Had she explained what suited meant? She must have, Steve must have just missed it. Confusion was written clearly all over his face while he listened to what Rose said. It increased tenfold when Rose mentioned the bit about the arrow being in his shoulder and admitting he loved Eva. Oh Merlin, had he really said that? With a sigh, Steve looked at the floor. Here went nothing. Rose deserved it, though. She deserved to know.
"Eva and I... have history. I, um, well - we dated. At Hogwarts. It was fast and I was caught up in the whirlwind of Eva. She's so, er, different than me. But she... she wasn't always like she is now. At Hogwarts she was sweet and gentle and, well, mine. But then, she went home for Easter one holiday. And... she was watching her little brother. I think he was around six. His name was - is - Nick. He.... well he died. Under Eva's watch. She's blamed herself since then. I don't. No one does, really. And then she spiralled out of control. She became dark and addicted to drugs and one night stands and Merlin knows what else. We broke up, well... she broke up with me. I didn't understand her reasons, still don't. And yeah, it hurt. But watching her self-destruct hurt more.
"So I made myself available to her. When we graduated she'd go on benders. I'd get a call in the middle of the night - any day of the week - from a muggle police station stating they had an Eva Montgomery, would I post bail, pick her up, the whole bit. Eva's... habits, are why I got a telephone installed. She - Rose, I couldn't do anything. I've tried so hard. I've pleaded with her, yelled at her, comforted her... but nothing works. She - she just can't get over it. And, I ... I don't think she ever will. And as long as she's carrying around that guilt, she keeps her distance. She refuses to connect with people.
"She might love me back. But not in the way... not in the way that... that, I - I want you to maybe one day... nevermind. I don't know what she said, but... she's troubled. I should let her go, I know that. But I can't... because, because what if - what if next time I'm not there? What if, what if she dies? I couldn't live with myself..." Steve's words were emotional and his eyes were moist. It was raw honesty he spoke with, and he hadn't expected the words to come so easily. But they had... and Rose needed to know.