Hi everyone! I don't know if anyone's still going to read since I ended this fic months ago, but Scarlet Heart Ryeo will be shown in my country soon. Just to remember the good old days, I decided to write a little short fic. This one-shot is the story of Ha-Jin and Jae-Yeong during the birth of the first daughter, Soo-Jin, not the second one, okay? I'll leave that to your imagination.

Enjoy!!

"Oh my god, she must hate me. Oh my god, oh my god."

Hwang Jae-Yeong knew he was screwed -- big time. 

"Why? Why did I think going on a business meeting at this time was a smart decision?" he complained loudly, hitting himself on the head, "What the hell was I thinking?"

"Calm down," his brother Il-Sung said as he mindlessly browsed through his phone, "Complaining's not going to help you."

"Il-Sung hyung, have some sympathy," remarked Tae-Won, "Jae-Yeong hyung's not in a good position right now."

"How could he be? He went to an out of a town business trip then his wife goes into labor."

Jae-Yeong felt that unpleasant pang in his stomach; it was the same type of pain he got when he first received the phone call. He could hear his wife screaming as Ji-Woo tried to make out words, ending up with, "SHE'S ABOUT TO BLOW!"

That was too hilarious for Il-Sung but stressful for Jae-Yeong.

Ha-Jin was about to give birth to their first child and he wasn't even beside her.

"Oh my god, she's going to kill me."

"Oh my god, I'm going to kill him!"

Ha-Jin could barely breathe as her body waged war against her. She was too distracted with the labor pains that she didn't notice Ji-Woo cringing in pain as well. Apparently, she was holding his hand too tight.

"Ah noona, my hand! My hand!" he cried out, wincing and trying to pull himself away from her suddenly super strong grasp. She immediately released him, watched as he rubbed his poor hand, groaning. The dongsaeng looked as if someone had just tried to cut his hand off.

"Ouch, it's so painful!" he complained.

You think that's painful? Try pushing out a baby from your uterus, why don't you?

"Do you know where Jae-Yeong is?" she asked him, trying to catch her breath, "Is he going to make it?"

"I don't know, but I think he's still stuck in Namwon with the other hyungs," concluded Ji-Woo, "The signal reception was so crappy, I could barely hear him. But I do know that they are on their way back."

She winced as she felt the nth wave of contraction. The dongsaeng noticed her sudden silence. 

"Noona, just hang in there, okay?" he said, then he slammed a fist on his steering wheel, "Aisht, why does the traffic have to be so slow today?"

"No, the proper question is...why didn't we get an ambulance?" she added, gripping her seat belt as she tried to stomach the pain, "What were we thinking?"

"Well, to be fair, we weren't thinking," said Ji-Woo, "I was trying to help you paint and you started babbling about the right shades when your water...um...broke."

They were still stuck in the middle of traffic. The most sensible idea was to call an ambulance ASAP, but Ji-Woo's phone died out and Ha-Jin had no idea where her phone was. Another wave of contraction distracted her, causing her to bite the seat belt to keep herself from screaming. The pain was so intense, she was sure she would pass out.

"Jae-Yeongah, where are you?" she whined.

"Noona, just hold on to me. We will make it!"

She gripped the edge of her seat, tried taking deep breaths as her OB-GYN advised, but the pain was too much for her to bear. Before she knew it, everything went black.

The last thing she heard was Ji-Woo's panicking voice.

Can I really do this on my own?

The pain was too much for her frail body to endure, but Hae Soo was no stranger to such discomfort. She had been beaten, pierced, thrown around, and sick anyways; pain was nothing new to her. But why was this on such a different level?

Was it because it was too emotionally stressful as well?

"Madam, please try your best and push again."

She took a deep breath before she forced herself again to move, to push out her beloved child -- the only evidence of their forsaken love.

"Please try again. I cannot get the child out," said the midwife. 

"I...I'm trying," said Soo, " I really...am."

In between trying to push out her child and losing her consciousness every now and then, one face would constantly appear in her mind.

Of course, it was always him.

She had not heard from him ever since she set out of the Palace, ever since he told her to never see him again. It was painful that the last memory of him was the anger, his pain echoing as he realized her first feelings were for his worst enemy. It wasn't the goodbye she had in mind. But life was cruel and that was the farewell it gave for them. 

She cringed as another surge of pain shot through her like a knife.

There was no one else would rather see than him, especially during this moment. She was about to give birth to their child, albeit it was a little too early. Hae Soo craved to have him, to even hold his hand as she went through this painful ordeal. But Wang So was nowhere near her and she was sure he didn't want to be anywhere near her.

She shed another tear.

"I can see the child!" exclaimed the midwife, "Just a little further, Madam!" 

This wasn't her child; it was his also.

It took a few more tries before she heard the crying. There was still pain, but she only felt the tail-end of it. Now, she just stared blankly at the ceiling, taking deep and heavy breaths. 

"Madam, here is your daughter."

The good face of the midwife took a minute or two before she could see it clearly. But it only took a second for her to see the child.

She had a little tuft of hair, rosy cheeks, and an unbearable cry that was music to the former court lady's ears. Soo tried her best to reach out and touch her daughter's tiny hands, but she was too weak to do so. 

Insetad, she smiled.

"Your little girl is beautiful, Madam," said the midwife, "Job well done."

A tear fell on her cheeks again. She couldn't say anything, but ended up staring at her daughter. Torn between joy and deep sadness, that was all Hae Soo could do. 

As the midwife wrapped her child in cloth and announced that she would take the baby to a wet nurse, Soo entered another trance. 

She could clearly see his face -- everything about him. 

Her mind wondered about him. How was he? Was he doing alright? How long has it been since she last heard his voice? Jung was not allowed out of the area, so he couldn't go out to see the Emperor. No one brought her knew about him. It left her with such emptiness that made her crave for him, even if there was no chance of him coming back. 

It was so sad -- greeting her daughter on her own; the child's father clueless to her existence. 

So, she thought, Our daughter is here. She's here. I waited for her to come and finally, Seol has arrived. 

I just wish you were here to see.

The light was too blinding that she had no choice but to open her eyes.

"She's awake. The mother's awake!"

Ha-Jin still felt detached from the world, but she could sense a few things here and there. Once the light got the best of her, she could slowly make sense of her surroundings. She wasn't inside Ji-Woo's car anymore -- unless his car suddenly had green walls and unfamiliar equipment around her. Eventually, she regained her hearing and the first thing she heard was a wheezing and beeping sound. 

Then, the pain came back.

"Ouch," she moaned, closing her eyes. The pang of her child trying to get out was worsening again as she regained consciousness.

Too painful, super painfugl. Ugh. I can't do this.

"Ha-Jinah!"

It was all too sudden. 

When she opened her eyes, she looked at the large hand that instantly held hers and finally gazed at those uniquely shaped eyes she had come to love for two lifetimes. 

"J...Jae-Yeongah," she whispered raspily.

Finally, he came.

"I am so sorry," he said, "I should not have left. I didn't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry. You can kill me once the baby is here. But really, Ha-Jinah, I am so sorry."

He looked so apologeting as he knelt beside her, firmly holding her hand. From where she laid down, she could see that he was draped in a blue hospital gown, face with a mask. But his eyes were ever so vibrant. The sight of him was enough to make her cry, which she did. 

"Ha-Jinah, what's wrong?" he asked, "Is it really painful? Do you need an epidural now?" His finger wiped away the tear that fell on her cheek. She gazed at those worried eyes.

"I'm just..." she stammered, "Really glad you're here."

He smiled, holding her hand tighter.

"Of course I'd be here. I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Ha-Jin's heart burst, but the positivity was immediately blurred by the feeling of pain, which was more frequent now.  She caught up with her breath, trying to breathe as Jae-Yeong stayed by her side. The doctor came in.

"Ah, it's that time already," she announced happily, "Okay Miss Ha-Jinah, the baby wants to get out now. It's time to push, okay? Are you ready?"

Ha-Jin gazed at her husband who nodded back at her.

"Fighting," he whispered.

They were in this together...finally. 

The baby's small fingers wrapped around her father's big ones, amazing the latter. Ha-Jin couldn't help but smile as she watched Jae-Yeong gasp in excitement, amazed at the new wonder before him. 

"I love your cheeks; they're so chubby," he gushed, planting a kiss on his daughter's cheek, "You look so lovely. Just like your Mom."

Then he glanced at her from where he stood.

"You did a good job, Ha-Jinah," he said, "Thank you." 

"Well, you did have to endure thirty minutes of me trying to kill your fingers."

"Nothing compared to your hard work."

He approached her, carefully holding their child in his arms. Ha-Jin saw that loving gaze in his eyes; he was obviously smitten by their newborn daughter. She extended her arms as he gave her their tiny baby. Ha-Jin cooed to their daughter as Jae-Yeong settled beside her, 

"We're calling her Soo-Jin, right?" he asked.

She looked at the child and remembered something.

Seol.

"Sure," she answered, "But I also have a nickname for her."

"What's that?"

She just smiled as she held her daughter's little fingers. 

"I'll tell you later."

"You're keeping secrets."

"I always do."

Jae-Yeong heaved a sigh and just kissed her on the forehead. "Whatever. I'm really happy right now," he said, "This is one of the happiest days in my life...lives, I mean." He stared at her and their child. 

Ha-Jin couldn't help but smile back. 

He was here. They were complete.

"Me too." 

Before they could say more, the door burst open, revealing the happy faces of the people they know and love. One by one, they filled the room -- Il-Sung and Tae-Won congratulating their hyung for making it; Ji-Woo excitedly hugging his noona and trying not to squish the baby; Nurse Lee Yoon Ah apologizing for allowing the happy company early; Baek Min-Suk and his wife rushing in to see the newborn; and so on. 

Ha-Jin and Jae-Yeong welcomed loved ones who reveled in their joy. While Jae-Yeong endured taunts from his brothers and advice from his mom, Ha-Jin could only look at him and at the baby in her arms, forever grateful at this second chance.

Finally, they were complete.

A/N: updated? Why did I update when there's nothing new?

FIRST, to celebrate SHR's successful finale here in my country.

SECOND, I've been receiving messages to re-update so new fans can see this fic. :D why not right?