May 13, 1989

**Prince POV**

While it's only been a few seconds since I teasingly tossed out my ultimatum, it's felt more like a hundred years. With twinkling eyes, my earnest gaze has been locked on Hope's in an attempt to get any sort of read on her feelings.

Her face has managed to remain blank, but from the look in her eyes I can tell her mind's turning...mulling over my proposal. Come on mama...say something...

Eventually the silence becomes too overwhelming. "What's the matter, Hope? Cat got your tongue?" I offer in a lighthearted teasing tone, complete with playful pout.

Gemini takes that moment to poke her tiny feline head out of my jacket pocket to give me the evil eye and a perfunctory hiss as I let out a low, gravelly chuckle. What the hell is with this kitten?

"Are you serious?" she asks hesitantly, breaking the moment as she reluctantly locks eyes with my concerned gaze, and backing away slightly when my eyes turn serious on her and I offer her a decisive nod.

"I don't know...." She offers shuffling her feet, and dropping her gaze to the ground uncertain. I guess it's time for plan B...

"Well mama..." I reply in a firm tone, keeping my eyes gentle despite the seriousness of the situation. "If you're not gonna come home with me, then I guess I'm just gonna have to stay here with you."

One look at her astonished expression assures me that whatever response she was expecting, this wasn't it. Prince-1, Hope-0.

As she's still standing there staring at my dumbfounded, I casually extend my hand exchanging glances between my hand, my car, and finally her eyes before offering her my most winning smile. "Well Hope...it looks like we're camping al fresco tonight. I've got some camping gear in my car..."

She doesn't say a word as her eyes dart nervously between my earnest gaze, my outstretched hand, and the ground, she eventually reaches her shaky hand out toward mine, palm sweaty, offering me an uneasy handclasp. This is gonna be one hell of a long night, but if she trusts me afterward, it's worth it....

--

A few hours later I started to regret my earlier optimism. It was cold, it was drizzly, and oh my god...is that a rat?!

On the plus side, Hope looked as comfortable as I'd ever seen her. I'd decided to forgo my sleeping bag....allowing her to have the first good night's rest she'd had in who knows how long. She looks so peaceful...

I'd kept true to my word, standing guard over her on this chilly Minneapolis night. True to my prediction, this was the coldest night we'd had in a while...with temperatures hovering near freezing.

So with my teeth chattering, I continued to shiver even as I did my best to snuggle into my coat and hunker down. My back was resting uncomfortably against the chilly dumpster as I once again heard a telltale squeak. Uhhh...that can't be good...

My gaze kept wandering around trying to isolate the rat's location, but with only the light of the moon coupled with vague exterior lighting from some neighbouring businesses, its location remained a mystery. Good...I didn't want to come after you anyway...

Thankfully the noise doesn't seem to have fazed Hope. She's still tucked in snug as a bug, lightly snoring. At least one of us is getting some rest...

Eventually exhaustion starts to overtake me and despite the cold I start to doze off, my breath leaving a faint mist in the air.

However, no sooner do I settle into a light, uncomfortable snooze than I'm jolted awake by loud screeching, followed by the sound of frantic clawing emanating from the dumpster. No one told me spending the night out here meant I'd be bunking with rats!

I jump up in a panic, doing my best not to disturb the deeply sleeping woman just a few feet away, only to catch sight of several rats violently clawing their way out of the dumpster and into each other. Are they fighting over a half-eaten burger?! Should I try to scare them off? Run away...?

Unsure of my next move, my eyes dart back and forth between the dumpster and my car. Just as I was about to dash for cover, I catch a vague shadow inching toward the rats from Hope's general vicinity. What the...?!

Eyes locked on the shadow, they barely adjust themselves to the dim lighting in time to catch sight of Gemini's tiny furry body quietly slinking toward the rats, clearly on the hunt. I can't help feeling a little nervous watching her, as the rats seem to outnumber her 10 to 1. Still...better her than me...

As I'm silently cheering the miniature feline on, she delivers a giant warning hiss as with claws bared, she jumps right into the fray, rushing off with the rats' ill-gotten dinner. The rats squeak indignantly, scrapping amongst themselves as Gemini darts away. And that's how you do that!

Eventually the rats scamper off in hopes of scoring an easier meal elsewhere, and with a giant sigh I slump against the dumpster in relief. That's enough excitement for one night...

Gemini digs into her hard won dinner with gusto just a few feet away as I settle back into a contemplative silence, blowing into my bare hands in an attempt to warm them. Dammit! I wish I'd thought ahead and packed a hat and gloves...

My eyes dart back over to Hope, who's thankfully still soundly asleep. I feel my heart swell just watching her sleep peacefully. She's clearly comfortable enough in my presence to relax, and exhausted enough that even a rat fight didn't rouse her. Just how long has she been out here anyway?

I can't help fearing whatever might've befallen her had fate not intervened to bring us together like this, and feel thankful I'm in a position to help her...that is if she'll let me. She better let me...because I have no intention of spending another night out here with all these rats, and god knows what else....

With a shudder my gaze wanders toward Gemini, and as the small feisty kitten scurries back toward Hope I decide to try once again to earn her fragile trust. She did scare the rats away...I think I owe her one....

I start gently coaxing her in my direction with the intent of snuggling her up in my coat, mostly to keep her from running off. If she took off, I'm sure Hope would never forgive me...

And it seems as though like my hard won patience has paid off...at least at first. Just a little bit closer...

Gemini hesitantly makes her way toward me, and is only an arms-length away when I slowly reach over to scoop her up. "Come here you little rascal," I mutter with a mixture of encouragement and impatience, scrambling with my hands to quickly grab her and stash her in my pocket for safekeeping.

My fingers manage to finally graze the top of her furry head when I'm rewarded with a loud hiss and a furious swipe of her claw...leaving me with a giant bloody scratch across the back of my hand as she turns and darts into the sleeping bag with Hope. Fuck!

Muttering quiet obscenities to myself, my eyes eventually zero in on the offending feline before dropping to my hand for a quick once over. Seeing an angry, red scratch...but no serious damage, I settle back against the dumpster with distaste. What the hell made me think that was a good idea anyway?

I sit there shivering for a few minutes, wishing for nothing more at the moment than to be safe inside...in my own bed.

At this point, I'm more than ready for this night to be over...but then my gaze wanders over to a peacefully sleeping Hope, causing me to remember why I'm out here...and exactly what's at stake. It's gonna be a long night...

__

May 14, 1989 - 8:52 a.m.

**Hope POV**

I slowly awaken feeling warm, refreshed, and comfortable for the first time in weeks. Having not opened my eyes yet, I'm still a little disoriented and can't seem to isolate exactly where I am...why that is. Damien must be gone...thank god!

My body is still healing, riddled with various aches and pains that as I slowly start to stretch I do my very best to ignore...even as I start to soak in the warmth of the late spring sun. Hmmm...this feels nice. Wasn't it cold out last night?

Suddenly I hear a loud purring noise, and feel the sensation of my abdomen being gently kneaded, even as I'm lightly picked by little sharp claws. Ultimately, it's that feeling that causes my bladder to protest achingly which finally leads me to open my eyes to the realization of where I am and everything that's transpired in the last day. Is he still here?

My eyes dart all over the place fearful that like so many others before him, that he's taken off too. Am I not good enough? Why does everyone leave me?

Just as I start to internally panic, raking my fingers through my knotted hair in frustration, and a little fear, my gaze finally locks on his prone looking, uncomfortable form, lightly snoring, back up against the side of the dumpster.

Not quite believing my eyes, I close them briefly...thinking this must all be a dream. However when I open them, while he's just starting to stir...he's still there, which causes me to whisper in awe, "I can't believe it...you're still here," as I continue staring at him, surprise and disbelief dancing across my green eyes.

Feeling slightly ignored, Gemini takes that moment to remind me of her presence as well, tapping me lightly on my right cheek with her paw, eyes locked on mine and letting out an impatient squeak.

Turning my attention to the irritated kitten for a moment to offer her a morning greeting, I pat her head gently and offer in a baby voice, "Good morning sweet pea. I'll get you some breakfast as soon as I can."

This seemed to calm the frisky feline, at least for the moment...and she started again with her rumbling purr, kneading her tiny claws into my thigh...at least until I managed to crawl out of the sleeping bag to do my business. My bladder was about to explode!

It seemed I'd acquired a little shadow, as with Gemini right on my heels I quietly made my way over to Prince's sleeping form, still astonished that he'd kept to his word, and was still here. I thought for sure he'd have taken off by now.

As I make my way within arm's reach of his sleeping form, I start trying to gently rouse him with quiet greetings. "Prince..." I murmur quietly, which has no effect. "It's time to get up..." He stirs restlessly at this, but continues to sleep on. Now what???

Nerves jangling but left out of options, I finally do the one thing I've been trying to avoid ever since I left Damien to embark on this little adventure...reaching out to gently place my hand on his upper arm, as I lean close and whisper gently into his ear. "Good morning...it's time to wake up," before backing away hesitantly, eyes darting around nervously, unsure of his response. Please don't hit me. I know Damien would...

I can see him start to move around restlessly, arms raising slowly in a stretch before his golden eyes flutter open, disorientation clouding them as they slowly meet mine with a gentle look before slowly taking in our surroundings, including the tiny feline stalking the perimeter around his prone body growling. "Hope?" he offers in his tender, deep sleepy voice before his eyes dart back to the errant kitten. "You're up early," he offers teasingly, eyes dancing. "And I see a little kitten that still doesn't like me I take it," he continues chuckling before meeting my eyes with a soft look. He's not mad? Oh thank god! I could listen to that voice of his all day...

Breaking out of my own trance for a moment, I offer him a dumbfounded look...eventually murmuring in a soft, sincere, uncertain voice. "And you're still here...."

"I told you I wasn't going anywhere..." he affirms gently with a quiet sense of determination and calm. "Come on...let's get out of here," he continues, meeting my eyes with a definitive look as he reaches his hand out for me. What?

I give him an uncertain look, my eyes hooded, glancing at the ground as I start nervously shuffling my feet. Gemini takes the moment to return to my side, offering me a reassuring head bonk to my left calf. What a little sweetie...

Eventually my eyes reluctantly make their way back to his face again, only to be rewarded by his calming, comforting presence as I utter a nervous sounding, "Uh....where are we going?"

"You can relax, mama," he offers, meeting my eyes confidently. "We're not going far. I just thought you might want to help me put everything back in my car....and then maybe we could go get some breakfast...that is, it you want to," he continues, eyes twinkling as they meet mine.

Of course...my stomach takes advantage of the moment to make its presence known with a loud growl, just as our eyes meet again. An embarrassed giggle makes its way past my lips.

"I think that settles it," he retorts with a husky chuckle, his determined gaze meeting mine as he holds his hand out again toward mine. "Let's clean all this up so we can get some breakfast, woman."

With our eyes locked, his look of quiet determination, tenderness, and patience finally manages to break through my resolve enough for me to reach over, gently entangling his hand with mine as I offer him a decisive nod, coupled with an uneasy smile just as my stomach gurgles again. "But what about Gemini?" I ask uncertainly, just as the tiny kitten lets out a hungry squeak, clawing her way up my pant leg.

"Don't worry, Hope. I'm sure we can find her a little something too," he promises softly, giving me a teasing wink. "I know there's got to be some milk around for her somewhere...." He continues, eyes twinkling as he offers me what has to be his most dazzling smile yet. If he hasn't given up on me yet, something tells me he's not gonna take no for an answer this time. I find this somewhat reassuring...even if it scares me a little...but what the hell do I do now?

**Author's Note: I promised you I had a question for you all earlier. I thought now would be as good a time as any to let you all help me decide what I should update next. Would you guys like to see what happens with P & Hope...and see whether or not she joins him at PP or if P's spending another night outside? Or would you like to see what happens once P finally gets over to Lani's place? Let me know this week, and based on your requests I'll start working on whichever update you choose next. #imwaiting #lol**