TAE POV:

"Get back here you menace!" I laugh, chasing after the little trail of sweet scent, hair flying and short legs carrying her away from me.

But the giggles that I chase after elude me, slip away further and further as the sight of Hae Kyungie rushing through the hallway.

She turns her head, eyes shiny and flickering red as she rushes away, cheeks rosy, just like (Y/N)'s, and lips stretched wide into a grin.

"Catch me Appa!" she says, delighted as she manages to put more distance between us, naturally gifted with enhanced senses, able to run quicker, slippery little fiend baby.

"Hae Hae stop! You're going to slip and then your mama won't give me kisses!" I say, laughing when she shakes her head, loose waves moving with the motion and rushing off further down the corridor.

"Mama's kisses are for me appa!" she calls as she rushes.

And I don't have the heart to actually put speed into chasing her, purposely slowing down my movements and dragging my feet even if it means that I'll have to wheedle for kisses later from our baby mate.

But the sight of our daughter, ecstatic and face aglow with happiness and delight had me slowing down, had me pretending to be laboured and exhausted, tumbling into things as I chased our three-year-old.

But my eyes are focused on Hae Kyungie, watching her step and staying alert so she doesn't actually end up taking a tumble, even if I know that the house is more than alert.

"No fair! I love your mama's kissies too!" I say, hastening my pace ever so slightly because at this rate I'll really be losing to her, will be losing the kiss (Y/N) had promised the victor of this little chase.

And I rush forward, hands darting out to bend forward, reaching out and scooping up a writhing, giggling bundle into my arms. Plucking her from the floor and twirling her around, momentarily airborne before I catch her, drawing her towards me.

At this level I can see her eyes clearly, see mischief flickering in, red and brown eyes mixing back and forth as she gives me a wide smile, small fangs peeking out past pink lips.

"Appa nooooo!" she protests, wriggling about.

I laugh, leaning forward to peck the tip of her nose and both of those rosy cheeks.

"Baby yessss!" I reply, nose brushing against hers, watching as her eyes flash red and chubby fists wave, hands coming to land on either side of my face. Giggling as she copies my action as she presses a kiss, so gentle and careful, to the tip of my nose.

"I'll give you all the kissies. All the appas will give you kissies. Is that not enough baby?" I ask. Pressing another kiss to her forehead.

Widening my eyes and jutting my lips out, blinking at her.

Her face stills, giggle freezing on her face.

Turning sad and despondent.

But then she brightens, patting my cheeks and leaning to press kisses to my cheeks, clumsily kissing the side of my lips.

"Appa kissies!" she cheers, waving her hands.

I beam at her.

"Appa kissies!" I echo, laughing as I walk with her down the corridor.

Sense the mating bond flare before I see it, before a pair of arms wrap around me, tugging me to a still as the body curves around me, latching on. Head propping onto my shoulder as he peers at Hae Kyungie, face lit up with joy.

"Hey baby~" he coos, smiling when Hae Kyungie's attention drifts off of me to lean over to greet her other appa.

"Wasn't that for me? I'm hurt Min-ah." I say.

He laughs as he leans to press a kiss to Hae Kyung's cheek, turning his head to press one to mine too.

"It was for both of you. Both my babies." He says easily, hands squeezing my waist. Having intercepted us before we could get to the kitchen, content to lean against me and hold me close to him.

"Not hurt then." I amend with a grin, hands secure around Hae Kyung.

"Where are the others? No-one intruded on your chase? I find that hard to believe..." he muses.

I shake my head,

"As if! They all played dirty to get Hae Kyungie to win! I've been intercepted by all the hyungs!" I huff even as I lean against him. Chasing that familiarity of his touch, of his body moulding to mine.

It'd been Yoongi hyung first. Silently stepping out, had darted close to intercept my way, all gummy smiles and stolen kisses when he'd managed to tug me aside for a few moments. My body had melted into the kiss, had relaxed against the door until I'd realised all of a sudden that Hae Kyungie's footsteps had retreated too far out of hearing.

But all I'd gotten was a wide gummy smile and unapologetic shrug, stepping aside easily.

"I had to give our girl a chance." Was all he'd said before nudging me back, door closing as he'd vanished from sight.

Sneaky cheat.

And then it had been Joon hyung, stopping because he insisted on giving a flower that Hae Kyungie specifically asked for, tucking it behind her ear, eagerly accepting the tight squeezing hug she tried to give in return.

But it had been a ruse.

A pretence.

Because Hae Kyungie had wriggled free and Joon hyung had conveniently knocked over something. Uncharacteristic clumsiness because he wasn't ever clumsy to the extent that he'd go falling across my path, insisting he was hurt, eyes flickering deceivingly red as he looked at me imploringly.

Note to self... never give in to droopy lips and vanishing dimples.

And as we'd rushed down the hallway, it'd been a tag-team.

It had been Jinnie hyung twisting to scoop up Hae Kyung and rush off with her whilst Hobi hyung dragged me back; outright dirty tactics.

And now. Now I finally had her.

All scooped up and bundled towards my chest.

I was going to get those kisses.

Behind me Jiminie laughs.

"Ahhh hyungs play dirty. Though when it comes to the sweetest baby girl, I can't blame them." He murmurs, beaming and cooing over Hae Kyungie, enamoured by her hand closed around two of his fingers.

I smile at the sight.

Remembering how much smaller her fingers had been, when her entire hand would close around a finger when she was little. Sleepily latching on or at times just to grasp at us, to hold us close, gurgling and babbling as she waved her fist triumphantly. 

"She is the sweetest, our beautiful baby girl." I coo.

Taken and besotted by the sight of the wriggly girl in my arms, watching as she settles her head on my shoulder, resting it there and arms wound around me. Giving up on the chase and content to lie there, ducking down to hide when Jiminie suddenly looms forward to surprise her, face scrunched with joy as she hides against my shoulder.

"Appa kissie!" she suddenly demands, head popping up from it's resting place to extend a chubby fist to Jiminie, clenching and unclenching fingers in a grabby motion to him.

Immediately the hands on my waist tighten and his weight presses against me more firmly as he leans in to fulfil her sweet demand.

Laughing when she leans over, suddenly jerking over and wriggling to get closer even if my hands instinctively tighten to support her excited form. Eager to take more kisses from her appa.

Thoroughly capitalising on my words and taking kisses to compensate for her loss of being scooped up at the end of a chase.

Chasing her had satisfied so many instincts on so many levels. Had soothed and satisfied those protective paternal instincts to want to make sure she didn't get hurt, that had soared at the feeling of hearing her laugh, of seeing her all flushed and rosy and happy as she'd ran, toddling down long corridors.

It had satisfied those instincts of chase too, of that thrill of rushing after her, albeit slowly, to try and get to her. it made me simultaneously fond and yearn. Fond because chasing Hae Kyungie made me see (Y/N) in her. I saw our wife and mate in our giggly girl, saw her mischief in the curve of her smile and the way her eyes shone; scent faintly sweet, a whisper of what (Y/N)'s own potent one was. and yearn because it felt like too long had gone since we'd indulged in a chase as a coven, four days too long, to go without the sound of laughter and thumps as everyone tried to outdo each other, tried to chase each other. it had been far too long since a chase had been turned into chaos with the hyungs grabbing at all the younger mates, with us trying to slip free to get Kookie and (Y/N).

It made me yearn.

Maybe I'd have to initiate a chase myself I thought.

But the thoughts and plotting is disturbed when Jiminie murmurs that we should get to the kitchen before any other distractions happen.

But then Hae Kyungie straightens.

Peering seriously at us.

"Appa kissies!" she insists.

But she pats my cheek and nudges my head towards Jiminie, eyes shining with expectation.

Her meaning becomes clear.

Not kisses for her. Kisses for each other.

Well I'm more than eager to comply.

More than eager to please my sweet girl and get kisses in return.

I lean forward even as Jiminie leans back, brows raised with amusement and eyes twinkling.

"In front of our girl?" he asks.

It's not only my head that nods, Hae Kyungie's eager movement drawing out a laugh.

"Appas kiss!" she insists.

And who are we to say no to that sweet face? Lips meeting in a soft chaste peck, soul soaring to the sound of a delighted 'yay' from the bundle of joy in my arms.

Forever wasn't enough for this. And I felt a pang of sorrow at the thought that just as these three years had slipped by, time would blur as our daughter grew.

(Y/N) POV:

I smile at the sound of voices carrying through from the hallway, hearing the low murmurs of Minnie and Tae and the bright giddy voice of Hae Kyungie.

Smile and then my eyes flutter shut at the sensation of lips closing around the mating mark on my throat, tongue flicking against the two puncture marks, hand winding around his nape as my eyes flutter shut, a shaky exhale at the teasing touch.

"The sounds you make baby...makes me glad I kept my eyes on the prize." Kookie whispers, breath curling and brushing against skin.

My fingers sink into blue locks, unsure whether I want to tug him closer, soul yearning for him or whether I should push him away; knowing that at any moment the others could step through to the living room with our daughter.

"The prize?" I ask.

His smile spreads across my skin, presses there. A slow stretch and then he presses open-mouthed kisses to my throat, the bond between us searing and burning.

"You. You're the prize. And I win." He whispers, hands sliding around my back, delving under fabric to press against skin, warm fingers that tug me closer even as his body pushes forward. Trapping me between the counter and the firm lines of him, crowding into my space.

"Ahh...Tae won't be happy! He was planning on winning." I tease, voice breaking off into a muffled gasp, head dropping forward against his shoulder when his fingers teasingly brush over the mating mark on my hip, rubbing pressure into it.

I feel a light kiss press to my head even as his fingers continue, sending sparks to burn through my body, hands clenching at his shirt, wrinkling it with how they fist into the fabric.

"Oh sweet baby mate of mine. I had no intention of losing...too bad hyung doesn't know that yet." He confides. Voice part mischief and part satisfaction.

Smug at having caught me before Tae had made it.

At having slipped in as I was getting Hae Kyungie's snacks ready, reaching upwards to the open cupboard when a body had slipped behind mine and another hand had reached for it instead.

"Hae Hae will be here soon. You know they're down the corridor." I whisper, voice hushed and wavery even as my hand goes to curl around his wrist, try to still the movements, eyes clenching shut to try fight the onslaught of pleasure that begins to buzz through my veins.

"What you don't know baby is that right now I've sent a decoy out." He whispers.

"Who?" I breathe out.

A hand coaxes my face up, the lips that scorch mine are a brand; fiery and fierce and hungry but the eyes that see me, are soft and brimming with love. Peek at me through strands of blue.

My fingers flutter up to push them away, wanting to see the sparkle in his doe eyes, wanting to meet his gaze without the slightest barrier between us.

"Jiminie hyung." 

And as he speaks, lips curving up into a toothy grin, his finger stops brushing against my mating mark at my hip, curls around to settle on my waist instead.

I tug him closer, pressing one kiss and then another to his lips.

A dozen butterfly kisses fluttering against his mouth. 

"And so that means...I have every intention of hogging you. And of making the most of having you all to me." before his hands are sliding down, looping around the back of my thighs to scoop me up, gripping me as he sets me down on the counter.

So careful even as the grip of his hands melding to my thighs are strong and demanding.

My legs curl around his waist, locking against him as he leans into my space, fingers intertwining with mine as they rest on the counter, on either side of my hips.

"Let me be selfish then. And have you to myself alone too." I whisper, content to brush my fingers through his hair, to press a smatter of kisses to his face, to trace the slope and curve and lines of his features with my fingers and then my lips. Mapping out my mate with my touch.

Committing him to memory, time and time and time again.

My finger rubs against his jaw, sweeping up as my hands go to sink into his hair, against the back of his head, leaning forward as my head tilts down to meet his.

Noses brushing as we share breath, heart clenching when I feel his waver, feel the small hitch in his own breathing as he stills.

Allows for me to brush a kiss across his lip before my mouth dips lower, peppering his skin with kisses, smiling when his breath turns shaky and impatient.

Harried because the sound of voices grow louder. Grow closer too.

"(Y/N)...you tease! Now who's slowing down when they could be here any second?" he asks, sounding put out, but the breathy quality to his voice.

Just as affected as my own has me smiling even as I kiss him, tugging him closer, a soft exhale that's swallowed up by him, body curving closer and closer at the feverish franticness he leans into me with, knuckles rubbing against the groove of my spine, other hand marking a trail from my calf to my thigh, fingers brushing and trailing across skin.

The hurriedness is found in the way he clutches at me and the way our lips burn as they move across each other's, tongue swiping against the seam of his mouth before delving in, that want for him ignited by his touches, by the crackling embers of deisre fanning into flames that grazed across skin and came to settle deep within me.

But then the voices come to a halt.

And our lips hurriedly tear away when there's the sound of a soft gasp. 

Our heads turning even as Kookie's lips try to linger, try to remain, try to steal one final instant.

See the sight of Minnie and Tae frozen in the doorway. See Hae Kyungie's body give an excited wriggle as she waves.

Fangy smile as she looks at the two of us.

"Mama! Appa!" she yells happily.

My face softens, soul elated and ecstatic at the sight of our daughter. At the sight of her rosy cheeks and tousled hair and hands that clap excitedly, twisting to reach forward, arms outstretched in my direction.

Watch as Tae's hands stop her from falling and watch them step forward, Hae Kyung eagerly leaning for my own arms, small hands latching onto me as I draw her close. Smiling at the kiss she presses to my lips, giggling when she rubs her nose against me, leaning her weight onto me.

"Did you win sweetheart? Do you get all of mama's kissies?" I coo, one hand supporting her as the other brushes her wavy hair away from her face.

She'd lost the ribbon that Jinnie oppa had tied her hair with. A small bow that's been misplaced, a martyr in the cause of a chase.

I knew that just like the other lost ribbons, Jinnie oppa would find it, that she'd see the satin ribbon dangling from his fingers and rush to get it back.

Receive it at least a dozen kisses later when she was plopping down happily on his lap.

She shakes her head though. Pouting as her lips droop.

"Appa won. But get appa kissies!" she says triumphantly, perking up immediately.

Already over her loss because she looks delighted, looks at me expectantly for kisses regardless.

And then moments later I have a squirmy laughing girl on my lap as I shower kisses across her face, dipping to sneak a kiss to her ear and neck, feel Kookie's hands squeeze and see his other one come to steady the wriggly girl.

She was a bundle of energy.

Definitely got that from Seokie.

The two of them were a formidable duo together. A bright formidable duo. Roping in any one close enough, laughter infectious and eyes flashing with both delight and mischief.

"Mama and appa kiss too." She remarks when I stop.

Pointing out that she had in fact seen us kiss.

And then she turns, cupping the side of Kookie's jaw with her hands to peck him too.

"Appa loves mama." She declares.

Happy and beaming.

Kookie nods, gaze meeting mine over her head.

"Appa loves mama so, so much! Appa loves Hae Hae so so much too!" he enthuses.

"Sweetheart are you hungry?" Jiminie says, stepping forward, a smile playing at his lips even as he walks to the other counter, spotting the snacks.

"Very! Lots and lots hungry!" she calls after him.

Her voice has Kookie smiling, plucking her up to whirl her around.

Screeching giddily when Kookie swoops with her, suddenly drawing her down and then up.

It has the others appearing in the doorway and spilling inwards.

Tugged by that feeling in the bond that's pure euphoria and love.

By that feeling of the mating bond bursting with happiness.

And the sight of her dads is enough to have Hae Kyungie distracted, clamouring for her ball of sunshine dad who sweeps in with kisses for everyone.

Enough that it has Kookie ducking back, grinning as he plucks me off the counter and setting me down, hand sliding into mine.

"Whilst they're distracted then." He whispers.

And curled together, bare beneath the sheets and bodies merged, pleas for each other brushed against skin, feverish with that want and need and mouths claiming each other...this too is a stolen moment.

An instant where our souls burn and merge.

And where I see him, look into his soft eyes and see the mate who reached out and saved me. See the mate who helped me heal, who held me through it all.

And even now I lose myself to his embrace.

(WHOO! THERE WE GO! HAE KYUNGIE BABY HAS GROWN A BIT BUT LIKE I MENTIONED...WE'LL HAVE FLASHBACKS AND SNIPPETS OF HER GROWING UP WHERE SOMETHINGS HAVE BEEN MISSED OR SEEMINGLY GLOSSED OVER SO WORRY NOT LOVELIES! I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER WHICH WAS PURELY FLUFFY DADA TAE AND BABY GIRL AND THEN SLIGHTLY WENT OFF TRACK ISH BEFORE IT CAME BACK! FLUFF FLUFF ALL AROUND THIS CHAPTER! I WONDER HOW OLD SHE'LL BE NEXT CHAPTER OR WHAT IT'LL BRING! TIME SHALL TELL! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT AND MADE OF THIS SWEETNESS! TAKE CARE AND ENJOY LOVELIES!)

Never take life for granted. Never take a moment as fleeting. Never take people as ones who'll pass you by. Seize it all. Live life to the fullest and live life fulfillingly! Live each day as if it's the first and the last. Live each day without regrets tiding you over when it ends.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3