"You're beautiful, deep, fucking fiercely loyal, and attitude and brains so fuckin sharp you could cut a motherfucker. And you don't take anyone's shit, not even mine. I'll never stop wanting you, Tara. Remember that. Even if you blow me off for some lame ass. I'll be here when you finally stop lying to yourself about us, whether that be today, tomorrow…"

Been spending a lot of time being obsessed with this crackship of Elijah & Tara so I couldn't drop this idea or the other one I have lol.

This is a human AU for a reason, toxic loves, lies/manipulation, betrayal & deception & all that drama that comes with forbidden affairs! This one's going to HURT BOTH of my main characters as they navigate through their first emotionally intense/tumultuous relationship because life lessons are HARD and they have a lot to learn.

Again, this one is going to hurt so I highly DON'T recommend it unless you're in for the drama. Lol but on the chance someone feels me…

~Saturday August 21, 2004~

Tara looked so pretty in her little black dress, Elijah observed, as she finished fastening her braids into one big one on the side. She turned to him and smoothed her hands down her bodice.

"Okay. What do you think?" She asked as he joined her in his den.

A lump in his throat wanted to form since that was the exact question she asked him when she was standing in his room that day, in all her bikini bodied glory. That was courtesy of baby sis, who'd just been kicked out. She knew she wasn't supposed to be in there, much less letting her friends use his bathroom as a fitting room. He thought he was alone when buttery chocolate in a swimsuit strolled out of his bathroom. He'd mistaken her for a little woman and his lust flared, stopping short at confusion when he realized it was little Tara from next door. She didn't even look like he remembered, she was practically a grown woman! Yet, the expression in her eyes was youthful and spirited.

The girl standing before him was a woman. It was only a few months later, but it was in her eyes and the way she now composed herself. He supposed the way her summer turned out would obliterate anyone's sense of childhood innocence.

Elijah had an important venue to focus on today, not lust after his underage neighbor. That would only complicate things and their mother's disapproving eyes warned him not to try it enough times that it wasn't even a discussion that needed to take place. He had no plans to, though he saw no issues with looking if he knew he'd never touch, as much as he wanted to.

"Beautiful, like always," he murmured in a gravelly voice. Tara smiled softly as he cleared his throat. "You ready?"

"Yeah. You look great in that suit,"

He swallowed hard as intrusive thoughts threatened to plunder his mind at her compliment. Focus, bruh! He cocked his head and peered into her eyes, searing her with his cobalt gaze, watching for her subtle reaction. She cast her eyes down in an effort to hide a smile and her hand lifted to toy with the edge of her braid.

This was going to be harder than he thought, though he couldn't deny to himself he was satisfied with the reaction he incited.

"Hey look, last night I was kinda," she waved her hand next to her head. "You know,"

"I know," Elijah agreed warmly, with a nod. "But I want you to know everything is gonna be okay, either way,"

With a step closer, she was right in front of him and placed a gentle hand on his chest before she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "You're sweet. But we should probably head out…" she gestured behind him with a head nod.

"Right, right," He stepped aside and allowed her to pass into the hallway before he followed her outside and next door. Their mothers were already waiting for them in Lettie Mae's car.

In the backseat of the car while on the road, Tara suddenly leaned against his shoulder and sighed. In the rear view mirror, he saw her somber expression. Instincts drove him to put a consoling arm around her. When she breathed a soft sigh of relief, the small sound made his guts uneasy. That couldn't be a good sign. Consoling someone shouldn't feel that daunting.

Ma turned around and raised her brow at him. His expression hardened as she stared him down. Elijah was annoyed. He was only comforting the girl, who was there for him when he really needed it. He had every right to and he would not apologize or be shamed for it. Tara had been good to Ma as well and everyone had to know he wasn't out to hurt her.

He tilted his head towards Tara, silently imploring his mother to understand she needed him in that moment. For once, Ma didn't win their staring contest. She turned to Lettie Mae and caught her eye. A silent gesture to the backseat caused her lifelong friend to glance into the rear view mirror at their children. Then she nodded to Ma as they exchanged glances again.

In front of the church, all the guests were gathering. "Tara!" Sookie Stackhouse ran up to Tara and threw her arms around her. "Is she here yet?" She pulled back to rub her shoulders.

Tara nodded. "Oh yeah. And she looks beautiful too,"

Her brother Jason walked up and shook Elijah's hand.

"Hey man. Thanks for coming,"

They gave each other a bro hug as Salome and Franklin came by as well. Salome gave a somber smile. "Elijah, hi,"

"Hey y'all. You guys remember my cousins," Elijah said after greeting them with hugs.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries before Salome sighed. "Today is finally here. It doesn't feel real," she turned to Tara. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. Better now,"

"And you, Elijah?" Franklin asked.

Elijah shrugged. "What can you do?" He addressed Jason. "What about you, man?"

"Oh, I'm still trying to wake up from this fucking nightmare," he admitted.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lettie Mae came through the crowd. "Elijah, baby, your mama needs you. Y'all go in first, then the pallbearers,"

Elijah stepped into the church and saw his mom in the reception area. "Sign the book, Li-Li,"

He signed his name in the registry and then took his mother's shaking hand. "I'm here, Ma,"

Lettie Mae appeared at her other side and grabbed her arm as well. "Come on, Ros, we gonna do this,"

Together they led a shaky Rosalyn Harris down the aisle in the middle of the pews. When they reached the casket and saw who was inside, she broke down in uncontrollable tears, unable to complete the goodbye she attempted. She decided on an 'I'll see you again' and love declaration. Elijah and Lettie Mae helped her sit down and consoled her. When it was Tara's turn, he watched her put a few items in the casket and whisper tearful words to their dearly departed.

At the conclusion of a beautiful service, Elijah finally had another opportunity to say a final goodbye to the deceased before the coffin was to be closed.

"Hey, kid. We were supposed to grow old together. I don't care how many times I kicked you out, I'd give anything trade places with you. I'm fucking stuck here without my secret favorite person. Still got Ma, it's just not gonna be the same without you. Don't worry about her, I'll take good care of her. Rest easy, Vi and come back for me someday. I love you, sis,"

He leaned down and kissed her forehead before he placed his only sister's favorite Green Day poster into the coffin. Then he closed the casket on her.

Elijah, Salome, and Franklin carried the left side of his sister's coffin, with Elijah at the front. Tara, Sookie, and Jason carried her right side. Violet's big brother, her cousins, her two best friends and her boyfriend were all asked by Ma to fulfill the role of pallbearers. She told her son she couldn't bear to see anyone else other than the people she truly loved escort her only daughter to her final resting place.

For Elijah, that was the easy part, compared to what was going to come next. They had to continue on with their lives with a huge gaping hole in their hearts. How the fuck was that even possible when it felt like pushing a boulder up a hill. It would only ever come crashing down, flattening him with the reality of things.

After the doves were released, Ma was holding her composure better. He rubbed her back and led her to the pile of soil so she could be the first to grab a handful. Elijah was next and then a line formed while everyone took a turn. Franklin tossed his handful with a somber expression, while Salome with wet eyes kept her tears from falling until after she'd tossed hers. Jason and Sookie each had tears in their eyes at their turn.

Elijah couldn't imagine what Jason was going through. Violet was his first love and it was clear that boy would never be the same. He often took tragedies pretty hard since he wore his heart on his sleeve, but this was another level for the poor guy.

He watched as Tara grabbed her handful after her mother who was staring at the coffin contemplatively. She knew the pain of losing a child all too well, that woman had been through some shit! Lettie Mae was being strong like always, though it was clear that grief never ended. Her daughter was the same way. All throughout the funeral she'd only wept silent tears, even through the Tears in Heaven song.

Tara's hands shook as she tossed her handful of soil. She locked eyes with him for a moment and then her eyes welled up with tears as she stepped out of the line. She choked back a sob before she let out a wail and faltered to her knees. Lettie Mae caught her and Sookie, his ma, even Salome all rushed to their side. Ma wrapped the mother-daughter pair in her arms and murmured words of consolation through her own tears as they all wept. Sookie and his cousin offered shoulder rubs of condolence.

Instincts propelled Elijah's feet forward, but he couldn't reach Tara. It was a moment burned into his memory archive as a time he felt utter helplessness in his soul. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and soothe chaos inside the girl who found her best friend dead when they were supposed to be enjoying the vacation of their lives.

It's just beginning in this sad & complicated story!

First chapter is 3 years into the future.

ALSO. Updates to my other fics are coming :)