Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 64: Proposition

The two finish breakfast, and Jo assists Hope in cleaning up the dishes.

Once Hope is putting the last ones away, Josie eagerly wraps her arms around her waist, "Okay, I can't wait anymore. What's the surprise you were talking about?"

Hope can't help but smile at the girl's enthusiasm.

"Come on," Hope ushers her head toward the kitchen exit, "It's upstairs in my room."

Josie happily takes Hope's hand as she's guided out of the kitchen and back upstairs to the girl's bedroom.

She takes a seat at the foot of the bed as Hope goes over toward her dresser, opening a drawer and lifting up a shirt to retrieve a small box from underneath it.

Josie's first thought is a ring, which gets her heart racing giddily.

But then she realizes that the box is a bit too big for that.

It could still be jewelry, but she isn't sure.

But the anticipation is driving her crazy.

Hope must have noticed the initial shock in the brunette's eyes, because she's quick to assure her, "Don't worry, I'm not proposing...not yet at least."

Hope walks back over to Josie, taking a seat next to her on the foot of the bed as Josie nods and turns her body to face her, "...I would've said yes, for future reference." She winks playfully at the girl.

Though a small smile tugs at Hope's lips, Josie notes the nervousness exuding the Tribrid as she hands over the small box, a hopefulness filling her eyes as she waits for Josie to open it.

Josie looks like a little kid on Christmas as she unravels the ribbon and removes the lid.

When Josie sees a set of keys in the box, she looks to Hope with a heartwarming glint in her eye.

Hope is quick to explain, "There's one key for the manor and one for the safe house...I thought it would be a good idea for you to be able to come and go as you please...I want you to know that despite the threats of the Malivore monsters and Triad, you'll always have a safe place to land, with me."

Josie tries to fight the welling of tears in her eyes, but one manages to slip down her cheek as she finally looks again from the set of house keys to Hope.

Hope would be worried by her tears if the girl didn't also wear a sweet smile of disbelief.

Her voice is unprecedentedly soft as she continues, "Listen Jo, I never thought that I would ever reach a point in my life where I can be completely vulnerable with someone, not have to hide any part of myself. I have everything I've ever dreamed of, with you. I know we still have a long way to go and a lot of obstacles to overcome, but I know we can get through it all, as long as we're together."

She reaches up to caresses Josie's cheek as she wipes the stray tears away with her thumb, whispering to her, "What do you think baby?"

Josie didn't mean to get emotional at all, but she knows this is a huge step for Hope, confronting her own fears and accepting that they'll fight through their battles together, instead of allowing threats to keep them apart.

Josie's smile grows so wide that it reaches her eyes, "I love you, so much."

Her smile is enough to reassure Hope that this was the perfect decision for their relationship, and she can't help but mirror Josie's joy with her own smile before she leans in to capture Josie's lips with her own.

Josie can't help but smile into the kiss, completely unable to wipe it from her face.

Hope disconnects their lips, only to whisper against Josie's, "Now, about your proposition earlier..."