Beautiful Things
Josie looked longingly out the window, sighing back to bed to do her homework.
A kick to the lower part of her belly made her rub the spot with the palm of her hand.
“I know, I'm bored too"
With her due date approaching, Alaric had forbidden her to attend classes, but she still had to do her assignments. She was going crazy for doing nothing.
A throbbing started in her lower back and she rubbed her hand over her, wishing Hope was here, she gave the best massages.
Irritated, she started pacing the room. Today she felt bad and didn’t know why. Yet another reason to miss Hope. When she got like this, she could make her laugh. The tribrid understood how difficult it was for Josie to do nothing, finish whatever she had to do to spend more time with her. But now her girlfriend was in class and she wouldn't be back for two hours.
Her back pain got worse, so she put a pillow on the head of the bed and sat against it. The babies, as if sensing their mother's agitation, began to move. She could feel them press against her belly and she lifted her shirt. A small lump was visible under her skin and she ran the tip of her finger over it.
"Hello"
Pain shot through her body and she couldn't help screaming. Remembering what her Aunt Elena had told her about contractions, she tried to relax. Another pain shot through her as she tried to get up.
“What's up little ones? Are you trying to scare mommy? "
It had happened once before, earlier in the week, she had started to feel similar pains, but she had kept it to herself, knowing that Hope was constantly worried about her since her Aunt Elena had told her on their last date that the babies could be born at any moment. That night, she had made the mistake of screaming when particularly strong pain had gone through her, later found on a gurney at the Mystic Falls medical centre, Hope didn't calm down until the ER doctor examined her and proclaimed that she been a false alarm.
She tried to breathe until she felt the liquid run down her legs. She takes her cell phone from the nightstand and call Hope.
"Do you miss me already?" Hope's cheerful voice answered her. She had just gotten out of one of her classes as she made her way to the other.
"Hope ..." her name came out as a gasp.
"Josie?"
"My water broke"
"I'm going over there"
A few minutes later Hope walked through the bedroom door.
"shit!"
"My thoughts exactly" another pain shot through her, Hope immediately wrapped her arms around her, helping her to her feet. Her legs shaking from the effort.
Hope took it bridal style. Fortunately, there was no one in the hallways because it was time for classes. The tribrid carried Josie out to the garage to a black Bentley parked there. Hope took out the keys and unlocked the car.
"I didn't know you had a car," Josie said, they usually took the Camaro when they left school.
“My uncle Elijah left it to me, I asked my Aunt Freya to bring it, thinking that I was going to use it to take you to the hospital. Apparently I was right” she explained as she helped her to sit in the passenger seat.
"Well thought out," Josie said.
The ride to the hospital was somewhat rushed, Josie could see how tense her tribrid were from the way she took the wheel.
She helps Josie out of the car and walk slowly beside her toward the hospital entrance.
"I need help" she indicated to the first person with a gown she saw "my girlfriend is in labour"
A nurse came up with a wheelchair and helped Josie sit up.
"Honey, how long ago did the contractions start?" The woman asked Josie.
"I don't know, but it doesn't take long between one and the other, it hurts a lot," Josie complained.
"Okay, let's take you to a room, while your girlfriend fills out the paperwork" She hands to Hope a clipboard "and then we'll call your doctor"
Josie looked up in terror at the thought of parting from Hope.
"I'll do it quickly" promised the auburn girl.
Josie nodded reluctantly.
"Call mom, dad and Lizzie, tell them to bring the suitcase"
Hope nodded, as she filled out the paperwork they handed her, took her cell phone and dialled Alaric. The man had barely said anything when Hope cut him off.
"Josie went into labour, we're in the hospital, she wants them here"
"We'll go right away," the man commented, the nervousness was heard in his voice.
"Tell Lizzie to bring the suitcase from my room, please"
"Okay Hope" the tribrid was about to hang up when Alaric's voice said her name again "Hope"
"yes?"
"Everything will be fine" he assures her.
"thanks"
Hope watched the nurse walk down the hall.
"where is she?"
"This way" said the nurse, they walked down the hall, Hope immediately caught Josie's racing heartbeat, making her walk faster.
She opened the door and there she was. Josie had already changed her into a robe and her face was covered in sweat. She was up beside her in an instant. The brunette's arms wrapped around her neck. Hope rubbed her back trying to calm them both.
Elena walked into the room, hugging a clipboard and smiled at them.
"So the little ones decided that today would be the day, eh?"
Josie nodded.
"yes"
The doctor sat across from Josie's legs and lifted the sheet, examining it.
Josie felt another contraction approach.
"I feel like I should push"
Elena shook her head.
“This isn’t time to push, Josie. You're not ready yet, I need you to relax” and with that she leaves them alone for a moment.
Hope tried to comfort Josie by rubbing her back and talking to her about anything that might distract the brunette.
Minutes later Elena returned and examined Josie again.
"Josie, we're ready, when you feel the next contraction I want you to push"
The pain struck again and the brunette gave everything she had. Hope felt Josie crush her hand from the effort, but she didn't complain.
"You're doing good Jo" Hope encouraged her girlfriend.
"Remember when you said you would do anything for me?" she asked with her head resting on her shoulder.
It had been the first night they had been together, the words whispered like a promise against her skin as they explored their bodies. Hope's cheeks turned red.
"I want you to have the babies"
The tribrid laughed.
The contractions had started again and the drugs didn't seem to make much of a difference.
"Push Josie" said Elena.
The brunette pushed with everything she had, the pain pierced her and a scream left her lips and was later replaced by the cry of a baby.
"The first one was born, he's a boy," Elena announced as she handed him over to a nurse who brought him closer to Josie and Hope.
The girls stared at the baby for a few seconds when another sharp pain made Josie cry out.
"I can't, I can't do this" complained the young brunette. Every part of her body ached and she didn't think she could move, much less keep pushing.
“Yes you can, Jo. You’re the strongest person I know and you aren’t alone, I am with you, we can handle anything, okay? "
She nodded, tears running freely down her cheeks, push three more times.
A small cry announced the arrival of their second child to this world. The nurse took the boy and covered him with a blue blanket. A few minutes later the nurse handed one child to Josie and the other to Hope.
"Hello little one," Josie whispered against the head of the baby she was holding. The baby shook his head towards the sound.
"He seems to know his mommy's voice" Hope said with a smile, then she noticed how the baby she was holding had done the same.
"It seems that he also knows yours" indicated the baby in the arms of the tribrid.
"They are beautiful," Hope said looking at both babies.
"we did it well"
Both girls looked at their babies adoringly, until a disturbance was heard outside the room.
Alaric entered, followed by Caroline, Lizzie, and MG. Lizzie sighed in relief when she looked at her sister. Her eyes went to the small bundles the girls were holding.
"Those are…?"
"Your nephews" Josie smiled.
"what are their names?" Alaric asked.
Josie handed her baby to her father, the little boy had full lips like Josie and a small nose like Hope. Her head was covered in fine black hair that reminded her of the hair of the twins' mother, Jo.
"This's Andrew Nicholas Mikaelson in honour of Hope's parents," she informed to her father.
"It's a beautiful name" Caroline almost cried looking at the baby in Alaric's arms.
"And this," Hope said, handing the other baby to Lizzie. "is Lucas Eli Mikaelson in honour of Josie, you and my uncle Elijah"
The blonde let out crying as she examined the baby in her arms. This little boy had strawberry blonde hair that Lizzie was sure would change to Hope's auburn when he grew up, the shape of his eyes reminded her of Hope, Josie's nose and she could almost swear the shape of his eyebrows pulled it out of her.
"He is beautiful, Wolfie" she said with feeling "although it was to be expected because we share genes" she jokes making everyone in the room laugh.
"You did a great job, Girls" congratulated MG who looked at the baby that his girlfriend was holding.
"I'm glad they're okay, I was so scared when Ric called to tell me that Josie was in the hospital" Caroline said.
Lizzie was passing the baby to MG.
"support his head" Hope commented.
"Are you now a baby expert, Fido, after being a mother for how long, half an hour?" Lizzie scoffed.
A mother, a smile spread across Hope's face at her new title.
She shook her head and returned her attention to Josie.
"you're good?"
"I'm exhausted"
At the sound of his mother's voice, Lucas turned his head, not feeling her close, he began to cry.
"what did you do? MG, you broke the baby” the blonde said her boyfriend.
Hope took the baby from the vampire's arms and cradled him close to her chest, he relaxed when he felt the warmth of his other mother, until he fell asleep.
"It looks like you have the magic touch, Hope" pointed out MG.
"I've waited so long to hold him in my arms, I don't want to put him down," Hope joked.
"And you're not the only one," the vampire indicated to Josie and the other baby in Caroline's arms.
"It has been a great day, I think it is better if we let them rest" Alaric commented "I will call your family, we will be back tomorrow"
Hope nodded as Caroline handed her the other baby.
"Good job, your parents would be very proud," the blonde said to the girl.
"Thank you Caroline"
"Take care of my daughter and grandchildren"
"I’ll do it"
The tribrid sat in the small chair near the bed, looking at both babies in her arms.
Josie woke up in the dark hospital room, looking around to find Hope sitting next to the bed, holding the babies in her arms.
She felt Josie stare at her and looked up.
"Hey, how do you feel?"
"As if I just had two babies, but I'm not as tired as before, where did everyone go?"
"They went back to school, but don't worry they'll be back early tomorrow"
Josie nodded and held out her hand.
"come here with me"
"You need to rest," Hope warned, but did as she was asked.
"I rest better with you"
Hope carefully placed the babies in the rolling crib the nurse brought in and pulled them as close to the bed as possible. They interlocked their hands as they looked at their little ones.
The two girls fell asleep with a smile.
A cry woke Hope as she slid out of the hospital bed, grabbed Andrew and rocked him. However, the little boy didn’t calm down and his crying became more demanding.
"Come on, little one" Hope said desperately "let your brother and mommy sleep a little more"
Between feeding the babies and the nurses coming to do their rounds, Josie hadn't slept much.
But the boy only cried louder and behind them, Josie spoke.
"Okay, Hope. Pass him to me”
Hope turned to see the brunette with outstretched arms. There were black circles around her eyes, but when Hope handed her the baby, she smiled brightly. She pulled down her robe and Andrew's cries died down as he was start suck.
"it hurt?" Hope asked curiously.
Josie shook her head, looking fondly at the baby.
"No, it doesn't hurt"
Hope's cell phone rang.
"Hello, Caroline"
"Hi, Hope" Josie's mother's voice was heard through the line "How are Josie and my grandchildren?"
Hope smiled at the pride in the blonde's tone, knowing she felt more than a good deal herself.
"they are fine"
"Well, I was calling to ask if you want us to bring you something? And to find out if Josie is going out today "
"Elena said that if everything went well on today's exam, then I can take them home this afternoon."
"That's great!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Yeah I think so" Hope said smiling, as she looked at Josie burping Andrew "what time will you come?"
"I just finished packing some things and I'm going there"
"Tell them to bring the suitcase and the diaper bag" said Josie
“I already have them in the car” Caroline commented “Bye, Hope. Take good care of my daughter and my grandchildren "
"I will Caroline, thank you"
When Hope hung up the call, she heard a disturbance outside the door, people shouting with a British accent.
The tribrid took Lucas from the cradle.
"Well, it seems like you are about to meet the family," she commented to her sleeping son.
The door opened to relieve Rebekah, Kol, Freya, and company. The blonde stopped short when she saw her niece holding a baby.
"Oh, is he ...?"
"Your grandson, yes," Hope assured.
"may l?" I ask the original vampire.
"Sure" she gave Rebekah the baby.
"Congratulations girl" said Marcel as he approached Hope and gave her a big hug,
"This is the other one?" Kol asked when he saw him in Josie's arms.
"Yes" replied the brunette handing the baby to the vampire who immediately showed him to his wife who was by his side.
"He is beautiful" said Davina looking at the baby. "I'm Davina by the way" she introduced herself.
"Josie"
“It seems that everything went well,” Freya said, smiling at her niece and Josie.
"Yes, everything went well," said Hope.
"I told you, there was nothing to worry about" Keelin commented next to her. "Congratulations, Hope" she smiled at the girl and gave her a hug. "You too Josie, having a baby is not easy at all"
"Thank you Keelin"
"the names?" asked Kol
"The one you're carrying is Andrew Nicholas Mikaelson and Aunt Bekah is carrying Lucas Eli Mikaelson," Hope informed.
"Beautiful names, not as much as Kol jr."
"Forget it, idiot. You and Davina have your own baby” Rebekah said to her brother.
"what? It's not fair that Nik has two boys with his name and I have none, when obviously I'm more fantastic than him”
The Mikaelson family started arguing with each other, Josie and Hope just watched with joy, it was good to have the family together.
The discussion increased so much that they woke up the babies, who only opened their eyes.
"WOW" Rebekah commented. "This little boy has Hayley's eyes" she said as a tear ran down her cheek.
"really?" Hope asked coming closer, her children had been sleeping all this time, they hadn’t opened their eyes until now.
Hope looked at the baby, his eyes were shiny golden orbs with hints of green just like her mother's. She smiled with tears in her eyes.
"Just like Mom's" she smiled at Josie.
"Well, this little one has them aquamarine" Davina commented looking at the baby in her husband's arms.
Josie stretched, causing Kol to put the baby down for the mother to look at.
"Hi little one," Josie greeted as she examined his eyes. "They look like Hope's, but it has hints of green like Mom's"
"Caroline?" Hope asked.
"No, bio-mom"
"Oh"
"So both babies inherited their grandmother’s eyes?" Keelin asked.
"I didn't know Jo, but Hayley was a great woman," Marcel said.
"Jo too, she was a great woman," Josie said.
A nurse entered the room.
"hi, you have to leave the room, there are many people for a visit"
Rebekah was about to compel her, when Freya spoke.
"I think it's time to go and let the girls get ready" said the witch "we'll see them at school when they come back" and without leaving any more topic for discussion, she took her siblings out of the room.
After the departure of the original family, Josie's family arrived with the babies ‘stuff.
Hope left the room while Caroline helped Josie take a bath. The girl didn’t lose sight of the door.
Alaric waited by her side, he didn't know if he should say the words that swirled inside him. But he found himself talking inadvertently.
“I know how you feel, Hope. I felt the same way when the twins were born. You wonder how the universe could have been crazy enough to entrust something so precious to a silly child like you "
Hope laughed.
"I know, I thought I was ready, but when I look at them" she smiled "and I have never felt so helpless and I can't afford that luxury now, I'm their mother and I don't want to hurt them"
Alaric nodded as he looked at the girl who grew up to be this stunning young woman.
“Good parents never want to hurt their children. They want to give them the best of everything and help them on their way. But sometimes” he sigh" they are busy with life and forget that they are still a foolish child entrusted with the most precious thing in the universe. If you only remember that feeling and you will always be a good mother, Hope "
"Thanks Alaric"
Later that night, after returning with Josie and the babies to school, Hope watched her children inside the crib while Josie slept.
"Hey" greeting "I know we have already met, but I thought it would be good to introduce myself again, I’m Hope your mom"
Luke as Lizzie had nicknamed Lucas yawning. Hope laughed quietly.
“Yes I know, yesterday's news. I just thought I should clear up a few things” she smiled at the babies “I never thought I would be, you know, a mother. I always thought that anyone could be more prepared than I could be. I’m new on this, so I’ll make a lot of mistakes, but I’ll never quit and I’ll never stop trying to be better for you. My mother, your grandmother, she wasn't here long enough to help me with this, like she's supposed to. But your other grandmother is here and she can help me to make this right "
Josie woke up, heard the little speech, it hurt that Hope doubted herself.
"You know I didn't believe in love at first sight, I thought they were fairytales" she whispered with tears in her eyes "but now I know I was wrong, because the moment I held both of you in my arms, I fell in love. I know I may not be the best mother for you right now, but I swear I’ll never stop trying "
“You don't have to try, Hope” said Josie getting out of bed and approaching the girl “you’re already a great mother, they love you because you are you and no one could replace you, they would never accept it, I wouldn’t accept it. You’re a good mother, Hope Mikaelson. Never doubt it"
The babies were moved by Josie's voice.
"It seems they also know their mommy"
"Well, you know, they’re our children, of course they’re smarter than the average babies" Josie said with mock seriousness, then laughed
"Let's go to sleep" Hope said when she noticed how tired Josie still looked.
Inside the bed, both girls turned to look into each other's eyes.
"how you feel?" Hope asked
Josie took a deep breath.
"happy. I feel happy"
Hope smiled when she noticed that Josie had fallen asleep. She traces her cheek with her knuckles.
"Yes, this is definitely what happiness looks like"