Theory
Josie sighed Caroline had just informed her that a close friend gave her the heads up that they were releasing a story about her. Apparently, someone overheard something they shouldn't and now Josie had to pay the price. At eight at night, the world would know Josie was Josette Olivia Saltzman.
That was the last thing she needed in her life. The publicity about her case against the town's former deputy was barely starting to die down. She just couldn't catch a break. To make things worst her school was threatening to not let her graduate because she missed more than two weeks of school without notifying them.
Josie just wanted to be normal but she knew that was tossed out the window 12 years ago. Josie let Caroline and Alaric argue with the principal of the school while she watched them. Josie took her son who kept calling for her and decided it would be best to step out and let the adults figure it out.
"Mama!" Emerson shouted once again.
"Baby I'm right here," Josie told her son. She was struggling to keep him calm which was rare. He was usually a really calm baby. Josie knew he didn't miss his sister they had seen her twenty minutes ago when they left her at daycare. She only took Emerson because the boy refused to stop crying and Josie just couldn't bring herself to leave him.
Emerson furiously shook his head. "Mama. I want Mama." Josie puffed out hot air in frustration. Why was her son whining for her when she was holding her. Josie then realized her son wasn't crying for her. Josie had a theory. She pulled out her phone and began a video call.
"Hey babe." Came the voice from her phone. Josie watched carefully as her son tried to reach for the phone. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah but I think someone wants you." Josie pointed the phone so Emerson came into view. Josie couldn't help her smile seeing two people she loves smiling at each other.
"Mama. I miss mama. Mama miss you." Emerson was almost crying and Josie was starting to regret the call she could not have her son crying in the school hallway. Josie looked at Hope on her screen and noticed her eyes water. Josie gave Hope a nod, she knew Hope was waiting for her approval.
"Mama misses you too my baby," Hope answered with happy tears rolling down her cheeks. "How about I go get you after my last class baby?" The boy gave an eager nod. "My loves. I gotta go to class but I will see you two later." Hope smiled. "Mama loves you, Emerson." Hope couldn't help but use the word mama one more time she loves how easy it rolled off her tongue. Emerson was her son and Elliot was her daughter and she would destroy anyone that said otherwise.
Josie was grateful that Emerson remained calm the rest of the time they were in the hallway. Alaric and Caroline came out and let her know they were able to get the principal to let her back in school because she was an extraordinary case, which Josie thought was ironic. She thought there was nothing interesting about her life she guessed being kidnapped at the age of five qualified as interesting.
Josie would be going back to school tomorrow for today had an appointment with Camille. She had been talking with Camille since she found out the truth but Camille kept telling her she couldn't avoid the elephant in the room forever which Josie in other words was sure she could. Josie was certain that she didn't need to remember everything. She was content knowing that she had parents and a sister.
Josie sat on the couch of Camille's apartment. Looking everywhere but the therapist in front of her. Camille was a good person but Josie just didn't want to talk she wanted to be a teenager enjoy her life. Josie glanced at Camille who was looking at a folder in her hands. Josie noticed her name was on it. Her name the one she had been living with for these past years.
"Josie, can I ask you something?'" The blonde asked. Josie gave her a nod. "What are you scared of? In most cases, people want to know about themselves but you don't seem in a rush."
"I'm not afraid." Josie stayed silent for a second. "I-I made." Josie stopping talking she wasn't sure where her sentence was going.
"Josie you know this isn't your fault right love?"
Josie looked away. She looked at her hands as she chipped at her fingernails. Camille was just guessing and Josie knew that. She was just doing what Alaric and Caroline had paid her to do.
"What if it was my fault?" Josie mumbled without looking up.
"Josie look at me," Camille ordered. Josie did as she was told. "You were five years old. This can't possibly be your fault. Without even realizing it you left clues, Josie. Even if you can't remember subconsciously you knew who were." Camille walked over to sit on the same couch Josie was on.
"Do you wanna know how I know this?" Camille knew this was her in. She had about five sessions with Josie but each session was worst than the previous one. Josie refused to open up or even acknowledge that she was kidnapped. From what Camille understood Josie hadn't said the words out loud. Josie was a tough child, her file told her that. Not just her file the way Josie carried herself as if she had never known pain in her life but sadly Josie knew more pain than any adult in her life did. Yes, the Mikealson had been through the fair share but Josie went through the same and worst for years.
"You named yourself, Josie Caroline Forbes." Camille began her explanation. She put the file on the couch between her and Josie. She was going to flip through it to show Josie her points. "After your mother. When you were put into the system you were four hours from home. You gravitated back to your hometown."
"It's all a coincidence."
"Or you felt drawn here." Camille decided to take a different approach. "Okay since you found out about who you were. Have you had any strange thoughts or memories?"
Josie wanted to say she had not had any dreams or thoughts but she had. "I've had this dream since I can remember. I have a theory but I am not sure it's right."
"Why don't you test it and tell me about it next time?" Camille thought it would be a good spot to stop. Josie had done some progress today. She had listened to Camille and was starting to believe some of the things the woman told her.
Josie left Camille's home and checked her phone and smiled. She had a text from Hope. There was an image attached of Hope and Emerson on the football field. Emerson was on Hope's shoulders as Hope smiled in her practice clothes.
Josie was thankful for her girlfriend who had been nothing but loving with her through the whole craziness.
When Friday night came the agreement that Hope, Landon, and Josie had come up with finally came into play. Landon would be having the kids' sleepover at his place for the weekend. Josie wasn't sure but they agreed to let Landon be a part of the kids' lives. Of course, Josie felt more at ease when Hope told her she had her father run a background check on Landon and he came up clean. Another thing that helped was Landon has agreed to send pictures and text updated to a group chated they started which Josie named 'the parent squad'.
Hope was out of town with her family dealing with some interviews, Lizzie had decided to go on a date with MG, and Jade was at some event that Josie did not want to attend. Josie laid on the bed of her room looking at the ceiling. It was only nine. The night was still young. Josie checked her phone but there was no update but what did she expect when he texted a photo of the sleeping twins fifteen minutes ago.
Josie decided to get off her bed and do her homework, the one that Camille had left her. Josie made her way to the living room where she found the person she was looking for.
"Hey, baby. Everything okay?" Caroline asked her with a wide smile.
"Can I sit with you?" After Caroline patted the empty spot next to her on the couch Josie sat down next to the woman. She paid attention to the television and focused for a while on what Caroline was watching. Josie wasn't sure what the show was but she was into it. It was some witch show and all Josie could understand was one of the characters was pissed off because another character tried to kiss her husband.
Josie snuggled closer to Caroline. She was set on her assignment but the show had just caught her attention. Josie decided it'd be best to watch the show and try another time. Three episodes later Caroline told Josie she was heading to bed.
Josie deiced to walk with Caroline. Outside of the room, Josie found herself wanting to do her assignment.
"Caroline?" Josie managed to say. "I have. Can you- I... never mind."
"Josie what is it." Caroline was beginning to get concerned.
"Camille she left me this homework assignment. I have to test out a theory can you help me." Josie was proud of herself for getting all of her words out.
"Tell me what I can do."
Josie smiled as she leads Caroline to her bed. Josie climbs into the bed. She tells Caroline to lay next to her. Josie slides closer to the woman and she hugs Caroline. She lays her on the woman's chest and Josie can't help the warm feeling in her heart. Josie feels safe. Really safe, she feels like nothing can harm her like no one can touch her because Caroline wouldn't let them.
Caroline wasn't sure what to expect when she laid on her daughter's bed, but when Josie snuggled closer to her and laid her head on her chest Caroline could not help the smile. She had been longing to have her daughter in her arms since she found out about her. She had been longing to tell her she loved her but she waited all for the sake of her. Caroline never wanted to let Josie out of her arms again but she knew that was not possible, Josie wasn't big on hugging them but for now, Caroline would enjoy herself.
"I had this theory." Josie began to say. "When I was a kid, I use to hate the dark but sometimes when I would close my eyes I would hear this voice singing to me. And that same voice would appear in my dreams. As this woman sang to me so I could sleep but I could never see her. But her voice it was safe." Josie sighed and continued, "Can you sing to me?"
Caroline did. She sang to her child. She sang to Josie how she had sung to her many years ago. Caroline sang until she heard the soft even breaths coming from the body hugging hers. Josie had fallen asleep. Caroline placed a kill on the top of Josie's head. "I love you." Caroline said with a smile.
Caroline felt a weight finally leave her heart. Her daughter was truly home. Her little girl was finally safe in her arms.