It had been four years since the Baudelaire parents had died in a fire.
It had been one month since Klaus had felt his first hope that Beatrice would live.
It had been one month since Violet had promised him with a kiss that she wouldn't leave him again.
Their first month on the island passed in a blur of activity. Beside feeding the baby every few hours, there was the house to clean and organize from top to bottom, supplies all over the island to sort through, meals to be prepared, clothes to be sorted, repaired and cleaned, and on and on. There was very little time to spend alone with Violet, except when they were falling, exhausted into bed, where sleep came fast. The two hadn't actually talked again about that night, so many weeks ago now, and the reality of it had become a little bit muddled in Klaus's memory, but sometimes he would catch Violet's longing look out of the corner of his eye, or sometimes, when passing each other in the small kitchen, Klaus would take a moment to catch hold of Violet, to place a tender kiss on her forehead, hoping to convey without words how much he cared for her.
Klaus had not become immune to the sight of Violet feeding the baby, either. The vision of her sitting serenely on the couch, shirt partially opened, with the baby in her arms, almost always caught him by surprise and he would feel a little catch of emotion burn his throat. It had become routine, though, and the baby was eating well and thriving. Violet had not wanted to give up this responsibility enough to bother inventing another system of delivery for the milk. She enjoyed the time with the sweet baby, Beatrice. It was one of the few times in the day where Violet would actually sit down and sit still and Sunny took full advantage of it by cuddling with her sister and holding the baby's hand while she ate.
More recently, though, Violet had complained of some pain while Beatrice suckled, hissing gently when the baby latched onto her nipple, leaving her raw and bleeding afterward. "It's normal, I think," Violet reassured her family. "I remember when Mother complained of the same thing when Sunny was an infant. The doctor told her to put her own breastmilk on her nipples and they would toughen up soon," she explained.
"But you don't have breastmilk," Klaus stated the obvious. They all fell silent for a long moment. "You know, saltwater is very good for cuts and scrapes. We have a whole ocean right outside…and exposing the wounds to sunlight will also help them to heal," he finished awkwardly. "I don't know, it might help?"
"No, that sounds like a good idea," Violet agreed. "Maybe I'll go for a swim this afternoon."
"Sure. It's worth a try. It won't hurt at any rate. I'll watch the girls while you go out."
After she gave Beatrice her afternoon feeding Violet told Klaus she was going for a quick swim. Beatrice was happy and cooing, kicking her little legs as Violet handed her over to him. Sunny had already laid down for her afternoon nap in the little room they had partitioned off for her. Klaus reassured Violet they would be fine for a few minutes and then she left with a quick backward look and a wave.
Klaus felt an immediate and inexplicable pang of loneliness when she left, followed by a twinge of worry. He sat awkwardly on the couch for approximately five minutes before doing a quick look in at Sunny to make sure she was still asleep, wrapped a blanket around Beatrice to keep the sun off of her head, and followed in Violet's footsteps down the sandy trail that led to the ocean. When the water came into view he ducked into a tuft of the sea oats that grew abundantly by the side of the trail, where he could hide but still keep an eye on Violet.
The sky was bright with late afternoon sun and clouds that rushed by in the wind, causing large shadows to chase each other across the sand. The natural sea wall that surrounded the island kept out currents, but the wind caused small waves to ripple to the shore anyway. The sea was almost always calm and clear around the island. He saw her there, standing at the water's edge, still for a long time, facing the ocean, letting the sea breeze blow her hair back and rustle her dress, the waves rushing over her ankles.
Klaus lowered himself into a sitting position on the high sand dune, cradling Beatrice in one arm, his eyes never leaving Violet. The baby continued to gurgle happily as he patted her back, but they were far enough away from Violet that the wind carried away the sound before it could reach her. She was unaware of their presence as she unbuttoned her dress and let it slip off her shoulders, pulled her panties off, and let the clothes fall into a heap in the sand.
Klaus looked away, initially embarrassed, though he wasn't sure what he had expected? This is what he had told her she should do, but her nakedness surprised him, and if honest, confused him, too. He tried to remember how he felt when he had seen her body before, when he had kissed her and touched her, but those feelings were all mixed up with memories of grief and worry, of despair and loneliness. When he looked up again, she was stepping into the ocean, wading into deeper water to submerge her entire body, swimming a short way underwater only to stand again and wring the water from her long hair, sometimes floating, sometimes swimming, and sometimes just walking amongst the shallows.
After quarter of an hour she walked out of the water and plopped down on her back in the dry sand, letting her bottom half remain in the shallowest surge of wave, exposing herself to the sunshine. Klaus didn't look away this time. He watched her quite intently, in fact, as she spread her legs, knees bent and feet digging deep into the sand. She used one arm to curl behind her head as a cushion, but her other hand she reached between her legs and began to touch there, rubbing little circles in her thatch of dark pubic hair. She hadn't even bothered to look around to see if anyone would see her, because who would? They were all alone on this island in the middle of the sea. Klaus was too far away to see her clearly, but the sight of her pleasuring herself sent a thrum of arousal through his body. He knew it was a private moment, that he should leave… and he would. In a minute.
From where he sat she looked absolutely relaxed, head flat on the sand now, forearm over her eyes to shield them against the sun. Several minutes passed by. She was still except for her hand between her legs and a few loose hairs blowing gently in the wind. Klaus had to refocus his attention on the baby who was starting to fuss, turning her in his arms to bounce her gently on his knee. When he looked back to Violet, her head was thrown back, neck arching, legs closing in on themselves, then dropping to flop bonelessly to the sides. Her removed her hand to draw lazy circles on her stomach. Klaus released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and gathering the baby in her blanket, stood slowly while peering at his sister through the blooms of the sea oats, who remained oblivious to his spying. Feeling guilty at last, but fascinated about what he had seen, he retraced his steps back up to the house.
For several days Klaus could think of little else. He began to wonder what it would be like if it were his fingers that brought her that relaxed pleasure? Then selfishly wondered if she would want to touch him? He wondered if she would let him kiss her mouth? It had been so long since he had done so that he really couldn't be sure of his welcome anymore.
An opportunity came one late night. The day had passed in a haze of chores and taking care of small children that kept both Violet and Klaus busy until bedtime. Violet was out as soon as her head hit the pillow, but Klaus's less than brotherly thoughts kept him awake. He kept thinking of how close Violet lay next to him in the small bed. Would she object if he reached out and pulled her body closer, buried his face in her long hair, held her hand… and on and on, until Beatrice woke with a sharp, hungry cry. Violet was immediately up, shushing Klaus as he sat up in the bed also, telling him gently to go back to sleep.
"It's okay. I'll get her," she said softly.
"I'll help. I'm awake anyway," and he followed her to the kitchen, turning on a low light and heating up the milk while she soothed the baby. Klaus filled the bag, handing the tubing to Violet over the back of the sofa as she loosened a few buttons of her shirt. She sat in her usual spot on the couch and Beatrice suckled greedily at Violet's breast.
Klaus came around to sit behind her, much like he had that first time she had fed the baby, one leg bent on the couch, the other setting on the floor, angling her back to his chest. He pulled her hair into one long, smooth wave down the middle of her back, exposing her neck and a little bit of her shoulder. He couldn't bear it anymore, the wondering. If she didn't want him, she would say, right? He placed his nose to the skin behind her ear and left a small kiss there, then another one further down the column of her neck. She shivered and leaned her head to the side, giving him more access and definitely not telling him to stop. He reached his arms around her to undo the last few buttons of her night shirt, letting his hands rub from her elbows up to her shoulders where he opened the shirt all of the way, pulling it off her shoulders and down her back.
He kissed across her shoulder, causing goosebumps to rise up all over her skin. He rubbed her arm again and when he reached her shoulder he followed the swell of her breast back down, careful with her sore spots. He cupped the soft flesh, running his thumb over the side of it.
"Klaus." She sighed his name and laid her head back on his shoulder, leaning into his chest. He had a wonderful view of her this way.
"You are so beautiful," he told her. She angled her face up to him, kissing his jawline, sucking on a bit of his neck that she could reach, until his lips met hers, tongues touching immediately in soft open mouthed kisses.
His hand left her breast to splay on her stomach, touching all the skin he could reach. The baby was only halfway done with her milk, but already had her eyes closed, suckling intermittently in a comforted sleepy way. As they kissed, Klaus pushed his fingers under her waistband and scratched his fingertips softly through the hair there, making her spread her legs wider in anticipation.
There was a warmth emanating from between her legs and when he dipped his fingers into her slick heat he could feel how turned on she was. He remembered how she had touched herself and tried to replicate the movements. He rubbed circles, but then would slide further down and actually into her, earning him several soft moans as he pumped in and out, only to start the process over again.
Holding Violet like this felt new, yet familiar to him. He would know her even if he was blind, her scent, her voice, her way, as he had known these things his whole life. She reached her free arm back to curl around his neck, holding him so she could kiss him, though she was concentrating more on the feel of his hand than the actual kissing now. He left her lips to kiss the jaw of her upturned face and down her neck again, so she laid her head back on his shoulder as he sucked at a spot just in the crook of her neck.
Her grip on his neck tightened, but her arms trembled. She buried her face in his neck and exhaled a muffled cry. Her legs closed on his hand with his fingers still pushed deep inside her. She must've been holding her breath for a long moment, because all of the sudden she was breathing heavy. Klaus was so turned on by it all and he really wasn't sure what to do next, except that the baby had finished drinking and had fallen off Violet's breast, fast asleep, still safe in Violet's arm.
When Violet finally relaxed into his embrace, he took his fingers back, surreptitiously wiping them on his shirt. He stood slowly, letting Violet readjust her body on the couch, and reached for Beatrice.
"Here, let me put her down in her cradle," he offered. More often than not, they kept the baby in the bed with them to get more sleep, but Beatrice did have her own spot in the small house. Klaus laid her with her blankets and set Violet's rocking invention into motion. He felt nervous all of a sudden when he turned back to Violet who was still sitting on the couch, attention on him.
He reached out his hands to pull her up off the couch and she accepted. When they were standing face to face, Klaus swept her hair back off her shoulders and pulled her shirt the rest of the way off. He pulled his own shirt over his head, then kissed her, pulling her flush against him, running his hands all over her back, pressing up and down her spine.
Violet also slid her hands down his chest and around his waist, pushing under the waistband of his boxers to cup his bottom. With a little maneuvering his underwear fell down to the floor, leaving him totally exposed and a bit nervous, if he were honest. Violet pulled hers off, too, and they were skin to skin. She touched him everywhere… everywhere but there, until Klaus thought he might go crazy for the longing of it, until he whispered, pleading, "Violet." He felt her smile against his lips, and she turned them so he had his back to the couch.
"Sit," she told him, and as he did so she followed him onto his lap. She settled gently over his erection, pressing it between her and his belly, and her warm, slick weight felt like heaven. Violet experimentally rolled her pelvis against him, causing friction for them both.
"Do you want this, Klaus?" Violet asked sincerely.
It was hard to know. Klaus felt so aroused. He knew he needed something, needed Violet to do something, but he couldn't have told her what. "I…I don't know," he answered truthfully. He wanted Violet to…oh God, he didn't know. "Violet…please?"
"You can tell me to stop, okay?" Violet said as on the next rock of her hips Klaus slid into her just a bit. When Klaus didn't answer, she took his face in her hands. "Tell me to stop." He just looked at her, saying nothing, so she closed her eyes and slid back onto him a little farther, slow and sweet. Klaus grabbed onto her waist, mouth opened in a loud groan of pleasure. Violet whispered a "Shhh" as she pressed her forehead to his as a reminder that they were not the only people here in this tiny home.
And there was no going back now, was there? And who would want to go back, because Klaus had never felt anything so good, so good. And he felt too much, a shared grief with Violet as they bade their childhoods goodbye, but joy also, and something else? He felt like he had loved Violet before, they had been through so much together, after all, and he would have done anything for her to protect her, even die for her, but this? Now, as she rocked her body gently over his, he felt a fierceness on her behalf. He would let nothing could come between them or hurt them. He felt like he wholly belonged to her, that she made him complete, when he hadn't known before that he was only a part of a person without her.
And he must be making too much noise, he hadn't realized he was, because she kept shushing him. To hell with that. He scooped her up and carried her to their small bedroom and shut the door behind him. Klaus laid Violet on the bed, none too gently, and climbed over her, guiding himself now back into her center, pushing into her with as much noise as he pleased, because he was so lost in her he didn't care what came out of his mouth. Her legs were spread wide for him, her breasts so soft against his chest, her mouth desperate, yet gentle against his own.
As Klaus was chasing his own pleasure, brain full of tender thoughts of Violet, his mouth pouring them out apparently, he had a sudden thought, a memory of Kit as she gave birth. It had been hard and horrible and bloody, ending in her death, and he realized that he couldn't let that happen to Violet. He wouldn't let that happen, because that was surely a risky consequence to what they were doing right now, wasn't it? So, as he felt a tingling spread over his body and the pressure building and his erection grow even harder, if that was possible, he pulled out of her quickly to thrust against her soft belly, seed puddling there and running down her side.
He fought the urge to collapse on her as his arms shook, but in the end Violet pulled him close, wrapping both her legs and arms tightly around him, grounding him, bonding him to her further with sweet kisses and reassuring nothings coming from her mouth. Then, when his breathing had returned to almost normal she said, "I love you so much."
Klaus already knew the truth of it, but God, did it feel good to hear it. He was tired, he knew, but he felt tears pricking at his eyes and that catch of emotion again that burned his throat so often lately, so he waited until he could be sure of his voice before he answered her, and even then it broke a little. "I love you, too, Violet."
He rolled over to his side, bringing her with him, so they remained flush. He covered them with their blanket. "So," he began, "is this us, now?"
"We're always us," she answered. "I'm not sure what you're asking."
"Do we just do this anytime we want? Can I kiss you anytime I want?" he asked. "I guess I'm not sure what the rules are."
"Hmmm," Violet hummed, giving him a peck on the lips. "My heart belongs to you, Klaus. It has for a while now, if I'm being honest. The only rule I can think of off the top of my head would be that you must say 'No' or 'Stop' if there is ever anything that makes you uncomfortable. Do you understand?"
Klaus nodded. "And you." He hesitated before asking. "Did I do it right? I mean…was it, well, obviously it felt good to me, but did you think it was good?"
"Seriously," she said with a smile, "when have you ever not been good at something?" Klaus felt his cheeks blush and he couldn't help but smile. "You are brilliant, Klaus Baudelaire. Exceptionally brilliant!"