Author's note-
This takes place before Annabeth runs away. In this, she is six and Magnus is five.
I tried to make all details accurate, but if something looks wrong, please tell me and I'll fix it.
-SOS
Lego House:
Five-year-old Magnus Chase looks unhappily at the assorted pile of Legos at his feet.
It's Thanksgiving, and he's sitting in his cousin Annabeth's bedroom, waiting for the food to be served.
Every year that Magnus can remember, they meet at Thanksgiving, sometimes at Annabeth's house, sometimes at another relative's house. This year, though he doesn't know it, is one of the last ones they'll ever share together.
Annabeth picks up a few white Lego pieces from Magnus's pile, and adds them to her pile. In return, she gives him a few of her awkwardly shaped pieces that can be very hard to incorporate into any design.
"Hey!" Magnus objects. Annabeth smiles her adorable six-year-old smile, and Magnus can't help but forgive her.
"Come on, Magnus!" She giggles happily. "I'm making the Taj Mahal!"
"The what now?" Magnus asks. He is only one year younger than Annabeth, but she seems so much more mature than him.
"It's a pretty building in India. It-" and Annabeth begins to ramble on about how a man built it as a memorial for his wife who died.
"I didn't ask for a history lesson!" Magnus exclaims, laughing. "I just wanted to know what it is."
"Sorry," Annabeth replies sheepishly. "But you're my cousin! You're supposed to be interested in everything I do!"
"I think that's your boyfriend's job, Annie." Magnus grins, knowing she hates the nickname. "Though I highly doubt that any boy will be as interested in architecture as you."
Annabeth glares playfully at Magnus, and starts to build. He ignores her and picks up some pieces, randomly sticking them together.
When Annabeth speaks again, her voice is softer and sadder. "Magnus, I don't want to make the Taj Mahal by myself."
She gently takes the creation from Magnus's hands. "Let's build a Lego house."
They spend the next few minutes making the house. Annabeth's side of it looks like a mansion that someone in Hollywood would be proud to have. Magnus's side looks like a rectangle with a roof.
"A perfect family lives inside this house," Annabeth says, wistfully staring at the house.
"Not like ours?" Magnus wonders. He knows their family isn't the best family ever, but he likes it a lot.
"No. Not like ours." Annabeth shakes her head, wondering when Magnus will ever learn.
Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. It's Uncle Fredrick, Annabeth's father. He is wearing the smiling reindeer sweater that has become a tradition over the years.
"Time to eat!" he announces. Magnus helps Annabeth up from the floor and they walk into the dining room.
After a filling Thanksgiving dinner, Magnus's mom stands up and everyone else begins to leave.
"Bye, Annabeth, see you next year!" Magnus waves as his mother bundles him into a parka.
Annabeth waves back. "Bye! I'll miss you!"
And miss him she does.
Because after the next Thanksgiving, and when she next sees him, she won't recall these memories ever again.