"So You're My Dad?"

Thirty One

The soft hum of machines filled the quiet hospital room, blending with the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Hyunjin stood by Jhiye's bedside, his hand gently resting on hers. The sight of her lying there, fragile yet strong, tugged at something deep within him. She had been through so much—they had been through so much. The nightmare with Dahye was over, but the fight for their future had just begun.

Jhiye's eyelids fluttered, her breathing slow but steady. Hyunjin couldn't help but think back to the moment when she had stabbed Dahye when her face had transformed into something fierce and unrecognizable. But that wasn't who she was—it was a moment of survival. And now, they had to focus on healing.

The doctor had reassured them that Jhiye was stable, but the news about their baby weighed heavily on his heart. Born prematurely, the tiny infant was in the neonatal intensive care unit, fighting for survival. Hyunjin had been able to see the baby just once, a fragile little figure hooked up to wires and monitors, so small it barely seemed real.

Sam stirred beside him, curled up in one of the hospital chairs, still exhausted from everything he had been through. His son had shown so much courage during the ordeal, but Hyunjin could see the toll it had taken on him. Sam had lost some of his innocent spark, and it broke Hyunjin's heart.

"Daddy..." Sam's voice was small and tentative.

Hyunjin looked over, his tired eyes softening as he reached out to stroke Sam's hair. "What is it, buddy?"

"Will Mommy wake up soon?" Sam's eyes were wide with worry.

"Yeah," Hyunjin whispered. "She just needs some rest. She's strong, just like you."

Sam nodded, but the uncertainty still lingered in his gaze.

As if sensing the tension in the room, Jhiye stirred again, this time with more intent. Her fingers twitched against Hyunjin's hand, and her eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times, trying to focus, and then her gaze found Hyunjin's.

"Hyunjin..." she rasped, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

Hyunjin leaned closer, relief flooding his chest. "I'm here," he whispered, squeezing her hand gently. "You're safe, Jhiye. It's over."

Jhiye's eyes filled with tears as she looked from Hyunjin to Sam, and then back to him. "Is the baby...?"

"Still fighting," Hyunjin said softly. "But the doctors are doing everything they can. We'll get through this together."

Jhiye nodded, her body sinking back into the pillows. There was a heavy silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the silence of survival, of knowing they had endured the worst and come out on the other side.

Just as Hyunjin was about to sit down, there was a knock at the door. Felix poked his head in, his expression soft but serious. Behind him, the rest of Stray Kids—Hyunjin's mafia family—filed into the room, one by one.

"How's she doing?" Felix asked quietly, his Australian accent cutting through the tension in the air. His eyes darted toward Jhiye with concern, though he tried to keep his voice upbeat for Hyunjin's sake.

"She's stable," Hyunjin replied, standing up to greet them. "But the baby... still fighting."

Chan stepped forward. "You've been through hell, Hye, but you're not alone in this. We've got your back, like always." His voice was soft, as he hugged her, the way it always was in times of crisis. It was a reassurance that Jhiye hadn't known he needed until that moment.

Changbin, ever the stoic one, placed a firm hand on Hyunjin's shoulder. "And we've already taken care of the loose ends," he said, his voice low but filled with the weight of unspoken words. "Yuri and Minji—consider them dealt with."

Jhiye's eyes widened as she glanced at Hyunjin. "What do you mean?"

Hyunjin sighed, his jaw clenching slightly. "It's over," he said, turning back to her. "Yuri and Minji won't hurt you—or anyone—again."

Jisung chuckled from the back, his usual playful demeanor slightly tempered by the gravity of the situation. "You should've seen it. We cornered them, gave them one last chance to walk away... but of course, they didn't take it. Hyunjin made sure they won't be a problem anymore."

"I didn't want to involve you in this part," Hyunjin said, his eyes meeting Jhiye's, filled with an intensity that left no room for doubt. "But it had to be done—for us, for Sam, for the baby."

She nodded, her gaze softening. Despite the darkness of his world, she knew Hyunjin had done what was necessary to protect their family.

Chan cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "We'll leave you two for now, but if you need anything, we're just a call away." He gave Hyunjin a knowing look, the unspoken bond between them clear as day. 

"Thanks," Hyunjin said, his voice thick with gratitude. "For everything."

As the team made their way out, Seungmin lingered a bit longer, his normally sharp and observant gaze filled with something softer as he looked at Sam, who had been watching the exchange in silence.

"Hey, little man," Seungmin said with a small smile. "You did good, you know that? You were really brave."

Sam blinked up at him, his tiny face still pale, but he gave a small nod. "Thank you, MinMin." snuggled Sam into Seungmins arms.

Hyunjin watched the interaction, a swell of pride in his chest. Even in the darkest of times, his family—both by blood and by bond—was there for him. And for Sam.

After the others left, Seungmin declared he was not leaving without Sam. The room settled into a quiet calm again. Hyunjin returned to Jihye's side, squeezing her hand gently.

"We're safe now," he murmured, though the weight of his responsibilities still hung heavy on his shoulders. Dahye may have been gone, but there were always new enemies lurking in the shadows. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not with Jhiye, Sam, and their newborn to protect.

Days passed, and the hospital slowly became a second home. Jhiye recovered, her strength returning day by day. Hyunjin spent as much time as he could in the neonatal unit, watching over their baby. The little one—their miracle—was fighting hard, and each day brought a sliver of hope.

Sam had been a trooper through it all. His bright, inquisitive nature began to return, though he still clung to Hyunjin more than ever. The trauma of the kidnapping had left its mark, but with time, Hyunjin hoped that his son would fully heal.

One afternoon, Jhiye finally gathered the strength to visit the baby. Hyunjin wheeled her into the NICU, the two of them holding hands as they approached the incubator.

Their baby was so small, so fragile, yet alive. And in that moment, as they stood together, Hyunjin felt something shift within him. The fear and anger that had been driving him for so long began to fade, replaced by something softer, something more hopeful.

"This is our new beginning," Jhiye whispered, her voice filled with awe as she looked at their child.

Hyunjin nodded, his eyes brimming with emotion. "Yeah," he whispered back. "Our future."

Word Count: 1221

 hiii. The book's going to finish soon, and it's bittersweet. I do adore this book a lot; just really, I'm so attached to it that it is my comfort. 

I'm going to give you a count:: do you want the baby to be a boy or a girl?

 (I know I said a gender but I'm gonna let you choose it)

love you guys always, bye!