I Hate the Way...

Part 22: "Good Morning to You"

Dear Wife,

She grins to herself at that before continuing,

I hate car rides. I get motion sickness, and it really isn't good for anybody.

I've never been in a plane, despite my love for traveling to new places and this dream I have of traveling the globe with the band someday.
But with your profession, maybe that'll change sometime...

I'm allergic to seaweed, so no sushi for me.

Ice cream over cake any day; it's my go-to comfort food.

Love, Josie

P.S. Can we get a dog?

———

Hope chuckles softly as she picks up her pin, leaning back against her small cot and beginning her response.

My darling wife,

I'll be sure to get you plenty of sushi and cake when I'm back in the States...
Okay, I'm kidding.
I'd have to agree about ice cream being better than cake, but neither compare to a good beignet.

I'd be honored to take you flying someday. It's an indescribable feeling really, being on top of the world. It's euphoric. I think you'd really love it.

I hate to burst your bubble, but a dog isn't in the cards for us. I'll have to respectfully decline your request.

Sincerest apologies,
Hope

———

Josie wakes up one morning to a photo message from the Tribrid, a picture of the sun setting over the base, with writing across it reading, "Good night to me, good morning to you, my love."

It's something Hope started to do after Josie shared that she wanted to travel the world.

She smiles softly, even a slight blush arising on her cheeks, something she's grown accustomed to with each small note and photo Hope sends to her, making her feel like she's there with her, on the other side of the world.

She immediately goes to video call her wife, knowing that she must have access to internet right now, since she was able to send a photo.

"Good morning, beautiful," is the first thing Hope says as she answers the call, a small smile on her lips.

Josie can't help but mirror the smile, blush taking over once again, which she hopes isn't noticeable on Hope's screen.

She knows the Tribrid is most likely just keeping up appearances, but she's so damn convincing.

Her voice is still groggy as she replies lazily and almost shyly, burying the side of her face further into her pillows, "Hi."

Hope knowingly smiles; Josie isn't much of a talker in the mornings, not at all really.
But there isn't much time that they get to talk throughout the day, with them being on different sides of the globe, so they take what they can get.

"How'd you like the photo?"

Josie's smile grows, "It's beautiful..hard to believe there's a war going on over there..."

Her own words serve as a harsh reminder, making each of their hearts ache at the ugly truth.

Hope nods slowly, "I know..."

Suddenly her attention is pointed elsewhere, and Josie furrows her eyebrows, wondering what's going on, but then she hears Raf's voice through her phone,

"Hey, Mikaelson, who you talking to so late?"

Hope smirks before tilting the screen for him, "You remember my wife, right?"

Josie's smile widens at the sight of her friend on her screen.

"Saltzman! Look, I got Ethan on the phone," Raf turns his own screen to show Josie and Hope, and Josie greets Ethan warmly.

And Kaleb joins in, showing his screen, with Cleo waving friendly at the group.

They make small talk for a brief moment before everyone returns to their own conversations, leaving Hope and Josie to talk.

"How'd you sleep, babe?"

Josie's stomach flutters a bit at the name, though she knows Hope is only playing into the role she's been given, especially since there are soldiers around her.

Josie sighs, "Still not great," She and Hope have discussed this before, how Josie has had a hard time sleeping, coincidentally pretty much since Hope deployed, "But I got some work done last night when I couldn't sleep. And I started writing this new song that's been in my head ever since you had to leave..."

Hope grins, genuinely impressed, "Wait, so you just wrote a song? Just like that?"

Josie blushes at the complementary tone Hope uses, but she doesn't get the chance to respond before Raf is peering into Hope's screen, "Hey Jo, play it for us!"

Suddenly, most of the other soldiers within Hope's vicinity, Kaleb, Jed, and a few others, except Maya, are also asking her to play the song for them.

Josie laughs softly on the other end of the call, "I mean, it's not really—it's not finished—"

Hope wears her signature subtle smirk, her eyebrow raised ever so slightly, a look Josie bets has never received a 'no', and all Hope says is, "Please?"

And Josie nearly gives in, that look from the Tribrid is so persuasive, "Look, maybe when the song is finished, in like, a week...?"

A couple of them groan playfully, but Hope's smirk remains as she nods, "Okay, but I'm holding you to that. When it's finished, you know where to find us."

Josie is about to respond when Raf speaks to Hope on the other end, having already hung up with Ethan, "You going to sleep soon? We've got a long day tomorrow..."

Hope nods to him, "Yeah, I'm right behind you."

Suddenly, Josie feels like the mood between the soldiers has shifted, and Raf only offers an almost solemn nod in return.

When he walks off, Josie asks Hope, "What's tomorrow?"

Josie thinks Hope is trying to brush something off, shaking her head almost dismissively, "Oh, we've just got some flight practices for the next couple of days."

For whatever reason, Josie thinks there's more to it than that, but she nods slowly, not wanting to push Hope to talk about her work.

Hope sighs softly, "I should probably get to bed, but I hope you have a great day...I love you."

Josie nods again, "Yeah, I love you too."

Hope tries to lighten her mood a bit, "You better get busy, you've got a deadline. One week."

Josie half chuckles at that, "Understood, let me know when you can talk again?"

"Of course, love. I'll talk to you soon."

And with one last 'Goodbye,' Josie hangs up the phone, pinching the bridge of her nose and letting out a sigh before forcing herself to get out of bed.

And as she begins making breakfast for herself and Lizzie, she starts humming a tune, specific words Hope  has said to her stuck in her mind.

She tries to make them into a verse, going back and forth with lyrics,

You know where to find us...

Return home...

You know where to find...

Come back home...

And it clicks.

Come back home.