Stone Cold

Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

Chapter Fifty-Four

*~*~*~*

"What are you doing?" Brigs arched a brow at Hayley, having found the expectant mother maneuvering around the kitchen the morning after Elijah's return.

"Getting some breakfast," Hayley shrugged, pulling a box of cereal from the cabinet.

"I don't think so," Brigs shook her head. Snatching the sugary cereal from the other woman's grasp and returning it to the cabinet before pulling the eggs from the fridge. "Do you prefer scrambled or an omelet?"

"Uh..." Hayley's brows furrowed as she watched the witch get to work. Wasting no time in pulling out a pan as well as bowl to scramble the eggs in before she started cooking. "I'm really okay with just cereal."

"Scrambled or an omelet?" Brigs repeated her question.

"Just pick," Elijah spoke up from where he stood in the doorway. A small smirk of amusement filling his lips as he watched Brigs whisk the eggs. "Trust me, she'll simply make both if you don't."

"Scrambled, I guess," Hayley shrugged before moving towards the fridge herself just as Rebekah made her way in from outside. "Listen. I know Brigs and I are the only ones in this house that actually drink milk, but would it kill any of you to make sure it's on the grocery list?"

"Speaking of, add bleach," Rebekah noted.

"Do I want to know?" Brigs spared a glance towards the blonde before pouring the scrambled eggs into the hot pan. 

"Just my brother's failed peace offering to my other brother." Rebekah shrugged, pulling on a pair of gloves before she ventured into the living room.

"You know," Elijah cleared his throat, causing both of the remaining women to look his way. "I do hope my siblings were hospitable toward you in my absence."

"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-- 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 that my baby is Lucifer." Hayley listed off the highlights of what had happened in the suited man's absence. "The only thing that's kept me sane is having Brigs around-- and even she left for a couple of days."

"And this isn't the first time I've had to deal with Niklaus and Rebekah's antics." Brigs offered Elijah a tight-lipped smile, choosing to ignore the questioning look he sent her at the mention of her short absence from the Quarter. "I will say that they haven't been as bad as they could have been."

"She's right," Hayley nodded in agreement. "Your siblings are weirdly protective. I know I have the two of you to thank for that."

"I'm just happy to see that you're in one piece," Elijah told them.

"Eat." Brigs set a plate of freshly scrambled eggs down in front of the expectant werewolf. 

"Thank y--" Hayley trailed off as she watched Brigs make a swift exit from the kitchen, retreating back upstairs to her own room. Hayley's brows furrowed slightly as she shifted her attention back to the man beside her. "Is she okay?"

"She just has a lot on her mind," Elijah offered in response. "Back to the murderous witches, I have some concerns."

"They're evil, and my life is still magically linked to Sophie Deveraux, which is not comforting." Hayley pointed out.