Chapter 2 - Over The Love

I sat quietly on the bench outside of a voodoo shop along Bourbon street. The sounds of trumpets and people shouting mixed with the delicious smells of not only human blood, but the Cajun spices used widely to make special dishes. Things that normally wouldn't have gone together were making my mouth water.

I wanted to say I was an expert at remaining in control, but the truth was that I wasn't. I wasn't a ripper, but the smell of blood did things to me I didn't want to admit. Especially when I could smell fresh blood leaking from the vein on the surface of skin. It was intoxicating.

My eyes snapped open when I felt my phone vibrating against my side. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I saw it was another text from Caroline. Without even opening it, I deleted the message before setting the phone on my lap.

She was worried about me. That's what she kept saying. Then she would bring up graduation. A graduation I wouldn't be a part of because everyone outside our little circle thought I was dead. She wanted me to go anyways, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Even Klaus went back. That left me and Elijah in New Orleans to deal with Hayley and the witches until Klaus returned. Hopefully he would come back before anyone really took notice.

"I seem to find you more in thought now than ever before," a smooth voice commented from beside me.

I wish I could say I had felt him appear next to me as he sat down on the bench next to me. But that would make me a liar.

"I guess I have a little more to think about now than I did when I was younger," I responded blankly, my gaze locked ahead of me in an empty stare.

I heard a soft sigh to my left which forced my gaze over to the man sitting next to me. There wasn't a time when I haven't seen him in a suit. Sure there had been multiple stages of disrepair to his suits, but it had always been that...suits.

"You will do what's best, you always have," Elijah stated, his eyes locking on mine.

I scoffed, "Yeah, that's why I'm always losing people."

"Maybe those people weren't meant to be there in the first place," Elijah shrugged as he leaned back against the bench.

"You're the expert, right?" I responded shortly, my anger getting the best of me.

Elijah straightened up, bringing himself into a standing position. He adjusted the jacket on his suit before looking around at the people milling around us. He then turned his stern stare down towards me.

"Do not let your despair destroy what humanity you have left, Jaycee," Elijah lowered his gaze to the ground. "What you're feeling is not your anger, but Niklaus'. Don't let his dark perceptions of the world destroy the light that shines so brightly within you. That would be a shame for the world to lose."

"I don't know what to do, Elijah," I muttered softly, trying to swallow my pride the best I could.

"You know what is right for you. Staying here or going back to Mystic Falls you will make the right decision," Elijah said sternly before fixing his suit jacket. He glanced around for a moment before stalking off.

I watched him move down the street, avoiding people as he went. He managed to dodge passing pedestrians with such grace it made me slightly jealous of the older vampire. Somehow he makes everything and anything he does look elegant and graceful. Even his arguments were graceful and that in itself was irritating.

He wanted me to stay. That much was clear from our conversation. He wanted nothing more than to make us a family. Then he would turn around and tell me to leave if that's what I wanted. I wasn't sure if that was some form of torture in itself or if it was actually a good idea. Sure Elijah and I had technically been a family for years, but now we were adding Klaus, Rebekah, Hayley, and a magical miracle baby to the mix. Everything was different now.

I was connected to Klaus is more ways than one now and that worried me. A sire, a mentor, and an Uncle. A deadly combination. Elijah saw this as a way to draw us together. He thought that if I could get through to Klaus, get him to see the lighter side of things then we could actually make this dysfunctional idea work.

Then there was Marcel. Jesus, I didn't even know what to think about that situation. I was drawn to him and as much as I wanted to I couldn't deny that fact. Leaving Damon and Stefan behind was hard enough and now I was already feeling attracted to other people? And Elijah? What in the hell is wrong with me?

"I know that face," Marcel's voice cut through my thoughts.

Rolling my eyes, I watched as he sat down in the seat Elijah had left moments before. I didn't say anything as I turned my gaze away from him and focused on the entrance to Rousseau's across the street. People were coming and going, just before dusk, just before the partying was to begin.

"Okay, I get it," Marcel continued. "Giving me the cold shoulder. How many times are you going to make me apologize before you talk to me again?"

"Apologize?" I asked, my eyes finding him once more. "You call what you did apologizing?"

He shrugged, "In a roundabout way."

"No," I shook my head, "That's called marking your territory. I'm not sure what's going on with you and Klaus, but I want nothing to do with it, Marcel."

Marcel nodded, his face serious as opposed to the happy smirk that usually graced the handsome face he had been blessed with. It wasn't a surprise that I felt drawn to how handsome he was. Any woman who had the audacity to turn him down was either blind or had a horrible taste in men.

"I'm not marking territory, Jace," Marcel stated firmly, his dark eyes locking onto me. "I do feel bad about what happened to Jane-Anne, but she disobeyed. I have to show these witches that I'm not someone to be messed with."

"Do you hear yourself?" I asked, shrugging. "Or do you subconsciously block out the bullshit that spills from your mouth?"

Marcel smirked, shaking his head. "That's what I like about you. Always seeing past the politics. You were that way even when you had the switch flipped."

"I guess my sparkling personality is just persistent," I stated sarcastically as I stood up from the bench.

"I think I like you with your emotions on better than when you had them off," Marcel stood up with me.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," I spat as I shook my head. "I'm not here for you."

I turned away from him with every intention of just walking away. I knew that wasn't going to be an option when I felt him wrap his hand around my wrist. It didn't matter who was stronger, I still felt my body being pulled to a stop. I turned back to face Marcel as he pulled me back towards him. When I was completely turned, I couldn't stop him as he pressed his soft lips firmly to mine.

I should have fought back, pushed him away...SOMETHING. But no, my stupid hyperactive vampire hormones decided it would be a good idea to just go ahead and kiss him back. With the feel of his heavenly lips against mine, it was easy to remember why I had fallen into bed with him the last time I was in New Orleans.

At some point I regained my senses because I quickly pulled back. I was breathing a little harder and so was he. There was a triumphant look on his face like he had just proven a point. I didn't say anything as I whipped around and used my vampire speed to get the hell away from him.

When I was sure I wasn't being followed, I slowed down to a normal pace. So far things haven't been much different than they had been in Mystic Falls. Why was this always happening? Why was I constantly putting myself in these situations when I know I'm not going to win?

"Well, wasn't that just sickeningly sweet," a British accent came from down an alleyway just to my right.

My head whipped to the right, a sense of relief running through me at the sight of him.

"How was graduation?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Boring and short," Klaus muttered as he walked towards me. "Caroline though is extremely upset with you not showing up."

"Caroline," I muttered. "That girl is a shoe in for lost causes."

Klaus shrugged, that irritating smirk on his lips, "That's what makes her special."

Rolling my eyes, I muttered, "Special is overrated."

"You're pretty special to a pair of brothers back in Mystic Falls," Klaus reprimanded as we started walking slowly along Bourbon Street.

"Brothers who I just told goodbye to," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Klaus asked, a tinge of concern leaking into his voice as we came to a sudden stop.

"You find out you're a daddy and all of a sudden you start acting like you care?" I asked sarcastically. "Talk about personality issues."

Klaus smirked before wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to his body. With his arm around me he forced us to begin walking once more as he chuckled.

"You're the only person I will allow myself to care about," Klaus admitted.

"That's only because I'm useful and I'm family."

"Exactly, love. Exactly," Klaus nodded, glancing down at me.

"You're incorrigible."

Klaus leaned down, pressing a brief kiss to my forehead before releasing his hold on me. We continued walking the street just as a blonde woman walked right into our path, deliberately bumping into Klaus.

"Well well, if it isn't the brave bartender," Klaus greeted the pretty blonde woman.

"Oh jeez," I muttered, drawing the woman's gaze from Klaus.

"It's Cami, actually," the blonde stuck her hand out to me.

I glanced down at her hand before looking up at Klaus. There was a strange look in his eyes as he stared at this Cami woman. Rolling my eyes, I turned away from them and started walking again.

"Did I say something...?" Cami asked as I left.

"Ignore her, she's a little cranky," Klaus told her "Boy troubles."

"Ah," I heard Cami using my super hearing abilities.

Crossing my arms tightly over my chest, I stalked further away from Klaus and this mysterious Cami. There was a pregnant werewolf I needed to check on.

I walked swiftly into the house Elijah had shown me earlier. This was the pride of New Orleans in its day, but now...It was just some old house that had some historical significance. The white paint on the outside was starting to chip and peel, something I'm sure Elijah would have taken care of immediately.

I was just glad Rebekah wasn't here to input her two sense about the decor. Dealing with two originals was work enough, I could only imagine what it would be like to have all three of them in the same city. I know Elijah has been trying to recruit Bekah, but the last I heard her and Matt took off to jet set around the world.

I had missed a lot not going back to Mystic Falls. I missed graduation. I missed college application deadlines, I missed watching Matt and Tyler graduate, and above all...I missed Damon.

I missed Damon more than I wanted to admit. Every time my phone rang my heart would jump thinking it was him trying to get me to come back to Mystic Falls. For the first few weeks that's how it went. He would call and I would ignore them, instead listening to the heartfelt begging he left in voice messages. After each message my guilt grew steadily until one day he just stopped calling. The first thing that came to mind was that he gave up the passive approach and was going to a more assertive method by physically coming to New Orleans and dragging me back home. But it never happened.

"Earth to Jaycee," Hayley's voice met my ears.

My gaze focused back to what was in front of me. I hadn't realized I had walked into the parlor room where Hayley had been sitting. She had a book opened in her lap as she sat on the couch. She looked comfortable in a pair of leggings and an oversized shirt with a jacket on. Her dark wavy hair left down while her dark brown eyes stared up at me in confusion.

"You okay there?" Hayley asked, closing the book.

"Hmm?" I asked before shaking my head. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Hayley stated as she tossed the book onto the table in front of her. She sat forward on the couch before patting the area next to her.

Rolling my eyes, I begrudgingly walked over and threw myself onto the couch next to her. As much as I didn't want to be this way, I was easy to read. Stefan had told me on numerous occasions that he could always tell what I was thinking because I wore my emotions on my face. My heart was on my sleeve for the world to see and that's probably why I ended up in this situation.

As I sat, Hayley wrapped her arms around my shoulders pulling me into a sideways hug. I rested my head on her shoulder, allowing her to rest her head on top of mine. The heat emanating from her body was enough to warm my cold skin.

"Is it Damon?" she asked.

I sighed, not answering.

"I'll take that as a yes," Hayley muttered, pulling away slightly. "They say if you love something set it free...If it comes back it was meant to be."

"You really believe that?" I asked, looking back at her.

Hayley shook her head before she said, "No, not really...But I do know there's a thousand year old vampire who is head over heels in love with you."

"Who, Klaus?" I joked.

Hayley shoved me slightly, shaking her head, "No, the morally sound and emotionally stable one...Elijah."

"I don't know about emotionally stable," I muttered. "It's just..." I shook my head, standing up since I could no longer stay sitting. "It's not like Damon to just give up. He just stopped calling and texting. I figured he would race out here and drag me back home-" I cut myself off as Hayley looked from me down to her hands that were fidgeting in her lap.

"Maybe he got sick of running after you," Hayley muttered softly. Human ears wouldn't have been able to hear, but I could as if she was speaking into my ear.

"Maybe," I muttered. "I don't blame him."

"I'm sure there are a few people around here that don't mind the extra company," a new voice spoke from the doorway.

I whipped around to face the new voice. My body relaxed the moment I heard him speak. Elijah had this way about him that just made you want to trust him. His eyes spoke volumes of kindness that only happens after decades of seeing the darker side of life. The kind of person who had seen so much evil and done so much evil he wanted to protect those he loved from ever having to experience the pain he had gone through.

"You have a tendency to just show up when least wanted," I responded shortly, crossing my arms over my chest.

Elijah nodded slightly before holding out his hand and said, "Walk with me."

I glanced down to Hayley who was looking between me and Elijah almost like she was waiting for something.

I shook my head at Hayley before walking past Elijah. I heard him sigh, watching as his hand dropped. Walking to the front door, I opened it expectantly before looking back to where he was standing. I watched as he gave Hayley a nod before following me. I moved out into the humid heat of the Louisiana air.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come out here with me," Elijah stated right off the bat as we walked down the porch steps.

"I'm sure you're here to lecture me once more about my decisions to stay in New Orleans, and if that's the case then save it."

I watched the conflicted look cross his face as I said that. Why was he acting like this? He was the one who was adamant on me staying in New Orleans and now he was telling me to leave. This was Elijah's irritating way of being noble. He was truly selfless. A man willing to suffer if it meant I was happy.

"You miss him?" Elijah said more as a statement then as a question.

Scoffing, I shook my head, forcing us to come to a stop. We were a good enough distance from the house where our talking wouldn't be overheard by super-hearing pregnant werewolves, but we could still keep an eye on the house.

"I left my life behind, Elijah. Of course I miss him."

"Do you regret your decision to stay?" He asked, placing his hands behind his back as he talked.

Looking away from him, I shook my head. What was I supposed to tell him? He wanted to hear that I was happy being here to protect the baby with him. There was no denying that it was a relief not dealing with the petty drama of Mystic Falls anymore, but at what cost? I was tethered to Klaus in more than one way and now we were being thrust into a war between the witches and vampires.

"I don't want to be in the middle of a war, Elijah," I sighed. "But I can't leave you to do this on your own."

"This is our chance, Jaycee," Elijah nodded. "We could be a family."

I smiled slightly at him, shaking my head. "I don't think I can be the type of family you want, Elijah."

I reached up, placing my hand against his cheek. My heart broke seeing him leaning into the touch, his eyes fluttering closed momentarily. His hand came up to cover mine before his eyes opened once more and locked onto mine.

"Once I'm sure the baby is safe...I'm gone," I stated softly, pulling my hand away from his cheek.

Turning my back to him, I headed back up towards the house. I could feel the emotions raging through me. From the moment in Pennsylvania, I knew something had changed between us. He admitted that he loved me in a way I never thought he would. The one person that had never hurt me and I was reluctant to let myself fall completely. Why? What was I waiting for?

"You said what?!" Hayley screeched as we pulled off another dusty cover from a rocking chair in the room we had designated for the new baby.

"I can't get attached anymore, Hay," I responded as I started folding the dusty white sheet.

"Can't or won't?" she responded, placing a hand on her hips.

"I've been hurt way too many times to let myself fall back into the same rut," I responded, tossing the folded sheet to the side. I reached down to uncover another piece of furniture when Hayley grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to face her. The serious look on her face forced me to refrain from rolling my eyes.

"Elijah is the best thing that has ever happened to you and you know it. When we were friends back in Arizona you always talked about him like he was the greatest man in the world-"

"That was before I knew his love went deeper than just some sort of familial friendship!" I snapped, letting my frustration get the best of me.

Sighing, I took a deep breath before shaking my head.

"You're scared..." Hayley deadpanned. "You're scared because this is the real thing, not some high school drama."

"I can't lose what I already have with him..."

"So you're going to eternally friend-zone him?" Hayley asked, slightly amused by that statement.

"Just until I can figure things out...Besides, I've got forever," I muttered.

"Forever for what, love?"

I'm sure Hayley and I had very similar looks on our faces. She looked annoyed beyond measure staring at the person standing behind me in the doorway. I turned around in order to face Klaus as he stood there with an amused look on his face.

"Why is it that you pop up everywhere you're not wanted?" Hayley asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's a gift, sweetheart. You treating my...child properly?" he struggled to come up with the right words.

"Which one?" Hayley asked, referring to me and the baby. I shot her an annoyed look before walking towards Klaus.

"Your spawn and the mother are fine, Niklaus."

"You sound just like Elijah when you use my full name," Klaus smirked. It was his usual smirk. It was the I have a secret no one knows about smirk.

"Speaking of Elijah," Hayley interrupted. "I need to ask him something."

"About that..." Klaus trailed off, a seemingly regretful look on his face.

"About what?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest as I watched Klaus looking between Hayley and me.

"Elijah is gone."

"Gone?" Hayley asked, confused.

"What did you do?" I snapped.

There was no way that Elijah would just leave out of the blue like that. It wasn't like him. He wanted to protect this baby. He wanted to see this through. The promises he made to Hayley he wouldn't break for the world. This was family at stake and family was all Elijah had left.

"Hayley, would you excuse us?" Klaus asked, looking at the werewolf.

Hayley shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest while mimicking my stance.

"Did you do something to Elijah?" Hayley asked, rephrasing my question.

"I said leave," Klaus snapped at Hayley.

"And I said no," Hayley retorted.

Klaus smirked, looking down to the ground before he snapped. He rushed forward using his speed grabbing Hayley by the throat and slamming her into the wall. Gasping in pain, she clawed at the hands wrapped around her throat. I immediately snapped into action, grabbing onto Klaus and pulling him away from Hayley. She sucked in a deep breath when he released her, looking extremely shaken

Pushing Klaus back away from Hayley, I could feel the hunger growing inside of me as my eyes shifted from their usual green to a golden color. Every time I vamped out I could feel the hunger creeping inside of me along with the anger and resentment.

"Hayley go," I stated firmly, not drawing my gaze from Klaus.

I didn't hear any objection before the sound of retreating feet met my ears. I heard her footfalls hit the stairs like she was running up them trying to get away as fast as she could. Hayley wasn't a person to get frightened easily, but Klaus brought out the fear in everyone.

"Where is Elijah?"

"You know you're getting good at that," Klaus smirked, not feeling threatened at all. "Turning you into a hybrid was the best decision I've ever made."

Snarling, I used my vampire speed to rush at him, hoping to use the element of surprise to attack him. Before I could even lay a hand on him he had grabbed me by the wrist and twisted my arm so it was behind my back. He then pushed me forward until I slammed face first into the wall. Even as a vampire it still hurt hitting the wall at high speeds.

"But you let your emotions control your actions...It makes you weak," Klaus whispered into my ear before spinning me around, but keeping me pinned. Breathing heavily, I stared up at him with what I was sure was anger written all over my face.

"You're one to talk," I spat.

Klaus smirked, looking away for a moment before his eyes met mine. There was something different about the way he was looking at me. It finally clicked when I noticed his pupils beginning to dilate.

"Elijah is gone. He left in order to pursue other things," Klaus nodded. "He will miss you but he doesn't want you to go looking for him, understand?"

I felt the gears sliding into place in my mind as he said those words. I understood perfectly. Elijah had a tendency to run off to fix something else that could help the situation.

"I understand," I nodded.

"He knows you'll protect Hayley while he's gone, but you're not going to ask any more questions about Elijah."

"I'm not going to ask questions," I responded, feeling Klaus' grip on my arm loosen.

"Good," Klaus took a step back from me but maintained eye contact. "Now you and I have some plans to discuss."

Tilting my head slightly, I pushed back all my feelings about Elijah back. Klaus was right—I couldn't worry about Elijah. I had Hayley and the baby to protect.

"What kind of plans?"

"Plans that involve you working your way into Marcel's inner circle using that wonderful charm of yours."

"How?" I asked Klaus as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and began walking us towards the office area.

Klaus looked down at me with a smirk on his face before saying, "Through his heart."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK! Look at it this way the more I hear what you guys think the more ideas that form and the faster i write! Anyways no review response this time but I will definitely do one for the next chapter! Again thank you and I really cant wait to hear what you guys think of Jace's relationships with Klaus, Elijah, Hayley, and Marcel!