***Don't own****

As quickly as it happened, the images were gone and Elijah jolted awake. He shot up and felt around him. He was hyperaware of his surroundings, and it took only a few moments to realize that he was in bed, back at the compound. He couldn't discern what really happened. Did Esther really do that to him? Did Hayley really free him? He could feel his heart beat in his ears and the familiar pang of hunger, his fangs dropping and his face darkening.

Suddenly he could hear the clack of heels on hardwood, a wide, quick stride which indicated that it was Hayley. He heard her stop at his door, the knob twisting and the door opening as she walked in. Elijah stood quickly, standing by the window, looking out at New Orleans. Hayley came in carrying a tray, and set it down on the bed, walking swiftly to his side.

"I was worried." Hayley's voice washed over him like a relief, relaxing him. He could see her reflection in the window, her figure long and lean, her big beautiful eyes, soft full lips and smooth skin. There was a long pause, he didn't know what to say until he felt her fingers brush his, her fingers wrap and snake around his, joining their palms. His body relaxed a little.

"I feel fine...now." Elijah replied, turning to her, sporting a smirk. He reached his free hand up and wrapped his long fingers up her throat, behind her neck, leaning in to kiss her. He watched her lips part slightly, anticipating the tension between them. He pressed his lips to hers gently, reveling in the supple lips responding to his affection. Her hand squeezed his, as she pressed her body closer to his, her hand reaching up to his at her neck. Elijah gently released her, watching her eyes flutter.

"I guess so." Hayley smiled at him, her face lighting up and brightening the room further.

"So how did I get here?" Elijah asked her, brushing her long hair back off of her shoulder. She released his hand and stepped back from him, walking over to the tray on the bed and offering him the blood.

"I think you need to eat first…Elijah it has been so long." Hayley responded, her eyes pleading him to eat. He refused the blood, crossing his arms and taking his war stance. Her hand dropped slightly to her side, then she threw the blood bag back onto the tray, defeated. She took a seat on the bed, tucking her leg under her as she sat down. "I can see that won't happen" She looked down at her pants and tilted her head to the side, staring at the wood floor, trying to decide how to tell Elijah. "When I found you, I was so mad, I wanted to rip your mother to shreds. I wanted to force her to feel every ounce of pain I felt. Klaus got a hold of her first though, he distracted her, tried to reason with her, while I freed you." Her dark brown eyes met his, watching his face for a reaction. "He got some information out of her…why she wants you all to take new bodies…why she wanted Hope dead. Apparently your mother had trouble conceiving a child, and she made a deal with your aunt for the first born of every generation. When your mother made you vampires, she did it to protect you, your aunt couldn't collect…until…" Hayley stopped talking, and hoped he understood what she meant, she did not think she had it in her to finish the sentence. She felt a cold, wet tear slip down her cheek, but quickly wiped it away. "If she doesn't take Hope, your Aunt will reap you all." Hayley finished, the weight of her words heavy in the air.

Elijah considered her for a moment. His appearance seemed hardened and stiff.

"Then we fight." He replied, "What happened to my mother?" Elijah asked. Hayley laughed.

"That's the funny part, even in his hatred the all-powerful Niklaus could not kill her." Hayley shook her head, her thick brown locks moving back and forth.

Elijah walked over to the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the shower. Hayley watched him, wondering what his serenity and silence could mean. She stood up, defeated in her explanations to him and walked to the bathroom to find out what his plans were.

Elijah heard her shoes clack on the hardwood as she came to stand in the doorway of the bathroom. He stripped off his shirt, and moved to unbutton his pants, "Unless you plan on joining me, I suggest you leave" He replied softly. His tone suggested that he didn't want to be left alone, but he didn't want to embarrass or push Hayley.

He watched her in the mirror as she stood her ground for a moment then turned her back to him. He looked down at the tiles on the floor, until he heard a click. He looked up again to see Hayley had closed the door and turned back to him, stripping off her jacket as she approached him.