Chapter Text
The Miraculous child
Chapter One
Farewell my wife, welcome my daughter
After nine years of wandering aimlessly in limbo, Kim Shin was finally awarded by meeting his first and last bride Eun Tak. Although, she had no recollection of who was the man holding her tightly, she felt relieved and secured as if a part of her soul had returned at last to her make her whole again. The newly resurrected goblin tried hard to find someone who would recognize him and help him but he was not lucky so far. His nephew Deok Hwa seemed oblivious of whom he is. He went to where the restaurant of his only sister is and her eyes met his but he found no recognition in them so he had to disappear quickly from there before he made a fool of himself. He was wandering in Seol's streets while thinking what should he do and then he found himself in front of the place where the reaper's tea shop is, he turned to see if the damned reaper is still working there or not and then their eyes met, he teased the reaper as he did years ago but to his surprise the reaper did recognize him and invited him inside his work place. He was relieved that at least there is one person in this universe still remembering him. He returned to his home with the reaper and he cut his long hair short and wore some of his old clothes. He was a bit surprised that the reaper kept all his belongings safe and did not throw them away over the years.
Few weeks later, the life seemed good to the goblin. His bride finally remembered him, he also managed to restore his company and his wealth and he got the chance to be an uncle again to his spoiled wayward nephew. This time, he did not waste the time to get closer to his bride and he proposed to her and he was the happiest man in the world when she accepted him to be her husband.
Their wedding was simple only the family and the close friends were there. Kim Shin got the chance to meet his sister, Sunny, during the wedding. She was ugly as usual in his eyes and he did not miss the chance to tease her, she confessed that she had never lost her memories in the first place. Wang Yeo and Kim Sun met also there but they were not lucky as the goblin couple, Sunny realized that she could not forgive him because of his wrong doings towards her in this life and the previous one, she punished him by preventing him of seeing her again in this life and she promised him in their next life, they would be together again.
The samshin grandmother also visited them and gave them her blessing, the newly married couple was so happy of her visit. Two months passed after the marriage and life was wonderful, they were sharing everything together, their happy moments, and their tough and hard ones. The chores of cooking, cleaning, and laundry as usual were done by either Eun Tak or the reaper. The shopping was left to the goblin because he was the one with the much free time.
One day, Eun Tak felt sick and she could not finish her meal that was prepared especially for her by her beloved husband. The smell of beef was so horrible to her now sensitive sense of smell. She also felt light- headed and tired most of the time. The goblin was clueless as usual but the reaper had his suspicion and he suggested that Eun Tak had to see a doctor. The goblin couple visited the doctor and he told them that Eun Tak is pregnant. When they returned home, they found the reaper making a light balanced meal for the pregnant woman and he confessed that he had his suspicion from the beginning. When Eun Tak went to take a nap, the reaper approached the goblin with forlorn and desolate expression; the goblin knew in his heart that he would not like what the reaper is going to say.
"I am happy for you two", the reaper started
"Your face does not show it at all", the goblin retorted while gesturing to the gloomy expression written all over the reaper's face.
"Eun Tak is now pregnant and soon you will have your first new born and you need to live as a real family, there is no place for an outsider like me among you guys", the reaper confessed frankly while avoiding the eye contact with the other so the goblin could not see the pain those words brought to his now watery eyes.
The goblin stood still for a little while, he was at loss at what he should say to the poor reaper, he was engrossed in his own happiness and he totally forgot about their housemate who was suffering from so much heartache. He stretched his hand and gently raised the other man's head up to look him in the eye and with his finger he wiped the few tear drops resting on the pale cheeks of the reaper.
"Our family would never be whole without you and then who would change the diapers of the baby when Eun Tak returns to her work. You would be the perfect baby sitter to our little princess"
"Princess?!", the reaper inquired softly.
"Yes, we will have a baby girl", said the goblin proudly with wide silly smile drawn on his lips.
"Then we had to choose a room for the nursery and start decorating it to suit the little princess ", said the reaper with light dreamy voice.
"Go have some rest and we will start the baby stuff hunt tomorrow", said the goblin excitedly. With that the goblin turned to join his wife in their shared bedroom but before he closed the door shut a soft "thank you" was sent to him from his housemate.
As the days passed Eun Tak started to gain some weight, walking became an effort thanks to her swollen feet so the reaper volunteered to do all the house chores; he also bought some books for Eun Tak to learn more about motherhood and how to properly take care of a newly born. He secretly bought another set of those books for himself because he was curious about how to handle the new born babies; he spent day after day in learning all about the babies and their needs.
The long awaited day of birth came but it was not cheerful and wonderful as they were expecting because Eun Tak's heart could not take the strain of giving birth and it stopped working few minutes after the baby's delivery. The news was sudden and shocking for all of them but the goblin had not received this news rationally. He was so bitter and depressed; he even refused to carry the little girl because he saw her the cause of his beloved wife's untimely death. The nurse tried more than one time to convince him to get the wailing baby but he refused to even look at the poor baby. Deok Hwa took the little bundle but he soon felt at loss of what was needed to be done to calm the crying baby down. The reaper was torn between going to lead Eun Tak's soul to afterlife and taking care of the newly born baby girl. He decided to calm down the baby first then he would do his work. He was sure that Eun Tak won't mind to wait for a little bit until he took care of her precious baby. He took the tiny baby carefully from the goblin's nephew and tugged her closer to his chest and started to rock her gently while humming softly a lullaby, the baby calmed few minutes later and went contently to the dream land. He returned her to the awaiting arms of the young rich man who instantly took liking of the little bundle of joy.
The goblin accompanied the reaper during his mission to deliver his wife's soul; he was devastated when he saw her in the damned tea shop waiting calmly to be sent to afterlife.
"How dare you leave me like that", the crying goblin scolded his deceased wife gently with trembling voice.
"I am so sorry but it was not my choice to leave you dear but at least you won't be alone, you have our little princess with you", the deceased woman tried to soothe her devastated husband who was now shaking his head in denial refusing to hear her soothing words.
"She is the reason that you lost your life, I could not see her face because she would a living reminder of my loss. You were all what I wanted from life but you were taken away from me because of her", the crying man wailed his sorrow and sadness to his wife with those heart –breaking words.
"Please dear, if you really loved me that much, do not blame our baby she was not responsible of any of that. How you could blame an innocent soul like her for just being born. This is unfair and I would be disappointed in you if you continued blaming her", the goblin's wife rebuked him sternly because she was disgusted of the notion that her beloved baby will be left with burden of her mother's death for the whole of her life and she might not find the love that she deserves. Sensing his wife rage and objection at his silly demeanor, the goblin apologized regretfully to calm his angry wife.
"I am so sorry dear, you are right. I am just being not in my right mind"
"Please, promise me you would cherish her and love her for her whole life. Make her happy and let your love compensate her of her mother's absence" the deceased woman demanded with an un wavering will.
"I promise", her husband answered with new conviction growing in his heart that he will do his best in taking care of their child to make the last wish of his deceased wife true. The deceased woman sighed in relief and smiled to her husband
"I am also going to promise you that I will come again back to you soon, just wait for me" with those promise she finished her departing words with her beloved husband and turned her head towards her housemate and friend.
"Mr. Grim Reaper, you too have to promise me that you will take care of both of them, I have great faith in you do not let me down" the reaper nodded his head in acceptance and she felt happy and grateful.
"Thank you" she walked to the door that leads to afterlife and opened it, she ascended the stairs to the heaven with light eager steps leaving her beloved people in agony but she was determined and confident that sadness won't last forever because she was sure of her reunion with them once more.
The reaper took the trembling hands of the goblin in his hands and led him out of his working place because they have to deal with Eun Tak's funeral and the mission of raising a little baby girl up. They arrived at the hospital and the goblin accepted his daughter in his arms but when he carried the small bundle, he felt scared. In the past, he was a general, he knew how to handle serious and tough matters, he could take an enemy down, he could wield any weapon and accept any challenge. And for 900 years, he is a capable guardian for those who are in need and furious deity for those who need punishment. However, in all his long life, he never tended for a little infant, he never carries a baby to his chest, he never sings a song for one, he had never prepared some milk or changed a diaper for babies before. He has no clue, how to soothe a crying baby, how to read a bed time story, how to rock a baby back and forth and how to shower and change his or her clothes. He was feeling panic and his face paled just from thinking of his sure coming failure to be a good parent but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped his torrent of terrible thoughts and a low baritone warm voice calmed his uptight tense nerves.
"Do not worry, you are not alone. I am with you, I will help you as much as I can, you can rely on me and I won't let you down. I promise."
For now apparent reason the goblin soon felt relieved when he heard those words, although he was not sure how the previous king and a grim reaper like Wang Yeo could handle a little baby but the confidence and determination in his housemate's tone made him a bit hopeful of their coming future. He also will do his best in the role of father, leaving in his mind the role of a mother to the soft and kind hearted reaper; at least he had no other choice.
To be continued,,,