29.2 | too good to be true

Tony

[ warning: grab some tissues, my loves. ]

Stop.

The hours. The minutes. The seconds.

Stop.

The screaming. The crying. The ticking.

Stop.

The fear. The guilt. The sorrow.

I could feel my heart pounding in my throat. I could hear the waves screaming at me as it slapped the shore. I could hear every blow of my breath lost in the air as I panted. I could feel the sand in between my toes, flinging to the air with every quick step as I ran. I could feel my skin heating up under the blazing sun.

I could feel it. I could feel everything happening too fast, moving too fast, changing too fast, disappearing too fast. And I just want it to stop.

Everything. All the things that move. All the things that breathe. All the things that—Just all the fucking things. Just fucking stop. For the first time in everyone's life, I just want everything to—

"Stop!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs.

My heart was pounding, my throat scratchy, my eyes watering, my breathing shallow.

I yelled, in the middle of the beach.

But I don't know why.

5 hours earlier

8:16 A.M.

"Stop!" Andrea shrieked, a short laugh escaping her lips. "Put me down! Let me go!"

I had my arms wrapped around her in an instant and I lifted her from the ground in pure bliss when she said yes to what I wanted, to what we both wanted. She's staying here with me. How can I not react this way?

I set her down on the ground without withdrawing my arms from her. I kept her in place against my body, our foreheads touching and our eyes closing.

"I'm never letting you go." I whispered.

As long as I remain crazily in love with her, as long as I flourish with the memories of us, as long as I am breathing, I will never let her go.

"Promises, promises." She sing-songed. "You better keep it."

"Promise me you'll never let me go, too. No matter how much I annoy you. No matter how much I make fun of your witchy ways, or ask you to turn into a wolf in front of me, or beg for you to bite me because I'm that kinky—promise me you'll never leave me." I rambled.

My heart is racing and my veins are pumped with veins. Everything seems to be so heightened because of how good this very moment is. And I want to take advantage of it. I want Andrea and I to bask in this delight longer—forever.

"I promise, Mr. Stark." She answered, accompanied with that beautiful smile of hers that I seek to take a photograph of.

"Tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Stark." I said, shooting my shot.

It's crazy, I know. But, living in a world where you don't know when the end will be or when everything will go wrong, I don't want to take any chances. I'm in love with the one and only tribrid on Earth. That comes with a lot of baggage that we know will eventually catch up on us.

"What?" I saw how her eyes widened into saucers as she slightly pulled away from me.

"What?" I asked in a more different tone. Hers was more shocked, and mine was just genuinely confused.

"Tony, I'm 21." She said.

I furrowed my brows at her. "You're 21?"

I thought she was older. Even thought at some point that she was older than e given that she's a vampire and she was the daughter of an Original. She could have been born a lot earlier.

"Why? How old are you?" She asked me.

I stared at her and pursed my lips. "21?"

Andrea arched an eyebrow at me. Even without my suspicious tone, she would've found out I was lying anyway.

"24." I answered.

"So, it's only 3 years. That's not bad." She smiled.

However, if you think about it, we're not only three years apart. Because, technically, she was born in the future. I squinted my eyes at her and shook my head.

"Technically, I'm way older given that you came from the future." I told her. "When is your birthday anyway?"

"May 2nd." She answered, bringing her hands from my neck down to my arms.

I immediately smiled. "Hey, would you look at that? Mine's May 29th."

"We're May babies."

"May babies."

I leaned down to kiss her again and I could feel her smile against my lips, causing me to form one of my own.

"Hear that, J.A.R.V.I.S.? Andrea's birthday is on May 2nd." I said, tilting my head to the side a little.

"Already set, sir." He answered.

I looked back at Andrea and hugged her tighter.

"What year?" I asked.

"2012."

I pulled away from her completely and with an absurd look on my face while holding a finger up. She was born in 2012?

"What?" I asked.

"What?" She echoed.

Now I said that with a surprised tone while she said it with a more puzzled one.

"2012?" I repeated. "You were born...when I was 42?!"

Andrea tilted her head as she slightly looked up, realization hitting her like I am.

"Let's not talk about it." She suggested.

"Agreed." I answered.

Then we both stood there, our awkward stances turning into comfortable ones when smiles started to creep back into our faces again while we looked at each other.

There's always something about her that makes me light up. I don't know if her friends or her family feel that toward her too in maybe a different kind of way, but that happens to me. Sometimes it scares me how much effect she has on me.

"So, what now?" I asked, my arms crossing against my chest.

She shrugged as her lips pursed. "We wait for Kai to come back in this timeline."

I unfolded my arms and placed my hands behind me as I slowly made my way towards her. "I have something in mind while we wait."

I saw her cock an eyebrow at me while her smile widened. "No. He could be watching, remember?"

I reached for her hand and twirled her around, a laugh escaping her lips before I pressed her back against my chest. I hugged her from behind and leaned down to her ear to whisper.

"Then cover my eyes." I whispered. "I have a lot of neckties in my closet."

I almost missed it, but I saw her bite her lip before turning around and intertwining my hands with hers.

"Well, then let's pick one." She whispered back as she walked backwards, pulling me gently with her.

I can get used to this.

11:23 AM

I groaned as I slowly began to regain my consciousness. My whole body was aching because of exhaustion. I've never experienced that before when it comes to sex. Like, it's always me who gets them tired. But clearly, being a tribrid exempts or at least prevents Andrea from being exhausted too easily because I had to be the one to end it so I could rest.

An hour, that's how long we were going at it and if Kai really was watching, I just know that he'd be so done with us already and just wanted us to stop. Sorry, pal. Just because you're in my head, doesn't mean I get to rearrange my life for you.

I moved slightly to the side to reach for Andrea and soon found her side of the bed empty. I opened one eye and saw, like I said, no one. I lifted my head from the pillow as I opened both of my eyes, though still squinting due to the bright light coming from the large windows of the room that took up most of the walls of the bedroom.

What's the point of having a beautiful beach as a view if I don't get to see it as much as possible, right?

I sat upright and looked at the clock. I've been asleep for over two hours. I roamed my eyes around the room and saw nothing in relation to her. And for a moment, I got scared.

Did I just dream about her? Was everything just my brain tricking me into thinking that I could actually have something with someone? Have I gone mad wondering what life would be like if I was alone?

Was the promise she made not true?

I grabbed my clothes and wore them before sprinting out the door and down the stairs. My eyes—no, my whole body was already wide awake as soon as it was jolted with paranoia.

But that's all it was. Paranoia. Because when I got to the kitchen, I found Andrea wearing my favorite AC/DC shirt that was so big for her, it ended on her mid-thighs. She wasn't wearing shorts nor a pair of pants since my eyes almost popped out of their sockets seeing her perfect legs behind the kitchen counter.

This is a sight that I want to see everyday in my kitchen.

"Done gawking?" She said. I could hear the smirk in her tone.

When I looked back up at her face, I did see her smirk and I couldn't help but form one of mine as I leaned on the doorway of the kitchen.

"Not yet." I said, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Well, hurry up so you can shower and eat." She said before turning around and tending to what she's cooking on the stove, giving me a peek of her behind.

I'm having the time of my life here.

"I don't know if I should be mad about you wearing my favorite shirt or you looking a lot hotter in it than I am." I commented.

She shot me a playful glare. "Shower, Snarky."

"Join me, Spunky." I retorted.

She shook her head with a faint laugh. "Maybe tomorrow."

Tomorrow...that's right. We have tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.

We have a lifetime together. Why the rush?

12:09 PM

"We're not getting a dog."

"But why not?"

"Because we already have you."

If looks could kill, I'd already be six feet under. She was glaring at me so much because of my retort that the only thing missing was the laser coming out of her eyes. Although, surely, there's a spell that would allow her to possess that ability just so she could hit me.

"If we get a dog, will you stop glaring at me?" I asked.

"Possibly." She said, her glare not even wavering.

I narrowed my eyes at her and sighed deeply, before looking away. "Fine, we'll get a dog."

Her glare was instantly wiped off of her face and turned into a happy one before moving over to my side and laying her head on my shoulders. I wrapped her up with a warm hug while we sat in the living room.

This was more than I could ever ask for. Just Andrea and I relaxing in our home. Something that we rarely even do given the nature of Andrea's world that has now become mine as well.

This is what I've been trying to achieve these past few days. Just me and her having a normal, peaceful day. Not a Triad bitch in sight. Not even a weird-bearded heretic or a grumpy vampire dad.

Just me and Andrea.

Although, I've probably said it too soon.

"Why, aren't you two cozy?" The sound of his British voice already emitted a frustrated groan from me as I tilted my head back against the couch while Andrea, who's already fully clothed, greeted her dad.

"Dad!" She exclaimed before jumping away from me into the arms of the daddy psycho.

"Yay, Dad's back." I said in the most unhappy way possible while Andrea hugged him.

"Don't call me that." He told me as he pulled away from her.

I simply rolled my eyes at him before standing up from the couch. "How's Papa Original?"

"Where he's supposed to be, far away from my family." He said, turning to Andrea with a small smile on his face.

"Awe, didn't know you already think of me that way, Dad." I joked. I just—I can't help it, okay? When it comes to Klaus and Andrea, the desire to annoy them is almost unbearable.

Klaus turned to me with a scowl on his face and it made me take a step back in caution. Luckily, Andrea got in between us and stopped Klaus from doing something he'll regret.

Though, something tells me that leaving me alive is more regretful for him.

"We're only two minutes in, let's not kill each other yet, please?" Andrea suggested.

I shrugged. "Fine by me."

"No promises." Klaus said.

I glanced over at him and gave a fake sad expression and a British accent. "Oh, boo-hoo, no Mikaelson promise. However shall I live without it?"

"Like I said," Klaus turned to his daughter before clenching his hands into fists. "No promises."

The next thing I know Klaus and I are magically chained on the couch next to each other while we talk to our personal therapist who probably needs one more than we do.

"We're going to solve this right here, right now." Andrea said before plummeting down to the couch across from us.

"I have no time for this." Klaus muttered under his breath, though, still loud for the both of us to hear.

"Right, he's got tea with the previous Queens this afternoon and have sleepovers in their personalized, bedazzled coffins." I said.

"And you have death waiting for you later tonight so I suggest you sleep with one eye open." He retorted.

"Your daughter will be there beside me." I said. "Or on top—."

"Shut up. Both of you." Andrea said, causing both of us to turn to her.

She still wasn't in her maximum anger because she's still so calm for someone of her caliber. So I simply sat there with her and her dad, which is probably going down to be one of the most chaotic moments in history.

"Why don't we start by saying what we feel." Andrea commented.

What we feel? I feel like this is going to be a disaster.

"I feel like giving you a proper beating." Klaus said, a sarcastic smile plastered across his face without even looking at me.

"I feel like spitting on your face while you do it." I retorted. It's not like I could even throw a punch at him. So, I might as well just spit on him since clearly that's all I could ever do being a human against an Original Vampire.

"I feel like murdering both of you." Andrea said with her eyes closed, trying to remain as calm as she possibly could.

"This is ridiculous. We should just stop." I just said.

"Ah! Finally, something we both agree on." Klaus responded.

"No." Andrea said, opening her eyes and giving us a stern look. It's still slightly subtle to be a glare but is also too intense to be just a glance. "If I'm going to be staying here then that means you'll see a lot of each other. And I don't feel like breaking up a fight every time you two get in the same room. So please, for me, just get along?"

There was silence in the room. All I could see was the pleading eyes of the woman I love, just wanting me to be on good terms with her family. She's abandoning her own timeline for me. I guess the least I could do is do this for her.

"I feel how important Andrea is to you. And I just want you to know that I care deeply for her. I wouldn't even sit through this madness if I don't." I said while looking away from both Klaus and Andrea because saying that was already enough for me. I'm not into sappy shit unless I'm alone with Andrea. And I'm definitely not fond of being one while the psycho is next to me.

"I feel protective of my daughter and all I want is what's best for her. If you're what's best for her, then how can I get in the way of that?" Klaus said.

Well, I should cross out 'Get Klaus to say something nice to me' off the bucket list. I thought that would be the only thing in my list to never come true. But here we are.

"You still want to hurt me, do you?" I asked.

"Very deeply."

"I appreciate the honesty."

At least, we're getting somewhere, right?

"That was good." Andrea commented, crossing her arms against her chest while slowly nodding. "That was progress. We'll work more on that."

"How about another time? I'm supposed to plan a family reunion in the evening ." Klaus said.

Oh, that's just fantastic. Klaus's elves are coming to my home to try and murder me. That's...that's just fucking great.

"You're bringing them here?" Andrea said, her tone hinting that of disbelief as well as her facial expression.

"I think it's about time, is it not?" Klaus said, wearing that amused grin of his that I've always had the urge to slap right off his face.

But yes, they did decide that it's time that the Mikaelson family is reunited. Better wear my best tuxedo for my funeral tonight.

1:14 PM

I don't know what it is, but for some reason, I can hear this ticking sound at the back of my head. Not like a ticking time bomb, but more like just a regular clock, counting down the seconds.

At first, I treated it as a joke like I'm counting down the last hours of me being alive before the whole Mikaelson family come to murder me tonight. But as it goes by, the ticking gets slightly louder, only slightly.

It's making me kind of anxious.

"I'll just go grab some sand for a spell." Andrea told me.

"I hope it's a protection spell because there's a 50/50 chance that your family will kill me." I joked. Well, half-joked. I've never met the rest of the family. Who knows, maybe some of them are worse than Klaus.

"They won't." She reassured me with a smile before stepping out of the house.

I was walking up the stairs when I heard the ticking getting louder, as if creeping up on me from behind. It's starting to make me feel antsy. And I don't like feeling this antsy.

I walked back down the stairs and made my way to the front door to go to Andrea and tell her all about it.

"Hey, I have no clue what it is but there's this—" I stopped talking when I found Andrea in the middle of the beach, but not alone.

Standing across from her was the same man I saw a few weeks back, standing in the same spot. The same man I saw in the lobby of the movie theater.

I saw the look in her eyes as she glanced at me. She was quite far from me but from where I'm standing, I could see the fear in them as clear as day.

I could see it before the two of them vanished into thin air.

With that, I felt like I lost my hearing and it was replaced by the ticking of the sound that was no longer at the back of my head but already sounding like it was next to my ears. I could not hear anything but the loud ticking of the clock that was starting to drive me insane.

1:15 PM

"Andrea!" I yelled as loud as I could before my feet broke into a sprint.

I was barefooted as my feet sank into the sand ever-so-slightly when I was running. I don't think I've ever ran this fast before. I can hear my heart racing, I can almost feel it in my throat, actually.

"Andrea!" I yelled again, intensely hoping that she was still on this beach, just invisible or something. I was hoping she could hear me and say something. Say anything. To let me know that she's okay, that we're okay, that everything's okay.

Tick.

But I heard nothing but the ticking of the clock getting louder and louder until the splash of the waves and my own shallow breathing became background noises.

Tock.

Then suddenly, I saw every memory I have with Andrea right before my eyes.

Her vivid blue eyes caught me as soon as I was in her line of sight. The whites of her eyes are barely seen because of how bloodshot they were.

"Where the fuck did you come from?" I muttered under my breath, almost inaudible.

Tick.

As soon as that played before my eyes, it vanished from my sight at the same time I stopped running.

I thought about how Andrea and I met...and suddenly, I don't remember. My blood ran cold in realization.

Tock.

She's in the Malivore pit, and I was starting to forget her.

"No." I ran again. I don't know why or where I'm running to but I kept hoping that by the time I stop running, I would be in front of Andrea.

"Can't we just do this like normal people? I ordered cheeseburgers." I lifted the paper bag I was holding.

I watched as she ripped her gaze away from me and began eyeing the paper bag I was holding. By the looks of it, this woman is famished.

Fear crept up my spine and tears pooled in my eyes. Every second that passes by is one less memory from my brain.

Tick.

"Didn't know you were the 'damsel in distress' type." She said after the wall had completely disintegrated under touch. Literally.

Then she gave me what nearly killed me. A smirk.

Goddamn, this woman is attractive. I don't care if I sound like a simp right now, but that woman is like a goddess. A howling, bloodsucking, magical goddess.

"Trust me, neither did I." I just said. I didn't even get the chance to think of a retort for that. I could've said I'm a dude in distress because I'm far from being a damsel. But seeing her, well, I was awestruck.

She then laughed softly. Even her laugh is addicting.

"No, please." I was pleading, once more from the gods above, whoever could hear me, to stop whatever is happening right now.

Tock.

The sound of the ticking clock was not any help. If anything, it was reminding me of how much time I have left before I forget all about the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. The most amazing woman that's ever graced my messed-up life.

Tick.

This is not happening.

"You don't need to be nervous. You look incredible." I said as I offered her my hand to make her less nervous. I mean, where's the lie? She really does look incredible. But instead of being flattered, she, of course, glared at me.

"Stop complimenting me." She warned.

"It's just so you would get out of the damn car." I responded.

Tock.

"I'll remember you." I panted as I proceeded to run. I still don't know where I'm going but I'm still wishing that I'd see her again.

Tick.

The ticking sound is getting faster, and I'm certain that my heartbeat started to mimic its pace.

Tock.

I wiped her cheeks with my thumbs before my eyes once again looked down on her lips. She was right there. Within reach. But that doesn't mean I should do it.

She was so close that I started to get drunk on her coconut-scented hair. She's so perfectly imperfect, I feel like a nobody next to her.

I was waiting for her to push me away or to send me flying again. But when that didn't happen, there was no obstacle left to overcome other than lean in.

And I kissed her.

Her lips brushed against mine and it felt like my entire being just ignited, as if I haven't been entirely alive until this very moment. It's like all the walls I've built around me came crashing down. And for just one kiss.

Tick.

I should've stayed up. If I knew that was going to be the last time I see her, I shouldn't have slept, I should have stayed up and spent as much time with her as possible. I should have told her how much I love her so many times. I only said it once to her and that's not enough. Fuck, that's not even a fraction of what I feel for her.

Tock.

The ticking is louder than ever,

"You didn't know that?" I asked when I saw how surprise was plastered across her face. "You didn't realize I'm already falling for you when I kept teasing you? When I made you breakfast every morning? When I always looked forward to us training together? When I kept a folder with your name? When I kissed you?"

Tick.

Faster than ever.

Tock.

"You're really going to be the death of me, Hope Andrea Mikaelson." I muttered.

She cocked an eyebrow and shrugged her shoulders.

"Then I'd die first and hold the gates of heaven open for you...just in case they shut you out, which they're likely to do."

"And what makes you think you'll get to heaven, you little devil."

"I have my ways."

I want it to stop.

Tick.

The hours. The minutes. The seconds.

I want time to stop where Andrea and I were still under the covers, looking at each other, touching each other, smiling at each other. I want time to stop at the happiest moment of my entire life.

Tock.

The screaming. The crying. The ticking.

"Andrea!" I screamed as I ran as fast as I could as tears flowed out of my eyes. The sound of the clock ticking was becoming even faster, louder, urging me to stretch my legs longer, run even quicker, scream even louder.

Tick.

The fear. The guilt. The sorrow.

How can I live in a world without Andrea? How can I live without knowing her? Without remembering her? I wish I could've done more, said more. I wish I'd held her hand more, hugged her more, kissed her more, smiled with her more, laughed with her more. Everything. And now, as I run across this beach, that wish is starting to become less and less possible. I promised her I'll never let her go. I want—I need to keep that promise.

And then the ticking becomes unbearable.

Tick.

She's my air. Without my air, how can I breathe?

Tock.

She's my heart. Without my heart, how can I live and love again?

Tick.

She's my soul. Without my soul, how can I feel anything?

Tock.

She's my everything. Without my everything, then who am I?

Everything is happening too fast, moving too fast, changing too fast, disappearing too fast.

Tick.

And I just want it to stop.

Tock.

Someone make it stop.

Tick.

I'm begging the heaven above, even the hell below my feet.

Tock.

Make it stop.

Tick.

Just make it stop!

Tock.

"I love you, too, Tony."

Tick....Tock.

1:16 PM

"Stop!" I yelled and I stopped running.

My breathing was too thin, almost like in a few seconds, I would completely run out of breath and faint. I was sure my heart was in my throat while it was thrashing because of how fast it was beating. My face was damp with sweat and tears. My whole body was trembling. My skin was heating up.

I looked around me then saw how little my house had become from how far I'd run.

But that's just it.

Why did I run?

"What just happened?"

I don't know why...but for a moment there I thought I had something good, too good, in fact. I have no idea what it is but I felt it.

Though, I guess it's too good to be true.

—

If you're not crying yet, then I failed. Because I'm crying and I've done this twice.