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║ Chapter 36 – Waking Hearts and Tiny Names 💞👶🌸 ║
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Hope had dozed for only a few hours, her body slumped against the chair beside the incubators, when a soft voice stirred her awake. "Miss Mikaelson," the nurse said gently. "She's awake."
Hope shot upright so fast the chair nearly toppled. "Nova?" Her pulse thundered. "She's—she's awake?"
The nurse nodded with a smile. "Still groggy, but she's asking for you."
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Hope was out of the chair before anyone could stop her. Hayley called after her to slow down, but Hope barely heard it. Her heart was pounding in her chest, wild with relief and fear all at once. She followed the nurse down the long hallway, every step echoing through the sterile corridor until they reached Nova's room.
Inside, the lights were dimmed. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and lilac soap—one of the nurses must have used it to clean Nova's hands. Machines hummed softly around her, monitors tracing the slow, steady rhythm of her heart. Nova looked pale but peaceful, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. Her hair was messy, her lips dry, but to Hope, she was perfect.
"Nova," Hope breathed, stepping closer.
Nova's eyes fluttered open, glassy and unfocused at first. Her voice came out hoarse, cracked with exhaustion. "Hope?" she whispered weakly, trying to sit up before wincing. "The babies... are they okay?"
Hope reached her side in seconds, cupping Nova's face with trembling hands. "They're okay, my love. They're tiny, but they're fighters. Just like their moms."
A tear slipped from the corner of Nova's eye. "I want to see them," she murmured. "Please."
Hope shook her head gently, brushing her thumb across Nova's cheek. "Not yet, sweetheart. You need to rest a little first. Dr. Gilbert said no moving until she checks on you again." Her voice softened, but her protective edge remained. "You scared me half to death, you know that?"
Nova's lips curved weakly. "Guess I'm just full of surprises," she whispered, her tone gentle but firm. "It wasn't my fault, Hope. I fought as hard as I could to get back to you and the babies."
Hope gave a watery laugh, her own tears falling freely as she leaned down to press a kiss to Nova's forehead. "You're not allowed to scare me like that again," she whispered. "You fought so hard, love, and I'm just so damn grateful you came back to us."
Nova reached up weakly, her fingers brushing Hope's cheek as she murmured, "Hey, Hopey... don't cry, okay? I'm here now." Her voice was soft and raw, but her touch was full of warmth. She tugged lightly at Hope's shirt, pulling her closer until their foreheads met. "I'm not going anywhere. You and our babies need me too much."
Hope let out a shaky breath, her heart twisting at the nickname. "You're so clingy," she teased gently, though she didn't move an inch away. In truth, she loved it—every small gesture, every needy touch, proof that Nova was still alive, still hers.
But even as she held Nova close, Hope's mind darkened. The joy of having her back was shadowed by the memory of what had brought them here in the first place—Allison and Scott. The stress, the confrontation, the panic that had driven Nova into early labor. Hope's jaw tightened, her hand stroking Nova's hair as her other hand clenched unconsciously. She forced herself to breathe, to focus on the warmth in her arms instead of the rage simmering beneath her skin. But even as she calmed herself, a vow settled deep within her heart—she would never let Allison or Scott come near Nova or their babies again, not after what they'd done, not after the pain they caused. She would protect her family, no matter the cost. Her grip on Nova tightened gently, her heart fierce with love and promise. 'They'll never touch you again,' she thought, the silent words a vow written in fire. 'You and our girls are mine to protect. Always.'
Hope's expression softened, her anger giving way to the quiet tenderness that always rose when she looked at Nova. She kissed her forehead gently, her voice low but full of love. "You're safe now," she whispered. "You and the babies—our family is safe. I won't let anything happen to you again."
Nova stirred slightly, her hand still curled against Hope's chest, and murmured something inaudible before drifting toward sleep again. Hope stayed there, holding her close, her heart steadying as she repeated her vow silently into Nova's hair: No more fear, no more pain. I'll keep you safe, always.
Outside the door, faint footsteps echoed down the hall—a reminder that they weren't alone in their relief. Hope lifted her head just as Hayley's gentle knock sounded. She took one last steadying breath, smoothing Nova's hair before whispering, "Looks like everyone's coming to see you." A small smile played at her lips as she leaned down, pressing one final kiss to Nova's forehead. "You're safe now, and you're loved."
Then, as the door creaked open, soft light spilled into the room, and the next wave of love and family poured in.
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A few hours later, Nova stirred awake again, blinking against the dim hospital light. The room was quiet except for the rhythmic beep of the monitor beside her. She groaned softly, her hand instinctively reaching for Hope, who was still perched on the edge of the bed, half-dozing, her fingers entwined with Nova's.
"Hey," Nova whispered, her voice raspy but gentle. "You still here, Hopey?"
Hope's eyes snapped open instantly, her protective instincts kicking in before she even registered the words. "Of course I'm here," she said softly, brushing a few strands of hair off Nova's face. "I'm not going anywhere."
A knock came at the door. Hayley peeked in first, followed by Klaus, Lydia, Malia, Josie, and Derek. "Hey," Hayley whispered softly, her eyes glistening. "Someone told us our girl's awake." Their faces were a mixture of relief, love, and awe.
Nova blinked, smiling tiredly as the group filtered in. "Hey, guys." Her voice was still faint, but the warmth behind it was unmistakable.
Their faces were a mixture of relief, love, and awe.
"Welcome back, sweetheart," Hayley said, her voice warm and full of affection. "You scared the life out of all of us."
Nova chuckled weakly. "Seems I've been doing that a lot lately."
Klaus folded his arms, though his expression softened. "A true Mikaelson trait, it seems."
Lydia was the first to approach, tears spilling as she gripped Nova's hand. "You had us all worried, Nova," she said softly, squeezing her hand. "But you made it back. I knew you would. Don't you ever do that again," she said, laughing through her sobs. "You nearly gave Hope and all of us heart attacks."
Nova chuckled weakly. "Wasn't really part of my plan."
Hope smiled faintly at that, glancing down at Nova. "She always finds her way back."
Nova turned her head to look at Hope, the love in her gaze undeniable. "Guess I couldn't stay away," she teased, voice hoarse but full of warmth. "You and our babies pulled me back."
Josie stepped closer, her expression soft. "You're stronger than you know, Nova. You've got a whole family who loves you—and now two little ones who are going to be just as stubborn as you."
Malia chuckled. "That's an understatement."
Hope leaned in close, brushing her lips against Nova's temple. "We're all here now," she whispered. "And we're not going anywhere."
Klaus stepped closer, his expression a rare mix of tenderness and authority. "You gave us quite the scare, young wolf," he said gruffly. "But I'll admit, you've earned my respect tonight."
"Don't tell me that means you actually like me now," Nova teased faintly.
Klaus smirked. "I'll reserve judgment until you've proven you can stay conscious for more than five minutes."
The room filled with soft laughter, easing the tension. Hope sat beside Nova, refusing to let go of her hand. Her thumb rubbed small circles against Nova's skin, as if grounding herself in the proof that she was really here. Nova leaned back against her pillows, her eyes shining with gratitude and exhaustion.
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A few hours later, Dr. Gilbert returned, smiling. "Nova's doing well enough for a short visit, but you'll need to take it slow. No walking on your own yet."
Nova's face lit up with a spark of energy. "Does that mean...?"
Hope grinned, brushing Nova's hair back. "Yes. You get to meet our daughters."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Nova tried to push herself up, but Hope's firm hand stopped her.
"Easy," Hope warned, her tone firm but loving. "You're not walking there. I'll take you."
Nova raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna carry me?"
Hope smirked. "You think I can't?"
Even half-conscious and pale, Nova giggled softly. "Fine, Mama Wolf. You win."
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The nurse helped situate Nova into a wheelchair while Hope fussed over every strap and blanket. Klaus and Hayley watched from the doorway, exchanging knowing smiles. The small group followed as Hope carefully pushed Nova toward the NICU, her possessive protectiveness written all over her face.
When they reached the glass, Nova's breath hitched. Her eyes filled instantly with tears. "Oh my god," she whispered. "They're so small."
Hope knelt beside her, one hand on the wheelchair, the other resting lightly on Nova's arm. "They're perfect," she said softly. "Just like you."
Nova's chest shook with quiet sobs. "They're beautiful, Hope. They're ours."
"They are," Hope said, her voice thick. "And they've been waiting for their mommy to wake up."
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The nurse opened the NICU door and rolled Nova inside. Hope stayed close, kneeling beside her as they approached the incubators. Nova reached out, her trembling hand pressing against the clear wall. "Hey, little ones," she whispered, voice quivering. "Mommy's here."
One of the babies twitched, her tiny fingers curling reflexively. Nova gasped softly, overcome by emotion. Hope leaned in close, tears streaming down her face as she kissed Nova's temple.
"They can feel you," Hope whispered. "They know your voice."
The others stood back, giving the couple their moment. Hayley and Klaus each had tears in their eyes; even Malia was openly crying. Derek's arm was around Lydia's shoulders, his expression soft and proud.
Nova smiled through her tears. "They need names," she whispered. "They deserve names."
Hope nodded, her eyes never leaving their daughters. "We talked about it before," she said softly. "Do you still like what we picked?"
Nova nodded weakly. "Yeah." She turned her gaze to the first incubator. "For our firstborn—the intersex one—Talia Elizabeth Mikaelson-Hale. After my mother, her Godmother Lizzie, and for strength."
Hope's throat tightened. "Talia," she echoed. "It's perfect."
Nova smiled and looked at the second baby. "And for her little sister—the younger twin—Andrea Lydia Mikaelson-Hale. For your middle name, your mom's real name, and for our best friend who never gave up on us."
Lydia gasped softly, tears spilling anew. "Oh my god, you guys..." she whispered, clutching Derek's arm. "You named her after me?"
Nova smiled faintly. "You've always been family, Lydia. Both of you have."
Hope leaned over and pressed her forehead to Nova's. "They're going to grow up knowing how loved they are."
Nova laughed weakly through her tears. "And that their mama is a total control freak."
Hope smirked. "You love it."
"Yeah," Nova whispered, her eyes full of warmth. "I really do."
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The family gathered closer to the glass, admiring the twins as Nova and Hope sat side by side. Hayley rested her chin on Hope's shoulder, smiling softly. "They're so small, but they already look like you two."
Klaus nodded with pride. "They'll be unstoppable. Mikaelson blood and Hale spirit—heaven help us all."
Derek chuckled quietly. "I give it a year before one of them bites someone."
Lydia smirked through her tears. "A year? Try six months."
The laughter that followed was light and healing, filling the sterile room with warmth. Hope turned to look at Nova, her heart overflowing. "You did it," she whispered. "You brought them here."
Nova leaned into her, resting her head on Hope's shoulder. "We did it," she murmured sleepily. "Now we get to love them. That's the easy part."
Hope smiled, her arms tightening around her. "I'll never stop loving you. Or them."
Nova yawned softly, exhaustion tugging at her once more. "Good," she whispered. "Because we're forever now, Mama."
Hope kissed the top of her head, watching their daughters' tiny chests rise and fall. "Forever," she echoed. "Always."
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║ End of Chapter 36 – Waking Hearts and Tiny Names 💞👶🌸 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝