Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They watched their eleven month old taking steady steps on the blanket on the floor. He had started walking so early, and Taehyung wished he could keep him as a little baby for longer.

“It’s too bad Hyunseo is so much older. I wish he could have someone his age to play with when he gets bigger. I loved that so much when I was a kid.”

Jeongguk nodded. “That would be nice.” He looked at Taehyung under his lashes and licked his lips. “Y’know… we could always just… make one.”

Taehyung was confused for a moment, thinking he meant make a scarecrow child or something. But then he realized he meant… he shook his head, “No, no, no.”

“No? But you wanted a girl.”

Taehyung sighed and looked to the ceiling. After a minute: “I did want a girl really badly.”

“Let’s have a girl.”

“No.”

“Just think about it.”

“...Fine.”

“Prog. Prog, prog, prog, prog.”

Taehyung laughed. He was helping his 18 month old baby clean his teeth and wash his hands in the river.

“Yes, Hajoonie. We love frogs. And who else are we going to see today, darling?” Recently he had been understanding an impressive amount of what he and Jeongguk said to him.

“Nana.”

“Yes!” Taehyung exclaimed. “You’re so smart, Hajoonie.”

“Bana Nana.” He put his fingers in his mouth.

“No, baby, we just cleaned those. That’s right, Bana Nana. Are you excited?”

“Prog!”

He lay in the hammock, watching Jeongguk splash around in the lake with Hajoon. It was nice to get out of the warm summer sun and under the shade. Their two year old was proving to be a little water boy, trying to go deep and doggy paddle so he could swim just like his daddy. He ran around on the beach and played sea monster with Jeongguk. He was turning out to be full of energy, always skipping around and trying to learn as much about the world as he could.

Taehyung held him on his chest as he slept, his body warm from the sun. Big highs meant big lows.

Jeongguk stood on a dock in the water, the waves lapping over the planks shallowly. “Baby. Watch this.”

“I’m watching.”

He squatted and jumped as high as he could to form a cannonball, before plunging into the water like a bomb.

He came out and flicked his hair out of his face, his wet muscled shoulders yellow as they reflected the sunlight. He wiped water from his mouth. “Did you see that? I think that was the biggest one yet.”

He was so handsome, smiling so wide and with his hair slicked back. “I’m in awe. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Yeah? You sure?” Jeongguk rumbled out. He was on an elbow braced over him, slicking up his cock on his pussy which was dripping in his heat. Their two year old was staying with his Nana, and they were all alone in the dark house as the lantern flickered on the nightstand.

“Yes, Guk. Let’s make another baby.”

It wasn’t by chance that Jeongguk found them. They had walked right into his territory. It was lucky he was checking the traps so far out, so he could catch them first.

They were two city wolves, their eyes wide and scared. They had too many things on their back, but probably needed it in the cold snow. He thought he recognized one as the quiet beta girl that had accompanied Taehyung in a group once upon a time.

He let himself be seen, to see what they would do. He stood with one foot on the trail ahead of them, snow crunching loudly under his boot.

They stilled as they stopped in their tracks, eyes running up and down his body. The boy stood protectively in front of the girl.

“We’re looking for Kim Taehyung.”

He stayed silent, unmoving. Something unfamiliar wrapped its cold claws around his gut. Fear.

“Please. We just want to know if he’s alive. Did he die?”

It wouldn’t do for them take Taehyung away from him.

“We just want to see him, please. I have to know.”

What if Taehyung saw them and their colorful things and would rather go home with them?

“Please,” she was weeping quietly now. “I know you know. Please, even if it's just a grave, I just need to see him.”

Taehyung loved him. Taehyung wouldn’t leave him.

He cocked his head in a motion for them to follow. He led them along the easy but meandering trail, turning left at the fork. At fifteen minutes away from the clearing, he held his hands out for them to stop. He pointed at the ground. “Stay.”

When they nodded, he turned and slunk back into the woods. He ran home.

“Taehyung. There’s city people here.”

“What?” Taehyung stood, his stomach dropping to the floor. “In the village?” God, what if it was his family?

“No, they can’t come here. They’re waiting on the trail. They asked for you.”

In a daze, he wrapped his daughter in the sling around himself. Could it be his family? He struggled to imagine his mom and grandma hiking through the snowy mountains.

Jeongguk carried Hajoon on his hip and led them past the clearing to the trail in the forest.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Where are we going?”

“To see one of Mommy’s friends. Can you be really quiet for me, Hajoonie? As quiet as a mouse?”

“Yes, Dada.”

Taehyung’s mind was racing, memories of his old life running on a reel. Who cared enough to look for him? Miyoung had seen him off, but in actuality he had only known her a few months. Could it be his doctors?

Jeongguk set Hajoon down and went up ahead, his scent strong as he prepared to defend his territory and protect his family.

Taehyung slowly walked forward, one arm around his baby and one holding Hajoon’s hand.

He caught sight of Jeongguk’s back first. Guarding them.

He walked forward further and peered over his shoulder.

“Oh my god,” he breathed, tearing up. It was Miyoung and her brother, both looking older. She had a cute short bob now, her face slimmer.

She was also emotional, hand coming to cup her mouth. “Taehyung.”

He stepped forward. “It’s okay, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk stepped to the side after a moment, one hand raising up like he feared they would attack.

Taehyung held his baby tighter as Miyoung ran her eyes over his children.

“You’re not dead.”

He smiled, swallowing back tears. “I’m not. I’m with Jeongguk.”

She glanced at the alpha, then back to Taehyung. “Sorry for coming here like this. I couldn’t take not knowing anymore.”

“It’s okay,” he assured. “I said I would come back. I’m sorry. Things changed.”

She nodded, eyes on Hajoon who was quiet and examining the city dwellers with wide eyes.

“Will you come back?” she asked.

Taehyung found the question absurd, and his own reaction surprised him.

“No,” he said easily. Hadn’t she seen his mate mark? He pulled his cloak away from his neck, revealing it.

She wasn’t surprised. There was a quiet acceptance there. Her eyes flickered over to Jeongguk again, probably trying to get a glimpse of the matching one. His body was tense, ready for anything.

“Okay.” She looked at the bundle wrapped to Taehyung’s body, visible as his arms around it held his cloak open. Taehyung assessed her brother, Hyunjin. He was tall and stood behind her protectively, but his face showed no unease as he also took in their little family.

“I just had to know. See for myself.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m happy for you, Taehyung.”

Taehyung thought about his Nana’s words, and it made his throat thick.

Wouldn’t that other Taehyung be happy for you?

Miyoung took a step forward and held her arms out. Taehyung brushed past Jeongguk, releasing Hajoon’s hand to leave him there.

He embraced her as best he could with a baby between them. His waterline was wet with tears as he sniffed and breathed in her light sweet scent.

She pulled back and smiled at him, then the baby in his sling. He turned and revealed her sleeping face pressed to his chest, a cap over her head. “This is my daughter.”

“She’s perfect,” she blinked and wiped tears out of her eye with a forefinger. “Your family is beautiful, Taehyung. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

“Don’t be,” he repeated her words. “It’s good you know now. I’m happy, Miyoung.”

He wished he could post the news on their local news station website. He wanted everyone to know how well he was doing, how happy he was and how beautiful his family was. His grandmother could eat a dick.

“I’m so glad, Taehyungie. Thank you,” she bowed to Jeongguk, who just nodded once. “Thank you,” she repeated as she backed away to return to the cities.

Taehyung let her, without a word.

A week later, Jeongguk told him he had something for him.

“It’s my very last courting gift.”

“What?” Taehyung laughed. “We’re already mated, babe.”

Jeongguk chuckled. “I know. This one’s a little different, though. It’s technically yours.”

Taehyung furrowed his brows as he smiled and sat in front of the fire, wondering what it could be.

Jeongguk sat next to him, their knees brushing. “Hold out your hand.”

Taehyung did so, keeping his eyes on his palm and wondering what would be placed there. Jeongguk pulled his arm from behind his back to press something shiny into his palm.

His smile faded and he went still as he stared. They were his glasses, the ones with black rims that he had worn on his school trip. He remembered them because he had never gotten the same pair again. They were the ones that were involved with their very first interaction, when Jeongguk swiped them from the ground then kidnapped him.

His fingers curled over them as his heart ballooned in his chest. Why did that memory seem like a comfort?

“You kept them all this time?” His eyes couldn’t leave the black frames peeking through his fingers.

Jeongguk cleared his throat. “I did. It was something special. To remember you by.”

Hot tears filled his eyes rapidly. “But you don’t need something to remember me by. Not anymore.”

Jeongguk leaned in close, rough hand coming to settle over his neck. “No. I don’t. I’ll always have you.”

Taehyung leaned forward to kiss him. “We’ll always have each other, Jeonggukie.”

“No, Hajoon, come here!” Taehyung called. His three year old was toddling over the rocks, surely off to get himself killed.

“No, baby, shh, just let him do his thing. This is how I learned how to live in the mountains, my parents let me explore. I’ll get him if it’s unsafe.”

Taehyung pouted.

“Daddy, look! I’m a tonado!” Hajoon spun around slowly with his arms out, head tilted back. He almost hit his little sister, waddling around wrapped tight in her winter clothes.

“A tonado… oh, you’re a tornado! Wow,” Jeongguk laughed, “you’re blowing me away, Hajoonie.”

“You see that?” Taehyung pointed up to the stars. They had come to the moon celebration hill on a crescent moon night, so they could stargaze. “That’s Orion’s belt. The three stars next to each other.”

“Owion,” his daughter repeated, looking in the opposite direction from his finger.

“That’s right. Do you like it?”

“Yeah,” she smiled sweetly.

“Okay, this is how you do it. Very carefully set your toe down first, then the rest of your foot. Like this. Can you try?” Jeongguk asked his five year old son.

“Yes!”

Jeongguk laughed. “Okay, go!”

His little brows furrowed in concentration and his tongue stuck out slightly. He picked up his thin leg and set it down like he was shown, not making a noise.

“You did it, Hajoonie! Good job!” Taehyung cheered from his spot. His son’s mask of concentration broke and he giggled and jumped up and down.

Jeongguk smiled fondly at his mate. “That was excellent. Let’s try another. If you get good at this, you can go hunting with Daddy.”

“Yes! I want to go hunting with Daddy!”

Jeongguk laughed heartily. The lines around his eyes crinkled handsomely. “You will, pup. Okay, show me another one.”

There was a full moon celebration tonight. It was cold, so not many people showed up. But Hajoon always had too much energy, and loved to run around the hill with Hyunseo and fill up on snacks. Nana had Doah in her arms, and was in deep discussion with her about the village’s current state of affairs.

Jeongguk had pulled him out of a chat with Yoongi so they could dance in front of the fire.

“You know I’m not very good with this.”

“Don’t worry, this is all you need to do. Here,” Jeongguk lifted Taehyung’s hands to bring them behind his neck. “Just like this.”

Taehyung curled his arms behind Jeongguk’s head, resting them on his shoulders. Jeongguk wrapped his hands around his waist, and together they swayed in time with the beat Jimin was pounding out on a drum.

“This is nice,” Taehyung smiled softly.

Jeongguk returned it, coming in close to kiss him. He pressed their foreheads together and led them as they barely moved side to side. “It‘s perfect now.”

“You’ll always love me, won’t you baby?”

“I will.”

“I’ll always love you too.”