Welcome Home

I slowly opened my eyes. The room is actually dim. I scanned the room and found myself lying on my bed here in Salvatore Boarding School. Images of the fights start flashing in my mind. I clutched my chest and expected to feel a dagger, but there is none.

"Oh, finally you're awake."

I tried to sit up, but I feel weak. Aunt Freya helped me and gave me a bag of blood. I immediately drank the whole contents.

"You've been out for a couple of days. Keelin is now back in New Orleans. Kol, Davina, Rebekah, and Marcel are on their way here." Aunt Freya sat beside me and caressed my hair. "Everything is finally back to normal, Hope. I wanna welcome you back."

"What do you mean?"

The door bursts open. Josie came running and crashed herself to me. "Oh my God! You're awake!"

Lizzie stood beside my bed. MG, Jed, Landon, Rafael, and Kaleb are standing around my bed.

"I'll leave you to catch up. You have lots of catching up to do." Aunt Freya gently placed a kiss on my forehead before walking out of the room.

"I'm so sorry I forgot you, Hope." Landon sat on my aunt's previous place and held my hand. Josie, who is snuggling on me, glared at him. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

"You... remembered?"

"Your aunt explained everything as soon as we remembered you." Kaleb explained. "It all happened the night you were staked with that damn dagger."

"She said that your relatives got helped from a coven of witches called The Travellers." Rafael said.

"Your heroic stunts are a pain the in the ass, Hope Mikaelson." Lizzie punched my arm before she pulled me for a hug. "I missed you. The whole you."

They began bombarding me with questions about Malivore. I explained to them everything. And by the time we finished catching up, a student interrupted us and called the student council. Josie reluctantly went out. Kaleb and Rafael almost practically dragged her out. Landon also left with Jed and MG, leaving me with Lizzie alone in my room.

"What's your plan now?" Lizzie asked as she plopped herself next to me. "You're technically twenty years old now. You should have a job already."

"Are you throwing me out of the school, Elizabeth Saltzman?"

"Am not." Lizzie rolled her eyes. "I'm just being practical. I expect you to provide for my sister. I want the best for her, you know."

"Why do you sound like I'm marrying your sister?"

"You will not?"

"Of course, I will! But not now. I still need to do something."

"And that is?"

I lowered my head and sighed deeply. "I need to find a way to stop the Merge. I can't go on with my life thinking that my girlfriend and my best friend will have to find and overpower each other just to determine the future leader of the coven."

"But that's not your problem anymore. Mom promised to-"

"Of course, it's also my problem! I need to do something. Anything."

Lizzie glares at me. "And what are gonna do? Go full Wonder Woman again and go missing for years... again?! No. Never."

"I am not. I promise." I pulled Lizzie into my arms. "I'm not going anywhere again. We will find a loophole together. All we gotta do is to find enough help."

Lizzie punched my stomach. "Sealed it."

"Why do you need to punch me? Thank goodness I heal fast."

Lizzie ignored my comment. "So any work in mind? We can ask dad and mom to write a recommendation letter."

"Lizzie, I think you're rushing it. I plan to go to university first. Plus, I didn't finish my entire high school units. I don't think they will accept a high school undergraduate."

"So you'll stay with us?" I can see a glint of hope in Lizzie's eyes which made me smile.

"I can ask your parents to tweak my records a bit so I can enroll in a good university next school year."

"Or you can just enroll to the university where Josie and I plan to go." Lizzie suggested while smiling widely.

I avoided her eyes. "My family and I decided to let me study in New Orleans."

"You're leaving?" Josie came stomping her way in my room. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You promised!" Lizzie argued with me.

The twins are staring daggers at me. I never discussed this to any of them because I didn't think that I will eventually need to. My aunts and uncles made me promise. I cannot break that promise. Family always comes first.

"I'm very sorry." I stood up to hug Josie but she backed away.

"Don't touch me. You are like her. You all eventually leave me."

"Josie, Hope might have a reason-"

"And you're taking her side?" Josie cut her sister off. "What? You will leave me, too?"

Lizzie shook her head. "You should be the logical one here, Josette. You must know, out of all people, how family-oriented the Mikaelsons are! You're the only one whose mom was told by mom the attitude of Klaus Mikaelson."

I unconsciously closed my eyes at the mention of my father. Josie only glared at me before walking out of the room. I tried to follow her but Lizzie stopped me from doing so.

"Let her calm down. She'll eventually realize the depth of her words and actions. Josie tends to balance everything while she is alone."

"I want to apologize to both of you."

Lizzie pulled me for a brief hug. "Apology accepted. Now, I will leave you for the meantime to prepare your things. I can still see your luggage and bags everywhere. Time to unpack, Mikaelson. Let's enjoy our last year of high school."

Lizzie beamed at me before walking out of my room. I sat back on my bed and let out a big sigh. I need to do something to make it up to Josie.