screams

Derek knew that he was lucky that Athena had stuck around for as long as she had, but he wasn’t going to complain about it. No he would rather take as much time with her as he could until she moved out and begun her own life. Derek looked up from Archie as he heard his daughter come downstairs. “Of course, you can. I remember making cookies with you when you were his age.”

It was probably weird that she was still living at home, she knew that. But most of her life, her dad had been gone, and neither of her parents ever really seemed bothered by it. Athena figured that had to count for something. “Really?” She asked. Yet another thing she couldn’t really remember, but from how often she had helped her mom it felt right. “What kind are we making?”

If anyone bothered to ask Derek why he was often kidnapping Lydia’s grandkids he would remind them that it had been decades since his own kids were little and he needed to be prepared for his grandchild coming into the world. Really though he just found so much joy in being near the kids. “Okay Archie we’re not telling your grandma but we’re going to make some cookies.”

Athena had gotten used to going downstairs and finding the McCall twins wandering around. Maybe it should have surprised her more, but ever since Theo broke the news about a baby she had kind of expected it. Even if sometimes it did make her worry that once the baby was born, she wouldn’t be the baby for her parents, anymore. “Can I help?” She asked, wandering into the kitchen and waving at the kids. 

“I can’t imagine you being a bystander with your beauty, but it is nice to be able to quietly enjoy life without having to be the center of attention constantly.”

“My entire family’s been the center of rumors my whole life, and we’re a big family. Being the weird, quiet bystander was preferable.” Athena shrugged. “And my sisters are definitely the prettier ones, but um...thanks.” She added, slightly flushed. It wasn’t something she heard much outside the family.

“Me? Dramatic?” Theodore asked his sister, “I thought we were best friends, little one. And you’re out here hurting me. Although you do have a point about the world possibly ending by at least one of us. After all me and Rhea thought it was a good idea for mesh both families together.”

“We can be best friends and I can still tease you mercilessly, Theo. I’m evolved that way.” Athena laughed. “Of course I do, but that wasn’t a bad idea. Mom’s always loved Rhea and to be honest, it was nice having her here when we lost dad and everything. Plus you’ve been together pretty much my entire life, so I can’t exactly pretend I don’t love her at this point.”

“It wasn’t bad so much as he was trying to understand how we haven’t destroyed the universe yet.”

“I guess I can’t blame him, I mean, it isn’t like either of you have ever been anything short of dramatic. And if the world was going to end, it’d probably involve a Hale or a McCall.”

“You are extraordinary special, little one.”

“That’s a nice way of phrasing that I’m weird, but I’ll take it. Even if I know you’re a biased party.”

“I mean he asks about you which is more than most of my friends can say. You might even be his second favorite girl.”

“You know that’s only because I’m the only well behaved Hale that he’s probably ever met, right?” Athena laughed. “I mean, I’ll take it, but I know why it’s like that.”

“It probably honestly is. But I think it’s what makes it fun.”

“It’s totally a part of it. I kinda like being a bystander for that, if nothing else.”

“No it does help knowing that you’re perfectly okay. I’m proud of who you are.”

“I’m not anything special, but...thank you, daddy.”

“No he absolutely did. He didn’t let just anyone stay over whenever they wanted.”

“See? I’ll take it as a compliment and just take what I can get.”

“Have you ever seen someone look like their brain was exploding but it never actually does? Because that was exactly it.”

“I haven’t, but I can imagine. Was it really bad?”

“I’m surprised he didn’t ship you off by the time you turned five. But he tried to send me to a monastery as well.”

“What did he do when he found out you and Rhea got married?”

“I know you are, baby girl. But what was the worst was the fact that I had no idea if you guys were okay.”

“Being home has...helped that though, right? At least you know now.”

“Plus he never was worried about us which helped with the no yelling.”

“He always liked me, too.” Athena laughed, “at least, I hope so.”

“Yeah having them here helped me at least know that you would be protected.”

“I’m really sorry you had to go through whatever you did, daddy.”

“Honestly with pops back I’m surprised you aren’t in a bubble.”

“That makes two of us. You know, he actually said he wants me in a nunnery the other day.”

“No he loved you in his own weird ways. Which is more than some can say with him.”

“I’ll take what I can get,” Athena laughed. “Especially when it means I don’t get yelled at my the infamous coach Finstock so much.”