Chapter 8:

…..

They continued to kiss a little longer before Hayley raised her palm to his naked chest. Pressing against him gently, she let out a moan as she pulled away from him.

"We can't…" she told him breathlessly, her eyes moving to his lips.

"Why" he leaned in, grinning cheekily before he began kissing the nape of her neck. Hayley sighed contently, craning her neck to allow him better access as he went on placing small intimate pecks on her soft silky skin.

"Because Luna is here" the werewolf rolled her eyes, pushing him away firmly. "Plus I'm exactly feeling sexy right now…I just had a baby Klaus".

"I know little wolf" he smirked, caressing her cheek, his eyes flitting desirably to her soft plump lips.

"Later Klaus" she spoke firmly, her tone free from humour. "I don't want to now".

Letting out a disappointed sigh, Klaus moved back, taking his arms from her and sitting properly on the side of the bed. Hayley glanced up at him, her expression mixed with almost embarrassment as she watched him still shirtless.

"A penny for your thoughts?" the hybrid smiled smugly.

"I'm trying to figure you out Klaus" she replied gazing intently into his dark blue eyes. "You're a funny one" she chuckled gently.

"How so little wolf?" he raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

"Only a few weeks ago you were calling Luna 'it' and claiming you didn't care about what happened with the pregnancy. Now you seemingly worship her and we're hooking up" she laughed, indicating between them. "I don't get what's changed…and I wanna figure out if this is real or whether I need to pinch myself and wake up from this dream".

Klaus grinned as he reached out and softly pinched her calf. "Ouch" she winced, leaning down and rubbing the spot. "What was that for?" she faux frowned.

"So you could see this isn't a dream" he laughed. "I immensely regret my behaviour prior to Luna's birth" the smile disappeared and the spoke sincerely. "I guess it all had to happen for me to realise my true feelings…"

Hayley couldn't help but grin as she looked up at him and then down to Luna who lay in the bassinet. "Do you really think Elijah will find the answers?" her smile turned sad. "Do you really think Luna will be ok?"

"There is nothing wrong with her" Klaus countered reassuringly, taking Hayley hand and placing a small kiss on top of it. "And yes" he gave a smile. "Despite my brother and I's past quarrels and childish behaviour, I do trust that he will provide the answers in the end….for Elijah, protecting members of this family is his first priority".

Hayley gave a silent nod, taking Klaus's hand and pulling him gently toward her. Klaus's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion before settling into a grin. Hayley reached up and allowed her lips to meet his. They continued kissing deeply for a moment before Hayley pulled away with a longing expression painted on her features.

"Stay with me tonight" she whispered. He gave a nod and in a flash was on the other side of the bed, slipping beneath the covers. Hayley settled on her side and grinned as she felt Klaus come from behind her, spooning her figure tightly. She sighed contently as she closed her eyes, welcoming much needed sleep.

…

Hayley awoke slowly, her eyes resisting the strong sunlight flooding into the room through the opened curtains. Eventually squinting, she rolled around and faced the window. She could make out a tall figure, a man, his back to her. As her eyes finally adjusted and she could see clearly, she looked up at the male figure.

Smiling contently as she stretched out her limbs beneath the covers, Hayley grinned.

"Morning Klaus" she giggled, recalling the events of last night, his strong warm hands on her, touching and exploring every inch of her mouth and body….the strong feeling of his body beneath her fingertips….

"How did you sleep?" she asked him, pushing back the covers and beginning to sit up in the bed.

"Oh I slept like a baby" an unfamiliar voice answers, his American twang cutting through Hayley like a knife. Her stomach dropped with fear and dread as Marcel's dark figure turned to face her, his lips curled into an unsettling leer. "Excuse the pun" he chuckled wryly, walking towards the bassinet now strangely placed at the foot of the bed, instead of its previous position beside the head of the bed. Hayley eyes flitted warily from Marcel to the bassinet where she her wolf hearing picked up the steady even breaths of her daughter as she continued to sleep soundly, unaware of the precarious danger she was in.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded through gritted teeth, attempting to remain calm. "What do you want from us?"

"Just wanted to drop in and offer my congratulations" Marcel replied, feigning innocence by throwing his hands in the air in mock surrender. "I heard through the grapevine there had been a new arrival into the Mikaelson family…so I thought I would come see for myself" he continued smiling as he stopped before the bassinet. Glancing down at Luna he let out a small laugh. "God she looks exactly like him" he sneered.

Hayley didn't reply, instead narrowing her eyes as she glared at him. "You do know werewolf bites can kill vampires right?" she raised her eyebrows threateningly. "I don't think Klaus will be willing to give his blood to save someone threatening his daughter".

Marcel raised his eyes at her before looking back down at Luna, his smile gone at the realisation of the truth behind the threat. He furrowed his brow as he continued to look at the slumbering child, his arm reaching down and softly touching the girls face.

"Don't!" Hayley hissed. "Don't touch her!" she instructed harshly.

"I still don't know what to do about this little situation" he teased, the sneer returning to his lips. "I don't especially like the thought of an Original, let alone their child running around in my town. Who knows what she might grow up to be?"

"Please" Hayley pleaded, leaning forward on all fours on the bed. "Don't hurt her…she's all I have".

"You know" Marcel began, reaching down and gently lifting Luna into his arms as Hayley watched, cringing at the sight. "All my very long life, I've wished for a mother who loved me. Who would've spoken up for me, protected me and nurtured me" he spoke while caressing Luna's small features. "Instead I was the product of rape, born to a slave, without a name, without even a shred of human dignity given to me. Almost every day I catch myself thinking about the childhood I could have had if only my circumstances were different…if my mother had shown me love".

"Please" was all that Hayley could muster as hot tears began streaming down her face. "I do love her! Don't hurt her".

"I wouldn't dare" Marcel replied simply. "But it would be hurting her leaving her here with you and these Originals…I could give her a life she would only dream of here. What kind of threat would the little hybrid be if she was on the right side?" he laughed, rocking the small child softly.

Marcel's tall figure turned, still holding Luna and started for the room.

Hayley suddenly found her incapable of movement, her legs frozen, unable to stand and pursue Marcel as he left with her daughter. "Please!" she yelled at his retreating figure. Her chest heaved with heavy sobs. "Please" she screamed at him. "Bring her back. I need her….I need her! LUNA!" she screeched as darkness consumed her.

…..

Hayley awoke with a violent start, still screaming her daughter's name. Immediately sitting up she was met with Klaus's concerned expression as he sat in the window seat, Luna cradled in his arms, a bottle to her tiny lips.

"Hayley?" he frowned with concern. "You alright?"

The young werewolf took in a few long deep breaths, attempting to calm her racing heartbeat. Lifting her hand, she rubbed her forehead before turning back to Klaus, tears beginning to pool in her hazel eyes.

"Nightmare" her voice trembled, lifting her knees to her chest she wrapped her arms around them. "Marcel was here…he took Luna away….said I didn't love her" she began to sob softly.

Klaus's eyes softened at her story, a pang of concern resonating through his chest. Standing he slowly walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge, taking care to ensure Luna was ok. Smiling reassuringly he spoke "she's right here Hayley love" he reminded her, nodding his head down at the bundle in his arms. "She's here and she loves you…just as much as you love her".

Hayley returned the smile amidst her tears, reaching out and gentle cradling Luna's small head with her palm. Despite being occupied, drinking from the bottle, the little girls startlingly blue eyes flitted from both her mother to her father, recognition flashing within them.

Suddenly the scene was disturbed by the loud buzzing of Klaus's phone. The hybrid groaned slightly as he felt it continue to ring.

"Could you reach it for me love?" he questioned, indicating to the back pocket of his jeans. Hayley gave a single nod, reaching behind Klaus and taking the phone from him. She paused as she saw the number flashing on caller ID. 'Caroline' it read. Frowning in confusion, Hayley held the phone up at him.

"Why is Caroline calling you?" she asked.

Klaus didn't reply, unsure of what to say to the mother of his child, the woman he had been making out with only hours prior, the woman he found himself caring for.

"Well?" she pushed at his silence.

"I…" Klaus began uncertainly as the incessant buzzing continued to fill the hollow silence between them.

Hayley let out a deep breath, running the fingers of her free hand through her loose hair. "I'll put it this way Klaus…" she spoke coldly. "Do you want to answer this call?"

…

To all my lovely readers: I need your help! I am completely and utterly stuck on plot ideas and I hate that this story that you've all come to love is suffering. In your reviews, feel very free to leave any suggestions for plots/events that you would want to see happen. I am very open to new ideas because I'd love to keep this story going strong!