YUNGI

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"Midnight Memories"

By Yeo_Mama

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Through countless tears and nine month long fears, lasting memories are made at the dead of midnight.

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It was late.

The house was dark, devoid of all light besides a lonely yellow glow that emitted from a single bedroom. Cicadas buzzed outside, along with the occasional car passing by. Light rain coated the windows, the heavy April showers fading into early May as tiny drops quietly pattered down against the glass panes, the blinds drawn for the night. Yunho listened to the night's ambience, wiping a hand across tired eyes as he opened the refrigerator, wincing at the stream of white fluorescent that invaded his senses. He quickly grabbed what he needed, blindling grasping at a bottle of flavored electrolytes before he shut the door; sock-clad feet padding against wooden floors.

He casually followed the warm streak of light that painted the walls of his home like a guiding beacon, discreetly slipping past a pair of black scrubs that hustled out of the master bedroom; Wooyoung's arms laden with dirty towels. Seonghwa was stripping the bed as he walked into the room, pulling off white sheets as he replaced them with a clear mattress protector. He layered clean towels and soft blankets over top, a pile of absorbent pads sat next to him. He worked efficiently and neatly, though Yunho easily ignored him as he dipped into the neighboring en suite instead, navigating his way through the dark space. He approached the bathtub, kneeling down so he was level with the hunched body sat inside the vat of hot water, soothing a large palm across a curved spine.

Mingi didn't bother to look up at his husband's touch, forehead cushioned atop his arm along the tub's lip, his other arm draped limply over the edge. A bright yellow stress ball was clenched tightly in his hold, courtesy of Wooyoung; his fingers routinely squeezing at the stiff material. Ripples formed around him as he shifted on his knees, adjusting himself as a burst of air rushed past his lips, nails digging into the lemon-colored ball deeply. After a beat though, he finally surfaced from the crook of his elbow. His eyes were squinted and puffy as he looked at the male in front of him with a forlorn expression; lips and brows downturned sadly.

"Want a sip? It's blue. Your favorite flavor."

Yunho attempted to joke, smiling down at him softly as he presented the sports drink he'd brought with him, shaking it lightly in an effort to entice his lover. The corners of Mingi's lips twitched in response, the blonde slowly pushing himself upright as he motioned for the bottle with an open hand. He graciously accepted it, albeit shakily as his husband twisted off the lid in advance. His chapped lips wrapped around the rim as he sipped the blue liquid, humming at the cool, refreshing flavor.

Yunho simply let him drink for however long he wanted, rather taking the time to scoop handfuls of hot water over the stretched mound of pale skin that jutted out from the younger's hips, heavy with the unborn weight of a little baby girl. The brunette rubbed at the rounded crest, tracing the dark line that ran down his husband's swollen middle with a delicate fingertip. Goosebumps followed after it like a trail of wildfire.

Mingi had gone into labor early that morning, unexpectedly waking up to growing contractions without further notice. It left him stressed, and frankly, completely freaked out over the journey he was about to face in delivering his and Yunho's very first child. And a process it was.

Yunho had spent the last nine months specifically planning for this day, knowing the reaction from his husband was going to be strong and mildly concerning. He'd already been pretty flighty throughout his entire pregnancy, anxiety hitting an all time high. Everything had to be planned, as Mingi couldn't stomach a surprise as big as having a baby. From the day they started trying to conceive, to the moment it was confirmed the blonde was pregnant back in August, they began prepping for every step of the way. It was hard, not only for him, but for Mingi too. His husband was just about terrified of the whole nine yards that came with bringing new life into the world, and Yunho was left to witness it all quietly from the sidelines.

Over time it got better. They went to classes. Learned from friends and families everything they needed to know before their little girl inevitably came. Yunho would easily go above and beyond so long as it eased his lover's stress, even convincing him to attend therapy to voice these aggressive thoughts and concerns out loud to professional help. Although, Mingi could never seem to shake off the fear of actually giving birth. No matter who he talked to, listened to, or read in his surplus of pregnancy guidebooks.

It had been easy enough deciding his route of delivery, which was surprising considering his obvious hesitation towards every other aspect of his gestation. His strong fear of hospitals quickly overrode the desire to deliver under medical supervision, completely solidifying the prospect of a natural home birth without much consideration. Not to mention that their good friend, Seonghwa, was one of the head midwives at their local maternity center. His husband was Mingi's boss while his assistant happened to be the fiancé to their long time friend, San. This detail brought immense amounts of relief to his husband, knowing that he wouldn't have a stranger in and around his home, seeing him in his most vulnerable state and touching his baby.

However, he didn't exactly take into consideration his meager amount of options for pain management when it came to a home delivery. Clearly evident by the stress ball in his hand and bathtub full of hot water he sat in in hopes of easing his cramping muscles. Not to mention that his sac was refusing to break despite how close he was to the finish line. Seonghwa continually stressed it would not act as a harm to their daughter in any sort of way. Yet, Mingi still found it rather nerve-racking nonetheless.

Speaking of the blonde, he eventually handed back the bottle of flavored electrolytes, the pale liquid now half gone. Yunho took it from him, capping it for later as he set it off to the side. He watched on silently as Mingi settled back in, water sloshing as his spine bowed under the heavy weight of his abdomen. His head hung between the gap of his crossed arms as he shifted his hips back in an attempt to stretch out the tightness he was feeling, groaning loudly as he triggered another contraction instead. His fingers instantly began pumping at the yellow orb he clenched onto. Yunho kneaded at his neck and shoulders while he breathed, carting his nails through the male's short hair, scratching at the damped strands along his nape.

Soft music filled the air around them. It was just some random playlist Seonghwa had turned on earlier that night to occupy the nervous silence. Calming piano instrumentals now filtered into the space from a speaker placed in the bedroom. All the lights had been turned off besides a single bedside lamp, the younger complaining of it being too bright as he grew overly sensitive to everything around him the longer his labor progressed. His and Yunho's bodies were bathed in a faint golden glow. Shadows danced across the floor as Seonghwa and Wooyoung moved about, preparing the space to finally welcome the third member of their little growing family.

The brunette continued to itch at the blonde's scalp, though this contraction seemed to be lasting longer than all the others as a small whimper echoed throughout the room. A burst of shallow panting followed behind it. Mingi quickly reached out to Yunho for support, wrapping his arms around the older male's neck as he pressed his sweaty forehead to the exposed skin of his clavicle; a pained groan vibrating against the bone. He simply held him, massaging at his hips and the sides of his tummy as his lips pressed to the wet skin of his husband's temple.

"Nice and easy now."

Yunho whispered, quietly shushing his lover's staccato cries of ah, ah, ah. He could feel him shake in his arms, long fingers balled into the fabric of his shirt; darkening the color with moisture. The male listened on as a muted thud hit the tile underneath him, the sphere in Mingi's hold falling to the floor as its foamy material bounced lightly; rolling somewhere it couldn't be seen. Although, the brunette barely paid it any mind, too invested with the sharp gasp that reached his ears as his husband suddenly deflated against him all at once in a quivering heap.

"Sh-shit."

Mingi breathed, voice wavering as a clumsy hand reached down below himself, feeling for something that Yunho could not see. As the blonde adjusted his stance for a better position, a stream of white light pierced through the bathroom's darkness, illuminating the body of water his husband currently sat in. Seonghwa walked in with his phone's flashlight shining, seeming to have heard the couple's slight commotion as he kneeled down beside the brunette. He gently tapped at Mingi's shoulder to gain his attention, which brown eyes looked up at the touch. Although they chose to focus on the digits he brought up from underneath himself instead, the tips of his lover's fingers coated in a film of white. Yunho observed it with blown-out pupils, shocked by the amount of vernix that covered his husband's skin. Seonghwa didn't seem as phased by the image, rather choosing to flash his light towards the water. He hummed as he was greeted with obvious cloudiness, the liquid now milky in color.

"I think it's time!"

The midwife cheered, quickly standing up as he disappeared back into the bedroom. He left the pair alone for a moment, and a moment it was. It took a solid second for the news to sink in, Mingi's chest promptly beginning to hitch until there were choking sobs building up his throat. His body lurched forward as he tried to keep his obvious fear under control. However, the glistening tears that swiftly rolled down his cheeks told another story.

"It's gonna be okay. You're in good hands."

Yunho reassured, wiping away the dampness from his eyes with a tender thumb, holding his husband's face within careful palms. Mingi merely looked at him with a sad expression, lashes sparkling as soothing kisses were pressed to both his cheeks and furrowed brow.

"Come on. Let's get you up, sweetheart."

Grabbing at his elbows, he moved to pull the younger upright, but called out for assistance when he realized that it was going to be more than a one man job. Wooyoung immediately popped into the room at his request. Together, they helped haul the pregnant male up as they slowly maneuvered him out of the tub. Yunho quickly took the time to towel him dry as Mingi's hands sat perched atop his shoulders, heavy middle hanging between them. Once finished, the brunette carefully shuffled his husband over towards the bed, Wooyoung trailing behind them with a steady palm poised along the curve of the blonde's lower back. Seonghwa happily accepted the male with open arms at his arrival.

The midwife took it upon himself to get Mingi settled, aiding him onto the bed as Yunho worked to get his husband as comfortable as possible, fluffing pillows and bunching up blankets until it was just right. A head of pale hair swiftly found comfort in the form of a cushion along his lap. Still, his lover looked like he'd meet his utter demise as Wooyoung urged his legs to fall open. His gloved hands shoved absorbent pads underneath the blonde's bottom before gently wiping him down, his body still naturally dripping amniotic fluid as he transitioned from bathroom to mattress. Mingi's eyes desperately searched his face for a distraction, seeming to count each and every one of his lashes as Yunho stared down at him with an encouraging smile. His fingers quickly threaded back into the male's short hair.

Keeping his husband occupied with soothing scratches to the head, the brunette watched as Seonghwa pressed a handheld Doppler up against the bottom of his bump. A loud swishing erupted from the tinny speaker. They listened to their daughter's heartbeat for a moment, the sound dipping as the younger experienced a contraction, his stomach cramping tightly as he held onto Yunho's knee for dear life. It was clear that his lover was coming to the end of his labor as the pain only lasted for a span of seconds. Mingi came down from the wave with a quivering breath, his hairline painted with a sprinkling of sweat; thighs shaking.

Seonghwa took the moment of relief as his sign to do one last check on the other's dilation, quickly snapping on a pair of latex gloves. The blonde hated this part, evident by the way his eyes slammed such the moment the midwife's hands were on his legs. Though the male didn't have to go very far as he pulled back faster than expected. Mingi stared at him in confusion, expression shifting to surprise as Seonghwa questioned if he felt a lot of pressure, which the blonde instantly nodded at.

"Alright! Push whenever you need to!"

The elder put it simply, positioning himself in front of the younger with a towel draped over his hands. It was a fluffy invitation for the tiny human that would soon be swaddled in its white fabric. Wooyoung grabbed one of Mingi's knees at the announcement. Yunho grabbed the other as he helped keep them out of the way and provide more space.

"You got this, Min!"

He cheered only for his husband's ears to hear, leaning down to press a kiss to the tip of his nose as brown eyes trembled in fear. His partner took a deep breath before surrendering to his terror and giving in to his body's needs, pushing down with all of his might.

The last phase of labor turned out to be much quicker than Yunho would have ever initially expected, at least in Mingi's case. Within the first push, the brunette was already seeing things that could only be described as slightly insane, mildly disturbing, and extremely emotional. He found that his eyes were growing misty the moment Wooyoung announced that he could see hair. The beginning of their daughter's head swiftly made its appearance, much to everyone's amazement.

While tears gathered in his lashes, his husband's own poured down flushed cheeks in a bout of frustration and obvious agony; groaning and panting his way through each contraction. He was crunched up like a turtle stuck on its back, which would have been quite humorous if it weren't for the apparent pain in his husband's stiff limbs. Seonghwa urged him to relax, petting at his calf with a gloved hand, but the blonde was clamped up and refused to move; staying put as he pushed. And while his methods seemed arduous, he was actually extremely efficient as the head popped out in a gush of fluid by the end of his first round. The praise was heavy in the room as everyone exclaimed at his progress.

"I'll be utterly impressed if you can get her out in two pushes, Mingi-yah. Who knew you were a birthing beast!"

Wooyoung chimed in, patting at the male's knee as he laid and regained his breath, looking like he wanted to melt into the bed forever.

"Do you want to feel her?"

Seonghwa asked, gently wiping down the little girl's face with a cloth, swiftly clearing her airways with practiced ease.

Mingi flopped his head back and forth on the pillow placed in Yunho's lap, too engrossed with his own pain to even think of the action going on between his legs. The older happily accepted the offer though, letting Wooyoung guide his hand down towards the infant as he grazed the tips of his fingers over damp strands of hair. He was instantly enamored with her tiny ears and nose. He couldn't wait to memorize every inch of her face, to kiss her chubby cheeks and touch her petal-pink skin. Becoming a father was a magical moment, and Yunho couldn't believe he was finally experiencing it in the flesh. He just wished Mingi could enjoy it as much as he was. The brunette peppered his sweaty skin with kisses as he whispered an endless mantra of love and thanks to his lover, admiring his utter strength as he went into his next, and maybe final, push.

"Okay, baby girl's just turning around real quick."

Seonghwa hummed as Mingi bore down once again, huffing with effort at the bizarre feeling. Yunho watched, entirely captivated, as their daughter shifted until her nose faced the inside of her mother's thigh. The midwife's hand gently swabbed around her neck in search of a cord, patting at his husband's leg encouragingly when he felt nothing. The blonde continued pushing without faltering, groaning loudly.

The first shoulder popped out almost instantly into Seonghwa's hands, evoking a sharp cry from Mingi and a gasp of excitement from everyone else. The younger male's hands shot up to grip at his own hair, burying his fingers deep into the short fluff. His chin tilted all the back as his body strained, his forehead basically pressed against Yunho's abdomen as he struggled with the intense stretch. His lips were moving in a quick succession, voice inaudible, as if he were praying underneath his breath. His eyes were shut tight.

"Oh god, oh god!"

His lover moaned, tone rising in volume as his pain peeked to an all time high, the second shoulder on its way out...and fast.

"Just a little more, Mingi-yah!"

Wooyoung cheered, although it fell on deaf ears. Mingi was in his own little world as he pushed, a scream seeming to build in his chest, but he choked it down with a muffled whimper. One of his hands flew up in search of something solid to grab onto; grasping blindly. The blonde quickly found purchase on Yunho's shoulder, his bony fingers digging into the socket harshly. The brunette simply ignored the sting, even as his husband's fingernails pierced through the sleeve of his t-shirt. He brushed his lips along the white skin of the younger's knuckles instead, cupping his palm over top as another sign of support. He held his breath with anticipation as he watched their daughter emerge.

Almost there, almost-

"AM I TEARING!?"

Mingi suddenly shouted, sitting up from Yunho's lap with a startled expression. However, it only intensified before it swiftly morphed into a state of confusion. His upper body went lax against the brunette as a muted gurgle sounded from in between his legs, soon being followed up by a piercing scream. Yunho swore he had never heard anything more incredible at that moment than their daughter's first breath. His eyes instantly filled with tears and he didn't even bother to wipe his cheeks as they fell in an endless stream, dropping down onto Mingi's hair like sparkling dew.

"No no, she's out! She's out, sweetheart! She's here!"

The older male wrapped his arms around his husband as Seonghwa lifted their baby girl to the blonde's chest in all of her squirming glory, something in his heart warming as she wiggled into Mingi's skin like a missing puzzle piece. Her distress easily faded to pure contempt. Their daughter's cries ceased without failure as she registered her mother's touch, nuzzling into the plush comfort of his breast with notable relief; making Wooyoung and Seonghwa laugh.

"Not even a minute old and she's already established her favorite spot."

The younger of the pair giggled, placing a clean towel over the infant as he worked to rub her dry. Yunho tried to help out, but the second he caught sight of how his hands practically covered the entirety of her little pink body, he was in shambles. He openly sobbed, cheeks hurting from the sheer size of his smile, even as his lips trembled with overflowing emotions.

She was really here!

Mingi; however, had remained strangely quiet throughout this entire ordeal. His husband appeared to be frozen in place as his hands stood still in the air; hovering over their newborn. He had this utterly bewildered look on his face as he eyed the baby placed along his front, flinching back in surprise as she kicked out her chubby legs like a frog before settling back down. He seemed entirely lost as he quickly looked over to Yunho in confirmation that yes, this tiny human had just come out of his body. The brunette could only nod vigorously.

"That's our baby, Min! Look at her! You did that!"

The younger didn't look convinced, yet he still eyed the squirming infant in wonder. With a hesitant finger, he reached out to brush at her cheek. He looked terrified, as if he were to break her as he stroked along the tiny feature. But the longer he stared, the more he seemed to comprehend that this was their little girl. Their flesh and blood. The gentle soul he'd carried for nine months. It was amazing to see the way his face blossomed with love. With the sun now laid on his chest, he beamed under her light; eyes sparkling like the sky.

When Mingi started to cry, Yunho just brushed away his tears as they fell, leaning down to kiss his lips. He pulled away with a wet chuckle, sniffling loudly as he tried to laugh, but could only sob instead. It didn't help that his husband poked at their daughter's little nose, her face snuggled deep into his skin. A permanent coo now sat ready on his pouty lips. Pouty lips which kissed at the chubby fist that pawed at him.

"Hi, sweet pea."

The whole room seemed to melt at the pet name, hearts full with the sight before them. Yunho swore he saw Seonghwa wipe at his eyes. Even Wooyoung seemed close to tears. His lips had yet to move from their beaming grin. And while the moment was sweet, it could only last so long.

It was past midnight now and everyone was tired. Necessary cleanup was still needed, which was the next step before they could all finally hunker down for the night. It went relatively quickly, despite the looming fatigue that seemed to cling onto everything. Mingi was simply too invested with the baby in his presence to stress over the afterbirth. He'd barely even felt it, let alone noticed Wooyoung leaving to dispose of it.

The blonde also allowed Seonghwa to look over their daughter rather easily, not seeming to mind as she was thoroughly poked and prodded. Nor as she was separated from his arms so Yunho could help him up to the bathroom. Although, the little baby was soon returned to his embrace once the male was settled back into the tub with new water. He worked to gently wipe her down with a washcloth, while the elder cleaned him free of blood and the variety of other fluids childbirth had to other. Before long they were squeaky clean, so then it was a matter of dressing the pair and remaking the bed. The two midwives made sure everything was settled before they were on their way, bidding the couple goodnight. They'd more than likely be back in the morning, but for now, they were all alone.

Their daughter was switched over to lay along Yunho's naked chest, the pair snuggled together underneath the covers. Mingi rested against his shoulder, watching her quietly with a permanent, dreamy smile sat on his lips. They talked of everything and anything until the younger would inevitability fell asleep, which proved to be drawing closer and closer by the minute. Their baby girl's name was still up in the air, but they planned to finalize that tomorrow once they were both fully rested and a little more cognitively aware. For now though, they just mapped out similarities in the small planes of her face. She looked undeniably like Mingi. From her spattering of beauty marks to the almond-esk shape of her eyes. However, he refused to agree. He insisted that the shortness of her nose made her look like the brunette's twin. Which was true, but that's where the resemblance ended. Yunho just let him have his way with a muffled laugh. He'd realize he was wrong sooner or later.

They continued the mindless chatter until it was obvious that the blonde was struggling to stay awake. His eyes dropped heavily and his responses were growing shorter with more time falling in between each one. Yunho pecked at his forehead and urged him to sleep, promising to look after the newborn currently fast asleep on his chest. Mingi easily obeyed and left the brunette in silence in honor of catching some well-deserved sleep. But Yunho didn't mind the quiet. He took it in stride as he was left to simply hold his lover there in the solidarity of their bedroom. The world gradually slowed as time seemed to stop around them, providing the family of three with a bubble of peace that had Yunho whispering-

"Thank you."

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Author's Note: This just kinda popped out of nowhere because I have a mild obsession with the idea of Yunho being a good husband. Plus, who's gonna complain about some soft Yungi??? Definitely not me 🖐️

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!