Chapter 2

Bathing the toddlers was the most fun Namjoon ever had in the past two miserable years. Taehyung and Jimin always insists to bath together, and doesn’t seem on letting that habit drop for another two years or so.

It’s endearing in the best possible way, just watching the kids learn to grow, exploring the world with their soft hands and just as soft heart.

Namjoon thinks he’s going to die at a young age of 27 whenever Jimin looks over his shoulder and gives Namjoon his cute eye smiles, or when Taehyung just wont let go of Namjoon in his sleep, little fingers wrapped tight around Namjoon’s, and really, he doesn’t have the heart to let go.

Not to mention Seokjin.

Seokjin, laid out on his side in Jimin’s bed, threading his hand through Jimin’s soft hair, propped up on one hand, as his eyes droop lightly, stomach full and content with just a bit too much of fried ice-cream.

It’s a Saturday anyways, and he’s free from any duties tomorrow, so he lies down, hoping Taehyung doesn’t mind Namjoon sharing a blanket with him, and the toddler obviously is more than okay with it as he mushes his face into Namjoon’s shirt as little puffs of air warm Namjoon’s chest, Seokjin following Namjoon to lie down, the moon shining through the curtains, blessing the happy family with its silvery light.

-

The sun quickly takes over the darkness of the peaceful night, and just a bit too quickly for Seokjin as his eyes open before anyone else.

He has a moment of panic as he looks over Jimin’s shoulder, body settling back into the mattress comfortably as his eyes land on Namjoon’s sleeping figure, Taehyung secure in his arms.

Seokjin can’t tear his gaze away, because it’s all so natural and warming he thinks he’s going to cry from all of it, finally seeing Namjoon after those times.

He’s endured more than he’d let on, when Jimin and Taehyung were still babies and he was a man, for goodness sake. Seokjin couldn’t breastfeed nor have motherly instincts that left him swallowed in panic as the boys cried and cried throughout their first month in Seokjin’s care, but he really didn’t know what to do but feed and change the occasional diapers, which neither had a smooth beginning too, just like bathing, late night feeding, cleaning, and a lot more Seokjin didn’t want to go back into.

He’d made through, struggling, but helped, with much thanks to Hoseok, his long time friend and best friend. He may be just as clueless as Seokjin when it came to caretaking, but an extra helping hand is always appreciated.

Jimin and Taehyung grew healthily, and Yoongi started to come less and less due to a big collaborative work with one of the top artists, and he’d been asked countless times if he and Yoongi were dating.

But no. Seokjin could’ve given a go at his love life, but he always believed Namjoon would be back.

Like now.

There’s a calming aura that always seems to radiate off Namjoon, even though there’s a three year old snoring and drooling on his shirt, it always evens out Seokjin’s breath when he’s looking at Namjoon, at that serene look on his face when he thinks no one is watching him and goes off into his own world.

Jimin stirs quietly, immediately rolling out of Seokjin’s embrace to look over at Taehyung’s bed. For a moment, Seokjin can read the child’s panicked look as he thinks Namjoon is gone, but relaxed immediately he’s still there.

Seokjin rubs circles into Jimin’s tummy, a tactic that would calm him except in the worst of tantrums. “Still here, baby,” He whispers, and Jimin sits up, tilting his head as he gets a good look at Namjoon. “Daddy?” Jimin asks, tugging at Seokjin, who’s sitting up and cradling his son into his warm arms.

“Yes Jimin?” Seokjin combs Jimin’s hair with his fingers, already guessing what the toddler was going to ask.

“Is... Is papa going to stay forever?” Jimin looks up at Seokjin, expectancy clear in his wide eyes.

Seokjin glances over to Namjoon, praying, praying.

“Yes.”

-

He’s glad both Namjoon and Taehyung tend to sleep until noon, because it left Seokjin with a lot of alone time to think to himself.

Jimin is quiet, already understanding the importance of privacy to Seokjin despite being three. Seokjin finds comfort hugging Jimin while the toddler watches the morning cartoon shows, not moving at all.

The children had taken in the fact of a new member added to the family surprisingly well. Of course, it might’ve had something to do with Seokjin telling them Namjoon would be back, but especially Taehyung, who had developed a very quick liking to Namjoon, didn’t even once question Namjoon’s sudden presence.

He’d also lied a bit. Seokjin couldn’t promise Namjoon would stay, but seeing the look in his eyes when he held Jimin and Taehyung in his arms...

Seokjin shakes his head and buries his nose into Jimin’s hair, who didn’t protest. It’s way too early in the morning, and neither of them are hungry enough to want breakfast, so Seokjin lies down, Jimin snuggling up on the sofa, seeking for comfort that Seokjin happily complied with, and father and son fall asleep once again.

When they wake up, the sun is high up in the sky and Taehyung is looming over Seokjin. “Daddy!! Wake up!” The child yells, patting at Seokjin’s shoulder.

“I’m awake, thank you, Taetae.” Seokjin gently smiles at his son as Jimin cuddles further into his arms.

Namjoon steps out from behind, looking at a sleepy Jimin. “I can wake him up,” He offers, “And you can go get ready.” Seokjin is blinded with a soft smile, dimples forming at the sides of Namjoon’s mouth.

“For...?” Seokjin looks up tiredly at Namjoon, feeling Jimin lull his head, slowly awaking from his slumber.

Taehyung butts in, playing with Seokjin’s fingers. “Papa promised to go to the park with Mickey!”

“Disneyland, huh.” Seokjin smiles to himself, handing Jimin over to Namjoon.

The movement is almost natural, like they’d been doing it for the past years, and Seokjin tries not to blush like a teenager as their fingers brush briefly.

Namjoon doesn’t seem to take note of the contact as he ushers Jimin into his embrace, cooing and muttering little phrases into the child’s ear, even placing little kisses on his chubby cheeks here and there.

Taehyung insists to go along with Seokjin to brush his teeth, so as he sits the toddler on the bathroom counter, he can’t help but think of an entirely new aspect in life, of kids, and of a profound love.

-

The amusement park is filled with screaming kids and little girls in princess dresses scraping Namjoon’s bare legs every now and then, (seriously, are their dresses made of steel wool?) and he holds on to Jimin just as hard as the toddler does.

It’s more than obvious Jimin doesn’t like all the people and oh, the noise. Namjoon makes mental notes to steer clear of the rides within a ten-feet radius, what with Jimin flinching and burying his face into Namjoon’s neck whenever another child screams.

Taehyung, however, seems to be the exact opposite of his brother as he pulls a pale-faced Seokjin onto every scariest ride the three year old’s height could allow him, and when Seokjin looked like he would puke after the 13th turn on the spinning teacups, did Namjoon step in, taking Seokjin’s place to satisfy Taehyung’s adrenaline needs.

After Taehyung comes back, dizzy and crashing into everything within his sight, Jimin decides he has the courage to try out the Dumbo flying cars that goes up and down whenever the rider moves the lever accordingly.

For all Seokjin says about being terrified, he is 25 after all and thus should not be scared of children rides. So he marches onwards, with Jimin happily skipping along.

Namjoon watches in amusement as he holds Taehyung in his arms, snapping a few pictures of Seokjin yelling as Jimin grabs tight onto the rail, both face pale even though they’re trying to raise their blue Dumbo to its highest.

Taehyung shaking Namjoon, telling him he wants to go next, and Namjoon happily agrees, taking another picture once Seokjin and Jimin’s cart cycle back towards Namjoon’s direction.

Once the duo get off, Namjoon quickly walks towards them, Taehyung matching the grin on his face.

Seokjin looks a bit weak in the knees, but his face is bright and blushed. Jimin looks totally fine, small teeth showing as he grins back at Taehyung. “Daddy,” Jimin tugs on Seokjin’s pants, “I want to go on the spinny teacups like Taetae did!”

Namjoon witnesses the amazing process of Seokjin’s face immediately drained from its red color. He begins to think of an excuse, which Seokjin is horribly shitty at, but Namjoon cuts in to save the day, just in time.

“Taetae and I want to go on the ride too, so please can you wait?” Namjoon kneels at eye level with Jimin, setting Taehyung down.

Jimin nods, and offers to take Namjoon’s bag.

Seokjin smiles. “That’s really sweet of you, Jiminie,” He takes Namjoon’s bag, “But I think Taehyung would like it better if you held his bag, yes?”

Nodding once more, Jimin takes Taehyung’s bag, smiling at his brother before waving to them as Namjoon boards the ride, hefting Taehyung up.

Taehyung looks a bit startled as the ride shudders and slowly cascades upwards, but relaxes as soon as the ride steadies itself, the view of the entire amusement park spread out below them.

Namjoon takes Taehyung’s hand in his own large one and points to the more exciting rides. “When you’re older and much, much taller, you can play on those big rides.”

Taehyung looks at Namjoon, eyes wide. “Will you still be there when I’m a big boy, papa?”

Namjoon knows all that’s going on in Taehyung’s mind is innocent and unintentional, but the question hits Namjoon exactly where it hurts.

He kisses the top of Taehyung’s head, who is invested in playing with the lever. “Well, if you want to.”

Their Dumbo swings away from Seokjin and Jimin’s view, and Taehyung puts down his waving hand. “I do!” The child cries, Dumbo soaring upwards to prove his point.

“Do you-” Namjoon swallows a bit before he carefully asks, “Do you and Jimin like me? As a father?”

Taehyung nods, eyes sparkling as he answers Namjoon. “We do! And Jimin says he wants to see you forever, and I think so too!”

Namjoon smiles, the warm expression rising from the bottom of his heart. “Thank you, Taetae, thank you so much.” He hold the little hand tight, and makes a silent promise to never let go.

But just maybe when Taehyung yanks the lever down and Namjoon grabs onto the rail, face pale and terrified just as Seokjin captures his expression perfectly down on the ground.

-

Jimin and Taehyung nearly blackout as soon as their heads touch their car seats, but Namjoon manages to hold the both of them up as Seokjin straps on the seatbelts, trying not to let the toddlers fall right out of the car.

Namjoon insists he drive, and Seokjin complies, sitting on the passenger seat as he closes his eyes for the next five minutes.

But Seokjin can’t sleep, and his eyes are wide open while his drowsiness fades with every passing second. Listening to the soft snores emitting from Taehyung and exhales of air from Jimin, Seokjin decides to ask the question that has been looming over him like Death ever since he saw Namjoon patting Taehyung to sleep.

“Are you, uh,” Seokjin’s voice catches like an idiot and he clears his throat, “Are you staying? Like, I mean, they really don’t want you to go and, um,” Seokjin can’t bear to spare a glance at Namjoon, “You are their father, but I mean, like, I think the presence of the other parent would be good for them, but if you think things are too-” Seokjin is really blubbering and stuttering now, hands fidgeting at the hem of his jacket. And it is exactly that unfortunate moment when he decides to peek at Namjoon, who raises his eyebrows and widens his eyes for just a while.

“I know.” Namjoon’s voice is soft and non-catching, unlike Seokjin’s, and he continues, “I’ll stay. But give me some time. I can get us a new place where we four and fit in nicely.”

Seokjin is overjoyed, much more than he’d admit himself. But he was an adult, and that meant there were things to worry about.

“But the money,” Seokjin whispers. “I can get by fine with the kids, but a new apartment...” His voice trails off, gaze wandering among the vast land outside the window.

The car enters a long tunnel and Namjoon takes the time to smile at Seokjin. “It’s fine, really. I’m on a big project at work, and hopefully I’m getting a big, kind share out of it.”

Seokjin smiles back, but one could probably guess what was on his mind when money wasn’t even the biggest problem.

Namjoon, being the smart cookie he is, picks up on Seokjin’s anxious behaviours. “Look, Seokjin,” He glances at the sleeping kids behind, “They like me enough to sleep with them for a night. I like them just as much. And I owe you too much.” Seokjin looks at Namjoon in surprise, but the taller continues driving calmly. “Three years, three whole years, and I wasn’t by your side. I left you all alone, and please, let me make it up to you.”

Seokjin takes Namjoon’s resting hand on the control stick, it’s warmth and sincerity ever so familiar.

“Okay.”

-

The door shuts behind Seokjin with only a full ‘thud’. He’d gotten much better at closing doors without making too much noise, Jimin being a light sleeper and Taehyung bouncing up whenever he hears his brother wake up, despite being in a deep slumber.

Seokjin picks up the scattered toys and clothes on the floor, putting them away neatly. He shuffles back to the living room, and it’s barely eleven. Way too early for his standards.

His phone buzzes on the coffee table, Seokjin glad to see Hoseok messaging him. Seokjin had told him all that happened these two days, but the social butterfly needed a complete 12 hours to reply to messages, even though it was juicy gossip and from his own best friend.

22:37 Seokie~: am i reading this wrong

22:38 Seokie~: ...no way ur serious

22:38 Seokie~: oh

22:39 Seokie~: my gods

22:42 Seokie~: hey dumb ***** u have read receipts on im calling u

Seokjin looks at the screen, and sure enough, Hoseok calls after a heartbeat. Seokjin takes a deep breath, and presses the answer button.

“Hey, Seok.”

“Kim-muthafuckin-Seokjin please don’t tell me that’s the Kim Namjoon. The bastard that dumped you when you adopted two kids.” Hoseok is practically yelling, prancing nervously around his own apartment like he was Blitzen.

Seokjin winces. They hadn’t brought up the incident for a long time, because Hoseok thought it was a taboo subject and he wasn’t one to actually butt his nose in Seokjin’s business, what with the two of them meeting half a year later. But now...

“Yeah, apparently.”

Hoseok huffs. “Really, you ought to be much, much more careful about this. What if Namjoon-??” He nags Seokjin on and on, and when Hoseok pauses to catch his breath does Seokjin butt in, “We were drunk, Hoseok.”

Seokjin can practically feel Hoseok’s scorching glare through the phone. “And you want to get back together with him? After all this?”

Yes. No. Maybe. “I have no idea. I just want to see how it goes down.”

Hoseok pauses. “So he’s gonna move in?”

“No. Namjoon says he’s got enough money to buy a new apartment that can fit the four of us. I don’t know... if he wants us to be a- a thing again. He said he wanted to make it all up to me, but I’m not even sure if he actually means he still likes me or something.”

A sigh emits from the opposite of the line. “My biggest guess is yes. It would be good for both you and the kids, considering they are already attached to Namjoon.”

Seokjin hums in agreement, fingers curling and uncurling around the cushions. “Speaking of which, they adapted to him pretty fast.”

His best friend chuckles lightly. “They’re kids, after all. They immediately learn to love their other parent once he appears in front of them. Jinnie, you’ve got to remember they’re three year olds, not thirty. Why would they complain, when they already have all they want in their lives?”

Seokjin peeks into the toddlers’ room with his phone still held close to his ear. Jimin is tucked in nicely, Taehyung hugging the blanket to himself as he snores gently.

Closing the door once more, Seokjin smiles, despite Hoseok not being able to see it. “Hey, relationship expert Jung, how’s it going with your own love life?”

Hoseok groans. “Bad.”

It’s Seokjin’s is turn to tease him. “Seokie, you’re gonna die alone if you don’t settle down soon.”

“Like I don’t ******* know.” Hoseok grumbles. “You have kids and a happy family and I’m still eating ramen for dinner.”

“Look, how about this.” Seokjin plops on his bed, switching on the nightlight. “As soon as I’m settled in the new apartment, I’ll get Namjoon to bring his friends along and I’ll bring mine, which means you’re coming and meet someone of your annoyingly detailed type. Yes?”

“Whatever,” Hoseok grumbles again. “It’s almost like you’re saying moving in with Namjoon is a permanent and soon thing.”

Seokjin blushes, glad to be on the phone for once. “I did not.”

“Yes, you did.” Hoseok fakes crying. “I’m gonna go cry to poor single ol’ me, so talk later?”

“Yeah.” Seokjin laughs. “And hey, Jinnie?” Hoseok calls lightly.

“Hmm?”

“I really hope things with Namjoon turn out right. I mean it. You two... kind of fit, from what I hear. Really. Coming from your best friend. Don’t over stress things, okay?”

“Thank you, Seokie. You’re the best.”

“I know I am. Good night!” Hoseok teases, and ends the call.

Seokjin chuckles, and pulls a blanket over himself before everything goes black.

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