18th Birthday
The birthday celebration had just begun. For the first time, Josie wasn't dreading her birthday, she was excitedly changing into the dress her sister had picked for her. Josie got herself ready as quickly as she could she knew everyone was already outside celebrating. She had gotten the twins ready first when they were dressed she let Hope take them to get food while she got herself set.
Josie glanced at herself in the mirror. The dress was perfect, but she wasn't. The burgundy dress fell loosely on her body to her ankles. Her back exposed with a thin 'x' crossed with strings of fabric to keep the dress from falling over her shoulders. Josie turned sideways to get a look at her exposed back, full of scars. No one had seen those scars but Jade and Hope.
"Don't cry," Josie told herself. "You're going to ruin the makeup Lizzie worked so hard on." Josie walked over to the closet and found a black cardigan. She tossed the cardigan on and walked back to look at herself. The cardigan ruined the dress, Josie sighed. This was the best thing she could do for now, covering her scars would keep everyone happy at least for the day.
"It's open!" Josie shouted. She did not bother looking back to check who it was. Into her view came Caroline. Josie looked at the woman through the mirror in front of her.
"Your friends are starting to arrive and ask for you." Caroline looked at her daughter. Something was wrong she could sense it. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah."
"Josette." Caroline regretted the name when it came out of her mouth. "I didn't mean-"
"It's okay." Josie smiled. Hearing Caroline say her name felt warm. It felt safe, there was nothing but love spilling from the woman's lips. Josie always associated her name with pain but when Caroline said it, it made her want to forever engrave her voice in her mind saying her name with all the love she felt inside her heart. "It's nothing serious really."
"You want to talk with me about it?" Caroline kept a small distance between her and the teenager.
Josie didn't know how to explain. She lowered the cardigan off her shoulders. Showing Caroline her back. If the woman behind her had any reaction Josie didn't catch it.
"I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable and I don't think I look okay showing scars that only hurt those I love."
"Honey, you have no reason to worry about anyone else's feelings but your own. If you wanna wear the dress with the cardigan then go for it but if you wanna wear the dress showing off your back you do that." Caroline offered the brunette a warm smile.
Josie thanked Caroline and let her know she would be out soon she would just toss on some shoes and be out. Josie did as she said and was quick to join the celebration outside.
As the time came for them to blow out the candles, Josie looked at everyone standing in front of her and Lizzie singing. This was what she had always dreamed of when she was younger. A room filled with people that loved her, parents that were happy she was enjoying herself, presents that she know she didn't need, and most importantly a family who was not going to leave her when she needed them the most.
Josie closed her eyes, there was nothing more she could wish for. She blew the candles out. Josie wrapped her arm around Lizzie's as everyone snapped photos. Josie pulled away from her sister and went to sit with Hope she was exhausted. This was the first time she had spent so much time with the Saltzman and not locked herself away.
"Hey, my teammates and I are going to go out and celebrate tonight. Lizzie is going to tag along. Come with us?" Hope asked before taking a bit of the chocolate cake.
"No love," Josie took ahold of her girlfriend's hand. "Go and have fun with your teammates. I've been everywhere and haven't really gotten to spend much time with Elliot and Emerson. I want to spend some time with them."
"Do you want me to stay with you?"
"Of course not." Josie gave Hope a quick kiss. "Go have fun. We will be okay. I just need to make sure they know they are my everything."
"I'm pretty sure they know baby," Hope said.
Both girls turned over to look at the two little ones and found them happily playing with Pedro and some of the other younger kids there. Josie admired the happy shouts she heard from the little ones. There was truly no more danger coming for them, they were truly save.
When Hope left Josie found that there were fewer people. Only those close to her family remained. Josie didn't want to disrupt Caroline who was deep in conversation talking with someone who Josie could not help but think she has met before.
"Having fun?" Josie turned around to see Klaus and Hayley sitting next to her. Josie nodded her head. "Why aren't you with littlest wolf and your sister, darling?" Klaus asked.
"I wanted to spend the night in with the twins," Josie replied giving her attention to her girlfriend's parents. "Hope needed some time to relax and spend without me anyways. She has been so focused on me since the trail ended and hasn't left my side."
"I'm sure she doesn't mind," Hayley said.
Josie did not answer she simply smiled at Hope's parents. She was sure they wanted to tell her something but she wasn't sure if she should expect something good or something bad.
"We wanted to give you this as a thank you." Klaus pulled the square box out of his coat giving it to Josie.
Josie admired the box quietly. She wasn't sure what more she could get on this day. Her parents has already given her so much by throwing a celebration and her friends had shown up she didn't think she could get anything more. Josie carefully opened the box.
"I can't have this," Josie was quick to protest. "It's too much. I couldn't have possibly done anything to earn something this beautiful and expensive."
"You didn't have to do anything we wanted to," Hayley told her. "Josie we love you and we are so happy to see Hope happy with you she hasn't been this happy in a long time. She is back to being the girl she was before all the heartbreak. It's a gift and a thank you for loving our daughter so selflessly, for her real happiness."
"I don't love her selflessly, I never have. Loving her is selfish because I know I will never put her first, but she will. She will put me above all. I don't think anyone will ever love me as fiercely as she does. I love her and I know I have loved her since we were kids but a lot changed. I have children and I will put them above and before anyone." Josie had no idea where those words came from but she was being honest. She wasn't selfless at least not when it came to Hope Mikaelson.
"We know that Josie," Klaus told her. "As parents, we understand kids will always come first."
"So please keep the locket. Open it?" Hayley encouraged.
Josie opened the locket. She looked inside, her eyes watered. There were two photos in the locket, one was a photo of Lizzie, Caroline, Alaric, and her when she was about the twins' age. The other photo was of her and Hope with the twins in the lake house same place the photo of her parents was taken.
"Thank you." Josie got up and hugged Hayley and Klaus. She dismissed herself. Josie was headed towards the screaming children. "I'm sorry," Josie said as she looked up to see who she has ran into.
"No, it's my fault." The woman told her as she looked everywhere but Josie. "I got distracted trying to find my niece. I should have been paying attention."
"Maybe I can help you." Josie offered, the woman who she was now convinced she had met before. "Wait don't I know you?" Josie asked, the woman finally looked at her.
"I delivered your twins?" Josie gave her a nod. "You little girl was breach. What a surprise to run into you. How are the little one?"
"Good they just turned 2 in February." Josie smiled when Caroline came into view and walked towards them.
"Caroline!" The doctor greeted brightly. "I'm sorry I haven't been here. I can't wait to meet Josette." The doctor turned over to face the teen. "Caroline I deliver her children, remember the girl I told you who was about Lizzie's age. The emergency C-section."
Caroline remembered that night. Elena has called her sobbing. Explaining the teen's complicated labor and how scared she was that she was going to have to tell her, that her daughter died. Elena also mentioned how she thought of Lizzie and how the teen was Lizzie's age.
Caroline felt a sharp pain in her heart. That teen was her daughter; her Josette and her best friend had already seen her she just didn't know.
"Elena that's Josette, Josie."
Josie smiled at the woman. The doctor that delivered her twins was also Caroline's best friend.
"Aunt Elena!" Josie smiled when she heard the yell coming from her twin. She watched as Doctor Gilbert hugged Lizzie and kissed the top of her head. "The party is over, Hope and I are leaving."
"I'm sorry love, I had a last-minute delivery." She explained, "Here's your gift, and here's yours." Josie thanked the woman and took the bag.
She pulled out a leather jacket from the bag and smiled. Josie slipped it on and to her surprise, it fit. She looked over at Lizzie who had the same leather jacket on. Josie slipped it off placing the gift back in its bag.
Josie excused herself quickly. She wanted to catch her girlfriend before she left. Josie made her way to get the twins before rushing into the house where she knew Hope was. Josie rushed the kids to her room and just as she knew Hope was there changing out of her dress and into some jeans and a hoodie.
"You need a hand with them?" Hope offered.
"No, go have fun. I need to shower them before I put them down." Josie went up and placed a kiss on Hope's lips. "I love you. I'll see you in a couple of days." Josie reminded the girl.
They were headed towards the end of the semester. Hope was turning had meetings with all her teachers and Josie had to prepare her speech for graduation. Lizzie also wanted them to go dress shopping considering prom was less than three months away. Most importantly Josie still had her appointments with Camille.
"I love you too." Hope pulled away ready to say her goodbye to the twins. Who sadly were already asleep on the bedroom floor. "I guess they were too tired to wait for their shower."
Josie chuckled. With Hope's help, they got the kids into their bed.
Josie walked Hope out of her house and watched her happily climb into MG's car who was going to be their driver for the night. Once he drove off and the car was no longer in sight Josie went inside.
Most of the guest has left. Very few remained those that did Josie was sure they were her parents' closest friends. Josie found Caroline, Elena, and Bonnie in the living room. Josie had not seen Bonnie since Halloween.
"We are making tea would you like some?" Caroline offered. Josie shook her head no. She approached the group. Josie got closer. Josie could feel the tension going on.
"How are you adjusting?" Bonnie asked her.
"Good, now that the trial is over," Josie confessed. Josie looked over at Caroline who was looking at her with so much love. "It's good to be home."