Chapter 7 (1/1)

Kyungsoo called them later to tell them the plan. The CEO was in support of Baekhyun going public, much to their relief. He'd decided that the best way to reveal the news was to have Baekhyun explain it himself on his radio show, rather than making some impersonal statement on the internet or holding a press conference. While Baekhyun wanted to come out about everything, the CEO figured he didn't want excessive amounts of attention.        Minseok and Baekhyun had talked about how he would approach the subject, and Baekhyun had actually begged Minseok to come with him onto the show. He wasn't sure he'd be able to properly explain between frazzled nerves and a blank mind. Minseok had agreed in a heartbeat, wanting to support him, and they'd gotten permission from Kyungsoo.        That was how Minseok found himself sitting beside Baekhyun at a table with a giant mic in front of them. He'd never actually been in the room that Baekhyun did his broadcasts in, so this was pretty intimidating for him. Baekhyun was planning to handle most of the talking, but Minseok had been given permission to pitch in if he had something to add. His heart was pounding just staring at the microphone. They were really going to reveal everything.        Minseok let out a shaky sigh and it was Baekhyun this time that grabbed his hand comfortingly. Minseok leaned on the other's shoulder, snuggling closer to him. Baekhyun kissed the top of his head and whispered into his hair.       “It's going to be ok. I'll take care of the talking. Just back me up if I say something too stupid.” Minseok laughed lightly.       “That might be hard. Half of what comes out of your mouth is stupid.”       “Here I am, trying to encourage you, and this is the treatment I get,” Baekhyun huffed.       “I love you,” Minseok whispered. “And I trust you. I'll try my best to not let you down.”       “I don't think you could do that even if you tried,” he comforted. “It's fine. I'm more natural on-air than you, so being nervous is perfectly understandable. Plus, with what we're going to say...”      “We can still back out if you don't want to do this,” Minseok soothed. “I don't want you to regret this, Baekhyun.”      “I'll regret not saying it more. I've just gotta be brave. You're with me, so I think I'll be ok.”        Minseok nodded and remained cuddled up against Baekhyun's side. A few staff members came in and out to talk to Baekhyun about a couple things. Then finally, the 5 minute warning was given. Minseok felt his heart sink into his stomach at that point. How could Baekhyun do this every day? Minseok was nervous just being in the room, and he wasn't going to be saying the most difficult part.        Before Minseok was even remotely ready, it was time for Baekhyun to start. He gave Minseok's hand another comforting squeeze, and the latter might have clung to him just a bit tighter. Baekhyun proceeded to explain right away that he wouldn't be taking fan calls or messages that night and that he had a big announcement to make a half an hour into the show. Despite how many messages were still coming in on the computer screen nearby, Baekhyun ignored them. Instead, he introduced the first set of songs and began playing them, keeping his explanations brief. As soon as his mic was on mute, he leaned over and kissed Minseok on the lips, saying he needed it for 'motivation.'        Minseok watched as the comments sped along the screen. Half of them were about Haneul and whether he actually attacked him or not. Minseok's eyes narrowed at some of the nastier comments. He had to wonder if Baekhyun got nasty comments like this often. He probably did. He had thicker skin than Minseok had initially realized.        The first half hour of the show went by relatively well. Minseok remained quiet, since Baekhyun hadn't mentioned he had a guest yet. Baekhyun was starting to loosen up as he talked. After all, he was a celebrity and natural people person. Even in the most stressful of times, Baekhyun knew how to speak well. Minseok really admired him for that.        Finally, the time arrived for Baekhyun to make his big announcement. He let out a shaky breath and that was when Minseok noticed that his hand was trembling, still holding his. Minseok held it tightly and intertwined their fingers. He nuzzled into Baekhyun's neck, trying his best to do something to reassure him, even if it was just physical affection. Baekhyun let out another shaky breath before turning his mic off mute and beginning.       “So I'm sure everyone is wondering by now what it could be that I want to announce. I'm sure a lot of you think it's going to be in regards to the recent lawsuits. I'm afraid I must disappoint. I'm going to refrain from mentioning them on my show. Instead, I have something else to tell you all. A few things actually...”        He glanced over at Minseok and bit his lip. The latter nodded at him, trying to let him know that it was ok and that he was ready. Their hands were both shaking now.       “First, there's someone I'd like to tell you all about. He's someone very special to me. You might know him from the mystery man articles that came out some months ago. He really is my childhood friend, I promise it wasn't a lie! But he's been so much more than that. He's someone I've relied heavily on for the past year, and someone that I've realized I can't live without.”        Baekhyun paused and stared at Minseok. They held each other's gazes for a while, communicating everything with their eyes before Baekhyun said it out loud.       “I love him...And we've been dating for about 8 months now I think? I'm sorry for hiding it, but neither of us were ready to come out back then...But we are now, and he's here with me, so I think I'll let him introduce himself.”        Minseok opened his mouth, but his voice felt like it was stuck in the back of his throat. He had to gulp several times before he felt like he could even begin introducing himself.       “H-Hello...I'm Kim Minseok. Please treat me kindly...”       “He's a little shy,” Baekhyun said affectionately. “And he's not a celebrity either, so I ask that his privacy be respected. We've known each other since the beginning of high school,” he reminisced. “We've both come a long way since then.”       “We're both still just as short though,” Minseok grumbled mostly to himself, but it caught Baekhyun off-guard and he didn't try to stifle his laugh.        That seemed to loosen them both up considerably. Baekhyun felt like the constricting feeling in his chest was just a bit more bearable. With a smile, he decided to continue on to the part that would really change everything about his image.       “He's helped me through more than I can honestly recount,” Baekhyun explained. “He's been there for me during the times when it felt like no one else was. Even with my health condition, he's never treated me differently. I can't even begin to tell you how much he means to me...”        Minseok hugged him close, planting soft kisses along his neck. He wasn't brave enough to respond to the words on national radio, but he wanted to make sure Baekhyun knew just how much he loved him too.       “I probably mentioned something just then that made your ears perk up,” Baekhyun continued. “I do have a health condition, one that I've kept very private for a long time. It's nothing life threatening, but it's something that's been hard to live with. I was always insecure about it, and even now, the thought of telling everyone is horrifying. Something came up though, and I feel like now I need to say it for my own peace of mind and the future of my family...”        His heart was pounding. He was far too afraid to look at the comments that were being submitted. He knew there were probably already several angry ones about hiding his relationship. He wouldn't be able to handle the level of nastiness that he would get about his body, so he decided avoiding all of it would be how he got through this. It was the only way he could go about it really. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.       “The truth is, I was born as both male and female. It sounds silly and eccentric to say, right? But biologically, it's the truth. I don't want to go into further detail than that for obvious reasons. This is already more information than I'd like to admit to the public, but something happened and I can't really hide it anymore...I'm pregnant.”        He could feel his face flushing, even though he was just talking to a microphone. He knew millions of people knew now, and there were probably already articles being started as he was speaking. He almost wanted to throw up, but a warm hand on his back jolted him out of his daze. He glanced over at Minseok, who was giving him a sympathetic look. That was when Baekhyun realized a couple tears had dripped down his cheeks. He wiped them away and took a deep breath.       “You probably don't believe me, and I don't blame you. You probably think I'm a freak, and I don't know if I can refute that...But this is how my body is. I didn't think I'd be able to hide a baby forever, so Minseok and I decided to announce all of this. He's the father, and he's been taking care of me throughout the pregnancy. I want to live with him and my baby once he's born. We're a family now. So please...All I can do is ask for your understanding and continued support. I understand if this is the end, and I thank you for supporting me until now. I hope that for most of you, this won't be the end though.”        Minseok watched as the comments on the screen began flying by so quickly, they couldn't be read. He pulled Baekhyun close, pressing his head to his chest and running his fingers through his hair. Baekhyun was crying again, but he seemed relieved that it was finally over. Minseok kissed his forehead before getting his guts up to speak once more.       “This isn't really my place to say, but Baekhyun's really put his heart into everything. He's tried his hardest and pushed himself even when he wasn't feeling well. He's always been serious about his career, and having this baby won't change that. Please continue to support him. I promise, regardless of what happens, Baekhyun will still give 120% in everything he does.”        Baekhyun sat up, wiped his eyes, and smiled. This was much less intimidating with Minseok at his side, and the worst was over now. He wouldn't look at the screen anymore. He didn't need to know any of what was being said. All he needed was for Minseok to stay by his side.       “I think it's time for a song,” Baekhyun stated, his voice noticeably shaking from his tears.      “Thank you everyone for listening to us until now. We'll be playing music for the rest of the show. Again, I'm sorry for not taking fan calls and springing so much shocking news on you. We'll do our best from now on. Please enjoy the songs we've lined up for you.”        Baekhyun started the next line up of songs and muted his microphone. Almost instantly, he collapsed against Minseok, pressing his face into his chest and beginning to sob loudly. Minseok shushed him gently, holding him close and rubbing his back.       “It's all out there now,” Baekhyun whimpered. “I can't take any of it back. I'm so scared.”       “It's gonna be ok. We're going to ignore the news and just focus on us, ok? You were so brave and I'm so proud of you. You'll make it through this.”        The door to the broadcast room opened and Kyungsoo entered with a box of tissues in hand. He set them on the table in front of Baekhyun and rubbed his back, whispering that he did well. After that, Kyungsoo turned off the monitor that still had comments scrolling up it, and Minseok had never been more grateful. Baekhyun didn't need to see anything that was written there, good or bad. He was way too overwhelmed at the moment. Kyungsoo leaned against the table with a sigh.       “I'm not going to say much, but there's one last thing I think we should do, if you feel up to it,” he started.       “What's that?” Minseok asked.       “People are kinda in disbelief about Baekhyun's statement. About both you and the pregnancy. If you weren't against it...a picture together might at least get people to stop doubting you.”       “So like, you'd take one of us to release to the press?”       “Basically. We'd put it on a social media outlet, probably for the radio show since you two are here and everything. I'm not going to force it. If you two don't want to, just say so.”       “Let me stop crying first...” Baekhyun mumbled from his place on Minseok's chest. “Are you alright with it, Minseok? Your face will be out there...”       “My name is out there now too, so it's fine. I don't want to hide our relationship anymore. That was the whole point of this, right?”        Baekhyun nodded and sighed against his chest, finally relaxing. As horrifying as it was, it was just as relieving to finally have everything off his chest. He no longer had to fear people seeing his massive stomach and not having an excuse for it. He didn't have to hide anything anymore. Not the baby and not Minseok. It felt like he was finally free.        They played music for the rest of the radio segment. When Baekhyun had finally calmed down and his eyes had gotten a little less red from crying, he decided it was time to take the picture. He pulled his phone out and held it up so he could get both himself and Minseok in the frame. No matter where he angled it, his stomach still appeared massive and Baekhyun was suddenly regretting agreeing to this. He wanted to prove he was pregnant, but not that pregnant. Thankfully, Minseok leaned his head on his shoulder and wrapped his arms around his stomach, obscuring some of the view. It was still very obvious Baekhyun was pregnant, but he didn't feel quite so round with Minseok holding him.        Baekhyun tilted his head to the side, mostly to hide the bruise on his cheek. Minseok tilted his head to match, looking up at the camera with cute, wide eyes. Baekhyun probably would have squealed out loud and embarrassed the other, were the mood different. Instead, he just internally gushed over his boyfriend. He took a few different pictures to ensure one of them was usable. After that, he sent his favorite one to Kyungsoo to be uploaded later. He couldn't believe that after 7 exhausting months of wearing too many layers of clothing and sucking in his gut even though he knew it wouldn't help, he was releasing a picture of himself on the internet. It felt surprisingly liberating.        When they'd finished, Minseok and Baekhyun decided to head home. Kyungsoo stayed with them as they left the studio. As the manager expected, the instant they got outside, even the back entrance was surrounded by paparazzi. The security and staff helped Baekhyun and Minseok to their car, but the flashes of cameras and bustles of questions, both curious and rude, filled the air. Baekhyun kept his head low and snuggled close to Minseok. They were being pushed around slightly, so the other was helping him keep his balance. Kyungsoo remained on Baekhyun's other side, trying to shield him from pictures and pushy hands.        Finally, they made it to the van. Minseok had caught a ride there with Baekhyun that night, and Kyungsoo would bring them both home as well. He opened the back door and made sure Baekhyun got inside safely. Minseok was right beside him as well, and they both managed to shield him from the cameras long enough to shut the door. Minseok ran around to the other side and got in beside Baekhyun, while Kyungsoo slid into the driver's seat. As soon as they were buckled in, Kyungsoo started the car, honking and backing up slowly in an attempt to get the paparazzi to scatter. It took some time, but they finally moved enough for the van to leave the parking lot.        Kyungsoo drove around for quite some time, making sure he wasn't being tailed, before finally deciding to bring Baekhyun and Minseok back to their house. When they pulled into a parking spot, they were all relieved to find the place wasn't surrounded. Baekhyun didn't think he could handle much more that evening. They got out and said goodbye to Kyungsoo. Baekhyun gave him a hug, which was out of character for their relationship, but Kyungsoo returned it all the same. After that, Baekhyun walked up the steps with Minseok into their house.        As they laid down beside each other that night, Minseok assumed his usual role of rubbing Baekhyun's stomach until he fell asleep. This time, he kissed his forehead every few minutes as well, mumbling how proud he was and how much he loved Baekhyun. The latter was too drained to really contribute much to a conversation, but Minseok understood. Instead, they both relished the fact that they were finally alone again, and that they'd made it through one of the hardest events in both of their lives. Tomorrow would probably be extremely rough on both of them, but for now, they could rest easy. ~*~       The following morning, Minseok begrudgingly left Baekhyun home to go to work. He hadn't expected his few words on a radio show and the picture to make such an impact on his daily life, but the instant he walked into the office, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at him. He gulped and quickly headed for his cubicle, wanting to get away from all the piercing gazes. He really shouldn't have been surprised to see Joohyun standing there waiting for him. He probably should have been more surprised that the 8 months pregnant woman was dragging him so forcefully towards the elevator so they could head up to the rooftop to talk in private.        Soon enough, they were sitting on their usual bench, staring ahead. Minseok didn't really know what to say or how to even begin explaining himself to Joohyun. Suddenly, it felt like he was the celebrity under scrutiny, not Baekhyun.       “Your partner...I can't believe he was the Byun Baekhyun,” Joohyun finally started.       “I still can't believe it myself sometimes.”       “He's really pregnant?”       “Yes. You saw the picture of us, right? He didn't hide a watermelon under his shirt if that's what you're thinking.”       “Of course not! I remember how broken up you were about him when he found out he was pregnant, I'm just still wrapping my mind around it. Here I thought your partner just didn't want to be referred to one way or the other, but you were actually hiding Baekhyun...”       “Are you angry that I hid my relationship from you?”       “Hell no! I'm more worried that you two came out about it. How is he? Is he ok? He's safe, right? There was also that recent stuff with that singer, Haneul, right?”       “Yeah...I'm telling you because I trust you, but you have to swear not to tell anyone, ok?”       “Pinkie promise,” Joohyun singsonged, sticking her finger up. Minseok smiled and wrapped his own pinkie around hers.       “Haneul came to the studio the other night and hit him...”       “What the hell!?”       “He has a bruise on his face still...I was furious. Anyway, Haneul knew about Baekhyun's body as well because they were sleeping together before.” Joohyun nodded slowly. “He threatened to reveal Baekhyun's pregnancy to the press and even had the nerve to lie and say he was the father, which he's not, I can basically guarantee. Not only is the timing wrong, but...you know...”        Suddenly he flushed, not sure if he should keep going with that conversation. Joohyun nodded again, getting the message.       “You and Baekhyun were a couple by then, right? So Haneul really had nothing to do with the baby.”       “Right. Anyways, he'd been threatening Baekhyun for a while. We thought things would get better once he was away from the music shows, but Haneul just followed after him. So we got the lawsuits filed, but Baekhyun was worried about him outing him at his upcoming press conference, so we decided to just do it ourselves...”       “That's awful,” Joohyun muttered, voice dark and angry. “He forced Baekhyun into such a horrible position, the bastard...Is Baekhyun doing ok now?”       “Yeah, we're both staying away from the news and the internet right now. Though I already know there are a handful of disgusting, misleading articles about him out already. He's 7 months pregnant and this level of stress can't be good for him or the baby.”       “This might be a good time for maternity leave. I know this is my last week. I'm too tired for this shit,” she laughed, leaning back on the bench. Minseok smiled.       “He'll continue the radio show for a bit, but that's really all he's doing. I'm going to start packing so I can move in with him. We decided to live together, which is another reason we came out about our relationship. I didn't really want to be on the front of the newspaper, but I don't want to hide that we're dating or living together or that we're raising a child together. Neither did he.”       “Baekhyun must really love you,” Joohyun said gently. “I'm finally starting to realize just how much he went through to keep the baby. I know you told me it was hard in the beginning, but now all the pieces are starting to line up, you know?” Minseok nodded.       “Were you a fan of his music?”       “Yes! I still am. He's a very talented person and I always thought he would be a sweetheart in person. Am I right?”       “Definitely. He has his flaws of course, but he's a wonderful person and I love him a lot...I'm glad we were able to come to this point, honestly. Back when we first started seeing each other again, I felt so disconnected from him. Then we stopped seeing each other when I first told him I wanted to keep the baby. I thought we were over back then...But he stayed with me. I just want to protect him. I never wanted him to go through all this pain.”       “You aren't the one causing it, so don't blame yourself,” Joohyun stated, smiling knowingly at him. “Don't think I don't know you by now. You'd blame yourself for everything if you had the opportunity. You both chose to have the baby, so you both share the burdens, and I think so far you've done a decent enough job of that.”       “I've hardly done anything.”       “You've taken care of him physically and emotionally, right? That's a lot, trust me. He might be the one taking the bigger hit from this revelation, but you're supporting him and I'm sure he appreciates it.”       “You know, I think he'd really like you,” Minseok laughed. “You're definitely a good fan.”       “Introduce me once our babies are born. We'll have a play date. I'd love to meet him too...and I'll bring my CDs so he can sign them.”        Minseok rolled his eyes playfully and stood up. The work day would begin soon and they both needed to be back down in the office. He held his hand out to Joohyun and helped her to her feet. After that, they made their way back to the office, and Minseok kept his eyes planted on the ground to ignore the constant stares. Openly dating a celebrity was going to be harder business than Minseok realized, but he'd gladly put up with it. ~*~       Unfortunately, the announcement had about as much backlash as they were all expecting. The radio station was inches away from canceling Baekhyun's segment and Kyungsoo was doing his best to negotiate. The netizens were beyond foul when it came to Baekhyun and suddenly every one of his videos was facing rampant amounts of dislikes and nasty comments. He hadn't checked more than a couple times as a result. Kyungsoo and Minseok had tried to stop him, but Baekhyun wanted to know what was going on.        Kyungsoo managed to smooth everything over regarding the radio show, and Baekhyun went on it again the following night. His ratings were much lower and the nasty comments seemed to overflow the screen, so Baekhyun decided to cancel the fan interaction again. He didn't need people calling him on the show or leaving comments only to berate him. He was perfectly capable of talking out of his ass for another 20 minutes instead of listening to calls and messages.        The lawsuits with Song Haneul were progressing slowly, and the man ultimately disappeared from Baekhyun's life as a result of them, not that the latter minded. The media was still pitting them against each other and Baekhyun was thankful he didn't have to do any interviews because there was no way he would be able to stomach talking about the drama publicly. Haneul had remained silent, refusing interviews and denying all charges, though from what Kyungsoo had explained, the evidence against him was pretty extensive between the texts and Baekhyun's injury, so things weren't looking good for him.        Despite how exhausting Baekhyun's life had become as well as how negatively he was viewed, he was fairly positive and happy. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and he was no stranger to bad comments and scandals, as he often bragged. Minseok wasn't sure that was a good thing, but he kept his mouth shut. Instead of wallowing in negativity, Baekhyun focused on helping Minseok move in. He'd already packed up most of the small items in his house like dishes, baby things, and any other array of items that he used on a daily basis. It was mostly just a matter of bringing them over and unpacking now.        Baekhyun found himself spending a lot of time getting rid of excess clothes to make room for Minseok's. Even the addition of Minseok's toothbrush and deodorant in the bathroom made him giddy. It was a little embarrassing, but it was keeping him happy, so he would gush for the sake of his own sanity. They were actually living together finally.        Even with the negative response to Baekhyun's announcement and the loss of fans, his popularity did have a small spike. There were even some positive responses as well. On a serious note, a lot of people were sending messages to his radio show saying that they admired his strength and courage and that he'd become a role model for them in their own personal struggles for acceptance. It was a strange thing to Baekhyun, being someone that people actually looked up to. He had never considered it possible. On a much lighter note than that, the amount of fanfiction centering around himself and Minseok skyrocketed. Minseok found it strange, watching Baekhyun scroll through a website and read him plot summaries of stories written about the two of them. It was even stranger that a certain genre, coined by fans as 'mpreg,' seemed to be the hot new trend. Minseok's jaw dropped when he caught Baekhyun tearing up while reading one of those stories. If nothing else, his narcissism was endearing at least.        Baekhyun probably should have seen the angry phone call from his mother coming a few days after the announcement. He also probably should have told her he was pregnant the instant he decided to keep the baby about 4 months ago. He also probably should have told them he was dating Minseok since they already loved him and more or less wanted them to get married even back in high school. His parents were always a bit more on the open-minded side of things because of the way he was born, which he was thankful for. Still, he really didn't need his mother to shout at him through the phone.       “Byun Baekhyun, how could you tell the entire nation you were pregnant before your own parents!?” She shouted, causing Baekhyun to wince.        Minseok chuckled quietly from across the table where he sat. Baekhyun's mother was so loud he could hear the conversation clearly. Strong lungs and boisterous, loud voices must have run in the family.       “I'm sorry!” Baekhyun whined. “I was really busy and stressed trying to hide it from everyone, I kinda forgot to call. I didn't mean to hide it from you! Besides, I thought you would get mad at me...”       “Why would I? This is your body, you're the one who makes the decisions. I respect whatever you choose to do with your life as long as it's not illegal or dangerous. Besides, I get a grandchild out of the deal, don't I? How could you deny me of that knowledge?”       “I'm sorry...” Baekhyun pouted, even though his mother couldn't see his bottom lip sticking out.       “Your father and I have such short notice. He's trying to get time off work now so we can come visit.”       “Mom! He doesn't have to take off work!”       “There's no way in hell we're missing our son going into labor!”       “I still have like a month and a half before my due date, mom...”       “Which gives your father some time to schedule his vacation time. You haven't told me the gender yet either, or if you have a name picked! Have you gotten everything you need for the baby?”       “It's a baby boy, we're naming him Minhyuk, and yes, we're setting the baby room up as soon as Minseok finishes moving in,” Baekhyun listed off, gazing at his boyfriend miserably. His mother was going to go through an entire checklist at this rate.       “I'm so glad it's Minseok. You two have been practically married since high school.” Both Minseok and Baekhyun blushed at that. “I can't believe it took you two so long to start dating and making babies.”       “Ok, mom! Too far!” Baekhyun squeaked. Minseok laughed across from him, but he was also red up to his ears.       “I heard Minseok! Is he there with you now? Hand him the phone!” Baekhyun sighed and did as told. Minseok took it with wide, pleading eyes. He'd dug his own grave by laughing.       “H-Hello?” He asked.       “It's been so long! How are you doing, dear?” The woman asked, her tone completely different than it was with Baekhyun.       “I'm fine. Just kinda working through the days and enjoying what I can.”       “I hope my son hasn't caused you too much trouble.”       “He's great, really!” The woman on the other end laughed.       “That's good to hear. When is his due date? I want to be able to come to Seoul and take care of him during the last couple weeks and be there for the labor.”       “March 18th is the official date, but you never know with kids, right?” Baekhyun rolled his eyes. Of course his mother was getting answers out of Minseok instead.       “Alright. We'll plan to be there a little before that. Don't worry, we'll get our own place. I know better than to intrude on my son, especially when he's going to be ready to burst,” she chuckled.       “We'll look forward to it,” Minseok said with a smile.       “Do your parents know about this?”      “Yeah, I called them before we made the announcement and told them everything. They were a little less enthusiastic than you, but they weren't against it and they'll come see the baby when he's born as well.”        Baekhyun's eyes widened. He wasn't aware Minseok had already informed his parents and made plans. Minseok really was the more organized one of the two. There was a reason Baekhyun depended so heavily on Kyungsoo after all.       “I'm glad you have a bit more wherewithal than my idiot son. I feel relieved that he's living with you now.”      “He's really not that bad,” Minseok insisted, laughing and blowing a kiss at Baekhyun as he fumed across the table.       “Alright, alright. I trust you. I think I'll let you go and talk to my son some more.”       “Of course. Here you go.” Minseok handed the phone back to Baekhyun.       “You have no faith in me,” Baekhyun whined. His mother laughed.       “I have a lot of faith in you, but it doesn't mean I'm not still worried. Even I've seen some of the things being said about you and it makes my skin crawl. If I could give them a piece of my mind...”       “I'm really fine, mom. I've had bad things said about me loads of times. It'll pass.”       “You're really ok?” She asked softly. “I saw the pictures of what that man did to your face. Did he ever do anything more?”       “I'm ok. My cheek has mostly healed and he's left me alone since we filed charges against him. Minseok comforts me whenever I get upset. I'll make it through this. I'm going on maternity leave in a couple weeks too. Then I can really disconnect from everything and focus on the baby.”       “Alright...I just want you to feel safe. Know that you are loved, by many people. Your father and I will always love and support you, and Minseok will too, I'm sure.”       “Thanks, mom. I love you too.”       “I better let you get back to your boyfriend. Your father and I will come visit soon, alright?”       “Ok. See you then, mom.”        Baekhyun hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair sighing. Minseok couldn't help but smile softly. As much as Baekhyun's mother wore him out, it was obvious the two cared deeply for each other. Baekhyun looked at Minseok with a pout next.       “You told your parents and didn't even tell me what they said?”      “Ah...We had the radio segment later that day and it slipped my mind...I mean, they weren't jumping for joy that I knocked you up and announced it on the radio. They're a little more reserved about those kinds of things, though they've known I'm bi and have been in love with you for ages. So I guess they saw it coming and were fine with it. They just wished it could have been a little more subtle and less, nation-shaking.” Baekhyun rolled his eyes.       “Go big or go home, right?”       “Shut up and eat your breakfast,” Minseok groaned and Baekhyun laughed loudly.        Minseok had really missed that sound. Ever since Baekhyun's radio event, he hadn't laughed like that. It wasn't that Baekhyun was miserable, but Minseok could tell it had definitely shaken him. It was good that the cheesy, silly Baekhyun was coming back. In the end, nothing could really keep him down after all. ~*~       The weeks seemed to drag for Baekhyun as he finished his radio show. His ratings stayed abysmal and nasty comments on the screen were starting to repeat themselves. He made sure to make a comment about the nicer comments, but in general, he was ready to be done with this. He was tired of subjecting himself to boycott and abuse every time he tried to do his job. On the final day of his broadcast, he had to force his smile back as he finished the broadcast. He was still really emotional while saying goodbye to all the staff that had taken such good care of him and stood by him through all of this though. He really hoped Kyungsoo would jot their names down, because Baekhyun definitely wanted to work with them again in the future.        Being on maternity leave was strange because Baekhyun also didn't see much of Kyungsoo. He would still drop by every couple of days with groceries, since he knew both of them were targets for wandering eyes and he wanted to help. He also wanted to check up on Baekhyun frequently, which the latter really appreciated. He'd never realized just how good a friend Kyungsoo was until they'd started seeing each other less and Baekhyun found himself missing the other. He hoped the feelings were mutual.        Minseok had finished moving in, so the house was bit fuller than before. They had spent an entire day setting up their computers in their bedroom so they could game together. Minseok did most of the work, but Baekhyun supplied plenty of nitpicking. Having Minseok there with him on a daily basis was more than Baekhyun ever could have dreamed of. Minseok came home to him every day after work and they spent the evenings together. He was probably the only thing keeping Baekhyun from going mad just sitting around the house and resting. He was never good at doing nothing for long periods of time.        With a round belly at 8 months though, Baekhyun found himself worn out if he moved around the house too much. He hated everything about being this pregnant. His body ached and he couldn't get up off the couch or chairs without a serious struggle or Minseok giving him a boost. He genuinely felt like Minseok should be rolling him across the floor with how round he felt. He was afraid of going into labor, but he was so ready for the baby to be out. He wanted his body back.        The hardest time was when Minseok was at work, leaving Baekhyun alone for large parts of the day. He used to have Kyungsoo at his side during the workdays, but now he was alone in his house, which was too big for one person. He spent a lot of time laying in bed watching TV, since that was the most comfortable, but he missed going outside and having fresh air in his lungs. He missed interacting with people. He missed being able to go out to restaurants and have fancy food, though he wasn't going to say anything against Minseok's cooking. Practically everything about Minseok was perfect, and his cooking was no exception.        His mood started to drop. He wondered if this was normal for women who were this pregnant. He thought about asking his mom if she experienced that, but he decided it would be too embarrassing and she might take it as a plea to come over earlier than planned. The last thing he needed was to stress about being a good host to his mother. He knew he would need to let that notion go once they came to help with the baby, but it was one more thing to think about later.        Minseok must have noticed how restless Baekhyun had become, because the next thing the singer knew, his boyfriend had arranged for Kyungsoo to come and pick him up for a drive. It was the first time Baekhyun had been out of the house for anything other than doctor's appointments. Kyungsoo had brought the van with tinted windows as well, so Baekhyun didn't have to worry nearly as much about being spotted through the glass.        Kyungsoo bought them both coffee and drove around some of the more scenic areas, letting Baekhyun take in all the pink and red decorations. That was when the latter remembered it was Valentine's Day. He hadn't really been out to see the store displays change and truthfully, other than checking what day it was on his phone, he really couldn't have been bothered to keep track of time except for doctor's appointments. He'd been so focused on just trying to get through the last month of his pregnancy, he'd forgotten about all things romantic. Was Minseok doing something for him right now? Definitely. Was he officially the worst boyfriend for forgetting yet another romantic holiday? Probably.        Kyungsoo drove him around for a few hours before finally returning home. He helped Baekhyun up the stairs to his house, and the pregnant man couldn't help but feel a bit of spite for just how long it took him and how tired he was from just that activity alone. He was flushed red and embarrassed as he said goodbye to Kyungsoo, but the instant he opened the door, he was greeted with the overwhelming aroma of food. Minseok had just taken something out of the oven and set it on the counter when he spotted Baekhyun in the doorway. He took off his oven mitts and quickly ran over, wrapping an arm around Baekhyun's waist.       “Come here,” he said gently, kissing him on the cheek and leading Baekhyun out to the balcony outside of the living room.        A small table covered by a table cloth was set up to the right. Two chairs were placed beside it and a small candle display was set in the middle, though it hadn't been lit yet. Minseok directed Baekhyun over to the left, where there was porch recliner that they'd recently bought, and guided him to lie down. When Baekhyun was resting properly, Minseok kissed his head gently.       “Relax and take it easy for now, ok? I'll get you when dinner's ready.”        Before Baekhyun had a chance to argue, Minseok had rushed back inside to get the food ready. Baekhyun sighed and glanced around the balcony. Baekhyun hadn't done much to decorate the place, but Minseok had brought out some potted plants and set up other decorations for the occasion. Baekhyun noticed the small heater near the table as well and he couldn't help but smile. It was February, so the weather was still cold outside. Minseok was always considerate, so of course he would place a heater outside to keep them warm.        Baekhyun closed his eyes and felt the cool breeze on his face. He heard the screen door slide again and watched as Minseok placed beautifully arranged plates on the table and lit the candles. Baekhyun almost wanted to go to sleep, but soon enough, Minseok had walked over and grabbed his arm, helping him to his feet. They walked over to the table and Minseok pulled a chair out so Baekhyun could sit. He sat across from him with a sigh and held his hand out for Baekhyun to take.       “It's not much, but I wanted to do a fancy dinner. Would have had wine with the meal, but, you know. Can't have you drinking.” Baekhyun shook his head.       “You didn't have to do all this...”       “I wanted to,” Minseok said simply. “Plus, you've been down recently and I thought it would cheer you up...Happy Valentine's Day,” he whispered, leaning closer to smile at him. Baekhyun could feel his face flush.       “I didn't do anything for you...”       “You don't need to.” Minseok stood in his chair and leaned further towards Baekhyun, connecting their lips. When he pulled away, he smiled shyly. “I love you.”      “I love you too,” Baekhyun breathed.        Somehow, even after almost a year together, those 3 words still sent his heart into overdrive when Minseok said them. When Baekhyun had recovered from his stupor, Minseok was already seated again and looking at him expectantly to try the food. Baekhyun let out a shaky breath and took the first bite. As expected, everything was delicious. How on earth did such a train wreck of a person manage to woo Minseok?        The majority of dinner was filled with small talk and laughter from both ends. Minseok really was the best company Baekhyun had ever had. Not only was he funny and relaxed, but he brought out those same qualities in Baekhyun. When the other man brought out home-made chocolate cake for dessert, Baekhyun was pretty sure he cried a little. Not even the words 'I love you' could satisfy how he felt for Minseok anymore. He was pretty sure he would cease to exist if the other man weren't in his life.        Following dinner, Minseok brought the dishes in, then they sat at the table watching the sunset while holding hands. Normally, Baekhyun and Minseok weren't really interested in cheesy romantic things like this, but they were both starting to think maybe they should be. With a baby on the way, these kinds of moments would probably be rare. They had to savor them while they still could.        Minseok let Baekhyun stay outside until it was dark, then he brought the other in, not wanting him to freeze outside. Minseok took a while to clean the kitchen, mostly because he'd done so much to cook that meal, but Baekhyun sat on the couch in the living room and watched him from there. Finally, when Minseok was done, he walked over to Baekhyun and leaned down, kissing him on the lips.       “What would you like to do?” He asked softly. Baekhyun bit his lip as he thought, then smiled sheepishly.       “Bedroom,” he whispered.        Minseok laughed, but helped him off the couch nonetheless. After that, they headed to their shared room and Baekhyun sat on the edge of the bed while Minseok closed the door. He walked over to Baekhyun and stood in front of him, resting his arms around his neck and smiling with a hint of a smirk.       “Now what?” He asked, cocking his head to the side. Baekhyun pulled at the bottom of his shirt.       “I want you to take this off,” he said softly, but firmly. Minseok raised an eyebrow. “I want to touch you...”        Minseok stared into his eyes for about 5 seconds before pulling his shirt over his head. He was being awfully complacent for Baekhyun, and the latter was thankful. He would have probably turned bright red if he had to say anything more. He just wanted to make Minseok feel loved and satisfied.        He grabbed Minseok's hips and pulled him closer, so that the latter was brushing against his protruding stomach. Baekhyun closed his eyes as he placed his lips on Minseok's abdomen, kissing along the curved musculature. His fingers began traipsing along his skin, nails dragging lightly along the dips. Baekhyun's thumb brushed along one of Minseok's nipples as he placed a kiss on his navel, and he felt Minseok shudder against him and exhale shakily. Baekhyun continued to tease him, nipping at his skin and leaving small red marks where he knew Minseok was sensitive.       “Really?” Minseok asked, in a half-laugh, half-whine.        Baekhyun smiled against his skin and hummed in response, sending another chill down Minseok's body. As Baekhyun continued to mark him, his hand shifted lower, cupping his groin and pressing his palm against it. Minseok groaned, leaning forward and wrapping his arms tighter around Baekhyun's neck.        Baekhyun continued to palm him for some time, listening to Minseok moan and whimper into his hair. When he could feel Minseok was hard, he pulled away, getting a pretty uncharacteristic whine from the other in response. Baekhyun smirked and scooted further back on the bed, patting the spot where he just was.       “Lay down.”       “W-Wait, really?” Minseok stuttered, voice trembling.        Baekhyun nodded and cocked his head to the side expectantly. Minseok let out another shaky breath before shyly crawling onto bed and laying down in front of him. Baekhyun's hands immediately unfastened Minseok's pants and slid them down revealing a tent in his underwear. Minseok looked away, suddenly much shyer with Baekhyun hovering over him. He gasped when he felt Baekhyun slide his underwear down and give his length a slow stroke. Before he could let out any other sound, Baekhyun had pressed their lips together. Minseok let him take the lead again and wrapped his arms around his neck once more.        Baekhyun almost felt dizzy, having Minseok moan unabashedly into his mouth. Unfortunately, he had to pull away eventually because it was hurting his back to lean down. He couldn't wait for the baby to be out so he could kiss his boyfriend without struggle. This was just bordering on unfair now. Minseok didn't seem to mind that Baekhyun had stopped kissing him though. Instead, he just continued to moan and whimper as Baekhyun continued to work.        It didn't take long for Minseok to reach his high, letting out a low, guttural moan. As soon as he was finished, Baekhyun grabbed a couple of tissues, cleaned up, and put Minseok's pants back in order. After, he laid down beside the other boy, tracing patterns onto his chest with his fingers and kissing his lips gently as Minseok continued to pant.       “Did you like that?” Baekhyun asked gently, looking at him with hopeful eyes. Minseok nodded dazedly.       “Yeah...”       “Happy Valentine's Day,” Baekhyun whispered, a hint of mischief in his voice.        Minseok laughed and snuggled Baekhyun closer. The latter's stomach was practically on top of him, but he didn't mind. He liked having Baekhyun pressed this close to him.       “You really didn't last that long,” the other boy stated next. Minseok was suddenly regretting the cuddle.       “My partner in crime hasn't been feeling up to it, so I haven't been either.” Baekhyun pouted at that.       “As soon as this baby is born, we're gonna have to much sex,” he grumbled. “I need to make up for lost time and feeling too sick and tired for it.”       “That sounds good to me,” Minseok sighed, running his fingers through Baekhyun's hair.        They were silent for some time. Baekhyun was focused on the rise and fall of the other's chest and one of the marks he'd made earlier. Each time Baekhyun exhaled, it tickled Minseok's skin, sometimes causing small goosebumps to appear briefly. Finally, Minseok let out a deep sigh and decided to change topics.       “Baekhyun, we haven't really talked about what we're going to do after the baby is born...Who will work, who will take care of the baby...”       “I'll be on maternity leave for a while until the baby's big enough to be ok without me for a few hours.”       “Do you want to keep working?”       “Of course...Are you ok with that?”       “Yeah. You'll bring in way more money than me,” Minseok laughed. “I really hate my job, Baekhyun...I'm ok with being the stay at home parent. At least until the baby's a bit older and I feel like I could get a job again.”       “Are you saying you want to quit?” Baekhyun asked. Minseok nodded.       “I was going to put in my 2 weeks tomorrow. I'm really not comfortable leaving you home alone this close to having the baby. Between the two of us, I think we have enough saved to survive a few months of neither of us working. When you're ready, you'll be able to pick work right back up, I'm sure.”       “I hope so,” Baekhyun sighed. “I left a bit of a mess behind...”       “Time will fix everything, right?” Minseok soothed. “You'll put out a new single and everyone will be flocking back to listen.”       “That would be nice...”       “Are you ok with me quitting work?” Minseok asked, getting back to the topic at hand.       “Yeah, you're allowed to make your own decisions.”       “I know, but we're a family now, so I wanted to let you know what I was thinking. We'll both look after Mini-Min when he's first born, but when you want to go back to work, I'll stay home. We'll be your own 2-man cheering squad.” Baekhyun laughed.       “I think I would love that...Thank you, Minseok. For everything...”       “The feeling's mutual,” the other sighed. “Thank you so much, Baekhyun. I've never been this happy.”        Baekhyun flushed and pressed his face against Minseok's chest. He felt the other kiss his head and run a hand along his back. The rest of the evening was mostly spent in silence, with small romantic ramblings here and there. Baekhyun had never spent a Valentine's Day simply like this. Whenever he had a boyfriend, they would always do something extravagant and over the top. He much preferred a simple evening like this with Minseok.       Then again, anything with Minseok would have been fine. He was the only person that Baekhyun really felt he could trust fully and stay with for years to come. This was just the beginning. Baekhyun didn't know if the road ahead would be even harder, but as Minseok held him in his arms as they dozed off, Baekhyun felt like he was really prepared for anything that came his way. If nothing else, he knew that he wouldn't be alone, and that was the most comforting thought.