If I do not have your whole heart, Your Majesty, then I don't need it at all.

If you were me, would you surrender?

You are my flaw.

I am embarrassed to have been born in the same womb as you.

A curse...

A curse...

You are a curse!

So bolts upright. He opens his eyes wide in sudden realization that it was just a nightmare, just like all the nightmares that plague him once in a while. He tries to calm down his ragged breathing and rapid heartbeat as he clutches the sheets of the bed, their bed. So absentmindedly wipes the cold sweat on his bare face, touching his scar as he does so. It was the not-so-friendly reminder of his pains, and his trauma will probably haunt him forever as long as he his face is marred.

He carefully looks to his side and sees his wife, his beautiful wife. Although the weather was getting warmer, the air was still pretty cool. Soo's shoulders and arms were bare as she slept; the blanket only went past her chest, thus, So slowly motions the comforter to fully cover her. His eyes travel downwards, specifically, her stomach which hardly showed signs of her pregnancy. It was not hindering their constant lovemaking; well, at least, not yet.

The sight of his wife's steady breathing, her chest heaving up and down, the occasional fluttering of her eyes, is something that So will never get tired of. Soo's cheeks were perfectly flushed, and her lips were slightly swollen; a sign of the intensity of their previous activities. Alas, he could not help himself anymore, he touches Soo's belly, even if only a little bit. Of course, the physical action stirs his wife from her sleep. A part of him regrets disturbing his wife's deep sleep, yet the selfish part of him also knows he needs her right now.

When Soo opened her eyes, she sees her husband looking at her with a downcast expression. It must be one of those nights, she thought.

"What's wrong?," she reaches out for his arms, squeezing it in assurance. "Don't tell me you're still unsatisfied with tonight's activities?,"

She jokes, trying to liven up the gloomy atmosphere. So smiles and looks down at her hands that held his arms. He removes it and tangles her fingers with his own.

"You know I can't ever get enough of you," he smiles, although it was a smile masking his sadness. Soo thoughtfully looks at him for a while before sitting up herself.

Her husband was a warrior, and from her knowledge of people who has experienced war, she knew about the trauma bloodshed and gore brings. When they were not husband and wife yet, she knew that the prince always had a dagger under his pillow, and also another one strapped on his ankle. She also knew he never slept for more than three hours. When they got married, that's when Soo saw the full extent of the horrors that So has seen. He would jolt awake sometimes. Even if it was winter, his face and back would be covered by sweat.

Although Soo was incredibly humble, she is still proud of the fact that she is her husband's medicine. Ever since they got married, the nightmares would lessen, the sleepless nights were no more, and when they made love, he'd be able to sleep for more than three hours. Yes, she was his medicine, but never his cure. Soo knows there are wounds that can never be healed.

"It's going to be alright," she inches closer to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. So's shoulders were taut. His breathing is steady, but heavy at the same time. He doesn't reply, and although they're perfectly comfortable with each other's physical closeness, Soo could feel the intensity and apprehension emanating from his whole feature.

Her statement, though, astounds him. Even when she asks, she already knows what's wrong. She doesn't need to coax him, only comfort him. In their many years together, a lot of unspoken statements have kept their relationship alive. So muses why this is so. How could their thoughts dance together in perfect harmony?

Well, of course. That's what happens when you are one with another person, he thought. He is hers just as much as she is his.

"Are you worried?," So's thoughts were interrupted by her question. "Are you afraid of being a father?"

"No." he replies immediately. Soo was mildly taken aback. She did not expect him to answer that fast.

"I actually think I'll be quite overbearing," he adds and laughs humorlessly.

She did not say anything to that. Partly because she's thinking about some things, and partly because she knows it's true. Soo knows how much So loves. He's quite a paradox, to be honest; and she's amazed at his capability to give so much even in the midst of receiving almost no affection all his life. When they were younger, he could be quite smothering. He did not know how to control his emotions, often letting it overcome him. Over the years, they have taught each other how to balance their relationship. But even now, she knows just how much love he can and will give. So will probably spoil their children to the core. He would probably be overprotective too. What's he worried about when he knows he'll give them all the love that he could muster?

"Then what are you worried about?,"

"I don't... I don't know what a father is." So replies, faltering. "I had a king. And as much as he wanted to be a father to us all, he could never be."

Soo removes her head from his neck in order to look at him properly. She could see just how much his eyes were gleaming joylessly. The thousands of memories, or lack thereof, mirrored in his eyes. The dysfunctional family of his reflects in him. Yet, she's happy, that this dysfunctionality turned him to the loving human being that he is now.

She lift her hand to cup his cheek, and he automatically draws his head closer, savoring her touch that always always calms him down. Just her presence, her slight physical touches are enough to unwind him. He looks at her and he sees everything in his life. Even though her jet black hair was freely flowing over her shoulders, devoid of any accessories. Even though her face was clean, without any hint of makeup, and only the natural shade of rosiness on her cheeks and lips. Even though she was practically bare in front of him, she only radiated of beauty and everything that he adores. I love her. I love her so much. Then, she smiles lightly, and he swears, he has never seen anyone so beautiful that it just makes his heart ache.

"You don't have to worry. I don't know how to be a mother either." she quips while cupping his face. "Let's learn together, yes?" and So replies with a smile. He close his eyes as he let's her caress his cheeks.

Then, he moves his body downwards to rest and snuggle on her lap like a baby, and she stifles a laugh at this antic of his. In that moment, Soo realized that she might occasionally have to take care of more than one children in the future: their future baby and her adorably handsome yet sometimes vulnerable husband.

Author's notes: Hi! Hello! How are you? I'm sorry it took me quite some time to update. I'm currently in a vacation. Guess where? YEP. I'M IN SEOUL HAHAHAHA. I'm planning on attending the SBS Drama Awards this 31st of December. Just the red carpet! I really want to see Joon Gi and LJG + IU walking together HUHUHU.

Anyway, this story was uneventful. But we know there'll always be that "are you afraid of being a father" chapter for upcoming fathers LOL. Anyway, enjoy! The next chapter might come sooner than expected since I already have an idea for it.