Maybe, Someday (Hosie, Legacies)

[10] The best day || Part-1

When they finally arrived safely back at the school, Hope was dead tired. She had cycled through so many emotions on the ride home that she had been unable to properly sleep. They had been granted a reprieve from all the insanity of the past several weeks and she had every intention of taking advantage of it.

Hope lay cuddled on her bed with Josie, Penelope and Lizzie as they took the time to decompress together in silence. It was the kind of silence among friends that revealed how much they simply just loved each other's company. No words were needed. Nothing had to be said that couldn't be felt by the others. They were all in a state of shock, really. They basically took on the gods and won. But not everyone survived. And Hope felt that pain deep in her soul.

But she also finally allowed herself to process the fact that she saw her dad. That he was proud of her. Happy for her even. And that he had truly found his own peace; so now she was able to concentrate fully on her own. Not because she felt obligated. But because she wanted to experience it more than anything. A long and happy life without constantly looking over her shoulder. Without a hole in her chest that her parents left behind when she lost them. Not that she missed them any less. But she had found a way to love them without the sadness and regret attached to their memories. And, for that, she was grateful.

They fell asleep together, holding on for dear life. Because all of them had been far too close to losing each other lately--that they didn't want to let go. At least, not until the events of the day were a distant memory. One they fondly told their kids about. One that they excitedly boasted to their grandkids about. Those were the thoughts that Hope fell asleep to, anyway.

Hope was the last to wake up the next morning, her eyes puffy and red. She hadn't realized that she cried herself to sleep....or perhaps cried in her sleep. She still felt drained, and was not entirely ready to face the day. But knowing that she wasn't alone made her more excited for the new day than she likely would have been usually. And that was another great step in the right direction.

Even though her friends had obviously been awake for a while now, she was endlessly thankful that they let her sleep. But she was even more pleased, that they didn't disappear on her in the morning. That they knew and understood her enough to realize that allowing Hope to wake up in an empty bed would have instigated a round of instant dread. The war may have been over, but the reality that sprung from it would always be with them. They had seen a lot. Done a lot. Experienced far too much for kids their age. And as mature as she was, she was still a child who fought in a war and that shit affects everyone involved.

She smiled as she stretched out her body and curled into Josie with a ferociousness that was unexplainable. But it was Josie, and she understood. So she kissed Hope's cheek softly, and held her tighter.

"Bad dreams?" Josie asked quietly.

Hope shook her head. "I don't remember any of them." Then concern washed over her face as she looked at her girlfriend. "You?"

"Surprisingly not. I'm pretty sure that I was too exhausted to even dream." Josie told her.

"Dad texted us. We'll be preparing a memorial for those we lost. But he's giving us all a few days to rest and recuperate. And Mom's in full on super party planning mode. She wants to throw a Valentine's themed party at the school next week. Everyone's invited. Your family as well as her friends from Mystic Falls. I think she just wants us to finally be able to celebrate something....to move beyond everything that's happened recently." Lizzie explained.

"A big soiree Caroline Forbes style...what could possibly go wrong?" Penelope asked with a smirk.

"Well, for starters...it's Valentine's so I like...need to find a date, stat." Lizzie said with wide eyes.