Annabeth's POV:

It was almost dinner time, Matthew and I have been spending the whole day together, but the meaning of 'spending the whole day together' is me sitting in the room and he playing around with Gray's PS3 or with some Legos he brought over. It became really difficult for me to spend time with Matthew. I can't stop thinking that if it weren't for me, Bobby would still be here, and we would still be a happy family. But I can't change the past, even if I wanted to.
I was working on the new song I was planning to have Thalia listen to it. I was strumming my guitar (yes, I have another guitar at home) and humming a melody while Matt was playing with his Legos. Suddenly he stopped playing and walked over to me sitting on the ground and crossed his arms on my guitar-free thigh and rested his chin on his arms, looking at me with his big brown eyes.

"Can you sing something to me?" he asked.

"Uhm… no, I'd rather not" I said.

"Please? Can you sing 'I'll make a man out of you'?"

"No" I replied uneasily. That was Bobby and his favorite Disney song.

"Please?"

"Matt, I'd prefer not to"

"Why don't you want to sing anymore?"

"Because I don't want to"

"Please, Annie, sing for me! Pretty please with cherry on top?"

"No, Matthew! I said: no!" I replied harshly. Matt looked hurt, it was the first time I had ever refused to sing to him this way. But I just couldn't! There were too many memories I got reminded of. Matt got up from the ground and walked into his a.k.a. my room "Matt, wait" I said, but he had closed the door. I stayed in my seat for a second taking a deep breath. I put down the guitar and saw Piper standing in the doorway with an irritated look as she shook her head. "What?!" I said harshly. She just raised her eyebrows and hand in surrender. I shook my head and headed to my room and knocked. "Matthew" I called.

"Go away!" he answered inside the room. I ignored him and got into the room anyway. He was sitting on the spare bed I had in my room, hugging his knees.

"Matt?" I called again

"What do you want?" he said sniffling. He was so childish at times, I mean, he's twelve! What's with this 7 year-old attitude?! But this was not the moment to scold him about his attitude. I sat on the bed next to him and put a hand in his brown hair caressing it.

"I'm sorry" I said. Matt leaned into my touch.

"It's okay… I shouldn't have insisted… you stopped singing since Bobby died" he said scooting closer to me, my hand never left his head. I didn't answer and didn't dare to look at him in the eyes. "Why don't you sing anymore? We used to do that all the time" he asked. I remained silent for a moment avoiding his gaze as I flashed back to the old times.

Flashbacks

"Annabeth, get your guitar, I need a little help here" said Dad while he had a 2 month-old, desperately crying Matthew in his arms, while Helen was rocking an also desperately crying Bobby.

"Coming Daddy" I said bringing my guitar getting ready to play "Which one?" I asked.

"The usual" he said. I immediately started playing their favorite lullaby, as Helen sang along with me, considering Dad's awful ability to sing in tune. Soon enough the boys were asleep.

"Annie! Are you playing your guitar?" a 3 year- old Bobby asked plopping down on the couch next to me.

"Uhm… yeah?" I said sarcastically as I held my guitar.

"Can you play something for us?" Matthew asked plopping on the other side of the couch.

"Actually I wanted to practice-"

"Pleeeeeeaaaase?" the begged giving me puppy-dog eyes.

"Boys, your sister is not a jukebox" Dad said as he got into the living room with the newspaper in his hands.

"It's okay, dad" I said. He smiled and sat on the couch reading. "So, do you want your favorite song?"

"YES!" they cheered in chorus. I smiled and started playing 'I'll make a man out of you'. As soon as I got to the chorus, Bobby and Matthew started singing along pitching off every single note, but what can you expect form two 3 year-olds? Soon Dad joined us pitching off everything as well.

"Helen, help me up with their horrible singing!" I said as soon as my step-mom came into the room, while I was playing as they sang. Helen laughed and started singing in tune with me. As soon as we were done with that song I started playing some other Disney song that we all started to sing.

"Dad, I did it! I finally leaned a new Disney song!" I said happily. Dad came into the living room where we had the piano. I was more of a guitar player, but I also learnt how to play the piano, self-taught.

"That's great, honey" he said kissing my cheek

"Do you want to hear it?" I asked cheerfully.

"Sure"

"Annie learned a new song!" Bobby shouted coming into the living room with Matthew on his tail.

"Can we hear it?" Matt asked. I smiled at them and stated playing. Waiting to see if they recognized it. Suddenly Bobby's eyes lit up as he recognized the song.

"Everybody wants to be a cat!" he guessed. I nodded my head and started singing, soon enough they were singing along, fortunately much more in tune this time. This was the routine, I would sing and they would sing along until either the song was over, or either Helen or dad would interrupt, or because it was bed-time.

End Flashbacks

"Annabeth" Matthew said knocking me out of my trance "Why are you always so sad?"

"I think I still need some time… to get back to the way things were" I answered.

"You know what happened to Bobby was not your fault, it was the monster's" he said. A pang of guilt came into me. That was the only feeling I had at the moment, guilt.

"It's almost dinner time, why don't you help me with the lasagna?" I suggested to get off topic. Matt's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Lasagna? Bobby's favorite and mine!" he said happily. I gave him a small smile and I ruffled his hair.

"Yes, yours and Bobby's favorite" then my smile faded… Bobby's favorite… "…yeah" Matt seemed to notice my mood change in fact he hugged me tightly. I hugged him back as much tight. When he released me, he scrambled off the bed yelling: "Last to the kitchen is a fatty!"

"You're on!" I said and immediately followed him out of the room and before he could reach the kitchen I grabbed him around the waist and still managed to lift him up bridal-style as he kicked and shouted to let him go. Sure, he's lean like dad, but his weight had increased since last time I picked him up!

"Wow, you got heavier!" I said walking to the kitchen.

"I'm twelve, I'm a growing boy! Now put me down!"

"Just because we're in the kitchen… fatty"

"Cheater…"he mumbled

"Turtle"

"Nerd"

"I take that as a compliment"

"Where do we start?" he said changing the topic. I started giving him instructions as Matt helped me with the lasagna. Soon enough, Gray and Piper came into the kitchen and helped us set the table. But for some reason as soon as the table was set, Gray and Piper remained in the living room watching TV and chatting, and didn't dare to come near me or Matthew until dinner was ready.