Honesty is a funny thing. It can hold more power over us than any government in the world. Honesty, a trait defined as having the quality of being honest. It's a trait anyone can possess if they so choose, and sometimes being honest with yourself is a lot more challenging than being honest with others. Hayley Marshall-Kenner was beginning to realize how easy it is to struggle with being honest with yourself.

"Shh, shh." The young hybrid whispered as she bounced her baby gently.

Her husband, Jackson, had been gone three days now. He was off looking for a way to break their curse. Hayley had tried to convince him not to go, as a new wife would he expected to do, but part of her felt relieved.

Now she was left alone in their apartment with a teething baby who demanded her full attention. She was exhausted, and even though Fraya had offered to babysit Hayley had refused. She was afraid to accept help, fearing it would make her a bad mother.

However, as she blew a sweaty strand of hair away from her face, she was ready to admit defeat. With Hope finally quiet in her arms and called the first person she thought of.

Within minutes there was a knock on the door. "Thank goodness." The brunette whispered to herself. "Uncle Elijah is here to visit." She said to Hope as she opened the door.

"Jackson is not back yet?" He asked letting himself in.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked handing him the baby.

"Have you heard from him?"

"Once…" She wasn't sure where these questions were going.

"Hayley, is everything alright?" He took a step closer to her.

"Yeah…" Her eyes drifted to the floor. She wished it were easier to lie to him. "No. Hope has been fussy ever since he left, this place is a mess, and I'm a mess."

"I'll take Hope out for a bit. You take a hot shower and get some rest. We'll be back in a few hours."

"Thank you, Elijah."

*three hours later*

"Hayley." Elijah gently shook her from her slumber.

"Hi." She rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Hope has had her dinner and I put her to bed a few moments ago. Are you going to be okay?"

"Do you have to leave?" She asked her voice groggy.

Elijah opened his mouth to speak but then closed it as if he was considering his options. "No, I can stay awhile."

To her request he sat beside her on the bed. They were silent for a while, simply enjoying each other's company. Hayley had felt lonely for so long now that having another body next to hers was calming.

Finally Elijah spoke. "How are you and Jackson?"

She looked at him, knowing the question couldn't have been easy for him. "Fine. He's great with Hope. Willing to help when I need him too…" She trailed off knowing this was not the answer either of them were expecting.

"If I'm being honest, I feel trapped." She answered keeping her eyes on the blanket in front of her. "I didn't want this. I did it for my pack and now look where we are. The only thing keeping us in our human form is a silly candle held together by a spell."

"You could leave." Elijah stated.

"What kind of person would that make me?" She asked finally looking at him.

"Human." He simply replied.

She looked deep into his brown eyes. 'I love you. I've always loved you.' She wanted to scream, but she couldn't bring herself to be that honest. Not yet.