To a Fault

Josie’s features lit up within amusement, “it’s kind of my mom and sister’s thing. There’s a binder for everything – colour coded and usually covered in glitter too” she mused. “They’re very affective and… thorough.” Josie was vaguely aware of her mother’s past with Hayley, but it wasn’t something that was really her business and she respected Caroline’s privacy, so she didn’t want to push the subject any further than necessary. “I guess there’s no time like the present to make amends, right? I’m sure mom would be more than happy to help in any way that she could.”

With her digits returning to the straw in her milkshake, she began to twirl it around before taking a sip and listening to Jackson’s words, subconsciously forming her own response. “The school is home to so many kids that don’t have anything waiting for them on the other side of the walls. I guess it’s a sad but honest truth and a little bit of recognition for the good that has been done, could really change a lot of kids lives. Or at least, I hope it can.”

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“I’m guessing you’re not so big on the binders?” the question was accompanied with a smile, knowing he’d feel the same about it if Hayley was making glittery color-coded binders and trying to organize their lives that way.  “That’s good to know, all the same - bet they’ve got a binder for just about anything I could want to know.”  Jackson couldn’t hide a smile at Josie’s suggestion, clearly seeing that the girl was a natural peacemaker.  “I’ll gently suggest it - very gently, because the last thing I want to do is provoke an angry pregnant vampire, you know?” Sometimes he didn’t have the greatest survival instinct, but he knew that much.

Her passion and the empathy for her fellow students were admirable things, and Jackson felt the wheels in his head turn a little as they spoke.  “I think you make a good point.  I think it’s amazing, what your folks and Klaus accomplished setting this place up.  But it seems like no one was thinking into the future, and what you all might do when you graduate.”

Josie’s smile remained, and she was elated at the idea of Hope’s family growing, something of which she should probably tell Hope herself. “If you need any tips, I’m sure my mom and dad would be happy to lend you the 600-page binder that mom created on ‘surviving twins.’” The best part was, she wasn’t even joking. 

Although Josie hadn’t experienced the first-hand loss that Hope had, there had been a conscious part of her since childhood, that was aware of a missing piece inside of her, that she could only imagine to be the loss of her bio mom.

There was a momentary expression of guilt upon her features as she avoided Jackson’s gaze, lowering it to the book on the table. Whilst she appreciated his gratitude, it was just a reminder that she should have tried harder to be there for Hope. The conversation shift encouraged for her to look back towards the other and the talk of New Orleans, of factions being an open secret at least offered her a glimmer of hope. “I like to think that things can change, or will change. That eventually, we won’t have to hide who we are. Supernatural being’s have saved the town enough, its about time we got a little credit for that.”

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“I want to say no, because there’s no way I’m going to make it through a six hundred page binder, but I have a feeling Hayley might feel differently.  So I’ll have to get in touch with your mom and see if she’ll be willing to trust us with it for a little while.  From what Hayley’s told me they weren’t exactly best friends back in the day,” he smiled.

Jackson couldn’t help but agree with that - the way that the school had locked down the existence of the supernatural world meant that kids who were strong and brave in the face of real life-threatening danger couldn’t ever be acknowledged for what they’d done.  “I think you’re right.  With the graduating class of the Salvatore School out there in the world, I gotta think you’ll change a lot of things.”

Josie had known for a long time how important it had been for Hope to have her family back and now with the news that she was going to be a big sister, she could hardly conceal the elation from her features. “That’s really good news, I’m bet Hope’s excited too.” Jackson’s understanding was greatly appreciated by Josie, there had been tension between her and Hope over the years and after the incident with the fire, Josie had carried with her a guilty conscience. With a slow shake of her head, the brunette lowered her gaze for a moment. “I guess not, but – I get it. She’s been through … a lot and getting close to becomes scarier than it should be.” 

A fleeting sigh eased from her lips and she knew that she should have tried harder to ensure that Hope felt included, but given the bad blood between Hope and Lizzie, which unfortunately was a biproduct of Josie’s doing, she knew that Lizzie wouldn’t have taken kindly to them forming a friendship. 

The young siphon lifted her head once again, offering a soft smile of gratitude for Jackson’s words. “My dad built the school to keep kids like me and my sister safe or .. hidden, just like Hope’s dad funded it for the same reasons. There’s a lot of events that try and bring the two worlds together, but we’re expected to keep our powers under wraps and I get it, I just wish there was room for us in the outside world because the school can’t protect us forever.”

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“She is.  I think the whole idea of ever having siblings seemed pretty impossible to her, and she’s still getting her head around it.  Which is fair, because I’m still getting my head around it too.  In a good way,” he hurried to clarify.  “You’re on the money there.  She’s lost a lot, and it makes it hard to open up.  And I know this probably sounds a little cheesy, but if you’ve tried to be her friend I’m grateful for it.  Hayley is too.”

He could appreciate what she was saying, but he wasn’t sure that there was an easy answer.  “It’s...different, here.  New Orleans, the existence of people like us was kind of an open secret.  There were some rules, but for the most part we didn’t have to be quite as hidden as you kids are.  And I’m not saying that’s a good solution either - Mystic Falls doesn’t have the kind of faction wars that New Orleans did - but I like to think there has to be a middle ground.  You’re just eighteen, and you’re being expected to step out of high school and into the world without anyone having your back.”

Josie gave a discreet grimace as Jackson listed all the shortcomings since his return from peace, but at least the news of the baby was joyous. “You and Hope’s mom are having a baby?” her features lightened, and her eyes widened, evidently thrilled for the news. “Congratulations. I didn’t know, but me and Hope aren’t exactly – close.” Josie drew a soft breath, tucking a dark strand of hair behind her ear as she removed her hand from the book and pulled her milkshake closer. “I’m not sure the Salvatore school can deal with quiet and relaxing” she teased, twisting the straw within her glass. “I think my dad would lose his mind.” 

Her gaze lifted as Jackson readdressed her words and she shook her head slightly with a momentary hesitance. “I – do my best.” Between worrying about insane family history and attempting to pander to her sister’s whims, that didn’t leave much room for mall days or parties outside of those thrown in the woods. “I guess the same can be said for a lot of kids at school. We’re always thinking of consequences. The what if’s.” 

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“Oh damn, look at me going on about it,” he laughed.  Fortunately he didn’t think telling Josie qualified as giving the news to anyone who shouldn’t know it.  “Thank you - we’re having twins.  It’s a bit of a shock given...everything, but the whole no magic thing did have some benefits.”  He didn’t miss what she had to say about her relationship with Hope, though, and Jackson’s expression softened a little.  “She’s never said as much, but I get the sense she’s not really close with anyone, huh?”  Jackson laughed, picturing the headmaster roaming the halls just looking for a fight.  “Kind of like regular school that way I guess.”

The way Josie hesitated made him wonder, even if the details of her life were definitely none of his business.  “It’s an unfortunate consequence of being supernatural, isn’t it?  The consequences are more serious for us, need more consideration, than they do for other people.  But as someone who spent his younger years living it up - you’ve gotta do that too.  The consequences will always be there waiting, but you still deserve to have a life.  If you don’t mind my saying.”

Josie was quick to return Jackson’s gesture, offering a little nod as he introduced himself and she felt a glimmer of self-satisfaction, for her assumption having been correct. “It’s nice to meet you too.” Her reply was paired with a genuine smile, in all honesty she was happy for Hope that she had been reunited with her family and now extended family. Despite their differences, she deserved that at least. “I guess there were bigger things on your mind” she mused politely, not wanting to touch on the fact that they had been removed from peace and now expected to fight monsters. “I totally get it.” The brunette couldn’t help but give a soft laugh at Jackson’s comment, pulling her book closer towards her chest as she replied, “it’s had its moments. But somehow we still find time to be normal-ish teenagers. Although, I think some of us are better at it than others. But I think if you asked my parents they would say that every day is a learning curve.”

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Jackson chuckled ruefully, running a hand through his hair.  “One or two, I suppose.  Not every day you come back from peace, have magic just go away, find out you’re going to have a baby - between all of that we’ve been a little usy, I think.”  Part of him wanted to ask about her reading material, but the way she was cradling it close was enough to tell Jackson that she didn’t necessarily want to share it and he wasn’t the type to push.  “Every day is a learning curve.  That sounds depressing, I think I’d like some days to just be quiet and relaxing, you know?” he laughed.  “I can’t help but notice how you said that - are you one of the ones who still finds time to be a teenager, or no?”

With her headphones in and her nose tucked into a book on mythical monsters, Josie hadn’t noticed Jackson at first, until the figure had begun blocking the light and making her page difficult to see. She glanced up through her dark lashes and her brow creased as she attempted to work out what it was he could want as she saw his lips moving, but heard no sound other than her ‘rainy day’s’ playlist. The brunette was quick to pull out her earphones and apologised to the other, before glancing as he gestured towards the seat. “Oh – sure, yeah … go ahead” her response was rushed, awkward almost as she cleared her throat and attempted to conceal her book. Josie studied the other’s features for a moment, before recalling having seen the male with Hope and the boarding school. “You’re Hope’s step father, right? Jackson? I’m Josie. Alaric and Caroline’s daughter.”

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Jackson laughed softly as the young woman pulled her earbuds out, mad at himself for not recognizing that she couldn’t hear him before he spoke.  The last thing he wanted was to be the creepy guy asking women to take their headphones off so he could talk to them.  “Thank you,” he slid into the seat and set his food down, quickly offering a hand when she introduced herself.  “That’s me, yeah - Jackson Kenner.  It’s nice to meet you, Josie.  We’ve been in town for a while but haven’t had much chance to meet her friends or classmates properly.  This must be one of the most unusual school years you’ve had so far, even for a school like yours, huh?”  He imagined most of the time the problems at school had more to do with wolves needing to be locked up on the full moon and baby vampires who needed to be taught how to harness their power.  “Your folks must have their hands full.”

With Hayley safely at rest back at the manor, Jackson had gone out for a few hours to look for real estate; with all that had been happening they hadn’t had a chance to search for their new home yet, and after the town had been swarmed by monsters there were suddenly a lot of motivated sellers on the market to try and leave.  He’d found a few that seemed like it would suit them and the new babies - babies, plural, a revelation he was still getting used to - and headed back into the center of town to find something to eat before he headed out again.

The Grill was packed, not surprisingly given it was one of the buildings that had been spared the worst of the damage, and the only open seat he could find was opposite one of the girls from Hope’s school.  “Mind if I sit?” he asked with a smile, gesturing to the spot.  “I won’t be here long, promise.”

closed starter | @jacksonakenner​

Hayley couldn’t exactly blame Jackson for insisting that they check on the baby after the events of the night in the hospital. And a small part of her was a little worried between that and suddenly becoming a vampire again that something could have happened. Sitting in the exam room on the table, her knee bounced anxiously as she looked around the room at all of the devices and tools, her nerves getting worse with each passing moment. “Why do they even set an appointment time if they’re just going to make you wait for another half hour?”

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Jackson wasn’t normally a worrying man.  In fact his younger years were more a story of recklessness than caution, and even as an adult he hadn’t exactly changed much in that regard.  But from the moment he’d found out Hayley was pregnant, the world had taken a pretty hard turn into new territory.  Worrying about his wife and their unborn child would be stressful enough even without the return of her vampiric nature and an attack that had separated them and stressed them both out even further.  Which was what had led them to the doctor’s office just then.  But more than anything else, he knew his own worry needed to be secondary to Hayley’s, and Jackson did his best to settle his nerves as he rested a hand on her bouncing knee.  “I wish I knew; at this point I’m ready to just go drag someone in here.  But I’m sure it’s not going to be much longer.”

With the door still closed and no doctor to be found, he leaned over to whisper playfully in her ear.  “You know, you’re the only one in the world who could look so good sitting on an exam table.”  It was mostly an attempt to make her laugh and take her mind off the delay, but it was still true.

"Well, I had a thought," Jackson smiled. "With you being a bit sick the last little while I thought maybe it might be nice to get you out of the house and into the outdoors. So I've got a truck outside, and in the back there's a cooler filled with all the stuff you've been craving. Next to that is a couple of good air mattresses and a stack of blankets. We're going to drive up to the Falls, park near the top and sit in the back of the truck for a few hours." He pressed a kiss to Hayley's temple. "You can get some fresh air, and when you've had enough we can just drive right back into town. If you're good I might even bring my guitar," he teased gently.

@crescentxqueen

"So the pickle craving isn't a thing anymore. Got it," Jackson fumbled with his phone, erasing pickles from the list of things to grab at the grocery store. "No pickles." Leaning over, he kissed Hayley on the cheek with a smile. "I know it's a little bit frustrating, Hales, but the babies want what they want and it's my job to make sure you have it for them. And if that means shopping a dozen times to get new things when you're craving them, I'm good with that. Now you just relax, I'll go get everything on your list and I'll be right back."

"I mean...there was the thing with me, Nic, Jasper and the high school mascot suit. Which was probably...well, definitely illegal, but is it really committing a crime if no one ever finds out? Because I'm pretty sure nobody ever did."

"I told you, didn't I? Memory foam. I sound like the world's saddest middle aged dad, but this is the best mattress I've ever seen. I wanted to get something new for Hayley, because I'm sure she needs it, but I've barely been able to get off the damn thing since I brought it home. Which defeats the purpose a little."

"Damn if that ain't a complicated question. When I died I was an Alpha of the Crescents, but that was when Hales and I were the last of the line. Suddenly we come back from the dead and there's Hayley's parents, there's Daisy and Victor, and I don't much know where that leaves us. Or where I want it to leave us. Which may be the world's most long-winded way of saying that I don't know. Damn, that was a ramble and a half.

The familiar voice speaking her nickname that only those close to her knew pulled a soft sigh of relief from her lips as emerald hues gazed up at her older cousin, more than willing to allow him to pulled her into an embrace as she returned it tightly. “Oh thank God you’re okay,” Tara spoke quickly before the male spoke again and she found an amused smile forming on her lips as she gave a roll of her eyes. “Of course he did,” she chuckled softly. “Thank you. I definitely didn’t think we would have any more after Abel but here we are. Congrats are in order for you as well. Hayley told me. Actually we kind of told each other at the same time.”

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“I’m alright,” he promised in reply.  “I’m not injured, I’ve just always been this ugly.”  He couldn’t help but joke, because it made him feel better than actually talking through what they’d all just experienced.  “I guess you can never say never, right?”  That question was turned on him literally a heartbeat later, though, as she mentioned Jackson and Hayley’s own baby.  “I’m glad you had each other here.”  The last thing he’d have wanted was for his cousin or his wife to have gone through the day’s events without each other.  “All I’d have ever wanted was to raise a kid of our own, you know?  I still can’t believe it.”

“Your motive might be not to but that doesn’t mean you won’t.” Klaus says as he pours another drink for himself as the bartender poured Jackson one for him. “The knack of a orphan who took care of herself most of her life.” He mutters knowing full well Hayley likely could take care of anything and was more so used to handling them herself anyway. 

Klaus grew silent thinking about the creatures that attacked, “I have a vague memory, things that hadn’t accrued to me to be…important.” Coming back from the dead was no picnic and he wasn’t sure if he could trust everything that flooded his mind. These were memories from his human life and early vampire days, perhaps Elijah had the right idea of keep journals.

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“You definitely wouldn’t be the first person whose nerves I’ve been able to get on, so you’re not wrong there.”  Jackson put back another drink, hoping that it would calm his nerves to some degree.  “Yeah, I think that’s a lot of it.  She doesn’t need to be coddled or looked after, no matter how much I want to sometimes.”

Jackson turned on his barstool, giving Klaus a curious look.  If there was anyone who might have experience with the sort of thing they’d dealt with, it was someone who’d lived for a thousand years and been all over the world.  “Feel like sharin’ this thought with me?”

Klaus had enough, the night was longer than he cared to admit and it wasn’t due to a physical exhaustion, it was emotional. He had been raging most of the night wondering how the attacks were linked to his daughter and where she had been taken and by whom. None of the answers were given and he couldn’t handle the bitter taste in his mouth so he did the only reasonable thing he could think of. 

Pouring himself a drink at the Grill having the bottle left in front of him, it took hours for him to get the blood staining from his skin and under his nails and even now he was sure he could still see the slight pink tint on his hand as he raised his glass to his lips and took a long drink. “If you’re here to try my patience I will give the last bit of friendly advice I have to offer and say ‘Don’t’, its thin as it stands.” He mutters pouring another filling into his glass.

@mysticofthefallenstarter​

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“Shockingly, I’m not here to bother you,” Jackson insisted, peeling off his coat and setting the garment on the bar still tacky with blood and whatever else had come out of the creatures they’d spent the night fighting.  “I’m just here to have a drink or two while Hayley catches up with everyone.  Because as usual,” he gestured to the bartender for his own drink and swallowed it in one go, “she’s handling all of this better than I am.  Best I can do is stay out of her way.”

He gestured for two more rounds and set them up on the bar in front of him.  “If you’d have asked me what the odds were that we’d be invaded by fairy tale creatures today I think I’d have said zero.  Shows you what I know.”

The events of the night had left Tara feeling nothing more than spent, her body and uniform adorned in the blood of the monsters and the injured or deceased as she stared in dismay at the aftermath that was left behind. She had long since put a call through to the babysitter making sure she and the kids were okay the moment the phone lines had finally gone through and had since busied herself with ensuring Avery was fine and assisting with those who needed attention when a faint voice broke through her thoughts and she turned, a dazed look upon her features as she gave a shake of her head. “Hmm, oh no, I’m fine,” she mused. “Blood’s not mine, triage is that way if you’re looking for medical attention.”

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“TJ,” Jackson breathed, pulling her gently into him to avoid aggravating any injuries she might have picked up.  “God damn, it’s good to see you.”  For a few minutes he couldn’t say much of anything at all - the adrenaline of the night was being replaced by a bone-deep weariness and relief to see the people he loved safe.  They’d been separated once before and he had no urge to go through that again.  “Congrats, by the way,” were the next words he managed to force out, pressing his lips to her temple.  “Your husband spoiled the good news.”