November, 1910

She really hadn't meant to say it. Especially not in the middle of an inane fight about him coming to meet her sister. But when he asked why she wanted him to be there when she invited her sister over for dinner in a tone as if it was absurd of her to ask, she had sort of half-yelled, half-blurted it.

"Because I love you, you moron!"

They both froze a beat later and Bea felt a sinking feeling in her stomach when he didn't respond, only looking absolutely stricken.

"No you don't."

And excuse her, but what the hell had he responded with?

True, they had never had a coup de foudre, flash of lightning, love at first sight moment in their relationship, but her feelings were real – maybe even more so because they had grown as she got to know him more.

Growing upset, she felt the tell tale closing of her throat that usually meant she was close to tears. But what right did Kol have to just try to deny what she was feeling? There had always been that fear in her that she was more invested than he was in their relationship, but she hadn't expected it to be this unbalanced between them. It had sure seemed like he cared about her, but now she quickly tried to remember anything he could have done that would signal a lack of true interest.

"Yes, I do. You can't tell me how I feel."

He started pacing quickly, looking panicked and overwhelmed – something she had never seen him. He was raking his hands through his hair, ruining the way it had been styled and he seemed pained when he finally turned to her.

"Bloody hell, Bea, you don't really know me. There is so much… you don't. You just don't."

Now more than a little offended, she bit out, "We've been going steady for almost three months. I know you."

"You don't get it. You – "

"Your favorite color is green, and you get cranky when you've been inside too long. You love your family even if you pretend you don't because they hurt you. You're the only person that I show my paintings to. You – " here her voice cracked, to her complete humiliation, "You eat my cooking. Even when I know its horrible."

Before her eyes teared over he grabbed her shoulders, pulling her into his chest and tucking her under his chin. She sniffed, but kept her face pressed into his chest, not wanting to have to meet his eyes yet.

"But you -"

She interrupted whatever he was going to say and continued in a hushed whisper, the only thing she could manage at the moment. But she had to finish what she was trying to say. If things changed tonight, if he ended whatever they had, she wanted him to know.

"I know you're not the best guy. I know you've done things – really, really bad things. But I love you anyway. If you don't love me back, you don't have to make excuses, please."

For a minute they did nothing but breathe together, her trying to pull herself together and him petting her hair.

When she stepped back she straightened her spine, holding herself upright. Bea was not about to let this reduce her to some sobbing mess in front of him. She had more pride than letting him see how much this was going to kill her. But instead of answering how she expected, he lightly reached out and stroked one side of her face.

"I'm dragging you to hell, Beatrix Lynch."

"I thought you'd know by now that I do not get dragged anywhere. If we're going to hell I'm following you of my own volition."

Without another word he stepped forward and tangled his fingers in her hair as his lips met hers in a kiss that made her feel like she was burning up. Kissing Kol had always been great, but there had been something in him that seemed restrained. But now – this was harsh and hard and amazing.

His lips forced hers apart and his tongue traced where they were parted slowly before licking into her mouth. Her teeth, the roof of her mouth, her own tongue – it seemed like he wanted to thoroughly taste her everywhere. And she was more than willing to give it to him. Heat flooded through her and when he let out a low moan she trembled.

Kissing down her neck, he nipped gently and soothed her skin soon after with soft brushes of his lips. God, he was killing her. She'd never done any of this and though she had always been intimidated by his sexual past, now she was incredibly thankful that he knew what he was doing when she had no idea.

Eventually the frantic nature of their kissing slowed and when he finally pulled back she was panting heavily with lips that tingled.

"I love you, and I wish I didn't so you'd be safe. But I'm selfish. So I want you for as long as you'll have me."

Three days later, Bea smiled and introduced him to Marie.

Present Day

The sound of her granite counter top giving way beneath her clenched fingers was what prompted her reaction. And oh, did she react.

The scream ripped from her throat was piercing. When she finally took a second breath it quickly became a low sob. Bea couldn't breathe, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't fucking breathe –

Tears streamed down her face until her kitchen looked like a blur. With heaving shoulders she continued to vacillate from enraged growls to high pitched whimpers to choking sobs.

It wasn't fair.

But only minutes later her the tears stopped falling and her devastation became fury. It had always been easier for her to deal with anger than it was to navigate heartbreak, and if she let herself feel it right now she'd go insane.

The first thing to collide with her walls was that stupid fucking radio that had continued to play throughout her breakdown. Dishes, antiques, and entire cabinets soon joined and from there Bea moved onto destroying the room with her own two hands. Her chairs were reduced to kindling and every mirror shattered as they were thrown to the tile floor with all of her might.

It wasn't enough.

Bea's stride was even and her expression was entirely merciless as she slipped out of her apartment and walked down the hallway to the space occupied by two boys who had recently graduated from college. Mike and Nick? Bryce? They had introduced themselves with impeccable manners the day they moved in.

It was painfully easy to compel the two of them to come into her apartment.

Hello everyone! I would love it if you could let me know what you think so far of Bea, Kol's characterization, etc. Thanks!