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║ Chapter 38 – Trouble Brewing & Reckless Hearts 💔🍼🐺 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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Across town…
Allison shut the hotel room door behind her, jaw tight, hand trembling as she pulled out her phone. Her eyes were wild—hurt, furious, and shaking with obsession.
She dialed a number. One that wasn't saved. One she wasn't supposed to call.
A woman answered after a single ring.
"Is it time?"
Allison's breath hitched. "Nova had the babies. Early. And Hope was with her."
A beat of silence.
"And you want her back."
Allison's eyes hardened. "She should've been with me. Not Hope. Not the Mikaelsons. I need help getting her away from them."
A low chuckle slid through the speaker. "Then let's begin."
She hung up, chest heaving—just as Scott burst from the bathroom.
"Allison! Where are you going?"
She didn't even look at him as she grabbed her keys. "To get Nova back."
Scott's face twisted with frustration and old guilt. "Allison, she just had premature twins! And she's with Hope! You can't keep doing this—you can't keep acting like you still—"
"All I've done," Allison snapped, "is try to fix the biggest mistake of my life."
Scott flinched.
Allison stepped closer, eyes burning. "Nova was mine first. I lost her because of you. And I'm not losing her again."
"Allison—Nova isn't coming back to you. You cheated on her. With me."
Her jaw clenched. "Then I'll make her see that Hope isn't right for her."
Before she could storm out, Scott grabbed her arm. "Allison, stop! You don't need Nova—you have me. We could… try again. Forget about her." His voice cracked with desperation.
Allison slowly turned her head, disbelief flashing into disgust. "Scott, you don't get to act like this now. You don't get to want me back just because I want someone else."
"Allison, please—just stay. Forget Nova. Choose me instead."
Her expression went cold.
"Let. Go."
Scott didn't.
So Allison kneed him hard in the balls.
Scott collapsed to the floor with a strangled groan as Allison snatched her keys.
"I'm getting Nova back," she hissed. "And nothing—and no one—is going to stop me."
With that, she slammed the door behind her.
Scott sank onto the bed, running a shaking hand through his hair.
He whispered to the empty room:
"Unbelievable… Allison still wants her," Scott muttered bitterly, anger twisting in his chest. "And somehow it's Nova everyone runs back to."
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Back at the hospital…
Nova's private recovery room was quiet—too quiet.
Hope had stepped out for just a moment to get fresh clothes and check on the twins in the NICU. Klaus and Hayley were grabbing food. The pack and supersquad had crashed in waiting-room chairs.
Nova blinked awake, groggy but alone.
Her gaze drifted to the door… then to her legs.
"No one's here," she mumbled. "Perfect time to stretch."
She swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Bad idea.
Her muscles trembled. Her head swam. But Nova was stubborn—and a Hale.
She stood.
Wobbled.
"Okay… okay… I got this," she whispered, using the wall for support as she slowly shuffled across the room.
She made it three steps.
Then the door swung open.
"Nova Hale—what the hell are you doing?" Hope's voice cut like lightning.
Nova froze mid-wobble, guilt flooding her face.
"…stretching?" she offered weakly.
Hope shut the door behind her, eyes blazing with protectiveness and panic. "Stretching? You nearly died, you lunatic!"
Nova pouted. "I'm fine. Werewolf healing, remember?"
Hope marched forward, gently but firmly grabbing her shoulders. "Werewolf healing doesn't mean you get to ignore the fact that you had premature twins and major blood loss!"
Nova winced but still tried to smile. "Hopey… I just wanted to move."
"Well, congratulations," Hope deadpanned, scooping Nova up bridal-style in one swift motion. "You're done moving for today."
Nova squeaked. "Hope! I can walk!"
"You were not walking. You were wobbling like a drunk baby deer."
Nova crossed her arms. "Wow. Rude."
Hope rolled her eyes, but her voice softened. "You scared me. Again."
Nova's expression softened, too. "…Sorry, Hopey."
Hope gently set her on the bed, tucking the blankets around her like she was made of glass. "You don't have to be strong right now. You have to heal."
Nova whispered, "I hate feeling useless."
Hope brushed her cheek with her thumb. "You're not useless. You're recovering. And you're a mom now. Let me take care of you."
Nova blinked, lip trembling. "…You're really good at it."
Hope smirked. "Yeah, I know."
Nova swatted her shoulder. "Cocky."
"You love it."
"…Yeah," Nova admitted shyly. "I do."
Hope kissed her forehead. "Now lie down before I Velcro you to the mattress."
Nova's eyes widened. "You wouldn't."
Hope raised a brow. "Try me."
Nova giggled quietly and slipped under the covers.
She peeked up at Hope with tired, hopeful eyes. "Did you… hear anything else about the twins? Are they still doing okay?"
Hope's expression softened instantly, her anger dissolving into tenderness. She brushed Nova's cheek with the back of her fingers. "They're doing good, love. Holding on strong. The nurses said they've both stabilized more since this morning."
Nova let out a tiny breath of relief, shoulders sagging. "Good… good. I just needed to hear it again."
Hope nodded, understanding completely. "I'll tell you every hour if you want."
Nova hesitated, then whispered shyly, "When… when can we go home? Me and the babies?"
Hope sat beside her, taking Nova's hand gently. "Soon, baby. Elena said you can probably go home in a few days, but the girls need a little more time here—maybe a few weeks until they're big and strong enough. But we'll be home together before you know it."
Nova relaxed at that, her fingers curling around Hope's. "Okay… as long as we go home together."
Hope smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Always together, Nova."
Nova blinked up at her, cheeks warm. "Hopey… you know the group doesn't have to stay here, right? They should go home and rest. You should go rest, too."
Hope's expression softened, but her answer came without hesitation. "Not happening." She brushed a strand of hair from Nova's face. "I'm not leaving you or the girls. Not even for a minute."
Nova sighed, touched, and exasperated all at once. "Hopey…"
Hope squeezed her hand. "My family is here. This is where I stay."
But after a moment, she stood and drew in a steadying breath. "But I can send everyone else home to rest," she added gently. "They've been here all night."
Nova blinked. "Hope—"
Hope kissed her forehead as she tucked the blankets around her. "You rest. And stay in this bed, Nova Hale. If you get up again, I swear I'll find actual Velcro."
Nova mumbled under her breath, cheeks puffing out in a pout. "I'm not a child…"
Hope poked her head back through the door with a smirk. "Then stop acting like one." She walked over, bent down, and kissed Nova gently on the lips, then on the forehead. "Stay. In. Bed. Please, love."
Then she stepped out of the room.
Within seconds, Hope was in full Mikaelson-command mode.
"Everyone, go home," she ordered the moment she reached the waiting area. "Eat. Shower. Sleep. You can all come back later to see Nova and the twins. I'm not leaving, but you don't all need to stay here exhausted."
Lizzie opened her mouth to argue.
Hope raised a brow.
Lizzie shut her mouth.
…for about three seconds.
Then she lifted a finger. "Okay, but—if you're going to see the twins, who's staying with Nova? Because somebody needs to make sure she doesn't do something stupid. Again."
Hope exhaled through her nose, half‑laugh, half‑threat. "First of all, I'm not going anywhere far. Second, Nova is resting. And third—" she leveled a pointed look at Lizzie, "—I will make sure she stays in bed. You don't have to worry about that."
Lydia crossed her arms, giving Hope a look that was half fond, half exasperated. "Lizzie's right, Hope. Nova will absolutely try to be more active than she should. You know she will. She got caught trying to sneak into training, do mini‑workouts, or wander off multiple times while she was pregnant."
Hope sighed deeply, the kind that came from both love and frustration. "Yeah… I know." She rubbed her forehead. "She's stubborn. And reckless. And impossible."
Then, softer, resigned but loving: "And she's mine. So I'll handle it."
Lydia huffed fondly. "Yeah, well, I'm staying too. Someone has to help keep an eye on your dumbass girlfriend."
Hope actually smiled at that—grateful, relieved, and very aware Lydia had a point. "Thank you… Honestly, I know Nova. She will try something stupid the second I blink."
Hayley stepped forward, arms crossed but voice warm. "I'm staying too. Rebekah and I can help watch over Nova and the twins. You deserve a little backup, Hope."
Kol snorted. "Honestly, I'm impressed. Didn't think anyone could out‑boss Klaus, but here we are."
Lizzie smirked. "Hope's been in mom mode for like twenty minutes, and she already scares me more than her dad."
Malia raised an eyebrow. "Please. She's been terrifying since the day we met her."
MG threw his hands up. "Right? I've been saying this for YEARS."
Klaus placed a hand over his heart, faux‑wounded. "Are you all implying that my daughter is… intense?"
Lydia patted his arm. "Klaus, every Mikaelson is intense. It's genetic."
Kol waggled his eyebrows. "Mikaelsons do tend to fall for the difficult ones. It's practically tradition."
Hope groaned, scrubbing a hand over her face. "Can you all not right now?"
Hayley laughed softly. "Oh, come on, Hope. They've got a point."
Hope glared half‑heartedly at all of them. "I'm going back to Nova before you embarrass me into turning off my humanity."
Lizzie elbowed Josie. "See? Total Mikaelson threat."
Josie nodded solemnly. "Classic."
Hope rolled her eyes and marched back toward Nova's room—red‑faced, flustered, and very, very in love.
One by one, they began gathering their things—some reluctantly, others grateful for the push—while Hope stayed rooted to her place, every inch the protective partner and new mother.
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End of Chapter 38 – Trouble Brewing & Reckless Hearts 💔🍼🐺
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