Appreciate all the love guys, many thanks! And as promised, here's chapter two.

Timeless Love

Chapter 2: His Davina

Himself.

Marcel sees himself in her eyes. Not exactly the man he is now, but the boy he once was. There is a fire in her eyes that reminds him of the one that burns inside him, the fire that holds his will to live. He realizes in that very moment that she must've been woven from the same thread he was made from.

So he saves her.

"I've got you."

She clings to him with teary eyes and shaky hands.

He's out of that place in an instant.

As expected she is still terrified and broken from the ordeal when he takes her back to his loft. He doesn't know what to do. This was a spirit of the moment thing and he has no idea what to do now.

He ushers her to the bathroom and urges her to get cleaned up. She jumps a bit when he places a hand to her shoulder and something inside him fuels with contempt at just how much they had scarred her.

Her, a child.

"It's okay nothing is going to happen to you." He tries to use the gentlest voice he could muster, a feat when all his inner rage is spiraling at what the witches had done. "For now I think you should get cleaned up. I'll be back."

She nods weakly and does as she's told.

It sinks in moments later that he has nothing for her to wear. He was not about to let her wear the rags those witches had made her wear. But he doesn't necessarily have anything here.

Muttering a curse under his breath and with one quick glance at the door he's vampire speeding to the nearest clothing store, thankfully one without cameras. He doesn't have the luxury of wasting time in a line. So he grabs what he deems is an adequate clothing size for her to wear and is out, paying no mind to the beeping noise that sings its tune upon rushing out.

He waits outside the door for her and turns his head away when he hears her footsteps nearing the door.

"Sorry, I didn't really know what size you were." He says when she's outside. "They should fit though. Go on and change and I'll get you settled."

While she's inside he rushes once more to fix his guest room. He slaps a hand to his forehead when he realizes he has no idea what her name is.

Fucking hell, you idiot, he thinks with a shake of his head. His thoughts halt when his enhanced hearing catches the sound of the bathroom door beginning to unlock. Not wanting to overwhelm her he uses a human's pace to approach her.

The clothes aren't that big on her, thank goodness.

He's able to finally get a good look at her. She looks so exhausted, both physically and mentally. And anger is burning within him once more. She reminds him so much of himself that it actually hurts. This is a burden no child should carry; it's a pain that no child should endure.

"It's late. I think you should get some rest. We can settle everything else tomorrow."

It's all he can say. And he hates himself for it.

There's a tension blowing in the air as they're in the room and he's exhausted all the necessary words that need to be said. The seconds begin feeling like years; he knows all too damn well what that is like. Words apparently decide to leave him as he stands in the room looking like a fool.

What else can he say?

To his amazement it's her who breaks the torturous silence.

"I'm Davina!"

Her voice is nervous. The tone is a bit louder than she probably intended to speak with. And he's not quite sure if he's analyzes it right but, it has a touch of meekness mixed in.

The corners of his lips are lifting. "Marcel."

Promise.

It's one he makes to himself after he wakes to the sound of her cries. He had left her room and was off to sleep. It had been a long day after all.

It must've been only an hour into his sleep when he hears her screams. Quickly he swings his feet off his bed and is at her room in a heartbeat.

"Davina!"

She is breathing heavily and sweat is pooling around her face. Her tremors have returned and there are tears streaming along her cheeks. The vulnerability and fear in her eyes has him throwing all thoughts out of his head and he's rushing to sit beside her.

She reacts by wrapping her arms around him and his heart aches when she sobs into his chest. It aches even more when she speaks.

"I was there again. Except I- I- I couldn't escape. No one was there and... and—"

She doesn't finish her sentence and is instead holding him even tighter than she was before.

"Sssh," He whispers and his hand begins rubbing her head softly. "It's okay. It's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you. I won't let them take you away."

Slowly her sobs begin fading and her breathing evens out. She's even snoring lightly and perhaps if he didn't have his vampire hearing he wouldn't have caught it.

This wasn't what he expected when Kieran came to him and asked for his help.

But his world has changed.

He swears to himself, while she's sleeping peacefully in his arms, that he will protect her.

Adjustments.

Even though he'd taken on this newfound role in his life with steadfast determination it didn't mean he wasn't foreign to the aspect.

"What do kids like? Girls specifically." He mutters more to himself than actually asking.

"What?" One of the vampires he'd been having a drink with asks with a raised brow.

It was obvious he heard. He wasn't asking Marcel to repeat himself he was simply bemused by the question. Perhaps he should've phrased that differently.

He stands from his chair with a sigh. "Just forget it."

Walking back to his home he notices a toy store and stops. He can hear the children inside begging for toys. Pausing briefly to wonder momentarily if he should go inside or not he eventually opts on going in. A part of him feels like a creeper for following one of the mothers into a specific section that her daughter has led her to.

It's for her, he thinks before coming to a section full of plush toys. He's not sure about this, but...

He glances briefly to the daughter whom couldn't be any older than Davina. If she's buying it than surely that meant he could get it for Davina too, no? Right of the bat he ignores the section of Pokémon plush toys. It doesn't quite look like something Davina would like.

He scans the animal ones and pulls down one of the pig plush toys. The tag hanging from its left ear reads: Pete the Pig. It also apparently squeaks if you squeeze its belly. And he's sold.

This time Marcel has the decency to pay. He has to set a good example after all.

Had he bothered to listen to what the daughter had been saying then, he would've heard about how she was thrilled about being an older sister now.

He hadn't listened though.

"What's this?" Davina asks the next day when he visits with the bag in hand and a grin plastered on his face.

"I got it for you yesterday while I was out."

"Wow! Really? Marcel you didn't have to do that."

Her smile sends a warm feeling coursing through his dead body as she takes the bag from him.

Seconds later and her smile is gone. She's staring quietly at the pink plushy. Her face is unreadable which worries him a bit given how he'd made it his mission to be able to understand her; a pretty successful one so far given how he was beginning to know her quirks.

But now he isn't sure what to expect.

"It also squeaks if you squeeze his belly." This is a poor but hopeful attempt to appease his growing anxiety.

When he says this she presses Pete the Pig's belly and as stated, it emits a little squeak. She nods after giving it another squeeze. "I see. Interesting."

Silence ensues once more in which she's studying the plush toy more thoroughly -squeezing it some more- and he's counting the seconds that pass.

Suddenly she breaks out into a huge smile. One that lights up this depressing attic and makes him forget the definition of supernatural.

"I love it!"

He makes it a habit to pass by that toy store more often afterwards.

Responsibility.

She would always be his responsibility. Not anyone else's. Nothing can change this.

That is why when Kieran tells him about how she woke to another nightmare he knows it's up to him to tend to her. His vampire duties be damned. New Orleans be damned. The world be damned. She's priority number one.

"Hey D," He greets when he visits her. He knows she's grown fond of the nickname. "I've got good news. I'm taking you out."

She's beaming. "You are?" Her brows furrow. "But I thought... you know? Not safe?"

"I've got it covered." And he does. He had all his guys patrolling the area. "Plus it's already dark out so it's a bonus. You haven't eaten have you?"

"No not a thing!" Her eagerness is seeping like an aura.

"Well get dressed, we're going out."

And she's practically scrambling and shoving him out so she can prepare. The place isn't too far; a good walking distance from the church.

Something in him is bouncing as he watches her smiling throughout the walk. His grin grows and grows while she chats animatedly, and occasionally clings happily to his arm and tells him that he's a vampire therefore he shouldn't be walking so slow.

The restaurant is nothing fancy. It's just a nice little place with some jazz filling the room. But Davina is soaking the entire place up and her face is practically shining. She can't take her eyes away from the band.

So he asks her to dance.

"You look really nice D. It's good to see you like this." And he means it. It's nice seeing her outside of the reality they live in. It makes him forget too.

She blushes and looks down, smiles again. "Thanks Marcel."

He'll make sure this thing dies down and when it does, he'll ensure that her smile remains intact. Because this was his responsibility. No one else's.

Love.

Yes, Marcel loves her. The girl who has become a daughter to him. Was this what it was to be a parent? This privilege was denied to just about every vampire barring Klaus.

Yet here he was.

An un-ready father to an unwanted witch.

Marcel doesn't need something trivial like blood to connect him to Davina the way Klaus or any other parent is connected to their children. Hell, blood to him was merely a liquid to drink, same as any alcohol or water or whatever one consumed when thirsty.

The bond connecting him to Davina is much thicker than blood. It's much stronger than any spell a witch can cast. And it is far more powerful than a wolf on a full moon or any hybrid or other species.

Yes, he definitely loves Davina.

Anger.

When he hears about how the ancestors treated her when she was sacrifed in the harvest he's livid. He wants to tear them apart limb from limb and make them drop to their knees and beg Davina for forgiveness.

And he's even angrier when he realizes he can't do anything for her.

She's scared of doing magic now and has lost all her confidence, all her fighting spirit. He wants to help. But she doesn't want his help. Instead she's run off with Josh and she doesn't trust him. It hurts to hear that.

Can't she see? Only he could protect her. He wants her by his side. He needs her by his side.

But in the end, at the very end, when he's bitten by Klaus she comes to his aid. She finds Klaus' blood that was spilled on the pavement and rushes to save him.

Except Josh had been bitten too. And there isn't enough for both of them. Someone is apparently stretching his organs; because there's a pain in his stomach making his bite feel like a paper cut when he sees her expression after telling her.

"I- I can't choose." Tears fall down her face as she acknowledges the circumstances. "Please don't make me choose."

He takes the blood and saves Josh.

Marcel would never make her do something like that. He would never put her through that type of trial. Even through the pain of the wolf venom swimming inside him, he feels happy.

She returned for him.

She didn't abandon him.

And he loves her. He truly loves her.

Kol Mikaelson.

Different body or not he's never particularly liked the guy. This feeling only magnifies when he realizes that Davina does. He lets Kol know, while they're trapped under Finn's spell, not to underestimate his thirst for blood or his ability to throw him to the starving vampires waiting outside the compound.

"Just what would Davina say about that?" He says in response to his threats.

Marcel narrows his eyes dangerously.

Kol smugly continues. "Because I'm not one to kiss and tell, obviously, but uh I think she likes me."

"Watch your mouth. Before I drain every vein of yours myself." He growls and this time Kol backs down.

He knew who Kol was. He knew the cretin for years. And by years, he means years.

Kol was unstable and out of control. He only looked out for himself. He'd be damned if he let that little punk get involved with Davina.

But he was unable to stop it.

Before he knew it Davina was full out in love with Kol and there was nothing he could do about it. They were inseparable, partners in crime in their own little crusade. He knew Davina could be a bit rebellious at times but this was too far. She knew he did not approve of Kol.

A pang rang through his body as he realized that she was no longer the little girl he was gifting plushy toys and candy to anymore. She didn't need him to make decisions for her. She had her own path now, one that revolved solely around Kol bloody Mikaelson.

"You can't baby her forever you know," Camille sighs one afternoon while they're out. "Kids are like that. Eventually they go out on their own."

"I guess," He grumbles and takes another sip of his drink.

She was growing up. And he didn't like it one bit. Camille didn't understand. None of them did. The only place for Davina is with him. And he wants nothing more than to hold her in his arms and shield her from all the hell this world possessed.

"Even so," She continues, effectively cutting his thoughts. "Davina always has you on her mind. Not a day goes by when we're together that she doesn't mention you. She loves you Marcel."

That brings him a smirk. Eat it Kol.

No shame.

He feels zero shame as he tails Kol and Davina while they're out. He's using the trees as a camouflage and is doing a pretty good job at staying hidden. His eyes narrow when he catches Kol reaching for her. They relax when he sees he simply wants to hold her hand.

Okay, that's fine.

Kol would be suicidal if he dares try anything on his little girl. Yes, whether Davina (or anyone) likes it or not she will always be his little girl.

Quickly his ears are on full alert when he notices Kol is leaning to whisper something in her ear. Again he relaxes when he hears Kol saying how the stars are as lovely as her.

That's also fine.

He has to admit that it is quite the sight. They look like two normal kids enjoying a date. And surely he was the typical paranoid dad who worries at the fact that their daughter is running around with a bad boy.

But he's never seen Kol like this.

He's freaking holding hands with Davina! The Kol he knew would never do sappy things like that. And he's saying things he's never heard Kol say. He's about to head back home when he deems it okay but in his observations he doesn't see the tree in front of him until it's too late. He collides face first with it.

"Fuck!" He yells as he rubs his forehead. Immediately he smacks his hands over his mouth. That was loud. His eyes lift and Kol's looking dead at him from where he's standing.

Shit.

Does he recognize him? No. He couldn't have. This trench coat and hat made him look inconspicuous or at least, they did when he looked himself over in the mirror earlier. Unless he heard him?

"Well then, perhaps we should send him a little message." He hears Kol say.

And then his suspicions are confirmed. Kol presses Davina close to his chest, and kisses her with a passion that would have Romeo trembling in his grave and Nicholas Sparks asking for advice on making a romantic movie. For a second he stands in shock before Kol opens one of his eyes and is shooting him a smirk.

Marcel twitches in annoyance before grabbing the closest rock and flings it with all his might. It hits Kol straight in the forehead and has him pulling away from Davina. His ears catch Kol's yells and curses making him smile triumphantly, it's almost euphoric.

But then he hears Davina laughing, genuinely laughing. It's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. Even Kol has suddenly stopped in his tracks and is staring at her with the stupidest and most mesmerized expression he's ever seen.

This is the closest thing to normal Marcel has ever felt.

Unexplainable.

Nothing. Nothing can describe the pain he's feeling as he stares at her casket. He's not prepared for this. Even after seeing her die once before. This can't be happening. He can't deal with this again.

Please, please not again.

It's different this time, painfully different this time.

The first time around she had accepted her fate; she had made her decision.

This time they had gone and made the decision for her.

This time she won't be coming back.

There had to have been another way. There's always another way. Isn't that how the saying goes? It was first said for a reason right? It wasn't just some dribble right?

Pretty soon and he's back in his room, tearing everything down until there's nothing left to tear.

He wants to hold her again. He wants to see her face light up like the way it used to whenever he'd hand her a new plushy. He wants to take her to a football game the way he promised her once upon a time. He wants to show her the world. He wants to baby her forever.

"Marcel!"

She had called for him this time. She had pleaded for him to save her because she didn't want to die. She didn't choose to die this time.

And he was weak. He couldn't save her then and he didn't save her now. He'd failed her. He'd failed as the one thing he didn't want to fail: being a father.

"You didn't let me down, I just grew up. Thank you for saving me that first time. And for everything else after..."

This pain flowing through his body is unbearable. He doesn't want to relive it again. It hurts. It truly hurts. The heart inside him that's supposed to be dead feels like it's about to pop out of his chest.

His feet crumble to the floor and he shouts, no words, just a painful cry. His back heaves as he releases another yell. He screams until his throat is burning.

"I love you Marcel."

"I love you," He mutters as he lies on the ground pathetically. "I love you. I love you."

He can't remember the last time he's cried like this.

No turning back.

His decision is made the instant Vincent hands him the little bottle. It's one thing if you cross him or hurt him but it's a completely different thing if you do it to her.

Hatred, absolute hatred is the only emotion left in him. It's the only thing keeping him from being entirely empty inside. It's all his body is running on.

Something in him has snapped to the point of no return. They have done many things to him but this was unforgivable. There is no fixing this. In one quick instant he became an orphan again. He's not a father anymore. His only semblance of family has been stripped away, never to be seen again.

And why? Because a certain family deemed that it was what needed to be done. He was through associating with them. And his decision was simple. He'd destroy their family to shreds just as his was. No more holding back.

There's no satisfaction once what's done is done though. She's not back. And he's just as dead as he was when he became a vampire.

But this is it. It's all he can do. It's all he can give. There's no turning back.

She was his Davina.

Author's Notes

Man this season wrecked me.