Bend or Break

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/36840217.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Relationship: Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin
Additional Tags: Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe - Gang World,
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Mpreg, Alpha Min Yoongi | Suga, Omega
Park Jimin (BTS), Abusive Father, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Explicit
Sexual Content, Dubious Consent, sex out of duty, only at first, There's
no rape, yoonmin have a conversation about having sex first, they're
careful and listen to each other during it, Awkward Sex, Pregnant Sex,
finding solace in each other, Falling In Love, courting, Scenting, Angst
with a Happy Ending, Knotting, Multiple Orgasms, Hand Jobs, Blow
Jobs, Emotional Slow Burn
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-02-02 Completed: 2022-10-08 Chapters: 14/14 Words:
97174

Bend or Break
by hazelmoonchild

Summary

Jimin lives in the half of Busan ruled by the Mugunghwa clan. In a fight between gangs, the
Park family lost their home. Their debts keep piling up, and Min Doyun, the Mugunghwa
clan's kingpin, has a proposal: he'll get rid of their debt if omega Jimin marries his alpha
son Yoongi.
Choosing Your Own Fate
Chapter Notes

Before you read the first chapter, here is an IMPORTANT REMINDER that this is
FICTION. I don’t condone the actions and things that happen in this fic. I chose the
title ‘bend or break’ for a reason. Sometimes the world is fucked up, and you can
either bend or break. That’s what happens to these characters. If you are
uncomfortable with any of these topics or tags, this isn’t the story for you.

I assure you, this story is not as bad as it sounds. It will have wholesome and
heartwarming moments too, and it will mainly focus on the development of yoonmin's
relationship, but I wanted to make that clear to avoid misunderstandings.

This is very different from everything I’ve written so far, and I’m nervous about
finally starting to share it, so please be kind. Thank you!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The night was still very cold at the beginning of spring, and Jimin was glad he could finally close
his family’s flower shop for the day. He couldn’t wait to take a warm shower and get in bed after a
day of arranging bouquets for White Day with his mother and brother while his dad delivered their
orders. They were all already upstairs, back at home and waiting for him to have dinner, so Jimin
put on his coat and gathered his things before turning off the lights.

He heard some sort of racket outside as he closed the door, but it was Friday, so it was probably
just people on their way out of work, ready to party the night away. Nothing that would indicate
what was going to happen next.

The strident sound of glass breaking came out of nowhere.

“The Sansuyu clan doesn’t forget!” A man shouted a few shops away, holding something in his
raised hand.

Jimin got startled and dropped his keys. There were other men scattered around the street who
shouted in agreement. Jimin realised with a hollow feeling in his stomach that some of them were
standing across the street, their eyes set on him.

No, not on him.

Their flower shop.

“The Mugunghwa clan will fall! We fight back!” The man continued, lighting up whatever he was
holding in his hand. A bottle? “We are immortal!” He shouted once more before he threw the
object inside the bakery down the street through the broken window.

Jimin’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back as a gasp left his lips when an explosion was heard
and flames erupted from inside the shop. The men hollered once more and with a pang of terror,
Jimin saw others already lightning up similar objects.

His body grew rigid, and he slapped a hand to his mouth in shock when understanding dawned on
him.

This was a fight between clans. A retaliation. The Gwan family had sent their people to enemy
territory to make a statement. But their enemy, the Mugunghwa clan, wouldn’t suffer the
consequences. Jimin’s small neighbourhood would, instead.

Their flower shop.

Their home.

He spun around only to see the men across the street lighting up another bottle, and Jimin finally
realised what they were: Molotov cocktails.

No.

Oh, no.

Jimin didn’t have time to move, too shocked to force his body to do so. He only got to scream when
one of those men threw a big rock against the glass window next to him to break it. He closed his
eyes and raised his arms to protect himself as the glass burst into pieces. Right after, another man
threw the bottle inside, not at all caring about Jimin standing right there.

And just like that, their livelihood caught on fire right before his very eyes.
His hands stung. His cheek too. But he was too shaken up to register that he had been cut. As the
flames illuminated his face, he snapped out of that paralysing fear that was consuming him.

His family.

His family was inside.

He stood in the middle of the street to look up at their house, light coming out from one of the
windows. “Mom! Dad! Jihyun! Come down right now! There’s a fire!” They must have heard the
ruckus, but he still screamed to alert them of the danger, feeling hopeless.

It was his mother who opened a window to look down at him with panic written all over her face.
“Jimin-ah!”

“You need to come down right now!” Jimin screamed at his family. “There’s a fire! Quickly!”

When she went back inside, Jimin glanced at the fire and saw how their flowers and hard work
slowly disappeared. He snatched his keys from the ground and turned to the door right next to the
untouched glass window that led to their little apartment upstairs. He opened the door and looked
up the stairs, relieved to see his family already coming down hurriedly.

The men who had done this were still screaming as they destroyed other establishments around the
neighbourhood. The affected families slowly filled the street, trying to save themselves, and they
all watched in horror how the Sansuyu clan destroyed their homes. Luckily, those criminals didn’t
care about them. About the people whose lives they were ruining.

Jimin pulled his family away from their house, and the four of them stood in the middle of the
street. Jimin and Jihyun tried to calm down their crying mother while their father watched
helplessly how the flames consumed everything as they heard fire trucks sirens in the distance.

They had done nothing wrong. All the people in this neighbourhood only worked hard day after
day to bring food to their table. Their only sin was living in a territory owned by the Mugunghwa
clan. The Min family.

Once more, the powerful fought amongst themselves, and the poor paid the price.

***

The Min family relocated everyone affected by the attack the next day.

The people in this district worked for them in exchange for protection and to have a roof over their
heads, and the Min family hadn’t held up their end of the bargain yesterday. If the people from his
neighbourhood had been the ones to break the pact, the Mugunghwa clan would have spilt blood.
But Jimin and all those affected could only thank them for assigning them temporary housing.

This used to infuriate Jimin when he was growing up. But at twenty-two, he knew how unfair the
world was. There was no point in getting frustrated over how the world worked, because there was
nothing he could do to change it. Instead, he focused on his life, his family, and finding happiness
in the little things. If his loved ones were okay, nothing else mattered.

His family had never gotten in trouble with the clan, but they were in debt. That was why his
parents had to ask for help from the Mugunghwa clan years ago. And now, they had gotten
embroiled in this mess and lost their house and means to earn money. Back to square one.

But when fear and uncertainty gripped Jimin’s heart, he looked at his family and reminded himself
that they were still alive and unharmed after a fire. They had gotten so lucky.

Others hadn’t.

There was nothing extraordinary about the Park family. They were just another family living here,
trying their best to stay out of old grudges between gangs that didn’t concern them. That was why
Jimin was utterly stunned when Min Doyun himself, the Mugunghwa’s kingpin, came to the
district to see the damages with his own eyes and asked to meet up with his father. It didn’t help his
shock that his dad wasn’t surprised by it.

“Be on your best behaviour,” their mother told him and his brother while they waited for the man.

They nodded their heads while she stood between them with a hand on their shoulder. Jimin
glanced at his father. He was standing closer to the door with a serious expression on his face and
arms crossed over his chest. He had his eyes fixed on the open door where a bodyguard was
making sure it was safe and who stepped aside when his boss arrived.

“Park Namkyu,” Min Doyun said when he entered their hostel’s room, his gunpowder and hibiscus
scent filling the room slowly.

Min Doyun was an alpha man in his fifties. The signs of age did not obscure his handsome
features, and his pristine and expensive suit contrasted heavily with the hostel's cheap wallpaper.
The man was not very tall, but his aura, scent, and good posture were enough to make anyone
cower. Not his father, though. But he still treated the man with the utmost respect as he bowed
deeply, and so did the rest of his family, himself included.

“That’s enough.” Doyun put his hand on his dad’s shoulder for him to straighten up. “It’s been a
while, Namkyu.”

But despite their strange familiarity, his father didn’t relax one bit. “Yes. A few years already.”

Jimin still couldn’t quite believe this. His mother was tense, her grip on her two sons strong, but
Seoyun didn’t look surprised in the slightest. At least his younger brother shared his astonishment.

“It’s a shame we have to meet under such unfortunate circumstances,” Doyun said, way too
casually for what had happened.

Unfortunate? Yeah, that was one way to put it.

He didn’t ask for forgiveness. Not even a simple "sorry" left his lips. For putting them in danger.
For getting them involved in their messy business that had nothing to do with them. Because they
were just mere pawns in the grand scheme of things. Unimportant. Jimin hadn’t expected an
apology, anyway. Neither had his father.

“I heard you lost both your house and shop. Is that right?”

“It is, sir."

But Doyun waved him off. “We've known each other since we were kids. You can call me Doyun
when we're alone.”
Namkyu pursed his lips faintly, his scent momentarily spiking, but he only nodded his head curtly.
Min Doyun didn't seem to mind it.

"May I ask what's the motive of your visit then, Doyun?” his father asked his ‘friend’.

“I wanted to personally tend to what happened yesterday,” he replied easily, but Namkyu frowned
at his answer, and Doyun's lips twitched up the tiniest bit. “What? You don't believe me?”

“I just thought your two sons were the ones in charge of taking care of these… circumstances."

A brief silence stretched between both alphas after that. The tension was palpable. Jimin felt
suffocated, and he worried about his father.

Yet a smile stretched Doyun’s lips in the end. “Some things don't change. I still can't lie to my
childhood friend,” the man patted his father’s shoulder as he said so. “I guess I was feeling
nostalgic,” Doyun answered his previous question cryptically. That's when he finally turned to look
at the rest of the Park family, who had remained out of their conversation until now. “It's good to
see you, Seoyun.”

Their mother bowed once more in greeting, and they exchanged a few pleasantries. Jimin was once
more surprised by this man and how his parents seemed to know him well. After a few minutes of
polite conversation, the man set his gaze on the Park brothers. Jimin hoped he was imagining the
way his eyes lingered on him.

“Last time I saw your kids, they were still pups,” he turned to Namkyu to say so before looking
back at them. “They are all grown up now.”

Jimin held the man’s eyes for a second before he had the urge to lower his head, and so he did. His
heart picked up its pace, his nerves spiking at the intensity of his gaze.

"So," Doyun clapped his hands once before he stood in front of Namkyu again. “Repairs around
the district will start soon. But, although we're friends, business is business.” Their father squared
his shoulders, and Doyun’s lips curved up briefly. “Are you aware of how behind you are on your
payments, Namkyu?”

Their father lowered his head a little. "I am, sir." Doyun didn't correct him this time when he
addressed him politely again. “We were hoping to get on top of that this month thanks to White
Day.”

“And I believe you, my friend. But your flower shop is burned down, so how is that going to
happen?”

Jimin could see the way his father was clenching his hands behind his back, still not making eye
contact with Min Doyun. “Given the circumstances, I was hoping you would give us some time.”

The man sighed, looking up at the ceiling before focusing on him once more. “In this situation, I
don't know how time could help any of us.”

Was he for real? Of course he was. All pretences were dropped, and he was finally showing his
true colours.

"It's not our fault this happened,” his brother interrupted the tense silence that had settled over the
room, startling them all. Jihyun was scowling at the man, and his mother’s grip on his shoulder
tightened to stop him. But he didn’t. “Those men from last night screamed your family's name
before setting fire to our neighbourhood. We were just caught in the middle of your feud.”
“Park Jihyun!” Their father barked out in his alpha voice, commanding Jihyun to stop and making
him lower his head with a single glare. Jimin could tell that his father was more scared for Jihyun's
safety than angry at his outburst. "Apologise right this moment."

Immediately, Jihyun bowed and did as told, but with his hands and teeth clenched tightly. Jimin’s
heart was about to give out. He just wanted this to end already. For this man to walk away with
them unscathed.

The fact that Doyun was smiling once more as he studied Jihyun did little to calm his nerves. “I see
you've got a young hot-headed alpha just like you to deal with, Namkyu.”

“Please, excuse his poor manners,” Seoyun also bowed on her son's behalf, trying to hide her
distress, but her scent gave her away. “It's been a long night, and we just lost everything.”

“Don't worry, dear Seoyun,” Doyun told her calmly, clasping his hands behind his back as he
regarded Jihyun. “It's good to know that we have such hot blood working for us. Strong alphas that
will ensure our family’s prosperity for years to come,” he pointed out with a pleased look on his
face. “However," he continued, speaking to Jihyun, "what happened last night doesn’t erase your
previous debt. On the contrary, it will only inflate it. Am I right, my friend?” he asked Namkyu
after turning back to him.

Their father lowered his head once more. “Yes, sir.”

It wasn’t the first time Jimin had seen his father swallow his pride in front of the Min family. He
was used to the monthly visits from members of their gang to check on them and collect their
money. His dad knew how to deal with them to avoid trouble, even though they could be rough in
their ways. But Jimin was more scared now. He kept praying inwardly for this exchange to end
already so they could go back to their simple life. That’s all he wanted for his family.

Maybe it wasn’t an ideal life, but sometimes you don’t get to choose the life you live. Sometimes
you just have to make the most of your given circumstances.

Doyun was observing his father with his chin tilted up the slightest bit, hands still laced behind his
back. For some reason, Jimin’s stomach flipped when the man smirked.

“It’s no secret that I’ve always had a soft spot for my childhood friend, so I propose a deal,
Namkyu.” His father glanced up at him. He was trying to mask his scepticism, but Jimin could see
it in how tense his shoulders were, in the tightness at the corner of his eyes. “I'm going to pay for
your house and shop repairs. I will even get rid of your debt,” Doyun added with an enthusiasm
that rubbed Jimin the wrong way. “What do you say to that? Sounds good, right?” He asked, taking
turns to look at Namkyu and Jihyun.

It sounded too good to be true. It sounded like a trap. Nobody built an empire like the Mugunghwa
clan by gifting houses and getting rid of people’s debts out of the goodness of their hearts. Because
there was no goodness in their hearts to begin with.

As Jimin glanced at his family, he saw they were all thinking the same thing: What’s the catch?

“It’s a… very generous proposal,” Namkyu decided to say, choosing his words very carefully.
“May I ask what we’d have to give in exchange for that?”

The mirth in Min Doyun’s eyes at his question made Jimin nauseous.

“Well, as you mentioned before, I’ve got two sons who will continue my legacy once I’m gone
from this world,” he started explaining. “My eldest is a strong and intelligent alpha who will
inherit the throne. And he has already given me a precious grandchild to carry our bloodline.” The
man looked proud as he talked about his family, but that dangerous glint in his eyes was back when
he turned his head to look directly at Jimin. “However, my youngest son is still unmarried…” he
trailed off intentionally.

Jimin stopped breathing.

His whole family did.

It couldn’t be.

“You have a beautiful omega son, my friend,” Doyun continued despite their astonishment.
“Healthy, and what’s more important, still pure. Am I wrong?” He cocked his head in his direction,
and Jimin was paralysed once more, just like during last night’s attack. Doyun smiled. “Your scent
gives it away.”

He couldn’t utter a single word right now, but the man wasn’t expecting an answer.

“It would be nice to join both of our families, don't you think?” Doyun asked a stunned Namkyu.
“My past here in Busan—the territory my father conquered—and my present and future in Seoul;
the city I secured. Coexisting." He raised both hands in front of himself and laced his fingers
together. "Sealing and strengthening the connection between both my territories.”

Another stunned silence followed.

“How?” Namkyu asked incredulously when he regained his ability to speak. “You married your
eldest son to the granddaughter of one of the richest men in the country. How would this union
benefit you in any way? We don’t have any status.”

“Exactly,” Doyun replied, very much aware of it. “You have lived here all your life, Namkyu. You
must have noticed that the powerful people of Busan are already on our side. The only rebels are
those from the slums, which the Sansuyu clan uses against us. People like you, Namkyu," he told
him after putting his hand on his shoulder. "A union between a Min, one of my sons, and a kid from
one of their districts will give a message. A message of hope and equality. The other half of Busan
will be mine after that.”

His father's expression turned grim when the Mugunghwa's kingpin let go of him to approach
Jimin. The omega had been listening attentively to their every word as he tried to understand; to
grasp what this man was proposing.

He felt his knees go weak under Min Doyun’s scrutiny once he stood in front of him. “Are you
hurt?” the man asked him as he eyed his left cheek, currently covered with gauze.

Jimin didn't know how he did it, but he managed to speak. “Just a cut. From last night,” he added
pointedly.

“I'm saddened to hear that.” Again, no apology. “So, what do you say, Jimin? Do you want to help
your family?”

“Jimin, you don’t have to—” his dad started.

“I’m talking to your son, Namkyu,” Doyun cut him off sternly, his voice as sharp as a whip.

It was time to talk business, and he had dropped all pleasantries.

His father clenched his jaw, knowing that speaking out of turn would only complicate things. Jimin
swallowed, lowering his eyes to the floor as he willed his brain to catch up while Doyun waited for
an answer.

He was asking for too much. Marrying his son–a complete stranger to him–implied so many things
Jimin couldn't even begin to grasp right now.

Becoming part of the Min family. Be linked to them forever.

A nightmare.

But also a chance.

A chance to save his family. To ensure their wellbeing. To guarantee they wouldn't have to go
through any calamities ever again.

A chance to choose how his life would be from now on. A chance he had never had before.

Feeling a pang in his heart, Jimin realised that the pros far outweighed the cons, and that the
choice wasn't easy to make, but the answer to his question was clear as day.

"I want to help them," Jimin said quietly.

Doyun couldn’t hide his delight at hearing just what he wanted to hear, but his smile sent shivers
down Jimin’s spine. "I see you're not only beautiful but also as smart as your father. You'll give me
the perfect grandchildren."

Jimin had to suppress the wave of nausea his words provoked in him. He hadn't thought about that
part. He hadn't had the time to give any of this proper thought.

Before the alpha could turn back around, Jimin reached out and held onto the man’s jacket. "But
you have to promise,” the omega told him once Doyun stopped to look at him once more. “Promise
me you'll get rid of our debt. That you'll repair our home and shop for free, and that you'll protect
them. That they won't ever have to worry about money or security ever again if I marry your son."

Doyun regarded him silently for a moment before his eyes drifted down and up again. The alpha
shot him a pointed look, and Jimin realised his mistake. In his desperation, Jimin hadn’t noticed he
was still holding onto his suit jacket, so he promptly let go. He clasped his hands in front of himself
and lowered his head, hoping the man wouldn’t punish him for his audacity.

"You're asking for more than I offered, dear Jimin,” Doyun told him, sounding amused for some
reason. Jimin waited with bated breath for his rejection. “But I'm feeling generous, and if the Min
family gets you in exchange, it won't be a high price to pay."

Jimin snapped his head up towards him with evident surprise in his eyes.

He had accepted. Doyun was going to take care of his family. Really? That easy?

It didn't occur to him with everything that was going on at the moment, but Jimin had completely
underestimated just how desperate Min Doyun was to extend his territory.

His power.

“I still have to tend to some matters around here.” Doyun looked back at his bodyguards still
waiting by the door, and he shared a nod with them before turning back to Jimin. “But I’ll come
back for you tonight, and we’ll go to Seoul together.”

“Wait. Tonight? Already?” Jimin asked, incapable of masking his sudden panic.

Doyun’s lips quirked up. “There’s no time to lose. There’s a wedding to officiate.”

It was real. He was doing this. Jimin had sentenced himself with those simple words. There was no
backing down now. He was going to marry a stranger. The son of a gang leader. It took everything
in him to stop his legs from giving out under him.

Luckily, Doyun’s attention wasn’t on him any longer. Instead, the man stopped in front of his
father on his way out. “Our fathers would be happy to see their families uniting, don’t you think?”
he asked him, way too pleased about this. Namkyu, however, was biting his tongue to hold himself
back. “They couldn’t get married because of their different backgrounds, but their grandchildren
will make their dream come true.”

Before Doyun left the room with a questionably clean conscience, Namkyu stopped him with his
next words. "This is truly why you came, didn't you? Have you had this planned for years?"

He stopped to look at him over his shoulder with a scowl. "Don't be ridiculous. I didn't know your
son would turn out to be an omega."

But Namkyu couldn’t stop himself now. "I'm just saying that this all seems like too much of a
coincidence. Last night's incidents, and now this."

With his hands in the pockets of his dress pants, Doyun turned to look at him properly by the door.
"It offends me that you think so lowly of me. No, I didn't orchestrate last night's events,” he let him
know. Jimin didn’t know whether to believe him or not, though. “And today I just made the most
out of an awful situation. That's how you run a business and how you keep your empire from
crumbling down. Persuasion.” Jimin almost flinched when Doyun sent him a long look. "Good
things come for those who wait," he stated before meeting Namkyu’s eyes once more. "Looks like
it's finally your turn, my friend."

He left the door open, not bothering to close it behind himself, and the Park family stood very still
in their hostel room after Min Doyun left. It was Namkyu who walked over to the door and
slammed it close, and they finally snapped out of their momentary shock.

In a second, Jimin had his mother clinging to him and asking him why he had agreed to something
like this. The omega asked himself the same thing. But the truth was that, despite his fear and
uncertainty, he didn’t regret his decision. If Min Doyun stood in front of him again and asked him
the same question, his answer would be the same.

They had been living in debt for so long, worrying about making ends meet and in fear of angering
the Mugunghwa clan, that Jimin had latched onto the first and only way to change things for the
better. There was just no other way.

As Jimin tried to soothe his mother, rubbing her back as he held her in his arms, Jimin met his
dad’s gaze from across the room. He could see the pain in his eyes, but the man didn’t ask him
why he had done that. He didn’t scold him, question his sanity, or scream at him for the crazy
thing he had agreed to. Despite how much he hated having to see his son sacrificing himself for his
family, he knew there was no use in saying none of those things.

Because they wouldn’t change a thing. Because he understood Jimin’s feelings. If Doyun had
made him an offer to get rid of their debts and ensure their protection, his father would have agreed
to anything for his family’s sake.

That was why, instead of spending their last hours together arguing, his father only enveloped them
in a hug and didn’t let go for what felt like forever.

Resignation was bitter, but it was a familiar taste to them.

“Listen to me, Jimin,” Namkyu told him when they finally separated, grabbing his face in between
his hands to ensure he had his utmost attention. “The Min family is full of cruel and violent
bastards who won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done to protect their empire. But Min Doyun
has a twisted sense of honour. I know him well, and he won't break his promise. If not for me, then
for our fathers and their wishes to unite both families.”

“But what is all that about? How do you know Min Doyun so well?” Jihyun intervened while he
hugged their mother, looking just as bewildered as Jimin. “This is my first time hearing about any
of this.”

Jimin nodded as he looked at his brother, sharing his confusion. He couldn’t articulate a word right
now, though. His limbs felt all numb, and his thoughts were muddled. He was going to need a
moment or two to recover sensitivity again and get a grip on himself.

“Years ago, the Min family used to live here in Busan. That’s how your grandfather met Min
Doyun’s father,” their mother was the one to explain it all. “They fell in love when they were
young, but they came from very different backgrounds and had different goals in life. For the Min
family, marriages are a business deal, and your grandfather had no status or money, so they
couldn’t get married. Still, your father and Min Doyun became friends when they were kids
because they lived close by.”

Jimin had a hard time picturing Min Doyun as a kid, running around with his father, but he didn’t
say it.

“Before he secured his half of Seoul, Doyun used to come and visit from time to time, but you were
both too young to remember that,” she continued before heaving out a sigh. “Power changed him.
His father changed him, too. The clan was the most important thing, but Doyun’s father died
wishing he had married his one true love in the end.”

Namkyu nodded at her before turning back to Jimin. “That’s why I’m certain they will do you no
harm. Because a union between the Min and Park family was his father’s last wish.” His father said
it with such conviction that it was hard not to believe him. It also managed to soothe Jimin a little.
“But I’m still going to ask you to be on your best behaviour, and as much as you can, stay away
from that family’s business. Just because you marry a Min doesn’t mean you have to become one.”

“Wait. He’s going for real?” Jihyun asked with eyes wide open.

Their father let go of Jimin and straightened up. “There’s no way out of it now,” he clenched his
jaw, not liking this one bit. “Refusing after he agreed will put him in danger. Us, too.”

“It’s okay, dad.” Jimin tried to comfort him, reaching for his hand and holding it in his. “I’m glad I
can help.”

Hearing those words didn’t make Namkyu happy, who was looking at his son with all the regret in
the world. “This isn't the life I wanted for you.”

“But it is the life I've always wanted for my family,” Jimin told him with his hand on his heart.
“You have taken good care of me my whole life. Both of you,” he added, meeting his mother’s
eyes too. “It’s my turn now.”

His resolution surprised even himself, but again, he couldn’t regret his decision when it meant
making sure his family would be alright. At his declaration and bravery, his father couldn’t contain
himself any longer and brought him in for another hug. A hug his mother and brother joined too.

“Don't feel bad about this,” Jimin told them, closing his eyes and holding onto them and their
comforting scents. “I'll be fine,” he promised, and tried to convince himself that it would be that
way.

If what his father had told him about the Min family was true, he hoped so, at least.

***

Night came sooner than they would’ve liked, and with it, Min Doyun returned to their hostel room.

Jimin didn’t pack anything because there was nothing to pack. Their belongings were back at
whatever was left of their home, and they couldn’t access it without firefighters deeming it safe
and leading the way.

The family had spent the whole day together, trying to process that this was truly happening. They
didn’t know when they would see each other again. But thinking about it made Jimin want to run
away and not look back, so he tried to tell himself that he would see them soon.

Perhaps for the wedding, he thought, feeling dizzy at the prospect.

Despite the many hugs and words of comfort exchanged in the hours leading to their farewell, his
mother wouldn’t let go of Jimin. Not until the last moment. After one more gesture of affection, his
parents and brother watched with sorrowful hearts how Jimin stood next to Min Doyun.

“I promise I will take care of your son. He will be treated like royalty,” he promised his childhood
friend.

But this time, his father couldn’t let go of his anger; of his despair at seeing his son being taken
away from him in such a way. “You'd better,” Namkyu spat.

Doyun let the threat in his words go, for once being understanding of the situation. He didn’t
comment on it, only nodded his head once with a solemn look, perhaps because he understood a
father’s heart.

After sparing his family one last look and mustering a smile just for them, Jimin turned around and
swallowed the dread that was threatening to swallow him whole as he left his home and dear
people behind to go to an unknown and cold place that would never feel like home.

Chapter End Notes

I tried my best while tagging this fic, but if there’s any other tag that you think I
should add, please let me know!!
We will meet Yoongi in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed this.

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Wild Geese
Chapter Notes

Hello :3

I’m back with the second chapter of this fic, but first I wanted to thank you for all the
love this story has received in such a short amount of time. I’m blown away by how
much people liked the first chapter, and I’m very thankful for your kind words, kudos
and likes on twitter. I hope you like this chapter and everything I’ve got planned for
this fic!

ALSO, there’s one thing I forgot to mention last time! Mugunghwa is the Korean word
for hibiscus, and Sansuyu are cornelian cherry flowers! These flowers symbolise
immortality, that’s why the Sansuyu clan shouted “we’re immortal” before the attack
:3

That’s all, but I wanted to share it with you lol

Let’s meet Yoongi now!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The first few days in Seoul, Jimin spent them at one of the many apartment buildings owned by the
Min family. Yet, Doyun had told him that none of his family members lived in that one. Jimin
hadn't tried to leave the apartment, but he knew he couldn't even if he wanted to, as there was
always a man guarding the door from outside.

He had been told the first day here that he was not to see his future husband until further notice.
Jimin hoped it would be before the wedding, though. He didn't want to risk showing apprehension
about this whole thing in front of his husband and whoever would be present to witness their union.

He had a feeling the wedding wouldn't take place until his cheek had healed by the care Doyun
was putting into making sure the cut healed nicely. To keep up appearances, no doubt. It wouldn't
look good in the wedding pictures. That's why a nurse came every day to tend to his wounds, and
that was the only human contact he got since his future father-in-law left him here.

Still, Jimin couldn't deny his curiosity about the man who would become his husband. He
managed to stop himself from using the laptop in the apartment for two whole days, but on the
third day, Jimin really needed a distraction, and he gave in. However, he found that he couldn’t
access certain websites because they were blocked, so he couldn’t use his email. They had gone
this far so he couldn’t contact his family.

At least he had Netflix, and he could also access Naver. That gave him an idea. He nibbled on his
lower lip, but ultimately, his curiosity won, and he decided to do some research on the Min family
on Naver.

The Mugunghwa clan was one of the oldest crime syndicates in the country. They owned half the
city of Seoul and half of Busan. They were known to be protective of their own and ruthless with
their enemies. That’s the only way to keep an empire from crumbling down. But it hadn’t always
been like this.

Their fast ascension as one of the most powerful gangs in the country started with Min Doyun’s
father, and they only grew even bigger and stronger when Doyun inherited the throne. His
resolution and ambition fueled him to make half of the capital his, and Jimin had heard more than
once back at home that the man wouldn’t stop until Busan and Seoul were fully under his
jurisdiction.

Jimin had never imagined he would be part of that plan, though.

But if Doyun couldn’t make it possible, his eldest son and heir, Min Geumjae, would surely
achieve that with the help of his younger brother, Min Yoongi.

Min Yoongi…

What kind of man was he? Cruel? Violent? Like his father?

To his disappointment, not much more information was available online, and Jimin couldn't find a
single photo of any of the members of the Min family, including his future husband. With a heavy
sigh, Jimin closed the laptop.

On the fourth day in the capital, Min Doyun came back to see him. Jimin stood with his head
lowered when the man let himself in. “Have you been enjoying your stay here?”

“It's a nice place,” the omega replied politely. “Is my family well?” he couldn't help but ask what
he had been wondering since he came to Seoul. More than the wedding, that was the one thing
keeping him up at night.

“They are. They're staying at one of my apartments back in Busan with a beautiful view of the
ocean,” he explained as he sat on an armchair. Jimin remained standing. “I'm holding up my end of
the bargain, just as promised.”

The omega swallowed. “Will I… Can I talk to them?”

“You'll see them at the wedding.”

“They'll come?” he asked, shocked by this news.

Doyun rested his hands on the arms of the armchair as he regarded him. “Of course. Both parents
should be present at their son's wedding. It wouldn't be a good look if they weren’t there.”

It wasn't for Jimin’s own good, but again, to keep up appearances. Yet, the omega couldn't care
less. He was going to see his family, and that was all that mattered.

“I see your cheek is almost completely healed. How about the cuts on your hands and forearms?”
Doyun asked him.

“They’re healing well, too.”

“May I see?”

Obediently, Jimin rolled his sleeves up to show him. Doyun nodded, content with what he saw.
The man looked around the living room where Jimin had been sitting before he came, looking out
the window, not feeling like doing anything. His mind wouldn't stop racing, and his attention span
didn't let him focus on anything long enough to watch a movie or read. Now that he knew he was
going to see his family soon, some of his anxiety had dissipated because he would be able to check
for himself that they were truly okay. To check if Doyun was telling the truth.

Doyun's eyes fixed on the laptop atop the coffee table then. “I know you've been entertaining
yourself by playing detective,” he told him casually. Jimin's heart sank. Shit, he didn't think they
would track that. He should've known. “Was your research fruitful?”

Jimin lowered his head and pursed his lips. “Not really,” he admitted.

The man smiled faintly. “I didn't expect anything else, especially with the amount of money I
spend to make sure that's how it is. Curious about us?” Jimin remained silent. “It's understandable.
After all, you'll be marrying my son in a couple of days.”

That had Jimin raising his head. A couple of days. And he still knew nothing about Yoongi.

His anxiety flared again. So much for a break.

He was trying so hard to not let it show because Doyun was observing him intently, but the man in
front of him wasn’t just anybody. He couldn’t be fooled. “Sit down, dear Jimin,” he told him after
a moment, beckoning him to take a seat on the couch next to him, which the omega did. “I
understand that your father never told you much about us and our past relationship, right?”

Jimin shook his head slowly, but then he bit his lip, worrying that Doyun would find that
offensive.

“That’s alright. It’s for the best,” he assured him with a wave of his hand. “You don’t have to
worry about anything other than marrying my son and providing him with children. Don’t overstep
any boundaries or taint the family name, and you will get to enjoy a lavish lifestyle free of worry.
Your family as well. Understood?” Doyun inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Jimin clenched his hands on his lap to stop them from shaking at the obvious threat. It was
nauseating how calmly Doyun did so.

“Yes, sir,” Jimin replied, bowing his head politely.

“Good.” The man relaxed at his answer and crossed his legs. “Now, do you have any questions for
me?”

Jimin glanced at him. “Questions?”

“About anything you’re curious about. I know by your search history that you have them,” he
added with a smirk.

Jimin’s heart started pounding in his chest. He really couldn’t lower his guard in this man’s
presence. He was so tense he could feel the beginnings of a headache as he sat ramrod straight.

“I just… I’m good,” he decided to say instead. “I don’t need to know.”

His answer seemed to please him greatly by the way his lips curved up. “Not even about your
future husband?”

Jimin stiffened. “I…”

Doyun leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees as he regarded him amusedly. “There’s
nothing wrong with being curious about my son. You’re his fiancé, after all.”
It wasn’t something as innocent as just mere curiosity. This was his self-preservation kicking in.

His throat felt so dry all of a sudden. “Will we get to meet before the wedding or…?”

… or will I have to marry this man without even knowing his damn face?

Again, there was that pleased expression on Doyun’s face. “Yoongi is quite busy,” he replied as he
leaned back against his seat. “But I arranged a dinner tonight, so you can both finally meet,” he told
him with a quirk of his lips. “But after that, you’ll come back here. You will live apart until you're
both married, as it’s custom.”

“Okay,” Jimin whispered, terrified and hoping Doyun couldn’t smell his fear tainting his scent.

This was what Jimin had wanted. To not marry someone blindly. But he was so scared of the kind
of person his husband was going to turn out to be.

It seemed like he was going to find out way too soon to prepare his heart for it.

***

A car came for Jimin in the evening to take him to the restaurant.

After Min Doyun left, the omega felt too restless. There were still a few hours left, yet he started
getting ready just so he had something to do. He took a long bath to try to calm his nerves, but it
was impossible.

He didn’t know how long he stood in front of the giant walk-in closet filled with new and
expensive clothes that were now his. Jimin had never owned any designer clothes, and now he
couldn’t find a single one that wasn’t. It was too much. Just how much money had they spent on
this? Meanwhile, there were people back at home who couldn’t afford to eat three meals a day.

The omega decided to just look for something that he liked without looking at price tags or brands,
and he ended up choosing a simple and flowy white buttoned-down shirt and beige slacks. He
would wear a warm coat over his outfit to fight the night’s chill at the beginning of spring. He tried
to put some care into his appearance, parting his hair and styling his long bangs so they framed his
face prettily. He even put on some light makeup, enough to give his tired face a little glow and
cover the cut on his cheek.

Maybe he didn’t know the type of man Yoongi was or what he looked like, but he wanted to make
a good impression. After all, this was his fiancé, and Jimin had a job to do. He couldn’t just get
there looking like he didn’t care about this arrangement because what if Yoongi didn’t find him
attractive and refused to marry him? What would happen to his family and him? He didn’t know
how much of a say his future husband had on this, but Jimin worried, and he needed to try his best.

A bodyguard accompanied him to the garage where a chauffeur was waiting for him. He spent the
ride looking out the window and taking his first proper look at the city of Seoul. The streets were
filled with people leaving work, and traffic was a nightmare, but the restaurant wasn’t very far
from the apartment. They could have simply walked there, but Jimin remained silent. He didn’t
think anybody would care about what he had to say.

His bodyguard was the one to open the door for him when they arrived, and Jimin wondered if he
could ask for his name. It felt odd to not know at least that, but the man hadn’t spoken to him other
than to let him know his car ride had arrived back at the apartment. Maybe he wasn’t supposed to
talk to him? Jimin wasn’t sure, so he let it be.

The omega was led to a private dining room at the restaurant where Min Yoongi was already
waiting for him. Jimin stood in front of the door, aware of the bodyguards surrounding him, but he
took a moment to breathe and calm his nerves before he opened the door.

Min Yoongi was standing behind his chair, already knowing he was coming in. There was a
moment of stillness as their gazes met for the first time and they studied each other. Both the
button-up shirt and slacks he was wearing were black, as well as the suit jacket hanging from his
chair. His black hair was parted much like Jimin’s, but it was shorter, and the omega could see he
had an undercut and a few small hoops decorating his ears that glinted in the warm light of the
private room.

Despite the softness of his features, his sharp jawline and eyes, as well as his good posture, gave
him an aura that clearly stated he wasn’t to be messed with. He had to be older than Jimin. He
wasn’t sure by how much, but there was something in Yoongi’s eyes that told him he had gone
through a lot. Seen too much.

He looked… intimidating.

The alpha was observing him silently with keen eyes that had Jimin’s heart thudding in his chest.
His future husband was handsome. There was no doubt about it, just like his father. But he
wondered if his heart was as tarnished as his.

Yet, the thing that caught Jimin’s attention the most was the scent permeating the room. A smell
he found comforting and grounding. Like petrichor and something else… It was fainter, and he
couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

Not until Yoongi walked over to him.

The alpha bowed by the waist in greeting, and Jimin was quick to do the same. When they
straightened up, Jimin noticed that they were almost the same height. Yoongi couldn’t be more
than a few centimetres taller than him, but it did nothing to make him look more approachable.

The silence that settled once more after greeting each other politely was suffocating him. Yoongi
looked calm, though, but he wondered if it was just a mask because Jimin was anything but calm.

It was so awkward.

And security wasn’t being subtle; they were being observed attentively. Luckily, after the food
arrived, their bodyguards remained outside and closed the door, leaving them alone. It didn’t make
things less awkward, but at least there was nobody else witnessing this moment. Jimin truly didn’t
know what to do with himself. Fortunately, the alpha was the one to make the first move.

Silently, Yoongi grabbed his chair to help him sit like a true gentleman. Nobody had ever done
that for him, and Jimin didn’t think people still did things like this, but he nodded his head in
thanks before sitting. With Yoongi so close behind him, Jimin could finally put a name to that
other smell in his scent. It was very subtle, but it reminded him of burning wood. Along with the
smell of petrichor, it was a delightful combination.

Jimin waited for Yoongi to break the silence after he sat too, but he didn’t. The alpha started eating
without uttering a single word, and Jimin glanced at him, feeling lost. Yes, they already knew each
other's names, but Jimin found it odd that they hadn't even introduced themselves before eating.

The food looked delicious, especially the steak, but Jimin was so nervous that he wondered if he
could swallow a single bite. Still, he made an effort to grab his utensils and begin picking at his
food. After eating in silence for a few minutes, Jimin glanced up at his fiancé once more, who had
his eyes set on his food.

Despite his obvious disinterest, Yoongi hadn’t been harsh with him, so Jimin decided to be the one
to make a move this time. “The food is very good.”

That had Yoongi glancing up at him. He nodded his head and hummed in agreement before his
gaze went back to his meal.

Not one to give up easily, Jimin tried again. “May I ask how old you are?”

"Twenty-eight," he said simply.

Oh, he was younger than he thought. And his voice was quite deep. It made him want to hear more
of it.

Jimin smiled a little bit, happy to finally get a spoken answer. "I'm twenty-two," he let him know.

He didn’t know how much Yoongi knew about him. How much his father had told him. But Jimin
was coming into this union blindly; that was why he told him. Plus, he was hoping to keep the
conversation going, but Yoongi said nothing more.

The omega nibbled on his bottom lip and wondered if his fiancé hated him already. He shook his
head a little to get rid of those thoughts and took a calming breath. The last thing he wanted right
now was to panic. Yoongi would most likely smell his distress, and he didn’t want to aggravate
him.

Yet, he worried. He worried a lot. Because Yoongi wasn’t paying him any attention. Did he
despise him already? Did he not find him attractive? Did he… deem him unworthy?

Jimin was getting something out of this marriage. Min Doyun too. But what about Yoongi?

When Jimin looked up again, his heart stuttered at finding Yoongi’s eyes already set on him. But
the alpha remained silent again.

After looking back to make sure the door was still closed, mindful of their bodyguards waiting
outside, Jimin swallowed his nerves and asked him almost in a whisper: “Are you okay with our
marriage?”

Yoongi didn’t avert his eyes this time. “Are you?” It was Jimin’s turn to remain silent. The alpha
nodded his head and let out a resigned sigh. “Nobody is happy with an arranged marriage.”

Jimin was doing this all wrong, wasn’t he? He couldn’t let Yoongi think so. He needed to make
this work.

“I-I am happy to be marrying you,” the omega said quietly, making an effort to meet his eyes and
hoping the alpha hadn’t noticed the slight stammer in his speech.

But Yoongi shot him a pointed look at that; one that clearly conveyed he didn't believe him.
Jimin’s stomach dropped as he watched the alpha pick up his utensils once more to keep eating.
"Is it… because I come from a poor family?” Jimin asked weakly, clenching his hands on his lap
under the table.

The question stopped Yoongi from continuing to cut his steak to stare at him. “No,” he stated
firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

Jimin was the first one to avert his eyes, lowering them to the table. And then silence once more.

They went back to eating, but Jimin’s appetite was completely gone once more. His answer had
placated Jimin’s nerves a little bit, but this dinner was still not going great. He needed to change
Yoongi’s mind. To make him see that this wasn’t so bad. He needed the alpha to be okay with this
if he wanted to protect his family and have a decent life in Seoul.

But every time he looked into those intense eyes, Jimin had a hard time articulating a single word.
And before he knew it, dinner had come to an end, and they were already standing outside the
restaurant waiting for Jimin’s car to take him back to his apartment.

As the omega pulled his coat tighter around himself, he took a peek at his fiancé standing next to
him and noticed there was something in his hair. Jimin frowned, and without thinking much about
it, he reached out to get it while Yoongi was looking the other way, waiting for the car.

Yet, the moment he sensed something coming closer to his face, Yoongi was swift to grab him by
the wrist and stop him. His fast reaction had Jimin gasping, and the alpha's cold and sceptical eyes
glued to him made the omega flinch. Yoongi’s hand was rough, and his grip strong. The omega’s
wrist hurt.

“You just… There’s a little petal in your hair,” Jimin explained shakily with his heart racing. “A
cherry blossom.”

Still on the defensive, the alpha stayed silent for a moment, studying him. Something flickered in
Yoongi's eyes when he noticed the little cuts that covered Jimin's hands from the window
explosion. An emotion Jimin couldn’t pinpoint, and that was gone when the alpha's grip on him
loosened.

Had he thought Jimin was going to attack him? The mere idea seemed ridiculous. But then again,
Yoongi had grown up in a family of mobsters, and he was one of them. Being on the defensive was
probably second nature to him.

When he let go completely of him, Jimin couldn’t help but touch his wrist. His hold on him had
been harsh, and his skin had grown a little red, but Jimin didn’t think it would bruise or anything.
He had just not expected that at all, and Yoongi's fast reaction had spooked him.

The omega was going to apologise for trying to touch him without permission, but he was stunned
by what he found: Yoongi, facing him with his head lowered a little, eyes on the ground, so Jimin
could do what he had intended.

Slowly, Jimin reached out and picked the little petal with a fluttering heart. For some strange
reason, he found the little gesture endearing. Almost as if Yoongi was apologising without words.
Something Min Doyun had never done, subtly or not.

“Got it,” Jimin told him, showing him.

Yoongi observed the petal in his hand and nodded his head. “Thanks,” he muttered, averting his
eyes to look for the car again.
There it was again, that same awkwardness from before.

Maybe Yoongi wasn’t as impassive as he thought. Maybe he just didn’t know how to act in this
situation. Perhaps he was just awkward. Jimin couldn’t blame him if that was the case. Who
wouldn't be with such an arrangement?

A little hope flickered in Jimin’s heart after that.

Despite his obvious reservations about this marriage, Yoongi hadn’t raised his voice or showed
displeasure towards him. Not a single subtle threat had left his lips–unlike what Jimin was used to
experiencing around Doyun.

They had been together for an hour, but the alpha had been polite and respectful. Even gentlemanly
despite his silences. Very intimidating, especially on the rare occasion when their eyes had met—
those sharp and smart eyes had Jimin fearing he could read his every thought. But Yoongi was also
very calm, and not harsh at all if he ignored his previous reaction when he thought he was being
attacked.

Jimin’s head was spinning as he tried to make sense of the man standing next to him.

When his chauffeur came back to take him home, parking in front of them, Jimin turned to his
fiancé. “I guess the next time we see each other will be at the wedding.” Yoongi nodded his head,
and Jimin mustered a small smile. “See you there then,” he told him softly.

But before Jimin could get the door, Yoongi opened it for him.

Jimin stared at him, trying to comprehend this quiet man and his actions. But much like every
other time, Yoongi regarded him silently as he waited.

“Thank you,” Jimin said to him before getting inside.

When Yoongi closed the door, Jimin hesitated before he waved at him a little.

The alpha just bowed his head subtly and stood there until the chauffeur drove off. When he could
no longer see his future husband, Jimin let out a tired sigh and leaned back against his seat.

Well, that hadn’t been the best first meeting, but he guessed it could have gone so much worse.
Yoongi didn’t seem to be so bad. At least he didn’t seem to share his father's character, and that
was something Jimin had feared terribly.

Closing his eyes as they joined the heavy traffic of Seoul, Jimin hoped they could make this work.

***

Jimin was sitting on a couch alone in a private room decorated with hibiscus flowers. His hands
kept caressing the soft material of his blue hanbok with golden embroidery and white finishes.

Today was the day of the wedding, and he still had a hard time believing it.

Surprisingly, he felt rather calm about it all. The omega was a little nervous because he didn’t want
to mess up, but he had had time to come to terms with this arrangement. It had been his decision,
after all. Even if he had been given little choice.
It also helped that he had already met Yoongi. He still knew close to nothing about him, but his
seemingly calm nature told him he couldn’t be that bad of a guy. Or so he kept hoping.

He hadn’t seen Yoongi yet, though. That morning, Jimin had gotten dressed at his temporary
apartment with the help of a few people, who had also styled his hair and did his makeup before he
was driven to the hotel where the celebration was going to take place. When he arrived, a
bodyguard had immediately led the omega to this room where he was told he would greet some
guests before the ceremony, so he didn’t have time to look around for his fiancé.

Yet, despite it being their wedding, Jimin couldn’t stop thinking about his family. Doyun had told
him they would be here, and he was praying he hadn’t lied about that because he was dying to see
them and check they were truly okay.

When the door opened, Jimin worried it would be some strangers, but his heart pounded in his
chest when he saw exactly the people he had been missing terribly. It wasn’t an exaggeration to
say that Jimin jumped up from the couch to greet them. The family hugged and basked in each
other’s scents as they held onto one another tightly. Having them here was the best wedding gift he
could receive.

They spent almost ten minutes asking each other how they were, making sure the Min family had
kept their promise. While Jimin assured them he had been fine and that he was being taken care
of–like royalty, just like Doyun had told them–his parents and brother told him all about their new
house and all the commodities in it. All thanks to him. And knowing that only strengthened his
resolve to make things work here in Seoul so his family could enjoy a good life back in Busan.

“What’s that?” Jimin asked his mother, who was holding something small in her hands.

“We saw Min Yoongi on our way in, and he gave me this little goose as it’s tradition,” she told him
and showed him the wooden goose.

“Oh, right,” he let out as he looked at the cute bird.

He had been told they wouldn’t be doing much apart from the ceremony and holding a buffet in the
dining hall for their guests. This was such an unconventional wedding that Jimin hadn’t thought
they would follow this particular tradition. It’s known that wild geese mate for life, so the alpha
was supposed to give the mother of the omega a goose to promise a life of love and to care for their
child. In their situation, Jimin would be okay with just half of that promise.

“Have you met him yet?” his mother asked him worriedly.

Jimin nodded. “Min Doyun made a reservation at a restaurant the other day so we could have
dinner and meet before the wedding.”

“And how did it go?”

“It went well,” Jimin said. It wasn’t a lie. “He’s… quiet. But he treated me well.”

Seoyun hummed in agreement. “Yeah, he doesn’t seem to be the talkative type.” She then let out a
sigh as she took in his hanbok. “You look beautiful, Jimin.”

His lips curled up at that. “Thank you, mom.”

“I’m just sad the circumstances aren’t different,” she said regretfully while fixing his hanbok.

“Don’t be,” Jimin told her. He looked at his brother and father too, reaching out to hold their hands.
“I’m fine,” he insisted once more, mustering a smile for them. A genuine one. “I’m so happy to
know you are all okay. That’s all that matters to me.”

“But not to us,” his father reminded him bitterly.

Jimin’s chest felt tight at that, but before he could assure them that he would be okay again, the
door opened once more, and Min Doyun came in.

“Have you greeted your son already? I told you I was taking good care of him, Namkyu,” the man
said with an amused glint in his eyes as he observed the family. “But I need Jimin now. You and
Yoongi will greet our guests together.”

The family shared a look, but they complied. Jimin didn’t want to leave them yet. He wanted to
spend more time with them, but he guessed he would have the opportunity to do that during the
banquet, so he went with Doyun to meet his soon-to-be husband. It wasn’t like he had much of a
choice, anyway.

Yoongi looked handsome in his black hanbok with golden embroidery just like his own, except
that the alpha had embroidered in the centre the emblem of his family: a golden hibiscus flower
inside a circle. They stared at one another as Jimin walked over to him, and this time, he was the
first to bow in greeting.

“What should I do…?” Jimin asked him, unsure as the first guests started entering the hall.

“You don’t have to speak. Simply greet them, and leave the rest to me,” Yoongi instructed before
he set his eyes on the man and woman approaching them.

Jimin was glad to do just that because he knew absolutely nobody. So he let Yoongi exchange a
few words with each guest while Jimin just smiled politely and bowed. The omega couldn’t help
but glance at his fiancé from time to time. This was the most he had heard him speak, exchanging
words with every person who worked for the Mugunghwa clan. All of them came. After all, not
every day did one of the kingpin’s sons get married.

Despite his awkwardness from the other day, Yoongi was in control right now. He was polite, cold,
but confident as he shook their guests’ hands firmly. Jimin would never admit it–the realisation
startling him–but his inner omega was pleased to see he had a dependable alpha next to him.

His nerves came back at full force when he caught a few flashes of their guests’ guns hidden
beneath their jackets, a reminder of who all these people were. He wondered if his husband was
carrying weapons beneath his hanbok, too. Jimin gulped at the thought, his hands growing sweaty.
He tried his best not to think about it.

A Master of Ceremonies officiated the ceremony, and it was a quick affair that didn't last longer
than half an hour. As it was tradition, their mothers lit candles and bowed to each other before
going back to their seats. Today was the first time Jimin had seen Doyun’s wife, Kim Minsu, and
they had been briefly introduced when she arrived with Yoongi's brother and wife. Yoongi’s
mother was a short and elegant omega, and he could see where the softness of Yoongi’s features
came from. Along with his mother, Minsu returned to her table where Min Doyun, his dad and
brother were also sitting. He noticed Geumjae and his wife there, too.

It was so strange how Jimin was in the middle of becoming part of their family but knew none of
them yet.

After Yoongi and Jimin said their vows, pledging that they would be faithful and fulfil their
obligations as a married couple, they bowed to each other. The ceremony finished when Yoongi
and Jimin sipped wine from a gourd, and it was official.

They were married.

Jimin didn’t feel different after that. He didn’t have time to process it because the moment the
ceremony was over, it was time to take pictures, and he was busy following instructions to think of
anything else. Even though this was an arranged marriage, one of convenience, Jimin was glad he
would at least have some photos with his family on this day. He didn’t know when he would see
them next, so he tried to make as many memories with them today as he could so he would have
something to hold on to when he felt homesick.

Jimin and Yoongi also took a few photos together. It was awkward, so Jimin tried his best to smile
at Yoongi to ease him a little bit. But the alpha remained as stoic and stiff as ever while they held
hands and looked at each other while the photographer immortalised the moment.

After that, they joined their guests in the dining hall, who were already enjoying the buffet. People
started congratulating them when they entered, and Yoongi took care of that once more, thanking
them for their words while Jimin just bowed to them, remaining glued to his husband’s side.

Husband.

The thought startled Jimin as it began to dawn on him that they were married now. He would have
to move in with Yoongi now. And then…

As Yoongi talked to a woman, a thudding sound near him startled Jimin. He looked down to see a
toddler on the floor, letting out soft whimpers. The little boy must have tripped and fallen, and his
bottom lip was trembling as if he was about to start crying. Instinct kicked in immediately, and
Jimin left his husband to crouch down and help the little boy.

“It’s okay. You’re alright,” Jimin said soothingly as he helped him to his feet once more. The kid’s
face was turning reddish as he tried not to cry, and Jimin smiled at him as he looked him over. He
wasn’t bleeding, although his knees were a little scraped up. “It hurts, doesn’t it?” Jimin asked him,
petting his hair to comfort him.

The little kid nodded, but he didn’t look as shaken up as before. Jimin smiled at him before he saw
his husband’s black hanbok out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, he met Yoongi’s eyes, who
were regarding him intently. Without saying a word, the alpha offered him his hand. Jimin
observed it for a few seconds before he put his hand in his, and Yoongi helped him up.

His husband didn’t look angry at him for leaving his side without warning while he greeted their
guests, but Jimin had a hard time reading him.

“Where are your parents, Eun-ah?” Yoongi asked the little boy.

Jimin blinked, surprised that he knew the kid. But then, upon closer inspection, Jimin saw the
Mugunghwa emblem in the form of a little pin attached to the boy’s cream sweater. The kid looked
around as if suddenly wondering the same thing as Yoongi.

"There you are," the voice of a man came from behind them. Min Geumjae. "What did we tell you
about leaving our side?"

"Sorry," Eun pouted as his dad picked him up. His mother was quick to fix his hair as she took in
the state of his knees and caressed them gently.
"Excuse your nephew, Yoongi," Geumjae told him with a smirk. "He's still too young for these
things."

Oh, so this was Yoongi's nephew. He hadn't been with his parents when they arrived.

Yoongi scoffed at his brother. "That's what I told you when you said he would come. He's
probably bored out of his mind. Why would you torture your kid like this?"

"He needs to get used to these kinds of environments."

Yoongi arched an eyebrow. "He's barely two years old."

"Exactly," Geumjae replied like it made perfect sense.

"We're at a wedding. Please don't argue here," Geumjae's wife, Hyerim, pointed out kindly before
shooting the grooms a warm smile. "Congratulations to you both."

"Yes, congrats," Geumjae followed suit.

Yoongi bowed, and Jimin did so as well while muttering his thanks. While the brothers talked,
Hyerim told him that it had been a lovely wedding. Jimin couldn’t help but feel like she was just
being polite. Like that was just what you were supposed to say in this situation. This hadn’t been a
normal wedding. There was no love between them, and the ceremony had felt like a mere
formality. She must know that well because she had gotten married under similar circumstances.

Eun waved cutely at Jimin and then at Yoongi before the family turned around to go back to their
table. Jimin couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for Yoongi and him to paint that
same picture. The omega gulped. He'd rather not think about it until he had to in a few hours.

They only got to enjoy the food once they had gone through all their guests again, and Jimin was
quick to go back to his family to spend as much time with them as he could. It didn’t make it any
easier when they had to part, though. Jimin kept holding onto them even after most of their guests
had left the venue. It wasn’t until Min Doyun and his wife approached them to tell them that it was
time for the newlyweds to leave the place that Jimin finally had to let go of them. It was time for
his family to go back to Busan.

“Will I get to call them at least?” Jimin asked his father-in-law as the omega held onto his
mother’s hands.

“Now that you’ve completed part of our deal, I guess it’s okay,” the man conceded. “But don’t
forget that you still have a duty to our family. And yours.”

There it was again. A threat. A reminder that his actions would directly affect his family. Jimin had
little choice but to let him know he understood.

After giving his mother, father, and brother another quick hug, Jimin finally stepped back. He
glanced back at them over his shoulder as he made his way over to where his husband was already
waiting for him. By the door, he waved at his family one last time. Yoongi just observed the
exchange in silence, like always.

His eyes prickled with unshed tears as they walked side by side to their car, but Jimin just sniffled
before he took in a calming breath and told himself to get it together. His family was more than
okay, and it was all thanks to this arrangement. Plus, his husband didn’t seem like an evil man–just
indifferent to him–so his resolve to make this work only grew stronger as he left the hotel.
After checking for himself that things were all right, Jimin felt a bit calmer about this whole thing.
He just needed to keep playing his part. Even when that meant having children with a man he
barely knew.

The sun had already gone down when they got in the car, and Yoongi and Jimin sat in the backseat
in silence. This time, the omega didn’t mind it. There were too many thoughts running through his
head after such a busy day. So he distracted himself and tried not to think about what was coming
as he looked out the window, the streetlights illuminating his face every few seconds.

His new home was a penthouse in one of the newest buildings in the city, and his husband finally
opened his mouth to give him a quick tour and let him know where everything was. The apartment
was big for two people, let alone just one. He had been told that his husband had been living here
for a few months now. Yet there were no photos or decorations. The apartment seemed a little
cold, impersonal, just like Yoongi himself. Although Jimin had to admit that the big terrace that
communicated with the living room was very nice, as well as the privileged view they had of the
Han river.

After asking him where the bathroom was so he could freshen up, Yoongi took him to the main
bedroom. “They brought all your clothes. They’re on your side of the walk-in closet. And there’s
the bathroom,” he indicated with his hand. “I’ll… I’ll leave you alone.”

Jimin watched him leave, his posture just as stiff as when they had taken pictures together, and
Yoongi closed the door behind him. The omega took in a shuddering breath as he stood there, not
knowing what to do with himself. He looked around for a moment, taking in the spacious bedroom
and the big bed in the middle—the one they would share from now on, he guessed. But he was
quick to look away from it and to the windows instead, from where he could see the Han river too
and the city lights. It was a beautiful view.

When he could no longer delay it, he went to the closet, which already smelled like a mixture of
their scents. The petrichor and burning wood from Yoongi, and his jasmine and morning dew. It
was a nice combination. Not at all unpleasant. But his nerves spiked again at the thought that, by
the end of the night, that was how Jimin would smell like.

Before he could grow anxious at the thought, Jimin grabbed the first comfortable clothes he could
find and locked himself in the bathroom. He took a shower and washed thoroughly, getting rid of
all the makeup and hair gel. He felt much better after that.

Once dressed in soft pyjamas, Jimin stood in front of the mirror above the sink. The remnants of
the cut on his face had been covered up with makeup for the wedding, but now that he had washed
up, Jimin could see the fine line across his cheekbone. It had healed nicely, but he guessed it would
take a while for it to fade completely.

His flushed cheeks also caught his attention. The hot water had a lot to do with them, but also his
nerves. He couldn’t believe his first time was going to be with almost a complete stranger. It was
nerve-wracking, to say the least.

Jimin waited in the bedroom for Yoongi to come back. He kept wringing his hands as he sat stiffly
at the foot of the bed, but the alpha didn’t return. It was only when Jimin heard sounds coming
from outside of the room that he finally got up to see what was going on.

To his surprise, he found Yoongi dressed up in a black shirt and slacks on his way out of the
apartment.

“Where are you going?” Jimin asked him, stopping him.

Yoongi looked back at him while holding his jacket in his hand. “I've got a meeting,” he said
simply.

The omega’s surprise only escalated. “Right now?”

Yoongi nodded.

They stared at each other for a moment, neither one of them moving or saying a thing. Jimin didn’t
know what to make of this situation. Yoongi had to work tonight of all nights? He had been
dreading his wedding night, but this happening hadn't ever crossed his mind.

Well, he guessed it couldn’t be helped if it was due to work. “Okay,” Jimin said quietly with his
hand against the doorframe of their bedroom. He hesitated before he added: “Um, be careful.”

Yoongi's lips parted as if he was going to say something, but then he frowned and closed his mouth
again. In the end, the alpha only nodded his head before he walked out the door, leaving Jimin
there, alone and disoriented on their wedding night.

Chapter End Notes

Soooo yeah! Their married life starts now. Jimin is already bending and trying his best
to make this work. Let’s see how it goes…

I’m not used to this much engagement, so I was nervous to post this lol But I really
hope you liked this chapter

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One's Duty
Chapter Notes

Hi! Thank you for all your nice comments in the previous chapter! I'll be sure to reply
to everyone as soon as possible! <333333

There's smut in this chapter so please remember to take a look at the tags again before
you read it!

Also, I hope you are all doing all right and staying safe. Sending lots of love to
everyone <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

They didn't consummate their marriage the next day, either. Or the next one.

Yoongi was very busy with work, and the only time they saw each other was when he came at
night to wash up. They had dinner together, but they didn’t speak much apart from Jimin asking
him if he had had a nice day. Pleasantries that he hoped would make his husband open up to him a
little. The alpha always replied, but he never strung more than two sentences together.

Jimin had kind of hoped that living together would give them a chance to talk and get a little closer.
After all, if they were going to be spending their lives together, it was best if they could at least get
along well. Geumjae and his wife had an arranged marriage too, and they seemed to have a good
relationship. But Jimin’s efforts weren’t seeing good results.

His husband wasn’t mean to him, but he kept to himself. A lot. Maybe due to his upbringing or his
job. Yoongi’s behaviour was better than having a cruel or temperamental husband like he had
feared before meeting him, but Jimin started to wonder if this was how their relationship was
always going to be.

They had a nice housekeeper who took care of all of their meals and the house, so Jimin found
himself with even more time on his hands to think. He had tried to speak to the beta woman, but
she had a job to do and couldn’t entertain him for long. That was one of the reasons why he kept
hoping that Yoongi would feel comfortable around him soon. So Jimin wouldn’t end up losing his
mind in this big apartment by himself.

The only time Yoongi took the initiative to speak to him was during their first dinner together. “Is
the apartment to your liking? Is there anything you need, or that’s lacking?”

Jimin had perked up at the question, thinking that this was progress. “No. It’s a very nice
apartment. The view at night is beautiful.”

But Yoongi had just nodded his head, content with his answer, and went back to eating. That was
all.

Every day, when the sun went down, Jimin grew nervous as he waited for Yoongi because he
thought that night they would finally have sex. Yet, in the days following their wedding, they had
dinner in silence, and Yoongi never stayed home after.
The alpha spent his nights out, working, and he didn’t come back until the early morning before
Jimin was up. By the time the omega woke up, Yoongi was gone again; the only thing giving away
that he had been back was the remnants of his lingering scent in their bedroom.

As Jimin lay in their big bed, he tried to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Yoongi
was the second son of the Mugunghwa’s clan. He was a very busy man. Jimin had no idea what his
job entailed, and he didn’t want to know if he was honest, but he must have a lot of responsibilities
that needed his attention.

He was both relieved and nervous that they hadn’t consummated their marriage yet. Min Doyun
would not be happy about this if he knew, and that worried Jimin greatly. He thought Doyun
would call them to see how things were going–to make sure Jimin was already working on
fulfilling his duty. But surprisingly, his father-in-law hadn't.

He was grateful for it. That topic wasn't one he felt comfortable discussing with the man, but he
knew it would happen sooner than later. Doyun was probably just giving them a few days to get
used to married life, which was quite considerate on his part. Out of character, even.

Although Doyun didn't contact them, Jimin received a visit on the fifth day after their wedding.
Yoongi wasn't at home, as usual, so Jimin was surprised to find his older brother Min Geumjae at
the door.

Despite his shock, the omega was quick to recover and, remembering his manners, he invited him
inside. Their housekeeper made some coffee while they exchanged pleasantries in the living room.
Unlike Yoongi, Geumjae had better social skills. He was a charismatic man who knew how to ease
him into conversation despite Jimin’s nerves at the unexpected visit.

It wasn’t until they were sipping their coffee that Geumjae finally brought up the reason for his
visit. “So, how is married life so far?”

Nonexistent, Jimin thought but didn’t say.

“It’s… new,” he ended up telling him with a nervous chuckle.

“It’s normal to be awkward around each other at first,” Geumjae assured him before he fixed his
eyes on his. “But that can only be fixed by spending time together.”

Jimin nodded and sipped his coffee to avoid adding anything else. He didn’t know if it was a good
idea to tell him how Yoongi hadn’t spent more than a few hours with him ever since the wedding.

He didn’t need to say anything, though.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Jimin,” his brother-in-law said before leaving his cup on the
coffee table. Geumjae clasped his hands together and leaned forward until his elbows rested on his
thighs as he observed Jimin, who was growing tense by the second. “My brother and I have a
meeting with our father tomorrow, and a family dinner that you will have to attend as well, and he
will notice that you are still pure the moment you both step inside his house. And that’s a big
problem.”

Jimin blanched. He had to grip his cup harder to not drop it.

“I understand that this is an arranged marriage,” Geumjae continued, not unkindly yet firmly
because this was important. “But if you both don’t consummate your marriage soon; if you keep
pushing Yoongi away, and he keeps staying at a hotel every night like some of my men have told
me… If the rumours reach my father, you both will be in trouble. And as you must know already,
appearances are very important to him.”

Wait. What? Jimin blinked as he tried to make sense of what he had just heard. Yoongi was staying
at a hotel? Did this mean that he lied about having to work? Was he… avoiding him?

Jimin was so confused. “I didn’t tell him to go,” he let out quietly, taken aback.

That caught Geumjae by surprise. “You didn’t?” he asked him with a frown.

The omega hesitated at that. Was this going to get Yoongi in trouble?

“I-I mean… We barely know each other, so I might’ve pushed him away a little bit,” Jimin lied
with an unsure little smile, hoping that it looked apologetic rather than anxious. “I’m sorry,” he
said, lowering his head after he left his coffee on the table too.

Fortunately, Geumjae, who knew how difficult an arranged marriage could be, seemed to believe
him. “I understand your feelings, Jimin. But this marriage has a purpose, and the sooner you both
start working towards that goal, the better.”

Jimin glanced up at his husband’s brother. There was a serious expression on his face, but not one
of anger. It seemed like the brothers were more similar to each other than to their father. Geumjae
was strict but not unsympathetic. Instead of telling his father about this, he had personally come
here to talk to him because he knew how Min Doyun was. Geumjae had no reason to protect Jimin,
so he was sure he was doing this to protect his brother.

The future Mugunghwa’s kingpin believed that their family came first, their own wishes second.
Jimin was now part of the family, whether he liked it or not, so he needed to get on with the
program.

Jimin promised Geumjae that he would fix things with Yoongi when he came back later that day.

The alpha left soon after, but Jimin didn’t relax. He couldn’t. Not when his head was spinning with
so many thoughts.

He should have known there was something strange about this whole thing. About Yoongi not
having touched him yet. He wondered if he wasn’t Yoongi’s type. If that was why they still hadn’t
had sex. But he didn’t think that was enough to stop Yoongi from carrying out his family’s wishes.
Unless… wait.

Did his husband have… another person in his life? A loved one?

Was Jimin an impediment to him being with the person he truly wanted to be with?

Oh, shit. That complicated things greatly.

If that was the case, Jimin couldn’t get mad about it. This marriage wasn’t something either one of
them had truly wanted–Yoongi’s body language had made that clear from the beginning. Jimin
was at least getting something out of it: protecting his family. But what about Yoongi?

Maybe he would have liked to marry another person, and Jimin had gotten in the way of that. But
instead of taking it out on him, Yoongi had just taken a step back. It was better than the alpha
openly blaming Jimin for this marriage. After all, if there was someone to blame, it was Min
Doyun.

That night, Jimin waited for Yoongi while sitting on the couch so they could talk about this.
The omega was still reluctant to have sex with him–even more now that he knew Yoongi probably
had a lover already–but they had little choice. This wasn’t how he had pictured his first time going
at all, but Jimin had known an arranged marriage wasn’t going to be easy.

Sacrifices had to be made.

When Yoongi got home that night, Jimin greeted him just like every other day, but the omega
didn't join him for dinner this time.

To Jimin's surprise, that caught his husband's attention. “You ate already?” Yoongi asked him
carefully.

The truth was that Jimin was too nervous to eat anything. He wasn't hungry at all. Not when he
knew what would inevitably end up happening tonight. No matter what either one of them wanted,
they couldn't delay this anymore.

“I had coffee and some pastries not long ago, so…” He shrugged his shoulders. Yoongi hummed in
understanding, but before he could go, Jimin stopped him. “Yoongi.” When his husband looked
back at him over his shoulder, Jimin smiled faintly. “Can we talk after you’re done eating?”

The alpha regarded him for a bit, his eyes squinted a little, almost like he wanted to read him; like
he wanted to ask what that was about. But he didn’t. He just nodded his head before disappearing
into the kitchen. Jimin filled his lungs before he let all the air out in a long and slow breath. He
could do this. They had to do this.

Jimin kindly dismissed their housekeeper for the day, and he waited for his husband to come back.
Yoongi was still wearing his work clothes when he sat on the armchair next to the couch. He lived
in expensive all-black suits, although he sometimes used white button-downs to change things up a
little bit. The alpha was tired, his eyes told him so, but his body language didn’t let it show. He
must have been trained for that, and Jimin couldn’t help but feel bad that Yoongi didn’t feel like he
could relax even in his own apartment.

He was really intruding, wasn’t he?

“Did you have a good day?” Jimin usually asked that while they had dinner together, but today
they hadn’t, so Jimin thought it was a good way to start this conversation. Or maybe he was
stalling.

Yoongi nodded his head.

Jimin hadn’t expected to get more than that. As usual.

The omega laced his hands on his lap and told himself to just do it. “Your brother was here this
afternoon,” he let him know softly. Yoongi wasn’t responsible for this mess, and there was no
reason to be reproachful. Still, the alpha grew tense. Jimin could see it in the stiffness of his
shoulders and the way his hands twitched. “He said you've been staying at a hotel.”

Despite his obvious tension, Yoongi didn’t say anything to that as he regarded him intently. Jimin
lowered his head as he thought of how to say this.

When the omega raised his head again, he looked at his husband with not an ounce of accusation.
“Did you tell your brother I'm pushing you away?” he asked him softly. Even though Yoongi
remained impassive, Jimin caught the way he clenched his jaw. “I'm not mad,” Jimin told him
sincerely. The last thing he wanted was to fight with the alpha. “I just want to understand what's
going on. I left nobody back in Busan, but I understand that an arranged marriage can be the worst
for someone who already has a special someone. I'm sorry that seems to be your case, but we still
got married, and there are things we need to–”

“What are you talking about?” Yoongi cut him off with furrowed brows.

Jimin halted and closed his mouth. “I'm talking about why you don't spend time here, in your own
apartment,” he clarified slowly. “It’s because of me, and that's not fair to you.”

The alpha regarded him silently for a few seconds, making Jimin grow nervous. “Because you
don't want me here,” Yoongi stated like it was obvious.

Jimin’s lips parted, bewildered. “That's not true,” he frowned.

“I can smell your fear every night.”

The omega faltered. His heart stuttered in his chest. “I'm just… I'm not…” Jimin tried to excuse
himself, but it was futile. His scent was something he couldn’t control, and Yoongi’s alpha
instincts couldn’t be fooled. Jimin gulped before he glanced up at his husband. “Is that why you
always leave?” he asked in a whisper.

Yoongi looked reluctant to answer, but he crossed his arms over his chest and nodded his head.

“It’s not because you have someone else?”

Yoongi huffed at that before he set his eyes on him. “No,” he stated firmly. “I didn’t tell my
brother you were pushing me away, either.”

“Oh,” Jimin let out before he lowered his head, not knowing what to say or think at this point.

He had read it all wrong.

Had Yoongi just been considerate of him all this time?

But that didn’t change a thing. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his head, Jimin tried to
remember his previous resolution. “Even if that’s the case, we still have a duty to your family. We
need to conceive kids to carry on your bloodline.”

“You don’t want to have sex with me,” Yoongi stated firmly, arching an eyebrow at him.

“We still have to,” Jimin insisted. He swallowed as his heart constricted in his chest. “I have to
protect my family. And you can’t anger yours. Your brother said there’s a family gathering
tomorrow at your father’s. He said he’ll know. He’s worried about you.”

Yoongi remained silent at that as he studied him. Jimin wanted to cower under that intense gaze,
but he remained sitting straight. It didn’t matter what he wanted–what they wanted. This needed to
happen. Tonight.

“You’re clearly frightened. Are you sure you’re okay with doing this?” the alpha asked him lowly.

The omega gulped and nodded his head, his hands clenched on his lap. “Are you?” he asked back.

His husband shrugged. “It's just sex.”

Right.

Just sex.
This wasn’t a big deal to Yoongi, who clearly had experience.

Another spike of fear and apprehension hit Jimin then, and he could tell when the change in his
scent reached Yoongi because his nose twitched subtly in distaste. Still, Jimin didn’t back down.

The alpha let out a heavy sigh before he leaned forward on the armchair to look at him. “I’ll have
to knot you to consummate our union. That’s painful, especially if it’s your first time.”

Was he warning him or trying to change his mind?

Jimin swallowed thickly. “But we have no choice,” he uttered shakily. He was scared. “Just…”
Jimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he peeked at his husband again. “Please be
gentle,” he requested weakly, afraid and embarrassed.

There was a beat of silence before Yoongi pressed his lips together, but he nodded his head. Jimin
knew by now that his husband wasn’t a man of many words, but that knowledge didn’t put him at
ease.

Yoongi got up then, and Jimin looked up at him.

“I'll go wash up first,” was his way of confirming they were finally doing this.

“O-okay.” Jimin tried to smile at him to downplay his nerves, but Yoongi wasn't fooled. Either
way, he didn’t comment on it as he went inside their bedroom.

Once he was alone in the living room, Jimin let himself fall back against the couch cushions. He
covered his eyes with his hands as he told himself to just breathe. He could do this. It would be
okay. He couldn’t panic right now.

He was scared, but he didn’t want Yoongi to back down. Jimin understood that having sex with an
unwilling participant wasn’t exactly hot, and it was probably the main reason why they hadn’t
done this yet. It was his fault, and if he hadn’t said anything, Yoongi would have gone to their
family gathering and risked angering his father.

Once more, Jimin couldn’t help but think that despite Yoongi’s stoicism, he had lucked out with
his husband.

He was a nervous wreck as he sat at the foot of their bed while he waited for Yoongi to come out
of the bathroom. Jimin was trying to convince himself that this wasn’t so bad. That it would end
soon enough. But by his own scent, he could tell it wasn’t working. It only made him more anxious
because he hated the idea of his scent putting Yoongi off.

When the door opened, Jimin sat straight, and his eyes widened when he saw Yoongi emerging
with just a towel hanging from his hips, black hair still wet. He guessed his husband didn’t see a
point in wearing clothes when they were going to undress shortly. But Jimin wished he had done so
because the sight made his heart race in his chest and his cheeks heated madly. Their gazes met
briefly, but it was Yoongi the one to avert his eyes first.

However, when Yoongi turned around to close the door, Jimin couldn’t help the audible gasp that
left his lips. The omega slapped a hand to his mouth, but his husband had heard him by how his
back tensed up.

His back that was almost fully covered in black ink.

Jimin could distinguish two hibiscus flowers. One of them was on his right shoulder blade, and the
other one was in the centre of his back. They were both surrounded by vines with thorns that traced
his back. As he followed their trail, Jimin also saw a smaller tattoo of another hibiscus flower on
his lower back, this one inside a circle: the Mugunghwa’s emblem. That’s how he knew that his
tattoo was to show his affiliation to a crime syndicate.

A signature mob tattoo.

Jimin gulped.

Slowly, Yoongi turned around to face him, and this time, it was Jimin’s turn to lower his eyes to
the floor. The omega was still dressed in comfortable clothes, and he fiddled with the hem of his
soft sweater as he wondered if he should take it off to speed things up just like Yoongi had done,
and who was currently almost entirely naked in front of him. Before he could make a decision,
Yoongi distracted him by sitting next to him.

Jimin was pretty sure he was as pale as a ghost as they both sat there at the foot of their bed. A bed
they had never shared. His hands were trembling, and his stomach roiled uncomfortably due to his
anxiety.

But then something happened. Something that helped him relax. The scent of petrichor enveloped
him, the smell intensifying greatly all of a sudden and making him sniff softly a few times. It was
such a nice scent, and it managed to ground him. He closed his eyes and leaned into Yoongi before
he realised that his husband had done that on purpose: liberate pheromones to calm him down.

When Jimin's eyes fluttered open once more, he came face to face with Yoongi. They were closer
than they had ever been, and Jimin found himself mesmerised by those dark brown eyes that
looked at him so intently. On instinct, Jimin closed his eyes once more, and this time, it didn't take
long for him to feel another pair of lips against his.

Their first kiss.

Despite the roughness of the hand that was cupping his cheek, Yoongi’s lips were soft against his
own. His kisses were gentle, as if he was easing Jimin into it. The alpha was in control, guiding
Jimin, coaxing him into opening his mouth with his own, and the omega just had to follow his
lead. His heartbeat quickened its pace but not with anxiety when he felt Yoongi’s tongue caress his
lips and explore the inside of his mouth. It felt nice to be kissed like this. The realisation surprised
Jimin, who felt almost in a trance as the intensity of their kisses increased with each caress of lips
and tongue and teeth, and he had to stop his hands from touching Yoongi like he suddenly wanted.

His husband began to undress him slowly, and Jimin let him, raising his arms and making it easy
for him to do so. As Yoongi finished discarding the omega of every piece of clothing he was
wearing, Jimin’s eyes drifted down to Yoongi’s lean and firm torso. His gaze lingered on the strip
of hair that ran from Yoongi’s belly button down to his still covered manhood. He couldn’t help
but watch as his husband reached for the towel wrapped around his hips and untied it so it joined
Jimin’s clothes on the floor of their bedroom.

At the sight of his husband’s half hardened cock, Jimin felt the first gush of slick staining the
sheets underneath him, and Yoongi did too by how his grip on the naked skin of his waist
tightened subtly.

Much like his lips had done, Yoongi’s big and calloused hands caressed the younger’s skin
tenderly; a contrast that had Jimin’s heart fluttering in his chest, his scent sweetening slowly as
Yoongi lay him back on the bed with that same gentleness.
There was something in the air that felt intoxicating, that was making Jimin’s stomach coil. It
wasn’t just the way their scents were turning hazy as they mingled together. It also had to do with
the tingly feeling spreading across his body as he looked his husband in the eyes and Yoongi did
the same while they both lay in bed, completely naked.

Jimin was kind of glad Yoongi’s chest was devoid of any marks from his clan. He didn’t need that
reminder right now. The last thing he wanted was to think of Min Doyun while he was under his
husband.

“You're shaking all over,” Yoongi murmured as he hovered above him.

“I'm okay. Just nervous,” he assured him softly as his hands found purchase on his biceps. “Go
on.”

“I need to prepare you,” he told him. “Have you ever…?” Yoongi trailed off.

“I’m a virgin,” Jimin reminded him, confused by how he could have forgotten about it. “I’m
untouched.”

At his answer, a fleeting emotion crossed his husband’s face. Amusement? Jimin wasn’t sure, but
it helped to ease the tension on the alpha’s face and body. “I meant you… with your fingers,”
Yoongi clarified.

A pause.

“Oh. Oh.” Jimin flushed, mortified by his mistake. “I-Yeah. I have,” he confessed quietly, feeling
his face heat up even more.

Jimin’s toes curled against the sheets at the spike in Yoongi's scent at his answer.

“Do you want me to prepare you or yourself?” his husband asked him, letting him choose.

But Jimin was too overwhelmed and embarrassed by all these new sensations, and these questions
weren’t helping. “Yoongi…” he whined after he covered his face with his hands. Yoongi stiffened
above him, probably thinking he had made a mistake. Jimin felt too ashamed to feel bad about it,
but he still lowered his hands a little to peek at him. “You,” he whispered weakly, mortified.

“Okay,” Yoongi said quietly, nodding his head. He shifted until he was resting on his right side,
next to Jimin, supporting himself up with his forearm. “Sorry,” he added later in a barely audible
whisper.

Jimin’s heart skipped a beat, but he couldn't look at him yet.

He almost flinched when Yoongi placed his free hand on top of his left thigh. He brushed his hand
down until he hooked it around the back of his knee to bring his leg closer to him. Yoongi placed it
over his legs, making Jimin also lie on his side while his other leg remained stretched on the bed.
His husband’s hand travelled up his thigh slowly, the pad of his fingers tickling his skin. In this
position, the alpha had access to his wet heat, which he reached soon enough.

Jimin couldn’t help the way he tensed up, his hands balling against Yoongi’s chest as he fixed his
gaze on his collarbones. He could feel his husband’s piercing eyes on his face as he began circling
his wet entrance with the pad of his finger slowly. The omega bit down onto his bottom lip,
surprised to find that Yoongi was still being careful. It felt good, just like when he did this to
himself. As the alpha continued touching him like this, Yoongi’s fingers soon became coated in his
slick.
“Can I…?” his husband asked, his lips brushing against Jimin’s temple when he spoke.

The omega was thankful for the warning. “Yes,” he muttered, still avoiding his eyes.

The first finger breached him slowly, and Yoongi stopped before it went past his bony knuckle. It
was a familiar feeling, although it also felt completely foreign because Jimin wasn’t in control. It
was somebody else touching him. He guessed that Yoongi was waiting for his reaction because
when he noticed that Jimin didn’t protest, the alpha didn’t take too long to push his finger inside
him the rest of the way. It wasn’t until a second finger joined the first one and Yoongi began to
scissor him that Jimin finally let out a breathy sound, but it wasn’t one of discomfort.

The omega closed his eyes as he focused on the sensations instead of on what would happen next.
He focused on the way his cock began to inflate, on the pleasurable drag of his husband’s fingers
inside him. On the wet sounds that only turned him on more when Yoongi added a third finger.
That’s when the first proper moan left Jimin’s lips, who gripped the alpha’s bicep again as he
gyrated his hips a little, in search of more of that sensation. He felt full and so nice.

Yet, Jimin’s eyes widened, one of his hands finding purchase on the alpha’s shoulder, when his
husband added another finger. The stretch was overwhelming in the best way, and after a few
seconds, Jimin felt like he was going to come at any moment.

“I-I think that's enough,” he breathed out falteringly, trying to control himself.

But his husband thought otherwise. “Not yet.”

Jimin’s grip on his shoulder tightened. “Why?” he asked through gritted teeth as he squeezed his
eyes shut.

“Because I'll have to knot you.”

That shut him up, but not the sounds that kept spilling from his lips. Jimin tried so hard not to come
yet. But Yoongi’s scent heightened his senses—his scent gland so close to his nose—and he
couldn't stop himself from reaching his climax even if he wanted to.

His whole body tensed up. He moaned and leaned forward until his face was pressed against his
husband’s chest, his wet lips parted as he panted and trembled in his arms. A moment of stillness
followed his orgasm as his body slumped against the mattress, his chest rising and falling quickly
as he tried to gather himself.

For once, it was Yoongi who broke the silence. “You should've told me you were close.”

“I tried,” Jimin panted, closing his eyes, heart still pounding.

Yoongi closed his mouth audibly at that.

They really needed to work on their communication.

The newlyweds had to wait for a bit because Jimin was too sensitive to continue right away. It was
so awkward... They were both lying on their backs without talking. Not knowing what to do, the
omega glanced at his husband, who had an arm tucked under his head as he looked up at the
ceiling. He seemed relaxed. However, when Jimin’s eyes drifted down, he saw Yoongi's erection
pressed against his stomach, one of his hands wrapped around it. The alpha wasn't touching
himself, just holding his big cock in his hand, maybe to ease the strain. The head of his cock was
red, the veins along his length protruding in a way that had Jimin's insides burning up once more.
When Jimin felt ready, he rolled onto his side to face Yoongi sheepishly. His husband turned his
head to look at him at the movement, and he got the hint. Luckily, the alpha didn't get back to it
right away. Instead, he kissed Jimin again for a little while, working him up slowly once more.

This time, Yoongi only prodded him for a brief moment before he deemed him prepared. The alpha
knelt on the bed, standing in between the omega’s parted legs. The younger was scared. Nervous.
But Jimin’s entire being ignited when he saw Yoongi use his hand covered in the omega's slick to
coat his cock and make it slippery. The alpha was clenching his jaw as he did so, his black hair
falling into his eyes, and Jimin felt his hole involuntarily clench at the sight.

This wasn’t how he envisioned his first time having sex. With a man he barely knew. With an
alpha he didn’t have feelings for. With his husband. And out of duty, not love.

Yet, as Yoongi lined himself up against his entrance and their gazes met; as the alpha waited for
his okay to do this. As his husband entered him slowly, studying his face for any signs of
discomfort as they joined their bodies like they should have done on their wedding night, Jimin
thought that there were far worse partners to lose his virginity to.

With his hands wrapped around Yoongi’s biceps as the alpha hovered above him, Jimin tried to get
used to the stretch. He felt so full. The sensation was foreign and uncomfortable, but it didn’t hurt.
Yoongi had made sure of that.

As he glanced up at his husband, he saw that Yoongi had his eyes closed, head lowered a little as
he gripped the bedsheets by the omega’s sides. Jimin’s heart skipped a beat at his husband’s
restraint as he waited for the younger to tell him that he could finally move.

Jimin still took his time and only gave him the green light when he knew he was ready. He guessed
he could be a little “selfish” tonight. Still, when he tapped Yoongi’s arm, and Jimin nodded his
head at him, he did so unsurely. Even though the alpha had been gentle and attentive until now, he
didn’t know if he would show that same consideration towards him now that he was buried inside
him.

Yet, Yoongi didn’t lose his tension as he pulled back. Jimin grew tense at the movement, and his
husband gritted his teeth before he pushed back inside very slowly. The drag against his walls was
strange, but it felt nice and a breathy sound left Jimin’s lips, marvelled at the sensation.

Yoongi, who had been watching him attentively, let out a breath that sounded a lot like a chuckle at
the omega’s reaction. Jimin blinked in surprise as he looked up at him. It was the first time he had
heard him laugh, even if it had been such a little sound. That, plus how relieved he was by the lack
of pain, the omega found himself giggling a little, still astounded by everything after being so tense
and afraid. His scent lost that sour hint to it, and Yoongi finally stopped fisting the sheets.

That little moment also served to relax Jimin’s body completely, and when Yoongi moved again,
there was no resistance, which only made it more pleasurable for the both of them. Little by little,
the alpha set a pace, his thrusts gaining momentum as Jimin’s head fell back against the pillow,
eyes closed as moans spilled from his lips now and then.

Jimin would have been embarrassed by how close he was already when they had just started—
especially when he remembered that he had come once already—but it felt too good. Yoongi
managed to reach a spot inside him that had him rolling his eyes to the back of his head, but the
alpha didn’t abuse it. Instead, he changed the angle and only dragged his cock along that spot now
and then, which told Jimin that he was doing it on purpose.

However, during one of those instances, Jimin’s body trembled, and he curled his toes. Just one
more thrust and he would reach his climax again even though he didn’t want to because Yoongi
didn’t seem close yet. He was so lost in the fire coursing through his veins that it caught him by
surprise when Yoongi suddenly stopped moving.

Confused, Jimin’s eyes fluttered open as he panted and looked at his husband, whose big hands
were resting on top of the omega’s upper thighs. Yoongi was sweating a little, the tips of his black
bangs damp and his lips parted and glistening with spit as he panted. He remained buried deep
inside him but did not attempt to keep going.

“I-is something wrong?” Jimin asked him, sounding a little winded.

Yoongi shook his head and swallowed. “No.”

“You stopped,” he pointed out quietly, feeling lost.

His husband met his eyes at that. “You looked overwhelmed.”

A surge of warmth travelled up his neck—different from the one from before—at knowing that
Yoongi had been observing him. Embarrassed but thankful, Jimin couldn’t utter a single word at
that.

“Are you comfortable? Do you want to change positions or something?” Yoongi asked, his voice
sounding deeper than before.

“I’m good like this,” Jimin said as he curled his fingers around the messy sheets by his sides
nervously.

“Okay, but we’ll have to lie on our sides before my knot locks us up,” his husband let him know.
Jimin didn’t think the alpha realised that he was brushing his fingertips against his upper thighs
distractedly. “I’ll warn you.”

The omega frowned in question. “Why?”

“After I knot you, we’ll stay like that for a while. That way it won’t be as uncomfortable.”

He was glad his husband knew what he was doing, but Jimin couldn’t help how he clenched at the
mention of the knot, his tension coming back because he didn’t know what to expect. Yoongi was
already big enough. How much more straining could a knot be?

Above him, Yoongi hissed, his long fingers digging into the skin of Jimin’s thighs.

Jimin’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”

“Just… relax,” he breathed out through gritted teeth.

It took him a few seconds to understand what he was saying. Until he realised that he was
clenching his muscles while the other was still inside him.

“Oh,” he said when it dawned on him. Jimin didn’t relax immediately, not really knowing how to
do it. So he took a few calming breaths until he finally felt how his walls stopped contracting
around his length. Yoongi sighed in relief. “Sorry. Does that hurt?” Jimin asked him sheepishly.

“Hurt?” Yoongi’s lips curved up faintly as he glanced at him. “No.”

Jimin flushed.
“Are you ready?” his husband asked after a moment. “I don’t think this will take too much longer.”

The omega held onto Yoongi’s arms once more before he nodded his head.

This time, when Yoongi started thrusting into him again, the alpha buried his face in the pillow
next to Jimin’s head. Like this, they were both very close to each other’s scent gland, but neither
one of them moved to rub them together. Despite what they were doing, that seemed too intimate of
a thing to do. Jimin didn’t think much about it, getting distracted easily by how fast that same fire
from before started building up in his belly.

In this slightly new position, their bodies were almost completely pressed together, but it didn’t
feel suffocating because Yoongi was making an effort not to smother him with his body. Yet, the
alpha’s hard stomach was pressed to his softer one, trapping Jimin’s erection in between their
bodies and making the omega moan with every drag, every thrust. His smaller hands found
purchase on Yoongi’s neck as he moved above him, his rhythm growing frantic as Jimin writhed
beneath him and tried to move his hips in tandem with him. He didn’t do it on purpose; it was pure
instinct. But the alpha seemed to enjoy it by the strained sounds and grunts he was letting out next
to his ear.

It was like his senses had been dialled up to eleven. Jimin felt hot and sweaty and out of it, and his
climax washed over him before he knew it. His eyes flew open as his fingers dug into his
husband’s broad back, into the ink on his back. His body grew rigid before tremors spread across
his entire being, and high pitched sounds left his mouth uncontrollably.

He could feel his heartbeat in his temples, stomach and groin as he finally relaxed against the bed.
And the moment Jimin grew languid, Yoongi slipped out of him a little hurriedly.

“Come here,” he instructed him. The alpha lay on his side, and he beckoned him to do the same
with his arms stretched out. Jimin was too spent and out of it to move, so he let Yoongi manhandle
him until he lay with his back pressed to his husband’s chest. “I’m close,” Yoongi whispered
behind him, his hot breath hitting his nape as the alpha grabbed his cock in between their bodies to
angle himself against his entrance again.

The alpha lifted Jimin’s leg a little so he could enter him without hurting him. Despite having just
come, little moans kept spilling from Jimin’s lips as his husband rocked their bodies together. He
was slowly growing sensitive, but he noticed that this angle was even better than the other one.
Yoongi’s scent, grunts and muffled noises so close to his ear from behind as he chased his own
orgasm were slowly driving him mad to the point that Jimin found himself growing hard again
faster than he thought it was possible.

Yet, this blissful moment came to an end when he felt Yoongi push his cock as far in as he could
and stayed buried there. Jimin grew frightened as he felt the knot inflate inside him, and he let out a
little panicked sound as he squirmed in the alpha’s arms.

But despite the strain in Yoongi’s voice as his orgasm built up and his knot locked them together,
his husband immediately reached for his hands and squeezed them against Jimin’s chest,
murmuring next to his ear to soothe him. “It’s okay. It won’t grow more than this,” he told him
hurriedly before he hissed when Jimin squirmed again. “Just breathe and don’t move,” Yoongi
said more softly this time. “I won’t hurt you, Jimin.”

At the mention of his name, Jimin stilled. Hearing Yoongi say his name for the first time had a
comforting effect on him, and he did as told.

Jimin still winced at the stretch. It stung a little, but it was bearable if he didn’t move, just like his
husband had told him. He felt Yoongi grow tense behind him, and the alpha’s grip on his hands
tightened as he pressed him to his chest. That was when he felt the first spurts of hot semen coating
his insides; another weird sensation he wasn’t used to. Yoongi groaned and panted behind him as
he came, filling him up.

Again, it was those sounds the alpha was making, the rumbling that Jimin could feel while being
pressed to his chest that had him shaking in his husband’s arms once more as he came with a
whimper. Nothing came out of him this time. It was just a dry orgasm that left him breathless and
sensitive all over.

The newlyweds were sweaty messes as they lay on their sides, pressed and locked together by
Yoongi’s knot. They were panting heavily as they tried to catch their breath, and Jimin let out a
long sigh as he closed his eyes and did his best not to move, relaxing against Yoongi.

Jimin felt so satiated while lying in their bed, covered in his alpha’s scent and seed, that it was easy
to ignore the dull ache in between his legs. Despite his previous fears and worries, Jimin found
himself free of regrets at that moment, which was something he had dreaded: that his first time
would haunt him forever and become a traumatic memory. But no.

It had been awkward and strange, but also gentle and hot.

Leaving aside their circumstances, Yoongi had made sure that he wasn’t frightened and made this
experience as pain-free and enjoyable as he could for him. He had made him feel taken care of, and
the omega couldn’t be more grateful for that.

“Thank you,” Jimin murmured, already drifting off to sleep with Yoongi’s warm chest pressed
against his back, making him feel safe.

“For what?” He barely heard Yoongi ask him, his voice rough while they remained with their
hands laced against Jimin’s chest.

Jimin squeezed the alpha’s hands once. “For being tender with me,” he whispered before he fell
asleep.

Chapter End Notes

I worked so hard on this chapter. I was very careful while writing that smut scene
because it's such a sensitive topic, and I hope I did a good job. I don't know how many
times I've reread and edited this chapter before I finally posted it lol

I also had lots of fun writing it, though! I loved writing that conversation between
Jimin and Geumjae, and Yoonmin speaking more than two words to each other lol
Now you know why Yoongi left Jimin alone on their wedding night (and the
following nights...) I hope you liked it! <3

twitter
Breaking
Chapter Notes

Thank you for all the love you’ve shown this fic so far! I’m blown away every time I
post a new chapter <3

Let’s see how our newlyweds are doing, shall we? :3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

It was early evening when Jimin and Yoongi made it to the Min family gathering. With their arms
linked, Jimin and Yoongi walked into the house of the Mugunghwa’s kingpin. Jimin was calm
because he knew there was nothing Min Doyun could hold against him right now. But his father-
in-law still instilled an anxiety in him that he doubted would ever go away.

Yoongi’s mother and his sister-in-law greeted them in the living room, and they walked over to the
matriarch of the family to bow. Misun shot Jimin a polite smile. She didn’t seem thrilled about
their arranged marriage, but she was resigned. It wasn’t because of Jimin, just the circumstances of
their marriage.

Her eyes shone brightly when she looked up at her son and held his hand. “I'm happy to see you,
Yoongi-yah.”

“You talk as if it's been months,” her son told her, the corners of his mouth curling up faintly.

His mother pursed her lips. “Your father gets to see you almost daily, but I don't. Let a mother be a
little jealous,” she joked.

Yoongi rolled his eyes, but he looked a little chastised. Jimin looked down to hide a subtle smile.
Maybe it was thanks to Misun that his husband had a sweet side to him, unlike his father.

As they took a seat in the living room of Doyun’s luxurious apartment, Jimin refrained from
wincing. Instead, he let out a long and slow breath that he hoped nobody noticed. He still felt sore
from last night. He knew this was normal from what he had heard about getting knotted for the
first time. But the omega still had to push the memories to the back of his mind because he didn’t
want to have to explain why his cheeks were flushed. He still felt Yoongi’s eyes on him, though,
who was regarding him with an arched eyebrow. Jimin just shook his head subtly with a little smile
to assure him he was all right.

They all got up when Min Doyun entered with Geumjae. It was strange not seeing the patriarch
wearing one of his imposing suits. Instead, he just had a light sweater on and dress trousers while
he carried Eun. His one and only grandson. For now.

The kid seemed content in his arms, not at all scared of him as he pressed his cheek against his
grandad’s shoulder. Maybe he was a doting grandfather to him. Maybe his future kids wouldn’t
fear Min Doyun the way he did. But a shiver ran down Jimin’s spine when the man’s eyes fixed on
him after greeting Yoongi.

“I see my dear Jimin is finally here, too," the man said with that characteristic tone of his. One that
sounded more sarcastic than sincere. “Well, now that we are all here, let’s move to the dining
room, shall we?”

After a housekeeper took Eun with her, the rest of the family did as told. Yoongi and Jimin sat
together with Geumjae and Hyerim across from them, and Doyun and Misun at the head and foot
of the table. They were served Korean food that smelled delicious and warmed up Jimin nicely.

It would have tasted even better if Doyun had let him enjoy it in peace. “It’s been almost a week
since the wedding already. How are you liking your newlywed life, Jimin?”

He shared a glance with Yoongi. He couldn’t tell him that the most time they had spent together
yet was last night. “It’s been nice. Peaceful.”

Doyun nodded his head in approval. “I’ve noticed that your scent has changed,” he pointed out
next. “I’m glad to know you have consummated your marriage already without me having to
intervene. I know how arranged marriages can be.”

Jimin squirmed in his chair, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. The movement had him almost
wincing again as he tried to ignore the dull ache between his legs.

“I hope my son was gentle with you, dear Jimin,” Doyun continued while the rest kept eating.
Everyone except for Yoongi and him. “Your dad would be angry at me and your husband if he
found out he hurt you in any way.” And he had the guts to chuckle right after.

Were they really going to talk about that here? In front of the rest of the family while they had
dinner? Jimin was beginning to feel sick at the possibility.

“Father, I don’t think this is a topic to be discussed during a family dinner,” Yoongi told him
politely with that intense stare of his. “Just let us deal with this on our own.”

Jimin felt grateful for his efforts, even if they weren’t enough.

“It’s fine,” Doyun dismissed with a wave of his hand. “We are discussing this amongst our family.
And you,” he pointed at Yoongi with his chopsticks, “make sure you treat Jimin well. I’m hoping
to hear news of pregnancy soon.”

“The clock is ticking, brother,” Geumjae smirked before he sipped his wine.

His husband’s reaction was a subdued one, the tension in his posture barely noticeable. Yoongi
seemed to know what that was about, but Jimin was clueless.

“It's a family tradition,” Doyun explained at the puzzled look on Jimin’s face. “After getting
married, the Min alphas have three months to conceive their first baby. I'm sure my son won't let
the family down. Right, Yoongi?”

His words were laced with an obvious threat Jimin had grown used to hearing from this man. To
answer his father, Jimin watched as Yoongi placed his hands on his thighs and lowered his head in
a bow from where he sat. Even though he knew his husband couldn’t disrespect his father’s
wishes, Jimin wanted to frown at the display of obedience, and he hid his distaste for his father-in-
law’s ways by eating dinner.

That was such a savage tradition. Another way to inflate their alpha egos and tell the world how
virile they were. Having babies shouldn't be a race. But then again, marriage should be out of love
so… Considering that and their line of work, it wasn't surprising to find that the Min family's moral
compass was askew.
When they got home, the couple was clearly exhausted despite not having done more than eating
an expensive meal. Jimin asked Yoongi if he wanted to wash up first, but his husband told him that
he would use the other bathroom instead of the one in their bedroom. The omega nodded and went
to take a shower. Under the warm spray, he wondered if they would have sex again tonight. After
all, Doyun's warning was still fresh in their minds.

After last night, Jimin didn't feel so averted to sleeping with Yoongi. It still made him nervous, and
he wasn't looking forward to how awkward it had been at times. Plus, he was still feeling sore. But
at least he wasn't scared anymore. He could imagine the type of man his husband was when he was
working—even if he hadn't known him, he had heard the rumours when he still lived in Busan. But
luckily, Yoongi wasn't that type of man with him. For now, at least.

The omega got under the covers, fiddling with the sheets and shifting now and then as he waited
for his husband, but after fifteen minutes, Yoongi still hadn’t come. He hadn't heard the door or
any noises outside, so he was pretty sure Yoongi hadn't left the apartment.

Was he… was Yoongi sleeping in the other room? It couldn’t be, right? Not after last night. Maybe
he wasn’t sleepy yet, and the alpha was reading or doing whatever Yoongi did to unwind.

The omega waited even after his eyes had started to flutter close every few minutes. He lay there,
facing Yoongi’s side of the bed as he wondered what was going through his husband’s head right
now.

Jimin ended up falling asleep with his night lamp on as he waited for the alpha who didn't come.

***

Yoongi had indeed slept in the other room.

Not only that night, but he did so the following nights as well. Well, Jimin guessed that was better
than him going out to sleep at a hotel every night like before. Tiny progress, but progress
nonetheless.

Jimin didn't ask him about it. Yoongi probably just needed space, and he wanted to respect his
boundaries. His inner omega was another thing altogether, though. He missed the warmth from that
night, and he wasn't referring to the sex. This bed was too big for only one person, and the
apartment still felt cold and unfamiliar at night. But he wasn’t close to Yoongi, so sharing a bed
with him would also be awkward and maybe not the solution he was looking for. Everything was
very… complicated.

Luckily, that sensation faded away with the morning sun.

By the time Jimin woke up, his husband had already eaten breakfast and left the house. The omega
didn't see the point of waking up so early when he wasn't going to leave the house. His husband
didn't seem to mind it, either. At least he hadn't said a thing about it. Not like they talked much.

Jimin had always been surrounded by people: his family, neighbours and clients at the flower shop.
And that was one of the things he missed the most. Now, he spent his days doing things he liked,
which was nice. He read whatever books Yoongi had on his bookshelf–he was already starting to
run out of ones he was interested in; Yoongi seemed fond of interior design and architecture, but
Jimin wasn't. He also watched TV shows and movies. Things he hadn’t been able to do back at
home because he had had to work and was busy running errands all day.

But he spent most of his time on the rooftop terrace, enjoying the early spring. Much like the rest
of the house, it was very impersonal and chic. The only pieces of furniture were a few comfortable
chairs and a white couch as well as a coffee table, perfect to invite friends over in summer and have
some drinks. The omega loved spending time lying there under the warm sun as he read, took a
nap, or just watched the clouds as the wind carried them. It was peaceful. Too peaceful.

He missed talking to people, and the calls with his family weren’t enough. Knowing that his
husband was out of the question, he tried to befriend Gayoon, their housekeeper. She was around
his mother’s age, but the woman was reluctant. Jimin was trying his best to let her know that he
didn’t care about things like status. It was still a work in progress, though.

He was watching TV with his legs covered with a thin blanket when his husband arrived, wearing
one of his all-black outfits and dark sunglasses. Jimin turned his head from where he sat on the
couch to greet him like he did every day when a gasp left his lips. Yoongi’s cheek was swollen and
red, like someone had hit him, and not just a mere slap.

Immediately, Jimin turned off the TV and rounded the couch to get to him. “Oh, my goodness.
What happened to you?”

Yoongi stopped when he saw Jimin approaching him and put his sunglasses on his head, following
him with his gaze. But when the omega stood before him, Yoongi averted his eyes. His bangs were
too short to cover his eyes, and Jimin thought he looked ashamed. Jimin lifted his hand, but he
stopped himself before he could touch his husband.

Instead, he bit his bottom lip before he pointed to the couch. “Sit down. I’ll get some ice.”

Gayoon helped him prepare an improvised ice pack with a plastic bag and a towel, and Jimin
brought it back only to find Yoongi still standing there.

“It’s okay,” he told him as he eyed the ice pack.

“It’s not,” Jimin declared, and this time he did hold him by the wrist to walk him to the couch.

The alpha complied quite obediently to his surprise. Jimin sat in front of him on the coffee table
and, with his fingers on his chin, he tilted his head a little so he could apply the ice with gentle
dabs. Yoongi didn’t even wince. It made Jimin’s stomach churn.

“Did someone hit you?” This may be nothing in his line of work, but to Jimin, violence wasn’t
normal. “Did you get into a fight?” he asked him quietly.

Yoongi had his eyes fixed on the floor. “No.”

“Then?”

He probably shouldn’t ask. It was better for Jimin to stay out of the Min family’s business. But his
inner omega was worried, and he couldn’t help himself.

At his insistence, Yoongi pursed his lips but finally answered his question. “My father.”

Jimin blinked. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it still left him frozen for a moment. He left
the bag pressed against his cheek, and Yoongi finally met his eyes. The alpha was tired. Resigned.

Why would Doyun hit him? Did Yoongi mess up a job? Did this… Did it have to do with their
marriage?

“Why did he hit you?” Jimin asked slowly, lowering the ice pack. His husband stared at him
calmly, not at all looking like he was going to answer him. But the younger was stubborn.
“Yoongi, I know you are a very private person, but if this has to do with me–with us– please tell
me.” Jimin’s voice was as soft as ever, but his eyes shone with determination. “I want to know. I
deserve to know.”

They stared at each other for way too long, yet Jimin didn’t waver. He knew he had won when
Yoongi let out a heavy sigh. After taking the ice pack from his hand, his husband leaned back
against the couch and pressed it to his own cheek.

“He’s been suspicious because I don’t smell like you,” he grumbled as he sagged against the couch
with his legs spread. “I told him it’s because I showered before going to work; that your scent
must’ve worn off. He didn’t believe me,” he said simply with a shrug of his shoulders, like he was
talking about the weather and not about his father hitting him.

“Why didn’t you tell me he suspected something was going on?” he asked, still sitting on the
coffee table. His husband remained silent, and Jimin looked at him pleadingly. “Yoongi, please.”

Despite the lack of emotion in his sharp eyes, Jimin noticed how the alpha’s jaw tensed up. “I
don’t want to force myself on anyone,” he declared.

The severity with which he said so had Jimin’s chest tightening. The air around them shifted,
turning heavy as their gazes locked. Jimin let out a shuddering breath. They couldn’t go on without
talking about this whole thing any longer, could they? And Jimin knew that if they were to have
this conversation, he would have to be the one to take the reins, so he braced himself for it.

“Yoongi, I appreciate the sentiment. I really do,” he told him sincerely. “But this is an arranged
marriage, and even if you had no choice because your father is who it is, I did.”

Lowering the ice pack, Yoongi regarded him with a flat look. “I doubt my father gave you much of
a choice.”

The omega’s lips curled up sadly. “I’ve never had much of a say in how my life played out. Things
just were the way they were, but your father changed that.” Yoongi wouldn’t tear his eyes away
from him, and Jimin tried not to feel intimidated at having his undivided attention. “I had two
options. I could choose to keep living like we were; in debt, not knowing if one day a group of your
mobsters would attack us when we didn’t have the money they came to collect. Or I could marry
you and grant my family a good life.”

Jimin hesitated before saying his next words because even though Doyun didn’t seem to treat
Yoongi well, he was still his father, and he didn’t want to piss off his husband. But Jimin needed to
be honest if he wanted things to change.

“Don't get me wrong. I don’t think of Min Doyun as our saviour because he only offered me this
way out for his own benefit,” he clarified, wording it as politely as he could. “But I like to think
that in a way, I was the one to choose my own fate. I chose to enter this marriage,” Jimin reiterated
as he looked at his husband, “so don’t feel like you’re forcing me.”

The alpha’s lips pressed into a firm line, but he didn’t say anything to that. A humourless laugh left
Jimin’s lips as he lowered his head. He didn’t know whether to feel amused or annoyed at
Yoongi’s usual silence.
But when he raised his head again and looked at him, Jimin couldn’t help but feel sorry for him,
and he told him so. “In any case, I feel worse for you.”

Yoongi’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise, and he finally opened his mouth. “Why?”

“I’m getting something out of this. My family is safe, and our debt is gone,” Jimin explained
calmly. “But you had no choice or got any benefits from this arrangement. You had to because of
who your father is. Just like your brother,” he added quietly. The last thing he wanted was to offend
him. “So don’t feel like you’re forcing me. We are in this together,” Jimin assured him with his
hands clasped between his thighs, trying not to fidget at his husband’s unreadable expression. “I’m
powerless in front of your father, but if that happened because of me,” he pointed to Yoongi’s
swollen cheek with his chin, “I can prevent it from happening again.” Not surprised by his silence
as Yoongi regarded him more intently than ever, Jimin smiled kindly at him. “Let’s try to live as
peacefully as we can, okay? The both of us.”

It took Yoongi a moment, but he finally nodded his head, agreeing with him. Jimin’s smile
widened because, despite how intimidating this man was, he wasn't unreasonable. If they were
going to be together for life, Jimin wanted them to at least be on good terms; on the same team.

That night, after having dinner together and washing up, Jimin waited for his husband while sitting
on the bed, on his husband’s side. He did so nervously, not knowing if Yoongi would actually
come. But he did.

The man stood by the door, as if he wasn’t sure about this, and a little surprised to find Jimin there,
waiting for him. Before it could turn awkward, Jimin patted the bed, inviting him to take a seat.
After closing the door, Yoongi walked over to him and did so.

Jimin showed him the tube of ointment he had fetched from the bathroom. “May I?” he asked him,
pointing at Yoongi’s cheek.

The alpha just turned his head to look ahead, and Jimin took the movement as giving him
permission. Carefully, Jimin applied some ointment that he hoped would help with the bruising and
swelling. He rubbed it slowly until his skin had absorbed all of it, and the omega was surprised by
how soft Yoongi’s skin was. He had probably just shaved; he smelled like he had. It was a nice
smell. Not better than his petrichor scent, though.

After washing his hands to get rid of any remnants of ointment, Jimin came back to find Yoongi
already getting under the covers, and the omega rounded the bed to occupy his own side. While his
husband lay on his back, Jimin rolled over until he was lying sideways, facing him.

“Will this be enough?” he asked him in a whisper.

Yoongi turned his head to him and nodded slowly, but he didn’t look sure. Jimin pursed his lips.
They needed to do this right.

“Here,” Jimin stretched his arm and offered him his hand.

The alpha observed it for a moment, his eyes flickering up to him every now and then. Jimin
smiled a little to encourage him. He didn’t want to make things awkward; he just wanted this to
work. Jimin didn’t want the alpha to become his father’s punching bag just because they still
hadn’t found their footing in this marriage.

Slowly, Yoongi placed his hand in his, and Jimin curled his shorter fingers around it as best he
could. His hand was warm and just as callous as last time. His inner omega seemed pleased with
the contact, and Jimin was glad to notice he was starting to lose that tension that invaded him
whenever he was in his husband’s presence.

“Good night, Yoongi,” Jimin whispered before he closed his eyes, more tired than he had thought.

Their hands rested in the middle of the bed, the rest of their bodies not touching at all. It was the
perfect example of middle ground.

“Good night,” he heard his husband say very quietly.

Jimin’s lips curled up involuntarily.

This was nice.

***

Yoongi informed him the next day that his father had been pleased with the change in his scent, so
their plan had worked. And Jimin was glad to notice that Yoongi’s presence next to him served to
fight off the forlorn feelings that invaded him when the sun went down. After that night, they
started sleeping in the same bed every night with their hands clasped, their scents mixing naturally
in such close proximity without having to scent or touch each other more than this.

Neither brought up that they hadn’t had sex since that first time.

Jimin didn’t know how long they would get away with it.

***

It was a beautiful spring day, and Jimin was lying on the floor of the terrace while observing the
vivid and reddish colours of the sky as the day came to an end. He didn’t know how long he had
been lying here, but after calling his family, he felt content as he emptied his mind while looking at
the pretty sky.

“Should I bring you a blanket?” Gayoon, their housekeeper, asked him from the living room glass
doors. “The floor must be so cold,” she added with lips pursed in disapproval, much like a mother
would.

“It's okay.” Jimin lifted his head to smile at her before lying down once more with his arms spread
by his sides. “I wish I could lie on some grass, though. This chic house needs some green and
orange,” he thought aloud as he looked at how empty the terrace was. “More warmth.”

“That's why I mentioned the blanket, dear.” Jimin giggled, liking that she no longer referred to him
as sir like before. “I must go back inside to make dinner, but this came in the mail for you.” She
walked over to him and offered him a small package.

“For me?” Jimin got up and took what he was being offered with both hands. It was very light.
There was an unsure look on his face as he sat on one of the comfortable chairs. “How strange…”
It was indeed a weird occurrence because the only people that would send him mail were his
family, but he talked to them on the phone, so there was no need for that. Jimin never had mail,
only Yoongi. With his curiosity piqued and a nervous feeling settling in his stomach, Jimin opened
it.

A pregnancy test.

And a note attached to the box.

He observed the contents with vacant eyes. Min Doyun wasn’t a subtle man. He went straight to
the point. It probably should have surprised Jimin, but he felt strangely serene about this. Even
though he had been trying not to think about it so he could take things one step at a time, his
expected pregnancy had always been at the back of his mind. This was just the next step he had to
take. And what a huge step it was.

He still hadn’t moved, his eyes fixed on his “gift” when his husband’s voice snapped him out of it.
“What's that?”

Jimin blinked out of his stupor and turned his head to look at him, leaning against the glass doors.
“Oh, you're back.”

Yoongi nodded, but his eyes were fixed on the little box in his hands. The omega raised the box to
show him, and his husband walked closer with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his slacks.
Yoongi halted when he recognised what it was.

“It came in the mail today with a note from your father,” Jimin informed him calmly, passing him
the small piece of paper. “I'll receive one of these every week from now on, so they can check if
I'm pregnant.”

It was a sobering reminder that they had been ignoring their duty to the clan. A reminder that they
had less than three months to conceive a baby so Yoongi wouldn’t end up disgracing his family’s
old-fashioned traditions. From now on, they would have to have sex until Jimin got pregnant. Or
else.

The alpha’s grip on the paper tightened. “He really can't stay out of it, huh?” he grumbled.

Jimin snorted. “I’m not surprised.”

Taking the note back from his husband, the omega noticed his intense gaze on him. By now, he
knew how to read that look. Yoongi wanted to say something, but he was holding himself back.

“What is it?” Jimin asked him softly, meeting his eyes.

The older man didn’t break eye contact with him for a while before he shook his head faintly.
“Nothing.”

“Yoongi…”

His husband bit his lower lip. “Are you okay?”

Jimin blinked. His concern soothed him in a way he hadn’t known he had needed, and not for the
first time, Jimin thanked his luck for having such a husband. His lips curled up. “Yes, I am. Are
you?” he asked him, tilting his head.

The alpha shrugged his shoulders, his hands once more inside his pockets. “It is what it is.”
The younger sighed. Neither one of them had a say in any of this, less they encountered Min
Doyun’s rage. Jimin was scared shitless of that man and what he was capable of doing. Even his
son didn’t dare go against his wishes, and that alone told him that his fear was justified.

Their eyes met once more.

Still sitting, Jimin offered him his hand, much like he did every night. There was little hesitation as
Yoongi took one of his hands out of his pocket to hold his smaller hand in his. Jimin could tell they
were thinking the same thing.

They were on the same team. At least they had each other.

They were lucky when it came to arranged marriages.

“You must be tired from work,” Jimin said, finally getting up without letting go of his hand. He
smiled at him softly. “Let’s have dinner together, okay?”

Yoongi didn’t speak, but he squeezed his hand gently before he led them back inside just as the sun
finished sinking on the horizon.

That night, they had sex again.

***

After a month and a half, Jimin finally got a positive result.

It was Sunday night, and they were getting ready to go to sleep. It had become part of his routine
that at the end of the week, he would receive a pregnancy test in the mail, and he would take it just
before getting to bed. He had gotten so used to getting a negative result that when he saw the
second line appear, Jimin’s heart stopped beating. He stopped breathing altogether.

Pregnant.

He was pregnant.

There was another life slowly growing inside him.

A baby

His baby.

Jimin knew that part of the deal entailed having kids of his own, and it had been a worry at the
back of his mind. Because it seemed like such a faraway thing. Because it hadn’t felt real.

Until now.

He had saved his family, yes. But with his eyes still fixed on those two pink lines, it finally truly
dawned on Jimin that he hadn’t just cursed himself with his decision. But also his future children.

Having kids was never something he had had in mind when he still lived in Busan. Not only
because he was young, or he hadn’t had a partner, but also due to his financial problems. He hadn’t
wanted to bring kids into this world if he wasn't going to be able to provide them with a good life.
But a good life entailed more than just having money to take care of them.

When he drew in a breath, it didn’t seem to be enough. It felt like his lungs were choking him, and
he stumbled as he tried to find purchase on the sink, only to end up accidentally throwing the glass
cup with their toothbrushes to the floor. It broke with a startling sound that had Jimin’s heart
pounding even faster.

His children would be part of the Min family. Of the Mugunghwa clan. They would have to follow
their line of work when they grew up. Because of their father’s blood. Because of Jimin’s decision.
Innocent kids that hadn’t chosen to be born. Jimin had just found out he was pregnant, and he
already felt like a terrible father.

The noises alerted his husband that something was wrong, and the alpha knocked on the door of
their adjacent bathroom. “Jimin? Are you alright?” At his lack of a response, Yoongi’s distress
grew; Jimin could smell it even through the door. His husband pounded on the door more
insistently this time, making the omega wince. “Jimin! What happened?”

With tremulous fingers, Jimin unlocked the door, and Yoongi immediately flung it open, almost
hitting him with it in his hurry. His husband had a controlled expression on his face—used to not
giving away his emotions—but it was clear in the tightness at the corner of his eyes, his clenched
jaw and overwhelmed scent that he was anything but calm. Yoongi’s eyes studied the bathroom,
taking notice of the shattered glass on the floor before his gaze slid over to the hyperventilating
omega.

“What is it?” he asked somberly as he reached for him, holding Jimin by his arms.

Incapable of uttering a single word, Jimin turned his head back to the counter where the pregnancy
test was. Yoongi followed the movement and understanding dawned on him. His hold on Jimin
loosened a little.

When they made eye contact again as Jimin tried to draw a proper breath, his eyes clouded with
tears, and his legs finally gave out under him. Immediately, Yoongi’s grip tightened on him, trying
to prevent his fall, but he only managed to stop him from landing on the broken glass with a hiss.

The first sob left Jimin’s lips, and his lungs rattled painfully as he sat on the cold bathroom floor
with his legs tucked under him. His hands found purchase on Yoongi’s chest, grabbing his shirt as
the alpha sat in front of him with his legs spread. As the first tears rolled down his cheeks, Jimin
scooted closer to him, drawn by his scent and the need for comfort. He felt Yoongi’s arms drawing
him in until the omega’s cheek was pressed to his chest.

After a month and a half, Jimin finally got a positive result. He had completed his mission. His
duties. But to do so, he kept bending for the sake of his family and himself, and there was so much
a person could bend before they broke.

Bend or break.

Tonight, Jimin broke in his husband’s arms.

Chapter End Notes

Yeah, not the best ending, I know. Next chapter we’ll pick up
right where we left off, so we’ll get to see what Yoongi thinks and does (or doesn’t,
who knows (i know)) about all of this after Jimin’s breakdown. I hope you liked it! :3

twitter
Separately and together
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“I’m sorry,” Jimin sniffled while he watched his husband bandage his own hand.

Yoongi was sitting on his side of the bed with his back to him while the omega sat against their
bed headboard, his legs covered with the comforter. His hands still trembled slightly, not having
yet recovered completely from his breakdown. His eyes were red and raw, and his voice hoarse
after crying inconsolably for so long.

His husband looked back at him over his shoulder. “Drink some more water,” he told him quietly.

Obediently, Jimin did as told. The alpha had fetched him a glass from the kitchen after he had
calmed down a little bit. He had also tidied up the bathroom so they wouldn’t end up stepping on
any shards. Unfortunately, some of the broken glass had left a few cuts on Yoongi's palm when he
had saved him from falling on top of them. Luckily, they weren’t too big or deep, just annoying,
Yoongi had assured him.

Still, Jimin felt terrible about it. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, not for the first or second time that night.

His husband sighed, and the omega noticed the way his shoulders sagged. Once he was done
bandaging his hand, Yoongi turned to him on the bed. “Stop. Don’t say that anymore,” the alpha
said, sounding defeated.

Jimin lowered his eyes to his lap and sniffled. In the bathroom, he had told him in between sobs
why he had burst out crying. Well, more like he hadn’t been able to stop himself from blabbering
about how sorry he was to the tiny being growing inside him for the life that awaited them.

Now that he thought about it, what surprised Jimin was that his words and worries hadn’t offended
his husband. On the contrary, Yoongi had just shushed him softly while he rubbed his good hand
against his back in soothing motions. Despite his usual awkwardness and social incompetence,
Yoongi had known exactly what to do to calm him down.

Now, Yoongi scooted closer until he was sitting next to him with his back against the headboard
but not getting under the covers like him. The omega fiddled with his fingers as they both sat there,
not expecting his husband to speak, just like always.

But he did.

“By the time our child is an adult and joins us, my father won’t be our clan’s leader anymore,”
Yoongi said, looking ahead. Jimin raised his eyes to him. “He has been preparing my hyung to be
his successor all his life, and he is more than ready already. Our child won’t be first in line to
succeed my brother, either.” His husband glanced at him, and Jimin swallowed back tears. “Eun-ah
is. And Geumjae and Hyerim are already planning to have more children, so that responsibility
won’t fall on ours.”

Jimin was overwhelmed, and he couldn’t help but tear up again. “Poor Eun-ah,” he lamented as he
dried his cheek with the back of his hand. “He’s such a cute kid.”

Yoongi nodded and hummed in agreement. “It’ll be hard when the time comes. But my brother
isn’t like my father.”
“Maybe he won’t be as cruel as him,” Jimin agreed reluctantly. “But he will still be the kingpin.
He’ll do anything to protect the clan and his family,” he said with pursed lips and brows furrowed.

Anxiety flared in his chest once more at the thought, and Jimin closed his eyes at the
uncomfortable sensation. He really didn’t want to panic again. The omega didn’t think that could
be good for him or the baby... Oh gosh, he was going to have a baby.

He didn’t expect Yoongi to say more, used to his quiet nature, but he surprised him again.

“You are also his family. Our kids will be too,” Yoongi told him, glancing at him again. Fragile
hope bloomed in Jimin’s heart, and his face lost some of its tension. “And I won’t let anybody
harm them. Or their dad,” his husband added very quietly.

A lump of emotion clogged Jimin’s throat as his eyes clouded once more. Knowing how
closemouthed Yoongi was, it meant the world to him that he had said that, especially right now
when he felt more vulnerable than ever with a new life growing inside him. Biting onto his bottom
lip, Jimin lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut to not let the tears fall.

“I can’t go against my father’s wishes,” Yoongi continued, and when Jimin looked at him, he saw
that usual resignation in his eyes, but also frustration. “That could cost me my life, and I can’t do
that to my mother. It would break her. She isn’t like him,” he said as he lowered his head.

Jimin sniffled and nodded his head. “I’ve noticed,” he told him. His voice cracked a little, and he
had to clear his throat.

Yoongi raised his eyes to him at his acknowledgement. He looked appreciative of that; glad that
Jimin could tell.

“My hands are tied. I was born into this family, and there’s little I can do about it,” the alpha
admitted to him for the first time.

It was like Jimin’s breakdown had finally shown him that this relationship of theirs couldn’t be a
one-way thing. They were in this together. That was the only way to do this without one of them
losing their minds in the process.

“Treason wouldn’t just cost me my life, I’m afraid. Even less now,” he added as his eyes drifted
down to Jimin’s belly and up again. “The only thing I can do is play my cards as best I can, like
I’ve done my whole life, so nobody gets hurt because of me. And now…” he trailed off, hesitating.
Jimin looked at him expectantly, still feeling too soft around the edges. That seemed to make the
alpha continue. “Now I just have another reason to do so. Or well, two reasons,” Yoongi corrected
himself, sounding a little overwhelmed.

His husband hadn’t shown it before because he had been too busy making sure Jimin was okay, but
now the omega could see that he wasn’t the only one overcome by this. Making a baby was one
thing, but taking care of it and raising it was another thing altogether. It didn’t make him nervous
to see Yoongi sharing his same anxiety, though. He was glad they were on the same boat. It made
Yoongi more human in his eyes.

“I won’t let them harm any of you,” Yoongi told him. And when their eyes locked, he added
solemnly: “I promise.”

An overwhelming wave of relief washed over Jimin as he looked at his husband. A couple of wet
chuckles left his lips before the omega rested his head on Yoongi’s shoulder while holding onto his
arm, too.
“Thank you,” he told him sincerely.

Yoongi didn’t reply this time—he had already spoken more than Jimin ever remembered hearing
him—but the alpha let him stay that way, pressed against his side, not moving a centimetre, until
Jimin was ready to fall asleep.

***

Two days after his breakdown, Jimin woke up to lots of noises that came from outside his
bedroom. He could hear men's voices as well as Gayoon giving instructions. Confused and half-
asleep, Jimin left his room still wearing his pyjamas to see what was going on.

The omega had to dodge a big man carrying what looked like two big sod rolls on his shoulders.
He blinked as he watched the man walk to the terrace where there were already a few more rolls, as
well as some plants. Jimin stood there, observing astounded as more men entered with tools and
other plants.

“Gayoon, what's all this?” he asked their housekeeper when he approached her.

She turned around, surprised to see him already up. “Your husband told me yesterday that some
people would come to make changes to the terrace. He didn’t tell you?” she asked, puzzled.

Jimin shook his head slowly, bewildered. “He didn’t.”

Suddenly, Gayoon’s face lit up with understanding. “It seems like he wanted to surprise you.
You’ve mentioned a few times that the house is a little cold.”

"But only to you,” Jimin told her as he frowned, trying to make sense of this. “I didn't tell him
anything about it.”

“Oh,” the woman was confused now, too. “Well, maybe he overheard you say it. Or he just wanted
a change.” She shrugged her shoulders.

Jimin tilted his head, not at all convinced. “Maybe.”

“Anyway, breakfast is ready,” Gayoon snapped him back to reality. “It's better if you stay in the
kitchen while they get everything sorted out. I'll make sure it all goes well,” she assured him with
one of her warm smiles.

“Okay,” he drawled, still surprised, as he watched the men begin to work outside. “Thank you,” he
told her before going into the kitchen with a growling stomach.

It took them a few hours to get everything ready, and Jimin spent the morning reading while sitting
in a comfy armchair in their bedroom. He sat next to one of the big windows, so the sun’s warmth
hit his back pleasantly. Jimin couldn’t help but get distracted often by the noises outside. The
omega kept wiggling his toes, excited to see the final result as he kept wondering why Yoongi had
suddenly decided to make some renovations.

The moment the door clicked shut once the men left the apartment, Jimin opened his bedroom
door. Endeared by his eagerness, Gayoon laughed softly at him and his curiosity before beckoning
him outside after informing him that everything was ready. Clasping his hands together in front of
himself, Jimin shuffled to the terrace nervously.

Well, the terrace that had been turned into a garden.

Bushes and flowers decorated the edges of the terrace now. There were two medium-size tangerine
trees, one on each corner, sitting in their respective big pots. The men had left untouched the
wooden floor where the couch and exterior furniture were placed, and they had covered the rest of
the terrace's floor with artificial soft grass that felt very nice under his bare feet.

Gayoon informed him that they had left a few interior plants around the living room and the
kitchen, and another one at the entrance. Also, Jimin noticed the little string lights decorating the
place, and he couldn't wait to light them up when the sun went down. It was marvellous. The
prettiest thing Jimin had ever seen. And so much better than any of the ideas he had told Gayoon
about when he had been feeling down about the lack of life in the apartment.

As he took everything in with eyes shining with wonder, Jimin realised one more thing. A thing he
was very grateful for: There was not a single hibiscus flower around.

Had Yoongi truly done this for him? It couldn't be.

He had gotten lucky with his husband–Jimin was well aware of it. But this seemed like too much,
even a little out of character for Yoongi if he was honest.

No matter the case, Jimin's heart felt full as he walked around the terrace, enjoying the sun's
warmth as he inspected each flower. Of course, he ended up spending the entire day outside,
incapable of tearing his eyes away from the greenery surrounding him. Jimin couldn’t stop smiling
when the sun finally went down, and he got to switch on the lights.

He was lying on the grass, enjoying himself, when Yoongi came back home. He sat up to greet
him when the alpha walked over to the terrace, still wearing his black suit.

“Welcome back. Did you have a good day?” Jimin greeted him, sounding brighter than usual. His
husband nodded, looking surprised. “Not better than mine for sure,” he beamed. “This is beautiful,
Yoongi,” he told him as he looked around once more, the lights softly illuminating the place and
making it look just as pretty at night.

“I'm glad you like it,” the alpha said, only his eyes giving away how pleased he was to hear that.

“Can we eat dinner here tonight?” Jimin asked him, getting up but not wanting to go back inside
yet despite how long he had been staying outside.

Yoongi hesitated as he stepped out onto the terrace. “It's still a little cold for that, no?”

“Oh, you think so?” Jimin blinked. He was so happy about this that he could barely feel the chilly
breeze, like a little kid.

If Yoongi was cold, then this would have to wait. But when Jimin approached him to get back
inside with him, Yoongi stopped him gently with a hand on his shoulder. “Wait here.”

Jimin sat on the couch, not knowing what his husband had in mind, but trusting him with whatever
it was. When Yoongi came back, Jimin was surprised to see that Yoongi was helping Gayoon
bring their dinner outside. The alpha brought two blankets, too. Jimin wanted to snigger at his
husband's sensitivity to cold weather, but Yoongi surprised him by draping a blanket over Jimin's
shoulders and the other one over his lap to cover his legs.
“Aren’t you cold?” Jimin asked him when he sat next to him on the couch.

Yoongi reached for their plates and left one of them on Jimin’s lap, as well as his cutlery. “I’m
good,” the alpha said simply.

A little smile stretched Jimin’s lips as he looked down at his dinner and finally tried it. “This is
nice,” he told his husband, not referring to the food.

Yoongi’s eyes flickered to him briefly before he hummed in agreement. Jimin giggled softly,
overwhelmed by how content and happy he felt at that moment. Happier than he had felt ever since
he moved here. They didn’t talk much as they ate, but they enjoyed a very pleasant dinner on the
terrace, sitting side by side under the stars.

The omega had thought that this was all just a very nice coincidence. But as the weeks passed,
Jimin started noticing more things.

When morning sickness started being a problem, Jimin spent his days lying on the couch, either
inside or outside, as he sipped lemonade and waited for it to subside. Sometimes his stomach
would settle in a couple of hours, but other times, that nausea didn’t leave him completely. Some
days he was so exhausted, the only thing that brought him some comfort was rereading the books
he liked the most out of Yoongi’s collection.

That’s when it started.

Almost every day, he found new additions to their bookcase. Books Jimin actually found
interesting. Fiction and adventure stories he couldn’t wait to read. Books he hadn’t asked for.

He also enjoyed doodling around after reading—trying to recreate the places described in those
books. Jimin used whatever piece of paper he could find and a pen to do so, and he kept his little
stack of drawings in one of the drawers of the coffee table. It was on top of that same table where
he found a bunch of art supplies when he woke up one day.

There were sketchbooks, crayons, brushes, an acrylic paint set and all the things Jimin could need
to draw. The omega sat on the couch, a hand on his queasy stomach as he studied everything with
incredulity. Again, he had never talked about this with his husband, so how could he have known?
That’s how he came to the conclusion that maybe they weren’t for him, so he spent the day reading
instead, but his eyes kept flickering to all those nice art supplies.

That night, when his husband arrived, Jimin was lying on the couch in the living room, drinking
some ginger tea he hated but that helped his stomach. The omega wasn’t a fan of ginger in general,
but it was one of the few things that calmed his nausea.

Swallowing another sip with a grimace, Jimin looked at Yoongi as he took off his suit jacket.
“Welcome back.”

As usual, the alpha nodded his head, but then he frowned as he watched him drink his tea. “Still
nauseous?”

“Yeah… Today wasn’t a great day,” Jimin grimaced.

Yoongi put his hands on the backrest of the couch, leaning his weight there as he watched Jimin.
“Should we go to the doctor again?”

Jimin shook his head. “He already told us that everything was okay. This is normal. Just
annoying.” He pursed his lips in distaste as he took another sip.
His husband conceded, and his eyes flickered to the coffee table. Noticing that Jimin hadn’t
touched the art supplies, Yoongi’s brow furrowed slightly. “You don’t like them?”

Jimin blinked. “Are these for me?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Yoongi said like it was obvious.

His grip on his mug tightened. “How… How do you know I like drawing?”

“I found your drawings while looking for something.” Yoongi shrugged, his eyes going to the
drawer where he knew they were. “They are very good,” he added.

Jimin’s heart swelled in his chest at the compliment, his stomach fluttering not due to nausea for
once.

It wasn’t a grand gesture—neither the supplies nor his compliment—but Jimin was here all alone,
and this meant the world to him. Because despite the circumstances of their marriage and Yoongi’s
reserved nature, his husband was observant, and he kept doting on him silently. He wondered if the
alpha knew what he was doing, or how much this all meant to him. Jimin’s eyes clouded with tears
he was quick to hide as he finished drinking his tea. He was more emotional than usual because of
his hormones.

After swallowing both the tea and the lump in his throat, Jimin smiled at his husband. “Thank you,
Yoongi.”

The alpha observed him silently for a moment before he nodded his head. “So you’ll use them?”

“Of course. Can’t wait,” Jimin chirped.

Yoongi looked very content with his answer, and his lips twitched up a little bit before he left to
take a shower. He started unbuttoning his black shirt on his way to their bedroom, and Jimin
averted his eyes, gulping.

Yeah, his hormones were out of control.

It was strange because a part of him still hadn’t truly comprehended that he was pregnant. He had
the usual symptoms, and the doctor had said that everything was okay, but Jimin guessed that it
wouldn’t feel real until he started showing, so he decided to take it easy.

Jimin spent his days doing what he loved as he tried to ignore his morning sickness and ate ginger
cookies that he didn’t enjoy much. Yet, he missed going out, too.

It was his husband who brought it up one night. The married couple was in the living room. It
wasn’t cold anymore, but Jimin liked covering himself with light blankets for the comfort they
provided him. He was watching some TV while Yoongi went through some documents, sitting
next to him on the couch. The alpha looked less intimidating while wearing comfy clothes, but no
less handsome with his undercut and hoops adorning his ears... There it was again, that pull in the
pit of his stomach. It happened more often as the weeks passed, and Jimin did his best to ignore the
feeling—and his husband—by focusing on the TV.

A coffee shop ad was running, one specialised in making egg tarts. They looked so good and
appetising that Jimin forgot all about the alpha sitting next to him.

“That looks delicious,” he muttered under his breath, almost salivating at the desserts.
“They opened one of those cafes near here,” his husband commented, having heard him.

“They don’t do deliveries, though,” Jimin pouted. The ad had stated so in small print.

“So?” Yoongi lowered his files and looked at him, not seeing what the problem was. “You can just
go there.”

Jimin glanced at him. “Can I?” he asked tentatively.

“Yeah?” If Yoongi had been confused before, now he was completely lost. “Is there a problem?”

Jimin grew nervous. The omega ran his hands across the light blanket covering his lap as he sat
there with his legs tucked to the side. “I wasn’t sure if I could… You know, leave the apartment?”
he mumbled.

Ever since he moved to Seoul, he had never left the apartment other than to visit his in-laws or go
to the doctor. His little garden in their apartment was nice, but it wasn’t the same. However,
whenever he thought about going out, he got scared. What if it wasn’t safe? He didn’t know if
people knew his face, but the possibility of another gang recognising him on the streets terrified
him, especially now that he was pregnant. Jimin didn’t mention that he feared people like Yoongi,
though.

Even if he didn’t, a scowl replaced Yoongi’s confusion. There was a shift in the air. The
comfortable atmosphere from before dissipated, and it was replaced by a horrible tension that felt
stifling.

Yoongi’s form drew tight next to him as he watched the younger incredulously, his stony mask
gone for once. “Of course you can, Jimin,” he said, punctuating each word. “You’re not a prisoner,
for fuck’s sake,” he muttered under his breath as he looked down and brought a hand up to push
his hair back.

The omega also drew into himself, feeling almost chastised. “Sorry.”

He heard his husband heave out a heavy sigh. “You don’t have to apologise for that.”

There was regret laced in Yoongi’s words, and he peeked at the alpha. Yoongi looked upset, but
not at Jimin.

“You can go out whenever you want, Jimin. You’re free to do whatever you please,” Yoongi told
him with an air of sadness that had Jimin meeting his eyes again. “A couple of bodyguards will
always go with you—just like when I leave the house—but you can go wherever you want.”

But Jimin still wasn’t completely sure as he fiddled with the blanket. “Won’t your father have a
problem with that?” he asked him carefully.

The alpha’s hands clenched on his lap, his jaw tensing up, but when he spoke, he did so just as
softly as before. “You don’t have to worry about him.” Jimin couldn’t help the way he pursed his
lips slightly at that because he would always worry about Min Doyun. And Yoongi knew that now.
“The weather has been very nice lately. Tomorrow is a good day to go to that coffee shop,” he said
instead.

“Tomorrow?” Jimin asked, sounding hopeful.

Yoongi nodded firmly, and Jimin’s lips curled up a little bit, feeling like a weight had been lifted
off his shoulders.
It was Sunday the next day, so Jimin got dressed up to do just what the alpha had suggested last
night. He was excited about going out and eating delicious pastries. Yet, Yoongi looked reluctant
when he saw him dressed and ready to do just that. The alpha was also still wearing his
loungewear, which confused Jimin.

“I’m ready,” he declared with glinting eyes as he stood in front of his husband.

“I see that,” Yoongi replied with a hint of amusement at Jimin’s apparent excitement. Yet, the
alpha still looked worried. “Have fun,” he said simply before making his way to the couch.

The omega blinked. “Wait. You’re not coming with me?” Jimin asked him, taken aback.

Yoongi faltered before he sat down. “I have to work,” he told him, showing him his files from last
night. “And I thought…” Yoongi frowned before he continued. “Two bodyguards are already
waiting, and Hyukjae-ssi will drive you wherever you need.”

“Oh. Okay,” Jimin let out, still bewildered.

That wasn’t what he had expected, and he tried to hide his disappointment. But he could tell by
how Yoongi scrunched his nose the faintest way that the alpha could smell his mixed feelings.
Still, Jimin mustered a smile before he turned around to go alone.

But Yoongi’s call stopped him. “Jimin.”

The omega paused for a second before he turned to him once more. His husband was still sitting on
the couch, his arm stretched over the backrest as he looked back at him while nibbling on his
bottom lip.

The alpha’s eyes went down to Jimin’s belly before he said, “Be careful.”

A little smile curled Jimin's lips up at that, forgetting about his disappointment when he realised
that Yoongi was worried about him. Well, not him; about their baby. Nobody could tell yet that
Jimin was pregnant except for the faint change in his scent. But the omega still placed his hand on
his belly—where he knew their baby was slowly growing—and smiled at his husband genuinely
this time. “We will be back soon.”

The way Yoongi regarded him after that had Jimin’s heart fluttering as he finally left the
apartment.

***

The next time Jimin went out, Yoongi was already dressed and ready to go with him.

***

“Are there any more popsicles I can eat for dessert?” Jimin asked Gayoon as she served them
dinner.
“You already ate three today, but there should be a couple left, yes.”

Upon hearing that, Yoongi looked up from his plate. “I thought you no longer experienced
nausea?”

“Yeah,” Jimin replied, feeling a little bashful as he met his husband’s gaze. “But I like those a lot,
and I still want to eat them all the time.”

Yoongi and he had been going out together on a regular basis. Either to eat outside or just walk
around the neighbourhood because the doctor had told them that would be good for him and the
baby. They had to cancel their plans one day because Jimin’s morning sickness had rendered him
incapable of leaving their bed. He had felt a little better the next day, and not wanting to miss
another opportunity to go out, Jimin had convinced his husband that he was okay.

Yoongi had suggested going to a place he had heard about: an ice cream parlour that sold fruit and
yoghurt popsicles. Even though Jimin was eyeing the chocolate ice cream, the alpha convinced
him to try one of those popsicles instead. He had conceded because his husband seemed adamant
about it. A rarity.

They sat at one of the tables outside to enjoy the sun while Jimin ate his ice cream, and Yoongi
sipped an iced coffee with his mask under his chin. Whenever they went out the alpha always used
one as well as a cap. Jimin guessed it had to do with his job—privacy and security reasons—just
like the bodyguards that always followed them from a distance, so he let it be.

His sweet treat had been very good, and Jimin hummed at the taste, but his surprise came after a
few minutes had passed and he noticed that his remaining nausea had settled. That popsicle had
been as effective as the ginger tea and cookies he ate daily, and he actually enjoyed this taste.

When he told Yoongi so, the alpha had looked pleased to hear that. “I’ve read they're good for
nausea because of the yoghurt.”

He said it so casually, and Jimin watched his husband as he drank his coffee. Had Yoongi done this
on purpose? The omega didn't ask him about it, but he couldn’t ignore how delighted he had felt at
the possibility.

“Can we buy some more to store them at home?” he asked him with hopeful eyes.

“Sure,” Yoongi nodded like it was no problem at all.

Ever since then, Gayoon had emptied one of the freezer drawers just for his sweet treats.

As he looked at his husband now, sitting across from him, Yoongi nodded in understanding with
that same pleased expression on his face from the other day before he started eating.

Gayoon had an amused smile on her lips, though. “Sounds a lot like cravings to me. It’s about time.
After all, you’re already showing.” And with that, she left them so they could eat dinner.

Jimin didn’t immediately dig in. Instead, he brought a hand to his swollen stomach. He could still
hide his growing belly easily by wearing loose clothes. It was still quite surreal to think that he was
pregnant; that there was a tiny human with his genes and Yoongi’s inside him that they would get
to meet in a few months.

Despite knowing that the life that awaited their baby in the future wasn’t ideal, Jimin’s awful
anxiety from the beginning had subsided a little. In its stead, there was a building excitement inside
him whenever he thought about holding them in his arms, seeing their little face and finally
meeting them. The changes his body was experiencing spooked him sometimes too, but they meant
that everything was going well. And whenever doubts assaulted him regarding their baby’s future,
he reminded himself of Yoongi’s reassuring words from when they first discovered he was
pregnant.

Jimin had never been a pessimist, and he wasn’t going to start now. It wouldn’t do the baby or him
any good to stress over things that may not end up happening. He was probably being naïve, but he
let himself dwell on the warm feelings and excitement that their baby awoke in him. Otherwise, he
would crumble under the pressure and go insane.

“Your food will get cold, Jimin,” his husband pulled him out of his thoughts with his low voice.

Yoongi couldn’t see his belly well from where he sat, but that’s where his gaze was on. Jimin still
had a hard time reading Yoongi’s face a lot of the time. The alpha was very good at masking his
emotions, but he was learning little by little. Plus, he had noticed that, as time passed, his husband
seemed to let his guard down more often when they were alone in their apartment.

“Oh, right,” Jimin said, finally grabbing his chopsticks.

He couldn’t help but glance at Yoongi as he ate, though. His husband had been taking good care of
him, making sure he had everything he needed and more; making sure he was comfortable and
well. When they were together, Yoongi’s eyes kept following him, and Jimin had been noticing the
way his eyes drifted down to his belly quite often. Almost unconsciously.

But that was everything the alpha did: only look. Jimin wondered if Yoongi still felt weird about
this whole thing. Probably. That’s why Jimin didn’t know how to proceed, but he wanted to do
something. Maybe talk about it. But oddly enough, his husband was better at comforting people
and taking care of them than at expressing his thoughts. Yoongi had been so nice to him… If Jimin
could do something for him, he wanted to try.

That night, as they got in bed and under the covers, Jimin stopped Yoongi from switching off the
night lamp. “Something wrong?” Yoongi asked him with a frown, his eyes once more going to his
pregnant belly.

“No, no. I’m feeling great,” Jimin clarified as he lay sideways to look at his husband. “I just
wanted to… talk, maybe?”

Yoongi let go of the lamp’s cord to properly look at him. “About what? Do you need anything?
Another popsicle?”

Jimin blushed. “No. I–Maybe I should start eating less of those,” he said with a self-conscious
laugh.

But his husband’s frown deepened. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Yeah, I know. Don’t worry,” Jimin smiled softly. “But I must admit that maybe this is getting out
of hand.”

“Gayoon said you’re craving them,” Yoongi said without missing a beat, still not looking happy
about it. “That’s normal. And they’re healthy snacks.”

“That’s true,” Jimin admitted.

An awkward silence followed.

They had completely gone off on a tangent. This wasn’t what Jimin had wanted to talk to him
about at all. Why was it so hard to approach Yoongi about this?

Maybe because he was scared of being rejected. Afraid of his reaction when he asked him about
his pregnancy and their baby. Yoongi was better with actions than words, so Jimin tried to gather
his courage as they lay in their big bed, looking at each other. The omega fiddled with the hem of
his soft nightshirt, and that was when Yoongi’s eyes went down to his belly again.

Jimin swallowed his nerves and reached for him. His eyes were fixed on Yoongi, but the alpha was
watching how Jimin took one of his hands and began to slowly pull it closer to him. The omega
lifted his shirt a little, enough so Yoongi could touch the soft curve of his belly. Yet, before he
could make contact with his warm skin, Yoongi’s eyes snapped up to his, and Jimin felt his
resistance to touch him. A knot formed in his stomach as his heart shrivelled at what that could
mean.

But before he could freak out, Yoongi, who hadn’t gotten rid of his hold on his hand, spoke. “Are
you sure?” he asked him.

“You don’t want to?” Jimin asked instead, biting his cheek as he tried to ignore the feeling of
dejection that was making it hard to keep his heart from beating painfully in his chest. “Are you…
put off by this?” he muttered.

In a rare display of emotion, Yoongi’s eyes widened. “What? No,” he stated firmly, sounding
almost scandalised by the suggestion.

The certainty with which he said so placated Jimin’s inner turmoil a little bit. “Really?” he
whispered, feeling hopeful. He nibbled on his lower lip when Yoongi nodded his head. “I thought
that maybe you were still having a hard time adjusting to this whole pregnancy stuff,” he
confessed, peeking at his husband sheepishly.

“That’s not it,” Yoongi denied once more without hesitating.

However, he didn’t add anything else.

There was no point in getting frustrated over it because it was very plausible that Yoongi hadn’t
realised Jimin wanted him to specify what his problem was. If there was a problem, to begin with.

When they only ended up staring at each other in silence for a long moment, Jimin pulled his
husband’s hand closer slowly until it rested on his swollen belly. It would take a few weeks for the
baby to start moving, but Yoongi’s eyes widened once more as they flickered down to where his
hand rested. Yoongi’s body grew tense, and Jimin felt the alpha’s hand twitch under his once
before it settled.

His heart skipped a beat at the look of wonder on Yoongi’s face as he kept his hand there, not
moving at all.

The omega also looked down, and his eyes set on their hands cupping his growing belly. He was
overwhelmed by the warmth that settled in his chest after catching that look on his usually stoic
husband.

The feeling didn’t go away, only extended to the rest of his body as he realised that Yoongi wasn’t
put off by him or the baby. The alpha just didn’t know how to act regarding his pregnant belly. He
was curious but clueless. And now that Jimin had shown him the way, Yoongi was content to
remain there, touching him as his petrichor scent and that burning wood undertone of his filled the
room in a pleasant way, mixing with Jimin’s morning dew and jasmine scent.

The omega closed his eyes with a little content sigh. He could have easily fallen asleep like this. At
least until his eyes fluttered open again and his heart began to race the next time Jimin looked at
his husband.

Yoongi's eyes had travelled up and were fixed on the omega’s neck. It was a fleeting look because
the moment Yoongi noticed he had looked up, he averted his eyes back to his belly again. If it
wasn’t for the nervous spike in Yoongi’s scent, the omega would have thought he had imagined it.

But Jimin knew that look. Because he had felt that same pull very often lately. The need to scent
was growing strong as the days passed, and he was sure it was because of the pregnancy. It seemed
like such urges didn't only affect the pregnant person. After all, Yoongi was the father of the baby.
His inner alpha must’ve been growing protective as the pregnancy ran its course.

It was a relief to know he wasn’t the only one going through changes, but it did little to calm his
erratic heartbeat. Jimin took a deep breath, and both their hands rose and fell with it, still resting on
his belly.

He wasn’t ready for something as intimate as scenting each other. And yes, they had had sex
multiple times ever since they got married—none after Jimin finally got pregnant—but scenting
was different. Because an alpha intentionally scenting their omega for the first time was very
significant. Even more than a first kiss.

Maybe if their instincts kept telling them to do so, they would. But for now, Jimin thought that this
was enough. Yoongi, too. Because despite the look on his face, he hadn’t moved a muscle, content
with just staying like this for a while.

Step by step.

With Jimin’s smaller hand covering Yoongi’s as they lay on their sides, very close together but
only connected by their hands, the omega closed his eyes again and let his husband’s calming scent
relax his body and mind.

In the end, they ended up falling asleep like this that night.

And the following nights.

Chapter End Notes

Oh, oh, oh, what are all these little gifts and changes to the house? Looks like
someone’s alpha instincts are going haywire and someone feels like PROVIDING for
a certain omega who is pregnant with his child Instincts are a very curious thing,
don’t you think?

:]

I hope you liked this chapter!

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Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

As summer rolled around and Jimin's belly kept growing, he also grew more irritated with…
everything.

He couldn't spend as much time outside in the garden because the sun was unmerciful. It was
stifling and humid, and the weather had him sweating buckets in a matter of minutes. So Jimin had
no choice but to stay inside with the air conditioner until it was nighttime. That's why Yoongi and
he started having dinner outside, the fairy lights helping to lift the omega’s spirits.

At his obvious discomfort, Yoongi had been asking him more often than usual if he was alright.
While Jimin was grateful that he worried about him when his family was so far away, the way the
alpha kept sending him worried looks didn't help his irritation. Jimin kept biting his cheek because
he really didn't want to snap at him.

Until one day he did.

“I'm fine! Can't you see I'm alright?! I'm stuck inside, and it's hot, and I'm pregnant, but I'm okay!”
he barked out at Yoongi, who regarded him with a blank look at his outburst. That sudden
emotionless expression on his face told Jimin he had flustered his husband.

Frustrated tears brimmed Jimin's eyes after that. Tears that clouded his vision when Yoongi left the
apartment calmly after a moment without saying another word. The omega felt awful because his
frustration wasn't Yoongi's fault. He just felt like a stranger in his own body sometimes, and it was
overwhelming.

Jimin felt terrible because Yoongi wasn't a very talkative person, and he worried that his outburst
would push him away. He was pacing the living room, fidgeting nervously and fearing he had
messed up everything. But then Yoongi arrived home with two boxes full of Jimin's favourite
popsicles, and the omega almost burst into tears at his husband's thoughtfulness and lack of
resentment.

He couldn't help it. Jimin ended up hugging him from behind as Yoongi left the boxes on the
kitchen counter. “I'm sorry,” he muttered with his cheek pressed to his back.

The alpha stilled, not used to such displays of affection. Yoongi was tense in his arms, but he didn’t
make him let go. “You don’t have to apologise for something so small,” he told him quietly.

“I do,” Jimin replied quickly because it was obvious that an apology was necessary. “I was a jerk.
You didn’t deserve that.”

Yoongi didn’t reply, and Jimin peeked at him, worried that he was mad. The alpha must have
noticed his staring because he turned his head to look at him, and Jimin was surprised to find a
clueless expression on his face. Like he still didn’t understand why he was apologising.

“Do you forgive me?” Jimin asked him, still hugging him as best as he could because of his belly
getting a little in the way.

Their gazes locked as the younger waited for his answer. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
Jimin frowned. “And I’m telling you there is. When you snap at a person who is being nothing but
nice to you, you need to apologise,” he explained calmly while Yoongi regarded him in silence.
“I’m sorry, Yoongi. I’m just going a little crazy over here with all these changes and these damn
heat waves.”

After a moment, his husband nodded his head. “It’s okay.” Before Jimin could nudge him and ask
if that was him accepting his apology, Yoongi looked away and uttered: “I forgive you.”

That completely got rid of the knot that had formed in Jimin’s stomach at his slip-up. “Thank you.”

Yoongi patted his smaller hands that were on his stomach, the omega’s arms still wrapped around
his middle from behind. Jimin couldn’t help but smile a little at the small gesture.

After realising that his mood swings were just normal symptoms of his pregnancy, Yoongi stopped
asking him if he was okay. Instead, he focused on doing what he did best: showing he cared
through his actions.

Whenever Jimin was having a bad day, Yoongi would bring him a new book or a cold glass of
lemonade and sit next to him to work on some files while Jimin watched those American rom-com
movies he enjoyed.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” Gayoon announced one evening.

“Thank you,” Jimin shot her a smile before he turned back to the movie. “Wow, look at those
rings. So pretty,” the omega gushed as he watched the main characters’ wedding. “I wish we
started picking up this tradition here in Korea. It’s nice. Like couple rings but better, you know?”
he said to Gayoon, who was standing next to him.

“My niece did exchange wedding rings with her wife during their ceremony,” she told him. “I think
it’s slowly becoming trendy here.”

“Oh, really? That’s awesome,” Jimin said as he watched the credits roll when the movie ended,
and he finally made to get up. “Let’s go eat then.”

He scooted closer to the edge of the couch to do so. His belly had grown quite a bit, but it still
didn’t hinder his movements much. His balance, however, was another matter altogether.

Thankfully, before he could fall onto the coffee table, Yoongi was there to catch him by the elbow
as he sprang up, his files forgotten and in complete disarray on the floor. The alpha steadied him
by grabbing him by the waist too with his other hand. Jimin’s heart was thumping in his chest at
the scare. A fall like that could’ve been awful. Yet, noticing Gayoon and Yoongi’s concern, he
decided to downplay it.

“Oops,” Jimin let out sheepishly.

Gayoon brought a hand to her chest as she sighed in relief and went back to the kitchen, not before
reminding him that if he needed help to get up or do something, he should say so. Jimin apologised
for scaring her before he turned back to his husband, whose sharp eyes were still fixed on him.

His grip hadn’t loosened one bit, almost like he feared if he let go, Jimin would end up falling. “Be
careful,” Yoongi said with his brow pinched. Even though his tone had been a little harsh, he didn’t
say so in a chastising way; more out of concern than anything else.

The low timbre of his voice had Jimin almost in a trance as he kept looking at him, not getting out
of his hold. He didn’t move until the alpha finally let go of him, and Jimin only managed to nod his
head before he averted his eyes and followed Gayoon to the kitchen while trying to ignore the
warmth pooling in his lower belly.

He hoped with all his heart that Yoongi hadn’t caught the way his scent had spiked briefly.

Even though Jimin tried his best to keep his mood swings under control, it was impossible. It was
always the stupidest things that triggered him, too. Like right now, as he tried to wear his favourite
pair of pants. They were nothing special, but they were his comfiest ones. However, his belly had
grown bigger, and they were too tight now.

It was so embarrassing, but he found himself crying as he tried to adjust them to no avail. They no
longer fitted him. With his hands clenching the waistband of his pants while he stood in front of
the full-length mirror in their bedroom, Jimin lowered his head as he cried, his shoulders trembling
with every pitiful whimper he let out.

Yoongi had been taking a shower in the bathroom, and the moment he heard him, he came out to
see what was wrong. “What is it? Anything hurts?” Yoongi asked him hurriedly. He was pulling on
a shirt, and his hair was still damp as his eyes went from his belly to his eyes.

Jimin looked up at him with rosy and tear-stained cheeks. “I’m so uncomfortable,” he whimpered.

His husband blinked. “What?” Yoongi asked, confused.

“My pants!” he exclaimed, upset and mortified. “They're too tight, and it's so uncomfortable,” he
wept, lowering his head.

He knew he was being ridiculous, but Jimin was overwhelmed by his own emotions, and he was
utterly devastated by this small inconvenience. Yoongi understood then that this had more to do
with Jimin’s hormones and with growing a human life inside him rather than the pants themselves.
If Jimin’s eyes weren’t filled with tears and he wasn’t avoiding his husband due to his
mortification, he would have seen how Yoongi’s gaze softened.

“If they're so uncomfortable, just don't wear pants,” he told him gently as he walked closer to him.

Yoongi raised his hands a little before they twitched, and he let them fall by his sides again. The
omega did see that, though. Needing the comfort, Jimin leaned into him, pressing his side to his
chest to give him a hint. It took the alpha a moment, but Yoongi ended up wrapping his arms
around him like he had meant to do.

Yoongi’s instincts were very in tune with Jimin’s needs; he just had to work on the execution.

“What about a long shirt or one of those loose dresses you wear to sleep?” Yoongi suggested after a
moment. “It's summer. You won't get cold.”

“No,” Jimin pouted, feeling Yoongi’s warmth radiating through his light shirt. “I want to wear
pants.”

A part of Jimin was expecting his husband to just leave; to not deal with his childish behaviour.
Even if he was the baby’s father, they weren’t truly together, so comforting him wasn’t part of his
duty. And when he thought about Yoongi’s line of work… Yeah, Jimin didn’t have high
expectations.

But Yoongi didn’t let go of him.

On the contrary, he started stroking his back soothingly in such a subtle way that Jimin wasn’t sure
the alpha knew he was doing it. “Then we'll find some that fit you nicely, okay?” Yoongi told him
in that quiet voice he adopted whenever Jimin was distressed lately.

Despite the need he felt to preen at being indulged, Jimin couldn’t help but protest again. “But I
like these.”

“We'll try to get a similar pair then,” his husband said, undeterred.

Not daring to look up at him in case his hormones got to him again, Jimin just raised an arm to
hook it around Yoongi’s waist. “I know what you're thinking,” he murmured.

“What am I thinking?”

He pursed his lips. “That I'm being difficult.”

Yoongi paused, choosing his next words before he said carefully: “I just think that being pregnant
must be exhausting.”

Satisfied with his answer, Jimin sniffled. “It is,” he sulked.

They remained like that without speaking until Jimin calmed down. The omega felt safe and
content like this, especially when he took a deep breath and Yoongi’s scent invaded his senses. On
instinct, he turned his head a little so his nose was brushing the other’s chest, searching for more of
that comforting smell. With every breath, he felt like he was being covered by a warm blanket, like
he was being told that everything would be okay.

“Can I do something to help?” Yoongi asked, like he wasn’t already doing just that.

Scent me.

The words had rung true in his head, but they startled Jimin out of his trance. His eyes snapped
open—when had he closed them?

To ignore that urge, Jimin held onto his previous meltdown to mask his growing embarrassment
and murmured, “... bring me more popsicles.”

Yoongi actually snorted at that, and Jimin blinked, fighting his desire to peek at his husband. It
was the first time he had heard him sound so amused, and it had Jimin’s belly fluttering.

“As you command,” his husband replied with a hint of humour in his voice.

That didn’t help Jimin’s inner struggles one bit.

***

Jimin’s hormones and instincts only grew more ferocious as the weeks passed.

He had been trying so hard to ignore his urges, but Yoongi was just… too much. He was sweet and
caring despite his reserved personality. And it wasn’t just the way he treated him that Jimin found
attractive; it was all of him. His suits, his black hair and undercut, the way he rolled up the sleeves
of his button-up shirts. Those sharp eyes of his that could be so intimidating, his broad shoulders,
and his damn scent had Jimin going crazy.
On his part, Yoongi didn’t seem to notice how much he was struggling; or at least he didn’t
mention it. Maybe because his husband looked worried about something lately. He seemed
restless, distracted, and Jimin didn’t want to ask because he had a feeling it was work-related. They
didn’t talk about that ever. Anyway, even if he asked, Jimin didn’t think the alpha would tell him
the truth.

That night, as they got in bed, Jimin could see it on his face that whatever was going on hadn’t
been solved yet. The way Yoongi’s brows kept creasing as he got lost in thought told him so. But
the moment they held hands in bed like they did every night while Yoongi rested his other hand on
his belly, Jimin was the one who got completely distracted.

They were close and relaxed. Nights gave them a respite from the high temperature during the day,
but it was still warm enough to not need to cover themselves, just their feet. Jimin closed his eyes
and let out a content sigh. Their scents mixed pleasantly, their sheets already impregnated with
them, and the omega curled up a little when Yoongi stopped touching his belly. Without realising
it, Jimin pulled their laced fingers closer and pressed his nose to Yoongi’s wrist on the mattress. A
tremor went through his body at how intense his scent was there.

It was only after a few minutes had passed when Jimin noticed it: slick coming out of him.

Yoongi's hand twitched in his, and Jimin's eyes flew open. His husband could smell his arousal in
the air just as well as he could. Mortified, Jimin turned around to hide from the alpha, his back to
him—although that wasn’t any better…

He squeezed his eyes shut as he curled into a ball and cursed himself for having no self-control. It
was a matter of time before something like this happened. He had known so. But that knowledge
didn’t take away from how utterly humiliated Jimin felt in the tense silence of their bedroom.

His husband didn’t attempt to touch him, but he heard his deep voice calling him. “Jimin?”

The omega whined.

“It’s okay,” Yoongi said reassuringly before he paused. “It’s because of the pregnancy, right?”

Jimin blinked, but he remained curled up with his back to him. “How do you know?” he whispered
self-consciously.

Another pause.

“I read it in a book.”

Slowly, Jimin turned his body enough to peek at Yoongi from over his shoulder. “You’ve been
reading about pregnancies?”

Yoongi nodded from his side of the bed.

That piece of information had Jimin’s heart fluttering. It soothed him enough to stop avoiding him.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Jimin lay on his back with his eyes fixed on the ceiling. “I’ve been trying
to ignore it,” he confessed now that the cat was out of the bag. Jimin placed his hands on his belly,
caressing it slowly as he tried to ignore the small wet patch in his underwear. “And I-I’ve been…
taking care… of myself. But it doesn’t seem to be enough.”

He hoped Yoongi couldn’t see how bright his cheeks were burning at the moment.
“Well…” Yoongi started slowly, making Jimin glance at him at his hesitation. “Do you want me to
help with that?”

Jimin’s brain short-circuited.

The omega turned his head on the pillow to look at him in shock. “What?”

“It’s your choice.” Yoongi shrugged.

To say that Jimin was having trouble believing him was an understatement. “Are you for real?”

But the alpha remained calm through it all, or at least that’s how he looked. Jimin still had a hard
time reading him sometimes.

“Pregnancies can’t be easy on the body and mind. There is little alphas can truly do because you
are the ones dealing with all the changes,” Yoongi explained, still lying on his side to look at a
stunned Jimin. “I just want to make this process as easy for you as possible.”

His explanation had Jimin frowning. “Yoongi…”

“I get it if you don’t want to. It’s just a suggestion,” the alpha added without avoiding his eyes.

But that wasn’t it.

“I don’t want to force you to have sex with me just because I’m pregnant,” Jimin told him with
furrowed brows.

It was Yoongi’s turn to frown. “You’re not forcing me,” he said. “Sex with you… is very nice,” he
murmured, not knowing how Jimin would react to that.

They stared at each other for a long while. “Are those your alpha instincts talking? Because I'm
pregnant with your baby?” Jimin asked him.

His husband looked down and took a moment to think about it. “Part of it, yeah,” he said slowly,
meeting his eyes again. “But not all of it. Like I said, sex with you is nice.”

His honesty flustered Jimin, who had to look away from him. “But now I'm pregnant. My body…
is different from last time,” he explained self-consciously, as if that was the biggest problem about
this whole thing.

“So?” Yoongi asked like he didn’t understand what his point was.

Jimin fidgeted, his hands going to his belly once more. “So… I'm more… round. Soft. Fat,” he
finished in a whisper, still avoiding his husband’s intense gaze.

“Jimin, you're carrying my child. My blood.” Yoongi hesitated after that. Not because he was
embarrassed like Jimin. He looked dubious, like he wasn't sure how Jimin would take his next
words. But the younger finally glanced at him and pressed him to tell him. “That only makes you
more attractive in my eyes.”

Despite how Jimin flushed from head to toe at his bluntness, his husband’s words put him at ease.
As they stared at each other—their breathing the only thing that could be heard in the room’s
silence—Jimin felt that spark in his lower belly, his scent spiking again much like before.

His heart fluttered when Yoongi took the first step, scooting closer to him slowly. He raised his
hand and placed it on Jimin’s cheek. The omega couldn’t see it, but he knew that the alpha was
caressing with his thumb the faint scar on his skin from the explosion. His touch was tender and
feather-light as he waited. Yoongi was asking for permission; giving Jimin the chance to back out
if that was what he wanted.

Jimin braced himself, taking a shuddering breath before he put his hand over Yoongi’s and held it
to bring it to his lips. The omega left a kiss on his palm and nodded his head. Their gazes locked as
the air shifted around them.

Their kisses were tentative at first after months of not exchanging a single one. But their bodies
were quick to recognise each other, and they were soon falling into step. It was nice getting lost in
that burning fire Jimin had been so afraid of at first. He trusted Yoongi—he had shown him that
they were in this together more than once—and his husband didn’t let him down this time either.

The moment their bodies joined once more, Jimin let out a content sound as he felt Yoongi’s hot
breath hitting the side of his neck, his smaller hand buried in his husband’s dark locks. The alpha
started bucking his hips on top of him while being mindful of his baby bump, and it was
everything Jimin wanted and needed and had craved for so long.

After that night, they had sex more often, and this new arrangement didn’t make things awkward in
their everyday life, which Jimin was incredibly relieved about. They still got along well, spent time
together and went to eat outside from time to time when Yoongi wasn’t too busy with work. They
also had to attend a few lunches at Min Doyun’s house, but the man just seemed content to see that
Jimin’s pregnancy was going well and that the couple smelled like each other—way more than
before, but nobody questioned them about it.

They didn't have sex every day, though. Just when Jimin felt particularly horny, which was more
often than he was willing to admit. It was always him who decided when they had sex, never
Yoongi. That’s why Jimin couldn’t help but ask if it was okay every single time, even though
Yoongi assured him that it was each time.

A part of Jimin thought that it would be weird if they did it just because the alpha wanted it. After
all, the only reason they were having sex was that Jimin was pregnant. To mitigate his desire and
satiate his inner omega.

That was what Jimin told himself every time he reached for Yoongi at night in the privacy of their
bedroom.

***

2:44 am

Jimin sighed. He had lost count of how many times he had glanced at the clock. It was so late, but
Yoongi hadn’t come back from work yet. The omega had eaten dinner alone and watched a movie
while he waited for his husband. At midnight, Jimin’s back had been killing him, and he had
switched off the TV and decided to keep waiting in their bedroom.

He was lying in bed with a book, one of his hands rubbing his belly soothingly. He should
probably go to sleep, but there was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that he
couldn’t shake off. It wasn’t just the fact he had grown too used to having Yoongi next to him
when he closed his eyes, his scent enveloping him comfortingly. It was the fact that Yoongi had
never done this before. Except for those first days of marriage when he had stayed in a hotel to
give Jimin some space, Yoongi always got home as soon as he could.

Jimin was so worried. He was going to drive himself crazy if he kept this up, so the omega let out a
deep sigh and closed his eyes as he tried to relax.

The next time he opened them was due to a clattering sound coming from the living room. He
glanced at the clock on his nightstand.

4:38 am

Shit, he had fallen asleep.

The book he had been reading was on the floor, but Jimin didn’t bother to pick it up. Instead, he
rubbed his eyes and got up with a groan, a hand supporting his growing belly. He got to the door
and opened it, hoping that Yoongi was back already.

Indeed, it was his husband.

In the darkness of the night, he could see Yoongi sitting on their couch as he took off his black
shirt slowly. Jimin swallowed hard at the rare sight of his tattoos that still intimidated him greatly
—maybe because they reminded him of Min Doyun. Even though he had grown used to seeing
Yoongi naked, he wasn’t used to seeing his back. Jimin had the impression his husband did it on
purpose; that he was hiding them from him.

But the relieved sigh Jimin was about to let out got caught in his throat when he noticed the little
trails of blood running down Yoongi’s back as he took off his shirt. His husband stopped mid-
movement and turned his head to him, Jimin’s footsteps or scent having exposed him. Or maybe
the gasp that had left his lips at the sight.

Jimin was rooted to the spot, his heart racing with crippling anxiety when he noticed the caked
blood on Yoongi’s forehead.

“Jimin.” The omega saw the way his husband’s lips were moving, but his ears were ringing, and he
had trouble hearing him. His chest began to rise and fall quickly as he watched Yoongi. “Shit.”

The alpha got up, throwing his ruined shirt to the floor as he walked over to him. But now Jimin
had a perfect view of the bruises forming along his ribs, and when Yoongi’s hands wrapped around
his arms, Jimin noticed his bloody knuckles, too.

He had been in a fight. His husband had been in a fight. The father of his baby. He—

“W-What happened?” Jimin stuttered, his eyes roaming his body in search of more injuries. “Why
—Are you okay? You’re bleeding, Yoongi!” His rising anxiety made him shrill as he trembled in
his husband’s grip.

“It’s okay. I’m fine. This is nothing,” Yoongi told him, searching for his eyes and not stopping
until their gazes locked. “Please breathe.”

Why was Yoongi so calm about this? Jimin’s racing mind couldn’t understand it. “This isn’t—You
call this being fine?!” he inquired, visibly upset.

The alpha was frowning as he regarded him. “Jimin.”

But Jimin was too worried to listen to him. “Your back. Your back is bleeding, too,” he panted,
growing shaken up by the minute. “You are all—We need bandages. And antiseptic. The first aid
kit—”

“I can do it. I’ll take care of it,” Yoongi assured him, trying to calm him down with that soothing
tone of his. “Now, please, sit down.”

“You sit down!” Jimin scowled at him.

Before Yoongi could react, Jimin noticed a prickling feeling in his belly that had him grimacing
and lowering his head. He pressed a hand right there, where he had felt it, but thankfully, the pain
was gone in an instant.

“You’re going to get sick,” Yoongi grumbled, still holding him by his other arm. “Think about the
baby.”

“Think about yourself!” Jimin spat before he got rid of his hold to go to the bathroom, where he
knew they kept a first-aid kit.

Once there, away from Yoongi’s scent and beat up body, Jimin took a deep breath as he leaned
against the sink. He had to take a few more calming breaths, the shock of seeing Yoongi like that
slowly wearing off. It had been a startling sight, and after how worried he had been all night, it was
only natural he had ended up freaking out. As he gathered everything they may need, Jimin noticed
that his hands were shaking.

Remembering Yoongi’s words about their baby’s well-being, Jimin took another moment to place
his hands there. “I’m sorry, little one. I’m so sorry for scaring you,” he whispered, guilt eating
away at him as he recalled the brief stab of pain he had felt in his stomach.

He took his time to gather himself before he left the bathroom. Yoongi was sitting on the couch
once more, pressing his ruined shirt against his forehead to wipe the blood that had gathered there.
Without saying a single word, Jimin sat on the coffee table in front of him with the first aid kit on
his lap. The married couple shared a look, the fire in their eyes from before completely
extinguished now.

Jimin replaced the shirt Yoongi was pressing against his temple with a clean and damp washcloth.
He dabbed at the wound on his forehead carefully, not wanting to hurt him. Despite how profusely
it had bled, Jimin found out that the culprit was just a little cut near his hairline. After cleaning it
well, he put on two strip plasters so the wound would close nicely.

“I’m sorry,” Yoongi whispered.

Jimin stopped folding the washcloth to clean his husband’s bloody knuckles at his apology. The
omega raised his head to see his husband with his elbows resting on his knees and his head
lowered.

Min Yoongi had apologised.

It was the second time it had happened.

Jimin had been the one to raise his voice, not Yoongi, so why was he apologising? For worrying
him?

Yoongi had shown him time and time again that he was different from his father. But it still left
Jimin stunned every time his husband showed him so blatantly that Min Yoongi and Min Doyun
had little in common.
“No, I’m sorry,” Jimin said, taking one of Yoongi’s hands in his to continue treating his wounds. “I
freaked out.” He peeked at his husband, and their eyes met. “What happened, Yoongi?” he
whispered with all the fear and worry swirling inside him.

The alpha pressed his lips together, looking like he’d rather not talk about it. “There’s just been
some trouble at work. But it’s settled now.”

That was hardly an explanation, but Jimin didn’t have the guts to ask more about it. He guessed
this had to do with why Yoongi had been more pensive than usual; so restless when he was at
home. His father had once advised him not to meddle in that part of the Min family, and that was
what Jimin had done until now. Still, a part of him wanted to know who had done this to his
husband; what reason would anybody have to do this to the father of his child.

But Yoongi had said that things had been settled, so maybe his husband had come out unscathed
compared to the other party…

Good, his inner omega thought petulantly, startling Jimin.

“Are you okay?” Yoongi asked him, having noticed his reaction.

“Yes, yes. Of course,” the younger was quick to dismiss his worries. Jimin bit his lip and ignored
those thoughts, deciding to focus on his husband instead. “Turn around so I can clean the cuts on
your back,” he told him when he was done with his knuckles.

But Yoongi hesitated. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” Jimin told him sincerely.

He wanted to erase any trace of blood on him. He hoped that would finally stop the painful pace of
his heart; the uneasiness that was threatening to choke him.

Yoongi pressed his lips together. “I know my tattoos frighten you. What they represent.”

Jimin stared at his husband, taking in the self-loathing laced in his words. His answer came easily
to him. “But you don’t scare me.”

He heard the way Yoongi’s breath got caught in his throat, even though the alpha was quick to
mask his reaction. Slowly, Yoongi shifted so Jimin could keep tending to his wounds in the
stillness of the early morning.

The omega had never been so up and close to his husband’s tattoos. The hibiscus flowers were a
reminder of the clan that had been a constant in Jimin’s life ever since he was a kid. A gang he had
grown to fear and avoid. They reminded him of Min Doyun and the nauseating smell that always
permeated his house. But when Jimin took in a deep breath to stop his shaky hands, only the smell
of rainfall on wet soil invaded his senses, soothing and grounding him.

His husband’s back and shoulders were tense, but he began to relax a little when Jimin started
cleaning his cuts.

“Why only two flowers?” Jimin couldn’t help but ask after a while, his curiosity getting the best of
him. “I thought members of a gang usually covered their entire backs.”

“They represent our rank. The least you have, the higher your rank is,” Yoongi explained, not
wincing once as Jimin continued taking care of his wounds. “My father and older brother only have
one. I’m the second son, so I’ve got two. And everyone must have the emblem on their lower
backs.”

“Does everyone that’s part of the clan have them?” Yoongi nodded. “Your mother and Hyerim
too?” Jimin asked, quieter than before.

He tried to mask his apprehension, but Yoongi knew what he was truly asking. “No. If you weren’t
born into the clan, you don’t have to get them. Same case if you marry a member but do not work
for the clan.”

But Jimin’s relief was short-lived when a horrible thought made him halt. “Will our kid…?”

“… Yeah,” Yoongi confirmed very quietly.

Jimin swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat and brought a hand to his belly. When the
time came, they wouldn’t be able to protect their child from that.

“I see,” Jimin whispered, trying not to sound as afflicted as he felt.

“You hate it, don’t you?”

The omega faltered. He looked up, but he could only see Yoongi’s nape. “What do you mean?”
Jimin asked slowly.

“The clan,” he clarified, his voice even. “You hate it.” There was no hint of accusation in his tone;
it was just an observation.

The answer to his question came easily to Jimin, but he didn’t voice it out. Jimin remained silent as
he wondered if saying ‘yes’ would sound like he was saying that he also hated Yoongi.

“... don’t you?” Jimin asked instead after a moment.

He had thought that Yoongi hated his clan, too. His words on the day of Jimin’s breakdown had
implied so.

He heard the heavy sigh Yoongi let out. “It’s… complicated,” he admitted. “It’s not all bad. Not
everyone is evil. And I feel a sense of duty towards the clan due to my upbringing,” Yoongi
explained to him as best he could to make him understand. “Despite everything, I want to protect
our clan, and I know how that sounds.” It sounds fucked up, Jimin couldn’t help but think. “But it’s
the truth. Protecting the clan means protecting my family. My mother, my brother, my nephew…
Our baby and you.”

What could Jimin say to that? Nothing. He felt a lump in his throat as he realised that maybe their
child would share Yoongi’s sentiment in the future.

They remained silent after that. Without saying another word, Jimin continued tending to his
wounds, putting dressings where needed. By the time Jimin was done, his hands were trembling
greatly again. He couldn’t stop thinking about their baby. About their future. Jimin’s hands
clenched around the now bloody washcloth.

Tonight had been a bitter reminder of what was out there. Of how dangerous Yoongi’s job was.
Jimin could pretend all he wanted while the three of them were in the safety of their apartment, in
their little bubble. But the truth was that there was no escaping their reality.

It was his husband who pulled him out of his gloomy thoughts. Yoongi’s hand covered his to stop
him from gripping the cloth, which was about to tear in his strong grip. With a shuddering breath,
Jimin unclenched his hands and looked up to meet those observant eyes of Yoongi that never
missed a thing.

Gently, his husband drew him closer until Jimin sat next to him on the couch. The alpha wrapped
his arms around him before Yoongi leaned back against the backrest, pulling Jimin with him. The
younger didn’t hesitate to snuggle close, needing the comfort like he needed air, and feeling safe in
his husband’s arms.

The omega was hugging his own stomach with one of his arms, trying to convince his brain that
the three of them were okay. His husband was still shirtless, and Jimin pressed his nose against
Yoongi’s collarbones. He breathed in with eyes closed and, just like that, his next exhale had some
of his tension fading, his body easing up.

And his husband just let him. While one of his arms circled his waist, Yoongi’s other hand was
cupping Jimin’s face, his fingers keeping Jimin’s long bangs away from his eyes. His scent
enveloped Jimin in this position, especially with the elder’s neck and wrist so close to his face. But
the omega was still shaken up, the trembling of his hands not subsiding.

He needed more. Something more. And he knew just what his inner omega was screaming for.

Jimin craned his neck to look up at Yoongi. He was met with his husband’s worried gaze, and
somehow, that only gave him the courage to finally do it. Slowly, Jimin reached up to take
Yoongi’s hand that was framing his face.

The omega’s heart raced as he brought the alpha’s hand to his own neck.

His husband’s eyes rounded a little when he realised what he wanted, but he didn’t stop him. Jimin
didn’t blink, waiting to see some kind of aversion in his expression that would stop him before he
did something the alpha didn’t want. But Yoongi nodded his head, and Jimin noticed how his
Adam’s apple bobbed when he gulped.

His short fingers clasped Yoongi’s hand, and with a flutter of his heart, Jimin finally pressed his
husband’s wrist against his neck. They were both tense, but as Jimin started nuzzling Yoongi’s
scent gland, their scents began to mingle in a way they hadn’t before. It felt… heavenly.
Overwhelming in the best way possible. Jimin closed his eyes and let himself be consumed by the
feeling.

A tremor went down Jimin’s body as he rubbed their scent glands together, one so powerful he was
sure his body wasn’t the only one trembling because of the pheromones they were both releasing.
He decided to scent Yoongi’s wrist because it wasn’t such an intimate place as one’s neck. This
already felt so good and had his previous distress completely evaporating. He couldn’t imagine
how it would feel to nuzzle each other’s necks directly.

He didn’t know about Yoongi, but Jimin had never scented someone outside of his family before.
So he just let his instincts take over and guide him until his inner omega felt satisfied, and his scent
on Yoongi was prominent enough that it wouldn’t leave him easily. Once he was satisfied, Jimin
let out a content sigh.

His eyes fluttered open, and he finally looked up at Yoongi while still nestled against him. “Do you
want to do it too?” Jimin rasped, offering him his arm. His voice had sounded rough, obviously
affected by what they had just done.

The truth was that Jimin had been dying to finally do this with Yoongi, with the father of the child
growing inside him. With the man who always went far and beyond to make sure he was
comfortable and had everything he needed.

Jimin was feeling a little out of it. That’s why it took him a moment to realise that Yoongi’s pupils
were blown—much like his own if he had had the chance to see for himself. The growl that left
Yoongi’s throat at the question and how quick he was to bring his wrist to his neck told Jimin that
maybe he hadn’t been the only one dying to do this with him.

Instincts were a curious thing.

Yoongi thoroughly scented Jimin, almost like he couldn’t stop himself. It made Jimin wonder once
more if he had been refraining from doing so like him. The omega couldn’t stop the pleased sound
he let out at the thought, and it only fueled Yoongi to keep rubbing his wrist against his neck until
Jimin could barely smell his own scent.

By the time Yoongi pulled Jimin’s hand away from his neck, they were both panting messes. Their
hearts were racing as they stared at each other. The air felt hazy around them as the sun began to
rise outside, their pheromones making their brains feel sluggish.

It was Yoongi who moved first, but it wasn’t to get up or disturb Jimin from how comfortable he
was tucked against his husband’s side. Instead, Yoongi brought his hand—the one Jimin had
scented—to the omega’s belly. He caressed the bump slowly, with care, but Jimin’s shirt was in the
way, and it was bothering the omega. So Jimin lifted his shirt so Yoongi could continue his sweet
caresses, this time skin to skin.

Jimin watched in awe the reverential look on his husband’s face as he kept his gaze fixed on where
their baby was slowly growing. Another tremor went down his body when Yoongi’s intense gaze
slid up and fixed on the omega again. And before Jimin knew what was happening, Yoongi was
pressing his lips to his with an urgency the omega hadn’t experienced yet.

Jimin recovered quickly, his fingers easily burying themselves in the back of Yoongi’s hair. He
dragged his nails along his undercut as he opened his mouth to welcome him. But his husband
broke the kiss abruptly then, and they regarded each other with their faces very close together, their
breaths mingling.

Yoongi licked his lips. “Sorry,” he murmured.

But Jimin frowned. “Don’t. It’s okay,” he assured him. After all, they had been having sex almost
regularly because of Jimin’s hormones. He couldn’t fault his husband for stealing a kiss when
Yoongi was feeling overwhelmed after scenting each other for the first time. Not when it felt so
good. “Again?” Jimin whispered unsurely, meeting Yoongi’s eyes.

He didn’t have to repeat himself before Yoongi’s lips were on his once more.

Scenting showed at the very least a mutual want for a bond. With a baby on the way, Jimin told
himself that this was normal. That their protective instincts were just through the roof. That was it.
And their kisses… Well, this time they were just a consequence of scenting each other.

Right?

Yes.

Considering our circumstances, it can be nothing else, Jimin told himself as he let Yoongi gently
lay him down on the couch to keep kissing him and touching each other like they both craved.
Chapter End Notes

Let me just cry over Yoongi not understanding why Jimin was apologising for
something so small at the beginning of this chapter because he’s used to worse
treatment than that from his father and to not get a single sorry for it :________

And yes, there was Angst, but hey, they finally scented each other!! :D

Can’t wait to know your thoughts on this chapter…

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My Heart Is a Cage
Chapter Notes

Hello! I worked very hard on this chapter, and I really like how it turned out. I'm so
excited to finally share it with you!!!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Despite Jimin’s worries, Yoongi woke up the next day feeling okay. No pain. Or at least so he
said. Apparently, his injuries this time were nothing compared to what he had suffered on other
occasions. If Yoongi thought that put his worries to rest, he couldn’t have been more mistaken.

They took it easy the next day, but Yoongi insisted that they went out that afternoon like Jimin
enjoyed doing on Sundays. It was still a little hot to go on a walk even though summer was almost
over, so they decided to go somewhere nice, where they could enjoy a cold drink while they
listened to the cicadas’ song. However, just as Jimin left their room, ready to go out, they got a
surprise visit.

Jimin shared a look with Yoongi, who was sitting on the couch waiting for him. They never got
any visits.

It was Gayoon’s day off, so Jimin went to open the door. The moment he did, he came face to face
with Min Doyun and his wife, and the scent of hibiscus flowers hit his nostrils immediately. Jimin
didn’t suffer from morning sickness anymore, but his nausea came back at full force right then and
there.

“Good afternoon, Jimin,” Doyun greeted him.

On instinct, Jimin brought a hand to his belly as if to protect his baby from this man and everything
that surrounded him.

“Good afternoon.” He bowed before he let them in.

“Are you going out?” his father-in-law asked him as he took a look at his clothes.

Jimin closed the door and turned to them again. Why were they here? “I–Yeah, I’m going with
Yoongi.”

Doyun clenched his jaw. “So my son is here?”

The angry tone with which he said that had Jimin’s heart dropping to his stomach.

“I am.” Yoongi declared firmly from where he now stood at the end of the hallway, in the living
room. He bowed deeply to his father—just like he always did–before he straightened up and
remained there, watching them.

Doyun fixed his gaze on his son for a moment before the man strode determinedly inside without
saying another word. Jimin and Misun shared a nervous look before they followed behind, but the
omegas halted when the first thing Min Doyun did when he stood in front of his son was punch
Yoongi in the face.
His husband took it like it was nothing, but Jimin flinched and gasped, feeling like he had been the
one who got punched. Yoongi didn’t even bring a hand to his cheek after. He just stood in front of
his father, shoulders squared, and eyes lowered slightly, not meeting his gaze as a sign of respect.

“Yoongi—” Jimin took a step forward, needing to touch him, to make sure his alpha was all right.

But the alpha’s mother, Misun, held him back. Jimin’s first instinct was to snap at her, but her eyes
were fixed on her son, tears gathering in her eyes, and he realised that she was hurting worse than
him at the scene they had just witnessed.

“What were you thinking, huh?!” Doyun’s booming voice startled Jimin once more, who held onto
his belly as he drew back in fear. “I told you that our people in Busan had everything under control!
I told you to stay put!”

Wait.

Did he say… Busan?

“But no, you had to go and get your hands dirty. Not only that but you also got hurt! Why?” Min
Doyun demanded of his son, hands on his hips as he regarded him disapprovingly.

Yoongi raised his sharp eyes to look at his father and regarded him with an icy gaze Jimin had
never seen before. “You know why,” he snarled.

Doyun slapped him hard this time.

Yoongi didn’t even close his eyes; he just took the hit in stride, and Jimin couldn’t help the whine
that left his mouth. His mother-in-law stopped him once more from going to this husband. But
Yoongi had heard his whimper, and his eyes immediately found him from across the room while
the omega kept holding onto his belly.

“Nothing happened to them!” Doyun shouted, bringing Yoongi’s attention back to him. “Our
people protected the Parks before anything could happen to them!”

Jimin blanched.

His family. They—

“It was a close call, and this was their second offence,” Yoongi reminded his father, not backing
down.

“And I kept my word,” Doyun defended himself, tilting his chin up. “The only reason why the
Gwan family did something so stupid was because they knew we were about to finally secure the
other half of Busan. And we still did. We won, fair and square. The Sansuyu clan knows not to
mess with us ever again, but you went after them either way.” His father smacked him in the chest
this time.

Yoongi didn’t even take a step back. “But what about the people of Busan? The people who still
had their doubts about our power?” he inquired, keeping his cool, unlike his father.

Yet, there was a glint of something dangerous in Yoongi’s eyes, in his tone, that gave Jimin a
glimpse of the kind of person his husband was when he was working. This wasn’t the Yoongi who
made sure to buy a new box of popsicles before Jimin ran out. The Yoongi who held his hand
every night before they went to sleep and caressed his belly with the gentlest of touches.
This was Min Yoongi, the second son of the Mugunghwa’s kingpin, now the strongest crime
syndicate in South Korea after securing Busan.

“A high-ranking member went there to solve the problem themselves,” Yoongi continued telling
his father. “It showed them that we are not above our people when it comes to protecting them. We
defend our own. Wasn’t that what you wanted? To give a message of equality and hope, you said,”
he reminded him with a raised eyebrow. “Our marriage did that, and so will this.”

A tense silence followed his words, and Jimin thought his heart would give out at any moment.

His thoughts were in complete disarray, not knowing what to focus on. Yoongi was standing up to
his father, and Jimin just wanted to put himself in between them before things escalated. But he
was also trying to understand what they were saying. His family had been attacked? When had that
happened? He had talked to them just yesterday, and they had been okay. They hadn’t told him
anything about this.

Doyun was the one to stop his train of thought when he saw the man raise his hand. The omega
held his breath, dreading what he would do next. But the man just smacked Yoongi in the nape and
left his hand there, gripping him but not causing his son pain.

He… He looked proud.

“Everything for the clan,” Doyun declared.

“Everything for the clan,” Yoongi stated just as firmly.

As he regarded his son, a little smile curled Doyun’s lips.

“I’ll let it go this time since those bastards hurt Jimin last time. They got what they deserved,”
Doyun told his son. “You did well defending your omega. Like an alpha must.”

There it was again, another demonstration of Min Doyun’s twisted sense of honour.

Yoongi didn’t say a thing to that. He just lowered his eyes once more and remained there until his
father finally let go of him.

This time not even Yoongi’s mother could stop him. Jimin did approach them then, with an eager
and anxious heart. He held onto Yoongi’s side as he looked up at him, ignoring his father-in-law.
The alpha’s cheek had already reddened up, and Jimin stopped himself from reaching up to touch
it. His husband immediately wrapped an arm around his waist, and they exchanged a long look.

They had lots to talk about.

His smaller hands gripped his husband tighter when Doyun addressed him. “Do you already know
the sex of the baby, Jimin?” he asked him casually like he hadn’t just hit his son repeatedly in front
of him.

Like he hadn’t just mentioned that his family had been in danger without him knowing anything
about it.

But the last thing Jimin wanted was to hear about that from this man in front of him. He wanted
Min Doyun out of his house already so he could talk to Yoongi and understand what was going on.

“Not yet,” Jimin answered simply.

The truth was that his doctor had asked him already if he wanted to know the sex of the baby, but
he had declined. Yoongi knew that too, but the alpha remained silent next to him.

“Be sure to ask at your next appointment,” Doyun told him before he turned to his wife, who was
approaching them now. “We can’t wait to know. Right, Misun-ah?”

She agreed with her husband, but her gaze was fixed on her son’s face once more. She wanted to
reach out to him too; it was clear in her eyes. There was a deep sadness swimming in them too, but
the woman didn’t touch him.

So Yoongi did. “We need to start buying things for the baby. You should come one day to help
us,” he told her as he held her hand in his without letting go of Jimin.

After the words were out, Yoongi realised that this may be something he couldn’t decide by
himself, and his eyes drifted to Jimin again.

But the omega swallowed his dread to smile kindly at Misun. “I would like that. I don’t even know
where to start.”

He had nothing against Yoongi’s mother. He had seen that she detested the way Doyun treated her
son, and Jimin realised they probably had many things in common.

“That would be very nice,” Misun told them with a grateful look on her face as she squeezed her
son’s hand in hers.

“Well, we have to go now,” Doyun interrupted the moment. “We're having dinner with Hyerim’s
grandfather, and we shouldn’t make them wait.” Before he left, his gaze went back to Jimin. “Take
good care of my grandchild, Jimin.” And with that, Doyun turned around to leave the apartment
just as abruptly as he had come.

Before she left too, Yoongi brought his mother in for a brief hug, and Misun clung to him with all
her might before they separated. She cupped his reddened cheek with all the care in the world and
sent his son a regretful look before she turned around to follow her husband.

Jimin hated how the smell of hibiscus lingered in the air even after he was gone.

Instead of dwelling on how unsettled that made him, he turned to his husband. There were more
pressing matters to worry about. “Yoongi, what happened to my family? What was this all about?”
Jimin asked him anxiously. “Does this have to do with what happened last night?”

The alpha sighed and pushed his hair back, his other hand resting on his hip. “A week ago, the
people who attacked your neighbourhood last time did it again. They also tried to infiltrate the
building where your family has been living, but we stopped them before they could reach them,”
he hurried to tell him. Yet, just knowing they could’ve gotten to them was enough to fill Jimin with
dread. “They knew they had lost their territory already. It was just a last attempt; a desperate one
that amounted to nothing.” Noticing that Jimin was biting down on his lip nervously as he wrung
his hands, Yoongi took one of his hands in his. “They are okay. I talked to them,” he assured him
soothingly.

“You saw them?” Jimin asked as he willed his heart to calm down its angry pace.

Yoongi nodded. “They’re fine,” he promised. His expression softened, and Jimin found a hint of
guilt in it as he regarded him. “They miss you,” Yoongi whispered.

Instantly, Jimin’s eyes filled with tears as a surge of emotion left him breathless. But he swallowed
thickly and lowered his head before he closed his eyes. The omega took a few deep breaths to keep
his longing at bay and squeezed his husband’s hands in his. He didn’t want to cry now. They were
fine, and that was what was important.

“They didn’t tell me anything about it,” Jimin said once he had calmed down enough to speak
without crying.

“Nothing ended up happening, so they didn’t want to worry you, especially now that you’re
pregnant,” Yoongi added, his eyes drifting down to his belly.

“I have to call them,” Jimin said more to himself than anything else.

He was going to let go of Yoongi to do just that, but his eyes focused on his husband’s cheek. It
was an angry red colour, and it must’ve stung badly. Without saying another word, the omega
pulled him with him to their bedroom and made Yoongi sit on the bed while he went to fetch the
ointment he had used on his ribs yesterday. It had helped the last time his father had hit him, too, so
Jimin applied it to his cheek carefully.

He was standing in between Yoongi’s parted legs, focused on his task. As he finished rubbing in
the last of the ointment, Jimin realised that his husband was staring at him with a glint in his eyes
he wasn’t used to seeing. A warmth that wasn’t there before. Yoongi was probably grateful that he
was taking care of him, or maybe relieved that he wasn’t mad or had made much of a fuss about
him hiding what had happened in Busan.

It was still hard to read his husband sometimes, especially when he hadn’t seen that look before.

After treating the alpha, Jimin finally called his family. He talked to them for an hour as they
explained to him what had happened, and then it took another hour for them to convince him that
they were fine. His family wouldn’t have found out about what had happened if the Mugunghwa
clan hadn’t suddenly upped the security in the building. After all, it wasn’t just them living there,
but also other powerful people from Busan, so the clan couldn’t take any risks.

By the end of the call, they managed to convince Jimin that they were all right, but his anxiety was
still making it hard to think straight. He was slowly throwing himself into a downward spiral of
dark thoughts that had his scent souring, and it alerted Yoongi that something was wrong.

His husband knocked on the glass doors that led to the terrace where Jimin had made the phone
call. The noise startled the omega. “Everything okay?” Yoongi asked him.

It took him a moment to process his words. Jimin began to nod his head, but then he thought it
better and shook it instead. He lowered his eyes to his belly and wrapped his arms around it as he
tucked his legs under him on the couch. Yoongi took a seat next to him.

“I miss them,” Jimin murmured, incapable of keeping his feelings to himself any longer. He heard
Yoongi sigh heavily beside him. “Is there no way I can go see them? Or them coming here?”

When he raised his head to look at the alpha, Yoongi was already looking at him with furrowed
brows. “Not right now,” he said apologetically. It was clear the alpha felt bad about it, but there
was little he could do. “You’re pregnant, and we can’t risk it. And your family needs to remain in
Busan for the time being. It’s all too fresh, and peace is unstable. They need to stay put to ensure
people won’t think that now that Busan is under our control, we'll abandon them. That would give
the Sansuyu clan just what they want.”

Jimin wanted to scream that he didn’t care about their stupid feuds and fights for power. He just
wanted to hug his parents and brother, to scent them and feel them close. He didn’t say anything,
though. It wouldn’t change a thing.

The omega buried his face in his hands. His brain wouldn’t stop showing him every possible
terrible scenario he could come up with. Everything that could go wrong in the future, and he
wouldn’t know about it until it was too late. He wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it from
happening.

“Jimin, you’re going to make yourself sick if you don’t stop thinking and worrying.”

Yoongi sounded concerned about him. Or maybe the baby. But Jimin’s chest felt too tight to be
rational right now. He couldn’t. He had been strong for too long, and after today, those same
feelings that had plagued him the night he found out he was pregnant came back with a vengeance.
To his fears regarding their baby’s future, now he had to add his family’s safety. He turned to
Yoongi, and his eyes fixed on the cut on his brow.

His husband’s safety, too.

“What if something like this happens again?” Jimin inquired, feeling utterly hopeless as he tried to
find a solution in his husband’s eyes. “My family almost got hurt. You did get hurt yesterday. How
can I live like this? Not knowing if something will happen to any of you.”

Yoongi regarded him silently for a moment. “You just live in the present,” he replied simply.

Jimin didn’t like that answer. It wasn’t enough. “That’s how you live your life?”

“It’s the only way I know how.” Yoongi shrugged.

The omega’s brow furrowed as he looked at his husband incredulously. “But how can you sleep at
night not knowing if something will happen to you tomorrow?”

How can I live like that?

“The way everyone lives, Jimin,” Yoongi told him slowly. “Yes, this line of work makes you
more… prone to getting injured. Of others getting hurt because of you,” he added with pursed lips,
“but everyone lives with the uncertainty of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.” The alpha
stopped briefly to regard him. Jimin didn’t avert his eyes. “Accidents, illnesses, anything could
happen to anyone at any point. You just need to live life as it comes.” Yoongi reached out to hold
his hand. Jimin let him take it. “Waiting for better times when things go wrong, and revelling in
the good times. Being grateful for them. That’s how.”

Jimin stared at his husband with amazement for a long while. How had Yoongi done that? He had
put things into perspective so easily. How many times had Yoongi thought about this to express
himself so eloquently? Jimin’s chest still felt tight because this was a hard pill to swallow; it was
hard to accept that life was unpredictable. But he couldn’t deny that Yoongi was right.

The omega was thankful that nothing had happened to his family. He was thankful that his baby
was okay, growing steadily inside him. Jimin was grateful that despite not having married for love,
he had someone like Yoongi next to him, holding his hand tight when the dark clouds didn’t let
him see the good things in his life.

So many things could go wrong in the future, but Jimin just needed to focus on the present—which
was easier said than done. Yoongi’s words had soothed him and encouraged him, and Jimin
decided that he would try his best again and again.
For their baby. For his loved ones. For Yoongi, who hadn’t asked for this life he lived.

And for himself.

***

With each week that passed, Jimin started feeling a little better. Slowly, his brain helped him
process and forget about that day and what could’ve happened. That’s one of the good things about
human beings, their ability to move on.

It helped a lot that he spent all that time preparing the nursery for the baby. Misun had been unsure
about it at first; his husband had told him so. After all, it had been Yoongi the one to suggest such a
thing without asking Jimin first, and as a mother, she knew how protective omegas could be over
their newborn. Also, Misun’s marriage had been one out of convenience, and she had worried that
Jimin would want to do this by himself—or not have anything to do with that side of the family.

Her worries had told Jimin everything he needed to know about her, and he had been the one to
pick up the phone and call her to ask for help once more.

The first time she came over to their house alone, Jimin and she had just talked over warm drinks
now that autumn was here. It had been awkward because they hadn’t had the chance to talk much
before. But as soon as Jimin brought out a catalogue to start looking for furniture for the baby, they
both started sharing their opinions and feeling at ease in each other’s presence.

Misun helped him by telling him everything he would absolutely need and what would be nice to
have, but not be a must. They also made a list of things Jimin wanted to add because he liked them,
little extras to decorate the nursery. After a few days of getting an idea of what Jimin wanted, they
started going out together to shop and look around.

It was very nice to have another person to talk to about his pregnancy. Someone who had gone
through two of them. That’s how Jimin got to know her better and saw for himself that Misun was
a good woman. Just like her son.

Another thing he noticed was that Min Doyun’s name was not spoken once when they were
together, which was a relief.

That’s how she started spending a lot of time in the apartment with them, and Jimin had noticed
that Yoongi liked that. While the alpha got to see his father every day due to work, he didn’t have
that chance when it came to his mother. Despite his reserved nature, Jimin could tell that his
husband was happy to spend time with her. He noticed the way Yoongi’s face would light up when
he came home from work and she was there, in their apartment. Jimin felt all warm inside
whenever he caught Yoongi smiling while the three of them had dinner and his mother kept talking
about how the nursery was slowly coming together nicely.

Smiling came easily to Jimin these days, and he continued living his pregnancy with Yoongi next
to him. Yet there was a tiny void in his heart that grew by the day, and as time passed, he had a
harder time ignoring it. But he did. Because he didn’t want his negativity to affect the baby. Or
Yoongi, who was nothing but wonderful to him.

Jimin had many things to be grateful for, so he squashed the feeling down with all his might as he
saw his birthday approach on the calendar.
***

For his birthday this year, Jimin had been hoping he could spend it with his baby, his husband, and
Gayoon. His mother-in-law, too. He couldn’t have his family here with him, so Jimin wanted to
only surround himself with people he wanted to be around.

But no.

Min Doyun had to go and organise a family dinner at his home that day. Jimin had already been
feeling down for a few days because this was his first birthday away from home, and this gathering
only made his mood sour even more.

To his surprise, the day started great, though. When he woke up, Yoongi was already gone like
usual, but while he had breakfast, Gayoon told him that a package had arrived for him. She left the
box on the kitchen counter for him, and the moment the scent seeping from inside the box hit him,
Jimin almost tripped over his own feet in his hastiness to open it.

His family had sent him a blanket with their scents, as well as books and a photo album they had
managed to salvage from their house after the fire. Tears sprang to his eyes at the thoughtfulness
behind their gift. The first thing he did was wrap himself in the blanket, in their scents. Jimin felt at
home as he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.

He brought everything to the garden with him and didn’t forget his phone. Jimin spent the morning
face-timing them, thanking them for the presents and talking about how everything was going. His
family had even prepared a cake so they could blow the candles together like they always did.
When Jimin blew on the screen after they sang happy birthday to him, his brother blew the candles
out to make it seem like it had been him. His heart was full as he laughed with them, and he ate a
popsicle while they enjoyed the cake.

Jimin was so happy about this surprise they had prepared for him that he could almost completely
ignore the pang of sadness that assaulted him when they finally hung up.

Almost.

When Yoongi came home to take a shower so they could go to the family dinner, Jimin was sitting
on the couch in the living room. His husband’s nose crinkled when he greeted him, though.
Yoongi’s body grew tense as he stopped mid-step on his way to their bedroom to study Jimin in
silence.

“Is there something wrong?” Jimin asked him from the couch, tilting his head.

“You smell… different,” Yoongi pointed out.

“Oh. Yeah,” Jimin grinned, happy to know he smelled like them. “My family sent me a package
today.”

Yoongi’s eyes shone with recognition, and he relaxed. “That’s nice.”

Jimin nodded, still smiling.

He waited for Yoongi to get ready while reading one of the books his family had sent him, trying
to distract himself from what awaited him that night.

The omega hated going to Min Doyun’s place. The smell of hibiscus flowers always made him
nauseous, and it clung to him afterwards, not leaving him until he took a shower. Misun and little
Eun were the only positives to come from these visits. He hadn’t had much time to get to know
Hyerim, as she was a busy businesswoman. His sister-in-law didn’t give him a bad vibe. She was
always nice to him, but he still needed to spend more time with her to feel comfortable.

When they arrived, Jimin sat next to Misun on the couch with a little huff. His belly kept growing,
and it was weird the day he didn’t have a bit of a sore back. Yoongi brought him a pillow to put
behind his back so he would be more comfortable, and Jimin thanked him.

Misun watched them silently with a small smile. “Did the last appointment go well?”

Jimin nodded, placing both hands on his belly. “Yes, the little one is doing great.”

“And you?”

“I’m tired,” he admitted. “My back hurts most of the time, but I can’t complain.”

“Oh, you absolutely can, and you should,” Misun told him with a wave of her hand. She looked up
to shoot an amused smile at Yoongi, standing next to them. “I see my son is being attentive, so
complain all you want to him.”

Jimin looked at Yoongi too and caught his husband rolling his eyes at his mother as a subtle smile
curled his lips up. “I will then,” Jimin chuckled.

“Do you already know the sex of the baby?” Yoongi’s mother asked him kindly. Her tone and the
look in her eyes told him that she was just curious like any grandma would be, unlike her husband.

Jimin had been reticent to know the sex of their baby. He knew the clan wanted an alpha boy—
Min Doyun preferred them—so Jimin had refused to find that out. He just wanted to take care of
his baby; to love them no matter what. But his father-in-law's inquisitiveness had made it
impossible to delay it anymore.

That man had to control even this.

“A boy,” Jimin told her, the smile on his lips a genuine one when her eyes glinted with excitement
before she grabbed her son’s hand and squeezed it. Yoongi’s lips curved up at her enthusiasm.

However, the sweet moment was cut short when Min Doyun opened his mouth as he joined them.
“That’s the best news. What an amazing birthday gift. Am I right, dear Jimin?”

Jimin had to stop himself from making a disgusted face. He pressed his lips together and bowed his
head in reply.

“Geumjae and Hyerim must be about to arrive, so let’s move to the dining room,” his father-in-law
ordered more than said in that light way of his, even though Doyun’s delight at this news was
undeniable. “We prepared a feast to celebrate your birthday, Jimin.”

With that, Misun got up and wished him a happy birthday before she followed her husband. Jimin
smiled at her, but it wasn’t a genuine one this time. Heaving out a sigh, Jimin got up too to follow
them. The sooner they got this over with, the better. He couldn’t wait to get home already.

Yet, as he walked to the dining room, he realised that his husband hadn’t moved a muscle. Yoongi
was frozen in place as he observed him intently.

Jimin blinked, confused, and tilted his head. “Yoongi? Are you okay?”

The alpha remained silent, but Jimin noticed how hard he was clenching his hands by his sides
despite the blank expression on his face. “Today is your birthday?” Yoongi asked him very quietly.

The omega nodded. “Yeah.”

Yoongi pursed his lips subtly. “I didn’t know.”

The truth was that Jimin hadn't told anybody about it. Neither Yoongi nor Gayoon. His
approaching birthday had been weighing him down, and the last thing he had wanted was to talk
about it. Jimin didn't think it was that big of a deal. But Yoongi was still regarding him with that
blank look in his eyes he adopted whenever he didn't want others to know what he was thinking.

The omega still tried his best to read him, knowing already where to look to find some clues. Jimin
took in his husband's stiffness. Was he… upset? About him not telling him about his birthday? It
seemed like it, so Jimin walked over to him with a hand under his belly.

“It’s okay,” he whispered with a conciliatory smile, not wanting the others to hear him from the
other room. “I didn’t expect you to know because I didn’t say anything. I’m surprised your dad
knows.”

But his explanation did not appease Yoongi.

In fact, his expression turned grim. Or rather… disappointed? It was hard to tell with him.

“Yoongi?” Jimin asked him softly when he didn’t move or say anything. His husband just kept
regarding him with that expression that was starting to make Jimin grow uneasy.

When he finally spoke, he did so without looking at him. “They're waiting for us,” Yoongi said,
walking past him.

Jimin followed his husband with his eyes. This time, he was the one left behind.

Suddenly, his stomach was in knots even though Yoongi hadn’t expressed anger towards him.
Somehow, his icy tone hurt worse, but he swallowed thickly and followed him. The last thing he
needed was to make a scene in his in-laws’ house.

The omega was nervous, but he did his best to hide it from the Min family. Still, he worried a lot,
and he searched for Yoongi’s eyes a few times during dinner, to no avail.

He couldn’t understand his husband. So what if he hadn’t told him that it was his birthday? Jimin
wasn’t making a big deal out of today, so what was the problem? It was his special day, not
Yoongi’s, so why was he acting so off?

To put an even bigger damper on his already terrible mood, Min Doyun had a gift for him: a ring
with the clan’s emblem.

Great, just what he wanted.

Jimin had to put it on in front of everyone and muster a smile in thanks for the gift. A gift that
reminded him that he was a Min now, and as one, he had the honour of wearing their emblem.

His father's words rang loudly in his head as they left Doyun’s apartment: “Just because you marry
a Min doesn’t mean you have to become one.”

Jimin took off the ring with more force than necessary the moment they got inside their car.
Yoongi and he shared a look at that, but his husband turned his head towards the window again,
and they didn’t exchange a single word on the ride home.

When they got to their apartment, Jimin couldn’t take his silence any longer. He pushed aside all
thoughts of taking a shower and getting rid of the hibiscus smell clinging to his clothes. Instead,
Jimin walked faster and stood in front of Yoongi to stop him from ignoring him again.

“Yoongi, wait.”

Yoongi’s eyes travelled down to Jimin’s hand that was pressed to his chest. The omega lowered it,
and his husband finally met his eyes. “What?” Yoongi asked.

His coldness made Jimin nibble on his bottom lip nervously. “You haven’t said a thing ever since
we left your parents’ house. Are you mad at me?”

He didn’t receive an answer immediately. Instead, Yoongi inspected him in that silent way of his
that made Jimin wonder what he was searching for on his face. He wished he knew so he could
give him what he was looking for.

“If I ask you a question, will you be honest with me?” Yoongi asked him after a moment.

His question took him by surprise, but Jimin was just glad he had uttered more than a word at a
time. “Of course,” he replied eagerly.

“Do you regret marrying me?”

Jimin halted, his hands immediately setting on his belly. What? “Why are you asking me that right
now?” he whispered, taken aback.

But Yoongi didn’t back down. “Because I want to know your answer.”

Jimin had to lower his eyes at that. For some reason, he felt disoriented, like he didn’t know what
was up and down right now. He frowned. It was a yes or no question. Easy. So why couldn’t he
come up with a response?

His heart and head were at odds, and Yoongi was still waiting for an answer when he met his gaze
again. “My family is okay and happy, and that’s all that matters,” he ended up saying quietly.

He couldn’t come up with another answer. That one would have to do for now.

“And you?” Yoongi asked him after a brief silence, searching for that particular something in his
eyes.

Jimin gulped. “What about me?”

“Are you happy, Jimin?”

His heart constricted painfully in his chest.

The back of his eyes started to burn with unshed tears for some reason. “I’m happy they’re okay,”
he whispered, with his fingers pressed firmly against his stomach.

He saw Yoongi take a deep breath then, his chest rising and falling slowly with it, but his face gave
nothing away. “That’s not what I asked.”

For some reason, his words upset Jimin. Or was it his insistence? Yoongi’s silences were
frustrating, but this was worse. Because the alpha wanted to hear something from him that Jimin
couldn’t say.

Feeling defensive, Jimin took a step back and glared at his husband, who remained impassive in
front of him. “You were the one who told me during our first meeting that nobody would be happy
with an arranged marriage,” the omega reminded him while hugging his belly protectively.

This time Yoongi’s disappointment was palpable, and Jimin didn’t know what to do with it. “I
did,” he admitted, tilting his chin up the tiniest bit.

Yoongi wasn’t running away this time, and Jimin was at a loss for what to do or think.

How had it all become so messed up? Was this something that had been bound to happen? Had
they been acting like everything was okay for too long? Was Yoongi asking for too much? Was
that why Jimin felt cornered?

“But you also said that day that you were happy to be marrying me,” Yoongi continued, meeting
Jimin’s glare with a cold look of his own. “I’ve never lied to you.”

“That’s not true,” Jimin denied, frowning. “You didn’t tell me about the attack on my family.”

“They asked me not to tell you.”

“An intentional omission is also a lie,” the omega retorted. “Acting like this arrangement is okay is
also lying,” he added, losing his bravado as he tried not to choke on those words.

Yoongi’s expression turned sombre at that, and Jimin hugged himself tighter. Not because he
thought Yoongi would harm him, but because he could sense that he had hurt him with his words.
Why did that hurt him, too?

“I don’t know about you, but everything I’ve done for the last few months has been out of my own
volition,” Yoongi told him steadily despite his obvious agitation. “I guess you’re the good actor
out of the two of us.”

His accusatory tone had Jimin bristling, and the omega felt a surge of anger towards him that made
him see red for a moment, his hormones doing little to calm him down. Closing the gap between
them, Jimin pushed the alpha back with all the offence he felt, but Yoongi only needed to put his
foot behind himself to steady himself again.

“Why are you doing this?” Jimin inquired as his eyes filled with hot tears he couldn’t keep at bay
this time.

“Because I don’t get you,” Yoongi said hopelessly. There was a hint of desperation in his eyes
Jimin wasn’t used to seeing. “I understand that neither one of us wanted this at first. But I
thought… I thought you were starting to see more than my father when you look at me.” Jimin’s
heart stopped beating. “Guess I was wrong,” his husband uttered, and for once, his mask had fallen,
and Jimin could see the pain hiding underneath.

Without saying another word, Yoongi walked past him and entered the spare room, closing the
door behind him.

Jimin remained rooted to the spot, feeling catatonic as he hugged his belly. He couldn’t understand
how everything had gone to shit in a moment. Why had not telling Yoongi about his birthday
detonated this?

No, that wasn’t it. Not exactly.

It was the fact Jimin still kept Yoongi at arm’s length despite everything they had gone through.

Yoongi was his lifeline here in Seoul. Jimin knew he could count on Gayoon, too. Their
housekeeper had a soft spot for him, but it wasn’t the same. And Misun was Yoongi’s mother, so
even if they had a good relationship, it was clear where her loyalties lay. So Jimin only had
Yoongi. Only him.

As he sat on the couch alone as tears rolled down his cheeks in the darkness of their apartment,
Jimin felt like he had lost the only person keeping him sane here. Had he been taking advantage of
his kindness? How had he ended up hurting Yoongi so badly without realising it?

Even though they were married and with a baby on the way, it wasn’t like they were in a
relationship. But as he thought hard about it, Jimin realised that at times, he still treated Yoongi
like a stranger. Like his actions weren’t genuine and just a product of this arrangement of theirs.
And his husband had gotten a clear reminder of that tonight.

It took a long time for his tears to cease. Jimin wondered if he should give Yoongi space; if he
should just shower and get in bed alone that night. But he couldn’t leave things like this. Not when
he knew Yoongi was hurting because of him. Not when Yoongi had been nothing but good to him
all this time.

Jimin dried his face with his sleeves and got up slowly. He walked to the spare room and stood in
front of the door with a heavy and anxious heart. Was Yoongi’s kindness enough to make this
arrangement and new life okay? Would his heart be content with that?

He gulped and knocked on the door softly. Yoongi didn’t answer, and Jimin thought about leaving,
but his feet wouldn’t move. Maybe he should leave it be for now. Maybe Yoongi was already
asleep. Yet Jimin found himself opening the door slowly.

The lights were off, but the blinds were open, and a soft blue glow that came from outside
illuminated the room. Yoongi wasn’t sleeping. He had changed into comfy clothes, but he was
sitting in the middle of the bed with his back leaned against the headboard. The covers were pulled
back, but he was sitting with his feet planted on the mattress, his elbows resting on his knees while
he observed him as he entered.

Jimin hesitated under his intense gaze, and his hands immediately went to his belly, a gesture he
had gotten used to doing when he was nervous. Still, Jimin walked over to the bed in silence. He
did so while returning Yoongi’s eye contact unsurely, waiting for the alpha to tell him to go away,
but he never did.

“Can I sit with you?” Jimin asked quietly.

Yoongi nodded once. With a tremulous breath, Jimin did so, their hands brushing on top of the
mattress as he accommodated himself.

“Your hands are cold,” Yoongi muttered.

They were. From sitting for so long on the couch without a blanket. But it wasn’t just his hands.
He was cold to the core. “I’m fine,” Jimin assured him.
But Yoongi still covered his legs with the comforter. The caring gesture only made Jimin want to
cry again.

“I’m sorry for pushing you… and for hurting you. It wasn’t on purpose, but I know I did,” Jimin
said with his head lowered. “I should’ve told you it was my birthday.”

Yoongi heaved out a tired sigh and leaned his head back against the headboard. “That’s not it,
Jimin.” The omega glanced at him, but Yoongi wasn’t looking at him. “I don’t want you to feel
like you should tell me anything,” he explained. “Maybe I’m being selfish, but I want you to want
to tell me.”

Jimin paused to think about what he had just been told. “You don’t tell me much either…” he
muttered and pursed his lips. “I’m not trying to be confrontational right now. It’s just that…
Sometimes it’s hard to get more than two words out of you.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Yoongi conceded. “But sometimes what I have to say involves my family, the
clan, and I know you don’t like hearing about any of them.”

His heart gave a painful jolt at that. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? That’s why we can’t see eye to
eye,” he whispered brokenly as he held onto his stomach. “I’m so scared, Yoongi.”

His husband shifted beside him, and Jimin finally felt his eyes on him. “Of what?” Yoongi asked,
desperate to understand him.

Jimin bit down on his lower lip. “I don’t know how to say it without offending you.”

“Just tell me. You won’t offend me.”

“Yes, I will,” Jimin said stubbornly.

But then Yoongi’s big hand covered his own on his belly, and Jimin had to meet his imploring
eyes. “Please,” his husband whispered.

It was instant the way Jimin’s eyes filled with tears again because there was no way he couldn’t
tell him now.

His voice wavered when he admitted, “I don’t want to become a Min.”

His husband’s hand that was covering his own twitched, and Jimin’s chest tightened. Maybe he
hadn't offended him, but his words had hurt him. Again.

“You’ve shown me you’re not your father time and time again,” Jimin hurried to say because he
needed him to know that he saw just how different he was from Min Doyun. Yoongi wasn’t the
problem here. “But… But every time I’m in front of your father, I just want to run away and not
look back.” Jimin momentarily closed his eyes as he remembered that feeling. When he opened
them again, Yoongi was clenching his jaw, but he hadn’t let go of him. The alpha didn’t look mad.
He seemed torn. “And I thought it would get easier with time, but it doesn’t.” Jimin’s voice
cracked at the end. “It only gets worse and worse. I keep bending over and over again, and I… I’m
scared that one day I’ll break into tiny pieces, and nobody will be able to put them back together.”

Now his husband did look angry. He looked furious. But not at Jimin.

Yoongi’s hand gripped his. “Don’t wear the ring he gave you,” he told him through gritted teeth.

Jimin sniffled. “I have to,” he said, lowering his head.

“No, you don’t,” Yoongi retorted.

The omega shot his husband a helpless look. “I don’t want to offend him.”

“Where is it?”

“What?” Jimin asked, confused.

“The ring,” he pressed.

Jimin blinked and let go of Yoongi to put his hand in his pocket, still not understanding why his
husband was asking for it. “Here,” he said as he passed him the small box.

He flinched when the alpha immediately snatched it from his hand. Yoongi threw the covers back
and jumped out of bed, startling Jimin, who followed his husband outside the bedroom hurriedly.

“Yoongi?”

But the alpha didn’t stop. He entered the kitchen, and Jimin watched in shock how he threw the
box with the ring in it in the trash.

“Yoongi!” He protested and instantly went to retrieve it.

His husband stopped him, though, standing in between the trash can and him, grabbing him by his
arms. “Don’t.”

But Jimin still tried to get it back, thrashing in his grip. Yoongi stopped him again, not letting him
get near it while being mindful of his belly at all times.

“What if he gets mad at me?!” Jimin yelled, tears spilling from his eyes once more as he kept
trying to fight his husband. “What if he does something to my family because of it?! You don’t
understand what it’s like to live like that!”

“I’ve lived like that my whole life!” Yoongi snapped, their faces very close together as he grabbed
Jimin by his wrists. “And now that you’re here and our baby is on the way, he only has more
leverage on me! What else do I have to do to show you that I’m on your fucking side?!”

Jimin trembled in his hold as he panted. He screwed his eyes shut, and more tears rolled down his
cheeks as he gritted his teeth. Why couldn't his heart accept this?

Accept him.

The fight left his body slowly in the silence of the kitchen. He rested his forehead against Yoongi's
collarbones as he lost his strength. His husband lowered their arms and loosened his grip, but didn't
let go. He stood in front of him, keeping him anchored to reality and saving him from collapsing.
Just like always.

This was an arranged marriage. There was no love between them. But then, why did his heart hurt
so badly? Why did it pain him so much that Yoongi was a Min?

“I don't know… I don't know what's wrong with me. I want to—I want… but I can't,” Jimin wept,
and he swore he heard Yoongi's heart break. “Please don't leave me,” he begged, clinging to him.
“I believe you when you say you're here for me and the baby. You've shown it enough times
already. I promise I will work on showing you as well.”

He felt Yoongi sigh heavily. “You take care of me, too. That’s not the problem here, Jimin.”
“What is it then? Help me understand.”

“The problem is that your actions don’t match your feelings.”

His words felt like a blow straight to his gut because, unfortunately, Yoongi was right.

Jimin tended to Yoongi’s wounds whenever he came home hurt. Jimin had put his husband first,
even after knowing his family had been attacked back in Busan. He had taken care of Yoongi first,
before checking that his parents and brother were truly okay. The omega’s actions showed he
cared.

But Jimin wouldn't open up his heart to Yoongi.

His grip on his husband’s shirt tightened, and he pressed his cheek more firmly against his chest.
“You’re the only person I want around. I cherish you, and I don’t want to lose you. Please know
that.”

There was no point in denying that which they both knew was true. Yoongi was right, and Jimin
wished he could force open the cage around his heart, but he couldn’t. And he hated himself for it.

“Jimin.” Yoongi’s voice calling his name had the omega finally looking up at him carefully. He
looked so tired, and Jimin feared what his husband would say next. “I'm not going anywhere. Not
because I can't, but because I don't want to.” Yoongi looked sad too, but in his eyes' depths still
shone that warmth reserved only for Jimin. “I love you.”

Time stopped for a moment, and Jimin thought his legs would give out under him. A shuddering
breath turned into a sob when it left Jimin’s lips. He stared at his husband in agony before the
omega couldn’t take it anymore, and he buried his face in Yoongi’s chest. Jimin sobbed in his
husband’s arms, holding onto his back with all his might and all the pain coursing through his
body.

He didn’t deserve Yoongi.

He didn’t because, at this moment, there was nothing Jimin wanted more than to reciprocate
Yoongi’s feelings. Jimin wanted to reach inside his chest and pull out his heart so he could strangle
it until it obeyed him. But he couldn’t do that.

When Yoongi’s arms wrapped around him and he shushed him softly to calm him down with his
cheek pressed to the top of his head, Jimin could only cry harder, and he wished with his entire
being that he could stop hurting the only person who had kept him from breaking time and time
again.

Chapter End Notes

So… yeah. Writing this HURT. I don't know if it's just me, but this chapter hit me
hard when I reread it.

Up until now, Jimin was the one who approached Yoongi to tell him how they needed
to do this together and to stop avoiding him, so you would expect Yoongi to be
emotionally stunted, but no. Yoongi knows how to read people and himself very well.
Yoongi is reserved and guarded, but he's used to overanalyzing everything due to his
line of work, including himself, so he's in tune with his feelings. As we have seen in
other chapters, he might be awkward, but he is blunt too; he doesn't shy away from
saying what he believes is true or expressing his feelings. (Remember that whole scene
and this specific line: "Sex with you… is very nice." Awkward but honest)

And Jimin knows Yoongi is good (to him at least) and he treats him so well, but he's
grown up fearing the Mugunghwa clan and gangs in general, so he's having a hard
time adjusting and accepting everything that's happening (including the feelings
Yoongi is awakening in him)

So yeah, that's where we are at

I'm very proud of this chapter tbh. I know it was very angsty, but I hope you liked it

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My Mind Holds the Key
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

A week had passed since Jimin’s birthday.

Jimin and Misun had been taking care of the nursery, and every day when Yoongi came home
from work, Jimin dragged him into the room to show him the new things they had bought.

“Do you like it?” he would always ask him, trying to get rid of the dark clouds that had been
following them ever since that day.

The following days after his birthday had been suffocating, but Jimin had taken matters into his
own hands, more determined than ever to make things right.

“It’s very nice,” Yoongi commented as he looked around. “Are you sure you don’t want to paint
the walls? I don’t mind if you do.”

Jimin had thought about it a lot for a few weeks, but he shook his head. “I like them white. It
makes the room look bigger and brighter.”

Yoongi nodded in understanding, just as calm as usual. “Is there anything else you want to get?”

It wasn’t just Jimin. They were both working hard to make things right again.

“I want to buy some special plushies that retain scents well.” Jimin was still holding onto his
husband’s wrist as they stood in the almost finished nursery. When Yoongi met his gaze, Jimin
grew sheepish. “I thought that we both could scent them so the baby won’t miss us when we’re not
near.”

Yoongi’s sharp gaze softened at that. “Sounds great.”

The omega was so pleased to know he had liked his idea that his heart fluttered. “Do you want to
take a shower now? Your mom cooked dinner for us before she left.”

Yoongi's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. Jimin nodded. He didn't mention he had helped with
that, though.

Misun had noticed that things between them had been a little off lately. Jimin hadn’t told her what
had happened, and his mother-in-law hadn’t pried, but she had suggested cooking because her food
had always cheered Yoongi up when he was a kid. Jimin had helped her cook, and after hesitating a
little, he had finally dared ask her more about Yoongi's younger self.

With one of her warm smiles, she had told him about how they had always been closer than
Yoongi was to his father. Yoongi had been a quiet child, and his father had always focused more
on Geumjae, his heir, with whom he had spent most of his free time. Yoongi had liked reading and
watching her cook, so they used to spend a lot of time together. However, he hadn't gotten to be a
kid for long because of how strict Doyun had always been with his sons.

“Doyun always said that I babied him too much, but… Well, you know how he is. That didn’t stop
me from caring for my children as much as I could, though.”
She had told him a few more things, and Jimin had tried to picture his husband as a kid, but he
couldn’t, and there were no such photos around the house. That’s why, with bright red cheeks,
Jimin had asked her if she could bring him a photo next time.

“Of course,” Misun had laughed merrily. “I’ll select a few of them. Even some embarrassing
ones,” she had added in a conspirative whisper that had Jimin chuckling too.

By the time Yoongi finished washing up, Gayoon had served their food. As they sat alone in the
kitchen, Jimin watched the way his husband’s eyes shone with delight as he ate.

“Your mother said you loved her food when you were a kid, but that she hasn't cooked much ever
since you and your brother moved out,” Jimin said with his gaze fixed on the delicious food Misun
had cooked for them.

After a brief silence, Yoongi replied, “I did. Still do.”

Jimin lifted his head to peek at him and found that Yoongi was already looking at him. “Will you
tell me more about that?” he asked softly.

And Yoongi just knew.

He knew that Jimin was trying. Instead of asking about his job or clan, Jimin was starting small.
Focusing on the little things that somehow were always dearer, like his childhood, his likes and
dislikes, and the kind of person Yoongi had been before he met him.

“What do you want to know?” Yoongi asked, taking the olive branch Jimin was holding out to
him.

The omega’s face lit up with hope, and they spent dinner talking about their childhoods and sharing
little anecdotes that had Jimin giggling while Yoongi shook his head as he smiled while recalling
the innocence of past times. The only thing that interrupted the moment was the strange sensation
Jimin felt in his belly as they finished eating. It had been out of nowhere, almost like he was being
tickled from the inside…

“Jimin?” Yoongi, who had caught his change in demeanour, asked him worriedly.

The omega’s eyes widened. It couldn’t be.

Jimin looked down at his belly and brought a hand to it. He waited in silence for it to happen
again, to confirm his suspicions. But when he felt a very light pulsing after a moment, Jimin
wondered if he was imagining it.

At his silence, Yoongi got up from his seat to come closer to him. “Jimin, are you alright? Does
your stomach ache?” The alpha hesitated before he asked, “Is… is the baby okay?”

Slowly, Jimin looked up at his husband in shock. “I think… I think he’s moving.”

Yoongi faltered. “Are you serious?” he whispered.

There it was again, stronger than before, but it didn’t hurt. Jimin gasped as he brought his hands to
that spot. “He’s moving, Yoongi. He’s moving!” he told him hurriedly, with a look of wonder on
his face.

His husband’s eyes widened, rooted to the spot. He seemed terrified for a moment, but Jimin was
too happy and relieved to truly notice Yoongi’s reaction. The omega was over the moon, and he
reached for Yoongi’s wrist to bring him closer.

Jimin looked up at his husband with excitement as he asked him, “Do you want to feel it?”

It took Yoongi a while to make up his mind. There was a conflicted look in his eyes, but Jimin
didn’t catch it because his gaze went back to his belly as the fluttery sensation increased. He
couldn’t help but chuckle as he marvelled at his baby’s movements to pay much attention to his
surroundings.

His attention only went back to his husband when he saw Yoongi crouch down next to his chair,
that hint of anxiety not leaving him as he moved stiffly. With a smile, Jimin brought his husband’s
hand to his belly, and they both waited with bated breath. When it happened again, Jimin couldn’t
help but laugh loudly, high on happiness.

“Can you feel it?” Jimin asked him expectantly.

Yoongi’s brows were furrowed as he concentrated. “A little?” he said unsurely before he almost
flinched, his lips parting in surprise. “Fuck, that’s him,” he muttered breathlessly before he met
Jimin’s eyes with an incredulous look on his face.

He nodded, beaming at him. “It is. It’s him,” Jimin chuckled wetly.

Jimin had been worried about this, but the doctor had told him that male omegas took longer to feel
the first movements because of their anatomy, and it had finally happened. Jimin was so relieved
he could cry, but not just from relief.

As he took in the wonderment on his husband’s face, Jimin’s heart skipped a beat. The omega
couldn’t see himself, but he knew that Yoongi could read the affection on his face as he observed
the alpha’s reaction. Jimin placed his hand over Yoongi’s on his belly, and they both smiled at
each other softly.

Maybe not everything was lost. Maybe Yoongi could be patient with him, and they could still save
their fragile bond. Not only that but also strengthen it.

Jimin knew he couldn’t force his heart to let its guard down, but a little something was sprouting
from it. He didn’t know what yet, and he was scared to find out what it was, but he wanted to
nurture it in the hopes that something good would come out of it.

***

They weren’t expecting visitors on Sunday, and Jimin was surprised to find Misun holding Eun’s
hand when he opened the door to their apartment.

“Good morning,” his mother-in-law greeted him with a smile. “Sorry for coming unannounced, but
Eun-ah has been asking to see his uncle, and I thought we could drop by.”

“Of course! Come inside,” Jimin invited them in, not minding their visit at all. After closing the
door, Jimin leaned forward as much as his belly allowed him to greet the kid. He was still holding
onto his grandma’s hand, and Jimin smiled warmly at him. “Hello, Eun-ah. It’s been a while.”

“Hello.” He bowed his head, too quickly for a proper greeting, but it was clear his parents were
teaching him manners already. Jimin noticed that the kid’s eyes were fixed on his stomach, though.
“Your belly is big,” he pointed out before looking at him with those expressive eyes of his.

“It is,” Jimin chuckled, endeared by the kid’s innocent remark. “Your cousin has been kicking
nonstop. I’m sure he can’t wait to meet you.”

“Really?” Eun asked, his lips parted with surprise.

Jimin nodded excitedly as he brought a hand to his stomach. “If he starts kicking again, I’ll let you
know so you can greet him, okay?”

“Yes!” he replied enthusiastically.

Misun and Jimin shared a smile at how cute he was as they entered their apartment and left the
entrance. “Isn’t Yoongi at home?” Misun asked when they got to the living room and her son was
nowhere to be seen.

“He just went out, but he’ll be back soon,” Jimin assured her.

“Oh, where did he go?”

Jimin blushed. “I… ran out of popsicles,” he explained sheepishly.

Misun laughed good-naturedly at that, and she looked so beautiful that Jimin couldn’t help but
think that it was a shame she didn’t do so more often.

“Eun-ah, do you want to see the baby’s room?” his grandma asked him to distract him from
Yoongi’s absence.

The kid, who was still holding her hand, nodded, and Jimin grinned widely as he led them to the
nursery because he was just too cute.

Jimin loved how the space was turning out. They already had the crib and its mattress, as well as
the bedding. There was also a glider chair and a dresser, where he had neatly folded the few pieces
of clothing he had already bought for the baby. Yesterday, they had received the changing table
and the diaper pail, so they already had all the essentials. However, he was still thinking of a few
more things he wanted for the room, like a fluffy rug, a baby monitor, and a mobile to help put the
baby to sleep. Blackout curtains would also be nice so the morning sun couldn’t wake him up.
They still had a couple of months to get all of that sorted out, so Jimin wasn’t too worried.

Standing next to Misun while Eun explored the room, Jimin noticed what had caught his eye: the
stuffed animals Yoongi had helped him choose for the baby, ones that would retain both their
scents. Eun was holding in his arms the turtle plushy. He seemed to really like the top hat it had on
its head.

“Do you like that one?” Jimin asked him when he approached him.

Eun was squeezing the hat with curiosity. “Soft,” he said.

Jimin smiled fondly. “You can keep it then.”

“Are you sure?” Misun asked him worriedly. She knew how territory pregnant omegas could be
when it came to their baby and their things.

But as Jimin observed how happy Eun was as he hugged the turtle against his chest, he felt nothing
other than adoration for the sweet child in front of him. “We’ll just buy another one. I’m sure
Yoongi won’t mind,” he told her with a smile. “Gayoon isn’t here, but I can prepare some tea.
There’s also juice and cookies if you want some,” he added, talking to Eun this time.

“That’s okay. I’ll prepare them,” Misun was quick to offer.

But Jimin frowned. “I can do it.” They were his guests, after all.

His mother-in-law waved him off. “Just wait for me in the living room. I can hear your back pain
from here.”

And she was right. Jimin hadn’t noticed that he was already rubbing his lower back
absentmindedly.

“Thank you,” he told her. Then he led the kid back outside so they could sit on the couch. Jimin
couldn’t help the groan he let out, glad to be off his feet again. “Eun-ah, do you like drawing?” He
asked him while opening the top drawer of the coffee table where he kept most of his supplies.
“We can do that while we wait for your uncle.”

Eun’s face lit up, still hugging the plushy close to him. “Okay!”

The three of them were already sipping their drinks and eating when Yoongi came back. The
moment they heard the door close, Eun got up to greet his uncle. Yoongi appeared carrying two
boxes with Jimin’s popsicles, and his eyes widened when he saw his nephew running toward him.
Despite one of his arms being occupied, the alpha crouched down and lifted Eun in his other arm
like he weighed nothing. The kid hugged his neck and latched onto him with a gleeful squeal.

Jimin’s heart fluttered at the sight. For some reason, his inner omega was so pleased with the sight
that Jimin had a hard time tearing his eyes away from the picture they made. From his alpha. The
father of his child.

It wasn’t until Yoongi disappeared into the kitchen momentarily to put away the popsicles that
Jimin finally snapped out of it. But then he met Misun’s observant eyes, and he saw the way she
was hiding a smile as she drank her tea. His ogling had been too obvious, and Jimin flushed red at
being caught.

When his husband reappeared, he was still carrying his nephew. The alpha greeted his mother and
passed Jimin a popsicle.

“Thanks,” Jimin murmured, still embarrassed by his own reaction.

Yoongi arched an eyebrow as he sat next to him on the couch, wondering why he was acting like
that. But the omega focused on the cold treat and took a big bite, hoping it would cool him down.

While mother and son got caught up, Jimin watched with amusement how Eun tried to draw his
uncle’s attention. When the adults kept talking, unaware of the kid’s eyes on them, Eun climbed
onto the couch and sat on Yoongi’s lap, facing the alpha. That finally granted him what he wanted.

“Do you want another cookie?” Yoongi asked him with his hands on the kid’s hips to balance him.
The soft voice he used to talk to him had Jimin’s heart doing somersaults again. Eun shook his
head, still hugging the turtle that he hadn’t let go of even while he had been drawing. “What is it?”
Yoongi asked when the kid still said nothing.

“He just wants you to pay him attention.” Misun offered as she left her cup of tea on the table.
“Ever since his parents left him with me this morning, he hasn’t stopped asking for uncle Yoongi.”
Turning his head towards his nephew again, Yoongi’s lips curled up softly. “Is that true? You
missed me?” Eun nodded his head as he hugged the plushy tighter. “I missed you, too,” Yoongi
told him.

Suddenly feeling bashful, Eun leaned forward until he was hugging his uncle again. Or so Jimin
thought until he realised that the kid was rubbing his face against his neck, scenting Yoongi. The
omega felt a little tug in his heart, one he couldn’t describe as he watched how the alpha let him do
it. In turn, Yoongi scented the kid very lightly to not overpower Eun’s parents’ scents. Eun’s
pheromones were very faint, not enough to truly scent the alpha yet, but Yoongi’s permeated the
air quickly, and Jimin thought that his heart could explode at any moment at the precious sight
they made.

Was this how Yoongi would be as a father? Jimin found himself hoping he would give birth
already so he could see that happening. If his heart felt like it was about to burst just from seeing
Yoongi being so sweet to his nephew, how much better would it feel when it was their baby in his
arms?

“Let’s play, uncle,” Eun demanded when they separated.

“With this turtle? That’s your cousin’s, you know?” Yoongi smirked.

Eun pouted and pressed it to his chest. “Uncle Jimin give me.”

At that, Yoongi turned his head to look at Jimin, who had just finished eating his popsicle. “I
thought this one was your favourite,” he pointed out.

“We can just get the baby another one.” Jimin shrugged. “That way, both cousins will have the
same plushy. Isn’t that nice, Eun-ah?”

The kid nodded firmly, and Jimin chuckled before a little surprised noise left his lips. He
immediately brought a hand to his belly, and the baby kicked again.

“Quick, Eun-ah. Come here,” Jimin told him. The kid got off Yoongi's lap and kneeled on the
couch between his uncles. “Give me your hand.”

He did so, and Jimin placed his small hand where he had felt the kicking. It took a moment for it to
happen again, and Eun gasped, his eyes rounding, but he didn't retract his hand. Jimin grinned at
his cute reaction.

“Greet him back, Eun-ah,” his grandma told him, just as endeared with her grandson.

Eun hesitated and searched for his uncle's eyes. Yoongi's lips curled up too, and he nodded his
head. When Eun turned back around, Jimin also encouraged him, and the little kid leaned closer
until his mouth was almost touching his swollen stomach over his soft sweater. “Hello, baby. Let's
play when you out.”

Their baby kicked a few more times, and Eun looked at Jimin in shock again. “He is excited to
meet you, too,” Jimin smiled with his hand still covering Eun's against his belly.

When Jimin looked up at his husband, he found those sharp eyes of his dripping with honey as he
regarded him. The omega had to swallow thickly, the emotions swirling in his chest making it hard
to breathe at the affection in Yoongi's gaze. A part of him wanted to reach for him, but Jimin didn't
feel like he deserved such warmth. Not when he couldn't one hundred per cent reciprocate his
feelings; when he still couldn't quite allow his heart to do so.
His fears still controlled him.

“I wanna play there.” Eun pointed to their little garden after the baby had calmed down again.

“It’s cold, sweetheart. It’s best if you stay inside,” his grandmother advised.

“Please.”

It was impossible to say no to those puppy eyes, and Yoongi ended up taking him there. “But only
for a little bit, okay?”

While both uncle and nephew went outside, Misun and Jimin remained in the living room where it
was warm. It was then that Misun reached for her handbag. “I brought you a little something,” she
told him with a cheeky smile as she took out an envelope with pictures inside.

Jimin immediately knew what those were, and his eyes shone brightly with excitement when she
gave them to him.

There were photos of Yoongi as a baby, with his chubby cheeks and limbs that had the omega
chuckling, endeared. Despite how much Yoongi had changed over the years, Jimin could still see
the resemblance in his features. His sharp eyes, cute nose, and the bow of his lips. Jimin giggled at
the content expression he sported in one of those, wearing a snapback too big for him. Geumjae
was in one of those photos, too. The Min brothers had strong features that hadn’t changed much
over the years.

His mother-in-law had also brought a few photos of Yoongi as a toddler. There was one where he
had a shy smile as he did a peace sign. Another one in the forest where Yoongi was wearing a
snapback—this time of his size—and he was smiling brightly with not a worry in the world. He
looked unashamedly happy; that unadulterated joy only kids got to experience.

“He looks so cute,” Jimin cooed without being able to stop himself.

“Right?” Misun chirped. “You can keep them if you want,” she told him with what could only be
described as a motherly smile.

“Can I?” Jimin asked timidly.

Misun nodded, grinning. “I have other albums at home.”

That was when his husband came back, carrying Eun in his arms again. The kid didn't seem happy
to be back inside so soon, but he also looked cold, so he wasn't complaining. Misun grabbed one of
the blankets they had in a basket next to the couch and passed it to Yoongi so he could wrap Eun in
it to warm him up.

He sat next to Jimin again as he wrapped his nephew like a burrito. The kid kept giggling, refusing
to let go of the plushy. But Yoongi didn't let him win this time and with an amused smile, he ended
up covering up Eun almost to his nose with the blanket.

There it was again, that fluttery feeling that had Jimin wanting to squirm.

“Are those photos of me?” Yoongi asked when Eun settled on his lap again, cheek pressed to the
alpha's chest.

“Yes. Jiminie asked me for some,” his mother told him casually. “He was curious to see what you
looked like as a kid.”
Jimin blushed at being put on the spot like that, and he had a hard time meeting his husband’s
piercing eyes.

Instead, the omega distracted himself by flipping through the rest of the pictures, and he couldn't
help the loud laugh he let out when he found one of baby Yoongi, butt naked. “How adorable,” he
cooed once more, showing Misun the one he was referring to.

She laughed wholeheartedly, and then Jimin turned to his husband and showed him too, more
timidly this time, as he bit down on his bottom lip to stop himself from outright laughing again.
Yoongi rolled his eyes at the picture and didn’t say anything about it, but he looked amused.

“Who’s that?” Eun asked curiously, still wrapped in the blanket.

“Uncle Yoongi when he was a baby,” his grandmother let him know.

The little kid frowned at that and turned his head to look at his uncle. “But you’re big.”

Misun chuckled at his logic. “He wasn’t always big.”

“Tiny uncle,” Eun said, marvelled by that knowledge before a grin split his lips. “I see your butt!”

Eun dissolved into a fit of laughter, finding the sight hilarious. His high-pitched laughter had them
all laughing with him while Yoongi feigned being offended and tickled him as revenge. Jimin
watched the scene they made with a warm heart and a deep longing that surprised him.
Unconsciously, his hands went to his pregnant belly once more.

After having dinner together, they said goodbye to Misun and Eun, and Jimin and Yoongi were
alone in their apartment again. The omega could feel some of that lingering awkwardness from
past days settling over them. Before it could suffocate them, he grabbed Yoongi by his sleeve to
make him look at him.

“Can we go to the garden for a little bit? I want to show you something.”

Yoongi regarded him for a moment before he agreed, and Jimin swallowed down his nerves and
told him to wait for him outside. His husband grabbed a few blankets and did as told with his eyes
lingering on him.

The omega went into their bedroom and opened the second drawer of his nightstand to retrieve the
photo album his family had sent him for his birthday. Jimin brushed the pads of his fingers along
the cover’s smooth material and took a deep breath before he returned to Yoongi. On his way
outside, he also grabbed the envelope with the photos the alpha’s mother had given him.

It was cold despite the warm clothes he was wearing, and Jimin walked slowly towards his
husband while he hugged the album against his chest. Yoongi’s eyes were fixed on it, probably
wondering what it was. The moment he sat next to Yoongi on the white couch, the alpha draped
one of the blankets around Jimin’s shoulders and another one over his legs. Seeing as his husband
had nothing to combat the cold with, Jimin grabbed the end of the blanket and covered his legs,
too. The fairy lights were on, giving the space a magical feel to it that served to calm his nerves a
little bit.

“Look,” Jimin said even though Yoongi was already looking his way. He scouted closer to his
husband, so he could rest the album on both their laps, and he opened it. “My parents sent it to me.
I thought that maybe you would like to take a look at them.”

He glanced up at his husband to see that he seemed surprised, and Jimin grew self-conscious. He
was trying to let him see a part of him Yoongi didn’t know about yet. Jimin had been curious about
his husband’s past. His childhood. A time when he had been untouched by the Mugunghwa clan.

Jimin needed to accept Yoongi's upbringing and the family he had been born in, along with
everything it entailed if he wanted to open up his heart to him. But for his emotional well-being, he
needed to start small. To start with the person Yoongi used to be before he was introduced to the
family business and go from there. At least he hoped that would help.

But this couldn't be one-sided. Jimin wanted Yoongi to get a glimpse of who he had been before all
of this, too. And his husband seemed curious too by how he was eyeing the photo album.

“I'd like that,” Yoongi told him, and Jimin's lips curled up.

The omega told him the stories behind the photos. He had a good time reminiscing while Yoongi
listened attentively. The alpha even took the album in his hands to look closely at the pictures with
a little smile that wouldn't leave his lips.

Once they got to the end of the album, Yoongi was about to close it when Jimin stopped him.
Instead, he flipped to the first page, where there was a single picture of Jimin on the day he had
been born. Taking out the envelope with Yoongi's pictures, Jimin selected one of his newborn
photos and placed it on the same page.

“Is this okay?” Jimin asked him quietly, looking up at his husband.

Yoongi regarded him intently for a few seconds. “Are you sure?” he asked slowly. After all, this
was the omega’s album.

Jimin nodded. “We should choose a few to place them around the house and store the rest here.”

His husband seemed pleased with his suggestion.

Jimin knew that his reasons to keep Yoongi at arm's length—even if it had been unconsciously—
weren't ridiculous. But he still had been berating himself all week for hurting Yoongi. And now, as
he took in the delighted glint in Yoongi's eyes, Jimin was overjoyed; overwhelmed with emotion.
Because he was finally on the right track.

***

After asking Misun for one of her recipes, Jimin was in the kitchen trying to cook dinner. He had
never been the best when it came to cooking, so he had to ask Gayoon for help. After all, he didn’t
want Yoongi to arrive home after work with not a single edible thing to eat.

The omega wanted to surprise his husband–which he did–and Jimin found that he really liked
being the one to put different expressions on Yoongi’s usually impassive face.

Yet, as they sat down to eat, Yoongi appeared a little uncomfortable as he fiddled with his
chopsticks, something he never did. The omega grew uneasy at the sight as he waited for his
husband to speak up.

“Jimin, are you…” Yoongi trailed off and pressed his lips together. “Are you forcing yourself to do
all these things lately?”
Jimin's face fell at having his fears confirmed. “That's what it looks like?” he asked weakly.

Not one to beat around the bush, Yoongi replied honestly. “After what happened the other day, I
can't help but think so, yeah.”

The omega nodded his head slowly, placing his hands on his stomach under the table. “I can see
why you would think so, and I was scared you would,” he admitted. He nibbled on his bottom lip
and lifted his head to look at Yoongi. “I'm doing this for you. Because I want to be good to you.”

“Jimin,” Yoongi interrupted him with furrowed brows, setting his utensils down.

“But I'm also doing this for myself,” Jimin added quickly, and Yoongi closed his mouth to listen to
him. “I'm scared of many things, but I want to change that,” the omega told him bravely despite his
nerves. “I want to accept this new reality instead of acting like it doesn't exist. I know I won't ever
be truly okay with it; with what your family does for a living. But I want to accept you for who you
are because you've shown me that you're more than your clan. And I… Yeah,” he ended up saying,
his courage leaving him as his next words got stuck in his throat.

Fortunately, Yoongi didn’t press him to say whatever he had meant to say at the end. Instead,
Yoongi studied him intently for a while. It happened slowly, but the alpha relaxed in his seat. It
seemed like his words had been enough to tell him everything he needed to know. Yoongi believed
Jimin’s sincerity, and so they finally started eating. His husband complimented his food, and the
praises had Jimin grinning happily, proud of himself.

That night, Jimin was the first one to get into bed. His back had been killing him lately, his feet,
too, and he let out a content sigh when he finally lay in their big and comfortable bed. As he waited
for Yoongi, Jimin couldn’t help but draw his husband’s pillow closer to let his scent wash over
him. It was instant the way some of his fatigue left him after hugging his pillow for a moment
before he put it back in its place. He knew Yoongi wouldn’t mock him, but being caught doing that
would be mortifying.

Ten minutes passed before the door to their bedroom opened, and Yoongi entered the room
unsurely, which had Jimin quirking an eyebrow. The alpha closed the door and sat on their bed, his
eyes never leaving Jimin. The omega sat up with his back against the headboard, and he was about
to ask him if there was something wrong, but Yoongi was faster.

“I know it’s late, but I got you a birthday present.”

With wide eyes and lips parted, Jimin observed his husband without knowing what to say. That had
been the last thing on his mind.

Yoongi opened his palm, and Jimin found a small velvet box. The alpha offered it to him, and after
exchanging a look, he took it. Slowly, Jimin opened the lid, and his breath caught in his throat
when he found the most beautiful ring he had ever seen. It was a delicate rose gold band with a
small diamond shaped like a tear in the middle. It was so pretty, and it looked…

It looked like a wedding ring.

“It’s not custom to exchange rings here at weddings,” Yoongi explained, “and I know ours isn’t a
normal marriage… But you said you like them. I also know you don’t like flashy things, so I hope
you like this one.”

So it was a wedding ring.

It had been a conversation in passing while Jimin watched a movie a few weeks ago, but his
husband had remembered it. His thoughtfulness would never stop stunning Jimin, whose heart was
melting at the gesture.

Looking up at the alpha, who was waiting silently for his reaction, Jimin smiled sweetly at him.
“Will you put it on me?”

Yoongi blinked, probably not having expected that response. “Sure.”

The ring fit him perfectly, and the omega couldn’t stop looking at it with wonder. “It’s beautiful,
Yoongi. Thank you so much,” he told him sincerely.

His husband’s lips curled up, and he let out a sigh that Jimin could only describe as relieved. But
then the younger noticed that Yoongi had one hand in the pocket of his pyjama pants. Wait. If this
was a wedding ring, then…?

“Did you get one, too?”

Yoongi’s hand twitched in his pocket. “I don’t have to wear it if you don’t want me to,” he assured
him.

Jimin looked him in the eyes. “But I want you to wear it,” he told him softly.

He caught the way Yoongi swallowed thickly at that.

Slowly, the alpha took out another box and opened it to reveal the matching ring inside. Yoongi’s
band was a bit wider and thicker than his because his fingers were larger. It was the same pretty
rose gold colour, but the tear was added seamlessly into the middle of the band. Jimin was the one
to put it on him, and this simple exchange in their bedroom felt much more special than their
wedding altogether.

When they put their hands next to each other, Jimin’s heart sped up. He couldn’t stop the smile that
stretched his lips. Both the rings were perfect, and Jimin wasn’t planning on taking his off at all.

Sadly, they also reminded him of the ring his father-in-law had gifted him for his birthday. The one
that remained completely out of his sight somewhere in Yoongi’s side of the closet. He had
convinced his husband to not throw it away for his own peace of mind, but he didn’t want the
reminder around, either. So Yoongi had hidden it and hadn’t told him where exactly. Jimin hadn’t
asked, but he felt better knowing that if Min Doyun ever questioned him about it, they still had it.

Shaking his head, Jimin willed himself to stop thinking about that and focused on this special
moment. He studied both their hands and wedding rings until he noticed something.

"They look like tears," Jimin pointed out, referring to the small diamonds.

“They are not tears,” Yoongi clarified. “Those are raindrops. Like our scents,” he added more
quietly.

Jimin’s heart fluttered at the thought Yoongi had put behind their rings, and when their gazes
locked, his husband took his hand in his, lacing their fingers together.

“You’re not part of the Min family. You’re only part of our family,” Yoongi told him. The
intensity of his gaze, along with his words, rendered Jimin breathless. When his husband placed his
other hand on his pregnant belly, the omega’s heart started pounding in his chest. “A family of
three.”
The back of his eyes started burning with unshed tears, and Jimin had to lower his head to take a
deep breath in an attempt to keep himself in check. He felt so happy at hearing those words, but
also an immense sense of guilt. This wasn’t fair to his husband.

The omega held Yoongi’s hand tighter, and when he felt like he wouldn’t burst into tears, Jimin
lifted his head to look at his husband again. “I really like the idea of us being our own family,”
Jimin admitted. “But that would be selfish of me. I want to tell you about my family and my life
before we got married, and I want you to be able to do the same. I don’t want you to feel like you
can’t. That would be so cruel,” he said, shaking his head at the mere idea.

Jimin saw something flicker in Yoongi’s eyes, but he couldn’t describe it. Yoongi took a shaky
breath at his words, but he didn’t speak. It was for the best because the omega needed him to listen
to what he had to say. He had been thinking about this a lot, and it was time he finally told Yoongi.

“You were right the other day, you know? I don’t want to hear about your family’s business or
your father. Not yet, at least. I’m not ready, and I’m sorry about that,” he apologised. Before
Yoongi could interrupt him, he continued. “But you could talk to me about your mom and little
Eun. Maybe about your brother when you were both little. And I want to know more about you;
how you were as a kid and as you grew up, and about yourself now. Start small and go from there.”

His husband was hardly blinking, and Jimin knew it was because of how intently he was listening
to him. Yoongi nodded his head quickly. “We can do that.” His voice cracked the slightest bit, and
Yoongi was quick to clear his throat.

“It’s like I said before. I want to accept you for who you are,” the omega told him. Listening to his
instincts, Jimin lifted his hand to cup Yoongi’s cheek. The alpha remained very still, their eyes
never straying from one another. “Because you've shown me that you're more than your clan and
what they do. And I—” Jimin hesitated again, growing sheepish, but this time he pulled through
and told him because he wanted Yoongi to know, “I like those other sides of you that you’ve
shown me.”

Yoongi’s grip on his hand tightened, and Jimin saw the way his eyes flickered down to his neck.
To his scent gland. Without having to say a word, Jimin tilted his head back, giving him access,
and the alpha didn’t hesitate to nuzzle him roughly with all the emotions swirling inside him at the
omega’s confession.

Jimin couldn’t stop the noises that left his mouth when Yoongi licked at his scent gland, their
scents mixing in the most delicious way. He shivered pleasantly, noticing just how strong the
feeling was when they rubbed their necks together, so much stronger than when they used their
wrists.

The omega couldn’t wait for his turn, and he was already trying to scent him, too, but Yoongi
growled low at his squirming, warning him that he wasn’t finished. The sound went straight to the
omega’s groin. Jimin whined, but he was too pleased with Yoongi’s display of possessiveness to
mind it, so he complied. The satisfied sound Yoongi let out at his obedience had his insides coiling.

When his husband finally let him scent him too, Jimin latched onto him without a second thought.
By the time Yoongi smelled thoroughly of morning dew and jasmine, Jimin was surprised by how
wet his underwear was. The omega met Yoongi’s eyes, and he felt a spike of arousal that
overwhelmed him at the feral look on his husband’s face. Of course, the alpha could smell his
arousal, too.

Their faces were very close together, their breaths mingling and lips parted as they panted. Yet
Yoongi was holding himself back, waiting. Jimin only had to close his eyes and lean forward
slightly for Yoongi to finally kiss him.

His libido had been dwindling a little as his pregnancy advanced, but it was still ever-present, and
sometimes arousal hit him out of nowhere. This week had been rough for them both, so they hadn’t
touched each other at all. But now that their hands caressed naked skin, and as they licked into
each other’s mouth, Jimin couldn’t wait to feel his husband inside him.

Once they had gotten rid of every piece of clothing, Yoongi began leaving a trail of kisses down
his body, starting from his collarbones. His lips brushed against one of his nipples, and Jimin
curled up at the tingly sensation. The alpha’s low chuckles at his reaction went directly to his
aching cock, and Jimin let out a proper moan when his husband closed his lips around his nipple to
suck on it long and hard. With a popping sound, Yoongi let go of it and continued on his way
down.

When he reached his swollen stomach, his kisses turned sweeter. Gentle presses of lips while his
big hands held his belly almost reverently. Jimin let out a content sigh as he watched him and
carded his fingers through his husband’s black locks. Yoongi peeked up at him with his cheek
pressed to his belly. He looked so handsome like this, and his warm gaze gave him butterflies.

Or at least that’s what Jimin thought those were until Yoongi blinked, looking surprised. His
reaction made Jimin realise it had been the baby moving inside him.

“I think he just kicked me in the face,” Yoongi muttered, leaning his head back and placing his
hand where he had felt the movement.

Jimin giggled at that. “He’s saying hello.”

“Or telling me to fuck off.”

“He’s not!” Jimin exclaimed with a surprised laugh. “And don’t curse. He can hear you, you
know?”

His husband rolled his eyes. “But he can’t understand me.”

“Still—”

He was cut off before he could protest when Yoongi dipped his head and left a kiss on his aching
cock. The little shit lifted his head enough to shoot him a smug grin that Jimin scowled at. It didn’t
last long, though. Not when, in the next moment, Yoongi took him in his mouth, and the omega
went pliant.

He was restless and squirming under Yoongi’s ministrations, his touch a welcomed one, but not
enough. However, no matter how much Jimin asked him to hurry up, the alpha always made sure
to not rush things. He put a couple of pillows under Jimin so he was comfortable and prepared him
well.

Usually, when Yoongi finally entered him, Jimin felt an immediate sense of relief, but this time,
there was something wrong. Jimin grimaced in discomfort. He felt a pinch he wasn’t used to, but
he guessed it would go away after a moment.

It didn’t.

His husband had his eyes closed above him, his lips parted, but he wasn’t moving yet. As always,
he was giving him a moment, which in turn gave Jimin the time to let out a deep breath and will his
body to relax. They had had sex so many times before that the alpha recognised the signs of his
body unclenching around him. Yoongi opened his eyes, and Jimin bit down on his lip, giving him a
tentative nod of his head. That’s when his husband began rocking into him slowly.

Yoongi let out a grunt as he moved, his eyes closing once more in pleasure. Jimin tried to ignore
that uncomfortable sensation inside him, but he couldn’t, and he scrunched his face. He still didn’t
tell him to stop, thinking that it would go away after his body got used to it. However, when
Yoongi thrust a bit deeper, Jimin hissed in pain.

The alpha faltered, and his eyes flew open as he halted his movements. “What’s wrong?” he asked,
looking at him with furrowed brows.

“It hurts,” Jimin admitted pitifully through gritted teeth.

Yoongi’s eyes widened slightly, shocked, and he looked down at their joined bodies. “It does?”

Jimin nodded, confused and growing agitated by the moment. Why did it hurt? This had never
happened before. Was it the baby? Was the baby in pain? Noticing his growing distress, Yoongi
recovered from his stupor and carefully slipped out of him.

Instantly, that discomfort completely disappeared, and Jimin relaxed under him, letting out a shaky
breath at the scare. “It’s gone. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Yoongi sighed in relief and brushed his bangs back as he sat in between the omega’s parted legs.
His husband had probably been thinking the same thing as him, that maybe the baby was in pain. “I
read that sex can be painful during the last months of pregnancy,” Yoongi commented after a
moment. “It’s usually nothing worrisome, and it doesn’t happen to everyone, but there are many
cases.”

The fact his husband knew more than him about pregnancies sometimes made him feel ignorant,
but it also made him feel a fondness for Yoongi that rendered him speechless. Knowing that his
alpha cared about him and their baby woke up something primal inside him that had him clinging
to his husband again.

“But I want to do it.” Jimin frowned and gripped Yoongi’s forearms so he wouldn’t even think
about stopping now.

The omega needed to get off. He was too horny to stop despite their previous scare, and Jimin was
already growing restless at the possibility of his husband not wanting to help him.

Yoongi twisted his mouth as he thought about it. “What if we change positions?” he ended up
suggesting. “Do you want to ride me? The omega flushed at the casual way in which he said that,
but Jimin nodded a little too eagerly, much to his embarrassment. Yoongi chortled at his reaction
before a smirk curled his lips up. “That way you can go at your own pace. See what feels right.”
Jimin nodded once more, feeling his stomach flutter with nerves but also excitement. His husband
let himself fall onto his side next to him on the bed, and when he lay on his back, Yoongi beckoned
him to sit on him with his hands. “Come here.”

Slowly and a little clumsily, Jimin found himself straddling his husband’s thighs as Yoongi held
him by his hips. He rested his smaller hands on his own thighs, feeling flustered at the new
position. Yet, as Yoongi smiled up at him with a glint of amusement in his eyes, Jimin felt himself
getting even wetter.

“Yoongi,” he whined softly, bucking his hips a little.

Not one to deny him anything, his husband didn’t have to be told anything else before he was
helping him get in position. After bringing Jimin closer, Yoongi grabbed his own cock and lined
himself up with his leaking entrance.

Jimin was a little nervous, not only because they had never done this before, but because he
worried it would hurt like this, too. But he trusted Yoongi, and he knew that the moment this didn’t
feel right, they would stop. The omega really hoped this worked, though, because he wanted to get
off, damn it.

“Go ahead,” Yoongi told him, keeping his cock in place with his hand and letting Jimin take
control of the situation.

After letting out a shuddering breath, Jimin braced himself on his own thighs and pushed down a
little bit, Yoongi’s cock slowly slipping inside him again. He did so apprehensively, waiting for
that sharp pain again, but it didn’t come. Jimin met his husband’s gaze when he was almost sitting
completely on him, pleasantly surprised by this.

Yoongi laughed softly once more at his reaction. “Better?” The omega nodded his head, biting
down a smile. For some reason, his husband seemed to be glowing tonight, and in a rare display, he
even felt like joking around. “The stage is yours,” he told him with a cheeky smile that had Jimin’s
heart stuttering in his chest and giggling like a schoolboy.

Jimin wished he could lean down and kiss him, but he was too pregnant for that. Instead, they
laughed together as they tried things out, as Jimin rolled his hips this way and that, testing the
waters until he found what he liked.

The omega was absolutely astounded by how comfortable he felt doing this. Because of all the
changes his body was going through, Jimin’s self-esteem sometimes got the brunt of it. But his
husband didn’t seem to mind any of that. On the contrary, Jimin was amazed to find that Yoongi
looked at him in awe, especially right now, when he felt most vulnerable and every single one of
the flaws he thought he had was on full display. It made him feel beautiful.

It was undeniable: their hearts were closer than ever. Jimin could feel it as they shared a look and
laughed as he wiggled on top of him, trying to find the right angle.

He couldn’t bounce fast because his belly was too heavy, and it was a little painful, so Jimin opted
to gyrate his hips instead. He threw his head back when Yoongi’s cock rubbed just where he
needed it, and he knew he had found a good position. As moans kept spilling from his lips, Jimin
moved his hips slowly back and forth at first, and then in circles.

“Oh, Yoongi,” he whimpered, closing his eyes. “That feels… so good.”

“Keep going then,” Yoongi encouraged him, still grabbing him by the hips.

He opened his eyes as he kept going. “Do you like it, too?” Jimin asked him. “Is this enough?”

“I like whatever you like.”

A part of Jimin liked what he said a little too much, but he wanted Yoongi to enjoy this, too.

As he moved on top of him, Jimin kept his eyes open this time to check if the alpha was feeling
good, like him. After a few minutes of observing him, Jimin's stomach coiled, his insides burning
up, and his hole clenching at what he was seeing.

Jimin loved being under Yoongi. He loved feeling the alpha trapping him against the mattress and
seeing the way his muscles contracted and his veins protruded as he fucked him. Jimin loved it
when Yoongi took care of him, giving him just what he wanted without him having to work for it.
But this? This was mind-blowing.

He had never seen Yoongi like this. His hair was all messed up against the pillow, and it was the
alpha the one who was holding onto him for once. He could see every change in Yoongi’s face
perfectly; the way his eyes fluttered closed sometimes, how he licked his lips, the way he strained
his neck while he huffed when the drag was just right. Jimin was the one in control, and the alpha
was letting him do whatever he pleased, ceding all power to him.

His husband, who was always in control of everything. The feared son of the strongest mobster in
the country now lay under him in their bed as he clung to his hips for dear life.

Min Yoongi was completely under his mercy, and Jimin loved it.

“I wanna try something,” Jimin panted after a while, feeling brave.

Yoongi readily agreed, and the omega put his hands behind himself, one on the mattress, the other
one on the alpha's thigh. Maybe like this, he could bounce a little bit without hurting himself, but
there was something amiss in this position. He needed some support.

“Hold my belly, please?” Jimin asked his husband.

He thought he saw Yoongi swallow thickly at that.

Without saying a word, his big hands cupped the lower part of his stomach, and the omega caught
the way his husband's wedding ring glinted against his skin. Meanwhile, Yoongi was regarding
him expectantly. Jimin tested it out, moving his hips up and down. His lips immediately parted,
letting out a surprised breathy sound at the delicious drag.

Yeah, much better.

He clenched the sheets and Yoongi's thigh because this was it. This was exactly what he had
needed, and he didn't want to stop. Jimin couldn't bounce as faster as he would've liked, but this
sweet torture had him almost losing his mind as he fucked himself on his husband's throbbing
cock. Yoongi seemed just as happy with this new position by the curses that left his lips, his big
hands still holding his belly so Jimin could freely buck his hips.

They made the perfect team; totally in sync.

As he rode his husband, Jimin's hooded eyes couldn't stop watching the way Yoongi cupped his
stomach, gently but firmly. Their ragged breathing, moans, and grunts filled the room, making the
omega feel hazy. When their gazes locked, his heart skipped a beat in a way that flustered him.

Why? What were these feelings that had him overwhelmed? Did he feel something more for
Yoongi, or was it just his pregnant omega talking here? What about Yoongi? Despite his
confession the other day, Jimin couldn’t help but question Yoongi's feelings. How much of his
doting and sweetness was due to his inner alpha and how much was it just his heart talking?

He didn't know. Jimin had not a single answer for any of those questions. But he knew that his
mind had his heart in a cage, and to find out what those feelings swirling in his chest meant, he had
to destroy the iron bars around his heart first.

His arms were too tired to keep going. Jimin was so close to coming that he had to lean forward
once more to gyrate his hips on top of Yoongi in search of his needed release. His husband's hands
were still on his belly, and Jimin placed his hands on top of his, their wedding rings clashing.
“Yoongi. Yoongi!” he called him desperately, too out of it to truly grasp that he was saying his
name.

“Fuck,” he heard the alpha grunt.

He wanted Yoongi. Jimin didn't know to what extent yet, but he wanted him. All to himself. He
wanted to show him; to open up his heart to him just like Yoongi had done.

“Hold… me. Please. I'm—”

“I've got you,” Yoongi breathed out, incapable of staying still any longer and moving his hips
under him.

It had Jimin tipping his head forward, and with a high-pitch whimper, he finally came. His
heightened sensitivity due to his pregnancy made him experience more intense orgasms that left
him quivering as he clenched his walls around Yoongi's cock.

“Come inside,” Jimin almost begged, still riding out his orgasm.

With another curse, Yoongi tensed up and lifted his hips as he filled Jimin up with his seed.

Yoongi didn't knot him, but Jimin still wanted to feel him inside for a little bit more. However, he
couldn’t do so for long because his body suddenly weighed a ton and he needed to lie down, the
ache in his back coming back as the adrenaline of the moment wore off. Noticing this, Yoongi
helped him, and with a whimper, his cock finally slipped out of him.

His husband made him lie next to him and tucked him against his side. Jimin nuzzled close as his
eyes closed. He felt gross, his thighs and entrance wet with both their body fluids, but when he
inhaled and Yoongi's scent invaded his senses, Jimin felt too content to care.

“Yoongi,” he murmured, his body feeling like jelly as sleep called for him.

“Mm?”

Jimin nuzzled his face against Yoongi's chest as he searched for his hand. The alpha noticed and
laced their fingers together, their wedding rings touching once more.

“Don't let go of me, please,” Jimin whispered in the stillness of the night.

There was a pause, probably because he hadn't expected him to say something like that right now.
“I won't.”

“I promise I'll hold on to you, too.” Jimin scrunched his eyes shut at the same time as his grip on
his husband tightened. Maybe he wasn't in the same place as Yoongi, but he wanted to get there. “I
don't want to make you sad.”

A press of lips against his temple had Jimin's heart jolting. “You don't. Never you,” Yoongi rasped.

But Jimin shook his head, feeling upset again at the memory. “I did. When you—”

“We've talked about this, have we not?” Yoongi interrupted him softly, noticing his growing
distress. “We'll start small and go from there.”

His words and soothing voice placated Jimin, who nodded his head, his face rubbing against his
husband's naked chest. “Yeah,” he replied with his lips brushing the alpha's skin.
“Now sleep. You can barely keep your eyes open,” Yoongi told him with a hint of mirth in his
voice.

Jimin nodded and closed his eyes obediently. He felt Yoongi brushing his fingertips along the skin
of his back tenderly, his husband's cheek pressed to the top of his head. Jimin let out a content sigh.
He could hear Yoongi's heartbeat, and its steady pace lulled him to sleep.

For once, the omega felt at peace; because he realised that their heartbeats were starting to sync.

Chapter End Notes

This chapter is almost 10k so I hope it makes up for the wait! Thank you so much for
all the nice comments and kudos you left in the last chapter! I wasn’t expecting
everyone to love it so much. Your positive reactions made me feel a little pressured so
I worked extra hard on this chapter. I hope you like how I’m slowly developing their
relationship!

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Heartfelt Efforts
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Jimin woke up in the middle of the night with a hiss, just like almost every night lately.

He brought a hand to his stomach where his little one kept moving around, the sensation by now
familiar but no less uncomfortable, especially when he was trying to sleep. Behind him, his
husband had his arms wrapped around him, spooning him and still smelling like Jimin after
thoroughly scenting each other before they went to sleep, another thing that had become part of
their routine.

The omega tried going back to sleep, but he couldn’t because the baby wouldn’t stay still. He tried
not to squirm too much, not wanting to hinder Yoongi’s rest. When this happened, sometimes
Yoongi woke up too at his movements. Other times he didn’t, and Jimin didn’t wake him up. In
Yoongi’s line of work, he needed to be well-rested to be alert.

Whenever sleep evaded him, Jimin would just grab one of the baby books he kept on his
nightstand and read until the baby calmed down, or until he was rendered so exhausted that he fell
asleep without realising it. Still, he didn’t get as much sleep at night as he used to. It’s probably
one of the reasons why he kept falling asleep at random times during the day.

When the baby moved again, he felt the kick close to his ribs, and Jimin couldn’t help the pained
sound he let out as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Jimin,” Yoongi murmured, voice rough and deep with sleep as his arm tightened around him. “Is
it the baby?”

“Yeah. He keeps moving around,” Jimin huffed, recovering from the blow.

He really needed to sit up, and the moment the omega showed signs of it, Yoongi let go. Still half
asleep, he helped Jimin to sit with his back against the headboard. The alpha took their pillows and
put them behind him so he would be more comfortable, and Jimin shot him a quick smile before it
turned into a grimace. He took a few deep breaths with his hands on his belly as the baby
accommodated himself inside him.

“Should I turn on the lights?” Yoongi asked him, grabbing his discarded shirt and putting it back
on. It was still dark outside, but some light entered through the window, illuminating the room
softly in blue shades.

Jimin shook his head. “You should go back to sleep. I’m okay.”

But Yoongi waved him off. He pulled the comforter up so it covered Jimin well as he sat there.
“I’ll get you some water,” he said before getting up and leaving the room.

Whenever he woke up his husband, Yoongi stayed up with him in their bed. To distract Jimin from
his discomfort, they talked a lot about trivial stuff, like their favourite cartoons or books when they
were kids. Other topics were heavier, like the first fight between gangs Jimin had witnessed as a
kid on his way home. His father had to walk him to and from school for a month before he could
go alone again without crying. Or the first time Yoongi refused to get a job done, and its
consequences.
Jimin had felt sick after that, even though he was sure his husband had omitted the more gruesome
details. Yoongi had stopped himself from telling him more after seeing his distress, but Jimin had
told him to continue. It hurt to hear it, and he couldn't stop thinking of their baby, but he had a
feeling Yoongi didn't have anyone he could talk to about these things, and Jimin wanted to be that
person for him. His safe person as much as Yoongi was his. That's how they were slowly getting to
know each other on a deeper level.

The omega always felt bad when he kept him up, though. But it also made him feel taken care of,
and when the frustration of not resting well got the best of him, Yoongi brought him close and
soothed him by scenting him. It did the trick every time, and Jimin liked returning the favour,
nuzzling into his husband’s neck and enjoying the feeling of connection as they strengthened their
bond.

That wasn’t the only thing that was making them grow closer.

After their last appointment, the doctor recommended that Jimin went on walks regularly. The
omega was already very big, and his balance had never been the best, least of all now, so he was
afraid of going out alone. Even though Yoongi was busy with work, his husband made time so they
could go out as often as possible.

The married couple enjoyed walking along the Han River. It was very cold—winter was on full
blast now—so Jimin pressed close to Yoongi, clinging to his arm tightly.

“Are you cold?” Yoongi asked him, adjusting the omega’s scarf. His husband was wearing a mask
to cover his face, but Jimin could tell the corners of his mouth were downturned just as his brow
was furrowed due to worry.

Jimin shook his head, enjoying his husband’s warmth. “No. This is very nice,” he smiled at him.
“I'm a little hungry, though,” Jimin admitted sheepishly because they had just had dinner.

But Yoongi didn't tease him about it; he just nodded. “What are you craving? Hot chocolate?”

The omega hummed as he thought about it. “Bungeoppang. We can get the ones with sweet red
bean filling. You like those too.”

His husband’s eyes were smiling, crinkling at the corners as he looked around. “It's a little late, but
there's a stand around here.”

Luckily for Jimin, they were still open. Yoongi bought four, and they took a seat on a bench near
the river to enjoy their snack. The water looked so pretty, shining brightly because of the city lights
reflecting on the surface. When Jimin bit down on the crispy fish-shaped bread, he couldn't stop
the pleased sound he let out at the taste. Yoongi lowered his mask to eat, and Jimin pressed himself
against his husband’s side, not just for warmth but because he enjoyed cuddling him.

“Is it good?” Jimin asked him sweetly. He really enjoyed how relaxed Yoongi looked right now.

He nodded. “Are you sure you're not cold? I could lend you my coat.”

“I told you I'm fine. If you're so worried just…” Jimin grabbed the alpha's arm and wrapped it
around his shoulders so he could bury himself against his side properly. Jimin beamed at him.
“Much better.” The alpha snorted, but he couldn’t hide how pleased he looked. Yoongi loved it
when Jimin snuggled close to him. “I love our walks, especially when you get me delicious food,”
Jimin told him, enjoying his treat and giggling softly when he added, “I'm a spoiled omega.”

He peeked at his husband, who was looking at him with a content expression on his face. Yoongi
kissed his temple, and Jimin giggled again. “I’m sorry we can’t do this every day,” Yoongi said
regretfully, “but my job isn’t like a nine-to-five, so it’s tricky.”

The alpha was twisting his mouth, and Jimin felt the need to assure him that it wasn’t his fault. “I
know you're trying your best. Don't worry about me.”

Yoongi had been trying to spend more time at home so the pregnant omega wouldn’t be alone most
of the day, but it was hard. Sometimes his husband would come very late at night with guilt-ridden
eyes. One time, he apologised profusely for it, unable to meet his gaze, but Jimin told him not to
worry about it. After all, he wasn’t alone. He had Gayoon, and his mother-in-law came regularly,
too. Jimin also facetimed with his family often, and he told Yoongi so now.

But his husband pursed his lips at that. “That’s great and all, but I want to be here. Don’t you want
me here?” Yoongi added, sounding a bit too much like he was sulking.

“Of course I want you here,” Jimin protested, feeling his cheeks warm up and not just due to the
cold. “I’m just saying that I don’t want to get you in trouble at work.” They both knew who he was
referring to without Jimin having to explicitly say so. Yoongi broke eye contact. “Also, I spend
most of the day sleeping, so the days pass by very quickly,” Jimin hurried to say while chuckling,
not wanting to dampen the mood.

His husband shot him a tentative look before he went along with it and let out a low chortle.
“That’s true. You’ve already ruined a few books with your drool.”

Offended, Jimin smacked him in the chest. “I don’t drool.”

Yoongi regarded him with a quirked eyebrow. “Should we go back home so I can show you the
latest book I got you?”

Jimin whined, brows furrowed and a mighty pout on his lips as he stopped Yoongi from getting up
from the bench by holding him by the arm that had been around his shoulders. His husband
laughed softly at his sulking. “Well, you snore,” Jimin retorted very maturely.

“Now that’s a lie.”

“It’s not. Between Haneul and you, I can barely sleep at night,” Jimin declared, gesticulating
dramatically.

“Then why haven’t I heard any of this before–Wait.” Yoongi’s eyes widened as he regarded him.
“Haneul?”

Jimin faltered. He put his hand on his belly, growing nervous. “Yeah? I know we’re choosing his
name together, and it’s not like I’ve decided it already. It’s just that ever since we flipped through
that book of names together, that one kinda stuck with me.”

Sensing that he was getting worked up over this, Yoongi took one of his hands in his with a tender
expression on his face. “That’s okay. Why Haneul, though?”

“Our scents are water-related,” Jimin explained sheepishly, “and I keep thinking about the colour
blue. Like the sky.”

There was an awed look on the alpha’s face as he stared at him that had Jimin’s heart fluttering.
“That’s a great choice, then.”

His positive response had Jimin growing giddy. “Min Haneul sounds very pretty, don’t you think?”
he asked him, his cheeks hurting from how big he was smiling now.

Yoongi laughed softly and nodded his head a few times. “It does.”

With a thump of his heart, Jimin realised that he wanted to peck his husband’s lips. Yet he
hesitated; he didn’t know if that would be appropriate. They had had sex, scented and kissed so
many times, but if he kissed him right now, Jimin couldn’t attribute it to his inner omega’s needs.
He wanted to kiss Yoongi; that was it.

But Jimin still wasn’t ready to take that step. He knew he was on the right track, but the omega
couldn’t one hundred per cent say he loved him like Yoongi had declared. And Jimin couldn’t help
but feel that if he kissed him like he wanted right now, it would be like playing with Yoongi’s
feelings in a way, which was the last thing he wanted to do.

Before his doubts could tarnish this sweet moment, Jimin pushed those thoughts to the back of his
mind. Instead, he hugged Yoongi tightly where they sat as he beamed happily because their baby
finally had a name.

Min Haneul.

***

Even though Jimin had said that Yoongi’s absence was all right, it wasn’t.

During the last month of his pregnancy, he grew incredibly clingier. Every time Yoongi got out of
bed to go to work, no matter how careful he did so, Jimin woke up, and the drama started.

The omega would hold on to him as best he could to stop him from leaving. Yoongi would let him
at first, scenting him thoroughly and letting him scent him too. But then the alpha would start
trying to coax him into letting him go, whispering that he would be back soon and that they had
talked about this before. Yoongi would remind him that he would love nothing more than to stay
with him in bed all day, but that he really needed to go.

Little by little, the alpha would get out of his grip, and that’s when Jimin would start whining and
whimpering on the verge of tears as he made grabby hands at his husband while still lying in bed.
Jimin knew he was being completely unreasonable, embarrassing even, but he couldn’t help the
way his longing would completely blind him. His instincts were hard to fight.

Yoongi looked so torn every time, and Jimin felt horrible about it.

Getting ready as fast as he could, Yoongi always tried not to drag these moments out and left as
quickly as he could. “I’m so sorry,” he would apologise with a troubled expression, his instincts
also screaming at him to stay with his distressed omega.

Yoongi always left one last kiss on his temple and promised that he would try to come back early
while Jimin reached for him to stop him from leaving. Sometimes he did come back early. Other
times, he couldn’t. But the promise always settled the omega a little bit.

Still, Jimin spent his mornings wallowing in his misery and whining by himself, burying himself
under their comforter and every blanket he could find. Every day Yoongi found that Jimin had
grabbed another one and put it on top of the rest until there was a mountain of blankets on top of
their bed. Even though it was winter, Jimin noticed that the growing pile of blankets was making
Yoongi feel too hot at night. The omega sometimes woke up to his husband having pushed back
the ones on his side. For some reason, Jimin always felt aggravated by that, and he couldn’t help
but arrange the blankets again, covering his husband until he felt satisfied.

That was how Yoongi would groan and wake up drenched in sweat in the middle of December.
However, the one time he had suggested they get rid of some blankets, Jimin had freaked out. His
lips had begun to tremble, and his eyes clouded with tears as he looked at the blankets and clasped
them in his hands. After that, Yoongi hadn’t had the heart to bring it up again.

And then one day, lying under a pile of blankets wasn’t enough. Jimin got up with some difficulty
and studied their bed with a dissatisfied feeling in his gut after Yoongi had left for work. He needed
to be surrounded by the blankets. He needed to feel safe.

It took him a whole day to arrange the beddings in a way he liked, only taking breaks when
Gayoon would coax him into eating. There weren’t just blankets this time, though. He brought
pillows and placed them at the edges of the mattress. He also added to the mix a couple of
sweatshirts with his own scent as well as a few of his husband’s sweaters. But there was still
something missing…

His face lit up when he realised what it was.

When he came back from the nursery, Jimin was carrying one of the plushies they had bought for
Haneul, a very soft purple whale that he placed against the pillows piled against the headboard.

When Yoongi came back from work that day, Jimin was curled up in their bed, all cosy and
comfortable. The alpha stood still when he entered their bedroom, his eyebrows slightly raised in
surprise at Jimin’s creation. Their bed now looked like a fort, and Yoongi’s reaction had the omega
growing self-conscious.

“Is it too much? Have I lost my mind?”

“No, no. You’re fine,” Yoongi assured him, walking closer to the bed but not touching anything.
“You’re almost due; that’s why you’ve been nesting. It’s normal.”

Jimin’s mouth formed an ‘o’ when he finally put a name to what he had been doing. It made sense.
He should’ve come to that conclusion on his own, but he had been too preoccupied with his task to
really think about what this sudden urge was.

“Is that one of Haneul’s toys?” Yoongi asked with an amused smile.

“And some of his little blankets,” Jimin admitted, pointing at them with rosy cheeks. When he
looked up at Yoongi again, he did so with hopeful eyes. “Do you… Do you want to lie here with
us?”

That was the one thing that would make his nest perfect.

Yoongi’s smile turned sweeter. “Let me take a shower first, and I’ll join you.”

A huge smile split Jimin’s lips.

***
By the time Christmas rolled around, Jimin had turned their bed and couch into nests, and nobody
could touch them unless they wanted to upset the sensitive omega.

Because there was less than a month until the baby was born, Yoongi was doing his very best to
spend as much time as he could at home with him. Jimin was grateful for that because he was
growing more fearful as the day approached. He spent his days sleeping and reading many books
on how to take care of babies. He had been a kid when Jihyun was born, so he remembered very
little, and he wanted to be as prepared as he could.

Every time he had grown nervous during the pregnancy, Yoongi had been the one to soothe him,
but Jimin could tell that even his husband was getting jittery now that they were so close to
meeting their little Haneul. They both needed distractions, and Jimin thought they could decorate
the apartment for the festivities. Yoongi didn't care about Christmas, but the moment Jimin had
suggested it, the next day, a tree and different boxes with ornaments appeared in their apartment so
they could do just that.

As they finished decorating the Christmas tree together one night, Yoongi seemed a little pensive,
and the omega decided to give him time until he was ready to say whatever was on his mind.

“Jimin.”

“Mm?” he hummed distractedly in question as he hung a bauble from one of the branches.

“Is there anything you want?” Yoongi asked.

Jimin stopped then to look at his husband, but Yoongi was distractedly taking care of the string of
lights. “Like what?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Anything, really.”

The omega thought about it, but he shook his head before grabbing another ornament to hang it.
“There’s nothing I need.”

Yoongi frowned. “I’m not talking about needs. I’m talking about things you want. Like clothes, art
supplies, jewellery.”

Jimin quirked an eyebrow at him. “Have you seen my closet?” His husband rolled his eyes and
went back to decorating, but Jimin observed him silently for a moment. Yoongi didn't look
satisfied. “Tell me. What is this really about?” he asked him, knowing that there had to be
something more to this. After all, the omega knew Yoongi better by now.

“You never ask for anything, just popsicles,” Yoongi murmured like it annoyed him somehow. “If
you want something, you know you can tell me, and I’ll buy it, right? Or I could just give you a
credit card.”

The omega’s brow furrowed as he sent his husband a quizzical look. “Yoongi, what are you talking
about? I buy stuff all the time.”

“No, you don’t.”

Jimin shot him a flat look. “Do I have to take you to our baby’s nursery? I bought all those things!”

But Yoongi shook his head. “Those things are for the baby. Not for you.”
Oh.

Okay. Now he got what he meant. But Jimin hadn’t really thought about that before. “There’s
nothing I want to buy, to be honest.”

“You don’t want anything?” Yoongi insisted.

He hesitated. “There’s one thing I want, but it’s not something you can buy.”

“What is it?”

Jimin glanced at him before he turned back to the tree, shaking his head. “I don’t want to upset
you.”

His husband stepped closer to stop him from ignoring him. “You won’t. What is it?”

The omega pursed his lips as he regarded Yoongi before he heaved out a sigh. Taking the alpha by
his hand, Jimin led him to the couch. Yoongi went willingly, and they both got comfortable in each
other’s arms before Jimin finally answered him with a heavy heart.

“I want to see my family,” he whispered. Their eyes were locked, and he saw the flicker of hurt
that crossed Yoongi’s expression before the alpha looked down. “Please don’t get sad. I know it’s
not something you have control over. I get it.” Jimin caressed his husband’s cheeks with his
thumbs as he cupped his face while they rested in his nest of blankets and pillows. “I would lose
my mind if you weren’t here. You know that, right?” he whispered.

The answer was no. Yoongi didn’t know that. Jimin could read it on his face, and it was his fault
for not being able to reciprocate his feelings like his husband deserved.

A deep anguish settled inside the omega, one he was sadly becoming familiar with. But he couldn’t
force his brain to let his heart free. He still needed some time, and Yoongi was aware of that.
However, Jimin lamented that it was taking him so long despite their progress. His fear and
apprehension towards the Mugunghwa clan were deeply rooted in his heart, and although Yoongi
was doing a very good job at changing his perception–at separating who Yoongi was from the
terrifying role he played as a Min–it was still a work in progress.

Hating the pained look on his husband’s face, Jimin felt the urge to soothe his alpha. Not just to
appease his inner omega, but also his own aching heart. Jimin reached out and took Yoongi’s hand
in his. He brought it to his mouth and left soft kisses on his peeled knuckles as their gazes met.
Lastly, the omega pressed his lips against his husband's rose gold band that matched his own.

With his lips brushing Yoongi’s pale skin, Jimin declared. “I’m so lucky to have you. And our
baby Haneul will think the same when he finally meets you.”

Something curious happened then.

Yoongi donned that blank expression he used to adopt all the time when they first met as he
watched Jimin before he looked to the side. It was a reaction the omega had seen a few times
already whenever their soon-to-be-born baby was brought up, but Jimin couldn’t decipher the
meaning behind it.

Before Jimin could dwell on those thoughts once more, Yoongi turned his head back to look at
him. “Can I kiss you?” he asked him very softly.

Without having to think about it, Jimin nodded timidly.

Yoongi brought him closer until the omega was tucked against his side before he latched onto his
mouth hungrily. The alpha’s eagerness never ceased to make Jimin’s heart jolt with delight. His
husband wanted him, and it was crystal clear in moments like this. The omega had begun to
suspect that Yoongi knew just how much Jimin also wanted to kiss him at random times, and he
was glad his husband always gave him an excuse to do so without him having to say it.

Even though Jimin had grown exponentially clingier lately, they hadn’t had sex in some time now.
Whenever things escalated, Jimin just didn’t feel in the mood, and before they crossed that line, he
buried his face in his husband’s neck and hugged him instead.

“Is there something wrong?” Yoongi had asked him the second time it happened. “You don’t want
to do it?” His slight surprise had been understandable considering how horny Jimin had been
during most of his pregnancy. The omega had shaken his head. “Okay.” Both their hearts had been
beating fast after kissing, and Jimin felt his husband take a deep breath to calm down. “Is there a
reason or…?”

The omega had fisted his hands in the material of Yoongi’s shirt, feeling embarrassed about the
cause.

The truth was that his big belly was uncomfortable. His body ached more than ever as the
pregnancy ran its course, and Jimin didn’t find it appealing to do what got him into this situation in
the first place. It was even less appealing when he knew they had to be extra careful because sex
was very uncomfortable depending on the position.

There was another reason, though. When Jimin looked at himself in the mirror, he just didn’t feel
sexy.

Instead of keeping all these reasons to himself and saving himself the embarrassment of admitting
them aloud, Jimin had told Yoongi about all of this because he knew it was important to be open to
each other.

“That’s fine, Jimin. Even if your only reason was that you didn’t feel like it, that’s valid,” Yoongi
had told him after listening to the omega’s muffled and embarrassing confession. Jimin pursed his
lips, still hiding from him because he had felt bad about it. “But for the record,” his husband had
added, “you look just as pretty as when I first saw you, if not more.”

“Liar,” Jimin had murmured, but his stomach had tingled pleasantly at hearing Yoongi say that.

“I’m not lying. Never to you,” he had declared, leaving a kiss on his shoulder, and not pushing him
despite how hard his cock had been as it pressed against Jimin’s thigh.

Now, as his husband’s hands started roaming his body, and their tongues curled together, Jimin
frowned, knowing that he was going to cockblock the alpha once more.

“Yoongi. I don’t–” He gasped between kisses, and it was enough to make him stop.

After Yoongi left one last peck on his lips, his husband leaned back against the couch with red-
bitten lips. Seeing the guilty look on the pregnant omega’s face, Yoongi assured him that it was
fine. But it wasn’t. Jimin could see the alpha’s growing erection between them, tucked away inside
his sweats. A few weeks back, he would have jumped him, but right now, with his big belly
coming in between them and his due date approaching, Jimin just didn’t feel like it.

However, he still wanted to please Yoongi; to help him, just like the alpha had taken care of him
every time Jimin had needed him. That's why he found himself saying as he fumbled with the
waistband of his husband’s sweatpants, “Let me take care of you.”

Yoongi frowned. “You don’t have to. You’ve said before that you don’t feel like having sex now.”

But the omega wasn’t deterred, already having expected that response. “I want to. I want this,”
Jimin told him, feeling his cheeks warm up as he slipped his hand inside Yoongi's underwear and
grabbed his hot cock. “You're always so good to me. You are allowed to be a little selfish
sometimes,” he whispered.

His husband gulped visibly, his pupils dilating as his hand gripped the omega’s thigh. And Jimin
knew he had won.

Tilting his head back a little, the omega searched for Yoongi’s lips again. They kissed, slow and
wet, while his hand remained wrapped around the alpha’s half-hard cock. After a moment had
passed and Jimin still hadn’t moved his hand, Yoongi huffed in complaint, and the omega tried his
best not to smile into the kiss. Instead of obeying, Jimin hooked his free hand around Yoongi’s
nape and only squeezed his length a few times. With just that and their heated kisses, Jimin felt
how his husband’s cock slowly stiffened to its full length.

“Having fun torturing me like this?” Yoongi murmured against his lips, frustrated but smirking.

Yet, his wording had Jimin faltering and breaking the kiss. “That–That’s not it. Sorry.”

Yoongi frowned and leaned back enough to study his face for a moment. “I was kidding, Jimin.”

The omega bit his lip nervously. “I know,” he muttered, averting his eyes. But his lie and guilt
were clear as day.

A tense silence followed as Yoongi observed him, taken aback and feeling lost. Swallowing down
his distress, Jimin refused to ruin the moment. He had been the one to start this because he wanted
to prove to Yoongi that he cared, even if he couldn’t return his confession yet.

Before his husband could recover, Jimin flickered his wrist and pressed their lips together once
more, swallowing the muffled sound Yoongi made at the suddenness of it all. Luckily, this was
enough of a distraction, Yoongi's alpha taking over and searching for more of his omega.

Jimin’s heart thundered in his chest at the low growl his husband let out when he used his thumb to
stroke his cock’s head and collect the drops of semen gathering there. It was so easy to get lost in
Yoongi and everything he made him feel. Despite feeling a little clumsy, the alpha’s reactions
seemed so genuine that they made Jimin grow confident, and he was soon pumping his cock just
like Yoongi needed.

It was Yoongi the one to break the kiss, only for him to bury his face in the omega’s neck to scent
him. The feeling of their scent glands gliding together as their scents mingled had Jimin’s toes
curling. His stomach coiled as he joined his husband, nuzzling him too with a mewl while he kept
jerking him off. Yoongi’s hot breath against his neck and the quick rising and falling of his chest
made Jimin feel powerful because he knew he was responsible for his husband’s wrecked state.

It wasn’t until Yoongi leaned back and their gazes locked that Jimin noticed his own dick begin to
pulse. The alpha’s eyes were hooded as he regarded him hungrily, his lips glistening and parted as
he panted. It sent a shiver down Jimin’s spine, and he felt the back of his underwear getting wet.

Despite his previous words, the sight of his husband had aroused him, and Jimin found himself
moving his own hips weakly in search of some friction, too. His husband noticed the movement
and the slight change in his scent. He glanced down to find a small bulge in Jimin’s pants.
When Yoongi looked up at him again, Jimin begged. “Please, Yoongi. Touch me.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. With an eagerness that almost startled Jimin, his husband reached
for his arousal and claimed his lips again the moment he engulfed his cock with his hand. The
omega moaned against his lips, and Yoongi grunted as their tongues met.

In the middle of the nest Jimin had carefully crafted, in a mess of limbs and moans, they both
touched each other until they reached their climax, soiling their clothes and holding onto one
another tightly.

A moment of stillness followed until Yoongi began peppering small kisses along the column of his
neck, focusing on his scent gland before he made his way up. “Yoongi,” he panted with his eyes
half-closed as he tried to catch his breath.

His husband hummed in question and peeked at him. With his clean hand, Jimin carded his fingers
through Yoongi’s hair, brushing it back and away from his forehead as he basked in how content
he felt in his alpha’s arms. The omega observed his husband for a moment, his gaze softening as he
let his guard down.

“I’m happy I married you,” Jimin confessed sincerely, the words ringing true in his heart and mind.

He heard Yoongi's breath get caught in his throat upon hearing such a declaration. His eyes were
shining with astonishment as he watched him. Even though Yoongi wasn’t a very talkative person,
Jimin could tell that this time his silence was because he had been left speechless.

Maybe they weren’t the three words Yoongi was waiting for, but Jimin’s confession spoke
volumes. It was a testament to how much his feelings had grown as they spent time together and
opened up to each other. The distance between them grew smaller with each day, and the
realisation didn’t scare Jimin.

When Yoongi’s response was to bring him even closer, hugging him tightly but still mindful of his
belly, Jimin felt the shaky breath the alpha let out. Squeezing his eyes shut, Jimin clung to him just
as tightly, and he hoped with all his heart that now Yoongi knew just how important he had
become to him, too.

Chapter End Notes

Can we go back to chapter 7 for a second?

Yoongi: “Do you regret marrying me? Are you happy, Jimin?”

Jimin: “My family is okay and happy, and that’s all that matters.” [...] “You were the
one who told me during our first meeting that nobody would be happy with an
arranged marriage!”

And now let’s come back to this chapter and let’s appreciate how Jimin just told
Yoongi that he’s happy that he married him because he truly feels it in his heart. I’M
NOT OKAY.

This story may not be a slow burn when it comes to the physical parts of their
relationship, but it sure is when it comes to feelings! Personally, I really like how I’m
slowly unravelling everything, and I hope you’re not frustrated with the pace!

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments I got in the last chapter and for telling
me to not feel pressured and to take my time. I really appreciate it

Get ready for Min Haneul to be born in the next chapter!

Also, whenever I update, I always post some pics on twitter in case you want to check
them out!
Not Good Enough
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

They spent Christmas and New Year's Eve together, although they had to have lunch at Min
Doyun’s house to celebrate the new year. Jimin was already almost due, and the kingpin kept
mentioning how good this was for the clan, how Haneul would help strengthen their control over
Busan. Meanwhile, Jimin kept biting his tongue so he wouldn’t end up screaming at him to stop
talking about his baby as if he was just a mere pawn in his grand scheme of things.

However, it was his husband who couldn’t hold in his irritation any longer despite his calm nature.
“First and foremost, Haneul will be your grandson,” Yoongi reminded his father with a harsh
expression on his face.

The kingpin lowered his chopsticks to stare at him. As if he thought his son was being ridiculous,
Doyun scoffed. “Who said otherwise?”

Before Yoongi could retort, Jimin held his hand under the table to stop him. The last thing they
needed was for an argument to erupt. Luckily, with the excuse that Jimin was too tired due to his
pregnancy almost coming to an end, they could excuse themselves sooner than usual. Jimin
thanked Yoongi for it because it had been his idea. Sometimes his husband couldn’t stand the sight
of his father, either.

It was true that Jimin was exhausted most of the time. And nervous. Very nervous. Because their
baby could arrive any day now, and he was worried about everything. What if something happened
during labour? Would he be able to take care of Haneul properly? What if he accidentally dropped
him? He tried to talk about his fears with Yoongi, but even though his husband was good at
masking his own anxiety, Jimin could tell that the alpha was just as shaken up and concerned as
him.

As a male omega, Jimin would have a c-section, and the doctor had been the one to set a date for
the birth. The procedure would take place in the middle of January, but this was Jimin’s first
pregnancy, so he had warned them of the possibility of the baby arriving later. If the day of the
procedure came and Jimin still didn’t show any signs of the baby coming out, they would induce
the labour.

Jimin called his family a lot during that last week, especially to talk to his mother. Every time a
new question popped into his head, he felt the need to ask her about it, and as someone who had
birthed two children, she was great at answering him and calming him down. It was a shame they
couldn’t be here with him during such an important time, and their sadness was clear in their
voices.

One night, Jimin went to sleep with his body feeling more achy than usual. Noticing his
discomfort, Yoongi tried to soothe him, massaging his lower back and then lying behind him. He
spooned him and rested his hands on his big belly, caressing his skin as he let his petrichor scent
wash over him. This had always worked, but this time, Jimin couldn’t relax entirely.

He had a hard time falling asleep that night. Whenever he managed to drift off, the omega would
wake up twenty minutes later because his back hurt. Luckily, once it passed, he could fall asleep
again. Until he couldn’t. The pain wasn’t subsiding this time, and Jimin had a feeling something
wasn’t right.
He got out of Yoongi’s hold, who kept sleeping peacefully in their nest while Jimin sat up, placing
his feet on the floor and a hand against his lower back. His heart began to pound in his chest with
fright when he realised that not even the change in position did anything to stop that strange
cramping.

“Yoongi. Yoongi, wake up, please,” he said while shaking his husband awake. The alpha opened
his eyes slowly, squinting up at him at being woken up so abruptly. “I don’t feel well,” Jimin told
him with his heart in his throat.

His clear distress and words managed to completely wake him up, and Yoongi propped himself up
on his elbows. “What’s wrong?” he asked, voice rough with sleep.

“My back hurts more than usual, and I’m feeling this strange pressure in my pelvic, almost like
cramping.”

“Do you think the baby is coming already?” Yoongi sat up then as he searched for his discarded
shirt and put it on. “There’s still a couple of days left.”

“I don’t know,” Jimin whimpered, growing more anxious by the minute.

“Okay. It’s okay.” Yoongi hurried to comfort him, sitting next to him and bringing him in for a
hug. “We’ll go to the hospital just in case,” he told him, leaving a kiss on his temple.

“It’s 4 am,” Jimin pointed out after taking a quick look at the clock. “Maybe we should wait for a
little bit?” he asked unsurely.

What if he was just freaking out over nothing?

His husband’s lips curled up the faintest way. “Jimin, the baby doesn’t care about the time. He’ll
come when he’s ready.”

Jimin gulped. “I’m scared,” he admitted in a whisper.

He could read in Yoongi’s eyes that he was scared, too. But the alpha pushed his own worries
away so Jimin wouldn’t grow more shaken up. “It will be fine,” he assured him, caressing with his
thumb the omega’s cheek and the little scar that hadn’t truly faded yet. At this point, maybe it
never would. “Put on your coat. I’ll grab your things and call Hyukjae to bring the car.”

He nodded and got up with Yoongi’s assistance.

***

Jimin had been going into labour.

His water broke the moment they stepped into the hospital, and the doctor confirmed it after
examining him. Even though Jimin had suspected it at home, it still sent him into a frenzy when
the doctor said they needed to do the surgery now. In fact, he grew so shaken up that his breathing
accelerated, and he was soon hyperventilating as he held onto Yoongi’s hand with all his might.

Apart from the epidural, the nurse needed to inject him with a sedative because not even Yoongi’s
pheromones could do anything to calm him down when it was time to meet their little Haneul.
Fortunately, they let Yoongi go into the operating room with him. The alpha held his hand and
didn’t let go at all. Yoongi tried to remain strong for him, but Jimin could see that his husband was
scared shitless.

At some point during the intervention, the sedative did its job, and Jimin’s eyes ended up fluttering
closed. He heard Yoongi calling his name with a hint of panic in his voice. The midwife assured
him that he was fine. His constants were steady; he was just falling asleep as a result of the
sedative. Yoongi still looked nervous, and Jimin tried to keep his eyes open to confirm her words,
to not worry him, but his eyelids were too heavy, so he only managed to squeeze his hand once
more before he drifted off.

When he woke up again, he couldn't hear the beeping noise coming from the heart monitor
anymore. The lights were bright, but the familiar smell of petrichor anchored him. When Jimin
finally opened his eyes, he came face to face with his husband sitting on a stool next to him, still
holding his hand. The alpha’s cheek was pressed to the back of his smaller hand, his eyes closed,
and Jimin smiled in his half-awake state.

“Hello.” Jimin’s voice sounded rough, and he cleared his throat.

His eyes flew open, and Yoongi let out a shaky breath when their eyes met, lips curling up in relief.
“Hello, sleepyhead,” he whispered. “Want some water?”

The omega shook his head, still feeling out of it. As Jimin woke up, he realised where they were
and why they were there.

And their baby wasn’t here.

Before he could freak out, Yoongi was quick to tell him, “They’re cleaning him up. He’ll be here
soon.”

Jimin took in a deep breath to calm down from his sudden panic and held onto his husband’s hand
tighter. “Is he okay? Did you see him?”

“He’s more than okay. I only got a glimpse before they took him for a checkup. They’ll bring him
to you soon,” he assured him. “The doctor said the procedure went well. Are you feeling okay?”
Yoongi asked him worriedly, adjusting the sheet that was covering Jimin’s legs and still swollen
belly.

“Sleepy.”

“Haven’t you slept enough?” Yoongi joked.

Remembering his husband’s concern when he had fallen asleep during the c-section, Jimin reached
to cup the alpha’s cheek. “Sorry for scaring you,” he muttered regretfully.

But Yoongi shook his head with a faint smile. “Not your fault. Does anything hurt?”

“I still can’t feel much,” Jimin admitted. “I guess the epidural’s effect hasn’t worn off yet.”

A knock on the door made them fall silent, and Jimin’s heart skipped a beat before it started racing
when a nurse peeked her head inside. “Hello,” she said before she opened the door with a smile as
she entered. “Someone’s here to meet his parents.”

In her arms and wrapped in a small hospital sheet and blanket, their pup was sleeping peacefully.
Jimin couldn’t tear his eyes away as she walked closer. Immediately, he reached out to take him in
his arms. Haneul's tiny hands were clenched and resting at either side of his cute face, his rosy lips
puckered as he slept. He had the most adorable little nose and a wild tuff of black hair that Jimin
tried to comb with his fingers as he chuckled wetly, amazed beyond belief because he was holding
his baby. The one he had been carrying for nine months and kicked the shit out of him at night.
The little weight in his arms felt so right that Jimin couldn’t believe he had lived his whole life
without him.

“Hi, baby. Hi, Haneul-ah,” Jimin greeted him with the stupidest smile on his face. “Oh my gosh.
He’s so cute, Yoongi. He’s perfect,” he gushed while he touched with his fingertip his son's round
cheek. Jimin managed to look away for a moment to see his husband sitting there with his eyes
fixed on their baby. His mouth was agape, and Yoongi was blinking often. “He’s truly ours?” the
omega asked himself when he looked back at Haneul, not quite believing Yoongi and he had made
him.

“Yes, and you get to keep him,” the nurse joked. He had completely forgotten about her.

“This is surreal,” Jimin told her before he looked down at the baby again. “He’s been in my belly
for so long.”

“That’s a common reaction,” she chuckled. “We’ve run some tests, and he’s perfectly healthy,” she
informed them, and Jimin nodded eagerly at her, glad to hear that. “Would you like to know his
dynamic now?”

Jimin and Yoongi shared a brief look, and their answer was clear in their eyes: No. But they had to
know. The omega nodded his head.

“He's a healthy alpha.”

An alpha just like Eun.

Relief and dread; that's what Jimin felt at the news. Relief that his son was just what the clan
needed, and dread that his little pup was just what the clan wanted.

Before he started hyperventilating again, Jimin told himself to focus on the present. He didn't want
his fears to control him. To tarnish this moment. He wouldn't give Min Doyun that satisfaction.

“I’ll come back later to teach you how to feed him for the first time, okay?” the nurse told him.
“I’ll give you some time alone with the baby.”

Yoongi got up and bowed. “Thank you for everything.”

“Thanks,” Jimin added quickly, incapable of tearing his eyes away from Haneul for long enough.

She smiled and waved her hand before she left the room.

When Yoongi sat again, he did so slowly, his gaze on Haneul. Even though the baby was sleeping,
Jimin couldn’t stop himself any longer, and he scented him as best as he could without waking him
up. His heart immediately settled once he could smell his morning dew and jasmine scent on this
little bundle of joy that he was immensely happy to call his.

After a few more minutes of staring and trying to memorise his little face, Jimin looked at his
husband once more, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “You haven’t said anything yet,” Jimin told him
kindly.
Yoongi raised his eyes to his and shrugged slightly. “I don’t know what to say.”

Jimin chuckled, too thrilled about finally having Haneul in his arms to notice Yoongi’s distress that
was souring his scent. “Do you want to hold him? You should scent him too.”

A long silence followed, one that turned uncomfortable when Jimin finally noticed the tension
marring Yoongi’s face. The realisation that something was very wrong had Jimin’s stomach
dropping.

“You don’t want to?” the omega whispered in disbelief.

Yoongi only lowered his head in shame, incapable of meeting his eyes as he clenched his hands
into fists in his lap.

Jimin swallowed thickly. Trying to remain optimistic, he suggested, “You could just… touch him.”

Again, no answer, and Jimin couldn’t help the whimper that left his lips. Was Yoongi rejecting
their baby? Why didn’t he want to even touch him?

The omega’s sorrow made Yoongi finally raise his head. His jaw was clenched, a pained look in
his eyes that Jimin had never seen before. Slowly, he noticed that his husband was lifting his hand,
his eyes fixed on their baby again, who was completely unaware of his parents’ distress. His heart
filled with hope at Yoongi’s attempt, but when his fingers were about to come into contact with the
warm and soft skin of Haneul’s cheek, his hand began to tremble.

“Fuck.” Yoongi gritted out under his breath before he lowered his head and covered his face with
his hands, incapable of touching their son.

The sight and the alpha’s obvious pain had Jimin’s heart breaking into a million pieces.

“Yoongi,” Jimin called him, but Yoongi didn’t move. The omega swallowed down his tears and
tried to remain strong for the both of them, just like his husband had done so many times before for
him. He placed his hand on his shoulder. “Yoongi, please tell me what’s wrong.”

But his husband shook his head, still hiding from him. From them.

“I can't see you like this. Please talk to me,” Jimin tried again, his bottom lip wobbling. “Whatever
it is, don't keep it to yourself. I can't bear it.”

He heard how the alpha was trying to take deep breaths, and Jimin decided to set aside his own
anguish to give him some time to gather himself.

“I can't touch him. My hands… They're not clean,” Yoongi explained, voice muffled. “I don't–He
was just born, and I already cursed him with my surname.”

Finally understanding where this was coming from, Jimin deflated. “Yoongi…”

“I've been fearing this moment for so long,” Yoongi confessed, lowering his hands but only to end
up looking to the side, tousling his hair anxiously. “I thought I would be okay. I thought I could do
it. But look at him .” His voice cracked when he glanced at their son, and he looked down again,
gripping his thighs. “He's so small and untainted, and I'm going to be responsible for ruining his
life because there's blood on my hands. That's the future that awaits him because of me. It's my
fault.”

There was a hole in Jimin’s chest that kept growing bigger with each word Yoongi said, and the
omega pursed his lips as he regarded his husband’s guilt-ridden stance. “It's not your fault.”

“It is,” Yoongi reiterated stubbornly. “He carries my blood.”

“Then it's my fault, too,” Jimin declared defiantly and, quite frankly, a little pissed off at him.

Yoongi flinched. “Jimin,” he warned him, finally meeting his gaze. “No.”

“But it is,” the omega retorted, just as stubborn as him. “I was the one who agreed to this marriage
without a second thought. I decided to protect my family without thinking about the collateral
damages.” His grip on their baby tightened the tiniest bit, but he never averted his eyes away from
Yoongi’s. “I knew the deal included having kids, but I was blinded by my selfish wishes and didn't
think about how this would affect my future children.”

“Declining the offer would've brought your family even more problems,” Yoongi countered with a
furrowed brow. “My father didn't give you a choice, and you know it.”

“You didn't get to choose the family you were born in, either,” Jimin stated without missing a beat.
Yoongi faltered, and another long silence followed as realisation sank deep into the alpha’s bones.
“I won't let you do this to yourself, just like you didn't let me do this when I first found out I was
pregnant.”

Yoongi took in a shaky breath before his eyes drifted down to their son. “I just feel so sorry for
him,” he whispered guiltily.

“Look at him,” Jimin told him, bringing him closer to him. Yoongi gulped, incapable of tearing his
eyes away even though the sight of Haneul sleeping peacefully without a care in the world pained
him. “He is going to be fine. I know you went through a lot. That you didn't get the love you
craved from your dad, and that you worry he'll have to endure those same things,” Jimin said
softly, reaching out to place his hand on Yoongi’s nape while he cradled their baby in his other
arm.

“But you're not your father. Your brother isn't Min Doyun, either. The fact you're berating yourself
over this speaks volumes of the type of parent you're going to be; that you already are. I'm here
with you, and we will do our best so he can have a good life. A better one,” Jimin continued,
squeezing his nape as he watched Yoongi look at him with a hopeful expression that had his heart
stuttering. “But I can't do this alone. Please tell me we're in this together.”

Leaning forward, Yoongi pressed his forehead to Jimin’s before he told him solemnly, “We are.”

Relief washed over Jimin, and he sniffled, closing his eyes for a moment to calm down. “Good,”
Jimin said before he looked down at Haneul in between them. A small smile lifted the corner of
his lips. “Now say hello to your son.”

With unsure fingers, Yoongi caressed the baby’s tiny fingers. The awed look with which he
regarded Haneul only intensified when their pup opened his palm and closed it again around his
bigger finger. Much to their wonderment, Haneul woke up slowly, and his little mouth opened as
he yawned, letting them see his rosy gums. Jimin and Yoongi watched enthralled as their son
opened his eyes a little bit. Haneul remained just as calm as when he was sleeping, content in his
dad's arms and with their undivided attention on him.

“Hello, Haneul-ah,” Jimin greeted him once more, feeling himself tear up at the beautiful sight.

“He's tiny,” Yoongi marvelled, his finger still trapped in the baby’s palm.
Jimin chuckled wetly. “Well, we aren't exactly giants.”

In any other circumstances, Yoongi would have sent him an exasperated look, but he was too
mesmerised by their son to do so. “He's perfect,” he declared instead.

A grin split Jimin’s lips, and he nodded eagerly. “He is.”

Using his wrist, Yoongi scented their baby carefully, their petrichor and morning dew scents
mingling together. The smell had Jimin relaxing against the pillows as his inner omega preened,
incredibly pleased with the alpha and their little pup.

Their family of three.

***

After he had fed Haneul for the first time with the help of the nurse from before, both parents were
once more watching their baby. Every little sound he made, his every gesture just seemed like the
most amazing thing in the world. They kept cooing and marvelling at him to the point of forgetting
about everything else.

“Oh, shoot. Have you told anyone about it?” Jimin suddenly asked his husband, his eyes widening
when he realised he hadn’t even talked to his parents yet.

Yoongi blinked, just as taken aback as him. “I should start making a few calls. We haven’t told
anyone. It all happened so fast,” he murmured to himself as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
However, he stopped himself just as he was typing to shoot Jimin a careful look. “My family will
want to come and meet him.”

The omega hesitated. He brought Haneul closer to his chest, suddenly feeling overly protective.
“Can he just… not touch him?” Jimin didn’t have to say his name for Yoongi to know who he was
referring to. “Would he get mad if we didn’t let anyone touch Haneul yet? It’s not like I believe
your family is going to hurt him or anything like that,” he hurried to clarify, not wanting to offend
Yoongi. Jimin bit his lip nervously. “I just—I don’t want them scenting him by mistake. Is that
weird?”

“No,” Yoongi shook his head. He didn’t look offended. On the contrary, Jimin could see that he
agreed with him. “Newly parents are usually very protective of their babies.”

“Okay then,” Jimin agreed quietly before he turned his attention back to Haneul.

While Yoongi sent a few texts and called his father, Jimin focused on his baby to drown everything
else out. Haneul looked sleepy again after eating. His eyes kept fluttering close, but then he would
open them again and look at Jimin while opening and closing his mouth, making endearing sounds
that had his heart melting. It almost completely distracted him from the heavy feeling settling in his
stomach.

“I wish my parents could come here to meet you too,” Jimin found himself murmuring. He was
brushing his pup’s little mop of black hair, which refused to stay in place, unaware that Yoongi had
heard him.

“Jimin.”
When the omega looked up at his husband in question, he saw that Yoongi was looking at his
phone. He heard the ringtone as the alpha waited for someone to pick up and when they did,
Yoongi turned it around and Jimin’s eyes widened.

His parents and brother greeted him enthusiastically, their three faces pressed together, eager to see
him as they face-timed him all the way from Busan.

“Hyung!” Jihyun beamed.

“H-Hi,” Jimin stammered, not having expected that Yoongi was going to call his family first.

“Yoongi texted us that the baby was born today!” his mother exclaimed with the biggest smile on
her face. “Show us our first grandson!”

When Yoongi lowered the phone to give them a good look at Haneul, Jihyun and his mother cooed
at the baby. Haneul had been on the verge of falling asleep, but he woke up once more at their
boisterous voices. He still didn’t cry, though. He just remained there, content in Jimin’s arms. It
was too soon to tell, but the omega guessed he had inherited Yoongi’s calm nature.

“He has your lips,” his father pointed out. “He’ll have a mighty pout you won’t be able to resist.”

His mother laughed at that. “That’s right! Your dad could never say no to you when you were a
toddler. The moment you whined and pouted your lips, it was game over.”

“Only as a toddler, you say?” Jihyun quirked an eyebrow, a shit-eating grin stretching his lips.
“Please, Jimin-hyung never stopped doing it, and dad still falls for it.”

Jimin joined in on their laughter, and he caught the way Yoongi's lips were curled up too.

“How are you doing, sweetheart? Did the c-section go well?” Seoyun asked him when their
laughter died down. She looked concerned about him. “Are you in pain?”

They talked for a long time. For so long that Haneul ended up falling asleep, and Jimin worried
Yoongi's arm was going to fall off from holding the phone up so he could talk comfortably with
them while still holding their son. But not once did they ask about Haneul's dynamic. Because they
didn't care about that.

Jimin had needed this little moment with his family so much. He needed his mother's comfort, the
soothing words of his father, and bickering with his brother. It wasn't the same as if they were here
with him, but it was something.

When they hung up and their boisterous voices and thick accents ceased to fill the room, Jimin’s
eyes clouded with the tears he had been fighting without realising it. He lowered his head as his
shoulders began to tremble while the first tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Yoongi,” he called for his husband, and Yoongi was immediately there to wrap him in a
comforting hug.

“I'm sorry. I wish I could do more,” Yoongi told him with his lips brushing the top of his head.

“It's not your fault,” Jimin sobbed quietly, not wanting to disturb Haneul's sleep. “I just wish they
were here today. That's all.” He peered up at his husband as he sniffled, using the sleeve of his
hospital gown to dry his face a little bit. Meanwhile, Yoongi was looking at him with a torn
expression Jimin didn't like. “Thank you for letting them meet Haneul first,” he told him sincerely,
feeling very grateful for his thoughtfulness.
Yoongi nodded, his gaze softening a bit before he kissed Jimin's forehead. But once the alpha
straightened up again, Jimin tilted his head back. He regarded his husband for a moment until
Yoongi understood, and he leaned down to press a soft kiss on his salty lips. One that brought him
as much comfort as his family's phone call.

***

That same day, the Min family came to the hospital to meet the newest addition to the clan.

The first one to arrive was Yoongi's brother with Hyemi and little Eun. Until then, Jimin had not
realised that two bodyguards were guarding the door to his private room. The thought that security
was necessary even when they were at a hospital made him feel queasy, so he decided to focus on
Hyemi and Geumjae's congratulations on the arrival of their baby while Eun clung to Yoongi's
legs.

His husband picked him up and hugged his nephew while Geumjae patted Yoongi's back with a
proud smile. Jimin watched the scene with a little grin until he found Eun glancing his way. The
kid looked curious as he tried to take a peek at the baby in his arms, but he was more reserved than
usual.

“Eun-ah, do you want to meet your cousin?” Jimin asked him invitingly.

The little kid hid in his uncle’s shoulder, but he nodded his head, peeking at Haneul again. Yoongi
brought him closer to the bed and sat him with his legs tucked under him next to Jimin. The kid
was observing his baby cousin sleep with lips parted in wonder.

“His name is Haneul,” Jimin told him, holding his son closer to Eun.

“Is he sleeping?” the boy asked.

“He is. Babies sleep a lot,” Hyemi informed him with a motherly smile.

“I nap, too.” Eun frowned. “But I’m not a baby.”

“Your uncle Jimin has been taking lots of naps lately. Naps are for everyone,” Yoongi told his
nephew with an amused smirk as he regarded his husband.

Jimin shot him an unimpressed look at that, but Yoongi looked so happy at that moment that the
omega’s lips ended up curling up too. It was impossible to get annoyed at his husband when there
was no sign of tension or gloominess marring his features. Jimin wanted to remember his plethoric
expression at that moment forever.

The only thing that managed to make Jimin look away from his handsome husband was their baby
squirming. In his sleep, Haneul was moving his hands a little, his mouth opening and closing
before he relaxed again. Eun’s eyes widened with wonder as he whipped his head toward Jimin. He
chuckled at his endearing reaction, and so did the other adults in the room.

“Can I touch him?” Eun asked.

But his mother shook her head. “You’ll wake him up.”
“It’s fine,” Jimin agreed. “But you have to do it very gently, okay? That way he won’t wake up.”

As a toddler, Eun didn’t have a particular smell yet, so Jimin didn’t mind it when he touched the
baby’s hand with his, tracing it along Haneul’s soft skin. He looked at his mother and Jimin,
searching for their approval, and the omegas nodded their heads as they smiled at Eun’s cuteness.

“Yoongi,” he heard Geumjae say quietly to his brother now that Eun was distracted, “is he an
alpha?”

Jimin looked at the Min brothers at that and saw his husband sigh with a tired expression on his
face. “He is, yes.”

Geumjae nodded, and he squeezed his younger brother's arm as he regarded him with a
sympathetic look. “It'll be okay. We'll make it okay,” he promised.

Swallowing thickly, Jimin averted his gaze from the exchange with a heavy heart, only to find that
Hyemi was regarding him. She smiled forlornly, knowing what they were going through.
Somehow that made him feel a tiny bit better.

Before the family left after spending some time with them, Eun leaned forward and kissed
Haneul’s cheek just as softly as before. “Bye, bye, Haneul-ah,” he whispered in that exaggerated
voice kids used when they tried to be quiet.

Eun was so precious. Too precious for the life that awaited him… Before his thoughts could go
down that route and ruin his mood, Jimin swallowed thickly and focused on scenting Haneul again.

Seeing Misun enter the room an hour later was no problem–Jimin wanted her to meet her new
grandson. But her arrival meant that the last person he wanted to see had also come to meet his
baby.

Yoongi had been sitting on the edge of the bed with one of his arms around Jimin’s shoulders as
they watched Haneul. His husband must’ve caught his father’s scent because, before the door
opened, Yoongi grew rigid. He got up before Min Doyun entered with a bodyguard, who was
holding a bouquet of hibiscus flowers.

In his exhaustion after such a long day, Jimin couldn’t stop the way he wrinkled his nose in distaste
at the scent while Yoongi bowed deeply to his father and, foremost, his boss. It was a gesture of
utter respect that must’ve been ingrained in both the brothers’ brains since young. They did it
automatically whenever they saw their father, their bodies growing stiff momentarily before they
relaxed once Doyun acknowledged their greeting. Yoongi wasn’t scared to face his father–Jimin
had witnessed that firsthand when his husband had gone all the way to Busan to protect his family
and disobeyed his father’s orders in the process. But this was something neither Yoongi nor
Geumjae could stop doing. Jimin didn’t want to think about how such a reaction could have ended
up becoming second nature.

With Min Doyun’s eyes fixed on their little pup, Jimin couldn’t even greet Misun properly when
she approached him after giving her son a heartfelt hug. The flowers weren’t their only gift, though.
Misun was carrying a bag that she gave to Yoongi. They had brought their grandson a fluffy
blanket for babies with the Mugunghwa's emblem embroidered.

Unlike Misun, Doyun just stood in front of Yoongi and wordlessly squeezed his arm before he got
closer to Jimin and the baby. The omega tried to remain calm, but his instincts were screaming at
him to not let that man near Haneul. Jimin knew he wouldn’t hurt him, but his inner omega kept
trashing inside him while Doyun studied his new grandson as he slept in his arms.
Despite his inner turmoil, Jimin managed to keep his composure. Until Doyun got too close. His
hibiscus scent as well as the flowers he had brought overwhelmed him. The kingpin reached out to
touch Haneul, and immediately Jimin tensed up.

No, no, no. Not his scent on my baby. Not yet. Please, please, please, he thought over and over
again as he watched helplessly how his hand got closer.

Yet, before the omega could protest, Yoongi growled at his father from behind, a threatening
sound that made Doyun halt before he could touch Haneul.

“Father,” Yoongi warned him in the lowest voice Jimin had ever heard him use, his body rigid
with tension as he glared at the kingpin.

When Doyun looked over his shoulder at his son, Jimin’s heart started pounding in his chest,
terrified of the man’s possible reaction. Yoongi had growled at him. Alphas rarely reacted kindly to
that, and he expected nothing else from the Mugunghwa clan’s kingpin.

Doyun assessed his son for a moment, the tension in the room escalating as Jimin waited with
bated breath for the man to speak. Probably sensing the heavy atmosphere around him, Haneul
woke up then and began to let out pitiful whimpers that caught everyone’s attention, breaking the
moment. Jimin was quick to shush him softly as he rocked him in his arms. Incapable of stopping
himself, Jimin also brought him closer to his face so he could scent him once more, needing the
hibiscus smell slowly permeating the room to not cling to his pup.

“Doyun, dear,” Misun tried to placate her husband when Haneul had calmed down again.

The man seemed to agree with his wife, looking too satisfied with the birth of a new grandson to
care about that. Haneul was another indication that his clan would still be standing for another
generation after he was gone, and there was nothing Min Doyun wanted more than that. The clan
came first.

Turning back to his son, Doyun nodded. “I get it. New parents and all that,” he waved it off. “I’ve
gone through it twice, so I understand feeling very protective so soon after having the baby.”

The man smirked and patted Yoongi's back, but he did so a little too roughly, as if in warning.
Jimin saw his husband biting back another growl, not wanting things to escalate here. He thanked
the heavens for his husband's temperance.

After that, Doyun turned back to look at Jimin. “Yoongi told me over the phone that he's an alpha.
Well done, dear Jimin.”

He didn’t say it explicitly, but they were both very aware that he was referring to their deal. Jimin
had now completely carried out his duties.

Still trying to lull Haneul back to sleep, Jimin just nodded at his father-in-law. He didn’t have the
strength to do more today.

Once his parents left, Yoongi didn’t hesitate to grab the flowers next to his bed to get rid of them
because he knew Jimin hated that smell. It was why the omega’s tension hadn’t left his body even
after Min Doyun had left. The smell lingered, and it subconsciously told him that he couldn’t relax
yet.

Jimin was grateful for his husband’s thoughtfulness, but when he saw that Yoongi was also taking
the blanket with him, the omega stopped him by resting his hand over his. Yoongi sent him a
questioning look at that.
“It's a cute blanket and very soft. I'm sure Haneul will like it,” Jimin told him softly.

Yoongi regarded him with a quirked eyebrow. “Are you sure?” Jimin nodded. His husband pursed
his lips, still not convinced. “You're not doing this because you're scared my dad will get mad?”

He faltered briefly, but Jimin understood why Yoongi would come to that conclusion. “No, it's a
gift from his grandparents. It doesn't bother me.”

They locked eyes for a moment as Yoongi studied him intently, but Jimin remained calm. He
wasn't lying to the alpha, and he seemed to realise this, too. “Okay. I’ll be right back,” Yoongi said
before he left the room with the flowers only.

Jimin’s eyes remained glued to the door even after Yoongi had left. The omega knew he couldn't
be so on the defensive about everything that had to do with Min Doyun all the time. It wasn't
healthy, and, in a way, it hurt Yoongi. Jimin was trying his best to stop waiting for a punch to
come because, in the end, it never came.

Another thing that was slowly making Jimin change his mind was that he had seen Doyun
interacting with Eun a few times already. He acted like a doting grandfather to him. Jimin had
never seen Doyun being too strict with the kid, only when it came to basic manners despite his
young age. He had talked about it with Yoongi, and his husband had told him that as long as it was
clear that Eun would have to inherit the title one day and that that meant preparing him for it when
the time came, Min Doyun hadn’t done much about it.

Maybe Doyun was waiting for Eun to grow up to meddle, but for now, it was fine, and Jimin
hoped with all his heart that he would treat Haneul the same way. He wasn't the heir. Their child
wouldn’t have to carry that weight on his shoulders, so he hoped with all his heart that Yoongi and
he would have a little bit more freedom when it came to his upbringing. Doyun had been very strict
with both his sons, but Geumjae had still been the one to bear most of the crown’s weight.

He hated that a cute and innocent kid like Eun had such a harsh future ahead of him, and Jimin
hated himself for thanking fate that Haneul wasn’t in his position.

Jimin stayed in the hospital for almost a week so he could heal enough and to make sure his
painful recovery was going well before he was discharged. Haneul was perfect. The doctor had just
been waiting for Jimin to feel better.

During that week, Yoongi took a couple of days off, but he had to go back to work soon after. He
still refused to be gone for longer than a few hours, though, and he had his phone with him all the
time, answering emails and making phone calls from his hospital room. Jimin worried about him,
but his husband assured him that his brother was covering up for him, just like Yoongi had done
for him when Eun had been born.

The omega talked to his parents a lot and face-timed them whenever Yoongi was around, but Jimin
was never truly alone. He had Haneul with him, and the nurses came often to see how they were
doing. They taught him how to change his diapers, feed him and how to take care of him. Those
were things Jimin had read about, but doing them was another thing altogether. Plus, Misun came
regularly too to see her grandson and keep Jimin company.

His stay there wasn’t that bad, but he still couldn’t wait to go back home and sleep next to Yoongi
in their bed. His husband had stayed with him every night, but Yoongi had been sleeping on the
small couch in the private room, and he could tell that his neck and back were paying the price for
it. After a few days, his husband would wake up grunting due to his sore muscles, supporting his
right side whenever he got up.
Jimin watched him worriedly every morning. He should insist that he went home so he could sleep
comfortably, but Jimin truly didn’t want to be alone here at night. The one time he had told him so,
Yoongi had refused, so he hadn’t brought it up again.

After saying goodbye to the kind nurses who had been taking such good care of him, Yoongi and
he finally went back home with their little pup.

“Excited to get home?” Yoongi asked him, watching him with amused eyes as they went up to their
apartment in the elevator. He was carrying Haneul, who was happily resting in his carrycot.

The moment they left the hospital, Jimin had grown very giddy to get home. “Yes,” he replied with
a smile as he waited impatiently for the doors to open. His eyes drifted down to their baby, and his
smile only widened. “I can’t wait to show Haneul his nursery. Wait,” Jimin halted, “did you touch
the nests?”

“I would never,” Yoongi promised. The omega relaxed. “Don’t worry. They’re right where you left
them.” His husband hesitated then, and Jimin shot him a curious look. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Jimin blinked. “For me? What is it?”

The alpha rolled his eyes as he adjusted his grip on the handle of the carrycot. “Just let me surprise
you,” he said, but Jimin could tell that Yoongi’s smile was twitching a little at the corners. His
husband was nervous. Once they stood in front of their front door, Yoongi joked, “Do you
remember the password?”

It was Jimin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Of course I do.”

When the door opened, Jimin stuck his tongue out at his husband, who laughed softly at the
immature gesture. Still, he could see that Yoongi was standing a little stiffly. The omega pursed his
lips in concern, but Yoongi nudged him to get inside, and so he did.

From the hallway, the first thing that greeted him was the sight of balloons and some garlands
decorating the living room as they walked in. “Did you prepare that?” he asked his husband with an
amused grin.

But Yoongi shook his head.

Confused, Jimin kept walking until he caught a familiar scent. His breath hitched.

His father, mother and brother stood in the decorated living room, waiting for them with Gayoon,
who was regarding them with a warm smile.

His family was here. His family, who was supposed to be back in Busan.

”Surprise.” His mother whispered because of the baby with the biggest smile on her face as she
spread her arms and walked toward him.

Jimin faltered, his breath coming out raggedly as Seoyun enveloped him in her comforting
embrace. His father and brother followed suit, but Jimin was in shock. It was their familiar scents,
the scents he had longed for for so long that made him comprehend they were here in Seoul.

With him.

The moment it dawned on him, Jimin’s eyes filled with tears, his chest rising and falling as he
panted, and he tried his best to hug them back just as tightly as they were.
“What are you doing here?” he asked them after a long moment. “I thought–I thought you couldn’t
come.”

“And we technically can’t, but your husband made it possible,” his father replied when they
separated a little bit. Namkyu sent his husband a look, and Yoongi bowed his head before his dad
turned back to him. “We will only get to stay here for a few days, though.”

“Sorry.” Yoongi finally spoke but remained at a distance from them, still carrying Haneul. “That’s
the only time I could get you.”

His mother dried her cheeks with the back of her hand before she smiled gratefully at her son-in-
law. “It’s better than nothing. Thank you again, Yoongi.”

The alpha shook his head, looking awkward at their gratitude. To avoid having everyone’s
attention, Yoongi set the carrycot on the couch so they could greet their grandson properly. After
hugging Gayoon in greeting, having missed her too, Jimin picked Haneul up carefully.

While the Park family and Gayoon gushed over the pup, who was awake once more, the omega
heard Yoongi murmur that he was going to leave his hospital bag in their bedroom. Jimin knew he
was subtly giving them a moment alone, and he watched his husband’s back as he disappeared into
their room. He didn't have to think about it. Jimin left Haneul in his mother’s arms and followed
Yoongi.

The alpha was leaving the bag next to the bathroom with a sigh when Jimin came into the
bedroom. Noticing this, Yoongi turned around to face him with a question hanging from his lips,
his brow furrowed slightly. But Jimin didn’t pay it any mind. Instead, he strode across the room
towards Yoongi, grabbed his face and kissed him long and hard.

For the first time, Jimin didn’t use an excuse or give Yoongi a hint about what he wanted so he
would take the first step. No. This time, Jimin let his heart guide him, his mind cooperating for
once, and he kissed Yoongi with all the overwhelming affection he felt for this man in front of him.
The sweetest and most caring alpha life could’ve brought his way.

“Thank you,” Jimin told him in between kisses before he leaned back enough to meet his gaze.
“Thank you so much, Yoongi.”

His husband was panting, and he let out a shaky breath but didn’t move away, content with having
Jimin’s hands still cupping his face. “It’s the one thing you wanted,” he whispered, sounding
affected. “I’m glad I could give it to you.”

How could someone with such an upbringing be such a sweetheart? Jimin could’ve melted in his
husband’s arms right then and there.

But then, his heart shrunk as he realised something. “You won’t get in trouble for this, right?”
Yoongi schooled his expression, and Jimin just knew. “Yoongi.”

His husband pursed his lips but admitted reluctantly, “No more than I already have.”

Jimin frowned, his growing suspicions souring his scent. The omega lowered his hands to
Yoongi’s sides and his husband's expression twitched. Jimin gripped the alpha's sweater. “Is that
why your ribs hurt?”

“You were miserable,” Yoongi said instead to justify himself. “I couldn’t stand it.”

Jimin lifted his husband's sweater and shirt to find bruises running along his right side. He covered
him up again, his insides burning with anger at realising that this was why Yoongi always woke up
sore at the hospital and not because of the small couch where he had been sleeping. “I don’t care,”
Jimin refuted with his brows furrowed. “Your well-being is more important than getting what I
want.”

Yoongi blinked slowly at that, and Jimin felt guilty because it seemed like his husband still didn’t
get it. It wasn’t his fault, really. After all, Jimin hadn’t made it sufficiently clear already. He
wasn’t ready to say those words yet, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t ready to express his fondness
for him.

“I’m eternally grateful for what you did today, Yoongi. But if this is going to cost you getting hurt
because of me, don’t do it ever again,” he stated firmly. “I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for
me. That won’t make me happy. I want to be happy with you,” he emphasised before he swallowed
thickly, feeling sheepish but determined to make him see. “Because I care about you. A lot.”

There was a moment of stillness that followed, only interrupted by the voices of Jimin’s family in
the living room, but the married couple were so caught up in each other that they could barely
register them. Yoongi’s piercing eyes were studying the omega’s face, and Jimin waited for him to
find whatever he was searching for. He hoped he found it.

Slowly, Yoongi lifted his hands to bring him close. He wrapped his arms around Jimin and hugged
him. The omega closed his eyes as he pressed his cheek against his firm chest and let out a content
sigh when he felt Yoongi’s lips pressing against his hair.

Sadly, the moment didn’t last long. They had guests, after all.

It was Yoongi who reminded him of it. “You should go back before your family asks where we
are,” Yoongi told him when he let go of him.

But Jimin reached for the alpha’s hand and held it in his. “Come with us. You’re part of the Park
family, too.”

They shared another long look. Jimin remained firm and offered his husband a smile. He didn’t
have to wait long for his answer.

Yoongi went with him.

Chapter End Notes

I feel like so many things happened in this chapter, I don't know what to say lol

Haneul is finally here! Yoongi is a little bit of a mess, BUT he's still a protective dad
and Jimin will be there to help him through it! And he brought the Parks to Seoul!!!!
despite knowing his father wouldn't be happy about it because he knows how much
Jimin needs them right now *kicks Doyun in the ribs as payback*

This was a long chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. I showed a little sneak peek on
twitter of this chapter and the response was great so maybe I'll try doing that again
before I post chapter 11 (which i need to really start working on!) Thank you so much
for all the love, kudos, comments and recs on twitter! I really appreciate them all, and
it was thanks to all your love, excitement and sweet words that I managed to finish this
loooong chapter sooner than expected, so thank you for the motivation!!! <3333333

twitter
Unconditional Love
Chapter Notes

I almost didn’t post this today, but it was ready, and it’s not a very angsty chapter so
I’m hoping it can make you feel a little bit better <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

He had known that taking care of a newborn baby wasn’t going to be easy, but Jimin hadn’t known
it could be so exhausting until now. The first days went great because it was something new and
exciting. But when the sleepless nights kept piling up, Jimin began to notice their effect.

He at least had his family with him. They were staying in the same building as them, in an
apartment Yoongi had rented for them, and they helped him a lot during the day and made it
possible for him to rest a little. But his husband wasn’t so lucky because he had to work.

“Stay for a little bit more.” Jimin pouted with his eyes closed, clinging to his husband under their
warm comforter when his alarm went off, which was a rarity.

Yoongi always woke up a few minutes before his alarm. That was why Jimin sometimes didn't
know when he had gotten up. Yet, this morning it felt like they had just gone back to sleep after the
last time Haneul had woken them up that night. Jimin had had to feed him, so he had told Yoongi
to go back to sleep, but still. They hadn't gotten a good and long night of sleep ever since Haneul
was born.

“I wish I could,” Yoongi groaned as he lay on his back with Jimin's arm draped across his chest.

“You can. I’ll make you.”

Yoongi laughed lowly, his voice rough with sleep. The sound had Jimin's still swollen stomach
tingling pleasantly.

He had to work for long hours to make up for the time he had spent with Jimin at the hospital, but
Jimin had a feeling that Yoongi was also trying to stay away. The Park family spent most of the
day in their apartment, trying to make the most of the little time they had before they had to go
back to Busan. And, of course, Jimin had noticed his husband's awkwardness around them.

It was clear that Yoongi wasn’t comfortable with people he didn't know well. The alpha had gone
back to his evasive behaviour from the beginning; to those first days of their marriage. And this
change wasn't just because he didn't know his family well. Jimin knew it had a lot to do with how
their marriage came to be, as well as Yoongi’s self-deprecation.

There was something akin to guilt whenever he was near them. It was true that his father had been
a little colder towards him than his mother and brother, but Namkyu wasn’t rude or uncivil, and he
extended his thanks to Yoongi for arranging this trip and bringing them here. Still, his husband was
having a hard time adjusting to their constant presence even if he hadn’t told Jimin anything about
it.

“Don't worry about me, just enjoy your precious time together,” Yoongi had told him one night
after Jimin had brought up his obvious discomfort.

He hadn't wanted to press him about it when he clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so Jimin had
dropped it because this had a lot to do with Yoongi's nature, and he didn't want to add to his
discomfort. Either way, Yoongi came home every night and had dinner with them before they all
went to sleep. He was making an effort, and Jimin couldn’t ask for more.

The married couple had almost fallen asleep again without meaning to when Haneul’s whimpering
reached them, followed by the baby’s full-on crying noises. Their eyes flew open before they
groaned in unison, squirming in bed as they tried to wake up.

Jimin sighed before he absentmindedly left a kiss on Yoongi’s shoulder, and then he was sitting up
slowly. “Guess it can’t be helped,” the omega murmured tiredly. “He doesn’t want you to be late,”
he added, looking back at Yoongi with a little smile as the alpha also got up to start his day.

Yoongi looked at him on his way to the bathroom, his lips quirking up briefly before he went to
take a shower. Jimin stood there for a moment, observing the closed door with a pensive look on
his face. He heaved a heavy sigh before he hurried to the nursery.

“Hello again, darling,” he whispered as he picked Haneul up. “I know. I know you’re hungry,”
Jimin said while he sat on the glider chair with his pup to feed him.

His cries stopped once Haneul started sucking on his nipple eagerly, making breathy sounds that
Jimin always found very endearing. Jimin leaned back against the comfortable chair and closed his
eyes. He was so tired he could’ve fallen asleep at that moment, but thoughts about Yoongi kept
him from drifting off.

By the time Jimin had already finished feeding Haneul and was trying to lull him back to sleep in
his arms, Yoongi reappeared all dressed up and ready for work. He stood by the door, watching
them unsurely.

“Come in. He’s still awake,” Jimin whispered.

The alpha did so while Jimin got up carefully with Haneul, not wanting to jostle him too much.
Yoongi stood in front of them with his eyes on their pup. He looked conflicted, like he wanted to
reach out but couldn’t.

Jimin knew he was looking at his husband worriedly, but he couldn’t help it. Yoongi had been
trying so hard lately. To be around, to take care of their baby, to do well. But Jimin could see that
he was still struggling with what they had talked about at the hospital. Such fears and insecurities
didn’t go away just because you talked about them. Jimin knew that very well because he was
fighting his own battles.

“Daddy is going to work now, but he’ll be back soon,” Jimin whispered, rocking Haneul gently
before he looked up at his husband. “You should kiss him goodbye,” he encouraged him softly.

Yoongi glanced at him before he looked down again. He hesitated. Tentatively, Yoongi leaned
down and pressed his lips to Haneul’s forehead. The baby kicked his legs a little at the contact,
making a gurgling sound as he looked up at Yoongi.

Jimin smiled. “See? He loves it. Haneul will miss you,” he told his husband, who looked in awe at
both of them. Jimin would never get over that soft, almost innocent look on the alpha’s face; his
heart fluttered wildly every time he saw it. “I’ll miss you, too. Come back soon, okay?” the omega
said despite his growing embarrassment.
A little smile stretched Yoongi’s lips, and he nodded. “Call me if anything happens, okay?”

With that, he turned around to leave, and Jimin couldn’t believe it.

Before he knew what he was doing, Jimin grabbed the sleeve of his jacket to stop him. “Wait.”

“What is it?” Yoongi frowned, looking at the baby in case he had missed something.

Jimin blushed. He tried to tell himself to let it be, but his heart wouldn’t listen. “You didn’t kiss
me,” he murmured through his embarrassment.

There was a beat of silence before Yoongi’s eyes widened slightly, his mouth parting. “Oh,” he let
out.

Feeling overwhelmed, Jimin hurried to let go of him and took a step back. “Sorry, that was
awkward,” he chuckled self-consciously, averting his gaze. “I was just being silly. Just… have a
nice day—”

His husband’s lips on his cut him off.

Jimin chased his mouth when the kiss ended, and Yoongi pecked his lips again before the alpha
regarded him with hooded eyes and a fond smile. “I love you,” he rasped.

The omega's brain short-circuited at the confession, his body shivering at hearing him say that
again after that first time.

“Yoongi,” he whined even though he loved hearing him say it.

Jimin buried his face in his chest–mindful of Haneul between their bodies–as he gripped the back
of Yoongi’s jacket with one hand. For the first time, those three words were on the tip of Jimin’s
tongue, but Yoongi didn’t expect a reply from him.

Before Jimin could recover, he felt Yoongi kissing his head. “See you both later,” Yoongi said,
brushing his thumb across Jimin’s scent gland on his neck and leaving him trembling like a leaf.

Jimin’s legs felt weak after that, and he had to sit again as he heard the door to their apartment click
close.

His heart was racing, and he held onto Haneul to get a grip on himself. He had never been so close
to reciprocating Yoongi’s feelings before; to saying it aloud. And the realisation hit him like a
truck.

Why now?

Even though he wasn’t pregnant any longer, he knew it would take a while for his hormone levels
to settle. But was that it? Or was his mind finally lowering its guard and letting his heart take
control? Doubts assaulted him as he rocked Haneul to sleep.

What if this was just their inner omega and alpha–their bond as Haneul’s parents–talking rather
than their heart's true feelings? Jimin squeezed his eyes shut and berated himself for making
everything so difficult for Yoongi and him.

He got up from the glider chair slowly and set Haneul in his crib again when he fell asleep. He
covered him with the blanket his grandparents had gifted him, the one with the clan’s emblem
embroidered. Why did Jimin have to think so hard about this? Why couldn’t he just let himself feel
for once, no questions asked?

The Mugunghwa’s shadow was tall and had engulfed him whole many times in the past. But as he
watched his pup sleep peacefully while wrapped in that blanket, that damn hibiscus flower
covering his small body, he found that its shadow didn’t drown him like before. Because he had
Yoongi by his side. Because Haneul made him want to be strong so he could protect him.

His grip on the crib tightened as he watched his baby sleep. Jimin didn’t feel as hopeless as before.
Because Misun, Eun, and even Geumjae and Hyerim had shown him that not everyone was like
Min Doyun. Not everyone’s priority was their business. Their name didn’t define them.

Least of all Yoongi.

Never Yoongi.

***

“I think he hates me,” Jihyun was saying as he tried to calm down Haneul, rocking him in his arms.

He had been crying for twenty minutes now, and there was no stopping him. Jimin was worried
because he didn’t know what else to do. He had changed his diaper, fed him and burped him. He
had scented him thoroughly, but nothing worked. They had all tried to rock him to sleep–even
Gayoon, who was in the kitchen making dinner–and now it was Jihyun’s turn. He wasn’t having
better luck.

“He doesn’t hate you. Sometimes babies just cry,” their mother said while Jimin sat on the couch,
biting his nails as he watched his baby wail. His little face had turned red from the strain, and each
shrill cry that left his mouth felt like a stab to his heart. “It’s frustrating, but you need to let it run its
course.”

“What if I bathed him?” Jimin suggested as a last resort.

His father quirked an eyebrow at him. “Again?” It was true. He had been the one to help him bathe
him that morning.

“Maybe the warm water will pacify him. I don’t know.” Jimin sounded defeated as he buried his
face in his hands while Haneul kept crying hysterically.

How could someone so tiny make so much noise? Jimin couldn’t stand it any longer, and he
walked up to his brother so he could hold Haneul again. He seemed to settle for a second, and the
omega hoped with all his heart that whatever that had been, it had passed. But after a moment, his
wailing began once more, his tiny fists clenched tightly as he cried for something Jimin couldn’t
give him because he had no clue what it was.

“What if he’s sick?” he asked desperately. “What if there’s something wrong with him? What if he
has stomach cramps? The doctor said colics are common in babies.”

“We can’t completely rule that out,” his mother told him slowly, trying to placate him, “but it
hasn’t been that long since he started crying. Maybe he’s just upset.”

“About what?” Jimin inquired, his voice turning shrill in his distress.
His mother pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders, not having an answer for that.

Jimin knew he needed to remain calm for Haneul. He could sense when he was nervous, and that
would only upset him more. But the omega felt like a terrible dad for not understanding what
Haneul was trying to tell them, and tears had begun to cloud his sight when they heard the front
door open.

Yoongi was finally home.

He turned in his direction, and the moment he saw his husband’s face, Jimin whimpered,
“Yoongi.”

“What’s wrong?” Yoongi asked, brows pinched in concern as he approached them.

“I don’t know,” Jimin told him anxiously, sniffling a little. “He won’t stop crying. We’ve tried
everything, but nothing works.”

His husband looked just as helpless as him. He usually was a little reluctant whenever he had to
touch the baby, but his instinct to soothe him must’ve taken over. He dried Haneul’s cheeks with
his finger as he shushed him softly, still in Jimin’s arms, and something amazing happened next.
With a hiccup, Haneul opened his eyes, still crying, but he stopped wailing.

“Yoongi, try holding him,” Jimin’s father suggested as they all observed the exchange.

Yoongi looked at his father-in-law before he turned back to Jimin, who nodded his head. His
husband’s expression was a controlled one. That’s how Jimin could tell he was nervous as he
passed him their baby.

When Haneul rested in Yoongi’s arms, his crying died down to little whimpers, tears still rolling
down his cheeks. Even though Yoongi had looked self-conscious because the Park family was
observing them, the moment he held Haneul, nothing else mattered.

“Hi, pup. Daddy is here.”

The alpha said it so quietly that Jimin could’ve sworn he had imagined it. Yoongi had uttered those
words with such adoration that his insides coiled as he regarded his husband. It was unbelievable
what a sweetheart he was despite his usual clumsiness and stoicism.

It was the moment Yoongi’s scent gland on his wrist brushed against Haneul’s cheek that their pup
finally stopped crying altogether. Jimin blinked, not quite believing it. But as Yoongi scented him
carefully, Haneul settled completely in his arms.

Jihyun’s mouth was wide open. “Oh, wow. That felt like magic.”

“Aigoo, he just missed his dad.” Seoyun clapped her hands once as she smiled, relieved that there
was nothing physically wrong with Haneul.

“You’ve got a few of those scent plushies, right?” Namkyu reminded them. “You should scent
them for when Haneul misses you.”

Yoongi nodded his head at his father-in-law.

Before he could focus on Haneul again, Jihyun got closer to see his nephew looking exhausted
after throwing a tantrum. “Good job, bro,” he told Yoongi, patting his shoulder in a very friendly
way. That shamelessness was very characteristic of his, and Jimin was used to it, but it had Yoongi
blinking as he stared at him. Jihyun’s smile widened. “Hyung was on the verge of tears before you
came home.”

“Shut up.” Jimin pouted and smacked his dongsaeng’s arm. The little shit just laughed.

When Jimin turned back to his husband, he found him already regarding him. Yoongi looked guilty
and marvelled at the same time; overwhelmed, overall. The omega let out a wet chuckle, still
trying to get a grip on himself, relieved beyond belief that Haneul was okay; that he had just been
missing his daddy.

Despite his family being there, Jimin wrapped an arm around Yoongi’s waist and leaned against
his side, his cheek pressing against the alpha’s shoulder. He took in his scent with eyes closed as he
heaved out a sigh. “Thank goodness you’re here,” he murmured just for him.

Maybe it was because they weren’t alone or because of the myriad of emotions that had struck him
the moment he had stepped foot back home, but Jimin noticed that the tips of Yoongi’s ears were
reddening slowly. He was tense, and Jimin detected a hint of something in his scent that usually
wasn’t there. Knowing that Yoongi wasn’t the best at handling certain situations, Jimin was quick
to turn to his family to tell them that they should have dinner now that they were all here.

Yoongi shot him an appreciative look, and Jimin squeezed his arm, smiling at him.

Later that night, after Jimin’s family had left, the omega got out of the shower to find their
bedroom empty. Wondering where Yoongi was, he peeked his head out the door, but he wasn’t in
the living room either. They had put Haneul to sleep already, but Jimin padded to the nursery, and
he found his husband sitting in the glider chair, leaning back with Haneul lying on his chest.
Yoongi’s lips were pressed against the side of his head as he rocked their son gently. His big hands
covered the baby’s back, who was bundled up in his fluffy blanket as he slept deeply.

“Yoongi?” Jimin whispered as he entered the room slowly, taking in the precious scene.

Yoongi looked up at him but didn’t move a muscle, not wanting to wake Haneul. “I was careful. I
didn’t wake him up,” he whispered back as Jimin approached them. “I just…” The alpha looked
down at their pup, lips pursed. “I wanted to hold him for a bit.”

The omega could have melted at the vulnerability coating his husband’s words.

Jimin grabbed the armchair footrest and carefully placed it down next to them so he could sit.
“Nothing wrong with that. He’s your son.”

His husband was deep in thought, and Jimin gave him the time he needed. When Yoongi met his
gaze again, he looked overwhelmed, his eyes shining. “He… He likes me,” Yoongi breathed out
like he couldn’t believe it himself.

The omega’s heart shrank, and he had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak
again. “Of course he does. You’re his father.” Knowing that not all fathers deserved such
unconditional love, Jimin added: “And you’re here for him when he needs you. Even though he
can’t say it, he feels it. Haneul knows.”

Yoongi looked ahead then, taking in his words. His hands kept Haneul cradled against his chest
securely. When he turned to Jimin once more, his eyes were clouded because of his inner conflict.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Yoongi confessed quietly, sounding just as lost as he felt.

He who was always in control.

“Same,” Jimin nodded. “We read all those books, but it turns out they aren’t as useful as we
thought,” he snorted.

“You’re better at this than me,” Yoongi murmured, feeling down.

Jimin’s gaze softened as he regarded his husband. “Because I spend more time with him. It’s not
your fault you work so much. I know you would be around more if you could. You are doing your
best. I can see it, and that’s enough.”

He saw the alpha’s hands twitch as he held their baby with all the care in the world. “I worry. That
I’ll hurt him or do something wrong.”

“Again: same,” Jimin nodded once more. “Even if I didn’t want to admit it in front of Jihyun, I was
about to cry when you came home today,” he confessed, making Yoongi look at him. With a
forlorn smile, he continued. “I felt like the worst dad in the world because he kept crying his lungs
out, and I didn’t know what was wrong.”

The alpha frowned at his self-doubt. “You’re a great dad,” he told him earnestly.

Jimin chuckled softly. “Thanks.”

“I’m serious.”

“I know you are.” Jimin sighed before a smile crept upon his lips. He poked Yoongi’s cheek
playfully with his finger. “You’re quite good, too. Your magical touch today was amazing.”

Yoongi snorted at that. “I scented a couple of those, just in case,” he told him, pointing with his
chin to the plushies inside Haneul’s crib.

Even though it was getting late, his husband didn’t look like he wanted to separate from Haneul just
yet. “We could bring him to our bedroom tonight. Let him sleep with us,” Jimin suggested.

“Will he be alright?” Yoongi asked slowly, obviously liking the idea but unsure about it.

Jimin smiled at him, his eyes crinkling cutely. “My nest will keep him safe and toasty.”

That finally made Yoongi’s lips curl up into a little smile. He got up slowly to not jostle Haneul too
much, and they both went back into their bedroom. Jimin rearranged the blankets and pillows to
make sure their baby would be comfortable and safe in his nest, and Yoongi laid him down in the
middle of the bed. They lay on their sides so they could keep watching Haneul sleep. He stirred a
little bit when Jimin turned off the lights, but Yoongi patted his belly gently, and Haneul drifted
off once more with his rosy lips parted.

A wave of fondness made the omega curl up a little bit as he watched his husband take care of their
pup, as he saw the way his rough hands touched him with even more reverence than he treated
Jimin. He hadn’t known that was even possible.

With a shuddering breath, he kept observing his husband in awe. Every day he found a new side of
Yoongi he hadn’t known existed, and every day the pull he felt grew stronger. Jimin knew he
didn’t have to refrain himself, but he still clenched his hands into fists and pressed them to his
chest to stop himself from reaching out.

Who do these feelings belong to? he wondered once more.

“You’ve been very in your head lately,” Yoongi pointed out quietly to not disturb Haneul’s sleep.
Jimin opened his eyes–when had he closed them?–and found Yoongi’s piercing gaze studying him
from his side of the bed. “Have I?” Jimin knew he had. What he didn’t know was that Yoongi had
noticed.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Yoongi asked him.

He pondered on whether to tell him or not. Jimin had been keeping these thoughts to himself for so
long, but if there was one thing they had both learned in the time they had been married was that
they needed to be open with each other if they wanted this to work. That knowledge didn’t make it
any easier to tell him about it, though.

“Do you sometimes worry that our inner selves are the ones dictating how we feel?”

The alpha frowned, confused. “What do you mean?” Jimin hesitated and bit his lip nervously.
“Just tell me. I won’t get mad.”

Jimin curled in on himself a little. “I know you won’t, but I still don’t want to hurt you.”

“Jimin,” Yoongi pressed him with a knowing look. After all, they had been here before.

The omega sighed and prepared himself. Jimin ran his fingers through the sheets, his eyes on
Haneul when he finally spoke. “Sometimes I don’t know how much of what I feel comes from my
omega and how much from myself. And I just wonder…” He glanced at Yoongi before he averted
his eyes quickly and gripped the sheets. “How much of what you feel for me comes from you, and
how much of it comes from your alpha? How much of it has to do with your instinct to protect your
omega and father of your child?”

A brief silence followed his words, a few seconds that felt like an eternity to Jimin. When he
glanced up at Yoongi again, the alpha didn’t look upset, just even more confused than before.

“Why do you think of your inner omega and my inner alpha as separate entities?” his husband
asked, looking lost.

Jimin blinked. “What?” he muttered. Now he was the one at a loss.

“You worry that my feelings stem from my alpha instincts,” Yoongi started slowly, “but even if
that was the case, why does it matter? I am Yoongi, and I am my inner alpha, too. We are one and
the same,” he explained like it was obvious, but Jimin had never thought of it that way. Realising
this, Yoongi’s expression softened as he regarded him. “We both love you.”

He uttered the confession in that sweet way of his that contrasted so heavily with how Yoongi
interacted with others. It always gave Jimin butterflies because he only used that voice with him.

“But why do you love me?” Jimin asked weakly.

Yoongi shot him an incredulous look. “What’s there not to love?” he asked instead.

Jimin’s breath got caught in his throat.

But his husband wasn't finished. “Since the moment I met you, you’ve been nothing but kind and
understanding, doing your best to make this marriage work despite it not being what you wanted.
You’re sweet and caring. You’re the most selfless person I’ve ever met, which is also why I want
to take care of you as fiercely as you’ve taken care of me all this time,” Yoongi enumerated in the
darkness of their bedroom, making his confession feel even more intimate. “The truth is that it's
harder not to love you.”
Jimin wanted to squirm under his intense gaze after such a speech, which is why when he said,
“Yoongi,” it sounded more like a whine than anything else.

A smirk spread Yoongi’s lips, his eyes never leaving his as he lay with his cheek pressed to his
pillow. “I love when you do that.”

He kept using that word, and Jimin’s heart was about to give out. “Do what?”

“Whine because you’re embarrassed about what I say, but you actually like it.” With a mighty
pout, Jimin glared at his husband, who chortled at his reaction. They stared at each other for a
moment in silence before Yoongi asked him quietly. “Have you been questioning my feelings for
you?”

Jimin winced. “I've been questioning everything lately.”

But Yoongi hummed in understanding. “We've been going through many changes.”

He had such a good alpha by his side.

The omega took in a deep breath, the strength of his feelings for his husband overpowering him
once more. “I want to kiss you.”

“Yeah?” Yoongi whispered.

Jimin nodded, nibbling on his lower lip.

The alpha lifted himself on his forearm to get closer, hovering over their sleeping baby. He waited
for Jimin to do the same. Their faces were very close together, and Jimin’s hooded eyes drifted
down to Yoongi’s lips. That's how he noticed the way the corner of his mouth tugged up into a
subtle smirk before Yoongi closed the gap between them.

Their mouths brushed together as they tilted their heads to accommodate each other better. They
only used their lips, but the kiss felt more intimate than usual, and it left Jimin breathless. Despite
his shaky limbs, Jimin refused to move away even after the kiss had ended.

“I hope that one day you’ll believe me when I tell you that I love you,” Yoongi whispered.

Hearing that hurt, but not as much as what Yoongi must have been feeling for him to say that.

“I do believe you,” Jimin replied sincerely, his eyes clouding with sorrow.

Yoongi observed him silently for a moment before his lips curled up into a little smile. He nodded
his head. “I’m glad then.”

The omega swallowed thickly. The words had been on the tip of his tongue that morning, but now
they evaded him. Why?

As Yoongi draped an arm across both Haneul and Jimin to keep them close, the omega's eyes
burned with hot tears out of frustration.

***
Haneul was making cute gurgling sounds as Jimin changed his diaper. Meanwhile, his father was
distracting the baby with a rattle.

“You don’t need any help,” Namkyu said, impressed. “I remember whenever we had to change
Jihyun, he wouldn’t stop squirming and crying. It was a nightmare.”

Jimin laughed. “He’s still a nightmare.”

“I heard that!” Jihyun protested as he entered the nursery to bring him a new tub of ointment for
Haneul’s sensitive skin. “Don’t talk ill about me in front of my nephew.”

Jimin took the ointment as he giggled. “Look Haneul. Your favourite uncle is here to bring you
your cream.”

“Much better,” his brother said with his nose raised high as he turned around to leave. Jimin rolled
his eyes with a fond smile at his attitude.

“You weren’t much better as a baby, you know?” his father told him with an amused look when
Jihyun had left.

“I know, I’m lucky. He only grows fuzzy at night or whenever he’s very tired. I think I have
Yoongi and his calm personality to thank for that.” Jimin chuckled as he threw away the wipes he
had used. After he applied the cream and grabbed a fresh diaper, Jimin noticed that his father was
staring at him. He cocked his head in question. “What is it?”

“You look happy,” he stated without a doubt. Jimin faltered, forgetting about Haneul for a moment
to focus his attention on his dad. “Not just with Haneul, but with this whole arrangement. I know
we talk often, but I thought that maybe you were putting on a brave act. I’m surprised to see with
my own eyes that that’s not the case.”

His father didn't look upset at the realisation. He didn't look happy, either. But he did seem
intrigued and oddly calm about it. Turning back to his pup, Jimin finished securing the straps of his
diaper so he could dress him in a new onesie.

“I won’t lie and tell you that this is all a bed of roses,” Jimin finally replied. “It’s very hard
sometimes. Min Doyun can be too much to handle.” He heard his father huff at the mention of that
man. He hadn't been a fan of his childhood friend for years, and this arrangement had only made it
worse. “But Yoongi makes everything easier. He’s always there when I need him and when I don’t,
too.”

Jimin could feel how his own expression softened as he talked about his husband, and so did his
dad.

“He makes you happy,” Namkyu stated.

“He does,” Jimin confirmed without a trace of embarrassment, apprehension or doubt.

Jimin took Haneul in his arms and turned to his father. The man wasn't giving anything away as he
assessed his son in silence, and Jimin's heart shrank as he realised this was something that had been
troubling him for a long time: his family's reaction to his new life and how content he had become
with the change.

“Is that strange?” Jimin asked him, growing restless.

Namkyu pursed his lips. “I thought so before coming here. The guilt has been eating away at us,
you know?” his father confessed, looking apologetic towards his son. “Knowing that our child
sacrificed himself so we could have a better future... That’s what parents do.”

Jimin frowned, ready to remind him of all the sacrifices his mother and he had made to raise them,
but his father stopped him, already knowing what he was going to say.

“But then we came here, and we got to meet our grandson thanks to your husband. Thanks to
Yoongi. A Min ,” he emphasized with an incredulous look on his face. Jimin gulped. “I’ve seen
you both interact, and… Not gonna lie, Yoongi doesn't seem like a bad guy. A little distant? Or
should I say awkward?” Namkyu shook his head because that wasn’t important. “Anyway, what
matters is that he seems to have a good heart, unlike his father.”

“He's nothing like Min Doyun,” Jimin stated firmly. He couldn't help the hint of defensiveness in
his voice when he said that. “I know he's a Min too, and that his job is what it is. Yoongi does
whatever needs to be done so the clan can thrive, so he can continue to protect his family. But he's
not always proud of it. He struggles too, more so now,” he explains, looking down at his baby.

Jimin doesn't know if he should have shared all that, but he needs his family to understand Yoongi;
to realise how Jimin got to this point despite all the gruesomeness that comes from being part of
the Mugunghwa clan.

Namkyu’s expression softened as he regarded him. “I know things won’t be easy from now on,” he
told him, reaching out to pinch Haneul’s cheek very lightly. “But we’re so relieved to see you
happy considering how this union came to be.”

“Even if I'm technically a Min now, too?” he asked shakily, taking comfort in Haneul's weight in
his arms and incapable of meeting his father's eyes.

“Just because you marry a Min doesn’t mean you have to become one.”

Namkyu faltered at that, finally realising the source of his son's inner turmoil. “You're still my
sweet and strong Jimin. Your heart hasn't changed, and that's all that matters,” he told him softly.

Jimin breathed in, finally realising he had been holding his breath. His father sighed, looking
regretful for hurting him unintentionally. Yet this was such a difficult situation that Jimin didn't
have it in him to blame him for any of it.

“Maybe I was wrong,” Namkyu admitted. “Maybe that name isn't a curse. Maybe not all Mins are
like Doyun. You certainly aren't, and I'm starting to see that your husband isn't like him, either.
And with parents like you two, I'm sure Haneul won't become like Min Doyun, either.” Jimin
couldn't articulate a word right now, overwhelmed as he felt, but he nodded his head quickly,
hugging Haneul closer. His dad smiled apologetically. “I'm sorry if my words have been weighing
heavily on your shoulders all this time. That wasn't my intention.”

But Jimin shook his head, relieved beyond belief. “It's okay now. Thank you,” he breathed out
shakily, forever thankful for his family and their continuous support.

As his father brought him in for a hug, he felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Jimin
hadn't known just how much he needed his family to approve of this marriage, to be okay with
their union and their growing bond.

He closed his eyes and felt how another bar of the cage around his heart rattled until it snapped in
half.
***

His mother was lulling Haneul to sleep after Jimin had fed him as they waited for Yoongi to come
back from work. It was later than usual, but his parents had been okay with waiting for him so they
could eat together.

Jimin was trying his best to remain calm about his tardiness. He walked Gayoon to the door when
she left for the day, and she patted his cheek gently because she knew he was feeling restless.
When he returned to the living room, he focused on Haneul and distracted himself by talking to his
family.

Haneul was already fast asleep in his grandma’s arms when Yoongi finally got home. Jimin
couldn’t help the obvious sigh of relief he let out when Yoongi stood in the living room and bowed
to his parents in greeting.

“Sorry for being late,” his husband said politely.

Yet Jimin immediately faltered. Only one look at him was enough to tell him that something was
wrong. Yoongi was tense, and not in an ‘I’m uncomfortable in front of my in-laws’ way. This was
different. He could see it in the way Yoongi was carrying himself, the rigidness of his arms as he
kept them pressed to his sides, almost behind himself as he clenched his hands. His face didn’t
give anything away, though. Another sign that he was hiding something.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.” Jimin smiled at him from where he sat on the couch, trying to assess him
quietly without raising suspicions from his family. “Take a shower, and we’ll have dinner
together.”

Yoongi hesitated at hearing that, his schooled expression crumbling a little. “You’ve been waiting
for me?” Jimin nodded brightly. His husband frowned, looking apologetic as he glanced at his
brother and parents. “You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s fine,” his mother smiled at Yoongi, controlling the volume of her voice because of their
sleeping pup. “Families should eat together.”

His husband stared at Seoyun for a moment too long before he bowed again.

While Jihyun headed to the kitchen and his parents got up to get Haneul into his crib, Yoongi was
quick to disappear into their bedroom. Jimin saw how the alpha closed the door to their room, and
he decided that he couldn’t leave it be, incapable of shaking off the feeling that something wasn’t
right.

The omega opened the door and closed it behind him slowly to not alert his parents. The door to
the bathroom was ajar, and Jimin heard the sound of running water and his husband cursing softly.
Worried, he walked over and peeked inside to find Yoongi with his back to him as he washed his
hands.

“Yoongi? Is there something wrong–”

The alpha faltered, his body growing rigid as he whipped his head back to look at him. Yoongi was
always alert, but he must’ve been very shaken up if Jimin had caught him by surprise. Before Jimin
could question him about that, something else caught his attention that had him growing cold.

Yoongi’s right hand. His knuckles were peeled and bloody. Again.
He had run into trouble at work. That’s why he had been late. The omega had to remind himself
that Yoongi was standing right in front of him so he wouldn’t end up spiralling.

Jimin stepped inside the bathroom. He took his injured hand in both of his delicately and looked up
at Yoongi, who refused to meet his gaze. “Are you hurt anywhere else?” Jimin asked him, fighting
the knot in his stomach at the possibility.

“No, no.” Yoongi turned off the faucet to stop wasting water–or as an excuse to not look him in the
eyes. “It wasn’t a… fight.”

Despite his words, Jimin knew better by now, and he could read between the lines.

It had been a one-sided fight. The alpha had been the one inflicting the damage. Jimin swallowed
thickly, but he mostly felt relieved that Yoongi wasn’t hurt more than this.

“Yoongi, look at me. Please,” Jimin insisted when he kept ignoring him. Reluctantly, the alpha
lifted his gaze to meet his. “It’s alright. I understand,” he whispered.

He cupped his cheek with his smaller hand and left a kiss on his other cheek. Yoongi closed his
eyes at the contact as if basking in his touch, and Jimin’s heart melted at the sight. His husband
looked utterly exhausted, though.

“Take a shower, and I’ll treat your wounds,” he told him. But Yoongi didn’t move. Jimin tilted his
head as he regarded him. “What’s wrong? It’s not the first time this has happened.”

“But your family is here.” Yoongi pursed his lips, a frown creasing his brow, and there it was
again, that self-deprecating look on his face. “They’ll see. They’ll know.”

“They already know what you do for a living,” he reminded him, not unkindly. “They won’t judge
you for this. I won't let them.”

“Jimin…”

But the omega shook his head and stopped him right there. “The only thing I care about is that
you’re okay. I'm glad the only thing I have to lament is some scraped knuckles.” He saw a flicker
of warmth in his eyes, but Yoongi was still clenching his jaw, tense as a bowstring. “If it makes
you feel better, I’ll bandage your knuckles so they can’t see them.”

Yoongi shot him a look at that. They both knew his family would still know what had happened
because an injury there was very obvious. There was little either one of them could do about this,
though, so with a resigned sigh, Yoongi took off his jacket and began to undress.

Jimin left another peck, this time on his lips, to comfort his alpha. At the contact, Yoongi's
shoulders lost a fraction of their tension. “I'll bring you a change of clothes and wait for you
outside.”

While Yoongi took a shower, Jimin went into their closet to grab some comfy clothes for him. He
lingered there, taking in a deep breath and letting Yoongi's scent wash away the remnants of his
previous worry. After making sure Haneul was still sleeping and letting his family know that they
would join them in the kitchen shortly, Jimin returned to their room.

His husband came out of the bathroom already wearing the clothes he had left for him while Jimin
waited sitting at the foot of their bed. He patted the space next to him, and Yoongi sat there
obediently. Jimin was careful as he treated his wounds and bandaged his knuckles.
“I didn’t get to see Haneul. Is he okay?” Yoongi asked him in the meantime, sounding a little
remorseful about it.

“He is,” Jimin smiled sweetly at him before he looked down to keep working. “We gave him the
whale plushy when he grew fussy this afternoon, and the moment he got a whiff of your scent, he
calmed down.”

“Really?”

Jimin hummed, a grin splitting his lips at how marvelled his husband had sounded. “It was so
cute.”

Yoongi still looked troubled, though, nervous about dinner, and it was Jimin’s turn to feel bad. He
knew how reserved Yoongi was, and ever since Jimin got released from the hospital, his husband
hadn’t been able to properly relax at home after work. Not just because Haneul needed lots of care,
but also because his family was here. Yoongi had been making efforts to not seem too distant, but
Jimin could see that fatherhood and this visit were slowly wearing him out. Jimin was so very
happy to have his family here with him for a few days, but he couldn’t help but worry about
Yoongi and how much this was affecting him.

“We should bring Haneul to our bed tonight, too,” Jimin suggested, trying his best to find ways to
soothe the alpha.

But Yoongi looked unsure. “We shouldn’t. He could get used to sleeping with us.”

“For sleeping in our bed two nights in a row?” Jimin pointed out with a raised eyebrow and a small
smile playing on his lips. “No, it will be okay. Besides, you need it. Cuddling him will make you
feel better.” Jimin finished bandaging his hand and deposited a kiss there. When he looked up at
Yoongi, he found those guilty eyes of his regarding him fondly. “Think of it as your reward for
today.”

Jimin felt like his husband needed an incentive to get through dinner, and Yoongi looked thankful
for that.

As expected, Yoongi’s discomfort doubled tonight as they sat at the table with his parents and
brother. They welcomed them back warmly, and they immediately started eating, feeling very
hungry as it was later than usual. Jimin took the reins and started some light conversation as they
enjoyed Gayoon's delicious stew. However, it didn't take long for the inevitable to happen.

Jimin saw the moment they noticed the bandages wrapped around Yoongi’s knuckles when he
reached for his glass to drink some barley tea. One by one, the Parks stopped eating as the three
came to the same conclusion as to how Yoongi had gotten hurt there. They mostly looked taken
aback, maybe a little apprehensive, but they couldn’t hide the way their scents spiked, and not in a
good way. Even though Jimin could understand their reaction, it still didn't sit right with him.

Sadly, he wasn't the only one who had noticed this; for better or for worse, his husband was very
observant. Yoongi didn’t look up, focusing on his food instead. On the outside, he looked
completely unphased, but Jimin knew he was trying to hide his shame as he acted like he hadn't
noticed their reactions too.

Anger made Jimin’s blood boil because this wasn't fair. Nobody had the right to judge Yoongi; not
when they didn't know him like he did. Yoongi didn't deserve those looks, and he felt the need to
protect his alpha.
When Yoongi went to pick up his chopsticks again, Jimin put his hand on top of his on the table,
covering his bandages and making everyone look away from his injuries and at Jimin instead. He
felt Yoongi’s hand twitch under his, but the alpha didn't raise his head, still acting nonchalant.

Jimin schooled his expression and offered his family a smile. “It's a shame it's winter right now. If
it wasn't so cold, we could eat dinner outside,” he told them, keeping his tone light. Yet, his family
knew him well enough to catch the warning in his eyes.

Seoyun was the first one to snap out of it, realising what was going on after taking a single glance
at her son. “The terrace is beautiful. It must be so nice in spring with all the flowers in full bloom,”
his mother commented animatedly.

“It is!” Jimin replied, pleased because she had just given him the prompt he needed for what he had
in mind. “Did I mention that Yoongi was the one to remodel it?” His father cleared his throat and
sat straighter as he listened to his son. Jimin squeezed Yoongi’s hand comfortingly. “There were no
plants when I moved here, and after saying in passing that it would be nice to have some grass to
lie on, he got to work and surprised me with it.”

“Really?” His mother looked surprised before a smile curled her lips up. “That’s so nice of you,
Yoongi.”

His husband wasn't less uncomfortable now, but Jimin hoped he wouldn’t be upset about putting
him on the spot like this. The omega couldn’t stay still while others judged Yoongi, even if these
were some of the people he loved most.

Yoongi cleared his throat and finally lifted his head to look at his mother-in-law. “He makes it
sound as if I did it with my own two hands. I just made a few phone calls.”

But Seoyun waved off his modesty. “That’s still a very nice gesture.”

“The view from the terrace is so cool. You can see the Han River and all,” Jihyun perked up, also
trying to liven up the mood. He seemed a little more restrained than usual, probably feeling bad
about the obvious staring from before. “Seoul winters are colder than I thought, though.”

“They are, right? It snowed a couple of times in December,” Jimin nodded and looked at his
husband next to him before he turned to his family again, never letting go of his hand. “We spent
the last month of my pregnancy walking along the Han River after Yoongi came back from work
because my doctor recommended it, and Yoongi and I had to bundle up really well so we wouldn't
freeze. But he always made sure to buy me some snacks or a hot drink to keep me and Haneul
warm.”

Jimin smiled fondly at Yoongi, bringing his other hand to his belly even though his pup wasn’t
there anymore. The alpha caught the gesture, and Jimin noticed the way Yoongi relaxed the tiniest
bit next to him. Yoongi knew he was trying to help, to make things easier for him, and Jimin was
glad to see it was working.

“So your husband took good care of you both,” his father finally spoke, a calm expression on his
face even though his eyes were assessing both of them but lingering on Yoongi.

“He did. He also put up with my awful cravings and made sure I always had popsicles,” Jimin
chuckled softly at the memory.

When he turned his head to look at Yoongi, his husband was already staring at him, and he noticed
the subtle way in which Yoongi’s lips were quirked up. Jimin thought about showing them their
rings, but that memory was too precious, and he didn’t want to share it with anybody else. If
someone asked him about them, he would tell them, but the whole story was just for the two of
them.

“I know you got married under very special circumstances,” Namkyu continued, his gaze fixed
solely on Yoongi this time. His husband didn’t shy away from it, used to tense situations. “But I
know for a fact that you’ve been protecting Jimin from everything involving your clan ever since
you got married, just like you went out of your way to protect us back in Busan all those months
ago. Or how you took it upon yourself to bring us here when you’re forbidden from doing so.
Thank you, Yoongi,” he told him sincerely.

His mother and Jihyun smiled at his father’s words, and Jimin followed suit, warmth spreading
across his chest. He turned to his husband and found him still staring at his father-in-law,
speechless.

Yoongi bowed his head respectfully, remaining with his head lowered for a few seconds. He didn’t
say anything, not good at talking about feelings with people he wasn’t very close to, but Jimin
could see how much his father’s words meant to him.

Yet Namkyu wasn't finished, and he addressed his son next. “I’m glad you found in Yoongi a good
alpha to share your life with.”

Jimin blinked.

Was he… Was his father giving them his blessing? Jimin was astounded. This wasn’t what he had
been aiming for with this conversation; he was just protective of Yoongi. But he was beyond happy
about this.

Needing to touch his husband, Jimin laced their fingers on top of the table, feeling the material of
the bandages around his knuckles and Yoongi’s warmth. Their gazes locked then, and Jimin hoped
with all his heart that his father’s approval would help to get rid of Yoongi’s self-deprecating
thoughts and the guilt that shone in his eyes whenever he met his family’s eyes. He hoped that little
by little Yoongi would be less uncomfortable in their presence, just like Jimin had grown close to
Misun, and more at ease in Geumjae and Hyemi’s presence.

He hoped Yoongi would let himself feel accepted by the Park family like he deserved, no matter
what he did for a living.

Namkyu turned to Yoongi and bowed his head. “Please, take good care of Jimin and Haneul.”

After bowing his head again, Yoongi met his father-in-law’s gaze earnestly. “I will,” he swore.

Chapter End Notes

I thought this chapter was gonna be 5k, but it turned into another +8k monster so
excuse any typos because proofreading long chapters is hard lol

You don’t know how much fun I’m having writing yoonmin as parents. It warms my
heart so much how soft they are with their baby (despite the sprinkles of angst here
and there)
I’m still crying over Yoongi being surprised about his baby liking him :(((( Of course
he loves you :((( He has the best parents in the world, how could he not?? :(((((

Jimin really needed to spend time with his family and talk to them about his new life
so he can move forward with no second thoughts. And this was also very important to
Yoongi. He thinks very negatively of himself and believes that Jimin is too good for
him, so having his family’s blessing means so much to him :((((

ALSO Jimin defending his husband!!!!! His passive-aggressiveness!!! “This is my

man and he’s a SWEETHEART and I will NOT tolerate any slander in this
household!!!!”

Ah I love them so much, they’ve come so far :’)

I’m very happy with how this chapter turned out and I hope you enjoyed it too!

I’m gonna take it easy for a few days and take my time writing the next chapter. You
can find me on twitter in the meantime.

Sending you the biggest hug. It’ll be okay

With My Feelings on Fire
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Jimin had known this farewell was going to be hard, but he hadn’t expected the absolute heartache
that assaulted him the moment he watched his parents and brother leave. He didn’t know when he
would get to meet them in person again, and now that Haneul was here, he wanted his parents to
get to enjoy their first grandson. To see him grow up in person and not through a screen.

Yoongi enveloped him in a hug, kissing his head gently as Jimin teared up with his face buried in
his chest. The alpha kept apologising softly for how things were, even though it wasn’t his fault.
On the contrary, he had been the one to make this possible by putting himself in danger and paying
the price for it.

“We didn't get any bad news from Busan while they were here,” Yoongi told him as he tried to
soothe him, “so maybe that will show my father that little meetings like this are possible without
endangering our control over the city.”

His grip on his husband tightened. Jimin truly hoped so.

That sadness clung to Jimin for days. Luckily, Haneul kept him very busy and too tired to have
time to think about it often. Even though Gayoon had other responsibilities, she didn’t mind
looking after the baby while he took a moment to finally shower and feel like a person again so he
wouldn’t lose his mind. Yoongi also did his best to distract him despite his own exhaustion. He
would scent him thoroughly every night before they fell asleep in the middle of it, too tired and not
ready for another night of having to get up whenever Haneul cried.

It was kind of taking a toll on them both, not just personally but also as the couple they tried to be.
The couple we are, Jimin corrected himself.

During his pregnancy, they had done things together that Jimin missed. Like going on walks along
the Han river, going to cafes or just spending time reading together or watching a movie at home.
He sometimes felt guilty for thinking like that because he was very happy watching Haneul grow
bigger and stronger each day, but Jimin also missed having some time for himself; to go out and
unwind. With his husband if possible. Or maybe the three together so they could finally use the
stroller his parents had gifted them.

Jimin was thinking about this as he brushed his teeth while Yoongi went to see why Haneul had
started crying. Once the omega was finished, he joined them in the nursery. However, before he
entered, Jimin peeked inside and stopped at the sight that greeted him.

He watched his husband as he calmed down Haneul after he had probably just grown fussy because
he was tired and couldn't go back to sleep by himself. Yoongi had been in the middle of getting
dressed in comfy clothes after taking a shower when they heard his whimpers. That’s why he had
Haneul pressed against his naked chest, one hand on his bottom and the other one cupping the back
of his head to support it. Yoongi was shushing him gently as he cradled him to soothe him.

His inner omega was completely satisfied with what he was seeing, and so was Jimin. Even though
Yoongi had told him that his inner alpha and himself were the same, Jimin still had a harder time
thinking of it like that. However, he had found that his feelings and his inner omega’s were the
same lately.
Another thing they agreed on? That Yoongi looked hot in just his grey sweatpants as he took care
of their pup with such tenderness.

Jimin was snapped out of it when Yoongi found him still standing there like a creep. He cleared his
throat and pulled away from the doorframe to enter. “Still awake?”

Yoongi hummed. “At least he stopped crying.”

Stepping closer, Jimin took a look at Haneul’s face. His eyes were open, and his chubby cheek was
adorably squished against Yoongi’s chest. Jimin giggled at how cute he looked and left a kiss on
his other cheek, remaining close to him after.

“What are you still doing awake, little one?” he asked him cutely. Of course, Haneul didn’t answer
him, but he kept looking at him, paying attention. Jimin couldn’t resist himself and pecked his
cheek again before he took his tiny hand in his to pepper it with kisses. “How are you so cute,
huh?”

“He takes after you.”

Jimin blushed at his husband’s comment. The smirk on Yoongi's lips only made him look even
more handsome. Jimin glared at him, and to retaliate, he bit Yoongi’s bare arm playfully.

Yoongi spluttered, surprised, and then he was laughing in disbelief. “What was that for?”

“You’ve been doing that on purpose lately,” Jimin pouted.

“What?”

“Making me blush.”

“Yeah, I have,” Yoongi declared, completely unashamed.

“Meanie,” he murmured, frowning at him despite how pleased he was with his response.

Yoongi chortled.

A sudden yawn had Jimin’s eyes closing and tearing up. He brought up a hand to cover his mouth a
little late, and when he looked back at his husband, Yoongi was regarding him with the same
adoration with which he looked at Haneul.

“Go to bed,” Yoongi told him. “I’ll put him to sleep.”

“You sure?”

Yoongi nodded, and Jimin was too tired to refuse. Plus, he would end up having to get up in the
middle of the night to feed the baby.

After kissing their pup once more and scenting him a little, Jimin left a kiss on Yoongi’s shoulder
and another one on his arm, right where he had bitten him playfully. “I'll wait for you in bed, then.”

Once in their bedroom, Jimin adjusted the blankets and pillows until they were perfectly arranged,
and he let out a content sigh when he buried himself under the comforter. He could faintly hear
Yoongi talking to Haneul, and the stupidest smile spread across Jimin’s face. The omega buried his
face in his husband’s pillow and breathed in deep. A content sound left his lips, and he ended up
hugging the pillow close to his chest. He couldn’t control himself and began scenting it, mixing
both their scents. Jimin didn’t know where this sudden urge was coming from, but he found himself
purring as he did so.

The sound startled him, and he tried to stop it, but he couldn’t. Jimin cleared his throat, but the
purring continued. His cheeks flushed because he couldn’t remember ever doing this before.

He was embarrassed, but he still hadn’t let go of Yoongi’s pillow. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to.
His mortification only grew when he noticed movement from the corner of his eye and found
Yoongi standing there with his eyes wide open, a hand on the door handle as he watched Jimin
hugging his pillow while purring. The surprise of being caught finally put a stop to it.

They stared at one another for a moment that felt too long. Both of them were tense, not knowing
what to do next. Jimin’s mortification won and, with a long whine, he used the pillow to cover his
face and rolled onto his side, his back to Yoongi.

He heard his husband padding closer to his side of the bed. Feeling a presence in front of him,
Jimin lowered the pillow the tiniest bit, only to find Yoongi crouching on the floor, their faces at
the same height and close together. With a whimper, the omega covered his face again.

“You won’t let me see you?” Yoongi asked in a gentle tone that had Jimin on the verge of purring
again.

The omega refused to look at him as he clenched the pillow. “No.”

“Why?” Silence. “You’re embarrassed?” Yoongi tried again. Another silence. “Well, that makes
me sad.”

“That’s cheating,” Jimin murmured because his husband knew how much he hated making him
feel bad.

“Sorry,” Yoongi laughed softly. “Why are you embarrassed by that, though? I liked it.” It was the
tender tone he used to address him that made Jimin finally take a peek at him. “A lot,” the alpha
added, his voice a low rumble that went straight to the omega’s core.

Yoongi was still shirtless, crouching in front of him, and he was clenching his hands despite the
relaxed expression on his face. He was trying to keep himself under control. Jimin exhaled shakily.

The pillow that covered his mouth muffled Jimin’s voice, and it only let the alpha see his eyes.
“You’re gonna catch a cold.”

But Yoongi completely ignored his remark. “Can I scent you?”

Jimin writhed a little on the bed, restless, and he had to stop himself from whining at how needy
Yoongi had sounded.

Without speaking a single word, Jimin offered him his wrist timidly. His husband didn’t hesitate to
grab it and rub it against his neck eagerly. Jimin gasped at the heavenly sensation. Still hiding in
the pillow, Jimin offered him his other wrist and Yoongi took it, scenting it greedily too.

When he was done with both of them, the alpha wanted more. He could tell because there was a bit
of a wild look in Yoongi’s eyes that had Jimin’s heart racing. Yet the alpha was just staring at him,
waiting. He wasn’t going to do more without being granted permission, no matter how much he
wanted to. Jimin had total control of the situation, and he wanted his alpha to scent him.

He only had to make grabby hands for Yoongi to comply.

Jimin let out a squeak at how fast Yoongi moved, suddenly on top of him on the bed. He didn’t
waste any time before he was nuzzling the omega’s neck, rubbing their scent glands together.
Jimin’s hands found purchase on his husband’s back as that rush of pheromones hit him, making
him dizzy. It had been too long since the last time they had been so close, pressed together and
eager. Since the last time Jimin had felt Yoongi’s firm and naked chest and his warmth trapping
him like this.

While Jimin got lost in the pleasant sensation, he noticed his husband’s rough hands sneaking
inside his shirt, but Jimin stopped him. “Don’t touch my belly, please.”

Yoongi separated the tiniest bit to look at him, taken aback. “What’s wrong?”

His discomfort was apparent. This was something Jimin had been very insecure about ever since he
had Haneul, but he hadn’t talked to Yoongi about it, too embarrassed to do so. Instead, he had been
covering up with baggy and comfy clothes that hid his bump. Knowing him like he did now, he
doubted Yoongi would mind, but Jimin still hated it because he didn’t want his husband to look at
his body and think of it as undesirable.

“My pregnant belly hasn’t gone down yet,” he admitted, feeling his cheeks flush with
embarrassment. He couldn’t quite meet Yoongi’s gaze. “It's not as big, but it's still there. I look like
I'm four months pregnant again,” he admitted self-consciously as he tried to cover his stomach with
his hand.

Jimin pursed his lips when he noticed Yoongi looking down at his stomach. The alpha didn’t miss
the gesture. “You’ve been carrying our pup for nine months. That's normal, Jimin. You know that,”
he told him gently.

“Still…” Jimin moped.

Not wanting to ruin the mood, Yoongi didn’t press him further. “Okay. Whatever you’re
comfortable with,” he reassured him, brushing his long bangs away from his face, “but just know I
don’t care. You’re beautiful.”

It made the omega feel better, but it didn’t change his mind. Jimin nodded his head before he
invited him to continue scenting him. Yoongi dived back in right away.

When Jimin smelled thoroughly like him, the alpha leaned back enough to look at his face.
Yoongi’s lips were parted and mere centimetres away from his as they panted, their breaths
fanning across each other’s faces, hearts racing. Jimin felt his insides coil when the alpha’s gaze
slid down to his plump lips. He only had to let out the slightest whine for Yoongi to claim his
mouth with his. The omega couldn't help but moan into the kiss, which in turn had Yoongi
growling as he slipped his tongue into his mouth.

Jimin could tell his husband was holding back, but as their kisses grew more heated, their hands
wandering their bodies hungrily, he knew the alpha’s self-control was hanging by a thread.
However, they couldn’t have sex yet. Not until a few weeks had passed; doctor’s orders.

They hadn’t had sex in over a month now because Jimin hadn’t felt like it during the last weeks of
his pregnancy. Yoongi hadn’t even hinted at it, too nervous about Haneul’s birth, too. But now that
they were slowly getting used to their new life, they both craved each other again.

Yoongi was undoubtedly horny. Yet, he still kept himself in check as they made out messily,
writhing on the bed as if they were two horny teenagers. However, it was Jimin burying his fingers
in his hair and pulling as he panted into his mouth what broke his husband's self-control. With a
low sound at the back of his throat, Yoongi pressed his hips down, dragging his erection against
Jimin’s thigh. The omega mewled at the contact, and his husband let out a heartfelt curse.

One moment Yoongi was on top of him, their bodies pressed together deliciously as they kissed,
and the next one, Yoongi was gone. Jimin opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling, confused as his
brain tried to catch up. When he turned his head to the side, he found his husband with his arm over
his eyes as he lay on his back. Yoongi was doing his best to breathe in and out slowly, trying to
calm himself down. The way his grey sweatpants were tenting had Jimin gulping, and his mouth
went completely dry when Yoongi brought a hand to his erection and gripped himself as if that
would make it go down.

“Sorry,” his husband murmured with his eyes still covered. “I went ahead of myself.”

He didn’t know what he was apologising for when the back of Jimin’s underwear was soaking wet.

The distance was making him ache, and maybe they couldn’t have penetrative sex, but they could
still do other things. Jimin had never seen Yoongi look so affected in bed, and there was no way he
could keep his hands to himself. He had the urge to please him, to look pretty just for him as he
made him feel good. Only him. Because Yoongi was his.

Slowly, Jimin crawled closer to a still trying to recover Yoongi, and he positioned himself in
between his husband’s parted legs. The alpha’s hand on his cock twitched, noticing his proximity
and growing tense, but he still wouldn’t look at him.

“Yoonie,” Jimin called him sweetly, sounding as needy as he felt.

He had never called him that, but the endearing name rolled off his tongue so naturally that Jimin
didn’t have it in him to be embarrassed. Least of all when Yoongi tensed up after hearing it.

He lifted his arm a little and took a peek at him. The alpha looked beyond pleased. “Shit.”

The adoration in his eyes had Jimin almost preening under his intense gaze. Needing to touch him,
Jimin’s hands caressed Yoongi’s stomach and the faint lines of muscles that contracted under his
fingertips as Yoongi let out a shaky breath. When his hands travelled down, he took a moment to
brush the alpha's happy trail that Jimin had always found so very attractive.

Jimin didn't know where all this confidence was coming from. At any other moment, he would
have been too embarrassed to lean forward and leave a trail of kisses down his happy trail while
his fingers hooked on the waistband of his husband's sweatpants. But he was intoxicated by the
atmosphere and both their scents that gave away their arousal. It also helped that Yoongi couldn't
stop staring at him with his lips parted, incapable of closing his mouth.

Well, he did close it to swallow thickly when Jimin finally pulled his sweatpants down all the way
until he got rid of them. However, the omega was the one to muffle a high-pitched sound at the
back of his throat when he checked that Yoongi wasn't wearing underwear. His hard cock sprung
free and brushed Jimin's cheek before it rested against Yoongi's stomach.

There was a brief moment where they both remained very still before Yoongi was losing his shit
again and covering his face with his hands. “Fucking hell. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he muttered
under his breath. When he lowered his hands again, it looked like Yoongi was making a great
effort to focus when he reminded him, “We can't have sex yet, remember?”

“I know.”

Yoongi looked at him, confused. “Then what—?”

He didn't finish his sentence, cutting himself off when Jimin lay on his front in between his legs,
stomach against the mattress as he propped himself up on his elbows right in front of Yoongi's
crotch. “I want to make you feel good tonight. And yes, I'm sure,” he was quick to add when his
husband opened his mouth to retort.

“Oh.” Yoongi gulped. “Okay.”

“I've never done this before, so I'll probably suck at this.” Jimin chuckled at his own pun, but he
did so nervously. He was eager to do this but also scared of doing it wrong.

“Trust me. I don't think there's anything you can do to mess up this moment,” he told him,
sounding winded and in disbelief. “Just be mindful of your teeth,” he added as a piece of advice.

“Got it.”

The truth was that he didn't. He was acting like he understood. But the most primal side of him was
eager, and his arousal was making him more daring than usual.

When he looked at his husband's cock, Jimin felt his mouth water. Yoongi was groomed, but he
didn't shave. The omega liked that, especially because his black hair contrasted heavily with his
pale skin. His member was also pale and long, thicker than his. The head was a bright pink, and the
beginning of his shaft and his knot were flushed and eager for some attention.

With the tips of his fingers, Jimin traced the veins at the base of his cock, mesmerised by the sight
before he took it in his small hand. His fingertips barely touched each other as he gripped it and
brought it closer to his face. With the head of his cock almost touching his mouth, Jimin licked his
plump lips before he glanced up at Yoongi, who looked like he was holding his breath.

Jimin's lips twitched up, feeling beautiful and powerful with his alpha's rapt attention on him.

He parted his lips slowly and poked his tongue out enough to cover his lower lip with it. While
maintaining eye contact with Yoongi, he captured the tip of his cock in between his lips, his tongue
caressing and wetting its underside. Yoongi clenched his jaw as his hands gripped the sheets,
incapable of looking away. He let out a shaky breath that only fueled Jimin to go on. The omega
wanted to see just how much more affected he could make his husband look.

Closing his lips around his head, Jimin sucked. Yoongi hiccuped. A reaction he had never
witnessed before. Jimin was so endeared he had to fight down a smile. Who would have known
that giving your husband head could be so amusing?

He swirled his tongue around it, tasting him and trapping him in his hot mouth. Even though Jimin
had never given head, Yoongi had blown him before. Jimin knew he wouldn't do it as well as him
just because he had watched him suck him a couple of times during his pregnancy. However, he
still recalled those instances very clearly, so he knew what to do next.

Yoongi could put his entire dick in his mouth, but Jimin was realistic and knew he wouldn't. Not
on his first try, at least. Yoongi was big, but maybe with some practice… Jimin almost shivered
with excitement at the idea.

Focusing on the present, Jimin lowered himself on Yoongi’s cock, experimentally bobbing his
head a little. The feeling was foreign and strange, and he was soon finding it too straining on his
jaw. He tried to open his mouth a bit more, closing his eyes as he did so, but he couldn’t take more
of Yoongi without feeling like he was going to gag. There was no way he was going to reach
further than this. When he opened his eyes, he realised that he didn’t even have half of it in his
mouth yet. His inner omega wanted to sulk, but Jimin told himself not to rush.

Instead of getting caught up in what he couldn’t do yet, he focused on what he could. Setting a
moderate rhythm, he bobbed his head up and down with his mouth clamped firmly around his
alpha’s cock. His husband grunted, and Jimin peeked at him as he continued sucking him.

Yoongi licked his lips before he was pressing them together. His hands kept gripping the sheets,
his knuckles turning white, and Jimin realised that he was trying his best not to move his hips up;
not to fuck into the omega’s small mouth like he so clearly wanted. The realisation had his heart
pounding and his underwear dampening, slick leaking out of him again. Jimin had to press his hips
down against the mattress to give his own aching cock some attention.

Even though he couldn’t wrap his mouth around his entire length, Jimin still wanted to give the rest
of his cock some attention. With a wet popping sound, Jimin let go of it, heaving a little against
Yoongi’s flushed member. They stared at each other for a moment, completely lost in their lust,
before Jimin pressed his tongue right against the bottom of his shaft, against his knot, and dragged
it up slowly. He caught the way Yoongi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, that wild and impressed look on
his face encouraging Jimin to keep this up.

He pressed his tongue and lips all over his shaft, leaving kisses and sucks all over it as he moved
up and down, one of his hands holding his cock always close to his mouth. Jimin could feel his spit
dripping down his chin, mixing with Yoongi’s precum, and it had Jimin feeling feverish. Dirty and
aroused.

Their scents were so intense that they filled their bedroom, making everything hazy. The sounds of
his sucking and Yoongi’s stare on him that wouldn’t leave him no matter what, drinking in the
depraved sight Jimin made, had the omega wanting more, needing more, and before he knew what
he was doing, he was rubbing his erection against the mattress as he continued blowing Yoongi.
When the alpha realised what he was doing, his eyes almost rolled to the back of his head as he
tried once more not to rock his hips.

Yoongi brought a hand to his bangs and pushed them back, looking up at the ceiling. “Shit,” he
almost growled before his burning stare went back to the omega humping the sheets as he drooled
all over his cock.

Jimin didn't forget about his balls, either. Their weight felt nice in his mouth as he played with
them while he jerked Yoongi’s cock and humped the sheets. He knew the alpha was enjoying
himself too by how he wasn't trying to control the sounds that left his mouth anymore.

Jimin didn’t take too long before he was going back to paying attention to Yoongi’s dick. He
bobbed his head for a little while, slurping and tasting Yoongi’s salty precum on his tongue, but he
soon grew tired of that. The omega just wanted his cock in his mouth, to cradle it between his
tongue and palate. To warm it up and suckle on it slowly, and so he did. Because he was the one in
control tonight.

At first, Yoongi looked at him with expectant eyes. But when he realised Jimin didn’t have any
intentions of doing more right now, looking comfy like that as he kept rolling his hips gently
against the mattress, the alpha couldn’t believe him.

“Are you trying to kill me?”

The corners of his mouth twitched up, but Jimin shook his head, the movement only making his
husband curse again. Knowing that Yoongi wasn’t going to stop him from doing whatever he
wanted, Jimin closed his eyes, not moving as he enjoyed the feeling of his mouth being full. He
could tell that Yoongi was enjoying this, though, as well as watching him trying to get off by
humping their bed, his movements picking up slowly as Jimin searched for his own release.

Feeling content, the omega hummed, a sound and vibration that went straight to Yoongi's core. The
alpha's body jerked and, somehow, that simple action had Yoongi on the verge of coming undone.
Jimin’s eyes glowed at this turn of events, and it spurred him to do it again. And again. And again.
Until his husband’s hand rested atop his head, trying to find purchase on him as he writhed under
him.

Saliva kept accumulating in his mouth, and Jimin slurped messily, sucking just a little harder.
Yoongi’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, his mouth parting in a breathless moan. While the
omega kept humming and twirling his tongue, Jimin got off by humping the sheets, horny from
just watching and hearing Yoongi reaching his climax.

“Jimin-ah, I’m almost—”

Yoongi was sitting up now. His head was tipped forward as he kept one of his hands hooked
around the back of Jimin’s neck. If he expected Jimin to let go of him with that warning, he was
utterly wrong. The omega was busy chasing his own release, gyrating his hips faster and faster.
Jimin came in his underwear soon after, and the sounds he made, muffled by Yoongi’s cock, had
his husband shrinking into himself and gripping Jimin’s nape firmly as he grunted.

The first spurt of semen went directly to the back of his throat, and Jimin swallowed on instinct,
the suction making Yoongi swear way too loudly. The taste was salty and strange, just like his
precum. Still coming down from his own high, Jimin swallowed some of it and let the rest dribble
down his cock slowly instead of spitting it out. It was messy and dirty, but Jimin was still feeling
out of it. The rush in his veins and ears hadn’t faded yet, and he didn’t have it in him to find this
disgusting.

His previous exhaustion caught up to him immediately after. That plus his orgasm had Jimin’s
body feeling like a ton of bricks all of a sudden. Finally letting go of his husband’s cock, Jimin
pressed his cheek against Yoongi’s thigh as he tried to catch his breath. His mouth was a little sore,
but he felt content and satiated as he rested there.

He closed his eyes momentarily when Yoongi began carding his fingers through his messy locks.
“You okay there?” he asked him softly, sounding way too sweet after what they had just done.

“Yeah.” His voice sounded rough, and Jimin cleared his throat. “Tired.”

He heard Yoongi chuckle before he grabbed his discarded sweatpants to clean himself up, not
disturbing Jimin as he tried to gather himself. When he got rid of the worst of it, Yoongi was gentle
as he moved Jimin so he was lying on the bed instead of on his lap. Carefully, he took off the
omega’s underwear and pyjama pants, so he could clean him up too.

“Be right back,” Yoongi told him once he was done before he scooted to the edge of the bed to get
up.

But Jimin didn’t like that at all, feeling needy and hating the idea of his alpha leaving him right
now. He sat up and hugged him from behind to stop him. “Where are you going?” he sulked.

Yoongi faltered. “To get us some water.”

His husband was still completely naked. That meant that his back and tattoos were on full display
and right in front of Jimin’s face. The same tattoos that had once sent shivers down Jimin’s spine
now didn’t frighten him so. The first thing that came to his mind as he observed them wasn’t Min
Doyun’s face, but just Yoongi. His husband. The sweet man who was always making sure he was
alright and who made him feel the safest in this world.

While he was lost in thought, Yoongi realised what had Jimin so distracted when the younger
began tracing one of the hibiscus flowers with his finger. The tattoos his husband always made sure
not to show him. The alpha grew very tense under his touch, and Jimin frowned. Wanting to get rid
of his discomfort, the omega left a kiss there, right on his shoulder blade where one of the flowers
was.

Yoongi’s breath hitched at the contact.

Not quite believing what was happening, Yoongi looked at him over his shoulder with incredulity.
But Jimin just pressed his cheek against his shoulder and held his gaze with a serene expression on
his face, not at all spooked by the Mugunghwa tattoo. “Don’t take too long,” Jimin told him softly.

As if on autopilot, Yoongi nodded, speechless. He got up stiffly and left the room with a startled
look on his face, still wrapping his head around what Jimin had just done. About what that meant.
Jimin did so too as he waited for him to come back.

His own reaction should’ve taken him by surprise, but Jimin was still very calm about it. It had felt
natural. Because that tattoo was just another part of his Yoongi and his many sides. Everything that
had to do with the clan was scary, but he couldn’t take out that part of Yoongi without getting rid
of a piece of him.

Yoongi was who he was thanks to and despite his affiliation to the clan.

It had taken him a long time to understand that, but Jimin felt like a weight had been lifted off his
shoulders at the realisation.

When Yoongi came back, he offered him a glass of water that Jimin thanked him for and gulped
down. The alpha still looked a bit flustered when they lay in bed again, so Jimin was the one to
scoot closer so he could hug him and tangle their legs together, searching for his warmth and
sighing contentedly as he snuggled close. It took a moment before Yoongi wrapped his arms
around him just like the omega wanted, and that was when it happened again. That damn vibration
at the back of his throat.

Jimin was purring again.

That same wave of embarrassment from before had him shrinking into himself as he tried to stop
that sound to no avail. He groaned in frustration.

“Jimin?”

“It won’t stop,” he whined, hiding his face in Yoongi’s chest.

Yoongi’s disbelief was clear in his voice when he told him, “You're embarrassed about this after
you just sucked me dry?”

Jimin slapped his chest to chastise him. Yoongi chortled.

A long silence followed, only interrupted by Jimin’s constant purring, until Yoongi asked him
carefully, almost in a whisper. “You know why omegas do that, right?”

His purring stopped for a second before it restarted, louder this time. Still wrapped all around him,
Jimin glanced up at his husband. He knew what it meant.

“I feel safe with you,” Jimin replied softly, locking their gazes. He brought a hand to Yoongi’s
cheek and kept it there. “And I’m very happy right now.”

This wasn’t the first time Jimin had stated so, but it still shocked Yoongi every time. Sometimes it
felt like Yoongi hung on to his every word, and Jimin understood why, but the reminder always
left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“You make me very happy. All of you,” Jimin confessed, needing him to know that he was more
than enough.

The omega observed how Yoongi let out a shuddering breath, clearly feeling too much at once.
The emotion shining in his eyes had Jimin's heart racing. He loved that he had been the one to
make him feel overwhelmed in this way. In a good way. In a way that sent a rush of adrenaline
through his veins and made his insides flutter pleasantly. Because that was how Yoongi made him
feel most of the time.

In his arms, Jimin felt content and safe. It was in between kisses and sweet words the alpha
whispered against his cheeks, nose bridge, temple, chin, and his eyelids when Jimin's eyes fluttered
close with exhaustion and contentment, that Jimin realised the warmth he felt was all-
encompassing and much more unrestrained than ever. To the point where he found himself
murmuring as he drifted off in his husband's warm embrace:

“I love this. I love y…”

Sadly, Yoongi didn't get to hear it, already half-asleep as well.

Chapter End Notes

okay yes yes yes I KNOW. Neither one is truly aware of Jimin's (almost) confession
BUT it’s because I have another moment in mind and I want them both to be awake
and in their five senses when it happens.

NOW

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT TATTOO SCENE????? because I was YELLING as

I wrote it and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Jimin kissed his tattoo!!! The one that used to
terrify him!!!! Because it’s part of Yoongi and he LOVES HIM AND EVERYTHING
THAT MAKES HIM WHO HE IS.

“Yoongi was who he was thanks to and despite his affiliation to the clan.” I’m
sobbing.

ALSO, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this (or if I have made this clear enough), but
Jimin finds it easier to be honest with himself (and Yoongi) when he’s feeling too
much. That’s why he usually tells Yoongi about his growing feelings after they
engage in sexual activities. (We can see that clearly in this chapter and chapter 9 too!
When Jimin tells him that he was happy he married Yoongi) Jimin shows him with his
actions too on a daily basis, but he’s bolder after being intimate with him (with his
feelings on fire *wink, wink*) I know this chapter was 90% smut, but it’s not just smut
for the sake of it (which I don’t mind at all! nothing wrong with that!) but yeah, that’s
the case in this chapter and I wanted to ramble about it :')

(I can't believe I wrote this. Is what Jimin did at the end considered cockwarming??
anyways... *hides*)

This chapter was HARD to write because I went through some things and writer’s
block isn’t fun. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it <3

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My Own Life, My Own Set of Rules
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

The afternoon sun warmed them up nicely while they sat on the picnic mat they brought to the Han
River. There were other families and groups of friends scattered around, having lunch just like
them while sitting on the grass. Yoongi had Haneul in his lap, using his left arm to support his
back and head. Jimin sat in front of them, watching them with fond eyes as he ate happily.

The alpha had needed some convincing to hold their pup because he still felt unfit at times. His
doubts kept haunting him, but Jimin wasn’t going to let them win. Yoongi still looked a little
unsure as he held him, but Jimin could tell he was thrilled to be doing this—spending time with
their baby, which was something his job deprived him of.

This was their first family outing. Taking advantage of the nice weather and Yoongi’s brief respite,
they grabbed Haneul’s new stroller and decided to have lunch outside. Jimin was in such a good
mood because this was something he had anticipated for some time now. He loved being outside,
surrounded by other people and eating delicious food with his two favourite people as if they were
a normal family. He was so thrilled about this that Jimin could easily ignore the bodyguards spread
out around the park, blending in with the crowd just in case anything happened.

“Here. Try the japchae.” Jimin offered some to his husband, hand under his chopsticks in case
some of it fell. Yoongi lowered his mask with his free hand to eat it. “How is it?” he asked
nervously.

“That’s actually very good,” Yoongi said as he chewed.

“Really? Gayoon’s is so much better,” he murmured as he looked at the dish he had prepared.
Jimin lifted his head and narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you’re only saying that because
I made it...”

His husband rolled his eyes, a fond smile curling his lips before he covered his face again with the
mask. “I wouldn’t eat it if I didn’t like it.”

Jimin pursed his lips jokingly. “For some reason, I don’t believe you.” Yoongi shook his head, and
the omega chuckled. Jimin threw his head back and took a deep breath, a smile curving his lips up.
“Ah, this feels so nice.”

“It’ll be even better in spring when the weather isn’t as cold.”

“Yeah, but we chose the perfect day to do this,” Jimin said as he observed their pup, who was
opening and closing his hands as he looked up at the alpha. The omega smiled as he watched how
Yoongi caressed Haneul’s cheek with that tenderness of his. “I was worried Haneul would be cold,
but it’s nice out. Isn’t it, Haneul?” Jimin asked, leaning forward once more.

Haneul hadn’t cried once since they arrived, and that was a good sign. They had bundled him up
well, just in case it was colder by the river. There was a show of lights at night, but it would be too
cold for Haneul, so they decided to come while the sun was still out to warm them up.

Haneul seemed just as comfortable as if they were at home as he rested in Yoongi’s lap. The
distance between them was minimal, but Jimin couldn’t help but get closer to them so he could
press his side to his husband’s and rest his head on his shoulder.
“I missed this, going on little dates with you.” Jimin sighed contentedly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” Yoongi whispered. “I’m sorry I’m not there for you as much as I’d like.”

Noticing that familiar hint of guilt in his voice, the omega shifted to look at him. “It’s fine, I
understand. I didn’t say that to complain. I’m just worried about you,” he told him. “I just want you
to be safe.”

“You don’t have to worry. I always do my best to ensure I come back to you both.”

But that only made Jimin frown. “You cannot ask me not to worry. That’s unreasonable,” he
explained. “You worry about our emotional well-being, and I worry about your physical one. We
are a family, that’s what we do, so try to not feel guilty about me worrying about you.”

His words had Yoongi pausing. Jimin tilted his head in question. “Family… That’s what we are,
right?” he says quietly.

Jimin’s expression softened. “Of course we are. You said so yourself when I was still pregnant,” he
replied just as softly. “And it’s not because of our arrangement. It’s because we made it so. Thanks
to you and your heart of gold,” he smiled, putting his hand over Yoongi’s heart.

The alpha wanted to protest—Jimin could see it clearly on his face—because Yoongi still had
trouble seeing his own goodness. But Jimin stopped him with a single look.

“And thanks to you,” Yoongi said instead. “If you hadn’t been so patient and taught me to talk
things out, I would probably still be avoiding you.”

Jimin giggled at that and nodded his head. It was mind-blowing how far they had come ever since
they got married not even a year ago yet. “We are a good team, yeah.”

His husband brought him closer with his free arm, and Jimin cuddled him gladly. Then Yoongi
lowered his mask to kiss his temple, even though they were in public. Jimin smiled up at him at the
gesture, and he pecked his lips before he pulled his mask up for him so Yoongi’s identity remained
hidden. The mirth in the alpha’s eyes was contagious.

“Maybe we could do this more often from now on,” Yoongi told him as Jimin brought one dish
closer so he could dig in while nestled against his side. “Whenever I have some time, the three of
us could go out. Or even the two of us, like we used to. You said you missed that.”

“I would love to go on little dates with you again, just like when I was pregnant. Something simple.
Just to have dinner or something simple like that,” Jimin explained, picking up a slice of kimbap
distractedly as that familiar feeling of guilt reared its head. “But whenever I think that, I can’t help
but feel like a bad dad,” he confessed, ashamed.

“Please, you’re always with Haneul, and you’re the best with him. Just because we’re parents now
doesn’t mean we should forget about ourselves,” Yoongi said, holding Haneul’s little hand in his
as their baby made gurgling sounds and kicked his feet softly. “He’s our priority, for sure. But it’s
okay to want to do things on your own, especially when you spend the most time with him in our
apartment. It’s okay to want to be your own person and nurture that part of you. I’d say it’s even
healthy.”

“Parent guilt,” Jimin breathed out. And just like that, some of that inner turmoil that had been
plaguing him faded away. Not for the first time, he was amazed by how easily Yoongi could get
rid of his anxiety just by talking to him. Yet his words sounded familiar… Jimin shot his husband a
pointed look, amused. “You’ve read that book too, haven’t you?”
Yoongi just nodded, avoiding his eyes as he watched Haneul. Jimin grinned.

Before the omega could tease him, Yoongi continued. “If you are tired or need some time to
yourself, you can tell me, you know? I can stay with Haneul while you do your own thing. I don’t
want you to feel suffocated at home,” he told him, and Jimin’s heart fluttered as it filled with
affection for this man. “And if I can’t, my mom is always happy to spend time with Haneul while
you rest or we go out for a bit.”

He was too much. Too good to be true. Yoongi had already done so much for him and Haneul. He
had opened up his heart in a way he never had. In a way he hadn’t been allowed to do ever since he
was a kid because of his father and his duty to the clan. His husband was always doing his best for
them, and Jimin knew that, which is why he always felt reluctant to ask for more. But here Yoongi
was, holding their baby and telling him he would still strive to do better for him. So Jimin could
have a life as normal as possible despite their circumstances.

“You are the best husband, did you know that?” Jimin whispered because if he talked louder, he
feared choking up on his emotions.

Yoongi twisted his mouth and lowered his head as he caressed the back of Haneul’s hand with his
thumb. “I’m really not.”

“Why can’t you ever accept my praises?” he pouted.

“Because I’m very much aware of my shortcomings.”

“Nobody is perfect. And nobody tries their best to do better like you do,” Jimin reminded him,
placing his hand on the alpha’s jaw to turn his head towards him gently. With their gazes locked,
Jimin smiled sweetly at him. “I’m so happy you’re my husband and the father of my child.”

Jimin saw the way Yoongi took a shuddering breath even though he was still wearing a mask. The
alpha’s gaze softened as he regarded him. “I guess I’ll have to believe you if you keep telling me,”
he murmured.

“Then I will say it every single day, over and over again,” Jimin said, trying to sound threatening.
“To the point where you’ll get sick of hearing it, and you’ll beg me to stop because you already
believe me.”

Yoongi’s laughter was music to his ears.

***

“Should I wear the ring?” Jimin asked his husband as Yoongi slipped on a green sweater that made
him look extra handsome. Yoongi knew straight away which ring he was referring to. The one he
had hidden. “Last time he kept looking at my hands,” the omega explained.

They were getting ready to have lunch at Min Doyun’s apartment. It wasn’t a special occasion.
Despite meeting Geumjae and Yoongi almost daily for work, Jimin had a feeling that these regular
gatherings were Doyun’s way of checking how things were in his sons’ personal lives. After all,
that was also important to the clan, reputational and future-wise.

“Hyerim doesn’t wear it, either,” Yoongi told him with furrowed brows. “He won’t bother you
about it.”

“Still,” Jimin insisted as he fixed his husband’s hair that had ruffled from getting dressed. “Maybe
if he sees me wearing it at least once, he’ll stop staring at me like that.”

Yoongi heaved out a tired sigh. “Jimin…”

The omega’s eyes widened. “Wait, I’ve got an idea. Bring it to me, please.”

Although reluctantly, Yoongi did as asked. Meanwhile, Jimin fetched a rose gold necklace he had
in his jewellery box. The chain was simple and thin, and it reached his chest. When Yoongi
brought him the ring with the clan’s emblem, Jimin slid the ring onto the chain so he could wear it
as a pendant inside his clothes. This way, he was wearing it, but he didn’t have to see it.

When his gaze went up to see what his husband thought of his idea, Yoongi looked like he wanted
to protest. It was clear he didn’t want him to do anything he didn’t want to do. Not again. But the
alpha also seemed resigned.

Jimin smiled softly at him. “I’m not yielding. I’m compromising.”

Yoongi’s tension left his body when he snorted at the omega’s explanation, and Jimin chuckled too
despite his slight nerves. He truly hoped this would be enough. Jimin could open up his mind and
heart for Yoongi, but not for Min Doyun.

The three of them arrived at the kingpin’s apartment once everyone was already gathered there.
The first one to greet them was Eun, who jumped into his uncle’s arms the moment he saw him.
While in Yoongi’s arms, Eun was able to see his baby cousin resting placidly in Jimin’s arms.
With such a cute welcoming, it was easier for the omega to ignore the stench of hibiscus flowers
all around him.

The adults greeted them next, and everyone gathered around them, wanting to look at the newest
addition to the family. Haneul was wrapped in the blanket his grandparents had gifted him with
when he was born. The baby liked it a lot, and Jimin thought it was a good way to appease Doyun.

“He looks fluffy,” Eun laughed merrily in his uncle’s arms as he watched Haneul yawn. “I have
that blanket, mom,” he pointed out, turning his head to look at her.

Hyerim, who was standing next to her husband, smiled softly at her son and nodded her head. “You
do, yeah.”

“It’s the same pretty flower, too!” Eun exclaimed, clapping his hands. With a little smile, Yoongi
secured his grip on him so he wouldn’t drop him while his nephew squirmed happily in his arms.

The adorable moment was interrupted when Min Doyun finally opened his mouth. “Do you know
why it has that flower embroidered, Eun-ah?” his grandfather asked him.

Eun nodded his head, adopting a more serious look. “Because he’s a Min. It’s our symbol.”

Jimin’s stomach lurched.

Eun was so young, but he already knew that too well. Glancing in Hyerim’s direction, the other
omega didn’t look any less nauseous. Geumjae, on his part, had an unreadable look on his face as
he stood straight with his gaze on his son. An unreadable look Jimin was very familiar with
because he had seen it many times on Yoongi’s face.
“That’s right,” the patriarch of the family smiled proudly at his grandson. However, he wasn’t
done yet. Min Doyun must’ve been waiting for such a moment, because it sounded like he had his
snarky comment already prepared. “Jimin doesn’t seem fond of the clan’s emblem, though. After
all, he doesn’t wear his own,” he mentioned nonchalantly.

It was so out of nowhere that he felt how Yoongi tensed up the slightest bit next to him. Everyone
in the room fell silent, the atmosphere turning stifling at the accusation. Luckily, Jimin had come
prepared after suspecting that the man had been meaning to confront him about this.

With his son in his arms, Jimin stood straight as he faced his father-in-law. “I do wear it, actually.”

Doyun quirked an eyebrow, clearly not believing him. “When? I only ever see you wearing that
ring you share with my son.”

“Right now.” Holding Haneul with only one arm, Jimin pulled his necklace out and showed him.
“It’s a bit big on me, so…” he shrugged.

The alpha studied the improvised necklace before his eyes went back to Jimin. Doyun stared at
him in silence for a moment, and Jimin did his best to remain calm. He wasn’t challenging the
man, and he didn’t want him to believe so, either. That’s why Jimin didn’t meet his eyes straight
on; he kept his gaze a tiny bit lower in a respectful manner. The omega had also been careful to
control his tone so he wouldn’t sound bratty or insolent, even less when the entire family was
gathered here.

“Why hide it?” Doyun asked him, assessing him.

“Haneul likes pulling at the chain. That’s why I wear it inside my clothes.”

“We could always get you a new one that is your actual size,” he pointed out.

“I’m not fond of wearing more than one ring. It’s a hustle, especially when I have to take care of
Haneul. I’m scared I’ll scratch him. I prefer necklaces,” Jimin explained calmly, pressing his lips
into a small smile as he delicately touched the pendant.

After another long moment in silence, Doyun ended up humming before he turned around to lead
everyone inside.

Jimin could hardly believe it. His father-in-law had dropped it. Had his explanation convinced
him? Or did Doyun believe this wasn’t a matter worth fighting about? When the others turned to
follow him, Jimin still stood there and let out a relieved sigh.

He had won this round.

His first win ever against Min Doyun.

Yoongi placed his hand on his lower back then. The touch felt grounding, and his husband shot
him an encouraging look. Jimin swore he could also see pride shining in his eyes. The omega could
relate; he was very proud of himself, too.

While they waited for lunch to be ready, the Min family remained in the living room. There were
some appetisers on a table so they could eat them while they waited. Jimin left Haneul with his
grandma and Yoongi while he got up from the couch to get himself a glass of water. He was taking
a sip when he noticed Hyerim approaching him.

“I miss drinking wine,” she sighed as she filled a glass with water for herself. Knowing that
Geumjae and she were trying to get pregnant with their second child, Jimin chuckled. He could
relate because he wasn’t allowed alcohol while he was still breastfeeding. “That was a good one,
by the way,” she whispered. Her eyes flickered down to his necklace before she shot him a
knowing smile and brought the glass to her lips.

For a moment, Jimin worried she was being sarcastic. “It’s a little loose on me, that’s why,” he
mumbled, averting his eyes.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” she assured him. Jimin looked at her nervously but found
nothing but empathy, which had him relaxing immediately. “As time passes, you’ll find ways to do
things the way you want to.”

Jimin looked at his half-drunk glass. “Does it ever get easier?” he wondered, glancing at Hyerim.

Her eyes immediately went back to her son, who was in his father’s arms as Eun talked to his
grandfather. “In some ways,” she admitted. “You learn to adapt and play the game when it’s
expected of you. You even find yourself winning a few hands here and there.” Her grip on her
glass tightened, and she pressed her lips together. “But the anxiety never fully goes away. Geumjae
and Eun make things easier, though,” she shrugged before she smiled at him. “I can see that’s your
case, too.”

Jimin felt his cheeks warm up a little bit, but he didn’t deny it. “The Min brothers are truly Misun’s
sons.”

She raised her glass. “Thank god for that.”

They stood by the table in silence for a moment as they watched their respective husbands with
their kids. “Do you ever wonder how your life would’ve been if you hadn’t been forced to marry
into the Min family?” he asked very quietly.

Hyerim didn’t seem weirded out by his question, though. “I used to,” she admitted, nodding her
head while still holding her glass, “but there’s no point in doing that. I prefer counting my
blessings. After all, not everyone got lucky like us,” she told him, her eyes drifting to Misun, who
had Haneul in her arms while Yoongi sat next to her, both of them smiling at the baby.

She was right. There was no point in dwelling on what-ifs when their present and future lay in front
of their very eyes.

Jimin nodded solemnly and promised himself that he would cherish and protect his two blessings.

***

Jimin was waiting for Yoongi to arrive from work. He was late today again, and he had ended up
having dinner alone. It wasn’t a big deal, but the omega was worried about him. If something bad
had happened, someone would’ve called him already. Or would soon enough. Jimin shook his head
to will the thought away.

He was sitting in the living room, feeding Haneul as he pondered on all of this. Jimin looked
around the room to try to distract himself from such frightening thoughts. When his eyes landed on
the photos they had placed around, Jimin smiled. There were photos of Yoongi and him as kids
and a couple of them together during one of their dates while he was pregnant. The once cold and
impersonal apartment was now filled with their warmth, memories and Haneul’s belongings
scattered here and there.

Yet, he suddenly realised something: they didn’t have any photos of Haneul yet. Jimin pursed his
lips, having the sudden urge to change that.

The omega was brought back to the present when he heard the door to their house open. Jimin
heaved out a relieved sigh when he saw Yoongi, who shot him an apologetic look. His scent was
enough to put him at ease once more, and he just smiled at him from the couch, understanding.

“Everything went okay?” Jimin asked him as his husband walked over to them.

“Yes, just some trouble with a deal. But we have sorted it out,” Yoongi assured him as he leaned
on the back of the couch from behind.

Jimin craned his neck to look at him with a little smile as he observed how the alpha watched their
baby feed. “Good to know.”

He didn’t ask more, not wanting to know how they had solved the problem. He was just glad his
husband was okay and here with them again. Yoongi looked at him with that warmth that always
had a soothing effect on him before the alpha pressed a kiss to his temple.

“Did you have dinner?” Jimin asked him, glancing down at Haneul before his eyes focused on his
husband again.

But Yoongi only had eyes for Haneul right now. “Not yet,” he replied absentmindedly as he
reached to caress their baby’s soft hair.

“Gayoon left yours in the kitchen, just in case. Take a shower, and I’ll heat it up when I’m finished
feeding Haneul.”

“Nah, you don’t have to. I’ll do it.” Yoongi wiggled his finger, brushing its side against the baby’s
cheek, but Haneul continued sucking on his nipple without pause. The alpha sighed softly. “He
ignores me every time he’s feeding,” he muttered.

The sulkiness in his tone had Jimin giggling. “Food is more important than his dads,” he agreed.
Looking back at him, Jimin frowned worriedly. “You look so tired,” he pointed out quietly.

Yoongi’s eyes slid over to his. “No more than you.”

“Don’t make it into a contest,” Jimin pouted. Yoongi’s lips curled up in that gentle way he loved
so much. “Do you work tomorrow?”

“No, unless they call me.”

Jimin nodded and, taking advantage of how close their faces were, he kissed his cheek. “Let’s hope
they don’t, then.”

The affectionate gesture had his husband’s expression softening even more. Yoongi rested his chin
on Jimin’s shoulder as he watched Haneul eat. “It’d be nice to just spend the day at home.”

The omega agreed wholeheartedly. That reminded him, “Do you know what I realised today?”
Jimin asked him. Yoongi shot him an expectant look. “That we don’t have any pictures of Haneul
yet.”
Yoongi stared at him for a while, looking like he had something to say. “… I do,” he finally
admitted.

The omega blinked. “What?”

There was a sheepish look on his husband’s face as he pulled out his phone to show him. Jimin’s
heart skipped a beat. He had set a picture of Haneul sleeping peacefully as his lock screen.

How could his husband be so sweet? The reminders completely disarmed him every time.

Jimin let out an awed sound as he looked at his phone. “So precious.”

He didn’t specify who he was referring to, but he didn’t have to because it applied to both his
husband and son. Jimin just regarded Yoongi with crescent eyes, his smile blinding. He burst out
laughing when the alpha put his phone back in his pocket, avoiding his eyes and doing as if
nothing had happened, but his pink ears told him otherwise. Yoongi had a cute side to him that
only Jimin was privy to, and he loved that.

The next day, making use of the warm winter sun, they set to it. Apparently, Yoongi owned a
professional camera that he actually knew how to use, so they spent the afternoon taking pictures
of Haneul together. Between the two of them, they chose a couple of outfits and changed their baby
together. Jimin laughed softly at his husband’s panicked expressions when Haneul would squirm
and almost get out of his grasp.

The first look was a thick and fluffy white cat onesie Jimin had been dying to see Haneul in. The
baby looked more like a cloud or a sheep rather than a white cat if it weren’t for the cute hoodie
with a pair of ears and whiskers. Jimin felt like biting his chubby cheeks at how adorable he looked
in it.

They either used pillows to prop him up, or Jimin would discreetly use his hands to support him.
They gave him plushies for some photos while Yoongi captured each moment, careful to not use
flash. Meanwhile, Haneul seemed entertained as he watched them hover over him.

“Haneul, look at daddy. Look,” Jimin used his high-pitched voice as he pointed at Yoongi
insistently, trying to make their pup look at the camera.

Yoongi was squatting in front of them, snapping his fingers to catch their baby’s attention, but
Haneul was too little to grasp what they wanted from him, so it was futile.

Their loud voices seemed to catch Gayoon’s attention. “I know he’s a pup, but he’s not an actual
puppy. You are aware of that, right?” she asked them, very much amused by their attempts and
making them realise how ridiculous they looked.

The couple fell silent and then shared a look before they burst out laughing. Yoongi lowered his
face, facepalming as his shoulders shook with laughter. Jimin ended up on his ass, losing his
strength as his stomach ached from how much he was laughing. Still smiling, Gayoon rolled her
eyes, hands on her hips as she left them to go back to work. It took them a few minutes to calm
down, and when they did, they continued taking pictures.

It was funny how Haneul almost fell asleep from how comfortable he was in that onesie, and Jimin
was tempted to let him. But knowing that a nap now would mess up his feeding and sleeping
schedule, Yoongi and he changed him into the second outfit instead. The baby trousers and red
sweater made him look like a tiny adult, and the soft crochet beanie with little bear ears was just
the cherry on top.
It was nice out, so they took some pictures in the garden, too. “Crouch down next to the tangerine
tree,” Yoongi instructed as he lifted the camera and prepared to take another photo.

Jimin hesitated, holding Haneul. “I’ll get in the picture then.”

The alpha lowered his camera to smirk. “That’s the point.”

“Oh,” Jimin smiled, flustered but pleasantly so.

He posed with his baby, listening to Yoongi’s instructions but also just doing whatever he wanted.
Haneul grew a little fussy after a while, and Jimin had to calm him down, a moment Yoongi didn’t
hesitate to immortalise. Those were always the best pictures, the candid ones.

“Let me take a few pictures of you two,” Jimin told his husband after a while. However, Yoongi
regarded him silently, not letting go of the camera. Jimin huffed a laugh. “What? You don’t trust
me with your camera?”

Yoongi rolled his eyes at that and left the camera on the grass so he could take Haneul. However,
the moment Yoongi was the one in front of the camera and holding their baby, he wasn’t the
confident alpha he had acted like since their improvised photography session began.

He looked stiff as Jimin took his picture, and the omega tried his best to help him relax, but
Yoongi looked uncomfortable, adjusting Haneul in his arms nonstop. It almost looked like he had
forgotten how to hold him. He was too worried about holding him in a way that didn’t hurt his
delicate neck to look at the camera. Jimin tried not to snigger at how endearing and awkward the
alpha looked. Yoongi was still a little clumsy with Haneul sometimes, always worried if he was
doing things right, his eyes searching for Jimin’s approval and reassurance, but he was getting
better each day.

Yet, their baby looked nothing but comfortable in his arms. Haneul kept looking up at his father
while Yoongi regarded him unsurely. That was until Haneul lifted a hand and pressed it against
Yoongi’s cheek, his open palm looking even tinier than usual. The alpha blinked, momentarily
surprised, before the fondest smile spread across his face.

When Yoongi turned his head to leave a kiss on Haneul’s open palm, Jimin pressed the camera
button without thinking, too stunned as he watched his husband wide-eyed as his stomach flipped.
His veins tingled under his skin, and his heart pounded in his chest as he did his best to not drop the
camera.

This feeling—this… certainty—could only mean one thing, right?

When Yoongi turned to him with the brightest smile he had ever seen on his face, Jimin was sure
of the answer.

He gulped, momentarily knocked out before Yoongi made him blink out of his daze. “Let’s take a
family photo, too.”

Jimin had to clear his throat, his brain lagging. “Y-Yeah.”

He held Haneul once more while Yoongi set the timer. Jimin watched his husband with butterflies
in his stomach, the sensation only intensifying when he sat next to him on the couch and Yoongi
passed an arm around his shoulders as the three of them took a few more pictures in the garden.

Even though they were still taking photos, Jimin couldn’t help how he kept looking at Yoongi
instead of at the camera. His heart refused to settle, and he was sure there was an awestruck look
on his face as he regarded him. When Yoongi noticed his gaze fixed on him, he tilted his head in
question.

Jimin licked his lips before he parted them. That’s when Yoongi’s phone rang, interrupting the
moment and their fun afternoon.

Still feeling a little out of it because of his previous realisation, Jimin watched as Yoongi got up
with a frown and an apologetic look before he answered the call. The omega had Haneul sitting on
his lap with his back against his chest, and he played with his tiny fingers distractedly as he
observed Yoongi.

“Looks like daddy will have to leave soon,” he muttered under his breath, understanding but a little
disappointed. Jimin didn’t let it show, though. Not when Yoongi was approaching them already
with that guilty expression on his face. “Work?”

Yoongi sat next to them again with a sigh. “Geumjae-hyung needs me.”

“That’s okay,” Jimin assured him. “We had fun today.”

But the alpha heaved out another sigh, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the couch. “I feel
terrible for having to go again.”

“Don’t.” Jimin furrowed his brow. “You’re doing your best.”

“But it’s not enough,” Yoongi stated, sounding frustrated. He opened his tormented eyes again and
threw his head back, looking up at the sky. “I feel like I don’t spend that much time with Haneul,
and I think he can sense that, especially when I hold him. Like he doesn’t know me well.” He
hesitated, nibbling on his bottom lip, and when he spoke again, he did so very quietly. “Or
maybe… Maybe he can sense that I’m not… good. That my job makes me do bad things
sometimes. Maybe he doesn’t like who I am.” Yoongi closed his eyes again, and Jimin’s heart
shrunk painfully. “I don’t want him to hate me,” he whispered forlornly.

“Yoongi, no,” Jimin stated firmly, hating that his husband was berating himself like this. “You’re
doing great with Haneul. He won’t hate you when you’re trying so hard to be here for him.”
Yoongi brought a hand to his forehead to rub it before the alpha cast him a sidelong glance. He
was listening. Jimin’s hold on Haneul’s hands tightened the tiniest bit. “And your job doesn’t
define you as a person. You’re a good man in spite of what you do. You’re doing great,” Jimin
repeated, smiling softly at the tired sigh Yoongi let out. “I fell in love with you for who you are, so
how could our baby not love you already?”

A beat of silence followed his impromptu confession.

Yoongi’s entire frame tensed up, and he jerked in his direction. The alpha wasn’t the only one
shocked, though. The words had come effortlessly to Jimin at the moment, and they had only
registered in his brain once they were out in the open.

“What did you just say?” Yoongi asked carefully, like he didn’t want to let himself believe what he
had heard just yet. Not until Jimin confirmed it.

After the initial shock had passed, Jimin felt oddly at peace. He had been agonising over this for so
long, thinking too hard about it. Finally, the realisation had hit him like a truck, but the words had
ended up coming out most naturally.

“Yeah, I do,” Jimin nodded to himself. When he met his husband’s eyes, a relieved smile stretched
Jimin’s lips. “I love you, too, Yoongi.”
Jimin had fallen in love slowly, with an unsure heart. He had fallen for Yoongi’s clumsy but tender
ways. With that awed look on his face whenever the alpha held Haneul in his arms. With the way
Yoongi loved him and cared for him. With his heart of gold.

Jimin’s mind and heart had finally caught up with each other, and he realised he was no longer
afraid or apprehensive of his feelings for his husband.

He could now tell himself without having second thoughts that he was in love with Yoongi. With
the apparently cold man who went out of his way to not make him feel uncomfortable from the
beginning. The man who always put him first, but also confronted him when Jimin was being
inadvertently cruel to him. The alpha who always made sure Jimin was well, both physically and
emotionally. His husband who provided him with everything he needed, be it a garden to keep his
loneliness at bay or the emotional support he needed despite how closed off Yoongi was by nature.

From the beginning, Jimin never stood a chance, not really. This was bound to happen. After
nurturing them so carefully, these feelings were bound to bloom, just like the flowers in their
garden.

“Fuck,” Yoongi breathed out. His husband was sitting up, his body turned to him as he watched
him with the same astonishment as before. “You can’t tell me that right now.”

Jimin faltered. “W-What?”

“How can you expect me to go to work now?” he asked like he was being unreasonable.

Jimin blinked. Yoongi was being serious.

After a brief pause, the omega huffed a laugh. “Your brother is waiting for you,” he reminded him.

Careful of Haneul, Yoongi scooted closer and cupped Jimin’s face in his big hands. His eyes were
glowing as they flickered all over his face with a reverent look that had Jimin’s heart stuttering.
“Fuck the clan. I’m not going anywhere,” Yoongi whispered.

Despite how his heart skipped a beat, Jimin pursed his lips with a frown. “Yoongi,” he scolded
him.

“Did you mean it?” Yoongi asked very seriously instead, not letting go of him.

“Of course I did,” Jimin whispered, locking their eyes to show his sincerity. “I wouldn’t say
something like that just because. I wouldn’t do that to you.” The omega pursed his lips, feeling bad
for making Yoongi feel so uncertain for so long. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”

But Yoongi shook his head as he kept staring at him, almost as if he was making sure this moment
was real. “Say it again?”

Jimin took in a shuddering breath. “I love you.”

His husband’s grip on him tightened. “Again.”

“I love you.”

“Again.”

Yoongi looked so earnest, and Jimin couldn’t help the wet chuckle that left his lips. He would tell
him as many times as he needed to hear it until it got through his brain.
“I love you. I love you. I love you,” Jimin repeated over and over again without Yoongi having to
prompt him. “I love you with all my heart, Yoongi.”

The alpha’s chest rose and fell with the deep breath he took before his lips curled up into a smile
that showed just how relieved, overjoyed and overwhelmed he felt at finally hearing that Jimin
returned his feelings wholeheartedly. The omega couldn’t look away from such unadulterated
happiness. He only closed his eyes when Yoongi brought their faces close together to kiss him long
and hard in a way that took his breath away.

“I love you,” Jimin told him the moment the kiss ended.

Yoongi’s eyes crinkled when he grinned at him. “I love you, too.”

The alpha ended up going to work because Jimin insisted, not wanting to get him in trouble. With
promises of resuming this moment when he came back home, they parted.

Later on that day, Yoongi would tell him that he got quite late for the meeting. “It was your fault,”
he joked before licking into his omega’s mouth.

But his tardiness didn’t matter as they lay tangled together in their bed, exchanging body heat.

“Better late than never,” Jimin murmured against his lips as he trembled in his husband’s arms.

Yoongi smiled into the kiss.

Chapter End Notes

I’m sorry it took me a month to get this chapter ready, but July was… a month lol I
had to take a break from writing, and I didn’t want to post this chapter until I was
happy with it. But here it is! And Jimin finally said it!! I know it took him a long time,
but I hope it didn’t disappoint.

I also really like that conversation between Hyerim and Jimin. I know some people
expected Jimin and Yoongi to cut ties with the family and run away, but as Yoongi
said in one of the first chapters, they cannot do that. That would have terrible
consequences, and they would never live in peace. Not like their life will be perfect by
remaining in the clan, but it’s the best for everyone they love, including themselves.
Also, I didn’t like the idea of finishing this fic with them riding into the sunset; this
feels more realistic. Instead, Jimin is slowly adapting and learning how to play his
cards well, just like Yoongi has done his whole life (mimi has a great teacher ) They
will continue to bend and break, but in between the bad stuff, there will be good
moments, too.

Only the epilogue is left

(A little time jump is coming!)

I sincerely hope you liked this and how I’m wrapping things up. I’m very thankful for
all of you who always tell me how much you love this story. As we get to the end of
this fic, I grow more nervous because as much as I want to not disappoint anybody,
this is my story, and I want to be happy with it, too. Just know I’m working hard to
finish this fic to the best of my abilities, and I’m very thankful for all the love it has
received. Your comments and kudos get me going!

See you in the last chapter

twitter
Epilogue
Chapter Notes

Sorry it took me so long to post this, but it’s finally here! We’re going to go a little
back and forth, and I worked hard so it’s not confusing, so let’s hope I did a good job
lol

For the last time, I really hope you enjoy it :’)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

two years later

The soft light of a new day illuminated the bedroom pleasantly while the two lovers shared hushed
professions of love in the quiet hours of the early morning. Yoongi was sitting in bed with Jimin on
his lap, wrapped all around him as he rocked his hips in that torturous way they both loved. Their
flushed and sweaty bodies were pressed together as the husbands tried to make this moment last for
as long as they could while also desperately searching for that blissful release.

“Fuck. You ride me so well, baby.”

“Yeah?” Jimin moaned, his eyes fluttering close briefly before he opened them again. His lips
curled up when he met his husband’s ardent gaze as he rolled his hips in that way he knew drove
Yoongi absolutely insane. “Are you gonna come already, love?” he asked breathlessly with a
cheeky smile.

Yoongi growled, his hold on his sweaty body tightening. “If you keep this up, I’ll end up knotting
you.”

Jimin threw his head back as he quickened his pace at his words. He was heaving on top of him,
their chests rubbing together at how close they were. The friction felt so nice against his nipples
and his trapped cock between their bodies. “Please do,” the omega moaned into his mouth before
they kissed again.

Trying to stay quiet while they made love was always tricky, but it somehow added to the level of
intimacy, and it riled them up even more. It was always hardest when Jimin was approaching his
climax, but Yoongi knew just what to do by now. Flipping Jimin onto his back, the omega let out a
small squeal when he found himself on his back with Yoongi on top of him. He couldn’t protest,
though. Not when Yoongi started thrusting into him fast, giving him just what he wanted and
needed and craved. Just like always.

The omega held onto his husband’s back when his body went rigid. But before a single sound
could make it out, Yoongi’s lips were there to muffle them. Because those moans had his name on
them, and they were only his.

Jimin thought it was a shame that Yoongi didn’t end up knotting him, but they both knew they
didn’t have enough time for that. Enjoying how the alpha was lying on top of him as they tried to
come down from their high, Jimin trailed his hand down his tattooed back.

When Yoongi stopped smothering him and propped himself up so he could look at him, Jimin
pecked his lips, still panting. “Good morning, Yoongi.”

“Morning, love,” Yoongi smirked, leaving another peck on Jimin’s plump lips. “I guess today
can’t get any better than this.”

Jimin giggled. “Stupid alpha,” he taunted him before he kissed the tip of his nose and then his lips.
Yoongi pressed their lips together again in a long peck that had Jimin smiling dopily into it.
“Happy birthday,” he wished him sweetly as he brushed the alpha’s black hair back.

“Thanks,” Yoongi’s lips twitched up in a brief smile, still feeling out of it. Jimin stared at him for a
while, observing his handsome features as they basked in the afterglow and the quietness in their
apartment. “What?” his husband asked when he realised he was being stared at.

Jimin shook his head. “Thirty-one looks good on you,” he said, grinning.

Yoongi grumbled, hiding in his neck. “You’ll catch up soon enough.”

The omega giggled, squirming under him as Yoongi left kisses along the column of his throat.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” Jimin announced, knowing that he had to stop him before things
escalated once more.

“Let’s shower together,” Yoongi murmured with his lips pressed to his collarbones, making the
omega sigh pleasantly.

“No. We’ll take too long then.” Jimin wanted to pat his own back for resisting his husband’s
charms. “You go and wake up Haneul.”

This time it was Yoongi who heaved out a sigh against his skin, knowing that he wouldn’t win.
“Fine…”

They were leaving for Busan today. They had been planning this day for a month already.
Travelling with a two-year-old had them both a little antsy, but Haneul was excited about taking a
train for the first time, and Yoongi was incapable of denying him almost anything.

Min Doyun had been against it at first because the man never said yes to anything immediately.
Even though they had wanted to keep this trip a secret—preferring to keep a low profile for
security reasons—after further thought, Doyun had liked the idea. Their visit would show the
people of Busan that their union was strong and that it had come to fruition when they saw Haneul
with them. Jimin hated his reasons for accepting their first family trip, but the omega knew when
to push it and when to shut up, and this time, his silence would benefit them.

This trip to Busan had been Yoongi’s idea, actually. Jimin had worried that Yoongi was doing this
for him, because he hadn’t stepped foot in his hometown ever since they got married. It was
Yoongi’s birthday, not his, so Jimin thought they should do something he wanted.

“I want to see the ocean. It’s been a while, and Haneul has never been to the beach before,“ Yoongi
had explained and tapped Jimin’s forehead so he would stop frowning. The alpha had smiled,
looking particularly excited about the trip and convincing Jimin with just that, but Yoongi
continued explaining himself. “It’s almost spring but still a little cold, so there won’t be too many
people yet. Plus, it’s our anniversary soon, so this can be our gift.”
He couldn’t say no after that. He didn’t want to say no. So they started planning the trip with time.

Jimin was excited to see his family again in his hometown. He didn’t miss them as much anymore
because they came often to visit now. Yoongi had bought another apartment in their building so
they could stay comfortably and close to them whenever they came. Security was another reason
for it, but Jimin still had a hard time grasping that his husband had bought a whole-ass apartment
for his family. He hadn’t known whether to get mad at him or kiss him breathless when he found
out. Jimin had done both.

Thanks to that, Haneul was very close to them, which was a relief. His parents loved doting on
their only grandson, and Jihyun was crazy over his nephew, always playing with him and watching
cartoons together as if they were both kids. The bond between them was adorable, and Haneul was
always clinging to him.

“It’s like they only come to see Haneul. They completely ignore me,” Jimin had sulked jokingly
one time to his husband while on a date, something they could do more often now thanks to his
parents’ visits and Misun, who made it easy for the couple to spend some needed time alone.

Yoongi had glanced at him and chuckled, knowing Jimin was just being silly. He had reached for
his hand and kissed the back of it without tearing his eyes away from the road as he drove them to a
restaurant. “You are so cute when you pout like that.” Jimin had huffed at the comment, acting all
high and mighty even though he loved it. And Yoongi knew that well. “Even jealousy looks good
on you,” he added with a playful smirk.

“Really?” Jimin quirked an eyebrow at him. “Should I flirt with the waiter so you can keep
admiring and praising my looks all night?”

Yoongi shot him a sidelong glance, the most unimpressed look on his face before he turned his
attention back to the road. “You know the restaurant we’re going to is in a hotel, right? Don’t make
me cancel our dinner reservation and book a room instead.”

Jimin perked up at that. “Oh? Sounds fun.”

His husband had rolled his eyes at his reply, and Jimin had chuckled and brought their joined hands
to his lips so he could leave a kiss on his knuckles.

Everything was ready for the trip, but before they left Seoul, they had to have lunch at Min
Doyun’s place to celebrate Yoongi’s birthday. Jimin didn’t mind it because of Misun. His mother-
in-law had been the one to organise this gathering, and Jimin would gladly go for her and Yoongi,
who also liked the idea.

Haneul was always excited to see his cousins, and he seemed quite hyper today. Jimin noticed this
when he came out of the shower, only for his son to jump out to scare him. Haneul roared, hands
raised and fingers imitating claws, and Jimin flinched and gasped, not having expected it.

“Haneul!” The kid was crouching on the floor with the most precious smile, hair dishevelled from
sleep and looking elated at Jimin’s reaction. The omega regarded him with his hands on his hips.
“That’s how you say good morning to your appa?”

Haneul giggled. “I’m lion!” he said instead.

“I see that.” Jimin couldn’t help but smile at his antics. It was hard getting mad at his mischievous
pup. “Where is your daddy?”
“Phone.”

Jimin sighed. He hoped it was someone wishing him a happy birthday and not a work call. “Let’s
have breakfast with Gayoon,” Jimin told him before he picked him up.

He kissed both his cheeks, scenting him a little, and Haneul nuzzled his neck back, imitating him
even though he couldn’t properly scent him yet. Still, the gesture and intention behind it always
melted Jimin’s heart. He also noticed that Yoongi’s scent was strong on their pup, and the omega
smiled to himself because that meant they had taken their time cuddling when Yoongi went to
wake up Haneul.

“Are you hungry, sunshine?” He asked him as they left the bedroom.

Haneul roared cutely again, making Jimin laugh fondly.

They started having breakfast first, and Yoongi joined them soon after. He was still wearing a pair
of sweatpants and a shirt, not having changed clothes yet, and the moment he entered, their son
turned to him.

“No phone table!” Haneul reminded his father with his cheeks full of rice.

“That’s right. No phones at the table.” Yoongi raised his hands to show him he didn’t have it with
him. “Don’t talk with your mouth full. You can choke,” the alpha reminded him gently in turn as
he took a seat.

Haneul pouted his lips but obliged, chewing his food in silence as he swung his legs under the
table. “Good boy,” Jimin praised him with a smile as he scooped another spoonful of rice and fish
for the kid. “Did you wish your daddy a happy birthday?”

He nodded quickly without saying a peep as instructed.

Yoongi smiled fondly and patted his son’s head. “He remembered the moment I woke him up.”

“I hugged daddy veeery tight,” Haneul said once he had swallowed his food.

“Oh, so daddy gets cuddles, and I get a jump scare,” Jimin said and narrowed his eyes jokingly at
his son. “I see how it is…”

Haneul roared again before he started laughing, and his parents smiled because there was nothing
sweeter than the sound of their pup’s laughter.

When their son wasn’t looking, Yoongi stuck out his tongue at him to tease him, and Jimin
returned the gesture, loving when the alpha felt playful enough to act silly. That meant Yoongi was
in a very good mood today, and it was great to see.

“I prepared some kimbap so you can eat it on the train if you get hungry,” Gayoon told them,
washing her hands in the kitchen sink.

Jimin looked back at her from his seat. “You didn’t have to.”

“It’s no bother,” she waved him off.

“Thank you, really,” he smiled gratefully at her.

“We’ll take care of the dishes. You can go already, Gayoon,” Yoongi told her politely.
“Are you sure?” she asked, drying her hands.

Yoongi nodded.

Jimin grinned at her. “Enjoy your days off.”

“I sure will.” Gayoon walked over until she stood next to the table to smile at their pup. “Have fun
with your parents, Haneul.”

Their son beamed brightly. “Yes! Bye, bye!” Haneul bowed his head respectfully, but he ended up
almost hitting his forehead against the table in his haste.

“Be careful, honey,” Jimin told him, his hand on his son’s back as he bit his lip to control his
laughter.

Jimin tried to not laugh openly, but he couldn’t help but chuckle when he glanced at his husband.
Yoongi was covering his mouth with his hand, but his laughter was clear in his eyes and the subtle
shake of his frame.

“Aigoo, such a polite little boy!” Gayoon exclaimed, delighted and amused. “I’ll see you in a few
days, sweetheart.”

Haneul continued eating happily, unaware of how effortlessly adorable he was in the eyes of all the
adults in the room.

It took some time for Haneul to finish eating breakfast. Time Yoongi used to clean up the kitchen
and start gathering their luggage so Hyukjae, their chauffeur, could bring everything down to the
car with the help of one of their bodyguards. While Yoongi took a quick shower and got dressed,
Jimin dressed Haneul and made sure he was ready before they were out the door.

The moment they arrived at the kingpin’s house, Misun greeted them with a warm smile. After
pinching Haneul’s cheek softly, she gave her son a long hug to congratulate him, and Yoongi didn’t
hesitate to return it. Jimin smiled at her, and the woman squeezed his arm in greeting before they
heard a shrill scream from inside. Eun came running to see his cousin the moment he heard them,
and Haneul didn’t hesitate to do the same, meeting him halfway there. He was way more clumsy
than Eun, running like a little duck, and it was adorable how they hugged before they ran inside,
hand in hand.

When Jimin and Yoongi entered the living room, they found Haneul hugging Geumjae in greeting.
Then Eun and he hovered over the newest addition to the family: another baby boy Hyerim had
given birth to just a few months ago. Haneul still looked at the baby in wonder, not quite
understanding why they couldn’t play with him yet.

“He’s too little,” Eun explained, acting like the hyung. “You were like that too when I met you.”

Haneul looked at him with a clueless expression on his face. “Don’t remember.”

“Because you were a baby,” Eun told him like it was obvious. “Babies don’t remember anything.”

“I remember inside dad’s tummy,” Haneul said, very sure of himself—as if that was even possible
—and patted his own belly.

The adults in the room greeted each other and shared an amused look as they let the pups be pups.

“Me, too,” Eun contradicted himself before he grinned. “Wanna play that we’re in the jungle?”
Haneul’s face lit up, and he roared in answer, ready to start running around again. However, that’s
when Min Doyun appeared, and Haneul didn’t hesitate to run up to his grandpa. Doyun picked him
up with a huff, and their pup wrapped his arms around his neck to hug him with a smile.

Jimin’s heart didn’t drop like it used to do at first at the sight. He still swallowed and reminded
himself that he’d rather Haneul didn’t fear Min Doyun the way he had done once. After all, the
man treated his grandson well, just like he treated Eun. The kingpin liked telling the kids stories
about the clan—age-appropriate ones—and he sometimes scolded them when they fought or did
something naughty, but he wasn’t cruel to them.

“He never showed such kindness towards us, his own sons,” Yoongi had told him one day, deep in
thought as they watched Doyun holding both his grandsons’ hands as he took them to the terrace.
“Maybe old age is getting to him. Or he knows he can relax now that Geumjae-hyung has managed
to secure the other half of Seoul.”

“That sounds more like it, yeah,” Jimin had said, not letting himself get his hopes too high.

Yoongi hummed. “I think that’s why my brother was so intent on securing Seoul as fast as possible.
Our father is obsessed with our clan’s future. Geumjae must have known this would make it easier
on our children; that’s why he’s been working us to the bone.”

“It’s been two long and hard years.” Jimin wrapped his arms around Yoongi’s waist, pressing his
cheek against his shoulder. “You worked hard, love. Both at work and at home.”

Wrapping an arm around the omega’s shoulders, Yoongi looked at him unsurely. “You really think
so?”

“Without a doubt,” Jimin assured him immediately. “Haneul adores you, and that’s proof enough.”

“And you?” he asked quietly. “I can’t help but feel like I’ve neglected you at times.”

“Well, you better get that out of your head right this moment,” he told him, poking his forehead
before he smiled at him. “Because I love you more each day, and that should tell you all you need
to know. Or do you still need more convincing after two years?”

Yoongi’s lips curled up. “I believe you, but your reminders are always nice. I’m always looking
forward to them.”

Jimin had leaned closer to bump their noses softly. “Stop making excuses when you just want
kisses,” he had murmured with their faces very close together, too close while they were
surrounded by family.

After taking a look around to make sure no one was looking, Yoongi had pecked his lips quickly,
and Jimin had hugged him tightly, giggling happily in his arms.

Min Doyun had announced at the beginning of the year that he would retire and hand over his title
to Geumjae in approximately five years. That was plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments
so the succession went as smoothly as possible. And when that happened, Yoongi would become
his hyung’s right hand, which was a little scary to Jimin despite his husband’s reassurances that he
had been trained for that since he was a kid.
Jimin hoped with all his heart that Doyun’s behaviour towards his grandsons would stay the same
even after his retirement. Even when they grew up. He trusted Geumjae a lot more than Doyun
with Haneul. Even with Yoongi—although Jimin knew his husband didn’t need protection.

Still in his grandfather’s arms, Haneul announced, “I’m lion, grandpa.”

He roared to demonstrate it, and Doyun’s lips quirked up. “Your hair does look a little wild,” he
pointed out. “Maybe a haircut is due.”

He was still an asshole sometimes, though, even if Haneul couldn’t tell.

It was no secret that Doyun disliked Haneul’s long hair. He had been dropping subtle comments
about it here and there, like right now. Jimin could’ve strangled the man right then and there.

Detecting the change in his scent, Yoongi’s hand immediately held his to calm him down. Jimin
took a deep breath and glanced at his husband. Yet, Yoongi’s eyes were glued to Haneul and his
father, ready to intervene. But it wasn’t necessary.

“No. No haircuts,” Haneul told him confidently, touching his unruly hair that reached past his ears.
“Pretty like appa’s hair.”

A touched smile curled Jimin’s lips upon hearing his son’s response.

Jimin’s hair wasn’t crazy long, but it was long compared to Yoongi’s. The difference was that
Jimin could style his hair more easily than he could Haneul’s cute curls and bangs. But their pup
liked his unruly hair, and Yoongi and he had decided that he could keep it that way. Despite
Doyun’s impertinent comments, Jimin wasn’t going to let him get away with this. Not when
Haneul loved his hair.

Although Min Doyun was only his grandpa in his eyes for now, Haneul had just defended his
choice confidently in front of the Mugunghwa’s kingpin, and Jimin felt so proud of his pup at that
moment. Yoongi, too.

There was nothing Doyun could say to that. He just pressed his lips together before he asked his
grandsons if they were hungry.

Lunch went well, except for the usual question that annoyed Jimin to no end. Min Doyun used the
moment his newest grandson started growing fussy, and Hyerim had to leave them for a moment to
see what he needed, to ask that damn question.

“When will you give Haneul a sibling, Yoongi?”

Jimin had been expecting the question, but it still made him grip his chopsticks a little harder. One
reason for his annoyance was that Doyun hardly ever addressed Jimin directly when he asked that,
only his son. It was as if Jimin wasn’t the one who would have to carry the child for nine months
and give birth. Still, it was also a relief, if he was honest, because he’d rather not have to answer
that question. Instead, Jimin acted like he hadn’t heard it as he helped Haneul eat his food.

Yoongi always answered the same thing, remaining cool-headed. “We haven’t decided yet. It’s not
the right time.”

But that answer was never enough. “Does this have to do with Jimin going to art school?” Doyun
inquired.

Jimin halted briefly before he grabbed a napkin to clean Haneul’s mouth.

For a year now, the omega had been attending art school. His classes were mostly online because
he still wanted to spend as much time as he could with Haneul, but he still got to attend some
classes, which was nice. Studying a career when he still lived in Busan had been impossible
because he had needed to work and help his family to make ends meet, but now it was a real
possibility.

Yoongi had been nothing but supportive when Jimin had brought it up. He had even gotten him
some brochures so he could choose the school and courses he liked best. They hadn’t told Doyun
about it, though, but of course, he had ended up finding out eventually. Since then, every time he
could, he told them what he thought about that, even though nobody had asked for his opinion.

The omega was preparing himself to intervene. Yet, Geumjae spoke before he could. “Hyerim kept
working after having Eun, and she’ll do so again once Kyu is old enough. I don’t see the problem,”
he commented casually before he sipped his wine.

“And you know what I think about that,” Doyun retorted, his brow furrowed. “Family comes
first.”

The clan comes first.

“Exactly,” Geumjae said instead. “Family comes first; that includes our spouses.”

Misun lowered her head at that, and a tense silence followed as father and son stared at one
another. They had had this conversation before about how times change and the clan must adapt if
they want it to remain strong for years to come. Doyun’s and Geumjae’s visions were very
different on how to achieve this, though. One believed that violence made people fear you and
obey you, and the other one that respect and communication strengthened people’s bonds in a way
that made them want to defend and protect their empire.

Neither one of them had budged yet.

It was going to be a long 5 years of transition.

Haneul dropped his spoon then. It fell with a clatter and broke the tension in the room. “Oops,” he
let out, trying to reach for it. Jimin picked it up and gave it to one of the housekeepers with an
apologetic smile so they could give Haneul a clean one. “Sorry,” their pup said, looking at his
grandpa with his shoulders lifted to his ears and an embarrassed smile.

Doyun looked at him for a moment before his shoulders lost their tension and he nodded his head,
looking pleased with the little kid’s politeness. “Be more careful, Haneul.”

“Yes, grandpa,” he replied obediently.

“It’s okay. I drop my chopsticks sometimes because they’re slippery,” Eun told his cousin. “Right,
appa?”

Geumjae smiled at him and ruffled his hair a little bit.

After that, Hyerim came back and lunch resumed as if nothing had happened, but they all knew
this was far from over. They would have a repeat of this same conversation in the future because
that’s just how tiring and stubborn Min Doyun was.

The rest of Yoongi’s birthday went smoothly. Misun had prepared a cake mostly for her grandsons,
who loved sweets. She placed it in front of Yoongi, and he picked up Haneul to sit him on his lap.
With his other arm, he brought Eun closer to his side as they watched how Misun lit the candles.
“Will you help me blow them out?” Yoongi asked his son and nephew, who agreed excitedly.

And so they did. Their pup clapped excitedly afterwards, giggling like that was the most fun thing
in the world. He loved birthdays so much. It was adorable, and Yoongi couldn’t take his eyes off
Haneul, a fond smile on his lips. Jimin wasn’t doing any better as he watched them, and Hyerim
nudged his side playfully with a knowing smile that Jimin returned shyly.

Not everything was bad about family gatherings anymore, and he was thankful for these little
moments that made it feel like they were a normal family from time to time.

They parted soon after to catch their train. By the time they arrived at the train station, their
luggage had been taken care of, and the family only had to board. Haneul was in awe of everything,
looking this way and that and squirming in Jimin’s arms as he pointed at things that caught his
attention.

They had a car for themselves for security reasons, and they chose the table seats. Yoongi sat on
the window seat and Jimin next to him with Haneul on his lap. They took off their masks once
inside—another security measure—but Yoongi kept the cap he was also wearing and that obscured
his eyes.

“Here, let me take this off for you,” Jimin said, helping Haneul with his mask.

“We’re train,” he said, eyes glowing with excitement.

“Yes, we’re on a train,” Jimin nodded. “Isn’t it cool?”

“Yes!”

However, a fearful expression settled on his cute face when the train started moving, the sounds
and movement startling him. Haneul grew restless, wriggling on his lap at this new experience.
Jimin shushed him softly to settle him as he hugged him from behind, but it did little to appease
him.

“It’s okay. Nothing to be afraid of,” Yoongi assured him. “It’s like when we’re in a car.” But that
didn’t convince him, and Haneul started whining a little bit. “Come here.” Before it could escalate,
Yoongi reached for him, and Haneul stretched his arms towards him, so he could sit with his daddy
instead. “Look.” Yoongi pointed at the window, and the kid immediately got distracted by the sight
outside.

Haneul turned to look at Yoongi after a while, and his eyes fixed on the black cap he was still
wearing. “Daddy. Cap, please.” Haneul asked him for it with both hands open, palms up in a polite
manner.

“Here you go.” Yoongi agreed and placed it on his head for him.

Content, Haneul lay on his side with his cheek pressed to Yoongi’s chest, his daddy’s arms
wrapped around him to keep him in place as their pup looked out the window.

“Is he asleep?” Jimin whispered after a while.

Yoongi looked down at his kid, and his lips curled up. “Out like a light.”

“Good,” Jimin let out, relieved. “He was getting cranky.”

His husband chortled and agreed with him. Jimin smiled and kissed his cheek before he rested his
head on his shoulder, getting comfortable for the almost three-hour ride. The whole family ended
up taking a nap, the train’s movement lulling them to sleep. Haneul was the last one to wake up,
and Jimin took out the kimbap Gayoon had packed for them so they could snack on it.

“Do you remember where we’re going?” Yoongi asked Haneul, catching a grain of rice from the
corner of the pup’s mouth.

“To see grandpa Namkyu, grandma Seoyun, and uncle Jihyun!” he recited slowly, finishing with a
bright smile. Jimin couldn’t contain the big smile that stretched his lips at that.

“That’s right. We’re going to Busan, where your appa grew up,” Yoongi nodded and lifted a hand
to brush Haneul’s bangs so they wouldn’t fall into his eyes. “And what else are we going to see?”

Haneul looked confused at that, and he tilted his head adorably in question.

Yoongi grinned. “The ocean.”

“Ocean?” Haneul repeated before his eyes widened. “Fishies!”

“Yeah, we’ll try to see some fishes, too,” Yoongi laughed.

“You’ve never been to a beach before, right?” Jimin said, offering him another slice of kimbap.
Their pup shook his head before taking a bite. Jimin smiled, just as excited as him about going
back to Busan. “You’ll love it, you’ll see.”

They rented a car to move around the city, and they decided to make a stop at the beach before
they headed to Jimin’s parents’ apartment. Yoongi drove them to a beach Jimin used to frequent
when he still lived here. His heart thumped happily when they finally got out of the car, and he
took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the familiar salty air. Yoongi was immediately next to
him, wrapping an arm around his waist and making sure he was okay. Jimin grinned at him, giving
him a quick hug before they took Haneul out of his car seat.

Their pup seemed a little unsure but also incapable of tearing his eyes away from the foreign sight.
Haneul looked fearful upon seeing so much water, and he gripped their hands as they walked to the
calm ocean. Jimin giggled fondly at his son’s clumsy steps because of the sand, and Yoongi looked
just as amused.

They got closer to the shore where the waves were breaking softly, and they stood there for a while
until Haneul seemed to get used to this new place. He still looked a little nervous, and Yoongi and
Jimin started playing around to get him to relax. While holding their pup’s hands, the married
couple stepped closer to the water, only to quickly walk back whenever it was about to touch their
feet. Haneul squealed every time, laughing loudly when Yoongi and he picked him up each time so
his shoes wouldn’t get wet, sacrificing theirs instead.

“Can I touch?” Haneul asked after a while, raising his hand.

Jimin hesitated. “You’ll get your feet wet.”

“Here. I’ll help,” his husband offered.

Yoongi picked him up effortlessly and waited for another wave before he lowered Haneul enough
so he could touch the water with his hands and nothing else.

“Cold!!” Haneul exclaimed with a grin.

Both adults laughed with him.

“Want to play in the sand?” Jimin suggested, hoping their feet would dry a little bit before they had
to head back to his parents’ house.

“Yes!”

They sat on the sand and tried making a castle using only their hands. After a while, Haneul got
distracted by a kid a little older than him who was sitting not very far from them and had a bucket,
spade, and rake. Haneul looked at him for a while, clearly wanting to play with him.

It was Yoongi who encouraged him to approach him. “Do you want to play with him? It could be
fun.”

Haneul hesitated, not used to playing with other kids other than Eun, but Yoongi kept telling him it
would be okay.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Daddy and appa are here with you,” Jimin told him, fixing his
bangs so they didn’t fall into his eyes.

That finally made him give in, but he still looked too shy and unsure. It was the alpha who ended
up going with him while holding Haneul’s hand. Jimin watched fondly as Yoongi did the
introductions, crouching down and helping their son make a new friend.

Yoongi, who hated talking to strangers but would do anything to help his pup and make him
happy.

The alpha shared a look with the kid’s parents to see if it was alright. They nodded and smiled as
they watched both kids talking. They probably didn’t know they were talking to the youngest son
of the Mugunghwa clan’s kingpin.

The moment Haneul sat next to the older kid, he offered him his rake. The alpha remained with
them for a bit, and when they had started playing and Haneul was smiling as they dug a hole in the
sand, Yoongi pointed in Jimin’s direction as he talked to their son. It took some convincing, but his
husband eventually returned and sat next to him.

At first, Haneul kept glancing in their direction, making sure they were going nowhere. But he was
having so much fun that he soon got immersed in the castle they were trying to make and forgot
about them. Jimin was delighted to see him being a kid, something he couldn’t do so openly in
Seoul. There weren’t many people here at the beach as the sun began to go down, and they had
bodyguards guarding the perimeter, but this was as close to normalcy as Haneul had ever
experienced.

With a content sigh, Jimin leaned against his husband’s side and looked up at him. “I know it’s
your birthday, but thank you for this.”

Yoongi brought him closer to his chest by wrapping his arms around his middle. “It’s the best
birthday present I could think of. Our first family vacation.”

Jimin’s expression softened as he looked at the beautiful human being that was his husband. “I
love you.”

“Love you more,” he smirked, leaving a kiss on his forehead.

But Jimin frowned at that. “Don’t start. It’s not a competition.”

Yoongi sniggered. “Alright.”

Snuggling together, they watched as Haneul played with that other kid for a while. Jimin’s
thoughts wandered as he did so, and not for the first time, he wondered if a sibling would be good
for Haneul. For a long time, Jimin completely refused to talk about having more kids. He didn’t
want this future for them, but…

“Maybe we should give Haneul a sibling.”

After being so reluctant about it for so long, Yoongi looked at him, very surprised that he of all
people had brought up the topic. “You changed your mind?”

“Maybe not right now, but soon…” He glanced up at his husband, who still looked shocked. Jimin
sighed and snuggled closer. “Haneul will start school next year, and I could take a break from my
studies and continue them later on.”

It hadn’t been his idea that Haneul would start school so soon; Jimin would’ve liked it if they
waited a little bit more. But he had ended up complying because that was the age at which Yoongi,
Geumjae and even Eun entered school. That was the Min way.

In turn, Jimin got to have a say in choosing the school they took him to. Because of his future role
in the clan, it was important that Haneul learned different languages and finances as well as
Taekwondo or some other sport that would teach him self-defence (as well as offence). Jimin had
reluctantly agreed to that, understanding why those skills would be necessary.

But Jimin had insisted that Haneul also joined a book club and maybe painting or dance lessons,
whatever their son liked best. Because Jimin wanted him to find something outside the business
that Haneul loved and that would bring him comfort during hard times. A hobby or activity that
would teach him how to be in tune with his feelings, something the Min family had never
considered important, but it was to Jimin.

When he had talked to Yoongi about this and given him his reasons, his husband had hugged him
and assured him he would fight tooth and nail to make it happen.

It had taken months to make the kingpin agree to his conditions, and he did put up a fight. “Haneul
is an alpha of the Mugunghwa clan. He doesn’t need soft omega ideas clouding his decision-
making skills in the future,” he had always said as dismissal during their family gatherings.

As if there weren’t three omegas sitting at the table with them.

“Maybe that’s exactly what this clan needs,” Yoongi had countered one time, jaw clenched. Jimin,
who had been sitting next to him, squeezed his husband’s hand with worried eyes.

Min Doyun didn’t miss the gesture and shot his son an inculpatory look. “Are you letting your
omega husband do as he pleases with you? That’s not how I raised you.”

Anger and fear made Jimin’s stomach coil, but he refused to cower under his father-in-law’s gaze.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all,” Geumjae intervened all of a sudden. The future kingpin looked
calm and collected, as if they were discussing the weather, but he knew what he was doing when
he took his wife’s hand in his as he spoke to his father. “It’s how I managed to secure Seoul in just
two years: by listening to the ideas of our omega clan members instead of banning them from our
meetings.”
Silence.

Then, as casually as before, Geumjae turned to Jimin and asked him. “Which school did you have
in mind, Jimin?”

That gathering had ended with Min Doyun walking out because he wouldn’t be disrespected by his
sons in his own house and with threats of still having time to choose another heir. Hyemi and Jimin
had looked uneasy, but not his two sons and wife. They knew those were empty threats. Nobody
was as qualified as Geumjae in his eyes because Doyun had taken it into his own hands to teach
him everything he knew since he was a kid. Also, there was no way a man as vain and snobbish as
their father would leave his empire in the hands of someone other than his own blood.

Another reason Doyun had been against it was that Haneul would have to go to a different school
than Eun, which was a respectable institution in his eyes. But Geumjae and Hyerim had gotten the
freedom to choose their kid’s school and education, so he had no choice but to let his other son do
the same. And what Yoongi wished for Haneul was the same thing Jimin wanted for him.

Min Doyun had put up a good fight for a few months, but this ended up becoming Jimin’s major
win against the kingpin yet.

“Jimin, are you sure?” Yoongi asked him, snapping him back to the present. “Is this about the
conversation we had at my parents’?”

The omega shook his head. “Not at all. It’s not the first time that has happened.”

Yoongi pursed his lips, his concern evident. “I’ve told you many times that what my father says
doesn’t matter. I’m okay with just having Haneul.”

“I know,” he said before leaving a peck on his neck.

But his husband still wasn’t convinced, and Jimin craned his neck to meet his eyes. Yoongi’s brow
was pinched as he regarded him. “I still remember how you felt when we found out you were
pregnant with Haneul,” Yoongi told him quietly because it was a memory neither one of them liked
recalling. “And I know you still struggle with that.”

Jimin sighed. “I do,” he admitted.

“Then? What has changed?”

The omega turned to look at the ocean, enjoying his husband’s warmth against him. “Haneul
happened,” he admitted with a content sigh. “I never imagined I could love someone as much as I
love him, and raising him has been difficult but also a blessing. Thanks to him, I have realised how
much I like kids,” he explained, and a small smile curled his lips up. “Also, have you seen how
protective and lovely Eun is with his little brother, Kyu? Every time I see them, I get reminded of
how much I loved having a younger brother growing up. Someone to play with and get mad at,” he
chuckled softly at the memories. “I think I’d like our son to have someone like that.” Yoongi
remained silent at his explanation, deep in thought. “What do you think? Is it a bad idea?” Jimin
asked, shifting to get a good look at him.

“I’ve wanted to give Haneul a sibling for a while, to be honest,” he confessed. Jimin blinked. He
had no idea about that, and Yoongi looked at him apologetically. “I just didn’t want to push you
into doing something you didn’t want to do. I understand your concerns regarding their future in
the clan, and I share them,” he explained. The alpha took his hands in his to play with his smaller
fingers distractedly as he continued. “But then I remember growing up with Geumjae, and the bond
we formed despite how hard our father was on us, and I want Haneul to experience that. To have
that bond. If you’re also okay with that.”

Taking a moment to consider his explanation, Jimin ended up nodding. “I think I am. I want that
for him, just like I can always count on Jihyun and he can count on me. But it’s not just that. I
would also love to have more kids with you,” he told him, bringing a hand to his face to cup it
lovingly. “Fatherhood with you by my side has been better than I ever expected, and I would love
to do it again.” At the sweet compliment, Yoongi tilted his head to leave a kiss on Jimin’s hand,
making him smile a little. “And about the clan… With Geumjae as the kingpin and knowing how
he runs the clan and how different his values are from your father’s, I feel a little more at ease
about our children’s future.”

“He’s very protective of his family, and that includes us, too,” Yoongi told him solemnly. “I
promised you, didn’t I? That I won’t let anybody harm any of you. I may not look it, but I’m
strong, and I’ve played this game all my life. With Geumjae on our side, we’ll make sure our
families don’t just survive but thrive.”

Jimin rested his cheek on his shoulder and hugged him tightly, grateful for his reassurances. He
wanted to do this, but something had been stopping him all along. Now he felt more prepared
knowing that Yoongi would be with him every step of the way again.

“You do look strong, though. And dependable,” Jimin said, smiling at his husband with all the
affection he felt for him. “I still remember how intimidated I was by you at first.”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow at that. “Not anymore?”

“Nope,” Jimin replied without hesitating. Yoongi chortled and kissed the tip of his nose. “See?
This is why,” Jimin giggles.

“And you’re strong, too,” Yoongi whispered with that tender gaze he reserved only for him and
Haneul. He could also see pride in his eyes, and it made Jimin’s heart race. “You’re learning how
to play your cards, and how to protect us, and every day I’m in awe at your resilience.”

His words touched him deeply, and Jimin let out a quivering breath. “You’re too good to me,” he
whispered back, eyes set on his husband’s lips.

“It’s what you deserve,” Yoongi responded before their mouths met in a sweet kiss.

Jimin’s eyes slid up to his husband’s again when they separated. “Then we’re doing this, right?”

Yoongi hugged him tighter. “Yeah, I think so.”

The omega relaxed against him again and nodded his head. “Okay.”

“Any regrets?” the alpha asked him, searching for his eyes again.

Jimin took a moment to think about how he was feeling. “No, I’m strangely okay with it now that
I’ve talked to you about it,” he realised. It was a relief. Shifting to smile at his husband cheekily,
Jimin asked him: “Ready to fill our freezer with popsicles again?”

His husband snorted. “Can’t wait,” he said sarcastically. “I feel like Haneul’s school is going to
cost us less than your cravings,” Yoongi joked because he loved riling him up.

Jimin slapped his arm in retaliation at his exaggeration as he dissolved into a fit of laughter that his
husband joined while he hugged him and kissed his cheek. As they joked around playfully like the
two lovebirds they were, Haneul came running back to them with his clothes covered in sand.
Their pup didn’t hesitate to join them, and he threw himself on top of them to hug them.

Life was good but also hard, which would never change over the years. Sometimes Yoongi and
Jimin bent. Other times they won, and sometimes they broke into a million pieces. But whenever
that happened, they were there to help each other back up.

As their laughter and the sound of the waves filled his ears, Jimin knew they would make it in the
end. That everything would be okay. Because he was going to fight for their happiness like he had
learned to do. Because his family had his back—some named Park, others Min.

Because he had his little Haneul and their future child, who would join them eventually. And his
dear husband.

His Yoongi.

And suddenly, life wasn’t as frightening.

And suddenly, Jimin looked forward to their future.

FIN

Chapter End Notes

And it’s done. IT’S DONE! Oh, wow. My heart is pounding a little bit lol

I had my doubts about yoonmin having another kid for obvious reasons, but I think
that’s the best indicator of how much stronger Jimin has grown in these past two
years, and it shows that he is finding his footing in the clan. Things are also changing
because of Geumjae’s upcoming succession, and he feels like he has allies in the clan
now, apart from his husband.

My vision is that Haneul will grow up to be a sweet soul who will carry on his duties
and that Yoonmin will have a baby girl, who will be very much like Yoongi
personality wise and very protective of his older brother because sometimes he can be
too good for his own good. She will be an omega who will outdo her alpha cousins
and brother in terms of skills (take that, Min Doyun!) but prefers to remain in the
shadows to protect everyone she loves :3

To write this epilogue, I had to reread the entire fic and I must admit… I kept thinking
of Yoongi’s POV as I went… and I’ve written a few short things here and there. I
don’t know when, but maybe I’ll work on this more seriously in the future. I think it’d
be fun to write about how Yoongi felt during some scenes, and I made some notes as I
reread this story that had me screaming lmao Maybe I could post them as extras like
I’m doing with Geumjeong Villa, we’ll see!

I want to say a special thanks to lo for keeping me sane throughout the posting of this
fic, giving me feedback, and for kindly listening to me panicking when my insecurities
got the best of me, ily <3

I’m so thankful for every kudo and comment you all left. Your love and enthusiasm
for this fic made me a little bit more confident in my writing, and I really appreciate
that. What a journey Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3

Feel free to follow me on twitter if you’d like! I posted a picture of Haneul over there.
I'll link it here too!

I hope to see you in whatever yoonmin universe I come up with next :3

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