Thirteen women out of 100,000 die a year during childbirth.

So why (why?) was she dying?

The doctors said that when she was giving birth, one of the babies had kicked a vein, peircing it and causing internal bleeding.

Annabeth was dying.

"Percy," She said, her breath shallow.

"Yes, Wise Girl?"

"I love you. So, so much."

"Annabeth, don't, you'll wear yourself out."

"Percy Jackson, I'm dying anyway. I can talk."

"Annabeth Jackson, please. For me."

"Fine, just hand me the girls."

Percy sighed, but handed over his two twin daughters, who already looked so much like Annabeth, even after only being alive for a few minutes.

"They look so much like you." she said.

"You said you wouldn't talk. And besides, they look more like you."

"They have your sea-green eyes."

"They look more grey than green."

"They have your nose. So they look more like you." Percy had to smile. Even while dying, she wasn't making it easy for him.

One of the nurses walked in. "Sir, may I please speak to you? Alone?" He nodded, and followed her out of the room.

"Mr. Jackson, we need to take your daughters to make sure they weren't hurt." he nodded, "And...your wife has minutes."

He choked. He knew he didn't have long with her, but minutes?

He thanked the nurse and walked back into the room and sat next to her. He smiled (though it wasn't a real smile) at her.

"What did the nurse say?" she asked.

"Oh, um, just that they needed to take the girls." "Don't lie to me. How long do I have?" "...minutes."

He swallowed a sob.

"Percy..." she started to cry, "I-I don't wan to die."

"Shhh-shhh." he said, hugging her.

"I love you, Seaweed Brain."

"Not as much as I love you, Wise Girl."

He kissed, and kept on kissing her until her lips went cold.

He pulled away, and saw that there was no longer that spark she had in her eyes - the spark of life.

With tears running down his face, he kissed her cheek.

"I love you Wise Girl." he felt a pang in his heart knowing that she would never again say she loved him. That he would never again hear her voice.


He named his daughters Anna Minerva and Beth Athena.

As they grew up, they grew more and more like Annabeth.

He missed her everyday, but Anna and Beth made the pain bearable.

They may not be his wise girl, but they were his wise girls, and he loved them almost as much as Annabeth.