thirty-four

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A Sister's Forgiveness

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SHE DIDN'T KNOW what should hurt her more: Rebekah bonding with Elena all the way in New York, or Klaus teaming up with Caroline and Stefan to help Bonnie. Another day in the woods for her it was. It annoyed her beyond belief because no one seemed to think that she could take care of herself. Sure, Athena had "died" a few times on the island, but she was trying to get better at fighting.

On the bright side, she had gotten more time to get used to her wolf form, which by now, didn't even hurt a bit.

Athena was reading in the study when she got calls and messages from Klaus, all she ignored. But after a while, her guilt got the best of her so she got up and went to his house. The house was dim and quiet. "Nik! I'm here, this better be good!"

"Go away," his voice came.

She flicked a piece of hair out of her eyes as she entered the parlor to see him leaning on the piano, shirtless. "What are you doing?"

"I need more time. Stop hounding me!" he exclaimed with anger.

Athena put her hands up in surrender. "Calm down, Nik. I just ignored you for a little while, guilt got the best of me so here I am."

His eyes softened in relief once he realized that it was indeed his sister. "Prove that your Athena."

"I don't know what to say! Who knows what Silas knows! You know what, forget it. I should've just ignored you."

When she went to leave, he called out to her, "Wait, please. Silas. He stabbed me with the white oak stake." That grabbed her attention and she became concerned. Athena turned around.  "There's a-- a piece of it stuck inside me."

Athena sighed and then went over to him. "And why would Silas attack you?"

"Well, I was in no position to ask questions. Suffice it to say, I'm hurt. Now can you please help me?"

She looked right at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "I still haven't forgiven you."

He nodded. "I know. But I am sorry, Athena. I was angry, please forgive me."

The genuine apology was hard to ignore. Athena nodded and then walked closer to him. "I'll think about your apology. So what do you want me to do?"

"Well, it's quite simple, really. I need you to cut the stake out of me."

Her face fell, her eyes widening in horror. She glanced over at a pair of bloody pliers lying on the tug. Athena took a deep breath and then grabbed the pliers. Klaus slowly stood and turned his back to her. His back was already bloody from previous trying.

The pliers dug into his back and she moved it around, trying to find it. "Oh wait, I think I found it." Klaus braced himself but then she moved the pliers back. "Whoops, I was wrong."

"Athena quit being so childish and find the damn thing," he snapped, gritting his teeth.

She rolled her eyes. "There's nothing in here, I promise you."

"There has to be, I can feel it."

"There isn't."

It didn't seem to believe her. So she dug farther into his back, earning a yell of pain from him. He slammed his hand on the piano and Athena winced. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry." Athena was getting angry at him because even after she said she'd help, he still didn't trust her. Without holding anything back, she yanked the pliers out of his back, making him yell in pain. "This is bull, Nik. I'm trying to help you and you don't even trust me. And you know what? This family is just going to fall apart even more and you're not helping. You want me to help you? How about you actually trust me?"

Klaus shuddered in pain but didn't answer. He made his way over to one of the sofas and Athena went and sat at another. He began to reach back into his wound, making her roll her eyes again. "I can feel the splinters moving towards my heart. Help me!"

"Sorry, why am I going to help you when you've done nothing but give me reasons not to?"

"I already apologized."

She looked over at him with raised eyebrows. "Yeah, but then you go and make that apology null and void."

"What more do you want me to say?"

"Oh, I don't know? Maybe don't treat me like someone who isn't your family. I'm your sister, Nik. You searched for me for years."

He groaned in pain from moving. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not a perfect brother."

Athena stood up with an angry expression. "I never said you have to be a perfect brother! Ever since I got turned into... this, you've treated me like dirt and I'm sick of it!"

Klaus stood up and went over to her in two strides. He shouted, "Because you're turning into a monster like us!"

Her voice rose. "A monster? Why does it matter! I'm trying to protect this family and prove I am just as strong as all of you. I don't care what I have to do to prove it! All I've wanted since I came back was my family to be together again! Is it really so much to ask?"

She turned her back on him but he flashed in front of her. "Don't turn your back on me!"

Athena shouted with tears in her tears. "You've done it to me plenty of times!"

They both fell silent and she shook her head, wiping the tears that fell. Pathetic. And after everything she told herself, here she was, crying again. He stared at her with equal tears. "It's gone."

"What?"

"The pain. The-the pain is gone." He fell into realization. "It was-it was never there. He got in my head. Silas.-" He pointed to his temple. "-got inside my head." Klaus hugged his sister tearfully "I'm so sorry, Athena."

She allowed a few more tears to fall before they pulled apart. "Nik, if Silas can make you feel things that aren't there, what do you think he can do to everyone else?"

———

After Klaus had healed fully, taken a shower, and settled down, he and Athena called Rebekah to get an update. "What do you want, Nik?"

"We want an update on the cure, Bekah," Athena replied softly.

Her sister's voice softened. "Let's just say that things have gotten complicated. In fact, why don't you speak to one of those complications? Here."

They both looked at each other with confusion but then the voice of their other brother sounded. "Complication speaking."

Athena smiled and so did Klaus. "Elijah."

Klaus chuckled. "Big brother. At last you join the fray."

Someone closed a car door and they assumed that they were on their way. Elijah replied, "Somebody had to take charge. And now that I have, I've got the cure and I'm bringing it back to Mystic Falls."

"With a long list of demands, I assume."

Athena smacked his shoulder playfully. Elijah stayed serious. "Not that long."

"Please do come home, 'Lijah. I've missed you."

He smiled on the other line even though she couldn't see it. "And I have missed you as well. We'll be arriving soon."

Elijah hung up, leaving Athena and Klaus in silence. She got up and was ready to leave when he stopped her. "You can stay here if you'd like. I heard there was going to be a storm tonight."

Athena smiled slightly. "Why not? It's been a while since I've spent the night with my obnoxious brother."

Klaus smiled back and then fell serious. "About what you said earlier... I know an apology doesn't matter anymore. Which is why I'm going to work towards making it up to you."

She nodded. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Just like that, Athena had already forgiven her brother. And she would forgive him many times more.

———

I don't know if episode 4x19 is going to be the last chapter. I'm thinking about ending this book on 4x20/1x1. Thoughts on which choice you like better?

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