[M] Chapter 14 (1/1)

The teenager woke up an hour later, ears filled with the unusual sound of a child screaming. He looked down at his stomach and was confused to see that there was no longer a bump, just a nasty looking row of stitches and smears of blood. Because of the anaesthetic, it took Gikwang a while to get his bearings, but eventually it hit him. He had just given birth. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Doctor Yang smiled at him.“Hello, dear! It all went exceptionally well! She’s a loud little thing! Would you like a cuddle?” she asked, looking at the baby in her arms. Gikwang’s eyes boggled.“H-her? Sh-she’s a girl? I have a little girl?” he gasped, tears welling up in his eyes. “Y-yes! I want to hold her. My baby..” The doctor smiled and placed the tiny little girl on his chest. To her surprise, the baby seemed to calm down instantly, snuggling up to Gikwang and staring at him with her wide almond-shaped eyes. He chuckled through his tears and put his hand on her tiny back to keep her supported. “Hello!” he whispered, looking straight at her.“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Doctor Yang cooed. Gikwang nodded, looking dazed. “Would you like anyone to visit you now? I’ve told them all that you and the little one are fine, but I wanted you to be the first to know she’s a girl- and of course get the first proper cuddle.”“Dongwoonie. I want Dongwoonie.” He replied a little desperately, not breaking eye-contact with his daughter.The doctor smiled and poked her head around the door, inviting Dongwoon into the room. The young man bounded in, anxious to see Gikwang and the baby. He rushed up to the small operation table where Gikwang and the baby were lying and found himself speechless.“Baby is a girl, Woonie. I have a little girl!” the teenager exclaimed, his voice hoarse but still excited. Dongwoon smiled wider than he ever had before, tears rolling down his own cheeks too. Dongwoon kissed his forehead hard and looked properly at the baby girl.“She’s so gorgeous.” He said breathlessly. Gikwang smiled brightly, stroking  her small head with his thumb. “And utterly tiny. Her eyes are just like yours, too; one eyelid slightly different to the other. I love her to pieces already.” Dongwoon added, beaming.“I do too. Such a beautiful girl.” Gikwang replied. The baby looked up at him again, staring straight into his eyes. “She’s got a lot of Doojoonie in her too.” He said quietly, not wanting to upset Dongwoon, but wanting to point it out. Dongwoon smiled.“Let me guess, her mouth? The lips aren’t quite as plump as yours.” He noted cheerfully. Gikwang smiled, happy that Dongwoon wasn’t annoyed or hurt. “I really can’t get over that she’s actually here.. After all that struggle and pain. You kicked your eomma an awful lot in there, princess!” he joked fondly.“You can give her a cuddle with me, you know. As far as I’m concerned, you will always be in her life as her father figure. You’re a part of her whether you want to be or not. I couldn’t have gotten through this pregnancy without you, Woonie. For me, this little girl will forever have three parents, even if one of them happens to be in heaven.” The younger boy said, reaching out with his spare hand to hold Dongwoon’s. His eyes suddenly widened and a smile spread across his face. “Heaven, of course. Woonie, why don’t we call her Haneul? She can be our little.. sky of endless opportunities! And this way, she will always remember Doojoonie, too, and that he’s in heaven guiding her from afar at all times. I think that would comfort me, too.”“That’s perfect. Haneul is a beautiful name, it really suits her! Can I really hold her?”“Of course you can! I don’t need to tell you to be careful.” Gikwang smiled. Dongwoon carefully picked Haneul up, trying not to disturb her too much, as she had fallen asleep. He felt a warm sense of love as he held the little girl to his chest, nearly crying again with how amazing it was.“God, she’s so perfect. Doojoon must be so proud of both of you. I know I am.”“I think Doojoonie would be proud of you, too. You’ve never been anything but kind and caring towards me and now Haneul, despite everything.”“I’d do anything to keep you both safe. Whatever’s happened in the past just makes me love you both more, because that’s what’s made you as you are today. Don’t rush into anything on my part, though. If you felt for Doojoon what I feel for you, then I’d understand if the pain never really healed. I’ll be here whether you’re grieving or not, Kiki.”“Your incredibleness never ceases to surprise me, Dongwoonie.”  Gikwang said, close to tears again. He wiped his eyes and smiled at the older boy.“Can I have Haneul back now? I’m missing the little thing already.” He held his arms out to take his daughter back. Dongwoon placed the cute bundle into Gikwang’s arms, waving goodbye to her.When Doctor Yang deemed it fine for the teenager to be ‘discharged’ as such, a few nurses helped him off of the operation table and back onto the comfy sofa, Haneul still safely cuddled into his chest. The team opened the living room door and headed out of the house, Doctor Yang staying behind to let the family into the room and tell them a few things about how to look after Gikwang while his wounds healed. She too left, but only after giving everyone a big hug and expressing her deepest congratulations.  As soon as she was gone, the family seized their chance and pushed and shoved to get in the living room after having waited for so long. Narsha squealed at the adorable sight of Gikwang on the sofa with his baby and rushed over to him.“Baby! How are you?” she asked excitedly, kneeling down next to the sofa and stroking his hair, all the time looking at the gorgeous baby girl on his chest. Gikwang chuckled.“Are you saying that to me or little Haneul here?” he joked weakly, clearly exhausted and sore but still not without his signature smile. Narsha’s eyes widened.“Haneul? That’s such a beautiful name~! Is baby a girl, then?” she questioned, gingerly playing with Haneul’s tiny hand.“Baby is indeed~” Dongwoon replied fondly, his voice full of love. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”“She’s the most gorgeous baby I’ve ever seen! Oh, Kiki, I’m already in love with her. Please say I can look after her sometimes!” Narsha gushed, flickering her eyes pleadingly between Dongwoon and Gikwang.“Narsh, you’re her auntie. Of course you get to look after her sometimes.” Gikwang smiled. Narsha grinned and leaned over baby Haneul to give him a kiss on the top of his head. She then got up and gave Dongwoon a kiss on the cheek. Taecyeon beamed and walked shyly up to Gikwang and the baby.“Is she baby?” he blinked, brown eyes wide. He had never properly seen a baby before, only in an illustration the orphanage had used to teach the children ‘B for Baby’.  Mr. Son patted him on the back and nodded.“She is, indeed. Do you like your little niece?” he asked, smiling widely, touched by the warmth of this new arrival to the world. Taecyeon giggled and nodded.“She’s cute! Like a tiny version of Kiki hyung!” Narsha and Dongwoon laughed at this while Gikwang smiled at Haneul. “She also looks like Doojoonie hyung..” Taecyeon added nervously, really not wanting to bring the mood down on such a happy day. Gikwang turned his attention to the little boy and grinned.“She does, doesn’t she?” he said gently, stroking Haneul’s little head. Narsha nodded too, tears in her eyes. Dongwoon put an arm around her.“Don’t cry, noona,” Dongwoon soothed. “I just know Doojoon is looking down and smiling. He is, after all, why Kiki named the little princess over here Haneul. A part of her heart will always be held by Doojoon in the sky.” There wasn’t a single hint nor fragment of jealousy in his voice, just calm, loving truth. Narsha smiled and wiped her eyes.“You’re right, Woonie. It’s just so amazing that she’s here and she’s so utterly perfect. You must be so happy, Gikwanggie baby!” she clasped her hands together and looked down at the new baby, who had closed her eyes and fallen fast asleep on her father’s chest. Gikwang stifled a yawn.Mrs. Son, who had been speechless since first laying her eyes on the baby, was still stood in the doorway, trying not to cry from overwhelming joy. She had always wanted a baby girl as well as her boy but it had never worked out,  yet here in front of her was the single prettiest and cutest female child she had ever seen. By nature, Mrs. Son was family oriented and any new addition to her family was greatly welcomed. This time was slightly different for the woman, as she had never been so close to the parent of a newborn baby before. Haneul was already in her heart, just as Gikwang, Narsha, Taecyeon and Dongwoon were. Gikwang saw her watching and gestured for her to come closer.“Eomma? Are you ok? You seem very quiet.” He noted, though he was exhausted. Mrs. Son chuckled, the first sign of normality she had shown since seeing the baby. She walked up to him and crouched down next to the sofa, pulling the teenager’s small hand into her own.“Gikwanggie, sweetheart, you’re the one who has given birth. I should be asking if you’re ok! I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet, dear. It’s just like a dream for me. Babies are so incredible.” She said in a hushed voice, smiling. Gikwang squeezed her hand. “How are you doing, anyway?” the woman asked, running the fingers on her spare hand over the sleeping baby’s full cheek.“I’m fine, just very tired. I don’t really remember anything from this morning at all, even before the anaesthetic. My head’s a little fuzzy, too, but little princess here is helping a lot with that.” His eyes crinkled as he said it, though his voice was reedy. Mrs. Son kissed his hand and kissed Haneul’s head before getting to her feet.“Right, mister. You need to get some sleep. None of us are going out of the house, so if you want anything- anything at all- I want you to speak up and one of us will get it for you. I don’t think any more than one person should stay in the room with you, just because you don’t need to be disturbed. It’s been a hard nine months for you, honey.” She ordered assertively, but the care in her voice was far too obvious for it to have come across mean.“Can Dongwoonie stay?” Gikwang pleaded. Mrs. Son walked to her husband and leaned her head on his shoulder lovingly.“I had a feeling you might say that.” She lightly teased. She became slightly more serious. “Of course he can stay, just as long as he doesn’t distract you from getting some sleep, alright?” Gikwang and Dongwoon nodded meekly.Once everyone else had left the room -after a lot of coaxing to a whining Taecyeon, who just couldn’t bear to be away from his new niece and hyungs- Gikwang breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled contentedly and snuggled down into the sofa to relax, but didn’t close his wide almond-shaped eyes that were focused in on his baby girl. Dongwoon sat on the armchair opposite the sofa and lazily selected the first book on the shelf that his hands could find, though he wasn’t really intending to read it. He watched Gikwang just staring at Haneul for a good seven minutes or so, then cleared his throat.“Kiki? Is everything alright?” he spoke lowly, not wanting to disturb the younger.“Everything is perfect.. I think that’s why I’m acting weird. I keep expecting something bad to happen because this feels too good to be true.. In what has seemed like a matter of seconds, I have found a whole new family who loves me and takes care of me, I have met you, a handsome, amazing, intelligent man and I have a daughter. Does it not feel strange?” Gikwang sounded worlds away, his eyes not leaving Haneul as if she would disappear if he looked away. Dongwoon’s face softened like butter.“Kiki, baby, she’s not going anywhere. None of us are. You’re not dreaming, I promise. I know how this feels, like someone is going to come along and mess it all up, but they’re not. I’ll never let anyone get to you or Haneul. You both mean the world to me.”“I don’t want her to go away..” Gikwang whispered. Dongwoon set his book carefully down on the table next to his chair and stood up, making his way to the younger. He crouched down behind the arm of the sofa where Gikwang’s head was resting and placed his palms over the teenager’s eyes. “Woonie? What are you-?” he started, confused.“Shh, Kiki. Just trust me. Do you trust me?” Dongwoon breathed.“I trust you..” came the sighing reply.“Good. Now, do you still feel her on your chest?”Gikwang brought his hands up to the warmth on his chest and held his baby there, bringing her impossibly close to himself and trembling. He nodded. Dongwoon smiled.“You see, baby? Our princess won’t just stop existing when you close your eyes,” he lifted his hands and cupped the teenager’s cheeks instead as he peeked at a still-sleeping Haneul. “she’s not always going to be where you can see her, either. You just have to trust that she’s there and that the people around you will take care of her. Like now, you need to sleep some and I will watch over both of you.”The younger boy looked at Dongwoon with big eyes and yawned, rubbing his eyes with one hand and the other still securely around his daughter.“I trust you.” He repeated sleepily, kissing Haneul one last time before falling into a deep, instant sleep. Dongwoon smiled, having succeeded on getting the boy to sleep. He pressed his lips to the black tresses and stroked the baby’s balled fist.“I’m going to stay right here, my best girl and my best boy.”   A/N: =^.^= this chapter never fails to make me feel fluffy XD I hope you feel fluffy~~~ let's all give baby Haneul a cuddle and Kiki some cookies to munch on as a congratulations~ and of course give Woonie a cake for being so sweet :)

Also.... BEAST COMEBACK SOOOOOOON WOOOOOOOOO~~~~ *throws party* I'm so damn hyped for this! Even though they're a five and it won't quite be the same, my love for them hasn't decreased and neither should yours, dear b2uty. Keep strong for our boys and don't listen to the twisted stories about why Hyunseung left. It was his decision and he will be happier now, I just know it. As my miss second in command will confirm, I really do love Hyunnie to pieces (though Kiki is my ultimate bias) and it has affected me too, but it shouldn't mean we stop loving beast. It's just like this story really. Doojoonie might not be there physically, but Kiki always loves him despite moving on with his life.  So keep waving your inner light-stick!

Now I shall stop talking~ see you in the next chappie!