JIN POV:

When Joon brings it up later on that day, it's to me alone, choosing to follow me into the kitchen rather than stay curled up reading- to see him so invested in a book and just as easily unfurl from his position to tag along was a rare sight, it was an indication that something was playing about in his mind.

And my hands had tightened around the mugs I'd been reaching for when he mentioned it. Because we'd let her go out, with her scent intensified, so close to her cycle without even realising. It made me feel shame for not having picked up on it, that we'd all accepted the sweet intensity of her scent as the mating marks settling, with her scent getting stronger to merge with ours.

And thank my lucky stars that Namjoon had felt antsy enough, unsettled enough that he'd ended up tagging along with her, with our sweet mate who was now in the circle with the others playing a ruthless game of Monopoly- laughing delightedly whenever someone landed on her properties, sharp eyes not missing a thing. The sound of yells and indignant accusations poured out of the living room, filling the hallways and the kitchen with vibrance, with life.

And I smile at the sound of it, hands tight as they set the mugs down.

It was a good thing we'd been alerted, that we knew it was happening.

But we were woefully unprepared because we'd never had a female mate in our dynamic and now that we did it felt like everything was going to turn on its head and leave us in uncharted waters.

But we could do this. We could.

Just needed to do some extra research and maybe calling my mother wouldn't be a miss.

Because I didn't know what to expect, didn't know how to make her feel at her most comfortable and relaxed. 

"As a human (Y/N) monthly went through cycles, as a vampire it'll only be biannually. But I don't know what could happen because she's a turned vampire, I don't know if it would make a difference." Joonie says hesitantly once I've finished making the drinks, deep in thoughts of my own.

And my Joonie, the intelligent mate of ours who knows the most random of knowledge and has always been such a firm grounding force is uncertain himself.

And I pretend that the sight of it doesn't send a jolt of nervousness through me, suddenly anxious to get back to the others.

"We'll be fine. We'll get through it together." I say firmly.

And when we enter to see Jungkookie glare at (Y/N) as he lands on her property, adorned with the little red hotel, she just beams up at him, cooing as she plucks the small wad of notes from his unwilling hands.

"It's just a game Kookie." Hobi tries to cheer him up, appease him by ruffling his hair and leaning to rest his head against his shoulder.

But when Yoongi stoically says he owes him over a thousand for just happening to land on his property, the smile flickers and fades, the sunshine smile dimming into a look of moroseness and thunder.

"It's just a game Hoseokie." Yoongi mimics, a gummy smile tugging at his lips when it causes him to wilt and (Y/N) to laugh- a bright sweet sound mingling in with the protesting.

The sight reassures me.

Maybe it won't be as bad as we think.

-----

It's the feeling of pain throbbing dully through the bond that alerts me. The low constant murmur of voices that hold a worry in them. I find myself tugged away from the intense battle I was having on the computer game I was playing, heading up to see their dejected figures sitting cross-legged outside her room. I watch as Tae and Jiminie call out for (Y/N), softly speaking through the shut door, with small frowns sporting their faces. 

"Jagi we just want to know you're fine." Tae says, looking petulant and miserable at how the door remains firmly shut, how the bedroom door bars them from getting to her.

"I'm fine Tae, it just aches. I don't want to get up to open the door." She says, sounding tired and exhausted- poor love must be in a lot of pain if she can't make it to the door.

But Minnie's face scrunches with concern at the fatigue in her voice, at the slightly breathless quality to her voice- as if getting the words out take effort too.

Tae leans forwards towards the door, hand pushing against it as if it'll suddenly cave.

And seeing the look of forlorn expressions on their faces pushes me forward from my slightly distanced observation.

"Boys leave her to rest. She'll come out when she feels better." I say as I come to stand behind them, a hand sliding to brush through their hair, even as I glance at the door with the beginning of concern.

But she must've heard because she calls out.

"Thank you oppa." With a feeling of relief and gratitude, and then silence falls from her room despite the long minutes we remain there.

Wondering whether she truly is fine. The pain remains in the bond, a constant pulse of tight deeply-rooted aches that makes me feel slightly worn-out.

I watch as Tae and Jiminie rise to their feet, Tae's hands rubbing at his stomach with a whisper of the phantom pain, sensing her own pain and looking both sympathetic and hurt.

"(Y/N) I just wanna cuddle...exile or not!" he calls through the door before turning to nuzzle the front of my chest with his face, arms wrapping around me as he tucks himself in close.

"This sucks." He says vehemently into my skin, nestling closer.

Jiminie's eyes still flicker back to the shut bedroom door with longing and hesitance- unwilling to part from her.

It was a behaviour I noticed the two shared in common, that it was more than likely tied to how precarious their health had been when they'd bonded; that automatically the two seemed to seek the other out when they stepped into a room, or that whenever they sat together- they always had to feel the other physically close, whether that was holding hands, linking pinkies, heads curved towards each other or even (Y/N) tugged onto his lap. A part of them were always touching, connected- unconsciously driven to feel the same mate who nearly slipped away, close.

And I see it in the concern, in the frown of his soft pink lips as he glares at the door, trying to somehow make the door vanish from the force of his gaze.

"Come on Jiminie, she just needs rest." I say softly, feeling my heartstrings be tugged at, more so yanked at, at the way he turns morosely- eyes flickering with vulnerability and softness and hurt for her.

"She will come to us when she needs us right?" he asks uncertainly, tugging at my sleeve.

I nod.

"She will sweetheart." I promise.

And true to those words, when she stumbles downstairs, looking both drowsy and pained, it's in a pair of sleep shorts and a large t-shirt that falls below the hem. She looks so soft and tired and groggy- that I feel my heart turns immediately towards her, feel the need to want to hold her close.

She makes a small smile towards all of us, sleep-laced red eyes roving all of us before she mumbles about getting something, making her way to the kitchen.

I get up, passing off a cuddly Tae to Yoongi instead- whose eyes flicker with sympathy as they watch our baby mate leave, tugging the pouting baby into his arms instead.

And as I enter the kitchen it's to see the hand that had been stretching outwards towards the cupboard fall away, turning to cradle her abdomen, hunching over as the other hand grips at the counter.

She makes a small low sound of pain at the back of her throat as she curls over, breathing a little heavier- breathing through the pain and I rush forward, feet already moving in response to the sound, to get to her, to help her.

I gently hold her, rubbing her back sympathetically as she remains hunched over.

"Let's get you sitting down and a hot water bottle." I say, feeling an echo of her pain resonate through the bond, feeling as if a part of me seizes up at the pain, her almost defensive posture to shield her abdomen, as if it'll lessen it somehow.

She curls into me the moment we're sitting down in the living room, resting her head against my chest and arms crossed protectively over her stomach, legs over mine.

"I'm sorry you're hurting darling. It might be a bit different to how you've experienced them as a human." Hobi says sympathetically, kneeling in front of me with a glass of water and some painkillers at hand, looking at her with a twist of hurt on his face- to see his mate in pain and knowing that this is only just the beginning.

And though Tae eagerly moves forward to cuddle, she's in too much pain to happily reach out for him, remaining in her small curled up position in my arms even as her eyes flicker with guilt.

"In a little while Tae?" she asks hopefully, looking at me tentatively.

He grabs a cushion to substitute for the loss of a mate in his arms, hugging it towards himself and grumbles as he glares at his body.

"How have you coped with it? I'm only feeling the tiniest fraction and it's bothering me." he says, looking both disgruntled at the fact and amazed at the way she doesn't seem to be complaining, holding the hot water bottle towards her stomach, cuddling it slightly.

She falls asleep like that, her other hand holding my arm to her- keeping me close as if she couldn't bear to part with me and wakes with her face still tucked against my chest, the others dispersing to take care of lunch, Kookie remaining by my side as he played games- eyes flickering back towards her with every spare moment.

And when she uncurls, it's without a sound of pain, a victory that I silently celebrate and yet her slight clinginess towards one of us transfers to Kookie, who she tugs with her out of the living room when Joonie appears to say lunch is ready.

I note the way that though she's sitting on Kookie's lap, it's her fussing over him- spending more time in feeding him, fingers swiping at his lips and making sure he's eating properly than eating her own food- eyes burning red with satisfaction when he compliantly lets her fuss over him, a smile constantly on his lips when she's not bringing food to his mouth, arms loosely linked around her waist.

And the others look on with a mixture of fondness and envy- longing filling their eyes too as they get drawn more to the sight than eating.

But given this is only her first day, it makes me feel as if such sights might become more common. And that I'm not the only one eagerly waiting for them.

She looks content, happy. And as the day continues her hand only goes briefly to clutch at her abdomen, the small sounds of pain breaking through the atmosphere of languid calm.

But we'll help her through it.

What else are mates for?

(Y/N) POV:

It's odd how this time round, for my first period as a vampire seems to come with stronger waves of cramps and body pains, as if my heightened senses means that everything is felt so much more vividly, each throb in my legs, each stab of pain. All of it.

But that with the pain it comes with this niggling need to be near my mates, to have them in my near vicinity- body fidgeting and restless when I couldn't see one of them, when I felt the inner unease that they weren't at the nest.

Follow your instincts, follow the small nudges, Gyeomie and Eunwoo had said once Joonie oppa had stepped out after MJ oppa.

I hadn't even realised it would be different as a vampire, that it would be changed to twice a year, or that it would come through as a strong intensity with this need to cuddle, to curl up around them and keep them safe, keep them in my line of vision.

And as the first day passes with hovering fitfully around them all until Yoongi oppa had tugged me into his arms, grip tight and secure and reassuring.

"How can you keep pacing around the house when I can feel just how much your legs are hurting?" he murmurs tucking me in close and an empathetic wince on his face, hands going to gently squeeze at my thighs, massaging lightly.

I fidget, settling when I see the others draped across the room on one another, the TV playing one of the horrors that Kookie and Tae liked so much, the others clutching at each other.

I smile at the sight before nestling into Yoongi oppa more securely, sighing with relief when his hands seem to help the ache abate even temporarily.

And his gentle massaging has my attention diverted from the movie, curling into his side instead, gripping tightly at him from where he manoeuvres the two of us to lie down. 

"Is it always this bad? You've been emoting pain all day." He murmurs, hands sliding to wrap around me, to hold me close.

I shrug.

"It's slightly worse than when I was human but it can hurt more." I murmur.

He makes a small sound of sympathy, hands tightening.

"I'll call Joon's eomma, maybe she has something that can help." He says softly and when I tilt my head up it's to see his dark eyes flicker red with concern, a small frown on his lips as he peers at me..

I stretch up to press my lips to his, not wanting to see anything but happiness on his face, sighing when he physically relaxes under me, no longer as stiff and tightly coiled under me- sinking into the couch, hand darting under my shirt to rest on my back, a grounding pressure that has me turning into putty, tongue swiping at his lips in a soft plea for entry and sinking further into him when he parts his lips, draws my tongue to his in a slow deep exploration of each other's mouths- breathing getting lighter and warmth fanning out from his touch, sending it seeping into my bones.

"What a sweet mate." He murmurs when I lean back to grab my breath, his lips shiny and slightly plumper, eyes lazily trawling over my face, taking in the look of relaxation, of warm fuzzy calm- the pain a distant throb.

And it's when he looks infinitely more satisfied that I realise that he'd been seeping out relaxing waves, helping me sink into him, helping me feel almost distantly detached from the cramps that had been bothering me all day.

And I find myself tucked between him and Hobi oppa at night, Yoongi oppa's sleepy gaze fixed on me as he watches me fuss and shift trying to get comfortable after having sat up to promptly go check on the others, whispering goodnights to their skin as I'd gone to each room, bodies curled around each other and eyes filled with a sleepy haze.

"What's wrong darling?" Hobi oppa asks, sliding closer, spooning me from behind, his legs pressed against mine, tucked against them..

"Back hurts too now." I whisper resignedly, wishing I still had the hot water bottle from earlier.

He makes a soft sound of sympathy before his hands gently slide up under my sleep shirt, one hand sliding to press against my stomach and the other to rest against my back, lips brushing against the back of my neck.

"Relax." He says softly before beginning to rub soothing circles into my skin, soft warm jolts of heat seeping into my skin, pushing away the discomfort with his healing touch.

And under his skilful hands I find that the pain, the stiffness in my body melts away, a sigh of relief slipping out when the pain vanishes.

"Thank you oppa." I say, voice thick with sleep, eyes fluttering shut even as I try to keep them focused on Yoongi oppa, who peers at me, cheek cushioned by the pillow.

He smiles at the sight of my eyes shooting open.

"Sleep sweetheart." He murmurs from opposite me just as Hobi oppa's hand comes to press against my stomach, laced together as he keeps them there.

"Poor love, all tired out. Close your eyes darling." He croons softly, pressing a kiss to behind my ear.

And with the feeling of both of them cocooning me, the bed noticeably warmer than it usually is, I fall asleep. To the sight of Yoongi oppa's sleepy content smile and the feel of Hobi oppa nestling his head close.

Fall asleep to my mates huddled around me, and the restlessness settling.

Bi-annual cycles didn't seem too bad.

Especially not with how I had seven mates trying their best and being the sweetest.

It felt almost like a shame it only happened twice a year.

Almost.

(THERE YOU GO! PART 1 OF TWO I THINK FOR THIS SPECIFIC IDEA/CONCEPT- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT? BUT THE IDEA OF BTS FUSSING AND HOVERING AROUND BABY MATE ON HER PERIOD IS JUST SO ENDEARING- LIKE MAKING DESPERATELY SURE SHE'S COMFORTABLE AND GIVING HER MASAGES...MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY'LL BE LIKE WHEN SHE'S PREGNANT! BUT THE PART 2 IS GOING TO SHOW HOW THE ROLE KINDA REVERSES...AND LET'S SEE WHAT THAT BRINGS! AND WHAT STUFF SHE FINDS HERSELF UPTO! POOR TAE- JUST WANTED CUDDLES COS HE COULD FEEL HER SORE STOMACH TOO, BUT HE SHALL GET THEM! THE OTHERS DIDN'T FEATURE AS MUCH COS THEY'LL COME IN NEXT CHAPTER- AND POOR JOONIE IS JUST FRAZZLED, READING BOOK AFTER BOOK TO MAKE SURE SHE'S COMFORTABLE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! THEY'RE SO SWEET! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS! AND HONESTLY...IF I GET SOMEONE LIKE THEM; I'D COUNT MY BLESSINGS!!)

Don't let life pass you by without taking opportunities, risks and adventures! It's important to live a fulfilled life, seize the moment and enjoy living, so you don't look back with regrets but only fond happy memories.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3