Breaking Point (BWWM)

19. Languish

A/N: This chapter was originally going to be much longer, but I felt it was better suited at this length. Do you guys like long chapters? Do you have a preference for long or short? Let me know! I can write my chapterlengths according to your preferences, you won't be missing any story. lol

Btw, you won't want to miss the next chapter!

Seth brought Jooyoung over today, and naturally, their kids came with. Brooke was especially excited to see them, as she's yet to meet Sehoon. Lucy convinced Braxton to take a break from his work in the office to come see them, having gone on about how quickly babies grow and whatnot. He probably shouldn't have, with the amount of work he had to get in order since the funeral, but he was glad for the distraction. As brief as it is.

The couple appeared tired, especially Jooyoung, they both had heavy bags under their eyes. It looked like if you gave them long enough on the couch, they'd fall asleep in minutes. Braxton figured their young alpha was the culprit, not to mention their toddler on top of that.

Brooke already had little Sehoon in her arms, cooing obnoxiously at him as she peered at his cute face; the sight tickled Braxton a bit. He even found himself smiling, though it's short-lived. "...How long are you guys staying?" Seth wondered, looking between Everett and Brooke. He throws his arm over Joo's shoulder, and she doesn't refute it, simply leaning in to him.

Everett looks to Brooke, she sighs softly, not lifting her gaze from Sehoon's face, "I want to stay longer, but, we've got to go tomorrow..." she paused, looking up at Braxton's face for a moment. Everyone else in the room followed suit, and it made him turn his face away, feeling that burning sensation arising again. He'd tried his best to keep it to a minimum these past three days since the funeral.

"Right, we understand, Brooke. Duty calls, right?" Jooyoung assured. "We're just glad you both came. I wish we could've been here for you more while you were here."

Brooke shakes her head, as does Lucy, "No, no, it's fine. It's enough having to juggle a newborn, let alone people grieving. Thanks for letting me see him, Joo. I was really looking forward to this precious little face." She coos at Sehoon again, though of course the infant's reactions were minimal. He seemed calm for the moment, though according to what he'd been hearing from Seth, he was only ever this calm around a lot of people or when he's sleepy. Though Braxton figured the baby just took a liking to Brooke, they've yet to meet a baby that didn't like her. She strokes his flushed, plump cheek with her finger.

Seth looks at Everett, "You can hold him, too, Ev," he suggested, though Everett didn't add much to his offer.

Braxton turns to his wife, "Have you seen Dad today?" he wondered quietly. Typically, he'd be able to sense him, but since losing his mate his father's entire aura has been off. His scent is either changed or even absent, and he moves so quietly. Even when he's in the same room with them, his presence hardly withholds any energy, there's no buzz of familiarity anymore. No longer could they identify their father from proximity alone, that vibration they felt was gone, if not faint. Braxton heard Lucy and Brooke talking about it quite the bit, how worried they are for him. Braxton was sincerely afraid his father may do something dire, he never would have thought it, but grief was a mysterious thing. Especially when you lose your soulmate.

"Brooke and I went to bring him something to eat earlier," she explained, Braxton watched her scoot a bit, giving him room to sit next to her. He'd be lying if he didn't admit how much the gesture surprised him, though he took up on her offer. Her body falls into him a bit when he sunk next to her. He leans back, allowing his weight to settle in the couch. Lucy didn't react when he propped his arm up on the couch behind her head.