Treasure for All

22. Everyone We Love

Tears were dried off of Celestia's face as she snuggled with the purring cat who was now given the name Byeol. Her nerves had calmed now that she knew her baby was alive, but she couldn't help that she worried so much. Celestia had never been a nervous person up until the night she lost her family; and now, since being married and pregnant, she felt that she constantly worried about everything. It didn't help that she still had nightmares at times.

"Will I be normal again?" she half sobbed as she met Byeol's eyes.

San had gotten ready for bed and was turning off his light when he heard his wife make her comment. He scooted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her in a cuddle.

"You will," he promised. "I know it's been rough these past few days, but it'll calm down soon."

"I hope so," Celestia sighed.

Byeol purred as she nuzzled her new owner's pregnant belly.

"I guess you're the baby until the actual baby comes, huh?"

San chuckled as he pet the cat. "She must really like you in order for you to snuggle her like that."

"She won't like me when I try to bathe her tomorrow."

Celestia felt the baby kick, and Byeol immediately jumped off the bed to her little makeshift bed from two folded towels.

"I guess she didn't quite know that Baby Choi is alive in there," she sighed, but it was only a half-hearted laugh sort of sigh.

San focused all of his attention on his wife now. He had known her ever since they were children, so much so he knew exactly what her footsteps sounded like. Not even her nervousness could be hidden from him when she seemed to be near crying when her hands rubbed over the watermelon mound she had.

Immediately, he lifted her night shirt, exposing her pregnant tummy, and gently pressed his ear against it. His thumbs gently traced little hearts over each side.

"What are you doing?" Celestia giggled.

"I'm listening to the baby talking," San shushed. They both knew the child didn't speak in the womb, but San had his ways of comforting his wife when she was nervous.

"Can you show Mommy what a strong kick you've got?" San requested in a coo. "Please? If not Mommy, how about one for Daddy?" He then pressed soft kisses across his wife's belly to sort of coax his daughter to respond.

One of the bedroom doors opened, and Dahae poked her head in.

"Oh, sorry," she gasped. "I should have knocked."

"It's alright," Celestia forgave her. "Do you need anything?"

"Just to use your bathroom," Dahae shrugged as she bit her lip nervously.

"Is yours not working?"

"It is, but Joong's got it occupied. He's gonna be in there for the rest of the journey to Egypt, most likely."

The couple then realized what happened: Hongjoong's side effects had kicked in. As tough as the captain was, there were times where things were out of control.

"Go for it," Celestia nodded.

Dahae dashed into the bathroom and shut the door without a second thought.

A few more kicks were felt, and San was pulled back to what he was doing. "What was thought?" he fake gasped as he "listened" to his daughter. "You want me to tell Mommy what? Oh, okay. I'll tell her."

He sat up, lifted his wife's chin, and whispered, "She's okay." His hand rested over her belly.

"But the whole falling out of the sky," Celestia whined as the memory of less than an hour ago flooded her mind again. "We were all spinning around so much, that the baby could've-"

"I know what would've happened, angel," San interrupted her. "But we didn't lose her. She's alive and kicking within you as we speak. Yes, things could have gone way worse, but she's okay. We're okay."

Celestia just laid down on her pillow. This wasn't how she wanted her birthday to end, but she was happy that her child wasn't hurt. She just hated that she felt so nervous and anxious in those situations, she didn't know if she needed to see someone about it.

"I just don't want to lose everyone I love the most, again," she began to sob.

San's heart broke hearing his wife make such a statement. Repositioning himself to snuggle against her, he kissed away her tears.

"You're not going to lose any of us," he swore with his whole heart. "Not me, not the baby, not even the crew. And I'm not gonna lose you."

"I hate to interrupt," Dahae's voice chimed in as she returned from the bathroom, "but if you'd like, Celestia, I can bring you the doppler to have in here when you feel anxious. Listening to Baby's heartbeat should help calm your nerves."

Celestia nodded. "I'd like that. Thank you."

-

As the HALA sailed through the night sky, the crew eventually settled in for the night, even though it wasn't their regular routines for a few members. Hongjoong was still self-isolated in the bathroom with Dahae leaving him some water on his nightstand before she went to sleep. Celestia and San listened to their unborn baby's heartbeat, and Yeosang and Phoebe visited with her cousin and grandparents over the phone as her grandfather was healing.

Wooyoung and Dinah, however, did their regular routine of talking and giggling about random things before they fell asleep as children would at a sleepover, their bedsheets keeping them warm. Their conversations would range from serious topics as saving various animals to goofy subjects such as which coffee drink tastes the best. Most of the time, the two would joke around and end up in fits of laughter that would sometimes earn them a "Go to bed!" from Jongho.

This night, however, Wooyoung was having doubts again. Ever since he was small, he had doubts creeping in his subconscious if he was ever really loved. Of course, he knew his crewmates and Dinah would give their lives for him; but still, it bothered him sometimes.

"Helvetica and Times New Roman walk into a bar," Dinah began her joke, attempting to mask a grin. "And you know what the bartender told them?"

"Hm?" Wooyoung replied.

"'Get out of here! We don't serve your type!'"

It was a stupid joke, but after a long day of hiking and exploring, everything was the funniest thing on Earth. Wooyoung's Elmo laugh broke through the silence, earning them a "Keep it down!" from Yeosang.

"Sorry!" Wooyoung called back before lying back down.

As the once cheery atmosphere began to die down, he released a heavy sigh.

"You okay?" Dinah asked him, her palm caressing his face.

Wooyoung nodded, but his girlfriend knew him too well. She pulled herself closer to him and rested her head on his bare chest.

"I love you," she whispered. "You know that, right?"

"I know."

"Why do you still doubt it?"

"I don't doubt it."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

Dinah sat up on her elbows and locked eyes with him. "Woo?"

He let out another heavy sigh. "I know you love me, Dinah, and I feel the same about you. I just have some bad memories that flood my brain at times. I don't know. You know how my childhood was."

"I'm aware." She kissed his cheeks before lying back down. "But please, don't ever think I don't ever love you. You're the best part of my life, Woo."

A smile broke out on his face. "Really?"

Throwing a leg over his, Dinah whispered in his ear, "Is my favorite side dish French fries...extra salty?" She batted her eyes, eyelashes tickling his cheekbone.

Wooyoung chuckled. "You and your salty tastes."

"At least my attitude isn't salty."

The couple burst out laughing, earning them another knock, this time from Jongho, to keep it down.