Loving Hope (Third book to The Little Wolf series)

Chapter 48

*1 month later*
Hope's P.O.V.
"Did you know that this week the babies are finally able to hear voices?" I ask Stefan as we walk through the Whitmore campus. Whitmore is really the only place near town I can walk around freely without worrying about anyone noticing me and seeing my very noticeable pregnancy belly.

"Really? That's interesting. So now they can hear Damon when he gets drunk and curses." Stefan says with a smile as we continue to walk around the campus in the cool air.

"To be honest, if Kai were here right now I don't think it would be any different. I don't think he'd be whispering sweet nothings to them. I'm almost positive he would be telling them dirty jokes and ramble onto them about meaningless things." I say with a laugh, thinking about Kai as I run my hand over my stomach with a smile on my face. Stefan can tell that I've been missing Kai a lot lately, so he's been really trying to do his best to make me feel better.

"You got any cravings right now that greasy college food might fix?" Stefan asks me curiously with a little smile on his face, that little smile that is always plaster on his lips.

"Mhmmmm, now that you mention it I definitely could go for a milkshake and some cheese fries right now. Oh my God do you think they have chili cheese fries? Ooooooo, maybe chili cheese fries and a medium rare burger smothered in sautéed onions." I say, basically having a food-gasm.

"I'll make that happen for you Miss. Mikaelson." Stefan says as he offers me his arm to me. I smile and link mine through his.

"Thank you Mr. Salvatore, that would be much appreciated." I say with a smile on my face. My stomach aches with hunger pains that will not go away. I guess it really isn't easy eating for three.

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Penelope's P.O.V.
"Elijah, I'm sorry but there is no danger here. Nothing has happened up here. Hope is safe and so are my other two children, are you sure what Vincent said wasn't a false alarm?" I ask Elijah on the phone as I look in the other room and see Faith and Nik sitting on the couch watching a movie.

"The threats Vincent told Niklaus and I did not seem fabricated. It just seems odd that after a month there has not been any activity." Elijah says, completely dumbfounded that everything has been alright up here.

"Yeah no the kids have been actually doing great. Hope has been spending a lot of time with Stefan, Faith actually has a lead in the school musical this year, and Nik has been flourishing even though he got kicked out of school. He's actually picked up playing the piano again and he's really enjoying it." I tell Elijah as I look at my beautiful children, more proud of them than ever.

"Penelope, how are you?" Elijah asks me which kind of throws me off.

"It's been a while since anyone has asked me that." I say as I walk into the kitchen to get some more privacy. "The only thing that is keeping me going really, is the kids. The evolution of them coming out of the situation, and them becoming stronger because of it is really, really amazing." I say as tears escape my eyes. "But I miss Klaus... I miss him a lot." I say, grieving the absence of my husband that I have grown to miss dearly. "These four months have really killed me Elijah. I want him to come back so badly, but I just don't know if the kids are ready... I don't want to subject them to that if I'm bringing him back selfishly." I say confiding in Elijah and about my inner conflict.

"Penelope, do what is best for you and your children. That is all you can do. Do not worry about Niklaus anymore." Elijah says with a sympathetic tone in his voice.

"I haven't stopped thinking about him for four months Elijah! It's not that easy to just forget about someone you're in love with..." I say as tears continue streaming down my face.