Author's note: Sorry about the delay, hope this chapter makes up for it a little bit. The chapter title comes from an Adele song that I absolutely adore: "Make You Feel My Love." It fits everything about this chapter and what Hayley's feeling. Enjoy! :)
Chapter Three: I Could Hold You For A Million Years
Sometimes when she was asleep – when she could sleep, that is – the images that submerged from Hayley's subconscious weren't always the stuff of nightmares. Sometimes she could escape into a world where she was still in New Orleans and her baby girl was still alive and they were together. Dealing with the Mikaelsons' hadn't always been ideal even on the best days but Hayley would give anything for Klaus's outbursts, Rebekah's bitchy attitude, or even Elijah's infuriating silence if it only meant being with her daughter.
Keara's confession had rocked her to her very core. Just the slightest chance that her daughter could still be alive was everything to her right now. In fact, it was all that was keeping her together.
Immediately after Keara had told her of her visions, Hayley gathered the pseudo-pack that surrounded her. There simply wasn't any time to waste. If her daughter was still alive she had to know. She'd lost enough time without her daughter the way it was. She told the pack snippets, enough to keep them informed but as little as possible – hell, she hardly knew these people. She told them that there was business she had to take care of out of town, that she wasn't sure if she were returning. Some of them seemed jolted, some like they couldn't wait to be rid of her. She told them that her leaving them didn't mean she cared for them any less or that she'd leave them unprotected. She appointed one of them that she distrusted the least in her absence, giving them a way to contact her if (when) they needed her.
When she was finished with her closing speech, Keara pulled her aside. Her spiritual sister asked for permission for Erin and herself to follow Hayley to New Orleans. That she didn't trust their safety with the pack without Hayley there.
Hayley denied her request.
While nothing would please Hayley more than to have a true ally in the task ahead of her, she valued Keara and Erin's lives far more. The last time she had been in New Orleans it had literally been a war zone where she'd actually been one of the casualties. The thought of losing more people that she cared about was just about enough to send her over the edge.
Instead she told Keara to move on alone, take Erin and get as far away from any magical beings as she could. Oh, and to stay far away from Mystic Falls, Virginia while she was at it. While disappointed, Keara reluctantly agreed. Hayley promised that when it was it was ideal they'd get in touch again. That night, Keara and Erin left after the three of them had dinner together.
The next morning before dawn and before the rest of the pack awoke, Hayley was gone – on her way back to New Orleans.
The trip didn't last long. Being a hybrid, she didn't really need to sleep. For blood, she hit a few seedy bars along the way – luring pretty drunk men into dark corning and compelling them once she'd had her fill. Typically – other than when she was on a ripper binge – she disliked feeding straight from a body. She also still disliked vampires even though it was a part of her nature now. She still considered herself a werewolf – and generally wolves had more standards. So usually she preferred the blood bags in a mug, warmed over the fire method. Fresh blood, however, gave her more strength and sated her hunger more.
She needed all the strength she could muster to face what she'd left behind in New Orleans.
The trip from Rockford, Illinois to New Orleans took her about eighteen hours by car. It would have been less, but the closer she got the more blood stops she had to make to calm her nerves. By the time she drove past the sign that read "Welcome to New Orleans" her own blood in her body was practically boiling. Anticipation hung in the air. Several times on the road, she'd felt something familiar – something she hadn't felt since waking up in the ditch on the night she'd given birth –
She could feel her daughter's presence. Now, more than ever she believed in Keara's vision. As she drove across the country, sometimes it got stronger or lessened but the hours before arriving in New Orleans, it was unbearable. It stirred unexplainable things in her. It made her want to rip apart every body she crossed paths with but at the same time protect and nurture them as well. It was worse than the werewolf – enhanced hormones she'd experienced when she was pregnant. It was worse than the restlessness, rage, and frustration she'd felt before she'd triggered the werewolf curse within her.
She realized as she drove that she couldn't just show up at the Mikaelson compound demanding answers. She'd probably be spotted in town before she could even get there – and who even knew where the Mikaelsons' loyalty lie these days or what they would think of her if she were still alive. Just as well, she couldn't even seek out her old pack. For all she knew, they could still be under Francesca's thumb.
No, it was better to wait and stalk through the streets under the cover of darkness. She'd wait it out on the edge of the bayou, away from prying eyes and ears.
OGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOG
Rebekah kept one hand on the wheel as her other hand reach back to rest on Hope's foot. The young girl had been restless on their drive home. Still grieving after learning of her mother's death, Hope had not stopped crying.
The young girl fought every moment of it, insisting it couldn't be true. Shaking her head and kicking her feet and clutching her wolf toy closer than ever – Hope just simply would not believe that her mother was dead.
It was absolutely heartbreaking.
Rebekah only hoped that meeting her father and uncle as well as other family in New Orleans would lessen Hope's pain. They were close to New Orleans now, only a few twists and turns away. Rebekah let go of Hope's foot and returned her focus to the road.
"Want Mumma" Hope whimpered, kicking the back of Rebekah's seat.
"Hope, please calm down. We'll be home soon and you can be with your daddy and your uncles Elijah and Marcel . . ."
"No!" Hope pouted, still crying. Rebekah sighed.
It was nearing dark and they passed a still car on the side of the highway. The moment they passed the car, Hope froze. Her tears ceased, her eyes widened, and the wolf toy dropped from her hands.
Rebekah glanced back, stunned. What was going on with her niece? "Hope, love, what is it?" The young girl mumbled something that Rebekah didn't catch.
Rebekah pulled the car over on the highway so she could check on the girl. She got out and opened the back door behind hers. Hope was still frozen. Rebekah raised her eyebrow, worried, and leaned in to unbuckle Hope from her booster seat. The moment she was free, Hope scrambled out of the car right under Rebekah.
"Hope what the bloody hell are you doing!?"
Rebekah crawled out of the car and down the hill after her niece. She couldn't use her vampire speed because Hope didn't know about the supernatural yet. The plan was for Rebekah and her siblings to tell Hope together when they were all reunited. They couldn't keep it from her, not with it all around her.
So, she ran at regular human speed. Hope was headed straight for the car they'd passed up the road. Rebekah's internal parental instincts were flaring. What if the person in the car hurt Hope?
"Hope, stop this bloody instant!" Rebekah yelled.
"No!" Hope shouted back, running as fast as her little legs would carry her.
OGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOG
Hayley drove back out of town to the highways on the outer edge of the bayou. She'd stay there until dark and then scope out the situation in the Quarter.
At first she was going to hide the car in the trees, but that would look even more suspicious so . . . she just pulled over to the side of the highway. If anyone stopped, she'd feign car trouble and say someone was already on the way to help her.
It was almost dark when she pulled out her phone. She thumbed through the photos on it – her with the Mikaelsons, her pregnant belly at different stages of growth, her with Davina, Josh, and Marcel as well as with Eve, Jackson, and others in their pack. Tears fell from her cheeks, thinking back to the brief moments she'd had holding her daughter.
She couldn't even remember what her newborn's face looked like anymore.
And then a car whizzed past her on the road and . . . it was like the world stopped. Hayley gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her chest. What the . . . Her hands shook, a strange feeling starting in her heart and traveling down to her stomach and settling there.
Moments later the car ahead pulled over at the top of the hill. Panic settled in Hayley's bones. Sure, she could take care of herself, but who knew who the owners of this car worked for.
What was she supposed to do?
Just as she was about to start the car and take off, she happened to glance up. Her eyes widened as she realized there was a small little girl running down the hill toward her.
Hayley scrambled out of the car – where were this little girl's parents?
The little girl was young, with shock blonde hair. She wore a purple sweater, a black fluffy skirt, white tights, and black shoes. Hayley would have used her enhanced speed to reach the girl right away, but she didn't want to scare her. Even running to her – as a stranger – might spook her. It didn't take long, however, for the girl to reach her. The little girl could run fast and she didn't even seem that tired.
Hayley knelt down and the little girl launched herself into Hayley's arms. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay, little one." Hayley wrapped her arms around the little girl. The girl buried her face in Hayley's neck. "No one's going to hurt you, I promise."
Hayley gently pried the girl from her neck and sat her on her knee. The girl was crying, but didn't appear to be scared. "Sweetie, where are your parents?" Hayley asked the girl but she didn't say anything. Hayley looked around – the girl had come out of the car ahead so . . . where was the person who had been driving?
"No . . . want you." The girl finally spoke.
Hayley looked around again – on the edge of her enhanced senses she could feel someone watching them.
"Okay . . . let's start small. What's your name, little one?" The hybrid asked.
"Hope." The girl answered, sniffling.
Hayley nodded. "That's a very pretty name, Hope."
"Daddy gave me name." Hope told her, wiping her eyes.
"It sounds like he loves you very much. Where's your daddy now?" Hayley tried.
"No know." Hope shrugged.
"Oh, okay . . ." Hayley let out a breath – this wasn't getting them anywhere. "Hope, who's with you? Where are they now?"
Hope looked around, then pointed to the cluster of trees in the distance behind Hayley. "There, she watchin'."
Hayley turned her head to look – indeed there was the shape of someone behind the trees. But wait, how could Hope's small little eyes see that – Hayley could barely see that. Hayley's senses tingled, the hair standing up at the nape of her neck. And yet, she didn't feel any fear from Hope at all.
The figure in the trees moved, a flash of blonde – and then it, or rather, she – was right behind Hope.
Hayley's eyes widened. "Rebekah?!" Hope saw Rebekah and smiled, still at ease.
"What the bloody hell, you're . . . you're supposed to be . . ." Rebekah stuttered.
"Yeah, well . . . I'm not. I kind of . . . well, changed I guess." Hayley referred to her hybrid status. Rebekah nodded her understanding. "This little one with you?"
Rebekah cleared her throat. "Yeah, actually – sort of. It's, um . . . she's . . ."
It was then that Hayley remembered Keara's vision –
Hayley tensed, looking down at the little girl she held on her knee. Blonde hair, greenish-blue eyes, olive-colored skin – and a tiny crescent-shaped birthmark barely visible on her collarbone . . .
"Hayley, are you okay?" Rebekah stepped forward.
Hope looked back and forth between the two older women. She finally settled on the one holding her. "You name Hayley?!" Hayley jerked her head, snapping from her thoughts. Hope turned to Rebekah, who was smiling and nodding. Joy spread on Hope's face as she sprung Hayley with another crushing hug. "Mommy!"
Hayley gasped again, tears of joy spilling from her eyes as she held the little girl she now knew was her daughter.
"We thought you were dead." Rebekah herself was crying. "Elijah and NiKlaus searched endlessly for you, for your body – they searched the whole bloody Quarter and beyond. We were sure the wi—" She cleared her throat, looking to Hope. Hayley looked up. "NiKlaus watched you die."
"I did." Hayley's voice cracked. "It's a, um . . . it's a long story." She held Hope tighter.
"Yes, that it is." Rebekah sighed. "They gave Hope to me to hide – we've been on the run for a long time."
"Francesca and Genevieve?" Hayley nodded.
"Among others." Rebekah confirmed. "We're actually on our way home now, back to New Orleans. My brothers called to say that it was safe for us to be reunited."
Hope was asleep now, cuddled up in Hayley's arms. Hayley picked her up, standing, and the three of them made their way to Rebekah's car.
"How did you guys know it was me in the car?" Hayley wondered.
"I didn't, Hope did." Rebekah shrugged. "Though I'm not entirely sure that she did, not completely. She is part witch, if only a bit. The last three years . . . it's hard to explain." The blonde let out a breath. "She doesn't know about the supernatural but . . . it's like she can sense things, or feel them at least. When we passed your car, I think she could feel you."
Hayley swallowed. "I felt something too. The night I had her and the witches took her, I could feel her when I woke up in the bayou ditch they dumped me in. I wondered the streets – I saw the memorial on the wall for the both of us. Somehow I found my way to the Compound, where I could hear Klaus telling Cami that the baby and I were dead . . ."
Rebekah stopped, her hand on Hayley's arm. "Why the bloody hell didn't you go inside?"
Hayley shook her head. "I honestly don't know. I've asked myself that question a million times in the last three years. Instead I ran . . ." She sighed. "I felt it, too, when your car passed mine. I could feel her."
"You two must have some kind of bond, some tie or link." Rebekah observed. "When I told her that her mother was dead, she wouldn't believe me. Somehow, she must have been able to feel that you were alive."
"I've felt her on and off over the years – I just always thought it was my grief, and my pain, heightened hybrid emotions – losing my sanity and all that." Hayley confessed.
"And now you're finally reunited." Rebekah smoothed the back of Hope's sweater.
"She's beautiful – more than I could ever have imagined." Hayley breathed in Hope's very scent, taking comfort in the beat of the little one's heart against her own.
"She gets that from you," Rebekah smiled. "Luckily for her." Hayley chuckled. "She has a temper though, sometimes. She knows what she wants, that's for sure. Other than that she's a good little girl. Very wise for her age, I think."
"I've missed so much . . ." Hayley looked away.
"You'll catch up." Rebekah assured her. "She's young enough that she won't remember the years you spent apart."
"Thank you." Hayley turned to look at Rebekah.
"Whatever for?" Rebekah raised an eyebrow.
"You took care of her, you were there for her when I couldn't be." Hayley said.
"Anything for family, you know that – both of you." Rebekah told her.
Hayley gently squeezed Hope closer to herself, a tear falling down her face. "Oh . . ." She sniffled. "I could hold her for a million years."
"Are you coming back with us?" Rebekah asked.
Hayley breathed, thinking of Keara's vision again. "Honestly – that was the plan. You said Klaus and Elijah told you it was safe?"
"Yes." Rebekah nodded. "They've defeated the witches and our parents, apparently."
Hayley paused. "Are you sure it was them on the phone?"
"Well of course it was. They're the only ones who had that number."
The hybrid hugged Hope closer. "Something's wrong."
"What the bloody hell do you mean?" Rebekah started to raise her voice but stopped herself as to not wake the little one in Hayley's arms.
"There's a seer that I know, we've become close in the last three years," Hayley started. She let out a breath. "It's a long story but the reason I came back was because she had a vision – of you and Hope on the run. She told me my daughter was alive and in danger."
"She was." Rebekah nodded. "My mother wanted to use the witches to kill her and take her power as well as kill the rest of us and she brought our father and brothers back to help her. NiKlaus and Elijah and Marcel took care of it, though. It's over."
Hayley shook her head. "Yeah, I don't think that it is. Don't you think that the phone call might have been a trap?"
"Well how do you know you can trust this seer?" Rebekah questioned.
Hope shifted in Hayley's arms – the two older women froze. "Look, I trust her with my life – something's still after Hope." Hayley whispered.
Rebekah sighed, shaking her head. "Even if your seer is right," Rebekah whispered. "What are we supposed to do now? We're this close to New Orleans, someone's bound to find us."
"We need somewhere to regroup – somewhere safe to bring Hope for now until we know what's going on with your brothers." Hayley said.
"Yeah, like where?" Rebekah looked around.
"Have you heard anything about my pack? About Jackson?" Hayley asked.
"NiKlaus and Elijah never mentioned them." Rebekah shrugged.
"We'll find Jackson – he's our only option. If I know him, he's probably hiding somewhere in the bayou." Hayley shifted Hope in her arms.
To Be Continued . . .