Chapter 7-I'll Stay By: Riley Clemmons

It had been six weeks since the day in Alaric's office with Mrs. Parks and amazingly, everything has been calm. Penelope got the message and had backed off and was leaving Hope and the twins be. They were all happy that that drama was over.

Due to the fact that Penelope was harassing Josie, Hope didn't get suspended, nevertheless, she had gone too far and Alaric felt that she needed to understand that. She was given a week detention and was grounded to her room except for meals for that week. In all fairness, she did go a bit far with the spells but it appeared that everyone finally learned their lesson. No one messes with Josie or they would deal with Hope.

Currently the girls were in Josie's room, packing her bags for Spring Break. Turns out that Freya was serious and had actually extended an invitation to Josie to visit with Hope during vacation.

"This is going to be so great Jo! I get to show you all over my home town. I'll take you down to the Bayou while we are there and you can meet my mom's pack. Aunt Keelin is their Alpha now. Oh and you have to try a fresh made beignet. They are the best when they are fresh."

Josie was smiling at her girlfriend with affection. She loved how enthusiastic she was to show of her home town. She knew that she really missed her home. She was really happy to get to go home with her and to play tourist.

If she was honest though, she was so nervous too. She was meeting Hope's whole family for the first time. She knew what Freya had said about Hayley liking her, but what if no one else did? What if they hated her? What if they didn't want Hope to be with her? Without noticing, she had worked herself into a panic. Would Hope break up with her if her family didn't like her?

"Jo, baby, what's wrong? I'm here, breathe for me honey. In through the nose out through the mouth. That's it."

"I'm ok. It's nothing. I'm sorry."

"No Josie. It wasn't nothing and you have nothing to be sorry about. Tell me, please?"

Josie looked down towards the ground as she started to play with her fingers. She knew that she couldn't avoid telling Hope. She would make her talk because she doesn't like it when she is upset.

"Hey, Jo, it's just me. You can tell me anything. You know that I always have you. I'm always going to be here for you."

Josie flung her arms around Hope's neck and hugged her so tight that had she been human she would be choking her.

"Ok Jo, I can't breathe."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to hug you so tight, but you have no idea how much I needed to hear that."

"I'm glad, but why the panic attack?"

"Um, I was just thinking about meeting your family. What if they don't like me? What if they don't want you to date me?"

The older girl burst into a fit of laughter. She was doubled over and couldn't breathe for laughing so hard.

When she looked up, the look Josie gave her sobered her up. It was a look that broke her heart. The brunette looked like she was going to cry.

Hope picked her up and sat down on the brunette's bed placing her on her lap.

"Josie, they will love you. You are all any of them have been able to talk about since I told them that you were coming with me. Freya already half loves you just cause of what my mom told her. She was also impressed apparently with the way that you 'handled' me."

"Really? But what if they don't. What if they meet me and decide that they don't like me?"

"Then they are missing out on the greatest person on the face of the earth and it will be their loss. I am with you and nothing is ever going to change that. You could dump me and tell me that you hated me and never wanted to see me again. I would be crushed, heart broken, and then stalk you to make sure that you are always safe."

Josie giggled a little at her girlfriend. She was so perfect, she always knew what to say to make her feel better.

"Well, you should know that I am always going to want you and I will never tell you to go away from me or to leave me alone. I want you to be with me for always. You are stuck with me as long as I live."

Hope leaned in and pressed the softest most loving kiss on Josie's lips. She wanted this kiss to express every ounce of love that she help for the younger girl. She wanted her to know that it wasn't just words that she spoke, but a promise. She needed her to feel everything that she held in her heart for her.

Just as Josie was about to slide her hand into the auburn hair that she loved so much there was a banging at her door.

"Every time!"

Josie gave Hope one more small peck before walking over to open the door. Lizzie was standing there looking perturbed.

"Lizzie why are you knocking?"

"Because every time I don't, I end up walking in on you and wolfie making out. I am scarred enough to last two life times thank you very much!"

"You're exaggerating! We don't make out that much."

She turned back around to look at her girlfriend for confirmation and noticed that Hope wouldn't meet her eyes. What she did see was a faint blush forming on the girls ivory skin.

"Hope! We don't make out all the time. We talk and watch movies and study together and all kinds of things!"

"Yes, we do all that. It just so happens that we usually end up at one point or another kissing."

The taller girl looked at her with outrage. That just couldn't be true, could it?

"I can't help myself. I look at you and your big brown beautiful eyes looking at me. And your pouty full lips just begging to be kissed. I lose myself every time. I can't help it."

As Hope spoke she had unconsciously had moved closer to the other girl. Leaning in to kiss those lips. She was so close that she could feel Josie's breath on her.

"See what I mean! Every time!"

Lizzie huffed over to the two girls and grabbed Hope by the arm and dragged her over to the door. She opened it and shoved her out and across the threshold.

"I declare it sister bonding time until we leave for the airport in the morning! We are going to be separated for ten days and you will have her all to yourself. Bye Hope."

Before either of the other girls could say anything at all, the blonde slammed the door and locked it.

"Lizzie that was rude. You could have at least let me tell her good night."

"If I would have let you tell her good night, then you would be back in her room and I wouldn't get to see you at all before we leave tomorrow."

"Ok, Liz, we can have sister bonding time, but I want to say goodnight to Hope. Five minutes, I promise."

"Okay, But I'm counting."

Josie pulls the door open and there stood a chaotic and depressed looking Hope. Josie's heart hurt at the sight of her girl.

"Oh baby."

Hope looked up and you could see in her eyes that she wanted to cry but was fighting it.

"You didn't even say goodnight and she just threw me out."

Turning back to her sister she glared at her like she was the most evil vile person in the whole world for putting this look on her sweet girls face.

"Look what you did Lizzie!"

Lizzie actually felt a little bad. She knew that her sister and the tribrid have become even more devoted since becoming a couple. They rotated sleeping in the twin's room or Hope's each night. Like it physically pained them to be separated.

"Fine she can stay the night with us, but I get to pick the movie and no making out!"

Hope still didn't raise her eyes. She didn't seem to react at all to this. Lizzie and Josie both looked at each other with a bit of worry in their eyes.

"Hope, honey. Are you ok?"

Josie reached out and took her girls hand and tugged her forward a bit. The shorter girl stumbled right into her arms and into a hug. Hope held on to Josie for dear life like she was suddenly going to disappear.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"You didn't say goodnight or goodbye and you were just gone."

"I wasn't gone baby. Hope I'm right here."

Josie hold on her tightened. She wanted the shorter girl to know that she was still her with her.
"Shit Hope. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you would take it this hard. I figured that you knew that Josie was safe and with me. You don't get this upset when you guys have different classes and activities."

"But we always say goodbye first. She never leaves without a goodbye or see you later."

Josie held Hope tightly to her so that she could feel her and hear her heart beating clearly. She wasn't sure why this had affected her so much, but she had an idea.

"I'm not going anywhere Hope. I'm right here. I'm safe."

The older girl gripped her tighter and held her like she was afraid that she was going to vanish at any moment.

Looking over Hope's shoulder at her sister, she motioned for her to leave them alone for a few minutes. Thankfully, Lizzie was really good at understanding what her sister wanted when she paid attention.

"I'm going to go get some snacks and drinks and stuff. I'll be back."

After the blonde left, Josie walked her girl over to lay down. She pulled her in close so that they were pressed tightly together and wrapped fully around one another.

Josie knew that, even with it not being the same thing, certain things could trigger a reaction and bring forth memories that haunt you.

Once she was sure that the girl in her arms had calmed down some and was secure within her arms, she softly spoke.

"Hope, I know that you don't' like to leave without a goodbye. I know why."

Hope looked up at her, tears in her eyes. She could see the pleading there to not make her say it.

"I know that especially with us about to go back to your home, you have to be thinking about your parents right now. I know that you didn't get proper goodbyes. Even without it at the fore front, I have noticed that you never leave anywhere without a goodbye."

Hope looked at her girl with the tears flowing freely now. She was thankful that Josie understood without her having to talk about it.

"I need you to know that I am not going anywhere. I am not leaving you. But I will always say goodbye or see you later. You need to know, that no matter what, I will fight hell itself to make sure that I don't leave you. You have to know that you will never lose me."

Hope buried her head into Josie's shoulder and cried a mix of anguish and relief. She knew that she was overreacting. Josie was safe and there was nothing bad going to happen between now and the morning. Josie was with her sister. But she couldn't help the dread she felt whenever anyone she cared about left her without first giving her a goodbye. Especially when it was someone that she cared about as deeply as she did for Josie.

"The last time that my aunt left the country without telling me before she did it without saying goodbye, I locked myself in my room for three days and had a panic attack. Your dad had to finally call Aunt Bex and force her to call me before I could calm down."

"Why didn't I know about this?"

"You were in Europe visiting your mother at the time. We weren't dating then. Your dad wasn't going to talk about another student and I didn't want you to know that I was an idiot."

Josie was angry now. How dare anyone, even Hope herself talk about Hope this way?

"You listen to me right now Hope! You are not an idiot! You are a girl who has been through a lot in your life. You don't give yourself the time or the space you always need to heal and to feel what you need to. You keep all of your fears and anxieties to yourself because you are worried that someone will think that you are weak but you're not. You are the strongest person that I know."

"But, I just, I can't talk about this stuff. When I try I feel like I am just whining and I shouldn't."

"Oh, so when I have an issue am I whining?"

"No! Of course not! I am always here for you when you need to talk. I'll always listen. I… just walked right into your point didn't I?"

"And I appreciate that you did the work for me there."

Josie leaned over and kissed Hope on the forehead and then hugged her tighter.

"It's you and me. Always will be. For now on, you tell me when you are having anxiety and I will help you how ever I can."

"Ok. I guess I should go before Lizzie gets back. This was supposed to be your sister time."

Before either girl could move or say anything Lizzie was walking back into the room with her arms loaded with snacks and drink. It seems that she brought enough for a small country.

"So I think that I have enough here. I'm never sure with Hope's wolf side. She always eats so much."

Both girls looked up as Lizzie dropped everything at the foot of Josie's bed. Lizzie looked at them with a question in her eyes that she wasn't willing to ask.

"I was just about to go so you could have your sister time. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You aren't going anywhere wolfie so sit back down."

Josie looked at her twin curiously. She was happy that she no longer wanted Hope to leave, but she wanted to make sure that this wasn't guilt and that she wasn't going to be upset later.

"Hope, did you finish packing your bags?"

"Almost. I just need to put my passport and ticket in my carry one and then I'm good."

"Why don't you do that and put on your pjs and then come back here, ok?"

Hope smiled and nodded. She leaned over and kissed Josie softly on her cheek.

"I'll see you in a few minutes."

"See you in a few."

Hope stopped and looked to Lizzie.

"See you in a few?"

"Yes you will. I'll leave the door unlocked for you. Bye Hope."

With that, the tribrid left the room, knowing that the sisters needed a few moments to talk.

"Is she ok? I didn't mean to hurt her. She looked so scared."

"She is fine now."

"What happened? What did I do? I don't want to see her like that again."

Josie was so proud of her twin. Once everyone thought that she was selfish because they didn't take the time to get to know her. But she was slowly starting to let other people see what Josie always knew, she was sensitive and caring.

"She didn't say goodbye before you kicked her out. It made her think of her parents."

"Oh shit! I didn't even think about that. I'm such an ass."

"No Liz, you couldn't have known. I didn't even know until just now."

Lizzie started to pace at the end of the bed. She felt so bad for causing Hope that pain. She knew what it was like to have panic attacks and to feel abandoned. She should have known better.

Just as Lizzie was getting worked up, Hope walked in.

"What happened? What wrong? Is everything ok?"

The tribrid grabbed the blonde witch and brought her in for a tight hug. She just looked over her shoulder and shot Josie a worried questioning look.

Josie shook her head and walked over to hug her two favorite people. They were both just as bad.

"Liz is freaking out because she is worried that you will be mad at her because she caused you to panic. You both are the exact same. You need to stop blaming yourselves for everything and talk when you have issues. Stop bottling it all up."

All three girls looked at each other and were silently thinking. Then Hope started laughing and within seconds the twins were laughing too.

"How about we all promise to be there for each other and to talk more so that this doesn't happen anymore."

"Agreed."

"Sounds good."

"Now can we please watch a movie? My pick of course."

"Of course Liz."

All three girls piled on to Josie bed and snuggled together. For the rest of the night they watched stupid comedies and ate junk and laughed and talked. They acted like the teenaged girls that they were for one night.

Finally, as all three had flights in the morning, they went to bed. Still not ready to let go, all three cuddled together for the night. Josie spooned Hope and Lizzie spooned Josie.

When Alaric came to wake them in the morning, this is exactly how he found them. Part of him wanted to be upset that Hope was in bed with his daughter, but seeing as it was all three of them and they were all clothed and looked peaceful, he was going to let it go.

Once he dropped them at the airport, Alaric hugged all three girls making them promise to call him when they arrived at their respective destinations. With promises given, the girls went to check in.

After getting through security, Lizzie had to go to the left, while the other two were headed to the right.

"Call me when you land Lizzie. Let me know that you are safe."

"Yeah. Text me when you land so that I will see it when I land."

"Promise. I'll see you in ten days. Have a great vacation!"

"You two have fun. See you when you get back!"

All three girls shared a group hug. This was going to be fun, but they would miss each other.

"Bye Liz. We'll be sure to bring you back something from the Big Easy."

"Thank you Hope. I'll see you later. Take care and take care of my sister. If anything happens to her, I will kill you."

"If anything happens to her I'll let you. See you next week."

The girls walked away after one last hug. Overhead was the announcement for Hope and Josie's flight.

"Now board for direct to New Orleans."

"Ready to start our adventure?"

"Completely ready."

T.B.C.