tw:mentions of r*pe.
''I'VE CALLED THIS FAMILY MEETING so I can inform you all about something that took place in my office in the company last night.''Tommy said as he walked around the room with a cigarette between his fingers,looking at his family all around the table.Athena was there too,Lizzie as well.
''Athena,we know who caused you that pain.''He said as he sighed,taking a deep drag.There was no easy way of saying this,but it needed to be done.He didn't know if the girl would hate him or if she would fall in his arms and thank him but he knew that he needed to say the truth.
Athena furrowed her brows in confusion,looking at the older man.Michael that was sitting next to her,let his hand on her thigh,giving it a caress.That of course didn't go unnoticed by Thomas Shelby who for a moment,clenched his jaw at the sight but let it slide.
''Your brother Bet,he worked with the Italians behind our backs.''He finally confessed to the girl and his family as well,making them all shocked at the confession,except for John.Benjie was taken under their wing when he was a man with no job,poor and just wanted to provide an easy life for him and his family.They couldn't believe their ears.
''He...he made a deal with Changretta.You were part of it.''Tommy said softly as he placed his hands on the table,looking at Athena who just realized what Tommy was trying to say.Her brother is at fault for her rape.
''What?''She whispered,not knowing how to react.What to say exactly,she was speechless.She was hurt,she was angry.She felt every single emotion at the moment and she was feeling extremely overwhelmed.
''That can't be true Tommy,how are we sure?I can't believe that fuckin' shit!''Polly exclaimed,her hand comforting Athena as she was rubbing on the girl's softer one.
Tommy sighed and shook his head,closing his eyes for the moment.After taking a breath he opened his ocean ones,looking at his family.''It's true,Polly.He confessed it himself.He also admitted that Changretta was not the one that raped her,but a piece of useless cumshot,Antonio Angelis.''He said,filling himself a glass of whiskey.
Athena felt her senses leave her body for a second,feeling very hazy.Every single word fell deaf on her ears.Michael noticing how the girl was almost swaying her body on the chair,wrapped his arms around her and placed her head on his chest,giving firm rubs on the back.
''We took care of it,Athena.Bet...he is burried six feet down,Antonio Angelis as well.''Tommy said,feeling a weight being lifted off of his shoulders.Athena gasped at that,removing her head from Michael's chest to look at Tommy with her eyes full of tears.Tommy felt his heart stop for a moment,looking back at her pretty eyes.
''Thank you.''She said,making him and John almost sigh in relief.She could not be mad that they killed him.Her brother ruined her,he absolutely ruined her.From the moment that he made her part of the deal,he was not her brother,not her own blood.Once she heard that he was the source of her pain,she knew that she would kill him with her own hands.How could she let him live after he scarred her soul and body?That is not what family does.
In her eyes,he was her rapist as well.Benjie Walkers was behind her rape,he raped her soul before she was even raped by that Italian man.
''Bring her a glass of damn water,that girl can't see in front of her!''Esme ordered to her family,looking as Athena slowly closed her eyes,her body almost giving out.
''Shit.''John mumbled as he got up,walking towards her chair,Arthur right behind him.''Hey,Athena?Sweet girl?Don't close your eyes on us,eh?''John said quickly,placing his hands against her cheeks.
Michael thanked Lizzie as she brought a glass of water,helping Athena to sip on it,most of it spilling down her chin though as she couldn't understand what was going on arround her.
''Fuck.''He groaned,placing the glass on the table as he wiped the dripping water with a tissue.''Hey,baby?It's Mikey.Please try to stay conscious.''He whispered,caressing his lover's cheek.
But even after their tries of keeping the girl awake,her world turned black around her,her eyesight was blurry and everything that was heard quickly died down.
🎀
''There she is.''Whispered Polly once she saw Athena opening her eyes slowly,observing the room arround her.She smiled as she smelt Michael's scent;she was on his bed back in Polly's house.
''How do you feel,dear?''Michael asked her as he walked back in the room,placing a cup of warm tea on his nightstand,cinnamon and apple,her favourite one.
''I mean,I could be better.I am still trying to grasp my head around what Bet did.''She honestly said,thanking him for the cup of tea before she took a sip.It was just how she liked it;with a teaspoon of honey.
''How do you feel about him being dead?''Michael dared to ask as he sat next to her lying form,caressing her cheek gently before he placed the covers neatly on her body.
''Honestly,Mike?I am glad.If Tommy didn't do it,I would do it with my own hands and I am not ready to murder someone just yet,he saved me from trouble.''The girl admitted,looking up at her lover.''In my eyes Mikey,he was a rapist as well.''She whispered,making the man frown before he laid a kiss on her forehead.A gentle kiss,full of promises.
Promises that he would always protect her.No one would hurt his gem,absolutely no one.
''He was in everyone's eyes,my love.Don't you worry your pretty head around a thing now,mkay?I will never let anyone hurt you again.''He promised to his girl,looking in her eyes.
''I am sorry to interrupt,but are you two finally together?''Polly asked with a soft smile,she had a feeling from the way they spoke to each other.The soft touches,the looks.Everything.
Michael smiled and nodded his head,''She is my girl now,mum.''He confirmed,making Polly smile wide.''Oh,that's amazing.She is a keeper,Michael.Don't make her run away.''Polly teased before she laid a kiss on Athena's forehead,making the two laugh.
''Glad to see you okay.Now that I am relieved with our girl over here I should better go to the hospital,alright?''She asked before getting up,kissing her son's cheek.
''Hospital?''Athena asked with furrowed brows,looking at the older woman that was wearing her coat.''Oh yes,Tommy called a few minutes ago.Little Shelby arrived into the world.''Polly smiled softly as she wore her hat.
Even though she never liked Grace truly,she was excited to see that little baby.Her nephew's first son.
''Oh,alright.''Athena smiled softly,on the inside though she was ruined.She was slowly moving on with Michael,but of course she was still in pain from her heartbreak.Michael actually noticed how her mood changed.
Once Polly was out of the house,Michael laid next to his girl,placing her head gently on his chest as he left kisses all over her head.Taking her scent in,he closed his eyes and smiled.Caramel and vanilla,her signature scent.
His girl literally smelt like the fresh croissants in the bakery did,fresh out of the oven every morning at 07:00 am.
''Does my girl want a baby?''He asked softly in her ear,his question making her eyes snap open in surpirse.She looked up at Michael,her brows furrowed by his question.
''I saw the way you reacted when Polly announced that Grace gave birth.''He whispered,removing a strand of her hair away from her eyes,tucking it behind her ear.
Athena seemed calm,but internally she was very anxious.She didn't know how to justify herself.She hated lying,especially to her Michael.
''It's nothing Mikey,probably I didn't even notice my mood swing.''She giggled softly,trying to make up a little white lie.''Although,in a few years I would love to have a pair of little chubby feet running in the house.''She smiled,rubbing his chest with her hand gently.
Michael smiled at that,''You would?''He asked her softly,making her nod her head,''Mhmm.''She murmured,looking in his eyes.''Would you like to start practicing from now?''He smirked,making her bite her lip.She knew that he didn't quite mean to start practicing to have a baby,but she got the memo.
''I would,Mr.Gray.''She whispered,moving carefully to straddle his lap,helping him remove his shirt.She could almost moan at the sight of his muscles.
''Then we better get started on it,Mrs.Gray.''He whispered,lust in his eyes as it was now his turn to remove her dress,throwing the material on the floor,leaving the girl in her pretty,delicate lace lingerie.Emerald green,it was truly her colour.
They both shared a kiss full of need before the room was filled with moans,groans and panting for the next few hours.
And during those hours,Athena truly felt loved.She had never felt love like this.