So sorry for my little hiatus. The next semester started and I have been super busy. So yeah...lol

"Hayley has something to share with us." Kol said with a smirk. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, while she sat on a fancy settee. Her knees were up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. She was wearing baggy sweatpants that were Klaus' and a t-shirt she somehow got from Rebekah. The entire original family was staring at her. Elijah, who she had not spoken a word to since their argument in their bedroom, was standing a painful distance away with his hands in his pockets. He knew she was furious with him. It wasn't the first time. But for some reason, this time felt different than the others. Usually their little fights were petty and not to be taken too seriously. But now there seemed to be a danger lingering over their heads. Elijah couldn't help but think he was on a cliff's edge. At any moment he could drop over and his relationship with Hayley would no longer be set in stone like he once thought.

Klaus sat in a chair directly across from Hayley. He leaned forward with his forearms balanced on his knees. It made him look unconcerned for the trouble ahead, but that he was taking whatever Hayley had to say seriously. Meanwhile, Rebekah sat up straight with a lost look in her eyes. She seemed to be the only person hurt from the news of Finn's death. Either she was the only one incapable of hiding her grieving or she was really the only person that mourned her brother.

"I believe she is able to speak for herself." Klaus snapped at Kol. The youngest brother had deceived Hayley and told Klaus about her keeping secrets the moment she'd escaped to her bedroom.

"Your petty hybrids didn't tell you how they found her." Kol said casually with a grin. "Apparently, she came stumbling out of the woods and looked as if she had seen a ghost." Then his smile faltered a little and his eyes locked with Hayley's, narrowing. "She saw something out there... something which told her about the spell that linked us."

"You won't believe me." Hayley said softly. But they had to. There was no other choice. If they didn't, it could get them all killed. She didn't mean to, but after she said it, her eyes instantly went to Elijah's. And she hated how reassuring they were, that they told her he would trust everything she said. He would always side with her.

"You must tell us." Klaus stated firmly. She was glad for his comment. It allowed her to quickly look away from Elijah.

"I saw your mother. I talked to her." Hayley whispered. She feared if her voice went any louder, all of it would be harder for them to believe.

"That's impossible!" Rebekah snapped.

Hayley quickly glared at her. "Esther risked everything to even give me just a message. She came to me…after Damon snapped my neck and took me. It was like I was dreaming, but it all felt too real." Klaus leaned forward ever so slightly at what she said. Elijah shifted his weight. And Kol tried to appear like he had no interest but they all knew he did. Rebekah looked at her family, completely appalled.

"You can't honestly believe her?" She asked her brothers.

"She was the original witch, sister. We know, more than anyone, the power she possessed." Klaus shot right back at her. His change in temper made her sit back and make an infuriated face. Klaus looked back at Hayley and gave her a nod to continue.

The story she told them was a very filtered version. For some purpose, she didn't want to tell them about her prophecy. It felt personal and thinking about it still gave her anxiety. When she had completely cut ties with her parents at a young age, she vowed to be done trying to meet other's expectations. But this expectation put the people she loved at risk. Hayley told them of the spirits plan for them and how their mother couldn't do what was projected. She couldn't kill her own children.

Some time later, Hayley took a deep breath after she believed she was finished with everything. Klaus was no longer mentally present in the room. His eyes appeared glassy. And she had never seen him look so taken aback. He was the one who killed her. But after everything, she still risked everything to protect him. It didn't make sense. He always thought his mother never loved him. All this time, it changed him into the monster he had become. And it had all been completely misinterpreted.

"But this all occurred when the Salvatores took you." Kol said. "That doesn't explain what happened to you in the forest." Hayley winced a little at his observation. She thought they would all be overcome with the news of their mother that they would forget about the other part.

"That's enough, Kol." Elijah cut in surprisingly. "She's been through enough today. Not all of our questions need to be answered right now." He knew she wasn't as exhausted as he made it seem. But he could also see that she didn't want to talk about what else had happened. Hayley didn't even glance at him to give a thankful look. She stared at the ground and listened as he, Kol, and Rebekah left the room.

Then Hayley realized Klaus was still sitting in the chair a couple feet across from her, his eyes still completely distant. She watched him for a few seconds and comprehended he didn't even know she was still in the room. Slowly, she got up from her seat and carefully closed the small distance between them. Even with her right there, Klaus still didn't even blink. Hayley knelt down and grabbed his hands without thinking.

"She forgave you, Nik." Hayley whispered. Then his eyes finally met hers and were desperate for her to continue. "She wanted me to tell all of you that she loves you. But she said to make sure you understood most of all. After everything you did, she forgives you and will always love you." Hayley waited for him to show some sense of relief. But there was a beat of silence after she was done talking and then Klaus swiftly ripped his hands out of her own and left the room.

Hayley stared blankly for a moment, shocked by the reaction he had. She'd expected him to be released, that his guilt was finally gone after a thousand years. Minutes passed before she found the incentive to get off the floor and go to bed. The day had been the longest one in her life. Even being a vampire, she was absolutely drained. But she wanted to avoid going back to the bedroom, knowing Elijah would be there. She didn't want to forgive him yet. She couldn't.

Don't be a coward, said the voice in her mind. You can't ignore him for the rest of your existence. You can't stay mad at him forever. You love him.

Hayley sighed and started toward the stairs. But she stopped just a few steps later when she heard a crackling in a nearby room. There was a fire stoking in one of the rooms she was by. Hayley followed her senses as they led her toward it. A minute later, she leaned against the doorframe as her eyes fell on Elijah. He sat in a chair just a few feet away from the fireplace, his back to the doorway she stood in. There was no way he overlooked her presence. But it seemed he was allowing her to decide if she wanted to even speak with him or not.

"Where were you, Elijah?" She never intended to come out so harsh and emotionless. He practically winced at it.

"Nowhere." His response came almost instantly.

Hayley made an incredulous noise and shook her head. "Right. Why would I ever expect you to be honest with me?" She remarked loudly. Elijah then turned to look at her as he stood up from the chair. Hayley glared at him before starting to move away from the doorway. Then she stopped and whipped around in anger, only to be face to face with him, proving that he was running after her.

"You know what's the worst part of this?" Her voice whispered shakily. She hadn't been expecting him to be so close to her when she said this. For a moment, she thought she wouldn't be able to anymore. "I'm able to look at you the way they do…Elena, Damon, Caroline, all of them. I never thought it would ever happen." Elijah's hurt was so readable. Hayley truly didn't understand the destruction of her words. She was always the one that assured him that he wasn't a monster, that he was so much better. But here she was, telling him she understood that there were two parts of him. She'd finally been truly exposed to his other side.

"And now that I do," She added in an even quieter whisper. "I just wish I didn't. More than anything, I wish I could only see you how I used to."

Elijah raised his hand to touch her cheek; feeling like this was some sort of goodbye. He felt as if she was going to leave right there. And if she was, he at least wanted to just graze her skin one last time. Hayley's eyes flickered toward his hand, glaring at it. It made him stop his motion in midair. "I was not anywhere. I was simply gone." The words sped out of his lips. He was so desperate for her to stop looking at him like he had completely betrayed her.

"What?" She asked with confusion.

"I was disgusted with myself, Hayley." He put his hands in the pockets of his pants and sighed, trying to figure out how he could explain it to her. "Elena…the way she looked at me. She thought I planned to kill her." Elijah glanced up to see Hayley narrowing her eyes. "I left." He said simply. "But I could not go back to you. I could not face you. I was too ashamed with my impulsiveness. I felt-" He stopped abruptly.

"Like Nik." Hayley offered almost too quickly. Elijah watched her for half a second before lowering his head. The aura of shame proved her guess was all too right. Seeing it made Hayley feel a sense of guilt. Even though he was in the wrong, even though she didn't want to forgive him, she still hated hurting him.

"Genevieve. That's what I saw in the forest." Hayley said quickly.

Her bold statement made Elijah's head snap up to stare into her eyes, measuring if she was being honest. But of course she was. He took a step toward her, closing the space between them. His hand quickly cupped her cheek and his eyes were desperately searching hers. It was as if he were trying to see into the past and find out if the dark witch had harmed her.

Without meaning to, Hayley placed her hand on top of Elijah's as it grasped her cheek urgently but still gently. She opened her mouth to assure him Genevieve hadn't harmed her in any way. Scared her, yes, but never actually hurt her.

But before she could tell him, both their vampire hearing caught the front door open. Hayley looked in the direction of the noise even though she couldn't see them from where they were in the house. Then she glanced back at Elijah. He brought his hand quickly down from her cheek only to grasp her hand tightly. He started toward the sound but obviously placed his body in front of Hayley's protectively as he led her. Elijah stopped in the doorway to the ballroom. His tall and broad frame blocked Hayley from seeing who stood inside. But she could sense the other's presence.

"You are an utter fool. If you had any thoughts of leaving here alive, you have my word that you won't." Elijah said calmly to the intruder. But the threat caused a chill to go up Hayley's spine. She tried to walk around him to see for herself. But Elijah moved his arm out, just barely, to stop her. When she looked at him accusingly, his eyes stayed glaring darkly at Stefan Salvatore.

The younger vampire had a black duffel bag in his hands as he turned to meet Elijah's gaze. "Klaus! I'm here! Let's do this!" Stefan yelled, promising that the hybrid would hear him no matter where he was in the mansion. Klaus and Rebekah came out of nowhere and walked around Elijah and Hayley.

"Oh, good! A hero." Klaus said darkly as he walked into the room. It disturbed Hayley how different he acted from just a few minutes ago when she had told him about his mother. But it just bothered her even more knowing that's why they were friends. They were both good at hiding. They were both good at pretending.

Kol then came in, wanting to watch the spectacle too. This only encouraged Hayley to follow. But Elijah stopped her once again, this time stepping to face her and blocking the view inside the room. "Hayley, this is not your war." He declared quietly.

"It is whether either of us like it or not. I'm connected to you…all of you." She quickly replied. He had a grip on her shoulder to push some sense into her that now loosened as she argued. She ripped away from his hold and stood in the room, some distance behind Rebekah and Klaus. Elijah followed, realizing that he wouldn't convince her to leave the room. He now closely stood next to her.

"What could you possible want? You already killed my dear brother, Finn. And his lover as Hayley claims." Klaus said casually. The mention of her made Stefan's eyes flicker to Hayley ever so swiftly.

Stefan dropped the duffel bag toward Klaus. "I'm here to make a deal."

"Stefan…what are you doing?" Damon was barely able to speak. He was so weak and injured. It shocked Hayley that he was even conscious. She watched him, trying to hide her pity for him. Elijah must have noticed, since he placed a hand on the small of her back for some sort of comfort.

"Eight stakes made of white oak, the part of Wickery Bridge you forgot to burn." Stefan explained as he ignored his older brother's pleas.

Klaus rushed forward and grabbed Stefan by his throat, holding him just a few inches off the ground. Kol and Rebekah remained calm at their brother's lightning speed spontaneity. But Hayley tried to stop it. She didn't like Stefan. In fact, she hated him just as much as the originals did right now. But there had been enough death. No more. Finn and Sage were dead. How many more had to die in order to stop the madness?

Elijah grabbed her by the upper arm. She tried to fight his pull. It only caused him to wrap his arms around her in a cage, her back pressed to his chest. "Leave it." He hissed into her ear. All the others were too busy paying attention to the exchange to notice the two's outside struggle.

"Why shouldn't I simply kill both of you right now?" Klaus said as Stefan struggled underneath his hold. "You're both here. The stakes are laying right in front of me, just asking me to take them without making a deal with you imbeciles."

"Because she'll hate you if you do." Stefan gasped. Klaus' gaze narrowed as he followed where the younger vampire was looking. He was met with Hayley. She looked flustered with scene in front of her. She tried to stop it obviously since Elijah was now holding her back. "Damon in exchange for the last 8 weapons that can kill you." Stefan was able to say while his throat was being clenched.

Klaus dropped him to the floor. But he wasn't paying attention to the younger Salvatore. He was watching Hayley, who now refused to look him in the eye. Instead, she turned away and her face in Elijah's neck. If Klaus was going to really kill them, she didn't want to watch. Elijah held onto her tightly, his hand clutching the back of her neck as he glared at Niklaus.

But the hybrid turned his attention back to Stefan, who was now back on his feet. "And how do I know there aren't anymore left?" He challenged.

"Because there aren't." Stefan answered too quickly.

"Let's be certain, shall we?" Klaus whispered menacingly. He walked around Stefan to his older brother. "Leave." He ordered Damon. Hayley separated herself from Elijah to watch, confused at what game Nik was playing now.

"No." Damon managed to say firmly.

"Go on! Leave." Klaus urged.

"Nik, he's my plaything, not yours." Rebekah whined.

Hayley glanced at her in disgust. Then she gasped when Klaus quickly latched his hand around Damon's throat, who let out a groan of pain. He forced Damon to look him in the eye. "I said, go home." Klaus compelled him in a whisper. Damon took in a deep breath before trying to rip his hands from the hunting traps. Hayley watched in horror, realizing that he had no choice but to do as Nik ordered. He would rip his own hand off before disobeying the compulsion.

"Nik, that's enough! STOP IT!" Hayley yelled out.

"Be quiet, Hayley!" Klaus snapped back without looking at her. He was trying to show that it didn't matter what she thought of him. He would do the evil he wished. No one had control over him.

"KLAUS!" She shouted as she took a step toward him. Using the name that only his enemies and mere acquaintances used caught his attention. He finally looked at her, but only for a split second. He hid the hurt it caused him so well.

"Alright! Stop, stop, stop, before you hurt yourself." Klaus said to Damon, somehow managing a smirk even after Hayley addressing him in the worst way. "Well," He said to Stefan. "You see he can finally be compelled. Now…" He stepped toward Damon, but was sure not to step in the pool of blood. "Minus the stake in my brother, how many more stakes are out there that can kill me." Klaus dropped Damon's chin and waited for him to answer.

"Eleven." Damon breathed shamefully.

"Eleven!" Klaus shouted. "So, not eight then?"

"You really shouldn't have lied." Rebekah sighed.

"Idiots." Kol laughed to himself in the corner of the room. Hayley glanced at him. It was the first time he'd made his presence known. When he caught her glaring at him, he winked in return.

"I'll get you the other three." Stefan immediately responded.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." Klaus said disturbingly casual. "Or, since you lied, I'll compel your brother to chew out his own tongue."

Hayley looked at Elijah, begging him to stop his brother if he tried to do what he threatened. But he wouldn't intervene. He wouldn't kill the Salvatores himself because she practically begged him not to. But if someone else were to do it, there was no way he would try to stop it.

"What is wrong with you?" Stefan asked in horrified disgust.

"What is wrong with you?" Klaus yelled so loudly it made Hayley jump. "Do you really have no appreciation for me? I have given you someone to hate, to loathe, a target for all of your anger! So you don't have to turn it on yourself. I've given your life purpose, as your friend." Then he moved around Stefan and chuckled darkly. "I really think you should be thanking me."

Klaus' words were so obviously pushing Stefan to his limits. "Enough!" He snapped. And in an instant, he was rushing toward the hybrid with a white oak stake in his grasp. They flew into the wall. Hayley was about to yell out but Nik already held Stefan's gasp, stopping the younger vampire from killing him.

"Step down…or you both die." Klaus murmured coolly. Stefan looked unsure of what he wanted to do. Go on a suicide mission or do as Klaus said. He was breathing heavily as he finally gave in and let the hybrid take the stake out of his hand. "There. Now you only have to get me the other two."

Rebekah watched the exchange with her arms crossed. Then her gaze fell on Hayley's. She watched her for a moment too long. It made Hayley confused and almost uncomfortable. "Well, this is ridiculous!" Rebekah proclaimed as she marched over to Damon. Hayley's eyes lit up as she saw her detaching the trap from Damon's wrist. In a flash, she was at Damon's other arm releasing him before Rebekah could.

"What are you doing?" Klaus asked with annoyance. Hayley stepped back as Damon fell to his knees. He was too weak to even stand.

"I brought him here; I get to release him. My rules now, bring us the stakes and you both live." Rebekah ordered to Stefan. She glanced back at Damon. "Take your brother as a sign of good faith." Then she grabbed the bags of stakes and left the room without regarding anyone else.

Klaus looked annoyed with his sister. But he shrugged and played along. "Bring us the stakes, all of them. Or I'll wage a war against everyone you love. I hope I'm being clear." He walked past Stefan, not bothering to find the courtesy to walk him out. Kol followed along, leaving Hayley and Elijah alone with the Salvatore brothers.

"It is time for you to leave." Elijah specified as he glared at Stefan. The younger Salvatore glanced at Hayley for some reason before walking over to Damon and carefully helping him to his feet. As soon as they were out of the room, Hayley locked eyes with Elijah and let out a giant sigh. It was like all the anxiety had been swept away just as quickly as it had arrived.

I haven't got a lot of feedback recently. So tell me what you thought...pretty please ;)