Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Good evening, sugarcubes. The podcast for today will focus on how crucial communication is to a relationship. During a recent conversation, I learned that my close friend's brother is divorcing his wife. He says that although the couple were genuinely a good fit and that they loved each other, their lack of honesty and communication caused problems. Given this, I thought about the topic of today's episode and decided to talk about this minor but common problem that occurs in relationships today. You see, communication is essential in all team situations. It is the foundation of both a successful team and a successful relationship. A relationship cannot thrive without interaction. It's important that you can communicate your emotions to your partner verbally as well as physically at all times. "I love you," "You look gorgeous today," "I miss you," and "Life is so easy with you." Always remember to give your partner praise on a regular basis. Your significant other may be aching for some recognition, even if they don't express it. Even love becomes less important, especially after marriage. From that point on, the relationship is driven by communication and understanding. The quality of communication determines the quality of a life. Even distance cannot break up a couple; however, a lack of proper communication can. Sincere words and attentive listening create the foundation for a healthy and long-lasting relationship, and communication elevates your relationships to new heights. The only thing to remember is that you shouldn't be the only one communicating. It's a two-way bridge. So, my dear sugar cubes, share this message with all of the couples you believe desperately need to hear it, emphasise the importance of proper communication, and encourage them to do so. Let's now listen to "Meet Me Halfway" by Black Eyed Peas.

The song blasted through the speakers as Soobin immersed himself in thoughts. "I believe I now know why my parents are acting this way," he declares loudly, and Yeonjun, who had been playing games, stops to look at him. "What?" he asks, puzzled. Soobin turns to face the other, his expression full of realisation. "It's communication, Jun; that's what my parents are lacking. They're so awkward with each other because they're not expressing themselves," Soobin says solemnly. Yeonjun gives him a look before putting down his controller. "You're crazy. There is nothing wrong with Uncle Tae and Uncle Kook."

The 15-year-old alpha rolled his eyes at his best friend. "That's because you don't live in our house! Everything is wrong between them. Their interactions are just so awkward. In my 15 years of existence, I have never once seen my dad talking with my papa romantically, not even friendly. It's always so short. Don't get me wrong. I love my dad, but he's so unromantic and cold that I feel bad for Papa. He makes efforts, but it doesn't help. Pretty sure Papa is still together with Dad because of us." With a frown, the young alpha says, and Yeonjun is truly amazed at how much Soobin looks like his alpha father. He has the very same doe eyes and pouty face when he gets angry. Yeonjun lets out a sigh and settles down on the couch next to the other alpha.

"Binnie, it sounds like you're overthinking things. Believe me, they would have broken up long ago if they weren't happy together and didn't want to be in a relationship. Let's take my parents as an example. They got divorced, despite having me. Therefore, having kids these days does not really mean that you should stay married. We're not in some pack restricted by customs and taboos; we're in the city."

"Why don't you stay with us tonight? And you'll understand my point of view. It's been a while since you stayed here anyway." He suggests eagerly, and Yeonjun rolls his eyes but nevertheless complies. He fishes out his phone, dropping a quick message to both of his parents. He doesn't know which of his parents' homes he is expected to stay at today. Soobin wouldn't ever understand these challenges. They remained in Soobin's room for a little while longer until they heard Taehyung's car.

"Looks like Papa came; let's head downstairs," Soobin says as he leads the other Alpha out of his room. Reaching down, they discover Minji, Soobin's twin sister, laying on the couch and thumbing through her phone. She had put on a face mask. But as soon as she sees her omega father, she puts the phone down.

"Papa, you're early today." Minji asks as she gulps. Taehyung hung his jacket on the hook before looking at her with a frown. "Minji, what have you put on your face? Why are you doing skin care this hour? Isn't this supposed to be your study time?" He asks sternly, crossing his hands over his chest. Minji chuckles awkwardly, giving Soobin a begging look. Her brother gets the memo, and he immediately intervenes. "Papa, look who's here!" He shouts, successfully grabbing Taehyung's attention. That's when Taehyung finally noticed the younger alpha.

"Oh, Yeonjun! When did you come? Sorry, I didn't notice you early." He says with a gentle smile. Minji lets out a sigh of relief, slowly walking out of the scene before she dashes to her room. The omega approaches the guys and then gently hugs and pats Yeonjun's head. The young alpha happily accepts the loving embrace. Taehyung's scent was so pleasant and relaxing. It was like a protective coccoon.

"We had some assignments to complete today, so I just considered staying over." He says, releasing the hug, and observes the omega taking off his watch and undoing his tie.

"I see! You're always welcome, Jun. Actually, I was with your papa. Jimin was confused about the wedding suits, so he asked me to help him." Taehyung says as he opens the fridge to get some water. It was then that Soobin remembered that Jimin, Yeonjun's omega father, was getting remarried in a month. Shit! At times, he feels sorry for Yeonjun. Given his family's current circumstances, it must be a little awkward. The couple separated a year ago, and now his omega father Jimin is getting married to another alpha, while his alpha father Namjoon is dating an omega. Even though they had both moved on, they remained devoted to their son. His thoughts broke when he heard his papa speaking.

"You guys go and finish those assignments then. I'll prepare something special for you all," he hears the omega say, and they both nod before returning to the room.

 It was after they sat down for dinner that the alpha came back. Soobin points to Yeonjun as the door opens. He looks at his parents and whispers, "Now watch how they are around each other." Taehyung walked towards the alpha with a small smile, but it wasn't really reciprocated. Though his expression was stoic, the alpha acknowledged it with a nod. The omega helps the alpha remove his jacket before hanging it.

"How was your day?" They hear the omega asking. Jeongguk pulls off his socks and shoes. "Good," the alpha replied with a single monotonous word. Yeonjun now has some doubts about his judgment. Was Soobin really telling the truth? But then he saw the omega's face, and all of his doubts disappeared. It didn't appear that Taehyung was offended or unhappy. The omega's face remained pleasant as he stowed Jeongguk's briefcase.

"Yeonjun's here tonight," he mentions, earning Jeongguk's attention. The alpha gives a small smile in Yeonjun's direction. "Oh Yeonjun! It's been a while since I saw you last. How's Namjoon Hyung and Jimin?" The Alpha asks, getting up from the couch and moving in the direction of the table.

"Oh, they're fine, uncle. Dad's on vacation with Seokjin Uncle and Papa..well yeah, he's totally busy with the wedding preps and all," Yeonjun says casually. Jeongguk hums before ruffling his hair fondly. Yeonjun was also like one of their own.

"Are you joining us for dinner?" Taehyung asks in between, and the alpha nods. "Yes, I'll be down in 10 minutes," he says as he ascends the stairs. Yeonjun sees the alpha return in exactly ten minutes, dressed in black sweatpants and a t-shirt. The alpha looked as dashing as ever. Given that Soobin and Minji's fathers were exceptionally attractive, it could be said that they were genetically blessed. Although Minji took after Taehyung and Soobin after Jeongguk, Minji was more of a dad's girl and Soobin more of a papa's boy. Everyone in the school would typically assume that the omega or alpha was the twins' older brother when they were with them. In reality, they weren't elderly at all. Jeongguk was 36 years old, and Taehyung was 34. Yeonjun shakes his head to clear his mind as he watches the alpha silently take a seat and serve himself. And all of them started to eat. Did Yeonjun ever mention Taehyung was an awesome cook? If he didn't, he will do it right now. Because the food was absolutely delicious. Even though his favourite food is still his papa's homemade ones, Yeonjun will give it to Taehyung. The omega's food was literally heaven. He notices the omega watching Jeongguk's face to determine his reaction to the food.

"Did you like it? Actually, we ate this last month at that Japanese restaurant, and you really enjoyed it. So I kind of looked into YouTube and made this for you," the omega says softly, anticipating the alpha's response. Jeongguk nodded, his eyes closing as he twisted his face into a frown as soon as he took the first bite. "It's good," he says curtly, and this time Yeonjun did see a tinge of disappointment in the omega's eyes, which was quickly replaced with nonchalance. Perhaps he was hoping for a little more sincere appreciation than the one word the alpha expressed. But the omega did not press for anything. He silently begins his meal. Yeonjun senses the poke from Soobin. "See, I told you how their interactions were so awkward? I feel so bad for Papa. He tries so hard, but look at Dad. I wish I could knock some sense into him," the young alpha mumbles in disappointment. However, Yeonjun prefers to observe more rather than draw snap judgements.

"Minji, did you get your report card? You were supposed to get it today, right?" The alpha asks after a few minutes, and Minji pales.

"Seriously, dad? We're gonna do this now? In front of Jun? At least let me eat peacefully," the alpha daughter says sulkily.

Yeonjun notices the alpha's brow furrowing and opens his mouth to respond, but the omega gently places his hand over the alpha, giving it a small squeeze. Sighing, Jeongguk purses his lips into a thin line and returns to his dinner. Things remained quiet and unremarkable thereafter. They conversed with Taehyung for a while in the garden, keeping him occupied while the omega checked the students' response sheets. Jeongguk was with Minji, teaching her math after she had received a poor grade in the subject.

The moment the young alpha drops onto Soobin's bed in his room, he declares, "See, I told you right! Well, now that you've seen it for yourself, how awkward is this house? Like, look at my parents. Even after 16 years of marriage, they still act like complete strangers. Even strangers may be more at ease with one another than they are. I really wonder how they even had us in the first place. Probably a heat/rut thing? No wonder we never had siblings. Papa is at least pretending to be happy, but dad straight up looks like he wants to escape sometimes. They should just divorce so that they can be happy. I am tired of seeing them uncomfortable with each other.” The young alpha sadistically remarks.

But Yeonjun did not appear to be convinced. He merely hums while gathering his thoughts in order to speak.

"I still don't agree with you, Binnie. I mean, I understand there's probably a communication gap, but I don't think they're tired of each other. Maybe you didn't notice it, but I did."

"Notice what?"

"How tenderly your papa welcomed your dad. He inquired about his day, and even though he didn't get a very enthusiastic response, he was still happy and went back to work. I saw Uncle Kook pull out a chair for Uncle Tae before he sat. I saw Uncle Tae topping your dad's food with extra sesame seeds because your dad likes it that way. The way your papa prepared the meal and your dad cleaned the kitchen after washing the left-over plates. Your dad was about to scold Minji, but a simple hold on the hand by your papa stopped him. If you saw two strangers living robotically, I saw a couple who are so in sync with each other's actions that they do it without saying anything. They understand and care for each other in the most simple and subtle ways, and they care for you both as well." Yeonjun gave his honest opinion, and Soobin was taken aback.

"But... they don't even talk to each other, Jun. I don't even think Dad has ever said I love you to Papa. It's more like they are just used to each other than in love. They have learned to live together. That's it. It doesn't mean they're happy."

“Tell me, Binnie, have you ever witnessed them yell at one another or utter hurtful remarks to one another?" Yeonjun then asks, and Soobin ponders for a moment before dismissively shaking his head. "No, I haven't seen them like that." Yeonjun nods as though he were really not surprised. "Have you ever seen them disrespect each other?" Soobin shakes his head in denial.

"That's my point. You have no idea how significant these small variables are. My parents got married out of love, and believe me, they were very open about how much they loved each other. I used to be so grateful to have such a loving family when Dad and Papa would hug and kiss in front of me, but as the years went by, they just seemed to change. They both fell out of love, and it was actually hell. I was caught in the midst of all the screaming, crying, and fights that went on every day. Admittedly, I was relieved when they separated because we three deserved to be happy. Now dad is happy with uncle Seokjin and papa is happy with uncle Yoongi, and I realised I am rather happy for them than bitter. I want their happiness. They're on fairly good terms now that the divorce is over, and they never really let me be sad. They still love me with the same intensity as before. Sorry, kind of deviated from the topic," the alpha chuckles before resuming.

"So yeah, what I was saying was that, for the past 16 years, Binnie, your parents have been showing each other kindness, understanding, and support, and I believe that makes for a far better relationship. Not once did they get into a serious argument. Trust me, it's not possible without love. They wouldn't have made it this far without love. There is love in the small gestures your dad makes for your papa. There is love in your papa's warm smile and gaze towards your dad. There is love even in the silence shared between them. Love doesn't always have to be extravagant or noisy. It's simple, subtle, and powerful at the same time. And that's why I believe that you're becoming anxious about nothing. Just let them be, and I am sure they'll stay like that forever. Trust me, your dad is just constipated with his feelings. I have no doubt he's whipped for Uncle Tae." Yeonjun wraps up with a light-hearted chuckle. Soobin hits the other playfully, but he does consider his opinions. The latter did have a point. As far as he could recall, his parents never really got into heated arguments or fights. Their home was always rather calm and peaceful. And they truly were the most wonderful parents. Soobin just doubted their relationship as mates. Well, maybe Yeonjun was right after all. Perhaps he must learn about subtle love.

While the young alpha reflected on his parents' relationship, the omega gazed fondly at his mate downstairs. Normally, as soon as Jeongguk hit the bed, he would fall asleep quickly. Taehyung sighed dreamily as he gently traced the alpha's jaws with his fingers. His mate was too handsome for his liking. Taehyung frequently found it difficult to accept that the alpha was his mate. Born into a poor farmer family in a very traditional pack, he was arranged to marry Jeongguk, the youngest son of one of the pack's wealthy families. He was merely 18; Jeongguk was 20 at the time. Life was rather hard, but they somehow made it work. It was during their first heat/rut together that he became pregnant with their twins at age 19. While the omega was terrified, the alpha was calm and collected. If it weren't for his mate, Taehyung was certain he wouldn't have made it through the postpartum phase. Jeon Jeongguk was a man of few words, but somehow Taehyung understood him easily, like an open book. He sighs and cuddles up to the sleeping alpha. He takes the alpha's free arms and encircles his waist with them before falling asleep. And it was not necessary for him to know if the hold on his waist tightened later.

"Jun told me you were trying to break up our parents?" Minji questioned as soon as Soobin joined Yeonjun and her for breakfast. The alpha shrugged and took a sip of his favourite coffee, which his dad had made. "I only said what I was feeling honestly. Ji, you, of all people, should know how devoid of love our parents appear. Tell me honestly, you think dad really loves papa?" he asks back, and Minji snorts before rolling her eyes. "Well, I don't know who you're talking about, but my dad is surely whipped for my papa. Poor dad just doesn't know how to show it. That's it. You're acting as if Dad is cheating on Papa. My old fellow barely looks at anyone else." Soobin stared at her with annoyance. "I never said dad was cheating on Papa. I just said they don't look like they're in love."

"And what is your definition of looking in love?" Yeonjun asked the question, and Soobin taps his chins with his index fingers while he muses over it. Then, as if he has hit upon a salient idea, he looks at his sister and friend. " Possessiveness! Yes. People in love usually get easily jealous when someone hits on their partner. They're possessive, especially us alphas. Y'all know how territorial we are. But I have never seen my dad freak out like that when someone hits on Papa." Even Yeonjun was having difficulty holding back his laughter as Minji burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"I mean, are you hearing yourself, Binnie? You're upset that Dad is actually a cool person and not a possessive asshole and a control freak like most of the alphas? He's so calm and collected, and he always gives Papa his needed personal space. In fact, they are both so respectful of each other's spaces and circles. You think that's a bad point?" Minji had no idea what her brother was saying. Soobin looked a bit lost for words, but he scoffs, finishing his coffee. "Okay, I didn't mean to be overly possessive, but where there is love, there will be some jealousy, won't there?" He says with annoyance.

"Okay, I can easily prove that point of yours wrong. Give me 10 minutes," the female alpha challenges as she straightens up. Yeonjun and Soobin both give her a very curious look. After some waiting, the three witnessed Jeongguk and Taehyung bringing up dishes from the kitchen to arrange the table. Jeongguk was the one who first got to them.

"Good morning, kids," he says gently, filling the bottle with orange juice. "Morning dad, morning uncle," they say in unison, like the obedient kids they were. As the couple settles the last dish on the table, they both take a seat, and this time Soobin definitely noticed how his dad pulled out the chair for his papa. But he ignored it for a moment, focusing on his sister to see what she was up to. After a minute of silence, Minji started talking animatedly. "Papa, I think you should visit our parent-teacher meeting from now on."

" Why? Because you can easily get away with bad scores if it's me." The omega asks with a faux frown.

"No, actually, our math professor, Mr. Lee, seems to have a thing for you. He was completely drooling over you, and even my friends noticed, Papa. It was hilarious watching him try to impress you, but you had no idea he was trying to hit on you." The female alpha said with a cheeky smile and a suggestive look, leaving Taehyung speechless. He simply looks at his daughter, wide-eyed. But when they heard the sound of cutlery falling, he snapped out of his surprise. The alpha coughed and leaned down to get his knife.

"Sorry," he mumbles, taking another knife from the stand. Minji ignores her dad as she continues. "So, yeah, I was saying, Mr. Lee is totally into you, Papa. He even asked me for your number, saying that he wanted to talk to you personally about my grades, but I know that's just an excuse. He just wants to flirt with you."

"What kind of an unprofessional guy is that?" Minji's expression took a sudden turn towards smugness as Jeongguk's mildly irritated voice interrupted her. Glancing over, she sees that her friend and brother are staring at their dad with utter surprise.

"Mr. Lee is a professional dad. He's a nice guy, and he's so handsome." Minji continues innocently, and Yeonjun thinks she's very brave because the alpha looked like if he got this Mr. Lee in front of him, he'd be dead in seconds. " Handsome?" Jeongguk scoffs in annoyance. "I'm also handsome, but if I were a professor, I wouldn't go around requesting the phone numbers of my students' parents for private reasons. This is extremely unethical and unprofessional. He doesn't get paid to flirt with my husband; we pay for him to teach you. If he has so much to complain about about you, why can't he just give me a call? I mean, I am the one who mostly attends the meeting, right? Why didn't he tell me about it? This behaviour is unacceptable, and I will be complaining to the school board." The alpha hesitates suddenly, realising all of them—his mate, son, daughter, and their friend—were staring at him in surprise.

".......or maybe not. Excuse me, I'm running late," the alpha mumbles as he quickly rises from his seat and rushes towards the door.

"Wait, Jeongguk, you forgot the lunch!" Taehyung shouted, and seconds later, the alpha arrived and gathered his lunch before walking away once more. Taehyung really looked at the alpha with pure amusement. A smile found its way onto his lips. Shaking his head at the alpha's antics, he gets up to return the plates to the kitchen.

"Point proven, how was it?" Minji asks smugly, and Soobin still makes a valiant effort to keep his mouth shut. He was genuinely shocked that his father had done that; he couldn't believe it.

" Minji! Oh my fucking goodness, dad really was jealous. Like totally. He looked like he'd kill Mr. Lee. I... sh*t, why didn't I ever realise this?" He muttered in disbelief. Minji rolls her eyes. " Exactly. I told you, Dad just doesn't know how to show it. I know he loves Papa a lot. Now stop crucifying him and overanalyzing things between them."

"I am with Minji on this one. You're just being paranoid," Yeonjun adds in favour of the female twin.

"Happy Anniversary, Papa!" The twins yelled with joy as they got on the omega. Taehyung, taken aback, gives them a hug in return and then looks around. " Woah! You guys arranged this? It's so amazing. I loved it. Thank you," he says as he kisses both of them on the cheek.

"Well, we don't usually celebrate your anniversary because you're never interested. You guys are so annoying that we thought it was time to finally step in," Soobin says, casting a disapproving glance at the omega. The omega gives them a sheepish glance. "It's not like that, kids. It's just that it's nothing special. It's just our anniversary. You know your dad isn't really into parties," the omega says softly, and Soobin and Minji understand exactly how the omega feels. Of course, he wanted to celebrate anniversaries, but since Jeongguk was not a fan of such celebrations, Taehyung adjusted himself accordingly. A door opened, cutting short their conversation, and a bewildered Jeongguk emerged.

"Happy anniversary, Dad!" Smothering the alpha with their embraces, the twins exclaimed once more. Even though he appears extremely overwhelmed, the alpha gives them a hug in return.

"Uhm, thank you? You guys prepared this?" He asked carefully, and the twins nodded excitedly. " Yup. Now come on, let's cut the cake," Minji cheers as she pulls Jeongguk while Soobin pulls Taehyung towards the cake. The alpha and omega looked at each other, flushed, and immediately averted their gazes. The couple cut the cake, fed a piece to each other, and fed the children as well, to the twins' cheers. Minji eagerly uses her phone to take their photo while guiding them through various poses. They had also prepared a present for the couple. It was a watch set for a couple. Filled with love for their children, Taehyung and Jeongguk simply turned to look back at them with fondness. Being parents to the world's most amazing children was a true blessing. The twins had originally intended to cook for their parents, which naturally went horribly wrong and almost resulted in blowing up the kitchen. So they ordered takeout as a last resort. The alpha and omega didn't mind, though. For the couple, the fact that their children even considered doing this for them was enough. They were about to head back to their room after dinner when Soobin pulled them towards the couch.

"The celebration is not over. We're going to play a game to see how well you guys know each other," Soobin announces, drawing a sceptical glance from Minji. This wasn't in their original plan, though.

"What is cooking in your mind?" She murmurs in his ear, but Soobin simply pushes her away.

"The game is simple. I'll ask questions, and you'll write your answers on paper and show them to us. Those who get more correct answers win the game." Soobin says as he hands over the omega and the alpha, each with paper and a pen. Minji, though doubted her brother's intentions, was now invested.

So, question one

"To Papa, what was Dad wearing when you guys first met, and to Dad, what was Papa wearing when you first met?"

The alpha and omega both looked a bit troubled over the question, but the twins watched as they scribbled something on the paper.

So what is the answer? Soobin asks, and both of them raise the paper. Both wrote that they don't remember. The omega smiles at the alpha, and Jeongguk cannot help but return a shy smile.

Minji snorts at the responses. "At least you both had the same answers. So I'll give one point to each. Soobin, don't ask such silly questions. Who would remember that many details? It was like 16 years ago." Soobin scoffs as he reads the next question.

"To Papa, what is the one thing that annoys Dad the most, and to Dad, vice versa?"

This time Taehyung was quick to note down something while Jeongguk still struggled. Soobin motions to show the answers, and the omega was the first one. "Shutting the car door harshly," Taehyung answers, and Jeongguk is genuinely taken aback. " Uhm..yeah that's..correct," he mumbles in surprise. The alpha absolutely adored wheels. He had three cars and four bikes, which he considered to be the most valuable things on the planet. Perhaps even more than his twins. "Dad, it's your turn," Minji says, and the alpha shakes his head, recovering from his surprise. "Uhm, leaving the lights on??" he mutters timidly. The omega was eagerly looking forward to the reply but slightly wilted at the reply, but he still managed to manage a smile. "Oh goodness, Dad, it's unorganised things!" Soobin exasperates. "Papa does not like cluttered and unorganised rooms. He gets really annoyed, even if it's not our home." Jeongguk seems a little embarrassed by that. He cast a guilty look at Taehyung, but the omega maintained a small smile. So he lets out a breath.

"Favourite colour of each other," Soobin says, and this time the alpha is quick to write his response.

"Black," Taehyung says first, and Jeongguk chuckles, nodding. "Well, that's pretty much the most obvious thing you can see out of dad's closet," grins Minji.

"Blue," Jeongguk says expectantly, but his family's unamused expression tells him he was wrong again. "It's not?" He asks meekly, more ashamed of himself. "It's red, dad. Papa loves red; let's be real, he looks like an anime character in red," Soobin says as a matter of fact.

As each question was answered, the alpha became increasingly distressed because he couldn't get a single correct answer about his mate. His anxiety was so great that he started to sweat. In between, he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand, and when he looked up, he saw the omega blinking his eyes comfortingly. Perhaps he sensed the alpha's disturbed pheromones because he was emitting a soothing one of his own. The alpha mirrors the smile, feeling a bit less nervous. The omega got almost everything right, and Jeongguk was astounded by how well Taehyung knew him. Because those were the things he never discussed with the omega, but rather what the omega had learned through simple observation. And to his further embarrassment, he had realised how much of a failure he was in return.

"Okay, so this one's like the easiest; write down each other's birthdays."

Jeongguk scribbled down as fast as he could, feeling as though life was rushing through him. Thank goodness, at least he got one correct answer.

"September 1," Taehyung says first.

"December 31," Jeongguk says enthusiastically. The sound of disappointment the twins let out was deafening. "How could you get that wrong, Dad? It's 30! Seriously? This time, even Minji couldn't hide her disappointment." The alpha cast a sidelong glance at the omega, who was looking down. Taehyung simply avoided looking him in the eye, but he said nothing. If Jeongguk was feeling bashful, right now all he wanted was to die out of shame. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he do at least one thing to make his mate genuinely smile?

"This is the last question since we clearly have the winner, which is Papa. But anyway, one last question: When was the day Dad first said I love you to Papa?" Soobin inquires, crushing the page in his grasp. Minji glared at him sharply, but the young alpha chose to ignore her. This was something that had been bothering him for a while. The date is irrelevant; he simply wants to be reassured that his parents love each other. But they were met with complete silence. The omega looked pale, gazing anywhere except at the alpha. He was kind of restless, and it was evident. The alpha's jaws tightened as he looked away too. They didn't like how quiet the room was, and Soobin was genuinely afraid of the response. And suddenly, like a sound of heaven, Omega's phone rang. He quickly picks up the phone. "Let's end this stupid game. I need to attend this call. "You guys, go to sleep now," the omega says hurriedly before rushing outside with the phone. The three watch his retreating figure before Soobin returns to face his father. "I am really disappointed, dad. You should really do some self-reflection. I am sure Papa is not as okay as he seems," the young alpha mumbles before he leaves his room, followed by Minji. Jeongguk runs his fingers through his hair, sighing with frustration.

As he emerges from the shower, the alpha notices that the omega is already on the bed. He glances at the omega's back and then sighs. He tosses the towel aside, then makes his way to the bed and crawls under the comforter. "Tae..." he softly calls, but the other remained silent, pretending to be asleep. Although Jeongguk was aware that the omega wasn't asleep, he chose to leave him alone before turning out the lights.

The following morning, he finds Omega in the middle of making breakfast in the kitchen, as usual.

"Tae, can we talk?" He quietly asks as he stands next to the omega, who was chopping veggies and ignoring him.

"Tae, I know you're upset with me. I am sorry; I am such a bad husband. Come on, be angry with me, but don't stay like this. I can't bear you being distant like this," the alpha says anxiously. The omega looks at him before moving to add the chopped ingredients to the boiling broth. "Taehyung, please, I am so sorry. I only now realised how ignorant I was being towards you when you're like the best mate I could get. I swear I'll take responsibility for my mistakes, and I won't let you down like that ever again. Please bear with me this time." The alpha asks, his desperation evident in his doe eyes.

"You don't need to apologise. It's okay," the omega says in a soft voice. "No, it's not okay. Not at all. I really shouldn't be like that." The alpha responds with conviction.

The Omega stays silent for a moment before turning around. "I mean, I understand. I know you weren't interested in this marriage and were forced into it. I know you had your eyes on another omega, but you were probably compelled, so yeah, I kind of expected it." The omega says in hushed tones, revealing his vulnerability in front of the alpha, possibly for the first time. The omega's final remark, however, completely perplexed Jeongguk.

"I had my eyes on an omega? Which omega??" The alpha asks in pure bewilderment. Taehyung gives him a sharp look, as though he was annoyed by the alpha's stupidity. "Hong Jiya," he spits out rather harshly this time. But the alpha looked like it didn't ring a bell. He watched Jeongguk wrack his brain as he pondered the name. " Oh! I remembered. Oh my goodness, Tae! You thought I was in love with her all this while?" He couldn't believe it.

"Tae, that was like, that was a silly crush. I didn't even confess to her, nor did I want to marry her!!" The alpha deadpans. "It was a casual crush, trust me. I don't even remember her face now. Hell, she never even occurred to me after our marriage!" The alpha says in disbelief. The omega didn't look very convinced, though; he just stared at the alpha blankly. Jeongguk sighs as he comes to stand right in front of the omega, who was leaning against the counter.

"Look, Tae, I have to admit that I was initially opposed to our marriage. Well, it wasn't because I disliked you or preferred someone else; it was simply because I wanted to marry someone I knew. They wouldn't even let us talk before marriage, and I was nervous because I didn't know how you were, and I hadn't had any omegas before you. So I didn't know how to deal with the situation. But when I first saw you, I was so taken aback by your beauty that I needed two days to recover from it." The alpha's sudden, blunt revelation caused the omega to flush a deep shade of red.

"Wh..what?" he stuttered, flushed.

"Yes, Tae. I was really speechless when I first saw you. You were so beautiful, so innocent, and so nervous. I still remember how you were not meeting my gaze and were constantly chewing on your lower lips anxiously. I really wanted to free your lips from that, but... yeah, that would be preposterous," the alpha chuckles, shaking his head. So, yeah, I'm not sure what you're thinking, but it's not true."

The omega had no words and met Jeongguk's gaze. It had been bothering him since their marriage, but he had never confronted Jeongguk about it; he was too cowardly to face his response. He bites his lip once more, a habit he still has when he feels extremely shy or uneasy. Jeongguk's eyes follow the movement, glimmering a fiery red. The alpha was about to lean down when the omega asked the next question, which froze him.

"So, do you love me then? You have never said that before." The omega asked timidly, and Jeongguk stilled, his eyes widening. Taehyung gave the alpha a hopeful glance, but his expression faltered once more at the hesitation. He sighs, turning around to his broth.

"16 years, Jeongguk, it's 16 years since we've been married, and you're still hesitating? Just leave me alone."

Jeongguk broke out of the trance at that point. He opened his mouth to reply, but before he knew it, a sleepy Minji appeared out of nowhere, cuddling up to Taehyung and giving him a quick hug from behind. "Papa, can you make some bulgogi today? I dreamed about it today, and I'm craving it," she says, her eyes still closed as she cuddles the omega.

"Minji, honey, can you please come later? We were having a serious discussion," Jeongguk says gently, despite being annoyed by the interruption. The female alpha looks at him, pouting and sad.

"Soobin was right; I am adopted, right? That's why you're acting this way," she responds. Jeongguk's eyes are wide-eyed.

" Wh..what? Baby..it's..ugh..come here," he whispers softly, welcoming her to his arms. The bubbly twin smiles giddily as she rushes into his arms and snuggles against her father. "You're not adopted. You're our dearest child; don't listen to your fool of a brother. "If he says that again, let me know, and I'll smack him on the forehead," the alpha says, patting her head. Minji giggled and sighed contentedly as she was enveloped in her father's protective scent. Jeongguk glanced at the omega over his daughter's shoulders. The omega had been silent the entire time, and he continued to be silent, giving the father and daughter pair no attention. He lets out a sigh of despair.

"I am such a bad husband," the alpha mumbles in a sulky tone, drawing Hoseok and Namjoon's attention. "Did Taehyungie finally decide to divorce your dumbass?" Hoseok snorts while chomping on his hamburger, but he stops when Jeongguk gives him a lethal glare.

" Jeez! Calm down. What's your problem?" Hoseok inquires as he finishes his burger. Jeongguk sighs as he sinks deeper into the chair. The alpha pouts, furious with himself. "I just realised I don't know anything about him when he even knows my hair count."

"Really gguk? That's horrible. You guys have been married for 16 years." Namjoon says with dismay.

"I know right, and trust me, I feel like shit. Ugh!!" he groans in frustration. "I never knew how ignorant I was until yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Namjoon asks, and Jeongguk again sighs before explaining the whole story.

"Jesus Jeongguk, Taehyung really deserves better. He should've married me instead," Hoseok says as Jeongguk finishes his narration.

"Hyung, do you really have a death wish?" The alpha scoffs in irritation.

"Ignore him, but this is really bad. Gguk, you even messed up the birthday? I am really disappointed." Namjoon is serious about it.

"I know, Hyung," Jeongguk mumbles, his shoulders dropping in exhaustion. I really want to make everything better. Do you have any idea how to?"

"Jeonggukie, you're asking for love advice from an eternal bachelor and a divorced idiot; bad choice, I'd say," Hoseok says with a grin, but stops when both of his friends glare at him. Disregarding Hoseok, Namjoon asks with caution. "First, tell me something: do you love him? Why couldn't you answer that when he asked?" Jeongguk is silent for a moment. "I don't know, Hyung. I do like him, but I don't know if it's love," he mutters after an eternity.

Hoseok looks at him dumbfounded. "You don't know? You don't love the father of your children? Holy shit! Taehyung should definitely divorce you," Hoseok says exasperatedly. Jeongguk did not respond to the comment this time. Maybe Hoseok was right. Taehyung indeed deserves better. "Hoseok, can you shut up? He's just confused. I know him. He hasn't even had a partner other than Taehyung." Namjoon reprimands Hoseok sternly before looking at Jeongguk softly. "Okay, just tell me about Taehyung then, like what you feel about him or what comes to mind when you think about him."

The alpha takes his time to form his words. "Well, the only good thing my toxic parents did for me was probably Taehyung. "He and my kids are the best thing that has happened in my life," Jeongguk says with a nostalgic smile. He is too good for this world, in my opinion, because he is so kind, intelligent, and sweet. And did I mention how much more beautiful he is? I'll tell you what, Hyung—there are times when I lie in bed and just stare at him sleeping all night. I think, especially after he carried my kids, he just became unfairly attractive. I know I might look unfazed and normal from the outside, but I just can't function without my mate. I really can't. He was upset with me yesterday, and I couldn't sleep a wink. Despite what he may believe, I really value him. I actually care a lot about him." The alpha stops his rant, staring at a distance.

" Eww...love I am disgusted," Hoseok says, making a gagging face, and Namjoon chuckles fondly. "You idiot, you don't like Taehyung; you're like batshit crazy in love," he says, rolling his eyes. "You're just not realising it."

"Honestly, Hyung, I did wonder sometimes, particularly when I was drunk, whether the feeling I felt towards him was love. But I didn't really understand what love was. My brain told me it wasn't. We were married with two kids, so it's only natural that we get along, and I care about him. My mind told me we're just used to each other. Two people with kids peacefully coexisting. I thought that was our relationship. And he also never initiated any talks about love. So I thought he also felt the same? and maybe I was just overthinking. But I guess I had been in love all this while, huh?" The alpha concludes with a smile.

"Papa, you should divorce dad."

Taehyung was horrified as he heard what his son had just said. His eyes were wide, and his jaws dropped. " Soobin! What the hell do you think you're saying?" The omega looks at him with a glare. But the young alpha didn't seem to step back. He simply returned his omega father's stare with a stern expression. "Do not pretend like you don't know Papa. Your face yesterday was really obvious. You're not happy in this relationship, and neither is dad. Then why don't you guys separate?"

Taehyung couldn't believe what the alpha was on about. He scoffed in disbelief. "Are you hearing yourself, son? What kind of son wants his parents to divorce?

"Me, because I care more about yours and dad's happiness than mine. I want the best for you both, but I don't think that's possible while you two are together. Let's face it, Papa—Dad hasn't even expressed his love for you yet. And it's unlikely that he ever will. But I know how much you crave those things. So you're going to just live life like it doesn't affect you? Please, if you are staying together with dad for our sake, don't. We really don't mind if you guys are happy. Because it hurts to see you both be uncomfortable with each other." The alpha says with conviction, not at all affected by the sharp looks the omega gave. Taehyung honestly wasn't sure what to say. Though some of what he said may have some truth to it, it was never quite like that. He sighs, trying to control his anger. He dislikes shouting at his children.

"Soobin, I have no idea what caused you to say this. If it's about that anniversary night, forget it. Couples sometimes have small fights or arguments. That does not imply that they despise each other or want to divorce. "You're overreacting," the omega says calmly but sternly.

"It's not about anniversary night, Papa. It has been bothering me for a while now. I can't see the love between you two, and it makes me wonder if you're really happy or just pretending to be. Till now, I've never even seen dad talk to you sweetly. It's always those short and curt responses. I see you putting in effort every time only to get completely disappointed. I am tired of seeing that." Soobin says it with a sad sigh. Taehyung felt awful for a moment. He never let his feelings get the better of him. He never acted recklessly in front of them, so they don't worry about meaningless things, but it seems like his son saw right through him. The omega gently grabs his wrists and pulls Alpha towards him, forcing him to lie with his head on his lap. Soobin protests weakly, but as soon as his papa's comforting scent fills his nostrils, he just snuggles on the omega's lap like a little pup. Taehyung gently brushes the silky locks of the other.

"Do you know that you look exactly like your dad, pup?" Taehyung asks with a fond smile. Soobin pouts but makes a noise of agreement. He gets that comment a lot. "You resemble him so much that I feel like I am talking to Jeongguk sometimes," the omega chuckles lightheartedly. "Pup, your dad—he's not as complex as you think he is. Jeongguk is so easy to read if you understand him. And believe me, even if your father isn't good with words, he has proven a lot through his actions. Do you know why we settled in the city and left our pack?" The omega asks softly, still massaging the younger's head, and Soobin shakes his head in denial.

"It's because your dad was fed up with the way his family treated me. Your dad didn't like how his family disrespected and looked down on me because of my poor background and rank. You should thank him for saving us from that toxic pack atmosphere. As soon as you both were born, he brought us all here and settled down here so that we could be as far away from those toxicities." Taehyung recalls it with a nostalgic smile. He was always grateful for having married the alpha. Soobin stopped moving, and Taehyung could feel it. He gives the pup some time to process the new knowledge he has learned.

"Also, who do you think looked after you both when you were young? It's him. He took a four-year leave of absence from the office to care for you and Minji, allowing me to complete my studies with ease. You wouldn't even sleep if you weren't scented by your dad," the omega chuckles, pinching Soobin's cheeks, and the alpha suddenly gets a very ugly feeling. He pressed his lips together, feeling guilty for thinking so negatively about his father. The omega sensed Soobin's distress and released soothing pheromones to calm him down.

"Baby, your dad... well, I agree he might not be good with words. But he has done things for our family that you cannot even imagine. He's a tough cookie to crack, but I just get him. I don't know; for me, understanding him was easy. Pup, you have to understand that we both married someone whom we barely even knew at that time—too young and immature—and we also had you both, kind of unplanned. So life was really hard on us. It was never easy. But with Jeongguk, things were at ease. He made everything better for me. He might not make grand gestures of love, but he was always there when I needed him. He never once left me alone, never let anyone disrespect me, and supported me all his life. So no, I cannot, and I will not separate from him. He's everything to me, along with you both." The omega's voice has a sense of finality.

He notices the alpha trying to hold back his tears. He then lifts the alpha off of his lap and wipes away his tears. "Don't cry; it's okay. You were worried for me because you're a good son. Okay? Don't feel bad, pup," he says, hugging the alpha, who hides himself in the crook of the omega's neck. "I am sorry, Papa. I feel so bad. I didn't think it through. I shouldn't have said all that and assumed things about dad. I am so sorry," he says, his voice muffled over the omega's sweater.

"It's alright. Well, you're not entirely wrong. Let's just say your dad is an utter failure in the romance department. But hey! cut him some slack. My alpha is just introverted and shy," the omega says with a chuckle, and Soobin also finds himself smiling at that. And he wonders if it's time he accepted his parents' unique way of loving each other.

 Taehyung groaned as the sunlight filtered through the curtains. He stretches his limbs, slowly rising and rubbing his eyes. A bouquet of daisies by the bedside table caught his attention just as he was ready to get out of bed. He looks at it with a confused expression. It looked lovely and fresh, but who put it there? The omega was pondering.

" Ah! Perhaps it's Soobin. The alpha always had unique ways of apologising. He probably kept it as an apology for yesterday. The omega concludes with a smile. He gets up and freshens before he goes downstairs. Taehyung was feeling a little lethargic because today was a holiday for everyone but his mate. His pups were already seated around the dining table with their phones when he reached down.

"Good morning, my pumpkins," the omega said as he began arranging the flowers in a vase. Although they were more engrossed in their phones, the twins mumbled back a sleepy good morning.

"Soobin, I loved the flowers; they are beautiful. Thank you," Taehyung says while grinning.

" Flowers? What flowers?" the alpha asks in a groggy voice, confused. Taehyung glances around and blinks. " These? You didn't bring these?" Soobin shakes his head negatively.

" Minji?" Taehyung questions the other twin, who also shakes her head.

"Then who?" the omega wondered loudly.

"It was me. I thought you'd like it." A raspy voice caught their attention, and they all turned to see Jeongguk, who had just returned from his morning run, panting. Taehyung looked mortified by the confession, and Soobin's eyes were comically wide. Minji was even choking on her coffee.

The alpha scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, his cheeks dusting pink. "Nevermind, I'm out," he mumbles before dashing upstairs. Taehyung was about to stop him, but the alpha had literally vanished into thin air. The omega simply bursts into a shy fit of laughter while he studies the flowers. Now that was a first.

Jeongguk is grumbling as he fixes his tie. "Fuck, why am I so embarassing? I can't do anything without making a fool of myself." The alpha muttered to himself while fumbling with the tie in between his rants. A throat clearing gets his attention, though. With a mischievous grin on his pretty face, Taehyung stood close to the door. Jeongguk wanted to wipe that smile off (with a kiss, of course).

"Want some help, Alpha?" he mutters in that fucking sexy voice, and Jeongguk despises how those simple words send blood rushing to his south. He remains silent as the omega approaches him slowly and takes the tie in his hands. Jeongguk didn't meet his gaze, too flushed from the proximity and the omega's intoxicating scent. Taehyung, however, was relaxed as he tied the knot perfectly. "There you go!" he exclaims, wiping away the non-existent dust from the alpha's suit. He then returns the alpha's gaze with those hooded, sultry eyes. His pearly white teeth bit into his plush lower lips. Fuck! The alpha cursed mentally, his hands itching to hug his mate closer and kiss the fuck out of him. But it was too late, and he was too flustered to do that. So he cleared his throat before taking his briefcase and walking to the door. Taehyung should have been disappointed now, but when he saw how the alpha was red all the way from his neck to his ears, he wasn't really disappointed. The alpha may have been too shy to do anything. But then he felt a pair of lips suddenly press against his cheeks, and he froze.

"I'll see you in the evening," the alpha grinned and hurriedly walked out, leaving Taehyung by himself and helpless to stop his poor heart's rapid beating.

For the umpteenth time, Taehyung glanced at the message he had typed.

"The flowers were beautiful. I loved it!"

Should he just send the hit? Will the alpha reply? They didn't really text one another unless there was something important to share. So he wondered if it was okay to send it. Well, whatever it is! It's the father of his children; what's the worst that can happen? After giving it some thought, the Omega pressed send.

Jeongguk was grinning as he riffed through some of his files. He seemed to be in a good mood today. Even his coworkers were surprised to see the ever-stoic Alpha smiling. His phone lit up with a message as he was about to close the file. He picked up his phone, and when he saw the text, his expression brightened.

"The flowers were beautiful. I loved it!" It read, and the alpha gave a huge grin, eagerly typing out a response.

"Not as beautiful as you though :) "

He typed and sent the message before leaning back in his chair with a giddy smile. God, why was he acting like a teen who had been noticed by his crush? For fuck's sake, he's 36, and it's his omega who carried his pups. But the alpha couldn't help the funny feeling in his stomach as he just stared at the two-message conversation.

Not as beautiful as you though :)

When the omega read the text, he turned bright red like a cherry, and a swarm of butterflies erupted in his stomach. He looks at the text and giggles. Soobin and Minji, who were bored and watching a new drama next to him, gave him a puzzled look. The omega coughs, clearing his throat, before standing up and walking away.

"Why was he blushing for no reason?" Soobin is suspicious.

"It's something on the phone. He spent a long time staring at it," Minji says, looking in the direction Taehyung went.

"Does he have a lover or something?" Minji continues and receives a smack from her brother. "Shut up, you idiot. Let me find out," he mumbles before quickly taking the phone. The passcode was the twins' birthday. A photo of Jeongguk holding the twins is displayed on the wall paper. Soobin saw his father's texts when he opened the last window.

Minji gasps as she takes the phone from her brother. "Is this really our dad?" She mumbles in disbelief, even checking the phone number because it was so out of character for him. "I know, right! I didn't know my dad was capable of flirting. No wonder Papa is so flustered," Soobin says in amusement.

"Smooth, dad, that was real smooth," Minji says with a beaming smile. "Does this mean our dad has finally made progress?" She gestures with her brows. Soobin is beaming with excitement for his parents. "I guess yeah."

In the evening, Jeongguk returned home to find Taehyung grinning shyly.

"Hey," the omega greets softly, and Jeongguk couldn't help but return a breathless "Hey."

"How was your day?" The omega then inquires, and the alpha simply stares at him with an unreadable expression. " Boring. I wanted to come back home to you. I missed you." The alpha says in a raspy voice, and Taehyung feels a pool of heat in his stomach with that tone.

"I'll prepare the dinner," he staggers out before quickly running back. The alpha shakes his head, amused, watching the omega's flustered figure.

After taking a shower, he came downstairs to find the omega cooking dinner. It's a common scene, but one of his favorites. The omega was cooking quietly while humming a song, a cute apron wrapped around his pretty self. For Jeongguk, this was like a synonym for home. And has he ever mentioned how much he is addicted to Omega's gentle scent? He doubts if he's actually breathing the scent for survival because he swears any other scent makes him have a headache. He took quiet steps towards the omega, who was facing away from him. A hand was wrapped around Taehyung's waist, startling him, but the moment his mate's musky scent reached his nostrils, he became a babbling mess.

"Jeo..jeongguk what are you doing?" He stammers, his body wildly reacting to the alpha's rough hands. "Nothing, I told you, I just missed you," the alpha says, his voice dropping an octave and his breath tickling behind the omega's ears. " Th..the kids will see; let me go," he protests weakly, though he tilts his neck more as the alpha starts kissing his neck up to his jaws.

"No, they're probably locked up in their rooms. They're not going to show up until dinnertime," he mutters raspily, slightly nipping at the mating mark between the omega's neck and shoulders, hands slipping inside the omega's sweater, and tracing his stomach.

Normally, the twins stay cooped up in their respective rooms unless their parents scold them to go outside, but this time Minji was feeling more interactive, so she found herself walking towards the kitchen towards her omega father. But she froze when she saw what was happening in the kitchen. The alpha female put a hand over her mouth, spun around, and bolted from the room.

"What the hell! My eyes!" She mumbled, walking hurriedly towards her rooms, but collided with Soobin, who was on his way to the kitchen. Minji immediately grabbed his hands, her eyes wide. "You don't want to go to the kitchen now; trust me, bro," she says earnestly, to which Soobin gives a frustrated grunt. "Get out of my way, you midget; I am thirsty," the alpha mumbles, shoving his sister aside. He walks confidently, but nearly stumbles as he looks ahead. His dad had his papa pressed up against the counter, the couple in the middle of an intense make-out session. Soobin zips his mouth shut before turning around and running back to Minji.

"Oh my moon goddess, why the fuck didn't you tell me they were making out there?" Soobin whispers as he drags his sister to his room. "They were making out? Holy, when I watched, Dad was kind of nuzzling, Papa, but I did see it ending more intensely." Minji snorts in amusement. "Fuck, how can I unsee it?" The alpha asks helplessly.

"If you get any idea, then let me know too. I would also very much like to pretend I didn't see my dad basically giving hickeys to my papa."

"What the hell? Who asked you for the details now? I didn't need to hear that. What I saw is more than enough," the older of the twins deadpans.

"Well, if I suffer, then you also suffer my twin blood," Minji muses as she settles down on the bed. "But Soobin, don't you think it's actually surprising? I never imagined our parents would, you know, be romantic like that," Minji grins with a look. Soobin lets out a smile at that. "I know, right? Well, apart from having to watch that, I am really happy. I am convinced now that they love each other."

"Yeah, well, don't count me in that. I never doubted my dad's love," Minji says proudly. The jab made Soobin pout a little, but perhaps he deserved it.

In the kitchen, Taehyung panted as they broke the kiss, staring at the alpha intensely. "Can we finish this in our bedroom?" The alpha asks breathlessly, and the omega nods eagerly. Easy enough, he lifted the other, the omega, putting his legs around Jeongguk's waist. "You're so strong, it turns me on, Alpha," Taehyung murmurs as the Alpha leads them to their shared room.

A few minutes later, the pair finds themselves naked between the sheets, the omega writhing with ecstasy as the alpha pushes deep inside him.

" Al..alpha...ngh..." Taehyung moaned as he felt the alpha stretch his insides, his eyes glistening, his lips glossy with spit, and beads of sweat forming on his brow. Jeongguk kissed him hard as he muffled the omega's moans, keeping the pace of his thrust. "As much as I love to hear you scream my name, we don't want our pups to hear it, do we, my moon?" Jeongguk's breathy whisper reaches Taehyung's ears, and he bites his lip, nodding, his head spinning with pleasure. The two of them arrive at their climax rather quickly.

After cleaning up, Jeongguk drew the omega closer to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Oh sh*t! Guk, we didn't make the dinner," Taehyung says worriedly, moving to get up, but the alpha pulls the omega back, holding him tightly. "Relax, baby," he says softly, taking his phone from the bedside table.

"Dad and Papa are busy with work; you both can order some takeout for dinner," the alpha typed out before hitting send. "There, I managed that; now let's cuddle," the alpha grins.

Soobin stares blankly at the message. Minji looks at her brother's phone before scoffing. "Dad, you're not as sly as you think you are."

"I hate my mind," Soobin murmured as he turned off his phone. "Are we thinking the same thing?" Minji laughs at Soobin's annoyance. "Shut up! Good lord, I have to distract my mind. I am going to play some games," he says as he heads to his computer.

"What do you think? Are we getting a sibling?" Minji just won't shut up, much to Soobin's dismay. "Eww, no, I hate children, and it's awkward that we'll be so much older than them."

"Well, I agree. I hope they use some protection," Minji muses, and a pillow suddenly gets thrown at her. "I'll kick you out if you don't shut up. I don't want to hear another word about this," the alpha grumbles, irritated.

"Wait, Guk, we..shit, we didn't use protection. What if we..." The omega rambles anxiously, his big, round eyes fixed on the alpha. " Jeongguk rolls his eyes at that. "Just calm down first. If we get pregnant again, let it be. Don't you think it's high time we had another pup? Well, technically, we only conceived once," the alpha shrugs casually. Taehyung relaxes into his embrace, humming as he rests his head on the alpha's chest.

"I guess yeah. Well, okay. I can carry any number of pups as long as they're yours," he says, completely taking the alpha by surprise. Jeongguk is dumbfounded as he stares at the omega; the omega always renders him speechless. Anyway, how in the world did he even end up with someone like Taehyung? If his toxic parents have found someone as nice as Taehyung, then he really ought to reward them for it. The alpha simply looks at his mate, his heart exploding with feelings that are mirrored in his doe eyes.

" Tae..Tae I love you. And with a soft kiss on the omega's cheek, the alpha again whispers, "I love you so much. I always had. It just took me a while to put it into words. I am sorry. I promise I'll spend the rest of our lives making up for it," he says with a smile, his eyes glistening as they meet the omega's glassy ones. Taehyung had been craving those three words so much that he couldn't believe he was finally hearing them. It was like being in a fever dream. He never imagined he would hear that from Jeongguk, but there he was, his mate holding him so tenderly and affectionately, whispering the words of magic with all of his sincerity. Taehyung lets out a soft cry. "You unromantic asshole, it took you 16 years," the omega mutters through tears, lightly hitting the alpha. Jeongguk kissed Taehyung on the forehead, wearing a remorseful smile. "I apologise, love; I'll make it up to you," he says, and is greeted with a kiss on the lips. "I love you too." Another kiss on the lips. "I fucking love you very much." Another one. "More than everything," the omega says, and they lock lips once more in a passionate kiss.

Soobin isn't sure what happened or how it happened, but he definitely noticed a change in his parents. Perhaps it was there all along; it's just easier to see now. Whatever it is, he is content. He is glad that the most important people in his life are in love and happy together. The scene in front of the young alpha makes him smile.

His dad was wearing an apron and was completely focused on the dish he was preparing, and his papa was grinning, standing next to him. The alpha takes a small spoon of the dish and blows it before giving it to the omega to taste, who makes a gagging face, causing Jeongguk to sulk. But then Taehyung burst into a melodious giggle, playfully teasing the alpha and planting a kiss on Jeongguk's lips to smooth away the pout. The sight was so simple yet so comforting to Soobin. He smiles as he leaves the couple alone.

"Where are you going? "Sit here," Jeongguk says, pulling the omega into his lap. Cherry-red in the face, Taehyung glared at the alpha for not giving him a heads-up before acting in such a way. His poor heart!. Soobin and Minji just looked at their parents, their expressions unreadable. Their gazes locked, and Minji smiled slowly, while Soobin did the same. Their parents are now finally beginning to show their affection. They exchange smiles and then look back at the couple with amusement.

" What? Why are you looking like that??" Jeongguk inquires as he notices his children staring at him while he feeds Taehyung. "No, we were just wondering if you'd feed us too," Minji says cheekily, and the alpha looks at them for a moment before ushering the twins towards him and feeding three of his babies.

All four of them ended up in front of the TV later that day, with the newest scary movie on full blast. Jeongguk came up with the brilliant idea to watch the freaking scary movie at night with all the lights off. The alpha gulps as he scoots closer to Taehyung, nearly leaning on him. "Why don't you sit in my lap?" The omega asked unamusedly, and Jeongguk nodded quickly. "Yes, I should probably do that," the alpha mumbles before attempting to climb over the omega, but Taehyung pushes him away in surprise. "Guk, you'll crush me; what the hell?" The omega whines. "So let's cuddle," murmurs the alpha, then moves in closer to nestle up against the omega.

"Me too; this movie is so shit," Minji sobs as she crawls over to Taehyung to cuddle with her dad. "Why are y'all leaving me out? I am also scared," Soobin murmurs before joining the other two. Now, like tiny kittens dozing under a mother cat, the three alphas were smothering the omega with their snuggles. Taehyung is rolling his eyes with fondness. "Y'all are alphas, if you forgot," he says, bored.

" So? Our ranks have nothing to do with ghosts. Ghosts attack everyone," Minji mutters, her voice muffled over the omega's sweater. And Soobin declares he wants nothing more than this while he lies there, surrounded by his family's warmth. (Okay, maybe a boyfriend, though.)

"I announce Min Yoongi and Park Jimin as husbands. You may kiss each other. The priest declares, and the pair exchange a smile before locking lips. The crowd broke out in applause as the couple faced them.

"Do you remember our wedding kiss?" Jeongguk whispers into the omega's ears, and Taehyung snorts, rolling his eyes. " Yes. You almost bit my lip off. The priest had to clear his throat for you to stop."

"Not guilty. Sorry. You were just so beautiful that I couldn't control it," Jeongguk says, kissing the wedding ring on the omega.

Soobin smiled broadly as he noticed his parents whispering and giggling together. The love between the two was so evident that even a blind person could see it, and he feels fortunate to be their son. Glancing away from them, he sees Yeonjun cheering for his papa. The alpha grabbed his best friend's hand and caught his attention. Yeonjun looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Thank you, Jun. You recognised my parents' love, which even I had overlooked. "I appreciate you being my first eye opener," Soobin says, grinning broadly and revealing his dimples. Yeonjun stares at the other, his eyes unreadable. "Well, I'd do anything for you, Bin," he says, and Soobin swears he saw a glint in the other's eyes that vanished as quickly as it appeared. But he'll ignore that for now.

"Cheers to the new couple," Seokjin says, raising his champagne glass, and everyone cheers in response.

" Tae? Why are you not having the champagne? Don't you want to be a part of my celebration?" Jimin asks dramatically. Taehyung looked like a deer caught in headlights. He coughs, side-eyeing his mate. Jeongguk looks back at him, the two of them looking around nervously.

"Why do you guys look so fishy? Hoseok asks pointedly, and Jeongguk takes a deep breath, as if preparing for a lengthy speech.

"Guys," he begins lowly, everyone looking at the couple with curiosity. "Pups, we're sorry for not giving a heads up; we have something to announce," the alpha says carefully, and Soobin and Minji frown in confusion. "So, me and Taehyung, we're expecting our third baby," the alpha says in a single breath, and the table went into pindrop silence before everyone erupted into cheers.

"OMG, Jeongguk, my guy, pure talent there," Hoseok teases from his seat.

"Congratulations, Kook, Tae!" The others followed suit.

" DAD!!" The combined scream of their twins silenced everyone; the couple gulped. "Oops, baby, we're in trouble." Jeongguk mumbles, looking at the omega. Taehyung was beaming with a silly grin.

"At least we're together in it," he whispers, pressing a kiss on the alpha's lips.

" Hand in hand, You & Me, Today, tomorrow, forever"  - Unknown

The End