Chapter 4 (1/1)

The following day, Baekhyun couldn't concentrate during his work at all. It didn't help that the nausea was particularly bad that day. Thankfully, Kyungsoo was ever attentive to his needs. Any time Baekhyun needed a rest, Kyungsoo found a good reason to give him one. It took them longer to finish, but Baekhyun wasn't ready to pass out mid photo shoot this time, so he was grateful.        When they were driving back in the car at the end of the day, Kyungsoo was silent for a large part of the drive. It was only when he was a short distance away from Baekhyun's house that he spoke up.       “Did something happen with Minseok yesterday?”       “Huh? Why do you ask?”      “Because you've been spaced out and depressed all day. I'm not an idiot, Baekhyun. What happened?”      “Can you come in...I need your advice...”       “That's a first,” Kyungsoo remarked. “But I'll try my best to help.”        When they got to Baekhyun's house, Kyungsoo followed him in. They sat at the table again, but this time was a little more relaxed than the last. Baekhyun wasn't afraid of talking to Kyungsoo, he was just completely lost on what to do. There wasn't an easy answer anymore, not since Minseok had told him how he really felt.       “Minseok changed his mind,” Baekhyun sighed. “He wants to have the baby...He wants to raise it with me.”       “So that's what happened,” Kyungsoo sighed. “And? What did you say?”      “I told him I needed time to think and left...He was crying, Kyungsoo. I've never seen him that emotional and hurt before. He really wants the baby...”       “What do you want?”      “I don't know. I can't have a baby though. I can't go out on stage with a massive stomach and sing for people! I'll be a complete joke! If they don't completely boycott me for being a freak of nature first!”       “Baekhyun, calm down. You're overreacting. That's not what I asked you. If we really needed to, I would find a way to get you safely through this pregnancy, both financially and medically, with a continued career on top of it all. The thing I want to know is whether or not you want the baby.”       “I never thought about it honestly,” Baekhyun muttered. “I've been trying to since Minseok told me he wanted to keep it, but...I just never saw myself becoming a parent, especially this way...”       “Would you be opposed to it now that it's happened?”       “I don't know...I'm scared. It's so much responsibility and I'm so scared of the future...But I can't stop thinking about Minseok. He was so miserable, Kyungsoo. And he must have been scared to tell me that. He's always been the type of person to hold back and make the sacrifices himself for the sake of someone else. I know he was fully planning to do that this time, and I was too caught up in myself to even notice how upset he was...”       “Baekhyun, you can't blame yourself for that. You have a lot going on too. And while his opinion is important, you shouldn't keep the baby just for him. If you aren't serious about the child, it's going to make you both miserable down the road.”       “I know that, which is why this is so hard. I don't think I can just suddenly wrap my head around being a parent and possibly risking my career or putting it on the side while I go through the pregnancy...But Minseok was willing to risk everything.”      “You're two different people, Baekhyun. You don't have to do this if you don't want to.” The singer nodded slowly.       “I still don't think I really want to have a baby, for several reasons. But...All my life, Minseok has given me so much, and I've just taken. Am I really going to do that again this time? If I get rid of the baby, the odds are it's going to break his heart. Would he still want to be a relationship with me after that? Would I lose the baby and Minseok?”       “There's a very good chance that you would,” Kyungsoo agreed.       “I don't know if I would be able to live without Minseok,” Baekhyun whispered, feeling a lump in his throat as his emotions welled up. “It was hard enough living without him for the past 5 years, and now that I have him back, I never want to let go again...”       “Something's got to give, Baekhyun. I don't think this is a situation where you can get everything you want.”       “So I need to stop being selfish...”       “No,” Kyungsoo corrected. “You need to think long and hard about what you really want. If you don't want the pregnancy, terminate it. If you aren't willing to raise a child, don't do it just for Minseok. Or you could have the baby, give it to him, and go your separate ways. That's an option too, but I don't think that's very appealing to you given what you've told me. You need to make a decision and make sure you're behind it 100%. This isn't something you can half-ass.”        Baekhyun nodded. Kyungsoo was absolutely right. He couldn't half-ass this, but he couldn't spend a lot of time thinking about it either. If he wanted to get rid of the baby, he needed to do it soon. He really wished there was some way he could find an easy solution. It was all going to come down to how much he loved Minseok and what he was willing to do for him.        Kyungsoo stayed with Baekhyun a little while longer, just letting him ramble his thoughts and change the subject when he needed to. When his manager left, Baekhyun was feeling slightly more at ease. It had helped to talk things through with another voice of reason. He was still unsure of what he would do. It was so hard make a definitive decision.        He laid down shortly after, his nausea and exhaustion getting the better of him for the evening. As he laid nestled under the covers, his hand unconsciously rubbed his stomach. He shouldn't even have to be worrying about this problem. If he were a normal guy, this never would have happened. He'd never resented his body as much as he did now.        But Minseok still loved him as he was. He found no fault in Baekhyun or his body. How could Baekhyun pass someone like that up? He loved Minseok so much too, even if he was horrible at showing it. He glanced at the figurine on his desk that Minseok had gotten him. Minseok really was in a league of his own. What was he going to do? ~*~       It had been 3 weeks. Baekhyun hadn't bothered to contact Minseok in all that time. Minseok had assumed him as good as gone at this point. He'd probably gotten the abortion and decided to never see him again. Minseok had started avoiding any news or sight of Baekhyun as well, mostly because it hurt to remember.        Time seemed to drag by slowly. His work was exhausting, but he couldn't put his all into it. As such, he'd made his supervisor angry a few times and Joohyun had started looking out for him to prevent further mess ups. Minseok felt horrible about it, but he needed someone to clean up after him right now. He was too upset to do it himself.        Joohyun was really turning out to be a blessing in Minseok's life. Even though she was going through her own set of changes with a baby on the way, she still made sure to look after Minseok. She almost always ate lunch with him, sometimes chatting away about something lighthearted, other times just providing a silent presence so he wasn't alone. Minseok really needed that right now, especially since Baekhyun had left him.        Finally, when she'd had enough of watching him be upset, she decided to try talking to him about what had happened during their lunch break. Minseok knew it was coming eventually, so he didn't bother to avoid the subject. She'd been dealing with his foul attitude long enough, she deserved to know.       “I take it things with your partner didn't go well,” she said softly. Minseok shook his head.       “They left right after I asked them and they haven't contacted me in 3 weeks.”       “I'm sorry...”      “You don't have to apologize. Even though it hurts now, I don't regret it, and it's because of you that I can feel this way. It's just hard to move on, that's all.”       “Did they have an abortion? Do you know?”      “No, I don't know. But they needed to have it soon if they were going to, so I'm sure they did. Why else wouldn't they contact me?” Joohyun sighed and nodded.       “The least they could do was tell you it was over so you wouldn't be left hanging like this...”       “I think the silence says everything,” Minseok grumbled. “It was a short time, but it was really nice when we were together. I guess I just have to count my blessings and leave it as is. In the end, I was just much more attached than they were, I think.”       “This isn't fair, Minseok,” she whined. “They owe you at least a resolution.”       “I'll get over it, Joohyun. There's nothing I can do about it now.”       “Will you really be ok? You're slipping up at work and I'm sure you're even more of a mess at home, right?”       “I'll be fine,” Minseok assured, offering a small smile. “Just don't give up on me. It'll take a little time, but I promise I'll get over this. And I'll make it up to you somehow.”       “You can help me out at the office when the pregnancy brain kicks in,” she laughed. Minseok even let out a quiet chuckle at this.       “I can definitely do that.” Joohyun nudged him with her arm.       “I know you're going through a lot, but seriously, don't keep it all in. I'm here for you.”      “Thanks...It means a lot to me.”        Joohyun smiled and patted Minseok's back. She really was a wonderful person. Her husband was lucky to have her. Minseok was lucky to have her as a friend too, especially now that he'd lost his only other friend in this city.        As Minseok finished work and rested at home, that thought kept lingering in his head. He really didn't have many friends here. His main reason to come to the city was for Baekhyun. As much as he liked Joohyun, he hated his job and was miserable doing it. Perhaps it was time to accept defeat and go home. He'd always liked the countryside more anyway. He wouldn't have to hear about Baekhyun as much there either.        Maybe he would take some time off work and go home and visit his parents. He needed a break from the city life and the misery that came with it. If Baekhyun was going to abandon him, Minseok would just leave. He'd have to ask for some time off, so it wasn't something he could do immediately, but the thought of getting away for a bit was sounding more and more appealing. It was time for a new start. ~*~       When Minseok's phone rang a few nights later, displaying Baekhyun's number, he was surprised to say the least. He'd all but given up hope on that situation. Although he hadn't talked to his supervisor about taking any time off yet, he'd already resolved himself to do so. He was serious about moving on from this. So why was Baekhyun bothering to call him now? Was it to give some half-assed apology and ask to go out again? Could Minseok just get over it that easily and go back to the way things were? He didn't think so.        He sighed and set his phone down on his desk. He had been sitting at his computer, watching a show while eating some instant ramyun. He hadn't done much cooking for himself in the past few weeks. It was hard enough to motivate himself to get up and go to work in the morning, so naturally he'd slipped a bit on house work and cooking.        He took another bite of his ramyun and was about to play his show again when his phone rang once more. It was Baekhyun again. He was being extremely persistent. Minseok had never ignored him like this before either. He hated himself for wanting to answer the phone so badly. What if something horrible had happened and Baekhyun needed him though? Minseok was so easily drawn back into this relationship. It had always been that way.        The phone rang a third time and Minseok sighed, setting his bowl down. Baekhyun wasn't going to let up it seemed. He picked up his phone and lazily held it to his ear. He had to remain distant and detached.       “Hello?”       “Thank God, you picked up,” Baekhyun exclaimed on the other end. “I was getting really worried.”       “What did you need?” Minseok asked, not really acknowledging what the other had just said. There was a short pause and Minseok could tell the other was taken aback slightly by his response.       “I needed to talk to you, actually...My house probably isn't the best, so I was wondering if I could come over.”       “It's not something we can't talk about on the phone?”       “No, not really...I'd like to talk to you in person. Is that not ok?”       “No, it's fine,” Minseok sighed, giving up the fight. “Just come on over and I'll open the door for you.”       “Ok...”        Minseok hung up the phone after that, chewing on his lip nervously. What was so important that Baekhyun had to come over? Was he really trying to sneak his way into Minseok's good graces again? Was he even aware that he'd fallen out of them? If anything, Minseok had assumed Baekhyun was done with him. It was odd to have the other come back now. Minseok was scared of what Baekhyun was going to tell him.        He finished his ramyun and decided to clean up his kitchen enough for it to be presentable. About 20 minutes later, there was a persistent knock on the door. Minseok let out a shaky sigh before walking over and opening it, letting Baekhyun slip in. The singer timidly kicked his shoes off and headed for the table, where he and Minseok usually had their important discussions. Minseok followed behind, sitting across from Baekhyun and waiting patiently for the other to say something.       “I'm sorry!” Baekhyun shouted suddenly, bowing forward so much his forehead was practically touching the table. Minseok's eyes went wide.       “What about?”      “Everything! For taking this long to get back to you, for forcing you into a situation where you couldn't be honest with me...For hurting you...”      “Baekhyun, that's...”       “I'm so, so sorry. I was so selfish and only thinking about myself and you have every right to hate me.”       “Baekhyun, calm down! I don't hate you, ok? Lift your head, I don't want to talk to your hair.”        The other boy sighed and lifted his head so he wasn't bowing anymore, but he still kept it lower than Minseok's. He was far more upset than Minseok had realized he would be. What had caused him to become this self-conscious? Now that Minseok thought about it, he really hadn't been paying any attention to Baekhyun the past few weeks, so he didn't even know what the boy was up to these days.       “How have you been?” Minseok asked.       “About as well as I can be. It's been pretty busy.”       “I see...Did the operation go well?”        There was no point in beating around the bush. By this point, Baekhyun had to have had the abortion. Why else would he be here apologizing so much? Minseok just wanted him to be honest and leave if he was going to leave. He was tired of being dragged through an emotional roller coaster.        Baekhyun looked confused at first, as if what Minseok had asked didn't make sense. He repeated the word 'operation' to himself and Minseok wondered if he'd never heard an abortion referred to in that way. In truth, he just didn't want to say the word out loud because he didn't want to break down crying over it again. Eventually, Baekhyun's eyes widened as he put two and two together.       “Minseok, listen,” Baekhyun started, getting to his feet.        This was it. He was leaving. Minseok had pushed too far again. Should he apologize? He didn't feel like it. He'd been hurt too after all. To his surprise, once Baekhyun was standing, he walked over to Minseok, stopping beside him. He pulled his shirt tight, revealing the smallest bump of stomach Minseok had ever seen on him. It almost looked like Baekhyun had just let his diet go and filled out a bit. It was a bit rounder than the normal soft stomach Baekhyun had in high school though. Minseok stared up at him with hopeful, searching eyes, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.       “I didn't get the abortion. I still have the baby.”       “W-What...? Why? I thought you didn't...”       “I thought about it for so long, Minseok. I really did. I didn't want to come to you until I was resolved in whatever I had decided. I went back and talked to my doctor about whether it's safe for me to be pregnant and have a baby. Then I talked to my manager a lot about what we could do and what my options were. I'm sorry I took so long, but I wanted to make sure I had thought through everything I possibly could.”      “What made you decide to keep the baby?” Minseok asked. He could feel his eyes watering, but he wanted to keep it together. Crying in front of Baekhyun wasn't something he liked to do.       “I thought about what it would be like to be a parent. And I'm still scared and pretty unsure about it, but I'd be with you right? Between the two of us, we could probably raise a kid, right? And besides, if I'm going to have a kid with anyone, it's going to be you. I want to be with you, Minseok...You and the baby.”        Minseok raised his hand, timidly pressing his fingers against Baekhyun's stomach. The baby was really still in there. Baekhyun hadn't gone through with the abortion. He'd decided to raise it. He'd decided to stay with Minseok. Baekhyun placed his hand over Minseok's, and that was all it took for the latter to break down crying again. He leaned against Baekhyun's stomach, crying into his shirt while the other wrapped his arm around him, rubbing his back gently.       “I'm 12 weeks now,” Baekhyun said softly. “Just about done with the first trimester.”      “I can't believe it...I thought you'd gotten rid of the baby. I thought you didn't want me anymore...”      “I'll always want you. I'm sorry I ran away and hurt you like that. We should have talked it out together. Will you forgive me for being selfish?” Minseok shook his head.       “You weren't being selfish. You were looking out for yourself. I still can't believe it...We still have our baby.” Baekhyun smiled and held him closer.       “We do.”        Seeing Minseok like this had been more than enough to reassure Baekhyun that he'd made the right choice. Truthfully, the thought of having a kid still didn't entirely appeal to him, but if he was with Minseok through it all, he was sure they'd find a way to be happy. Minseok was the only one he had that amount of undying faith in. He wasn't about to lose that presence in his life. He was sure he would come to love the baby as well. After all, they would be related to Minseok too.        Minseok held Baekhyun, crying for for some time. It was only when Baekhyun started whining about being tired and having a long day that Minseok finally let go and wiped at his eyes.       “Do you need to go home?”       “No. Kyungsoo gave me the day off tomorrow so I could spend some time with you and patch things up...”       “You got a day off?” Minseok asked skeptically.       “Yeah. Kyungsoo actually backed my schedule off a lot lately. The morning sickness has been pretty bad and I need all the rest I can get because my energy just seems to deplete easily these days.”      “I'm sorry...”      “It's fine. It's nothing to apologize for. Once I get into the second trimester, my energy should be going back up.”       “That's good to know...” Baekhyun nodded and smiled, running his fingertips gently through Minseok's hair.       “Would you mind if I spent the night tonight?” Minseok rapidly shook his head.       “Do you need food? I kinda just ate instant ramyun, but I can cook something for you...”       “I'm fine. I'd like to lie down if that's ok...I'm really tired and that kinda took a lot of courage and energy,” Baekhyun laughed awkwardly.       “Of course! Come on!”        Minseok got up from his seat and held Baekhyun's hand as they walked back to his room. Baekhyun immediately laid down on his bed, and Minseok noticed then that he did look a little pale and very tired. Minseok turned the TV on and got something playing so that Baekhyun could watch it and doze off. After that, he cautiously crawled into bed beside Baekhyun. The other rolled onto his back and held out his arm, whining a bit as a means to ask Minseok to come closer. Soon enough, Minseok's head was resting on Baekhyun's chest and his hand was once more planted on his stomach, rubbing it gently with his thumb.       “You're really ok with having a baby, Baekhyun?”       “Yes. Are you trying to make me second guess myself now?” The other laughed.       “I'm just...What about your body? It's going to change a lot. And your career? Isn't that going to be a problem now? Kids are lifelong responsibilities too...”       “I'll deal with the body changes as they come,” Baekhyun sighed. “No use worrying about being round now, right? As for having a kid, I know it's a huge responsibility, but I want to try and do my best.”      “Your career though...”      “Kyungsoo and I ironed it out. We spent a while trying to plan and figure out what we would do if I kept the baby. He's willing to help me keep it covered as long as we can. For now, I'm hardly showing, so as long as I wear loose clothes, I'm fine to work just as I am now. In the meantime, Kyungsoo's going to try and set up a radio show for me.”       “A radio show!?”       “Yeah. When I start showing more, I'll move off the TV and public promotions onto a radio show. That way I can still make money and appear to the public in some form. Then when I'm about ready to burst, I'll go on a maternity hiatus, though we obviously won't call it that~”       “You really thought this through...”       “I told you I wanted to be completely sure of my decision when I came back, right? I've got everything as planned out as I can have it for now. I'm serious, Minseok...”      “I believe you,” he said softly. “Thank you, Baekhyun...For doing all this. I promise I'll be here with you every step of the way. You won't be alone.”        Baekhyun shifted on his side so he was facing Minseok and he connected their lips. It had been so long since Minseok had felt Baekhyun this close, the kiss practically took his breath away. He'd been so bitter and hateful just hours before. He really was putty in Baekhyun's hands. He loved him too much for his own good. At least this meant they would stay together though. Minseok would get to have a family with Baekhyun. This was more than he could have ever bargained for in his life.       “I love you,” Baekhyun whispered in between kisses. “I'm sorry for making you wait.”       “I love you too,” Minseok hummed back.        As long as Baekhyun was happy, Minseok didn't mind how long he had to wait. Baekhyun had really taken his feelings into consideration in the end. Minseok had no doubt in his mind now that Baekhyun was serious about this and that he loved him. The road ahead would be bumpy, but at least they would be traveling it together instead of apart. Minseok couldn't ask for a better outcome than this. ~*~       As soon as Minseok went back to work, he was dying to tell Joohyun the good news. She'd been there during his low, she needed to know things were fine. He rushed into the office and more or less dragged her excitedly up to the rooftop where they normally talked. When he turned around to talk to her, she was giving him a concerned look, like he was crazy, and he felt a little bad for pulling her so dramatically out of the office, but he couldn't help it.       “What!?” She gasped. “If you act like that, people are gonna get suspicious of us!” She joked, lightening up slightly now that she wasn't being pulled across the building.       “My partner!” Minseok started. “They came over the other day!”       “Really? How was it...? Had they gotten the abortion?” She asked nervously, holding her own stomach unconsciously. Minseok shook his head.       “They kept the baby,” he said gently, smiling fervently. “They're about 3 months along now.”        Joohyun's face lit up so much it was almost as if she was the one who'd received the best news of her life. She rushed forward, squealing happily, and hugged Minseok close, this time catching him off guard. It didn't take long for him to hug her back though. They stood there, swaying and bouncing up and down, acting like the most gleeful of idiots. Minseok couldn't have cared less though. He was the happiest of all idiots right now. Finally Joohyun pulled back, still holding his shoulders.       “That's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you.”       “I didn't think this would actually happen. I really thought it was over.”       “You were in a bad state of mind,” she soothed gently. “I told you if your partner loved you, they would really consider it! You just needed to trust them more and speak up for yourself!”       “Thank you...I really don't know where I'd be without you. I had to tell you first because I was so happy. Sorry for dragging you out of the office like that.”      “It's fine,” Joohyun laughed. “I would have done the same~ You know what this means, Minseok?”       “What?”       “We're going to go shopping for baby things together down the road.”       “Oh God...I didn't even think about that. I don't know the first thing about any of that stuff.”       “Well, you've got another 6 months or so to think about it so don't worry~ I'll help you too. It's not like I don't have to learn it myself as well.” She rubbed her stomach once more. She was just starting to show too.       “I'll be glad for all the help I can get. I'm sure my partner will too.”       “Will I ever get to meet this partner of yours?” Joohyun asked playfully. “I might have to teach them a lesson or two for making my coworker a disaster for a month.” Minseok laughed awkwardly.       “Maybe someday...Right now things are still pretty difficult for them.”       “Is the pregnancy dangerous?”       “Ah, no. It's not anything like that. They told me they were healthy and safe at least. It's just...They're in a bit of a position where they have to protect their identity. I promise I'll tell you someday...”       “It's alright. I believe you. This is so exciting though! I'm going to have a partner in crime~”       “For now, we might want to get back to being business partners unless we want to lose our jobs,” Minseok grumbled. Joohyun nodded.       “You're right. Really though, Minseok. Congratulations. I'm so happy things worked out for you!”        Minseok nodded and the two headed back to the office. They received a few curious glances and waved them off, saying there were some urgent matters they had to discuss. Work was dull as usual, but Minseok was very easily sated with the knowledge that Baekhyun would be coming over to his house again that night. He really felt like he was over the clouds. How on earth had Byun Baekhyun managed to get such firm control over Minseok's entire life? ~*~       Time seemed to fly by while Minseok was so happy. Kyungsoo usually arranged Baekhyun's schedule in such a way that he could come and see Minseok every couple of days. They were still really careful about it since Baekhyun was still pretty high on the radar after his recent scandals. It was nice not to be denied seeing each other though. Kyungsoo was pretty understanding about the whole situation.        Baekhyun would do any number of things when he came over to Minseok's house after finishing his work. Sometimes they would just curl up in bed together and talk. Other times they would watch movies or cook dinner together. On rare occasion, Baekhyun would reserve part of a restaurant and they would go out while he still could. Baekhyun's favorite thing to do was come over to Minseok's house and play video games though.        Sometimes they would play something on a console, either fighting against each other or working together depending on the game. Other times, Minseok would watch Baekhyun struggle on his computer, trying his hardest to get better at the rpg that he used to conquer in. It was frustrating for Baekhyun to always lose, but Minseok found it rather endearing, especially when Baekhyun would puff his cheeks out and make some silly excuse or tell Minseok some cheesy, motivational quote. It really felt like they were back in high school again with how much time they were able to spend together.        A month went by quickly and Baekhyun had a small, but very present baby bump on his stomach. He'd mourned the loss of his abs initially, but Minseok had sworn to him that he loved him with or without them, and if he really wanted, they could work out together once the baby was born to get them back. Not all of his musculature had faded just yet, but Baekhyun knew by the end, he would be very round.        Baekhyun had just finished a photo shoot one evening and was once more over at Minseok's place, playing on his computer. The other was watching him from the bed, eyebrows raised every time Baekhyun did something risky. There was probably a reason why he lost so much. He was impatient and stubborn, but at least it provided something entertaining to watch. After dying once again, Baekhyun groaned, leaning back in the chair in frustration. Minseok caught a glimpse of his belly and couldn't help but smile. Even after a month, it still felt unreal that they were really going to have the baby.       “How the hell did we used to play this stupid game?” Baekhyun whined.       “Not like an idiot,” Minseok deadpanned. He received a pout in response. “You'll get the hang of it, you just need to stop rushing headfirst into enemy territory.”        Baekhyun whined and started his game from his last save point once more. Minseok smiled gently, then noticed a folder that Baekhyun had brought over and placed on his desk. He reached for it and picked it up, giving Baekhyun a curious look.       “What's this?” He asked.       “Ah! That's from my photo shoot!” Baekhyun explained happily, pausing the game so he could face Minseok.       “Really? Isn't that confidential stuff til the official release? Are you supposed to just bring it home with you?”       “These are some of the no good shots, so they won't ever be used. Usually, they're just deleted, but there were some that I really wanted to keep, so I asked for some favors and got them printed out.”       “Wow, that's quite the exception. Why would you want a no good shot anyways? Aren't those usually the awkward or blurry ones?”       “Look at it and you'll see,” Baekhyun singsonged.        Minseok raised his eyebrows and opened the folder. There were a few photos inside, which Minseok gently pulled out. His jaw dropped when he looked at them. They were absolutely beautiful shots. One was over the shoulder, angled down so you could see some of Baekhyun's cheek and side profile. As Minseok's eyes traveled down the picture, he noticed that Baekhyun's shirt hadn't fallen right on his body and there was a very distinct bump on his stomach. The next picture he was laying on his side, looking at the camera with an intense, but beautiful stare. Again, his shirt material had gotten pulled tight, revealing his stomach. The last one was him seated in a chair, one leg bent with his foot on the seat and the other leg sprawled before him. His head was tilted back in this shot, revealing his jaw and neck. In this picture, it was easiest to see the bump on his stomach.       “They aren't really bad poses, but we can't use them because of this little one,” Baekhyun sighed, rubbing his stomach. “I really liked them though, so I thought they might make good maternity pictures...It's not like I'll get to do anything like that once I get much rounder than this.”       “They're beautiful,” Minseok breathed. “The perk of being a celebrity is great photos I guess. Though I guess the subject matter's pretty good too~” Baekhyun rolled his eyes. “The photographer didn't make any comments about your stomach?”       “Nah. Right now it still looks like I just said fuck it to dieting and we're just trying to cover it up. Plenty of photographers have to do that.”       “That's good, I guess...”       “Anyways, I wanted you to have them,” Baekhyun stated shyly. “If you want them, that is...”       “Of course I do!” Minseok exclaimed. “Ah, I'll have to shop for frames...”       “Really?” Baekhyun asked incredulously.       “Well yeah...These pictures are beautiful and I want to keep them safe.”       “What if people come over and see them?”      “The only person who would come over is you, and if anyone else did, I'd obviously put them somewhere they couldn't be seen.”       “So you really like them?” Baekhyun asked hopefully. Minseok nodded.       “I love them.”        Baekhyun got up from the computer and walked over to the other. Minseok naturally set the photos and the envelope back on the desk to make room for Baekhyun as the latter straddled his thighs. Minseok wrapped his arms around him, massaging his lower back gently. Baekhyun sighed contentedly, draping his arms around Minseok's neck and resting his head on his shoulder.       “Does you back hurt?” Minseok asked softly. Baekhyun shook his head.       “Not too bad.”       “Have you been sleeping alright? You look tired.”       “I never sleep well,” Baekhyun sighed. “But being pregnant doesn't help. It's so hard to find a comfortable position...And it's only going to get worse, right? Eventually the back pain will come.”       “We could get you one of those body pillows,” Minseok suggested. Baekhyun groaned.       “Pregnancy is hard...”       “I'm sorry,” Minseok whispered, pressing soft kisses down Baekhyun's neck and sliding his hands underneath his shirt, running his fingers along the musculature of his back. “I'll be sure to take good care of you the entire time.”       “Will you still hold me like this when I'm 8 months pregnant?” Baekhyun asked, a hint of worry in his voice.       “Of course. If you want to be held, I'll do it any time. It will never matter to me how round you get, Baekhyun. Pregnant or not.”        Baekhyun hummed, sounding somewhat impressed but also like he was teasing Minseok. The latter smirked and pressed his fingers a littler harder into Baekhyun's back, gently working out some of the tightness. Despite denying that his back hurt, Minseok had found that Baekhyun's back and shoulders were always tense. Baekhyun let out a soft mewl and Minseok continued placing kisses on his neck, pressing them against Baekhyun's Adam's apple as he leaned his head back.        Minseok grabbed Baekhyun's thighs and lifted him up long enough to lie him on his back. He fitted himself in between Baekhyun's thighs and leaned over him, connecting their lips this time. Baekhyun closed his eyes and sighed, letting himself be led by the other. Minseok ran his hands along Baekhyun's thighs, squeezing here and there, then tickled his sides, causing the man underneath him to wriggle and yelp. Minseok laughed and pressed their lips together again just as Baekhyun was about to voice his complaints. When their lips broke apart, Baekhyun smiled sheepishly.       “I love you so much,” he breathed, running his fingers through Minseok's hair and along his cheek.       “I love you too,” Minseok responded, placing another kiss on his jaw. One thing he would never tire of was kissing Baekhyun.        Eventually, the two curled up in bed together, getting ready to sleep, Baekhyun's game long forgotten for the night. Minseok had made it a habit of laying on his side, caressing the other's stomach before he fell asleep. Baekhyun's body was starting to change at a faster rate now, and there were times when the slow stretch of his stomach was actually somewhat painful. Minseok wished he could provide more help to the boy, but this never failed to calm Baekhyun down.       “Next month I'm going to get an ultrasound and find out the gender.”       “Really? You had one recently, didn't you?”      “Yeah, that was just to make sure the baby was healthy and confirm the due date...”       “March 18th, right?”       “Yep. I got pregnant back in mid-June.”       “The baby's gonna come near my birthday then, huh...” Minseok muttered in thought.       “The doctor said they rarely come on the exact due date, so I guess we'll have to see. Will you come with me to the next ultrasound?”       “I wouldn't miss it. I didn't even want to miss the first one, but I had work. We're gonna find out what we can call you~” He singsonged, poking Baekhyun's stomach playfully.       “We're gonna have to think of a name...”       “You write music, shouldn't making up titles and names come easily to you?”       “You overestimate me,” Baekhyun laughed.       “We'll figure it out~”        Baekhyun smiled and shifted gently onto his side, pressing his forehead into the crook of Minseok's neck. This was by far his favorite position to sleep in. Minseok would always wrap his arms around him and hold him close. It was the only time Baekhyun really felt safe and secure.        Truthfully, he was still far from confident on many things, raising a child and keeping up with his career just a couple off the list. When he was with Minseok though, he could let his anxieties go and be himself. It was the first time he'd ever felt this way in his life. Despite the hard road ahead and the constant nerves and fear, Baekhyun was genuinely happy. He hadn't voiced this to Minseok yet, but he was also starting to get really excited for the baby. It was amazing just how much Minseok had influenced him. He was even starting to love the idea of being a parent with him. ~*~       A few weeks passed and soon enough, Baekhyun's ultrasound date was upon them. He'd spent the night at Minseok's house the day before. Kyungsoo wouldn't be taking him this time because he didn't want to attract too much attention bringing him in the van, so he would drive there with Minseok instead. He'd brought a rather elaborate amount of clothes and accessories to hide his face with for the occasion.        His appointment was in the afternoon, so they spent a rather lazy morning together, having a late breakfast then lounging about. The weather was much cooler now as they neared mid-October, so Baekhyun very easily got away with wearing loose fitting sweaters to hide his baby bump. Even over the past few weeks, he seemed to have gotten bigger. It was amazing how fast the baby seemed to grow now that he was in the second trimester.        Baekhyun left his hair down and looking rather messy, but Minseok thought it still looked great on him. After that, he put on a black mask, covering all of his face except his eyes. He was wearing a loose black sweater, but his stomach still popped out in it. He definitely didn't look like the celebrity Byun Baekhyun, but he was still nervous nonetheless. Going into public these days always made him feel that way, and that made Minseok a little sad. It would only get harder as time went on.        Baekhyun held out his hand for Minseok and the two left his apartment and got into his car, heading for the hospital. They ended up getting there fairly early, so Baekhyun checked in and they sat in the waiting room. He leaned on Minseok's shoulder with a sigh and the latter intertwined their fingers again.       “You ok?” Minseok asked. Baekhyun nodded.       “Just tired. I didn't sleep well last night. It didn't help that I was too excited for today.”       “We've got like 15 or 20 minutes. You want to sleep for a bit?”       “Do you mind?”       “Not at all.”        Baekhyun nodded and Minseok leaned forward just enough to see his eyelashes flutter shut. Minseok smiled and placed a kiss on Baekhyun's head before leaning back in his seat. There weren't many people there, so Baekhyun must have relaxed a little bit. Otherwise, he never would have even considered falling asleep on Minseok. He would have been keeping watch, making sure no one recognized him.        Finally, a nurse called them back and Minseok gently shook Baekhyun. He must have been really tired because he'd actually managed to fall asleep in those 15 minutes. The nurse proceeded to do a regular checkup on him before taking them to the room with the ultrasound equipment. At that point, Baekhyun was asked to lay down on an examination bed while he and the room were prepped for ultrasounds. The nurse then left them alone in the room to go get the doctor.       “Are you nervous?” Minseok asked, noting how Baekhyun was clinging to his hand with an iron grip.       “A little...What if there's something wrong with the baby? What if they end up like me...?”       “Baekhyun, if they do, then it won't matter. We'll treat them just the same way. There's nothing wrong with you in the first place.”       “I just don't want them to be confused or mistreated.”       “They won't be, I promise. You and I will protect them, no matter what, ok? Let's not borrow trouble for now and just see what the ultrasound shows.”       “Yeah...This will be your first time seeing an ultrasound, huh?” Baekhyun commented, trying to find something lighter to talk about.       “That's right.”      “You'll get to hear the heartbeat...”        Minseok's eyes widened at this. He hadn't even thought about that. The baby was alive so obviously it would have a heartbeat, but the idea was so mystical to Minseok. Other than feeling Baekhyun's stomach and watching it grow, he'd had no other way of connecting with the baby. Now, not only was he going to get to see the baby and learn the gender, he was going to get to hear the heartbeat too. The thought alone was a little overwhelming.       “It's so amazing, Minseok...It makes everything feel real.”       “Are you happy, Baekhyun?”       “I am...Thank you so much for bearing with me and helping me get this far. I guess this is probably the best time to tell you this, but I'm looking forward to being a parent more and more as time goes on.”       “Really?” Minseok asked.        His chest felt like it was going to burst hearing this. He'd been so worried up until now about Baekhyun pushing himself and still not wanting to go through with this, but bearing it for his sake. This was the first time Baekhyun was actually expressing any inclination towards wanting to be a parent. Today really was going to be a life changing day.       “Maybe it's maternal instincts, but all I can think about finally meeting the baby, you know?”       “You're gonna have to wait a little longer for that,” Minseok laughed.       “I know,” Baekhyun pouted. “But today will give us a lot more to think about, so I'm excited.”        At that point, the doctor entered the room. Minseok bowed to him slightly, since Baekhyun was still holding his hand and preventing him from really getting up or going anywhere. The doctor returned his greeting and walked over to the counter, setting down some files, putting on gloves, and preparing the gel and the probe.       “How have you been, Baekhyun?” He asked.       “Pretty well. Dr. Lee, this is my boyfriend, Minseok.”       “It's a pleasure to finally meet you.”       “You too,” Minseok responded.       “So he's the lucky father, eh? Today's a pretty big day. If all goes well, we'll learn the gender.”       “If all goes well?” Baekhyun asked nervously.       “Sometimes babies are a little elusive and don't like to be seen,” the doctor explained, chuckling a bit. “That's all. Shall we get started?”        Baekhyun nodded and looked up at Minseok, both in fear and excitement. The doctor lifted Baekhyun's sweater and squirted some gel onto his stomach. Baekhyun let out a shaky breath, shifting his eyes from Minseok over to the screen as the doctor lightly placed the probe on his stomach. It took a while before he could make anything out on the screen, but eventually, he caught sight of a small foot.       “Ah, there we go,” the doctor chuckled. “There's something you'll recognize.”       “A foot!” Minseok whispered excitedly. He was acting surprisingly giddy compared to his normal demeanor, but he was more excited to see his own baby than he'd been for anything else in his life.       “Let's see what else we can see.” The man shifted the probe slightly. “Here's the head, and there's a hand.”        Baekhyun squeezed Minseok's hand excitedly. He'd seen an ultrasound the last time he was here with the doctor, but the baby was much further along now, so it was still new and invigorating. The doctor moved the probe again and Minseok heard a strange, soft thumping noise. His eyes widened as Baekhyun's grip got even tighter and he realized what it was.       “Still got a good, strong heartbeat,” the doctor stated.        Minseok's jaw dropped at the sound. This was all suddenly too much to take in and he was quickly feeling overwhelmed. The doctor didn't seem to care that Minseok was already struggling. Instead, the man moved the probe again, smiling and glancing between the two of them.       “Would you like to know the gender?”       “Yes!” Baekhyun gasped immediately. The man laughed and pointed at the screen.       “Look at that right there. You two are the proud parents of a baby boy.”       “A boy...” Minseok repeated, eyes so wide they looked like they might fall out. Baekhyun looked like he was about to cry.       “Is he...Is he ok? He's healthy and developing well?”       “He looks beautiful, Baekhyun,” the doctor soothed. “He's a very healthy baby boy.”       “Thank God...”       “You were worried, weren't you?” Dr. Lee asked, patting Baekhyun's shoulder.       “I was so scared something would be wrong...” Baekhyun whispered. “He's really healthy?”       “Yes. Can't you see him? He's perfect.”        Baekhyun stared at the monitor and felt his eyes watering. Suddenly, Minseok leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. They were going to have a baby boy, who was healthily growing inside Baekhyun. He didn't need to worry or panic anymore. Baekhyun was so unbelievably happy.        The doctor showed them a few more angles and printed out the pictures for them to take home. Next, he cleaned up Baekhyun's stomach and finished the checkup. Baekhyun had taken his mask off in order to speak easier, but now that they were finishing up, he put it on once more, his entire face disappearing except for his eyes. They said their goodbyes to the doctor and Minseok held out his hand for Baekhyun to take. After that, they left the hospital hand in hand, heading back to Minseok's place for a peaceful lunch minus Baekhyun's mask.        When they got back to his place, Minseok immediately went to the kitchen, cooking something simple and quick for the both of them. It took a little while because Minseok was still somewhat dazed from everything he'd just witnessed. Baekhyun sat at the table, resting his cheeks on his hands and staring down at the ultrasound pictures. As Minseok brought food to the table, he couldn't help but giggle to himself when he noticed Baekhyun kicking his legs back and forth like an excited kid. He really was getting into this. Minseok had never been happier in his whole life.       “You might want to put the pictures away while you eat so you don't get them dirty,” Minseok suggested, setting Baekhyun's food down on the table.       “Ah, thanks. I'll put them away, just one more look.”        Minseok set his own food down on the table and took a seat next to Baekhyun, smirking as the boy looked at each picture individually before putting them back in the folder. He really was adorable, and he had Minseok completely charmed. Finally, Baekhyun let out a happy sigh and took a bite of his food. Minseok glanced at his fairly prominent baby bump, which was somewhat exaggerated now that he was sitting.       “You're really starting to show,” he stated, reaching over to rub Baekhyun's stomach. “Are you going to be ok to work for much longer?”       “After this month, I'm switching to the radio show. Kyungsoo's been working hard to set it up, making sure the staff are trustworthy enough to understand the situation and keep it under wraps.”       “I see...”       “But for the rest of this month, I'm just doing a few interviews and a couple simple performances. Sometimes we have to pad my outfits a bit to hide the baby, but the stylist has been really good about it. Kyungsoo and I told her about what was going on as well, so she's definitely a stylist to keep in the future.”       “That's pretty awesome. So you'll have a radio show, huh? During the day or night?”       “In the evening.”       “So I can listen after I get off work then. That will be nice~”       “You'll listen to me every night?” Baekhyun asked happily.       “Of course, I wouldn't miss it. What do you think you'll talk about?”       “I'm still trying to decide. For part of it, I'm going to be receiving calls as a way to get closer to my fans.”       “What if they say something freaky? I know you've got weird fans...”       “Then they'd embarrass themselves on a live broadcast and I'll find some way to get through it.”       “So professional~”        Baekhyun shrugged, giving Minseok a cocky glance. He seemed really confident about the radio show though, which made Minseok feel better. If it were him, he wouldn't be able to just improvise every night and talk to random people. Baekhyun had always been a 'people person' though. This was in his natural element.       “Changing topics a bit,” Baekhyun started. “What are we going to do about this little one?” He asked, rubbing his belly. “He's gonna need a name and plenty of things. Clothes, bottles, diapers, toys...A car seat or a carrier, maybe a stroller...There's a lot to think about.”       “That's true. Let's take it slow on the name. He won't be born too soon, so I really want to put time into deciding. As for buying all that stuff, I'll start reading up on good brands. I have a friend at work who's pregnant too, so she'd wanted to do some shopping together.”       “She knows about us?”       “Not you. She knows I got someone pregnant and that we're keeping the baby. You didn't want anyone knowing about your pregnancy, so I wasn't going to tell her it was you, just that my lover was pregnant.”      “Thanks...I appreciate that. Is she a good friend of yours?”       “Probably the best one I got after you. I've relied on her a lot recently.”       “Sounds like you'll be relying on her more because I don't think I can go out and shop for baby items in peace.”       “We could probably order a lot of it online, that way you could contribute too.”       “That's a good idea.”        They proceeded to start making a list of different things they would need for the baby so Minseok could research them later. After that, Baekhyun took out the ultrasound pictures once more, giggling to himself every now and then. He was completely love struck, but Minseok was starting to think this was his new favorite image of Baekhyun.       Baekhyun spent the night as always, and they curled up in bed relatively early. Baekhyun had an early morning the following day and Minseok was an early riser in general with his job. The day had taken so much out of them, especially Baekhyun with all his worrying, so sleep came easy for them. The happiness they were both feeling was almost suffocating, but they wouldn't trade it for the world. They would soon come to realize that it wasn't going to last very long either. There was trouble brewing just over the horizon, waiting for Baekhyun.