Reigning Pain in New Orleans

Hayley gazed down on Bourbon Street as she drummed her fingers on the metal railing of her balcony. Watching the people down below distracted her from the thoughts of the wolves in the bayou. She was anxious and scared for them. She was also pissed off, which wasn't exactly a good thing for a pregnant werewolf. She was ready to rip Klaus's throat out for call to kill all werewolves. He was part wolf. Didn't that mean anything in his twisted mind?

She watched a couple walk hand-in-hand down the street and smiled. The girl was laughing at something the boy had said and he looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. It warmed Hayley's heart to see such love and hope in the midst of her complicated and dangerous life. But it also made her sad. She never had time for boyfriends growing up. The boys she was with she wouldn't exactly refer to as "relationships". There were several more Klaus Mikaelsons in her past that she wasn't too proud of.

Truth be told, when she looked at the couple, she thought of Elijah. Ever since she first met him, she knew he was nothing like his brother. He was noble, kind, and gentle. He was probably the most selfless person she had ever met and she adored that about him. She loved his hidden smile he always suppressed, his dry sense of humor, the immaculate way he always dressed and presented himself. He was nothing like any man she had previously found interesting, which was probably why she had such strong feelings for him.

A whoosh of air broke her from her thoughts and she looked up only to see the very man who had just been plaguing her thoughts. Elijah. He stood in front of her with a stern expression and a hand in his left pocket. Hayley's heart began to beat quickly wondering if he came with good or bad news.

"Are they-"

"They're safe," Elijah said. "All of them."

Hayley let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in and looked down in relief. When she lifted her head and saw those brown eyes gazing at her, she immediately opened her arms and walked to him. She hugged him tightly and leaned her head on his shoulder. Hayley felt his strong hand on the back of her head and instantly felt at home. She clutched the back of his neck and sighed.

"Thank you," she said, before pulling away. "What you did, Elijah, it means a lot."

His eyes studied hers and he opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but he quickly shut it. Elijah looked at her shoulder and reached for her cardigan.

"You should keep this covered up," he said as he pulled her shirt up to cover her crescent moon birthmark.

"I will," Hayley said. She kept her eyes steady on his, but he refused to look up from her shoulder.

"If any of the others saw this..." he muttered.

"I promise," Hayley pleaded. Finally, he turned his eyes towards her and she found herself looking from his eyes to his lips. They were slightly parted and she swore she could almost smell a hint of mint on his breath. The tension between the two was building by the second and she wanted nothing more than to lean in closer to him. So she did. However, as soon as her lips got close to his he turned his head.

"I should go," he whispered.

"Right," Hayley replied. She turned away quickly and sucked in a breath. As she heard his footsteps exit the room, she sighed.

"But I really wish you would stay," she muttered to herself. She felt embarrassed for trying to initiate something that he didn't even want. Hayley looked up at the night sky and blew out a breath. Well, hopefully things around Elijah wouldn't be too awkward tomorrow.

When Hayley turned to go inside, she immediately stopped. Elijah was standing in the doorway to her bedroom with a look in his eyes she had never seen before.

"Elijah…" she breathed, but she didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. In an instant, she was pressed up against the railing with Elijah's mouth connected to hers. Hayley was so taken aback that for a moment she couldn't move. But she came to her senses when he cupped her cheek and she relaxed into the kiss. It was simple and warm, and everything about it seemed so right. He tasted familiar, like something she had lost long ago and finally found. When they finally broke away, he looked deeply into her eyes a tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"You should have said so earlier," Elijah murmured. Hayley's eyebrows pinned together and she felt utterly confused.

"What are you talking about?" Hayley asked. Elijah slowly smiled and made a humming sound of contentment.

"You said you wish I had stayed," he said. When Hayley blushed, he suppressed his growing smile. "Supernatural hearing, remember?"

"Oh," Hayley muttered. She looked at her feet in embarrassment, but he lifted her chin with his finger. Those dark eyes hypnotized her and put her into a trance she was sure she never wanted to be free of. She smiled at him and felt the heat rising in her cheeks once again.

"Well, I'm just glad that you did."

"So am I."