Friendships Desires and Secrets

Standing In The Fire Next To You

The party ran late after the debut of Jimins single. About 60 people had shown up. Most were invited. Jimin tried to take it all in stride. After all, they were in LA. A few people who were in the industry had approached Jimin about collaborations and songs they wanted him to record. Jimin kept Yoongi tucked by his side through the night. It was obvious they were itching to leave early. With hard won patience and good grace, they stayed on until the party finally began to break off.
Halsey made her way over to say goodnight. She kissed Jimin's cheek and told him that she thought the song was amazing. When she leaned in to kiss Yoongi's cheek, she whispered, "I'm happy for you." And gave him a warm smile. He nodded back to her. Had she always known? Yoongi had never hidden his bisexuality. He shrugged and collected his person.

***

The morning was quickly burning into noon by the time Amy stretched,  yelling as her back protested. She cracked in places you shouldn't be able to, and her hips felt more like they were held together with hoses than with muscle and bone. She slid to the edge of the bed and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. They burned and itched from all of the vapor from the fog machines, and she figured she should get into the shower soon.
Amy opened the door to the bathroom, and the room was warm and steamy. Jungkook was rinsing the soap out of his hair. He was singing "Standing Next to You" and seemed to be in a very upbeat mood. When she slid back the glass door, he immediately turned and wrapped her in his hot, wet embrace. The shower water sluiced down his thick arms and ran in rivulets down her sides and legs.
Jungkook started rubbing the tension from her lower back with his strong hands. He slowly worked his way up her back until he had all the soreness loved away. Amy started to stand on tiptoe to kiss him, but he gave her a peck on the nose. She huffed.
"We need to go, princess."
"Go?" What in the world! This was news to her. "Go where Buns?" She said teasingly, tracing her finger across his chest.
He gripped the cheeks of her backside firmly and growled. Sucking air through his teeth to calm his heart rate, he addressed her in a flat tone. "You'll see." And he stepped out of the shower.
Amy showered quickly, and by the time she was out, he was dressed. She garnered no clues from his attire, looking more like he was going to a dance rehearsal than anywhere else her mind could conjure. She said nothing but dressed to follow his suit.
She dressed as comfortable as her current state would allow and waddled in curious silence behind him as he gathered his personal effects and left the room.
One of their rental SUVs was parked out front, and when JK opened the sliding door for her, she was greeted by Alex and Namjoon. Alex vacated the drivers seat and playfully slid her rear across Namjoon's lap as she got in beside him. Jungkook made sure Amy was secure and got into the vehicle.
Amy tried to text Alex to find out what JK had planned, but after reading the text, Alex only shrugged, her eyes glittering with mirth and mischief. Alex couldn't suppress the small giggle as Amy huffed once again.
The trip from their hotel to Beverly Hills only took forty minutes, but it felt like 2 hours to Amy. Not only was she excited, but she hated anticipation when she was the one suffering it. Also, it was becoming more uncomfortable to sit. She was angry with herself for putting on so much weight. Jungkook didn't seem to notice or mind, and everything she had read said that some women had very prominent growth while some hardly showed at all. She shifted, trying to find a comfortable position while rubbing the wave of tightness.
Arriving on Rodeo Drive, they parked and walked past several boutiques before Jungkook settled on the one he wanted to go into. The massive decorative clothing store carried men and women's apparel. Alex drug Amy over to the women's section as the 2 men disappeared up the escalator.
"What? Where are they off to?" Amy turned to watch them go.
"Well, they aren't going to find what they are looking for down here." Alex said in an overly innocent tone.
Alex picked out a light blue long dress that had a darker under skirt that shimmered like the night sky.
"Oh, this is perfect." Alex fawned over the fabric, and choosing the size she needed, she took Amy to the huge maternity salon. An attendant spotted Alex and approached them. "Hello, Rodeo ladies. May I take your selection to the counter and bring you a beverage?"
Alex smiled. "I would be delighted for you to take my choice to the counter, and my friend here needs a dress as well. Formal and preferably long like this one." Alex said in her derisive customer service voice. The attendant either ignored that she had been mocked or didn't notice as she took the gown Alex proffered.
Moments later, Amy was being waited on by a lovely young woman. Amy seemed to be having a whole"Pretty Woman" moment as she looked at the dresses the woman presented. None seemed to be the 'one'. The attendant snapped her fingers and darted off. She was excited enough that it drew glares from two other employees.
When she returned this time, she knew she had found the one. The dark purple sequined bodice was low cut and had wide velvet straps that were ombre from purple to a deep red. The soft flowing skirt was much the same and was designed for a large pregnant belly.
Jungkook and Namjoon were both standing behind Amy when she got up stiffly from the overstuffed couch. They helped her and startled her the same when they grabbed her arms, lifting her to standing.
Amy looked at Alex, who nodded in full agreement with the woman who found it.
"Now," Amy turned to Jungkook. "Why do I need a formal gown?"
"Tch." He clicked his tongue against his teeth. "You will see." He held out his hand to her. "Let's pay for these so you can get changed."
"Oh! Wait!" Alex called out. "We forgot shoes."
"I don't think I can get into anything but flats, Alex."
Alex went with the attendant and came back to the counter with 2 shoe boxes. After ringing up the garments and shoes, the happy attendant, whose name was Karri, swiped Jungkook's black card. She was chatty and nice, while the other women were physically trying not to drool as JK put the black card back into his wallet.
"I could have paid for Alex's, man," Namjoon said as he clapped Jungkook on the shoulder.
"Nah!" JK shook his head. "It was my plan and too last minute. It's ok."

A few minutes and a short ride away,  Amy walked into a small wedding chapel. She looked at her friends and the love of her life. "You weren't kidding when you said you wanted to elope, hu?"
Jungkook shot his famous bunny grin at her.  "Last minute jitters?" He asked.
"Not a damned one." Amy grinned at him.
It was a simple ceremony. Simple and perfect.
When he kissed his bride, Jungkook also kissed Amy's belly. She and Alex were both holding tears up until that moment. Alex was happy that she had found flats to match Amy's dress. She had noticed Amy switching feet and shifting uncomfortably throughout the quick ceremony.
"Amy hunny, do you want to sit down." Alex looked concerned when the color drained from Amy's face.
"I need to walk." Amy said quietly. "These Braxton Hicks contractions are getting worse."
Alex shot a nervous look at Namjoon. Jungkook was immediately at her arm, and he, with Alex, took Amy out into the cool weather.
Jungkook quickly brought the SUV to the sidewalk and threw the  four-way flashers on. Amy just looked ashen and confused but allowed them to fuss over her.
"How far apart are your contractions?" Alex asked once they were all loaded up.
"They can't be contractions, Alex. It's a month early."
"Well, let's time them to be sure."
Amy nodded as the next wave of tightening gripped her belly and back. Her mind was getting the best of her, and she was starting to get frightened. Two minutes later, another wave hit.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick." Amy closed her eyes. Jungkook turned the AC on maximum and checked his GPS.
Namjoon had already called ahead to the hospital, and the staff were standing by with a wheel chair and blanket when the SUV came to a stop.
The barrage of questions was expertly handled by Amy's husband of less than an hour. Things like, how early is she, how far apart are the contractions, has there been any pre-natal care, were swiftly answered  as he followed the triage team. Namjoon and Alex made no motion to follow beyond the waiting area.
Alex turned her face into Namjoons crisp linen shirt and began to openly sob. Flashbacks of Tara ripped through her heart, and he held her as she cried.

In labor and delivery,  Amy was quickly placed in a gown and hooked to a fetal heart monitor. A nurse got her into the bed and checked for dilation.
"Well, sweety, you are about five centimeters and fully effaced. Looks like you are going to have them today."
"Them? Wait, what?"
"Yep." The nurse moved the monitor up, then back down before attaching a second monitor. She secured the velcro straps, and Amy listened in shock as the sound of two rapid hearts beats filled the room.
"Jeon Jungkook! What have you done?"
He looked like he was about to faint as the nurse broke Amy's water.

***

About an hour later, Jungkook texted Namjoon. The single picture brought tears to his eyes. He tilted the phone around and showed Alex.
"Twin boys! Oooh my god." She shook her head and let out the breath she had been holding.