Mochou leaned into Yichen's arms. One month into his pregnancy and his grand ideas of keeping busy everyday were quickly dashed. Even though Yichen gave him the freedom he craved during the first pregnancy he couldn't enjoy it. All he seemed capable of doing was sleep, sleep, and sleep some more.
"Tired?" Yichen asked as he wrapped his arms around him.
"Do you even have to ask? I swear our Little Goji Berry is some kind of parasite that's stealing every ounce of energy from my body." Mochou complained as he made himself comfortable.
"It will get better. The first few months are the toughest. You'll get your energy back soon." Yichen comforted.
"It wasn't this bad last time." Mochou grumbled as he reminisced about his previous pregnancy.
"Not every pregnancy will be the same. Just look at Meng Yao. She had terrible morning sickness but you haven't gotten nauseous at all." Yichen said.
"Don't jinx me." Mochou warned.
The biggest pregnancy symptoms Mochou suffered from this time was his constant fatigue and grumpiness. Yichen didn't mind. He found it cute. It also helped that along with his grumpiness and fatigue was a constant need to cuddle.
Mochou lay in Yichen's embrace and felt himself falling asleep again. Not wanting to sleep he looked to Yichen for help.
"Tell me about your day."
"It was uneventful. We had a few patients who came in with minor injuries. A little girl had a runny nose."
"Does she have a cold? Be careful you don't catch it." Mochou said.
"I am very healthy. If you doubt it I can show you." Yichen said his hand tugging at Mochou's robe.
"I'm not in the mood." Mochou said while lightly tapping his hand away.
"It's been a few days..."
"I know but I'm too tired. My body feels heavy and I could fall asleep at any second."
"I'm confident you won't fall asleep." Yichen said. His hand trying to sneak over to Mochou's inner thigh.
"Shoo..." Mochou said his eyes already shut tight as he started to drift off.
"Before you fall asleep I need to talk to you about your woodcarving." Yichen said in a small rush. Once Mochou fell asleep he always found it incredibly hard to wake him up again.
His words caught Mochou's attention and he forced his eyes open again. He twisted his head and stared at him waiting to hear more.
"My brother spoke to Lane at the shop. They are running low on your woodcarved items. Specifically the hairpins and combs. He also had a few people who showed some interest in your sculptures." Yichen explained.
"I have a few dozen items in a box in the woodshed. You can give them to your brother tomorrow. For sculptures I'm willing to take requests." Mochou said his voice growing softer as he spoke.
"Okay." Yichen said as he rubbed Mochou's back.
"Should I wake you up in an hour like usual?" He asked but Mochou had already fallen asleep.
"My bae is adorable when he sleeps but it's difficult having a conversation with him recently." Yichen mused as he moved Mochou from his arms to the sofa.
He loved cuddling together but unlike Mochou he couldn't sleep all day. There was a lot that needed to be done and he was a young energetic man. He needed to move his body so he decided long ago that he would cuddle with Mochou until he fell asleep then slip away to get his work done.
Mochou didn't mind. As long as Yichen was there to wake him up at a reasonable time he was happy. With Mochou now laying alone on the sofa Yichen was free to do his own thing.
He first went to his little medicinal hut and started making sachet with different teas and prescriptions he could sell to the doctor in town. The town doctor always welcomed the additional help and paid decently. He also purchased Yichen's surplus dried medicinal herbs from their little garden for a decent price.
Once that was finished he moved to clean the animal pens. They had pens for the rabbits, chickens, and quails. Mochou would feed them and give them water but Yichen refused to let him clean them. The smell was terrible and he worried Mochou would get sick.
"Little MoMo have you been guarding the yard and keeping the other animals in line?" Yichen asked the little quail that ran up. He could easily recognize it because Mochou tied a little red ribbon around it's neck. The little quail circled around Yichen a few times before disappearing into its little house.
Knock... knock
"Yichen. Are you there?"
Knock... knock
Yichen was surprised by the urgent shouting coming from the gate. He dropped what he was doing and hurried to the gate.
"Yichen! It's your brother." His youngest brother shouted.
Yichen opened the gate. His easygoing brother looked out of breath.
"Did something happen to mom?" Yichen asked.
"Everyone is fine. It's Meng Yao. She's in labour. Mom wanted me to get you and Mochou. She hopes everyone can be at the house to help with the birth of the baby." Yi Xuan explained.
"I'll go get Mochou." Yichen said. He wouldn't normally wake Mochou up to drag him over to his mother's but he was a little excited about the birth.
"I bet Mochou will look great with a baby in his arms." Yichen thought as he went inside.
"Mochou, are you awake?" Yichen asked once he entered the house.
"Mochou grumbled a little in response."
"I'm glad you're awake. We have to go. Meng Yao is about to have her baby." Yichen joyfully exclaimed.
"Meng Yao? Isn't it too early?" Mochou said as he turned over to look at him.
"Labour can be unpredictable. It's nothing to worry about. Now we've been asked to go help." Yichen said. Mochou sat up but then stopped before standing up.
"What am I supposed to do?" Mochou asked with a troubled look.
"My mom and the midwife will handle everything. You'll just need to be there for support. It will also be useful for when it's our turn." Yichen said.
"Our turn..."
"Don't be nervous. I'll be with you." Yichen said as he reached his hand out to help Mochou up.
"I'm not fat yet." Mochou said as he glowered at his hand.
"I know but I love helping you whenever I can." Yichen responded unfazed by his grumpiness.
Mochou stood up and went to get his shoes. Yichen followed behind him closely his hand ready to catch him if he showed even the slightest chance of falling.
"I'm not dizzy, lightheaded, or faint." Mochou said.
"I'm glad." Yichen said. His hands still reaching out protectively.
Once Mochou got his shoes on Yichen quickly slipped away to get his acupuncture needles and a few herbs. He had prepared teas that were useful during labour to help with pain and strength.
...
When they finally reached the house the heard the sound of a baby crying.
"Isn't that too quick! I know we weren't rushing but I didn't think we would miss the whole birth." Mochou whispered in shock.
"Hehehe. We came at the perfect time. Chances are Meng Yao went into labour last night or early this morning."
"Why didn't they tell us sooner?"
"Something about luck or how the more people know about the birth the longer the labour. Honestly it's ridiculous." Yichen tried to explain.
"Mochou you are here. Come see the baby. It's a lovely little boy." His mother exclaimed when she saw them walking in. Mochou looked at Yichen for help.
"As a man my role is over there with the other men. You'll be going inside the bedroom with my mom to help with the baby."
"Help do what?"
"You're pregnant so mom will probably only ask you to sit, hold the baby, and talk with Meng Yao." Yichen quietly explained As he nudged Mochou in the direction of the bedroom.
"Can you come with me?"
"Sorry, it's inappropriate for a man to enter the room. But after some time passes Mom will take the baby out and I'll be able to meet it." Yichen said.
"When... when it's our turn I want you in the room. Not just in the room. You have to be by my side every second." Mochou said as he pulled on Yichen's robe.
"It's not traditional but if it's what you want I will stay by your side." Yichen said with a tender smile.
"Mochou, come quick." Yichen's mother urged from inside the bedroom. Mochou let go of Yichen's robe and trudged into the room.
...
Inside the room Mochou was immediately told to sit down. He did as commanded and nervously sat where she pointed. Seconds later Yichen's mother handed him a warm bundle. Mochou stared at it tense and unmoving.
"Relax. It's a baby not a lump of wood. Put your hand here to support the head and the other like this to support its body." She instructed as she moved Mochou's stiff hands. When she was satisfied she walked away leaving Mochou alone with the baby.
He stared at the little bundle. Its mouth opening and closing as it wiggled in his arms. Mochou felt his chest tighten. He hoped it was the feeling of joy or awe from seeing a baby.
Unfortunately it was dread and fear. The more he looked at the baby the more frightened he felt. In a panic he stood up and rushed out of the room while still holding the baby.
"Mochou!?"
He didn't even hear Yichen's mother calling out to him. As he hurried in search of Yichen.
"Yichen, help me!" Mochou shouted when he saw him. His shout was loud enough the baby woke up and started crying in a loud high pitched screech. The sound startled Mochou and he panicked even worse.
Yichen's first instinct was to laugh. Mochou looked adorably frazzled and endearing while holding a baby. With a sickly sweet smile he approached Mochou who looked ready to cry once the baby started to cry.
"It's okay."
Yichen took the baby from Mochou's arms. Like magic the baby stopped crying and went back to sleep. Mochou watched him amazed and also feeling worse for completely breaking down after holding it for less than a minute.
"Do you want to hold it again?" Yichen asked.
Mochou looked up at Yichen then the baby. He wanted to try for Yichen's sake but for the first time since the beginning of his pregnancy he was hit with an intense nausea. He covered his mouth and ran out of the house.
"Mochou!?" Yichen shouted after him with worry. He would have run to catch him but he had the baby in his arms. He quickly glanced around and saw his mother rushing over. He walked over to her and gently handed her the baby.
"Yi Ming, you're baby is adorable. Congratulations. I'll come by later to visit again." Yichen said before running off to find his missing bae.
It didn't take long. Mochou had only made it a few steps away from the gate before bending over to vomit. Yichen walked over and helped hold his hair back.
"Sorry." Mochou sobbed as he wiped his face.
Yichen looked at the pitiful Mochou. He had a lot he wanted to say. But first he decided it would be best to take him home. He picked him up and effortlessly carried him down the road.
When they got home Yichen went straight to the bedroom and lowered him on the bed. Mochou had calmed down enough that he was no longer crying. Now he was hiding his face in shame.
Yichen didn't ask any questions. He went to get some water for Mochou to drink and a cloth to wash up. When he returned he sat at the edge of the bed and passed him the water. Mochou drank a little as he glanced over at Yichen. Yichen glanced back and smiled.
"Are you still feeling nauseous?" He asked.
"A little." Mochou said.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?"
"Sorry."
"I'm not asking for an apology. I just want to understand what happened." Yichen said.
"I'm scared. Holding that baby I hoped I would get some sort of parental feelings or something but... Yichen, I don't think I can do this." Mochou admitted with tears threatening to fall from the corners of his eyes.
"Why would you feel parental or whatever towards my brother's baby?" Yichen asked in a lighthearted tone.
"I'm pregnant. Shouldn't I be excited to see a baby? I couldn't even hold it for more than a minute before I went into a crazy panic."
"It's okay to panic but remember not to run when you hold our Little Goji Berry. Its dangerous." Yichen said as he rubbed Mochou's arm to comfort him.
"I'm going to be a terrible parent. Yichen, you can't leave me alone with our baby. I'm a danger to our Little Goji Berry." Mochou said his hands pressed against his stomach.
"You are not going to be terrible and I have no doubt our Little Goji Berry will be safe and happy in your care." Yichen said. Mochou didn't look convinced.
"Mochou, the best part of being a parent is that there are two of us. I promise if you start to feel overwhelmed I can help. Like today with my nephew. You needed help and I was there to help you." Yichen said.
"I really messed up today. You're family will never trust me with the baby again."
"It's fine if they don't. The only baby you should have to worry about is our Goji Berry."
Mochou leaned into Yichen's chest. Yichen welcomed his presence and wrapped his arms around him lovingly.
"Our Goji Berry is lucky to have you as its father." Mochou sincerely whispered as he took a deep breath and focused on the warmth of his husband's embrace..
...