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Chapter Text

Prosecutor Hwang Si-Mok can’t say ‘no’ to Lieutenant Han. No, that is not right. Prosecutor Hwang Si-Mok rarely says ‘no’ towards Lieutenant Han. For Investigator Kim and Assisting Officer Choi, this new ‘weakness’ of Prosecutor Hwang is something of a delightful discovery.

The realisation came late to them; after all, they rarely see them interact with each other. It was Investigator Kim Ho-Sub who discovered it first strange as it is. But once they did, they learn to ask favour from Prosecutor Hwang through Lieutenant Han. The prime example is when they were requesting for a team dinner. They might have known Prosecutor Hwang longer but never before he granted their silent and vocal request for team dinner. And when they finally got to have their team dinner as proposed by Lieutenant Han - of course after some strong hint from Investigator Kim Ho-Sub; their team dinner plan vanished with the threat of their team being disbanded.

Again, Lieutenant Han proposed the idea of a garden party, and they watch with marvel in their eyes when Prosecutor Hwang did not object to the idea.

And they are convinced with the silent power of Lieutenant Han.

The pain was excruciating, and he could feel his stomach rolling as his ears ring. Throughout all that, he could hear the desperate voice of Lieutenant Han and feel her arms wrapped around him. Warm hands gripped him, and he anchors himself to the sensation.

Her words came to him long after, when the pain finally subsides in ebb and flow instead of the sharp stabbing pain. “- I’m here, Si-Mok. We will be ok. Please be ok.” He heard her quiet sob as she cradles him close. “Just breathe.” So he did just that. Slowly she let go of his hand and loosen his tie. He almost protests when she proceeds with unbuttoning his shirt, but the protest falls short as she combed back his hair from his damp forehead.

He took in the way her eyes rimmed red, as she asked if he is alright. His throat hurts as he answered with an affirmative. Legs ache, he pushed himself up and made his way to the sofa. His muscle feels sore as he removed his coat and suit jacket. His shirt stuck to his back and armpit and he reminds himself to send both article to the dry cleaner when he realized how sweaty he got.

“Sit properly, here have some water.”

Looking up, he saw Lieutenant Han hands him a glass of water.

“Thank you.” It took him a moment before he could process the fact that she is here in his home. “How did you get in?”

Her eyebrows rose at the question silently asking “Do you even need to ask me that question?”

His lips quirk up. Seeing that, she sighed before her lips mirrored his. He registered that facial expression as a faint smile. Slowly she reached out her hand, his jaw cradle between her hands

Before he realized what he was doing, his lips meet hers.

And when she asked “Is this ok?” all he can say is “Yes.”

Dutifully, after being scolded for almost an hour, he pulled out his notebook and starts jotting down notes as directed by Mr Kang. Almost a reminiscence of his apology letter incident, he hunched over Mr Kang’s desk to write down the advice on things which he needs to prepare for the pregnancy and baby.

“Did you write down about the prenatal vitamins?”

“Yes.”

“Remember folic acid. It is important. She will need to take it every day. She is supposed to take it even one month before getting pregnant, but like a pair of teenagers you got pregnant without planning for it.” Again, Mr Kang got himself side-tracked as he continues to nag. “Folic acid is important. It prevents birth defect in the baby. What else? Baby car seat. Find a good one, it’s ok to spend a lot on it. If you are not sure which one to get, you can text me the brand later.”

They sat in silence for a moment as the sound of him scribbling down notes filled the room.

Looking at the young man slouching at the edge of his table, he sighed. “Si-Mok ah, marrying her will be good for her and the baby. Our society didn’t look kindly on a single mother, and she has a risky job. If anything happens to her, the baby will go into the system and be sent to the orphanage. You will have no legal right to the baby. Think about it, will you? I know you can’t say ‘no’ to her request, but lie to her. Just say that you care for her, you love her. It is kinder for her.”

Kang Won-Cheol watched the way Hwang Si-Mok purse his lips, the stubborn way he set of his jaws and knows he did not agree with his suggestion. Knowing a losing battle, when he saw it, he sighed and waved him away. “Just go, do whatever you think best Si-Mok.”

Hwang Si-Mok really don't know how to say 'no' to Han Yeo-Jin.

Taking in mind of Mr Kang’s advice, he stopped by the 24 hours pharmacy and bought two bottles of folic acid. As advised by the pharmacy, he bought an additional bottle of iron and omega-3 supplement.

As he climbed up to her house, he reminds himself to ask his tenant to vacate his apartment. In a few month time, she will have a difficulty of climbing up the stairs.

When she protested, for the first time in a long while, he said ‘no’ to her.

The investigation on the Prime Minister took him three months to solves with many invested parties butting in to protect their interest.  When he is done with the investigation, Han Yeo-Jin is in her second trimester. He packed his belonging, checked that she still has plenty of prenatal vitamin with her, double-check on the next doctor’s appointment date.

The silent and constant ache in his chest is now back every time he looks at the calendar.

“Si-Mok ah, what else do you need to pack?” called Yeo-Jin from her bedroom.

Turning back, he sighed. “Please don’t carry anything heavy and I’ll pack your things for you.”

“It’s ok, it is not that heavy, and I already finished packing.”

“No. You can help me by taking your vitamin. You forgot to take it this morning.”

A loud sighed was his only reply.

And his lips quirk into a smile.

"Our child."

“If I say that I like the words ‘our child’, would it be a good enough reason for me to marry you?”

He looks down to see her looking at him with wide eyes.

Shock, his mind supplies him. She is shocked by his words.

“Why?”

He found himself unable to answer the question. The thing about Han Yeo-Jin is that she rarely pushed him for the answer, most of the time content with accepting his silent as it is. This time is no different. Somehow, she must have found her answer somewhere in his eyes because she gave out a low chuckled.

“Yes. I guess liking the words ‘our child’ is a good enough reason.”

Silent fills the small room. Thinking that she must have fallen asleep, he pulled up the duvet, tucking it around her frame. He pulled away when she suddenly open her eyes; even in the dark, he recognized the teasing look in her eyes, “But you know Si-Mok ah, the proposal could be better. You should bring me out for sushi before proposing.”

Automatically the reply tumbled out from his lips, “No. You can’t be having sushi.”

And she laughed.

That Monday he registered his marriage to Han Yeo-Jin in Seoul City Hall.

Chapter Text

It is a busy morning for Han Yeo-Jin. Being a working mother with a son of sixteen months old almost guarantee a busy morning. Looking down to see her son wide awake and beaming as he gummed his fist, automatically, she grinned back to her boy.

“Aigo, my little Prosecutor Hwang, you are up early today. How was your sleep?” She asked as she picked up the boy and covering him in kisses. In reply, the boy laughed before he curled trustingly around her. “Your appa will be back today. Are you excited?”

As expected, the boy perked up, hearing the word ‘appa’. As she continues having a one-sided conversation with her son, she prepare for the morning. Going over things that need to be done that day and calculating the route, she decided to stop by for her warrant before dropping Seok-Chin at his nursery. When she finally buckle the boy in his car seat – the really expensive one as insisted by Hwang Si-Mok – she drove off to Seoul Western District Prosecutor office.

Picking up the warrant requested was easy and quick enough even with Seok-Chin in her arm. It was on the way back to her car that she runs into Chief Kang.

“Oh, Senior Inspector Han. Why are you here with Seok-Chin?”

Flustered, she bowed, “Hello. Ah, yes, I need to get the warrant before dropping Seok-Chin at the nursery.”

Seok-Chin, upon seeing a familiar face, held out his hand, straining against her hold for Chief Kang. He babbled chattily, small face ready with a gummy smile. Seeing the gesture, immediately, the older man reached for the toddler. As she feared, Chief’s Kang eyes fall to the small bump on her middle, which even with her winter coat did nothing to conceal.

“Are you pregnant again? Yah, you two are worse than a pair of teenagers! Don’t you two know family planning?! And what are you doing carrying Seok-Chin while pregnant?”

Despite her embarrassment, she can’t help but laugh.

Han Yeo-Jin really can’t say ‘no’ to Hwang Si-Mok.

Two years, nine months ago.

‘He will leave here tomorrow’ her mind supplies her unhelpfully, sinking her heart further as she watched him pay for their food. She probably won’t be able to do this again with him.

And her heart hit rock bottom.

She looked up to see him frowning in her direction. So, she forced herself to smile as she stands. “Come, let me walk you back to your apartment. I’ll protect you along the way from any stray dogs or ajumma, wanting to take your pictures.” She teased him, laughing at the almost affronted look on his face. With a grin, she lopped her hand around his as they walk back to his apartment.

The walk was done in silence, her hand still gripping his arm and he made no comment on her hold so she leaves it there. When they finally arrived at the door, she waits as he keys in the password - her birthday, he uses her birth date as his new passcode as per her suggestion after the break-in, and right now even the thought makes her want to cry.

Later, when she kissed him; his back to the door and her hand slowly unbuttoning his shirt, all she can think is she doesn’t want him to leave. Because he is becoming her best friend and she doesn’t want to lose her best friend.

And when he asked, “Is this ok?” as he trails a kiss down the column of her neck, her reply is “Yes.”

She is almost excited to know that her work will bring her to Namhae. So with a half-hearted excuse that since she will be going to Namhae might as well she enjoys a short vacation, she applied for a day leave on Friday making it a total of three days spend at Namhae.

She received her document quickly enough, and by Friday evening she is already at Prosecutor Hwang’s office.

He said something about rain in the evening and limited visibility for her to drive back. She didn’t have it in her to correct him by saying she took the day off and she will be here until Sunday. So when he offered her his couch, she just shrugged and accept the offer.

It is better to spend the weekend with someone familiar than staying in at the hotel alone and when he hesistantly reached out his hand for her, she smiled.

She didn’t sleep on the couch that weekend.

And it didn’t rain that night.

Her period is late. Late for almost a week. So with silent determination, she went to the pharmacy and bought three different kinds of pregnancy tests.

All three came back positive.

Hand shaking, she texts him. "I might be pregnant."

Four hours later, he knocked on her door. She didn’t comment on the time he took driving from Namhae to Seoul.

He was silent as he picked up the pregnancy tests, brow furrowed as he is reading through the manuals for all three tests.

”Do you want to get married?”

The question startled her from her thoughts.

”No. I don’t want you to be obligated.” the answer comes easy to her.

They sat in silence as both stared at the tests on the table. She watched him pick up one of the testing stick. The most expensive one that she picked up from the pharmacy. The test stick was advanced enough to tell her how many weeks she is pregnant.

Three weeks.

She is three weeks pregnant.

“You didn’t ask me if I want to keep the baby.”

He frowned at that. “I don’t think it’s something that I need to ask you Senior Inspector Han.”

Laughter bubbled through her throat at the absurdity of the situation, she is pregnant; unmarried and pregnant and she is at the peak of her career. Any other woman would consider of getting an abortion but he didn't even feel the need to ask her that because he knows her all that well.

After that, he leaves her to herself. She pretends not to notice that he pocketed the pregnancy test in his coat.

Two hours later, again he knocked on her door, this time carrying prenatal vitamins, and notice for her to move into his apartment.

She said her thanks for the vitamins and ‘no’ to moving into his apartment.

So he gave her six months to pack her things and made very compiling reasoning.

She can’t say no to his argument.

She can’t say no when he insisted to join her for her first doctor appointment.

She really sucks at saying no to Hwang Si-Mok.

Captain was angry at her and he was furious with whoever that got her pregnant. She expect it, but Jang Gon reaction was unexpected. He was strangely quiet. His silence scares her more than Captain’s angry nagged.

At lunch, he approached her with a bottle of milk.

”You should start taking more calcium in your diet and make an appointment with your dentist.”

She bowed her head, silently thank him for the milk and advice.

”What did Prosecutor Hwang said?”

Startled, she looked up at her friend. “What about him?”

Jang Gon raised his eyebrow in reply. “I’m not stupid. I know you and I know enough about him. You like him a lot-” he raised his hand up, stopping her from cutting in with her protest. “ Yes, you like him. You don’t love him, no, not yet but like? Yes, you like him.” She watched him fiddled with his phone, turning it around in his hand. A beat passed before Jang Gon continue talking. “I don’t know him as well as you do but I know that he respect you. He trusts you. I have seen him looking at you for your reaction when he is about to make a decision. That is care. He cares of your opinion. He might not love you but what he can give you is far more than some marriage I have seen. Would it be that bad to marry him?”

”Did you call him and asked about this?” Despite knowing where Jang Gon is coming from, she can feel herself getting angry. 

“I don’t need to call him and ask about this. I knew him enough to know he must have offered to marry you. I also knew you well enough to know you must have rejected his offer because you don’t want to burden him.”

At that, she felt her retort died on her throat.

”I’m not angry at you for not marrying him. It's not my place to say that. I just don't want you to close the option from your mind. Just remember whatever you do, we will have your back Yeo-Jin”

He came back to Seoul every month for her check-up. Then, comes the order for him to investigate the Prime Minister. Knowing that his tenant will be there in his house for another three months, she offered him her house.

Its only natural that she got used to him there in her home. She got used to his routine, got used to waking early, and preparing for work maneuvering around him. She got used to having dinner after work with him, sitting in the bed going through his case files, and hers together.

She also got used to curling around him in bed before sleep, the occasional sex and pillow talk. 

She learned his habits, knows that he keeps a  file of knickknacks of all the things related to the baby. From the pregnancy test stick to the first ultrasound and cd of the baby's first heartbeat sound. He keeps all the things neat, labeled with the date, and the number of weeks. She grinned to herself when she found his notes on pregnancy, the print out articles on baby development.

It was then she realised that she loves him.

"Do you like that one?" she asked quietly, looking at him picking up the small yellow onesies with cats print around.

He purses his lips before he nodded his head, putting the onesies in the shopping basket. Looking into the basket, she realised that the baby's things is filled with assorted cats prints regardless of the colour, and she bites back a smile. 

Later they had a short argument on the price of the car seat. His face set in a mulish expression which told her that he is not going to budge on his decision. "Chief Prosecutor Kang told me that it’s ok to buy the expensive car seat and they can customise the seat cover for us."

Taken aback, she asked, “What does Chief Prosecutor Kang have anything to do with this?”

“I met him for advice about the baby.”

“Does he know a lot about taking care of a baby?”

Si-Mok was silent for a long while before he nodded his head, “His wife died after giving birth, so he took care of his daughter himself.”

He pause again, ”I wouldn't know what to do if anything happens to you.” the confession came slowly, his forehead creases with frown as if he is unsure of whatever he said is correct.

Something in her chest unfurled and lightened at the confession. Trying to mask the tears in her eyes, she reached out her hand and smoothed out the frown on his face. ”Don’t worry, I'm healthy, and the baby is healthy. Everything will be fine.”

She takes in the way his eyes softening and smiled in reply.

She didn't protest when Si-Mok called for the attendance and pointed to the car seat that he wants and grinned to herself when he asked to customised the cover into blue and yellow cats pattern.

It was later before she went to bed that she realised she said ’yes’ to the expensive car seat that Si-Mok had insisted.

He even bought two of them.

She stopped counting the number of ’yes’ that she had gave him after she said ’yes’ to his proposal.

The pain came slowly like a period cramp before growing in the intensity. There must be something on her face that makes him panic, and he starts to hovers around her bringing her blankets and glancing at the baby's beg by the bed.

”Are you ok?”

She tried to smile before wincing when then long and sharp pain hits her.

”But the due date is in two days.”

”Baby came when they want to Si-Mok. Most probably, he is excited that you are here.”

He frowned, sitting by her feet. Almost by instinct, he picked up her feet and started to rub her ankles and feet. ”Do you want to go to the hospital now?”

”It's ok. The distance between contractions is still far.”

They sat in silence as she braces through each contraction. She saw him glancing at her multiple times, his mouth set in a straight line, brow furrowed. 

”Chief Kang told me that his late wife is his forever woman. He refused to remarry after her death.”

She keep her silent waiting for him to continue fully knowing he need the time to carefully arrange his words.

He look almost scared as he continues to speak, ”I don't quite understand his words, but I do know that I don't want this with anyone other than you.”

Before she could reply or comfort him, her water broke, and without further ado, he rushed her to the hospital.

The birth was hard; the hardest thing she ever did in her life and holding her son in her arms is the best reward that she could get after going through hours of labour.

”No, our son.” her mind and heart corrected her.

When he asked the doctor with a voice so silent that it almost a whisper if the baby is healthy, something in her breaks and she feels herself tearing up.

She watched as he bowed his head and smiled in his quiet way when the doctor assured them the baby is as healthy as he could be.

Turning around to look at her, he said, ”You were right, he kicked when he heard my voice.”

A beat passed before he continues, ”Thank you, Han Yeo-Jin.”

He didn't say for what did he thank her, but she knows him enough to understand him.

Thank you for letting me be part of your life.

Thank you for being healthy.

Thank you for our son.

And this is enough for her whatever this is. She loves him, and that's all that matters.

By eight o'clock her son already toddle his way to the door and waited for his appa.

The sound of the door unlocking and the loud happy squealing tells her that Hwang Si-Mok is back home.

Slowly she walks towards the entrance door to see Seok-Chin babbling happily, head leaning against his father’s shoulder.

”He has never been this talkative with me.”

”You talk enough for both of you.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. 

They went through the night as any other weekend night, dinner, tucking Seok-Chin to bed and going through their weekday together before brainstorming on his cases. Oh, and she got her ’occasional’ sex and it was amazing.

Laying in bed, her head rests on his shoulder and his hand on the baby bump, she smiled to herself before she drop a quick kiss to his cheek, smiled again when he murmured sleepily ”I’m home.”

Han Yeo-Jin is happy.