Serendipity

Chapter 9 - Part 2

He drops his hand to my stomach to rest it there.

"I look forward to seeing our child growing here someday, being nurtured and protected by you until we can do it together. Until then, I will try my best to protect and nurture you, to take care of your heart, body, mind, and soul, in every possible way. As long as you will let me."

I settle my hand over his.

"I've always known that I'd want to have children someday but hadn't thought too much about it...before I met you. Now it's constantly on my mind. Perhaps that's why this hit so hard. I will do my best to protect and nurture them when the time comes. Until then, I have to do that for you."

We both look down at our hands, and I imagine my belly swollen with his baby as his hand rests there.

He flips his hand over so that mine rests in it. He runs his thumb across my knuckles, and I wince at the sting.

Holding my hand up to see it better in the light, he examines the bruises forming there.

"You know, I was told you have a wicked right hook..." he looks up at me, a soft smile turning the corners of his mouth up. "I would love to see you demonstrate what you know sometime. I bet the movement would be as fluid and beautiful as when you dance..."

He lifts my knuckles to his lips and kisses them, taking the sting away. I smile back at him, the first smile I've felt like having for the last few hours.

"Jiminie! Jimin-ah! Jiminieee!"

We turn to the open door when we hear his name being called by several members right before the echo of feet slapping the hallway floor reaches our ears.

"I suppose you have to go. I've taken too much of your time," I say as I turn back to him, my smile fading slightly. His own expression turns serious.

"You will never take too much of my time, my love. But unfortunately, I do have to go. Will you come out and watch the sound check? There'll be other ARMY there as well..."

"Oh, I know! I've actually been to several of your concerts before, and when I can, I'll always get the ticket that includes the sound check. I enjoy watching you guys during it." I smile shyly just as the rest of the members enter the room. He has a surprised look on his face.

"You've been in the sound check crowd before? We were that close to each other, and I didn't know it??"

"How would you? Plus, we hadn't met yet and you didn't know who I was," I respond, shrugging my shoulders. "Remember...right time, right place? The when and how we met happened when it was supposed to."

He kisses me gently on the lips.

"That is true. We were both in different places and I suppose not who we are today. But I'm happy we are who we are now." He smiles at me, cupping my cheek, and I wince when he accidentally grazes the cut. He tucks my hair behind my ear then he turns my head to look at it. "Have you had this checked out by the medical team?"

"No. Bang PD-nim cleaned it for me. I believe the medical team had been otherwise, um, occupied at the time."

"Ah, yes..."

We hear Namjoon clear his throat. We look in their direction and see the anxiety showing on their face. Hobi steps forward and comes around to sit on the table like Jimin had done. He takes my chin in his hand, tilting my head so he can see better. He looks between Jimin and I.

"Who did this, little sister?" He demands.

"A staffer named Ms. Kang. She believed she was in a relationship with Jimin. She attacked me and I defended myself. It was reflex." I shrug, dropping my gaze. At this point, the rest of the members have gathered around us.