Growing Together

Chapter 18

Kao's craving had led Pete to the other side of the city because Kao had wanted a particular dish from a particular place. He couldn't help but wonder just how Mork and Sun had been able to manage all this time, especially with their café. But just seeing how happily Kao was eating in the passenger seat beside him, had Pete smiling to himself. "Is it that good?" Pete had asked watching Kao stuff the piece of the roasted duck into his mouth.

Kao had only hummed at him, as he reached a piece of duck towards Pete to give him a taste of it. "Here, try it." He said as his eyes grew big waiting for Pete to savor the taste.

Pete had chewed on it quietly, trying to savor the taste of it to see what Kao thought made this special from any other place's roasted duck. However, Pete couldn't help but think that it didn't taste all that different than the roasted duck from the restaurant just around the corner from the clinic—that he had tried to take Kao to. But, being him, he couldn't help but exaggerate for Kao. "mmm~! It's definitely delicious," he said letting his voice express that sincerity after swallowing the food in his mouth before he was half leaning over to Kao's side of the seat. "Can I have another piece?"

Pete's answer had Kao smiling even wider as he nodded his head in approval of Pete's words. "It's the best place to get roasted duck!" He said all too happy to share his food with him. It just became natural after that, to feed himself 2 pieces before giving Pete one. After all, he was eating for two so it made sense that he'd get more.

The soft music playing on the stereo had helped keep the atmosphere so calm and peaceful between them both, that Kao hadn't even noticed the route Pete was taking. It wasn't until he had gotten a glimpse of those very recognizable yellow swings that he knew just where exactly he was.

"Pete...what are you doing? This isn't the way to Mork's apartment," he asked turning towards him as his brows began to knit together both from anger and fear.

"I'm taking you home, where else?" Pete said making it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why are you taking me home?!" Kao had said beginning to get agitated, "Just stop the car!" Kao said moving the food bags out of his lap. Which had Pete panicking thinking Kao was going to jump out of his car.

"Kao, what are you doing?!" Pete had said frantically stopping the car as quickly and as gently as possible. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Kao and their child because he was being a reckless driver, moreover, there were far too many cars driving past them that it had him panicked and reaching over to grab Kao's hand to stop him.

"I never said I wanted to come here..." Kao said angrily as he tried his best to move away from Pete while trying to unbuckle himself. "I'm not ready to go back yet, Pete....My mom, s-she doesn't...." Kao tried to say as he tightened his grip on the seatbelt. He could feel his eyes burning with the tears trying to spill from them, and his heartbeat faster with the panic rising within him at just being here.

"Kao, listen to me," Pete begged, inching closer to him as much as he could. He pulled his hand away from the seatbelt, pulling his hand into his in hopes of trying to calm him—even if just a little bit before he heard what he needed to say. "Kao...your mom knows about us, she knows about the baby." He said making his voice as soft and as gentle as he could, but that didn't really seem to have helped Kao.

"Why would you tell her?!" Kao had yelled pulling his hands away from his. He couldn't help but feel his heart sink so painfully slow into his stomach just hearing those words. He had never once come out to her about his sexuality, but nowhere Pete was saying he had already outed him—not just about his sexual preference but about the baby! "How could you tell her, Pete!? Why would you do this to me?" Kao had cried out.

"I didn't do it to hurt you..." Pete said letting his brows crease. Just seeing Kao cry was making him feel this ache in his chest. He hadn't wanted to hurt him, much less make him cry like this. "She figured it out on her own," He said desperately trying to explain himself, "She saw the pregnancy results from the Hospital on your desk. I just admitted that it was my son." He said but just hearing him sob had Pete shifting in his seat. He had turned his whole body to face him as he reached over to cup his cheeks.

"I wouldn't have brought you home if I wasn't sure you and our son would be welcomed," Pete said pressing a kiss to his face. "Please, just trust me okay? She's been patiently waiting for you to come home. So, let me take you home, okay?" He practically begged.

"O-Okay..." Kao had said between a sob.

He was by no means ready, but Pete was asking him to trust him.