AN: Hey you guys so sorry this update has taken me so long. This chapter was difficult to write since the last one was sort of a climax to one major part of the story. I know where I want to take the story going forward but I kinda needed a transition chapter and this is it. Now that Klaus and Hayley and their feelings for each other have been addressed we can start to jump into this vampire/werewolf drama. Anyway, once again sorry for the long wait between updates. I promise that won't happen again, thank you all for sticking with the story and don't forget to leave a review :)
Hayley and Klaus were both awakened by a sudden knock on the door. They both abruptly opened their eyes when they heard the noise but neither one of them moved. They hadn't gotten as much sleep as they had liked because, although Nikol's condition improved, she remained fussy all throughout the night and into the morning. They alternated getting up when the infant stirred but she still managed to wear both of them out. Hayley had only been asleep for 2 hours when she heard the knock on the door.
There was another knock, this time accompanied by a nervous voice. "It's Kim, the doctor."
"Just a second love" Klaus yelled as he let his arm slowly slide from around Hayley's waist. He retrieved his shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head causing his already messy hair to become even more disheveled. He slowly got out of bed and headed towards the door. Hayley finally managed to peel herself from her pillow and put her robe on as Klaus greeted Kim.
"Sorry to wake you guys, I said I was gonna come back to check on the baby for you" She said as she entered the room and walked over to the bassinet where Nikol rested. "So how was she through the night? Any new symptoms or problems?"
"No she was fussy all night but she seems to have gotten better. Nothing new really."
Hayley answered.
"I can tell, she seems to be perking up, much better than how she was when I saw her last night"
"If you don't mind love could you get to what we want to know, we don't have all day to waste on small talk, just get on with it." Klaus interrupted bitterly. It's not that he wasn't grateful for the doctor's help but he was impatient when it came to matters of his child and the doctors presence interrupted the first morning he and Hayley spent together as whatever they had decided they were last night. Hayley shot him a glare to indicate her displeasure with his rudeness, to which he simply smiled wickedly and folded his arms as he sat down in the nearby chair.
"Sorry," Kim said nervously. "She looks like she's out of the woods. I would still keep a close eye on her. It will probably take her a few more days to fully recover from the bug but she should be okay."
Hayley breathes a sigh of relief and smiles at Klaus who has his own relived expression on his face. They didn't know that Rebekah had compelled Kim last night. They also didn't know that she kinda sorta eavesdropped on their conversation last night and feeling pleased with their progress; she compelled the doctor to tell them the truth this morning. Rebekah told herself that she would be taking that secret into eternity with her. The doctor gave Hayley some more medicine for Nikol, instructed her and Klaus to make sure she get's lots of fluid, and left them to themselves. As soon as she left the room Klaus stood from his chair and made his way over to Hayley with a mischievous grin on his face. She squinted her eyes at him to figure out what he was up to and laughed when he quickly pulled her into him and placed a tender kiss on her shoulder. "What are you up to Klaus?" She asked, amused by his behavior. He was like a 16 year old who had just ran into his crush in the middle of the school hallway. It would take some time for her to get used to this side of Klaus but she would be lying if she said didn't enjoyed it.
"Oh Nothing love" He let out pulling her even closer as he let his lips slowly trail along her neck and her jawline. He gripped her by the waist and let his arms wrap around her, holding her close to his chest. Hayley rolled her eyes and let him wrap himself around her. She liked the way it felt to be in his arms this way. It felt….right. "You're in a better mood that I thought you were in, I would have never guessed you would act this way after you were so rude to the doctor" She pulled her neck away from his lips and used her fingers to lift his head up so he could look her in the eyes. "You didn't have to snap at her like that Klaus."
Klaus smiled and threw his head back, amused by Hayley's attempt to reprimand him for his behavior. "I only revealed my feelings to you some hours ago and you're already reprimanding me little wolf." Lifting her chin with is fingers he continues his flirtatious response. "How on earth will you make it being involved with the mean old hybrid?"
The corners of Hayley's lips can't help but curl up as she listens to his nonsense. She lifts her arms up, slowly wrapping them around his neck. "I think…" tightening her grip she pulls him closer to her turning her face just enough so he doesn't have access to her lips, "I can find a way to make it work." Her hazel eyes peer at him thorough her lashes. He wants to throw her on the bed and have his way with her but after their chat last night he decides to control himself. Self-Control is not something he's used to exercising but he knows if he's going to make this work with Hayley he's going to have to. Instead he let's his hands slowly drift up her back. Hayley shivers at his touch and before she knows it she's running her hand through his hair and her lips are interlocked with his. They exchange tender kisses, both of them holding back so they don't take things too far. They are content with how they are; they've done the wild passionate thing before so it's refreshing to just enjoy their more simple and tender moments. It's not something either one of them are truly used to but they are oddly comfortable with it around each other. "You've barely gotten any sleep little wolf what do you say we go back to bed" Klaus whispers between kisses. "I could be persuaded to go back to bed with you" She replies, giving him one last tender kiss on his lips before pulling away from him. Klaus let's out a light chuckle before he finally let's his hands fall from their resting place on Hayley's hips. Hayley retreats to her on-suite bathroom as Klaus lingers at Nikol's bassinet, pausing to admire the sleeping child before he went back to bed.
For the first time in probably centuries he felt like he was in a genuine state of bliss. He didn't know how long this feeling would last, and normally that in itself would make him run away from it, avoid the inevitable, but for the first time in a long time he didn't feel the urge to run, instead he just felt like he wanted to stay right where he was, he wanted to let it embrace him. Even if it only lasted mere hours it would have been worth it.
Just then Hayley returns to the room breaking him from his thoughts. He pulls his shirt off and slips into bed with her. They just lie there next to other for a few minutes, left to their own thoughts until Klaus pulls Hayley into him and lightly kisses the back of her neck. Hayley smiles at the feel of his warm lips on her skin but she doesn't reciprocate his affection. Klaus can sense that she has something on her mind so he stops. "What's wrong little wolf? He asked. "If you're concerned about me taking things too far then you have nothing to worry about. I…" She feels his warm breath and soft lips graze her shoulder and travel up her neck between words. "Promise…I'll…be…" He finally reaches his final destination, her earlobe, and stops his tease. "A good little hybrid until you get tired of this unnecessary torture"
"No that's not it," she replied after she shook off the affect his kisses had on her body.
"Well then what is it love?"
"I just..." turning to face him she gently strokes his face before continuing. "I've never had what you would call a real boyfriend before."
"Oh come on love don't you think we're a little too dated for terms those kinds of terms? "
"Well what are we then? What's a suitable term for you since you know it all" Hayley responded annoyed by his amusement, she was just trying to be a little open about her relationship history, leave it to Klaus to ruin the moment.
Klaus opens his mouth to answer but then shuts it, unsure of how he should answer her question. He ponders her question for a second before finally answering with a question of his own. "That depends, what exactly is this that we are doing?"
"I don't know Klaus, maybe you should tell me. What is it that you want from me? Are you, Nikol, and me gonna just be one big happy family now? I know we said we wanted to be with each other and… Klaus look at me." He was staring at the ceiling in an effort to hide his annoyance by her line of questions. She grabbed him by the face so that she could look him in the eyes. She needed him to know that she meant what she said and she had no intention of running from him any longer, it was all just happening so fast for her and she just wanted to make sure they were on the same page. "I meant every word of what I said last night, and I know you meant it too, I just want us to not make the same mistakes we made before. So I'm asking you now, what are we doing?"
Relief washed over his face as he heard her say she meant what she said. For a second he thought that she would try to pull away from him just as he had finally had her in his life they way he wanted her. It was different this time though and he could sense it, Hayley wasn't the same woman she was when he first met her and surprisingly he wasn't the same guy either. Those two people wouldn't be able to have this discussion with each other, but they weren't those people anymore and he felt it. He gave her a soft smile before brushing her hair from his face. "First, Hayley you and Nikol became my family the moment I looked you in the eyes and heard our child's faint little heart beat, no matter what happens you and that child will always be my family. Now as to your other question, we're merely two people pursuing a relationship like any other two people, albeit neither one of us have a clue about how to do this and we're both so messed up we'll probably screw it up more than we get it right." Hayley couldn't help but laugh at how candid and nonchalant he was being while making a very good point. "What I want is simple really little wolf. I just want you and only you in all the many ways I can have you. I believe you want the same so we are together, I am yours and you are mines, the rest is of no relevance to us."
"Okay," she let out as she snuggled up under his body and rested her head on his bare chest. "I just have one more question. Your siblings…."
"Ahh yes my siblings, what will we tell them. You have first hand experience with their nasty little habit of interfering with my personal relationships."
"Really Klaus, are you really gonna go there after everything you've done to them."
"I admit I've done more, severe, interfering but they've still interfered nonetheless, for that reason none of this is any of their business."
"Fine," Hayley mumbled. She was in and out of sleep and Klaus's pointless rambling was hastening her impending slumber.
"Anymore questions love," he asked, waiting for another but not getting one. He looked down at his chest and moved Hayley's rich brown hair from her face to see his little wolf was sound asleep. Klaus decided to follow suit and before he knew it he was off the sleep as well.
Elijah was seated in the study enjoying a book when Rebekah walked in with an unusually big smile on her face. "Morning Elijah!"
"Sister, you seem to be in unusually high spirits today, this wouldn't have anything to do with your scheming last night now would it"
"Yes it does actually, thanks to me and my harmless scheming our niece's quarrelling parents are no longer at odds." A mischievous smile came to her face as she thought about the conversation she overheard between Klaus and Hayley last night. The last thing she heard was them admitting they had feelings for each other. Then she tuned them out, afraid her ears might hear some more intimate conversations that she did not want to hear.
"Well I guess I should be thanking you then sister, I'm not sure I would have been able to watch Niklaus in another one of his fits, contrary to what my allegiance to him might say I do tire of him from time to time." Rebekah and Elijah both shared a laugh. They dined in peace until they heard a knock on the door. "Ugh who could that be interrupting our peaceful afternoon? I'm not getting that."
"I believe that's why we have maids dear sister."
Just then the head maid at the compound, Sarah, walked into the room announcing that Marcel was the uninvited guest at the door looking for Klaus. "He only said that it's urgent." She said when Elijah pressed her further about what he wanted.
"Fine, let him in." Whatever Marcel had to say he would have to say it to him, Klaus had more urgent matters to tend to. Marcel quickly made his way to the house and found them in the study.
"Elijah, Rebekah, where's Klaus?"
"Bloody good morning to you too Marcel, don't be rude."
"Not now Rebekah, I need to talk to Klaus where is he?"
"Niklaus is a preoccupied right now, whatever you have to say to him you can say to me, I'll pass it along." Elijah slowly stood up from his seat, fixing his perfectly tailored suit Jacket and walked over to a bottle of scotch in the room to fix him self a drink, he had a strange feeling he would need it. "Now what is this urgent matter?"
Marcel explained to Elijah the latest developments with the werewolf attacks. Klaus had already sought his council about the issue so he was well aware of the growing concern within the vampire community. His impatience grew as Marcel took longer and longer to get to the point.
"Last night Klaus and I got into it when I hinted at someone from his pack being behind the attacks and told him the vampires might retaliate so he needed to hurry and figure out who's behind it."
"I'm sure Niklaus didn't respond calmly to that"
"Come one Elijah, you know him better than anyone of course he didn't. Anyway, even though Klaus abruptly left last night, I was on board to hold of the vamps until Klaus got his werewolves in line, unfortunately for us a werewolf decided to blow off some steam at one of the bars in the quarter, long story short one my guys killed him."
"You've got to be kidding me," Rebekah sighed. "The last thing any of us needs is a bloody fight between vampires and werewolves."
"Hey I'm not looking for a war with them, but if this isn't handled soon that's exactly where we're heading. Maybe if Klaus hadn't stormed away like last night we could have avoided this."
"Last night my brother's child fell gravely ill Marcel, he left to attended to his responsibilities, so I will not allow you to put your inability to tame these reckless vampires off on him."
Marcel squinted his eyes in confusion when he heard Elijah say something was wrong with Nikol. Worry shot through him and he almost felt guilty for thinking that Klaus left because of their fight. "Is she okay?" He asked.
"Yes she's fine Marcel, thank you for your delayed concern." Rebekah replied quickly. "Now what are you two going to be about this situation here."
Marcel looked at Elijah waiting for him to answer. Elijah put his drink down and buttoned his suit Jacket. "I think It's time I had a little chat with the vampires, follow me Marcel," he said walking out of the study. "Oh and sister, whenever Klaus finally comes down tell him that I'll be back later."
Klaus awoke to an empty bed a few hours later. He looked over his shoulder to see that Nikol was also gone. He got out of bed and went down the hall to look for them expecting to see them in the nursery but they weren't there either. He tuned his hearing and picked up her voice in the kitchen, along with some pretty loud cries from Nikol. He quickly made his way down the stairs to see what all his daughter's fussing was about. When he made it to the kitchen he saw Hayley failing at trying to give her a bottle while Rebekah looked on. "Someone does not sound too pleased to be awake." He said, announcing his presence in the room. Hayley looked up at him and a smile came to her face despite her frustration with Nikol. "I've been trying to feed her for the last 20 minutes and she refuses, I called the doctor and she said that it's normal but it still didn't make me feel any better."
Klaus walked up to Hayley and held his arms out for her to hand the screaming child to him. Hayley obliged his silent request and he gently rocked her trying to calm her but he also failed. "Take her for one second please love." He handed her back to her mother and pulled his shirt off. Hayley, shocked by his sudden shirtless state looked on in confusion. "Klaus what are you doing? You're in the middle of the kitchen,"
He reached over and took Nikol back and snuggled her against his bare chest. A few seconds Nikol started to calm down and before they knew it they stopped altogether. He gently gave her the bottle and she quietly fed. "You see sweetheart, I noticed a few nights ago that our daughter seems to calm when she's nestled against her father's skin. It was supposed to be our little secret but I couldn't let her starve herself, she's quite the stubborn little thing."
Hayley smiled. Seeing a shitless Klaus feeding his child just made her heart skip a beat.
"I see you too are back on good terms" Rebekah interrupted. "Yesterday I thought for sure you two would be at each other's throat for at least a month, now you both seem to be on cloud nine"
Hayley nervously looked at Klaus, who wasn't fazed by Rebekah's nosey observations. "I guess you could say we got over ourselves once we realized there were more important things to focus on," Hayley responded.
"I guess being stuck in a room all alone will do that, how was that by the way? I'd imagine the last time you two were stuck with each other for that long was when my little niece here was conceived."
Hayley's cheeks blushed and she simply put her head down, her response sent a smile to Rebekah's face. Klaus decided he had enough of Rebekah's not so subtle quips about the nature of their relationship so he finally spoke up. "Oh enough of your prying Rebekah it was exactly how you would think dealing with a sick child all night would be, now where's Elijah?"
"He left with Marcel, he should be back soon."
"Marcel? Why would he do that? Was he here?"
"They went deal with some vampire business?"
Rebekah sighed, she was going to wait for Elijah to return to tell Klaus about what happened the night before but Klaus would not stop prying until he got his answer so she figured it was pointless trying to keep it from him. "Well alright you were going to find out soon anyway. Marcel informed us that a werewolf was killed in the quarter last night in retaliation for the recent werewolf attacks."
"What?" Klaus and Hayley responded simultaneously. "That's all I know Nik, I'm sorry."
"I told Marcel that if any vampire so much as breathed on my family I would kill them all and that's exactly what I plan to do." He quickly handed his now sleeping daughter to her mother. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know Nik."
"I leave Marcel in charge for a few months and chaos has filled the quarter once again and I can't even take a day off to attended to my child without more chaos. I will not have my family caught up in a war between werewolves and vampires."
"Elijah said that he was going to handle the vampires so you could stay here with Hayley. Maybe we should give him and Marcel a chance to work this out with them."
"No Marcel has done enough. I'll find them both myself and when I do they better hope I'm feeling merciful."
"But Nik you can't—"
"No Rebekah" Hayley interrupted. "If that vampire killed a werewolf he deserves to have a stake through his heart. We protect our packs. That was Klaus's family, if he doesn't handle this not someone else might be next. Klaus go, you don't have to worry about Nikol I'll call you if we need anything."
"I'll be back as soon as I can love" He said, leaning over to kiss her but stopping when he remembers that Rebekah's prying eyes were most likely focused on them. Instead he kissed her gently on the forehead and left.
Rebekah rolled her eyes at their failed attempt to conceal their relationship from her. "Well look at you two, first you seem to have forgotten all about your intense little fight from yesterday, and now you're practically egging his revenge on, he's also leaving you forehead kisses as he leaves the house. If I didn't know any better I would think you two were a couple."