Don't It Just Break Your Heart || Haylijah

Epilogue: Lover

Hayley regretted her joke to Elijah almost instantly. While she was happy to have a big wedding if that's what her fiancé wanted, she was struggling to reign Bex in.

"I just don't understand why we need so many flowers." She was complaining to said fiancé. "We all have supernatural senses. It will just be overwhelming."

"Did you tell her that?" Elijah asked diplomatically. Of course, his suggestion would be to talk it out.

"Of course, I did." She rolled her eyes. "But she insisted. Something about the aesthetic."

"You know it's not too late to elope." He teased, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned her forehead on his shoulder, taking a deep breath.

"Don't even." She nearly growled. "You are the one who wanted a big wedding. You did this to me."

Elijah smiled and kissed the top of her head. He knew Rebekah was going over the top, but he thought it was sweet how excited she was. He also didn't have to deal with most of the wedding planning as Rebekah was viewing it as sisterly bonding time.

"Tell you what," He pulled away to look at her, "why don't you and I handle the rest of the planning ourselves."

Elijah reached for her hand, kissing the ring that now donned her ring finger. It still thrilled her every time she looked down and saw it. Elijah had brought her to a jeweler so they could design it together. Hayley never cared much for jewelry, but Elijah seemed to know what he wanted so she let him guide the jeweler.

****

She had watched with amazement as he sent another set of diamonds back, not seeing exactly what he wanted.

"You're being picky." She had teased him, leaning against the jewelry counter.

"You deserve the best." Elijah smiled and kissed her softly. "You should have a perfect ring."

"That's very sweet," she said, running her hand up his chest, "but you know I'm not in it for the ring. I don't really care about things like that. I just want to marry you."

"And I just want it to be perfect." Elijah insisted.

Hayley stared at him for a moment. She knew he had a lot of insecurities and worries about their relationship. Most of them stemmed from the fact that all of his past lovers grew to hate him and tried to kill him at some point.

"You know, it doesn't have to be perfect for me to love it." She held his hand to her heart. "It doesn't have to be perfect for me to love you."

"I know that." He replied, but he diverted his eyes. "I just don't want to mess this up."

He was talking about the ring, but Hayley knew it was more than just that.

"How about if you start screwing anything up, I'll let you know." Hayley knew it would take time for him to believe there was nothing he could do to make her leave. But she would spend every day trying to make him believe it.

They settled on a simple design. One that wouldn't be too flashy but was beautiful all the same. Hayley knew she would wear this ring for the rest of eternity, however long that may be.

****

Apparently, Elijah had been serious about helping with the finishing touches on the wedding. And Hayley was not complaining. She loved her soon-to-be sister-in-law, but Rebekah was stressing her out with all of the little details. Whereas doing it with Elijah reminded her that it was more than just the wedding, it was a marriage.

Rebekah was not thrilled to delegate, but she did send them off to taste wedding cakes together, grumbling about how she 'guessed the bride and groom should like the cake at their wedding.'