Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

Milk. All she needed was some damn milk. Hayley rummaged through the refrigerator persistently, but to no avail. She sighed and placed a hand on her baby bump. Sorry baby, not today.

"Good morning."

Hayley peeked her head from behind the fridge door and smiled. Elijah was leaning up against the doorway smiling at her. She felt a slight flutter begin in her stomach but immediately forced herself to kill the feeling. He was an original. She couldn't forget that.

"Hey," she replied. She was glad he hadn't taken last night too hard. Reflecting back on it, slapping him had been a bit much, but hey, she was hormonal. Can't blame a pregnant woman for lashing out from time to time.

Just then, Rebekah opened the back door and dragged a trash can behind her. Hayley turned back to the fridge and frowned.

"Listen, I know I'm the only one in this house that actually drinks milk, but would it kill any of you to make sure it's on the grocery list?" she asked.

"Speaking of, add bleach," Rebekah said with a huff. She stomped through the kitchen into the living room to clean up the blood from the previous night, and weirdly, Hayley didn't find it odd. She had gotten used to it by now.

"You know, I do hope my siblings were hospitable to you, in my absence," Elijah said as he rummaged around in the cupboard. Hayley pulled a tub of ice cream out of the freezer, totally succumbing to her cravings and pondered Elijah's statement.

"In your absence, as you like to call it, which is a way-too-polite way of saying that your brother put a dagger in your heart," she replied sarcastically. Elijah moved to the island counter where she was at and placed a bowl, spoon, and bag of cereal on the granite. He put away the ice cream Hayley had just taken out and she frowned.

"I have been attacked by French Quarter vampires, I've had to live in a house with a secret dungeon full of coffins, and I was nearly murdered by witches who are convinced my baby is Lucifer."

Elijah looked up at her and smiled sympathetically, but reached past her to pull two jugs out of the fridge, one of which was… milk. He poured some milk in the bowl following the cereal.

"Oh...milk." Elijah looked at her once more and grinned.

"They've been fine. Your siblings are weirdly protective, I know I have you to thank for that," Hayley said appreciatively. Elijah nodded and smiled at her.

"I'm just happy to see that you're in one piece. So, back to the murderous witches… I have some concerns," he said seriously. He looked at Hayley straight in the eyes and for the first time she noticed that there was a slight twinkle in his dark brown eyes.

"They're evil. And, my life is still magically linked to Sophie Deveraux, which is not comforting," Hayley said. She had to admit she was scared, not for herself, but for her baby.

"Yes, I think it's time we took care of that little problem," he said to her.

"I am all for it. As soon as they're unlinked, we get to leave this crap town," Rebekah said as she casually dragged a dead body across the kitchen floor. "Who do we have to kill?"

"Probably no one," Elijah responded. Hayley looked at him quizzically and raised an eyebrow. Elijah stared back before sighing and rethinking his response.

"Alright, potentially everyone."

Hayley felt like she was going to pass out. She had a towel wrapped around her body despite the fact that her skin felt like it was on fire. She swayed back and forth a bit and vaguely felt Rebekah's hand on her forehead, but mainly it was like she was delusional. Everything was too blurry to really focus on and even if her vision allowed it, the massive headache she had didn't make her want to open her eyes. If this was what dying was like, Hayley was ready to get it over with.

"She's burning up! We need to do this now!" she heard Elijah yell.

"Get her in the water!" Sophie responded.

Rebekah began helping Hayley stand as she heard a splash. Elijah was standing in the pool completely dressed. That wasn't right, was it? Why did he have his clothes on? She found herself being shuffled towards Elijah and eventually was pulled into the water with him. The pool helped cool her down a bit, but her headache and vision were getting worse.

"I don't see how a midnight swim is supposed to help," Rebekah said from the side of the pool

"Her temperature is sky-high. The water, with the help of the herbs, should cool us down," Sophie said. She also jumped in the pool and waded over to press a cup into Hayley's hands.

"Drink this!" Hayley drank greedily hoping that the liquid would help her in some way. It tasted like grass and dirt but she didn't care. A sharp pain struck her abdomen and she gasped.

"You're going to have to get her heart rate down."

"How do you suggest I do that?" Elijah asked.

"Hold her. It's a natural human remedy to slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure," Sophie explained. Hayley looked up at Elijah, but he already had his arms underneath her. Elijah kneeled and held Hayley bridal style in the water. She wrapped her arms around his neck trying to hold on for dear life, but the pain was beginning to worsen.

"This is never gonna work," Rebekah said.

"Davina will break the link, we just need time," Elijah said to no one in particular. Hayley clung tightly to him and let out a groan. It was getting much worse. Suddenly, she felt as though her oxygen supply had been significantly cut off. Her throat contracted and she began to gasp for breath.

"I can't breathe," Hayley rasped. She took it back, if this was dying, then please just happen already.

"Okay, long deep breaths, Hayley! Look at me. Long deep breaths, just focus on the sound of my voice," Elijah said to her. She looked towards him and found his face just inches from her own. Had she not been hyperventilating, it would've made her uncomfortable, but right now, there was nothing and no one she'd rather see more.

"You'll be okay. You'll be okay," he whispered to her. Maybe she would be. Maybe-

Hayley screamed. Everything else just seemed to melt away. The pool, Sophie, Rebekah… Elijah. They were all gone. All she could feel was the intense stabbing pain she felt in her stomach. She knew this was death. She knew she was going to lose this baby and that this would be the end for her. Hayley screamed for her unborn child and for herself as she buckled over.

Sophie said something Hayley couldn't hear. But the pain was beginning to subside. She was able to hear again. The headache and stabbing in her stomach began to fade away slowly, and she felt air fill her lungs once more. Hayley slowly opened her eyes and looked up to find Elijah staring at her intently. What was the expression? Confusion? Relief? Had he been… scared?

Hayley stood up slowly, but still leaned against Elijah in fear of toppling over. He however, wasn't letting go of her. His hand was still pressed firmly to her lower back and he had a hand on her forearm. They both turned towards Sophie who took an earring out of her ear and pierced the palm of her hand.

Elijah looked down at Hayley and grabbed her hand to inspect it for injury, but nothing happened. Hayley felt no pain, but something else instead. She felt that familiar fluttering begin in her stomach and this time, she just couldn't shake it. Elijah looked down at her, but did not release her hand. And she didn't want him to.

"Come on, let's go," Elijah whispered as he began to lead her out of the pool.

Despite the horrible events that had occurred tonight, there was one thing that was for certain. Hayley Marshall definitely had feelings for an original vampire.