Damage Control

Chapter Thirty

If Josie thought Hope's aunt Freya was intimidating, she was in for a treat with Rebekah. Freya was notorious enough but Rebekah was one of the legendary original vampires and they were all currently sitting on Freya's couch having coffee. Josie was sandwiched between Lizzie and Hope. Hope had a huge smile on her face, the biggest Josie had ever seen, as she talked and laughed with her aunts about their lives.

The twins had been introduced briefly. Josie was sure any member of the Mikealson clan knew about Hope's spotty past with them, this was confirmed with a very calculated glance from Rebekah. Hope quickly added that they were all on good terms. So Josie just sat and watched as Hope got caught up on all the adventures her aunt was having around the world, living the best of her immortal life before she took the cure.

Rebekah wiped a tear from her eye from laughing so hard. "Okay, enough about me." She leaned in closer. "Why haven't you told me anything about your life?" Rebekah had tried a few times to get Hope to talk about her life at school but she kept changing the subject. Josie tried not to feel hurt about that. Hope sat back a bit, unsettled, Josie wondered how much Hope had been keeping from her family. "God knows I had to hear about the whole Malivore thing from Freya. Waking up on the floor suddenly remembering you have a niece." She gave Hope a look. "So what else have you been keeping from me?"

Josie felt Hope lean into her side slightly. She took a big sigh then launched into everything, the events of the past year, thankfully glazing over Josie's walk on the dark side, though she had to hear a very nice play by play of Hope and Landon's relationship. Lizzie took out the school phone and was scrolling the internet, interest lost. "And so I decided to take a trip home to connect with my roots." She said in closing.

Rebekah looked over at Josie, who had been trying to listen intently through the whole thing. "So you're the girlfriend then?" Hope stiffened and Josie felt her eyes widen slightly. "Freya told me there was a girl."

Josie didn't miss the look Hope shot at Freya. "Yes aunt Rebekah this," She laced their fingers together. "Is my girlfriend."

"Josie," Josie offered her own name.

Lizzie raised her hand slightly. "I am just the friend, and twin, past enemy, on the merry road to friendship." Josie noticed she put the phone away.

Rebekah had a straight face, for what seemed like an hour before she cracked into a slight smile. "I remember hearing things about you two." Lizzie shot a glare at Hope. "But I am glad you have all come a long way, I don't think I would have liked this Landon." She said, taking a sip of her drink.

Hope looked uncomfortable again. "Wait till you hear that both of them dated the mop head, talk about a lousy love triangle." Lizzie rolled her eyes.

Rebekah and Freya made eye contact for a moment. "Teenagers." Freya snorted.

"It is all so dramatic," Rebekah scoffed. "Much like our family get togethers, always daggers in the heart." Josie couldn't help but notice that Hope's face paled a little bit, Rebekah seemed to have caught that. "Sorry sweetheart."

Hope shrugged. "I know what he was like." She said barely above a whisper, that means they were talking about Klaus. "I knew coming back here meant I might run into some unpleasant memories."

"Speaking of which," Freya said, looking like she'd rather not be bringing this up. "We better get going or it will be too late to do the spell today, unfortunately my witch schedule has to work around my wife and son."

Rebekah sat up a bit straighter. "Where is my darling nephew?" She said as if she just realized he was not here.

"Spending the day with his father, until Keelin is off work." Freya and Rebekah stood, the girls followed. "So if you wish to see him today we need to get this spell on the road."

"Right, off to the compound then." Rebekah clapped her hands together. "I'll get the car warmed up," She went to walk away but turned. "You blondy, come help me with the bags." Freya had some bags of ingredients by the door, Lizzie tried not to scoff as she went off to help.

Freya seemed to slip from the room, leaving Josie and Hope alone. Josie turned to Hope and rubbed her free hand over Hope's arm. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Hope actually laughed. "Not at all."

Josie pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "I will be there with you every step of the way."

Hope placed a small kiss on Josie's lips. "Let's get this show on the road." She sighed, dragging Josie off to the waiting car.

(A/N Josie gives Freya back her memories of Hope but it was never explained how far the reach of the spell goes because she casts it over the school/town later, so I assume the reach was around the world Like she chose to project it only to Freya then the school/ everyone? If not then I guess Freya would have found the rest of the family to cast the spell... then there is the second time they forgot and Hope cast her own spell... I think we are going with it casts all over the world, if I am wrong please feel free to correct me)

I wanted this to be a bit longer but I have a bad headache. As for an update schedule I will try to update once a week, I am not sure what day, my work schedule is all over the place but thank you to all who take the time to read this :)