Chapter Text
"No, this can't be"
He glanced down at the pregnancy test within his grasp which displayed those two red lines he wished didn't show, but it did, it was evident there. In his palms held his future, his eyes began to water, the tears threatening to spill from pure shock at the sudden emotion he felt.
this was bad, real bad
He didn't understand, He swore that he took the contraceptives the doctor prescribed specifically when it was mating season and he took them consistently without fail, what went wrong?. James immediately grabs the pill bottle from the sink counter, looking closely at the brand name, table of content, the softness of the remaining pills. Anything to really signify it was all just a brutal mistake until his eyes fell on the expiry date
May 2026, May? he has been taking expired pills this whole time? this time wasn't on the company's doctor but on him for not going back on time to get new ones. His surroundings began stirring as he sunk slowly to the marble floor of the dorm's bathroom, he is fucked, he was scared out of his mind
what about his career? what was his label going do to him? they already had a hard time discerning on whether to put him, an omega in a group with 3 alphas and a beta. James was exceptionally good at his dance skills, which rightfully earned him his spot but now it seems invalid as he had been careless with his heat cycle he had with his Alphas not too long ago.
James stares into nothing as he tries to retrace when his last heat happened, he vaguely remembers it was around the time they secured 11 wins for REDRED, which he was in the early stages of his heat decided to spend it with both Martin and Juhoon whom he trusted whole heartedly helped him throughout the process. He had flashes of the way they held him through every nest he built around the dorm, giving him his medications and whispering sweet things as they marked him as theirs officially after he rode out his heat.
It was sweet as the two alphas already had their eyes on him and were planning to court him before he asked them for their help, James has a hard time displaying emotions to others so it was quite surprising he wanted to mate with the two members. How could he possibly break the news to them? that they are the Fathers to his unborn baby? during comeback week too? James is older and should have been more responsible!
James takes his phone from his pocket "i need to talk to someone", he mutters to himself before scrolling through his contact list with shaky hands lands on Woochan, his close friend from the trainee era. The phone ringing echoes through the quiet atmosphere whilst James was trying to keep his composure, the other line is answered
"Hey", Woochan's voice boomed through the phone's speakers
"Hi Woo"
"You called? is everything okay?"
James couldn't hold it much longer as he begins to cry, startling Woochan, James is never the one to cry especially on a phone call
"Jamie, buddy, why are you crying? Did something happen?"
James sniffed harshly, trying to wipe the tears away that fell helplessly from his eyes.
"James, are you still with me? please answer, I'm getting worried", Woochan asks again, with concern laced all over his voice.
"N-no", James admits, answering his previous question "Something is terribly wrong"
"What is it? Please tell me when you feel ready", Woochan replies calmly, not wanting to rush the younger.
James takes a deep breath before sighing, it's now or never "I'm pregnant"
The line falls silent for a brief second
"You're pregnant?", Woochan repeats the statement, unsure on whether to believe it or not "Since when?"
"I-i'm not sure, around two months now? i just t-took a pregnancy test and it's positive ", James babbled out, the tears pouring out more from his eyes, limiting his speech as it seeped into his shirt. Woochan could tell that his friend wasn't joking as the younger is known for sometimes his funny antics but this time felt different.
"Oh James, this is huge...., can we switch to video call?", James whimpers at his request, switching immediately and meeting a concerned look on his hyung's face. He didn't have a disgusted look but rather that of sympathy as James's teary eyes meets his gaze
"James, just take it easy ok. Breath for me", Woochan speaks calmly, Being an Alpha trying to understand the omega and his current struggles.
"I swear woo, i took my pills religiously, i made sure i took them even before the last heat i had with my Alphas. i-i promise you that!, but i just checked the pills and it turns out they were expired since may", James dumps it all out before inhaling the air that felt rather suffocating than soothing.
"I know you did, you are always up to date with these things", Woochan gives a soft smile "i would never blame you for something that's out of your control", Woochan can't feel his pain from an Alpha's perspective but can from personal experience he had with his bandmate, Lee Chaewon that's also an omega, his. whenever it was time for mating season, the pregnancy scares they get every month because of sudden fevers Chaewon got was truly scary.
Woochan would have probably made a joke of how lucky he is now but he a'int a bitch.
"Have you told them?", Woochan adds, referring to Martin and Juhoon which James shakes his head sideways
"Not yet", James exhales the breath he forgot he had held for too long "i don't want comeback week to get affected because of me, We have come so far"
"Do you plan on keeping it?", Woochan asks, it felt like an uncomfortable itch he didn't want to scratch. He hadn't thought that far, as much as he would want to keep his career, he didn't want to abort his baby for the fantasy of some random strangers. He now knows the reason for his headaches and constant vomiting at random hours of the morning & feeling awfully hungry a lot lately, he has made up his mind.
He was going to keep his baby no matter what.
"Yes", James said with uncertain confidence as he wipes his tears "i want to keep it", he slowly rubs at his belly, looking at the life he was forming with an emotional smile on his face "i never want to choose between my choices & whatever the company or the public may think". Woochan nods in understanding, it's a tough decision being made especially considering how young they were.
"This is a big decision you have made Jamie, just know i support you all the way", Woochan smiles "but i strongly advise you to speak up soon, we can't have a pregnant omega dancing your types of choreo" Woochan says alluding to the fact Cortis's choreographies are intense and need high energy.
Knowing alphas like him, He knows Martin & Juhoon would certainly NOT allow him to even lift his finger throughout his trimesters , talk less of dancing.
"I'll try to, later though by this week or next week-"
"James", Woochan says sternly
"Fine, Tomorrow. i want to unpack all these emotions first before i tell them, it just feels so surreal, it is happening too fast and what if they hate me or wouldn't want the b-"
"James!, stop speaking ill of them. They'll understand, they aren't monsters, they love you and you know that. Don't let your hormones tell you otherwise", Woochan stops him from further talking down on himself in the current situation's he is in or the alphas.
James looks up back at Woochan, who had a supportive smile on his face, his friend is so kind to him even when in doubt "Thanks woo, i really appreciate it", James lets out weakly
"Anytime Jamie, i would love to stay and continue chatting but I'm having a late night practice session for the new album and my Manager-min will kill me lol"
"It's all right, i understand"
"Have a good night's rest"
"you too and i would", James replies before the screen goes black again, signifying the calls end. He stands up from the floor and turns towards the mirror, rubbing at his stomach "You really are the reason, aren't you little one? i promise to protect you" he mutters under his breath, looking at the pregnancy test in his palm "I'll do the best to keep you safe, i hope your dads would want you too"
James opens a drawer that belonged to him in the bathroom, stuffing it at the far back for whenever he was ready to show it to his boyfriends. He washes his face briefly before stepping out of the bathroom into his shared bedroom with Juhoon (and Martin because he moved in with them, leaving Seonghyeon and Keonho with a lot of more room space)
He opens the door to see Juhoon already sleeping at the right side of the bed while martin was working with his laptop on the left side, He closes the door before Martin raises up his head fully from the glowing screen
"Baby, you're back", Martin says as James climbs in between the two alphas to rest his head on Martin's shoulder "Yeah, i am", He responds. Martin looks at him briefly, planting a kiss into his hair before looking back at his screen
"But you took quite a long time, was it your stomach aching or something?", Martin asks casually, James's breath catches for a sec "Something like that... but I'm fine" Martin hums at the response.
"I'm already tidying up what I'm working on, i know you hate me staying up too late", Martin jokes, making James giggle "You say it like it's a bad thing" James suddenly feels a pair of arms around him from behind, Juhoon had turned in his sleep and was hugging him. Not a weird thing but out of pure instinct he prefers hugging the omega while they slept.
"See tin, Jju is sleeping and always takes it seriously. What you're working on isn't till next comeback anyways, let's go to bed", Martin groans, finally closing the laptop, keeping it on the night stand.
"Anything for you, baby", Martin says, finally laying down "I'll probably thank you for this later in the morning", James laughs as he cups the younger's face, pulling him into a soft kiss "Good night"
"Good night", Martin smiles, his lids closing in the process as he drifts off to dream land, James stays awake a little longer just staring at the ceiling thinking to himself 'when would it be the right time to tell them?' James did have plans to tell them but he wasn't certain they would take the news well
"what would i do now?", He said to no one really as the room was in complete silence, the only sound is the soft snores of Juhoon while Martin's breathing was heard. He should not think too much about it, he is literally carrying their baby. James closes his eyes and hopes for the best
after all, this was a problem Future James could handle.