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** I wrote more fluff loooool **
** 4.6k follow up to Sweet Surprise. One more one shot to go and then the 30k prequel fic coming soon! **
~~
“I don’t want you to go,” Jimin said unhappily, wrapping his arms around Jungkook’s middle and pressing his face into his back.
The alpha had an open suitcase laid out on their bed, clothes everywhere, as he haphazardly packed for his business trip to Japan.
Jungkook sighed. “Baby, I have to go. You know that.”
He peeled the omega’s hands off of him with one hand before reaching for another of his shirts to roughly fold and toss into his open suitcase.
Where was his blue tie?
Jungkook reached for two more shirts from the pile on the bed, holding them up to decide between them, before shrugging and throwing both into his suitcase with the rest.
“It’s barely a week,” he said with an exasperated sigh. “I’ll be back before you even realize I’m gone, Jimin. I don’t understand why you’re being so clingy this morning.”
Embarrassment coursed through him as he registered the ire in Jungkook’s voice. Jimin was still for a moment, not sure of what to do, before he took a step back his hands at his sides.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking down at the floor in shame. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately.”
“I...shit,” Jungkook’s frustration evaporated in an instant when he heard the small break in the omega's voice. “I’m the one who’s sorry, baby. I haven’t been organized and I’m rushing around trying to get ready for this trip, ignoring you like an asshole when I should’ve been making the most of our time together before I have to go.”
He dropped the tie he’d been searching for seconds earlier and reached for Jimin instead, tugging him against his chest as the omega tried to suppress a sniffle.
“It’s okay,” Jimin said, wrapping his own arms around Jungkook and revelling in their closeness. “I’m being silly. Probably getting close to pre-heat. My omega just wants to be close.”
He flushed as he caught the alpha’s gaze. The approach of his heat meant another opportunity for them. They’d been casually trying for a pup for several months with no luck. After the first month of trying and Jimin’s heat had come, the omega had been distraught. Jungkook was so supportive, reassuring Jimin through his doubt and worry and when his second and third heats came another month and two months later, Jimin had done his best to weather the disappointment a little better, still disheartened, but deciding to embrace Jungkook’s philosophy of ‘it will happen when it’s meant to happen, however it’s meant to happen.’ And in the meantime, the alpha had cheekily told him that it just meant they would have to try harder .
He took a breath, shooting Jungkook a watery smile. “I know you have to go and I know you’ll be back before I know it.”
Jungkook smiled down at him, proud of the omega’s rally. “I’ll call you from the hotel room every night,” he said, and Jimin giggled as the alpha dropped a kiss on his nose. “I’m going to miss you, too, you know.”
Since it was Sunday and Jimin wasn’t working, he spent the rest of the day with Taehyung in his and Yoongi’s place. The other omega knew (as soulmates do) exactly what Jimin needed and had cuddled and fawned over him from the moment he walked in the door. He felt a lot better until it was time for him to go home, his omega whimpering at the idea of spending the next week sleeping alone in an empty apartment.
His phone buzzed and he smiled as he checked it and saw that it was Jungkook, half-wondering if Taehyung had texted him.
The rest of the week, Jimin was miserable. Not two days after Jungkook had left, he’d caught a horrible stomach bug and was terribly nauseous from the time he woke up until the early evening, even going so far as vomiting on more than one occasion when a particular scent would overwhelm him. More than one evening that week, Yoongi had made extra for dinner for him and Tae and sent food up for Jimin with the other omega and Jimin had to decline, his stomach was just too off.
True to his word, though, Jungkook had called every night for the rest of the week. Jimin hadn't wanted to worry the alpha, so he’d promised he was keeping busy with the studio and hanging out with Tae, completely skipping over the part where Hobi had finally had enough of watching Jimin struggle through teaching choreography in his classes and finally sent him home to rest and recover after 3 days of the the omega subsisting on ginger ale and soda crackers alone - the only two things he seemed to be able to keep down.
By the weekend, Jimin was exhausted, uncomfortable, and sad. He spent all of Saturday on the couch wearing Jungkook's clothes and wrapped in a blanket he'd removed from their bed.
When Jungkook arrived home that weekend, Jimin had latched onto him the second he was through the door, demanding a thorough scenting and cuddles for the rest of the evening.
Jungkook, in the dark about the omega having been ill all week, had brought home take out for dinner on his way home from the airport. No sooner had Jimin hurled himself into the alpha’s arms than the scent from the meals reached his nose and the omega was gagging near instantaneously. He abruptly disentangled himself from a bewildered Jungkook so he could rush to the bathroom and empty the contents of his stomach.
“Baby?” Jungkook said, his voice filled with concern as he hesitantly poked his head into the bathroom door.
The omega groaned from his seat on the floor in front of the toilet.
He looked up at Jungkook as the alpha knelt beside him.
“I’m sick,” he said weakly and promptly burst into tears.
Jungkook moved swiftly, tugging the omega into his lap, scenting him and rubbing calming circles into his back as he whispered reassurances in his ear.
Jimin relaxed against him, pressing his nose into Jungkook’s neck, the alpha’s soothing cinnamon scent miraculously stilling the waves of nausea in his stomach for the first time in days and slowing his tears.
“I really missed you,” the omega said, his hand fisting the alpha's shirt in his hand as he clutched him. Jungkook tucked his chin over his head, continuing to stroke his back. “I missed you, too. How long have you been sick?”
“Since Wednesday.”
Jungkook’s chest rumbled with an unhappy growl. “That was four days ago. You never said a word.”
“Didn’t want you to worry,” Jimin said, exhaustion evident in his voice. Sitting on the floor with Jungkook, enveloped by his scent, he felt better than he had in days and let out a yawn, closing his eyes.
“Don’t go to sleep, baby.”
Jungkook felt the omega nod and chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get you a quick shower and I’ll make you some soup to eat instead.”
Jimin whined as Jungkook stood, tugging him up with him. He got the shower started and while the water came up to temperature, he got Jimin a towel and helped the omega undress.
He smiled encouragingly as, on shaky legs, Jimin stepped into the shower, but when he moved to close the curtain and leave, the omega let out a whimper.
“Don’t go,” he said quietly, reminiscent of the morning in their bedroom a week ago when Jungkook had been packing for his trip.
Jungkook knew he was just pouting because he felt unwell and would certainly feel much better after a shower and something easy on his stomach to eat, but suddenly his alpha wanted absolutely nothing to do with leaving the omega alone right now.
He nodded and tugged his shirt off over his head before reaching to unbuckle his belt and slip out of the rest of his clothes.
His alpha was snapping at him to look after their omega and so he did, helping Jimin wash himself, reverently sliding his hands over his body, before helping to shampoo his hair as well. He lathered up his hands and massaged it into the omega’s scalp and he could swear Jimin let out a moan if the reaction his own body was having was any indication.
This was not the time for that, Jungkook quickly chastised himself. When they were finished, he shut off the water and wrapped Jimin in a fluffy, white towel hanging on the wall in their bathroom before then wrapping his arms around him, standing still for a moment as he held him tight against his chest, leaning down to scent him once again. He’d have stayed there longer, but he didn’t want the already sick omega to catch a chill, so he reached for his own towel, securing it around his waist, before towelling off Jimin with his. He knew the omega would want to be in Jungkook's clothes, so once they were in their bedroom, he bypassed Jimin’s dresser entirely and pulled out clothes for both of them to wear from his own.
He watched fondly as the omega rolled up the bottoms of the sweatpants he’d given him to wear, pushing the sleeves of the alpha’s hoodie up his arms several times as the too-big garment slipped back down to cover his hands.
“How do you feel? Any better?” Jungkook asked, brushing a hand over the soft skin of Jimin’s cheek.
“I feel perfect,” Jimin said. And he did. Surprisingly, the nausea hadn’t returned, even though, he realized, he could smell the scent the forgotten bags full of their takeout wafting down the hall from the kitchen.
“Good, because you are perfect,” Jungkook said with a chuckle and Jimin gave him a little shove at his cheesiness.
“Alright, let’s get you something to eat.”
~~
The next day when Jungkook came home from work, Jimin was nowhere to be found in the kitchen or living room of their apartment.
“Jimin-ah?” he called toward the bedrooms and bathroom.
“In here!”
Jungkook followed his voice to their room where he found Jimin fussing with all manner of clothing – mostly Jungkook’s – and soft blankets, working to weave everything together in some perfect way only he knew how.
“Is this for us?” Jungkook said, his voice low and rough, arms circling the omega as he nuzzled his neck, brushing his lips over the silvery mating mark that had long ago healed and faded into his skin.
“Mhm,” Jimin nodded. “Felt like getting an early start on it.”
“I love it when you nest,” Jungkook said, inhaling the omega’s tantalizing vanilla as it bloomed with shy sweetness at the alpha's words.
~~
“Is that going in the laundry?” Jimin asked, watching as Jungkook pulled his hoodie over his head on his way into their bathroom to take a shower. It was a week later and they’d enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning in bed before getting up to have a late breakfast and do their shopping.
The alpha stopped, turning around to look at Jimin. “It was. You want it instead?” he asked knowingly. The omega didn’t nest often, typically only when he was close to heat or when he was feeling particularly unwell or stressed. He liked to smell like Jungkook, though, and the omega frequently sought out the alpha’s much larger shirts and sweaters to wear over his own clothing at home. The only time Jungkook’s clothing truly disappeared was when Jimin was in preheat, turning up a week or so later, carefully woven into a nest.
Jimin smiled, reaching for the shirt. Jungkook watched him, brows raised, as the omega, instead of disappearing around the corner toward their bed, slipped the sweater over his head instead. “You cold, baby?” he asked, approaching the omega and sliding his hands up and down his arms.
Jimin’s cheeks were tinged pink. “Nope.”
And before Jungkook could ask him anything else, he slipped out through the doorway, leaving Jungkook standing alone in their bedroom. Convinced the omega was nearing his heat, he glanced toward the hallway before turning into their bathroom. He sniffed the air, but couldn’t smell the sweetening of his scent that typically become more and more apparent in the days leading up to his heat. He couldn’t even count how many times he’d checked Jimin’s scent this week, not once finding even a trace of distress, but here was his alpha, barking at him to abandon his shower and glue himself to the omega yet again.
He showered quickly, half wondering as he towelled off whether he’d even remembered to shampoo his hair.
When he entered the kitchen, he saw Jimin was eating plain toast and had made peppermint tea.
“Are you feeling nauseous again?”
“A little bit, yeah,” Jimin said. “I was great until I got to the kitchen. Couldn’t even smell anything, it just kind of hits me sometimes. It’s weird.”
The alpha frowned. “Maybe we should make an appointment to see the doctor.”
Jimin shrugged. “I’m much better than I was. When you were away it was a thousand times worse. I think I’m just getting over the last of this stupid bug.”
Jungkook looked unconvinced.
Truthfully, he'd felt awful at work every day this week, but when he was at home with Jungkook in the evening, everything felt okay again. Not a trace of nausea and, beyond that, he felt content. More and more he wanted only to stay at home with the alpha, cuddled up just the two of them, not going anywhere, but obviously they couldn’t do that.
“If it gets bad again, I’ll make an appointment,” Jimin promised.
“Good.”
“Oh, I wrote a few more things down,” Jimin said, sliding over a piece of paper. Jungkook saw that it was their grocery list and picked it up, raising a brow as he scanned the odd combination of items that Jimin had added.
-pickles
-ice cream
-mangos
-hot sauce
-lemon (juice or otherwise)
“Jimin-ssi,” he said with a teasing smile. “Are you baking again?”
The omega pouted, tugging on the sleeves of the sweater he was drowning in so they covered his hands. “I like sour things.”
The alpha chuckled. “I know you do. Ok, let me make a coffee and we’ll get going.”
As they’d shopped, Jungkook’s alpha was on high alert again. It was driving him to distraction. If at home, all he wanted to do was be near Jimin, out in the world all he could think about were just how many people were also around the omega and how much he wanted to roar at all of them to back away, bundle the omega up, and take him home. He wanted to guard him from anything and anyone (which apparently was every thing and every one) his alpha perceived as a possible threat. In more than one instance, he felt actual growls rumbling out of his chest, and he’d hung his head apologetically as more than one person took several steps back, giving them a wide, respectful berth, and Jimin stared at him wide-eyed.
“What is up with you today?” Jimin asked, incredulous.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Jungkook said, his face a little wild. “There are so many people here and it’s like my alpha is going crazy and keeps thinking everything is, like…a danger to you.”
Some deep, primitive part of Jimin completely melted. “My protective alpha,” he said, smiling. “Come on, let’s go home.”
~~
Jungkook watched, his expression soft, as Jimin let out a sleepy yawn, the omega curled up in his lap, still drowning in the alpha’s hoodie he’d put on this morning.
“Tired, baby?”
The omega nodded, but instead of getting up to go to bed, he shifted and snuggled further into Jungkook, pressing his face into the alpha’s sweater and breathing in his scent.
Jungkook chuckled and wrapped his arms securely around the omega.
After their shopping that morning, they’d returned home and spent the entire day holed up in their apartment, tangled together on the couch. It was rare for them to stay inside on their shared days off, but Jimin had been adamant that the only thing he wanted to do for the rest of the day was stay home with Jungkook. The alpha had absolutely zero objection to that, and so home they stayed.
“Why do you smell so good all the time,” Jimin mumbled, nuzzling his cheek against Jungkook’s chest.
“You smell just as good,” Jungkook assured.
“No, you smell good always, but lately you just…smell extra good."
Jungkook started to chuckle at the sleepy omega, but it stuck in his throat. He took a deep, careful breath in through his nose, really focusing on Jimin’s scent.
It was faint, but he definitely noticed it. No wonder his alpha had been so relentless with him lately, he realized, mentally kicking himself. Protect Jimin. Shield Jimin. Is Jimin warm? Is he fed? Does he look happy? Check his scent again, is he distressed?
He was always aware of his mate, but the past week his alpha wanted him on a whole new level of being attentive.
And then his next thought:
Did Jimin know?
He was pulled from his thoughts as the omega let out a soft sigh, burrowing closer to him and Jungkook’s heart clenched with fondness when he saw he had fallen asleep.
He gingerly lifted him off his chest, trying not to jostle him too much as he stood before leaning over to scoop the omega up into his arms, carrying him close as he brought him to their bedroom.
Gently setting him down in his nest, Jungkook tenderly undressed the omega, easing his jeans off and slipping a pair of sweatpants onto him so he wouldn’t be uncomfortable in his sleep. When he tried to remove the sweater (his own, he realized), the omega let out a sleepy sound of protest and opened his eyes.
“Leave it,” he mumbled, reaching for Jungkook to try to pull him down onto the bed.
Jungkook chuckled as Jimin completely missed him as he swung his arm.
“I’ll join you in a minute, baby. Why don’t you take off the sweater and put this t-shirt on?” he tried to convince him. “You’ll be more comfortable sleeping in it.”
“Wanna smell like you.”
Jungkook’s alpha puffed up with pride, as it always did whenever Jimin did something like this. The omega was naturally more clingy and needy when he was tired, but tonight’s revelation had added another layer to it for Jungkook. His alpha was ready to strut.
~~
A few days later, Jimin and Jungkook headed down to Tae and Yoongi’s apartment for a dinner celebrating the omega’s birthday.
Jimin was radiant. He looked serenely happy as they walked down the hall, their hands linked together.
Jungkook would have appreciated the omega’s newfound glow if he hadn’t been tearing his hair out wondering whether he should say something to Jimin or not. And when he wasn’t second guessing himself about telling the omega, he was worrying about him instead.
At least they would be amongst only friends tonight. His alpha would relax since there wouldn’t be anyone unfamiliar with them, no surprise threats for his alpha to perceive.
Hopefully .
He had already made up his mind that if Jimin didn’t say something to him by the weekend, Jungkook would speak up himself. What did alphas usually do in this situation? He didn’t want to spoil his surprise for the omega, but he needed to make sure they were safe.
Yoongi let them in and before Jimin could say hello, the alpha was taking the box holding the birthday cake he had insisted on making and carrying down to the party for Tae from him and ushering them inside.
“Go back to the party, I got it,” Jungkook said, taking the cake off Yoongi’s hands.
Before Jungkook could leave for the kitchen, Jimin slipped the gift bag the alpha was carrying off his arm which Yoongi again promptly took off the omega’s hands. Jimin let out an exasperated sigh, throwing up his hands. Jungkook went into the kitchen to set the cake on the counter and put away some other things they'd brought for the dinner and Jimin followed Yoongi into the living room where their friends were waiting.
“Jimin-ah, you look tired, what’s wrong?” Jin flocked toward him immediately, reaching to press the back of his hand to the other omega’s forehead to check his temperature. Before he could touch him, however, he froze, hand in mid-air and eyes widening slightly, before just barely brushing it across Jimin’s forehead.
“Hyunnng,” Jimin whined. “You’re not supposed to say that.”
The omega rolled his eyes. “You look great and you know it, just a little tired.”
“I have been tired lately. I slept almost eleven hours last night and still had a nap in my nest this afternoon.”
Jin nodded at him with a knowing smile.
“I think I’m coming down with something again,” the omega said, frowning as he moved further into the room, sitting beside Tae and leaning his head on his shoulder in greeting before wishing him a happy birthday.
Namjoon and Jin shared a look.
~~
“So, Jungkook-ah, it seems congratulations are in order,” Namjoon said, smiling at the younger alpha as he entered the kitchen.
“Ah, thanks...what for?” Jungkook asked, nervously looking at the older alpha out of the corner of his eye.
Namjoon froze, realizing that he may have spilled the beans before the couple themselves knew. “I... well, you...because you and Jimin…” he trailed off.
Jungkook stared at him, carefully schooling his expression. He would not spoil this for his mate.
“Because Jimin, you know…”
Jungkook waited.
“He smells,” Namjoon said weakly.
“I smell?”
Namjoon and Jungkook both turn toward the sound. Jimin was standing just inside the doorway, an empty drink cup in each hand, his expression clouded with hurt.
“No!” Namjoon sputtered. “I...uh...you smell good– normal . You smell normal. Ah...I hear Jin calling me.”
The older alpha hastened from the room and Jimin’s eyes narrowed on Jungkook.
“Do I smell? Be honest,” the omega demanded.
The alpha smiled and relaxed, reaching for his unhappy omega. “Hyung, I could eat you up on a bad day.”
Laughter filtered into the kitchen from their friends’ living room as Jimin rolled his eyes at the flirtatious alpha, reaching for his hand and tugging him out of the kitchen toward the sound.
“…we were in line, waiting, and he snaps at this alpha to back up and I swear it felt like I was dating a caveman,” Taehyung was telling their friends. “It was so hot.”
Jin snorted.
“Our protective alphas,” Jimin said giggling, the scene from the kitchen forgotten, as they sat around the living after dinner, playing a board game. “You should’ve seen Jungkook the other morning at the grocery store. He was growling at poor, unsuspecting people just doing their shopping.”
Namjoon reached for one of the several types of appetizers spread out on the coffee table.
“At least I wasn’t that bad,” Yoongi grouched. “Didn’t growl at the guy. You sound just like how Namjoon was back when Jin was pregnant with the twins.”
Namjoon started choking as he accidentally inhaled the bite he’d just taken, shaking his head wildly at Yoongi.
Jimin stares at Jin and Yoongi’s eyes widen comically and he points at him. “That’s what it is! I thought I was losing it! My alpha’s been going crazy with me whenever you’re around. It’s like I have this...urge...to protect you or something.”
Jungkook frowned at that, a small rumble sounding in his chest.
“Yeah, yeah, calm down, you big baby,” Yoongi said, laughing at the younger alpha.
“Jimin-ah, is there a chance you might be pregnant?” Jin asked gently, coming to his mate’s rescue and patting the still-choking alpha’s back.
“I...no,” Jimin said finally. “No, I...I mean...I don’t think so?”
He turned to look at Jungkook who was now smiling softly at him, looking proud as a peacock.
“I mean...maybe it’s a possibility?” Jimin said, sending the alpha a hesitant smile, his eyes swimming with bewilderment and, though hesitant, hopeful elation.
Jimin stayed lost in the alpha’s gaze a minute before remembering that they weren’t alone in the room, shyly looking back at his friends and clearing his throat.
“Right, so, um...that’s a possibility, yes,” he said, cheeks warm.
“But you weren’t like that with Jin-hyung,” Taehyung said to Yoongi from his spot beside the alpha.
Jin, sensing Jimin’s discomfort, attempted to lighten the mood, drawing attention to their friend instead. “Because he’s smart enough to know what would've happened to him if he tried anything like that with me,” the omega said and Yoongi snorted.
“Anyway, if you think there’s a chance, you can always take a test when you’re ready,” Jin said with a reassuring smile. “But for now, let’s get back to the game. Joonie and I are this close to winning.”
“If you can call whatever the two have been doing up until now as ‘this close to winning,’” Yoongi drawled, “then yes. You’re so close.”
Jin huffed at him, and everyone laughed, Namjoon patting the omega’s leg soothingly.
They continued the game, but Jimin could hardly focus, his mind reeling. Was he pregnant ? Taehyung wasn’t helping the situation with the way he was shooting nervous glances at Jimin once every fifteen seconds. Hobi wasn’t any better. He was staring at Jimin’s middle, as if trying to determine whether there was actually a pup growing there inside of him and if Jimin was showing.
His omega let out an excited yip at the thought of his belly rounding out as it swelled with the growth of their pup and Jimin felt his face warm even more.
Jungkook leaned in toward him, ever attuned to his mate.
“Do you want to leave?”
Jimin couldn't help but at the alpha adoringly, shaking his head no.
“You sure? I'm pretty sure I know already, but we can pick up a test on the way home?” he said quietly.
The omega hesitated, not wanting to disrupt their game by leaving early, but his excited impatience quickly won out and he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Jungkook cleared his throat and stood, reaching to help Jimin up out of his seat as well. “Ah, actually, you guys, I think we’re going to head out. I’ve got a bit of an early day tomorrow.”
There was a chorus of understanding from their friends, Namjoon and Jin both smiling at them knowingly.
They said their goodbyes and Taehyung squeezed Jimin extra tight as he hugged him before they left, with the omega letting out a squeak of protest and Jungkook protectively separating the two omegas at the sound.
“You’ll see me tomorrow,” Jimin said, laughing and letting Jungkook pull him flush against him, wrapping his arms securely around the omega’s smaller body.
“I know, but it won’t be the same,” Tae whined.
Jimin blushed. “It will. I mean, we don’t know anything for sure yet, obviously, but if I am, I’ll just have one more baby to take care of, that’s all.”
Tae looked at him in confusion.
“You know, after Jungkookie and you.”
Taehyung let out an indignant noise, swatting at the omega as he burst into teasing laughter.
“Ready to go?” Jungkook asked, slipping his hand into Jimin’s. The omega nodded, nervous, but smiling with anticipation as they left.
Once the door closed behind them, Namjoon slipped his arms around Jin from behind, pulling him back against his chest and letting out a small rumble of a growl in his ear.
“I want another one,” he said, dropping his chin on the omega’s shoulder.
Jin snorted, reaching a hand up and patting the alpha on the cheek.
“Not on your life.”
Fin.