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The morning light slips through the faded curtains beside his bed, gentle and beautiful in a way that gives Donghyuck one great start for the long day ahead. Not much equal as the loud alarm that actually woke him up, ruining the supposed soft mood a Sunday should have. But it is very much needed, since he must set a lot of things ready before his husband wakes up, and get out of the way as much work as possible.
What kind of alpha would Donghyuck be if he let his pregnant omega arrange his own nursery?
Definitely not a good one. So he shuts the ranging alarm off before Jeno could ever flutter an eyelash and leaves the warm bed with careful movements. Jeno might be emotionally attached to a pregnancy pillow at the moment―which in no way makes him jealous―, however, the faint cinnamon scent and mere absence of Donghyuck affects him a lot in such an advanced state of gestation. Uncontrollable tears before had made that really clear.
A way too scented pillow lays right beside his husband, just in case, and Donghyuck knows he shouldn’t give one single look at the nestled omega, knowing damn well it would make him regret leaving the bed at all. Yet, it is impossible not to have a peek of a comfortable Jeno, still deep into a needed slumber after the hard night he had, with the baby sporadically kicking and the irritating hunger at three am.
Those types of inconveniences have been pretty common since the first symptoms started, but with the beginning of the third trimester, most of them got almost unbearable for his poor omega, who always tries to minimize the frustration and pain with a small smile drawn only for Donghyuck’s over protective alpha sake. It actually works, most times, when just a gentle massage does wonders, or the cravings are easily satisfied.
Under the soft blankets, a mess of black hair points in all directions, one fair hand holds tight the pillow where he laid before, and a steady breathing displays how calm Jeno feels while finally sleeping well. Donghyuck keeps an eye on the unaware man for a few seconds, his chest filled with warm delight at the beautiful image, utterly sad about having to leave the bedroom before made up excuses stop him from it.
Nothing should interfere with the plans for today, not even his ranging urgency of closeness with the asleep omega. They will have plenty of time together once Jeno wakes up all refreshed and ready for a whole day of building baby furniture along with Donghyuck, only to realise his lovely alpha did the hard parts alone so he can focus on more meaningful, less tiring details. A wonderful scenario Donghyuck expects.
With a bottle of cold tea for energy boost in one hand, and the other carrying his tools bag, Donghyuck opens the messy room full of heavy boxes across the wood floor. A slightly dusted bookshelf stands alone. It was built up by Jeno before even showing a small bump, overly excited about what else he could do for their baby's nursery, when the symptoms were just a brief dizziness or unexplainable irritation for every one around him.
Nonetheless, as the months went by, what seemed to be temporal changes, became something persistent. Jeno's cute belly was not the only thing that started growing. Aches did too, all over his back and hips, and so hormonal changes, like interminable cravings or random mood swings. Whenever he insisted on doing anything beyond organizing minimum stuff around, a cruel uneasiness would stop him quickly.
Every single dreadful time takes a toll on Jeno, even with an adorable determination of getting through the bad sides by enjoying the good ones, it seems obvious when something might drag him to the limits of his positivity. Donghyuck knows that the nursery still being practically empty is one of the most awful realities Jeno faces diary, having no physical strength to change it soon, despite his current gestational leave.
For worse—Jeno hating him forever—or better—Jeno kissing him thanks—, the nursery is in the determined alpha’s hands now. They already talked about how furniture should be located, what the aesthetic would be, and where the necessities will be put; Donghyuck just has to follow the instructions he secretly wrote down on his phone each moment the omega made a yearning remark about it.
All ready and set, with slow motions for a quiet work, Donghyuck opens the first sealed box of the day, finding inside his main priority: a nice wood, highly recommended, very expensive, rocking chair. Perfect for Jeno to sit there once he wakes up, instead of sulking alone in another room because the harder stuff is done. And perfect for Donghyuck to admire the wonderful sight of his beautiful omega carrying their healthy pup.
It is quite easy from the start, so, within a non-stop productive hour, the sturdy chair stands proud on itself, smelling brand new and with a light reflection in the varnish. In some angles, if he ignores the mess of bubble plastic wrappers, it looks exactly like in the website. An excited anticipation tightens his throat by imagining Jeno in the picture, handsome enough to pass as one high-rank model instead of a silly hallucination he made up.
Crying because of an imaginary Jeno sounds fun, but a list of furniture for different dreamy scenarios waits ahead. The even more expensive crib comes next, shipped straight from China thanks to a close friend who couldn't hold his pockets.
‘’How do you pretend to build that if the instructions are in chinese?’’
The accusatory voice makes Donghyuck jump startled in his place, stopping any attempt at opening the big box, like a robber caught in the middle of a bank vault, but way worse. He slowly looks behind him, with the best puppy eyes and pouty lips on display for a little mercy, hands fidgeting around the scissors’s handles while his feet turn around to fully face whatever unknown destiny awaits in front of him.
Answering the question with what he intended to do with the instructions is a terrible idea. It has been years since Donghyuck had to worry about any Chinese ordeal, such as business documents or funny images on the internet, because his very smart husband got a perfect score language certificate many years ago, long before they met as an interpreter-business man duo at the same company, and it means a lot for the develop of their relationship.
So, the intended use of a crappy translation app counts as a good intentioned betrayal.
Jeno might be heavily pregnant, all soft edges and roundness everywhere, but his temperament is the complete opposite. Damned Donghyuck if he ever forgets that peculiar fact, which is why the whole plan inside his now scrambled brain must change in no longer than a few seconds, while the omega waits for a valid answer right at the door, with an unmistakable fuming frown.
‘’Hi, love. Did you sleep well?’’ the overly tender whisper comes slightly strangled, almost comical. Nobody is laughing, though.
‘’Your daughter started kicking’’ tiredness slips through the one phrase Donghyuck is used to hearing a lot. Jeno sighs heavy, just talking takes a great effort nowadays ‘’When I looked for you, the bed was empty’’
A spark of joy threatens to fire up a mesmerized smile when Jeno calls the baby his, still astonished by the reality of finally starting a family along with the man he loves. It goes away quickly once the second part is mentioned, replaced with a twist of regret immediately, realising in an instant that Jeno might be rightfully mad about something far from assembling a few sets of overpriced furniture too.
One thing they found out in the second trimester, when the baby could move more noticeable and became very active, is the adorable attachment their daughter has with Donghyuck. If she kicked too harsh into Jeno’s ribs, Donghyuck would lay his head in the pointed belly button to whisper sweet nothings with a calm manner, caressing the strained skin, until Jeno stopped grimacing in pain. It always worked wonders.
Soon it was an important part of their routine, without a single complaint from Donghyuck, to still be in bed each morning before Jeno began unconsciously whimpering in pain, as if the baby had a punctual biological clock for her dad’s frightful awakening. Pepper kisses and lax scolding were always enough to stretch the rigid schedule a couple of minutes more, but then both Jeno and the baby would be crazy hungry.
The idea of Jeno being beaten up from the inside by their traitor daughter and anxiously looking for him with no success, makes his alpha senses go nuts. His husband is certainly doing the entire hard work ―all the time, every single day, for long months, so Donghyuck can only try to ease the external matters for him, be there whenever is required, serve as a strong pillar and hold the burdens with solid effort.
‘’I’m so sorry, baby’’ Donghyuck blurts out, walking towards Jeno with his hands extended, the unconscious need of having them in the omega’s belly acts without any notice, but stops his track in seconds, not wanting to upset him more ‘’I’m so, so, so, so deeply sorry’’
His husband stays still, quiet enough for Donghyuck to check the disgruntled mood in detail.
Thin button up pajamas are a must for Jeno since his body temperature increased, the oversized brown ones with long sleeves and stretchy pants he is wearing being his favorites, due to the way its smooth fabric hugs perfectly the prominent curve of his stomach, no matter how much it constantly grows. Donghyuck thinks everything looks astonishing on Jeno, but this precise outfit tickles a soft spot for how cozy it looks.
Jeno has a big pair of black glasses, eyesight affected by the pregnancy even after years of a perfect lasik surgery recovery, framing his indignant expression. It gives such a comfortable sight along with the messy black hair, which is longer than usual, making him look like the cutest puppy mad.
However, through all the pretty views he can’t get enough of, there is an indubitable displeasure tormenting Jeno. Not only visible by his whole tense manner, with both hands supporting his lower back, but also easy to guess if Donghyuck inhales just a little bit. The regularly sweet milky peach scent now holds some bitter notes, which hides the usually strong claiming cinnamon under it.
“Why would you do this without me?” The lack of whiny sulkiness on the question just shows how serious Jeno is about this. If he wanted a session of pampering, it would be way different.
Right now, Donghyuck would stab his chest with harmless kids scissors if Jeno asked for it.
Not being fully able to smell himself in Jeno makes every fiber of his body shake with unsettlement. The sudden need of scenting for the comfort of his omega drowns the small room in the woody spice aroma, an instinctive way of doing it without invading Jeno's personal space while he feels so sensitive. The slight Ceylon says more than words about Donghyuck's real regret, showing how significant this is for him too.
“I wanted to surprise you…” he tries entirely with the truth. That should do, for the explanation, at least “For you to rest and then help me once the heavier stuff were done”
After what seems like an eternity of exchanging stern stares, Jeno's eyes fill with thick, frustrated tears, and a quivering sob comes without warning before the omega cries out something unexpected “I am so useless nowadays”
Oh?
The ridiculous statement catches him out of guard, not sure if the brutal reaction has to do with a dramatic misinterpretation from his words or it is the hormonal war Jeno lives in acting up in an inconvenient moment. Donghyuck's nose won't cooperate much under this kind of confusing circumstances, his senses all over the place with the salty smell of tears and sudden distress. All he knows, though, is that Jeno is completely wrong.
“Of course you're not!” The hurried exclamation does great to demonstrate his incredulousness, since Jeno seems taken aback a little by the almost offended tone. Donghyuck softens his voice then “Making a whole human life is so much more difficult than numbered screws, dear”
“Then why can't I do it without needing to stop instantly?” Shame lingers in the question, whispered with a couple of hiccups on the way, while the omega’s full cheeks glisten with trails of soaking tears. Jeno looks more defeated than angry now.
It would never get easier to feel his own heart sink whenever Jeno has a vulnerable moment of volatile emotions, knowing damn well how calm and collected his husband tended to be before the pregnancy. Always the logical voice in their relationship, the one giving reassurance in tender whispers. This type of behavior is new for both of them, even after months of it.
But Donghyuck would bear it again and again, however he can, just for the well being of Jeno and the family that they have started.
“The kid might be really lazy” His hands move to the swollen belly, warm and welcoming, and kisses Jenoˋs dark circles, wet from the on going crying. “We both know she took that from me”
“But I should…” Jeno gets interrupted with a kiss on the mouth at the very start of his unnecessary ramble. If one thing has been the same for years, it is the way Donghyuck deals with those.
“Relax, because you deal with two Donghyucks all day now” he draws a few circles at the top of the bump, his hands tingling with excitement and delight at the thought of a whole baby growing inside Jeno. Talking about it out loud is such a bliss, and seeing the omega follow the movements in silence makes it better.
In no time, the tension that wandered around them starts to lift up easily, and both scents begin complimenting each other with delicious serenity, giving Donghyuck a slight hope of quick forgiveness. Jeno seems less tense, allowing the pheromones to do its job, probably without a single heed at first, since he is so needy of such intimate soothing. A tranquil silence slowly arises before they even realise it, and any anger goes away.
“Dumb alpha” Jeno takes a deep breath, then sighs. An incredulously humorous smile appears once he calms down, which highlights the pretty natural pink on his fuller cheeks, and the signature half moon eyes “You owe me a fancy dinner after sorting all this up”
With that silly joke—Donghyuck surely considers it a sealed promise for later—, Jeno points at the mess of spread out wood pieces and foreign instructions left unattended, and without waiting for his alpha's answer, walks, well, more like waddles straight to the rocking chair. When he sits down, a satisfied sound makes clear how comfortable that thing is, which fills Donghyuck with a sense of pride.
Watching Jeno finally rest in the baby's room swells his heart with pure love and anticipation. He can’t wait to hold their daughter tight, sing her lullabies along with the omega, take tons of pictures and frame them for decoration around the house. But today, Donghyuck will start building the nursery, now with the sight of his beautiful husband mindlessly caressing the bump while inspecting the whole undone room.
Donghyuck completely understands what people mean about the “pregnancy glow” omegas have when they carry a pup. Or perhaps it is just his endless love and admiration he has for his husband, the ones that make Jeno shine so bright no matter the situation. Who cares anyway.
“Help me with the chinese stuff, pretty please?”
“Next time, you stay in bed instead of doing solo side quest, Lee Donghyuck”