For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

35 | He Remembers

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Kol gasps awake first. He sits up from inside the salt square surrounding the Originals. He rubs his eyes as he gets to his feet.

Marcel wakes next. He lies across the room, covered in blood. As he sits up, Rebekah gasps and opens her eyes.

Derek is last. He wakes gently, lifting his head from the pew he is draped over. He stifles a groan as his eyes fall on Lexi's body next to him.

The last three Originals wake. Klaus and Lexi stand instantly. Derek's arms are around Lexi's waist the moment she is on her feet. Klaus' eyes do not stray from Elijah as the noble Original sits up and shakily gets to his feet.

Lexi breathes harshly as Elijah wobbles over to the nearest pew. "Does he remember?" Derek asks.

"Elijah?" Rebekah calls hesitantly as tears fall from his face.

Elijah's breathing picks up as he blinks rapidly. Salt trails his cheeks as memories flood his mind. Always and forever. A tune from long ago. Blood and gore. Sadness and pain. Fire and hearts.

He lets out a pain-filled scream. It echoes off the walls of the church and in the ears of his family.

He doubles over his knees, gripping his arms to stabilize himself. Sobs rack his body as her face flashes in his mind. Both of their faces flash in his mind. All of their faces flash in his mind.

Lexi falls back into Derek's embrace. She says, "He remembers."

—|—|—|—

Lexi and Derek drag their feet into their room to find both of their kids asleep in their bed. Stella is tucked under Teddy's arm. Her hand is plastered over his face.

On the opposite side of the room, Scott and Stiles are asleep at the desk. Stiles is on the floor with papers covering surrounding him. Scott sits in the chair, his head tilted back with drool dripping from his open mouth.

Lexi purses her lips as Derek slams his fist into the desk. All of the creatures in the room wake with a start.

As Stella moans, slapping Teddy in the face and muttering at him to be quiet, I'm trying to sleep, the wolves and Stiles stare at the couple with wide eyes.

"Stella, wake up!" Teddy snaps and pushes her hand away. 

She sits straight up in bed with her eyes wide. 
"Hey, Mommy. Daddy." She grins innocently, trying to wipe the sleepiness from her eyes.

Lexi narrows her eyes at the scared True Alpha and human. "I told you to keep them safe, and you let them get involved in the Hollow's magic?" Her voice is surprisingly calm.

Which does nothing to deter their fear. "Um," Stiles begins to stutter as he looks around the room for an excuse. "You—We were—They're you!"

Scott slaps his arm. "What the hell does that mean?" He hisses between clenched teeth.

"Yeah, Stiles." Derek crosses his arms. "What the hell does that mean?"

Teddy slips off the bed with his hands outstretched. "Mom, Dad, it wasn't their fault—"

"Not a word," Lexi says, her eyes never moving from Scott and Stiles. "We'll get to you too."

Teddy sits back on the bed.

Stiles struggles to get to his feet. "Well, I mean, that, like, they're exact copies of you. Once you get an idea in your head, you'll do it. We couldn't stop them, I mean, you taught them what to do! How are we supposed to control your spawn?" Lexi narrows her eyes more. "Offspring?"

For a moment, Scott is scared Lexi might actually kill Stiles. Instead, she launches herself at both boys, wrapping her arms around them. "I'm glad you're alive," she says, inhaling deeply. "But I will never trust you with my children again."

They melt into the hug.

"Sorry," Scott mutters. "But Stiles is right. They're too much like you both."

"We know," Derek sighs as he lets himself relax. "Now, if you don't mind, we need a moment alone."

The men nod against Lexi, but neither move. Lexi drops her arms, but they stay still. "Boys," Lexi says.

They drop their arms, both blushing red. "We'll leave you alone," Stiles says as he practically runs from the room with Scott on his heels.

Once the door closes, both parents turn to their kids. Stella and Teddy stare right back at their parents. A match between the coldest stares known to man and supernatural alike.

Lexi steps forward and takes a deep breath. "Do you understand what danger you helped unleash?"

They nod.

"Do you understand the power Hope now has?"

They nod.

"And you did so anyway?"

They nod.

Derek steps forward and sighs. "Are you trying to kill us?"

Stella sits up on her knees. "We promised Hope we would help her. Always and forever until forever ends. That is what we promised! We couldn't just stand by and do nothing!"

"Plus," Teddy raises his arm and shrugs. "we couldn't just let Hope do it all on her own. That would be like leaving her alone during all this. You taught us to always stand by each other—no matter what."

Lexi and Derek exchange a look before Lexi says, "I know. That's why we're not mad."
The kids relax on the bed. Teddy rolls his shoulders back as Stella lets a chuckle fly through her lips.

"But, now that the power is back with Hope," Derek says. "You can't be here."

The room is full of arguments in an instant.

Lexi raises her hands, cutting off all noise. "Your father and I will stay here to help Hope. You two are going to stay at another place in the city for a week. No longer. Just until everything dies down."

Teddy gets to his feet, his eyes flickering yellow. "I can't just leave her—"

"You aren't," Derek says, gripping Teddy's shoulder tightly. Teddy's eyes fade as he realizes his anger rising. "We just need you as far away from Hope as possible for a little bit. At least until she can control it."

"This magic is unpredictable," Lexi explains. "We do not know how it will affect her. This next week is a trial period."

"So, we're just not allowed to interact with her?" Stella asks, crossing her arms.

"Would you like the Hollow to get a taste of your power, Stella, because every moment you spend with Hope is another moment you risk the Hollow trying to weasel her way into your mind to get at your magic," Lexi says. Stella glances away. "I am not trying to be harsh; I'm telling you the truth because I trust you. Your father will stay with you as I try to clean up this mess. Scott and Stiles will be with you too."

"Why can't you come with us?" Teddy asks.

Lexi looks at Derek, not wanting to explain her responsibility. The responsibility she left in order to give her children a safe and happy life.

Derek sighs and shakes his head. "Your mom made a promise a thousand years ago. She intends to keep it."

Shorter chapter, but still ok, I hope. Remember to vote and comment; every time I see a notification, it makes my day. 

Hope you enjoyed!

-L