– The Time Skip ⏳💫
Weeks passed into months in a blur of laughter, cravings, and protective family hovering until the days blurred together. By the time Nova was waddling down the halls, her belly round and heavy, she was at 30 weeks, only a 7 weeks from her due date. Everyone could see it—her glow, her hormones, her clinginess.
Nova clung to Hope constantly. If Hope so much as left the room, Nova pouted. If Hope sat too far away, Nova crawled into her lap. "This is all your fault," Nova declared dramatically one afternoon, tears pooling in her eyes over a dog food commercial. "I'm emotional and clingy because of you—and you still smell like home, so deal with it."
Hope chuckled, kissing her forehead as she stroked her hair. "Then blame me all you want, baby—I'll take the fault every time if it means I get to keep you right here with me."
Nova was now officially exempt from classes, placed on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. She didn't like being confined—her wolf side bristled at the lack of freedom—but Hope and the others took turns looking after her. Between cuddles, snacks, and endless protective hovering, Nova was both frustrated and secretly comforted by the attention.
She did try to escape the confines of her bed rest more than once, slipping out to wander the halls or find somewhere else to perch, but she never got far. Hope always caught her and, with a mixture of patience and teasing affection, lovingly herded her stubborn girlfriend back to their room.
One evening, when Hope caught her trying to sneak toward the library, Nova crossed her arms and huffed, "I'm not an invalid, you know. I can walk down a hall without the world ending."
Hope only arched a brow and slid an arm around her waist, steering her gently back toward their room. "You're carrying our twins, and you're supposed to be resting. So yes, you are my precious invalid."
Nova pouted but leaned against her anyway. "You're infuriating."
"Good," Hope murmured, kissing her temple. "Means you're still too stubborn to give up—and I love you that way."
--- weeks
– Overprotective Hope 🐺🛡️
Hope took her role as protector more seriously than anyone had expected. She carried Nova's bag to every class, wrapped an arm around her on stairs, and snarled at anyone who so much as brushed past her in the hallway.
"She's like a bodyguard-slash-baby-daddy," Stiles whispered to Lydia, who just smirked knowingly.
Nova giggled when she overheard it. "Not wrong," she teased, hugging Hope's arm tighter.
Hope tried to stop Nova from indulging in too much sugar, scolding her when she reached for her third cupcake in the common room. Nova only gave her those devastating puppy dog eyes. Hope sighed, grabbed the plate, and muttered, "I'm so weak for you."
Nova grinned triumphantly and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Good. Stay weak."
---
Jed's Mistake in the Gardens 🌿🐺🔥
One afternoon, Nova slipped out to the gardens, curled up on a bench with a book while Hope ran to grab her chicken nuggets—something Nova insisted the babies (though really just her) were craving. She enjoyed the quiet until Jed wandered over, his tone sharp and his posture aggressive. He shoved her shoulder lightly, sneering about her getting special treatment. Nova stiffened, protective anger flashing in her eyes, but before she could react, Hope returned.
The sight of Jed pushing Nova made Hope's blood boil. Her eyes glowed, a growl rumbling low in her chest as she stormed across the grass. "Touch her again and you'll regret it," she snapped, stepping between him and Nova. Jed paled as Hope's protective, possessive fury poured off her like fire.
Nova, wide-eyed but secretly thrilled at how quickly Hope had come to her defense, clutched her nuggets while Hope herded Jed away with a feral snarl. "Next time you even think about laying a hand on her, you'll answer to me," Hope hissed, her eyes blazing. Jed stammered something unintelligible before retreating quickly, his bravado shattered. The message was clear: no one laid a hand on Nova, not now, not ever.
Later that evening, after Hope had tucked Nova into bed, she invited her aunt Rebekah, Lydia, Lizzie, and the rest of the girls over for a cozy movie night to keep Nova's spirits up. As laughter and the sound of popcorn filled the room, Hope eventually slipped out—this time not just to handle errands, but to confront Jed directly. He had been warned once, and his repeated behavior left her patience gone. Her father and uncles watched from a distance as Hope found Jed in the training yard and unleashed her fury, her hybrid power flaring as she kicked his ass without hesitation. When she returned later, calm and collected, no one doubted the message: Nova was untouchable, and Hope would destroy anyone who dared forget it.
– Family and Friends' Teasing 🎉👨👩👧👦
The Beacon Hills crew and the Mikaelsons had fallen into a rhythm of blended family chaos. Lydia and Lizzie were already making bets on the babies' personalities—whether they'd inherit Hope's sass or Nova's dramatic flair. Rebekah insisted both children would be fashion icons.
Stiles waved a hand dramatically. "Let's be real. With Nova's clinginess and Hope's possessiveness, those kids aren't leaving the house until they're thirty."
Malia deadpanned, "At least they'll have sharp teeth."
Klaus leaned back with a smug smile. "Mikaelson blood ensures greatness no matter what."
Derek groaned. "God help us all."
Even in the teasing, there was love. Every joke, every sarcastic comment, came with warmth and an unspoken vow that both babies would always be surrounded by people who cared.
---
One night, Hope was jolted awake at 2am by Nova shaking her shoulder. "I need ice cream. With pickles. And maybe some whipped cream on top." Hope groaned but got up without complaint, pulling on sweatpants. When she returned, arms full of snacks, Nova beamed. "See? Best baby daddy ever." Hope rolled her eyes, but her heart melted at the sight of Nova's happy grin as she dug in.
Another afternoon, Klaus and Derek got into a ridiculous argument in the courtyard over who deserved to be in the delivery room. "As her father, it should be family first," Klaus insisted smugly. Derek crossed his arms, glaring. "She's my sister. I'm not leaving her side." Hope appeared in the middle, eyes glowing faintly, and growled, "She's my mate and the mother of my children. You'll both be lucky if I even let you in the hallway." Nova had laughed so hard she nearly cried, clinging to Hope's arm and whispering, "You're terrifying... and so hot."
---
– A Tender Night Together 💞🌙
Later that night, after the chaos of family banter, Hope carried Nova back to their dorm. At dinner, the baby-name debates had stretched late into the evening—Hope suggesting Talia for their baby girl like her, intersex, while Nova countered with Grace, a softer echo of Hope's own name, for the other baby. They tossed around other names too: Aria, Selene, Lyra, and Spencer, with a joking "Stiles" that Lydia immediately vetoed. The laughter had left Nova exhausted, clinging to Hope like a koala, refusing to walk. Hope hadn't minded. She set her gently on the bed, helped her change into soft pajamas, and tucked her under the blankets.
In the quiet of their room, the intimacy deepened. The laughter of the name debates still lingered in Nova's chest, but now it brought tears to her eyes instead. Whispering into Hope's shoulder, she admitted, "Talking about names... it made them feel so real. Like they're already here, waiting for us."
Hope cupped her face, thumbs brushing away her tears. "They are real, baby. Every kick, every craving, every dream you've had—it's them reminding you they're on their way. And when they get here, we'll already know them, because we've been loving them from the start."
Nova clung to her, smiling shakily through the tears. The silly, playful arguments about names had shifted into something deeper, a realization that their future was closer than ever—and it terrified and thrilled her all at once. They whispered about the twins, their fears and their dreams, trading soft teasing remarks that dissolved into kisses. Nova was clingy, unwilling to let go of Hope's shirt as if she might vanish, while Hope reassured her with every touch and vow. The room became its own small world, a bubble of warmth where Hope's protectiveness and Nova's raw emotion wove together. It wasn't just comfort—it was a promise that even in chaos, their love and their family would remain unshakable.
Nova's emotions swelled again, tears slipping down her cheeks as she buried her face in Hope's chest. "I'm scared," she whispered. "But I'm so happy. I don't know what I'd do without you. You've made this the safest I've ever felt."
Hope stroked her hair, her voice low and steady. "You don't have to do it without me. You never will. You're already the best mom—and I'll protect you and them with everything I have."
Nova clung tighter, her voice breaking but playful even through tears. "You better. Because you're not just my love—you're my home. And my very overprotective baby daddy."
Hope laughed softly, kissing her forehead. "Guilty as charged."
The two of them curled together under the blankets, the dorm room quiet except for the soft rhythm of their breathing. Outside, the world was chaos. But in that moment, it was just them—and the promise of the family they were about to bring into the world.
Knock 🚪😨
The peace didn't last long. The next morning, Hope was called away suddenly for something urgent, leaving Nova reluctantly tucked into bed alone. She promised she'd be back soon, but Nova still hated the separation. The dorm room felt too quiet without her.
Just as Nova was starting to doze, a sharp knock echoed against the door. She frowned, struggling to heave herself up from the bed. Her belly heavy and her body tired, it was hard to move quickly this close to her due date. "Hope?" she called softly. No answer.
With a slow waddle, she made her way across the room, frustration bubbling at how hard it was to move so slowly. Her wolf instincts screamed at her to be faster, to be ready for anything, but her heavy belly and the ache in her back kept her pace uneven. Every step toward the door made her pulse quicken with a mix of irritation and unease. By the time she reached it, her hand trembled on the handle, torn between the hope it was just Hope returning early and the protective anger rising inside her. Finally, she pulled the door open.