Yeosang pulled the blanket tighter around himself at the chill of winter seeping into his room, leaving the poor boy shivering and upset.

But to his luck, his lover was just behind him and being the big spoon. Wooyoung pulled him closer to get warmer despite already wearing a hoodie and warm pajama pants. The thing that annoyed Yeosang was something else, though. He didn't like how Wooyoung rubbed his swollen belly or how fat he felt. No, he didn't tell Wooyoung that he's knocked out. But the younger could probably tell from every time Yeosang rejected a simple beer and opted for his herbal tea.

"Love, do you remember the time we didn't use protection?" Yeosang asked in hesitation.

"Yeah, but you took plan b... oh," Wooyoung whispered softly, feeling a kick against his palm as Yeosang's breath hitched. A flush crept across his cheeks. He hadn’t expected this moment to arrive so soon, and now, with Wooyoung’s hand resting on his belly, the reality of the situation was undeniable.

“Yes, but…what if it didn’t work?” Yeosang's voice was barely above a whisper, but the urgency of his thoughts echoed loudly in his mind. He hadn’t been ready for this. They had only just moved in together, their plans still filled with travel and adventure, not preparing for a baby.

Wooyoung shifted, propping himself up on one elbow, concern etching across his features. “Honestly, you think we might be...?” His eyes widened, glancing down at Yeosang’s midsection. The soft, rhythmic kicks felt like the universe responding to their shared moment of uncertainty.

“I—” Yeosang’s heart raced. “I haven’t gotten my period and the herbal tea… I thought it was just stress, but….”

“I’ll take a look,” Wooyoung said, instant determination in his voice. He slipped out from under the covers, moving to the bedside table where they kept a stash of tests. Yeosang watched, his heart pounding in his chest, as Wooyoung fumbled slightly, the reality of the situation making his normally nimble fingers clumsy.

“Wooyoung, we can wait a little longer…” Yeosang tried, a mix of hesitation and hope flooding through him. The idea of becoming a parent was overwhelming, but the thought of their future together, with tiny feet padding around their home, lit a spark of excitement deep down.

“Yeosang, it’s better to know than wonder. Besides,” Wooyoung flashed a smile that melted Yeosang’s worries just a little, “no matter what, we’ll handle it together.”

Yeosang nodded slowly, biting his lower lip. Wooyoung returned with the test, and they sat together on the edge of the bed. The air between them was thick with anticipation as they waited for the result.

“I’m right here,” Wooyoung said soothingly, squeezing Yeosang’s hand. “We’re in this together.”

A long moment passed before Wooyoung broke the silence, “Okay, we can look now.”

With a deep breath, Yeosang turned his gaze to the test. What he saw wasn't what he had imagined—or maybe it was, and he just hadn’t been ready to accept it. The two lines clearly stated what they both had been dreading and anticipating simultaneously.

“Oh,” Yeosang breathed, feeling a rush of emotions crash over him. He turned to Wooyoung, whose eyes were wide and glowing with both shock and joy.

“I guess we’re having a baby,” Wooyoung said, his grin spreading beyond his cheeks. It was bright, infectious, and somehow comforting in the chaotic rush of it all.

As they shared a dazed look, Yeosang felt a mixture of fear and exhilaration. Caught up in it all, he couldn’t help but smile back. “We’re having a baby,” he echoed, and suddenly, the prospect didn’t seem so terrifying anymore. It felt like a new adventure, theirs to embrace, together.

...

Two years later

"Woo, give me a cigarette," Yeosang called out to his boyfriend, clad in an oversized sweater and pants. They didn't keep the baby, as Yeosang wasn't ready, and their money situation wasn't the best, so they agreed on abortion. No matter how painful it was at that time, Yeosang was way happier than he thought now, touring Paris and trying wines as the city of love lived up to its name. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the iconic skyline, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafting from nearby cafés.

Wooyoung, still in the kitchen of their cozy rental apartment, turned away from the cutting board where he was preparing their dinner. He raised an eyebrow at Yeosang, a playful smirk on his lips. “You know that’s bad for your lungs, right? Even in Paris, I can’t let you ruin that beautiful voice of yours.”

Yeosang rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips. He loved this playful banter; it was as much a part of their relationship as the warm embraces and late-night talks. “Just one. I promise I’ll only take it because it’s a momentous occasion.”

“Momentous? What, because you almost finished your glass of wine?” Wooyoung teased, pouring the last of the red into a bright, stemmed glass and handing it to Yeosang.

“Fine, for the wine then,” Yeosang chuckled, leaning against the counter. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy it so much—both the wine and the view,” he added, glancing out of the window to the twinkling lights of Paris.

“I thought you’d be worried about the calories,” Wooyoung said, moving back to the stove where their dinner—some sort of beautifully charred chicken and roasted vegetables—was still cooking.

Yeosang shrugged, a carefree smile still on his face as he lifted the glass to his lips. “They don’t count when you’re in France!”

“Is that why you ordered two pastries instead of one the other day?” Wooyoung shot back, laughter lacing his tone.

“Okay, maybe,” Yeosang admitted with a laugh, and a soft blush crept into his cheeks at the memory of indulging in rich macarons. “But it feels good to let loose a little.” He sighed, the previous weight of their decision lifting more and more with each passing day. The pain was still there, subtle, but overshadowed by how much they had grown together since, how they had traveled to places they’d always dreamed of and created memories that filled their hearts with joy.

With a smug grin, Wooyoung took a step closer, wrapping his arms around Yeosang’s waist as he leaned into him from behind. “We really are living our best lives, aren’t we?”

“Yeah,” Yeosang breathed, resting his head back against Wooyoung’s shoulder. “You think we’ll come back to Paris again?”

“Definitely. But next time, we’re bringing a little one to play with,” Wooyoung said, his voice light but tinged with genuine sentiment.

Yeosang turned around, surprised by the sincerity reflected in Wooyoung’s eyes. “You think so?”

“Of course! When we’re ready,” Wooyoung assured, fingers brushing through Yeosang’s hair tenderly. “And when we can afford to spoil them with all this fancy food and beautiful sights. I want to show them how big the world is.”

Yeosang smiled, his heart swelling with love for this man who was always ready to dream with him. “Maybe next time, we’ll even have a little French baby,” he joked, laughter spilling from his lips.

“Now that’s quite the envisioning,” Wooyoung pretended to ponder seriously, then added, “But seriously, I’m excited for that future. When the time is right.”

“Me too.” The thought thrilled Yeosang more than he expected. He had worried it would always feel like a weight on their shoulders, but now it felt like a possibility woven into their future. They were learning how to embrace life, unsure but hopeful.

“Well, I guess if you’re not getting that cigarette, we should celebrate your newfound wine palate instead,” Wooyoung announced, and Yeosang laughed the full, genuine laugh that melted all worries away.

“Let’s toast to that, then,” Yeosang said, raising his glass high.

“To new adventures, together,” Wooyoung echoed, clinking his glass against Yeosang’s, and they both took a long sip, savoring not just the wine but the journey that was yet to come.