Maya meets Hope 5


The drive to their next destination took a few hours but Hope didn't mind. She had her parents and even though she was still angry with her mother, they were all together and she knew that it would all be fine. For years she had envied Riley for her perfect family and now she had one of her own. A family that had united around her when she was born, a family who loved her and wanted to be there for her. A family she could be proud of having.

They had all climbed in a bus Elijah had gotten for the occasion. Hope was sitting next to her father, her mother and Elijah were behind her and Riley was in front of her with Topanga. Next to them, on the other side of the small alley, was Farkle and Kol, Farkle's parents in front of them and Lucas behind them with his father (his grandfather and uncle had declined the invitation to the party and left to go back home, something about horses to take care of).

"What was it like?" Hope asked her father.

"You mean behind the wall?" He asked her back.

"With the blade." She nodded.

"Well, it was painful, but I knew that I had deserved it and that it had allowed you to leave and I concentrated on that. You, leading a normal and happy life." He replied, trying not to tell her too much about the horrible feeling he had been forced to feel.

"I... All these years, I saw your life and everything in my dreams. It intensified a couple of years ago when my bracelet broke. I know now that grandma Esther did it so I could see the dreams they sent me better. My favorite was when you held me in the rocking chair and told me stories. I loved it so much that I tried my best to remember it. I drew it and made it into a comic book of some sort, just in case I stopped seeing it in my dreams. I wanted to make sure I'd remember it all. Always." Hope told her father.

"These were some of my favorite moments as well. Every moment spent with you was one of true peace." He replied.

"Like grandpa Ansel told you before..." She started to say and stopped.

"You saw that?" He asked her, worried.

"I did. I know that you only did what you did to protect me, to make sure that I was safe and I'm sorry that you had to do this for me. I know how much you wanted to be with him." She told him, wanting to make sure he knew that she understood.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'm fine." He replied.

"Maybe I can use the same spell I used to contact grandma Esther, Dahlia and Finn so you can talk to him..." She suggested.

"I'd love that. We'll have time to think about all of that once we're home. Now, why don't you tell me more about you?" He asked her.

He wanted to ask her why she was angry at her mother and to try and help them patch things up but he didn't want to push too hard right away. He knew that Hayley wanted to hear the answers to the questions he was asking her and so he kept their daughter talking. He'd try and convince her to forgive her mother later.

Hope started telling him more about her life in details and sometimes Riley, Lucas or Farkle would intervene and add a detail. It helped Klaus and Hayley see how close the four friends were and they were glad to know that their daughter had such good friends around her.

She told him of her homework rebellion, about art being the only class she was really good in, about the funny things that happened in school and even about her crush on Riley's uncle Josh, who didn't want to consider being with her because he was 3 years older. Hope added:

"But I'm in this for the long game. I'll wait. When I'm 18 and he's 21, the three years difference won't matter much, will it?" She told her father who nodded.

"You're right. Don't rush things. Take your time. If it's meant to be, it will be." He smiled, glad to know that he wouldn't have to worry about a heart break right away.

Klaus couldn't help but notice that his daughter talked a lot like him. When she told him she'd wait for Josh, he was reminded of the time he had told Caroline that he'd wait for her. Turning around to look at her further back in the bus, he smiled and saw that she, too, was smiling at him.

.

When they arrived, Cory and Auggie had already settled everything and the few werewolves who had left New Orleans early were already there, unloading everything Rebekah and Elijah had taken from their old home. The day was coming to an end and there were candles and lights everywhere to make the house and garden look welcoming.

Hope let Riley, Topanga and Shawn hug Cory before she introduced him to her father. She wanted them to know each other and was hoping they'd become friends.

"Mister Matthews, this is my father. Dad, this is Riley's dad and our history teacher. I'm sure the two of you will get along well." She introduced them.

"Call me Klaus." her father offered.

"I'm Cory." The teacher smiled.

"You two will be able to go through our teenage years together, that's so cool." Riley added excitedly.

"Worry about dates and boyfriends..." Katy joked with a smile.

"Worry about how to handle heartbreaks and late nights out." Shawn added with a smile as the color drained from Cory and Klaus' faces.

"Parties, alcohol, tattoos..." Rebekah decided to add, just to see her big brother's reaction.

It's Cory's reaction that made them laugh the most.

"Or we could lock the two of you in your rooms and not let you out until you're thirty." Cory suggested with a goofy smile before he shook Klaus' hand.

The party slowly started and Hope still hadn't let go of her father. She had his hand in hers and when she let go, she placed her hand on his arm. She sat by his side and simply stayed quietly there while he spoke with his siblings and new friends. Understanding where the problem could be, Klaus took her aside and decided to try and talk to her.

"Sweetheart, I know that you missed me and that you're worried that you're going to lose me again if you ever let go but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to be afraid, you can let go and be with your friends. Anytime you turn around, I'll be there." Klaus told his daughter in a tone as soft as possible.

"I... I guess you're right. I didn't really mean to be clingy... I just don't want you to leave again." Hope nodded, looking down before her father gently lifted her head.

"I understand that sweetheart, but you have nothing to fear. I'll always be around. You can go and be with your friends. If you need me or simply want to spend some time with me, you'll always find me. If you call for me, I'll be right there by your side in a few seconds. Don't get me wrong, I want to keep you as close to me as possible for as long as possible, but we can't let it get in the way of life. Go and have fun with your friends, celebrate what you all managed to achieve today, because in my eyes it was truly heroic, and enjoy. I'm not going anywhere and I'll be there as soon as you need me. I don't want you to hold your life back because of me. I'm not going anywhere, my littlest wolf. I'm extremely proud of what you did today, I know most of it was your planning, Elijah told me so, and I want you to have fun with your friends. I want to see you laugh, have fun and simply live." he finished with one of his truly sincere smiles, the ones he kept for her only (though Caroline Forbes saw it a few times too) and she smiled back at him.

"I love you daddy." Hope told him as she hugged him hard for over a minute before she left to join Riley.

"That was truly paternal." Hayley stated, stepping out of the bushes nearby.

"Spying?" He asked her with a smile, no trace of irritation in his voice.

"I was going to try and talk to her when I heard you two. I stayed back, I didn't want to interrupt your moment. She hates me enough as it is." She replied.

"Give her time Hayley, she'll forgive you. A girl needs her mother just as much as she needs her father, she probably just needs time to calm down and understand. She'll put the past in the past and get to know you." Klaus comforted her.

"Thanks. Who would have thought you'd be such a great parent. I think I refused to see it before but now I do. You're surprisingly a natural at this parent thing. It's like you know exactly what to tell her." She smiled.

"My father knew." Klaus replied sadly, feeling the guilt of what he had done to Ansel.

"I'm sure he understood why you did it, Klaus. That man stayed by your side on the other side for a thousand years to watch over you, get to know you. He knew you better than anyone. He's probably still watching over you right now and I'm sure he forgave you." Hayley told him.

"How do you know?" He asked her.

"If it had been Hope that had been in your position and you in Ansel's. If she had done to you what you did to Ansel, would you hold a grudge or forgive her?"

"I'd forgive her of course, she's my daughter." Klaus replied before he smiled, getting Hayley's point.

"Thank you. Now let's join the others." Klaus added with a smile, leading Hayley back to the party were Hope was laughing with Riley at something Auggie had just said.

Kol was on the ground, with Auggie on his back and seemed to be having lots of fun while Rebekah was with Topanga and Katy, laughing as well and Klaus had a hard time believing that this was the life awaiting them from now on. A life with peace and happiness.

Lifting her head, Hope looked for something and, once her eyes landed on her father, she smiled at him, relaxed and went back to laughing with her friends. Klaus smiled back at her.

"So Klaus, do you have any plans for the future?" Cory asked him once they had joined the other adults.

"I think I'll concentrate on Hope and on making sure she leads a happy life. I think that's the most important for now. It's not like we need to work or anything, we have enough money. Hope's the most important now." Klaus replied.

"It is." Cory smiled.

"Hope told me a lot about you. I want to thank you. You were there for her when I couldn't be. I'm glad she had someone like you and your family in her life to help guide her." The hybrid told the human.

"You're welcome. We love her. She'll always be welcome in our home." Cory replied with a smile.

"I'm glad because I'm new to this parent thing and I'm sure I'll mess up at some point." Klaus smiled.

"We all do. I know we don't know each other but I respect you Klaus, what you did for your daughter, it takes some courage and if you ever want to talk, about the joys and pains of raising a teenage girl or about anything else, I'll be there. Our daughters are best friends, we'll be in each other's lives, might as well be friends." Cory offered.

"I think I'd like that." Klaus smiled.

"Plus, you're over a thousand years old, you've seen history being made. I'm sure that the stories you could tell would be like porn to a history teacher like me." Cory joked.

"My side of history isn't exactly the one you teach at school, it's much darker and bloodier." Klaus warned him.

"I bet." Cory smiled.

"I also wanted to thank you for buying Hope her cell phone. She told me that she used to feel left out because she was the only one who didn't have a smart phone and that you gave her one. You helped her feel like she belonged, I really appreciate it." Klaus told his daughter's history teacher sincerely.

"Don't worry about it. It made her happy, which in turn made Riley happy." Cory waved it off.

Cory was about to say something else when Shawn called them over. He was sitting with Katy, Topanga, Freya and Lucas's father. Hope and her friends weren't too far and they could hear everything they said.

"Hey Cory, remember that time on Halloween when you thought you were becoming a werewolf and that you'd eat Topanga if she came over?" Shawn reminded his best friend.

"That was ages ago." Cory replied, slightly embarrassed now that he knew real werewolves existed.

"Did you really think you were becoming a werewolf Mister Matthews?" Hope asked him, her tone teasing, as they walked closer to the adults.

"He even locked himself in his room and everything. His brother Eric and I had a lot of fun that night. All because a fake seer had told him so and something bit him right after he heard a wolf escaped from the zoo. Turns out it was a bunny who bit him." Shawn replied.

Everyone laughed and kept on drinking, eating and telling happy stories when, about an hour later, Hayley approached her daughter and asked her to follow her.

"Hope, honey, would you come with me please?" Hayley asked, her tone clearly showing that her daughter had a choice.

"I... Sure." Hope replied after glancing at her father who nodded at her.

Hayley guided her away and was about to take a turn so they'd be hidden from everyone and have more privacy but Hope stopped her before that.

"No, this is far enough. I want to be able to see dad wherever we go." Hope stated.

"Very well. I... Hope, your uncle explained why you were angry with me and I want you to understand that your father wasn't always a nice man, you can't really be mad at me for..." Hayley was about to keep talking when Hope interrupted her:

"For what? For not giving him a chance even though he took the risk to trust you when he had absolutely no reasons to? For always believing the worst of him and never once believing that he had my best interests at heart? He went against a man he loved like a son for me, he daggered himself and linked himself to a woman he hated for me. He killed the father he longed to know for my safety and well being. He was willing to die for me. You never gave him a chance, even before I was born, you always expected the worst of him. When you found out that my blood would be able to make hybrids, you immediately accused him of knowing about it and wanting me just for this reason, you never even took the time to look at him then to see how much your accusation had hurt him, to see that this thought had never even crossed his mind. You hurt him and uncle Elijah and that's why dad punished you and turned you into a wolf. All the time you were a wolf, I had pictures of you to look at and he told me about you every day. Promising me that you'd be free in a few months but then you came and took me away. You took me across the street to live with your husband and you were never even there. I wanted my father and you forced me away from him and into the arms of someone else, someone I didn't want to spend time with. I get that you had things to do and couldn't always be with me but you could have taken me to my father in those moments instead of forcing me away from him and with people I grew to hate, though as a baby I didn't know what hate was, I just didn't want to be with them." Hope explained, tears in her eyes.

"I'm... I'm sorry. I guess you're right. I always expected the worst of him, never tried to get to know him... I guess I felt so bad for loving Elijah while being married to Jackson that I tried to make up for it by making him a bigger part of our family... Will you be able to forgive me?" Hayley asked her daughter, kneeling in front of her so that they'd be at a similar height.

"Maybe some day but right now I'm still too angry. I know that I wasn't planned, that my existing was an accident and that you weren't ready for me, I've seen you say it in my dreams. I just don't know what to do right now. I just want to enjoy my time with my dad. I'm sure with time I'll be able to forgive you but right now I can't. Not when, as soon as you were freed, I was only the third person you hugged. I don't think you love me as much as daddy does. If you do then you must be hiding it well because I don't feel it and even when I was a baby, in the dreams, I didn't feel it much. I don't say this to hurt you, it's just the way I see things. I want to stay angry at you to punish you but it wouldn't be right and if I did, Riley would get on it and calm me down, set me back on the right track because that's what best friends do. I think we just need time. Take things slow." Hope ended up saying, trying to be calm.

"If that's what you want." Hayley nodded.

"It is." Hope confirmed before turning around.

First she looked for her father and was happy to see that he was watching her, like he promised her he would. Then she looked for her best friend, who was looking at her encouragingly, always on her side, always showing her support, no matter what.

"I'll, hum, I'll go back to Riley now." Hope told her mother, her tone showing that she was asking permission, which was a good thing.

"Yes, of course. Thank you." Hayley replied and, before she could hug her daughter, she ran off, grabbed Riley's hand and they both went to join Farkle, Lucas, Liz and Jo.

.

Hope was speaking with Caroline, asking if Liz and Jo would be able to visit a few days while they were still on vacation and Klaus took this time to speak with Riley.

"Riley, can I speak with you?"

"Of course mister Mickealson." Riley nodded.

"Oh please, no! Call me Klaus." he smiled.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be disrespectful..."

"You won't be, please, it's Klaus, or Niklaus if you prefer. But no Mister Mickealson." he smiled.

"Very well then, Klaus." She smiled.

"I wanted to thank you for being there for Hope, for being her friend. She told me a lot about her life and in every story she told me, you were a big part. She told me of the first time she met you, when she climbed through your bedroom window because she heard you sing and you let her, you trusted her and became her friend. I want you to know that I will always be grateful for everything your family, but most especially you, have done for my little girl. I know that you were a great influence on her. I'm sure that she didn't tell me everything but she told me enough for me to know that you'll always have friends in the Mickealson family." Klaus told the teenage girl.

"You're welcome. Hope and me... We just immediately clicked. Very few people would be willing to accept me the way I am, goofy and all, like she does. And she's there for me just as much as I'm there for her. I know I'll have other relationships in my life, boyfriends and even other friends, but she'll always be the most important, biggest and best relationship of my life. No matter who else comes along, she and I, will always be best friends, no matter what. We even have friendship rings." Riley replied with a soft smile, showing her ring to Klaus.

"According to what she told me, it almost sounds like you raised her. Helping her stay good, behave." Klaus smiled.

"Yes, I raised Hope since she was a pup." Riley joked.

"Just remember that you'll always have a place with us Riley. Whatever help you need, we'll do everything in our power to give it to you. Know that you're family to us now." Klaus told the young girl who smiled and nodded.

"Thank you. And don't worry about Hope and her mother. They'll sort things out. They just need some time. If it takes too long I'll help them but I think they'll be fine." Riley assured him.

"I hope so because I'm not used to solving problems peacefully. Family disagreements usually end up with someone daggered or dead with us. I'm trying to learn another way." Klaus replied jokingly before they both went back to the group and while Riley and Hope ran to join the twins, Klaus stayed with Caroline.

"Being a mother suits you Caroline." Klaus complimented her.

"Thank you. I love it." She nodded.

"Thank you for coming today, for having allowed your daughters to help Hope with her plans. I can understand how worrisome it probably was for you." Klaus told her sincerely.

"It was but they really wanted to do it and I try to raise them to do the right thing. Helping people in need of help is the right thing to do. I did much more dangerous things in the past to save my friends, you know it, you were there. I believe that it would have been wrong of me to deny them this." She replied.

"You could have let them wake Rebekah up and refused for them to get involved in New Orleans. I'm thankful you did. Hope seems to like them."

"And they like her. Alaric got a job offer in a museum in New York and we were thinking of moving there. We'll wait for the end of this school year but I think we'll do it. The girls both really want it so why not." Caroline replied.

"So, what of your love life? Are you with Alaric now or are you still with Stefan?" He asked her.

"No, Stefan and I parted ways a while back. We're better off as friends and Alaric... We were going to get married a few years ago, he thought that he fell in love with me and I thought it would be best for the girls but we realized that it wasn't love on either part. We live together for the girls but we're just friends. The girls understand. We're a weird family but they're good with weird." Caroline explained.

"Well, I hope my daughter and yours will be good friends then." Klaus told her with a smile.

"Me too. They're happier now that they know Hope." Caroline smiled.

"Once you're in New York, I'd like for us to spend some time together. Maybe go out for dinner or something." Klaus told her.

"As friends or to pick up were we left things off all these years ago?" She asked him with a smile.

"It depends on what you want, Love. My feelings for you never changed and I did tell you that I'd wait as long as it took. I can still wait." He replied with a smile.

"I do remember you saying something of the sort after saving me from a bunch of dead witches after my high school graduation." She smiled.

"Take all the time you need, I'll be waiting. And in the mean time, no matter what you need, I'll be there for you. Always and forever." he smiled sincerely at her.

"Being a father changed you, Klaus. I can see it now. You have hope in your eyes. You're more open than you were before."

"I try. It's not easy and I still have a lot to learn but I try to be a better man for her. I try not to expect the worst of people anymore, for my little girl." he nodded.

"If you're sincere about this, then maybe we'll be able to give us a shot." She nodded with a smile.

"After I've taken some time to settle down and get used to having a teenage daughter. After you've taken the time to move in the city." he replied.

"We'll take things slow, we both have all the time in the world now. It'll be best for both of us anyway. Start out as friends and see where it goes." Caroline suggested and Klaus nodded.

"I'd love that."

After that, they both joined Cory and the Minkus family who were laughing very hard at Kol, who was telling them of his adventures with the Minkus ancestors.

.

While Klaus spoke with Caroline, Hayley walked over to her old friend Katy.

"I'm sorry she's acting this way towards you. I wish there was something I could do." Katy told her friend, pointing to Hope.

"Don't worry, in a way, she's right in her accusations. We'll work things out eventually." Hayley shrugged her shoulders, trying to appear as though she wasn't affected by her daughter's behavior.

"Try to have her friend Riley on your side, to have her support. If anyone can help you change Maya, I mean, Hope's mind, it's her." Katy replied.

"Thanks. And thank you for raising her on your own all this time. It couldn't have been easy." Hayley told her.

"I didn't exactly give her the best of lives." Katy shook her head.

"You did the best you could on your own. And I know that you never got too close to her so that she'd let you go quicker once I came back in her life." The hybrid replied.

"True. It probably made it easier that Kermit left us." Katy smiled.

"I see you've found love again though. This Shawn seems nice. Hope likes him."

"He is. He's great, and he was willing to step up for Maya, to become a father figure for her. He's a great man and without your daughter, I wouldn't have met him. I'll always owe her, and you, for that happiness." Katy told her.

"I'm glad something good happened to you." Hayley smiled at her childhood friend.

"Elijah was generous as well. He gave me, legally, the building we're living in. Life will be easier for me and the other werewolves of New York now."

"He's a good man." Hayley nodded with the smile of a woman in love.

At this moment, Shawn called Katy out so she hugged Hayley and ran to the man she loved. However, Hayley didn't stay alone too long because Riley joined her.

"Hi, Riley, right?" Hayley asked her.

"Yes. I just wanted to tell you to give Hope some time. She'll forgive you and let you be her mother, she just needs time."

"I understand, don't worry. She hit some good points earlier. I guess I also need to learn to become a mother." The hybrid smiled.

"Maybe you should spend some time with my mom then. She'll help you. That and give it time. Show Hope that you're here and that you're not going anywhere. I know her, she'll give you small openings, small chances to show that you truly care about her. You'll just have to pay attention and jump on those occasions. Don't mess up." Riley told her before she ran off to join Lucas.

Hayley was thankful for Riley's intervention. She hoped it would help her get closer to her daughter, to earn her trust and her forgiveness. Her eyes on Hope, Hayley joined Elijah and sat by his side.

"Everything alright?" he asked her softly.

"It will be." Hayley replied, deciding to stay optimistic.

A few minutes later, after Caroline gathered her daughters to say goodbye and go back home, Hope went to sit by Shawn's side before he, too, left for an assignment he was going to bring Katy on.

"How are you doing, Hope?" he asked her.

"Great, I'm really happy to have my family back." she told him with a bright smile.

"I'm glad. Really. You deserve it."

"I also wanted to thank you. You were there for me in the short time we knew each other, you were willing to be out there for me, to step up and I'll never forget it." She told him, sincerely.

"You're welcome Maya. I mean Hope. I'll get used to it. Anyway, you don't owe me anything. Thanks to you, I know that I'm ready to be a father some day and I've found love." Shawn replied.

"Well then you're welcome. I know you'll make a great father to some lucky kid out there." Hope replied with a smile.

"I'm never far Hope, if you ever need anything, I'm still here." he assured her.

"Thanks. Will you visit us sometime?" She asked him.

"Of course. Your father already extended an open invitation to me and Katy and your uncle Elijah gave me your new address. Don't worry kid, you'll see me again soon. I'm not a leaver, remember?" Shawn told her before he hugged her goodbye and went to say goodbye to Cory.

.

"So, how are you feeling Hope?" Riley asked her best friends as they watched a few of their guests leaving, making it so that the only ones staying in the house were the Mickealson's and the Matthews.

"Happy. Hopeful for the future." Hope replied, her eyes on her father, who was making a point of sincerely thanking every werewolf who had come to help his family and was now leaving while Kol promised the Minkus family that he'd come over to visit them soon.

"I'm glad you finally have them." Riley smiled.

"And I'm glad your family is staying here with us for the next couple of days. I'm happy that you're with me for this. I want to share this happiness with you the same way you've shared yours with me for so long."

"So am I. Too bad there isn't a bay window here." Riley told her friend.

"I heard my dad telling aunt Rebekah that they'd build one before we come back and uncle Elijah assured me that there would be one in my new bedroom." Hope replied.

"Good." Riley smiled.

Eventually, it was just the Mickealson and the Matthews in the house. Auggie was already asleep in the bedroom he'd share with Kol and the girls decided it was also time for them to go to bed. They said goodnight to everyone, one by one, and went to put on their pajamas. Once they were both in the bed, Hayley knocked on the door.

"Girls, are you sleeping yet?" Hayley asked them.

"No, not yet mom." Hope replied, knowing her mother would be happy to be called 'mom'.

"Do you have everything you need?" Hayley asked as she, hesitantly, walked to the bed and sat by her daughter's side, looking at her.

"We forgot to get a glass of water, I like to be able to drink. I was about to go and get it." Hope replied.

Truth be told, she didn't really need it but she could see that her mother was trying and it wouldn't be right of her to stay closed off, so she tried to open up a little.

"Stay in bed, I'll go and get it for you. Do you need one too Riley?" Hayley asked, obviously happy to be able to do something for her daughter.

"Yes, please." Riley nodded, proud of her friend for giving her mother a chance to be there for her and for not locking her away.

"I'll be right back." Hayley declared before she left.

While Hayley was gone, and before the girls could speak, Freya, Rebekah, Elijah, Kol, Cory and Topanga came by to see if they were comfortably settled for the night and to wish them goodnight again.

"Here you go girls. Do you need anything else?" Hayley said when she came back with two glasses of water that she settled on the nightstands.

"We're fine mom, thanks." Hope replied with a smile for her mother.

"Goodnight then, both of you sleep well." Hayley declared and she seemed to be hesitating.

Knowing what her mother wanted, Hope opened her arms, inviting her mother for a hug, knowing it would make her feel better. Hayley happily hugged her baby girl, kissed her forehead and wished the girls goodnight once more before she left.

"I'm proud of you, Hope. Letting her in was a good move." Riley told her best friend, squeezing her hand.

"I agree." Klaus stated from the doorway.

"You saw that?" Hope asked him.

"I was waiting for her to be done so I could come and kiss you goodnight. I'm proud of you sweetheart. You gave her what she needed, even though you're still angry. I'm very proud of you." Klaus told her before he sat where Hayley had sat earlier and took his daughter's hand in his.

"I could see she needed it and it would have just been cruel to deny it." Hope replied with a small blush.

"Now, is there anything you girls need before you fall asleep?" he asked them.

"Could you... Would you mind telling us a story?" Hope asked her father.

"Of course. What kind of story do you want?" He asked the two girls.

"Anything that won't give us a nightmare." Riley replied as Hope nodded.

"You could tell us about you and Caroline? I didn't see much about you two in my dreams." Hope asked and Klaus nodded before he started the tale of how he fell in love with Caroline because she was full of life, full of light.

He stayed with them for about an hour before he kissed both of their foreheads, hugged his daughter and let them fall asleep. He turned the lights off and watched them sleep for about half an hour before he left their room and went in the kitchen to grab a glass of blood before he, too, went to bed.

He could hear his daughter's heartbeat and let that be the only thing he listened to as he slowly fell into a peaceful sleep, happy for the first time in a very long time. He could see the future ahead of them, it was a happy one, a good one.

The only cloud he could think of was Marcel. He really hoped that his daughter was right and that he would one day be a part of their life once more. He wanted it, he didn't want to lose Marcel again. It had been hard enough the first time around.


I hope you liked it. Eventually, Hope will forgive her mother.

What would you like to see happen next?

Next chapter will take some time, I don't have much time to write lately.

Review please?

Lorelei Candice Black