there's something due any day

[braveandstupid]

Comments

[interminably]

Yes, yes. Freya always finds a way. Freya, or Hayley, or Vincent, even Marcel. But, I cannot find a way, that is not under my purview. I am only the father.

( That's all he's good for and he is not good for that even. )

[bravebartender]

The father who took a bullet for her to keep her safe.

[She reaches out and places her hand over his.]

That's not nothing, Klaus. And while she might not fully understand it now, she will someday.

[interminably]

She'll appreciate her father locking himself away to the farthest reaches, all to give her a better life. Maybe she's better off not speaking to me at all. No reason to upset her every time I catch her on Face time.

[bravebartender]

You don't.

[Unless you show up covered in blood.]

And from what Hayley says, she's desperate to talk to you.

[interminably]

She's in school. She is getting a proper education, and a safer one.

( Which, he convinces himself is true. )

[bravebartender]

Maybe. But that doesn't mean she can't take five minutes to talk to her dad on the phone. I'm sure she does it with Hayley all the time.

[interminably]

She does. You're right. How is it you're always right.

( He brings her hand up, kissing it, holding eye contact and then resting his cheek, sighing. )

I should add her timezone in so I know when I'm calling her. I wouldn't want to call the faculty at three in the morning. I would not be the favorite parent.

[bravebartender]

That would be a wise choice, yes.

[Her thumb brushes against his cheekbone.]

And sometimes you just need someone to remind you of the miracles of modern technology.

[interminably]

What would I do without you, Cami. If Lucien had ever...

( He trails off, eyes falling closed. )

[bravebartender]

He didn't.

[She cups his cheeks, trying to nudge him up to look at her.]

I'm right here. And I'm going to keep being here, because now that I'm immortal, we may actually have enough time to invest in the kind of dedicated therapy you need.

[She's kidding. Mostly.]

[interminably]

( He laughs through tears as he looks up. )

Think I could afford you, Dr. O'Connell?

[bravebartender]

We'll work out a very generous payment plan.

[She smiles back at him, before leaning in closer to kiss him.]

We'll figure it out.