The English Tutor

        Josie watched in awe as her girlfriend opened the small box. The tears were visible. Josie captured a picture of her girlfriend. She watched as Hope took out the necklace. It was a simple silver chain, with a heat hanging from it. The heart had her name and the twins' names engraved on it. 

"Say something?" Josie let the nerves blurt out of her. 

"I love it." Hope said, "put it on me." She lifted the necklace up towards Josie. 

Josie took the necklace from the Mikaelson girl and made her way behind her. She softly moved the girl's hair out of the way. Josie put the necklace on her girlfriend. This was truly the perfect way to end their date. 

Josie didn't want it to end. She had not been so carefree in such a long time. She had not enjoyed a date since she went out with Jade. Hope completed her. Hope brought a piece to the puzzle of her life. Josie now understood why no one she ever met was enough. Hope Mikaelson was her soulmate; she had met her years before she was even aware of it. She's known Hope was meant to be in her life since they were kids the fact that they fell in love again was proof enough for her. 

Josie followed towards the Mikaelson household. The small drops of water were beginning to get heavier.  "Josie come on, you're going to get sick." Hope complained as Josie made herself heavier to keep her from dragging her inside.

"No," Josie pouted. "Dance with me?" 

Hope was trying to find a joke in the statement that Josie had just told her. Hope saw nothing but longing in Josie's eyes. Hope sighed as she gave in. She stopped trying to pull her girlfriend inside and pulled the girl in. 

Hope wrapped her arm around Josie's waist and moved along to whatever beat they had in their heads. Their clothes getting heavier by the minute but neither girl seemed to care. All that existed in that moment was them, their happiness, and whatever future they decided to live for.

The girls' dancing was brought to an end when Josie's twin was shouting from inside Hope's house. Josie and Hope couldn't help the laugh that escaped them, as they rushed inside. 

"Josie and Hope are here," Lizzie informed everyone in the house. "They need to however get into dry clothes." Lizzie didn't explain much she allowed her family to see what she was talking about. 

       When both girls returned from getting into a dry set of clothes they find themselves sitting on the couch next to Lizzie. The Mikaelson and Saltzman were having a sleepover, adults and kids. It was a once-a-month tradition that had stopped when Josie went missing now it was time for them to enjoy themselves again. 

"What's the movie?" Josie asked. 

"The Rescuers!" Hayley almost yelled. 

No one else said a word. They fixed themselves and watched the movie. 

The Rescuers played on the television in the house. This was a good house. Josie loved it, she had only been here for five months but every day that passed the nine-year-old found herself wishing the Harrison family would adopt her. 

The Harrison family was by far the kindest family Josie had met in her short time alive. Mrs. Harrison was the dream mom according to the child. She always made breakfast for them, walked her and her older foster brother to school, and she never failed to read them a bedtime story when it was time for them to go to bed. Mr. Harrison was a professional dancer who would always teach her and his biological son dances, he was a genius when it came to english and math, always helping Josie with her homework. He introduced Josie to her first chapter book a few months back and ever since the child had not been able to put books down. She learned books were better than reality. She learned she could always escape her nightmare in the pages of those books. 

Josie pulled her stuffed bear closer, her foster parents gave it to her, her first night in their house. Josie would always sleep with the bear. She loved that thing, it was one of the few things truly hers. 

"Mommy?" Josie shot up from the couch instantly. Pulling the bear closer to her. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Mrs. Harrision it was an accident. I-" 

"Josie baby." Mrs. Harrision spoke softly as she got closer to the child. She kept her movement quick and quiet she didn't want to cause any more stress to the child whose chest was moving painfully quick. She wrapped her arms around Josie. "I need you to take a breath in for me, do with me okay?" Mrs. Harrison took a deep breath in. "Now exhale love. Good girl. Do a few more with me." Both of them exhaled and inhaled. Mrs. Harrison kept her attention on her foster daughter knowing her husband was answering the question her son was shooting at her. 

"How are you feeling?" The blonde woman asked once the child's breathing was back to normal. 

"Tired," Josie mumbled. 

"Come on love." Mrs. Harrison straighten up and picked up the child. She rubbed gentle circles on her back. "It's okay baby girl." She assured Josie who was beginning to sob. Inside the room, Mrs. Harrison laid Josie on her bed. She covered her with the blanket. 

"Stay," Josie said. 

"I'm not leaving sweetie." Mrs. Harriosn laid next to the child consoling her. "Josie you don't have to be scared. You can call me whatever you want. You are my child okay. Since the day you came to this family you were a part of it okay." 

"Okay." The response was more sleepy than anything. Josie was a few seconds away from falling asleep. 

Mrs. Harrison laid with the sleeping child admiring the innocence in her. Josie had been a blessing to her family. She and her husband had talked about adopting Josie. Making her a permanent part of her their family. She was always a light filling their life with laughter and joy. She and he got along, they argued here and there nothing strange for siblings. They wanted to tell Josie about their plans but they decided against it. Josie was a silent child for the first three weeks with them. She had been let down before in her previous home. Given back and Mrs. Harrison never understood why. She didn't want to tell Josie anything until they were certain that they could adopt her.

"Love?" Mr. Harrison was soft speaking he didn't want to wake up the sleeping child. "We have company." 

Mrs. Harrison slowly untangled herself from Josie's grip. She placed a soft kiss on the child's forehead. She made her way out of the room and softly closed the door. When she saw the person she froze. 

"Mister and Misses Harrison, sorry to drop by so late." Josie's social worker, Dave, said. "There is a family that has shown interest in Josie, since your foster license is going to expire in a week I thought it'd be in Josie's best interest to take her to a family that wants to adopt her." 

"Our license I forgot." Mr. Harrioson told his wife. "I thought we'd be fine since we wanted to adopt her." 

"I beg you two to think about this," Dave told the couple. "This family that wants Josie, they are perfect. They have no kids she'll be their main focus. The wife Misses Tomaz is a teacher for kids with disabilities. Mister Tomaz, he is a professional soccer player. Josie would get to travel and have loving parents. They have been wanting to adopt for years now and when they saw Josie's picture they knew she was their missing link." 

"But-" 

"Before you tell me." Dave interrupted Mrs. Harrison. "They have enough money to get Josie the help she needs, so she would help for those night terrors you witness. They have access to the best care for that little girl." 

"Can we at least keep her for the night?" Mrs. Harrison felt her heart crack. Oh, how they wanted Josie, more than anything in the world, however, she knew Dave was right. While she and her husband had good careers, their son had a heart condition along with epileptic seizures and most of their money and insurance went to covering his cost and needs. Josie had access to mental health professionals but they only saw her once a month. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison knew it wasn't enough.

"I'm sorry but we have a long trip ahead of us. It'd be best if I took her now." 

"I'll get her things." 

The Harrisons pack Josie's things. Making sure to toss most of what they could into a duffle bag and backpack. They never liked that Josie showed up with her thing in a trash bag. They wanted her to have something more reliable. Less likely to break. 

Mrs. Harrison was the one to wake the sleeping child. Together she and her husband guided Josie to Dave's car. 

"No!" Josie shouted as she clung to Mrs. Harrison's legs. She could see the movie playing in the background, it was coming to an end Penny was adopted by a loving family. "I won't call you mommy again. I don't wanna go. Please." 

"Josie it's not that." The blonde assured. They had managed to make it out of the house. Dave had the car door open waiting for the child to get in. 

"I'll be good. I won't have nightmares anymore." The child bargained. "I promise I won't have nightmares anymore." 

Josie sat silently in the car. Her tears were unstoppable. She hugged her bear as tight as she could. 

"We're sorry sweetie. Be good okay." Mr. Harrison told her. "We promise this is what's best for you. I hope one day you can understand honey." 

   A cry from the monitor clipped to her pants brought Josie back to her reality. She shot up and made her way to the kids' room. The Mikaelson had made a place for any time they came over. Josie made her way inside. Emerson was up. 

"Hey buddy," She said softly. She picked him up placing a kiss on his forehead. "You a little warm, how about we check your temperature really quick." As much as Josie wanted to check her son's temperature she was in no such luck. Emerson's sobbing got louder, in the process waking up his sister. 

"You're okay baby," Josie assured them. She placed the blanket on Elliot and walked out of the room. She headed to the kitchen with the crying child hoping that the movement would soothe him.  Josie sang to her song, waiting for his crying to relax. She had managed to take off his clothes and have him in a diaper. 

"Everything okay?" Caroline asked when she was in Josie sight. 

"He's a bit fussy. I think he has a fever." 

"Did you check his tempture?" 

"I tried but he wouldn't calm down. I was going to try as soon as he was in a deep sleep." 

"I'll get you the thermometer." 

Josie thanked her mom. When her mother was back she watched as Caroline ran the device across Emerson's head. 

"102.8."

"Mom?" The plead was almost involentary. 

"Already ahead of you. I'll get the keys from your father." 

Josie sighed. She made her way to Elloit, who was tossing in her sleep. She checked her tempture but to her luck Elliot had a fever as well, it was slight but still a fever. Josie expect this it was always the same when one twin was sick the other was as well. Josie struggled to get her daughter up but she managed. 

Josie rushed out of the Mikaelson's and to her parent's car. Hope was already in the car she assumed her mother had informed her girlfriend. 

"It might be a long night you sure you wanna come?" Josie asked. 

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." 

   Josie did her best to keep Emerson calm as the doctor's took blood but it was no use. The boy sceamed and cried as they poked him. Elloit was the same thing, but each kids wanted to be with her in her arms. Josie appreciated Hope attempted at help but everytime she tried to get one of the twins the tears would continues. Needles weren't their favorite. 

When they were in the room for the twins, Josie let out a sigh as her mother took ahold of her hand. She has not been told what was wrong with them. She was informed they would be staying overnight to monitor their fevers and they were on antibiotics. Josie hated hospitals more than anything in the world. Horrible things always happened in hospitals. 

"You should go home," Josie told her mother. "Take Hope home as well. I'll be okay." 

"Are you sure?" The question came in unison from Hope and Caroline. 

"Yes," Josie sat on the only couch in the room. "Go get some rest. Come back tomorrow and bring me a change of clothes please. Oh and please can you text or call Landon in the morning there is no need to wake him up this late." 

"Okay love we will be back tomorrow." Hope kissed Josie goodbye. Caroline took off her sweater and gave it to her daughter. With that her and Hope made their way out of the room.

Josie made herself as comfortable as possible she knew she was in for a long night. There would be very little sleep for her these next few hours. 

"Hello." Josie answered the call the came in. 

"Do we have a deal Joesette?" 

Josie closed her eyes. She looked at her kids. She thought of her family. She thought of the voice, the voice of the man that has hunted her for years. The voice of her nightmares. The same voice that called her for the first time in twelve years to wish her a happy birthday not too long ago. The voice that she knew would soon end everything she finally had. 

"Yes." Josie answered the man. She has just enter into an agreement with the devil she knew that, but she wasnt running this time. This time she would run head first to this man hope for the best possible outcome