╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Chapter 43 – Tiny Hands & Big Love 🍼💞🐺 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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Nova adjusted Andrea carefully in her arms, smiling when the baby made a soft, sleepy sound.
Hope stepped fully into the NICU room, warmth replacing the earlier tension in her posture.
Nova glanced up. "Hey," she murmured softly.
Hope's expression melted instantly. "Hey."
Andrea gave a tiny huff as she continued nursing.
Nova smiled faintly. "If you want, you can hold Talia. She already finished eating."
Hope blinked like she'd just been handed the moon. "Are you sure?" she asked quietly.
Nova laughed under her breath. "Hope Mikaelson, you don't have to ask permission to hold your own child."
Hope moved immediately to the incubator, hands steady but reverent as the nurse helped guide Talia into her arms.
The moment Talia settled against her chest, Hope froze.
"She's so small," she whispered.
Nova watched her with pure affection. "You said that yesterday."
"I'm going to keep saying it."
Talia's little face scrunched, her blue eyes blinking lazily before focusing—just barely—on the warmth holding her.
Hope's breath left her in a quiet laugh. "Hi, troublemaker."
Nova smirked. "She gets that from you."
"Excuse me?" Hope shot back softly.
Andrea made a small squeak, shifting.
Nova looked down immediately. "Shh, shh, I know. You're eating. I'm not ignoring you."
Hope chuckled. "You're already multitasking better than me."
Nova glanced up. "We're figuring it out."
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Minutes passed in comfortable quiet.
Talia's tiny hand wrapped around Hope's finger.
Hope went still again. "She's holding me," she whispered.
Nova grinned. "Yeah. That tends to happen when they like you."
"Like me? I'm her mother."
Nova's tone softened. "Exactly."
Talia let out a tiny coo.
Hope gasped dramatically. "Did you hear that?"
Nova laughed quietly. "She didn't just recite poetry, Hope."
"She spoke."
"She squeaked."
"Same thing."
Andrea finished nursing and made a soft, satisfied sound before dozing off against Nova's chest.
Nova shifted carefully, pressing a kiss to her daughter's auburn curls. "I don't think I've ever loved anything this much," she admitted softly.
Hope's gaze lifted from Talia to Nova. "You're allowed to include me in that."
Nova smiled. "You're not a thing."
"Debatable."
Nova rolled her eyes fondly. "I love you. You know that."
Hope's voice dropped softer. "I know. It just feels different now."
Nova nodded. "It does."
She looked between their daughters. "It's bigger."
Hope swallowed. "Terrifyingly bigger."
"But good."
"Yeah," Hope breathed. "Good."
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Andrea hiccupped suddenly.
Both women froze.
"Oh no," Nova murmured. "Is that okay?"
The nurse smiled. "Premie hiccups are normal."
Nova immediately relaxed.
Hope leaned closer, brushing her knuckles against Nova's wrist. "See? We don't panic until someone else does."
Nova huffed. "I wasn't panicking."
Hope raised a brow.
"I was evaluating."
Hope laughed softly.
A soft knock followed by the gentle slide of the NICU door interrupted the moment.
Dr. Elena Gilbert stepped inside with a warm but professional smile, tablet in hand. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," she said lightly, glancing at the twins.
Nova immediately straightened slightly in her chair, protective instinct flaring even in the calm. "How are they?" she asked, voice hopeful but anxious. "Are their numbers good? Are they gaining weight? When do you think we can take them home?"
Elena smiled at the rapid-fire questions. "Their vitals are steady. Oxygen levels are improving, and both girls tolerated feeding well. That's a very good sign."
Nova visibly relaxed, though she still looked nervous. "But?" she pressed gently.
"They're still premature," Elena said carefully. "Thirty-week twins need time. We're watching lung development and weight gain. Realistically? A few more weeks in the NICU. We want them strong before discharge."
Hope shifted Talia carefully in her arms. "What about infection risk? And their lungs—are they responding the way you expected? Is there anything else we should be doing?"
Elena nodded approvingly. "Their lungs are developing well for their gestational age. And right now, what you're doing—skin-to-skin contact, feeding, bonding—that's exactly what they need."
Hope's jaw eased slightly at that.
"And Nova?" Hope added, eyes flicking toward her girlfriend. "How is she actually doing? Internally. Recovery-wise."
Nova shot her a look. "I'm right here."
Elena chuckled softly. "You are recovering well, but you did go through premature labor and emergency surgery. Your body needs rest. Your hemoglobin levels are stabilizing, your stitches are healing, and your vitals are strong. But that doesn't mean you're invincible."
Hope gave Nova a pointed look.
Not smug.
Not cruel.
Just very, very I told you so.
Nova narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare."
Hope leaned in slowly, deliberately, one hand cupping Nova's cheek.
"Oh, I absolutely dare," she murmured.
And then she kissed her.
Not soft. Not shy.
Warm and sure and a little smug.
Nova made a startled sound against her mouth before melting into it instantly, her free hand curling into Hope's shirt.
For a second, the world narrowed to just them.
Then—
Squeak.
Both women froze.
Talia let out a tiny, indignant little noise from Hope's arms.
Andrea followed it with a soft protesting whimper.
Hope pulled back slowly, blinking.
Nova burst into quiet laughter. "And scene."
Hope glanced down at Talia. "You have terrible timing."
Talia blinked up at her with wide blue eyes.
Andrea hiccupped.
Nova grinned. "They're already cockblocking you."
Hope looked personally offended. "They are two weeks old."
"And already dramatic."
Hope sighed dramatically. "I can't even celebrate my victory."
Nova smirked. "You can later."
Nova rolled her eyes faintly. "Traitor."
Then, under her breath, dramatically: "This is oppression. I am being medically silenced."
Hope's lips twitched despite herself.
She muttered under her breath, dramatic as ever, "I survive premature labor, emergency surgery, and motherhood, and this is how I'm repaid. Betrayed in my weakest hour."
Hope snorted softly.
"Oh please," Hope murmured, leaning down to press a smug, lingering kiss to Nova's temple. "You love that I'm right."
Nova scoffed. "I tolerate that you're occasionally correct."
At that exact moment, Talia let out a tiny, indignant squeak.
Both of them froze.
Hope blinked. "Did she just side with me?"
Andrea answered with a soft, suspiciously timed hiccup.
Nova narrowed her eyes at both babies. "I carried you for seven months and this is the loyalty I get?"
Elena smiled warmly. "I know you already insisted on being discharged, Nova, but your recovery is still ongoing. Continue taking it easy at home. The twins, however, will stay until they meet discharge benchmarks."
Nova looked down at Andrea, brushing a thumb gently over her tiny hand. "We'll wait," she whispered. "However long it takes."
Elena nodded once more before stepping back toward the door. "You're both doing beautifully. Try to get some rest when you can."
After she left, the room felt quieter—but steadier.
Hope exhaled slowly. "See? They're strong."
Nova nodded, eyes shining. "They get that from us."
Hope smirked faintly. "Mostly me."
Nova huffed. "Please."
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They talked about everything and nothing.
First birthdays. Matching outfits. Over-the-top cakes. Which one would crawl first. Which one would shift first.
Talia yawned.
Andrea made a sleepy babble that sounded suspiciously like a protest.
Hope smiled down at them. "They're already dramatic."
Nova smirked. "Mikaelson-Hales. Of course they are."
Hope leaned forward, pressing her forehead gently to Nova's.
"I'm so in love with you," she murmured.
Nova's eyes filled instantly. "You better be."
Talia made a tiny squeak as if agreeing.
Hope laughed quietly. "You're included too."
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Hours passed.
Soft coos. Tiny cries. Gentle rocking. Whispered reassurances.
"Hi, girls," Hope whispered finally. "Mama's here."
Nova rested her head against Hope's shoulder. "And Mommy's right here too."
The babies responded with sleepy little noises.
Hope smiled. "I think that means they approve."
Nova kissed her shoulder softly. "For now."
They stayed like that.
No threats. No past. No fear.
Just the four of them.
A family.
Nova's breathing slowly evened out, exhaustion finally claiming her. Andrea, full and warm, rested against her chest as Nova instinctively began rocking gently—even in sleep.
Hope watched the moment like it was sacred.
Carefully, quietly, she pulled her phone from her pocket and snapped a few pictures—Nova half-asleep, Andrea curled against her, Talia blinking softly in her arms.
Her whole world.
She rose carefully, returning Talia to the incubator first, brushing a gentle kiss to her daughter's tiny pink beanie before settling her back under the warm lights.
Then she knelt in front of Nova.
"Okay, sweetheart," she whispered softly, easing Andrea from Nova's arms with slow, practiced care.
Nova stirred faintly but didn't wake.
Hope smiled.
She placed Andrea beside Talia in the shared incubator, adjusting the blankets so the twins were nestled close together. Andrea shifted slightly, her tiny fingers brushing Talia's hand. Almost instinctively, Talia's small fingers curled back, the two of them reaching toward each other until their hands rested together. Andrea inched closer, and Talia turned her face toward her sister, the twins settling with their tiny bodies pressed side by side as if they had never been apart.
Hope's throat tightened.
Two tiny girls.
Their girls.
She rested her hand gently against the clear plastic wall of the incubator, watching their little chests rise and fall in sync.
Happy.
Alive.
Safe.
Her mate asleep just behind her.
Hope had never felt so completely, overwhelmingly full.
For the first time in a long time—despite the chaos, despite the fear, despite everything that tried to tear them apart—her world felt steady.
Whole.
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