(3rd person - set years before season 1)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She was meant to be enjoying herself – they were on holiday after all. But they'd had an argument, again; it was getting too tiring these days. Pissed off with Klaus, Lucia wandered back to the penthouse-suite on her own (she'd refused a lift from both Kol and Finn), Elijah should still be there anyway. The door was locked but that didn't matter; with a jump Lucia landed on the roof before calmly strolling across it to the other side.

She was already wearing her new black bikini under her top and shorts; slipping them off, Lucia dived down into the pool at the other side of the building. The water was warm from American sun that had been shining all day, but it was cool to Lucia's skin – the walk back from the beach had had its effects on her, despite her daylight ring.

As Lucia surfaced she shook out her now soaked hair before pushing it back away from her face. She rested her arms on the edge of the pool, looking out over the mid-afternoon city of Miami. As she took in the view she heard someone behind her dive into the pool.

If it was Klaus, she swore to herself that she would put him right over the side of the pool, down to the city below. She heard the intake of breath behind her, but still didn't turn.

Strong arms enveloped her and cool skin pressed against the scars that spread across her back. "Lucia, you argued with Klaus again, didn't you?" Elijah asked quietly, not expecting a response – it was such a common experience of the centuries that Elijah knew the signs off by heart. "I don't know how he could even dare to upset you, not after…" he trailed off as he traced the scars on her back from so long ago.

She shuddered, "You know he didn't mean it then, it was an accident."

"Yes – the wrong place at the wrong time" he echoed the words she had used so often to excuse Klaus of the guilt that still occasionally plagued him from when he had hurt her so badly.

"Don't…" She started, before giving up. She knew she couldn't defend him all the time.

"Don't blame him. Don't argue when he comes back. Don't say anything about it." Elijah sighed "You've said it all before, Darling"

She smiled and turned to face the most mature brother of the hectic family. "I know Elijah, I know. At least I know you'll be here when I'm sick of it all – and you shouldn't be the one I turn to last! You're always here for me and I shouldn't just come to you when he has been a bastard to me again. I shouldn't even let him do this over and over." Suddenly, she became horribly quiet.

After a moment's silence, Elijah kissed her gently "You don't have to-"

"But I will. You know I will."

"Because you love him too"

Lucia nodded. "I love you all."

"But Klaus and I-"

"Are special, to me, for everything you have ever done for me, everything you do for me – You are both the most important people in my life."

Moving his hands to her waist, Elijah kissed her again, "But me or him?"

"Don't."

"Luce, me-"

"No."

"Please, I have to know"

"No, you don't." despite the softness of her voice, she was becoming more serious.

Elijah looked at her, simply looked, taking in her beautiful features, "I love you"

"I know Love, I know."

"You're beginning to sound like him, you know"

Lucia smirked, "I know" she laughed a little "that's what I get, right"

Elijah shook his head slowly then smiled, "Come on Darling". They swam to the other side of the pool, where shallow steps led up to a shaded balcony. Together they climbed out and Elijah went to get drinks. He had already retrieved her top and shorts from the roof, folding them perfectly on one of the sun chairs. The top was far too large but that was the style of it, pulling it on it soon became almost transparent as the pool water soaked through. Lucia didn't both putting on the shorts again; they were denim and would probably just shrink when they dried.

When Elijah returned with wine, Lucia was curled up in one of the chairs, looking out over Miami. He knew she was waiting for Niklaus to return from the beach and he knew that his brother was giving her time to calm down again before he returned. Shaking his head, Elijah wondered if Klaus would ever become the man that Lucia needed him to be; with out a doubt the link between his Hybrid brother and his dear friend was such that they had come worryingly close to dying for each other in the past. Elijah knew the answer to his question, he had just wanted her to say it aloud to him; Lucia would forever and always choose Klaus. And despite his reckless behaviour and careless attitude, Klaus would always choose Lucia too, no matter why, no matter what for. Elijah knew that he was never going to win unless his brother was dead – and that was something he could never bare.