Hope blinked, confused. What had woken her? She sat up, the falling sheets leaving her bare from the waist up, and looked over at where Ryan lay sleeping beside her. He stirred, the sunlight streaming through the window turning his pale skin gold, and then his dark eyes focused on her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know."

All at once, there was a little flutter from her lower belly and Hope gasped, her hands covering the place where her baby lay.

"Hope?" Ryan moved so that he was on his elbow, his brows furrowing in concern.

"I felt her. She's moving." Hope laughed, tears springing into her eyes.

Ryan placed his hand over hers and pulled her down against him, drawing a shuddering breath.

"She's moving?"

"I only just started to feel her movements, so you wouldn't be able to just yet, but yeah." Hope laughed and pressed her face deeper into his neck.

"I can't wait to be able to feel her move for myself." Ryan rubbed her belly lightly.

"You can already feel the way she's changing my body. So it will only be a matter of time."

Ryan shifted so that his head was even with where their baby grew.

"I love you, little one. So much." He rested his face against her belly. "So much."

Hope wanted to say that she didn't think the baby could hear just yet, but the catch in his voice stopped her. This was a moment between father and daughter, even if one wasn't technically a person yet, and it felt sacred, so in stead of speaking, Hope ran her fingers gently through his hair.

Finally, he lifted his head, a half smile pulling at his full lips.

"I hope she looks like you," Hope murmured.

"But I want her to look like you." Ryan kissed her belly.

"Maybe we'll both get what we want and she looks like a perfect combination of both of us."

"I can live with that." He pressed another lingering kiss to her stomach.

Hope giggled at the sensation, then tugged him up so she could kiss him.

"When will you be performing the spell to deal with Triad and Greta?"

"Tonight. It's the full moon and the sooner we get them taken care of, the better."

"May I be there?" Ryan searched her face, his dark eyes worried.

"Of course." Hope cupped his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her palm and exhaled a shuddering breath against her skin.

"I'll be fine. Madam Laveau promised and she keeps her promises. Our baby and I are a part of the witch community here and she knows having us would make this city stronger and safer, so she won't betray us."

"I wish I had your faith."

"Trust me, Ryan. Because I trust her."

"I do trust you. It doesn't mean I'm less afraid."

Hope wrapped her arms around him, tucking his head into her neck.

"If anything happens to you..." Ryan trailed off.

"I'll be fine, I promise." Hope ran her hands slowly over his shoulders, loving the feel of his warm, smooth skin beneath her palms.

"I'm still going to be there. You're not doing this without me. I know you're powerful enough, but that doesn't help me not worry, which is probably frustrating for you."

"It's nice, having you worry about me, just as long as you don't smother me."

"So, boundaries."

"Exactly. I love you and we need to work together to have a successful relationship, but we are our own people still and need to trust each other in our decisions."

"Okay. I can do that. It'll be harder while you're pregnant, but I will do my best." Ryan rolled onto his back and took her with him.

There was a knock on the door and Freya called, "Hope, we need to get ready for tonight. We only have a few hours."

"What time is it?"

"It's after noon."

"Give me a few minutes." She didn't want to leave the bed, not when she'd just started feeling her baby moving and Ryan was so worried about the affects of the spell she was about to perform would have on her and their baby.

Ryan tightened his hold on her and groaned.

"Hurry up, we need to be prepared."

Hope stood slowly, the sheets sliding down her body and part way off the bed, leaving Ryan sprawled across the bed, completely bare. He put one arm under his head and watched her, comfortable in his nudity. Damn but he was beautiful and she was struck with the urge to pin him to the bed and ride him until she couldn't move.

"Don't try to tempt me back into bed," Hope scolded teasingly.

"I'm just lying here." He shrugged, though his lips curled up as he fought the smile. "You're the one thinking dirty thoughts."

Hope giggled and walked towards the bathroom. Hope turned the water on and then brushed her hair out in preparation to wash it.

The bed squeaked as Ryan climbed out of the bed and a moment later he joined her. Pulling her hair out of the way, he pressed kisses across the back of her neck.

"You're so beautiful." He nipped lightly at her earlobe.

"You heard my aunt. We have to get going." Hope tilted her head back to give him better access.

"I know. I know." He drew back and sighed heavily.

Hope turned around so she could look him in the eye and murmured, "I'll be fine. We'll be fine."

Ryan nodded and buried his face into her hair.

"It's all a mess right now, and as a Mikaelson, my life will always be over the top messy, so you'd better get used to things because of who we are. So you'd better get use to me doing things to protect my family, and that includes you." Hope kissed the side of his head.

"I just wish I could protect you and the baby so you didn't have to."

"I'm the Tribrid. Even with only two of the three species in my blood active, I'm the most powerful being on the planet. So I don't need a powerful partner. I need a partner I can bare my soul to and that's you."

Ryan lifted his head and looked down at her, his expression softening.

"I love you." Hope kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Now let's get you ready to perform the spells. So I can stop worrying, at least about this." He traced his finger down her nose and kissed her quickly

Hope led him under the spray of warm water and then poured body was onto a cloth. When she started running the cloth over his skin he sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned his head back, loving the feeling of her caressing him. But, after a few moments, he picked up the second cloth and started doing the same thing to her, so they were both bathing each other.

After they'd finished washing each other, Hope pressed a kiss to his chest and then shut the water off.

"I love you, Hope Mikaelson." He brushed her damp hair out of her face.

"Now, let's go get ready to kick some ass."

"You kick ass, I'll just stand by and make sure you're okay."

After pretending to consider for a moment, Hope nodded, "I can live with that."

They dressed quickly after that, needing to hurry up before Freya came looking for them. Instead of drying her hair, Hope threw it into a braid so it wouldn't be completely unruly when it dried.

When they got down stairs, Freya raised an eyebrow and said, "It took you long enough."

"Sorry, Aunt Freya."

"It's my fault, Freya," Ryan said. "I was letting my worry get the better of me."

"She'll have me, Ryan. I won't let her do this alone," Freya assured him, her teasing smirk softening into a gentle smile.

"I know that logically."

Freya held her hand out to Hope. "Come on. It's time to get ready. No mistakes."

"No mistakes." Hope nodded, her heart rate picking up. She was really going to do this. She was going to help take down the people who'd held her captive for most of her life.

Ryan rubbed his hands up and down Hope's arms, trying to comfort them both. The feel of his hands shaking against her made Hope pause. Just what was she doing to him by going through with this spell? It wasn't as if she had a choice, but he was struggling, terribly, knowing that she was putting herself directly in the line of fire while she was carrying his baby.

"We'll be fine." Hope turned in his embraced and kissed his cheek lightly. "I promise."

"I'm still going to worry until it's over," Ryan muttered mutinously.

"Of course you will." Hope kissed him one more time, then turned to follow Freya towards the door.

When the moon rose over the cemetery, Hope stepped into the center of the pentagram. Dressed all in white, both she and Freya resembled women from a distant past, Marie Laveau's past specifically, but that was the point. Her spell, her rules, including the clothing worn while performing it.

As she inhaled to start the spell, she caught Ryan's eye and he gave her a shaky smile.

Closing her eyes, Hope drew on the power surrounding her, drawing on the ancestors and the earth as she started chanting. The pentagram ignited, surrounding her with fire, but she didn't feel the heat, only the power of the magic filling her.

Partway through, she felt herself growing weak, her knees wanting to buckle, but then Freya grabbed her hands, joining her. With the extra push, Hope felt the spell release and the fire surrounding them disappeared..

Before she could speak, Ryan was there, wrapping his arms around her. Hope rested her head on his shoulder when he lifted her up, cradling her against his chest.

"Get her to bed. We'll handle the rest," Freya said, her voice coming from somewhere far away.

"Love you, Ryan," Hope tried to say, but she was so tired, she wasn't sure if the words came out the way they were supposed to.

"I love you too, sweetheart. Now, let's do what you're aunt suggested and put you to bed so you can get some sleep."

The journey home was a blur and the next thing Hope was aware of was Ryan taking the dress off and pulling one of his t-shirts over her head. When he lay down beside her, Hope curled up against him, wrapping herself around him and he pulled the sheets up over them both.

"Did I scare you?" Hope whispered.

"Only a little bit, but your aunt stepped in before I could think too much about it."

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to."

"I know. Now, sleep. We can talk about this when you've rested."

"K." Hope snuggled deeper into his embrace and sighed.

"Just don't do that to me again, please."

"I'll try. No promises." Hope sighed and allowed herself to drift towards sleep.

Her family was safe from those who would harm them. Triad and Greta would soon be wondering why their influence had waned to the point where even those who once feared them turned on them and stood up to them. Soon, it wouldn't be just the Mikaelsons and their allies who would be against them, it would be everyone.

Hope woke up several hours later to find Ryan awake beside her.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No. I'm not mad. I just wish you didn't have to put yourself in that position."

"Like I said before, I'm a Mikaelson. We fight for each other, no matter what."

Ryan ran his hand up and down Hope's back, saying nothing, but he remained tense.

"My family won't ask me to do something while I'm pregnant unless they have no other choice."

"Promise me that you'll look for other options before doing that again. I can't watch you collapse like you almost did."

"I promise." Hope kissed his chest."Andrea Jacquiline. After my mother and the man who gave his life for me when I was a baby."

"I like it." Ryan smiled down at her and pressed his lips to the top of her head.

There was a knock on the door and Freya opened it.

"Aunt Freya." Hope sat up.

"I just wanted to check on you. See how you were doing."

"I'm okay. Just tired."

"Hopefully, we'll be able to keep you off the front lines until after the baby's born."

"Good."

"Feel free to stay in bed all day. You've earned it." With one last smile, Freya left the room.

"All day, hm?" Ryan kissed her shoulder. "I can think of a few things we can do to fill that time."

Hope giggled and kissed his lips as he pulled her t-shirt over her head.