Hope feels Josie's eyes on her, and it makes studying harder than it's ever been. It was Josie's idea, for them to study together. Hope argued that it was pretty useless since they're a year apart, and don't study the same things, but Josie argued back that if she needed help, Hope could help her. Honestly, Hope didn't have it in her to refuse anything to Josie. 

It's been a week since they agreed to not push each other away anymore, and they've only grown closer. There's still some adjusting to do sometimes, but they take their time and do it. Josie learns that Hope needs space at least a couple of hours a day, and Hope learns that Josie needs physical touch to be happy. So, Josie takes a step back when Hope claims she needs "me time", and Hope lets Josie hold her hand and hug her whenever the brunette feels like it. 

They make progress everyday. Sometimes, Hope doesn't even notice that they're holding hands. Spending evenings in each other's room becomes an everyday thing. 

But now Hope really needs to study. Her test is tomorrow and this grade counts for a lot.

"Josie, stop it." Hope asks in a whine.

The brunette looks back to her books with a blush. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you distracted?" Hope asks in a sigh.

"I was just… you know, thinking."

"About…"

"It's been a week since you shifted, do you feel it?"

Ḩope's grip on her books tightens. "I do, now can we please just study. I don't need to be reminded of how long I've gone without shifting."

Josie gives the tribrid a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, it's just… I can feel how tense you are. Maybe you should go out in the woods and run for a couple of hours? It would help you for your test."

Hope shakes her head. "I'm not putting you through this again."

Josie rolls her eyes. "You can't go your whole life without shifting again Hope."

Hope runs her hand in her hair before gathering her books.

"Hope! What are you doing?"

"I need to study, and I obviously can't do it here, so I'm going to my room."

"You're not. You're just avoiding our conversation." Josie stands up and walks closer to Hope, taking the tribrid's hands in hers. "Listen to me, okay? We're both gonna go in the woods. You'll shift-" Hope starts to shake her head no, but Josie keeps talking. "and I'll wait for you."

"Josie, no." Hope says firmly. 

"I'll tell my dad."

Hope is surprised by Josie's threat. Of course she knows about Alaric's rule for her shifting. She needs to shift at least once a week to get her edge off, and she needs permission before going out. She's surprised that Josie is aware of that rule though.

"I asked some things about you to my dad. I asked about your shifting habits. He told me you needed to shift at least once a week, and that it was actually a rule between the two of you." Josie says with a little knowing smile.

"Why are you doing this? It's only gonna hurt you."

"Because I know it's hurting you to not shift. I can feel the tension around you. I don't want you to fail this test because you haven't shifted in more than a week. Again."

Okay. So Hope knows Josie is right. She craves to let her wolf out. It takes everything within her to actually keep herself from running out of Josie's room and straight to the woods. But everytime she thinks about shifting, she hears Josie's cries and she sees her curled in a ball on the ground, and it just makes her stomach churn.

"Okay, I'll shift tonight but under two conditions." Josie nods. "First, you don't come out with me. Second, you don't stay alone during the whole process. Go see your sister, have her hold you. I can't think of you crying alone in this room because I'm putting you through pain."

"Why? I want to be with you." Josie pleads. 

"Because I can't be with you as I change and that's when you'd need me to be with you!"

Hope's outburst takes them both by surprise. Hope closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths to calm herself down. Then, she opens them again and gets closer to Josie. Gently, she takes Josie in her arms. The brunette almost immediately returns the embrace, her arms going around Hope's waist.

"I need you to be safe." Hope says in Josie's ear. "I need to know someone's holding when I can't."

Josie sighs in defeat. "Okay. I'll go spend the night with Lizzie."

"Good." 

The Mikaelson girl pulls away, just enough to be able to see Josie's face. The brunette smiles at Hope, before nestling her face in Hope's neck. The tribrid allows this closeness for a long while. She holds Josie close until the brunette makes a move to pull away. The thing is, both of them are waiting for the other to move, so neither does. 

"You should probably go." Josie says, her face still buried in Hope's neck. 

"I should."

Together, they pull away and exchange shy smiles. This new closeness is a welcome change in their relationship, but it's still so new. Feeling shy around each other and blushing was now a common thing. 

"You should gather some things, I'll walk you to Lizzie's room." Hope says.

Josie rolls her eyes. "You don't trust me?"

"I do!" Hope is quick to defend herself.

Josie chuckles. "I was joking Hope. Jeez, you're on your guards."

"I-I just don't want you to think I don't trust you, or that I don't care."

Josie reaches for Hope's hand and gives it a gentle squeeze before moving around her room to gather some things.

"I know you care now. It's good to know you trust me though."

"I would have never showed you my wolf form if I didn't trust you. You're one of the only person that saw me in that form."

"Really?" Josie asks, curiousity filling her voice. 

"Yes, really."

Josie turns to look at Hope over her shoulder and smiles, before going back to packing.

"Okay! I'm done, let's go."

Hope feels little butterflies in her stomach when Josie grabs her hand on their way out of the room. They walk hand in hand through the halls of the Salvatore School, under the curious eyes of their peers. Hope heard all the rumours surrounding them. Most of the school think they're dating. Josie says the tribrid shouldn't listen to the rumours, but Hope finds it very difficult because those rumours put her brain in overdrive. 

Before Hope has time to fall once again in the questions such as : 'do I wanna date my soulmate? ' Josie and her arrive to Lizzie's room. The brunette knocks three times on the door, and then they're left waiting. It actually takes around two minutes for Lizzie to open the door. When she does, her hair are a mess and it's pretty clear her clothes were quickly put on. Hope can see Rafael putting his shirt back on behind Lizzie.

"Jo? Hope? What are you both doing here?" Lizzie asks.

"Hope needs to shift, so I was hoping I could crash here for the night." Josie says, trying not to say too much in front of Rafael.

"Does it have to be tonight? We were in the middle of something…"

Hope's grip on Josie's hand tightens. "Forget it." 

Before anyone has the time to react, Hope drags Josie away from Lizzie's room.

"Wait!" Lizzie shouts.

But Hope doesn't. She hates that Lizzie can't give Josie some attention when she needs it, when she asks for it. The tribrid feels so angry, and deep down she knows it's because she hasn't shifted in a long time. 

"Hope, what are you doing?"

"You wanted to come outside with me, well you're coming outside with me." Hope rushes out.

Josie doesn't say anything, but she does follow Hope more willingly than an instant before. When they get to the Old Mill, Josie tugs on the tribrid's hand to make her stop.

"I'm gonna go inside to grab a blanket. Wait for me, okay?"

Hope nods, and watches as Josie disappears in the abandoned house. As the brunette looks for a blanket, anxiety starts to creep into Hope. Is this a good idea?

"I'm ready now!"

Josie comes out of the Old Mill house all wrapped up in a thick blanket, ready to face the cold air of the night. Hope can't stop herself from thinking that the brunette is the cutest human being on earth. They move to the back of the Old Mill, at the same place as the last time. 

"Stay here, I'll turn behind that tree over there." Hope says, pointing to a tree a little farther. "I'll come back as soon as I'm done. I'll cuddle you until you feel okay again."

"You should just go run when you're done, I'll deal with the change."

"Please Josie, don't fight me on this too. I need to make sure you're okay before I go to run."

"Okay." Josie says with a sheepish smile.

Hope walks away, but not without giving Josie a final smile. The tribrid makes sure to make the change as quick as possible. Her pain is soon forgotten when the change is done, but she knows Josie is still in pain. Hope runs back to Josie and finds her in the same position as last time. Hope lets out a painful whine. She moves closer to Josie and curls up next to the brunette. The Saltzman girl is quick to welcome the cuddles. They stay in this position until Josie's tears stop. Until Hope is sure that Josie feels no pain. 

"You can go now. I'm okay." Josie says with a tired smile. Hope hesitates, but then Josie gently pushes her away. "Go, run and come back to me."

Hope walks away, not without looking back three or maybe even four times. As she runs into the forest, Josie's words keep replaying in her head.

Come back to me.

It keeps coming back in her head, like an echo that never stops. Hope runs for about an hour, and then she runs back straight to Josie. It might be the shortest run she ever took. When she comes back to the Old Mill, Josie is leaning against a tree and looking at the sky. Hope barks to get her attention.

Josie smiles. "Already back? It's been an hour! You should still be running."

Hope leans her head on the side, her eyes never leaving Josie.

"You ran for more than four hours last time." Josie says as she gets on her feet, slowly walking closer to Hope. "You already changed, enjoy your time as a wolf."

Hope gets closer to Josie and nudges the brunette's hand with her snout. Josie frowns, so Hope does it again.

"You want me to follow you, is that what you're trying to tell me?"

Hope does her best version of a smile and barks. When she's sure Josie is following her, Hope quickly walks back to her favorite spot, the flower field. When they get there, Hope quickly turns to see Josie's reaction. The brunette's eyes are wide, and full of awe.

"Hope! This is so beautiful."

Hope barks one more time, and then she takes off running. She runs for another hour under the eyes of Josie. The brunette sits down and simply watches as her soulmate runs around. When Hope walks back to her, they walk together to the Old Mill again. Hope shifts back to human form, and comes back to hug a crying Josie as quickly as she can. Hope holds the younger girl close, and carries her back to school. This time, Josie doesn't surrender herself to sleep during the walk back. She's fully awake the whole way. 

"I want us to do this again." Josie says quietly.

Hope looks down at Josie. "Okay."

"Really? You're not gonna fight me on this?"

"At least I know someone is taking care of you this way."

Josie rests her head on Hope's shoulder as they make their way into the school. She looks at Hope with so much fondness, that it makes Hope blush. The tribrid looks down at the girl in her arms.

"The flower field, it makes me think of you."

Josie frowns and lifts her head. "How so?"

"The smell. And… I don't know. It makes me feel good, just like you."

"Hope…" Josie pauses, hesitating before speaking her next words. "Do you realize how… romantic you sound when you say things like that?"

Hope freezes, she literally stops walking. Josie thinks for a moment that she said the wrond thing, the thing that would push Hope away again. But then, Hope tightens her jaw and starts to walk again. 

"I'm sorry.." Hope says, before swallowing the lump in her throat. "I didn't mean to cross any line, or anything."

Josie sighs and leans her head on Hope's shoulder again. "It's okay."

Soon enough, they get to Josie's room and Hope gently places the brunette on her bed. 

"Could you stay for the night?" Josie asks, hope filling her eyes.

Hope thinks for a moment. It would be the first time they'd share a bed since Josie's birthday. The tribrid wonders for a while if it's a good idea. With her ever growing feelings, and Josie looking at her like that. It's definitely a bad idea.

"Yeah, I'll stay."

Hope slips under the covers of Josie's bed, still in her day clothes, but neither of them think about that. The change was hard on them both tonight. Josie sighs and subtly tries to get closer to Hope. When the Mikaelson girl realizes what the witch is trying to do, a slow smile plays on her lips. Hope draps her arm around Josie's waist and pulls her close. When Josie buries her head in Hope's neck, the auburn haired girl feels the smile on the brunette's lips. 

"Good night Josie." Hope softly says.

Josie hums in Hope's neck. She's almost already asleep.

 *

Hope is almost out of the door the next morning when there's a loud knock on Josie's door. The girls exchange a weird look.

"Were you waiting for someone?" Hope asks with a frown.

"No."

Josie walks to her door and opens it. Lizzie and Alaric are standing on the other side of the door. The blonde girl quickly pulls her twin in an excited embrace.

"You won't believe this! Tell her dad!" Lizzie says.

Alaric chuckles. "Your mother and I agreed to send the two of you to Europe. You're gonna spend a week travelling with your her."

"A whole week?" 

All eyes fall on Hope. That's when the tribrid realizes how panicked she sounded, and how paniched she feels. 

"Is it gonna affect us? Are we gonna hurt because we're apart?" Hope adds.

Josie gets closer to Hope, feeling how distressed her soulmate is. She gently takes one of Hope's hand in hers. 

Alaric sighs. "I have no idea. The only way for us to know is to put distance between the two of you."

The man's answer is frustrating. She needs answers. She needs to know that Josie won't hurt while she's gone. She needs to know what's gonna happen!

"I'm going to my room."

"Hope-"

"Me time." Hope says.

Then the auburn haired girl is out of the room. What she doesn't know though, is that Josie is closely following her. The brunette grabs Hope's wrist, and forces her to stop.

"You can't ask for 'me time' when you want to avoid talking!"

"Oh yeah? Why not?" Hope says with snark.

"Because that's not how our relationship works. I can't let it be how our relationship works."

Hope let's Josie's words sink in. She knows the younger girl is right, but running away would be so much easier. But Josie is not gonna let her do that anymore.

"I-I'm scared." Hope lets the words slip. 

"And it's okay to be scared. Perfectly understandable actually. I'm scared too." Josie slowly pulls Hope in a hug. "But I strongly believe we'll be okay."

"Why?"

"Because, we're soulmates and that makes us strong. Whatever happens, we'll get through it together, okay?" Josie waits for Hope to nod before talking again. "If you feel pain while I'm away, tell my dad. I'll do the same. Is that a deal?"

Josie's smell filling her nose acts as a very calming thing.

"I guess, yeah."