"Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'? In the lane, snow is glistenin'. A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walkin' in a winter wonderland." 

Taylor hadn't stopped singing Christmas carols since Thanksgiving. Even now, as she and Luke were helping me tidy up the house for all of the guests coming for Christmas Eve, she wouldn't stop.

"Oh gods, Taylor, can you just be quiet for a minute or two?" Luke asked, exasperated. Taylor flipped her hair and him and smiled. 

"And why on Earth would I do that?" 

It was snowing, the grayness covering the blue skies of only a month ago. Sophia and Logan were going to be arriving any second; Percy was getting them from the airport. 

Lena was in the kitchen making an apple pie for the occasion; Danny was coming over, and she wanted everything to be perfect. 

Taylor and Luke didn't have any significant others in their lives (thank gods), so the only potential other invitee would be Lauren Sorenson. She and Rion weren't dating or anything, but they'd gotten close. He had been debating whether or not it was weird to invite a girl-friend to Christmas Eve.

"It's something I'd do if she were my girlfriend," I'd overheard him telling Luke. "But she's not; I mean, we're just friends."

"Is that all you want to be, Ri? Friends?" Luke had asked. I'd left before I heard the response. 

                                                                                               ~

"Sophia!!!" Taylor screamed, practically dropping the cranberry sauce on the counter. She ran to the door where her older sister greeted her with open arms. 

"Hey Taylor! Oh gods, have I missed you guys!" Sophia ran to me, throwing her freezing arms around my neck. "Mom!!!"

"Easy on the bear hugs," I laughed. Rion and Luke took the suitcases up to Sophia's old room, and Lena tackled Sophia with the same enthusiasm I'd gotten. 

Percy and Logan appeared a few minutes later, their noses blue and their hands shaking from the cold.

"Sophia sort of ditched us back there," Logan said once he'd put all the presents in his arms down. Lena was already on the phone with Danny, wondering when he'd be arriving. Ever since he'd been diagnosed with leukemia, they'd been inseperable... he wasn't sure how long he'd have left, and she didn't want to lose him completely, ever. 

"She sure did," Percy agreed, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Man, it's got to be at least in the single digits out there."

"That cold?" I asked, skeptically. 

"Oh yeah." Logan laughed as Percy handed him a cup.

That's when Rion walked into the room, pale as a ghost. 

"Hey, buddy," Logan smiled, but Rion didn't respond. "Dude, are you okay?"

He shook his head like he'd done something unimaginably wrong. "I asked Lauren if she wanted to come over for Christmas Eve." Oh, shoot. She said no, didn't she? "And she said yes." 

My mouth hung open. "Are you serious? Rion, sweetie, isn't that what you'd been aiming for?" 

"Yeah," he said, the color draining back to his face. "But tonight better be perfect- If I mess up- well, let's just say this might be my only shot at making a move. Ever."

"Just don't puke on her," Logan called after him. Percy gave him a look. "What? I've almost done that. I've never actually done that- Man, would that be bad?" 

                                                                                                ~

"Danny! You made it!" Lena smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. Percy tensed up as her face inched closer for a kiss. 

"Hey, I said I would come.... do you really doubt me that much?" He laughed. Percy looked like he was going to do the puking. Lena quickly steered herself, and Danny, away to where Sophia and Logan were to avoid Percy's death glare. 

"Why do they always have to bring boys to everything?" He complained, pouring himself another glass of wine.

"Rion's bringing Lauren." I reminded him.

"Yeah, well that's different. That's Rion- might be his only shot." I rolled my eyes. 

"I didn't bring a boy, Dad," Taylor smiled, plunging herself into the conversation, as usual. "Does that mean that I'm your favorite?" 

Percy raised his eyebrows. "You sure you didn't bring a boy?" Taylor nodded. 

"Just give it a year, Tay," Lena laughed as she led Taylor to where the "kids" (who were all pretty much young-adults) were hanging out. 

Sally and Paul arrived next, a pumpkin pie with them. "Oh, Annabeth, your house is so festive! I love it! You've really outdone yourself this year," 

"Thanks, Sally," I smiled, taking her coat from her. I didn't mind taking the credit; after all, I had designed it... I just hadn't done the actual decorating. 

"Should we eat?" Percy smiled, carrying the turkey over to the table. Rion threw his arms out, almost hitting the turkey.

"No, wait! We- we're missing someone." Lauren. She still hadn't arrived. If she didn't, Rion would break down in front of everyone and then blame Lauren for ihs embarassment.... it just wouldn't end well. 

"Buddy, it's late... you're supposed to eat Christmas Eve dinner at 4 or something. It's almost 8 o'clock! We're starving! Lauren will get here soon."

"Please, Dad," Rion pleaded, his eyes widening. Percy's big, green eyes. "Just another 20 minutes." 

Percy put his hands up, defeated. "Twenty minutes. That's it. We're eating at 8 o'clock, sharp, people! Blame Rion if you're starving." 

The twenty minutes passed quickly, stomach growls getting louder and louder. When it was 8, Percy just took Rion aside, saying something about how irritating girls can be. Just as they took their seats, the doorbell rang. Rion tripped on his way there, cutting his lip in the process. Dragging himself, he opened the door, ready to yell at Lauren for something. But he couldn't. Lauren was lying on the snow. Her blood stained the doorbell where she'd fallen. 

The silent battle that had occured outside our door left blood... lots and lots of blood. No one spoke, except Danny, who was screaming and trying to call the ambulence. Lena whacked his phone away, and Luke rushed to Rion with some nectar and ambrosia. 

A gash the length of my index finger ran the length from Lauren's eye to ear. A bruise had already formed beneath her eye. Her ankle looked broken from where I was sitting. I knew I wasn't supposed to go help, for fear of interfering, but I so desperately wanted someone to say they needed my help. 

I didn't wait for it. Not when I saw the Nemean Lion lurking in my front lawn. I screamed at Percy as I ran, jumping over Lauren and Rion, one of which looked dead, the other emotionally so. Lauren had giving the beast a beating, just not the correct way- you couldn't pierce the Nemean Lion's hide- you had to strangle it after the beating, not stab. 

The Lion backed up, ready to pounce. Everyone was outside now, Sophia and Logan running to help, Lena and Danny helping Rion get Lauren inside. Sally and Paul were no where to be found. Taylor and Luke were at Sophia and Logan's heels. They wanted a fight. 

I could see Percy wanting to relive the way he'd defeated the Nemean Lion years ago, in the National Air and Space Museum. The astronaut food, the open mouth... but with the set up we had in our front lawn, I didn't think it was best. 

My plan was passed around in as few words as possible. Time slowed down, as it always did in a fight. The Nemean Lion charged forward. Logan hopped abord, grabbing the Lion's neck. Taylor and Sophia tripped it over the fallen tree log. Percy wrapped the thick vines we'd been hoping to get rid of around its neck and pulled. I pulled the other way with my own vine. The Lion roared in pain. And seeing as she couldn't resist the urge to try one of Percy's own plans, Taylor flung her dagger into the monster's mouth. It dissinegrated on the spot. 

My breath was heavy. Logan's nose was bleeding. Percy's hands were red and shaking. Sophia and Taylor were silent. They didn't breath. The pelt was still there. Percy pulled his eyes away, tears welling up. He'd fought that same animal with people who were now dead. Zoë, Bianca... Even though Bianca was alive again, she didn't seem like it. She secluded herself, stayed away from everyone... Percy thought that was his fault too. 

"Hey," I smiled, looking him in the eyes. "It's not your fault." 

He reached for my hands, which was still wet with his tears. "Thanks, Wise Girl."

"Anytime, Seaweed Brain."

When we arrived back inside, Lauren was semi-awake. She was lying the couch, Rion's hand holding hers. He sat on the floor, just staring at her. I saw them whisper something along the lines of 'Thanks for saving me' and 'Always.'

"This was some Christmas, huh?" Percy smiled, looking up at the mistletoe. It was 11:59. "Why not end it right?" 

"Hey," I smiled. I leaned in as close as I could, our lips touching. "We still have tomorrow."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

HAPPY HOLDIAYS GUYS!

I'm so sorry this didn't some out on Christmas like I'd planned for it to.... It's been a very busy holiday season...

But what did come out was Meet the Fangirls!! I'm so excited to see where it goes... Check it out if you haven't already!! 

As most of you know, Hero's Daughter will be coming to a close... This story still has a while, along with DDIHS and MF (Meet the Fangirls). But I have to end things somehow!!

Well, I hope you all had an amazing holiday!

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER:

Name one fangirl 'ritual' you do :)

XOXO

~PercyAnnabeth20owl