Merry Christmas to all of you! This is the first official tie-in to Thinking of the Future. Percy and Nico spend their first Christmas together at a party being thrown by Piper and Jason on Christmas Eve followed by spending Christmas Day with Sally and Paul.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the worst day of the year. Every one that I could remember we would never be home. This year was the same, but at least it was not as bad as going to the Ugliano's house. We just had to go to Camp and celebrate with our friends and the gods. Our friends would be thrilled since they hadn't seen us since August, as Nico and I have been traveling the world.

"Good morning, my love," Nico said as he walked in with a tray of food. He walked over and put the tray on the table next to me and then bent down a kissed me full on the mouth. "After you eat you need to get ready. Hazel has already IMed me a million time today. If only they knew we have been in New Rome for the past month."

"They don't need to know until we are back from our vacation," I smiled. "Tonight is going to be so much fun!"

"If you are so excited then how about you hurry up and eat and then we can go see your mom before we have to be at camp," he said and I started shoveling in the food. "You can chew and breathe you know. Remember, we have to wear the ugly Christmas sweaters we found yesterday or Piper will kill us."

I nodded as I put the last piece of pancake in my mouth and ran to the bathroom to shower. Once I was done in the shower I got dressed and brushed my hair and teeth, then headed out to see Nico already in his coat ready to go. "Took you long enough," Nico mused. "Were you thinking about me?"

"No, you naughty boy," I replied. "I was having a fight with my hair."

"Well, let's go," Nico said as he opened the door for me. "After you, my love."

I walked out the door first and got hit by the cold wind of a very chilly Christmas Eve evening. I suddenly felt warm as Nico put his arm around my shoulders and we began to walk towards the dark corner of the building. "Hold on tight," Nico said as he started pulling the shadows towards him. Within in seconds we were engulfed by the shadows and ended up in the still under construction city of Olympia. The building we were in front of was huge and designed with both Greek Style and Roman Style architecture in it. This was the city hall that Annabeth had always wanted to build. Tall white pillars rose from the ground all the way up to the roof. All fourteen gods of the Olympian council had fifteen foot statues in between all the pillars. Annabeth had really outdone herself in the design of this building.

As we walked up to the door we were greeted by Leo, "Merry Christmas Percy and Nico! It's so good to see you. How have you been?"

"We've been good," I replied snuggling close to Nico. "We've been enjoying our time away. After tomorrow at my parents we are heading to Australia for a month or two."

"Awesome," Leo said. "Piper said you two needed to be given a tour. So if you would please follow me."

"Are we the first here?" Nico asked.

"Yeah, you're an hour early," Leo laughed.

Leo then led us inside and after we checked our coats in he led us on a tour of the town hall.

"This is the first completed building of Olympia. It was completed about two weeks ago. It will be one of the largest in the city after the temples that are placed around the city for all the gods. Town Hall has over two thousands rooms, with the Mayors being the largest and the one with the best view. The ballroom where the party will be held is over twenty thousand square feet and can hold about a thousand people comfortably.

"The ballroom has four main entrances two on the east wall and two on the west. Also there are restrooms on both sides. Now, if you will follow me there are some people who are excited to see you," Leo explained leading us to the ballroom. As we entered the room the first thing you notice is a giant tree decorated in orange and purple ornament standing on the far wall. There were tables and chairs on one end that were set for dinner. The other end of the room had a stage that was being set up for the band for the night and the dance floor was right in front of it. Then I saw three couples talking near the punch table and ran over to them.

"PERCY!" Annabeth screeched and hugged me. "I'm so glad you and Nico made it. Where have you been for the past month?"

"We've been in Canada resting," I replied. "We stopped in New Rome on our way, but no one was around."

"Yeah, we've been very busy with Olympia to even stay in New Rome for more than a night a week," Jason said.

"If we didn't have our next stop already planned out we would be here to help," I said and Nico huffed. "Don't start that mister. If we weren't taking a break from the gods we would be here helping our friends."

"Where are you two going next anyway?" Piper asked.

"Australia," I replied.

We continued to catch up until the rest of the guest started to arrive. We spent time telling of our adventures and catching up with our other friends. Then as the guest started to leave Piper decided that it was time for us close friends to get together and exchange our gifts. I got a pair of blue gloves with a matching scarf and hat from Annabeth and Reyna, a set of one click armor from Leo, Hazel, and Frank, and a set of keys from Jason and Piper.

"What are the keys to?" I asked.

"To you and Nico's house," Jason replied. "It was the second building that was finished in Olympia. It is exactly how you once described your dream house to Annabeth with a few improvements for Nico's taste."

"Thank you guys so much," I said with tears streaming down my face. "Where is it?"

"To the west of here it is the exact center point between Hades and Poseidon's Temples," Annabeth said. "That way your dad's will always be looking over you, it is also next door to the Mayor's house. As well it is the largest residential area of the city."

I immediately grabbed her into a hug. "Thank you all so much. I can't wait to come home and live in a place of my own."

"We had better go," Nico said. "If we wait any longer you mom is going to think we aren't coming."

"Alright," I agreed. "Merry Christmas everyone! We'll see you in a few months."

"Have a safe Christmas you two," our friends called as we were sucked into the shadows.