159. Perfect Timing

"Random question babe. Would you consider having another person in our relationship if I'm no longer living?"

"What kind of question is that?" Niel asked, his eyes on the infant resting comfortably in his arms.

"Just answer me."

Standing up, Niel placed Luca gently into his cradle and took Lusha as well from his fated's arms and did the same. Not wanting to delve further into Elric's question, Niel walked past Elric and picked up a bag of used diapers then looked back at his rather amused fated. "The next diaper duty should be in three to four hours or less. That gives us enough time to rest and cook something heavy. What do you want to eat?"

"Come on, my question has a valid reason behind it."

"Either you are cheating on me or thinking of it otherwise, why would you ask me that out of the blue?"

Elric guffawed at his fated's remark then covered his mouth and glanced over at both Luca and Lusha. It was a relief to still find them asleep. "You wound me..." He whispered looking rather surprised than disappointed. "Why would conclude that?"

"Your frivolous nature backed by your proud promiscuous past."

"I imprinted on you, remember? I can't love another babe."

His face plain, Niel asked. "Do you have any idea how many unexpected guests have shown up since we moved here? Even the help complains of being bombarded by numerous phone calls from strangers looking for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your past still follows us Elric until now. It doesn't matter whether you're dating, married with kids..."

"You and the help appear to be in excellent terms." Elric seemed displeased. "She knows too much. It's time we had her replaced."

"Bear in mind she played an integral role at helping birth our babies."

"Why'd she have to speak to you about the phone calls without coming to me first? That's nosey and unprofessional."

"Don't be grouchy all of a sudden, I like you better cheerful. You know the help does an excellent job housekeeping and being a nanny at the same time. Maybe you don't know but not a lot of people would do both jobs with what we pay her. Moreover, we can't bring in someone new until all is settled.

Additionally, why would I fathom thoughts of your demise to begin with? You practically witnessed the loss of a fated, something that still traumatizes you to date. I wouldn't want Luca and Lusha to go through what you passed through."

Elric remained silent, his smile disappearing. He then walked back to the cradle and watched Luca and Lusha whistling away with every intake of breath. One of them whimpered, raising a tiny fists up and Elric grabbed on to it only to pushed it gently back down.

"You now babe, I was almost certain what you're going to say to me. However, I'd want you to fall in love and not wallow in loneliness like my mom."

"I will never take in someone else."

"Why?"

"We are fated. It's that simple."

"If we were paired your answer would have been different then?"

"Of course it would. I'd never thought in my life to be fated to anyone especially to you. I was committed to my ex. She was the only image in my mind whenever I thought of my future. Had I known I'd end up with you, things would have been different and besides, I quite like this type of future."

"Quite?"

Niel sighed exasperatedly. "Elric, what do you want from me?"

Elric pulled a chair then placed it in front of Niel then sat down. "Put the diapers away and help me comb my hair."

"Nope. You're not changing the topic as you wish this time." Niel spoke then swirled the seat with one hand for Elric to face him. "We are having this discussion. You brought it up so finish what you started."

"An old flame reached out..." Elric answered almost instantly then became hesitant when he saw a scowl on Niel's face. "...then I started thinking about... some things...kinky stuff..."

"Don't do anything you're going to regret."

Elric grinned. "As much as it's refreshing to see you jealous, I'm not planning to cheat on you so don't fret."

"You are unbelievable." Niel said, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's not jealousy I'm feeling but hurt."

"You're judging me before hearing me out babe. I'd never let someone else top me apart from you."

"So, you've imagined going through with it...?"

"I took sometime deciding to share this with you babe... Perhaps I shouldn't have began with a trick question and just hit the nail on the head. The truth is I'm drawn to him... In a sexual kind of way."

Niel rubbed his face in frustration with his free hand then pulled a chair and sat down, placing the closed disposable bag of soiled diapers on the floor. He tried his level best to control his temper, heeding to the advice given by Yeon's dad on post marriage challengers but still, it was hard not to admit he was furious with Elric. Additionally, this discussion brought memories of his former relationship. He'd had the same conversation with Mijin before she finally convinced him on having an open relationship, something that he regretted doing to date.

"Now that you are attracted to another, are you indirectly asking me to divorce you?"

"Of course not! You are the only person I've let dominate me! It's just a little excitement in the bedroom that I'm after that's all"

"Does he know we are married?"

"He does."

"How many times have you met with him?"

"I'd say we've been having this discussion for the past three weeks."

Niel let out a low laugh. "So, while we slept together everyday, you were thinking of someone else..."

"No at all," Elric panicked a little and proceeded to place a gentle kiss on his fated's lips. He could seen now why there was a misunderstanding. "You're the only person I've liked through and through..."

Niel snickered. "Elric, I admit at first I was shocked by our fateship but the moment I accepted you, you became enough. Every time I told you I loved you, no mater how rare I'd say it, I meant every word."

Retreating, Elric looked away to hide his flushed expression. "I'm not doubting your affections towards me... Towards us or what we have..."

"Then why? Why seek for another? It only means you are not satisfied."

"A threesome... That's what I wanted but didn't know how to express it, or rather how you'd take it."

Niel's jaw dropped. " You've hardly recovered from parturition, no longer on morphine due to breastfeeding, you constantly complain of your back and reccuring abdominal cramps! How can you possibly harbor thoughts of being intimate with more than one person?"

"You don't have to make it sound like I'm being inconsiderate of my health..."

"Oh, you are not inconsiderate at all. You just want a little fun correct? Adventure in the bedroom, isn't that what you said?"

"Babe, I'm trying to be open to you about things I would like us to try. I wouldn't bring in another person without consulting you first. Besides, it's something we can look into in future and not immediately. I know I'll take a few more weeks to recover...and maybe breastfeeding will take longer but yes...I won't lie that I haven't thought about having a threesome..."

"Put yourself in my shoes for once Elric. How many people do you think have come here looking for you and I've had to ward off? One had the audacity to ask if I were your recent boytoy. Majority of them didn't know you got married let alone delivered and those that found out came to confirm if it were true!"

"Why didn't the help bring this to my attention? We could have moved out to a much more private location."

"Don't put blame on her when it's your past still chasing after you. These are consequences of your actions. You had been generous enough to share your address so what would you expect?"

"I told her not to tell you a word..."

"Why would you ask her to keep it from me?"

"Because it was my business."

"It's our business now Elric. Whatever affects you in turn affects me too. Spiritual essence, remember?"

Standing up, Elric said. "Look, if you oppose the idea, it's fine, we don't have to debate about it. At this point, I wonder how much that help knows of me. Why are you adamant about getting rid of her?"

"She helped me birth Luca and Lusha! I panicked Elric but she remembered to give Stan's uncle a call otherwise you might not have survived that day and the question you were asking of your demise, that would have become my reality and our babies."

"Whose side are you on?" Elric asked, unmoved by Niel's speech.

"I can't talk to you like this." Niel stood up as well and picked up the disposable bag he'd placed beside him. "I'll sleep with the kids tonight and give you time to cool off while you reflect on your threesome idea which I do not wish to partake in."

"Wait!" Elric exclaimed, regretting almost immediately. "If I've offended you, I apologise so let's not go to bed upset. I should have expected you would be against the idea but I just wanted to be honest with you."

"You've hurt my feelings Elric. Saying sorry alone doesn't cut it. I get that we've become less intimate but that is just me trying to protect your recovering body. Remember I'm also recovering from playing midwife. You saying you want to introduce someone else into our intimacy makes me feel inadequate."

"You're enough, I was stupid to have brought that up... I'm sorry so please, don't avoid me. I'm also not being unfaithful to you, lest it reaches the public eye or my uncles. I informed you earlier that after we wed, I can't afford to make any mistakes."

"Then if you were not ready for this union you should have not rushed us into marriage to claim that so called wealth which has brought about your trauma."

Niel's statement made Elric frown al little. "I aware I've offended you but you don't have to bring my father into this."

"You know I'm right. Everyone's eyes is on us. Your new love interest could have as well been a trap sent to lure you into a mistake as you've so put it."

"I did my background check on him before I came to you. He is clean."

"You're smarter than this Elric. You can't be complaisant just because all eyes are on the case and not us. We are no longer in college nor teenagers."

"Then what's your final decision?"

"If you want a threesome, don't involve me."

"I can't do it without you! I wouldn't be able to get hard without my my fated mate..."

Niel heard his stretched out patience snap and in as much as he could have pressed on with their whispering argument, he felt too tired to continue. For one, Elric rarely got upset and if he did, he'd be moody for days. Him on the other hand might say something he'd regret out of anger to get even. Finally, he concluded that the best way to resolve their issue was to postpone it to a later time when both of them were much more calmer. "I need some air."

"Wait..."

"I'm sorry too for putting a stop to your previously fun filled life." Niel said and begun walking towards the door and opened it.

"Babe, I said I was sorry..." Elric had been following him behind but then stopped midway at the sight of the help coming their way.

"Sorry to interrupt but there is an emergency?"

"What's going on?" Niel asked.

"Stan called... The one with the red eyed fated..."

"Yeon?"

"What happened to Yeon?" Elric asked in panic.

"He said he went missing..."

"What?" Both Niel and Elric exclaimed.

"Tell me exactly what he said." Elric demanded.

"He advised against informing your mother of the matter...to keep the location tracker on and that you get in touch with him as soon as possible..."

Instantly, Elric rushed towards his room and searched for his phone. Niel and the help had been right behind him. "Shit! Stan has called me multiple times. We have to call Yeon's parents and begin tracking him."

"The police have to be informed first..."

"We will but not now. Yeon has already had his case overruled twice remember? This time, we want to factor in proper timing before involving the police. Yeon's parents specifically requested to be informed if anything befell Yeon so less talk more action. Timing is of the essence."

Grabbing a sweater, Elric put it on in haste. "Everything must go as planned. First, you get in touch with Yeon's mother while I activate his tracker."

"Tracker?" Niel asked, completely lost.

"Yes. We've practiced this drill hundreds of times."

"What drill?"

"Yeon's engagement ring. It has a tracker in it."