UNEXPECTED - KTH

49

49

Taehyung is frantic behind the tint of his car windows, uncomfortably shifting in his seat as the lunchtime rush slowly moves at a snail's pace. Carter is stuck in his tracks at the nearest drug store, waiting in line after picking up a pregnancy test.

Taehyung could have gotten it himself but with his status as somewhat of a celebrity in certain circles, he couldn't risk being seen, he didn't need a commotion over something he didn't know the outcome of even before presenting his daughter to the world.

Carter walks casually back to the car, says nothing as he places a bag onto the passenger seat and prepares the drive home. Taehyung is stoic on the outside but damn well shitting himself on the inside, all he can think of is Paige and the conversation they'd already had, to be told she could already be carrying his second child without her knowledge made him feel sick, felt like he had thrust this upon her even in his ignorance to his condition.

He had documents to prove he wasn't lying but can't stop thinking the worst, would Paige leave him? He didn't do it on purpose but he's scared she'll think the entire thing was a ruse to trap her with another child. He hoped not. He lost her once, and now has more to lose.

His elbow rests uncomfortably beneath the car window, fist almost in his mouth as he ascends the path to the house, his stomach is twisting in knots, collar tight against his throat, feeling like he's going to throw up as Carter opens the car door for Taehyung.

"Good luck Sir" Carter bows and hands his boss the plastic drug store bag.

"Thanks, I'm going to need it.." Taehyung clears his throat as he strides to the front door with famed confidence only to be hesitant with a shaky hand on the door handle, he turns his back to the door to see Carter waiting by the car just in case he's needed, but Taehyung waves him off to go home to his own family.

He inhales deep into his chest, and blows out a quivering breath, as he enters his home. He's seconds in and he can hear Paige and his mother talking animatedly through the living room, he hears Paige's sweet laugh and pauses to appreciate it.

He's sombre holding onto her remaining happiness before he comes to possibly destroy it with the news of an unexpected incident as he appears into the living room.

"Oh finally!! We have a few candidates to run past you before accepting them for a second interview" Yuri takes charge but she faces sadness at her son's change in demeanour from this morning "What's wrong?" She asks him.

"Can you watch Ara please? I have to talk to Paige in private"

"Of course"

Taehyung takes Paige to the comfort of their bedroom, and Paige is starting to worry at how forlorn he looks, like he's about to crumble into a heap and cry.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Paige asks and he can't help but squeeze the thin plastic handles between his fingers, knows what to say but he can't even comprehend how to tell her. "Tae—?" She holds his face gently as his head remains low, eyes fixed on the bag.

Her eyes follow his line of sight, and without resistance on his part she takes the bag from his weakened grip and pulls out the small blue and white box.

"What's—This is for me?" She asks, after all they talked about she gulps thinking, knowing there's only one reason, feels like she can't breathe for a second, needs an explanation.

"C-an you take it.. please?" Taehyung can see it in her face, she's scared.

"Not until you tell me what's going on" Paige demands and all Taehyung can do is tell her the truth and hope she won't turn away from him.

"My Doctor was let go for malpractice and .. he wasn't completing procedures Paige.." His eyes are starting to well up knowing all this could jeopardise their relationship "I.. my vasectomy was never done and I can understand if you want to scream and shout—"

"Oh" Paige stands dumbfounded at all the new information, and slowly walks towards the bathroom and Taehyung follows trying to explain more.

"I'm still unsure if the accident had any effect on me, I was crushed but we need to know and I'm so sorry to put this on you... I didn't mean for this to happen"

"...Ok," Paige draws in a breath..."You want me to go in front of you?"

"I can leave—" Doesn't want to push her, would give her privacy if she wanted it even if he had seen her wholly naked before.

"No it's fine" Paige proceeds to take the test out of the foil packet and fumbles the cap as it bounces in front of Taehyung, she's a little embarrassed but the need to know overshadows it, creating a pit in her stomach.

She parts her legs and shuffles the plastic between her knees to cover the end in a stream of her urine, it's awkward but Paige had done it before, as she's finished she dabs herself clean.

"We have to wait three minutes'' Paige tosses the box on the sink and rests the test upside down with a sigh as she washes her hands. Taehyung thinks he's going to sob and is almost ready to plead on his hands and knees to beg for her forgiveness. "—Let's leave it here and we can look later, we still have a decision to make regarding Ara's care." She mentions and walks out not waiting for him.

Yuri is still in the living room, jittering her leg anxiously, she's unsure what could be plaguing her son, if it was about Jungkook the hospital would have notified her first, and her grandchildren were both healthy and happy. She wondered if something terrible had happened to jeopardise his relationship with Paige until she appeared shortly before her brain could materialise a damning notion.

"Everything alright?" She asks hopefully.

"Nothing to worry about" Paige smiles weakly but decides to push on "I Erm—About the interviews!"

"Me!" Yuri interrupts, "I can do it! I'm so bored these days and with Jihoon in school I have a few hours and I'm free to see them both regularly here" Yuri knew that no harm and no foul play could happen if she kept an eye on things.

"— what about when Jihoon finishes school?" Taehyung asks, bewildered at his mother's insistence.

"I can take Ara with me, I have taken care of multiple children before Taehyung I'm not senile yet and I want to spend as much time with my Grandchildren as possible"

"But what about your plans? And dad"

"Your father is a fool, I'm not speaking to him"

"Do I even want to know?" Taehyung rolls his eyes.

"Not particularly, but if he keeps lying to me about his condition then there will be consequences" She grits and Taehyung shifts to avoid her eyes, knowing she can read him like a damn book, Yuri wants to make her son confess but notices the awkward tension in the room.

"Now I see there is something to be resolved between you two, I will take my leave"

"Thanks for coming" He bids his mother farewell with a grateful kiss on her cheek.

"Let me know if there's anything you need my sweetheart" Taehyung nods.

Coming back from the front door he goes in search for Paige, hearing a coo from the bedroom he Sees Ara has been placed in her bassinet,

"Hello Princess, where's mama?" Taehyung smiled as he played with her tiny feet to which his daughter paid him no mind as she chewed  her soft toy so he then continued his search where he found Paige in the bathroom sitting on the now lowered toilet seat, the test in one hand and the box in the other.