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Josie stands in the room, pacing back and forth. Today is the day. Today is the day that she gets to marry the love of her life. It is the day she gets to stand in front of friends and family and declares her love for Hope Mikaelson. This is the day she's been dreaming of since she was little, and it is finally happening.
So, to say the least, Josie is nervous. She's terrified, but not of the wedding. No, she's never been more sure of anything (like seriously, she cannot wait to marry Hope), she's more nervous about-
"Josie!" Caroline exclaims as the door swings open, an excited Lizzie following her in. The woman rushes over to her daughter, hugging her tightly.
"Mom! The dress!" Josie hugs back, but loosely so Caroline can pull back. When she does, the woman takes in Josie's look. She's seen it before, she had been there when Josie chose the dress, but seeing it on the day makes it hit different. And it makes it so much more emotional.
"My little girl is getting married." Caroline laughs, the kind that you can tell means the person is on the verge of tears. Lizzie hangs behind, looking at Josie too. And Josie can sense the comments Lizzie is ready to throw her way. "You look so beautiful." Josie smiles.
"Thanks, Mom." Josie hadn't been sure of the dress at first, but after some tweaks from her mother and sister, it ended up becoming the exact dress she'd been looking for. She loves the detailed lace on the upper half, thinking it's just the right amount, not too much that it is distracting but also not too little that it is barely noticeable.
"You look beautiful, too, Lizzie. Why thank you, Mother!" Lizzie jokes, moving back and forth to simulate two people having a conversation. Caroline and Josie both look at the girl, the latter opting to roll her eyes.
"Gosh, I remember when you two were kids and were dressing up for my wedding." Without realizing it, the woman reaches for the ring around her neck, rubbing her finger along it. It hasn't got easier. She wakes up each day thinking of Stefan, but she still has all of the good memories to hold on to. "It feels like only yesterday you were throwing the petals down the aisle for me. Look at you now, all grown up. You don't need me anymore." Caroline continues, ending the standard speech mothers give at the weddings of their children. The twins share a look, and within a second they are both at Caroline's side and hugging her. Josie doesn't care if the dress gets a bit wrinkled anymore (nothing a bit of magic can't fix), because this family moment feels important. It feels needed.
"We'll always need you, Mom," Josie answers, pulling back from the hug. She smiles at her mother as Caroline wipes away her tears. "Now stop the crying before I cry too and ruin my makeup." Quiet laughter spreads through the room, moving the emotional weight that covered it not a second earlier.
"Are you ready?" Caroline turns to her daughter, the bride-to-be.
"Of course I am...I'm just nervous about the surprise." Josie explains. It certainly is her mind overreacting - she knows Hope will love it, but that doesn't stop the doubt from creeping in. Then there's also the other side of the nerves, of what the surprise means to her.
"I can tell you now, the surprise you have planned for Hope is only going to make her love you more." The vampire assures.
"Yeah. She's gonna be speechless, Jo. Just as speechless as she will be when she sees how incredible you look!" Lizzie joins in. It still surprises her that Lizzie was so quick to accept her and Hope being a thing after their history, but Josie likes knowing that she has Lizzie's support.
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Hope stands in front of a mirror, staring deep into her soul. It is hard to believe that this day has come. She finally gets to marry the love of her life. if you'd asked her some twelve or so years ago if she thought she'd ever get her happy ending, she'd say no. She'd think she didn't deserve it, but that was before she fell for Josie. And now, here they are. Preparing to spend the rest of their lives together. Hope couldn't be happier.
Rebekah stands behind her niece. She's doing Hope's hair for her, not that Hope had much choice in the matter. Rebekah decided that she would be doing it, and Hope couldn't exactly fight her on it. Not that she minds. The wedding has given her and her aunt more time together, to grow even closer and bond over certain things. They even shared fun memories from Rebekah's wedding, which Hope can vividly remember attending. She hopes her own can be just as beautiful and exciting.
"I'm still upset that you wouldn't let me officiate the ceremony, by the way." She complains.
"I proposed to Jo, so it only feels fair she decides who officiates, and if that happened to be some random person then so be it." Hope wouldn't care if a rat was officiating it, she wouldn't even care if it was in some dusty old building, as long as she and Josie can make their promise of forever then the who and the where doesn't matter.
"Yeah, but it's not. It's-" Hope cuts Rebekah off before she can even finish her sentence.
"Don't. I already know how that sentence will end. With some snarky comments about her. Might I remind you that Elena is Josie's family and therefore is going to become my family too." Josie has told her why she's chosen Elena. Because the woman has been there for her, offered a place to stay whenever she needs it. She's helped her through so much that it just feels right. And now Josie gets to have her special day which her mother and sister helped plan, and where her father gets to walk her down the aisle.
"Whatever." Rebekah sighs, only half-joking.
She moves a few strands of hair here, and a few there, until she's ready to see the outcome. She spins Hope around, and when she sees the final look a satisfied smile creeps onto her lips. She points at the mirror, a silent way to tell Hope to check it out. The tribrid gasps when she sees the look. It's everything she could have hoped for and more. It's exactly what she wanted the hair, the makeup, and the dress to look like. She just wishes her mother and father could be there to see it.
"I wish my parents could be here." Hope voices her thoughts with a sad frown.
"I know they would be so proud of the woman you've become. And I bet they'd love Josie too." Rebekah smiles, trying her best to remain calm.
"I'd hope so, or else we would have a problem." Hope chuckles. She's about to say something else when there's a knock on the door. Hope assumes Freya is the one on the other side, no doubt there to tell her she needs to leave that room already. Rebekah, on the other hand, well she knows exactly who's there, and she knows it's not Freya.
"Come in Aunt Freya!" Hope calls out, grabbing a pair of earrings off of the desk to add the final touch. She's finished putting them in when she hears that voice, his voice, and she freezes.
"Not Freya. And for the record, I think Josie is wonderful." Hope spins so fast her vision is blurry and she blinks multiple times to try and clear it up. When everything focuses, he's still standing by the door. He's there, somehow, and Hope can't believe it.
"Auntie Bex, are you seeing this? Am I dreaming?" Hope blinks again. There is no way he could be standing in front of her. It's impossible. He can't be here. Her father is dead, he died years ago, and yet he is standing in the same room as her, seemingly alive and breathing.
"Not dreaming, Hope." Another voice joins in, sneaking into the room from around the corner. "The dress looks beautiful." Hope's head follows that voice, to see her mother standing there too with tearful eyes. Her father wears a standard suit and her mother wears a simple red dress, which if she were to guess had been chosen by Auntie Bex.
"What? I don't understand. How are you both here?" Words are too complicated to even use at this point. Her thoughts are racing, trying to understand how on earth they can be standing in front of her.
"Freya tried explaining the magic of it all, but from what I gather it was all Josie's idea. She was adamant we get to be here." He says. It hardly surprises Hope that it was Josie's idea. What does surprise her is that Josie managed to keep it a secret. They've never had secrets and whenever Josie's tried to have one Hope can tell she's been hiding something. This time, Hope didn't even notice anything different.
"What about Uncle Elijah?"
"Here's here too, waiting with the rest of the family," Hayley explains, smiling. She never could've imagined getting to attend her daughter's wedding. And she'd made peace with that, but then all of this happened and she couldn't be more grateful.
No longer feeling like her feet are glued to the floor, Hope races over to her parents. She grabs onto their hands, holding them close and feeling the warmth of their skin. Klaus smiles and strokes Hope's cheek with his free hand. Hope leans into the touch.
"No longer my littlest wolf now, are you?" Hope laughs a tearful kind of laugh. She launches herself at her parents, a group hug being necessary.
They spend some time together in the room, some sibling banter being exchanged between Klaus and Rebekah. Her parents further explain what Freya told them about the magic. They tell her that although they are here, it is only for twenty-four hours and that it is the kind of thing that can only happen once. They tell her that the magic runs out at midnight. And as much as she'd like to have them back permanently, she also knows that they have found their peace, that they are back with people they've lost along the way. Klaus tells her how glad he is to be able to be with Camille again. Hope heard of how hard losing her had been for him throughout her childhood, so she's glad he's found some kind of happiness. And Hayley says how nice it is to be with Elijah and not worry about who's coming after them next. She says to Hope that it's nice to see the lost members of the pack, but that she still missed Hope more than anything.
They tell her that they've gotten to watch her grow up. More importantly, they tell her how happy they are to get to be a part of her special day.
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The time comes quicker than everyone realizes. Josie is waiting to walk down the aisle first. Her father stands by her side. The timing of it all means that she won't get to see Hope after her parents have gotten to see her. This means Josie is even more nervous as she and her father take the first step through the large doors.
Upon entering the main room, she sees all of the guests invited to be there. She sees old classmates, like her best friend MG and his other best friend Kaleb. She sees her ex-girlfriend Penelope sitting next to her other ex-girlfriend, Finch. Behind them, she sees Pedro, now all grown up, with his older sister and parents. She sees Freya, Keelin, and their teenager, Nick. She sees all of the people from Hope's family, her aunts, and uncles. Everyone Josie wants to be here is here.
Step by step, she makes it down the aisle. Music plays in the background. Her father's arm is lopped around hers. When she makes it to the front, her father kisses the side of her head, leaving her next to Elena. They share a smile before Josie's eyes scan the crowd. They meet Hayley who's sat beside Elijah. The woman mouths a thank you, probably the millionth thank you she's said since Josie first brought her back (with the help of Freya and Davina). Josie nods, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful silence that there is between all of the guests.
The doors open for the second time and Josie's jaw drops. Hope, in all of her magical beauty, is walking towards her. The tribrid's hair is curled. Around her neck sits the necklace Josie got her on their fourth valentines's together. The dress fits her and makes her look like a princess. And boy does Josie feel like the luckiest woman alive.
Josie thinks this is it.
This is what happiness looks like. Being stood by the altar, with her wife-to-be getting closer each second.
Josie recognizes the loving and grateful smile on Hope's face. And now everything feels okay. Her nerves for the surprise wither away when Hope turns to her father, exchanging proud grins. Josie's nerves that something would stop them from actually getting here wither away when Hope is finally by her side. Klaus does the same as Alaric, kissing Hope's cheek and leaving to go and sit with his siblings. After that, it takes Hope all of two seconds to press her lips to Josie's. The Gemini witch welcomes the affection, getting completely lost in it-
"The kiss comes after, ladies." Elena jokes. The two separate. Hope whispers an I love you. The heart of the soon-to-be-Mikaelson thuds the same way it did when they kissed for the first time. The same way it has every day since she first fell in love with Hope.
"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two women in official matrimony. All of us here know that what these girls share is special, and it's pure. After everything life has thrown at them, their love has only grown stronger. That is why I know that they deserve a happy, fulfilled, and long life together. So, before we go any further, does anyone have any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace." Nobody speaks a word. The room is silent enough to hear a small pin fall to the ground. "I believe Hope and Josie have written their own vows," Elena concludes the opening speech.
Yet again, Josie goes first. She sucks in a deep breath. Then, she starts speaking the words she's been preparing for weeks. "Hope...Little seven-year-old me could never imagine that I would be lucky enough to know you the way that I do. When we met, I was this shy little girl and you were this courageous painter, a talented one at that. We didn't speak for a while, but when we finally became friends, I got to see the real you. I saw this kind, beautiful person who was willing to sacrifice parts of themself if it means saving others, such as myself. It would've been impossible not to fall in love with you. You've always been there for me. You never gave up on me when it seemed everyone else already had. In my darkest days, you were my light. I hope to be the same for you, someone to be with you when you're lonely and to hold you when you're sad. I promise to always be there for you and I promise to love every part of you, forever."
The two women share a look. A kind that days thousand words. It speaks for them when they can't muster a full sentence, enough to tell the other that they love them more than anything.
"That was beautiful. Now, Hope, it's your turn." Elena cuts over the emotional silence.
"My life has never been easy. There have always been twists and complications. I used to feel like I could never be honest about anything, that I had to hide parts of myself so that people wouldn't hate me, but all it would take is one look, one smile from you and it was like I didn't care. It didn't matter what they had to say anymore because Josie Saltzman smiled at me. That's all I've ever needed. I've treasured every moment and conversation we've had, as I will do for everything to come in our future. Because you're my person, my rock. You are my love, my happiness, and as ironic as it is, you're my hope. You're my home...My family has this promise, one that says we'll protect each other no matter what. Always and forever. And now you get to be a part of that promise too." There's some stuttering throughout, though not nearly as much as when she proposed. Why? Because Josie's already said yes and because she knows they will spend the rest of their lives together. And they'll have their happy ending.
Lizzie moves from her seat to pass the rings over. She hands Josie's to Hope and vice versa.
"Hope Mikaelson, do you take Josie to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" Elena asks.
"I do." Josie slides the ring onto her finger, the grin never once leaving her face.
"And do you, Josette Saltzman, take Hope to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
"I do." She answers instantly. Hope then slides the ring onto her finger. The two wait patiently to kiss, for Elena to say the final words.
"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss your bride." And the women lock lips. Distant cheers can be heard, small mumbles to them really. They are so caught up in their moment, in the feeling of each other's lips, the emotion. After all these years, full of ups and downs, obstacle after obstacle, here they are. Alive and now married. To each other. A promise of forever.
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After the ceremony, everyone moves to the after-party venue. Tables are set out around the room, surrounding the dance floor. A buffet is set up on one side, with all kinds of delicious foods and snacks. People have their designated seats and are talking amongst themselves. At the biggest table, Hope and Josie are drinking their wine and laughing with their family. It's moments like this that Hope has missed the most. Being sat with the people she loves with no worry about monsters or people hunting her down, she can just be. And that is all that she needs. All that she'll ever need.
Throughout the day, family members come up to the women to congratulate them. MG, Kaleb, Cleo, and all of their high school friends say some kind words to them and even give some gifts. Most of them add funny memories from when they were kids into their little speeches. While it is nice to look back on the past, it's also nice for Hope and Josie to look forward to the future. They don't know exactly how that will look (there have been talks of getting a cat, mostly by Josie), only that they'll be together. That is more than enough for either of them.
"Welcome to the Mikaelson family!" Klaus says to Josie as he raises his glass. Everyone else lifts theirs too, clinking them against each other. Josie smiles at the man, grateful that he is accepting her into the family. She'll admit, she had her doubts. Or well fears. For a man that she'd only really met when she'd been asked to take the dark magic out of him, she had her worries. But it's all worked out. He's been nothing but kind to her and supportive of the relationship she and Hope share.
Hope has been embarrassed by her family on multiple occasions. All in front of Josie, too. Kol, Davina, and Freya all shared stories of Hope when she was younger, and all of them leave Hope a blushing, embarrassed mess. Freya's story has to have been one of the worst so far. She tells everyone at the table about a time she visited Hope and all the young girl had spoken about for half an hour was Josie. She then explains that Hope showed her a painting she did of Josie that she planned on giving to her but she was too scared. Kol joins in too, adding on a time that Hope gushed to him about her little crush too. Even Marcel, sharing a time Hope had been trying to figure out the best gift to get Josie for her birthday.
So yep, embarrassing. Hope tries to hide her face behind her hands, but Josie peels them away, leaving small kisses on them instead. Despite Hope's utter panic and clear annoyance at the story, Josie insists that she finds it cute. And, well Hope can handle the stories being shared if it means Josie keeps laughing and smiling the way that she is now. The way that she always has. The way that has Hope's heart jumping and stopping, her skin burning and freezing, all at once.
Josie then goes up to the dance floor with Lizzie, leaving Hope alone with her parents and Uncle Elijah. She knows Josie did this for a reason, to give Hope a final few minutes with her family before the magic fades and they are sent back to the afterlife they came from, whatever that might look like.
"Having you guys here...it just means a lot."
"And we are glad we get to be here," Klaus says as he looks over at Josie. "She's a special one."
"She is." Hope checks the time. One minute left. One minute to say goodbye, no matter how much she wishes they could stay. But this has been a gift, one that she thinks has been needed, to bring that bit of closure. "I don't want you guys to go," Hope admits.
"We'll be fine, Hope." Hayley grabs Elijah's hand, smiling fondly at him. "And we will watch over you, until one day in hundreds of years, you come back to us. Remember what I told you last time?"
"To have good stories." Hope recalls. She remembers that interaction as clear as day. Honestly, she'd convinced herself it had been some sort of weird dream, but this tells her that it wasn't. This tells her that her mother really has been doing okay.
"Exactly. So live your life, Hope. We'll be waiting for you."
"Now stop talking to us! Go spend time with your wife!" Klaus tells her, speaking loudly over the music.
"What is it?" Hayley spots the grin that appears on her daughter's face at the mere mention of Josie. It is the kind of look only the purest forms of love can give a person. And it is the kind of love she's always wanted Hope to find.
"She's my wife." Hope looks over at Josie. She's doing her goofy dance moves with Lizzie. It makes Hope love her even more.
"So go to her!" Klaus demands. He leaves no room for arguing. Hope shoots up from her seat and goes to her wife (that still feels so strange for her to say but in the best kind of way). She stops, turning around to take one last look.
"Goodbye, Mom, Dad, Uncle Elijah. I love you guys. Always and forever."
"Always and forever." The three of them say in unison.
And so the three of them watch as Hope runs over to the woman she loves, taking her into a warm embrace. This is what they've always wanted for her.
"Hope’s found her person." Hayley has tears in her eyes. She knows that Hope held some guilt for her death, no matter her attempt to persuade her otherwise. She hopes now that Hope has found her peace with it. She thinks Hope has. After years of suffering and torment and fighting, she thinks her daughter has finally found happiness.
"All of our sacrifices, everything that you have done for her, it has all been worth it." Elijah joins in. He's glad to see his niece happier than she had been the last few times they had spoken. He likes seeing her so carefree. And he's thankful that she had been able to forgive him for the role he played towards Hayley's death. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that everyone is where they are supposed to be, with who they're supposed to be with. Everyone has found their happy ending.
"I-" Klaus is cut off, the three of them swirling away into the air of the night, back on their way to peace as Hope heads towards her future.