A/N: this one shot is set somewhere in season 3.
Music: death by white lies.
Elijah watched the red dancing flame, as he kindled the candle in front of him. His mind was absent. He had finally released Hayley from her curse yesterday, at the same time deciding to move back to his apartment in Algiers. In the past month he had found no single shred of forgiveness in his heart for Klaus. He hadn't wanted to leave Hope there, to leave Hayley on her own while finally facing Klaus again. He hadn't wanted to, but he had no choice. He needed to be selfish for once.
Elijah looked up when he heard loud knocking on his front door. He arched a brow. Who could possible need him at this time of night. He opened the door, to be met by the face of Hayley. She was carrying a bag, and wore a confident expression.
Speak of the devil, and she will come.
Without control a smile raised on his face. He was amused by her clear confidence. She looks different, he mused, more alive, more beautiful.
"You know, it's not polite to stare." She said with her usual fervour and rolled her eyes.
He chuckled and stepped aside. "Come in?"
Hayley walked inside, looking around while dumping her bag on the floor. He watched her keenly, but her expression was unreadable.
He closed the door silently. "So what brought you here, Hayley?"
Her lips rose in a smile. "I wanted to ask if I can spend the night here?"
He frowned confused. "You know you're always welcome, I need to warn you however, I only have one bed."
"Oh, that's not a problem, Elijah. Wouldn't be the first time we shared a bed."
He licked his lips. "Yes, but I assumed now that you're a married woman, you wouldn't be too apt to share a bed with me."
Hayley sighed. "Yeah, married. I'm gonna tell you something about that but not just yet."
She pulled a blanket from the couch and tossed it in Elijah's arms. "So what do we have here," Hayley murmured as she pulled his fridge open.
What is she playing at?
"Beer, Elijah ? Didn't know that was your kind of brand." She took out two beer and flashed out of the room.
He frowned confused, before he swiftly followed her. He ended up on the roof, and watched her as she stood on the edge. "This is wonderful, Elijah."
He laid down the blanket, next to where she had put the beer bottles, and stood next to her. They looked out over the skyline of New Orleans in the dark night.
He glanced over her, watching her beautiful features, as she was astonished by the view.
Hayley felt him watching her, his warm breath touching her skin. It send a shiver through her body. "I missed you." She blurted out as she looked at him. "That's why I'm here." She added. "You left so early after the curse was broken."
He bit his lip, "I just assumed that you wanted to be with Hope, and your husband." The word still felt so unreal to him. Husband.
"There is something I need to tell you about Jackson." Hayley looked back at the lightened city and fiddled with her hands. "Jackson and I decided to end things."
Elijah's heart rate tripped lightly. He clenched his teeth. She could hear that. He could see a small smile play on her lips. Elijah opened his mouth, finally able to form words. "Why?"
She bit her lip. "I didn't want anymore of my people to get hurt because of me," She looked at him. "And I didn't want Jackson to be stuck with someone who could never return the love he felt. Because her heart was already taken by another man." Silence followed her words.
His fingers brushed against her own, slowly turning palms against each other. They both watched their hands as they touched. His hand slid up her arm as they turned towards each other. Her hand brushed over his solid chest, she focused on the dent in his chin, enchanted by his beauty. He rested his forehead against hers. Noses pressing against each other. Her hand slit up his cheek before he whispered. "I love you, Hayley Marshall. I have since the day I first laid eyes on you." She smiled, blinking rapidly to get her emotions under control.
Elijah smiled as their lips met. His hand tangled in her soft brown locks. They kissed, long and thoroughly. For the first time completely giving in to each other.
He breathed ragged as she pulled away. He wore a smile she had never seen before. Total and utter happiness. Her fingers tangled behind his ears. "Took you long enough." He chuckled before taking her hand, pulling her onto the blanket with him. She popped open the bottles of beers and handed him one.
"What are we toasting on?" Elijah asked looking over to her. She bit the insides of her cheeks thoughtfully. "On hope. On love. On family."
She held her bottle out and he clinked the neck of his bottle against hers before they both took a swig. He put his bottle down, turning to lay on his side and pushed her down on the blanket. Their noses touched, "and let's make this an unforgettable night." He murmured, pressing his lips to hers.