Always and Forever

Chapter 26~ Getting My Barings

Third Person POV~

Rebekah stopped in the woods closer to the school, holding her niece by her arms as the tribrid looks around, her thoughts going a million miles a second.

"She's alive. She's alive, and she won't even be in the same room as me. I don't-" Hope begins on a small hysterical rant, her breathing uneven as tears threaten to fall from her eyes.

"Hope. Darling, look at me." Rebekah says softly as she places a hand on Hope's cheek, looking her in eyes.

"That young girl, just had the rest of her mortal life stolen from her. And now, she has to make a choice that our family didn't get to make. I'm sure she probably just needs time to adjust." Rebekah can see her words helped calm Hope down, but she could still see the worry in her eyes.

The Original was proven right when Hope spoke, "I should be there to help her. She would be there for me."

"Hope, right now, she needs the one person that hasn't been here..." Rebekah pauses for a moment to think of the right words. Not wanting to upset her niece even more by making Hope think of Hayley not being here.

"...Caroline is going to make sure Lily is okay. Despite our disagreements, that woman is an amazing vampire and a good mother. Trust her."

"How has she been a good mother lately? She wasn't even here when-"

Before Hope went on another mindless rant, Rebekah spoke again "It can be hard sometimes, when a parent, or a family member even is gone. Even when some have the best intentions with their absence. Caroline was trying to help too. You'd be surprised how difficult finding the answer to a magical question is, believe me I know."

Seeing that this calmed her niece down, Rebekah led her back to the school at a human pace with an arm around her shoulders. "You need rest sweetheart. You've been out here a while."

This made Hope slow their pace, Rebekah looking at her in concern when they stopped walking.

"I was actually um... Thinking of going for a run? If that's okay?" Hope asks lightly, hoping her Aunt will let her.

Rebekah stared at her niece for a moment before glancing at the school not far in the distance, apparently having walked more than they thought before Rebekah spoke, and sighed in defeat.

"I suppose that's better than shaking the lights. Don't go near humans, and stay within the property woods." Rebekah answers with a hug before she slowly pulls away and walks to the school at the same pace as before.

"Thanks Aunt Bex, love you." Hope calls at a normal volume, knowing Rebekah could hear just fine. She was proven right when the original said I love you back without turning around.

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When Hope was walking back to her room, she saw a head of blonde hair down a familiar hallway, making her take a second glance and see Lizzie.

Walking closer, she noticed Josie was there too, the twins both sitting next to their sister's bedroom door. Josie having silent tears go down her face as she lays her head against Lizzie's shoulder.

Hope looked at the door then to the Saltzman's, "Is she?-" she asks as she points to the door, getting her answer when the sisters' get frowns on their faces and nod slowly with worried and guilty eyes.