Chapter Text
Yumi was only a day and a half old, a whole thirty-six hours and she was already such a well-tempered child. She only cried when she was hungry and when she spit up. And when neither of those options were bothering her, she cuddled whoever held her and stayed relatively silent besides small coos and baby noises that she made in her sleep. Even with so many people trying to hold her, she preferred Jimin since she was the most familiar with him. She was very familiar with Jungkook already since it was her mother and father who held her the most, but Mama was the best option for her still.
At the moment though, Jungkook was standing up and lightly bouncing her against his body, clutching her close. Yumi was upright against her papa's bare chest as they shared that close body heat. Skin on skin contact had become Jungkook's favorite time of the day because he always feels closest to his daughter when they can feel each other on their skin, a shared warmth that brought them together. Yumi herself was only wearing a newborn diaper and a pair of blue socks on her tiny feet. Her first bath had been a day ago and her little body still smelled so fresh and was so soft. She wore a blue bow in her hair to match her little socks.
Jimin was exhausted, still recovering from his delivery. He was sore and in slight pain, but even so, his doctor had made a home visit and assured everyone that he was perfectly healthy and doing very well. Jimin would feel the aftereffects of birth and labor for a few days but he would be okay if he took care of himself. Jimin was looking forward to feeling like himself again. He hadn't truly felt like himself in nine months.
A knock at their bedroom door sounded and Jimin's mother peeked her head in with a bright smile, "How are you two doing?" she asked as she walked further into the room. Jungkook's mother walked in as well with an equally large smile. She immediately walked over to her son and stared at the new baby, even going as far as feeling along Yumi's head where her soft hair curled close to her scalp.
The two mothers were staying for the week to help both Jimin and Jungkook adjust to their new lives as parents. Both of them were learning the basics of parenting and how to properly care for a baby. Sleeping positions, tummy time, how to swaddle her, how to bathe her, when to feed her and how much, and what to look for if she were to fall sick. Jungkook took meticulous notes and Jimin could feel his heart grow three times larger with all of the love he had for Jungkook. He was such a good dad already.
When Jimin's mother slowly sat herself on the bed next to Jimin, he spoke up, "I'm sore, Mom," he grunted when he shifted the slightest bit in a bid to find a better position as his legs grew restless. His mother immediately reached to help him and adjust the other pillows around him to provide more comfort, "I went to the bathroom earlier and I was spotting some. I also have a headache right now," added he. In fact, Jimin had had a headache since he woke up. It was tolerable now but it had been so much worse in the morning, almost unbearable, "And I'm a bit nauseous. It feels like I'm still pregnant."
It was Jungkook's mother who spoke up with confidence, "That's normal, you'll be spotting for a while, but as long as it's not a lot of blood at a time, it should be okay. And as for the headaches and nausea, those are all common symptoms as your body reverts back to normal now that you don't need all those extra hormones. I had migraines all the time with both of my boys," she shared as she stood next to her son, ogling at her first granddaughter, "It will get better over time as you adjust to being awake most of the night. Nausea will go away eventually, shouldn't stay for too long."
"I had the worst nausea after having you, especially after breastfeeding. Luckily you don't have to experience that," she patted his shoulder, rubbing the area with her thumb in a comforting gesture.
Jimin hummed, adjusting the pillow placed between his thighs to provide more support and less pressure from his body weighing him down. It helped with the pain he was feeling between his legs as he rocked through the recovery process. His hand smoothed over his still distended abdomen, feeling the difference now that his daughter wasn't nestled inside. His stomach was a lot softer and a more distorted shape than it was when he was still pregnant, not perfectly round and taut anymore, but still very stretched. The weight he had gained during pregnancy was a healthy amount and it was still sticking to his frame, a reminder of all that his body went through for a whole nine months. He was too distracted to really consider the way it had an effect on his body image, all that he really noted for his reserves was that he was smaller than he was before and that was good enough for now. In reality, he had a long way to go before he was going to feel or look the way he had before, "She woke up a few times to eat but other than that, she fell asleep fast and was perfect. I'm pretty tired already though," he proved his statement with a wide yawn.
"Babies need a lot of love and attention. It's hard, but you're already a fantastic mother," Jimin's mother complimented, scooting closer to him and placing a soft kiss on Jimin's forehead before replacing her lips with her hand, using her fingers to massage little heart into her oldest son's hair, "I'm so proud of you."
Jimin smiled blissfully, all the support and love he needs coming right from his mother, the woman he looks up to the most. He felt his eyes tear up in the slightest, overcome by emotion of everything that has happened in such a short time. He thinks about how blessed he is to have such a caring husband, a beautiful daughter, five best friends that love him, and a mother who voices her affection in the best way. There was nothing Jimin could complain about and he thinks that maybe he did something in a past life to have been so blessed now, "Thank you, Mom," he sniffled, genuine and beautiful smile on his features. His mother smiled back, her own eyes tearing up with the love she felt for her son.
"Oh gosh dang it!" Jungkook exclaimed as he pulled Yumi away from his chest with care. There was baby vomit on his chest and Jungkook's expression was of pure disgust. Yumi still had some on her chin but most of it was on Jungkook, bare skin splotched with white and saliva. Yumi looked indifferent with her eyes open and blindly looking around, searching for the source of the noise. Her lips were parted and pursed, the 'o' shape fitting along with the size of her wide eyes. She looked surprised yet unknowing.
Jimin laughed at Jungkook's word choice. He had been watching his language ever since Yumi was born. His claim to quitting his swearing habit was in-effect even though Yumi couldn't understand and had resorted to using soft words that weren't offensive. His reasoning that he had to set a good example for his daughter and Jimin whole-heartedly agreed, but sometimes it was too precious and cute to be normal. It had been less than two days and he was so committed.
Jungkook was quick to gently hand Yumi over to his mother who took her with a huge smile on her face, making faces at her granddaughter in affection and excitement. Jungkook grabbed a baby wipe to wipe away the spit up that was warm and sticky on his skin. It was slimy and while Yumi hadn't thrown up too often yet, it was a lot when she did. It looked as though she spit up her whole meal, "Why, Mimi? What did Papa do to deserve that?"
"You were probably bouncing her too much. She's not used to so much movement," Jimin reminded from his spot on the bed. He had thought of saying something earlier but he figured Jungkook would learn on his own. Jungkook was playful and could be rough at times even without knowing. He had to learn differently for his newborn daughter.
Jungkook's mother held Yumi close to her chest after finishing making faces at her and cooed silent words to her, words of love and affirmation. Jimin loved to watch his mother in law bond with his daughter. She had come such a long way in this family and Jimin was proud of her for that, accepting what she saw as untraditional and different from her ideology of marriage and families. She loved them all even though it took some time to do so.
Yumi started to snuffle, noises leaving her lips and small features turning sour. She was getting a bit restless and Jimin felt the need to hold her close and to make her feel better, an instinct he was quickly finding maternal. So he reached out and Jungkook's mother quickly obliged as she handed the little girl back to Jimin even though she wanted to hold her longer. Yumi's soft hair laid on his arm and the little bow in her hair tickled against Jimin's nose as he kissed her forehead.
Jimin and Jungkook's mothers left the room shortly after to give the two some time alone with Yumi, as new parents needed. They still needed to learn what to do with her and how to take care of her on their own. Once gone and out of sight, Jimin started speaking to Yumi with this high pitched voice he adopted once his daughter was born.
"Hello, princess," Jimin cooed, the nickname coming so naturally to him. That was her first nickname besides 'Mimi' and it sounded so right on his tongue that he couldn't help but say it. Yumi was a princess in their hearts and none of the other residents of the house could argue, "Did your tummy get upset?" he asked as he rubbed a hand across her chubby tummy that was resting adjacent to his chest. Her skin was so smooth but he made sure to watch out for her umbilical stump still attached to her navel. It would slough off in a week or two, "Mama's sorry. I should have told Papa that he wasn't being very gentle."
"Hey! I'm just teaching her how to keep her food down," Jungkook attempted to defend himself, "If she's going to have a father like me, she's going to have to learn how to toughen up," Jungkook pulled his shirt back on now that skin-to-skin contact was done with and sat down next to Jimin to look over his daughter. She was so tiny and Jungkook couldn't deny that he thought she was going to be much bigger when she was still inside Jimin. She was actually so small.
Jimin shifted Yumi so he was holding her with his hands, keeping her up with his palms under her armpits. Yumi didn't have much motor control so her body was limp in Jimin's hold, although her eyes were open and looking around, trying to decipher her surroundings. Watching her develop even a day and a half old was so much fun and watching her small actions was monumental. Her small tongue darted out as though she was licking her lips and went back into her mouth, chubby cheeks framing her perfect little face. Jimin giggled and brought her face closer to his so he could kiss all across those same chubby cheeks and little face. Yumi didn't react, as a newborn wouldn't. It seemed that she was already used to all the affection that was dealt to her within the past day of her life. Jimin placed a tentative peck on her little lips, very cautious. She was susceptible to illness and she wasn't yet vaccinated for anything that could come her way, but Jimin's shows of affection were eager to make contact. He loved kissing those little lips of hers, lips that replicated his own.
"Careful! What if she spits up again?!" Jungkook exclaimed as he watched his husband and daughter interact, hand poised to reach out and black any spit up that could come out of nowhere.
Jimin laughed, cautiously since it hurt his lower body, "She wouldn't dare spit up on her mama. She loves me too much," his statement was fact, Yumi already loved her mama, but she was getting there with her papa. She just needed some more time with him. Jimin cuddled her back into his chest and hummed in bliss as Yumi melted into him, her small body almost hugging his. Jimin moved to a lying position so Yumi was laying on his chest on her tummy, her little feet resting on his stomach where she had previously lived. The thought was surreal to anyone who knew Jimin while he was pregnant, "Besides, her tummy is probably empty. She's fine for now until she wants to eat again."
Jungkook peered down at their daughter and chuckled to himself, reaching out to brush his hand over Yumi's soft hair, "She's back asleep," he stated. Jimin couldn't see her with the angle she was lying in so he took Jungkook's word. Her little back was raising with every small breath she took and Jimin ran his hand over her spine, feeling how soft and fragile she was. This was his baby and he loved her so much even after knowing her for less than two days.
"We should sleep with her. Mom mentioned that it was a good idea when she's so little, it will be easier to grab her when she starts crying too," Jimin was exhausted still and this was just with a baby. He couldn't imagine doing this with a full schedule, but he would have to do that soon. Very soon. They were planning a comeback for the first half of the year and so much had to be done still, "I don't have the energy to walk to the nursery."
"Then lets sleep with her here," Jungkook agreed, reaching out and gently taking Yumi from Jimin's chest so she was resting in between the two of them on her back. It was safer for her that way, "Hand me her blanket will you?" Jimin did as told and handed the pink blanket over and Jungkook tucked the material around her body, avoiding her face so she wouldn't accidentally suffocate, "She's out. Being a baby is exhausting, I guess."
"Being a parent is exhausting," Jimin refuted, adjusting so he was more comfortable and laying on his side facing Jungkook and Yumi. His fingers tangled themselves in Yumi's thick and long hair, playing with the strands that were still a bit curly but would straighten out over time, "But this is worth it. This is everything now."
"It is. Our family," Jungkook cooed in such a loving and a mesmerized way, "Is everything now," Jungkook settled into the bed again and joined Jimin by putting his hand on her soft tummy, fingers deftly feeling along her soft and still bare skin, "You two are my everything. I love you both so much," he placed a kiss on Yumi's chubby cheek that was closest to him before carefully leaning over her to reach Jimin's plump lips in a sweet and short kiss. All of his affection and adoration for his husband and baby were communicated through that one kiss and Jimin had no doubts of the truth he spoke seconds before.
Jimin hummed, "We love you, too. Now got to sleep," he added before cuddling a little closer to his daughter while also leaving a safe distance between them, not wanting to crowd her too much.
"Now go to sleep," Jungkook repeated, falling asleep almost immediately into his pillow, his family close and within reach. They were here and together and Junkook was purely elated. This was all he needed. His family.