Last time on Blind Hope

Without wasting a moment, Hope dropped to her knees and began fumbling with his pants. "Ho-Hope, you don't have-" Dorian moaned when contact was made. "Hope, you don't have to do this..." Even as he said it, he couldn't bring himself to move her hands away.

"I want to." It was a simple response; however, their night was anything but simple.

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Hope dressed reluctantly with Dorian's help. "Can't we just pretend it's still night?" Dorian laughed and kissed her mark. Her legs, already shaky, melted, and she moaned as she went limp in Dorian's arms.

"If you that again," he whispered in her ear, "we might just have to." Suddenly conscious, Hope cleared her throat, regaining her footing.

"Well, I suppose breakfast can't wait." She marched towards the door, but in her haste to get away, she went the wrong direction. Dorian caught her arm right before she tripped face first over a coffee table.

"This way, Sweet." Hope gave up and let Dorian lead her down the twisting ways of the castle. She smiled as the familiar smells of Vivian, Blake, John, and Tammy greeted her - though it was mixed with the scents of Dorian's sister Cora and his Betas. Thankfully, his parents did not show up.

But there was something else. Something else Hope couldn't figure out. Regardless, she pushed the faint annoyance out of her mind, determined to enjoy the breakfast. John and Tammy were thrilled to be with their family again and had reestablished the familial bond with Vivian. They were set to join Blake's pack, though they would have to try out as warriors.

Dorian scoffed when he heard this - there strong auras were similar to his. They would have no trouble becoming warriors. Conversation bounced around the table as lively as he had ever heard it, and Dorian smiled. It really was like a family, and as he directed Hope to her food, knowing her intense fear of making a fool of herself, he was pleased to notice she looked happy with the outcome as well. But her nose kept wrinkling.

It wasn't that the odor wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, it was smelt sweet and warming, like pumpkin bread awaiting Thanksgiving. But it waned and grew, inconsistent and therefore annoying.

"Dory," she finally whispered, "is there a strange scent in here?" Dorian casually sniffed the air, but shook his head, leaning down to whisper in his mate's ear,

"No?" Hope giggled at the confusion in his voice and tried to ignore the pungent odor that, apparently, only she could smell. She and Dorian continued to whisper amongst themselves until the pleasant chatter of the breakfast companions was interrupted by a brood children.

"Hope!" Bliss cried out, rushing and colliding into the chair, throwing her arms around her as best she could. "Mom says we have to go home now. She won't say why, but I think it has to do with Dad." She stood up on her tippy-toes and whispered, "He's really sad."

"Sorry to interrupt," Larry said, pulling Bliss away and allowing the other children to hug there goodbyes. "They really wanted to see you again." He nodded at everyone present, relieved no one seemed angry. One by one the kids hugged Hope goodbye and did the same for Vivian, John, and Tammy. For Blake and Dorian, however, they were more reluctant and glared more than said goodbye. As they all left, Larry leaned down whispering, "I know you probably don't want to see them, but Victoria and Dad are outside waiting to leave." He kissed her cheek and gave Dorian a warning glare.

"I never seen so many people not care that I'm King."

"Dory, I'm going to say bye to Emily." Larry helped Hope stand up, and Hope kept her hand on Dorian's shoulder, pushing him down when he tried to stand. "I'll be back soon." She left, and Dorian huffed, eating uneasily. The others resumed their chatter, but like Dorian, Vivian kept a sharp eye on the door.

Hope suddenly reappeared in the door, her eyes alight with excitement. "I've figured it out! Viv, you're-" she paused, thinking Vivian might prefer to find out on her own. "No, never mind." She left with Larry, and the those around the table looked at Vivian confused. She shrugged and continued to eat.

"I've had such an appetite lately. And for strange things."

True to Larry's word, the rest of Hope's extended family was waiting outside. "Gramm! Drake! Emily!" She called, waving in the direction Larry led her. "Don't tell me you were going to leave without saying bye!"

"Oh, sweetheart!" Emily gave her a bear-hug, rocking back and forth. "Is alright for me to be hugging the Queen like this?" They both laughed as Hope pulled away.

"Yes, oh heavens, yes!" Drake walked up slowly, leaving Victoria's arm, and Hope wrapped him in a hug as big as the one Emily had given her. "Thank you," she murmured into his chest. "I know what it meant for you to do what you did." His arms wrapped around her as he gently laid his chin down on top of her head.

"I'd do it again," He said, remembering his own daughter Charlotte - the one he had lost. She would only be a little older than Hope. "Ah," he sniffled, pulling away with a laugh. "Keep the King in check, will you?"

"From what I've seen, she already has," Gramm smirked as he gave his sister a side-hug. "Come see us anytime."

"I will. I think you'll be a great Alpha," Gramm blushed and pulled away, ignoring the knowing smirk on his father's face. He cleared his throat.

"Oh, yes, well. Yes." He walked away awkwardly, and Victoria barely stifled her laugh. Emily, Drake, and Gramm all shared a glance before saying final goodbyes and ushering the brood into the large limos preparing to take them to the airport. It took several.

Victoria and Bruce didn't know what to do. Both of their mates had given them a look that clearly said they weren't welcome inside the limos until all was well. And for clarity sake, they had mind-linked it as well. "Mom? Dad?" Unable to see them, Hope was feeling as if she had been left alone. The smell were mingling and she couldn't tell if they had also entered the vehicles.

"We're here." Victoria approached and stopped before her like a school girl being scolded or a dog whose tail is between the legs. "I know we'll never be what we used to be like, but I'd still..." Victoria voice choked and she dropped her head. She didn't deserve to still be in her life. When had she become her mother?

"You're right," Hope said, not reaching out. "We'll never have the relationship we did back in grade school, but that's okay because we shouldn't back. We should always go forward. And, and I'm mated now. I'm an adult, and I don't need a mother to watch my every move. I need a mother who can give advice when Dorian and I are fighting, or when I don't know what to do for a baby. I need a mother who can support, hug, cry and rejoice with me." A single tear fell down Victoria's cheek, and she inhaled to keep herself from sobbing. "Can you do that... Momma?" The sobs released like a dam breaking, and Victoria fell onto Hope, barely holding herself up.

"Yes! Yes, I can do that." Bruce watched as Victoria finally pulled away, kissing her forehead and going to the vehicles with a smile the size of Texas. "I love you!" She called out before the door could close. Hope echoed the sentiment. Bruce swallowed hard, knowing it was his turn.

"Hope?" He walked forward one achingly small step at a time. "I don't even know what to say."

"You ever treat any of my siblings the way you treated me, and I'll split you nose to navel." He froze at the harshness of her tone. She had easily forgiven Victoria, or so it seemed. As Bruce thought back over their conversation, he realized she hadn't forgiven her.

She had given her a chance.

"I heard you nearly tore a man's arm off." He stopped walking towards her, opting instead to be cautious.

"I trained with Vivian." There was a sparkling tension between the two of them, and Bruce closed his eyes. Was there no chance for him?

"I don't deserve forgiveness. I understand that, but can you give me a chance?" Hope's jaw clenched and her eyes watered.

"It was John." He watched her carefully, not understanding. "It was John who spoke to Dorian as as a father on my behalf." He wanted to argue that he had been in jail, but truth be told, he had an opportunity to speak with Dorian and had said nothing. He had stayed put away in his room, making up with Emily instead of Hope. "It was John who allowed me to fight. It was Gramm who taught me to throw a ball by relying on senses." She laughed an empty laugh, "He wore a blindfold." She shook her head, and Bruce didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. "But as I told Mom," her voice was quiet, and Bruce had to step forward to hear her properly, "one shouldn't dwell in the past... I can give you a chance."

"Thank you." His voice was soft and honest. Hope knew he meant it.

"Don't be a father to me."

"What!?"

"Be a grandfather to my future children." Hope began crying. "I'm sorry. That's the best I can do." She turned away, and Bruce felt his heart and wolf crumple. "You threw me into a glass table." The cries quickly accelerated, and before he knew what he was doing, Bruce had Hope tightly in his arms. She slowly returned the hug, her small hands gripping his jacket as tears stained the front of his shirt.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm so, so sorry." They spoke a few more words or warning and chance before Bruce finally departed - no words of love between them. He climbed into the limo, thankful the children had all decided to ride together, leaving the adults alone. He stared out the window with vacant eyes.

"It'll take time," Emily said, leaning over on him. "But she's fair and just." Bruce's face slowly formed a small smile, and he nodded, thinking over her words.

"A true Queen."

Hope watched as the cars drove away. She laughed weakly, realizing she had no way back indoors without falling and breaking all the bones in her body. Dorian? She mind-linked with an amused smile. I'm standing alone outside the castle.

I'm coming! Don't move! She laughed in joy at the slight panic in his tone. He really did care. He really did... love her.

I love you, Amor de Mi Vida. As he was running through the castle, Dorian tripped and fell flat on his face, his whole body hot.

"Amor de Mi Vida?" He whispered, purring. "Amor de Mi Vida."

Amor?

I'm coming, he hiccupped through the mind-link, forcing himself to his feet. "I'll always come to you."

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