Brothers

52

"Finn, honey, I need you to calm down." Wooyoung said while gently rocking him back and forth. The boy's wails just got louder as his tiny tongue quivered in his mouth.

To say the last four weeks had been easy was a complete lie.

Wooyoung and Jongho had been struggling to get into the grove of being parents. They were always asking Seonghwa, Mingi, and Yeosang for advice on what they could do to keep Finn calm and happy.

Hardly any of it worked.

San and Yunho did the best they could to help as well, and Yunho seemed to be the better choice. Even Hongjoong was able to do some good occasionally.

Mingi started to theorize that it was because of their time at the zoo. Yunho and Hongjoong had been around Wooyoung during that time, so Finn seemed to recognize their presence. But it was also the reason Wooyoung and Finn weren't quite bonding yet.

The pregnancy had been cut short by several months, which was supposed to be the time that brought mother and pup closer together. Even Jongho, when he was supposed to interact with Wooyoung.

"Finnley, please." Wooyoung pressed his lips to the boy's forehead. Neither of them had slept all night, and he was pretty sure that meant the others hadn't slept either.

All those thoughts just started to swirl together and add to the negativity building in his own mind...

Ever since being home, Wooyoung hadn't felt like he had fully been accepted back... Or like something was missing.

They had worked quickly to get the nursery put together so that Finn had a place to sleep. It was no where close to what the omega had envisioned, but it was enough for now. And after that was done, all the focus turned to learning how to be a parent.

Sighing, Wooyoung made his way over to the kitchen where they kept a supply of formula to make quickly.

One more side effect of the sped up pregnancy. Wooyoung's body had yet to produce any milk, so he wasn't able to feed his son properly either.

"Here." Jongho's weary voice came from behind him and suddenly the alpha's large hand slid down his arm and over his hand until it grabbed the container of formula. "I'll make it."

"Are the others awake too?"

Jongho nodded.

Wooyoung leaned against the counter and closed his eyes, guilt building within him. "I'm sorry."

His alpha turned around and looked at him with surprise. "What are you apologizing for?"

"This isn't how I wanted any of this to go." Tears started to well in his eyes.

Jongho hurried to his side and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "I know. I know." He whispered, leaning over to press a kiss to the side of Wooyoung's head, then the mark on his neck. It sent a chill down Wooyoung's spine and he tilted his neck a little, but another cry from Finn cut through their moment and he was once again swallowed by his thoughts.

"I feel like... Like I'm failing as your Luna." Wooyoung said, shifting his son in his arms and turning his back to Jongho. He continued his gentle rocking motions and shushing the boy, although it was all getting shakey now.

"Hey, you're not. Okay?" Jongho finished mixing the formula and started running it under some hot water to warm it up. "This is a learning curve for all of us."

"But I'm supposed to be by your side at all times, and I c-couldn't be. And now, I c-can't even take c-care of our b-baby. H-He doesn't accept me as h-his mother."