I stand at a distance
I watch from afar
Should I offer my assistance?
Should it matter who you are?

We all get hurt by love
And we all have a cross to bear
But in the name of understanding now
Our problems should be shared

Hurts – Confide In Me

Chapter 39

Forbidden

14 years later

I yawned before opening my eyes, the light hurt. Perhaps I had drunk too much last night. I blinked sleepily and got into a sitting position. Klaus was asleep next to me; I doubted that he would get up any time soon. After stretching my arms, I jumped to the floor and noticed the dozens of bottles lying around the room. How much had we drunk last night? Apparently quite a lot. The moon had been full and both of us have had a very bad day.

I walked over to the dresser and borrowed Klaus' hairbrush, I doubted that he would mind. We were practically like an old married couple anyway, minus all the intimacy. We certainly argued like an old married couple, but we also tolerated each other's tantrums better than anyone. Most people would have probably thought that our relationship was strange, but I didn't think so. We were friends and family and if I would have an adult's body, we would probably be lovers.

He had said, just like Kol, that I was the love of his life. I loved him too, just like I loved Kol after all these years. Yes, we all loved and we were all miserable because of it. The irony of fate indeed. Well, I took what I could get, a kiss for every now and then wasn't so bad. That was all I would ever get, no matter how much Klaus kept telling me that he would find a way to make me an adult. I tried to clean up the room a little before leaving; it seemed that we had made a lot of mess. I went to the kitchen in order to have a cup of tea and ran into papa.

"Good morning," he said. "Rough night?"

"Good morning," I replied, for some reason I felt embarrassed like a child who had been caught doing something forbidden. Papa still had a way to turn me into a child with just one look; I felt the need to explain that I hadn't drunk that much. He smiled and bent down.

"I wasn't making any accusations, sweetheart," he said and touched my cheek. "You are an adult; you can do whatever you want."

"I know, I just…"

I wasn't sure how to continue.

"I think it's nice that you and Niklaus have your own thing," papa said. "You know how difficult he can be, he doesn't have too many friends."

I felt guilty again; papa and Rebekah didn't know how Klaus really felt towards me. He had said that if they would know, they would probably lynch him. Maybe that was true, I wasn't sure. To Rebekah I was definitely a child and I would always be, but papa didn't see me like that. Of course I was his child, but I wasn't a child. But then again, he hadn't had to deal with my suitors, except Marcellus, but that had been years ago and papa had thought that the whole thing had been amusing.

Like I had predicted, Marcellus had gotten over me when he had grown, all he saw now was Rebekah. Klaus didn't accept their relationship and he had made it very clear. I couldn't really understand why, but he had refused to explain himself, even to me. He was obsessed of being in control; that was just the way he was. He sometimes tried that with me as well, but I usually put up a fight, I knew how to be just as stubborn as him.

Sometimes that really annoyed him; I was the only person besides his siblings who he couldn't compel. Klaus and Kol had noticed that a long time ago, when I had still been a child. According to some witch, my mind was somehow different because I had been so young when I had become a vampire. Well, whatever the reason was, I wasn't complaining.

"I was just about to have some tea," papa said. "Would you like to join me?"

"Yes, that would be great."

I followed him to the dining room; he went to get the teapot and the cups from the kitchen. We didn't speak much; he was concentrated on the newspaper. I couldn't help but notice that he looked tired. He hadn't had anyone after Celeste had died few years ago, she had been murdered. Papa had been devastated and I had tried my best to be there for him. He had assured that he had gotten over that, but maybe I should spend more time with him, he seemed to be lonely. We lived in the same house, but I couldn't remember when we would have really spent quality time together, just the two of us. I jumped down and climbed onto his lap, just like I had used to do. He looked surprised, but not unpleasantly, at least I didn't think so.

"What's this?" he asked.

I smiled and rubbed my cheek against his arm like a kitten. Even though I wasn't a child, that was still my way to show affection and he had always found that cute.

"I love you, papa. You know that, right?"

His eyes softened, he looked at me warmly.

"I love you too, my little Eva."

He stroked my hair and leaned his cheek on the top of my head.

"My child…"

"I would like us to do something together," I said. "Like go riding."

He pulled away and looked at me.

"Sure, that sounds nice. You mean now?"

"Yes, if you have time."

He nodded.

"I do, I just need to take care of something first. I'll meet you at the stable?"

"Sure," I said and jumped on the floor. I was very glad that I had suggested this, papa seemed pleased. I almost hopped to the stable, but I stopped when I saw Marcellus and Rebekah, they were kissing. I took a quick look around; fortunately Klaus was nowhere to be seen. Rebekah smiled at Marcellus and walked out, I stayed out of sight. Marcellus was smiling while brushing his horse. I marched in and cleared my throat. He turned to look at me and grinned.

"Hi there, flea," he said. He didn't mean anything bad by it, we often joked about my size. I was glad that we were still friends, even though he was a tall and muscular man now.

"This flea bites," I warned him playfully.

He raised his hands in surrender, pretending to be scared.

"Oh no, please don't hurt me."

"We'll see," I replied and winked at him. He laughed and ruffled my hair, not many people could do that without getting hurt. "But seriously speaking," I continued. "I need to talk to you."

"Sure," he said. "What is it?"

I crossed my arms and looked at him firmly.

"Rebekah."

He looked away; clearly he knew what I was talking about.

"I don't…"

"You don't have to explain anything to me, it's none of my business" I interrupted him. "But I would advice you two to be more careful, you know what Klaus thinks."

"The whole thing's ridiculous," Marcellus huffed. "She's not a child."

"Yes, I know," I sighed. "But unfortunately Klaus is what he is."

Marcellus bit his bottom lip.

"Could you speak to him? He listens to you."

"Not that much," I replied. "Sure I can try, but I don't think I can win that one."

"I would appreciate if you would still try."

"Sure," I assured and tapped his hand. I felt bad for him and Rebekah; they seemed to really care about each other. I was determined to at least make Klaus to explain what his problem with them being together was.

"Just be careful, alright?" I asked.

He smiled and bent down to kiss my cheek.

"Thank you, flea."

I was a little concerned; even though Marcellus had lived with us over a decade and Klaus had been his mentor, I didn't think that he fully understood how far Klaus could go to get his way. I truly hoped that Marcellus wouldn't have to find that out.