All he asks is that we take care of you.

The words reverberated in her head as Hayley sat by the pool, her legs submerged to her knees. How did she not feel flattered by such words? How did she stop herself from being even more intrigued by her baby's uncle?

The evening was warm, and she found relief and a little bit of solace when she was outside at night, by herself. It gave her time to think. While she was pretty much housebound, she was hardly ever alone. Klaus and Rebekah seemed to have come to some agreement – that one or the other would always be around to babysit her – this had been after the latest incident when trusting witches almost saw her baby aborted.

A gentle breeze blew and she pushed her hair behind her ears. The water was iridescent, glowing eerily because of the lights at the base of the pool. It shimmered in blues and greens, casting everything with the same ethereal, almost magical light.

Things were complicated before. It just got a million times worse. With an attempt on her life, Klaus went kind of mental. For once, she didn't complain.

Her instincts had told her not to go. Something had felt off. But Rebekah's words had stung. Or maybe it had been the longing evident in the blonde vampire's voice.

A lot of women would kill to have a child. Strikes me as odd that you're not taking better care of yours.

Hayley shivered, the memory of being in that place washing over her. She had never imagined being a mother, being pregnant. And yet somehow, it had felt wrong to be there without someone who cared as much about the baby – or her. Either would do actually. But she had no one. Besides Elijah maybe. But he hadn't been there. And she still didn't know when he would even be back. Time stretched on endlessly, each day bringing very little hope with it.

Hayley kicked gently at the surface of the water, watching the water ripple outwards, the circles radiating from the centre. She felt less adrift here than she had ever felt. Which was strange. She had nothing in common with any of the Mikaelson siblings. And yet, somehow, they had formed this unique family. But they weren't really her family. Her family was out there somewhere. And she had not given up on finding them.

She remembered very little of the night she went out into the Bayou to see the supernatural doctor. Most of it was a blur. She remembered vividly the adrenalin that allowed her to protect her baby, but she remembered nothing of who saved her, much less of how she managed to find her way back to the cabin in the woods.

She smiled wryly at the difference in Klaus since that night. He had been kind to her for the first time in… well… almost their entire acquaintance. Perhaps this pregnancy will not be so bad after all. They were nowhere near to being friends. But Elijah had been right. Somewhere, inside, Klaus was capable of kindness. Even compassion. He had showed her some of that. And she would not forget it. Perhaps now she began to understand a little of why Rebekah and Elijah always vowed to, but failed to give up on their brother. Because when he showed glimmers of goodness, how did you turn your back on that? How did you turn your back on the possibility of redeeming someone who had the potential to be more than just the hate he had felt for so long?

She envied them. Even with their messed up past. They loved each other. Their actions were born out that love and loyalty. Similarly, there was a deep void inside of her, calling to the wolves. Today had been another dead end. She was no closer to finding her family and no closer to getting any answers about what her baby might be.

Hayley heard Rebekah call to her and gave the water one final kick before she stood, drying herself and putting her shoes back on.

In the lounge, Rebekah was already pouring two fingers of whiskey.

"You called? I was quite content outside you know."

Rebekah looked up. "Just to lecture you shamelessly."

Hayley rolled her eyes, depression settling in. "Yay me."

Rebekah ignored her. "I don't care if we have to get you a leash, that was your last trip to the bayou. What is it with you and those wolves anyway?"

"I feel like we're connected somehow." Rebekah raised a brow and she sighed, trying to explain something she didn't even understand. "I don't know." Hayley pulled a face in frustration. She was tired of thinking about this, wishing for it. Hoping for it.

"Maybe its just some pipe dream that I have of finding any real family out there but sometimes when I feel like its me against the world, it keeps me going."

Rebekah extended one of the glasses to her as a peace offering and Hayley raised a brow. Seriously?

"Oh right." Realisation dawned and at least Rebekah looked sheepish as she drowned both glasses.

"Well, if you ask me, family is a pain in the behind."

Hayley acknowledged this with a nod. One look at the Mikaelson's proved that one completely. But then Rebekah surprised her. "And, as for being in it alone, how dare you. I didn't ruin a pair of fabulous boots traipsing through the bayou for just anyone."

Understanding passed between them. Hayley suspected it was the closest she was ever going to get to a 'I actually like you'. Looks like she had another person she could call friend. Without even consciously realising it, she had bonded with the blonde Original. They had shared confidences, traipsed through the bayou and Rebekah had accepted her as a part of her family – for now anyway. And yet she could not shake the feeling of depression. Elijah was still missing. They had no answers to what her baby was. And she was no closer to finding any leads on her family.

Hayley had just made a mental note to take a bath and curl up with Elijah's diary when she heard Rebekah squeal. She turned, expecting Klaus. And it was Klaus. But he wasn't alone.

She was not prepared. He looked well, vital and strong. Simultaneously it felt like just yesterday or months since she had last laid eyes on him. Hayley felt as though she was watching the scene before her unfold from someone else's body. She noticed little things. Like the way Rebekah threw herself into his arms without reservation. She noticed how his arms immediately caught her, holding her close. She noticed the smile he gave his sister; one of deep affection and familial love.

She couldn't take her eyes from him and it was as though she inadvertently willed him to look at her. And then he did. His eyes are warm, friendly, intimate; his look just for her. I am crazy. Intimate? Really Hayley, she lectured herself. But she couldn't help her smile, couldn't stop it if she wanted to. The problem however, was that she didn't know what to say. She felt awkward, so she made a decision to give the siblings some privacy. And escape. Hayley felt his eyes track her progress across the room.

She wondered outside, staring up at the stars, silently offering thanks for returning him home safely. She just knew. She didn't have to look to know it was him. She watched him tentatively make his way towards her, unsure of himself. She smiled, unable to stop herself. It was like her senses took in everything about him. His suit was dusty, his shirt smudged with dirt in places. His pants were wrinkled. His tie was loose, askew and the buttons of his shirt was undone. But still that hand rested in his pocket. He was amusingly disheveled and yet old habits died hard.

He came to stand in front of her and everything was filled with him. Her sight, his smell, her mind, her heart. He was home. Their eyes locked and she was lost for a little moment. The air was romantic. She realised this in hindsight. Candles burned low, a warm breeze blew, gently rustling the leaves on the trees overhead.

His approach seemed tentative; much like the first time they met she thought. Or maybe not. He had been sure of himself then. She sensed he wasn't so much this time. That struck her as funny. But the smile that formed on her lips had nothing to do with that thought. He stood before her, whole and well. And she had missed him more than even she had realised.

Hayley turned to face him, keeping her arms folded, afraid that by letting go, she might launch herself into his arms.

"You're back."

"I'm back." Even hearing his voice flooded her with the sweetest relief. She couldn't tear her eyes from his. He had the barest hint of a smile on his lips. If she let herself, she could easily spend hours just staring at him.

Hayley made an impulsive decision and didn't second guess it. She slapped him. It was obvious it had been the last thing he had expected her to do. She also knew it didn't hurt him at all. But she did it more for her own benefit. It was no good making moon eyes at Elijah Mikaelson. She attracted compilations. And she always made the stupid mistakes. She couldn't mess this up.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she said. "Welcome home."

Elijah recovered quickly. He went from being slightly baffled to something else. Admiration? He understands me, she realised. And he knows exactly why I did that. The knowledge excited and terrified her at the same time.

She didn't look back. But she could sense he was smiling as she fled. Inside, a warmth was unfurling. A warmth and an insatiable happiness she could not remember ever feeling before. Insatiable because she had a feeling that only more and not less of Elijah Mikaelson would do.

She had barely made it upstairs when Rebekah called out to her. They are having a family meeting and Elijah had requested that she join them. Hayley entered last and he offered her his chair. But she would rather stand. It felt safer. But every now and then, he eyes would find hers and she had to push down the irrational giddiness that would not be suppressed.

They were the last to leave the study. At the doorway she hesitated.

"I did mean it you know." He looked up, his gaze questioning. "Welcome home."

He smiled then, a full, warm smile, only for her. Hayley smiled back, allowing him to see just how happy seeing him had made her. It made no sense, and yet she felt infinitely safer knowing they were now under the same roof.

"I'm glad to be back." He paused for a moment and she felt rooted to the spot. "I thought of you during my absence. I am glad to see you and the child are well."

"Barely," she said, slightly embarrassed, unprepared for how to respond. "But I have a feeling things might be looking up," she confessed.

Elijah's eyes met hers from across the room. "I sincerely hope so."

a/n: I have not forgotten about this story. The idea is to follow the show, filling in some of the blanks. I'm just much better at updating less serialised stuff. Hence, Let the Flames Begin is more active in the update department.

Thank you for reading.