New Orleans...
Nighttime, Outside the Theatre.
The theatre lights dimmed behind them as Jojo and Hope stepped out into the cool evening breeze, laughter still lingering on their faces.
"That—"
Hope said between chuckles,
Chuckle~
"Was the dumbest, funniest, most absurd movie I've seen in my entire life."
Jojo grinned.
Grin~
"Why My Name Is Dick? is a cinematic masterpiece. Jim Carrey at his unhinged best."
{(A/N): There is no movie in that name... I think there is one named My name is Dick. This is a parallel world thing. And not a real movie.}
"I can't believe the courtroom scene,"
Hope said, clutching her stomach.
"When he screamed, 'Because my mother lost a bet!'—I almost spat my drink."
Jojo laughed, walking beside her.
"Hey, it had romance, humour, a little existential crisis… and a musical number about public bathrooms. What more could you want from a Friday night?"
They strolled through the French Quarter, the air filled with jazz notes drifting from a nearby balcony, streetlights casting golden pools of light onto the cobbled road.
The vibe was peaceful, cosy—
Almost like the universe gave them one quiet night in between the chaos.
Hope glanced at him, her smile softening.
"Thanks for coming out with me. It's been a long time since I laughed that hard."
Jojo looked at her, eyes twinkling.
"I needed it too. Things have been heavy lately. It's good to breathe again."
Hope bumped his shoulder playfully.
"And it was a date. Whether you admit it or not."
Jojo mock-gasped.
"Are you suggesting I took Hope Mikaelson to a ridiculous romantic comedy on a date?"
"Exactly."
"…Fair enough,"
He replied, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.
"Then I'd say it was a good one."
Hope flushed slightly but didn't look away.
"I missed you, Jojo."
"I missed you, too, Hope."
They stopped at the corner near the Mikaelson mansion, where the lamplight caught the glint of a memory in their shared gaze.
Without another word, Hope leaned in and gave Jojo a soft kiss on the cheek.
Kiss~
"Let's do this again. Soon,"
She whispered.
Jojo nodded, smiling as they walked up the stairs toward home—
Tonight, just two souls enjoying the rare quiet between storms.
After the dinner at Mikaelson Compound...
The moon hung high above the sky as Jojo, Alice, Rosalie, Esme, and Freya crossed the narrow street separating the Mikaelson Compound from the mansion Jojo once used to stay.
The iron gates creaked slightly as they stepped through, the soft glow of lanterns lining the path flickering like old memories.
The large house stood just as Jojo had left it—
Tall, elegant, and proud, with its wraparound balconies and ivy-covered walls.
Yet, despite the long absence, everything seemed... fresh.
Jojo unlocked the front door with the key Hope had retrieved from her room earlier that evening.
Click.
The door opened smoothly, revealing a surprisingly well-kept foyer.
The floors gleamed, the air was clean, and not a speck of dust lingered on the ornate furniture.
Jojo smirked, glancing at Hope, who stood beside him.
Smirk~
"You've been cleaning up after me, haven't you?"
Hope shrugged with a small, sheepish grin.
"Didn't want the place falling apart. And maybe... I was hoping you'd come back sooner."
He chuckled and stepped inside.
Chuckle~
"Thanks, Hope."
As the others entered one by one, their eyes took in the interior with quiet appreciation.
Alice twirled once in the wide open space of the main hall.
"Okay, Jojo, this place is gorgeous."
"Thanks to my taste."
Jojo replied casually, prompting a soft laugh from the group.
Rosalie whistled.
Whistle~
"I'm claiming this room."
"Too late,"
Freya cut in, already halfway up the stairs.
"I already knew the best bathtub is in that one."
Esme, ever graceful, smiled warmly.
"I'll take whatever's left. They're all lovely."
Jojo led them through the halls, pointing out doors and helping them find their rooms.
Eventually, each of them disappeared into their chosen spaces, doors closing gently behind them.
Finally, Jojo reached his room.
The door creaked open.
It was just as he remembered.
Dark wooden furniture, stacks of old books, a shelf filled with books which he has browsed from Freya during his stay here before,
And a bed that was big enough for him.
He stepped inside, exhaled, and ran a hand across the edge of his desk.
A faint floral scent lingered—
Hope had definitely cleaned here, too.
Jojo sat on the bed, gazing at the softly glowing night outside the window.
For a moment, everything felt... quiet. Peaceful. Safe.
Jojo leaned back, letting the mattress cradle him.
And with that, the night settled in.
Mid-Night...
Knock~
knock~ knock~
Jojo stirred awake, his brows furrowed as his senses adjusted.
The moonlight still spilt across the room—it was well past midnight.
He blinked toward the window, hearing the tapping continue.
Then he saw her.
"____"
Hope Mikaelson, standing outside on the balcony ledge in her pyjamas, arms crossed and a smirk on her lips.
Smirk~
She raised one eyebrow as if to say,
'Are you going to open up or what?'
Jojo groaned softly and shuffled out of bed, muttering under his breath,
"This girl's gonna be the death of me."
He opened the window, but before he could even utter a word like
"Why not the front door?",
Hope placed a finger on his lips, silencing him.
"____"
"____"
She slipped in through the window like a well-practised thief and softly closed it behind her.
Jojo blinked at her.
"Okay, seriously—why the window?"
Hope whispered,
"Front door creaks. Plus, this is way more fun."
She grinned as she flopped onto his bed like it was hers, burying her face into his pillow.
Outside, across the street in the shadows of the Mikaelson Compound balcony,
Two very familiar figures stood in silence—
Hayley Marshall and Klaus Mikaelson.
Klaus's jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like he might break his own teeth.
His eyes flared gold for a second as he growled,
Growl~
"She snuck out. Again. Into his room. That... that insufferable brat—"
Hayley sighed, already prepared for this.
"Klaus. Don't."
"She used the window, Hayley! The bloody window! And look at that! She's already lying on his bed!"
Hayley rubbed her temple.
"And what would you rather she do? Lie to us about it? Sneak out and not tell us at all? She's not a little girl anymore. She loves him, Klaus. And... she's being honest about it."
Klaus spun to face her, arms flailing.
"I acknowledge the relationship. I haven't ripped his spine out yet, have I? But this? Midnight sneak-ins? That's a line!"
Hayley, ever the voice of reason, narrowed her eyes.
"So what, Klaus? You're gonna storm across the street, kick in the door, and drag her home like she's ten?"
Klaus paused.
"____"
The idea did cross his mind, his eyes glimmered with excitement.
Hayley stepped closer, placing her hand on his chest.
"She's her own woman. Our job's not to cage her—it's to support her. Or we lose her."
Klaus looked away, lips twitching in reluctant acceptance.
"She gets this reckless stubbornness from you."
Hayley smirked.
Smirk~
"And her heart is from you."
Klaus grumbled.
"Not helping."
"Come on,"
Hayley said, tugging his hand.
"Let's go to bed before you actually do something you'll regret."
Klaus let her pull him away, sulking all the way, muttering curses at Jojo under his breath—
"bloody night-crawling maniac," "smooth-talking thief," "bad influence with nice hair"...
Back inside Jojo's room...
Hope peeked up from the pillow. "You think they saw me?"
Jojo, deadpan: "They definitely did."
Hope blinked. Then burst into laughter.
Hehehe~
"Well. Guess Dad's gonna murder you in your sleep."
Jojo smirked, lying beside her.
Smirk~
"Like he would succeed."
Hope rested her head on his chest, her voice soft.
"Still worth it."
He kissed her forehead.
"Always."
The warmth between Jojo and Hope had shifted—
No longer playful, no longer just laughter under the covers.
It was quiet now, thick with emotion and unsaid words.
"____"
"____"
Hope sat up slowly, her hand resting on Jojo's chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath her palm.
"I want tonight to be ours."
She whispered, eyes searching his.
"No running, no hiding, no family rules. Just… us."
Jojo reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle.
"Are you sure?"
He asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Hope nodded, her lips trembling slightly—
Not out of fear, but the weight of the moment.
Nod~
"Yes. I've been sure since the day you left and took my heart with you."
Jojo's hand found hers, intertwining their fingers.
He leaned in slowly, and their lips met—
Not in fire or urgency, but in something deeper.
Tender, reverent.
Every touch spoke volumes.
The world outside faded.
No fights, no vampires, no angry hybrid dads across the street—
Just the sound of two hearts beating as one.
Time passed, soft and slow.
Their lips met again, slower this time—deeper. Not just a kiss, but a promise.
Jojo's hands found her waist, thumbs tracing small circles through the thin fabric of her shirt.
Hope's fingers slid up his chest, trembling slightly as she tugged at the hem of his t-shirt.
He pulled it over his head, tossing it aside.
She followed, unbuttoning her own blouse one by one, each button exposing a little more skin, a little more vulnerability.
"____"
Jojo paused, eyes lingering—
Not with hunger, but admiration.
"You're beautiful,"
He murmured, brushing his lips across her collarbone.
Hope's breath caught when his kisses trailed lower, pressing along her shoulder, her arms, her stomach—
Every place is treated with reverence, as if memorising her.
Hope let her fingers trace his back, mapping each spot, each muscle—
Her silent way of saying she accepted every piece of him.
They sank onto the bed slowly, like two waves meeting mid-ocean.
Limbs tangled, hearts racing, not out of urgency, but need.
Jojo's hand found hers, fingers interlacing. His forehead rested against hers.
"This changes everything,"
Hope whispered.
"No,"
Jojo said, brushing her hair back,
"This just makes what we have stronger."
Their kisses deepened again, the last of the barriers falling away, piece by piece, like petals on water.
Both of them entangled themselves in the back-and-forth battle between them.
After their battle...
Later, wrapped in each other's arms under the covers, Hope lay nestled against Jojo, her head on his chest.
"____"
"____"
The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was peaceful.
"Still worth it?"
He whispered, his lips brushing her hair.
She smiled, eyes closed, utterly content.
"Always."
Morning at the Mikaelson Compound.
The scent of fresh beignets and brewed coffee wafted through the grand halls of the Mikaelson compound as the household gathered around the long breakfast table.
Laughter and light chatter filled the space—
At least from most people.
"____"
Jojo sat at one end, casually munching on toast, seemingly unfazed by the daggers Klaus was silently launching at him from across the table with his eyes.
Every few seconds, Klaus's fork scraped a little louder than necessary against his plate, his grip a little tighter on the silverware.
Hope, glowing and far too pleased with herself, leaned lightly on Jojo's shoulder, whispering something that made him chuckle.
Chuckle~
"____"
That only made Klaus's eye twitch harder.
Hayley nudged Klaus subtly under the table, giving him a sharp look.
"Don't,"
She mouthed.
Klaus let out a growl low enough only Hayley could hear.
Growl~
Jojo didn't even flinch.
After breakfast, the women gathered by the courtyard fountain.
Freya, Alice, Rosalie, Esme, and Hayley had formed an impromptu "ladies' group," deciding to take a walk through the Quarter for some fresh air and maybe a little shopping.
Hope was planning to join later—
After Jojo's meeting.
Klaus stood near the compound's doors, arms folded.
"You're visiting Mystic Falls today, then."
He said to Jojo, more a statement than a question.
Jojo nodded.
Nod~
"Yeah. Alaric wants to meet. But before that—"
He gestured behind him.
"—I've got something to take care of."
Just then, the compound doors creaked open.
Marcel stepped in with Rebekah close behind, both having received Hayley's call.
Marcel's eyes immediately locked onto Inadu, who stood beside Jojo, her expression unreadable.
"Inadu,"
Marcel said, his tone flat, bordering on hostile.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Rebekah looked between everyone with raised brows but didn't intervene.
"____"
Before Marcel could say more, Jojo stepped forward, his gaze steady and unwavering.
"She's with me. I give you my word—she won't cause any problems. I'll be with her the entire time."
Marcel's jaw tensed.
"That's not the point. She—"
"Isn't the same as before,"
Jojo interrupted calmly.
"She's changed. And if she hadn't, she wouldn't be standing here right now. I'm asking you—let this one go. Trust me."
Marcel studied him.
Long, quiet seconds passed before he let out a breath and looked away.
"If she steps out of line even once—"
"She won't,"
Jojo said with finality.
Inadu, surprisingly, bowed her head slightly.
"I'm not here to reignite the past. Just to support him."
Rebekah smiled faintly, amused by the tension, before breaking it.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, why don't we all pretend not to be on the verge of a supernatural turf war and have a bloody nice day?"
Hope rolled her eyes playfully and kissed Jojo's cheek.
"I'll go first and make sure the school's ready for you."
As she walked out and the cab she had booked arrived, Klaus grunted.
"We'll see about keeping this day peaceful."
Jojo smiled coolly at Klaus as he turned to leave with Inadu.
"Looking forward to our little road trip, old man."
Klaus grumbled under his breath, following him out.
Mystic Falls...
Salvatore Boarding School...
The morning sun filtered through the wide Gothic windows of the Salvatore Boarding School as Hope Mikaelson stepped through the gates with a relaxed expression.
Dressed in her usual black jacket and boots, there was something noticeably different about her walk—
Lighter, calmer, almost radiant.
A quiet smile lingered on her lips as she made her way across the familiar courtyard toward the dormitory wing.
Students passed her, giving polite nods or curious glances.
And then, as expected, two particular voices chimed in from the left.
"Well, well,"
Lizzie Saltzman began, flipping her blonde hair as she stepped into Hope's path.
"If it isn't Mystic Falls' moody royalty returning from whatever angsty drama-filled trip she went on."
Josie, less biting but still curious, stood beside her with a raised brow.
"Welcome back, Hope. You're in a surprisingly good mood."
Instead of a snarky retort or icy glare, Hope simply smiled—
A bright, genuine one that made both twins pause.
"Thanks, girls. It's good to be back,"
Hope said cheerfully, then strolled past them with a bounce in her step.
"____"
"____"
Lizzie blinked.
"Was that… a smile? Did Hope Mikaelson just smile at us?"
Josie nodded slowly.
Nod~
"Something's definitely up. And I want to know what."
The twins exchanged a knowing glance, already planning their next move.
As Hope reached the dorm hall and turned toward her room, she nearly bumped into Alaric Saltzman coming from the other direction with a pile of papers in his hand.
"Oh—sorry, Dr. Saltzman,"
Hope said, then smiled again, though this one was more formal.
"I just got back."
Alaric gave her a nod, his tone wary but calm.
Nod~
"Everything went smoothly in New Orleans?"
Hope nodded.
Nod~
"Yeah. I came back a bit earlier than planned. But—Jojo and my dad will be arriving later today. They're on the way now."
Alaric froze.
"____"
The mere mention of Klaus Mikaelson made the headmaster's jaw tighten and his entire aura dim slightly.
His eyes narrowed, but he held back any strong words.
It wasn't worth starting a fight before anything even happened.
"I see,"
He said flatly.
"Let's hope your dad remembers this is a school and not one of his war zones."
Hope crossed her arms but held her smile.
"He'll behave. I'll make sure of it."
Alaric gave a noncommittal grunt and walked off toward his office.
As Hope resumed walking, the corner of her lips curled again into a smug grin.
Because someone was definitely coming to Mystic Falls—
And he wasn't just bringing trouble.
He was bringing answers.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!!