GOING BACK.

PROLOGUE TWO

Klaus was in the art studio. Hayley had chosen a room that overlooked the river. Several large old river oak trees that had been planted centuries ago engulfed and encircled the house. The house built in between them as though guarding the home and giving one the feeling of privacy from the other homes built along the river. The river could be seen from the sliding glass door that opens out onto a deck allowing the light to stream in it was a perfect painting studio. Klaus had been painting for hours, hearing Hayley only a short while ago arise for the day.

"Klaus, I'm going to help the wolves set up for the summer solstice full moon celebration tonight. Then I'm going to run with them, see you later," She said as poked her head in the door before leaving. He half turned and nodded at her words, turning back to the canvas. Thinking that as he suspected last night Hayley would not mention again her proposition of friends with benefits and this would never be spoken of again. They were both excellent at pretending what was said or been done hadn't and getting on with things.

Klaus let out a small sigh of relief as he heard the front door close. He did not want to upset the balance that he and Hayley had here. He enjoyed living here and he certainly did not want to live with Elijah and Finn. He couldn't feed or kill his way out of the boredom of living with his two brothers and all that would entail, he chuckled as he thought how alike Finn and Elijah were.

Finn having been daggered so long, and as human always being at Esther's side none of the Mikaelson's would have realized it. Klaus was grateful that Elijah had joined him in death and Klaus had forgiven Elijah. His memories being compelled away and the part he played in Hayley's death, but the bond that he and Elijah had was cracked, it would never fully heal and Klaus would never forget those last months of his existence without Hayley.

Klaus had never lived alone with a woman before other than Rebekah when they had been running from Mikael. Rebekah could certainly be a handful, stubborn, wilful, demanding, easily manipulated if a man beguiled her as many had done, Klaus had become over protective and ruthlessly controlling trying to keep his little sister safe.

Hayley was easy going and easy to live with, she was tough and ruthless, but she was also so quiet in her habits. Klaus had not noticed before, firstly they had avoided each other when she was pregnant with Hope and after Hope there were always enemies to fight, plans to be made and then family living in the compound. Her relationship with Elijah, which Klaus avoided being around as much as possible. Klaus could count only a handful of occasions that he had spent any length of time completely alone with her, and usually they had Hope as a buffer and that time had been very short.

Hayley went about her days, reading, cooking, helping wolves who needed her help. Usually coming to her early in the morning as she sat on the deck drinking a coffee/blood mix, people would walk by, stopping in greeting, sharing words, or asking for her input to a problem, wanting her advice, then be on their way. Hayley always responded to them with a smile and a solution if needed. Enquiring of their partners or loved ones who were here with them and what they were up to. She knew every cursed wolf here and they knew she was their Alpha and gave her the respect, but also the privacy and distance that she liked. Klaus could see she was interested and cared about them all but she had a line that was not to be crossed, she was there for the wolves but there for them with her own rules in place.