KOOK POV:

My eyes follow (Y/N), unable to tear away from the sight of her, flitting around one of the large halls in the gallery, now filled, scattered with people, old and young, vampires and humans, all kinds of people. All gathered under the same roof, in the same room for the same purpose.

When (Y/N) had told us she was considering starting workshops, starting them for people hurting, needing an outlet for their emotions, their traumas, it had been a moment of such joy and pride. Because not only was she reaching out to help those hurting, to channel their pains and overcome it  but also because we knew this was a way for her to help herself heal, by learning to tap into her ability more too. To learn how to transmit her emotions more and more through her art.

It was thrilling to see her unveil work that was just hers. Not Amparo's, not work that the world could see, that was bare and open for any eye to trail over. But work that was hers. Was (Y/N)'s. Was private and intimate, was our mate sharing a small part of her with us. Work that was kept within the house, would line one of the walls and would only truly be seen by us, by her mates.

And it was exhilarating seeing her work with them, flit around with a natural ease and comfort as she guided them, stopped to help one person or another. Watched as she bent over a shoulder, stopping to guide a hand to brush with lighter, less stiffer strokes, paint coming out in broader sweeps rather than tentative movements.

From the distance I can hear her gentle murmur, soft and sweet. Encouraging.

"Don't hold back. The canvas isn't something that publicises what you're saying...it looks after it for you. Takes a bit of the hurt away." her voice is kind and sweet, delicate and gentle.

Soft. Softer than how she usually spoke to the people at her workshops.

Softer and lighter, a tenderness for the soft-faced boy sitting at the easel, who twisted in his seat, head tilting back to look at her.

"What if others see it noona...?" voice anxious and worried, energy flaring up with panic at the thought.

But she's already soothing him, shaking her head.

"Sweetheart...no one can see the painting if you don't want to share it. That's a promise." she murmurs.

My heart aches at the tenderness in her voice, bristled slightly by the affectionate name she uses for him.

He was young, sweet-faced, a youth still burning in his eyes that showed just how voracious his appetite for living, for exploring was despite the fact that pain had brought him here.

And when (Y/N) looked at him, she looked at him as if she saw no-one else in that moment, looked at him as if the world around her ceased to exist. She always did that. Always gave the person in front of her, her undivided attention, the entirety of her gaze.

And it made me wriggle impatiently in my seat. When was it my turn?

She stays beside him for a few minutes longer, voices low as they talk, her hands encouraging as she grips his and turns it back to the canvas, murmurs to him to relax and calm down, to let his hand, his feelings guide him.

And finally. Finally she turns away, moves to continue walking through the tables, weaving around everyone, voice calling out encouragement and words of motivation to each of them, hand naturally curved protectively around her stomach, resting on it lightly. There wasn't anything to yet show physically, no curved tummy or baby bump appearing yet, no physical reminder that she was pregnant, that she was carrying our child and yet still her hand curved over her stomach as if cradling our child, remaining close to them. And that itself had my instincts on full alert, protectiveness rising in the same likeliness to hers, eyes unable to stop drifting around the room to check for any threat, any potential risk to her before drawn back to her once more.

To this glow, this sweet tug she had that demanded my attention, demanded that I focus on the sight of her, focused on the sight of my baby mate and our baby and make sure there was no potential harm to either of them.

And then finally she seemed to notice me. Finally her steps turned towards me instead, walking with a quicker pace as she moved to get to me, eyes lighting up, flashing crimson before they turned back to her own colour.

My hand reaches out for her when she approaches, smiling when she threads our fingers together and loops her hand around my shoulder, lips pressing to the back of my head as she settles close, cradling her body with mine, standing over me.

"Were you waiting for me Koo honey?" she asks, voice soft and loving.

And I melt, curve back into her hold before I'm tugging her by her hand, drawing it from around me to get her to walk around, walk to stand in front of me.

Uncaring of who's watching as I tug her onto my lap, arm snaking around her waist to cup her stomach, still unchanged, splayed wide fingers as I hold her close.

"I was...but you were too busy helping the boy in the corner. Too busy giving him hands on advice." I mumble, trying not to let the jealousy flash through but it seeps into my words as I duck to press kisses to the back of her neck. And she leans her head forward to give me better access, even if her hand moves to grip the side of my thigh, squeezing it with a fond laugh.

"Jealous baby?" she coos.

My hands tighten.

"No...yes..." I grumble, not even bothering to deny it.

Her laugh is delighted and when she turns to peer at me, her eyes flicker red with amusement, leaning in to quickly peck me before getting up.

My hands instinctively tighten, wanting to keep her near me, pouting as my body already begins to mourn the loss of her soft warmth, of her body leaning into mine.

"Why aren't you giving me the same amount of time and hands on advice?" I ask, wheedling as I reach out for her, trying to get her to stay.

"The workshop's coming to an end Kookie. I'll be done in a few minutes. And all yours." She promises, twisting away with a fond smile, leaving me sitting behind, canvas blank and untouched.

Uninspired because my muse kept slipping away, kept flitting in and out of sight, teasing me with moments where my eyes lingered, unable to drift away and then flurrying away in a blur, enhanced speed boosting her pace.

And the last 'few' minutes stretched on like eons, body stiff and feeling trapped, confined to the chair as I watched her end the session, watched the people get up, each to their own pace, some lingering to remain to chat.

But slowly the large spacious hall emptied. Emptied out but a lone figure remained. A tall figure curled small on a chair standing up, uncoiling as he scampered towards (Y/N) where she was moving to approach him. Rushing to her with an enthusiasm that had been tampered down earlier.

Bursting out unrestrained with the bright cry of 'noona' as he moved to her.

Wrapped long arms around her and giggling when she made a sound of surprise.

The sound was soft, barely noticeable but in the silence of the hall it was clear as day.

"Sanha...aren't you going to head off?" she asks.

I nod vehemently, standing up and beginning to move forward.

I couldn't agree more.

And as I move forward towards them, move to getting to the two of them, I watch with a great deal of satisfaction as her body unconsciously senses mine, as she easily leans to rest against my chest when I loop my hands around her and subtly tugging her back, watching as he blinks with surprise but moves away, still smiling. Still far too pleased. Unaffected.

"Sanha this is..." she begins.

"Your mate?" he finishes, no surprise in his face, lips twitching as he takes in our closeness, at my hands that tug at her, trying to draw her impossibly closer.

"And husband. This is Jungkookie." She adds, voice bright and giddy.

His head dips into a bow, smile widening across his lips, stretched across his face.

"Nice to meet you...Jungkookie hyung?" he finishes, sounding tentative and unsure.

And despite my attempts to remain as a firm, solid presence as her mate, protective and broad and curved around her, there's something so sweet about his young face, something so gentle about it that it dispels any sort of jealousy I was harbouring against him, making it hard to keep my face stoic and intimidating like I hoped.

And it's clear from the way his face scrunches with amusement that I'm failing. Driven in when (Y/N) turns to see what's gotten him so humoured.

And then her lips are curling up, reaching forward to poke my cheek.

She mouths two words to me.

Jealous baby.

"Kookie baby let me tell you a secret. Sanha here has the most adorable crush on Eunwoo." And she pats my arm around her, face alight with radiance and when my face twists in surprise, jealously melting away, she giggles; exuberant and humoured.

"Oh." I manage to mumble.

"Oh indeed. And I reckon that's why he stayed behind today isn't it Sanha?" she asks, turning back.

At the boy, must be in his early twenties just about, flush, cheeks turning a deep pink.

Human. That and his heartbeat had been such a tell now that the hall was empty, a constant thudding that had accelerated when Eunwoo's name was mentioned.

"Noona~" he whines, looking adorably rumpled and caught out, hand flying to his cheeks and eyes wide.

It didn't matter that he was taller, or that mere moments ago I'd been silently and secretly jealous. Not when in this instant with all those thoughts dissolved all I could think of was how cute.

He'd deserved the dongsaeng label. The first one to be given it.

"Well Sanha...Eunwoo is a sucker for pretty much anything romantic." I share.

Feeling indulgent now that my instincts were soothed, reassured that he wasn't a threat, neither to her, nor our baby. Not a threat to my attention.

Feeling slightly self-conscious about the way I'd reacted, about the way I'd felt jealous over a normal interaction.

Cheeks warm at how transparent I'd been, how easily my feelings and thoughts could be read by both Sanha and (Y/N). 

Is this how my mates had felt during my mating ceremony? 

But even so, it felt like the only the briefest of similarities to how they'd acted during my mating ceremony, flitting around possessively, hands tight and drawing me close.

Mouths laying public claims, a dizzying rush of pheromones as my blood sang for them, heated under the surface, felt like a deep pool of heat and want.

What I'd felt, felt like the tiniest of what they had. A simmering need to get to her, to keep my mate away from other eyes, other gazes that felt foreign or new, felt like they were staring too much.

But I hadn't felt compelled to lay a claim.

But then again...maybe tugging her onto my lap, pressing soft kisses to her skin had been a dulled down variation. Maybe despite it all...my own behaviour had been of a mate trying to make it clear she was mine, ours. Heightened because she was in that vulnerable state of early pregnancy, yet to pass the first trimester.

The most trying and uncertain phase where there were always risks of something going wrong.

But she was fine. She had us. She wasn't alone a single time she woke up with morning sickness, or when that sickness affected her late in the day. She wasn't alone when she was all droopy with fatigue, exhausted and tired, a pair of arms ready to scoop her up to take to bed. To curl close to her.

"Thank you hyung! Noona I'll get going...you should get something to eat, feed baby too." He says with a bright smile, eyes drifting to her stomach, bending down to give a little wriggle of his fingers, waving at it.

The action is endearing and cute.

But it also makes me wonder how well he knows (Y/N) that he's aware of her pregnancy when her body hadn't even begun to show physical tells.

It's only when he's left, eagerly bounding away with a smile on his face that (Y/N) murmurs quietly.

"He's a sweetheart, Eunwoo adores him." she shares.

And then she's spinning turning to face me. Eyes bright with fondness as she wraps her arms around my neck, tugs me down.

Lips pressing once and then twice to mine.

And then stretching up to thread her hands through my hair, tugging me closer and closer, lips parted with invitation, surprising me with how fierce and needy her lips push against mine, the kiss messy and fiery, sparks being fanned into flames, heated and making desire pulse. Heady and enthralling. Lips parting mine as her tongue flicks against them, brushing over them before delving into my mouth, sweet and warm, slowly exploring, sweeping in deep strokes across my mouth before coming to brush against my tongue, silently asking, silently wanting. My hand cradles the back of her head, tilt it back for me as I kiss her back, silently taking my time in coaxing out small sounds, the pulse of purple strong from her. Purple energy spiking up, mounting higher and higher as she curls close, fingers tugging, lightly brushing against my scalp, sparking delicious tingles that raced through my body.

And when our lips part, her breathing quickened and hurried, shared space as our foreheads press together, that purple energy flares, encompasses her with a soft glow, energy strong and heavy. 

"What's this for?" I whisper.

Hands sliding to curve around her back, to tug her close.

"Because I could sense you all session and it was driving me crazy to try get through it. Because jealous you is such an adorable yet attractive look." She whispers, hands drifting down to brush over my shoulders, trailing down my arms and squeezing.

Heat, heavy and consuming searing through the mating bond.

Dangerous.

And her fingers slide to the front of my shirt, tugging at the buttons, tips of her nails curving to brush against skin, teasing. It makes me stiffen, a small puff of breath at the intentions behind her touch. Both needing but also riling up.

My hand captures her wrist, stilling her fingers from where they were fiddling with the buttons.

"Baby as much as I want this...we're at the gallery. And I don't fancy being caught out by the parents." I say with a smile.

Watch as her lips droop with dissatisfaction, twisting into a pout, soft pink cheeks puffing up.

"Fine fine." She says with a sigh, fingers sliding away, curling away from skin.

But her wrist is still encased with my fingers and I tug her forward, leaning in.

"But when we get home. You're all mine. And you're not going anywhere." I whisper, words a promise.

Smile when her breath hitches and her fingers splay against my chest.

Her eyes burning red when her hand slides to take mine, squeezing.

"What are you waiting for then? Let's go home." She says, voice urgent and impatient.

An urgency reflected in my own movements and actions as we leave, atmosphere hypnotic and simmering with tension, car ride endless and infinite.

Until finally. Finally we're hurrying through the front door, barely shutting behind us before I'm spinning to pin her there, lips urgent and urgent as they slam to hers, as they swallow her gasp, hungrily swallowing it down. Hands feverish as they tug at her, draw her close, body leaning to bracket hers in, trapping her under me.

And that heat just climbs, a scorching burning need for each other that swallows us whole. Consumes us in it.

------

I peer down at (Y/N), her face aglow with radiance, with pleasure, eyes a bright crimson, matching my own, see the way her body trembles under me, the arch of her back as she'd pushed herself close to me slumping back down. Boneless as she sinks into the mattress, harsh breaths mirroring my own, lips swollen and slick, eyes fluttering, each drag of lashes against her skin before they opened revealed dilated pupils to me. Consumed by desire. Drowning in it just as I was drowning in her, in the very essence of her, of the mating bond that seared through our souls, branded it with the shape of each other, leaving behind an imprint of one another in the deepest of ways, souls merging and intertwining. 

My hands push away her hair from her shoulders, watch it spill over the pillows, each mating mark stark red on her skin, blooming red with a carnal need for her, holding proof just to how much time I'd spent worshipping each mark on her body, drawing pleasure out of her as my mouth closed around each one of them, drawing a beautiful sinful symphony of moans and whimpers out of her, of muttered pleas and breathless cries of my name.

Watch as her chest heaves as she swallows down air, fingers lazy as they trail up from my waist to slide round to my torso, nails teasing as they climb up, reach down to tug me down onto her, to cocoon her.

My hands dart out at the last moment to hover over her, worried about pressing down on her when she was pregnant. I knew her body could bear my weight easily, that the enhanced ability as a vampire meant she was in no real fear of being squashed but I couldn't help glance at her abdomen with worry.

Hear a breathless laugh near my ear.

"It's fine to cuddle like this. Already asked." She murmurs before her leg hooks around my waist, heel pressing into the low of my back and yanking me down the last bit of distance until our bodies, warm and slightly sticky against each other. Bodies heated and sheening slightly.

But she doesn't care. Grumbles until she's comfortable under me, pressing her head to my shoulder as her arms wrap around me.

"Sweetheart let me get you into the bath." I say fondly, raising my head to peer at her.

But her hands tighten and she tugs me back.

A sudden pull that reminds me of the strength she holds, that she's just as able to yank me forward, to move me as close as she wants.

"A few minutes like this. Then we'll go." She murmurs, lips dragging over my shoulder.

I relent. 

Always caving in to her.

To my only younger mate.

The youngest of the coven.

My only baby mate.

And who was I to complain?

To share those few minutes of close intimacy, of bodies pressed close, coming down from our highs together, breaths mingling, slow lazy kisses pressed to each other's skin, arms curled around each other. Soft words mumbled to each other, making sure she's okay.

Lightness giving away to fond laughter and giggles when we peel away, when she lifts her arms up for me to scoop her up, padding over to the nearest bathroom without care for any pair of eyes to fall on us.

When I carefully lower her into the bath after showering off, clambering in behind her to draw her to rest against my chest, fingers fiddling with damp strands of her hair, I feel my heart clench with fondness, with unbelievable an overwhelming love for her.

See that purple glow of her energy, considerably lesser than it had been earlier but a constant glow that tells me she's okay.

Getting to exhaustion but okay.

And I was always up for naptime with her afterwards too.

I had all the time in the world for her.

All the time was for her. For our mates. For our family.

Family.

And unconsciously when we clambered into bed together to nap, my hand curved around her stomach, cradling her and our baby close.

Family.

(THERE WE GO! SO SOMEHOW THE PREGNANCY CHAPTERS IN BB ARE BEING WRITTEN AS SUPER SOFT AND...I DON'T MIND IT! SO LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THEM! INTRODUCING A KOOKIE AND BABY MATE CHAPTER! UNPLANNED BUT NOT REGRETTED AT ALL! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS!! AND LOOKIE HERE! A NEW CHARACTER~ A HUMAN SMITTEN WITH EUNWOO AND MJ~ AHHH! I WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER ONE FOR THEIR LITTLE DUO TOO SO HERE IS SANHA MAKING HIS WAY IN! HIS FIRST DEBUT IN MY BOOKS AT ALL AND HE'S JUST AN ADORABLE GIANT! ALL SWEET WITH HIS NOONA! AND OOH! JEALOUS KOOKIE!! HOW WAS HE? A SWEETHEART REALLY..COULDN'T MANAGE TO BE THE 'FIERCE' MATE REALLY...HE'S NOT IMMUNE TO A CUTE DONGSAENG!! LET ME KNOW ALL YOUR THOUGHTS MY LOVES! REACTIONS TOO! ANY ONE WANT...BAD PREGNANCY CHAPTERS?? LIKE...PREGNANCY SCARES OR STUFF LIKE THAT?? THOUGHTS WELCOME! STAY SAFE AND TAKE CARE MY LOVES!)

Every new relationship is daunting, every new label to a relationship is intimidating, a new responsibility, a new role. But new is also exciting, it's also a part of change and growth. New relationships sometimes erase memories of old ones that hurt us. New relationships are sometimes the ones we end up cherishing for life. So don't be afraid of the new people in your life, the next friend you make may very well be the one that sticks with you for life!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3