A/N Based on characters from "Getting to know you" and "the one who got away"
Almost eighteen year old Hope entered the study and walked to him and kissed him gently on his cheek.
Elijah looked up at his niece and asked her "what is that for?"
She smiled and said "Can't I just kiss you?"
"Yes you can" Elijah said with a smile and then leaned back and said "where are you off to?"
"Going to meet Jackson. It is his birthday today. I promised that I will visit today" Hope picked up the paper weight from the table and said.
Elijah said gently and then bend down to look at his papers "Okay be back by night fall"
"I will" she smiled and then left
As she reached Jackson's apartment she rang the bell and fell into his arms and hugged him "Happy birthday. I told you I will come"
Jackson smiled at that innocent sweet girl who was the daughter of his once good friend. He let her in.
Hope stopped when she saw Jake sitting there with Mandy.
"Hey Jake, long time no see. When did you come?" she asked him
Jake got up and asked her "Yesterday. How are you Hope?"
"Great. I am starting my final year of college in September. This is your last year of law right?" she asked him sitting right in front of him.
When he smiled and nodded she turned to Mandy and said "hey Mandy how did it go last night?"
"It was great, we missed you. Why did you have to leave so soon?" Mandy said with a pout
"You know my curfew is 11 pm" Hope laughed and said
"I know but it is weekend" Mandy said
"hmm" Hope just said that.
"Jackson how are you thinking of celebrating your birthday?" She turned and asked Jackson
"We are taking Jackson to a club. You want to come?" Jake said with an expectant smile
"Yes sure" she said and got up.
"Where are we going?" Hope asked getting up and taking out her cell to inform Elijah about her whereabouts.
Jake smiled at her action and said "Marison Bourbon".
"Okay well" she texted Elijah about the location informing him where she will be.
When they entered the club the music was playing and it was jam packed. She looked over at Jackson and said with a smile "You should go find some to dance with you. We can keep ourselves busy"
"Yes we can" Jake said and then he pulled her on the dance floor.
Hope laughed and let him guide her to the dance floor.
Jackson looked at them and suddenly he felt a punch in his stomach. He looked at Mandy who was smiling at them. He said to her "You want to dance with me?"
Mandy turned to him and said "eww no. Go find someone your own age"
She then laughed and kissed him on the cheek and said "Enjoy Uncle Jackson. I will find someone"
Hope smiled and looked around and then turned her head towards Jake and realized that he was looking at her. Jake hurriedly looked away.
She asked him "so when are you coming back for good or are you not?"
He said "I am next summer"
"Good. I have missed you" Hope said with a smile
"I know" Jake said with a smile.
Suddenly Hope felt a chill run through her. She looked at him and caught him staring at her too. She looked at his hand holding hers and felt her butterflies in her stomach.
Jake was looking at her when he realized that she was getting nervous and her hands were getting a bit cold. He asked her "are you okay?"
"Yes I am" Hope said in a distracted tone
"Hmm" he said and then the music ended. He stepped back when another started. He asked her "you want to dance again?"
Hope looked at him and then nodded shyly.
It was a slow song. With every passing second Hope was feeling her heart beat getting faster. She just hoped that Jake does not hear it. Her gaze fell on his chest and she felt weird. She had known him since they were children so why was she feeling that way. She looked up and realized that he was asking her something. She jerked herself out of her thoughts and said "what?"
Jake said "are you sure you are okay?"
When she nodded with a smile he said "I asked what your plans are after college?"
"Med school" Hope said with a smile.
"Where are you planning to go?" Jake asked her
Hope said trying to relax herself "Not decided anything yet. Daddy wouldn't let me go far because of you know what so I think I have to select some place nearby"
Jackson looked at his nephew and Hope dancing across the room and felt confused. He knew this day would come. He has been observing Jake's interest in Hope for a long time but he knew that Jake and Hope had this past and they had to get over it to take the next step and he was concerned about how Elijah will react to Hope getting involved with Jake. Jake was aware of that. He didn't want anyone of them getting hurt so he has been hoping that they will never take this path but it was happening and he couldn't do anything about them.
"They look so cute together" Mandy said bringing him back to present.
He smiled at her and nodded.
Jake smiled at Hope and tried to ignore the tightening of his stomach muscles and then she stepped on his shoes making him laugh.
Hope blushed and said "Sorry"
"That is okay" Jake said with a smile. She stared at him and then she became conscious and looked around and realized that another song had started. She was feeling very nervous around him. Suddenly she looked at her wrist watch and said "Oh it is 10:45 pm. I have to go"
Jake smiled and nodded. He led her to where Jackson and Mandy were standing. He asked them jokingly "did you guys get to dance or just stood there admiring us?"
Hope laughed and then said to Jackson "happy birthday Jackson. I have to go now"
"We will drop you" Jackson said and led them out.
Hope entered the compound and went to Elijah's room. She knocked and then entered the room. Elijah was sitting on his bed reading the book. He smiled at her and closed the book and asked her "so how was the club?"
"It was good" she said and then climbed the bed and sat next to him on the bed. She put her head on his shoulder and said "Daddy can I tell you something?"
"You know you can" Elijah told her
Hope asked him "Daddy you remember Jake?"
Elijah was quiet for a moment and then he said "yes I remember him. He is in Minnesota right?"
"He is visiting these days. I met him today at Jackson's birthday" Hope said taking the book from his hand and opening it.
"And?" Elijah knew what she was about to say but he wanted to hear it from her.
"I think I am falling for him" hope said innocently
Elijah took a deep breath and said "I am glad you told me about him Hope. Does he feel the same way about you?"
"I don't know" she looked at him and said with a bit frustration "but daddy we have been friends for so long so why now?"
"Friendship is the first step to falling in love, love" Elijah said with a smile.
"Do you think he likes me?" she asked him with anticipation
Elijah said "I don't know. Only you can tell that. But I think only a fool will not like you"
He then looked at Hope and said "Hope…"
Hope laughed and said "I know I wouldn't do anything that you don't approve of" and then she kissed Elijah on his cheek and got off her bed and said "good night".
She reached the door when she turned and asked "Do you think mom and dad would have liked Jake?"
Elijah who was picking up his book looked at her and said with a smile "yes, they would have"
That made her face lit up and she turned and left his room.
That night Hope slept with a smile on her face. Next morning she got up and got ready quickly. As she was strapping her sandals Rebekah came in and asked her "where are you going so early in the morning?"
"I promised Mandy that we will have breakfast together so going there" she got up and picked up her purse.
"Mandy or Jake?" Rebekah asked with a smile
"Aunt Bekah!" she said and then giving her a fleeting kiss she left and said "Tell daddy where I am going okay bye"
Hope reached Jackson's apartment and was about to knock when she heard
"Why do you think I have said it to her yet? I have loved her since high school but I know that we cannot be together" Jake sounded frustrated
"Why not?" Jackson asked him
"You know why so what's the point?" Jake said in the same voice
Jackson said to the young man whom he has raised like his own "Your past is not you"
"It is a burden I have to carry Jackson. My grandfather killed Lebonair family and now I am falling for their granddaughter" Jake said with frustration
Hope couldn't bear to hear anything else. She ran down with tears swimming in her eyes. She was so upset that she started walking towards the compound. She was crying and trying to wipe the tears that were falling from her eyes uncontrollably.
Rebekah looked up with a smile which slipped from her face as she saw Hope entering the compound. Hope looked at her with teary eyes and shook her head slightly and then ran upstairs. Rebekah said "Ben I will call you later"
She put the phone down and went after Hope.
Elijah was in his study when he heard her come in. he could hear her fast heart beat from his study and the crying sound. He got up and went to her room. His heart ached for her when he saw her on her bed crying. He walked to her and put a hand on her shoulder and asked "what happened?"
"Tell me you didn't know" Hope asked him in between sobs and wiping her tears
Elijah took a deep breath and said "I knew. Jackson told me a long time ago. Hayley and Klaus also knew but Hope it is not Jake's fault"
"How can you say that?" Hope asked him
"Because what his grandparents did were their deed. He shouldn't be punished for that" Elijah told her calmly.
Rebekah stood at the door and then walked to her and sat next to her. She looked at Elijah who shook his head.
"I think you should give him a chance because he is a good boy" Elijah said to her wrapping her in one big hug.
"He knows and that is why he is not saying anything to me" Hope said in a depressed tone
"Well then you tell him" Elijah said after a couple of seconds "and tell him that you don't care about what his family did to yours. It is him that matters. Hope we shouldn't have to carry the burden of our loved ones bad deeds on our shoulder"
She smiled at him and said "I love you"
"I know love, me too" he then got up and left her with Rebekah.
As he was leaving he bumped into Kol who angrily said "What happened with Davina?"
"How should I know Kol?" Elijah asked him calmly
Kol opened his mouth to say something when his gaze fell on Hope who was crying in rebekah's arms and whispering something.
"What happened to her?" he asked him brushing Elijah aside and entered Hope's room
"Hey what happened? Did someone do something to do? Tell me and I will squash them. I am in a mood too" he said to her and made an aggressive gesture bringing a teary laughter at her crying face.
"Nothing Uncle Kol everything is okey" she said with a sad smile.
Rebekah said to him when he looked at her with concern "It is a guy problem Kol so go away"
"Oh okay" he got up and turned but then stopped and said mischievously "if you want me to deal with him you know I can"
"Yes we know Kol. Now go away" Rebekah said to him and motioned him to go.
Kol went straight to Elijah's study and asked him "what happened to her?"
Elijah looked at Kol and told him everything. Kol said "hmmm must be a big shock for her. But I like Jake. I think he will be good for her"
"Yes me too" Eljah said looking down at his book and then asked him "now what happened with Davina?"
"She has been avoiding me again" Kol said with frustration
"You must have done something then" Elijah said making him scoff
"I think it is you and Sophie who have done something" Kol said
"why would we do anything to her?" Elijah asked in calm
"I don't know" Kol said and then left the room leaving Elijah smiling at his back.
Rebekah kissed her niece and said "everything will be okay…" when her cell rang.
Hope wiped her tears and picked up the phone and said "hey Mandy I am sorry I cannot come today. I have a headache"
Mandy pleaded with her "Oh come now. Jake is leaving in the afternoon. This will be the last time we all will be together until next vacation"
Hope looked at Rebekah who nodded. Hope said "Okay I will be there in half an hour"
She got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face and then said to Rebekah "will you drop me at her place. I was so angry that I left my car at Jackson's apartment"
"yes sure I will" Rebekah said with a smile and got up.
After telling Elijah about their plan they left. Hope was quiet throughout the way.
When she reached Jackson's apartment Mandy rushed to her and said "You have been crying. What happened?"
She looked up and saw Jake looking at her with narrowed eyes. She smiled at him and said "Nothing just headache"
Jake knew she was lying. He was not liking the sad expressions on her face. He walked to them and said "so we are going out for breakfast and then we will go to the park and do fun stuff that we used to do when we were kids"
Mandy said making fun of him "Playing Frisbee. Come on you are 22 years old"
"So what? I am not that old. Right Hope?" he said with a smile that made her knees go weak.
She smiled but didn't say anything.
Jake looked at her with confused expression and then said to Jackson "Okay Jackson we are leaving"
"Have fun" Jackson said "and don't trigger your gene"
"We will try our best not to" Mandy said with sarcasm and followed Jake and Hope saying "every time he has to tell us"
Hope smiled but didn't say anything.
When they reached his car, Hope got into the back seat and buckled herself. During the drive to Ihop Hope was really quiet.
Jake looked at her from the rare view mirror and saw that she was lost in her thoughts. He felt confused. She was acting really weird today. He had felt the tension between them last night when they were dancing but he knew that if she knew his family's past she would never accept him so he has been keeping his feelings for her in check for the past 7 years. He smiled at the memory of when he realized the first time that he loved Hope. But now she was looking very sad and it was making him very concerned.
During the breakfast he caught her looking at him a couple of times which left him confused too. He was not listening to what Mandy was saying.
Mandy could see Hope was distracted so she was talking to keep her occupied.
After breakfast they went to their favorite park. They sat under the shade of a tree to prevent themselves from burning from the scorching son when suddenly Mandy spotted Jeff, her current boyfriend. She jumped up seeing her and ran to him leaving Hope and Jack alone.
Jake looked at her and saw that she was pulling out grass from the ground. He said to her "are you okay? You are really quiet"
Hope looked up and smiled "yes I am" she then added after a pause "when are you leaving?"
Jake laughed and joked "so this is it? You are sad about my leaving"
That made Hope laugh and she said "yes of course I always get sad whenever you leave."
He laid back on the ground and said "really I didn't know that"
"well you don't know a lot about me" Hope said with a smile.
He popped himself on one of his arm and turned to her and said "like what?"
Hope suddenly got very nervous and said in an undertone "nothing"
"Exactly" jake laughed and said.
He scanned the ground for his sister when he noticed her gaze on his face. He turned to her as she averted her eyes from his face.
"Tell me what is it?. You are worried about something" Jake asked her
Hope took a deep breath and said "I know"
She saw a stunned look on his face and smiled.
Jake felt as if someone squeezed his heart. He knew this day would come. He asked her in a whisper "who told you? Elijah?"
"No. how can he know?" she asked him in surprise
"Jackson told me that he knew" Jake said in confusion
"What are you talking about?" She asked him in confusion
"What are you talking about?" Jake asked her in confusion
Hope said with frustration "I know you love me"
Whatever it was Jake was not expecting that. He looked her in shock and then sat up.
She said to him "I think I love you too"
"Hope stop right there. We cannot …" Jake said
"Why? Because of your grandparents and my grandparent's history?" she said scooting over to him. When he looked shocked she said "I heard you talking to Jackson when I came in the morning. I came a bit early but when I heard all of this I couldn't stay so I went back home and then daddy told me everything. It is not your fault Jake. That was out past"
"Hope…" Jake said but Hope cut him off and said "Please think about it. I like you a lot. I think I am falling for you. You have been a constant friend in my life. Please think about it"
When he didn't say anything and just looked at a distance she gently put her hand on his hand bringing him to present. He turned to her and said "Hope I don't have to think about it. I have loved you as far as I can remember. I have loved you since that day when you tripped and sprained you ankle and I still love you and will always love you. I am sure you are for me. When I come next time I will ask you on our first date. You will be 18 by then and Elijah will not have any issue of you dating with a 22 year old person"
Hope smiled which made Jake smiled because that washed away all the sadness from her face. He looked into her eyes and then after a hesitation of a split second he leaned him and kissed her gently on her lips. Hope put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him back for the first time in her life. He broke the kiss but stayed there touching his forehead with hers and then with a smile he leaned back and held her hand. Hope scooted near him and sat with him with his hand in hers.
"So what did I miss?" Mandy asked them as she came back bouncing and then she saw them holding hands and she shrieked "Omg I just left you guys for just 5 minutes" she jumped on her brother and hugged him and said "I am so happy. I have been waiting for this to happen for so long"
"You knew" Hope laughed and asked her as Mandy engulfed her in a tight hug
"Of course I knew. The number of times my brother asked about you thinking that I don't know what is going on his thick head" she said casually and then said "I am so happy for you too"
She then got up and was leaving when hope asked her "Where are you going?"
"Leaving you two alone or what?" Mandy said mischievously making Hope blush and Jake laugh.
Hope chided Mandy by saying "don't be a stupid"
"Okay then look here. I want to take a picture of this" she smiled and said to Hope who looked at Jake to see what he thinks when she heard the click and realized that Mandy has already taken their picture.
She laughed. Jake looked at her laughing and kissed her on her head in impulse. Mandy said "aww this is so sweet but I think I will leave. I don't want to see my brother and my best friend making out" she said and then she left.
"Ladies and gentlemen my subtle sister" Jake said with a smile as Mandy left.
After a couple of minutes Jake said "I have to go. I can drop you home if you want me too"
Hope nodded her head and smiled and asked shyly "will you call me?"
Jake looked at her and said "yes I will" he kissed her hand and called Mandy
During the ride home he kept on holding her hand and just before she was getting out he kissed her hand and got out with her.
He saw her getting into the house and then left.
Hope looked at the car leaving with this sadness and happiness in her heart and then turned and went inside. She touched her lips and went to Elijah's study and went to him straight. He was writing something. She went to him and put her arms around his neck from behind, bend and then whispered in his ears "he kissed me"
Elijah smiled and put the pen down and asked her "are you happy?"
"Very" Hope said with a smile and then she kissed Elijah and left his study
Elijah smiled when he heard her voice "aunt Bekah guess what happened"