Hope Mikaelson in La Push

Chapter 13: I Love You

Hope's POV:

The next morning I wake up to Leah's head in my lap and the tv still on from last night. I sigh and gently remove her head, walking towards the kitchen. I quickly cook some pancakes and eat, leaving some out for her with a note while I head upstairs.

I shower and change before heading down. The pancakes are gone and so is Leah. Must have headed home. I walk out onto my back patio where the swing is and sit down, enjoying the day. I like time to have peace and quiet and recently I haven't had time.

I went from too much quiet to no quiet at all. It's infuriating that I can't find a balance. I'm about to close my eyes when I catch a scent in the air. Paul. I spot him walking around my house cautiously, trying not to anger me. I sigh and stand.

I raise a hand before bringing it down, bringing down the enchantments as well. Paul takes this as encouragement and opens the screen door that once stood between us. "Hey." "Hey." There is silence for a moment. He finally talks. "Nothing could change the way I feel about you Hope."

"What? Then why did you-" "I didn't mean for it to come out like it. I was just angry from my fight with Cullen. I didn't mean for you to think that you being part vampire could possible make me not want you." "But you hate them."

"Yeah, because they take lives and have no control. If I'm being honest your mother did the smart thing if drinking from blood bags to keep her hunger at bay." I look down at the mention of my mom. "Sorry." "It's fine. I'll need to talk about her eventually. No one brings her up."

I'm kind of glad I haven't had to think about her or my dad that much since I've been here. I needed a break from the guilt. But hearing Paul mention my mom felt almost like a breath of fresh air.

I mean, I have so many good memories of my mom and that's how people live on after they die, in the memories shared by those closest to them. "Are you alright?" He asks, worried. "I am, just thinking." I tell him, smiling. I walk to the porch swing and sit down.

Paul follows behind dutifully, taking a seat next to me. "What were you thinking about?" "My parents. More specifically, my mom. I've avoided all conversation about her when I should be reminiscing on the time I had with her." "Hey, you needed time to heal."

I just nod, continuing to look at my hands. I hear him sigh and them his arms are around me. "Come here." I sink into his embrace and I let my emotions flow out of me for the first time in a while. I see the lights around the outside area start to flicker on and off.

He strokes my hair, muttering soothing things to me as I calm down. He kisses the top of my head and just holds me until my tears stop. When they do I pull away and and look up at him with a grateful smile on my face. We're frozen in time for a moment. His smile is blinding.

The amount of love in his eyes right now is unmeasurable. It's a tense moment. I see his eyes glance down to my lips and I find my own looking at his. The lean in is slow and I almost don't notice it until we're nose to nose. Taking a leap of faith I close the gap between up. It's perfect.

He reacts immediately. I melt into the kiss, bringing my hands up. One to cup his cheek and the other tangles in his hair. His hands pull me closer to him, wrapping around my waist in a tight, warm embrace. Our lips move in perfect sync, not too heated, but not just a peck either.

When we run out of breath we pull away, opening our eyes and holding each other's gaze. The only sound is our heavy breathing, a smile lights up his face. "What made you decide that? I thought you wanted to wait." I laugh.

"I have been. For weeks now I've been thinking about what we should be, if I could risk our friendship and be selfish when last time it cost me everything. Then I realized something in that moment. The way you were just there, not speaking, holding me."

He waits for me to continue with baited breath. "I love you Paul. I have for a while now." He grins and pulls me into another kiss, this one lasting longer than the first. He finally pulls away, his smile still present.

"I love you too Hope. I have since I saw you on that beach when we were 8. This gorgeous girl who could kick any guy's ass in soccer." I laugh at this, a blush appearing on my face at the memory.

"Jake always told me that me beating them in soccer would repell any guy I was interested in." He chuckles. "Well I'm glad to say that Jacob started his 'being wrong' streak at an early age." I laugh at that. Before realizing something and sobering up. "So...what now?"

He gives me a devilish grin. "Well, Miss Mikaelson..." He stands, offering me both his hands, which I take and use to help me stand up. "...will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" I smile slightly and go to speak when something comes to mind.

I smirk and his brows furrow in confusion. "I'll say yes...when you take me on a date. A real one." His look of confusion is replaced by his smile as he chuckles a bit. "Ok, ok. Well then I have to do this the proper way. "Hope Andrea Mikaelson, will you go on a date with me?" I beam up at him.

"Yes, Paul, I will go on a date with you."