SEONGJOONG (pt. 1)

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"Precious Moments"

A story by Yeo_Mama

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June 15th. 3:45 am

*****

It's nearing four am when the front door of their home suddenly opens up, the dark silhouettes of Hongjoong and Seonghwa spilling out onto the concrete landing; the small outdoor light casting their shadows across the stone steps and paved driveway in front of them.

It's humid outside, the muggy June air relentless even in the dead of night; crickets and cicadas chirping loudly in the distance. Hongjoong could already feel the back of his shirt start to stick to his skin, his spouse fairing no better as the male groaned at the intense humidity; his weight pressed heavily against his side.

The small brunette helped aid him down the front steps, a hand secured around his husband's waist as they descended down each ledge slowly; carefully. Seonghwa's hands were cradled protectively underneath the heavy swell of his middle as he walked, little puffs of air rushing past his lips. Making it down safely, Hongjoong gently guided the both of them towards the small pickup parked a few feet away from their front door, phone flashlight in hand as they walked; shoes shuffling across the concrete. The Jeongs got the duplex's garage this week, but it didn't matter as it made the couple's journey to their shared vehicle quicker, especially with Seonghwa's current state.

Although it still takes them longer than usual to reach the white exterior of his truck. He didn't mind though as the male in his hold stills, panting softly as one of his hands reached out for his own; squeezing tightly. Reassuring the other gently, he rubs his thumb over the male's knuckles as he waits for him to relax, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek when Seonghwa's breath finally evens out. Resuming their journey, they continue to amble their way towards the vehicle, stopping every so often when the older need be, even if the truck wasn't that far.

They eventually reach the passenger's side, Hongjoong hastily opening the door as he helps aid his husband inside, dropping the bag slung over his shoulder down by the male's feet. Making sure Seonghwa was settled and as comfortable as physically possible, he closes the door, quickly rushing around the front as he opens the driver's side; plopping himself down inside and starting the ignition with practiced ease.

The truck ignites to life with a quiet rumble, the sound familiar to the sets of ears currently sat within its cab; comforting even as the engine's purr seemed to soothe the nervous energy darting between its two occupants. Hongjoong flicks on the headlights after securing his seatbelt, flooding their driveway in a wash of pale yellow light.

Making sure everything was where it should be, double checking the car seat he had installed a few weeks ago, he threw a quick glance towards the male sitting next to him. His husband's head was lolled back against the headrest, eyes closed as a hand soothed over his distended middle; breath shaky.

"Hey...Look at me."

Dark eyes immediately focus on him, heavily dilated pupils melting into the rich color from the lack of light within the cab. His husband's gaze shimmered with unshed tears, pooling brightly along his waterline as the corners of his lips turned up into a watery smile; breath stuttering. His closely knitted facade quickly faltered though as a barely stifled sob keened in the back of his throat, face breaking for a moment as a couple tears fell down his cheeks before he fixed his expression once again.

Hongjoong's heart broke as he watched his husband struggle before him, gently cupping his cheek within his palm. The contact against his skin seemed to be the breaking point as Seonghwa's face immediately crumbled, whimpers falling past his lips as his shoulders shook with a silent sob. A cascade of hot tears rolled down his flushed cheeks, although Hongjoong softly thumbed them away just as quickly as they fell.

"I-I'm s-scared, Joong..."

His husband's voice was hushed, barely audible even against the quiet hum of the truck's engine, but he still heard it. His face softened at the quiet confession, a reassuring smile curling up at the edges of his lips as he continued to stroke his thumb underneath the male's eyes; his free hand coming up to wrap around his husband's that sat fixed atop the crest of his rounded stomach.

"Don't be. Everything is going to be okay, Hwa. I promise."

Hongjoong whispered, giving the male's hand an encouraging squeeze as he leaned over the middle seat, pressing a tender kiss to his husband's lips; breaking away after a beat to lay his forehead against Seonghwa's. They merely absorbed each other's presence for a moment, sharing each other's breath before Hongjoong placed one last fleeting peck to the male's lips, returning his attention back to the steering wheel.

"You ready?"

He watched as his husband raised a shaky hand up to rub at his damp eyes, a deep breath filling his lungs as he inhaled slowly. His large eyes turned to look at him, still glistening wetly as he exhaled loudly; cheeks puffing out with the action. His head moved to nod in response, but stilled just before he could, gaze settling back onto him as his lips parted; albeit hesitantly.

"C-can we...can we drive the back roads for a bit? I'm not ready to go to the hospital yet."

He asked quietly, fumbling over his words slightly as he twisted his hands together nervously, bottom lip tucked between his teeth. The fear radiating off his form was nearly palpable, shoulders curled forwards as he seemed to hunch in on himself unconsciously, the remnants of tear tracks still drying along his reddened cheeks. Hongjoong only smiled at him warmly as he shifted the pickup into drive, pulling out of their driveway slowly.

"Of course.  I'll drive for as long as you want, sweetheart. Just let me know when you're ready to go."

He purposely turned left when he reached the T in the road, the right leading towards town. He could practically feel Seonghwa deflate next to him at the action, releasing a rush of affection through his veins as the dark-haired male shifted in his seat, temple pressed against the window as he sighed; eyes slipping closed. Hongjoong reached over to roll down his own window, muggy air filling the cab.

Paved concrete turned into packed dirt as they drove down the country roads surrounding their little neighborhood, large rice paddies shouldering both sides of the path the further they drove. A lull seemingly fell over the pair, the rock of tires skidding over uneven roads soothing to them.  The muffle of wind, smelling heavily of nostalgic summer nights, rushed through his open window, serving as a source of blissful white noise. Hongjoong hadn't even noticed that the radio was on, some Radiohead cd Seonghwa must have left inside the console playing quietly in the background; just barely audible.

He wasn't sure how long he drove for. It could have been mere minutes, or multiple hours; time seeming to stop. Seonghwa was completely silent next to him, black hair ruffling with the breeze filtering in from his window. He could almost be considered sleeping if it weren't for the small shifts in position he caught the other doing, leather seat creaking underneath him. The longer they drove, the more restless he could see his husband becoming, breath turning louder by the second.

A hand eventually reached out to grab onto his forearm, pulling his attention from the road in front of him to the older. His grip was merciless as a reedy whine could be heard over the noise filling the truck, a few quiet moans following after it. Seonghwa had shifted to sit with his back pressed properly against the seat, jaw squared as his free hand reached out to grab onto the door; eyes squeezed shut.

"Hwa?"

After a beat, the hold around his arm loosened, his husband's hand slithering back to lay atop his round bump, soothing over the covered mound as his breath slowly evened out; albeit still stuttering. His wide gaze turned to look at him, a determined glint in his stare, doe eyes hardening; lips set in a firm line.

"I'm ready."

*****

The drive to the hospital was smooth enough, nothing really changing in the time Seonghwa confessed that he was finally ready to head over, besides the fact that his husband's contractions were steadily growing closer by the minute. Hongjoong managed to keep his cool the whole thirty minutes it took him to weave his way off the backroads and back onto the main; spending another ten driving to their local clinic.

The process of getting Seonghwa into the hospital was easier said than done as his husband's water broke just outside the main doors, causing all chaos to break loose as well.  Thankfully, a nurse at the front desk spotted them and quickly came to their aid, helping calm down his panicking spouse and get him situated into a wheelchair.  Hongjoong took the liberty of filling out his paperwork in the waiting room while Seonghwa was taken to a room and cleaned up, finding the male in a gown when he was finished and guided to the suite where they would be residing in for the next couple of hours.

He helped his husband up onto the hospital bed when another nurse came in asking to check his progress, having placed a surplus of monitors all along the older's body beforehand.  With some careful reassuring and multiple pecks to the cheek, the young woman quickly did what she came to do and announced that Seonghwa had just hit five centimeters dilated.  The option of an epidural was offered, which his husband immediately agreed too before the nurse could even finish her sentence. 

Leaving with a smile, the couple waited for the anesthesiologist, Hongjoong helping the dark-haired male through his growing contractions during that time.  It only took about an hour for a nice older male to walk into their room, and another ten minutes for him to administer the IV line for the epidural into his husband's spine; pumping heavy pain killers through his nerves. Within half an hour, Seonghwa was completely numb from the waist down, much to his pleasure, and completely drained of energy.  That's where Hongjoong found himself now, sitting beside the older in a hard plastic chair, watching him struggle to stay awake with a knowing smile growing on his face.

"I fee' goo..."

His husband slurred out, eyes drooping heavily; dangerously close to just falling completely shut at any moment.  His black hair was fanned out across the pillow like a dark halo, a few strands curled along his temples and forehead due to sweat.  His tanned skin was still a bit sallow from earlier, the copious amounts of pain he had been in making him pale; albeit the color now steadily growing back into his cheeks.  A ghost of a shadow sat along his under eyes, the skin there still slightly red and puffy from when he had cried back in the truck. 

His hand was laying beside his head, curled around Hongjoong's in a loose grip; a hospital band secured around his slim wrist.  A heart monitor sat clamped along his opposite forefinger, basic saline drip leading from the crook of his elbow.  A fetal and contraction monitor laid wrapped around his exposed midriff, gown bunched up above his bump; the constant swishing of their baby's heart rate filling the room. A mindless palm rubbed along the bottom of his swollen stomach, Seonghwa shifting slightly onto his side with a sigh.  He may be tired, but he still looked beautiful nonetheless to Hongjoong; laying there quietly in his hospital bed, anticipating the birth of their child.

"I know you do, baby.  Why don't you try going to sleep?"

He urged gently, threading his free hand through the bed's railing to run his fingers through the other's bangs; scratching softly. He could feel Seonghwa's head press up into the touch, moaning quietly as he fully shifted onto his side, bunching the covers laid over his hips up underneath his bump; supporting its heavy weight.

"Mm...can't."

He merely sighed out, eyes closed at this point, but Hongjoong knew he wasn't asleep with the way he could feel his husband gently rubbing his thumb over the skin of his wrist; their hands still intertwined by the male's face.

"Why not?"

"I don'-don' wanna mis' da...da b'rth."

Now that pulled a fond laugh from Hongjoong, just a quick rush of air from his nose as his lips pulled up into an affectionate grin, squeezing at Seonghwa's hand tenderly. His husband never did well piecing thoughts together on little sleep. He brushed a couple hairs from the other's forehead, cupping his cheek softly.

"Honey, you are kind of the star of the show here.  This baby won't arrive without you helping them out in the first place."

"Oh..."

He huffed out another breath, staring lovingly at the male before him; mouth curled at the corners in a permanent smile.  Dark eyes fluttered open slightly to look up at him, Seonghwa's lashes dusting against his cheeks as they slowly closed again, exhaling quietly as he burrowed his face further into the pillow below him.

"Mm tired, Joongie..."

Feeling the older's grip loosen around his hand, he leaned over the railing to place a gentle kiss along his temple, tucking his hair behind his ear before moving back.  He watched as his husband's breath gradually evened out, features going slack as he fell asleep; lips parted as puffs of air escaped out from in between them.

"Get some rest, Hwa."

Carefully extracting his hand from the older's, he stood up slowly.  Grabbing the covers bunched around Seonghwa's bump, he replaced them with an extra pillow underneath his husband's swollen middle so he could tuck the fabric around his body instead.  Satisfied, he retreated back to his chair, plopping down into it carefully as he watched his spouse sleep soundly; only the sound of his quiet breathing and their baby's heartbeat filling the silent room...

*****

Hongjoong managed to sleep alongside Seonghwa for a few hours, his husband eventually rousing at around eight; albeit extremely groggy and disoriented. He had woken up with a loud groan, which quickly caught his attention, making him sit up in his chair as the older male reached out for him with a clumsy hand.

Hongjoong instantly approached him, smoothing down the ruffled locks of his husband's unruly bed head, shushing him softly as he whined out about something; voice barely audible. Although, it only took him hearing one quiet comment from Seonghwa, complaining about feeling intense pelvic pressure, before he was quickly pressing at the "Call Nurse" button; squeezing at his hand as they anxiously awaited for medical aid. After that, everything seemed to pass by in a blur.

Their assigned nurse quickly came in with a warm hello, nodding along in understanding as Seonghwa voiced his concerns. She swiftly tugged on a pair of gloves, getting to work as she lifted up the blankets draped along his husband's hips, the male not even caring about modesty anymore as he questioned her about what he was feeling. She merely did what she needed to do and pulled back with a smile, announcing that he was nine centimeters dilated and nearly ready to push. Neither of them had much time to process that information as their room was suddenly being filled with two additional L&D nurses, all flocking around Seonghwa with haste.

Hongjoong watched on in silence as the group of women worked, casually pushing him away from his husband as one nurse began to break down his hospital bed; raising it up into more of a seated position as the bottom was shoved in. Another unwrapped the monitors from around his belly, checking up on their baby's heart rate with a Doppler as the third brought up a bar from the sides of the bed, settling his husband's feet along the beam as it pushed his knees towards his chest.

He was eventually ushered back over towards Seonghwa, the railing beside his head shoved down to allow for him to be closer; the older reaching out for him with a scared hand, his eyes huge. Hongjoong could only squeeze it in reassurance, looping an arm around his husband's shoulders as he pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

Everything seemed to be passing by too quickly for his brain to handle. He went from watching one of the L&Ds place a plastic sheet underneath Seonghwa's bottom to his husband's OB appearing out of nowhere as a nurse helped him into a disposable smock, protecting his navy scrubs. He plopped himself down onto a swivel stool with ease, sliding between Seonghwa's open legs as he tugged on a pair of fresh latex gloves, conversing to his staff with an easygoing smile settled across his face before he was fixing the couple with the same look.

"Are you ready to have a baby?"

Seonghwa simply nodded his head and then before he knew it, the older was pushing and Hongjoong felt like he was in a fever dream, watching his husband's eyebrows scrunch up in concentration as he bore down on a contraction.

A nurse was counting down for him as he pushed, signaling for him to stop and breath before bearing down once again. He noted that his husband didn't make a sound as he pushed, eyes focused intently on the doctor between his legs as he squeezed his hand; anxiously awaiting for any verbal news on their baby's appearance as he couldn't feel it himself.

"Can you see anything?"

Seonghwa immediately asked him after his first bout of pushing came to an end. One of the nurses was urging him to continue as his contraction was still going, but he merely ignored her in favor of staring up at him in question.

Hongjoong hesitantly peeked down between his husband's legs, a sudden wave of nervousness washing over him at what he may find. Although, he was slightly relieved to find nothing but bare skin, no signs of their baby just yet.

"Mm, not quite. You gotta keep going, Hwa."

He relayed the information, pressing a kiss to the older male's temple as he whipped his head back against the bed, groaning in frustration at the news.

"This is taking too long! I want my baby!"

Seonghwa whined out, causing the staff to laugh at his impatience. However, within his second push, he had all three of the L&Ds gasping out in surprise, the male's OB chuckling softly.

"Well, you didn't have to wait long. There's the head. Reach down and feel it."

Hongjoong's mind simply blanked at that, watching as his husband let go of the bed's railing, his other hand still intertwined with his own, and tentatively reached down with the doctor's aid. Seonghwa's eyes immediately doubled in size, suddenly shining with unshed tears.

"Oh."

He gasped out, mouth twitching at the corners as he willed himself not to cry; hand squeezing at his own.

Hongjoong eventually took the initiative to look down for himself at the older's reaction, leaning over a bit to see. Seonghwa's tan inner thighs invaded his line of vision, although the tiny slit of dark hair sat between his husband's legs instantly had his attention; heart stopping at the sight.

The older's fingertips grazed the top of their baby's head, seemingly invested with the thick layer of black hair that grew from their little scalp; the wet strands sticking up in tufts. He watched in awe as more and more suddenly came out, his husband's hips bearing down on a contraction as he pushed the tiny head out into a full crown. Within seconds, the tops of two small ears could be seen, then a pair of eyes, followed up by a cute button nose, before finally, their baby's head popped out with a gush of fluid; stuck between two worlds as their body still remained protected within Seonghwa's own.

The doctor immediately got to work as he wiped down the infant's face, sucking out mucus from their nose and mouth with a nasal aspirator. Hongjoong suddenly felt like he was undergoing a severe out of body experience as he looked down at the tiny baby, their baby. His vision seemingly unfocused for a moment, water filling his ears as all surrounding sounds turned muted and unclear; Seonghwa's tight grip on his hand merely forgotten.

The sudden realization that this was happening and that he was about to become a father in a matter of minutes had just hit him; hard. He was left feeling slightly disoriented and mildly terrified. The thought of becoming responsible for a living, breathing, newborn child had him growing nauseous. Especially since he was expected to raise that baby for the next eighteen years, nonetheless teach them how to be a well-rounded citizen of society, all the while trying not to fuck them up in the process. The idea hit him like a ton of bricks. Self doubt immediately began to trickle through his brain, slowly tainting every ounce of confidence he had previously gained over the course of Seonghwa's pregnancy. Was he really cut out to be a dad?

A bit of commotion filled the room, but the fog over his senses seemingly dulled the volume. He listened through cotton-filled ears as his husband's voice shook with panic as he called out about being able to feel something, the L&Ds instantly flocking around him. Multiple voices began to talk over one another, blue-scrubbed bodies blurring as they hustled around the room, checking monitors and conversing between each other on the older's condition. Something about a hotspot in Seonghwa's right hip was mentioned, but they claimed he was too far along to fix the pain. The older's OB was quick to reassure him that everything would be just fine as his husband's breath morphed into a series of shallow wheezes at the news, his chest rising and falling rapidly at the newfound sensation he was feeling; immediately beginning to cry.

"Joongie..."

Seonghwa's quiet plea broke him from his stupor, blinking owlishly as he finally re-joined reality; eyes focusing on his husband's tear-stained face.

He clung violently to his hand, looking scared out of his wits as his doctor instructed him to begin pushing once again, eyes squeezing shut. Blood rushed to his cheeks as he strained down harshly, feet pushing against the bar they were placed on as he shoved his head back against his pillow, face screwed up in pure discomfort.

Hongjoong worked to distract him, soothing a hand through his sweaty bangs, lips pressed against his warm temple as he whispered a continuous stream of encouragement into his husband's ear. All the while keeping tabs on the older's progress as he watched more and more of their baby slowly slide out, a single shoulder currently cradled beside the infant's head in his OB's hands. He made sure to praise him heavily on how well he was doing.

"Ow, ow, OW!"

Seonghwa cried out, making his first loud noise throughout his entire laboring process. The utter distress he could hear in his husband's voice had Hongjoong's heart shattering.

Besides the considerable amount of pain he was currently dealing with, the older had suddenly started to shake as well, violently even as his whole body vibrated with shivers. The sight filled him with concern, although, a nurse was quick to reassure that it was only a side effect of labor, the surplus of hormones going through his body inducing his unexpected shakiness. The explanation eased his nerves a bit, but not enough as Seonghwa's hand trembled within his own; teeth chattering slightly.

"It's okay, baby. You're almost done."

He encouraged, lacing an arm around his husband's shoulders as he squeezed him softly, cheek pressed to the side of his head as he watched him push their baby's second shoulder out into the doctor's awaiting hands.

"Alright, Seonghwa-ssi. One last big push, and..."

The nurses began to break down the bed once again as soon as the male bore down on his final contraction, teeth bared with effort. The birthing bar was pushed down, his feet laid flat against the mattress while someone worked to recline him into a more prone position. Hongjoong supported his neck as he curled his chin in towards his chest with a growl, hands wrenching back his thighs. A nurse quickly pulled the top of his gown down just as his husband threw his head back with a sharp gasp, eyes flying open in relief as a small baby was suddenly being placed on his bare front.

"Looks like you two have yourselves a little gentleman!"

His OB announced with a smile, an L&D moving to cover the newborn in a towel; wiping him down vigorously.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment as Hongjoong stared down at the squirming bundle on Seonghwa's chest in awe, the older reacting no differently as he was seemingly starstruck by the tiny infant; hands hovering above his back. Only when their son finally let out his first cry did his husband move, immediately cooing at the small boy as he pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. He practically glowed as a beautiful laugh spilled from his lips, Hongjoong's eyes growing misty at the sound.

"H-hi, pretty boy..."

His husband managed to get out before his own waterworks instantly began, tears spilling down his cheeks as he started to sob right alongside their son, the little baby screaming into his mother's skin.

"I-I d-did it."

Seonghwa cried, shoving his face into Hongjoong's neck as the brunette embraced him, his own tears of joy beginning to fall.

"You did! And I'm so proud of you, sweetheart!"

He beamed, cradling the older's cheeks within his palms as he enveloped his lips between his own, eventually pulling back to pepper the side of his face with kisses.

They stayed like that for a while, just enjoying each other's presence as they absorbed the lingering high that came with becoming parents. Their tears eventually dried, instead being replaced with matching smiles of endearment as they gazed down at their son, completely enamored with the tiny baby laid on Seonghwa. The boy had already fallen asleep, tuckered out from the events of being born as he merely whined and snuffled against his mother's skin, little fingers wrapped around his father's thumb.

Their moment of peace inevitably came to an end as the older complained of minor cramps, easily passing the afterbirth as he signaled the start of clean up, a couple nurses tending to him while Hongjoong watched over their son. It didn't take too long, and before they knew it, Seonghwa was being rolled to recovery where they would stay for the next few days.

"You know, labor was easy enough. I think I'm ready for another one, Joongie."

His husband said as soon as their baby was back in his arms, gushing over the little boy as he immediately pulled off his hospital-provided cap, playing with the thick waves of hair that stuck up from his head.

The remaining nurses in the room laughed, Hongjoong chuckling along with them as even Seonghwa cracked a smile of his own. Although, he knew his husband was only half joking by the familiar glint he could spot in his eyes. He knew baby fever when he saw it.

"I think Yeosang deserves to be spoiled for just a bit longer, Hwa."

He teased, placing a kiss to the older's forehead while he grumbled in feigned annoyance.

They still had plenty of time to turn this family of three into four...

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Author's Note: This is the result of having a desperate need to write Seongjoong family fluff because I was going through major withdrawals...I have zero regrets.There's more to come with this mini-series, so be on the lookout for parts two, three, and four!!!

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!