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@Engineer Zhan Yibo was joyously hanging off of Zhan's arm, following his child's father around excitedly as they looked around at all the rooms. Zhan was so giddy, even with the few hours of sleep that he had gotten over the past two days, and Yibo couldn't help staring at his lover's face in absolute adoration. It was a lot to ask of a father, to be present during the entire baby delivering process /and/ to be so wholeheartedly devoted to his constantly snoozing baby, and Yibo had the entire package in Zhan. Yibo coaxed Zhan sweetly when he expressed disappointment, complimenting his degrees in his baby's place, "Oh he knows for sure! I've talked to Weilan about his Daddy's achievements many times before!" Once they finally placed Weilan down in his crib, Yibo wrapped his arms around Zhan's waist, burying himself against his lover's body. He admired Weilan's sleeping face while his head was tucked against the crook of Zhan's neck, "Gege, I wouldn't trade what we have for anything in this world. No, the universe. I love you too."

@Teacher Yibo Zhan cuddled Weilan close as he slung Yibo's hospital bag over his other shoulder, a tender smile on his face. He couldn't even take his eyes away from his son as he walked up to the house, letting Yibo unlock the door and nudging it open with his shoulder. "Baby, you're home," he said in a sing-song voice, kicking off his shoes and letting the bag down on the floor. "Yibo, let's give him a tour of our house." They walked around with baby Weilan, showing him all the decorations and trinkets they've collected, but their son fell asleep halfway. Zhan was, to say the least, disappointed. "He didn't even see my degrees yet," he said in a pitiful voice as he laid Weilan in his crib. They watched him together, and Zhan began to feel incredibly soft. The entire year had been a wild ride, but he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. He turned to Yibo, his grin wide. "Thank you, baby," he whispered so he would not wake Weilan. He drew Yibo into his arms, kissing his lips gently. "For giving me this family. I love you so much."

@Engineer Zhan Yibo's actions had been slowed since he gave birth, his body still recovering from the inside despite being able to function properly outside. He got into the car with Zhan's help, leaning over to watch his sleeping baby. "Yes Gege," Yibo hummed, gently stroking Weilan's soft cheek, "Time to go home."

The car ride home was bumpier than Yibo expected, but Zhan was such a careful driver since he had a new important passenger in his ride. Yibo had to remind his lover to keep his eyes on the road every time they came to a stop though, yet he knew he would be doing the same thing if he were the one in the driver's seat. Weilan slept peacefully throughout the ride, and soon enough, they were home.

Yibo let Zhan help Weilan out of his carseat, himself making his way around to take hold of his boyfriend's arms, This moment felt extremely special, and almost as if on cue, Weilan blinked his little eyes open, staring curiously up at the blue sky that greeted him excitedly. "Hi darling," Yibo cooed, smiling with endearment, "Guess where we are now? We're almost home! Ready to see your new home?" he asked, then smiling as he latched onto Zhan's arm, "Come on Gege, we have to show Baby Xiao his new home before he goes back to sleeping again!"

@Teacher Yibo Baby Weilan had a natural talent for capturing Zhan's attention. Zhan was in the middle of staring and admiring his son when Yibo started saying something at him. He didn't catch any of it, but based on the way the nurse was staring at Zhan with an exasperated expression, that meant they were leaving. "What? Yeah, we're going home," he said vaguely, as if he'd head the question. Zhan walked alongside Yibo, leading them out to the carpark and eagerly opening the door for them. Weilan's carseat had already been fitted, though it looked rather bizarre in Zhan's sporty car. He'd been talking about trading it in for a family van, but was finding it hard to let go of. After he strapped Weilan into his seat, he hurried to the other side to help Yibo into the back as well, gentle so as not to jostle his boyfriend too much. "Good?" he asked when both his loves were strapped in. "Let's go home."

It was a short drive, but Zhan couldn't help but turn back and look at Yibo and Weilan each time he stopped at an intersection. Each and every time, he stared for so long he forgot to keep driving until the driver behind him got angry. Zhan flipped them off each time. They were just jealous they didn't have the most beautiful, most perfect son in the world!

@Engineer Zhan Two days later, both mother and child were deemed sufficiently healthy to be discharged from the hospital. It was nice to have the nurses tending to them day and night, but Yibo knew that he wanted nothing more than to be home with the loves of his lives right now. He carefully picked Weilan up from the hospital bassinet, the small baby sleeping soundly with his hands tucked under his chin and his mouth tightly onto his pacifier. Yibo booped his small nose affectionately, then turning to Zhan, who was by his side this entire time, and was now ready to bring them home. "Gege, did you prepare the car?" Yibo asked, settling into the wheelchair a nurse had prepared for him with Weilan in his arms, "And the baby seat?" The nurse made a motion for Zhan to take over and she held the door open for them as they exited the recovery room.

@Teacher Yibo "How does this baby look like me?" Zhan asked dubiously, rubbing Weilan's tiny back. "He just looks like a baby. A very pretty baby... but..." He bent to kiss Yibo, then Weilan's head over his knitted hat. Their parents hung around for a bit longer before Zhan politely shooed them out, telling them that Yibo needed rest. When Weilan fell asleep at Yibo's chest, Zhan picked him up carefully, returning him to the bassinet at Yibo's bedside. With Yibo being baby-free, Zhan was much too happy to clamber onto the bed with him, ignoring the way the hospital bed creaked and groaned beneath his weight. He pulled Yibo's upper half against his chest. "Let's get some rest before our baby wakes," he whispered, yawning as he shut his eyes. Zhan hadn't realized until now, but being a father was already tiring. The excitement, the baby, the everything. He rested his cheek against the top of Yibo's head. "He is perfect, baby. I love you both so much."

@Engineer Zhan Zhan's praise made Yibo beam proudly, the energy that he spent pushing and screaming earlier starting to feel replenished little by little. He peered over Zhan's shoulder make sure Weilan was doing alright, then he turned back to his boyfriend and commented as well, "We did it together Gege, I couldn't have had Weilan without you. And I'm really, really thankful for him. He reminded us just how important we are to each other, and that we need each other." Maybe it was hormones speaking, but Yibo was getting teary-eyed from that realization, and he knew that he had Weilan to thank for him being able to stay with Zhan all the way until now.

The moment he heard his baby cry though, Yibo's maternal instincts flared for the first time, and he quickly ushered Zhan to bring Weilan back to him. Yibo held his baby close, the scent of fresh baby powder filling his nose as he held his small baby, who was wrapped conveniently like a burrito roll, up to his chest and began to nurse him again. Their parents stayed a while longer, and after having a very clear image of their grandson in their minds to brag about to their friends, they left ecstatically. It was just Zhan by Yibo's side again. "Baby, do you know this is your daddy?" he asked Weilan, who was satiated and drowsy-looking by now, "You're so handsome! I see you have his eyes..." Yibo mused quietly, then turning to look at Zhan, "And his pretty mouth."

"Oh- yes, I chose his name." Yibo smiled sweetly at his mother and mother in-law when confusion was brought up about his baby's name. "Gege thinks the name is beautiful too, right?" he asked, giving Zhan a little knowing chuckle as their moms shared an incredulous look but began to coo at their grandchild in unison again after a just a moment of shock.

@Teacher Yibo Finally, when Yibo's mother won the fight and took Weilan from his arms, Zhan returned to Yibo's side. "Still you, baby," he murmured, bending to kiss Yibo's lips, slightly chapped from the entire ordeal. "You did so good baby, Weilan is so beautiful." Zhan's chest tightened again with overwhelming emotion. 'I'm a dad!!!' he wanted to yell at anyone who would listen, but their parents seemed too preoccupied to care, and Yibo was still a bit catatonic looking.

"Weilan?" Mrs. Xiao said, her neck cricking audibly when she looked up. "I thought his name was Jiahong."

"No, it was definitely Xuefeng," Mrs. Wang said as he bounced Weilan in her arms. Weilan began to cry, so Zhan took him back and tucked him against Yibo's chest, where he began ling immediately, his tiny red lips latching over Yibo's shirt and his little cheeks bulging as he struggled to pull milk through a shirt. Zhan laughed breathily, pulling Yibo's hospital gown to a side for Weilan. "Yibo thought of the name. Right baby?"

@Engineer Zhan Seeing Weilan's two grandmothers fighting to get their hands on their son, Yibo chuckled weakly as he watched the dilemma fall into Zhan's hands. His boyfriend didn't appear to reluctantly let go of Weilan either, so when the baby was deposited into Yibo's mother's arms first, Yibo reached to hold Zhan's hand again, a small pout on his face asking for his lover to pay him some attention while their mothers coddled and shifted back and forth between holding him. "Gege, who's the cutest in your eyes now?" Yibo asked, tilting his head and smiling sweetly, albeit tiredly. The commotion in the room was surprisingly comforting to him. Maybe it was because his parents, boyfriend, and child were all here now. Feeling the coziness of their large and tightly knit family, Yibo d Zhan's hand gently before bringing it to his cheek, guiding Zhan's hand to caress his cheek, himself nuzzling docilely. "Thank you for believing in me earlier, Gege. And sorry if I squeezed you too tightly."

@Teacher Yibo Zhan rushed to Yibo's bedside, holding the younger's outstretched hand. He was extremely pleased, however, when Weilan was handed back to him. He cradled his baby properly for the first time, the little thing snuggled against the crook of his arm, quiet and content at the moment. "Oh... yes, they're coming, they weren't authorized in the delivery area-"

As if on cue, both their sets of parents rushed into the room, as if racing to see who could hold their grandchild first. "I was very hands on with Yibo," Mrs. Wang said as she held her hands out for Zhan to deposit the baby into her arms. "I'm best at holding babies. Give me the baby."

"I've head my son longer, he's older," Mrs. Xiao said, as if that made any sense. She was on Zhan's other side, more aggressive as she tried to work her hands under Zhan's arms to sneak Weilan off. "I'll be much more experienced."

@Engineer Zhan While Weilan was nursing, Yibo counted his ten little fingers and toes to make sure everything was there. He then took a closer look at his baby's face, deciding right then that Weilan looked to be an exact replica of his Zhan. Yibo knew that his baby was every bit as beautiful as he hoped, and now everyone would clearly know who his father was. His surroundings seemed to blur out, the nurses and doctors who shuffled in and out of the room turning into a big blur as he focused in on their small, happy family of three. "Weilan looks so good with a hat," Yibo laughed softly in absolute adoration, "Gege, he really is Little Xiao. Can you see yourself in him?" Yibo asked, seeing that his lover was every bit as sentimental as he was.

Yibo followed along with the procedures once he finished nursing, momentarily handing custody of Weilan to the nurse as she weighed and measured him in the recovery room. Yibo's neck was outstretched impatiently, wanting to make sure the results looked good (and that they didn't accidentally switch his child with the one in the next bed over). When Zhan finally returned from doing the paperwork, Yibo reached a hand out for the older to take, "Gege...didn't you say my parents are here? Did you tell them about Weilan yet?"

@Teacher Yibo Since Yibo looked so sentimental about the name, Zhan didn't remind the younger of all the names they had come up with together. "Yeah," he whispered, cupping Yibo's cheek the hand that didn't hold Yibo's. "Of course. Weilan. What a beautiful name." He watched his son open and close his mouth, mouthing as he searched for a to feed from. The nurses in the room bustled about, reaching between Zhan and Yibo to check on the baby.

"Can I get the father here?" The doctor gestured for Zhan. He shifted over, taking the pair of scissors that the doctor passed him. "Cut the umbilical cord."

"Uh," Zhan said, staring at the slimy pink cord that shone beneath the bright surgery light. No one had told him anything about /cutting/ anything. Zhan was not prepared. Not mentally, not emotionally. His tears fell as he steeled himself, taking a timid snip where the doctor indicated. "Wow," he said when he returned to Yibo's side. "That was..." Before he could finish, a nurse passed him a tiny, knitted hat. "It's for your baby," she explained, gesturing for Zhan to put it over Weilan's head. He did so carefully. "Wow," he said again. The nurse fastened matching ID bands around the three of them and gestured for Zhan to follow her. "If the father wants to be on the birth certificate, please come with me to fill out the forms. The mother and the baby will be taken to the recovery area and the newborn will have to be weighed and receive a checkup. You can meet them in their room later."

@Engineer Zhan The ticking time bomb inside Yibo's body produced indescribable, excruciating pain, so much to the point that Yibo thought he'd pass out before getting through with this process. His lower lip was thoroughly chewed through and through, only given breaks every time he had to scream anew. But as soon as the the baby inside of him made its way out, all the pain that Yibo thought would leave him scarred forever subsided, and he collapsed back in the bed in sweat and tears. The moment Zhan placed their son in his arms, Yibo held him close, his cracked lips pulling upwards ecstatically. "Gege...our baby..." he repeated breathily, taking hold of Zhan's hand that he had spent hours abusing, and gave it another squeeze, "He's so beautiful." Yibo mumbled to himself, somehow finding the strength to rock their child in his arms until it calmed and he could bring it to his chest to nurse, "Weilan...like the color of the sky that your daddy was in when mommy found out you were coming to join us..." Yibo murmured, looking up from his baby's pink face up to Zhan's glowing tan one, "Can we name him Weilan, Gege?"

@Teacher Yibo Zhan thought he was going to end up passing out before the baby came, but eventually, Yibo did it. After much more screaming, more tears, more sobbing, and a panic-inducing moment where Yibo tore slight, he did it. Tears welled in Zhan's eyes, stinging with heat as the doctor swaddled his son and passed him to Zhan, who gently set him in the crook of Yibo's arm against his chest. His baby was a slimy little thing, he thought fondly as he touched the wet tufts of black hair on his baby's head. "He's beautiful," Zhan whispered to Yibo, as if afraid he would disturb his already crying son. The baby squirmed and wriggled, clearly active and healthy. "Yibo, you did it. Look, it's our baby..."

@Engineer Zhan 15 minutes wasn't enough time at all! Yibo had barely made any progress in one hour, as the baby's head didn't even seem to be peeping yet. How was he supposed to get the entire baby out in a quarter of that time? He inhaled sharply, preparing to shoot another retort back at Zhan, but instead channeled all that energy into another push when he felt the convulsions in his abdomen again. There was a doctor positioned between his legs and Yibo desperately wished the man would help him spread open at this point, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead and almost getting into his eye from the stress of this all. "Sh-shut up..." he pleaded Zhan, "I can do this naturally." Yibo said, his salty upper lip as he got ready to push again, "J-just tell...doctor help me!"

@Teacher Yibo Zhan felt so sorry that he trusted the doctor more than Yibo's judgement on whether or not he could birth a baby with his /barely/ dilated bottom, but he didn't say anything aloud. Without Yibo's consent, he nor the doctor couldn't do anything. "15 more minutes," he said, almost in tears between the huge weight on his chest and Yibo's bone-crushing grip. "If there's no progress in 15, we're cutting you." With a nurse's permission, Zhan placed a hand over Yibo's swollen belly. It was huge. The doctor himself had said Yibo was going to have a big baby. Zhan fretted again. "Yibo, if you agree to a c-section, I'll do anything! You can ask me of anything, please, just do this for me."

@Engineer Zhan Zhan's persuasion was only making Yibo more livid by the second. The increasing frequency of beeping sound coming the heartrate monitor attached to him made it very clear that Yibo was not letting any knives come near any part of his body. "I'll push harder-" he gasped out, barely managing to make that full statement without wincing harshly. He gave a small thrash on the bed, pulling Zhan down to him so he wouldn't have to raise his voice, "Gege, I can...do it. Baby will...b' fine." Yibo felt another towel-wringing spasm wrack his lower body, "Just...just don't let them cut...me...trust you." Yibo gave another harsh scream after collecting his breath, his voice cracking in the middle, though he was still pushing with all his might. Even if something below him had to rip, it would happen naturally!

@Teacher Yibo Zhan held back the urge to yell back and ask what he else was he supposed to do? Take the baby out himself? He hugged Yibo's hand tighter, though his own felt as though it were about to wither from lack of circulation. "Baby, you need to do either one," Zhan urged again when the doctor explained the situation to him again. "You're not dilated enough. Baby needs to come out soon... how about the episiotomy? It's just a little cut, and you won't feel anything because you're on epidural. And then they'll sew you back together." Seeing Yibo's white face and sweaty forehead, Zhan let himself be annoying, begging Yibo again. "It'll be too dangerous if baby is stuck in the birth canal!"

@Engineer Zhan Having been reduced to such a primal state and constantly swaying between a throbbing uneasiness versus searing pain in his lower abdomen and between his legs, Yibo was in no mood to listen to any sweet talking from Zhan. All he could do was hang on tightly to his lover's hand and squeeze. He had to keep himself grounded, had to keep pushing. An hour later, Yibo's head collapsed back onto the pillow under his head, his body and outer garments drenched in nothing but sweat and tears. He turned to see the doctor talking to Zhan, vision blurring in and out as he waited for Zhan to translate the message to him.

"Baby, do you want your- your cut open or your stomach? It's up to you, alright?"

Yibo couldn't even hold back a swear this time, and he shouted, "" loudly enough that the room next door could probably hear it. Was Zhan crazy? Was the doctor crazy? There was no way Yibo was cutting /anything/ to get this baby out of him. "N-neither." he replied firmly, though his voice was nothing short of a weak exhale. He couldn't bear to think of the shame that would come when word spread to the mommies in the PTA committee if people found out he didn't give a natural birth. Besides that- Yibo blinked his eyes rapidly to get a drop of sweat away from his pupils - Zhan would have to look at an ugly scar every time they were getting intimate in the bedroom.

"No." Yibo said once again, his features all knitting up on his face, "AH, now STOP STANDING THERE and DO SOMETHING." before he went back to violently clutching Zhan's hand for support.

@Teacher Yibo Zhan bit down on his tongue so hard he thought he was going to bite it off for a second. Who knew Yibo could have such a grip! "I'm not going!" he yelped, his arm giving a spasm. He brought Yibo's hand closer to his chest as he leaned over the bed railing, wanting to give comfort as best as he could. "I'm right here, see? You're doing so good, baby, don't worry," Zhan babbled, his heart about to jump out of his throat itself, never mind Yibo's. "Doctor! Everything is fine, right? Yibo, see? Everything is great. Our baby is coming."

But, as it turned out, everything was /not/. After almost an hour, there was no sign of any progress. Zhan was beginning to sweat even harder. Where was he? His baby? The doctor approached the both of them. "You're not dilated enough," he told Yibo, but mostly Zhan, since Yibo looked pale as a ghost and on the verge of unconsciousness. "We can try an episiotomy, or go right for a caesarian. You're a good candidate for both."

Zhan winced at the options. He turned to Yibo, wondering if he needed to translate to a very spaced out-looking Yibo. "Baby, do you want your- your cut open or your stomach? It's up to you, alright?"

@Engineer Zhan "Your mom is here. Do you want to be with her for a bit?"

Yibo did not take that question nicely. Was Zhan trying to desert him in his greatest time of need? The veins on his neck bulged as he arched his back, shaking his head as another groan ripped from his throat, "Don't-! Go!" Yibo squeezed his eyes shut, his fingers turning white from how hard as he squeezed his lover's hand. He seemed to be giving up on his taking breaths now, for even that was a painful process.

"Okay, let's have you start pushing, Yibo." the doctor said as he settled at the foot of the bed and spread Yibo's legs just a little wider, propping him properly for the delivery, "When you're ready, give a push!"

Yibo wasn't a screamer. He was sure Zhan could attest to that. But in that moment, he screamed like he was on the scariest rollercoaster ride of his life, his heart plummeting as he felt a new level of searing pain ripping his body in two.

@Teacher Yibo Not wanting to freak Yibo out about tearing himself down there, Zhan stayed silent and let the younger grip and squeeze his hand as he liked. He tried to hold back his winces whenever Yibo held him a little too lightly - after all, what was a little bit of pain when Yibo was literally giving birth to their child? Zhan shifted closer, his lips pressed to Yibo's cheek as he murmured his reassurances. It had been a long 12 hours already, and Zhan didn't want to say it out loud, but he was getting /really/ anxious. Their parents had arrived not too long ago, but it did not put Zhan to ease. Maybe it would for Yibo. "Your mom is here," he said lowly, not wanting to startle Yibo. "Do you want to be with her for a bit?"

@Engineer Zhan Zhan's hand was softer and warmer than the railing, but Yibo couldn't take the time to appreciate the warmth. He gave another loud cry in pain as his body spasmed, and he felt the wringing feeling in his intestines. "AH-nghhh-" he responded, giving a nod of his head to emphasize his incomprehensible answer. The research Yibo had done about the pain in pregnancy was consistent through the threads. It was supposed to be the most painful thing any human could experience, and right now, that fact was proven once again. Yibo's eyes widened as he thrashed, feeling his limit drawing near. "I...I can't!" he exclaimed, "Just let it come already!" and without really caring if the doctors said he was ready or not, Yibo started pushing as hard as he could, desperate for this to be over (though really, everything had only just begun).

@Teacher Yibo Zhan hurried back to Yibo's bedside the moment anesthesiologist finished talking to him. He pried Yibo's hand off the railing so the younger could take his own instead, entwining their fingers together tightly. "Hey, Yibo, I'm here." He bent down to kiss Yibo's sweaty forehead, ignoring the taste of salt that tinged his lips. There was a nervous energy within him, too. Their baby was too early, something about the umbilical cord, and some more about needing a c-section at worst. "Hey. Hey there. You okay? They want to wait a bit more to see if you'll dilate more. Are you okay?"

@Engineer Zhan It was only Zhan's second day back and Yibo was already enjoying a new vividness to life already. Even if that was a new experience, having Zhan worship his foot like that, Yibo couldn't say he came out not enjoying it. Or maybe he just missed being pampered after Zhan was away for such a long time.

The development of their baby progress smoothly, unhindered since Zhan was so meticulous and cared for Yibo day in and day out once he could get back on his own two feet. The majority of the older's time off was spent plastered to Yibo's side, even more so when Yibo began lactating, and all the way up until Yibo was being set up in the labor room for his delivery.

October 7, just two days after Zhan's birthday, Yibo felt the contractions become unbearable that he just had to go to the hospital. Little Xiao had been expected to come around the end of October, so having him almost three weeks early was unexpected for everyone, but Yibo most of all. He was on the verge of tears at this point, lying in the bed and unsure of whatever was going on below his waist. His forehead was doused in at least 3 layers of sweat, and Yibo clung onto the side bars of his bed as he writhed in pain, his brain forgetting to take deep breaths or any of the other things the parenting class taught him.

@Teacher Yibo With Yibo's express permission, Zhan gladly began to kiss around it again, ling on the bone of Yibo's ankle and the flesh of his calf. Delighted with Yibo's compliance, Zhan had his fill quickly before moving back up to cuddle with Yibo again. "You're amazing," he whispered when he pressed a kiss to Yibo's lips. Cradling his boyfriend against him, Zhan couldn't help but swell with love and adoration for the other man. "I love you so much. I can't wait for our baby to come."

@Engineer Zhan Yibo had had his fair share of injuries from when he was younger, whether it be rolling his ankles during dance practice or pulling a muscle because he was too lazy to do the proper stretching and cool down exercises. At one point, Yibo was even self conscious that his ankle would bigger than the average ankle size given how often he injured it. But now, Zhan was here showing how mesmerized he was, and Yibo's heart fluttered again. He gave a silent nod, resting the full weight of his foot in his boyfriend's hand, "Sure, Gege."

@Teacher Yibo "I'm not only into your feet," Zhan said, quick to clear up the misconception. "They're a part of you that I love. I love all of you, actually. There's not one part I love more." Still, Zhan could not offer an explanation for his feet fixation, only that he found them pretty. Yibo's feet, specifically. He took Yibo's foot off his chest, making a show of examining it for the younger. "Ugly? Where?" he asked with exaggerated incredulousness. "You have such a slender foot. May I? Just one more time."

@Engineer Zhan "No, its not that!" Yibo denied quickly when Zhan asked for the truth. Sure, it was nothing he was crazy about, but to say he didn't like it would only make his boyfriend feel disheartened, and it wasn't actually that bad if Yibo didn't think too much into it. He tried to compensate for his previous reluctance by pressing his foot flat against Zhan's chest, "I just...don't really understand why you'd like my feet of all things. I mean...they look kind of ugly to me." Yibo said, shrugging as he gave his toes a second glance and wrinkled his nose in disapproval.

@Teacher Yibo Skeptical at Yibo's sudden permission for him, Zhan hesitated, kissing the younger back softly. "But you don't like it," he noted again, puzzled when Yibo moved away. He stared down at Yibo's feet in his lap, uncertain enough that he made no move towards them, letting them rest near his crotch. Zhan swallowed hard when he began to recall the odd expressions Yibo made the couple times he'd messed with his feet. "Tell me the truth. I would never do anything to you that you didn't like."