Chapter Text
Taehyung woke to the sound of a groan and hissing, sitting up sharply and looking for the source of the sound, spotting Jungkook stood at the end of the bed with his palms digging into his back. “What’s going on? Are you okay?” he asked frantically, rushing to escape the sheets and replacing one of Jungkook’s hands with his own.
“I must have rolled over in my sleep last night; my back is absolutely killing me.”
Taehyung allowed himself to relax just slightly, though he was still anxious that his fiancé was in pain. If he were being truly honest, Taehyung had barely slept all week. Tae-J’s due date was tomorrow, and he found himself just staring at Jungkook, waiting for the inevitable to happen. “Can I do anything to help?”
Jungkook wrapped his arms around Taehyung’s neck, letting the elder support his weight. “Just keep doing that,” he requested as Taehyung rubbed his hands back and forth over the aching muscles. “The last thing I need is back spasms if I go into labour.”
“You’ll be okay,” Taehyung said gently, lighting rocking back and forth, and hoping that Jungkook couldn’t feel how hard his heart was thumping in his chest at the mere mention of labour. Having held Jimin through the end of his and then through the birth, Taehyung could still vividly remember how awful it felt. The helplessness in the face of such agony had taken a while to shake off and the feeling of it burned through Taehyung every time he was remind of the fact that any day now, he would have to do it all again with Jungkook.
The moment was cut short by a scream and both shot into the hall, finding Jimin with Jiyeon in his arms and a panicked look on his face. “What happened?”
“She was trying to stand up and crashed into the draws,” Jimin explained as Yoongi appeared at the top of the stairs, summoned by his daughter's repeated screams. “It was an accident, but she’s got a bad cut, we should get it checked,” he finished, removing the cloth he had been holding against her forehead, revealing an already bruising slice above her right eye, stopping just shy of her eyebrow.
“It doesn’t look deep, but we’ll take her anyway,” Yoongi said as he looked her over, pausing when Jungkook jolted beside him, putting his hands to his back again. “Do we need to be taking both of you?”
“No, just a trapped nerve, I’m fine,” Jungkook insisted. “Go, get her sorted out.”
Yoongi looked unsure, but Jiyeon screamed louder, reaching across the space between herself and Yoongi to be held by her Appa. “Okay, star, you’ll be fine, I’ve got you,” he reassured, taking the cloth from Jimin and holding it back to her head as he took her. “Are you okay to drive?”
Jimin nodded, already headed for the stairs. “If your back gets too bad, there’s a few pain killers in my bottom bedside draw that are safe for you to take; just take one though.”
“Stop worrying about me and go!”
Jungkook leaned back into Taehyung’s embrace as the pair vanished, Jiyeon’s cries growing fainter until they heard the door close. “I think I’m going to go and get back in bed, maybe if I can fall asleep again I can relax enough for it to stop pinching.”
“Can I come with you?”
Jungkook chuckled. “We both know that you’re going to whether I say-so or not. You have to keep rubbing my back though, it was really nice. And make sure your phone is turned up, in case Jimin tries to call. Poor Yeonie,” he said sadly, wishing there was more he could have done to help.
“She’ll be okay,” Taehyung reassured him, steering him back into the bedroom. “I’ll listen out for a call while you get some more sleep, and I’ll wake you if there’s any news at all.”
Jungkook rolled and shifted until his lower back was comfortably pressed against Taehyung’s body, the warmth offering a relief from the lingering ache. “I hope he come’s soon,” Jungkook mused, and for the first time in months he really meant it. He had invested in the idea of holding onto his baby with his whole body, just as Jimin had said, and appreciating the unique connection that they would only ever share once. But he was beyond ready now to look into the face of his child and share that love in a fuller way with Taehyung.
“D-day is tomorrow, he’ll be with us before you know it. But don’t worry about that now; get some sleep and let’s get your back right before he joins us.” Taehyung paused for a moment. “Actually, wait there a second, I’ll be right back.”
Jungkook opened his mouth to ask Taehyung to say, but he had already vanished, and it instantly irritated him. “Jerk,” he mumbled to himself, pulling the duvet up higher, hoping that the extra sleep would wash away some of his bad mood along with the pain in his back.
~*~*~*~
Seokjin was pacing the kitchen when Namjoon came in from his run and it instantly put him on edge. “What’s going on, Jagiya?”
“I just have the worst feeling today. Do you ever get that? Like… like something bad is about to happen. I can’t quiet my thoughts today.”
“What kind of ‘bad’?” Namjoon questioned, rubbing his hand over Seokjin’s back, not wanting to hug him while he was still drenched in sweat but intent on showing comfort. “The doctor already told you that Little One had grown a bit and is still healthy, and so is Little Athlete.”
“No, not them… Do you mind if I go visit the house for an hour or so while you’re getting washed up? I just need to see that they’re all okay. I’ve already called my family, and they’re all fine, so that just leaves my boys and I know I could just call them, but it’s hard to tell if things are really fine in a phone call and I-”
“Woah, slow down. If it will give you peace of mind, then you don’t need my permission to do anything at all. Go and see them, give them all a big hug from me, and if there’s anything to be worried about, then call me and I’ll hop in a cab and be with you in a heartbeat. Just message me when you get there though so I know you’re all safe.”
“You know I will,” Seokjin smiled, cuddling into Namjoon despite the sweat. “I’ll text within the hour but be patient. If something’s wrong, then texting you will be delayed.”
“It’s okay, if I’m worried then I’ll call you. Just take care of our boys if they need it and enjoy their company if they don’t. I love you.”
“I love you most. See you in a while.”
~*~*~*~
Jungkook was startled awake by a pain he could barely wrap his sleep addled brain around. His back pinched tight and he arched backward in an attempt to relieve it, quickly arching forward again as the pain travelled around his front and he physically felt his belly tighten beneath his hands. The final straw was the wet. The undeniable fact that his water had broken and that Tae-J wasn’t just a part of his future: he was about to be a real, actual presence. “TAEHYUNG!”
The thundering of feet on the stairs announced the arrival of Taehyung as he raced into the bedroom. “He’s coming. My water broke. He’s coming right now.”
Taehyung’s heart stopped for a moment. “I’m going to call an ambulance. I don’t think I should drive you if your water already broke,” he explained, grabbing his phone but his brain betrayed him, and he hit the speed dial instead. “Come home, right now, please. Jungkookie’s in labour. His water broke.”
“I’m on my way,” Jimin told him, running a loving hand over Jiyeon’s hair. “Fifteen minutes and I’m there. Call an ambulance for him, and make sure he’s doing his breathing. And Tae… If they tell him to stay home then just remind him that even if things are not quite to plan, it doesn’t mean they are bad.”
“I know,” Taehyung responded, trying to keep his breathing even. “See you soon.”
He hung up the call, helping Jungkook off the bed. “Jimin is on his way. I’ll call for the ambulance and then we can get you out of the wet stuff, okay? Everything is going to be fine. I know we didn’t plan it this way, but that doesn’t mean it will be bad, okay?” he assured, paraphrasing Jimin’s words. “You just tell me what you need, and as best I can, I’ll get it for you.”
“Just stay with me,” Jungkook whimpered as Taehyung dialled for the ambulance. “Don’t leave me again.”
Taehyung was short and sharp in his request for the ambulance, hanging up to focus entirely on his fiancé. “What do you mean?”
“When I went to sleep… I wanted you with me and you went away.” It was a childish statement, but the panic of everything that was happening overwhelmed Jungkook in a way that he couldn’t even be embarrassed about it as Taehyung helped him out of his clothes and slipped a dry t-shirt over his head.
“I’m sorry, I am so so sorry, Jungkookie. I had a surprise for you, that was all. I always want to be beside you. Always,” he emphasised holding him tightly as his body locked up; the feeling of it recognisable from their experience with Jimin. “I’ll never leave you. Never, ever. I’m so sorry, Kookie.”
“It’s okay,” Jungkook huffed out as the contraction passed. “Just stay with me. I can’t… Tae, I was supposed to be in hospital, I can’t…”
“HELLO?”
Never had there been a more welcome sound in the world than Seokjin’s voice. “Hyung!” Jungkook called out, listening as he heard heavy footfall on the stairs and one of the faces he most longed for appeared in the doorway. “Help me.”
“Tell me what you need,” Seokjin told them both as calmly as he could manage as he approached the scene.
“There’s an ambulance coming.” Taehyung’s voice was muted, clearly filling with fear, but unwavering as he spoke. “Can you change the bed and dry it as best you can? Just in case?”
Seokjin wanted to argue that there was no ‘in case’ about it, but did as he was asked, not wanting to make anything more stressful for the Maknae when he was already clearly upset. He located the sheets Jimin had used when Jiyeon was born. The mattress was a lost cause, but at least he could make things more comfortable for Jungkook. “All done,” he murmured as he tucked the last corner in. “Do you want to lay down, Jungkookie?”
Jungkook shook his head against where it lay on Taehyung’s shoulder. “If he’s coming now, I want him to hurry up and come.”
Jungkook reached out for his Hyung, slowly transferring from Taehyung’s arms to Seokjin’s. “Tell me if it’s too much, Hyung,” Jungkook mumbled against his neck. “I may have been your first, but make sure you take care of your babies above anything.”
“I promise you,” Seokjin soothed, rubbing his hand in deep circles over Jungkook’s back. “I’ll worry about me, you just focus on you. It’ll be okay, Jungkookie. We’re right here for you, no matter how it plays out.”
Jungkook groaned, gripping Seokjin’s shoulders harder than he meant to, knees buckling just slightly at the peak of the pain. Taehyung was quick to his back, keeping him on his feet. “Big deep breaths; the ambulance is coming, just hang in there.”
“I can’t,” Jungkook gritted out, his fingers digging deeper still into Seokjin’s shoulders. “He’s coming right now, Tae, I can feel it. I can’t do this here. I need a hospital. I can’t do this!”
“Yes, you can,” Jimin called as he raced into the room. “You can. You’ve done the hardest hart. This is the short, sharp end to it all, and you can do it. It hurts like hell, and it feels like forever, but it’s minutes, and when it’s all over, your son will be here.”
Jungkook’s breath started to hitch as the next contraction started to consume him. “Bed… now…”
Seokjin and Jimin complied, Taehyung watching on helplessly as his love was carefully helped onto the bed, crying out against the pain that engulfed him. Taehyung could feel the panic rising in his throat and it made him angry. He’d tried so hard to be everything that Jungkook needed, and now that he was needed most, he couldn’t even make his limbs move, nothing more than a spectator as Jimin settled Jungkook back against his chest on the bed and Seokjin dragged the chair over from the dressing table to sit beside them both and cling onto Jungkook’s hand.
“Taehyungie…”
He startled at the sound of his own name, swinging round to see Yoongi in the doorway. “You… you’re here.”
“I’ll listen out for the ambulance,” Yoongi said gently, rocking his sleeping daughter against his body. “You can do this; I know you can. And I’ll be right here if you think, even for a second, that you can’t. I’ll be in the nursery.” He gave Taehyung’s shoulder a squeeze, the look that passed between them enough to convey their compassion and gratitude for one another as Yoongi slipped away to settle Jiyeon into her crib.
“Is… Mmmmm… Is Yeo alright?” Jungkook huffed out, trying to ignore the building ache in his hips as Tae-J shifted lower.
“She’s fine,” Jimin reported, hoping the change of subject might distracted Jungkook for a moment or two as Taehyung wandered toward them, his face the picture of anxiety and Jimin held his hand out to welcome him. “It wasn’t as bad as it looked, but they popped a stitch in just to be sure.”
Jungkook ripped his hand away from Jimin’s grasp, holding it out for Taehyung and the stuttered breath turned to a whine and then a desperate cry as the pain increased exponentially; this time not letting up and Jungkook closed his eyes, feeling everything all at once and as best he could, letting go of any control he still held over his body, letting it do as it wished.
“Tae it’s not supposed to be like this!”
“I know, I know it’s not, but just because it’s not what we planned doesn’t mean that it’s bad,” he paraphrased again, shooting a grateful look at Jimin. “And I’ll be right here with you the whole time, no matter what. It’s going to be okay.”
“It’s not! I can’t do this here, it’s happening too fast, I c- fuck, fuck, fu...”
“Yoongi!” Seokjin called out as Jungkook curled forward. Whether he wanted it of not, his son was coming now and the best that he could do was try and get it over with quickly.
Yoongi stepped into the room, throwing a questioning look at Jungkook. “Just get him out of me!” he yelled back by way of permission and Yoongi was quick to shift the sheet that covered him, slightly relieved that Tae-J had not yet made his appearance.
“You’re going to have to work with me a little, Jungkookie. When you’re ready, hard and long as you can, okay?”
Jungkook only nodded his response, the cry already catching in this throat as he pushed again with all his might, but he felt like nothing beyond the tiniest movement was happening and as the contraction tapered off he refused to let up until Jimin gently pulled him back. “Don’t work against yourself, you’ll just make it harder. Save your strength and use it to work with your body.”
Seokjin struggled out of his seat at the sound of approaching sirens, dropping a kiss on Jungkook’s hand before he let go. “I’ll let them in, I’ll be right back, you’re doing so well, Jungkookie.”
Jungkook whined a little at the loss of connection, but it was short lived as the already horribly familiar pain engulfed him once again.
Seokjin waddled down the stairs as fast as his body would allow, stepping out onto the drive and waiting for the ambulance, grabbing his phone from his pocket while he waited.
Best Hyung:
JK in labour. Ambulance coming.
Come when you can. Tell Hobi.
He pocketed his phone as the ambulance came into view and two men rushed out. “He’s started pushing, but he hasn’t gotten very far. He had intended to have the baby in hospital so he’s very scared, so please, be kind.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take the best care of him,” the medic assured him. “Lead the way.”
“You go ahead, I’ll take too long. The door at the top of the stairs,” he pointed as the stepped into the hall and the two men rushed off ahead of him, Seokjin following as quickly as he could manage, reaching the top of the stairs just as Yoongi stepped out. “How’s he doing?”
“Not good,” Yoongi told him quietly. “I don’t think that baby is the right way round.”
The theory was confirmed only seconds later as one of the medics looked him over. “Looks like baby is breech, Jungkook-ssi, we might have to change your position to help him along a bit.”
“Taehyungie...”
“It’s okay,” Taehyung soothed immediately, stroking his fingers through Jungkook’s sweat laden hair, swallowing down his own panic as he remembered what Yoongi had told him: no matter what he was feeling, Jungkook was feeling the same, and more, with all the pain on top of it; his own feelings could wait for now. “The medics know what they’re doing, they’ll get him here safely, okay?”
“Promise me. Promise that he’ll be safe, even if it means something happens to me. Promise to put him first.”
“You’re both going to be okay.”
“PROMISE ME!” he screamed as his body locked up and he started to push again, channelling all fear into it in a desperate attempt to protect his son by getting him out.
“Well done, Jungkook-ssi, I can see him. Let’s see how far we can get,” the medic called out and Taehyung chanced a look, seeing the very smallest sliver of his son starting to emerge.
“Keep going, Jungkookie,” Seokjin encouraged as he walked back into the room and took up his seat again. “Squeeze my hand as hard as you need to and just go for it.”
Jungkook gave his hand a little squeeze of acknowledgement, but his eyes turned back to Taehyung. “Promise.”
“Okay, I promise,” he whispered, littering Jungkook’s hand with kisses. “But it won’t come to that. You can do this, you’re almost there, and he’s almost here and-” As if to punctuate his point, the room erupted with the sound of their son’s heartbeat and the medic who held the wand gave a smile and an affirming nod. “And you are both strong. You can do this, Jungkookie.”
Jungkook took a deep breath, folding forward, a renewed strength flowing through him as he pushed, all other sounds blocked out by the buzzing in his own head and the screams that poured out of his mouth, the burning like nothing he had ever felt before as his body fought to accommodate the uncomfortable position Tae-J was in.
Slowly as he dropped back, sounds started to filter back in and he heard distant crying. “Yeonie...”
“She’s okay, Yoongi’s got her,” Jimin interjected quickly. “You just focus on you, you’re almost there. Keep going.”
“I can’t. Jimin, it hurts so much,” he sobbed, his entire body shaking under the weight of the pain.
“Just a little more,” Taehyung encouraged, finding his voice after silently watching the slow emergence of the baby, equal parts overjoyed and horrified by the sight. “His body’s almost out, you can do it. Don’t give up when you’re so close.”
Whether he wanted to or not, Jungkook’s body gave him no option and he let it do his bidding, putting all the energy he could muster into it. He was still vaguely aware of everyone talking around him, but it sounded like he was underwater, holding his breath for so long in the push that he briefly worried he would pass out, but he kept going until he couldn’t anymore and dropped back against Jimin, gasping for breath, feeling a horrible tugging motion and then a bout of relief. “Body is free,” the medic called out. “Last little bit now, Jungkook-ssi. If you can manage another push like the last one, we can probably get him out in one go. Catch you breath for a moment though, if you need to.”
Jungkook shook his head, his hands tightening around Taehyung and Seokjin, letting his mind indulge in the firm but tender way Jimin held onto him. One more. Just one. For himself, for Taehyung... For Tae-J.
He lurched forward so suddenly that it took everyone by surprise and held himself there, ignoring the horrific burning, the way his throat ached against the scream, the distant sound of his friends and the medics encouraging him. He couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop. He needed it to be over now.
And then it was, and it made Jungkook feel sick. “He’s quiet. Tae, why is he quiet?”
“He’s fine,” the medic told them, lifting the tiny infant into Jungkook’s arms. “Congratulations, Jungkook-ssi, Taehyung-ssi, he’s perfectly heathy and completely content, if a little stunned.”
The whole world stopped as a tiny hand wrapped itself around Jungkook’s finger. “So small... how can you be so small when you felt so big...” he whispered.
“I knew you could do it,” Jimin murmured, pulling Taehyung in closer and rubbing the tears off his face with his sleeve. “And I knew all along that you two would make the most beautiful baby. Does he have a name?”
Taehyung opened his mouth to speak, but Jungkook cut across him. “No,” he looked at Taehyung. “It doesn’t suit him. I’m sorry, it just doesn’t.”
“No need to be sorry, I think you’re right. He’s still Tae-J for now. Now that here’s here and his safe, we need to focus on you,” Taehyung said, looking over to the medic. “Is he okay? Does he need to go to the hospital?”
“Everything looks to be fine, Taehyung-ssi. He would probably be better off if he could stay here to get some rest and we’ll send someone tomorrow morning to check in and make sure everyone is doing well. But you can always call if you’re worried about anything at all.”
“Hey, Tae?” Jungkook murmured. “What was the surprise?”
Taehyung looked confused for a moment before his mind caught up to their earlier conversation; it felt like a lifetime ago now. “It’s in the hall... Yoongi-Hyung?” he called out, seeing Yoongi’s face appear around the nursery door. “Can you bring it in? Jungkookie’s surprise, I mean.”
Yoongi grinned, disappearing from view for a second before stepping into the room, the cradle in his arms and setting it down beside the bed, stealing a glance at the baby before he backed off and Jimin's heart fluttered at the utterly soft look he now wore.
“You got him a cradle?”
“I made him a cradle,” Taehyung explained proudly.
Jungkook shuffled himself more upright to get a better look, allowing Jimin the space to scoot out from behind him. “You... Tae, it’s perfect. I can’t believe you did this... here,” he said, carefully holding out the baby who was now sleeping peacefully in his arms. “It’s your turn for a cuddle, Appa.”
Taehyung’s smile was bright enough to light up all of Seoul. “Can I show him to everyone? I’ll stay, if you want me too.”
“Hyung can stay with me,” Jungkook told him, reaching back over to take Seokjin’s hand. “Go and show off our gorgeous boy. Just don’t be too long.”
“If I’m too long, call out for me.” He leaned carefully across the bed to kiss Jungkook. “I’m so proud of you, for all of it. I promise to be everything the both of you could ever need and more forever. I love you so much, Jungkookie.”
“You’re already everything to me, Taehyungie. I love you too.”
Taehyung carefully shuffled off the bed, cooing softly as left the room to find the rest of their family. Seokjin shifted as close as he could manage, rearranging the pillows around Jungkook. “I’ll ask Yoongi to switch your sheets, but for now just relax as much as you can. What you just did, it was incredible.”
“I’m so happy you were here for it, Hyung. What made you come over?”
Seokjin laughed. “Believe it or not, I just had a feeling something was about to happen, and wow.” He grabbed a blanket, throwing it over Jungkook. “Get a little sleep. I’ll set up the bed in Taehyung’s old room while you do and then you’ll have somewhere comfortable to rest while we sort this one out.”
“Make sure he’s wearing a support,” the medic interjected, looking over Jungkook’s information. “Because of the tearing he had, the muscle won’t have pulled back, so it will be very uncomfortable. I’ll have someone give you a call to schedule you in to have it repaired as soon as the swelling has sufficiently gone down. Did you have any other questions before we go?”
Jungkook shook his head, barely able to keep his eyes open. “No. I’ll call the clinic if I think of anything. Thank you.”
~*~*~*~
Taehyung hovered in the doorway of his old bedroom with his son cuddled to his chest, still not quite ready to put him down after all the months of waiting to hold him, watching Jungkook sleep with Seokjin curled up beside him. A small part of him was sad that not everyone was present when the baby was born, but he was eternally grateful to have more support than they had expected. Having Jimin, Seokjin and Yoongi there had given them both the strength they needed to get through it.
He looked down at the baby, a little idea sparking in his mind as he once again looked over at the Hyung and Maknae cuddled together. “What do we think, hmm?” he whispered, letting tiny hands clutch at the fingers on his free hand. “I think it suits you, but we have to ask Appa first.”
The baby let out a little whine, instantly disturbing Jungkook from his sleep, the sudden movement also waking Seokjin. “Sorry, we didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay,” Jungkook smiled, holding his hands out and letting Taehyung lay the tiny infant against his chest. “We need to think of a name for him though. I don’t want to be calling him ‘Baby’ or 'Tae-J' for weeks and weeks.”
“I had an idea, actually,” Taehyung told him, leaning down to whisper his suggestion in Jungkook’s ear. “... you were on this journey together, and I think it fits such a perfect little face.”
Jungkook nodded. “You’re right. Get everyone, I want to tell everyone at once.”
Taehyung bolted out of the room and Seokjin laughed. “What, no Hyung privileges?”
“Not this time, Hyung,” Jungkook grinned. “But you’re going to love it,” he promised as the room slowly filled with familiar faces. “We have chosen a name. In honour of the current most handsome face in all the world, we have named the next most handsome face: Kim Seokdae.”
As expected, Seokjin instantly burst into tears, looking up at Taehyung. “You named him after me?”
Taehyung nodded. “When me and Kookie were going through everything, everyone helped, but nobody was there for Jungkookie quite the way you were, and you always have been. A love like that deserves to be remembered over and over, every time we speak his name.”
Jungkook turned and carefully passed Seokdae into Seokjin’s arms, watching silently as his Hyung leaned down to kiss his son’s forehead. “Thank you,” he whispered, consumed entirely by love for his namesake.
Jimin leaned into Yoongi’s side, sighing peacefully. “That looks very distinctly to me like a visual representation of: and they all lived happily ever after.”