Elijah appeared downstairs, searching the landing.

"Calm down he's not here." A voice replied behind him.

"Rebekah." Elijah addressed with surprise.

"I thought you were going to unpack." He asked her.

"Yes. It'd be a lot easier if Nik hadn't sold half my furniture." She explained.

Elijah smiled.

"I'm sure you'll sort something out." he told her and began to walk away.

"Hey!" Rebekah called obscuring his exit.

"Where were you? She interrogated him, raising her perfect eyebrows.

"I was attending to some matters." Elijah replied attempting to walk past her.

Rebekah moved symmetrically, blocking his way.

"So is that what she is?" Rebekah mused, smiling her sly smile.

"A matter?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Rebekah." Elijah answered, giving away not a morsel of information.

"And are you not by addressing the matter as "she", implying that you already equip the knowledge of where I was?" he added.

"And are you not, my dear dear brother, by implying that you know who "she" is, indicating, that you do know exactly what I am talking about." Rebekah mocked him.

Elijah smiled slightly, managing to walk past her.

"You've really fallen for her haven't you." Rebekah reflected, analysing his behaviour and suddenly dropping the cheek.

Elijah stopped in his tracks but did not reply.

"Why don't you admit it?" she then asked, holding him back once again.

Elijah turned to face her. She wasn't one to give up.

He looked at the ground and then at Rebekah directly.

His face was now hurt and ever so serious.

"Because, I could lose her in a second." He told her, hiding as much of his pain as he could. Although Rebekah could almost feel his heart compress in aguish.

He then swiftly turned to leave.

"Elijah, I haven't seen you as happy as you are around her for an exceedingly long time. Promise me you won't give up on her."

"I already promised..." Elijah began.

"No, not that, you know what I really mean."

Elijah sighed. "Rebekah..." he began once again in an authoritative tone.

However Rebekah insisted. "You deserve to be happy for once." She tried to make him see sense. He always prioritised the happiness of others and had lost the hope of finding his own in the process.

Rebekah still received no reply; she needed to get through to him.

She thought about how she could make him realise; a determined countenance flashed upon her face.

She opened her mouth to speak once again, but closed it after what she heard next.

"I promise." Elijah spoke after thinking, silencing her further persuasion.

Rebekah grinned surprised at her quick success.

She pulled him into a sisterly embrace.

She comprehended how much this girl had become to him and swore to herself that she would try to keep them content. Elijah deserved that much.

She then shoved him lightly, returning to her usual bad-tempered ways.

"You're free to go!" she announced and strutted off her high heels clicking away.

Elijah chuckled, making his way to the living room.

He removed his jacket, laying it on a padded stool and unfastened a button or two on his shirt. He similarly undid the buttons on his cuffs, feeling slightly looser.

He walked over to the decanter pouring himself a well-needed drink.

Carrying the glass to a leather arm chair he sat and sighed. It had been an awfully long day and it was in many ways good to be home.

Elijah took a sip letting the alcohol do its work. He then closed his eyes and leaned his head back, taking a deep breath.

"Enjoying yourself are we, brother" Klaus uttered watching Elijah while leaning at the door frame.

"Perfect timing." Elijah thought to himself. He took a few seconds before opening his eyes and lifting his head.

"Niklaus." He smiled.

"How may I be of assistance?"

Klaus smiled in reply. He strode into the room, taking a seat in the chair directly opposite.

"Oh Elijah, I just wish to have a conversation with my big brother, why the formality?" Klaus questioned.

"Go ahead Niklaus." Elijah replied. He knew his brother's conversations always had some sort of direct purpose.

"Well, you see Elijah, your little accusation about my child; it's caused me to reflect quite a great deal. I've come to realise I haven't been paying enough attention to my offspring... or it's mother."

Elijah's senses awakened at the mentioning of Hayley. "Well there's his purpose." he thought. "He wishes to guilt trip me and its working." his conscience whispered.

Klaus looked up a little, after speaking his last line. He carefully observed his brother, who surprisingly showed no sign of discomfort. That did not please him.

"I just wished to thank you, Elijah, for making me appreciate the chance I have been given. It's not every day that a vampire gets the opportunity to raise a child. Is it not?"

He now spoke more slowly, still glancing at his brother every so often.

"How many vampires there must be, desiring to be called father?"

Elijah's grip around his glass tightened as he ordered his blood to not boil. This wasn't guilt-tripping. It was payback.

Klaus smiled inside at the response.

"And here I am, a father, neglecting this gift." Klaus continued.

"Thank you Elijah, thank you very much" he smiled getting up from his chair, satisfied knowing that his conversation had had the desired effect.

"Good Night." He then spoke in his sardonic tone as he left the room.

Elijah clenched his teeth as thoughts swam in his head.

"Klaus thinks this is a game" he muttered.

"And I for once I cannot give up."

A/N:
Sorry for the short chapter... Anyway, Happy New Year y'all 🎊♥

Also, watch out for the next chapter I'll probably post it today.... I'm pretty sure all #Haylijah shippers are gonna love it !