In the previous chapter, Hayley learned the truth about Jackson's death and why he was murdered, sending her out of the city. Elijah confessed to the entire family his sins, and Klaus set of in search of Hayley, after much intimidation given to one wolf from her pack. Once finding Hayley, Klaus was able to convince her of his intentions for Elijah's punishment and his feelings for her, which lead to a steamy moment in the cold snow on Christmas Day. In the end, Freya suggested to Elijah that he takes Cami with him on his little trip to California, so he would have some pleasant company.

PLOT: Klaus discovers the true meaning of family while being with Hayley and Hope on the day of New Year's Eve. Freya and Rebekah have a sisterly-bond as they prepare the festivity and send out invitations to the Crescent Wolves as well. Elijah and Cami return from their trip, with gifts for Hope and Elijah is forced by Klaus to have a talk with Hayley. Meanwhile, Cami is presented with a surprise from the homeless shelter, following the will of Eleanor Tate, her deceased patient. Finally, the werewolves arrive at the New Year's Eve party only to create tension between them and the true murderer of Jackson.

For a couple of days, his thoughts have been only on his brother, and how he must have been handling the situation. It was not every day that he could admit to killing someone, destroying the family unity in the meantime. Elijah represented the unity for their family, and sometimes, Rebekah took that role as well. But now that Elijah and Cami were both gone in California, Hayley was at peace, that she knew the truth about what happened to Jackson, and she accepted Klaus wholeheartedly in her life, with many apologies and passionate nights like the one they shared in the woods, covered by snow and their own clothes. Freya was surrounding the compound by making the best she could under the circumstances. New Year's Eve had arrived, and no one was more excited than the child of the family.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Hope bursts through their bedroom and started jumping up and down the bed. Klaus and Hayley both groaned as they tried to get back under the covers. They had not been getting much sleep lately, with all the midnight activities. "New Year's! New Year's! New Year's!" Hope started yelling out while jumping on the bed and then she zoomed out of the bedroom and into her Auntie Bekah's bedroom in order to alert her too. Hayley burst out laughing and nudged Klaus when she saw that he had decided to go back to sleep. "You know that she is coming back if we don't get up, right?" A smirk played on Klaus' face as he leaned over to her and kissed her earlobe, sucking on her neck and then placed a chaste kiss on her shoulder. "What if I lock the door and you and I can have our own celebration, little wolf?"

"Oh, so we're talking about sex?" Hayley asked with a roll of her eyes. "I believe you should have said that a bit louder, love because I don't think Hope heard you." Klaus grunted and got up from the bed and threw his shirt back on and then his pants. Hayley sat up too but covered herself with the sheets, still exposing the top part of her breasts to him and walked over seductively, placing a kiss on his lips. "We should have some family time, Klaus. We have been ignoring Hope since the day Elijah left." "No, we have not." "Yes, we have. We barely left this room to be with her." "Sweetheart, you are very irresistible, so how could I even think about leaving this bedroom in that case?" "Breaking your daughter's heart is a better option?" she asked and placed her hands on his chest. "What do you want us to do, love?" Klaus finally asked her with a sigh. "We'll throw a party and we will do it just like Hope wanted. We will have candles, we will go out and buy her more presents than the ones she received on Christmas Day…"

"Don't remind me!" Klaus groaned, remembering the nightmare Christmas they all had and how at the end of the day, after Elijah and Cami left for California, it was Hope of all people, who started getting angry at them and throwing things around the room because she did not receive the attention she wanted while she was opening up her presents. "I am reminding you because I really don't want to disappoint her again." "That's quite a problem, sweetheart because you will have to understand…Elijah is on Hope's Wish List." "What Wish List?" Hayley asked, confused. "She created a list the other day of all the people she wanted to invite to spend New Year's with her and Elijah happens to be on that list." "Also Jackson…" Hayley whispered and rubbed her eyes. "Love, she can handle anything." "No, she can't. She's just a child and I still have to tell her that Jackson is gone and he is not coming back." She then looked at his face and whispered, "Klaus, I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologize. Jackson was a part of her life when the two of you were married and I can understand and respect that." "Can you? Really?" "Of course." "Okay…then maybe we can talk about Cami." "What is there to talk about?" "Is she going to be a part of this New Year's fest or…?" Klaus chuckled when he saw that Hayley was crossing her hands over her chest in defense. She always did that when she was suspicious of something. "Love, is this your way of trying to corner me…trying to get me to say that I have something going on with Cami still?" "You tell me." "Where is this coming from?" "Look…we have this…" She pointed between them. "…this thing going on and I want to make sure that it is real and that we are really doing this because if it doesn't work out…" Hayley stopped talking when she felt Klaus' kiss on her lips. "I am in this, little wolf. For the long run, I am in." She smirked and whispered, "Alright. You said the words. Be prepared for the many challenges along the way." "I look forward to them, my Queen."

"And what about Hope? Will you do everything in your power to make this New Year's special for her?" "You know, I will, sweetheart." "Then you have to get Elijah back." Klaus stopped Hayley from leaving the room and said as calmly as he could, "I don't believe that I have heard you correctly, little wolf. For a moment there, I believe you said something about wanting me to bring Elijah back." "Yeah, I did. What's the problem?" "He killed your husband." Klaus reminded her, simply. Hayley sighed and took a deep breath before saying, "It's passed. I feel pain because Jackson was a good man and a good husband, and I didn't love him the way I wanted to, because he deserved it." "He made a sacrifice for the good of your pack." "It wasn't a sacrifice for him as it was for me, Klaus. He really loved me. And that is what determined me even more to marry him. I wanted to feel loved." "And now you are…and you will be from this day forward. You have my word." Hayley smiled and whispered, "I love you."

"As I love you, sweetheart." Klaus said the words with more ease, as he was certain that Hayley would not turn her back on him. She would never betray him. She never truly has, even after he had treated her in the cruelest way possible. She was alongside him. They were partners, leaders and lovers. The door burst open and an angry Rebekah walked inside with Hope's screams which could be heard from her room, the one she shared with Marcel. "What the bloody hell is going on in here? Don't you two have any idea how to raise a child?" "We're not exactly the most ideal parents, Rebekah, and you should relax. She is just very excited for the New Year's party." Rebekah groaned and said, "Ah, that reminds me…I have to go shopping with Freya today…oh for goodness sakes! And get your daughter to stop getting on my nerves or she will say goodbye to Auntie Bekah and welcome the real Rebekah Mikaelson!" She snapped, making Klaus chuckle, as he got himself a glass of bourbon.

Hope came back into her parents' bedroom and looked at them with an adorable look on her face. "Pretty please…can Uncle Elijah and Cami come?!" Hayley eventually nodded and Hope squealed, starting to jump up and down the bed again. "Is it a possibility for even hybrids to get a migraine, sweetheart?" Klaus asked Hayley and she smiled, "That's your daughter over there." "It's our DNA. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." He remarked and picked up his phone, ready to dial Elijah's number and trying to be as calm as possible with him, under the circumstances. Klaus was prepared to invite his brother back home for New Year's, as long as he didn't do anything to upset Hayley. Elijah answered after the third ring. "Niklaus. I am surprised you called." "Hello, brother. Hope insists that you join us for the festivities of the New Year." "That is nice, indeed, however, I am not sure that I will be able to make it." "You will have to be able to make it, brother because your niece does not do well with disappointments. And since it is the New Year's…we have a tradition to celebrate it in the family, do we not?"

"Niklaus, Camille and I…" "I personally do not want to hear another word on the matter. You will take Cami's hand and the two of you will come back to New Orleans and celebrate with us, for the sake of my child." There was a long pause and Klaus eyed Hayley to see that she was getting a little uncomfortable with this conversation. "How is Hayley?" Elijah finally asked and Klaus' breathing hitched. "She is fine. She certainly does not need any comfort words from you, since you killed Jackson." "I apologized and I will pay for my mistake. Whatever the price may be." "Ah, such gallant and noble words, as always! Unfortunately, it is not enough to woo Hayley this time, brother. Be here tonight with Cami and let bygones be bygones." With that, Klaus ended the conversation and turned around to see that Hope was no longer in their room and Hayley strutted over to him. She put her hands on his naked chest and leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips. "I'm fine…and I know that you don't like being called jealous…so try to hide that jealousy streak from now on, okay?"

He looked surprised and stated, "I have no reason to be jealous." "Really? Then why were you talking to Elijah about him trying to woo me?" Klaus continued to stare down at her with a hard expression, making Hayley giggle and she kissed him again, this time more passionately and demanding. She opened his mouth and let his tongue enter, moaning in comfort. "You have no right to be jealous of Elijah and then come at me and tell me not to be jealous of Cami, okay? I love you. I don't know what I have to do to prove that to you." Hayley looked at him desperately. "Nothing." Klaus murmured and creased her lips with his tongue after which he caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead. "I want to see you happy tonight, little wolf." "Nothing will spoil my New Year's Eve with you and our daughter."

…

"Ugh, this is just not right!" Rebekah complained as she noticed the decorations Freya had picked out for the ballroom, later that evening. They only had a couple of hours left and the party was close to ready to begin. Freya rolled her eyes and said, "You could have picked out these decorations yourself had you been up and early like I asked." "Well, Marcel and I have been celebrating the New Year a bit earlier than usual." Rebekah replied with a wink and Freya smiled. "And what about Niklaus and Hayley? I could hear them going at it all night." "They have been inseparable ever since Elijah confessed to the truth." "Can you blame them? They wanted to be together for so long. They had affairs behind Cami and Jackson's backs and then my idiot brother admitted to a crime he didn't commit." Freya sighed, shaking her head.

"The good thing is that they form a family now, Hope is happy and Elijah and Cami are coming home today." "Why did you send Cami on that trip to California along with Elijah?" Rebekah asked Freya, raising an eyebrow at her. "I am not playing the matchmaker, if that is what you suspect me of." She responded immediately and Rebekah nodded. "Hmm, then why?" "Because Cami has been through a lot these past few days, just as Elijah, and I really wanted to help her out. Is there a problem?" "No. I was just curious." There was a pause and Freya turned to her sister, saying, "Aright, fine. I will admit that they are quite lovely together. They have a lot in common, they can help each other heal from broken hearts etcetera, etcetera." Rebekah attention returned to Marcel, who was choosing the five-course meals for that night.

"Don't be ridiculous, Marcellus! We don't need the food to be this lavish." She complained and Marcel nearly dropped the list. "Who are you and what have you done to Rebekah Mikaelson, I wonder?" "I am serious this time. We don't need to make such a good impression. The vampires and the witches have a problem with celebrating the New Year, remember? They think that everything they have accomplished this past year would have gone to waste by the countdown." Marcel stared at her and then started chuckling again. "Do you think I care? And what about the Crescents? Didn't you send out invitations to them too?" "I did. And they better show up and not make a scene…for Hayley's sake. She's been through enough."

The preparations continued for another hour, when the doors to the compound opened, revealing Elijah and Cami, all dressed up and ready to have the party of the year, alongside the rest of the Mikaelsons. Hope raced down the stairs in her cute little outfit and used her speed to jump right into her uncle's arms. "Uncle 'lijah!" she exclaimed and Elijah laughed, holding her close to him. "How are you, my darling niece?" "Good. Where have you been?" she asked him when she finally pulled back from their hug. Before Elijah could say something, Klaus and Hayley were already descending the stairs together, side by side. Cami cleared her throat and tried smiling. "Hayley, you look very beautiful!" she exclaimed and Hayley nodded. "Thank you. You too." Hayley was wearing a sparkling grey dress, Rebekah thought would be perfect for the New Year, while Klaus was wearing a simple suit with a red tie.

"I believe our guests shall be here shortly. Elijah, brother, have a drink with me. I have something I would like to discuss with you." His face was stern and Elijah smiled at Camille, giving her a kiss on the cheek, surprising everyone, especially Rebekah. "I will be back and we can have our first dance." Cami nodded with a small smile spread across her lips. Elijah turned back to Klaus, who offered him a drink. "A new romance blossoms between you and my ex, I see. Just as you have gone after the woman bearing my child from the start." "Niklaus, please do not start. I came here in peace." "It was a simple observation. But if you and Cami are happy together, I don't see any problem in having you two lovebirds here, under the same roof with us. Now, on lighter subjects…" "Why do I feel like this has something to do with Hayley?" Klaus led him away from the others so they could talk more privately. "I want you to talk to her this very moment and offer her your apologies. I will be joining you." "Niklaus…" "That is my desire for this night. I expect you to be most understanding that Hayley has been going through a bit of a rough time and she needs to hear you and your perspective of what happened to Jackson."

Elijah smirked and said, "I am pleased to hear that you actually show understanding and care towards her. You never have before." Klaus smirked as well and then grabbed a hold of his brother roughly and brought him in front of Hayley. "We only have a few moments until Rebekah will open the gates for our guests to arrive. Anything that you would like to say to Hayley, brother?" Klaus asked him and Elijah grunted, as he looked over at the hybrid girl in front of him with her hands crossed over her chest. "It's okay, Elijah. I'm not going to bite you or anything. I just need to know…" Hayley started saying but Elijah cut her off. "There is nothing more to say. What can I tell you? I have expressed my forgiveness the last time I have encountered you and I have been living with guilt in California ever since." Hayley looked over at Klaus, as he asked her, "Are you satisfied, love?"

Nodding, Hayley turned to Elijah and said, "I can't forgive you overnight. But you are family. You have always been a part of my family since the day we met and for the sake of what we once shared together, I think that I can forgive you for this. But in time, Elijah. For now, I really don't want this to be brought up any longer." Elijah nodded and whispered, "Very well." Rebekah clapped her hands together as she went over to them and said, "I have opened the gates and people are coming in here like crazy. Remember, the people invited are all immortal, so don't hold back on anything." Sure enough, the Vampire, Witch and even the Werewolf Faction have entered, looking around at the spectacular decorations, chosen by the Mikaelson sisters. The wolves were passing by and still eying Hayley angrily when they saw her with Klaus. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, when she felt Klaus' soft fingers caressing her back. "Are you alright, little wolf?"

"What the hell is their problem? Haven't they done enough by neglecting me as their Queen?" she suddenly snapped and she could have sworn that some of them have heard her. She looked down when Hope came over with a glass of apple juice in her tiny little hand. Hayley smiled and kissed her forehead. "What's wrong, baby girl?" "Some lady is talking to Uncle 'Lijah and Cami." She pointed over at the other side of the room, where Cami and Elijah were greeted at the party by Sydney, the woman who has accepted them in the homeless shelter volunteering program a couple of days before. "And I have to inform you that the late Eleanor Tate, the woman you had taken care of, just before her untimely death…has left something for the two of you in her will."

Elijah and Cami looked over to see that Sydney was offering them a plane ticket to Bahamas. "Apparently, she has a house there and her daughter will no longer be using it. It's yours." "Wow." Cami whispered and accepted the plane ticket for the next week. "Thank you. We will check it out." Sydney smiled at them and left. Cami then turned to Elijah and looked upset. "Do you think that we should take this house?" "Why not? It is in a vacation spot. We can head over there and enjoy some quality time alone." "I understand…but that is the house of the woman who died right in front of us after we cared for her, Elijah. It just doesn't seem right." "But Sofia doesn't want that house. I am thinking that she is the one who offered it to us. Let us take it and this way, we can please Eleanor." Cami smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know. She would have never taken no for an answer. She had a lot of spunk." Elijah leaned over and kissed Cami, making her moan a little and smile, but they pulled back at once when they heard a racket from the other side of the ballroom.

"You were our Queen and we trusted you! Then you aligned with Klaus Mikaelson and our alpha was killed!" one werewolf snapped and Hayley stood her ground about to respond when Elijah stepped in and raised his hand. "I'm afraid that it was not my brother who has brought the death upon Jackson. It was me." The wolves gasped and remained silent as Elijah foolishly started explaining the incident. Klaus rolled his eyes and exclaimed, "They don't want to receive an explanation, Elijah! All they care about is having someone to blame for Jackson's death! I personally would have preferred had you not meddled in my affairs!" "It is not your affair, Niklaus. This is my responsibility, because I am the one who committed murder this time and not you." Elijah responded calmly. The wolves growled and pointed at Elijah. "Then you must pay the price!" "I intend to. It was an accident…but murder is murder."

Freya used her magic to turn the music louder in order to distract the other guests from the fight. Rebekah stepped over to them with her hands on her hips. "I have worked hard to arrange this party for my family and for the factions of this city and so help me, if you mutts try to ruin it, I will plunge my hands through your intestines…" "Rebekah, control yourself!" Elijah exclaimed and then added, "I will gladly pay the price!" "No, Elijah! You won't!" Hayley snapped and stepped forward so that she could face the wolves, her people with pride. She didn't care how mad they were at her. She only knew that she was still their Queen by birth right. She knew that Klaus would have wanted her to do this. "Jackson's death was a tragedy…but I won't hold Elijah responsible for what happened!" Some of the wolves chuckled and one said, "You don't have to! You're not our Queen anymore."

This was a big mistake coming from a wolf's mouth because at that moment, Hayley sped forward and grabbed the werewolf by the throat, slamming him to the ground. Then she put her heel at his throat and he looked up and started begging for mercy. The music was stopped and everyone turned around to pay attention this time. Even Hope was watching and Hayley knew that she couldn't do anything that her daughter would not approve of. And she couldn't kill one of her own. Instead, she let down the dress a little off her shoulder, to reveal the Crescent moon. It was the symbol…the sign which represented her birth right, her royalty…the fact that she was Queen of this city and Queen of the Crescent Wolves and nothing was about to change that.

"I will never be free of this birthright and no one can erase this mark from my shoulder so maybe it is time for me to make a point! I was your Queen before Jackson's death and I will continue to be your Queen! Jackson's death was a tragic accident, and he will always be remembered as having been a great alpha for us all. He was a good husband to me and a good man! But we cannot spend the rest of our lives taking revenge on the people who murder! That does not mean that we will ignore the murder either! Elijah Mikaelson had no intention to kill Jackson, nor had he any reason to! I have already questioned him myself and believe me…that I may be merciful but I do not close my eyes when justice must be served. Jackson was drunk that night and Elijah tried to do everything he could in his power to stop him from ruining the graves of other people who have died. Pulling his heart out was an incident…and an act of self-defense when Jackson tried to attack him!"

Klaus smiled, proud of his little wolf, as his Queen, as she continued speaking. "I know you can all agree that Elijah Mikaelson is to be considered the noble brother of the family! He is not a coldblooded killer. He never kills without purpose and unless he is forced to! That is why, I have every reason to pardon him, as long as he promises to be in service of the Werewolf Clan from this day forward. Do you agree to that, Elijah?" She turned to him and Elijah smiled, nodding. "There we have it! Now, I would like to enjoy this New Year's party with you all! No more fighting and no more complaining. Let's be cheerful and spread some goodwill! This world could sure use some!" She then pulled her heel away from the wolf' neck and sighed in relief that the wolves were no longer protesting. Turning back to Klaus, he pulled her in for a passionate kiss and mumbled, "You did amazingly well, my love. You are a leader of nature." Hayley smiled back and nuzzled her head into his neck.

"I am just happy that it is over. I can be at peace with you. At last." She whispered and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his warm body. She then turned to the windows, where she could see that the fireworks were being prepared by Rebekah and Freya. The countdown was soon starting and Hope was very excited, as she was every year. "Always and forever." Klaus murmured in Hayley's ear and she smiled, nodding. "Always and forever." She repeated.

A/N: I hope you liked this mini-story. Now I have to get back to updating Double Hearted, because I feel like I kind of abandoned it after only 4 chapters, and there is still so much to say about what will happen there. Happy New Year's and let's hope that this year, it will be Klayley Year. Make sure that you all wish for it when the countdown starts!

Thank you for reading and please leave me reviews!