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She sleeps comfortably within her wooden crib, chest rising and falling steadily as she dreams of wonderful things. Currently, she has a pet baby Unicorn and it’s pretty awesome. The baby Unicorn itself is white and has a pink horn. He’s called MinMin, her mind named him after her most favourite pack Uncle.
Hongjoong watches her with a little smile on his lips, Seonghwa is stood in the doorway admiring the both of them. Sunmi will soon transition to sleeping in her ‘big girl bed’, Hongjoong thinks the crib is going into storage but Seonghwa has a different plan for it.
A plan that involves the tiny secret in his tummy.
Himself and Hongjoong began trying for their second pup last month, and yesterday he found out the two of them have been successful already.
A bonus birthday gift fell quite perfectly into his two hands.
Hongjoong leans downwards to place one last kiss to Sunmi’s forehead. She hums and moves to lie on her side. She curls her body, protectively, around the cat plushie she’s holding. Hongjoong uses his right index finger to carefully guide her dark hair off of her face.
The Alpha turns the nightlight on. A series of moons and stars appear on the ceiling of the pups bedroom.
Hongjoong approaches his mate, Seonghwa blushes deep when the shorter bumps the tips of their noses together in an affectionate manner. Hongjoong rests his hands on Seonghwa’s hips. Their faces are inches apart.
Hongjoong asks, quietly, “ready to go downstairs?”
Sunmi had fallen asleep on Seonghwa’s lap, but was carried up here by Hongjoong. The Alpha has noticed she’s gotten quite attached to her Papa over the last few days. Wherever he goes, she has to go too.
Seonghwa asks him, “just one final goodnight?”
He nods immediately. “Of course.”
Their lips join briefly before Seonghwa wanders over to Sunmi’s crib. He leans down to kiss her left cheek and then he whispers something against her skin as Hongjoong dims the main light of the bedroom.
They leave the bedroom’s door slightly ajar like they always do. And then, in the hallway:
“I’m just going to the bathroom,” Seonghwa informs him, “and then I’ll meet you downstairs?”
“Okay,” Hongjoong nods, “shall I get the film ready?”
Seonghwa tilts his head to his left side, “is that really how you want to spend the rest of your birthday?”
Hongjoong doesn’t miss a beat, “I don’t mind what I do so long as it’s with you.”
”Ah,” the Omega blushes, “ever the romantic, you.”
Humming with a small smile, the younger leans up in order to join their lips in another kiss. A soft, playful, “I try,” follows.
“Well you do a fabulous job. Always have.”
Raised eyebrows, “always will?”
”I have no doubt about it.”
Their lips get sealed again and then Hongjoong turns in order to head down the stairs. Seonghwa retreats to the bathroom as planned, not because he’s got to go, but because that is where he’s hidden his mate’s final birthday gift.
Beneath their sink is a cabinet split down the middle by panelling. The left side is Seonghwa’s, the right is Hongjoong’s. It has their essentials in it, they never go in each other’s space so Seonghwa knew it would be the best place to hide what he has.
He collects the golden box from the very back corner of it, as well as the white fabric on top. He’s thankful for online shopping. He was able to order something yesterday morning and got it delivered on the same evening.
Nerves build with every step he takes, but of course he’s excited too. The box in his hands feels incredibly heavy, even if what is inside of it is very light, as he travels downstairs. He finds Hongjoong sitting on the sofa in the lounge. A movie is slowly downloading on the television, birthday balloons are scattered across the floor around him.
Sunmi only managed to accidentally pop one, which is good considering she’s been trying to bite them all day. Too much time with Uncle Wooyoung before his and San’s own pup was born, they think.
Hongjoong doesn’t take his eyes off the coffee table when he says, ”I can’t believe she’ll be three soon.”
Seonghwa replies, “it goes too fast, doesn’t it?”
”It does,” Hongjoong swiftly agrees, “it feels like only yesterday we were meeting her for the first time.”
Their lives became even brighter when Sunmi joined their family. They’ll never forget how incredible it felt to see her for the first time, to hold her close, to tell her, as she watched them with wide eyes, about just how loved she is.
The Omega wonders aloud, “do you think she’ll take to her new bed?”
An honest response, ”maybe not at first, but she will do eventually.”
Seonghwa hums, Hongjoong turns to look at him.
Immediately, his gaze falls upon the box in his older mates hands, and the fabric on top of it. His intrigue gets the better of him, “what’s that?”
Seonghwa, protectively, tightens the hold he has on the proof of their pup’s life. “Your last birthday gift.”
Hongjoong’s gaze softens straight away. “But you’ve already gotten me so much?”
Between both Seonghwa and Sunmi, Hongjoong has opened around thirty or so presents today. Birthday celebrations will go on for the next two days as well. They’re visiting his family tomorrow, parents etc, the pack are coming over the day after.
Hongjoong is so very thankful for every gift, but he’s never been very good at accepting them. Even as a pup, he’d feel really awkward opening things in front of people in fear of not reacting the ’right’ way to the things he’d gotten.
“Well this one was a bit, um, last minute.”
A playful, “you don’t want to save it for next year?”
Seonghwa shakes his head, “I can’t.”
Hongjoong blinks, a small bit stunned by the choice of words. I can’t, meaning it’s something that needs to be gifted now. “Y-”
The Omega moves to sit down beside his Alpha, the box rests comfortably on his lap. Inside of it are two positive pregnancy tests, even though he had taken four just to be certain. The t-shirt on top, technically, is for Sunmi.
”For you,” Seonghwa holds it out to him.
Hongjoong takes it, somewhat hesitantly.
”It’s a nice gift,” Seonghwa tells him, “I promise.”
And with no reason at all to not believe the other, he puts the box down on his own lap. Seonghwa fiddles with the bottom of his jumper, anxiously watching as Hongjoong picks up the t-shirt.
It falls out of its folded state, and Hongjoong tilts his head to the side as he begins to read the four words on the fabric. His breath is stolen from him, his heart jumping behind his chest.
In pink text are the words: Worlds Best Big Sister!
Immediately, with trembling hands, he turns to face his Omega. A slightly breathless, eyes already filling with tears, “Hwa?”
”Open the box,” Seonghwa smiles excitedly at him.
But Hongjoong can’t. “Y-you’re?”
“Honey,” Seonghwa guides him with his steady voice, “the box.”
Hongjoong looks down at it, a million thoughts in his head. He places the t-shirt down on the sofa, so very carefully. The lid of the box slips from his two hands once, then twice, but on his third attempt to remove it he’s successful.
He holds it in his right hand. A tear falls from his left eye. Staring at him are two pregnancy tests, positive ones. The top simply has two red lines displayed on it. The bottom one reads:
Pregnant. 5+ Weeks.
Hongjoong looks over at his mate again. Hoping that his eyes haven’t somehow deceived him, he asks for confirmation, “w-we’re having another baby?”
Seonghwa nods, his voice is gentle, “we are.”
The younger cannot help but sob quietly, the Omega feels his own eyes brim with tears. Both the box and the t-shirt move to the coffee table, Hongjoong then slides across the sofa in order to cradle Seonghwa’s face within his hands.
5+ weeks, that means Seonghwa fell pregnant on, at the latest, day two of their last mutual cycle. Any of the days after would’ve made him 4 weeks pregnant.
”Oh, my love,” Hongjoong sniffles, “wh-when did you find out?”
”Yesterday morning,” Seonghwa tells him, “I’ve been feeling a little off all week, and I realised it had been exactly like how I felt before we found out about our Sunnie. I did not- I wasn’t going to get my hopes up, but I tested just in case. Four tests, all positive.”
The words sink it. ”A-are you okay?”
”I’m wonderful, thank you,” a nod, “and you are-”
”Perfect,” Hongjoong speaks so honestly with a short nod of his own, “this is the best gift anyone has ever given to me. The best birthday present, no other one could compare.”
Seonghwa’s blushes, smiling warmly while he settles their foreheads together. He whispers, “we’re having another baby.”
Hongjoong chuckles, the sound damp and soaked in a great emotion. “We are,” he’s smiling too, falling in love with his mate all over again, “our second pup.”
Loved so much already but the two who’ll be guiding and encouraging them through life.
Hongjoong joins their lips in a gentle kiss, a soft kiss his Omega returns with no hesitation. They separate, a small gap is between their faces. Hongjoong lowers his hands and captures Seonghwa’s ones in them.
He brings them to his lips and kisses them too.
”My perfect love-”
Seonghwa chuckles fondly, ”so it turns out you won’t need to move the crib into storage after all.”
Hongjoong had moved their upstairs study around a few days ago, with Sunmi sitting on her grey rocking horse in the doorway as moral support, in order to fit the crib into the corner of it.
The task had ended with him lying on his back in the centre of the room, exhausted. Sunmi had gotten off of her rocking horse and wandered over to lie on his chest for a ‘well done’ cuddle.
She grows to look more and more like Seonghwa as each day passes.
”And for the best reason why.”
Seonghwa hums. “We’ll, um, have to make a Doctors appointment soon, yeah?”
”Of course,” the younger of the couple nods, “we can take a look at breakfast tomorrow morning. Hwa, do you still feel up to visiting my family? I could ask my Mum if everybody could come here instead if you are more comfortable at home? Or they can not come at all-”
Seonghwa chuckles, his heart warm. He is constantly reminded about just how lucky he is to share his life with someone who will always have his best interest at heart, no matter if he’s carrying their pup or not.
”I’ll be fine,” he says, “but thank you.”
”You’ll tell me if you change your mind?”
”I will.”
”If you feel unwell or-”
”Hongjoong, hun,” Seonghwa interrupts, “I promise. I’ll tell you if I don’t feel up to it.”
”Good,” Hongjoong nods firmly, “because, if we need to, we can always reschedule.”
Seonghwa leans in for a kiss that is easily returned. “I love you.”
”I love you too,” the Alpha says, “so much, Hwa, you have no idea.”
”Oh, I think I do.”
Hongjoong looks confused.
”It’s the same amount of love I have for you.”
Hongjoong’s heart bursts. “Beautiful-”
”The same amount of love the two of us have for our Sunmi, and she has for us.”
Hongjoong can feel his Omega guiding his right hand closer. Seonghwa sets the palm of Hongjoong’s hand on his still-flat stomach, his own hand sits on top. He slides their fingertips together.
”The same amount of love,” he begins, “we have for our second pup, and he or she has for us.”
Hongjoong can’t help but sniffle again. “Have I ever told you how perfect you are?”
”Many times,” Seonghwa nods, “but I like to hear it, so please do continue.”
Chuckling, he kisses Seonghwa once more. His right thumb begins caressing his Omega’s clothed tummy. It’s a little difficult due to their connected hands, but he makes it work. ”Thank you.”
“For?”
”Carrying our two pups, and thank you for enduring everything that comes alongside it.”
The first pregnancy, and the labour itself, went quite smoothly.
The only problem was the morning sickness. It often got so bad that Seonghwa physically could not move off of the bathroom floor in fear he wouldn’t make it back to the bathroom on time. Hongjoong, with only a pillow and a bottle of cold water, stayed with him.
Of course he was not going to go through his day as usual when his mate was upstairs miserable. He held Seonghwa as he napped on the chilled floor, he held him even tighter when he sobbed after each moment of throwing up.
After the first three months had been completed, like a sprinkling of magic, he was never sick again.
Sunmi did have an issue with her growth after birth, though. They’d needed to go to the hospital to speak with professionals earlier this year. She wasn’t as tall as she should’ve been, or as strong. It was due to a growth hormone being off-balance.
She’d had treatment, a toddler-safe injection once a week for three months.
The first had been done at the Doctors, the rest were done in the evening, as instructed, at home. She had cried every time the first month, but she got used to it by the start of the second so her tears stopped.
By the third month, she was tapping her parents and wiggling her arm at them to remind them what they needed to do.
The injections started a few weeks after she’d turned two years. Uncle Mingi cuddled Sunmi while she had one. He cuddled her on a different occasion too when she came back into the lounge crying, stumbling, all while calling desperately for her ‘MinMin’ because her arm ached too badly.
It wasn’t anything to do with neither Seonghwa nor Hongjoong, why her hormone was off-balance for a period of time. She just simply developed that way. It’s why she isn’t in her ‘big girl bed’ yet, why she’s moving into it soon. She’s finally, after an additional seven months of being monitored, tall enough for it.
Seonghwa tells him, “and thank you, hun, for being there every step of the way.”
The birth itself had been agonising, of course it had been, but Hongjoong never once left his side. That, plus a little medication and the knowledge they’d be finally meeting their daughter, made it bearable.
Hongjoong was holding his hand when they first got the positive pregnancy test, and he was holding the same hand when Seonghwa completed the final step of officially bringing their daughter into the world.
And now they’re having another pup, another small being made from the love they have for one another. Hongjoong will be at Seonghwa’s side when, in eight months time, they eventually welcome their second baby into the world. He’ll be at his side throughout the journey to that moment as well.
After all, they’ve always made a pretty good team.
They vowed to forever be at each other’s sides, and they intend to keep that vow until the moment they pass on and even beyond that.
Hongjoong lifts his hands to cradle Seonghwa’s face again. He caresses along his cheekbones. ”Oh, Hwa, there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be.”
Seonghwa melts into the action, mind going slightly dizzy with the love and adoration floating off of the both of them. The lounge is pleasantly warm, their hearts are full.
Upstairs, Sunmi sleeps with a little smile on her face. Suddenly, she has a friend in her dreams. A little boy who watches her pet Unicorn in complete awe. He is a lot smaller than what she is. He can’t even stand up yet.
Hongjoong places his forehead against Seonghwa’s one. He smiles when Seonghwa affectionately bumps the tips of their noses together. Hongjoong places a kiss to his lips.
”I love you,” he says through a whisper, “all three of you, more than anything else.”
”We love you too,” Seonghwa reminds him, he is also whispering, “the exact same amount.”
Hongjoong says, “you’re perfect, Seonghwa, in every sense of the word.”
”As are you,” Seonghwa says, “my perfect Alpha.”
”My perfect, beautiful Omega,” Hongjoong praises, “I am so incredibly proud and lucky to call you mine.”
”So am I,” Seonghwa says, bumping the tips of their noses again, “the best Alpha to me, the best Daddy to our pups.”
Hongjoong’s heart jumps at the spoken words. “And you are the best Omega to me, the best Papa to our two pups. My favourite everything. My forever love, my only love.”
They could be sat here forever, complimenting each other with truthful words. But alas-
Seonghwa tells him, “thank you for choosing me.”
”Thank you for choosing me too.”
Because they met as shy teenagers, teens who could barely look each other in the eyes without starting to blush.
They went from awkward teens to young adults who finally worked up the courage to share their feelings for one another. Seonghwa still remembers the first official courting gift- a bouquet of Lego roses he still has to this day. It used to break his heart when they would go on tour and he’d have to leave them.
Now they’re mated, married, the proud parents of a wonderful little girl and another pup who’ll join them next year. Ateez wrapped up in July of 2032, Sunmi was born the following January. Seonghwa had been two months into pregnancy, not yet showing but still opting for oversized clothing items instead, when the moment came to officially say goodbye to their Atiny.
Seonghwa didn’t do as much moving around, mostly due to his sickness. It was fine, though, they made it work. It seemed Sunmi gave him a break from being unwell to perform and take part in final interviews.
The decision to end Ateez when the contracts ran out was due mostly to them all wanting to settle down to begin families of their own. It had been so very hard to say goodbye, but they were doing it for a reason very important to them.
All four couples within the group were mated by that point, they had been for some time. They all mated quite close to one another, actually… maybe that is a tale for another day, though.
They choose to keep their kids as offline as they can. They share photos of themselves and Sunmi, but she is not often facing the camera. Both Wooyoung and San do this too with their own daughter.
Seonghwa joins their mouths again, Hongjoong soon returns the action with ease. Melting into each other, the kiss deepens quicker than they’d expected it to. The Alpha’s hands, before he can stop them, wander down the sides of Seonghwa’s body.
Seonghwa gasps quietly into the kiss, body reacting to the movement happily. His skin burns in the best way, Hongjoong sits his hands on Seonghwa’s hips.
”Joong,” a quiet, “do you remember how we finished your last birthday?”
Hongjoong smirks into the kiss.
Seonghwa pulls back a little to look him in the eyes. There’s a slight whine to his question, “can you take me to our bed? Please?”
And who is he to tell his mate ‘no’ when he asked so nicely?
Upstairs, their clothes get removed and Hongjoong carefully lies Seonghwa down on their bed. He kisses his mate’s lips, then his jaw, then his neck and down his chest, cherishing every broken whine that leaves the back of Seonghwa’s throat.
But then the passion stops for a moment. Seonghwa looks down, more than a little confused, only to end up witnessing Hongjoong placing a gentle kiss to his tummy, the spot that’ll grow alongside their pup. His face immediately softens.
Although Hongjoong did this when he was pregnant with Sunmi too, it does not fail to make his kind eyes water.
”I love you,” Hongjoong says against his skin, talking to the pup who cannot yet hear him, “so much.”
And Seonghwa falls in love all over again.