"This year, I'm starting wide receiver," Josie makes conversation over dinner.
"And I'm the star quarterback," Lizzie proudly cuts in. "We're like a double threat."
Josie tilts her head and laughs, "I'm not quite sure that's the right word."
"Nonetheless, that's very impressive girls," Klaus smiles at them.
"Hope, you're not on the football team?" Caroline asks. "Ric tells me how much you train. I'm sure they could use your strength and athleticism."
When Hope doesn't answer Caroline, Klaus looks across the table to see her on her phone.
"Hope, Love, off your phone," Klaus reprimands his daughter. "Caroline asked you a question."
"Sorry," Hope apologizes and places her phone down on the table. "No, I'm not on the team. Participation isn't really my thing."
"Hmm, it seems like you take after your father," Caroline makes a face at him.
Hope's phone buzzes against the table.
"Hope," Klaus warns her again. "Do I need to take that from you?"
"No, sorry. It's just that Landon keeps texting me," she explains.
"Who's Landon?" Klaus asks curiously.
"Her boyfriend," Lizzie mocks.
"He's not my boyfriend," Hope swats at her soon-to-be stepsister. "He's just a friend of mine who happens to be a boy."
Klaus is relieved to hear Hope is not dating this boy, but displeased with her and Lizzie's squabbling.
"He goes to our school," Josie adds.
"Landon Kirby?" Caroline questions, remembering vaguely when Alaric told her months ago about a newly recruited student.
"Yeah, dark curly hair, kinda looks like a chia pet," Lizzie pushes.
"Stop, Lizzie. He's actually a pretty nice guy," Josie defends him.
"If we're so concerned about boyfriends, why don't we talk about your imaginary one?" Hope snaps.
"Oh, you did not just pull that one!" Lizzie gets up and does a spell that sends Hope flying across the room.
"You bitch!" Hope growls.
Her eyes glow yellow and her wolf teeth begin to show.
Josie is gripping the arms of her chair, getting ready to cast an incendia spell as a distraction.
"Hope, no!" her father steps in before she has the chance to lunge at Lizzie. "Go to your room right now!"
Hope stands still, looking past her dad and glaring at Lizzie.
"Lizzie, sit down!" Caroline commands. "Hope, listen to your father."
"You do not get to tell me what to do," Hope shoots back. "You're not my mother!"
They all stare at each other in shock as Hope storms off.
"Don't take offense to anything she said. We Mikaelsons are known to have a bit of a short fuse," Klaus assures them. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a chat with her."
Klaus gets up and heads to check on Hope. He looks in her room but doesn't find her. He's worried she's run off, but then he hears a small cry coming from Hayley's old room.
He opens the door to find Hope sitting on the ground with tears streaming down her face.
"I miss your mother too," he sits beside Hope. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her."
Hope nods her head sadly, knowing the feeling.
"I don't know what's going on, I'm not usually this emotional," she tells him in tears. "It's just, something about coming back here..."
"It's difficult, I know, Love," he kisses the top of her head. "I'm proud of you, for accepting my relationship with Caroline, for welcoming her and the girls into our home, into our lives. Your mother and I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
A tear rolls down his own cheek.
"Whenever you're ready, we'd be happy for you to rejoin us downstairs," he gives her hand a squeeze and exits.
Hope eventually regains composure and heads back down to dinner.
They're all in a playful mood, they're currently trying to see who can balance a spoon on their nose the longest.
"Right now your dad's winning," Josie says as she places a spoon on her nose once again.
"Sorry for what I said to you earlier, Lizzie," Hope apologizes. "And sorry for attacking you."
"I'm sorry for provoking you to attack me by tossing you across the room like a rag doll."
Everyone stares at Lizzie for a moment before bursting out into laughter at the odd apology.
"And, Caroline, I'm sorry for disrespecting you. I appreciate everything you do for me and my dad."
"Apology accepted," Caroline places a comforting hand on Hope's back, which Hope doesn't dislike, but she feels conflicted over accepting the show of affection.
"Are you in the mood for a beignet?" her father asks. "We've ordered from the bakery around the corner, should be here soon."
"I'd love a beignet," she smiles.
