JIN POV:

It feels like having reached the last stretch of a marathon and seeing the finishing line finally in sight. That's how it feels to bring (Y/N) back home, in a much better physical state than she had been the few days after birth, now as she stepped out of the car, helped by a fretting Kookie by her side, it was with a loose gentle smile, face unclouded with pain.

"I'm fine Koo." She insists, seeing the worried anxious look that seems to have made itself at home on his face these past few days. He hadn't strayed further than her bedside until it was absolutely necessary, leaving and entering her hospital room with a frantic rush so he could get back to her as soon as possible.

And though he doesn't say anything, part of his posture loosens at the strength and gentleness in her voice; at the slightly soft chiding tone that we've come to associate with her fussy voice.

"Let him have it my darling. I don't think it'll be easy on him, he literally can't forget what we've been through." I murmur in her ear, holding her as Kook rushes to open the door now that I've come, opening it to help her in. I smile at the bundled baby in her arms, at the sheer joy and love that is radiating off our youngest soulmate and wife and the way she sighs and leans in to me, a tinge of guilt seeping through.

"None of that either sweetheart. Just...let him be a fussy hen for once." I murmur, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and wrapping my arms more securely around her abdomen, painfully conscious of the new red scar that lies inches below my hold, mind already whirring with the active knowledge to make sure to check it heals well.

She smiles.

"Koo being a fussy hen? Somehow I don't see it." She begins but cuts off at the way he turns to smile at her, stepping back to let the two of us step into the hallway, a gentle warmth greeting us, and a pulse of thick heavy emotions from our awaiting soulmates inside the living room.

They'd all fussed, wheedled and tried to beg their way into staying with (Y/N) the final night at the hospital but she'd put her foot down. She'd shot everyone hard stares and told in a contradicting soft, tired voice that she'd rest better knowing they were home and that our other two children were home as well, home where they'd wanted to be too. And that she wanted to come home to a warm living alive house, with our children there. Not an empty one gone cold with how empty it was.

And then Tae and Jiminie were tripping in their haste to get back, promising fervently with lots of enthusiastic kisses to her cheeks and lips that they'd make it the best, warm house for her to come back to, kisses becoming longer and clingier when the time truly came for them to return home for the night. Hobi and Yoongi had returned on the basis that Joon couldn't be left alone with two of the maknaes; that the two of them would hold the house up and keep it standing, would feed our boys and get our children back home when morning came.

But it had also been the way that (Y/N) seemed to immediately seek out either Kookie or me when her eyes fluttered shut or when she winced in pain, hands gripping on tightly to us- and knew that deep down a part of her was remembering that we hadn't been there when her labour had started, that she felt the need to hold onto the two of us because of that moment of extreme vulnerability. That and the fact that Kookie refused to leave her, eyes welling up at the suggestion that he'd have to leave her side.

So it was me who got to return with three of my babies and watching Kook bend down to help her slip her feet out of her shoes was a gesture that touched my heart, made it clench in pride and love as he squeezed her ankle gently before setting her foot down to do the same to the other. And when he rose it was clear (Y/N) felt the same because she leans in to press a kiss to his lips and murmurs a thanks that has him beaming back at her, leaning in for another peck.

"If you're getting handsy and touchy without me in the hallways I will be very hurt." Tae's deep voice comes calling, mixed with petulance and his own unique charm- sweet and enticing as it always was.

I laugh.

"Better get inside before the others begin to crowd us." I say, hands on (Y/N)'s shoulders as I guide her into the living room from behind her, squeezing lightly.

And when we enter, catch sight of the other five turning to stare at the doorway with giddiness, with pure unadulterated elation it makes my soul soar and burn bright, a lightness in the very root of me. I watch as they rise with sweet excitement, as if they've been parted for so long given the way their legs hurry forward.

I step forward, hand pressing against Jiminie's chest as he tries to hurry in for a hug.

"Let her sit down first chickie." I say, heart clenching at the way he widens his eyes and face melts into an adorable look of abashment and realisation before darting around me to stand by her other side.

"Come on then baby, let's get both of you comfortable and settled." He coos, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before he and Kookie help her into the living room, carefully guiding her down onto the sofa where Joon waits with a dimpled smile and greeting peck for Kookie and (Y/N).

And she sinks into Joon's embrace, settling against his arm as she leans in to his hug, curving close, pressing a kiss to his jaw.

"Where are the boys?" she asks once the others have swarmed her for cuddles and greeting kisses, lips slightly pinker and swollen, her eyes drifting over the living room as if they'd come appearing out of hidden corners.

My eyes join her in the searching.

Weren't they meant to come back today?

"The boys..." Yoongi begins but it cut off by a slight bustling motion from the other entry to the living room, that leads out towards the kitchen and extended dining area, a familiar sight filling the hallway as the two boys appear from either end.

They grin toothily, beaming at the filled living room, happy cries of 'mama' tearing out their throats, I wince- praying it doesn't wake up our daughter, as they very enthusiastically make their way over, dodging and hopping over legs to get to her.

"My babies." (Y/N) coos, laughing as Hyun Jae tugs at Joon's trouser leg to be picked up and brought close whereas Dae Hyeon has already scrambled onto Jiminie's lap and is curving close to shower (Y/N) with a rain of bright giggly kisses.

And as she's being showered from both ends by kisses, wet giggly smooches as our sons, very unfairly, give all their undivided attention to her, my eyes drift back to the doorway, to the figure they'd squirmed past to rush forward.

"Eomma I didn't know you were coming with the boys." I greet as I move close to her figure, laughing when Mrs. Min smiles and drags me into a tight squeezing hug, a vibrant ball of energy in comparison to Yoongi as she kisses my cheeks.

"I know the birth was hard on (Y/N) and figured she might need help for a while." She says softly once she's let go, moving to greet Kookie who hadn't had the chance to wrap his broad frame around her slight one and let himself be babied, nose scrunching as she tugged lightly at his longer strands of hair and fussed.

I can't help feel touched at her easily spoken words, at the way she was still looking out for (Y/N) in the way all our parents did. She didn't have her biological parents with her, but our parents and families had been more than eager and willing to fill that space, doting on her perhaps much more than they ever did to us. And I have no doubt she'd reasoned with the others to stop them from swarming all over our wife, knowing she'd need rest and peace.

But given the way she seemed to glow with an inner contentment, with the soft happiness of belonging, of having parents look after her made it all worth it, would always make it all worth it.

"(Y/N) my sweet darling baby." Eomma coos as she moves forward to fuss over our wife is a sight I'll never tire of the way (Y/N) seems to startle out of the reverie of being immersed in her children, gently telling them to quieten so our girl doesn't wake to smile and lean upwards for a hug is one that makes me feel all soft and gooey inside.

"Eomma." She murmurs, face tucked into Mrs. Min's shoulder as she gets hugged is filled with a mixture of relief, happiness and tenderness.

"Those days at the hospital haven't been kind to you my darling. You need to eat up and gain your strength back. Now that you've got another addition in the family." She says softly when she leans back, wiping the stray tear off (Y/N)'s cheek as she holds her daughter close.

She nods, a hiccupy laugh when Dae Hyeon immediately leans in to nuzzle against her cheek with a plaintive 'don't cry mama', winding his arms around her as he stands on Jiminie's legs.

"Isn't she a darling? I'm a lucky grandmother, getting to see this beautiful miracle first of all." She continues to fuss, a gentle finger brushing over our daughter's cheek as she awes over her, leaning in to press a kiss to the soft, sleeping face.

"She is. Our beautiful miracle." (Y/N) says softly, her gentle voice stirring both Hyun Jae and Dae Hyeon out of their enthusiastic reunion with her, to peer at the baby encased safely in her arms.

Hyun Jae's finger reaches out before Joon can stop it to experimentally poke lightly at her cheek before he's withdrawing, a confused scrunch on his face.

"She's not a doll." He remarks curiously, no doubt having registered her warmth and Dae Hyeon's mouth widens when Hyun Jae's hand reaches out again, a chubby hand stilling his hand.

"Don't wake baby." He says with a hushed whisper, eyes sparkling with warmth and amazement as he looks at their sleeping sister.

And then he's sliding off Jiminie's lap with an enthusiastic hop that has him huffing and reaching out to make sure he doesn't wobble before he's tugging at Hyun Jae's trouser leg.

"Let mama and baby rest." He says in a hushed loud whisper.

But his eyes linger on the sleeping bundle with a look of longing.

And (Y/N) spots it.

"When baby wakes up you can hold her." she says, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

"Me too mama!" Hyun Jae says enthusiastically, giddy at the thought.

She nods, laughing when it appeases them and Hyun Jae goes to leap into Tae's lap from where he's reclined against Hobi on the floor. A small 'oof' at the sudden impact before he scoops him up.

And as Dae Hyeon goes at a much slower pace to Yoongi and me, but no less mischievous for how he wriggles and alternates between our laps, I see the way each and every one of the inhabitants of the room are radiating joy, positive sweet emotions that call to my soul and soothes away every worry.

There's no pinch between (Y/N)'s brows as she hands over our baby to Joon who cradles her close, Hobi's head tilting back to press against the sofa to peer at her, to press his head against Joon's knee.

"Thank you (Y/N), for bringing our baby into this world." Jiminie murmurs as he kisses the side of her neck, hands intertwined and resting on her lap.

She smiles.

"Thank you for being there." She whispers as she tucks herself close.

And yet my eyes can't help but rove over her, trying to see if any pain remains from the past four days, if she's in the slightest bit of discomfort.

I don't realise how intently I've been staring and observing each shift until Joon laughs, a low rumble as he peers up at me.

"Jin hyung she's all glowy green with good health. She's not hurting. Both (Y/N) and Ha Eun." He says lightly but it has her head rising from against Jiminie's shoulder, smiling at me from across the room.

"I really am fine oppa. Though having a doctor husband means I'll be fine no matter what happens." She says with a wry smile.

Dae Hyeon who'd slowly been exposed to our abilities wriggles and lies backwards to fall across my lap, beaming toothily up at me, slight dimple indents on either chubby cheek.

"That's why I go on adven-tures." He says, pausing to enunciate the new word he'd learnt from Joon's storytelling, giggling when my hand darts to tickle his tummy.

"Don't go ruining dada's heart big boy!" I say, beaming down at him and darting in to kiss the tip of his nose even as he wriggles, legs flailing on Yoongi's lap who catches them with practiced ease.

It was to me and (Y/N) that Dae Hyeon came, seeming to sport a new scrape or bruise or booboo as Tae liked calling them, sticking out the injured area for the light healing (Y/N) did and for the cartoon plasters to stick over them even after they healed. Kisses too as he had a habit of demanding, a trait that Hyun Jae had very gladly and quickly picked up, popping up out of the blue or mounds of toys to demand kisses in a manner that was eerily similar to Tae's demand for the same.

But it was a habit we gladly indulged. Sometimes finding our laps full with one boy or the other and just showering kisses across their faces as they were being wrestled into pyjamas, being read or just settling down to watch cartoons.

It was a habit that made my heart warm and blood sing with rightness at the action.

"Exactly! I can go on all sorts of adventures with a handsome doctor waiting to swoop in." (Y/N) says happily with a laugh when I level her a look.

Both for encouraging Dae Hyeon's active eager desire to try all sorts of things without note of consequence, something I knew he'd gotten from Kookie and for suggesting she was fine with getting hurt because I could tend to her.

It's the fond bubbly laugh of Eomma that rouses us out of the challenging stare I'm confronted with on (Y/N)'s end as she swoops in to carefully pluck Ha-Eun and cradle her granddaughter close.

"I've made lunch. Why don't one of you charmers help (Y/N) and I'll look after my poppet." She says a gummy smile as Joon helps our mother-in-law down to take his seat.

And though (Y/N) looks torn, there's no escaping Jiminie or Hobi who wriggles away from Tae to bound to his feet and help her up, even as she huffs fondly exasperated.

"I'm not an invalid you know. I can walk perfectly fine." She complains and protests even as she smiles when regardless Hobi leans in to draw her against his side, a strong protective arm around her waist.

"No ifs or buts kitten!" he retorts, the two of them helping (Y/N) to walk towards the hallway and through to the kitchen.

I pluck Dae Hyeon up and sweep him around in a quick whirl before setting him down.

"Come on Hyeonie, if you eat all your veggies then you can hold your baby sister sooner." I nudge with my hand, laughing when Hyun Jae also perks up at the shared nickname and bolts off Tae's lap, almost tripping in haste to join his older brother.

Trick works a charm.

Looks like their sister is going to become a soft spot very quickly for our boys.

And as I follow them in from behind, the others trailing in close, I can't help but feel assured in the knowledge that very quickly this time we too will all adjust and settle. Because with love our family grows, our hearts grow and our bond grows.

And that tether that ties all eight of us turns into an even stronger thread that winds itself even more intricately and beautifully around our souls, drawing us impossibly closer.

And I wonder whether it's possible to love more intensely and feel more vividly than I do in that moment.

(THERE WE GO! I SERIOUSLY FEEL SO, SO BAD FOR NOT UPDATING AS MUCH OR AS REGULARLY BUT HERE WE GO! I AM SO, SO SCARED HOW THIS CHAPTER WILL BE READ WELL...I AM NOT TOO SURE HOW THIS CHAPTER IS- NOT TOO CONFIDENT AT ALL, KINDA SCARED AND WARY TBH! BUT IT'S DONE! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF BABY HA-EUN COMING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME AND JUST MAKING EVERYONE SMITTEN AND WRAPPING HER BROTHERS AROUND HER LITTLE FINGERS. HONESTLY...I WISH MY BROTHERS WERE LIKE THAT, NOW THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IT- I'M THE FIRST GIRL AFTER TWO BOYS AND I DO NOT SEE THE SAME LOVE THAT DAE HYEON AND HYUN JAE ARE GIVING AND NOW I'M SUDDENLY FUMING. AND! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS- AND ONE OF THE MUM'S JUST H A D TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE AND YOONGI'S MUM JUST D I V E D AND TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY! WE WILL BE GETTING A TIMESKIP NEXT CHAPTER SO BE BRACED FOR THE BOYS GETTING A BIT OLDER...MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A MUM SEEING THEM GROW AND I DON'T WANT TO LET GO BUT THEY'RE JUST WHIZZING AWAY. HOPE THIS CHAPTER WAS JUST A PILE OF SOFTNESS FOR YOU TO READ, TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE LOVELIES!)

QUESTION...ONE OF YOUR FUTURE PLANS YOU THINK ABOUT- THEY CAN BE PIPE DREAMS OR IMAGINATION TOO!

Mine is...a road trip around Europe and most DEFINITELY including Italy and Greece on that list because I love my mythology and I love going to very culturally rich places- both of them have so much art and classical history related to it! Don't know if it'll ever happen as a road trip but I WILL go there in the future! (Fingers crossed!)

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3