Chapter 8 (1/1)

Baekhyun probably should have anticipated that of all the times he would go into labor, it would be the one time he was actually winning at a video game. He was in the middle of mocking one of the players he'd just defeated when he felt a gush in between his legs. All his activity ceased and he stared forward in shock. He'd been feeling light contractions that day, but he'd been told not to worry too much unless they got stronger and more frequent, so he'd continued on with his day, keeping track of them. It was March 11th, a week before the due date. Of course his body would choose to be inconvenient until the bitter end.       Minseok had been laying on the bed, trying and mostly failing to read a book due to Baekhyun's shouting. When he heard the sudden silence, he glanced up worriedly, setting the book in his lap.      “You ok?” He asked. Baekhyun glanced in between his legs and let out a shaky breath.      “Minseok...My water just broke,” he mumbled.       Minseok shot off the bed, book falling to the floor, and rushed over to Baekhyun. He knelt down and checked for himself, then looked up at Baekhyun, rubbing his thigh encouragingly.      “Have you been feeling contractions?”      “Y-Yeah...My water breaking means I'm really going into labor, right?” He asked nervously. Minseok nodded and let out a deep exhale.      “We should go to the hospital.”      “Minseok, I'm scared...”      “It's gonna be alright. I'll be right beside you, ok? Can you stand up?”       Baekhyun bit his lip as Minseok helped lift him out of the seat, game forgotten. His nerves were already so bad that he was shaking as he walked. Thankfully, Minseok had a firm grip on him as he locked the house and helped Baekhyun down the steps and to the car. As soon as Baekhyun was buckled into the passenger's side, Minseok was running to the driver's seat and speeding within reason to the hospital. Baekhyun clung to Minseok's hand as he drove, squeezing it each time a new contraction came. They were definitely getting stronger.       By the time they got to the hospital, Baekhyun had closed his eyes and was trying to remain calm and breathe, despite how badly he was shaking. Minseok got out of the car and helped Baekhyun into the hospital. The doctors quickly got them situated in a room, then the waiting game began. Baekhyun's body was still adjusting so that he could give birth.       Minseok took that opportunity to step outside the room and call Baekhyun's parents as well as Kyungsoo. His parents had arrived about a week ago and they'd been checking in usually once a day, either by phone or by visit. Minseok was surprised at how shaky his voice was as he spoke on the phone. He wasn't even the one in labor, but he was still scared, both for Baekhyun's sake and to finally meet the baby later.       Minseok didn't wait for them to arrive before heading back into the room. It was going to be a long day, and he wanted to be with Baekhyun the entire time. Baekhyun was mostly taking deep breaths, closing his eyes each time a contraction came. He reached for Minseok's hand, and the painful squeezes began once more, but Minseok didn't dare pull away. Baekhyun was repeating his name like a mantra, and despite how he tried to stay calm, Minseok knew he was forcing back a breakdown.       When the contractions got more painful, Baekhyun didn't even bother holding back his tears or his cries. He was holding Minseok's hand so hard it was going to bruise. Minseok wanted all of this to be over and for Baekhyun to be out of pain, but he knew it was just the beginning. It would only get worse from here.       As Baekhyun finally neared the final phase of the first stage of labor, where his body was mostly adjusted to push out the baby, his face was pretty much pressed into Minseok's chest as he cried, and his nails were starting to break the skin on the other's hand. Nausea was overcoming him and Baekhyun wanted it to be over. He wanted to push the baby out so badly, but the doctor said it wasn't time yet. He was absolutely miserable.      “Minseok, I don't want to do this,” he whimpered.      “It's gonna be ok. You're doing great.”      “It hurts...I feel like I'm gonna throw up. Oh my God it hurts,” Baekhyun cried as another contraction happened. Minseok leaned closer and hugged him.      “I know...It'll be over soon enough. I'm right here beside you, ok? Just focus on me.”       He kissed Baekhyun's forehead and gently brushed his sweaty bangs away from his face with his free hand. Baekhyun let out another cry and grunted into Minseok's chest. It was taking every ounce of his willpower not to start pushing. He'd completely lost all sense of time as well. How long had he been doing this? Hours? Minutes? How much longer would he have to suffer?       When he finally got the ok to start pushing, Baekhyun thought he was going to die. Waiting for this moment had already demanded a huge amount from him, but pushing the baby out was even worse. Baekhyun was a crying mess, frazzled nerves mixing with pain, as he pushed in what felt like vain. Minseok's hand was clearly bruising at his point and Baekhyun's nails had drawn a small amount of blood, but he didn't let go. Instead, he placed kiss after kiss on Baekhyun's head and whispered soothing words.       When the doctor noticed how much pain Baekhyun was in, he offered to give him an epidural, and Baekhyun didn't hesitate to say yes. It took time to kick in, but Baekhyun seemed to calm down somewhat and relaxed against the bed and Minseok. His lower body felt numb, so pushing was a little harder, but he still did his best, crying out of frustration and exhaustion now. He hadn't anticipated that he would spend the entire time crying for one reason or another, but now that he'd started, he couldn't stop.       One particular push did have him cry out once more and cling to Minseok with both hands this time. Baekhyun took deep, shaky breaths watching his legs tremble in front of him. He vaguely heard the nurse in front of him say something.      “The baby's crowned! Keep pushing!”       Baekhyun felt dizzy and exhausted. He just wanted to close his eyes and let this be over. He felt like he hardly had any strength left to push. Why couldn't the baby just push himself the rest of the way out? He felt someone shake his shoulder and he glanced up dazedly at Minseok.      “You're almost done,” he said gently. “Just a little more. You can do it.”       Baekhyun whined, but pushed nonetheless. His body was numb, but he still felt it when the baby's head pushed the rest of the way through, and he heard a high-pitched cry fill the room. Baekhyun was shaking so hard, he felt like the only thing keeping him upright was the fact that Minseok was leaning against him, holding him still. Baekhyun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There was so much sensory overload, between the doctors and Minseok encouraging him and the baby screaming, he genuinely wanted to pass out. He gave several more valiant pushes instead, and with one final effort, his body felt relief, and he collapsed against Minseok.       The doctor quickly took care of the baby and began cleaning him while Baekhyun let all the tension seep from his body, sobbing quietly into Minseok's chest. It was finally over. He'd done it. He vaguely felt the nurses cleaning up around him, but he decided to focus on his boyfriend instead.      “You did great,” Minseok whispered, running fingers through Baekhyun's sweat-drenched hair. “It's all over now. You were so brave.”      “I-Is M-Minhyuk ok?” Baekhyun asked, his voice hoarse and tired.      “Yeah, he's fine. The doctor's taking care of him now. He's adorable, Baekhyun.”       The singer let out a tired laugh and snuggled closer to Minseok. Really all he wanted was for Minseok to lay beside him and hold him, but he was a bloody mess right now, literally, and it wasn't the right time. Minseok still ran his hand through his hair and kissed his forehead at least. That was probably the next best thing he could ask for.       Eventually, the nurses converted the birthing bed back into a normal bed. Soon after that, Minseok suddenly stopped combing his finger through Baekhyun's hair, and he let out a small whine. He then followed Minseok's line of sight over to the small bundle that the doctor was holding.      “Are you ready?” The man asked softly.       Baekhyun glanced up at Minseok nervously before the latter nodded. Baekhyun's gaze shifted back to the doctor and he gave a small nod of his own. The man carefully lowered the bundle down into Baekhyun's arms, and Minseok cradled the baby with one of his own for extra support. Baekhyun was still shaking quite a bit.       The baby was much lighter than Baekhyun had expected, with how much weight he'd gained himself. He felt fresh tears gathering in his eyes, but he was too tired to shed them this time. Instead, he just looked up at Minseok with a wide smile, managing another laugh, this one much less tired than the last. Minseok's smile was as wide as Baekhyun's, and kissed his cheek before snuggling them both closer.      “I'm so happy,” he whispered into Baekhyun's hair. “I'm so proud of both of you.”      “He's got your cheeks,” Baekhyun muttered, poking one of the soft, plump cheeks. Minseok leaned closer.      “He totally got your eyes and nose though. That's probably for the best, your nose is cute.” Baekhyun giggled.      “Your nose is plenty cute too.”       Baekhyun hadn't been paying attention to much around him, so it was surprising when he glanced up and found the place converted into a relatively normal looking hospital room. The doctor walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.      “If you'd like, you can try breast feeding him. Your body is more than capable of that.” Baekhyun flushed slightly and looked at Minseok.      “Is that ok with you?” He asked nervously.      “Of course! Why wouldn't it be?”      “I don't know...I just, didn't know if it would weird you out...”      “You're still worried about this after all that we've been through?” Minseok asked, kissing his head again. “It's fine. Mini-Min needs to eat too, right?”       Baekhyun smiled at the use of the nickname. After that, Minseok helped him adjust the hospital shirt so that Minhyuk had access. It took a while before the baby finally decided to latch on, and Baekhyun couldn't help the shiver that went down his spine. It tickled more than he imagined it would. Minhyuk seemed content though, so Baekhyun smiled and relaxed against Minseok once more.       When Baekhyun had stopped shaking so badly and was properly wrapped up in a blanket feeding Minhyuk, Minseok decided it was time for him to go outside the room and see what state of disarray his parents and Kyungsoo were in. He hadn't talked to them beyond telling them Baekhyun had gone into labor, and it had been hours since then. He kissed Baekhyun softly on the head and gave Minhyuk's cheek a gentle rub with his thumb, then exited the room.       When he caught sight of the hallway window, he was surprised that it was already dark outside. They'd gotten to the hospital pretty early in the afternoon. He glanced the other way and spotted Baekhyun's parents and Kyungsoo rushing towards him. Baekhyun's mother put her hands on his shoulders and looked at him desperately.      “How is he? Is everything ok? Was the baby born safely?” She rapid fired. Minseok smiled and nodded.      “Baekhyun and the baby are both fine. He's feeding him now.”       Minseok watched as the woman staggered backwards, sighing in relief. Her husband must have been used to the dramatic antics because he quickly caught her. She really was Baekhyun's mother after all. His father looked equally relieved to hear the news. Kyungsoo suddenly grabbed Minseok's bruised hand and held it up, brows raised and looking worried.      “You really let him have at it...Should you get the doctor to look at you too?” Kyungsoo asked. Minseok laughed tiredly and shook his head.      “I'm fine, really.”      “Are you happy?” Baekhyun's father asked. Minseok smiled and leaned against the wall, nodding.      “Unbelievably happy.”       Baekhyun's mom reached out and patted his head gently. Her smile was just as warm as Baekhyun's, and she looked like she was glowing with pride and happiness. After a few moments of silence, she finally decided to speak up once more.      “Will we be able to see them?”      “I'm sure Baekhyun would love that. Let me just make sure he's ready.”       She nodded and waited as Minseok went back into the room. About 5 minutes later, he opened the door again and motioned for them to come inside. Minseok took a seat beside Baekhyun's bed and the others gathered at the foot of it. Baekhyun smiled bashfully up at Minseok and they pressed their foreheads together. The sound of a phone camera going off made them both look up. Kyungsoo was the culprit, smiling to himself as he took the pictures.      “Was that for the press?” Baekhyun asked tiredly. Kyungsoo shook his head.      “Nope. That was for me. Can I take a picture of Minhyuk up close?”       Baekhyun smiled and nodded, shifting the angle of his arms so Kyungsoo could see him better. His parents walked closer and his mother patted his head.      “How do you feel?”      “Pretty bad,” Baekhyun admitted quietly. “I feel like I can barely move and my eyes burn from crying...But I'm really excited too.” She smiled and kissed the top of his head.      “We're proud of you,” his father supplied softly.       Minseok had never seen Baekhyun's face light up so much. It really was so important that his parents supported him and loved him as he was. Baekhyun deserved that kind of love from everyone. Eventually, Kyungsoo sighed and pointed his phone at Minseok and Baekhyun again.      “Ok, this time it's for the press,” he said shyly.      “So pretend like I didn't just spend 8 hours shoving a baby out of my body?” Baekhyun joked, but he genuinely looked exhausted. Kyungsoo rolled his eyes.      “Just smile for the camera,” he sighed.       Baekhyun leaned against Minseok's chest and angled Minhyuk so that he was also facing the camera. It wasn't hard for either of them to smile, even though they knew this pic would be going on the internet for the world to see. They both felt like they were overflowing with happiness at the moment, so nothing could worry them. Kyungsoo gave them the thumbs up and Baekhyun kissed Minseok's neck, choosing to continue leaning on him.       Eventually, Baekhyun's mother took Minhyuk from him, rocking him side to side and showing her husband. Much like Minseok had done earlier, Baekhyun's father held his wife's arms, forming a reinforced cradle in between the two of them. When it came time for them to pass him to Kyungsoo, he was surprisingly eager. Baekhyun figured this was probably a similar feeling to holding a baby nephew. Kyungsoo was pretty much family to him now, a much more responsible brother. Watching Kyungsoo quietly coo at Minhyuk and play with his tiny hands with his finger, he figured the feeling was probably mutual.       As the night wore on, the group eventually left, realizing that Baekhyun really needed rest. They promised to be back again the following day and left the couple and their baby alone. Minseok would be sleeping on a pull out bed in the room. While he was getting it ready though, Baekhyun called out to him. He returned to the boy's side in seconds.      “What's up?”      “I have to pee...Will you help me tuck him in...and help me to the bathroom? I don't trust my legs yet...”      “Of course!”       Minseok took Minhyuk from Baekhyun and laid him in the small cradle beside his bed, wrapping him in the blankets that were placed inside. When the baby was bundled up and sleeping peacefully, he turned to Baekhyun and held his arms while the other shakily stood up from the bed. Minseok walked with him to the restroom and made sure he got seated ok, then left him alone for a little privacy. When Baekhyun called for him again, Minseok walked back inside and helped him wash up and get back to his bed. He was about to head to his own pull-out bed when Baekhyun grabbed his hand.      “Will you hold me?” He asked gently. Minseok looked confused until Baekhyun patted the bed beside him. “I really want to cuddle...”       Minseok smiled and slid onto the bed beside Baekhyun. It was a tight fit between the two of them and they were laying on their sides, chests pressed together. Minseok was running his hand up and down Baekhyun's side and back, while the other had wrapped his arms around Minseok and held him close, burying his face in the crook of his neck. They were silent for some time before Minseok spoke up.      “Are you feeling ok?” He asked softly, since he didn't want to wake Minhyuk. Baekhyun hummed.      “I'm sore but it's a lot better than earlier.” Minseok kissed his forehead.      “I'm so sorry it hurt so bad...”      “We knew it would,” Baekhyun laughed gently. “It was worth everything.”      “I'm glad to hear that.”      “He's beautiful, Minseok...I love him so much.”      “He is. I love him too. You made a beautiful kid, Baekhyun.”      “You helped...” The other pouted. “Take a little credit, jeez...” Minseok laughed and kissed his lips.      “I can't wait to raise him with you.”      “I'm gonna be a disaster of a parent,” Baekhyun sighed. “I can't even manage my own life without Kyungsoo's help.”      “Thankfully I'm gonna be the stay at home parent,” Minseok teased.      “Ass,” Baekhyun whined, hitting his chest lightly. Minseok chuckled and kissed him again.      “I love you, Baekhyun. Words can't even describe.”      “I feel the same way. I love you too, Minnie.”       Minseok smiled warmly. Baekhyun hadn't used that nickname with him in years, not since they were in high school. An intense wave of nostalgia overcame him. He'd loved Baekhyun since way back then. As cheesy as it was, being here now with him, holding each other after the birth of their child, it really was like a dream for Minseok. Never would he have expected his life to come to this point, but he was more than grateful that it had.       Baekhyun ended up falling asleep in Minseok's arms, not letting go of the other even while unconscious. So Minseok ended up sleeping squished into the small hospital bed with Baekhyun, not that he minded. He didn't really want to let go of Baekhyun either. Within a few hours, Minhyuk was fussing and they were up again to feed him. The long and exhausting road as parents had finally begun. ~*~      The days following Minhyuk's birth were fairly mellow, to Minseok's surprise. Baekhyun was on the mend still, and often spent a lot of time resting. His parents came over and helped take care of the house and cook some meals. They also supplied groceries when needed, which Minseok was thankful for. It allowed him to give his full attention to both Baekhyun and Minhyuk.       Taking care of a newborn was extremely simple, to both of their delights. It was mostly making sure he was fed and changed when needed and keeping him happy while he was conscious. Otherwise, he slept surprisingly well and was a fairly easygoing kid, despite how much hell he put Baekhyun through on the way out.       The hardest part was when Minhyuk would start crying in the middle of the night while Minseok and Baekhyun were cuddled together sleeping. Usually, during those times, Minseok opted to be the one to check on him, kissing Baekhyun on the back of the neck before getting up. Sometimes, Baekhyun would have to get up too and feed him, but most times, Minseok could settle the baby back down by rocking him in the crib or holding him in his arms.       Baekhyun was starting to think that his favorite image was Minseok and Minhyuk together. Minseok was much softer in his actions when he dealt with their baby, and Baekhyun was falling in love with that image, not that he already wasn't head over heels for Minseok to begin with. When Minseok fell asleep on the couch cradling Minhyuk on his chest, Baekhyun thought his heart might burst. He'd been making dinner for the two of them while Minseok took on baby duty. He obviously had to take a few pictures and save one as his phone background before waking Minseok for his meal.       Minseok had his own stash of secret pictures he'd taken of Baekhyun as well. Most of them involved Baekhyun cradling Minhyuk or playing with him. Baekhyun always knew how to make the baby smile and laugh, and Minseok was pretty sure Minhyuk inherited Baekhyun's smile and high spirits. That wasn't going to bode well for the future. Between the two of them, Minseok was pretty sure he'd meet his end.       Time seemed to fly by and soon enough, it was Minseok's birthday. Minhyuk was almost like an early birthday gift for him. Since everything was still so new to them, Minseok had asked for a very low key birthday. Baekhyun's parents went out and bought him a cake and a few small gifts, but they let Baekhyun and Minseok have the day together. They'd originally offered to watch Minhyuk for a few hours, but neither Baekhyun or Minseok really wanted to leave a 2 week old baby without his parents, even just to go to dinner, so they ultimately stayed home.       Baekhyun had of course cooked dinner, though nothing nearly as fancy as Minseok was capable of, and they had cake together. Minseok was content to leave it there, but once Minhyuk had been put to sleep for the evening until he woke up in the middle of the night to be fed, Baekhyun decided to do more. He'd turned on the baby monitor in their room where the crib was and placed the other monitor on the living room table. After that, he'd more or less straddled Minseok's lap on the couch and started kissing him.       He smiled when he felt Minseok's hands settle on his hips and press him closer. Baekhyun rolled his hips experimentally and the soft moan that flooded his mouth was enough to keep him going. The kisses got hungrier and eventually, Minseok's lips trailed along Baekhyun's jaw and down his neck. The latter shuddered and let out a shaky breath.      “Birthday sex?” Baekhyun manged to ask. He could already feel they were both hard.      “Minhyuk's asleep in our room...”      “Couch is fine,” Baekhyun breathed as Minseok sucked at sensitive skin on his neck.      “Are you up for sex? You feel ok?”      “I feel great...But baby factory is off-limits for a while, alright?” Minseok rolled his eyes and laughed.      “That's fine. Do you wanna top instead? It's been a really long time, right?”      “But it's your birthday...We should do what you want.”      “I want you to be happy and comfortable. I don't really care how we do it anyway.”      “Alright then~ Suit yourself!” Baekhyun singsonged.       They shifted their bodies so that Minseok was lying down on the couch with Baekhyun on top, grinding against him once more while biting and kissing at the other's neck. Gradually, clothes were peeled off and hot skin brushed against hot skin. The couch was a bit harder to work on than the bed, but they managed to make it work.       Baekhyun's mouth trailed lower down Minseok's body, pressing soft kisses on his abdomen and naval. Before Minseok could even register that Baekhyun had pulled down his pants and underwear in one swift movement, a mouth was on his length. Minseok placed the back of his hand over his mouth, but it did little to hide the moan that escaped. He thought he felt Baekhyun laugh, but he decided to let it go. As they spent more time together, Minseok was getting better about letting Baekhyun have his way with him without being too embarrassed. Baekhyun was probably the only one that Minseok would let his stubborn tough exterior down with.       As Baekhyun's mouth continued to work, Minseok felt slick fingers prod at his entrance. Baekhyun had somehow managed to prepare his fingers in the middle of everything. Minseok really had to admire his ability to multitask. When a finger pressed in slowly and began working in time with Baekhyun's mouth, however, Minseok was completely overwhelmed and any coherent thought left his head. He was apparently much less apt at multitasking than Baekhyun was.       Baekhyun worked slowly but skillfully, and soon Minseok was a mess of moans and cries underneath him. Truthfully, he was trying really hard to make it enjoyable for Minseok since this was essentially his gift. He was glad that it seemed to be working so well. Minseok didn't seem to be holding himself back either. Baekhyun almost wondered for a second if he was going to wake Minhyuk up, but he was in the bedroom down the hall. It would probably be ok.       As Baekhyun added more fingers and stretched him further, he felt Minseok begin to move his hips slightly to meet his thrusts. It made it a little awkward for Baekhyun to use his mouth since Minseok kept moving, but he didn't want to force him to stay still, so he decided to work around it. When his fingers grazed a certain spot, Minseok did actually cover his mouth as his body arched and stiffened. Baekhyun internally smirked. He still knew the other's body well.       When Baekhyun could tell Minseok was getting closer, he pulled away completely. The pained, desperate look on Minseok's face was one Baekhyun had never seen before. Minseok pleaded him with his eyes, but Baekhyun didn't return to what he'd been doing previously. Instead, he opened up a condom and slid it on, teasing Minseok's entrance with his own length this time. Baekhyun said nothing before pushing in, Minseok's eyes communicating everything that needed to be said.       Baekhyun rolled his hips languidly, pressing his body against Minseok's as he reconnected their lips. It didn't take long for Minseok to shakily wrap his arms around Baekhyun's back and neck, tangling his fingers in his hair. Baekhyun's pace sped up gradually, and the intensity of his thrusts would occasionally pick up as well. The desperate whimpers flooding his mouth as Minseok kissed him and pressed him closer were even driving Baekhyun a bit mad.       Minseok held Baekhyun even closer, the friction of their bodies bringing him closer to the edge. When Baekhyun found his sweet spot once more, Minseok knew he wouldn't last much longer. He wrapped his legs around Baekhyun's waist, granting the other further access. As Minseok reached his high, his entire body stiffened, tightening around the other. He used that opportunity to drive himself into his own orgasm, moaning into Minseok's shoulder.       Baekhyun laid his head down on Minseok's chest with a sigh. They were both breathing heavily and needed to clean up, but he wanted to lay here connected like this for just a little while longer. Eventually, Minseok rested his head on one arm and used the other to brush through Baekhyun's hair.      “Happy birthday,” Baekhyun said softly, his fingers tracing small circles on Minseok's chest. “I love you.”       He wasn't sure where the sudden shyness came from. Perhaps he'd been rendered shy by all the things he was feeling. He didn't want to be dramatic and over the top, but he loved Minseok so much, saying the words honestly felt like an understatement. He felt the other kiss the top of his head.      “I love you too, Baekhyun. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done.”       Baekhyun smiled warmly, nestling a little closer into Minseok's neck. He loved that Minseok always made him feel like he made the right choice. Baekhyun had made a lot of dumb choices in his life after all, but he finally got it right with Minseok.       Baekhyun ended up falling asleep on top of Minseok, despite the state they were in. Minseok didn't mind though. He wasn't about to wake Baekhyun up and lose his warmth. Besides, the boy was still exhausted and Minseok usually made it a general rule to let him sleep whenever he needed. It wasn't until Minhyuk's crying could be heard in the monitor that Baekhyun woke up. He seemed dazed and surprised and had apparently forgotten he'd fallen asleep right after sex. Minseok could only laugh as he watched the other awkwardly scramble off of him, clean his stomach off and put clothes back on, then head into their room to take care of Minhyuk.       Minseok cleaned himself off at a bit more ease than Baekhyun did. In the monitor, he could hear Baekhyun cooing at Minhyuk and asking him if he was hungry. Once Minseok had put his pants back on, he switched off the monitor and headed back to their bedroom. Baekhyun was on the bed, feeding Minhyuk and poking his nose playfully. Minseok slid onto the bed beside him and snuggled close, kissing his cheek. As he watched the other two, he really felt that spending his birthday like this every year would be a blessing. ~*~      A few months went by and Minseok finally introduced Baekhyun and Joohyun to each other. At the same time, he finally met Joohyun's husband and their baby girl. They'd met at a park, during a relatively quiet time to avoid being spotted. As anticipated, Joohyun and Baekhyun got along splendidly, and Minseok was certain they were already plotting against him. They ended the meeting with promises to meet again, and Joohyun got each of her CDs signed with a personalized message from Baekhyun.       Minhyuk was growing up healthy and Minseok couldn't believe how much he'd already grown in just a few months. Baekhyun's parents had gone back home, so it was just the two of them looking after him for now, but they were making it work. Minseok usually took care of groceries and the like, but they each took turns getting some fresh air one way or another. Gradually, Baekhyun found himself wanting to go back to work though. He was never good at just relaxing at home, and apparently that wasn't going to change.       Minseok had been playing with Minhyuk on the floor when Baekhyun brought it up. Minseok had laid Minhyuk down on a blanket and placed an arch with toys danging from it over the baby so he could bat at them with his tiny hands. Minhyuk mostly liked to kick his legs though. Minseok was laying beside him, laughing and tickling him every once in a while. Baekhyun had been watching them from the couch, smiling brightly.      “Minseok...I want to go back to work...”       Minseok stopped playing with Minhyuk's tummy and glanced up at him. His expression was neutral with small hints of surprise and worry.      “Are you ready?” He asked gently.      “I think so...I miss singing on stage.”      “You're gonna be back out there. People are going to say cruel and rude things. Are you going to be ok with that?”      “Of course. I've said it a million times. I've made quite a reputation for myself, so I'm no stranger to bad comments. This one will be just a little more intense.”      “I just want you to be ok,” Minseok said softly. “What about Minhyuk? He's still really young.”      “I won't be working too much at first. I'll make sure my schedule is light so that I can come home and feed him and take care of him. If I have a long day, I could pump some milk for him too, or you could give him formula.”      “We'd figure it out,” Minseok agreed. “It sounds like you're ready, so go for it.”      “Really?”      “Yeah. We'd planned to have you go back to work, hadn't we? Why should I be surprised? Did you think I'd be against it?”      “I don't know,” Baekhyun pouted.      “I'll miss you,” Minseok sighed. “But someone's gotta bring in a paycheck, right? I mean, I could probably start doing freelance work, but you're a celebrity through and through. You'd go back to it even if I did oppose it.” He laughed softly. “As long as you stay safe and happy, I'm ok with it Baekhyun. Really.”       Baekhyun nodded absentmindedly. Now it was time to call Kyungsoo and get to work on preparing for a comeback. He jumped out of his daze when a toy suddenly hit his chest. He glanced down at Minseok, who was pouting now. A rare sight to be seen.      “Stop spacing out and play with us,” Minseok whined. “You're still full time parent for tonight, right? Do your job!”       Baekhyun rolled his eyes and laughed, then slid down to the ground on the other side of Minhyuk. Half the time the two of them played with the boy, they ended up having more fun together than the baby did, but they figured it was ok. As Minhyuk started ignoring them in favor of one of his crinkly fabric toys, Minseok leaned over and kissed Baekhyun's lips. It was going to be a shift to have him go back to work and not be by his side all the time, but Minseok was happy for him. This was what he really wanted after all. ~*~      Getting back into the swing of things was a slow process for Baekhyun. It started simply with him meeting a song writer and beginning the planning and recording process. When his single release was announced, everyone was suddenly buzzing with opinions about Baekhyun again. The response to the initial announcement was pretty mixed, but Baekhyun hardly let it affect him. A few stations actually sent messages to his agency saying Baekhyun wouldn't be allowed to perform there because they didn't support his lifestyle. It was a hard hit, but Baekhyun accepted it with grace. He was mostly just happy to be back in the recording room again.       When he made it back onto television for the comeback stage, that was when the world was really taken by surprise. Baekhyun was more charismatic than he'd ever been, and Minseok couldn't help but smirk as he read about skeptical commenters turning into fans once more. There were still ample amounts of sexist comments telling him to go back to being a woman and the like, but those weren't even worth paying attention to. Baekhyun was glowing and reclaiming his spot.       Probably the worst was when Baekhyun finally had interviews again, and they kept making gross allusions and snide comments. Minseok almost wanted to charge into one of the interviews and smack the interviewer when he blatantly asked what Baekhyun 'had down there.' Thankfully, Baekhyun was able to handle it much more professionally. He smiled the sweetest, passive aggressive smile Minseok had ever seen on his face.      “Why does that matter?” Baekhyun asked, voice laced with false sweetness and malice. “Does that have anything to do with my new song? Would you ask a female celebrity if she was on her period? Maybe you would. You're obviously not afraid to mock her weight, which by the way, also has nothing to do with her music and ability to sing. But we're a face value society, aren't we, and the body is more important than whether or not we produce music you enjoy listening to.”      “You are an idol, aren't you? Isn't appealing visually also part of your job?”      “Right, an idol,” Baekhyun laughed bitterly. “And idols obviously aren't people. We don't hurt, we don't think, we don't feel, we don't eat food, we don't use the bathroom, we don't do anything remotely human. Excuse my language, but that's crap. If we're going to talk about my body, yes, I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant and I'm still losing it. I think another interviewer asked me that one. If we're talking about my genitalia, then that's infringing on my privacy and I won't sit back and take that kind of treatment. Shall we talk about your weight? Or shall we talk about your failed relationships? That's all people ever ask me. So let's hear it. How much do you weigh? How many bad relationships have you been in? Even better, describe what's in between your legs!”      “I...”      “If you don't want to answer those questions, then you understand how I feel every time one of you interviewers hounds me. I've had a child, I'm in a loving relationship, and I just released a new song. Would you like to ask me about that last one?”      “Y-Yes...”       Minseok couldn't help but laugh as he listened to Baekhyun tear into the man. He really didn't handle bad treatment quietly, but Minseok was proud of him. He would definitely get spoiled once he got home. It took a lot of guts to stand up to him like that, and while he might have been a little too brash, Minseok was extremely happy that Baekhyun spoke his mind. Having the baby really had made Baekhyun mature quite a bit. His spunk was still exactly the same though.       In the end, Baekhyun got reprimanded for how intense he acted, but the public and his agency took his side. The interviewer ended up issuing a public apology, and Baekhyun felt like he'd won a small victory. It was strange having people supporting him again. It was like the past 4 or 5 months when he was treated poorly then disappeared hadn't happened. Baekhyun wasn't going to complain about having support again though. He knew it would come and go, so he would enjoy it while it lasted. His support grew even more when he finally won his lawsuits and Haneul was charged for assault and blackmail. Things were finally looking up.       Gradually, Baekhyun's song grew in popularity and it was at the top of the charts. When he found out, he ran out of the bedroom to find Minseok and shove his phone in his face. Immediately, the other had jumped to his feet, Minhyuk in hand, and pulled Baekhyun into a hug with his free arm. Baekhyun was laughing as tears ran down his cheeks. He was finally coming back, and he still had everything he ever needed in his life.       Winning on a music show was an added bonus. As Minseok watched Baekhyun grow even bigger than he was before, his chest swelled with pride. Baekhyun deserved to succeed, and he was finally getting to. With Baekhyun's success, Minseok found himself being pulled ever so slightly into the spotlight, however.       Upon the success of his comeback, a variety show wanted to do a segment surrounding Baekhyun and his family. Mostly, they wanted to see Baekhyun and Minhyuk interact, but they also wanted to see who Minseok really was. Baekhyun had planned to decline initially, but after talking about it, Minseok accepted. It was only a one episode special, and most of it did revolve around Baekhyun and Minhyuk, but Minseok agreed to be in it as well.       Of course, if the radio show proved one thing, it was that Minseok was horrible in front of any sort of recording device. Most of his footage was scrapped. It was only when they set up a hidden camera, that they could really use any of Minseok's footage. Baekhyun, on the other hand, was able to act as he always did, making Minhyuk squeal with laughter. By the end of the day, Minhyuk was irritable and tired, however, and that was when Minseok with his calm nature really shined. Rocking Minhyuk until he fell asleep was basically the only way they finished the shoot. At that time, Baekhyun had told Minseok repeatedly how proud he was.       That one taste of spotlight was enough for Minseok. The craze surrounding their family grew, but he decided to keep it simple, only agreeing to be in selfies with Baekhyun that he would upload online. It was easier on Minhyuk that way as well. Still, for whatever reason, regardless of the nature of their family, they had gained a following. It was more than Baekhyun had ever anticipated, but he was more than grateful with the positive response. It made every negative response and horrible treatment he'd received worth it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. ~*~      Time flew by before Baekhyun and Minseok were really ready for it. Baekhyun's birthday came and went, and Christmas followed before any of them knew it. Soon, it was another spring and Baekhyun and Minseok were preparing for Minhyuk's first birthday. Baekhyun had had the brilliant idea of buying a giant cake for a one year old. Minseok cringed as he watched Minhyuk finger paint chocolate mush all over his high chair. Baekhyun was definitely going to be cleaning that up later. And also Minhyuk. He was completely covered in the cake.       Still, Baekhyun and Minseok couldn't help but laugh as they watched. Sometimes Minhyuk would stick his hand in his mouth and his eyes would go wide as the taste flooded his senses. After that, he would wave his hands in the air and squeal. No amount of mess would make this sight not worth it.       Minseok's birthday followed almost immediately after, and they found themselves still finishing cake from Minhyuk's birthday. It was always like that with how close the days were. Minhyuk grew faster than Baekhyun and Minseok were ready. Baby photos became sacred memories and were placed throughout the house, but Baekhyun never stopped taking daily photos of Minhyuk.       As time went on, Baekhyun and Minseok helped Minhyuk take his first steps. Walks in the park with Minhyuk's stroller turned into walks in the park with Minhyuk's arms raised, holding each of their hands and walking in between them. No matter how busy Baekhyun got, he always made sure he spent time with both Minseok and Minhyuk. Morning walks were how they started the day, and every time he could spare it, Baekhyun would race home to join Minseok in reading a bedtime story to the boy, dramatic voices included.       When Baekhyun was busy with work, Minseok and Minhyuk would curl up on the couch and watch Baekhyun on the TV. Minhyuk would get excited and shout 'papa' at the screen repeatedly, while Minseok beamed beside him. When Baekhyun had to go out of town for a performance, they made sure to video chat with each other, letting Minhyuk spend plenty of time just listening to Baekhyun and getting his fill of his missing parent. Those times were the hardest, and Minseok didn't think he'd ever get used to not having Baekhyun beside him for so long.       With Minhyuk's third birthday, the family grew just a bit bigger. Minhyuk had seen a dog commercial on TV and insisted on getting a puppy. Baekhyun and Minseok had talked it over and decided it would be a joint gift for both Minhyuk and Minseok, since his birthday was right around the corner.       Minseok had insisted on adopting a full-grown dog from a shelter rather than buying a puppy, which upset Minhyuk initially. Once they brought home a 2 year old medium-sized mixed breed, it only took Minhyuk 3 days before he was running around the house, chasing it and laughing at the top of his lungs though.       The two were inseparable. The only time the dog left Minhyuk was when it was time for him to curl up and sleep at the foot of Baekhyun and Minseok's bed. Even then, there were times that he refused to leave Minhyuk's room after they had tucked him in, so the two parents let it slide for that night as long as they didn't hear Minhyuk get up and play with the dog again.       By the time they hit the 5 year mark since Baekhyun's return to the music scene, he'd become a huge figure in the industry, and Minseok was doing freelance work while Minhyuk was at school. Baekhyun had had two successful national tours and was finishing up a third. He'd been away from Seoul for some time, only coming home for a night or two when he could, but it was keeping Minseok and Minhyuk going at least. Finally, as he neared the end of this tour, his final show would be in Seoul, and he would be able to be with his family once more.       When he got home, he entered relatively quietly, in case they were winding down for the evening. He was instantly greeted by the sound of Minhyuk laughing and Minseok groaning. Judging by the background noises of the TV, they were playing a video game together. When he walked into the living room with his suitcase in hand, he saw Minseok sitting on the ground, game controller in hand and dog head on his thigh, while Minhyuk stood behind him, arms wrapped tightly around his neck as he shouted commands in his ear. A Game Over screen flashed and Minhyuk let out the most dramatic, frustrated groan. He was definitely Baekhyun's child.       When Baekhyun let out a stifled laugh, all 3 looked up at him. Minhyuk didn't waste a second before launching himself at Baekhyun's legs, crying from happiness. Their dog, lovingly named 'Buster' by Minhyuk for some reason or another, charged towards him as well, hopping up happily. Minseok waited for the two to calm down a bit before walking over and hugging Baekhyun, pinning Minhyuk in between them. He kissed Baekhyun gently and rested their foreheads together.      “Welcome home,” he whispered.      “I'm back!”      “Papa, can you beat this boss?” Minhyuk asked, staring up in between them. “Daddy's horrible at this game.” Baekhyun couldn't hold back the laugh this time.      “Guess I have to save the day, huh?” He joked.       Minseok rolled his eyes and let go so Minhyuk could drag Baekhyun over and press the controller into his hands. Minseok sighed and sat beside Baekhyun, pulling Minhyuk into his lap so that he wasn't strangling Baekhyun and shouting into his ear as he tended to do when one of them played games. Buster settled back down, head in Baekhyun's lap this time, and they all watched as the man beat the game with ease.       Once it was over, they decided it was time for Minhyuk's bedtime. Baekhyun started unpacking while Minseok brushed Minhyuk's teeth and settled him into bed. When it was time to kiss him goodnight, Baekhyun finally came in. The hug between them lasted for a good few minutes because neither wanted to let go. Baekhyun had missed holding Minhyuk so much.      “You'll still be here tomorrow, right papa?”      “Of course I will,” Baekhyun soothed. “Tomorrow you and daddy are coming to my last concert, remember? And then after that, I'll be home for a long time!”      “Yay!”      “Make sure you sleep well so you don't fall asleep while I'm singing, ok?”      “Ok!”       After Baekhyun gave him one last kiss and hug, Minseok whispered gentle words and kissed Minhyuk goodnight as well. They shut the door quietly, then headed back to their own room with Buster following them. As Baekhyun unpacked, he took long pauses and sighed a lot. Minseok didn't like the sound of it, so he knelt down beside the other as he was emptying his suitcase and rubbed his back.      “You ok?”      “Yeah...Just really tired,” Baekhyun said softly, leaning on Minseok.      “I'll unpack. You just rest, ok?”       Baekhyun was lifted up in Minseok's arms and placed gently on the bed seconds later. Over the years, physical affection like that had become so central in their relationship. The long distances often made them needy for each other as soon as Baekhyun returned. He watched Minseok's back as he pulled clothes out and deposited them into the hamper and unpacked Baekhyun's items in the bathroom. When he was done, Baekhyun held his hand out and motioned for Minseok to come over. As soon as they were laying in bed together, Baekhyun's lips were on his and hands were wandering, as if making sure that the other person was real and in front of them.      “I missed you,” Baekhyun whined. “I hate being gone for so long.”      “I missed you too. I'm happy you came home safely.”       Baekhyun hummed and snuggled closer to Minseok. Within 5 minutes, he was asleep, Minseok's hand running up and down his back. It was always like this the night Baekhyun got home. He was always so tired from lack of sleep and stressful trips, he was putty in Minseok's arms, and often passed out for long hours, slowly recovering from the sleep deprivation. This time, Minseok couldn't help but notice that Baekhyun looked a bit pale. He wondered if he was fighting an illness. He hoped not, but if he was, at least tomorrow was his final concert and he would be able to properly rest after that.       The following day, they all left fairly early to get ready for the concert, even though it was in the evening. Minseok and Minhyuk stayed with Baekhyun in his changing room until it was time for them to leave and take their seats. As the show went on, Minseok couldn't help but notice Baekhyun really seemed tired. He wasn't dancing hardly at all, opting to sit for the slower songs. Even with makeup on, Minseok could tell he looked pale. Still, Baekhyun gave his all, finishing the concert well and even tearing up at the encore.       As soon as they were allowed backstage, Minhyuk was rushing to Baekhyun's room to hug him and tell him he did well. It was something Minhyuk did after every one of Baekhyun's performances, either by phone or in person. In that regard, he definitely took after Minseok. As soon as Kyungsoo entered the changing room, however, Minhyuk was all over him. It had been a while since he'd seen Uncle Kyungsoo after all.       At that time, Minseok walked over to Baekhyun and congratulated him. Baekhyun naturally found his way into Minseok's arms and leaned against him tiredly. Minseok ran fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead, sure now that Baekhyun was definitely feeling under the weather.       Kyungsoo drove them home after that. It was a strange sense of nostalgia, traveling in the back of the van with Baekhyun snuggled against him. This time, Minhyuk was on his other side as well. Both of them fell asleep on his shoulders about 5 minutes into the ride. Minseok sighed and glanced forward at Kyungsoo, who still had his eyes on the road.      “Baekhyun seems really tired lately,” Minseok said quietly. Kyungsoo looked up at Minseok's reflection in the mirror briefly.      “Yeah, he's been working hard,” he said simply.       It wasn't the answer Minseok wanted, but that was all he was going to get. When they arrived home, Minseok carried Minhyuk into the house while Baekhyun said goodnight to Kyungsoo. Minhyuk was exhausted and didn't even wake up when Minseok changed him into pajamas and laid him in bed. Baekhyun and Minseok kissed him on the head and left the room quietly, heading to the kitchen.       Baekhyun leaned against the counter, sighing and drinking water slowly. Minseok watched as he'd pause and close his eyes, as if trying to swallow without throwing it up. He wasn't alright with avoiding the elephant in the room anymore.      “Are you ok? You seem like your sick...”      “I'm fine. Just tired,” Baekhyun answered. Minseok suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.      “Is your schedule going to be hectic from now on? I really think you need to rest.”      “No, it'll be much lighter,” the other said softly.      “Because you're sick?” Minseok asked again. He wasn't going to let this go.       Baekhyun smiled and set his glass of water down. After that, he stood up from the counter and took a step closer to Minseok. His smile was radiant, despite how pale and tired he looked.      “I'm not sick,” he whispered. “I'm pregnant.”       He pulled his shirt tight, revealing a small, almost nonexistent bump. Minseok hadn't seen that sight on Baekhyun in years, and it was just as unbelievable the second time around. He let out a few shaky breaths and walked closer, placing his hands on Baekhyun's stomach.      “Really? You're really pregnant again?” Baekhyun nodded.      “8 weeks,” he stated. Minseok let out something between a sob and a laugh.      “I can't believe it. 8 weeks...Wait, then does that mean it's from that time...?”      “Mhm. Our anniversary.”      “I thought you were on the pill then!”      “I had been a few months before, but you and I talked about wanting more kids and Minhyuk had mentioned he wanted a sibling...So I just figured I'd let nature take its course.”      “Baekhyun, I...Are you going to be ok? What about your job? And your body? You remember how much it hurt and...”      “I'll be fine. I survived it once, I can do it again. Besides, I heard the second kid is easier than the first. And as for my career, they know I had one baby already. What's one more? Any damage that was going to be done to my reputation has already been done. I'm not going to hide it this time. That was too much work.”       Minseok laughed, rubbing Baekhyun stomach. He still couldn't believe it. Tears rolled down his cheeks, but he didn't try to stop them. He'd stopped holding back his feelings long ago. With Baekhyun, he was always true to himself, no matter what.      “Are you happy?” Baekhyun asked, both excited and nervous. Minseok nodded and pulled him into a massive hug.      “I'm the happiest man alive.”       It was a cheesy response, but he genuinely meant it. No one would ever make him feel this way. Only Baekhyun. It had always been Byun Baekhyun.      “So since we have Mini-Min, is this one going to be Baby-Baek?” the singer joked. Minseok groaned into his shoulder.      “You have way too much fun with this.”      “You don't have enough!”       Minseok sighed and pressed Baekhyun closer, leaving soft kisses on his neck and rocking him side to side. Baekhyun closed his eyes and leaned his head against Minseok's. He'd gone far too long without this feeling, and now he was going to need it more than ever. The road would be long and he was sure there would be miserable times ahead, but it would be worth it. It was always worth it with Minseok.      “I'm looking forward to doing it all over again with you,” Baekhyun said into the air. “I love you, Kim Minseok.”      “And I love you too, Byun Baekhyun.” More than life itself.