that's nothing i had to remember

Josie and I walk down the streets of New Orleans. "Stasia, are you sure you want to do this?"

I turn to look at the brunette. "Jo, Hope is somehow related to me, and everyone's forgotten her. I need to remember who she is. so I can fix this." I explain. "My own family has been sitting right in front of me this whole time! I just, I don't know why someone would lie like that."

"Maybe she wanted to stay hidden," Josie shrugs. I nod slowly, approaching Rousseau's.

"Maybe." I mumble.

Josie and I take our seat, ordering our drinks as we wait. Josie fiddles with her drink while I sip on my own. "How do you manage to drink that?" She asks me.

I turn to look at her. "I'm a Mikaelson. Drinking is kind of our thing." Sipping my glass, I lean back.

"And how old are you claiming to be?"

Josie and I turn to look at who's speaking. "21...ish." Josie blurts.

"Aunt Freya," I smile, standing up to hug my aunt.

"It's called "the Big Easy" for a reason." Freya chuckles, patting my hack.

I smile. "Aunt Freya, this is Josie,"

Josie stands up, holding out her hand.Hi, I'm Josie."

Freya narrows her eye, "Didnt you two-?"

"Break up? Indeed." I chirp.

"B-but Stasia and I worked everything out. I have big jealousy problems." Josie rambles.

The three of us sit down, Freya pulling up a chair. "So, you go to the Salvatore as well?" Josie nods shortly. "My wife's got an eye on it for our son."

"We kind of need your help." I say to my aunt.

Josie speaks up. "There's this spell that we are kind of trying to reverse engineer." She begins to explain.

"I'm sure one of your teachers can help you with that." Freya says, standing up and walking away.

"An ancient Japanese black magic purge spell?" I blurt. Freya turns to look back at me. "I don't think they teach us those in school." I retort.

Freya steps towards us, looking between Josie and I. "You should go home, Anna. That magic isn't for you." She tells me once more.

I look back at Josie, shrugging. Knowing Freya too well, she won't want to get caught up in this. "Wait." Josie says, stepping past me. "You have photos in your home of someone you don't recognize. Feels like you should know them, but you don't?"

I frown, not remembering any weird pictures at home. Freya turns to look at my girlfriend. "How did you know that?" She asks hastily.

"We've all forgotten people. It doesn't matter what I say." Josie shrugs.

"The spell that I need is the only way that any of us are gonna remember for ourselves." I explain. Freya purses her lips. "Please, Aunt Freya."

♚

"Harae-tamai Kioku Yomigaerashi-tamae." Freya glances up at us. "In the spell, conviction matters. You need to be clear of mind and purpose. If not, instead of purging the supernatural influence in the mind, you'll end up solidifying it, making it permanent."

Josie speaks up. "Is that as bad as it sounds?"

"You'd erase the very memories you're trying to bring back." She looks between us. "How did you even find this spell?"

I look at Josie, who shifts awkwardly. "I siphoned it from an ancient sword to save Stasia and my sister's life?" Freya tilts her head to the side, kinda confused. "Weird story short, we read in this diary how it returned all of my sisters memories somehow."

"Magic and privacy don't mix well." Freya points out. Her phone starts ringing. "That's my wife. She's on Nik duty tonight our kid. Excuse me."

Josie grabs the book awkwardly as I stand at the wall of pictures. "Who are they?" She asks, pointing at all of the memories.

I point to the first picture. "That's Josh. He was a friend of my adoptive brother, who became my uncle. My mom really liked him." I smile. "That's Jackson, Hayleys husband. From what Mom said, he was a really sweet guy. Deserved better." I look at the picture in the middle. "That's Davina and Cami. Mom said Cami was one of my dad's Epic Loves." I giggle. "She says Cami would've been total step mom material." Josie and I giggle as our eyes land on a picture of Freya and Hope. I can't help but feel angry. I mean, Hope lied to me. She knew who I was, she knows what we were. Yet she decided to act like I was just some girl she met at Mystic Falls High.

"Who is she?" Josie and I turn, looking at Freya. "I knew you were hiding something from me. So tell me, how is it we both forgot the same person?"

I suck in a breath. "Aunt Freya-"

"Anna, I taught you better than that." She scolds. "And if you didn't tell me that to begin with, I can only assume it's because you haven't decided what you're going to do with that spell. Have you?" I purse my lips, an anger I haven't felt in a long time rising. "Who is that girl?"

Josie pulls on my sleeve. "Stasia, come on,"

My eyes shift colors, my hand outstretched. "Harae-tamai Kioku Yomigaerashi-tamae!" I shout. Freya flies backwards, hitting her head on a barstool. She collapses on the ground, unconscious.

Josie breathes heavily. "What did you just do?" She asks me.

I pant as I grab Josie and I's things, "I just brought her memory back." I say, "Come on, let's go."

♚

The phone rings four times before someone picks up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mom." I say sheepishly, Josie holding my hand as comfort.

"Hey, Anastasia!" My mom hums. "What are you calling me for, shouldn't you be in school?"

I purse my lips. "Actually, Mom, I uh, I'm in a bit of a situation." I tell her.

I hear a sip of some sort on the other line. "Well, what is it?"

"Josie and I found a way to bring everyones memories back." I explain. "Except, I'm worried."

"Why?"

"I'm scared it may hurt some people." I feel a tear in my eye as I think about what might happen if I remember whatever happened between me and Hope. "I just, I don't know what to do. I don't want to do something wrong,"

"Anastasia," My moms voice is warm and soothing. "I want you to listen closely." I sniffle, looking at Josie before back at the ground. "You are the strongest young girl I have ever met in my entire life. Even when you were 13 you were fighting off the bad guys with Marcel." I giggle, looking down at me shoes. "Sometimes, doing the right thing may cause some people pain, however, you know that it will always be better for someone in the long run." She pauses. "As long as you do it in style."

I smile softly, "Thanks, Mom." I say softly. "I love you."

After hanging up the phone, Josie looks at me. "What did she say?"

I grip the brunettes hand. "She said all I needed to know." I say, pulling the witch to the buses.

"Which is?"

I pause in the middle of the crowd, "Let's save the day, Josie and Annie style."

♚

"Okay, um, I accidentally killed your hamster. I siphoned you to cheat on finals." Lizzie rambles.

"What?" I hear Hope gasp. Me and Josie share a confused look, rushing down the hall.

"And I actually think you're kind of cool."

We hear a loud screech. "What kind of monster-"

"Come on, Stasia!" Josie hisses, pulling me along.

"Okay, it's not working. It's not gonna stop until everyone knows the secret we've been keeping from them." Hope says as we enter the gym. "That I'm back."

"I'm back, too." Hope and Lizzie look behind the Croatoan, eyes wide. Josie and I connect hands, the Saltzman siphoning magic from me. "Harae-tamai Kioku Yomigaerashi-tamae!"

A wave of dark magic flies through the air, flying far beyond than what we could've seen. We watch it sling back, flying right back into our bodies. I look up at Hope, tilting my head.

♚

"So, I guess this means you guys are werewolves. He said, casually." I giggle at Landons statement. Hope looking to the side.

She smiles awkwardly. "I'm a lot of things."

"Care to elaborate?" He asks.

"They're just gonna make you forget tomorrow." Hope shrugs.

"Come on, humor him." I tease. Hope hums, walking to get the book about our family.

She comes back rather quickly. "The blood that runs in me and my sisters veins aren't human."

"Our dad was one of the earths Original Vampires." I add.

"Was?"

"Was" Hope continues, putting the book down.

She flips open the book. "Turns out even immortal beings can find a way to die eventually." She says. She opens it to the page of our father.

"Klaus Mikaelson: The Great Evil." Landon reads. I jump onto the table, kneeling down to look at it.

Hope looks up. "My father wasn't very popular around here."

"One of my foster dads used to burn us with his cigarettes." Landon says, attempting to relate. "I guess evil is relative."

Hope looks away. "My mother was a werewolf alpha."

"Whilst my mother is another original vampire with witch and werewolf descendants." I say, smirking. I feel my fangs grow, and Hope glares at me.

"There's that was again." Landon says towards my sister.

"The people I care about have a tendency to die on me." Hope and I make eye contact, and I look away. She wasn't wrong. Our family all died except my mother. She remained in New Orleans. Hope sighs. "I try not to get close to people anymore. Annie is my only family."

♚

Knock knock.

"Come in,"

I poke my head into the door, Hope sitting on her bed. Her eyes are puffy from the days events, but she continues to send me a smile. "Hey, Annie."

"Hey," I step inside, my back against the door. She stares up at the ceiling, and I can tell her mind is racing. "I want you to know, that they love you." All movement of hers stops. "Hayley, she told me, so did Elijah and Dad. They, uh, they wanted to say goodbye, one last time before I lost connections with them." Tears run down my cheeks, "They miss you, Hope. They want you to be safe, and they love you, so much."

Hopes eyes water as she stares back at me. "I know," She laughs through her tears. "I love them too." She shakes her head. "And I love you, Annie."

"I love you too, Hope."

♚

"Anna, please," Alaric pleads with me as I find the spell Im looking for. "You're going to hurt yourself more."

I turn to the closest thing to a parent I have. "I have lost everyone! I lost my dad, my mom is hardly a mom, I lost Hayley, I lost Elijah, who raised me like his own daughter because my dad was too scared to face the broken girl he caused! And now I have to lose the only family I have left!" I scream, tears running down my cheeks. "Hope is my everything. Please, Dr. Saltzman. Please." He stares at me with red puffy eyes before nodding. I sigh, closing my eyes and mumbling the spell.

When I open my eyes again, I'm standing in front of my sister. "Hope!" I shout, hugging her tightly.

"Annie, what are you doing here?" She asks.

"You can't leave me," I sob, shaking my head. "I've lost everyone. I can't lose you, Hope, I can't.

Tears trail down her cheeks as she shakes her head. "This is the only way, Annie." She mumbles. "I promise, when I come back, and I fix this, that we will be together again."

"What is I'm the only one who remembers you?" I ask her.

"You won't." She declares. "I know the pattern. And even if you do, you have to pretend you don't."

I shake my head, not wanting to believe it. "Please, Hope, please!"

"I'm so sorry, Annie." She coos, hugging me. "I love you. Always and forever." She pulls away, stepping backwards; closer and closer to the black puddle. I watch as she gives me a small smile. "Goodbye, Annie."

"NO!"

Hope cuts out the spell and I'm back with Alaric. I scream in emotional agony as I fall into his arms, sobbing into his chest

♚

I open Hopes door back at school, she's sitting on her bed, looking at a piece of paper, and at the picture of our family. I walk closer to her. "My mother wants to keep us apart, being some of the most powerful creatures." I sit next to her.

She looks up at me. "I used black magic, a death spell that I was gonna use on Landon." She says. I open my mouth in shock. "I'm scared, Annie, that I'm gonna he like-"

I laugh. "Like Dad?" She purses her lips together. "Don't worry, sister, the only way you'll be like him is if you kill millions in days." I bump my shoulder on hers, looking at the pictures. I stand up, "Youre missing one." I say, walking to the dresser.

She furrows her brows. "What do you mean?" She asks.

I wave my finger, a new picture appearing. It's a family portrait. Kol, Freya, Rebekah, Elijah, Hayley, our father, and my mom. Hope and I, 15 and 13, standing with our dad. The Klaus Mikaelson. My eyes water as I turn and look at Hope. "I know you dont want to hear this, but they made that promise."

"Always and forever." She whispers, standing up as her eyes water.

"Hope, you are my sister." I say. "Today, when you came, we fought. Hell we used our magic on each other. Something Dad always told us never to do." I tell her.

She shakes her head. "Annie, please stop."

"I, as your sister, will do anything. I mean anything to protect you. I will rip apart anyone who dares to come near you."

"And I'll do the same." We grip each others hands, wind in the room causes our hair to flow behind us.

I smile. "We are Mikaelsons. The only tribrids. And we have to be there for each other. No matter what."

We speak at the same time.

"Always and forever."

♚

I come back to reality, looking at the girl I had thought I met a few weeks ago.

Hope Mikaelson; my sister.

Josie falls to the ground, and I look down at her before back at Hope again, falling next to her.

♚

My eyes shoot open.

"Oh my god." I can hear Landon yell from the woods. I sit up, noticing a lack of Hope and Josie and Lizzie.

"Thanks for leaving me here," I huff. I hear Landon yell again, and I vamp speed towards him.

"You know Malivore wants me in one piece, right? So maybe we could find a more comfortable way for me to get to the portal." Landon stammers.

"Crescere arbor." I get there to see Hope casting a spell to make tree roots hold onto the monster.

I growl. "Hope Andrea!" I scream. She looks back at me just as Landon pushes his way out of the monsters grip.

"Hope Mikaelson." He snaps.

"Here, come here. Get behind me." She stammers.

" Get behind- Is that really all you have to say right now?" Landon snaps.

I point to Landon. "I agree with him!"

"Can we not do this right now?" Hope pleads.

I scoff. "Excuse me? We wouldn't even be having this conversation if you could have your way!" I yell. The monster let's out a scream and I turn towards it. "Ventus." With a wave of my hand, the Croatoan flies backwards.

Hope pushes us behind her, "Look, I didn't tell you because I thought that you guys were happy." I raise my brow. "Happier."

"Without you?" Landon shouts.

"Happy enough to have sex. That was definitely gonna be without me."

I look at Landon. "Who told you that?" He asks her. He looks at me.

"Hey, Josie told me, okay!" I yell, holding my hands up in defense. "My lips were sealed!"

"Does it matter?" Hope snaps at us.

The monster let's out another screech, MG vamp speeding over. "Good thing you guys were arguing. I could hear you from across town." MG hands Hope a necklace. "This belonged to that witch that created that thing, so maybe you-"

Hope and I cut him of. "Finis habentis maleficia."

The Croatoan starts to melt. "You know, something like that." MG shrugs.

We watch the monster turn into nothing but black and blue goo. Hope sighs, turning to Landon and I. "Now we can talk."

Landon shakes his head, storming off. Hope looks at him sorrowfully, before looking back at me. "What happened to Always and Forever?" I ask softly. Before she can answer, I follow Landon in the path he goes in.

♚

I walk down the streets of Mystic Falls. The stupid family party going on downtown. I approach it, watching people in costumes, spending time with their loved ones. Rafael pushes past me. "Raf." I call out.

He turns to look at me. "Annie," He walks closer, "I just talked to Hope. She, uh, looked upset."

"I wonder why." I huff, crossing my arms.

"Look, all I'm saying is that you two have always been hand in hand. Even when you didn't remember her." Rafael says. "You can be mad at her, but don't abandon her."

Rafael turns, walking off. "Where are you going?" I ask him.

He looks back at me. "To admit two things to myself, and I guess Landon." He explains. "That A) I've always had feelings for Hope. And B) I've always had feelings for you." I raise a brow, shocked to hear the words come out of his mouth. "And for that and that reason alone, I can't keep talking to you like this."

My eyes water as Rafael turns away again, walking away. "Rafi, wait," He ignores me, a tear rolling down my face. "Raf!"

I watch as my best friend leaves, a sob escaping my lips. I turn around to see Hope, staring at me from her chair. I sniffle, my heart crumbling at the sight of my sister. "Hope?"

She stands up. "Annie," She whispers. The two of us practically run into each others arms, crying as hard as we can. I was mad at her, no doubt about that, but right now, we just needed each other.

We stay in that position for a while until we hear a voice. "Hope? Anna?" We pull away, Freya looking at us with a loving look, a look that almost feels like we haven't seen in so long.

"Aunt Freya?" Hope says weakly. Freya drops her purse, engulfing my sister and I in her arms.

And all we needed in that moment, was each other.