He'd fretted over that letter on the desk for hours, Griffin noted. When he'd peered over Tesla's shoulder, witnessed the hundreds of crossings out, the Serb had instantly covered it over, snapping a glare and something about having things to blow up in his lab. Nigel had chuckled, sniping back as he always did, cagily retreating to do precisely what Nikola had suggested. Something had bothered him, however. He just couldn't shake the unnerving suspicion… had Tesla been writing a love letter?

So when Griffin had been sat at the same desk that evening to go through his own correspondences, and his eye had caught the two pieces of paper scrunched up and balled on the top of the bin, he couldn't help himself. Curiosity got the better of him – I mean, who on earth had managed to get Mr Know-It-All so worked up? Glancing to make sure no one was around, he unravelled them both. What he read stopped him in his tracks.

Instantly feeling guilty for having pried, Nigel still couldn't throw it back in the rubbish. Not the finished one at any rate.

Think of it as proof, he thought to himself, trying to rationalise his unfathomably underhanded behaviour: and never, ever mention it. Not to him, and certainly not to… oh bloody hell, he really hoped she never asked.

Maybe that was why the bit of paper remained in his possession all those years. Until it had grown yellow with age, dusty at the back of a draw. Until his body had finally deteriorated and been buried in the ground.

Perhaps that's why his daughter had kept it, despite barely comprehending its significance, tucked away in a diary. A diary which, in turn, her daughter had saved when the time finally came to sort through the possession of the dead. The very reason why it had, ironically, ended up back at the London Sanctuary when she had moved there permanently, stacking it on her bedroom shelf. Where it remained until Will had boxed up her belongings, with watery eyes and a heavy heart, preparing for their return to Old City.

A box which had lingered in Will's office, unsorted, before he'd been so rudely forced into the employment of SCIU. He'd removed it and most of his belongings in a strop, planning to stay with Abby for the duration of his exile from the Sanctuary and it remained there, waiting, until one, not so special day, when Abby complained he was only using her apartment as an archive.

Realising he hadn't ever actually sorted through Clara's things, Will hesitantly approached the box and, with Abby's compassionate help, started to look. It had fallen out of the diary, clasped in his hands, and Abby opened it up, frowning so that Will could hardly resist investigating. As he noted the date, the names, they turned to each other, stunned. Shocked to find themselves reading the painfully honest words of a man so familiar to them, yet so different. They wore the same expression. Knowing they couldn't breathe a word of this, and yet just as incapable of burning it or throwing it away… it was evidence.

Evidence of the undisclosed desires of one man's heart. A heart which might, if this was any indicator, be capable of beating still.

14th February 1888

Dear Helen,

Ever since I met you, I have adored you. You were a bold dash of colour in an otherwise dull and commonplace world; and the things you have shown me. As though taking me beyond the known, scientific world was not enough, you have presented me with kindness, compassion, a tenderness no one ever deigned show me before and which, until you, I had never missed.

When you walk in the room Helen, everything is illuminated, as brilliant as your smile, as perfect as your laugh. I like to be the cause of it as often as possible – I'm sure you've noticed – I could listen to it all day long.

I have never met anyone so loyal and passionate in all my travels, you take my breath away. Your determination and resolve, in that moment you stepped into the unknown – I could not have been more in love with you than in that moment. When you clutched my hand, my heart sped. I could not let go. You drew me in, and I couldn't take my eyes off of you not for one second, fascinated, in awe of you, and though I would not admit it aloud, even just a little afraid of what was about to happen.

I should have been more worried for my own fate, it seems, but how could I not follow you on this journey? We're in this together, as a five, but I only ever wanted to be there for you… ironic, that in the end it was you who were there for me - and you did not hesitate for so much as a second. Even when I pushed you away.

That is why, on this feast of St Valentine I have, for the first time in my life, given in to the tradition. Not just to thank you, but to admit what, out of fear of losing you, I have kept pressed close against my heart.

I love you. With an intensity that brings such joy when I am near you… and so much pain when I remember the jewellery around your finger, and the honour I must pay that hateful band, out of respect for you – and nothing more. I would desire you for myself above all others in this world, but I have realised I... desire your happiness more.

So before you are married and taken beyond my reach, God how I wish I'd said something, but you've got to hand it to Johnny his timing has always been impeccable. *I was just too-* [the words were legible but crossed out] Before he takes you away from me, I want you to know that this one thing between us is true. No matter where, no matter when, no matter what happens behind closed doors – just call for me and I will be there. You probably never will, fantastically stubborn, self-reliant woman that you are, but believe me; I could never deny you anything. Argue, complain, raise all hell, maybe, but deny you? Never.

I was afraid, and I am never going to forgive myself for that, but I hope that you will. That you will not shun me because of how I feel. With that great, wonderful heart of yours, forgive me.

All my love, for eternity,

Nikola Tesla

P.S. You've always looked radiant in red; you really should wear it more often.

Author's Note: Happy Valentine's Day! Or as we singletons like to call it - the day of angst. :) JK - but oh Tesla how I sympathise. Just a special little one shot for all the lovely support and encouragement. Hope you liked it.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the above love bunnies. :( More's the shame.