Jihoo was on duty at urgent care that evening.  They should have closed the doors by this time, but there were still about five patients waiting.  He stepped into an examination room, where a little girl waited with her Mother, most likely praying a Doctor didn't come in.  As soon as he entered, the little girl shrunk back in fear, hiding her face in her Mother's chest.

 - "Hello Angelina, I'm Dr. Jihoo.  So, to what do I owe this nice visit?”  He smiled sweetly at the little girl, but she began to cry, which led to a coughing fit.

Her Mother replied.  "She's had a fever for three days now.  Her pediatrician said I had to wait three days before he could prescribe her anything.  She's hardly slept at all from coughing."

Jihoo looked at her vitals chart in the computer and saw her temperature was about 103.  It was no wonder the child was miserable.  He stood to where he could see the child and the computer screen at the same time.  The child was pale, except for the two bright red spots on her cheeks from the fever.  Her small chest heaved with the effort of breathing.  "Angelina, did you write your letter to Santa Clause?"  The child nodded her head 'no'.

 - "I think I have an email address for Santa Clause?  Some of my young patients have been sick and unable to get their letters out.  Would you like me to send him an email on your behalf?"

The child looked up to her Mother, who nodded at her to go ahead.  The child shyly nodded 'yes' for Jihoo.

 - "What if Miss Angelina, lets me listen to her chest, so I can find out what’s wrong and make sure you are all better for Christmas, yes?”  He was smiling at the child who hadn’t decided if he was harmless or not.  He handed her the stethoscope.  “Is it too cold?”  She shyly took it in her hand and nodded her head, ‘yes’.  “You can hold it for a second to warm it if you’d like?”  Jihoo grabbed the stool, rolling it under him so he could sit at eye level with the child.  She let go of the stethoscope as a cough shook her small frame.  “Angelina?  Can you try and breathe slowly for me?”  The child’s Mother had removed the little girl’s wool-lined jacket, giving Jihoo better access to her chest.  He remained quiet as he listened to the sound of her lungs working hard.  “Jagiya?  Can you cough for me?”

 - “You can call her Angie,” the Mother thought Jihoo had forgotten the patient’s name.

 - “Ah!  I said jagiya, didn't I?  That means sweetheart in my language.”  Jihoo took a quick look at her ears, as the little girl scrunched her shoulders.

 - “Angelina, let the Doctor look in your ears or we’ll have to stay longer.  You don’t want that, do you?”  Remaining mute, the child straightened her head.

 - “Perfect,” Jihoo told her.  “Do you have a pet?”  The little girl shook her head ‘yes’.

 - “She has a cat,” her Mother answered.

 - “So do I!  Show me how your kitty drinks her water?”  He succeeded in getting a tiny smile out of her.  With a little encouragement from Mom, she was pretending to drink.  “Wau!  Angelina makes a perfect kitty.  Can you hold your tongue out for me very quickly?  I think I saw something in your throat.  Now what could have crawled down your throat?”  The prospect of something crawling in frightened the child enough to do as Jihoo asked.  “All done,” he dropped his instruments, back into his pocket.  He continued to look directly at the little girl, even if she didn’t answer him, he directed his questions to her.  He sighed loudly for her benefit.  “Was that really hard?”  Angelina shook her head ‘no’.  “You’re a very good patient; some adults aren’t as good as you.  I’ll tell you a secret?” He was encouraged by her smile, getting bigger.  “My wife is a terrible patient.  She doesn’t hold still like you do and she complains a lot.  But don’t tell her I told you, okay?”  This made her start to giggle, but a coughing fit got in the way.  “Angelina, do you know what’s causing you to cough so noisily?”  The child shrugged.  She had bronchitis, but Jihoo told her:  “there’s a sea lion in your throat!  He’s making a huge mess in there and every time you cough that’s him barking.”  Angelina looked at her Mother with a huge smile, finding the Doctor comical.  Typing a prescription into the computer, he asked:  “What is your favorite flavor?”

 - “Cherry,” Angelina finally mumbled.

 - “It’s very nice to hear your voice.  Now, I’m going to send your Mom to get medicine that will chase the sea lion away, okay?  No keeping him as a pet,” he said with his ‘serious’ face that usually got his wife smiling.  It had the same effect on the child.

Arriving at home, sometime after eleven, Jihoo was still thinking about his little patient.  He sent a quick prayer for her recovery.  He couldn't help wonder about their own baby girl.  Though he’d convinced his wife early in the pregnancy, that she carried a girl, it hadn’t been one hundred percent confirmed.  When they went in for their sixteenth-week ultrasound, the technician was about ninety percent certain, she was looking at a girl, but there was still some doubt.  He thought they could get another ultrasound done while they were in Seoul.

Opening the door to their bedroom, he saw the bed turned down, but his wife was not there.  She had gone to Church without him, which meant she came home just before nine when she text him and changed into her nightgown and immediately went back to work.  She had been working long hours, napping on her lunch hour, to get ready to be gone for a week.  He knew she had fallen asleep somewhere; in the study, the media room, possibly the kitchen, but since the cat wasn't here, she could most likely be found in the media room.  Before going after her, he needed to wash off any germs he acquired from a day at the urgent care.  Since he no longer worked at the hospital, he had to wait and shower at home.

Twenty minutes later, Jihoo was dressed in pajama pants and t-shirt (keeping him modest in the event Nana was still up and about) and hair somewhat dried.  Now past eleven thirty, he went downstairs to find his wife.

As expected, she'd fallen asleep, sitting up in the corner of the couch, with Joy right up against her.  The laptop tray leaned perilously, if she were to make the wrong move, her laptop would go crashing down.  Taking care of the laptop and tray and turning off the stereo, he hoisted his wife on to his back, upsetting the cat.  The lights would have to remain lit until he could turn them off remotely.  Not that he would drop her but just to be safe, he took the lift, noisy though it may be.

Laying her on the left side of the bed and turning her onto her side, he removed his shirt and crawled in behind her.  Even if she was sleeping, her subconscious would feel the shirt against her back and wake up.  "Jalja, dtal."  It was his nightly custom to speak to the baby.  Lifting his wife's nightgown, he placed his hand over her stomach.  She was in her fourth month of pregnancy and although her 'bump' was yet unnoticeable to most, he could feel it forming under his hand.  Knowing her body more than his own, he could feel and see the changes.  Her stomach had once been flat, now he could see and feel it rounding.  The curves of her waist and hips had also begun to change and her s were the first part of her body to change.  He naughtily moved his hand to her chest, feeling the softness of the skin and teasing a as he passed.  Ilana sighed in her sleep and shifted closer to her husband.  Jihoo moved her hair and kissed the back of her neck in response.

They had an eleven A.M. flight to catch in the morning and Jihoo needed to get some sleep.  He would be keeping Ilana on California hours as much as possible so not to put any stress on her body.  All she had to do was be awake for the Gala.  Taking a deep breath, he removed his hand from under her gown and brought it around her waist, entwining his legs with hers. His eyes closed with the last thought of his wife nursing their baby girl and he thanked God for the miracle of them both.

 - "I feel huge and I'm only four and a half months!  With InHei, I didn't even start wearing maternity clothes until I was five months along," JanDi looked at herself in the mirror of Hana's nursery.  GaEul and JanDi continued getting together with JaeKyung most afternoons as they had begun to do before Hana's birth.

 - "JanDi-yah!  Hajima (stop that)!  Have you taken a look at me?"  For a second pregnancy, GaEul looked perfect, she was all baby.

 - "Jeongmal?  JaeKyung Unnie doesn't even look like she had Hana just a month ago."

 - "Deh!"  GaEul said.

 - "Mollah!" JaeKyung rolled her eyes at them.

 - "I can't wait for Ilana & Sunbae to arrive," JanDi said excitedly.  Considering they were only one month apart in their pregnancies, Ilana and JanDi messaged each other often.  Ilana was actually the first to know they were having a boy.  Likewise, JanDi was the first to know that the technician was almost positive she was carrying a girl.

 - "Deh!"  JaeKyung agreed.  "Is she showing yet?"

 - "She did say her clothes were getting tighter.  She left all those maternity clothes we made her buy, here, so she'll need to take them back with her this trip."

 - "Did you see the pictures Christmas decorations in her yard?"  GaEul said.  "Jihoo used pictures of the house from when she was small and decorated almost the same."

 - "Sunbae is very thoughtful," JanDi smiled.

 - "Mmm, deh," GaEul agreed.

 - "GaEul-ah are you having contractions yet?"  JaeKyung asked.

 - "Anieyo, just the Braxton Hicks.  Na tell JeongHee she can't come out until after the Gala."

 - "Deh, I'm looking forward to it, we plan on bringing Hana."

 - "Jeongmalyo Unnie?"  JanDi was shocked.  She would never consider taking an infant to a Gala.

 - "Deh!  Na want to go, but I don't want to leave her.  This is an important evening for Jihoo.  The proceeds from the Gala allow for scholarships to the conservatory and allow for low-cost medical treatment at the clinics.  We need to show our support."

GaEul agreed, "Deh, he's always done his best to attend YiJung's exhibitions, even when he had withdrawn from us and left to New York."

 - "Maja," JaeKyung placed a hand on GaEul's tummy.  "JeongHee-yah, Umma needs to go to Ajussi's Gala.  So stay put until afterward, arraso?"

 - "JeongHee, listen to Imo, arraso?"

Hana must have sensed she was no longer the center of attention, or at least the center of her Mom's attention, who hadn't put her down in hours.  She began to cry for no reason Mom could decipher as babies sometimes do.  It's their only way of communicating.  "Hana-yah!!  What's wrong?  Jagi begopah?"  She immediately opened the hidden opening in her nursing sweater and positioned the baby.  She only led for a minute and then lost interest.  "Hana?  Waeyo?"

 - "Unnie put her down for a while!"  JanDi laughed at the first time Mom.  She needs to wiggle and stretch.

 - "Waeyo?  Holding her and letting her nurse all she wants is best for my milk."

 - "She needs to develop her neck and back muscles with tummy time."

 - "We do tummy time...," JaeKyung pouted, not wanting her friends telling her to put the baby down.  She carried her for nine months; now that she's born she was just supposed to leave her in the crib alone all day?

 - "Hana needs tummy time without you holding her," JanDi insisted.

 -  "JanDi-yah, let her be," GaEul said.  "I was the same way with JeongYul, not wanting to put him down.  He's growing healthy and strong, so will Hana."

 - "Deh, ara it's hard when they're so perfect."  JanDi lightly Hana's hair with her finger as JaeKyung changed her diaper."How do you like the cloth diapers?" .

JaeKyung looked a little guilty.  "I change her about every hour during the day and after each feeding at night.  I bought about fifteen units.  The maid has to wash them every evening.  I do most of the work in cleaning them up for her; she just has to do the final cleaning."  JaeKyung acted as if she was being scolded, but her friends only laughed at her.  "Hajima!  As long as I'm going all-natural, I don't want to cheat and buy only the cloth inserts with the synthetic cover."  JaeKyung was one of those trendy new Mom's, using organic everything.  It wasn't like she couldn't afford it and didn't have time.  Her friends knew things would most likely change once she went back to work.

 - "Let us know how it goes when you go back to work and don't have time to change her diaper so frequently."

 - "Mollah!"  JaeKyung stuck her tongue out at them.  Laughing, she gave Hana a kiss on her belly and made a sign, indicating she was all done.  "All done!"

 - "What was that?"  GaEul asked, curious.

 - "Baby signs!  It's all the rage in the states.  You not only tell them the word, but you use sign language as well.  It’s their earliest form of communication."

JanDi and GaEul smiled at themselves and wondered if they had been that crazy their first time around.

 - "Wae?"  JaeKyung noticed their friend’s smiles.

 - "Anieyo!"

 - "Let's take Hana for a walk!"  JanDi suggested.

 - "Arraso, let's bundle her up."  Once layered in a pink onesie, socks, and a fuzzy pink blanket sleeper,

JaeKyung put on her red Ergobaby   carrier with its blue winter cover and placed Hana inside of it.  Now that Hana was nice and toasty, JaeKyung slipped into her own coat.

 - "Be careful," WooBin kissed both his women before they left for their walk.

 - "How can we not with your bodyguards, my bodyguards and JunPyo's bodyguards?"  JaeKyung gave her overprotective husband a peck on the lips.

GaEul giggled.  She was glad that YiJung wasn't that overprotective.

 - "Wae?  Na need to protect my investments," WooBin kissed them again.

 - "WooBin-ah!"  JanDi scolded.  "Hana will overheat in all those layers if we don't get outside."

 - "Arraso!  Take good care of them," he told his head bodyguard.

 - "Yeobo!!!"  JaeKyung rolled her eyes.

 - "Ka!"  He shooed them out the door with a smile.  Watching them amble down the street, he made a quick decision.  Running back to the coat closet, he grabbed a blue sports jacket and a scarf, quickly slipping on the easiest pair of shoes he first spotted and ran after the women.

The women were so engrossed in their chatter; they didn't even hear WooBin approach.   Slipping an arm around his wife's waist, he caught her by surprise.  JaeKyung gasped, turned quickly, stomped his foot and was about to kick his shin and knee him when she realized it was WooBin.  "Yeobo!!!  Mianhae, Mianhae!!  Wae did you sneak up on me like that!"

 - "Gwenchana..."

 - "Ani!"  He limped a little, making her worry.

 - "It's a good thing you weren't wearing heels," he smiled, despite his foot still aching.

 - "WooBin-ah?  Gwenchana?"  JanDi asked.

 - "Deh!  I'll live."

 - "Hajiman what's wrong?"  JaeKyung didn't understand why he had come after them.

 - "Bogoshipatso..." he said cutely.

 - "Pabo...," JaeKyung smiled at him in adoration.

 - "What can I say...," he said in English.  "Baby girls, I'm a fool for you."

While GaEul and JanDi looked at each other and laughed, JaeKyung pulled him to her and devoured his lips, right there, practically in the middle of the street, with Hana snuggled happily between them.

December 18, 2015

Awkwardly, Mina and YoungSaeng walked toward her apartment building after spending a few hours with his co-officers and some of their respective girlfriends at Ben Hur Noraebang (Karaoke). Having been too busy to get away from the office for lunch, she had only gone to see the Police Choir the week after her parents left.  She was in for a big surprise when she ran into YoungSaeng and one of the others when she went to visit a client.

 - "Rodriguez Mina-ssi!!"

Mina had been heading in the direction of the train station in Gwangjin-gu when she heard someone call her name.

 - "Agassi!"

 A little unnerved as it was late afternoon and getting dark.  Not that Seoul was Los Angeles, but it couldn't hurt to be cautious.  She began to walk faster.

 - "Maybe that's not her," YoungSaeng told his partner.  They had only seen her for a minute and she wasn't that close to them.  YoungSaeng thought it was her, but how many people in Seoul own black coats and wear hats.

 - "Ara that's her, let's catch her," his partner was already running.

 YoungSaeng was hesitant.  The last time he chased after a woman like that, she fell and sprained her knee.  Of course, Mina didn't know who was chasing after her and was probably a little nervous.  His partner wasn't going to help matters.  With a sigh, he began to run as well.

 Again, Mina heard her name being called, now by two people.  Mina stopped reluctantly.  "Mina-ssi!"  YoungSaeng's partner said once they caught up with her.  "Annyeong hasseyo!"

 - "Mina-ssi must be in a hurry and we are detaining you," YoungSaeng said, feeling a little awkward.

 - "Ah!  Deh!  Annyeong Hasseyo," she inclined her head to them.  "Na still have to go back to the office and then get home," she was unable to make eye contact with YoungSaeng or she'd begin to blush.

 - "Mannaseo bangawoyo," YoungSaeng said quietly.

 "Yah, Mina-ssi," his partner addressed her a bit too casually for YoungSaeng's liking.  He gave the officer a pointed look.  "A bunch of us are off tomorrow night, join us at a noreabang."

 - "Ah...Na don't...usually sing."

 - "Gwenchanayo, some just come to drink."

 Mina looked at the officer warily.  Drinking and officers and men didn't sound like somewhere she'd want to be.  "Ah...mollahyo...Na have a lot of work and I'll probably stay late."

YoungSaeng heard the hesitation in her voice and couldn't help himself.  "Rodriguez Agassi shouldn't work all the time."

 - "Ah!  Look who's talking, tch!"  His partner complained.  "Agassi, nae chingu never goes anywhere with us.  Hokshina if you came, he would too?"  He moved to take YoungSaeng's face in his hands.  "Look how pitiful he is?"

 - "Yah!"  YoungSaeng threw off the other man's hand. 

 Mina laughed and when he glared at her, quickly concealed her laughter behind her hand.  His cheeks had puffed out and for once she could really see the Otter in him.  "Miahnaeyo, je have to decline.  Jaega still a foreigner in this city and getting home after everyone has had their fill of drinking doesn't suit me."

 - "Ah!  We're Seoul Metropolitan Police, whoever doesn't have a girl and is the least drunk at the end of the night can send you home."

 - "Wae am I not reassured?"

 - "Gwenchanayo, they have to be back by midnight," YoungSaeng told her.

 - "Kansamnida for the invitation hajiman je have to decline."

 - "Aww agassi, chinchayo, Officer Heo won't join us.  If you ask him to, hokshina he will."

 -"Agassi does not want to go, wae does officer Pyon insist?"

 - "Agassi, think about it, there is a daeback noreabang on Yeouido."

 - "In Yeouido?"  Young Saeng noticed the look of interest on her face.  "Je will think about it, deh?"

After getting the name of the establishment and the time of the reservation, they all parted ways.  She would receive a text later that night from YoungSaeng, telling her if she wanted to go to the noreabang, he'd be personally responsible for her. 

After two hours of drinking, laughter, and singing, all of a sudden, they had nothing to say.  Not that they spoke much, but it was the feeling of comradery that they had shared in the noreabang and now it was gone.  Mina didn't know what to do to get it back.

 - "How are your..."

 - "Why did you..."

They both spoke at once.  "Ah miahnaeyo!"  YoungSaeng said.  "What was Mina-ssi going to say?"

 - "Anieyo, what was YoungSaeng-ssi going to say?"

 - "Na only wanted to inquire of your parents?"

 - "Choahyo, namdongsaeng is bringing home a yeoja chingu for Christmas.  Umma is excited."

YoungSaeng saw her gaze turn far away all of a sudden.  "Je have plenty of time to get back, does Mina-ssi want to go for another drink?  Na think there is a pop up on the way to your building."

Mina suddenly didn't want to go home to an empty house.  "Arraseo."

After a few minutes, they arrived at the popup and YoungSaeng ordered them a bottle of soju and Dak Kang Jung (spicy fried chicken).  "Kansamnida YoungSaeng-ssi," Mina reached for her wallet to pay half.

 - "Anieyo," he lightly pushed her hand.

 - "Juseyo?"

 - "Anieyo, Mina-ssi is always doing things for the choir.  Let me do this small thing for Mina-ssi."

 - "Kansamnida."  She lowered her gaze in embarrassment and grabbed a piece of chicken with her chopstick.  Taking a shot of soju, she got the courage to ask about his choice of Karaoke song.  "YoungSaeng-ssi?  Wae did you sing such a sad song tonight?  Overjoyed, majayo?  Karaoke should be fun, not sad."

 - "Mina-ssi, aren’t they all sad?  Unrequited love or love lost?  Both are fuel for a musician’s pen."  He was bolstered by soju both from now and earlier or else he wouldn't be talking to her so freely.

 - "Je never thought about it.  Deh, there is truth in what YoungSaeng-ssi says."  Not used to drinking much anymore, Mina was feeling sentimental and no longer shy.  "Hajiman YoungSaeng-ssi, does it always have to be unrequited?  There are so many namja...or yeoja out there.  Wae does one have to fall for the person who doesn't love them back?"

 - "Waeyo?  Does Mina-ssi have an unrequited love?"  She was so serious all of a sudden, he couldn't help wanting to make her smile.

 - "Deh?  Ah!!  Anieyo!!"  She was sure her cheeks had suddenly gotten warm but hoped he didn't notice.  "Waeyo?"  Mina suddenly wondered if he had a one-sided love.  "Does YoungSaeng-ssi?"

 - "Na?"  He was just as startled by the question.  "Oh...well..."

 - "Gwenchanayo, YoungSaeng-ssi doesn't have to tell me anything, you're stuttering already answered my question," she avoided eye contact either on his behalf or hers.  She wasn't sure.

 - "As did Mina-ssi’s blushing."  YoungSaeng chuckled at the sight of her eyes growing large.  Her eyes were her best feature, he thought.  They grew large when embarrassed or surprised and narrowed cutely when she smiled.  "Gwenchanayo, Mina-ssi is yippeun.  Whoever doesn't notice you is pabo.  Mina sees how my choir mates fall over you.  Hajiman...na don't want you falling for any of them without permission from Oppa."  It was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.  They were practically strangers and here he was telling her he was Oppa, he practically kicked himself in embarrassment.

Mina wasn't drunk enough to take him seriously.  "Gomawoyo Youngsaeng-ssi, hokshina if the pabo doesn't fall for me, Na will let 'Oppa' find me a good namja just like himself."  She giggled at her comment, making YoungSaeng smile.

 - "Mina-ssi," suddenly serious, he was curious over something.  "Waeyo did Mina-ssi not remind me of our meeting?"

Mina shrugged.  "Na wasn't sure it was you, at first...and YoungSaeng-ssi didn't say anything...it wasn't of great importance."

 - "Jwosongmnida, now Na feel, I've acted rudely to you."

 - "Andwaeyp!"

 - "Deh...Agassi must think the worst of me."

 - "Anieyo!  YoungSaeng-ssi choayo.  Na will be president of your fan club," she frowned.  "YoungSaeng-ssi will become famous and not even remember me."

 - "Andwaeyo!  Na will always make time for my fans."

 - "Chinchayo?  What fan service will YoungSaeng-ssi give me?"

 - "Fan service?  Je thought Mina-ssi was going to be my marketing rep.  Mina-ssi will know before anyone else what I'm working on or doing."

 - "Ah, deh!"  She played along.  "Je hope YoungSaeng-ssi's agency can afford me."

 - "Ah, perhaps we can work out a chingu discount."

 - "Mollahyo...hokshina, if YoungSaeng-ssi buys me soju and Dak Kang Jung."

 - "Greomyo," he answered seriously.

They joked and chatted for a little longer until YoungSaeng could no longer stay or be in danger of being late for curfew.  "Kajayo, na will walk you home."

 - "Kansamnida, nae gallant knight."  Mina didn't feel drunk or even tipsy until she stood and took a step.  "Woe!"

YoungSaeng easily kept her from tripping.  "Aigoo!  Yeoja can't even handle a little soju."

Mina rolled her eyes at him.  "Something caught my shoe!  I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own."  She did manage to make it out without tripping again.

 - "Mianhaeyo, na teased Mina-ssi.  Mina-ssi take nae arm, juseyo?  What do na tell your parents, if you hurt yourself in my company?"

 - "Shiroyo!  YoungSaeng-ssi will just make fun of me."

 - "Andwaeyo!  Yagsoghaeyo (promise)."  He took her arm anyway.  She really wasn't that drunk, but he wasn't taking any chances of her falling and hurting herself.  "Trust me, I know all about getting drunk.  Usually, it's with HyunJoong Sunbae.  How we ended up getting back to our cabins, Na don't remember.  It was usually KyuJong that managed to get us back."  He sighed.

 - "Bogoshipoyo your chingu?"  Mina picked up on the sigh.

He gave her his 'otter' smile, though he didn't know it.  "Deh.  We spent five years together day in and day out and HyunJoong visited with us once or twice a year.  You say: 'I don't need them', but in the end, it's hard to be apart."

 - "Je suppose it's like being away from home for the holidays.  Je thought, 'what's the big deal', Je was 400 miles away at school and I traveled, doing modeling.  I couldn't always go home, but that was a choice.  Now, I'm not just a six-hour drive from home, but a 6,000-mile flight."

 - "Algesseupnida, being in the military, might just be like Mina-ssi's 6,000 miles," YoungSaeng said quietly.  He completely understood her.

They walked in silence the rest of the way, each lost in their own thoughts.  Mina hadn't had time to feel homesick until her parents left and she realized she wouldn't be home for Christmas.  For YoungSaeng, this Christmas would be as lonely as the last.  He missed Christmas on the ship with his friends.  His fellow police were great guys, but not compared to those he spent so many hours with.  None of them had been dating at the time or at least no one serious, but now everyone had that special person in their life and things had changed.  HyunJoong was his only solace being still single, but he was locked away at Paju.  On top of it, he was still fighting that woman.  Everyone's life had been changed in one way or another.  He hated this feeling that bordered on self-pity.  "Mina-ssi, miahnaeyo, Na won't be able to walk you to your door.  Na have to hurry and find a cab.  Will Mina-ssi be fine?"

 - "Deh," she smiled.  "Jaljayo, Mr. Knight."

 - "Jaljayo Agassi.  Na will wait until you walk in the lobby," he bowed to her.  Mina turned to key in the gate code when he suddenly thought of something.  "Mina-ssi!”  She turned and he walked up to her.  "Does Mina-ssi have somewhere to be on Christmas?"

 - "Na have only planned on going to Mass," she smiled, but he saw it didn't reach her eyes.

 - "We are performing at the Children's Grand Park and we're free afterward.  If Mina-ssi comes, the first soju is on me."  He was looking everywhere but at Mina standing directly in front of him.

 - "Choayo...Gomawoyo 'Oppa'."  Not sure if she could blame the soju or the excitement of the invitation, but she stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.  Fleeing through the gate quickly to hide her embarrassment, YoungSaeng was left a little stunned but half smiling at her silliness.  It had to have been the soju, he thought.

Mina arrived at her apartment, heart pounding.  "What did I do?  Why did I do that?  Omo!!!  I'm so embarrassed!  What will he think of me?"

YoungSaeng arrived at the street and waved down a taxi.  He found himself still grinning over the incident.  Replaying the evening in his mind, YoungSaeng realized he'd had a really good time.  He had also enjoyed himself the last time he was in Mina’s company.  Mina, he found, was very easy to talk to.  It had to be her eyes, he thought, even if she'd hardly made eye contact with him that night.  He pulled out his phone.  "Jaljayo agassi, na will look forward to next week."  He thought of something else before putting the phone away.  "Agassi is not allowed to drink without Oppa to keep you out of trouble."  He referred to the kiss on the cheek.  He was harmless, but what if she tried to kiss someone else and they mistook her friendly gesture for something more.

Mina read the texts and jumped on her bed, burying her head in the pillows, kicking up her legs and squealing like a kid.

  .

December 19, 2015

Ilana opened her eyes in the darkened room, suddenly a little confused at where she was.  Feeling the bed behind her, she felt Jihoo's back.  Having held her breath, not knowing where she was, she now resumed her breathing once again.  They had arrived at Incheon in the late afternoon.  Ilana had had a hard time with a particular scent on the plane; it kept her wanting to throw up for most of the flight.  That and Jihoo made her get up and walk and stretch every hour.  They sat in the lounge, often or visited the duty-free store and then back to their seats in business class.  Asiana's business class was just as good as first class and they were able to reach over to each other and touch and hold hands.  First-class only had individual seats with an aisle in between.

Ilana had picked at their lunch which consisted of roasted bread with cherry tomato and goat cheese, traditional Korean pan-fried yam, rice porridge with black sesame, and bibimbap with fresh fruit and traditional Korean cookies for Dessert.

 - "Sarang...mokda," Jihoo pleaded with her.  She'd been having a hard time for the last seven hours.

 - "Bae angopayo (not hungry)..."  She had one spoonful of the porridge, making her gag.  The bread with the tomato and goat cheese spread was delicious, as was the Korean yam.  She looked over at Jihoo's plate with longing.  He still had half his bread and his entire yam.

 - "Wae didn't Sarang order from the western menu?"

 - "Na wanted the Bibimbap."

 - "Sarang hasn't touched her Bibimbap."

 - "It smells weird," she whispered to him.

Jihoo had just picked up his bread to take another bite when she pushed her plate away.  She stared hungrily at the bread in his hand.  He sighed in defeat.  If she couldn't abide the smell of the food, she would throw up and that would defeat the purpose of her eating.  A little nutrition was better than nothing.  "Sarang wants nae bread?"

Ilana shook her head eagerly, "...and the yam?"  She asked hopefully.

He chuckled, "remind me to bring plenty of kimbap for our return.  Eat your rice and Na will give you my yam, deh?"

 - "Deh!"

She fell asleep immediately after; it was roughly ten P.M. in California.  Waking up two hours later was not that easy.  Feeling disoriented and light-headed.  The second she spotted a trash can, she threw up, whatever she had eaten.  They thankfully only carried the two laptops and Ilana's tablet in a rolling carry on, plus a small carry on, Jihoo had packed, which included a toiletry bag.  It fit perfectly on top of the rolling bag.  "Climb on my back, Sarang and hold on tight."  He carried her to where JunPyo, JanDi, and InHei were waiting for them.

Ilana was already barefaced, so as soon as they arrived back home, all she had to do was brush her teeth and go right back to sleep.  She didn't even remember changing clothes.  She did remember having to try on her dress for the gala so that the housekeeper could take it in or out accordingly.  What happened afterward was a blur.  Shrugging, she dared push back the very warm quilts to see if she was dressed or not.  She wore a navy blue and lace empire waist spaghetti-strapped maternity nightdress she vaguely remembered buying last they were here.  The air was only slightly cool and thankfully not freezing like it was outside.  The nice thing about these old houses is that the floors are heated and that was where all the chill came from.  Burrowing back under the quilts she tried closing her eyes again, but it didn't work.  There was no way she could go back to sleep.

Without disturbing the quilts as best as possible, she turned to face Jihoo's back and molded herself gently to its broad warmth.  He didn't wear a shirt, which made her smile, but he was still warm.  She kissed the center of his back before draping her arm over his waist.  Not knowing or caring what time it was, she closed her eyes again, enjoying their warm cocoon under the quilts populated by their own body heat.  Consciously or subconsciously her fingers began to dance over his side and abs.  Hearing him sigh in his sleep, she mischievously gave his back a splattering of light kisses before treating his shoulder blade to a lingering damp kiss, which she followed by blowing and nipping at the general area.

Jihoo was having a very nice dream, those dreams that surface just before waking.  They are more conscious than subconscious.  He was lying with his wife; she was propped up with the pillows as he caressed her pregnant belly.  Letting his fingers travel lower, then back up again and repeating the process, she sighed and trembled with anticipation at what might come next.  He too felt a very real like tremble go through his body and he exhaled heavily.  The feeling didn't subside, but instead of his hands teasing her stomach, he felt her hands teasing his.  The pleasant sensations slowly brought him to consciousness and knew that it was his wife's hands on his abs and her lips nipping at his back that was sending pleasurable tremors to a certain region.  Shifting suddenly to face her, he trapped her mischievous hand in his left hand and with his right he brought her face to his and slowly made love to her lips.

 - "Annyeong Sarang," he said, ending the kiss and caressing her smiling face.

 - "Annyeong," she leaned forward, giving him a peck on the lips.

 - "Begopa?  Sarang was trying to eat me."

Ilana giggled, "Anieyo..." her stomach growled, calling her a liar.  "Jeogum," she quickly amended and brought one of his fingers to her teeth.

 - "Yah!"  He pulled out of her grasp.  Adjusting her head to cradle in his arm, he brought her to snuggle closer and brought her leg over his.  "How do you feel?"  Her blood pressure had been a little high on their arrival, which contributed to her feeling dizzy.  "Did Sarang get enough sleep?"

 - "Choah.  I feel very rested, wae?"

 - "Sarang was very pale after the flight and dizzy, remember?"

 - "Ah deh!"  It was coming back to her.

 - "Na thought Sarang was still breathing too hard and I checked your vitals.  Your pulse was faster than it should be and so I checked your blood pressure, it was definitely above your normal, but not crossing the danger zone yet."

 - "Chincha?"  This concerned her a little.

 - "Gwenchana, I'm sure it was the stress from the flight.  Na will check it later, deh?"

 - "Arraso..."

 - "Don't worry or your blood pressure will elevate again."

 - "Deh..."

Giving her a kiss on the forehead, he began to untangle himself in order to get up.

Making a sound of protest, Ilana grabbed on to his arm.  "Wae?!"

 - "Let's get you and dtal food.  You haven't eaten since the afternoon."

 - "Shiro!"

 - "Sarang...," he was going to have to carry her if she didn't comply.

Jihoo was already peeling back the quilts when he leaned over to pull her off the bed.  Grabbing onto his neck, she pulled him down to her, tasting his lips with her tongue and not letting go until he had given into her.  Her hands roamed his lower back, teasing the waistband of his pajama pants.  Jihoo slowed the kiss until he just barely nipped at her lips.  "Sarang..." he nuzzled her cheek and then kissed it.  "Na would love to continue, but Sarang needs to eat," he said as her stomach growled again.

 - "Deh...," as much as she wanted to stay in bed, making love to her husband, if she didn't put food in her stomach, she would start to feel sick.

Jihoo saw her pouting face and kissed her lightly once again.  "Na don't have to be at the hotel until the afternoon...greon, if Sarang eats her breakfast, we can come back to bed..." he kissed her again.  "...and cuddle or...whatever Sarang wants."  He tickled her neck with his lips, "then we can help each other get clean, deh?"

 - "Whatever I want?"  She kissed him suggestively.

 - "Whatever..."  He teased the hem of her gown, while he went back to her neck and gave it damp kisses.  "Hajiman...Sarang has to eat first."

Ilana had been concentrating on the feel of his lips on her neck and the feel of his fingers on her bare leg, she immediately felt the loss of him when he stopped.  "Ah?"

 - "Kaja!"  He pulled her up to a sitting position a little too quickly, making her dizzy.

 - "Sarang!  Wait!"  She buried her face in his waist, letting the wave pass.

Jihoo saw her pale and he sat back on the bed, holding her in his arms, massaging the back of her neck.  "Sarang waited too long to eat.  Sarang knows she gets light headed when she doesn't eat enough," he scolded.

 - "Ara...na feel a little better, now."

Jihoo propped their pillows up and leaned her back against them.  "Na will get you a bowl of rice and egg, stay here."  He knew if she got up now, she'd feel sick.

 - "Na want pancakes..."

 - "Arraso, but I'll bring you some tea and a rice cake to hold you over."

 - "Gomawo!"

GaEul led a Saturday morning Mommy and Me, pottery class at the museum.  It was her busiest of the entire week, but she was all too happy to participate with JeongYul.  These kids and Mom's didn't get the bonding time her mid-week students received.  These Moms had to work during the week and had to carve out these two hours on a Saturday to spend with their child.  Checking her students work, she walked around the small classroom.

One of GaEul's Mother/daughter teams needed help and she leaned over to take control of the child's hands when a contraction interrupted her.  "Oooh!"  GaEul took a deep breath and let it out, rubbing her belly.

 - "Gwenchanayo sangsanim?"  The Mother asked.

 - "Deh..."  GaEul reassured the Mother, but in her head, she was telling her daughter to stay put.  "JeongHee-ah, we had an agreement, deh?  You are supposed to stay in Umma's tummy until after the gala."  Once the contraction passed, she was able to resume her demonstration.  "Ah deh, Min HaeSook Umma has it.  She only needed a bit of help."  The child beamed at her Mother as they created their very own clay snowman.

 - "Deh sangsanim, na just needed to see it again in order to understand."

 - "Choahyo!"  GaEul looked at the clock on the wall.  "Class will be over in ten minutes, please begin to put your things away.”  A groan of disappointment rose from the kids.

 - "Deh, sangsanim!"

 - "You'll have something to look forward to next week when you paint your snowmen.”

GaEul was too busy making sure everything was being restored to order, she didn't hear the footsteps behind her.  YiJung placed a finger to his lips, making sure the kids didn't warn his wife he was about to sneak up on her.  Wrapping his arms around her and JeongHee, he kissed her cheek."

 - "Ooh!  JeongYul Appa!  You know better than to frighten me!"  She fanned herself from the shock or the flush on her face.

 -  "Deh, hajiman Na was done early and wanted to surprise nae anae.”  He took a quick look at some of her students' work and praised his wife.  “Anae is getting better and better and will soon exceed nae skill."

GaEul laughed, she could never be as good as he was.  "Is nampyon jealous of nae skill?"

 - "Deh..." he tweaked her nose, playfully and then turned to help JeongYul put things away.

JeongYul hugged his dad as soon as they were done.  "Adul, should we go back home so Umma can rest?"

 - "Appa, can na go to the gala tonight," he pouted so sweetly that YiJung wanted to give in.

 - "Ani, adul will be having a better time with InHei-ah and your babysitter.  You just let us know when you're ready to come home in the morning.  And morning is before noon, deh?"  There were times he didn't want to come home after spending the night with InHei.  He adored her; YiJung hoped he'll love his baby sister as much as he loved his older 'cousin'.

 - "Deh, Appa," the little boy smiled up at his Dad with the same smile YiJung used to use with all his conquests.  Now it was solely reserved for his wife.  YiJung crouched down to his son's level.   "Adul, that smile of yours can one day get you into trouble."

 - "Mworago?!  So YiJung, what are you telling him?"

 - "Amogotdo, jagiya," he gave her that same disarming smile.

It was impossible for GaEul not to get caught up in it, even after all these years.  Shaking her head to break the spell, she bent to take her son's face in her hand.  "JeoongYul will be a good boy, not like Appa," she kissed the round cheek.

 - "Deh, Umma!"  He said.

 - "Deh, Umma," YiJung gave GaEul a peck on the lips.

 - "Yah!"  GaEul playfully pushed her husband away, even though she loved his sweetness.  "Kaja!  We still have things to do before the gala tonight."

JanDi was persuaded by her husband to climb back into bed after throwing up.  The occasional bits of nausea still hit her.  This morning was one of those occasions.  "Gwenchana?"  He brought a bottle of water to her lips.  He hated to see her like this.  Massaging her now noticeable tummy, he lightly scolded their son.  "Adul needs to be nice to Umma.  Deh?"  He placed a kiss on top of her mound.

JanDi laughed.  "He takes after Appa already."

 - "Yah!"

JunPyo's insulted face made JanDi laugh and she pressed her lips to his in apology.  "Na...wouldn't have InHei and our future Adul without you.  Mollah, if Na could be this happy."

JunPyo tucked her back under the quilts and climbed back into bed as well.  "Ara, na could never be happy without you."  He wrapped his arm around her expanding waist and brought her toward him slowly savoring her lips, enjoying their unhurried morning.  When the couple fully intended to take things a bit further, there was a knock on the door.

 - "Appa!!!  Umma!!  Are you awake?"

JanDi grinned and JunPyo was definitely put out.  He brought his finger to his lips, telling his wife she should remain quiet.

 - "Ani!"  She whispered loudly back to him.

 - "Wae!  Na want you to myself for a little while."

 - "Nampyon will have me all to himself at the gala."

 - "That's not the same!"

 - "We can leave early...," she suggested and gave him a quick kiss on his pouting lips.  "InHei-ah!  Gwenchana, come in!"

 - "Chincha?"  He kissed his wife quickly before their daughter ran into the room.

 - "Na saw that!"  InHei giggled and jumped on their bed.  "Annyeong hashiminika, Umma, Appa," she gave them both a hug and kiss and burrowed under the blankets between them.  "Annyeong, namdongsaeng."

 - "Annyeong Noona!"  JunPyo answered her as if he were the baby.

 - "A-ppa!!"  InHei laughed.

 - "Can Unnie take us ice skating?"  She had curled up next to JunPyo, while JanDi lay on her side smiling at them.

 - "Deh, if you promise to watch over JeongYul and listen to your babysitter Unnie," JanDi ordered.

 - "Greomyo Umma!"  InHei remained thoughtful for a few minutes, playing with her doll.  "Appa," she said, after a while.  JanDi had begun to doze back off when her daughter's voice woke her up.  InHei twirled her finger in his hair, something she's done since she was a baby.  "Will you still love me when Na dongsaeng comes?"

InHei's face was so serious, he felt her insecurity.  "Greomyo, Na will love you both the same.   InHei will always be our princess and Adul our prince.”

InHei smiled in relief.  She was sure that her Appa would still love her; after all, Isabel's parents still loved her after JaeWook came.  She turned to her Mother and caressed the small bump that held her baby brother.  "Umma, can you make me a yeodongsaeng after you're done making nae namdongsaeng."

 - "Ah...deh...Inhei-ah, it's not that easy.  InHei came quickly, but you're namdongsaeng took a long time."  JanDi looked at JunPyo who was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

 - "Umma and I can't promise and we don't know how long it will take, but we'll try, deh?"

 - "Gu JunPyo!"  JanDi was completely shocked he was already thinking of another child when she was only going to start her fifth month of pregnancy.  JunPyo couldn't resist his wife's practically startled face.  Bypassing InHei, he leaned over to kiss her suddenly.  This made his daughter giggle and his wife blush a little.

 - "Appa, my turn?"

 - "Deh!" JunPyo kissed her cheek.  "Pass this one to Umma," he gave her another kiss on the cheek.

 - "Arraseo, Appa!"  InHei rolled back to her Mother and gave her a raspberry kiss.

JanDi laughed at their silly daughter.  "InHei-ah is sure that is the same kiss, Appa told you to give me?"  InHei was laughing too hard to respond.  "Arraso, eeliwah," she crooked her finger to get her daughter to come closer.  InHei closed her eyes and squealed in excitement.  "Pass this to Appa."  JanDi gave InHei a sloppy raspberry kiss on the cheek.

InHei quickly turned to her Father.  "Appa, Umma said to give you this."

 - "Ah!  I've been slimed!"  JunPyo complained at the slobbery kiss his wife sent him through InHei.  Mother and daughter hi-fived each other.  That was not the end of their morning silliness.  Soon the room echoed with InHei's shrieks of laughter as they continued playing 'pass it on'."

Ilana sleepily arrived at the hotel.  She should just be going to sleep in California.  Jihoo had brought them breakfast in bed.  It wasn't something Ilana would like to do often, simply because it implied she was too ill to get up, but having Jihoo buy her side was a nice treat.  Jihoo's pancakes were good, not Nana's, but still tasty.  She had made sure to praise his efforts.

 - "Gomawo Sarang, masheesuyo!"

Jihoo was taking the bed trays away.  "Chincha?"  He gave her a quick kiss in acknowledgment.

Setting the trays in the kitchen, he returned to find his wife smiling at her phone.  Climbing back into bed, he slipped his arm under her shoulders and brought her next to him.  "Wae?"  He asked.

 - "Na was looking at Hana's pictures.  I don't know who has more selfies, JaeKyung or Hana."

 - "Mmm," Jihoo didn't partake of social media.  Ilana used it to communicate with her friends and also the entire Church family.  Jihoo removed the phone from her hands and placed his hand on her slight bump.

 - "Na can't wait to meet Hana, she's so cute."  Ilana placed her hand on top of Jihoo's.  "Na can't wait to meet you too, baby.  Sarang, I wonder who she'll look like most.  Hana looks very much like WooBin."

 - "Deh.  Na already told Sarang how dtal will look."

Ilana turned to wrap her arm around his waist.  "Tell me again."

 - "She has your dark hair and it's long."  He ran his hand through her hair.  "She's never allowed to cut it."  Ilana laughed at the overprotective Appa.  "She has my eyes and nose..." Ilana brought her finger to his eyelid and slid it down his nose and traced his lips.  Kissing her finger before removing it, he turned to scrutinize his wife, specifically her lips.  He recalled the vision, of the little girl, in his head.  “She has your lips and your smile,” he bent to trap her lips with his.  One by one he nipped at them; catching and releasing agonizingly slow until hearing the protest at the back of .  He smiled at her and took the kiss deeper letting his tongue claim her syrup sweetened member.  He left her lips to travel along her jaw to her neck and his hand naughtily crept up her leg and passed the hem of her gown.  Jihoo removed his lips from her body only long enough to shed her garments and his.  It was still early and it had been at least a week or longer since they had made love.  He had every intention of taking his sweet time.  When he was done teasing and tasting various locations on his wife's body, he pulled her on top of him and she returned the favor.

Jihoo carried her to the shower afterward, much too tired to walk on her own.  It was a good thing there wasn't a drought in South Korea, Jihoo and Ilana took well over the time 'suggested' for showers.  After blow-drying their hair, Jihoo left with Harabeoji, taking his tux and Ilana's dress to the hotel with him. Once alone, Ilana slept again until the housekeeper woke her up to tell her the driver had arrived.  Picking up her overnight bag, she slowly made her way to the door and slipped on her boots.  She and Jihoo would be spending the night at the hotel.  It was the best solution against over exhaustion from jet lag.

Their driver escorted her through a private entrance, lined with security.  The F4 didn't want their family’s pictures taken before the Gala.  "This is where I leave you, Contreras-ssi," the driver bowed to her just outside of the private elevator leading to the F4 suites.

 - "Deh, kansamnida," Ilana inclined her head politely and sighed looking at her new escorts.

The driver read a slight apprehension in her eyes as she looked at the guards.  "Contreras-ssi is in good hands.  If these men fail in their duty to you, Gu JunPyo-ssi will not only fire all of them but see to it they never work again."  Even if only one of the four guards failed in his job, all four would be penalized; therefore they took their posts as if their lives depended on it.  Their families depended on their income and could not afford to be cowards, greedy, or selfish.  Sooner or later they would be caught.

 - "Deh, kansamnida," Ilana thanked her protectors.

The security guards bowed but remained mute.  Inside they were smiling; it wasn't every day they were thanked for their job.

Upon their landing on the private floor of the exclusive Shinwa hotel, Ilana Knocked on JaeKyung's door.  "Ilana!!!”  JaeKyung hugged Ilana as tightly as possible, carrying Hana in one arm.

 - "Annyeong hasseyo Unnie," Ilana greeted JaeKyung a little tiredly but smiled at the precious pink bundle in her arms.  "Annyeong Hana, mannaseo bangawoyo (nice to meet you inf)."  Ilana let her fingers the silky hair.  "Are you a good girl for Umma?"

 - "She's great!  And perfect!"  JaeKyung made no move to place Hana in her portable crib.  "The question is how are you?"  JaeKyung looked over her very tired friend.

 - "Gwenchana Unnie, I took a nap just before coming and I'm still trying to wake up."

 - "Are you hungry?  You should eat.  I’m calling room service," JaeKyung went from a question to a statement, to an order and was already picking up the room phone.  "Jagiya, what do you feel like eating?"

All this happened in a minute’s time and Ilana's brain was trying to catch up.  "Mollah?  I guess I am hungry."  She had slept after Jihoo left and forgot all about lunch or dinner or whatever time her body was actually on.  "I want a sandwich," she said after thinking about it.

 - "Arraso, what kind?"

Fifteen minutes later, Ilana was delighted with her Turkey, Avocado, and Provolone Cheese sandwich on squaw bread.  JanDi and GaEul had just arrived and other than a wave 'hello', she didn't look up from her Sandwich and sweet potato fries.  While GaEul inquired about the arrival of the stylists, JanDi sat next to Ilana, inadvertently staring at Ilana's sandwich.  Ilana's manners slowly returned and realized JanDi was silently watching her eat.  "Mianhaeyo, JanDi unnie!  Take some fries or would you like half of my sandwich?"

 - "Anieyo gwenchanayo!"  JanDi waved her hand in dismissal.

Whatever her husband and Juan Carlos may say about her needing to gain weight, Ilana knew half the sandwich and the sweet potato fries had enough calories to sustain her until dinner.  There were always appetizers to look forward to.  "Deh, Unnie!  Na insist!"  Ilana scooted her plate in between them.

 - "Chincha?"  JanDi was hesitant, but the sandwich did look delicious.

 - "Deh!  Your baby wants some sandwich."

 - "Arraso." JanDi shyly took a bite.  "Mmm...!  Masheesuhyo!"  JanDi relished the cool and creamy avocado with the salty, but not too salty, turkey, the sweetness of the bread and the cool lettuce and tangy tomato.

JaeKyung looked over to the two ladies eating and began to laugh.  Her phone was handy and she was very good at working it singlehandedly, so she snapped a picture of JanDi and Ilana happily sharing a sandwich.  "You two are so cute!  I can't wait to see you completely pop out like GaEul."

 - "JaeKyung Unnie, that’s not funny!"  GaEul protested JaeKyung's remark.  Her belly button had popped out recently, making her very subconscious.  At least it was winter and she could hide beneath a coat.

 - "Wae?  It's cute!"

 - "Says the one with a normal bellybutton," Ilana defended GaEul.

 - "Deh Unnie, just wait until your next one and see how quickly your belly expands." JanDi complained and looked down at her own growing belly compared to Ilana’s practically non-existent one.

JaeKyung just dismissed their complaints.  "Gwenchana, when the time is right, na will be very happy to give Hana a dongsaeng.  Maja?"  JaeKyung cooed at Hana, getting a cute little blink in response.

As they all laughed, GaEul was caught by surprise by a contraction.  "Ooh!"  She said held her stomach and remembered to breathe.

JanDi jumped to her feet, "GaEul-ah, gwenchana?  You're due in five days, but it wouldn't be unusual for you to be early."

 - "Ani, Na had an appointment Thursday, I was only dilated to one.  JeongHee is just getting restless."

JanDi wasn't too sure about that.  "Arraso, hajiman tell me if you need anything tonight."

 - "Deh, Uissa," GaEul smiled at her worried best friend.

The make-up and hair team arrived and JaeKyung was first as she would need to feed Hana after.  JaeKyung was suddenly at a loss.  She would have to put Hana down.   "Hana-yah, Umma has to put you down.”  Hana did not agree with this statement and began to fuss as soon as she was laid in her portable crib.  JaeKyung quickly picked her back up.  "Ani, ani, Hana-yah, don't cry.  Umma loves you, Na have to get pretty for Appa.  Look at the pretty dress Hana gets to wear," JaeKyung held up the red velvet and white organza garment, dotted with tiny rosebuds, for Hana's inspection.  “Be good for Umma, deh?  Na will just put you down for a little while, mmm?"  Placing her daughter back in the crib and then dragging it right in front the chair, she sat down.  "Mianhae," JaeKyung told the stylist, "we can start now."  But again, Hana did not want to be alone and began to cry.  JaeKyung did not know what to do and began to worry.  "Maybe she's sick?"

JanDi was already getting her nails done and she responded, "Unnie, she's not used to being set down.  You're always holding her or she's in the baby carrier right up against you."  JanDi scolded slightly.

 - "Babies can't be spoiled," JaeKyung defended herself.

 - "Hajiman she doesn't know Umma is just going to step away and be right back."

 - "Hana-yah!"  JaeKyung waived at her daughter.  "See Umma?  She’s just right here."

Hana's cries were killing her Mother, not to mention, that the cries were making her s tingle and leak milk.  "Baby!  Na can't pick you up, now."

 - "Mianhae, Unnie," GaEul said.  "I'd pick her up, but JeongHee is pressing right on my bladder, jamsimanyo." GaEul ran off to use the restroom.

Hana was not quieting down, even Ilana wanted to cry for the poor baby.  Fifteen minutes later, Hana's cries had turned into hiccups.  "Unnie!  She has the hiccups!"  Ilana was worried.

 - "Gwenchana, they go away," JanDi assured the first time Mothers.

Ilana stood up and walked over to the crib.  "Wae is Hana crying?  Umma put you down?  What a bad Umma, deh?"  Ilana smiled as she talked soothingly to the baby.  Hana's crying was quieting down.  "You're just bored, aren't you?  The grown-ups have all the fun and they expect you to just lay there?  Umma is right, you are perfect."  Giving Hana a quick little tickle on her tummy, Ilana walked away.  Hana begun to cry a second later; Ilana grinned and turned back to Hana.  "Aigoo, eottoke Hana?"  Ilana put her palms out in question.  "Hana, Imo will get very tired standing here talking to you."

 - "She likes you," JaeKyung smiled.  Happy her baby was no longer crying.

 - "Deh," GaEul had just come from the bathroom.  She'd had another contraction while in there and was forced to stay until she recovered.  "Hana-yah is looking at Imo Ilana?  Look at the way her eyes follow.  She's so cute.”

Ilana yawned a bit.  "Hana-yah, I'm a little tired.  I'd be sleeping right now if I were back home.”

  - "Ilana-yah, rest for a little longer or you won't make it through the night.  It's a good thing Sunbae and you are staying at the hotel tonight."

 - "Deh," she agreed with JanDi.  Ilana turned away from Hana a second time and Hana again began to cry.

 - "There's no hope for it, we need to pick her up," GaEul said.  "Ilana should pick her up, so she can practice."

 - "Mwo?!"  She had held JaeWook, but she was still afraid of not holding her right or dropping her.

 - "Ilana has to learn sooner or later,” GaEul scooped up Hana from her crib and gave her to Ilana.  "She doesn't weigh a thing; just hold her head with one hand and her bottom with the other."

Ilana took Hana from GaEul and held her awkwardly.  "Hana-yah, I'd feel more secure if we sat down, arraso?"  Ilana walked them over to the chair and sat carefully.  Hana had caught her hand in Ilana's hair.  "Yah, Hana, it's not nice to pull Imo's hair," she untangled the baby's hand from her hair.  "There, now what?"  Ilana placed her cheek next to Hana's.  She was so soft; Ilana thought she could cuddle her all day long.  Hana fussed a little, not caring for being still and not moving.

 - "I think she's tired," JaeKyung said.  "She'll fuss like that when she wants to nap, but can't sleep."

JanDi grinned, enjoying her manicure and pedicure.  She knew the baby was overtired from being held all the time.

- "Eottoke?  Pigonhaeyo?"  Ilana had an idea and cuddled Hana close to her cheek.  "Would Hana like a song?  Deh?  Arraso."  Ilana began with the first lullaby type song she could think of (music).  "As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship thee

You alone are my strength, my shield

To you alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship Thee”

By the time Ilana was done, Hana had fallen asleep and so had GaEul.  Ilana too found herself blinking off sleep.

 - "Ilana has such a beautiful voice, you should sing more often," JaeKyung said with admiration.  She loved to sing, but would never sound like Ilana.

 - "Kansamnida Unnie, nampyon so kindly volunteered me to sing a solo at the Christmas Eve service," Ilana said sarcastically.  "So I've been practicing a Classic Italian Christmas song in all my little spare time."

 - "How very kind of Sunbae to do that," JanDi laughed.  What JaeKyung and she knew, but Ilana didn't, was that Jihoo planned on taking them back to California for Christmas.

JaeKyung could see Ilana was tired; she wouldn't make it through the night without another nap.  "Ilana-yah, if you lay with her on the bed, she'll stay asleep," JaeKyung said.

 - "Hajiman I thought babies are at risk of suffocation if you do that."

 - "Trust me; you're not going to roll over on top of her."

 - "Unnie knows how risky that is," Dr. JanDi did not agree.

 - "Oh poo!  I do it all the time.  Sometimes WooBin will fall asleep with her on his chest.  It's so cute.  Go on, we'll be at least another thirty minutes before it's yours and GaEul's turn.  There are some wedges on the bed that you can use to keep her from rolling over."

Ilana was torn but she didn't want Hana to cry if she sat her down.  "Arraso, na could use a nap.  Kaja, my little cuddle bunny."  Ilana carefully got herself up from the chair, trying not to jostle the sleeping princess.  After making sure nothing dangerous was in Hana’s way, she carefully lay down next to her and although she didn't fall into a deep sleep, she and Hana got much-needed rest.

Three hours later, Ilana waited for Jihoo in their suite.  The dress the girls had coaxed her into buying fit well and the volume of the skirt camouflaged her small bump.  There was no need for altering, although the bodice was a little tighter than it had been when she bought it.  The girls had played lady's maid to each other, zipping, buttoning and straightening gowns.  Ilana had waited until she was in their own room to admire herself in the mirror.  The strapless Valentino based Fantasy Fairytale ball gown was made of silk and had a full skirt of multiple layers of net and tulle.  The shimmery fabric and crystal embroidery all down the front from the bodice to the bottom of the skirt really did give her that princess feel.  Jihoo would not like her hair in a French twist, but the beauty of the gown would be ruined with her hair down.  Her mother's pearls completed the ensemble and the room door was opened about that time.  Next, Ilana felt a pair of hands around her waist.

 - "Sarang!  You're dressed!"  Ilana smiled at him through the mirror.

 - "Sarang is wearing a wrap over her shoulders, deh?"  It was a beautiful and elegant dress that fit her classic style perfectly.  He'd like it better if it weren't strapless; he just wasn't used to her showing that much skin to others.

 - "Overprotective Ajussi," Ilana turned in her husband’s arms and gave him a light kiss, not wanting to ruin her lipstick.

 - "Deh!"  He answered back with his 'serious' look.

Stepping back to admire his form, Ilana checked his collar and bowtie and swept the fringe of his bangs away from his eyes.  "Deh?  And what am I supposed to do about nae jal saenggin namja (handsome man)?  Should I lock you up in the room?"

Jihoo drew in his breath, thinking.  "Na would like to be locked up with Sarang, hajiman Harabeoji might get upset if Na don't host tonight.

 - "Eottoke?  Na can put a wrap over my shoulders, but nampyon will not be able to wear a mask?"  Ilana was enjoying their game.

 - "Sarang has nothing to fear, Na belong completely to you."

 - "...just remember darling, all the while, you belong to me...," Ilana sang an old song that popped into her head.  Perhaps it was the holidays, but the songs her parents used to sing began to appear in the front most of her memory.

 - "Choah to hear Sarang sing," he kissed her cheek.  "We have time; sing me the rest, Sarang."

 - "Ani!  Mollah the lyrics!"

 - "Let's look them up, what is this song called?"

 - "Sarang is being strange."

 - "Ani, na just want to hear anae sing."

 - "Micheoseo...," she shook her head at him.  "I think it's called 'You Belong to me'."

Jihoo quickly typed it into his phone and pulled up the first link.  "Is this it?"

Ilana nodded and hoped she could remember the entire tune.  Taking a moment to think, she began.  "See the pyramids along the Nile; watch the sunrise from a tropic isle. Just remember darling all the while...you belong to me...."

Ilana continued singing until there was a knock on the door, "yo, Jihoo!  Let's do this!"  WooBin's voice came through the door.

 - "Yoon Jihoo!  What are you two doing in there?!"  JunPyo yelled and pounded on the door.  "Na thought you were both dressed and ready to go!"

 - "Gomawo, Sarang."  This time Jihoo took her lips, not caring about the lipstick.  "You'd better reapply your lipstick before JaeKyung scolds us."

 - "Deh!"

Jihoo Walked to the door and opened it.  "JunPyo!  Stop pounding on the door!  Anae is just putting on her finishing touches."

Reapplying her lipstick, she grabbed her wrap and a small purse.  "Mianhaeyo, JunPyo-ssi, I'm ready."

Continued next chapter...