"What about by you?"

Elijah didn't know what to say. He was torn between two of the most powerful morals he held dear to himself. On one hand, he couldn't tell her he did not love her because it would be the biggest lie he had ever told. He also knew he would break her heart. On the other hand, how could he confess his love to this woman the day after her husband died? True, the circumstances surrounding the marriage were a little complicated, but he had no doubt in his mind that she loved Jackson. It seemed selfish for him to take advantage of her now

"Hayley…" he began, but her eyes gave away that she took his hesitation as a sign of rejection. So Hayley nodded and blinked away tears before turning and walking out of the room. Elijah knew at that moment he would have to leave the compound so he didn't have to hear Hayley's stifled cries. So he did.

Stupid. God, she was stupid. It had been hours since she had talked to Elijah, but the hesitation in his voice when she asked him how he felt about her still stung. How could she ask him that after spending a year apart? She had thrown Jack in his face and judged him when he had tried to find happiness with Gia. Then he lost her. Hayley was realizing just how difficult it was to be a part of this deadly family and be loved. It was almost a death sentence.

Hayley sighed and pulled Hope into her lap. She brushed back her wispy brown hairs from her forehead and kissed her head. Hope was fidgeting and Hayley had no doubt it was because Jackson wasn't here. Hope had adored him and it was going to be a challenge trying to get used to life without him for the both of them.

"It's just us now, baby girl. You and mommy," she whispered. Hope turned her hazel eyes towards Hayley and blinked. Her chubby cheeks were red with the chill in the air this morning and it made Hayley smile. She really was the cutest little girl Hayley had ever seen. It was crazy to think that this beautiful baby girl was the product of two emotionally damaged hybrids who happen to like their liquor a little too much. Though she would love to have that night with Klaus permanently erased from her memory, she wouldn't take it back.

"I would never take you back," Hayley whispered. Hope giggled and grabbed at Hayley's face. Tears welled up in her eyes for what felt like the billionth time over the past two days and she had to wonder how she even had any tears left to cry. Hope's bottom lip began to quiver and Hayley did her best to halt the breakdown that was about to occur, but the cries started and Hayley knew she had lost the battle.

"Shh, c'mon Hope it's okay," Hayley whispered. She got up and gently bounced her trying to soothe her sobs, but nothing was working. Hayley knew deep down that she was upset due to the fact that she hadn't seen Jack in a few days, but she didn't want to think about it right now. She just wanted her to stop crying and go down for a nap so that Hayley could sort through her inner storm of emotions.

"May I?" a voice said. Hayley turned to see Elijah at the door. Though she didn't exactly want to see him right now, she knew how good he was with Hope. Hayley nodded and passed her daughter to him, and shuddered when her hands brushed his. She prayed that Hope's cries were loud enough to cover up the increasing intensity of her heartbeat. She ran her hand through her hair and watched the oldest Mikaelson brother rock his brother's daughter.

Elijah whispered in Hope's ear and nuzzled her crying figure against him. He swayed with the little girl in his arms and smiled when the cries turned to soft whimpers. Pretty soon the sniffles stopped and the steady short breaths coming from Hope's sleeping state sent an overwhelming feeling of peace over Hayley. Elijah moved slowly over to the crib and gently placed the child down. He swept his hand over her hair and smiled at the sleeping little girl. The whole scene made Hayley want to melt. The way Elijah acted with Hope reminded her so much of Jack. Both men could flip the switch from gentle to dangerous in a manner of seconds, and she found it incredibly sexy.

"Thank you," Hayley said softly. Elijah nodded at her in acknowledgement, but walked to the door. She hadn't noticed the bags in his hands when he had walked in, but the black duffel bag and baby bag were now being unzipped on her bed. Elijah took out Hope's favorite stuffed animal and brought it over to her crib. He placed the animal next to her head and cracked open the door to her room so they could speak without disturbing her.

"I hope you don't find me intrusive, but I figured you and Hope might need some things. I went to the apartment and packed what I thought you might need. I wasn't sure if you were ready to take on that task quite yet," Elijah said. Hayley rummaged through the bags and unpacked several of her shirts and pants, and a few of Hope's outfits. She blushed when she saw he had packed the lingerie that had been hanging on the drying rack the other day. However, the entire gesture warmed her heart. Even after what had happened earlier this morning, Elijah was still the most caring man she had ever met.

"Thank you, Elijah. I really do appreciate this," Hayley said.

"You are welcome. Please do let me know if you need anything else," Elijah replied.

"I will. Although I know I'll need to go over there at some point. I can't exactly avoid my own home, can I?" Hayley said. Elijah's mouth twitched as if he were going to say something, but then pressed into a firm line again.

"No, I suppose not. I would be happy to accompany you over there if you wish," he replied.

"It might be something I need to do on my own."

"I understand."

There was a tension in the room that neither of them could stand. There were so many things that both of them wanted to say to each other, yet neither of them could spit it out. Elijah looked at the woman in front of him and mentally sighed. God, she was stunning. She wasn't dressed up or wearing makeup, her hair was a mess and there were bags under her eyes, but damn him to hell if she wasn't the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Elijah shut the bedroom door and leaned against the dresser in the room.

"I walked around town today and did some thinking," Elijah said.

"Thinking about new interior decorations? Downstairs is a mess," Hayley joked. Elijah smirked at her and his chest constricted seeing the slight smile that danced on her lips.

"Oh, of course. It's been all I could think about for the past week. It's not like there's anything else going on in this dull city," he replied. Hayley rolled her eyes, but smiled even wider. What a magnificent sight that was.

"What were you really thinking about?" Hayley asked softly.

"I was thinking that I should apologize for this morning's conversation."

Hayley's whole body froze. She felt as if she couldn't move or speak because she was so terrified of what more he could possibly say to her.

"Now, please Hayley, let me finish speaking before you decide what you're going to say to me. Deal?" he asked. Hayley nodded and he glanced down before walking over to sit on the bed.

"Timing has always been a bit of a problem for us. First you were pregnant with my brother's child. Next you turned into a hybrid who found out she had to marry another man. Then you were a wife… and finally we are here. The timing is finally right, yet it's not. The reason I couldn't answer you this morning is because of my fear that perhaps the billions of emotions that are consuming you right now may cloud your judgment."

Hayley opened her mouth to speak, but Elijah gave her a look that said he wasn't done talking, so she quickly shut it.

"Now comes my walk. I figured that if timing really is a problem for us, we may not have another moment like this. I also realized that I don't give you enough credit sometimes and I apologize for this. So, I will leave you with this and you may do with it what you may."

Elijah stood and took a step towards her. Hayley's entire body was trembling so much that she had to put a hand on the bed for support. Elijah stepped within a foot of her and raised a hand gently to her cheek. She shut her eyes and let out an inaudible sigh when his fingers brushed a stray piece of hair from her face. When she opened her eyes again, it seemed as though his dark eyes had captured her very soul.

"The answer is yes, you are deeply and irrevocably loved by me. I have loved you since I saw you and I can't imagine the day I'll stop. I failed once to tell you before and I cannot fail again. I am in love with you, Hayley."

Hayley felt as though her heart might break out of her chest. The feeling of adrenaline coursing through her veins right now was something she had experienced once before, and it had been with him. Every feeling—every magnificent, heart-stopping, gut-wrenching feeling—had occurred because of Elijah.

"I know that it is selfish of me to tell you this while you are grieving, but you are the only thing that's made me want to be selfish for as long as I can remember," Elijah breathed. Hayley's eyes were watering and he couldn't exactly tell at the moment if it was a good or a bad thing. Whatever the case was, he would let her come to him.

"When you're ready, I'll be waiting for you. I understand if you need time to think it over…"

"Elijah," Hayley said through clenched teeth.

"I thought I told you to wait-"

"Shut. Up."

Hayley grabbed the back of Elijah's head with both hands and pulled him to her. Their lips met with an intensity that could've shaken the entire house. Hayley felt her back slam up against the wall as Elijah pressed himself against her. He kissed her fiercely and held her arms above her head to exert some form of control. Hayley wasn't one to usually give into the alpha male, but when it came to Elijah she didn't give a damn. She just wanted him. She let him pin her arms against the wall, but smiled inwardly when she hitched her leg up next to his waist and he released her. Hayley wrapped both legs around his torso and let out a moan when Elijah's lips moved from hers down. He trailed his lips down her jaw and neck, and then bit her ear playfully.

Hayley took advantage of the fact that they had paused their kissing and wasted no time stripping Elijah of his jacket. She released his waist from her legs so she could stand and properly undress him. When Hayley's hands began unknotting his pesky tie, she found his hands stopping her. She looked up at him to find the most beautiful set of dark eyes staring back at her. These were eyes she had seen many times, but never so vulnerable. She could see all of the love that this wonderful man had for her, and it struck her hard.

"I don't want to doubt you again, but you understand I have to ask. Are you sure you want to do this right now?" Elijah breathed huskily. Hayley was taken aback by the sound of his voice, but found shortly that it was probably the sexiest voice she had ever heard.

"Elijah, I promise. I want this. I want you," Hayley said. She was aware that his hands still held hers and maneuvered on top so that she could lace her fingers through his. Elijah still looked at her with concern, and she realized quickly why. She still hadn't said it.

"I love you."

That was all he needed. Elijah captured her lips in a kiss, but the whole mood had changed. What had begun as a blazing fire full of passion and aggressive want had turned into slow, burning flames that enveloped the pair. He slowly untied his tie and threw it to the ground. Hayley began unbuttoning his shirt and pressed a kiss to the top of his chest. The intensity of his heartbeat matched the same tempo as her own, and as he shrugged the white linen shirt off, it became louder. Elijah pressed his hands to her waist and slowly slid them up the sides of her stomach. She lifted her arms and he pulled her shirt off in a swift motion. Hayley unhooked her bra quickly and let it fall to the floor.

The minute she looked up at him again, his lips were on hers. She ran her hands through his hair secretly taking pleasure in the fact that she got to mess up the perfection that was Elijah Mikaelson. She would be the only one that got to see him with messy hair and a wrinkled shirt. No one else would know what it was like to feel the heat of his flesh upon her own or the electrical current that ran through her when they touched. The thought made her clutch him even closer to her so that their naked torsos were pressed up against each other.

The backs of her legs hit the bed and she found herself falling back onto the soft mattress. She scrambled up so that her head was now on a pillow as she heard the sound of Elijah's shoes hitting the ground. He crawled over to her and hovered above her body. For a moment, all he could do was stare. Hayley's tangled mess of hair was fanned out around her face as she looked up at him. He loved the intensity of her brown eyes and the way she was nervously biting her swollen lip right now. He bent to simply kiss her once, but Hayley held his face so that he could not escape. God, he loved this woman.

Hayley's hands began to work at his belt buckle and Elijah hardly noticed the clunk it made when it hit the floor. Elijah shimmied his way out of his pants and briefs before quickly making work of the button on her jeans. He pulled them down along with her underwear and inhaled sharply when he saw her fully for the first time. Knowing she probably didn't like being stared at, Elijah hovered above her and kissed her again. He looked into her eyes once more and came to a decision.

"We're going to do this right this time," he whispered. "Last time… we didn't exactly take it slow." Hayley grinned and he couldn't help but mimic her expression.

"I don't recall asking you to take it slow," she replied as she cocked an eyebrow at him. Elijah narrowed his eyes playfully, but didn't give into her tricks. Instead, he brushed a piece of hair away from her cheek and stroked her cheek.

"Yes, but you deserve it. Slow, passionate, and right," he said. Elijah pressed a kiss to her mouth, followed by her cheek, and then finally her neck.

"You deserve to be worshiped."

And so, that's what Elijah did. He worshiped and loved the girl that deserved it more than anyone and anything he could think of in a thousand years of his past and a thousand years of his future.