Claim your fate

chapter 28

Felix hated seeing Hyunjin so down. They had a baby now; Hyunjin should be feeling nothing but bliss. Instead, he couldn't even enjoy fatherhood because he thought their baby hated him. So, Felix was trying new things to help Yongjin get used to Hyunjin. The next morning, he waited for Hyunjin to get out of the shower. He walked around the room with Yongjin in his arms, hoping the baby would stay sleeping long enough for him to try something out.

A few minutes later, Hyunjin came out, wearing nothing but briefs. Felix walked over to him and handed him Yongjin. Hyunjin took the baby but had a confused look on his face.

"What—" he began to ask.

"Cradle him to your chest," Felix instructed. Hyunjin did so, but he still gave Felix a funny look. "The skin-to-skin contact is something he's used to," Felix explained. "He'll feel the warmth and security and realize that it's Daddy protecting him. If you hold him just right, he can hear your heartbeat and discover your scent."

Hyunjin held Yongjin even closer and looked down at the sleeping infant. "What if it doesn't work?" he asked.

"Don't think like that," Felix chastised, wrapping his sweater tighter around his body. "Try singing to him, too. I'm really hoping this works because I'm going to go cook now and I don't want him fussing."

Hyunjin nodded and followed Felix out of their bedroom. While Felix went into the kitchen, he walked over to the couch and sat down gingerly, so as not to wake Yongjin. He made it successfully and leaned back, hitching Yongjin higher up on his chest. He kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and rubbed his fingertips over the smooth, bare skin of Yongjin's back.

A few seconds later, Felix came in. He draped a blanket over Yongjin's back. "I know that you're keeping him warm, but I just want to make sure," he explained, straightening back up.

Hyunjin nodded. "I understand, love."

"Jisung and Minho will be coming over soon," Felix informed him. "In a few minutes, actually. That's why I'm cooking."

"Finally, a home-cooked meal," Hyunjin joked. Ever since Felix got out of the hospital, he'd had zero time for cooking. Reheating, yes. Cooking, no. Absolutely not. But Hyunjin didn't care one bit. He was happy to eat whatever because he knew that his baby was getting the best care out there.

Felix rolled his eyes and landed a kiss on the top of Hyunjin's head. "You can cook too, you know," he sang as he walked into the kitchen. Hyunjin settled back into the couch and reached for the remote. He clicked on the TV and flipped through the channels. It was hard to pay attention to the television when he was holding Yongjin, because he'd much rather listen to the rhythm of his baby's heartbeat.

He sat there and rubbed his hand up and down Yongjin's back until there was a quick knock at the door before it opened. Jisung shuffled inside, holding Eunji. Minho followed, carrying a large mat with dangling toys. Jisung headed straight for the kitchen, and Minho collapsed onto the couch next to Hyunjin.

"If I'd have known that we'd have to carry this much stuff everywhere we go, I'd—" Minho began, but Jisung's voice interrupted.

"You'd what, Minho?" he challenged, balancing Eunji on his hip.

"I'd not complain about it," Minho finished, not wanting to get in trouble with Jisung.

"That's more like it," Jisung smirked, satisfied.

Hyunjin laughed at Minho. "You're so whipped."

Minho shot him a look. "And you're not?" he asked with his eyebrows up. Hyunjin proudly shook his head no.

Minho snorted. "Yeah right. All Felix has to do is snap his fingers and you're there."

Hyunjin shook his head again. "Not even close."