Chapter 5 (1/1)

Baekhyun had just finished his last performance for one of the bigger music channels. Two weeks had passed since his ultrasound, and he was starting to look too round for even thick layers of clothing to hide. It was finally going to be time for him to move on to the radio show once he finished all his final performances, and he'd made a special announcement that night about it. He'd been in a surprisingly perky mood, all things considered. It was probably because he would no longer have to worry about someone on a show touching his stomach or figuring out that he had a very small melon-sized bump hiding under his clothes. All he would have to do was sit in a chair and talk into a mic. He could do that very easily.        He was in his changing room, taking off a few layers of clothes for comfort's sake. His makeup artist had already cleaned his face, so he was taking his time alone in the room. It was pretty exhausting for him to stand for relatively long periods of time, so he was enjoying just sitting and resting. When he received a sudden knock on his door, he forced himself to get up with a groan. It was probably Kyungsoo coming to check on him.        He walked over and opened the door, mid-sentence about how tired he was, when his eyes connected with not the face of Kyungsoo, but instead that of Song Haneul. Baekhyun's eyes widened and he immediately tried to shut the door, but the other man was much larger and stronger than him, so he jammed his foot in the doorway, stopping the door. After that, he grabbed it and shoved it open, knocking Baekhyun backwards and almost off-balance.        Haneul walked the rest of the way in, shutting the door behind him. He took a menacing step towards Baekhyun and the latter backed away, quickly running out of space in the small room. Haneul grabbed his wrist and dragged Baekhyun towards him, spinning him around and slamming him against the wall next to the door. Baekhyun yelped and grabbed his back in pain with his free hand. Haneul still had an iron grip on his wrist.       “What do you want!?” Baekhyun hissed, his voice raised from both fear and pain. That had really hurt.       “It's been a while since we've talked. Why so cold?”       “Maybe because you just threw me against the wall! Get out! I have nothing to say to you!”       “I have plenty to say to you though,” Haneul bellowed. “Think you can just tarnish my image with your little escapades with that actor? You didn't even take responsibility for cheating on me.”       “We were in a purely sexual relationship! I hardly cheated on you!”       “And where's that easy little ass of yours been recently? How many actors have you fucked? What about singers? There's that 'mystery man' too. You think I'm going to believe he's just your childhood friend?”       “That's none of your business! We're through, Haneul. Get. Out!”       “And what about this?”        Haneul grabbed a large handful of Baekhyun's shirt and pulled it roughly to the side, tightening the fabric around his stomach. Baekhyun quickly covered himself with his free hand, moving it lower in an attempt pry Haneul's hand off his shirt. Unfortunately, the other man had no intention of letting go.       “You think I didn't notice when you put on weight? At first I thought you were finally spiraling over a diet, but turns out you've got a baby in there instead.”        Baekhyun's heart sunk. Haneul had figured it out. What was he going to do now? Was he going to say something? Baekhyun wasn't sure he'd be able to lie his way out of this anymore.       “Let go!” Baekhyun shouted, though he sounded more desperate than intimidating.       “So which one's the father? That actor you fucked? Or perhaps the 'mystery man?' Could it be mine?”       “Fuck off! There's no way in hell it's your baby! You know how my body is. You couldn't be the father, you piece of shit!” Baekhyun realized then that he'd just admitted he had a baby and given Haneul just what he'd wanted to hear.       “Watch what you say, you little slut!” Haneul threatened, leaning in closer. “You've got a lot to lose, you know? Your career, your popularity...The baby. Don't make me angry.”       “I'll scream,” Baekhyun said in a surprisingly level voice. “Leave me alone. I never want to see you again.”       “You talk big. You're a chronic liar though, aren't you? How can I believe anything you say?”        He let go of Baekhyun's shirt only to press the palm of his hand against Baekhyun's stomach, rubbing it slightly. Baekhyun felt a mixture of disgust, panic, and nausea. This felt wrong and gross. He didn't want this at all.       “Kyungsoo!” Baekhyun shouted, surprising Haneul enough for him to drop his hand. Within seconds, his manager entered the room.       “Baekhyun, what's wron-?” As soon as Kyungsoo's eyes met Haneul's, he no longer needed an answer to that question. “Get out!” He ordered, storming over and shoving Haneul away.        Kyungsoo was much smaller, but he was still plenty strong and intimidating. Baekhyun quickly cowered behind him, clinging to his shirt nervously. Kyungsoo had instinctively put himself in between the two, shielding Baekhyun with his arms.       “Awfully daring of you to manhandle another celebrity.”       “Like you didn't manhandle mine,” Kyungsoo growled. “Leave before I get your manager and a lawsuit involved.” Haneul clicked his tongue, but headed for the door nonetheless. Before he left, he spewed one more nasty insult at them.       “Better keep a tight leash on your little slut. Before you know it, he'll be coming home with 3 boyfriends for you to cover up.”       “Bastard,” Kyungsoo grumbled through gritted teeth, but before he could go after Haneul, Baekhyun grabbed his hand.       “Let it go, please...”       “What did he do to you?” His manager asked, immediately turning around and looking Baekhyun up and down for signs of injury.       “Can I sit down?”        Kyungsoo nodded and held Baekhyun's arm while they walked back over to his chair. Baekhyun's back was still a little sore, so he very tenderly lowered his body down. Kyungsoo must have noticed, because his hand very gently began to rub Baekhyun's back, searching for signs of a growing bump or bruise.       “Did he hit you?” He asked, deadly serious. Baekhyun could hear the anger in his voice, and it scared him even though it wasn't directed at him.       “N-No...Just pushed me against the wall. My back doesn't hurt too badly anymore. I think I'm ok.”       “Should we take you to the hospital?”       “Kyungsoo, I'll probably have a bruise and that's it.”       “I just don't want something bad to happen to you or the baby.”       “I know,” Baekhyun whispered.        It was slowly started to register that Haneul had threatened both him and the baby. Baekhyun didn't even understand why. He'd been so silent up until then, why would he get scary and possessive now? If he'd wanted revenge, wouldn't he have already taken it? Or was he waiting for the perfect moment to bring Baekhyun down. He'd learned his ultimate weakness just now, so there was no telling what Haneul would do with it. Baekhyun didn't even want to think about that. He just wanted to go home.       “What did he say to you?” Kyungsoo asked, kneeling down in front of him and placing his hands on top of Baekhyun's. “He obviously came here to antagonize you.”       “Just a lot of nasty things...He called me a slut and asked me how many men I'd fucked...He asked about Minseok too, though he didn't know him as more than the 'mystery man.' He seemed really possessive almost, like we were still dating and I'd been betraying him all this time...”       “Are you ok?” Kyungsoo asked gently, reaching up and placing a hand on Baekhyun's cheek now. The latter nodded.       “I'll be fine. I've been called those names before. I'll get over it.”       “You aren't a slut, do you understand?” Kyungsoo waited for Baekhyun to nod. “You've got a boyfriend you're devoted to who loves you too. You've got a baby on the way and you're doing everything you can to make sure he's brought into the world safely and with lots of love. You're a good person, Baekhyun, and I'll be damned if that bastard convinces you that you aren't. You hear me?”      “Y-Yeah...Thank you, Kyungsoo.”        It was rare for Kyungsoo to say something like that to Baekhyun, but his manager never failed to say exactly what he needed to hear. As much as Baekhyun hated Haneul, his insults had dug into to some old wounds that hadn't really ever healed. The singer didn't even notice when tears were streaking down his cheeks until Kyungsoo had gotten a tissue and started dabbing them up.       “Let's get you home. Should I take you to Minseok?”       “Yes please...”        Kyungsoo handed Baekhyun a few more tissues to wipe his eyes and helped him out of the chair when he was ready. After that, he kept his arm around his waist as they headed to the van. Normally, Baekhyun would have squirmed out of his hold, but he really needed Kyungsoo to be at his side. He was scared that Haneul would come back if Kyungsoo let go.        The drive to Minseok's house was silent. Baekhyun knew he should have told Kyungsoo about his slip up with Haneul, but he was so emotionally drained and afraid of what Kyungsoo would do or say. He just wanted to cry, sleep, and wrap his arms around Minseok. He could only hope that he wouldn't wake up to another horrible article about him the following day. He was starting to get used to it at this point.        When they got to Minseok's apartment, Kyungsoo got out of the car with Baekhyun and walked him up the steps. His manager apparently wanted to tell Minseok what had happened because he didn't trust Baekhyun to do it himself. Given Baekhyun hadn't even told Kyungsoo everything that happened, he was probably right.        Minseok answered the door, eyes going wide when he saw Kyungsoo as well. The two had briefly met a few times and Kyungsoo seemed like a good guy, but Minseok was still somewhat reserved and shy around him. He glanced between the two of them nervously. Finally, Kyungsoo gently pushed Baekhyun forward, and the latter almost instantly planted his face on Minseok's shoulder.       “Did something happen?” Minseok asked nervously, wrapping his arms around Baekhyun's waist.       “An ex-boyfriend of his harassed him at work today. Baekhyun hit his back on the wall but he insists he's alright. I just wanted to let you know.”       “Thank you for letting me know...I'll take care of him.”       “I'll get going then,” Kyungsoo said quietly, bowing. Baekhyun lifted his head and turned to face him.       “Thank you, Kyungsoo...For everything.”        His manager nodded, smiling softly at him. It was the first time Minseok had seen a gentle expression on Kyungsoo's face, though he'd only met him a handful of times. The man must have really cared for Baekhyun. He was doing an awful lot to make sure he was safe, healthy, and happy.        When Kyungsoo had left, Minseok shut the door, Baekhyun still clinging to him. They headed back to Minseok's room, struggling a bit because it was very hard to walk down a hallway with a pregnant man clinging to him, but they managed to make it to his room without knocking anything over. Minseok walked Baekhyun over to the bed and forced him to sit down. After, he slid on the bed behind him and lifted Baekhyun's shirt up, surveying his back. Baekhyun's eyes widened and he tried to turn around, but Minseok forced him to stay still.       “I'm just checking your back, ok? Relax.”        Baekhyun flushed, looking down. Minseok hadn't really looked at his body without clothes on recently, so Baekhyun had gotten a little shy about it. This was just his back though, so why was he so flustered? Minseok pressed his fingers along his skin and Baekhyun couldn't help but fidget as it tickled. Finally, Minseok let out a sigh.       “It doesn't look like there are any bruises or cuts...”      “I'm fine. I told Kyungsoo that.”       “No, you're not fine,” Minseok answered, voice raising slightly. “You were harassed at work and I can tell you cried because your eyes are red.”       “Minseok...”      “Was it that Haneul guy? The one who was getting forceful with you before?” Baekhyun nodded. “Can't you and Kyungsoo get a restraining order or something?”       “Maybe, if he harasses me enough...”      “You have that other contract against him, right? The one you force all your boyfriends to sign. He's obligated by law to keep quiet about you at least, so that protects you a little bit...”        Baekhyun's eyes widened as he remembered the contract. Haneul had signed it, so any slander of Baekhyun's name or character would bring him crashing down as well. Haneul wouldn't be so naive to tell the world about Baekhyun's pregnancy because it would mean that he violated the contract. Haneul would have to find a way to void it first, otherwise they would both go down in flames. As long as he still had that contract, Baekhyun was safe.        He let out a relieved sigh and leaned back against Minseok. Two arms wrapped around his waist, hands planting themselves gently on Baekhyun's stomach. This felt right. Not Haneul's gross hands. Minseok meant safety and comfort. He was the person Baekhyun wanted to spend the rest of his days with, though he hadn't quite expressed that level of devotion to Minseok himself. He wanted to get through the pregnancy before saying something like that.        Baekhyun felt a sudden jolt on his stomach and glanced down. Minseok must have felt it too, because his chin was on Baekhyun's shoulder as he stared down at the small, moving bulge on Baekhyun's stomach. Minseok timidly placed his hand over it, feeling something jut out against his palm every now and then.       “The baby's kicking...” Baekhyun finally supplied. Minseok nodded.       “He's upset about what happened too,” he whispered, placing a kiss on Baekhyun's neck.       “I don't see how kicking me is going to help,” Baekhyun pouted.       “Is this the first time?”       “He's moved around a little bit before,” Baekhyun sighed. “But this is the first time he's decided he has to kick everything he can find,” he groaned. Minseok laughed and scooted off the bed.       “Let's get you lying in bed and watching some TV while he has his stomping tournament.”       “You're enjoying this, aren't you?” Baekhyun grumbled.       “Just a little~”        Minseok got off the bed and turned the TV on. One of Baekhyun's favorite dramas was on, so they quickly curled up together on the bed and watched it. When it was over, Minseok made them a somewhat late dinner, and they returned to bed afterwards. It was a little odd for Baekhyun how most of the time when he went to Minseok's house, all they did was lay in bed and talk. He was so used to being constantly on the go, it was strange to come home and relax.        This night was no different. It took a while before the baby decided to settle down again, but once he had, Baekhyun found himself laying in bed, resting on Minseok's shoulder. Carrying a baby around and trying to work always left Baekhyun exhausted by the end of the day, but sleep was sometimes hard to come by, either due to stress or general discomfort. Baekhyun always slept better with Minseok, so he usually took advantage of those nights. He was already starting to doze off when Minseok finally brought up what had happened earlier.       “What did Haneul do to you today?”       “Minseok...”      “I'll remain calm, I just want to know. I'm really not ok with being kept in the dark. Not about this.”      “He got angry at me for cheating on him, even though all we were doing was having sex every once in a while. He called me a slut plenty of times and kept asking about you, though he obviously didn't know your name because we kept it vague. He didn't think you were my childhood friend though. He wasn't wrong...”       “I'm sorry you had to go through that,” Minseok mumbled, snuggling closer and laying his arm across Baekhyun's stomach.       “It was scary more than anything. I didn't think he still had that bad of a grudge against me, you know? I know we didn't part on good terms, but getting in my face and being malicious seemed a little low for him.”       “He was starting to get pretty nasty when you two were seeing each other though. I'm not that surprised he did this. I don't want it to happen again though. Is there anything you and Kyungsoo can do?”       “I'll talk to him about it. If nothing else, he can stay by my side at all times until I finish my music performances. When I go to the studio for the radio show, Haneul won't be there.”       “Alright...That's good to know.”       “I'm really tired. Can I go to sleep?”       “Of course,” Minseok hummed, noting Baekhyun looked seconds from falling asleep regardless of what the other answered.        Baekhyun sighed and Minseok adjusted himself slightly so they were pressed together. Baekhyun was fast asleep in a matter of minutes, but Minseok stayed up a little while longer, watching over him and silently worrying about what had happened. The fact that Baekhyun had been not only verbally assaulted, but also pushed around by that man really didn't sit well with him. He could only hope that Kyungsoo would be able to keep Baekhyun safe and out of trouble long enough to get him onto the radio show. He really hoped Song Haneul would remain a problem of the past as well. ~*~       Unfortunately, Baekhyun's work days weren't peaceful following the incident. Haneul had kept quiet about him, but he hadn't stopped antagonizing him. Haneul had just released a new album, so he was on every single music show that Baekhyun was on. Kyungsoo was aware of this though, so he made sure to stay by Baekhyun's side at all times. Still, it didn't keep the man from finding a way to get under Baekhyun's skin.        Sometimes it would be a smirk or a glare while they were waiting backstage. Other times, he would run into Baekhyun in the hallway backstage while he was on his way to his dressing room where Kyungsoo was. Those times were always the most intimidating because he never knew if Haneul was going to stop him or not. Sometimes he would fake him out, stepping forward quickly like he was going to rush Baekhyun, causing him to flinch. Haneul usually left after laughing or smirking at him, but Baekhyun was left shaking and close to tears. He couldn't wait to be done with the music shows.        He tried his best not to let it show to either Minseok or Kyungsoo. His manager was already doing everything he could to make sure things didn't go any further, so a few uncomfortable encounters in the hallway could be stomached. Minseok on the other hand, was dealing with enough of Baekhyun's other problems, so he didn't want to thrust any more on him. He was strong enough to handle a nasty ex on his own. At least he thought he was.        Haneul finally stopped him in the hallway in between performances one night. Baekhyun was done already, but Haneul had yet to appear. Baekhyun had expected him to just sneer and walk by since he had limited time before standby, but the man grabbed his wrist, stopping him.       “What do you want?” Baekhyun sighed. They were in a public area this time, so even though it was just the two of them, Haneul wouldn't do anything too forceful with him.       “You're acting awfully cocky lately. It's almost like you've forgotten I know about your secret.”       “It seems like you've forgotten that you signed a contract,” Baekhyun said back, venom in his voice. “I will fight you and take you to court, Haneul. I don't know why you think you've got the upper hand. You drag me down, I'll take you with me.”       “We'll see about that, won't we? Just wait til I make my move, Byun Baekhyun.”        The man let go of his wrist and looked at him in disgust before walking away. Baekhyun sighed and leaned against the wall. So he was planning to antagonize Baekhyun, but how? The contract would hurt him pretty badly, and while Baekhyun really didn't want to take the blow that would come to him, he would be in a much better position than Haneul would be. What on earth was he thinking of doing?        Baekhyun was still perplexed about it even after the show when Kyungsoo was driving him to Minseok's house. Baekhyun was starting to spend more time there than he was in his own home. It was the only place he really felt at ease, so he asked to come over every opportunity he got. Minseok had told him his door was always open, and Baekhyun wasn't going to deny that invitation.        When he got there that evening, he almost immediately collapsed in Minseok's arms. His back was aching from standing for a large part of the music show and his legs were stiff. Minseok pulled him back to his bedroom, since Baekhyun was being a little too dramatic to walk there on his own, and he'd instantly gotten his heating pad ready and placed it on his back. After that, Minseok worked at massaging out some of the knots in Baekhyun's shoulders. He even gave his calves small massages as well. Baekhyun really was spoiled by him.        By the time Baekhyun finally managed to relax and get his worries about Haneul off his mind, he was curled up in bed with Minseok once more. The latter was reading a book beside him, letting Baekhyun use his chest as a pillow. Baekhyun sighed and wrapped his arm around Minseok, squeezing him tightly. The other looked down from his book and ran his fingers through Baekhyun's hair.       “Is everything ok?” He asked gently. “You seem really uptight tonight...”       “Just a stressful day at work,” Baekhyun mumbled.       “Do you want to talk about it? Is there anything I can do?”       “Not really. It's the same old stress...But there was one thing I was wondering about that you could maybe do...”       “What's that?” Minseok asked, setting the book on his legs and giving Baekhyun his undivided attention. Baekhyun flushed and looked down.       “Would you...be willing to touch me again?”       “Hm?”       “I don't think I'm up for full-on sex, but I...I really miss you touching me...Is that no good while I'm pregnant?”        Minseok sighed and placed his book on the bedside table. He slid out from underneath Baekhyun and hovered over the him instead. His hand then slid down his stomach, playing with the band of Baekhyun's pants. A smirk grew on his face and he placed a soft kiss on Baekhyun's lips.       “You act like I don't want to touch you. I'm more than happy to oblige with that request.”        Minseok tugged at Baekhyun's waistband, sliding his pants down easily. Baekhyun had started wearing pants with elastic waistbands now that his stomach was growing rapidly, so Minseok didn't have to fiddle with any buttons or zippers. Once Baekhyun's pants were down to his thighs, his underwear soon followed. Minseok reached down and wrapped his hand around Baekhyun's length, giving it a gentle, teasing pump. The other let out a quiet gasp and gripped at his shoulders.        Minseok lowered himself down, kissing Baekhyun languidly, sometimes darting his tongue playfully into his mouth. Soft mewls could be heard from Baekhyun as Minseok continued to stroke him. It had been a while since Baekhyun had done anything sexual, but he was still so sensitive to Minseok's touch. He was already jutting his hips up to meet Minseok's movements. It wouldn't be much longer before he reached his high.        Minseok remained gentle with Baekhyun, not wanting to get too intense at the moment. He still did more than enough to send him over the edge. Baekhyun let out a low moan and dug his fingers into Minseok's shoulders. As he gradually relaxed, he breathed deeply and his hands fell to either side of his face. Minseok placed a kiss on his nose and grabbed some tissues to clean up. Afterwards, he pulled Baekhyun's clothes back on and laid down beside him, draping his hand over his stomach.       “How long have you been wanting that?” Minseok asked.      “A while...Maybe a few weeks?” Baekhyun responded.        Truthfully, he'd been wanting it ever since Haneul had started bothering him. Baekhyun liked to think he wasn't completely driven by sex, but it certainly was the easiest way for him to calm down when work got hard. This had of course been how he and Minseok had landed in their current predicament in the first place, but some habits were hard to break.       “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”       “I don't know...I didn't know if you wanted to be like that while I was pregnant.”       “I'm fine with it, Baekhyun,” Minseok said gently, rubbing their noses together. “A baby isn't going to change wanting to hold you or be intimate with you.”       “What about you then? Do you want me to...”       “Tonight I'm alright,” Minseok sighed, snuggling closer to Baekhyun. “But I promise if I want to be intimate with you, I'll let you know. Are you alright or do you want more?”       “I'm ok,” Baekhyun whispered, shifting slowly onto his side and kissing Minseok again. “Thank you...”       “You're welcome.”       “I love you, Minseok.”       “Love you too.”        Baekhyun pulled the other boy closer to him, sighing into his chest. Minseok was by far the best thing in Baekhyun's life. He was gentle and understanding. Even if Baekhyun had to deal with minor instances of Haneul bothering him, at least he would still have this to come home to. In fact, he would always have this to come home to. Baekhyun trusted Minseok to stay with him, and he wanted to stay with Minseok. He could make it through this difficult time. All he had to do was keep his head held high. ~*~       As the days wore on, Baekhyun and Minseok slowly started ordering baby products online whenever they met with each other. Minseok had set up a shopping date with Joohyun as well, mostly to buy smaller things like bottles and clothes. They still hadn't even put much thought into the baby name, but at least they had a good car seat carrier and stroller on the way. The name would come with time.        Baekhyun was still struggling with his job, but he would be moving to his radio show the following week. He was beyond ready for the change. Haneul had backed off a little bit as Baekhyun started to stick obnoxiously close to Kyungsoo. It still left Baekhyun exhausted and worried by the end of the day. Minseok would usually take care of him, either holding him or helping him find his release. Baekhyun was getting really tired of being so upset and on edge all the time though.        Minseok hadn't failed to notice Baekhyun's change in attitude either. He was jumpier when they were together, and often very demanding of physical attention. Minseok didn't mind of course, but he knew something was wrong. He would always approach the topic carefully, but no matter how skillfully he worded his questions, Baekhyun always avoided answering them. Minseok had given up on getting an actual answer and was instead, devoting himself to being there when he was needed. It wasn't what he wanted, but Baekhyun was far too stubborn, and Minseok didn't want to spend all their time arguing. He would just worry silently until Baekhyun let him in.        Going out shopping with Joohyun was like a breath of fresh air for Minseok and a break from the bland office setting. They'd both been swamped with work recently, so the first day they both had off, they'd instantly reserved for shopping. Joohyun was a little further along than Baekhyun, so she was starting to get very antsy about having everything she needed, even though she still had a good 2 and a half months left of her pregnancy.        They'd started fairly early in the day, going to a few different stores. By noon they both had several bags stuffed into their cars, so they decided it was probably good enough for now. After that, they met at a restaurant to have lunch together. When the waiter came to take their order, he made the mistake of calling them a couple and Minseok practically choked on his drink. Joohyun was thankfully coherent enough to explain they weren't dating, and the flustered waiter quickly apologized and got their order underway. As Minseok slowly calmed down, he pressed his hands on his cheeks.       “Gosh, I didn't think you disliked me that much,” Joohyun teased.       “It's not that! It just startled me...” Joohyun hummed, not sounding at all convinced.       “Do you and your partner ever go on dates like this?”       “We used to, but lately it really hasn't been convenient for either of us. We still see each other a lot though, so it's not like our relationship is bad. What about your husband? Why isn't he doing the baby shopping too?”       “Oh he is! But he has to go out of town a lot for work and well, I'm a business woman myself. Our schedules will probably have to change once the baby's born, but we're enjoying our own independent lives a little while longer while we can.”       “I see...”        Minseok really had to wonder what the future would have in store for him and Baekhyun. Someone was probably going to have to stay home and take care of the baby, at least while they were still young. Baekhyun's career was far more lucrative than Minseok's would ever be, so would he become the stay at home dad? Really, he didn't think he'd mind such a thing. He hated his job with a burning passion and at least raising a kid would be fun for the most part.       “Do you think you'll end up staying home to take care of the baby?” Minseok asked.       “I don't know, maybe. My husband and I will have a good heart to heart before we make a decision like that. I think I wouldn't mind it, but I'd probably miss working...Maybe we could find a way for me to work in the evenings or something. My husband might have to find a job with less traveling too. There's a lot to take into consideration. What about you?”       “I think between the two of us, I'd be the one staying home with the kid most of the day.”       “So you're planning to quit your job?”       “We haven't really talked about it yet, so nothing's set in stone, but I wouldn't mind quitting. I'm not as passionate as you or my lover when it comes to working,” he laughed. “I'd probably enjoy staying home with the baby more.”       “They won't be little forever. I'm sure if you wanted to go back to work when the kid was older, you could. That might be how my husband and I deal with it if we can't get our schedules to line up right.”       “She's due in 2 and a half months, right?”       “Yep. When's yours due?”       “A little less than 3 and a half months.” Joohyun hummed excitedly.       “Time's really flying by, isn't it?”        Minseok laughed and agreed. Their food arrived shortly afterward and they ate while making small talk. Towards the end of the meal, Minseok's phone rang. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Baekhyun. He was still working as far as Minseok knew, and he normally didn't call until he was done. He mumbled a quick apology to Joohyun then answered the call.       “Hey, what's up?” He asked.       “Not much. I just arrived at the studio...Tonight's the final performance.”      “You're right!”       “Will you watch it?”       “I wouldn't miss it for the world! I went out shopping this afternoon, but I'll be home in time, I promise.”       “Can I come over to your place after?”       “Of course. The door's always open for you. I'll show you what I bought today too.”       “I can't wait! Sorry for calling you like this...I was really nervous and you always calm me down.”       “Don't apologize. You'll do fine, I know you will.”      “Thank you...I need to go get my makeup done now, so I gotta hang up. Love you.”      “Love you too.”        Minseok hung up the call and slid his phone back in his pocket. When he glanced up, Joohyun was smirking at him like she'd just caught him in the middle of a crime and had something to hold against him.       “What?” He asked.       “That was the lover, wasn't it~?”       “Yes...?”       “You lit up instantly,” she giggled. “You must really love them.”        Minseok smiled softly and nodded. If there was one person that could make him feel any array of emotions, it was definitely Baekhyun. Joohyun continued to tease him while they finished their meal, since this was the first time she'd ever seen him in such a love struck phase. After lunch, they went their separate ways, and Minseok took the large amount of baby items back to his house.        He spent a large part of the evening taking items out of packages and placing bottles in the dishwasher. He left the tags on the clothes alone because he knew he would need Baekhyun's approval first, but he didn't mind unpacking some of the bottles so he could place them in his cupboards with the rest of his dishes. This was actually starting to make him excited, getting ready for the baby to come.        When it was finally time for the music show to start, Minseok sat down on his couch to watch. He didn't know when Baekhyun would be on, so he decided to start at the beginning so he wouldn't miss anything. He didn't recognize many of the acts until one particular man came onstage to sing a ballad. Minseok's eyes narrowed as Song Haneul began his latest comeback song. It was a good song, but Minseok would never be able to listen to his music ever again. Not after what he had done to Baekhyun.        A few performances later, Baekhyun walked on stage. He looked fairly bundled up, which normally would have seemed ridiculous on the music show, but it was nearing the end of November, so he could get away with saying he was doing winter-themed outfits. Minseok thought he looked adorable in them, and they did somehow manage to lose the baby in all the layers. Whoever Baekhyun's stylist was, they were really good at their job.        As Baekhyun sang his goodbye stage, Minseok felt like he was falling for him all over again. There was something different about Baekhyun that night, like he was putting 120% into his performance rather than the usual 100. Baekhyun sat on a stool for the performance, having stopping moving around a lot some time ago. His smile was beaming though and Minseok could tell he seemed truly happy.        When Baekhyun finished, Minseok could feel his cheeks flushing slightly. He hadn't even realized he'd been staring at his TV smiling like an idiot for the entire song. He continued to watch some of the later performances, only half-paying attention, when he got a phone call that he was expecting. He answered it, smile oozing into his voice.       “Hey love~” He greeted.       “Did you see it?” Baekhyun asked happily.       “I did. You were wonderful as always. I think it was your best one yet.”       “I'm so glad. I was thinking of you the entire time,” Baekhyun cooed. Minseok rolled his eyes but still felt a fluttering in his chest.       “Alright, cheese ball, settle down.” Baekhyun laughed on the other end.       “Tell Mini-Min to settle down! He was kicking me the entire performance. It's hard to sing when your baby's decided your kidneys and bladder are punching bags!”       “Mini-Min?”       “Since we haven't named him yet, I decided to nickname him after you.” Minseok hummed.       “Don't get too attached because we won't be naming him Mini-Min!”       “Of course! I know that, I'm just having a little fun with it while I can~ I'm in the van now, by the way. Can I still come over?”       “Yeah! I'm ready for you.”        They talked for a little while then Baekhyun hung up. It didn't take much longer before there was a knock on his door, and Minseok was opening it just in time for Baekhyun to pounce forward, wrapping his arms around his neck and giggling. He must have been really happy and relieved to have finished the music shows. Minseok couldn't blame him since he knew it was hard work and Haneul was actively promoting as well. Baekhyun hadn't mentioned any further issues, but Minseok didn't doubt that there were more. Baekhyun was the type of person to keep it to himself and not worry anyone else.        Once he'd shut the door and brought Baekhyun inside, he instantly started laying out the different clothes and bibs that he'd bought. By then, his dishwasher had finished as well, so he took the bottles out. Baekhyun was practically glowing as he went through the different items. He couldn't help but hug the onesie with a squirrel design on it to his chest. It was by far his favorite of what Minseok had bought. Overall, Baekhyun loved everything. Minseok had done quite well, with some added help and commentary from Joohyun.        As they laid down in bed that night, Baekhyun rested his head on Minseok's chest. 'Mini-Min' had started to kick again, so Baekhyun was mostly just closing his eyes and groaning while Minseok ran comforting fingers through his hair. As the baby finally started to calm down a bit, Baekhyun let out a relieved sigh.       “I'm going to be working less, but I bet I'll still be exhausted because your offspring is making a kicking bag out of me,” he pouted.       “Wow, I can feel the love,” Minseok answered sarcastically. “Don't just blame it on me. Takes 2 to make a boo.”       “You're so lame,” Baekhyun laughed.       “And yet you spend all your free time with me.”       “I'm lame too,” the singer sighed. “I'll have even more time to spend with you now though~”       “You seem really happy,” Minseok stated, placing a kiss on Baekhyun's head. The latter nodded.       “It's been really stressful lately and the radio show will be a good change of pace. And next month is Christmas, so I'm already planning lots of different things for the show.”       “Ah, you're right...It's Christmas next month.”       “Who would have thought I'd be 6 months pregnant this Christmas?” Baekhyun groaned.       “Who would have thought I'd be dating the one and only, up and coming star, Byun Baekhyun,” Minseok teased, announcing it dramatically.       “A lot's happened this year, huh?”       “Yep, but I wouldn't change a thing.”       “Me neither,” Baekhyun sighed happily, his eyelids drooping with sleep.        Baekhyun closed his eyes and Minseok leaned forward, kissing him a few times before settling down on his pillow. Now that the baby had stopped kicking, Baekhyun seemed exhausted and intent on sleeping while he could, and Minseok couldn't blame him. Baekhyun was going through a lot right now between work and the pregnancy, and he was doing it very graciously. Even if he started doing nothing but sleeping when he came over to Minseok's house, the other would be fine with it. At least that way, he would know Baekhyun was resting properly.        Minseok had high hopes for this radio show. Baekhyun would be in a private studio doing his own thing. He wouldn't have to stack so many layers on his body just to hide himself since no one would see him. Song Haneul wouldn't be there to constantly terrorize him either. Not only that, Baekhyun would be working less hours so he'd be able to rest much more. On all accounts, this was going to be a good transition for him, and Minseok was looking forward to it. At the end of the day, he just wanted Baekhyun to be happy and healthy. ~*~       The radio show ended up being a huge success for Baekhyun. He had several listeners calling in every night and Minseok was amazed at just how naturally he was able to keep the show going and lead into song breaks. Minseok made sure to listen every night when he got home from work. Sometimes he even thought about calling in, but he figured it would be too much of a hassle for him to even get through. All he had to do was wait for Baekhyun to come home anyway.        Baekhyun seemed like he was really starting to relax as well. As expected, being away from Haneul seemed to do a world of good for him. It almost seemed like things would go back to how they were before the Haneul drama, but then Baekhyun started receiving the texts. Haneul apparently wasn't going to let him go so easily.        They started as simple texts, usually some sort of slur against him, but as time went on, they started getting more intense. More threatening. Baekhyun had ignored them all initially, but as the threats started to involve Haneul coming after Baekhyun at the studio, he knew he couldn't ignore them anymore. As soon as he got another nasty text after one of his radio shows, he took it straight to Kyungsoo, showing him the long list of horrible texts.        His manager took his phone, reading through the list. Baekhyun had never replied, so it really just looked like a massive list of insults. He watched as Kyungsoo's brows furrowed more with each insult and threat and his grip on the phone tightened. He glanced up at Baekhyun, looking gravely serious.       “Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?”       “Because I thought he was just being petty, but it's getting worse...”       “Has he done anything else to you?”      “No, not yet...”       “Alright. I'm going to deal with this, ok? You're going to be fine.”       “Thanks, Kyungsoo,” Baekhyun sighed. His manager smiled and squeezed his hand.       “Are you alright?”       “Yeah, I'm fine...I just didn't want to keep this from you.”       “Damn right, you didn't! I'll get him to stop, trust me.”        Baekhyun nodded and took his phone back from Kyungsoo. After that, he went over to Minseok's again, though he didn't bring the texts up with him. Kyungsoo would take care of it. Minseok didn't need to worry about it as well.        True to Kyungsoo's word, he went to Haneul's manager with copies of the messages the man had been sending Baekhyun, and threatened to take legal actions if Haneul didn't stop. Naturally, Haneul's manager gave him a strict warning and promised the harassment would stop. Baekhyun wasn't sure he believed that, but at least they had more evidence against Haneul now. He could only hope for the best in the days to come. ~*~       December seemed to breeze by. Baekhyun had hit the 6 month mark and entered the third trimester. He was a natural on-air, and Haneul hadn't bothered him once since Kyungsoo had taken action. Christmas was coming up as well and Baekhyun already had the perfect plan laid out. It was probably the hopeless romantic in him egged on by his cheesy radio show, but he wanted to do something above and beyond for Minseok for Christmas.        In fact, he was planning to ask Minseok to commit to a serious relationship with him. It probably sounded silly, given they were getting ready to have a baby together, but Baekhyun wanted to make it official. He wanted to buy matching rings and talk about the future and where they wanted to be. He wanted that cheesy sort of romance, and he wanted to be the one to instigate it. Minseok had been going above and beyond for him all this time. Baekhyun wanted to have a turn at doing it for him instead.        He made reservations in a restaurant, a little less fancy than what they used to dine in, but still nice. After that, he consulted his stylist to find an appropriate outfit for the occasion. He'd chosen a loose, poncho-like shirt, since that still gave his stomach some space. It was impossible to hide it now, so he really just wanted to look attractive while pregnant. He even put on a small amount of makeup and eyeliner as well, since he knew that usually made Minseok trip over his own words. He gave his hair a light wave and curl, letting it fall freely over his forehead.        They would be dining together on Christmas Eve, then Minseok would come home with Baekhyun back to his place for a change, and they would spend the following day together, probably watching Christmas movies and playing games. He'd told Minseok to dress well, but bring some comfortable clothes for later.        As Baekhyun waited in the lobby of the restaurant for Minseok to show up, he couldn't help but tap his leg nervously. It wasn't like anything was going to be different from when he normally saw Minseok, but Baekhyun was planning to make a pretty big commitment, so he couldn't help but be a little anxious. He'd told Minseok he loved him many times, but this one had to stand out far more than the others.        Finally, Minseok arrived, wearing his best navy suit once more. Baekhyun smiled as flashbacks of their first date came to mind, though at the time it wasn't exactly a date as much as it was a reunion. Baekhyun got to his feet slowly from the bench he'd been waiting at, and walked over to Minseok, smiling bashfully. He watched as the other's eyes moved up and down his body, taking in everything. Judging by the blush forming on Minseok's cheeks, Baekhyun had at least succeeded in his attire.       “Wow...” Minseok mumbled. Baekhyun grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.       “You ready?”       “Yeah...”        A waiter showed them to the private section Baekhyun had reserved and they were left with menus. Both of them decided to simply have water since Baekhyun couldn't drink wine. When they'd decided on their food, they broke into conversation. Baekhyun had so much to tell Minseok about the radio show and what he was planning for New Years, while Minseok told him about work and random facts he'd learned while reading about babies and pregnancy. That was his recent hobby, and Baekhyun thought it was adorable.        It wasn't until they'd mostly finished their food and were waiting on dessert that Baekhyun decided it was time to finally tell Minseok how he felt. He took a deep breath and a sip of water, then cleared his throat. Minseok looked up at him curiously and Baekhyun wanted to shrink suddenly. He'd said the words a million times over in his head and even the most important ones to Minseok's face several times. Why was it so hard to speak suddenly?       “Um...” He started, letting out a shaky sigh. “I wanted to talk to you about something...”      “What's up? Is something wrong?” Minseok asked, leaning forward.       “No! Nothing like that. It's just...we've been dating for a little over half a year now, and I, um...I really love you, Minseok,” he said gently, reaching for the other's hand on the table and intertwining their fingers. “I want us to stay together. For a long time.”       “We will,” Minseok whispered, a smile curling on his lips.       “I want to get rings...I want us to be a family. It doesn't have to happen right away, but I want us to live together too...You're the one, Minseok.”        Baekhyun was bright red by the time he finished and he couldn't even look Minseok in the face. The words were so simple, but this was the most Baekhyun had ever said to anyone. This was the farthest he'd ever gone in a relationship. The first time he was serious. He needed Minseok to know that much.       “You really mean that?” The other asked, his voice shaking slightly.       “Yes...I'm serious, Minseok. What do you say?”        Minseok took Baekhyun's hand in both of his and pressed it to his lips, then to his forehead as he leaned forward, hiding his face from Baekhyun. The latter was starting to get nervous with the amount of time passing, but finally, he heard Minseok let out a shaky sigh.       “You've always been the one for me, Baekhyun,” he stated, looking up at him. “I would love to become a family with you. I mean, we're kinda already accomplishing that, but I'd love to make it official if nothing else.” Baekhyun let out a dramatic sigh and slumped in his chair, his hand dropping from Minseok's.       “Thank God...I was so nervous!” He whined. “You took too long to respond!” The other smiled and let out a soft chuckle.       “Did you think I would say no!?”       “No, I just...I don't know, it's my first time, and we can't really get married, but I wanted to do something, you know? Besides making a baby...”       “Right,” Minseok laughed. “So what are we going to do about these rings?”       “I was hoping we could go home and look at some online stores for them. Going to an actual shop might be a bit hard...I had to pay a lot for privacy and secrecy here, and I don't think I can do that in a ring shop, especially if you're with me.”      “That's fine. We'll look at ring measurements at home and get it all figured out. I'm excited to get couple rings.”       “I thought you'd think it was cheesy and stupid...”       “Not if there's serious meaning behind it. I'll gladly wear a ring for you. It's kinda the closest we can get to exchanging vows and things like that too, so...”       “Wow, the almighty Minseok is letting himself stoop to cheesy romantic antics just for me~”       “Feel very proud of yourself for accomplishing such a feat.”        They laughed, and the waiter brought out their desserts. Since Baekhyun was pregnant, his sweet tooth was even worse than before, and Minseok knew better than to deny him chocolate cake, especially when they went out on fancy dates. When they'd finished, they split the bill and Minseok drove them back to Baekhyun's house. Kyungsoo had dropped Baekhyun off after his radio segment, so he didn't really have his own ride back home other than Minseok.        When they got there, they changed into comfortable clothes, and Baekhyun instantly pulled out his laptop. They laid on the bed, sifting through different online jewelry stores until they found something they liked for a reasonable price. They decided on simple gold bands. Baekhyun already knew his ring size since he often wore rings and other accessories for work. He helped Minseok figure out his own ring size next, and they placed the order, splitting the cost between them again. Lastly, Baekhyun arranged for the rings to be delivered to his place with fast, secure shipping.        After they'd finished shopping for rings, the ended up snuggling together on the couch, watching a large array of cheesy and romantic Christmas movies. Baekhyun made hot chocolate for both of them, insistent that Minseok partake as well. Despite having cake at the restaurant, Baekhyun still managed to eat chocolates he'd bought for Christmas as well as drink the hot cocoa. Minseok was a little alarmed at how much chocolate he was consuming, but he decided to turn a blind eye just for today. It was Christmas and Baekhyun was always working hard. He deserved to spoil himself every once in a while.        Baekhyun ended up falling asleep on Minseok halfway through the second movie, so the latter gently shifted out from under him, laying his head on a pillow so he could still sleep. Minseok turned off the TV and quickly cleaned up the area. After that, he knelt beside Baekhyun and shook his shoulder, calling out to him softly. The other's eyelids fluttered open and he looked up at him sleepily. Minseok caressed his cheek with his thumb and kissed his nose.       “It's late. You wanna go to bed?” Minseok asked.      “Yeah...Did I fall asleep?”      “Mhm. It's fine though. Sleep when you can. Let's just move to your bedroom first,” he laughed softly.        Baekhyun nodded slowly, and Minseok helped him get up off the couch. He kept an arm around Baekhyun's waist and guided him since the other was so sleepy, walking in a straight line was hard. Minseok babied Baekhyun through brushing his teeth and sent him off to bed. He then brushed his own teeth and slid into bed beside Baekhyun, pulling him closer. Baekhyun looked up at him, smiling sleepily.       “Merry Christmas, Minseok...I love you.”       “Merry Christmas, Baekhyun. I love you too.”       Baekhyun sighed happily and placed a few kisses on Minseok's jaw. Then he rested his head in the crook of Minseok's neck and let his eyes droop shut again. Minseok rubbed Baekhyun's stomach, waiting for his own eyelids to become heavy. Even though they were relaxed in bed, he still felt giddy. This had by far been the nicest Christmas he'd had in a long time. Despite how confident he acted, Minseok was still pretty insecure when it came to their relationship. Hearing Baekhyun say what he'd said earlier was by far the best gift he could have received for Christmas. He finally felt like they were on the same page.