Chapter Text
Dino was eager to tell about the next family but was interrupted by a sudden ring. It was Seungcheol’s phone and in the caller ID was the name of the same manager who drove them home last night. He excused himself out from the room, motioning for them to continue without him.
However, the sight of his papa leaving got baby Chan upset. His eyes followed Seungcheol and when he couldn’t see him anymore, he turned to his mama with teary eyes. “Mama, papa leave Chan?” Jeonghan smiled at him, embracing him more so he could be comforted in his arms. He chuckled when he felt the boy sniffling in his chest. He kissed the top of his head and began stroking his hair. Yesterday must have made quite the effect on him.
“Papa’s not leaving you, baby. He’ll be back soon. He just needs to take a call for work.” Chan looked up to his mama, presenting Jeonghan his reddening nose and cheeks. The warmth in Jeonghan spread. This boy is really precious. He fondly wiped the child’s face that became a bit wet with the beginning of tears and snot.
“Weally? Mama pwomise?”
“Promise.” He even hooked his pinky with the boy’s smallest finger. And again there was that strange force; he was compelled to kiss their hooked fingers and he did, making Chan giggle. It made him smile.
As well as the others in the room with them.
“Awww Jeonghan hyung!” He laughed more. Seriously, these kids.
“Dino, you can continue with your story. We’ll just tell Coups what he missed.” At the go signal of his hyung, their youngest jumped to it.
“Alright! You know who’s next.” Hoshi scooted closer to Woozi, which had the producer scooting away to be closer to The8 instead.
- SoonHoon Family (Jihoon, Soonyoung, Myungho ft. Minwoo fam) -
It was quiet as the couple ate. They still talked but Wonwoo was mostly enjoying her food while Mingyu was just satisfied seeing her eating so well. When his wife’s plate was emptied, he had to refrain from laughing at how cute she looked eyeing his half-eaten meal.
Now this was interesting for Chan. His Wonwoo hyung usually ate in small bites. Mingyu was the opposite. He should have finished faster than the female Wonwoo. But then he realized, as he saw how Mingyu gave her his share with such fondness, it must have been deliberate. This Mingyu was expecting his pregnant wife to eat more than her plate. He wanted to make sure she’ll have her fill even at the cost of his portion, of course without being too obvious about it lest he’ll make her upset.
‘Good job, hyung’. He can’t help but praise this man in his thoughts.
“Good job, Mingyu!” The sound of meaty slaps on the shoulder broke the silence of Dino’s audience.
Mingyu grunted and made sure to return them to Seokmin “Yah! Stop it! It’s ‘good job other Mingyu!’ It’s him, not me, so stop hitting me!” But DK continued nudging him, making him relent and break a laugh. “Shua hyung, tame your man!”
Everyone bursted into more laughter, now with some teasing Joshua. Joshua, the fun hyung he was, rode along and pulled DK closer to him as if to scold him. He was surprised when his dongsaeng was doing his kissing thing again (‘Sorry Shua honey.’, he said) but playfully pushed him away, laughing as well with the crazy family he found in seventeen.
“I forgive you, Dokyeom-ah. Now save your kisses for your future wife.” He knew he deserved that hit from DK. He chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder.
Joshua looked back to where Mingyu was. “But you know, I think you’ll actually be the same when you marry.” Everyone agreed, even Wonwoo, though feeling a bit embarrassed, gave his thumbs up. Jun was the same.
“It’s like the same puppy, but there he’s married and having a pup soon.” Woozi joined in and more laughter came.
“Continue, Dino. Sorry you got interrupted.” Jun, embracing a redder but happy Wonwoo, encouraged the maknae.
“Okay. Where was I? Ah, right. Then soon after, I heard a baby crying. He was carried by someone who looked like she could be his mom - a female Hoshi. Woozi was at her tail, carrying a baby bag. He was also holding a pacifier and bib.”
The first couple greeted their friends. They waved back with tired smiles; Soonyoung was busy rocking the crying baby and Jihoon was guiding them to a seat, making sure they were comfortable. Jihoon was about to go make baby food but gave in, chuckling as he did, to the pouty lips of his wife. He kissed her, and also the wet cheeks of the baby that got Myungho mum for a bit before wailing again. “I’ll have it made quickly.”
Mingyu also got up to prepare the parents’ food. He made sure that Wonwoo didn’t forget her water before moving to the stove.
Wonwoo sat next to the mother-son duo. She too tried to help their busy friends by taking the bag brought by Jihoon and putting the bib on Hao. Soonyoung was grateful, turning so they were facing the pregnant friend who was also trying to calm Myungho.
Soonyoung was bouncing him on her knees while playing with his cute, chubby arms. Wonwoo wiggled his feet. Baby Myungho always liked the movement and was soon hushing in his cries to giggle at his umma and aunt. Soonyoung felt very relieved. She cooed at the baby’s smiling face and brought his hand up to her lips.
Just in time, Jihoon appeared with his very healthy carrot mush. Almost immediately Hao was stretching his arms towards Jihoon. Not even being a year old, the number of teeth he got just recently became five. But for someone who only had milk before, he must be excited about having more food options. The adults laughed at how enthusiastic baby Hao was to eat. He eagerly ate the spoonfuls of mush fed to him by his appa, opening his mouth to a small o whenever the spoon came near his mouth.
“You know I just fed you a while ago, right? Aigoo. Our son’s becoming a hungry tiger, Hoon.” The baby in his arms looked at his mama with a tilt of his head. Soonyoung laughed and lovingly kissed the little one’s cheeks that were smudged with orange.
“Yeah, a tiger that eats carrot mush. I think he’s more like a bunny. A very cute bunny.” Jihoon replied while trying to take the spoon from his son. He smiled as Hao let go and became fascinated by the mess on his hands, until he saw his appa giving him more food and reached for him again.
“I’m with Jihoon hyung. Hao’s too adorable and the bunny is the animal for cuteness.” Mingyu served the couple their food and told them he and Wonwoo can feed baby Myungho while they ate. Soonyoung agreed, grateful to have a proper meal when she can. Jihoon told them he can eat later. The wife felt the love and kissed her “hardworking” husband before giving the baby to Mingyu and moving her seat to eat beside Wonwoo.
“Hao’s got his appa around his small, chubby finger.” Soonyoung whispered to Wonwoo with a tone that’s most fond. Wonwoo smiled. She could see how the love of their friends grew with their baby. The baby fussed a bit after being transferred but once seeing his umma waving at him, he settled in Mingyu’s arms. Wonwoo teasingly cheered for Mingyu.
They share a look. ‘This will be us soon, Won’. She got the message and blushed.
Just then she felt a kick. She gently caressed her bump. “Your daddy’s getting the hang of it, Junie.”
“Is Junie awake?” Of course, Hoshi wouldn’t miss the opportunity to greet her god child. Wonwoo chuckled, leading her friend’s hand where she felt her baby kick.
Noticing that his food didn’t come sooner, baby Myungho started fussing again. Mingyu looked at Jihoon as if asking him what to do. He was already rocking the baby but it wasn’t working. Jihoon laughed and just continued to feed his hungry son.
“There, there. You just wanted more of your carrots right? You’re eating so well, bunny.” And peace returned among the group.
“He’s Soonyoung when he gets feisty like that. He got her hamster cheeks too when eating.” The proud appa lovingly wiped the baby’s cheeks while he babbled and played with the spoon. He was grateful that while Mingyu was clumsy, he at least had fast reflexes to catch the spoon that his son thought would be fun to throw.
“So you’ve got two Soonyoungs! You literally got a good deal there. The more to love, right honey?” His wife commented while she was chewing on her own mouthful too. Really. Like mother, like son. Wonwoo would scold her but Jihoon only felt warm.
“Yeah, I have the best deal ever. Thank you, love.”
A strangled noise followed.
Wonwoo was quick to hand her friend a glass of water when Soonyoung almost choked on her food. She was very red, not able to look at her husband as if hoping to hide her flushed face. Jihoon laughed loudly at the cute reaction of his wife, which also got Hao Hao squirming and babbling happily on his uncle.
“Tsk tsk. Do you see your parents, Myungho? You better not get cavities from how sweet they are.” Mingyu teased, however looking like a hypocrite when he quickly took the tangerine Wonwoo was feeding him with a dazed smile.
“Then the next family came. Any questions before we continue to SeokSoo family?” It was silent for a while. Dino looked at the SoonHoon duo plus The8. He was not sure if his Woozi hyung just didn’t notice it but Hoshi had succeeded to sit closer to him and The8. Woozi was red and Minghao was trying hard to stifle his giggles. Hoshi… Hoshi looked like a mix of emotions.
“Hoshi hyung…” He was concerned. It wasn’t usual after all that his hyung was made the female in the relationship. Maybe it was too much for him?
“She’s lucky.” Everyone’s attention turned to the performance leader. He might have said it unconsciously, looking surprised that Jihoon and The8 along with everybody were looking at him.
“Soonyoung, what did you say?” And there it was. It was clear when his cheeks started burning red. It didn’t help that it was Woozi who asked.
“Just… I kind of envy her that she was able to have a partner who loves her and their baby very much. She can love and be loved freely. I hope… I hope I can have that someday.” Jihoon, who had trained and has been in the industry for as long as Hoshi understood what he meant. It was hard to have a relationship with the job that they have. Even after reaching the age of marriage, it was difficult to form a family without the media and fans blowing up.
He reached for his hand hoping to comfort his friend. Hoshi might have misunderstood the intention.
“I-I can’t give birth, Hoon! I’m hoping for a wife, I’m s-sorry if you felt that way.” All compassion left him as Jihoon felt his blood boil instead.
“It’s not like that, you fool! You better find a good wife and be happy. I’ll be doing the same too.” The duo were then pulled to a group hug by Minghao who had been amusedly watching his leader hyungs.
“But you’ll continue to have each other, right?” They were startled but then smiled and confidently nodded at each other, then to the whole team who got the idea of their conversation.
“For sure!”
“Of course!”
“We’ll have a reunion when we’re 70, remember? We’ll be growing old together!”
The mood of the group was light again. It was this that Seungcheol came back to after the call. He saw Chan trying to hurriedly climb down from his umma, startling Jeonghan who helped him down, and raced to his appa. Seungcheol readily got him in his arms and lifted him.
“Appa!” That got everyone’s attention. He chuckled shyly and went back to his seat next to Jeonghan. He patted the boy’s back who happily rested on his chest.
“Did you miss me, bud?” The enthusiastic nodding and firm grip on his neck made them laugh.
“I knew I missed a lot of good stuff but we’ll have to take it on the road. I talked to our manager and he agreed with us staying some time at a remote village. I had to tell him about Chan but thank goodness he was easy to convince because Dino had already told him about his ‘dreams’. There were conditions though. We have to do some filming before we get there but he said it will just be short.” No one seems to mind. They were more excited with having vacation and a safe place to meet their AU selves.
Jeonghan shared the excitement, but knowing his friend well, it seems S.Coups had more to tell. “What are we filming? What about Chan?” They were familiar with their leader, and just knew it was something when he nervously laughed like he did.
“We can bring Chan. There’s a kid cafe nearby and hyung (the manager) said he could look after him. We’ll be in the same building so I think it would be fine.”
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. “But?” They weren’t sure if Seungcheol avoiding their gaze was good or bad.
“We have to film shopping at the baby store. It’s to advocate for orphaned babies and toddlers. What we buy will be donated to the local institution caring for them. The store’s along the way and the team that will handle the filming will also do the Going Seventeen episode. The staff would be staying an additional day there to film the store and cafe with some interviews of parents so it gives us one day off to ourselves at the village.”
It was okay. The idea was noble and they do need to pick up some things for their guests. But he wasn’t done.
“It’s just how they planned to group us for the shopping. Since hyung knew the families, he proposed we group that way and the producers approved it. I’m not sure what I missed with Dino’s stories but I hope we continue to get along.” He scratched the back of his head and glanced at Jeonghan and Dino who were holding hands as if asking him to confirm if they were correct.
“Yes, I’m grouped with Jeonghan and Dino. Team B will be Joshua, Dokyeom, Seungkwan, and Vernon. Hoshi, Woozi and Myungho will be team C. Lastly, team D will be Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Jun. Teams A and B will shop for toddlers while teams B and D will shop for baby stuff. Remember to also consider shopping for our AU kids as well. Um, is everyone alright with this?”
The group was silent, until Mingyu raised his hand. “I have a question for Dino.” They were confused but the maknae just nodded.
“Is baby Junie a girl or a boy?”
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.
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“Isn’t he obviously a boy?” - Seungkwan
“But they didn’t really say.” - Woozi
“Yeah, come to think of it. They didn’t.” - Joshua
“Chan said he was hyung yesterday when talking to my tummy.” - Wonwoo
“Maybe he wouldn’t know the difference yet. My younger brother called our female cousin ‘ge ge’ when he was little.” - Jun (A/N elder brother = ge ge)
“That’s true. Oh there’s those things that can tell, right?” - Dokyeom
“You mean like if Wonwoo unnie is carrying high or low? I think those are just myths.” - Vernon
“Umma said it worked when she was carrying noona” - Hoshi
“It doesn’t alway work, though?” - The8
Jeonghan and Seungcheol shared a look. Without a word, he got his phone and texted someone. He smiled, and showed Jeonghan the reply he got from AU Wonwoo.
.
.
.
It was a picture of a onesie. It was pink with floral-patterned frills at its arms and leg holes. At its front center, there was a ribbon and little flowers surrounding the words “Daddy’s little flower”.
His phone pinged again. The following text made them laugh.
“Mingyu’s making the matching head piece. He intends on spoiling our baby girl lol.”