Having Faith

The Mikaelson mansion in Mystic Falls is now almost fully occupied especially when there are six more family members moving in with Hope and Josie now. Ever since Hope and Josie made the mansion their home after their marriage, it had been just them and baby Faith but now at least the spare bedrooms can be less dusty. 

Freya and Keelin are taking one room between the two rooms that will be used by their kids, Nik and Mia. The kids who had been living and studying in The Salvatore Boarding School are happy to move in at the mansion with their moms, mostly because they will finally have single rooms to themselves without sharing it with a roommate. But the only drawback for them is they will be under the watchful eyes of their moms now that they are no longer states apart. Hope and Josie have been their so-called guardians making sure they are doing fine in Mystic Falls. But ever since Nik was caught sneaking into and drinking at an old mill party held by the seniors recently, Freya and Keelin felt that they needed to be near their kids more, especially now that Josie and Hope are busier being parents now to baby Faith. They can't always keep an eye on their much younger cousins. Nik is 13 and Mia is 11 and already they are uncle and aunt to a tribrid baby.  

“Hope!” Mia runs and hugs her cousin upon arriving at the mansion on the move-in day. Freya and Keelin went to pick up their kids from Salvatore School to help them move their stuff over. “Tell me my room is bigger than Nik’s.”

“I think it’s the same, Mia.” Hope smiles at the tween. Mia is basically a young Keelin bearing the same frizzy hair and bright smile. The girl and her brother are witch-werewolves. Their bio-dad being one of the most influential, powerful witches in New Orleans, Vincent Griffith.    

“Since Faith is two months old now, I think I can help you babysit her so that you and Josie can go on date night!” Mia offers. “For a small fee of course.”

“Right. We’ll see.” Hope entertains the younger girl. “Why do you need the extra money?”

“Just savings for now!” Mia says cheerfully as she runs to hug Josie upon seeing her. “Jo! Did I do well on my potion test?”

“You know I can’t tell you yet, Mia.” Josie chuckles lightly as they release their hug. 

Mia just shrugs and then casts a spell to elevate her bags so she doesn't have to do the heavy lifting to her room. 

“Show off!” her brother, Nik comments and then he approaches Hope and gives her a warm hug. "Hey cuz." 

But he is looking rather moody, most likely due to his first and recent school suspension and him getting a mouth-full from his moms. Her cousin is now as tall as her and Hope guesses in a year or two, he’ll be Josie’s height or taller. 

“Hey, chin up, buddy!” Hope hooks an arm around his shoulders and pulls him closer to whisper some secrets. “It was just a three-day suspension for you but I got a longer suspension for being a blood dealer. Also, Josie did underage drinking too but did not get caught cause’ she was drinking at the old mill without a party.”

“I heard that.” Josie having vamp power hearing, frowns at Hope. “And for the record, I was not the one drinking. It was Lizzie mostly with some boy.” 

“Right. I married the goody-two-shoes twin.” Hope shrugs at her cousin. “...Who actually went to prison before.”

“Anyway, kids. Remember, I leave the house at 7 sharp.” Josie reminds Nik and Mia. “You’re not down here by 7, I’m driving off and you’ll have to walk to school yourself.”

“Yes, Miss Saltzman.” The two answer on instinct to their teacher, more so than as their cousin-in-law. 

==== 

“Hey Ric. Thanks for taking the morning shift.” Hope greets her father-in-law upon arriving in her office at the museum. Her daughter, Faith in the baby carrier she’s holding.

“No problem, Hope, hey there, Faith!” Alaric greets and can’t help but carry his adorable five month old grandchild up in his arms immediately and then he informs. “Hope, there are two candidates here for the PA interview.Their resumes are on your desk. Lizzie won't be in today since she has a doctor's appointment with the twins.”

“Ok. Thanks.” Hope thanks her former headmaster who is sort of her personal assistant now, well, temporarily, until she finds a suitable new one now. “I’ll leave Faith to you then.”

“No problemo! Faith and I are gonna have lots of fun, won’t we?” Alaric is making funny faces at his grandchild who actually likes it as she giggles at her grandfather.     

Hope then goes into her office desk and takes a look at the two files of the candidates looking to be her new PA. There is a girl and a guy. The girl is 22 and a fresh graduate with no prior working experience in the sector at all, while the guy is a 26 year old who previously worked as a PA for a famous curator. What a huge difference between the two candidates. Obviously the guy has a better chance but Hope shall not judge without interviewing both of them first.

After a short while, Hope decides to call for the girl first. 

“Hi Megan, take a seat.” Hope gestures to the seat in front of her desk as she leads the younger lady in.

“Thank you.” the blond girl sits down with a meek smile.

“Let’s see.” Hope opens her file to review the girl’s file. “You major in art so that’s good. But most of your work here will be administrative. Lots of paperwork as well as handling phone calls, coordinating appointments for Lizzie and me. Lizzie is your other reporting boss. She’s the director. I’m the curator.”

“I can do administrative work. No problem at all. I learn fast too.” Megan nods.

“It says here you have done an internship at an art school? Can you tell me more about that?” Hope asks.

“Oh, it’s more like a centre that teaches kids creative art and craft. I help the teachers in coordinating workshops and art related events. They have a catalog which I also help in the digital design too.” Megan adds. 

“That’s nice…” Hope smiles at that.

“Ermm..” Megan suddenly points out. “I think your blouse is stained..”

Hope looks down and realizes her boobs are leaking with milk through to her bra and blouse now. “Shit!”

She can now hear Faith crying outside her office and Megan asks. “Can I help you in any way?”

“Not when my daughter is likely hungry again.” Hope shakes her head.

“Oh, I baby-sat for my older sister’s baby before. I know how to bottle-feed them.” Megan tells Hope.

“That’s really sweet of you. Pity that I haven’t had the chance to pump yet so I may just have to do it the direct way.” Hope informs.

As if on cue, Alaric appears at her door with a crying Faith. “Sorry, Hope. She just couldn’t stop crying. I have no idea why.”

“Did you check her diapers?” Hope asks.

“Yeah. Nothing much there. She must be hungry?” Alaric asks.

“She has an insatiable appetite! I just fed her not long ago.” Hope reaches out to take her baby girl from Alaric. “Let me feed her. I’m sorry, Megan. I might have to end the interview now but don’t worry, if I have more questions, I’ll call you.”

“Sure, Miss Mikaelson.” Megan nods politely at Hope and Alaric before she takes her leave.

“Ric, can you tell the other guy to give me like 15 minutes? Maybe bring him to the pantry for some snacks and coffee for the time being.” Hope asks of her father-in-law. “Let me feed Faith first and then I can do the interview with him.”

“Alright.” Alaric nods as he leaves her to the privacy of her office.

“You are such a greedy baby, you know that!” Hope scolds her daughter as she leaves a big fat kiss on that rosy chubby cheek.

Breast-feeding Faith can be a rather relaxing moment. It’s almost like when Josie siphons from Hope, draining out her energy. Faith seems to have more draining power than her other mommy, especially when her appetite is this big for a baby. Hope looks endearingly at her child who is happily suckling on her breast with closed eyes of contentment. This idea of bringing her baby to work has its pros and cons. Faith would interrupt her work this way or help de-stress her when she’s breast-feeding her. 

Whoever becomes her PA may not like having to deal with a baby too. Oh no! And Lizzie sometimes brings the twins as well! That is when this museum office becomes a childcare centre instead!

This other candidate, a male, may not even want this kind of job? Hope thinks she better highlight and warn him about this during the interview.

After Faith is content with her milk feed, Hope puts on a new blouse with her jacket this time and hands her daughter over to her grandfather again while Hope prepares for the next interview.

“Sorry about the wait, Jonathan.” Hope apologizes as the interviewee sits in front of her.

“No worries, Miss Mikaelson. I understand when the situation calls for it.” Jonathan, a brown-haired gentleman in a tweed suit waves it off.

“Thing is, it may be quite a frequent occurrence if you’re hired here, especially when your other boss also had a baby, I mean, babies. Twins!” Hope warns. “It might get kinda wild here. I’m not sure if you’re up for that kind of environment. Thing is...I plan to breast-feed my child till she’s at least One. So, you’ll likely see my baby around here on most days.” 

“It’s fine! I love babies!!” Jonathan expresses cheerfully with his hand on his chest.

He’s definitely gay and chirpy. But is he good with babies? She doubts it. Nevertheless, she’s interviewing him for his experience in the museum sector, not childcare!

“So, Jonathan. I see that you used to work for the famous curator, Janus. Why did you leave his art gallery?” Hope asks.

“Because he sucks as a boss.” Jonathan scoffs.  

“Hmm, and you’re pretty sure I won’t suck as a boss?” Hope raises a brow at the man.

“Nah, you don’t seem like the nasty type.” he grins at her.             

==== 

“We’re home!” Josie announces as she arrives home from work, along with Nik and Mia who finished school and have hurried away to their rooms respectively.

As Josie is about to head to the kitchen, she hears her name being called from the back.

“Josie!!”

Josie is greeted by Hope’s aunt-in-law, Davina who is almost running to her. “Thank god, you’re fine!”

“What happened, Davina?” Josie asks in concern.

“Freya and I just detected a threat. We tried calling Hope but she’s not answering. We need to get to her now!” Davina informs and Josie can see Freya putting on a jacket walking toward them.  

“What threat?” Josie asks anxiously.

“A witch from the French Quarter Coven.”

The answer comes from Hope who appears at the door entrance.

Everyone turns to look at Hope who is covered in blood all over her clothes and face. One of her hands holds a severed head and the other hand carries... an empty baby carrier.

“Hope!!” Josie gasps, holding her chest and thinking the worst! Where’s their baby?!

Thankfully Alaric appears behind Hope with baby Faith looking bright-eyed, in his arms.

“Thank God! You almost gave me a heart attack!!” Josie runs over to take the baby from her father. She then turns to her blood covered scary looking wife. “Babe, what happened?!”

Hope throws the severed head onto the floor. “I killed a witch from the same coven who tried to kill me when I was a baby! He was trying to kidnap Faith! That’s what happened! He pretended to be a candidate for my PA job! I even let him hold Faith after the interview! By the time I sensed his magic, it was too late. He then casted a full freeze spell on both me and Alaric. I watched him cooing my baby, telling how she would make a great sacrifice for their ancestors! I knew immediately he was a French Quarter Witch! Thankfully, a girl who came earlier for an interview came back in and had secretly broken the freeze spell. I immediately sliced his head with my bare hands as soon as I felt the spell breaking, catching my daughter in my arms in time. I needed to act fast!”

“Hope! Killing him is just gonna alert the whole coven!” Freya chides. “You could have just hurt him and brought him back for questioning!”  

“Sorry, Aunt Freya but I acted on instinct! A mother’s instinct!” Hope counters. “They were gonna kill my daughter! The same way when they took me out of my mother’s womb and then killed her! If I didn’t kill him, he would have killed me!” 

“Hope, we may have just triggered a new war.” Davina shakes her head at the severed head.  

“Davina, THEY triggered the war first by trying to kidnap my daughter!” Hope corrects her aunt.

“You can’t bring Faith to work anymore, Hope.” Josie advises.

“I’m not going to work until I kill the whole fuckin coven!” Hope states.

“Ok, I think you need to calm down, Hope. Take a bath first.” Freya suggests as she frowns at the amount of blood stains on Hope. “We’ll discuss further after that, shall we?”

“Yeah, I’ll go with you.” Josie offers as she pats her wife’s back gently.

Hope nods and obediently walks up to their bedroom bathroom. 

“I’m gonna bathe both you and our daughter. She’s covered in dried blood too.” Josie tells her wife as they arrive in their bathroom.

“Sorry. Let’s bathe Faith together.” Hope adds as she takes off all her bloodied clothes then reaches to take the baby from Josie so that Josie can change out of her clothes too.

When all three are naked and the warm water in the bathtub is ready, Hope steps into the tub first and receives Faith from Josie before Josie joins them in the tub, sitting facing Hope’s back.

“Am I a bad mom for killing someone in front of my daughter?” Hope asks her wife who is scrubbing her back while Hope sponges little Faith over her shoulder.

“No, you’re not. I would have done the same thing.” Josie smiles at the baby who is making cute faces over her wife’s shoulder. Their daughter sure loves baths.

“Faith wouldn’t remember anyway.” Josie adds as she caresses the baby’s little head.

“I scared that young witch off for sure.” Hope reveals. “She just came back to take her forgotten coat and when she saw me slice a man’s head with my bare hands, she screamed and ran off. I should call her to apologize and thank her by giving her the job.”  

“Wait..” Josie wonders aloud. “If she’s a witch who helped break that freeze spell, she would have expected such violence when you retaliate at a person who was trying to kill your child, right?”

“Well, maybe it was awfully violent to her when it’s a chopped head followed by a huge spray of blood?” Hope shrugs.

“Maybe? Did you feel magic from her when you interviewed the girl?” Josie asks.

“No. I didn’t shake her hand, I think.” Hope tells Josie.

“Hope, we can’t take the chance. If she’s not a witch, we need to compel the poor girl to forget and…” Josie adds.

“And if she’s really not the witch who helped break the freeze spell…” Hope lifts her daughter up to look at her. Their baby blinks at her innocently. 

“Did you say you were just six months when you stopped a car with your magic baby brain?” Josie leans in as she stares curiously at their tribrid daughter as well.