Shopping
The morning arrived and Josie was the first one up. She was careful when she got up from the bed, she did not want to wake up Hope. She had fallen asleep on top of her and Josie was sure Hope was going to wake up sore from sleeping the weird half sitting, half lying position.
Josie was grateful to wake up in less pain and that breathing had become a little easier but she could still feel the pain if she moved too fast. Josie was grateful when she entered the bathroom and saw that there was a toothbrush for her, some hair supplies, and a fresh pair of clothes. Josie knew they were Hope's but she was just happy to have some clothes besides the two pairs of jeans and three shirts she had at her old foster home. Josie changed into the pink flower dress that went past her knees and brushed her teeth.
Josie wandered into the kitchen and was shocked to see that Pedro was in there. Her heart broke a little as she saw the curly-haired boy stand in front of the fridge staring at it with temptation.
"Hey Pedro," Josie said bringing the boy's attention to her.
"Josie you're okay." The boy said with excitement and rushed over to hug her. Josie smiled and hugged him back. She had known the boy for less than a month but she was protective of him, Josie really did see him as her little brother. "Do you know how long we'll be here?"
"I don't know," Josie answered honestly. "I do know that's as long as we are here we will be safe. So what do you say I get you some breakfast because I know you're starving."
"Me?" Pedro asked with a smile. "You're the one that hasn't eaten in two days ."
"Is that true?" Both of the kids turned around to see where the voice was coming from. They saw Keelin standing there in a baggy shirt and some pajama shorts. "Josie, you haven't eaten in two days?"
"It's okay really, I wasn't that hungry." Josie shrugs her words off hoping Keelin would do the same.
Keelin noticed how scared both the kids looked so she decided it would be best to stop pushing the subject she had overheard. "It's okay, I'm sorry I raised my voice. It's the weekend so that means it's my turn to make breakfast for this family. Any request?"
"Pancakes," Pedro said without thinking twice.
"Pancakes or french toast," Josie said. "I'm good with either."
"Both it is," Keelin told the kids in front of her.
Pedro helped Keelin in the kitchen making the pancakes and Josie was told to stay seated so she wouldn't hurt herself. Josie watched quietly as Pedro became more and more comfortable around the woman. Josie knew when it came to trusting foster parents it was always a hit or miss.
When Keelin finished cooking dinner the rest of the Mikaelsons and the twins were awake, now with them in the kitchen. They helped by setting the table and getting out the milk and juice. Keelin had also made some strawberry milk that Pedro asked for and set the pitcher on the table along with the others.
As everyone got settled Josie took a seat next to Hope and smiled when Pedro walked up to her and asked permission to sit next to Keelin. Josie let the boy know he could sit anywhere he'd like. Josie began to pick up Elliot but Hope panicked and helped her.
"Josie be careful please." Hope scolded her.
"I'm fine love," Josie assured.
"Hope's right you can't be too careful," Freya added.
Josie assures Freya she'd be careful and not get hurt. They began to eat breakfast and Josie smiled when she saw Emerson on Klaus' lap. He looked comfortable eating away from Klaus' plate. Taking the cut fruit that was on it and eating without a worry in the world.
Josie's hunger became very noticeable to her. She knew she hadn't eaten in two days but she had managed to suppress the huger but seeing the plate in front of her with cut strawberries and bananas, french toast, pancakes, and bacon made her mouth water and her stomach grumble. She ate her food calmly knowing that if she stuffed her face her stomach would hurt. She savored the food and ate as much as she wanted.
Breakfast came to an end and three out of the five adults that were there excused themselves to go get ready and leave for their job. The only ones that remain were Josie, Hope, Pedro, the twins, Henry, Keelin, and Freya.
"How are you two feeling?" Freya asked Pedro and Josie.
"Happy." Pedro gave a genuine one-word response.
"Better now," Josie answered. When Keelin lifted her eyebrow Josie knew Keelin wanted more details. "It's doesn't hurt that much anymore. My knees don't sting anymore." Josie hoped that was enough as much as she knew her kids didn't always understand everything she knew kids always repeated thing they heard.
"How do you two feel about going shopping?" Josie was surprised by what Freya asked. She did not expect the woman to take the responsibility of foster mom so seriously but Josie also remembered Freya herself was a mother. "Before you protest we are your parents and we can't leave you and Pedro dressed in the same three outfits. Speaking of which Pedro if you want to go change I washed your clothes last night they're in your room."
"Shopping it is," Keelin told her family. "We all have 45 minutes to get ready. We will meet by the mini-van."
Everyone went in their own direction to get ready. Josie smiled when Hope assured her that she would get the twins' diaper bag ready just in case. Josie wanted to go upstairs and help but as much as she was in less pain she knew she would take all the 45 minutes to make it up the stairs.
Upstair Freya and Keelin were the first to get ready. Once they were done Keelin finished getting Henry ready and went to help Hope with the twins. Freya had made way to check on Pedro. She knocked on the door and opened it. She noticed that the boy wasn't in there. Freya looked around and was surprised at how organized the room was. The bed was made, the clothes Pedro slept in were folded and neatly laid on the bed.
Freya decided to make her way downstairs but stopped when she almost reached the end when she heard Josie and Pedro talking. By the tone Josie used with Pedro she could tell Josie sincerely cared for the boy.
"Do you think this will be our forever home?" Pedro asked the teenager.
"I have no idea Pedro, but I think we should enjoy it while we are here," Josie answered honestly. Freya had no idea why Josie wouldn't tell the younger boy that yes they were in a forever home. She knew they had only been there one night but Freya hoped that the two foster kids understood they were safe and that as long as they wanted they could stay in the house.
Josie turned her attention away from Pedro when she saw Freya walk closer to them. Both of them remained quiet and smiled at Freya.
"You two want to start heading to the car?" Freya asked them. She didn't want them to be aware that she had overheard what they were talking about. Pedro nodded but Josie told her she wanted to wait for her kids. Freya understood and left with Pedro to get the car.
At the mall shopping, they had lasted longer than Hope expected. She was never really big on shopping, she always went straight for what she needed and left. Freya was the same, she did not go shopping unless absolutely necessary.
Keelin and Josie on the other hand were having the time of their life, while Freya and Hope held the bags from the previous stores they had been at. Keelin and Josie decided to go into another store to see some shoes because Keelin wanted to get them all shoes. When they left the store Josie, Pedro, and the twins had new shoes. The shopping ended three hours later, which for Hope and Freya was too long of shopping time.
Josie sighed when Mikaelsons didn't let her do anything around the house. She was getting tired of them being overcautious with her. Josie excused herself and went to sit down with her kids. Josie sat on the bed of the room and hugged the twins. She decided to put some cartoons on for them and just enjoy being with them. She had a lot of catching up to do in the time she wasn't with them Emerson had started forming complete sentences, and Elliot had discovered how to do jazz hands, and both her kids went on their first horseback riding day with the Mikaelsons.
"We sleep here, mommy?" Emerson said looking back and tapping the bed they were currently on.
"Yes, baby." Josie answered and placed a kiss on top of the boy's head. Josie remained with her kids watching TV until Hope came to tell her that dinner was ready.
Dinner at the Mikaelson was nothing like Josie thought. Apparently, they had weekly family dinners where everyone joined, except today Kol had let them know that he and Davina would not be attending. Rebekah and Marcel had joined them.
"I'm glad you back," Rebekah told Josie. "If you want to go back to work, the position is still there."
"Great, I'll be there tomorrow," Josie answered.
"Josie, actually we have been meaning on talking to you about that," Freya spoke and shot his younger sister a warning glare. "Keelin and I think it would be best if you focused on your studies, we don't want you to worry about anything else besides school and the twins."
Josie took a second before speaking, "I think I should work. If anything happens I need to be able to support my kids." Josie explained.
"Well right now worry about being a student." Freya shot back. "As long as you're with us that all you need to worry about please."
"Freya's right," Hayley told the brunette sitting next to her daughter on the other side of the dinner table. "We know being foster kids you're used to certain things but I promise this is one of the good homes. Financially we are set, so you are too. You are safe and all you have to do is be good and there plenty of love, food, and money to go around." Hayley turned her attention to the younger curly-haired boy. "That goes for you as well Pedro never worry you are safe."
Josie couldn't help but stare at Hayley with genuine curiosity. She was almost certain that Hayley was speaking from personal experience as if she had been a foster kid before as if she had lived that horror of not knowing what to expect when heading into a new home.
As everyone finished dinner Pedro went around picking up the plates with Hope to take them to the sink. They had decided to make banana splits as dessert and watch a movie together. Rebekah and Marcel had volunteered to set up the movie room with the help of Henry and the twins. Hayley decided to make popcorn and Klaus went to get some blanket from upstairs because he knew his family got cold halfway through the movie.
In the movie room, Josie settled herself between Hayley and Hope. They were waiting for Freya and Keelin to begin the movie.
"Hope?" Josie spoke softly.
"Yes, babe?" Hope asked as she pulled Henry onto her lap.
"Can you take me to see Lizzie tomorrow?" Josie asked. "I don't want her to think I'm not back yet, I've been wanting to text her but I kinda don't have a phone anymore."
"I can't." Hope's mouth said before her brain could stop her.
"Why?"
"Well, uhh well," Hope was trying to think of any excuse to give the pleading brown eyes in front of her. "MG took Lizzie for a romantic getaway and she won't be back for a couple of days. I am sorry I forgot to tell you."
"Alright, well when she comes back can you take me?"
"Of course, I can love." Hope lied. She hated lying to Josie but she made Lizzie a promise and based on the text MG had been sending her Lizzie would be gone in less than three weeks and when that happened she would have to tell Josie and break her heart.