An Idol's Infant (Part 2)

[leejaehwa7]

Title: An Idol’s Infant
Author: leejaehwa7
Fandom: EXO
Pairing: Chen/Lay, Tao/Kris
Rating: PG-13 (mild language)
Summary: A baby abandoned at the door of EXO-M’s dorm forces the boys into making major life changes. Who’s the father, why was it left, and is the group really capable of taking care of an infant? During it all, feelings begin to surface and someone confesses but will the person of his affections return his feelings.


( Part One )

The test results come back in the middle of the second week and just as Jongdae predicted, Baekhyun is most definitely his. This news, however, doesn’t bring them any closer to a decision of what to do. It’s fine for Baekhyun to stay with them for now, but this situation can’t stay like this forever. Jongdae also has to think about what he’s spending and Baekhyun’s needs. The others reassure him that they’ll help as much as they can, but they know they can’t keep up this charade that everything’s fine when they’re harboring a baby in their dorm.

Jongdae wonders what’s going to happen when they start traveling for shows and promotions. His time with Baekhyun is already minimal and it’ll become even smaller with their growing careers and he doesn’t get how successful businessmen find time to be fathers. He doesn’t know how to balance it all and the fact that it has to stay a secret makes the process even more complicated. He hasn’t even told his parents the news yet. A part of him is worried that they will be upset with him considering they already have strong opinions regarding his career choice and now he’s fathered a child out of wedlock and he can’t even find the mother.

He feels like he’s always worried and stressed these days, but then he holds Baekhyun it all melts away until he’s smiling nonstop because who could look a that sweet angelic face without cracking a smile. The happiness doesn’t last forever though. Reality kicks its way back in making Jongdae just another stressed father trying to balance his career with his family and he doesn’t know how to make it work.

“You don’t have to figure it out all at once,” Yixing whispers. They’re currently sitting on Jongdae’s bed, backs against the wall as Baekhyun sleeps on his tummy on the space of bed between them. “You’ve only just found out and you have a lot of people supporting you.”

“I know. I know.” Jongdae lets out a sigh of frustration. “It’s so overwhelming and I can’t help thinking about it. It’s like my universe has shifted and everything revolves around him. Everything I think about is what’s best for him. I keep creating scenarios and thinking about whether or not I should do this or that and I’m afraid of making the wrong decision.”

“It’s okay to make mistakes,” Yixing says wisely. “No one has all the answers. Life doesn’t work that way.” Reaching over the baby, he curls his fingers around Jongdae’s hand. “I think you should call your parents. You’ll be surprised at how much it helps.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Jongdae clutches Yixing’s hand seeking strength and relief from his worries through the connection.

“Just tell them the truth. Be honest with them and they’ll be honest with you. If they’re disappointed, it’s only because they love you.”

Jongdae stares down into his lap, biting his lip while he pulls at the soft, cotton fabric of his sleeping pants. “I still don’t know how to face them.”

“That’s the great thing about phones. You don’t have to see the person on the other end of the line.” He laughs quietly at his own little joke, but Jongdae really doesn’t find it funny. “I’ll help if you want. If you get stuck, I can help you explain it or I can sit quietly while holding your hand. Whatever I can do to help, I will. I just think, you should tell them soon.”

Jongdae’s lips form a thin line as he presses them together nervously. “I guess I can call them tomorrow.”

“Do you want me there when you call?”

Jongdae nods without looking at Yixing. “I think I’ll need the support.”

“Do you want me to ask the other guys to be there too?”

“Oh, god no.” Jongdae’s voice rises above a whisper making the baby wiggle in his sleep. They remain still for a moment until they’re sure he’s not going to wake up. “I don’t want an audience.”

“Okay,” Yixing grins, tugging at their connected hands. “Just come get me when you decide to make the call and I’ll be there. Whatever you need.”

“Thanks.” He sighs feeling somewhat less burdened. For a moment he watches Yixing while Yixing watches Baekhyun. He doesn’t say anything, just taking in the view, wondering how he could be so lucky to have such a great friend. Glancing down, he sees their intertwined hands, but he doesn’t have the urge to pull away, finding he likes the feel of Yixing’s hand all warm and comforting. “Why are you always so nice to me?”

“I thought it was obvious.” Yixing grins until his dimples cave in, until the beauty of it mesmerizes Jongdae. “I like you, Kim Jongdae.”

He blinks, mouth floundering at the confession. “You do?”

“Yeah.” Yixing does that silent laugh again, shaking his head in the process. “We’re friends right?”

“Right.” Jongdae returns Yixing’s broad grin with one just as wide, but it pales in comparison to the beauty of Yixing’s. “Great friends.”

With that, Yixing slides off the bed, careful to not jostle Baekhyun too much. He tugs playfully at Jongdae’s hand for a moment before letting go. “Get some rest. You’ll be up again soon enough.”

“Don’t remind me.” Jongdae still hasn’t gotten used to his two early morning wake up calls.

As Yixing exits the room, Jongdae can’t help noticing how his grin looks forced and much less natural than it was just moments ago. He shakes it off, repositioning Baekhyun on the bed so he can have a decent amount of room to sleep along side of him. He needs as much sleep as possible these days, finding it a precious commodity now that he has a baby to care for.

The phone call to his parents goes without a hitch. Yixing’s there as promised, helping him when he gets stuck, but overall his parents seem excited. They want pictures and details. They ask all of the important, serious questions that Jongdae’s been contemplating over still unable to find the answers to. They don’t express any disappointment, but its there, behind the questions that ask if he’s ready to be a father, if he’s capable of taking care of a baby, if he knows what he doing. His parents try to stay supportive, promising to come visit soon, when their restaurant can handle a break and they have enough money to spare on plane tickets.

Sometime at the beginning of the call, Jongdae grabs Yixing’s hand and during the whole conversation he ends up staring at their fingers while he absentmindedly runs his thumb across Yixing’s knuckles, occasionally pulling his fingers apart before squeezing them together. Yixing smiles glad that he can give Jongdae some moral support while he tries to work everything out. Even after the call is over, Jongdae continues playing with Yixing’s hand as he replays the conversation he had with his parents, telling Yixing the bits he couldn’t hear, letting him know how relieved he is that his parents plan to be supportive, laughing at himself for ever thinking they would shun him for having a child they never knew about. He’s comforted knowing that at least he has this burden off his chest.

“Thanks for being here.” They’re sitting on Yixing’s bed this time because Baekhyun’s sleeping on Jongdae’s and they don’t want to risk waking him up during the call.

“I’m happy I can help.” Yixing tilts his head against the wall staring over at Jongdae, who sighs and slides down onto the bed, slumping against Yixing’s side.

“I finally feel like I can relax, just a little.” He yawns sliding even further down. “I feel so tired all of a sudden. Like everything hit me at once.”

“I’m surprised you lasted this long. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard trying to do everything.”

“I can’t help it. I just want to do what’s best for him, you know?” Jongdae’s eyes grow heavy as he lets out another long yawn. “I want Baekhyun to be happy.”

“I know you do,” Yixing pulls his hand out of Jongdae’s to slide his fingers through the other’s hair. “You’re a good dad, but you don’t have to do everything by yourself.”

“I can’t help it,” Jongdae’s repeats sleepily.

Yixing combs his fingers through Jongdae’s locks a few times, thumb tracing the curve of his ear occasionally. “You can sleep here tonight if you want. You could use a full night of sleep and I don’t mind staying in your room to wake up with Baekhyun.”

“That sounds nice,” Jongdae murmurs as his eyes slip closed.

Yixing keeps his spot at Jongdae’s side, letting the other drift into a much-needed sleep. When he thinks Jongdae’s fully unconscious, Yixing climbs off the bed, maneuvering him into a more comfortable position before covering him up and leaning in to give him a goodnight kiss on the forehead then back to marvel at his calm expression.

Quietly slipping out of the room, Yixing moves to the kitchen to grab a drink. As he closes the door, he’s met with Luhan’s face, which is much too close and bearing a very creepy grin that makes Yixing jump back nearly spilling his class of orange juice.

“So,” he elongates the word. “How’s it going?”

“Good. Jongdae’s parents took the news well. He’s sleeping now.”

Luhan shakes his head, resting sideways against the refrigerator. “I’m asking you how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine. Same as always.”

“Right,” he draws the word out again. “So, when are you going to tell him?”

“Tell who what?”

“Don’t play dumb Yixing. You know what I’m referring to.”

Yixing crosses the room taking a sip of his juice before setting it on the table and pulling out a chair to sit down. “How’d you know?”

“Please,” Luhan’s turns until his back is flush against the door of the refrigerator. “You are so obvious it’s painful to watch. Jongdae’s an idiot if he hasn’t noticed yet.”

“I can’t tell him.” Yixing rests his arms on the table, cupping his glass between his hands. “He has too much going on right now and I don’t need to complicate things more.”

Luhan groans, shuffling forward and dropping into the seat opposite Yixing. “Okay, other than that why won’t you tell him? You never know. He could like you back.”

“If you haven’t noticed, he has a baby. That clearly shows he likes girls and he’s talked about wanting a family and settling down. I can’t give him that.” Taking a deep breath, he looks away biting back the tears swelling in his eyes.

Luhan cups Yixing’s hands that are still clutching his glass of juice. “If you haven’t noticed, you’re already giving him that. Baekhyun loves you just as much as he loves his father. The three of you act like a family when you’re together. We’ve all seen it. You three are perfect together.” Luhan pulls Yixing’s hands away from the glass so he can get a better hold on them. “Like you said, Jongdae’s a little preoccupied now. He doesn’t notice how you feel, so you need to take the initiative and tell him. He really might surprise you.”

“I don’t want to complicate things anymore than they already are. I don’t want it to be awkward between us if he doesn’t like me back.” He blinks rapidly, still trying not to cry. “Please don’t say anything, okay?”

Luhan nods unwillingly. “I won’t, but I wish you would give yourself a chance with this.”

“I’ll think about it.” Yixing pulls away from Luhan, downing the rest of his juice before rinsing the cup and placing it in the sink. “I should probably get too sleep. I’ll be up again soon enough.”

Luhan follows Yixing with his eyes, feeling troubled by his friend’s predicament. He wishes there was something he could do to help because it’s not fair to Yixing to have to secretly pine over Jongdae without someone to confide in.

Two months go by and the guys have established schedules for who does what in taking care of the baby. Baekhyun’s warmed up to all of them, even Wufan. This is most likely because Wufan gives him lots of stuffed animals and toys to play with. Baekhyun likes his alpaca plushie the most. Tao gets a little jealous when Wufan pays more attention to the baby than him, but he knows how to distract Wufan when he really wants to, even if the other guys would rather not be around to witness it.

Minseok is also starting to come around. On one particular night, he’s left with the job of bathing Baekhyun because Yixing and Luhan are cooking, while Jongdae, Wufan, and Tao are guests on a local radio show.

“I don’t see why I can’t help cook, while one of you washes him?” Minseok asks deliberately stepping away from the spot Baekhyun is occupying on the kitchen floor.

“Because,” Luhan says. “You have to start helping out with him. You need to get used to him already. Besides, we’re cooking a traditional Chinese dinner and you don’t know any of the recipes.”

“Just tell me what to do and I’ll help you,” Minseok practically whines.

“Wash the baby. That’s what you can do to help.”

“But…”

“Please, Minseok.” Yixing rinses off a few green peppers. “We wouldn’t ask if we thought you couldn’t do it. Baekhyun’s really good at bath time. He likes the water.”

“I really don’t think I should.”

Luhan crosses the room picking up Baekhyun, pushing him into Minseok’s arms. “It’s not safe for him to be in the kitchen right now.” He ushers Minseok down the small hallway and into the bathroom. “His little tub is over there. He has a few bath toys. Try not to get soap in his eyes and don’t let the water get too hot. You’ve seen us wash him before; it’s not that difficult.”

“But…”

“Just do it,” Luhan says with a no-nonsense snap of his head before he exits the room.

Minseok glances to the small creature in his arms, finding that he’s being stared at with quizzical eyes. “Do you think I can do this?”

Baekhyun giggles as his chubby little hand reaches up to pat Minseok’s cheek.

“Okay, okay.” Minseok lays out a towel to place Baekhyun on so he’s not sitting directly on the cold tile floor. Their bathroom doesn’t have a tub, so one of the guys purchased a small basin for the baby. It’s like a miniature pool, just the right size for Baekhyun. He begins to fill it with water from the spout of the moveable showerhead that the rest of them use.

Once there’s enough water in the basin, Minseok undresses Baekhyun placing him in the water. Everything thing is going smoothly. While Minseok grabs the baby soap and a soft washcloth, Baekhyun amuses himself with the small, yellow rubber turtle that Wufan bought for him. He drops it in the water, giggling as the turtle bobs in circles. He splashes the water playfully, getting Minseok wet in the process. He groans because he really didn’t want to have to change into a new set of pajamas.

As Minseok lathers the washcloth, Baekhyun continues playing and everyone’s happy. It isn’t until after the bath, when Minseok has to pull Baekhyun out of the water that things go wrong. The baby kicks at the water drenching Minseok’s front. It only gets worse when Minseok wraps Baekhyun in a towel to dry him off that the baby get’s fussy. He really doesn’t like being cold. There just so happens to be a draft in the bathroom and Minseok is going way to slow with his overly cautious movements that gives Baekhyun enough time to start shivering which leads to crying which causes Minseok to panic.

He wraps the baby up in the towel he was using to dry him off, shushing him as he leaves the bathroom and goes to the kitchen. “What do I do?”

Yixing replaces the lid on the pot he was checking and comes forward holding his hands out. “You’re dripping water everywhere. You could have slipped,” he scolds Minseok.

“Just make him stop.” Minseok really, really doesn’t like the sound of babies crying.

“He’s probably just cold. I’ll get him dressed since the foods almost done.” He cuddles Baekhyun in his arms, rubbing at the towel as if to warm him. The baby’s bottom lip is quivering from the chill along with his whining. “You don’t like it when you’re cold, do you? C’mon let’s get you some warm clothes and warm bottle. How’s that sound?” he says in his best baby voice as he disappears into Jongdae’s room, which is where most of the baby’s things are kept, a part from the various toys strewn across the apartment.

“Did you get any of the water on the baby?” Luhan teases.

“Shut up,” Minseok snaps moving to his room to change. “You’re torturing me on purpose.”

“I can’t help it,” Luhan yells after him. Trying to stifle a laugh, he adds, “It’s so fun to watch you panic.”

“I hate you!” Minseok yells back.

There have only been a few nights in all the time that the baby’s been at the dorm, that he’s had trouble sleeping and kept the other guys up with his crying. Usually he’s just being defiant and cranky, but the guys can tell something’s wrong on this particular night two and a half months into their new living arrangements with the baby. Lien had mentioned that Baekhyun didn’t eat as much as usual during the day, then at night he wakes up before his usual time, crying nonstop until his face is crimson with his eyes practically swollen shut. He’s burning up with a fever and Jongdae’s starting to panic. Everyone else is frustrated too because none of them know how to help the little guy. They have baby medicine, but they aren’t sure if they should give it to him or find a doctor for certified diagnosis.

About an hour into the baby’s episode they called Hyunkyun to see what he thinks, even speaking with Lien who said it’s probably best to take him to a doctor. She suggested a cool rag and the medicine, but their best solution would be going to a hospital.

When Hyunkyun shows up at the dorm around three, Jongdae’s beyond ready to go.

“This is just asking for a disaster if we show up at the ER with a baby. What if someone sees you,” Hyunkyun says to Jongdae.

“What else am I supposed to do?” Jongdae’s clutching Baekhyun like his life depends on it. “He’s suffering. He needs help.”

“Take us to the hospital,” Yixing interrupts. He already has the diaper bag hanging from his shoulder, holding a jacket for Baekhyun. “Jongdae’s the father, so he should be there and I’m going with him.” He places his hand on Jongdae’s arm comfortingly. “It’ll be a lot faster and easier if you drive us.”

“But what about being exposed? What about the fans?” Hyunkyun voices what they’re all thinking, but at this point it doesn’t matter. They are all attached to Baekhyun and right now they would rather see Baekhyun well and at peace even if it means someone finds out about him.

“We’ll figure it out later,” Wufan says, from his spot behind Tao. He’s hugging the younger close as if trying to find his own source of comfort.

“Just hurry up and get Baekhyun some help. Don’t worry about the consequences.” Luhan steps forward, ready to give their manager a push towards the door if he doesn’t start moving soon.

“Do you have his information?” Hyunkyun asks, looking towards Jongdae.

“Yeah,” Yixing answers patting his bag. “I have everything we need.”

“Okay. I’ve got the insurance card. It’s a good thing the boss was able to put him on the company policy.” Hyunkyun gestures to the door. “Let’s get going and at least put hats on or something. I’d rather you not be completely exposed in public if we’re going to do this.”

The two do as their asked, following Hyunkyun out of the dorm and down to the companies van. They pass a couple of fans hanging around outside. Baekhyun’s crying catches their attention, but they don’t seem to recognize the guys, which they’re grateful for because they can’t handle a mob right now.

The drive to the hospital is torturous and the wait in the emergency room feels like it goes on forever. Hyunkyun’s sure a few people have snapped pictures of them, but the boys are too busy trying to calm Baekhyun to notice. They keep trying to give him his favorite alpaca plushie, but the baby’s too grumpy to take it. The poor little thing is so tired and sick he doesn’t know what to do. One moment he’s clinging to Jongdae and the next he’s seeking Yixing, trying to figure out who will make him all better.

Hyunkyun sits by, thinking it’s too late for him to do damage control this time, so he waits impatiently for Baekhyun’s name to be called so they can go back to a room. Once the name is called, the nurse tries to tell them that only the father can go back with Baekyun, but something in Jongdae’s eyes and the way he clutches Yixing’s arm like it’s keeping him on his feet tugs at her heart and she overlooks the rules.

Jongdae really doesn’t think he can handle this alone. Even when they’re in the examination room with doctor, he looks to Yixing for help.

“What seems to be the problem?” The doctor asks. His nametag reads Feng.

“He woke up with a fever and he’s been crying almost continuously for the last few hours,” Yixing explains. “The babysitter said he didn’t eat like he usually does and he’s been off his routine today.”

“Does he usually keep to his routine?”

Yixing nods. “He’s very regular with his meals and using the bathroom. We try to keep him on schedule with his sleeping as well.”

“Okay.” Dr. Feng takes in the information pulling on his stethoscope. “I’ll look him over and see what I can find.”

They watch silently as the doctor checks the baby’s vitals, poking and prodding here and there. Baekhyun’s settled a bit, but he’s still sobbing and he doesn’t like sitting on the bed. He wants to be held and he keeps reaching for Jongdae, who keeps telling him it’s okay, that it’ll be over soon. After jotting some notes and looking at Baekhyun’s charts, the doctor says, “I think he just has a cold. He’s probably a little extra cranky because his teeth are still coming in. Other than that, I can’t see anything major to worry about. He’s a little dehydrated but with some juice, a little medicine, and a decent sleep he should start feeling better soon.” He looks to Jongdae. “He must be your first child.”

“Yeah,” Jongdae says, finally picking Baekhyun up. “Everything’s still new to me.”

Dr. Feng smiles, patting Baekhyun on the back. “It’s okay. You did the right thing by coming in. I’ll have the nurse come in to give him something while I write up a prescription. Does he have a regular pediatrician that he sees?”

“Not yet. I haven’t really looked into it.”

“Okay, may I recommend someone?”

“Sure.” Jongdae’s glad to receive any assistance.

“I’ll write down a colleagues contact information. You should probably schedule an appointment to get Baekhyun in for a check up since he’s about to hit the one year mark. It’s really just a formality to make sure he’s progressing properly, you know, with his weight and motor skills and all.”

Jongdae nods, shifting the baby in his arms. He’s still sweltering hot and Jongdae really wants that nurse to hurry up and give him something to make the baby feel more comfortable, possibly even put him to sleep.

“I’ll be right back, then.” Dr. Feng claps Jongdae on the shoulder, smiling at the others as he steps through the curtain sectioning them off from the other patients in the large examination room.

Since Hyunkyun’s heard the verdict he doesn’t feel it’s necessary for him to stay in the room with the guys. He’s never really liked hospitals much. “I’m going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?”

“Whatever’s fine,” Yixing answers while Jongdae ignores them, all of his focus on Baekhyun. “Get him something too,” Yixing adds as their manager disappears through the curtain. He turns back to the father and child duo. “You’re tired. You should sit down.”

Without saying anything, Jongdae does as he’s told, jostling Baekhyun a bit as he hikes himself onto the thin hospital bed. Baekhyun clings around his neck, tiny fingers pulling at the collar of his shirt. He whines every now and then but he’s much calmer now than when they first got here.

“Are you okay?” Yixing asks, touching the arm that Jongdae has wrapped around Baekhyun’s torso.

He shakes his head, brows furrowing as he presses his mouth against Baekhyun head in a light kiss. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I can’t handle this. I didn’t know what to do and I panicked. If you weren’t there, I would still be panicking. How am I supposed to take care of him if I freak out about a cold? I really can’t handle this. I’m so overwhelmed and scared and how am I supposed to juggle being an idol with being a father. I actually contemplated not bringing him here because I was afraid my fans would see. How can I do what’s best for him if I’m so concerned about myself? How am I supposed to manage every…”

Yixing cuts him off by covering Jongdae’s mouth with his palm. He steps closer, leaning down until he’s eye to eye with the other. “Every parent worries. People struggle all the time trying to balance their families with their careers. No one’s perfect.” He slides his hand down running his fingers across Jongdae’s lips, leaning even closer until their lips are pressed together in a chaste kiss. Pulling back he whispers, “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re a great dad before you believe it?”

A flush creeps up Jongdae cheeks as he sucks in a shocked breath, staring unblinkingly at Yixing as he slides his fingers across Jongdae’s cheeks before dropping his hand and stepping back to give the other some space. He waits for a reaction but Jongdae’s too emotionally disheveled to comprehend exactly what’s happening. They don’t have time to dwell on it because the nurse comes in and Yixing ends up assisting her with giving Baekhyun the spoonful of syrupy medicine while the father sits stunned.

The baby almost spits it up because the cherry taste makes him gag. Yixing tries to soothe him with a bottle of watered down apple juice, which Baekhyun gladly accepts. Yixing’s happy that he’s finally drinking something because he really needs to rehydrate himself. They wait around for the doctor to give them their prescription and the pediatrician’s contact information before heading back to the dorm. No one says much of anything because they’re all tired and Baekhyun’s finally dozing off after his long, exhausting night.

When they arrive home, Jongdae puts Baekhyun to bed only taking enough time to change his own clothes before joining him. Yixing’s the one who informs the others of what the doctor said and they all breathe a sigh of relief to know that nothing’s seriously wrong with Baekhyun. They had all stayed up anxiously waiting for the news and now that they’ve heard it, their fatigue becomes more prominent and their bed’s are calling a little louder. Hyunkyun tells them that he’s cancelled their morning schedules, that they’ll have to see how tomorrow goes. They’re not sure if anyone’s posted anything or if a scandal is going to erupt, but either way, they’re all too tired to think about making a public appearance in the morning or sitting in the studio to work on recording new songs.

“Did something happen?” Luhan asks once he and Yixing are in their shared bedroom. “Jongdae seemed a little off even if he is worried about the baby.”

Yixing keeps his back facing Luhan as he replies, “I kissed him.”

“You what?” Luhan practically bounds across the room to see the other’s face. “You kissed?”

Yixing gnaws at his lip giving a small nod.

“Oh my god.” He embraces Yixing, crossing his arms around his neck practically choking him. He steps back. “What happened? How’d he react?”

“Well…” Yixing sits back onto his bed and Luhan follows, sitting at this side. “He was complaining and bashing himself about being a bad father like he always does and I couldn’t take it anymore so I kissed him. It was all kind of sudden and he was shocked. He didn’t react, didn’t say anything, but then again, he didn’t really have time to think about it.”

“Oh he’s definitely thinking about it,” Luhan grins. “No wonder he was so dazed when he came back.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” Yixing covers his face, falling back on the bed.

Luhan tugs at his arm. “Please, you never get embarrassed.”

“I just like him so much and I don’t know what to do,” he says, voice muffled by his hands.

“Talk to him.” Luhan stands, moving back to his side of the room. “Find some time to talk about it and get a clear answer from him. Don’t let it linger for too long.”

Yixing groans rolling over on his stomach, burying his face in his comforter.

Luhan kicks one of his friend’s dangling legs. “I mean it. Talk to him.”

Yixing grinds his face even deeper into the bed thinking maybe he could suffocate himself so he won’t have to face Jongdae the next day.

They wake up late the next morning. Baekhyun didn’t wake at all during their sleep, which everyone’s grateful for. He seems to be doing much better, as does his troubled father Jongdae. They gather in the living room for a meeting with their manager, most of them still looking exhausted, but they all know they have to face what’s coming together.

A total of three pictures were uploaded on various fansites during the early morning hours. There’s one of the boys leaving the dorm with the baby and there’s another two of them sitting in the emergency room. Speculations and rumors have exploded on all of the tabloids and gossip sites. The group knows they’re going to have to make an official statement, maybe even have a press conference.

“What do we tell everyone?” Minseok puts the question out there because everyone’s thinking it but no one’s saying anything. They’ve been sitting in quiet contemplation much too long.

“The truth.” Jongdae answers. They’re basically sitting in a circle, so everyone can face each other properly and Baekhyun’s in the middle lying on a small blanket drinking his morning bottle of formula contentedly. “We can’t avoid it anymore and if we lie, it’ll blow up in our faces. We have to face our fans honestly.”

There’s a murmur of agreement. “I’m going to cancel the rest of the events for today and call for a meeting tomorrow. Once we talk this through, I’ll see what the CEO has to say.” Hyunkyun pulls out his phone and planner, preparing to make the necessary calls. “I thinks it’s best if no one makes any appearances today.”

“Why?” Luhan asks, sounding a bit obnoxious when he’s simply curious. “We shouldn’t have to hide from our fans. The paparazzi have always been around, so nothing’s really different. What? So they’re going to be more belligerent than usual, fine. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to just hide away.”

“I kind of agree with him.” Wufan props his elbows on his crossed legs. “I think we should keep our appointments, to show that we are serious about our work. Jongdae and Yixing can stay home with Baekhyun while the rest of us represent EXO-M.”

Luhan shakes his head in disagreement. “I think we should appear as a whole group. If the two people at the heart of the scandal are missing it will cause even more rumors to pop up. If anyone asks about the scandal, we’ll say no comment or tell them we’ll explain everything at a later time,” Luhan adds.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Tao says while the others nod in agreement.

“Even if I want to stay home, I think it’s best for us to show up as a full group. People are going to question my dedication when they find out about Baekhyun and I don’t want anyone to think I’m not serious about my position in EXO-M.” Jongdae looks to everyone for understanding, gladly finding it. “My dream is to become a singer. Now I just have to figure out how to be a father at the same time.”

“Are you guys sure about this?” Their manager frowns, sighing as he scratches his head in frustration. “I just think it’ll be safer to keep you away from everyone.”

“And if we stay inside, things are only going to blow up more out there.” Luhan stands, propping his hands on his hips. “I’ve seen what other idols go through when they’re met with scandals. Many have taken different approaches, but hiding away from the world never solved anything.” He looks to his left, turning to face Jongdae. “Are you ashamed of Baekhyun? Are you ashamed of having him?”

“No, of course not.” Jongdae glances over at his son then back up at his group mate.

“Then what problem do we have?” Luhan asks the group as a whole. “We can only explain the situation truthfully and ask for the public to understand. The rest is out of our hands. If the fans see that we’re being completely honest, we may be able to gain their trust for the future. If we lose fans, then it’s their choice whether to stay or go. Either way, we have no control over their decisions, but we do control over ours and how we decide to handle this and I think going about our regular schedule is the best way to do so. Now, I’m going to get dressed so we can make it to our next schedule. I suggest those of you who are joining me do the same.” With an air of finality, he stalks out of the room.

No one can argue with his reasoning, not even Hyunkyun, who decides to call Lien to tell her they actually do need her services for today. The others move to get dressed with Jongdae bringing the baby back to his room so he doesn’t get fussy being left alone. Yixing follows Jongdae because they haven’t had time to talk and he feels like Jongdae’s avoiding him. Wufan seems to the notice atmosphere, deciding to step out of the room and give them a moment alone.

“Can we talk?” Yixing asks, standing at the end of Jongdae’s bed as the other sets Baekhyun down, helping the baby get a grip on his bottle so that he can continue drinking.

Jongdae hums, not really giving Yixing much attention.

“About what happened at the hospital…” Yixing begins.

“Can we talk later?” Jongdae interrupts. “We don’t really have time right now and I don’t know what to tell you. I just…can we talk later?”

“Sure, sure.” Yixing steps back towards the door. “I understand. Later, then.” The calm in his voice sounds forced. He leaves the room before Jongdae can say anything else because he doesn’t think he has the confidence to handle any more rejections at the moment. He knew it would be hard facing Jongdae after silently dealing with his emotions for so long, but this hurts more than he prepared himself to withstand. When he gets back to his room, Luhan hugs him without saying a word, assuming the worst. Yixing decides to explain what happened in detail later, but for now he silently accept Luhan’s affection.

This day is probably one of the worst they’ve had in terms of dealing with fans and the paparazzi. Everyone’s curious, posing prying questions any chance they can, but EXO-M are pros at avoiding them. They’re put together appearances help in the process of easing the public’s minds in regards to the now named baby-scandal. Jongdae and Yixing smile easily as they’re bombarded with inquiries about why they were in the ER with a baby, always replying with “everything will be revealed shortly.”

When they finally find refuge in their dorm, everyone’s too tired to fight over the shower or argue about what’s for dinner. None of it really matters because they all just want to sleep, knowing that tomorrow is going to be just as tiring, maybe even more so because they’re going to be exposing the truth and explaining all of this will take some time. They don’t even have all of the answers themselves. All they can tell the public is that the baby just kind of appeared; they don’t know the why’s or how’s and the issue with this is that the public will want to know everything because the tabloids are going to scrutinize every little detail until they get to the bottom of the situation.

By some strange line of events, Hyunkyun receives a call from someone associated with the company who was asked to look into Baekhyun’s family background. Apparently they’ve finally received news on the whereabouts of Baekhyun’s mother. After Hyunkyun’s call ends, he asks Jongdae for a moment alone. Yixing’s charged with taking care of Baekhyun during that time.

After some digging, the investigator finally tracked her down and found that Byun Sooyun was discovered unconscious in public about a week ago and admitted into a hospital in Shanghai. She had been staying with a friend before then, claiming that she was simply revisiting some exchange friends in China. She had been battling an ongoing illness that started getting worse and had decided to return home to Korea to see her usual physician. She never made it to the airport though. She died after spending two days battling in and out of consciousness in the hospital. They wouldn’t release the details of her death, but the investigator said her parents were contacted and they never spoke with their daughter or came to give her a proper funeral. It seems they had disowned her after the whole baby incident, making her an abandoned child as well.

Jongdae takes the news hard because even though he had gotten over the silent break up with Sooyun a long time ago, a part of him still cares for her. She is, after all, the mother of his child and she shouldn’t have had to spend the last days of her life alone and forgotten in a hospital room. As much as sadness envelops him, so does anger at the way her parents so heartlessly abandoned her. He understands now, why Sooyun chose to leave Baekhyun in his care. She wasn’t abandoning him, not really. She had mentioned in her letter that she wouldn’t be able to take care of Baekhyun for much longer, but she knew he would get the love he required and deserved, the love she wouldn’t be capable of fulfilling from Jongdae. She probably wanted to make sure Baekhyun was left in a home that would welcome him with open arms and open hearts, which is exactly what Jongdae and his friends did.

Somehow, Yixing ends up in Jongdae’s bed with Baekhyun sleeping on his chest while the other is curled up against his side.

“I don’t know what I was expecting, but I never even imagined she would be gone when we found her.” Jongdae sniffles as his eyes finally begin to stop producing tears. “I wish I could have talked to her, let her explain things, you know?”

“I’m sorry.” Yixing doesn’t know what else to say to console Jongdae. They’ve been lying together for some time now, with Jongdae crying while Yixing consoles him by rubbing his back and combing his fingers through his hair.

“Hey, Yixing. I’m sorry about earlier.” Jongdae props himself up on his elbow to get a better view of Yixing face. “I didn’t mean to blow you off like that.”

Yixing shakes his head, avoiding the other’s eyes by looking at Baekhyun still peacefully asleep even though Yixing’s heartbeat is quickening to an alarming pace. “It’s fine. You have a lot of things going on right now. I shouldn’t be adding to it.”

“Can we talk about it now? I’d like to clear the air between us.” Jongdae sits up fully, tucking a leg beneath him while allowing the other to dangle off the side of the bed as he face Yixing.

“Sure,” he says, not sounding very sure at all, still keeping his eyes on the baby.

Jongdae’s silently thankful that Yixing’s not looking at him because he’s already nervous enough as it is. “I still don’t really know what to tell you,” Jongdae starts, tracing the lines on his checkered pajama pants. “I don’t know how I feel about you. I’ve never really thought about it before. The kiss kind of caught me off guard, but I didn’t hate it.” He gnaws on the insides of his cheeks, trying to find the best way to explain himself as Yixing uses Jongdae’s silence as an opportunity to glance over at him.

“Sometimes,” he begins, pausing to think. “Sometimes, I feel something when you smile at me or laugh or say something silly. I like when you hold my hand, probably more than someone’s who’s just a friend should. I’m happy when you’re around and I find myself looking for you when you’re not. Even so, I’m not sure what my feelings are for you. I don’t want to give you an answer only to disappoint you later. I’m all messed up right now, so I was hoping you could give me time to clear my head and think about it.” He waits for Yixing to meet his gaze again. “Is that okay?” he asks timidly.

Yixing smiles, not enough for his dimples to cave in, but Jongdae can tell it’s a genuine smile by the look in Yixing’s eyes. “Yeah. I’m glad you want to think about it seriously. I can wait until you’re ready.”

Jongdae grins, taking Yixing’s hand and shaking it playfully. “Until then, do you mind if we keep things the way they are. I don’t want us to be awkward around each other. I hated not being able to talk to you today.”

“I think I can handle that,” Yixing laughs, realizing too late that he’s jostling Baekhyun in the process. The baby wakes, wondering why his bed is moving so much as he peers up at the adults, silently conveying that it’s bedtime and they’re obviously disturbing him.

The press conference that exposes the identity of the baby and how he came to be in EXO-M’s possession turns into a major affair. It’s probably the biggest scandal of the year for any celebrity figure and appears in headline everywhere in both print and television. The backlash isn’t a bad as everyone imagined it could be because most people feel sympathetic towards Jongdae’s situation. The group loses a generous amount of members from their fan club, but gains a few as the image of Jongdae being a single father, desperately trying to care for his son tugs at the hearts of the public. The fact that the child was born out of wedlock gets swept under the rug, only discussed by those prudish enough to point it out. Baekhyun remains a hot topic, putting EXO-M at the top of search engines for months, even creating a spike in the group’s album sales as their fan base broadens with the new edition to their family. All in all, things are working out for them, even if they have a ways to go before things settle down.

Just as Jongdae promised, he thinks about his feelings, trying to sort through his emotions in the aftermath of the scandal. He slowly beginning to figure out Baekhyun and understand his needs. He also begins to clear his mind, slowly spending more quality time with Yixing until he knows for sure how he feels for the other. He doesn’t want outside variables to affect his decision. He doesn’t want Yixing to think he’s with him out of pity or because he’s so good with Baekhyun. Jongdae wants to be absolutely sure that he likes Yixing for Yixing and that Yixing knows this as well, so he thinks about his feelings a lot before making a decision.

Jongdae officially asks Yixing to be his boyfriend on Baekhyun’s first birthday.

Yixing grins until his dimples cave in, happily replying, “I’d love that."