Hey Guys! I'm incredibly sorry for the late update but from now on the updates are going to be slow unfortunately. Lots and Lots of work to do! Hope you enjoy even though this is a bit of a short chapter :)

Chapter 3

Hayley walked onto the stage with her head held high and a bright smile on her face when her name was called out for her introduction. She picked up the already tuned guitar and sat on the stool in front of the microphone.

"Good evening, everybody! I'm Hayley Marshall... and just before I start I thank the lovely people of this restaurant for allowing me the chance to do this, trust me I'm grateful. the song I'm going to sing tonight is my fast paced, more upbeat version of My Baby by Britney Spears, I hope you guys enjoy it!" With that she earned welcoming smiles from the crowd. The band members who were already on stage nodded to her, confirming that they were ready for her to begin. She looked back to the crowd and started strumming her guitar.

Klaus watched with awe as she strummed soft notes on her guitar. Her hands were magic, like it was the easiest, effortless action.

Tiny hands.

Yes, that's you.

And all you show,

It's simply true.

I smell your breathe,

it makes me cry.

I wonder how,

I've lived my life.

She closed her eyes as she continued to sing, ready for the chorus to begin. She earned some cheering in the middle of her singing and smiled as she sang.

Cause without you,

How did I get through,

All of my days,

Without you?

Now living with you,

See everything's true,

My baby, it's you.

My baby.

My baby,

My baby.

Listening intently to the lyrics made him realise that she was singing about her precious treasure. Her Kaleb and Hope. He knew she was a good mother just by her reactions to his praising words about her kids during the parent teacher conference, but never would he have thought that she was going to dedicate her time and talent to sing about her kids. She was a true inspiration for mothers both single and otherwise, he thought.

With no words at all,

So tiny and small.

In love I fall,

So deep.

So deep.

My precious love,

Sent from above.

My baby boo,

God I thank you.

God I thank you.

When she sang with her eyes closed, she only focused on Hope and Kaleb. She blocked everything out of her mind and imagined singing in front of them, directly to them. It made her smile unintentionally. She ran through the chorus again and ended the song.

"Thank you," she said as people cheered and clapped for her. She put down the guitar and walked off the stage and to where she came from.

Sophie ran up to her and hugged her tightly, "oh, Hayley that was beautiful. You were amazing." Hayley hugged back, "thank you, Soph. Glad you liked it,"

Kaleb and Hope ran up to her too and hugged her. "Mommy, you sounded really nice," Hope squeaked and Kaleb nodded in agreement with his sister. "Thank you my sweets, that song was for you two," she smiled and smoothened Kaleb's hair while patting hope on the back.

She chatted with the staff for a while, as they congratulated her and told her to come again. She was happy with this because she was getting to do this again, finally after trying so hard to get back to her original plans with life. Looking at the time she saw that it was. It was almost closing time and there were only a few people in the restaurant. Sophie had left early, as soon as Hayley was done singing because she had to pack and travel early in the morning to Atlanta for family gathering. She had assured Sophie that she would get a cab and go home with Hope and Kaleb.

She was heading towards the entrance with them when she heard a voice behind her. "Hayley?" She smiled and turned around to greet whoever was talking to her but when she saw who it was, her smile dropped. She hadn't seen him in six years since that one night. "Kol?" She asked surprised.

He put his hands in his pockets "in the flesh." They remained there in silence awkwardly for a few seconds. Hayley decided to break it and said "So, how've you been?" The awkwardness only grew.

Kol looked at her for a couple of seconds before ruffling his hair and folding his arms. "Ok let's just cut to the chase. You never told me you had kids," he said looking at them. "And you never answered my calls, care to explain?" He said looking back at her, with hurt evident on his face.

Hayley sighed. "I'm sorry okay? But me having kids was precisely why I didn't answer or call back. I couldn't put anyone first other than my babies. They were only three then." Kol listened as she spoke. He understood but that didn't make it hurt any less. He had actually liked her and he certainly didn't regret it. When she had left his side the next morning he was thoroughly disappointed. He was only 19 but still, he vowed if he ever crossed paths with her, he would confront her.

"You could have answered the phone to tell me that," he said looking away from her.

"I'm sorry okay? It wasn't meant to be more than one night," Hayley said and turned to walk away with them holding her hands. Kol stood in silence for a few seconds and then shook it off as he walked back to the table to his date.

Klaus watched quietly as his brother spoke to her near the entrance. He was going to get up to speak to her when she was walking towards the entrance but his brother beat him to it. He thought Kol was going to congratulate her but seeing their interaction made him believe that they knew each other. They spoke to one another without smiles and Kol seemed upset. What kind of first meeting went like that? How did they know each other anyway? He watched as she said something to him and walked out the restaurant. Now he could go talk to her, his mind still wondering how they knew each other.

"If you'll excuse me everyone, I have to get going. Good bye, this was a nice dinner," everyone said it back and he hugged his mother and Rebekah before picking up his keys and phone and running towards the entrance. He looked around and then saw her standing on the pavement holding Hope and Kaleb's hands as she, he assumed, waited for a cab.

He walked up to her and said, "Ms Marshall, I must say that was a beautiful performance." Just like you, he wanted to say but held his ground.

Hayley startles when she heard a voice close to her. She turned to see Klaus Mikaelson standing next to her smiling. Was she going to meet more familiar faces this night? First Kol, now him.

He looked down and greater the kids. "Hello, Kaleb, Hope."

"Hi, Mr Mikaelson," they both said and he smiled at them before looking back at her stunned face.

It took a moment for her to realize that she hadn't replied to his comment about her performance. "Oh, thank you for the kind words, it's encouraging," she smiled widely back, noticing his attire. He looked so handsome. Stop it, Hayley! She scolded herself.

"Well, talent deserves complements" she blushed. "So, is this where you work?" He asked her.

She shook her head and said, looking into the streets to see if any cans passed by. "No, this was just a gig, I haven't played music in a while, so... But no I work at a coffee shop," she said, slightly embarrassed by her job.

He saw pink on her face as she looked down and thought it was cute that she was embarrassed. He noticed she was looking for a cab by her continuous looks towards the vehicles passing by the lane they were standing next to throughout their conversation. He stepped closer and said, "you know if you're looking for a cab, you're probably not going to get one at this time of night in this area." He said apologetically.

She looked exhausted and nurtured to herself. Suddenly he said, "would you like a ride?"

She looked up at him and couldn't help but smile at his generosity. "We don't mind walking, it's just a little over twenty minute walk," he shook his head and interrupted her with a smile.

"Nonsense, it's no big deal. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I let a lady and her two children walk the streets alone at night," he asked with a smirk crooning his head as he looked at her. She hesitated but after seeing the tired look on Hope's face, she nodded and he told her to wait as he brought the car.

She sat in the passenger seat and gave him the address. As they drive he turned to make conversation with her. They talked about Kaleb and Hope's positive energy in school and how he enjoys being their teacher. He looked to her and remembered her interaction with Kol. He got too curious and couldn't help but bring it up.

"So you know my brother? I couldn't help but notice you two talking,"

"Your brother?"

He turned to look at her, "Yeah, Kol Mikaelson?" Her head turned so quickly to look at him to see if he was joking, which he so clearly wasn't.

"Oh," she said lamely. "I didn't know he was your brother," she tensed in her seat, hoping he wouldn't ask further questions.

"My family and I came to the restaurant for a family dinner," he said and she nodded.

He noticed that she avoided the question he had asked. "So... how do you know him again?" His curiosity peaked.

Hayley looked away and cleared her throat. "Um, we meet a long time ago once, at a mutual friend's house." She chose her words carefully having no intention of saying it point blank.

He wanted to ask her who the mutual friend was but he felt that he would be prying too much. He was only meeting her for the second time but he felt attached. "Hmm, how long have you known each other?" He asked, not knowing why he was so interested in his brother's relationship with Ms Marshall.

"Just that one meeting... it was...brief." Again trying to chose the wisest words.

He wanted to know more but they reached her apartment. "Here you go," he said looking at her closely, observing her every move.

"Thank you Mr Mikaelson..."

"Please, Klaus is enough," he smiled and she did too, nodding.

She looked at the backseat to tell them they had reached but she saw they had gone to sleep. She sighed and stepped out of the car to carry both of them. "Let me help you," "oh, no no its alright I'm used to..." "I insist." She looked up to see that he wasn't going to allow her to protest so she simply nodded and told him to follow her. He picked up Kaleb and followed her, who was carrying a snoring Hope. They climbed to the second floor and she fumbled with the keys then managed to open the door. "The couch is fine," she said and he later Kaleb on the couch.

She put Hope down too and walked over to him who was looking at the interior of her small apartment. "Well, thank you so much, Mr- Klaus," she switched as she saw his expressions become lighter.

""My pleasure Ms Marshall, I'll see you some other time," he said and she nodded. There was a small moment of silence as gazing at each other before he smiled and turned to leave. She closed the door being him and they both sighed when the door closed.

Rebekah walked into the living room and sat on the sofa next to Marcel. She had just finished putting Davina to sleep. "Today was a good day, relaxation after crazy ass police work."

Marcel nodded and poured her and himself a glass of bourbon and handed it to her. "Hey can I ask you something?" Marcel asked and Rebekah nodded.

"Answer honestly okay?" Marcel asked after taking a sip of his drink and swallowing with difficulty.

Rebekah looked at him suspiciously and took a sip of her drink after saying, "ok now you're scaring me Marcel."

He chuckles nervously. "No it's not bad news or anything like that. I just... I just have been thinking if it was really a good idea to have had Davina so early especially considering the case we are facing now." He was sweating hoping that Rebekah understood what he was saying, hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way. He loved, adored and would do anything for his baby girl, but he worried greatly for her future. Him and his wife weren't exactly... Involved with the best job in the world. He worried that if something happened to him or Rebekah especially during the case they were currently handling and Rebekah knew all of this exactly

She scooted towards to him and held his face in her palms. "Marcel, I understand why you're saying all this but think about it this way. Having Davina will make us fight this case and stay strong because we know we have our bright little baby girl to get back home to. We'll be taking extra care of ourselves because of this. And nothing is going to happen to us. We've faced worse than this. Remember that robber with a crazy skill in throwing knives. We made it out of that he'll house alive and it's going to remain that way."

Marcel smiled and nodded. He pulled her closer and kissed her, his actions delivering his words.

There you go for now! Don't know when im going to update the next chapter but hopefully soon! will be updating another story of mine too :) Please review tell me what you think! i really need motivation right now! xo