Days of our Haiden (Read 6,328 times)

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1 Episode 15:

Hope got to work before Rafe arrived. As she headed into the precinct, she heard Lani talking with Roman.
“Commissioner Brady, would it be alright if, instead of being bid on, I be a bidder instead?” Lani asked in reference to the police gala.
Roman hesitated. “That’s an unusual request, but since participation isn’t mandatory, I don’t see why not.”
“I promise to donate money either way regardless on whether or not I win the bid,” Lani stated.
Roman nodded. “That would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.”
Lani smiled. “Thank you!”
“If you don’t mind me asking, who exactly is it that you would be bidding on?” Roman asked.
Lani glanced at Hope, and then back at Roman. “You never know. Some of those Springfield officers might be cute.” She grinned.
Hope smirked, and headed into her office. She knew darn well that Lani was hoping to bid on Rafe. It was a harmless crush. She wasn’t worried about it and saw no harm in letting Lani live out her fantasy for the evening. She knew that Rafe would never let it go any further than that. Hope actually found Lani’s crush on Rafe kind of cute.
She took off her coat and hung it on the coat hanger, then dropped into her desk chair with a sigh. She wondered who would bid on her. She was a little weary of opening this thing to the public. There was no telling what kind of sleaze might bid on her. She was glad she was a cop and trained to take down any shady person who tries to hurt her.
Her mind quickly flashed to the night Aiden had tried to kill her. She shivered despite the heat being up to 80 in the precinct. Roman liked to be warm as warm could be at all times.
“I was just caught off guard; that’s all. I didn’t have my full wits about me,” she muttered to herself. “I could have taken him on if I was prepared. Who would have thought my husband was going to try to kill me—on my wedding night at that?” Well, she would be prepared from now on. She wasn’t about to let herself be attacked again—not from Aiden, a potential bidder, or anyone else! Not that she had to worry about Aiden anymore, she knew.
She sighed again. She wished she could wipe out the night Aiden attacked her from her mind and keep it gone. She had forgiven him, yes, but that night still haunted her even though it had been over a year ago.
She looked at the clock then pulled out some paperwork. She had a parent-teacher conference to get to on her lunchbreak. That left her an hour to do the paperwork and case filing she had to do before going out on the streets to patrolling with Rafe until it was time for the conference.
Her heart sank a little at the thought of patrolling with Rafe. She was still angry with him. She didn’t know why. He had sincerely apologized. Even so, she still felt rubbed the wrong way. She hoped that feeling would dispel by the time Rafe arrived at work.

*This love came back to me.*

“I really am sorry, you know. About last night, and about everything I said. It was stupid. I trust you, and if you want to keep the locket, then I know there’s no stopping you,” Rafe said as they patrolled around.
“You’re damn right it’s not!” Hope said a little colder than she had meant to.
Rafe wasn’t giving up. “For what it’s worth, it’s a really nice locket. I’m sorry I overreacted. I also couldn’t be sorrier for the things I said about Chase. I know he is your son. He is a wonderful kid and Aiden did a great job raising him.”
Hope felt her anger melt away a little, and she smiled at Rafe. “I accept your apology. Bonus points for the compliments to Aiden.”
Rafe grinned. “I don’t think I can ever forgive him for what he did to you, but I do understand he thought he had no other way. Chase is an incredible kid, and if I were Aiden, a threat to his life would have driven me insane too. I would have handled it better than Aiden did, and I most certainly never would have tried to kill you, but—”
Hope cut him off. “You know what? I don’t want to talk about that night. Anyway, you don’t need to go all overkill on the Aiden complimenting. I know you don’t like him. You don’t have to compliment him left and right when I know you don’t mean any of it. I forgive you. All I ask is that you stop being so over protective of me, and more civil to Aiden.”
Rafe nodded. “Done! But I did mean what I said when I said he raised Chase right. Chase is a good kid. I’m glad he has his father back in his life. I know how important that is.”
Hope smiled at him. “I’m glad you and Eduardo are finally starting to heal your relationship.”
Rafe smiled back at her. “Me too. I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m glad to have my dad back. It feels really good to be part of a family again. Between my dad coming back, then my brother, then my mother… Then of course there’s Gabi and little Ariana.” Rafe looked a little sad. “My sister Arianna would have been thrilled to have the whole family together.”
“You miss her terribly, don’t you?” Hope asked, taking his hand that wasn’t on the wheel.
Rafe nodded. “Every day of my life. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish for her to be alive again. You know, if I could have, I would have taken her place in a heartbeat.”
“I know you would have,” Hope said in almost a whisper. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t, because if you did, you and I would never have become a couple.”
Rafe smiled big at her then put his eyes back on the road. “Very true!”

*This love came back to me.*

When Hope arrived at the school, she went straight to the waiting room for the principal’s office. The principal’s office was where the meeting was. There were different scheduled times and days for each student in that particular class, so no one else was in the room other than Aiden.
“Hey. You’re here for Chase I take it?” Hope asked.
Aiden nodded. “I think their principal is talking to us about Chase and Ciara at the same time since they are siblings and you are the mother to both.”
Hope nodded as well. “Makes sense.”
Aiden smiled. “I see you’re wearing the locket I gave you.”
Hope looked down at her neck, and then at Aiden. “Yes! The kids loved it. They thought it was so cool.”
“I’m sorry if I got you in trouble with Rafe last night,” Aiden apologized. “He came over to my apartment so angry that I gave you it. I’m sorry if it was too inappropriate of a gift for me to give you.”
Hope shook her head. “It was more like he got in trouble with me for complaining about it. He has no right to tell me what I can and cannot accept. I’m sorry he came over and harassed you. Did he say anything else to you?”
“Just that I was to stay away from you,” Aiden admitted.
“Yeah, well, don’t worry about him. I had a long talk with him about it. He won’t be bothering you any longer.” Hope shook her head. “Gosh, I can’t believe him! He came over to your house? How does he even know where you live?”
Aiden shrugged. “He’s a cop and a former FBI agent. I imagine he has his ways.”
Before Hope could respond to that, the principal came in.
“Sorry I’m late. Unfortunately, a woman’s time of month doesn’t wait for meetings to be over.” She then blushed when she remembered Aiden was there. “I’m sorry. I’m so used to telling it like it is. I didn’t meant to go all TMI on you,” the principal said with a laugh.
Aiden blushed, and laughed gently. “It’s okay.”
“Please, follow me into my office.” The principal led the way. “Take a seat.” She motioned to the two chairs in front of her desk. She then shut the door before sitting down at her desk. “I’ve talked with all of Chase’s and Ciara’s teachers and have gotten reports from them. It’s a new way the school is doing parent-teacher conferences this year. It’s quicker than having the parents talking to every teacher their child has,” she explained.
Hope and Aiden both nodded their understanding.
“So, you two must be Chase and Ciara’s parents. Correct?” The principal extended her hand to them. “I’m Principal Frank but you can call me Tracy.”
Hope and Aiden glanced at each other, then took turns shaking her hand.
“No, actually, Chase is my son, and Ciara is her daughter. Chase lives with her because we used to be married. It’s a long story,” Aiden said.
“So, you’re divorced and he chose to live with his stepmom,” Tracy said as more of a statement than a question.
“Something like that,” Hope muttered.
“I have a small place. Hope’s place is much bigger and more suited for teens,” Aiden explained.
Tracy nodded. “I see. Sorry. I don’t mean to pry. I just like to know the living situations of my students.”
“It’s all right! It’s perfectly understandable,” Aiden assured her.
Hope nodded her agreement.
“Anyway, Ciara’s grades are vastly improved lately. She has mainly As a few Bs and only one C. Her behavior in class is exceptional. She needs a little help in science hence the C, but other than that, she is an excellent student!” Tracy said to Hope.
Hope smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. Her boyfriend Theo is good in science, so maybe he could tutor her.”
Tracy smirked. “I know Theo. He is a sweet kid, but Theo being in the same chemistry class with Ciara is what is distracting her. I think it might be best to put her in a different science class than Theo.”
Hope nodded. “Whatever it takes to keep her grades up.”
“I’ll need your approval of course, before I move her. She will be in Mr. Davis’ class. He is a really good teacher and I think his teaching will do Ciara some good. His teaching is a bit easier to understand that Mrs. Ray’s is,” Tracy replied.
Hope nodded. “Ciara may not be thrilled with me for this, but go ahead and switch her. Anything to get her grades up.”
“Perfect!” Tracy said, placing her hands together; pleased. She turned to Aiden. Chase is a wonderful boy. He’s seems so much happier than he was at the beginning of the year. However, his grades are just mediocre. He’s running on a C average with some Bs in there. He isn’t failing anything, so that’s good.”
“What does he struggle with?” Aiden asked.
“Math is his worse subject, but there are a lot of kids in his math class that are top notch at Math. I’m sure one of them would be happy to tutor him,” Tracy explained.
“Is there any extra credit work he can do to raise his grades?” Aiden asked. “Also, is there anything that will help him look better on his college applications? A club, maybe? I’d say sports, but he’s not very coordinated. How about Glee club?” Aiden grinned. “He’s really good at singing.” He nodded at Hope. “His mother finally got him to come out of his shell when it comes to singing. He loves country.”
Hope smiled as she listened to Aiden animatedly brag their son up to the principal. He really was a good dad, and as Rafe had said, Aiden had raised him right. She felt her heart race a little as she watched Aiden grin happily as the principal said the Glee club just happened to be taking new club members, and that Chase was more than welcome to audition. Aiden sure was adorable when his dimples showed, she thought.
She blushed at her last thought, then shook her head. Quit daydreaming, Brady! It’s not what you’re here for, she silently scolded herself. Not to mention you have a boyfriend. Remember him?
She cleared her throat then went back to listening to the teacher. She did her best to not look at Aiden for the rest of the conference.

*This love came back to me.*

“Well, I’d say that went well,” Aiden said as they left the school. “I only hope that Chase will be out of his shell enough to join the Glee club. That can look good on college applications.”
Hope nodded. “I’m sure he’ll be open to it. I’ve awaken a passion in him.” She smiled.
“That sounded sick,” Aiden joked.
Hope playfully smacked him. “Shut up!” She laughed. “You know what I mean.”
Aiden grinned. “Yes, I do. Hey, do you want to join me for lunch? It’s one of my rare days off from community service.”
Hope hesitated. She looked at her watch. “I only have a half hour before I need to get back to the station.”
“We can do fast food. Come on. You must be hungry. You have to eat,” Aiden gently nudged her.
Hope nodded. “All right. Can we do pizza? I’m kind of feeling pizza right now.”
Aiden chuckled. “Sure. Pizza Man’s in right down the street.”
“Sounds good!” Hope agreed.
So, they headed to the pizza place, both in a happy mood.

*This love came back to me.*

“You know, for a thin woman, you can sure pack down the pizza slices,” Aiden said as he watched with amazement as Hope ate her third slice. “And you’re still so incredibly thin!”
Hope shrugged. “What can I say? I have a good metabolism. Being on the force also helps keep me in shape.”
“I never thought I’d see the day where a woman could eat more than me! I’m full after one slice!” Aiden told her. “I can’t even finish my second slice.”
Hope shrugged. “You also had a garlic knot.”
Aiden nodded. “True, but so did you.” He watched as Hope continued scarfing down her pizza. He then placed his only half eaten second slice of pizza on his cheek. “Do you think Chase would let me borrow his acne cream? People are starting to call me pizza face.”
Hope glanced up at him and shook her head. “You’re as bad as the kids!”
Aiden put his pizza slice back down. “Not even a smile? What? Was my joke too cheesy for you?”
Hope laughed. “You’re so stupid.”
Aiden grinned. “I’m just attempting humor so I won’t be seen as crusty!”
Hope laughed and nearly choked on her last bite of pizza. She took a sip of her soda. “Stop!” She laughed again.
“So, how is work going?” Aiden asked her.
“It’s going all right. It’s been kind of slow lately, but in my line of work that’s a good thing.” She took another bite of her pizza.
Aiden nodded. “Of course.”
“We’re having a police gala on the 13th. There will be a dinner and a date a police officer auction. Bidding is open to the public. Some of the officers in my precinct as well as some from the Springfield precinct are being auctioned off for a Valentine’s Day date. Proceeds will go to the St. Jude’s Foundation,” Hope explained.
Aiden smirked. “Are you going to be available for bidding?”
Hope nodded. “You betcha! As is Rafe.” It sucks that Rafe and I won’t be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day together, but there’s always after the date. I just couldn’t pass up helping sick children. You know?”
Aiden nodded. “Of course not. You’re too good of a person. I may just have to make a bid on you.” He winked at her.
She smiled. “At least it would be with someone I know. I’m worried some weirdo loser will bid on me and win.”
“Well then I guess I better not bid,” Aiden joked.
Hope smiled, and placed her and over his. “You’re not a weirdo loser. I’d love to have a good friend win the date with me. But don’t overdo it, all right? If the bid gets too high, don’t bid.”
Aiden smirked. “Someone has a high opinion of herself, thinking the bid will get too high!”
Hope playfully smacked his arm. “You know what I mean!”
Aiden nodded. “I appreciate your concern. Don’t worry. Work is picking up now. I can afford to bid as long as it doesn’t go into some outrageous amount, which by the way, wouldn’t surprise me given how beautiful and amazing you are.” He kissed her hand from across the table.
She blushed. “Thank you,” she said with a small smile.
She finished her last bite of pizza then stretched. “All right. I’m done! I think I’ve finally had my fill.”
“With a garlic knot and three slices of pizza, I should hope so!” Aiden said.
Hope shrugged. “What can I say? Work and parent-teacher conferences make me work up an appetite!” She pat her stomach. She then glanced at her phone and sighed. “I guess I had better get back to work now.” She stood up and put her coat back on.
Aiden stood up and put his coat back on as well. “Thank you for joining me for lunch.”
Hope smiled at him. “Thank you! It was fun.”
They left the pizza parlor. “Would you like a ride home?” Hope asked Aiden. She had left her car parked at the school.
Aiden shook his head. “Thanks, but I know you have to get back to work. My apartment’s not far from here. I’ll just walk. It’s surprisingly not that cold out today. Plus, I need to walk off all that food I ate.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “Yeah, one garlic roll, and one and a half slices of pizza—you pig,” she teased.
Aiden grinned. “Now you’re just getting saucy!”
Hope laughed and playfully smacked his shoulder. “You and your pizza puns.”
Aiden grinned. “Well, have a good rest of your day.” He hugged her.
She hugged him back. “Thanks you too.” She released him. “I really did have fun today.”
“Me too,” Aiden agreed.
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Hope asked.
Aiden nodded. “I’m positive.”
“I’ll see you later then. Have a good night!” Hope said.
“Thanks. You too,” Aiden replied.
They then headed their separate ways, a smile on both their faces.
Meanwhile, Rafe watched from the shadows. He was just taking his lunch now, having gotten tied up at the station. He had thought Pizza Man’s sounded good. Boy had he been surprised when he saw Hope and Aiden coming out of the pizza place together, all smiley and having a good time. When he saw their hug, it made his blood boil. He knew he couldn’t confront Hope without starting another argument. He also knew better than to confront Aiden again. He knew Aiden would tell Hope and make it a million times more dramatic than it really was. He was a master manipulator.
Rafe sighed. He may not be able to confront them, he knew, but he was still going to keep an extra close watch on Aiden. If Aiden thought for a second that he was going to steal Hope from him, he was sadly mistaken.
He took out his phone and dialed up and old friend. Her name was Megan. They had been inseparable from grade school through high school, but then he had become a cop and she had gone down a completely different path, boozing it up, sleeping around, and doing other things he didn’t care to know about. They had kept in touch here and there since.
One time, when they were both fifteen, Rafe had taken the blame when Megan had been driving drunk and crashed into her father’s parked brand new sports car. Rafe had said he had been driving her car and had been paying attention to the radio and not where he was going, hence the crashed car. Her father had been livid and banned him from hanging out with Megan. Ironically enough, the old man had thought that Rafe was the bad influence. Megan had promised Rafe she would pay him back someday; that she owed him one. He and Megan had never hung out much anymore after that day, but he had still never forgotten her promise of owing him a favor.
“Rafey? Is that you?” she asked on the other end of the line.
Rafe grinned. “Meggie! You still have my number programed in your phone I see.”
“Of course I do. We may not hang out anymore, and you may be a big shot cop while I’m still a boozer, but we’re still friends aren’t we? Please don’t say you’re too good for me now.”
Rafe grinned. He had missed her strong Brooklyn accent. She had picked it up ever since moving to Brooklyn ten years earlier. “Of course I’m not too good for you, but I do want to finally cash in on that favor you owe me.”
Rafe could hear Megan chewing gum on the other line. “Ah yes, the favor. It’s taken you thirty years to collect! It must be big for you to finally cash in. What is it?”
Rafe hesitated. “It will involve lying to the police and setting someone up. Also, I’d have to fly you out to Salem. You’d have to stay here a few days so that you’re here when I need you to put the plan into action.”
“Ooh Rafey boy! Welcome to the dark side! This sounds fun! Why not? I wouldn’t mind a free vacation to Salem for a few days—especially when I get to have a little fun in the process. So what do you need me to do? Do tell.”
Rafe smiled. “I can’t tell you now. Someone might hear. After work tonight, when I’m back at my place and alone, I’ll book your flight, and then call you.”
“Sounds like a plan. It’s good hearing from you again Rafey,” Megan said. “Don’t be a stranger, all right?”
“It’s good hearing from you too, Meggie. I’ll call you tonight.” Rafe smiled as he clicked off his phone. He then headed into the pizza place to get some lunch. He was suddenly in a much better mood.

[heroicmuse]

So good to have the real Aiden back. Loved the parent teacher conference. And the pizza date.

Ugh this Megan sounds like a piece of work.

Good chapter ihearthaiden!

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1 Episode 16:

The weeks flew by, and soon it was already the night of the police gala. Hope had finished getting ready and Rafe had just come over to pick her up.
“You look ravishing as usual. You know, I really hate that I’ll have to share you tomorrow—on Valentine’s Day at that!” Rafe said as he pulled Hope closer by the waist. She was wearing a beautiful strappy red dress that had crisscrossing over her collarbone.
“I hate sharing you too, but the dates are only going to be for a couple hours, then we can celebrate just the two of us. Anyway, it’s for a good cause. Doesn’t it make you feel good doing something to help children with cancer?” Hope asked, straightening his black bowtie.
Rafe nodded. “Yeah, it does. I wonder who will bid on me.”
Hope smirked. “I have a feeling it will be Lani. You know she adores you. You’re the whole reason she wanted to be a bidder instead of being bid on. You should have seen the look on her face when Roman asked her who she wanted to bid on. Her cheeks got all flushed, and she glanced at me before muttering something to him about the Springfield cops possibly being cute.”
Rafe grinned. “She’s a beautiful, sweet girl, but she’s she no you.” He kissed her cheek. “Still, I’m willing to put up with her crush on me for the night if it means not having to go out on a date with a rich old bat who tries to get me in the sack for one last thrill of her life.”
Hope laughed. “That is a very disgusting thought!”
“No kidding!” Rafe said. “Seriously, I don’t know how those Playboy bunnies sleep with that old coot Hugh Hefner! No money in the world is worth sleeping with an old wrinkled and withered—”
Hope shut him up with a hand over his mouth. “All right, let’s not make us both ill. But seriously, one day you’ll be that old, as will I.” She raised an eyebrow. “Will you think of me as that repulsive once I’m wrinkled and withered?”
“Obviously not. I’m still with you, aren’t I?” Rafe deadpanned.
Hope gasped and smacked his shoulder. “You’re lucky I know you’re kidding. Otherwise, I’d make you pay for that remark.”
Rafe pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips. “You will never be old and withered to me even when you are.”
Hope grinned at him. “Likewise.”
“I’m never going to be old and withered,” Rafe said, sounding serious even though he wasn’t.
Hope laughed. “I’m going to remind you of that in fifteen years or so.” She grabbed her coat.
Rafe helped her put her coat on. “I’m serious! You’ll see. I’ll still look amazing in fifteen years as I do now.” He put his own coat on.
“We’ll see,” Hope said as they headed out the door.
Rafe smile. “I’m just glad you still plan on being with me in fifteen years.”
“Of course I do! There’s no one else I’d rather be with in fifteen years than you,” Hope said, putting her arm around his waist.
“Aw!” Rafe said.
They kissed.
Hope smiled, but even as she was smiling, thoughts of Aiden’s smiling face filled her mind.
She shook his face from her mind and rested her head on Rafe’s shoulder as they walked to the car.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden sat at the police gala looking at Hope with love in his eyes. She was eating dinner with Rafe, smiling and laughing with him. Though, she didn’t seem to be as happy as she had been with him at the pizza place a few weeks ago, he noted.
Hope and Rafe were sitting with two cops he didn’t recognize, whom Aiden guessed must have been some of the Springfield cops. Abe and Roman were also there, as was Ramirez, Lani, JJ, and Mindy Paxton, the new woman cop that just transferred to their precinct from Alabama. Mindy was a beautiful blonde with a great body. She was also tough, but at the same time sweet as could be. He’d seen her at the office a few times. He was sure all the guys would be bidding on her.
Good! He thought to himself. The less men that bid on Hope, the more of a chance I have of winning the date with her.
Mindy was beautiful, yes, but the truth was, with Hope in the picture, Mindy didn’t even exist to him. In fact, no other woman did. He only had eyes for Hope.
He went back to eating his meal, hoping the bidding would happen soon. He didn’t know anyone at his table, and being more of an introvert, he felt kind of awkward. He was sure they all must know who he was and what he had done last year. He was just grateful no one was talking to him, or telling him what a horrible person he was.
He planned on bidding on Hope, winning the bid, talking to Hope, and then ditching out so that he didn’t have to see her walk out on Rafe’s arm.
At least tomorrow, if all goes well, she’ll be walking out with me, he thought with a smile.

*This love came back to me.*

“Chase, come on stop zoning! The sooner you get this, the sooner we can go eat,” Claire scolded. They were back at her place going over their history notes for a test they had coming up.
“Hm?” Chase asked, looking at her blankly. He had no idea what she had just asked him.
Claire groaned; annoyed. “What was the name of Italy’s fascist dictator during WWII?”
Chase shrugged. “How the heck should I know? Who cares anyway? We’re in America; not Italy.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “We are studying World History—world as in more than just America. Anyway, Mrs. Cleary went over this like fifty times.”
Chase sighed. “I’m sorry, Claire. I’m stupid when it comes to history.”
“You’re not stupid. You just seem to have your mind occupied elsewhere. For the record, the answer is Benito Mussolini. You may want to write that down.” She nodded at his notebook.
Chase wrote it down.
“You spelled Mussolini wrong. Here.” He took her pen and wrote down the name on his notebook for him. She then sighed. “What’s on your mind?”
Chase grinned. “My dad is bidding on Hope tonight at the Police Gala. He never stopped loving her, you know.”
“But she’s dating Rafe,” Claire reminded him.
Chase shrugged. “For now. She doesn’t really love Rafe—not like she loves my dad. Because of Andre messing with his mind, my dad almost lost Hope. Well, he’s not going to this time—especially not to a loser like Rafe. Rafe keeps telling my dad to stay away from Hope.”
Claire scrunched her eyebrows. “Really?”
Chase nodded. “He even came over to my dad’s apartment and threatened him last month.”
“That’s crazy! I thought he was like this great, law-abiding cop!” Claire said in surprise.
Chase laughed. “Are you kidding? He breaks the law all the time! He covers for his family, friends, and any woman that he sets his sights on. He’s not a good cop in my opinion. Anyway, he has no chance now that my dad’s in the picture. My dad is Hope’s soulmate. They will find their way back to each other, and this gala thing will be a good start. After all, a gala is when they first fell in love to begin with.”
“Are you sure Hope feels the same way about your dad as he feels about her?” Claire asked.
Chase nodded. “Oh definitely! She is always so much happier with him. She laughs more too. In fact, I’ll be you that, by this time next year if not sooner, they’ll be married.”
Claire smirked. “I don’t make bets, but we shall see. Now, just answer this one question right then we can go take a break from studying and get some Chinese for dinner. In what year did the Japanese attack the United States at Pearl Harbor?”
Chase thought about it for a moment. “I wanna say 1941?”
Claire clapped her hands and grinned. “Yes!”
Chase grinned. “I remember it because it’s the year my paternal grandmother was born.”
“Well, thanks to your grandmother being born the same year as Pearl Harbor because now we can go eat since you got that right! I don’t know about you, but I’m starved,” Claire said.
Chase nodded. “Me too.” As they prepared to leave, Chase looked at his phone. Aiden was supposed to text him after the bidding, but there was no text yet. He hoped it was only because Hope hadn’t been up for bid yet.

*This love came back to me.*

Meanwhile, Theo and Ciara had already had dinner and were eating frozen yogurt at a new frozen yogurt place that had opened up in the square.
“My mom has been so happy lately with Rafe! I just know they are going to be long-term. I’m glad she can finally have happiness again after what Aiden did to her, and then losing my Dad. Rafe is so good for her!” Ciara cooed.
“Chase wants his dad with your mom. He says his dad has changed, and only did what he did to protect her,” Theo stated.
Ciara nodded. “That’s what Aiden says, but I still don’t trust the guy. Anyway, he lost his chance. It wouldn’t surprise me if Rafe proposes to her soon. I’d be all for it! Chase would get over it.”
“Well, I’ll be happy if Rafe proposes to your mom because it will make you happy,” Theo said.
Ciara smiled. “You always know just the right things to say to me. It’s one of the main things I love about you.”
Theo grinned big. “You love me?”
Ciara nodded. “Of course!”
“Good because I love you too,” Theo told her.
Ciara got up out of her chair and kissed his cheek.
Theo pulled her down onto his lap, and she laughed.
They then kissed sweetly on the lips before going back to eating their ice cream. Ciara ate the rest of hers while still sitting on his lap; not caring if they looked silly.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden waited impatiently as the bidding went on. They had done the bidding on the Springfield cops first. The highest bid so far had been $1,000. It was steep, but if Hope went for that amount, Aiden would pay in in a heartbeat. Of course, the $1,000 had been for a rookie cop named Gabe who was such a good looking young cop that if Aiden swung that way, and if Hope didn’t exist, he’d have bid on the dude himself! The ladies had practically scratched each other’s eyeballs out to win him. He had gone to a woman with a fur coat who was beautiful, but looked to be at least ten years his senior. Gabe didn’t seem to mind.
Right now, Eduardo Ramirez was clowning it up and flexing his impressive muscles, making a lot of the ladies in the room hoot and holler for him. The guy had even chosen to wear a muscle shirt even though it was a formal dinner.
Aiden couldn’t help but smile. This Eduardo Ramirez was a lot more fun than Rafe’s annoying father. Though, he supposed Rafe’s father was more tolerable than Rafe was. Then again, who wasn’t?
Eduardo Ramirez went for five hundred dollars.
Mindy was up next. Aiden had been right. All the men were bidding left and right for her. She went up to $2,000!
Aiden swallowed hard. He hoped Hope didn’t go up to that much. He still had money left from the lottery, and his job was doing well, but he didn’t want to push things. He would if he absolutely had to, but he hoped it didn’t get that high.
“Two thousand dollars going once, going twice…” Abe, who was the MC called out.
“Three thousand dollars!”
Everyone looked to see a pretty brunette holding up her hand.
Mindy was smiling hugely at the woman.
“Three thousand dollars going once… Going twice… Sold to the pretty brunette over there!” Abe called out.
The brunette and Mindy both let out squeals of joy, then they ran to each other, embraced, and kissed.
“Jenny! I was so worried you wouldn’t make it, Dumpling!” Mindy said.
“Honey Bun, like I’d ever let some other chick or some dude go out with my lady!” the brunette who’s name apparently was Jenny said.
They embraced and kissed again.
“I didn’t see that one coming,” Aiden said; amused. All these guys had wanted Mandy so badly, and here she was, gay all along. Funny.
After what seemed like forever, the only ones left to bid on were Hope, Rafe, and Abe. Roman and Justin had both gone for three-hundred dollars apiece.
“All right. Up next is Rafe Hernandez. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, and any girl will be very happy if they bid on him. He is an incredible cop,” Abe bragged him up.
Aiden loudly coughed. No one else seemed to notice, but Rafe shot him a dirty look.
Aiden smirked.
“We’ll start the bidding off at ten dollars,” Abe said.
Lani was the first to bid. Random women bid until it got up to a hundred dollars.
“One-fifty!” Lani called out.
“One-fifty! Can I get two hundred?” Abe called out.
The room was silent. “Two hundred? Anyone?” Abe asked.
Still, there was silence. “All right then. “One-fifty going once… Going twice… Sold to Lani Carver!”
Aiden couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. Rafe so far was the second lowest bid, second only to a Springfield cop who looked so young he surely must have been a rookie. Springfield Rookie was acne ridden with Buddy Holly glasses. Poor kid had only sold for fifty bucks to someone that Aiden was pretty sure was the kid’s mother. Aiden felt bad. The guy wasn’t going to make it as a cop. Aiden was surprised Springfield Rookie had made it this far—unless, he was stronger than he looked, but Aiden highly doubted that.
Finally, Hope Brady was up.
Aiden tuned Abe out as Abe went through all of Hope’s many amazing qualities. Aiden knew them all and more. He bid the opening bid of ten dollars.
Of course there was a lot of back and forth between many eligible bidders. Aiden sat back until there was a calm in the bidding. It was up to five hundred dollars.
“Six hundred!” Aiden called out.
“Seven hundred!” A tall, handsome business looking man bid.
“Seven fifty!” Aiden bid.
“Eight hundred!” the man bid.
“Nine hundred!” Aiden called out.
“Nine hundred. Anyone care to outbid?” Abe asked, looking around the room.
“Nine hundred going once…”
Aiden held his breath. Come on. Don’t make me have to go higher.
“Nine hundred going twice.”
Come on, Come on! Aiden silently ordered.
“Sold to Aiden Jennings for nine hundred dollars!” Abe said.
Yes! Aiden couldn’t stop smiling. Hope was his. He noticed Abe looking concerned and whispering something to Hope. Aiden watched as Hope smiled at Abe and said something to him, which seemed to satisfy Abe.
“All right, now let’s auction off this handsome specimen!” Roman said, referring to Abe.
“Five hundred dollars!” Maxine said, whipping out of her chair like lightning. She gave a warning look around the room. “And don’t anyone dare bid any higher! I can only afford five hundred and I need this man to be my date. I will hunt you down if you outbid me.”
Everyone remained quiet.
“Five hundred dollars going once. Going twice. Sold to Maxine!” Roman said.
Every one clapped.
Maxine nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought!”
Abe blushed, but he was grinning big. It was obvious to Aiden that the crush was mutual.
“And that concludes our Gala. Thank you so much to everyone who bid. Commissioner Brady will be collecting the money up on stage. Thank you and goodnight!” Abe said to the crowd.
Everyone clapped their appreciation, and the gala was over.
With a smile, Aiden quickly texted Chase that he had won his bid on Hope. He then went off to pay his bid, then look for Hope. He was very eager to talk to her about their date tomorrow.

*This love came back to me.*

“I hate that Aiden won the bid on you. I thought he couldn’t afford much!” Rafe grumbled.
“Please don’t start;” Hope said. She was tired of hearing his complaints about Aiden.
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised he could afford it is all,” Rafe said. “I don’t think you should go on the date with him. It might give him the wrong idea.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “I’m going on this date. He paid for it fair and square. There’s no need to worry. He knows where he stands. We’re going as friends and friends only. As for how he can afford it, he still has money left over from the lottery, plus his work is going well.”
“He shouldn’t even be allowed to still practice law after what he did to you,” Rafe said.
“Rafe…” Hope warned.
“I’m sorry, Hope. I trust you. I really do. I just find it hard trusting him.” He nodded toward Aiden, who was coming toward them.
“Don’t be silly! You have nothing to worry about,” Hope tried to assure Rafe.
Aiden came over to them then. “I’m so glad I won!” he said to Hope; not even acknowledging Rafe.
“Yeah, well, I’m warning you now that there will be trouble if you cross the line with Hope!” Rafe snapped at Aiden.
“Rafe, I told you not to start!” Hope snapped.
Aiden shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to cross any line that Hope doesn’t want me to cross.” He grinned smugly.
Rafe’s eyes got wide, and he looked like he was going to pop a vein. However, before he could respond, Lani came over and latched onto his arm. “I’m so happy I won the bid!”
Rafe smiled at her. “Yeah, we’ll have a lot of fun tomorrow, I’m sure.”
Lani grinned; so excited and full of energy. “Come over to the table and we can talk about what to do tomorrow. I wanna make sure it’s something with both like to do. And don’t worry, I know this is just a friendly hangout even though it’s called a date.”
Rafe glanced from Hope to Aiden to back to Hope. “I’ll be right back.”
Hope nodded. “Take your time.”
“Thanks for letting me borrow him tomorrow. I promise to get him back to you at a decent hour,” Lani said to Hope with a wink.
“No problem. Thanks for donating,” Hope said with a smile as she watched Lani practically drag Rafe off to the table.
“She’s clearly got a crush on him,” Aiden noted.
Hope nodded. “I think it’s cute.” She then looked at Aiden. “I know Rafe isn’t the easiest person for you to get along with, but please remember when planning our date that I am dating him.”
Aiden nodded. “I will be a hundred percent respectful. I promise. I just like getting him going.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “Just as he likes getting you going. Men! If I didn’t know any better I’d say you two were in love with each other.”
“I’d rather drink acid then ever fall for him,” Aiden said.
Hope laughed. “I’m sure the feeling’s mutual.” She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry the bid got up to so much money. I know things are slightly tight with you now.”
“You’re worth every penny.” Aiden took her hand and kissed it. “Anyway, like I said, I still have money from the lottery, and I’m doing well with my job. I have enough money to give you a date you will never forget. May I pick you up at five o’clock tomorrow? I’d like to get an early start. He grinned and winked at her.
She smiled. “Of course you can.” She winked back.
“All right! I shall see you then. In the words of the ever so talented William Shakespeare, ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight ‘til it be ‘morrow.’” Aiden kissed her hand once again, then took off, leaving Hope blushing.

[gapeach]

Sure hope Rafe's little plan doesn't backfire on him but I am afraid it is going to BIG tine!!

[gapeach]

Great chapter.

[ihearthaiden]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your reading it.

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1: Episode 17

It was Valentine’s Day, and Aiden was ready for his date with Hope. He was wearing a white dress shirt underneath a red V-neck sweater. He had the white cuffs of the dress shirt rolled over top of the cuffs of his sweater. He wore grey jeans, red socks, and dark grey dress boots. Being satisfied with his look, he checked his watch and saw that it was time to go pick Hope up. He hoped idiot Rafe wouldn’t be there, but if he were, he would at least get to have a little fun by messing with him.
He smirked as he headed out of his apartment.

*This love came back to me.*

Hope checked herself in the mirror. Aiden had told her to dress half formal half casual, so she was a little confused on what to wear. She had finally settled upon a low-cut red jumpsuit with a silver belt to synch her already thin waist in. She wore a grey tweed blazer over it. On her feet she wore grey socks with grey dress boots. She wore her hair down but wavy with a silver smoky eye and red lips for her make up. Her nails were painted red to match her jumpsuit except for her ring fingers which were painted a silver glitter color.
She smiled at herself in the mirror. “I’d say I nailed it,” she said, referring to her look.
She heard the doorbell ring. She quickly spritzed on her Bvlgari perfume, then headed down the stairs.
When she opened the door, Aiden smiled, and handed her a dozen thornless red roses. “I swear you get more beautiful every time I see you,” he told her.
Hope smiled, and took the roses from him. She closed her eyes and inhaled their sweet scent. She opened her eyes. “Flattery will get you everywhere! Thank you. Come in. You look nice too. We match!”
Aiden grinned. “Had to wear red for Valentine’s Day, right?”
Hope smirked. “Right! I’m just going to go put these in some water, then we can leave.”
As Aiden waited for her, he noticed a picture of her and Rafe on the mantle. She had her arms around him from behind and they were both smiling big.
He sighed. There had been a day not that long ago that it was his picture on the mantle with her. He thought about dropping the picture “on accident” to make it break, but Hope was back before he could carry out his plan.
Aiden helped Hope put on her black dress coat. “You really do look stunningly beautiful tonight. I’m the luckiest man on earth for having you as my date.”
Hope smiled and blushed. “Just remember that I am dating Rafe and that this is just for charity.”
“Come on. It’s not going to be so horrible spending the evening with me, is it?” Aiden asked. He knew she was just stating facts, but it still hurt his feelings a bit.
“No. You were the one I wanted to win me,” she said, surprising him by taking his hand in hers. She kissed it, then dropped it. “So, where are you taking me?” She smiled big.
Aiden smiled too, his heart pounding from her kiss. “Our first stop is that new Italian restaurant that just opened up.”
Hope’s eyes grew wide. “Deliziosamente Italiano?”
Aiden nodded. “That’d be the one!”
“I’ve been wanting to eat there but I haven’t had a chance yet! I’ve heard it’s really good.” Hope was excited now.
Aiden grinned. “Well, now you’re going to get your chance!” He winked at her.
She grinned, and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best.”
He grinned as well, and held the door open for her.
She left the house, still smiling. The date had barely started and it felt like old times with Aiden already, Hope thought. Yes, she was dating Rafe now, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t have some platonic fun with Aiden. Tonight was going to be fun, she knew. She was looking forward to it.

*This love came back to me.*

They ended up getting a table for two right by the fireplace. Aiden had been thrilled when he had made the reservation and found that the table was still available. He was able to reserve it. He guessed that was the benefit of booking two weeks early. He had been confident that he would win Hope at the auction so he has made the reservation before the gala.
“This place is so beautiful,” Hope said as Aiden helped her get her coat off.
“Isn’t it? I love how there’s view of the city below when you’re on the dancefloor.” He draped her coat over the back of her chair, and then pulled her chair out for her. He pushed it back in once she was sitting in it.
“Such a gentleman!” Hope gushed.
“Nothing by the best for my beautiful date!” Aiden said to her. He draped his own coat over the back of his chair, then sat down.
They looked over their menus.
When their waiter came, they ordered a bottle of red wine.
After they decided what they wanted to eat, and after the waiter had taken their order and left, Aiden wanted to dance.
He stood up and held out his hand to Hope. “May I have this dance?”
Hope smiled, and stood up. She took his hand. “Well, it would be a waste to let that beautiful view go to waste, wouldn’t it?”
Aiden nodded. “It would.”
So together they headed out onto the dancefloor. The music had been a little more upbeat until they got to the dancefloor and a slower song began to play.
Hope and Aiden looked at each other, both feeling a big awkward, but they took hold of each other and slowly began to dance to the song, which happened to be Taylor Swift’s “This Love”.

Clear blue water, high tide came and brought you in. And I could go on and on, on and on and I will. Skies grew darker, currents swept you out again. And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone. In silent screams, in wildest dreams, I never dreamed of this.

Her hand in Aiden’s felt so right, Hope couldn’t help but think. Their eyes locked, and she was taken back to the night they had first fallen in love nearly three years ago at the original gala.

This love is good, this love is bad, this love is alive back from the dead. Oh, oh, oh. These hands had to let it go free and this love came back to me. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh, Oh…

She couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like had Aiden never been manipulated by Andre into strangling her. They would still be married, and who knew where they would be. One thing Hope knew for sure was that they would still be madly in love with each other.

Tossing, turning, I struggled through the night with someone new, and I could go on and on, on and on. Lantern burning flickered in my mind for only you. But you’re still gone, gone, gone. Been losing grip on sinking ships, you’ve showed up just in time.

They glided across the dancefloor, barely noticing the view outside the restaurant window, for the only widows they were interested in at the moment were the windows to each other’s soul—each other’s eyes.

This love is good, this love is bad. This love is alive, back from the dead. Oh, oh, oh. These hands had to let it go free and this love came back to me. Oh, oh, oh. This love left a permanent mark. This love is glowing in the dark. Oh, oh, oh. These hands had to let it go free and this love came back to me. Oh, oh, oh.

Aiden pulled her closer. Hope could see his love for her in his eyes. Her heart pounded, and for that moment, just for that moment, she let herself imagine they were back at that gala, falling in love with each other for the first time.

This love, this love, this love, this love… Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Your kiss, my cheek, I watched you leave. Your smile, my ghost, I fell to my knees. When you're young you just run, but you come back to what you need.

She pushed some hair out of his eyes just as she had that night. She wanted so badly to kiss him but she knew it wouldn’t be right even though it felt so, so right to her.

This love is good, this love is bad. This love is alive back from the dead. Oh, oh, oh. These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me. Oh, oh, oh.

They were dancing so close their foreheads were touching now. Hope knew it wasn’t very appropriate. Rafe would certainly not approve. But what Rafe didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, and right now, all she cared about was dancing with Aiden to this beautiful song that touched her. In some ways it described her and Aiden perfectly, she noticed.

This love left a permanent mark. This love is glowing in the dark. Oh, oh, oh. These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me. Oh, oh, oh. This love, this love, this love, Woah, oh, oh. This love…came back to me. Woah, oh, oh.

The song ended, and Hope found herself a little sad that it was over. Their mouths were so close, she noticed.
The song changed to something a little more upbeat; snapping her out of it. She looked at the window and nodded towards it. “That really is a beautiful view with all the city lights.”
Aiden nodded. “It sure is.”
“Good! Our wine arrived at our table. Let’s go have some,” Hope headed back to the table without waiting for his response. She needed to stop romanticizing this date, she knew. It was just for charity. She was in love with Rafe; not Aiden. It was best she keep that in mind, she thought.

*This love came back to me.*

Dinner had been nice. They had talked, joked, laughed, and had a great time. Aiden had even gotten the waiter to take a picture of them at their table. He wanted to be able to forever cherish the memory of their first date since what he had done.
After dinner, Aiden took her to the park. He went into his trunk and took out two plastic sleds.
Hope raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “What are those for?”
“Eating ice cream off of,” Aiden joked.
“Cute. But seriously, we’re going to go sledding?” she asked in surprise.
Aiden nodded. “I didn’t want to do the typical dinner and a movie date. That would be too predictable and boring. So, I figured we could have a date where we embrace our inner child and have fun by doing the stuff we loved to do as kids.”
A smile played at the corner of Hope’s mouth. “I’m surprised you didn’t take me to Chuck E. Cheese’s for dinner if we’re doing the whole ‘embracing your inner child’ thing.”
Aiden smirked. “I actually thought about that, but then decided that I wanted to do at least one adult thing with you. Anyway, it’s Valentine’s Day. What kind of Valentine’s Day would it be if we spent it at Chuck E. Cheese’s?”
Hope nodded, eyeing him up. “Good choice! But I’m still not sure about this whole sled riding thing.”
“Come on!” Aiden coaxed. “It will be fun! Didn’t you love to sled ride as a kid?”
“I did,” Hope confessed.
“Then what’s changed just because you got a little older?” Aiden asked.
Hope thought about it for a moment. “Good question. You know what? Sled riding does sound like fun. Let’s do this!
Aiden grinned. “That’s the spirit! Which one do you want—red or blue?”
Hope took the red one. “It will match with my outfit.”
“Good choice!” Aiden said. “Now come on. The biggest hill is right over there.” He nodded in the direction of the hill he was talking about, and headed that way.
Hope followed after him, and soon they got to the hill and were making their climb up it.
“I’m getting too old to climb this high,” she grumbled as they made their way up the ten-foot hill.
Aiden ignored her. He knew she would have fun once they got sliding.
Once they were at the top, they put their slides next to each other, but a foot apart so that they wouldn’t slide into each other.
“Let’s race,” Aiden suggested.
“All right,” Hope agreed.
“Are you ready? On the count of three,” Aiden said.
Hope nodded.
Aiden began counting off. “One… Two… Hey!” He grumbled. Hope had taken off without him.
“Eat my dust!” Hope called out after him.
He gasped, and pushed off on his sled hard, trying his best to catch up to her.

*This love came back to me.*

“All right, I have to admit, that was quite fun,” Hope said as they packed their sleds back into the trunk after a half hour of sledding.
Aiden grinned. “See? I told you. It’s no less fun than it was when we were kids.”
“In fact, I think it was even more fun!” Hope pouted, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Though it does annoy me that you always seemed to beat me down the hill even when I had a head start.”
“I’m heavier. For some reason the heavier you are, the faster you go. And you, my Dear, are skin and bones.” He playfully pinched her side.
She laughed, and swatted away his hand. “Stop!”
“So, what do you want to do next?” Aiden asked. “I left a little space opened for anything you might want to do.”
Hope looked at her watch. “Well, I was thinking we could go ice skating. We can go to the one in the park and rent the skates.”
Aiden shook his head. “You’re good at that kind of thing, but I can guarantee you I will fall flat on my ass. I’ll just watch.”
Hope shook her head and grabbed his arm. “No way! You’re going to skate with me. I’ll teach you. Surely you can manage a simple lap around the rink. It’s not like I’m asking you to do triple axles or anything.”
“Believe me, I won’t even be able to get around the rink!” Aiden said, though he followed her toward the rink anyway.
“Oh, stop! You’ll do fine.” Hope said as they arrived at the rink.
“Well, at least not many people are here,” Aiden said, looking around the rink. There was a teenage couple and a mother and father with their young boy and girl. The kids looked to be no older than four.
“What size skate do you wear?” Hope asked, already at the rental booth.
Aiden waked up beside her. “I have no idea because I’ve never worn skates before.”
Hope smirked. “It’s the same as your shoe size, Silly.”
Aiden blushed. “Oh! Well, in that case I’m a nine and a half.”
So, they rented their skates. Aiden paid for them both even though Hope had insisted she pay.
Once they were all laced up, they headed over to the ice.
Aiden was holding on to Hope’s arm for dear life.
“It’s not as scary as it looks; I promise,” Hope said to him. “It’s all about balance.”
“Which I’ve never been good at,” Aiden stated.
“Come on! Are you here to have fun or are you here to bitch?” Hope asked.
Aiden relaxed. “I’m here to have fun.” He reminded himself that this is what Hope wanted to do, and he wanted to support anything she wanted to do. “All right, so how do I get around this rink without falling flat on my butt?”
Hope grinned. Just move yourself forward as if you’re speed walking, only remember to try to stay balanced as best you can. You have to push off toward the back with one leg while keeping the other leg in front of you then you switch legs. Also, remember to lean into the turn when it comes time to turn.”
“I may be a grown man, but I’m still nervous,” Aiden confessed.
Hope took his hand. “Here. We’ll skate together.”
Aiden took her hand and they smiled at each other.
“Are you ready?” Hope asked him.
“Always as long as I’m with you,” he told her.
She kissed his cheek. “All right, now push off with your back leg.”
He did as told, and they were off. He was a little wobbly, but Hope kept him from falling. They managed to make it around the rink, but very slowly.
“I feel like an idiot.” Aiden nodded toward the kids. “Those four-year-olds skate around like it’s nothing, yet I can’t make it around the rink without holding your hand.”
Hope shrugged. “Don’t feel bad. Everyone is different. Some take longer to learn than others; that’s all.”
“Let me see you skate around without me. I like watching you,” Aiden said to her.
“All right, but stay to the side. I don’t want anyone crashing into you.” Hope led him off to the side of the rink, where he rested against the wall.
Hope then took off, skating laps around the teenage couple, the kids, and their parents. She glided over the ice as if she was born to skate. She was so graceful, if Aiden didn’t know any better, he’d swear she could fly. He snapped a couple pictures of her.
She finished with a double axel in front of him.
“All right, now you’re just showing off!” he said with a smirk.
She smirked. “Maybe just a little. Though I used to be able to do a triple axel, but now that I’m getting older it’s just a double.”
“Poor you,” Aiden said sarcastically.
“I can tell this isn’t anything fun for you, so we can go if you’d like,” Hope said.
“No, Hope, if you want to stay then we’ll stay,” Aiden said. He felt bad for being such a party pooper.
Hope shook her head. “We can go. I got to skate a few laps. I’m good. I can’t have fun if I know you’re not having any fun.”
Aiden didn’t want to seem lame to her, so he decided he was going to try to impress her. “I want to try a lap around the rink by myself before we go.”
Hope grinned. “Are you sure? You don’t have to try to impress me. We don’t have to like all the same things.”
“I can do this. Let me try,” Aiden said. He didn’t want her to think he didn’t at least try.
Hope nodded, and crossed her arms over her chest. “All right then. Show me what you got, Jennings!”
So Aiden took a deep breath and slowly let it out; trying to will himself into this. Then, he pushed off, and began his journey around the rink. To his surprise, he was actually doing it! He was going super slowly, but he was doing it. He rounded the corner and picked up speed just a little. He almost slipped but caught himself. He went around the next corner and saw Hope in his sight. She snapped a picture of him and he smiled, suddenly feeling the urge to really impress her. After all, she had approached him with a double axel! Now, he wasn’t out of his mind enough to think that he could even attempt one axel, but he figured he could at least skate up to her at a regular speed instead of the snail speed he was used to. So, he quickened up his pace and headed right for her. However, his eyes got big and he started to panic as he realized that Hope hadn’t taught him how to stop.
He saw Hope growing closer and closer to him. Her eyes were as wide as his if not wider.
“Aiden stop!” she cried out.
It was too late. He didn’t know how to stop. She tried to get out of the way, but he felt himself falling, and then he felt his body colliding with something that wasn’t hard as ice. It was soft like a body—Hope’s body to be exact.
They came crashing down onto the ice. Hope landed backwards on the ice and Aiden landed on top of her.
“Ow.” Hope said with a wince.
“I am so sorry!” he said; horrified. “I didn’t know how to stop! Are you all right?”
“Barely.” Hope replied.
Aiden blushed. He was so worried he had hurt her, but suddenly, she started to laugh.
“Okay, so maybe trying to teach you how to skate wasn’t such a great idea after all,” she said through giggles.
“I’m so sorry!” Aiden repeated. Oh my gosh, are you all right? Not only did you fall backwards hard onto the ice, but I fell on top of you.”
She smiled. “Really, I’m fine. I’m a cop remember? I’m used to roughness.”
Aiden pushed some hair out of her face. He knew he should be getting off of her, but she looked so beautiful beneath him. “I hate that I hurt you again.”
She looked into his eyes, her voice soft. “Aiden, I’m fine, really. Besides, it was an accident.”
Their lips were so close.
Aiden stroked her hair out of her face again. “You’re so beautiful.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but there it was.
Their eyes lowered, and their lips got closer and closer until their lips met. They kissed softly at first, then more passionately.
Aiden then broke the kiss. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cross any boundaries. I was just caught up in the moment.” He carefully rolled off of her.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry too. I got caught up in the moment also.” Hope sounded flustered.
“I’d help you up, but as long as I still have these skates on, it’s not the best idea,” Aiden said with a grin, trying to break the awkward tension. He managed to get himself standing without falling.
Hope stood up. “It’s okay. I agree—probably a good idea you didn’t help me.”
They both laughed.
They had the father of the kids take a picture of them together on the ice (Hope holding Aiden tightly so he wouldn’t fall again), then they carefully made their way back to the rental booth and exchanged their skates for their boots.
Then, they sat on a bench at put their boots back on.
“I guess I’d better be going. It’s getting late,” Hope said.
“You can’t go yet. I have one more thing planned for our inner-child date,” Aiden said to her.
She looked at him, an eyebrow raised. “What would that be?”
Aiden grinned, and stood up. He offered his hand to her. “Follow me and find out.”
She stared at him for a moment, hesitant, then took his hand. “This better be good, Jennings.”
Aiden grinned. “It will be. Now come on!”
Hope shook her head and smiled, then let him help her up. She followed after him wondering what exactly it was he had up his sleeve this time.

*This love came back to me.*

“All right, so we’re in the middle of nothing but blank space. Snow, snow, and more snow,” Hope said as they entered an empty clearing in the park. “What exactly do you have planned?”
Aiden laid down in the snow.
Hope covered her mouth and smiled. “What are you doing?”
“Making snow angels of course!” He began to move his legs and arms. “Come try one.”
Hope shook her head. “Uh, uh! No way. I’m not lying down in the snow.”
“Aw, come on, Hope! It will be fun! Please? Didn’t you love making these as a kid?” Aiden pleaded.
“I’ll look silly,” Hope said.
“In case you haven’t noticed, no one’s around to see. Anyway, you think I didn’t look silly skating?” Aiden asked.
Hope sighed. “Oh, all right! Fair enough I guess.” Reluctantly, she knelt down in the snow.
“Come on. Keep going,” Aiden gently coaxed.
Hope then lay down beside him, leaving just enough room so that their “angel wings” wouldn’t overlap.
“There you go!” Aiden encouraged.
She smiled, then began to make a snow angel. She laughed. “All right, you’re right. This is kind of fun!”
“See?” Aiden asked, laughing too. “I was right about the sledding, and I’m right about this too. I knew you’d have fun!”
They did their angels for a moment more, then carefully got up and examined their angels. They were beautiful.
“You look stunningly beautiful even in snow angel form,” Aiden told her. She snapped a picture of their angels. They had taken pictures of each other sledding as well, and had even gotten a fellow sledder to take a picture of them on their sleds together.
She blushed. “You flatter me too much. I might start getting a big head.”
Aiden shrugged. “I only state the truth!”
Hope blushed some more. “You know, if adults acting like kids was more socially acceptable, on a normal basis, we could still do all the fun things we used to love doing as kids.”
Aiden shrugged. “Heck, we still could. Life’s too short to care what other people think. If they don’t like it, well, too bad. They don’t have to act like a kid then.”
Hope nodded. “Very true!” She sighed. “Well, unfortunately, I really should be going now. It’s getting late. But thanks for such a wonderful evening! I had so much fun! It was more fun than I’ve had in a while.”
Aiden hugged her. “Thank you! I had more fun than I’ve had in a while too.”
She hugged him back.
“Quick selfie!” Aiden said, pulling her close and holding his camera out.
Hope laughed, then smiled with him for the photo. “Text me the photos of us on your phone, and I’ll text you the ones on mine,” she said to him.
Aiden nodded. “Will do. Would you like me to drive you home?”
“I’m all right. My house isn’t far from here. Anyway, I’m supposed to get together with Rafe. There’s no use in getting him a foul mood by him seeing you dropped me off. Normally, I wouldn’t care; he’d just have to get over it; but since it’s Valentine’s Day…” Hope trailed off.
Aiden felt his heart sink a little at the thought of her going home to spend a romantic night with Rafe. However, he kept his cool. “I understand. Have a good night.”
Hope smiled, then kissed is cheek. “Thanks you too. And thanks again for such a wonderful evening.”
Aiden felt his heart pounding for her. He kissed her cheek in return. “The pleasure was all mine.”
Hope blushed yet again. She then smiled at him and waved, before waking off the other way.
He smiled and waved too, then sighed, and headed in the other direction. They had kissed again. He had felt how passionate her kiss was when they kissed on the ice. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. It was only a matter of time before she would be his and Rafe would be out of the picture for good.
Aiden sighed again. It was going to be hard waiting for her, but he would. After all, Hope was worth the wait and then some.

*This love came back to me.*

As Hope was walking through the park back to her place, she saw Rafe and Lani through the clearing. She knew she shouldn’t eve’s drop, but she found herself unable to resist.
She hid behind the trees, watched, and listened.
Rafe and Lani were standing in front of a park bench laughing at something or another.
“You know, I enjoyed this night so much. It’s a dream come true of mine to have finally gone on a date with you,” Lani said to him.
Rafe smiled. “I had a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it. But Lani, you’ve got to remember that it wasn’t really a date. It’s more of hanging out as friends. I’m happily dating Hope.”
Lani nodded. “You’re right. I know. I’m sorry.” She teared up a bit. She hung her head. “I was stupid for bidding on you. I know you could never like me in that way.” She looked up at him. “I mean, right from the beginning you told me you couldn’t go out with me because of our working together, yet you’re now dating Hope whom you’re not only working with, but who is your partner. I’m such an idiot for every thinking an amazing guy like you would ever like me in return. Gosh! What is wrong with me? I’m so stupid!”
Rafe shook his head. “Don’t say that, Lani. You’re an incredible girl. You’re smart—so smart! Heck, I’ve been at this cop thing for years. You’ve just begun not that long ago, and already you’re even better at it than I am.”
Lani shook her head. “No. You don’t need to make up things to try to make me feel better. Face it, Rafe. I have. I’m unlovable. No guy is ever going to want a sad pathetic loser like me.”
Rafe reached out and gently lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger. “Come on Lani, that’s so not true and you know it!” He gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “You’re a beautiful and amazing girl. You’re so funny and kind. Like I said, you’re an out of this world cop. Any guy on earth would be the luckiest guy on the planet to have a catch like you.”
Lani sniffled. “You really think so?”
Rafe nodded. “I know so,” he said softly.
Lani looked at him, desire clearly seen in her eyes even from where Hope was standing. “Well, any girl would be the lucky girl on the planet to have a catch like you,” she said just as softly.
Hope watched in shock as Lani and Rafe inched closer to each other, and she nearly gasped out loud when Lani’s lips met with Rafe’s.
That little… Even though she and Aiden had kissed, it still made Hope incredibly angry with Lani for kissing Rafe. At least she and Aiden had history. Lani and Rafe however, did not!
Rafe then began kissing Lani back.
Hope couldn’t believe her own eyes! She wanted to storm right over and tell them both off, but she was too upset to. Instead, she took off back toward the way that she had come. She needed someone right now. She needed someone that wasn’t Rafe or anything like him.

*This love came back to me.*

Rafe pulled away from Lani. “What are you doing?”
Lani blushed and looked away. “I’m sorry. I thought you wanted me.”
“Lani, didn’t you listen to anything I just told you about Hope?” Rafe asked.
Lani nodded. “But then you said any guy would be lucky to have me.”
“And they would! If they aren’t already taken. I am. I thought I made that clear,” Rafe said. He sighed when he noticed she looked like she was about to cry again. “Look, I shouldn’t have kissed you back. I was just surprised, and kissed you back instinctively. I apologize for leading you on in any way.”
Lani shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You told me how you feel. I just didn’t choose to believe it. Well, don’t worry. You’ve finally come through loud and clear.” She then turned around and ran off.
“Lani, wait. Lani!” Rafe called after her. But it was too late. She was already gone.
Rafe sighed. “Damn it!” Maybe if he wasn’t with Hope he’d give Lani a chance. After all, he really had meant all the things he had said to her. But he was with Hope and he loved her so much. Lani would get over him and bounce back. He knew she would. She had to.
He sighed, and looked at his watch. Then, he left the park and headed for Hope’s place. She should hopefully be coming back from her date by now, he figured.

*This love came back to me.*

“Good, you’re still here! I thought you’d be gone by now,” Hope said as she met up with Aiden in front of his car.
Aiden nodded. “I decided to get a coffee quick before heading home. You’ve got tears in your eyes. What’s wrong?” he asked with worry. He walked over to her and gently wiped at her eyes.
Instead of responding, Hope pulled him tightly to her and kissed him passionately on the mouth. “Make love to me,” she breathily ordered after breaking the kiss.
Aiden blinked in beyond surprise at both the sudden passionate kiss, and at her stunning words. He was not quite sure he had heard her right. “Do what now?”

[gapeach]

Dang it if people are going to eavesdrop they need to stick around for the WHOLE story!

[ihearthaiden]

Warning: This chapter is more risqué then any other ones. Since there is no visual I'm not sure what to rate it but I'd say between PG-13 and R.
www.fanfiction.net/s/11613144/18/Days-of-our-Haiden

[gapeach]

Hope has gotten herself into a fine mess! She needs to fess up and SOON!!

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1: Episode 19

Hope had tears in her eyes as she saw Rafe kneeling in front of her, the open ring box in his hands as he looked up at her adoringly.
“All you have to do is say yes,” Rafe said with a grin, mistaking her tears for tears of joy.
“Before I respond to your proposal, there’s something you really need to know,” Hope said quietly.
“What is it?” Rafe asked, his smile faltering just a bit.
Hope sighed. “You may want to sit down for this one.”
Rafe’s smile went from faltering to non-existent. “I don’t know if I like the sound of this,” he said, slowly getting up, then moving to sit down next to Hope on the couch. He still held the open ring box in his hands. “What is it? Did Aiden do something to you?” He sounded angry at the thought.
Hope blushed, and pushed some hair behind her ear as she flashbacked to the night before when she made love with Aiden. “I uh… I have a confession to make. Last night I was headed home from the park and I saw you and Lani talking. I was curious about your date, so I hid behind the bushes and listened in. I heard your conversation leading up to the kiss, and when you kissed her in return, I thought the kiss was real. I left before you pulled away. I didn’t hear you setting her straight.”
Rafe gently stroked her cheek. “Hope, I’m sorry you had to see that, but you gotta know, I would never cheat on you! Things went exactly as I told you they went. You have to believe me!”
Hope nodded. She took his hand in her own and kissed it. “I do believe you. I know you’d never cheat on me. I just wasn’t thinking clearly last night.” She dropped Rafe’s hand, and looked away guiltily.
“Tell me the truth. Did Jen really have a problem, or did you just make up a story because you didn’t want to be with me last night after thinking I cheated?” Rafe asked gently.
Hope looked at him, feeling even guiltier yet. She nodded. “You’re right.” She pushed some hair behind her ear again. “I wasn’t really with Jen last night.”
“Well, where were you then?” Rafe asked, sounding a little worried now.
Hope looked at him, biting her bottom lip as she tried to decide what to tell him.

*This love came back to me.*

Meanwhile, Aiden went into Club TBD to get a coffee before his community service for the day. He saw Lani and sitting at a table nearby, so after receiving his coffee, he headed over to her. “Care for some company?” he asked.
Lani shrugged. “It’s a free country.”
Aiden sat down in front of her. “So, I heard your date with Rafe went well last night.”
Lani looked at him in surprise. “Did he say something to you?”
Aiden shook his head. “No. Hope was eavesdropping on you guys and saw the kiss.”
Lani paled. “Great! She knows? Now she’s going to make work a living hell for me. I can’t believe she eavesdropped!”
“I don’t think Hope is the type to do that. If anything, she will get on Rafe’s case for kissing you back.” Aiden sipped his coffee.
Lani stared down at her latte. “Yeah, well, he did pull away and tell me that Hope is the only woman for me, so I think she’ll get over it. I’m the one she’s going to have a problem with.”
“He did what?” Aiden asked in surprise.
Lani looked up at him. “Didn’t Hope tell you that part?”
Aiden shook his head. “No. She left when she saw Rafe kissing you back.”
Lani rolled her eyes. “Had she stayed, she would have seen him pull away from me and tell me that he only kissed me back out of instinct. He wants nothing to do with me romantically despite his saying that any man would be lucky to have me.”
Aiden felt his heart sink. He knew Hope would confront Rafe about the kiss, and when she did, she would find out the truth. Heck, she probably already knew by now seeing as Rafe could barely let her even pee without being by her side. He was probably there the moment she had gotten home, Aiden knew.
“What’s it to you anyway?” Lani asked nodding at him. “We barely know each other. In fact, have we ever even said two words to each other?”
Aiden shrugged. “We’re on the same boat. I love Hope and you love Rafe.”
“But they love each other,” Lani quipped.
“Hope also loves me. I know she does,” Aiden told her as he sipped his coffee.
Lani raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
“I just do,” Aiden said. It was none of Lani’s business what had happened between him and Hope. Still, she could be useful to him.
“Well, if that’s true then good for you. But Rafe doesn’t have any feelings whatsoever toward me,” Lani said, looking sad.
Aiden shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he does. I mean, if a man tells a woman that any guy would be lucky to date a girl like her, then he must have some feelings for her. I mean, think of a guy you know well, but have absolutely no feelings for.”
Lani thought about it for a moment. “All right. Roman Brady.”
Aiden nodded. “Good choice! Now, would you say any girl would be lucky to date him?”
Lani also thought about that for a moment. “I don’t know. I can’t really think of a girl being lucky because I wouldn’t consider myself lucky to date him. He’s got a great job, and I’m sure he gets paid well. He’s nice, but I don’t think of him at all in that way so it’s hard to think of telling one of my girlfriends that they’d be lucky to have him.”
Aiden smirked. “Do you see my point?”
Lani grinned. “You know what? I do.”
“I think you just need to work a little more toward making him fall for you. I’ve already been working on Hope,” Aiden admitted. He tried not to blush as he thought of how he had “worked on” Hope the night before.
“How did your date go last night?” Lani asked as she sipped her latte.
“It went wonderfully. It ended on a very good note. I have no doubt in my mind that I will soon be able to win her over,” Aiden replied.
“Well, I hope you do because then that will free up Rafe, and then I will be right there to help him pick up the pieces,” Lani said with a smile.
“To us getting the woman and man that we want!” Aiden said, holding out his mug to Lani.
Lani held out her mug to him as well. “To us getting the woman and man that we want!”
They clinked mugs, then downed the rest of their coffees before grinning smugly at each other.

*This love came back to me.*

“Why do you look so sick?” Ciara asked Chase as they sat at their usual table in the cafeteria for lunch. “Are you coming down with something?”
Joey nodded. “You literally look green, Dude.” He flung a piece of lunchmeat at him.
Chase let the lunchmeat hit his forehead and fall to his lap.
“He must be sick! He didn’t even try to catch it in his mouth like he usually does,” Claire said with worry. She latched onto Chase’s arm. “What’s wrong?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, all right?” Chase asked quietly. He looked away.
“Well, if you’re not going to eat it, I will,” said Jonah. Jonah was a new this year. He was obese with curly clown-like blonde hair. Ciara and Claire had seen him getting picked on one day, and they stood up for him and took him under their wings. They had invited him to sit with them at lunch one day, then he kept coming back. Chase, Theo and Joey quickly grew to like him. He was funny and liked a lot of the same things they did. Sadly, because of his appearance, nobody else would give Jonah the time of day, but as far as Chase and company were concerned, it was fine. That just meant he was always free to hang with them.
Jonah picked up the lunchmeat from Chase’s lap and shoved it all in at once. “Mm…” He said. He swallowed the meat. “Do you think you could make it ham next time instead of turkey? Ham tastes better plain than turkey does.”
Joey smirked. “Sure thing.”
“So, what’s wrong?” Amy pressed Chase. Amy was Joey’s new girlfriend. Marsha had gotten mad at Joey for burping too much, and for not being as classy as she would like him to be so she had left him for a prep school boy who was too prim and proper for Joey to ever want to be like. As far as Joey was concerned, it was all right. Amy was a cute, curly haired blonde who look-wise reminded him of Drew Barrymore in the Wedding Singer. She was sweet and innocent—even more so than Claire was. He liked that for a change. “You can tell us. We won’t tell anyone.”
Chase sighed. He did want to tell someone. He needed to get it off his chest. He couldn’t dare tell his dad. It would only make it worse. “If I tell you guys, you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”
Jonah snorted. “I won’t tell. I don’t have any friends besides you guys. Who would I tell?”
“You know whatever you tell me stays between us and whomever else you chose to share it with,” Claire said, still latching onto his arm. “Are you sick?”
Chase shook his head. “Not physically anyway.”
“Look, I’m not going to tell. I’m good at keeping secrets!” Ciara promised him.
Chase looked at Theo, Joey, and Amy.
Amy shook her head. “I told you I won’t tell. I’d never betray a friend’s confidence.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets too!” Theo promised.
Chase raised an eyebrow at him.
“I am!” Theo insisted.
“I don’t know. If it’s juicy, it would be a shame not to tell. After all, a secret’s no fun unless you tell someone, right?” Joey joked.
Amy elbowed him hard in the ribs just as Ciara kicked him hard in the shin from under the table.
“Ouch! I was kidding! Sheesh!” Joey said, rubbing his shin with one hand and his arm with the other. “Women! If they hit men, they’re justified. If men hit women, we’re scum. Double standards!”
“Joey are you going to tell or not?” Chase snapped; annoyed.
“Go ahead, Dude! Chill! I promise I won’t tell a soul,” Joey said.
Chase sighed. “I went to my dad’s place last night. He gave me a key for whenever I want to stay there. I wanted to see how his Valentine’s Day date went with Hope.”
“Your dad went on a date with Hope?” Joey asked. “What about Rafe?”
Ciara rolled her eyes. “It was for charity. He won the bid on her for the charity auction.”
“I bet that was kind of awkward seeing as they used to be married then he tried to strangle her. I’m surprised the guy was even allowed to bid on her!” Joey said.
Chase shot him a dirty look. “He only did that because my life was threatened if he didn’t do it. Anyway, do you want to hear what happened or not?”
Joey held his hands up in defense. “Again, chill, Dude. So what happened to make you so ill?”
“As I was saying, I used my spare key to get into my dad’s apartment and I heard him and Hope… I heard my dad and Hope…” Chase trailed off, unable to say it.
“Heard them what?” Amy asked in almost a whisper, her eyes trained on Chase. She looked very invested in his story.
“He heard them having a farting contest! What do you think?” Jonah asked. “The fumes are what made him so sick.”
Theo burst out laughing, as did Joey. They both high-fived Jonah.
Claire, Ciara, and Amy rolled their eyes.
“I wish it was something as cool as that!” Chase said. He smiled for just a second until he remembered what he had actually heard. He felt his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I heard them having sex, okay?”
Ciara’s eyes grew cold. “No way! My mom isn’t a cheater. She would never cheat on Rafe! Stop lying! It’s so not cool.”
Chase shot her a look. “Why would I lie about that? Why would I look this sick if I didn’t really see it? When I came into the apartment, I heard a faint noise and went down the hall to investigate having no idea at first what the sound was. Their bedroom is at the end of the hall. They had left their bedroom door open. I looked away as soon as I saw them, but it was already too late. I know what I saw, and from the sounds of it, mom was quite enjoying it, and Rafe was the last thing on her mind.” Chase realized what he had just said and felt another wave of nausea hit. “Thank God they didn’t notice me. I turned around and got the hell out of there.”
No one said a word. They didn’t know what to say.
“So now I have that disgusting image forever burned into my eyes, and I have the disgusting sounds forever burned into my ears. Now can you understand why I’m so sick?” Chase asked.
“It should make you happy! It’s exactly what you wanted—your parents back together,” Claire said.
“It didn’t mean I wanted to see or hear the reunion!” Chase muttered.
“Ciara, now you look sick. Are you okay? I know how much you like Rafe,” Theo said to her.
Ciara nodded. “Even if she did sleep with Aiden, I’m sure she’s regretting it. She loves Rafe. She’s not going to leave him for the man who tried to kill her.”
“We’ll see about that! She was extremely into my dad last night,” Chase said, trying to say it without thinking about it. It only worked slightly.
“More like your dad was extremely into your mom!” Joey said.
Theo and Jonah both laughed, and high-fived him.
“Guys shut up!” Chase chastised. “I do not need that image embedded even more into my brain, thank you.” He turned to Ciara. “Please don’t tell them I saw them!”
“I won’t. It didn’t mean anything anyway. She’ll be back with Rafe, and none of it will matter. You’ll see,” Ciara said.
The bell rang, signaling the end of their lunch break. They all got up and headed to their classes.
Chase followed behind Ciara. He hoped she was wrong. He knew it would break his dad’s heart if Hope still stayed with Rafe after what had happened last night. He guessed he’d just have to try to persuade Hope to stay with Aiden. He didn’t know how he was going to do that, but he’d think of something

*This love came back to me.*

Ciara pouted all through chemistry, and would have started an explosion by mixing the wrong chemicals together had her lab partner not been watching.
“Ciara, please concentrate on what you’re doing! I don’t need my eyebrows burned off, thank you very much!” her partner chastised.
“Sorry!” Ciara apologized. She couldn’t believe her mom had cheated—with Aiden of all people! She had to stop her mother from making the biggest mistake of her life. She had to make sure that Hope realized that Rafe was the one for her; not Aiden. She didn’t know how she was going to do that, but she knew she’d think of something. However, right now she had to concentrate on the project at hand. After all, her lab partner was already highly lacking in the looks department. The last thing the poor girl needed was a missing eyebrow or two to make her look even worse than she already did.

*This love came back to me.*

“Hope, where were you last night if you weren’t at Jen’s?” Rafe repeated.
Hope had hesitated when he asked her the first time. She didn’t know if she should tell him the truth or not. She didn’t want to lose him. She wanted to be with Aiden, but now that she knew Rafe really hadn’t cheated on her, she didn’t want to lose Rafe. She couldn’t hurt him or risk losing him by letting him know the truth.
“Hope, just answer the question. Please!” Rafe said, sounding a little angry and annoyed.
Hope sighed. “I was with Aiden. After I saw you kissing Lani last night, I was so hurt that I ran off to be with Aiden. We kissed…a lot.”
Rafe clenched his fists together. “I’ll kill him!” He got up off the couch and started storming toward the door.
“Rafe, no! Stop!” Hope quickly got up off the couch and ran over to him. She placed a hand over his shoulder and turned him around. “Don’t blame Aiden. I’m the one that initiated it.”
Rafe snorted. “Yeah, and I bet he was so quick to pull away,” he said sarcastically.
Hope nodded. “He was! In fact, he told me I should talk to you before I did anything I regretted. He said it might not be what I thought it was.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “How noble! It didn’t stop him from kissing you, apparently.” He rubbed his mouth with his hand. “I can’t believe this! I can’t believe you’d—” He cut himself off and took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. “Did you sleep with him?” he asked, looking Hope in the eyes.
His eyes were so cold and harsh, Hope noticed. Not that he didn’t have a right to be angry. He did, she knew. She shook her head. “No. We almost did. We had gone back to his place, but I backed out before things got out of control. I went back home. It was late, and I figured you’d already be sleeping. I went out for coffee early this morning—alone—to work up the nerve to tell you what I did. That is why I wasn’t home when you got here.”
Rafe nodded at her clothes. “Why are you still dressed in your outfit from last night then?”
Hope sighed, the Walter Scott quote from his poem Marmion popping into her head. “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!” She ignored it and came up with another lie. “I was honestly just so tired last night that I fell asleep in this before I could change. Then, this morning I was feeling too down to bother changing.”
Rafe was still angry. “This morning you were feeling too down or too guilty?”
Hope looked down at her feet. “A little bit of both, but mainly guilty.”
Rafe nodded. “Well, good because you should!”
She looked at Rafe her hands on his chest. “Rafe, I promise you, I never would have cheated had I not thought you had cheated on me first!” True she had kissed Aiden before, but Rafe didn’t need to know that either.
Rafe stepped away from her and shook his head. “I still can’t believe you did this! I can’t believe you just decided to assume the worst of me and ran off with Aiden! The Hope I know would have always made sure what she saw was really what she saw. For Pete’s sake, Hope, you’re a cop! It’s what you do for a living—get all your facts straight before you go passing judgment!”
Hope had tears in her eyes when she looked at Rafe now. “I know and I am so sorry! If I could take it back or make it up to you I would!” She hung her head in shame. She felt even guiltier for still lying to him, but if he got this angry over thinking she had simply made out with Aiden, she couldn’t imagine how angry he’d be if he knew she had actually slept with Aiden! That was why Rafe could never find out the truth. She looked up at him. “What I did was completely unforgivable. I understand if you never want to see me again.” She sniffled, and wiped her eyes with her fingers.
Rafe looked at her, his expression softening a bit. “Do you still have feelings for Aiden, or was the kissing just to get back at me for kissing Lani?”
Hope looked at him. “I thought last night that I had feelings for him, but then I realized I love you now. All I could think about on the way home was that I didn’t want to lose you. All I can think about today is how much I love you, and how much I don’t want to lose you!”
Rafe sighed. He then slowly walked over to Hope and took her in his arms. “All right. I’m going to forgive you. But, Hope, I mean it this time. I want you to stay away from Aiden. I get that you need to be around him to deal with stuff pertaining to Chase. I also get that Salem is a small town and you’re bound to bump into each other here and there. But if you and I are going to work, I can’t have you hanging out with him just the two of you. I can’t deal with you two being friends. From now on, all you two are to each other is exes who occasionally have to get together to deal with anything that comes up pertaining to Chase, whether it be school, or other Chase related issues. You can’t go running back to Aiden and making out with him every time we have a fight. I’m not going to have to worry about that. All right?”
Hope nodded. “Anything. Anything you want just so long as you forgive me.”
Rafe smiled. He kissed the top of her head. “Consider yourself forgiven then.”
Hope let out a cry of happiness. “Thank you so much!” She kissed him passionately on the mouth. “I promise to never ever cheat on you again!”
Rafe grinned. “I should hope not!”
“So, does that offer to marry you still stand?” Hope asked with a smirk and an eyebrow raised.
Rafe nodded. “Always.”
“Then I say yes!” Hope said.
Rafe smiled big. “Yes?”
Hope nodded. “Yes!”
Rafe cried out in happiness, then grabbed the ring and slipped it on her left ring finger.
Hope admired the ring on her finger, then jumped into his arms and kissed him. “I love it so much! I love you so much!”
“And I love you so much!” Rafe told her.
Hope moaned, and they kissed.
“You just made me the happiest man on earth!” he told her.
“Show me how happy,” Hope ordered, kissing his neck.
Rafe was the one to moan this time. He picked her up, then kissed her the whole way up the stairs to her bedroom.

[gapeach]

Hope, Hope, Hope. This is going to come back and bite her BIG time!!!

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1: Episode 20

The next day, Hope knocked on Aiden’s door. She hoped she was able to catch him before he went off to his community service. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be alone with him, but she had to make exception this once. She had to tell him it was over between them—for good this time.
Aiden opened the door wearing pants but no shirt. He grinned. “Hey Baby! Finally, you’re here. I have to go to my community service soon, but I have a few minutes. I missed you yesterday. You left without saying goodbye then, didn’t return any of my texts.” He went to kiss her, but she turned her head. He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Hope looked away. She really wished he’d put a shirt on. He was not making saying goodbye to him easy. She sighed, then looked at him. “Can I come in? I need to talk to you about something.”
Aiden nodded and stepped back, allowing her in. “Sure.” He closed the door behind her.
“Thanks.” Hope sighed. “Aiden, I’m so sorry, but last night was a mistake. I never should have slept with you. As it turns out, after I turned away from Rafe and Lani last night, Rafe pulled away from Lani and set her straight. I had left too soon to see that part. He had only kissed her out of instinct.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Hope, please! When a man kisses another woman, it’s never just out of instinct. If he had no feelings at all for her, then he would have pushed her away right away.”
Hope shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous! Even you told me it might not be what it looked like. It wasn’t! Aiden, I’m sorry. I never should have gotten your hopes up that we’d be together again, and I certainly never should have led you on by seeping with you.”
Aiden stood there in surprise. “Hope, you said you loved me and wanted me back. You said you didn’t regret what we did; that you wanted me too.”
Hope shrugged. “That was before I knew that Rafe hadn’t cheated on me,” she said simply.
“Hope, I know you didn’t just sleep with me to get back at Rafe. You know it too! You love me just as much as I love you!” Aiden insisted. “Just admit it!”
Hope shook her head. “I’ll admit no such thing! Look, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have said those things to you, and I shouldn’t have slept with you. Rafe is the only man I love, and I’m going to marry him.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Excuse me?”
Hope flashed him her ring. “He proposed yesterday morning when I got home. I told him about the kiss. He doesn’t know we slept together, and he must never know. Also, I can’t hang out with you one on one any longer. I can only see you for Chase related things.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Oh, give me a break, Hope! Rafe is already being a possessive jerk. You can’t honestly be thinking about marrying him. If he’s this bad now, imagine how bad he’ll be once you’re married! The Hope I know would never let a man tell her who she can and cannot see. Heck she wouldn’t let anyone tell her that!”
“I think it’s only fair of him to ask considering our romantic history and the fact that I cheated with you last night,” Hope said coolly.
“As far as he knows we only kissed, so it shouldn’t be a big deal,” Aiden replied.
“If you ever tell him that we slept together, I will refuse to see you all together. Even if Rafe dumped me, I would still never agree to be with you if he left me because of you. Do I make myself clear?” Hope asked, her tone angry.
Aiden nodded. “Yes, but Hope…” He took her hands in his own. “I know you love me too. You couldn’t possibly have faked your feelings for me that night.”
Hope felt her defenses weakening. “Okay, I do love you. A part of me always will.”
“Well, then don’t marry Rafe! Trust me. Marrying him out of guilt is not the way to go. You’ll only regret it later and maybe even resent him,” Aiden insisted.
Hope was so close to pulling Aiden into her arms and picking up where they had left off that morning, but she just couldn’t get herself to. She held her head high. “It’s not out of guilt. I love him more than I love you now. He is where my heart belongs.”
“Hope, I love you!” Aiden said, tears in his eyes now.
Hope knew she had to be tough. As much as she would hate to, she had to get it through to Aiden in the only way she knew how to get through to him. “I can’t be with a man I no longer trust. Are you forgetting you tried to murder me, Aiden?”
Aiden’s face fell. “You know why I did that. I was temporarily insane at the thought of Chase being murdered if I didn’t. Baby, I would never hurt you like that ever again!”
Hope shook her head. “How do I know that? That morning when you went to the bathroom and said you’d be right back it reminded me of when you went to get my ‘surprise’ on our wedding night only to come back and try to murder me! It scared me so much I left!”
“Baby, I’m not that man anymore I swear!” Aiden protested.
Hope narrowed her eyes at him. “Yeah, well I didn’t think you were then either and look where they got me?”
Aiden was suddenly angry. “This is all Rafe filling your head with lies isn’t it? That stupid idiot is trying to make you afraid of me so he’s planting the seeds in your head.”
Hope was angry now. “Don’t even try to bash him in front of me! Rafe didn’t fill my head with anything! You’re the one that has me scared! This is all because of you and what you tried to do to me, Aiden. At least Rafe never tried to kill me!” Hope hated herself the moment she said those words and saw Aiden’s face crumple. Now Aiden would hate her. She was sure of it. But it had to be done to save her relationship with Rafe.
Apparently it had worked, for Aiden walked around Hope and opened the door. He then pointed out the open doorway. “Get out! I’m through with playing games with you. If you want to ruin your life by being with Rafe, then have at it! Just don’t come crying back to me when you decide it’s not what you really want.”
“I’m never going to decide that, so there’s no problem. Goodbye, Aiden. Have a nice life.” Hope then rushed out of his apartment. She had tears in her eyes, but she wasn’t about to let him see her cry. She winced when she heard his door slam behind her.
She pressed the elevator button. “I’m sorry, Aiden, I didn’t mean any of it,” she whispered to the empty hallway. “But this is for the best.” The doors opened, and she stepped onto the elevator. As the doors closed in front of her, she couldn’t help but think were also closing the story of her and Aiden.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden arrived back at the apartment, gently closing the door behind him.
Chase looked up at him from the couch. “Dad, what’s wrong?” He had come over to Aiden’s after school and did his homework there while he waited for Aiden to return home from community service. He hadn’t talked to him since he had seen him in bed with Hope. He had texted with his father, but avoided seeing him until now. He had just needed to wait long enough to not want to throw up when seeing his father. The last thing he had ever wanted to see in his life was his parents naked, but he had seen Hope’s naked chest and his father’s bare backside. He didn’t know if he’d ever get the images out of his head actually, but he knew he couldn’t avoid seeing his dad forever. He had decided to just go now and get it over with. However, now that his dad looked so distraught, he felt bad for avoiding him yesterday.
Chase pat the empty spot beside him, hoping that his dad and Hope hadn’t started off on the couch.
Aiden sighed, and sat down beside him. “My date with Hope had gone wonderfully. We even…kissed. It wasn’t just any kiss either. There were several kisses, each one more passionate than the last.”
Chase was grateful his father had left out the sex part. “That’s great! So, why are you so sad now?”
“Hope came over to my place this morning and told me that it was all a mistake. She had thought that Rafe had cheated on her, but it turned out to just be a big misunderstanding, so now she regrets sleeping wi—” He cleared his throat. “Kissing me. Rafe proposed to her. She told me she said yes. She is going to marry him.”
“Why?” Chase asked in surprise. His heart sank. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing! “She must love you still. Otherwise she wouldn’t have…kissed you.”
“She says she still can’t trust me after what I did. She knows I did it for you, but she still doesn’t trust me. She even threw it in my face that at least Rafe never tried to kill her,” Aiden told Chase.
Chase shook his head. “Well, that was a low blow.”
Aiden nodded. “I told her to get out and don’t come crying to me when she realizes Rafe isn’t who she really wants. I told her I’m done with her mind games. I didn’t want to sound so nasty, but she really hurt me with her words, so I felt compelled to give it right back to her.” Aiden ran his hand through his hair. “I’m such a jerk.”
Chase shook his head. “You’re not a jerk, Dad. It’s only normal to defend yourself. Anyway, any father would have done the same for their child. Hope of all people should understand protecting her children at all costs.”
Aiden shrugged. “Well, apparently, she doesn’t. I thought she understood, but she clearly doesn’t. She’s going to marry Rafe.”
Chase raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re not just going to give up on her, are you?”
Aiden sighed. “I don’t want to, but what can I do?”
“Leave it up to me,” Chase said. “I’ll think of something.” He thought about it for a moment. “I know! I can pretend to be really sick and tell mom that I need both my parents to be with me.”
Aiden shook his head. “No, Hope would see right through that. Plus, she’d take you to Kayla, who would tell her that you’re perfectly healthy. Besides, I don’t want to use our child to get her back. That would be despicable. On top of that, I’ve already hurt her enough. I suddenly have a better idea.”
“What is it?” Chase closed his math book to give his dad his full attention.
“I ran into Lani today, and we had a little talk,” Aiden began.
“That cop that won the date with Rafe?” Chase asked.
Aiden nodded. “She has a huge crush on Rafe and Rafe had even kissed her. Hope saw it. That’s why Hope thought he had cheated on her. He later told Hope it was just out of instinct, but I highly doubt that. I’m thinking I could go on a date with Lani. Somehow maybe we could arrange it so that Lani and I bump into Hope and Rafe. It just might make Hope jealous enough to get me back on her radar. Heck, it might even make Rafe jealous. It’s a little juvenile, but hey it’s a plan that could work.”
Chase grinned at his father. “You know what? I happen to love that idea! I really think it will work!”
Aiden grinned back at Chase, and they high-fived.

*This love came back to me.*

Meanwhile, Ciara got off the phone with the hostess at Chez Rouge. She had just booked a romantic table for two for Rafe and Hope. She had even planned to stay the night at Claire’s to give Hope and Rafe some alone time. She would see to it that Chase stayed either with Aiden or with one of his friends. She was not about to let Aiden take over. No. Her mom belonged with Rafe who made her so happy and would never hurt her. She wasn’t going to let one little laps in Hope’s judgment ruin that.
She then headed downstairs to where Rafe and Hope were sitting on the couch together grinning sweetly at each other and talking quietly.
“Hey guys! I got a surprise for you,” Ciara said, walking around from behind the couch to stand in front of it.
“Really? That’s funny, because we’ve got a surprise for you and Chase too,” Hope said with a knowing smile at Rafe, who smiled back at her.
“Me first! I just made dinner reservations for two at six o’clock for you and Rafe. I also will be spending the night at Claire’s to give you two some alone time afterwards, if you know what I mean.” Ciara winked and them and clicked her tongue.
Rafe grinned as Hope blushed. “That’s great!” he said. “Thank you.”
Hope smiled. “That is wonderful, Honey! Thank you! It will be the perfect way to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?” Ciara asked.
Before Hope couple reply, Chase came home, looking happy as could be.
“Chase, Honey, you’re just in time to hear the surprise!” Hope said.
Chase set his backpack down. “What surprise?” he asked. He suddenly didn’t look happy any longer.
Hope stood up and flashed her ring at him and Ciara. “Rafe proposed to me yesterday morning and I said yes! He and I are getting married. We’re going to be a family!”
“What? Mom that’s great! Oh my gosh! Congratulations, guys!” Ciara ran into her mother’s arms and hugged her tightly, then hugged a grinning Rafe who had stood up to receive and return her hug.
Chase, however, was anything but thrilled. He had known what the so called surprise was, but hearing it made it even worse. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Rafe will never be my family,” he said coldly.
“Chase!” Hope scolded.
Rafe nodded. “It’s okay. I understand. He still has his dad. He doesn’t need me.”
“You’re damn right I don’t!” Chase said angrily. “And neither does my mom!”
“Chase Jennings, you apologize this instant!” Hope scolded.
Chase sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said to Rafe without even trying to make it sound sincere.
“Like I said, it’s cool. I get it. It’s going to take some getting used to,” Rafe said to him.
Ciara glared at Chase. “I’m staying with Claire tonight. I suggest you stay with your dad since you love him so much. If not your dad then Jonah or Joey. Even Theo if he’ll have you. Mom and Rafe want some alone time after they go to the romantic dinner I booked for them tonight.”
Hope sighed. “Ciara…” She shot Ciara a “be nice” look. She then looked at Chase. “You don’t have to go somewhere else, Chase. You’re welcome to sleep in your own bed.”
Chase shook his head. “Thanks, but no thanks! The very last place I want to be tonight is here with you and Rafe while you two…” Instead of finishing his sentence, he headed up to his room. “I’m going to go pack my overnight bag,” he grumbled.
When he got to his room, he shut and locked his bedroom door, then quietly called Claire.
Claire picked up almost right away.
“Claire, do you know where Ciara plans for Rafe and Hope to go to dinner tonight?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, Chez Rouge,” Claire replied. “At six.”
Chase grinned. “Perfect! Thank you. Don’t tell Ciara I asked you or that you told me. All right?”
“I can’t. Then she’d be mad I told. I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but I’m team Aiden. Besides, you’re my boyfriend. I’m always going to be on your side,” Claire said sweetly.
“You’re the best!” Chase said.
“Don’t you forget it!” Claire said cheerily.
Chase laughed. “I won’t. I’ll be at Joey’s tonight if he lets me, so call me on my cell later if you need me. All right?”
“All right. Have a good night if I don’t talk to you later,” Claire said.
“You too. Goodnight,” Chase replied.
“Goodnight,” Claire said before hanging up.
Chase hung up the phone, then quickly dialed his father to tell him the details.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden hung up the phone. Chase has just called him. The plan was working out already! Hope and Rafe just happened to have a date at Chez Rouge tonight. He had needed them to be somewhere where they could run into him and Lani, and here this opportunity had fallen right into his lap! It was like a sign that he and Hope were meant to be.
He quickly dialed Lani’s number, glad that they had exchanged numbers the morning before over coffee.
She picked up on the third ring. “Hello?”
Aiden grinned. “Lani! Hey! It’s Aiden Jennings. You know what we were talking about yesterday? About working on Hope falling for me and Rafe falling for you?”
“Yes…” Lani said hesitantly, clearly unsure of where this was going.
“Well, I know just how we can make that happen! Or at least make them jealous,” Aiden continued.
“How’s that?” Lani asked, sounding skeptical.
“What are you doing at six o’clock tonight?” Aiden asked her.
“Nothing. I get out of work at five. Why?” she asked.
“How would you like a free dinner at Chez Rouge on me?” Aiden asked. “Rafe and Hope have a date there tonight, and you and I are going to go pretending to be Salem’s newest it couple. Rafe will hate seeing you with me, whom he thinks is so dangerous, and Hope will hate that you’re dating another man of hers.”
Lani was quiet for just a moment before she responded. “You know what? That sounds just crazy enough to work!”
Aiden smiled. “I knew you’d see things my way. I’ll meet you there at six.”
“I’ll be there,” Lani said, her tone chipper.

[gapeach]

Can't wait to see what happens at Chez Rouge when the two couples see each other.

[ihearthaiden]

Days of our Haiden
Season 1: Episode 21

Chase would be staying at Joey’s so everything was going according to plan for Ciara. Little did she know that Aiden had a plan of his own that was also going according to plan.
Aiden looked in the mirror of the used car that he had just gotten. Business was doing well. Things were finally starting to pick up moneywise, and he was finally able to afford is own car. It was just a used 2014 blue Taurus but the mileage was good and it got him around. He still wouldn’t consider himself rich, but he was getting back to the point where he could live comfortably.
He looked at the dashboard clock. It was time to meet Lani. He headed into the restaurant, and was happy when she walked in no more than thirty seconds after he did.
“Good evening, Miss Lani! You’re looking quite beautiful tonight!” He took her hand and kissed it. “As usual.”
Lani smirked. “Good thing you added the as usual. And thank you. You’re looking particularly handsome tonight as well.”
They grinned at each other.
Lani was wearing a sparkly low cut red dress with sparkly red heels. Aiden was wearing a pair of khakis with a white shirt, black blazer, and red silk tie. He wore black dress shoes. He had texted her to see what color she was wearing so that they could color coordinate. He knew it just might annoy Hope and therefore tick her off even more.
Aiden gave their name to the hostess and they were seated at a nice table for two.
Shortly after, in walked Hope and Rafe. Aiden noticed how she looked amazing in a tight black leather dress. He felt jealousy course through his veins at the thought of Rafe being with her tonight. Seeing Rafe’s over Hope’s lower back made Aiden want to punch him in the face. Rafe was wearing a black and white suit like a groom would wear to a wedding. That made Aiden want to punch him even harder.
Rafe gave their names to the hostess—at least, that’s what it looked like to Aiden.
Aiden watched them until Hope seemed to sense that he was watching them.
Their eyes met.

*This love came back to me.*

Hope couldn’t believe it when she saw Aiden and Lani sitting together at a comfy looking table for two. “What are they doing here of all places? And what are they doing together?” Hope muttered to herself.
“Hm?” Rafe asked, overhearing her.
Hope pulled him close. “Aiden’s here with Lani right over there.”
“Where?” Rafe asked. He looked around and spotted Lani and Rafe sitting together and smiling at each other.
“What the hell?” he asked. “Since when are those two together? Do they even know each other?”
Hope nodded. “They ran into each other a couple times for work related things, but that’s about it.”
“Do you want to go someplace else?” Rafe asked her.
Hope shook her head. “No. Ciara made our reservation for here. I wouldn’t want to make her feel bad by us eating somewhere else. There’s no reason you and I can’t still enjoy our dinner!” She smiled up at Rafe and took his hand in her own.
Rafe grinned at her. “You’re absolutely right.” He kissed her sweetly on the lips.
“All right! Right this way,” the hostess said cheerily.
They followed the hostess while still holding hands. She led them to a table for two only about three feet away from Aiden and Lani’s table, and directly across from them.
“Oh, hey! Funny bumping into you guys here,” Lani said when they walked by their table.
“Hey,” Rafe said to her. He ignored Aiden completely. “Why are you here with him?” He nodded at Aiden without looking at him.
“Hello to you too, Rafe,” Aiden said sarcastically.
“We’re here on a date. Since you didn’t want me, I decided to try someone new. I bumped into Aiden at TBD the other day. We got go talking, and he asked me out,” Lani said with a smile.
Aiden and Hope didn’t even acknowledge each other.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Aiden said to Rafe.
“You know what? You can shove it!” Rafe said to Aiden.
“Just go back to your date,” Aiden snapped.
“You’re right. I think I will go back to my fiancé,” Rafe said.
Aiden had a pained look on his face.
Rafe smiled smugly at him. “That’s right. She and I are celebrating our engagement tonight. I guess your kisses weren’t enough for her to come running back to you. Sorry about that,” Rafe said, his voice full of mockery and sarcasm. He turned to “Lani. I’d watch out if I were you. You can do so much better than this loser. Just make sure he doesn’t try to kill you too!” Rafe then went back to his table, where Hope was already waiting for him and looking really uncomfortable.
“Great! Just great,” Hope said as Rafe helped her get her jacket off.
“We can ask to sit somewhere else,” Rafe said to her.
“No, it’s fine. As far as I’m concerned, they aren’t even here,” Hope replied.
“Are you sure?” Rafe asked.
Hope nodded. “I’m sure. Let’s just enjoy our dinner and pretend they aren’t even here.”
“Sounds good.” Rafe hung up her jacket on the back on her chair, then held out her chair for her and gently pushed her in after she sat down in it.
He then took his own seat.
“Your server will be right over,” the hostess said kindly.
Rafe and Hope thanked her, then she went off to seat the next guests.
They looked over their menus.
“We have to order a bottle of the finest Champaign to celebrate our engagement,” Rafe said to her.
Hope smiled. “Of course!”
Lani laughed, and they both looked over.
Aiden was grinning as Lani reached across the table and put her hand on his arm.
“You’re hilarious!” Lani said.
“I’m glad I could make you laugh,” Aiden told her. “You have a beautiful laugh.”
Lani smiled a shy smile and looked away.
“She can do better than Aiden. I hope she knows to be careful. I don’t want what happened to you happen to her,” Rafe grumbled.
Hope shook her head. “I doubt he’s a threat. He’s not that man anymore. However, I am annoyed that Lani sure seems to have a thing for my men.”
Rafe raised an eyebrow at her. “First of all, I still think he is still the same man he always was. Second, what do you mean by ‘another one of your men’? Aiden isn’t your man anymore.”
Hope blushed, and gently pushed some hair behind her ear. “True. I just mean I dated him and married him in the past. Now she wants him probably just because I had him.”
Rafe scrunched his eyebrows together. “Please! You were only married to Aiden for a couple of hours before he tried to kill you. I don’t really count that as being married to him.”
Hope looked away. She hated remembering that night.
Rafe gently took her hand from across the table. “Hey. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought that night up. Let’s just concentrate on you, me, tonight, and celebrating our engagement!”
Hope smiled at him. “Sounds good to me!”
Their waiter came then, and they ordered their Champaign, then went back to looking over their menus and deciding what they wanted to eat.

*This love came back to me.*

“Mm… So good!” Lani said as she took a bite of Aiden’s parmesan chicken that he was feeding to her. She licked her lips, then held out a forkful of lasagna to him. “Try mine.”
Aiden let her feed him. “Mm… Delicious!” he said.
“You don’t think this is too much?” Lani asked through clenched teeth just loud enough for Aiden to hear her.
“Nope! I can see through my peripheral view that they’re staring at us,” Aiden said just loud enough for Lani to hear and also through clenched teeth. So far the classic pretending the other said something funny and the “pretend flirting” seemed to be doing the trick. “I know it’s bugging them both.” Aiden said.
Lani grinned, still keeping up looks. “I just hope it’s enough. I mean, the plan sounded good at first, but now that we’re doing it I suddenly feel so juvenile—like I’m back in high school again.”
“It will work I promise!” Aiden assured her. Though, deep down he secretly felt the same way she did. Even so, he refused to give up. After all, he didn’t exactly have a plan B unless he went with the whole Chase faking an illness thing. “Anyway, I have another trick up my sleeve. I requested that they play mine and Hope’s song. Once she sees you and me dancing to it, she’ll be livid.” At least, he hoped she would be.
“They just happened to have your song?” Lani asked.
“I dropped off the CD earlier on my way to my community service,” Aiden told her with a smile and a wink.
Lani grinned. “You really did think of everything, didn’t you?”
Aiden grinned even wider in response.

*This love came back to me.*

“I wanna smack that smug smirk right of his face!” Rafe grumbled. He and Hope were both looking at Aiden and Lani as they smiled at each other.
“I wonder what they’re talking about. They are talking so low,” Hope said more to herself than to Rafe. “And why were they feeding each other? I’d say that’s a bit forward for a first date. At least, in my opinion.”
Rafe looked away. “Watching them is ruining my night. Let’s just go back to concentrating on you, me, and our engagement. What do you say?” Rafe asked reaching across the table and placing his hands over hers.
Hope smiled at him. “Okay, sounds good.” Even so, she couldn’t help but feel a little twinge of annoyance at Lani mixed with the uncomfortable feeling of seeing Aiden on a date with another woman.
After they finished their meal, their waiter came over to clear their plates. “Would you two like any dessert?” he asked.
Hope nodded. “I can’t come here without having a slice of Maggie’s chocolate cake!”
“We can just split a slice,” Rafe told her.
Hope shook her head. “Sorry, but when it comes to Maggie’s chocolate cake, I’d like my own.”
Rafe laughed. “All right. Make that two slices of chocolate cake then, please!” he said to the waiter.
“Coming right up!” the waiter said.
Aiden and Lani were also ordering dessert, Hope noticed as she side glanced at their table. Their waitress took their order then left.
Suddenly, Hope heard hers and Aiden’s song playing over the speakers. She shivered as she remembered how she and Aiden had danced to it at the gala that they had fallen in love at, and then later on their first anniversary of that date. She remembered the romantic night Aiden had planned for her on their anniversary. She blushed as she remembered making love with him that night, and then again the next morning. Then showering with him after breakfast…
“How sweet!” Rafe said sarcastically, distracting her from her memories. “Now they’re dancing together.”
Hope looked over to see Aiden dancing close with Lani, his hands over her lower back, and her arms draped over his shoulders. She felt her blood start to boil. How dare he dance with Lani to their song? Well, two could play at that game!
She stood up and extended her hand to Rafe. “Come on. Let’s dance.”
Rafe looked at her hand with hesitation, then stood up. “All right. I’m not that great of a dancer, but I’m up for trying!”
Hope took his hand and practically dragged him out to the dancefloor right near Aiden and Lani.
“Woah, slow down! The music is non-stop here. We have plenty of time,” Rafe teased.
Hope draped her arms over his shoulders. “Sorry. I’m just so eager to dance with my husband-to-be!”
Rafe grinned. “And I do love dancing with my wife-to-be!”
Hope noticed Aiden glancing at her and Rafe. As soon as he noticed she had noticed him, he turned his attention back to Lani.
Aiden and Lani swayed back and forth together, their eyes locked. They looked in love.
Hope gently stroked Rafe’s cheek, then buried her face in his neck and rested her head on his shoulder while they danced.
Aiden watched Hope with Rafe and he wanted to throttle Rafe. He inched Lani over toward them and accidentally on purpose bumped into them, causing Hope to look up and over at them.
“Sorry. I lost my balance for a second there,” Aiden said.
“I bet!” Rafe said; not buying it.
Hope and Aiden’s eyes met as they continued to dance with their partners. Their eyes stayed on each other’s for the rest of the song.
When the song ended, Rafe kissed Hope passionately on the lips. Hope, knowing Aiden was watching, kissed Rafe back just as passionately.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden was debating on whether or not he should kiss Lani. He didn’t want to tick her off. However, Lani surprised him by making his decision for him and kissing him passionately on the lips as well.
Aiden broke the kiss, looking at Lani in surprise.
Lani leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, “Just go with it.”
Aiden, grateful, pulled her close, and kissed her passionately back.

*This love came back to me.*

As Hope watched Aiden and Lani kiss, she was absolutely furious! She almost said something, but Rafe took her hand before she could.
“Cake is here,” Rafe said to her, nodding toward their table.
Hope nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet.
They all headed back to their tables where dessert was waiting for them all.
“She only wants him because I used to date him. I bet if Bo were still alive, she’d go after him too!” Hope muttered. She stabbed her cake and forced the bite into her mouth before chewing angrily.
“Who cares if she dates him? You don’t want him anymore.” Rafe ate a bite of his cake. “The only reason I don’t like it is because Aiden will only end up hurting her. I don’t want to see her get hurt. She doesn’t deserve to be.”
“Yeah, well, neither does Aiden. She’s just using him.” Hope angrily ate another bite of her cake, barely tasting it.
“More like he’s using her,” Rafe grumbled.
They ate their slices of cake in silence for a moment.
Hope watched as Aiden and Lani, smiling at each other as if they had been in love forever, took turns feeding each other the chocolate cake slice they were sharing. It made her sick!
Lani accidentally got a piece of cake on Aiden’s nose. She flicked it off and it ended up hitting the back of a bald waiter’s head. Lani and Aiden quickly played it cool, acting as if they were just a normal couple deep in conversation as the waiter looked around to try to spot who had done it. Once the waiter had looked away again and had gone back to what he was doing, Aiden and Lani snickered together.
Hope rolled her eyes.
“Have you been listening to anything I’ve just been saying to you?” Rafe asked her.
Hope looked at him, blinking in confusion. “I’m sorry what?”
“You know what? Never mind. I can see you’re too occupied with other things to listen,” Rafe said a little annoyed.
“I’m sorry,” Hope said, not knowing what else to say.
The waiter came with their check.
Hope noticed Rafe had eaten all of his cake, but she had barely eaten any of hers. She quickly finished her cake, side-eyeing Aiden and Lani’s table. Aiden was paying his and Lani’s bill.
“Can I get you anything else?” their waiter asked.
“No thanks. Here you go. Keep the change,” Rafe said, paying with the cash Ciara had given him earlier for their meal and tip. She had insisted on paying for their dinner as her engagement present to them.
“Thank you, Sir. You two have a good rest of your night!” the waiter said with a polite nod.
Hope and Rafe thanked him and wished him a good night as well, then he left.
Rafe didn’t bother to help Hope with her coat. However, Hope noticed Aiden helping Lani with her jacket.
Hope put on her own jacket feeling rejected all around.
“All set!” Aiden said once Lani’s coat was on.
“Thank you! Also thank you for dinner,” Lani said, batting her eyelashes at him and smiling. Aiden smiled at her, then took her hand and kissed it. “The pleasure was mine.”
Lani giggled.
They started walking toward the door, but stopped halfway between their tables.
“Wait. Would you like to come back with me for a nightcap?” Aiden asked Lani.
Lani grinned. “I would love that so much, but I promised Theo I’d spend some time with him tonight. Can we raincheck it for tomorrow night instead?” Lani stopped and said seductively by his ear, but still loud enough for Hope to hear, “I’ll have all night then.”
Aiden shivered. “Sounds like a plan.”
Hope couldn’t take it any longer. She jumped up from the table, and closed in the space between them. She turned to Lani. “He made out with me the other night, you know.”
Lani looked at her with surprise. “Excuse me?”
Hope nodded. “That’s right! He was all over me. He wanted to make love to me, but I stopped it since I’m in love with another man.”
“And you’re telling me this why?” Lani asked, an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed over her chest.
“I just think you should know that he’s still madly in love with me and is only settling for you because he can’t have me.” Hope crossed her arms over her chest, and raised an eyebrow of her own.
Aiden looked at Lani, his eyes wide. “That’s so not true! Well, it’s true I made out with her, and that I wanted it to go further, but it’s not true that I’m only settling for you. You’re a beautiful, funny, and intelligent woman. I really wanted to go on this date with you tonight, and I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.” He turned to Hope. “You made it perfectly clear to me that you want nothing to do with me anymore, Hope. So please, just let me move on in peace without you interfering!” he snapped.
Hope narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine! Be on your way then. Just beware that she’s using you Aiden. She only wants you because I had you. First it was Rafe, and now it’s you.” She glared at Lani, her arms still crossed over her chest. “She’s a real piece of work!”
Lani sighed. “Hope, you’re being ridiculous! It’s just like I told you earlier. We happened to run into each other at TBD, we talked, realized we had a lot in common, and decided to go out on a date. I was barely even aware than he used to date you.”
“Right,” Hope said sarcastically, not believing word that came out of her mouth. “Or that we were married right?”
Rafe gently took Hope’s arm before Lani or Aiden could respond. He looked at Lani. “You take care of yourself, and watch out for him. All right? I don’t want to see you getting hurt.” He looked at Aiden. “And you! If you hurt her, I will hunt you down and you will answer to me.”
Aiden smirked smugly at him. “I would never hurt her for one. For two, you don’t scare me, Rafe.”
“Then you’re even more of a fool than I thought you were,” Rafe said even smugger back.
Aiden ignored Rafe and turned to Hope. “You meant it when you said you didn’t want me, right?”
Hope looked at him, trying not to tear-up. She nodded. “Yes.” She latched onto Rafe’s arm. “I did.”
“Aiden, I better get home now. Theo hates when I keep him waiting. But I shall see you tomorrow night after work, all right?” Lani asked, looking into Aiden’s eyes.
Aiden nodded.
Lani then kissed him softly on the lips.
Aiden returned her kiss.
“I really had fun tonight. Thank you,” Lani purred.
“So did I. And thank you! Goodnight,” Aiden said to her.
Lani smiled. She gave his cheek a kiss. “Goodnight.” She nodded at Hope and Rafe. “Hope, Rafe, goodnight.”
“Goodnight!” Rafe said.
Hope ignored her, and instead chose to shoot mental daggers with her eyes at Lani until Lani had officially left the restaurant.
“Let’s go,” Rafe said quietly to Hope.
Hope left, but looked longingly at Aiden, who was watching her with longing as well.
Hope sighed. What a mess she had gotten herself into she knew.
Rafe helped Hope into the car, then shut her door and headed around to the driver’s side and got in.
Hope couldn’t help but think about Aiden again, dancing with Lani to their song. She thought of him laughing with Lani, feeding and being fed by her, and him kissing her. She felt angry, sad, and sick all in one.
“Hope, you’re doing it again,” Rafe said.
“Hm?” Hope looked over at Rafe. “Doing what?”
“You’re not listening to me when I’m talking to you,” he told her.
“Not true! I am,” she insisted.
“Then what did I just say to you?” Rafe tested her.
Hope hesitated. She tried to think about what Rafe could have said to her, but all she could think of was making love with Aiden Valentine’s Day night. She sighed, and looked at Rafe again. “I’m sorry, Rafe. I can’t concentrate tonight. I don’t know if it’s something I ate or what, but I’m suddenly not feeling well. I’m wiped out too. I think I just want to go to bed alone tonight and try to sleep off whatever this is. Do you mind if we take a raincheck on our night together?”
Rafe looked disappointed, but nodded. “Sure. Do you want me to get you anything first? Some stomach medicine or antacids before I drop you home?”
Hope shook her head. “I love you for asking, and thank you, but I have it all at home.”
“All right then.” Rafe then drove Hope the short distance home.
“I’ll make it up to you. I’m just so out of it all the sudden. I hope it wasn’t anything I ate, or the flu or anything,” Hope said.
“You’ll have to go see Kayla if you still feel sick tomorrow,” Rafe told her.
Hope nodded. “I will.”
“Do you want me to walk you in?” Rafe asked her.
Hope shook her head. “That’s okay. I can at least do that!” She smiled and winked at him. She then kissed him sweetly on the lips. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course! Feel better, and when she’s back, thank Ciara again for everything!” Rafe said. He gently stroked her cheek.
“I will. Goodnight,” Hope replied.
“Goodnight. I’ll call you in the morning,” Rafe said.
They kissed once more, then Hope got out of the car, shut the door, and then headed into the house. She watched out the window as Rafe pulled out of the driveway and left for his home.

*This love came back to me.*

Aiden, meanwhile, was sitting on his bed in his apartment, wearing the usual bed attire of boxers and a tee shirt. Sad and depressed, he buried his face in his hands. He honestly didn’t know what to think about how the plan had gone. At some points in the date, it really seemed to be working. However, Hope had still insisted she didn’t want him. She hadn’t even stuck up for him when Rafe had called him foolish, yet she had been quick to defend Rafe before when Aiden had accused Rafe of filling her head with lies. Maybe it really was over.
He got a text alert. He looked down at it. It was from Lani.
Looks like our date went great! Did you see and hear how jealous Rafe was when he warned you not to hurt me? He so wants me! Hope was obviously really jealous too the way she went off on you. We got to keep this up. It’s totally working!
Aiden texted her back.
Yes! He certainly was jealous. We’ll definitely have to do this again soon. Thanks for all the help. –A
With a sigh, Aiden then turned his phone off, and set it on the bedside stand. Honestly, he didn’t know if keeping it up would work or not. He would continue to date Lani for a little bit more, but if it still didn’t work, he didn’t know what else he could do to win Hope back. He supposed he could ride in on a motorcycle to crash hers and Rafe’s wedding, but it had already been done by Bo. Besides, he had no idea how to drive a motorcycle. He figured with his luck he’d just end up flying off it and breaking his neck!
Suddenly, Aiden heard a knock on his door. Wondering who it could be at this hour, get got up and headed to the door. Maybe Chase had decided to sleep there instead of Joey’s and had forgotten his key, Aiden guessed.
He peered out the peephole and was surprised to see Hope standing on the other side of the door.
“Hope?” he asked quietly to the empty room. What the heck is she doing here? he wondered. Was she there to snap at him about the date, or was she here because maybe his plan had worked after all? He unlocked the door and began to open it. He guessed he was about to find out!