Reaching over the armrest that divided their seats, Violet squeezed Klaus's hands which he had clenched together so hard that his knuckles were turning white. Her familiar fingers momentarily diverted his attention from his severe introspection.

"You know," she offered, meaning to reassure, "they say that you are more likely to get attacked by a shark than to die in a plane crash."

"Well," he answered, remaining ramrod straight in his seat, eyes forward and glued to the seat back in front of him. "That might be true if I were near the ocean, but since we're actually in a plane 35,000 feet above the earth right now, falling from the sky seems a lot more likely."

Violet huffed a short laugh and shook her head at him. "Well, I think flying is wonderful." No doubt her mechanically gifted mind was turning cartwheels at the opportunity to ride in a jet clear across the country. She leaned her forehead against the window but didn't take her hand from over his. "Look, Klaus," she tried to distract him. "All you can see is clouds and sunshine. It's beautiful." She leaned back and pointed, but he was definitely not interested.

"No, thank you." He checked his seatbelt buckle for the umpteenth time, while Violet reached into their shared carry-on bag and pulled a book out, handing it to him.

"Want to read?" The book he'd brought was a travel guide to San Francisco, which happened to be their current destination. "It might take your mind off of the flight and you can tell me all about the city."

He shot a quick glance at his sister, who was smiling patiently at him. He forced himself to smile back, tight-lipped thought it was, and took the book from her, keeping it closed on his lap.

"I'm sorry you're uncomfortable, Klaus, but you know this was the only way we could get to California in the amount of time that we had. This interview is very important to me, to both of us...maybe a once in a lifetime chance." Her voice was wistful.

Klaus took a deep breath, trying to gain control over his fear. This was his first flight ever and he hadn't even realized he was afraid of flying until this death contraption began to taxi down the runway. "I know. I'm glad to get to come with you." He grabbed her hand and pulled it back over to his side of the armrest, clutching hers as tightly as he had clutched his own. The whole reason he was doing this was to support Violet. She had worked for months on her wonderful invention and now Omega Tech, one of the highest rated technology companies in the country, was interested.

"If this works out, Klaus," she said quietly, pensively looking away out of the window again, "maybe we won't have to worry about money so much. I would love to buy a house, pay our debts, take Sunny and Beatrice to the doctor when they're sick. Wouldn't you like to send them to a better school?"

Klaus nodded. He understood completely. The day they had inherited their so-called fortune, the siblings had been in for a huge surprise, and it wasn't a huge pile of money. What Mr. Poe had considered a fortune had been barely enough to cover legal fees and their cost of living for several years. Klaus had often wondered since then how their lives might have turned out differently if someone had just told Count Olaf how much money (or how little might be a better way to put it) was in their account. Surely he wouldn't have even bothered with them.

So Klaus and Violet had been frugal. They had gone without for so long now that Klaus wasn't sure what he would do with a fortune if it happened to fall in his lap. Taking care of the girls would be top priority, of course, but luckily, and in his opinion, they were faring quite well so far. Overall, he really wasn't sure what he wanted.

"You could go to college," Violet said quietly. She would spend all of her money on her family and never stop twice to think about it.

"We'll see." Klaus squeezed her fingers, then chuckled, adding, "You could go to college."

Violet nodded. "Yeah, maybe I will. We could go together. Then you could help me with all my English assignments."

Klaus liked that idea. He leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes, relaxing fractionally. He tried to ease his grip on Violet's fingers but just couldn't. He imagined them enrolling in classes together, picking up the girls from school on their way home from class. He thought about what it might feel like to have their own home, somewhere that was all theirs, safe, sitting across from Violet at a dining table strewn with textbooks, reading and studying into the wee hours of morning. He knew his fantasy was lame, but it involved his favorite things - learning and Violet.

The flight was long, but it was non-stop, so Klaus only had to endure the one take-off and landing. Severe pressure began to build in his sinuses during the plane's descent. Reaching under his glasses to press his fingers hard into his forehead and eyebrows didn't help alleviate the stinging throb. He hated it when his ears popped and that didn't help either. He could only close his eyes tight, clench his teeth, and endure the pain.

"It's almost over," he heard Violet say, but the pain kept him from answering. She rubbed his upper arm comfortingly. "I can see the ground and it's close." But it was another 15 minutes before the plane's wheels bumped and screeched against the runway tarmac. Klaus fought heavily against the urge to throw up, breathing deeply in the aftermath of his acute headache. The sharp pain was gone, but tears prickled his eyes and he quickly rubbed them away. He definitely hated flying. When the plane came to a complete stop at the gate; when the lights flicked on and the seatbelt sign flicked off, and every passenger on the plane stood at once to queue for the door, Klaus could finally give Violet a genuine smile.

"You made it!" said Violet.

"We made it!" he agreed, grabbing the carry-on bag from between Violet's feet, joining the rest of the passengers as they made their way off the plane and down the gangway, all of them following the signs that led to baggage claim. On their way out of the airport they passed souvenir shops and restaurants smelling of cooking food and hot bread, and Klaus found that he was pretty hungry, having skipped out on the in-flight meal because he had feared he might throw up. Violet noticed him look longingly at the foods on display as they passed, but they both knew they had to be careful with the money they had brought with them.

"Hey," she said, pulling him by his upper arm when he stopped to peruse a menu that was tacked to the wall outside a mediterranean restaurant. "I'm a little worried about the suitcase. Let's see if it made it here in one piece, then we can make some plans for the evening, okay?" Her invention was in the suitcase and naturally she would be anxious about it.

"Of course," he agreed, not wanting her to feel bad for him. "I'm fine."

"The hostel should be very close to Fisherman's Wharf. I'm sure there'll be any number of places to eat." Violet assured.

The flight's baggage took an interminable amount of time to start rotating on the belt. "I guess we'll grab a taxi and drop off our stuff at the hostel, then maybe walk around town?" he suggested, careful not to mention how hungry he was. They'd come up with a tentative schedule before making their plane reservations and had arrived to San Francisco several days early to the interview on purpose. Violet had said she wanted to have a proper vacation, especially as neither of them had ever been to the west coast. Violet dug around in her bag and surreptitiously pulled out some money, giving half of the bills to Klaus.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, shoving it back at her.

"It's just a little I pulled out of the savings." She pushed the wad back into his hand. "No, you keep half. That way we both have some in case of an emergency."

He gave her a look of exasperation, but pulled his wallet from his back pocket to stow the bills. They both worked their fair share to support their little family and they put all of their earnings into one account which Violet usually took care of. He didn't realize she had been putting money into savings. "It's okay to have a little funny money, Klaus. We can try some new things while we're here, have a little fun for a change." She put her arm around his waist and looked up into his face. "You work too hard and you're too serious! Just think…" she paused and looked down at the ground. "Well, maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up too high."

"They are going to love your invention, Violet. I have no doubt!" Just then, their old-fashioned suitcase fell onto the baggage carousel belt and Violet wiped her brow in exaggerated relief. Klaus pushed his way through the throng of people to grab the weathered handle, hefting it down. Violet took control of the carry-on bag and led the way outside to a line of taxis.

"The hostel at Fort Mason, please," she instructed the cab driver. He nodded, indicating he knew where to go. The driver was a quiet man so the siblings were also quiet on the long drive from the airport.

The way through the city was scenic with its iconic hills and overlooks to the ocean far below. When they passed by the trolley the siblings gave each other sad looks of remembrance and couldn't help but compare it to another trolley, though more rickety than this one, in another city. The entrance to the hostel's property was a steep, green hill and they were let out at a set of large double doors. People of all ages milled about outside and in, but most were young people in their early twenties, like Violet and Klaus. The lobby was clean and there was a door that led to a bright café were travelers were talking together in small groups and drinking cups of coffee and tea. The seats around the perimeter of the café were the most crowded where people had their laptop computers plugged into any available power sources to charge along the walls.

Violet stepped up to the desk with Klaus beside her. "Hi," she greeted a young, bearded fellow manning the desk. "There should be a reservation for Baudelaire?" The man tapped a few keys on his computer, pulling up the information.

"Yes, I have you down for our medium bunk room," he smiled pleasantly at her.

"No," Violet disagreed, keeping her smile in place. "I reserved a private room with two beds."

"I'm afraid all of our private rooms are currently filled. In fact, we have a full house all weekend. There's a music festival going on, you see."

Violet shared a look with Klaus. He only shrugged, saying quietly, "It doesn't matter to me."

"But, the invention…" True, how could she keep it safe in a room full of strangers?

"Sir, do you have a safe that can accommodate something fairly large if we need to keep it locked up?" Klaus asked.

"Of course." He indicated a room off to the side behind him. "You can rent a safe for five dollars a day."

Violet seemed fairly disappointed at the failed reservation. Although Klaus knew she liked to meet people, it was always hard to sleep in a room with too many strangers. "I guess we'll take the beds in the bunk room then," she said resignedly. It's not like they could afford a real hotel in San Francisco. They had searched the internet for a room in the city, but it would have been way too expensive to stay at even the cheapest hotel for the four nights they had planned on.

"You mean bed?" said the clerk.

"Bed?" asked Klaus, scrunching his eyebrows together in confusion.

"Yes, that is all we have available. I did mention that we have a full house."

"But," exclaimed an exasperated Violet, "I made a reservation for two in a private room."

"Our beds have plenty of privacy, if that's what you're worried about," and the man had the audacity to wink at Klaus.

Violet opened her mouth to argue, but only a squeak came out. Klaus sighed, looking at his sister. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time we've had to share," he told her quietly as the man came around to the front of the desk to show them the way to their bed. Singular.

Down the hall and to the right was the women's bathroom; a little farther was the men's. Two turns to the left and the bearded clerk showed them into a narrow room. Interestingly, the beds were built into the walls, like little cubby holes, and Klaus was sure he would have loved sleeping like this as a child. Each bedded cubby hole was covered with a curtain for privacy. Several people lounged in their beds, reading or looking at their phones. There were built in lights over each bed and a smaller one located at the head of the bed for reading.

The clerk led them all the way to the end of the room to the last pair of beds that faced each other. In between them was a tall window that looked out over the grounds of Fort Mason. The bed was twin-sized, with white sheets and a white blanket that smelled a bit like bleach, and the interior of the cubby was lined with wood panels and a few shallow shelves.

"Well, here you go," said the clerk, indicating the empty bed. "I hope you enjoy your stay in San Francisco."

"Thank you," said Violet half-heartedly, setting her bag down on the bed and plopping there herself.

Klaus set down the suitcase. "Cheer up," he said, playfully pushing past his sister to lay across the bed, propping an arm behind his head on the plump, white pillow. "At least we have a room with a view."

She looked at him questioningly, so he pulled at her arm until she lay down next to him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, and let her gaze follow to where he pointed out the window. Beyond the green hills of the hostel's grounds lay a few blocks of city, then the ocean, and off to the side Violet could just make out the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge. She gave a delighted laugh, then pointed herself. "Look," she said excitedly. "There's Alcatraz." Sure enough, the old prison was clearly visible out on its little island.

Just then Klaus's stomach gave an undeniable growl. Violet looked up at him, smiling now. "Want to walk down and see what we can find to eat?"

An attractive couple, maybe in their thirties, walked up to the bed across from them, pulling back the curtain to sit down. "Hey, look," said the woman, nudging the man. "Our neighbors have finally arrived. Hi, I'm Jen and this is my husband Tim. Did you just get in? We got here a couple of days ago. Where are you guys coming from?"

Jen was pretty, with long, reddish brown hair, a few freckles across her nose and a friendly smile. Her husband was tall and muscular about the arms. Violet sat up quickly, always eager to introduce. "Hello. I'm Violet and this is Klaus," she gestured toward her supine brother. "We just flew in from the east coast. Have any suggestions for restaurants close by?"

"Well, what are you interested in?" asked Jen, sitting on the bed opposite Violet. "There's plenty of seafood, chowder especially, and there's Italian and sandwiches and coffee shops…" she ticked every choice off on a different finger.

Klaus interrupted, sitting up, "I'm interested in whatever's quick." His stomach growled loudly to emphasize his point.

Tim chimed in. "There's a pizza place just at the bottom of the hill," he suggested.

"Sounds perfect," the siblings said simultaneously, grinning at each other.

With an approving cluck of her tongue, Jen said, "Well, aren't you the cutest couple?"

This was a very common mistake amongst people who were just meeting the Baudelaires, but Klaus had always assumed it was because the pair usually had two little girls with them and presented as a traditional family. They rarely took the time to correct people, because then they would have to explain and explaining their family was not an easy task, nor always a very safe one. Violet looked quickly to Klaus, ready to follow his lead, but he gave her a furtive wink. He sometimes had the silly notion that Violet would be safer if people thought he was her husband and not just her brother.

"Well," said Violet. "Should we see about renting a safe, then we can head out for some pizza?" Violet stood, turning her back on their new friends to unzip their suitcase. The invention was wrapped securely in layers of paper and tape and took up much of the space. She handed it carefully to Klaus, then dug around amongst the clothes until she pulled out a sweater to protect her arms against the temperate evening chill that blew in from the bay.

"I know curiosity kills the cat, but my interest is piqued! Not to be too nosy, but, what in the world is that?" asked Tim, indicating the large parcel in Klaus's arms.

Violet smiled kindly at the couple. "It's why we're here…part of my portfolio, if you will. I have an interview on Monday."

"That sounds important," said Jen, poking Tim in the ribs. "You are nosy."

"Everyone who knows you knows you're nosier!" he replied.

"I'm sure we'll see you in a bit. Thanks for the supper suggestions," said Klaus and they bid their bunkmates goodbye, stashed the invention in a large safe, and headed out for dinner.

The pizza was good. Anything would have tasted delicious to Klaus at that point, he was sure. Violet had even splurged on a large glass of foamy lager for them to share. They hardly ever drank alcohol, but it tasted really good with the pizza and helped to relax them after their long trip. He could feel the instant the alcohol hit his bloodstream, pulling at his belly button in a weirdly sexual way. It never took more than a few sips to affect him like this and the sensation was unsettling and enticing at the same time.

But the day had been extra long. They had woken before dawn to make sure the girls were ready for the babysitter and to make sure they had enough time to get to the airport and through security. Then, there was the long flight and the time change, and even though the night was young here in this time zone, the siblings had been up for too long and were soon just ready for bed.

Klaus had felt one hundred percent better since leaving the airport, but now, even with his belly pleasantly full, that same headache began tickling at his forehead again. He couldn't help but thread his fingers under his glasses to press them over his eyebrows in an attempt to ease the pressure there. If Violet noticed, she didn't say anything, and he was happy not to have her coddle him.

He managed to enjoy the walk back to the hostel, breathing in the cool, fresh air, and the two stopped partway up the steep hill to view the lights of the city. "I'm looking forward to our tour tomorrow," said Violet after a long silence. They had decided on a guided bus tour of the city to get an overall feel for the place.

"Yeah, me, too. We can mark off things in the travel guide and write down what we might want to come back to."

"Very sensible, Klaus," Violet laughed.

"Hmm," he said good-naturedly, with a wry smile. "I get the feeling you're making fun of me."

"No, I'm not," she defended. "But it's true. I sometimes wonder if you are inherently a serious person, or if…you know…you didn't have so much responsibility…" her voice trailed off.

He gave her a flat smile. "It doesn't do any good to wonder, Violet. It won't change the way things are. Of course, I sometimes wish things could be different…for all of us."

"But they could be different for you," she took one of his hands in both of hers, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles. "You should go to school. You could take a break from us for awhile." Klaus was already shaking his head, but Violet continued. "The girls are getting older and aren't so hard to take care of anymore. They don't really need both of us. I could probably do it myself."

"I'm not leaving you alone…" he began, but she talked over him.

"Not to mention what a handsome young man you've become. Have you ever had a girlfriend?" she asked, almost accusing.

He scoffed. "You know that I haven't. You know they would never under…"

"Don't you want to find someone to love? To live your life for a change? To do what you want to do, not just what's expected of you?"

"Hey!" he said loudly to stop her tirade, then lowered his voice again. "What is this about? Really?"

Violet was quiet for a few heartbeats. "I just don't want to be the reason…" She had to start again because her voice broke a little. "I just don't want to be what's holding you back. I don't want you to wake up one day and hate me."

He pulled her by her shoulders and into his embrace. "I will never hate you." He felt her breathe a large sigh, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Have I never told you that you are my absolute favorite person in the whole world?"

"I am?" she asked, face buried in his chest.

"Of course."

"More than Beatrice?"

"Yes."

"More than Sunny?" her voice was incredulous.

"Do Tesla coils produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity?" At that, Violet pulled back to beam at her brother, and he smiled sweetly back. "What about you, Violet? Are you feeling stuck?"

She pressed her face into his chest again and shook her head. "No. Never."

"Okay, enough of this then. I'm happy. You're happy. No more discussion." He took her hand and led the way up the last half of the hill, looking forward to bed and sleep.

The hostel was full of people when they returned. There was a mile-long line for the showers, so Violet and Klaus agreed they would try again in the morning. As it was, Klaus was able to use the urinal fairly quick and then shared a sink with a pimply youth in order to brush his teeth.

He thought he was quick, but Violet had beat him back to the bed. She was dressed in a tee shirt and pajama shorts, same as him, and had taken the spot against the wall with her back propped up by the single pillow on the small bed. She had her notebook out and was reviewing her notes, making changes by crossing out words and penning others in the margins. She smiled at him when he approached and motioned at the book she had laid out for him. "Hey, I'm not exactly sure when they turn off the overhead lights. Maybe we can just get a little work done before bed?"

Klaus made a face, but Violet didn't see as she was already absorbed again in her notebook. He really was tired and his head was starting to pound in earnest. He laid down and Violet scooted as close as she could to the wall to make more room for him in the small bed. Goodness, he hadn't had to share a bed with Violet since before he'd grown into a man. Back then, there hadn't been very much room, but now? He turned onto his side, trying to get comfortable without touching his sister too much, then gave up. Digging one arm between her back and the wall that she leaned against, and laying one arm lightly around her waist, he pressed his forehead into her soft hip, trying to ease the pain.

With her right hand she scribbled away in her book, but with her left she absently slid her fingers into Klaus's hair, massaging his scalp and neck. "That feels good," he told her, pulling his glasses off and placing them on an overhead shelf that he hoped he wouldn't bump his head on in the night.

"Is your head still hurting?" she asked, pulling her attention from her work to check on her brother, and obviously she'd known about his headache all along.

"Yeah, I thought it was gone, but I guess I'm just jet-lagged. I'll be okay." He laid back down and she continued to rub his head. When they finally turned off the overhead light, Klaus breathed a huge sigh of relief. Violet still had the small reading light on and he didn't begrudge her that.

"Klaus," Violet whispered a little later, scooting down in the bed and under the covers with him, "close the curtains." He pulled them off the small hook that kept them open and they fell mostly closed. Violet switched off the light. The bed seemed really small and the one pillow inadequate. After wiggling a bit, Violet said, "Turn over and I'll rub your back for you."

It was just her way to make more room for her, but he was willing to do it for a back rub. So they laid, sort of spooning, and Violet pressed her thumbs into the top of his spine and began to knead over his shoulders and then down the middle of his back. She kept bunching up his tee shirt only to smooth it out again. It didn't bother him, but apparently she was having a hard time with it. "Take this off," she demanded, tugging at his shirt. He reached behind him and tugged the garment over his head, throwing it down to the foot of the bed.

Her hands were cool on his bare back and he flinched when she resumed her massage. She laughed at his reaction, and so did he. He wasn't really used to being touched so intimately. He had to admit that it felt wonderful. "How's your head?" she whispered. The room had become quiet and Klaus wondered what time it was.

"It hurts," he admitted. Every time he would just about drift off to sleep, a wave of pain would wash across his forehead.

"Do you remember what Mother used to do when we had a headache?" He found he couldn't recall and shook his head. Violet was lucky enough to have had almost two extra years with their parents before they'd died and between the two of them, he thought her memory of them was the clearest. She propped herself up on her elbow and reached around to his cheek, urging him to turn onto his back and to face her. The light was still on in Jen and Tim's bed across the way and he could see Violet in the soft illumination through the curtain. Her long, dark hair fell around him as she slowly leaned over him, pressing her soft, warm lips over his eyebrow, holding them there, then repeating the kiss to his other eyebrow.

"I remember," he whispered and she smiled softly at him, rubbing her thumb across his cheek. He reached up to push her hair behind her ear and she looked away, shy for some reason.

"Do you want some ibuprofen, Klaus?" Pleased with her idea, Violet didn't wait for his answer, climbing over Klaus to get to their suitcase that was stowed under the bed, but she didn't get very far before she scrambled quickly back to her spot behind him, getting under the covers and shaking with silent laughter.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Shh," she said and pointed through the small crack in their curtains. "Look."

He followed the direction of her finger and his eyes about popped out of his head. Jen and Tim still had their curtains halfway open and their reading light on, and they were totally naked. Klaus supposed that he and Violet were the only ones who would be able to see the couple unless someone purposefully walked all the way to the end of the row of beds, but still. The older couple were kissing, heedless of the open curtain, and Klaus watched as Tim maneuvered Jen to sit between his legs that hung over the edge of the bed, pulling her thighs apart to rest over his knees, teasing her breasts and pulling her face around so that he could kiss her mouth. The siblings had a very detailed and explicit view of Jen's body.

"Maybe we shouldn't watch," Violet whispered right into his ear so that there was no way the couple across the way would hear, but she was propped up on her elbow again to see over him, eyes glued to the lovemaking across the aisle.

"You can watch if you want to, Violet." He turned his face to whisper in her ear. "They're exhibitionists."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that they like to have sex where someone might be able to see them. They get their kicks off the possibility they might get caught."

"Oh," she replied, but it was just breath across his shoulder. Tim was pressing his fingers into Jen's vagina, then pulling them out to rub circles around her swollen clitoris. Jen's skin was tanned a light golden brown and more freckles dotted her arms and chest. Her breasts were quite large. She was a good-looking woman and Klaus felt overly warm, and it was like Violet could read his thoughts because she whispered again in his ear. "Do you like her breasts?"

He nodded. "They're nice," he said lamely, then cleared his throat quietly, uncertainly. "Is it hot in here?" She nodded.

They watched as Tim pleasured Jen for several more minutes and Klaus liked the way she rode his fingers when they were pressed deep into her. His own erection pulsed in serious arousal and it was really hard not to reach down and press a palm over it, but he was so overly aware of his sister in bed behind him. He could feel the way her breathing had become very fast, could even feel her heart pounding against his back. Then he felt her hand, not so cool anymore, brush down his side and over his hip, causing goosebumps to rise across his arm. The idea of her touching him while watching another couple have sex was very confusing to him, yet quite alluring. She spread her fingers over his stomach, letting them linger there for a moment, then pushed her hand up the middle of his chest, scratching softly at the hair that grew there.

When her fingers found his nipples he knew there was no possibility that her touch was innocent anymore. He placed a hand over hers and turned to look over his shoulder at her. Her cheeks were very pink and she couldn't quite meet his gaze.

"Violet?" he whispered, asking, but they were distracted into stillness as the couple across the way changed positions. Tim adjusted his body lengthwise across the bed, his head on the pillow, and Jen straddled his lap, facing the foot of the bed, her hands on Tim's thighs. Tim was also very tan and his legs were just as muscular as his arms. He took his own erection in his fist, pumping several times before guiding it between his wife's legs. Jen took him all the way into her body, their faces bearing twin expressions of ecstasy. She began a quick pace, pulling forward far enough that the siblings had a clear view of the length of Tim's penis, before rocking her hips back over his. Klaus felt a silly pang of jealousy and he wasn't sure if it was that Tim's body was the epitome of masculinity or if it was because Violet was seeing it.

Violet pressed her face into his cheek, breathing into his ear, asking permission. "God, Klaus. Can I touch you?" He could feel heat emanating from his body, or was that her heat? She was just as aroused as he was.

"Violet," he said her name again, but didn't know what it meant, didn't know what he wanted.

"It's just sex. It doesn't have to mean anything," she said raggedly into his shoulder and her mouth opened and closed infinitesimally over his skin, causing another round of goosebumps. In answer he let go of her hand, feeling an enormous amount of shame at how good the slide of her fingers down his center felt, and also an exceeding amount of guilt at how much he anticipated her touch when her hand slipped under the waistband of his boxers, and then all concerns disappeared when she began to stroke him in time to Tim and Jen's lovemaking. He forgot all about his headache or their money problems, and he was sorry to say he surely wasn't thinking about Sunny or Beatrice or anything except for the sweet girl pressed into his body, and how good it felt to trust her so implicitly.

Klaus didn't think Violet was watching anymore. Her head lay behind his on the pillow and her body so close beside his in the small bed that he could feel when she reached her other hand down between them to touch herself. If he wasn't trying to be so quiet he would have moaned at the sexual gratification of it all. It was a teenage boy's dream and he felt himself leaking semen like crazy, but Violet only spread it over his shaft, keeping her rhythm steady.

His eyes had instinctively fallen shut as soon as he'd felt Violet slide her hand inside her own panties, imagining what it might feel like to push her hand out of the way and touch her himself, and that Violet's hand moving over him so sweetly and erotically was really another part of her body, but a quick peek at the exhibitionists across the way showed him that Tim had sat up to fondle Jen's breasts again. They were surprisingly, exceptionally quiet in their lovemaking, preferring to be seen and not heard, Klaus supposed. He could feel Violet's breaths, erratic now against his neck. She was close. So was he. So was Jen. Her face spoke volumes of pleasure, her mouth open in a silent 'oh', then her body quaked and Tim was whispering encouraging words into her ear, kissing up and down the column of her neck. When Jen couldn't keep a steady pace anymore, Tim easily held her over him while he bucked his hips furiously, chasing his own pleasure now. At the same time he felt Violet's teeth bite gently into the crook between his neck and his shoulder, felt her body shiver against his back, and heard as well as felt her long, quiet exhale followed by a quick succession of damp breaths against his neck signaling her orgasm.

Violet was only distracted from her task of satisfying him for a short moment, her hand slowing, but it didn't matter. It was all too much. He fought the urge to turn and wrap his arms around Violet and kiss her senseless as he came, but instead turned his face into the pillow, hiding his embarrassment because he'd just let his sister jerk him off. "Fuck," he cursed into the pillow, breathing heavily, holding Violet's hand still as he ejaculated into his underwear. After a minute, when he couldn't hear his heartbeat thrumming in his ears anymore, he let go of her hand and she pulled it out of his boxers, dragging her fingers along his stomach, feeling the goosebumps that now covered his sweaty torso.

Violet rolled onto her back and covered her face with her hands. The bed was shaking and at first Klaus thought she was crying. He understood. He felt a little like crying himself, but when he turned to her in alarm, ready to apologize, he found that she was laughing, trying not to make any noise. He smiled too, against his better judgment. He guessed the situation was a little funny. He poked her ribs. "What are you laughing at?"

"I've never heard you say that word before," she looked at him, eyes wide, grinning, obviously pleased with herself for having made him say such a forbidden thing. He only shook his head at her mirth, a little awed that she didn't seem in the least embarrassed about what they had just done. She looked past him, focusing on Tim and Jen.

"Are they all done?" Klaus whispered.

Violet nodded. "They've closed their curtains now. Do you still want that medicine for your headache? I can get it for you now." She rubbed her thumbs over his eyebrows again.

"Nah. It's okay. Maybe you could do that thing Mother used to do one more time?" he raised his eyebrows at her and she cradled his face in her palms. Again, he wondered what if might feel like to kiss her, but held himself still when she pressed her lips to his brow. She flopped onto her back again, taking up most of the bed.

"Do we need to set the alarm?" she asked.

"I did, but not too early."

"Okay," she said, turning her face toward him, so that their noses were only inches away from each other on the pillow. "Goodnight."

His mouth quirked up in a half smile. "Goodnight."