Severity

<49>

The couple arrives to the ceremony just on time. They see the parents being seated and the band starting to play. Josie is readjusting Hope's cap and gown when her parents come up to them.

"There you two are, where have you been?" Alaric asked, the man is clearly stressed out and is aching for alcohol.

After the twins were born, his grandsons not his daughters, he decided to quit drinking and stay sober so he can remember all of the good memories with them as well as be a good grandfather to them. He already knew he had failed the first set, he is trying to redeem himself with the second.

"We were making sure the twins were all set." Josie lied but neither parents caught onto it, but Caroline was suspicious.

"They been here for the last 30 minutes." She mentions and Josie nods.

"Lizzie did just up and take them, we had to gather all of the essentials and I just gave them to the Mikaelsons. Also Hope was nervous about her speech which took another 10 minutes." Josie explained and Caroline waved it off.

"Well come along, you need to go sit over there Hope." She ushered and Hope nods.

"Right right." The auburn pecks Josie's hand before obliging to her future mother-in-law.

"Josie, you can either stay here or go to the twins." Caroline instructed and Josie perked at the mention of the twins.

She happily waltzed off the stage, making her way to the Mikaelsons. Klaus holds Nikolai on his shoulders while Hayley has Hayes on her lap. It warmed her heart to see her sons having the opportunity to meet their other set of grandparents.

"Hello cuties." Josie greeted her offsprings and Nikolai only smiles at her.

"Mama!" Hayes did grabby hands for Josie and Hayley passed the young boy to his mother.

"He's been fussy ever since we gotten him." Hayley reveals to the brunette and Josie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"That's new, usually Nikolai is the fussy one." She pecks Hayes' chubby cheek then sat down in an empty chair.

"Their twin traits must be coming in." Klaus theorized and Josie shrugs.

The bands music dies down and Alaric stands. He walks over to the podium and clears his throat. (Cannot lie, I do NOT feel like writing his speech so let's just skip through the ceremony and to Hope's speech). Hope fiddled with her diploma as she is announced. Rising to her feet, applause erupts and she hears the few cheers from her family which made her heart bloom knowing that they are all here to see this achievement. Hope takes a deep breath as the applause subsiding and her eyes lock to Josie's who is smiling lovingly up at her. Hayes and Nik are also cheering and a smile now replace the once nervous auburn's face.

"Hello all, family, friends, and our graduates!" Hope praised and the graduates cheered, once they subsided she continues. "I was rewarded the title of being your class valedictorian. But this title really doesn't hold much meaning to me. We all fought and made our way to this ceremony where we had the most incredible opportunity to be taught and prepared for the real world. As we advance in this cruel world, keep your courage, your strength, your kindness and love because this is what makes us human no matter our specie. When I first arrived at this school, I had to hide myself, deal with struggles that took a large toll on my character that I had thought I was incapable of love or making friends. When I first arrive a young Saltzman called me a bitch, emo and a loser then claimed me to be her best friend within the same day. Another Saltzman I called and thought was a bitch and now I get to proudly call my fiancée and is a beautiful mother to my twin boys. With the help and push of the people around me, I was able to maintain a positive mindset that never steered me to follow the wrong path. It is important to keep those people close, because they will always be by your side to pull you from the deep depths of darkness. Make sure to turn to your friends and promise to love each other, because nothing is more powerful than love, always and forever." Hope finished her speech and everyone erupts into cheers making her do a little bow with a huge smile on her face. She then used her vamp hearing to hear Caroline tell her to announce Josie. "Oh, one more thing. Brace your ears and eyes on the love of my life. She will be performing Birds of A Feather by Billie Eilish." (This song is just so ~v~) She gestured to the brunette who enters the stage comfortably.

Hope gives Josie a big hug then pecks her cheek before going to sit next to Alaric. The crowd did release a few awes and coos, but Josie turns to the band and nodded to them that she is ready. As the song played and Josie sang, the crowd sung along when the chorus began and Josie ushered for them to stand which they do.

The people on stage also began to dance, Hope took Josie's outstretched hand and spun her around making the brunette smile widen as they danced together. After the mini concert, the graduates ran out of the room and to the front of the school. Hope is dragged by Josie and they see the graduates getting ready to throw their caps. Kaleb announced that he would take a picture of the moment then counted them down to which they all tossed their caps into the air with screams of "freedom" and shouts of pure joy, some sad to be moving on but most happy to continue their life outside of school.

"Should we grab a bite at the Grill?" Rebekah asked once Hope picked up her cap and she smiles.

"I'm so down, come here fussy boy." Hope took Hayes from Freya and he laid his head on her shoulder while Josie took Nikolai, the boy was already sleeping.