The English Tutor

Hayley held her daughter as she shouted for her missing friend. The screaming coming out of Hope was enough to make Hayley's and every adults' heart in the room ache for the child. Hayley tried her hardest to soothe the crying child as Caroline did the same to the blonde child. They had just told them Josie was officially a missing child, an abducted child and that the police were doing everything in their power to find her. 

"Josette!" Hope sobbed out. "Josette, Josette please." Hope clung to her mother. Her six-year-old heart breaking completely for the first time. "Mommy, Daddy go find her please." 

"Shhh Hope," Hayley whispered to the crying child. "It's gonna be okay. We will find her." Hayley wasn't sure what else she could say to comfort her daughter. "What can I do to make you feel better littlest wolf?" 

"Make it stop," Hope took a deep breath as her hand tapped her heart. "Make it stop it hurts, it hurts so much. Josette, I want Josette." 

 Hayley wasn't sure how long she and Caroline hugged the crying girls but eventually, the crying stopped. Both Hope and Lizzie had cried themselves to sleep. It has been a few days since Josette's abduction and everyone was on edge. The girls' fathers took them to Hope's room to put them down while the mothers stayed with the rest of the adults. 

"Caroline, I'm so sorry," Keelin told the blonde. "We should have kept a closer eye on them." 

"It's not your guys' fault." Caroline took ahold of Keelin's hand. "Whoever did this planned it." 

Everyone's attention turned to the door when it opened. It was Finn, the oldest Mikaelson boy they had not seen Finn since Hope turned three. 

"I came as soon as I heard. Caroline how are you doing love?'" Finn asked. "How are the girls you can Hope's screams from outside?" He and Caroline had dated briefly, he was in love with her but the woman ended things between them when she learned she was pregnant with the twins and she made it clear she wanted to give her girls a family. A family that she never had. 

"They're asleep now. Hope is just taking the news a bit roughly." Caroline answer. "I just want my daughter home," Caroline was defeated. She would do anything to have her daughter back. She couldn't help but think that Josette was out there scared, hungry, and wondering why her mother and father hadn't gone for her yet. 

Christmas went by quickly. Josie hated it. She wished she could have enjoyed it but she spent the night talking with strangers who knew her from before. Who knew her before she was Josie. Landon passed by he asked to drop off gifts for the twins which Josie did not object to. They agreed to grab a coffee and have a conversation about the twins but once the holidays were over. Landon only asked to be given a chance to be the kids' father. Josie assured him, she would let him once they had a clear and honest conversation. 

Christmas was not as big a disaster as New Year's Eve was. When New Year's Eve arrived Josie was feeling better. It did not hurt her to breathe as much and Keelin had given her the okay to be able to carry the twins but besides that Keelin told her not to be so eager to do any heavy lifting. Josie assured the doctor she would be taking things easy.

New Year's Eve was held at the Saltzman, of course, the Mikealson were there and Caroline had invited a couple of friends. All of it was done with Josie's approval. Josie knew she shouldn't deny Caroline her wish. She wanted to let her friends know she was home. It was a big deal or at least that what Josie kept telling herself. She just wanted to make it through the day and lock herself in the room she was staying in when the night was over. 

Josie had missed everyone arriving, she walked out and made her way to the front gate of the Saltzman's house. Landon had asked to meet her, which she didn't oppose. Josie just wanted to keep the peace between them for the sake of the twins.

"Hey, Josie." Landon greeted.

"Hey, Landon. Happy New Year's Eve." She offered him a warm smile. "What can I do for you?" 

"I wanted to give you this." Landon handed the girl a debt card. "It's for you. I opened an account. I'll be depositing money there for you to use. For whatever you need." 

"Landon you didn't need to do this." She tried handing the boy the card back but Landon refused to take it. 

"Josie those are my kids. I know we got off to a rocky start but I want to be their dad. I want to help you in any way possible, whether it be financially or emotionally. I have no hope of us ever being anything, but can we try being partners in this. You're not alone." 

"We can try but at my pace. Can you accept that?" 

"I can." Landon was being sincere. 

Josie gave Landon a quick hug and they said goodbye. Landon and Josie had a coffee date soon to talk over the finer details about being co-parents. 

Josie stayed outside not ready to go and greet everyone that she was sure had arrived. She should be inside considering she is freezing in the skirt she was wearing. She wasn't sure if everything going on in her mind was normal. She should be happy right? She no longer an orphan, well she never really was, she was just a missing child. She had parents that loved her and waited for her, her old room had stayed untouched from what they told her but she refused to go in and look at it. She had a sister that loved her and not just that, her sister was also her best friend. Finally, she had a girlfriend who apparently never gave up on her and always knew she would return to them. She had Hope and was in love.

Josie built the courage up and decided to make her way back into the house. She plastered a smile on her face, she was certain the second she entered she would be attacked with questions coming from every direction or worst. The 'are you okay?' from Keelin, Caroline, Freya, or Hayley who always seemed to ask her that. 

"What the hell," Josie mumbled as she was pulled by waist into a closet. Any effort of her to speak or screamed was stopped when she felt her mouth being covered. The person doing it came into view.

"It okay love," Jade said. "We need to get you out of here. When I saw little miss jealousy I assumed you'd be here." 

"Why do you need to get me out of here?" Josie could tell Jade was startled she could see it in her eyes. "Jade you're scaring me. What wrong?" Josie cupped Jade's cheek. She gently rubbed Jade's cheek with her thumb. 

"He's here." Josie felt her heart stop. "Breathe for me, Josie. Come on don't freeze on me." 

Josie released the breath she didn't know she was holding in. She gave Jade a nod. She needed to get out of here. Josie agreed with Jade that they would leave but first, she needed to get her kids. Once they were far she would text Hope and let her know she was okay. 

Josie made her way out of the closet first Jade right behind her. Josie decided it would be best to keep her head down. They were almost to the kids when Josie felt herself being tugged away. She grabbed onto Jade who got dragged with her.

"Grandma, Hope. I found her." It was Lizzie who had dragged her. Josie looked around her to see Lizzie with a wide smile, Hope looked ready to punch Jade, Elizabeth was smiling as she talked to a blond man in front of her. 

Josie tighten her grip on Jade's arm when she heard the voice. That voice was engraved in her memory, no matter how hard she tried to forget it she couldn't. Which made Josie wanted to laugh and cry at the irony she couldn't remember her parents or Lizzie and the life they used to live, but this voice, this voice that belonged to the man that left her scarred was there. It never really left. 

"Matt, this is my granddaughter. Josette." Elizabeth told the deputy with a wide smile. 

"Josie." The brunette Saltzman found herself correcting. When Josie locked eye with the man she could see a flash of fear. Josie wasn't sure when Jade left her side but the girl was on the other side with Hope whispering in her ear. 

Josie's heart raced when Elizabeth and Lizzie left, they were being called by Alaric. Josie couldn't bring herself to move. Josie was grateful when she felt Hope step in front of her.  

"Josette, can we talk?" Matt Donovan asked in a low tone. Trying to assert dominance over the girls.

"Matt you need to leave," Jade told her uncle. Jade stopped the man from reaching over to the other two. "Leave or I will tell my dad and everyone here what you did." 

"You have no proof." Matt defended himself. He walked away and let them be. When the night ended and only a few remained. Jade made a choice for Josie. She had made the girl a promise and she was willing to lose her friend if it meant protecting her. Jade was tired of having Josie live in fear. 

Jade marched up to Matt, Elizabeth, Alaric, and her father who were talking and said without a hint of hesitation in her voice, "Sheriff Forbes, you need to arrest Matt right now. He sexually assaulted my friend." 

"Jade drop it." Josie found herself saying before any adult could say anything. Josie tried her hardest to tug at Jade but she wouldn't move. "Jade please, not today. You promised." 

"I promised to protect you and that exactly what I'm doing." Jade could feel her tears building up. She smiled though, she was sure her mother would be proud. 

Everything else was a blur to the girls. Alaric had to be pulled off Matt, he was quite literally trying to kill the man. Caroline sobbed as she watched and Elizabeth much to her dismay with the help of Klaus and Elijah managed to get Alaric off of Matt. Elizabeth did her job and took someone she saw as a son down to the station and her family followed. 

Jade did most of the talking for Josie, it wasn't until Keelin got there that she spoke with the sheriff. Keelin explained Josie's scares to the sheriff for the report but the sheriff had to take a couple of breaks during the conversation to avoid having an emotional breakdown. It was starting to settle on Sheriff Forbes's mind as happy as she was that her granddaughter was home with her daughter. Josie had a lot of untold horrors and there was nothing they could do to change that. 

Josie answered everything with honesty. She was asked if she wanted to press charges but this time Josie knew it wasn't up to her. It was up to Jade. Jade had once let it go and willing abided by everything her way and protected her. Now Josie knew it was her turn to protect Jade and make sure her friend had some peace. They were going to press charges and of course, Freya was going to be Josie's lawyer. 

Freya was her lawyer for everything. She has taken care of her case with her former foster father who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison. 6 years for his abuse towards Josie, and another 6 years for her abuse towards Pedro.

Josie waited silently in the office. The officer in where they took her statement. The officer had just left. Josie knew soon everyone would rush into the room. Josie glanced at herself in the phone camera. She was surprised at herself she had made it through the whole statement without shedding a tear.

"How are you feeling?" Keelin asked. She was the first in the room.

"I'm okay," Josie answered. She wasn't in the mood to talk with Keelin about her feeling, she wasn't in the mood to talk with anyone about her feelings. "Can you thank Freya for me? Also tell her not to share the details with Caroline, Alaric, or Lizzie. I've already put them through too much." 

"This isn't-" 

"I don't wanna hear it, Keelin." Josie stood up from where she was sitting and decided to walk out of the room. Josie walked past everyone she was sure wanted to talk with her. She walked outside of the police station and walked to sit next to Jade. Jade had not stopped crying since Josie agreed to press charges, her tears were tears of relief. 

"Hey," Josie interwind her hand with Jade's. "Want to tell me what going on in the head of yours?" 

"My mom would be proud." Jade reached for her phone in her pocket with her free hand. Josie gave the girl all her attention. Jade never talked about her mother. Josie only knows very little about the woman she was a nurse and she died a while ago. From what Josie knew Jade's mother died three months before they met. 

"She would, you are an amazing woman." 

"I know, I put her brother away. But she would understand. Hell, if she was alive she would have done it herself." Jade showed Josie her phone showing her the photo of her mother. "Her name was Vicki." 

"Jade your mother was an angel before she left this world." When Josie saw Jade's confusion she explained, "Your mother was my nurse the day the twins were born. She was supposed to be off but she stayed an extra two hours to hold my hand during labor. And she stayed even longer when things were going south. I guess I owe her another thanks for giving my guardian angel."

After sitting together for a while Josie and Jade made their way back inside with the rest of the people. Jade's father, Stefan Salvatore, kept holding onto Jade. Apologizing for leaving her to live with Matt Donovan. He and Vicki were never in love but they always worked together for the daughter they shared. Stefan never failed as a father he simply respected his daughter's wishes but he knew it was time to have her living with him full time. 

They had driven there in separate cars and they left in separate cars. The Mikaelsons were the first to leave only leaving Hope behind. Jade said goodbye to Josie and left with her father promising to be text Josie the next morning to check on her. Hope rode back with Josie and her family. 

In the Saltzman mansion, everyone was quiet. Josie checked on her kids as soon as she got home and thankfully they were sound asleep. Josie went over and placed a soft kiss on each of the kids' forehead. She walked back to the living room where her parents, sister, and girlfriend waited. 

"Are you okay?" The words were from Alaric. Alaric who Josie knew hadn't really looked at her or wanted to hug her like Caroline or Lizzie. Alaric who was the one who she knew held Caroline when she sobbed for her. Alaric who she had seen be the best dad to Lizzie before she knew he was her father too. 

"I am." Josie offered them a smile. "Can Hope please stay the night?" 

"Of course she can sweetie," Caroline said. 

Josie thanked them and dismissed herself. Hope followed close behind her. They went into the room that was Josie's. At least until she decided she wanted to be back in her old room. Josie laid on the bed not caring that she let herself drop. The room was big enough for two beds. So Josie finally had a bed all to herself not that it mattered halfway through the night her kids would make their way to her bed. 

Hope laid with Josie. They fixed themself until Josie was settled between Hope's legs, laying her head on Hope's chest. Listening to Hope's heartbeat. 

"Baby," Hope whispered not wanting to startle the girl who was deep in her own mind. She played with Josie's hair. She wanted the girl to feel safe. Josie mumbled a 'hum' "Babygirl what can I do to help you right now. What do you need from me?" 

"Promise me," Josie's words were covered in despration and pain. She was on the verge of shutting down her emotion and she knew once she did that there was no going back. "That even if I don't remember who I am. I will still always have you. When I lose everyone you won't abandon me." 

"I promise, Josie. Always and forever." Hope tighten her grip on the girl.