Elijah's head shot up, and he looked at Hayley with widened eyes. A loud and shocked gasp from the wedding guests followed.

"This just got very interesting." Klaus smirked, rubbing his hands together.

Jackson looked at her in shock, his mouth was hanging open. "What is this?", he exclaimed astonished. "Hayley!? You can't be serious right now",

"I'm so sorry Jackson," tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks. She turned around and walked out the church without saying another word.

Jackson took a moment to piece everything together before he looked at Elijah. "You did this", he pointed his finger at him. He started walking into his direction, his hand balling into a fist but Elijah was gone before he was even close.

"I'm gonna kill him," Jackson gritted his teeth starting to walk to the entry of the church. However he walked into a wall of granite as it seemed.

"Don't think so, mate", Klaus said pushing him backwards.

"Although Elijah is perfectly capable of dealing with...you", the word spoken with slight disgust "you will leave him alone. You'll leave both of them alone. Hayley made a choice and you can return to your piteous cabin in the Bayou so we don't have to see your miserable face here for a little while. Understood", Klaus spoke smiling.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

On the other side of the French quarter, Elijah arrived at the compound. He heard her sobs. He sighed walking to the room were he heard her.

He had no chance to open the door as Hayley jerked it open before him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Elijah was first inclined to return the hug, however a mere moment later he wrapped his arms around her torso. His face nuzzling into the nape of her neck. He felt her shoulders jolt against him.

"Elijah.." she whispered "I couldn't do it, I'm sorry.", the words were hoarse. Her throat was numb.

Elijah felt her desperate grip around his collar tighten. He closed his eyes, the side of his face pressing in her hair. "Hayley..", his voice barely a whisper.

He pushed her off him. She looked at him confused, hurt hiding in her eyes.

"I'd be lying if I said I'm not relieved at this precise moment." He looked down "My only wish is to tell you everyday what a beautiful woman you are. To caress you like you should be caressed. Kiss you from top to toe. Hold you in my arms as you fall asleep in my bed. Realise day and day again that you're so much smarter than me. So much better. However these are selfish wishes that I will not allow myself to fulfil."

Hayley took a step backwards, shaking her head "Elijah what are you..", she faltered, however interrupted.

"You will hate me for this. I could never forgive myself if I was the reason you're apart from your daughter ",

She slapped him. Inevitably reminding them both of the same moment.

His hand reached to his face, alike the first time she'd hit him. Tentatively slipping his fingers over the beaten flesh.

"I lost my daughter," she said flatly. She saw his eyes go cold and she shivered, her firmness however, remained. "I will do anything possible to bring her back home. But this thing with Jackson was never gonna work. Bring her home to what? Those wolves would only be loyal because I gave them power. As soon as a better offer presents itself they will take it."

Elijah turned around, walking out of the room.

She followed him however, ending up in his room. "You damn priggish Original." She shouted.

He stopped in the middle of the room. Keeping his back directed to her. She saw his tense shoulders. His hands balled into fists.

"I would never have been able to stay away from you, Elijah. A month without you nearly kills me. Let alone an entire lifetime. We will find another way to get my wolves under control. So Hope can return home, in a loving home instead of a family that's glued together with lies." Her voice was softer now, calm.

However she saw Elijah's jaw clench and she sighed. He heard her stepping closer. His body impossibly tensed even more as he felt her hands sliding over his shoulder. "Elijah look at me," her hand came to rest on his jaw, turning him towards her.

He closed his eyes, her touch having even a bigger influence on him than she realised.

He bowed his head "you will hate me," he spoke, his voice dry and hoarse. He opened his eyes finally. Inevitably opening himself up to her, showing her the unshed tears that lingered in the corners.

She laughed sadly, shaking her head. She pressed her forehead against his own, both her hands on the sides of his face. "Noble Elijah," she said "You know for a man who has lived a thousand year on this earth, you're pretty stupid",

This earned the lightest smile from him. She pressed her lips softly against his. He didn't pull away, to her own relief. He worked his lips against her own. The kiss was soft and sweet. However just enough to fulfil both their desperate needs, for now.

She pulled away and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Now ignorant original, would you mind releasing me from this horrible dress." She asked mocking.

"Not at all,"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They'd settled themselves on the couch together, as darkness was already starting to fill the air of New Orleans.

"Hmm, wine," she murmured as Elijah handed her the glass and he sat down again. She cuddled up again his chest. "I asked for booze, Elijah", she whined smirking.

"Well, I shouldn't've expected differently. After all my boyfriend is a spoiled, expensive Original. With your fancy suits."

He chuckled. "You like my suits," he added raising his brow.

"Hmm that I do.", she murmured laying her head against his chest.

"Elijah you are for a fact my first boyfriend"

"And you are for a fact the first one to have called me boyfriend. So I suppose this is a first for both of us." Elijah laughed.

She raised her head and caught his lips with her own. She cupped the back of his neck with her hand, teasing the hairs that grew there. Her fingers wrapped around his tie, pulling slightly at the fabric. His own hand brushed over her thigh, meeting bare flesh as his hand reached under her shirt. He murmured in protest as he felt her pull away.

"I was close to spilling my wine," she laughed as she took a sip. But the smile on the corners of her lip quickly faded as she swallowed. "Bleeegh, what is this, Elijah. Are you trying to poising me with this bleach ?"

"You're dramatising, dear," Elijah laughed, joy filling his eyes.

"No I'm not", Hayley spoke mockingly hurt. "Here taste this", she brought the glass to his lips and lifted it. She looked at him with anticipation as he swallowed.

"And..?" She asked grinning.

"In one word: delicious", he said smirking teasingly at her.

"Ohh, no you're lying." She shoved him playfully on his arm.

"I didn't clean all that mess you two created, to find you two getting drunk on my couch.", Klaus said smirking as he came walking in the room, followed by Cami.

"Niklaus..," Elijah said rising to his feet, but Cami gestured him to sit down again. And Hayley pulled him back.

Cami sighed dramatically throwing her jacket in a chair, lumping down on the sofa opposite to theirs. "Hayley your wolves are absolutely exhausting. Next time you do something like that you can clean up your own mess."

"Oh stop huffing, love. I did all the work. All you did was watch." Klaus said as he pulled out a bottle of bourbon from a closet and put down 4 glasses on the table.

"Look, Elijah." Hayley said pulling at his sleeve. "At least your brother knows what booze is",

"What did you give her, brother?" Klaus asked grinning, he sat down next to Camille, wrapping her arm around her shoulder.

" Romanée Conti 1945, exquisite honestly," Elijah answered.

Cami gasped, "that wine cost like what? 100.000 dollars a bottle,"

"It wasn't that expensive when we were in France," Elijah grinned. "Here why don't you take it, since you do appreciate the arts of good wine ." He handed the glass to her.

"Absolutely!" Cami shot up from the couch grasping it from his hand. She took a sip and and sat down. Her eyes widening. Klaus smirked at Elijah "jealous brother?", he winked his eyebrow.

Elijah laughed and pressed his forehead against Hayley's.