What Could Go Wrong

Christmas was five days away and Jade swore that Josie was going to accidentally burn the apartment down from all the lights and decorations she put up. Jade did not mind the decoration at all but she knew there was a limit to the decorations someone could put up before being called crazy. Josie may have gone a little overboard considering that Jade would be working Christmas day.

Josie groaned as she heard Jade tell her no for the fifth time about how she could not put up another mini Santa. Josie gave in and let Jade win as long as Jade agreed to help her with the cooking. Josie was making a mini feast for them due to the fact that they would not get to spend Christmas together. She had looked up some recipes so she would be making rice pudding, sugar cookies, apple pie, tamales, and some fruit salad. They spent about five hours making everything. When they finished they decided to get ready for their celebration of two despite there being a terrible storm outside that caused the streets to flood.

Josie was the first one to finish getting ready. She decided on a red strapless dress that reached her ankles and hugged her baby bump. Over the dress she had a white cardigan, to pull the whole Christmas look together she had a Satna hat on. Jade on the other hand was in a pair of white jeans, red chucks, with a red shirt and leather jacket. 

"Where's your hat?" Josie pouted. Josie smiled when she saw Jade go back to the bathroom and grab the hat. "Picture time!" The brunette sang in victory. 

The girls took multiple photos until Josie was satisfied with them. They took some together and on their own. After their photoshoot, they sat on the couch in the living room and watched The Grinch. 

Thirty minutes into the movie Josie was finally overwhelmed with what she was feeling. For the past couple of hours, she had been feeling some pain, she had had Braxton Hix contractions before so Josie was sure that what it was, she wasn't due till January. She even took an extra long warm shower to relax her body.

"Josie you okay, love?" 

"Yes, I just have this pain," Josie explained between breaths. "It happens every five minutes or so." 

Jade hopped up at the information she received. She rushed to the closet and grabbed the emergency bag she prepared in case Josie went into labor in an unexpected way. Jade rushed back and began to fix a blanket on the floor. She put down pillows. Jade helped Josei lay on the blanket she fixed. 

"Hey. I don't think we can make it to the hospital. Do you trust me?" Once Jade got the yes from Josie she lifted her dress up and removed the girl's underwear. "Josie you're crowning hun when your next contraction hits I need you to push okay." 

When Josie felt the contraction hit she did as she was told. She had read books about the labor, so she could be prepared for what to expect, but no book told her how to prepare to give birth to the baby of the boyfriend of the love of your life. 

"I can't," Josie cried out. "Jade I'm not ready. I'm scared. I'm only 16 I have no idea how to be a mother. What if I mess this baby up? Jade, I am alone. I can't do this." 

"Josie," Jade said sternly. "I want nothing more than to be holding your hand and whispering in your ear how you're amazing and you can do this like we planned and be in a hospital, but there is a storm going on outside. I will not risk you or the baby. I knew you're scared, but you are not alone. I will be by your side as long as you want me. Right now I need you to put your fears aside and push for me." 

Josie went through five more contractions until she heard a cry. When she opened her eyes and looked at Jade she could not contain her joy. Josie reached her arms out telling Jade she wanted to hold the baby. 

"We have a little girl." Jade said as she cut the umbilical cord and made her way closer to Josie who had her arms out asking for the baby. Jade placed her carefully in Josie's arms. "You have a name mama?" 

"Jade meet Andrea Jade Saltzman." Josie watched her child in awe. She had thought of this moment a million times but now that she was there the moment was more beautiful than she could have imagined. 

Josie was scared of being a single mother, but after seeing her daughter all her fears left she knew she could handle anything just to make sure her daughter was safe, happy, and loved. 

~~~~

Hope laughed as Lizzie complained about final exams. The blonde has been complaining for the past week about how her father was crazy to give them final exams so near Christmas. Hope knew that Lizzie was excited to pack her things and go with her mother for the holidays. Hope wanted to have the blonde excitement but she had not been excited for the holiday in a long time. 

As they walked around the half-empty school to make their way to see Alaric. Hope and Lizzie talked about the plan for January. Lizzie was determined to be with Hope when she had the baby or find her sister and drag her back to the school to offer Hope the comfort only she could give. 

"Mom!" Lizzie shouted when noticed her father wasn't alone in his office. She thought she would be meeting her mother in California for their vacation over there. "Did our plans change?" 

"Actually yes," Caroline answered. "I was talking with your father and he mentioned that Hope was going to be here alone for Christmas. We talked it out and we thought it would be better if we spend the holidays here with her because she doesn't want to travel, and it isn't safe for someone in their third trimester to travel." 

"That's not needed." Hope explained. "I really do prefer to spend the holidays alone." Her words were not a total lie. Since her parents had died Hope was not really filled with Holiday joy. It just reminded her of how alone she really was. Her aunts had invited her to New Orleans for the holiday buy Hope gave them some excuse of being too tired with preparations for the baby.  

"It's not needed but it what we are doing," Caroline told the tribrid teenager. "How are you feeling?" 

"A bit hungry," Hope confessed. As Hope was about to speak again she looked down at her leggings. "I think I peed myself." Hope stated confused. 

"No, your water broke hun." Hope chuckled at Caroline's words. 

"I'm not due to January." Hope rambled. "It's too early he's not ready. I am not ready. I still haven't set up his crib." 

"Well, sweetie your baby wants to come now." Caroline chuckled softly. She knew that when a baby wanted out there was no stopping them. "Let get you to the hospital." 

Hope looked over at Lizzie in panic. She was too focused on the pain to talk, she and Lizzie had a plan. All Lizzie had to do was communicate on her behalf.

"No," Lizzie said once she was over her initial shock. "Hope has a plan. There is a protection spell in place to keep this baby safe incase any monsters want him. We have a birth plan. We told dad, the baby will be born here. Everything is in Hope's room." 

"Right where's the midwife?" Alaric asked. 

"Vacation," Hope answered. "I wasn't due till January." 

"It's okay. Caroline will do it." Alaric volunteered the blonde vampire.

"You will?" Hope looked at the vampire with hopeful eyes. 

"Of course sweetie. Let's get you to your room." 

After six hours of being in labor Hope was ready to murder Lizzie. She had grown to love the blonde but all Lizzie talked about in the past six hours was about a fight she with MG about if they were dating or only friends with benefits. 

Every contraction that hit the tribrid had her gripping on the hand of the closest person to her which was a rotation between Caroline and Lizzie. Alaric refused to step into the room. He decided the best he could do was stay away until the baby arrived.  

"Who's ever bright idea it was for us to push a human out of a very tiny hole was an idiot." Hope cried out as the contraction hit. Lizzie was not enjoying see her friend in pain but she knew she could not do much to help her. All Lizzie did was offer emotional support for Hope. Lizzie knew that if Josie was here she would be the one in the room with Hope but since her twin left she had to take her place and be there for the tribrid. She had to be the one to hold Hope's hand as the contraction hit, offer her kind words, tell Hope that she was doing great, and lie to Hope every time she asked how many hours she has been in labor.

After nine hours of being in pain, Hope heard wonderful news from Caroline. She was fully dilated and could begin to push when her next contraction hit. 

"Lizzie I'm scared." Hope cried out as she finished pushing. "I wish Josie was here she would know what to say to me. I want Josie." Hope hated how weak she sounded but she was only speaking the truth. She only wanted Josie next to her. 

"I know," Lizzie assured Hope she was listening to her pleads. "I know I'm not Josie. I am nothing like her, I am self-centered and usually ignore others' feelings but for today I will be what you need. It's okay to be scared Hope. I need you to remember you are not alone. I promise you, you can do this because you Hope Andrea Mikealson. You are the strongest person I know and you will be an amazing mother. So right now I need you to stop whining and push." 

"I can't." Hope cried out. 

"Hope look at me," Caroline called out to the teenager. "I know you're scared and Josie would bring you some comfort, but we have no idea where she is. Right now your baby needs you. Think about it this way on final push to get a lifetime of happiness and love." Caroline was grateful that her words reached the girl. 

Hope was no longer in pain. She kept a close eye on Caroline as she cut the baby's umbilical cord. She could not believe she just pushed a baby out of her body. She never thought she would live to see this day. 

Hope laid peacefully in the now clean bed and a fresh set of clothes. She could not stop staring at the sleeping child in her arms. 

"You have a name?" Alaric asked. Hope looked up to the small family sitting around her. 

"Yeah," Hope answered looking look down at her son. "Meet Niklaus Alaric Mikaelson." 

Hope let the Saltzman hold the baby as they talked. 

"Leave it to you to give birth five days before Christmas," Lizzie remarked.

"I guess this means I'm safe from giving you a present." Hope joke. 

"Go to sleep Hope. It's okay you're tired, you just went through nine hours of labor. I promise your son will be here when you wake up." Hope wanted to argue with Caroline but the blonde woman was right. She was exhausted.