Hayley smiles and pulls Elijah closer as she wakes up. She slowly opens one eye and allows herself to look at his flawless face for a little too long before looking down in between them, where his arm rests around her waist. Another smile comes to her face at how naked they are and how content and happy she feels despite having an almost completely smashed up face. Waking up like this, feeling like this, being with Elijah like this, it is all definitely something she could get use to.
She has been trying really hard not to think about today, but still she can't stop her mind from drifting to it. Today, Klaus comes home. No doubt he will be drunk and angry, and no doubt that he will take it all out on her. Another negative subject of today, Elijah is leaving and she probably won't see him again until Klaus goes on a night out, or leaves town for work again.
Hayley sighs and moves her hand from Elijah's hip, to his chest right over his heart. She knows that this affair can't last forever, but it is all she wants. But she also knows that she cannot put up with Klaus for much longer, not with how unpredictable he has become. Their relationship is unstable and she does not want it anymore.
Elijah opens his eyes and Hayley immediately pushes all negative thoughts to the back of her head. She smiles at him and moves her face closer to his as he pulls her body tightly up against his. Elijah also smiles and kisses Hayley's nose before pulling her head to his chest and holding her against him gently. Hayley smiles and wraps her arms around his naked waist.
"I could stay here all day" Elijah says, his voice just above a whisper.
"Me too" Hayley smiles into his muscular chest.
Elijah has never been one to stay in bed all day, but he would happily stay in bed all day, everyday if Hayley was with him. He would love to nothing but stay in bed with her all day today, but he cannot; none of them know when Klaus will be home. It is one thing with him knowing Hayley has been unfaithful, but being caught at it is a complete other level. A level Hayley has no interest in exploring.
She moves her head from Elijah's chest and looks up at him, meeting his gaze. She gives him a small smile before she moves in closer and presses her lips to Elijah's. Elijah kisses her back, putting one hand on the back of her head to pull her even closer.
"Should we go and get some breakfast?" Elijah asks, pulling away from the kiss. "I know the perfect place."
Hayley looks down at the bed sheet and smiles, biting her bottom lip.
"I'll get ready now then" she says before putting her hand on Elijah's cheek and pulling him into a deep kiss.
When she pulls away, she smiles at what she sees. Elijah, speechless with his mouth still slightly open and his eyes still closed. She bites her lip and strokes his cheek before getting up from her bed. She walks over to her drawer and pulls out a clean bra and a clean pair of knickers before pulling them on and turning around to see Elijah sat up watching her.
She winks at him before going into the en-suite bathroom and she hears him chuckle as she turns the tap on to brush her teeth. She watches Elijah enter the bathroom through the mirror and wrap his arms around her as she runs the brush over her teeth, back and forth. He rests his chin on her shoulder and kisses the side of her neck before going back into her room, picking up his clothes and leaving to get ready himself.
Hayley smiles to herself as she spits out a mouthful of toothpaste. From the stories, Elijah is nothing but good, but in Hayley's story, he is good with a hell of a lot of bad.
She finishes cleaning her teeth and goes to her wardrobe to get her outfit for the day. She pulls on a royal blue blouse and her usual tight, black jeans, this pair have rips in, showing her knees. She then pulls out a pair of black Converse and shoves them on her feet quickly before spraying her perfume on her neck and clothes.
Just as she puts her perfume down, Elijah walks in wearing black jeans and a black Calvin Klein polo shirt, top button opened and a small grey 'CK' symbol on the left side of the shirt. Hayley bites her lip and her heart misses at least 100 beats as she very obviously looks Elijah up and down numerous times. She thought there was nothing as sexy as Elijah in a suit, but now she isn't too sure anymore.
"Ready?" He asks, casually and Hayley nods.
Hayley walks over to Elijah, taking his hand as she reaches him and they then walk through the apartment together. Jack sits up on the couch when he sees them enter the living room, but quickly lies back down when he realises he isn't going out yet. Hayley blows him a kiss goodbye and shuts the door behind herself and Elijah, as he presses the button for the elevator.
It arrives quicker than usual and they climb aboard before clicking for the ground floor.
"Where are we going then?" Hayley asks and Elijah slowly wraps an arm around her waist.
"You'll have to wait and see" he says, watching the elevator numbers descend.
"Or, you could tell me" Hayley tries, knowing she won't get anything out of him, but still never being one to give up.
Elijah smiles as Hayley tilts her head back onto his shoulder and smiles up at him, expecting an answer. Elijah kisses her cheek and looks back up at the elevator numbers.
"Like I said, you'll have to wait and see" he says and Hayley smiles to herself.
The elevator reaches the ground floor and they step out, Elijah's arm still wrapped nicely around Hayley's waist. They leave the apartment building and walk to Elijah's Jaguar XF. He then detaches himself from Hayley to open the door for her, waiting for her to be sat in the passenger seat before he shuts the door and goes around to the other side.
Once in the car, they both buckle themselves in and Elijah starts the car. He places his phone into the cup holder in the middle of their seats and then pulls out into the main road. He drives for about 20 minutes before he pulls into the car park of a small, homely looking restaurant.
"I've never been here before" Hayley comments as she takes her seat belt off and opens her door before stepping out.
Elijah unbuckles his belt and then opens his door, stepping out of the car before he says, "neither have I. Rebekah mentioned it over the phone a few nights ago and I promised her I would try it, so, I thought who better to try it with than you."
Hayley smirks as she shuts the car door and starts to walk to the front of the car, waiting for Elijah there. He also shuts his car door and locks the car before pocketing his keys and holding his hand out to her as he meets her in front of the car. She instantly puts her hand in his and they walk to the entrance of the restaurant as if they were just another ordinary couple.
Elijah opens the door and holds it for Hayley before letting it go and leading her to a table. He picks a table in a corner, next to a window that is overlooking a small pond and a nearby park. At the pond, there are two men fishing and on the park are four kids running around and taking it in turns to tackle the monkey bars, as well as two mothers watching closely over their children whilst talking and laughing about something.
Hayley sits opposite Elijah and smiles at him when they make eye contact. He smiles back and then takes the menus out of the holders before pushing one across the table to Hayley, and keeping one for himself.
"What are you having?" Hayley asks as she starts to read the breakfast menu.
Elijah does not answer at first and instead takes another look at the list. He then puts the menu down on the table and places his hands on the table.
"I am having a stack of pancakes, with two slices of bacon." Elijah tells her before asking, "what are you having?"
Hayley puts her menu back in the holder.
"I would like two poached eggs, two pieces of bacon and a bagel please" she answers and Elijah nods.
He is about to stand up and go to order when a man dressed in uniform runs over. He pushes the hair back out of his face and pulls out a small pad and a pencil from his pocket.
"Good morning, could I get you anything?" The young man asks and Elijah sits up slightly.
"Could I please have a stack of pancakes with two slices of bacon... and then a bagel with two poached eggs and two more slices of bacon" Elijah says and the man quickly writes it all down on his pad.
He checks he has wrote everything and then nods to himself before looking back up at Elijah.
"Any drinks?"
Elijah looks at Hayley and she also sits up.
"A diet coke please" she says and then stares out of the window.
The man writes down what she has said and then looks to Elijah again.
"I will have a cappuccino please, thank you" Elijah tells the man, who quickly scribbles it down and then speed walks away from their table and towards the kitchen.
Hayley sighs as she looks out of the window at how peaceful this small part of the town is at this time in the morning. Usually New Orleans is completely packed out by half nine in the morning, no matter what day it is. Elijah reaches over the table and strokes her cheek, causing her to jump slightly and look back at him.
He smiles at her and she can't stop herself from smiling back. She takes his hand in one of hers and holds it over the table.
"So, Rebekah says you're moving in with her" Hayley says to start up conversation.
Elijah nods.
"Hopefully, it will just be a temporary arrangement until I get a place of my own" he says and Hayley frowns at him, tilting her head.
"I thought this was only a short trip for you?" Hayley asks, hoping that he has changed his mind.
"It was... but I found something worth staying for" he replies, looking at Hayley as if she is the most precious gem in the world.
And Hayley can't help but smile and blush.
"And surprisingly, there is even the perfect place to rent out to set up an office for my work here" he adds.
"Exactly how many different offices do you have for your therapist business thing?" She asks, knowing that it must be a lot judging off the fancy, expensive clothes he always wears.
"I have an office in New York, two in Florida, one in South Carolina and my original office, which is in Atlanta, Georgia" Elijah tells her and she opens her eyes wide in shock.
"Wow... you must be like mega rich then" Hayley says and Elijah chuckles, looking down at his hands.
"I wouldn't say rich, but I am never short of money. I do a lot of donation work whenever I have the time" he says.
"Which charities do you give to?" Hayley asks and leans on the table with her elbows.
"I donate to RAINN, the Cancer Society and Make A Wish" he says and she smiles.
"You're just an overall perfect guy aren't you" Hayley says and Elijah smirks.
He copies her by also leaning on the table with his elbows.
"I would have to disagree I'm afraid" he says and Hayley bites her lip.
"Modest too, now that's just sexy" she says and Elijah laughs out loud before sitting back in his seat.
Hayley smiles, pleased that she made him laugh and also sits back as she sees the young man coming over with their drinks. He quickly places the diet coke in front of Hayley and the cappuccino in front of Elijah before going back to collect their plates. He then returns to their table again.
"Pancakes with bacon" he says and places the plate in front of Elijah. "Eggs, bacon and a bagel" he says and places the other plate in front of Hayley.
"Thank you" Elijah says and the man nods to him before walking away.
Hayley takes a knife and fork from the pot on the table and cuts a corner of her bacon off before placing it in her mouth. The flavour that rushes into her mouth makes her want to close her eyes and throw her head back, but she remains in control of herself and reminds herself to save that kind of stuff for the bedroom.
Elijah also collects his knife and fork, cuts off some of his bacon and puts it in his mouth. He chews it a number of times before nodding and using his knife to cut off another piece, this time gathering a slice of one of his pancakes with it too and placing them in his mouth.
"Very good" Elijah comments and Hayley hums in agreement.
Hayley waits until they are half way through their food before she starts another conversation.
"How do you feel about living with Rebekah?" She asks and Elijah pauses.
He looks up at her, seemingly confused.
"Is it what you want? No one really asked how you felt after everything that happened the other day, so, I thought I would" she adds.
Elijah stays silent for a minute, thinking about his response.
"Well, it isn't what I want, but I don't have much choice. Besides, if I was to stay at your apartment, we would forever be tiptoeing around Niklaus and stealing kisses. We would of been caught eventually no matter what" Elijah says and Hayley nods.
"You promised you would help him though... Klaus I mean" Hayley says. Then adding, "I know he's been a real shit recently, but I still don't want him to fall down the same path that so many other alcoholics do."
Elijah smiles at how much of a kindhearted person she is.
"Yes, I promised and I intend to keep that promise. I'm just letting the air settle. Once he has had some time, I will try to speak to him. I doubt he will listen, but a promise is a promise."
Hayley nods her head and they continue to eat.
"I'm not looking forward to constantly listening to Rebekah and Marcel arguing" Elijah says before putting a slice of his pancake into his mouth.
Hayley nods her head in agreement.
"You're gonna be hearing a lot of that with what they're going through at the minute" she says.
"I always knew he wasn't good for her, but she never listened" Elijah says and shakes his head as he cuts into his last pancake.
"I've caught him flirting with girls before and I never really trusted him, but I don't wanna upset Rebekah" Hayley says before placing the last bit of egg into her mouth.
Elijah takes a sip of his drink and twirls his fork in his hand.
"He knows right from wrong, he just chooses to do wrong sometimes" Elijah says and then takes another sip of his drink.
Hayley chuckles and Elijah gives her a questioning look.
"He's like Klaus then" Hayley says and Elijah smiles and nods.
"He is a lot more like my brother than he will ever admit."
Elijah finishes his pancake and looks out of the window. He could easily picture this being his life. Him and Hayley coming to small restaurants for breakfast, coming out on car rides and long strolls whenever they wanted. But life has never been that easy and it never will be. Especially not for a Mikaelson.
He takes another sip of his drink and lets the warmth of it attempt to warm up his forever cold, lonely heart. But nothing warms his heart up anymore like Hayley's touch does. And so he looks over to her as she takes her last bite and puts her cutlery down before he reaches over and captures her hand in his.
She sips her diet coke through a straw as she meets his loving gaze. She is ashamed at how quickly she has fallen for Elijah. She has gone from crushing out on him, to borderline falling in love with him in barely anytime at all. This is not how Hayley acts with boys, no, not at all. But Elijah isn't just any other boy.
Hayley bites her lip as she looks at Elijah, daring herself to say her next sentence because she knows that if she doesn't dare herself, she will never say it.
"I don't want to be with Klaus anymore."
Silence fills the space between them. Hayley worries that she has gone too far, but then Elijah's eyes soften and she knows she is just telling him exactly what he wants to hear.
"Our marriage is beyond repair and I am not going to be a victim again" she pauses. "I'm going to the divorce lawyers when he's home so we can sort it out quick and easy. I don't want him anymore."
She finishes there despite wanting to also say 'I want you.'
Elijah nods slowly, unsure of what to say. He is extremely happy that she is leaving Klaus, but he feels wrong telling her that. He is in the wrong as well as Klaus is. But still, he can't seem to find himself felling bad for wanting Hayley.
"After what you have been through, I would say it is the right thing to do" Elijah says.
Hayley gives him a shy smile.
"He's going to hit me when I tell him I want a divorce" Hayley says, looking down at their joined hands.
Elijah shakes his head and squeezes her hand.
"No. You don't have to tell him anything. Let the lawyer send him the papers and you move out the second you get the chance" Elijah says, desperate to not see Hayley hurt again.
"Where would I go, Elijah?" Hayley asks, already knowing she has no where to go.
"I will book a hotel for us. I won't let him hurt you again, Hayley" Elijah says and Hayley stands up.
She walks around to his side of the table and slips in to sit next to him. He instantly wraps his arm around her shoulders and she lets her head fall to his shoulder. She feels safer than she has ever felt before in his arms. And not to mention he smells absolutely amazing.
Elijah kisses the top of her head and whispers, "penso che mi innamori di te."
Hayley looks up at him and nuzzles his chin with her nose.
"What does that mean?" She asks, referring to the Italian he just spoke.
"You'll have to find that out for yourself" Elijah says quietly.
Hayley smiles and closes her eyes as the morning sun light starts to shine in through the window onto where they are sat. She makes a mental note to google translate what Elijah said... if she can remember it.