In the previous chapter, Klaus and Freya had a disagreement over how to handle the family after the tragedy of Jackson's death, which led her to start preparing for Christmas all on her own. Freya convinced Elijah to volunteer to help at the homeless shelter, as a way of clearing his mind and his soul, and think about his mistakes, after which he met Cami there, with the same exact goal. Rebekah and Marcel travelled to California to see Hope and to convince Hayley to come back for Christmas. Finally, Klaus was shown ignoring his problems and in the arms of another woman.

PLOT: Rebekah and Marcel talk to Hope alone, and they learn more from a 6 year old girl than they ever expected they would. Klaus, in anger with himself and with Hayley, makes a decision to which there is no going back. Upon her acceptance to return to New Orleans, Hayley receive other shocking discoveries apart from Jackson's death. While Hayley deals with a bloody fight, Elijah and Camille have to take care of a great incident and have different opinions about it. Finally, the newest sweetheart of Klaus, Lizzie discovers something which turns everything upside down at the compound.

"There is nothing that we can say that will really persuade you to give this Mikaelson Christmas a try, huh? Not even for me? Not even for Freya?" Rebekah asked Hayley, as they watched Hope show Marcel the presents her mother had bought her to keep mind off of the fact that her Daddy was not on "holiday" with her. But the one thing that little girl loved to show around was her drawing of Klaus and Hayley near a Christmas tree and under a mistletoe, which made Hayley's skin crawl. "Damn you." She whispered, hoping that from wherever she was, Klaus would hear it. "Hayley?" "I can't go back, Rebekah. I will send Hope home this Christmas. Freya will do the spell to transport her back but I already told you that I have no interest whatsoever in going back. Rebekah played with her fingers. Her eyes met Marcel's and he gave her a warm smile. She wasn't going to give up. Rebekah had always been the glue, keeping her family together and that was not going to change this year, especially not with Freya's help.

"What's with that drawing of you and my brother Hope keeps flashing around loud and proud?" the blonde finally decided to ask the she-wolf, as she followed her to the new kitchen, where Hayley was preparing some hot cocoa and marshmallows to go with it. "She caught something going on between me and Klaus last Christmas." "Really? Did it have anything to do with you and him kissing under the mistletoe?" "Yes. He made some confessions to me that…left me caught off guard, and I was married to a good person at the time, who was trying to make things work between us, but I was making it difficult for him." "Hayley, you and Jackson didn't marry out of love." Rebekah put her arm around her, comfortingly, hoping that somehow she would start to realize that the marriage between her and Jackson was anything but real. It was a way for them to unite their packs, and they were good friends. It was never more than that.

"I know but it was my responsibility to try and make it work in any way possible. We had sex a couple of times and I remember how I was trying to force myself, to feel something…anything…but I couldn't. He was never enough for me and he felt that. He started spending more time in the bayou, while I was helping you guys out with whatever problems we had back then and when I would come home late, he would just stand there, yell at me and remind me that he was my family too, not just Hope and not just the Mikaelsons. He could never really understand why I would choose to ignore him and help you guys out." Rebekah scoffed and pulled away. "He must have been bloody jealous to react like that towards you. I appreciate all your help for my family, Hayley, but you should have done your best in that marriage too." Rebekah bit her lip and closed her eyes at once, realizing the words that came out of her mouth. She wasn't trying to blame her, and she had just done it.

"Okay, I get it." Hayley managed to get out of her mouth, rushing back towards the living room. "No, Hayley! Please just listen to me!" "I don't have to listen to anything, Rebekah! I don't have to listen because none of what you're telling me right now is fair. Nothing is fair! You haven't been married before to a man you know you could never love! And Jackson was a very good man who deserved to have a normal wife and children but instead, he got stuck with me. I wasn't even able to be faithful to him until the last minute, and because I gave in…because I gave up my heart to a man who didn't deserve it! He hurt me in ways no one has ever hurt me, not even my crappy adoptive parents! He broke every bone in my body and then he broke my heart!" Hayley said louder than usual and threw a chair at the wall, startling Hope. Marcel immediately picked her up and whispered some comforting words in her ear, before taking her in the upstairs bedroom.

Rebekah pointed a finger at Hayley and whispered, "I need you to calm down. Drink some tea, and take a deep breath. Think of what you have been fighting for so long, Hayley. You have been fighting for that little girl that is upstairs with Marcel right now. You do what is right. You bring her home for Christmas and you let me deal with the problem because I told you before, Niklaus is not going to come out of this unshaved, and I am going to make sure Elijah knows what to do." Hayley shook her head. "Don't bring Elijah into this." "I have to, Hayley. He is family, even if things didn't work out between the two of you. He still cares for you and wants the absolute best for you…and for Nik." Hayley took a deep breath and looked to see Hope taking Marcel's hand upstairs and dragging him back down. Her daughter's eyes did not meet hers and Hayley could see that she was upset with her. "I will think about it. But I turned my back on something…more like someone…and that is not going to change." Hayley explained and walked out onto the porch, wanting to be by herself.

"Auntie, Bekah! Is Mommy mad at me?" Hope asked as soon as Rebekah joined her and Marcel on the rug in front of the Christmas tree. "No, sweetie. Mommy is mad at herself." "Maybe Daddy can make her happy. I want to see Daddy." Rebekah eyed Marcel and then asked, "How does Daddy make Mommy happy, Hope?" At that moment, Hope grinned and showed them the drawing from earlier with the mistletoe. "Daddy was holding Mommy and Mommy was happy. Mommy liked kissing." Marcel chuckled and looked away. "She is smart." "Yes, she is. She takes after both of her parents. But right now, I really don't know what I should do." "How about we show this to Hayley one more time?" "She doesn't want anything to do with my brother anymore and that is understandable. He killed her husband, Marcellus." "Okay, okay…we will figure it out." "And what hurts her even more is that she still feels something for him and can't stop herself."

"I remember a time when we felt the same about each other." Marcel mumbled and kissed her earlobe, making Rebekah blush. "Yes, I remember that very well. We managed to look past our troubles and be together again but what Niklaus did, is something he can never take back and even though I realize Hayley will never accept him back…there must be some way in which we can make them understand that they have to do something for the sake of this little girl." At that moment, Hayley entered the house again and cleared her throat. Rebekah and Marcel let Hope on the floor to play with her presents and turned to her with hopeful smiles on their faces. "I will do my best. I will return home with Hope so that we can salvage something this Christmas. But I won't want him in my presence." Rebekah and Marcel both pursed their lips and Hayley watched them skeptically. "For the sake of this Christmas, please don't do anything." The young hybrid told them and the two looked at each other for a long moment.

"The subject will be brought up, Hayley. I know my brother. If he did do what everyone thinks he did, he must have done it with good reason. Otherwise, it's just not him…" "I don't care! I don't care! The only reason I am doing this is for my daughter. All of my decisions were based on what's best for my daughter. I have been a good mother and I intend to continue that. What Klaus did is unforgivable. He cost me everything I had, any strong connection that I had with my own pack. He cost me my relationship with him too. Maybe he was doing it with reason…but the truth is that no one deserves to die, no matter the reason! Especially not near Christmas! It's a time for peace and forgiveness!" Hayley snapped. She wiped away her tears when she saw that Hope was watching her closely now. "Let's get packing, Hope. We are going home to see Daddy." She whispered in defeat.

…

He was laying on his back, feeling the warm touch of a woman's fingers up and down his chest, as he laid down with her on the bed. It had been a night in which she had pleasured him in more ways than one and he was forever grateful, even though deep inside his heart, he could only wish that it was the hand of his little wolf, pressed against his chest and her face nuzzling into his neck in comfort. He almost groaned when he heard the voice of the woman next to him. "I wish we could do this more often." She whispered and pressed herself even closer to him. Klaus sighed stood up, pushing her hands off of him. "I would wish the same, sweetheart but unfortunately, I have errands to run." "What kinds of errands? Can I help you with anything?" she asked, stretching on the bed. Klaus simply buttoned his shirt and shook his head, leaving the room. Lizzie frowned and thought about following him, but changed her mind afterwards. But there was one place in the compound she was dying to see.

The door to his Art Room was usually locked, but since she had captured all of his attention until this moment, he must have forgotten to lock up. Lizzie pushed open the door and sneaked in. His most prized possessions were there, the paintings that he valued most. Curiosity overtook her and she stepped closer to what looked like a painting in the center of that room. It was not quite finished, but as Lizzie stepped closer, a humongous frown appeared on her face. She recognized this. She knew what this represented for her. It was mistrust from her new lover. He had made a promise to her, and now he broke it. Picking up the canvas, he noticed how carefully it had been painted and how he used his richest paint to bring out her hazel eyes and her radiating skin. "What do you think you are doing?" Klaus was at the door with his hands behind his back and an angry look on his face.

Lizzie immediately turned around, holding the painting in her hands and said, "You said that I could go anywhere I want around this house." "And you must have forgotten the part where I told you that this place is off limits to anyone." He stepped forward and snatched the painting from her hands, looking it over. Lizzie's lip trembled as she asked more darkly, "Is that her? Is that the hybrid girl who broke your heart? You said that you were over her now, that she left town, so why is her painting at the center of this room?" The way she was demanding answers from him, was not taken well by him. His eyes glowed amber in anger as he looked over the painting on which he had been focusing on for many days. He had wanted it to be perfect, absolutely perfect…his best work yet. He gripped it hard and he was sure that soon he would snap it in half, but his eyes diverted to Lizzie instead.

"You are to leave this room at once, do you understand me? GET OUT OF HERE!" he roared and the girl ran out, afraid for her own life. Everyone knew that getting the Original Hybrid mad at this point would not do anyone any good. Klaus threw the paining against the wall and left the room, locking it behind him. As he stayed pressed against the door, with his hand rubbing his suddenly very tired eyes, he glowed…with an idea striking him at once. He knew what he had to do. It was risky. It was dangerous…but he knew what he had to do. "Those wolves…" he whispered menacingly. They were responsible for his misfortunes…starting with Jackson. They were the reason he lost her…and he lost his desire to see himself happy with his own daughter. He wanted to be alone…for Christmas, which had once been his most favorite holiday of the year…and it was all their fault. Snapping his eyes open, he started rushing over to the main game room, where all the vampires were preoccupied with many useless activities these days.

None of them had families with whom they could celebrate Christmas, except with each other. Klaus clapped his hands together in order to get everyone's attention. The vampires' eyes widened as they saw him. He had spent a lot of time in his bedroom with his new sweetheart, and Elijah had left the compound and he had not returned since. The vampires were beginning to think that the Mikaelsons had finally lost their touch after Jackson's death. "LISTEN UP!" Klaus yelled out and the vampires all gathered around, setting down their cards and their board games, making sure that they showed him the proper respect and attention they had for his words. They knew better than to anger him, especially when his brother and sisters were not around to calm him down. "I have an announcement to make! Seeing as how the werewolves have not received the proper attention with the upcoming holiday…I suggest that you make them the subject of the next vampire catch!"

The vampires all looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what he meant. Klaus turned around and was prepared to leave but he growled, when he noticed that the vampires were just staring at him in awe, and not saying anything. "Have I not made myself clear enough?!" he asked them, menacingly. "What exactly do you want us to do with the wolves?" one vampire asked. "Well, they wanted our attention with the death of their alpha, and they will receive more attention from now on, for disturbing the peace! I suggest that you all take a trip down to the bayou and have yourselves a little wolf hunt!" "The Crescents? You want us to kill them?" another vampire asked in shock. "Not kill…perhaps torture…scare…I am certain that you know the ways. Show a little Christmas spirit…and have fun!" Klaus told them with a smirk before finally leaving.

"We're not actually going to do it, right?" a girl newbie vampire asked the others. "Do you want to get a stake in your heart, or what?" Another asked her and drank up the rest of the beer from the bottle before slamming it to the ground. "Those are the wolf family of Hayley Marshall. You remember the last time we went after them…what happened, right?" The girl argued and he smirked saying, "Look, the Mikaelsons own this town. Whatever they saw goes, and I think that the so-called Queen of the wolves is no longer one of the Mikaelsons' favorite people. So, let's just take this advantage and wipe out those mutts!" "YEAH!" The other vampires agreed, before they raced out of the compound, to the bayou.

…

Meanwhile, at the homeless shelter, Cami was distracted. She was forced to collaborate with Elijah, in order to take care of an elderly woman, this close to Christmas. Elijah would keep his eyes on her the whole time, trying to read her mind. This was the first time she could see the noble brother being scared out of his wits. She knew why. He didn't want anyone to know about what he did. He didn't want her to tell anyone and he may have been mad at his sister for blackmailing him to do this. "I thought you said that you like to help people." Cami whispered as they prepared the bath for the woman together. It was funny how it was one of the things they weren't supposed to do…but the professional got sick and they were Eleanor's best option. Elijah checked the water temperature and chose not to say anything. "So, you're not going to talk to me the whole time we'll be here? I thought that you…"

"Camille, I am not here in order to have various discussions with you. I am here to serve some purpose. I want to help. It has always been my desire to help people in need. I have searched for my brother's redemption for as long as I can remember. I will not give this up for anything." "So, you had to be blackmailed by your own sister so you would come here?" "Camille…" Elijah sighed but he didn't know what else he could tell her. "Lady Eleanor, your both is ready!" he called out and the woman sighed and nodded, trying to get out of bed, but Cami stopped her. "No. You must be careful." "I couldn't move even if I wanted to, dear. I can't feel my legs at all." Eleanor whispered and Cami could see the sadness in her eyes. She met Elijah's gaze, who was observing the old woman's pain as well. "Let us help you. That is why we are here." He told her and carried her over to the tub. "But this is not your responsibility, young man. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to have this nice girl here undress me. Wouldn't want to think that you're a pervert."

Elijah's eyes widened as he set down Eleanor on a chair and turned to Cami, who was blushing and now a giggle escaped her lips. "You believe this to be funny?" he asked her. "Yes, very, especially when it comes from an old woman. Now, can you please leave the room?" The blonde went over and held the door of the bathroom open for him. Elijah sighed and couldn't hide a small smile also appearing on his face. But just when he was about to leave, there was a loud noise of someone falling, heard from behind and both Cami and Elijah turned around to see that Eleanor had fallen off the chair and had hit her head hard against the tub. "Oh my God!" Cami exclaimed and rushed over to help the old woman. Elijah leaned over to her and bit into his wrist at once. Cami's eyes widened when she saw what he was about to do. "What are you doing?" she asked in shock.

"What does it look like? I am trying to heal her!" Elijah said and Cami looked over to see that Eleanor was whimpering and she was barely conscious. Cami grabbed his wrist and held it. "You can't do that! Elijah, it is too risky! You can't have all of these people know that you're a vampire." "Camille, you would be ridiculous to think that they don't know about the supernatural creatures here." "Most of them have been transferred to this city this here and they think you're just a normal guy. If they find out that you're one of them, they won't let you help anymore. They will kick you out! They think you will harm the patience!" "I am trying to help and my blood is the only thing that will help her gain consciousness after that fall. Let me!" He tried to get his wrist free, but Cami wouldn't budge and she continued to hold his wrist in her hands.

"Please don't do this to her! Let me get medical help! Please!" "What is the harm? What are you trying to do here?" Elijah asked, angry at her. "I am tired of all your supernatural solutions! Let her get proper medical treatment! Let it go, Elijah!" Cami then stood up and went over to the bathroom door, yelling out for help from there. The door to Eleanor's room opened and doctors came inside at once, as Elijah picked the elderly woman off the ground, and set her down on the bed, letting the doctors do their thing. As soon as no one was watching, Elijah grabbed Cami's arm and led her over to the back of the room, holding her in place. "What do you want now?" she asked and wiped away a small tear which escaped her eye. Elijah's mouth parted, not believing tears were threatening to fall from this situation. "She is going to be alright now. There is no need to worry." He assured her. Cami grabbed her arm and pushed him away from her. "It's not about what just happened."

"Then what seems to be your problem?" "The way you handle everything. I am tired of everything having to do with the supernatural world! I want things to be different. I want everything to be different, please!" The blonde nearly screamed at him and held her forehead. Elijah looked back to see that the doctors have done a fantastic job and have managed to heal the woman. "It's not such a bad injury. She was lucky. Any harder she would have hit her head, and she would have died." One doctor explained to Elijah and Cami. The woman in charge came inside with a medical file in her hands and her face in shock. "What has happened here?" "Um…she hit her head on the side of the tub." Cami explained right away. "And how could you have allowed this to happen? Weren't you watching her?" she asked her at once. Elijah immediately stepped in and said, "I am to be held responsible for this. This was my fault. I was not paying attention. Please, forgive us."

"This woman could have died! Do you understand that?" "Yes, we do. And we assure you that this will not happen again…Sydney." Elijah concluded, after looking at her name tag. Sydney huffed and wrote something down on her pad. "These people are brought here because they need help not more trouble. You will no longer be in charge of the bath but do you think you can handle the rest or should I just find somebody else?" "We can take care of it. No problem." Cami intervened and Sydney pointed a finger at her. "One last chance. Because your partner here is very charming." Sydney concluded and pointed at Elijah. Cami rolled her eyes and whispered, "Runs in the Mikaelson family." "Have you said something?" Elijah asked, just as charmingly. "Yes. Thank you…but we are not done." Cami told him.

…

"We are almost there." Marcel said and noticed that Hope was laying her head on Hayley's lap in the backseat. Hope yawned and Hayley kissed her forehead, as Rebekah watched them from the rearview mirror. "Nothing has changed." Was all Hayley could say and Rebekah escaped a small laugh. "It certainly has way more snow on the grounds, but you've been gone only for a few days, Hayley. What exactly would you have expected to find different?" "My pack." Hayley responded. Marcel and Rebekah looked at each other, but decided not to ask. Once on Bourbon Street, Hayley exclaimed, "Stop the car!" Marcel did as he was asked and he watched Hayley step out of the car and say to Rebekah, "You can take Hope to the compound. But keep her away from Klaus, if he shows up in a crazy-ass state or drunken one. That is not the example I want him to be for my daughter."

"But where are you going?" Rebekah asked her in confusion. "I am going to the bayou. I can sense that something is wrong and I just want to check it out." Hayley told her. "Okay. Be safe, alright?" "Will do. And keep me posted with whatever is going on at the compound. And if you see Elijah or Freya, ask them to rent that apartment from the side building of the Abattoir." "What? Why?" "Because I am going to live there." Rebekah looked at Marcel in surprised and then said, "Hayley, you can't be serious." "No, I am very serious. I want you to help me with that." "But you said…" "I said that I would come back and I would let Hope be a part of the family Christmas, but that doesn't mean that I will. I don't want anything to do with Klaus Mikaelson while I'm here, do you understand?" "Okay. Fine." Hayley closed the door and raced to the bayou at once. She could sense it. Her senses were even more heightened now that she was a hybrid. The deeper she got in that bayou, the louder the screams and her heart was beating unnecessarily.

"SAVE YOURSELVES!" a wolf cried out and ran out into the clearing where Hayley could catch a glimpse of him. It was the same wolf who had accused her at Jackson's funeral and was now looking at her with even more anger. His clothes were ragged and he was bloodied up everywhere. "This was all your doing! You did this to us! You are no wolf! You're no vampire! YOU'RE A BEASTLY WITCH!" he raged. Hayley rushed over to him and held him by the throat. "What is going on?" she asked him calmly. Before he could respond, more wolves were fleeing for their lives, some of them, women who were crying and trying to take the children with them. Hayley looked back and let go of the wolf's neck. Vampires were spreading around and rushing towards them. Her eyes glowed amber and she knew what she had to do. This was her pack and still her responsibility.

Her own rage couldn't be compared to any other measly vampire. Hayley rushed towards each vampire in her path and plunged her hand into the first one's pulling out his heart, while he bit the second one and he cried out in pain from the werewolf venom she had induced in him. All the vampires stopped in their tracks and looked at her, wide-eyed and in horror. Hayley wiped the blood from her lips and licked at it, whispering, "Never thought that I would be capable of this, huh, especially not so soon till Christmas?" "Please…he told us to terrorize those wolves. We just…" One other vampire said and Hayley snapped, "Who told you could lay your hands on my people?" "Klaus Mikaelson."

A/N: A steamy confrontation between Klaus and Hayley will come up in the next chapter and you can only guess what will happen. Will the Mikaelsons ever get a peaceful Christmas? And what do you think about Elijah and Camille's bond? Will they grow closer and how?

Thank you for reading and please leave me reviews!