Hey guys!

Not sure if you know but I'm a part of Caution: Heart Break Ahead a competition to break feels.

And I wrote this for the Christmas prompt. I won't always be putting my entries here cause it's already in a books but it's Christmas. So we need a Christmas one shot no?

Enjoy.

Or cry. I don't care.

And...

🎄🎉🎀☃❄🎄️MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄❄️☃🎀🎉 🎄

-Jaz

~~~~

Christmas Wishes Always Come True

"Will you be back in time?" She asks him as she stares in to the web cam.

He gives her a simple smile. "Course. I could never miss Christmas. Plus do you think I want to be out here when I could be home with the both of you? Where is he anyway?"

"It took me an hour to put him to bed. Sorry but I'm not waking up. But he misses you. I miss you too."

"I miss you too wise girl. But I'll be back soon. I sw-"

"Jackson. We're heading out!"

He sighs before he gives his wife a smile. "Love you."

Annabeth nods with a smile. "Love you too." She watches as he disconnects the web cam. Her smile melts into a frown a she glances at the date. Only two and half weeks till Christmas. He better be back in time.

Her eyes drift to a photo of the two of them holding their little baby boy in between them.

Why did he have to be drafted?

He had been through two wars as a demigod and then he was drafted to fight as a mortal. Fighting other people rather than monsters.

She knew it hurt him.

She could see it in his eyes whenever he skyped. She could hear it in his voice when called. She could pick it out from his letters. It hurt him not to be there with them. He had only spent a year with his only son before he was whisked off across the ocean. Annabeth wasn't even quite sure where anymore.

And now despite his assurances she doubts he will be back for Christmas. Rather he would be off engaged in combat rather than taking a video of his son opening his presents. He'd be listening to the sound of bombs and gunfire instead of Christmas carols.

Annabeth wipes her face to find tears. She stands and makes her way to the kitchen to make herself some coffee. Sleep only brought demigod dreams of what could happen to her husband.

Coffee in hand she walks in her son's room to see Luke was still sleeping peacefully.

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
Even more than I usually do
One warm December our hearts will see
And although I know it's a long road back
A world where men are free
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas

"Talkin' to that wife of yours again Jackson?"

Percy nods as he climbs in the back of the truck.

"If I had a wife who looked like yours I would too," Mike Peterson smiles.

"You act like you could even talk to a girl."

"He's got you there," Johnson chuckles. "So what's the topic this time? What did your amazing son do now?"

Percy rolls his eyes. "He slept. Annabeth was asking if I'll be back for Christmas."

"Course we will," Mike smiles.

"We will," Duke Reed assures. "I got someone to propose to."

"Are we invited to your wedding?" Kayla Mason asks.

Duke smiles. "Nope."

Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
You can count on me
When we have found what life's really worth
Please have snow and mistletoe
There'll be peace on earth
And presents by the tree

It was getting scarily close to Christmas. Two and a half weeks became one. One week became five days. Five days became three.

"He'll be here Annie," Thalia says to Annabeth as she tickles the one and half year old in front of her.

"He was supposed to be here already..." Annabeth responds not even commenting on the annoying nickname.

"Annie..."

"Christmas in a non religious way is supposed to be about family. Peace. Good will toward all. Can't they just pause that stupid war for one moment!?"

"Mama?" Luke asks a bit frightened. Annabeth takes a deep breath. She didn't realize her voice had risen.

"Sorry Lukey," She smiles reaching for her son and gathering him in her arms.

"The war will end" Thalia says quietly. "They all do. I can't tell you when. Or which side will "win". But someday there won't be any fighting on Christmas. Christmas will be exactly what it's supposed to be. A day for family. But that won't happen until someone wins. Only then will everyone stop fighting and free. But that might not be for a while. A long while."

Annabeth places Luke on the floor and he waddles over to his toys. "Isn't there another way? Someway for him to be free?"

"I dunno Annie. I dunno."

"I wish there was away. I wish there was a way that he could be free of that."

"Well," Thalia says. "You wished it so it will come true. All Christmas wishes do."

Someday at Christmas we'll see a land
Christmas eve will find me
With no hungry children, no empty hand
Where the love light gleams
One happy morning people will share
I'll be home for Christmas
Our world where people care
If only in my dreams

"We're going home boys!" Duke shouts.

Cheers met his cry. Everyone was talking and laughing. Kayla was too happy to care that she was lumped in with the guys.

Percy can't contain his smile and neither could the others. They were finally going home.

Percy smiles as he stares at the sky which in combination with the truck's movement, manage to lull him to sleep.

Dream Percy runs into his house and up the stairs. He bursts into his room where his wife sits reading a book to her one year old on the bed. Percy squeezes his wife in a hug. Annabeth laughs and he kisses her.

"You're cutting it close Jackson," she stated with a smile. "It's Christmas Eve."

"What? I'm here aren't I?" He smiles and picks up his son in a hug.

Annabeth joined in the hug. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Are late presents accepted?" He asks. "I didn't have much time to pick anything up."

Annabeth rolled her eyes fondly. "It's fine. We have some under the tree. And there is some mistletoe down there too."

Percy smiled wider if possible. "Well-"

Percy bolts awake at the sound of gunfire.

"We're surrounded!" Someone shouts. Percy's hands drift to Riptide and a gun. Chaos surrounds him as more armed soldiers appear.

"We surrender!" Johnson calls.

One of the soldiers steps forward. A glare on their face. "We don't take prisoners."

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
I'll be home for Christmas
All men are equal and no men have fears
You can count on me
One shining moment, one prayer away
Please have some snow and mistletoe
From our world today
And presents by the tree

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Christmas eve will find me
Someday in a world where men are free
Where the love light gleams
Maybe not in time for you and me
I'll be home for Christmas
But someday at Christmastime
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams

Annabeth didn't sleep Christmas Eve.

She isn't waiting for Santa Claus- not unless he can deliver one Percy Jackson for her. She stays awake all night laying in her bed listening for anything. The jingle of keys. Footsteps. A voice.

As time passes on Annabeth finds tears on her face once again something which seems to happen more often now.

Luke wakes up and she gets him bringing him downstairs. Once he is occupied with banging on some pots she begins to make breakfast- enough for three. She makes pancakes dropping some blue food coloring and listening to the calming sound of Luke's laugh.

A knock sounds on the front door.

"Dada!?" Luke calls. A pang hits Annabeth in the chest at the habit Luke had picked up.

"He said he'd back today. So I hope so," Annabeth tells him as she picks him up. She places him on her hip and all but runs to the front door. She pulls it open a smile on her face.

Her smile drops at the sight of two men- dressed in full military garb. One carries a folded American flag.

"Mrs. Jackson?" One without the flag asks. "I'm very sorry to inform you on today of all days, but-"

"No," Annabeth says instantly. "No." She tries to repeat her word but all air has been pushed from her chest. Her knees start to buckle and one of the men reach forward to stabilize her.

They lead her inside her home where she sits on the couch. She is vaguely aware of Luke sitting in her lap looking confused.

"How?" She manages to say. Her voice only a croak.

The two men make eye contact. "Mrs. Jackson. I don't think-"

"How?" She says her voice raised slightly.

"T-They were on their way back to the plane. But they were ambushed. I'm sorry b-but there were no survivors."

Annabeth wasn't quite sure when the two left. She was only really aware of her son in her lap. Despite his squirming she had refused to let him go.

"Hey Annabeth," Piper smiles strolling in Jason by her side.

"Why was the door unlocked?" Jason wonders. Annabeth couldn't help she feel a bit jealous seeing Jason. Piper has her Jason. Annabeth had her Percy.

Tears came to her eyes at the thought.

"Hey what's wrong Annie?" Thalia asks walking in. She takes Luke from his hysterical mother and hands him over to Piper.

"He's not-" is all Annabeth manages to say.

"I'm sure the Kelp Head is fine," Thalia smiles.

"No you're wrong Thalia. He's not coming back," Annabeth says through sobs she pulls her knees to her chest and points toward the flag on the table.

It takes a moment for it to sink in tears welling in the other three's eyes.

"Oh Annabeth..." Piper says quietly.

Annabeth wipes her face to no avail. "It's my fault."

"No it's not," Jason tells her. "You couldn't have-"

"Yes I did. I wished he'd be free of that life. And you know what they say, Christmas wishes always come true..."

No one had a response. The silence was then interrupted by music as a knock sounds on the door.

"Dada?" Luke asks as Jason heads to answer it.

Annabeth gives her son a weak and tearful smile. "Maybe. If you keep wishing. Christmas wishes always come true."

Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime

Jason nods at the man at the door and walks back over to the group and handing Annabeth a small box. She takes and opens it slowly. In it lay a bronze looking ballpoint pen and a leather necklace with clay beads. On them Annabeth noticed the faintest tinge of dried blood.

"Dada!" Luke smiles recognizing the items.

Annabeth nods as more tears fall. "Yeah, Lukey. He came home for Christmas. Just like he promised. Your wish came true."

~~~~

Songs:

Someday at Christmas (italics)
I'll Be Home For Christmas (bold italic)