from ivory. Her father had sent them the last few years as Christmas and birthday presents.
"Thank you." Apollo held her hands in his and stared into her eyes.
"I love you…"
HEY! So I am writing a bit in between, it isn't the sequel but it will be the rest of the days at the Jackson residence and the New Year's Eve Party, but this is the end of Kisses and Arrows… NOT LIKE THAT but the ending… that's all…