New Start
In moments like this Hope wished she had a mother or father to ask for advice. She was having trouble with Landon. She knew Landon wanted the baby and loved her but it seemed like every time he was spending less and less time with her. As if he was purposely avoiding her. Hope did not need him around she just wanted to know she had his support. That when the baby arrived he would be there by her side. That he would do his part in the raising of their child. Josie had spent more time with her. It seemed like Josie was taking the role of a parent instead of Landon. Hope also couldn't help but wonder had life been different and she was with Josie in the future they could have a baby together. Hope knew in any future any child that had Josie Saltzman as their mother would be one of the luckiest kids in the earth.
Hope sighed and laid in her bed. Pregnancy had made lazier. Hope was no longer going on runs, she was still training with Alaric, but Alaric was going soft on her and she knew it. When she asked Alaric about it he denied it but eventually he confessed to not wanting to hurt the baby in any way. Hope would argue that being a tribrid she was nearly invincible but she did see his perspective and agreed to take it easy.
She had not planned to spend the night alone, she had planned to spend it with Landon watching movies, and eating chocolate-covered strawberries, however, Landon had texted her that Raf was in a mood and needed him. It didn't anger Hope that Landon was there for his friend but it did anger her that every time Hope asked if she could help in any way Landon would get upset and yell.
Hope decided she would go and find Josie, spend the night with her. Hope opened her door and was pleasantly surprised to see the girl she was looking for. Hope smiled and moved aside letting the girl in. She knew by the looks of it that Josie was planning to stay for a while because she had pizza, soda, and chips.
"What's the special occasion?" Hope asked.
"Nothing just wanted to have a girls nights if that okay?" Hope gave Josie a nod.
Josie smiled, she wishes that this moment could last forever. Hope and her ate the pizza together and discussed baby names. Hope kept telling Josie she was certain her baby was a girl. At some point, Josie stopped fighting her and let Hope spiral out about the possible clothes she could buy her baby girl in the future. When their conversations came to an end Josie was ready to leave but Hope asked her to spend the night, which Josie did agree to.
Josie did not fall asleep, she let Hope fall asleep in her arms. Once she was sure that Hope was deep asleep she managed to untangle herself from Hope's arms. Josie looked down at Hope and felt the tears began to build up. She was really going to leave Mystic Falls. She was going to leave Hope. What kept her going was that she knew leaving would hurt Hope less than the baby she was currently carrying in her. Josie knew she was making the right choice she was making the choice that causes the tribrid less pain.
Josie leaned down and placed a kiss on Hope's forehead. She had to leave to meet Jade. They were leaving tonight. As much as Josie wanted to stay a little while longer and admire Hope's beauty she knew she had to leave. Josie placed a letter on Hope's night stand. The letter would explain that they should not look for her. That she needed time to deal with her personal demons. That been dark Josie affected her so much that she needed time away from Mystic Fall and the Salvatore school. It was a pathetic excuse but Josie could not write what she really wanted to write. She settled with knowing that Hope got one final night of sleeping, one final night of happiness with her even if it was just a couple of hours. Josie also knew if she wanted things to work she had to leave behind her phone so she placed her phone next to the letter.
~~~~
Josie looked around the apartment that Jade had managed to get for them. It wasn't big, it was a one-bedroom apartment, with a small kitchen and living room. It was already furnished, which meant they did not have to waste money to get anything. Jade had done some shopping so they had a full fridge.
Josie paid close attention as Jade explained to her that she could have the bedroom. Josie wanted to fight but she knew Jade would not accept to let her take the couch in the living room. Josie gave up and told Jade that if she was taking the bedroom then she would be getting a job to pay for the rent. Josie was surprised when she learned that they were not paying rent. Apparently, Jade's friend was letting them be there for free for as long as they needed.
"You will focus on finishing school, and I will take care of our financial needs am I clear?" Josie smiled at the vampire's words.
"Fine, but you do not feed on blood of people here okay?" Josie waited for a nod. "I stole some blood bags from school they should last us about two months. I also stole a kit to take my own blood that way we could have some."
"That not needed Josie." Jade argued, she already had a crush on Josie she did not want Josie to feel obligated to give her her blood.
"I will not risk you hurting someone, so yes we will do this," Josie explained. "I want to help it's not like you will be biting into me. You will be drinking from a blood bag." Josie smiled when Jade gave her a nod. She did not know how long she would be staying but she knew that there was nothing that would get her to return to Mystic Falls.
As time went by the girls fell into a good rhythm. Jade had found a job that she was working graveyard shift only until she finished the EMT courses she was taking. Josie was able to get herself into school, that way at least she would graduate high school. Josie embraced her changing body and stopped hiding her baby bump.
Josie was only focused on herself and her happiness and at some point, Jade became her happiness. Jade was there for her. Jade was helping her with everything she could. They only had one accident that scared them both, Josie accidentally cut herself and Jade slammed Josie into the nearest wall. For a second Josie fear Jade would bite her, that the vampire would not be able to contain her bloodlust. Josie, however, talked her down since that day she was careful when cooking.
The following day when Josie arrived from school she was surprised to find a plate served on the table. It was still warm so Josie knew that Jade had probably left for work. Josie went to put her bag down in her room. She also wanted to change into some comfortable clothes. She was grateful she was not going to go to school tomorrow, she had an appointment to check up on the baby she was due soon.
As Josie made her way to the plate of food she groaned when she heard the door. Josie walked over to open it. She smiled when she saw Jade at the door.
"Where's your key?"
"I forgot it," Jade explained. "I ended up mixing my work dates so I'm off for the night. Wanna have a movie night? I picked up your favorite movie?" Josie's eyes lit up.
"The Princess Diaries?" Josie was hoping that was the movie Jade picked up.
"1 and 2." Jade smiled when the younger girl bounced with happiness. She was certain that If Josie's stomach wasn't so big she would be jumping up and down. Jade passed Josie and went to fix the living room.
"Imma make a fort." Jade nodded, she knew even if she said no Josie was already making the fort. Jade went to change quickly and returned to find Josie with her plate of food sitting in the fort. Jade smiled and got closer when Josie patted the spot next to her. She sat next to Josie and watched the movie.
Halfway through the second movie Jade had her back leaning on the couch, her legs stretched out, and Josie was laying her head on them. Jade was playing with Josie's hair to make sure the girl was comfortable.
The following morning when Josie woke up she was surprised when she turned around to see that Jade had fallen asleep sitting down all to keep her comfortable. Josie carefully tried to stand up and not wake Jade up but failed. It was getting harder for her to move on her own. She knew that maybe in a few weeks when the baby has arrived she would miss the feeling of having the baby inside her.
"Need help?" Josie smiled at the half-asleep girl. She gave her a nod. Josie waited for Jade to get up and help her up. "We have about an hour till your appointment why don't you go get ready and I will make us breakfast."
When both girls were done with breakfast and getting ready they headed out for Josie's appointment.
At her appointment, Josie was called in and like every other appointment Jade went in with her. Josie sat up on the examining table like she was told by the medical assistant and thanked the woman. Josie and Jade had small talk while waiting for the doctor. When Josie's OB came into the room the girls fell silent.
"Hi, Josette. How are you feeling."
"Fat." Josie answered honestly.
"You look beautiful." The woman answered. "Tell your girlfriend she looks great."
"I tell her every day." Jade answered with a smile. Her smile grew even wider when she saw the Josie did not correct the OB. That small gesture made Jade think that maybe she did have a chance with Josie, maybe if she played her cards right she could get Josie to give her a chance. Jade watched as the OB did the ultrasound.
Both girls watched in awe during the ultrasound like the first time they saw the baby. Josie was excited to meet the baby inside of her. She was ready to start her adventure in motherhood.
"You two sure you don't wanna know the sex of the baby." The OB asked.
"Positive." Josie answered. She wanted to be surprised. She would find out when the baby was born, but she already had names picked out for them. Regardless of the sex, Josie knew she would love the baby.