Song : All of me (John Legend)
Hope POV
“A date?”
Hope smiled softly.
“I know there’s a lot happening in our lives right now.”
“And that’s an understatement.”
“You died.”
“And just as you’re learning what it means to be a vampire, you find out your sister needs your help.”
She let out a quiet sigh.
“And on my end…I’m once again expected to save the supernatural world.”
There was a trace of bitterness in her voice.
“I don’t know about you…”
“But I’m overwhelmed.”
“I just want to spend time with my wife.”
She took Jinx’s hands in her own.
“I know getting married so quickly is normal in this city.”
“And I’ll never regret marrying you.”
“Never.”
“But I wish I’d had the chance to take you on dates.”
“To get to know you.”
“To woo you.”
“To agonize over what I should wear just to make your heart skip a beat.”
“To wonder whether you’d say yes to a second date…”
“…or a third.”
She smiled, her eyes never leaving Jinx’s.
“So please…”
“Let me court you.”
“Let me take you on a date.”
“And let me show you that you chose the right person to spend eternity with.”
“Okay.”
A broad smile spread across Hope’s face.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to experience everything you just described.”
Jinx reached up and gently cupped Hope’s cheek.
“But, Hope…”
“You don’t have to prove that I chose the right person.”
“You’re the light in my darkness.”
“I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
“In love with the girl who’s determined to make me happy.”
“With the woman who turned my life upside down…”
“…and gave me back my sanity.”
“You looked at someone who was broken…”
“…and instead of running away like so many others would have…”
“…you were fascinated.”
She smiled through tears.
“I will never regret being yours.”
“Or becoming a Mikaelson.”
Hope kissed her passionately, losing herself in the essence of the woman she loved.
“Then show me how much you love me,” Hope whispered, gently nibbling at her wife’s ear.
“Show me that I’m yours.”
“Oh, babe,” Jinx said with a grin, “all you had to do was ask.”
Then they lost themselves in each other’s embrace.
Later that night, as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, Jinx whispered,
“Do you think we still would have ended up together if Landon had never cast that spell?”
Hope smiled softly.
“I was stubborn.”
“And I refused to lose anyone else.”
“But Jinx…”
“You have this kind of magnetism that makes it impossible to ignore you.”
“Deny my feelings?”
“Maybe.”
“But ignore you?”
“Never.”
“Eventually, we would’ve ended up sleeping together while we were drunk,” Jinx said matter-of-factly.
“Jinx!” Hope exclaimed in protest.
“And then, of course, we would’ve both insisted it never happened…”
“…right before ending up in the same bed again.”
Hope stared at her in disbelief.
“Two stubborn women who couldn’t tear down their own walls.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Hope frowned before letting out a resigned sigh.
“First of all, alcohol doesn’t have much of an effect on me.
I would’ve stopped myself.”
“But if, for some unknown reason, you somehow managed to find something that even worked on me and I were utterly drunk.
I have more class than that.”
“…I would’ve stopped myself.”
“At least once.”
“To ask for your consent before giving in.”
“But you would have given in,” Jinx said with a smile.
Hope blushed before admitting
“Oh my love, I would’ve jumped into the abyss with both feet.”
Three Days Later
Hope waited at the bottom of the staircase, a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
Even though they were already married, she found herself staring nervously toward the stairs.
At last, Jinx appeared.
Hope froze.
As Jinx descended the staircase in a breathtaking black dress, Hope couldn’t stop a single thought from echoing through her mind.
Beautiful.
She’s so beautiful.
“So…
did I manage to seduce you?”
Hope nodded so quickly it was almost comical.
Jinx smiled mischievously before kissing her wife’s cheek.
Then she gently took the bouquet, inhaled its fragrance, and placed it in a vase.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Jinx said after taking in Hope’s suit.
« Very sexy »
At that moment, Hope wrapped her arms around her and kissed her slowly.
“You can continue that when I’m not around.”
Klaus’s voice made them reluctantly pull apart.
Hope raised an eyebrow when she noticed the camera in his hands.
“Seriously, Dad?”
“Hey, it’s your first date,” Klaus replied with a grin.
“It’s my duty as a parent to embarrass you as much as possible…
and preserve the memory.”
“Are you really going to deny me that privilege?”
Hope rolled her eyes.
“Fine.”
“Take your picture.”
A moment later, after far too many photos,they left the manor.
“Don’t stay out too late!” Klaus called after them.
Hope shook her head, utterly incredulous at her father’s behavior.
Yet a broad smile spread across her face.
It was an experience she had never had before.
“So,” Jinx asked, “why did we have to dress like a couple of rich Pilties?”
“If I told you,” Hope replied with a smile, “it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.”
“Close your eyes.”
Jinx arched an eyebrow but did as she was told.
“You can open them now.”
Her eyes widened with surprise and delight.
They were standing aboard an airship in the middle of the ocean, overlooking the setting sun.
On the deck, a table set for two awaited them, illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Hope listened with quiet satisfaction as her wife’s carefree laughter echoed across the deck.
Jinx ran around the airship, examining everything she could find.
“Hope, look!”
“Look, that’s where the Hextech engine is!”
Hope nodded along, despite understanding very little of what her wife was enthusiastically explaining about the machinery.
She loved seeing her like this.
Free.
Carefree.
If she could make every day like this for Jinx, she would.
But for now…
That was impossible.
A little later, they took their seats at the table.
A waiter arrived and set their meals before them.
“What’s this?” Jinx asked, eyeing the unfamiliar dish.
“Gumbo,” Hope replied.
“It’s a traditional dish from my hometown.”
“One of the restaurants I bought serves it.”
“It’s become incredibly popular.”
Jinx took a bite.
After a moment, her eyes lit up.
“It’s delicious.”
She looked back at Hope with a grin.
“So tell me, Hope Mikaelson…”
“What else do people do on dates?”
“We ask each other questions,” Hope answered.
“To get to know each other better.”
“To find out what we have in common.”
“Like what?” Jinx asked.
“For example…” Hope smiled.
“What’s your favorite color?”
For the next several minutes, they talked about everything and nothing.
“I’d love to explore Ionia someday,” Jinx said.
“From what I’ve read, its culture reminds me of one from my own world.”
“And the landscapes sound indescribably beautiful.”
“They say Ionia is saturated with magic.”
She looked thoughtfully at Hope.
“I wonder what kind of effect that would have on our bond.”
As they finished the last bites of their chocolate mousse, Jinx seemed lost in thought.
Hope reached across the table and gently took her hand.
She knew this evening was only a pause.
A necessary one.
But still, only a brief moment of freedom.
“One day,” Hope said softly, “we’ll go to Ionia.”
“You’ll build us an airship unlike anything the world has ever seen.”
“And we’ll leave this place behind.”
Jinx said nothing.
She simply tightened her grip on Hope’s hand, as though it were a lifeline keeping her from being swept away by the storm of her own thoughts.
Hope spread a blanket across the deck, and they lay down together, wrapped in each other’s arms as they gazed up at the stars.
“Do you ever want children?” Jinx asked.
“Well…” Hope replied softly.
“A vampire can’t have children.”
“I suppose we could always adopt, if that’s what you wanted.”
Jinx looked at her in confusion.
“Your father is a hybrid.”
“And so are you.”
“He managed to have you.”
“What makes you think you couldn’t have children?”
“My birth was orchestrated by a goddess,” Hope explained.
“I don’t really see the point of talking about it.”
“It’s impossible.”
“But,” Jinx said thoughtfully, “you’ve told me the magic in my world is different.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t be so impossible here.”
After a moment of silence, Hope turned toward her.
“Would you want them?”
“I’d like to raise a child with you.”
“I really would.”
“But not if it put them in danger.”
“And we’re always in danger.”
She gave a small, self-conscious smile.
“Besides…
I don’t think I’m the most mentally stable person in the city.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short,” Hope replied.
“Having a child has a way of bringing out parts of ourselves we never knew existed.”
“Look at my father.”
“A monster to almost everyone…”
“…except his daughter.”
She smiled.
“He wasn’t in my life very often.”
“But whenever he was, he did everything he could to protect me.”
She smiled gently.
“I know you have everything it takes to be a good mother.”
“Even with the explosions?” Jinx asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Even with the explosions,” Hope muttered.
“But we have plenty of time to think about that.”
“We’re still young.”
“And I’d like to enjoy having you all to myself for a little while longer.”
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
“Although…”
“We could also talk about how surprisingly shy you were around my mother.”
“Hope!” Jinx exclaimed, sounding thoroughly exasperated.
The moon was already high in the sky when they arrived at the manor’s front door.
“So…
is our date over?” Jinx asked.
“No.”
“I still have one last surprise for you,” Hope said before teleporting them away.
They appeared in the manor’s ballroom.
The room was bathed in the warm glow of countless candles, and a gentle melody drifted through the air.
“Hope?” Jinx asked, stunned.
Hope extended her hand.
“Mrs.
Mikaelson…”
“Would you honor me with this dance?”
“But…”
“I’ve never danced before.”
“I’ll teach you,” Hope said with a gentle smile.
Jinx hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in Hope’s.
At first, they danced awkwardly.
Then their movements grew smoother…
…more natural.
Until Jinx saw only one thing.
Hope.
When the music came to an end, they kept swaying together as though nothing else in the world existed.
At last, they came to a stop.
Hope leaned in and gently kissed Jinx’s lips.
“That’s how a first date ends.”
Jinx smiled.
“I think I understand the appeal of dates now.”
“I had a wonderful evening.”
“Maybe we should continue it…
in the bedroom?”
Hope laughed softly.
“Normally, we’d have to wait until at least the third date.”
“But I think we can make an exception.”
She looked at her wife, desire shining in her eyes.
Then she swept Jinx into her arms and carried her in their bedroom
⸻
The following morning, Hope walked into the kitchen wearing a thoroughly satisfied smile.
Her father was perched on a stool, a mug of warm blood in his hand.
“I take it your date went well.”
“Dad,” Hope replied with a grin, “would I really be a Mikaelson if I planned a mediocre date?”
Klaus chuckled.
“Fair enough.”
He took another sip of blood.
“You’ve got mail,” he said as Hope cracked a few eggs into a bowl.
She turned and saw him holding an envelope.
“That arrived sooner than I expected,” Hope said as she took it from him.
“You underestimate the Mikaelson reputation,” Klaus replied.
“We’re wealthy and mysterious.”
“That’s more than enough to pique their curiosity.”
Hope examined the seal before breaking it open.
Dear Clan Mikaelson,
You are formally invited to the annual ball hosted by Clan Kiramman.
The event will take place on Progress Day, a celebration of our beloved city’s achievements…
“What is it?” Jinx asked sleepily before pressing a kiss to Hope’s cheek.
“An invitation to the Kirammans’ annual ball,” Hope replied.
“And our ticket to freeing your sister.”
She folded the letter with a faint smile.
“After all…”
“If you want to get what you want…”
“You have to be willing to walk into a snake’s nest.”