mwahaha, mesa back! With a a two-shot, no less!

"Are you sure you want this one?" the store clerk asked, while wrapping a very expensive, very rare book about architecture. "We have plenty of other books about architecture."

"No thanks," Percy replied, relieved that he had finally found the perfect Christmas gift for Annabeth. "I've searched a while for this book. There's only, what, four in existence?"

"Three, actually. It is one of my prized possesions, a family heirloom. But I coudn't resist that, uh, decent price you gave me." The store clerk lowered his voice, so the other customers wouldn't overhear their conversation.

Percy grabbed the package. "Thank you for your business."

"No, thank you." The clerk was cackling while counting the mone Perry gave him when Percy exited the store.

"Sheesh," Percy muttered to himself when he was in his car. "That guy made me broke. It was worth it though."

He drove back to his apartment. When he arrived, he hid the present in a blue duffle bag. Percy had been "swimming" at the local indoor pool, a diversion he created so Annabeth had no clue what he was up to. It was probably the smartest thing he has ever came up with.

He slung the duffle bag over his shoulder, and entered his house.

"Mom, I'm home!" he yelled when he barged in.

"I'm in the kitchen, honey," his mom called.

Percy hastily walked towards the kitchen, where he knew his mom would be making her famous blue chocolate chip cookies. He causually grabbed one off the cooling rack and began to nibble on it, savoring the gooeyness. "Where's Annabeth?"

"Doing some last minute Christmas shopping with Thalia. So," Sally rid her hands of the excess flour with a towel, "what did you get for Annabeth?"

He turned his head left and right, making sure no one was there to eavesdrop. He whispered in his mom's ear, "A rare architecture book."

Sally smiled. "She will love it."

"I hope so. I've been saving up since last Christmas when she didn't like cake I baked for her..."

"You mean the red and green one that you used way too much baking soda on and accidently spilled some vinegar in?"

"Well, the look on her face was priceless, just like you said..." Percy retorted sheepishly.

Sally rolled her eyes, then continued to bake cookies. Percy lounged on a nearby couch. "So where's Paul?" he asked.

"I kicked him out of the house so I could wrap presents."

"Ooo, what did I get?" Percy asked childishly.

"You'll just have to see what Santa brings you tonight," Sally teased.

Percy pouted, then yawned hugely. "I'm going to go take a nap. Didn't go to sleep until early today."

"What were you doing?"

Percy ignored her, the climbed up the stairs to his room.

Annabeth was at the mall with Thalia looking at blanket to buy for Percy. She was between two; one that matched his eyes color and a fuzzy sea-themed blanket.

"Which one?" she asked Thalia. Thalia didn't want to be there in the first place, but Annabeth had dragged her there.

"Annabeth, you are obsessing over this. And by doing that, you're not acting like yourself. You're acting like an Aphrodite kid," Thalia grumbled.

"Fine," Annabeth grumbled back. "I'll get them bothand sew them together, even if it means staying up all night."

"There's the Annabeth I know. Now, can we go and get a burger? I'm starved."

So, ths is part uno of my Christmas special. Short, I know. I'm just writing this at the top of my head, with no inspiration or planning. Wait, what am I saying? That how I write all my stories! Improvising's great, isn't it?

~Percidia Jackson