Holiday

"Skylar I swear if this is your way of playing matchmaker just stop now." Isaac hisses to the blonde. The last thing he needed was for Will to overhear them.

"That's not what I mean but if you want to confess your burning love for him then go ahead." Skylar's mouth is covered abruptly as Will glances over in their direction. Isaac waves away his attention with the smile he knows the blond secretly loves. Will furrows his brows but smiles nonetheless facing the tv. Turning back to the daughter of Apollo he sighs.

"Not cool Sky. You don't see me prancing around the room singing about how much you love di Angelo." He grumbles but removes his hand. "What context did you mean then if not that?"

"As an individual. How do you view Will as a person." Skylar clarifies waving her hand nonchalantly in the air. "For the record I would prance around singing about Nico."

"Will's...cool?" Isaac supplies lamely.

"...Care to be more specific?"

"Will has this ability to make a person feel safe. He radiates a sort of calm ya know? I admire that about him. How he can stay level headed in difficult situations when in reality he's probably freaking out on the inside. He's also a closet dork and oblivious to flirting it seems given as all the advances he receives at school are met with denial." The pair laugh quietly to themselves at the thought. Will did indeed have quite a few admirers at school and it remains unknown to him that people do indeed flirt with him. "Will is...my best friend and maybe in time I'd like for us to be more. He's free to do as he pleases. If it turns out he chooses someone else I'll support his decision. I just wish he'd have more confidence in his own abilities. Though I guess we all have insecurities huh?" Isaac finishes quietly.

His explanation filled Skylar with a sense of pride for her brother. Just the fact that at least one person beside herself viewed Will as his true self put her at ease. "Yeah...he's the best." She mumbles the duo both directing their eyes to look at said boy. "I still think you should make a move though." Isaac just shakes his head letting out a defeated sigh. What was he going to do with her? They share a smile turning their attention back to the tv to finish the movie. Skylar's mind put at ease with the new information. Whether you know it or not you'll be exactly what he needs if something happens to me.

Sunlight just barely began to seep through the thin curtains adorning the windows. Curled up on the bench under the windowpane sat Skylar who sipped tentatively at her cup of tea. Lounging next to her sock clad feet was Reaper making soft chittering noises in his sleep. She estimated it to be around six. Any minute now she expected someone to bang on her door so they could gather downstairs for presents. "Good morning dad. Merry Christmas." Her voice whispers to the rising sun. She wasn't sure if gods even celebrated the holiday but said it anyway. Downing the rest of her tea Skylar sets the mug on her table throwing an oversized sweater on over her t-shirt.

Loud knocking assaults her door before Will pokes his head inside the room. "Sky? Oh good you're up. Come on everyone's waiting downstairs to open presents." He tells her an excited smile on his face. Laughing quietly at him she places Reaper atop her shoulder and follows the blond downstairs. Seated around the living room near the family's Christmas tree was Isaac, Mr. Mackenzie and Naomi. Isaac bounced impatiently in his seat and Skylar faintly wonders if the boy even slept last night.

"Finally! I was just about to open them without you!" The green-eyed boy tells the twins as they take a seat beside one another on the couch.

"Mom wouldn't of let you. It's tradition for everyone to be awake before opening gifts." Will yawns as the two adults in the room begin passing out the gifts. Even Mr. Mackenzie had two decent sized gifts to open despite his visit being one of surprise.

"One of the more tame traditions we have in this house I'd say." Skylar chuckles piling her presents on the table in front of her.

"What do you mean?" Isaac asks looking over at her.

"The day isn't in full swing until we all take turns singing Holiday songs. Will always tries to get out of it every year but a little birdie told me that might change." She nudges the blond's side with a smirk. He sighs beside her running a hand over the smooth packaging of a present in his hand.

"We'll see." Is his reply before the living room is a flurry of torn wrapping paper as Naomi gives the children the go ahead. She watched the children with a content smile filming their reactions to their gifts.

Choruses of 'thank you' and 'oh my gods' resound through the room. Naomi opens her present from the twins chuckling at the sight of a cookbook and picture frame. In the frame was a photo of the two and Ortus taken by back at camp. Both children had smiles on their faces with silly bunny ears over each of their heads.

"Are you two trying to tell me my cooking is bad?" Ms. Solace asks waving the cookbook around.

"Nah, we just figured you might want to broaden your horizons." Skylar grins.

"Yeah, your cooking is awesome mom." Will chimes in. "Better than Sky anyway."

"I'll remember that the next time you ask me to make you breakfast." Skylar grumbles punching her brother in the shoulder.

"Mhmm, that's what I thought." Their mother laughs. Mr. Mackenzie opens up a gift from his son freezing in place. Teary-eyed he gently traces his finger over the colored surface of the canvas on his lap. It was a painting of a beautiful woman. One that he hasn't seen in many years.

"I know I probably didn't do her justice but I painted her by memory as best as I could." Isaac smiles playing nervously with his sweater sleeve. His father sets the painting on the table embracing the young boy in a tight embrace.

"Isaac. It's perfect, you did a wonderful job my son." He praises placing a kiss to the boy's wavy brown hair. Drawing his attention back to the painting Mr. Mackenzie drinks in the appearance of Isaac's mother. He'd painted her as he remembered. Perfectly curled chestnut hair and blue eyes that shined as bright as jewels. Isaac managed to make her image very lifelike the twins could even spot the tiniest of freckles peppered across her rosy cheeks. The goddess of love sat atop a bed of gorgeous flowers that paled in comparison to her beauty.

"Whoa, I knew you were amazing but this is on another level!" Skylar praises.

"Aphrodite appears differently to each person depending on their desires. Yet you and your father held the same image. You have a gift my friend." Will beams as Isaac flushes from all the praise.

"Just go on and open yours already. I can't handle all the praise." Isaac groans burying his face in his hands.

The twins chuckle at their friend peeling back the paper to reveal their artwork. Will peers down at his with a sense of familiarity. A field of lush green and a sky a cheerful blue. Fluffy white clouds littered the blue but not so much as to be overwhelming. Sitting on a hill were two figures each with hair the color of golden wheat. Their side profiles were visible and Will could tell it was the images of Issac, Will and Skylar. Isaac even detailed in the strip of brown in Skylar's hair. She had her Lyre resting on her lap and seemed to be in mid laughter. Will sat beside her with his mouth open and his arm slung over her shoulder. Across from the duo sat Isaac in one of his cartoon t-shirts with a basket of red berries in his lap. He was painted in a stilled image of tossing one into Will's awaiting mouth. At the bottom of the hill were strawberry fields identical to the ones back at Camp Half-blood. Will's heart swelled at the memory fighting the massive grin forming on his face.

Skylar's painting brought back a fond but slightly saddening memory. Bundled up together on the floor beside a fireplace was Will, Nico and herself. Will's head rested against her own his eyes closed in a blissful sleep. Skylar leaned against her brother partially covered with a blanket and fast asleep. Her fingers were woven through Nico's obsidian locks. The son of Hades had a rare smile and a look of absolute contentment filling his features. It was identical to the picture Percy took of them asleep on the Big House's floor. Taken the same night they learned of Bianca's death and Nico's disappearance.

"I used photos from your photo album and recreated some moments I thought you two might cherish. It took me a long time to paint them but the looks on your faces is worth it." Isaac speaks before being forced into a hug by the twins. Will mumbles a thank you burying his face in Isaac's hair as Skylar rests her chin on the green-eyed boy's shoulder. He gladly accept the hug pulling the children of Apollo closer. In the background the shuttering of a camera sounds drawing their attention over to Ms. Solace and Mr. Mackenzie. Naomi wore a glimmering gold hairpin shaped like a butterfly gifted to her from Isaac. Where he managed to find it Skylar didn't know but it made her mother smile so that was good enough.

"I want copies." Skylar and Isaac say together causing them to grin at one another. Upon settling back into their seats Skylar holds up a long, thin box wrapped in gold paper. No tag with the sender's name just her name written in white letters on the top. Will picks up a smaller rectangular box wrapped similarly to her own. Across the table Isaac holds up a gift except his is wrapped in a shimmering silver and square in shape.

Pulling back the paper Skylar is greeted with a plain cardboard box. Slicing open the tape with Mr. Mackenzie's pocket knife, she opens the flaps revealing the contents. "Holy Hephaestus." She whispers reaching in and pulling out a brand new quiver. It was accompanied by six glimmering bronze arrows sharpened perfectly.

"Whoa, now you can replace your tattered old one." Will comments gazing at the new equipment.

The one she currently owned had seen better days and was patched up so many times it was past time for a new one. So you can imagine how ecstatic she was to be gifted one. The leather itself was a rich mocha color. Every piece of stitching was made with golden thread that contrasted the dark material. The buckle holding the strap together had the same gold tone. According to the size of it Skylar estimated it would hold about twelve maybe fourteen arrows max after counting out the six already gifted with it. Unbuckling the strap she wraps it around her waist and tightens. It fit snug sitting at just the right length for her to comfortably reach around for an arrow. Removing the quiver from her hips Skylar plops back down on the couch to see what the boys received

Will rips into his present pulling out a book and small wooden box. A paper note flutters to the floor which Skylar picks up and reads to him.

"Put these to good use in the near future." Raising an eyebrow she directs her attention back to Will who opens the wooden box first. Isaac leans over the coffee table to get a better look.

"Who wraps plants as a Christmas present?" The green-eyed boy questions.

"Not just any plants. Medicinal herbs and remedies." Will mutters setting the box on the table and pulling out a few bottles. "Some of these are really rare curatives. The book that came with them must be instructions." he continues to talk to himself causing Isaac and Skylar to chuckle at him. He sure was a medical nut through and through.

Finally Isaac opens his gift allowing the silver paper to litter the floor. Opening the cardboard box protecting the present a look of curiosity adorns his features. Nimble fingers grasp the object inside bringing it into view of everyone.

"What ya got there son?" Mr. Mackenzie questions slinging an arm over his boy's shoulders.

"It's a mirror." Isaac mutters inspecting the piece in his hand. It was entirely made out of pure silver giving out a gleam when it hit the sun. The handle itself was adorned in spiraling vines leading up to the blooming red rose on the back of the hand mirror. Small rubies outlined the face of the mirror. "It's beautiful and all but which one of you got it for me?" He questions looking around the room. Silence is his answer as nobody fesses up.

"If you guys didn't get it for me then who?"

"Maybe your mom did? I have a hunch our dad brought us these." Skylar speaks up gesturing to her quiver and Will's medical supplies. The blonde gathers her presents into a pile checking the tree for any stray gifts. Off to the side sat a small mound of gifts untouched. Each tag had the same name. Nico. Letting out a quiet sigh she returns to her place beside Will. He flashes her a sympathetic smile before turning back to his book.

"Do gods and goddesses even celebrate Christmas?" Isaac questions running his fingers over the smooth glass of the mirror.

"I'm not sure. This is the first time our dad gave us anything for the holiday. You know how gods can be. Too busy for their children." Will replies.

"Ehh, we're all pretty much used to it and respect our godly parent." Skylar shrugs.

"Now you kids get to cleanin' Naomi and I have to begin preparing for our Christmas feast tonight." Mr. Mackenzie tells them rising to his feet and leaving the room with Ms. Solace. Will grabs a plastic garbage bag and together the trio cleans up every scrap of colorful paper in sight. When they're done they settle down on the couch. Skylar on the left, Will in the middle and Isaac on the other end.

Pulling his long legs onto the couch and resting his head on Skylar's lap Will goes back to reading. His sky blue eyes continue to scan the pages of his book while engaging in conversation. His sister's fingers ran through the golden locks absentmindedly staring out the window. In her other hand she clutched a cup of coffee Mr. Mackenzie made for her taking a drink every few minutes.

Isaac goes back to inspecting the mirror. From what he's learned about everyday objects turning into monster fighting weapons it surely couldn't be just any old piece of glass. Hunter green eyes fall upon a small detail etched in the handle. Chuckling to himself he mentally thanks the gifter and places it delicately back in the box. When he seems them again he wouldn't let them hear the end of it.

Skylar let out a yawn lifting her brother's head off her lap and dropping it onto the couch as she stands. "Well boys I don't know about you but I'm itching for some practice. Plus it snowed last night so it gives me an excuse to make snowmen." The blonde waves walking upstairs to change into more suitable clothing.