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Who would you die for? It’s a question more commonly asked than is probably appropriate when one begins to think about it. But it is still one that gets asked. Most people would answer that they would die for their loved ones, the ones they care about the most. Family, significant others, life-long friends, even a pet, perhaps. Josie began making a list in her head the moment Lizzie asked her after Klaus Mikaelson had died. Lizzie, of course, was on that list. Added to it was her father, Alaric, and her mother, Caroline. MG was on that list as well. At one point, she thought that Penelope was on that list, but that thought vanished the minute Penelope broke up with her. Josie likes to think she would be selfless enough to offer her life in place of an innocent person, but the ones she named were the ones she wouldn’t hesitate to die for. There was one other person on that list, though she would never admit it to someone else.
Hope Mikaelson
Josie, who discovered Hope was on that list about two years ago, knew that Hope was unintentionally put on her list back when the two girls were first introduced to each other. Although, Josie was so young she couldn’t possibly have been aware of what was happening. The realization came around the time when the first of the Malivore monsters began arriving at the Salvatore School. It was the day Josie knew that their win was just barely achieved, and Hope had almost died in the process of trying to save everyone else. The thought of dying in Hope’s place came almost as naturally as breathing.
The realization has been enough to throw Josie through a loop for a week. Yes, she had known that her crush on Hope had never gone away. But it wasn’t until that day when Josie realized that it was no longer a crush on the mysterious, attractive, kind girl. She was in love with her. The idea of living in a world without Hope scared her more than the idea of dying.
Josie was comfortable with the idea now. Lizzie, Alaric, Caroline, MG, and Hope. Those were the people on her list. It was simple.
Which is why, as Josie arrived at the school gym and saw Aurora approaching Hope with the last red oak stake, her feet began moving before her brain fully comprehended what was going on. Lizzie, in her Heretic glory, was alongside Hope fighting against the Triad army Aurora had enlisted. Both of them were too preoccupied and overwhelmed by the numbers surrounding them to notice Aurora, much less sense Josie. In fact, everyone was so focused on their own missions that no one sensed Josie's arrival. This is now Josie managed to run in between Aurora and Hope.
There was no regret when she felt the stake pierce her chest. She only felt relief as she managed to siphon enough magic to set the stake on fire and saw Hope standing behind her, alive. She didn’t feel any pain as she watched Aurora’s eyes widen in shock. She didn’t feel the fire of the burning stake flickering against her skin as she watched Aurora quickly call off her army once she realized her only way to kill Hope, the almighty Tribrid, had been destroyed. When she collapsed on the ground, the now burned stake still protruding from her body and blood slowly filling her lungs, all she felt was happiness that she had managed to find Hope (and Lizzie) with just enough time to save her life. It sort of felt like her life purpose had been fulfilled, though Josie likes to think that her life amounted to more than that.
It didn’t take Hope and Lizzie long to be at her side once they realized why Triad was fleeing. The few stragglers that had stayed behind were incinerated by the release of Hope’s magic once her brain caught up with what had happened. Lizzie managed to lift Josie’s head up and rest it on her lap, tears falling onto her face.
“Josie,” Lizzie managed to choke out. Josie, with great effort, managed to lift her arm up enough to rest her hand against Lizzie’s face. Lizzie quickly brushed it away to lift her own wrist up to her mouth and take a bite with her vampire teeth. Lizzie pressed her wrist to Josie’s mouth, simply stating, “Drink.” Although it tasted absolutely disgusting, Josie managed to swallow some of Lizzie’s blood before the wound healed itself. A few moments passed, and Josie noticed no change in her wound. The gaping wound (Hope had already pulled the burnt stake out of her chest) was not showing any sign of closing up.
Josie chuckled a bit, “I don’t think it’s working. Just like with Dad…” Her eyes slid back to Lizzie’s face. Lizzie shook her head in refusal and went to bite her wrist again. Josie stopped her, “Lizzie, if it didn’t work already, then it’s not going to work at all.”
Lizzie pretended not to hear her, “Hope, get your Tribrid ass over here, and save Josie with your special blood.”
Hope, who had been silently standing near them the whole time, simply shook her head. She knew that even Tribrid blood wouldn’t help. Josie, who just noticed Hope beside her as well, saw the tears running down Hope’s face. “Hope,” Josie gasped, “You’re crying.” Hope, who hadn’t yet noticed the tears on herself, wiped at her face in shock. “Your humanity,” Josie managed a weak smile, “It’s back on. Good.” Josie was even more relieved, if possible. Her goal of coming here had been to get Hope to turn her humanity back on, and she had accomplished that, even if things didn’t exactly go as planned. She didn’t like the idea of dying and leaving a humanity-less Hope behind anyway.
Hope knelt down next to Josie, “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I came for you, Hope. I never gave up on you or your humanity,” Josie gave a shaky smile that just made Hope sob harder.
“Why did you have to do this, Josie? How could you do this?”
Josie responded, “It’s simple Hope. I would die for you, no hesitation. It was my own panda promise to you.”
“But why?” Hope choked out, clutching Josie’s hand.
“Isn’t it obvious? I love you, Hope. I always have,” Josie confessed at last. Hope shook with the force of her tears.
Josie could hardly see what was in front of her, her vision becoming blurry with the blood loss. But she could still see Hope perfectly. She looked gorgeous, despite the snot running down her nose and the tears making her face red and blotchy. If this was going to be the last thing Josie saw, she was content with that.
“Josie…,” Hope began before pausing, “I love you too so please, please don’t die on me. I can’t lose anyone else. Please, this is all my fault. Please just don’t die. Please-”
“Hope,” Josie whispered, her breath becoming increasingly more labored.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to fight Triad,” Hope cut her off. “I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to deal with Landon dying. I’m sorry I saw turning off my humanity as the only option. I’m sorry I hurt your father. I’m sorry that I was stupid enough to convince myself that Landon was the love of my life, when I knew it was you all along. I’m sorry that I can’t save you now. So please, just fight for me one last time,” she begged Josie. Hope’s pleas were met only by the sound of Lizzie’s sobs and Josie’s ever slowing breathing.
With her last burst of strength, Josie turned her head towards Lizzie again and grasped her hand. “Lizzie, stay with Hope please. Don’t blame her for my death. This was my choice.” Lizzie just clutched Josie’s hand tighter and sobbed harder. Josie turned her head back towards Hope.
“Kiss me…Hope…please,” Josie forced out. Hope didn’t hesitate to lower her mouth to Josie’s. Their lips pressed against each other, a gentle kiss goodbye. The taste of Josie's blood which had been gathering in her mouth only served to make the kiss more sorrowful for Hope. As their lips broke apart. Hope felt Josie's final exhale on her lips before she heard Josie's heartbeat cease.
Hope and Lizzie broke down further. Lizzie held onto her sister’s body fully now, her hand gripping Josie’s hair in disbelief. Hope, desperate to feel Josie again, pressed her lips against Josie’s once more before she lowered her head with guilt. Completely destroyed, Hope curled herself around Josie's body, knowing her death was all her fault.