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Jimin's pinkie brushed up against the back of his hand, rousing Namjoon from the place he had been drifting between awake and asleep.
The sun was still warm for the season, bright and comforting and perfect for napping under. Freshly mowed grass tickled his ankles and the back of his neck.
The park was quiet but for a family playing under the shade of a Pyrus Fauriei - a Korean sun tree. Two small children squealed with delight, chasing each other under the vibrant orange and red autumn leaves.
"Do you think she'll like us?" Jimin wondered.
It wasn't the first time he had asked, but Namjoon answered like it was.
"Of course she will. Especially you."
"Why especially me?"
Namjoon could hear the smile in his husband’s voice as he fished for compliments.
"Because you're made for this. You're love, personified. And that's all they really need at first. A lot of love."
"They need a little more than that, Hyung," Jimin laughed.
"Right, right. Clean nappies. Food. But...really, just a lot of love, I think. And you? You're selfless and devoted and kind. You're overflowing with love, and you can pour it into her."
"What if I get things wrong?" Jimin's voice wavered.
Namjoon rolled over, propping himself up on his elbow and smoothing the frown that wrinkled Jimin's brow with a gentle brush of his thumb.
"We might get one or two things wrong at first. But that's okay. We're learning too, baby. She'll be our biggest teacher."
"I am a good student," Jimin smiled, brighter than the sun above them.
"And you'll be the best Appa. Just like you're the best husband. And my best friend."
Jimin laughed, rolling towards Namjoon.
"You're a sap."
Namjoon smiled as he leaned down to press the lips together.
"But you love me."
"I do," Jimin whispered.
They lay back down, closer now, shoulders brushed together as they cloud-gazed.
Namjoon slipped his hand into his pocket, feeling the edges of the ultrasound image as he smiled.
~
The daughter was due any day now, their surrogate updating them almost hourly, as if she knew that Jimin was bursting at the seams for news.
Namjoon had put the nursery furniture together by himself - or, he had tried to, at least.
Jimin had not-so-subtly invited Yoongi around for dinner, and the night had ended with Yoongi doing all the work while Namjoon sat back with his third beer and “supervised”.
When it came time to paint the nursery walls, Jungkook had eagerly volunteered.
He wanted it to be a surprise, so for three days, Jimin paced up and down the hallway, desperate to offer his own suggestions and internally panicking that he would open the door to find black walls with mood lighting and video game characters painted on the ceiling.
When Jungkook finally stood in the doorway and welcomed Jimin and Namjoon into the nursery, they were met with the most beautiful creamy yellow walls, and a hand-painted mural of a field of wildflowers, the grass waist height, tiny ladybugs and butterflies so lifelike it seemed as if they flitted through the blossoms.
Jimin cried for an hour, clinging to Jungkook and sniveling into his shoulder until Namjoon pulled him off and carried him to bed.
Taehyung turned up with a box full of heat-and-eat meals for the freezer. Namjoon raised one skeptical eyebrow until Taehyung assured him that his eomma had done the cooking.
Jimin laughed, grateful of course, but still a little confused.
“Why do we need pre-cooked meals?”
Taehyung, who had watched his older sister raise his nephews, just smiled and patted Jimin on the shoulder.
“When you’ve been sleep deprived for six months, ask me that again, Jimin-ah.”
Hoseok and Seokjin handed Namjoon a small wooden box. Inside was overflowing with hand-written vouchers, some in Hobi’s writing, some in Jin’s.
This voucher entitles you to three hours of free babysitting.
This voucher entitles your toddler to five free dance lessons.
This voucher entitles you to one puppy, gifted to your daughter on the birthday of your choice.
~
It was 3am when their surrogate’s midwife called Jimin, a smile in her voice as she told them to make their way to the hospital - their daughter would arrive that day.
Jimin ran around the house vibrating with nervous energy, opening cupboard doors and sliding around the tiles, still in his fluffy bed socks.
“Where did I put them!? Here? No…the linen cupboard! Or are they still in the car…?”
“Baby, baby,” Namjoon soothed, “...slow down. What are you looking for?”
Jimin stopped in front of Namjoon and gripped his shoulders as he took a deep, calming breath.
“The plushies I bought. I couldn’t choose between them. It will be her first toy! It has to be special,” Jimin explained.
“Blue bag from Toys ‘R’ Us?” Namjoon asked.
“Yes!”
“Under the spare bedroom bed.”
Jimin gasped, pulling Namjoon down for a quick kiss before racing off down the hallway.
He came out holding two plush toys, one in each hand. A brown and white teddy bear, and a tiny hand-knit purple whale.
“This one is a classic,” Jimin waved the bear, “...but this one just…spoke to me.”
Jimin looked down at the whale in his hand fondly.
“Definitely the whale,” Namjoon smiled.
Jimin grinned, elated. He flung the bear in the direction of the couch and ran towards the front door.
“Let’s go meet our baby!”
“Uh, Jimin-ah?”
Jimin turned around and Namjoon felt an overwhelming rush of affection. His husband hadn’t brushed his hair and it was sticking up at odd angles. He was also still wearing fluffy socks without shoes.
Namjoon looked pointedly at Jimin’s feet.
“Oh! Woops…”
Jimin rushed back to their bedroom, shoving the whale into Namjoon’s arms on his way past. He came out properly dressed, even his hair tamed.
“Let’s go!”
Jimin ran past again and this time Namjoon followed, excitement and nervousness like butterflies in his stomach.
~
11 hours later, the piercing cry of a newborn infant echoed from behind the delivery room doors. Namjoon reached for Jimin’s hand and they stood, barely breathing while they waited.
Namjoon gripped the purple whale in his free hand.
The cry subsided, and the midwife poked her head out the door, smiling widely as she beckoned Namjoon and Jimin inside.
Their surrogate was breathing heavily as she lay back in the hospital bed, her hair sweaty and her face flushed, a tired smile on her face.
Jimin let go of Namjoon’s hand and inched closer, his eyes never leaving the tiny bundle wrapped in blankets, swaying gently in the arms of a nurse.
“Is she…?” Jimin whispered.
“She’s perfect…” The nurse smiled, “...would you like to hold her?”
Namjoon watched as Jimin carefully took the bundle of blankets and looked down, seeing their daughter for the first time.
He watched as Jimin began to cry, tears streaming down his cheeks as he smiled a smile that Namjoon had never seen in all of their years together.
He watched as Jimin tearfully thanked their surrogate and she waved his thanks away, her gaze fond.
Namjoon stepped closer, leaning over Jimin’s shoulder, and all at once his world tethered to the tiniest fist that was bunched under the tiniest chin.
“Do you have a name picked out?” The nurse asked.
Namjoon sniffed, unaware of his own tears until he felt them begin to dry, cold on his face.
“Yes…her name is Aera,” Namjoon replied.
“It means love ,” Jimin added.
“All you need is love…” Namjoon whispered under his breath, so quiet not even Jimin heard him.
Namjoon hugged the whale to his chest and breathed in, the word brand new and old as time all at once.