I Hate the Way...

Part 16: 'This is Really Happening.'

Hope and Josie arrive to their destination, getting out of the car in their 'wedding' attire.

They begin walking towards the doors of the administrative building, on their way to become legally and financially intertwined.

Hope glances over to her side as they walk, clearing her throat before looking away, "You know, you really do look the part."

Josie furrows her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"I just—You look...nice."

Josie pauses, glancing at the girl with disbelief before she chuckles softly, "Your blushing bride."

When they get inside the building, they can hear the most recently married couple receiving many congratulations... The bride saying it's the best day of her life.

It only serves as a reminder of what marriage should be...a reminder that their relationship is fake.

They walk down the narrow hall, seeing Rafael and Lizzie waiting for them at the end.

They're here to bear witness to their marriage, to vouch for their relationship.

Josie immediately brings them into a hug, "Thank you for coming."

Lizzie smiles to her, "Of course."

Raf looks to Hope, reaching to shake her hand, "I'd do anything for the two of you."

Hope gratefully takes it, "Thanks man."

Raf nods to Hope, and Josie finally releases the two from the embrace.

She looks to her twin sister, who hands over a small box with a nod.

Josie had asked her to bring it for her.

She suddenly turns to Hope, almost seeming a bit bashful, "Before we go in there and get married, I—I wanted to ask if it would be okay if I give you something..."

Hope furrows gets eyebrows in confusion. She truly didn't expect Josie to ever want to give her anything.

Josie clarifies, "After my mom died, Lizzie got her engagement ring, and I got her wedding band. And I just thought that, you know, since you wanted me to hold on to your mom's engagement ring through our marriage...Would you mind wearing it for a while?"

She opens the small box, showing the wedding band to Hope.

Hope falls silent, more than a little shocked.

She waits for Josie to take it back, glances to Lizzie for any sort of confirmation, and Lizzie only nods a single time.

Hope looks back to Josie, answering sincerely, "I'd be honored Josie."

Josie grins sweetly, "Great."

"I also, um—" Hope clears her throat, reaching into her pocket for her own small box, "I thought you might like a wedding band to go with the engagement ring... My mom didn't have one, so I got this..."

She shows Josie, wondering if she'd like it.

Josie's eyes widen, "You bought an actual wedding band?!"

"Well..." Hope pauses for a moment, now thinking that might have been the wrong move to make, "...yeah—"

"It's beautiful, Hope. Thank you."

Hope is relieved, offering a small smile to the girl.

Josie looks over the rings.

Her mother's wedding band, "Something old," the wedding band Hope got for her, "Something new," and the engagement ring Hope gave to her, with the aquamarine stone, "Something borrowed and blue."

Josie and Hope get lost for a moment, just looking into each other's eyes.

This almost feels...like a real wedding.

Raf and Lizzie exchange a brief glance as well, sensing a sudden change in the vibe between the two.

Until a voice sounds through the room, "Hope Mikaelson and Josie Saltzman," calling them back to reality, to the moment they've been equally eager for and dreading at the same time.

But moments ago, there wasn't any dread between the two of them, oddly enough.

But when they heard their names called, their heart suddenly dropped.

This is really happening.

Right now.

Josie whispers, seemingly out of breath all of a sudden, "Shit."

Hope takes a deep breath, studying Josie, "You ready to do this?"

No.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Hope nods a single time, clearing her throat.

They all exchange one last glance before Hope and Josie begin making their way back, with Josie absentmindedly reaching for Hope's arm, seeking reassurance, stability, anything to keep her nerves in check really, as Lizzie and Raf follow behind them.

But Hope seemingly holds her composure very well, something Josie thinks her heritage and profession may have helped her learn to do over the years.

Josie looks away from Hope and back in front of her as they walk down the hall toward the back room, taking another deep breath.

When she walks out of that room, she'll be married.