Chapter 10: Practically Married

Hayley sat back enjoying the drive, it wasn't often that she got to escape her guarded home. She pressed her head against the leather seat and closed her eyes in fulfilment. The sun streamed down on her covering her in a beautiful warm ambience. Honey tones of topaz and cherry danced behind her eyes lids as the rays waltzed over. It felt so lovely to let the breeze brush though her hair and not worry about a thing. She was always safe by his side.

Elijah glanced over to her several times finding it terribly difficult to keep his eyes on the road with the sight of such beauty beside him. He almost felt anxious having her all to himself. It felt like someone would split them with some sort of situation any second. He wasn't used to the joy she gave him but he was falling in love with every moment, over and over again. He told himself to stop worrying and glancing at her yet again, he did just that.

Hayley breathed deeply. The hum of the vehicle felt so therapeutic and she found herself falling into a tender doze a smile singing on her lips. Hayley's breathing then regulated and her limbs relaxed as she found a peace so sweet. Eventually she drifted deeper and her face tilted causing her fringe to cascade over her eyes.

Elijah's lips curved into a smile as he saw her pretty head stir. He reached over carefully with his freehand and swept the strands out of the way."That's better." He thought and then stroked her cheek affectionately. He nearly sulked at having to withdraw his hand and return it to the steering wheel.

He pressed the accelerator and they zoomed forth.

After a while, Hayley murmured. They were nearly there now and his speed decreased as he searched for a parking spot in which he parked with sheer perfection. He noticed her rouse immediately but remained silent. She was mumbling. Elijah remembered the night of her nightmare. How his name had escaped her mouth. He then wondered what had shook her so terribly, he knew there was more to it but was soon distracted by the words she spoke.

"Elijah." She whispered his name with the elegance of a gentle breeze and his heart skipped as it always did knowing he was on her mind even when she was asleep.

"I'm here." He whispered back, turning to her so that when she opened her eyes it was his face that greeted her wholly.

"What?" she asked, just about missing what he had said. Elijah realised she had no knowledge of her sleep talking and smiled at his special knowledge about her.

"I don't think I have ever laid eyes on a site so peaceful as of you asleep." He told her and was rewarded by her bright smile.

"Not in a thousand years?" Hayley asked with an adorable sarcastic tone and she shuffled to open the car door.

Elijah grasped her wrist seizing her close and she spun to face him. He kissed her hand and she watched him.

"Not in a thousand years." He almost vowed. Hayley's eyelids flickered at the thought though then her attention diverted as she then turned around to find Elijah at her side, holding the door open.

"Shall we." He spoke and she stepped out of the car.

Hayley looked around not recognising where they were.

"I thought we'd go out further, I don't want you worried or distracted." Elijah explained.

"Sometimes Elijah, you are my definition of distraction." She thought to herself as she walked by his side.

Suddenly she found his hand at her side spreading open her fingers as he interlocked them into a grasp.

"It also means..." he spoke slowly.

"I can hold your hand."

Hayley grinned. She never thought he could be like this.

The automatic doors opened and they strode in hand in hand.

"So what do you require?" Elijah asked his brows furrowing. She giggled at his perplexity.

"Um things that fit?" Hayley suggested and he nodded letting her guide him to a store.

She walked in feeling bits of fabric as she walked along the rails. It was a childhood habit. She could never walk into a clothes store and not touch something. She brushed her fingers over a red cotton dress and nostalgia flooded her. She remembered wearing one extremely similar to it as a child and the feeling scared her. She dropped the fabric and shivered as if someone had just walked over her grave.

Elijah noticed this instantly and walked up to her rubbing her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked deeply concerned.

Hayley warmed at his touch, shook her head and smiled.

"Nothing." She replied and walked ahead.

"Maternity department is that way I think." She then spoke as if trying to change the subject.

Elijah nodded though noted that he would discover what was bothering her.

Hayley wondered over the racks browsing. She looked up after a while and found Elijah leaned against the wall watching her.

"I hope I'm not boring you." She told him sympathetically.

"Not at all." Elijah smiled smugly, just watching her was entertaining.

Hayley glanced at two different dresses.

"That one." Elijah told her nodding his head towards his choice.

Hayley turned over a price tag.

Elijah frowned at her.

"There is no need to worry about the price."

"I'm just checking." Hayley told him, though his protectiveness was something she secretly admired. Though, of course she would never admit it.

Elijah walked up so that he was standing directly in front of her. "Would he really kiss me in a store?" she suddenly found herself thinking.

Elijah flirted with her using only his eyes, she flirted right back, trying to work out what he was up to. Eventually his hand reached forward and Hayley's eyes followed it to the dress. He took it out of her grasp, placing it into the basket without near as glancing at the tag.

"Let me indulge you." He whispered.

Hayley smiled and then suddenly stiffened almost shyly. Elijah turned to find what had caught her eye.

He found an elderly woman beaming at them and he straightened his tie in an anxious response.

"You should let your fine man treat you my dear." The women chucked raising her eye brows at Elijah. Hayley couldn't help but blush.

"Boy or girl?" she then asked and Hayley looked down at her bump realising what this must look like. Pregnant girl, stunningly beautiful man shopping in the maternity department.

"Girl." Hayley managed to reply and smiled politely.

"Aww well that's just wonderful, may the lord bless you." She spoke with joy and kindness. "I best be off now, have a lovely day" she told them.

Elijah who was clearly trying to fight the urge to grin took the old woman's hand kissing it lightly with all the manners in the world.

"Thank you and the same to you Madam." He spoke with his flawless accent. The old woman almost squealed and then turned to give Hayley the "Don't lose this guy." look. Hayley was convinced she was reaching the complexion of a tomato.

They watched her walk away and Elijah grinned at her as if he had just won a betting game. She rolled her eyes at him.

Elijah looked at her disapprovingly.

"Listen to the lovely old woman dear." He teased her and Hayley cocked her head to the side glaring at him but soon smiled in defeat.

She picked up her a few more of her likings and dropped them into the basket.

"Are you satisfied yet dear?" She teased him.

"No way near." Elijah spoke smoothly and then strode up to her leaning down to tempt her into a satisfying kiss.