My Expiration Date Gave Me A Reason To Let Me Love You - Hosie

Chapter Twelve

"Then after that Lizzie explained everything that happened to my mom, who then expelled Penelope. Mom, Lizzie, MG, and I all renovated my childhood home, and made it into my own... our own", Josie said looking down at Kayliope in her lap. "I moved in, had Kayliope and yeah that's pretty much the whole story", Josie finished telling Hope her story.

Josie tickled Kayliope making her giggle, which made Josie giggle as well. While Hope just sat crouched down in front of Josie looking at the floor, not being able to look at Josie or her child. Josie noticed Hope's frozen state, knowing that Hope felt bad for everything she put Josie through. Josie reached down pushing Hope's chin up with the tip of her finger. Hope looked up at Jose with teary eyes.

Hope was filled with so many emotions after hearing Josie's side of the story, and what really happened. Now looking at Josie who is holding their child, Hope began apologising profusely, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so stubborn. I have no words I'm just so so so so soooo extremely sorry. How do I even made this up to you? To the both of use?"

Josie chuckled, "It's okay Hope, really it is. It was two years ago, and I'm happy now, I'm so happy. I don't think I've even been this happy before, I never thought I could be this happy without you in my life, but I am. I'm so happy." Josie happily said smiling, looking at her daughter.

"I'm just so sorry", Hope apologised again, Josie gave her a pointed look telling her to 'shut up and stop apologising'. "I can't stop because I know what I said and you know what I said. I said some really terrible things, then I left, and you had our child. I can never not be sorry Josie", Hope said with a tear sliding down her face. Josie reached over and wiped the tear, "It's okay Hope. I forgive you. Look what I got out of it", Josie said referring to Kayliope.

Hope looked at Kayliope smiling, Kayliope looked at Hope and smiled back, "Hi" Kayliope said again. "Hello", Hope said back to Kayliope. Kayliope turned to Josie, "Mommy I want milk", Kayliope said grabbing Josie's shirt trying to pull it down. Josie helped Kayliope, pulling her shirt down for her. Kayliope latched on feeding off of Josie, Hope giggled. "Maybe she is like me in a lot more ways, not just my stubbornness and great looks", Hope smirked. Josie rolled her eyes, "Shut up", she giggled.

"Maybe you should stay with us? If you want to of course. Get to know Kayliope, maybe we could...", Josie trailed off not wanting to sound desperate to Hope. "Yeah... I'd love that Jo. Maybe I can take you out on a date?" Hope asked Josie. "You want to take me out? Like on a date?" Josie asked surprised. "Ohh was I not clear enough? Josette would you like to go on a date with me?" Hope asked Josie. "Yes I'd love to go out on a date with you Hope Mikaelson", Josie said smiling.

"Ouch", Josie exclaimed at her daughters bite. "What happened are you okay?" Hope asked concerned. "She's a biter. I'm okay", Josie chuckled. Hope sighed in relief, "I guess she really does have some of my traits, because I'm a biter as well." Josie blushed thinking back to when her and Hope were together, "Oh I know don't worry", Josie giggled. "Oh you know? But do you remember?" Hope teased. Josie got visibly flustered, "Hope", she scolded. Hope put her hands up in surrender.

Kayliope pulled away from Josie when she was finished, Josie pulled her shirt back up. "Kayliope", Josie said getting her daughters attention. "This is your mama", Josie pointed to Hope. Hope was taken aback from the introduction, but took it and everything she could get, she really wanted this little family. "Hi Kayliope", Hope waved. Kayliope looked up at Josie then back down to Hope, doing grabby hands at Hope for her to grab her. "Would you like to hold her?" Josie asked Hope. "Yes", Hope said sounding a little too excited she didn't care though, Josie giggled.

Josie passed Kayliope to Hope as Hope grabbed her. Kayliope hugged Hope tightly and Hope hugged back, starting to cry. Kayliope pulled away touching Hope's face trying to get to know her features, Hope was just starting at her child also getting to know her features. Kayliope turned around to face Josie, "Photo mommy", she said. "Yes baby just like the photo", Josie replied. Hope looked past Kayliope to look at Josie, Hope looked at Josie confused.

Josie got off the office chair and sat on the floor opposite Hope, she pulled out her phone. "She's talking about this. This painting is up in her bedroom. She kisses your picture goodnight every single night. She's very persistent", Josie smiled showing Hope the painting. It was the painting Hope gifted Josie on their two year anniversary. More tears came out of Hope's eyes, "Mama don't cry", Kayliope said hugging Hope again. Hope cried more from her newfound title. Josie moved over next to Hope hugging her and Kayliope.

"It's okay Hope", Josie whispered into Hope's ear to reassure her, Hope looked at Josie who had teary eyes. Hope looked down at Josie's lips before bringing her into a kiss, their first kiss in almost two years. The kiss was longing it was Hope and Josie getting to know each other's mouths again, but quickly falling into the same rhythm that they had fallen into countless times before.

Breaking away needing air, Josie spoke first, "I wish I never pushed you away when you were kissing me on the cheek. That's the last time you kissed me. Sometimes I catch myself unconsciously putting my hand on my cheek, trying to feel your lips", Josie admitted.

"Hold her for a second", Hope said passing Kayliope to Josie. Hope stood up reaching into her jean pocket, Josie looked up at Hope confused and so did Kayliope. Hope sat back down after she pulled out a piece of paper, "I clocked myself and moved to the other side of the world, to start a new life. But I could never start a new life because all I could think about was you Josie. And this probably didn't help, I read it everyday, it's always been with me." Hope admitted, passing the paper to Josie as Josie passed Kayliope back to Hope.

"My letter", Josie said unfolding the paper reading it. Hope nodded, "I know it by heart", Hope said proudly. Josie basically launched herself at Hope kissing all over her face. Kayliope began laughing getting in on the action, kissing Hope's face with Josie. Hope began laughing, falling back laying on her back as Josie and Kayliope were on her body kissing her. Josie broke away from Hope's face, "I love you Hope." Still laughing Hope managed to say, "I love you too Josie." Josie leaned in and kissed Hope's lips.

Hearing a knock at the door broke the little family up. Josie got off of Hope, scooping Kayliope up in her arms. Hope got up, making grabby hands at Josie wanting to hold Kayliope, Josie passed Kayliope to Hope giggling at the older girl. Hope threw Kayliope into the air catching her, making her giggle.

Opening the office doors with Hope standing behind her now tickling Kayliope, Josie was meet with a concerned Caroline. "Hey mom", Josie greeted calmly. "Are use okay? It's been a few hours and I just got worried", Caroline said panic clear in her voice. "Yeah we're fine mom", Josie said. "More than fine", Hope continued, while Kayliope giggled. Caroline sighed in relief, "I seriously thought you killed her", Caroline said to Josie.

Hope looked at Caroline, "Oh yeah? How come?" Josie grabbed the door closing it, "Bye mom." Josie turned around going to Kayliope's dipper bag to grab her a snack. "So why did your mom think you killed me?" Hope asked grinning. Josie walked over to Hope and Kayliope giving Kayliope her yogurt pouch. "Let's just say I've had some resentment towards you", Josie admitted moving strands of hair out of Kayliope's face.

"That's understandable", Hope said back. Josie hummed in reply, just admiring Hope holding Kayliope. "I need a picture", Josie announced, pulling her phone out of her pocket to take a picture of Hope and Kayliope. Hope grabbed the phone off Josie once she took the picture, "Get in", she said, taking a selfie of the three. "Our first family photo", Josie squealed.