"B-bobby? I-I don't understand."
Chiron put a hand on my shoulder and Percy gave my hand another squeeze. "Annabeth, Bobby and Matthew are demigods. They not only crossed through the barrier, but they survived the ambrosia."
No I had left to protect them. They couldn't be demigods. They couldn't be. Percy grabbed me tighter as my knees started to buckle and I almost fell to the ground. I remembered the boys asking Susan about their father once. She had smiled sadly and said, "You're father was a great man and so very kind." They asked what happened to him and she her smile grew even sadder. "He had to go to a better place." I thought she had meant he had passed away. How could I have been so blind?
"Sis?"
I sank even further. "No. This can't be. I thought of everything. This can't be happening."
Suddenly two more arms wrapped around me besides Percy's. "Annabeth it's ok. Matthew and I are ready. We know you were just trying to protect us, but now the monsters are coming for us because of who we are. It's time for us to fight too."
I raised my eyes and stared. He had changed so much in two short years. He was fourteen now. Maybe he was ready after all. Maybe they both were. Chiron looked at both of the boys. "Right now, we don't know who their father is. Susan will not tell, she says he promised to claim them when the time was right." I nodded, numbly. With Matthew still asleep and Bobby still in need of rest, Percy guided me out after I gave Bobby another hug. I also placed a kiss of Matthew's forehead.
By the strawberry fields, Percy held me and I couldn't hold back my tears. "Shhh it's all ok Wise Girl. They are safe. They are here." I shook my head. "Percy? What if I gave up everything for nothing? I hurt my dad and Susan. They may never forgive me." "All that matters right now is that Bobby and Matthew receive training so they can survive. You can help teach them just as you did with me. Your parents? They don't hate you. They know why you left and now you can protect your brothers even more by training them. I'm sure they are proud of you Annabeth." I kept crying, wanting to believe him, needing to believe him.