AN: Ugh. I seriously need to stop drinking. Massive headache…. I listened to the Pierce the Veil version of this song

Chapter 12: The Way You Are

"What the fuck Tate." Violet tore her arm away from my grasp upon entry of her home. I shook from her wild eyes and the snarl of her lips.

"Vi, whatever she said is bullshit. You gotta believe me. She's nothing but a cock sucking whore. You should hear the shit she has hidden." Each step I took towards her, she matched me with a step back. This continued until she was back against a corner. I tried my best to repress my tears that bit me but the combination of ferocity and fear on Vi's face broke me. "Please, Vi, don't fear me. You're all I want. You're all I have." She flinched at my caress, making my lip tremble for the worse.

"I don't care about your mom. I think I deserve more than your pathetic patient file. Apparently your mother isn't the only one you don't talk to. I want to hear from you, Tate. Did you do it?" Her eyes glowered at me, making me feel less than an insect.

"I don't know VI. I don't know what you want me to say." I tugged at my hair, trying to hide the falling droplets from her judging stare.

"Shit, Tate. How do I know you won't snap on me one day?" Is that what frightened her? Me?

"Never! I'd never hurt you, Vi. I love-"

"Love me? I fucking know that Tate but that won't protect me from death." She crossed her arms and reversed the situation. I stepped back with each forwarding step she took.

"What do you want, Vi? I gave you everything I have." If she wanted more, all she had to do was tell me.

"No you haven't. You never gave me your past. Who was she?"

"Who? I don't fucking know who she is." 'Yes you do.'

"That's not what I was told. Does Maria sound familiar at all? She was your fucking friend! I want to know, Tate, did you kill that girl? Fucking answer me."

'You did! You enjoyed every second as you stabbed that bitch to death. Diced her to pieces!'

'Freak. Who'd bathe in their victims blood? You.'

"NO! I didn't do it. I didn't mean to. Shut up! I didn't want to. Why won't you leave me alone?" The tremors brought me to my knees and I cradled my head with my fingers tearing at my hair to try and overpower the voices. "I'm so sorry. I-"

"Forgive you." Violet's loving touch on my hands loosened my grip so that I could look up at her with my tear stained eyes. She looked at me with a searching gaze that held nothing but understanding, love, and forgiveness. I broke all over again at her kiss.

"But why? I'm such a bad person."

"Because that's not you."

Violet never let go of my hand as she pulled me up and lead me to her sofa. I felt like a lost child sitting there, waiting for someone to come find me and take me away. And someone did.

Only for a moment she left my side to grab a blanket from the closet. We were still in my pajamas and it was cold in her house. Her parents were still out from last night Violet wrapped us in the blanket, pulling me to her chest and hugging me with her legs. I've never felt so safe from the darkness that threatened to devour my very existence. Using the remote, Violet switched the channel, keeping the volume low, landing on some cheesy soap opera. Her hands were so small, I couldn't help but observe the size difference as her fingers were entangled with mine.

"Tate." She remained transfixed on the blinking screen and I on her delicate fingers. "I'm not my father or your mother. I don't like that you keep secrets from me. Don't treat me like the rest. We both know you're not well. Neither am I. I want us to get better. I can't do it alone." Her heartbeat was a steady rhythm; I could feel it on the back of my head against her chest plate.

"You're afraid of me." My voice sounded weak and scratchy. I couldn't let her look at me.

"Never. I was afraid of losing the Tate I love to a monster. I promise, I won't let you fall." The sound of the remote echoed as it fell against the coffee table. Violet's arms rested against my torso, allowing her the space she needed to lean into my back. Her lips tickled the spot of skin next to my ear. "I never break my promises." She tilted my chin up towards her at an angle that was comfortable for our mouths to meet.

Each time we kissed, they were never the same. They were never useless or wasted. Every touch had meaning. Like right now.

I finally felt that Violet had fully opened herself to me. No longer would there be secrets. No longer would we let our pride get the better of us. Not even the evil of our past selves would pierce the bond we built.

I turned in her hold so I could raise myself above her and brace myself on the armrests. Neither of us had to ask for permission or give instructions this time. With our secrets pinned in the open, we had nothing else to loose.

Now, Violet's skin felt realer, warmer, and more desirable. Constance had unburied the monster I had covered six feet under and Violet still sought after me. This was a celestial sign that she was my destined soul mate. There was no other explanation that this moment could be physically happening after Constance's spilt milk. Her mind must be reeling with questions that were missing answers. Answers that I would give her.

Using my teeth, I dragged up the borrowed sweater past Vi's heart. Violets cheeks always grew aflame when she bore her skin for my eyes. The way she was currently portrayed, trapped between my body and the sofa, exposed, replicated an erotic oil painting. Perfect skin, revealed in the perfect way with a tinted cheeks. Most insane part was that she was all mine.

"I don't like when you stare at me like that. It's embarrassing." She turned her face away from my penetrating gaze.

"Why? Because I can't stop looking at the most perfected piece of art on this planet?"

"Is that your pick up line?"

"Maybe? Did it work?"

Violet leaned me in with her hands on my neck. She gave me that sexy pout that always boiled me. "Maybe."

"I'll accept that." I attacked her neck with nipping bites. I wanted to show the world that Violet belonged to me. If anyone put their hands on me, I'd kick their ass, but if anyone put their hands on her, I'd fucking kill them.

"Uh, yeah… Mmhmmm…" She mewled into the side of my head from the pleasure as her fingers worked on untying my pajama pants. Why the fuck did I have to tie them earlier?

Once my cock bobbed free, Violet's nimble hands found their way around my shaft and began to slowly pump along my length. "Ahhh…Shit, that feels so good." Neither of us had yet perfected our love making techniques. Touches were still shy, still new, and still hesitant at times.

Before I could even put my love in her, shit hit the fan. "Violet, we're h-"

Fuck. We both gasped as we instantly detangled ourselves to try and make ourselves decent. In the doorway her mother and father watched us with their mouths dropped down. I'm pretty sure they got a glimpse of my ass.

"I'm gonna kill that little shit!" Roared Ben as Vivien tried to keep him back as he tried to lunge for me and Violet grabbed me to take me through the back door.

Despite that horrifying moment, we both laughed as I exited the house. "I'll come find you once I've cleaned up our mess. Okay?" Both of us were out of breath from this exhilarating scene.

"Yeah." I kissed her goodbye and bolted out of their property when Ben's booming voice grew louder. I wonder how therapy is going to play out now that he caught his most psychotic patient, pants down, with his only daughter in just my sweater.

AN: Okay. So there's only about four to six more chapters. I'll give ya a spoiler since you're all amazing for keeping with me along this story. Shit's getting wrapped up at the Harmon home but just starting at the Langdon house. :O Can you just imagine Violet explaining this to her dad? Also answers to why Violet puts up with Tate's craziness.