Hello, my lovely readers. In honor of my birthday, I am gifting you with some of my favorite fanfic stories today! On with the show…
Chapter 7: Family Man
The morning left Elijah's mind reeling. He had a new triple murder and robbery suspect to prosecute, a man accused of killing two of his previous wives, with a third missing, or on-the-run, and Niklaus' custody case. Why could life not be simpler? To add to his list of demands, Katherine had called him, in the wee hours—two o'clock—to be precise—to inform him that he needed to pick up Nadia from school, today. Nadia. His little girl. Well, not biologically speaking, but in the ways that counted…
Haylijah
"Elijah, I have to go out-of-town. No. I can't explain why." Her abrupt tone made Elijah's head ache as he propped himself up on one elbow to peer at the flashing light of his alarm clock. Rebekah said that green would be soothing, but it felt like staring into a traffic light, in the middle of the night.
"Why?" Elijah inquired, yawning and running a hand through his hair. He needed to make an appointment with the barber.
Katherine let out a short noise. "I just said: I can't tell you why. Just trust me. It's important. Can you pick up Nadia, or not?" The sound of her heavy breathing added to the urgency of her tone. There was a time that Elijah would have leaped at her demand. Those days were long since over.
"Yes. I will do this. For Nadia," Elijah's reply came in a quick, taut tone.
A sigh came down the line. "Great. Okay. Thanks," she muttered before ending the call.
Haylijah
Going back over the paperwork, Elijah called to his assistant, a young man named Thierry, who liked to play the saxophone and had a penchant for wearing a cap to work. When Thierry began working for Elijah, Elijah tried to convince the young man that professionals did not wear hats inside the office. However, Thierry could not seem to part with his beloved cap, placing it on his head whenever Elijah was in his office. Eventually, Elijah grew accustomed to the other man's habits; he was loyal and hard-working; this is what counted.
"Thierry, I need you to run some paperwork over to the Mikaelson and Gerard firm," Elijah said at that moment Thierry popped his cap-clad head in the doorway.
"Sure," Thierry replied with an easy smile. Thierry had a crush on one of the girls, who worked in the mailroom and jumped at any chance to see her.
"Thank you." Elijah sealed a large envelope and handed it to Thierry. "This goes to a Ms. Hayley Marshall—not to anyone else—not even her assistant." He held Thierry's eye for a moment.
"For Ms. Marshall's eyes only. Got it, boss," Thierry said, another smile on his face before he disappeared.
For the rest of the day, Elijah busied himself with gruesome pictures of stabbed housewives and gunshot victims, from the robbery, "gone bad." Elijah did not understand the phrase. Was there such a thing as a good robbery? His eyes hurt and he felt like all this death and horror was darkening his spirit. Sometimes he loathed this work.
His eyes moved to the clock on his computer. Two forty-five. His eyes moved back to the open file on his desk. He felt like he'd forgotten something…or someone. Nadia. Her school let out at three-o-five. No!
Slapping the file closed, Elijah forced himself to his feet and headed to the door. He locked up before texting Thierry to take the rest of the day off.
Elijah could not believe that he'd forgotten Nadia. He could see her chin sticking out. Her long, dark curls falling down her back. Her large eyes peering around her. The other children leaving, hand-in-hand with their parents—the ones who could remember that they had children—while his own child watched them gloomily.
Jogging to his car, Elijah slipped behind the wheel and inserted his key. He flipped the key in the ignition and glanced in the rearview mirror. It would not do to hit some poor person. Backing up, Elijah carefully drove out of the garage and toward Nadia's private school.
Haylijah
Nadia stood on the steps. The sprawling structure behind her looked as if it might swallow the girl up. She was only nine. A young lady but not yet a teenager. She stood, her expression stoic as she watched the other children careen toward their parents, and nannies, mostly nannies.
When Elijah moved towards the stairs; Nadia caught sight of him. Her eyes lit up and she nearly dropped her lunch box on the stairs. "Daddddyyyyyy!" she shrieked, her hair flying in the light wind.
Elijah scooped her up from the stairs; holding her close. She felt like the loveliest part of his life. His greatest regret about his marriage's demise—was not being able to spend every day with his child. "Hello, love," he said, setting her down and kneeling. "How was school?"
"It was okay," Nadia shrugged.
"Just okay?" Elijah teased her.
"It's school," Nadia said. "Can we get ice cream, please?" She began to tug on his hand as they walked away from the school.
"After dinner," Elijah replied.
Nadia sighed heavily, reminding Elijah of Katherine, when he used to chide her about credit card bills. "O-kay."
They walked, hand-in-hand toward his car. "Did you learn anything important?"
"Nope," Nadia said, opening the passenger side door and climbing inside. Elijah remembered when she would wait for him to open the door and place her inside the car. Now, she pulled the door closed and fastened her seatbelt. My God, she was getting too old, too fast.
Rounding the car, Elijah took a seat before starting up the vehicle. Nadia pulled out her phone. "Sweetheart, no phone until after dessert and only for an hour."
"But mom—" Nadia began to say when she caught the look on Elijah's face. "Sorry," she muttered, tucking the phone back into her bag and staring out the passenger side window.
"You know, I have to go to a very important ball, tomorrow. Perhaps you would like to accompany me?" Elijah inquired lightly. Really, it was a charity fundraiser, but with all the tuxes and ball gowns; Nadia would believe it to be a ball. She still believed in fairy tales.
"Like Cinderella?" Nadia asked, her eyes wide. "Do you think that Prince Charming will come?"
"Perhaps. You never know with these kinds of things," Elijah winked at Nadia who grinned.
Haylijah
The day became less complicated as it progressed. Nadia changed into a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, pulling her hair into a ponytail and asking for a toasted cheese sandwich. Klaus, Freya, and even Rebekah, made an appearance that evening. It seemed like they knew that Nadia would be there. Or they were yearning for family.
"Uncle Klaus!" Nadia shouted, her mouth full of cheese, her fingers smeared with a light coating of margarine. She leapt from her chair and ran to Klaus. "Did you make me a painting?"
"No. But I will," Klaus replied. "What would you like?"
"Cinderella. Daddy's taking me to a ball!" Nadia proclaimed.
"Oh, is he now?" Klaus grinned, carrying Nadia on his hip, back into the kitchen and seating her on her stool.
"Ball? What ball?" Rebekah demanded, uncorking a bottle of wine while Freya looked for glasses.
"The ball. Tomorrow night. Father is one of the hosts," Elijah said, absently.
Klaus stiffened but said nothing. He picked up Nadia's sandwich and took a healthy bite. "Elijah, you've out-done yourself. Perhaps you should try out for Master Chef." His brother's eyes twinkled and Elijah forced himself not to roll his own.
Rebekah let out a snort and Freya choked on her wine. "Perhaps we should not entertain ourselves by tormenting poor Elijah," Freya commented, resting her head on Elijah's shoulder.
"Poor Elijah," Rebekah taunted.
Elijah chuckled. "Will all of you stop? I am in charge of one child, I do not need to be hindered by more."
"Poor Elijah!" Nadia said, placing a hand to her forehead and pretending to swoon into Klaus' arms, who began to laugh. Rebekah and Freya watched Elijah before joining Klaus, laughing until they could barely stand, while Elijah shook his head.
Hours later, Elijah sat on his couch. Nadia's head rested on his shoulder and his siblings talked of their plans for the upcoming weekend. "I promised Kol I would attend one of his games," Freya told them.
"As a representative for the rest of our sorry lot?" Klaus quipped, his brows arching.
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I barely have time to do my hair most mornings. How am I to be expected to travel half-way across the U.S. to watch a group of men throwing a ball about a field?" Crossing and uncrossing her legs, Rebekah gave her siblings a sulky look. "Well?" she demanded, her eyes fiery.
"Perhaps you will find a husband there." Freya retorted with a smile.
Groaning, Rebekah shook her head. "I do not desire a man who prefers sports to books."
"Oh, yes, because you'd be reading," Klaus retorted with a laugh.
Rebekah let out a hiss of fury. Grabbing a pillow, she tossed it at Klaus' head but Elijah caught in mid-air. Nadia stirred. "Dad?" she said, her lids heavy.
"It's alright. Let's get you to bed. The rest of you, please, clean after yourselves before leaving, will you?" Elijah really hoped that his siblings would not leave his home in the usual state of disrepair—they so enjoyed to leave it in—after visiting.
"Of course," Klaus' tone did not leave Elijah with high hopes.
Nadia groaned, again, when Elijah set her on her feet, in the bathroom. "Teeth," he said, picking up her toothbrush, the blue one with, Elsa, from Frozen, on it. He squirted toothpaste on it and watched Nadia jam the toothbrush in her mouth. Her eyes closed as she wiggled the toothbrush around in her mouth, yawning around it.
"Face," Elijah said. He wet a cloth and put mild soap on it, washing her face with gentle strokes before rinsing it.
By the time they were done—Nadia had fallen asleep—on her feet. Scooping her up, Elijah carried her to her bed. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Princess."
"Night, dad," Nadia mumbled, her arms going around her favorite stuffed bear and then she was out for the night.
Once Elijah returned to the living room, he found his siblings had cleaned up after themselves and let themselves out. This might be a first. He took the time to check his messages. Nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow.
"I want to be pretty, like a princess," Nadia cried as Elijah led her into a Macy's. The sales girl smiled and showed them a series of charming gowns for girls Nadia's age. She settled on a blue one. "It looks like Cinderella. If she were nine," Nadia told Elijah. Elijah glanced at the price tag, winced, but when he saw the sparkle in Nadia's eyes, he knew he could not say "No."
"Can I have it, please, daddy?" Nadia begged him, clasping her hands together and staring up at him, her lips pulled back from her teeth. She looked adorably ridiculous.
"Let's make sure it fits first." Elijah coaxed Nadia into one of the dressing room, to try on the dress before laying down money, for food, for next month.
"I LOVE it!" Nadia cried as she came out and twirled for him. The back of the dress needed zipped but she did look like a tiny princess. All she needed was a pumpkin coach and some singing mice, or were they birds? "Can I have it, please, please, please?"
"Yes," Elijah said.
"What a lovely purchase," the sales girl said as she placed the dress in the bag. She grinned at Elijah and Nadia frowned but said nothing.
"Thank you," Elijah said. "Let's us find you some shoes to go with this frock." Again, his daughter was all smiles and dancing away from him.
Their shopping left them very little time before the fundraiser so Elijah had to rush his usual routine and glanced in the mirror. He looked acceptable. Not quite as polished as he might be with another hour's time but nothing that would have Chicago's elite lifting their brows in shock.
"Nadia? Are you ready?" Elijah inquired.
Nadia nodded. "Yes, dad!" she came out in her gown, with her hair in curls—thanks to an emergency call to Rebekah.
His sister came out in a red gown, her lips pursed. "She will break many hearts years from now."
"You bet I will," Nadia said with a laugh.
Rebekah looked at Elijah. They were thinking the same thing: She takes after her mother. "Shall we?" Rebekah asked, moving toward the door.
"Yes," Elijah took Nadia's hand and they left the apartment.
Rebekah led the way to Elijah's car. She opened the door to the passenger seat and helped Nadia into the back before settling in the front seat while Elijah slid behind the wheel. They were quiet on the way to the Field Museum, the site of the fundraiser.
Elijah handed his keys to the valet while Rebekah helped Nadia back out of the car. Both females seemed excited as they watched the be-suited men and ball gown clad ladies walk up the stairs and through the doors to the museum. Nadia tugged at her bottom lip, her eyes wide. Finally, shyness began to take over and she pressed into the folds of Rebekah's dress.
"It's okay, love," Rebekah said, patting Nadia's slender shoulder. "No one will bite you. Or your father and I will bite them back. Won't we, 'Lijah?"
"We will," Elijah said. His lips formed an easy smile and Nadia relaxed.
Once they entered the room in which the main festivities would be held, Nadia had taken both Elijah's and Rebekah's hands. "Wow!" she cried, her eyes landing on something or someone. "She looks like a princess!"
"Who?" Elijah inquired and then he saw her, too.
Hayley Marshall stood in the middle of the room. Her dark hair swept behind her back in a long, mass of soft-looking curls. Her body covered in a long, cream colored gown. She looked like a bride, waiting for her groom to appear. Taking a step forward, Elijah wanted to go to her but then another man took his place beside her.
Marcel held a glass of champagne in one hand, his other hand moved to cover Hayley's bare shoulder. She turned with a look of surprise before a wide smile lit up her entire face. She beheld her friend with such open regard that it left Elijah with a slowly opening pit in his stomach.
Rebekah's sudden hiss made Elijah's head turn toward her. His sister had stiffened and her eyes burned with jealousy. Elijah wondered if he looked the same. He'd like to think he kept himself in check but he felt a certain tug of emotion better suited to a lesser man. Passion made men mad. And some women.
"I'm thirsty," Nadia said, interrupting Elijah's reverie and Rebekah's glaring at Hayley and Marcel.
"Let's get you something to drink," Rebekah said, taking Nadia's hand. She practically stomped toward Marcel before tapping him on the shoulder. "Do you mind telling us where the drinks are, since you seemed to have them so easily?" she inquired, her tone sharp.
"Rebekah," Marcel replied. "You look stunning."
"Thank you," Rebekah snapped. "Drinks. My niece is positively dying from thirst." Elijah's sister refused to look at Marcel, who looked amused.
"That right, kid?" Marcel asked, bending down on one knee to look at Nadia.
Nadia giggled, grinning at him. "Yes!" she cried.
"Then why don't we get you something," Marcel said. "Hayley, I will be right back."
"Okay," Hayley replied. She looked at Elijah. "Hi."
"Hello," Elijah replied. He watched her eyes move from him to the ball. Her eyes moved over the crowd. "You've got a kid," she said, her eyes darting to him. "No one ever said you had a kid."
"There are a lot of things that people do not know about me." Elijah told her. Hayley eyed him with a smirk before looking back at the dancers.
"Would you like to dance?" Elijah asked her.
"Sure," Hayley took the hand that Elijah offered her. They walked out onto the floor and her eyes kept moving around the room.
"Looking for Prince Charming?" Elijah teased.
Hayley looked back at him. "No. I'm… Looking for my boss…" She shook her head. "Yes. That sounds even weirder when I say it aloud." She chuckled, her eyes settling on Elijah. "Ever since I saw Mr. Gerard with Celeste DuBois, I've had this sinking feeling. And I can't seem to get over it. You probably think I'm crazy."
"I never think someone relying on their instincts is crazy," Elijah replied.
Hayley's eyes darted up to his. "Really?"
"You might be on to something. Only time will tell." Elijah spun Hayley outward and then back to him.
Hayley inhaled sharply when their bodies connected and she let out a laugh. Elijah felt his heart beat faster. She wondered what she looked like when she was being kissed or made love to. He wanted to see the look on her face as pleasure coursed through her body. He wanted to feel her body reacting to the things he wanted to do to her.
"Do take your time," Rebekah's voice came to them as she strode with an amused-looking Marcel and Nadia, drinking a very orange colored punch. "It's not like I have nothing else to do tonight."
"Do you?" Marcel retorted.
"Yes. I do," Rebekah snapped. Tapping a man on the shoulder, Rebekah grinned when the man turned toward her. "Do you have a date?" she asked the man.
"No. I don't," the man replied, looking Rebekah over.
"Wonderful. Well, now you do. Don't stay up too late," Rebekah called to everyone else before dragging the man away.
"That takes tact," Hayley said with a grin.
Marcel rolled his eyes. "Looks like you're stuck with me tonight, Marshall. Unless you're ditching me for Elijah here."
"No. Elijah was just keeping me company." Hayley smiled down at Nadia. "Besides, I would really hate to interrupt a great father-daughter date." She winked at Nadia who offered her a grin in return.
"Are you a princess?" Nadia asked Hayley.
Hayley opened her mouth to reply when Marcel jumped in. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked, waving Nadia to him. Nadia leaned closer. "Hayley is a princess from another time, but her parents worried for her safety, so they sent her here, to be safe."
"Wow!" Nadia looked up at Hayley with huge eyes. "Is that true?"
"Yup." Hayley nodded and Elijah smiled while Nadia took in this new information. Hayley's eyes met Elijah's and he enjoyed the brief moment.
"Dad, can we go see the dinosaurs," Nadia asked, tugging at his jacket sleeve.
"Of course." Elijah looked at Hayley and Marcel. "Good night."
"Good night, Elijah," Hayley replied with a nod. "Oh, and, about the papers you sent me…"
"Yes?" Elijah had almost forgotten the settlement in the custody case he'd drafted, in hopes of ending this ugliness, earlier, rather than later.
"I'll take your terms into consideration, discuss them with Caroline and we'll get back to you," Hayley told him, all business, but the twinkle in her eyes lightened the mood.
"Right." Elijah watched Marcel lead Hayley to the dance floor, feeling a desire to cut-in. However, he'd made a promise to his child, one he intended on keeping.
"Would you like to see the T-Rex or the Brontosaurus, first?" Elijah inquired.
"Both," Nadia cried, trying to run off while Elijah's eyes returned to Hayley who seemed to be having a good time with her friend. He would have other opportunities to pursue whatever this was, just not tonight.
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Answers to guest reviews:
Trishhab528gmail: Thank you. I try to update once a month, but, as you can see, that does always happen. I hope you liked this chapter, too.
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Peace,
Jessica