Chapter Thirty Eight

Betrayal Can Only Happen If You Love

Hayley tried to rationalize that she had every right to get to know the other side of her family. Still, she didn't like lying to Klaus and making Josh lie, knowing the kid was justifiably scared of him. She promised she wouldn't let Klaus hurt him…assuming Klaus didn't kill her first. No, he'd be angry and probably come up with some insane punishment but Hayley told herself that Klaus would never hurt her…if for no other reason than the fact that she was carrying his child.

Gus greeted her with the same surly manner, but with less hostility before he went to find Mary who'd been babysitting for a couple who'd gone to hunt for some food down the river.

"Oh he's a treat," Cami remarked dryly watching the long haired blond scruffy man walk away.

"Oh I think he's actually starting to like me now," Hayley assured her with a quirk of her lips at Cami's disbelieving face.

"Hayley!"

She turned at Jackson's voice and felt a funny flutter in her chest as he made his way towards her with a wheel barrow loaded with wood. "Hey."

A sweet smile split his face and he nodded to Cami and then Josh. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to visit with Mary. This is Cami O'Connell."

"A human," Jackson remarked with no derision but with a cock of the eyebrow. "You're a brave one." His jaw clenched when he took another look at Josh but Hayley watched him try and control his irritation. "You might be an idiot. A vampire coming into wolf territory."

"He's a friend of mine," Hayley warned.

"And that's the only reason the pack is standing down when they all want to rip him to pieces," Jackson pointed out and true enough, when Hayley looked around the animosity towards Josh was palpable.

"Oh nice. Looks like I won't have to worry about Klaus killing me. The wolves will get me first. I'm missing my human club kid days like you have no idea right now," Josh remarked to Hayley.

"Hey. How you doing? My name's Aiden," a young man said coming up to them and extending his hand to Josh.

Hayley opened her mouth to speak but noticed then how the blood seemed to rise in Josh's face in an intense blush and she bit her cheek hard not to react. She looked briefly to Cami but then wished she hadn't because her best friend's raised eyebrow made a laugh threaten to burst from Hayley that she'd only just managed to keep back.

Eventually Aiden introduced himself to Hayley and Cami but it was clear his attention was focused on Josh and Hayley was grateful for it. The more people who seemed to accept her, the more the rest of the pack would follow.

Jackson invited them to wait for Mary inside the cabin he shared with his 'grandmother' and Aiden followed them in as well, hitting it off with Josh.

Jackson offered them some coffee while they waited for Mary who showed up a few minutes later.

"Hello, dear!" Mary said with a wide grin which wavered when she saw the small group Hayley brought with her and a flicker of unease moved across her face when she saw Josh.

"He's all right. Really," Hayley quickly assured her. "I had to bring him along so that Klaus would let me leave the house."

"Oh that sounds healthy," Jackson snorted.

"Thanks for that," Josh said, giving her an embarrassed glare and she grimaced apologetically remembering Aiden was standing right there.

She cleared her throat, intentionally ignoring Jackson's comment. "Josh actually saved me and my baby when I was shot. So he's kinda handy to have around."

Josh stuck his hands in his pockets and stood up a little straighter. All was forgiven as Aiden sent him a suitably impressed look.

"He's not here to hurt anyone. I swear. And this is my friend Camille O'Connell."

"Not a vampire," Mary remarked studying her.

"Not a vampire," Cami confirmed. "Not a witch either, in case you were wondering. Just a plain old human."

"Oh I doubt there's anything plain about you, Camille, friend of Andrea Labonair also known as Hayley Marshall."

"So how have you been, since the shooting, Hayley? I don't think I had a moment's peace since I got the news and I know Jackson hardly slept."

The addition was deliberate, Hayley knew and it made her feel both uneasy and warm inside to know how much he cared about her.

She saw him go still for a moment by the fire place before tossing in another small log.

"I'm pretty good as new. The baby has Klaus's blood along with mine so she healed me pretty quickly. Klaus's blood did, I mean."

"How's that for ironic," Jackson grumbled under her breath…forgetting that both she and Josh's vampire nature left them with super sensitive hearing.

Hayley narrowed her eyes, an irrational burst of irritation making her want to punch Jackson Kenner in his handsome face in defense of Klaus. She recognized the ridiculous emotion for what it was. He certainly wasn't wrong. Klaus was not a guy you would think of when you thought of a healing presence. He had done horrible things to the wolves, only the least of which was banishing them all into this god forsaken place.

And yet, like wolves did, they adapted and made this place a home. Hayley didn't feel like she had that particular gene. She felt permanently displaced. The only time she even felt remotely settled was when she, Rebekah, Elijah and Klaus were all together, not particularly in the house they were in now, but just among the three of them. Her family, of the heart if not by blood. Cami and Marcel, even though they weren't together anymore still felt like an extended part of that. She felt loved and she knew that was a part of it. That whole 'home is where the heart is' shmoop that people put on throw pillows…but there was still…she knew there was still more to it that eluded her. Then it dawned on her. She had come to ask about her as yet un-triggered self. She wondered if when she finally did trigger her wolf gene, she would finally have that sense of home, of being settled.

"Jack," Mary scolded, bringing Hayley's attention back.

"No. It's okay," Hayley assured her and nodding at Jackson when he gave her a quick look of apology. "Hey, all of you are fair in your anger towards Klaus considering what he did to all of you. I can promise you though, that Klaus will never hurt you again. Any of you."

They all stared at her and she nodded confidently. She and their baby were the only things he would weigh in the balance of his anger against the wolves, the only thing that would stay his hand. She wasn't certain of much, but she would stake her life on that. "I came here today cause I wanted to ask you about what triggers the werewolf gene. I heard it usually happens with your first kill. That's how it happened to Klaus, but I've killed before, as a cop and then just a few days ago, I killed the man who shot me and still…nothing."

"Maybe it'll just happen one day. Like the girls in my class in junior high. They were always bitching about having no boobs. Then the next day. Bam!" Josh explained, holding his hands in front of his chest.

They all stared at him.

"What? It's totally the-"

Aiden placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go outside and I'll show you around, huh?"

Josh's smile was the sweetest thing and Hayley couldn't help the small snort of amusement that escaped her.

"Sure thing," He said, getting instantly to his feet. He hesitated only a moment, looking at Hayley.

"Oh don't worry about it. I've got all these guys around. I'll come find you when we're ready to go."

"Awesome," he said and practically ran out of the cabin, following Aiden.

Hayley heard Cami giggle behind her.

"Aiden's a good kid. He'll look out for him," Jackson assured Hayley.

"Now about triggering your wolf gene," Mary said, pouring her some more tea. "It's often different for women than for men. Often with men it happens with their first kill. For women, it sometimes happens when they're girls, when-sorry, Jack-they get their first periods." The old women gave Jackson an amused look. Jackson, to his credit, flushed a little, uncomfortable and cleared his throat but didn't make any further show of squeamishness.

"For other women they don't trigger their wolf gene until they've had a child. Often right after they've given birth."

"Oh, on top of labour. Nice," Cami said with a shudder.

Hayley swallowed uneasily and looked down at her stomach, placing a hand on it. Right. As if labour wasn't freaking her out enough.

She wrapped her hands around her mug of tea to try and ease her shudder of unease, then brought the mug to her mouth.

"There's a rumour though that those of us who have been triggered might have a way to control when we turn," Jackson said.

Hayley choked on her tea, swearing as some of the liquid burned her lips and spilled onto her dress.

"Are you all right?" Mary asked, instantly handing her a towel hanging from the oven handle.

"Yeah. Um…" Hayley coughed. "Where did you hear this? What's the rumour?"

"There's a witch. Her name is Genevieve and I think I can make a deal with her, if you'll help me," Jackson asked.

Hayley felt her heart drop into her stomach. Jackson had what Klaus wanted. How could she keep this from Klaus because she couldn't trust him not to use it against the wolves as opposed to helping them…to say nothing of how pissed he was going to be when he found out where she'd gotten the information. She groaned and lowered her head onto her fist.

"Klaus," Mary said in understanding.

"You could just not tell him," Jackson offered and Hayley shook her head when she looked at him.

"That is not going to work. He'll find out then find out I kept it from him and it'll be a shit show."

Cami touched Hayley's arm in support. "The important thing is getting the moonlight rings. One thing at a time. Klaus will just have to deal with the fact that you're not going to turn your back on your family and that he needs to work together with you all and not against you."

"Have you just met Klaus?" Hayley asked pointedly.

Klaus was in the living room with Elijah and Rebekah when Hayley returned with Cami, Josh having left them to go hang out with Davin and probably tell her all about Aiden.

Rebekah was scolding them about the body currently dripping blood on the carpet. A gift from Klaus to Elijah, who still hadn't completely forgiven his brother for daggering him…and biting him at the cabin after Langon had kidnapped Hayley.

Hayley shook her head. "God help this baby with this family," she said with a groan as she stood in the doorway. "Okay, this is good cause there are witnesses at least."

"Hayley," Elijah greeted her with a smile, he and Klaus getting to his feet instantly, retaining their old world manners, to Hayley's amusement. "How was your day?"

"Um…let's say informative. You guys might want to sit down for this," she suggested motioning with her hands.

"I know who has the stones for the moonlight rings."

Both men were on their feet again instantly, making Hayley jump, startled. Rebekah rushed around the couch to her side. "Who?"

"There's a witch. Her name is Genevieve." She knew the question would come and she swallowed, bracing herself as she rushed ahead, speaking. "I'm sure Davina can help us track her-"

"Who told you this?" Klaus demanded immediately. "Elijah, get Davina here now to find this witch."

Hayley swallowed. Here we go. She forced herself to lift her chin and not cower in the rage she knew would be directed at her in 3…2…1 "I found out from someone in the bayou. A man named Jackson Kenner."

The room went still. Elijah stopped on his way to the phone and Rebekah dropped the arm of the lady she'd been about to lift off the coffee table.

Hayley stared at Klaus, forcing herself not to tremble at the hot rage that burned in his eyes before cold anger stole over his face.

"The bayou," he said softly, eyes piercing hers. "The bayou you were forbidden from going to in order to keep you and my child safe."

"Our child," Hayley pressed and she saw Rebekah cringe.

Klaus's eyes went wide and he grabbed her in a second, making her jump and her heart leap into her throat. "Yes! Our child. Our child you seem to have no regard for putting in harm's way every chance you get."

"How dare you!" Hayley shouted back at him.

"Niklaus!" Elijah protested.

"And this Jackson Kenner. Who the hell is he?"

Hayley hated the immediate hot flush that rose in her cheeks and by the look in Klaus's eyes he saw it too because his eyes narrowed and a flash of pain and panic moved through them before coldness gripped them again. It was ridiculous! She had nothing to feel guilty about…and yet she did.

"Can we please focus on the moonlight rings?" Rebekah urged, trying to help and Hayley sent her a look of silent appreciation.

"Do tell," Klaus said, his eyes not leaving Hayley.

Hayley took a deep breath and licked her lips. "There's a witch named Genevieve. Jack says-"

Again, that flash of hot anger before the chill.

"He says she's in possession of the rings and he thinks he can persuade her to make a deal for them and the stones to make more."

"Ah. A persuasive sort, is he? And what? He offered to hand the moonlight rings over to you out of the goodness of his heart? Or did you have to do some persuading yourself, Little Wolf?"

Hayley glared at him. "What exactly are you accusing me of, Klaus?"

"It seems to me that we know nothing of this Jackson Kenner and yet you seem instantly inclined to trust him. Forgive me if I'm inclined to question his motivations."

"Yeah, well I knew nothing about you either when I didn't remember you and yet I trusted you, right?"

"Oh dear," Elijah groaned behind her.

Klaus's eyes flashed and he gripped her arm painfully. "Are you comparing us?" He demanded and she guiltily lowered her eyes before clearing her throat and forcing herself to not cower.

"Jackson was the wolf who has been protecting me this whole time. The one that I first thought was you so yeah. I trust him and if you don't like it that's too damn bad."

"Ah. I see," Klaus said softly. "Come with me, Little Wolf." He guided her towards the door that led to the basement and opened it.

"Niklaus-" Elijah warned.

"No" Hayley assured him. "It's okay."

She followed Klaus down the stairs, daring him silently to try and threaten her, not really feeling threatened in the least. "Are you serious right now?" Hayley said irritated. "You're gonna, what? Lock me in the basement? You do remember I can just pick the lock anytime I want or Elijah or Rebekah will just let me out, right?"

Klaus said nothing for the longest time. His silence gradually unnerving her more than any ranting or raving would have and he knew it.

"You will stay away from Jackson Kenner from now on. Is that understood?" he asked slowly.

Hayley stiffened. "You don't tell me who I can and can't see. Ever. Is that understood? And you and I both know you're not going to do anything to me while I'm carrying this baby so can you please just make some kind of peace with the fact that we both have another side to us? You've ended the war with Marcel. Can you not just embrace your wolf side too for all of our sakes, damn it!"

He clenched his jaw but then turned away from her and pulled one of the caskets away from the wall. "You're right. While you are carrying my child, I cannot punish you from your betrayal-"

"Betrayal? I have never-"

Klaus lifted his hand. "You will be silent or so help me I will lose the tenuous grip I have on my control, Hayley."

Hayley glared at him but held her tongue.

"You will not see Jackson Kenner again. You will not go into the bayou again. You are correct in the assumption that I will not physically harm you while my child grows inside of you, but neither will you be allowed out of the house without me by your side. I have given you more than you have deserved and allowed my feelings to cloud my judgement in my quest to keep your affection as opposed to keeping you safe. No more. See the wolf again, or any of your wolves and as soon as our child is born I will dagger you, place you in this casket and you will never see your child again. Now. Is that understood?" He concluded coldly.