Artemis

"Hey Art, do you think I'll ever find my mate?" I heard Athena ask from beside me.

We were both walking together to the hospital wing. I was going to do my daily lessons with Mrs.Mary and strangely enough, my baby sister offered to accompany me.

"What kind of question is that Athena?" I asked giving her a confused look.

"The kind of question I'm asking, just answer it!" Athena said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

I sighed.

"Even though I would prefer you to always stay my impressionable little sister...yes I have no doubt in my being that you with find your mate someday," I said looking down at her.

"And if I don't then what? I mean I don't get along with people very much, I'm unapproachable, my personality is shit, and I'm basically messed up in the head." Athena ranted. 

No one ever sees this side of Athena, she always puts up her tough girl act to compensate for all the emotions she's feeling when really she's just a shy girl hoping for someone to notice her.

I could understand why she chose to ask me this instead of Apollo; this was about boys and love. I know I'm the last person that should be giving advice about this but he would go full-on Papa bear on her.

Now I will admit Apollo is great at giving advice but he's still very protective of her. He would tell her that she's beautiful inside and out, that when she found her mate he would be 6 feet under if he failed to realize that. He would then go into a list of threats and things her mate had to do for him to give his blessing for him to be even near her.

He would give her brotherly advice that would be said to mostly calm down his nerves of her having a mate and growing up rather than calming her own.

No, right now she needed sisterly advice. Something only a few words could summarize and be meaningful to her. With some teasing of course.

Apollo acts more like a father to Athena than a brother. He was protective and that was understandable.

I stopped in my tracks causing Athena to stop in front of me.

She turned around and gave me a questioning look.

Athena was beautiful. She was our glimmer of hope. Our sunshine and our flame.

I remember when she was a child she was so small and fragile. When she turned 5 she started awakening her powers as an Empath. She couldn't control them so she fell ill a lot due to all the emotions and pain she would feel from the people around her. I would stay by her side and try and ease her pain but it was hard healing the mind. All I could do was cool down the fevers and hold her hand through it all.

Sometimes she would lash out on me with such hatred in her voice but sorrow in her eyes. Telling me that she hated me and not to touch her. During those times I had to remind myself that that rage didn't belong to her it was just our mother's hatred for me.

Once Athena would snap out of it she would cry in my arms and continue to mumble apologies explaining that it wasn't her and that she loved me.

One night after experiencing one of the more brutal beatings from my mother I joined Athena in her room. She was only 8 now and had gotten a better handle on her powers and so had I. I was now 11 and while the beatings only got worse I couldn't risk Athena feeling my pain, she didn't deserve that. So I made a type of healing cloak that blocked her from feeling my pain. Too bad it didn't work on Apollo. He was still able to feel my pain, I wouldn't learn how to numb our connection until a few years later.

That night Apollo had basketball practice late. I told my mother that he was studying at a friends house, she favored Apollo, he sang her lovely melodies when her pills didn't let her sleep.

I was sent home early that day for fighting Jenny Boats, Apollo's best friend at the time, she was a bitch. She walked up to me during break time and teased me about the bandage that covered a cut on my cheek. She said I always had bandages on and the reason was that my mother hated the fact that I was born. She started calling me a mummy pointing out the dark circles underneath my eyes.

At that moment I hated the fact that she was right. That my mother hated me and would demonstrate just how much almost every day.

It pissed me off, my mother pissed me off, my life pissed me off, and Jenny pissed me off so I punched her square in the face. She screeched like a banshee and made everyone cover their ears but it sounded like music to me. So I kept going until Apollo pulled me off her. That fight left her covered in bandages too I remember taking the liberty and welcoming her to the mummy girl club.

I left school that day all alone feeling confident in every step I took, but once I reached my house it seemed as if my confidence ran out.

My actions always had consequences I knew this I thought I was ready for them but I was wrong. When I got home mother said since I wanted to start fights I could handle myself in a real one. I shrunk after that statement, I knew this wouldn't be a regular fight no it would be unfair, bloody, and traumatizing.

So when I saw her turn into her large silver wolf I was glad for my suspension because there was no way I would have been able to go to school the next day.

That night she showed me just how weak I truly was and I have the scar to remind me of that.

Afterward, I felt cold and tainted. I sought some kind of warmth I wished for Apollo but he wasn't home so I stumbled into Athena's room. I plastered the biggest fake smile on my face as if she hadn't been able to hear my screams from the basement. I sat in the chair next to her bed only for her to tug at my arm to join her. I curled my bruised body into the soft comforter. She hugged me from behind careful not to touch the fresh stitches I had just done on my shoulder and along my neck.

She told me it was okay to cry. To let it out and she would hold me, give me strength when I couldn't move anymore because that's what sisters were for.

I had refused to cry in front of anyone for a long time. I had to be strong. After the accident I refused to be weak I had to be there for my siblings. So every beating I stayed strong I never wanted to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

But that night with Athena. I let out years of tears that I pushed down. I was drained, numb, and ashamed. She had branded me forever. By tarnishing the place where my mate would leave his mark...

Athena and I didn't have to talk, not like me and Apollo, no Athena will let you cry on her shoulder when times are rough. She won't ask you anything she'll just be the warmth you need to pick yourself back up again.

So yeah, Apollo was Olaf the one that could provide warm hugs but Athena she was the warmth, she was love at it's finest.

Pure and genuine.

The most understanding person anyone could meet.

At first sight ones, first instinct would be to turn away. They deny it, deny her because they can't figure her out, but the ones lucky enough to experience that warmth will cherish it forever.

"Why the hell are you looking at me like that?" Athena asked with her hands on her hips.

I let out a chuckle and shook my head.

"You're gonna drive your mate crazy," I said as I walked past her.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" She yelled as she jogged to catch up with me.

"Look you have nothing to worry about. Your mate is gonna see through that cute little wall you put up around yourself and he'll love everything about you. He would be an idiot not to. I just want you to know that he'll see you. Even in a crowd of chaos, he'll be drawn to the person trying to calm everyone down." I said smiling down at her. 

I could tell she knew what I meant. Her grey eyes shined in admiration. Her eyes were different from Aaron's grey misty ones. Athenas were bright grey almost clear but if you looked closely you could see the tiny speckles of green in them. They were beautiful in their own way. Different and unique just like her.

She played with a loose strand of her red hair that fell from her messy bun as she tried to hide the blush on her cheeks.

I chuckled.

"Crap maybe he'll even be excepting of your stuffed animal addiction!" I said nudging her shoulder playfully.

"Hey! Their collectibles!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, ones you'll never sell," I said rolling my eyes.

"You're damn right!" She said with a chuckle.

I shook my head.

"Hey, do you remember Jenny Boats?" I asked looking straight ahead.

"Ha yeah, Apollo's friend. She liked to pet my head when she'd come with him to pick me up from school." She said feeling her head as if Jenny's hand was still there and need to be swatted away.

I let out a laugh.

We walked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.

"She was a bitch." She said bitterly.

I smiled.

"Yeah...she was huh? I kicked her ass you know?" I asked looking down at her.

"Yeah, I remember. Apollo was pissed, I remember how she would follow him to pick me up afterward and would always try and apologize. It was too late though he already put her on his for eternity silent treatment list." She said laughing at the memory.

"Haha, I forgot about that she was known as the school ghost after that!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah," Athena mumbled.

We continued to walk in silence until we saw the hospital wing.

"Athena?" I asked.

"Hmm?" She mumbled.

"You know I love you right?" I asked still looking at the nearing building.

"...Yeah, I know Sis." Athena said.

I felt her hand touch mine before she gave it a tight squeeze.

I smiled.

"Good."

~~~~~~~

Once we reached the hospital Mrs.Mary was already in her room ready to start. The session was going slow I could tell Mrs. Mary wasn't really pushing herself and her outburst wasn't helping.

I ended up having to kick Athena out of the room after her fifth sigh and eye roll combo.

We finished early since Mrs.Mary insisted that she was tired and not up for falling down anymore today.

Her husband came to get her and before she left she told me she hoped I did better tomorrow.

Which confused me considering I wasn't the problem.

Swallowing my pride I simply smiled and waved her goodbye while her husband mouthed 'sorry' over his shoulder.

We were now on our way to check on Ella and the girls.

"That lady wasn't even trying!" Athena exclaimed as we walked.

"Yeah I know that but all of your huffing and puffing wasn't helping either," I said rolling my eyes.

"Whatever honestly I'm surprised you haven't snapped on her yet. Especially with that last comment she made! Like what the hell was that supposed to mean?!" Athena exclaimed throwing her hands up.

"It's called patience. You should try it sometimes." I said as we neared the bridge of the small cottage village.

"Bull! When are you gonna give it to her straight? Here's what I say, tell her she has three options either roll around in that hunk of metal for the rest of her life. Oh with that one make sure you mention needing assistance going to the bathroom all the time. Option 2 she lets my whip up some metal walking sticks that will cause her to be less dependent but more prone to falling down considering she's barely trying to figure out the walking part. Or! She stops with all the annoying negative thoughts and replaying her accident and actually try to get better so she can walk on her own again!" Athena explained.

"Ugh, Athena no one asked you to use your powers on her. There was no need to feel and see whats going on in her head when it's pretty obvious! Look I'll talk to her tomorrow about it but give her a break it's only been like two weeks." I said as we crossed the bridge.

"Sounds like she's getting special treatment because she's some cute Alphas mommy." she teased.

I felt my ears heat up.

"Shut it, kid," I said karate chopping her head softly.

When we got to Ella's cottage the sisters opened the door for us.

They showed us to Ella's room saying she was taking a nap. Nancy wasn't there they said she went into town for something.

"Why didn't she take you guys with her?" Athena asked annoyance laced in her voice.

The girls shrugged their shoulders.

"She said to stay and watch over Ella!" Raven said.

"Umm-hmm okay," Athena mumbled thinking to her self.

I woke up Ella and did a quick check-up on her to make sure her blood pressure was good and the baby was in good health.

"Everything looks good Ella! Do you already know the gender or do you want me to tell you?" I asked.

"Oh no, I want it to be a surprise!" She said excitedly.

"Oh, so you're one of those." I heard Athena mumble beside me.

I gave her a quick jab in her side.

"That's nice! Well, we don't wanna keep you for long I can tell you're still tired so get some rest." I said as I pushed everyone out of the room.

"Girls are you guys okay by your selves? Have you eaten anything? How about we stay with you until Nancy gets back?" I suggested as Athena nodded in agreement.

They began to jump around.

"Yayay can we have grilled cheeses? And we can watch Doc Mcstuffins!" Raven exclaimed as she ran over to the couch.

"Sure!" I said as I went into the small kitchen to cook lunch.

We went through a couple of episodes of Doc Mcstuffins before turning on Tangled. Shortly into the movie Ella came out and joined us.

It wasn't until the evening when Nancy finally returned carrying all but one bag.

When she came into the living room she was surprised to see Athena and I.

"Oh hey, ladies!" She said cheerfully.

"Why were you in town for so long only to come back with one bag?" Athena asked cutting right to the chase.

"Oh well, I was mostly window shopping you know for Christmas and everything. I guess the time got away from me." She replied sheepishly.

Athena didn't look convinced.

" If you plan to leave for a long time please have someone come and watch the girls. They wouldn't have eaten lunch if we didn't stop by. Now it's 6 pm and time for dinner." I said firmly.

I know she's not their mother but she offered to take care of them and I won't allow her to do a half-ass job.

She nervously nodded her head.

Saying our goodbyes to the girls and Ella we took our leave back to the Packhouse.

"She was lying you know?" Athena asked as we walked.

"Yeah, I noticed," I said simply.

"Are you gonna handle it?" She asked.

"I'll handle it when I know there's something to handle for sure," I said.

She nodded her head.

When we entered the Packhouse we were almost tackled to the ground by Apollo.

"Ahh, finally you guys are back! I was ready to go out looking for you two! I missed you pickleheads!" Apollo exclaimed as he squeezed us into a hug.

"Mwah! Mwah!" Apollo said as he kissed our heads.

"Omg get off of us you dork!" Athena yelled struggling out of Apollo's hold.

"I smell food! Did you cook?" I asked pushing him off.

"Yup Serena and I cooked dinner tonight! So you know, you might want to hold on to your socks cause it's made with the passion of our love!" Apollo said dramatically clenching his chest.

"Yeah whatever we're just hungry," Athena said waving him off as we walked to the kitchen.

"Wait! You guys visited my two angels without me!" Apollo whined as they made their plates.

"I told you our plans for the day you're the one that decided to hang out with Serena and go into town," I said with a shrug.

"Well yeah but-" Apollo began.

"By the way did you happen to run into Nancy while you were in town?" I asked curiously.

"Umm, nope I don't think so," Apollo said as he sat down at the table.

'Interesting'

Everyone else came downstairs to eat except for Aaron who was still in his office.

I sat and talked with everyone at the table as they ate and then helped Serena clean up the kitchen.

Afterward, I set up Aaron and I's dinner on a tray and headed to his office. Before I could even knock on his door I heard him tell me to come in.

'Hmph, I guess he knows my scent' I thought with a smirk and opened the door.

Authors Note

Hey Loves! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Did you like learning more about Artemis and Athena's relationship with each other?

What do you think of their mom?

What do you guys think of Jenny Boats?

Lol let me know in the comments!
Thank you for reading!

Lots of Love!
-Niya