Right Here Love
Hope wasn't sure why the dead were still alive but she was grateful for it. She could not understand Josie's choice. Why would she let her kids watch her die, it made no sense to her. No logical parent would give up so easily.
Hope looked down at the child that was pulling on her black dress. It was her daughter. Hope smiled and wiped her tears away.
"Yes, Andrea?" Hope asked as she kneeled down to her daughter's highest.
"Where's my mommy?" Andrea asked her auburn-haired mother. Hope was confused, she was sure her kids knew that Josie was gone. They had not seen her carry Josie out but she assumed since they saw her get hurt they put the rest together.
"What do you mean sweetie?" Hope managed to sound calm as she spoke. "Didn't you and Niklaus see what happened to her?"
"We did," Andrea answered calmly. "The man threw lighting at her, but when she casted the spell with us she blocked up. We couldn't see her, she only talked to us. She promised you'd save her."
Hope had no idea what to do. Her kids were in the dark about Josie. They were still waiting for her to come home. It has been two days since she died and Hope all this time thought they knew. Now it made sense to her why they hadn't cried. They weren't aware their other mother was dead. She had to break the news to them. Hope pulled her daughter into a hug and looked up at the ceiling. She could not cry until she told them. Hope pulled away.
"Go find your brother and come back. We are going to have a little talk."
Hope stood there, she was going to have to break her kids' heart. She was not looking forward to it, she should not be having to do this. Hope more than anything was frustrated with the world, as if it hadn't made her life difficult enough already. She lost both her parents, her mother died having her, and she now lost the love of her life. What made it worst was that she never told Josie she loved her.
Hope went to find her daughter, Andrea was taking a while returning to her. Hope walking into the woods that connected with the Salvatore school, where the funeral would be held. She yelled for her kids but got no response.
Hope bolted when she heard Lizzie yell for her. When she arrived with Lizzie she was surprised to see her parents with her. Hope moved her attention to the direction where the Saltzman where looking at. She was shocked to see her kids. They were standing next to a grey wolf.
"Andrea, Niklaus get over here," Hope shouted at the kids.
"Why?" Her son asked. Hope was baffled at her son's response. She was terrified the wolf might hurt them but her kids seemed to be unfazed. "She's friendly," Niklaus told her as he petted the wolf.
As if Hope was not already under a lot of stress jade showed up. The two women had been fighting non-stop since Josie's death. Jade was determined to take Andrea and Mason with her and go back to California and well Hope kept threatening that if she tried she would rip her heart out.
"You see this is why it's better if the kids came with me." Jade pointed out.
"Now is not the time Jade." Hope barked. "What if I use a spell to get the wolf to go away?" Hope began to think out loud.
"Like, I didn't try that myself Hope," Lizzie answered sarcastically.
"I can use my speed to get them?" Jade offered.
"As much as I despise you. Andrea would never forgive me if something happened to you." Hope told the vampire.
Hope deciding she was getting tired of the useless idea they were coming up with she decided to her closer to her kids. She approached slowly she knew, that one wrong move and that wolf would throw itself at her.
Hope stopped when she heard the footsteps getting closer. The last thing Hope needed had happened. Her parents, along with Caroline and Alaric showed up. The grandparents of her kids were all yelling at her to get away. Klaus suggested he fight the wolf, Alaric said he could shoot it, and Caroline and Hayley suggested peace that there was no reason for an innocent wolf to get hurt.
Hope was close enough to grab her kids but she wasn't sure why she didn't. She felt safe, she could tell the world didn't mean any. It was more as if it was trying to protect the kids.
"Nik, Andrea come here," Hope said softly. She was grateful when her kids listened.
"Love you, mommy." Both the kids said as they walked away from Hope and to their aunt, but Hope knew they weren't talking to her. They were looking past her. When Lizzie began to walk away with Andrea and Niklaus the wolf began to growl. It was ready to attack Lizzie.
At that moment Hope knew who the wolf was, but she couldn't believe it. How was this happening? Hope gently touched the wolf. She forced it to look at her. Once their eyes met Hope could feel the tears. Hope leaned her forehead on the wolf's. She gently petted the soft fur.
"Josie," Hope spoke softly. "I know you're confused. I am too but I need you to shift back for me please." Hope took off her black coat and tossed it over the now sitting wolf. "You need to focus all you desire on shifting back to human, and I know it gonna hurt but I am going to be here okay love."
Hope smiled when she saw a nod. Hope smiled when she felt the fur on her forehead. A couple of minutes went by and she could no longer feel fur but skin. She faced up to see Josie. Hope pulled the woman into a hug and made sure to keep the coat on her.
"Josie?" Hope whispered, afraid that this was all a dream.
"I'm right here my love," Josie answered.