Chapter 26 – Baby, it's you
I was near the front of the concert I had been waiting almost 4 years for and the fact that I was 38 weeks pregnant meant nothing. I'd never been able to get tickets since I became ARMY and then Covid hit so I was always going to be attending this concert, no matter how big I grew. In fact, it worked in my favour as everyone around me politely gave me a little more elbow room and when the concert started, I was dancing with the rest of ARMY, making the most of the moment. The whole pregnancy I was listening to their music anyway so this little bean (LB for short) had been well acquainted with all the songs we were bouncing around to, singing at the top of our lungs, a purple sea of fans. I'd come alone but in this room of people who felt the same way about this amazing group of men, it didn't feel lonely. We were all there to celebrate together.
It was a third of the way through the concert when I felt the first twinge, like a small back ache. Resting my hand there briefly, I gave it a rub and carried on. This last part of the pregnancy I had been having odd twinges now and again but with two weeks to go, I wasn't worried as it was very unlikely I would be early. And I wasn't missing the rest of the concert, especially when I'd been lucky enough to get this close to the front. Desperately ignoring the way LB was sitting on my bladder, I carried on, watching as one after another of the members came close enough to see their eyes. None settled my way for long enough to have a 'moment' but I was having a blast anyway, seeing them all in the flesh. Especially my bias.
Until about two thirds of the way in and I doubled over with pain. That was unmistakably not just a twinge and I gulped in a lung of air as the pain subsided. The people around me looked a little concerned, one of the ARMY's close in age to me leaning over to ask.
"Are you OK?"
"Oh, well, I think so?"
She looked at me, down at my stomach and then back to my face again. "Are you sure?"
"It was just a little pain, it's all good," I said as Fire started and I swung back to the front to sing along to a medley of some of their biggest dance songs before they all came to a halt, gasping for water and lining up to chat to the audience. And at that point, another pain came, deeper and stronger than the last and I grabbed for my stomach.
"Are you in labour," the same ARMY asked and I turned with big eyes.
"I think I might be," and her eyes grew big in return. A few others around us had heard and were looking at me in horror. It's not like it was catchy or if I was going to deliver the baby on the spot but I wasn't sure now if I'd make it to the end of the concert, the disappointment growing at the thought of missing out even as I felt the anxiety of the impending birth.
The ARMY took matters into her own hands, calling and waving out to security that were near us, previously watching the stage as well as keeping an eye on the closest audience members.
"Excuse me but this lady is having a baby!"
It was said loudly, my face blushing now as a commotion was being made. The security looked shocked, glanced at my stomach, probably hoping he wouldn't have to deliver a baby that day as he seemed to make a snap decision. Calling to some other staff, they edged the barrier forward a little, enough to guide me out as he reached for my arm and escorted me along. I tried to creep carefully, Namjoon was talking and I didn't want to miss it or create a scene. But the members closest, Taehyung and Yoongi, glanced to see what was happening, a look on their faces between them as they noticed the careful touch of the security and my quite obviously large stomach. I was so embarrassed. But I was also starting to think the sooner I got to the hospital, the better as another pain flowed like a wave across my body and I smothered the noise threatening to rip from my throat. Why today though?
"What was all that commotion with security earlier," Tae was asking as they came off the stage to change into their last outfits of the concert.
"Oh, an ARMY was having a baby," staff said and all heads popped up at his words.
"Wah, is that the first time that's ever happened at a concert," Jimin asked as he hurried to tuck his shirt into his jeans, smiling at the thought.
"It's the first time I've heard of it," Namjoon called back.
"How cute, a new baby ARMY," J-Hope grinned as they headed out to the stage.
But during their final comments twenty minutes later, the members couldn't help but bring it up.
"Earlier an ARMY had to leave to go have a baby."
There was a murmur at his words, the ones in the front who had seen it happening, nodding along. "So even now, the newest ARMY may have been born!"
There was laughter at his words from the audience.
"That's exciting though. We should honour the baby with a gift, from BTS to the youngest ARMY," Jin commented and the members all nodded.
"Good idea guys so if you know this ARMY or if this message gets back to her, congratulations and if you get in touch with our staff, we'll find a way to get you back to another concert so you can see one all the way to the end this time."
There was more laughter and cute 'awwwws' at this before they went back to thanking ARMY for coming, talking about the final set.
And not far away, in a hospital, a tiny baby boy was being ushered into the world, a few weeks early, in a hurry to get there and with a lot of noise while his mother insisted on playing loud music during the birth.
Somehow I had made it viral. A clip of me being escorted with security, head dropped with the pain so you thankfully couldn't tell who I was but my pregnancy obvious. And when I'd seen the clip, a few days after giving birth to my son, it was an edit spliced in with Namjoon talking about getting me to another concert, my heart beating fast at the thought. I'd contacted Hybe and explained the situation, giving them my Weverse ID which they linked to my seat and tickets had turned up to their final concerts in Seoul when BTS came back a few months later.
So here I was, baby in front pack, the cutest little Mang head band on his head, showing off who my bias was. A few people around me stared, commenting under their breath that I would come with such a young baby, ruining his ears before I cheerfully pointed out the noise cancelling headphones he had tucked under the headband so they'd get off my back. I was determined to have a good time, watch the whole concert to the very end and nobody would bring me down today by judging my parenting.
Little Bean was well fed, in my arms and when he was ready to sleep, I put him in the front pack and hoped he'd last the whole concert, surprising me by nodding off at the very start. Even the super loud noises and people yelling all around us didn't seem to permeate through the headphones and he was content to sleep, probably due to the fact I had blasted BTS around the house for the last year. It had clearly sunk in even before he was born. LB had been a happy baby from the start, loud and excitable most of the time he was awake but very easy as far as babies go and I was able to dance while he slept on me, enjoying the entire concert.
Looking up at the line of BTS stretched across the stage, I was so glad I'd been able to experience the full concert, jiggling a little from my place near the front, keeping LB calm and asleep so I could hear the members say their final ment and perform their last song. It was over too soon but I would always have a connection with BTS so would it ever really be over?
Staff came to find me afterwards, having already been warned by emails that the members would like to meet the baby that almost arrived at their concert. Word had gotten out that he had been born only an hour after I left the venue and I'd seen super funny memes online of one member or another being called upon to help deliver him if I'd stayed. This seemed like a perfect photo opportunity and I knew quite a few of them were good with babies.
"This way please," security said, bowing to me as we walked along the back stage corridors. LB was only a little visible, awake now, legs sticking out the bottom of the front back, tiny mop of hair sticking up at the top. I thought he was adorable and I hoped they would too. As the door was opened and security checked with a manager that it was safe to go in, I got the nod and walked inside, nerves kicking up to high gear. This was it, the moment I'd been waiting for, years in the making and nothing like I pictured.
"Ah, the baby is here," someone called and I smiled. It appeared I was no longer a person, just a carrier of the mentioned cute tiny human but I'd already realised that when people greeted him at the supermarket and not me. Taehyung arrived in front of me, bowing before he reached for LBs fist.
"He's so cute, welcome," Tae said as he gave the fist a wiggle, my sons fingers closing around his his own, earning a huge smile from Tae as he looked down at the tiny fingers on his.
"Thank you," I said softly, shy to be so close to this handsome man, flitting my eyes up to look at the other members and staff dotting the room. They were walking my way now, clustering around, blocking each other so that I could only see a few.
"Manners guys," Jin said, parting the way a little and guiding me over to a chair. Thanking him with a bow, I took a seat, reaching into the front pack to lift the baby out.
"His outfit is BTS," Jimin exclaimed loudly and I laughed. It wasn't the only one and I'd had to decide which of the BTS baby outfits I owned to dress him in today.
"Of course, he was almost born during a concert and is being raised on your music, what else would he wear today. Would you like a hold?"
"Oh yes, I love babies," Jimin replied, wiping his hands on his jeans and he sat down as I passed my son over, snuggling him in carefully as Jimin cooed down at him.
"What's his name," Jungkook asked, leaning in close to tickle his foot, resting it's tiny form in his large hand.
"I call him LB which is short for little bean. That's what he was known as when he was in here," I said, pointing at my stomach." But his full name is Kim Junseok," I finished, looking down at my son then smiling up at Jungkook even as my eyes continued to search the room. I met Yoongi's eyes with a smile which he returned as he watched me continue scanning and I wondered if he knew, if he could tell. Maybe it was obvious who I was looking for since Little Bean had a Mang headband on or maybe Yoongi was just super observant. He always seemed so perceptive to me, standing back a little and watching everything and I assumed he would be the first one to understand that I was looking for my bias.
"How old is he," Yoongi asked, standing a little back from the others, looking around Tae at my son, taking in all his features.
"Ten weeks now," I answered, thankful I was less sleep deprived than those initial days. Turning up here looking like I did the weeks after he was born would've been a nightmare and not how I wanted today to go. I was in a perpetual state of exhaustion back then, dark circles ringing my eyes.
"You were brave coming to our concert last time being so close to the end of your pregnancy."
"I really couldn't miss it," I said, looking up at where Namjoon stood. "Would you miss your favourite band if it might be the one and only time?" He shook his head with a half smile on his face." And it all worked out in the end, thank you so much for the tickets."
"You're welcome," Namjoon said with a bow. "This is different for us and we couldn't let it pass by without meeting you both." I blushed. He was so well spoken, so sweet.
"My turn," Tae said, taking the baby off Jimin, seemingly very comfortable with little people. The whole vibe in the room was relaxed and I was surprisingly calm being this close to them all, keeping my main focus on LB if I felt my nerves swirling although they were constantly sitting just below the surface.
"Has the baby arrived yet," I heard a loud voice ask from behind everyone as he made his way through the group, instantly recognising the voice I'd been waiting for and I turned a little catching Hobi's eyes.
"Sena," he asked surprised, coming over instantly, taking my hand as I stood up to give him a hug. The members were looking at us, no-one having realised we knew each other. "What has it been? Like a year since we last saw each other?"
"Just a little less is my guess," Yoongi said almost under his breath and I nodded shyly in agreement with his words.
"Yeah, it's been about 11 months," and Yoongi raised his eyebrows as I confirmed his thoughts, going to speak but closing his lips tightly.
"And it was your baby who was almost born during our concert? Wow, what a cutie," Hobi said. Junseok had started to become unsettled in Tae's arms and I was going to take him back but Hobi reached for him instead, sitting down as LB settled straight away, looking up at him with big, brown eyes. Then he smiled and Hobi gave him an answering one. "Oh cute, he smiled at me, he's so adorable."
I didn't answer, looking between Hobi and Junseok. It was painfully clear to me, the nose was the same, the shape of his ears and then the smile sealed the deal. Yoongi leaned over to whisper something in Namjoon's ear and his eyebrows shot up, gasp leaving his lips, eyes shooting to look at me and then between Hobi and my son. Then one by one the others cottoned on, well before Hobi had any idea what was happening while the room descended into a roar of chaos, Junseok joining the noise from the safety of his fathers arms.
A/N – This was just a little bit of fun to write lol