Hello, my lovely readers. This one has a little bit of a Christmas flavor to it. On with the show…

Chapter 11: Holidays Bring Out the Best in People

Strains of "Jingle Bell Rock" still rang in Hayley Marshall's ears on her way into the lobby of Mikaelson and Gerard. She waved to Cami who had donned an evergreen blouse as a nod to the up-coming holiday. And that was the only acknowledgement of any kind of holiday. Classical music played in the elevator. The halls were bare. Hayley did not know what she expected.

Moving down the hallway, Hayley stopped at her door and removed her key to unlock it when a low hum came from behind her. "Yes?" She turned to find Marcel. "What?"

Marcel leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Pointing over her head, he began to chuckle as Hayley eyed the mistletoe above her head. "Holiday joke, honey."

"Thanks," Hayley sighed, pushing her door open with her rear and entering the gloomy office. "Think Mikael would flip if I added a little, Charlie Brown tree?"

Marcel closed the door behind him. "I tried adding lights, my first year and lost two of my first cases to some kid who went to state school. My dad's a real…" Shaking his head, Marcel rolled his eyes. "Let's not get into what my dad is today." Clapping his hands together, he moved to sit on the edge of her desk as Hayley took her place behind it. "Why don't you tell me about your plans for the weekend?"

"Oh?" Hayley's fingers clicked the keys of her keyboard, her eyes moving over new e-mails. "Umm…"

"No plans?" Marcel leaned closer with a grin that said he had a few things in mind.

"I…" Hayley did not know what to say. She and Elijah had yet to discuss whether they would be spending time together. Since they were supposed to be keeping things casual, the possibility of spending time together—right before Christmas—pushed the casual relationship into a new definition, one she did not feel comfortable with.

"Come on, Hales. Fess up. If you've got plans, it's cool," Marcel's tone was teasing, but Hayley still did not want to divulge the truth. "Secrets always come out in the end."

An image of Celeste Du Bois with Marcel's father flashed through Hayley's conscious mind and she gulped. "Yes, they do." Looking at Marcel, Hayley decided to turn the table one time. "What about you, Marcel? Do you have any special plans with a certain blonde colleague?" Smirking up at him, Hayley crossed her arms over her chest and slid back in her seat.

Marcel huffed. "Sure. If you call hanging out in my apartment for a couple of hours 'special.'"

"Couple of hours?" Hayley shook her head. "It's progress."

"No. It isn't. Not when I can't be seen in public with her. Not when I can't kiss her in front of the whole damned world. Not when I can't say the words: Rebekah Mikaelson, my future wife." Marcel got to his feet and began to pace, his hand running over his mouth and his eyes dark from his irritation.

Hayley closed her e-mail and got to her feet. "Marcel, just shut her down. Okay? Tell her it's either all or nothing. Don't accept whatever scraps someone wants to give you."

Marcel stopped. "What if I'd rather have some of her than nothing at all?"

"Then that's your decision. And you'll have to live with it," Hayley said. "Now, if you will excuse me. I have real work to do." Shooing Marcel out of her office, Hayley closed the door and locked it behind him. She returned to her desk with every intention of getting some real work done.

~0~

Spending the next four hours sifting through information on prior custody battles and how many times the father actually won the case; Hayley found herself day-dreaming about being in bed with Elijah. Bad, Hayley, she admonished herself. She seriously needed to get it together. Caroline and Klaus would be sitting down in front of a judge. Soon. Hayley needed to be one hundred and fifty percent on her game for her friend.

Sighing, Hayley returned to a case in Champaign, IL where the father had been rewarded custody on a technicality. Hayley focused on the details of what the technicality was when a sharp knock on her door sounded.

Feeling annoyed with the sudden interruption, Hayley got to her feet and walked to the door. Opening it, Hayley sighed. "Yes, Aurora?"

"Hi!" Aurora chirped, a huge smile on her face. "Mr. Mikaelson wanted me to deliver this to you, Hayley." She held out a crisp, cream envelope with the official seal of the Mikaelson family on it.

Taking the envelope, Hayley forced a smile. "Thanks for this." She started to turn and close the door when Aurora spoke up.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Aurora cried and Hayley turned on her heel to frown at her assistant. "It's an invite to the family's Christmas party," Aurora whispered with glee.

"And you know this… How?" Hayley leaned against her door, consulting the envelope. She was a little shocked that she would warrant an invite.

Aurora was still smiling as she explained, "Oh, it's a tradition to invite the partners and anyone with potential to make partner to the party. It's more of a networking event than a real holiday celebration."

"Have you been to one?" Hayley asked, her eyes on the envelope.

"Oh, yes. My brother, Tristan is a client. They're also invited. You'll probably meet my brother there as well. He's such a sweetheart." Aurora blinked and pulled out her phone which had begun to chime. "Sorry. I've got to go. Lunch with friends. Bye." Without another word, Aurora disappeared back down the hallway.

Shaking her head, Hayley closed her door and moved across the hall. Tapping on the door of Marcel's office, Hayley waited. He might have already headed to lunch.

When Marcel opened the door, Hayley waved her invite in his face. "Is this why you were asking about my plans for the weekend?" she demanded.

Marcel's eyebrows shot upward. "So, you got one?" He did not look all that pleased.

"You didn't?" Hayley caught herself too late.

Shrugging, Marcel strode back to his desk and picked up a matching cream envelope. "Actually, I did. But this." He threw the envelope back down, with a look of disdain. "Is not what it looks like. This is my dad trying to pretend that he gives damn about me." Marcel shook her head. "Truth is. He doesn't give a damned about me. And the likelihood that I'm going to make partner here, is over his dead body."

"Marcel…" Hayley having no idea what to say in return, moved over to place a hand on Marcel's shoulder. "Sometimes parents suck."

"Want to make that into a greeting card, Marshall?" Marcel nudged her and Hayley laughed as he threw an arm around her. "At least I have good friends."

"You do that," Hayley said. "Now, you're good friend needs to be an equally good lawyer and get back to work." Getting to her feet, Hayley grinned. "So, are you going with me to this party?"

"I thought I'd ask Aurora." Marcel's eyes lit up when Hayley mock glared at him. "I'm kidding. You know you're my favorite date."

"I'd better be," Hayley retorted. "Wear something to make Rebekah drool."

"You, too," Marcel called as Hayley exited his office.

~0~

Adjusting the strap of a red ball gown; Hayley felt overdressed. Maybe she should have just worn a paper sack. It's not like she had been looking forward to coming to this event anyway.

"Hayley," Mikael said, holding out a hand and Hayley forced another smile for one of her two senior bosses. "How nice to see you again."

Hayley did not have time to respond when Esther Mikaelson appeared at her husband's side. "Hayley, how nice to see you again." The woman looked like one of those spreads in In Style, hair in perfect curls falling around her shoulders and a green gown that complemented the decorations, but not in a way that said matchy-matchy.

"It's nice to see you, too, Mrs. Mikaelson," Hayley replied. Unfortunately for Hayley all of her social niceties dried up on her tongue when she noted Elijah Mikaelson, and Elijah's date. Jaw tightening, Hayley thought she would scream.

"Something wrong, dear?" Esther inquired, still playing the perfect hostess as she turned to spot Elijah and Celeste Du Bois. "Oh, Elijah. There you are. Look who came to the party." Esther turned to stand between Elijah and Hayley. "You know Ms. Marshall and Mr. Gerard's son, Marcel."

"Yes. We've met a time or two." Elijah's eyes moved from Hayley to Marcel. And Hayley could not read him. The last time they'd been together, she's stayed the night with him, and his daughter, Nadia. After sensing some tension between the father and daughter, Hayley made an excuse and left in the early morning.

"I hear that Hayley is going to be winning a certain custody case," Mikael added, his eyes gleaming.

Esther gave her husband a sour look. "Mikael, not today."

"Sorry, my dear." Mikael's smile did little to convince anyone in the group that he was sorry. However, he did slip his hand into his wife's and led her away.

Marcel broke the silence, leaning in between Hayley and Elijah, a wide smile on his face. "That was awkward."

"Yes. It was," Celeste remarked. She looked bored. Snatching a champagne flute off a passing tray, she looked at Elijah. "If you will excuse me, I have to mingle. I promise not to be too long, cherie." Without another word, the woman smoothly slid through the group of people cloistered close to the name partners. Her gold dress clung to her and Hayley felt like a sack of potatoes. Well, at least Hayley was not lacking in moral fortitude, sort of.

When the silence descended, again, Marcel glanced from Hayley, to Elijah and then let out a long whistle. "Okay. This is more awkward then taking a Christmas pic with my dad." He pressed a quick kiss to Hayley's cheek. "I will find you later." With that, Marcel ducked into the throes of the lion's den.

After a long moment of contemplating her shoes, Hayley looked at Elijah as "Silent Night" played in the background. "You brought a date."

"I did. And you did as well," Elijah nodded at Marcel who had begun a conversation with Kol Mikaelson, avoiding Rebekah who looked radiant and was chatting up a rising star in their firm. Her back was turned to Marcel but Hayley knew they were aware of each other.

"A friend-date," Hayley snapped. "Unlike… What she is." Her last words were muttered. She sounded like a jealous high school girl. Stupid. Pathetic. Hayley hated herself in that moment. The only person she hated more was Celeste.

"My attending tonight's event with Celeste has nothing more to do with romance than Rebekah's date with that young man there." Elijah nodded at Rebekah who smiled and waved to them. "We bumped into each other in the lobby of Mikaelson and Gerard. I had come to pick up Rebekah for a lunch date and Celeste asked me if I would be coming here. When I said 'Yes,' she asked me if I would do her a favor and be her date. These things are hard to bear without company."

"Yes. And I can see that she was soooo looking forward to your company," Hayley heard the sarcasm in her tone and blushed.

Elijah chuckled. His eyes drifted to Celeste who had integrated herself into a conversation between a group of third-year associates. "You can't blame her for her ambition." His gaze moved back to land on Hayley and she felt like a submarine might not carry as much weight as this one look. He was challenging her, she knew it.

Thankfully, someone decided to interrupt them. "Brother!" Klaus' voice broke some of the tension.

Turning to face Klaus, Elijah looked shocked. "Klaus, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I thought I would see what the fuss about these parties was all about. Seeing as I have only attended a few, back when I was allowed in the front door without an argument ensuing." Grinning, Klaus turned to spot his parents. "Ah, there are a happy host and hostess. Shall I give them my season greetings?"

Pulling out a bottle, Klaus took a long gulp while other people began to stare at them. "Niklaus, calm yourself," Elijah hissed between his teeth. Taking Klaus by the arm, Elijah tried to direct Klaus out of the room when Klaus jerked away. Klaus stumbled a couple of a feet, ran into a table by the wall closest to them, and let out a loud laugh.

"Silent Night" stopped and Klaus' eyes narrowed. "Mother! Father! A word if you will!" Forcing himself into a standing position, Klaus smoothed his hair with one hand, the bottle still clutched in the other. "I have some news for you. I thought you would be delighted to hear, Father!"

Mikael turned to glare at Klaus. Esther's eyes swept over her guests before she turned to march over to Klaus. "Niklaus, please, go to your room. We will be up shortly and then we might discuss this in private."

"My room?" Klaus scoffed. "My room? What am I, a five-year-old? Sent off to his room without his dinner? Have I shamed you in front of those who work beneath you, earning you your lifestyle?" He waved a hand at the room. "Worried that you will not be able to afford next year's caviar and champagne?"

"Enough, Niklaus!" Mikael snarled. "I want you out of my house before I throw you out!"

"You will not touch him!" Elijah snapped, moving in front of Klaus.

"Oh, brother. I can fight my own battles. So, do, put down your sword." Klaus shook his head, a smile on his face but Hayley did not think there was anything to smile about here.

"I came to tell you all that you needn't worry about my sullying your name or your life anymore," Klaus growled out. "I have decided to return to my work. Back to the front lines. Perhaps you will receive word of me, one day, and you might even spare a few tears for the fool." He snarled into Mikael's face before pushing away from the side table and banging into Mikael's shoulder on his way toward the front door. "With that, I say 'Adieu.'" Bowing, Klaus turned and stomped out.

"He does know how to make an entrance and an exit," Aurora said with a giggle. "Hayley, I would like to introduce my brother, Tristan De Martel."

Confused, Hayley turned to Aurora's brother. "I have heard such lovely things about you, Ms. Marshall. Hayley, if I may." Tristan took Hayley's hand and kissed the back of it.

With a frown, Hayley looked to the entrance where Elijah had disappeared through second ago. "Umm. Nice to meet you. If you'll excuse me…" Hayley gathered the bottom of her gown and headed for the exit. She could hear other guests murmuring, including the remaining Mikaelson siblings who were debating the merits of helping Elijah deal with a drunken Klaus. It seemed to be this was one of their holiday traditions if Rebekah and Kol were to be believed.

The moment Hayley left the Mikaelons' home, she felt a whip of cold Chicago wind tear through her gown and go up her bare arms. Shivering, she tuned her ears to the sounds of Elijah and Klaus arguing. They could not have gotten too far. "Where are you?" she muttered under her breath.

"Looking for my brothers?" Kol's voice came in Hayley's ear and she jumped.

"Yup," Hayley answered, giving Kol a look over her shoulder.

Kol's eyes were peering through the grounds of the home. "Back there. They used to hide from me. Always with their secret chats about things only 'older boys were to know of.' I used to spy on them, quite regularly in fact."

Rebekah joined them. "Well, have you found them?"

"This way," Kol said, waving a hand and easing across the snow covered lawn.

Feeling the icy coldness of the snow—biting through the tops of her high heels—Hayley wished she'd worn boots. To hell with fashion's dictates. Frostbite was not cute either.

"Where is Freya? And Finn?" Rebekah whispered to Kol, her eyes on the small structure by the house.

"What is this?" Hayley whispered to the siblings.

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "It's a toll booth," she replied with a smirk. "Mother and Father think that coming to see them is like crossing states. You must pay the toll." She let out a quiet laugh.

Hayley rolled her eyes. "People with money," she muttered.

"What?" Rebekah gasped, mock insulted.

"Used to be for security." Kol's eyes were on the booth in front of them. "'Til Bekah got caught up with one of the guards. Don't ever hire local boys to do a man's work."

"Kol, shut it!" Rebekah hissed.

Inside the booth, Hayley could hear Elijah and Klaus arguing. Stomping over to the booth's door; Rebekah jerked it open. "Time to come out, boys. Or we're coming in." With a hand on her hip, Rebekah showed why she was quite formidable with a court room.

Elijah came out first, followed by Klaus who had either lost his bottle or finished it off. "I was just leaving," Klaus began when Kol placed a hand on his chest.

"Not 'til you spill your bloody guts to us," Rebekah snapped. "What has you in the midst of an existential crisis, this time?"

Klaus folded his arms over his chest. "What makes you think I care for your opinion, darling sister?" His smirk gave the impression that he did not care. But Hayley suspected that he was faking.

"Klaus, what's going on?" Hayley said.

Eyes flashing, Klaus sneered at her. "As if you do not already know. I'm sure that Father was already planning a party in your honor for your first win."

"Huh?" Hayley still felt confused.

"According to Niklaus, Caroline and Tyler Lockwood are going to spend Christmas in Las Vegas. And from there they will leave for Milan, for their honeymoon." Elijah allowed the words to sink in before continuing. "Tyler Lockwood made a call, to inform Niklaus of the 'happy news.' Lockwood also intends on filing for adoption of Fiona."

"What? He can't do that!" Rebekah cried out.

"Where is his address? I have a fist his mouth can adopt," Kol snapped, his eyes glittering with malice. "Or perhaps my favorite bat will do the trick."

"Rebekah. Kol. Calm yourselves," Elijah said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "This is not up to us. This was a decision that Caroline had chosen to make about her life and it is not our right to impose our own thoughts upon her; however unfortunate her timing is."

Klaus let out a growl. "Yes, brother, unfortunate timing is all that matters. Well, if you'll excuse me. I have bags to pack." He started to walk away when Elijah grabbed him by the shoulders and Klaus' gaze darkened. Let go of me, Elijah."

"I will. In due time," Elijah retorted. "Tonight you will stay with me. Tomorrow, you can stay with Kol."

"Why me?" Kol whined. Elijah gave Kol a look and Kol shut his mouth. "Right."

"You will stay here, until I have had a chance to talk to Caroline," Elijah said.

"Oh, you will have a hard time doing that, since she and Tyler are boarding a flight tonight," Klaus snapped. "I should have gone to the airport and given them an early Christmas present." Grumbling, Klaus lowered his head and Hayley could see just how upset he really was.

"Then you've got to hurry," Rebekah said, looking to Elijah. "Kol and I can handle Nik for one night. Can't we?" Kol grinned and Klaus shuddered.

Setting off, Elijah moved across the lawn when Hayley hurried after him. "Yes?"

"She's my client. If anyone's talking sense into her; it's me," Hayley stated. Elijah nodded. By this time tomorrow, either Caroline would be at home, with Fi, or Hayley would be a maid of honor. Hayley hoped, for Caroline's sake, that her Caroline was making the right choice for herself and for Fiona. And that Klaus did not follow them.

Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.

Answer to guest review:

Anna: I hope the wait wasn't too long.

Peace,

J