Less Than a Hundred Years
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Prompt: Parents
They returned to semi-normalcy after New Year's. The lunar calendar worked funny sometimes and for a while Eun Soo was slightly off the loop. IN other words she had no idea how long more she had to be inside the apartment, with only her closest family as visitors. She already ached to be out in the open snowfields, with her child in arms, playing with the white fluffy snow without having Lady Choi appearing form the side, scolding her for risking her child's life. But Eun Soo was the mother, she was sure the baby's genes were strong, and the child himself was healthy and cute, like his mother. Choi Young was now calmer, and would allow some restrictions be lifted from around Eun Soo; people could visit her, upon request; She could tend to Deok Man, if she let him know with anticipation; and Choong-sik's children also could visit, as long as they didn't stay in long.
They continued the small custom of putting the child to sleep for two hours, and enjoying each other, be it night or day; it gave them something to look forward to as a couple. It felt sometimes as if they were hidden lovers, eager for each other, without letting their friends of family they were actually lovers… it was all very exciting for Eun Soo. Currently she was inside her husband's arms, having enjoyed one of such moments, and feeling his hand traveling up and down her back in lazy lines, her nerves were hypersensitive but she wasn't about to ruin the afterglow, maybe a bit later she will ask for more.
He was so gentle when touching her after their intimacy, so considerate; and after having witnessed her hemorrhage when they arrived to the castle he was even more so. It wasn't bad, it was really tender and emotional for her; even when her bleeding had stopped her body was scarred because of the stretch marks of her pregnancy. She had been ashamed at first to let him see them, but he didn't mind them; she asked once, and he replied simply. "You don't mind all my scars, why would I mind yours? I find them lovely, for my child was the cause of them; and you are so much more beautiful with them…"
He always knew what to say.
"Daejang." She said softly, smiling blissfully.
"Hmm?"
"I have to start doing exercises."
"Exercises? What for?" He looked down at her, and kissed her shoulder, curious. Eun Soo scoffed and lifted to look at his eyes.
"I gained fifteen pounds, Daejang, I have to lose some weight." She had noticed the skin dangling from places it hadn't dangle before, and although the stretch marks could not be helped, the weight gain could be dealt with. She had already started to diet, even when she was supposed not to because she was breast feeding; Lady Choi had scolded at the woman's need to lose weight and started adding more food than really necessary to her meals. Beside those big bowls of seaweed soup had helped her lose some weight, not all of it.
"Where did you gain fifteen pounds?" He asked, looking at her body over and gliding a hand down her back. "Here?" And he squeezed one of her buttock, making her yelp and her eyes widen. Choi Young was smirking playfully, the sudden blush covering her face surprising both of them.
"Daejang! Did you just grab my butt?"
"No, I squeezed your rear end." And he turned them; her on the bed with him over her body, laughing as they kissed.
.
.
His attentions were never overseen by Eun Soo. Choi Young was not a man to speak of his feelings much, probably would prefer to scratch a green board with bare nails if given the choice, so he would rather act his emotions out. Like that day while searching the Prince of the Court's house and she had asked him what he liked; his hand had settled on her shoulder. It had meant a lot for her, and for him, for all he loved was wrapped in a quiet bundle; he liked WooDalChi, which she wore the uniform, he liked life, which she represented, and he liked Eun Soo. He'd been shy afterwards of course; he'd turned away aware that his men had witnessed his little confession through actions, and she had felt warm and full to burst of that love that was not yet able to express itself physically.
If she had been able she would have jumped him, but she wasn't.
Breastfeeding their child was a moment of reverence for both of them; it was the silence of the life they had created, the moment in which she feed the love given to her by Choi Young, mixed with her own, so the child would know how well loved he was. And Tae Hyun was always a good sport, loving them both right back. His little chubby hands always reached to touch and hold her breast as his little lips sucked gently, he seemed to know he could hurt her if he sucked greedily, or maybe he was too humble a person to ask for more than was given. Eun Soo had to wonder at that; her child was not yet learning intellectually but his emotional learning was in overdrive. Tae Hyun knew how to make her smile, laugh, when to coo or laugh; call it a mother's instinct but that was how she felt it.
Each day, twice a day, even if he was the busiest man around; Choi Young would come in, and simply watch her breastfeed their child. He would enter the room, look around and inspect for visitors. When he usually found none (or at least Lady Choi no longer counted as visitor, she was part of the inner family circle fussing after the baby) he would pull a stool, and sit. Most of the time they would be quiet, watching their child, either one of them would pad his little back softly and then he would be set down for his nap. If they had intimacy or not, didn't matter, this new intimacy with their child was more than enough to carry them along the day.
As a couple they were usually snuggled, now that they had a child they snuggled with their clothes on. Eun Soo laughed sometimes at the thought, and when she shared this with Choi Young he smiled. After witnessing the quiet moment, he would kiss his wife, caress the sleeping baby and go on with the day. Though it made her wonder; why would he do this? Was she not well protected by the WooDalChi patrols? And with Dae Man and Deok Man (no matter slow his recovery was), she was safer than even the Queen herself. And now that she thought about it she never knew who had kidnapped her.
All was forgotten and forgiven when the child started rolling over. He was small, yes, two months old now (thing that helped her figure she still had thirty days to go in her captivity), and although it was rare for such strong movements to take place, the child could do it. Mind you he could turn from belly down to his back, and it took a while for him to do so, but he was getting good at it. Eun Soo was thrilled, and would call everyone to watch the child; Dae Man would imitate the child quite well, Deok Man was at awe, Lady Choi smiled and Choi Young commented on the child's strength.
Eun Soo had heard about the dol, and how items were set around the child, the item selected would be the child's future (or so they thought) and while changing diapers she spoke to her husband.
"I know it's not the family business, after all the military is rooted in both our sides…"
"You were in the military?" Asked Choi Young, astonished for a second.
"Yes I am the WoodDalChi that never shows up to practice, remember?" She smiled, making him stare at her with amusement. "My father was in the military before marrying. Anyway; I am hoping for a scholar, or a magistrate. I don't' want those cute chubby hands taking up any sort of weapons."
"Imja he will have to learn to defend himself."
"Yes, but not for a living." She said, aware the men in this period were trained in the arts by their families. Eun Soo was quite aware Choi Young would be the one to train the child, the one to care for his injuries and if need be the one to order him around while in the military, but still a mother always dreamed her child would be better off than his parents. She finished changing the diaper, turned the child on his belly, to see if he would amuse them with his turning and set the dirty cloth in the small laundry bin. "I'll have to have the girls drag this to the laundry." She commented, turning for second, a simple second…
It could have broken her heart if her husband had not been there.
The child did show them his abilities on turning, having lifted his little head and catch sight of his father. Eager to be held by the strong hands, the child lifted his little leg, pushed…
And almost fell to the floor. Choi Young reflexes were faster than the fall, and he managed to catch the baby midair, making Eun Soo Cry out and drop the laundry basket. Both parents stared at the child, tension building between them; and in his emotional learning the child understood that something had to be said.
So he burst out in wet giggles and laughter. Choi Young quickly wrapped him with both hands and brought him to his chest, while Eun Soo hurried to him checking him.
"He's fine."
"I was so dumb; I can't believe I left him like that!" And she kissed the little boy, making Tae Hyun laugh harder and his little hands move to give little pads to her head, Eun Soo had tears in her eyes. She was suddenly full of fear and grateful for Choi Young to have come over. She kissed the boy, and soon took Tae Hyun from Choi Young's arms, kissing his little face and cuddling him close; she was so ashamed of having turned her back to him. Later on Choi Young would have to calm her down; her fears of having the child fall from his crib overcoming her need to sleep.
