Chapter Text
Hope had just woken up and she reached for Lizzie but then she had realized the bed was empty. Before she could think more about that, she heard loud music coming from the kitchen.
Hope opened her bedroom door and there were at least a dozen people in her house. Vampires to be exact. She saw Josie dancing on the table and all she could do was sigh. Hope noticed Lizzie was drinking some coffee in the kitchen as that was the only place a vampire wasn’t at. Lizzie saw Hope and headed right in her direction with another cup of coffee in her hand.
Hope gave Lizzie a smile and Lizzie placed a soft kiss against her cheek.
“Good morning, babe.” Lizzie smiled, placing the cup of coffee in Hope’s hand.
“Do I even want to ask?” Hope was looking at Josie.
“The best thing to do is ignore her. That’s what I do now.” Lizzie sighed.
Hope nodded but before the girls could do anything Josie was heading right towards them.
“No coffee for me? That’s a bit rude, sis.” Josie stole Hope’s coffee.
“Well maybe if you weren’t such a bitch all the time, I would have made you some.” Lizzie rolled her eyes.
“Jo. Isn’t this getting a bit old?” Hope asked.
“Just because I had a crush on you forever ago doesn’t mean you get to weigh in on my life.” Josie looked at Hope.
“Josie. You’re my best friend. Please.” Hope was almost begging.
“Stop trying to search for that Josie. Because she’s never coming back.” Josie smirked.
“Don’t talk to her like that. She’s just trying to help.” Lizzie looked annoyed.
“Oh, that’s cute. Sticking up for your girlfriend. Funny how you never stuck up for your own sister.” Josie smiled.
“Josie, shut up. I was the one that was picking up all the pieces, you’re the coward that turned your humanity off.” Lizzie was being protective.
“This is boring. I’m going back to dancing on the table. See you later losers.” Josie chuckled.
Josie gave Hope back her coffee and jumped onto the table. She continued dancing with more than one vampire. Hope took a deep breath in and Lizzie tried to comfort her. There was honestly nothing they could do to bring Josie back. They tried everything. Or did they?
xxx
Penelope was sitting on her couch, watching the television. She was flicking through the channels trying to find anything to watch but was having no luck. She got bored and turned off the television all together. Landon had slid onto the couch sitting next to her.
“Hey, Pen. What are you doing?” Landon raised an eyebrow.
“Well, Lan. Don’t you look cute.” Penelope smiled looking at Landon all dressed up.
“Penelope… I’m a taken man.” Landon chuckled.
“In your dreams, Kirby. In your dreams.” Penelope playfully hit Landon’s shoulder.
“Weren’t you supposed to be going out with that cute girl from the coffee shop? Wasn’t that tonight?” Landon asked.
“About that… I cancelled.” Penelope started to look away.
“Why would you cancel? She’s gorgeous!” Landon was confused.
“I wasn’t feeling it. I guess I’m just waiting to find what you and Jed have.” Penelope sighed.
“Penelope, you might never find that again. But you won’t know until you put yourself out there.” Landon reassuringly smiled.
“Again?” Penelope titled her head.
“We both know why you haven’t moved on in the last seven years.” Landon smiled.
“I hate you. You know that?” Penelope sighed.
“I know.” Landon reached for Penelope’s hand.
Penelope held Landon’s hand and she honestly never thought she would love this guy so much. Platonically of course.
“Ready to go? Babe?” Jed asked.
“Well don’t you look nice, Jed.” Penelope smiled.
“When I said babe, I was talking to Landon. Just so we’re clear.” Jed smiled.
Landon just laughed at his boyfriend and reached to hold his hand. Before they left, Landon had an idea.
“Why don’t you join us, Pen? You don’t have to be stuck here alone.” Landon suggested.
Penelope started to stand up as she hated that Landon felt like he had to stay.
“I love you both but I won’t ruin date night.” Penelope smiled.
Penelope walked up to her roommates and gave them both a kiss on the cheek.
“Go on. Have fun, boys.” Penelope nodded.
Jed and Landon finally accepted defeat and walked out of the door. Penelope grabbed a glass of wine and slowly sat back down on the couch. She was thinking about her conversation with Landon and as much as she hated to admit it, maybe he was right. Maybe she hadn’t moved on.
xxx
Hope had prepared Lizzie dinner, waiting for her to come home. She was having a long day as this was the day, she taught the most classes. With that thought, Lizzie had walked in the door.
“Hey babe. How was your day?” Hope asked.
“Long. Better now.” Lizzie smiled looking at the food Hope had cooked up.
Lizzie walked over to Hope and wrapped her arms around her waist. This put a huge smile on Hope’s face.
“Smells really good.” Lizzie teased.
“Well I am a chef you know?” Hope laughed.
“I wasn't talking about the food.” Lizzie giggled.
Hope turned around with a smile on her face and placed a soft kiss on her girlfriend’s lips.
“So, no Josie?” Lizzie asked.
“I don’t think so. She’s gone out clubbing I’m pretty sure. Who even knows?” Hope sighed.
“I’m glad. I get you all to myself then.” Lizzie smirked.
Hope shook her head with a laugh and started to place the food on the table. The girls were eating and Lizzie was definitely enjoying the food. But Hope still had Josie on her mind.
“Liz.” Hope interrupted Lizzie eating.
“Yeah?” Lizzie looked up.
“Josie. What are we going to do about her?” Hope looked upset and Lizzie could tell.
“What can we do?” Lizzie sighed.
“I don’t know but I can’t keep living like this. We live with her. We see her all the time and it’s just a reminder of the Josie we lost.” Hope sighed.
“I know. When my Dad died a part of her died too. She had no reason to keep her humanity on. But I see the way my Mum looks at her. She can’t even be in the same room as her. I don’t know what to do, Hope.” Lizzie had tears but shook it off like it was nothing.
Lizzie went back to eating and Hope felt so helpless. She had lost one of the girls she loved and the other one was in pain because of it. But she had an idea and she knew Lizzie would hate it.
“There’s one thing we haven’t tried.” Hope softly said.
“What? I’ll do anything.” Lizzie looked up at Hope in confusion.
“We know there’s one person Josie would definitely listen to.” Hope felt guilty for even saying it.
“You don’t mean-” Lizzie cut herself off.
“No. Absolutely not.” Lizzie continued to shake her head.
“Liz. We have to. We have no choice.” Hope nodded.
“It’s been years. We don’t even know if she would come.” Lizzie stared at Hope.
“You know she’ll come.” Hope softly said.
Lizzie sighed accepting defeat. She honestly never thought she would have to speak to Penelope Park again. Let alone ask her for help. But if anyone could bring Josie back it would be her. Even Lizzie knew that.
xxx
Jed and Landon were still out on their date and Penelope was still sitting on the couch. Onto her second glass of wine. She ended up finding a movie on Netflix and it wasn’t too bad.
Penelope’s phone started to ring. She picked up the TV remote to pause the movie. Penelope looked at her phone and it was an unknown number. She answered it anyway.
“Hello?” Penelope asked.
“You deleted my number. Maybe I’m a little hurt.” Lizzie said.
“Who is this?” Penelope was confused.
“Forgotten my voice already?” Lizzie joked.
Penelope paused and she knew that voice very well.
“Lizzie?” Penelope softly asked.
“There it is.” Lizzie said.
“Is this like a butt dial or something? Why the hell would you be calling me?” Penelope sighed.
“I wish it was. I need your help.” Lizzie finally said.
“What makes you think I would help you?” Penelope laughed.
“Josie. It’s about Josie.” Lizzie softly said.
Penelope paused. The name of the girl she tried so hard to forget.
“What about Josie?” Penelope finally said.
“So… We couldn’t find a cure for the merge and a week before it was supposed to happen Josie became a vampire. A heretic. To be exact. It was good and all until last month. Our father died. It was too much for her and she turned her humanity off. I need your help.” Lizzie tried to explain.
“You’re telling me she still continued to put you first even after I left? Why am I not surprised?” Penelope fake laughed.
“That is seriously not the point here.” Lizzie was annoyed.
There were a few moments of silence.
“Penelope… she’s killed people. I don’t even know who she is anymore.” Lizzie’s voice started to crack from her tears.
“How do you think I can help?” Penelope finally asked.
“She’s never been the same since you left. I think a part of her still loves you. So, if anyone can bring her back, it’s you.” Lizzie said.
Penelope paused for a few moments. She honestly didn’t know what to say. It had been so many years but she never stopped thinking about Josie. Not even for a second.
“I don’t know, Lizzie. It’s been a long time.” Penelope tried to say.
“I’m not asking for much, Penelope. If the girl from seven years ago is still in there. The one who would do anything for Josie. You’ll come.” Lizzie finally said before hanging up.
Penelope pulled the phone away from her ear since Lizzie had hung up saying those words. She was speechless but she knew one thing. She had to go back to Mystic Falls. There were a hundred reasons why Penelope shouldn’t go back but there was one reason why she should.
Josie. It was always Josie.