Hope lay in her bed by the fire, thinking about what had happened. Samara was now resting at the physician's house, safe and healthy. Her parents were both sent into exile for abusing her. Samara was going to be adopted by a kinder family and hopefully she would get over the trauma she'd been put through with her parents. Everything concerning Samara was going to work out and Hope knew she no longer needed to worry about it.

There was, however, another matter to take care of. Smeagol obviously was not still angry with her if he saved her life, but he was still probably upset. Perhaps it was time to start trusting guys again? Smeagol was a good person after all, and he wouldn't hurt her. But then again, that's what she thought of her last boyfriend.

Before she could think it out further the door opened and he walked in with a small smile on his face. Hope glanced at her watch and back at him.

"Smeag, it's after midnight. What's wrong?" He closed the door and walked over to her bedside, sitting in a chair next to her.

"I just wanted to tell you, I thought about what happened earlier today, and I'm sorry for annoying you with it. You're right, we may not ever happen and I probly don't know what love is yet, but I know I care about you a lot and I promise to stop pestering you about it."

"Smea, you don't have to..."

"No. I want to. I have to respect your feelings."

"Yeah, but..."

"Don't even try to change my mind because it's made up." Hope, realizing she wasn't going to say a word sat up and placed both her hands on his face. He became quiet so she could speak.

"My mind's made up too. I'm ready to take a risk again. You were right all along. I just didn't know how to face the truth. But the truth is I do love you and I can't deny it anymore. I'm sorry it took me so long to see it."

Smeagol stared at her, and she could see an emotion in his eyes as though he could not resist any longer. He cupped his hands under her ears, and drew her face to his and kissed her with absolute longing. She melted and kissed him back softly, allowing him to love her. After a moment he pulled away and placed a hand on her cheek..

"I won't hurt you," he said softly to her. "I swear to God I won't." He pulled her to him and kissed her again, just because he could. She was his now and he loved her. He gently traced her lips with the tip of his tongue and she opened up, allowing him to deepen the kiss. He heard her moan, but whether it was from pain or pleasure, he could not tell. She did not pull away so he continued kissing her until he was forced to pull back for air. He stared at her, panting, and smiled.

"Whoa," she breathed. He laughed and hugged her tightly.

"I love you," he whispered. She smiled and nodded.

"I love you too."

He crawled behind her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. His lips gently brushed on her neck and she leaned into him as he covered her neckline with loving kisses. A smile spread on her face and she savored the feeling of his strong arms around her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, and rubbed his face up and down her neck and shoulder like a cat nuzzling its owner. She giggled at the strange feeling and relaxed in his arms.

"Can I keep you?" he asked softly. She laughed and reached her arm up and behind her and rested her hand on his head.

"I don't know if you can afford me," she whispered. "I'm very expensive stuff."

"What if I gave you my heart? Would that cover it?" She smiled and closed her eyes, knowing she would mostlikely never hear that again from anyone.

"Only if I can give you mine," she whispered. He smiled and hugged her, kissing her cheek softly. He stood up slowly and looked at her.

"I'd better go. If Tabby walked in, it could look bad." She smiled and nodded, though her heart was begging him not to go. "Good night," he purred. Hope stood up and walked over to him.

"Good night," she whispered. He kissed her one last time before leaving, and she stood there in the doorway until drowsiness got the better of her and she went to bed. That night, the feeling of his lips on her neck never left and she knew now that she had given her heart away permanently, only this time, she picked the right one.