14. The Magic of You

An anxious ball of tension. That's what she felt like. Frazzled. Slightly out of control. Worried. Hayley stood on the balcony of her bedroom, looking out over the darkened but colourfully lit streets of a warm night in the French Quarter. It had been more than a day since she had last seen or heard from Elijah. They hadn't had much time to talk then and he had left soon after promising to do what he could for her family of werewolves. She had watched him go, lingering long enough to offer her a silent promise from the depths of his dark eyes.

Despite the tenuous nature of his relationship with Klaus, he had come to rescue her from his brother. Come, we mustn't linger. We'll get you some place safe. She smiled a little at that, finding herself spacing out, staring at nothing in particular. Elijah risked the wrath of his brother when he came for her. It warmed her on the inside that he proved continuously that he would protect her and her baby. She'd never known anyone like him. Ever.

She cursed Klaus again for his misguided, wounded pride. After a thousand years, you would think he would have learnt that loyalty was not something that could be bought. And yet, clearly, this was not the case. Dick.

She learned against the railing and folded her arms. The breeze was cool, gentling her as it caressed her face. She closed her eyes and lifted her face towards it, breathing deeply. She focused on her respiration, trying to release some of the tension she felt unable to shed. Just when she learnt something about her family, like dangling a carrot in front of a horse, it could all be yanked away from her. She cursed under her breath and rolled her shoulders, her sweater falling off and exposing her arm.

Her skin prickled. There was an indiscernible shift in the air and the hairs on the back of her neck tingled. She turned and saw him standing at the opposite end. He was half in shadow, the lights of the city a colourful mosaic behind him. The juxtaposition suited him. Despite the warm evening, he was bundled into a coat, the collar turned up against the breeze. The look suited him, adding to his roguish appeal. Dark. Dangerous. Gorgeous.

"Are they-" she was afraid to ask, her throat dry, her nervous energy back. She felt close to tears, afraid of what he would say next.

"They're safe." A small reassuring smile. She loved him for it. "All of them." It was like a promise, the way he said it. And his face, he had a satisfied smirk. Hayley turned away for a moment, overcome with emotion. She was relieved, her anxiety pouring from her in waves. She blinked twice and looked back at him. He now stood in the light, having stepped onto the balcony fully. He is my champion, she thought. In everything. She did the only thing she wanted to do since she had seen him the day before. She stretched out her arms, wanting to be in her safest place, and he welcomed her into his embrace.

Their bodies collided, her little bump secure between them. Hayley closed her eyes and held on tight, raising onto her toes to get closer. She cupped her hand to the nape of his neck, breathing in his fresh, now familiar scent. She shuddered a little when his arms wrapped around her back. There was a gentle pull on her scalp and she knew his hand had fisted into the hair which hung loose down her back.

"Thank you." They held on for a while and she pulled back a fraction, a frisson running down her spine when his arms locked, holding her in place, close.

"What you did, Elijah. It means a lot." And it did. It meant everything. No one had ever done anything close to this for her. He kept purposefully breaking down all the barriers she had spent a lifetime erecting. In his gentle, but firm way, Elijah stood as the only man she ever truly trusted. With her own life, her newfound family's life and the life of her baby.

His hands cupped her bare shoulder, pulling at the sweater that had slipped off. "You should keep this covered." He couldn't meet her gaze.

"I will," she vowed.

"If any of the others saw this-" he continued.

"I promise," she reiterated, willing him to finally look at her.

Hayley watched as his eyes roamed over her before meeting her gaze directly. She couldn't look away, even if she tried. Butterflies flapped in her middle, making her slightly breathless. She should have been used to this by now. It was pretty much how she felt every time he walked into a room. Involuntarily, her hand fisted onto the lapel of his jacket and her eyes drifted to his lips and then back to meet his gaze. But this time, he was looking at her mouth and without conscious thought, she licked her lips.

Like the inevitable gravitational pull that kept the world on even keel, she leaned into him and he to her. Her lips parted as she watched his open and the world that had been in perfect orbit, tilted. Chemistry was a strange thing. Intangible and yet so very real. Hayley felt the air charge between them and her eyelids became heavy. She wondered what his lips felt like, what he tasted like. Her fisted hand gripped his lapel harder, and she didn't even realise she pulled him towards her.

"I should go."

She blinked a few times, her brain struggling to keep up with her riotous emotions. She wasn't sure what response she made, it sounded garbled, confused, disappointed even to her. "Right."

Whatever. That was actually what she wanted to say but bit her tongue. Disappointment was a bitter pill to swallow. She admitted this to herself. She was disappointed because Elijah Mikaelson did not want to kiss her. And I desperately want to kiss him.

Hayley turned to look at him and she felt her resolve strengthen. Oh what the hell, fuck it. The hands that had dropped to her sides reached back up to the lapels of his coat and she yanked him forward.

"Hayley, no. I told you there are consequences," he said, his hands gripping hers around her wrists, "and I will not let you take that risk."

She might have pulled back, had his eyes not flicked down to her lips again and then stared. He wanted this as much as she did.

Hayley tugged harder, pulling him within inches of her. "FYI… to hell with the consequences."

She hauled him all the way over and pressed her lips to his. In reality, he'd actually met her halfway, their lips colliding with single-minded, delightful purpose. His hands let her wrists go and ran down her arms, the one coming to rest in the dip of her spine, the other going to the nape of her neck. Hayley stepped even closer, again reaching onto her toes to get better access to him. The kiss was hot, became increasingly demanding and passionate.

Her hands found his hair and tugged at what little she could get her hands on. His tongue brushed hers and she moaned, biting gently into his bottom lip.

"Hayley," he breathed but she pressed her lips to his again, silencing him. His hands cupped her bottom, pressing her against him. Lust exploded inside of her. She broke apart for a second, only because she needed to breathe. His lips blazed across her face, finding the pulse at the base of her throat, his teeth scraping there.

She gasped and simultaneously her knees buckled. With her back slightly bowed, her hair spilling through his hands, his hips pressed into her, his teeth at her neck, her breathing ragged and erratic, Hayley realised that it was most likely the single most erotic moment of her life.

She couldn't hear anything except for the roaring in her ears. Her hands had a will of their own, travelling all over him, anywhere they could reach. She groaned in frustration when it became evident that his jacket was an unwanted barrier. She wanted to be closer to him, touch him. And the damned thing made it near impossible.

"I need…" she whispered in frustration.

He chuckled then, turning her around in his arms and pulling her back against him. His arms wrapped around her, his hands resting on her swollen belly.

She frowned, her breathing heavy and turned to look at him. His exposed neck was within her reach and so she placed a kiss there.

"Hayley," he cautioned with a groan of his own. "Some distance is required."

"Then why am I still in your arms?" Her lips pressed to his throat again as her hands found his and their fingers linked.

"I thought facing you away from me might yield different results. And yet I see I have gravely miscalculated your charms."

There was a smile in his voice and she smiled up at him in return. A heartbeat passed and his lips pressed to hers. A soft, sweet kiss over her shoulder. Hunger flared between them again but he pulled away, placing a final kiss to her temple.

"I must go."

"Don't." She hadn't meant to say that. But it was out and she realised she meant it.

He shook his head. "I must speak with Niklaus." He smiled wryly, referring to what had just happened between them. "In a thousand years, I admit that this is not the best idea I have ever had." Her chest hurt at that. "But I cannot get myself to regret it for one moment."

Hayley turned then and hugged him hard.

"Damn straight," was all she whispered. His chuckled soothed, but all too soon, he stepped back. "Be careful," she cautioned. He winked in her direction and then he was gone.

Hayley sighed out loud, leaning back against the railing in a mass of jumbled nerves. Her hands went to her lips, pressing to the swollen, puckered flesh.

Wow. She smiled a little, but it soon wrapped itself around her face. Hayley put her fingers to her lips in an attempt to stem the irrational happiness that gripped her. She felt like her body was composed of a thousand interconnected, flashing lights. Her nerve endings literally felt like they hummed. Wow. Who knew Elijah Mikaelson was such a good kisser?

"We might just have to try that again," she whispered to herself. I can't frikken wait.

a/n: best readers ever, this one is for im-girly-get-over-it who posted the following on tumblr:

I just wanted Hayley and Elijah in that moment of cuteness (fans self!) for Elijah not to say, "I should go," but instead he should've said, "Hayley, I told you there are consequences, and I will not let you take them." Then for her to say, "You know what… To hell with the consequences." Then for her to just kiss him. Him to kiss back… And so on… just a suggestion!

I liked your suggestion! Hope you enjoy! x