Yong Guk walked back to camp with a heavy mind. His eyes following everyone as they slowly formed a circle waiting for him to join them. He thought about a reason for each of them, as to why he would accept the offer. Dae Hyun could probably care less as long as everyone was safe. Him Chan wanted all his ‘babies’ safe and have a baby of his own in a stable loving environment. As for the maknaes, they needed a stable home; they needed to go to school and socialize with people their age. And Young Jae, he needed somewhere to have his baby; the wilderness will not provide them with the need material to bring the infant into the world. He sighed he knew they would have to stop soon but how long were they all willing to wait?

“Yong Guk,” Him Chan called softly. Yong Guk looked to him, both of their eyes showing uncertainty and dozens of questions. He walked over to seat near his mate carefully thinking how to voice his thoughts.

“Did he say anything of interest?” Him Chan asked softly, trying to coax his mate into talking. Yong Guk sighed taking Him Chan’s hand into his, looking up to speak to the group, “he’s trying to offer us shelter.”

Dae Hyun scoffed but didn’t say anything. Yong Guk didn’t really blame him; he had every reason not to trust strangers so easily. The younger half watched the couple, full of questions, but they were unsure if they should ask.

Him Chan sighed, “What does he want with us?”

Yong Guk shrugged, “he said he doesn’t want the kids to be homeless.”

“He kept eyeing Young Jae,” Dae Hyun interrupted. Him Chan’s eyes filled with anxiety as the maknaes quickly wrapped their arms around Young Jae’s waist. Young Jae seemed to shrink in his place as he wrapped his arms around the maknaes.

“As everyone now knows, Young Jae is pregnant.” The maknaes tightened their grips slightly careful not to harm him. Yong Guk sighed, “We’re going to have to stop eventually, and we can’t keep going forever.”

“We know that,” Jun Hong spoke up, “but can’t we go just a little bit further?”

“I don't believe that man had any intention of hurting Young Jae or the baby,” Yong Guk sighed. “I’m just putting his offer out there for everyone to think about. We don’t have to decide on anything today.”

Him Chan nodded, “well we still need to make a plan for when the time for us to cut the baby out.”

Young Jae's face paled, not liking the idea of being cut open. Him Chan gave him an apologetic look before continuing, “We have nothing to use as an incubator.”

“It seems like we have no other choice,” Dae Hyun spoke a bit spitefully. “We’re running low on food and judging by the map, there’s no way we’ll make it out of this forest before then.”

“How long do you think it’ll last?” Yong Guk asked worriedly.

Dae Hyun sighed, “even if we ration to one meal a day, we’d barely make it half way.”

“,” Yong Guk sighed rubbing his temples. “Is there anything nearby?”

Dae Hyun shook his head. Him Chan couldn’t bring himself to scold his mate for cussing in front of the maknaes. Him Chan spoke barely above a whisper, “how far is this man’s village?”

Yong Guk shrugged. “Didn’t ask him.”

“Are we taking up his offer?” Young Jae asked. Everyone looked to him. He and the maknaes were their main concerns. Him Chan sighed, “Do we have any other choice?”

“I want everyone to think about it before we decide anything,” Yong Guk spoke.

“I don’t promise anything,” Dae Hyun sighed. Yong Guk shook his head, “we go as one, and if someone objects then no one goes.”

Dae Hyun groaned. Him Chan scolded, “Now is not the time to be stubborn.”

The maknaes nodded as Young Jae’s eyes darted between the three in curiosity; though not sure why he was so curious.

Yong Guk exhaled, “what is bugging you?”

Dae Hyun shrugged, “I don’t know, I just don’t like the way he watched the kids.”

Him Chan and Jun Hong stifled a laugh, ignoring the questioning looks they were giving. Yong Guk shrugged it off, “if anything happens we can leave, but like I said nothings decided.”

“What if we’re unable to leave freely like the Facility?” he pulled up his leg so he could rest his head on his knee.

“We won’t let that happen,” the purple haired man spoke firmly. Everyone nodded in agreement. “We’ll decide tomorrow.”

“What do we do about him right now though?” Him Chan asked.

“Do you want him to roam freely?” Yong Guk answered him with a question. Him Chan sighed crossly, “no but we shouldn’t just leave him tied out like that. He needs to eat as well.”

“Aish,” Yong Guk had no argument, then again Him Chan was right and there was no way he was going to win this argument.

Him Chan and Young Jae washed everyone’s clothes in silence. None wanting to break the silence but something was bugging the blonde that he wasn’t quite sure about. He sighed catching Him Chan’s attention, “is something wrong?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

“Don’t worry about what Dae Hyun said,” he smiled softly.

Young Jae shook his head, “it’s not that.”

“Then what’s bothering you?” Him Chan cocked his head to the side.

“It’s you,” he said bluntly both stopping with their chore. Him Chan scoffed slightly offend but figured that the youngster was having a hard time figuring out what he was sensing around him. He tried not to sound rude, “So what about me has got you bothered?”

“You seem a bit more… warm?” he tried to decipher the feeling. Him Chan tried thinking about what he could be sensing. Young Jae continued, “Like a nurturing feeling, I believe.”

“That’s probably because I am acting like your Umma,” Him Chan said with a smile but it turned to a frown when the blonde shook his head softly.

“Not toward the outside, I mean in.” Him Chan thought for a while. He decided to compare what he sensed from Young Jae to what the younger had told him. His eyes widened. Young Jae watched him, full of curiosity as to what the other had found out.

Him Chan buried his face in his hands wanting to cry but he didn’t want to worry Young Jae. His mind was running wild with all kinds of anxieties, why now of all times? He had to tell Yong Guk, if Young Jae could sense it then the others would find out soon enough.

The blonde’s expression changed to worry, “Him Chan? Did I say something wrong?”

Him Chan shook his head, “no, you actually help me realize something that I wouldn’t have figured out until Yong Guk said something.”

“And what’s that?”

Him Chan sighed shakily, “I’m pregnant.”

“Isn’t that good news?” Young Jae asked softly not wanting to tread too deep.

The black haired man laughed dryly, “Yes it is, but…”

“It wasn’t planned?”

“In a way yes it was, but I had it planned for when we were at the Facility,” he explained. “When we escaped I didn’t even think about the chances of me being pregnant.”

“Do you have an idea of how far along you are?” Young Jae picked up a shirt to examine it.

Him Chan sighed, “Probably a month.”

Young Jae nodded. Silence falling over them taking in the news and the severity of it. What could be done? There were lost in a forest with a short supply of food and their only possible guide was tied up.

“Maybe we should accept the man’s offer,” Young Jae spoke softly. Him Chan sighed, “I should tell Yong Guk soon.”

“I could finish here if you want to tell him now?” the blonde offered. Him Chan shook his head, “I can tell him later, I still need to figure out how to break it to him.”

Young Jae nodded. Once again in silence they finished the laundry carrying the wet clothes to the camp to hang time on their makeshift clothesline.

Reaching the camp Him Chan couldn’t help but glare at Yong Guk.

“What?” he asked innocently.

Him Chan shook his head as the blonde laughed quietly behind him. “He was better off out there.”

“You said you didn’t feel right about leaving him over there,” Yong Guk defended.

Him Chan shook his head, “I didn’t meant for you to hang him from a tree.”

“You know how long it took us to get him up there?”

“You could’ve saved a lot time and energy by leaving him hog-tied near the tree,” Him Chan countered.

“Do want me to cut him down?”

“What would you prefer?”

Yong Guk sighed in defeat. Him Chan continued on with his task leading Young Jae to their line. A thought occurred to him as he was putting some clothes up, “where are the maknaes?”

“They decided to pester Dae Hyun about something.” Yong Guk corrected himself, “Jun Hong decided to pester him while Jong Up followed.”

Him Chan tucked the maknaes in, gently kissing their foreheads goodnight as they fell into their world of candied clouds of lullabies. He looked for Young Jae but could see no sign of him. He quickly glanced to Yong Guk. The elder had on his gummy smile with laughter in his eyes. He put a finger to his lips then slowly pointed to where Dae Hyun was curled up.

Him Chan raised an eyebrow, slowly making his way to the lump. Dae Hyun now had two blankets wrapped around him and his sleeping form was now twice as wide then what he remembered it being.

Yong Guk joined his mate quietly. Once again raising a finger to his lips moving even slower he carefully lifted the blankets to reveal a sleeping Young Jae who had his face buried in the silver haired boy’s chest. Dae Hyun had his arms wrapped protectively around the blonde, refusing to let the other move without his knowledge.

Him Chan quickly put his hands to his mouth to keep himself from making a sound. Yong Guk was careful not to wake the pair as he tucked them back into the blankets. When he was satisfied that they were comfortable he gently lead Him Chan back to his previous place.

“Since when did Dae Hyunie want Young Jae so close?” Him Chan smirked.

Yong Guk shrugged, “I guess he got a little protective when he saw the man ‘eyeing’ him.”

Him Chan laughed softly, “I guess he’s still not sure about his feelings towards Young Jae.”

“Does the kid have any feelings toward Dae Hyun?” Yong Guk pulled his mate onto his lap.

“He’s still too young in his feelings,” Him Chan sighed, “he’s not sure what he’s feeling.”

Yong Guk nodded. “As long as they don’t jump each other in front of the maknaes I’m fine.”

Him Chan laughed, “I doubt that will happen anytime soon. They’re both too stubborn and I highly doubt Young Jae will let Dae Hyun just take him like that.”

Yong Guk nodded as he laughed wrapping his arms around his mate’s waist. He looked to Him Chan questioningly when he felt him tense up. Him Chan sighed, “I need to tell you something.”

Yong Guk loosened his grip to allow his mate to adjust his position; Him Chan straddled Yong Guk so he could face him directly. He released a shaky breath, as he pulled both Yong Guk’s hands to his stomach. Yong Guk looked up to his eyes unsure of what he was supposed to feel. Him Chan chewed his bottom lip before answering his mate’s eyes, “I’m pregnant.”

Yong Guk sat up straight holding on to Him Chan as he did so to keep him from falling. His heart race in excitement and fear; they both wanted this baby for so long, but he was afraid the chance of losing it again; that chance was much higher now that they were in the forest. Now he had two pregnant Carriers to think about. Both needed his full attention, but both were unwilling to ask for it.

He pulled Him Chan into a hug, savoring the warmth of the others body, tears swelling in his eyes. Thing were becoming a tangled mess; was leaving the Facility a mistake? Yong Guk shook the thought from his head. No, leaving was the right choice, but their timing could have been better.

“I’m scared,” Him Chan whimpered. Yong Guk rubbed soothing circles on his back, though he was failing in comforting either of them. He let out a chocked sob, “we all are.”

Him Chan kissed his mate, “we can do this, can’t we?”

Yong Guk nodded, “we can, but we all need to settle down, even if its temporary.”

Him Chan nodded in agreement.

“I’m assuming that it’s safe to say that we’re accepting the man’s offer.” Yong Guk let the tears roll slowly down his cheeks with Him Chan gently wiping them away. “We should probably tell the others when they wake up. Do you have any ground rules for him to follow?”

“I’ll think of something.” Him Chan spoke softly, “I don’t want my pregnancy to affect everyone’s decision.”

“Go to sleep now Him Chan,” Yong Guk smiled, “you're going to be needing your energy for tomorrow.”

Him Chan allowed himself to be lulled to sleep by the steady heartbeat the sounded deep within his mate’s chest.