Tainted Heart

As soon as Hope walked in the café Kelley had the biggest smile plastered on her face. Hope smiled back and went to sit at the table close to the door. Kelley held up a hand gesturing to Hope that she had only five more minutes left and she was off.

Tim had seen the little interaction between the two, he smiled at the two and made his way over to where Hope was sitting.

"Hey pretty thing, how are you?" Tim said taking a seat across Hope.

"Hey, how's my favorite barista doing?" Hope said smiling at the guy.

"Well don't tell Kelley that, she'll be heartbroken," he winked, "but I'm doing pretty good how about you? I feel like I haven't had a decent conversation with you in a while."

"That's because I've been on the run almost every time and don't have a chance to sit down and drink my coffee, I'm doing pretty great actually," she said looking over and smiling at Kelley. Tim followed her gaze and smiled reaching for Hope's hand.

"You know you guys are really lucky to have found eachother, and you guys make such a cute couple." Hope turned her attention to Tim. "I'm having a little get together with some friends and I want to invite my favorite girls, it's this Friday night. I would really love for you guys to come."

"Thank you, that means a lot coming from you Tim, I'm the lucky one. She's the most caring person I've ever met. I hope I can make her the happiest person in this world, she deserves it." Hope said her voice full of sincerity, "And as for the get together; I would have to talk to Kelley but I doubt she'd say no, just text me the details later this week."

"Alright sounds like a plan babe," he got up and winked at her again. "Your girl is off the clock, see you Friday," he walked away seeing that Kelley was headed Hope's way.

"Bye Tim I'll see you tomorrow, thanks!" Kelley waved at him and he just smiled and waved back.

"Bye, see you tomorrow!" Tim yelled from the back of the counter.

"Hey babe," Hope stood up and Kelley went in for a hug which she responded by wrapping her arms tightly around Kelley. They stood there hugging each other for a few more seconds until Hope willed her to look up at her.

"Hey are you ok?" Hope asked concern written all over her features.

"Yeah I just missed you," Kelley said burying her face in Hope's chest.

"I missed you too, are you sure you're ok?" Hope pushed again feeling something was bothering her. Kelley nodded no, her head still buried in Hope's chest.

"Want to talk about it?" She asked and Kelley finally looked up.

"I do. Just not right now, I have to go pick up the squirrels form school," she sighed pulling away from the hug but grabbing Hope's hand, "later though, I promise. Walk me to my car?"

"Yeah ok come on squirrel let's go," Hope chuckled.

"Hey!" Kelley smiled and wrapped her hands around Hope's waist.

"What I think it's cute! That's what I'm calling you from now on," she stated smiled down at Kelley.

"Okay Hopey," she smirked waiting for Hopes reaction. Hope pulled away from Kelley.

"No that's not becoming a thing, don't call me that," Hope said trying to keep a stern face while holding back a smile.

"Oh come on Hopey! I know you like it, don't try and act like you don't," Kelley reached for Hope's waist and wrapped her hands around her again bringing her close and placing a kiss on her cheek. Hope just laughed at Kelley and kissed the side of her head.

"Come on mamma squirrel you gotta go get your little squirrels," Hope said letting out a low chuckle as they reached Kelley's car.

"So, you nervous about tonight?" Kelley asked untangling form Hope and leaning back on to her car.

"A little, I mean I've never done the whole meet the family thing if I'm being honest," Hope followed Kelley and leaned on the car, turning her body to face her.

"No way? Are you serious?" Kelley asked surprised at what Hope had said, she turned to face Hope and grabbed her hand. She absentmindedly started playing with her fingers. Hope just nodded, a small smile forming as she stared at their hands.

"I hope don't make it too overwhelming for you, my brother can be really protective over me. But my squirrels are going to love you I'm surely that," Kelley reached for her car keys. "I have an idea, come with me to pick up my nephews. Well go grab ice cream and then head home for dinner."

"Mm..." Hope didn't know if it was a good idea, she wasn't good with kids even with her own nephew. She loved him, but she was terrible with kids. At least that's what she thought.

"I just don't want to miss you too much today," Kelley pouted and Hope knew she already said yes mentally.

"What if they hate me? Or what if they don't like me?" Now it was Hope's turn to pout.

"Hey," Kelley said reaching up to caress Hope's cheek, "they're gonna love you, maybe not as much I do but that's fine."

Kelley realized what she said the moment it came out of her mouth but kept her composure, trying to play it cool. Maybe Hope didn't notice, she told herself. She eyed Hope carefully, waiting for a reaction. She was waiting for Hope to freak out.

She didn't mean to say it. She meant it when she said she loved her but she knew it was too soon to say it, but she had been caught in the moment. When Hope didn't react or say anything Kelley began to freak out. Before she could say anything Hope spoke first.

"Yeah ok let's go, you can bring me later to my car so I can go home and get ready." Hope knew she should say something about what Kelley had just said but she decided it wasn't the time.

Her heart was beating so fast and loud she thought Kelley could hear it. Kelley had just said she loved her. She brought Kelley in for a short embrace and softly kissed her head.

"Okay let's go then." Kelley unlocked her car and Hope went to the passanger side and got in.

The drive was a short one, and very quiet one. As soon as Kelley pulled in the school parking lot Hope started to get a little nervous. Maybe she was overreacting but kids or not this was Kelley's family.

"Hey wanna come inside with me?" Kelley asked after pulling into a parking spot.

"No umm I'll just wait here for you guys," she smiled and Kelley nodded.

Hope let out a sigh as soon as Kelley was gone. She grabbed her phone and dialed Carli's number. It only rang two times before her friend picked up.

"Hey miss me already? I just saw you a couple hours ago," Carli teased Hope but when she heard her friend sigh very loudly she instantly got worried. "Hey are you okay, is everything good?"

"She told me she loved me Carli. And I'm freaking out a little, well a lot, I mean yeah I'm definitely falling for her too but...she just said it. And I didn't say anything! I just pretended she didn't say it. I'm not ready to say it I ...I dont want to ruin this I jus-"

"Hey hey slow down, take a couple slow deep breaths," Carli cut her off. Hope did as she was told. "Ok now isn't that a good thing that she said she loves you? I mean you guys are moving a little fast but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. Did you not say anything back at all?" Carli was trying to make Hope stop freaking out.

"No I just ..I um when she said it I could see that she didn't mean to say it, at least not yet. I'm sure as soon as she realized what she had said she freaked out too, I just wished I could of said it back but I can't Carli I'm not there yet I can't." Hope looked over to see that Kelley was walking over with her nephews holding her hand one on each side. "Hey I gotta go come over later please? I'll text you when I get home okay?"

"Alright and stop freaking out, you just need to talk to her about it ok?"

"Ok I will I promise, bye Carli."

"Bye Hope"

Hope quickly put her phone down and got out of the car to greet the tiny people walking by Kelley's side.

"Hey look guys, remeber I told you I had a special someone," they both nodded shyly looking over at Hope, "Well that's her right there, her name is Hope."

Hope smiled at Kelley.

"Hi." Was all Hope said, unsure of what else to say.

The youngest started to hide behind Kelley's leg while the other stared at Hope. She wasn't sure if he was trying to glare or if the sun was bothering his eyes. Kelley took a knee, gently whispering something in the littlest one's ear, while soothingly running her hand up and down the other's back. At this point both children where staring at her and Kelley simply had a mischievous smile on her face.

Hope tried to say something else when she felt little hands wrapped around her leg. The youngest of the siblings was hugging her leg and she was frozen in place not knowing what to do. She patted his head.

"Aunty Kell says you make her really happy," the little one had now let go and was looking up at Hope. He had freckles on his face just like Kelley did, maybe not as much, but you could see them just as clearly. He looked so much like Kelley and Hope couldn't help but be charmed by him. She got on her knee and extended her hand.

"I'm Hope, nice to meet you squirrel?" He giggled at the nickname and took her hand for a short handshake.

"That's not my name silly, is Jordan!" he said giving Hope his biggest smile.

"Oh I'm sorry, nice to meet you Jordan," she smiled and he pointed to where his older brother was, now being the one to hide behind Kelley.

"That's Jacob," he said grabbing Hope's hand which surprised her but she just let him.

"Hi Jacob," she waved at him and he just waved back not saying anything.

"How would you guys like to go for some icecream?" Kelley asked.

"Can we go to the park too?" Jacob said coming out of his hiding spot from behind Kelley.

"How about we just go grab some ice cream today and I promise tomorrow I'll take you to the park after I pick you guys up?" Kelley asked opening the back door on the driver's side for Jacob, while Jordan walked over to the other side still holding Hope's hand.

"Yay! Can we take our soccer ball so you can show us your tricks too aunty Kell?" Jacob said excitedly climbing into the car so Kelley could put his seat belt on.

"Of course, who else is going to show you those cool tricks with the ball." Kelley chuckled.

On the other side Hope had opened the door for Jordan so that he could climb in, he looked over waiting for her to help him with his seat belt.

"Oh I'm sorry, here let me help you," Hope buckled him in and before she closed the door she heard the little guys giggle.

"You're pretty," he said and smiled up at Hope.

"You're pretty handsome yourself!" she said winking at him. She could see his little cheeks turn a light shade of red. She closed the door and at the other side Kelley was looking at her with the biggest smile.

"Should I be worried about you two"?" Kelley said laughing a little at the flush in Hope's own cheeks.

"You should be, this little O'Hara has more charm than you do." Hope said and got in the car leaving Kelley in a short state of shock. They drove to an ice cream shop near the Bean, that way it would be closer to drop off Hope afterwards.

It had gone better than Hope had expected. The oldest one had not talked a lot to Hope but the youngest one, Jordan, had been a sweetheart, practically talking Hope's ear off. She had learned that the oldest one was a soccer player, and that Jordan loved to draw. He had promised Hope that he was going to draw something for her next time.

When they went to drop Hope off at her car, Jordan had taken off his seat belt and had insisted he needed to give Hope a hug. Hope was in awe of the little guy, he was the sweetest little person and he reminded her of Kelley a lot.

Kelley went home with a smile on her face. Her youngest nephew Jordan couldn't stop gushing about Hope. She couldn't wait for her brother to meet her too.

Hope drove home with a big smile on her face, even though the oldest one hadn't really talked to her at all. The other little one had pretty much won her over and she was sure she hand won him over too.

And the whole time Kelley couldn't peel her eyes away from Hope, and she noticed.

As soon as she got home she shot a text to Carli to come over. She needed to talk to her friend and have her head clear before she went over to Kelley's for dinner. Even though today had gone great, she still needed to get herself together. As much as she wanted to tell Kelley she loved her back, she couldn't. She needed more time to make peace with herself and her feelings.

She needed time to convince herself that it was ok to fall for someone like Kelley, someone that deserved the best. She just needed a little more time to be able to tell Kelley just how much she was falling in love with her too.