So Close Yet So Far - Mingyu x Reader

Epilogue

------One Year Later, Fall-----

"What do you think is wrong now?" You asked.

"How should I know? Don't babies have a different cry for everything?"

"I think so."

"Well, which cry is this? I don't think I've heard this one before." A yawn ripped through Mingyu's throat and chest as he rubbed his eyes. It was another late night, the sounds of a baby screaming echoed through the apartment walls. It was as if someone had shot a bullet in a small room, allowing it to ricochet off each wall and fly to the next constantly. It never ended, and you and Mingyu were constantly trying to avoid being hit. You sighed, sinking onto the couch as you rubbed the little ones' back. Mingyu watched as you paced the room, hoping the little bouncing movements matched with your gentle coos would soothe the baby. No luck.

"I think he's been crying for two days straight." You sighed.

"Tell me about it. I hope he's not getting sick." Mingyu walked over to the fridge, pulled it open, and scanned the contents. "Shit." He groaned.

"What?"

"Out of milk." He stood upright. "I thought I got some more."

"I went through so much while you were at work." You watched as Mingyu walked over pulling both you and the crying baby close. He kissed the baby, and then the top of your head. It didn't soothe the baby, but it did soothe you.

"I'll run to the store." He said. "That 24 hour one should have some milk."

"Okay." You said. Mingyu smiled, tired yet generous.

"Want something for yourself?"

"Surprise me." You murmured. Mingyu nodded. You finally sank onto the couch, listening as Mingyu dragged his feet to the door. You continued to rub your baby's back. You didn't even bother looking behind you as Mingyu closed the door behind him, heading out to the store. The baby's cries continued to ring through your ears. Hoping for luck the second time around, you rose from the couch and started walking. You passed the TV stand, then the bookshelf. You stopped for a minute, bouncing the baby in your arms as you stared down at the snow globe. A flurry of pictures surrounded it on all of the shelves: particularly the ones from Mina in Jeju. The one of you, Joshua, and Jeonghan flashing a peace sign and a grin on the beach was currently in your sights. You smiled at the memory; amazed almost two years had passed since all of that happened. Beside it sat a new set of pictures of you and Mingyu at the Japanese cherry blossom festival. One had Mina with you, the three of you meeting up the first time you both visited Japan after everything happened. It was a beautiful day, the three of you enjoying it as any group of friends would. It was as if the previous year's events had not happened during that trip. You smiled at the memory, both of you a whole year younger and still aware of what a full night's sleep felt like.

When a cough came from the baby in your arms, you kissed the top of his head. "It's okay..." you said softly, continuing your lap around the living room. The baby still was not stopping, the longer he cried the louder it sounded like it was getting. "Hurry up, Mingyu." You begged to yourself as if it would work. He had just left, after all, and the store was a good 10-minute walk away. As your feet stopped pacing, you looked around the dim and empty apartment. A deep feeling bubbled in your stomach, and you felt your eyes water. When you looked down at the little bundle in your arms, even as he cried, you took one large deep breath. The last one you needed, calming yourself before you lost it. Even a few months in, it was such an overwhelming feeling to have a baby. "We're alright." You said out loud, mainly for yourself. That affirmation seemed to start calming the baby down, though barely. "See? We're alright." Smiling, you kissed his forehead and sat back down on the couch. Holding the baby in your arms, you looked down at your hands. Your pointer fingers and thumbs were poking into view from under your son.