A/N: General disclaimers that I don't own Legacies 2018 and all that jazz...blah...blah...blah. Cannon elements of the 2 seasons of Legacies 2018 will be changed, dismissed, or exaggerated in this story.

A/N 2: I am a firm believer in The Originals version of Hope Mikaelson, where she is a magical powerhouse and badass. I am not a believer in this watered down, namby-pamby version of Hope Mikaelson in Legacies 2018. That's all I'm going to say about that.

The ceiling fan hummed in the warm office and lazily pushed the humid New Orleans air around in lethargic circles. Bright, noon-time sunlight streamed in through the large windows and the raven-haired witch sighed dramatically while filing her fingernails.

"I am a Park coven witch Mikaelson. Power plays and dramatic mysterious silences are taught during childhood breakfasts. Mastery of the techniques is required before age five."

As she expected, the other supernatural in the room didn't say anything and continued to work through the mountain of paperwork in front of her on the large mahogany desk. Penelope rolled her eyes, put her nail filer back into her purse and crossed her arms underneath her breasts with another loud huff. She knew that traveling all the way down to New Orleans from New York to meet with her former boarding school classmate would be difficult, vexing even, but Hope Mikaelson had acquired a taste for the theatrical apparently.

"And done. Now, as I said ten minutes ago Penelope, it really is good to see you and I apologize for not being able to focus on your…delicate situation right away. Prior matters required my attention-"

"Delicate situation?! My situation isn't delicate! Who do you think you are telling-"

"The woman that is helping you. Not used to asking for help are you Park?"

Penelope disliked acting like a spoiled brat when it wasn't by her design, but she really didn't have a choice in asking Hope Mikaelson for help and both witches knew it. She slumped in her chair and crossed her legs. In contrast, Hope Mikaelson smiled and stood up. The graceful poise and fluidity that came with being a vampire suited the other young woman well and Penelope's eyes ran over Hope's tailored black Hugo Boss slacks and red, fitted summer blouse.

"Been that long of a dry spell for you Park that you're checking out your former classmate, now are you? Hmm?"

Embarrassed at being caught and unnerved at how close Hope's teasing comment struck close to home, Penelope shot up out of her chair and paced the center of Hope's office. Out of the corner of her eye Penelope saw Hope walk over to a small bar and disappear as she bent down. A moment later she reappeared with a bottle of chilled red Pinot Noir. With a wink, two wine glasses floated up to the bar top, Hope opened the bottle of wine with a flourish and poured a healthy amount into each glass.

"Relax Penelope. I read your letter and know what has you on edge. Family always has a way of complicating the simplest of things and I think some liquid courage will make this conversation go much easier. Don't tell Josie that we're drinking from her favorite wine though."

To punctuate her threat Hope pointed the wineglass at Penelope and glared for a few seconds. She chuckled a few seconds later, set the wine bottle down and walked over to Penelope with the two wineglasses. An electric spark shot up Penelope's arm when her fingers brushed against Hope's as she took the offered wineglass, and she covered her reaction by walking to the open bay window. The raven-haired witch walked out onto the balcony and sipped from the admittedly delicious wine while observing the New Orleans skyline.

"Didn't want the hustle and bustle noise of the common folk disturbing your all-important work up here in your castle Mikaelson?"

Hope laughed and joined Penelope out on the balcony. Penelope wished her catty remark would have rattled the other woman at least a little but at the now ripe age of twenty-four Hope held herself with the grace and poise of an aristocrat. A drop-dead gorgeous aristocrat at that.

"Now that my get out of Death's grasp free card has been used up, my family and friends think that I'm safer with a courtyard and grounds in front of my window. Oh, come off it Penelope, I was poking fun at me in that morbid joke and my 'death' greatly helped two of our mutual friends. No need to get your panties in a twist."

Hope rested against the wrought iron balcony railing and looked out over her new family home. Neither women said anything for a few minutes and Penelope swallowed a large gulp of her wine. Whether Hope noticed the nervous gesture or Penelope's straight-backed posture, the tribrid didn't mention it. Penelope sighed and stared at Hope.

"I can't take all of this pretending and putting on pretenses with you anymore Hope. For goodness sake I still remember when you thought that overdone and over-hyped rooster was your 'one true epic love'. Ugh. Have you heard about his latest exploit?"

This time Hope's chuckle was melancholy, and she stared deep into her own wineglass instead of meeting Penelope's gaze.

"Yes, Landon claims he can hear Malivore whispering to him every time he visits that former hellish mud pit."

"Any truth to his claims?"

Hope finished her wine in three large gulps and brushed past Penelope as she returned inside her office. Penelope didn't move and watched as Hope returned with her wineglass full and the bottle of wine also. She topped off Penelope's glass without a word and sighed heavily.

"Each one of us carries scars, be they physical, mental or emotional, in different ways and since Landon loses all of his physical scars every time, he's reborn…. No, I have gone to that horrid place over two dozen times, by myself or with another expert in the magical or supernatural arts and there is nothing there. Just the same burn black patch of grass."

"Bird boy and his bird brain have gone crazy then huh?"

Hope rolled her eyes at Penelope's snide remark but there wasn't any real heat in her glare and Penelope smirked. The final battle with Malivore had been one for the history books but none of the former Super Squad had been prepared for the aftermath and the effects it would have on each one of them personally. Landon was one such case and Penelope didn't know where the phoenix supernatural was right now. She suspected Hope did, as Hope had eyes and ears on almost everything in the supernatural world which was one of the reasons Penelope had written her a letter asking her for her help in the first place.

"Not that I'm not enjoying this snarky, wine-addled trip back down memory lane Park, but I do have a city to run and…"

Hope made a sweeping gesture with her wineglass. Penelope took another sip of her wine and licked her lips. Right. Of course. The moment of truth was upon them and Hope's hospitality and graciousness only extended so far.

"You know why I'm here. I saw the not-so-subtle reminder since you left the blasted invitation out in the open on your desk."

Hope smirked but covered it quickly by taking a sip of her wine prompting Penelope to roll her eyes. The Park witch ran a hand through her hair and blew out a steadying breath through her clenched teeth.

"You're going to make me say it out, loud, aren't you? You're a right insufferable bitch sometimes. You know, that right? Ugh."

Hope laughed as Penelope drained her wineglass and glared at Hope. The auburn haired tribrid reached out and gently pulled Penelope back into her office. They sat down on an expensive white leather couch and Hope took Penelope's hands in both of hers. This normally would force Penelope to look up and meet Hope's gaze, but Penelope stubbornly looked down at their joined hands instead. Hope's pale skin contrasted with her own olive tones and Hope sighed.

"Explain something to me Penelope Park. You're a powerful witch from an established elder coven, you are strikingly beautiful, and you have charm and snark that elevates you above the normal. How is it that you are having difficulty finding a date to take back to the annual Park Legacy Winter Solstice? I know that you have a little black book filled with the names of the up and coming, the powerful, the rich and the famous."

Despite her humorous words Hope's tone was gentle and she rubbed her thumbs over the back of Penelope's hands. In all honesty it took everything Penelope had not to just crumble and cry in Hope's arms. She had a feeling that Hope would let her too, no judgement, or questions asked, and Penelope batted her tear-filled eyes at Hope.

"You think that I'm strikingly beautiful? Oh Hope, I had no idea your Mikaelson charm extended to the fairer sex. Well besides Josie of course."

This time Hope rolled her eyes and gently reached up to wipe the tears from Penelope's high cheek bones. The sweetness that the daughter of the 'great evil Niklaus Mikaelson' displayed was so much more mature and heartwarming than Penelope was used to. Granted, Hope Mikaelson hardly ever left New Orleans these days since they all graduated from the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted six years ago. Well, it would be more accurate to say that Hope hardly ever left New Orleans ever since she returned from Stanford University with her M.B.A at the age of twenty-two which was two years ago.

"Don't go there Park. You of all people have no right to tease me about my relationship with Josie since your heart was stuck on her gorgeous brown eyes and legs for days much longer than I was."

Hope's eyes narrowed and she squeezed Penelope's hands. Penelope laughed and held up a hand.

"Guilty as charged. She does have legs for days, though doesn't she?"

"Stop deflecting Penelope. I can't help you if you won't talk to me."

Hope's unrelenting gaze broke through Penelope's mental and emotional walls like a battering ram. In a very un-ladylike fashion, she flopped back onto the couch cushions and draped an arm over her eyes. Penelope could feel Hope's burning gaze on the exposed sliver of skin as her purple silk button down rode up and exposed two inches of her stomach. She smirked but didn't say anything about Hope's gaze and instead answered Hope's other statement.

"My mother knows all the names of the people I normally would bring to such a horrid event and I can't bring them around for a second or third time without mother dearest looking too far into it. Plus, this is the 500th Park Legacy Winter Solstice and my lovely mother is pulling out all the stops. The who's who and every A-list supernatural celebrity will be there. Best if I just play my part and be done with this whole bloody thing."

"I think you've been spending too much time across the ocean Penelope. When has 'bloody' become an everyday part of your speech? How many times have you gone to the London theater? Do you have an accent, or do you switch back to American when you're gracing us with your presence?"

Penelope blindly jabbed at Hope with her foot and Hope caught it with a laugh. A silence settled over the two young women again, but it was a comfortable one. Hope cleared her throat.

"Why me?"

The incredulous look that Penelope gave Hope from underneath her arm was spectacular. Really it was. She snorted in disbelief and sat up at Hope's raised eyebrow.

"You're kidding me, right? Oh, not this again Hope. Really? I thought with you taking over the Mikaelson legacy that you would have gotten past…. clearly not."

This time Hope's gaze dropped, and she fiddled with the rings on her fingers. It was endearing really, a leftover nervous tic from her childhood and Penelope smiled. She tapped Hope's knee sharply and Hope's gaze flew up to meet hers.

"First of all, you're Hope Mikaelson. Heir to the Mikaelson legacy and daughter to Niklaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall. That alone opens so many doors for you and warrants you an invitation. Secondly, you're you, a fully matured and activated tribrid. Then there's the fact that in the span of four short years you have reclaimed your birthright, New Orleans, and united the four factions under your rule. If there is one thing my mother admires and respects above all, its power, and you have that in spades."

"That's great and all and it explains why I have an invitation from your mother sitting on my desk. It doesn't explain why you want me to go as your 'plus one' though."

Penelope paused and swallowed. Hope's big blue eyes were intently focused on her again and the swirling mixture of emotions Penelope saw in them entranced her. Swallowing again with much difficulty Penelope breezily brushed a piece of hair out of her face.

"I need someone at my side that can not only navigate the snake pit that my ancestral home will be that evening but also help me rule it for the evening. I need someone with more power, poise, and acclaim than mine and my mother's. I need someone that can see through all the smiles, charm, and lies while not being intimidated by the threats. I need someone that I know and trust."

"That's a freaking tall order Penelope. And by some miracle you think I meet all those requirements?"

"I know you do Hope Mikaelson."

Hope breathed out heavily, brushed her hair out of her face and jumped off the couch. This time she paced in the center of her office, nonsensical mutterings coming out of her mouth and Penelope so desperately wanted to remark about how cute she looked working herself up into a tizzy. After a few more moments of watching Hope pacing back and forth and muttering Penelope decided it was time to drop the last bombshell.

"There's one more thing Hope. My parents are announcing their heir and it's my little brother Jackson. The evening is all about him really, and my mother is doing her best to mold him into the legacy child she so desperately craves."

"Oh Penelope. I'm so sorry."

In an instant, Hope sat back down on the couch and grabbed Penelope's hands. Penelope didn't know when Hope became so touchy-feely, distinctly remembering the stand-offish, physically awkward teenager Hope used to be, but she liked this change in Hope. The raven-haired Park witch strongly suspected that Josie's need for physical comfort and attention had rubbed off (in more ways than one and that hot image was now forever burned into Penelope's brain) on Hope. Penelope squeezed Hope's hands in silent thanks, but she rolled her eyes.

"Jackson is an adorable five-year-old little boy and despite my mother's best efforts he takes after my father and my father's mother. Grandma Park is the counter to my mother's more extreme life choices and lifestyle approach. Thank goodness."

"I'm sure that you are also having a profound positive effect on him as well Penelope."

The sincerity in Hope's voice caused Penelope's cheeks to flush with embarrassment and she looked down at their still joined hands. Hope squeezed, causing Penelope to look back up, and Hope's blue eyes shone with happiness and that heart-stopping sincerity again.

The faith that Hope had in Penelope's goodness of character honestly made Penelope's stomach flip and tumble like a roller-coaster.

She was beginning to realize just how powerful the Mikaelson charm was and why Josie had been enraptured with Hope for as long as she was. Probably even still but Josie never mentioned her romantic relationship with Hope to anyone and Penelope didn't think Hope would be forthcoming with the details about their breakup.

"On my annual summer return to my childhood home, I do my best to bring some much-needed excitement into his day. Honestly, he's so darn adorable that we just do what he wants, which is magic. Lots and lots of possibly age-inappropriate magic."

Hope laughed, her eyes crinkling warmly, and her full lips turned up fully. The sight made Penelope's heart pause painfully in her chest and she sucked in a huge breath of air when her heart's supposedly involuntary muscle started beating again on overdrive. When had Hope become so radiantly beautiful? So full of life?

"He has you wrapped around his little finger I see. That's good. Younger siblings need their older siblings to be there for them."

A silence settled over the two witches and Penelope knew there was more to Hope's comment. Hope cleared her throat.

"You have yet to ask me. I won't help you unless you ask."

This time Penelope rolled her eyes so hard she honestly thought they would get stuck. Just to be a dramatic idiot Penelope slid off the couch onto her knees and morphed her expression into one of innocence and anxiousness. She kept a hold of Hope's hands and kissed the back of her right hand over her ring.

"Please, oh great Hope Mikaelson, your supernatural grace, please may I have the honor of escorting you as my date for the evening of December 21st, also known as the Winter Solstice?"

When Hope didn't answer right away Penelope chanced a look up from underneath her eyelashes and her breath caught in her throat. Hope's eyes had darkened, the warm blue changed almost completely to a black and her eyes were hooded.

"I don't know Penelope Park. What do I get out of this request? I have other invitations to Christmas and Winter Solstice parties sitting on my desk to consider."

The low, husky tone of Hope's voice caught Penelope off guard, as she was unsure when their bickering and teasing had taken on such a flirty and sexual overture. Surprisingly, she liked where their conversation was headed, and a simmering heat of passion formed low in Penelope's stomach.

"What is it that you want princess? I'm open to negotiations."

Let it never be said that Penelope Park took things lying down and she was determined to beat Hope at her own game. Hope Mikaelson might have blossomed into the darling princess of New Orleans and began wielding her tremendous power and influence with tremendous poise and grace but Penelope Park was in her own league. Just ask Josie Saltzman and some of her other paramours or conquests.

Penelope let go of Hope's hands and boldly placed her hands on Hope's knees. The other supernatural sucked in a quiet breath but did nothing to stop Penelope and the Park witch traced slow, gentle circles all around Hope's knees.

"Well, Mikaelson, I've opened negotiations and it's your turn."

"I want your complete and undivided attention for an entire evening. No family matters to take care of, no business meetings or minutes, and no phones. You belong to me for an evening."

A/N: I am fascinated by Penelope Park and how she is really the only multi-dimensional and layered character on Legacies 2018. I also wanted to do a somewhat rare pairing of Hope Mikaelson and Penelope Park. As always feel free to drop a comment, review, or PM me. Ja ne. -Kaden