Chapter Thirteen: Little Creatures
A/N:Ahh! So sorry for not posting I awhile, but I got stuck on prompts! :o However, after looking back on some things I had drawn for this series, some things sprung to mind! Anyways, I originally planned to post this up a few chappies ago, but I got stuck on this one. Yun was a bit harder to pin down, but hopefully I got it down now! Also, after this, I have like five more written out, and done with. They're in the process of editing. So, for now, Please enjoy, and let me know your thoughts!
Prompt: Yun as a parent. Now that was a surprise he never expected.
Having children is my greatest achievement. It was my saviour. It switched my focus from the outside to the inside. My children are gifts, they remind me of what's important. -Elle Macpherson
If Yun was completely honest with himself, the thought of having kids was less than appealing. After all, he had spent a good deal of his young life taking care of someone else, whether it be Ik-Soo or any member of the Happy Hungry Bunch, that he really didn't think he wanted any kids. Kids, at least in his mind, were perfectly fine. As long as they weren't his, and he could always send them back to their parents at the end of the day.
However, like most things, it came as a total surprise. He didn't plan on it happening, and like most things that happened, he was worried. It wasn't that he wasn't finical stable. He had a good shop set up in Kuuto that was doing very well, and being the royally tailor, cook, and doctor had it's perks as well. Meaning, he was very well off, and didn't have to worry about money. It wasn't the fact he didn't have a home either, because he had a decent sized one he shared with his then girlfriend and Ik-Soo. It was more of the fact that he secretly doubted his own ability to raise a child. Something about being responsible for a little... Person from scratch really frightened him.
"You have nothing to worry about, Yun. You're going to be an amazing parent." Ik-Soo told him, picking up on the blonde haired man's worry and insecurity.
"Yeah. The baby will be well looked after." His girlfriend, Amoe, told him with a smile, a soft glint in her sapphire colored eyes. Some how, that was enough to calm Yun down, if only a little.
Needless to say, it didn't stop him from fussing throughout the pregnancy. He made sure to read up all that he could so that he would know what to expect. Amoe never had to wait, or even say anything really, before Yun was right there, handing her exactly what she would need to have all the comforts she would need.
"Now, remember to get plenty of rest."
"Eat right, alright? We want that baby as healthy as it can get, so cut down on the sweets."
"Get plenty of rest."
"If you're tired, just sleep, alright? I can handle everything. In fact, it's the same for being hungry too, alright? But don't eat to where you overfill, and throw up because that will be a bother. Oh no! Don't get upset! That isn't... It came out wrong!"
"Don't get too upset, alright? Too much stress isn't good for the baby."
"Do you need anything? I'm good at back or feet messages if you want me to give you some!"
Of course, when the others found out, they couldn't resist poking fun at the blond.
"Who would have thought it would be you to have kids first." Jae-Ha said with a slight sigh. He then smirked, and looked over at Hak."I mean if anything, I would have bet that Hak and Yona would start popping out kids. I mean with all the-"
"Alright, Droopy Eyes, that's enough." Hak told Jae-Ha, throwing a shoe at Jae-Ha, who simply dodged it with a smirk."Honestly though, as much as you have fussed over us, I kind of feel bad for the kid."
"Guess this means we'll have to share our mother with the kid." Jae-Ha added on just a second after Hak.
"Stop saying that! I'm not your mother!" Yun shouted for perhaps the millionth time since he had know these guys, though it was more or less a sign of affection at this point.
"You're right. We can't call you that if you're gonna be someone else's mother." Hak said teasingly.
"It might confuse them." Jae-Ha added on with a light smirk. Yun didn't say anything, but puffed out his cheeks, and looked away.
On the day of his child's birth, Yun was a worried mess. Yona had offered for them to come have the child at Hiryuu Castle, which Amoe quickly agreed to. So, Yun was being kept busy by... Pretty much everyone else. Ik-Soo, and the Four Dragon Warriors were all there plus Hak. To them, it was slightly unnerving seeing Yun, who was normally the one fussing and such, to be worried on a whole new level.
"Relax. She's going to be ok." Hak said, glancing at Yun, who nodded, but didn't seem to really be listening.
Despite that, everyone seemed to want to keep Yun off his worries, not that he paid much attention to them at all. Still, none of that stopped Yun from immediately rushing towards Yona the moment she came out with a smile on her face.
"You should come see the new addition to your family." Yona stated proudly. Yun nodded, following after Yona.
As they neared the room, Yun slowed his approach. He took a moment to calm himself, and then walked into the room. He looked around, and then looked at Amoe, who was cuddling a red blanket wrapped child. Amoe looked at Yun, as he stopped, feeling a bit uncomfortable for a moment. Amoe smiled.
"Come here." She stated simply. Yun nodded, walking forward.
Yun had seen plenty of babies in his life, but he was most certain that his was the most beautiful baby he had ever seen. She had tuffs of sunny blonde hair, and big, clear blue eyes. His child was crying loudly, and sounded healthy.
"What... What is-"
"It's a girl." Amoe answered, smiling softly. Yun looked at Amoe, and then down at his child... His daughter, and smiled slightly.
"What a beautiful girl." Yona said, looking at the baby, and then up at Yun with a grin. Yun looked at Yona, and then at his daughter.
"Mi-Cha." Yun said, glancing at Amoe with a soft smile. Amoe mirrored one back.
"Mi-Cha. That sounds fitting." She answered, giggling slightly as she handed the newly named baby over to Yun, who took the child gently in his arms.
"Mi-Cha." Yun smiled softly, stroking his daughter's chubby cheeks as she slept.
Things for Yun shifted dramatically after the birth of his daughter. Yun's focus suddenly became more focused on his family, and making sure they were well provided for, and that they were happy above all else. Nothing became more important to him than his family. Of course, Yona, Hak, and the Four Dragon Warriors were closely connected with Yun's family, always making frequent visits.
"She's a cutie." Jae-Ha told Yun, smiling over at him, when he first saw Mi-Cha. She was just a month at the time, and Yun was slightly surprised how well Jae-Ha was able to handle a child.
"Of course she is. She's my baby." Yun stated, smiling proudly as he gently lifted Mi-Cha from the green haired man's arms.
Mi-Cha grew up faster than Yun expected. One moment she was a little baby, and then before he knew it she was hitting her milestones. She was crawling, forming her first words, walking, and then running.
However, it was when she started walking and running that Mi-Cha started becoming a handful for Yun. She was a highly activate child, and Yun felt he was going to have a heart attack constantly watching after her.
"Yun, she's just a child. Let her be one." Ik-Soo would tell Yun with a slight smile. Yun would just purse his lips, and look away for a moment.
One of things that was for certain, was that Yun taught Mi-Cha how to take care of herself. He didn't want her to be too dependent on him, and he didn't always have time to give her all the attention she would need. So, Yun taught her what she would need to know to take care of herself. Even so, there were times when Yun was there for his daughter.
No matter how interdependent he wanted her to be, Yun was still her parent, and there were things he would always need to be there for, and he didn't mind the least bit because it taught him more about himself as well each and every time. One of those instances was when Amoe died.
Shortly after Mi-Cha's birth, Amoe became very sick. Yun was frantic, trying to heal her so that Amoe would be alright. Amoe smiled softly after one particular episode, just explaining that she always had a weak body, and that having the baby just weakened her for the moment, and that she would be alright again given time, but that didn't stop Yun from trying to heal her.
"I'm going to be alright. You'll see." Amoe would tell him with a grin, but Yun wasn't so sure.
Even knowing it was probably a helpless situation, he still tried to make her better. After all, they had a child together, a daughter, and he knew there was some things that a father just couldn't teach his daughter. Even loving her as much as Yun did, thinking about Mi-Cha, and her future, made Yun want to make Amoe better faster.
"You're right. You're going to be alright because I'm going to make you better again." Yun stated simply, scowling as he handed her a medicine to drink. Amoe rolled her eyes, but took the medicine anyways. .
Yun had lost both of his parents when he was young. His mother was just four when she passed away of illness, and his father shortly before he met Ik-Soo from diseases brought on by hunger. Thinking about those short memories he had with his own parents, spurred Yun on even more to save Amoe for the sake of Mi-Cha. Yun didn't want to have his child grow up without a mother if he could help it.
"Sometimes, things don't always go as planned, Yun. You should accept it." Ik-Soo would often tell Yun when he worked too hard to find new medicine for Amoe. The priest knew how Yun felt about all this, and mostly stayed quiet, but he didn't like seeing Yun work himself to the bone trying to heal what could probably never be healed.
"Don't be ridiculous. I am a handsome genius. I will save her." Yun would state with a scowl." I mean, what kind of doctor would I be if I could heal a stupid illness." He stated with a bittersweet grin. With that stated, he scowled again, working harder to mix the medicines together.
Even so, despite all the hard work, it didn't stop her from eventually dying off as a result of the illness. The day it happened, Yun had sent off Mi-Cha to play with Yona's toddling son, while Ik-Soo prayed over the body, and then had her laid to rest in a small private ceremony. It was just a month shy after Mi-Cha's third birthday.
"I'm so sorry Yun. Amoe-"
"I know you mean well, Yona, but I really don't want to hear it right now." Yun stated softly, sitting down on his couch with a sigh as he closed his eyes.
"But-"
"Yona, Dear, let's give the man some space." Jae-Ha stated softly, putting a hand on the empress's shoulders, and leading her off. Hak looked at them for just a moment, and then at Yun. He felt sorry for the young man, but he knew there was nothing that he could say to make the blonde feel better.
"If you need anything, anything at all, just let us know! We'll be here for you no matter what!" Kija exclaimed, trying to give comfort to the blonde, who just nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah. If you could just send Mi-Cha over, that will be great." Yun said listlessly. The others nodded softly, and then left the house, leaving Yun to himself.
As he waited for Mi-Cha to show up, Yun couldn't help but to retreat into his mind, and his own insecurities. Yun was a genius. He was the amazing healer that people went to to help with whatever they needed help with. Even if he never got it at first, he always ended up helping them, and solving their problems. He assumed when Amoe got sick, that he too could heal her, it would only take time. After all, he was Yun, the handsome genius! He could do anything once he set his mind to it...
So why couldn't he save the one he loved above all? Why couldn't he heal this sickness? He was Yun. He was supposed to have save her. If he couldn't save the one he loved, the mother of his child, what could he really do? Yun could hardly remember the last time he felt this helpless. He felt a million things all at once, and yet nothing all at the same time.
Yun wanted to cry, curl up into a ball, and just ignore the world. Yun wanted to be angry, and break shit until he felt better. Yun wanted someone to blame, and was frustrated that he couldn't blame anyone but himself. He wanted to beat himself up for everything. However...
"Daddy?" That little voice that called out to him with a sad, curious tone, and the little hand that touched his pants softly, as if asking silently for some sort of reassurance, brought him out of his own thoughts.
Yun looked down at Mi-Cha, her blue eyes wide and a bit sad. Yun bent down, and picked her up, and held her tightly to him.
"Where Mommy?" She questioned softly, touching her dad's shoulders. Yun stiffened slightly, and then sighed as he just held her closer.
"Mommy just... Well, Mommy was sick, and her body couldn't handle it. She went to be in the stars." He answered softly, stroking her hair. He had never actually had to explain death to a child, so it was awkward to say the least, but he was trying to word it in a way that wouldn't make her anymore sad.
Needless to say, even after he had explained that Mi-Cha's mother wouldn't be coming back, there seemed to be times when she still asked for her mother. Each time she asked, it would bring the sadness back all over again, but he held out for the sake of his child. He wouldn't get sad for the sake of his child because it was during this time that she would need him the most. It shouldn't be the other way around. It's not how being a parent worked.
Of course, after the death of Amoe, Yun became considerably more protective of Mi-Cha. Amoe's death was the first wake up call for the beautiful genius that he couldn't always cure everything. Of course, he had known this before, but she was the first person in a long time that he wasn't able to cure of their illness, and he didn't want to go through the same thing with someone as equally, if not more important in his life. He didn't think he could make it through losing his only daughter.
However, Mi-Cha was the adventuring type, which always seemed to make Yun a bundle of nerves.
"Mi-Cha, you need to be more careful. I won't always be around to stitch your wounds up." Yun scolded her as he stitched up a rather nasty cut on her arm." How did you even get this anyways? You need to be more careful." Mi-Cha sighed, puffing out her cheeks as she rolled her eyes." I can't be here to watch you all the time. Yona is gonna have another child, so I need you to watch yourself." He told her, looking at her sternly for a second before smiling softly, and ruffling her hair as he finished stitching up her wounds." Want to help me with dinner?" He questioned, holding out his hand to her. Mi-Cha grinned up at him, and nodded as she jumped down from the stool, and took his hand.
"Yeah!" She exclaimed, walking a bit faster to keep up with her father's steps.
After the birth of Yona's twins, Mi-Cha seemed to have taken a liking to the daughter, which made Yun somewhat happy. If she took on the role of a big sister, maybe that would mellow her out some.
"She's so… Squishy looking." Mi-Cha said the first time she saw the black haired girl, poking at her cheeks with a quizcal expression. Yona chuckled slightly, smiling at the little blonde girl as she stood on the tips of her toes to look at the sleeping babies closer.
"All babies are squishy looking." Yona said as Yun picked up his daughter, and held her to him, but allowed some movement so that the little girl could look at the children better.
"Was I that fat, Daddy?" Mi-Cha questioned, looking at her dad with a slightly scowl. Yun and Yona gave the little girl a surprised expression, and then broke out into laughter, which just confused the little girl." What?" She questioned, sounding offended for a moment. Yun just laughed again, shaking his head.
"Nothing, Mi-Cha. All babies are different." Yun replied.
"Oooh. So, I wasn't fat." She said almost proudly, smiling as she looked back at the babies. Yun chuckled, not even replying as he shook his head, and looked back at them." They're cute for fat babies." Mi-Cha said, smiling as she poked at the black haired girl's cheeks again. The little baby cooed, and then reached up, and gripped Mi-Cha's finger very firmly." She's strong!" She exclaimed, feeling proud that the baby had enclosed her hands around her finger. She giggled, shaking her finger with the babies hand, and then grinned when the baby cooed once more.
One thing that Yun was happy about was the Mi-Cha and Yona;s children seemed to get along great. Not that he would admit it outloud, but Yun had always hoped that when everyone started having kids, that their kids would become close friends, like the entire group was to one another, so it made him very happy that they seemed to be close. Espically when Mi-Cha seemed to want to learn to do new things, if only spurred by the fact that she wanted to do something for one of her friends. He just hoped that wouldn't turn into her being what he was to Yona and the others, but that didn't mean he wouldn't teach her. He wanted her to learn to do things on her own after all, so he was more than happy to teach the young girl whatever it is she wanted to know….
Over all, Yun was happy to have Mi-Cha. He didn't regret having her at all. Through all their up and downs, Yun loved Mi-Cha more than he thought he could love another being, but he supposed that was what being a parent was all about. No matter what happened between the parent and the child, the parent would always love the child. So, yeah. He was happy to have Mi-Cha. She was the greatest gift he had ever received.