Now, this is not a story about orphans stranded all alone on a deserted island.

That being said, it all began when the three Baudelaire orphans and one additional newly-orphaned infant were stranded all alone on a desert island. Everyone knows the story. There was a long and tedious series of unfortunate events that ended abruptly with the death of the Baudelaire's arch nemesis, Count Olaf. After that, if one doesn't count the orphans being stuck on a deserted island with no way to get home— if they even had a home to go home to, which these orphans didn't— things started going pretty well.

The newest addition to the Baudelaire orphans was Beatrice. She was a baby; chubby and sweet. She drank her bottle every four hours, cried when she wanted to be picked up, slept most of the day, and woke Klaus and Violet during the night when they were the most tired. She pooped and peed and was all around a perfect baby.

Sunny, at four years old, was the youngest of the original Baudelaires. She was a very smart little girl. She didn't bite as much as she used to and had long since learned to enjoy soft foods. She was learning to cook and to read and to swim. Klaus and Violet loved Sunny as if she were their own little daughter, and though they'd never admit it out loud, they could each take much credit for how wonderful this little human being was turning out.

Klaus was sixteen, almost seventeen. He was well-read and stored a lot of useful facts in his brain. He'd grown tall and was able to grow a scruffy sort of beard in less than a week if he didn't shave, though Violet never let him grow it out too long without complaining that he looked like a castaway, which, from Klaus's point of view, was a position easily defensible. He'd become strong, too, from hauling water and splitting wood; building, herding sheep, and from carrying around heavy books and young children his whole life. He was a good father to Beatrice and Sunny. He tended to their every need, spent time with them, played with them, read to them, kissed them and held them when they were hurt or even when they weren't. He was caring; brave and tender at the same time, and Violet just knew no one could ever ask for a better brother than Klaus.

Violet had just turned eighteen and was now the benefactress of the Baudelaire's famous, but currently unreachable, fortune. She was becoming a better inventor everyday, because everyday she strived to improve their life on the island. She was almost as well-read as her brother, but did not necessarily know the definition to as many words as Klaus did. She had never forgotten her promise to her mother to always protect her family. She worked very hard, day and night, to make sure everyone was safe and happy and healthy. She was a good mother to Beatrice and Sunny. She tended to their every need, spent time with them, played with them, bathed them and brushed their hair. She kissed them and held them when they were sad or even when they weren't. She was loving, generous, and understanding. She was everything to her family: sister, mother, friend, companion, partner, protector, provider. All in all, Violet was a very good girl.

Mostly.

There was one thing about Violet that she knew made her very naughty. It was something that she held quietly in her mind and close to her heart, something that no one knew but her, and no one would ever know, if she had anything to say about it. Violet liked to tell herself stories— fantasies, if you will. Ones that included romance and confessions and kisses and making love… and Klaus. She knew it was a silly and self-indulgent pastime, but Klaus was very good looking and so sweet that she was sure any girl could fall in love with her brother, and Violet already knew several that had. In real life, he helped her with anything she asked and rarely complained. He brought her plates of food when she was too busy working to eat, and offered to get up in the middle of the night to feed Beatrice when Violet was too tired. He often held her hand as they walked along the beach to watch the sunset, or laid his head in her lap while they read, letting her run her fingers through his curly brown hair. At night, they shared their parent's old bed and sometimes in the morning she would wake to find his arm wrapped snugly around her waist, his face buried in her hair. These were only some of the wonderful things that made her realize what a loving and desirable person Klaus was.

But in her fantasies, she imagined her brother's familiar, kind affection leading to something a little more risqué... like maybe as they walked along the beach he might pull her to a halt, take both her hands in his and tell her how beautiful she was. He might slowly slide his hand over her shoulder and into her hair to cradle her neck as he leaned down to press his lips softly to hers as the sun sank into the horizon. Or... maybe they might wait until their little girls were asleep to sneak down to the ocean where they might undress, each of them taking off a single piece of clothing at a time, daring the other one to continue until they were both naked and gliding into the warm waves together, holding one another, skin to skin. Sometimes Violet would imagine waking up in the bed with Klaus's hand up her shirt and his other one down her panties, doing sinful things there, and this particular fantasy always made her blush in real life.

It was wrong to think of Klaus in this way, without his permission, but she often indulged herself anyway. She didn't usually let herself feel very guilty about it. It wasn't real. It would be silly to think he would ever feel attracted to her and even crazier to think she might act on her feelings. No, nothing like that would ever actually happen between them. Her parents had made her promise to keep Klaus safe and Violet fully intended to keep that promise. She just liked how imagining Klaus kissing her and touching her made her body feel warm and aroused. The fantasies were only entertainment for when she felt bored or lonely, though there were plenty of times, in the quiet of the night right before sleep, when he'd sneak an arm around her and hold her close, that she could admit to herself that she loved him and was a little in love with him, and she understood that these were two totally different things, but Klaus could never know this truth about her. She would keep it secret because being in love with your brother is wrong. Simple as that.

Anyway, it all really began one late evening after the children had been tucked up into bed. It had been a busy, but wonderful day. After their morning chores were all through, Klaus and Violet had taken the girls swimming and had a picnic on the beach. Then the afternoon was spent together with Klaus by her side, working on an invention to supplement their refrigeration system. "Wouldn't it be nice to have ice?" Klaus had asked, so Violet had tied back her hair and gotten right to work. The project was far from finished, but she felt very satisfied with the progress they'd made in such a short time. Then, after supper, feeling quite tired from the day's activities, Violet sat with Klaus on the couch and instead of reading, they just lazed together there, and she leaned comfortably against him while they talked. They never ran out of things to say to each other. Conversation with Klaus was always interesting.

It had been a full day of companionship and comfort, and Violet was feeling quite euphoric, a side effect of being the direct recipient of so many of Klaus's quick and easy smiles, but the evening was coming to a close and she could barely keep her eyes open. "You can change first, Klaus," she said quietly, nodding towards the bedroom, giving his hand one more pat before she made to heave herself off the couch. "I'll just straighten up and turn out the lights." She walked around the room putting away books and plumping pillows, but Klaus didn't make a move to get up. She laughed at the way he still sat there, just watching her, and reaching around him, she switched off the living room light leaving them both in the dark. "You are coming to bed, aren't you?" she asked, teasing.

"Yeah, of course," he said with a small laugh. He stood from the couch, but didn't go to change, instead following Violet into the kitchen where she poured herself a glass of water. Gulping down a few sips, she handed the glass to him.

"Did you want some?" she asked. He took the glass from her only to set it distractedly on the counter.

"Violet?" he asked, like she wasn't already standing there, her attention on him.

"Yes?"

"There's something I want to talk to you about."

Violet let out a huff of a laugh. "We've been talking all evening. Are you sure there's anything left for us to say?"

He gave her another one of his smiles, but it was only half-hearted this time. "Yeah, I know. It's just…this isn't very easy for me to say…but…I need to say it, that is, if you don't mind? If you… you know, if you're tired, well…maybe we should just go to bed. Never mi…"

"Klaus," she held her hands up, interrupting him mid-sentence. He was rambling and stuttering a little, fidgeting with his glasses, which meant he was nervous. She hadn't seen him this nervous since before the island. "We can talk. What is it?" she asked, taking his hand.

He nodded, taking a deep breath. He ran his thumb gently over her fingers. "First, I want to say how happy I've been here with you. I feel like I can finally just stop and catch my breath and it's been…good."

Violet was nodding along encouragingly. "Yeah, it really has," she agreed.

"Right," he nodded, too, gulping visibly, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Things have been good and we've been happy."

Confusion began to stitch Violet's eyebrows closer together. "Yes. You've already said that."

"What I mean is, things could go on like this for a long time and I would be fine with that."

"Okay?" she shrugged, reaching around him again to turn the kitchen lamp off. "You're not really making sense. Maybe we should just…" As she turned for the bedroom, he caught her other hand, stopping her and making her face him again.

"Let me try again, Violet. I know it isn't coming out right." In the darkened room, she could barely make out how he clenched his eyelids tight, his brow furrowing as he organized his thoughts. "I love you," he said in a rush, eyes still closed while he said the words, but then quickly opened them, expectant.

She waited for him to go on, but when he paused, she encouraged him, "I love you, too. Whatever it is you need to say, I'll still love you. Just say it."

A quick, frustrated exhale. "I'm telling you that I love you, Violet. You don't have to say it back, just…I needed to say it. The not knowing is driving me a little crazy. I've thought maybe…I mean, sometimes it seems like…do you think…do you love me?"

Violet felt her euphoria from today fade away in the wake of his frustration. Klaus was making zero sense with this conversation. She was tired. He was tired. "I don't know what you want me to say, Klaus. Of course I love you. I just said so, didn't I?" She pulled her hands from his. "What is this really about?"

Klaus groaned and ran his hands through his hair, clutching at it and making it stick up on the side. "You're not understanding me," he said desperately.

"Clearly," she intoned, and her confusion had to be written all over her face. "Whatever it is can wait for morning, okay? You know what Homer says. 'There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.'" She said it like it was the end of the discussion. "I'm going to bed." She turned and left Klaus alone in the kitchen to come when he felt like it, but halfway across the small room, he'd caught up to her, grabbed her arm to pull her around again, to pull her body very close to his. He was so tall that she was forced to look up at him. His face was there, just above hers, and she felt a silly flutter in her stomach at how near his lips were to hers.

"Violet," he said, very quiet and very low. "I am in love with you. I have been for a while now. I want…God, I want more of you. I want to kiss you. I want to know what your skin feels like. I want to see all of you because you're so beautiful it makes my chest ache. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up in the morning and know that you're mine and I'm yours and that we'll never need anyone else. I think you're my everything. Do you understand?"

Her eyes searched his in the dark. Was this one of her fantasies? Was she asleep right now? Surely not. The Klaus of her dreams was way smoother than this one. She'd been so caught up in her imagined confessions of love that she'd missed all the signs of this real one. He'd caught her hands, faced her, told her how beautiful she was, and said he loved her. It was all supposed to be followed by a kiss. Is that what was about to happen?

But, never once in all her imaginings did she actually think a kiss might occur. Violet's eyes darted over his face again and again, trying to make sense out of his sudden declaration. She felt like she was standing on the brink of a tall waterfall, the water rushing all around her feet, pushing her closer and closer to the edge, until she felt like she might topple over. A short, nervous laugh escaped her, making her sound slightly unhinged. "You want to kiss me?" was all she could manage to say.

He was so close, his face right there. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest pressed against hers and his amused breath that huffed out over her lips. "Yes. I do," he whispered, then closed the remaining distance between them, kissing her softly, carefully, his hands sliding into her hair to hold her head. It was nothing like she'd imagined. Her mind had conjured up a two dimensional picture of this, void of any sensation, and that imagined scene paled in comparison with this real thing which was saturated with color and sound and taste and smell. His lips were so soft and warm, and his tongue was just there, fleeting against her mouth. His glasses bumped her cheek and his nose brushed against hers. His breath smelled like tea and bitter apples. It was lovely and all she could do at first was to stand there, rooted to the spot, frozen with surprise.

After too short of a time had passed, Klaus pulled away, uncertain. Shaking his head, he mumbled an apology. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have," but Violet grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for more. She thawed into pure hot emotion; all tongues, lips, and breath. She practically climbed up Klaus's body in her effort to get closer to him and he pressed his hands into her back to hold her there. The kiss was unconstrained; passionate, and Violet wanted to shout out that she was in love with Klaus! It was more than Violet had hoped love would feel like. Why hadn't they done this before? But then it occurred to her that this thing shouldn't happen. It couldn't.

Unbeknownst to Klaus at the time, a war broke out in Violet's mind. There was a reason she'd kept her love a secret. It was wrong, pure and simple, and as much as she wanted this, wanted him, she couldn't let it happen. This was not what her parents had wanted for her. They'd wanted her to protect Klaus, not defile him; not to mention it was against the law, and hadn't they broken enough laws?

He hummed into her mouth appreciatively, obviously enjoying her attention, and slid his hands up and down her back, splaying his fingers across her waist and it felt so good to have his arms around her, like he was her safeguard. There were no laws or parents here on the island, she argued in her head. What did it matter if she and Klaus found a little happiness in each other? Didn't they deserve it?

She told herself she was asking all the wrong questions. Didn't Klaus deserve more than her, a little girl with her twisted fantasies? Had she somehow rubbed off on her younger brother, transferring her perversions onto him? Had he somehow known all along? Guilt hit her in the stomach like a sucker punch. She pulled out of his embrace suddenly, finally gaining some sense and coming back to herself.

Klaus looked...glorious. That was the only word she could find to describe his smile. And then two possible paths opened up before her. She could have exactly what she'd been wanting for quite a while, if she were honest with herself. Klaus was offering it up to her on a silver platter. He could be her lover as well as her brother, he could be her everything, which would be wonderful considering how, right now, she practically had nothing. Choosing this would be easy, the path of least resistance.

On the other hand, doesn't the Bible say that the 'gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction'? All she could do for a moment was shake her head and fight back her tears. It was too hard. How could she choose between what was right and what was wrong? And how could loving this beautiful, good, kind, generous, intelligent boy be wrong? He was looking at her like she held the moon and the stars in her hand, and she didn't want to hurt him. Right up until then, she hadn't known for sure that her fantasies were anything more than just little stories that she told to entertain herself. Now she knew for certain that she was irrevocably in love with Klaus, but...God, he could never know...because no matter how good Klaus was, loving him like that was undeniably wrong; immoral, no matter what sort of spin you put on it.

"Klaus, no," she breathed.

"What? Why?" Of course Klaus was confused. She had just poured her heart and soul into that kiss and now she was refusing him.

"No. That's not…it isn't… We just can't."

"Violet?" he asked, pleaded. She hated watching that beautiful happiness drain from his face. It hurt more than she could say.

"It isn't right. You know that. Our parents would be disappointed in us." She'd known this would affect him and his sharp intake of breath was exactly what she'd expected. A long silence ensued in where he looked anywhere but at her. She wasn't sure what she felt more guilty about; the kiss or the uncertain expression etched on Klaus's forehead.

Finally, he nodded. "You're right. Of course, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. I guess I thought there for a minute…" his voice trailed off.

"What?" Violet asked gently.

"I thought that you felt the same. That was stupid." His voice rang hollow in her ears. She wanted so badly to assure him, but where would that lead?

"It was a mistake. Let's just forget about it, okay? We'll never mention it again and it'll be our little secret," she said and her cheer was too fake, too contrived. "Come on. Let's just go to bed and pretend this never happened."

His eyes slipped past her face to their bedroom, then quickly away again. "You go ahead, Violet. I'll just…I'll sleep on the couch."

"Klaus," she said placatingly. "You don't have to. Nothing has to change." The thought of sleeping alone in their parent's bed was the last straw for her tears. They began to glide over her eyelashes and down her cheeks, but Klaus didn't see because he wouldn't look at her.

"Good night," he said shortly, a wobble to his own voice. He disappeared into the dark of the living room and Violet couldn't make out his form anymore, but still she stood there feeling miserable and torn and angry and so, so sad.

And from then on, everything changed between them. Though Klaus remained steadfast in his duties to his family, —she could never fault him in his care for the children— never again was Violet the recipient of his tenderness or his easy smiles. There was only awkwardness and disinterest and regret; stilted conversations that spoke volumes of the things they couldn't say to each other. And though they never did speak of what had happened between them again, Klaus might as well have shouted his pain from the mountaintop, because she could see it on his face every time he looked at her, hear it in the flat way he spoke to her, feel it on the cool side of the bed where he used to lay. She hated it, but there was nothing she would change, because she'd made the right decision.

Right?

And so it went on for a long time... but this is not a story about orphans on a deserted island.