Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 20: First Moments as Parents

The air in the neonatal ICU felt lighter that morning. Mingyu stood outside Dino’s incubator, his hands trembling slightly as he watched the nurse prepare to transfer his tiny son into his arms. It had been weeks since Dino was born, and though he was still small and fragile, the doctors had assured them he was making progress.

"You’ve been so patient, Mr. Kim," the nurse said with a smile. "It’s time you held your baby."

Mingyu glanced at Jeonghan, who was seated beside him in a wheelchair, his face pale but glowing with quiet anticipation. Jeonghan reached out to squeeze Mingyu’s hand. "You’ll do great," he whispered, his voice soft but steady.

Taking a deep breath, Mingyu nodded and sat down. The nurse carefully lifted Dino from the incubator, his tiny body swaddled in a soft blanket, and handed him to Mingyu.

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A Father’s Touch

The moment Dino settled into Mingyu’s arms, time seemed to stop. Mingyu stared down at the impossibly small face, his heart swelling with emotions he couldn’t put into words. Dino’s eyes fluttered open briefly, revealing dark, curious orbs before closing again.

"Hey, buddy," Mingyu whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His large hands cradled Dino’s tiny form as though he were holding the most fragile treasure in the world. "I’m your appa."

Jeonghan watched from the side, tears spilling down his cheeks as he saw the tenderness in Mingyu’s expression. "You look like you’ve been holding babies your whole life," he teased lightly, his voice breaking with emotion.

Mingyu chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving Dino. "He’s so small," he murmured. "I didn’t think I could love someone this much."

Dino let out a small, almost inaudible coo, and Mingyu’s chest tightened. He leaned down slightly, pressing a featherlight kiss to Dino’s forehead. "I’ll always protect you," he whispered. "You and your eomma. No one will ever hurt you again."

---

Feeding Dino

The nurse returned a few moments later, holding a small bottle filled with milk. "It’s time for his feeding," she said, glancing at Jeonghan. "Would you like to try, Omega Jeonghan?"

Jeonghan’s breath caught in his throat. "I… can I?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"Of course," the nurse replied warmly, helping Mingyu pass Dino to Jeonghan.

As Jeonghan adjusted Dino in his arms, the nurse guided his hands, showing him how to hold the bottle at the right angle. Dino’s tiny mouth latched onto the bottle, and Jeonghan let out a soft laugh of wonder as the baby began to drink.

"He’s so hungry," Jeonghan said, his tears spilling freely now. He glanced at Mingyu, who was kneeling beside him, his hand resting on Jeonghan’s knee as he watched their son with an expression of pure love.

"You’re amazing," Mingyu whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Jeonghan smiled, his heart swelling as he looked down at Dino. "He’s the amazing one," he replied. "Look at him, Mingyu. After everything he’s been through, he’s still here. He’s so strong."

"You both are," Mingyu said firmly, leaning over to press a kiss to Jeonghan’s temple. "Our little family is stronger than anything."

---

A Moment of Peace

As Dino finished his bottle, Jeonghan gently rocked him, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Dino’s tiny hand reached out, grasping weakly at Jeonghan’s finger, and Jeonghan let out a soft sob.

"I never thought I’d get to do this," he admitted quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "After everything… I was so scared I’d never get to hold him, to feed him. But he’s here. He’s really here."

Mingyu wrapped an arm around Jeonghan, resting his chin on Jeonghan’s shoulder as they both gazed down at their son. "He’s here because of you," Mingyu said softly. "Because you fought for him. For us."

Jeonghan leaned into Mingyu’s embrace, his heart full for the first time in what felt like forever. Despite the challenges ahead, despite the scars left by their ordeal, this moment was perfect.

As Dino drifted off to sleep in Jeonghan’s arms, the couple shared a quiet smile. They knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but for now, they had each other—and their precious son.

And that was enough.