Oh, what the hell was I thinking?

I paced the room, worrying my lip. I'd waited another week, took two more pregnancy tests (both once again positive), and had gotten an earful from Krys scolding me for waiting, before I finally decided to drop the news.

Jimin was running a little late from the meeting, but after today his schedule was pretty open for the rest of the month. I'd decided now was as good a time as ever.

I paused in my pacing by a cage on the ground where a little ball was curled up and sleeping. "Oh Min Min," I exhaled, "What am I going to do?"

The little ball stirred and a tiny head poked up at my voice. A smile tugged at my mouth from the adorable hedgehog face.

I'd never forgotten the hedgehog cafe Jimin and I had gone to long long ago. When we'd finally settled down in a house at the edge of the North City, I'd convinced Jimin to get a hedgehog for a pet.

Min Min stretched and waddled out of his cage to greet me. I idly began to pet him, keeping one eye on the door ready for Jimin to walk through at any moment.

I found myself, as I often did, talking to Min Min. The hedgehog was a great listener. "What should I say?" I murmured, rubbing his chin. "Should I at least wait till he gets comfortable before dropping the news? Or should I just get it over with?"

Min Min chirped in reply, wiggling around so I could rub his chin in a better place. I'd never known until we'd gotten Min Min the amount of noise a hedgehog could make. He was a loud little chap at times, chirping and squeaking at Jimin and I nonstop.

"Sometimes I wish I was Krys," I muttered darkly. "If she was in my place, she'd probably have no hesitation saying that she was pregnant regardless if the child—"

"You're pregnant?!"

I screamed as Min Min— no, Jimin— morphed from my hand into himself on the floor. His eyes were huge and jaw hanging open in utter shock.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I snapped my head back and forth. "Where's real Min Min??"

"Hold up. Forget the hedgehog." Jimin grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. "You're... you're pregnant?"

Someone get a bulldozer and run me over. Better yet just nuke me off the face of this planet.

"I... I..." I lost my voice as I stared right back at Jimin. My mind slowed and glitched like crazy.

A little squeak broke through my panic. Jimin and I glanced over to where the real Min Min crawled sleepily out of the couch, alerted by the commotion.

"Why were you pretending to be Min Min?" I asked dumbly. Anxiety and yes, even fear, was coursing through me. I wasn't ready. Crap, I wasn't ready to drop the news. But it was too late.

"I wanted to surprise you." Jimin finally released my shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. I realized he was still in the dashing suit he had to wear in the Infinity Council. He must've snuck in sometime, using the 'running late' excuse as a ruse. "Turns out, looks like I'm the one who got surprised."

I swore and buried my face in my hands, hugging my knees up to my chest so I was curled in a tiny cocoon. I silently cursed my husband for deciding to try and prank me, of all the days.

"Hey partner." Jimin's voice had become soft and I allowed him to lift my chin up. Shock still lingered in his eyes but his expression was filled with love. "It's alright. Tell me everything."

Min Min had finally reached my side and cuddled up against me. The little bundle steadied me enough to finally spill everything to him: starting from the very first week when I'd begun getting the nausea and headaches. When I finished telling him, though, I was shaking again and watched nervously as he became lost in thought.

Silence hung between us for several long, drawn out. I shifted uncomfortably. It was almost like when I'd first confessed to him. Except this time there was no way I could try and wriggle myself out of this one. Say something! I silently screamed at him.

He was gazing off to the side, unseeing. Slowly, unbearably slow, he turned and met my eyes.

And then he was kissing me.

Min Min released a squeak of anger as my body tipped over a little at the force of Jimin's kiss, almost crushing the prickly orb. Jimin's strong arms flew up to cradle my body, steadying me.

I closed my eyes, some of the anxiety fleeing my body as he littered my cheeks and nose with little pecks before pressing his mouth firmly on mine, filled with tenderness and joy. When he finally pulled back I was gasping a little and clung to him tightly. I also realized there were tears stinging in my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" There was no accusation in his voice, but I could see some hurt flicker through his eyes. His thumb reached up to brush away a single tear that escaped down my cheek.

"I... I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. The survival rate of a hybrid is less than eight percent, you know this, and you were so busy I didn't know when to tell you and, and—"

"Easy partner," Jimin soothed. His familiar pet name that he'd never dropped since the moment we knew each other finally began to calm my nerves and I focused on steadying my breaths. "Let's take it one step at a time okay?"

He gently pulled me into his lap, cradling me. His eyes flickered down to my abdomen and landed on the bump. He glanced back up at me, asking. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of my lips and I nodded. My nerves jumped when he gently rested his hand on my stomach, my skin tingling with energy under his familiar fingers.

"How are you feeling?" He asked quietly, eyes still cast down at my stomach.

"I just took some aspirin so my headache is pretty mild," I murmured. Now that the secret was out, I could finally begin to relax significantly more in his arms.

"I had noticed you seemed a bit tired." He sighed, rubbing my stomach soothingly. "I was just so busy these past few weeks. I'm sorry, I should've thought more about it."

"No don't apologize. I think it was good that you were busy. Gave me another week to... gather myself."

"Have you seen a doctor?"

I shook my head.

"But you're sure you're pregnant?"

A dry laugh escaped me. "I think three positive tests and no period pretty much solidifies any doubt."

Jimin let out a shaky breath and for the first time it finally began to sink in that while the burden on my shoulders had lifted a little after sharing, a burden had now settled on his shoulders.

I pursed my lips before asking the big question. "Should we... do we want to try and keep the baby?"

His eyes flickered up to mine. "Do you want to?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. Did I? I'd been so nervous on how to tell him that I hadn't really thought about if I wanted to actually try and keep the child. "I just, the survival of a hybrid child being healthy is so slim. I'm scared what might happen if I get attached only for the baby to just, you know, die."

His arms stiffened. "That is true," he acknowledged slowly. "But both of us are healthy and..." he trailed off, searching for the right words. "Maybe it's silly. It probably is silly. But when I saw that hybrid child in the grocery store that time... I don't know, I just...."

I understood him completely. It was rather silly perhaps to think that seeing the girl was some kind of sign. But I couldn't help but agree with him. I also understood what he was implying.

"You want to try and keep the baby."

He bit his lip. "In the end it's up to you since you're the mother but—"

"No, you have as much right in the decision as I do," I quickly said.

A little glint of light ignited in the back of his eyes. "So you want to try, too?"

I swallowed hard. It was going to be a long ride if we wanted to try and have a successful hybrid child. But I had Jimin and Krystal to support me, not to mention other connections— specifically five dynamic young gentlemen— that would no doubt be on board to try and provide all support necessary.

I didn't hesitate to say, "Yes."

His eyes fluttered close. "It's you and me, partner," he murmured. "Together." I vaguely recalled he'd spoken those words sometime before. It didn't stop the wave of warmth and safety that ran through me. "We're going to make it. No matter what happens, we're going to make it together."

I felt his muscles bunch before he lifted me off the ground and carried me bridal style all the way to the bed, where he set me down reverently before hopping up beside me. He kissed me again, tenderly and sweet.

"Do you remember what I told you, back in the Sharehouse when we were first getting to know each other?" He murmured.

I gave a small grunt. No. He'd said a lot of things back in the Sharehouse and I hadn't the slightest clue which instance he might've been referring to.

He pulled back slightly to meet my eyes. "You asked me if I felt like Earth was my home. Do you remember what I said?"

I wracked my brain. A vague memory swam to the surface, yet remained behind an unreachable opaque glass. I shook my head when the memory remained unforthcoming.

A little smile tugged across his lips. "I said that Earth was where I lived regardless if I wanted to or not. Rather, I was waiting for someone to make me feel home."

Blood rushed to my cheeks and the little smile spread across his mouth. He kissed my warmed cheeks and whispered, "You make me feel home."

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