Hosie~ One Shots

Midnight Baking

It was one of those nights again. Josie tossed and turned in her bed, the moonlight streaming through her window doing little to soothe her restless mind. With a sigh, she finally gave up on sleep. Throwing on a hoodie, she quietly slipped out of her room and began wandering the dimly lit halls of the Salvatore School.

As she rounded a corner, the faint sound of clinking dishes caught her attention. Curious, she followed the noise to the kitchen, where a warm light spilled out into the hallway. Peeking inside, she was surprised to see Hope Mikaelson, covered in flour, mixing dough in a large bowl.

"Hope Mikaelson, baking cookies at midnight. Never thought I'd see the day," Josie said, smiling as she stepped into the kitchen.

Hope looked up, a smirk playing on her lips. "Josie Saltzman, wandering the halls at midnight. What brings you here?"

"I couldn't sleep," Josie replied, moving closer. "You?"

"Same," Hope said, shrugging. "Baking helps me clear my mind. Want to join?"

Josie laughed softly. "Sure, why not? What are we making?"

"Chocolate chip cookies," Hope answered, handing Josie an apron. "Here, grab an apron."

As Josie put on the apron, she glanced around the kitchen, taking in the mess. "Is this a regular thing for you? Midnight baking?"

"Sometimes," Hope admitted, focusing on the dough. "It's either this or reading old grimoires. At least this way, I get something sweet out of it."

"Makes sense," Josie said, starting to mix ingredients. "You know, I never really pegged you for a baker."

Hope chuckled. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Saltzman."

Josie looked at her, intrigued. "Like what?"

"Well, for starters, I make an incredible double chocolate chip cookie," Hope said, a playful glint in her eyes.

Josie teased, "I'll believe it when I taste it."

"Oh, you'll be blown away. Trust me," Hope replied confidently.

They worked together, mixing and laughing, occasionally sneaking tastes of the dough. The kitchen filled with the sweet aroma of cookies baking in the oven, creating a cozy atmosphere.

"You know," Josie said after a while, "I've been meaning to ask... how do you deal with the sleeplessness?"

"Honestly?" Hope said, pausing to think. "Baking helps. It's repetitive, and the smell is comforting. Plus, it reminds me of simpler times."

"Simper times?" Josie asked, curious.

"Yeah, before all the supernatural craziness took over my life," Hope explained. "What about you? What keeps you up at night?"

Josie sighed, "A lot of things. School, magic, family stuff. Sometimes it feels like I have to be perfect at everything."

Hope looked at her seriously. "You don't have to be perfect, Josie. You just have to be you."

"Easier said than done," Josie murmured, then added, "It's nice to have someone to talk to about it, though."

"Anytime," Hope said softly. "Besides, we're a good team. These cookies are going to be amazing."

Josie grinned. "Yeah, we are."

As the cookies baked, they sat on the counter, sharing more stories and laughing about their adventures at the school. Josie felt a sense of relaxation she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"You know, I think this is the most relaxed I've felt in a while. Thanks, Hope," Josie said sincerely.

"Anytime, Josie," Hope replied, smiling warmly. "We should do this more often."

"Midnight baking sessions?" Josie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hope laughed. "It's a date."

The timer dinged, and they pulled out the cookies, enjoying them together as the night faded into morning. As they shared the freshly baked cookies, a comfortable silence settled between them, filled with unspoken understanding and newfound closeness.

"These are really good," Josie said, taking another bite. "You weren't kidding about your baking skills."

Hope smiled. "Told you so."

Josie looked at Hope, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I'm glad I couldn't sleep tonight."

"Me too," Hope said, meeting her gaze. "Me too."

As dawn approached, they knew that this night was just the beginning of something special. A bond forged in the quiet hours of the night, strengthened by shared stories and laughter, and sealed with the sweetness of freshly baked cookies.