A/N: Slightly longer chapter than usual :3 Enjoy x

Chapter 16: Intoxicated

Hayley's eyes fluttered mildly in a daze, her fringe fell limply upon her forehead and the moonlit sheets ruffled slightly as she stirred. She murmured quietly and then blinked a few times to adjust to the surroundings, trying to work out where she was.

The first thing she noticed was Elijah's scent and it welcomed her entirely; making a smile stretch upon her face as an instinctive response. She grew intoxicated by its presence and wished it would envelope her always. She smiled contently with her eyes closed, not wanting to wake from a moment which felt so pleasant and peaceful.

Though it was too late, she was waking up from this dreamworld and reality awaited her. She shuffled again with a little irritation this time and her conscience gradually began to wake. She listened intently and a steady thud was what she heard. Her eyes grew larger as she acknowledged her distance from the source of the sound.

Her eyes flew open and her body initially stiffened with a fear as she tried to recall for how long she had been asleep. She gave herself a few seconds to recover her pulse and then remained still, surveying all she could see.

Hayley found that her head was not on the luxuriously comfortable pillow she thought it was on but instead rested on Elijah's chest which she now watched raise and fall in perfect time. She attempted to move, though discovered how very close he was to her and stilled immediately, afraid that he would awake. His arm cradled her wrapping her next to him protectively and it was clear how even in sleep he had the tendency to make sure she was where she belonged, where he needed her to be.

Hayley suddenly grew worried remembering the day and recalling Klaus's return. He could be in the compound now, he could be anywhere. She crept skilfully trying not to disturb any inch of his peaceful frame. After some struggle she escaped his sweet grasp with much regret. There was no place she'd rather be.

However as always, there came the danger of Klaus. She grew angry now, just at the thought of him. She had learnt to be true with herself. If she felt something she'd act, if she wanted something she'd take it and here he was taking that away from her. He was so impulsive sometimes but so strangely predictable just as much - it was impossible not be frustrated by him.

Hayley huffed and rolled her eyes but then her gaze locked onto Elijah, wholly transfixed.

He was asleep. Genuinely asleep.

Hayley realised she'd never seen him sleep before and it sure was a sight to be admired. An original vampire capable of such destruction in the possession of immense power succumbed to a natural need. He was aptness in all its glory and he was hers. She found it hard to believe. Never in a million years had she thought New Orleans would bring her to this. She thought about it now, watching him carefully and her heart sunk in realisation. She'd fallen for him so deeply. Hayley Marshall in love. It sounded like an April Fool's joke. She smiled to herself; it was most certainly not a joke at all.

Hayley checked the clock blinking the time in red led light on the bedside table. It had been hours. She barely remembered herself falling asleep. She wondered where Rebekah was and then her eyes fell on the half empty bottle of bourbon sitting on the drawer. "Probably embracing a headache." Hayley thought to herself finding it slightly humorous.

She then stepped of the bed finding it terrible hard to be away from him at all. The mattress creaked as her weight lifted and she froze, turning to look at him once again. What she'd do to curl up and stay by him for as long as they wished. Hayley crept over to the door and opened it stepping out onto the landing to try and figure out who was home. Her eyes lowered towards the floor as she remained distracted by the image of Elijah sleeping on her bed.

When Hayley looked up once again her feet gripped onto the spot and her heart forgot to function...

She tried and failed to hide the fear and surprise on her face.

"Klaus." She spoke slightly too late after attempting to recover from the lump formed in her throat.

Klaus stood near the staircase, his own near to empty bottle of bourbon gripped in one hand. The other seemed to be covered in splodges of paint.

"That's not good." Hayley thought and it wasn't just because of whom now slept in her bedroom that sparked her concern.

Klaus had once told her that his painting was a metaphor for control, for achieving his vision through sheer force of will...

He stepped towards her now and she could smell the liquor around him.

Hayley waited for him to speak, or smirk but nothing came. The ambiguity worried her and so did his closeness. Something was wrong.

She considered taking a step back but remembered her bedroom door was what that stood behind her and so stayed put unsure where to move.

"Klaus?" she asked again this time with confusion as he stepped even closer forcing her to turn so that the wall was now behind her and she had nowhere to go.

Hayley had had enough; she abruptly moved aiming to head downstairs though Klaus's arm shot out his hand flat on the wall trapping her. She gave up moving and sighed inside with defeat. He was so close now that she could feel the coldness of the wall against her. Her skin crawled as she felt his breath.

"Is he drunk?" she thought.

She knew she needed to get out of here.

There was an eerie silence and then Klaus finally moved his hand. He screwed open the bottle cap and drank the bottle dry, discarding it soon after. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hands. Hayley waited wondering what he was up to. His eyes seemed vacant and lost. This wasn't the usual smirking sardonic Klaus at all, this was someone else altogether.

"Klaus." Hayley spoke the third time hoping to receive a response.

Yet again there was no reply.

"Try sleeping it off?" she suggested, assuming drunkess was the answer.

Klaus's head lowered.

Klaus smirked somewhere deep inside at how fearless she managed to seem around him. He'd nearly strangled her before though she didn't even flinch being so dangerously close to him while he was in such an unstable state.

Soon after however his thought returned to the ache of leaving Caroline. The memory flashed in his head, the promise playing in his mind. She had made him happier than he had felt in centuries and sad all the same all in the one most wondrous experience they had shared.

Suddenly his heart grew cold as he ran from the feeling associating with her, sprinting from the anguish of her lost and the joy of remembering her touch. Both stung him in their own way.

His mind ran faster eventually stopping.

He looked up at Hayley.

Hayley is your goal now he told himself trying to believe the words.

"My child." He thought looking down at her stomach.

Hayley watched him worriedly. She could barely recognise him.

Abruptly Klaus looked up. Hayley gasped as she felt a grip around her waist as she was shoved roughly against the wall. Hayley blinked rapidly completely disorientated. She tasted liquor and its stench was strong. She felt stubble against her cheek and warm lips upon her mouth. He was kissing her. She felt his weight against her and struggled to move.

"Elijah." She called unconsciously, her eyes turning towards her bedroom door. Klaus slowed down on hear this exclamation and Hayley made use of the moment.

She finally grasped control of her body and her instincts kicked in. Her hand gripped Klaus's shirt and flung him back. She wiped her mouth with her knuckles and tried to regain her breathing, an expression of anger flashing over her face, her eyes slightly more yellow than usual.

Klaus glared at her and she glared back fiercely with confidence, enraged by his behaviour.

Klaus strode towards her bedroom door while watching her and her poise diminished.

He swung the door open...