mikaelsonsister:

she knows that, even now, before he’s fully transitioned, his emotions — everything — is heightened. so she can’t help but feel like she’s taking advantage of him in this vulnerable state. the guilt is evident on her face when he takes ahold of her hands. but she doesn’t let go, she doesn’t pull away because the touch is so powerful, so magnetic. her fingers wrap around his hand, reciprocating the tight grip. she wants him to know that she’s here, that she’s with him. no matter what, she’s by his side, and she will be, whatever he chooses. 

his words have her trembling with tears, her heart aching. if her heart itself could cry out, it would be wailing at this moment. now, more than ever, she sees how alike the two of them truly are. she knows what it is to be an innocent child and have that innocence stolen from you. she knows what it’s like to love someone, only to have them killed or betray her. their lives have been marred with tragedy, and now she has placed another tragedy on his shoulders, just like her father had done to her. she is more monster than niklaus would ever be, she thinks.  ‘ i’m so sorry. you didn’t deserve that. you didn’t deserve any of this. you are so good and just and true… all you’ve ever deserved is happiness, and, from the bottom of my heart, i am so sorry that you never got it. ’ 

finally, hesitantly, rebekah rises to the tips of her toes and places the softest of kisses upon jeremy’s lips. she gives him plenty of room to pull away if he so wishes, but even when she takes her mouth off of his, she stays so close she can still feel his breath on her face.  ‘ this is all i can offer you: me. my heart and my soul. my… love. and my solemn swear that together, we will search out the happiness that has been robbed from both of us so many times over. maybe you will not recognize yourself in a hundred years, but i would bet that you would fight to stay the man you are, the man that i… the man that i love. ’ 

rebekah rests her forehead against his, still shaking.  ‘ it will be the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. you will eventually have to say goodbye to your friends and family, but i can promise that you will never have to say goodbye to me. but i — i also understand if this isn’t enough. i understand if you decide to pass. ’  she says the last word through a lump in her throat, making her voice a slight squeak as she continues to cry. 

he’s not looking for her validation or reassurance. jeremy’s functioned most of his life with little to no self esteem, and up until now, he’s managed to stay alive that way. and though he was only that boy two years ago– so desperate to turn, to run away from anything having to do with being human– it’s like it’s someone else’s memory. more than anything, he wants to hold onto his humanity with both hands, and cannot see how he can do that by changing who he is fundamentally at the core. in a way, standing here is his wake– his funeral. from the moment their house was invaded, jeremy gilbert died. god only knew what would rise out of those ashes.

his brow is furrowed, searching in her eyes for some kind of anchor to hold onto. his emotions are all over the place– one minute blaming and hating her with his entire being, and the next unconsciously screaming for her to not run away. if he changes and stays with her, it’s going to hurt her– he is going to hurt her. there’s no way around it. rebekah wears her guilt like a brand new sun dress, and the storm in his mind will eventually throw her on the rocks, one way or another.

is it possible for his heart to be pounding in his chest? he is dead, after all, and yet the sound echoes violently in his ears, threatening to drown out her gentle words regret. but when her lips press up to his, everything screeches to a halt. silent. he has no reaction initially, the kiss going unreturned, and it’s a combination of both their grief that washes over him when she pulls back enough to create breathing space between them. and as he looks into her tear stained eyes, jeremy knows one thing for certain.

he is going to destroy her.

a trembling hand reaches up, twisting its way into the golden locks that frame her face. without saying a word, he moves in one fluid motion; his fingers press into the back of her head, forcing her closer again as his mouth leans down and captures hers in a fiery kiss.