Work Text:
****
When it first happens, Jungkook doesn’t even notice. Things have been so busy around the compound with the upcoming conference - and not to mention Jungsoo’s extracurriculars in school - that he finds himself falling back into old habits, putting everyone else’s well being over his own. Sometimes it’s like it hasn’t even been ten years - but in Jungkook’s defense it didn’t even seem possible.
****
It starts with tiredness - which isn’t anything unusual by itself.
Jungsoo is getting older now and less likely to want to crawl around on the floor to play like he used to as a pup, but there are still times when he seems to get into a particularly playful mood. Times when he begs him and Taehyung to play pretend, or tag, or any of the dozen made-up games Jungsoo and his friends created at school.
“Please,” he always starts, with his big brown eyes and a pouty lip, and Jungkook is already close to caving when Taehyung will give him a look over Jungsoo’s head so full of fondness that Jungkook crumples like wet tissue paper. “Please, please, please-!”
“Okay, okay,” Jungkook sighs, already smiling when Jungsoo jumps in excitement, already darting off to grab whatever it is he needs for some new game with increasingly more complicated rules.
Taehyung grins at him and Jungkook can only roll his eyes. “He gets his persistence from you,” Taehyung says, a finger hooking around Jungkook’s belt loops to tug him closer, and Jungkook’s nose scrunches in a look of mock defiance.
“How dare you,” Jungkook says, “I’m perfect.”
And Taehyung can only bark out a laugh, his body pressing closer as Jungkook’s chin tips up, his eyes already closing for the kiss he knows is coming.
“Ew,” comes from behind them and Jungkook sags into Taehyung’s arms, his forehead hitting his shoulder. Taehyung laughs again, louder this time, and Jungkook peeks behind him to see Jungsoo gag, his cheeks puffed out in an exaggerated look of disgust.
“Oh, did you want a kiss too?” Taehyung asks and suddenly it’s Jungkook’s turn to stifle a giggle as Taehyung slips around him to reach for their son, a grin on his face as Jungsoo’s face lights up, shrieking as the alpha starts to chase him through the halls of their home.
Jungkook can’t hide his laughter any longer as Jungsoo shrieks again, louder this time, and he hears Taehyung loudly proclaim his victory. Their son laughs, his giggles getting louder and louder and as Jungkook gets closer he can see the two of them wrestling across the floor.
“Easy you two,” Jungkook calls and he snorts when Taehyung almost immediately bonks his head on the leg of one of the tables. Jungkook can only watch, a hand reaching for his phone to pull up his camera as their son tries his best to pin the alpha to the floor.
In a blink Jungkook feels himself sway back on his feet and he leans up against the wall, blinking a wave of tiredness from his eyes. Taehyung’s head pops up from where he’s pretending to struggle against Jungsoo’s tiny fists but Jungkook waves him down. They’ve all been working hard recently and this is isn’t the first time this week he’s gotten a little winded from the bare minimum. He isn’t the same wolf he used to be - neither of them are.
“I got you, Alpha!” Jungsoo suddenly shouts and Jungkook grins as Taehyung flings his arms out to the sides, his body a limp noodle on the floor of their living room. “I win!”
Taehyung groans, faking exhaustion, and Jungsoo beams as Taehyung slowly pats him on the shoulder. “You win,” he admits, as if it actually pains him to say it. “You’re getting so strong now, Soo!”
“Daddy, daddy, did you see?” Jungsoo asks, whipping around to where Jungkook stands and the omega smiles, tucking his phone back into his pocket. Jimin will appreciate the blackmail.
“I saw, baby,” he says and he wanders closer, settling on the edge of the couch near where they still sit sprawled across the floor. Taehyung isn’t winded, not with something as light as a little wrestling, but Jungsoo’s cheeks are pink with exertion, his eyes almost brighter than his smile. His smile is a perfect copy of Taehyung’s, and Jungkook loves it.
They’ve worked hard to not make Jungsoo feel inferior as a beta - a fact that his doctor had told them just a year before during a routine checkup. There was no need to wait for a presentation, she had said, because every test they could have run all came back negative. No ruts, no heats, and no distinctive scent or primal instinct.
Jungkook knows there will always be bullies in the world, knows that he can’t protect Jungsoo against what other packs might say or even other kids at his school, but they can do their best here to give him the support and encouragement he needs, and deserves. Besides, it’s not as if Yoongi hasn’t been waiting years to officially teach the little boy how to defend himself.
‘A pack leader needs to know how to throw a punch,’ he had said. Jungkook knew what he really meant.
“You okay, darling?”
Taehyung drops down beside him on the couch, Jungsoo already having forgotten whatever game they were meant to play, and Jungkook gives him a smile. “I’m fine,” he assures and Taehyung only gives him a look. The bond between them hums and Jungkook leans in, stealing the kiss he’d been cheated out of before.
Taehyung’s lips curl into a smile, a heavy hand coming up to cradle the back of Jungkook’s neck. “You’re distracting me,” he murmurs and Jungkook only gives his lip a little bite. Just a little one.
“Is it working?”
Taehyung’s eyes almost sparkle. “A little.”
“I’m just a little tired,” Jungkook assures and Taehyung hums. Jungkook steals another kiss, and then another. His limbs feel a little heavy, a hint of exhaustion dragging at his muscles, but he can ignore it. “You know how things are.”
“You’ll tell me if you aren’t feeling good?” Taehyung asks and Jungkook can only smile wider.
By the moon, how much he loves this man.
“Of course,” he promises and Taehyung leans back, content. “Now where’d the pup run off to?”
****
It’s the cravings that come next. In hindsight, Jungkook should have known better.
“You never want fast food,” is all Taehyung can say at first, and Jungkook doesn’t blame him. For years Taehyung has been the “designated” cook of the house, more comfortable behind the stove than Jungkook has ever been, and Jungkook has always appreciated a good home cooked meal.
But god damn it, Jungkook wanted McDonald’s and last he checked his mate wasn’t a burger flipping clown.
“Well I do today!” Taehyung’s brows raise and Jungkook immediately flushes, a hand rising to his mouth. “Oh my god, I didn’t mean for that to come out like that,” he quickly says but Taehyung only waves it off. He steps closer and Jungkook lets himself get pulled into his mate’s arms, Taehyung’s scent settling the sudden spike of irritation that bubbles beneath his skin.
“You’re okay, darling,” he assures and Jungkook frowns. Jungsoo ignores them from his seat at the counter, a spoon held between his teeth as he swiped across the screen of his iPad - a birthday present from his uncle. “I can go get some and bring it back? What do you want?”
All at once Jungkook shakes his head, his hands grasping at Taehyung’s hoodie. Or maybe it was Jungkook’s? “Don’t go,” he urges and Taehyung’s hand comes around to settle at the small of his back.
“I can… call Namjoon?” Taehyung offers, clearly confused but unwilling to press further, and Jungkook relaxes. His mate correctly takes that as a “yes”, and Jungkook stands there tucked tightly in Taehyung’s arms as his mate calls up the beta. He can hear Namjoon’s voice clearly where he stands, and he can hear the confusion in his voice when Taehyung easily bribes him to bring over a nearly frightening large amount of burgers - by Jungkook’s order.
“Burgers?” The beta repeats. “For breakfast?”
“With extra pickles,” Jungkook says sleepily. Taehyung repeats it.
There’s a beat of silence before Namjoon chuffs a low laugh and Jeongguk hears the creak of a door opening over the phone. “And what else does our Luna want?” He teases, but Jungkook’s brow furrows in thought. His hand slides under Taehyung’s hoodie, absorbing the warmth.
“Honey mustard,” he demands. Taehyung tips the phone towards him. “And a caramel frappuccino.” Namjoon only sighs and Jungkook smiles.
“I get first pick for our next movie night,” the beta demands.
“Deal.” Having to sit through a three hour documentary about the political climate of France, or the migratory patterns of geese, feels worth it. He can almost taste the beef already.
Taehyung tacks on a few more things and Jungkook smiles in success when he hangs up. “What’s gotten into you lately?” Taehyung jokes and Jungkook lets himself be swayed side to side. Nothing like slow dancing to the sound of Minecraft music through a YouTube let’s play.
“Hm, I don’t know,” Jungkook shrugs, tucking his face into Taehyung’s shoulder, “just woke up weird I guess.”
“Well, I doubt it’s because of your heat,” Taehyung wonders. Jungkook’s heat has been fairly regular for the last several years - with the help of some reliable doctors and his body finally regulating itself after years of abuse. His last had been just about two months before and Jungkook hasn’t had post-heat symptoms in years.
“Might be stress,” Jungkook offers and Taehyung slowly turns them around. Jungkook is barely aware of how Taehyung gently nudges things back where they belong, his previous breakfast plans thwarted.
They stay like that for a moment, half their attention on their son as he finishes his food, tucking his dishes in the sink before scurrying off to his room. They eventually move to the front porch to enjoy some of the sunshine, and to wait for Jungkook’s food.
Jungkook curls up beside Taehyung, content to feel the breeze through his hair as the sun slowly rises in the sky. Taehyung’s hand slowly trails up and down his spine, his sneakers scuffing over the porch floor as he gently rocks the wide porch swing back and forth.
Like this, Jungkook can almost forget the craving gnawing at his stomach.
The crunch of tires over gravel brings it right back, however.
Jungkook perks up as Namjoon’s car comes into view, his alpha already standing up to meet him halfway. His mouth waters a little as the familiar bag comes into view, hands already outstretched for it as Taehyung hops back up the steps. He barely remembers to throw a wave in Namjoon’s direction, the other already elbow deep into the bag.
The first bite of a pickle dipped in mustard simultaneously makes Taehyung cringe just as Jeongguk groans, his head thrown back.
“Kook,” Taehyung’s expression twists, “are you sure you’re okay?”
Jungkook ignores him, ripping open the next burger.
****
The third, and final, clue is the morning sickness - and Taehyung isn’t even there for it. Jungkook tells him later he just must have awful timing.
As luck would have it, it takes nearly ten weeks for it to kick in. Right when the conference starts.
Jungkook wakes up to his stomach flipping, has to scramble to the bathroom, proceeds to throw up everything he’s eaten in the last 24 hours and then some - and his mate isn’t even here. He’s off in the city, preparing to rub elbows with the Elders and keep the other packs in line.
The sun isn’t even up yet.
“Daddy?”
Jungkook flinches where he’s knelt over the toilet, his eyes squinting through the sudden bright light as Jungsoo peeks into the bathroom, one hand outstretched towards the light switch. “Hey, baby,” Jungkook greets, his voice hoarse and his throat grating. “Did I wake you up?”
Jungsoo walks closer, concern clear on his face. He reaches for a washcloth without being asked, wetting it at the sink before handing it down. Jungkook gives him a smile before wiping the sweat and sick from his face. “Should I call Uncle Jimin?”
Jungkook wants to say no - really, he does - but there’s a part of him that reminds him how stupid that would be. He can’t parent when he feels like this, and he can already feel his insides twisting again, bile rising to the back of his throat. “Would you?” He asks and Jungsoo gives him a quick nod, already turning to scurry off to grab Jungkook’s phone. “Bring it here when you’re done!” He calls after him, promptly keeling over again with another retch.
Jungkook’s face presses against the seat, relishing in how cool it is against his cheek. HIs knees ache where he’s knelt on the tile but he’s had worse and so he ignores it for now. He doesn’t trust himself to stand up quite yet. He even eyes the bathtub, wondering if it might be worth it to just spend the morning there instead. Clean up would be easy, his tired brain reasons.
“Uncle Jimin says he’s gonna come over,” Jungsoo announces as he finally comes back, Jungkook’s phone held out. Jungkook takes it. One less thing to worry about, he figures.
“Thank you,” Jungkook croaks. “Do you want me to make you something to eat?” It’s still pretty early, but he doubts Jungsoo will go back to bed. Once he’s up he tends to stay awake until he crashes in the evening.
“I’m okay!” Jungsoo assures, his shoulders squaring as he recognizes the tiny bit of responsibility being offered to him. “There’s still cereal left!”
Jungkook smiles, a hand rubbing over his upset stomach. “Alright - let me know if you need help.”
With only a little nod, Jungkook is left alone again in the bathroom. His phone rests limp in his hands, his fingers slowly swiping through his password to pull up his contacts.
It’s only a single ring before the call connects.
“Are you okay?” Taehyung’s voice is tired, clearly having just woken up, but there’s that familiar protectiveness in his voice that settles Jungkook’s nerves just like it always has. “I felt something weird.”
“I threw up,” Jungkook groans and there’s the rustle of sheets over the line. “I think I need to go talk to a doctor.”
“Do you want me to come home? Is someone coming over? Are you going by yourself?”
The questions come rapid fire and Jungkook smiles despite himself, his eyes falling closed where he’s curled up now between the sink and the toilet. “Soo called Jin for me, he said Jimin is coming over. You don’t need to come home, Tae - I’m sure it’s nothing. I would just rather be safe than sorry.”
How different things are now, Jungkook thinks to himself. Relying on other people - taking care of himself, and his family by extension. Having people to take care of.
Taehyung sighs over the phone and Jungkook feels that bead of warmth in his chest, that little seed of their bond, pulse with his worry. “Let me know what they say, okay? Don’t worry about the conference - Jin can stay here if need be.” Taehyung pauses. “You know you two are my top priority. You always have been.”
Jungkook’s eyes water and he sniffs, the phone cradled up against his ear. “I know,” he says and there’s a soft noise of confusion.
“Baby, don’t cry,” Taehyung coos and Jungkook’s eyes squeeze shut. He doesn’t know where the tears are coming from but he can’t stop them now, his lip wobbling with a shaky breath in. “Deep breathes, darling. Nice and easy. It’ll be okay, you know that.”
“I know,” Jungkook whines, even though he knows he’s being childish. “I don’t know why I’m even crying right now. It’s stupid.”
Taehyung scoffs. “Your tears are never ‘stupid’,” he says and Jungkook refuses to admit how much his heart aches hearing that. “Don’t say that they are. You wouldn’t say that if Jungsoo was crying, so you don’t get to say it about yourself.”
“When did you become such a responsible alpha, hm?” Jungkook can’t help but tease, sniffling, and there’s a soft sort of silence from Taehyung’s end.
“Probably the same time you finally started to trust me,” Taehyung says and Jungkook feels another tear slip down his cheek. “You gave me so much of yourself - with nothing giving you any idea that it would have been worth it. Or a good idea to begin with. The least I could have done, and still do, is step up to match you.”
Jungkook wipes at his eyes, shaking his head even though Taehyung can’t see it. “You don’t give yourself enough credit,” he argues, but it’s not something they should talk about over the phone. “I need to make sure your son isn’t destroying the kitchen,” he says instead, a smile tugging at his lips, and Taehyung snorts. “I miss you. I’ll call you after my appointment, okay?”
“Please do.” There’s the cut off sound of a yawn and Jungkook’s smile widens. “I’ll be home soon.”
The “I love you, darling”, Taehyung croons through the line makes Jungkook’s face flush and he whispers it back, unwilling to end the call until Taehyung presses the button, staring at the screen until it goes back to black.
“Daddy…” Jungkook looks up just as Jungsoo’s low-hanging head comes through the doorway, his fingers fisting the hem of his shirt anxiously, “I made a mess.”
For a second Jungkook can only stare, an “I told you so” unspoken in Taehyung’s general direction, before he slowly pushes himself to his feet.
“Well, let’s get it cleaned up then, hm?”
****
Jimin is smarter than most give him credit for - those closest to him included. It takes him only a second to look at Jungkook’s face and a question about his symptoms for the pieces to click together.
“And you waited this long to go to the doctor?” Jimin demands, already pushing the omega and his son out the door. Jungsoo lunges for the backseat, already scrambling up into place and reaching for his seatbelt as the adults climb into the front.
“I didn’t think it was anything serious!”
Jimin’s look shuts Jungkook up.
“I want you to remember you said that when I’m laughing in your face later - yours and Taehyung’s.”
Jungkook only pouts, his arms crossed his chest as he stares out the window. Jimin sighs, a hand reaching out to the turn the radio up a bit.
****
“Luna,” Junmyeon starts, and oh , Jungkook already hates how his anxiety spikes with just a single title, “I just want to start with I know that you have been led to believe in the past that it would have been hard for you to conceive, correct?” Jungkook’s breath catches and the doctor gives him a wry grin. “Well, while ‘hard’ is certainly true, and I know you’ve said you and our Alpha hadn’t necessarily been trying to avoid a second child, it has been quite some time since you conceived.”
“Doctor…”
“It’s an honor to be the one to give you your congratulations twice now, Luna,” Junmyeon says and Jungkook’s hands rise to his mouth, his eyes impossibly wide. “You’re pregnant - around ten weeks in fact. You’re nearly into your second trimester already.”
Jungkook thinks Jimin’s laughter is all too warranted now, in hindsight.
****
“Maybe it was a little cruel to make him wait another two days,” Jimin says, but Jungkook only waves him off. The nerves of those first few hours, the panic that had built up under his skin and made his bones feel like there were vibrating, had faded a long while ago. He was worried, of course - he didn’t think there was any time where this wouldn’t - but god, he was so excited !
He hadn’t allowed himself to be excited when he had been carrying Jungsoo. It hadn’t felt right, even if others had urged him to. He loves his boy dearly, and has never regretted a single day since having him, but the circumstances around his pregnancy had been… awful.
The threat of death lingering at the end had made the concept of parenthood purely a death sentence, no matter how deeply he loved Taehyung.
But here, now, ten years later in this new life they’ve built for themselves, that was no longer even a thought to consider.
“Alpha!”
Jungkook looks up from his phone as Jungsoo jumps up from the floor, sprinting towards the double doors of the compound entrance. Jungkook and Jimin - and Yoongi, off in the kitchen - stayed where they were.
“You’re home!” Jungsoo leapt at Taehyung, who caught him easily, and Taehyung hefted him up into his arms. He was getting to be entirely too big to be carried, but neither of them could really resist the urge to hold him close to their hearts.
“Hey, flower,” Taehyung laughs, hugging Jungsoo back, “yeah, I’m home.”
“What, no hug for me?” Seokjin demands and Jungsoo lights up, wiggling from Taehyung’s arms to throw his own around his uncle’s waist. Jungkook smiles as Taehyung finally looks up, catching his eyes in the living room.
His alpha walks over, dropping down heavily only the couch beside him, and Jungkook eagerly presses up against his side. “I’m home,” Taehyung says, his lips pressing a kiss to Jungkook’s hair, and the omega nearly purrs.
“Welcome home.”
“I see how it is,” Jimin complains. “Yoongi, hurry up! I’m getting lonely!”
Taehyung only sags further into the couch, eager hands pulling Jungkook into his lap. There’s a level of exhaustion that’s clear in his face, slight shadows under his eyes and just a vague sense of weariness that drags on his body, but he smiles when Jungkook gives him a chaste kiss, all too aware of their company. Or, more so all-too aware of the actual child in the room who threatens to throw up whenever he’s shown even a hint of PDA.
“Kook,” Jungkook’s head pops up just as Yoongi finally walks back in, a small box in his hands, “you left this on the counter.”
He tosses it and Taehyung’s catches it, his hands actually available for the throw. The alpha goes to hand it to him, not even looking at the wrapping on it, but Jungkook pushes himself up, fully seated on Taehyung’s lap now. Jimin falls quiet behind him, knowing.
“It’s actually for you,” Jungkook says, pushing it back and Taehyung’s brows furrow.
“For what?” He asks and Jungkook rolls his eyes. He pushes the box back again, the thing barely big enough to draw anyone’s eye - slightly larger than a jewelry box, maybe. Taehyung looks down at it, then up at him, and then back down at the box. The wrapping is a simple black tissue paper. Nondescript. Jungkook had been tempted to go to the store to get something more… obvious , but had decided against it.
He wanted to do it this way - just as he had before.
Taehyung is still dressed in his clothes from this morning, the only thing missing being the suit jacket he’d thrown over the arm of the couch before he’d sat down. He hasn’t even eaten, or taken a shower, or really had a chance to rest since working for nearly three days straight, but Jungkook doesn’t care.
Taehyung’s finger slices through the paper and Jungkook holds his breath as he tosses it aside, already cracking open the thin cardboard box. “Jungkook, did I forget something-?” His voice trails off and Jungkook’s eyes widen as Taehyung’s eyes water. Eyes as blue and as deep as the ocean dark up to stare at him, shining with his tears. “You…?”
“Ten weeks,” Jungkook says and his voice catches, his own tears already welling in his lash line. His fingers clench around a fistful of Taehyung’s shirt. “I’m pregnant, Tae,” he says and there’s a few gasps behind him.
But nothing matches the look Taehyung gives him. The pure, unadulterated love and adoration and wonder on his face as he clenches his fist around the box and the little yellow socks - new ones they can place in the same box they kept Jungsoo’s when he grew out of them.
Jungkook welcomes the crushing hug he’s pulled into, his own arms wrapping tight around Taehyung’s neck as his alpha holds him tight at the waist. Taehyung’s tears soak into the shoulder of his shirt but Jungkook could care less, his own body shaking as he ruins Taehyung’s silk shirt.
“Daddy? Alpha?”
They pull apart just enough for Jungsoo too wiggle between them, his look clearly saying he doesn’t fully understand why they’re both crying so hard.
“Do you want to be a big brother, Soo?” Taehyung asks, a knuckle dragging across his face in a feeble attempt to clean himself up. Jungkook watches as their son looks between them.
“I’m going to be a brother?” He asks instead and Jungkook nods, reaching out to tuck his hair behind his ear. It’s already getting so long. Jungsoo’s nose wrinkles in a move that’s purely ‘Jungkook’. “To a boy?”
Taehyung snorts, pushing his hair from his face. “We won’t know yet for a while longer,” he says and Jungkook nods. He wouldn’t have asked anyway, even if it was an option. He wasn’t going to find out things like that without Taehyung at his side. “It could be a girl.”
“I hope so,” Jungsoo says with a nod, as if that was the answer he needed all along. “Boys suck.”
Jimin barks out another laugh behind them and Jungkook covers up his own snort with a sharp cough into his fist. “You got that right, Soo-yah,” Jimin calls and Jungsoo nods again.
Taehyung looks between them all, one hand at Jungkook’s hip and the other over Jungsoo’s back as the boy snuggles up against his alpha. “This was why you weren’t feeling good?” He asks instead and Jungkook nods.
“I’ll tell you the rest when we get home,” Jungkook says and Taehyung beams.
“Another baby,” he says, pure wonder in his voice. The others are talking around them but Jungkook ignores them for now, entirely focused on his little family in front of him. “I didn’t… wow.”
“I didn’t either,” Jungkook admits and Taehyung pulls him into another kiss, uncaring for the loud whine Jungsoo lets out at being both squished and subjected to this very specific form of torture. “But we’ve got another seven months to figure it out.”
If possible Taehyung’s smile almost seems to brighten, it’s intensity making him look even more angelic than he usually does - with the platinum hair and the crystalline blue eyes. “I can’t wait,” he says, and for the first time in decades - neither can Jungkook.