JIMIN POV:

My hands dart out to steady (Y/N), crying out when her body swayed, feet unsteady as her hand slipped off the banister, stumbling forward the last few steps. But I'd rushed forward, already moving at the pinched, disoriented look on her face as she'd been making her way down the stairs. 

The house seems to shudder, pictures trembling. The stairs sink down, going lower and closer to the floor, decreasing the height she'd stumble off of.

Hands holding her steady as she tilted into me, breath a relieved exhale when her hands came to settle on my shoulders, head pressing against my collar.

"Sweetheart you..." I say, tongue feeling oddly twisted, unable to verbalise the sheer terror that had coursed through my body at the sight of her body tilting forward, of her eyes flashing red with urgency even as they'd fluttered.

It had been centuries since my heart had beaten, had been centuries since I remembered what it had felt like to have air rushing out of lungs, shuddering and shaken. But right now I felt air escape my mouth in a shudder, right now I felt my blood pulse and course quickly, thought that the thrum of panic making my body all jittery was as close as I'd get to feeling that nervous rush of my heart pushing against my chest. 

My hands curve around her, resting at the base of her back as I hold her close, allow her to rest against me, feeling the sporadic clenching and unclenching of her fingers at the shoulders of my shirt, her breath muffled against and head tucked close.

"I just...just got a bit dizzy." She mumbles, not moving away from where her body curved towards mine, the growing curve of the bump brushing against my stomach, stopping me from tugging her closer.

Alarm spikes at her words.

Dizzy spells weren't good during pregnancies. They were something to keep an eye out for.

And it seemed as if this pregnancy was bringing bad symptom after symptom to her body.

A trying first trimester where her morning sickness had made her physically ill and drained, had left her nauseous and unable to stomach foods as easily.

And now her second trimester brought about dizzy spells.

It wasn't the first one either.

The last one had been a week or so back, the lack of them had made hope blossom through the bond that this too was a hitch in the road that we'd moved past but clearly not.

My hand rubs up and down the curve of her spine, knuckles grazing across fabric.

"Let's get you sitting down then yeah?" I ask softly.

She mumbles an assent but it's a few long minutes before she raises her head, red flickering in her eyes and gaze unfocused, as if she was having trouble focusing on me, on pushing away the dizziness.

I didn't want to pick her up and risk making her dizzier so slowly I drew her down one step and the other, hands supporting her body, hers still resting on my shoulders as she followed my lead.

Took slow easy steps from the stairs and into the living room, a slow shuffle as she put one foot before the other, carefully moving with me towards the nearest sofa.

And when the back of my legs hit the sofa, I sink down carefully drawing her close and gathering her into my arms when she straddles me, head tucking back once more, arms winding around my neck.

"Won't you feel better lying down?" I ask.

"Probably. But this is nice. Can we stay like this for a while?" she asks.

I nod, pressing a kiss to her bent head.

Content to draw her close, hand snaking in the gap between us to rub at her stomach, fingers rubbing circles under the fabric. Feeling the way she tilts into the touch, breaths light exhales against my collar as they drift and brush across raised stretched skin.

She doesn't falter in my arms, doesn't go stiff like she had the first time one of our hands had touched the reddened skin, she'd curved away then, had stiffened under Tae's explorative, enamoured touch. Hands curving around them when his had fallen away.

Eyes flashing with insecurity and hurt, shame seeping in when her fingers had covered the reddening marks, the skin that was stretching, turning away as she'd continued to get dressed, head bowed.

I still remembered how crestfallen Tae had been, voice wavering and uncertain.

A soft murmur of 'jagi' as he slowly wound his arms around her and turned her back, a small sound when he saw the sparkling tears in her eyes.

"It looks horrible. Just...don't." she'd mumbled when he'd tried to move her hands away.

His eyes meeting mine with a look that could only be described as desperation, eyes flashing with hurt for her, hurt that she could ever see herself like that.

Remembered kneeling down in front of her as I drew underwear over her, gliding up her legs and hands coming to settle on her hips.

"It's not horrible." I'd said.

And she'd made a small sound of disbelief.

Unable to meet my eyes.

"It is. Don't lie to keep my feelings. They look...they look weird." She'd mumbled.

My head had curved forward, lips pressing to her fingers, feeling her attention slowly move to me as my hands had carefully drawn hers away. Pressing soft kisses to her skin, to the reddened marks, slow and lingering kisses as I'd mapped out the stretchmarks on the low of her abdomen, fingers rubbing against them, following the trail my lips had marked.

"They're beautiful (Y/N). Every single mark is beautiful. Do you know why?" head tilting back to see her blinking down at me.

Confusion floating in her eyes.

"Why? Why are they beautiful?" she'd breathed.

Voice wavering.

"Because every mark on your body shows something, tells us something. And these ones tell us that your so strong, so strong and carrying our sweet child inside." I'd murmured to her skin.

Had heard a hitch of breath and seen tears spill over, clinging to lashes and coursing down cheeks to splash against bare skin.

Saw Tae's head bend, hands gripping her waist as his lips had drifted to brush against the scars on her back, the scars of her survival, murmuring how much he loved each and every one of them, murmured how much he loved her.

That had been then.

And now, now it didn't fail me that she didn't flinch, that she curved into the touch rather than away. Didn't miss that when my fingers trailed over the smoothened, slightly raised skin and teasingly tickled she squirmed, breath puffing out onto my shoulder.

"Minnie stop, I'll fall." She mumbled.

I pressed my lips to her ear.

"As if I'd ever let that happen. I've got both my babies." I say softly, hand around her stomach and the other continuing to move up and down her back.

Smiling when I felt her loosen, body slumping down with drowsiness.

"Someone getting sleepy?" I whisper.

"Woozy." Is mumbled to my skin.

I move my head back, hand slipping out from under her shirt.

"Want to lie down now?" I ask.

Her head rises, eyes swimming with fatigue and flickering back and forth from red and her own colour.

She nods.

"Please." She breathes. And carefully I turn us so my legs stretch out across the couch, drawing her to lie down, body curved on top, back pressed against the sofa, splayed comfortably on top of me. Legs moving to intertwine with mine.

Her lips press gently against my throat.

"'M not squishing you am I?" a groggy murmur.

I lightly poke her stomach, lips curving when she wriggles.

"It's literally impossible for that to ever happen. Like...not even a possibility. And I love round pregnant (Y/N). Because she's our baby mate with our baby inside her." I say.

Her lips press to my throat, linger there, lightly nuzzling at the piercing mark, slow gentle touches of her lips pressing kisses there, hand curling to rest against my chest.

Seeking comfort even if I didn't have a heartbeat, even if none of us did.

Distantly I wondered whether our baby would have a heartbeat, whether they'd be born as a full vampire or a half vampire.

"Sleep sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere." I mumble.

Her lips still.

Press one final kiss to my throat before her head settles to tuck into the crook of my neck.

"I know. Not like I'm moving off you any time. There's no escaping the pregnant woman." She whispers teasingly.

But slowly drifts off. No words said afterwards. Her other hand holding mine, legs wriggling to get more comfortable, ankle curving around mine.

Skin touching where they entangle.

The sight reminds me of what felt like a lifetime ago. Remember when her ankle had hooked around mine under the dinner table, when we'd needed that touch, that physical connection to each other.

Everything had changed since then.

But that need for touch hadn't. That immediate response to always be physically touching her whenever she was close still remained, seemed to strengthen over time.

Whether it was a hand sliding around her waist or slotting myself up behind her whenever I got the chance. Whether it was pinkies linking before our palms slid against each other, hands gripping tightly to each other or a foot reaching to hook around mine at dinner.

The teasing, toying playfulness between the two of us also seemed to stem from touch, whether it was light flitting touches, fingers grazing across skin in passing or whether it was her hand sliding down my body before spinning away.

And now as she slept, it unconsciously showed.

Showed with the way her hand would unconsciously squeeze mine, as if seeking out silently if I was still there, still close. Her hand that rested against my chest remained there, splayed out, head occasionally shifting, nose brushing against my throat or lips moving barely.

And she was still asleep when the others came in, a loud mingling of voices overlapping before they suddenly dimmed, became hushed.

The house had likely blanketed the living room, dulled the sounds so (Y/N) wouldn't stir and awaken.

Even the house knew she could do with the rest.

And Yoongi hyung is the first to peek in, eyes scanning the room before his eyes fall onto the two of us, lips curving up and gums flashing as he smiles. Entering quietly.

"They're in here." He says softly, turning back towards the doorway.

And the others quietly follow suit, entering the living room, eyes drifting to the two of us.

Hobi hyung's eyes as always drift carefully over her, making sure she's fine.

And I see the moment his eyes fill with understanding, detaching away from the rest to come to sink into a crouch.

Hand gentle as it drifts over her, ghosting along her body as if scared to touch and rouse her.

Voice a low hushed whisper.

But either she instinctually senses the feeling of everyone being home, mating bond settled and that feeling of wholeness seeping in.

Or she stirs to his light touch and voice, lashes fluttering against my neck as she shifts, peering down at him.

"Seokie..." voice sleepy and heavy.

And his face softens just like that.

The atmosphere lightens, the others softening at her sleepy response undoubtedly captured.

"Baby mate....how are you feeling now?"

And that's something I want to know the answer too as well.

(Y/N) POV:

This fluttering feeling of warmth pools in my body, seeping out and settling in my limbs, threatening to turn it into mush. Every bit of stiffness melting away and body sinking more into the one under mine, feeling like treacle, consciousness teasing and dancing in and out of reach.

But I manage to catch onto it, pushing the heavy weight of sleep away as a soft voice murmurs from somewhere above me, the feeling of love pulsing through the bond. And then soft, light touches drifting across my body, a soft murmur of a deep voice murmuring quietly that has my eyes fluttering open.

Head tilting to locate the source.

Meeting soft brown eyes that are surprised, melting with tenderness.

"Seokie..." I mumble.

Watch his face soften as he leans closer, my hand moving from Minnie's chest to trail down and brush down the side of his face, cupping his cheek and smiling loosely at him.

"Baby mate...how are you feeling now?" he asks voice soft and gentle.

But the worry and concern too underlines it. I can't ignore it, nor miss it.

"Better. Everything's not as spinny." I murmur, raising my head off Minnie's shoulder, trying to raise my head off him.

Blinking away the black spots that swim into my vision. It takes longer than it should, longer than I think to be able to focus on Hobi oppa once more.

See his lips twist into a frown, eyes scanning me even as his hand moves to help steady me, drawing me upright so Minnie can twist and shuffle up, my body gently tugged towards his chest as I recline against it but sitting up.

His hand giving mine a small squeeze.

"So still a bit dizzy then little one?" Hobi oppa asks, fingers fluttering as they settle on my temple, murmuring a healing charm quietly.

I tilt my head against the pad of his fingers.

Chasing comfort.

"A bit." I mumble.

And then Minnie speaks.

"She nearly fell down the stairs earlier. But I'd been waiting for her." he says. Words making his chest rumble.

I give him a light dig with my elbow because of the way it makes alarm spike, the others jerking forward instinctively. Eyes pooling with crimson worry.

He's unrepentant though, fingers curling tighter around mine.

"You have no idea how terrifying it was. What if I hadn't caught you? Been quick enough? What if I hadn't been there?" he asks, voice pitched with anxiety.

My thumb brushes across the back of his knuckles, leaning into him.

"You were though. It was a bit sudden, I wasn't expecting it either." I say.

"It's a bit like high blood pressure in pregnant humans. That but with you (Y/N). Your body is thrown off with growing a baby inside when your body stopped growing and developing. It's something to keep an eye out for. So tell us when you get the slightest bit dizzy." He says.

Trying to make it easy to understand why this pregnancy was harder.

I knew it was something to do with the way my body was eternally to remain as it was, within this age and the physical state I'd stopping ageing in. Knew that the pains and aches came with my body trying to develop at a human pace, trying to adjust to developing so our baby had space to grow.

"I will. Does that mean the pregnancy is riskier? If I've got the vampire equivalent of high blood pressure during pregnancy?" I ask.

Sitting up straighter and giving him my undivided attention.

Feeling the weight of everyone's stares on him too, eyes flickering silently.

Wondering, wanting...needing to know too.

His nod isn't reassuring, it makes my stomach plummet with a sharp swoop that threatens to make my nausea prick my throat.

But his hand is grounding when it draws my free one to his, where it had fallen away from his face to rest in my lap.

Brushing a kiss across the back of my knuckles.

"Risky but we'll just take extra care. Any small change that doesn't feel right to you, makes you feel in the slightest bit scared or uncertain, you tell us, you tell me and we work it out." He says, voice firm and promising.

I squeeze both the hands that hold mine.

Eyes drifting to look at our mates, see the determination, resolve and strength in them. See the promise and unwavering love and devotion in them.

Telling me that we'll be okay, our baby will be okay.

"Our baby's going to be fine aren't they? I can feel that for certain." I say, feeling silly when my lips stretch wide in a smile but at the same time my eyes prick with tears.

Feeling all over the place and out of control with my emotions.

Then Hobi oppa is being nudged aside gently.

Replaced with Kookie instead.

Who's usual boisterousness is dampened down but not completely gone. Not with the way he wriggles to crouch in front of me instead, a playful nudge that sent Hobi oppa to lose his balance and fall to the side.

Surprise melting into laughter as he falls back onto the carpet.

"You know what I can feel?" he asks me.

I shake my head.

Smiling when he pushes my shirt up to carefully cup my stomach, rubbing gently before leaning in to press a kiss to the curve, lips staying there for a few moments.

"I can sense our baby's energy beginning to seep through." He reveals.

My breath hitches.

My hand goes to settle on his.

"What colour is it? What's it like?" I ask.

Feel the others get up to move close.

See them gravitate around us.

Peer in just as excited and thrilled.

"It's the softest gold. And you know what baby...it's always going to stay gold." 

Voice so full of assurance, so confident and certain that I feel it too.

Feel it and know it.

Lips pressing again to the curve.

Eyes fond as he meets mine.

"I'll make sure of it."

(THERE WE GO!! I'M NOT SURE IF I'M DOING BABY MATE'S PREGNANCY JUSTICE OR NOT? WHETHER THESE MOMENTS ARE ENJOYABLE TO READ OR NOT BUT I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THEY ARE!! IF THEY'RE NOT PLEASE LET ME KNOW...I WANT TO BE WRITING THINGS THAT ARENT'S JUST ENJOYABLE FOR ME TO WRITE BUT FOR YOU TO READ AS WELL! AND SO WE HAD BABY MATE IN A SPOT OF DANGER BUT MINNIE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE SHE'S FINE! I ALWAYS LOVE WRITING MINNIE AND BABY MATE BECAUSE THEY'RE BOND IS SUPER PHYSICAL AND CLOSE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY BONDED AND I HOPE THAT COMES THROUGH!! AND KOOKIE!! HE CAN SENSE THE BABY'S ENERGY GROWING AND ACTUALLY FORMING WHICH MEANS THAT HE'S BEEN KEEPING AN EYE OUT AND MAKING SURE THE BABY IS OKAY!! LET ME KNOW HOW YOU FOUND IT AND WHETHER YOU WANT ANYTHING ELSE IN PREGNANCY MOMENTS BEFORE WE GET TO THE BIRTH CHAPTERS!! STAY SAFE, TAKE CARE AND ENJOY LOVES!)

When you're constantly running it's easy to miss the small things in life. if you're always pushing ahead it's easy to lose focus of the things around us, to lose sight of the things that matter. If we're always trying to be the best we can, to push ourselves to the limit then we can easily burn out. So remember that it's okay to take a breather, it's okay to stop to appreciate the small moments of beauty and the reasons for our happiness. It's okay to turn the run into a jog into a walk. It's okay to not be pushing out 100% every single moment or every single day. Sometimes it's fine to be less. Sometimes life is perfectly fine at 10% too.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3