Moon Over Bourbon Street

Hayley stood against the wall and just watched. There were easily over two hundred people packed into the Mikaelson compound which, she had to admit, looked impeccable. Delicate light hung in drooping arches from the ceiling, a live band played a slow, rhythmic song that made her hum along, and large tables adorned with silk tablecloth were piled high with food and infinite amounts of booze. Hayley wondered if there was any virgin punch around, but she wasn't about to try it out.

"Would you care to dance?" a voice asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. Hayley turned to find Elijah standing next to her with his hand outstretched to her. She took a sharp breath upon taking in his immaculate appearance. He donned a pressed black suit worn over his white shirt as always. Tonight, however, he wore a plum colored tie that seemed to bring out a sparkle of his deep brown eyes.

Hayley let a slight smirk fleet across her lips before taking his hand. It was warm and solid in her own, and she didn't ever want to let go. He led her to the middle of the dance floor before placing a hand gently on her waist and allowing himself to start moving rhythmically to the music. Hayley couldn't help but feel nervous with him so close to her and his hands on her body.

Despite herself, she had missed him incredibly. While she was living here, she had always felt safe with Elijah, not that she didn't in the bayou. It was just a different type of safe with him. It was almost like letting out a sigh of relief every time she saw him, and she had missed that feeling. She had missed being so close to him, despite the fact that he had some insane notion that she wasn't able to keep herself safe.

It was annoying really, this idea that she needed his protection all of the time. She was still annoyed with him to say the least, but at the moment, she couldn't be mad at him. Not with him so close to her again. She looked up to find his gaze on her and she blushed.

"You outdid yourself. You even got Klaus to come out and play," Hayley teased. Elijah smirked as he maneuvered them in a slow circle on the floor.

"Yes, it seems that only a sizeable soirée is enough to tear my brother away from his efforts at the easel," Elijah said dryly. Painting? That wasn't what Hayley was hoping to hear.

"That's never a good sign. Klaus once told me that his painting was a metaphor for control, for achieving his vision through sheer force of will," Hayley said slightly worried.

"Well, truthfully, I'd be shocked if he didn't have at least a dozen or so of those visions swarming around in that insidious skull of his."

Elijah paused for a moment and looked at her before she saw a slight curvature of his lips.

"I do hope your daughter inherits her mother's..." Elijah began, but paused. Hayley looked at him incredulously as his eyes flicked up and down her body.

"Well, everything."

Elijah spun her away from him and Hayley thought her heart might burst. Damn that man. He was too good at making her feel like a teenager with a high school crush. She smiled widely as he pulled her back close to his body. She could feel the heat his body was giving off and gripped his hand a little tighter.

"It is weird, being back here," Hayley thought aloud.

"Not unpleasant, I hope?" Elijah asked obviously trying to hide his hopefulness.

"Not entirely," Hayley replied trying to hide the smile that threatened to make an appearance on her face.

"Are you entirely sure you shouldn't be here with us?" Elijah asked carefully. Hayley's smile dropped. Here we go again.

"Why, Elijah? Because you don't think it's safe in big, bad Wolf Country? I'm not gonna sit in a rocking chair and knit booties, or haven't you figured that out yet?" she asked bitterly. They had been over this. She was fine in the bayou. In fact, she was better than fine. She was with family for once in her damn life and she wasn't going to let Elijah or Klaus take that away from her. Just as Elijah was about to speak, Jackson walked up.

"Can I have a minute, Hayley?" he asked.

"You can have it later," Elijah replied bitterly.

"Actually, he can have this dance," Hayley said pointedly to Elijah. She grabbed Jackson's hand and immediately pulled him away from Elijah's presence. How someone was able to be so wonderful one second and turn around to be infuriating the next was beyond her. She watched Elijah walk away from the dance floor before she began to dance with Jackson.

"Everything all right?" she heard Jackson ask her.

"Yeah, fine. We were just discussing the future of the city," she replied, trying to avoid what their conversation had been about. Jackson scoffed at that and she looked up curiously at him.

"How can you be thinking about the city right now? I should have told you how beautiful you look tonight," he said.

As much as she hated to admit it, those words didn't have nearly the effect on her than those of Elijah. Despite his stubbornness, his inability is trust her, and his insufferable need to be in control all the time, she couldn't help but notice that being in the arms of Jackson felt so wrong.

She blushed nonetheless and thanked him, but excused herself from the dance floor when the all-too familiar call of nature washed over her. Damn pregnancy.

Hayley led herself up the stairs to her old room and found the bathroom quickly. When she exited, she stopped to take a look around. The room was the same, but somehow different since her departure. It was too clean for her liking. The bed was made, the pillows were perfectly piled, and the shades were drawn. She walked over and ran a hand along the familiar comforter and sighed. She missed this place, she really did, but she knew she couldn't stay here. Not anymore.

Hayley walked out of her old room and shut the door. As she turned towards the stairs, she found Elijah at the top of the steps. He looked at her quizzically, silently asking why she was up here.

"Bathroom," Hayley said as she gestured to the door. Elijah nodded in approval, but said nothing else. Not wanting to stay for an awkward conversation, Hayley walked by him and began to descend the stairs, but felt a hand tug on her own as she was stepping down.

"Hayley," Elijah said as he turned his head towards her. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you or your wolves earlier. I just…" he trailed off.

"Just what, Elijah?" Hayley asked as she turned on her heel and pulled her hand away from his. "You just couldn't stand not being in control of everything?"

"I just need to know you're safe. You and this child are this family's priority." The baby. Of course it's about the baby.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. You've all made it perfectly clear that my child is the sole reason you need me around. But don't worry, I've got it covered," Hayley said sharply before turning to walk down the stairs. Elijah was in front of her with arms spread and hands gripping both railings before she could even take a step.

"You have been my only priority ever since I met you in the graveyard that night. The child may be inside of you, but you are what I'm afraid of losing."

Elijah looked deeply into her eyes with a wounded expression etched all over his face. Hayley placed a hand on the rail for support as his words hit her, and they both turned to look as her fingers accidentally brushed his. It was electrical; every touch, every look, every spoken word… she could no longer fight what she felt. And how could she turn away from a vulnerable Elijah? She had never seen him show this much emotion towards her and she didn't know how to handle it.

As they looked back at each other, she could see how exposed he was. His dark eyes were wide with concern, maybe even fear, and she could tell his heart was beating faster than usual due to the quick breaths he was taking. However, as she gazed at this man who had just put his feelings on the line, her eyes drifted to the crowd and she saw Jackson staring up at them with a guarded expression on his face.

"Elijah…" Hayley began. He looked up at her hopefully, but as her eyes flickered back to Jackson, she knew what she had to do.

"I have to go. I'm sorry."

Elijah stared at her for a moment before dropping his head and one of the arms blocking her way. Hayley rushed by him, not looking back, fearful of what she might see.

"Hayley?"

She turned once more, but found him with his back to her.

"You really do look beautiful tonight."

And with that, he was gone, taking her heart along with him.