Growing Together

Chapter 33

Marriage had been on his mind since Mork and Sun had come to see them at the hospital. It was all Kao and Mork had talked about—at least that's what it seemed like to Pete. In reality, Mork had been fawning over In and how precious he was, and the real subject of conversation had been children and whether Mork wanted any.

Even now that they were back home, Pete couldn't help but think about getting married, but how to bring it up to Kao?

He just sat there on the bed with In in his arms watching, as Mrs. Lin helped Kao properly bind his belly. At the hospital, Mrs. Karn had helped Kao with it but now Mrs. Lin was doing it for him.

"You want it tight, so it helps settle everything back in place after the birth," She told Kao as she finished the last knot. Her hands had gently patted his sides to ensure they were tight. "It'll be uncomfortable at first, but you will get used to it."

"Thank you, Mrs. Lin," Kao had said with a sheepish smile as he brought his hands up to pat his belly. It was uncomfortable and stiff, but he was just glad that after a long 3 days he was able to get a proper shower. He felt a little more refreshed now.

"I'll make you some breakfast," Mrs. Lin said excusing herself before she was leaving them alone.

The moment that Kao had gotten settled back in the bed, In had stirred in his arms as if sensing that his mother was near and just before his whines turned into wailing Kao was adjusting himself in bed before he was asking Pete for him, "He's probably hungry," he said stretching his arms out to receive their son.

"Here," Pete said gently transferring his son over into Kao's arms. It couldn't have been faster because In's little arms were flailing impatiently against his face, while his little face was starting to turn red but the moment, he was brought closer to Kao's chest he was perfectly fine and quiet again. "Does it hurt when he suckles like that?" Pete had asked out of curiosity as he watched In feed.

"No, it just feels weird," Kao said blushing a little embarrassed to have Pete stare, but he couldn't bring himself to hide either when Pete seemed to want to be near the baby. He felt very assured just seeing Pete be so loving with In.

"Kao, would you want to get married?" Pete said just out of the blue that it had Kao going a little wide eyed.

"W-What?" Kao had said not believing his ears. He didn't think Pete would be one to bring up marriage at all. In fact, he believed that Pete would want to take things slow after everything that had happened.

"Do you see us getting married?" He asked again though this time he had added, "We have In now, so wouldn't it just be natural to get married? I mean, I'm not saying that we have to but I would like to...I mean I want us to be...I-..." The more he talked he felt foolish. This wasn't exactly how he wanted nor planned to ask Kao, he just couldn't find his words.

"A-Are you asking me to marry you?" Kao asked feeling the heat on his cheeks burn and his chest pound just hearing Pete become a mess.

"In a way, yes," Pete said moving closer to him and In. "I'm not doing this right, am I?" He said with a small laugh as he leaned into Kao to press their foreheads together.

"You seem to do things backwards," Kao agreed which only made Pete smile a little wider.

"I know, I'm working on that," Pete promised as he pulled away just a little to look down at their son before he was lowering his gaze to his own hands and removing one of his rings from them. "I'm not ever ready at the right moment, but I promise you I will spend the rest of my life trying to get my timing right. Even now, I don't have a proper ring ready, but I couldn't wait another day to ask. So, will you please marry me, Kao?"

Kao's eyes had followed his down to the ring in Pete's fingers. He could see him shaking ever so slightly as he spoke, and just looking back at him had Kao smiling at him with teary eyes, "Pete, I don't need a ring to say yes to your proposal."

The smile stretching on Pete's face just hearing those words had his cheeks burning, but despite Kao's words he still managed to slip his ring onto Kao's finger. "You deserve a ring, none the less," He said pressing a kiss to Kao's lips only to whisper out an, "I love you Kao."

He felt giddy hearing those words, "I love you too, Pete," He said leaning back to press another kiss to Pete's lips. His heart was beating so fast with joy in that moment that it wouldn't wash away even when In had finished feeding and Pete had taken him to burp him and put him to bed.

He couldn't imagine Pete would have ever proposed or was even thinking about proposing, even as he stared at the ring that laid loosely around his ring finger, but he was happy to know Pete loved him back.