Chapter 12

Alex sat cross-legged on the couch, a notebook balanced on her lap and a pencil tucked behind her ear. The soft hum of a movie played in the background, but neither she nor Chan were paying much attention to it. The coffee table in front of them was covered in takeout containers, remnants of their dinner—half-eaten kimbap, a nearly empty bowl of jjajangmyeon, and a few scattered fortune cookie wrappers from the dessert Chan insisted they try.Chan leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head as he stared at the growing list in front of them. "Alright," he sighed, rubbing his face. "So we've got family and close friends—about thirty or forty people, right?"Alex flipped through a few pages in her notebook, nodding. "Yeah, it's mostly immediate family, Elliot, Beth and Kendra, your parents, your siblings. Plus our close friends like Mac, Paloma, and the guys." She tapped the page. "It's manageable. Only thing is....if I invite Paloma, Emma and Beth off my executive team I need to invite the rest of the team so they don't feel left out."Chan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Of course. Can't have workplace drama at our wedding." He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts. "Okay, so if you're adding your exec team, then I should probably invite our main JYP staff—the managers, stylists, and choreographers. They've been with us through everything."Alex sighed and started jotting down more names. "And if we're inviting them, then I need to include a few of our long-time investors and board members at Golden Stag. It would feel wrong not to."Chan gave her a wary look. "You sure you want to mix business with pleasure?"Alex shrugged. "Honestly? Not really. But it's a respect thing. Plus, they've supported me through a lot."Chan nodded, adding another name to his list. "Fair enough. Okay, so now we're at..." He glanced at her notebook and whistled. "Eighty people?"Alex blinked. "Wait, what? How did we double so fast?"Chan smirked. "Apparently, we know too many people."She groaned, dropping her head against the back of the couch. "So much for keeping it small."Chan chuckled, poking her knee. "Come on, love. It's our wedding. Let's just embrace it."Alex sat back up and crossed her arms. "Fine. But if we're doing this, then we're going all in. What about your idol friends?"Chan grimaced, knowing this was coming. "Ugh. I mean, if I invite one, I have to invite them all. GOT7, ITZY, TWICE, ATEEZ, NCT, BTS..."Alex laughed, raising an eyebrow. "You're just listing half the K-pop industry at this point."He groaned. "I know. But they've been part of my journey, and it wouldn't feel right not having them there."Alex sighed and wrote them down. "Okay, but if we're inviting them, then I should probably invite my college friends. They were with me through a lot back then." She paused and frowned. "You realize our wedding is turning into a full-blown event, right? That wasn't what we had talked about before."Chan reached over and gently took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I know, but honestly, it makes sense. We've both had so many people shape our lives—our careers, our relationships. It's not just about us, it's about celebrating with the people who've supported us along the way."Alex groaned but couldn't help the small smile creeping onto her face. "I hate that you're making sense right now." She twirled her pencil between her fingers and sighed. "Alright, let's just accept it. It's not going to be small, but at least it'll be filled with people we care about."Chan grinned. "Exactly. Plus, I bet Hyunjin is going to love this. You know he's been dying for an excuse to throw a massive party."Alex laughed. "Oh, I already know. He's probably drawing up Pinterest boards as we speak." She looked down at the list again and shook her head. "We're at what now? 150?"Chan leaned over to peek at her notebook. "Yeah, and that's before we factor in the plus ones and potential surprise guests."Alex's eyes widened. "Oh God, we need a bigger venue." She grabbed her phone and started scrolling through their venue shortlist. "Okay, The Shilla Seoul—specifically Dynasty Hall II and III. It can fit up to 450 people, so we'll have plenty of space."Chan nodded thoughtfully. "I like it. Why don't we set up a tour this week.""I'll call tomorrow. At this point I'm hiring a wedding planner. This is too big for my pregnant brain to handle." Alex laughed, her hand reaching down to rest over her abdomen. It had been a week since they'd get the good news and every time she thought about the life growing inside her now her stomach danced with butterflies. Chan smiled, watching Alex's hand rest protectively over her abdomen. He reached out, placing his hand gently over hers. "A wedding planner sounds like a great idea. I want you to enjoy this, not stress over every detail."Alex exhaled in relief, leaning into him. "Good, because I was starting to feel like my head was going to explode with all the details. And with our first ultrasound tomorrow, I just want to focus on that for now."Chan pressed a soft kiss to Alex's temple, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand in a soothing rhythm. "Tomorrow's a big day," he murmured, his voice filled with quiet excitement. "Are you nervous?"Alex bit her lip and nodded. "A little. I mean, I know it's early, but... I just want to see something. To know that everything is okay." She looked down at where their hands rested over her stomach, her voice softer now. "I think part of me still doesn't believe it's real."Chan squeezed her hand. "It's real, love. And tomorrow, we're going to see it with our own eyes."Alex nodded, drawing in a deep breath, then smiled. "Don't get your hopes up love. We won't be seeing much. We are maybe two weeks in right now and they are just checking to make sure everything looks good."Chan chuckled, leaning his forehead against hers. "I know, I know. But still, seeing something, even if it's just a tiny speck on the screen, will make it feel more real, don't you think?"Alex smiled softly, running her fingers over his. "Yeah, it will." She let out a breath and glanced at the notebook still balanced on her lap. "But for tonight, let's just focus on one major life event at a time." She tapped the guest list with her pencil. "I have an idea and you're going to have to tell me yes or no."Chan tilted his head, eyeing Alex with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Alright, hit me. What's this brilliant idea of yours?"Alex hesitated for a moment, chewing on the end of her pencil before looking up at him with a gleam in her eyes. "What if... we invite STAY?"Chan blinked, processing her words. "Wait, you mean like... all of them?" His voice cracked slightly, and Alex couldn't help but laugh."Not all of them, genius," she said, playfully nudging his shoulder. "But what if we did a drawing? Like, 100 lucky STAYs get invited to the wedding. We cover their travel and stay, and JYP can handle the favors and takeaways."Chan's brows lifted in surprise, his lips curving into a thoughtful smile. "You really want to do that?" He glanced down at their already overwhelming list, then back at her. "I mean... it's a cool idea, but are you sure you want to share our day like that?"Alex shrugged, twirling the pencil between her fingers. "They've been such a big part of your life—of our life. They've supported you for years, and honestly, I think it would mean the world to them." She paused, meeting his gaze. "Plus, I kind of love the idea of celebrating with people who've rooted for us from the start."Chan's smile grew, a soft chuckle escaping him. "You're amazing, you know that?" He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I love it. Let's do it."Alex grinned, quickly jotting down "100 STAY drawing" onto their list. "We'll have to work out the logistics, but I think it could be something really special."Chan nodded, already thinking through the details. "We could make an official announcement on social media, maybe do a video together. I bet JYP will jump at the idea, and it'll give fans something positive to look forward to."Alex leaned back against the couch with a satisfied smile. "See? Wedding planning isn't so bad when we make it fun."Chan smirked. "Says the woman who was ready to run for the hills ten minutes ago."She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a laugh. "Okay, okay. Last couple of things for tonight. We need a date, we need to plan engagement photos and we need to decide if we are going public with this pregnancy or if I'm going to be wearing baggy clothes for the foreseeable future."Chan leaned back into the couch, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Okay, let's tackle these one at a time." He turned to face Alex, his eyes warm with affection. "The date... we're thinking November 25th, right?"Alex nodded, flipping through her calendar app. "Yeah, it works best with your schedule. It's after your comeback, and you'll have a little breathing room before things pick up again."Chan grinned. "Then November 25th it is. I'll make sure to get it blocked off with management." He scribbled the date onto their list, making it official. "One down."Alex let out a small sigh of relief. "Engagement photos next. I was thinking something simple—nothing too over the top. Maybe a cozy fall shoot? Sweaters, candles, maybe even in our penthouse?"Chan chuckled, nudging her gently. "Cozy sounds perfect. But... we should probably do at least a couple of formal shots, too. You know, for our parents."Alex groaned playfully. "Ugh, fine. I guess we can dress up a little."Chan laughed. "I'll survive a suit if you can survive a fancy dress for a few hours."She smirked. "Deal." Jotting down "engagement shoot – cozy & formal" in her notebook, Alex looked up at him. "Now... the big question. Are we going public with the pregnancy, or am I just going to be living in oversized sweaters until after the wedding?"Chan's expression softened, and he took her hand gently. "Honestly? I'm okay with whatever makes you feel most comfortable. If you want to keep it private for now, we can. If you want to share it, we'll do it on our terms."Alex chewed her lip, thinking. "I think I want to keep it private. The wedding is a huge stress already and still running Golden Stag from home. On the off chance something goes wrong I don't want the whole world knowing about my —our medical issues. By the time the wedding rolls around I'll barely be showing and most people will play it off as bloat."Chan nodded in understanding, his thumb gently rubbing over her knuckles. "I think that's a good call. This is our journey, and we should share it when we're ready, not because people expect us to."Alex smiled softly, relieved that he was on the same page. "Yeah, and I think it'll be nice to have something that's just ours for a little while longer. Plus," she added with a smirk, "I can rock an oversized sweater like nobody's business."Chan chuckled. "I have no doubt. And hey, if anyone asks, we'll just say you're embracing the comfy aesthetic."Alex laughed, leaning into his side. "Exactly. Oversized everything until further notice."Chan pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you, you know that?"Alex sighed happily. "I know. And I love you too."They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the only sound being the faint noise of the movie playing in the background. Alex traced small circles on Chan's hand, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her despite the whirlwind of planning."Okay," she finally said, sitting up and stretching. "I think that's enough wedding talk for tonight. We have our guest list, our venue, our date, and an idea for the engagement shoot. I say we call it a win."Chan grinned. "Agreed. Let's just enjoy tonight and deal with everything else tomorrow."Alex nodded, setting the notebook aside and snuggling into his side. "Tomorrow's a big day anyway," she said softly, her hand instinctively drifting to her stomach.The next evening, Alex stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of pasta sauce as the savory aroma filled their penthouse. The soft hum of music played in the background, blending with the distant chatter of Chan setting the dining table. The nervous excitement bubbling inside her made it hard to focus, but she couldn't help smiling at the thought of sharing their big news with their closest friends tonight."Hey, love, are we sure we have enough food?" Chan called from the dining room, placing down the last set of plates.Alex rolled her eyes playfully. "We have enough to feed an army, babe. You think I didn't factor in how much Changbin and Hyunjin eat?"Chan grinned as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Good point. Also, Felix texted—he and Elliot are bringing dessert. Some fancy cake Felix has been obsessing over."Alex hummed in approval, leaning into him. "Perfect. That means Beth and Cassie will probably bring cookies, and you know Kendra and Mac are gonna bring something weirdly healthy."Chan laughed. "Yeah, I'm betting on some kind of organic, gluten-free nonsense that no one will actually touch except them."Before Alex could respond, the sound of the doorbell rang, followed by the familiar voice of Elliot shouting, "We come bearing gifts and sugar!""Let the chaos begin," Alex muttered, pulling away to greet their guests.Elliot and Felix were the first to step inside, both carrying boxes stacked high with desserts. Felix, ever the sunshine, beamed as he set them down on the counter. "You better have made room for these. They're from that place I was telling you about."Alex kissed his cheek in greeting and nodded. "Of course, we did. And you, brother of mine, I hope you brought something useful and not just your appetite."Elliot smirked. "I brought my charming personality, as always.""Fantastic," Alex deadpanned as she ushered them inside.Within minutes, the penthouse was buzzing with energy as more of their friends arrived—Beth and little Cassie, who immediately made a beeline for Chan, clinging to his leg and giggling when he lifted her up; Mac and Kendra, glowing with their own pregnancy news; Paloma, Malik, and Emma chatting with Yuna in one corner; and of course, the Stray Kids members, who filled the space with their usual lively banter.As the penthouse filled with laughter and the clinking of plates, Alex found herself scanning the room, waiting for one particular person. The anticipation made her heart race, and she subconsciously rested a hand over her stomach, the secret she was dying to share bubbling just beneath the surface.Then, the door opened again.Hyunjin stepped inside, dressed in his usual effortless style, a soft smile spreading across his face the moment he spotted Alex. She barely had time to react before he was closing the distance between them, his arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace.Alex melted into him, breathing him in as he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "I missed you," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine affection."I missed you too," she murmured, tightening her arms around his waist. She hesitated for just a second before tilting her head up, her lips brushing lightly against his ear. "I'm pregnant."Hyunjin stiffened slightly, his breath hitching as he pulled back just enough to look at her. His eyes widened in surprise, searching hers as if to confirm he heard her correctly. "You're—?" he started, but Alex quickly placed a finger over his lips, shaking her head with a small, excited smile."Shh," she whispered. "We're telling everyone later. I wanted you to know first."Hyunjin's face slowly broke into a grin, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing over her cheek before he leaned in and pressed the sweetest, most reverent kiss to her forehead. "Alex," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "That's... incredible."She nodded, biting her lip to keep from getting too emotional herself. "I know. We're still early, but everything looks good so far."Hyunjin exhaled a shaky breath, his arms wrapping around her again, holding her tighter this time. "I'm so happy," he murmured, resting his chin on top of her head. "And so proud of you."Before Alex could respond, Chan appeared beside them, grinning knowingly. "You told him, didn't you?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.Alex nodded sheepishly, and Hyunjin, still overwhelmed, reached out to pull Chan into the embrace as well. "I can't believe it," Hyunjin whispered. "This is really happening."Chan chuckled, ruffling Hyunjin's hair. "It is. And you're stuck with us for the ride."Hyunjin laughed softly, his arms still wrapped around Alex. "Wouldn't have it any other way.""Oi, what's with the secret huddle?" Han called from across the room, eyeing them suspiciously.Alex quickly pulled away, smoothing her dress and shooting Hyunjin a meaningful look. "Nothing," she said innocently. "Just catching up.""Right," Seungmin chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "Because that didn't look suspicious at all."Alex rolled her eyes, grabbing Hyunjin's hand and dragging him toward the kitchen. "Come help me with the drinks before Han starts interrogating us."Hyunjin squeezed her hand before following her lead, his heart still racing from the news. He couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips, his eyes lingering on Alex as she moved around the kitchen, preparing drinks for their friends.As the night unfolded, the penthouse was filled with the sounds of laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. Alex moved through the crowd, her hand occasionally resting on her stomach, feeling the weight of their secret pressing against her chest. Chan's reassuring presence was never far away, his eyes meeting hers across the room with a silent promise—they'd share their news soon, but for now, they were just soaking in the love that surrounded them.Beth and Cassie were sitting on the couch, the little girl contently nestled in Chan's lap as he animatedly read a children's book to her. Alex smiled at the sight, her heart swelling at how effortlessly Chan fit into the role of a father figure. Beth caught her gaze and grinned knowingly, giving Alex a subtle thumbs-up.On the other side of the room, Kendra and Mac were chatting with Emma and Yuna, Kendra's hand resting over her own small but growing baby bump. Alex made a mental note to pull her aside later and compare notes—it was comforting to have someone going through a pregnancy journey at the same time.Hyunjin hovered near the kitchen, sneaking glances at Alex every few minutes with a fond, almost protective expression. She knew he was still processing the news, but seeing his genuine happiness made her feel even more confident in their decision to tell everyone tonight.Once everyone had plates full of food and drinks in hand, Alex glanced at Chan, who nodded slightly. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the center of the room and tapped her glass lightly with a spoon."Alright, listen up, everyone," she called, her voice carrying through the room. Conversations quieted, and all eyes turned toward her, a mixture of curiosity and anticipation on their faces. Alex glanced at Chan, who stepped up beside her, his hand resting reassuringly on the small of her back."We wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for being here tonight," Alex began, her eyes sweeping across the room. "You've all been such an important part of our lives, and with the wedding coming up, we've been feeling really grateful for the love and support we have from each and every one of you."Felix grinned, nudging Elliot. "Uh-oh, she's getting sentimental," he teased, making everyone chuckle.Alex rolled her eyes but smiled. "Well, I'm about to get even more sentimental because..." She glanced at Chan, who squeezed her waist encouragingly. "We have some news. Big news."The room buzzed with anticipation, and Cassie, in her little voice, piped up from Chan's arms, "Is it a puppy?"Laughter rippled through the group, and Chan grinned down at her. "Not quite, kiddo," he said, setting her down gently before turning back to their friends. "The implantation was successful! We're pregnant!"For a moment, silence filled the room as the words sank in. Then, an explosion of cheers, clapping, and excited shouts erupted from their friends.Beth was the first to reach Alex, wrapping her in a tight hug, tears glistening in her eyes. "Oh my God, Alex! I'm so happy for you!" she gushed, pulling back only to hold Alex at arm's length. "I had a feeling something was different, but I didn't want to say anything!"Cassie, looking confused but excited, tugged on Chan's sleeve. "Does that mean there's a baby?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.Chan knelt down to her level with a grin. "That's right, Cassie. You're going to be a big cousin of sorts."Cassie gasped, clapping her little hands together. "I'm gonna help!"Everyone laughed, and Kendra stepped in next, placing a hand on Alex's arm. "Girl, we're going to be pregnancy buddies," she said with a grin. "Mac and I are two months in—this is going to be so fun."Mac, standing behind her, nodded with a knowing smile. "Finally! I get to assume godfather duties!!!"Mac's proclamation sent the room into chaos."Excuse me?" Han's voice rang out above the din, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. "Who said you get to be the godfather?""Yeah, what the hell, Mac?" Minho chimed in, crossing his arms as he shot an incredulous look at Alex and Chan. "We've literally risked our lives for these two. That should count for something."Felix gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "I thought we were family, Alex! After everything we've been through, you chose him over us?"Hyunjin, who had been silently processing the news with a teary-eyed smile moments ago, now stomped over to Mac with a wounded expression. "I can't believe you stole this from us. From me!" He clutched his heart, shaking his head. "I was already picturing myself teaching the kid how to paint and be fashionable."Seungmin rolled his eyes, adjusting his glasses. "Please. If anyone deserves to be the godfather, it should be someone responsible and level-headed. Clearly, that's me."Changbin, however, took a different approach. He marched right up to Chan, poking him in the chest. "Chris, explain. Now."Amidst the uproar, Alex couldn't hold it in any longer. Laughter bubbled up and spilled out as she leaned against Chan, giggling uncontrollably. "I knew this would happen," she wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.Chan, shaking his head but grinning nonetheless, raised his hands in surrender. "Guys, guys—calm down." He turned to Alex, who was still doubled over with laughter, and gave her an amused look. "You want to tell them?"Alex straightened, cheeks flushed from laughing. "We actually talked about this a long time ago," she said, glancing at Mac with a fond smile. "And while we love all of you, Mac and Kendra were the obvious choice.""Obvious?!" Jisung threw his hands in the air dramatically. "How is that obvious?"Alex grinned. "Because I've known Mac the longest. And with Kendra, they're also about to be parents with how much they take care of all of us." She shrugged. "If something ever happens to me or Chan, we wanted to make sure our baby was with someone who could handle it. And with you guys being idols for the foreseeable future we thought it best."The room fell into stunned silence, the riotous objections simmering down as the weight of Alex's words settled in. The members exchanged glances, their initial outrage giving way to thoughtful consideration.Felix, still holding onto his dramatic persona, crossed his arms and pouted. "I mean... that does make sense. But I could totally help, you know. I'm great with kids."Changbin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. They're the practical choice." He shot Mac a pointed look. "But that doesn't mean we're not going to be the cool uncles."Alex laughed, reaching out to squeeze Changbin's hand. "Of course not. We're going to need all the cool uncles, aunties, and hyungs we can get."Mac, standing next to Kendra with a victorious grin, raised his hands defensively. "Look, I didn't ask for this honor. Well, okay, I did. But not like that. It's just... Alex and I have been through a lot together. It makes sense."Hyunjin, still pouting, narrowed his eyes at Mac. "Fine. But if that kid's first art lesson isn't with me, I will riot."Alex grinned. "Deal."Jisung, ever the opportunist, leaned against the counter with a smirk. "Well, if I'm not the godfather, then I'm going to be the favorite uncle. Just putting it out there now."Seungmin rolled his eyes. "Please, Jisung. Let's not act like we aren't all gunning for that title."Cassie, still standing next to Chan, tugged on his sleeve. "Can I be the favorite cousin?"Chan scooped her up, grinning. "You, Cassie, already have that title locked down."As the conversation drifted back to baby names, nursery themes, and who would be responsible for teaching the little one what, Alex leaned into Chan's side, feeling the warmth of the moment settle in her chest.