KOOK POV:

"Ouch! Hae Hae bit me!" I say indignantly, carefully withdrawing my hand from her wide mouth, eyeing her ruefully as she giggles, lying back on the bed, hair splayed out. My eyes search for (Y/N), pouting in the direction of her back, rummaging through the wardrobe. She laughs, having heard, but doesn't turn. Still searching.

My eyes turn back, huffing at the lack of attention from my mate. Choosing to find it from the offendor themselves.

Hae Kyungie kicks her legs, happy to have caught my attention because arms reach out, making grabby motions as her hands fist and unfist.

"Ap..." she gurgles.

"Up? So you can bite me Hae Hae?" I say, eyeing her even if my lips are stretched into the widest smile, wriggling the offended fingers at her.

She squeals, hands flailing and trying to grasp at my hand, warm sticky fingers curling around them when she manages to. She tugs my hand incessantly towards her, mouth widening so she can draw my fingers towards her mouth.

I jerk, realising her attention, but succumb to wide flickering red eyes that blink up at me, crumbling my so-called defence as I let her tongue lave over my fingers, babbling around them as she tries to suck. Brows scrunching when it brings her nothing. And then there it is.

Another nip. Gumming at my fingers as she gnaws at them, tries to figure out what they are.

I laugh even as the slight sting vanishes.

"Hae Hae, appa isn't food! Is baby hungry?" I ask, cooing as I bend over, brushing my fingers over light waves, pecking the tip of her nose.

Watch as her eyes blink, trying to figure out where my lips are landing until ultimately her eyes scrunch shut.

She hums and gargles, fingers wet with drool as she tugs at them, moving them away from her mouth. Losing interest in them now that she's figured out they're not food and they don't bring her milk like the teat of her bottle would.

"Kookie have you seen her dungarees? I can't find them." (Y/N) calls over her shoulder.

I hum, turning my head.

"They're in the drawers. With the shirts. Matching her with Jiminie hyung today?" I ask.

Smiling when she waves them triumphantly, fingers dithering over the shirts before she chooses a stripey one.

"Yup! Both him and Tae were arguing over it in bed. Woke me up." she sighs as she pads over, pressing a kiss to my cheek before she reaches for Hae Kyungie. Scooping her up.

Cooing at our girl.

"And what do you mean Hae Hae bit you? She's the sweetest little thing, aren't you baby?"     (Y/N) asks, eyes fond as she peppers kisses across her face.

Hae Kyungie babbles in response. Waving her arms as she giggles, leaning in to (Y/N)'s touch and kisses eagerly.

Gurgling that says sweetest thing ever appa! A wide smile that's smug, hidden in the way she laughs and babbles.

Deceptive and sly and smug.

So much like Tae hyung.

"Oh dear...have you been drooling all over Kookie, your mouth is all sticky." (Y/N) fusses, fingers wiping at her face before reaching for a packet of wipes, carefully dabbing at her skin.

Expertly managing to hold a wriggly Hae Kyungie who finds sheer delight in making the task as hard as possible, squealing when (Y/N) tickles her tummy instead, falling back onto the bed as she's set down and hands deftly begin to tug clothes over her once nappy-clad body.

"She's been drooling and biting, I'm telling you (Y/N) look!" I insist, holding out my finger before I stop.

Turning startled at the little redness to my skin. At the small indent to it.

Before waving it around in front of her, forcing (Y/N) to stop and stare. Milking it for what it's worth.

"See! She's bitten me! And you kissed one baby but not the other! This house stands for equality I'll have you know..." I grouse as I drop down to sit on the bed, holding out my finger expectantly.

Smiling when she lifts it to her lips to press a kiss there before her finger rubs at it.

Pauses. And frowns.

Turning abruptly to Hae Kyung instead who smiles at her mama leaning in over her, bringing fingers to her mouth.

Her lips drop with expectation, clean hands now reaching for a new hand to tug towards her mouth. A new object to gnaw at.

(Y/N)'s fingers carefully run over Hae Kyungie's open mouth, feeling across her gums before she stops.

Turns to me with a small smile playing at her lips and pride shining in her eyes.

"Baby girl is teething. It explains why the nip hurt and why she's drooling so much. She's growing her itty bitty fangs." (Y/N) says, eyes burning bright crimson with joy, leaning down to scoop her up once more, finishing dressing her as Hae Kyungie wobbles, desperate to remain upright by clutching at (Y/N)'s top. Her fists cause the fabric to gape, revealing a flash of cleavage and I shoot Hae Kyungie a proud smile.

Forgiven for biting.

"I can feel you staring baby." (Y/N) says as she draws Hae Kyungie to her and tugs at her neckline.

"I wasn't hiding my appreciation either." I retort, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before peeking behind her to surprise Hae when she props her head onto her mama's shoulder.

Eyes turning a flash of red before settling. Face creased with giggles.

She scrunches her eyes shut and I duck out of sight, hear the small confused mumble before I pop back up- delighted to see her face break into one of radiant joy. Laughing as she shakes, wriggling around in (Y/N)'s arms.

"Fangy baby~ nipping at me first? I should be honoured." I say as I wrap my arms around  (Y/N)'s waist and lean in, resting my head on the opposite shoulder.

Hae peeks over, trying to see where I am, body twisting before she spots me and waves a hand.

"Ap..." she says, hands reaching out.

"Up even more?" I ask with raised eyebrows before I'm whirling (Y/N) around so she faces me, brush a kiss to her lips and scoop up our daughter.

"Higher and higher then~ just as my daughter wishes!" I say, lifting her up and smiling when she squeals at the extra height when I raise my arms, careful as I toss her up and catch her.

Swooping with her in a dive before straightening.

"All the ups for my girl~" I say as she wriggles, legs kicking as she peers at me.

"For our sweet girl." (Y/N) says as she steps close, wrapping her arms around me from the back and pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

"You can have all the ups too you know if you want." I tease, turning my head to shoot her a smile.

She shoots me a look.

"Don't be a charmer...you're picking up too much from Tae. Showing me ups indeed." She mumbles under her breath, fangs nipping chidingly at my shoulder before she steps away.

"I'm going to go shower, make sure Hae gets her bottle and some food." She says.

I watch her retreating figure when she turns to leave, following and tracing the lines and curves and dips of her body.

Eyes flashing at the challenge she's unknowingly issued.

"I'm going to give your mama all the ups too now! Challenge taken." I say even as she disappears from sight.

Even if my words are only heard by the wriggly baby in my arms.

I get a gurgled babble in response.

JOON POV:

"Hob-ah go sleep! You look exhausted." I say, frowning at the shadows under his eyes, at the fatigue clinging to every inch of his body. Watch his swaying figure with alarm and worry as he shakes his head even if he grunts when Yoongi hyung sidles up to support him, holding him from behind.

"Not tired. I haven't been able to spend time with you all. I haven't been able to play with Hae for a while too." He says, lips drooping at the thought.

"You've also been helping at the hospital overtime might I add...and running on little to no rest and not enough feeding. So you...are going to sleep after feeding. Even if I have to pin you down for it." Yoongi hyung says, face set with determination, hands tightening around Hobi as if he'll escape.

He makes a weak wriggle, trying to tug at his hands but the way his eyes flutter open and shut, red seeping into his tired eyes.

"But Hae..." he begins weakly.

"Has six dads and her mum to take care of her, she'll be there when you wake up rested Hobi. Don't run yourself into the ground love." Yoongi hyung continues, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.

"Hae's got a cuddly bat occupying her at the moment." I say wryly.

Watch amusement and tenderness curl the side of their lips.

"So she's busy. And now so are you. Let's go." He says, tugging a sleepy mate alongside him.

I reach over to curl my hand around his wrist, Hobi's body tilts forward to mine as I stand, pressing a lingering kiss to his mouth, lips soft and unhurried and lazy in its languid pace, tongue brushing lightly against his lips and slow even as his slides to meet mine.

"Sleep well Hobi." I whisper against his lips as I lean back.

Smiling when his eyes flutter open and shut. Trying to focus on me. Sleepy brown irises melting into a deep crimson.

And then the two of them vanish, heading away as Yoongi hyung tugs him away to sleep. To rest.

And I know the next time I'll see him, he'll be better rested.

But maybe I should make a tonic or some sort of balm. Fretting as the image of his shadowed face stills in my mind.

I change route to go the kitchen rather than the living room, heading in to see flutttery chaos through the kitchen door as the others laugh outside.

See a bat flapping about Hae's face and body, circling her and darting in and out of the range of her chubby fists trying to grab as she stretches in Jin hyung's arms.

See as Jiminie and Kookie's attention turn from the sight to me, uncurling slightly from the same chair they're perched on together.

"Everything okay hyung?" Jiminie asks.

His words make the others turn, Tae coming to still on Jin hyung's shoulder, wings ceasing their flapping and making a small chittering sound.

Eyes flickering red and then gold as Jin hyung looks at me.

Face softens with understanding.

"He's fine. He just needs some TLC and a lot of mates to fuss. Luckily...we have both in abundace." He soothes.

I nod, a bit of the worry leaving as I walk over.

"I was going to make him a tonic or balm when he woke." I say softly.

Tae chitters.

Wings flapping.

"A healer needing healing...what are the odds?" Jin hyung muses with a warm curve to his lips.

Soft and gentle when they peck mine reassuringly.

"Ap.." Hae says reaching out for me. Arms held out expectantly.

I smile.

"Up you go then~" I say as I take her, twirling around with her, her giggles and screeches filling the air as she excitedly squirms, hands and feet shaking.

Jiminie sighs.

"The tallest dad gets all the love..." he laments.

Lips twitching when Tae chirps indignantly from his perch, flapping his wings as he soars to brush against his face before circling me.

"But yet...she matches with you hyung." Kookie says. Poking his chest at the dungarees and stripey shirt set Jiminie and Hae Kyungie are both wearing.

The smile that stretches across plump lips is smug and satisfied.

"I know~ I won that's why!" he defends.

"Well...tomorrow this little treasure will be dressed by her best appa." Jin hyung says as he watches us, eyes flickering fondly, threads of gold pulsing in his eyes.

Certainty and assured.

And we know no matter what tactic we us, no matter what trick we try, he's already seen it.

It'll end up happening.

Because he wants it to.

"Our baby with her baby fangs all dressed up by her appa." He coos.

That makes my eyes spark with interest, peering at her mouth.

"She's teething?" I ask excitedly.

I get nods all around. Get a chirp from Tae as he flaps, a happy sound as he flits around us, drawing our daughter's attention constantly to whirl around, tracking his movements.

"Hae lovely look at me. Go ahhhh..." I say, thumb swiping at wet lips, peering intently.

She grabs my hand.

Giggling when she manages to get my finger slick, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"No no love. Aaaaah. Open your mouth baby." I say, trying to tug my finger free.

Hae Kyungie babbles. Lips parting wide to show her gums. To show small bumps where her fangs will begin to protrude from, small slithers of fangs peeking through.

"Maybe I'll add something to soothe her gums into her milk. Where's (Y/N)?" I ask.

Spotting the very visible lack of our baby mate.

"She went to shower...some time back now actually." Kookie remarks.

"She's with Hobi and Yoongi." Jin hyung says assuredly.

I nod. She'd probably sensed the fatigue threading through the bond, had padded off in search of its source.

"Well...Hobi's resting and by the looks of this giggly baby...she's getting tired too." I say, catching Hae's face scrunching in a yawn and giggle, eyes slightly droopy as she blinks slowly. Hands still trying to reach for the flapping bat that darts in and out of reach.

"Nap time it is then." I say pecking her forehead softly as I turn back for the door.

To head back in and get her settled down to sleep.

Maybe a story would help.

A story as Hae curls up in my lap, leaning against me as she fists my shirt, head resting against my stomach, eyes fluttering open and shut and small yawns escaping her mouth.

Sleepy mumbles as she tries to mimic my voice, a stream of sound as she tells her own story back to me. Baby babble and mixed snippets of words as she tries to follow along, head nodding off and settling against my chest.

And as sleepy mumbles slip off and peter into small sounds, a repeated mantra of 'ap...ap...ap' as she blinks up at me. Falling asleep with her tiny body resting against mine as Tae chirps softly in bat form before flying down off my shoulder to settle beside Hae Kyungie. Wings splaying wide to cocoon her as much as he can, warm black wings wrapping around our daughter.

"You should set her down... she'll sleep more if she's actually in bed." Kookie remarks softly from the door, gaze fond and warm as he looks at the sight, the corners of his lips quirked up.

"Need help?" He adds as he watches Tae wriggle closet.

I nod, smiling when Kookie quietly moves forward to scoop up a bat mate into his hands, nuzzling lightly against his soft fur and laughing softly.

"You can keep me company hyung. Be my partner in crime as I swipe for Jin hyung's cupcakes." He whispers.

Tae's wings flap, chittering in agreement as he flies to settle on Kookie's shoulder, nudging and gently batting his head against the side of Kookie's cheek.

And away they go. A mischievous smile as he makes a quiet beeline for the kitchen.

Slowly I stand, carefully cradling Hae's sleeping form as I get up, positioning her against my chest and soul aching with love when she sleepily shifts to drop her head onto my shoulder- nestling there, small puffs of breath as she curls up.

"You're so sweet." I whisper quietly to her as I walk up the stairs, each movement so precarious and slowly done to avoid waking her. Sighing with relief when the house helps, lowering the steps to lessen each movement as much as possible. To let our sleeping baby remain sleeping.

I follow the tug of the mating bond and the house's help to reach a room, eyes alighting with understanding when the house refuses to let doors open, silently nudging me forward and down the corridor.

I pass the same photo that I remembered years ago (Y/N) pausing beside. Remembered how she'd stilled in front of it on her first visit to the nest.

Remembered how angrily defensive Yoongi hyung has been too.

Smile because now it means so much more, it shows how far we've come from that stage.

And step through when the house finally allows the door to open.

See the sight of Yoongi hyung and Hobi curled up, deeply asleep. See (Y/N) perched on the side, fingers carding through Hobi's hair, her eyes on the way his body is curved towards hyung's.

She senses my silent movement and tracks me as I walk to them, reaching out for Hae with a smile and a kiss to greet me when I bend over.

Hae's set down between the gap of the two of our sleeping mates, slotting in easily as she continues to sleep too. They unconsciously sense her, bodies shifting in the slightest, Hobi's hand stretching to lightly hand across her to hold her, feel her.

And I know whatever guilt he'd been feeling about not being able to see our daughter as much these past few days will all be erased when he wakes to see our treasure all bundled up beside him.

The sound of a distant indignant yell and delighted laughter threads through the house, quietens as the house dampens it, door silently swinging shut. Cocooning us within the room.

"Some peace and quiet. That's never going to last." (Y/N) whispers with a knowing smile.

No it's not.

But our lives, intertwined and merged, wouldn't have it any other way,

(SO! I REALLY SHOULD SLEEP NOW SEEING AS IT'S 5AM FOR ME BUT WHOOPS!! AND HERE YOU GO!! LOTS AND LOTS OF BONDING TIME WITH THE BABY AND THE FAMILY!! THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BACK IN TIME COMPARED TO THE LAST CHAPTER BUT THEN AGAIN!! BONUS CHAPTERS DO NOT NEED TO BE CHRONOLOGICAL AND THAT IS THE EXCUSE I AM STICKING WITH! HOPE YOU LIKED THIS SOFTNESS AS MUCH AS I DID WRITING IT! AND ANYONE WHO SPOT THE CLASSIC FAMOUS CHARLIE BIT ME LINE WITH HAE INSTEAD IS A LEGEND! YOU HAVE MY RESPECT!! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT AND WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO!! TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE LOVELIES!!)

There is no light without shadow, there is darkness before dawn and beauty in the clouds that give us shade. There is at times trials in the heat of the sun and solace in the coldness of rain drops and relief in the breeze. There is always someone somewhere who knows how you feel and understands.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3