Annabeth's Work and Worry

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO

Annabeth's POV

I could tell that Percy didn't want to send the girls to school this morning. He seemed extremely worried about their safety. I was just as worried; what if something worse than what happened to Sophia happens? I would be devastated.

Percy and I went off to our separate jobs. I took a taxi to my office, where I'm known as Dr. Jackson, architect. I don't think many people have heard of a doctor in architecture, but the true definition of a doctor is 'a person who has been awarded a doctor's degree'. I have been awarded that degree, so I'm considered legally Dr. Jackson.

I arrived at the office building. It is fifty stories tall, and I work on floor forty-seven. Thalia would hate that, because it's about four-hundred-seventy feet in the air. She hates heights. I took the elevator to the forty-seventh floor. I walked to my area of the floor, which contained my secretary, her office, and my office.

"Good morning Dr. Jackson. I am happy to inform you that your request for an intern to train has been granted, and she will be coming from NYIT in about an hour," Veronica Keg, my secretary, informed me.

I was doing a happy dance on the inside. I'm going to be able to teach a college student my knowledge on how to be a great architect! She's from New York Institute of Technology – School of Architecture and Design, a wonderful school in my opinion. School- students- children- my children- worry. Wonderful! I think about something happy, and now I'm thinking about something dangerous.

I hope my children are okay, "How many times have I told you to call me Annabeth, Mrs. Keg?" I snapped.

"How many times have I told you to call me Veronica?" she retorted.

"Fine, Veronica, will you call me Annabeth?" I asked.

"Sure. You seem tense. Are you worried about something?" she asked.

"No," I lied. She raised her eyebrows at me, "Fine, yes I am worried about my children's safety."

Veronica was probably wondering 'Why is she worried about her children's safety?', but she's learned that if I want to talk, I will. I walked to my office, where there were two desks. One of them held a laptop, Daedalus's laptop, and a phone. The other was my drawing table, where I planned out new buildings. I'm working on an apartment building, due to Manhattan's rise in population.

As soon as I sat down in front of my designs, I could faintly hear voices in the distance. The only thing I could make out was a low mumble because the voices were far away. Maybe it was my intern? No, it couldn't be because Veronica said she would arrive in an hour. If the person was here to see me, Veronica will tell me sooner or later.

As if on cue, the phone on my other desk started ringing. I picked it up, "Hello?"

"Annabeth, there is a woman here claiming to be your sister. Should I send her in?" Veronica asked.

"What does she look like?" I asked. I don't have a sister.

"She has black hair similar to Percy's, and she has deep grey eyes that kind of scare me," she described. My mother!

"Send her in," I instructed immediately. A moment later, Athena was closing the door of my office behind her. She held a box that must contain something important.

"Hello Annabeth," she greeted as she sat in a chair across from me.

"You couldn't bring yourself to impersonate an old woman?" I asked.

"Aphrodite would kill me," she admitted, "But that is not why I am here. You are obviously concerned with Sophia and Hallie's well-being."

"Yes," I confirmed. I really, truly was; I love my daughters to the greatest extent, and I am obviously worried about their safety.

"They will learn everything eventually, and when that time comes, I want you to give them this," she held the box out for me to take. I took it.

When I opened the box, I was surprised at what I found. There were two Yankees caps in the box, "Do these make people invisible too?" I asked.

"Yes. I wanted to make sure that my granddaughters were protected. They are the offspring of two very powerful half-bloods. You might not consider yourself powerful, Annabeth, but you are. Powerful with strength and wisdom," Athena told me.

"I'm glad that my daughters will have protection when they need it. Thank you, mother," I thanked.

"You're welcome," she said.

"Are they going to be okay for now?" I asked.

"Yes. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, and I are making sure we keep an extra eye on your children," she told me.

"When you say 'your' do you mean Percy's and my children, or…," I asked.

"I mean you, Percy, Thalia, Theodore, Nico, Aura, Tommy, and Rachel," she clarified.

"Why just our children?" this is a good question in my opinion.

"Because not many half-bloods reproduce and because all but Tommy and Rachel's son have a Big Three grandparent," she informed me. That was common sense! Duh!

"But why would you do the same for Tommy and Rachel's son, then?" I asked.

"Because Apollo thought it was fair. Besides; young Gregory has been cursed with his mother's gift of sight. Knowing that these creatures exist from birth attracts them to you if you are a half-blood, in Greg's case quarter-blood, so it is logical if you think about it," she answered patiently.

"I guess you are busy, so I'm guessing you have to leave," I sighed.

"Actually, no," she said, "Ever since the Titan war, there hasn't been much to do."

"Really?" there's a shock, "So…how's life on Olympus?" I asked conversationally.

"The only thing that is exciting is watching Aphrodite act like she's two," she said glumly.

"Okay…I was thinking about designing a monument to you," I said. I was; I just couldn't think of something to build.

She perked up, "Really?"

"Yeah," I asked, "Could you give me ideas on what to design?"

"Sure!" she said. She gave me an idea: a statue of her in Central Park that had an owl resting on one hand and a spear in the other. Have some people put olive trees around it, and it is Athena central! We didn't realize how long we were talking, and we ended up talking for an hour.

I got a call from Veronica, "Your intern is here. Do you want me to have her wait, or do you want me to just send her in?"

"Hold on just a second," I said. I put my hand over the microphone, "Mother, my intern is here. I need to get to work. Is there anything else you needed?"

"No, I suppose you must get back to work," she said, "Goodbye."

"Bye," I said. Then I spoke to Veronica, "Send her in," I said, just as Athena stood up to leave. When she reached the door, it opened. In the doorway was none other than Hannah Blofis, Percy's half-sister.

"Lady Athena? I thought Annabeth's sister was here? Oh, I get it! You didn't want to look like an old lady, so you just called yourself her sister instead of her mother," Hannah guessed. She knew everything not only because Percy's her brother, but also because she can see the monsters. Just like Percy's mom.

"Correct. Goodbye Hannah. Goodbye Annabeth," my mother said as she left the room. I'm a mother- a worried mother. I don't want to think about that. Athena told me to not worry. I have no reason to worry.

I turned to Hannah, "I didn't know you wanted to be an architect."

"Well, I saw some of the stuff you did, and I thought it was really cool. So, I decided I wanted to be an architect just like you! I was a little shocked when I found out that my internee was my sister-in-law," she told me, "I have to warn you; I'm a notorious klutz."

"How can you be both klutzy and athletic?" I asked.

"I knock things over without meaning to, but I don't trip over things," she informed me, "Now, what can I do boss?"

"Come over here," I moved over to my desk with the building designs on it. Hannah followed me, "Look at this."

"You designed this? This awesome building?" she asked in wonder.

"Yes," I answered proudly, "My mother gave me an idea for something new to design. Do you want to help me?"

"Oh yes! Please? May I?" she was so excited; it was contagious! I wanted to jump up and down, and I never want to do that.

"Yes! Calm down!" I instructed with an amused tone of voice. Hannah sat down. I told her about my plans for Athena's statue, and she showed me her art skills. She told me that she knew how to make everything on a scale. We had more in common than I thought! Working together is going to be great. I am still concerned about Sophia and Hallie, despite Athena's reassurances.

Veronica's POV

Annabeth had just left me to go to her office. If you ask me, she is more worried than she's letting on. Worried about her children's safety? Please! Knowing her, there is an enormous story behind that one simple sentence. She was not acting like herself; she's rarely ever worried.

I heard the elevator go ding in the distance, signaling the arrival at a floor. I looked up, and a woman who walked with a tremendous sense of power rounded the corner. She looked about the same age as Annabeth, maybe a little younger. She had jet-black hair that reminded me of Annabeth's husband Percy's hair. Her eyes were a deep and forbidding grey, that screamed 'I am dangerous, don't mess with me.' She scared me, to be honest.

She walked right up to my desk, "I am here to see Annabeth Jackson, my sister," she said. I didn't know Annabeth had a sister.

I called Annabeth's office, "Hello?" she asked from the other end.

"Annabeth, there is a woman here claiming to be your sister. Should I send her in?" I asked.

"What does she look like?" Annabeth asked. Does it matter?

"She has black hair similar to Percy's, and she has deep grey eyes that kind of scare me," I described.

"Send her in," she instructed immediately. Annabeth's sister had been waiting patiently. I told her that she could go into Annabeth's office. She strode with purpose to Annabeth's far away, open door. She stepped in and closed it behind her. If Annabeth previously had the door open, why would her sister close it? Her visit must be about a secret.

Annabeth's sister had been in there forever! I heard the elevator ding once more, and watched for the rider to round the corner. A bouncy college student walked up. This must be Annabeth's intern. She has brunette hair and blue eyes. She was absolutely beautiful, and I was a tad jealous.

"Hello! My name is Hannah Blofis, and I'm Dr. Annabeth Jackson's intern," she said happily. This girl wants to be an architect? She seems more the type of girl who would want to be a cheerleader.

"Dr. Jackson is busy right now. I'll let her know you arrived," I told her as I picked up the phone again. I called her, and I told her, "Your intern is here. Do you want me to have her wait, or do you want me to just send her in?"

"Hold on a second," she instructed. There was a long pause; she was probably telling her sister something.

I took advantage of this time by putting my hand over the microphone and saying, "She's speaking with her sister. I'm guessing it's important; note the closed door." Hannah looked confused for a moment, as if she didn't believe me. But then she finally relaxed her face, as if she believed me or didn't want to pester me with questions.

Annabeth finally came back on the phone, "Send her in." I did as I was told. Hannah reached the door and opened it just as someone on the other side was reaching for the handle. It was Annabeth's sister.

Hannah said something to her, but all I caught was 'Lady Athena', 'old lady', 'sister instead of her mother'. These were odd pieces of information. I can assume from this absolutely nothing. Annabeth's sister replied, but I couldn't hear anything she said. All I saw was her nod to Hannah and turn back towards Annabeth's office as if in farewell. As she passed my desk, she gave me a short, curt nod. This woman was odd. I guess that's just Annabeth's family.

When Annabeth and Hannah came out of Annabeth's office for lunch break, I was surprised to see a side of Annabeth I've never seen; the giggling side. She was saying, "Remember when HAHAHA remember when Sophia did the thing HAHAHAHA did the thing with the HA!"

"Annabeth, are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Yeah," she answered, taking a deep breath, "Just thinking about old memories."

"So…how do you guys know each other?" I asked.

"I'm her sister-in-law. Well, technically I'm her half-sister-in-law; I'm Percy's half-sister," Hannah answered. What are the odds? I don't think I want to know this family's history.