The Bloody Crown

She was warm. The soft sheets wrapped around her naked body like a cocoon. Heat radiated from the body that lay beside her, and she was vaguely aware of the skin on skin contact from their lower limbs. Hayley was turned away from Elijah, but could feel his intense gaze on her. His fingers played with the hair at the base of her head and skimmed the exposed skin on her back. Her skin rippled with shivers as his fingers grazed over her and she turned towards him. She sighed and propped her head up on her hand.

"Were you watching me sleep?" she asked. His mischievous eyes flickered to hers for a brief moment, but then looked down at his bare chest.

"Hmm... possibly," he murmured. His gaze returned to her and he let his famous ghost of a smile grace his face. "A little."

Elijah reached for her free hand and brought it to his lips before placing it on his own neck. His eyes flickered down to hers lips and followed the path from her neck to chest before finally resting on the sheets. Hayley could tell that, even in the intimate moment they were sharing right now, his mind was on the events of yesterday. No matter what, she could not take away the guilt he felt or at least distract him. She had tried last night and succeeded in lulling him to sleep after spending the night wrapped in each other's arms, but Hayley had awoke in the middle of the night alone in bed.

She shivered at the lack of contact with Elijah and turned over to nuzzle into him, but as she reached across the mattress, she felt nothing but empty space. Her eyes cracked open only to see his silhouette against the window. Elijah stood with his bare back to her as he gazed into the night sky. His head bent down as his arms gripped the railing of the balcony fiercely. The metal creaked against his hands, but his grip did not loosen. Quietly, Hayley slipped out of bed and walked to him. His head lifted as she approached, but did not turn. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her cheek against his bare back.

"Forgive me. I did not mean to wake you," Elijah said. He reached down and touched her hand before threading his fingers through hers. His thumb stroked the top of her hand making Hayley hum in content.

"It's been a long day, Elijah. Come back to bed," she murmured. Hayley pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder and tightened her grip around him.

"In a moment," he said. His hand dropped from her and returned to the imprint he left on the railing. Hayley sighed and released her arms from around him. She moved to his side and reached up to take his face in both of her hands. He looked away from her as she tried with all her might to catch his gaze.

"Look at me," Hayley said. Elijah's eyes flickered to hers, and her heart broke. They were swimming with tears and were dark with a mixture of guilt and regret. Her thumb stroked his cheek and she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. She opened her eyes and wiped away the tear that had fallen down his cheek. His eyes remained shut, so she pressed her forehead against his.

"You have to let me in, Elijah. Please don't push me away." Elijah's eyes opened and searched hers, looking for any form of a lie, but found none. All he saw was love and the pain that he was causing the woman he loved. Slowly he shut his eyes again, but kissed her forehead.

"Okay."

Now she saw that same look in his eyes that was there last night.

"Despite everything that we've done… all those we've lost… we're still here," Hayley said. She cupped his cheek and let her thumb run back and forth against his cheek as his hand stroked her arm similarly.

"You're not alone."

Hayley leaned down and kissed him. His hand snaked around her neck and pulled her closer, making her sigh in relief that he wasn't going to fight her on this. She pulled away for a brief moment, but saw how fragile his gaze was and kissed him again. She clung to him like he was going to disappear at any moment. His arms wrapped around her in a steely grip though, reassuring her of his presence. He broke away from their kiss and pressed his head against hers. His eyes were closed in deep concentration, but opened and looked at Hayley.

"Thank you."

Hayley stood at the doorway and silently watched Elijah shudder in pain. He was sweating profusely and could not keep still. The infection on his arm was growing worse by the minute and there was nothing she could do. There wasn't a damn thing to do except wait. Wait to see if Klaus could come back alive and if Rebekah could manage to keep her curse at bay.

Even if Freya's planned worked, she would lose him. She would lose all of them. Elijah, Freya, Kol, Rebekah… Klaus. Their lives would rest in Hayley's hands and though she was ready to take on that task, she was scared as hell. She would be a single mother with no family and no home. Again. However, as frightened as she was, she would go through hell and back to find a way to be with them again.

Hayley shifted her weight to her other foot and Elijah looked up. Seeing her, he began to control his breathing slightly. Her presence had always had a calming effect on him. He dug his fingers into the headboard of the bed to try and relieve some pain, but it didn't do much. Hayley did the same with the door frame. There was nothing that could help either of them, and nothing that was going to make the conversation that they were about to have any easier.

"I saw you," Elijah said. "I had a dream you were… I was holding you."

He shuddered violently and coughed. Hayley's eyes began to water upon seeing him in this way. Elijah was not one to show his emotions, especially if he was in pain. But here, here was the noble stag completely breaking down. His skin was pale, eyes red-rimmed, and the normally slicked-back brown hair was a complete mess.

"You seemed happy."

"It wasn't a dream," Hayley said. She moved from her spot at the door and kneeled next to him on the bed. Her hands covered his clammy ones and she looked deeply into his eyes.

"And I was happy." Elijah let out a raspy breath at her comment, but could not contain his emotions any longer.

"If Niklaus doesn't make it-" he began.

"No-"

"-Listen to me. Now, you have grieved enough. You promise me if not for yourself, then for Hope you," Elijah said, his voice deep with emotion as he put his hand on her neck, "will get as far away from this place as you can."

Hayley grasped his hand that held her cheek tightly and inwardly broke down. He was giving up. Damn that man and damn how noble he had to be all the time.

"I want you to be happy."

Elijah kissed her cheek before dropping his head to her shoulder and pulling her into his arms. Hayley held him tightly, trying to calm his shivering, and let a tear roll down her face. She couldn't lose him again. She had pushed him away twice before, and as soon as she let herself fall in love, here it was being taken from her.

"I am happy," she whispered, "I'm happy with you. I can't… lose you. Not again." Hayley choked on her last few words and felt Elijah shudder beneath her arms. She couldn't tell if he was crying or in pain or both, but his grip on her tightened regardless. His lips grazed her neck as his fingers shakily brushed over her hair.

"You will never lose me. I will always be with you."

Hayley sat in front of the casket gazing at the sleeping body of the man she loved. Tears rolled down her cheeks for him, but for the others as well. Her home and her family had been taken away from her in the blink of an eye while an incredibly difficult task rested on her shoulders. Three cures for three problems all while driving around with a truck full of a sleeping ancient family and a baby in the backseat.

She looked at Elijah's face once more and realized that this would be the last time she would see him for- well, she didn't know how long. She already craved his touch. She missed the ridiculously proper way he spoke all the time and his intoxicating scent that was like nothing else. But it drove her even more to get in the truck and get moving.

Another tear fell as she pressed two fingers to her lips and placed them on his. She closed her eyes, saying a mental goodbye, and shut the casket. She hopped down off the back of the truck and pulled down the back door before securely locking it. After securing Hope next to her, Hayley put the keys in the truck and started to drive.