Taehyung woke with a start, his heart pounding as the memories of last night’s argument with Jimin replayed vividly in his mind. He felt immense guilt rise up inside him as he recalled the hurtful words he had said in his anger and frustration. Jimin was pregnant with their child, he should have been more understanding, more patient. But instead he had allowed his emotions to get the better of him.

Quietly getting dressed so as not to wake his parents, Taehyung knew he owed Jimin an apology. And more than that, he needed to make things right between them. If not for themselves, then for the sake of their unborn baby.

He walked slowly to Jimin’s room and knocked gently on the door. There was a pause before he heard movement inside and then the door opened. Jimin stood there, dark shadows under his eyes indicating his fatigue. Taehyung’s heart ached at the sight.

“Jimin, I...I’m so sorry about last night,” Taehyung began, the words rushing out. “I was way out of line. I never should have raised my voice or gotten so angry with you. Not when you’re...”

He trailed off, emotion constricting his throat.

Jimin held up a hand wearily. “It’s fine, Taehyung. We were both on edge and things got heated.” His tone was detached, his expression carefully neutral. “I know your priority is making sure our baby will be provided for. That’s why I’m here and I intend to do my part.”

Taehyung felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. The cold distance in Jimin’s words, the lack of feeling or connection between them, hurt more than any shouting match could have. Taehyung struggled not to let the pain show on his face.

“Right...of course. Thank you,” he managed quietly.

They stood awkwardly for a moment until talk turned to the proposal meeting Taehyung had attended, Jimin turned to him, his expression carefully composed. “How did it go yesterday?”

Taehyung cleared his throat. “It went well. Everyone seemed pleased with the proposal I put together based on your earlier documents and forecasts.”

He gave a brief rundown of the meeting, keeping it professional and leaving out any hints at his underlying feelings or inner turmoil.

Jimin nodded. “That’s good to hear. I’m glad I could contribute something helpful.”

He hesitated before adding, “I know the next quarter projections need to be completed soon. Let me put something together for you.”

Taehyung’s brows shot up in surprise and concern. “What? No, you don’t have to do that. You should be resting...”

“I’m pregnant, Taehyung, not helpless,” Jimin said sharply. Then he softened, placing a hand almost unconsciously over his rounding belly. “Please, I want to do this. It helps to keep my mind occupied and makes me feel like I have purpose here.”

Taehyung knew he should refuse, knew Jimin needed to avoid stress and overexertion in his condition. But the quiet plea in Jimin’s eyes swayed him. If drafting some documents helped give him meaning amidst all this chaos, who was he to deny that comfort?

“Okay,” he conceded. “But take plenty of breaks, all right? And no all nighters trying to get things done.”

The barest hint of a smile touched Jimin’s lips, the first Taehyung had seen from him in what felt like forever. “Deal.”

After breakfast, Taehyung headed to his makeshift studio to edit photos while Jimin retreated to his room to start on the financial documents. As morning stretched into afternoon, Taehyung began to feel restless. Setting his camera aside, he went down the hall to check on Jimin.

Pausing in the open doorway, Taehyung’s breath caught at how beautiful Jimin looked bathed in afternoon sunlight streaming through the window. His face was cast down at the laptop balanced on his belly, lower lip caught between his teeth in concentration. Something about seeing him silhouetted amidst the golden glow, his hand absently rubbing gentle circles over their unborn child, made Taehyung’s heart constrict almost painfully. Before he even realized what he was doing, Taehyung had his camera in hand, snapping photos of the tender scene. The sound of the shutter made Jimin glance up, surprise flitting across his features.

“Taehyung...” There was a hint of flustered annoyance in his tone at having his photo taken without permission. “What are you doing over there?”

Taehyung lowered the camera sheepishly. “Sorry, you just...looked really beautiful. I wanted to capture the moment.”

Jimin’s cheeks colored slightly even as he scoffed. “I’m sure, with my swollen ankles and big belly. Quite the picturesque scene.” His words held a note of self-deprecating humor.

“I’m serious,” Taehyung insisted gently. “Pregnancy looks good on you, Jimin.”

Jimin held his gaze for a long moment before dropping his eyes with a small shake of his head. “You always did see beauty in the most unlikely of places and moments.” He nodded his chin towards the door. “Now if you’re done playing paparazzi, make yourself useful and bring me something to eat. All this mental exertion is making me hungry.”

Taehyung couldn’t help the smile that turned up his lips. “Yes sir. One Jimin snack delivery coming right up.”

He made his way quietly to the kitchen to avoid waking his now napping parents, putting together a plate of fruit and finger sandwiches. Balancing it carefully in one hand, he nudged Jimin’s door back open with his shoulder. “Special delivery for one beautiful mother-to-be.”

Jimin glanced up with an exaggerated eye roll, but Taehyung could see the smile threatening at the corner of his mouth. He set the plate on the nightstand and dragged the chair over so he could sit beside the bed.

“You know, I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself,” Jimin remarked wryly even as he reached for one of the sandwiches.

“I know,” Taehyung replied easily, “but let me feel useful too.” He held another sandwich up to Jimin’s mouth, something soft and tender unfurling in his chest when Jimin took a bite without further protest.

They continued that way for several minutes, Taehyung selecting bites of fruit and vegetables to feed Jimin in between working on the laptop. As he raised a sliced strawberry to Jimin’s lips though, the sweet juice leaked out, trickling down his knuckles. Unthinkingly, Taehyung lifted his hand to lick the sticky trail away. At the same time, Jimin leaned forward and flicked his tongue out in attempt to catch the escaping drops.

Their tongues met for a brief instant, the contact searing and electric. Time seemed to hang suspended as they remained frozen in place, eyes locking. Taehyung watched Jimin’s lips part softly, his pupils beginning to dilate...

And then the spell was abruptly shattered as Jimin jerked back, snapping his laptop shut with trembling fingers. “I..I think you should go,” he said shakily, avoiding Taehyung’s gaze. “I need to get back to work.”

Taehyung cleared his throat, trying to slow his pounding heart. “Right, of course. I’ll just...let me get these dishes cleaned up...”

He reached for the plate but Jimin grasped his wrist tightly before he could stand, finally meeting Taehyung’s startled eyes with his own conflicted ones. “Tae, I...we can’t. This won’t end well if we let whatever this is between us now get out of hand.”

Taehyung searched his face helplessly. “Jimin, I-”

“Don’t,” Jimin cut him off fiercely. “Please Taehyung. Don't decieve me again, for both our sakes...don’t say it.”

His expression was raw with undefinable emotions. Then his walls were slamming back up and he released Taehyung’s arm. “Just go. Come get the projected earnings analysis tomorrow morning.”

Dismissed and off-balance, Taehyung could only nod mutely. He gathered up the dishes withnumb fingers before retreating to his own room where he stared blankly out the window for a long time, emotions churning violently inside him.

#####

Jimin didn’t sleep at all that night. He paced the confines of the small bedroom restlessly as far as his distended belly would allow, emotions and hormones raging wildly out of control. His heart thudded erratically every time his mind replayed that searing moment with Taehyung...the way his eyes had darkened with unmistakable desire, lips parting, leaning closer...

No! Jimin squeezed his eyes shut and dug the heels of his palms against them until bursts of light exploded behind his eyelids, as though he could somehow force the memories out by sheer physical pressure. This was exactly what he had been afraid would happen if he stayed here too long around Taehyung. That long buried feelings would resurface and make him lose focus of why he was here - to make sure their baby would have security and comfort. He couldn’t afford to get emotionally entangled with Taehyung again. It would only lead to heartbreak when ultimately he would have to give the child up to the Kim family and walk away.

But oh, how his traitorous heart ached at even the thought of leaving this baby behind, this piece of himself and Taehyung he already loved so fiercely. His hands slid down to cradle his belly, drawing comfort from the occasional flutters and shifts of new life within.

“I’m doing this all for you, little one,” he whispered into the darkness. “So you can have the kind of home I never did growing up. Please understand and forgive me.” The response was a sharp jab to his ribs that made Jimin huff out a tearful laugh.

Whether reproach or acceptance he wasn’t sure, but it grounded him nonetheless. He had eight more weeks to carry this child, to prepare everything he could for its arrival and future. He needed to keep his focus.

Swiping wearily at his damp cheeks, Jimin climbed slowly into bed, bunching extra pillows under his belly and against his aching back. Sleep proved elusive though. His thoughts kept drifting back to Taehyung like iron filings to a magnet no matter how much he tried to redirect them. The way Taehyung had looked at him earlier - with so much tenderness and affection - it had cracked the foundations of Jimin’s walls and touched something deep inside he had locked down long ago when they ended things the first time. Something that terrified him in its intensity now. With a muffled groan, Jimin slammed his pillow over his face and willed dawn to come quicker.

#####

When Taehyung crept into Jimin’s room early the next morning however, he found him passed out amid a chaos of rumpled bedsheets and scattered paperwork. His face was turned towards the door, haloed by golden rays of sunlight beginning to spill across the blankets. Dark smudges underscored his eyes but his mouth was soft in sleep, pink lips gently parted as his breath stirred a lock of hair fallen across his cheek.

Taehyung’s heart turned over at how painfully young and beautiful Jimin looked in that moment. The early beams softened his features into an ethereal glow - he could have been a painting of one of Raphael’s cherubs. Unable to resist, Taehyung lifted his camera and stole a frame of the scene before tucking the gear gently away.

Moving closer quietly, Taehyung carefully shifted and stacked the strewn documents into some semblance of order before laying them aside. He then eased Jimin’s slight form down, maneuvering some pillows under his neck and knees in an effort to take pressure off his belly and back. Jimin mumbled something indistinct, brow furrowing briefly before his expression smoothed back into tranquil lines. Watching his silhouette rising and falling gently with each breath, Taehyung ached to stretch himself along Jimin’s side and gather him close. To offer support and chase away the shadows that even sleep did not erase now.

But he didn’t have that privilege anymore. So instead he brushed the lightest whisper of a kiss over Jimin’s forehead and moved soundlessly to the door.

Pausing on the threshold, he whispered “Thank you Jiminie. Get some rest,” before pulling it silently closed behind him.

#####

Taehyung arrived early at the office for the large quarterly budget meeting, nerves and anticipation roiling in his stomach. He couldn’t afford any missteps today. This was his chance to prove to his parents, Jin, Namjoon, Jungkook and the board that his ideas, no Jimin's ideas had true merit and he understood the integral workings needed to advance their vision.

Gradually, the heavy oak conference room began to fill with important figures, department heads, project leads, Chiefs of Staff. Taehyung watched his parents enter, his parents faces set in typically stern lines. And then Jungkook arrived with his parents in tow. Taehyung resisted the urge to grind his teeth at his cousin’s smug expression. Ever since they were children, Jungkook had felt bitter rivalry toward Taehyung. He resented what he perceived as Taehyung having everything handed easily to him while he had to claw for position in the company ranks.

Jungkook clasped Taehyung’s hand with crushing force and a smile like a knife’s edge. “Cousin...so good to see you again. What a pleasant surprise to have you back taking the reins. Or should I say...backseat driving while those with real talent steer the ship.”

Taehyung bit back a scathing retort, smothering the flare of anger at the insult. Jungkook wanted him to lose control and lash out, confirming he lacked self-discipline to guide the company effectively. Taehyung wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Jungkook! Play nice now,” Jin said lightly from his seat further down the table, a sardonic smile on his face that ruffled Taehyung’s temperament.

After the opening remarks, Taehyung launched into his presentation on company growth initiatives over the next two quarters. He outlined supply line adjustments, production changes and targeted areas for client expansion utilizing some of the documents Jimin had drafted. His voice rang clearly through the room, slide graphics emphasizing key points as he laid out projected revenue increases. By the end, he had commanded the attention of everyone present and tied off the proposal with quiet confidence.

As the room broke into applause and enthusiastic conversation, Jungkook’s face had turned an interesting shade of mottled rage behind his polite facade. As Taehyung fielded praise and follow up questions, Jungkook stewed in impotent fury at his cousin’s sudden business acumen. Everything had been going perfectly to plan and now this? Where was Taehyung even getting such detailed insider information and financial data?

And then it hit Jungkook with startling clarity. The pregnant omega he had spotted with Taehyung recently in the city. Perharps that mahad enough knowledge on the company operations. There was no other way Taehyung could have pulled those projections and profit margin estimates out so convincingly. The scheming little...

Tuning out Mr Kim's effusive praise of Taehyung, Jungkook slipped a hand surreptitiously into his pocket and tapped out a quick text to the private investigator he had looking into Taehyung’s mysterious new friend.

I hope you have something good for me. I need it NOW.

The reply was almost instantaneous.

Yes sir. I’ll have a full workup on Park Jimin to your secure email within the hour.

A slow, satisfied smile crept over Jungkook’s face. Oh, this was going to be delightful. Taehyung had no idea what he had stepped in by getting involved with that man. But he would soon find out. Jungkook had the perfect ammunition now to blast his cousin’s chances of inheriting the company straight to hell.

Thank you so much for reading. I'm hoping to finish up with my ongoing books as soon as possible because I have something cooking in the oven which will be announced soon. Love you all.