Simple Joys | Hale [7.5] OPEN

The 'Mikael' Talk Part 1

"With good reason," Derek says. "Why do you think you haven't seen your Uncle Klaus in a while?"

"Because he's on a murderous rampage."

"Exactly," Lexi says. Her expression is full of pain and stress. "Your uncle is too unpredictable for us to know he won't hurt you. Peter is also unpredictable. He has done some horrible things, and—"

"Why do you talk like you haven't done terrible things?" Stella snaps. "You've done some pretty bad stuff too. I've heard the stories."

Lexi glances down, clenching her jaw. "Stella, the deal with Peter is for your own good—"

"I want to know my uncle!" Stella exclaims. "I want someone who is blatantly honest about their past. At least he's telling the truth."

Lexi shakes her head. "You don't know that."

"But I do!" Stella pulls out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "I put a spell around our table. Anyone who touched the table had to tell the truth." She shows off the spell. "I'm twelve, not stupid!"

"Stella—" Derek starts.

"Shut up!" Stella screams. The lamp lighting the desk shatters. Bits of glass pierce Derek's arm, but he ignores the sting. "You guys lie to me! All the time! I just want to be as important as Teddy!"

"You are not any less important than Teddy," Lexi states.

"It feels like I am." Stella glares at her mother— a look that is neither from Lexi or Derek. A look that takes Lexi back to a time she feared everything.

Lexi gets to her feet, placing a hand on Stella's shoulder. "Stella, calm down."

"No!" Stella slaps Lexi's hand away. "I hate you!"

A low growl erupts from Derek's throat. "Stella, you need to calm down before you blow up the town. You're upset and you don't know what you're saying—"

Stella scoffs, "I know exactly what I'm saying. I hate you," She looks between her parents, both staring at her. "I really do."

After a long moment of silence, Lexi speaks. Her voice is void of feeling and any kind of care. "You are grounded for the next two months." Stella begins to protest. "No magic, no phone, and no friends. Do you understand me?"

Stella's eyes darken into black. "I hate you!"

"Hate me all you want," Lexi says. "You've just lost any right to talk back to us."

"Is this what Mikael did?!"

Lexi's expression goes slack.

"Shut you up?" Stella lets out a bitter chuckle. "I bet it is. Because I can see why you hate him now. The issue is you're more like him than you think."

If Stella were a werewolf, she would know the effect of her words. Lexi's heart begins to race, tears building up behind her eyes. She loses the breath from her lungs. She looks down.

"Stella!" Derek yells, slamming his hand against the table. Horror stains his expression.

Before he can move again, Stella thrusts her hands forward, a spell slamming into her parents. She escapes out the door and out of the apartment.

Luckily, Lexi had a protective barrier in place in case Stella did get too emotional. The spell only destroyed the room around them. But Stella's words had destroyed Lexi's heart.

Derek's breathing is ragged. He stomps out from behind the desk. "I'll get her," he tells Lexi. "Don't worry—"

"Don't." Lexi sinks into the chair. "Let her go."

She hangs her head between her shoulders. She folds in on herself. And fear and pain fill her eyes.

"Lexi, she didn't mean it," Derek says, kneeling next to her. "She doesn't understand."

"But she's right. He was confining too," Lexi sniffles. "Did you tell her?"

"No, of course not."

Lexi raises her eyes to meet him. The moment they meet, both realize how their daughter knows about Mikael.

Lexi grabs Derek's arm. "It's not Peter's fault."

Derek's eyes glow blue. "He still told your secret. It's yours to tell, Lexi. Not his. Just like Paige."

Lexi shakes her head. "I'll get Stella. You have to explain to Teddy. He was there, he heard—"

"Mom?" Both parents snap their heads up to look at the door. Teddy stands there, his expression guilty. "I knew about Mikael from before."

Lexi stands, turning her back on Teddy. She wipes a stray tear and breathes in shakily. "How?" She whispers, unable to face him.

"Uncle Kol told me a story at the zoo a few years ago," Teddy explains, tears springing to his eyes. "About you learning to fight. I-I didn't know you didn't want us to know, so I asked Aunt Rebekah the next time we saw her.

Lexi flips her hair back, wiping underneath her eyes. She turns to her son, putting on a show-smile. "You did nothing wrong, darling," she says. She cups his cheek and he wraps his arms around her. "I will explain everything, I promise. I just have to find your sister, ok?"

Teddy nods once before letting go. Lexi presses a kiss to his cheek before she walks out the door in search of the missing Hale child.

Off, I know people hate Stella now, but she's a spitfire like her mom. It was bound to happen.

Hope you enjoyed!

-L