Chapter Text
Despite being a small toddler, Mina has already perfected a wide range of cries. And Renjun, as her father, is proud of the fact that he has learned to interpret nearly all of them.
She’s been strong enough to support her own weight and agile enough to find balance on her feet for a week, something that had initially made both Donghyuck and Renjun cheer and celebrate with fists in the air, as if she were the first of her size to accomplish such a task. She isn’t of course - but watching her grow and reach new milestones these past twelve months produces a thrill that’s hard to tamper.
Mina’s cry now is dry. It’s a petty whine that raises no alarm for Renjun, so he bends to place her on the floor, knowing through experience that she’s asking to be released and free to roam around her nursery sans restraints.
The downside to reaching the walking milestone is, well, now all Mina wants to do is hike through their home. She touches and pokes and pulls and licks at everything her eyes touch. It’s very good, you know, to motivate her curiosity, but it’s extra work for Renjun and Donghyuck who have already found her trying to crawl into their laundry machine and peeking her head into their toilet at least three separate times.
He abandons the attempt to clip a bow on her head, opting instead to finish packing her diaper bag.
“Her sippy cup is in the front pocket,” Donghyuck announces.
Renjun hums, double checking the diaper count before zipping it shut. “And you took out the car seat?”
“Yep, it’s by the front door.”
Donghyuck scoops up Mina mid-waddle, blowing a raspberry onto her belly. She laughs, the sound abrupt and joyful. But just as abruptly, she’s losing interest again, stretching her small body like a drawn bow and wiggling in her dad’s arms.
“I’m only putting you down because I’m encouraging the use of your motor skills. Not because I’m spoiling you, okay? I’m the boss here. Now go. Be free!” He says this all to a Mina who has already turned her back to him and started tumbling towards the toys scattered on the floor around her crib.
She has a special affinity for a wooden kitchen spoon she’s now co-opted into her arsenal of playthings. Renjun watches with a sort of sleepy reservation as she uses it to tap tap tap at a toy drum. It’s very cute. Everything their baby does is just so endearing, it’s kind of driving him crazy.
“You should go sit. I’ll bring the stuff downstairs.”
Donghyuck is giving him one of his concerned, puppy-dog looks and Renjun fights to hold back an eye roll. It’s a cute look, almost as cute as their daughter - which is really, really saying something. He understands why he’s doting though. Subconsciously, his hands travel to his pregnant belly, where their second - yes he’s pregnant again, yes it had been an accident, no he’s not dreading it - is growing healthily.
He’s been achy all afternoon, feeling gassy, and heartburn-y, and overall quite grumpy. He’d slept a good nine hours but still finds himself battling grogginess. It's a shame really, since Donghyuck had animatedly announced upon waking up that he’s organized a special day for them, going as far as arranging babysitting and everything.
It’s kind of a big deal.
Renjun pouts. “Feeling bad on my birthday should be illegal.”
“I agree, we should sue.”
Mina begins babbling, putting in her two cents (she’s very opinionated, just like Renjun), and Renjun picks her up again, telling her all about Chenle’s big backyard and how she should be looking forward to playing in it as they make their way downstairs.
Donghyuck eventually joins them, depositing her things by the door and continuing into the kitchen. The plan is for him to cook a big brunch for them. There's steak out already seasoned and ready to grill. He’s been jittery since last night, eager about his (not so) secret plans for Renjun’s birthday, and nervous about forgetting any minor details.
It’s the exact type of act of service Renjun is always weak for, whether its a house chore or remembering to stop by the supermarket on his way home from work. When Donghyuck delivers on his promise to be the best mate he could be with these small tasks, the omega can't help but swoon.
Now, if only Renjun weren’t feeling so physically uncomfortable.
He’s twenty-eight weeks into the pregnancy and the aches and mood dips are starting to get dangerously close to drastically messing with his mental health.
When the doorbell rings, Mina squeals.
“I got it,” Renjun calls, letting Donghyuck continue tinkering in their kitchen.
“I come with a present,” is Chenle’s cheerful greeting.
He’s holding a small action figure in his hand and it looks very much like the NBA player he’s a big fan of. (Read: in love with.)
“Are you giving my daughter a miniature Steph Curry action figure?”
“Da da!” Mina exclaims, waddling over to grab onto Renjun’s leg. She stares at Chenle owlishly, a look that’s just like Donghyuck, before welcoming their friend with a series of high-pitched non-words.
Ba ta! Ba ba bi bi? Da!
“Hello to you, too! This is for you.” He squats to hand her the toy, scooping her up once she takes the figure in her small hand. She’s absorbed by it, saying many things in her own baby language about its texture and color. Again, very opinionated. (Renjun is so proud of her.)
Both adults exchange nods, using the distraction as an opportunity to start loading up Chenle’s car. They get her seated without much fuss and in just fifteen minutes the married couple is home alone for the first time in, well, a year.
Renjun feels giddy for a full minute, and then - the nausea settles in. He grimaces. The poignant smell of the barbecue grill from out back is strong as he approaches their dining table. He tries so, so hard not to show how much it displeases him.
“These flowers,” Renjun notes, distracting himself with the new centerpiece. It’s exactly Renjun’s taste, accented with eucalyptus and cream carnations. The full arrangement is lovely, reminding him of their wedding. He can feel his own scent intensifying merely at the memory.
“You like ‘em?”
Donghyuck is scrambling eggs, splitting his attention between the stove, the potatoes in the oven, and the steaks out on the barbecue. Renjun doesn’t bother offering to help, knowing his alpha instincts - which are on overdrive by this stage of the pregnancy - will resist help from his omega. So he simply sits, waiting patiently for his handsome husband to finish breakfast and praying that his own stubborn bout of no appetite will conveniently end right on time to enjoy the home-cooked meal.
About a half hour later, their plates get served by a pleased and sweaty alpha, and if Renjun weren’t so achy he’d stand and lay a wet, indulgent kiss on his mouth.
Instead, he smiles coyly from his chair, patting Donghyuck’s butt as he turns to take a seat beside him.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
About halfway into Donghyuck’s sirloin, the alpha notices Renjun hasn’t touched his food.
He frowns.
Renjun nervously bites his lip, anticipating the start of an unpleasant conversation.
“What’s wrong?”
It’s quiet in their home, the way it is when Mina is asleep or entranced by a sensory toy. It’s strange knowing she’s not near them. But it’s not a bad feeling. He trusts she’s in good hands (plus, Chenle lives a ten minute drive away, which assuages Renjun's First Time Parent Nerves). What he does feel is great nausea, and the more he can sense Donghyuck’s concerned gaze, the thicker his guilt gets.
“Nothing. I love this. It’s my favorite. I just kind of, uh, wanna throw up.”
Donghyuck quirks his head, not seeming surprised. Which, he supposes, he shouldn’t be since Renjun has been struggling with food for a little over a week now.
Wordlessly, Donghyuck takes Renjun’s plate off the table, getting the thick scents away from his sensitive nose. Eventually, the noise of the blender whirring interrupts the gentle stillness of the late morning, and it isn’t long until there’s a pink fruit smoothie placed in front of him.
“Hyuck -”
“It’s okay, just try to drink, yeah?”
“But I want your steak," Renjun pouts. "And fluffy buttermilk pancakes. I want your garlic eggs, with that homemade salt stuff you make. I want to eat it and stuff my face with it. I want my appetite back…”
“You’ll get it back. This isn’t forever. How’s the smoothie?”
He takes a sip. It’s cold and refreshing and somehow evades his nausea problem. It’s really, really tasty, with the perfect consistency. Not too watery, not too solid. “So good, actually,” he admits, still pouting.
Donghyuck smiles, bringing an enormous cut of steak into his mouth. “Good!”
Even looking at him eat makes Renjun queasy, but he continues watching anyway because Donghyuck eating has always made him feel good for some reason (perhaps it goes back to their survival instincts, wanting to see their loved ones full and happy). He’s enjoying it, savoring each bite and moaning dramatically at the cajun-infused potatoes. It’s gross to Renjun’s hormonally messed-up brain, but still, a quiet sense of satisfaction overtakes him seeing his mate enjoying himself.
On his end, Renjun downs the smoothie comically fast, the baby probably eager to be fed. Donghyuck is quick to throw in more strawberries in the blender, putting in some greens and flaxseed this time to add more nutrients. As they chat and eat, Renjun is distracted from the back ache and heartburn and the uncomfortable bloated feeling. It doesn’t go away, but talking about menial things like gas prices and his students’ unexpected quiz grades is helping him feel a little less insane. He only teaches three times a week, but his stories are seemingly endless, and Donghyuck's interest is sincere, asking for clarification and throwing in his own thoughts when he can.
It’s nice. It’s always nice to talk to each other without interruption, and Renjun is satisfied with the prospect of basking in his company for the rest of the day. Being alone together is in itself a valuable and rare gift. So he’s not expecting Donghyuck to pull out a boxy, designer shopping bag from somewhere behind his chair.
It has PRADA MILANO printed in small text on both faces and immediately, Renjun’s eyes go wide like saucers.
“You didn’t need to get me anything, this is already enough.”
“You’re carrying my second child, nothing will be enough. Like, ever.”
Renjun scoffs, rolling his eyes and feigning annoyance. But he’s incapable of stopping the small smile from curving his lips.
Unwrapping it is a big fuss, having to wrestle it out of layers of thick tissue paper first before pulling it from inside a protective drawstring bag. But when he’s able to see it in its entirety - the smooth black leather and utilitarian design - all he’s able to say is -
“Oh my God.”
It’s the exact bag he’s been eyeing for months, nearly a year. Large and elegant, it could easily double as an (extremely high-end) diaper bag. He drapes it over his shoulder, standing from his seat and walking around. He puts on a show, sashaying his hips and striking a few poses. When Donghyuck whistles, he pretends to be shy, tucking his hair behind his ears.
He’s never been one to be won over by material things, but… it is gorgeous. He chuckles brightly, already thinking about which of Mina’s things he’d put where.
“Can you do me a favor,” Donghyuck says. “And cancel your haircut tomorrow?”
Renjun snorts, feeling his ears go pink at Donghyuck’s appraising stare. “It’s getting so long, though. And all the bleaching… My tips are horrendous.”
Donghyuck whines. “I like it.”
“You’re not well in the head, my pregnancy hormones are making you crazy.”
His husband doesn’t refute him, just smiles and shrugs. As if he gave up being level headed the moment he got the omega of his dreams to date him. He pulls Renjun in, onto his lap, “Are you feeling better?”
Renjun nods, nuzzling his cheek and soaking in his mate’s scent. “I just feel huge. Like a mammoth.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Yes! Like. I just feel so bloated. And my face is changing. My nose is huge.”
Renjun doesn’t consider himself to be a vain person, but he’s lived his whole adult life looking a certain way. He’s never really had confidence issues, at least not since getting past puberty. But when he’s pregnant, it’s like living through a fun house mirror version of himself. It could be bizarre and even a bit dysphoric.
“It’s temporary. But for the record, your nose is always huge.”
“Hey!”
“But what does it matter? You’re still hot, Jun. You’re the hottest, most gorgeous man I know.”
Renjun looks at his alpha, scanning his face for hints of uncertainty, of falseness. But of course he finds nothing disingenuous. Donghyuck adores him, has been outrageously into him since he first laid eyes on him.
In Renjun’s opinion, Donghyuck is the “hottest, most gorgeous” man he knows. He’s strong and kind and can keep up with Renjun’s slick banter. He’s handsome, with eyes that can switch from being sharp and electrifying to tender and nurturing so easily. But Renjun doesn’t correct him, letting him go on believing Renjun is the hotter one between them. Instead he lays a gentle kiss against his mouth, opening up easily when Donghyuck parts his lips with his own.
After seven years together, the mechanics of kissing him are on par with other instinctual tasks (like walking or breathing or scratching an itch). It’s intuitive and familiar, fun and easy, and makes his brain dispense delicious bits of pleasure through his system almost immediately. It's amazing how after so many years, kissing him is still just as gratifying as the first time.
There’s no baby whine to interrupt them. No timer or ring or chime or cry. It’s silent, save for Donghyuck’s soft breaths and the careful sound of lips against lips.
It’s easy to sink into the feeling of it, of Donghyuck’s hands on him, first on his thigh then up to his waist. Then, his hand roams over his belly, warm against taut skin. Renjun is so big now, bigger than he was by this stage with Mina, as if Jie (baby #2) were soaking up all the nutrients he was ingesting, growing and growing and stretching Renjun along with him.
It’s almost surreal, the whole transformation, and it’s been messing with Renjun’s head. So he doesn’t really notice himself leaning away, shifting off Donghyuck’s lap in awkward increments until Donghyuck is asking, “Where you going?”
“Huh? Nowhere -”
“You’re scooching away.”
“No, I’m not.” He is. “I mean - I’m heavy?"
“You’re - what?”
“Just. Ugh.”
Donghyuck is watching him, confusion scrunching up his brows. And Renjun wants to melt into a puddle and rematerialize in a room far away from his doting eyes. It’s so silly, he knows it is, but he can’t help feeling insecure. He can chalk it up to the discomfort he’d been dealing with the last few days, but he also knows it’s mental.
“Talk to me,” Donghyuck nudges. His tone is soft, but firm.
“It’s dumb. I’m ruining the mood, I think.“
“You’re the birthday boy, you can’t ruin anything,” Donghyuck jokes lightly. He brushes the light brown strands of hair out of the omega’s face, and waits.
“You can’t laugh or wave this away like I’m crazy.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t - don’t say it’s all in my head because it’s not. I don’t fit into any of my shoes and even my armpits are darker, and that’s very real and not in my head,” he begins, his own words defensive but lacking bite.
He’s embarrassed, is the thing. And he rarely allows himself to be so openly mopey (and self-deprecating) in front of others, not even his husband. But he continues, for the sake of honesty (and because he can’t resist giving in to Donghyuck’s caring questions), “You secured a whole day for us to - to enjoy each other and stuff. And I want to take advantage and have fun. So I feel this pressure to - to be sexy. Not from you! Just. It’s me. I mean I want to enjoy everything and feel good. But. This is so…the way I feel right now, is so un-sexy.”
Renjun can’t look at him, he’s too embarrassed. So he stares at the dumb pun on Dongyuck’s t-shirt and misses the way his eyes flash with tenderness.
“I didn’t ask Chenle to babysit so we could have sex all over the house. Although I am open to that… you know what I mean? It’s just for us to hang out. There really is no pressure to do anything except relax a little. You work so hard, all the time. You’re amazing. An amazing dad.” He cups his face at these last words, encouraging Renjun to meet his gaze. “You have to know you’re amazing. Even if your brain tells you otherwise.”
“Okay.” It comes out a little muffled since Donghyuck is squishing his cheeks together.
“And stop saying you’re heavy. If you ever get too heavy for me, that’s a me being too weak problem. Nothing to do with you.”
Everything he says is good. Things Renjun doesn’t realize he’s been needing to hear, to be affirmed, for weeks now. Maybe months. He can feel himself getting emotional, the relief sagging his shoulders and making tears prickle behind his eyelids.
It’s true that the first pregnancy was a happy blur. Excitement from all their loved ones flooding them from every direction. There was the eventful move into a new house, and the nursery buildout, and maternity leave arrangements. There was the well-attended baby shower filled with both families and gifts that Renjun was still working his way through. It had been a very festive nine months.
When the second baby was announced there was more shock than excitement and, even, poorly concealed judgment. It doesn’t bother Renjun, not in an overt way, because all he really cares about is having communion with his mate. But physically, this pregnancy has been tougher. And it’s been chipping away at his mental health. And at some point, it becomes harder not to listen to the noise.
You have to know you’re amazing, even if your brain tells you otherwise.
“Hyuck,” Renjun pauses. He takes in a large breath, and gets more comfortable on his lap. With his arms around his head, he cranes his neck, silently asking to be scented, to be engulfed by his mate’s alpha scent. He doesn’t want to cry, even if it’d be happy tears, but he doesn’t mind being vulnerable in this other way. And so he lets Donghyuck bury any traces of omega with his musk, basking in the way his mouth leaves faint slick traces atop his skin.
Their I love you’s are exchanged in whispers. Squeezed between kisses and nudges and gentle sounds. Renjun is eventually first to stand, eager to move on to the rest of their day of no schedules and no parenting.
“What’s next?” He asks, and his voice drips with amusement. In front of him, Donghyuck’s scent has spiked, always so easily aroused by Renjun’s touches. He stares up at him dumbly before regaining his composure, “Umm. Pool time?”
“Really?” Renjun peeks out at their yard. It’s very hot for March, and he suspects their pool will be just warm enough to be pleasant to swim in.
“If you want?”
Moving closer to the French doors that lead to the back, Renjun catches a glimpse of the cloudless blue sky. It really is a lovely day.
He grins.
“Let’s go.”
+
With a buoyant foam noodle between his legs and an oversized pair of sunglasses on his nose, Renjun floats around their pool watching as Donghyuck tries to perfect his underwater front flip.
“Okay, try it again but put your arms out and try using ‘em to propel you.”
Donghyuck nods before dunking underwater again. He follows Renjun’s instructions and is able to improve the flip, resurfacing with a grin on his face.
“That was better! Hey,” the omega says, switching the subject as he wads over to Donghyuck. “I wanna try doing a handstand underwater.”
Predictably, this makes Donghyuck level him with a puzzled look. “Huh?”
Renjun laughs. “A handstand! I’m good at those. Look -”
“Wait! The baby -!”
“ - Will be fine! You literally had me on all fours the other night.”
“That’s different.”
“How? Jie is gonna come out doing cartwheels at this point,” he argues back, laughing. It’s honestly a valid observation, considering all the different ways they’ve had sex in the last month. Renjun takes his sunglasses off and places them on the ceramic pool edge. “I just wanna see if I can. I’m feeling kinda….” He hops a bit, lifting his feet and throwing himself backwards so the water can lift him and lap against his sides. “Young and sprightly.”
Donghyuck comes closer, placing one palm under his back and the other beneath his legs to keep him floating face up. Renjun squints at the dazzling afternoon sun, unable to fight back the smile that’s been adorning his face since they first got in the pool. The water is cooler than he’d expected and the difference in temperature has goosebumps spreading all over his skin.
They stay like that for a moment, the water lapping at their sides and nearby birds chirping from a distance. Renjun closes his eyes and focuses on the way his body sways, sinking and rising. He focuses on his breathing. Then, on Donghyuck’s breathing.
He thinks of Mina, and makes a note to call Chenle when they get out. He thinks of the weeks left until they get to meet Jie. Of hospital rooms and needles. Of the double stroller they still need to order. He thinks of lunch, and dinner. Of groceries, and of Donghyuck’s sweet, rough hands. Of his sandalwood scent.
He thinks of all these things and feels his body sink.
But Donghyuck is there holding him, keeping him afloat while his own belly rises above the water like a landmark. A mountain. He opens his eyes.
“I was teasing about the handstand. Inversions are bad for the baby.”
“Thank God.”
He places his feet back on the pool floor, bringing his arms around Donghyuck’s neck. “I really wanna do a handstand though. As soon as I give birth, it will be my first activity.”
“Good because pool maintenance is expensive, and if we’re not doing aquatic gymnastics on the regular, what’s the point?”
“Exactly.” Renjun kisses him. “We need a pool fence.”
“You read my mind.”
Renjun kisses him again.
The smell of chlorine and sunscreen is oddly pacifying. It clears his head and keeps the nausea at bay. Instead, what he feels is relaxed, buoyant. And when Donghyuck lingers his tongue over the sensitive spot under his chin, he shivers, feeling a familiar heat run through him.
“Let’s get out of here,” his mate says. And it’s all the directive Renjun needs to get him moving towards the pool steps and out of the water.
Just as he’s finishing drying his hair, he stops suddenly.
It’s becoming one of his favorite sensations, the feeling of his baby moving in his womb. Wordlessly, he grabs Hyuck’s hand mid-towel-drying, placing it directly over the spot where Jie is kicking his tiny foot as he shifts around inside.
Immediately, Donghyuck’s face lights up.
“Hi, baby. Did you like swimming?” He’s on his knees, mouth a mere centimeter from Renjun’s belly. He presses his palm where the baby pokes out from inside as if conveying that he’s there, right on the other side waiting for Jie, anticipating his arrival with bated breath. Renjun giggles at Donghyuck’s unbridled enthusiasm, at the odd sensation of having someone inside him move.
“I think he loved it. Especially the pelvic exercises.”
The alpha kisses his belly before rising to his feet. “Good, we gotta use the pool more.”
Renjun makes a noise of agreement, helping Donghyuck dry his back where his arms don’t reach. Their swim trunks are still soaking wet and because he doesn’t want to leave a trail of pool water all over the house, and because this is their house and therefore their rules, he decides to simply take the trunks off entirely. He drapes them over a recliner to dry, shrugging his shoulders when Donghyuck gives him a curious look.
Last time they walked around their homes naked was during Renjun’s last heat, where he’d begged to be bred again, pumped full, filled to the brim with Donghyuck’s cum. No one but his mate knows how desperate he could get, how needy and eager he allows himself to be in certain circumstances. Renjun loves it. He’d spent all his youth maintaining a pure boy image even into his adolescence. His first time was late into college and it wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities, he’d just had high standards (and maybe a little tiny fear of intimacy.)
Meeting Donghyuck, accepting his advances, flirting back and falling in love was a process of self-discovery as much as it was learning about his lover. And what Renjun discovers is that he really likes sex. Specifically, he really likes sex with Donghyuck.
“So we don’t get the floor wet,” Renjun explains. He doesn’t give him time to process, turning around to saunter back indoors.
He’s acutely aware of Donghyuck’s heated gaze on his back, the probing edges of his arousal. And he can’t help but smirk to himself, realizing that maybe he can feel sexy at seven months pregnant after all.
+
They don’t make it to the bedroom.
“Y-yes. Right there - Hyuck.”
Renjun’s head falls back on the couch as pleasure throbs in his groin. He’s sitting, with his mate on the floor between his legs, licking at his entrance and using his slick tongue to taste and breach. It’s filthy, his hormones producing far too much slick and making Donghyuck’s enthusiasm skyrocket.
“I know it’s selfish. But. You taste so good like this. You should - always -”
Renjun shushes him by using a hand on his hair to shove him back to his hole. You should always be pregnant, is surely what he meant to say. Of course he’d like that, so Renjun could be his personal breeding machine. A container for his cum. Maybe it's horrible, but the thing is, Renjun likes it. His thighs tremble, his hips moving to urge Donghyuck deeper.
“Use fingers,” he pleads, wanting to be stretched.
And just as Donghyuck is about to respond, Renjun’s phone rings.
“Ignore it,” says Donghyuck. And Renjun agrees he should, he’s getting close, can feel his orgasm building. But then he remembers Mina. What if it’s Chenle?
Without further thought, he reaches out beside him and grabs his phone from where he’d left it on the cushion.
“Hello?”
“Yo.” It is Chenle. “Did you see the picture I sent?”
“Uhh.”
Donghyuck doesn’t stop his ministrations. Renjun can sense he’s doing it on purpose, to be mischievous (cruel). But it doesn't really embarrass him. The truth is, Donghyuck's shamelessness makes heat pool in his stomach deliciously. He’s clearly into it, screwing his eyes shut as Donghyuck’s tongue continues to move.
Thankfully, Chenle hasn’t caught on. He carries on undisturbed. “I cut up some fruit into pieces but I’m not sure if they’re small enough?”
“Um, small is good.”
Donghyuck introduces a finger, using it to slide around his rim, and tease him around his balls.
“I know small is good!”
“Lemme - lemme see the pic. H-hold on.”
Renjun blinks, taking shallow breaths as he clicks on the photo of a baby plate filled with tiny cubes of cantaloupe. “Perfect. Ah. It’s perfect. How’s Mimi?”
“So good! She loves me, man. Got a little cranky just now so I’m giving her snacks. And then another bottle -”
“In an hour.”
“Exactly.”
Donghyuck moves on to two fingers, and Renjun has to put his hand over his mouth to stop a moan from escaping. Donghyuck is definitely doing it on purpose. The bastard.
“Hey, s-send us a video of her, okay? I’ll - I'll call you back, yeah?”
“Wait, listen, so for her nap -”
“Five minutes, Lele. Okay? Bye.”
He hangs up, throwing the phone aside. Donghyuck changes his technique, prodding his prostate more directly. It ushers a lewd moan from him, which makes both their scents spike. It infiltrates his nose and coats his tongue and he knows it’s good to drag this out, to make sex last, but he wants to come. He wants release, now, so bad.
“Don’t touch yourself,” Donghyuck admonishes. He’d begun to snake his hand towards his own cock but Donghyuck had caught on immediately.
“Hyuck.”
“Almost. Mm, look at you.” His whole hand must be wet with slick, massaging inside him with the pads of his fingers. And then his tongue is on him again, tasting and savoring. And Donghyuck is not ashamed anymore to be so openly into it, the way he was in the beginning. He’s shameless now, his hums pushing pulsing vibrations against Renjun's rim. Like this, he's openly addicted to Renjun’s taste, and it’s this conviction, this reverential movement of his tongue, nose and fingers, that has Renjun succumbing to his orgasm.
He comes with a series of staccato breaths, slumping against the couch. Donghyuck removes his hand and begins kissing a trail up his body, following the soft, red line of his belly up into his chest, his neck, his chin, and finally, his mark.
“Should call Chenle,” Donghyuck murmurs. He’s clearly teasing him, seeing as Renjun is in no state to call anybody. He sighs, attempting to sound annoyed but only sounding breathless.
“Your turn -”
Donghyuck kisses his cheek, moving Renjun’s hand away from his erection. “Later. Just wanted to taste you…”
This is the type of admission that makes Renjun’s insides turn to mush. They’ve been together for seven years, married for three, and his alpha is still capable of getting these prudish emotions out of him.
Part of Renjun wants to stay naked and sticky with his mate on their couch for the rest of eternity, wants to reciprocate and get him off too, but Donghyuck is slightly more reasonable. He reminds him that the afternoon is still young, that they have a few hours of daylight left before they’re scheduled to pick up Mina. He’s adamant but not very persuasive, not when he’s wrapped Renjun in his sandalwood scent and made him feel so safe and pampered in the comfort of their home.
But Donghyuck’s eyes are bright and eager, so Renjun indulges him, letting himself be pulled upstairs.
+
“Aw, Mina would love this.”
Renjun loops his fingers into the handle of the gourd rattle and shakes it twice in front of Donghyuck.
“Is that handmade?”
The vendor smiles at Donghyuck’s question, even if it was aimed at Renjun. She walks over to where they’re standing on the eastern edge of her kiosk. “They sure are. Completely handmade from boiled gourds and willow trees. I learned from my father.”
She’s one of many vendors at the cultural market their city had begun organizing monthly. Renjun had been wanting to stop by, but they’d never really found the time.
“They’re beautiful. And the sound is so nice and crisp.”
Not that Renjun is a connoisseur of Peruvian rattles, but he can appreciate a good earthly percussion sound. He gives it another shake, noting how it’s small enough to fit Mina’s baby hand. He buys a red one and they continue to the next stand, an extra bounce in his step now that they’ve found a cute present for their daughter.
“Ooh, look at those.”
Donghyuck points his attention to some artisanal jewelry, and they spend several minutes trying to pick out some for his mother. They disagree and go back and forth for long enough that even the vendor finds himself chiming in. It reminds Renjun of their early days when so much of their courtship consisted of pointless bickering and heated debates about inconsequential things. It’s kind of their thing - to disagree until one of them gives in or they both tire out. It’s not real fighting, is the thing. They both found themselves explaining this to their respective loved ones: it’s just fun to banter, I promise it’s not real fighting.
They part ways somewhere in the middle, drawn to separate goods in the expansive open market. Eventually, Renjun is looking at various jars of fresh jams, trying to remember if Donghyuck likes fig or cranberries better.
“I recommend fig,” says a stranger with large eyes and thin eyebrows. “I tried it months ago and I’ve been hooked since.”
“Oh really? Okay.” It’s easy to believe. There’s something promising about the apothecary style presentation, it feels authentic and yummy-looking. Like it’ll taste sweet but not too sugary or processed. Renjun nods, taking one.
“Congratulations, by the way,” the stranger adds, nodding towards his belly.
Renjun is mostly used to it, so he offers a polite smile. “Thank you.”
“How far along are you?”
“Um, seven months.”
“Wow! How lovely.”
It is, and Renjun is about to agree with a nod. But then he gets a whiff of the stranger’s spiked and probing scent. It’s very much alpha and very much intrusive. It almost gives Renjun whiplash, the way it stains the air around him. The man is flirting. The audacity. Surely, if the pregnancy wasn’t sign enough that he was unavailable, the visible mating mark on his neck should have been enough to ward off his advances. But some alphas were like this, completely entitled and shameless.
“Hopefully he’ll be as beautiful as you.”
God.
Renjun does not refrain from hiding his indignation. He sets the jar down sharply and is seconds away from putting the horny alpha in his place when Donghyuck materializes beside him, eyes dark.
“I’m sure you’d like that,” he deadpans. And then he turns to Renjun, immediately softening when he registers his agitation. “Hey, c’mon. Let’s walk this way.”
Like a punctured balloon, Renjun deflates, not loving at all how fast his heart rate had become at the sudden shift in conversation. He feels too large suddenly, too aware of his own sweetened scent and the way it overpowers his scent blocker. Donghyuck catches on immediately, leading him away from the crowds and to a shady spot near the end of the block.
As fun as it is to be at the market with Hyuck, almost everyone that had caught sight of him had ogled or done double takes at his stomach. Even with his mate at his elbow, they didn’t stop themselves from openly staring at the couple. Pregnant omegas aren't rare but society still deems them invaluable. Strangers implicate themselves in his life, often commenting on the way he holds Mina in public, the things he feeds her, the way he speaks to her. It's a thing that happens to all pregnant people, but he doesn't really realize it until it happens to him directly. Plus, Renjun is attractive, and his scent gets sweeter when he's pregant and, according to his husband, he’s glowing.
So yeah people are staring. And it’s not necessarily malicious, but it’s all a bit much.
“I’m sorry, I got distracted and left you.”
Renjun shakes his head, sitting down on the empty bench beside them. “Don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong. Just creeps being creeps.”
“Hmm. Should I scent you?”
It’s not a bad idea. Renjun just wishes he didn’t need an alpha’s scent to protect him from unwanted attention. He shrugs. “By the way, I did something bad.”
“What?” Donghyuck asks, sitting beside him.
“I sat down.”
Donghyuck snorts. “That’s perfect, because we should start heading out if we want to grab a bite before going to Chenle’s.”
“No, like, I literally don’t want to move.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“Hyuck, be forreal.”
“Show me what you bought,” he says, jumping to a different subject once he catches a glimpse of Renjun’s small bags.
“Scent me first. Also let’s go somewhere indoors?”
“How? If you’re sitting and you won’t let me carry you?”
“Let’s put wheels on the bench. That way you can roll me around town.”
“That’s not a bad idea honestly. I could even pitch it at the company, apply for a patent…”
“Make millions.”
“Change lives.”
“Revolutionize urban transportation.”
“Fig jam or cranberry jam?” Renjun asks, studying Donghyuck’s button nose and high cheekbones. He loves Donghyuck’s handsome face, the way it lights up when they joke around. “Which do you like more?”
“Mm. Cranberry. Why? What’d that creep tell you?”
“Fig,” Renjun pouts.
Donghyuck kisses him, a quick peck on the lips, before moving to scent his temples and wrists. He’s quick with it, using his soft touches to coax Renjun into standing again.
“C’mon birthday boy. Onto the next.”
+
Renjun’s nausea returns when they arrive at the noodle place. It’s a sign that he’s hungry.
Donghyuck gets him ginger tea while they wait for their food which does wonders for him. He really likes the food here, and he likes how the day has gone, even with his morning mood swings and the random strangers making him uncomfortable. Chenle is good about sending updates and it eases both Renjun and Donghyuck’s nerves. He’s feeling safe and pleased, so he wiggles in his seat, leaning into Donghyuck and resting his head on his shoulder as they chat.
“When’s your next appointment again?”
“Next friday.”
Absent-mindedly, Donghyuck lays a light hand over his belly button, probably seeing if he can feel Jie kicking again. “Should I go with you?”
“Nah, it’s okay.”
“But I haven’t gone with you in weeks. You sure?”
“Yeah.” It didn’t really bother Renjun. He likes his OB and he had a good labor experience the first time, so he has high hopes for the second.
“You say that and then you get sad.”
What Donghyuck says is true. But Renjun doesn’t really like admitting it. “It’s not real sadness, though. Just the hormones.”
“Real or fake. I don’t want my mate to be sad.”
“Well then don’t get me pregnant. It comes with the territory.”
At Renjun’s quip, Donghyuck turns to him. “Okay…?”
“I’m sorry. I just - need food.”
Beside him, Donghyuck nods, not daring to vocalize how accurate that is, considering Renjun tends to get snappy when hungry.
Renjun frowns. He didn’t mean to be so short, or to insinuate the pregnancy is all Donghyuck’s doing, or that it happened without Renjun’s consent. It definitely didn’t, they’d talked about it before his last heat. And now that his due date is fast approaching, he’s genuinely excited to meet their son, to have their family grow. And he’s not sure where this hostility is coming from.
It’s the hormones, his mind reiterates. But even if his moods have a root cause, it doesn’t stop them from disorienting him. His first pregnancy was so much easier than this one, maybe his omega dad was right - having boys is harder.
Thankfully, their food arrives seconds later and it only takes a few bites for Renjun to start up conversation again.
When they’re done, and after having let Chenle know they’ll be heading over soon, Donghyuck turns to him. “Are we okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, Hyuck, of course we are. Don’t - don’t take everything I say seriously. I’m, like, an insane person right now.”
“It’s hard though, it’s hard to know.”
“How about this. Whenever I seem to speak negatively about Jie, assume it’s chemical crankiness.”
Donghyuck smiles. “Chemical crankiness, I like that.”
“Putting my literature degree to good use!” He says, somewhat self-deprecating.
“You’re the smartest person I know.”
“And you’re the simpiest,” Renjun teases, grinning.
“I wanna take months off. And spend everyday with you, and Mimi. I had fun today.”
“Me too,” he says, voice soft. “But we need money so don’t take months off and don’t get fired.”
“If I do, I could start performing in the streets. We can teach Mimi to do flips. And Jie can crawl around collecting coins. You’ll be our manager.”
“Ok I’m listening. I like me as a manager. I know the best busking spots. I’d manage you so well you’d guys unionize and rebel against me.”
“It would spoil our family business but make for great television,” Donghyuck reasons, going along with the bit. “We’d have our own reality show, of course.”
“We’d have Ryan Seacrest blowing up our phones trying to get us off YouTube and on E! Entertainment. Mimi would have a fandom specific to her.”
“Jie, a Disney offer.”
“We could be the next Kardashians. I could start modeling,” Renjun suggests.
“Start a makeup line,” Dongyuck adds.
“Create a podcast.”
“Would I still just be singing?”
Renjun considers him. “And dancing. Doing back up for Shakira.”
“Wow! High praise.”
“You move your hips real good.”
Donghyuck stands, laughing. “Wait didn’t we say once, we’d take belly dancing classes together?”
Renjun follows, bowing at the polite restaurant staff, and heading towards the exit. “Probably. I’ll add it to my list of things I gotta do after giving birth. So far it’s doing handstands in our pool and learning how to belly dance.”
“This is a really good list.”
They’re both laughing, and it’s so very dumb. But it’s what they do. “I know!”
+
When Mina gets a whiff of her parents, she drops everything in her hand (excluding her new miniature Steph Curry, which she holds tightly in her fist) and scrambles towards the front door.
Donghyuck picks her up with flourish, spinning around and bombarding her with kisses. The scene makes Renjun’s heart throb warmly in his chest. He turns to Chenle, grinning.
“How was she?”
“Best toddler ever. I don’t know how you do this all day, though,” he admits, chuckling.
Renjun beams. He’s not sure either. He just knows he’d give his life and everything with it for his daughter. There’s not much to it. It’s complete devotion. And when she extends her small arms towards him, it’s the best feeling in the world to reach out and have her in his arms, all four limbs wrapped firmly around him.
“Hi, Mimi. Hi, baby.” She rubs her forehead against his neck, resting her head on his shoulders. But then she’s excited again, bouncing in his arms. “How much did she drink?” He asks, turning to join Donghyuck in fixing up Chenle’s living room. The couch cushions are amiss and his coffee table is littered with toys.
“Uhh, a bottle? Like ten ounces.”
Renjun nods, thinking he could still give her some before bed if she has trouble sleeping.
“Nah, don’t worry about cleanup I got it. Did you guys have fun?”
“Thanks man,” Donghyuck says. “It was great. We swam a bit, visited the farmers market.”
“Oh, weather was awesome for that, super sunny.”
“What about you, baby?” Renjun asks, looking at Mina. “Did you play in Chenle’s big yard?”
Mina watches him, grabbing his cheeks with her sticky hands. “Ma ba ba.”
“It’s true, it was a little too hot for her liking but we stayed out for a bit,” Chenle explains, pretending Mina had used words that were real.
“Yeah she’s not the biggest fan of the outdoors. She’s kinda bougie.”
“I wonder where she gets it from,” Donghyuck says sarcastically.
Renjun rolls his eyes, feigning annoyance, but his smile never fully leaves his face. “Alright, let’s get outta here. Thank you again, Lele. You’re amazing.”
“Of course, man. You deserve a day like this every once in a while. Happy birthday.”
Jie starts kicking then, right where Mina’s thigh grazes his belly. She doesn’t fully understand it, but Renjun thinks she registers the sensation, pointing a finger and tilting her head. “Beh beh bee.”
“Yes, it’s baby Jie!” He signals to Donghyuck to come get her. It’s a bit uncomfortable sometimes, depending on the baby’s position. It’s not painful but it feels like his organs are moving and pressing together.
She moves into her father’s arms easily. It’s clear that she’s missed them both, because she doesn’t beg to be released like she usually does. Renjun almost feels bad but then he remembers all the uninterrupted hours he got to spend with his mate, how nice and pacifying it’d felt, even with the minor arguments. He can’t bring himself to feel guilty about it.
They bid their friend farewell, gathering their things and heading back home.
Mina loves Hyuck, loves to smother her face in his neck, maybe from all the times she’s watched Renjun do it, maybe because Hyuck’s sandalwood is just that irresistibly enchanting. It’s a sight he loves to behold.
And it’s clear to him as they walk towards their car, that having his family beside him is the best birthday gift he could ever receive.