For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

14 | Come Back

gif from johanna-braddy on Tumble

Stella and Lexi sit together in Caroline's office. Stella stares into space as Lexi gathers the ingredients for a spell. "Mom?" Stella asks, her eyes distant.

Lexi hums and nods her head.

"Why did you let Hope explode?" Stella meets her mother's eyes. "She could have hurt you."

"She could have hurt you," Lexi replies, setting down a bowl of herbs. "But she doesn't understand that her emotions cause pain. She hasn't for a long time." Lexi sighs and runs her hand through her hair. "Hope needs to understand the danger she poses, or else she will never stop being reckless."

Stella frowns. "But, all witches are dangerous."

"Hope is different," Lexi says. "She has too much power. One day, she'll grow too greedy and tip it over the edge. The power could consume her. If she lets it go, it will consume everyone around her. She needs to learn control before she kills someone."

"Is that why control is so important to you?" Stella asks with concerned eyes. "The same thing could happen to you?"

Lexi looks down at her hands. She bites the inside of her cheek and begins to play with her wedding ring.

Stella straightens her back. "The same thing did happen to you."

"Now is not the time to discuss my power and the various ways it ruined my childhood." Lexi takes Stella's hands in hers. "Do you want to say hi to Dad and Teddy?"

Without a reply, Lexi begins to chant softly. Stella's vision blurs as she lets her eyes close. She can still smell sage when she opens her eyes once more, but she is not in Caroline's office.

"T!" Stella exclaims as she sees the blond sitting alone. He looks up as Stella runs over to him. She throws her arms up to hug him, but they pass through his body. Her smile fades as Teddy offers her a grimace.

"Where is your father?" Lexi asks instantly, her eyes moving around the room.

"Trying to calm Laura down," Teddy replies as he glances up at her. "Trying to find Klaus. I don't know."

Lexi searches Teddy's expression. She kneels down next to him, holding her hand back. "What happened?" Teddy looks away as pain flickers over his eyes. "Theodore, what happened?"

"Klaus happened," Teddy snaps. "You can ask him."

Lexi clenches her jaw. She does not push. "I'm going to find your father," she says as she stands.

Stella watches her walk out the door.

Lexi finds her way to Hayley's old room. She hears sniffling as she walks through the door. Derek sits beside Laura as Cora paces behind them. Laura's eyes are lined with a pink hue and tissues lie next to her.

Derek lifts his tired eyes to the door. The moment he sees her, his heart soars. She can see the happiness in his eyes.

"What happened?" She asks, moving into the room. She pauses next to Derek, wanting nothing more than to hug him.

"You need to come back," Laura says, wiping her eyes. "Now."

Lexi looks back at Derek. "What happened?" She repeats.

"No, you know what? We should help Klaus, not stop him," Cora says as she continues pacing. She begins to bite her thumb. "He's right. We should be hunting down the bastards who did this—"

"Did what?" Lexi demands, finally flashing her red eyes. Cora stops but does not speak.

"Klaus gave the factions an ultimatum," Derek says with a sigh. "Find Hayley or he kills one of their members. He wasn't doing to kill them, but then he got the box."