Disclaimer: I don't own The 39 Clues or Golden by Fall Out Boy. (Yeah, that song is what inspired this.)
(Warning: This is probably OOC.)
Ian could see the sadness they guarded in their eyes, locked in a vault of stone and covered in golden leaf so they seemed happy. He knew better. He knew the pain as well as the back of his hand.
He knew her pain.
He knew that the burden wasn't his alone, but he preferred to carry his own weight. Sharing it felt like he was giving away a part of Natalie, spending her away like all the money they used to have.
(She used to love jewelry. He remembered how her eyes would light up to match the gold trinkets. Now he realized she was worth more than all the millions in the world. But you can't buy back the dead.)
Amy seemed to be doing better than he. When Evan died, Ian had expected her to be more devastated than she was. They had been in love, right?
(But Ian wouldn't know. It takes two to be in love.)
Now he knew why. She had fallen in love with Jake. They were in their own little fantasy now, completely by themselves. He hoped they were having fun.
(They never had time for a cousin going through hard times. They never had time for anyone anymore.)
He watched as they fell deeper and deeper into their happy little paradise. He wasn't shocked when, years later, they got married. Ian knew they would always be in love. He thought that it must be nice to love and be loved back.
(He wished them the best. But he never got to tell them that. He hadn't been invited to their wedding.)
Soon, they had a child, a happy little girl. She looked just like her mother. He met her at a reunion when she was eight months old.
(That was the first time. He wasn't allowed to hold her. She was kept far away from him.)
The next time, she was a teenager. She wanted a dress for a dance at her school. This was the first time that she would meet Ian and remember him. As they searched for her perfect outfit, accessories, and make-up at the mall, her eyes shined.
(Natalie's eyes would gleam like that. But she's not here anymore.)
When they were done, she was so elated that she hugged him.
(Ian couldn't recall the last time he had been hugged. Had anyone ever actually embraced him?)
He was there when her date arrived. Right after the teenagers left, he was subtly asked to leave.
(That was alright. No it wasn't. They probably just wanted some time to themselves. But there was something in Amy's eyes, like sadness, regret, or guilt. She still wanted him to leave. When did he become the enemy?)
One day, he heard that their daughter had fallen in love.
(He hoped the fellow would treat her right. She deserved to have someone who truly cared for her. How would he know? He'd truly been near her only once.)
Everyone around him was in love. Once they fell, the happy couples didn't have time for anyone but each other, let alone him.
(At least they're happy. He'd never know what it was actually like. He'd been in love once. Maybe she had feelings for you then, but no longer. You missed your chance; she loves someone else now.)
Just so you know, I don't support Jamy. But I had a random urge to write this. :P