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Joshua told himself he needed to take a deep breath and not give the alpha beside him a good shake—his alpha, to be exact—who was as dazzling as ever, like a model straight off the cover of a magazine, with that irritatingly attractive smile urging him in front of three million fans to eat the avocado salad he'd left almost untouched since the Weverse live started. The hypocrisy! Jeonghan's lunchbox was nearly full, and he had the nerve to scold him for eating so little!
"You need to eat protein. Shua, the avocado had it. Eat avocado, baby." Giving in without a second thought, Joshua took his alpha's chopsticks and started eating the salad with them. When he finished, he put them back.
Jeonghan seemed pleased to see his omega's lunchbox empty, and he'd had that smug smile for quite some time now whenever Shua finished his plates. Silly alphas and their protective instincts. Was Jeonghan some prehistoric man happy to hunt a mammoth to feed his omega?
Joshua snorted, and Jeonghan just stared at him, mesmerized. Fifteen minutes passed before the live stream ended, and then the alpha cupped his cheeks, placing a long, resonant kiss on his lips.
"You look so cute eating, Shua, you look like a little squirrel," he whispered against his cheek, pressing a soft kiss there before playfully biting his skin. "I love seeing you with that glow on your skin, and god, you smell like heaven."
Joshua began to feel a blush creeping up his neck to his ears. Yoon Jeonghan had a way with words and knew the effect they had on him, so he couldn't resist being a shameless flatterer when it came to Hong Jisoo.
The alpha pulled the omega onto his lap, and Joshua settled in, allowing Jeonghan to wrap his arms around his narrow waist—that waist Jeonghan was obsessed with embracing whenever he had the chance.
"Shuji," he called again. Joshua made a faint sound. "Don't drink wine with Eissa today. You shouldn't drink." Joshua turned slightly to look at the alpha's face, who seemed very busy with sniffing his neck. He wanted to reprimand him for his behavior lately, but considering it had only been a month since Jeonghan had returned from duty, and during that time they hadn't been able to see each other as much as they'd liked, including their heat cycles and ruts, which, due to professional reasons, they had to go through separately, the older's behavior was understandable.
They had been a mated couple for four years, and that made the periods they spent apart feel like torture. Those two years, with Joshua constantly going from concert to concert, performance to performance, show to show, photoshoot to photoshoot, and recording sessions, seemed endless for Jeonghan, who was fulfilling his military service at a kindergarten.
Children. That must be it. Jeonghan seemed to have caught a bug wanting to have kids. Ever since he finished his work there, every time the alpha played with or taught a little one, he couldn't help but think of his own family, of his precious Joshuji with a baby in his arms, singing sweet melodies.
On top of that, it had only been three weeks since Jeonghan's rut ended, and it seemed his beloved alpha's imagination was already working overtime.
"Jeonghan, I have no reason why I shouldn't drink alcohol."
"Joshuji." Jeonghan opened his caramel eyes wide, pouting. And Joshua cursed that beautiful face that made him fall for the alpha's whims time and time again.
Jeonghan pulled him even closer, tightening his grip on his mate's waist. "Joshuji, our little one could be in there." Something in Joshua's gaze involuntarily softened at that.
A sad smile touched the omega's lips. As much as they wanted it, having a child as idols was almost an impossible challenge, may I clarify: it wasn't just a challenge because of something as simple as rearranging their schedules. The matter went much deeper, as it was no secret that their lives were under constant scrutiny from their fans and society, for better or for worse. Joshua also longed for a baby, but, objectively speaking, their fans didn't even know about their relationship, although there might always be the occasional rumor, since they weren't exactly known for their discretion.
The company had finally given them permission to form a sub-unit together, and it was like a dream come true, given that they had been explicitly expressing this desire, both professionally and personally, for years. It was also a strategy by the company to help some fans adapt to seeing them in a new light, not only appreciating their talent but also planting a seed of uncertainty that would make them think: Could Jeonghan and Joshua be lovers? And thus announce their relationship.
That's why they had to be careful at this stage, but Jeonghan seemed determined to act as if Joshua and him were expecting a baby ever since he finished his rut, and Joshua didn't have the heart to crush that illusion so abruptly.
"Jeonghanie, babe, we used protection before, during, and after your rut." Jeonghan buried his face in Joshua's neck, nuzzling the area with his nose, rubbing against it before kissing the mating mark he had renewed a few days ago.
The omega pulled the alpha away from his neck, tracing his perfect defined chin.
"I would love to have a little one inside me." He wasn't lying when he said that. "I love the idea of starting a family with you, Hannie, but, I don't think I'm pregnant, and I don't think now is the right time."
Jeonghan's alpha protested in contradiction; no one would convince him otherwise. He was certain his omega was pregnant. Shua only had to look in the mirror to notice the changes. His skin had a new glow, his appearance had become softer and more refined than before, even though it had always been so, and something, not yet perceptible to the naked eye, screamed that his little ones were there.
Shua's omega also felt different than usual. Something told him he should be more careful, but nothing alarmed him or seemed out of the ordinary. His omega had always been cautious by nature.
Joshua gave Jeonghan a fleeting kiss on the cheek, who lay with his head bowed.
"I know we might not be expecting a baby, but Joshuji, my alpha, keeps insisting that you are. I know it's silly, but I can't act any other way," Jeonghan confessed, somewhat embarrassed.
Joshua kissed the older again. "We'll do this until your alpha calms down a bit. I'm going to listen to your concerns. I won't drink alcohol, and I won't skip meals either." He paused, Jeonghan watching him expectantly, unable to suppress the smile that spread across his lips. "However, no silly ideas like skipping practice to rest, or complaining when I'm pushing myself. If I notice you're going too far, I'll send you to the couch."
Jeonghan nodded like a scolded puppy, though his eyes held an excited gleam. "No lifting heavy objects," the alpha added quickly, and Joshua couldn't hide the slight headache his beloved was giving him.
The omega raised both eyebrows, and with that, Jeonghan closed his lips, limiting himself to a quick Eskimo kiss, which made Joshua laugh tenderly.
"Jeonghan Yoon?"
"Yoon-Hong Joshua Jisoo?"
They stared at each other mischievously before bursting into loud laughter; they were definitely a perfect match.
Joshua got up from his alpha's lap, receiving a playful pat on his butt from him, who smiled slyly as he turned to look at him.
"Jeonghan, we'd better go now. Mingyu must be waiting for us for the monthly meeting."
Lying side by side in the seats of the company's screening room, Jeonghan kept snuggling closer to Joshua, placing his hands on the omega's abdomen. "Silly alpha," Joshua said through their bond.
And Jeonghan replied playfully, "You silly alpha."
They both laughed like the lovebirds they were, causing Seungkwan, who was standing a few feet away, to make an exaggerated face before whispering to Joshua, "What's wrong with Jeonghan hyung?"
"He recently came out of his rut," Joshua explained briefly. Seungkwan narrowed his eyes, trying to find out more, but the doe eyed just gave him a small, innocent smile.
Seungcheol, on the other hand, as soon as Jeonghan broke away from his omega for a few seconds, didn't hesitate to approach his best friend.
"Hannie, are you stuck in a rut or something?" Jeonghan shook his head, popping a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "So what's wrong?" The man in question let his shoulders slump, glancing quickly at Joshua, who was laughing with Minghao about something.
"I think I have like a baby fever, you know..." Seungcheol gestured to the lazy-eyed man, indicating that he should elaborate on his idea. "You know, I spent part of my military service helping out at a kindergarten, being a teacher. Let's just say that, along with my rut, has led me to think Shua is pregnant, plus, well, God—" Jeonghan closed his eyes, focusing on the scent emanating from his boyfriend. "He smells delicious, like chocolate milkshake, and my scent is stronger on him. Mingyu confirmed it after we went inside."
Seungcheol saw no flaws in his best friend's logic. Two years ago, he'd gone through the same thing, suspecting Jihoon was pregnant, and all he had to do was look at the one-year-old resting on his chest to confirm it. "You know—" Seungcheol took a discreet breath.
Trying to focus on the scent of the omega two seats away, Jeonghan thought, "Shua smells quite strongly of coffee, more than usual." Jeonghan smiled triumphantly, knowing his instincts were right.
The group leader settled his daughter, placing a soft kiss on the baby's raven hair. She pouted, bringing her tiny fist to her mouth. Jeonghan's eyes filled with tenderness; his goddaughter was the epitome of cuteness, and he couldn't help but imagine the little one Joshua and him were surely expecting.
“Hannie, Jihoonie is coming back from military service in two days. Chowon and I miss him so much. My princess is missing her mom. I sing to her every night, but sometimes she can't stop crying because she knows her mom isn't here.” Raising a baby wasn't all smiles and play; it was an enormous responsibility, bringing a little person into the world, for whom you were responsible, an innocent little person who had to be cared for, loved, and raised with patience and affection, for whom you had to strive to be better, and who would grow up in a safe environment.
Jihoon and Seungcheol announced their relationship when people found out they were expecting Chowon, the news was met with a cocktail of emotions, and they both did a live broadcast asking their followers that it wasn't necessary to support them, but rather to respect their privacy and relationship, as they didn't intend to put their baby in danger.
For the vast majority of Jihoon's pregnancy, they both spent time in Busan, Jihoon's hometown, where Seungcheol bought a house. They were visited by Jihoon's family and his own from time to time, and of course, by the rest of the pack. However, when they returned to Seoul for SEVENTEEN's monthly meeting, numerous photos of Jihoon pregnant were leaked. The darker side of their fandom not only shared these photos but also criticized them with hurtful words, even daring to demand the removal of the producer and composer of almost all of their songs.
This enraged Seungcheol, and understandably so. Jihoon was experiencing what should have been one of the happiest moments of their lives, and some strangers who felt entitled to treat them like puppets thought it was a good idea to virtually harass his omega. Seungcheol announced that he would take legal action against everyone who violated his privacy and tried to hurt his mate.
But seeing Chowon safe and sound, everyone present knew that it was worth moving heaven and earth for love.
"I miss Hoonie like never before, but I know he's fulfilling his duty and it won't be long before we see him again. It hasn't been easy, but just seeing Chowon smile when the three of us are together, I know it was worth it."
Jeonghan wondered how his fans would react. He knew there was a creative part of the fandom that enjoyed assuming their secondary genders and pairing them up as they pleased—some innocently, others bordering on obsession. They might be happy, or perhaps not so much. It would be a difficult, but if he confirmed that Shua was pregnant, he would have to take all the necessary precautions to ensure the well-being of his little family, just as Seungcheol had done.
It was three in the morning when Jeonghan got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. He'd practically thrown up his entire lunch and dinner in less than a minute. He cursed the heartburn that filled his mouth, but he could breathe easily again as he felt his omega gathering his hair into a ponytail, keeping it away from his face.
Jeonghan looked like a ghost, and as he sat up, he thanked whoever it was that he was the one suffering from morning sickness and not his omega.
"Hannie, did something upset your stomach? I told you not to eat the yolk of the egg. You never do, and this afternoon you insisted on doing it."
Jeonghan smiled weakly as Joshua helped him sit up and guided him to the sink.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, resting both hands on the edge of the sink, Jeonghan met the omega's gaze.
"Shua, I bought a pregnancy test, and I don't know if I'm delirious or not, but what if you take it?"
"Hannie." The younger man tried to persuade him. If asked, he hadn't felt anything out of the ordinary. If he was pregnant, he should be the first to know; it was his body, after all.
Jeonghan took a deep breath. "Shuji, you smell like chocolate milkshake, and on top of that, my scent is stronger on you. I think you've gained some weight; your thighs look thicker and your hips wider." Joshua was ready to criticize the latter, but his alpha quickly intervened to avoid the consequences of his words. "You look gorgeous, in fact, I dare say twice as gorgeous, and I'm not delirious, I swear. My alpha and I aren't delirious, baby."
Joshua sighed. A baby? They still didn't have confirmation.
No, but it wasn't a game, and being pregnant during his sub-unit's promotions would be a madness. Luckily, they were in it together, but that didn't lessen his current worries or those yet to come.
Did he want a baby? It would be a lie if he said no. Seeing his alpha surrounded by children while he was a teacher made him long for a future where they would sit together in their dream house, teaching their little one to take first steps, to talk, singing lullabies, comforting them at night, helping them through their first colds, their first Christmas, their first day of school. He silently yearned for all of that, and it seemed his wish had been granted.
Jeonghan cleared his throat, and Joshua kissed his forehead as the alpha inhaled his scent, intoxicated by him, whispering words of support as he hugged him.
Sheltered in each other's warmth, it was Jeonghan's turn to kiss his forehead and nose. "Whatever the outcome, darling, we're in this together."
They separated only so Jeonghan could search the medicine cabinet for the small pink box that Joshua took tremulously.
"We're together, no matter how turbulent the tide and how uncertain tomorrow, I'll be by your side, Joshuji." Joshua's eyes filled with tears, and Jeonghan's arms embraced him again. They had all the time in the world, and Joshua would always be his priority.
Ten minutes passed before the omega pulled away from his mate and ushered him out of the bathroom.
Jeonghan paced back and forth like a caged lion; the minutes felt like hours, and Joshua didn't make a sound.
"Jeonghanie." Jeonghan almost tripped on his way to the bathroom as he ran when he heard his omega's voice. He could swear Joshua was on the verge of tears.
Two red lines—that's all Jeonghan saw, and seeing Joshua smile through his tears confirmed what his alpha had suspected.
"I think we're pregnant," Shua said, laughing as sweet crystals decorated his caramel-colored cheeks.
Jeonghan pulled him close, kissing away every tear that fell from his face, his lips lightly touching his forehead, eyelids, eyebrows, nose, cheekbones, lips, and chin. He gave him a beautiful smile that left Joshua breathless, capturing the omega's lips again in a slow dance as his hands gripped his hips.
The alpha's knees touched the floor, almost solemnly, his lips lifting the short-sleeved shirt the omega wore to sleep, kissing the invisible curve of his belly where his baby was growing safe and sound.
"I promise to try to be the best husband, alpha, and father to both of you, to take care of you, pamper you, love you, and make your lives, if it's up to me, the happiest, so you always feel safe and know every day that this human being here will give his life for both of you." Joshua wanted to hit Jeonghan for being so dramatic, but his hormones seemed to be taking over, and he started crying again, overcome with emotion. "Thank you for choosing me, Joshuji, for giving me the gift of loving you and now having a family together."
Joshua placed his hands on the alpha's bare shoulders, inviting him to stand. "Thank you for being by my side, for loving me like I know no one else could, and for allowing me to love you." Jeonghan, his spoiled and capricious alpha, sobbed, cupping Shua's face in his hands, holding his world, as they pressed their foreheads together. "If there's one thing I'm glad about, it's that you got morning sickness and not me." Jeonghan smiled in agreement; he'd rather be the one to deal with it than his precious Shua. Imagining his omega doubled over on the toilet, refusing to eat a thing, made him want to cry.
Stealing another kiss from his boyfriend's plump lips, Jeonghan helped him sit on the bed. Joshua chuckled at the sight of Jeonghan's enormous pile of shirts, coats, pants, sweaters, and pillows, not to mention the two plushies of Toram and Shuasumi scattered on his bed. It was a massive nest, and he wasn't even close to his heat when it started three weeks ago. Some of the signs had been right under his nose, and he hadn't even noticed.
"Can I come in?" Joshua simply pulled him by the arm, lowering the alpha onto the soft surface. "Shuji, I'm going to schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN so we can go as soon as possible. I want everything to be in order, for you and our baby to be perfectly healthy."
The omega smiled, touched. It was impossible not to love Yoon Jeonghan.
His hands pushed the alpha's torso down onto the bed as he straddled his pelvis.
Joshua removed the only garment he was wearing, leaving him in his underwear. Jeonghan could only watch, mesmerized, his eyes taking in every curve of the younger.
"Jeonghanie, I think besides our sub-unit, we have something else to celebrate," Joshua purred in his ear. Jeonghan, without any shame, placed his hands on the omega's damp thighs, watching as that sweet, glistening liquid began to trickle down them.
The sweet fragrance of the one with the deer-like eyes mingled with his own, transporting them to heaven itself.
They certainly had reason to celebrate, and Jeonghan wasn't going to let it go to waste.