𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃
please get out of my head. i'm trying to sleep

THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE made her way into Allison's bedroom, three large Macy's bags dangling from her hands. "Clear your schedules. This could take a while," She cheerfully stated, a smile on her face. 

With a soft chuckle, Allison grinned as Lydia set the three bags onto her bed. 

Hope was sitting on the bed, and looked between the girls with raised brows. She had been called over by Allison because she wanted to have a girls day. And seeing as its Lydia's birthday, it was perfect timing for Hope to actually make some girl friends.

The birthday was sifting through a seemingly never ending amount of dresses, and Allison and Hope looked to one another with amused expressions

Lizzie beamed, "Lydia is definitely my kind of girl."

"She is pretty," Josie agreed.

Lizzie, unnoticed by most, frowned before forcing a smile again. Josie had once said that "because my whole life, anytime i've ever liked anyone, you always go for them. And you always win." Which doesn't make any sense! For all she knows, Josie never liked Jed (which wouldn't even matter because it was for one week and she never did anything about it). And she definitely didn't like Penelope, Josie's ex. I mean, there's that thing with Rafael, but Josie never mentioned that she liked him, so why would she not keep pursuing him? And then Hope? How was she suppose to know that Josie had a crush on her as well, when Josie had been pining over Penelope barely a week after the fire in Hope's room. And of course, she wouldn't go after Satan in a crop top.

So, if she had potentially gone after any of Josie's crushes, how was she suppose to know? By reading Josie's mind? If she had that power, at this point, she would because it would save them both so much troubles.

"How many outfits do you plan on wearing tonight?" Hope asked in between her and Allison's soft chuckling. 

"It's my birthday party," Lydia stated, shrugging. "I'm thinking host dress," she pulled out a strapless, striped dress, holding it up to her figure. "Evening dress, then hmm after-hours casual." 

Caroline chuckled, "oh, she's my kind of girl, too." Her and Lizzie shared a giggle.

"You remind me of Lizzie," Hope spoke up which had the girls looking to her with confused eyes. She frowned and cleared her throat. "She was my friend. She loves being in control, always planned everything, and she did it all fabulously."

Lizzie's face turned pink as she heard what Hope had said about her. She honestly felt both happy and confused that Hope keeps thinking about her/talking about her, because while they did become sorta friends before Hope sacrificed herself, they had many rough patches beforehand. But either way, Lizzie is happy to be thought about it a light manner.

Allison smiled lightly. "She sounds lovely."

Hope nodded and looked away. "Yeah..."

Allison watched the girl with furrowed brows before clapping her hands together. "I noticed that you didn't send out any invites." 

"Awe, she's trying to get Hope's mind off of her past," Elena said with a small smile, liking this Allison girl so far.

Lydia rolled her eyes at the idea, pulling out yet another striped dress. "Biggest party of the year, Allison. Everyone knows." 

Allison nodded slowly. "I was wondering if maybe this year things, you know, might be different." 

"Why would anything be different?" Lydia asked, completely oblivious to what Allison was hinting at. 

"Just 'cause things have been off lately," she laughed nervously, and Hope looked between the girls. "Things and people. Like Jackson." 

Lydia instantly froze, her body going tense as her gaze moved away from the dresses and over to Allison. "What do you care about Jackson?" 

"Ugh! Who cares about Jackson?" Caroline groaned, scrunching her nose up.

"Who's Jackson?" A voice asked and they all turned around to face Katherine Pierce who smirked at their attention. "Hello, idiots." She wiggled her fingers at them.

Elena took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Why is she here?"

"Seriously, though," Bonnie groaned.

"Why can't everything just stay peaceful for once," Caroline said with a pout.

"Katherine," Damon spoke through clenched teeth.

Klaus narrowed his eyes at the doppelgänger bitch that is known as Katherine Pierce. "When we get out of here, I will tear you apart."

"She's here to add some drama," the author stated with a maniacal chuckle.

Katherine grinned, "glad to be of use." Although she was appearing smug and above them, a hint of fear could be seen in her eyes as she glanced at the Mikaelson family.

"Shut up, I don't like you," the author said in a bored tone.

Katherine pouted, "ouch, that hurt." She then slowly sat down in a seat and crossed her legs. "What even is this place?"

"Just stay seated and watch," the author said, and everyone imagined the voice to be rolling their eyes.

Hope jumped in to save Allison, and asked, "Do you know if he's coming tonight?" 

"Everyone's coming," Lydia stated, grabbing a tan dress. "This one's American Rag. Mmm, I love it. For me, not you two. This one's Material Girl. That's for you." She held out a floral patterned dress in front of Allison. "And Hope, this one's for you." 

"Who the hell are you these girls?" Katherine groaned, already bored and annoyed.

No one paid her any attention.

Hope reached out for the black dress, a small smile appearing. It was black with little see-through ruffles on the sleeves that went a little past her shoulders, buttons went down to a small black corset that only went around her stomach. It reached just above two inches from her knees with two ruffles. It was simple, but so much like Hope that it was perfect.

"She'll look so gorgeous," Rebekah said with a big smile.

Katherine glanced at the blonde original with furrowed brows, confused on who was on the screen, why she's there, and why the originals seemed so keen to watch the screen.

"This goes with it." Lydia held out a pair of black leggings that Hope grabbed with a head tilt. "Trust me. It'll look amazing."

A soft knock caused all the three girls to stop looking at their dresses and glanced at the door, where Victoria Argent was standing in the doorway, watching them with a smile.

"Get away from my daughter, you bitch," Hayley spat out, her fingers wrapped around the edge of her seat, denting it with her strength.

"Daughter?" Katherine mumbled in confusion, and then rolled her eyes. Of course this is about someone unimportant.

Hope put down her dress and leggings, and crossed her arms, sending the older woman a look when she glanced at her.

"Mrs. Argent," Lydia greeted, holding a short blue dress up to herself. "What do you think of this one?" 

"It's lovely," Victoria answered, nodding absently, her gaze soon falling upon Allison. "Allison, uh, can I grab you for a moment to talk? Just the two of us." 

"Um, can we do it later?" Allison asked, seeming distracted and only wanting to hang out with hope and Lydia.

"I have a pair of shoes in here somewhere for you," Lydia spoke up, bringing Hope's attention to her. They began to dig around in the bags for the shoes, seemingly ignoring the mother-daughter conversation.

"Actually, uh, to be honest, sooner would be - would be better," Victoria insisted, rubbing her shoulder nervously. 

"Party's at ten," Lydia announced, turning around to face them. 

"Oh," Victoria mumbled, seeming hurt. "You'll be around before then?" 

"I think so," Allison sighed, growing frustrated and annoyed with her mother's questions. 

"You think so?"

"I don't know," Allison snapped, shaking her head slightly. 

"Aha!" Lydia cheered as she pulled out new combat boots that had about three inch heels to them. "You like them?" She held them out to Hope who took them with a small smile. "I was going to get you normal heels, you know, the ones you are suppose to wear with dresses, but I saw these and thought they were perfect with the outfit."

"I like them," Hope whispered as she laid out the whole outfit together, and smiled.

Victoria slowly backed out of the doorway and watched as the three girls got back to work, laughed and accessorizing the dresses they were planning on wearing.

Allison hummed and nodded in agreement, approving of the navy blue dress Lydia had picked up. Lydia then held up a pink floral one up to Allison, all three of them agreeing on the necklace to go with it. 

Sighing, Victoria left them, closing the door behind her.

"Okay, now don't get me wrong, but... I kinda feel bad for her," Caroline stated and then held up her hands in defense when everyone turned to her in shock, and the Originals who glared at her. "Listen to me. She looks like she's dying, okay? And even if my mother was homicidal, I would still want to talk to her if it's important. Like, she's my mom."

Klaus frowned, thinking back to the time Hope saw him tear people apart when she was a kid. It had terrified her, but she still tried to reach out to him.

HOPE HAD WENT to Stiles' house after getting ready for Lydia's birthday party because they had some multi-universe stuff to talk about. They had come up with nothing — once again — and Hope was slowly losing hope with finding her way back home.

"Okay, when the hell is going on?" Katherine groaned, rolling her eyes when everyone shot her glares at the interruption. "Hello?! I just got here!"

"No one cares," Damon snapped.

Lizzie rose her brows up, peering at the woman, remembering the stories that her mother had told her — well, more like the stories she had overheard as a kid growing up. And while Katherine might dress up good, she a major bitch. A selfish and conceited one, at that.

Ringing the doorbell to Lydia's large house, Hope glanced to Stiles who was smoothing down his shirt. "Hey, calm down. You look good."

Katherine scrunched her nose up at the boy, not finding him attractive at all.

Stiles looked up quickly, his cheeks turning red. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but was interrupted when Lydia opened up the door with a tray of drinks in hand.

"Happy birthday!" Hope cheered and waved a bag around in front of her.

"Thank you, Hope." Lydia leaned over and gave her a friendly peck on the cheek anyway. "Is that for me?" She gestured to the bag.

"Oooh," Bonnie said with a giggle.

Hope looked down at it and nodded. "Of course. It's your birthday, isn't it?"

Lydia just smirked. "You can put it down on the presents table. It's by the kitchen."

"Alright." She stepped into the house, followed by Stiles who swallowed thickly as he passed Lydia.

Along the way, Scott joined them, dressed up in a mint shirt with a smart black denim jacket over it.

"Have you seen Jackson anywhere?" Stiles questioned as they stopped so Hope could put her gift on the table.

"No. Seen Allison?" Scott asked.

Hope frowned as she looked around. "No." She then looked between the boys. "We should probably tell her what Stiles found."

"Seriously though, what kind of name is Stiles?" Katherine asked rudely.

No one answered.

Stiles had been obsessing over his dad's case all day, and had actually managed to find something inside the yearbook. Apparently, all of the people who were killed were on the 2006 swim team, and Isaac's dad, Mr Lahey, had been the coach for it.

"I'm still kind of not sure what we found," Scott furrowed his eyebrows together as they began to walk further inside the house.

"We figured out that it has something to do with water. You know, the fact that all the victims were on the swim team, the way the Kanima reacted around the pool," Hope explained to the boy.

"Kanima?" Katherine asked dully, holding her hand out as she inspected her nails.

"Yes, keep up, dopplebitch, "Rebekah spat out, annoyed now that there is two doppelgängers in the same room with her. Although, she is starting to see another side to Elena since they've been stuck in this theatre room. Plus, it helps that Elena hasn't been dragging her brothers around like Katherine and Tatia once did. And now, from the looks of it, Elena made a decision and is sticking with it; Damon. But, Stefan can't seem to handle it. Which is fine for her because honestly, Stefan is kinda lame and she has lost all her feelings for him at this point in life.

She did have feelings for Marcel at some point too, but things had gotten complicated. It took her a long time, but she realized how weird it was to date someone her brother once considered a son, and someone her niece considers a sibling. Plus, she just somehow slipped out of love with him, and they talked it through and realized they were better apart than together.

A part of her is angry that she allowed that kind of love to slip away, out of her grasp, but also, a part of her is still wanting to find that perfect someone for her. A soulmate. And Marcel was definitely not her soulmate.

And of course she believes in soulmates. Look at Elena and Damon for instance; the universe is always trying to keep them separated, yet somehow they always find their way to one another no matter what. And then, look at Stiles and Hope, the two couldn't be any different, yet there is a spark there, and they're from different universes.

"So, whoever's controlling the Kanima really hates the swim team?" Scott summarised, looking towards the two of them for confirmation.

"Hated the swim team. Specifically, the 2006 swim team," Stiles corrected him, "so it could be another teacher. Maybe like a student back then. I mean, who are we missing? What haven't we thought of?"

They walked outside and looked around at the pillars that had been wrapped with fairy lights, accompanying the ivy that had already grown there. There was a massive pool and everything. It looked like it came straight out of a teen movie.

Allison suddenly came over, sending Scott an awkward nod which he returned. "Uh, Jackson's not here."

"Yeah, no one's here." Stiles frowned.

Hope bit her lip as she looked around and realized they were the only there. She frowned and looked down, feeling bad. "I think it's just early."

Stiles shot her a look, "or maybe nobody's coming because Lydia's turned into the town wack job."

"Stiles!" Hope shouted as she slapped him on the chest. She looked over to where Lydia stood alone on the other side of the garden. She stood there with drinks, looking around expectantly. "We have to do something. She doesn't deserve this."

Allison nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we have kind of been ignoring her for the past two weeks."

Scott shook his head. "We don't owe her a party."

Hope turned to him in surprise. "That was the jerkiest thing I have ever heard you say."

"I'm kinda surprised he would say that about a girl he used to like," MG stated with a frown, and Kaleb nodded in agreement.

"What about the chance to get back to normal?" Allison offered lightly.

"Normal?" The werewolf repeated, confused.

Allison rose her brows at him. "She wouldn't be the town whackjob if it wasn't for us."

Scott sighed. "I guess I could use my co-captain status to get the lacrosse team here."

Stiles nodded, "yeah, I also know some people who can get this thing going." He dug his phone out of his pocket, "like really going."

"Who?" Hope asked, knowing he doesn't know many people.

"I met them the other night. Let's just say they know how to party."

Caroline's eyes widened. "There's no way..." she held her hands over her mouth as if she was praying and giggled.

"What are you talking about, blondie?" Katherine rolled her eyes.

Elena glared at her ancestor, "don't talk to her like that."

"I'm just asking a question, dear less prettier version of me," Katherine said with a smirk.

"She literally looks exactly like you?" MG stated but it sounded like a question.

"That's the point of doppelgängers," Josie stated with a raised head, shoulders straightened.

"The only difference is the curls and personality," Lizzie stated, raising a brow when the five hundred year old jealous bitch glared at her. "And FYI, Aunt Lena has the better personality."

Elena smiled kindly at the blonde, feeling all warm that someone she doesn't know, but could be her (niece?) is sticking up for her. Katherine opened her mouth, about to retort, but Lizzie held up her hand, "Don't even try, because somewhere a tree is tirelessly producing oxygen for you. I think you owe it an apology."

Rebekah snorted.

Kol sniggered, "if I wasn't already taken, I would totally be in love with you, witchy."

Lizzie smirked and winked at him before turning back to the screen.

ABOUT HALF AN hour later, the party was finally in full swing. Lydia's favourite music blasted from the speakers as people danced and drank.

Hops noticed some drag queens by one of the pillars and snorted upon realizing that those were the people Stiles had talked about.

"I knew it!" Caroline shouted, jumping in her seat, pointing at the screen.

Suddenly, Lydia approached her with a huge smile that was unlike her. "Hope!" She held out a tray of drinks towards the tribrid. "I noticed that you haven't tried the punch yet."

"Are they alcoholic?" She questioned hesitantly seeing as she isn't much of a alcohol fan.

Lydia giggled, rolling her eyes. "There's a little bit in there. C'mon, it's my birthday, everybody's favourite day of the year. Lighten up!"

Hope sighed and gave the strawberry blonde a smile as she accepted one of the cups. "I guess, seeing as it's your birthday, I'll have one." She sniffed the cup first and all she smelt was strawberry, so she took a sip and hummed in content. "Did you make this yourself? It's good."

Lydia smiled brightly. "Yeah. I put a lot of love into it."

Hope smiled, too, and took a bigger sip. "What's in it?"

The strawberry blonde just smirked. "It's a secret recipe."

Freya tilted her head, "I don't trust this..."

Hayley frowned, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "I agree."

HOPE HAD JUST finished her fifth glass of punch, throwing the empty cup into the bin beside her as she leaned against the wall, her brown eyes flicking around at the crowd.

"She isn't much of a alcohol fan," Kol mocked before snorting. "The biggest lie ever." He then glanced to Klaus and Hayley before wincing, "okay, maybe not the biggest lie she's told."

Her vision began to move in and out, and her chest began to feel like it was being pushed in. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and tries to steady herself. She didn't know where the tightness and unfocused vision came from.

"She's been drugged!" Klaus shouted the obvious, frowning deeply, feeling a headache forming at the worry he kept feeling for his daughter.

Maybe it was because of the full moon that her emotions were on edge, or maybe because she was slightly drunk. Either way, it startled her.

"Ugh, a wolf," Katherine groaned and slouched in her chair.

"Hope..."

The auburn haired teenager froze completely and her breathing stopped at the voice. Her blue eyes snapped open and she stared straight ahead where a figure stood.

Her father.

Klaus' eyes widened, tensing.

Katherine sat up straight, tensing all her muscles, swallowing thickly. Fuck! She's watching the life of Klaus Mikaelson's daughter.

And then suddenly, another figure stepped up behind him and that's when her world fully began to crash down on her.

Hayley sat up, worrying her bottom lip, anticipating what is about to happen.

"She's hallucinating," Alaric mumbled.

Hope felt like she was going to throw up the longer she stared at the figures.

Her parents. Her mom and dad. The two people who she loved more than herself. That she still loves more than herself.

"My heart," Hayley cried silently as she held her chest.

Her mom was sweaty and bloody — just like Hope last remembered her. Her dad looked like he had been stabbed by a stake — veiny and grey.

Katherine tilted her head. Klaus dies?

"Getting drunk?" Hayley asked as she looked at Hope with narrowed eyes. "I thought I taught you better than that."

Hayley froze.

"No daughter of mine would be as weak as you," Klaus spat out and it made Hope flinch back. She has never heard her father speak this way to her or about her.

"I would never say this!" Klaus shouted, pointing at the screen when a few people glared at him. "Poppycock! Lies! Slander!"

"You keep crying about all the loses in your life when it's all your fault. Your mother is dead because you trusted a Nazi vampire who's family killed her. I'm dead because you were stupid enough to take back the Hollow which made me have to give up my life for you."

The Scooby Gang all froze, a few of them swallowing thickly.

"She's been betrayed," Bonnie whispered in horror, "poor girl." Elena and Caroline nodded in agreement.

Tears fell down Hope's cheeks and her bottom lip trembled, and she wanted to ask whether this was real or not, but she found herself unable to speak. 

"My poor girl," Hayley cried, leaning into Freya's arms.

"Did you really think I was happy to give up my life for you?" Hayley scoffed as she took a threatening step towards her daughter. "You think I wanted my own daughter to knock me out and keep me in a coffin for days? You think I wanted to be taken by Nazi vampires just to be tortured and have my werewolf side taken from me? How pathetic and selfish are you?"

A few people gasped at that.

Klaus swallowed, "no one should have a part of them stripped away," he leaned over and grabbed Hayley's hand. "I'm sorry I wasn't much help."

Hayley shook her head, tears skidding down her face. "You did your best."

Tears spilled down Hope's face as her throat began to hurt from how bad she really wanted to break down. How was this real? How were her dead parents standing in front of her right now? Do they really think that? Do they hate her?

"No of course not!" Klaus and Hayley shouted, shaking their heads.

"No, baby girl, I could never hate you," Hayley cried, squeezing Klaus' hand tightly.

"I did — I didn't think," Hope stuttered out, her words barely reaching her own ears. It felt as if she was under water, and everything was caving in on her.

"Of course you didn't!" Klaus roared angrily as he stormed towards his daughter, and grabbing her throat.

Klaus growled lowly in his chest. "I don't care that this is a hallucination, no one should touch her like that!"

Katherine's mouth curved up to one side, knowing that once she got out of here, she was going to use Klaus' daughter as some sort of bargain for her life.

"You're not a Mikaelson!" Her blue eyes were wide and full of tears as she stared into his similar ones. "A Mikaelson is strong and always thinks ahead! You didn't even think when you kidnapped your mother! You didn't think when you trusted that Roman boy! You don't think that you would destroy the world if we were reunited! You didn't think nor did you care about anything else other than yourself!"

"Destroy the world?" Bonnie mumbled.

"What?" Kaleb stared at the screen with wide eyes.

Landon stared in horror at the screen as some of Hope's secrets are revealed. He's both disgusted but also hurt. He can't believe that Hope had kidnapped her own mother, trusted that Roman boy who she said she forgave, and then was the result of her mothers death. He just wishes, instead of finding out from a movie screen, she would've told him these things instead.

He growled and tightened his hand around her neck, and lifted her up off the floor. She began wheezing and gasping for air as she clawed at his hand. "Pl—please," she whispered out, her voice cracking.

"Please? Please?!" He laughed humorlessly and viciously. "You really aren't my daughter! She wouldn't be begging and pleading for her life, she would fight for it!"

"I really am disappointed in you, Hope," Hayley spat out as she stood beside Klaus, not caring that he was strangling their daughter. Their only daughter. "You know—"

Hope couldn't hear the rest, as her mother's voice began to be drowned out by a static sound.

"No!" She shouted as her parents began to fade in and out, and the static noise was only growing. It was like she was at the other end of a tunnel.

Suddenly, something wet was thrown at her and she jerked forward, and wiped at her face. She furrowed her brows and looked at her hands to find water.

"Oh, god," she shakily whispered and raised her hands to her face, they were shaking terribly.

"I hate to see her like this, Klaus," Hayley sobbed out as she was pulled into his arms.

"I hate this too, little wolf."

Katherine raised a brow at them, finding another weakness of Klaus'.

Scott suddenly appeared in front of her, letting out a sigh of relief. "Hope!" He cried out and took her hands on his. "Stiles and I have been looking everywhere for you and Lydia. Do you know where she is? We think she's putting something in the drinks to make everyone go crazy." 

"Dude! Can't you tell she isn't doing good!" Lizzie shouted at the screen, rolling her eyes. "If I was there, I would've siphoned him and threw him in the pool."

Taking in a shaky breath, lips trembling and all, Hope looked around to see that everybody was in fact acting strange. Kids were jumping into the pool and making out with Lydia's plants. She slowly shook her head as she turned to face him again. "I haven't seen her since she gave me some of the punch."

Scott's eyebrows knitted together as stepped back to fully look at her. "What were you hallucinating? You were screaming and clawing at the air."

Hope wiped at her face some more before standing taller. "It as nothing."

He frowned at her and she realized her hands were still shaking. "It wasn't nothing. Are you alright?"

"Finally, he asks her if she's alright!" Caroline shouted as well, throwing her hands up in annoyance.

She swallowed thickly. "I'm fine." She moved past him and ignored the hand he reached out towards her. "Forget about me. We need to find Lydia."

Freya fondly rolled her eyes, "she's too much like you guys," she glanced over at Klaus and Hayley who were slowly calming down from the emotional scene.

Scott nodded quickly, sensing she didn't want to talk about whatever she had just seen. "Okay, follow me." 

They quickly met up with Stiles who as acting a little off, but as soon he saw Scott and Hope, he breathed out deeply and ran over to him. Once he got close enough, he saw how off Hope looked. He frowned and asked, "Are you alright?"

"He asked her immediately," Lizzie said, and then glared at Scott pointedly.

"And that's how it's suppose to be, guys!" Caroline shouted, pointing between Stiles and Hope, then pointedly looking each guy in the face that was in the room.

Hope took in a deep breath and hardened her eyes. "I'm fine." She then looked around the area. "Did you find her?"

Stiles glanced to Scott who shook his head and shrugged. He then turned to Hope and shook his head. "No, I haven't."

Before anything else could be spoke, a familiar voice screamed from across the other side of the pool, causing all three of them to jump. 

"I can't swim!" Matt yelled out, his voice desperate, "no, no, stop, guys! I can't swim! I can't swim!" 

He continued to panic as he was thrown into the water by a group of lacrosse players. He tried to come back up, but he kept panicking, scream and thrashing about. Water was going in every direction and Hope's eyes widened as she began to put two and two together. 

Everybody stared as Jackson kneeled down, grabbing Matt and pulling him out of the water.

Matt breathed heavily as he stood up, completely drenched in water and panting as he looked around at all of the people watching him. 

"What are you looking at?" He growled before starting to walk away. He paused right in front of the trio, his jaw clenched. He shoved Hope into Stiles and went right past them, stomping as he left the party.

Stiles held Hope's arm gently as she turned around, giving both boys knowing looks.

Sirens began to wail in the distance and some kid yelled, "cops are here! Party's over!" 

Everybody began to panic as they ran away, all pushing and shoving each other to get back to their cars or run home.

Hope looked in the direction that Matt had gone, nodding at Scott. It was obvious that he was thinking the same thing that she was. 

The three went after him, stopping when they saw him stood on the other side of the road to the house. He was glaring at the three of them, trembling with anger as he breathed heavily through his nose.

Hope growled as she saw the Kanima on all four by his feet. It's tail was wrapped around Matt as he hissed at the three, obviously protecting the blue eyed boy.

Stiles theory was quickly confirmed.

Matt was the Kanima's master.

"Well fuck!"