JIMIN POV:

I see the way that our baby fits perfectly into (Y/N)'s arms as if he was already waiting to be slotted into place, as if he had already made his place there. The look on her eyes is tender and so open and loving as she gazed at him, tears spilling over her cheeks and coursing down. But as the rest of us gather around, eager to see our baby and comfort our soulmate- we're all marvelling over him and just as my eyes rise to hers, I see her eyes fluttering, lashes resting against the curve of her cheek as the close and suddenly her body loosens- consciousness slipping away from her.

A cry of alarm slips out of my throat, nearly loud enough to startle our baby but it draws the attention of the others and when they realise what happens- the bond floods with a surge of worry as we call for the doctor, midwife- anyone who can tell us what's wrong.

Her arms are still cocooning our baby into her arms but her head lies lifelessly, motionless against the white pillows.

The midwife comes around to check, doctor in tow as they check her pupils- shining a light in and taking note of all the details of how long and difficult her labour process had been.

"Her body is exhausted so it's shut down to try and recover." The doctor announces, and whilst the news should make sense and sink in easily- I can't stop from reaching out for one of the others to help ground me.

But they don't look any better, the ecstatic joy that had lit up everyone's faces now being clouded with concern for our youngest.

"We should get her washed and moved into the room we had booked." Jin hyung says, stepping up to take responsibility and his hands reaching out to brush the strands of hair off her cheeks- cheeks which are marred with tear stains and sweat; evidence of the physical and emotional toll she had taken giving birth.

The doctor and midwife allow us the time and space to give her a bed bath, peeling away the sweat-soaked hospital gown and wash her sleeping figure with gentle hands, murmuring how proud they are of her as Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung take care of her. All this time Tae who had reverently taken our baby from her firm protective grip is now cradling him close, attention on both him and (Y/N), eyebrows furrowed with worry.

But when we've all shifted into the private room we'd gotten for her, she's still yet to stir and Tae comes forward to bring our baby to lie close, placing him in the crib right next to her even though the rest of us can't bear to stand away from the two, huddling close.

Waiting is a long tormenting ordeal. Our baby has fallen asleep and yet there's no shifting from (Y/N), no stirring or movement and as each silent moment passes we grow closer and closer- gravitating towards each other because of our unified need for comfort.

But there's also hushed whispers of how beautiful our baby is, wondering who he will resemble and I can see that he is the product of the love the eight of us share. He will grow to be the most loved and cherished child in the world.

I just hope that his mother wakes up to see that too.

Come on (Y/N) wake up... there's people who need you. Who are waiting for you.

(Y/N) POV:

There's the feeling of burdensome weights holding me down, making every movement harder and extremely difficult. An ache so deep in me that it seems to wind itself around my soul and act as an anchor holding me down. There's voices that drift in and out like a fresh breeze on a spring day, enticing and sweet and refreshing- urging me to awaken, offering that sweet safe sanctuary within them.

My heart shifts at it, wanting to get closer to the sweet melody and I try to move- even if my body protests at the pain; a quiet groan escaping. The voices quieten and then come drifting to my ears in a clearer, closer volume.

"Jagi can you open your eyes...?"

"Baby just try for me, for us"

"Come on sweetheart, try to wake up."

"Love we're all here with you."

"Kit just open your eyes a bit, just to let us know..."

Voices layer over each other, sweet and persuasive and enticing- carrying me forward, bringing me closer and closer to them- eyes straining to open under the heavy blanket cocooning them in darkness.

And under their sweet loving voices comes a sound that's distressed and needy and urgent. One that pries through the thick exhausting fog  and makes my soul and heart break through it, bring me out of it.

The sound of soft cries.

My eyes slowly blink open, black dots swimming in my vision until they slowly fade and disappear.
I try and pry my head off the pillow, feel the strain it takes to push my body upwards- wincing at the pain it induces.
A pained whimper leaves when my back twinges in furious protest and it causes a flurry of action.

As if the sound had been the thing that had snapped whatever control or restraint anyone had possessed.

Jinnie oppa is there, steadying my body and helping me upright- allowing my body to lean on his completely as he shifts me into a comfortable position which doesn't make my body scream with the movement. Hobi oppa is there, arms steadying me- jolts of warm soothing energy rushing out and pushing the discomfort away slightly.

Yoongi oppa who'd let out a gasp of breath as I'd whimpered, has one hand clutched onto the sheet next to me and the other settling carefully onto my cheek, I lean immediately into the touch; soothed by the comfort it brings.

Kookie and Tae let out pained sounds as they hurry forward, eyes wide and so vulnerable, raw and Minnie's eyes are searching- trying to assess or assert if I'm in pain, any step he needs to take. And Joonie...he just stands there and lets the tears slip out, rolling down his cheeks in quick succession, hand gently gripping my leg, assuring himself through the touch that I'm fine.

But again under it all, there's the sound of soft wet sniffles that cut through the air again- and my heart twists as I turn, ignoring the pain in my lower back, as I try to find my baby. My baby who needs me, needs comfort.

Kookie turns and bends and when he shifts again he's bringing a blanket-swaddled tiny figure in his large arms towards me. My arms are outstretched, heart pounding as I feel the soft light weight being placed into my hands and I bring the bundle close, cooing and fussing over my baby who's tiny mouth is parted slightly as he wails, eyes only slightly open, and cheeks a healthy rosy flush. I watch as those eyes stop roving as they land on me, an instant where I feel my soul widening and stretching as it tethers with his, our eyes catching and meeting in that instant; all that I see is the bond- a slight unwinding link that'll grow and strengthen with time.

He stops, mouth still parted slightly but for a moment those cries quieten, feeling that connection, his small soul and heart recognising me. And the wails renew afresh, louder- desperate for something. I gently rock him, hushing him, murmuring sweet soft words of love but he doesn't stop crying. His wails tiny as they may be tug at my heart- and I need to make them stop, make him feel better. And when I gently brush my fingers across his cheeks, slightly towards the edge of his mouth, his lips try closing on the pad of my finger, and wails when nothing is slotted in between. And I realise he's hungry.

"Seokie can you hold him for a second?" I ask urgently, gently placing him into his awaiting arms, seeing the nervousness on his face as he cradles him.

And my fingers climb up to the nightgown I'm wearing and see that the buttons are too high. I fumble with the side-tie of the gown, fingers deftly opening the gown and I pull the layer of fabric aside when it comes undone, baring my skin and body bare.

I hear a gasp, and a muttered curse, a groan from a few of them but right now our baby needs to feed- he's hungry and I can provide him with what he needs.

My breasts sit heavy, full and aching, filled with milk for my baby. But I'm uncertain how to make him feed even as my nipples peak at the sudden drift of air on the exposed skin. I take him back from Seokie, giggling at the shocked look on Kookie's face and bring him closer to my chest, to my right side first. I gently support their upper half bringing him up towards my breast, nose snuffling against my nipple. His mouth parts slightly but doesn't latch on, twisting slightly. I try again and he doesn't latch on. After a few unsuccessful tries I can feel the tears of frustration build, and of sorrow that I'm not able to help him, feed him like he so clearly wants.

"Why isn't he feeding?" I ask panicking and blinking through the tears.

"Don't worry love, he'll learn and you will. It's something the two of you will learn together." Jinnie oppa is quick to reassure. And just then there's a sly, lone finger which traces against my mark, pressing down with slight pressure that makes my body arch slightly. And there it is. His mouth latches on and I feel a rush of relief even as I glare at the offending finger- Tae never stops playing dirty.

He just shrugs, a grin tugging at his lips- melting my resolve and I'm just staring with soft eyes.

I look down to see our baby suckling softly, mouth losing grip at times but reattaching with a determinedness that I can already see growing into a key trait. His cheeks are round and full as he feeds and occasionally, there's a slight pinch of pain and discomfort but it's appeased knowing that my baby is getting fed and satiated. After a while his lips detach and I bring him to my left breast, and it's with slightly more easy he latches on, I avoid pressing his head into my breast, allowing his head to move and tilt back with freedom- not wanting to restrain or impact his ability to feed later on. After he's done, Yoongi oppa silently passes me soft tissue to wipe away any lingering dampness on my breasts and helps me tie back my gown again, hands chaste and soft and caring- always pushing my needs and comfort to the first priority when it's between us.

I cradle our boy towards my chest, satiated and heart bursting with the sleep dazed look crossing his tiny features, seeing him in my arms after everything it took to get him here, makes it worth it. It's all worth it. And the eyes of my soulmates are excited and intrigued, ready to embark on that journey of parenthood together.

----

It's a couple of days later when we finally come back home. And everyone is relieved. Camping out in a room in the hospital hadn't been the best and ideal environment for softly whispered thoughts at night, not to mention the boys were extremely stiff and uncomfortable- no matter how much they tried to hide it, because they all flocked over eagerly when I offered to heal their aches and pains.

I smile at the way our baby snuffles cutely in the blanket he's swaddled in, at the way Tae and Minnie don't stop cooing over my shoulder, bent over as they make faces and make endearing noises to our baby.

And I cry in happiness when I step back into our home, feeling the safety and security that these walls have already provided and meet Joonie oppa's lips in a sweet soulful kiss that tastes like tears and happiness- parting pliantly under his gentle guiding touch to allow myself to be brought that promise and taste of safety and sanctuary, trembling slightly under Hobi oppa's tight yet gentle grip that has helped me remain upright and has been pushing away the pain that the cramps are bringing.

I allow Jinnie oppa to help me bathe, let his gentle large hands wash me and lather me up, holding my body against his, cradling me as he helps me clean, murmuring loving words across the shell of my ear even as I wince and cry at the way my body looks post-pregnancy.

I relish in the way that the younger soulmates trip over their feet, often literally, in their haste to bring nappies, soft toys, blankets and outfits they want our boy to be dressed in- all of them pouting and whining cutely when one is chosen over the other, and smug when it's them.

And it gets easier with time. Breastfeeding. Waking up in the night by the needy cries. Leaning against one of my soulmate's who stay up with me, shares and eases the strain- soft chatter as our baby falls back asleep, becoming each other's pillow, support as we fall back asleep on top of each other.

Slowly we build a new normal. One that includes nappies, blankets, gentleness (greater than it had been), toys scattering the floor and the belongings of our baby that spreads through the house, becomes a sign that it's a home to a growing miracle.

I share in the squeals and cooing and awwing when the others come to visit, when they shed tears too and congratulate me. I see myself changing day by day, body slowly trying to return to it's old normal- but shifts into a figure that is slightly wider and curvier, matured by motherhood.

Parenthood brings me tears, stress, sleepless nights and exhausted days. It brings me worries, fears and insecurities. But it brings me closer to my soulmates as we all bond and become stronger in our shared journey to raise our child.

Our child that Kookie had one night after we'd come home proposed we called Dae Hyeon. Because he was a symbol of endurance, of growth and of survival. He was the tale of love, faith and loyalty and trust. Because he was all of us combined. And he was the symbol of our happily ever after.

And I through tears and happy nods, kissed each one of them until I was breathless and even then fell back to their lips starved for more. For the ones who'd gone through a different world, a world where I had been Dae Hyeon, shuttered off and suffering, and reached in and pulled me out. To this.

And we embarked on this new journey together. As Dae Hyeon's parents.

(AGAIN! THE RESEARCH I DO FOR YOU LOVES! PRETTY SURE THE NHS' ANALYTICAL COOKIES ARE PICKING UP ON MY RESEARCH AND WONDERING. OOPS! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BREASTFEEDING SCENE- BUT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, EARLIEST STAGES OF BONDING AND I FELT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE PLOT- TO SHOW THAT SWEET TASK OF GROWING CLOSE SO IT'S HERE! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! AND BABY DAE-HYEON! MORE TO COME ON SWEET MOMENTS AS THEY GROW INTO PARENTS, LEARNING AS THEY GO! I LOVED WRITING THIS CHAPTER! STAY SAFE LOVES AND TAKE CARE!)

QUESTION....ONE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF AND ONE THING YOU WANT TO CHANGE? (PERSONAL GROWTH WISE, LOVE YOURSELF LOVES!)

Mine is...I like my Asian heritage- the colour, the celebrations, the rituals, the bonding with family- being called aunt by my cousins' children (one of whom was inspiration for Adam!). One thing I'd like to change is to become more actively conscious about my health- I want to change for me.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3