Hosie~ One Shots

A Christmas Surprise

The Salvatore School was alive with holiday cheer. The grand Christmas tree in the common room twinkled with colorful lights, and the scent of pine and cinnamon wafted through the air. Students and faculty exchanged gifts, decorated the halls, and shared stories of their holiday traditions. But for Hope Mikaelson, despite the festive atmosphere, there was a quiet sadness in her heart.

Christmas had always been about family. Growing up, she had cherished the time spent with her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They would gather together, laughing, exchanging gifts, and simply enjoying each other's company. But this year, it was different. Her family—her parents, the Mikaelsons—were far away, and Hope felt the void keenly. She loved being at the Salvatore School with the Supersquad, but the absence of her family left a hole that she couldn't quite fill.

She tried her best to push down the sadness, throwing herself into the holiday activities. Secret Santa had become a favorite tradition, and she loved watching her friends exchange gifts, smiling at their thoughtfulness. Still, the ache in her chest lingered, especially as she looked around the room, seeing everyone with their families, their laughter echoing in the halls.

Her gaze fell on Josie Saltzman. Josie had been a constant in her life—her best friend, her confidante. But lately, there was something more in the way they looked at each other. The lingering glances, the unspoken connection. Hope wasn't sure what it meant, but the feeling was undeniable. Her heart beat faster whenever Josie was near, a flutter she couldn't explain.

Josie noticed Hope's quiet demeanor as she sat by the fire, her gaze distant. She walked over to her, sitting down beside her with a concerned expression. "Hey, you okay?"

Hope forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, just... thinking."

Josie raised an eyebrow. "About?"

Hope sighed softly. "I miss them, Josie. I miss my family. It's Christmas, and it doesn't feel the same without them."

Josie's heart ached at the vulnerability in Hope's voice. She could see the sadness that Hope was trying to hide, and she knew she couldn't let her spend the holiday feeling alone. Josie had been planning something, and now it felt like the perfect time to put her plan into motion.

The next few days passed with more festive gatherings and Secret Santa exchanges. But despite the smiles, Hope's sadness lingered. Josie couldn't stand seeing her friend like this, so she took matters into her own hands.

She secretly reached out to the Mikaelsons and managed to coordinate everything in secret. She didn't want to spoil the surprise, especially for Hope.

It was Christmas Eve, and the Supersquad had gathered once again in the common room, exchanging their last few gifts. Hope sat quietly, trying to hide her emotions behind a forced smile. Josie, ever observant, could see through her act. She knew it was time.

"Come with me," Josie whispered, standing up and holding out her hand. "I have something special for you."

Hope looked at her curiously, her brow furrowing. "What is it?"

Josie's smile was soft and playful. "You'll see."

Outside, the snow was falling gently, and the air was crisp. Hope followed Josie, wondering what her friend had planned. They made their way toward the courtyard, and as they approached the gates of the school, Hope suddenly stopped in her tracks.

There, standing in the snow, was the Mikaelson family.

"Wha—?" Hope gasped, her eyes wide in disbelief. "How... how did you—?"

Rebekah was the first to smile and open her arms. "Merry Christmas, Hope!"

Hope stood frozen for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. Then, without thinking, she ran toward her family, her heart overflowing with joy. She hugged each of them tightly, overwhelmed by the unexpected surprise.

"You—you're all here?" Hope whispered through her tears, her voice thick with emotion. "How did you manage this?"

Josie smiled softly as she stepped forward, her heart swelling with happiness. "I couldn't let you spend Christmas alone. I know how much you miss them, and I wanted to make sure you had the best Christmas possible. So... surprise."

Hope turned to Josie, her eyes wide with wonder. "You did this for me?"

Josie nodded, her heart racing as she watched Hope take in the sight of her family. "Of course I did. You're everything to me, Hope. You're my family too."

Hope's eyes softened as she looked at Josie, and for the first time, she let her guard down completely. She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know how much this means to me, Josie. I don't think I could ever put it into words."

Josie's smile softened, but there was something more in her eyes—a vulnerability, a longing Hope couldn't ignore. "You don't have to," Josie said quietly. "I already know. I feel it too."

The air between them grew charged with something unspoken, something that had been there for a long time but had never been addressed. Hope felt her heart race as she stood there, looking at Josie. There was a softness in her gaze, a tenderness that made everything around them fade into the background.

Before either of them could say anything more, Hope took a step forward, closing the space between them. Her hand gently cupped Josie's cheek, her thumb brushing against her skin.

Josie's breath hitched at the touch, her eyes searching Hope's for any sign of hesitation. But there was none. Hope leaned in, her heart pounding in her chest, and kissed Josie softly on the lips. The kiss was gentle at first, tentative, as if testing the waters. But it quickly deepened, both of them surrendering to the feeling they'd held back for so long.

When they pulled away, breathless, Hope smiled, her hand still resting on Josie's cheek. "I've wanted to do that for so long," she confessed, her voice shaky.

Josie laughed softly, her eyes sparkling. "Me too. I just... didn't know if you felt the same."

Hope's smile widened, her heart full. "I always have, Josie. I just didn't know how to say it."

Josie leaned her forehead against Hope's, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to say it. I know."

In that moment, surrounded by family, friends, and the warmth of the holiday, Hope felt whole again.

"Merry Christmas, Hope," Josie whispered.

"Merry Christmas, Josie," Hope replied, her heart full of more love than she'd ever imagined.

And with that, the night felt complete.

Merry Christmas everyone :)