Life was perfect.

Well, nearly.

Taehyung just lived with his uncle and aunt. He had grown slightly closer to the old lady, but to him, his uncle didn't exist anymore. His uncle didn't try talking to him either.

There were occasional letters from his parents, but there didn't seem to be any indication of their return in the near future. Taehyung was content in the assurance that they were safe, and would return.

Hoseok was an angel. Taehyung found that, despite his uncle's clear displeasure, he spent more time outside than at home. Most of that time was in Hoseok's company.

Some days they would take long walks, exploring the city on foot, picking out favourite places where they would return at a later date. Tae had taken to photography with a Polaroid he had bought recently. But most of the pictures were of Hoseok- his heart-shaped smile, his lively eyes, his ever happy demeanour, that one time when he had been gazing up at the clouds, deeply immersed in his own thoughts. The younger kept all these pictures in a folder which he hoped to someday compile into an album.

Sometimes they went to the amusement park and Hoseok rode the roller coasters just so he could sit beside Taehyung and watch that box smile and that look of utter joy on his face.

Sometimes they just spent hours in a random café, talking, joking, laughing, having the time of their lives.

Once, Hoseok took Tae to his and Jimin's dance studio. He had taken up an internship with a famous dance instructor. It had always been his dream to become a professional dancer, and maybe perform for his nation. He wanted to show Tae the studio he loved working in so much. They spent a long time there. Hoseok insisted upon teaching Tae some dance moves, and he was pleasantly astonished at the amount of agility and grace the younger showed. It was wonderful.

Sometimes, with increasing frequency in the past couple of weeks, Tae found himself in Hoseok's house. The senior's parents were always very welcoming towards him, and he slowly grew very fond of them. Hoseok had an older sister too, who was in a university abroad, but when she came home for her holidays, she made sure to bring something special for Tae. They grew close too and she was like the sister he never had.

When they would spend time in Hoseok's home, they would watch movies, play board games or just lounge about, eating, talking, reading. Hoseok's father had an enormous library, where the boys had unrestrained access to everything. Tae loved it there, sitting curled up beside his best friend, reading a book for hours on end. He had lost track of the number of books he had read there. Sometimes, while Taehyung was reading, Hoseok would get up, put on some music and begin practising some dance moves. On such days, Tae just sat and stared at his talented senior, the book lying forgotten on his lap. Sometimes he would sing with the music system, and Hoseok would stop dancing, just to listen to him.

In Hoseok's family, Tae had found the home that was taken away when news of his parents' plane disappearance arrived. He found the home that his uncle and aunt had failed to give him. He found the home that he had refused when he had shunned Jimin and his family. With Hoseok's family, he finally felt like he belonged.

***

It was a rainy day, and like the sky, Taehyung's mood too, was gloomy. There hadn't been any news from his parents for nearly two weeks now, and because of the downpour, he hadn't been able to meet Hoseok or any of his friends. It was too dangerous to go outside alone, and school had declared a holiday for a week due to the bad weather. That day, however, the sky had lightened considerably, and he was debating on whether going to Hoseok's house would be worth it. He shrugged, grabbed a raincoat, and walked out of the house.

Outside, it was chaos. The wind tore at his hair and a drizzle of rain fell. The water seemed like ice, it was so cold. He took a deep breath and he had never felt more alive. He seemed to be one with nature, as he walked towards his senior's house. Knocking at the door, he smiled to himself. Perhaps he was an outdoor person after all.

"Taehyung! What are you doing out in the rain?"

It was Hoseok's sister. She was on study leave. She quickly ushered him in and hung up his coat. She scanned him from head to toe. Satisfied that he wasn't wet and likely to come down with a fever, she hugged him and led him into the living room, where the entire family was bundled up with mugs of hot chocolate, watching a movie. Mrs. Jung exclaimed, "I knew there was something missing from this."

Mr. Jung brought Taehyung the hot chocolate and Hoseok handed him a blanket. Mrs. Jung smiled contentedly, "Now my family is complete."

It warmed Taehyung's heart to think that this family had accepted him as their own. He thanked them and snuggled into Hoseok's side. The last time he had felt this comfortable was when he had had movie nights with his parents. He wished they could be a part of this. Suddenly, there were tears running down his face, and he was quietly sobbing on Hoseok's shoulder, the surprised senior stroking his hair, saying everything was alright. Hoseok's sister came to sit on his other side and hugged him from behind, comforting him. Mr. and Mrs. Jung took away their children's mugs and huddled in front of them. Mrs. Jung whispered quietly, "What's wrong, my dear?"

All Taehyung could do was apologise.

Mr. Jung wiped away his tears and made him look at him, "Taehyung, there is no need to apologise. Just tell us what's wrong."

Taehyung sniffled, hugging Hoseok close. He spoke quietly, "I haven't heard from my parents in nearly two weeks and I'm so worried."

Mrs. Jung's heart melted at that. She gathered him into her arms and stroked his hair, kissing his head and whispering, "Aw, my baby, it's alright. They'll be fine, you'll see. They have probably found a way back. Shush now. It'll be alright."

After a while, Tae was fast asleep in Mrs. Jung's arms, and she rocked him back and forth just as she had done for her children when they were babies. The worry and tension of the past week was evident on the boy's face and Hoseok sat there with his sister, praying for Mr. and Mrs. Kim's safe and speedy return.

***

The doorbell rang twice. Taehyung looked up at Hoseok. The senior leaned down and kissed him, murmuring that he loved him. It was the first time he had made his feelings vocal, and Tae felt the warmth in his cheeks, the butterflies in his stomach. But it felt natural, as though this was what was meant to be. He didn't think twice.

"I love you too, hyung."

Just then there was a squeal. It was Hoseok's sister. She ran into the room yelling, "TaeTae! Come on! Look who is here!"

Taehyung got up, utterly confused and walked towards the door, hoping against hope. He felt Hoseok follow him out of curiosity.

Standing at the door was the answer to his prayers. His parents had returned!

Taehyung stood dumbfounded. Then Hoseok nudged him from behind and that was all he needed. He practically flew into his mother's waiting arms. It was so beautiful to be engulfed in his mother's scent, his father gathering them both in a massive bear hug. It was so wonderful to feel whole again.

The hugging trio nearly lost their balance when Hoseok's sister, followed by Hoseok lunged at them, entering the hug too.

The Jung family welcomed the Kims as though they were their own. They had never really interacted before, but for Taehyung's sake, they got together that night. Mr. and Mrs. Kim were shocked at how the Jungs welcomed them with open arms. It was a kind of welcome expected only from family. They sensed that there was something between Tae and Hoseok, and they wondered about Jimin. There were so many unanswered questions!

At dinner, Taehyung beat them to it, "How did you know where to find me?"

Mrs. Kim wrinkled her nose in disgust, "From that horrid brother of mine. He said you must be "visiting the Jung's again". He said it so disdainfully, I could have slapped him."

Mr. Kim placed a consoling hand on his wife's shoulder. He turned to Mr. and Mrs. Jung, "Thank you for taking us in like family. Our actual family did not offer to do what you did."

Mr. Jung smiled graciously, "Think nothing of it, my friend. Taehyung is family to us, and by extension so are you. I trust you will be staying the night?"

Mrs. Kim looked taken aback, "Oh no, we couldn't impose ourselves on you like that! We'll go home, get things into place-"

Mrs. Jung would have none of it, "You could never be an imposition to us! Please, we insist. Rest here tonight. Tomorrow is a holiday for everyone. We will help you get things back on track at home throughout the day."

That night, Tae told them everything. They often exchanged glances as they saw how much their disappearance had affected their child. They also realised that Taehyung had grown so much. They were rather proud of their boy.

They told him of their adventures in Cuba where they were given shelter by a kindly couple while they tried their hardest to obtain a quick, safe passage back home.

***

The next morning, the Kims visited Jimin's family.

It was as though nothing had happened between them. Jimin treated him like his best friend, and the families got on swimmingly, as before.

Later that day, Tae introduced his parents to his new group of friends. There was Jin, the oldest, always fawning over everyone like a mother. There was Namjoon, who had helped him with Literature and was like a big brother to him. There was Yoongi, with whom he shared this strange, yet comfortable grandpa-grandson relationship. There was Jimin, his now best friend. Lastly, he introduced Hoseok. He told his parents about their gradual increasing closeness and how they had finally made vocal their love for each other the previous evening. He told them about the several intimate moments between them and the two times they had kissed. When he finished, his parents were hugging a very pleased Hoseok, while the rest of his friends gaped at him in shock. The opportunity was too perfect to let go. He turned his Polaroid around and yelled at them cheerily.

"Say cheeeeeeeeeeese!"