Logan sat across from the table and rubbed her hands together. She made it into the birthing center with minor issues, but her head was pounding. Her mother rubbed her back gently as the midwife and doctor went over her medical records.
“Your last round of labs looks great, considering the blood loss not long before the time of conception. I am concerned that they tend not to stay so great and you’re still in need of infusions. Your baby seems to be pulling a lot of minerals from your bones. We should add vitamin patches to your care plan.”
She nodded in agreement, unable to speak.
“She will need a private room and security when she delivers,” HaEun spoke up.
“I understand,” the midwife agreed.
“And… we have a lot of brothers who will want to visit,” Logan finally spoke up.
“What?” they looked confused.
“I know… it’s not normal.”
“You shouldn’t have unnecessary people exposing your newborn or you.”
“They are very necessary,” she pursed her eyebrows together.
“You might feel differently when the time comes.”
“Then I’ll tell them not to come. I am the only girl in the family at the moment, and this one is going to have a dozen uncles.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem with a private room. As it stands though, only one person is allowed to visit the other patients at a time, fully masked and gloved.”
“I understand.”
“This is non-negotiable,” HaEun spoke up. “I can’t imagine telling any of them they couldn’t come see the baby. Chaos would break out… it wouldn’t be pretty. They’ll find a way.”
“Noted.”
“Will you be utilizing a post-natal hospital?”
“We are meeting with Heritage in August to make arrangements.”
“Very nice,” they agreed.
“You realize that only your husband can visit you there, unless you meet in the common area.”
“Of course.”
HaEun nodded and turned to her daughter. “See? It’s okay.”
She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
The women returned to the apartment to see JungKook sitting on the sofa, waiting.
“What are you doing home?” Logan pulled off her mask. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?”
He tossed his phone aside and rose to meet her. “I’m fine,” he became instantly concerned. “Deep breaths. You’re safe,” he went into calming mode before turning to HaEun for answers.
She frowned and looked away.
“I… I… I…”
“Baby,” he pressed his forehead against hers. “Breathe with me,” he whispered. “In… out…”
“We toured the birthing center,” HaEun spoke softly. “She did really well.”
“That means you got your card,” he smiled at her. “You’re official.”
She nodded her head.
HaEun walked back to the kitchen and pulled on her apron before immediately going to work, cleaning out the refrigerator and making a list.
“Sit with me,” he pulled away and backed up to the sofa as she followed him.
“I hate this,” she was finally able to speak.
“You didn’t take to change well before all this,” he smirked before pulling her into his lap and rubbing her back.
She nodded as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.
“I was supposed to meet the guys in Itaewon tonight, but I’ll stay home.”
“No,” she pushed away. “You need to see your friends.”
“Come with me.”
“I am not going to sit in a bar and watch you all get drunk.”
“I don’t want you to stay here alone.”
“Tori and Eunice are bringing me new dresses to try on. I can’t fit into my pants at all anymore, my ass is huge.”
He scrunched his nose as he smiled at her. “You’re so cute, though.”
“What if my ass stays this big? I’m going to need all new clothes.”
“I fail to see a problem.”
“What if my waist gets skinny again, but my ass stays huge?”
“I have access to a few great stylists who have access to a few great seamstresses,” he grinned as HaEun’s laughter was heard from the kitchen.
“It’s not funny!”
“I have a feeling we will have more than one grandchild,” she hummed.
“We could have ten and you’ll still be my sexy noona,” he kissed her cheek.
“Pain. In. The. Ass,” she pushed him away.
“I have tomorrow off,” he grabbed her hand. “We should go see the houses and make a decision.”
“Seriously?”
“If you want to be settled in before November, we need to get the papers signed.”
She looked around the apartment. “I have no problem with that.”
“It’s like I’m trying to talk you into moving in again.”
“So you’re familiar with my thought process,” she nodded.
“The list. Go back to the list.”
“Fuck the list,” she hissed.
He sighed and looked away for a moment.
“I’m going to lie down,” she pushed away and walked off to the bedroom.
He stared silently at the floor for a moment before looking off at the kitchen. He waited before quietly walking off and leaning against the bar. “What happened?” he asked lowly.
HaEun glanced at the hall before turning back to him. “She doesn’t want to worry you.”
“Worry me. That’s my job. Let me worry so she can relax.”
“Aish,” she shook her head.
“Does YoonGi know?”
She stared at him before nodding her head.
“Fine,” he walked off to grab his phone.
“Goo-ah,” she spat.
He turned back to her, raised his eyebrows, and waited.
She rolled her eyes before wiping her hands on a towel and walking him back into the living room. “It was too soon,” she whispered. “Her blood wasn’t strong enough to have a baby, but somehow… she’s still healthy. It is putting a huge strain on her body and she’s still getting iron infusions. She just can’t seem to catch up.”
“Is that why she was so sick?”
She nodded her head.
“And her swollen eyes? It’s not from ramen, is it?”
She shook her head.
“What happens when the baby gets bigger and she still can’t catch up?”
“We won’t know until… if it happens. The infusions help, but it causes her bones to hurt. They gave her vitamin patches today.”
“And you’ve all been hiding this from me? Why?”
“Because she’s my daughter and we have a very big problem asking for help,” she admitted angrily. “She doesn’t want to show weakness, and she wants even less to add to your stress from the lockdown. She doesn’t want to tell you that she should have stayed in Scotland until she was healthy. She doesn’t want to admit that she pushed herself too hard to get back to you.”
“So every bit of this is my fault…”
“No,” she placed her hand on his arm. “They were her choices to make, and she made them. No matter how messed up her mind still is, she is trying like hell to protect that precious baby. Let her.”
He patted her hand and nodded before walking off to the bedroom. He whipped off his shirt as he walked, and slid into bed beside her, pushing up against her back before resting his hand over her lower belly.
She hummed, pushing back against him before sliding her hand over his.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She sucked in a deep breath and opened her eyes, looking up at him. “I love you too.”
“I’m going to take more time off work. I’m going to take care of you.”
“That’s crazy talk,” she smiled at him. “We’re fine.”
“I’m not. I need to take care of my girls.”
She stared into his eyes in the dim light of the room. “Okay.”
JungKook sat on the set and scrolled through his phone. He stopped and typed something, searching through the results. He then shook his head and did it again.
“Understanding Sex Drive During Pregnancy,” Jimin read aloud from over his shoulder.
He huffed and closed his eyes before dropping his phone. “Damn it,” he growled.
“Is that really a problem?” he mumbled.
“You have no idea,” he rolled his eyes and looked up at him.
Jimin’s eyes widened just before he walked around the sofa and plopped down next to him. “Tell me more.”
“Please… just don’t,” YoonGi snipped from the chair across from them.
“Ugh…” he threw back his head. “I can’t tell her no.”
“Why would you?” Jimin frowned at him.
“Bro…” he caught himself before rubbing his face. He just nearly avoided a makeup catastrophy. “I’m not complaining…”
“I am,” YoonGi mumbled.
“Okay, okay,” Jimin grabbed his phone and read the article. “Ooh. They call it the ‘Honeymoon Period’ because… wow. I had no idea all of that went on.”
“More blood means more blood flow, which means more sensitivity, which means…”
“Sexy Noona 24/7,” TaeHyung joined them and smirked. “Are her boobs getting bigger?”
“I am so done with you,” YoonGi threw a shoe at him.
JungKook nodded his head.
“My sister will be raising two children, then,” YoonGi glared at JungKook.
“Four, counting us,” Jimin teased him.
“I would just like to meet the men who always say sex goes away after you get married, because that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re not married,” YoonGi shot back.
“Soon,” he smiled at him. “One thing at a time.”
.
Logan shot up from bed, gasping for air as she grabbed for her throat. Her shoulders began to shake as she cried, reliving yet again the one moment in her life that changed everything. She hated that girl for holding the power over her to leave her in a screaming, sobbing puddle every time she tried to sleep.
“Fuck this,” she wiped her face and blew her nose before reaching for her phone.
“Hello?”
“Did I wake you?”
“My shift just ended,” he sighed. “Again?”
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and swallowed down more tears. “Please.”
“You are no longer a PA or an employee here, I could get fired for doing this.”
“I’m sorry to put you in this situation… I just had another nightmare and knowing she’s still there makes them go away for a while.”
He sighed as she heard typing in the background. “She’s still there. She had an episode last week and has been on tranquilizers since. You are completely safe, Logan.”
“Thank you,” her lip trembled.
“How is your hiatus coming along whilst in lockdown?” he chuckled.
“Living the dream,” she couldn’t help but laugh. “Adding to the population.”
“What?! Wow! Congratulations! How… is that possible?”
“I don’t know. I was extremely ill at first and the doctors in Edinburgh think it’s because my immunity was so weak. They went ahead and gave me two iron infusions to make sure my blood was strong enough. It was fairly dramatic.”
“But everything’s fine?”
“So far, so good.”
“Well… I’m happy for you. Are you continuing to see your psychotherapist?”
“Online, yes. Video chats have replaced all contact now.”
“Yet another good reason you’re no longer here. PA Lee was admitted to the virus ward this morning.”
“Oh no.”
“Please keep yourself safe.”
“And you as well.”
She sat back after speaking with him and relaxed into her pillows before dialing once again.
“Hello?”
“Appa,” she whined.
“What’s wrong, my princess?”
“Do you know if that noodle place near the river is still delivering?”
“I don’t think so. The one near the school is.”
“I don’t like that one, they put weird shit in their sauce,” she complained.
“Hold on,” he lost the phone to her mother.
“What do you want?”
“Black bean noodles.”
“You’re going to get fat.”
“Isn’t that the point?” her phone buzzed and she looked down. “Oppa’s calling.”
“Are they working today?”
“Every day,” she sighed.
“I’ll call you when we leave the house.”
“Thank you, Eomma!” she switched over. “Eomma’s making homemade black bean noodles. If you time it right…”
“I’m on it. Be there in a bit.”
The call ended as she looked down at her phone. “That was easy.”
.
YoonGi frowned as he unpacked the bag of food on the bar and stared at his sister. “Why is your face swollen?”
“Ramen,” she looked away for a moment before pulling two bottles of water from the refrigerator.
“After this, you won’t be able to see at all,” he smirked at her.
“Probably not,” she tried to perk up.
“No, there’s something else wrong…”
“I’m fine. Just… stupid dreams.”
“Ah. How would you like to get out of the house for a few days?”
“You have my attention.”
“It’s done. It’s finally done.”
“Your mix tape?” her ears perked up. “Can I hear it?”
“Yes, but that’s not my point,” he handed her chopsticks. “I want you in my video.”
She stared at him. “What?”
“You’d be sitting, holding a jewelry case in your lap. You’d be in there for like five seconds.”
“What about oppa?”
“He doesn’t even want to come to the set. Someone told him one time that I was better looking than him and he hasn’t come back since. I already know you’re prettier than me, so it’s no big deal.”
She burst into a snicker and grabbed the bowl before walking off to the table. “I should probably post something on my Insta today, then.”
“Probably,” he sighed.
“Why are you here, but Kookie’s not?” she spoke with a mouth full of food.
“He and Jimin are working on a song. They went to the dorm because we got kicked out of the office.”
She cocked her eyebrow. “Why?”
“Someone in a nearby building tested positive and they’re disinfecting the building.”
“So you brought it to me?”
“I haven’t been exposed. I follow the ‘PA Dunn’ protocol,” laughed while speaking.
“I approve,” she smiled before taking another bite. “Ah. Eomma rocks.”
“Yes,” he sighed happily before turning his eyes back to her. “So… dreams?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You probably should.”
She rolled her eyes and sat back. “I call JinYoung occasionally to make sure she’s still confined. That usually helps.”
“Is that even legal?”
“No,” she chirped.
“That’s not like you.”
“That’s totally like me, you just haven’t been paying attention,” she nodded at him. “I wish there was something to zap the memories.”
“Until that’s invented, you have to learn how to retrain your brain’s reactions to those memories.”
“Stop talking like me,” she whined.
“Someone has to,” he grinned at her.
She stared at her bowl of noodles before looking back up at him. “How is he?”
He turned serious for a moment before letting out a sigh. “We’re all struggling in different ways. He’s coping fairly well, better than some of the others. He has you and the baby to keep him busy.”
“I haven’t quite told him… everything. The more doctors I see, the worse my nightmares are. I’m afraid he’s going to find out when I have a meltdown.”
“And what happens if you end up in the hospital?”
She rolled her eyes around the room.
“When is your next infusion?”
“Next week. About a week after each one, it feels like my entire skeleton is throbbing. I just don’t want him to worry any more than he is.”
“But if you talk about it, your nightmares may go away.”
She closed her eyes and leaned back against her seat. “The baby’s healthy. I can feel her move. I just need to relax.”
He stared at her before giving in and nodding his head.
In the event that anyone cares... And sort of a PSA...
As I was preparing for tomorrow's feast, looking for elbow macaroni in the cupboard, a glass jar of vegan sriracha fell out, broke, and cut across the toes on my right foot. As I screamed at the sight of the blood (as one does) my roommate ran down the stairs to check on me, slid on the bamboo flooring, and slammed her foot against our antique Chinese wedding cabinet.
We think she broke at least two toes on her right foot.
So please, for me, take care of your piggies. They are precious.
And also-- getcha a roommate who will kill her toes if she thinks you're dying.
“There she is!” JiYong spoke over the video chat as Logan waved at her friends.
“I’m alive!” she grinned.
“Your voice sounds great!” Tori’s bright grin nearly glowed on the screen.
“We should have a lockdown party,” Eunice suggested.
“Totally,” KiHyun sighed. “I am soooooo bored.”
“Sorry guys, I am actually quarantined,” Logan pursed her lips.
“What? Your kpop boy can’t mingle with the peasants?” Jeff huffed.
“No, it’s… ha,” she laughed nervously. “Um… I’m in one of those groups that have a compromised immune system and is at risk…”
“What? From the blood loss? Aren’t you healed from that?”
“Debatably,” she tilted her head to the side. “I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my gooooossshhh!” Tori squealed.
“Wow,” Eunice laughed. “That’s awesome.”
“You were supposed to be recovering,” JiYong laughed.
“Boy, did we,” she giggled. “She’s going to be a Scorpio.”
“How are you feeling? Can we send anything?” KiHyun asked.
“Um… morning sickness is getting better. I’m living in JungKook’s shirts right now because I’m not going anywhere, and he goes to work after I’m asleep, unless he has a schedule.”
“So… do you have… plans?” Eunice asked.
“Yeah, to sit my ass on this couch and bake this baby,” she patted her tummy.
“It was a valiant effort,” Jeff applauded Eunice as Logan laughed at him.
“He has a To Do list and first, we’re getting a new house. Engagement to follow.”
“Yay!” Tori clapped her hands.
“Okay, first thing’s first… I’m going to buy out everything from that British bakery in Itaewon. Expect a delivery,” JiYong spoke while typing on his phone.
“Today or tomorrow?”
“Every Monday,” he chirped.
She raised her eyebrows and blinked her eyes.
“Do you know it’s a girl?” Tori asked.
“My mother said that the only time she had morning sickness as bad as mine was when she was carrying me.”
“Has anyone in your family had a dream?” KiHyung asked.
“Don’t even go there!” she growled. “They’ve been dreaming of goldfish and peaches and silver flowers for like six months.”
“Oh!” the Koreans in the group all laughed at her.
“Seriously,” she shook her head.
“What are you having for dinner tonight?” Eunice scrolled through her phone.
“I’m cooking,” she laughed at them. “It’s anime night, we’ll have gimbap and yakisoba.”
“That sounds too normal…” Tori crossed her arms.
“And honey butter crisps and chocolate milk,” she finished.
“There it is,” the women nodded.
“Are you able to get some fresh air?”
“Of course, we live in Seoul Forest. If I didn’t get out of here at all, I’d go crazy.”
“He takes such good care of you,” Tori smiled.
“Yes, he does.”
.
The door opened at five o’clock on the dot as the smell of food filled him with immense happiness. He dropped three shopping bags on the bar and kicked off his boots before walking up behind Logan to kiss her cheek.
“That smells so good,” he rested his hands over her tiny bump.
“Did YoonGi give you a package?”
“I felt like we were doing a drug deal,” he sighed. “What’s in the bag?”
“Lee family kimchi,” she clapped her hands together and turned to kiss him. “And whatever else Eomma’s been making to feed her grandbaby,” she pulled the yakisoba off the heat and reached for the bags. “Ooh. Homemade soy sauce too. They have been bored.”
“My mom sent another care package, I think she said there’s gimbap, chili paste, and dried squid.”
“You haven’t opened it yet?”
“I just got the mail like… five minutes ago.”
She caught the tone of his voice and looked up at him. “How was your day?”
“What day?” he sighed. “We shot some footage for Festa, but it felt like we were just… hanging out with cameras around. There’s no work to it.”
“I’m sitting up here fat, dumb, and happy…”
“No… you’re where you need to be. I’m so glad I can be home more and be here for you… if this would have happened last year, you’d be alone,” he turned serious. “I just really miss Army… and the energy… and having people in front of me when we sing,” he shook his head.
“What can I do?” she slid her arms around him.
He wrapped his arms around her and smiled before looking down at her. “This is good.”
“This?” snuggled her head against his chest.
“Oh yeah,” he kissed her hair and relaxed.
“Mmm,” she hummed, rubbing her body against his as his eyes popped open and he raised his eyebrows.
“Aren’t you sore?”
“No,” she looked up and kissed him while sliding her fingertips under the waistband of his shorts.
“Baby, we’ve being doing it like… three times a day.”
“You’re complaining?” she pouted.
“No. I am not.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I apparently need to start working out harder to keep up with you.”
She burst into giggles as he picked her up and sat her on the counter. She sat back and placed her hands on the counter behind her, lifting herself up as he pulled down her panties and dropped them onto the floor, their eyes never leaving one another. He then ran his tongue across his bottom lip before reached for the stepstool and placing it on the floor in front of her.
Her breath caught in her throat, excitement and hormones coursing through her body as he then wrapped his hands around her hips and pulled her close, catching the backs of her thighs on his shoulders before diving in to take her with his mouth. There was no foreplay, no work up, no warning. He went for the most sensitive area of her body with full gusto. She threw her head back and pressed her fingertips against the marble countertop as she gasped for air.
Just when she felt as though she were on the brink of coming, he rose up and pushed his shorts down, pushing inside her as she yelled out her release.
She rested her elbows on the counter as she placed her feet on his shoulders, looking up at him as he pounded his hips into hers. She sucked her lip into her mouth as he gave her an arrogant smirk. He knew she was getting close again.
She clamped her eyes shut and let out a sharp breath as she burst into spasms once more before he picked her up.
She opened her hips and wrapped her legs around him, hooking her ankles as he leaned against the refrigerator for support. It took a lot of core strength to fuck a woman while standing, but damn he excelled at it.
The penetration was incredible as she dug her fingers into his shoulders and held on. It wasn’t long before they were both yelling out, their voices echoing in the kitchen as he slid down to the cold floor.
“Okay, my legs might be sore now,” she giggled against his lips.
“Oh my God, the floor is freezing,” he growled. “Ah,” he pulled her up with him and gently placed her on her feet. “Do you have the air on?”
“I’m hot.”
“You’re going to catch a cold.”
“But I’m hot,” she walked off to the bathroom to clean up as he followed her. “I’m not going to turn into a sweaty mess just to cook dinner. I’ll change it when we sit down to eat.”
“Yes, Noona,” he sighed.
She frowned and turned to him, the anger shooting from her eyes like laser beams as he froze.
“I’ve been calling you that since we met,” he spoke slowly.
“Don’t you think it will confuse our kids for you to still call me that?”
“You want me to stop?”
She didn’t answer before walking out to finish dinner.
“Baby,” he walked out after her. “Who have you been talking to?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Stupid dramas. I’ve been watching one where a new bride gets scolded by her in-laws for not speaking to him respectfully in front of them.”
“Okay,” he held out his hands as he carefully walked up to her. “No more dramas,” he nodded his head.
She glanced up at him and nodded as well.
“Fuck the rules and protocol. We’ve never followed them, why should we start now?”
“True.”
“Call me husband, or honey, or sweetheart… or call me Kookie, or Goo, or asshole…” he smiled as she looked away and laughed. “I don’t care. You’re always going to be my sexy, smart, hot as fuck Noona, got it?”
She smirked at him and nodded her head. “You’ll always be my asshole.”
He burst into a grin and kissed her. “Our poor kid…”
JungKook walked into work and plopped down into a chair, waiting for the meeting to begin. He threw his head back and closed his eyes as YoonGi sat across the table and smirked at him.
“How’s it going?” he asked hesitantly.
He opened his eyes wide and slowly looked up at him. “So. Much. Vomit.”
“Yikes,” he scrunched his nose as Jimin looked between them. “Is Noona sick?”
“Yes,” they both answered at the same time.
Hobi walked in and looked straight at him. “Did the ginger tea help?”
“I think… if I can get up to make it for her before she wakes up, and then drinks it before she tries to stand, it will work,” he explained.
Jimin squinted his eyes as he looked between them all.
TaeHyung walked in and immediately stopped at the sight. “What’s wrong?”
JungKook sighed and rubbed his face as NamJoon and SeokJin joined them, closing the door behind them.
“Oh, okay…” NamJoon caught the energy of the room. “What’s wrong?”
YoonGi sat back and laughed as JungKook sat up and nodded.
“Logan and I are going to be parents,” he smiled nervously.
“I am so glad I don’t have to keep this a secret anymore,” Hobi relaxed in his seat.
“You knew?” Jimin raised his eyebrows.
“I live on the same floor. He’s been sending me to the pharmacy for morning sickness remedies.”
“Deep breaths,” SeokJin slapped his leader's back.
“I have… so many questions…”
“Who’s taking care of her while you’re at work?” Jimin barked at him.
“Her Eomma,” he answered slowly.
“They know too, and you didn’t tell me?”
“You know now.”
He rolled his eyes and grunted before grabbing his phone and typing away.
“What are you doing?”
“Sending her flowers,” he huffed.
“Would you like to take care of her tomorrow? I could sure use the sleep,” he yawned.
“That’s your job, Appa,” he smirked. “My job is to spoil my nephew’s Eomma.”
“I could use all the help I can get,” he welcomed the suggestion.
“It’s supposed to be a girl, right? The eommas dreamt of goldfish and silver flowers,” TaeHyung offered. “I need to go shopping.”
“We’re going to be moving. Wait a few months.”
“Are you going public or not?” NamJoon looked as though he were about to cry. “That’s all I need to know.”
“No.”
SeokJin rolled his eyes around in thought. “It’s possible… Other idols have secret kids too…”
“With the ‘Spoiler King’ as our leader?” YoonGi laughed. “Not likely.”
“You guys should move into the dorm, that way we can all take turns helping,” Jimin suggested.
“No!” YoonGi, NamJoon, and SeokJin all yelled at him.
“It’s bad enough that he sleeps with my sister, I don’t need that kind of stress from down the hall.”
“You say you’re moving…” TaeHyung rolled his eyes around.
“I’m looking at a five-bedroom house in Itaewon. It’s got a nice garden and lots of trees.”
“Perfect. Let me know when to meet with the decorator.”
“That’s a promise.”
“Tell me more about the garden,” Jimin spoke up.
“We are here to work,” NamJoon spoke up.
“I sent you the link,” JungKook nodded.
“I want to see,” SeokJin leaned over his shoulder as the link popped up.
“Oooh. Nice,” TaeHyung leaned over his other shoulder. “I like the grey color with the cherry trees. Spring is going to be amazing.”
“In more ways than one,” he agreed.
NamJoon turned to YoonGi.
“Alright, alright, alright… she’s going to be pregnant for a few more months. We have time,” he waved at them.
Jimin stared at him for a moment. “When will the baby be here?”
“November.”
“You don’t have a date yet?”
“Her appointment’s on the 2nd.”
“The day of photo shoots?” YoonGi frowned. “Who’s going with her?”
“I’m going to try to.”
“This should be an interesting seven months,” NamJoon sighed.
Jimin chewed on his lips while tapping on his phone. Everyone quieted as they turned to him. “I won! Yes!”
The others growled as they reached for their wallets.
.
JungKook waved as he walked off the soundstage. “I’ve got to go…” he mumbled under his breath.
“You’re good to go!”
“Thank you!” be bowed before running off to the door.
“Goo-ah!” NamJoon called to him. “Clothes!”
“Shit, shit, shit!” he ran back to wardrobe to change. A few moments later, he zoomed past them and down the hall.
“This is fun,” Hobi smirked.
“True.”
He rushed home and burst into the apartment to find Logan sitting on the sofa with a book. She looked up at him as he panted.
“Ready?” he pointed to the door, out of breath.
“My appointment was over an hour ago,” she spoke slowly.
“I missed it?!” he dropped his shoulders.
“Everything’s fine,” she jumped up to hug him.
“I can’t believe I missed it.”
“That’s okay, you’re here now,” she smiled. “Besides, I know you tried. It’s not your fault you had a schedule today.”
“Are you okay? You seem pretty mellow.”
“I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat,” she grinned. “It puts it all in perspective.”
He kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. “I wish I could have been there.”
“There will be others,” she rested her head against his chest. “My due date’s the 5th of November.”
He burst into laughter. “Awesome.”
“Is it?” she grinned. “She’s going to be a Scorpio.”
He pulled her to the sofa and cuddled up with her.
“I’ve gained about two and a half kilos. That’s amazing, considering the amount of food I throw back up, but that should be going away soon since I’m at the end of my first trimester.”
He smiled happily as he listened to her.
“My jeans are getting tight. My tiny waist will be gone soon.”
“I don’t care. It was nice while it lasted,” he teased her.
“You say that now,” she smiled.
“How are you feeling today?” he ran his fingers through her hair.
“This morning was a little rough, but I’m better. I’m actually starving at the moment.”
“I’m in the mood for pizza.”
“I could eat a whole one myself.”
“I would love to see that,” he laughed.
“You doubt me?” she looked up at him with a playful smile.
“Never,” he kissed her before pulling back and looking into her eyes. “Marry me.”
“We can’t yet. I need my passport to get my ID card. You need an ID card to register to marry.”
“You’ve looked it up?” he grinned.
“I have. I have my birth certificate and my proof of relationships certificate. I’m just waiting on that damned card.”
“Where should we register?”
“If we wait until next spring or summer, we can do it in Busan.”
His eyes lit up as he kissed her. “So… House… garden… security system… engagement… baby… wedding.”
“Your list is growing.”
“We need to put our planner to work.”
“He’s sent me flowers for the past two weeks so I can look at beautiful things and think beautiful thoughts for the health of the baby,” she bit her lip.
“Of course he has,” he laughed. “TaeHyungie-hyung says he’s waiting to go shopping, but I’ve seen the boxes stacking up in his room.”
“Oh no,” she covered her mouth with her hand. “This baby has… my brothers, your brother, the group, your friends… ten uncles and six grandparents.”
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“You know it’ll be a girl, right? It’s too ridiculous for her not to be.”
“Jimin will be disappointed, but I’m sure he’ll recover quickly.”
“And what about you, Appa? Would you be disappointed with a little girl?”
His eyes widened for a moment. “I will be a mess.”
I sat squatted in a corner, hiding from the camera crew that had been following me for the better half of four days. Waiting for a reply, I carefully looked down the hall before turning back to my phone.
TaeHyung was the first to bite.
What do you need saving from?
That was a better response than I had hoped for.
Cameras are determined to steal my soul!
They’ve been EVERYWHERE this week!
Johnny was the next to respond.
You’re in the studio. Deal with the BTS filming.
Fuck the behind-the-scenes footage. This was an invasion of personal privacy.
This is not normal!!!
Ah. NaYeon, my voice of reason had arrived.
They’re going to squeeze every ounce out.
Next year at this time, you’ll wish for it.
Not. Fucking. Likely.
Traitors. You’re all dead to me.
My knight in shining armor popped in. Surely he would be on my side.
Are you finished recording for the day?
And that’s why he was MY man!
Yes!
Silence. Dead silence.
On my way!
I could have cried at those words. I knew my Jimin-ie wouldn’t fail me in my time of need. Now I just needed to sneak out…
“You have got to be kidding me,” Yeoni yelled from behind me, causing me to scream and jump straight up to my feet. I had totally forgotten that she was now a member of our chat group by association as Johnny’s girlfriend.
I held my chest as I fought to catch my breath.
“You know they’re trying to record absolutely everything they can. We won’t have very more chances for Starlight to see us all together.”
“It’s too much,” I pleaded with my hands pressed together. “When I sing, when I listen to playback, when I rehearse, when I step into the hall to go to the bathroom… Too. Much. Please, Eunnie… let me LIVE!”
“I can’t wait to see you as a solo artist. Your new managers are going to pull their hair out,” she crossed her arms.
“I’m your new roommate,” I reminded her with an impish grin. “Our move-in will probably go much smoother if I was more relaxed.”
“You are the devil,” she rolled her eyes before looking away. “Where did JangMi go?”
“I love you!” I kissed her cheek before dashing down the hall to the doors of the stairwell. I had no time for elevators, I needed freedom immediately. When I reached the bottom, I chose to leave through the side door instead of into the lobby and ducked behind a trash bin. I waited a moment before tiptoeing toward the street and peeking to see if Jimin was there yet. He wasn’t.
Then, I pulled my hoodie up and slipped my mask on before ducking behind a potted plant until I heard the engine of his Porsche rev from the street.
“Get in, dork!”
“Whaaa?!” I squealed before jumping into his car and reaching for the seatbelt.
“This is a great look for you,” he teased me.
“It’s almost October, I don’t stand out too much,” I glanced out the window.
“Keep telling yourself that. Dork,” he continued to tease me.
“Call me anything you like, you are my knight in shining armor today. How shall I reward thee, good Sir Knight?”
That evil grin that could not be trusted made its way to his face as I realized that I may have made a grave error in judgement.
“Um… where are we going?”
“I’m still renting that house near Seoul Fortress,” he nodded. “Just for emergencies like this.”
“Oh. I unwittingly made a booty call. Right,” I hummed. “I mean… that doesn’t exactly suck.”
“I think your knight needs a little princess love as repayment.”
“I’m not a fucking princess,” I scolded him.
“Forgive me, my Goddess,” he bowed.
“Just for that…”
“What? Tell me.”
It was my turn to offer him an evil smile. “You shall see.”
He raised his eyebrows and sped through a yellow light.
.
We left a trail of clothes from the door to the bed before he pushed me down onto the soft mattress. He hovered over me with a devious look in his eyes as he licked his lips. “As always, my Goddess is in control.”
“I owe you,” I leaned up to kiss him, sucking on his bottom lip before pushing him over onto his back. He let out an excited smiled as I climbed atop and stared back down at him. “If you touch me, I’ll tie your hands.”
“Yes, my Goddess,” he answered dutifully.
I started at his chin, moving my kisses to just behind his ear as he wiggled underneath me. It was exciting to feel him straining to keep his hands by his sides as I ran my tongue down his neck and nibbled on his collar bone.
“This is way harder than I thought it’d be,” his voice seemed lower as he closed his eyes and raised his chin.
I continued on, sucking on the skin of his chest, twirling my tongue around one of his nipples as he flinched, his skin flushing and becoming warm under my touch.
I used my hands, running them down his sides as I made my way to his navel, again running my tongue around it as he sucked in a breath. He lifted his left hand, but then caught himself before returning it to his side.
“Thank you for rescuing me from the evil production demons today,” I purred as I raked my nails over his hip bones and down to his thighs.
“Anything for my baby,” he smiled, peeking down at me.
“You’re such a good boyfriend.”
“I’m trying,” he admitted.
I pressed my lips against the skin just below his navel, humming as moan caused a smile to form on my lips. I loved causing him to react this way.
Suddenly, his phone rang. I looked up as he stared at the ceiling, running both hands through his hair as he huffed incredulously.
“Fuck me,” he angered before reaching down to the floor to pull his phone from his jeans and answer. “Hyung. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I don’t know, traffic is bad… maybe an hour or so. Okay.”
I raised my eyebrows and waited.
“We’re in traffic,” he grinned before throwing me onto my back and kissing me.
“But I…”
“Next time, you can tie me up and do whatever the fuck you want,” he grabbed my ankles and threw them over his shoulders before pressing his hips into mine. As he leaned down, his chest pressed against mine, he kissed me. I felt as though I were about to suffocate as he slid inside me, our bodies flush for only a moment before he began pushing harder and harder against me.
I had to turn my head away to breathe as I grabbed onto his arms. At the pace he had set, neither of us would last long, and all I could do was hold on.
As the sound of our skin slapping together fought for dominance over the squeaking of the bed, our voices rang out in blissful release.
It wasn’t the afternoon tryst I had expected, but it was hot and sexy all the same.
.
He pulled into an alleyway a few houses down from Olympus and parked the car before turning for a kiss. We both hummed as we pressed our lips together before pulling away with smiles on our blissed-out faces.
“I’m not going to be able to catch any time off for your birthday, baby. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Maybe we can find a few hours somewhere…”
“I’ll talk to the others to see if we can meet up for food and maybe celebrate both of our birthdays together. Unless…” he raised his eyebrows.
“Unless?”
“Huh…” his eyes widened as he rolled them around in thought.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” I smirked at him.
“Would you… like… to come with me to Busan?”
Wow. That one question had my mind whirling. Busan. His home. His parents. His family. A trip home. Meeting the family. Oh my God. This was serious.
“I mean, we’ve been together six months… give or take…” he suddenly became nervous. “And I’ve known you for nine years. They know you. I talk about you all the time and they saw the MAMA performance, so… they know… I love you.”
“I… think you should ask your parents first?” I scrunched my face up. “I mean… I’d love to. I would definitely love to, but… I know my parents—my mom especially… would take it as a sign of an impending engagement.”
He nodded his head in agreement.
“It’s not good to surprise Korean parents. If there’s nothing else I’ve taken from the time I’ve lived here, it is definitely that.”
“You’re right,” he sighed. “Okay. We can talk about it later.”
Did that mean… he was going to call his parents and ask?
“I need to go,” he reached over to kiss me again. “I’m glad I could contribute to your delinquency once again.”
“You are my enabler,” I giggled. “Be careful in traffic.”
“Bye, Baby,” he winked at me as I slipped out and closed the door.
As he drove off down the alley, I walked down to the street and around to the front of the house. There, at the front door, with their arms crossed and angry frowns staring back at me, were Bora, Rubi, and Duri.
“Oh shit,” I stopped as the gate slammed against my ass, pushing me forward.
“This shit was cute when we were rookies,” Bora glared at me. “How old are you now?”
“I…”
“You had a death threat not even a MONTH ago,” Duri spoke up. “Why did you ditch your bodyguards?”
“I’m sorry,” I spoke quickly. “I just needed out of there. All of the cameras in my face… it was too much and I…”
“This was not panic. This was spoiled little JangMi sneaking out like you’ve been doing since we were trainees!” Rubi raised her voice at me.
“I didn’t mean to make you worry. I wasn’t alone, I was safe… I should have let someone know.”
“Yeoni told us. Do you honestly think your phone wouldn’t have been blowing up if we didn’t know where you were?” Bora scoffed at me.
“That is true,” I bowed lowly to them. “I do not regret my actions, but I do regret the stress I’ve caused you all. Please forgive me,” I offered my best, airy anime voice I could muster.
“What the fuck was that?” Duri burst into laughter.
“That was the most dramatic apology you’ve ever given,” Bora shook her head.
“It was sincere,” I bowed once again.
“Damn it,” Rubi looked away, but I could tell she was smiling.
“Yes, I am adorable, and no, you cannot stay angry at me. Let us be done with this ass chewing,” I bowed once more.
They all let out exasperated sighs and turned to lead me into the house.
It has been since July, but I've finally got some new parts for you! From here until the end, I will post two chapters every Thorsday; one at 1AM and the other at 1PM. Enjoy!
Logan pattered off to find her phone as it rang, smirking as she realized that it was her brother calling to check on her.
“Hello?”
“You heard from him?” YoonGi asked quickly.
“Yes,” she sighed. “He’s home.”
“And you haven’t killed him yet?” he chuckled.
“What do you want, Oppa?”
“Put the fangs and claws away. Besides, you can’t get me through the phone,” he chuckled.
She massaged the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snip at you.”
“So… how’s it going? Are you talking?”
“Not at the moment,” she closed her eyes and immediately wished she could take back those words.
“Why?”
“Oops, gotta go…”
“EunJi-ya!”
“I’ll call later!” she hung up on him. “Geeze, he’s so nosy!” she scolded the phone.
“The brother?” JungKook’s gruff voice echoed from the bedroom.
“Has he always been like this?” she walked in and sat on the bed next to him.
“Not really… but he wasn’t a big brother then either.”
She raised her eyebrows and decided to change the subject. “You look tired.”
“I’ll sleep later,” he smiled as he slid his hand up her thigh. “Do you remember in December… on our 300-day anniversary… when I told you I couldn’t buy a house because they’d blast it on social media?”
“Yes…” she hummed.
“Forget everything I said about that.”
“What does that mean?”
“I found a house, and this place is on the market.”
She stared at him for a moment. “That’s why the pictures are gone… and you covered our clothes,” she let out relieved breath.
“That’s why you didn’t unpack,” he, too, relaxed.
“Well…” she sighed. “Do you remember when we decided to go by ‘Min EunJi’ publicly because I had very few records in my name?”
“Yeah,” he smirked.
“I legally changed my name back and I’m waiting on my ROK passport.”
“Why?”
She laughed nervously before looking away. “Well… that’s who I am… and I want our child to be able to look at our families and see where they came from. And…”
“And?” he smiled as he waited.
“If we do decide… to… add the baby to the Jeon registry… there will be no consulates or records research involved.”
“You want to marry me?” he teased her.
“That’s not what I said.”
“That’s totally what you said,” he grinned.
“Shit,” she looked away. “I don’t know what I want. Being with you is easy and effortless… being with JK… scares the shit out of me.”
“One step at a time, okay?” he reached up to caress her cheek. “House. Once we move, we’ll figure out what comes next.”
“Okay,” she sighed.
.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
JungKook and Logan were on a live video chat with his parents and just dropped the happy news.
And they were quiet.
“What exactly are your plans?” her mother asked politely.
“Right now, we’re moving to a house. I have a few I want to look at that are around the area she grew up in,” he smiled without looking up at her. “Then we’ll take it from there.”
“And where is that?” his father asked.
“Itaewon… like really close to the dorm. Around the embassies, right?” he turned to her.
“Yes,” she smiled. “We lived half-way between the British Embassy and my school across the river. We were close to the Indian Embassy.”
“And that’s five minutes from the dorm and just a minute or two further from the Mins.”
“You’ve been busy,” his father chuckled as his mother frowned.
“We are so far away,” she sighed. “I wish we could be closer…”
“What?” he raised his eyebrows. “It’s not like this was planned, Eomma. If I had my way…”
Logan raised her eyebrows and gave him a flash of side-eye. “Goodnight, it was wonderful talking to you,” she bowed to them and walked off as he closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
“And this would be the first night you’re sleeping in the guest room,” his mother clamped her lips together as his father turned his head to laugh.
“Yeah,” he winced while scratching his temple. “This is going to be a long night.”
“Getting married would just be a formality with you two,” he goaded him.
“Stop,” she hissed.
“There’s so much more I need to tell you, but…”
“Go,” his father nodded. “Take care of her.”
“Goodnight. I love you both,” he bowed to them like a dutiful son.
“Goodnight,” they waved before ending the call.
He let out a deep breath and rolled his eyes to the ceiling for divine guidance before walking off to the bedroom.
“Aegi-ya…” he hummed while walking into the bedroom. “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking your mistake going to bed! Alone!”
“I’m sorry, okay? You took it the wrong way!”
She stopped at the side of the bed and glared up at him. “I really don’t get you! One minute, you’re the most romantic man that ever roamed the Earth. And then suddenly you turn into the biggest ass in the universe!”
“That’s a bit hormonal, don’t you think?” he huffed.
“I’m allowed to be hormonal! You’re not!” she slid into the bed and turned her back to him.
“That’s a little harsh.”
“You just wished me and your baby away and I’m being harsh?” she exploded as she sat up to yell at him.
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
“What exactly do you want, JungKook?”
“You know what I want.”
“Do you honestly want to be with me, or are you doing this because of the baby?”
“What the hell kind of question is that?” he roared. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you! Everything I’m doing right now is for you! I just looked my parents in the eyes and told them they were going to be grandparents! If I didn’t want to be with you, I’d keep it a secret!”
“Like you did with JaeRin?” her eyes welled with tears as she watched him.
His heart broke at the sadness in her eyes. “I can’t change the past. I wish I could. That’s… of everything I’ve been through, I’d go through it again a million times over. That’s the only thing I’d change.”
She turned away and covered her face with her hands.
He reeled in his emotions as he watched her struggle. The physical wound was healed, but the mental ones were still fresh, and it was all his fault. If he hadn’t had been so careless with JaeRin, she wouldn’t have hurt Logan. He walked around the bed and knelt on the floor in front of her. “Baby… please go back to your counselor. You need to talk about this, especially now.”
“I know she’s been committed… but I’m so scared,” her lips quivered. “What happens when she finds out? What happens when she sees that I have the baby she didn’t?”
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “I trust my staff. I know they’ll keep us safe.”
“They couldn’t keep me safe at the hospital, and they can’t keep me safe now.”
“That’s why I’m getting the house. We are going to have the most… high tech security system in Itaewon… in the world. I will spend my entire salary making sure you both are safe.”
She smirked at him as he wiped his thumbs under her eyes.
“We will be poor and eat ramen, rice, and kimchi every day, but we will have a house that will be so secure, we’ll survive the zombie apocalypse.”
She rolled her eyes as she tried not to laugh.
“So, step one is to get the house. Step two is to grow the ingredients to make kimchi in our garden.”
“A garden in Itaewon?” she giggled.
“YoonGi-ya can live with us and be the ‘old man in the garden’ for us… it’s perfect.”
“Stop,” she slapped his arm as she laughed.
“Your Baby Daddy’s got this,” he nodded arrogantly.
The best thing about a secret idol wedding is that secret idol couples can attend together, and my- did my date look handsome.
The wedding was small, which is unusual for Korea. Usually, one invites people they knew from preschool, all the way up to acquaintances they met a week prior to the event. Since this was to be kept a super duper secret, only friends and relatives were invited and only professional photos allowed.
The Goddesses were all bridesmaids, of course, and were more than happy to wear blue dresses with zero wigs and regular makeup. Perhaps if a few photos did happen to leak, no one would recognize us.
Jimin sat with Johnny and Jackson whilst I fulfilled my duties. He never told me what was said, but I could feel the petty sassiness ooze from his eyes as he winked at me. I’m fairly sure he made it very clear that there wasn’t a chance in hell of ever getting back together. I hope that’s what he said, at least. I would eventually grill him for details.
Photos were over, the meal consumed, dances boogied… and then in a flash it was over. Nami and her husband snuck off for a fabulous five-day honeymoon so she would be back in time for rehearsals. How very romantic.
We returned to our hotel room and looked at our phones for the time we were told to step out to our balconies. Right at midnight, fireworks were set off over the mountains in honor of the newly married couple as we watched in awe, the sounds of applause and well wished being yelled out over the railings. Jimin slid his arms around me and pulled me in as I rested my cheek against his shoulder. I really did enjoy spending times like this with him, especially since it was so rare.
“You did really well,” he mumbled before kissing the crown of my head. “You’re almost back to your old self.”
“The security surrounding the hall helped,” I relaxed as he brushed his fingertips up and down my arm.
“We really didn’t get to dance together much though,” he sighed dramatically while pulling his phone from his pocket.
I waited to see what he was up to as the sound of a familiar acoustic guitar began. I couldn’t help but grin as he grabbed my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist before pulling me in close. My favorite song, my favorite man… and my new favorite moment. We danced together as he sang to me, his eyes not leaving mine for a moment.
“Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me…”
Park Jimin singing a One Direction song written by Ed Sheeran… I didn’t think there is any way I could be more in love with him. This was the moment I wanted to tattoo onto my brain, to get lost in and remember in the rough times that I knew were coming. Moments like these were what set him apart from all the other guys I dated. It wasn’t an expensive gift, or an extravagant date—it was a dance on a balcony overlooking the mountains while listening to my favorite song.
“I love you so much,” I had to look away. His gaze was becoming so overwhelming that I thought my heart was going to burst right out of my chest.
“Why are you looking away?” he teased me with a Cheshire grin spread across his face. “Are you blushing?”
“I just feel… intense,” I shook my head before turning back to him.
“So now you know how I feel every time I look at you,” he responded in a low voice.
I had known him since we were teenagers, and he still caused my guts to fill with butterflies with a single look.
“I love you too,” he stopped dancing and cradled my head in his hands. He looked into my eyes—my natural eyes with no colored lenses—and smiled before leaning down to kiss me. I couldn’t help but smile against his lips. “Why are you so giddy tonight?” he laughed at me.
“I don’t know, I’m just… really emotional. Maybe it’s because we’ve never been in public as a couple?”
“That might be it,” he agreed as he wrapped his arms around me. “Johnny seemed really happy to be spending time with Yeoni as well.”
I bit my lip. I couldn’t wait a second longer. “What did you say to Jackson?”
“He knew you had a boyfriend. Apparently, he didn’t know it was me,” he nearly growled as that sassiness bubbled back to the surface.
“Secret relationships are usually that way,” I giggled. “I can’t tell everyone I know AND keep it a secret.”
“You can at least tell your exes.”
“I thought that’s what I did by telling him I had a boyfriend,” I smirked. I did nothing wrong and would not give into his petty bull shit on this night. It had been a while since we had last bickered like this, though, and I missed it.
He looked over my shoulder, out at the mountains while grasping at a rebuttle that he would never catch. I had won this time.
“Jimin-ie,” I hummed.
He pouted before looking down at me.
“You are so much better than any guy I’ve ever dated before,” I stroked his ego a bit.
“How so?” he tilted his head and waited, wanting more.
“You are the best kisser… with the best lips… and the best legs… and definitely the best ass…”
He burst into laughter as he pulled me tighter against him. “Okay, okay… you win.”
“I won five minutes ago,” I teased him.
“Probably, but it’s my turn now,” he growled before moving in to kiss my neck, his teeth grazing against my skin as a shiver shot through my body. “I should put these lips to work.”
“Yes,” I pushed him into our room and closed the door behind us.
TaeHyung walked down the stairs, his suitcase in one hand and Bijou in his other.
“Take her and run before she starts crying again,” he passed the dog to his mother while glancing over his shoulder.
“I thought she was eating well again?” his mother looked surprised.
“She is, she was just… super snuggly this morning and it was hard to get Cyn to pack.”
“You could just take her…” his father suggested.
“No! No.” he shook his head. Not on his honeymoon. He did not need his step-dog cock blocking him on his honeymoon.
“Où est mon Bijou?” Cynara called down the stairs as the dog began to whimper and wiggle.
“Do we need to learn another language for the dog?” TaeHyung’s mother asked.
He threw his head back in laughter. “She can understand just fine,” he peeked up to watch Cynara trot down the stairs.
As soon as she placed her bag next to his, Jason grabbed the two suitcases and marched out to the car.
Cynara cupped Bijou’s tiny head in her hands and sighed. “Maman tu vas me manquer, ma douce,” she kissed her nose.
“She will be so happy to see Tannie in a few days,” TaeHyung reminded her.
“She will be okay,” her mother-in-law assured her.
She pouted before nodding her head.
“Have a safe trip,” Cynthia popped up and hugged her daughter. “Call when you land and let us know…”
“Mommy,” she laughed at her. “Honeymoon.”
“Ah,” she sighed.
“Have fun. We’ll see you in Seoul,” her father kissed her cheek.
“Thank you for everything,” she smiled happily. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Please take care of my girl,” Cynthia hugged TaeHyung.
“I promise,” he smiled at her.
The couple finished up their goodbyes, Cynara giving one last snuggle to Bijou before following TaeHyung out the door to the waiting car.
.
They had been in the air for an hour when TaeHyung leaned back and stretched his arms, looking over to see what Cynara was reading.
“What’s that?” he smirked at the Korean animation.
She pulled out an earbud and looked up at him. “Jimin told me to read this to help my Korean.”
“He what?!” his voice hitched up an octave.
“Um… yeah? Is that bad?” she immediately felt as though she had been set up.
“It’s… otome.”
“Yes,” she answered slowly.
“You like smut?”
“What?!” she burst out laughing. “I’ve only just started!”
“Don’t let anyone see you reading it,” he shook his head with a smile.
“You act as if you’ve already read it,” she waited.
“So?” he became defensive as she leaned against him, laughing.
“Here,” she handed him her phone. “I’ve been in a mood for musicals, listen to my playlist.”
“Just don’t get too excited over the two-dimensional guys, okay?”
“Why would I,” she kissed his cheek. “I have my very own idol.”
.
“Oh my…” Hobi looked over photos that TaeHyung had sent them from their photo shoot at the Vanderbilt mansion.
“I didn’t realize wedding photos were supposed to be that hot,” JungKook stared with his mouth gaped open.
Jimin stared at the photo of TaeHyung standing over Cynara, on a stairway, his left hand placed on the wall over her shoulder and his right grasping her hip as she rested her left hand on his right bicep. “Damn. I bet they melted the camera."
“This is an entirely different level,” SeokJin blinked his eyes. “He can retire and spend the rest of his life just selling photos of them.”
“But then there’s this…” Yoongi held up his phone. “V and his personal Barbie Doll…”
“It’s a meme,” Jimin laughed at him. “They took his Mattel doll and put it with a wedding Barbie!”
“We should put them on top of a cake when they get home!” JungKook laughed.
“She’d think it was funny,” Jimin agreed.
“Did you see the formal portraits with the parents? They wore the clothes they got married in-in Las Vegas,” NamJoon nodded. “They made their point to everyone who called it a fake wedding.”
“You can tell TaeHyung’s behind it being snarky, but Cyn just slides it into her IG posts like it’s a normal day,” Jimin agreed.
“And there it is!” Yoongi laughed. “She posted the ‘Barbie and V’ photo and said, ‘Our stand-ins at the next reception.’ She is too funny.”
“I’m glad she has a thick skin,” NamJoon sighed. “She’s going to need it when they get home.”
“From what TaeHyung tells me, this is nothing compared to the way her parents treated her when she left Korea alone,” Jimin glanced up at him. “She has a complicated relationship with her parents.”
“Well… we’ll get to meet them in a few weeks. I hope their wedding here goes well,” JungKook plopped a chip into his mouth and sighed.
.
It was evening when their plane landed, so Jason called ahead to the hotel and had a meal prepared for them when they arrived. He took care of their check-in and luggage as the two relaxed in a quiet corner of the dining room.
“I’m getting spoiled,” TaeHyung sighed before taking a sip of wine.
“You were already spoiled… and so was I, let’s be honest. This is crazy, though. I feel sheltered.”
He nodded in agreement.
“I feel like this is one big date.”
“It is! Every day will be a date,” he teased her.
“I hope so,” she watched him in the candlelight. “Do you want to walk around a bit before calling it a night?”
He stared at her as his eyes sparkled in the candlelight, shaking his head slowly.
“Oh? Is my husband sleepy?”
He again shook his head.
“Should we wrap up dinner and head straight to our room?”
“You’ll need to eat,” he licked his lips before tipping back the last of his wine.
A chill shot up her spine as she squeezed her knees together in excitement. “Yes, dear.”
Two weeks later, back in Seoul, Logan collapsed onto her bed at her parent’s home. Her feet were swollen and throbbing, she was hungry, and she was exhausted. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. You’re supposed to have someone to rub your feet and baby you when you’re pregnant. How women did this alone was amazing, because she was miserable.
She rolled over and pulled her pillow into her chest as she began crying. She missed her mum already and had tried to surprise her parents, but they weren’t home. This homecoming hadn’t started out as she planned so far.
Then, it returned. The shame she felt in her situation. She had no idea where JungKook was going to be on this. Did an idol even want to be a father when he was at this point in his career? They had scoffed at their parents and their prophetic dreams so many times, she really didn’t consider that it would actually happen.
She sat up and shook off the thoughts. It was all up to her. She was going to raise this child whether JungKook wanted it or not. And she was going to be a good mother.
She rose from the bed and limped to the kitchen to find something to eat. She would do this on her own and Jeon JungKook could go to hell.
“EunJi-ya?” her mother peeked her head into the door. “Nae ttal?” she closed the door behind her as she walked into the room, dutifully wearing her mask while her daughter was in quarantine yet again. She rubbed her arms and looked around. The air was up high, making the room freezing cold.
“EunJi-ya,” she sat beside her and brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.
“Huh?” she looked up. “Good morning.”
“Uh… early evening?” she smiled. “Catching up?”
“Must be,” she stretched her arms.
“You’ll catch a cold if you keep the air this high.”
“I think it’s fine,” she sat up. “How’d you know I was back? I was going to surprise you.”
“JungGuk-ah’s been looking for you. He’s called the entire family because he knew you were coming home soon.”
“What does he want?” she rolled her eyes.
“You,” she giggled.
“Yeah, until he finds out about the baby,” she huffed.
“I’d wager that he does know. And he still wants to find you.”
She frowned. “Who told you that?”
“Your brother.”
“Great. So I should be expecting a visit soon?”
“A day or two. We made him promise to give you a few days,” she winked as she grabbed her bag. “Supper’s in an hour.”
“Yes, Eomma,” she yawned.
.
JungKook stared at his phone as his knee shook. He could barely sit still as the stylist worked on his hair.
“Here,” TaeHyung handed him a bag of churros. “Calm down, you’re scaring the staff.”
He pursed his lips and nodded before pulling open the bag. “Thanks, hyung.”
He glanced over at YoonGi and raised his eyebrows as he shook his head. He was not telling anyone else.
JungKook rolled his eyes before looking back down at his phone, willing it to do something. A text, a call, a video chat… anything.
Suddenly, as if his pleas were answered, there appeared three dots. She was typing something. Then, it stopped.
“Damn it,” he sighed. He wondered how many times she had done that, and he hadn’t been paying attention. Apparently, it was a lot because it happened six more times. He finally angered enough to send her a message.
You can still text in quarantine.
He received nothing as he threw back his head dramatically and growled into the air. He felt like throwing his phone against the wall.
He returned after the photo shoot to discover that she had finally texted and nearly dropped his phone getting to it.
I’ve been cleared by the quarantine team.
We need to talk.
He stared at the words a moment before replying.
We have a few more hours at this photo shoot.
I’ll meet you at home.
Hope welled in her chest as she closed her eyes for a moment.
I’ll be there.
.
Logan arrived at the door to the apartment and stopped to see a key box hanging from the doorknob. She stared at it before turning to glance at Hobi’s door. It didn’t have one. She used her key and held her breath, not sure if it would even work at that point. When the door unlocked, she sighed and pulled her suitcase along with her.
The apartment was clean. Not as in its Friday and he cleaned the floors, but as in professionally cleaned and set. Their framed photos were gone, of her family and of them. She began to question why he told her to come home if he had erased her presence completely.
When she stepped into their closet, she found her clothes in garment bags and the shoes in boxes. She opened his side to see his in the same fashion and became overwhelmingly confused.
She reconsidered unpacking and instead opened her suitcase, leaving it on the floor of the closet. She retrieved her toiletries and placed them in the bathroom, again, pristine. She sighed as she breathed in deeply, trying desperately to control her anxiety. She walked across the room to the window and took in the view of the Han River, letting the sun warm her face as she relaxed.
Surely her Kookie wouldn’t fill her with false hope just to crush her. That wasn’t the man he was. Was it?
She sat on the end of the bed, lost in her own thoughts as the sun slowly went down. She suddenly realized that it was dark and stretched out her shoulders. She was tired and hungry, but mostly she was tense. She wanted to relax before her talk with JungKook and walked into the bathroom to run the bath.
.
JungKook opened the door, slowly peeking in to see that the lights were off. He frowned, fearing a repeat of the day she left. He closed the door behind him and looked down to see her checkered Vans before letting out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He slowly walked around the kitchen and down the hall to hear the jets on the tub and smiled. She really was home.
He stepped into the bedroom to see her suitcase on the floor of the closet and frowned. She was here, but she hadn’t unpacked. Why hadn’t she unpacked? Was she planning to leave again?
He walked into the closet and dropped his phone and keys onto the counter before walking into the bedroom to see that the bathroom door was open. He peeked in to see her in the tub.
The breath left his chest as he watched her. She was lying back with her eyes closed, cupping her hands in the water and dropping it over her skin as the jets bubbled all around her. Steam rose from the water as the scent of orange blossoms overwhelmed him and a deep gurgle formed in his chest.
Logan felt the water shift and opened her eyes to see him climbing in to join her. She quietly stared into his eyes as he lowered himself into the water, her eyes dropping to his right arm. He had apparently added to his sleeve in her absence. She looked back at him and waited to see if he would say something, anything, as he did the same.
“Welcome home,” he finally murmured before cupping the water and running it down his chest.
“Am I?” she raised her eyebrows.
“Of course you are,” he turned his head frowning. “Do you… have any idea what I’ve gone through?”
“Enlighten me,” she chirped sardonically.
“JunKi-ya hates me.”
She nodded.
“YoonGi-ya can’t stand to be in the same room as me.”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Even Hobi-hyung knows something…”
“Are you finished?”
“No!” he grabbed her foot and pulled it up, kneading the sole with his thumbs as she threw her head back and moaned.
“I’ve missed that so much,” she closed her eyes.
He watched her, his sharp gaze never leaving her face. “I fucked up. I’d wait forever for you. You know I’d wait for you. I don’t know why I said what I said.”
“Sometimes people say what they really mean in the heat of the moment.”
“And sometimes we’re so overwhelmed that a lot of bullshit comes out.”
“My head’s still messed up. I can’t analyze things like I used to.”
“What can I do to prove that I love you?”
She fought the struggle between what she wanted and what she needed. “Give me time,” she looked away as tears threatened to fall.
“I miss you,” he whispered.
“I miss you too,” she whimpered.
“I need you, Baby. I need you so fucking bad,” he pushed back his own tears.
“Goo-ah, please,” she blinked as the tears began to flow.
“Please, Baby. Don’t push me away.”
She broke down as he dropped her foot and grabbed her ankles, pulling her into his arms.
“God, I love you,” he closed his eyes before kissing her hair.
She sobbed as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.
“I promise, Logan. I won’t let you down… and I sure as hell won’t let our child down.”
She slowly looked up at him. “So you do know?”
“I know what our parents have been predicting for six months.”
She rested her forehead against his and let out a sigh. “We are going to have a baby.”
He kissed her and pulled her in tighter.
“I’m not sure that I’m ready to be a mother.”
“You’ll be a perfect mother,” he ran his nose down the side of hers. “You’re the most loving person I know.”
“Are you sure we can do this? Is this really what you want?”
“When it comes to you, I want everything,” he kissed her deeply.
My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth as my eyes refused to open.
I heard a soothing voice whisper gently, yet I couldn’t understand the words…
“Rosie,” I finally recognized my voice as something warm gently brushed against my hand.
“Jimin…” I pushed out the only words I could grasp.
“I’m here, Baby,” his voice came in clearer.
I finally pried my eyes open, but they were so dry I couldn’t see. “Water…”
He reached for a bottle on the bedside table and helped me to take a few sips. He then pushed my hair from my face, looking over me as to make sure everything was still intact. “How do feel?”
“Confused,” I answered honestly.
“Do you remember last night?”
Last night? What was last night? Why was my mind blank?
“You’ve been overworking yourself all summer, and it caught up,” he sighed. “Plus… we all think you have PTSD from last winter… and now this…”
“The rabbit,” I froze.
“You’re safe. I promise you; my company has taken over your security. After last night… I… put my foot down. JYP has never taken your safety seriously enough.”
“You threw a tantrum,” I couldn’t help my lips raising to a knowing smile.
“My girlfriend had a mental breakdown in the middle of Gangnam and ran away,” he looked away. “Why didn’t you tell me you fainted yesterday? You should have stayed home.”
“I thought that if I acted normal, everything would feel normal.”
He handed the bottle back to me and twisted off the cap. Without a word, I drank some more, the cold water soothing my dry mouth and throat.
He stared at me a moment before leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“This started happening the moment we aired our dance for MAMA. It hasn’t even been a year and you have suffered… so much. Even with our relationship being top secret, you’ve been hurt so many times.”
“Hey ChimChim, I’m an idol too,” I squeezed his hand. “I’m just waiting for my fanboys to start sending you letters.”
He finally smiled as he kissed the back of my hand. “I’d be honored.”
My brain slowly defogged as I looked around the room. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
He scrunched up his face as he scratched behind his ear. “I… sort of… called and yelled… at your producer.”
“Not gonna lie… that’s hot.”
“Your brain needed a rest. You still need more rest. You can’t keep up a normal schedule plus work like you’re already a solo artist. You’re only a Goddess on TV.”
“Bite your tongue,” I pulled my hand away, but he laughed at me as he leaned down to wrap me in his arms, lying behind me to cuddle before kissing my cheek. “You look so much better than you did last night.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“I’m glad I could,” he sighed. “That also means that our companies know…”
“It’s only a matter of time, isn’t it?”
“Everything will work out,” he sighed. “It has to. This is my second chance… and I can’t lose you. I love you.”
I turned to look up at him. “I love you too.”
.
"That's fucked up," Ed spoke over video chat the following afternoon.
"I slept more the past two days than I have since I became a trainee. It is amazing."
"Maybe you should sit out this once then, yeah?"
"I'll be fine."
"Rose. None of this is fine."
"If you're afraid I'm going to embarrass you, don't worry. The pipes are perfect."
"That's the least of my worries, and if Harry gets word of this I'm toast. There will be another live stream, I assure you. It doesn't look like we're going to be playing live for a while yet."
"You have no ideer how much I want to argue with you, but I know you're right."
"Could you tell that to my wife, please?" he burst into laughter. "I need proof."
I rolled my eyes as I relaxed. Giving in and confessing that I wasn't mentally strong enough for a gig wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it might be this time. "I should let you go."
"Dua and Harry are singing our song; you should watch if you feel like it. I can't wait to hear their version."
"I definitely will. Send my regrets to them. I was really looking forward to it."
"Will do. Take care of yourself."
"I'm trying."
We ended the chat, and my mind quieted for the first time in a long time. I didn't have a performance to prepare for, or a meeting, fitting, photo shoot, recording or... anything. I did, however, text Jimin to tell him that I pulled out of the show. I knew that would make him happy even though he never outright asked me to. He was worried about me, though, and I knew he would think it was a good idea.
His response was just as I expected, and it made me smile. It was really beginning to feel as though we were in a relationship rather than just dating. He was really taking care of me, even though we still had to keep our secret from the public. It made me wonder what it would be like when I had my own place. What would the future hold for us once Zodiac disbanded when I wasn't even sure where my future was headed?
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