15th June, 1016

The remainder of the day passed in a surreal blur. Somehow, Elijah managed to keep his thoughts firmly on what he was supposed to and didn't let them stray to that which he had sworn not to.

Everyone smiled and clapped when Elijah and Belle were pronounced husband and wife, and when they had their first dance as man and wife. Everyone seemed to have been filled with joy. Everyone except for Elijah, that is. He felt trapped; the prospect of a lifetime with Belle did not fill him with the happiness he had expected. It was all Ava's fault, he thought with anger. Had she not returned, he would have been blissfully unaware of his feelings for her, and he would be happy beyond reason.

Would you, though? Asked the voice in his head.

Yes! He thought furiously.

There was nothing he could do. He had married Belle and that was that. It had been his choice, no one had forced him into it. Though, he had felt like he couldn't back out of it, he couldn't hurt Belle like that, so in a way he had had no choice in marrying her, since he knew perfectly well that everyone would have been incredibly disappointed in him, had he backed out of their engagement. He would have been branded a disloyal scoundrel.

Dusk set in; the sky was periwinkle blue and the air was cool. It was the perfect setting.

Most of the guests were relaxing, chatting or dancing. It was an extremely relaxed attitude.

Elijah and Belle were in the centre of the dance floor, swaying to the music that was floating through the room.

"I love you." Whispered Belle, pressing her lips to his for a moment. When she pulled back, her expression was radiant.

"And I, you." replied Elijah, guilt twisting his stomach into knots.

She gave him an adoring smile and opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted by her mother.

"Darling, I'm so sorry to interrupt but it's your grandfather." Marie looked worried and her eyes were sparkling with tears.

"What's wrong?" asked Belle, letting go of Elijah immediately. Elijah knew that Belle's grandfather was old, weak and ill, but he had wanted to come to the wedding given the fact that it may well be the last one of his grandchildren he would ever get to see married.

Marie shook her head. "He's fading fast, I had your sister take him home but…it isn't looking good, sweetheart."

Belle, her expression full of utter grief, looked between her mother and Elijah several times, evidently torn between her desire to be with her grandfather during his last moments and her desire to not hurt Elijah's feelings.

"Go," Elijah said quietly, taking her hand.

"Oh, are you sure?" She said, grasping his hand.

"Of course, your family needs you. We have all the time in the world."

Belle gave him a wavering smile before hurrying off with her mother. Elijah let out a sigh.

He watched Belle leave with her parents, looking utterly depressed.

He glanced around the room, hoping to find someone he could talk with, just so he didn't look awkward wandering around by himself.

It so happened that the only person who wasn't already engaged in a conversation of some sort was Ava. She was sat alone at a table looking down at her hands. Though he knew he ought to stay away from her, she looked so lonely sat by herself and so he made his way over to her, seating himself in the seat next to hers.

"Where's Klaus?" he asked.

She looked up and shrugged. "I don't know. The last time I saw him he was arguing with your father."

"No change there then." Elijah said bitterly. Ava smiled.

"Congratulations, by the way." said Ava, still smiling. There was something sad in her expression, though Elijah couldn't think why.

"Thank you."

Her eyes roved across the room for a moment, looking for Klaus perhaps, when she sighed.

"Since your brother has disappeared, I think I'll be heading home."

"Would you like me to walk you back?"

She stared at him, confused. "I'd have thought you would want to spend tonight with your new wife."

"She had to go - family issues." he explained.

"Oh, in that case, of course."

"So how goes your relationship with my brother?" Elijah asked as he and Ava walked through the dark streets of Lagrasse.

Ava giggled. "Your brother is very sweet."

"Is that so?" Elijah said through gritted teeth.

"Oh yes. Very much so."

"Lovely."

When they reached Ava's home - the same place she'd lived when she was a child, having bought it back when she'd returned - they turned to face each other.

"Would you like to come inside? It's still relatively early."

Elijah thought for a moment. It wasn't like he had anything else to do, what with Belle with her family.

"I'd love to."

They walked inside together in silence. Elijah had never been more aware of her presence than he was right now. He'd also never been less aware of the fact that he was a taken man and therefore what he was feeling for the girl next to him was wrong. It isn't an issue, he told himself firmly. She is with Klaus and I am with Belle, he thought.

It's an issue if you can't stop thinking about her as opposed to the woman you just married, said the irritating voice of reason inside his head.

"So, how are your parents?" Elijah asked, closing the front doors behind him.

"My parents?" Ava stopped in her tracks. "The-they're fine."

"And your brother?"

"All fine." There was something unnatural about the smile she gave him before changing the subject.

"Belle's dress was beautiful." she said.

"It was."

"You must be very proud, having such a beautiful wife?"

Elijah smiled but did not answer. She was right, Belle was beautiful, extremely beautiful.

She led them both into the kitchen where she sat down at the table in the middle of the room. Elijah took the seat opposite.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Please."

Ava got up and busied herself with fixing their drinks. When she came back, she handed Elijah a goblet and their fingers brushed against each other for a fraction of a second. It was as though sparks of electricity were flying between them. He was sure, judging by the look on her face, that she felt it too.

"So," she cleared her throat, "how does it feel to be married man?"

"Not so different." he said, gazing at her. Apparently, she noticed the intensity of his gaze for, after holding his gaze for a few moments, she looked away, a pink flush colouring her cheeks. Now that they were alone, he was finding it harder than ever not to let inappropriate thoughts develop.

"Belle's a lucky woman." Ava said, standing up.

"Why's that?" Elijah asked, mirroring her movement and standing up. They were close enough that it could be deemed too close. It was hard to think of anything but Ava now that he had her alone, away from Klaus and he away from Belle. He knew perfectly well that it was wrong, and that he should walk away, but he couldn't help himself. He'd been in love with her since his teenage years, whether he'd known it or not, how did one fight that kind of attraction?

Ava swallowed, but she didn't look away. "Because she got to marry you."

And then he kissed her.