Chapter 5: Three Words & Eight Letters

It was past midnight now but Elijah could not sleep; Klaus's words constantly echoed through his mind. He paced the landing upstairs, the glass of liquor in his hands still. What was he to do?

The dilemma irritated him so very much. Before, his choice would have been simple. He'd always place his brother's happiness above his own; it's how he chose to work. He wished to keep peace. Though now he'd promised Rebekah and it was far too late. He'd started to hope too much, he couldn't back out now.

Elijah thought about Klaus with Hayley; could his brother care for her as much as he, himself could. Would she be happy at the side of the despised King? The answer was no several times. Klaus could maybe grow to like the girl, appreciate her even, but not love her. He knew his brother well enough to notice the absence of love in his eyes, towards Hayley.

Elijah sighed. Despite the circumstances, Klaus wasn't going to let this go.

The conversation today had been yet a mere warning. He knew no knowledge of his visits to Hayley.

Elijah continued to think.

In the end in all came down to the child, the child he'd hoped would evoke some self growth and decency in his little brother. However it seemed Klaus still saw the child as a tool. After all he was now using it to torment him. The pure reason for this sudden spring of affection and concern was him.

Elijah sustained pacing when his thoughts were disturbed by a voice.

He tuned in, calculating the direction from which it was coming from.

Hayley's room, his eyes widened with alarm and he found himself there in a second. He now stood at the door. Listening...

"Elijah!" her voice breathed worriedly inside.

Elijah's pulse increased. He didn't know whether to be happy or worried about this revelation. Nevertheless in the moment he felt elation. She was thinking of him, even in sleep.

Abruptly the voice inside grew. The breathing increased. Elijah opened the door and stepped inside, concerned. His eyes immediately fell on her. Her temperature seemed raised, her expression afraid.

She was having a nightmare.

In under a second Elijah was by her side, he lifted her slightly, propping her up with his arm. She curled against his side, hiding and then her eyes blazed open.

"Elijah." she spoke, awake this time, recognising his scent. She looked up at him and he moved the locks obscuring her eyes.

"Shh" he soothed her.

"It's alright. You were having a nightmare." He told her as she calmed down.

She discovered how close she had moved to him and the previous doubts caused her to move away. Elijah grasped her noticing her recoil. He looked down at her with the same confused expression he had given her the last time she had acted this way.

"Hayley, what is it?" he questioned her again, softly though still with worry.

"Nothing." Hayley answered without directly looking at him.

"Talk to me." he told her, lightly holding hand.

Hayley turned to object but then decided to speak.

"Is it because of the baby?" she he asked vaguely.

Elijah looked at her confused.

"All this, you, me, us. Is it just because of the baby?" She elaborated.

Elijah's mind clicked.

"You think I'm using you?" he asked her shocked and saddened but also now understanding the odd behaviour.

Hayley shook her head as if to say "Not like that." But then realised how she must have sounded.

"You said..." she began as Elijah's mind raced to find reasons for her doubt.

"The child and not you." he finished her sentence, recalling his words and finally understanding her strange behaviour.

Hayley stopped speaking. She looked directly at him and grasping how wrong she had been. She was just being paranoid, maybe it was some sort of side effect.

"It was not my intent to..." Elijah started to explain, but Hayley didn't need an explanation anymore.

She kissed him impulsively and his hands cradled her head wholly distracted. He kissed her back, proving her qualms to be most definitely wrong. Elijah noticed how her touch seemed to absorb his pain and worry.

She then laid her head against his chest as he held her hand more confidently now, tracing her fingers tenderly.

He stared ahead in contemplation and there was a peaceful silence.

"I.." Elijah faltered after a while breaking the quiet. He wanted to wash her worries away.

Hayley sensed what he was about to say, she perceived his voice waver, knowing how difficult the words were for him to speak. He was about to utter the words that would eradicate all her doubt. And just knowing this did exactly that. She struggled to retain her heart's speed.

Hayley hid deeper afraid herself to speak the words about to escape her lips.

Yet she still let them free...

"I think I kind of love you." Hayley confessed from where she hid, as slowly and steadily as she could.

Elijah's heart almost skipped a beat and he stiffened knowing she could hear it. His mind down-poured with bliss and relief as he closed his eyes to intensify the emotions he hardly ever had the opportunity to feel.

She had known how hard it would be for him to admit the truth and so had taken on the trouble herself. He smiled with painful joy.

Hayley waited nervously for a reply. She wasn't used to all this at all. She was the free-willed and sarcastic werewolf for god's sake.

"Kind of?" Elijah replied raising his eyebrows and she couldn't help but laugh off the tension. Elijah kissed her to keep her quiet and she hummed against his lips.

"Yes kind of." she whispered playfully, her duvet ruffling.

Elijah gazed at her infatuated as she wondered what on earth he was looking at.

"I think I, kind of..." he imitated her mockingly but then his face grew serious and so did Hayley's knowing what he was about to say.

She moved from her spot towards him and pulled him into an embrace before he could speak.

"Elijah, you don't have to say anything." She whispered into his ear and he closed his eyes on hearing her say this.

Elijah shook his head moving back to look at her. She had to know.

He reached for her hand and held it giving it a light squeeze.

"Close your eyes." He spoke and she cast him a confused look but obliged.

Suddenly Hayley's mind clouded and the darkness grew darker as she waited for whatever was to come.

Soon however her patience was rewarded.

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard eight beautifully spoken letters arranged into three wonderful words.

He'd used his mind to tell her.

Elijah watched her carefully rewarded by an extremely bright smile as her eyes flashed open

"I know." Hayley whispered and he found himself smiling too.

She pulled him into another much needed embrace.

"Promise you won't leave me." She suddenly found herself saying out loud while he held her close.

She then grew slightly worried at the vulnerable confession.

"I promise I won't leave you." Elijah pledged and Hayley was no longer scared.

"Neither of you." he added and that made her smile even more.

"You see someone once told me to not make promises I can't keep." He then spoke and Hayley laughed.

"That's really good advice you know." Hayley replied sarcastically.

"I know." Elijah replied softly finding himself falling into a thought.

"Has Klaus said something?" Hayley then asked, after reading his look.

Elijah looked back at her, surprised at her skills of deduction.

"Yes." He told her truthfully.

"But I'm afraid there is not enough time to discuss."

Hayley wished to know what had happened but knew he had already stayed too long. It would have to wait.

Once again it was time for him to leave.

He kissed her on the forehead as an instruction to sleep and disappeared through the balcony.

Hayley closed her eyes finding herself missing him already.

Klaus had once said, "You hardly know him and yet you miss him."

She found she knew him in ways no one else had attempted to deem.