Chapter Eighteen: Meet the Mikaelsons

Klaus woke up to the pins and needles feeling shooting up and down his left arm. When he tried to move, he realized he was trapped beneath something soft and warm.

He opened his eyes.

Hayley was resting her cheek against his shoulder, her breathing slow and even.

He realized his arm was pinned between her and the back of the chair, effectively cutting off his circulation. He sighed, then breathed in her scent.

Then his brows furrowed when he began remembering what happened last night.

"So she does lie, and she smells like lilacs…"

"Can I become a good man?"

"I want to be… for her."

He inhaled again, taking in that lilac smell. It was subtle, and he wondered if it was from soap. Underneath it was her own scent, and that… that smelled like the forest, woodsy and warm, and honeysuckle, irresistible.

A voice mumbled against his chest. "Did you just sniff me?"

Klaus pulled back slightly, looking down at her.

Hayley looked up with drowsy green eyes. Her expression told him she was waiting for an answer.

"Yes."

"Do I smell good?"

"Yes."

A pleased, sleepy smile crept across her face. "Mmm," she hummed, before running the tip of her nose along his neck. "You smell like old canvases… whiskey… soap."

Klaus grinned. "So I smell good?"

Hayley made a sort of noise, like an affirmation.

Klaus shifted underneath her again. "It seems you fell asleep on my arm, love."

"Sorry," she mumbled. "Bed?"

"Is that an invitation?" Klaus quipped, which was answered by a snort.

Gently, he moved her off his arm then scooped her up before moving her to her bed. When he put her down, her hand shot out and grabbed his hand.

"Stay."

Klaus blinked. "You want me to stay?"

Hayley turned, focusing her still sleepy gaze on him before nodding against the pillows.

Klaus smirked, before climbing into the bed next to her. He watched as she moved up against his side, effectively burrowing into him before resting her cheek on the groove of his shoulder.

"Klaus?"

"Yes, love?"

Her brow furrowed. "You've called me that twice."

Klaus just smiled. "What is it?"

Then Hayley looked up at him again, more focused than before. She opened her mouth, then closed it. "Nothing."

When he was certain she had fallen asleep again, Klaus turned his head a little to press a gentle kiss to her brow.

Ooo0ooO

A pair of baleful blue eyes watched Klaus as he entered the kitchen, looking awfully pleased with himself.

"So."

Klaus looked towards the voice, then sighed. "Hello, Rebekah."

"So you do remember I'm here," the blonde vampire pouted.

Klaus turned towards the fridge, rolling his eyes. He pulled out a blood bag before getting himself a glass. "Yes, I remember."

"Elijah's off being all melancholic again," Rebekah sighed deeply. She traced an acrylic nail across the kitchen counter. "And Kol is coming down from his latest high."

"Hmm."

Rebekah's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Of course, you've been too busy, haven't you, brother mine? Off with that wolf girl of yours."

Klaus casted a cool look in her direction. "Careful, sister. If you keep pouting, you may get lines."

"What I don't understand," Rebekah continued, "is why. She's just some werewolf, Niklaus. No different than the wolves you have kill each other for sport."

"You and I both know that is not true."

Rebekah scoffed. "Just because some old wolves and witches call her a Queen doesn't make her one." She walked over to him, tapping his chest. "Not like how you took the title of King for yourself."

"Perhaps Hayley didn't have to take her title to earn it."

"Oh, it's Hayley now, is it?" The beautiful vampire laughed. "Oh dear, don't tell me you have feelings for her."

Centuries of practice gave Klaus the ability to school his expression, which he did now. Save for a smirk curling his lip, his face gave nothing away. "Since when do I have feelings?"

Rebekah eyed him for a moment before she nodded. "Very well then. I guess I'll go see if Elijah fancies taking me to lunch. If he keeps acting like this, we're going to have to audition him for an Edgar Allan Poe play."

Klaus chuckled, then waved her off.

The moment she was gone, Hayley strolled in. Her gaze seemed wary, before she focused her attention on Klaus.

Any mask he wore in front of his sister instantly dropped as he smiled at her. He looked her over, noting her wet hair, and the casual black t-shirt and tight jeans she wore.

Hayley didn't miss the staring. She crossed her arms, lifting a brow, lips twitching. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Not a cat, no," Klaus said, stepping closer to her. He reached out, touching her wet hair. "A little wolf though…"

"I'm not sure how I feel about that nickname," Hayley muttered, rolling her eyes.

She picked up his glass, give it a sniff, then grimaced. She pushed it across the counter into his hands before rummaging through the fridge.

"It's not a nickname, it's a pet name," Klaus told her.

Hayley shot him a glance from under her lashes, pulling out a bottle of juice and grabbing another glass from the cabinet. "That doesn't make it any more appealing. I'm not a pet."

When he opened his mouth, with a gleam in his eye, Hayley lifted a finger, glaring. "Don't."

"You didn't know what I was going to say."

"I don't like that look," she said, circling the air around his face. "Nothing good happens when you get that look."

Klaus grinned. "You like it."

Hayley scoffed, finishing her glass before placing it in the sink. "In your dreams."

Klaus moved closer, trapping her in between his arms against the counter. He leaned in, his stubbled jaw rubbing against her cheek. "Precisely."

"Do you dream of me often?" Hayley asked, her fingers tightening against the edge of the counter until her knuckles were white. She tried not to shiver.

"Every night," Klaus murmured.

She pulled back, meeting his gaze. It was dark, like midnight, flecked with gold like stars scattered across the night sky.

"Do you dream of me?" Klaus asked, leaning closer so his lips ghosted over hers.

Hayley shivered now, her mind flashing to the memory of her visualizing Klaus between her legs, pleasuring her with nothing but his lips and tongue…

Klaus smiled slowly, smugly. "You're trembling."

When had he placed his hands on her hips? Hayley wondered vaguely. Then she smirked. Two could play at this game.

Hayley reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her fingers threaded themselves into his hair, nails scraping along his scalp. Her smirk widened when he groaned softly.

"Now who's trembling?" she quipped in a low voice.

Klaus growled deep in his chest, then leaned down to capture her lips with his. When she gasped, he deepened the kiss, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue.

Hayley leaned up on her toes, pressing herself firmly against him. She dropped her hands, trailing them down his chest, then his stomach, feeling it quivered beneath her touch.

There was another growl, then Hayley found herself on top of the counter, with Klaus cradled between her thighs. His hands clamped down on her hips, promising to leave bruises.

Klaus then trailed one hand down her hip, to her thigh, tracing her warm flesh through those impossibly tight jeans. His hips bucked against hers.

Hayley's hands had now dipped beneath his shirt, pressing themselves against his skin. She traced the dip of his hips, then pulled him closer to feel the muscles of his back. They were taut, his skin warm, almost feverish. He snarled when her nails dug into the sensitive skin of his lower back.

She jumped when his own hands met the bare skin of her sides, where they traced up his thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, regretting the decision to wear a bra today.

Klaus didn't seem to care for, or notice, that obstacle, which was pushed down so he could have access to them.

Hayley didn't even think, and within a moment had reached back and under her shirt to unhook the clasp then peeled it off. Her head fell back when his hands cradled them, his thumbs tracing the tightened peaks.

Klaus groaned, his hands tracing her breasts before they journeyed downwards, tugging at the clasp of her jeans.

"I swear to God, Nik, I don't know why you insist on-,"

The couple jumped at the voice, Klaus recognizing it as Kol's right as his brother stepped into the kitchen, irritation etched on his handsome face.

Kol froze, eyeing the compromising position they were in, along with the bra that had been tossed aside in the floor.

Hayley shot Klaus a look.

"I… well," Kol cleared his throat. "It seems you're busy at the moment."

Hayley shoved Klaus away from her gently. She hopped down from the counter, eyeing the brother. She had only dealt with him once, along with the sister. His words echoed in her mind.

"Perhaps he wants a roll in the sack with the lesser types."

Hayley grinned again, baring her now sharp teeth, eyes flashing gold. "Kol, right?"

Kol lifted a brow. "Hayley, right?" he asked, mirroring her tone with a mocking edge. "Or do I have to call you Alpha too?"

"Kol," Klaus growled in warning.

"Only if I get to call you Asshole," Hayley returned in a sweet tone.

The youngest Mikaelson eyed her for a long moment before throwing his head back and laughing. "Oh, I think I like her," Kol chuckled. "Well done, Nik. Are you going to hold onto her then? She's got fire."

"Depends on if I want to hold onto him," Hayley said before Klaus could respond. Her grin turned wicked. "I've liked what I've held onto so far."

Kol's teeth flashed in a mirrored grin. "I don't suppose you have a sister or brother do you?"

"Only child," Hayley replied, lips twitching.

"Shame," Kol sighed. "Well, I've leave you kids to your fun."

Hayley watched as the younger Mikaelson strolled off, whistling cheerfully. Then she casted a look over her shoulder. "Are you sure you're all related?"

Klaus shrugged. "I'm only half related," he stated factually. "But I don't know where he gets that from."

"And your sister?"

Klaus now rolled his eyes. "Centuries of being spoiled has nothing to do with us sharing blood."

Hayley turned her gaze back towards where Kol had walked away. "Hmm."

Klaus stepped forward, brushing the hair from her shoulder, kissing the juncture between her neck and shoulder. "Don't mind my family. They're all tossers."

Hayley smiled, turning her head to meet his gaze. "You love them."

"I'm King of the Tossers, according to my sister," he chuckled.

"That doesn't sound like a compliment."

"Oh, it's not."

Ooo0ooO

It seemed today was going to leave Hayley surrounded by the other Mikaelson siblings, after she had managed to avoid them for some time.

The next one was Elijah, who came into the Abattoir to find Hayley sitting on the veranda, reading a book.

"Hello," he said with a measure of caution.

Hayley looked up, then tilted her head. "Hey."

"Is Klaus…?"

"Meeting with Marcel," she said, placing her book aside.

"I see."

Hayley watched as he shifted on his feet, as though he was uncomfortable. Her eyes assessed him, noting the sadness in his eyes, the hidden chain beneath his shirt. She leaned back, then gestured to the chair beside her. "Coffee?"

Elijah gave her a surprised look. "Oh. Yes, thank you."

Hayley poured him a cup, passing it over to him. "So how long have you been back?"

"Sorry?"

"Klaus says you travel a lot. Clearly you just got back from somewhere."

Elijah sighed into his cup. "Not long before you arrived, I suppose. I was… summoned."

"Your sister?" Hayley deduced, quirking a brow.

He nodded.

"Will you go back?" Hayley asked.

"Back?"

"To where you were before."

"Oh. I… I don't think so."

Hayley eyed him, then watched as he abruptly stood up.

"Thank you for the coffee, but I have some things to discuss with my brother."

Hayley nodded, but Elijah had already walked away.

"Mercurial men, the Mikaelsons."

"Eve," Hayley sighed, not bothering to look over her shoulder.

The older wolf took the seat that Elijah had abandoned. Her expression was thoughtful. "He's a sad one, isn't he?"

Hayley shrugged. "I guess. That's the second conversation I've had with the guy."

"Hmm."

"Why do you insist on sneaking around?"

"Just because Klaus has accepted you here doesn't mean the same for the rest of us."

Hayley frowned. "Klaus would understand."

"Yes, Klaus would. The others, however…"

"True," Hayley conceded, thinking of the way Marcel leered at her anytime he saw her.

"How's Tyler?"

"He wants to go home," Hayley said. She ran a hand through her now dry hair. "He wants to see Mason."

"The last part can be arranged again."

"It's the first part I want to arrange."

"No news on the Hunters?"

"They're lingering," Hayley sighed. "With the added patrols and curfew, they don't have a lot of targets."

"They only have two in mind."

"Yes, I know. Still, to avoid collateral…"

"You can't keep hiding," Eve pointed out. "It's not in your nature to do so."

"I know. But this is different from a terf war, or a pack issue. There's no negotiating with them."

"So your solution is to sit around drinking coffee?"

"Right now my solution is to keep everyone safe."

"And what, do you think the Hunters will just leave?"

"No, of course not…" She shot her friend a look. "What are you getting at?"

"The pack is getting restless," Eve said. "They want to go home too."

Hayley rubbed a hand over her eyes. "So what am I supposed to do? Go out there and hunt them down? Kill them all?"

"Perhaps it's time to put your alliance to use," Eve suggested. "It was forged for more than personal pleasure, as I'm sure you know."

Hayley felt her cheeks flush. "Yes, Eve," she hissed out.

Eve stood up. "Don't despair, Hayley. Pleasure is all well and good, but don't forget the task at hand."

"I know what the task is," Hayley snapped. "Are you done lecturing me?"

"Don't you want to go home?"

Hayley stiffened at that. "Of course I do," she said after a beat.

Eve looked down at her from under arched brows.

"Don't push it," Hayley snarled.

When Eve left her, Hayley sat back, growling. Guilt flooded her body, and she chewed her thumb nail. She knew Eve had a point and didn't mean to seem pushy, but Hayley wasn't sure what her next step should be.

Maybe if you weren't so distracted… Hayley shook her head at the voice in her mind.

For the next hour, she sat outside, glaring moodily at the setting sun.

Ooo0ooO

Hayley wasn't the only one watching the sun set slowly over the Quarter.

Jeremy Gilbert watched the sky turn a deep gold color, streaked with fiery oranges. His thoughts, too, were on the task at hand.

"They haven't come out from the Abattoir in days," the other Hunter, Matt, told him. "Not since they met with the pack."

"I don't understand why we didn't kill them both then," Damon Salvatore muttered from across the room. He was sharpening a throwing knife, testing the edge against the pad of his thumb.

"Patience," Jeremy said. "This isn't something we can half ass. Think of it like a game of chess."

"I always hated chess," the raven haired man grumbled.

"That's because you don't have any patience," April reminded him, cleaning her own weapons.

Damon pointed at her. "True."

Jeremy sighed deeply, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"So are we going to wait until they make a mistake?" Stefan asked, reclining in his seat beside Jeremy.

"That might happen sooner rather than later," Matt remarked. "We know the Alpha and the King are… involved."

"When the opportunity presents itself, then we will strike. The priority is still the Hybrid."

"The younger Hybrid broke his sire bond," Damon pointed out. "What about him?"

"He only killed while under the influence of the bond, during the games," Stefan argued. "Vampires. Not too much of a loss."

"So are you saying he should live?" Damon asked.

"I'm just saying he's not as bad as a threat."

"He's still one nonetheless."

"So we should kill both Hybrids, rather than run the risk of the younger one trying to fill his old sire's shoes."

"It's a risk we can't afford. These… Hybrids, they aren't natural."

Damon scoffed. "Neither are the witches, wolves, or vampires. Hell, we aren't natural."

"They are abominations," Jeremy cut in. "And need to be put down."

The other Hunters nodded, murmuring in agreement.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.

Author's Note: Another BIG thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story so far. All of your reviews/ PMs keep me going.