Annabeth's POV

"You okay, Annabeth?" Aaron asked me.

"Yeah.. lets not tell Percy about that. What time is it?"

"6 a.m."

I shot out of bed and changed clothes. I grabbed my bag and darted out the door.

Percy was waiting outside the big house with Angus and Chiron.

"Morning.." He mumbled, listening to Chiron talk to Angus.

I gave him a quick kiss and grabbed his hand. Being able to hold his hand would be comforting through this.

They were done talking soon and Chiron turned to us. "Be safe." Was all he said before he galloped off.

"Hey, Angus. I think we'll just take Blackjack." Percy told him as we stood at the top of Half Blood Hill.

Angus nodded and walked away.

Percy called Blackjack and soon he was standing in front of us. Percy hopped on without hesitation but I stood there staring at the Pegasus.

"Er.. Percy?" I asked him.

"Hold on, Wise Girl." He mumbled, helping me up on the pegasus's back.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and heard him laugh.

"Your blushing aren't you?"

I nodded because my hands were pressed against his muscled chest...

"Don't." He responded as we took off.

We flew through the sky toward New York and then past it.

"Percy. Where are we going?" I asked him.

"Phoenix, Arizona." He responded.

***

We landed among the mountains in Phoenix and Percy told Blackjack to go home.

"We'll be fine, Blackjack." He promised, patting its head.

"How did you know where to come?" I asked when I heard the sound of monsters approaching.

"I had a dream last night." He responded, pulling me into the forest. He pulled out Riptide and clicked it. It turned into a long, bronze sword. I pulled out my knife when I saw the monsters and started slashing at them. Monster after monster disappeared into dust. Empousa. Lots of empousa. And like eight pure black hellhounds bounding through the forest.

The crowd of monsters parted and out stepped the Minotaur, sneering at us.

"Really? I thought I killed this one?!" Percy mumbled angrily.

I laughed as he lunged at the monster, sidestepping its blows and slashed Riptide into the monster.

Percy and I fought our way through the monsters and found Grover surrounded by maybe twenty five children.

"Percy! Annabeth!" Grover cried. "Thank the gods. The kids are monster magnets."

"Grover!" I hissed, seeing the pain on the kids faces. Some of them were as little as six... maybe even seven. Then others were tall enough to be fifteen.

"Sorry, guys. I love you!" Grover backtracked.

"Lets get out of here." I mumbled, taking the hand of a little girl with curly brown hair and grey eyes full of pain. I was sure she was my little sister. She looked so hurt.

"Come on guys!" Percy called and then turned to me. "You know those safe houses you guys made back then?" He asked me.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"Got any of those around here?"

***

Soon we were in a cave.

One of our safe houses full of half blood stuff.

Percy was talking to some of the older kids, trying to teach them how to fight with whatever weapon they could find.

Grover was growing shrubbery in the mouth of the cave, to hide our sent.

I stood among the younger kids, trying to make a sort of bed for them. I still had the little girl's hand.

"What's your name?" I asked her as I opened a sleeping bag for her.

"Ali." She told me.

"How old are you?"

"I'm six."

I looked at her, feeling all the pain she felt. "It's going to be ok, Ali. We're going to get you to a safe place. A place the monsters can't get in. You'll be safe there." I promised her. "Try to get some sleep."

She curled up in the sleeping bag and I turned to help a little boy with dark hair make a fire.

"Who are you?" The boy asked.

"I'm Annabeth Chase. Percy, Grover, and I are going to get you guys to a safe place... what's your name?"

"I'm Brandon and I'm eleven years old. Ali's my little sister." He told me.

"She seems sweet."

"She is..." He mumbled turning away to take the sleeping bag beside his sister. He started talking to her and I smiled. They would be okay.

"Their my little siblings." An older boy told me. He looked like Brandon. He approached me with a warm smile and I shook his hand. He had the grey eyes of Athena. "My dad.. he was really in love with Athena. She blessed him with us." He explained to me. "I'm James, by the way. I'm eighteen."

"Yeah. Athena's my mom too.. I'm Annabeth."

"Yeah. I heard. I better get back to practice." He turned and walked away.

There was a little boy huddled all alone in a corner, looking sad and lonely. He was hugging his knees to his chin. His dark hair fell in his eyes.

I walked over to him and sat down. "Hi.. are you okay?"

He sniffled. "I'm fine."

"You must be cold." I said, grabbing a blanket off the floor of the cave. "What's your name?"

"I'm Andrew. I'm seven." He pushed the lock of hair out of his face and I saw his eyes. They were puffy and red from crying.

"What's wrong?"

"My big sister.. I can't find her. She.. last time I saw her she was fitting this girl with one leg like a dog... Then she fell. I tried to wake her up but..." He cried and I wiped his tears away.

"I'm so sorry, Andrew. We'll take care of you.. We'll get you to Camp Half Blood and you'll be safe. Your sister would've wanted that." I told him.

He nodded shakily and I smiled at him. "You should try to get some rest." I told him, standing up to see Percy staring at me.

"What's with you?" I asked him.

"Nothing." He mumbled, taking my hand. "I love you."

***

Soon we were camped out on the ground beside Grover.

"It's crazy.. we just keep being pulled together." I heard Grover mumble.

"Maybe that's how it's supposed to be." I mused, staring up at the ceiling.

Percy kissed my neck and I blushed. "Percy. Children."

He growled quietly and I lay my head on his chest. "I love you, Percy."

Percy kissed my forehead and I smiled.

"I love you guys." Grover beamed from beside us.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked him, laughing.

"It's just great to see you too together." He mumbled.

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