IN WHICH - The last thing that Hope Mikaelson expected when she came out of Malivore was to still be alive, the second last thing she expected was to be disowned by most of her living family, and the final last thing she expected was some ancient be...
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THIRD PERSON POV
CHAPTER 22
Her laughter echoed through the yard as she darted between the trees, a carefree grin spread wide across her face. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to just play. To forget the weight of everything that had happened and embrace a moment of lighthearted joy.
"Tag! You're it, Carl!" Hope shouted, tagging him lightly on the shoulder before taking off again, her feet kicking up dust as she ran with a playful energy that was impossible to ignore.
Carl immediately took off after her, his face scrunching in concentration as he tried to keep up. "Oh, no, you didn't, Hope! I'm catching you!" he called, determination in his voice.
Sophia, laughing, skipped around the two of them in a wide circle, her tiny feet barely able to keep up with the older kids, but still managing to stay in the game. Pedro, not far behind, was giggling uncontrollably as he watched the whole scene unfold.
"Wait for me!" Sophia squealed, her voice light and musical as she chased after Hope.
Hope slowed her pace just enough to allow Sophia to catch up, tapping her lightly on the arm. "Gotcha, Sophia!" she called, grinning mischievously as Sophia's eyes widened in mock horror.
"No fair!" Sophia laughed, clearly loving the game despite being the first to be tagged. "You're too fast!"
Pedro was quick to pick up his pace, his youthful energy boundless as he attempted to sneak up on Hope from behind, only for her to turn around just in time to tag him as well.
"No, no!" Pedro protested, a big smile on his face as he stumbled back. "You can't just turn around like that! You're cheating!"
Hope spun around, her arms outstretched as she smiled down at them. "Cheating? I don't know what you mean. I'm just too quick for you guys!" She winked, her tone light and teasing.
As she stood there, laughing with the kids, it struck her how much she needed moments like this. The world around them had become a constant struggle—one that left no time for anything resembling normality. But here, now, with these kids, she felt like herself again, the heavy burden of her past for a brief moment forgotten.
Behind them, the adults were busy at work, moving crates and bags into the farmhouse. The sounds of murmured conversations, the shuffling of footsteps, and the occasional grunt of exertion filled the air, but Hope wasn't focused on any of that. She was here, in this moment, with these kids, reveling in the simplicity of just being.
Carl ran past her, trying to break away from the pack to tag Pedro, but Hope wasn't going to let that happen. She darted forward, tagging him first and then turning back to the others.
"Gotcha!" Hope exclaimed with a mischievous grin.
Carl playfully pouted, but there was no hiding the joy in his eyes. "That's not fair!" he said, but it was clear from his grin that he was enjoying himself too.
