"what are you smiling at?" jungkooks eyes were skeptical with suspicion as he watched taehyung waddling back and forth around the room, like everytime the omega does when the pups get restless.

taehyung just glares, smiling secretly again and jungkook huffs, continuing with changing the bandages around his knuckles.

considering the room was rather empty today, taehyung had more space to walk around; the room that was nearly demolished by jungkook yesterday was cleaned spotless by maids and a bewildered hoseok had took notes of things to be replaced.

now thats a key point.

hoseok had visited and taehyung may or maynot have dotted behind the alpha trying to get him talk about jimin.

and of course no one can say "no" to a very pregnant taehyung.

so taehyung happily got to watch an entire folder of jimin's pics on hoseoks phone as the alpha got his list ready.

and jimin looked happy, more than happy actually.

the genre of pics did give taehyung a clue about the type of relationship going on between the trio.

if they make jimin this smiley, all crescent eyes and adorable smiles in the pics, then taehyung wholeheartedly approves.

"if you hurt him, i will hunt you down." taehyung still warns though as he returns the phone because he is protective of his soulmate and hoseok nods with all the seriousness he can muster.

and that absolutely is the reason why taehyung is harboring a smile on his face the whole day.

at the same time hoseok had told him that the jeons had ordered to kill jimin all those months ago, and so taehyung is alternating between smiling alongwith throwing glares jungkooks way.

still, multitasking emotions seems to be an overload now since the pups seems to be doing a wrestling match inside his tummy; taehyung cant help but wince from time to time with his steps faltering every then and now.

just when the alpha had perfected the bandage around his fingers did he heard a particularly loud wince from taehyung and looked up just in time to see taehyung double over with pain clearly written all over his face.

"taehyung! what happened?" jungkook was up and hands securing around the omega before the others knees buckle.

the omega gasped clutching at his bump, whimpers swallowed by a cry as he took random fast breaths.

jungkook stood frozen, not knowing what to do, supporting taehyungs full weight as the omega whimpered onto his neck.

"shit" jungkook cursed, "are the pups coming?!" jungkooks eyes then turned wide clutching tightly around his husband as his voice lost its usual compose.

"uh no-- its the braxton hicks" taehyung sniffs, eyes screwed shut as he concentrates on breathing.

"--the what?" jungkook furrows his brows, and taehyung angrily mutters a "just shut up-" between his pain, swatting at the alphas chest where he can hear the hammering of the others heart.

as the practice contractions eased taehyung managed to lower himself onto the bed, promptly falling onto it and clutching a pillow close as another wave hit.

one or two stray tears fell down his cheeks by the the time all of it stops and the omega tiredly rubs at his face, while jungkook hovers over the entire time.

"are you okay?" the alpha asks.

"help me to the bathroom-- i think i just pissed myself" taehyung frowns down at himself, grimacing.

"huh?" jungkook huffs a laugh thinking taehyung is joking.

but that seems to be a wrong move as taehyungs eyes narrows, lips a frown as he glares.

"you- you're laughing at me now?" taehyung stands up, albiet with a little struggle, "try carrying two watermelons on your stomach with 4 feets kicking your bladder, asshole" taehyung tells in one go, heaving a breath, then waddling towards the bathroom on his own.

jungkook was indeed a bit taken aback by the outburst.

twenty minutes later taehyung comes out of the en suite, now in fresh clothes and grumpy as ever and reclaims his spot on the bed.

"get me some cool water" he then grumbles towards the alpha who was now typing away in his phone.

"watch your tone, omega" jungkook rumbles in warning.

taehyung scoffs under his breath, then looks up and bats his lashes slow.

"can you please get me some cold water, babe?", he asks in a sickeningly sweet voice,

and the phone nearly slips off from jungkooks fingers.

so the alpha sneers but still gets up to get the water, just because google's pictorial representation of 'braxton hicks' looked a tad bit life threatening.

and if cool water helps after all that, then so be it.

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"no 'm not coming, jungkook" taehyung shakes his head vehemently.

"i wasnt asking, taehyung. get ready." the alphas tone was getting impatient as he points at the dress on the bed.

there was a party, the kim-jeon party to celebrate the one year anniversary of the contract exactly and ofcourse they were expected to attend.

but taehyung definitely wasn't on board because the last time he attended one, he almost got poisoned to death.

the omega half heartedly took the dress from the bed and dragged himself to the bathroom.

he didn't put much effort to look good, truthfully he didn't have the energy to do it since he was always tired lately. nevertheless it felt good to put on a dress that actually fits.

thankfully there was no corsets and shorts this time, instead a black dress with enough space for his belly and a long warm coat that is cozy enough.

taehyung tidied up his face, put on some earrings and was out just as jungkook got ready in a mesh shirt with suit, looking to the point as ever.

taehyung expected them to leave soon, but jungkook seemed to have other plans.

the alpha walked towards him and that type of gaze- that always makes taehyung uneasy.

and in a moment jungkook had his face in the others neck.

"no dont-" taehyung tried to back away, but jungkooks grip was unrelenting.

"stay still" jungkook rumbles against his ear and taehyung whimpers as the pheromones engulf him.

it was the aggressive scenting again like last time, nothing loving instead branding taehyung as his for everyone to see.

it always makes taehyung hazy and vulnerable which he cant bear to be when he is about to walk into a place full of dangerous people.

the car ride to the party was silent, taehyung sulking as his eyes stared out through the window. occasionally one of jungkooks hand would slither towards his thigh, fingers just gliding over the bracelet peeking under the dress before going back to the steering wheel.

the party as expected was an affair of alcohol and showing off riches.

"stay close" jungkook whispered towards him and taehyung did the same.

kyungjae was nowhere in sight; the kim mafia leader was not happy with another one of his plans failing or with jungkook withdrawing a few of their installments of money.

taehyung is well into his eighth month. that is barely a month before the pups arrive and the contact ends, so does kims privilege of leeching off the jeons money. that was very bad news.

seokjin, the jeon leader was a social butterfly as ever, staying unbothered as people tried to please him left and right.

jungkook didn't even glance his hyungs way, instead did small talks and sips of drinks as taehyung remained zoned out of conversations watching a dancer twirl from a ring off the ceiling in tune to the music.

"come on" an hour or so later jungkook guided him towards the exit door.

"we're leaving?" taehyung hopefully asks because he would very much like to be back in his nest right now.

jungkook doesn't reply, but they were inside the car and moving.

but it was a short drive that stopped infront of a mall.

taehyung gives an inquisitive gaze but jungkook only beckons for him to get outside.

taehyung subconsciously hugs his coat closer and gravitates towards the alphas body heat as they escape from the cold night to the warm lights inside the mall.

the hand on his waist guides him and the steps only stop inside a store- a diamond jewelers.

"why?" taehyung inquisits.

"thought to buy you something for our first anniversary" jungkook replies monotone as he nods at the eager manager.

oh.

an year of contact. that did come to effect on their wedding day.

"its been an year" taehyung breathes, a bit overwhelmed. one hell of an year really.

jungkook hums.

"--will not get a chance again. so choose whatever you want" the alpha says.

it was true.

this marriage will come to an end in a month or two alongwith the contract.

taehyung stares at all the blings lining the shelfs; everything pricey and over the top.

taehyung glances up at jungkook, then- "i want something else".

when taehyung said he wants something else, he didn't expect to move from the jewelers to a kids store.

"taehy--" jungkook couldn't even question before taehyung was waddling towards the aisles.

truthfully taehyung was having this constant itch that come with being not able to be ready for the pups. his omega wants to be prepared and fulfulling that will make him happy more than anything.

"we need cribs, clothes, diapers, pacifiers, blankets, toys--" the omega began to count on his fingers and jungkook was perplexed.

in the end taehyung brought a lot, so much that jungkook is sure its enough to start a daycare, and everything is so tiny.

it was arranged for everything to be delivered tomorrow as jungkook paid while taehyung took two bags of things just to contain his excitement.

tiredness long forgotten, the omega was smiling on the ride back.

once inside their floor, he hurriedly changed into pajamas just to come back and tip the baby clothes and plushies onto his nest.

"--so soft" the omega cooed as he scented a set of matching onsies and when the pups kicked, he giggled heartily.

"they're gonna look so cute in them" taehyung smiled all boxy at jungkook who was still standing by the closed door, but taehyungs eyes were teary,

because he is so unsure.

his only purpose assigned was to give birth to the kim-jeon heir.

and once that was done...will he even get to hold his pups?

taehyung then dutifully scents through all the new purchases, handling them with so much care, later settles into his nest curled around them as much as he can.

tears still leaked from his eyes and occasional hiccups when the pups kicks a bit too hard.

he then puts a gentle hand on the bump and sings,

"imagine your face

say hello to me...

then all the bad days

they're nothing to me...

with you~"

he closed his eyes, lulling himself.

"sleep like a winter bear~"

the melody ended with the last of the tears as taehyung succumbed to sleep.

and jungkook, the alpha who was standing unmoving by the door let out a shuddering breath, head thunking against the door as he leaned on it.

it was that feeling again.

doesn't even know why, but it feels suffocating?

just too much, everything.

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