The house smelled like coffee and rain, that soft, comforting scent that makes mornings feel slower than they are. Light streamed through the wide glass windows, golden and patient, stretching across the wooden floor like it had all the time in the world. Outside, trees swayed lazily, leaves rustling in quiet conversation with the wind.
"Good morning," Suho announced, entering the room with a breakfast tray and a grin far too energetic for Sunday morning, 9 a.m.
He set the tray on the side table and climbed onto the bed, gently tugging the blanket away from her face. "Wake up, lazy omma…"
"Hmmm… don't disturb us…" she mumbled, eyes still closed, rolling to the other side and dragging the blanket with her.
He laughed under his breath. "It's nine, Jagi. My baby must be hungry."
A soft hum escaped her lips in response, somewhere between protest and surrender.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "I made stir-fried pork belly…"
There was a pause.
Then slowly, suspiciously, the blanket lowered. She blinked up at him with squinting eyes, adjusting to the light. Her morning face was soft and puffy, cheeks slightly fuller, hair a sleepy mess, pregnancy glow shimmering gently against her skin.
He couldn't help it. His expression melted.
He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "Wake up and eat breakfast, then you can sleep again. Anyway, today is Sunday. Teddy is in charge of the entire house."
Her lips curved into a sleepy smile. "Entire house?" she murmured, voice thick with sleep.
"Yes. Cleaning, dishes, laundry. Even taking care of Hauenie." He replied.
She smiled, still half asleep, then slowly pushed herself up. Suho immediately adjusted the pillows, placing one carefully behind her back, making a soft little nest between her and the headboard.
"There," he murmured, satisfied.
He brushed her messy hair away from her face, fingers gentle, almost reverent. Then he noticed the faint line of dried saliva at the corner of her mouth.
He blinked. Then, without a word, he wiped it away with his thumb. and then his gaze had already drifted downward.
Seven months. Her belly curved proudly under the loose fabric of her nightdress. Round. Alive. Precious.
Something inside him softened in a way that still surprised him every single day.
He slid down carefully and bent toward her stomach, pressing a slow kiss against it.
"Good morning, baby," he whispered. "Appa made your breakfast. Let's eat without troubling Omma, okay?"
As if on cue, a small kick answered him.
His eyes widened, then he laughed softly. "Good. Very good."
She smiled, one hand brushing through his hair while the other rested protectively over her belly. There was something about the way he looked at her now, like she was carrying not just a child, but the center of his universe.
He sat back up and picked up the tray. "Let me feed you both today."
He offered her the first bite carefully. She leaned forward and took it with a small smile.
"Did you eat?" she asked while chewing.
"Not yet," he said lightly. "First, let me feed my babies, then I'll eat."
She chuckled. Then, checking him out, "By the way, Teddy looks handsome today."
He smiled, feeding her another bite. "Maybe because Hauenie is happy today."
She rolled her eyes fondly but didn't deny it. He gave her another piece of pork belly, watching her closely as she chewed.
Then carefully, "Are you okay today?" he asked, voice softer now. "Is my baby troubling you much?"
She looked down at her belly, fingers stroking it gently. "Not at all. It's being obedient today."
He leaned closer to her stomach again. "You hear that, baby? Just stay like this."
Another small movement brushed against her palm.
He froze, then placed his hand over hers, feeling it. For a second, his expression. Just awe.
Later, he watched her chew for a moment, then his expression turned thoughtful.
"Hauena…"
"Hmm?" she replied, mouth still full.
He lowered his voice like he was about to reveal state secrets. "It's going to be a baby girl this time."
She smiled lazily. "And how exactly do you know that, Doctor Kim?"
He straightened, very serious about his research. "Because she loves me too much. Every time I talk, she responds. Also, she didn't trouble you while eating pork belly. That means she likes it." He nodded once, proud of his logic. "Which means she is definitely my daughter. Appa's girl."
She laughed softly. "Because she loves you, that's why she's a girl?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I read online that baby girls love their dads more. And they don't trouble their moms much. See? Evidence." He gently tapped her belly. "And she likes pork belly. That's my favorite. Clearly inherited taste."
She shook her head, laughing. "So if the baby likes pork belly, it's a girl. If not, it's a boy?"
"Exactly."
The confidence in his voice made her laugh harder, and he couldn't help smiling along, pleased with himself.
He slowly bent down again, resting his cheek lightly against her belly.
"Just two more months, Baby," he whispered softly. "Then you'll be in appa's arms. Appa will take you everywhere. Show you the world. And feed you lots of pork belly."
Right on cue, a small firm kick pressed outward.
His face lit up instantly. "See? She agrees."
Hauen swatted his arm lightly. "Yaa… don't make her talk too much. It hurts."
He immediately looked up, concerned. "Sorry, sorry." His hand replaced hers gently, rubbing slow circles over her belly.
He bent again, speaking to her belly with exaggerated seriousness. "Okay, Okay... baby, let Omma eat peacefully. Just wait two more months, alright? Then I'll talk to you every single day."
Another tiny movement answered him.
Hauen smacked his shoulder lightly. "Yaa…"
He laughed. "Hajima… baby, Omma is hurting. Don't respond too often."
And this time, no kick came. He smiled and kissed her stomach once more, softer this time.
"Good girl. Appa saranghae." He said softly.
A small bump appeared again on her stomach, gentle and brief, like a shy reply to his confession. He chuckled and pressed another soft kiss over it. The bump faded.
Then he looked up at Hauen with triumph glowing all over his face. "See? She loves me so much."
She narrowed her eyes at him, playful offense written all over her expression.
He leaned forward and pecked her lips gently. "But Hauenie loves me more. And I know it."
The corner of her mouth betrayed her, curving into a soft smile.
Before he could tease further, she suddenly grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. His breath hitched in surprise.
"Enough talking to baby," she murmured, her eyes turning bold and warm. "Now show some love to her Omma too."
He blinked innocently. "I already made breakfast and fed you. What else do you want, Jagi?" he asked, playing clueless.
She tugged him even closer, her voice dropping just enough to make his ears warm. "You know exactly what I want."
He swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close her face was. "Jagi… should we really do… dirty stuff… while the baby is inside? What if she judges us?"
She squinted her eyes. "Stop acting all innocent, Teddy. You are the reason she is growing there."
He blinked again, a nervous laugh escaping him. "Jagi, you didn't even brush your—"
She cut him off by pressing her lips against his. Sudden. Bold. Stealing his breath mid-sentence.
He froze for a heartbeat, eyes wide, then melted into it, one hand instinctively supporting her back, the other careful, always careful. He kissed her back gently, smiling against her lips.
When she pulled away to breathe, he chuckled softly. "You're really going to ruin my baby's innocence," he teased, wiping his lips dramatically.
She just looked at him, amused. "Then stop tempting me until I deliver her."
He blinked. "I didn't do anything to tempt you."
She raised a brow. "You did. You always do. Intentionally. Even now. You're wearing this damn shirt even when I already told you it looks sexy on you."
He glanced down at himself and laughed, suddenly flustered. "Yaa… not like that. It was just on top inside the cupboard."
She stared at him. Not convinced.
He sighed, surrendering with a small grin. "Okay, fine. I wanted to tempt you." Then his voice softened. "Because I missed you."
Her expression melted instantly.
She instantly pulled him closer into her arms, and he went willingly, adjusting his position with natural protectiveness, making sure there was no pressure on her belly. She kissed his hair, slow and tender.
"I missed you too…" she whispered.
He smiled, wrapping his arms around her gently, resting his cheek against her shoulder. They stayed like that for a while. Quiet. Breathing together. The kind of closeness that does not need performance.
Then she tilted her head slightly. "What if it's a baby boy?"
He didn't hesitate. "Then I'll take him on a world tour too."
She laughed softly.
*************
Later that evening, snow began to fall. Soft. Patient. Like the sky had decided to whisper instead of speak.
They sat in the living room with the lights dimmed low, the world outside turning white. Hauen was nestled between Suho's legs on the couch, her back resting against his chest, her head tucked beneath his chin. His arms wrapped around her naturally, one hand resting over her seven-month curve, fingers moving in slow circles.
There was no chaos. No shadows chasing them. Just warmth. Just love.
He kissed her temple gently.
"You know what, jagi…?" he murmured.
"Hm?" She tilted her face up to look at him.
He smiled, almost shy, almost amazed. "Our baby is seven months and twenty-one days old… today."
She blinked, amused. "You're counting every day?"
"Of course I am." His voice softened. "I still can't believe… It's seven months. It is growing inside you, alive, breathing, becoming more real every single day."
Her smile grew tender. She lifted his hand and kissed it.
"It's true," she whispered. "It's there, alive. Our baby. Our heartbeat. Our tiny little version."
His eyes glistened.
He pulled her closer, pressing his face into her hair, as if trying to convince himself this was real by holding it tighter.
"It still feels like a miracle," he said quietly. Then even softer, "After we lost the first one… at four months…"
His voice trembled.
"If that baby had lived…" he continued, swallowing hard, "it would be running around this house by now. Calling us Appa and Omma."
Hae-in felt her chest tighten. He never spoke about it. But the loss from that accident had settled deep inside him, buried beneath strength and silence. Now it was surfacing, fragile and unguarded.
She covered his hand with both of hers.
"Shh…" she said gently. "That soul must be resting somewhere peaceful. Maybe reborn somewhere else… and getting all the love it deserved."
Her eyes shimmered, too.
Before either of them could fall deeper into memory, she gasped softly. "Ah—"
He straightened instantly. "What happened?"
"She's kicking."
His concern melted into a smile. He leaned forward, rubbing her belly.
"Wae, baby?" he murmured. "Why are you troubling Omma, suddenly? Didn't you promise me this morning you'd behave?"
The kicking stopped.
Then suddenly, a firm bump rose under the fabric, the clear shape of a tiny foot.
He froze in awe.
Carefully, he pushed the fabric aside to see it better. "What happened to her now?" Hae-in laughed softly.
Suho placed his palm over the little protrusion. "Why are you suddenly naughty, hm?"
The bump disappeared… only to reappear somewhere else.
They both burst into quiet laughter.
"What do you want, my love?" he asked again.
"I think she wants your attention," Hae-in said.
Suho leaned closer. "Is that so? My baby wants appa's attention?"
The bump shifted again, almost as if nodding.
Both of them laughed, overwhelmed by the tiny soul trying to speak its own language.
"Alright," he said seriously. "Appa is all yours now. Just don't kick Omma too hard, okay?"
He gently helped her sit more comfortably on the couch, then slid down until he was sitting in front of her, face-to-face with her belly.
"Okay," he announced. "Let me tell you a clever rabbit story."
Another bump appeared.
He grinned widely.
"Once upon a time," he began, "there was a very genius rabbit in a very big jungle…"
His voice softened into storytelling rhythm, animated but warm. Hae-in leaned back and listened, smiling as the baby gradually grew still, as if truly listening.
The snow kept falling. Time blurred.
Inside that house, inside that small glowing pocket of warmth, two people, after hardship, distance, loss, sacrifices that left quiet scars, had built this little universe.
Just quietly, with lots of love.
And in the middle of it all, a tiny heartbeat listened to her father's story. There was something so pure in that moment. Not dramatic. Not loud, just pure love.